Exfoliate Your Body in Time for Summer

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absorption, acne, appearance, Aromatherapy Associates Revive Body Brush, blackheads, body, cell renewal, cell turnover, chemical exfoliation, congestion, dead skin cells, Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Body Oil reduces blemishes, dirt, dry brushing, evenly pigmented, exfoliate, hair follicles, high-end, high-potency, impurities, ingrown hairs, Lycon Ingrown-X-It Foaming Wash, mechanical exfoliation, Medik8 Smooth Body Exfoliating Kit, moisturise, oil, outermost layer, pimples, plump, radiance, REN Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum, shave, skin, skincare products, smoother surface, summer, texture, vibrant skin, wax

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

It seems rather ridiculous to talk about bearing our bodies in the summer when it’s almost May and we’re still sitting here wearing jumpers. However, we’ve been assured by the weatherman that warmer days are definitely on their way! That means that we can finally get our summer wardrobes out and wear shorts and dresses once again, but we need to get our skin ready in the meantime. Exfoliating your body before summer can have several benefits for your skin, and we’ve complied a list of five of them:

Removes Dead Skin Cells 

Both mechanical and chemical exfoliation methods work to remove dead skin cells by either physically dislodging them or chemically breaking them down. This process helps improve the texture and appearance of the skin by promoting cell turnover and revealing the healthier, more vibrant skin beneath. Dry brushing is a great way to manage whole-body exfoliation, using an Aromatherapy Associates Revive Body Brush, or if you prefer chemical exfoliation, REN Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum is the perfect solution for both exfoliating and moisturising your skin, all at once. 

Prevents Ingrown Hairs

Exfoliating can help prevent ingrown hairs by removing dead skin cells and unclogging hair follicles. When dead skin cells accumulate on the surface of the skin, they can block the hair follicles, causing the hair to grow sideways or curl back into the skin, leading to ingrown hairs. This can be particularly important if you plan to shave or wax before summer. Lycon Ingrown-X-It Foaming Wash is highly effective in minimising the appearance of ingrown hairs, while calming and decongesting breakouts for the entire body and face.

Improves Skin Radiance 

Exfoliation can stimulate cell turnover, which is the process by which new skin cells are produced and move to the surface of the skin. By promoting cell renewal, exfoliation encourages the growth of new, healthy skin cells. These new cells tend to be more vibrant, plump, and evenly pigmented, contributing to a radiant complexion. Medik8 Smooth Body Exfoliating Kit is a great selection of products which gives you everything you need to keep your skin smooth and radiant. 

Enhances Absorption of Skincare Products

Exfoliating creates a smoother surface and removes the outermost layer of skin, which can be thicker and more resistant to product absorption. By eliminating this barrier, active ingredients in skincare products can penetrate more deeply into the skin, maximising their effectiveness. This is especially important when using a high-end, high-potency product such as Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Body Oil, as you’ll want to ensure you receive the maximum benefit from the formula.  

Reduces Blemishes

As we all know, acne and pimples don’t just occur on our faces – in fact up to ten percent of the world’s population is thought to have suffered with body acne at some point. Exfoliating can help unclog pores by removing dirt, oil, and other impurities that may accumulate on the skin’s surface, making it harder for spots to form. Additionally, when pores are clear, skincare products can reach deeper into the skin and effectively target specific concerns such as acne, blackheads, or congestion.

Get Marathon Ready with our Skincare Guide for Runners

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aloe vera leaf juice, antioxidants, Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser, Bloom and Blossom Legs Eleven Cooling Leg Serum, body, clean, cleanse, cleansing, Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser, Dermalogica Precleanse, Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50, double cleanse, Elemis Ultra-Conditioning Lip Balm, environmental factors, heavy, hyaluronic acid, hydrate, hydration, legs, lip, lips, London Marathon, marathon, Maskology Hyaluronic Acid Professional Sheet Mask, moisture, moisturise, molecules, peppermint leaf oil, protection, Runner, runners, running, serum, skin, sunburn, sunscreen, sweat, tired, UV, UVA, UVB, water

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The London Marathon is just over a week away and runners all over the UK are preparing to take part in one of the most gruelling events of their running career. More than 40,000 people run together in London in a celebration of positivity, diversity and inclusion, raising over £1 billion for various good causes, since it began in 1981. With this in mind, we thought we’d do our bit and share with you some skincare tips which will make running the marathon a bit easier – or even just improve your couch-to-5k, if the marathon is a bit beyond your abilities!

