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Face Masks

No matter how much skin care cream you apply to your skin, if you are working with dead skin cells, or blocked pores then you are never going to achieve a glowing complexion. The key to getting the most out of your face cream is to make sure you are starting with a good, clean canvas for it to work it’s magic on, and a good way to do this is to do a weekly face mask.

Even if you have dry or sensitive skin, a weekly face pack will work wonders for you as there is a huge range of masks available for every skin type. Many people mistakenly believe that face masks, especially deep cleansing ones, are designed for skin that is oily or combination and prone to outbreaks, when in fact there are some superb masks that will moisturise and soothe even the driest of skins.  Facial masks can perform a whole range of wonders on your skin, so whether you want a good deep pore cleanse, a complexion brightener or pore tightener there is a mask for you.

Clay based masks are the best for people with oily or combination skin as they work deep down in your pores to remove excess oil and detoxify your skin. While they do a great job of cleansing and toning skin, most clay masks can be used on sensitive skin as clay does not tend to really dry the skin out. If you have sensitive skin but would still like to benefit from a deep cleanse for your skin, then using a clay mask either every two weeks or once a month, depending on how your skin reacts to it will keep your pores clean and your skin glowing.

If you suffer from dry skin, then you are going to want a very different kind of face mask as you will be looking to replace the moisture in your skin and help it to regenerate. Face packs for dry skin do sometimes contain clay or mud, but in different quantities that a deep cleansing mask. You are more likely to find they contain fruit extracts or vitamin complexes in order to give your skin a real boost. Face masks for dry skin will be much richer than other masks, and will also soak into the skin during the time they are left on, almost as if they are giving your skin a good long drink.

Then there are exfoliating masks, which will give your skin a glowing, radiant look and feel. If you have sensitive skin then you will need to be cautious of these types of masks as they can be to harsh for some. Exfoliating masks come either as a mask that you gently massage into your skin either when you first apply it, or before you rinse it, or as a peel off mask. The peel off variety is probably the best of the two types as it removes the top layer of dead skin cells, along with drawing out any blocked pores and impurities on the skins surface. Fruit extracts appear in exfoliating masks, sometimes in the form of AHA’s which is why sometimes they are too harsh for sensitive skin. As peel off face masks dry on your skin they can feel very tight, and peeling them off can feel very bizarre, almost as if you are peeling off an entire layer of skin. The end result is well worth it though as they leave your skin looking and feeling fresh, clean and glowing.

If you’re looking for a boost of radiance, exfoliating masks will certainly help you. Look for a peel off mask which will exfoliate your skin leaving it smooth and fresh. Many exfoliating masks use fruit extracts to naturally exfoliate and usually smell fantastic. When peeling off some exfoliating masks, your mind will wander back to peeling off Elmer’s glue in elementary school. But not all exfoliating mask are uncomfortable. You’ll be so glad you tried it when you see how happy you are with the noticeable results.

Whatever your skin type, there will be a face mask that will improve the look and feel of your skin no end, and by using a mask regularly you are giving your skin care cream the best surface to work on, allowing it to really penetrate your skin and give it the nourishment it needs.

Body Lotion – The All Over Skin Care Cream

Most people associate skin care cream with face creams, as this is the most visible and exposed part of our bodies, meaning it needs the most attention. However, it is just as important to moisturise the rest of your body to keep your skin in top condition, looking and feeling silky soft and smooth. There are many different moisturisers on the market, so whether you need something for dry, flaky skin or for sensitive skin there is a body lotion out there for you. Here are just a few of the body lotions currently on the market.

Vaseline Sheer Infusion Vitamin Boost

vaseline sheer infusionThis body lotion is enriched with vitamins B5 and E to give your skin a boost, making it look and feel healthy at the first application. This lotion boasts what Vaseline call “Stratys-3 technology” which helps to infuse and suspend moisture throughout all the layers of your skin, so it not only gives the appearance of beautifully moisturised skin, it actually works to make sure that your skin is nourished from the top to the bottom, leaving your skin feeling supple and fresh. This lotion is perfect to use pre, during and post-holiday as using a moisturiser that penetrates deep into the lower levels of your skin, your tan will last longer as your skin won’t peel as quickly.

