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5 Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter

  • Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter
  • Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter

5 Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter

Last week I woke up to dry lips – a sure sign for me that colder weather had hit. Winter can be tough on all of us. The combination of lack of sunlight, harsh wind & rain, and cold weather is not ideal. It’s fair to say that we all suffer a little at this time of year. As someone with sensitive skin, I’m always cautious about taking extra care. I thought I’d share my 5 skincare tips for surviving winter with you all.

1. Moisturise like there’s no tomorrow

This is pretty much a given. But did you think about changing up your daily moisturiser? It can be tempting to use up the last of your light summer product, but winter calls for something with a bit more oomf.

Product recommendations: Dr Ceuracle Royal Vita Propolis 33 Cream, The Inkey List Vitamin B, C and E Moisturiser, Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Eye Gel

2. Turn down the heating

Well yes and no. Central heating is pretty much a necessity in the UK during Winter. But it’s pretty dehydrating on your skin. this change can contribute to drying out your skin. If you can set a timer or specific temp, try to stick to this.

Product recommendations: Hey Dewy Portable Facial Humidifier, Panasonic EH-XS01 Facial Steamer

3. Don’t forget to exfoliate

If your skin is dry, it may seem like exfoliating is a no-go but that isn’t the case. Exfoliating is still very important during the winter months, just try not to overdo it. Stick to once a week, and use a gentle, daily exfoliator in-between.

Product recommendations: By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant*, Huxley Sweet Therapy Scrub Mask

4. Look after your hair, hands and lips

Cold weather, harsh winds… it can all contribute towards dry skin, and your hair, hands and lips are no different. They can often be overlooked but they should still be a part of your skincare routine. Basically, just moisturise the hell out of your body this winter!

Product recommendations: LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask, Dermalogica Conditioning Hand & Body Wash, Aromatica Rosemary Scalp Shampoo, Hello Sunday the One for Your Hands – Hand Cream Spf30

5. You still need to wear sunscreen!

A lot of people don’t realise that you still need to wear sunscreen in winter. Just because the sun may have disappeared, doesn’t mean it’s harmful UV rays have. Sunscreen is a must all-year-round!

Product recommendations: Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF50+, Ultra Violette Queen Screen Lightweight Skinscreen Spf50+

Check out more of my skincare saviours and tips here.

Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter
  • Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter
  • Skincare Tips for Surviving Winter
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Summer Beauty Essentials you can’t live without

Summer Beauty Essentials including dr Dennis gross dark spot sun defines, ultra violet skin screen and cool refreshing mist with spf 15
Summer Beauty Essentials you can’t live without

With a change of season, comes a change in beauty routine. Long gone are the cold nights, cloudy days and lack of sunlight, which brought dry and dull skin. New obstacles have arisen with hotter weather, plenty of sun rays, and a ton of humidity. Thankfully this year we are fully prepared.

From innovative sunscreen to easy solutions, I’ve introduced quite a few new brands to my beauty routine recently, which I’m really excited to share with you. I’ll be spending this Summer focusing on the basics; SPF, moisture and glow. I’ve taken a bit of a break from makeup recently, so clear skin is a must. This means taking care of my skin before and after going out in the sun and making sure I top up my sunscreen on the go.

Without further ado, here are my Summer beauty essentials.

Summer Beauty Essentials for 2021

Not pictured:

I’ve always been an advocate for taking care of your skin first, and I think that’s pretty apparent with this list. I can’t stress enough how important it is to transition to wearing a higher SPF during Summer, even if you’re not going outside. It may not be groundbreaking, but it is practical, and it goes a long way to taking care of your skin… now and in the future!

Don’t forget to check out more of my beauty recommendations and let me know in the comments which products you’ll be coveting this Summer.

Summer Beauty Essentials including caudalie tan prolonging after sun lotion, supergroup unseen sunscreen and Maison margiela replica perfume samples
Summer Beauty Essentials including Dermalogica smart response serum and moisture masque
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5 Mental Health and Wellbeing in Lockdown Tips

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Lockdown
5 Mental Health and Wellbeing in Lockdown Tips

This morning I logged onto social media, as I usually do. But today was different. Today I was met with a flurry of posts, all with one topic in common…

“I can’t believe it’s been a year already!”

“A year on from lockdown and…”

Yes, as of March 23rd 2021 it’s been exactly one year since the UK officially went into lockdown. Now I’m not going to go too much into the specifics as we all know why, when and how. One thing I did want to touch on though, is the effect lockdown has had on my own mental health and wellbeing, and how I’ve coped during an unprecedented year.

