Fighting Back Against the Mask-Related Acne

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acne, acne treatment, anti ageing, anti wrinkle, antioxidants, azelaic acid, beauty, blemish, clarifying, clear skin, COVID, cruelty free, dermalogica, Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash, Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream, face, face mask, facial, flawless skin, glowing skin, glycolic acid, healing, intensive, lockdown, make up, mask, masks, Murad, Murad Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment, natural skincare, pigmentation, plant extracts, Salicylic Acid, skin, skin goals, skin problems, skincare, skincare routine, skincare treatments

Photo by Pille R. Priske on Unsplash

Whether you’re someone who is still fastidiously wearing masks when out and about or you’ve given up now that restrictions have been relaxed, there are still a lot of people battling the effects that masks had on their skin. Mask-related acne became such an issue during lockdown that it was given its own portmanteau – mas-cne! Some postulated that the spots were caused by re-wearing cloth masks without washing them between uses, while others felt it was simply an effect of your skin being less able to breathe under a mask. Either way, dealing with mas-cne requires a certain set of products – here are five of the best:

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash

One of the most effective ways to deal with acne is by using a cleanser with targeted ingredients, like this one from Dermalogica. It contains natural extracts of balm mint, eucalyptus and tea tree help eliminate breakout-causing bacteria and congestion as menthol and camphor help cool inflammation. It sloughs away excess oils and dead skin cells which block pores and contribute to acne and helps to prevent future breakouts. 

Murad Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment

This gel serum from Murad contains a Penta-Acid Technology comprised of salicylic, lysophosphatidic, hydroxydecanoic, sebacic and glycolic acids which combine to clear skin of blemish-causing bacteria, oiliness and blackheads while minimising dryness and irritation. It can be applied directly to blemishes and is clinically proven to visibly reduce blemishes within 7 days. 

Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream

This intensive, healing moisturiser from Elemis is designed to give sensitised, weathered skin a deep infusion of moisture and contains myrrh essential oil, which has regenerating, anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties, making it invaluable in products which help relieve acne. Added lavender oil helps to enhance healing and can also help to reduce the chance of scarring. 

Medik8 Blemish SOS

This rapid action treatment gel from Murad is designed to be applied directly to blemishes and remains invisible once applied, unlike some spot treatments which leave an unsightly film. It’s enriched with azelaic acid to fight blemish-causing bacteria and dioic acid to help control oil production within the skin and can be used under make up or on its own for fast-acting, spot-busting powers. 

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion

Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion is a multi-purpose product from Jan Marini which contains glycolic, salicylic and azelaic acid and is designed to treat not just acne, but also pigmentation, rosacea and fine lines and wrinkles. As well as utilising the three acids which are amazing for the skin, the lotion is packed with antioxidants and natural plant extracts which repair and refine the complexion for softer, smoother, more luminous and hydrated looking skin.

Five Products to Help Soothe Anxiety

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alcohol, alleviate, anti-viral, antibacterial, anxiety, aromatherapy, bath, bathing, bergamot oil, boost, Clary Sage, COVID-19, cruelty free, depression, Frankincense, geranium, hand cleanser, harmonise, lemongrass, linden blossom, lockdown, lotus flower, luxurious, mental health, moisturised, natural ingredients, oils, olfactory, pandemic, Public Health England, rebalance, Relax, rescue breaths, ritual, rose flower water, Sandalwood, scented candles, senses, soak, soothe, stress, therapeutic, Vegan, Vetivert, warm, ylang ylang

Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash

A recent study in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology has revealed that levels of anxiety are at an all time high within the UK’s population. In fact, the prevalence of anxiety has increased by a whopping 27.88% since the first lockdown, taking mental health-related issues to the forefront of many people’s minds. Self care is an incredibly important part of maintaining good mental health, so with this in mind, we’ve curated a list of five key products which can help to alleviate anxiety. 

Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil

Soaking in a warm bath is a great way to help you to relax and to quieten down the anxiety that is swimming around your head at the end of a long day. This bath and shower oil from Aromatherapy Associates has been formulated to create a luxurious bathing experience and contains clary sage which is known to soothe anxiety, sandalwood which is said to ground your emotions and geranium which is able to help to rebalance your mind.

Evolve Organic Beauty Keep Calm and Spray On

If your anxiety is health related, due to the effects of living through a pandemic, then this product will have a doubly good effect for you. Keep Calm And Spray On from Evolve Organic Beauty is a spray-on hand cleanser which contains 70% alcohol. This is a full 10% above the minimum amount recommended by Public Health England to kill the COVID-19 virus, so you know that you’ll be well protected, health wise. It also contains bergamot oil which has been found to help relieve anxiety, improve modes and also holds anti-viral properties.

