#i tried moisturising more and the skin reacted badly

[squidaped-oyt]

Genuinely do not know what the skin on my hands wants from me at this point

[offtorivendell]

Skincare routine?? I know some of it, but I want all the deets

To be fair it's not really interesting. It's more a very long and convoluted story haha, but I'll be brief¹ ish².

TL,DR: acne + sensitive skin is a fun combo, and less is more, imo.

I was wrong.

Very wrong.

I've always had sensitive skin, but adult/cystic acne hit me hard after I changed my birth control in the second half of my 20s. Most acne products I tried were too harsh on my skin - I've reacted badly even to "sensitive" products and had to run back to the makeup shop after ten minutes for a wipe to remove whatever it was I'd tried and still ended up with a layer or two of skin burnt off and bumps all over my face for a few weeks - so while the benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid etc may have worked for others, for me they just destroyed my moisture barrier and left me with acne AND extremely irritated skin -> worse acne than I had to begin with.

After a year, I went to a dermatologist - cystic acne isn't just a knock to your self esteem, it can actually hurt - and the topical clindamycin helped a bit, but it wasn't enough. The oral antibiotics I was prescribed just made me vomit (hooray, new-found allergy) and the differin gel made me peel like crazy, as we've established my skin had no moisture barrier left.

Eventually, after maybe another year, I tried one of those online prescription delivery services for skin concerns, because I was desperate and figured why the fuck not? I couldn't even wear scarves in winter because they hurt the cysts, and I couldn't cover the acne with makeup, because it just highlighted everything and made my face look ten times worse. I'd tried everything else, nothing worked, and I was miserable.

The prescription worked.

Honestly I cried at one point, I was so relieved. When you have awful cystic acne, you feel gross (or I did, anyway), as if you are being judged for a lack of hygiene when you probably put more effort into keeping your skin clean than most people out there. 😅 It took a wee bit over 6 months, but it eventually cleared up by about 90% (the last 10% healed as the scarring and red marks etc faded). Obviously cystic acne is far from the worst thing out there, but it's still not fun, and some of the looks and questions from strangers - "have you tried drinking ACV?!" - get old quickly.

So, what worked for me back then?

A super duper gentle face wash, no exfoliants or anything else fancy.

The cream I was prescribed was really gentle, too, with small doses of clindamycin, azelaic acid and zinc pyrithione. Once a day.

A light moisturiser over summer, with SPF, or a richer moisturiser over winter, also with SPF.

What works for me now, a few years later?

I still use a gentle face wash - 'La Roche Posay hydrating gentle cleanser' - once a day (or twice if I'm wearing makeup). If not, I use a microfiber towel and water to wash my face before bed. As much as I'd love to steam myself in the shower, too much washing irritates my face in the long run.

I tried a slightly different formulation from the same prescription service for 6 months, with retinol instead, but I was always slightly peeling, my skin never got used to it, so I'm back on the original formula, once a day, and my skin is still clear barring the occasional hormonal pimple.

Over winter I'll add in a serum to boost the hyaluronic acid, because I get very dry very quickly. I really like the 'Intraceuticals' brand, though they aren't cheap, but one bottle lasts me 6 ish months, so it's not awful and I'm happy to splurge.

Currently liking 'The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA' over summer, or 'Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre' for winter.

Neither of those moisturisers have SPF, so I use IT Cosmetics CC cream with SPF 50+ for the day and/or Bare Minerals SPF 25 year round, because when you grow up in Australia you learn not to fuck with sun exposure. If I need a normal/untinted sunblock for my face, 'Cancer Council' brand for sensitive skin is good (and I use their regular mineral sunblock for the rest of my body, too). If I'm going out at night, I use a Charlotte Tilbury foundation, which doesn't have any SPF but I still love it. I've been okay with other mineral sunblocks, but some of them leave a white cast even on my pale skin, which isn't ideal.

I tried 'Dr Dennis Gross's Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment' wipes - I think we spoke about them a while back? 😅 - and they're good! A bit pricey, but luckily I don't need to use them constantly. Still, bacne sucks over summer.

It's not skincare, but skincare adjacent: in terms of makeup, I don't wear a lot, but I like Glossier (mascara, brows and blush cream), Charlotte Tilbury (foundation, eye shadow, blush powder, bronzer, mascara and lippy), Bare Minerals (mineral veil finishing powder and eye shadow), Stila (colour correcting primer and eyeliner). And paw paw balm for lips, of course lol. I tend not to be all that adventurous once I've found something that works, for obvious reasons.

