skin

Up until a few years ago there was a major misconception that good quality skincare products had to be expensive. Some skincare experts say that expensive products are pricey for a reason, whereas others swear by the affordable dupes of skincare classics.  The thing is, if you know a thing or two about product development, you’ll know expensive really doesn’t always equal effective. Often the factors that bump up product prices are things like marketing and distribution costs, clinical trials for new ingredients, fancy packaging, and long ingredient lists. This means that if a brand is prepared to cut down on a few of these costs – for example using minimal packaging, keeping ingredient lists small, and using ingredients that have already been tes...

New year for me is all about self-care. It may be a term that gets thrown around a lot, but the truth is, I find there’s a lot of pressure that comes with resolutions. In the end, all I really want is to be kinder to myself, both mentally and physically. After a month of pure indulgence, I like to treat myself to exactly what I need: love. When it comes to your beauty regime, there are plenty of ways we can give ourselves a little TLC that don’t require too much effort. Our diaries are almost certainly less jam-packed, so on the evenings where I would have been rushing around to see friends or do last minute shopping, I have a think about what new skincare gems I would like to introduce, vitamins I may start taking, products I would like to try.  Taking time to treat ourse...

Fillers are probably one of the most well-known cosmetic treatments. They’ve been around for decades but have spiked in popularity in the last few years thanks to celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Chrissy Teigen speaking candidly about their experiences with filler. “Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected into the skin to help plump, smooth lines, enhance facial features, restore lost volume, and rejuvenate” explains cosmetic dentist and advanced facial aesthetician Tara Francis. “They can effectively give a fresher appearance to the face, mask bumps in the nose, define jaw lines, plump lips, or give defined cheekbones, amongst other things.” As opposed to cosmetic surgery, filler is a more flexible alternative since its results won’t last forever, and it can easily be re...

When I think back on the past 12 months, I believe 2022 has been a year full of defining beauty products and moments. Undoubtedly, social media—and TikTok in particular—is one of the biggest influences on the beauty products that we decided to purchase. Whether it be expensive-smelling perfumes or celebrity-favourite moisturisers filling our For You Pages, 2022 has seen real mix of products, both new and old classics, which have taken pride positions in our makeup bags, dressing tables and bathrooms.  After a couple of years of uncertainty during the pandemic, 2022 was the year that we finally had a sense of normality. As such, we made our way back to our beloved nail salons and hairdressers, however, we also became used to tending to our beauty routines and continuing ...

I don’t like to put too much stock on giving your skin type a label – there are far too many variables at play, and skin’s behaviour can change based on so many factors, including your lifestyle, location, environment, mediation, and diet. However, it is useful, especially if you are new to skincare, to have a rough idea of what your skin type is. Imagine a scale, with oily skin at one end and dry at the other. Everyone sits somewhere on that scale, and the closer you are to the middle, the more balanced and healthy your skin is. If your skin is more on the oily side, you’re probably quite prone to breakouts, you notice your skin looks shiny (especially in the T-zone) and you probably also have enlarged pores and blackheads. If your skin is more dry, then your symptoms will be things...

For me, skincare products are just one piece of the puzzle when treating acne. I’ve tried countless acne treatment products over the years, but I only saw lasting change when I was prescribed spironolactone by my dermatologist to get my hormonal cystic acne under control. That being said, products played—and continue to play—a huge role in keeping my skin balanced while helping to prevent and treat acne. Sure, they’re not miracle workers, but anything that can help a troublesome skin condition certainly helps matters, and building a good skincare routine can go a long way. Especially if you also want to treat the acne scarring that breakouts leave in their wake. Skincare expert Tijion Esho, founder of the Esho Clinic, is a firm advocate of long-term routines when it comes to tr...

But why are some products so much cheaper than others? Product prices are dictated by things like quality of ingredients, packaging supply chains, research and development, and marketing costs. But by reducing marketing budgets, keeping packaging minimal, and utilising ingredients that are already tried, tested, and proven to work, brands can keep costs low and pass on the savings to you. “Some brands can also afford to sell their products at lower prices simply because they can afford to produce a large amount of stock,” says esthetician and skin expert Katie Onyejekwe. “It’s always worth remembering that brands can position themselves as luxury and charge a fortune for what is a basic formula housed in fancy packaging with a large marketing budget, but it all comes down to formula ...

Triggered by stress, anxiety, and the over-use of active ingredients like exfoliating acids, sensitive skin is on the rise, and as a result, products for sensitive skin are on the rise too. “Many people experimented with DIY skincare during the pandemic, so between choosing the wrong products for their skin, introducing too many products at once, and using DIY skincare, it’s unsurprising that there is now a huge trend for skincare for sensitive skin,” says Heather Wish, education specialist at Paula’s Choice. “In addition, two other factors that can bring sensitivity to skin are stress and pollution, so with the rise of all of these factors, it’s no wonder people are looking towards skincare made for sensitive skin.” We’ve all been there—a few too many products layered or an overenthusiast...

Triggered by stress, anxiety, and the over-use of active ingredients like exfoliating acids, sensitive skin is on the rise, and as a result, products for sensitive skin are on the rise too. “Many people experimented with DIY skincare during the pandemic, so between choosing the wrong products for their skin, introducing too many products at once, and using DIY skincare, it’s unsurprising that there is now a huge trend for skincare for sensitive skin,” says Heather Wish, education specialist at Paula’s Choice. “In addition, two other factors that can bring sensitivity to skin are stress and pollution, so with the rise of all of these factors, it’s no wonder people are looking towards skincare made for sensitive skin.” We’ve all been there—a few too many products layered or an overenthusiast...

If there is one thing I’m hoping for, it’s that I’ve inherited some good skin genetics from my gran, Audrey. At 83, my family refer to her as glam-ma as opposed to grandma, as she always looks put together. Plus, people often say she looks far younger than her age would suggest, and I have to agree, I hope I look this lovely at her age. When I recently visited her for a cup of tea, we got talking about her beauty routine, and naturally, I wanted to know what skincare secrets she might that she could pass on. Going into beauty editor mode, I quizzed her on all things beauty and investigated her dressing table for the best products for mature skin, as well as her all-time favourites that she swears by. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you ar...

When it comes to celebrity beauty and celebrity beauty lines, we usually take them with a little pinch of salt. It feels a little inauthentic when a celebrity launches a line and proclaims that it’s all that they use. Sure, the products might be good, but behind the complexions of stars is usually a team of top facialists, expert dermatologists and experienced doctors who help them look their very best. Not to mention that they have access to the very best skincare products no matter the price tag. I usually find it difficult to believe when a celebrity credits only their skincare line for their glowing skin. But when Hailey Bieber‘s TikTok video came up on my For You Page recently, I was pleasantly surprised by her skincare advice. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are l...

According to Dr Anita Sturnham who founded her brand Decree after years of successfully treating skincare issues in her London clinic, it’s also having real knowledge, expertise and accreditation in their respective field. “Most doctor-led brands are based on the founder’s clinical experience and have a strong focus on efficacy and using active levels of ingredients that have been clinically proven to create change at a cellular level in the skin,” she explains. “We see patients day in, day out, and understand how ingredients can impact skin health.” Keep scrolling for the best doctor-led skincare brands to invest in – and ones that I use every single day. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with gi...