Category Archives: skincare

The Dr Botanicals Skin-care Miracle

23rd June 2019

[post contains gifted item]

We arrived home from America to find a cold, damp and dismal landscape awaiting us. I instantly missed the brightness and warmth of the Californian Sunshine and craved anything that could bring that back.

Happily for me there was just the thing sitting in my post pile- I’d been sent a brand new product from Dr Botanicals, their Lemon Superfood all-in-one Rescue Butter* (quite a mouthful) to try out.

My first impression was that this look like sunshine in a tube. I love the bold, bright packaging!

This is a multi-use product that promises to moisturise and treat skin problems and can be used literally anywhere on your body. It’s made from 96% natural ingredients, including lemongrass oil, coconut oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil and sea buckthorn fruit oil.

As you would expect, this has the most incredible lemony-fresh scent, I couldn’t help but smile as soon as I squeezed some out.

It’s a nice and thick consistency and rubs in well. I’ve mostly been using it as a hand treatment (as my left hand is subject of a lot of attention right now) and as a general all over soother when hay-fever itches get too much.

It’s the perfect size for keeping in my handbag, and despite my concerns that something so scented may actually irritate my skin ,I’m delighted to say it doesn’t.

All in all this is a fantastic all rounder product that costs a reasonable £14.90 (currently £9.90 on the Dr Botanicals website). You will also find it on many of the well known online beauty retailers.

Posted in beauty, review, skincare

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The Caviar Collection from skinCHEMISTS

01st May 2019
Items gifted by skinCHEMISTS for blog consideration

So, I turned 32 on Sunday and I still don’t have a decent skin care routine under my belt. Sure I cleanse and moisturise, but that’s as far as it goes!

I’ve noticed a fair few sneaky extra wrinkles creeping in lately, so when skinCHEMISTS sent me some products from their super luxe sounding Caviar Collection it was like someone had be spying on my lazy-girl routine.

The Caviar Collection is one of the brands best sellers and I was both intrigued by it’s name, and slightly scared as my associations of caviar tend to err on the lumpy and fishy side of things. Still, I got stuck in and you can read my thoughts below.

Anti-Ageing facial serum £49.99

So it turns out that the Caviar element of these products is a super nutritious marine extract that aims to improve how firm your skin looks as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines.

My first impression was how light this felt when I applied it. I’ve actually been using it under my makeup in the mornings and it just glides on and sinks in well. I did initially wonder if it was worth an almost £50 price tag, and after ten days of solid use I can say yes, yes it is. You only need the smallest amount at a time so it will last for ages, and my skin looks instantly better when I apply it.

Anti-Ageing caviar eye serum £39

Eye products are the one thing I never think to buy, and the one area that really needs all of the help it can get when it comes to my face.

My first impression of this product was how chic it looked (shallow I know!) . It has a real luxe feel that makes me want to keep it on display, which in turn reminds me to use it! Almost two weeks in and I reckon the fine lines around my eyes look less pronounced than they did; I would ask Bob for his opinion but I’m not sure I’m quite ready for his brutal honesty (I’m still smarting from his remark on my grey hairs!)

Anti-Ageing caviar day moisturiser £39

This is another fancy looking product from the brand, and whilst I was a little aback by the price tag (compared to my usual under a fiver moisturiser) I have to say that after a few days of using this I began to understand why people invest in their skincare.

This is another incredibly light product that sinks in like a dream. I actually tend to use this after I’ve taken my makeup off at night; such a rebel! As I find it soothes my skin after a day in the office and I often find night creams a bit too heavy and sticky feeling.

I’m suitably impressed by all three of these products and would recommend anyone who’s looking to pick up some anti-ageing products to give these a whirl. I’m curious as to what else skinCHEMISTS can offer, and as budgets allow I will definitely be seeking out more products from the brand, both in this range and some of their others.

Does anyone have any tips for sticking to a skincare regime? Now I’ve started (again) I really could do with not stopping!

Posted in beauty, brands I love, skincare

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Beauty Know-How For Sensitive Skin*

01st March 2019

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Living with sensitive skin can be a big pain at times; your skin might flare up without much warning, and you’ll then have to deal with annoying red patches and spots. It’s not exactly the prettiest thing to have on your face and it can really knock your confidence. What’s more, annoying is when things that should be good for our face, such as cleansing and exfoliating can cause it to flare up.

