skin

A great face mask can cure all your skin needs. Dry and dehydrated? Feeling a bit jaded and dull from lack of vitamin D? Simply in need of five minutes of self-care? Nothing beats a Sunday-evening face mask moment to tackle any of the above. It’s one of the easiest ways to get that post-facial glow at home and the perfect way to unwind. But which mask to choose? The industry is overflowing with options, so we’ve gone to experts, ever-glowy celebs, and beauty insiders to bring you an edit of masks that people have only ever described as the best. These are the cult classics. From pre–award ceremony sheet masks to pre-wedding concoctions, they have been trusted to bring the glow for some of the most important events, so you know you can’t really go wrong.  You Deserve to ...

No matter what your stance on the climate crisis may be, one thing is for sure: Us humans know how to consume. In fact, consume is just about all we do, and with consumption comes a whole bunch of waste. Sadly, whether we’re throwing out non-recyclable plastics or recyclable glass, the very act of our consumption is set to have an effect on the state of the planet. And sadly, as time has gone on, our consumption has worsened. According to data, in 1950, global carbon dioxide emissions were around 5 billion tonnes. By 2017, they were around 36 billion tonnes, with further increases reported over 2018 and 2019. And it’s not just carbon emissions from manufacturing and transportation that we should be thinking about. Studies show that, if plastic consumption doesn’t change by 2050, the seas w...

Despite the fact that the size of my perfume collection is without a doubt unnecessary and extravagant, it turns out that my theory about perfume lifting my spirits actually does make sense. Aromatherapy Associates Master Blender Luke Taylor says, “In more recent times, numerous studies have revealed that various psychological effects can be attributed to fragrance inhalation. Increased brain activity, changes in bloody pressure, heart rate and pupil dilation are all immediate effects of olfactory stimulation.”  But what exactly makes a great uplifting perfume? The truth is, what’s uplifting for one, might not necessarily be for another. “Any scent you enjoy will evoke happiness, either from the pure joy of experiencing it or reminiscing on past enjoyable events,” says ...

Everyone deserves a beauty editor in their group chat for on-the-go questions on everything from the best concealer to where to go for a manicure that’ll last beyond the weekend. With the enviable job of testing and reviewing a seemingly endless supply of beauty products, they’re the best bet for product recommendations.  The downside? When you’ve got every beauty brand in the world at your disposal, that often equates to using products that have a whole lot of numbers succeeding the pound sign. So we decided to have a chat with the beauty editors we have on speed dial to find out what affordable beauty products they use that rival the expensive ones out there.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a datin...

Because my mother always had luxury skincare products, I thought that good skincare equalled expensive. She’d even forgo other items just so she could buy a costly night cream. But in France, there’s a reason why pharmacy products have become so renowned: It’s because they really are that good for affordable prices. I’m generally of the mindset that you get what you pay for, but in France, you just have to walk off the street into any pharmacy to find a range of products that are reasonably priced, such at Avène, Roche Posay, Caudalie and Vichy. A few of my current favourite products are the beauty essentials created by newish kid on the block, Oh My Cream, which includes a daily SPF moisturiser and serum. My personal top pick is the oatmeal-scented Cleansing Balm, which really does thorou...

As my mom told me over the phone, Youn connected the dots for her when he said the most important thing we can do for our skin is to eat a clean, healthy diet, and sugar basically equals wrinkles. So as my mom began to reduce her sugar intake and make healthier choices when it came to meals and snacking, her skin started looking better and better, and she became more interested in what else she could do to help some age-related redness, dark spots, fine lines, and not-so-fine lines that were becoming ever harder to miss when she looked in the mirror each morning. (Her words, not mine!) “Frankly, I’m also embarrassed to admit I’d never done much besides a morning facial cleanse in the shower, some moisturiser under my makeup, and an evening cleanse,” she laughs. “But as I ...

Pat McGrath is one of the most iconic makeup artists in history, and her namesake makeup brand, Pat McGrath Labs, more than lives up to her legendary name. Fun fact: The brand also just announced iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell as its first-ever global face of Pat McGrath Labs. “The entire planet is just as cosmetics obsessed as I’ve always been,” McGrath explains on the brand’s website. “Makeup is a movement. Makeup is mesmerising. Makeup is major. Mantra-esque, three words have repeated over and over in my mind ever since I was young. Obsession. Inspiration. Addiction. Those words became my guiding principles, my manifesto as I brought this brand to life.”  Visit the brand’s website and you’ll be faced wi...

Almost like magic, after just a couple of days, my skin will already be showing signs of clearing up. And after a couple of weeks of using the blemish-fighting cleanser every day, I can usually expect my skin to be more or less blemish-free. Put it this way: If I could have it my way, this would be the only cleanser that I ever use. When a cleanser costs under £10, I’m always a little dubious. However, a quick glance over the ingredients list of this one proves that top-notch skin clarifying ingredients don’t always justify a steep price tag. Most notably, it contains congestion-busting salicylic acid to slough away at dead skin cells with minimal irritation. On top of that, and this is where my real skincare geek comes out to play, it contains hydrating and glow-boosting niacin (or vitami...

In times like these, keeping on top of what’s new in beauty can seem a little bit tricky. All of the big advertising campaigns that we usually rely on to keep us in the loop are on hold, and new products seem to be trickling onto online retailers almost silently. And if I’m finding it tricky as a beauty editor, I think it’s safe to assume everyone else is struggling too. It makes sense, therefore, that now more so than ever, we’re turning to Instagram to get our beauty news and do our browsing.   So while I am all for utilising the likes of Instagram to discover new beauty treasures, I am also very aware of the pitfalls of doing so. You see, while Instagram is a great way to gather valuable first-hand reviews of products, it does also tend to champion the prettier, more aesthetic...

Summer is officially here and, if the weather forecast is anything to go by, we’ve got some seriously hot, sunny days ahead of us. And I’m not sure about you, but the minute things start heating up, any will I have to keep my daily beauty routine alive diminishes. Very quickly, my twice-daily, ten-step skincare routine becomes a simple two-step cleanse (with refreshingly cold water, of course) with a generous smattering of lightweight but repairing serum afterwards. Similarly, any desire to spend time applying makeup vanishes as the threat of it melting off in minutes makes the whole act seem a little pointless. There is, however, one beauty product that I find myself reaching for far more than any other during the summer months. Sure, if I had to pick my most important summ...

As a beauty editor, there are only so many times you can harp on about the importance of looking after your skin barrier before you send a room to sleep. The truth is, while us beauty eds love geeking out over the sciencey stuff about skincare, the majority of people just want to know the basics. You know, the really necessary information like what ingredients the skin actually needs to maintain its health. Personally, the one beauty ingredient my skin genuinely can’t be without is ceramides. Sure, I know that these things are different for everyone, but I genuinely believe (and have many experts to back me up) that every single one of us should be using ceramide-based beauty products whenever and wherever we can. And let me be clear, this isn’t beauty fluff, this is the real deal. If...

The truth is making sure that you are applying the correct sun cream in the correct way is absolutely crucial in ensuring sun safety. “From March to October, UV levels are at their highest. I would recommend applying sunscreen to any exposed skin 15 minutes before you head outdoors,” advises consultant dermatologist Justine Kluk. “It is possible to burn, tan and sustain sun damage that increases your risks of skin cancer and premature ageing from just 15 minutes of casual sun exposure without the right protection.” And this is where the issue lies. In reality, very few people do apply sun cream correctly, and thus expose themselves to damage. “Many people make the mistake of thinking that their makeup contains SPF, so they don’t need to wear a separate sun protection product, but...