Skincare Right Now (aka The Skincare Tag)

L-R: SkinTruth Toner, Boots No.7 Eye Make Up Remover, Estee Lauder Daywear Plus, Antipodes Divine Oil, Purity 3-1 Cleanser and Dermalogica Micro Exfoliator.

Describe your skincare routine in 5 words..

Whatever works right now
(with a word to spare)

What's your skin type?

At the moment erratic - with my hormones dipping up and down, it show more on my skin. On Monday it was so clear and glowing, I wore no base but the next day I had to put on a full base on to cover the blotchy redness. It also can be sensitive, the routine I have now is a result of a lot of misses and it's the first time in a while that my skin has reacted positive to products for a while.

What's your favourite skincare product?

Antipodes Divine Avocado and Rosehip Facial Oil has been the biggest revelation to my skin, it has been soothing and noursing to my erratic skin. I love the scent of this, I like to breath it's relaxing scent in before I massage it in. It is now an essential part of my skincare routine.

Top blemish zapper

Witch Blemish Stick - had it since I was a teenager and I haven't found anything since that really comes close and is cost effective. The formula has never changed all the time its been available, if its not broke, why fix it? (A PS - the anti-blemish primer is also a brilliant high street product, I will be reviewing this in the next coming weeks)

Face wipes - yay or nay?

They are a huge nay - I never feel fully 'cleansed' after using one, it more feels like I'm moving the dirt/grime around my face rather than cleaning. They are however better than not taking make up off at all (very useful when I used to go out in the evening and return in the morning).

Toner - yay or nay?

I used to be very anti toner, even when working for Estee Lauder. This hugely changed as I got older, I underestimated how much of a cleansing bonus they are to routine and this was merely was I found 'The one' in Etat Pur. That has now run out and I am now finishing the one I had in my stock pile.

High End Skincare or High End Makeup?

Skincare without a doubt, look after your skin and it'll glow needing less make up. I have first no make up that comes close to that glowing fresh skinned look. I would also invest in more high end foundation just because of pigments and tones (As you know I am really pale), the rest the high street does perfect.

What's the most unusual facial product you've tried?

Nothing would you believe, if I wasn't pregnant I would of offered to be a trail person for my workplace as they just launched Vampire facial there. It involves taking blood from your arm, separating the layer that’s filled with platelets and then injecting it through tiny needles into your face. It suppose to smooth and rejuvenate the face.

You're in a French Pharmacy and can only pick one item - what would it be?

I wouldn't know to be honest, I would probably in my GCSE French ask for recommendations. I do like a little hidden gem.

Tell us your skincare tip

Review your skincare with every season, skin is constantly changing (remember you get new skin cells come to the surface every 28 days). Anything can affect it: stress, seasons and as I well know at the moment, pregnancy.

Many Thanks to the awesome Lisahh-Jayne for tagging me and I open it up to anyone who wants to give it go. Stick your link in comments, I'm nosey and want to read them!








 

Masterclass - Face Powder

Face powder is used when using a cream or liquid foundation to set the foundation to extend the life of wearing. It can also absorb any excess grease which will then reduce shine and provide a smoother, matt finish. With some powders they can also provide blemish cover and protect the skin.

There are two types of powder, loose and pressed.

Loose Powder

Powders that have more coverage to them have a higher proportion of kaolin, chalk and an ingredient such as titanium dioxide. This often have pigments to compliment a foundation shad and provide good coverage. Finer powders are based more on talc or mica. These are more translucent, allowing any colour underneath to come through.

Chalk, starch and powdered silk are often added to powders to give the skin a smoother finish. Luminous finish can contain finely ground metallic particles that create a slight pearlised finish.

Pressed Powder

Is usually produced in a block, which is then fitted into a compact. A binding ingredient is added, this can be a gum or wax that holds the particles together. Pressed powder is more designed to be used a touch up for when any shine comes through on the skin. They are not used as much by make up artists because it is not fine enough to produce an even finish on foundation and is not as hygienic to use as loose powder.

I find the easiest way to apply is to use a big fluffy brush swept over the powder, tap the excess and buff around the skin, moving inwards towards the nose. For pressed compacts on the go, roll the powder onto the area and wash/replace the puff often to avoid any bacteria from breeding.

Personally there is nothing as glamorous like powdering your nose using a vintage powder compact.

Goodbye Summer *Sniff*

With the increase of wind, grey clouds and the nights drawing in, it now signals the end of the summer (of what we had of summer). It also means it was the end of my Montange Jeunesse 4 week mask routine.

My collection - Oh the choices!

Week One involved Blemish Mud for a real deep clean to kick start everything off. Contains Aloe Vera to soothe inflamed skin, and willow blemish mud to draw out any skin problems. I liked this because afterwards it felt cleaned through and refreshed.

Week Two was a refreshing cucumber peel off mask. I did have trouble with this one, I think I never get the application just right because I can never peel it off in one go, just in bits. It is fun because it looks like you're in a horror movie peeling skin away (but it is not skin!). With previous one you wash away impurities with this one it peels it off.

Week Three was time to scrub it up with the Ice Crystal Exfoliating Mask, now this felt like someone has smacked me round the face to wake me up! It's has spearmint menthol that gives that refreshing effect, with dead sea salts that gentle scrub and soften. This is the one you need if you need an alarm clock in the morning!

Week Four had my favourite Very Berry, an antioxidant combination of cranberry, blueberry, aloe vera, peach and grape - It is honestly a smoothie for the face. It is great for all skin types, as it can help soothe dry skins and clear up blemished skin.

