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 #7 Dewy Skin

Dewy skin is that quenched-looking, plump skin with some sheen in all the right places. To achieve this healthy, youthful appearance diet and lifestyle obviously plays a big part. But what can you do to cheat your way to dewy skin, even when a stressful lifestyle leaves you looking less radiant than you would like?

Skincare Sunday #6 Smooth Skin

As we age, fine lines and pigmentation are inevitable. Other than turning to injectables and salon strength procedures, how can we obtain the best skin possible? As I move further towards my 40s, I intend to make certain ingredients mainstays in my routine. This post is centred around maintaining as smooth skin as possible, whether you choose to go down the botox route or not.

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 #4 Clear Skin

Another tried and tested product this week which has been in my skincare arsenal for many years: Effaclar Duo+ by La Roche Posay is a treatment moisturiser for blemished skin. I use it as a targeted treatment as soon as I spy any redness that may turn into a spot. It is not at all harsh, so sensitive skins should be fine with it, and what's more, it works fast.

Within 1-2 days, the spots in question are usually significantly less red and less raised*. 

For reference, I do not have acne on a regular basis and I am dry rather than oily. Despite this, this product is recommended for oilier skin types due to the additional mattifying properties. On me, I would tend to wear another moisturiser all over and/or an SPF cream. As skin will be sensitised from the acids in this product, an SPF is important.

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 #2: Toned skin

Firm, toned, skin is something most of us covet--particularly those of us who are no longer in our early (or even late) 20s! Daily life takes its toll on the skin and for me, I'm often aware that stress and less sleep than I'd like makes a big impact on what I see in the mirror. 

Today's mention is Drunk Elephant's C-Firma Day Serum.

Drunk Elephant are a pricey US brand who claim to not use any 'nasties' in their products. I'm most concerned with efficacy, and this is one of a few products from their range I really enjoyed after I tried mini versions of their range. In order to purchase high end skincare, it needs to pack a punch. This daytime serum makes my skin glow. I'm wearing it today and no make-up and my skin looks dewy, smooth and happy.

Vitamin C is known to be great for the skin. It works on reducing pigmentation and brightening. This serum contains vitamin C (absorbic acid) in an interesting oil/ serum hybrid texture. It is the opposite to most vitamin C serums which tend to be gritty and sometimes on the drier side. It is clearly not a high intensity vitamin C product despite being marketed as a 'Vitamin C serum', but I like to use it in conjunction with the vitamin C serums that I apply at night. 

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):

Post-Summer/ Autumn Skincare Favourites

As the hot weather dwindles and there is the suggestion of colder spells ahead, I felt inspired to share some of my favourite Autumn/ Fall skincare products. I'm a strong believer in learning to 'read' your skin when choosing products or routines. Many of us are left with areas of pigmentation post-sun and perhaps drier skin types need a bit of nurturing as the temperature changes. These products help to brighten and nourish my drier, freckly complexion and make me feel ready to face those beautiful, chilly September days.

Cold Weather Skincare for Sensitive, Dry and Irritated Faces

My skin has been really feeling sorry for itself of late. Just before the snowy weather hit the UK, I started to suffer a backlash from the chemical exfoliating I had been doing. Usually, I'm quite in tune with how much my skin can take, but I didn't factor in the cold weather which had sensitised my face. When I started having flushed red cheeks and dry, flaky patches, I knew it was time to whip out my old faithful: La Roche Posay's Cicaplast cream. 

Trying DECIEM Skincare Products (The Ordinary, Hylamide and NIOD)

Deciem products are much talked about in the beauty world currently. One of the key reasons for this is that they offer ranges of skincare for an array of budgets and focus on the science behind effective skincare. I am by no means an expert, but through my interest in skincare, I have read up quite a lot about the types of ingredients to look when investing in anti-aging products that actually work. I have tried three products- one from each of the main Deciem brands and I have some opinions to share. 

5 Summer Skin Must-Haves for Pale Skin

Whether I wanted to or not, I don't tan. This is something I have come to accept. There's nothing wrong with being pale- I enjoy it- but I do like to give myself a bit of colour in the Summer months. Here are some products I've been using recently to give my pale skin a touch of Summer glow.

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:

A Fix for Dehydrated Skin: Votary Facial Oil

Votary Facial Oil works wonders for the parched

Looking beautiful on my dressing table currently is the Votary Rose Maroc and Sandalwood Facial Oil. In its green glass bottle, it is a handsome looking little wonder. I received this as part of my Liberty of London advent calendar, and it has to be said that the price tag of £65 is eye-watering. Saying that, using only a few drops every evening means that it will last a very long time. But how good is this niche product?

Winter Skincare: my picks for 2015

Winter is approaching, the air is turning colder, and the central heating is on for longer periods of time. This can cause our complexions to dry out even more so than usual. The products above are my top picks for keeping my skin calm and happy in these colder months.

New Lush Products, August 2015

Skincare Recommendations for Dehydrated Skin

I have dehydrated skin. This means that my skin lacks water, rather than oil. My face looks dry and fine lines can show up easily when I do not address the dehydration. It is also possible to be dry (skin lacking oil) as well as dehydrated.
The number one product you can get your hands on is free. Drinking plenty of water is obviously going to help your skin look its best, but I have also discovered some great products over the last few months which are working nicely.
Algenist Genius Anti-aging eye cream is keeping my eye area smooth and intensely hydrated. It is a plant-based product which has a moussey texture to it. Available at SpaceNK, this is expensive, but for me, worth it.  
Sunday Riley Flora Hydroactive Celluar Face Oil is another product I have recently received a sample of and is helping my skin to retain moisture. I have used it a few times now and apply a few drops overnight before moisturiser (or alone). It has a more substantial consistency than some lighter oils, but that works well for drier skins who need all of the nourishment they can get. It is rose-based and feels very luxurious to use.

2014 Favourites: a Round-up

I always find it difficult to think about the previous year in the sense that it is hard to get a clear picture of what characterised those particular twelve months. It wasn't a great year in many ways (in terms of personal life), but I did turn 30 and have some fantastic moments too. I loved celebrating with my two best friends- friends I've had for around 18 years now! 

It was also a year of picking up some new interests, for example, finding a love for folk music and photography after purchasing my Sony A5000. And of course, it was in April that I started to blog more regularly and actually saw a small audience start to grow- something I'm really happy about. If you have read my blog this year, thank you very much! It is amazing to think that my hobby can be shared with others around the world! It is also a blessing that in today's age of technology, I can record my year in this blog- potentially as something to look back on for years to come!

So without further ado, I want to present to you: my year's favourites.

New Nude Skincare Products

Left: Omega Cleansing jelly                                                       Right: Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash

I love Nude skincare. Love it. Years ago I discovered their amazing eye cream, which was discontinued, but have since fallen in love with their current formulation too. When I saw that they had released some new, innovative products, I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. So here's my take on the Omega Cleansing Jelly and Brightening Fizzy powder Wash after trialling them for a week or so: