skin

If there is one beauty category that has totally boomed in the past couple of years, it is the rise of at-home beauty devices. And it has only been accelerated by the pandemic. Without access to our favourite professionals in-clinic, many of us turned to home treatments during lockdown to achieve our skin goals. However, I’m pretty sceptical about the majority of at-home skincare devices, particularly their effectiveness and the claims that they make. For example, micro-needling in a clinic versus an at-home “micro-needling” rollers are worlds apart. Although, the latter are often marketed to lead to you to believe that you’ll achieve similar results. Effective in-clinic treatments deliver potent results and can therefore only be delivered by highly q...

The world of skincare can be confusing enough to navigate, but luxury skincare feels like a whole new ballgame. It’s easy to come across a high-end product and feel sticker shock. How is it possible that a serum can cost hundreds of pounds? We definitely felt that way before we began using luxury skincare.  While it’s true that not all expensive brands are worth the hefty price tag, some of them are truly worth every penny. Many luxury brands are powered by scientific research and use top-of-the-line ingredients that really work to penetrate your skin.  Luckily, you don’t have to go in blind and spend a chunk of your paycheck on an eye cream you’re not sure will work. We’ve tried tons of different luxury brands, and know exactly which ones are worth ...

If there is one beauty category that has totally boomed in the past couple of years, it is the rise of at-home beauty devices. And it has only been accelerated by the pandemic. Without access to our favourite professionals in clinic, many turned to home treatments during lockdown to achieve their skin goals. However, I’m pretty sceptical about the majority of at-home skincare devices, but particularly their effectiveness and the claims that they make. For example, microneedling in a clinic versus an at-home ‘microneedling’ roller are worlds apart, although the latter are often marketed to lead to you to believe that you’ll achieve similar results. Effective in-clinic treatments deliver potent results and can therefore only be delivered by highly qualified ...

Bring up the topic of the best lip balms among a group of beauty lovers, and you’re guaranteed to drum up some healthy debate on which lip balms are really worth buying. While some swear by luxury, break-the-budget formulas (such as La Mer’s £58 lip balm), others have found their holy grail lip balm for less than a couple of pounds in a drugstore. Everyone has difference preferences for their lip balm of choice. Some might want a lightweight, waxy lip balm that delivers a quick hit of moisture in a swipe, or, for others whose lips are forever parched or flaking, they may prefer a heavy duty intensive lip balm to treat chapped lips. Different circumstances also call for different lip balms, which is where having a lip balm wardrobe can come in handy. Tinted lip balms a...

“Stop taking good skin for granted. As someone who favours less over more and has essentially fairly good skin, Lisa informed me that I’m probably taking my skin for granted rather than doing a few small things to make it look its best. She has told me to not ignore what my skin is trying to tell me. As the largest organ in the body, it needs to be fed in the same way that you would feed your stomach or brain! So if it’s dry or I sense my dairy intolerance flaring up in forehead spots, listen to it.” “Don’t choose products based on scent. She could tell I liked scientifically led products and favoured lighter-weight formulas rather than anything too heavy, but the problem is that I’m just choosing things because of the smell rather than the ef...

You’ve probably heard the term before and thought it sounded good for the most part but didn’t really know much about it. “Simply put, a non-comedogenic product has been tested to not clog pores,” explains board-certified dermatologist Ife Rodney, MD, FAAD, of Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetics. “That means it’s less likely to cause acne. Though, this is not guaranteed. Dirt, dead skin cells, or sebum can clog the pores, causing acne. Comedogenic products—usually heavy or greasy—can also clog your pores. It’s important to note that non-comedogenic products won’t necessarily treat your breakouts. They just won’t contribute to the problem.” While non-comedogenic products are helpful for just about anyone, those with oily, sensitive,...

While the skincare products we use and the ways in which we use them are of vital importance when it comes to the health of our skin, many experts we spoke to were keen to highlight that skin health doesn’t depend entirely on a regimen. “It’s about managing your internal and external environment, which means sun protection and nourishing your body with foods that [help skin] from the inside out,” says Dr Steve Cohen, Plastic Surgeon at the Cadogan Clinic. “Diets heavy in antioxidant-rich fruits and green, leafy vegetables can positively affect your skin health,” he adds. And while experts want you to know that drinking litres of water a day isn’t going to miraculously cure your skin woes, they do also want to drum home the importance...

Generally caused by a genetic disposition, rosacea can be triggered by a number of factors including UV radiation and weak skin immunity. The defining characteristics of rosacea include redness, pink spots that contain pus and visible blood vessels, all of which are usually observed in the centre of the face. Rosacea can manifest differently in each person, so an individual can exhibit varying combinations of symptoms or maybe just the one.  Rosacea is a chronic skin condition, and can be triggered by many factors from sun exposure and red wine, to spicy foods and citrus fruits or even exercise. However, with the right skincare routine and being conscious of your triggers, you can help in managing your rosacea.  Finding the right products that won’t trigger or inflame your r...

On the other side of the coin, however, is taking advice from beauty editors who don’t pay for their beauty products. Some have been known to slather a £200 face cream onto elbows just because it was the closest moisturiser to them. Losing sense of the monetary value of the products we recommend is something we all like to think we have avoided, but we’d be lying if we said not having to pay for beauty products doesn’t give us a skewed perspective on things.  A few weeks ago, when I was feeling particularly out of touch about the cost of luxury beauty products, I sat down and considered how best to share honest reviews in a totally unbiased way. After a long, hard think, I had an idea. I decided to compile a list of the most re...

I am a huge beauty junkie, so luckily I am in the right profession and I can justify it as work. Fancy beauty products with even fancier price tags bring a certain thrill, but time and time again, brands at a more affordable price point have proven they too have what it takes.  Contrary to popular belief, a hefty price tag doesn’t necessarily mean a higher quality product. Of course, there are some exceptions. There is a reason why Chanel products cost what they do and why a lot of people will pay a a three-digit price tag for scientifically-driven skincare. For a lot of people, that lifestyle isn’t maintainable, and it doesn’t have to be. Affordable beauty brands are really coming through with the products and that are on par—if not better—than a lot of products at a higher...

There are a few things that I’ve come to rely on Amazon for: books (along with an intense feeling of immediate guilt that I should have purchased directly from a bookshop instead), emergency gifts for basically everyone before Christmas and weird household things like light bulbs and batteries that I always forget to buy when I’m at the supermarket. Beauty products? Never. While I might be something of a beauty purist—preferring to shop for my cosmetics IRL where I can swatch and smell or via knowledgable beauty web spaces like Cult Beauty, Space NK (and Who What Wear of course)—there’s no doubt that the popularity of Amazon in the beauty and cosmetics arena is ever-growing. In fact, in the U.S., Amazon is the fifth most popular destination for beauty purchases. You Deser...

If I were to count on my hands the number of beauty editors I know (myself included) who rely on Marshall’s expert help, I’d run out of hands. Her no-BS approach to skincare is truly what keeps us going back. Let me first start by saying the Marshall spends all day every day working with skin; she sees people’s concerns and puts them on skincare routines that truly really make a difference. Marshall spends a long time trying to get to grips with your complexion, your lifestyle and, importantly, your skincare routine. Second, one of her biggest attributes is that she isn’t affiliated with any brands (finding experts who aren’t is very difficult), meaning she’s not going to flog you product just because she’s paid to. Above all, though...