Favorites for a quick skincare routine.

Now I am well known amongst my family and friends as not being, lets put it 'at my best' in the mornings, so I love Caudalie's Instant Foaming Cleanser it's soap free and costs £15 for 150ml, just the ticket for a quick bit of face washing. I really love this cleanser as it lasts ages unlike some other brands with the foaming element and is light and refreshing.

To apply:

Apply morning and evening onto a wet face and neck.
Rinse off with cold water.
Avoid the eye contour area.

Although I wouldn't recommend it necessarily for removing heavy evening makeup, it works nicely in the morning rush hours. I shall be releasing in the future a post on top cleansers and masks, as I have tried many due to the unstable nature of my skin. 

Zelens Radiance Luminous facial Cleanser is also a good alternative option and has a creamier, thicker texture and will also remove makeup if you wish to use it in the evening too, as it comes in at a hefty price of £40 for 125ml. It is suitable for all skin types and it contains natural products of coconut and palm.

To apply:

Massage into the face and neck and for extra exfoliation you can remove with a muslin cloth.

The Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser might appeal to you, especially if you are a fan of the original cult-classic, Vogue as "probably the best cleanser in the world" It's lighter consistency leaves your skin feeling luxuriously clean and soft. This cleansing balm packed full of essential oils decongest and refine your complexion is quick and easy to rinse-off in the shower is a morning essential to get you out and ready to face the day! Any excuse for a short cut in my beauty routine I will gladly embrace. Cost £40 for 125ml.  Perfect for all skin types.

To apply:

Warm a small amount of the cleanser between your hands and massage into dry skin using circular movements. Leave the cleanser on your skin for 2 minutes, and then rinse off with water.
Use daily, ideally in the morning in conjunction with the original Eve Lom Cleanser in the evening and if you'd like a deeper exfoliation Eve Lom’s muslin cloth can be used to remove it.

MALIN + GOETZ Peppermint Shampoo is fab and I always have it packed in my gym bag and the smell is divine! The peppermint hair shampoo is gentle and hydrates and is balancing for all hair types. Blended with peppermint and olive oil it's also formulated for frequent use, is mildly foaming, softening and conditioning. It is easily integrated into your daily hair routine and can be used on colour treated hair but is also suitable for all hair types.

To apply:

Massage a small amount between hands to evenly disperse our viscose shampoo onto wet hair and scalp, creating a mild, gentle lather; rinse clean.

May leave on scalp for 1-3 minutes.

I use this shampoo with Malin+Goetz's Cilantro Conditioner.  Containing natural cilantro it is extremely hydrating and balances. The Cilantro refreshes whilst Shea butter moisturises and nourishes leaving your hair tangle free without weighing the hair down without residue. Like the peppermint shampoo it is suitable for all hair types including colour treated and processed hair. The shampoo is £16 for 236 ml and the conditioner costs £16.50.

To apply:

After shampooing, apply a small amount of absorbent conditioner to wet scalp and hair, especially ends; gently comb to detangle if necessary; rinse clean.
If intense conditioning is required, apply generously and allow absorption over several minutes it will  help replenish dry ends.

LIFE Jump Start Body Wash is a zingy citrus based body cleanser guaranteed to wake you up in the morning! The main ingredients are grapefruit, spearmint and peppermint and comes in at £12.50 for 350ml.

Or if you like a quick soak in the bath I find that Aromatherapy Associates Revive Bath & Shower Oil get you moving and is one of my favourite products that I have massive praise for as all their oils really do work making them an essential product for me despite the £40 price tag for 55ml, so use sparingly. One cap full added to your bath is recommended and is also a great pick me up after a late night or if you are suffering from jet-lag.

To apply:

Add one cap full to a bath or apply to your body before showering. This bottle contains enough for up to 20 baths or showers.

If you use a soap Green Tea Purify Soap by SAI SEI is gentle on the skin and provides a creamy lather. The product contains anti-oxidant Green Tea and Shea Butter to leave the skin feeling soft. The soap net it comes in helps to gently exfoliate and are popular in Japan because of the creamy lather they produce and is £15.

To apply:

Place the soap inside the net.
Wet the bar and rub the net around the bar with both hands to create a rich, creamy lather.
Massage the soft lather over wet skin and then rinse.
You may also massage the soap while it's still inside the net over wet skin, for an exfoliating treatment.

Acne Treatment Pads by CANE + AUSTIN are incredibly effective one-step home treatment designed to combat acne.  These easy-to-use Acne Treatment Pads that targeting problem skin are developed by experts in skincare innovation, Cane+Austin. This one-step solution provides gentle exfoliation to accelerate the removal of dead skin cells from the face, the build up of which can contribute to acne.  The pads contain pharmaceutical grade glycolic and salicylic acid and this blemish-beating product also targets blackheads and helps to promote skin healing and a clearer complexion. 60 pads.

To apply:

Use daily, in the morning and evening.
Wipe one pad over your entire face.
Follow with your regular moisturiser.
For sensitive skin, use just once a day for the first week.

Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser by RODIAL

This multi-function daily moisturiser with built in SPF 15 which is always a bonus! This long-lasting skincare light moisturiser treats by plumping and firming dehydrated skin.  Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid provide lasting moisture and tighten fine lines. Vitamin B3 will help even skin tone and encourage for a brighter complexion and the 'Dragon's Blood' soothes and protects sensitive skin.  50ml costs £49.

To apply:

Massage a small amount to face and neck daily.

Progenius by NUDE

Nude's signature treatment oil is a genius. Rich in omega oils, a pure treatment oil that delivers vital skin nutrients. The product redefines the skin, lighting it from within. Produced using 10 precious oils, it absorbs instantly for deep and long lasting skin nourishment. Your face will look instantly luminous and younger looking. A great base that doesn't leave an oily complexion looking greasy.

To apply:

Apply a small amount to face and neck daily.
You can also use of a drop of ProGenius under your foundation which will work as fab primer.

JOHNSON'S Baby Oil is a staple for many of us ladies.  A cult basic so enough said!

Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

AESOP is a hydrating cream packed with plant extracts and botanicals. The consistency of Aesop's formula is grease-less and can also be used to treat hand dryness and even dermatitis. This balm leaves your hands free of that gloppy and sticky feeling that some other hand creams do working well any areas of dry skin, such as the elbows, feet and knees, to soften and hydrate.

Tip:

It can be refrigerated and used to cool and soothe minor sun and wind burn This cream is also safe parents wishing to ease sensitive, dry skin on the bodies of young children.

Moisturising Skin Cream by YU-BE is Japan's no.1 selling vitamin-enriched skincare cream with its super-moisturising formula. It is perfect for dry areas like lips, elbows, knees and cuticles, its with its non-greasy blend of antioxidants and camphor calm and protect, leaving skin soothed and wonderfully soft. InStyle Magazine said Yu-Be’s Moisturising Skin Cream “can turn your roughest dry spots buttery without residual grease”, according to Space NK who claim that the "uniquely high glycerine content and superior absorb ability is achieved through a special manufacturing process in Japan, and added vitamins E and B2 help feed and protect even the driest skin". I've been using this as a lip balm. I get really dry, cracked lips which is noticeable while I was on the Roaccutane. It's works great on all dry patches like elbows and is even healing for small burns and scars.

To apply:

Apply to any dry patches or areas, like lips, elbows, knees, feet and dry, cracked cuticles.

RODIAL Glam Lip Balm is a wonderfully rose flavoured and intensive hydrating lip balm which can be used alone to moisture's and shine the natural lip or top of a lipstick for ultra glam skin that is extremely moisturising.

 Products are available at Space NK.

Many thanks to all the that have always be answered all my questions and accommodated me. Girls, you are complete stars, Phoebe, Jade, Lucy, Frankie and all those who have been so knowledgeable and helped me out at the Beaconsfield branch!

Lots of love, 

Jo xxx 

Lazy Girl's Guide - Haircare

Hi beautiful people!

Here is my lazy girls guide to beauty - Hair care. I must apologise if some people find the products I favour expensive, but being a woman who is a bit older, and having been unable to use cheaper skincare as I have suffered with bad skin.  Which is not a good advert for a beauty professional, I have found that very few cheaper products work for me. After my course of Roaccutane though, I hope to try a few again especially as my MA workload will hopefully slow done in the summer! I also would like to do a diary of my treatments at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic to try to improve the acne scaring and pigmentation I am left with. As I am just generally a girl who might be a bit time management challenged, I have listed a few of my must haves! I love Fleur de Force but was gutted that she disliked her Oribe shampoo and conditioner she reviewed, although to be fair she did explain some their other products where praised, Josh Wood Atelier don't stock them for no reason after all, but I did agree that I wasn't a fan of all the products. After all, we are all different and I also found some didn't work for me. To get to the point these I love...

ORIBE - Royal Blowout - Heat styling Spray totally does what it claims! ' For the ultimate blowout. This mind-blowing, ultra-lightweight mist smooths even the worst behaved mop while speeding drying time. It also repairs split ends, nourishes, softens and strengthens hair, giving it healthy body and shine. Simply revolutionary.' I promise that since I used these products my hair is transformed! It grows faster, no dodgy ends and actually looks good. I have fine, wavy/fluffy hair but a lot of it. I would consider that this suits most hair types though.

As a time management challenged person I usually can't fit in the cute and sexy wavy hair look, so ORIBE Wave and Shine Spray works really well! Think tousled Alexa Chung look...Just don't go overboard or it will just look greasy and style. Living Proof Style Lab - Flex Shaping Hairspray - for damp or dry hair is a wonder. Eligibly a favourite of Jenifer Aniston, it is so natural but holds well and does not go crusty. Nothing more - I love it! The brush Tangle Teezer - Compact Styler handbag size, gold and black colour which comes in it's own bag, is perfect too!