Showing posts with label clear skin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clear skin. Show all posts
Exciting news, my future sister-in-law got engaged too! There is SO much bridal chat going on in that family, it's great. It's lovely to have someone going through the same thing as you though - smiley emoji's and cosy feelings all round.
For her birthday, we got drunk brunching at The Landau and after a excited conversation about her skin (skincare is always an exciting topic for me, drunk or not), I promised I would make her a super skincare bundle so that she could actually HAVE a skincare routine and see the results in time for her wedding day.
Since she lives in Birmingham, I figured I'd end up posting it to her so I decided to make a quick walk-through video to explain all my beauty product choices and how to use them. Cut to a 20 minute video later and I decided that this actually might be useful to SOMEONE else out there, so I've put it on YouTube.
It's literally the longest video I've ever made and it's also the FIRST video I've ever done not wearing any foundation but you know what, if I'm going to pretend to be some sort of credible beauty gal, I gotta show you the results too right?
Watch the video below or on my YouTube Channel
The Product Line Up
Here are the shopping links to the products mentioned in the video, plus some additional products I also like but cut out of the video. I have tried ALL of the below products myself.
I've put the RRP up as well, but to be honest, most of these are always available discounted so don't freak out when you're seeing stuff over £50!
Some of these links below are linked to affiliate shops which mean that I get a teeny bit of commission if you buy anything. THANKS GUYS.
Night Cleansers
Something oil or cream based, to dissolve makeup and keep skin balanced. Actually GREAT for oily skin.
Nyasa Pure Glow Nourishing Cleansing Balm £50 - but would def buy again.
MooGoo Oil Cleansing Method £16.90 - lovely little organic, all natural Australian number.
Hylamide High Efficiency Face Cleaner £19 - great for heavy duty makeup, bad if you hate coconut oil
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish £14.50 - it's a cult classic for a reason.
Day Cleansers
Slightly lighter than the night cleanse, I like gel based cleansers to remove early morning oil, without stripping skin.
Eau Thermal Avene Cleanance £10.50 - a soapless, mild cleanser that's good for sensitive oily skin.
La Roche Posay Effaclar H Cleansing Cream £12 - super creamy gel, that's not too squeaky clean
La Roche Posay Micellar Gel Cleanser £12.50 - the secret is to use it with warm water.
Day Serums
A protective layer of antioxidants to enhance the skin's natural barrier function.
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Serum £47 - it's not cheap but I use it every day
Jurlique Moisture Plus Rose Balancing Serum £40 - rose is great for hydration and balancing out dry patches
Day Cream
Voya EvenPure £53 - again, not cheap but it's packed with organic ingredients which drive the price up. I'm also more inclined to actually use and take care with more expensive products.
Nuxe Creme Fraiche De Beaute Cream £26 - a dependable pharmacy brand, I've had a great experience with anything Nuxe.
Embryolisse Hydra Mat Emulsion £22 - another decent French brand, I like this mattifying moisturiser too
SPF (crucial!!)
Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster SPF50 £55.50 - caused a dent to my wallet but has lasted forever. I only use it on my face.
Garnier Moisture Bomb Protecting SPF30 Mist £9.99 - FAVOURITE find of 2017
Filorga SPF50 Mist £29 - grown up version of the above, with added anti-ageing treatment
Night Cream
Elemis Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream Oil £49 - lovely stuff. Feels a lot more lightweight than some night creams.
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate £38 - insert heart eyes emoji here
Clean Beauty Co Rosy Glow Oil £35 - a relatively new, small company so difficult to find stockists
Trilogy Rosehip Oil £19.50 - not mentioned in the vid but I'm a recent convert - also recommend the lighter Rosehip version for oily skin.
La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Light Fluid £16.50 - if you hate face oils, then this is your one.
Eye Cream
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Cream £34 - the eye version of the day serum I use.
Dermalogica Power Firm Eye Cream £43.50 - the most expensive eye cream I own but it reminds me to use it every night.
Exfoliators
POWDER EXFOLIATORS are the way forward. Don't scrub your skin. Make a paste with these, apply to your face, let sit for a minute - I like to keep it on while brushing my teeth - and then rinse off with warm water. Do NOT vigorously rub your skin, let the natural acids within it do the work.
Dermalogica Superfoliant £55- if you only buy ONE thing. It's probably this. Would spend my own cash on this full price.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant £48 - cheaper, original version of the above - also love but the other has charcoal.
Indeed Labs Powder Exfoliator £18.99 - the next best thing. Try it - don't scrub!
Toners
Made my own using: Aloe Vera Juice, Lavender Water, Witchhazel, Geranium Water from NaturallyThinking.com
Caudalie Beauty Elixir £12 - another cult classic.
Neals Yard Rehydrating Rose Toner £16 - can't go wrong with rosewater really. The blue glass bottle is beautiful too.
Treatments
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension £4.90 - good luck finding this stuff, it's always out of stock! 100% recommend but go lightly on your first go, it tingles!
La Roche Posay Redermic R Retinol Treatment £29.50 - only for visible fine lines, always research Retinol before you use it - and ALWAYS use SPF if you're using retinol.
