THE BODY SHOP Favourites

Autumn/Winter Wishlist: Beauty

HAUL: The Body Shop

Summer Morning Makeup Routine

Most of us already have four to five steps in our morning beauty regime, and the last thing we need is to add further layers when we know we're going to be sweating 15 minutes later. However, summer brings with it the need to slap on a good SPF - in all honesty, it should be applied all-year round but we can get away with SPF makeup in winter [blame it on Caroline Hirons]. 

Personally I like to keep it all natural and down to the minimum in summer. Here is what I will be having in my makeup bag ready for grabs.

Getting Rid of Dark Circles

THE REVIEW: AHAVA Time to Hydrate Hydration Cream Mask

In yesterday's comeback post I mentioned that I've been using a new hydrating mask which has been a savior for my skin lately. As promised, here's the review!

AHAVA Time to Hydrate Hydration Cream Mask made it into my shopping bag as soon as I read "... including sensitive skin". I'm quite apprehensive about trying out new masks out of fear that they would not suit my skin type, especially if they come with a price tag. I tend to look for ones that include sensitive skin in their description - that way I know that there's a high chance that I won't be disappointed.

AHAVA's cream mask can also be used as an overnight intensive treatment, which I do once every week. Since the texture is quite thick (it does say cream mask), you only need a small amount to massage into your face. A little goes a long way. I use this mask twice a week, usually on Wednesdays and Sundays. This reminds me of the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, which I still need to get my hands on when I come to London.

BeautyBay is right in saying that this mask keeps your skin "unbelievably soft and smooth" - my skin is left feeling like a baby's bottom. Not my intention to leave you all imagining baby bum cheeks, but let's carry on.  AHAVA Time to Hydrate mask is supplemented with mineral skin osmoter complex and glycoproteins. From what I remember from Biology class, the osmoter complex is involved in a process called osmosis, which has to do with transporting water in and out of cells. Without getting into more science, it's how this mask helps to keep the skin even more hydrated. It's one of the most luxurious products I've ever used, replacing my previous Michael Todd Avocado & Mango Hydrating Facial Mask.

If I'm not leaving it overnight, I keep it on my face for 15 minutes, then remove the product with a lukewarm muslin cloth.

Would I repurchase? I will be trying out the Origins Drink Up Intensive mask after this - the product is too hyped to let it slide by. However, as soon as I run out, I will be having this in my cabinet again. Hands down.

PAI Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream

Having ordered this around three weeks ago, it was only last week that it found itself in my mailbox. With winter approaching, I was on the hunt for a good hydrating day cream – specifically for daytime and for combating dehydration that tends to come with the colder months. 

Pai’s Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream is the man for the job. Although I have combination skin, it does tend to get dehydrated in winter, but I was still a bit worried when I read, “Hydrates and protects DRY sensitive skin”. However, upon applying it to my face the following morning, my skin absorbed it within seconds. It felt so quenched and revived afterwards without the cream sitting on my face that I could just go ahead and apply my foundation straight away. I’m already noticing a difference in my skin – I’m not sure whether it’s due to this cream, or some other new products I’ve been trying out, but it surely is not doing any harm.

The avocado is rich in vitamins A, D and E that moisturizes and gives life to dull skin. Jojoba’s composition is close to that of the skin’s natural sebum, hence why it absorbs quickly, leaving me with a smooth, glowing complexion.

The scent is very floral, being infused with Jasmine and May Chang, which I don’t mind at all. It’s quite refreshing to have on your face early in the morning.

What makes me trust Pai products is that they list all their ingredients, one by one, together with what they are derived from. I’ve never seen this with any other brands. Pai's Hydrating Day Cream is a definite repurchase!

What are your favourite hydrating day creams?

Facial Skincare Wish List for A/W

Just as the weather starts to change, so does our skin. The sweaty, moist surface starts to parch up, becoming more tight and dehydrated.

Since I started getting more into skincare, I decided how vital it is to change products according to your skin's needs. So here's my wish list for the coming seasons.

Morning

1. Elemis Peachy Perfect Gentle Face Wash - €11.72

I want to get into using a different cleanser for morning and evening, and after searching through cleansers online, I found this Elemis Peachy Perfect one. I know the name should not draw me to a product, but it did. The fact that it says "peachy" made me believe this would be perfect for day time. Who doesn't want dandy skin just after rolling out of bed? According to the product description, the cleanser contains lemon which awakens your skin, along with other ingredients that hydrate and condition your complexion.

2. Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream - £23.00

Those of us who are blessed with dark under-eye circles *raises hand* need some sort of targeted morning eye cream. Dark circles are at their worst upon waking up, especially after a fidgety night. So instead of putting coffee in our bodies, why not put it under our eyes? Yup, this Origins eye cream contains caffeine as one of its main ingredients. To add, ginseng is known for its brightening properties. De-puffed, awakened glowing under-eyes? Yes, please.

3. Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer - £23.00

Containing the same ingredients as the one above, this moisturizer promises a glowing overall complexion. With a lightweight, oil-free formula, this moisturizer is supposed to convert dull skin into a vibrant, lustrous glow.

Evening

4. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleaner - £13.25

One of the cheapest cleansers I could find that seems to get the job done. After a day wearing makeup, I prefer to give my skin a deep cleanse. This oil free cleanser comes with a muslin cloth, which is used to polish your skin while removing the cleanser. The muslin cloth further helps to deep cleanse your skin, as the steam from the hot muslin cloth helps to open up those pores.

5. Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil - €25.00

A facial oil may sound scary, especially for those with sensitive/oily/combination skin. However, this oil is suitable for all skin types. I've come across this product on various blogs, and most of them said the same thing - how this product is not that oily. As in, it sort of dries up, and sinks into the skin upon application. Rosehip is known to be advantageous to the skin by improving fine lines and wrinkles while giving the skin its natural glow. It also balances oily/combination skin, while acting as a moisturizer for dry skin. To add, it's known for balancing out skin tone, while reducing blemishes and scars. This oil seems to have it all.

6. Pai Echium Anti-Aging Eye Cream - €34.00

If I had to have different eye creams for morning and evening, I would prefer something a bit more hydrating for night time. This eye cream is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which calm and soften the delicate area of the eye.

Evening Extras

7. Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream - €19.77

Recently I stopped using a facial scrub, but I must admit that my skin has missed that exfoliating feeling. My skin used to feel so fresh and free from impurities. If you have sensitive skin, make sure to opt for a gentle scrub, with very fine and soft grains in order to prevent skin irritation. Rinse away the scrub with warm water instead of cold; it further helps to clean those pores.

8. Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - £25.00

There has been a lot of hype about this product amongst bloggers, and I can't wait to try it out. Since the skin gets more dehydrated in winter, I prefer to add a hydrating mask to my routine. This Origins Overnight mask replaces your usual evening moisturizer, and you apply it around 30 minutes before going to bed, and as the name suggests, you leave it overnight. Your skin will drink it up, and in the morning you're supposed to wake up with vibrant, hydrated skin. The avocado and apricot kernel oil help in injecting that moisture back in your skin.

As stated, this is a wish list, therefore the above are not personal reviews of the products. However, I have discreetly researched them online and compared them to other products. Hence why they ended up in my wish list.

Parabens... and Cancer. WHAT?!

Following yesterday's post about facials, I put together the Parabens post as promised. I must say it left me feeling quite startled... 

Parabens are a class of chemicals that are commonly used in products by cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. They are synthetically added to prevent microbial growth in the product, which leads to abominable changes. In conjunction with their low cost, this explains their widespread use.

Common products containing parabens are: makeup, economic moisturisers, shaving gels, spray tanners, shampoos and toothpaste. Parabens are listed amongst the ingredients as 'something-paraben', such as propylparaben, methylparaben... to mention a few.

What is of interest is that, recently, they have become a topic of controversy due to being associated with cancer. I was of the idea that they only caused adverse reactions in people with sensitive skin, so needless to say, I was shocked to find this. I'm not going to go into boring, medical details on here and I will link the articles at the end of this post. However, in a 2004 research, parabens were found in breast cancer tumors, and research is still under scrutiny to find whether there is a direct causal link.

Although breast cancer is unrelated to yesterday's post, I found this controversy shocking enough to continue reading. Parabens displayed the strength to mimic estrogen, a hormone known to increase the risk of breast cancer. According to Philippa Darbre, leader of the 2004 research, the parabens in tumors came from something that was applied directly to the skin, such as underarm roll-on, cream or body spray. In fact, only part of the tumor is located in the breast, the rest extends to the underarm.

Moving on to parabens in facial skincare, I must say I was quite disappointed with the limited amount of information provided online. Mostly it just tells you that they are unsafe to use, and lead to breakouts, blemishes... On the contrary, the predominant cosmetic industry is putting forward that they are safe. Not surprised at all. They still need to sell their products, after all.

