Get Your Best Complexion Ever with These Clay Masks

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Aromatherapy Associates Rose Pink Clay Mask, beauty, Bentonite, bilberry, body, clay, complexion, Decleor Rosemary Black Clay Mask, detoxify, environmental impurities, excess oil, face, hair, impurities, kaolin, lavender, lemon, mask, masks, Medik8 Natural Clay Mask, natural origin, orange, pink, purify, REN Clean Skincare Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask, sebum, skin, skincare, spirulina, sugar cane, This Works Evening Detox Clay Mask

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A clay mask is without a doubt one of the best ways to help refine and rebalance your skin, regardless of whether it is dull, congested, or oily. Clay masks are beneficial for a wide range of skin conditions and types. They can brighten your skin, absorb toxins and excess oils, hydrate, prevent breakouts, restore the skin’s balance, and regulate sebum production, among other things. It’s a great product to have on hand for a quick fix or a weekly routine, regardless of your skin type. However, since not all clay masks are created equal, it is essential to select a formulation that meets your requirements. Here’s our pick of our best clay masks:

Aromatherapy Associates Rose Pink Clay Mask

This mask from Aromatherapy Associates is made from French pink clay which is rich in minerals and has a restorative and nourishing effect on your  hair, face and body. It’s combined with hydrating sweet almond oil and shea butter, to enrich and uplift the senses while giving your chosen treatment area a deeply conditioning treat. The product is made from entirely vegan ingredients and contains no SLS, giving you the confidence that you’re using something which is 100% beneficial. 

Decleor Rosemary Black Clay Mask

From pink clay to black clay! This mask from Decleor is a 98% natural origin clay face mask enriched with rosemary essential oil, salicylic acid and black clay to reduce imperfections and purify the skin with no dehydrating effects. Use it just once or twice a week for ten minutes at a time and your skin will feel cleaner, have fewer blackheads and sebum will be more balanced. Perfect for teenage or hormonal skin which is prone to blemishes. 

Medik8 Natural Clay Mask

This mask from Medik8 is made from bentonite and kaolin clay and will gently detox the skin to promote a clear, radiant complexion. Unlike many other clay masks which feel heavy on the skin and difficult to apply, this mask has a whipped consistency which feels light, refreshing and easy to use. As well as a blend of clays, this mask contains extracts of cranberry to enhance skin texture and luminosity, while vitamin E locks in moisture for optimal hydration. 

This Works Evening Detox Clay Mask

If you work or live in a busy town or city, then you’re probably aware of the havoc that daily pollution can play with your complexion. This mask from This Works is created using detoxifying malachite and kaolin clay – the kaolin  absorbs excess oil and environmental impurities to purify the skin while malachite helps to detoxify and protect against environmental aggressors and pollution. Finally, the mask contains a blend of five natural botanicals including bilberry, sugar cane, orange and lemon which rapidly exfoliate by increasing cell turnover. 

REN Clean Skincare Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask

One of the main benefits of using clay to create masks is that it absorbs the excess sebum from your skin – perfect if you suffer from an oil imbalance. This detox mask from REN Clean Skincare is a thick clay mask for combination skin, that works to minimise the appearance of pores, removing excess sebum and fighting congestion, without drying the skin out. As well as kaolin clay, the formula offers spirulina extract which is deeply nourishing for the skin and lavender oil to help refresh your complexion. 

How to Give Yourself a Mini At-Home Facial

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Aromatherapy Associates Rose Triple Exfoliator, beauty, camomile, candle, clean, cleanse, cleanser, Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover, essential oils, face, facial, geranium, home, lavender, mask, massage, Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask, mood, nourishing, oils, palmerosa, pamper, rose, senses, sheet mask, skin, Skin Abode Contour Pro Face Massager, Spa, This Works Deep Sleep Heavenly Candle, treatment

Photo by Sora Shimazaki

While we’d obviously advocate for taking yourself off to a salon and having a professional facial, we’re well aware that time doesn’t always allow. However, even if you don’t have time for an appointment, there’s no reason that your skin should go neglected, which is why we’ve put together a guide to how to give yourself a mini facial at home, and which products you could use to make it almost as good as that spa-day experience!

Set the Mood

One thing that you’ll notice if you attend spas or beauty salons on a regular basis is that the mood is set the moment you walk in, thanks to certain smells and lighting. Soft is best, and candles are a great way to achieve both of these things. This Works Deep Sleep Heavenly Candle is a luxurious, hand-blended candle, enriched with pure essential oils of lavender and camomile. The soft, flattering light of this long-burning candle, together with its therapeutic fragrance, combine to help soothe senses and increase inner peace.

Cleanse Your Skin

When giving yourself an at-home facial, you want to use the best products you can to replicate that spa experience, and using gentle cleansers is a must. Decleor Bi-phase Caring Cleanser and Makeup Remover is a new cleanser powered by the best scientific blend of virgin botanical oils and floral water to help cleanse and nourish the skin whilst removing all traces of make up, giving you the perfect clean base on which to work. 