So basically, I do the following:

AM

Wash/cleanse

+ HA serum in winter

Moisturiser + sunblock (then maybe makeup)

PM

Wash/cleanse

Prescription cream, + HA serum in winter

Moisturiser only

So yeah, no 27 step beauty regimen for me, because firstly I can't be arsed, and secondly, chances are I'd react to something and spend a month babying my skin back to baseline. I'd love to be one of those people who can use all natural skincare or try almost anything once, but unfortunately it never works.

Stay tuned for me spending my time and money figuring out how to fight the inevitable fine lines and wrinkles without retinol. 😂

Weirdly specific asks.

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

Skincare/ makeup culture ☕️

oooh. i’ll divide this post into two parts: makeup culture and skincare culture.

(1.) makeup culture.

i think everyone knows that I’ve never liked makeup, mostly because I had relatively bad cystic acne throughout high school, that reacted badly to all of the makeup that my sister used (but most particularly her l’oreal foundation). I think makeup culture is particularly harmful to young girls, like the makeup youtube channels that are run by the parents I suppose of 8 year olds, where the 8yo is the actual youtuber.

like don’t get me wrong, i know young girls like playing with makeup (I actually did when I was that age, funnily enough)….. but the fact that professional or just plain fucking ridiculously expensive makeup palettes are now being marketed to girls in bloody primary/grade/elementary school, is just fucking wrong. and yeah there’s the post on here about how some younger girls are finding themselves ugly when they don’t wear properly applied makeup or something like that. and that breaks my heart. why the fuck should a young girl be made to feel ugly if she can’t blend like josiemaycosmetics (I made that up btw idk any makeup channels besides Jeffree star, James Charles and that tatti woman tbh) and can’t afford the bullshit Too Faced $98 powered foundation, $65 Sunday Riley blush (I roughly remember the price of this particular blush bc my sister bought it for me for my 20th birthday so that I could according to her “look good for uni” but I never actually used it lmao… and it’s no longer sold here in australia) and Kylie Jenner’s overpriced lip kits and idk Smashbox “photo finish” primer priced between $AU23-$AU55????

like I had this bad enough in fucking HIGH SCHOOL with my sister telling me that I’d “never get a boyfriend” or “never get a date for the formal/junior prom” if I didn’t spend hundreds of $$$$ for a good face of makeup and didn’t spend hours and hours learning how to do my own makeup. or how last year for my uni grad, she made out that I’d ruin my own uni grad if we didn’t spend $250 on the makeup artist we got for me….. where I unfortunately found out that my skin reacts to MAC products 😭😨 bc the MUA used MAC concealer and foundation. my sister also expected me to remember the setting spray the woman used for my makeup, when I was there from like 4:30am till like 6:45am and i was barely fucking awake. the setting spray probably could’ve easily cost over $100. let’s be real here. like why am I expected to remember shit that early in the morning???

one of my least favourite things with makeup culture is that you’re not meant to fuck it up in any way, shape or form. like when my sister did my makeup for my two high school formals/proms (year 10 & year 12) she constantly told me not to scratch my face while she was doing it (but it made me itchy, hooray for L’Oréal being shit lmao)…. not to fuck it up while I ate at those events….. and she didn’t let me eat before my uni grad last year bc “you’d definitely fuck up your makeup. don’t you dare scratch your face at all today!” like for someone who has hypersensitive/highly reactive skin that she has to scratch when it’s itchy….. and also loves fucking stuffing her face with food….. expecting me to never touch/scratch my face and to practically starve myself to preserve the integrity of my makeup (that i ended up paying for some in the end anyway) for an event is fucking stupid and over-restrictive.

like i always hated the way that the kardashians ate on KUWTK bc it looked so fucking mechanical and whatever bc they had to obvs preserve their makeup while shooting and also look nice for the camera. like why the fuck am I expected to eat ~like that~ when I have a faceload of MU on???? FUCK OFF. I will scratch it off. I will smear the food all over my face (ok not really) and eat however I motherfucking want, thank you very fucking much. like for my uni grad last year I was up from 4am and my grad ended at like 12:30pm….. so I didn’t have food til about 12:35 when I left the hall. and the whole time while I was eating my sister kept reminding me to not fuck up my makeup that we’d spent $250 on. JUST LET ME FUCKING EAT WOMAN, I SWEAR TO FUCK. lmao.

the last thing I hate the most about makeup culture is that like….. I absolutely hate makeup like I said above….. but once I have it on I feel pretty and cry a bit bc I’ll just never learn to do it myself…. mostly bc I couldn’t be bothered…. bc I save hundreds, if not thousands of $$$$ from not buying all the bullshit essential items you need just for a ~basic no makeup, makeup look~, and bc my hands have never been steady enough to use some of the things, like false eyelashes and eyelash curlers or liquid eyeliner/normal eyeliner….. 