Love Montagne Jeunesse not only for fantastic products, but are friendly to bunnies, natural ingredients, paraben free and vegetarian friendly. They are easy to get hold of as they are available nationwide in retailers such as ASDA, Superdrug, Tesco, New Look and Morrisons. The full range also being on their webste www.montagnejeunesse.co.uk (including a whole range of hair, feet and, get this, lip balms - more on that soon!)

My thanks to Montagne Jeunesse for feeding my mask obsession!

Masterclass - BB Creams

If you heard haven't of BB creams since the beginning of the year, then you have been living in cave with ear muffs on. This is the biggest launch item that most of the brands are bringing out, and yes I even own one (This one).

BB stands for Blemish Balm, Beauty Balm, Blemish Base or, because of copyright laws in Korea, Beblesh Balm. It was developed in the 1960's by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek for patients that had gone under laser procedures and surgery. These were then introduced to the Asian market in 1985, where the healthily, pale skin is held in highest esteem, this was especially in the case of some creams that had whiten properties to them.

They are promoted as a all in one solution: serum, moisturiser, primer, anti-age properties, foundation, and sunblock. They increased popularity because they are a lighter alternative to foundation without having to compromise on coverage. A lot of the ranges that were developed in Asian also had nearly white tones suitable for western pale skins that struggled to get the right light colour.

To give you a better idea BB creams in Korea make up 13% of the overall cosmetics markets. When they launched in the Europe market a lot of brands were criticised for not making a 'true' BB Cream because they didn't have the whitening properties that the Korea market ones had.

They are really suitable for people who lean towards the slightly combination/oily as drier skins might find this doesn't provide the moisture that your skin needs (thus leaving it dull and flaky). I really like to use my BB Cream for everyday use and then used a foundation for the evening as it doesn't have the staying power to last all the way through.

Masterclass - How to Apply Foundation (The Video!)

Following on from the previous weeks foundation masterclasses - this goes on to explain the different application tools and how to use them.

Thank you for watching!

Next week - Concealers

Masterclass - What is Foundation?

This would be the most essential bit of nit of kit you will ever own, finding the perfect foundation is any woman's holy grail. Foundation provides a blank canvas that lets other colours sing. It also provide a barrier for the skin against the environment and with some also contain sunscreens. Foundation is there to enhance your natural skin tone, provide a smooth even skin tone, and minor blemishes.

Before foundation - Uneven tone around the nose and cheeks, oiliness and the odd blemish

After foundation (full face of make up) - All one tone, eyes are highlighted because all of the above are evened out.

Most foundations are an emulsion of oil and water with colour pigments that can vary the texture and effect of the product.

Cream

Cream blend easily on the skin the majority are oil based, cream foundations are a mixture of wax, powder and glycerol (but can vary brand to brand). Generally they leave a medium coverage and require a powder of adsorb any excess oil left on the skin after application. The ones designed for oilier skin contain a higher portion of powder.

Liquid

Thinner version of the cream, has a higher proportion of water compared to the cream. This has lighter coverage than the cream version and let more the natural skin through. In some alcohol is replaced so it evaporates on the skin and leaves a powdered finish. If a foundation oil based then it is more suitable for drier skins, water based for greasier/combination skins, and alcohol based for greasy, acneified skins.

Gel

The thinnest coverage that is more suited for summer time where a lot of makeup can irritate skin. There are more suited to tanned, black, and unblemished skins. For black skins this can be better as it doesn't contain powder that can make it look dull and grey.

Cake/Compact

Easy to use and carry, can come in a compact or stick. It contains a higher level of powder so this gives it a higher level of coverage, and is mostly used in photo, theatre and fashion shoots because it goes on flawless, but can feel heavy on the skin. Applies in thinner layers can mean it can be build up to coverage that is needed.

The best way to store foundation is in cool places away from direct sunlight. Cleaning round the top of the lid before closing also makes the product more hygienic and not transferring germs onto the skin.

I find once you have found the holy grail it's very much like a romantic relationship, if they discontinue it you'll mourn like a loss of an ex!

Next week - Finding the right colour

Feeling Spotty? This Might Help

My current skin care hero amongst its new family

As you call know I hit my thirties in April, however this message hasn't quite got to my skin yet as I still break out like a teenager. Not small ones either, the ones where wearing a paper bag becomes the go to accessory.

Witch Skincare a while back asked for bloggers to join the Flawless Friends club, I didn't in (however a lot of blogs I follow did so congratulations to them). As a thank you for applying they sent the hero product - The Blemish Stick. Now I used one when I was around 14 and found that it didn't work, that was purely because I used it once rather than multiply times.

Didn't get much opportunity to use it until a little raised area was coming up on my forehead by my eyebrow, you know the ones it's red swollen and incredible sore. I used this in the morning and evening with putting moisturiser on the area and let the witch hazel do its work.

Witch Hazel is a natural astringent that tightens pores, soothes and supports the healing process of skin. The Blemish stick not only contains this but alcohol to tighten (not for drier skins as this can dry you out further), and Glycerin that calms the skin.

Within a couples of days the redness and swelling was gone, even better the spot that threatened never developed. It goes on like a clear light balm and can even have make up put on top of it. I really like the fact that after 46 years that this still works like when it was originally created, as well as not being animal tested. They're latest release is a anti-blemish BB cream as part of their increasing make up range.

Read about it here http://www.witchskincare.com/