Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

 

 

I found this little beauty whilst shopping in Liverpool last year. I'd heard about Nars as a brand but not had the chance to trial any of their products. After having the foundation applied to my skin, i wouldn't believe i hadn't found this sooner. First of all the colour is great for pale skin. The sheer glow foundation shades all have a slight yellowy hint, which is refreshing to use a foundation that doesn't make my pale skin look orange. Secondly the coverage is unbelievable. I'd never seen my skin look so flawless! Every blemish and scar was covered without looking prominent. The consistency is fairly thick but very easy to blend in comparison to many other full coverage foundations. The finish is matte with a slight glow that doesn't fade hour after hour. I've worn this on many nights out it's the only foundation that still looks just as immaculate at the end of the night as when i first applied it. I've been so addicted to this foundation and I've been spreading the word like crazy. Over the last year I've tried and tested mountains of competing brands but I'm yet to find another foundation that comes anywhere close to this one.

 

Nars Sheer Glow retails in at £31.00 which might sound a lot but this will last you a long time as you use such a small amount. There are a few places you can buy sheer glow, but i usually buy mine off of the Nars Official website here.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Highstreet Foundation Must Haves

Ive never been persuaded enough by anyone to try high street branded foundation until i became a beauty blogger. Acne, being the biggest part of my life, Specialists have always told me never go for a cheaper option. The more expensive the better and make sure its oil-free.

Now your thinking...So why have you changed your mind? Well after reading up on plenty of reviews and recommendations i thought hell why not!

So a few weeks ago i invested in two high street foundations that have proved extremely popular on the bloggers feed this month. Well done Loreal!

 

Loreal True Match Foundation

 

 

So first foundation i tested was Loreal True Match. Loreal Claims to be 'super blend-able, matches skin colour and texture'. During application i was pleasantly surprised. The Liquid foundation blended instantly with a silky satin feel. A little product went a very long way! At first i thought it might be slightly too dark for me, but it blended into my skin tone within a matter of seconds. I would recommend to use a decent quality foundation brush as you definitely need a tool of some sort to get a flawless blendable texture. Overall i was very happy with the results. I wouldn't however recommend this to anyone with oily skin texture, as this reflects the light and gives a very dewy effect. I don't think it would be a great combination. The only negative feedback i would have with this foundation would be the length of wear. The product slips of very easily and needs a good quality setting powder over the top otherwise you'll loose the look within no time.

Loreal True Match is available in a variety of places. I purchased mine from Boots retailing in at £9.99 here.



 

Loreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint

 

 

Loreal's claim: 'Lighter than water: L'Oréal Paris revolution in foundation for zero make up feel.'

This has been Compared to the likes of Georgio Armarni 's Luminous Silk Foundation which is a massive compliment for Loreal. I wouldn't really label this as a 'foundation' as it has such a silky feel its similar to applying a Primer. However i was so impressed with this! if your looking for a product to wear that's lightweight, and doesn't really feel like your wearing anything this is the product for you. The coverage is surprisingly high for a product that's described to be 'like water'. Smoothing over imperfections for a flawless finish. I was surprised about the long lasting effect as well. The foundation kept my skin smooth and fresh all day, no touch ups needed. This is perfect for any skin type, as it dries with a slight powdery finish, not too oily or too dry. Give it a go girls!

Nude Magique retails in also at £9.99,

you can buy Nude Magique here also at Boots.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Easter Essentials

Are you looking for a few new staple skincare or makeup products to add to your daily routine?

 

  

These may be the products for you....

Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder

 

Firstly Vichy 'Dermablend' setting powder is my must have beauty product at the moment. Especially this time of year when you cant predict the weather day to day, this will ensure that your makeup stays in place for hours on end. When i read the reviews on this i wasn't convinced that it would make that much difference as lots of people had written that they loved the powder but needed to reapply it throughout the day. This definitely was not the case for me. One sweep (using a large blending powder brush instead of the powder puff they provide) keeps my makeup on all day with zero retouches. it reminds me of the Bare Minerals Mineral veil. With a similar consistency but doesn't dry your skin out as much. The powder is translucent and leaves no residue or product on the surface of your skin which is great because i find a lot of powders can clog my skin up and make me look like i have a huge amount of makeup on. As this is fragrance free i can 100% recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin. This is now part of my daily makeup routine and I'm excited for those hot summer days and my foundation wont slip off of my face!

 

This is available to buy in lots of retailers now at a range of prices but i purchased mine on Esentual as you can see for £14.45.

I'd love to know if any of you lovelies have tried the Vichy Dermablend foundation?

 

 

 Dior Skin BB Creme

Shade- 01

 

The second product that i purchased was Dior Skin BB Creme. I was completely stuck between this and Estee lauder's dupe but i ended up choosing this after reading better reviews. I did however get given a sample of Estee Lauder BB cream and absolutely loved it! So il probably be buying that soon as well. Dior describe this product as 'A dream combination of skin care and make-up'. I agree to a certain extent. The consistency is unlike a BB creme that i have tried before. It has a foundation fluid like feel on application but sets to a powder finish. Instead of  providing a coverage like makeup it smoothes and sinks into the skin, adjusting to your individual tone. I'm not convinced i could wear this alone instead of foundation, maybe in the summer on holiday. But it's lovely as a base underneath my normal routine. It reminds me alot of Chanel's Perfection Lumiere foundation. Although its very light it has a powdery look and feel, and they also work really well together. The tube is fairly small but comes with a unique pump which is such a helpful feature, and aesthetically it looks great.

 

Dior Skin BB Creme is priced at £30 but i paid only £25.50 also at  Esentual
 

 

Lastly this is a product I've wanted to try since it was first launched.
 

Benefit Gimme Brow

Shade- Light/Medium

Anyone that knows me knows that i am a complete eyebrow addict. I love keeping them in shape and preened to perfection so whenever i hear of new brow products i jump at the chance to try them out. This product has seemed very popular and everybody seems to be raving about it so i was very excited to purchase this.

Benefits claims 'Fiber gel adheres to skin and hairs for fuller looking brows'. The Colour for me was perfect, almost a dark ashy blonde. When i first applied it looked very natural. it combed the hairs into shape and it was almost like wearing a tint layer on top of the hairs. My brows instantly looked neat and tidy and i will admit they did look slightly fuller. Overall i loved this product but it wasn't something i can use alone. I needed a slight touch of powder and pencil at the end just to create the shape that I'm used to and also fill in any gaps that i have. The product kept my eyebrows looking perfect all day with zero touch ups needed! Definitely a must have for any eyebrow addicts or even any eyebrow virgins out there. A great natural finish with zero hassle!

I purchased this in Debenhams for £17.50.

 

 

Thankyou so much for reading,

Have a lovely Easter weekend

Alys

x

Skinetica Product Review

Last week i was kindly gifted a few products from the lovely people at Skinetica. I've heard lots of amazing comments from other beauty bloggers and was excited to try something new. Because i am currently seeing a dermatologist and have strict instructions of what i can and cant use, i tend to shy away from anything other then what I'm prescribed. So i ran this past my consultant and she gave me the go ahead! I trialled this product for just under a week and here are the results.

Skinetica is a clear, toner like lotion that claims to soothe, calm and clear blemished skin. It's kind to skin (perfect for my sensitive skin) and has known no side effects which is very uncommon for acne clearing products! Skinetica advise you to apply to clean dry skin. generously pour the product onto a cotton wool pad and sweep over the worst affected areas. Let your skin air dry for at least one minute and you can then either apply moisturiser or foundation. Skinetica can be used as a base to makeup but claims to work better when nothing is applied over the top.