but yeah. I just hate that it makes me feel pretty???? but I also feel good and more natural without it???? and I’ll never like my sister’s comment that: “you’re the prettier one out of the two of us…. but if only you hurried up and learnt to do your makeup, you’d be even prettier” or some dumb semi-condescending shit comment she’s said to me like that before. like why is the only way a woman can be pretty (other than some clothes that make her feel good) by smearing 100s/1000s of dollars worth of makeup on???? like why the fuck am I expected to spend all that money when a good bulk of men will never bother with the male makeup trend anyway???? like why am I expected to act differently when I basically just have grown up face-paint on lmao???? I’ve never felt natural in makeup, I’ve always felt awkward and like…. not sound like an cringey edgelord emo kid…. but i never felt ~real~ wearing makeup lmao. just yeah.

but yeah I also understand makeup is an art and I appreciate that. makeup culture is so fucked on all sides for women.

(2.) skincare culture:

now skincare culture is different for me. considering that, like I said before, I had relatively bad cystic acne…. and I’ve since also developed eczema during the winter months….. so I’ve had to develop a good skincare routine over the years to keep my skin under control. but again, there are parts that I don’t like about skincare culture…. like women are typically meant to spend, again, hundreds and if not thousands of dollars on super expensive skin creams (some of which I’ve tried) to fix their fine lines, their laugh lines, their crows feet, their blemishes, their birth marks and cellulite…… the list truly goes on and on….. and on top of that (well this hellsite which isn’t entirely accurate) I’m, or we as women, are expected to teach all of that to men in their 20s???? like fuck off. why and how the fuck didn’t they get the fucking memo to look after their own goddamned skin???? like my 20s are already tiring enough, and now I gotta pass on important skincare advice to men, who could easily fucking find it themselves online???? lord help their asses lmao.

but other than the men bit…. yeah skincare culture is just as bad as makeup culture. like when Cosmo mag was still running in australia, more than half of the shit the women at Cosmo were advertising as part of their skincare routines were literally $300 night treatment creams or moisturisers; $150 facial cleansers; or $500 skin peels, or $600 appointments at dermatologists and skin therapies like electrolysis that I’ll probs never be able to afford. like one of the luxury brands that I LOVE (💖) is Mario badescu bc the two pimple treatments that i sometimes I use from them (the drying lotion and the anti-acne serum) are the ONLY two acne treatments that have NEVER made my face turn red and my skin peel off (besides a really good neutrogena one that Neutrogena discontinued 😭). every other chemist bought pimple treatment cream makes my skin peel off/itchy/turn red. but sadly the two Mario badescu treatments are priced over $50 if bought together (ones now $31 (formerly $28, this one’s great bc it dries clear), the other is like $26, this one dries pink). so the chemist bought ones like the ones by Clearasil or OXY10 are my saviours at $11.99-$12.99, even though they dry out my skin to buggery and leave big white marks on my face bc they both dry white lmao. but I’ve gotta suffer that for the price of beauty lmao.

also there’s expensive face washes (or skin care program packs etc) from Paula’s choice that I love.... but again they were like $35 for a 400ml bottle and $25 for a fucking 150ml or 250ml bottle. now the one i like is $20 for 177ml, which is a rip off. some of the other luxury things that I’ve tried (via free samples) that don’t work, like Kate Somerville (priced at like $65 and over), Philosophy and god knows what else that i’ve bought from Mecca Cosmetica, which is the Aussie version of Sephora in the past. and yes, for acne treatments, i’ve used pro-activ before. it was ok… but i never used it in high school, after the awful time we had trying to cancel our subscription to it back in the day for my sister lol.

also can we talk about the ultrasonic face brush systems that are still raging strongly??? like they’re also super rip offs, especially with buying replacement heads for $35 a pop. like I’ve had a Clarisonic for years (that I’ve stopped using, admittedly)…. the model was roughly $250 when I got it for my like 19th birthday. now they’re even more expensive at like $315 for the latest “clarisonic mia fit cleansing system” which is linked on the $315. or now there’s the foreo that costs anywhere between $75 (the cheapest model) to fucking almost $400… ie $395. the replacement heads for the clarisonic and i suppose replacement like pads or something for the foreo are meant to be replaced every three months “for optimum cleansing” or whatever. like $35 every three months is a lot to maintain after a while. also using the clarisonic added like 10 extra minutes to my showers/general skincare routine bc you’re meant to use it for five mins or whatever and then spend another 5mins washing it out to make sure that it doesn’t collect mould and buildup too much soap residue. it was just a lot of effort to use, even if it did make me feel like i had a better and deeper face washing routine.

and yes, i know there’s Lush. both my sister and i (but more my sister) were obsessed with Lush back in high school, after one of our sydney cousins introduced it to us. but Lush’s skincare stuff for pimples just never worked for us. it made me breakout more, actually. but their old apple pie and choc-orange lip balms were the BOMB. it’s a pity that they no longer make them tbh. their jelly soaps were fun to use and smelt nice too. i can’t remember much else about lush tbh lmao.

