Monday 29 April 2013

A Guide To Skincare: Oily Skin


Hey guys!
So I'm back with the next part of my Skincare Guide with the Oily Skin edition. (You can read the sensitive skin edition here).

Usually, in the college salon, I find a lot of clients come to us with more oily skin types than any other. And I think this is because oily skin is generally the type that looks and feels like it needs more caring for. It can develop at any age, although it tends to hit once puberty begins and can gradually get better or worse as the time goes on. Some people find that their oiliness plays up during certain times of the month (me!) or changes of the season where-as others struggle with it constantly. 

Diagnosing an oily skin type is dependent on both visual and 'textured' symptoms. The skin is shiny and greasy to touch, plus prone to breakouts and blackheads. Acne generally accompanies this skin type, which also means redness and infection may be present. Other visual symptoms include enlarged pores and an overall sallow/yellow-ish tone.

So, what products do you use? Cleansers, exfoliators and face masks are the most popular products people use to treat oily skin, as some feel that adding a moisturiser into their routine would make their condition worse - which is entirely not the case. After the use of the appropriate cleanser, toner and exfoliator it is essential to re-introduce the moisture that the previous products have sucked out. Which leads me on to my next point...

Essential Words: Clay and Mud based products are the most effective to use on oily skin, as they draw out any excess moisture and oil the skin produces. These can be used in facial cleansers, but are usually found within face masks. Foaming cleansers are also good for extracting oil and moisture from the skin. Witch Hazel and Tea Tree are key ingredients to look out for, as they naturally help to calm redness and fight infection. Lean towards moisturing lotions that come in a bottle rather than thicker creams that come in a pot - not only will this stop bacteria spreading, the lotion will be light enough on the skin without aggravating the oil glands.

Now, I don't have oily skin so I can't give honest verdicts on these products but here are a few that previous clients have been happy with using and a few oily-skinned friends have recommended!



1. Lush Tea Tree Toner Water - £3.95 - £7.25. Lush.
2. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Scrub - £3.99. Boots.
3. Clean & Clear Dual Action Oil-Free Moisturiser - £3.59. Boots.
4. Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Foaming Cleanser - £3.59. Boots.
5. Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask - £12.00. The Body Shop.
6. Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser - £27.00. Dermalogica.co.uk

The best way to deal with oily skin is to double cleanse, tone and moisturise daily along with weekly face masks and exfoliation every 2 - 3 days. Of course, like I said in the sensitive skin edition, it would be extremely beneficial to invest in monthly facials whether it's at a college salon, spa or regular salon. Your skin will thank you!

So that's all I have for today! Feel free to ask any questions or give any recommendations for what you use for your oily skin and I'll add them into this post. 

I'm going to be focusing on Dry Skin next time, so look out for that post! 

xo  



Monday 22 April 2013

A Guide To Skincare: Sensitive Skin


At first glance, most people wouldn't assume my skin is sensitive. Although, really, it all depends on what phase my skin is going through at the time. Usually (75% of the time) my skin is fairly even-toned, a little dry but not really prone to any tightness and redness. But once a month, for a few days (I'm sure you can work out why!) my skin becomes incredibly oily, shiny and really spotty. And if you take these things into consideration my skin-type could be any number of things: dry, normal, oily and combination. When really, it is sensitive. 

Sensitive skin is quite easy to diagnose - if it becomes tight/very red/sore at mild stimulus's EG. wind or gentle exfoliation it is probably sensitive. Also, sensitive skin is usually associated with dryness or pale skin. It can become irritated from anything ranging to over-exposure to the sun, to pollution in the air, or even the over-use of current skincare products. 

So, what products do you use? It depends on how sensitive your skin is. Mine isn't a particularly severe case, although a friend of mine's is particularly difficult. The trick is to work out a routine, test products singularly to gauge your skin's reaction and to pin-point which areas of your skin are the most sensitive. Some people have to avoid the cheek area when exfoliating (me!), whereas some have to avoid the forehead. 

Essential Words: When purchasing skincare, always read the back of the bottle. Even if a product is suitable for 'every skin type', it's probably going to be too harsh for your skin. Always make sure it specifically states it's suitability for sensitive skin. Lean towards cleansing lotions and milks for a sensitive skin as these are more nourishing than gels or foams. Avoid any clay or mud masks as these extract moisture from the skin are are usually used to treat oily skin types. Also, check if the product is a 'skin friendly' PH - this means it will cleanse without altering the skin's natural state. Look out for products containing Aloe Vera, as it's weirdly close to the skin's natural PH which means it helps soothe and moisturise skin without irritation

Here are my favorite skincare products for caring for my very sensitive skin!