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Lockdown Tips

Lockdown and the pandemic have taken their toll on most of us – with feelings of loneliness and hopelessness becoming a common issue over the past year. I have personally struggled with the latter as well as ongoing anxiety. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and I wanted to try and help anyone else who may be suffering. I am not a doctor, and I’m only going off my own personal experience, and what I’ve learnt from it. I’m simply offering up some small changes to try to and help combat these feelings.

Create a routine

Our day-to-day routines have changed drastically throughout lockdown. Whether it’s working from home or missing out on social activities – everything has changed. Routine is a good thing, and creating a feel-good daily routine can do wonders for wellbeing. Why not try out some relaxation techniques, or pick up a new hobby?

Watch where you’re scrolling

Social media and news outlets have become sources of escape and knowledge, for better or worse. And it comes as no surprise that they can quickly become overwhelming. Take some time to think about whether these channels are causing anxiety (through sensationalist content maybe), and take stock of how much time you spend on them. If need be, stop using them altogether.

Take a daily walk

It’s a well-known fact that being out in nature can do wonders for your mental health. If you’re able to do so, try and take a daily walk. You can mix it up by taking different routes to your usual. Make the most of this time to explore your neighbourhood.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

This is a big one, I know. And we all need help from time to time. Whether it’s friends or family, or an unbiased helpline, please do reach out to those around you if you need it. You can find some helplines and resources for those who might need them, here.

Treat yourself

A lot of us have lost out on the things that used to allow us to take a breather, such as eating out at restaurants or going to the cinema etc. So whilst it’s great to save a little money if you can, it’s also important to treat yourself from time to time. E.g. ordering a weekly takeaway from your fave local.

Read more wellbeing tips now.

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Lockdown

Source: 1, 2

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Tonic 15 x Suitcase The Carry On K-Beauty Kit

Tonic 15 x Suitcase The Carry On K-Beauty Kit
Tonic 15 x Suitcase The Carry On K-Beauty Kit (Worth £143)

My love affair with the Tonic 15 x Suitcase K-Beauty Carry On started through an Instagram ad… as all good relationships do. At the time I couldn’t justify buying it, which worked out pretty well for my friends, as they actually already had the idea of buying me it for my birthday.

I was beyond ecstatic to be gifted it. Not only because I’m a big fan of the Korean beauty industry and Suitcase magazine, but because I also love being introduced to new brands and products. Naturally the pairing of Tonic 15 – a Korean beauty & make-up store, and Suitcase – a travel & lifestyle magazine, was perfect for me.

Tonic 15 x Suitcase K-Beauty Carry On

A collection of eleven specially selected products – some cult classics and some new – this premium edit is teeming with skincare, body and haircare saviours to give you a beauty boost.

Full-size products

Travel size products

Thoughts?

There are three full-sized products included in the Tonic 15 x Suitcase K-Beauty Carry On. Whereas this is great, the selection is a bit odd. I can’t wait to try the ‘gesgep Bare Cream’ & the ‘AROMATICA Root Enhancer’ (the ‘COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence’ is already a fave of mine), but I would have liked to see a full-size cleanser in the mix. As for the travel size samples, they’re still a decent enough size that you can get an idea of what the products are like, and whether you want to purchase full-size versions later.

There a great selection of Korean beauty products here, no doubt. The kit is priced at £69 but worth over £143, and it includes a lot of the less “mainstream” Korean beauty brands, which I love to see. I’m beyond excited that I received this for my birthday, but I would have happily purchased it myself. You can buy the full kit at Tonic 15.

Don’t forget to check out more of my beauty recommendations and let me know in the comments which products you’d want to try from the Tonic 15 x Suitcase K-Beauty Carry On.

Tonic 15 x Suitcase The Carry On K-Beauty Kit
Tonic 15 x Suitcase The Carry On K-Beauty Kit
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Lockdown Skincare Faves & Tips | Beauty

lockdown skincare
A selection of my favourite lockdown skincare tips and products

New lockdown regulations were brought in on July 24th, meaning that mean many of us will be spending more time wearing a face mask. For a lot of people with sensitive skin (like myself), it can lead to irritation or breakouts due to fabric rubbing, and a warmer/moister environment on the lower part of your face. And whilst these reactions may be frustrating, obviously wearing a mask and protecting yourself and others is more important. So what can you do?

Lockdown Skincare Tips

Thankfully Dermalogica have put together some top tips for keeping your skin healthy and protected, whilst wearing your face mask.  

