Can Makeup Really Help Your Skin?

I'm sure at some point in our lives we've all been told that wearing make-up is bad for your skin and yes it is if you don't throughly cleanse your skin after wearing it. One thing we don't hear very often at all is that it's good for your skin! Clinique have formulated a foundation with the view to actually improve our skin overtime for the days we go make-up free. 

Personally, I never view foundation as a skincare product, nor do I care if my foundation has any skincare benefits, however after I was using the new Even Better Glow foundation for a couple of days, I knew there was something different with my skin and I couldn't understand why as my skincare routine hadn't changed. I'd completely forgotten about all of the claims the foundation made as I was genuinely just enjoying wearing it each day. 

Even Better Glow contains salicylic acid which is what helps to retexturize the skin. I'm not 100% on this one yet as my skins texture is something that really bothers me and I'm very aware of. On the other hand, a lot of people have been telling me that my skin is looking great and when I point out the texture they tell me I'm crazy.. so who knows!

It also contains Vitamin C which has been giving my skin that 'glow' that everybody is after these days. As I've mentioned hundreds of times on my blog, I am an oily skinned girl so 'glowing' isn't necessarily on my agenda but somehow this has created such healthy looking skin with and without make-up. I find myself only reaching for foundation when I have to (e.g. work, occasions), and opting for natural skin otherwise. 

Whilst I haven't thrown out all of my skincare products in favour of a foundation, I really struggle to put this down to use something else as I have experienced such positive changes in my skin and I don't want it to stop!

As far as a foundation goes, if you love dewy skin then you will seriously love this. It is so reflective in the most healthy, natural way. It contains luminizing pearl pigments which make you look super radiant. For any oily girls like me, blot down with some translucent powder and you're good to go! 

My verdict is.. yes! I believe it can. I've never fed into claims like this before, but I'm so impressed with my results purely from doing my make-up! Hey, if someone can create a concealer that vanishes fine lines under the eyes.. hit me up!

How I Deal With Problem Skin

Ahh, the joys of problem skin. You think you're having a great skin day, and then a spot rears its ugly head. I get my fair share of problem skin, I have done since I was a young teenager. In the past few years, I've mostly suffered from persistent breakouts on my cheeks, if it's not one side, it's the other and I never get a break! Recently, I had a huge breakout of spots on my forehead, I'm not sure why, but it happened. I picked up a product that I haven't grabbed for since I was a teenager, and boy has it made a difference.

Clinique Anti Blemish Cleansing Foam

Clinique Sonic Brush

I picked up the Clinique Anti Blemish Cleansing Foam as I had been faithful to this range when I was a spotty teen in need! I know my skin isn't in a state where it requires the full 3 step system, but one product from the range is all my skin has needed to prevent these pesky little bumps. It's a simple cleansing foam, with anti-bacterial properties which help to fight and prevent breakouts and it does just the job!

I team this with my Sonic brush, a staple in my skincare routine since February of this year. Since using this brush alongside my cleanser of choice, I've noticed a tremendous difference in the texture and appearance of my skin. You can purchase this with an anti bacterial cleansing head, but I'm find with the regular head! It doesn't come cheap, but it's a worth-while investment.

Origins Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Treatment products! Sometimes cleansing your skin with the right products just isn't enough. When my skin is a little shabby, I reach for my masks and my drying lotion. My favourite mask for problem skin is the Origins 'Out of Trouble' mask. You leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse away with warm water revealing squeaky clean skin with a lot less redness! I usually apply it where I need it as it can be a little drying where it's not wanted. 

As an overnight treatment, I dip a cotton bud into the Mario Badescu trying lotion and apply it onto any blemishes and ones that are beginning to rise. This doesn't shift them overnight, but it starts to kill them in their tracks!

Clinique Moisture Surge Supercharged Concentrate

Finally, hydrate!! After using all of those drying products, it's so important to keep the skin hydrated. I used to think my excessively oily skin didn't need any additional moisture, but using a good oil-free moisturiser massively changed the game. It rebalances my skin, meaning I'm not over producing oil to compensate for a lack of moisture and in turn getting more breakouts! Products aside, I've also been drinking so much more water, and my skin is super happy about it.

I hope this post was useful for anyone who's having some trouble with their skin! Let me know any products that you love to use to help your skin out!

Spring Beauty Essentials

Hello! Today I decided to share some of my Spring beauty essentials with you. I guess you can assume from the picture above, I'm all about fresh, glowy skin this time of year, and I'm about to share with you a little collection of products that help me to achieve that!