At home:





I quite like these products. At first I started out using the Moisturiser and the Eye Cream when I found them in the sale in Boots (half price) but at that point I was having weekly Dermalogica Facials at college and didn't want to over-work my skin by introducing another round of products as it was so sensitive. But now, as we draw closer to the end of the course, my facials are becoming less and less frequent so I thought it was about time I invested in some products for use at home. The Cleanser and Toner are only recent additions to my routine (after months of testing out other products with no success) and I'm liking them so far but am going to reserve judgement until the end of the week when I will give my final verdict.

Prices range from £2.49 - £4.99. Available from most Boots stores.

The only other Skincare Brands I would really recommend for sensitive skin would be Simple and Dermalogica. I've never used Simple's products (a friend of mine has similar skin problems to mine and she found it too harsh), but I have used Dermalogica first hand and would really recommend them to anyone looking for high-end products. You could alternatively book into a salon/spa/college salon for monthly Dermalogica facials if you don't want to invest in the products yourself. Prices are avaliable on request from salons, colleges and spas in your area.

So I hope that helped some of you! I know what a nightmare finding the right skincare can be but I'm planning on adding additional parts to this skincare guide for Normal, Dry, Oily and Combination skin types soon!

xo






Monday 15 April 2013

Current Make-Up Faves


Hey guys! 

So last week was a hectic one! After chilling out for the whole of the Easter holidays, it seems like life's been running on overdrive. Today's been my first 'pause' day, so I thought I'd share a post on my current make-up faves. 
These products are the ones that I cart around with me everywhere. Some are the basic staples of my beauty routine and others are more recent introductions that I've fallen in love with already. 
I've noticed recently that there are a lot more lip products than eye products, something that has honestly shocked me. I've always been one for jet black liner and long, curly lashes but I've been coming into my (lip) colours lately and I've found a few shades that I can wear with confidence.

I apologize that they're not numbered/labeled but it should be pretty straightforward as to which product is which.
Colour Trend Fresh Face Oil Free Foundation (Ivory Beige) - Not going to lie, this foundation isn't the best coverage-wise so I have to use a fair amount but it's the best colour-match I've found for my pale skin tone. It also blends really well, and doesn't cake over spots like some others I've tried. Avon, £4.75.

Collection 2000 Cover Up Stick (Fair) - As I'm sure any other blogger would agree, Collection 2000 concealers are literally the Holy Grail of the beauty world. It's easy to blend, gives amazing coverage and has a perfect price! Boots, £1.99.

Natural Collection Blusher (Pink Cloud) - This was a recent purchase of mine and I love it already. Great on top of foundation, or if I'm in a rush I just dab a little on my cheek bones with my fingers. The pigment of this small pot is incredible! (For a full review, plus more photos, check out the blog post). Boots, £1.99.

Kohl Eyeliner (Black) - I use this on my water lines (bottom and top) and it lasts remarkably well. It's not massively pigmented (it appears more of a dark grey when I use it on my lid), but it's always handy to carry around. Primark, £1.00 for two.

Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara (Black) - My all time favourite mascara. It literally does everything - curls, thickens, lengthens and will last me from 7:00am til 7:00pm without flaking or loosing curl. I adore this! Boots, £8.99.

The Body Shop Born Lippy Lip Balm (Raspberry) - Moisturises and tints my lips with a lovely soft pink shade. I use this when I'm running late and don't have time for proper lipstick application. Also smells delicious! The Body Shop, £2.00.

LUSH Lip Scrub (Bubblegum) - If I could only live with one lip product...! This gorgeous sugary stuff buffs my lips leaving them super smooth, a definite saviour after this long winter! Smells incredible, tastes incredible, leaves a gentle tint on my lips that goes great with a 'barely there' make up look. Lush, £5.25.

Make Up Academy Lipstick (Shade 4) - This bubblegum pink lipstick is such a bargain! It's moist enough to apply straight onto lips without the use of a balm and the pigment is light enough that you can either choose to wear it as a soft splash of pink or build it up into a brighter shade. Superdrug, £1.99.

2True Colour Drench Lipstick (Shade 5) - This lipstick is such a gorgeous shade! It's sort of a purple/red/pink-ish colour with a subtle shimmer. The pigment is the opposite of the MUA Lipstick - the shade is very strong on my lips, but can be pared down using a tissue for a more subtle, day-time look. I love this! Superdrug, £1.99.

Max Factor Lipfinity Lip Tint (Shade 9) - 'Lipfinity' is definitely right! This red lip stain literally lasts all day long, through meals, snacks and drinks without even a smudge or need of a top-up. I often wear this when I can't be bothered to make an effort with my make-up and it gives me so much confidence! Boots - £6.99


Left - Right. 2True Colour Drench Lipstick (Shade 5)//Make Up Academy Lipstick (Shade 4)//Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub//The Body Shop Raspberyy Lip Balm//Max Factor Lipfinity Lip Tint (Shade 9)


Make Up Bag - Brantano Footwear, £4.00.

