The Worst Things For Your Skin

My Favourite Sun Lotion - Smells Like Coconut!

Sun

Contrary to popular belief, baking in the sun doesn't clear up spots, especially if it's spots on your face. It might modify your skin tone so they aren't as visible, and it might dry up the outer layer of skin, but it can actually exacerbate* the problem, particularly if you're prone to rosacea* or on medication that's light sensitive*.
   And speaking of sun, don't forget to apply SPF on your chest, neck and hands, as the thinner layers of skin here will show sun spots. You can do everything to maintain a young looking face and quickly give yourself easily away elsewhere. There are great natural and mineral-based sunscreens on the market that don't contain scary chemicals - a small powder foundation is something I keep in my bag for when I re-apply my sun cream. And because it's not liquid it's perfect for on the go. You don't need to pull out the SPF 45 on a daily basis - and you shouldn't avoid the sun completely, since that can result in having a vitamin-D deficiency. Anything in the SPF 15 to 30 range should be enough for everyday. 
   I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you expose yourself too much to sun throughout your life make sure you see a dermatologist for a full-body check. Skin cancer can be fatal; it's key to catch it early. If you're obsessed with having tanned skin, and make up doesn't cut it - look at fake tanners. There are countless options and brands in shops to give a natural glow. 

Smoking

In addition to all the horrible things smoking can do to your health, it's another way to destroy your health. Not only because you'll get wrinkles around your mouth but because smoking speeds up the aging process of the skin. It's a gross habit, so just try to steer clear of it. 

Dehydration

Your skin is your body's largest organ and it need hydration to function at it's best. Drink pleanty of water and you skin cells will be plump and healthy. 

Picking At Your Face

This one's easy - picking at your face will only exacerbate whatever's going on there. Hands off for a happier complexion. Make sure to keep your phones and glasses clean because they can harbor bacteria that you don't want touching your face. 

One Simple Thing You Can Do Everyday

I know I've pretty much shoved the SPF message down your throats but there's one more thing you need to know. Your lips need protection too. Add a lip balm with SPF into your collection and you're covered. There are tinted ones, so you can be protecting your mouth and prettying up your pout at the same time. 

Which sun cream products do you use? 

Have you joined stoptober? 

xx

*Exacerbate - To make a problem, situation or bad feeling worse. 

**Rosacea - A condition in which facial blood vessels enlarge.

***Light Sensitive Medication - Such as:

• benzoyl peroxide, BenzaClin, Benzamycin
• Accutane (isotretinoin)
• Products containing alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, etc.)
• Antibiotics like doxycyline, metronidazole,erythromycin and Bactrim
• Retinoids like Retin-A, Differin, Tazorac, Ziana

Analyse Your Face.

Recently I've become a bit obsessed with eastern medicine and face mapping. The idea is that you have a strong connection between your internal organs - and other things happening in your body - and the different zones of your face. For example, issues with your liver will show up as redness in the center of your forehead. A breakout here my signify overly rich foods in your diet or an allergy to dairy. You can even tell which side you have ovulated that month by examining your chin with a microscope.. (obviously to be done professionally). Professionals can also sense when you've just been ill or about to become ill by looking above your eyebrows. It can be really fun and interesting way to find out what's happening on the inside - it makes sense too, if you keep in mind that your skin is actually an organ/ Here is a basic face map showing some areas you can break out and what they could mean:

1. Forehead: Breakouts across the forehead can be triggered by stress or lack of sleep.

2. Above Brow: The area above your brow represents your immune system. Breakouts tend to appear here before, after or during a cold or flu.

3. Between Brows: Breakouts between your brows are often caused by overindulgence. Try cutting back on sugar, rich foods and alcohol.

4. Cheeks: Your cheeks are affected by your lung quality. Smoking and breathing polluted air can cause breakouts here. 

5. Chin: The chin is affected by hormones. Breakouts can come around the time of your period and more on one side depending on which ovary is ovulating that month. 

Do you find that you breakout somewhere in particular? 

See if you can find out more about face mapping

xx

Make Up Wishlist

So my last wishlist turned into more of a beauty product wishlist instead of a make up one, so I thought I'd just quickly add a make up one just to make up for it! (If you pardon the pun).

