Current Skincare Routine

We all know that good skin can give a girl all the confidence in the world and recently, my skin has been looking so much better; less acne, less redness and overall just a better texture and I think it's down to these products. My skin is very acne prone and very oily, so if you think that you and me are in the same kind of boat, keep reading:

*I'm not saying that everyone needs to suddenly buy a bunch of skincare just for the sake of it, but i do think that if you're acne prone or have a problem with your skin, a careful routine will help. Entering those dreaded teenage years, efficient skincare is a good idea, especially if you start wearing makeup.*

1. Makeup remover
I actually haven't included these in the pictures because my makeup remover changes a lot. Just because it changes though, does not mean it is okay to just use a makeup wipe. I do, however, know a few people that literally just use a makeup wipe or two at night and they are fine, but like I said, I'm very acne prone, so any thing clogging my pores will definitely break me out. Using an oil based product will help to break down the pigment and eye makeup gently. The one I'm loving now is the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter.£12

2. Face wash
Next step is face wash and this really depends on what type of skin you have. I have very red, irritated skin but also very sensitive so a creamy, cooling face wash is great. This one is the Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy wash £5. It has tea tree and witch hazel which balances redness and heals spots. A gel face wash is great for oily skin also but my skin is very sensitive. Creamy, buttery textures are great for dry skin as it won't dry it out.

3. Exfoliate
I know most people skip this step because, it's not a necessity but, it does leave a your skin soft and smooth and, for oily skin, it's just an extra step for making sure the face is clean. I really like the St. Ives exfoliators £4.29, this one is "Blemish fighting" because it has salicylic acid in which fights blemishes.

4. Deep cleanse
I might be starting to sound a bit paranoid now, but I'm going to again stress cleansing using something like and astringent. It basically contains strong ingredients that really go into the skin for a deeper cleanse, this could be unnecessary for some, but for me I find it really helps to remove the final traces of dirt. I use the Clean and Clear deep cleansing lotion £2.97 which contains salicylic acid which helps to reduce blackheads. *try to find one for sensitive skin as it's less stripping and harsh*:)

5. Clarisonic
Recently I purchased the Clarisonic Mia 2 £125 because so many people have gone on about it, and I was really willing to try anything to improve my skin. The clarisonic is basically like a giant electric toothbrush ^_^ which spins and vibrates quickly. There's been a noticeable difference in my skin and people have really noticed. I used to have a lot of whiteheads, like little bumps, on my forehead but the rest of my skin was always clear. Whiteheads are basically excess sebum (oil produced in the pores of the skin) or makeup clogging the pores causing bumps or redness. The Clarisonic has definitely improved these problems for my skin but i still occasionally get an angry red spot here and there but it's good to remember that acne on the forehead can be due to: poor blood circulation, dehydration, too much greasy food, stress, lack of sleep, blocked digestive system.

6. Moisturiser
Last step is to remember to moisturise. Even if you just splash your face with water, moisturiser is always important in the end. And if you don't have problem skin any moisturiser will do, but even if you think you don't need it because you have oily skin- trust me- you do. I love the Imperialis £13.50 from lush because it's a great all round moisturiser that balances combination skin and sinks in quickly to prep before makeup.

I hope this was helpful for some, any questions?

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #5

Well hello there and welcome back to my fifth and final edition of How to Control Oily Skin- this week: CLAY MASKS

So there are loads of different masks, all claiming to be the best for your skin, but in terms of oily skin, a clay mask is the best choice.

This is one example of a clay mask I find that works great for me: Super Facialist Tea Flower Clay Mask £8.99

Clay masks are literally masks made of clay, and though it seems a daunting thought, the benefits are endless: unclogs pores, purifies skin of toxins, rebalances skin balance, refreshes skin, etc. This one in particular has Salicylic acid which unclogs congested skin which is great for people with oily skin, it has Dead Sea Mud which is rich in magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron which can help skin build barriers against unwanted substances, honey which is a great anti-bacterial, as well as loads of oils including avocado which are rich in vitamins which refresh and rebalance the skin.

