Sali Hughes Pretty Honest and Skincare Influences

I love this book, it covers every single beauty related topic that you could think of, Sali Hughes really does know her stuff. If you love everything beauty, you will enjoy this book. Its such as good read and has loads of tips and tricks to really help with everything from skincare, Botox, hair removal and red lips, to beauty gifts, teen beauty and compliment giving. 

I love skincare and this book has a whole section dedicated to skincare and all the tips to go along with it. Reading it really inspired me to up my skincare game. The skincare chapter even has a little mention of fellow blogger Caroline Hirons. What I took from this chapter is that I need to add more hyaluronic acid to my skincare routine, so I nipped to the shops and picked these three products up.

The first of which is the good ol' Hydraluron by Indeed Labs, which is a serum that come with high recommendations from many bloggers and beauty lovers. This serum contains a pure form of Hyluronic acid, for those of you who don't know what that is, its basically an ingredient that can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water. This means its a perfect serum that will help boost moisture levels in your skin, making you look more youthful and skin more plump. 

Intense Facial Serum, Super Facialist by Una Brennan is similar to Hydraluron as it contains Hyluronic acid, but this serum also contains apple derived stem cells, which has apparently been proven to protect longevity of skin stem cells that help to maintain firmness.

 The final product I bought was actually a Retinol cream by Indeed Lab called Retinol Reface Retinol Skin Resurfacer, which is a derivative of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is meant to be one of the most effective ingredients in helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles and the signs of ageing. 'Retinol Reface™ contains not one but 3 forms of retinol to help deliver softer, smoother looking skin, while targeting the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet'.

Together these three products should help improve the appearance and texture of my skin, and if it does I will have Sali Hughes to thank! I highly recommend this book regardless, and I will keep you all updated on my skincare and the effectiveness of these products.

xox

Surviving The Party Season

Christmas is defiantly the time of year where everyone over indulges, to many chocolate treats, to many alcoholic drinks and to many late nights.  All of these can really take a toll on your body, it can make you look and feel tired, and if you are anything like my your skin becomes one giant pimple. So here are a few tips ,tricks and things that might give you a little pick me up during this time of year.

So first of all I will start with the lip products, nudes are a perfect colour for all occasions, especially if you are running late or just going out spontaneously and have not planned what to wear or what make up to use, they are just a good colour to chuck on. But sometimes you want to add a little colour to your look and reds are ideal for that. It Starts With a Kiss lip stain by Lush is a very festive red that is moisturising and not to bold, so don't be put off if you are someone who usually wears a more natural shades. I also find the key to lips during this time of year is moisture. Lack of sleep, cold weather and to much alcohol can really dry out your skin and lips, so keeping them well moisturise will really help.

The next thing follows on from that and is skincare, when your body is run down and you are not sleeping enough, not eating enough nutrient dense foods (I'm looking at anyone who eats their chocolate celebration boxes for breakfast....which I secretly do) and drinking to many mulled wines, your body will start to neglect your skin. It will aim to repair the more important parts of the body such as the liver first and will thus ignore the skin. That's why after a big night out your skin can look really dull, and combine that with dehydration from the alcohol and you have a recipe for horrible skin. Now I'm not saying don't have fun, or don't drink or don't ever eat chocolate, because we all do it and I'm defiantly guilty of doing all of them probably a lot more than I should. But take a little extra time to care for your skin, be that through skincare or just drinking a lot more water, because that does really help. I would recommend products that give high levels of hydration or moisture boosts such as the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask that I have previously talked about here, and also products designed to remove all the dead and dull looking skin such as acid exfoliants, salicylic acid, Glycolic peels and anything of that sort. The Clearasil Superfruits Refreshing Pad are an affordable product that can help your skin move in the right direction, towards less dull and more youthful looking skin.

Not only does your facial skin dry out but so does your body and hair, so spending time applying a good body moisturiser such as any body butters from The Body shop, and also a hair oil will vastly improve the appearance of your skin and hair. While on the topic of hair, we all know dry shampoo is a god send and is ideal for busy people who may not have time between parties to wash their hair, so great for this time of year.

Finally, just like with the lips a nude nail polish will take you from party to party, and day to night, without clashing with your outfits or looking horrific if it starts to chip off. Just like a good shimmery gold/ bronze eye shadow will. The Maxfactor nail polish in the photo above I have previously spoke about in more depth here. The last two things I feel may be two of the more important things, because nothing gives tiredness away like puffy dark circles under the eyes. I enjoy eye creams with a roller ball applicator because it is cooling but also helps to drain puffy eyes, While a good quality concealer can help hide the fact you have only had 3 hours sleep and spent the rest of your night either out partying or staying up to the early hours watching Christmas films and stuffing your face haha (guilty!)