1. Mac's Mineralize Rich Lipstick - Everyday Diva

I'm getting braver with my lipstick! I used to stick to nudes and then slowly branched out. Now I want to try an actual red lip. Not everyday maybe, on nights out and important dinners. I'm not that brave to walk to the shops in my Jeffery Campbell's and bright lips just yet.

2. Mac's Paint - Untitled 

I need to buy a base for my eye shadows that is actually designed to be a base. At the moment, I am very unprofessional and use a concealer as my base. This product is used sparingly so you can make it last for ages. 

3. Barry M Chameleon Colour Changing Nail Effect - Pink

I love having a accent nail on my ring finger and I love the idea of having it change two tone in the light. I wear my nails pink quite a lot so even the lilac shade could match my nails.

4. Barry M Textured Nail Effects - Station Road

I NEED THIS. I don't have any yellow nail varnish and this has the added texture too which just makes it top in my books. It has a grit like effect for a bit of a grunge touch. I need to try this out soon. 

5. Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil 

This is a type of tanning I'd like to try, a dry oil. It's meant to give just a bronzed sheen with a really nice shimmer. 

6. Bourjois So Perfect Base Coat

I don't actually own a base coat, that's actually really bad isn't it? I use a top coat, so maybe it's time to purchase one. Bourjois is quite a reliable brand in my books so I think this is one I'll be picking up soon. 

7. Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara - Black 

Like I said before, I'm down to one mascara now and I really need to branch out and explore the world of mascaras. I find high end mascaras are a lot better than high street. I also have seen a lot of reviews defending the non smudge claim, apparently it doesn't end up all over your eyes! Yay!

8. Maybelline's Superstay 14Hr Lipstick - Infinitely Fuchsia

Along with my red lipstick, why should I not try a bright pink one too? This claims to stay for a long time, and apparently it's really ultra creamy to go on too. And it's not as expensive as the red one!

9. Rouge Allure Velvet - La Sensuelle

Lipstick again. I'm sorry! I can't help it. This is the ultimate lipstick brand. Chanel! I don't think I'll be able to get this for a while.. I don't know if I can just splash this much out on a lipstick. I'll dream about it though. 

10. YSL Forever Youth Liberator Foundation

I'm still using highstreet foundations, and I think maybe it's time to try a high end one and see what the hype is all about and YSL is the way to go!

xx

My Wishlist.

So I'm trying a little different. I'm having a break from beauty advising and I'm going to share with you my top ten cosmetic and beauty wishlist. These are my top ten products I am looking to try in the coming months. 

1. Redken Guts 10 Volume Spray Foam. This product is amazing. I cannot wait to try it. It is a hairspray or boosting wax type product. You just spray it into your roots for a ridiculous volume boost. (and I mean ridiculous in a good way)

2. Lancôme Nutrix Royal Mains Hand Cream. This hand cream smells gorgeous.

3. Macadamia Moisturizing Rinse. This conditioner is paraben-free and sulphate free. It's good for dry hair, like mine and it smells so natural and yummy. It's not expensive at all and I will be ordering very very soon. 

4. Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara. I have heard so many good reviews from this mascara. It's meant to give you long full of body lashes and so far I've only found one mascara that does this. So maybe it's time to try a more up market one!

5. Elie Saab Le Parfum Perfumed Body Cream. Ok, so spending near fourty pounds on a moisturiser sounds stupid but this is an incredible smell. I've tried a sample of the perfume but my perfume collection is silly now and I'm not splashing out for another bottle to gather dust. I'm trying to get into the habit of applying a moisturiser daily so hopefully a lovely smelling one with encourage me. 

6. Jessica Hand & Body Moisturising Emulsion. I LOVE jessica nail polish. The girl that does my nails locally always uses the brand, and now they've brought our a hand moisturiser. She used it on me the last time i visited and now im just yearning for it. 

7. GUERLAIN Météorites Voyage. Ok, this will forever be on my wishlist because I doubt I'll ever buy an illuminating powder for one hundred and four pounds but it's absolutely gorgeous. It has a patchwork of mauve, pink, champagne, white and green.

