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.

Vaseline Sheer Infusion Vitamin Boost

This 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

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 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

This 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.

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.

Bobbie Brown Extra SPF25 Tinted Moisturising Balm

This is perfect for dry or dehydrated skin, but is lightweight so doesn’t leave your skin feeling clogged and heavy. With a slight tint, this balm is an excellent alternative to foundation, and blends in easily and smoothly leaving a beautifully dewy finish, making you skin look younger and radiant instantly. With a high SPF this balm protects your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays which it moisturises your skin to keep it hydrated.

The Balm Balms Away Eye Makeup Break-Up

This balm is designed to cleanse your skin thoroughly but gently, with a combination of some fantastic ingredients which form a luxurious, vegan skin cleanser and make up remover. With vitamins A, C and E for moisturising, conditioning and nourishing your skin and plant-derived lipids to help melt away even the most stubborn waterproof make-up.  A soft, clear balm that melts easily to smooth away make up with the need for rubbing, it can be used for the whole face, and will even take off lip stains that can sometimes be a nightmare to remove.

Oskia Micro Exfoliating Balm

This is yet another variety of skin balm and is an exfoliating balm, which helps to remove tired and dead skin cells to leave behind fresh, soft skin. The balm also nourishes the skin as it exfoliates with tiny micro-exfoliating beads that are gentle but effective. With some powerful ingredients such as prebiotics and peptides to help keep your skin in perfect heath and MSM repair and regenerating complex, this balm is a great all rounder for your skin. Easy to use and wash off, the balm goes on smoothly and turns to a light milk when in comes into contact with water so it simply rinses away to leave behind soft, clean, glowing skin.

With a balm to suit almost every need, whether it is cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising or giving a light tinted coverage to the skin it is surprising that they are only just becoming popular. As more and more people realise that balms aren’t greasy products that will overload they skin, more and more people will begin to enjoy the benefits of using them. Using something a little different in place of skin care cream can be very beneficial to your skin, and will add a bit of variation to your skin care routine.

One of the problems with many creams and lotions is that they consist mainly of water. This means that they are readily soaked in by dry skin, and as the water is absorbed, the skin plumps up. When the water evaporates though, the skin then looses it’s plumpness. This is a kind of vicious circle when it comes to skin creams, which is why once you start using them there really seems to be no going back. However, there is another form of skin care that you can use that will actually improve the structure of your skin long term, as opposed to just improving the appearance in the short term and this is oil. Many people are too scared to use oil on their skin for fear of clogging pores and ending up with outbreaks of spots, which if you use the wrong kind of oil is a possible outcome. If you decide to use oil on your skin you have to choose carefully, and a good rule to follow is that if you wouldn’t put it in your body then you shouldn’t put it on your body.

Coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use on your skin, but you have to be sure it is unrefined so that it retains all it’s natural goodness. Refining oil strips the antioxidants from it, which means the oil is more likely to generate free-radicals and these are exactly what you need to fight to keep your skin young and healthy looking. Coconut oil is known to have powerful anti-bacterial components, along with excellent healing and soothing abilities making it perfect for all skin types.

If you don’t like the idea of using coconut oil, then you may prefer some of the specially made skin oils such as Bio-Oil or Rescue Oil, both of which are blends of carefully selected oils that combine to create an excellent skin nourishing treatment. Both oils are effective at not only moisturising even the driest of skins, but also have the ability to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. If you are looking for a new skin care cream, but would like to try something a little different, then trying out a skin oil could be the perfect solution.

Stretch marks actually occur in the dermis of the skin, which is the middle layer. This layer consists of collagen, which gives your skin it’s elasticity. If this layer is subjected to prolonged periods of stretching, it will begin to loose it’s elasticity, which prompts the body to produce more collagen in the affected area. This then creates scars at the dermis level which show through as stretch marks on the surface of the skin. It is true that some people seem more prone to stretch marks that others, and this is purely down to the differences in skin structure meaning some peoples skin is more elastic and durable than others. Unfortunately there is no way of telling if you are prone to stretch marks until you start to notice you have them, however there are many skin care creams on the market that can help you reduce the appearance and recurrence of stretch marks in the future.

Palmers Cocoa Butter

Palmers Cocoa Butter has long been a tried and trusted stretch mark cream.  They have an ever expanding range of creams, including some that are olive oil based. The original Palmers Cocoa Butters is a thick, rich cream that contains vitamin E, coconut oil and cocoa seed butter.  It has a rich, almost vanilla smell, and is easy to apply. It not only works wonders on dry skin, but it also smooths scars and stretch marks. All of their creams are suitable for use both during and after pregnancy, so you can choose the one that you like best, daily use may well prevent severe stretch marks forming, while fading the appearance of any existing ones.

