Current Skincare Rountine

Hello lovelies, today's post is all about my current skincare routine. I love to swap and change up my skincare products all the time but there is always one trusty brand I always go back to which is Dermalogica. I have been a beauty therapist for the past 5 years and I trained in Dermalogica in 2010, I've got to say the training was absolutely amazing! Not only did I learn about the products and treatments, I learnt about the science of the skin in great depth. 

Dermalogica as a brand are dedicated to skin health rather than putting money into fancy packaging, their products really do work and are 100% worth every penny! The 500ml size Essential Cleansing Solution cleanser which retails for £48.50 lasted me over a year which works out to be about £4 per month, so even though the products are a little on the pricey side they are great value for money and last ages!

Here are the current skincare products I am using from Dermalogica and a little information about each one...

Cleanser- Dermalogica Essential Cleansing Solution - LINK

As I have quite dehydrated skin my favourite cleanser to use from the Dermalogica range is the Essential Cleansing Solution. It is a rich, creamy cleanser that removes impurities whilst replenishing the skin and maintaining moisture levels. I use this morning and evening as part of my skincare routine. 

Exfoliator - Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - LINK

This product has got to be one of my favourites from Dermalogica, I think a lot of other people agree as it's one of their best sellers. It's basically a powder based exfoliant, once mixed with water it activates and releases Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes that gently polish away dead skin cells and leave the skin looking smoother and brighter. This exfoliant is gentle enough to use everyday and is great for anyone that suffers from sensitive skin as it's not abrasive to the skin. I use this product once a day, usually in the evening so products penetrate deeper and i'm not applying makeup straight after.     

I have spoken about this 'hero' product in a previous blog post, if you would like to check it out then click HERE :) 

Toner - Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner - LINK

A lot of other toners from other brands are very astringent and alcohol based which strips the skin of its natural oils, but the reason I love the Multi-Active Toner is because it's really hydrating, refreshing and like a drink of water to the skin. You simply spritzer it all over the skin, then apply your moisturiser. I use this morning and evening.

Moisturiser - Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream - LINK

This is a medium-weight cream that helps to smooth, hydrate and protect skin from environmental assaults and pollution. It also helps to combat dry skin and and reduce the signs of premature ageing. I use this moisturiser as my day time and night time moisturiser.  

Day Time Eye Cream - Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF15 - LINK

I absolutely love this product. It has an SPF to shield the skin from UVA rays and it also has a very slight tint. This helps to diffuse light and help hide dark under eye circles. This is a really gentle formula which is great for anyone with sensitive skin or contact lens wearers. I apply this in the morning before my moisturiser, blending inwards from the outer eye. 

Night Time Eye Cream - Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair - LINK

As I have previously said, I have quite dehydrated skin; therefore this can lead to premature ageing and fine dehydration lines if i'm not using a great skincare routine. I used to suffer from dehydration lines under my eyes and this eye cream really helped minimize this. This ultra-rich cream helps to improve dehydration lines, elasticity and smooth skin texture. I apply this every night before my moisturiser. 

I really hope you enjoyed this post guys!

Click HERE to find out what products you should be using, or alternatively leave me a comment below about your skincare problems or if you would like me to recommend you some products and I will do my best to reply to everyone :) 

What are some of your favourite skincare products at the moment?

My Feature in Base Magazine

Photos courtesy of Base Magazine

Hello lovelies, so as you would probably guess, I was very excited to have my very own feature in Base Magazine.

Base Magazine is a new beauty magazine which is written by bloggers. It is a quarterly publication which brings readers product reviews, releases, tutorials and events. The editors believe that having a magazine written by bloggers rather than journalists will give more honest information which readers will value.     

If you would like to know more, purchase a digital or printed copy, or you're a blogger and would like to maybe write a feature for Base Magazine then check them out... www.basemagazineofficial.com or @BaseMagOfficial :)

A big thank you to the girls at Base Magazine for letting me write a feature and I wish them the best of luck for future issues.