A few added extras I would recommend are lots and lots of water which can help plump the skin and bring shine back to the hair, some kind of sleep spray or roll on such as This Works Breathe In, which will help you relax. Also waxing! which I know everyone cringes at just the idea of this, but going for one all over wax will save you about 2-6 weeks of shaving, giving you extra time to sleep in the mornings, and lastly I would recommend Green Tea, which helps repair your liver and is generally great for you,  I have done a full post of the benefits here.

Take a little extra time to care for your self and you will be looking fantastic in all your Christmas Photos.....anyway I'm off to stuff my face with Quality Streets and mince pies haha.

xox

The Body Shop - Moisturiser addition.

The Body Shop holds a special place in my heart, I love the brand and everything it stands for, so I obviously couldn't pass up an online offer when I saw one. I was in need of some new moisturisers so I picked these up.  

Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream - this product is almost like a whipped mousse texture rather than a cream. It feels very luxurious on the skin and supplies a great level of moisture.  I only use this product when my skin is feeling super dry, I have also just started using an at home 4 week Glycolic Peel Kit, which requires a lot of moisturiser to be applied to the skin after use, so this is perfect for then. I think this night cream would be great for people with drier skin, or maybe when you are suffering with the dreaded hangover skin.

Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream - For anyone with oily skin, you will know the struggles of trying to get your make up to stay in place without making your face so matte from excessive amounts of powder, that you look like you have some weird kind of mask on. I find a mattifying day moisturiser is a must, but again its hard to find a cream that has the right levels of mattyfying-ness and also moisture. Though this is advertised as a cream, it has a gel like formula. Making it fast absorbing and great as a pre make up moisturiser base. It gives me the perfect amount of moisture (It contains glycerine that helps bind water to the surface of the skin, making it great for dehydrated skin), leaving my skin feeling plump and soft, but also shine free for a considerable amount of time. This product is one of The Body Shop's best sellers and I can see why.

Nutriganics Smoothing Night Cream - This is a light weight cream that is 98% natural ingredients, containing no Parabens or Silicones, its great for people who are sensitive to a lot of chemicals or someone who just worries about putting them on their face. It comes in a pump bottle which is easily controlled, so you can dispense just the right amount of product required out. This product absorbs well into the skin, and leaves my face feeling calm, soft and hydrated. It is non greasy which is good for someone like me who has a slightly more oily complexion, and is designed for the first signs of ageing, which again is good for my age group.

Honeymania Body Butter - If you haven't tried or used any of The Body Shop body butters, you are sorely missing out. They are rich butters, that smell amazing and leave your skin feeling so hydrated and extremely moisturised. I tend to only use these body butters on really dry areas, such as feet, knees and elbows. But I do occasionally use them on my legs if they are feeling super dry. I would defiantly recommend these butters to be used at night before bed, as they can take a while to sink in, so not so great if you want to get dressed immediately and crack on with your day. I would highly recommend these to anyone with dry skin, and there are so many scents I'm sure you will find one you love.

I am a massive fan of The Body Shop, especially around this time of year when they bring out their gift sets. This year The Body Shop is also teaming up with a charity called War Child, and for every specially selected gift that is bought, The Body Shop will make a contribution of 4p to the charity to fund a lesson for a child in a war torn country.  So if that's not a good enough reason to pick up a gift set, I don't know what is.

xox

November Favourites

So its that time again, when the month ends and everyone is bombarded with monthly favourites. I know this is a massive cliché but where the hell has November gone? I am so excited for this month to end mind, as I really love Christmas and the whole run up to it, and now December is knocking on our door it has become socially acceptable to go out in my Christmas jumpers, eat myself into a chocolate coma and listen to Christmas songs on repeat.  Also I get to open my first door of my advent calendar tomorrow! eeek.

There are several things I have been loving this month, first being Batiste dry shampoo in Cherry as I hate washing my hair, and I am really lazy. This dry shampoo smells great and takes a lot less effort than shampooing, conditioning, blow drying and styling my hair does.

