skin

Ever wondered whether a new beauty launch or trending product is truly worth the hype? Good news—you’re in the right place. I Just Tried… is our regular beauty column where we test out everything from new formulations to cult classics to find out whether they’re really worth your money. Oh, and we’ll even answer the most-searched-for questions so you don’t have to. I have to be honest, I don’t really get TikTok. From IKEA homeware hacks to viral recipes (no, I haven’t tried that baked feta thing yet) it feels like a new global craze originates in the video sharing platform basically everyday—then disappears as quickly as it arrived. Remember when we were all making weird whipped coffee back in lockdown number one? Case in point. And while I’m willing to acc...

It’s no exaggeration to say that when Drunk Elephant launched in the UK back in October 2018, skincare obsessives shed a collective tear. Gone were the end of beauty junkies having to beg friends, family and colleagues to bring back a piece of the clean-beauty action from any and all trips across the Atlantic—the much-hyped Instagram brand was finally on British shores. But it isn’t just beauty insiders and editors whose heads have been turned by the buzz of this trending beauty brand—it’s our fashion friends and style influencers, too. So, what’s the appeal? Maybe it’s something to do with the chic packaging (neon lids that pop against stark white tubes) or Drunk Elephant’s laid-back approach to application that. Encouraging consumers to cocktail their products, al...

When it comes to controversial beauty products, sheet masks are pretty high up on the list. They’re expensive, usually one-use and are viewed as more of a quick-fix approach to skincare by skin experts who recommend sticking to consistent, ingredients-led routines for the best results. However, as a face mask fanatic I just can’t give up the joys they bring me. They’re indulgent, fun to use and feel like a treat—particularly during a time when, let’s face it, we should all be finding pleasure in the little things. And I know I’m not alone. A quick search on Instagram results in over 950,000 images with the sheet mask hashtag. After all, an undeniable allure of this skincare product has to be its selfie app...

Pat McGrath is one of the most iconic makeup artists in history, and her namesake makeup brand, Pat McGrath Labs, more than lives up to her legendary name. Fun fact: The brand also just announced iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell as its first-ever global face of Pat McGrath Labs. “The entire planet is just as cosmetics obsessed as I’ve always been,” McGrath explains on the brand’s website. “Makeup is a movement. Makeup is mesmerising. Makeup is major. Mantra-esque, three words have repeated over and over in my mind ever since I was young. Obsession. Inspiration. Addiction. Those words became my guiding principles, my manifesto as I brought this brand to life.”  Visit the brand’s website and you’ll be faced wi...

Described as a “miracle serum for super glowy, dewy, healthy skin” on the Beauty Pie website, I have to admit that it sounds pretty special. Containing three different weights of hyaluronic acid (for a major moisture injection) along with skin-plumping ceramides and smoothing peptides, it’s basically a great serum for all skin types. The reviews speak for themselves, too: “Stock up on this product when you get a chance,” says one reviewer. “Made a difference in one night,” another said. If this isn’t a product with cult status, I don’t know what is. 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. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and m...

I know that spring doesn’t officially arrive in the UK until next month but there’s something about February that always has me desperate to shrug off my cosy knitwear and rich moisturisers and embrace a lighter approach to layering. When it comes to beauty in particular, that means a shift towards sheer, featherweight formulations that will deliver some much-needed luminosity to my tired, winter skin. So when I heard that Charlotte Tilbury, the queen of glow herself, was launching two new radiance-boosting products, I couldn’t wait to try them.  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. Get to meet Beautif...

I have tried many a designer nail colours over the years but I have to be honest, I don’t think there is any point spending a lot of money on a nail polish. These gel-effect ones from Barry M are as good as they come and they’re so cheap. I love the colours and the finish and they last just as long—if not longer—than most of the nail polishes with bigger price tags. Plus, I love buying a couple of new shades each season to test out the trending colours without breaking the bank. Up next, these cheap moisturisers are just as good as their expensive counterparts. 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. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the pro...

You don’t need us to tell you that beauty routines have changed as of late. In fact, virtually everyone we speak to has something to say about the ways in which they have tweaked their daily regimen to fit in with the new normal. Mostly, we have found ourselves waving goodbye to bold lipsticks, colourful eye shadows and full-coverage foundations in favour of low-key formulas suitable for home life. And for the most part, no one seems to be particularly mad about it. In fact, there is actually something quite wholesome about stripping things back to basics.  Except when it comes to perfume. When lockdown hit for the first time at the start of spring last year, many of us found ourselves reaching for perfume less and less. After all, if no one’s smelling it...

My grandma has taught me many things—how to master the art of tiddlywinks, that being bossy is a rite of passage if you’re the oldest child, how to spot a yellow sale sticker from a mile off and the importance of working hard, to name just a few. When it comes to skincare, however, she hasn’t taught me a thing. That’s because my grandma has what some might call a pared-back skincare routine. (I would call it a totally nonexistent one.) There are certainly some generational differences in our approaches to beauty—my grandma is 79, and I’m 31. Born in Zimbabwe, my grandma grew up using water, soap and a generous slathering of moisturiser—or Vaseline—to hydrate. And nothing much has changed since she moved to London in her 20s. During her working life as a teacher, her...

First and foremost, Clinisoothe Skin Purifier is a hypochlorous facial mist that offers antimicrobial protection (which essentially means it kills off all of the bad bacteria that breeds underneath our face masks). Unlike other mists, which offer little more than a hydrating refresh, this stuff is no-frills. Simply spritz onto the skin before and after you put your mask on (and also after cleansing morning and night to help tackle general breakouts), and go about your business without fear of breakout-inducing bacteria being trapped underneath. So what’s the catch? Usually, solutions that work to banish bacteria in this way are incredibly harsh on the skin, upsetting its natural pH balance and leading to dryness and irritation. However, Clinisoothe+ is specially formulated with a skin-neut...

And it’s funny really, because as the years have gone by, the tables have started to turn. Now, as I learn more and more about products, I’m the person teaching my mum new things. But while I’m preaching intricacies, such as how often to use retinol and whether hyaluronic acid is worth giving a go (it is), there’s no doubt that my mum has been my biggest skincare influence. If I hadn’t have spent my childhood watching my mum religiously cleanse and moisturise every evening, I probably wouldn’t care very much for skincare at all. From a young age, I assumed that if my mum did it, it must have been important. When the initial fascination developed, everything was rather cliché I’m afraid. I started snooping in her skincare stash and applied it all in one go in front of the mirror. ...

But you’ll want to be extra careful when using the device, as Rodney cautions that epilators can be very painful if misused. “Epilators also fail to address ingrown hairs and are not best for sensitive areas. You’ll need to find one that keeps your skin’s health and protection in mind,” she adds. When using the device, Rodney recommends pulling the skin taut before passing the machine over it and avoiding goose bumps. Make sure you’re moving the device in the direction of hair growth, and don’t press too firmly on the skin or pass through quickly, as those two things may cause irritation. As for who can use an epilator, it can work on all skin types, but if you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to be careful. If you have a severe skin conditio...