Wear Sunscreen

Ahead of running a marathon, or any race where you’ll spend a lot of time outside, applying sunscreen is SO important. The last thing you want is to be coming up on mile 25 and realising you’re red from sunburn, not exertion. Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50 is a sheer solar protection treatment that defends against prolonged skin damage from UV light and environmental assault, and offers 40 minutes of water resistance, meaning you won’t sweat it all off during your first mile. 

Cleanse Properly 

After running the marathon, your skin is going to need some serious cleansing. As well as being subjected to potentially hours of sweat, you’re also going to want to remove all of that grime and pollution which is inevitable in a city. Dermalogica Precleanse is the professional’s deep cleansing weapon, allowing you to achieve ultra clean and healthy skin with a double cleansing regimen which should also include Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser, to help remove build-up caused by environmental factors. 

Replenish Lost Moisture

When we run long distances, our body loses a lot of moisture, some of which you’ll replace by drinking. However, your skin often still needs an extra boost of hydration to get it back to its best. We suggest first treating your skin to a Maskology Hyaluronic Acid Professional Sheet Mask, followed by Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser. The combination of these treatments will replenish lost moisture and protect your skin from further loss of hydration, going forward. 

Don’t Forget Your Lips

There’s a reason that Aussie cricketers look like they’ve got white lipstick on – it’s because they know that spending hours running around in the sunshine can damage the delicate skin on our lips! Elemis Ultra-Conditioning Lip Balm is an instantly hydrating lip treatment, which offers effective delivery and release of the hyaluronic acid molecules to ensure even the driest lips feel replenished, restored and hydrated. 

Soothe Sore Limbs

One of the main issues that people deal with, from their post-marathon body, is tired, heavy legs which can leave you feeling like you’re dragging logs around for days afterwards. Bloom and Blossom Legs Eleven Cooling Leg Serum is a lightweight formula with stimulating peppermint leaf oil to revitalise tired, aching legs. It contains aloe vera leaf juice, which is full of vitamins and antioxidants to give your legs a boost, while algin from seaweed, which is rich in polysaccharides, helps the skin to absorb moisture easily, allowing the serum to effortlessly soak into your skin. 

Cloud Skin – The Newest Skincare Trend

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Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Deep Cleanse Face Wash, balance, blurred, blurring, cloud, Cloud skin, complexion, Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask, Evolve Organic Beauty True Balance Lotion, influencers, lotion, make-up, matte, oil, oily, pores, Refinery Mattifying Moisturiser, skin, skincare, SkinCeuticals Oil Shield UV Defence Sunscreen SPF 50, smooth, soft, TikTok, viral

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*sigh*

Another day, another viral skincare trend. 

Last week, we were all trying to make ourselves look as though we had doughnut glaze on our faces, while this week, it’s ‘cloud skin’ we’re all striving for. 

So what is cloud skin and how can we achieve it? Cloud skin is all about a soft, matte finish on the skin which looks blurred, soft-focus and ethereal. Think of cherubs on a cloud and you get the idea. And surprisingly, it’s not as difficult to achieve as it might sound, providing you use the right combination of skincare and make-up. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of products which should definitely be in your cloud-skin arsenal:

Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Deep Cleanse Face Wash

Every good artist knows that the quality of the canvas is of utmost importance and the same can be said for our faces. Using a mattifying wash is essential in achieving cloud skin, and this one from Aromatherapy Associates is one of the best. It contains lavender and tea tree, which are natural antibacterial essential oils, whilst jojoba helps to balance the skin. It will remove makeup and leave skin feeling balanced, toned and deeply cleansed. 