The next two things are skincare, the Origins Drink-up Intensive is a great mask for this time of year as it really helps to hydrate dry, sore and chapped skin that can be caused by the harsh winter weather. The next is Clearasil Anti-Blemish Treatment Cream, I tend to get a lot of hormonal spots and this cream helps to reduce the redness and tackle the size of the pimple fairly well, and is affordable and easily accessible.

I have also rediscovered MAC Charcoal Brown eye shadow, which I am currently loving applying under my eyes and also with a MAC liner brush on my lash line. This shadow really helps define my eyes, and gives a great smoky look.

Another two products I have rediscovered this month are both of the Lush products, the Popcorn lip scrub which tastes like a dream and makes my lips feel so soft, and also It Starts With a Kiss Lip Tint which gives me the perfect effortless red lip colour, which isn't to over powering and is easy to maintain throughout the day.

Finally my miscellaneous non beauty monthly favourites are my red slippers as they make me feel so Christmasy and happy. They were only about £2 from Primark and keep my feet so toasty and warm. I am also currently obsessed with Blogilates, I am halfway through her Beginners Month Calender and I am actually enjoying working out every day. She is so motivational and has such a healthy approach to fitness and nutrition. As far as TV shows go, this month I have literally spent all my free time watching Orange Is The New Black, and I am now up to date and have watched ever episode. It became a weird addiction of mine this month and I loved every second of every episode, I would highly recommend the show, unless you are younger than 16... then I would suggest maybe giving it a miss haha.

November has been a good month for me, and I hope December will be even better. What have you been loving this month? I would love to discover new products, tv shows and health/fitness products, videos est.


xox

Origins Mask Marvels Gift Set

Origins is a brand that for some reasons always draws me in, so when I spotted this gift set was on sale from £50 to £23, I couldn't just walk by. This set comes with three different Origin masks, first of which is the popular Drink Up intensive mask, then there is the Clear Improvement clay mask and also Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask. They are all 75ml and come in a nice presentation box which would make them great as a Christmas gift.

Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask

This mask is designed to fight any problems your skin  may throw at you, it has salicylic acid which is great for killing bacteria, removing dead skin cells and helping your skin look brighter and clearer. It also contains Zinc Oxide and Sulphur which helps with oil control as well as camphor which aids in calming down any skin redness or irritation.  This mask states its designed with more oily or blemish prone skin in mind, but It can be used by anyone who is experiencing any skin troubles.

Clear Improvement

A brilliant Charcoal and clay based mask that helps tackle any clogged pore issues that may be caused by things such as pollution, making this mask great for any city chicks...or city guys, it doesn't discriminate by gender.  It has the classic dark face mask colour and acts as a form of dirt magnet that sucks out all the grim from deep within your pores. Its the perfect mask for those who need a really deep clean and is suggested to be used roughly once a week for the best results.

Drink Up Intensive mask

This is a slightly different mask compared with the first two, this is a over night mask that you apply before bed and leave on over night. This might seem like a strange thing to do, as usually a mask will be rinsed off after about 10 minutes. This mask works well as during sleep the skin repairs itself, and products that are applied at night have a longer time to sink in and get to work. Now I don't claim to be a skin expert by any means, but this mask is great for those whose skin is dry, dehydrated or just looking dull. It contains Avocado oil as well as Apricot oil, that deeply hydrate and quench dry skin. As well as Japanese Seaweed to help prevent the skin from future dehydration. This product smells like apricot and goes on clear. 

This gift set is ideal as a present or just for someone who wants to test out these masks without committing to the full size products and the full size price range. 

Nip + Fab Freeze, Blur and Smooth Your Wrinkles.

I can't lie to you guys, the only reason I bought this product is because I saw Kylie Jenner post a photo of the Wrinkle Fix on her Instagram. So I thought If it was good enough for her, its good enough for me. I am a secret Kardashian clan fan, I cant help it, so when I spotted this set on Sale in Boots I had to buy it. 

The Viper Venom line is a new rang of Nip + Fab products, aimed at reducing fine lines and wrinkles. This set contains the Eye Fix and the Wrinkle Fix face serum. The Eye fix contains Liftonin to help smooth out wrinkles and Red Algae to target dark circles. While the Wrinkle Fix serum has 'Wrinkle Blur Technology' to mask the appearance of fine lines. 

This set is currently on offer for £16.63 in Boots, from £24.95. So its a great time to buy these two products if you have been eyeing them up for a while. 