First Impressions:

Pros and Cons :

• It didn't irritate my sensitive skin, i actually found that it calmed the redness alot!
• Skinetica Has a unique smell alot like some of the lotions I've been prescribed before but on first application i found that its not harsh like those products at all.
• i wasn't that keen on the packaging, its eye catching but does look quite cheap and fairly old fashioned.

 

Day One

This week was possibly the best week to try a acne clearing product as days before I'd suffered with  a  huge breakout. The night before my skin felt tight, raised, angry and very painful.

So after my first day using skinetica i wasn't expecting any results yet but my skin did feel slightly different. The redness was less noticeable and my skin didn't feel so taught. No new spots today.



Day Two

 Woke up this morning with my skin feeling calmer, slightly less red and raised. Red marks are starting to fade, spots seem dry and less prominent.

 

 Day Three

 Today i had a turn for the worse! Second phase of my big breakout has erupted. Three new spots have appeared in my jaw and neck area. Very prominent and sore. As you can see in the picture the spots in my jawline have made it look quite swollen and bumpy, which has changed the shape of it. Applied Skinetica and i'll wait till the morning to see if it helps to calm them.

 

 Day Four

 Just woken up, The spots are still there but a lot less inflamed and swollen. Jawline looks slightly flatter and more normal looking. No new spots over night which is great news!

 

Day Five

Having a good skin day today, skin feels smoother, flatter and hydrated. No new spots and the redness that's there seems to be either scaring or spots that are on their way out.

Day Six

Skin feels great today, the last of the redness is scaring and even that looks like its starting to fade. No new spots today so i think I'm over the worst, skin feels soft smooth and supple.

 

 

Final Verdict

After Six days of trialling this product and suffering from two fairly big breakouts, in my opinion this product did an excellent job. Throughout the week i found it helped at calming and soothing my skin and stopping the breakouts from getting out of hand. As you can see from the evidence above, each day the blemishes looked flatter, less angry and in general felt a loss less painful. Even some of my scaring had started to fade.

Overall i think this is a great product for any type of acne sufferer. Over the past nine years i have tried a ridiculous amount of products that have had either a small impact or very extreme results. Skinetica seems to fit right in the middle of these. Although it has helped in the process of caring for a breakout it isn't something that i feel would completely clear my skin forever.

For me this isn't my final solution, but for many other people this may be all they need. I do believe that everyone skin is so different its about finding that one product that balances it out correctly. I do however think it will be helpful to control my skin as new spots start to appear and i will be adding this to my skin saviour list for emergencies. I would definitely recommend this to anyone suffering with any kind of breakout or just to add to your skincare collection. Thank you so much Skinetica for sending me these products, i couldn't of asked for a better company to work with.

 

Skinetica Retails in at only £9.99 and you can buy on their website here.

I'd love to here any feedback of any other people that have tried and tested Skinetica and the results they have found. Email me at alysholder@yahoo.co.uk for any questions or queries relating to this post.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Smash Box CC Cream Review

Smashbox

 

Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30

Dark Spot Correcting

 

Whilst Flicking through my recent edition of Glamour magazine i was shocked to find a sample of Smashbox's new camera ready CC cream. Glamour quite often have samples included but not usually products that I'd get excited about! So i thought I'd give it a go and let you see the results!

 

As you all know i suffer with acne and my main problem is finding something to cover previous and recent scaring. I haven't yet tried many products to fade my scaring as i wanted to concentrate on clearing up my skin before conquering the underneath.  So I'm not quite sure if this will work on my skin. Smashbox CC cream claims to fade post acne scars over time i thought this would be perfect for me. I've tried smashbox camera ready primer before and loved it so was very excited to try this.

 

On first glance the cream looked a little too dark for me, but that's fine as it comes in 5 different shades i can always try a lighter one at a later stage. As i started to apply the cream onto my cheeks i found that a little really did go a long way. The texture is light, non-greasy and definitely more of a cream consistency. In my opinion the finish is semi-matte and buildable which is great if you need a touch up throughout the day.After applying to my problem areas i found that i wasn't quite happy with the coverage. This might be great for summer skin but this time of year i like my skin to have a bit more dewiness as it tends to get dry easily. A matte finish tends to cling on to my dry areas and  for me this product wasn't a high enough coverage to wear just on its own. Below, the picture on the left is my skin with just with the cc cream.  as you can see overall its not a bad evenness but you can still see my most prominent spots. In the right picture I've applied a small amount of Dior Air flash foundation and Chanel 'pink explosion' blush on my cheeks. this now has give n me my desired finish.

As a base i thought it was good, i'd probably try it again in the summer but for me personally i couldn't wear this just on its own. However as you can see with foundation the final look is actually almost flawless. I also don't think the shade was quite light enough for me so I'd love to try the lighter shades of this product before making a final decision.

 I used this product for about a week and a half and it showed little improvement towards fading and redness of marks but as a cc cream and a base to foundation i would definitely purchase this. I'd love to know how you all get on with this!

 

Thanks for reading

 

Alys

x

Liz Earle Product Review

Liz Earle

 

Recently whilst taking part in a live bloggers chat i was recommended by quite a few Beauty Bloggers to try Liz Earle skincare Range. The products i decided to choose were :

 

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

and

Deep Cleansing Mask

 

A few days later they arrived  on my doorstep and i  have to admit i was so impressed with the customer care Liz Earle Provided. They arrived in lovely packaging and each product came in their own individual bags. They also sent me another small sample size tube of the cleanse and polish with a muslin cloth, which i sent to a friend of mine that also suffers with acne. The full size bottle comes with two white muslin's which i wasn't expecting, and the mask also has two small sponges in the pack. Lastly they also sent me a sample of a body cream to try. I was so surprised by the extras included, such a generous company!

 

 

I know its sad but i get so excited over skincare, straight away i ran a bath ready to try them. Its Recommended to use the cleanser first then the mask, so after taking my makeup off i pumped out a small amount onto my hand and smoothed all  over my face, neck and shoulders. As soon as i started to apply this i could smell the gorgeous aroma of the cleanser, so calming. and made me feel instantly relaxed! Cleanse and Polish is made with rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus oil, so combines to make a beautiful natural scent. I left this to soak into my skin for a few minutes the rinsed the muslin's under some clean hot water. I then placed the Muslin over my face and exhaled, inhaling  in the warmth that was radiating off of the cloth. I used the second muslin to wipe away the remaining product left on my skin. Already, my skin felt smoother, soft and calm.
 

Before washing my hair i decided to apply the mask, as you need to leave it on for at least 5 minutes. The mask i found is applied better to dry skin, so you might want to use a dry flannel or clean towel to softly dab over your face and neck beforehand. You don't need to use a huge amount of this as it spreads quite far and evenly. I found the consistency completely different to any other mask I've used in the  past. The texture is smooth and creamy but not thick like most clay masks. Once applied  i washed my hair and lay back for a few minutes. This Product also has a unique scent with naturally active ingredients including Manuka honey, Propolis and Rose scented Geranium. Geranium's are my favourite flowers so this was already a winner for me. It wasn't too overpowering either, which i think comes with the fact its all natural ingredients.

The mask then dries to a  lighter grey shade and doesn't flake or crumble like many I've used before. Following the instructions i soaked the two sponges in warm water and placed over both eyes, then removed the mask from the middle  of my face outwards leaving my neck until last. The sponges made this very easy to remove and again my skin instantly felt beautifully smooth and calm, which is really hard to achieve with having such sensitive skin!

Overall I'm delighted with this recommendation. The hot Polish Cleanser has now replaced my current cleanser but I'm only using this at night as it takes a little longer then my normal routine. The mask i use one to two times a week as its not too harsh on my skin. I usually use this on a Sunday as a treat.

