skin

Most of us have those nights when we’re tossing and turning or those weeks when we can’t seem to fall asleep or stay asleep for whatever reason. Getting a good night’s sleep can feel like an unsolvable puzzle at times. There are so many remedies and tips to try if you’re having trouble getting some shut-eye from trading your mattress for a new one, getting some blackout curtains, trying a weighted blanket, investing in a sound machine, meditation… the list goes on. One other option that could help? Using scent to lull you to sleep. The National Sleep Foundation says that certain scents could be used as a tool to get you to sleep faster. According to the Foundation, the olfactory system (aka your sense of smell) is directly linked to the emotional center in...

Between backing the micro-cardigan trend and cheerleading the return of everyone’s favourite ’90s hair accessory, the claw clip, Hailey Bieber has definitely been one to watch in 2021 thanks to how much fun she’s been having with both her wardrobe and beauty choices. Since she already took to Instagram earlier this year to share her favourite beauty products with the world, I considered myself to have a pretty good steer on the types of formulas that make Bieber tick and the brands that she swears by to get that celebrity glow. But then I got wind that Bieber had been raving about a certain face oil that she hadn’t previously mentioned on the ‘gram, and I knew I had to try it. Maybe this would be the product that would i...

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 or breastfeeding or who 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 resul...

When it comes to beauty “rules”, I have to come clean: Despite being a beauty editor, I don’t really have much time for them. Whether it’s skipping bold eye shadow while you’re wearing a bright lipstick, avoiding face oils if you have oily skin, or steering clear of glitter and shimmer if you’re over the age of 25—these old-fashioned takes on how you should (or more oftentimes shouldn’t) enjoy experimenting with beauty products are frankly passé. Instead, I prefer to embrace a more exuberant approach to beauty by mixing-and-matching the products that bring me joy. Sure, there might be some misses along the way but there’s fun to be found in the trial-and-error of playing with different colours and textures—despite what the...

To start with, it’s important to really understand your skin type—something which can be genuinely confusing to the uninitiated. Simply speaking, the skin is usually broken down into four key categories: oily, sensitive, dry and normal (lucky you). If you’re not entirely sure which category you fall into, you can conduct a little bathroom experiment of your own to find out. Cleanse your face, wait a few minutes and then follow this rule of thumb as a rough guide as to your skin type: If your skin feels like you could skip the moisturiser and is already looking shiny, you’re oily. If your skin looks red and feels irritated, you’re sensitive. If the skin feels uncomfortable and tight, you’re dry, and if you’re feeling pretty good, your skin is probably nor...

But on the off chance you didn’t, I’m here to confirm it. Seriously, this product is good. It’s marketed predominantly as an anti-ageing serum, which needless to say I’m not particularly in favour of. It doesn’t contain retinol and it isn’t going to get rid of any deep-set wrinkles. If you ask me, Double Serum is just healthy-looking skin in one very clever bottle (it contains two vials to keep oil soluble and water soluble ingredients separate for ultimate potency.) Championing anti-inflammatory turmeric along with a plethora of other plant ingredients (21 to be exact), Double Serum delivers the core things your skin needs to look healthy and radiant. It delivers lightweight but intense hydration to plump, turns skin supple and radiant thanks to skin barrier support, has an...

If there’s one thing that we could all be getting more of right now, it’s sleep. Sure, we all know the importance of clocking in those precious eight hours of rest each night for our overall health and wellbeing, but in practice, arriving at the land of nod isn’t always so easy. Between busy work schedules, the resurgence of socialising and balancing temporary home offices with partners, kids and needy pets, many of us are feeling too frazzled to wind down at the end of the day. And failure to switch off and rest means that our skin can be left paying the price. In fact, when talking to skin experts this year, one of the most recurring themes we’ve heard has been the increase in adults seeking help for skin sensitivity, acne and inflammation, all as a result of feel...

It’s not nice to have favourites, but there’s no denying that when it comes to high-performing ingredients dermatologists and skin experts clearly have a class pet: retinol. The anti-ageing skincare hero of the moment, facialists and aestheticians consistent recommend that once we hit 30 we should all be adding a retinol to our routine for its skin-smoothing, texture-refining benefits. And while  Heck, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s facialist is so obsessed with the ingredient that she created her own cult retinol serum: It’s that good.  However, due to its potent nature, most retinol serums, lotions and moisturisers come with strict instructions to avoid applying around your eye area. So, are our eyes destined to ...

First of all, before I wax lyrical about my top pick, none of the natural deos stopped me sweating. A grime confession to make on the internet but I must be honest with you all, it’s something that as someone that has used ‘regular’ deodorant all my life I wasn’t used to the amount my pits sweat naturally and the lack of aluminium to block the perspiring meant that I was sweatier than normal. Each one I tried had an interesting texture, and in fact the standout winner for me I think had the least pleasing texture and application of them all. If you’re an aerosol spray anti-perspirant fan, you might find the creamy textures of natural deodorants hard to get used to– I normally used a wet roll-on so it didn’t bother me too much and the majority of them are roll-on too. As the sweat was a giv...

Red: Stimulates collagen production and aids in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Blue: Regulates oil production and evens out texture. Good for spot-prone skin types. Purple: Aids in repairing skin hyperpigmentation and blemishes. Yellow: Helps with skin elasticity and depuffing. There are loads of LED masks on the market right now. I opted for the Sensse mask as it seemed the most user-friendly and straightforward to set up. After charging for a couple of hours I picked a setting and put it on for five minutes. As a particularly oily skin type I opted for the blue light, using it twice for five minutes in the first week. I gradually upped my usage to every other day for ten minutes at a time. Take it from me, you don’t want to go too hard too quickly, even if your skin ...

Not only does my skin look plumper, hydrated and generally more radiant, it’s also smoother, less congested, and generally clearer. Containing an innovative blend of retinol and sunflower seed fatty acids, Universal Pro-Retinol delivers the line-reducing, pore-refining, tone-correcting and blemish-reducing properties of retinol, without any of the usual upset. And at the same time, it seems to deliver just the right amount of moisture through glycerin and Mondo grass root extract to keep skin happy and healthy. Is this a seriously high-octane suited for seasoned retinol users? Probably not. Do I think that Universal Pro-Retinol is the perfect entry-level retinol for those who, like me, have struggled with the ingredient in the past? Absolutely. In fact, this has been the only eveing skinca...

As a beauty journalist, I often get a lot of people asking for my skincare and makeup recommendations. I can’t lie—it’s a pretty good feeling. I’m lucky enough to be gifted with new products to try out on a weekly basis, but as someone who’s always had an interest in beauty, a lot of the products I own I purchased myself. There’s truly nothing better than testing out products that catch your eye. Fortunately, even if I try a product that I’m not necessarily fond of, I always have a friend to take it off my hands. My thorough skincare journey started a year and a half ago. I’d had an intense panic attack that left me in bed for a few weeks feeling as though I’d lost all control of my life. However, I soon discovered that creating my own a.m. and p.m. skincare schedules w...