8. Area H20 Hard Water Shampoo and Conditioner. I live in a soft water area, but the rest of my family live in a hard water area and it wrecks havoc with my hair. So this helps treat your hair to keep it just as healthy as before. 

9. Deep Steep Tangerine - Melon Hand Scrub. This product is an exfoliator for your hands with a gorgeous fruity citrus smell. 

10. Biotherm Age Fitness Yeux Powder 2 Smoothing Relaxing Eye Care. This is the nest top product for eye care and age prevention. It also helps with signs of fatigue and tiredness. 


So there we are. Ten products (more than make up) I need and want to try. I'll do a make up one later on in the month. 

Love <3

Acne.

College is hard enough - why do spots have to make it harder? Oh, and whoever said acne and spots go away after school is a liar! So, whether you're fifteen or thirty-five, you can still be dealing with spots.

Blackheads

Up until last year, I thought having blackheads meant your face was dirty. That's not exactly true. A blackhead forms when your pores get blocked. The clogged oil (also known as sebum) interacts with the air and turns black. Whilst you can squeeze blackheads out, they'll keep coming back.

Whiteheads

Despite the fact that these are under the skin and therefore not exposed to oxygen (which is why they're white), whiteheads are often more noticeable than blackheads - especially to you. But even though you might have one that looks ready for popping, resist the urge. letting it run it's course will help you avoid getting scars. If you have an especially troubling white head and you just can't let it lie, the easiest thing to do is wrap an ice cube in tissue and hold it against the spot. the ice will take down the inflammation and redness and kills bacteria, and you can safely do this several times a day. After a couple times, it should be in better shape to cover with make up.

 Body Acne

There is nothing more frustrating than body acne, which is incredibly prevalent. Think about it: your back is covered in oil producing pored that are generally covered with layers of fabric. It's no wonder they're inclined to get clogged. But it's fairly easy to clean your back properly by using a plastic handled bristle brush (plastic can't breed bacteria) to scrub with soap. You can also treat back acne with Benzoyl peroxide. Chest acne is a bit trickier, since the skin is more delicate. You can was your back gently with a shower puff. Breakouts here are highly hormonal and will usually fade without treatment. Do your best to keep your hands off it. 

How To Pop A Zit

The short answer to this is: don't. Definitely if you skin is scar-prone. Not only can you damage the skin around the pimple, but you can inflame it and increase how long it will stay. You can also cause the pimple to burst inward. If you also have a very painful red cyst - do not touch it. Contact your doctor. 

   If you absolutely must touch it, and you are convinced it's ready. Wash your face really well and place a hot flannel on the spot to draw it out as much as you can. Wrap each finger in tissue, apply a small amount of pressure. Make sure it pops fully. Cleanse your face again, and add witch hazel.

Ingredients To Avoid

Rather than tell you which products you should be using, (which I will never tell you too), I want to provide you with a list of ingredients to try to avoid. Whilst I've been told that the products designed for penetrating the outer layers of your skin can't reach your bloodstream, I still try and but products with a list of natural ingredients. One good indicator that a product isn't good for you is a lengthy list of ingredients that you can't pronounce. Keep in mind that all of these are necessarily bad. After all, even water is a chemical (H2o). Also keep in mind that just because something claims that it is 'natural', 'green' or 'organic' doesn't mean it's healthy - trading standards are sometimes lax on this rules and letting companies write this across their products. It could be a completely false claim. And sometimes things that are natural aren't necessarily good. Arsenic? Natural. 
   
Below are a list of ingredients I try my best to avoid, but this list is not comprehensive. You can research a lot of information on toxic ingredients on plenty of websites and blogs online. 

Fragrance

When it comes to skin care, I try to skip and products that contain a synthetic fragrance, this is linked to being carcinogenic. Whilst I want my hair to smell good, I don't need my skin too as well (Unless it comes from a natural smell in oil)

Phthalates

These commonly go by dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and diethyl phthalate and can be found in some skin products, hair sprays, and nail polishes. They're constantly on the trading standards watch list, and whilst not proven to be harmful in low doses, I try to avoid them when possible. Studies show that phthalates are hormone-disrupting and are one of the reasons girls are hitting puberty so young these days. 

