One Stop Beauty Shop...

I keep being so optimistic about the weather, hoping that very soon the first signs of Spring (and warmer weather) will appear. I'm very wrong. It's cold, wet, and probably getting colder! The other day, as I put hand cream on my hands for the millionth time (I've had eczema pretty much since birth & in the cold it tends to flare up, especially on my hands) I thought about my beauty regime. Just because it's winter, there shouldn't be any excuse for letting your beauty standards slip! But a beauty regime shouldn't be something to be scared of; it should become a way of life, something you can happily fit into your daily life. After all, your skin will thank you for it! And that's a promise!

I'm about to show you my beauty regime, and believe me, it’s simpler than you think!

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
  
I CANNOT stress this enough! Skin needs to be kept nice & supple, all year round. Let’s face it, flaky, rough skin isn't a turn on for anyone! My skin problems led me to learn the importance of using moisturiser at a very young age, but it still isn't too late to start now. The best time to apply moisturiser is after a bath or shower, when skin is at its most soft. The moisturiser will sink in much better too. This goes for the male population too! 'Borrow' a little bit of your girlfriends/flat mates moisturiser, and start counting down the days to softer, more touchable skin. 

I've tried countless moisturisers in my time. Most of which have been too greasy, not greasy enough, expensive, made my skin look dull etc etc. But, last year a friend recommended 'Palmers Cocoa Butter' to me and, quite frankly, I’ve never looked back! It smells divine, applies easy and is great value. It is also much more than just an after bath lotion... Cracked heels? No problem! No after tanning lotion? No problem! Run out of face cream? No problem! It really is a solid beauty investment. And it’s also available in pretty much every High Street beauty store! Bargin!

Cleanse, tone & moisturise.

We women do wear makeup, and between us all, we wear a hell of a lot. Before bed and straight after you wake up, get into a routine of cleansing, toning & moisturising your face. Proper cleansing & toning keeps your skin looking youthful for much longer. And remember; every time you leave your makeup on to go to bed, your skin ages by 8 days!

Because of my sensitive skin, I find 'Simple' products work the best for me. Gentle & made with natural ingredients, you can be sure to get good results. No nasty rashes or spots from using 'Simple' products! I use the 'Moisturising facial wash' for cleansing & the 'Soothing facial toner' for toning. Upon waking, I also use the 'Replenishing rich moisturiser' as a protection for my face. 

At night however, I like to use something I refer to as 'night cream', Nivea's original 'Crème' (the one in the blue tub). It isn't specifically a 'night cream', but it is rich, so I wouldn't recommend using it for day use. When you sleep, that’s the time when your skin repairs itself from the days stresses, so you may as well give it a helping hand!

Facial treats.

I'm a huge believer in taking 10 or 15 minutes out of your life every week to give your skin a treat, and apply a face mask. Extreme weather, pollution & the stresses of work/study all take its toll on skin. It gets dried out and becomes dull, so a quick once weekly face mask will give it a much needed pamper. The face mask I like at the minute is the 'Boots 3minute clay mask'. With sea and cucumber extracts, it’s cheap, suitable for all skin types, and it takes less than 5minutes to work its magic! Of course, if you want to relax a bit, you can leave it on for longer, it won't do any harm.

The lips have it.  

Who doesn't want soft, kissable lips all the time? Yep, thought so, everyone! Lip balm is a must. Keep applying through the day, to keep your lips conditioned & looking super soft & kissable! (Who knows when a situation like that may arise?) I love 'Carmex' lip balms. Easy to apply, effective, and with an added spf 15, this little pot of wonder ticks all the boxes. I particularly like the 'cherry' flavour, simply because it smells wonderful! And the handy size of the pot means it fits into any handbag or pocket, making it the ultimate accessory!