If your looking for something luxurious and not wanting to spend a fortune this is the product for you. Definitely worth buying through the Liz Earle website as well, (I'll write the link to this below) as you receive so much more with your order. They know how to treat a customer that's for sure! I'd loved to know if any of you skincare addicts have tried anything from her range and what you thought of them!

The Cleanse and Polish Retails in at £14.75 for a 100ml bottle and comes with two muslin cloths.

The Clay Mask retails in at £14.50 for a 75ml tuble and comes with two sponges.

 

The Liz Earle team are excellent if you need help with finding the perfect products to suit your skin to don't be scared to send them an email. They reply extremley quick and are very proffesional is helping you to understand each product.

http://uk.lizearle.com/

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Chanel Perfection Lumiere

Product Review

 

I've tried to be really good recently and only buy products that i know i really need and use on a regular basis. But, along came Valentines, and i felt like i deserved a little treat! I decided I'd have a little splurge and try a Different Chanel foundation for my winter 'pale days'. The truth is, days when i can't be bothered to tan.

So when i got to the Chanel counter i did my normal speech about needing something with a high coverage for acne and combination skin and the Chanel rep recommended Perfection Lumiere . I had already seen a few positive reviews on this particular foundation it so i asked if she could apply it all over (as you can never really tell how well it goes onto your skin otherwise). She advised me on applying with a brush to get better coverage. I have heard mixed reviews on using brushes, and for me personally i have gone off using them. Because i have certain areas that need more attention when applying, i find by using my fingertips i can apply it more evenly and i have more control over how much i use. I also find it gives it a more natural finish when applied skin to skin, but that could just be my personal preference because of my skin type. When i have used brushes in the past I've found that my skin gets worse and worse as it spreads bacteria back and forth every use unless you have time to thoroughly clean them everyday. 

The foundation smelt so fresh as she brushed it on and blended it from the middle outwards. The texture was very luxurious and creamy but still so light on the skin. Usually i need to use concealer on my chin area on top of my foundation but this was such high coverage i didn't need anything extra. The finish looked dewy (which is almost impossible to find with high coverage foundation) and at the same time it also felt like i had dusted over the top with a setting powder. The colour was possibly the best match I've ever had as i usually go for something to match my tan and not my natural skin tone. The foundation Lasted a good 6-8 hours which is good for me! The rep also gave me some under eye gel samples to try and persuaded me to get the blusher she had applied afterwards. Lets face it i don't need much persuading! The eye gel felt amazingly refreshing under my eyes, and soaked in so quickly. The little tubes that she gave me have lasted ages and although i don't really suffer with bags under my eyes, they do feel slightly tighter and less puffy in the mornings.

The next day i applied the same look with my fingers and was really happy with the results.  So if your looking for something with a flawless and dewy finish this is definitely the foundation for you. I wouldn't perhaps recommend this to someone without blemishes or uneven skin as it it would be far too heavy for you. The selling point for me wouldn't just be the lasting coverage, but the buildable layers. Throughout the day you can apply thicker layers on precise areas to ideally control your complexion’s perfection.

Perfection Lumiere retails in at £36.00

The Products;

 

PERFECTION LUMIÈRE

Long-wear Flawless Fluid Makeup

12 Beige Rose

 

 

Joues Contraste

Powder Blush

64 Pink Explosion

 

 

The 'Pink Explosion 'blusher comes in a cute little velvet pouch.

Hydra Beauty

Radiance Eye Gel

The Look

For this I also used:

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner

Clinique Eyeshadow- Super Shimmer 35

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake- Motto

Nars Lipgloss - Paris Follies

Dior Lip Glow

 



Liebster Award Nomination

So excited to share with you all that i have been nominated by Amy Graham for the Liebster Award eek!

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

It was lovely to find out a little bit more about Amy, and now it's my turn! As I've been nominated i now have to state 11 facts about myself and then answer 11 questions. Here goes!