I would recommend using this regularly, and not just when a those blemishes appear. A few months ago, I started using this all the time and my skin was looking better, but then I got a bit cocky, and just stopped using it, and then it went bad again. *sigh* Don't go through that and just keep using it, it's not expensive and laziness it not an excuse.

Hope this series was helpful. Any other suggestions?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

x

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #4

Tip #4: Astringents as deep cleansers as exfoliators

Astringents are really great because the contain strong cleansing ingredients like salicylic acid which will leave your skin super clean. Even on my rather irritable and sensitive skin, I find that I can just about stand this if it's a small amount on a cotton pad. I do,  however, recommend to use this sparingly; on a nightly basis. Cleansing with this in the morning might be a bit harsh and it would be stripping away all the good stuff your skin has worked so hard to rejuvenate over night! 

I know what you're thinking: "astringents as exfoliators?" 

Well, if some of you rather common types had read my last post, it was about exfoliating to unclog pores. That was a great way to prevent blackheads, but if you, like me as well as many others, have allowed your skin to get just a smidge on the bad side of things, then a physical scrub probably isn't in your best interest. Advantages of a liquid form means that it will unclog pores and chemically make new cells come to the surface without irritating spots or spreading bacteria.

I would definitely recommend using this regularly, even if it's just for prevention- don't leave it till it's too late- right? I mean, I've used a whole bottle, as you can see, and I plan to purchase more. It's affordable and easily accessible in Boots.

Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser £3.50

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #3

Hey everyone,

Here we go into another post on How to Control Oily Skin...

If you haven't read the others, this is basically a series of posts telling you how I deal with my oily skin which can lead to problems like acne or shininess.

This week: EXFOLIATORS

If you have oily skin, an exfoliator will make a world of a difference. It will take off the layers of oil and dead cells that build up on the surface which will allow the skin to breathe and it will unclog the pores of any dirt; meaning less blackheads to deal with. Using an exfoliator often will reduce the oil build up on the skin leaving clearer, brighter skin.

This is the St. Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub. £4.29 This one is one I recently bought but it's great and affordable so would definitely recommend.

*Word of Warning: if you already have a lot of spots, try not to use a gritty exfoliator because it might irritate blemishes, causing more spots or redness, leaving scars and it might spread bacteria around. *

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Stick around for my next post where I address exfoliating but without the physical headiness of the St Ives ones.

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #1

Hey everyone,

So I today, I wanted to address something that affects me, and probably many others.

I have very oily skin, especially on the forehead and t-zone (basically above your eyebrows and down your nose; the T shape down your face)

It becomes a problem because:

1. The oil clogs my pores which can result in many whiteheads appearing on the skin (basically small, colourless bumps on the skin) which are a pain to get rid of. And when you have oily skin, they are pretty much unpreventable because they just keep appearing.

2. Makeup looks fine in the morning but as the day progresses, it either gets shiny or just disappears. When makeup gets mixed with oils, it blocks pores even more and can cause more painful; more red spots on the skin.
If you have oily skin, you will probably always get some blemishes, and I know for me: I never don't have blemishes to worry about. Even if you don't wear makeup, during those teenage years as people call them, skin will just get oilier, creating more blemishes.

An obvious solution would just be to keep washing your face throughout the day - if you don't wear makeup but, if like me, you have sensitive skin on top of that, then your skin can feel tight and irritated and uncomfortable.

Oil absorbing sheets are a good solution: you can get them from most Boots or Superdrugs. They're basically thin sheets, sometimes soaked in salicylic acid (which can kill bacteria and clear skin). Because they absorb the oil, they will instantly remove the oil and any shininess on the face. These are great for a quick fix in the day and will keep the skin clearer and less oily.

I will be writing some more posts on how to keep the skin clear if you have oily skin.

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx