Skincare Dream

7 Products to boost your energy when WFH

In these days I find myself seated all day long in the same chair and with the hot season approaching I feel more and more restless. I found some interesting items while browsing online and thought to share it with you for a more bearable summer.

Diffuser. A nice aromatherapy session will boost creativity and mood. It’s nice to have good perfume around the house.

Refreshing mist. After staying a long time in front of a computer screen spraying a bit of mist can only make for a good break. They are many to choose from, the always faithful Avene Thermal Water, or the more expensive ones. I would like to suggest a different one Caudalie Beauty Elixir, the formula is full of vitamins and if that doesn’t give you a reason enough hear this: it was inspired by the “elixir of youth” used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary centuries ago. Nice isn’t it?

Lightweight moisturizer. There’s nothing worse than a coat of moisturizer that makes your skin feel like a grease ball when outside it’s hot. I find this moisturizer, from Glow Recipe, very lightweight and the skin absorbs it very quickly, perfect for summer.

Jade Roller. If you leave it in the fridge overnight you can benefit from the depuffing properties for a cold freshen up, it also helps you work your serums into your skin while massaging your face.

Body brush. It gets the circulation going, especially in your legs, after a whole day of sitting. It’s very important to stretch and stand up once every 15/30 mins to get the blood flowing, this little product can help with exfoliation, which is key in battling cellulite and dimply skin.

Mask. After a long day, why not treat yourself with a nice mask, I find this to be very soothing, and the collagen helps with fine lines and the elasticity of the skin.

Eye drops, or in this case eye mist. I find that my eyes get tired and red after staring at the screen for a long time and this mist has a double action, it rehydrates the eyes and moisturises the eyelids and areas around the eye with vitamin B5.

Hope these products will help you during this time, I know they helped me a lot. Are any products you feel they boosted your energy? Let me know I am very eager to try new things, and I would love to hear your suggestions.

NUXE HUILE PRODIGIEUSE DRY OIL

I am always on the lookout for products that can do multiple things, Nuxe dry oil is a cult amongst french women for its versatility, it can be used for face, body and hair and leaves a delicate scent. As soon as I applied it I immediately felt like a was in a summer house, waiting to jump in the pool. It had me at summer feeling.

What is it?

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is a Multi-Usage Dry Oil, contains almost only natural ingredients: Tsubaki oil (Excellent moisturizer for hair and skin), Argan oil (Essential for increasing elasticity), Macadamia oil (Great at regenerating and repairing skin and hair), Borage oil (Helps to restore hydration) Camellia oil (Aids skin healing), Hazelnut oil (High in vitamin E to improve and smooth skin texture), Sweet Almond oil (Limits oxidative stress to the skin cells). It hydrates the face and body all day long. It also reduces the appearance of stretch marks and provides a shielding effect against pollution through its anti-oxidant action.

How to use it?

You can spray it on your body and face after your shower or use it as a mask for your hair. Spray it on your hair and leave it for 10 min, after that you can wash it all off. Use a circular motion for stretch marks massaging the area.

My first impressions with pros and cons:

The consistency is just as you would expect it, a dry oil doesn’t leave a greasy coat, the skin absorbs it almost instantly. The scent is a lovely blend of white flowers and vanilla which reminds you of summer but if you aren’t a fan of vanilla you could try the floral version. Leaves the skin very smooth after application and also I didn’t need to reapply it during the day. It may look expensive but this oil has multiple uses and you can benefit from all of them: moisturizes face, body and hair; can be used as a perfume; perfect for stretch marks; good protections against pollution; perfect to use after waxing.

Verdict: Approved!

Serum/ Essence

What is an Essence?

Essence, serums and ampoules originated in Japan beauty and they are essential if you want to address specific skin issues you are troubled with, like uneven skin tone, fine lines or dehydrated skin.
Essence or serums with their high concentration of active ingredients, and their formulation target the specific thing, think of it as skin regeneration. With constant use, you will see your skin becoming brighter and smoother.
Essences are usually watery, and if soaked through cotton pads they will only be wasted, you should either transfer it to a spray bottle and spritz in your face or pour it on your hands and splash it in your face.
A piece fo disclaimer: if you have a chronic skin condition like eczema or rosacea, serum may cause aggravation because of the high concentration of active ingredients can lead to irritation.

