Fact: Cold weather = Dull Grey Complexion. Air conditioning, biting winds, hot showers and low temperatures are just some of the elements our poor little mug has to deal with in winter. Our skin becomes dehydrated which slows down skin cell turn over and our circulation also slows down which leads to lacklustre skin. So what can we do to combat this I hear you ask? Well firstly we need to work from the inside out. 1. Increase your water rich foods (tomatoes, watermelon, lettuce, broccoli etc) - this is better than just drinking water alone 2. Drink more fluids (no not alcohol!!! well some maybe..it is nearly Christmas after all!!!) What I actually mean is herbal teas such as lemon, honey & ginger or Chai, Water, Fruit Juice etc 3. Eat more food which contain Omega 3 (Flaxseed, Walnuts, Salmon, Herring, Sardines etc) or take a good supplement such as Eskimo Oil Omega 3 Liquid. Ok so that's a great start now we can work on the outside. 1. Cleanse: Start and finish your day with a cream or oil cleanser as they generally contain less stripping agents than gels. I love the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. It is rich and creamy and quickly removes makeup and daily grim whilst leaving the skin clean and soft. To remove any heavy eye makeup I use the Garnier Express 2 in 1 eye makeup remover. It contains Arginine which helps care for your lashes and removes even waterproof mascara and liner without leaving a greasy residue. 2. Exfoliate: I use the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. This is a toner and exfoliator in one and unlike most toners (which I think are mainly flowery water) this one actually works. It contains glycolic, tartaric and salicylic acid which exfoliates and brightens the complexion and smooths the skin. It is super gentle so can be used daily however Clarins recommend once or twice a week. Perfect for removing dead skin cells. 3. Treat: I have been using a serum just over a year after falling in love with Clarins Double Serum. What is a serum though and why do you need to add it to your skincare routine? Well basically a Serum will treat or cure problems such as dehydration, ageing, acne and sun damage. They are absorbed quicker and deeper by your skin and are more potent than your moisturiser. I am currently using the Lush Full of Grace Bar which is deeply moisturising. It is packed full of skin feeding oils and Portobello mushrooms which are full of skin protecting vitamins and minerals. I just warm it between my hands and apply to my face at night. 4. Moisturise: In winter your skin may need a richer cream or balm instead of a light lotion. You still need SPF so make sure your moisturiser or foundation contain one. I am currently coming to the end of the Vichy LiftActiv Day cream and Night Cream. This is a little too "old" for my skin but I love the texture of both creams. My makeup just glides on over the day cream and the night cream is rich without been greasy. They are perfect for anyone 40+ who is worried about wrinkles and lack of firmness. However I will be changing to something more suitable for my skin once I have finished both. For an eye cream I am currently using the Clinique All About Eyes which is a beautiful moisture rich cream. When your skin is dehydrated the fine lines around your eyes become more noticeable first. So it is very important to keep this delicate skin well hydrated. 5. Masks: Again it is all about the hydration. And you are probably sick of me raving about the Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque. It is packed full of vitamins A, C & E which help to repair damaged skin, antioxidants to help stressed ageing skin and botanicals which leave your skin plumped, fresh and glowing with health. However I got a sample of the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Night Spa last week and tried it out. It feels as light as air and my skin just drank it up. I applied a good layer of it to my skin before going to bed and sleep in it. In the morning my skin was plump and glowing. So I think I will be investing in a little jar of this! So that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed reading this...Let me know in the comments below if you would like me to do another blog on Winter Skincare Tips for Skin/Body/Lips.
Until next time...As Always...Be Happy! Susie xxx
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Ok guys I went a little mad on the shopping spree but I wanted to get some of my favourite products to giveaway to you so you could try them out. So here goes a full list of what is in the bag:
Thanks to you all for checking out and reading this blog. Best of Luck to you all Susie xxx All your little summer dresses are packed away and you've pulled out your woolly jumpers. Yep its that time of year again and Autumn is a critical time to both repair the damage summer has caused to your skin & hair plus prepare for winter’s dry and harsher conditions. The chilly air can really dry out your hair & skin so its time to update your routine. So here are my top Autumn Hair & Skincare Tips 1. Cleansers - I love to use an oil based cleanser to help nourish the skin as well as melt away your makeup. There are loads of Hot Cloth Cleansers and balm's on the market at the moment and I use them with either a facecloth or a muslin cloth. This helps gently exfoliate the skin aswell as cleansing the skin. Some of my favourite include Soap & Glory Hot Cloth Cleanser, No 7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser and Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm. 2. Water - Drink plenty of fluids...and no I don't mean alcohol. Try and increase your intake of water and herbal teas. This will stop your skin from dehydrating which can be caused by central heating and harsh weather. Peppermint tea with a slice of ginger & lemon is a great way to start the day and Choco tea ("ginger and cinnamon delicately mingle with the unmistakable essence of cocoa; warming body and spirit") is a favourite of mine on those cold dark evening. Oh and if your workplace has central heating try leaving a bowl of water beside the radiators to keep the air hydrated around you. 3. Exfoliate - Use an oil based body scrub in your shower routine at least once a week. The summer sun & chlorine may have left your skin feeling dry and flaky so start this season off with a full-body exfoliation session. Not only will you feel fresh but your skin will be free from all those old dry dead cells. Dry brushing is another way to exfoliate skin. It helps remove dead cells and improving circulation. 