skin

When it comes to my job, few things wind me up more than a product that gives wildly false claims. It shouldn’t be such a big ask that, as consumers, we aren’t lied to about the powers that any one beauty product has, should it? And, while things like “cellulite” and “face-lift” creams are the worst offenders for this, I find myself getting riled up over spot treatments the most. Unlike the aforementioned beauty products that are simply never going to work because the very basis of their claims are founded on marketing drivel, spot treatments can, should and do work. Sure, they’re not going to blitz a pimple in a second, but they do have the power to dramatically reduce its severity. So what’s the issue, I hear you ask? None of them ever seem to actually work. I’ve tried countless spo...

The truth is, the new cleanser is genuinely the most perfect cleanser my face has ever been blessed to. My concerns that the texture would be overly creamy and sumptuous were totally wrong. Actually, it’s a relatively runny, gel-like formula that has the silkiness and nourishment of a cream, but the deep cleansing abilities of a gel. With aloe vera leaf juice, cucumber extract and rose flower water, it’s calming, soothing and purifying, making it ideal for sensitive skin types like mine. However, most importantly, it’s formulated with TFC8 to deliver all of those high-grade vitamins and amino acids to boost cell renewal and repair. When massaged into damp skin, it creates a luxe-feeling lather that cleanses pores with ease and, once rinsed, leaves skin feeling healthy and, dare I say, norm...

It’s fair to say that the coronacoaster of emotions is so real. With my mood being subject to change at a moments notice, I’ve found myself heading to my perfume collection to help me out.  Whether I’m feeling a bit low or just want to boost my energy, there’s something incredibly powerful and indulgent about applying perfume to stay at home. As my debit card is urging me to spend some money that I usually keep for restaurants and travelling, investing in some more fragrances has been on my to-do list. I’ve started to divide my perfume collection up into moods and while perfume is always a personal choice, I spoke with the fragrance experts at Penhaligon’s who gave me the scoop on the notes to go for, when you’re in need of a vi...

We all make suitable changes to our wardrobes when a new season rolls around, so why should our skincare be any different? While some of your products will remain relevant throughout the year, come summer, there’s new important switches that need to be made as far as your skincare regime is concerned—and we know exactly where to turn.  By now, you’ll already be familiar with our beautiful sister brand, Versed. Not only is it affordable (every single item is under £18, just as an FYI), but the 19 sustainably sourced, vegan, cruelty-free, results-driven skin products that compromise the range are essentially everything you need to ensure your skin looks its best, all year round. But which products are key for summer? Who better to ask than Versed’s ...

I feel like face masks need a new PR. Sure, they’re having a bit of a moment right now, because what else is there to do? But, all too often they get put into the fun but frivolous category of skincare, along with cooling eye masks and scented body mists.  We tend to focus both our energy and spending power on heavy-hitters like active-packed serums and decadent night creams. So, consider this the beginning of my campaign for treating face masks with a little more respect.  First of all, we’re talking 20 minutes for results here. Not weeks and weeks of testing and trying. Sure, the results aren’t as long-lasting as an entire suite of skincare, but adding a powerful mask into your routine has plenty of benefits.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you ...

You’d be right in assuming that makeup wipes really have no place in any beauty aficionado’s routine. Despite the fact that their throwaway nature has the potential to drastically damage the planet, they can also prove detrimental to the condition of your skin. “Most cleansing wipes contain detergent-like chemicals and harsh alcohols that strip away the natural pH balance of the skin. These ingredients can cause irritation and leave the skin dry, dehydrated and sensitive,” reveals celebrity facialist Lisa Harris. At this point, you might be questioning just how serious the dryness can really be. However, it turns out it’s not just the harsh chemicals that can cause the skin to age. Harris goes on, “Wipes don’t cleanse the skin properly and instead spread bacteria around the face, whic...

For those of you who have been diligently applying hand sanitiser for years, you’re probably feeling pretty smug right now—especially considering all of the eye-rolls you encountered every time you took out your prized bottle before a meal. Well, as this is our new normal, we all need to get on board and befriend the not-so-humble-anymore hand sanitiser. There are obviously two camps of sanitiser: the usual medical-scented ones and the more luxe versions.  With frequent use, the strong alcohol scent can often seem a bit harsh, so we’ve done the legwork for you to find the best hand sanitisers that also smell pretty nice. Reminder: It’s recommended to go for an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that has at least 60% alcohol content, so keep an eye out for th...

For those of you who have been diligently applying hand sanitiser for years, you’re probably feeling pretty smug right now—especially considering all of the eye-rolls you encountered every time you took out your prized bottle before a meal. Well, as this is our new normal, we all need to get on board and befriend the not-so-humble-anymore hand sanitiser. There are obviously two camps of sanitiser: the usual medical-scented ones and the more luxe versions.  With frequent use, the strong alcohol scent can often seem a bit harsh, so we’ve done the legwork for you to find the best hand sanitisers that also smell pretty nice. Reminder: It’s recommended to go for an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that has at least 60% alcohol content, so keep an eye out for th...

I often wish that I was a teenager during this time. Don’t get me wrong, I adored the nineties but I didn’t love the skincare choices that I had. My Saturday job only allowed for drugstore buys and let’s face it, the options were nowhere near what they are today. I grew up with pore strips, harsh cleansers and scented everything, so whenever I see an affordable skincare brand that actually works, I get really excited.  Skincare By Beauty Bay, the sell-out range that only a few lucky ones managed to stuff into their baskets, is back after a little break. There’s new products in the range and they are seriously good.  My inner thirteen year old was rolling her eyes and thinking about how much of a game-changer this would have been. But, alas, my cu...

Every beauty editor has a stash. The varying factors are the level of organisation, location and size of said stash. But we all have one. It’s filled with the almost daily drops of samples that we receive to write about and review, the beauty products that we actually buy and the ones that our well-meaning aunts still insist on getting us for Christmas.  We’re all very aware of the privileged position we’re in and have many strategies in place to make sure products are never wasted. One being a ban on any newbies until I’ve made my way through most of what I have. So as lockdown started and I wasn’t near any of my friend’s or family member’s faces to slather them in moisturisers, I hit pause on writing and sampling and deci...

This week, the government finally announced that salons can reopen and that they are allowed to offer manicures and pedicures once more. Frankly, I couldn’t be more overjoyed. Months of neglect has left my nails looking seriously worse for wear and there’s no doubt that they could benefit from some professional pruning. And, while I am certainly itching to get back to the nail bar and have book in for some chic nail art, it’s actually the prospect of a pedicure that has me most excited. As outdoor activities and general socialising are becoming a more regular part of my life, and I’m slipping on my summer sandals more and more, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the state of my feet. You see, whereas the lead up to summer would usually involve a trip to the salon for ...

For those of you who have been diligently applying hand sanitiser for years, you’re probably feeling pretty smug right now—especially considering all of the eye-rolls you encountered every time you took out your prized bottle before a meal. Well, as this is our new normal, we all need to get on board and befriend the not-so-humble-anymore hand sanitiser. There are obviously two camps of sanitiser: the usual medical-scented ones and the more luxe versions.  With frequent use, the strong alcohol scent can often seem a bit harsh, so we’ve done the legwork for you to find the best hand sanitisers that also smell pretty nice. Reminder: It’s recommended to go for an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that has at least 60% alcohol content, so keep an eye out for th...