There’s no need to despair over your sensitive skin too much though, there are a few ways you can be gentler with it and end up with clear and soft skin. Read on to find out about some great beauty know-how for sensitive skin.

Read Ingredients On All Skincare Products

You will have already found some great skin products for your skin, these are probably ones that don’t aggravate your face too much. However, if you do ever need to buy a new product and you haven’t used it before then it’s really important that you read the full list of ingredients; you’ll then be able to stay away from products that have any potential irritants in them. For example people with sensitive skin will be better off staying away from any fragrances and harsh chemicals.

Moisturize Regularly

It’s also necessary to moisturise your skin on a daily basis. This will lock in more water to your skin which can help soothe any flare ups. All of that moisture will also prevent the skin from drying out and becoming irritated. If your skin ends up red and sore after using your current moisturiser you might be using the wrong kind for your skin. Work out your skin type so that you can find the best type of moisturiser for you.

Photo by Anis M on Unsplash

Don’t Cleanse Too Often

It makes sense that clean skin will be less irritable but did you know that if you cleanse sensitive skin too often it can actually be bad for it? That’s because cleansing can actually be quite harsh on the skin, especially if you are using a strong cleanser. Firstly, you need to make sure that you are using a cleansing product that is gentle enough for your skin, then once you are happy with it you should try to stick to just one cleanse a day.

Find Effective Breakout Treatments

Most people with sensitive skin regularly suffer from spots, breakouts, or acne. Once you start to get on top of these problems you should find that your skin starts to get less sensitive. It can take a bit of trial and error to find the best treatment for your acne breakouts, as we all have such different skin. It’s really worth trying different solutions to figure out which one works best for you. Differin is an acne treatment gel that will work well for some people, other people might find that their skin reacts better to different ointments and creams. If you ever get confused or have questions about your acne treatment, it’s worth speaking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Protect Skin From The Sun

Excess exposure to the sun will make sensitive skin much worse. Generally speaking, it is highly advisable to wear a sunscreen with a high SPF every day, even on days when the weather is bad and very cloudy. You may not be able to see the sun but its rays will still be in the atmosphere and they will still affect your skin. So, be sure to add some SPF to your skincare routine even on dull days. On very sunny days you should seek out as much shade as possible so that your skin isn’t in direct sunlight too much. It could still make your skin sore even if you are wearing a good SPF.

Make Your Own Face Masks

Face masks are great for any type of skin. They can add a lot more moisture and will really soothe any irritation. However, some that you can buy from beauty shops can contain harsh chemicals which could cause sensitive skin to flare up. To prevent this from happening you might want to start making your own homemade masks. Ingredients like oats and natural yoghurt can be very soothing on the skin and help keep breakouts down to a minimum. If you search online you’ll find lots of great DIY recipes.

Use Gentle Exfoliators

Exfoliating can be quite harsh for sensitive skin so it’s best to limit this as much as you can. If you do need to exfoliate then you should make sure you use gentle exfoliators that are made with natural ingredients.

Hopefully, these tips help calm down your sensitive skin!

Posted in beauty, skincare

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The Beauty Sleep Elixir from Beuti

17th December 2018
Despite my best intentions, this year my skincare regime has been seriously lacking, and whilst we might be rapidly approaching the last weeks of 2018, when I was sent a product loved by the likes of Rita Ora and Iggy Azalea to try I figured it’s better late that never and set about trying to up my game.

The Beauty Sleep Elixir* by Beuti is the first product to launch from the UK based brand. It’s a brand new complexion booster with anti-inflammatory properties, made up from 14 plant-based oils (I’m not going to list them all here, but highlights include Caribbean coral extract, chia seed oil and neroli flower oil).

This little bottle of golden oil is designed to tackle “inflammaging” – a condition where your skin ages due to inflammation over a prolonged period of time. This can be caused by every day things such as sun exposure, pollution or simply using the wrong products for your skin (definitely guilty on all accounts here).

You can either pop on a few drops of this elixir under your makeup, or use it over-night to allow your skin to renew itself, with the promise of younger, brighter looking skin I couldn’t wait to try it.

