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Friday, 15 August 2014
Hey hey hey!
I went to Lush recently. Big mistake there. I know some people swear by it and others are very turned off by the copious amount of fragrances that hit you when you walk in. Personally, I like it, it smells clean and fresh to me. Probably because the whole store is filled with soap.
I'm not a regular Lush junkie but I popped in there because I wanted to give a few of their bath products a go. Specifically, I wanted to try their relaxing, calming and sleep-inducing ones. Whenever things get a little too much, a nice bath always does the trick to ease muscles and take life's problems away. (Temporarily at least)
So, from the top left of the picture above …
Pop In The Bath Bubble Bar (White, Blue and Pink Flower) - I think this is the most heavenly smelling one. It smells so fresh and has the perfect balance of floral and citrus scents to it. It's also a colourful one in the bath.
Dorothy Bubble Bar (Blue Base, Yellow and Orange Rainbow) - This one smells a bit like an orange and a bit floral. It's supposed to help you unwind and calm down after a long day.
Dreamtime Luxury Bath Melt (Cream block with the word 'Dream Time' on it, how apt) - This is one that I wanted to try really bad because it has lavender and chamomile in it, perfect for a night where you might find it hard to sleep. Definitely saving it for down the line!
Green Bubbleroon Bubble Bar (Green round sandwich thingy) - This is a bit more berry and lime smelling. I bought it primarily because when you touch it, its so moisturising. It has Fair Trade (yay) shea butter and coconut oil in it. Great for when your skin needs an extra kick of hydration.
All the ones listed above can be sliced or crumbled up into halves. You don't have to use the whole product at once. That's the great thing about those, you get a few uses out of each product. On the other hand, the bath bombs are very fun to use but only a one time thing. Damn those bath bombs, what a tease. You just pop the whole thing into the tub and watch it fizz away and do it's magic in the bath.
Golden Slumbers Bath Bomb (Huge Orb with Golden Shimmers) - This is one that isn't available on its own, it comes as part of the 'Relax, Take a Bath' Set. I like these sets because they make for great presents and they are also a good way to introduce yourself to the brand. This one has lavender and shimmers in it so it's relaxing and glamorous at the same time. At the same time!
Rose Queen Bath Bomb (Small Pink Orb at the far right) - Rose scented products are usually very pungent and strong, I really dislike that. This one though smells like roses and essential oils. The mixture of the fragrances is quite nice of an escape. I think with this one, as the bath bomb fizzes into the water, it releases rose petals. What a treat!
Are you a bath or shower person?
What do you think of Lush products? Leave a comment below!
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Sunscreen is important year round, not just during the summer months. I have personally suffered with pigmentation and more severe skin sensitivities, especially to the sun, so I am very particular with how much exposure I have to it. The sensitivities that I have had to the sun (my skin gets dry and white patches, disgusting I know) is what caused my obsession with skincare. I actually feel so blessed because I have learned a lot about it now and want to share some of the information that I know.
Not wearing sunscreen does not just affect your beauty but it affects your health as well. The more traditional opinion is that its the exposure to UVB rays that causes damage, but now, it's known that exposure to UVA is also just as damaging if not more severe. UVB rays makes your skin immediately red and you see an instant change, but its UVA that is the main culprit behind causing more long term skin defects. Some of the consequences of not wearing sunscreen include: making skin red, DNA damage, breakdown of collagen and elastin, skin cancer, lines and wrinkles, photo-aging etc. etc. Because of the degree of harm it can do to you, its very important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. I can make another post in the future talking about skincare and sunscreen in more depth but for now, here are a few of my favourites.