Antipodes Aura Mask £24.99 - the mask that changed my opinion on cream masks. It's sublime - esp for oily skin.
Aesop Parsley Seed Mask £30 - quick and easy clay mask if you've only got 5-15minutes dry time.
Sukin Super Greens Clay Mask £11.95 - Packed with the good stuff, it's part clay mask, part delicious smelling antioxidant treatment.
B Makeup Brush Cleanser Spray £4.99 - DON'T UNDO YOUR HARD WORK.
What do YOU think? How many products do you use a day? Tweet me your thoughts @FaceValueBlog or send me a comment on Facebook!
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VIDEO: She Asked For The Ultimate Skincare Routine - The Best Beauty Products & How To Use Them
Okay guys and girls, some beauty blogger skincare tips coming your way. Over the last few months, I've been really focused on skincare - basically trying to get the clear, calm adult skin that I've always dreamt of.
How do we get great skin? Well, some people are born with good skin genes, others have to work harder at it and those who eat badly and drink heavily need to try EVEN harder. (I'm not going to admit which of these groups I fit into but anyone watching my Instagram - I know you KNOW!)
So what's the plan here? What does "better skin" look like?
Ideally I wanted to find a way to minimise breakouts, even out any patchiness in my oily yet 'these bits can be dry' combination skin, cut down on heavy foundation and focus on getting that smooth, glowing base that's neither dewy nor shiny but LUMINOUS.
At the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have left the house without at least a light coat of concealer. Obviously, it'd be nice to not give a shit about this sort of thing (THANKS SOCIETY) but until then, getting better skin is the plan!
How did I do it?
So at the beginning of the year I decided to commit to a real skincare routine. A proper routine where you use the same products, at the same time, every day for at least a month without being tempted by newer, shiiinier products. It's practically a relationship, given the level of commitment involved.
Until this point, I'd been constantly dabbling with products, the beauty blogger in me desperate for another hit of 'something new' and although we ALL know we should be patient with products, I just couldn't commit to one for 4 days let alone 4 weeks.
New Year's resolution sorted, I went ahead and did it. And now? I'm pretty pleased! So much so that my next YouTube video is about my new skincare routine, and I'm not going to be wearing ANY foundation. Seeing is believing right?
Until then, here are the basics of what I changed in my skincare routine. I hope you find it useful because it worked for me!
First up - it's time to commit. Select your desired arsenal and stick to it for at least a month (unless it's causing you irritation or sensitivity). Due to the cycle of skin renewal, you won't be seeing long-term benefits for a few weeks. Plus, if you're chopping & changing, you won't know which product has done what. HOW will you know what to buy again?!
Secondly, I decided to abandon my previous go-to corporate brands (the Estee's, L'Oreals & Lancomes of the world) and move towards brands with a more natural & organic focus. Hello Antipodes, Sukin, Jurlique, Moo Goo, Liz Earle to some extent, Caudalie and other such brands! I did this mainly because many of the big commercial formulas I used were full of big commercial filler ingredients.
Getting knowledgeable about product ingredients is key - I abandoned SLS, parabens and most products packed out with silicone & other such nasties. Brands like La Roche Posay aren't natural or organic but they're free of 'bad' ingredients like this - so if you still want to buy a big commercial brand (they do tend to be cheaper & easier to get hold of), at least do it in a clean way.
Chuck in a couple of tips and techniques around product application, facial massage and HELLO. My skin has improved dramatically and my dream skin is almost within reach. I say almost, because honestly, will we ever be happy with what we've got?!
I'll be doing a full video with my skincare routine & product recommendations but until then - here are some tips I picked up at the Jurlique launch last week.
How do you apply your skincare?
Just dot in on your face and rub in? Applying too much pressure and rubbing too hard can actually damage the skin, which is why eye creams always to tell you to pat. One of the techniques promoted by Jurlique is what I call "the warm and press".
Warming product in your hands can activate ingredients and help product to spread better, thus using less product in the long run.
Press products into skin, don't rub. Pressing gets the formula to the deeper layer of dermis (i.e. the non dead stuff on the surface)
When applying, don't rub the eye area.
Delicate skin like this needs to be treated gently. Just use your ring finger to pat cream into the skin.
There's also no need to go all around the eye and overload the area - applying product just around the orbital bone
The fridge is your friend
The soothing qualities of calming products and toners are boosted when chilled in the fridge. Put your face mist in the fridge before you reach for it on a hot day - it works a treat and really invigorates skin during summer. It's particularly great for eye creams, and gives an instant de-puffing effect.
You learn something new every day
Finally - one thing I haven't tried yet but has been recommended by the experts at Jurlique. Use arnica on dark circles. I'm very familiar with arnica, having used it on bruises and the theory is that it works in the same way to shrink visible blood vessels.... will keep you posted! Dream skin is within reach!
What do YOU think? Have you got a fixed skincare routine? Any skincare tips you swear by? Tweet me your thoughts @FaceValueBlog or send me a comment on Facebook!