Yes To Cucumbers Calming Night Cream

Quoting Game Of Thrones, 'Winter is coming', and during the winter the air gets colder and my skin gets dry and sore. I always try and up my moisturising game when it gets colder here in the UK because my skin really does suffer. I bought this Yes To Cucumbers Calming Night Cream when in New York and it has been a life saver now I'm back in the UK. This product has 98% natural ingredients which I love and is Paraben and Cruelty free, which again is great. 

I found this cream to be light weight but effective. I have very combination skin, sometimes it can be dry and other times really oily. I have not found a problem with this product being to heavy for me, or turning me into a grease ball. It is a very gentle moisturiser and absorbs fast into the skin. I have really enjoyed using it and I think this would be a great moisturiser for those with slightly more sensitive skin, or perhaps those on the more oily side. 

Thought I did buy this in America, Boots also sell 'Yes To Cucumbers' products here. 

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Garnier Pure Active BB cream

In case you have no idea what a BB cream is, its essentially a light weight foundation with 'skincare benefits', I am always sceptical about how well these types of products work as skin care though. 

The Garnier Pure Active BB cream claims it helps those who are blemish prone as it has a 'anti-blackhead' formula, with 2% salicylic acid in it. It also states that it is mattifying and has SPF 15 built in. Now I'm not sure how well this product works for helping prevent break outs, however it does leave my skin fairly Matt (Matt enough for my own person preference). In all honestly I did not buy this product for the skincare claims, I bought is as I was looking for a nice light coverage, no fuss foundation that will even out my skin tone without looking like I am wearing a load of make up. This BB cream works very well for that, its nice and light, it doesn't feel heavy, or like its going to cause loads of break outs, it doesn't really feel like I have make up on at all. Its great for the days when you can't really be bothered to faff about with make up, or if you are on holiday and don't want heaps of foundation melting off your face. 

However, I am pretty pale, roughly ivory in most foundation I buy, unless I have a tan of course. This BB cream claims to be light, its pretty dark, I cannot use it in the winter months as its waaaay to dark, unless I fake tan/bronze my neck. In the summer however it suits my skin colour fairly well. The colour rang isn't fantastic for most BB creams, which is a shame, but as they become more popular hopefully they will start producing a greater range of colours.  

Beauty Benefits of Green Tea.

Green Tea is a herbal tea that you just simply add hot water to. I absolutely love Green Tea and drink a million cups a day. This tea is so good for you and there is a multitude of health benefits you can gain from drinking this tea. I have listed a few, but if you just Google the benefits of Green Tea, the list is very long. 

To start with Green Tea is Anti Inflammatory, so helps if you have any joint issues or illness.

It boosts your immune system as it has Catechin, which is an antioxidant. Therefore this tea is great for the winter months when everyone seems to catch a cold. Due to the same reasoning, Green Tea is said to help fight Cancer-Causing Cells. Win!

It helps to reduce the risk of heart disease as it fights bad cholesterol, as well as reducing high blood pressure.  

Tests have also shown Green Tea aids in weight loss and also helps your body burn fat as fuel, which is beneficial when working out, thus helping fat loss. 

Green Tea also has skin benefits, as its full of Anti Oxidants it fights free radicals that can be caused by things such as pollution or the sun, therefore reducing skin damage. As it is Anti Inflammatory it can also de-puff the face which is great after long nights or to much alcohol. (On a side note, Green Tea is excellent for the day after large amounts of alcohol has been consumed, as it helps cleanse the liver, it is packed with Anti Oxidants which repairs the body and also helps make you look and feel a whole lot better)

Studies have also found that if you use Green Tea topically, it can help reduce the signs of psoriasis, as it will help slow down the production of these type of cells. 

It also helps reduce the redness in Rosacea and fight against wrinkles as it is Anti Oxidant loaded.

 

Sanctuary Spa - 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask

During that lovely 'time of the months' (not) my skin gets very oily and very spotty, thanks to this brilliant thing called hormones. If I wasn't already emotional, having to deal with a face full of pimples can really stress me out. So I'm always on the hunt for something, anything, that will help my skin look and feel better, and believe me, I have tried a lot.

I was in Boots one day and they were having their 3 for 2 promotion. I already had two things so I thought I might as well get a third product as its free, and I spotted this face mask on the shelf. Sanctuary isn't a brand I usually go for, I'm not really sure why but I just seem to overlook the brand. However I saw this mask, quickly read the packaging and thought why not. I have never tried a self heating mask before, so I thought it would be an interesting experience and I gave it a go.