11 Facts about me;

1. I'm very shy until i get to know someone.
2. I am 5"11, so very tall!
3. I have a huge addiction with anything related to beauty and skincare.
4. I work with babies as young as 3 months.
5. I'm looking into doing some nannying abroad soon.
6. I'm planning to move to New Zealand in the near future.
7. I love taking photos (Which my friends hate on nights out).
8. I'm good at making cocktails.
9. I've fallen in love with the film About Time.
10. My nickname is Bambi as i constantly fall over and i cant ever seem to walk in a straight line!
11. I never get hangovers!

What is your favourite animal?

This is an easy one for me! As you can tell from my previous blog 'The King of Beauty' which features my gorgeous cat George, cats have got to be my favourite animal hands down. It might be boring but its the truth! :) They are so loyal and give the best cuddles...they even help you sort out your makeup ha!

 What is your favourite make-up brand?

Hardest question ever!! I swap and change so much it's hard to pick just one. For me, at the moment, my favourite brand is Nars. I love the colouring of their products, the Luxurious feel, and the fact you can use the majority of their makeup from day to night (which is hard to find!).

What is your favourite brand for skincare?

This is also quite a difficult one for me. as I've suffered with acne for the past nine years, I'm constantly trying new products as my skin changes so often. I tend to go through phases using products such as Clinique, Clarins, Lancome, Vichy and Dior and i like to mix up what i use depending on my skin that day. But I'd have to say overall my favourite is Clarins. For A beauty addict with sensitive skin, Clarins is the most soothing and reliable brand I've used to date.

What shade of lipstick do you usually go for?

I tend to go for nude, peachy or baby pink shades as they suit my pale skin tone. occasionally I'll wear red but that is very occasionally!

What is your favourite meal?

I'm not a fussy eater in the slightest, but cook me anything Italian and I'm all yours! ha.

What is your dream job?

Any Job that involves Travel and Beauty. Two of my favourite things in life!

Why did you start blogging?

Ive wanted to start a blog for a very long time based on Acne and beauty, but never quite had the confidence to. Then recently i was persuaded to do so by a friend and just went for it, so happy i listened to her!

Why did you choose to blog about your chosen subject?

When you've suffered with acne for a long period of time, you get to know what works and what doesn't work for you. If I'd had someone to guide me through what products to use when i first had it, i think it would of saved me a huge amount of money. So if i can achieve that with someone else it would make me massively happy!

What is your favourite thing in your room?

I recently gave my room a little makeover and changed quite a few bits and pieces. I have a huge amount of love for my bed, but i think this is probably quite normal and most people probably do! So, i would have to say that my favourite item has got to be my handmade wardrobe handles. They are pastel pink ceramic roses, and they are so beautiful. They go with the Floral theme to my room so well, and I'vee had some lovely comments on them!

What is your favourite flower?

Either Cream Roses or pastel coloured Hydrangeas.

Would your rather get dressed up or be in your slouchies and have a pamper eve?

Depends what the occasion is and who the company was. During the summer months there's nothing i love more then getting dressed up and having drinks out with the girls or a nice meal, but come the winter i love a cosy night in with a film on in the background, open a bottle of wine and have girly chat whilst in our pj's with a face mask on! :)

Here are my 5 nominations;

Some lovely girls with beautiful blogs!

Polly Williams

Laura Beth

This London Life

Lipstick Loveheart Beauty

Emily Louise Golding

Here are your 11 questions Girls, get typing!

1. What is your blog about?
2. What do you want to achieve from your blog?
3. Name your most used beauty product.
4. What do you most admire about yourself?
5. What part of the world would you most like to travel to?
6. What is your all time favourite skincare brand?
7. What is your favourite TV series?
8. Do you have any annoying habbits?
9. Do you have a motto that you live your life by? What is it?
10. What advice would you give to a new blogger?
11. What’s your favourite blog post you’ve written so far?