Hayo’u Scented Candle

The olfactory sense is perhaps one of the most powerful when it comes to helping temper our emotions, which is why scented candles can be a great ally when anxiety is taking hold. This scented candle from Hayo’u contains an indulgent blend of lotus flower, frankincense, lemongrass and ylang ylang oils, which help to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as relaxing your nervous system and boosting your mood. It’s also recommended that you practice a rescue breath ritual while the candle is burning to really increase the effects of the blend of fragrances.

Bloom and Blossom All Night Long Calming Sleep Spray

Suffering with anxiety can play havoc with your sleep cycle, making it difficult to fall asleep and leaving you feeling unrested once you wake up. Bloom And Blossom have created this All Night Long Calming Sleep Spray which is made from 99% natural ingredients and helps you to reduce anxiety and drift off into a deep sleep. It is made in the UK, it’s 100% vegan and cruelty free and contains frankincense, rose flower water and linden blossom, which all help to reduce stress. 

This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak

When using aromatherapy to alleviate anxiety, alternating between fragrance blends can help your body to remain receptive to the different smells. This Deep Sleep Bath Soak from This Works is intended to melt away your anxiety, harmonise your mind and body and leave you feeling moisturised, relaxed and ready for sleep. Lavender, chamomile and vetivert are the main therapeutic fragrances within this product, which is also 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty free.

Five Products to Banish Blue Monday

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aromatherapy, awaken, basil, bed linens, Bergamont, blue, Blue Monday, clean, clothes, cruelty free, depressing, energy, essential oils, fMRI, fragrances, furnishings, geranium, Glycerin, Grapefruit, invigorate, January, lime, listlessness, low moods, mango, mind boosting, mood, morning, natural, Neroli, orange, pandemic, psychologists, pulse point, reinvigorating, reusable cotton pad, rollerball, rosemary, sanitise, scientific, senses, shower, skin, supercharge, target, thyme, uplifting, user studies, Vegan, vitality, weather, ylang ylang

Photo by Julia Avamotive from Pexels

If you have so much as looked at a newspaper, social media, or watch any television, you will probably be aware that today is referred to as ’Blue Monday’ Back in 2005, a holiday company decided that the third Monday in January was officially the most depressing day of the year and although this has since been dismissed as pseudoscience by psychologists, lots of people are still feeling the pinch.

Most of us still haven’t had a payday since Christmas, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic and the weather hasn’t exactly been fantastic, so we wouldn’t be surprised if many people were feeling rather blue at the moment. With this in mind we curated a list of products that we stock here are pure beauty, which are all designed to have a mood boosting effect.

Evolve Organic Beauty Keep Calm and Spray On

Essential oils and aromatherapy can be a powerful ally against low moods, especially if you choose the right combination of fragrances. This hand cleanser from Evolve Organic contains bergamot for its anti-viral properties as well as its uplifting scent, which means that even though you’re still having to sanitise your hands 100 times a day, you’ll get a little lift each time you use this product. It also contains glycerin to keep your hands hydrated and can even be used with a reusable cotton pad to clean any surfaces as well as your hands.

This Works Stress Check Mood Manager 

Although the ingredients in this product are 99% natural, the blend was created using highly scientific methods to prove its efficacy. The blend has been proven in fMRI and user studies and helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. The mist can be used on your skin, clothes, furnishings and even your bed linens to clear your mind and give you a positive lift and is even recommended for calming your nerves before using public transport.

Elemis Revitalise-Me Shower Gel

If you know you’re going to have a potentially stressful or busy day ahead then starting the day with an uplifting shower gel such as Revitalise Me from Elemis is a good way to bolster yourself. It contains thyme, basil and neroli essential oils, as well as orange and lime which awaken the senses and invigorate your skin. Finally, a mango derived cleansing agent cleans your skin deeply, to ensure that you are as clean as you are uplifted.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball

Roller balls are a fantastic delivery method for essential oils as they allow you to target the pulse point on your body to get the maximum effect. This Revive Morning Rollerball from Aromatherapy Associates is 100% natural and contains neroli and grapefruit essential oils. It’s totally portable which means that you can reapply it throughout the day and the combination of fragrances is reviving and reinvigorating to the mind.

This Works Energy Bank Shower Gel

This shower gel from This Works is called ‘Energy Bank’ as it promises to supercharge your senses. It helps you to wake up and banishes morning listlessness, leaving your mind and body charged and ready to face the day. It’s 99% natural and cruelty free and boasts geranium, ylang ylang and rosemary, which combine to restore vitality and stimulate the body and mind.