I’ve been using the Beauty Sleep Elixir for just over a week now, mainly under my makeup in the morning as it’s all I can do to remove my makeup before bed, let alone pop any products on (I know, I know). I’m not going to share a before and after, mostly because my face is looking a bit…bruised thanks to a brutal wisdom tooth extraction, but I 100% noticed a difference after just the first day.

It’s going to take a lot to get my poor, neglected skin back in tip-top condition, and that’s going to be one of my main goals for 2019, but things are definitely looking better. I’ve shrugged off that dull, grey tone that comes from spending too much time in an office with central heating, and overall things just look smoother and dare I say it…more youthful. This isn’t a cheap product, it costs £42 for a 30ml bottle, but a tiny bit goes a long way- literally one pump works beautifully under my makeup, and probably two pumps would do a nighttime slathering.

You can get your hands on this wonder oil at lookfantastic although you’ll have to wait for it to come back in to stock as it sells out pretty much as soon as it hits the website.
One thing I have learnt from my experiments with skincare is that it does pay to invest, and I’ll genuinely be buying more of this when my bottle runs out.

Has any one else tried this product? And what are your best tips for getting in to a solid skincare regime? This girl needs all of the help she can get!

Product gifted to me for blog consideration, terrible skincare habits, puffy face and opinions are entirely my own.

Posted in beauty, brands I love, review, skincare

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Tightening Your Skin Without Resorting to Surgery*

19th October 2018

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

When you look in the mirror and notice sagging skin, it can be an embarrassment; however, it is one you do not have to live with. In fact, if you catch your wrinkles or skin sags early enough surgery may not even be required. There are many other ways to tighten up your skin that should be considered first.

When You May Need Surgical Intervention
There are times when surgery for sagging skin is necessary, however, those times are not as frequent as you may think. If you have severely sagging skin; such as after losing a lot of weight or having a baby surgery may be a good option for you. Otherwise, there are probably other options you can take advantage of that cost less, take less time and come with fewer risks. A skincare professional can advise you regarding whether your skin is sagging severely enough to require surgical tightening.

Clearing Up Skin Wrinkles Using Laser Devices
When surgery is not required but you have moderately sagging skin, clinical intervention is still important as home treatments will not get rid of moderate wrinkles. One of the best clinical treatment types is laser therapy. Professionals have used cosmetic laser machines in clinics to treat many types of skin problems for decades.

Ablative laser machines are devices that are often used to perform procedures called laser peels. A laser peel can help you improve the appearance of your skin quickly by getting rid of undesirable materials on the surface of your skin. However, laser peel procedures cannot immediately get rid of deep wrinkles- they are best for treating mild surface concerns.

Non-ablative laser treatments are more likely to remove moderately deep wrinkles. However, they can take a lot of time to do so. This is because non-ablative laser procedures are predominantly designed to trigger the natural defence mechanisms in your body. One of those mechanisms is increased production of substances that support cellular health, including collagen; that collagen takes time to be produced and distributed properly so you may need several treatments and you will not see results for a while after treatment.

Tightening Sagging Skin with Sound Procedures
It may seem odd, but sound is another common tool in skincare circles. Certain sound frequencies can create cellular vibrations that promote healing. One such therapy is a monopolar radio frequency procedure. It is also known as Thermage therapy in the skincare industry. The Thermage treatment causes your skin cells to move towards each other, the result being widespread tightening of your skin.

Ultrasound procedures are also types of sound wave therapy that can reverse skin sags when they are mild or moderate. Ultrasound is similar to radio frequency treatment in some ways, but it usually treats deeper tissues. Additionally, it is a stronger treatment and can be slightly more uncomfortable than Thermage. However a topical anesthetic can be used to reduce any discomfort you may have.

Deciding Which Skin Tightening Option to Try
There are many factors you must consider when deciding which skin tightening option to try. The first two are the type of skin you have and the severity of your existing skin wrinkles at the time of treatment. You must also consider the costs of each treatment, including costs associated with requiring multiple appointments for some treatments. Additionally, you have to discuss your candidacy for any treatment you are considering with your skincare professional. He or she may tell you that you can’t have a certain treatment after assessing your skin. If so, an alternative may be suggested.

If you’ve had any kind of skin tightening treatments done it would be great to hear about your experiences in the comments.

Posted in beauty, healthy living, skincare

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