Review & Giveaway: Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF 15

Hey guys, so a few weeks ago I was running low on nearly all my skin care products, therefore I thought a little (I say little but I don't think my card would agree) trip to Liz Earle was in order :)

I just love walking into any Liz Earle store, the staff are always so friendly and helpful and it feels really fresh and luxurious. The products are such great quality and are really reasonably priced too. They do monthly offers which includes their legendary and award winning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, Instant Boost Skin Tonic and your choice of moisturiser to suit your skin, all for only £43.00. To get a full facial routine with such good quality products for only £43.00 is amazing and such a great deal!!

This month they were doing this offer with a complimentary Sheer Skin Tint, which is like a tinted moisturiser/BB cream and worth £21.00, therefore I got all four of these products for £43.00.... what a bargain!! It was also great for me as I needed new skin care products and was on the look out for a tinted moisturiser/BB cream for my holiday which is coming up. As i'm going to Vegas and will be taking lots of photos in the daytime as well as the evening, I wanted something to wear on my skin during the day that had light coverage and that also had an SPF. I didn't want to look completely bare faced on camera, so I thought something like this would be perfect.

The Sheer Skin Tint is absolutely amazing!! It feels really lightweight and gives such a fresh, radiant and dewy finish to the skin which is perfect for holidays or for days when you don't want to wear a full face of make up. It evens out skin tone, hides redness and imperfections and overall makes your skin look naturally great and like your not wearing anything at all. Even my mum noticed the first day I wore it and told me that my skin looked great. This product comes in four colours, I have the colour Beige 02 which is neutral and suits ivory to medium complexions. Just a quick tip... the colour difference between Beige 02 and Beach 03 is very different. I found Beach 03 was very dark, so only go for this colour if you are quite tanned.

To celebrate my first 6 months of blogging, I thought I would do my first giveaway to give back to everyone that takes the time to read my blog. If you would like to be in with the chance of winning a Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in the colour Beige 02 (Liz Earle's most popular colour), then all you need to do is sign in with the rafflecopter widget below and work your way through the entries. There's a few mandatory entries and some extra entries too if you want to increase your chance of winning.

Giveaway Conditions-
- As this is my first giveaway (eeekk excited), it is open to UK followers only.
- Please do not create an account just to enter this giveaway as your entry will be removed.
- This giveaway will run from 25/05/2014 - 25/06/2014.
- The winner of this giveaway will be contacted within 24 hours of it closing and if they haven't got back to me within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Once again, a massive thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog, it means a lot!!
See you in my next post guys :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top 10 Skincare Tips

Being in the beauty industry, I get so many people asking me about skincare, therefore I thought I would do a post on my top 10 skincare tips :)

1. Avoid exfoliating products that contain sharp grains as they can scratch and damage the skin.

2. Always make sure your moisturiser or foundation contains an SPF to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays.

3. Drink plenty of water.

4. As we age, cell turnover slows down making the skin look dull and lackluster, therefore exfoliating is the best 'anti ageing' tip I can give you! This is because when we exfoliate we promote skin renewal, therefore we stimulate new cells to be pushed upwards towards the surface, and these are the healthy, plump cells we all want to see.

5. Always take your skincare products down onto the neck and decolletage.

6. Use your ring finger to apply eye products as you use less force and wont damage the delicate skin around your eye.

7. Use products that are formulated without any nasty ingredients. Natural ingredients are always better.

8. Always double cleanse in the evening. Once to remove make up and the second time to thoroughly cleanse the skin.  

9. Always wash your hands before starting your skin care routine to stop the spread of bacteria.

10. Try to cut down on caffeinated drinks, smoking, sun exposure and alcohol as these all dehydrate the skin, which leads to premature ageing. 

  

Linked below is a few blog posts about a few of my favourite products and other skincare tips...  

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Why Is Facial Exfoliation So Important

I hope you found this post helpful!! 