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

My Weekend Routine

This is the last thing i ever thought i would be doing, but here goes! I've never quite gone completely naked (without makeup) in front of strangers or anyone for that matter! For people that know me well, will know that this is a huge deal for me!

 

As you can see my chin area is my worst affected part of my face. I suffer with acne mainly around my jawline and chin area. I have a really bad habit (my dermatologist constantly reminds me of) in which i touch my skin when I'm anxious or worrying about something. For me this is probably one of the main reasons my skin hasn't ever really properly cleared up!

During the week while I'm at work i don't tend to wear full coverage makeup, as i feel i need to let my skin breathe. So i usually just apply a small amount of tinted moisturiser. But, By the weekend when I'm out and about i like to use this routine for  my face and lips. 

So first of all in the shower i wash my skin with the Clinique redness solutions, which starts to calm and soothe the affected areas by the time I'm out the shower and dressed. Then, when its started to look less inflamed i apply La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (I will be doing a post on this very soon so keep your eyes peeled). I let this soak into my skin for a few minutes and then i apply a small amount of Benefit Pore Fessional to the worst areas. This Makes my overall skin tone a little more even for when i apply the foundation. Afterwards I use the tips of my fingers to apply about a pea sized amount of Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.  Then Again i go over the worst affected areas with my Lancome Long Lasting Softening Concealer. I use this as its not too drying but has a good full coverage. I tap on the concealer with my fingers as it gives a more natural finish. Lastly, on the foundation front, i spray a small amount of Dior Air Flash Spray Foundation onto my Flat edged foundation Brush, and dab onto my skin all over. First i concentrate on my chin and jawline, then all over to merge the colours and make the whole look a little more even. This Foundation is a new find of mine  that i fell in love with as it gives such a flawless finish.

In the daytime i like my lips to look subtle and moisturised. So for this look i apply some of my Clinique chubby stick which gives a very natural colour tint then i go over the top of this with the Dior Lip Glow for the moisture and Shine. I realise this isn't my whole makeup look, but i wanted to show you a before and after of my worst affected areas. Please let me know what you think and let me know what you use on your skin:).

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Lets Talk Skincare

Before I begin, I thought I should point out that our skin not only differs from person to person, but also goes through plenty of phases throughout our lives. Just like how our mood changes during different times of the day, our skin and its needs also differ. After talking to many skin specialists, this was the one bit of advice i always keep in mind. Over time, I have learnt how to deal with my skin better because I realised I needed to approach skincare in a more a holistic manner. It’s really all about a balance of treatments, the right products, and general well being. Throughout the years of having acne, as I've changed, my skin has altered too which is why i change my skin routines and the products that i use so frequently.

Recently on a girls weekend away, a friend of mine was astounded at my skincare collection and array of foundations. i explained that my skin had changed so much in the past year that I've had to alternate what i use on a daily basis. for example; one day it might be very dry equally the next it could be so sensitive that i cant apply anything! This is a rather difficult topic for me to approach because I mix my products around so often. Each year, I go from having horrendous skin (in my opinion) to pretty clear skin, this can alternate every other week and i continue using different products at different stages throughout. Keeping this in mind...I've put together a list of my top products that i cant live without on a weekly basis and at the same time go through a basic routine.

Firstly:

FACE WASH OR MAKEUP REMOVER

I tend to use a gentle face wash instead of makeup remover as i find wipes too harsh on my skin and usually too painful to use. So instead i opt for 'Dermol' antimicrobial emollient (a cream usually used for eczema or dermatitis), which i was prescribed by my doctor a very long time ago and is still to date the only wash that doesn't cause my skin any extra problems.

 

CLEANSING WASHES

usually after washing my skin i then wash it again with a gentle cleanser. The three products that i would recommend and alternate regularly depending on my skin condition would be;

1) Clinique soothing cleanser

Over the years I've made my way through pretty much every one of clinique anti-blemish solution products and this has to be one of my favourites. when i have a breakout my skin gets very red and itchy and this is my savour! Its not excessively expensive to buy and really cools down my skin, making me look a little more human!

