skin

If you only had five minutes to leave the house, what products would you use? I have to wash my face, always—at the moment I’m using an Environ face wash. Then I’d use some hyaluronic acid which is good for hydration and keeps the water in your face. At the moment I’m using a Green People Hyaluronic Serum (£27). This one is vegan and cruelty-free which I like. And then my makeup artist friend Justine Jenkins, who I work with a lot and who uses a lot of vegan products, gave me this Organic Facial Oil (£33) by a company called By Sarah which is really brilliant. Are natural and organic important factors for you when choosing products to use? Sometimes, but I mix it up really. My skin is a mixture of very sensitive and dry and spot-prone so ...

I’ve never been one to shy away from a viral beauty trend. From buzzy throwbacks like cracking nail varnish (2012, you called?) and burgundy lipsticks to more recent trends like contouring and glass skin, I’m always up for experimenting. However, there’s one beauty trend that up until recently, I just couldn’t get on board with—self-tan. My reason for this? Well, firstly, as a Black woman I’ve always been pretty dubious about what the end result would actually look like, whether it would be totally unnoticeable on my skin tone or would leave me looking patchy. Secondly, even if I was curious, the tanning industry is notorious about being pretty much non-existent for darker skin tones. So, imagine my surprise when I started to notice Black women professing t...

“The advantage of gels is that they can be very hydrating and quickly absorbed so they’re perfect for layering,” says Dr Justine Hextall, FRCP Consultant Dermatologist. “There is so much interest in actives and as such several products may need to be applied, gel works well for this.” With the hotter weather in the UK and the continued wearing of face masks you might find your oil-based products clogging your pores, leading to breakouts. “Using a lightweight gel that is non-greasy, helps to hydrate and protect the skin barrier, reducing dryness and irritation under a mask without being comedogenic,” says Dr Hextall. And in the cooler months, when dryness is more of a concern, she suggests layering gel formulas with a non-gel moisturiser t...

“My skin is very sensitive, so I don’t use any cleansers or moisturisers on my face as part of a daily routine and normally wear very little makeup. To remove lipstick and eyebrow pencil, I use virgin olive oil available at any food store, then rinse with water and pat dry. My mascara rinses off with water. I try to use natural products whenever I can. If I’ve worn more makeup than usual, I’ll use this to do a final overall cleansing sweep. Unlike the dozens of other bar soaps for sensitive skin I’ve tried, this product does not burn, and makes me feel like I’m getting a fresh, deep clean.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. ...

But actually, moisturising your body is so important. For starters, it will help soothe any dryness-related irritation and keep skin feeling comfortable. Second, keeping moisture levels up generally keeps skin looking and feeling softer and healthier. But for me, the most important reason to be applying body cream every day is all in the self-care aspect. Taking just a couple of minutes out of my day to apply body cream is my nonnegotiable beauty ritual. Because of this, I’m picky when it comes to my body lotions. They have to deliver just the right amount of hydration without leaving my skin feeling greasy or sticky, they should be easy to apply and absorb in no time at all, and crucially, they should smell pleasant without being too overpowering. Over the years, it’s safe ...

“I had a skincare routine from about 10 years old, which was quite unnecessary, but I was just copying my mum,” laughs Maya Jama. It’s clear that the TV and radio presenter has always had a soft spot for skincare, but she has no qualms about its role in her life: “I’ve always been a bit of a party girl, and I’ve never really eaten that well, so in my mind, I make up for all of my sins with skincare.” It’s this refreshingly honest attitude that sets Jama’s skincare brand, MIJ Masks, apart from other celebrity beauty lines and the overarching trend towards skincare therapy that we’ve seen this year. That’s not to say that MIJ Masks can’t be used therapeutically—Jama swears by them on mornings whe...

Of course, there are many serums out there making the same promises, but what I really enjoy about this product is the texture. It’s non-greasy, allowing me to apply makeup straight after application if I’m running late (which, as my track record would show, is probably very likely). It also boasts a gel-like consistency, which feels more hydrating than just about any other serum I’ve come across. It goes a long way, too—just one pump is more than enough to cover my face, my neck, and even my décolletage. I’ve only been using this serum for 10 days, but I can already see a marked improvement in the elasticity of my skin as well as an enhanced glow. All of that for £25? I’ve paid triple that in the past for products that do very little other than brea...

Of course, there are many serums out there making the same promises, but what I really enjoy about this product is the texture. It’s non-greasy, allowing me to apply makeup straight after application if I’m running late (which, as my track record would show, is probably very likely). It also boasts a gel-like consistency, which feels more hydrating than just about any other serum I’ve come across. It goes a long way, too—just one pump is more than enough to cover my face, my neck, and even my décolletage. I’ve only been using this serum for 10 days, but I can already see a marked improvement in the elasticity of my skin as well as an enhanced glow. All of that for £25? I’ve paid triple that in the past for products that do very little other than brea...

In short, retinol can prove irritating and isn’t a feasible option for many. “Traditional retinol can potentially cause irritation in the form of dryness, redness and flaking, especially in those with sensitive skin,” says Joyce Park, MD, BareMinerals global dermatology ambassador. Even those who have skin types deemed more tolerant should slowly build up their retinol usage to avoid upset. On top of this, retinol products should be avoided if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. So what’s the answer? Well, the bad news is that those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have sensitive skin won’t be able to truly embrace the wonders of retinol. The good news, however, is that there are other options out there in the form of plant-based ingredients that deliver similar resul...

In short, retinol can prove irritating and isn’t a feasible option for many. “Traditional retinol can potentially cause irritation in the form of dryness, redness and flaking, especially in those with sensitive skin,” says Joyce Park, MD, BareMinerals global dermatology ambassador. Even those who have skin types deemed more tolerant should slowly build up their retinol usage to avoid upset. On top of this, retinol products should be avoided if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. So what’s the answer? Well, the bad news is that those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have sensitive skin won’t be able to truly embrace the wonders of retinol. The good news, however, is that there are other options out there in the form of plant-based ingredients that deliver similar resul...

Whatever your thoughts on anti-ageing as a term, there’s no denying that moisturisers, which are created to specifically tackle things like fine lines, pigmentation and dryness, can be incredibly expensive due to their potent ingredients and advanced formulations. And while I truly believe that ageing is a privilege we should fully embrace—wrinkles and all—it doesn’t mean that taking good care of our skin as we grow older should cost a small fortune. This is why I’ve made it my mission to seek out anti-ageing products that genuinely work without breaking the bank. I’ve already discovered some brilliant serums and eye creams that rival counterparts with three-figure price tags, but today we’re here to talk ...

There’s a good reason that anti-ageing is one of the most hotly contested terms in the beauty industry: While there are some potent antioxidants and scientifically-proven ingredients that can slow down things like fine lines and loss of elasticity, nothing that you apply to your face can totally stop ageing in its tracks. Sure, wearing SPF will undoubtedly protect your skin and keep it healthy, and using a retinol can definitely improve the appearance of wrinkles and skin texture, but a lot of skin ageing is simply down to genetics. I love beauty products, but I have always looked younger than my years. Would I still look young if I stopped using them? Possibly. But as the mother to an 18-month-old that likes ...