See you in my next post :)

Review: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

I have never tried any of the Origins products but after hearing so many great reviews, I was really intrigued by the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. I picked up this mask a few weeks ago and I am literally obsessed, what an amazing product! Thank you Origins :)

This mask is designed for anyone with a normal/dehydrated skin type. Dehydration can be caused by a number of reasons, air con, heating, weather, not drinking enough water, drinking too much tea or coffee, bad skin care products and the list goes on. All these things can cause premature ageing, dehydration lines/wrinkles, skin tightness or breakouts, so this little bottle of loveliness may just be your skins savior! It has made a huge difference to the way my skin looks and since using this product my make up goes on really smoothly.

The Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is a cream/gel consistency. You pop this mask generously all over your skin in the evening (as you may have already guessed by the name haha) and leave it on until the morning. Before you apply this product, you should cleanse the skin, then I like to exfoliate to get the most out of the mask and then pop it straight on (a moisturiser is not needed).

At first I found this a little strange not to leave it 10-15 minutes and then wash off like other masks but this has the texture of a thick moisturiser and doesn't go hard like a clay based mask so it's very comfortable on the skin and you barely realise you have it on. 

On the Origins website they do a free trial with every purchase of this product. This means that when you buy the full-size bottle you receive a sample of it too. If you don't like it, then all you have to do is send the full-size back. But I can tell you now, you will definitely love it as much as I do and wont send it back, but I think it's great they give you the option to try it first.

Origins recommend to use this mask 2-3 times per week or as desired.   

Being in the beauty industry, I am quite fussy about what products I will use on my skin, therefore I was really impressed when I found out that all Origins products are formulated with natural and certified organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils. They are also formulated without any nasty ingredients, so I'm very excited to try some more of their products in the future.

What are some of your favourite Origins products?

(If you would like to know more about exfoliating and why it helps get the most out of a face mask then click HERE to read my 'Why Is Facial Exfoliation So Important' post). 

Review: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

As so many fellow beauty bloggers have been raving about this cleanser for a while now, I thought I'd also jump on the band wagon to see what all the fuss was about. And WOW, they weren't wrong. So let me tell you why I love this cleanser...

Moringa Seed Extract and Vitamin E balance, purify and minimise the appearance of open pores, whilst Orange, Neroli and Mandarin Extract help to rejuvenate the skin. Jasmine, Cedarwood and Rose also help to moisturise dry, dehydrated and mature skin types.

At £34.00 for 100ml, this cleanser isn't cheap, but I also don't consider this to be too expensive for a good quality skincare product. I find a little of this product goes a long way, so it looks like it will last a good while. The balm has a consistency of Vaseline, which I wasn't sure I would get to grips with at first. Smoothing Vaseline all over my face doesn't really sound too appealing, but I was pleasantly surprised. The oily balm melts away all traces of make up and it's also safe to use on eyes.

How To Use-

Morning and evening, mix a small amount of the cleanser with a few drops of water. Apply to your face and neck and massage in circular motions. This will melt away any make up, excess oils and remove any dirt from the skins surface. The best way to remove your cleanser is with a clean, damp flannel or one of Emma Hardie's facial cloths. These are absolutely amazing! One side is a gentle abrasive muslin and the other side is a really soft toweling material. Firstly, I submerge my cloth in warm water, ring it out and use the muslin side to remove the cleanser, this also helps to gently exfoliate my skin as the muslin material is slightly abrasive. (This is a great alternative to exfoliating if you have sensitive skin and find exfoliators too harsh on your skin), I then use the other side just to make sure everything has been removed. 

TOP TIP- For extra smoothing, you can use this cleanser as a nourishing mask (if left on the skin 10 minutes) or as a rescue balm for dry elbows, knees or chapped lips.  

I have noticed a huge difference in my skin since using the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm. My skin feels more hydrated and is definitely looking healthier. I have combination skin and I find this cleanser has really helped to balance it out. The dryer patches seem less dry and the oily patches definitely seem less oily. I really enjoy using this cleanser, it feels like a real treat and very luxurious. I would recommend this product to most, if not all skin types. It's so gentle it would be great for anyone who suffers from sensitive skin or eczema too.  