How to minimise a breakout:

  • Wear a clean mask every day – if you’re using reusable face masks, make sure you have a couple handy, whilst you clean the others.
  • Avoid wearing makeup underneath the mask – not only do you save time on your makeup, but you can focus on making your eyes shine.
  • Take your mask off regularly, where appropriate, to give the skin some fresh air. 
  • Include anti-inflammatory formulas in your regime that include Salicylic Acid to help decongest pores and reduce breakouts.
  • Apply spot treatment formulas twice a day to increase healing.  
  • Exfoliate skin regularly to reduce congestion and build-up. Try a gentle daily use formula to avoid over sensitising the skin.  
  • Keep skin hydrated with a light or oil free moisturiser to improve the skins defensive barrier.

How to ease redness & irritation from a face mask:

  • Choose a soft breathable cotton fabric – ensure your mask fits well and is not too tight.
  • Avoid artificially fragranced products or those with astringent botanicals as they can increase redness and aggravate the sensitivity. 
  • Keep your regime simple with a gentle creamy cleanser and a hydrating moisturiser.  
  • Include a concentrated soothing serum to aid skin healing and try a replenishing masque for extra calming.
  • Betaglucan from oats and Vitamin B5 are great for reducing inflammation and promoting healing.  

Lockdown Skincare Faves

So with the above in mind, I thought I’d share some of my favourite skincare products that have helped me keep my skin in shape during lockdown. Apologies for using empty bottles and not including some items in my photos, but I need to repurchase most of these.

Don’t forget to check out more of my beauty recommendations.

This post is not sponsored, however the tips were provided by Dermalogica. All words, opinions and images remain my own.

lockdown skincare
Lockdown Skincare
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Spring Beauty Essentials | Recommendations

Spring Beauty Essentials for 2020
Spring Beauty Essentials | Recommendations

With a change of season, comes a change in my beauty routine. Long gone are the cold winter nights, cloudy days and lack of sunlight (well, this week anyway) which brought dry and dull skin. But new obstacles have arisen this year – with hotter weather arriving pretty quickly, and the lockdown leaving us all stuck inside for extended periods of time. Thankfully I am fully prepared this year, as always. My trip to Japan in 2019 introduced me to a variety of new favourites, which I have brought through to this year. That said, I’ve continued to keep my beauty routine pretty consistent in terms of origins & brands – with items coming from the UK, Japan, Korea and France.

I’ll be spending this spring focusing on the basics; healthy skin and giving myself a bit of a break from makeup. Not like I have anywhere to wear it to right now anyway… So without further ado, here are my spring beauty essentials.

Spring Beauty Essentials

Not pictured:

I’ve always been an advocate for taking care of your skin first, and I think that’s pretty apparent with this list. I think the most obvious change from my winter beauty products, is the addition of lighter creams and stronger SPFs. It may not be groundbreaking, but it is practical, and it works.

Don’t forget to check out more of my beauty recommendations and let me know in the comments which products you’ll be coveting this spring.

Spring Beauty Essentials for 2020
Spring Beauty Essentials for 2020
Spring Beauty Essentials for 2020
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Spring Beauty Essentials | My 2019 Recommendations

Spring Beauty EssentialsMy Spring Beauty Essentials | 2019 Recommendations

With a change of season, comes a change in my beauty routine. Long gone are the cold winter nights, cloudy days and lack of sunlight which brought dry and dull skin. New obstacles arise, with hotter days and more time spent outside. Thankfully I am fully prepared this year. My recent trip to Japan helped a lot, as it meant I was able to stock up on some old favourites, as well as some new products I researched before/during my visit. That said, in 2019 I’ve continued to keep my beauty routine pretty varied in terms of origins & brands – with items coming from UK, Japan, Korea and France (amongst others).

I’ll be spending this spring focusing on the basics; healthy skin and hair, fresh scents and a fully prepped base with minimal make-up. So without further ado, here are my spring beauty essentials for 2019.

My Spring Beauty Essentials

I’ve always been an advocate for taking care of your skin first, and I think that’s pretty apparent with this list, as you can see I haven’t added any new make-up products to my cupboard. But I think the most obvious change from my winter beauty products, is the addition of lighter creams and stronger SPFs. It may not be groundbreaking, but it is practical, and it works.

Don’t forget to check out more of my beauty recommendations and let me know in the comments which products you’ll be coveting in spring 2019.

Spring Beauty EssentialsSpring Beauty Essentials Spring Beauty Essentials Spring Beauty Essentials Spring Beauty Essentials