How to....

Take off your makeup

The most important step in any skin care routine is cleansing. 

Lets face it you can't have clear skin without clean skin.

However despite our good intentions most of us don't spend long enough cleaning our faces. We happily spend an hour in front of the mirror piling on the product, but only allow 20 seconds to take it off. 

Research shows that it is impossible to remove all of the makeup, oils and dirt on the face with a mere twenty seconds of cleansing. Furthermore most cleansers aren't capable of breaking through the thick layer of surface debris we accumulate on our skin throughout the day on their own. Insufficient cleansing is likely to lead to clogged pores and breakouts, whilst also preventing those expensive toners, moisturizers and serums from working to their full potential. 

Personally I like to remove my makeup with a makeup remover first. Bioderma is my current go to, but in situations like this makeup wipes can also be a godsend. I then follow with an oil based cleanser, at the moment this task falls to my trusty Eve Lom.

(Note how much makeup has come off on my first cleanse)

When it comes to finding partners an often sprouted phrase is 'opposite attracts', however when it comes to skincare likes like. Ever get yourself covered in bicycle grease and remember your mum using butter to clean you up? Oil likes oil. It breaks it down.

Oil based balms are the thang. They thoroughly cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils. Hello hydration. Goodbye that feeling of tightness. No one wants their face to feel like an over blown up balloon. Balms can remove even the most stubborn makeup, even that waterproof eye makeup that NOTHING seems to budge. 

Various top facialists have created their own version of balm based cleansers. My favourite? The original. Eve Lom. It cleanses, tones, moisturizes, exfoliates AND removes makeup. Who knew one pony could do so many tricks? But my favourite technique to remove the balm? Emma Hardie.

Getting the product onto the skin is simple. A small scoop of balm, warmed up between your hands, onto dry skin, massaged, does the trick nicely. Hardie then advocates removing our balms through lines not circles. Seeing as our facial muscles are organised in linear fibres it makes sense to work with them not against them. Simply lift sections of your skin, pulling tightly, and run your muslin cloth in lines along the skin. Any direction is fine as long as the lines are there.  You can literally feel the tension in your face being eradicated, you really have no idea how much tension you hold in your face till you give this a go. 

This simple, cheap as chips technique, energises and boots the skin. Stimulating the lymph to flow and muscles to lift.  It detoxifies the skin, erases dark circles and puffiness, helping you achieve luminous, deeply clean, moisturised, lifted skin. 

Oil based balms suit  all skin types, however some are more appropriate for certain conditions than others. Eve Lom is ideal for congested, troublesome skin, Sarah Chapman is THE anti-ageing pro fighter, whilst Emma Hardie is perfect for sensitive souls.

My secret weapon?  Use a WHITE muslin cloth. This way I can whether or not I still have makeup on my face.

(That lovely yellow coloured area is my second go with my muslin cloth, the cloth only remained white after my third scrub) 

Muslin cloths should ideally be changed daily to prevent bacteria hot footing it back onto your skin. Whilst you can go all out and purchase the luxe cloths on offer from a range of brands I got a pack of 10 from ebay for about £4. #Savvyshopper.

Give it a go, you will be shocked how much makeup you've been letting linger on your face. 

This may take longer than 20 seconds but as they say what is really worth investing in more than your skin?

Talk to you soon i'm off to perform some yoga on my face! 

Trials and Tribulations

Week Three

I seriously think I have schizophrenic skin. Last week it looked like it was on a one stop train to clearskinville. But this week has encountered a few hiccups along the way. 

I have still been using my Clarisonic, Eve Lom Cleanser and Alpha H every day and night. I have switched the head on my Clarisonic to sensitive, so I'm not treating my skin too harshly (although it probably deserves it!). My skin feels so so clean after every wash but every morning this week I have woken up to a new lodger on my face.