Diethanolamine

This is used in cosmetics to create a foaming effect. Whist it is registered as safe, I try to skip cosmetics that contain DEA or DEA-related ingredients.

Coal-tar Colours & Dyes

These have been proven to be carcinogenic, and many are banned. Thise that are still in use pass safety tests and are marked as either FD&C or D&C. If the former, that means that the colour is safe to be consumes. If it's D&C it's only safe for topical application. According to guidelines, don not apply it on or near eyes/lips. 

Formaldehyde

I used to think only undertakers used this. Not true. Formaldehyde is frequently used in beauty products because it's an antibacterial and a preservative. But it's a known carcinogen so avoid it when possible. Some ingredients in mascara break down and become formaldehyde, which is why you should replace your mascara every few months. 

Aluminium

A common ingredient in deodorants as it plugs sweat ducts (niiice), aluminium has been known to be absorbed by the skin and behave like estrogen. 

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives to make products last longer. Parabens interfere with hormones and can be absorbed though the skin. 

*carcinogen - a substance that can cause cancer in tissue

DKH - Find Your Beauty 

Your Basic Skin-Care Advice

Example of Skin Care Products

Once you've picked which products you want to try - and are willing to try with them for at least a month you can use these basic skin care rules I've learnt from years of blogs, vlogs, friends and mags. This is why (touchwood) that my skin is in such good condition. 

Cleansing

We all know that girl with the perfect glowing pure complexion that looks like not a single product has touched it. If I left my skin like her.. let's not even think about it. Shudder. But anyhow, morning and evening rituals are essential. Your pores need to be cleaned so they can breathe and work as they were intended too. Having clean pores also means that the products you put on your face can be absorbed. If you clean your skin too aggressively you can upset it and cause inflammation and sore patches, you can also trigger your oil glands to mass produce. It's a good idea to follow basic cleansing with some toner, especially if your skin is oily. Witch hazel is a good alternative if you prefer more natural products.  
   If you don't wear a lot of make up, then using your hands to cleanse should be fine. Get your hair out of your face and off of your neck, and then in a circular motion work your cleanser into a lather across all of your face. Spend equal time on your cheeks, chin, your upper neck, behind your ears (!) and along your hairline where residue build up. This process should take about a minute, don't just lather up and rub it on and think that's it. Be sure to rinse it off well, don't leave any on your face. 
   If you wear a lot of make up, like I do, you will need extra help. You can use an exfoliating cloth, a Clarisonic face brush (my next new purchase, hopefully!) or make up remover and cotton wool. 

Exfoliating

If you run your finger along the edge of your face you'll feel it's a bit rough, this is due to clogged pores. Dead skin cells, oil, dirt and make up are all things that can be clogged into your pores and this causes blemishes and spots. You want to prevent this build up so that the skin underneath can breathe. Once a week, make up free, I'll scan my face for roughness and then use my exfoliator. If your skin is sensitive, you'll still need to exfoliate but to make it extra gentle, dilute your exfoliator by mixing it with cleanser. If your skin looks red or raw, don't exfoliate 

Moisturising

My Moisturiser 

Even if you have oily skin, you'll still want to use a light, oil-free moisturiser across all zones of your face and your neck. Ensure that you trap most of the moisture by applying it to damp skin. If you tend to have drier, flaky skin, exfoliate and slather on the cream immediately. Moisturising in the winter is essential, especially if you live somewhere colder!

When To Seek A Doctor's Opinion

Since there's not a lot you can do about serious skin conditions of the inside in, if you have a condition such as skin-cystic acne, painful eczema (ding!) or psoriasis (ding again) - you should absolutely see your doctor. Don't pick at your face or do a little research and think you're ontop of it. Your doctor will know what's going on and will work with you to find the right combination of products (some might be prescription) to help you sort out your skin. 

As always I have to add a little note - Don't quote everything you've read in this post, no matter how much you exfoliate and moisturise, if you don't get some rest your skin will suffer. You can't stay out all night and expect your face to be ok with you the next day. There's a reason it's called beauty sleep. 

Enjoy! 

DKH - Find Your Beauty