So there you have it! Do you use any of these products? What do you think of them?

Let me know! xo




Friday 12 April 2013

Look of the Day - Purple Smokey Eye


Hey guys!

We decided to do a bit of make-up in the college salon today, and as part of my practical assessment I had to do an evening look. Following Kels's favourite colour we went with a purple smokey eye with nude, glossy lips.


The finished look modeled by my friend Kelsey!


The Kit:






Skin Prep:
  • Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover
  • Dermalogica Ultra Calming Cleanser
  • Dermalogica Soothing Skin Spritz
  • Dermalogica Active Moist moisturiser
Face:
  • No 7 Colour Corrector Primer [Redness]
  • Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse [Shade Ivory]
  • Colour Works Blusher [Shade Pink]
Eyes:
  • Bourjois Smokey Eyes Trio [In Lilac]
  • Miss Sporty Pump Up Lash Booster [Black]
  • Primark Kohl Liner [Black]
Lips:
  • LUSH Lip Scrub [Bubblegum]
  • Seventeen Lasting Fix Lipstick [Dare to Bare]
  • Seventeen Ultimate Volume Gloss [Crystal]
Brushes:
  • Foundation Brush
  • Contour Blush Brush
  • Eyeshadow Brush
  • Contour Eyeshadow Brush
  • Eyebrow Brush [for thin strokes of shadow along lash line]
So what do you guys think? I apologise for the poor photo quality of the products, our lighting in salon is awful!

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Natural Collection Blush 'Pink Cloud' Review


 Hey dolls;
Back to college this week! Must admit it was a bit depressing to set my alarm for 6:30am for the first time in two weeks, but I honestly am glad to regain some structure to my day. No more joggers + DVD boxset days for another long while! 

Just thought I'd give a quick post about this adorable little pot blush I picked up from my local Boots. I've been eyeing this little beauty for a while, it's bargain price (£1.99) and the need to revamp my make-up routine both coaxing me within it's direction, but I never really got around to it. Until I was stranded waiting for a lift home and happened to be stood within the range of a Boots store.
My shade of choice is 'Pink Cloud', a soft peach toned pink that's definitely not too drastic for my mega-pale complexion. It's actually really pigmented, so a little goes a long way and I don't have to spend ages building up the colour. My only disappointment is the packaging (the disk of powder fell out of the casing straight away), but it's nothing a little superglue wont fix. 


I apologise for the uneven skintone, but I'd just had a facial!

I'm in love!

Have any of you tried any Natural Collection cosmetics? What did you think of them? xo

Wednesday 3 April 2013

LUSH Shampoo Bar 'Seanik' REVIEW!



On an impromptu trip into town on a freezing cold Sunday afternoon with the boyfriend recently, we were stumbling around in our knitwear on the way to ANOTHER gaming store when we passed LUSH and, obviously, I dragged him inside to 'get out of the cold for a minute'. At least that's what I told him.

I've always been a big fan of LUSH for their super-inventive products and the gorgeous scents that accompany said products, but I've never really been truly commited. That was until I picked up a copy of 'The Lush Times' (Lush's newspaper version of a brochure) and read Dame Vivienne Westwood's article about Global Warming. I thought a lot about how I could switch up my normal cosmetics and products in exchange for ones that are more planet-friendly.

Which is why I picked up this Shampoo Bar (£5.25). After discussing my requirements with the sales assistant, I decided upon 'Seanik', an ocean-inspired bar with softening seaweed and volumising sea salt. I was a bit skeptical of it's abilities at first but now it's safe to say I'm in love.





How to use:

To my pleasant surprise, this bar bubbles up extremely well, meaning I only need a light lather on my fine shoulder-length hair. You simply wet your hair down (works best when your hair is literally soaked) and rub the bar three to four times around your head. Personally I swirl once on my hair line, once half-way down my hair and once near the ends to create even bubble coverage.


Results:

My hair felt soft and manageable with a subtle, natural bounce. It gave me the all of the volume and texture of a sea-salt spray but without the heavy product residue. I wash my hair with this every two to three days and it's still the same size that it was when I purchased it. It's supposed to last 80 - 100 washes (depending on hair length and thickness) and for me, I think that's possible. 

How to store:

The key to making this last in to allow it to dry properly. I leave mine in my bathroom window sill and then transfer it to my old Sanctuary Spa Scrub tub to keep it hidden from my 5 year old sister! 


xo
 
Edit: I have recently uploaded an updated post on this shampoo bar, talking about how I've been getting on with it since I bought it and the size it is now. here