Refinery Mattifying Moisturiser

Many people make the mistake of thinking that oily skin doesn’t need moisturiser, but that’s rarely the case, and moisturising oily skin can actually help to rebalance your complexion. This moisturiser from Refinery is a light and easily absorbed moisturiser to instantly reduce shine, resulting in matte looking skin. It contains pumpkin seed extract which reduces shine with special optical effects while oat kernel flour soothes and protects skin. 

SkinCeuticals Oil Shield UV Defence Sunscreen SPF 50

Even if you want your skin to look like a cloud, you still need protection from the sun! This SPF from SkinCeuticals offers broad-spectrum SPF50 protection while helping to mattify the skin. It’s an invisible lotion which offers a lightweight, residue-free formula with mattifying properties to help reduce skin oiliness. It contains silica silicate, which absorbs sebum for a light-scattering and blurring effect, perfect for use under make-up to achieve cloud skin. 

Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask

If you struggle with imbalanced skin, you’re going to find it difficult to maintain the cloud skin look throughout the day. This mask from Elemis helps to draw out skin impurities whilst gently exfoliating to leave the complexion looking balanced and smooth, and will help to soak up excess oil in 10 minutes. It contains omega-rich fatty acids derived from berries and a prebiotic, naturally derived from sugar, which helps to maintain balance in the skin’s microflora for a healthier looking complexion.

Evolve Organic Beauty True Balance Lotion

Cloud skin relies on looking smooth and soft, as well as having a matte finish, and this lotion from Evolve Organic Beauty can help you to achieve that. It contains ingredients which are clinically proven to tighten and reduce the appearance of pores as well as having a mattifying, firming and moisturising effect. Avocado extract helps to limit excessive oil production by inhibiting an oil producing enzyme (5 alpha-reductase) and therefore reducing the shiny appearance of the t-zone, while hyaluronic acid helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, making the skin look fresher with an improved skin tone, and reduces the appearance of pores.

How to Prep Dry Skin Before Applying Makeup

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ageing skin, antioxidant, balm, cleanser, complexion, dead skin cells, dehydrated, Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant, Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30, drier skin, dry skin, dryness, Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist, Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Renew Facial Cream, fermented, flaky, kefir, make-up, makeup, mist, moisture, moisturising, oil-based, patchy, prep, prime, primer, rooibos tea, skin, spray, Vegan

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Unless you’re lucky enough to have the least problematic skin on the planet, every skin type will have it’s own issues when it comes to make-up application. Ageing skin can struggle with heavier formulas which weigh down the skin while those with oily skin may struggle to get their make-up to last the full day. Today, however, we’re focusing on dry skin and what you can do to prep your skin before applying make-up to ensure that you get the best covering with no patchiness or flaking. 

Choose the Correct Cleanser

If you already have dry skin, the last thing you want to do is choose a cleanser which has ingredients which will further dehydrate your face. We’d recommend using a cleansing oil oir balm, such as Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, to start the cleansing process. Cleansers with an oil or balm texture will help to melt away daily dirt and make-up without stripping the skin’s natural oils and will leave your skin nourished and soothed, with a radiant glow. 

Gently Exfoliate

One of the main issues with applying base products such as foundation to dry skin is that the first place it will cling to is areas of dryness. This will leave your base looking patchy and uneven and it may even appear flaky. The most important thing that you can do to avoid this is gently exfoliating the skin with something like Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant. This will ensure that dead skin cells are sloughed away and your face is a clean canvas on which to paint. 

Properly Moisturise

If you have dry skin, there’s a good chance that you already have a moisturiser in your daily routine, but is it rich enough to properly nourish a dehydrated complexion? Opting for a moisturiser which is specifically formulated to deal with dry skin, such as Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Renew Facial Cream will ensure that your skin isn’t just drinking in the moisture but still remaining thirsty. 