What is the difference between essence serum and ampoules?

The only difference between them is the concentration of the active ingredients, think of it like the way perfumes describe the concentration in the bottles, (eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and eau de cologne, etc.).

In our case, essence is the most lightweight, it has few active ingredients and less concentrated than serum. It allows your other products to penetrate deep into your skin before applying your moisturizer.

Serums have few active ingredients with a higher concentration, the trick is to find the ones that address your concerns. If the radiator in your house this winter have completely dried you you can use a serum with hyaluronic acid to restore hydration.

Ampoules are even more concentrated you don’t need to apply them all over your face, they can be spot applied; ampoules usually are smaller bottles with a dropper. The treatment with ampoules shouldn’t last more than 2-4 weeks, this is the time your skin cells takes to fully regenerate. Layer it before essence to refresh your skin regimen.
If you are looking for an extra boost for your make-up, you can try to mix a couple of drops of your essence of choice into your foundation before applying it. Keep in mind that makes your foundation runnier, use it with caution.
You are never too young for essence, ampoules and serums, the earlier you address your issues in your skin the more regenerative the effect is and with long-lasting effects.

Which one should you choose?

Every essence, serum, and ampoules tackle different issues, the principal active ingredient is the one you should find higher in the label, ignore everything in the front, brands want to sell you a product but you should be careful enough to look for what you need.

Hyaluronic Acid is for smoothing and plumping of the skin, perfect for dry and dehydrated skin concerns.
Vitamin B5 is for hydration as well.
Vitamin C and E protect you against environmental factors like UV and pollution.
Niacinamide for pigmentation.
Peptides for improving firmness and reducing fine lines.

How to use them

I would recommend tapping the essence on your face to get the skin to absorb it better, think of your face like a sponge: when you first wet the sponge it doesn’t hydrate fully, you need to squeeze it to make the water go deeper inside. That’s how you should approach the essence, dab it on your face multiple time to enhance absorption. Usually, it takes three application for the skin to fully absorb it; after that, you’re good to go with the rest of your routine.

Caudalie – Vinopure Skin Perfecting Serum £29

The Ordinary – Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% £5

L’Oreal Paris – Revitalift Filler with 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Wrinkle Dropper Serum £24

Benton – Snail Bee High Content Essence £18

Secret Key – Multi Cell Night Repair Ampoule £15

Missha – Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Rx £26

Toners

What are toners?

A toner can be compared to a primer in make up, it preps your skin and balances the PH. It’s particularly indicated to acne-prone skin and oily skin, although anyone can use it.
They shouldn’t have any alcohols, which could dry your skin and create different problems like dehydration in oily skin, in this case, it will appear a layer of dryness on top of oils.

How to use toners?

Toners are best used after cleansing and right before moisturizing and using oils; take a cotton ball imbibed with the toner and use gentle motion around your skin. You could use your toner to clean your ears, (I did so when I had an infection caused by dry skin), your back and chest and every other part of your body prone to breakouts; its balancing properties reduce the oily deposits.
It’s in the toner’s nature to hydrate and refresh the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

Choosing the right one for you

Toners add another layer of hydration so it’s particularly indicated for travelling, it gives the skin a boost to last throughout the dry air of a plane.
For acne-prone skin, I would suggest you should choose one that contains alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), and salicylic acid although it can be sensitizing.
If your skin is normal or combination, try to look for hyaluronic acid and glycerin if you have dry spots.
Mature skin should look for antioxidants enriched formulas, like vitamin E, for hydration.
Dry and sensitive can use the beloved rosewater, if you want to know more about it check it out here.

Products

*COSRX – AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner* $23

Innisfree – Balancing toner with green tea $17

Dear, Klairs – Supple Preparation Facial Toner $22

Neogen – Dermalogy Pore refine Toner $24

Double Cleansing

Double cleansing is part of the Asian beauty 10 step routine originated from Japan and South Korea, and just recently caught up in the rest of the world.
It’s extremely important to double cleanse to avoid breakouts and even if you don’t wear any makeup: it’s the best way to start your routine in the morning, to get off all the sweat and dirt from the night before, and then at the end of the day.