I really hoped you enjoyed this post and found it somewhat helpful :) 

Has anyone else tried this cleanser?

Rosina 

♥

Click HERE if you would like to purchase this cleanser or find out more information. 

Why Is Facial Exfoliation So Important?

In my opinion exfoliating should be a beauty must in everyone's skincare routine. It is great for all skin types but I would highly recommend it for anyone who is concerned with congestion, acne scarring, pigmentation or premature ageing. I promise you, you will notice a huge difference to your skin if you are exfoliating on a regular basis. 

My personal favorite product is Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant. Rice Enzymes, Salicylic Acid and Papain gently polish away dead skin cells, instantly making the skin appear refreshed, brighter and smoother. I love Daily Microfoliant because it's gentle and I find a lot of other products to be very harsh on the skin, leaving it feeling sore and looking very red. A big thank you to Dermalogica for producing such an amazing product! :)

So why is exfoliating so important? Firstly, it removes dead skin cells from the skins surface, making it appear a lot brighter and fresher. This also helps any products you apply afterwards to work better as they can penetrate deeper into the skin. 
As we age, cell turnover slows down making the skin look dull and lackluster, therefore exfoliation is the best 'anti ageing' tip I can give you! This is because when we exfoliate we promote skin renewal, therefore we stimulate new cells to be pushed upwards towards the surface, and these are the healthy, plump cells we all want to see.

When should I exfoliate? Usually you should do this around 1-3 times per week, but if like me you use, or are looking to try, the Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica you can use this everyday as it's very gentle on the skin. In your skincare routine exfoliating should always be done after your cleanser but before a face mask, toner or moisturiser. Just beware, over exfoliating can cause inflamed skin, dehydration, sensitivity or premature ageing, so please don't over do it! Always stick to the recommended amount of times per week and don't get carried away! 

TOP TIPS: 

• Don't forget your lips!
• NEVER use body exfoliators on your face.
• Do not exfoliate immediately after shaving or waxing.
• Avoid products with sharp grains as these can damage the skin.
• NEVER exfoliate skin that has recently been sunburned. 

I really hope you enjoyed this post! If you would like to know more about Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant then click HERE :)

What are some of your favorite exfoliators? 

Rosina

♥

Top 10 Beauty Products

Being in the beauty industry so many people ask me what products I love, what products I use and how to use them, therefore I thought I would give you all a little insight into my Top 10 beauty must haves.

Personally I hate reading reviews on a product that someone has bought and only used for a few days. I like to use a product for a while to see the benefits and results before I rave about it to you guys. Therefore all these products featured below I have been using for years and I LOVE every single one of them!  

1. They're Real! Mascara - Benefit

Out of the millions (and I mean millions) of mascaras I have tried and tested this is definitely the best mascara I have EVER used!

I am a huge fan of Benefit cosmetics and when they launched this mascara I just couldn't resist trying it out.

It is absolutely amazing! It makes my lashes look longer, more voluminous and is very long wearing. So many people comment on how long my lashes look, and this is my best kept secret!

I would highly recommend this product, ten out of ten from me! Thank you Benefit :) 

2. Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Liz Earle

I started using this cleanser back in January 2012 and have never looked back.

Things I love about this cleanser-

1. I love how natural the ingredients are. Which is also great for very sensitive skin types.

2. The creamy texture removes makeup and even waterproof mascara very quickly and easily.

3. I especially love the pump dispenser. 2 pumps gives you just the right amount of product with no mess or wastage. 

4. The second step to this cleanser is the muslin cloth (which I LOVE)! This polishes off the cleanser to dislodge any dead skin cells and remove makeup, oil and dirt from the skin. Leaving it very clean, soft and refreshed.

I saw a huge difference using this cleanser, it cleans my skin thoroughly without stripping it of its natural oils. My skin definitely looks clearer, brighter and more hydrated! 

3. Makeup Be Gone Refreshing Wipes - Johnson's

I have removed my eye makeup with a facial wipe ever since I was a teenager, I find it the easiest and quickest way to get rid of every last bit of eye shadow, mascara etc.

