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8 years of experience in beauty industry, skincare being my favourite.
My skincare tips thread (no one asked but here we go with self entertainment)
My skincare tips thread (no one asked but here we go with self entertainment)
Balanced skin = happy skin. Once skin balance is reached, most skin problems vanish except deep scars and deep wrinkles.
Hydration and moisturisation are not interchangeble. Hydration relates to water content and moisturisation relates to oil content. Both have to work together
Hydration and moisturisation are not interchangeble. Hydration relates to water content and moisturisation relates to oil content. Both have to work together
If you have oily skin but it feels tight, you are most likely dehydrated and skin is overproducing oil to compensate lack of water.
How hydration/moisture work together: use hydration products first and top it with an oily moisturiser (occlusive) to seal all the water in. Otherwise it will evaporate. To visualise this: oil sits on top of water.
Skincare steps in order:
- oil cleanser
- water based cleanser
- wash off masks/ peeling/ other sort of treatment that is washed off
- toner / lotions (mostly Japanese term)
- essences
- serums/ampoules
- sheet masks
- eye cream
- moisturiser
- night pack (night)
-SPF (day)
- oil cleanser
- water based cleanser
- wash off masks/ peeling/ other sort of treatment that is washed off
- toner / lotions (mostly Japanese term)
- essences
- serums/ampoules
- sheet masks
- eye cream
- moisturiser
- night pack (night)
-SPF (day)
Always use SPF when going out. ESPECIALLY after using any active ingredients (retinol, acids, vitamin c) during day - wear sunscreen factor 30 minimum
If you have oily skin, I recommend physical suncreen (look for zinc oxide in ingredients) as it doesn't cause many reactions and is better for acne. Downside is that it leaves white cast. Chemical spf goes into the skin, leaves no trace however can cause eye watering (me!)
For chemical SPF, reapply every 2h if you're out in the sun the whole time. Chemical spf breaks down in the sun so if you stay in the shade you can reapply later than 2h. Physical SPF lasts until removed (like with hand/clothes or water).
Establish what your skin type is and then what you want to tackle - is it dryness/tightness? Acne? Scars? Large pores? Then tailor your skincare based on your problem
Acne on your cheeks? Few culprits here:
- makeup brushes - clean them every day
- old makeup - it grows bacteria your skin doesn't like. Get new makeup
- Change your pillow cases often at least 1-2 times a week
Tick all of these and you will see an improvement within days
- makeup brushes - clean them every day
- old makeup - it grows bacteria your skin doesn't like. Get new makeup
- Change your pillow cases often at least 1-2 times a week
Tick all of these and you will see an improvement within days
Good ingredients to tackle acne:
- tea tree oil - DON'T USE UNDILUTED OIL. It's too strong and you will burn your skin and cause more damage
- centella asiatica (i love this stuff so much)
- witch hazel (good in toners)
- AHA/BHA peels or exfoliating pads
- tea tree oil - DON'T USE UNDILUTED OIL. It's too strong and you will burn your skin and cause more damage
- centella asiatica (i love this stuff so much)
- witch hazel (good in toners)
- AHA/BHA peels or exfoliating pads
If dry skin - AHA is better for you.
For oily skin use BHA more. It goes into pores and breaks down impurities in pores.
Use peels 1-2 week or exfoliating pads every night or every 2nd night. Your skin will be refreshed and will be producing cells quicker
For oily skin use BHA more. It goes into pores and breaks down impurities in pores.
Use peels 1-2 week or exfoliating pads every night or every 2nd night. Your skin will be refreshed and will be producing cells quicker
If you have scars after acne, good ingredients to use are: niacinamide (do yourself a favour and get yourself £5 niacnamide from The Ordinary), vitamin c and retinol
If you use vitamin c and retinol, use vit c during the day (SPF on top) and retinol at night.
Retinol is very aggressive so give your skin time to get used to it. Don't use every night
Retinol is very aggressive so give your skin time to get used to it. Don't use every night
If you're using all active ingredients somewhere in your routine (acids, retinol vit c), this is all harsh on skin. You need to make sure your skin barrier is top notch. For that use ceramide creams on top of serums. Ceramids are lipids (oils) your skin is made of
When skin starts feeling tight and unformortable, pause on active ingredients (can continue hyaluronic acid) and give few days with ceramide only. Your skin will feel better within 2-3 days
Don't be fooled by marketing and high prices. Expensive doesn't mean better. Look for ingredients you're interested in.
Use https://cosdna.com/ to check ingredients. If a product has a long list of ingredients, might not be good for you.
Use https://cosdna.com/ to check ingredients. If a product has a long list of ingredients, might not be good for you.
Sometimes big pores are big not because they're big pores (lol) but because they have been damaged by acne. These are ice pick scars.
You can correct them with retinol, high concentrate peels and microneedling (expensive, DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME)
You can correct them with retinol, high concentrate peels and microneedling (expensive, DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME)
Big pore hack:
- product with 5% BHA for 15min - this thins out and breaks down oils and impurities INSIDE your pores
- clay mask - it sucks out impurities to the surface
- Oil cleanser - massage for a few minutes and wash off
Now your pores seem to be drastically smaller.
- product with 5% BHA for 15min - this thins out and breaks down oils and impurities INSIDE your pores
- clay mask - it sucks out impurities to the surface
- Oil cleanser - massage for a few minutes and wash off
Now your pores seem to be drastically smaller.
Don't buy products targeted for oily skin.
They usually have a lot of alcohol which mattifies the skin but also makes it drier.
Dehydrated skin produces more oils... so you use more alcohol... more dry skin... and you're going in circles.
They usually have a lot of alcohol which mattifies the skin but also makes it drier.
Dehydrated skin produces more oils... so you use more alcohol... more dry skin... and you're going in circles.
Good cheap brands:
The Ordinary - good for serums, you can combine some of them together
Cosrx
Korean brands!!! I recommend yesstyle site
The Ordinary - good for serums, you can combine some of them together
Cosrx
Korean brands!!! I recommend yesstyle site
Only retinol can reverse deep wrinkles
Don't trust miracle creams.
Combine use of retinol serum with the ingredients (on rotation!) I keep moaning about and you're laughing.
Eye patch masks introduce more volume under eyes and make wrinkles much less visible. Use every 2nd day
Don't trust miracle creams.
Combine use of retinol serum with the ingredients (on rotation!) I keep moaning about and you're laughing.
Eye patch masks introduce more volume under eyes and make wrinkles much less visible. Use every 2nd day
Some people use sheet masks before essences and serums and some after.
It's up to you.
To me it makes sense to use essences and serums and lock them in with a sheet masks for those 20 min before adding an occlusive rich moisturiser
It's up to you.
To me it makes sense to use essences and serums and lock them in with a sheet masks for those 20 min before adding an occlusive rich moisturiser
Makeup cannot be washed off completely with a single water based cleanser. Use oil based cleanser before water based cleanser.
Always use oil cleanser if you use makeup and SPF. Or when you feel your pores are looking bigger
Always use oil cleanser if you use makeup and SPF. Or when you feel your pores are looking bigger
I think I'm starting to ramble haha I'm always happy to help! If anyone is reading this (lol, I'll keep lying to myself), feel free to dm and ask if you need advice