The method consists of two parts:
Step 1: use an oil-based product. It could be a pure oil, an oil-based product or a balm. This will dissolve the formulas of make-up and SPF, as well as breaking down sebum and pollutants without stripping your skin of lipids and ceramides. For those who have oily skin is perfect to help balance your skin and excess sebum. You actually will be soon noticing your face getting less and less shiny throughout the day, YAY!

Do not use any plant-based oil such as coconut and olive oil because they are EXTREMELY comedogenic (this means they will clog your pores) and they do not emulsify properly like oil cleansers.

Step 2: use a water-based product. This will mix with the oil and will clean all the sweat and dirt from your skin as well as the precedently used oil. You can use micellar water of your preference for this step. At this point, you shouldn’t be seeing any remaining makeup on your cotton pad! This means you are ready for the rest of your routine.

Products

NEOGEN – Dermalogy Real Flower Cleansing Water Calendula $22

Rosewater – Starting out a ritual

Hello everyone, I want to start this new beginning with an encouragement for you, I will help you to get the skin you want, but you need to be persistent, having beautiful skin is a process not a miracle! Not everyone has the same kind of skin even if on the same spectrum this means that you could have oily skin with the same acne problem that your friend has and yet, using the same products, you don’t have the same results.How is this possible? It’s probably because there’s some underlining factors that makes us different.

The basis of having “good” skin is having a proper and balanced diet. Everything you eat and drink will show on your skin. Too much fat ingested? Acne and excess sebum will show; not enough water? Your skin will appear dehydrated even if you have oily skin (yes, it’s possible to have oily and dehydrated skin).

Now, to start out a new routine or better, a ritual, where should you start? That’s easy, whether you have oily, dry, sensitive skin or having any other concern, you should first clean your face. There are many cleansers available on the market and the best way to clean all your pores is by double cleansing. You can check out my guide on Double Cleansing, but for now we will start easy, you can always experiment and find what works best for you.

The best “product” to use when starting out, especially if you’re in your teens, is rosewater. It’s one of the simplest things, and since I started using it my skin was smooth and it left a super clean feeling on my face.
Rosewater is perfect for every kind of skin; it’s made from steeped rose petals in distilled water. It’s a method that has been used for thousands of years and still is in use today, medicinally, nutritionally and also as a perfume.

The Benefits of Rosewater

Anti-inflammatory, so it’s perfect for any redness, rosacea and eczema.
Antibacterial properties aids in healing scars and cuts, and acne.
Removes oils from the pores as well as controls excess sebum.
Astringent: After steaming, tightens capillaries and reduces redness and blotchiness.
Hydrates, revitalise and moisturize dry, sensitive skin
Gives a rejuvenating appearance to mature skin.

How to use it

You can use it when you first get out of bed and just splash some rosewater on your face to revitalise it.

It’s perfect for tired eyes, if you store it in a fridge overnight you can then just soak a cotton pad with it and let it rest on your eyes closed for about 5 min, you will feel refreshed and also the cold will depuff the skin around your eyes.

If you are using the double cleanse method, you will find useful the rosewater as a toner, to balance the normal PH of the skin, this is especially good for oily skin.

Or you can use it to hydrate your skin when wearing make-up that is too drying, just spritz some on your face and let it be absorbed by your parched skin.

Products

*Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner – £34.00*

The importance of clear skin

Having clearskin is not a shallow subject for shallow people but is an important “signal”? to wellness and body’s general health.

Having a routine and noticing what our body is trying to tell us requires discipline and attention to details.

In this guide I will try to share everything I have learned about skincare,through medicine books and experimentation. My objective is to give knoweledge to everyone and be considerate of your own person.
I will recommend solutions, tips, and tricks to the best of my knoweledge but bear in mind I am not a qualified dermatologist and everyone is different, what works for hundreds people may not be the right thing for you.

Having perfect skin is a dream but we can make it reality.
Build your own ritual and subscribe for updates!