 This mask is basically a Clay and Charcoal mask designed to draw out impurities which is great for blemish prone skin, it heats up on the face which helps to really open the pores and get deep down into them to draw out all the gross oil and dirt. It also contains various essential oils such as Sweet Almond Oil to help sooth and calm the face as well as adding a bit of moisture, as clay based masks can be a little drying on the skin.

When you apply this mask to your face it heats up slightly as you rub it in which actually feels really nice, then you leave it for only 5 minutes, making it super easy and fast to use, even when you are in a rush or really busy. You then wash it off like any standard face mask.

Once I use this my skin feels so much cleaner, more fresh and less red. It really helps to calm down any blemishes I have and leaves my skin looking a lot better than it did before. I only use this mask during oily skin times as I feel like it would be too much for my skin sometimes, however If you are spot prone or have acne this is worth giving it a go. Its £10.50 for 100ml and I have got so many applications out of this tube. This brand is available here or at most Boots stores.

New year, New skin

I'm forever fighting a loosing battle with my skin, I'm saying healthy, clear and dewy skin and my body is saying spotty, dully and oily. I'm sure a lot of you know where I am coming from, right? My current skincare routine is clearly not working, I still get break outs and my skin just looks tired and fed up, which is pretty much how I feel about my skin as well, its a mutual thing. So I thought, seen as its the start of a new year, its the perfect opportunity to try some new skin care and in an attempt to tame the beast that is my face haha. I would by lying if I didn't say that these picks were heavily influenced by Caroline Hirons, the skincare godess. I read her blog all the time and pretty much take her opinion as gospel, so when I was trying to decide what to buy, I naturally thought the best place to start was to read her blog.

After hours and probably days of reading her posts, I decided I wanted to try Hydraluron, she raves about this product so I thought its was worth a shot. Hydraluron is a serum you apply before your moisturiser, that is designed to increase the skins hydration from below the surface, increasing the hydration levels in your skin, making it look youthful, dewy and supple. There is a lot more fancy stuff it does but the best place to read about that is Carolines blog, I wouldn't do it justice if I tried to explain it.

I then opted for Eysilix, which is made by Indeed, the same company as Hydraluron. (This is another product Caroline recommends) I have been umming and ahhing about an eye cream for a while, I'm just about to turn 22 and think its probably time to start with some form of  'anti aging' eye cream, to try and prevent wrinkles before its to late. Eysilix claims to reduce the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, crows feet and fine lines. If it does all that I will be beyond impressed, I don't really have super bad crows feet or fine lines yet but even a small difference will make a huge impact I'm sure.

Lastly, I picked up Effaclar Lotion Astringente Micro-Exfoliante by La Roche-Posay. Caroline talks about how much she loves exfoliating toners, though I'm not sure she mentions this one in particular, I thought it looked pretty good, and for the price (roughly £11) it was worth a go.

Iv only been using these products for roughly a week and my first impressions are positive. Once I have test run them for a good amount of time I will update you all on my opinion. Until then, stay tuned.

If you have any skincare recommendations for oily, combination and spot prone skin, I would be delighted if you let me know. I'm always on a quest for new skincare, I feel like a girl can never have to much.....or at least that's how I justify it.

Sunday tea and pamper spree.

There are two perks to a Sunday,  one being I can relax with a cup of tea, read my books/watch youtube videos and catch up on my blog post reading list. I can also spend the day pampering myself by massaging skincare products after skincare products into my face. In some ways I love Sundays, but they can be a very boring day, so I hope this post kills someone of the Sunday bordem for you.

 I have recently been trying out the La Roche- Posay Effaclar K daily renewal fluid, which is a retinol based treatment you use once a day all over the face, it contains salicylic acid to help cell turn over and improve the appearance of acne scares and pigmentation. Its designed for those who suffer with mild acne and/or irregular skin texture, it helps to even out skin tone, unclog pores and keep the skin looking and feeling clear and smooth. I have used a handful of different retinol creams before, such as TriAcneal by Avene, so I have something to compare this to, but not only that, I have high expectations as I loved TriAcneal. Considering this is £14.50 I thought this would just be an average product that didn't do anything amazing, but I have really enjoyed using this. My skin has become a lot more clear, I have visibly less spots and the scares I do have are really started to fade out. I actually now have the confidence to go to the shops without any make up on, which for me is astonishing. I would defiantly recommend this, its affordable, unlike a lot of other retinol creams and really does a good job. 

Boots Botanics hot cloth cleansing balm, 97% Organic.

