Skincare Sunday #9 Soothed Skin

This week, I want to address skin sensitivity and what products can be relied upon to soothe sore, irritated or reactive skin. Some years ago now, I had a fairly intense reaction to using a salicylic acid product which was designed for acneic, oily skin (not my skin type, hence the reaction!) Rather than ridding me of some blemishes, I was left with a swollen, chemically burned face and eyelids that could barely open. Since then, I've educated myself a lot on ingredients and been more cautious with patch-testing. It was scary, but I found some products that helped when nothing would. I want to share them with you:

Skincare Sunday #8 Clean Skin

Today's post is all about the best cleansers to remove make-up and leave skin clean, fresh and not tight or aggravated. 

I have dry/dehydrated/ somewhat sensitive/ not 20-something-anymore skin! For me, stripping cleansers are a no-no, so I'm going to suggest the best cleansers for my own skin type. Saying that, these could accommodate a wide range of skins as all are kind to skin.

Skincare Sunday #5 Hydrated Skin

How can you treat dehydrated skin? To start, how do you know if your skin is dry or dehydrated? Skin that lacks water (rather than oil) is dehydrated and can be susceptible to premature fine lines and flaky patches. Dry skin is a type of skin that does not produce as much sebum (oil) and therefore can appear lacklustre. It is possible to have both.

I have found an amazing serum which I've been trying over the last three months and have found to quench my skin nicely. It is affordable and comes in a cute baby pink bottle (although recently, due to high demand it is being produced in clear bottles-- I digress). What is it I hear you ask?

Skincare Sunday #3: Protected Skin

Non-skincare enthusiasts are quite surprised that I wear SPF50 nearly every day. With screen exposure being a mainstay of everyday life and being a person of the pale and freckly variety, SPF is my best friend.

But it wasn't always so. In my teens and early 20s, I was less clued up and more carefree when it came to exposing my skin to the sun. I guess we all are, but there is so much information out there now, that young people really do have less excuses than us who were teens in the before the 2000s (and the internet hit).

My SPF of choice right now is Eucerin Sensitive Protect Face Sun Cream SPF50+ 

Why is it so good?

I love the fact that it is non-sticky, moisturising and soothing. It is a fairly thick cream (not runny like a lotion), but it doesn't feel greasy. It also barely ever pills up into little balls when foundation is applied over it. I say, barely ever, because on the few occasions it has it has been down to the serum worn under it. To avoid this, I avoid watery serums and leave products to sink in and dry before layering.

Skincare Sunday #1: Bright Skin

A new year, a new series. Sunday seems the perfect day (for alliterative and time availability purposes) to post about one of my interests: skincare. This week's focus is going to be on a product I have used for many years which gives me brighter skin. It will be no stranger to those that enjoy their skincare products, but it is a product that is tried and tested. 

Liquid Gold by Alpha H is a glycolic acid toner which works to exfoliate and revitalise my skin while I sleep. It reduces pigmentation marks from sun and acne scarring and generally makes me look brighter and fresher.

It is a well-known, moderately priced product which is said to work on reducing the appearance of fine lines. The glycolic acid is a 5% strength, which is going to give noticeable results without causing reactions in most people. Although it does contain alcohol, I have not found it to be harsh or drying.

A little about my skin (as I've not blogged for a while about beauty and skincare):

3 Super Serums for Dehydrated Skin: from budget to luxury

Do you use a serum? It seems that most people are aware of them nowadays, but not everyone really understands what they can do for their skin, or believe they really need to bother. 
Until I started really investing in my skin in my mid 20s, I wasn't using a serum; now I use a serum twice a day. My skin is definitely looking better in my 30s than it ever did in my 20s; make-up applies better and I have no dry patches despite having dry skin.
These are my top 3 serums at the moment and they come at very different price points.
Serums nourish and treat your skin after cleansing and before moisturising. They can work to add extra hydration and smoothing ingredients that benefit your skin during the day and at night. From my experience, just moisturising is fine, but if you really want to see results and make changes to the uniformity and texture of your skin longer term, serums are a must.
Read on to hear about 3 amazing serums for dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin:

The lazy guide to skincare, on a budget

It's great to know that people who've read my posts on skincare seem to enjoy them. This post is inspired by a conversation I had with a friend of mine, who like many busy people, like the idea of taking steps to better their skin or their routine, but don't have the inclination, time or budget to do so. I have found some lower budget options here that I would either recommend from experience, or from reading positive reviews from others.