skin

What makes the ZIIP device so great is the accompanying app that you can download onto your phone. The app features lots of different treatments to target different areas of your face, so you can tailor your treatment to the specific areas or concern you want to address on any given day. You can sync these treatments to your device via bluetooth, and you can watch Melanie Simons conduct the treatment via a video tutorial as you follow along. These treatments are also updated regularly, so regardless of when you buy your device, you’ll have access to the latest treatments on the app. The treatments currently range from Energise (an all over treatment to give the skin a glow, soften fine lines and tighten the skin) to more targeted treatments such as 11s, which help to treat frown line...

I’ll admit when I was first introduced to Bloomeffects as a brand, I wasn’t blown away by its promises. One day, over lunch with a colleague, an array of cutesie, floral boxes housing even prettier powder-blue and gold products were laid out one by one in front me. (One thing I have never doubted about Bloomeffects is the beauty of its products—it’s like all of your cottagecore dreams got rolled up and packaged into one high-end skincare line.) All style, no substance, I assumed. But then I heard the story and got some more insight into the ingredients. Bloomeffects, I was told, is a botanical brand that has already seen major success in the U.S. The brand’s founder, Kim van Haaster, worked for a major beauty conglomerate in New York be...

I have previously tested Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream, and I liked it. In fact, I have friends who consider it to be one of the best skincare products they have ever used. Personally, however, I would always choose a hardworking vitamin C serum over a rich face cream that risks breaking me out. And while Rich Hydration Cream wasn’t quite for me, Afterglow is a different story entirely. For starters, the texture is light. On first look it seems just like any other cream moisturiser, but as soon as you start massaging it into skin, it turns into a cooling, lightweight gel that’s so refreshing its reminiscent of splashing your face with cool water. Beyond that though, it packs an impressive antioxidant punch. Formulated with an oil-stable form ...

The truth was, I didn’t have any tips. Every message I received encouraged me a little more to reach out to some experts in a bid to find out what was going on, and best to take the puffiness down. The reasons, I discovered, for puffy eyes are broad-ranging.  Miss Elizabeth Hawkes, Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon at the Cadogan Clinic explains, “Puffy eyes can be caused by a multitude of factors, including lack of sleep, crying, fluid retention, genetic, medical conditions (such as thyroid problems), and an unhealthy diet. At this time of year, seasonal allergies can play havoc and can cause itchy, watery, swollen, and puffy eyes.” And with the possible causes of puffiness seeming abundant, I realised that addressing the individual causes of my puffiness could prov...

Whenever awards season or fashion week rolls around, there’s one brand we always spot celebrities using to prep their skin. In fact, it’s hard to scroll through Instagram and not seeing a celebrity wearing a 111Skin sheet mask or eye mask.  These signature masks are favoured by celebrities and makeup artists to help the skin glow, stat, which is why you’ll often see models wearing them backstage before a show, or celebrities wearing them for key calendar occasions such as Cannes or the Emmys. But what makes them so popular? The hydro-gel and bio-cellulose sheet masks make a quick fix for special occasions when you might not be able to squeeze a facial into your itinerary. There are several types to choose from which all have high-potency ingredien...

I’m lucky enough in my job to have access to celebrity facialists, top beauty brands and the best experts in the industry, but I’ve noticed more and more that it’s A-listers themselves who are becoming all the more influential when it comes to serving up legitimately good beauty advice. Of course, celebrities like Beyoncé and Jennifer Aniston are surrounded by the beauty industry’s cream of the crop on a daily basis—from makeup artists to hairstylists—so it’s really no surprise that they’ve picked up some expert beauty tips along the way. There’s one celebrity in particular, however, whose skincare knowledge I trust more than most: Victoria Beckham. With her very own beauty line under her belt and a dedicated ...

I’m not sure about you, but I honestly feel like there’s a new beauty brand launching every week at the moment. It can be so overwhelming and sometimes it leads me to playing it safe with things I know and love, not wanted to budge from my classic picks whether that’s clinging onto my Cera Ve Cleanser or sticking to basic but beautiful Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t fall prey to Insta-hype at times. In fact, I follow accounts that are known for getting the scoop on beauty drops before they launch and subsequently I am served so many Instagram ads on aesthetically-pleasing brands. If I didn’t have a little self-restraint (and take comfort in my old favourites) my credit card would be taking a constant bashing. I do credit Instagram with alerting...

Space NK has a brilliant selection of premium beauty brands across hair, skincare, fragrance, makeup and body care. It has a loyalty scheme called N.Dulge, where you’ll earn 1 point for every pound spent. Once you’ve spent £100, you’ll a £5 voucher to spend. You’ll also get exclusive access to sales before everyone else, and samples on your birthday. If you’re a big beauty spender and buy £1000 worth of products within 12 months, you’ll be upgraded to N.Dulge Deluxe, where you’ll earn £10 voucher for each £100 spent and you’ll also get a full sized product for free on your birthday. I personally love Space NK for it’s makeup and fragrance selection – here’s what’s currently in my basket. You Deserve to Make Money Even When y...

I have a confession, despite hearing from other beauty experts continuously to wear sunscreen every single day, until 2020, I didn’t. It seemed unnecessary, especially in the UK, the land of sporadic sun. With dark skin and low climates, I just didn’t understand the need. But after learning about the way that UVA and UVB rays affect skin–from pigmentation problems to skin cancer–I have been diligent with applying SPF every day, even if I don’t leave my house. When it comes to actually venturing out into the sun though, it’s important that you not only apply SPF before you head out, but you also top up throughout the day too. This is where I come a bit unstuck. Although I rarely do a full face of makeup anymore, I do wear a light base or concealer along with bronzer or blush ...

A few years ago, I got talking with another beauty journalist about her favourite skincare brands, and she said to me, “You absolutely have to try Tatcha.” Her skin looked incredible and I was sold—until I realised that I’d have to hop on a plane to New York to get it, as it was only available in the US. I quickly made a pact with some pals across the pond to bring me back a couple of products when they visited the UK. So, you can imagine the sheer excitement when an email popped into my inbox with the news that Tatcha was finally launching in the UK on 4th May. Tatcha is a skincare brand inspired by Japanese rituals and ingredients. Think innovative, luxurious textures combined with ingredients that really work. The formulas all have a complex of twice-fermente...

Back in the day charcoal was the go-to ingredient for oily skin. I remember growing up seeing adverts with smiling women with their T-zone coated in a rich black paste promising to halt breakouts and minimise pores. Since then, skincare has moved on leaps and bounds and there are dozens of newer ingredients that help calm oiliness and improve skin texture such as salicylic acid and niacinamide. And while nothing can actually make your pores smaller these wonder ingredients do help to declog and even out texture. Saying that, I really do believe that a good charcoal mask is a quick-fire way to pull oil and grime from pores and prep the skin pre-makeup if you’re an oily/combination skin type like me. I’ve tried loads that have dried out my skin as I have a combo skin type but the below ...

And while shopping for beauty has always been difficult, over the past few years, things became even trickier. The pandemic closed physical retailers (some for good) and online shopping now reigns supreme. The trouble with this is that the success of our beauty choices relies heavily on in-person interactions. Without physical stores, we can’t test products before we buy them and there’s no salesperson on hand to call on for advice. Instead, we blindly click add to basket and keep our fingers crossed until it arrives. I’ll be honest, I used to hate shopping for beauty online. Brands simply weren’t providing adequate resources to ensure we, the customer, were making the right decision and refused to be any more lenient when it came to refunds. On top of that, even as a beauty editor, I stru...