Clinique Fresh Pressed Vitamin C Powder Cleanser

I guess it's wise of me to begin with the base! You can't build a great house on poor foundations. I take great care of my skin, I'll be sharing some posts based around skincare very soon, but something I've discovered is amazing for a glowing complexion is the new Clinique Fresh Pressed powder cleanser. I've been using this on and off for a little over a month now, I say on and off as it's not necessarily something you need to use everyday, more as something to amp up your current routine. This does what it says on the tin, (or the box), it instantly brightens my face, and smooths out any texture in preparation for make-up. If you're after a new cleanser to give your skin a boost, grab yourself a box asap!

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

We often take good care of our skin, but neglect to look after our under eye area, which should be a main focus! The skin under our eyes is 50% thinner than that on our face, and it's always a massive give away of things such as ageing, tiredness, and more. I've been loving using this Bobbi Brown eye cream recently as it's super hydrating, leaving my under eyes looking as radiant as the rest of my skin, and helping to keep dehydration lines at bay!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick

On to the actual make-up, I love a dewy finish this time of year, so I've been reaching for the Double Wear Cushion Stick foundation. If you're super oily, I'd give it a miss as it's only since my skin has balanced out that I'm able to wear this, but for dry/dry combination skin, this is heaven sent. It's not super full coverage like it's sister, the cult classic Double Wear, but a nice medium/buildable foundation. The product is dispensed from a sponge, however I still like to use a blending brush to apply! 

Sephora Bronzer in Bali

An obvious one I suppose, but who doesn't need a bronzer, especially in the warmer months?! I love a naturally bronzed complexion, and this one from Sephora ticks all the boxes for me. I don't contour specifically, I rather use my bronzer to warm up those areas. With that being said, I wouldn't want a super warm toned bronzer for that purpose, and this one is a perfect mix of warm and cool! It's even lovely thrown in the crease of your eye!

Benefit Cheek Parade Palette

It's time to add a little flush of colour to the cheeks, and I personally love a pop of peach on mine, so the new Benefit Galifornia blush is a dream. It's a super barbie-style peach. Of course, this is a whole palette, but I like having options, okay! It also includes some of my favourite bronzers, so I love having this palette on hand to complete most of my look. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills X Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit

What would a glowy make-up look be with out the ULTIMATE glow? I've been a huge fan of the ABH glow kits since 'gleam' and 'that glow' hit the scene, and have since collected four more, including the killer collaboration which is with beauty guru Nicole Guerriero. I'm not massively familiar with Nicole, but the palette called my name, (quite literally). The variety of shades is gorgeous, and definitely something different which is proving hard these days with the amount of new released we're being hit with! The shades melt into your skin like butter, and provide you with a seriously enviable glow. 

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Fragrance

Last but not least, you just have to have your staple spring/summer fragrance on deck before you leave the door! Mine is the classic Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder. It instantly takes me to a tropical island, (okay, in my head), but it just gets those good vibes flowing. If you haven't tried this fragrance, give it a smell when it hits the stores again! 

What are your Spring beauty essentials?! 

Top Tips For Clear Skin

Having a clear complexion is something I'm pretty confident that all of us would like to achieve, and unfortunately, most of us aren't naturally blessed in that department! Over recent years, my skin began to go downhill, and I found myself with blemishes over my cheeks, and often getting breakouts on my forehead too. After discovering this was mostly due to being on a particular contraceptive pill, I decided to discover ways of clearing up the mess it had caused on my face. I'm no expert, and by no means do I have perfect skin, but I have definitely made dramatic improvements, and I thought I'd share my tips with you!

(Disclaimer: I'm not suggesting that skin is the be all and end all, but it is a huge concern for a lot people, so read on and enjoy!).

Cleanse your skin!

It goes without saying really, but it's incredibly important to clean your skin, especially if you're wearing make-up. Regardless of how tired I am, I will always remove every scrap of make-up off my face. It makes me shudder to think about my high school days, putting on a £1 foundation and sleeping in it until the next day. It's only recently that I've delved into the world of cleansing balms, and my favourite is the Clinique Take The Day Off cleansing balm. Using clean hands, I smooth it all over my face, including over my eyes, and you can visibly see the make-up breaking down. You can either wash it off with water, or sweep it away with micellar water and a cotton pad. Despite this being a very oil based product, I'm never left with any residue on my face, and my skin feels super clean and soft.

Tone!