2) Clinique cleansing foam

 

This is very similar to the first product but i tend to use this if my skin is having a 'normal' day, in my case, isn't too dry, too oily or too sensitive. It makes your skin feel lovely after and i always feel radiant. You can also buy this in soap form, which lasts so much longer but over the years I've realised i prefer to buy the bottle version as when dealing with acne-prone skin, you want to be as hygienic as possible so using a pump saves you contaminating the product for your next use.

Lastly

3) Dior Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Its not very often i can use products or would even recommend them with fragrances in but this is one beauty must have! Dior have excelled in making something very unique for sensitive skin. it may be a lot pricier then the other two but if your looking for something a bit more luxurious then definitley give this a go! I use this if my skin is having a sensitive day and i cant apply makeup. it smells incredible and leaves your skin feeling soft, clean and wakes me up for the day!

CLEANSERS

My top three cleansers;

1)  Lancome Cleansing Fluid

This is a very lightweight cleanser, which is great if your skin is very dry or sensitive, I've used this for a long time now and am still able to use and reuse even when my skin changes.

2) Clarins Extra Comfort Anti-pollution Cleansing Cream

My mum actually introduced me to this one! she came across this after receiving a Clarins gift pack and made me try it, it contains Shea butter which is very moisturising and calming to red and angry skin. They also make mini's which are perfect when your travelling (especially when you already have so many products).

3) Dior Gentle cleansing Milk

This can be used along side the foaming cleanser above.

TONING

Top Three toners;

1) Lancome Softening Hydrating Toner

This toner smells lovely and feels very fresh once applied onto your skin. It does an amazing job of hydrating your complexion.

2) Dior Purifying Toning Lotion

This is a great toner for combination or oily acne prone skin, although I'd like to see this in a spray bottle most cotton pads tends to absorbs the product. It is incredibly gentle and soothing to angry skin. its quite pricey but worth it, if your going to go down the Dior route and buy the whole collection together.

3)Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner

I came across this product whilst scanning the Internet for a new toner one day. I'd heard about Dr. Hauschka before, from a friend and decided to give the small tester sets a go. I found it really relieved my skin without being too heavy, and so when i need that extra moisture this is what i use. its often very hard to find the right balance when using oils and this is one I'd definitely recommend!

Its known best to be a specially formulated toner for very oily and acne conditioned skin. with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it helps soothe, calm and harmonise the skin. It also helps regulate oil production in the skin so great for acne prone skin.

MOISTURISE

For me this is the focus of all my routines. People often think moisturising is a no-no for acne but for me its the most important thing. you need to keep your skin hydrated at all times, especially if you've been prescribed medication as usually it can be extremely drying! Ive tried and tested so many different moisturisers and use a different one from day to day. For my morning routine i usually end with;

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel

I've loved this for a long time as its not too heavy for the day, to wear under makeup, its not greasy and keeps your skin hydrated all day.

And at night i usually rely on;

Lancome Hydra Zen Neurocalm

Some people find this far too heavy but for me its what i need over night. Lancome also do this in a lotion for which is great for the day, but for me this is my savour!

One last thing I'd like to add to my products i couldn't live with out would be;

Clarins Gentle Peeling Smooth Away Cream

This is one of my all time favourite products...maybe its because i searched high and low for something on this level! last year i'd been longing for a gentle exfoliator, but having such sensitive skin its so hard to find one that's gentle enough but does a good job at peeling away all the dead skin cells and giving you new fresh skin. Its a must have if you in desperate need of exfoliating but don't want anything too heavy.

I realise this is a really long blog but i have so many favourite products that i swap and change and hopefully this might encourage you to try something new or find something you've been looking for!

Thank you for reading and i hope this helps.

Alys

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