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How To Get Better Skin - My New Skincare Routine
I genuinely think I'm a bit addicted now. I've got a whole drawer just full of face masks! I realised that the main reason why I never understood what they can do was because I was using 49p pouches of gimmicky mud mask (chocolate bubblegum flavour or some bollocks like that), and when I did use them, it was maybe once every few months.
I've since realised that to see the effects (and appreciate the magic) - you need to follow three simple rules:
1) Face mask more regularly.
2) Don't skimp on the ingredients
3) Use the right mask for your skin concern
Let me elaborate further.
How it works for me now
I now use face masks at least once a week - and sometimes up to three times, depending on how I'm feeling (read: how many days I've got no social plans)
I don't rely on just one kind of mask either. Different parts of my face have different concerns, at different times. Have you heard of multi masking? Different masks for different areas of your face? Well it makes sense.
Face Mask Cheat Sheet
Mud based masks draw out oil and impurities. Great for big pores, my nose and the t zone.
Cream based masks are great for hydration, soothing itchy skin and anti-ageing. For me, that's forehead, cheeks and neck. (Yep, don't forget the neck!)
Sheet masks are the new "it" thing. They work on the concept that the mask ingredients are held close to the skin under the face-shaped sheet, so that the goodies are absorbed quicker and more effectively.
Sleep masks - possibly not even on your radar but I am a CONVERT. These are basically intense night treatments that you sleep in. And no, before you get ideas of mud all over your pillow, most of the ones I've tried are either like heavy night creams or gels which are relatively absorbed by the time you hit the hay.
Acid masks - whether it's fruit acids, glycolic, lactic or enzyme masks, these work on the basis of sloughing off the top layer of dead skin to reveal radiant, smoother looking skin underneath. I tend to use these more in summer as my skin is more sensitive with colder weather.
Acid masks - whether it's fruit acids, glycolic, lactic or enzyme masks, these work on the basis of sloughing off the top layer of dead skin to reveal radiant, smoother looking skin underneath. I tend to use these more in summer as my skin is more sensitive with colder weather.
My favourites
These are the products that I've tried and would buy again. I do have a good list of masks I like, but first, the ones I that I consider as skin gamechangers.
Sukin Anti Pollution Charcoal Mask
First up - the charcoal mask from Sukin, a natural brand from Australia. I'm OBSESSED with Sukin. It's organic, vegan, reasonably priced and lovely to use. One of the first brands to make me believe that natural skincare can pack a punch.
This clay masque feels absolutely sublime when slathered onto your face in a generous layer. It's a classic mud mask that dries within 20 minutes, but it doesn't pull at my face as much as other mud masks I've tried. (y'know, that feeling like your face is in a cast?!)
Ever since my trip to Australia, I've used this mask regularly and that's when I noticed the difference. I feel like my skin has become less oily and smoother to the touch. Also, as a Londoner, I like the "anti pollution" purpose, but I couldn't tell you whether it works in that respect.
It's available in Boots and online but if you buy it from Lookfantastic via this link, I'll get about 3% commission- WAHOO!
It's available in Boots and online but if you buy it from Lookfantastic via this link, I'll get about 3% commission- WAHOO!
Antipodes Aura Mask
Next up, my favourite cream mask. It's the Aura mask by Antipodes - another great beauty brand from down under, this one by way of New Zealand
The key ingredient of this one is manuka honey, the powerful do-all (read: expensive) honey. Manuka joney is antibacterial, so this mask is actually great for oily or blemish prone skin.
The key ingredient of this one is manuka honey, the powerful do-all (read: expensive) honey. Manuka joney is antibacterial, so this mask is actually great for oily or blemish prone skin.
Good news it's only £14.70 right now from HQHair here - that's a third of RRP. GO.
So yeah - here's a picture of it half used... MORE PLEASE.
So yeah - here's a picture of it half used... MORE PLEASE.
Sephora Sleeping Mask
Finally - a more recent gamechanger. The SLEEP mask.
Fairly self explanatory, you apply a generous layer to your face and let it sink it for a few minutes before bed. Then you can sleep as normal (though, I'll be honest, I do try and sleep on my back more than usual)
I recently discovered these Sephora Sleep Masks. Initially I was a bit sceptical. I don't think they're entirely free of nasties and they do look like mass-produced commercial masks. However, when I used these for the first time, I actually looked in the mirror the next day and immediately noticed a difference.
I love the Turquoise ones, the Purifying Algae masks (which are like a thick night cream) and the Green Tea mattifying masks (which are more of a gel).
Each pod has about 3-4 applications, so at $4 a go, I think they're very well priced. I was so impressed after buying 3 myself, that I asked my American friend to bring back TEN after her Xmas break. TEN.
Finally - what would a post about masks be, without a picture of me in a mask?!
So, to summarise - have a regular treatment, don't be afraid to mix and match for different parts of your skin and definitely try masks outside of the regular mud mask category! (watch out for Sheet masks...)
What do YOU think? Tweet me your thoughts @FaceValueBlog or send me a comment on Facebook!
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Are Face Masks Worth It? My Recommendations & How I've Made Them Work For Me
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