I have a few little whiteheads setting up shop in my clogged pores, something I have never experienced before. There are no longer any active spots on my jawline, but there are a few on that space between the jaw and top of the neck. I'm not sure if this is because I apply my foundation down onto this area and maybe am not washing it thoroughly enough? Who knows. Another thing I'll have to address next week.

The Eve Lom claims to brighten and tone your skin. That I can't fault it on, my skin definitely looks alive. No lack luster winter skin here. Dullness is not a problem. My skin may look radiant but it is still congested. I'm convinced my skin is suffering a personality split. It just can't make its mind up.

I've been searching the internet in my desperation and came across the Dermalogica face map.

Now I've had my skin mapped by Dermalogica before, and at the Dove spas in Virgin gyms. Both go over your skin with weird sci-fi looking scanner things and tell you the levels of elasticity in your skin, where it is oily or dry, how much sun damage it has suffered and basically inform you of your skin's type. I have always assumed I fit 100% into the oily category, but apparently I have combination skin, so I would definitely recommend getting it done to make sure you are buying the right products for your skin type. They do it for free at the Dermalogica counter in Libertys.

Anyhow ramble over this is what I found online:

The photo seems to by copyrighted so here is the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/22072801@N03/5834136926/

It basically explains why we suffer breakouts in certain areas.

So....

Apparently your forehead is regarded as the sister zone to your bladder, if you frequently suffer breakouts in this area try drinking more water or eating more whole foods.

Breakouts between your eyebrows are related to your liver, so try cutting back on the alcohol and fast food!

Breakouts or unusual hair growth on your jaw line can indicate hormonal imbalance, possibly caused by stress. 

Congestion on the cheeks is most common among smokers.


Well I don't smoke and I hope I don't have a hormonal imbalance but I am extremely stressed at the moment, trying to find a part time job to find my life is not the most relaxing of tasks! That could maybe be an explanation for this weeks blip, but maybe I am just clutching at straws.

VIEWERS BE WARNED THIS DOES NOT MAKE FOR A PRETTY PICTURE!

I'm going power through with my three supposed holy grails and see what state my skin is in next week!



What products do you recommend? Do you agree with Dermalogicas analysis?

Delve into the Deep

What's inside my makeup bag?

I am so nosy I love nothing more than peering into people's wardrobes and makeup bags, I want to know what other people have and if i need it.

Whats inside my bag posts are one my favourites so I thought I would share with all of you whats inside my day to day bag.

I only carry around a small bag for everyday use but it does fit in all of my essentials.

Firstly the bag. I have a bit of a pony skin obsession, I also have a dark blue and gold purse version and have my eye on a burnt orange clutch for Christmas.

Mac Blot Powder Pressed: As you probably know yy now I have extremely oil skin and this little compact is probably the most important product in my arsenal. Its essential for taking away the mid afternoon shine .

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: I picked this up in Sephora last year it is one of the most recommended products in the makeup industry. I use it for under my eyes and any spot touch ups needed throughout the day.

Eve Lom Kiss Mix: I have very dry lips that get chapped really easily. The Kiss Mix is the perfect size for throwing in my bag, my Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is just too clunky to carry around on a day to day basis. I use this as a balm and a gloss.

Pure DKNY Rollerball: This sample sized product came free with one of my sephora purchases. I love rollerball perfumes for their accessibility and practicality, no one is going to risk carrying out their full sized perfume bottle, so these little babies are ideal for refreshing your smell on a long day.

Urban Decay Lip Junkie: I'm not sure what the colour of this is, I got it free with the Naked Palette. It's a natural warm pink colour which is great for that still put together no makeup look. It smells like peppermint and leaves a really nice tingling feeling on my lips.

Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel: There's a bit of a theme going in here with my makeup bag, most of the purchases are from America! It's a real shame we can't get Bath and Body Works products here in the UK. I touch my face alot, which is nawwwt a good thing, so I keep this handy so at least my hands are clean when they're pawing my face. 

L'Occitane Rose Petals Hand Cream: This is the newest addition to my collection, I got it free with this months Marie Claire. I've never really used hand creams before but I'm finding that my nose is not quite agreeing with the soap at work. I love the smell of this so I apply after I've washed my hands, its keeping my hands super soft and supple!