Yet again this is another Boots Botanics organic product that has impressed me. I have a previous post on the Boots Botanics facial oil 100% Organic here

This is a 97% organic cleansing balm that  

contains shea butter, rosehip, beeswax, almond oil and jojoba oil, which are really hydrating and nourishing on the skin, helping to leave your face smooth, soft and moisturised. You use it just like any other cleansing balm, over the top of a full face of make up or on bare skin. It works a dream at removing make up, doesn't sting the eyes and leaves your skin clean and soft. This is a solid balm that melts to an oily consistency once massaged in, which means it lifts make up easily of the face. Its very gentle and even thought I don't have sensitive skin, I can see this being great for someone who does. It is a rich formula which would be great for someone with dry skin also, and comes with a muslin cloth to buff and wipe away make up and dead skin cells. The light exfoliating effect of the muslin cloth means your skin is left looking glowing and radiant, and pores thoroughly unclogged. 

I find high street cleansing balms can be very hit or miss, but you cant really go wrong with this one. The fact it has such a high percentage of organic and natural ingredients means you wont be clogging pores with any nasty chemicals and its safe to remove eye make up with. There are no parabens in it and it was not tested on animals...which is always nice.

If im wearing make up, I tend to double cleanse, first, to remove my make up and second, to cleanse the skin. This balm left my skin unbelievably soft and really hydrated, which is what I need in this weather. Did not cause a break out and really enhanced my over all complexion. 

It costs £7.99 and comes with a muslin cloth. 

Beauty sleep.

Sleeping beauty just got more beautiful! 

Sleep is crucial to looking and feeling good, when your sleeping your body produces extra protein molecules to help repair your body. This helps boost your immune system, de-stress you and of course, repair skin, hair and nails. 

Weight- Sleep helps regulate the hormones that control your appetite. When your sleep deprived, your hormone balance is interrupted and this causes your appetite to increase, which may lead to weight gain and no one really wants that do they.

Skin- when your tired your blood doesn't flow efficiently which may lead to dull looking skin, while your sleeping your body produces growth hormones which can repair the skin and aid collagen production which can keep your skin looking youthful and radiant, and repair damage done by free radicals. Furthermore while your sleeping, your body isn't spending as much time looking after your organs and making sure everything is functioning correctly, which means it has more time to focus on the skin, so any skincare you apply at night will work much more effectively than in the day. 

Eyes- most of us know the effects lack of sleep can have on eyes, they can look puffy and bloodshot with dark circles, your eyes can also look slightly yellow from lack of sleep. A top tip to help reduce these is of course sleeping, but to further reduce puffiness, sleep more on your back than front, with your head elevated so fluid can drain more easily. 

Hair - Like I said earlier, growth hormones are released while you sleep, so naturally your hair grows more while your sleeping. 

The suggested number of hours sleep your meant to get in one night is between 7-9 hours. But if your like my, a really bad sleeper, getting this amount of hours may be hard. Here are a few tips I have picked up over the years that may help you get that much needed and beneficial rest.

1. Laptops and tvs give off artificial light which can trick your brain into thinking its day time and thus keeping you awake. So the best idea is to turn them off a few hours before bed and switch to something like reading.
   
   
2. I have been trying the Elemis quite mind room mist which is a combination of aromatic oils to calm the mind and help you relax. I find this really does aid a peaceful nights sleep, I also find it helps me to nod off faster which is great. I strongly suggest this for anyone who suffers with sleeping problems. They also have other products in this rang that I'm dying to get my hands on. 
   
   
3. A hot drink before bed can really relax you, a lot of people go for a warm mug of milk which is fine, but you can also try Horlicks which is pretty much like warm milk but with added wheat and malted barley. 
   
   
4. Hot bath/shower before bed is known to aid people in sleep as it can warm you up and put you in a more relaxed mood, especially baths. You can also add essential oils to a bath such as lavender which will really help with sleep.
   
   
5. Noise and light really effect sleep. Much the same as the first point, light keeps you awake. So if you don't already, try and sleep in total darkness. An eye mask might help you with this, and if you live in a noisy house/area you can try ear plugs to block out the sound. 

The secret to beating dry winter skin?

Boots Botanics was a brand I often over looked, up until they had their revamp.... then they suddenly were on my radar and I was intrigued, mainly by their organic line. 

The first thing that caught my eye was this Boots Botanics facial oil 100% Organic,made from mainly almond oil, rosehip and argan oil. 