Exfoliate

Next, we’d recommend a gentle exfoliation treatment, such as Aromatherapy Associates Rose Triple Exfoliator, which not only exfoliates your skin but also smells incredible, adding to the feelings of luxury. Blended from warm rose, geranium and palmarosa, this exfoliator draws from three types of softly smoothing botanical microspheres, with natural bamboo, corn cob granules and biodegradable rose water infused jojoba, to enrich and uplift the senses.

Use a Mask

Once you’ve got rid of any dirt and dead skin cells, your face is primed and ready for a deeper treatment, courtesy of a mask. Obviously, there are all sorts of masks out there for all different skin types, but we’re huge fans of Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask. It is enriched with detoxifying minerals and deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid to help cool, restore and comfort even the most sensitive of skin types, giving you a super gentle wash of hydration. 

Give Yourself a Massage

Once you’ve given your mask time to work, we’d suggest some self-massage, courtesy of the Skin Abode Contour Pro Face Massager. It provides the perfect deep-tissue massage for your face to help banish those sagging jowls, lift your drooping browline and chisel those cheekbones. After taking off your sheet mask, leave the remaining serum on your face and use this massager to really work it into your skin. 

Twixmas is the Time for Self-Care

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Aromatherapy Associates Support Nourishing Body Oil, bath, coconut, cream, evening primrose, exotic, eye, face, festive, geranium, kit, lotion, Lycon Lyco'Pedi Kit, macadamia, mask, Maskology Retinol and Vitamin C Professional Under Eye Mask, massage, New Year, pamper, pampering, pedicure, Relax, REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, retinol, scent, season, self-care, skin oil, Twixmas, UpCircle The Pamper Kit, vanilla, Vitamin C, ylang ylang

Photo by Taryn Elliott

Once the stress of Christmas Day is over, Twixmas, the relaxed period between Christmas and New Year, comes along to help recharge our batteries before we welcome in another year. Marked from the 27th until 30th December, Twixmas is the perfect time to give yourself a serious pampering so that the wear and tear of Christmas can be wiped away and you begin the New Year as your most radiant self. Here are five hero products for making Twixmas the most wonderful time of the year for your skin:

REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil

When we think of self care and pampering, most of us automatically picture ourselves in the bath, and this oil from REN Clean Skincare is the perfect partner for that scene. REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil is a bath oil for all skin types designed to calm the mind and soothe the skin. A few drops of this rich oil in your bath is enough to de-stress, leave the day behind and even soothes dry skin.

Maskology Retinol and Vitamin C Professional Under Eye Mask

If you’re still reeling from the strains of Christmas, there’s a good chance you’re lacking sleep and that almost always shows around the eyes, making it the perfect time to use this mask. The retinol formula will brighten dark circles, improve the appearance of pigmentation and smooth the skin’s texture. The serum infused hydrogel mask transforms the eye area in just 20 minutes. It’s rich in anti-ageing ingredients, the mask visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, while rejuvenating and energising the area to maintain a youthful glow.

UpCircle The Pamper Kit

If you want to indulge in some pampering but also want the peace of mind of knowing that your products don’t have a negative impact on the planet then this Pamper Kit from UpCircle is the one for you. It contains seven samples of UpCircle’s best selling products; Cleansing Face Balm, Clarifying Face Mask, Face Toner, Eye Cream, Face Moisturiser, Organic Face Serum and Body Cream. They all contain ingredients which are vegan and cruelty free, and come from sustainable sources. 

Lycon Lyco’Pedi Kit

A pedicure is the perfect pampering treat, especially when you’ve been spending busy days on your feet, cooking, cleaning and doing all the other festive prep. This Lyco’Pedi Kit from Lycon gives you everything you need for the ultimate mini pampering experience in a convenient mini carry bag. It contains their Refreshing Soak, Massage Lotion, Sugar Scrub, Hydrating Mask and Smoothing Cream, allowing you to whip your feet into shape in no time at all. 

Aromatherapy Associates Support Nourishing Body Oil

Self-massage is a great way to make yourself feel more relaxed and relieve the stresses of the season, and this Nourishing Body Oil is the perfect conditioning and deeply penetrating dry skin oil for the job. Combining macadamia, coconut and evening primrose with the exotic scent of geranium, ylang ylang and vanilla, the blend both conditions the skin and uplifts the senses with aromatherapy. 

Our Favourite Stocking Fillers for Under £10

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CBD, Christmas, cream, Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo, face, feet, foot, gift, ingredients, kit, lip, mask, Maskology Foot Peel Professional Foot Treatment, products, skin, stocking, Sustainable, This Works Stress Check CBD Lip Mask, under £10, UpCircle The Pamper Kit, Voesh 3 Step Basic Mani in a Box Vitamin Recharge

Photo by Goran Grudić

It’s the middle of November; Halloween and Bonfire night are well behind us, which means that we are now officially allowed to talk about Christmas! With rising energy prices, many people are looking at ways to save, or just simply starting their Christmas shopping earlier so they can spread the cost a little. With this in mind, we thought we’d share with you some of our favourite products for under £10 which would make fantastic stocking fillers for the ones you love:

Voesh 3 Step Basic Mani in a Box Vitamin Recharge 

If you have someone in your life who has super hard-working hands then this mani in a box is the perfect little treat for them. It contains three separate products which gives you enough for a perfectly pampering manicure and it’s enriched with key ingredients to give your hands the nutrition they need. If you really like the person, you could even offer to give them a manicure yourself, using this kit! 

UpCircle The Pamper Kit 

This adorable (and sustainable) little pamper kit from UpCirlce contains SEVEN of their best-selling products, giving your gift recipient the chance to try the very best that they have to offer. All of the products are vegan friendly, cruelty free and made using naturally derived and recycled ingredients, and the kit contains a cleansing face balm, a clarifying face mask, a face toner, an eye cream, a face moisturiser, an organic face serum and a body cream.

Maskology Foot Peel Professional Foot Treatment

If your friend or loved one has a job which sees them standing on their feet for large portions of the day, there’s a good chance that their feet could do with some love. Maskology Foot Peel Professional Foot Treatment uses a formula of over 16 powerful botanical and fruit extracts to gradually remove rough and dead skin from the feet in just 7 days. Salicylic and Glycolic Acid dissolve and exfoliate dead skin cells, while other ingredients encourage the regeneration of new cells helping to replenish and renew the skin beneath.

Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo

Moving towards a more sustainable skincare routine should be high up on most of our Christmas lists and these cleansing cloths will do exactly that. Elemis Luxury Cleansing Cloth Duo are super-soft pure cotton facial cloths that are ideal for removing cleansers, exfoliators and masks. They can be washed and reused for many years and the loose-fibred cotton is also perfect to enable use as an intensively nourishing treatment, allowing the sensorial aromas to be deeply inhaled through abdominal breathing. 

This Works Stress Check CBD Lip Mask

Many of us suffer from chapped lips in the Winter, so treating your loved one to a nourishing lip-treatment in their stocking is likely to be much appreciated. This lip mask from This Works is a natural lip comforter with 1% CBD, sweet almond oil and mood-boosting chocolate, peppermint and cardamom oils to self-comfort and help protect from the drying effects of stress and mask wearing.

Think All Teen Skin is Oily? Think Again!

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acne, balance, breakouts, Dermalogia, Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque, dry skin, Elemis, Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash, facial, foaming, hormones, hydrate, hydrating, lotion, mask, masque, moisturise, moisturising, nourish, nourishing, Pracaxi oil, REN Clean Skincare, REN Clean Skincare Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream, REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk, scars, spots, teen, teen skin, teenage, teenage skin, teenager, wash

Photo by Jason Deines

If you mention teen skin issues to almost anyone, they’re usually going to assume that you’re referring to oily skin and pimples. However, there are plenty of teenagers out there who struggle with dry skin, especially when the weather turns cold and they’re out in the elements between school and their social lives. Today, we’re sharing with you five products which could help to nourish and rebalance your teen’s dry skin:

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque

Masques are a great way to treat teen skin and this one from Dermalogica contains calming botanical extracts of bitter orange, hops, cucumber and arnica reduce inflammation, while antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and pro-vitamin B5 help to nourish and replenish the skin. It’s suitable for use on all skin conditions, which means you won’t have to worry about it exacerbating eczema or acne, to which many teens are prone. 

REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk

Keeping the skin clean is vital when you’re a teen, but if you have dry skin you may find that many of the teen-specific cleansers are simply too harsh on your already-irritated skin. REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk is a gentle cleansing milk with a multi-action formula that fights environmental aggressors, increases skin resilience and minimises the signs of irritation and sensitivity. It’s perfect for teens who want to stay clean without causing more dryness. 

Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion

It goes without saying that dry skin needs moisture, but many heavy moisturisers are aimed at older people who are hoping to combat the signs of ageing – not something that’s usually at the forefront of teenage minds! Dermalogica Hydrating Lotion is a lightweight lotion that helps soothe discomfort and hydrate areas that feel dry and can also help to relieve the dryness often associated with some acne treatments.

Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash

As we touched upon above, keeping teen skin clean without stripping away the natural oils can be tricky. Elemis Gentle Foaming Facial Wash is a gentle wash that combines extracts such as fig, and apple amino acid, which helps produce the foamy texture and protects the skin’s moisture barrier. It also contains the ultra-exotic Pracaxi oil, found in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, which works to soften skin, but also helps maintain its delicate balance, respecting the skin’s natural oil levels.

REN Clean Skincare Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream

While it’s true that not all teen skin is oily, it can still be prone to breakouts, thanks to the riptide of surging hormones coursing through them on a daily basis. REN Clean Skincare Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream is a soothing gel-cream formulated to leave blemish and breakout-prone skin comfortable and calm while helping to combat the appearance of blemishes. It nourishes the skin, reduces breakouts and will even help to fade scars from old spots.