Dove Rich Body Nourishing Moisturiser

dove rich body nourish

This rich moisturiser comes with “24hr Nutri Serum” which gives you skin all day moisture. Ideal for dry skin that seems to drink any lotion that is applied straight away, this moisturiser will not only give you skin an initial boost, but will continue to nourish your skin throughout the day, getting deep into the skin, allowing it to absorb the essential nutrients contained in the moisturiser. It helps your skin hold onto this nourishment boost for 24 hours, so with regular use, dry skin will look and feel amazing.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

aveeno daily moisturiserAveeno use naturally active colloidal oatmeal in many of their products and this is no exception. This lovely rich daily moisturiser is clinically proven to help restore the skin’s natural barrier, so it not only moisturises, but helps rebuild your skin’s natural protection at the same time. In just 2 weeks even the driest skin will begin to look and feel softer and more supple, and continued use will make your skin feel as good as new. Even though it is incredibly rich, this moisturiser absorbs into the skin quickly and easily and leaves no greasy feeling behind, just soft, smooth, healthy skin.

Garnier Body Lotion Repair Milk

garnier body milkThis body lotion is perfect for using during the winter, when skin rarely sees the light of day and is subjected to hot baths and showers on a regular basis. It helps to repair the skin deep down, so it is left feeling soft and smooth. Of course this doesn’t have to just be used in winter, and if you have sunburn, or your skin is feeling tight from too much sun exposure, then smoothing this rich milk onto your skin will help soothe and replenish it’s natural moisture. Enriched with Vitamin E it protects you skin from free radicals, and smooths out even the roughest skin in just a few applications. Unlike many rich moisturisers, this repair milk is not greasy and will not leave your skin feeling clogged and heavy.

No matter what you want from a body lotion, the ranges are so extensive you are bound to find something that does the job. Making sure you keep your skin in good condition is so important, and while a moisturiser can really help keep your skin soft and smooth, don’t forget that you also need to hydrate you skin from the inside too by drinking lots of water. A skin care cream can only do so much for dry, dehydrated skin, so make sure you are giving your skin the best chance of looking and feeling great.

Coconut Oil Skin Care

While having a skin care cream that you regularly use is a good idea, as is having a good skin care regime, there are times when you skin needs a little extra something. There are so many different factors that can wreak havoc with our skin that no matter how hard you try to keep your skin in top condition, sometimes it just isn’t enough. Whether you are suffering from sunburn, dry skin from central heating or air conditioning or perhaps your skin has lost it’s sparkle after a bout of illness, coconut oil is a true magic worker when it comes to giving your skin that little something extra to help it on it’s road to recovery.

The problem with most skin care creams is that they consist mainly of water. This makes them easily absorbed into the skin, and will give an almost instant plumping effect as the water engorges the skin cells, making it look and feel smoother and healthier. However, once the water evaporates, this effect is lost and your skin returns to it’s original state, which is why most creams recommend you apply them at least twice a day. Even when products contain some form of oil, it is normally a refined oil which will have lost nearly all of it’s protective anti-oxidants which are so beneficial to skin. We all know that when you are looking for a skin cream, you want something that is going to not only moisturise your skin but also protect it and promote younger, healthier skin, and coconut oil ticks all of these boxes. Pure virgin coconut oil inhibits the formation of free-radicals and offers protection against them. It can also help prevent the development of liver spots and other age and sun damage related blemishes. As an added bonus, coconut oil soaks into the skin and the connective tissues helping to keep them supple and strong, and by nourishing the deep tissue layers of the skin, wrinkles are less likely to develop.

While many people think that oil will be too heavy for their skin, coconut oil soaks into the skin quickly and easily and does not leave a greasy feel or look behind like some skin oils do. It can be used on the most delicate, sensitive skin and can ease inflamed and irritated skin in a matter of days, making it perfect to use on skin that is suffering from over-exposure of any kind, whether to sun, snow or wind. It is also safe to use on broken skin, and can help heal wounds and rashes, and can also soothe the itching and discomfort cause by eczema. As an alternative to skin care cream, coconut oil is an excellent choice, and can be used by all the family for almost any skin complaint, safely and effectively every time.