The claim

'This aromatic oil melts into lacklustre skin to lock in moisture for 8 hours while softening, conditioning and helping to restore its natural glow. Use regularly to boost the performance of your daily skincare regime.'

Now it states to use it morning and night, but I found that it didn't really sink in fully, so applying foundation on top of it would be a nightmare. But as a night facial oil it was great. I applied it a few hours before bed to give it time to be absorbed, a few small drops are sufficient enough for the whole face (which means it will last forever!), I does leave a slight residue, but by morning that's gone. I was apprehensive about using this at first, I was worried it may cause breakouts, but to my surprise it did nothing of the sort. I awoke to beautiful soft and glowing skin, it looked and felt more plump and hydrated. This is perfect for the cold months, when skin (especially mine) can become dry. It really improved the overall look and feel of my skin, I'm so pleased.

 Could this be the secret to beating your winter skin?

Winter essentials - skincare #2

Facial skincare

For most people, winter means dry skin. For me, who has normally oily/combination skin, winter leads to my skin becoming difficult to manage. It become irritated, dry and spotty all at once.

So I feel like the best essentials for winter skin are those that will hydrate and repair skin, such as Cosmetic Lad and Skin drink moisturiser by Lush. Ultrabland is another soothing and heeling product but this is a facial cleanser and I swear by it.

Drop of Youth by the body shop is a facial serum that really helps to make the most out of your skincare routine. It helps to smooth out the skin and make it look glowing. which is great as skin can look dull during winter.

I also added Johnson facial moisturiser to this as its a cheap facial moisturiser that comes in a huge rang of   formulas for different skin types and concerns. 

Body skincare

Body care is often overlooked in winter, people focus more on how their skin looks during summer. I personally feel like my skin needs a lot more maintenance during winter. I'm prone to getting chapped, sore and dry skin from the cold air, which can be painful. 

I like to use Ro's Argan body conditioner on my legs, its designed to be used the same way as a hair conditioner but on your skin. I use it as a shaving cream, which makes my legs feel so soft after use. 

I also use all over my body a body lotion/butter. My favourite are the Body shop ones, but as a poor student I have to just settle for Boots Extract body butters. 

My new found love is Garnier hand cream, its great to pop in your bag and apply through the day. It keeps my hand hydrated and soft during the harsh cold weather of winter. 

Using all this combined I can keep my skin under control. I know many people have the same problems as me and cold air and air con can really dry out skin, so its best to keep the skin hydrated and looking great for the party season. 

Philosophy

A couple of days ago I was walking through Debenhams when I got stopped by a lady who worked at the philosophy counter, she asked me if id like to try some of their skincare and naturally I said yes. We had a little chat about my current skin care routine, my skin type and what I do to my skin. She then matched me with some products she thought I would like and would suit my combination to oily skin. I was given Purity made simple face cleanser, Hope in a jar moisturiser and The microdelivery exfoliating face wash. She also recommended me their retonol cream called help me but she was all out of samples for it and asked me to come back another day to get one (which I did) 

I have tried and used up all three samples, my favorite by far was The microdelivery exfoliating face wash. It wasn't to abrasive like some exfoliates can be, but really did a good job at removing all the dead skin cells. It is enriched with borage oil and vitamin E which really helps to hydrate and soften the skin, as some exfoliates can cause your face to become a little dry and tight, which this one did not. So i am very pleased with this and very tempted to buy the full size bottle of this which is £22 for 240 ml. 

The purity made simple face wash was also lovely, its a 3 in 1 cleanser for the face and eyes that removes makeup while gently cleansing the face, as well as toning and hydrating. I found this fantastic at removing my make up and it didn't irritate my eyes at all, like a lot of cleansers can, even the Avene gentle cleanser hurts my eyes when removing my make up, so it says a lot for this cleanser as Id didnt irritate them one bit. It left my face feeling very clean but not  tight and dry like some can. My skin felt soft and hydrated without feeling over greasy. I will 100% be buying this once my Avene cleanser has run out. 

Hope in a jar is philosophys best selling moisteriser. Its claims to help reduce uneven skin tone and texture as well as hydrating the skin. It also contains lactic acid which causes a light exfoliation effect. I'm quite undecided with this moisteriser. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad by any means, but i'm not sure I love it enough to spend £34 on it. I think id like to try it out a little longer before I make the plunge into buying the full size. 