A lot of makeup wipes I find very drying on the skin, but these wipes from Johnson's contain no alcohol so they don't dry my skin out.

The only down side is that I do think they are a little pricey compared to other brands, they are usually about £4, so if Boots or Superdrug have an offer (which they usually do) then I grab a basket full :)

4. The Righteous Butter - Soap & Glory

This award winning product is probably my favorite body moisturiser! 

It contains softening shea butter and aloe vera which is really moisturising on the skin.

I find a lot of other body moisturisers are either too thick and creamy or not thick enough. That is exactly why I love this product. It's a thick moisturising cream, but sinks into the skin really quickly so you don't feel as if your walking around all day feeling sticky. 

5. Tangle Teezer

As I have very thick curly hair, I find brushing through my hair after a shower such a nightmare. Sometimes it feels as if I have more hair wrapped around the brush than I do on my head!

The Tangle Teezer is amazing! It has specially designed teeth that reduces hair breakage, splitting and damage. It can be used on any hair type and is also great for kids.

These come in a variety of colours, but as you can see pink is definitely my fav!

6. Vitamin E Lip Care SPF 15 - The Body Shop

I absolutely love this lip balm from The Body Shop! I was recommended this product by another beauty blogger that raved about it so much I just had to try it out, and I definitely wasn't disappointed! 

It does everything it says on the tin (or tube), it's hydrating, moisturising and soothes dry cracked lips.

This product also doesn't contain petroleum, which is amazing, as a lot of lip products do. Petroleum doesn't actually help to relieve your dry lips at all, it acts like a plaster instead which just masks the problem and doesn't actually cure it.

Therefore this lip balm gets a very big thumbs up from me! :)

7. Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

I have tried and tested so many different makeup brushes in the past from high end to high street brands and never found a brush I have totally fell in love with. That's until I found the Real Techniques brushes!  

These brushes are incredible and because they are designed with professional makeup artist Sam Chapman they really do have everything you would want in a makeup brush.

The whole range of brushes is suitable for so many different makeup products from foundation, powders, blush, mineral makeup, highlighters and so many more.

They are also really reasonable in price, prices range from £7-£15, which I personally think is great for such a good quality makeup brush.  

8. Hoola Bronzing Powder - Benefit

This is one on Benefit's award winning and best selling products, it is also the number 1 selling bronzer in the UK.

I use this bronzer all year round as a contour as it doesn't have any shimmer like a lot of bronzers do. 

9. Shellac nails

I have been having CND Shellac on my nails for about 2 and a half years now and I am totally OBSESSED!!

I do Shellac myself as I am a qualified therapist, but if you aren't then it is a professional treatment and you would have to visit your nearest CND salon. 

It looks like a nail polish but it is in fact half polish and half gel, and is set under a UV lamp and it lasts 2-4 weeks, then would need doing again due to regrowth. Another plus is it's also completely dry as soon as you leave the salon, therefore no annoying smudges. Yay :) 

Shellac helps to protect your nails and if taken off in the correct way then there is no damage to the natural nail itself. 

I absolutely love Shellac and would never use anything else on my nails. It is great for special occasions or just general day to day life if your a girly girl like me and always love beautiful nails :) 

CND Shellac in the colour Tutti Frutti.

10. Beauty Blender

After I have applied my foundation (which is usually with my fingers, as I find these are the best tools for the job. I find your fingers warm up the foundation making it easier to blend and spread across your face), I then wet my Beauty Blender and squeeze out any excess water. It's completely normal for your Beauty Blender to expand to nearly twice its original size when wet. To use I then bounce it across my face, which helps to blend any edges and it also gives an amazing finish to your foundation.

It is your foundations new BFF!

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post just as much as I enjoyed writing it for you guys!

Click on the names of the products and it will take you to their website for more information and where to purchase them.

Give me a comment below if there is anything particular you would like me to write about in my next post and be sure to give this post a 'LIKE' :) 

TWITTER - @RosiePops_

FACEBOOK - Rosie Pops

Rosina 

♥