skin

At this time of the year, many of us overhaul various areas of our lives. Spring cleaning now applies to everything, from our homes and wardrobes through to our emotional boundaries and social media follows, and there’s something about the warmer weather and gloriously long(er) days that brings out the urge for pro-active change. However, one thing that we often forget to check in for a well-timed review is our skincare routine.  Skin is temperamental and it’s affected by so many factors, and yes, that always includes seasonal changes. Increased UV-ray exposure and the rising temperature can have an impact on your skin, and not necessarily a good one. While layering serums, oils and heavier balms served us well during the coldest ...

If you’re asking me, there are few beauty products that can transform your mood quite like a natural-looking, glow-boosting fake tan. The best formulas aren’t the ones that deliver the deepest tan or the most bronzy finish, but rather that ones that leave you looking healthy and glowing—as though you’ve been bathing in vitamin D. Because whatever your skin tone, a hydrating self-tan can (and should) help skin appear more even and radiant.   And this is the exact reason that Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum has such a buzz around it. Since its launch a few years ago, I have had at least one person a week ask me for advice on this at-first-unassuming bottle. People want to know if it works, if it’s easy to use and, most importantly, if it’s worth the mo...

I’m a firm believer that more is not more when it comes to beauty. A bigger price tag doesn’t necessarily connotate better results, nor does a bigger product array. (Take it from someone whose skin did a complete 180—in a much healthier direction—the second I slashed my a.m. and p.m. routines in half.) Don’t get me wrong. I’m more than down to invest in an absurdly expensive perfume, but I have to love it so much that the hefty price tag will feel well worth the splurge each and every time I wear it. And it had better last me a long, long time. The same criteria go for other expensive products I love, like hairstyling tools, beauty gadgets, the like—each investment has to have a sound cost per wear, if you know what I mean. But alongside my favourite luxurious ...

The first thing I wanted to know was what I might be doing to my skin now that could stop me from enjoying glowing skin once I hit 40. Turns out there are plenty of mistakes that we’re all making in our 20s and 30s that could be hindering our chances. “Over-stripping [your skin’s natural oils and using aggressive peels which will stress the skin out,” are two of the biggest skincare mistakes, according to Joss. As a long-term acne sufferer, I can definitely say that I’m guilty of spending a lot of my 20s attempting to remove excess oils from my skin through a combination of double-cleansing and harsh toners. I can safely say that since embracing oils and serums in my late 20s and since turning 30, my skin is finally showing signs of improve...

While the aim of my skincare and makeup routines during my teenage years and early 20s was always clear—combat breakouts and minimise the appearance of spots—my 30s have been an entirely different ballgame so far. When I turned 30 in April 2019, I was in the very early stages of pregnancy and working full-time in central London. The grind of the daily commute and a busy social life and work calendar combined with first trimester nausea and, later, intense pregnancy exhaustion meant that—hormonal breakouts aside—my beauty aims quickly shifted to finding products that would make me look less tired pronto. And my quest has pretty much remained the same since. Fast forward nearly three years and we’ve all been through a global pandemic (exhausting to say the leas...

“When the skin barrier is compromised, this can increase the rate at which water is lost from the skin—Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL)—and alters the levels of proteins and lipids in the skin. If your skin barrier can’t repair itself—or isn’t given the help it needs to repair—TEWL increases leading to skin that appears dry, flaky, inflamed and lacking elasticity,” explains Elrick. Inflammation came up time and time again when I was speaking to the experts and Ayodele explains that this damage to the skin barrier often shows itself as “redness, flushing and stinging when certain products are applied”. Plus, she adds, that “the skin can also be dry and scaly because it is unable to hold on to moisture”. Basically, it’s not great. But, luckily,...

While the incredibly catchy “slugging” term has only been in the beauty sphere for a few years, thanks to the K-beauty community and various skincare subreddits, the concept of using Vaseline to seal in moisture in the skin isn’t anything new. After all, Vaseline is an old-school product that can be found in almost any Grandma’s medicine cabinet. It has a variety of uses, from healing burns and scrapes, to treating diaper rash, preventing chafing, and moisturising dry skin. Marilyn Monroe swore by Vaseline in order to keep it soft and glowy (she reportedly applied it every morning before going into a three-hour bath). “It was recently given a name and made popular by the Korean skincare world, however growing up with two Black grandmothers I was “slugging” far before it was pop...

In short, retinol can prove irritating and isn’t a feasible option for many. “Traditional retinol can potentially cause irritation in the form of dryness, redness and flaking, especially in those with sensitive skin,” says Joyce Park, MD, BareMinerals global dermatology ambassador. Even those who have skin types deemed more tolerant should slowly build up their retinol usage to avoid upset. On top of this, retinol products should be avoided if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. So what’s the answer? Well, the bad news is that those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have sensitive skin won’t be able to truly embrace the wonders of retinol. The good news, however, is that there are other options out there in the form of plant-based ingredients that deliver similar results (no...

I’m a firm believer that more is not more when it comes to beauty. A bigger price tag doesn’t necessarily connotate better results, nor does a bigger product array. (Take it from someone whose skin did a complete 180—in a much healthier direction—the second I slashed my a.m. and p.m. routines in half.) Don’t get me wrong. I’m more than down to invest in an absurdly expensive perfume, but I have to love it so much that the hefty price tag will feel well worth the splurge each and every time I wear it. And it had better last me a long, long time. The same criteria go for other expensive products I love, like hairstyling tools, beauty gadgets, the like—each investment has to have a sound cost per wear, if you know what I mean. But alongside my favourite luxurious ...

Hands up if your skin also gets petulant during the winter. It’s like as soon as the temperature drops and the central heating comes, on my skin feels so dehydrated and looks really washed out. Because of this I really have to up my glow-giving skincare and inject hydration back into my skin. I really focus on layering complimentary products for juicy-looking skin. Combining ingredients like vitamin c, hyaluronic acid and ceramides have been great for soothing, protecting, smoothing and enhancing glow. I’ll avoid stripping foams or gels when it comes to cleansing and reduce my level of exfoliating. All of this has helped me towards better seasonal skin and achieving a winter glow. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating...

As someone who’s had oily, acne-prone skin for my entire adult life, I spent a huge number of years (no exaggeration) avoiding oily skincare products like the plague. Glow-boosting oils? No, thank you. Oil-infused cleansing balms? I’ll give it a miss. And my most hotly avoided product of them all? Cleansing oils. If you’re also a member of the oily skin brigade, then I know that you’ll understand where I’m coming from. When you spend all of your time trying to minimise oil production to prevent clogged pores and your makeup routine involves painstakingly applying powder to all the areas that you’re currently shining like a beacon from, then the thought of voluntarily applying more oil to your face feels counterproductive. However, a few years back, a rather lovely facialist recommende...

Liha Orinrin Cleansing Balm The texture of this balm is so dreamy. It lifts off makeup and grime, leaving skin feeling super soft. With most cleansing balms, I have to use another cleanser after to get rid of oil residue, but on particularly cold, dry nights, I will use this as my second cleanser and follow with a night cream for comfortable, hydrated skin. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.