Finally these don't fit in my bag but I always make sure to carry around tissues with me, especially when the weather starts to turn. My current ones look like £50 notes and come in a package telling you to blow your cash! I think they're hilarious!

I don't like to lug a lot of makeup around with me, one of my pet peeves is a heavy handbag. To combat this I use a lot of sample sized products and try to keep it to basics.

What are your everyday essentials? Do you have any great multi purpose products? Let me know!

Trials and Tribulations...

Week 2

Hi everyone!

So I thought i'd update you all on how my skin care trial is going. In case you don't know I am religiously using my Clarisonic, Eve Lom Cleanser and Alpha H Liquid Gold every night and day to see if these three supposed skin care heroes really can make a dramatic difference to my skin.

So here is what I think so far: I have been using Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser with my Clarisonic in the morning, this is mainly because the Eve Lom is just too damn expensive to use twice a day! But also I really like the way the Biore works with the Clarisonic they make my skin feel really really soft and not too tight and dry.

I love love love my Eve Lom. I know it is quite a long process and if you are someone who just wants to wash and go it probably isn't the one for you. You apply the product to your dry face, rub in, then with the muslin cloth and hot as you can handle press it against your face for 5 seconds. Repeat this for three times and then wash off with cool water. To be honest it doesn't take longer than five minutes and it feels very luxurious, like a home spa treatment every day! Again the Eve Lom makes my skin feel incredibly clean and super super soft.

I have been applying my Alpha H Liquid Gold every other night. Other reviewers have commented on a tingling feeling when it first makes contact with the skin this is not something I have noticed but then I do not have particularly sensitive skin. This product is very drying and I have upped the amount of moisturizer I use in the morning as a consequence. However I really do think it is starting to make a difference!

Last week I had several spots above my lip and around my jaw line these have all cleared up! I have had a slight breakout on my forehead which is strange because this is not typically a problem area so I'll have to wait and see what happens there. But so far so good!

Have you used any of these products before, what do you think?

Trials and Tribulations....

Hi Again!

Jean Kerr: I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want—an adorable pancreas?

I have struggled with my skin for as long as I can remember. I have had a few intermittent blemish free months where I jump around singing, dancing and praising the lord that my prayers have been answered. But No. Those spots always come crawling back.

Right now my skin is the worst it has been in years. I have breakouts across my chin, neck, and that weird area under my nose and above my lip (does anyone know what that's called?!) I have four whiteheads at the moment, I seriously don't think one of them beautys have adorned my face since my mid teens. 

I have tried just about everything on my skin, from the cheaper to the horrendously expensive  , but I seem to have commitment issues and don't stick with one skin care regime for long. So it's got to the point where I have NO IDEA what my skin likes and dislikes. All I know is that right now it is disliking me a hell of alot.

Experts claim it takes six weeks for new products to truly make their mark. So I thought I would trial three revered beauty holy grails and test the claims of sales assistants and bloggers alike. I've decided to stick to three, forgoing any extra treatments, serums or masks, so it will be easier to tell which products are doing all the leg work.

So for the next six weeks I will religiously use my Clarisonic, Eve Lom cleanser and Alpha H Liquid Gold in an attempt to clear my angry, angry, oh so angry, skin . These three products have some of the best reviews in the beauty industry, I would go as far to say they are the Louboutins of the skincare. 

I will share my uphill battle with you over this blog, updating pictures of my skin every week for six weeks so you to can see if these products really have the bang for your buck. 

So here it goes, picture one......

 I feel like I am sharing a naked picture of myself on the internet.

But if it helps at least one person make a more informed skin care decision then it's worth it!

Note: I have, as you can probably see, the world's oiliest skin, pores the size of craters, and a rush hour worthy congestion of black heads of my chin and nose.

I'll upload my next picture this time next week and fingers crossed there will be a miraculous difference!