Big, cheap brands have a sizable, varied supply and to an extent it is understandable that they don't use expensive ingredients for their products. From what I can understand, the reason why certain cheap brands work on certain people but not on others is because the effects of parabens remain dormant. On the other hand, in people with sensitive, acne-prone and problematic skin, parabens cause hormones to go haywire.

I don't know about you, but after this I strengthened my views on organic products and skincare. To a certain extent, knowing that products are being produced from natural ingredients puts my mind at rest. With today's expanding beauty industry, it's not a hassle to find 'cleaner' alternatives.

Related links:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2085585/Parabens-Chemical-everyday-items-needs-investigation-scientists-discover-tumours-ALL-breast-cancer-patients.html

http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=291

http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/worry-about-parabens-00000000028428/index.html

Are facials REALLY beneficial for your skin?

Before I start writing this post, I just want to say that by no means am I saying that this happens at all salons, or that it is going to happen to you next time you have a facial. The images below are not mine - they were obtained from the Singaporean blogger's, Juli, personal website, which I will link below.

Juli's pre-facial picture [scroll down]

                              

Back in the day when I used to have facials, I always wondered how my skin benefitted from all the extraction. My spots just didn't seem to heal. Not to mention the redness that swamped my face minutes after exiting the salon. It was when I realised that I had sensitive skin, and that the facials where in no way contributing to my spots, that I stopped making appointments for such treatments.

As I was reading through some blogs a few weeks ago, I came across this post on BunBunMakeupTips. Not only was I horrified, but I also felt sorry for the woman.

Juli's post-facial picture

She only went to get a sponsored facial after all. It seems that Juli's skin adversely reacted to the products used during the treatment. Having battled highly reactive, sensitive skin about five years ago, I know how daunting it can be. It is all about finding a dermatologist whom you can trust (because you find doctors who misdiagnose). And it's okay to get a second opinion if you're still unsure. By time, you build your own skincare regime and learn which products suit your skin.

If you have highly reactive, acne-prone, or just sensitive skin:

1. Seek a dermatologist's advice. If s/he prescribes you medicated facial/skin products, STICK TO THEM.
2. Steer away from fancy products which you buy just for the sake of their brand name.
3. Check the ingredients. Yes, this can be a humdrum, but it's good to know what constitutes the products you are slapping on your face.
4. Holding on with the ingredients' note, avoid brands containing parabens (I'm planning an entire paraben-related post).
5. Explore organic brands, which are known for their natural ingredients. I did an entire post regarding one of these brands a while ago.
6. Know your skin type! 
7. Don't be tempted by offers or samples. If they're not quite right for you, pass them on to someone else.

If you do treat yourself to a facial and find that it works in your favour, please carry on. There are some highly trustworthy beauty therapists out there.

You should know that facial conditions do clear up, if not exceptionally severe. I'm just not so sure whether it's through the extraction track.

Love for Pai

Thanks to procrastination during exams time, I discovered the skincare brand, Pai, by poring over various beauty blogs. Having sensitive skin, I always get excited when I stumble upon an organic skincare brand.

However, I still did not risk purchasing full-sized products to try out. Luckily, Pai offer a sampling set, generously containing six of their products, together with a muslin cloth at just € 6.00. How great is that?!

Trial pack includes:

x1 5ml Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream for Dry Sensitive Skin.

x1 5ml Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream for Hypersensitive & Redness Prone Skin.

x1 5ml Geranium & Thistle Combination Skin Cream for Combination and Oily Sensitive Skin.

x1 5ml Macadamia & Rose BioRejuvenate Cream for Age-Prone Skin.

x1 5ml Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser.

x1 4ml Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator.

FREE Muslin Cloth (RRP €5)

I ordered mine straight away and received it after 2 working days. I tested all of the samples, except for the Macadamia & Rose Dry Skin Cream, which I'm saving for winter.

Particularly, I was swept away by the Geranium & Thistle Combination Skin Cream. I had to go ahead and order the full size product. My skin had never felt so oil-balanced. It is the most non-greasy, hydrating cream which I have ever used, making it the perfect summer moisturiser and make up base.

The Geranium oil is known to have a calming effect, helping to avoid irritation and redness on the skin. Thistle, on the other hand, contains Omega 6 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids cannot be produced by the human body, and are known to have skin benefits, reducing the appearance of large pores and mattifying the skin.

Avoid the bake with SPFs

As much as most of us crave that golden bronzed tan, we all know the importance of SPF. It protects us against UV radiation - the main culprit for ageing. I bet no one wants leathery skin at any age. Well, that's what you will have if you don't slap on enough suncream! That's right. A tan doesn't sound so appealing now, does it?