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Face Masks

  • Posted on July 27, 2010 at 7:58 pm

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.

Face Scrubs – Essential Skin Care

  • Posted on June 30, 2010 at 10:36 am

While there is no arguing that a good skin care cream is one of the main building blocks for young, healthy looking skin, you need to give whatever cream you choose to use a good base to work on. If you are applying cream to dead and dying skin cells, then you are really limiting the amount of work it can do when it comes to deeply moisturising your skin as it will be soaked up by the dead skin cells almost completely before it gets through to the new skin underneath. The best way to make sure your skin is getting the most from your skin care cream is to exfoliate your skin regularly to remove all the dead skin cells that tend to build up, and it will also give your skin a good boost, leaving it glowing and fresh.

There are many different exfoliating products on the market, and getting the right one for your skin type is very important. If you choose a product that is too harsh for your skin you risk leaving your skin looking more red and raw than pink and glowing, something that you really want to avoid! You should already have a good idea of your skin type by the type of skin cream you are using, for instance you might have oily or combination skin, or on the other end of the scale you might have very dry, sensitive skin. Whatever your skin type there will be a facial exfoliator that is suitable for you.

St Ives Apricot Scrub range is one excellent example of the variety of exfoliators that are available. Their invigorating scrub is suitable for all skin types, and will be suitable for most people, however if your skin is at the extreme end of either oily or dry and sensitive then you may find this kind of generic face scrub is not the best for your skin. For very oily skin that is prone to break outs St Ives do a scrub specifically for oily or acne prone skin which will be much more suitable and will help gently remove excess oils while giving your skin the deep clean it needs. If you have very sensitive skin then you will need to be very careful about the kind of exfoliators you use, however St Ives do a lovely Apricot Scrub for sensitive skin that is very soft and gentle, giving you all the benefits of a facial scrub without the risk of irritating your skin.

There are also face scrubs that you can use everyday, however make sure you are using a scrub that is specifically made for daily use, otherwise it will be far too harsh for your skin and you risk making you skin sore. Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub is a perfect example of this type of exfoliator, with Soy extracts and gentle microbeads it gives gentle, moisturising exfoliation to your skin. Using a face scrub every day means there is no build up of dead skin cells, grease and grime that even if you cleanse your face thoroughly will always occur. The long term effect of this build up is skin that looks dull and lifeless, and no amount of skin care cream can help reverse this effect. Aveeno’s face scrub is soap free meaning it won’t strip your skin of all it’s essential oils, and is also oil free so it won’t clog your freshly cleansed pores.

Finding the right exfoliating face scrub can make such a huge difference to the look and feel of your skin that it should be an integral part of everyone’s skin care routine. Whether you choose to use a daily or weekly exfoliator, the main thing is you are giving you skin care cream a blank canvas to work it’s magic on, giving you a glowing, radiant complexion all year round.

Skin Serums – Intensive Skin Care Cream

  • Posted on May 24, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Finding the right skin care cream can be difficult at the best of times, and with seemingly hundreds of new products hitting the shelves every month, it can be hard to decide what our skin really needs. Serums are one of the latest wonder products to add to our ever increasing skin care collection, but do they really work and which ones are best?

The idea behind a serum is that it gives your skin a concentrated dose of active ingredients, giving your skin a boost and helping to refine and protect your skin. Serums are composed of smaller molecules than normal moisturiser so they can penetrate your skin more easily allow them to be much more effective in a short space of time. A good serum can really give your skin a pick-me-up treatment without breaking the bank.

No7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum
no7
This serum caused an absolute frenzy when it first hit the shelves as it was not only affordable but also delivered amazing results. An absolute firm favourite, Protect & Perfect Serum does exactly that, smoothing you skin and boosting your complexion. It claims that after 4 weeks you will be able to notice a reduction in pores, find lines and wrinkles. It has a unique anti-oxidant complex along with pro-retinol to really give your skin the nourishment it needs. It is light, non-greasy and suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

Origins Brighter By Nature Skin tone correcting serum

originsOrigins have a wonderful range of products and this is yet another great addition. This serum helps to brighten your skin while also evening out your complexion without the need for harsh chemical peels. Using plant serum that is rich in Vitamin C, dull, dry skin is a thing of the past. Dark spots and uneven skin tone gradually fade away and cucumber extract combined with Japanese Basil Leaf help keep your skin beautifully fresh and complexion wondefuly even.

Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher

estee lauderAs the name suggests, this serum is all about reducing the appearance of pores, and regenerating the skin to make it look and feel younger and brighter. In fact the products claims to be able to reduce the appearance of pores by 1/3 instantly, and produce a 69% reduction in the appearance of pores in 4 weeks. Smelling nice and going on like a dream, this is a great serum for anyone with problematic pores.

Dr Haushcka Regenerating Serum

dr hThis serum is designed for mature skin and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with quince seed extract, kalnchoe and clover blossom honey. It helps to keep the moisture balance of your skin regulated, which leads to softer, younger looking skin. With red clover leaf extract as it’s “secret weapon” with it’s skin regenerating abilities and high anti-oxidant levels, this serum really helps to protect your skin from free radicals, while refining it and giving it a moisture boost.

The thing to remember with serums is that they react differently on different peoples skin, so while you may have seen stunning results on a friends skin with a particular serum, it may not do the same for you. It is all about getting the right serum for your skin type, just as it is with skin care cream.

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