This is a step in my skincare routine that I've flitted in and out of, but one that I won't stop doing anymore after discovering my new holy grain skincare product, the Pixi Glow Tonic. This has been around for quite a while, and I've heard so many people raving about it, and I finally gave in and purchased it along with another Pixi product which I'll discuss further down! It wasn't until I understood the importance of toning, that I actually incorporated it into my routine. You're essentially buffing away dead skin cells, which build up on the skin and can a) clog pores, (causing breakouts), and b) creates texture. Out of every product I've ever used, this has made the most unbelievable difference in my skin. Where I've had scarring and uneven skin tone from previous breakouts, this has gently buffed those away, and as the days go on, my skin seems to be getting clearer and clearer. I actually wake up in the morning with completely smooth skin!

Finding Suitable Masks for your Skin!

As I'm sure most of you do, I love a good pampering session, whether it be at a spa, (although it rarely is..), or at home with a candle, some jazz music, (just me on that one?), and a good face mask. However, it's important to find one that's suitable for your skin type and it's needs to actually reap the benefits. I've used a number of masks, peel-off, wash-off, the lot, and only a few have I actually bothered to use again and again. For the most part, my skin is oily, however, as I do take care of my skin and try to give it what it needs, it's almost balanced out to a 'normal' skin type. The main problem area I have is my nose which is super oily, so I tend to use masks that are clay based and/or charcoal based to extract excess oil and clean my pores. My favourite one is the Pixi Glow Mud Mask as it visibly extracts the oils from my pores, and they look shiny and new when it's been washed off!

If you have a drier skin type, you're better with a more rich, intensive mask. Treating your skin to a mask treatment once or twice a week will have huge benefits in the long run, replenishing nutrients and revealing happier, healthier skin.

Exfoliate!

Exfoliating was another game changer for me. I used to just wash my face in the shower as normal, never really giving it the good scrub that it needed. The blogging/beauty world really encouraged me to explore what products I use on my skin, that's when weekly exfoliating was thrown into the mix. I first picked up The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion, and it really helped to begin the journey of smoother skin, but it wasn't until I discovered the Kiehl's Micro-Dermabrasion that I really noticed a difference. The particles are actually made from real sea shells, and whilst that sounds quite abrasive, it also contains shea butter which protects the skin from dehydration. I like to do this no more than twice a week, as too much can have an adverse effect, stripping the skin of essential oils. I find that my skin is 100 times more smooth and clear the minute I step out of the shower!

Moisturise!

I'm sure this is another no-brainer, but keeping your skin moisturised is essential, even if you have oily skin! I used to completely skip moisturiser in the fear that it would add to the oiliness of my skin, I mean, who knew that adding moisture doesn't necessarily increase moisture?! Using a moisturiser helps to lock in hydration, and give the skin the nutrients it needs, otherwise it begins to overcompensate resulting in an oil slick mess! Find one that's suitable for your skin type, shop around and do your research.

Eating Less Oily Meals

A huge battle that I'm thrust into every day, is the battle between me and food. Unfortunately, I'm not somebody who can sit and eat 'clean' meals all day every day, doing nothing but sipping on green tea and chewing on leaves, it just can't happen. However, I do try to control the amount of greasy foods that enter my body, forgetting the weight side of things, this is also to aid my skin. I find that when I indulge in a lot of greasy meals, my skin gets very angry at me and breaks out left, right and centre. I can definitely get away with one a week, two at a push, but more than that and I'll be paying for it! Different foods affect different people, for me, I can get away with carbs such as pasta and rice and not suffer too much, but a lot of bread and potatoes can have a major affect on my skin.

Staying Hydrated

It's not just about moisturising your skin with products! Drinking plenty of water has an endless amount of benefits, but it really does help your skin. It flushes the toxins out of your system, and keeps your skin supple, hydrated and glowing. 

Clean Your Brushes!

This is something I believe we could all do with keeping on top of more frequently! Particularly with face brushes! If you think about it, how often do you put the same make-up on your skin because of dirty brushes? I will admit, I'm not as concerned with eye brushes, but foundation, blusher, bronzer brushes etc.. keep them clean! I clean mine with regular hand soap mostly, but I try and do it roughly once a week. Plus, there's nothing like the application of make-up with a freshly cleaned brush!

Touching Your Face

STOP! Not good. I used to do this all the time in high school, no wonder I had such problematic skin! The bacteria your hands collect during the day is astonishing, and putting it on your face is a disaster waiting to happen. If you have to touch your face, make sure you have clean hands! 

Like I said earlier, I'm no expert, and I'm certainly no skin goddess, but I'm on a 'positive skin journey' if we must call it something, and I wanted to share my tips and knowledge with you! 

If you have any tips, tricks or skincare products you recommend, please comment below!