Garnier Ombrelle Sport Clear Continuous Spray SPF 60 - I picked this up because I didn't have a Spray-and-Go sunscreen and needed it for a long weekend. Apart from its convenience, it's high Sun Protection Factor, and the fact that is does go on clear, I picked it because it had an ingredient that I was specifically looking for: Mexoryl. Mexoryl is a patented (by L'Oreal) formula that is considered amongst many dermatologists to be one of the best agents in preventing ageing caused by the sun as well as allowing for a large UV protection range.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream SPF 60 - This is my holy grail sunscreen product, and in my Top 5 of all time favourites. The thing I adore about the company La Roche-Posay is that they view sun protection the same way they view skincare. They cater their sunscreen products to different skin types - acne/oily, dry, sensitive etc. etc. They are also a French company meaning that their products are reviewed under much more severe health restrictions than American companies. They are also affordable, if you are comparing them to some other brands on the market. This particular one is targeted for Sensitive Skin. I think it'll work well on all skin because in my opinion, everyones skin should be treated like sensitive skin. I will be repurchasing this until the day I die, or until they stop making it. The actual consistency is a bit thicker and white, but it blends beautifully into the skin. Perfect for skin around the face. Highly Recommended. I'll stop rambling about that now.
FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 - People often forget how important it is to protect their lips from sun damage. It's one of the most sensitive parts of the body and any discolouration around that area is probably due to exposure to the sun. I get being neglectful about this, seems like a chore, but maybe buying a lip balm that already has SPF in it might help?
Neutrogena Healthy Skin CC Cream SPF 30 - Neutrogena is a great company because they do skincare and sun care much like La Roche-Posay. I'm surprised I haven't tried anything from their range before this. I don't particularly buy into the hype of BB Creams and CC Creams but I was looking for a skin base lighter in consistency than a foundation but with SPF in it. It claims to even out and brighten skin tone and for once, it does exactly that! It does not give as much coverage as a tinted moisturiser and definitely not as much as a foundation. The only downside is that there isn't a big enough colour range and although the one I bought is light-medium, its still a bit too dark for me. Oh well, can't win every battle right? A great product nonetheless.
I know I may have made the sun out to be like the big bad wolf in this post but I wanted to emphasise the importance of protection from the sun. Do you know of any good products that I should try? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Hello, I have a review for you today.
Face treatments of any kind provide a great benefit to your skin. Behind classing, exfoliating, moisturising and protecting, good face masks often leave a lasting positive change in your skin. This clay mask, Fresh Umbrian Clay Face Treatment Purifying Mask (now called, Mattifying Mask) does exactly what it says, it purifies the skin. I chose a clay mask particularly because they have been used for centuries and are known to be anti-inflammatory, therapeutic and cooling. It is known to be used by people who suffer with acne or oily skin more but I think that if you use it the right way, even people with dry skin can benefit from it. The only recommendation I would have with using any clay mask is to not let it dry completely. As the mask dries, it does a few things including: absorbing the minerals as well as stimulating blood flow. This being said, if you let a clay mask thoroughly dry before rinsing, it will dehydrate your skin and cause future irritations. So don't let it get too light in colour or flaky in texture before rinsing, it should be slightly tacky to the touch.
Price - $57.00
What it claims it does
A multifunctional treatment that can be used as an instant detoxifying face mask, a daily purifying face cleanser, or a spot treatment for blemishes and irritations.
What I think it does
If your skin is acting up, getting itchy, flaky, and acne has developed, then this is a great product to use. It seems to be doing wonders to mine in the summer months more than in the winter. Fresh is a good skincare company because they are known to only use natural ingredients in their products. They also study and use beauty practices from around the globe. You must have heard of their lip balm or their sugar scrubs. If you have sensitive skin, (and my god I do) this is definitely worth a try. The tube itself needs to be well shaken before use, otherwise it gets watery. Is it worth the price mark? I think so because anything that your skin is going to absorb better be natural and of good quality. I would not recommend any mask though unless you have a proper skincare regime in place already. Should this be one of your first skincare products to buy? No, buy cleansers and moisturisers first. I also don't think it is completely multifunctional. It is a good mask and can work as a cleanser, naturally any mask will cleanse your skin. It did reduce the blemishes on my skin but I don't think it's a spot treatment. It can cleanse and reduce blemishes but it won't work as a daily cleanser would or how a spot treatment is meant to. Overall, I love it, I would repurchase it but i'd like to also see what else is out there. I am definitely intrigued enough to discover more from this brand.