4. Moisturise - Its time to change from your light summer lotion to a richer cream. As the air becomes drier, your skin needs a thicker moisturiser. Creams provide a stronger oily barrier, which means they both reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin and provide hydration to this layer of skin at the same time. I love the Aveeno range or if you don't have the time to mositurise everyday then check out my last blog about Vaseline Spray & Go. 5. Sunscreen - Don't ditch the sunscreen just because summer is over. Use a moisturiser with an SPF 15 (minimum) or just apply a facial SPF before you moisturiser. This will protect your skin from the elements. Some of my favourites are Clarins UV Plus Protective Day SPF 40 and Clinique Super City Block SPF 40 which has a beautiful sheer weightless formula. You can wear it alone or as a makeup primer. 6. Hands, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes!!!! - Well hands really. Firstly buy yourself a good pair of gloves (and try not to lose them). These will protect your hands from the harsh cold weather. Secondly make yourself a hand scrub with coconut oil* or almond oil and sugar (brown or white). Simply mix together and then apply to your hands. Rub your hands together briskly for a few mins then just rinse off the sugar residue with warm water. Massage any remaining oil into your cuticles. This is a great little D.I.Y scrub and can be used all over the body. Make a big batch and store it in your bathroom in an old jam jar - just give it a little mix before its next use. Invest in a good handcream (& a cuticle oil if the budget allows) and apply it as often as required especially last thing at night. You can also pop on a pair of cotton gloves and leave them on over night. I promise you will wake up with super soft hands. *(Coconut Oil comes in a solid form and can be found in the cooking oil section of the supermarket. Not only is it an amazing oil to cook with - (its way better than sunflower/Olive oil) you can also use it as a hair mask (it liquefies in your hand) just apply to you hair (whilst cooking if you want - spoonful for the frying pan, spoonful for your hair), you can also use it to make up this scrub and it can help with weight loss. I KNOW super stuff. Just google it ) 7. Kissable Lips - Your lips will dry out big time in winter and the first tip is DON'T LICK THEM because this makes them worse. I done a blog on Lush lip scrubs and balms already but you can use the sugar scrub from tip No. 6 if you would so prefer (Its the exact same thing). Keep a lipbalm in your bag and apply it as often as required and keep a spare one beside the bed and apply it last thing at night. If your lips are very badly cracked and sore I think the best product on the market to use it the Blistex Relief Cream. Because it is a cream it sinks straight into the lips, is very soothing and relieves very dry cracked chapped lips. I generally use this at night so it gives my lips a chance to heal properly. And another little tip - if like me you suffer from coldsores (which can be caused by the cold, heat or being run down) then try a product called L-Lysine. I swear by these tablets. As soon as I feel the start of a coldsore I take 1000mg of these little miracle workers (amino acids) and BAM! my coldsore never even rears its ugly head. 8. Hair - From styling products, sunscreen, chlorine and sea water - Summer really does play havoc with our hair. Autumn is the perfect time to start afresh with your hair and the best way to begin is with a clarifying shampoo. (I like the Boots one and its easy on the pocket). Also get a haircut to trim away any damaged spilt ends. A good hair mask or hot oil treatment helps to restore moisture and elasticity to your sun dried locks. This is best done after clarifying the hair and will result in wonderfully soft & restored hair. Oh and another little tip - invest in a good hat & umbrella to prevent the dreaded frizz!!!!. So thats it! Eight hopefully helpful tips for you to help prepare for winter. Leave me a comment below if you have any questions or if you would prefer to ask me something on Facebook just click on the Facebook link at the top of the page. Thanks for reading Y'all :)
I get asked quite alot alot to recommend a product that can help with skin tone & texture and even out dark spot and pigmentation. There are a few products on the market such as Clinique Even Better Range, Lancome's new DreamTone and Vichy Idealia but I really like this range from Aveeno. The Positively Radiant range has been specially formulated to brighten and even your skin tone and texture. The active ingredient contained in all of the below products is Soy. Soy has been shown to reduce blotchiness and hyper pigmentation with its potent antioxidants and hydrating properties. All of the products are gentle enough to use on a daily basis for skin which looks smooth and radiant and all are suitable for sensitive skin. There are 4 products in the range including an exfoliating cleanser and a boost serum. Its easy on the pocket with all products under €15. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Exfoliating Cleanser - This is a great gentle exfoliant which can be used everyday to reveal your skin's natural radiance. It contains naturally active Soy Bean which has been proven to improve hyperpigmentation & blotchiness and leaves your skin feeling smoother and looking brighter. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Skin Brightening Moisturiser SPF15 - This moisturiser has been clinically proven to even skin tone and texture. It contains light diffusers which instantly boosts skin’s natural radiance and is a beautiful lightweight cream that makes a great base for your makeup. Aveeno Positively Radiant Triple Boost Serum - This serum contains naturally active Soy extract. Soy is rich in natural antioxidants such as Vitamin A and E which are know to fight free radicals to keep the skin looking younger. This hydrating serum has been proven to refine the texture and tone of your skin as well as reducing brown spots which can occur with age or sun damage. Skin is left looking bright and radiant. Aveeno Positively Radiant Eye Brightening Cream - This light textured fast absorbing eye cream has been clinically proven to visibly improve the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. It contains light diffusers which instantly boost’s skins natural radiance and revitalises the skin around the eye area. In a recent survey by Easy Living Readers 91% of women who tried these products saw an improvement in the radiance of their skin and 9 out of 10 felt their skin was hydrated and smooth. So if you are looking for something to help boost skin radiance and even out skin texture and reduce pigmentation then these are the products for you.
Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any similar products and what are your thoughts on them. Happy Shopping!! |
AuthorLover of all things beauty, Makeup Artist, Blogger & Wife . I am always on the look out for the perfect makeup or the best beauty product so keep reading to follow my never ending quest! Categories
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