skin

And trust me when I tell you this is out of character. Deep, warming scents do not usually appeal to me, as someone who likes my home to feel fresh and airy. The sweet, sickly scents that are traditionally associated with autumn (think pumpkin, vanilla and spices) really do not tickle my fancy. However, one particular launch this year has totally converted me. Comprising of six, bisque ceramic jars (which are arguably works of art themselves), the new Jo Malone London Townhouse Collection manages to exude all of the wonderful crispness of autumn, without being too overpowering.  However, before I reveal to you what exactly it is that has me fussing over these candles, I want to mention the price. They are £90 each, which even by this candle-hoarders standards, is pricey. TheyR...

Despite the fact ageing is very much a part of life, it is still, without a doubt, one of the most widespread concerns when it comes to our beauty needs. It seems like every new beauty launch has some sort of mind-boggling anti-ageing ingredient complex. But the sad truth is hardly any of these products actually live up to their age-delaying claims. One term that you definitely should be on the lookout for when shopping for anti-ageing products, however, is “antioxidant.” Chances are you will have heard about antioxidants before. Skin experts and beauty editors wax lyrical about them, but does anyone actually know what they do? Celebrity facialist and skincare expert Debbie Thomas explains, “Free radicals are toxic compounds that can damage healthy cells and weak...

First things first, let’s talk about the shades. I don’t feature any brands that don’t have a wide shade range, because it’s 2020, we have iPhones and apps that can literally run our lives, so not having a diverse range of foundation shades is inexcusable. So, when I found out that there were only 6 shades I was somewhere in between rolling my eyes and asking to speak to someone in charge. But, there’s good reason for it.  The shades were formulated using the Fitzpatrick Scale that takes into consideration things like sun exposure and skin tone to ensure a perfect match. The 6 shades have different undertones and I was pretty shocked that shade 5 was an ideal match for me and also worked for my mum too, despite us being different skin tones. You can get f...

‘Over the years, vitamin C has become a buzzword within the beauty realm, which is another reason why Face Base has become the cult classic product it is,’ continues Dowdall. ‘[Vitamin C] one of the few proven anti-ageing skincare ingredients – it encourages collagen production –, can improve visible signs of sun damage and scarring, and helps defend skin against environmental damage. With a comprehensive vitamin line-up and a buttery-soft formula, Face Base sinks into skin like a dream and works wonders under makeup, too.’  With so much hype surrounding Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, it’s unsurprising that the brand, this August past, unveiled the latest addition to its Vitamin Rich collection; the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base ...

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...

I feel like face masks need a new PR. Sure, they’re having a bit of a moment right now, because what else is there to do? But, all too often they get put into the fun but frivolous category of skincare, along with cooling eye masks and scented body mists.  We tend to focus both our energy and spending power on heavy-hitters like active-packed serums and decadent night creams. So, consider this the beginning of my campaign for treating face masks with a little more respect.  First of all, we’re talking 20 minutes for results here. Not weeks and weeks of testing and trying. Sure, the results aren’t as long-lasting as an entire suite of skincare, but adding a powerful mask into your routine has plenty of benefits.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you ...

Simply put, it’s our job to find the best beauty products out there for you. From the newest serum to the hottest lipstick color to the dry shampoo that will change your life, we will find it, test it, and let you know what we think. We’re not complaining. It’s a pretty fun gig, and we’ll volunteer to be beauty guinea pigs any day. But one of the cool things to come out of this is finding out what products you’re loving and buying. It helps us figure out what you want to learn more about and what you’re into so we can bring even more personalized recs to you. Because we share a lot of our favorites with you every single day, we recognize it might be hard to keep up. So we’ve decided to put together a handy weekly list of what we...

When it comes to daily exfoliation, I’m usually an AHA tonic, twice-a-day kind of girl. My skin is pretty resilient to most ingredients, so swiping this all over my face doesn’t wreak any havoc. Or, so I thought.  The thing about those fan-fave AHA/BHA tonics, is that they’re pretty strong stuff. It’s great because they really do work but they can easily end up being overused. Twice a week is probably a better idea than twice a day as they can lead to sensitised skin as they penetrate so deeply and can end up disrupting healthy skin barriers.  Enter Medik8, with a solution. PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) are where it’s at for gentle but effective exfoliation and Press & Glow uses gluconolactone to get the job done. As the molecules are l...

So what’s the difference between CBD and hemp oil? Turns out, quite a lot. “The most common mistake is confusing hempseed oil, also known as cannabis sativa seed oil, with CBD, which is usually found in ingredient lists as ‘CBD isolate’ or ‘cannabidiol.’ These are two separate ingredients from the same plant, hemp, and deliver distinct skincare benefits,” explains Loureiro. In essence, whereas CBD addresses the many skin issues discussed already, hempseed oil is far more focused on providing hydration for dry skin. However, while there is a huge buzz around CBD oil right now (with fans advocating for the way that it combats everything from anxiety and period pains to hormonal breakouts and eczema), consultant dermatologist Justine Kluk was kee...

Few things in life fill me with more joy than opening up the lid of a seriously luxurious beauty product. It’s shallow, I know, but there’s something about the feeling I get when I know I’m treating myself to something great. I guess that famous advertising tag line sums it up so well: It’s because I’m worth it, right? That’s essentially how consuming luxury beauty products makes me feel, whether that’s treating myself to a nourishing hair mask or taking the time to really massage in my nightly moisturiser. Having said that though, there are certain products I prefer to buy on a budget. While some high-end alternatives to my budget beauty favourites are wonderful, when it comes to spending my hard-earned cash, the budget buys win. After many years of testing and trialling ne...

What are the benefits of monoi oil? To this day, native Polynesians use monoi oil to moisturise and soothe the skin. The oil’s fatty acids contain antimicrobial properties. It protects against harmful bacteria that can lead to skin infections, such as acne, cellulitis, and folliculitis. It is also anti-inflammatory and can reduce symptoms from skin conditions, including eczema and dermatitis.  Many use monoi oil in their bathwater, too, as the scent helps to relax the mind. As far as hair is concerned, the properties within monoi oil promote growth and strength to the hair follicles, all the while making each strand softer and shinier. It also reduces split ends and keeps frizz at bay. Needless to say, monoi oil is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient in sh...

For many people, the entire act of cleansing both starts and finishes with a cotton pad and a bottle of micellar water. In all honesty, that was never me. I always have been the sort of person that uses a wash-off cleanser morning and night. However, it wasn’t until I learned about double-cleansing that I considered the need to go in twice. The truth is, whether you use micellar or a wash, doing things once simply isn’t enough. Micellar water, for instance, is usually full of drying ingredients that should really be washed off the face after they have done their job at removing makeup. A simple face wash, on the other hand, doesn’t always have the hard-working ingredients to totally dissolve the day’s makeup and dirt. For optimum skin health (and to avoid breakouts), cleansing twice i...