Prime Your Skin

Many people are under the illusion that cleansing and moisturising is enough, but using a primer is especially important if you have dry skin and want your make-up to sit nicely. Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 will help to smooth away fine lines, brighten and prime for flawless skin and to prepare for make-up application. It’s formulated for use on drier or prematurely ageing skin and will ensure that your skin stays hydrated all day. It also provides broad-spectrum sun protection to prevent harmful UV rays from doing further damage. 

Use a Hydrating Setting Spray

Setting sprays are used quite commonly, but a huge amount of them are alcohol based, making them dehydrating, and therefore bad for dry skin. Imagine doing all of the above to get your skin and make-up on point, only to spray it with something to dry it out?! Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist is a hydrating 4-in-1 treatment mist, infused with antioxidant rich rooibos tea extract and vegan, soy-derived kefir ferment to help soothe and brighten the complexion.  It may also be used as a setting spray to lock makeup in place and revitalise the skin throughout the day.

Rebalance Your Mind and Body with Hay’ou

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beauty, body, Chinese, flower, Frankincense, Gua Sha, Hayo'u Mineral Bath, Hayo'u Mineral Shower Wash, Hayo'u Revive Beauty Oil, Hayo'u Revive Body Oil, Hayo'u Scented Candle, Hayo’u, ingredients, lemongrass, lotus, massage, mineral, mineral oil, oil, oils, petrolatum, products, self care, shower, skin, SLES free, SLS free, wash, ylang ylang

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If you’ve heard of the Hay’ou brand before, it’s more than likely that it’s because you’ve seen their range of luxury quartz beauty tools and bamboo body tappers. However, you might be surprised to learn that the brand also offers other products, such as oils and body washes, all of which work synergistically with their tools to give you an aromatherapy treatment which can rebalance your mind and body. Here are five of our favourites: 

Hayo’u Revive Body Oil

Body oils are an incredible multitasking product which can benefit both body and mind. Hayo’u Revive Body Oil has been created for self-massage purposes and has ingredients which both benefit the skin and have therapeutic properties through fragrance, too. It’s made from iconic Chinese ingredients, such as lotus flower, frankincense and ylang ylang, which are intensely nourishing and hydrating for your skin.

Hayo’u Mineral Bath 

Bathing is a fantastic way to help to relax your muscles and slow down amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life. This potent blend of nutrient-rich rose quartz, Himalayan pink salt and lotus flower, frankincense and ylang ylang essential oils help you to deeply relax, rescue and replenish. The formulation is naturally paraben, SLS and SLES free, and does not contain mineral oil or petrolatum, giving you added peace of mind. 

Hayo’u Mineral Shower Wash

If you don’t have a bathtub, don’t like baths or simply don’t have the time to soak, you don’t have to forego the benefits of Hayo’u products altogether. Hayo’u Mineral Shower Wash is packed with iconic Chinese ingredients such as lotus flower, frankincense and ylang ylang, all of which have been used for thousands of years to improve circulation and reduce stress. Rescue and rebalance with this intensely invigorating shower wash and start the day feeling refreshed and energised.

Hayo’u Revive Beauty Oil

While we’re not focusing on gua shas today, this beauty oil from Hayo’u is intended to be used with a gua sha or other beauty tool for facial massage, though it can be used on its own. It also contains lotus flower, frankincense and ylang ylang, but with slow absorption to protect skin during this powerful massage. Perfect for gua sha, or as a deeply nourishing treat for your skin, in the morning or at bedtime.   

Hayo’u Scented Candle

Nothing says aromatherapy quite like a scented candle, and this one from Hayo’u contains the same fragrance notes as the other products we’ve mentioned above. This allows you to create an environment of peace and tranquillity while using Hayo’u products, knowing that they all complement each other perfectly. The candle, which contains lotus flower, frankincense and ylang ylang, also has lemongrass and will instantly help to reduce stress and anxiety, relax your nervous system and boost your mood. It has an epic burn time of 55 hours, is housed in environmentally friendly plastic-free packaging and contains no mineral oil or petrolatum.