Philosophy is a skincare brand I always tend to over look, and im not sure why. After talking to the lovely women at the counter and doing my own research I have come to realise they have some amazing products. I will defiantly be trying out their retonol cream as well as their cleansers. 

Avene gentle gel cleanser

Eau thermale Avene gentle gel cleanser is designed for normal to combination sensitive skin, it comes in a 200ml pump bottle for around the £10 mark. It has no fragrance, and is designed for intolerant and the most sensitive of skin. It does have parabens in which I'm not a huge fan of, but this product works a dream so I can forgive them for that. It helps to balance my skin out perfectly, I have combination skin and this product doesn't dry out my face and it doesn't leave it feeling greasy. After using it my skin feels so soft and smooth, this product works great in conjunction with a muslin cloth. It doesn't foam at all (no soap in product), which took me a while to get us to as I normally use products that lather up, its totally clear when on your face despite the product looks slightly pink in the bottle but feels really smooth when applying it.

 I was worried that this might break me out like the Liz earl cleans and polish did, as I tend to go for products designed at targeting spots and deviating away from that made me slightly worried that my skin wouldn't be able to handle not having products that are aimed at spot fighting. I'm happy to say I have not broke out from this product, It has made me re-think my whole skin care routine, I think I might have been over drying my skin, thus causing over production of oil and then creating spots. I also underestimated how dehydrate my skin was, until I started using a product that wasn't aimed at removing oil.

 Avene also do a gentle cleanser that is aimed at more dry skin that is not a wash off formula like this gel gentle cleanser is, as well as millions of other products that would be perfect for people who have sensitive skin, allergies or even skin conditions such as eczema. The packaging for this I actually really like, its simple and clean looking and allows the product to speak for its self and In my eyes this product speaks volumes. Its a no fuss, but effective cleanser and I really do like it. 

I really do love Avene, I use their TriAcneal which I believe really did cure my acne problem, I have never had any problems with Avene, highly recommend! Gold star to Avene for creating such a great skincare line. 

Avene Triacneal review

Avene Triacneal is a retinol cream that is deigned to help fight acne, Avene is a French skin care brand that can be bought at boots, they cater to skin types that are more on the sensitive size, they have various ranges within their brand for dry/combonatin skin to oily/acne prone skin and their products, including this one, are paraben-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Triacneal is a face emulsion for acne , the Avene website states its 'A clinically-proven trio of acne-fighting ingredients, including patented Retinaldehyde with proven anti-aging benefits (which is a retinal), Glycolic Acid and the new patented Efectiose, formulated with soothing thermal spring water to help eliminate breakouts, abnormal keratinization, acne-related redness and irritation and residual scarring.

It comes in a 30ml squeezy tube and cost roughly about £23 which might seem a little price but its well worth it, trust me. The liquid is a pale yellow and once applied to the skin leaves a slight yellow cast to the face but this is hardly noticeable at all so don't worry. However you are only meant to apply this at night anyway (so no one will see your slightly yellow face)

You are advised to wear a sun screen in the day as this product has a chemical pealing effect (its not as scary as it sounds, It doesnt hurt and your face doesnt peel off haha) on your skin which is designed to improve the look of acne scaring, as well as promote cell tern over which in tern helps acne scaring as well as ageing of the skin, so this is a very versatile product.

It can have a slight tingling sensation when placed on any open raw spots that last seconds at the most, but other than that you cant really feel you have this product on at all. It doesn't make your face dry or tight and once you leave it sink in you can if you wish apply moisturiser and all that jazz over the top.

There can be slight product transfer on your pillow, so it might be better to not use white pillow cases. It dried to the touch in about 4/5 seconds of application. This product can also be applied in several ways depending on the reason your using it, It can be applied in a thin layer all over the face every night if desired, this might be the best for those with medium/sever acne depending on how well your skin can take it, as some people (very few) are advised to not use retonol creams, if you find this product to harsh or if you have mild acne/spots and don't want such an intense treatment you can apply it as and when needed or every other night to help fight spots and prevent new ones developing. 

Some peoples skin may have a 'purging' effect  at first which is where a lot of spots appear, as your skin is drawing dirt from deep down in the skin, this in turn cleanses the skin well and gets rid of the bacteria that would eventually cause spots in the long run. This doesn't last very long and once this initial phase is over your skin should become a lot clearer  

I really love this product. One tube lasted me 3 months and that was using it every single night. So it really is good value for money. Its a good combination of spot fighting and anti ageing, Its hard to combine the two normally, you generally find products are either one or the other, but this is really effective.