Bio-Oil

Bio-Oil is another favoured product when it comes to dry, dehydrated skin and stretch marks. With it’s revolutionary PurCellin Oil™, Bio-Oil can be used all over your body to give you soft, supple skin. It has a blend of vitamins A and E along with Calendula, Lavender, Rosemary and Chamomile and the result is a lovely smelling, light but incredibly effective skin oil that can be used during pregnancy to help prevent stretch marks, and on any existing stretch marks or areas of uneven skin tone. Unlike many skin oils, Bio-Oil won’t leave your skin feeling heavy or greasy, and it is one of the few truly nourishing skin oils that you can also use on your face without the risk of blocking your pores.

Dermology Stretch Mark Cream

Dermology Stretch Mark Cream is also incredibly effective in reducing the appearance of stretch marks and preventing new ones appearing. With ingredients such as squalene Oil, vitamins E, A and D3, Aloe Vera and Grapefruit Seed Extract it certainly packs a punch when it comes to skin nourishment. Again this skin care cream is suitable for use during pregnancy and smells pleasant.

Check out our Free Samples page for a sample of Dermology Stretch Mark Cream.

With spring just around the corner, getting your skin back to it’s glowing glory is much easier, and with summer holidays following shortly after the arrival of spring, it is all about getting your skin back into shape, along with all those wobbly bits that seemed to appear over the festive season! A great way to start getting your skin ready for spring is to invest in a hydrating face mask, which will give your skin a much needed moisturising drink. There are some fantastic masks available, some of which smell good enough to eat!

Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask

This mask is one of the ones that smells good enough to eat. It’s rich creamy texture makes it a pleasure to apply, and it feels amazing as it sits on your skin, in fact you can almost feel it feeding your skin with it’s creamy goodness.  It almost seems a shame to have to remove this divine smelling mask, and it’s smell is guaranteed to have you coming back for more on a regular basis. It’s results are noticeable instantly, with skin left feeling soft and silky for days afterwards.

Origins Make a Difference Sheet Mask

Origins Make a Difference Sheet Mask is a hydrating mask with a difference. Their ingenious design takes all the mess out of applying a face mask, and all you have to do is lay one of the gorgeous smelling pre-soaked cloths over your face and lie back and relax. They leave your skin feeling refreshed and revived the next day, and you won’t have any stray bits of face mask that you missed when you washed it off, lurking in your hair.

Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Masque

This mask is packed with things for organic product lovers. It is cooling and soothing the moment it is applied, and smells lovely and fresh. With a lovely blend of natural ingredients, it makes you feel like you are giving your skin the treat it deserves after the long cold winter, and you can almost feel your skin taking a long,  hard-earned drink from this refreshing mask.

All of these masks promise to make your skin look and feel fresher and softer, and while the results differ slightly between them, they all live up to their claims. While the results may not last for longer than a week, they are a great way to start repairing and replenishing your skin after the long cold winter. Using a hydrating face mask once a week, or once a fortnight, depending on your skin type, will go a long way to helping bring back the natural balance of your skins moisture levels. Of course, you will need to combine this with a good skincare regime, using your regular skin care cream to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy all day long.

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are actually two very different things. Dry skin results from external factors such as sun exposure, pollution or wind chaffing. Dehydrated skin is a result of an internal factor, and that is dehydration. It is so important to make sure you are consuming enough fluids throughout the day, not only to keep your body functioning well, but also to make sure your skin stays soft, supple and youthful looking. No amount of cream will be able to remedy skin that is actually being dehydrated from the outside, it will simply improve the surface appearance of your skin for a while as it is unable to give your skin cells the water they so desperately need on the inside.

Dry skin however, can really benefit from a lovely rich moisturiser, preferably one that will soothe your skin as it moisturises. Depending on just how dry your skin is there are varying levels of cream that will be able to help bring your skin back to it’s full glory. If you are experiencing dry skin as a result in the change of seasons, when summer ends and central heating comes on, leaving your skin feeling dry and sore, then you want to start using a slightly richer moisturiser on a daily basis in order to restore your skins moisture and protect it from the elements. It is best not to switch straight from a summer moisturiser to a winter one as it may well be too heavy for your skin and block pore, resulting in spots which isn’t the idea! Instead opt for a mid-level moisturiser, if in doubt opt for something that states it is suitable for normal to dry skin, so you can give your skin an extra boost without overloading it.

Another great skin care cream to help you get dry skin re-moisturised is night cream. Night creams are traditionally much heavier than day creams as they are designed to be applied after cleansing and left on overnight, when no make-up need to be applied over them. Night creams are very rich, but can work wonders on dry skin, giving you noticeably softer skin the first morning after use.

If you feel your skin needs more than just a moisturiser, then there are some wonderful blended skin oils designed for facial skincare. Many people believe that oils are far too rich to be used on their faces, but in fact there are many oils that are perfect to rehydrate and condition tired, dry facial skin without causing oily looking skin or blocked pores. You may have to use a little bit of trial and error when finding the right skin care cream for your winter skin care regime, but remember that it can take around 4-6 weeks for your skin to adjust to a new product so don’t be too quick to dismiss something you feel isn’t working.