for face masks, i’ve found that store/chemist bought formula 10.0.06 or whatever works the best for my skin. but the push, especially again in cosmo and other places, to buy more expensive face-masks and like designer FMs that you should really ask a professional to use first imo, is fucking harmful, especially when you’ve got ones that take off the whole top layer of skin from your face (like the famous and the overly popular charcoal face peel masks), or so i’ve read. like it’s yikes out there. please be safe with these masks, ya’ll. and the same goes for making your own organic face masks, considering that i’ve seen posts on here about using lemon juice which is bad for your skin??? idk anyway. i also hate how with the face masks i buy, there’s about 6 different “skin-illuminating”/“skin brightening”/”skin detoxing” etc masks, that all essentially do the same fucking thing. just keep it at one and fucking go; for gods fucking sake lmao.

but yeah, skincare culture does suck just as much as makeup culture, considering that is heavily focused on women’s self-esteem and wallets…. and barely ever focuses on men. like it’s a double-edged sword tbh.

also as side notes: why the actual fuck are makeup companies still giving their makeup shades or makeup lines sexual names???? like i just found a fucking blush shade by NARS, in my research for this post, called “Orgasm”???? like what the FUCK is wrong with ya’ll??? like y’all actually have the fucking AUDACITY to really make 8 year olds say that in their makeup tutorial videos as well??? “our best selling orgasm collection” sweet lord. that sounds bad. y’all need to sort your shit out, and so do the people who name nail polish shades.. 

the other worrying general beauty trends that i keep getting on my facebook newsfeed are the teeth whitening systems like hismile and at home laser treatment machines… and then also the charcoal toothpastes to whiten your teeth. oh and also the facial skin “vacuums”, that suck out dirt/oil and your blackheads/pimples etc from your pores. stay safe out there everyone, and do your bloody research. don’t believe the reviews and the hype.

also finally: take your skin type and skin condition/(s) into account if you want to use any of the things that I’ve mentioned that I use/have used on this post. or that I’ve just generally mentioned, like the Clarisonic and the foreo. because what works for me, might not work for you. I’m not a skincare expert or dermatologist. check with your doctor or a skincare professional or whatever before you start using some of these things, even if you might think that it’s stupid & pointless to do so.

[its-cornelia-blog]

Here it is!

𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆

*𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑: This is what works for me, my skin may be different from yours so it’s no guarantee that this will work for you too! My skin is very sensitive, that’s why I can’t even wear foundation, my skin acts up fast so I always think twice before I add or change something in my routine. I also don’t spend too much for my skin care routine, so a lot of these are very affordable (especially if you’re on a student budget like me)! Read the comments below to see how I use it altogether ⬇

1. 𝙀𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙡 (𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙨) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙖𝙨𝙝

To remove the oil and dirt from my face, I always use Eskinol (for teens because I find it less harsh than the regular one). I know that people usually avoid using cleansers with alcohol in them and lean towards micellar water, but Eskinol works for me! If you prefer micellar water, I highly suggest Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water for Sensitive Skin.

After, I wash my face with Ponds once or twice (depending on how oily your skin is). Whenever I have pimples, Ponds helps me avoid it or dry it up and lighten it. I’ve been using Ponds all my life. Although I’ve tried others, my skin always ends up reacting badly.

2. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙃𝙖𝙯𝙚𝙡 𝙏𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙡

I only use this toner at night because I use a different one in the morning. After washing my face, I put this on a cotton pad and apply it all over my face to stay hydrated.

3.𝙂𝙊 𝙂𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙎: 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙚

This is actually 2 parts to a whole set of 4 products. Check out their account @thegoglass.ph to see it all! The entire set is only P370 which makes it super student-budget friendly. (In the morning!) After washing my face, I apply this toner all over my face using a cotton pad. After, I apply the sunblock that the set came with. I wasn’t able to take a photo of it because I ran out. After that, you can apply your make up. I just put on eyebrows, but that leaves your skin looking a bit shiny because of the sunblock, but you can just apply some powder to matte your face (I don’t).

The Skin Salve you only apply at night. I apply it right after the Thayers Witch Hazel Toner. I only use my fingers to do so, but make sure it’s absolutely clean (Though you can also opt to use a jade roller)!

4. 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙇 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝, 𝙋𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢, 𝘼𝙡𝙤𝙚 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙂𝙚𝙡(*𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚)

There was a time in university where I really broke out, so I had to have a stable routine to removing acne. This is mine. Whenever I break out, I only cleanse my face using Eskinol and Ponds, and I skip the toner and skin salve because I don’t want it getting worse.

The MEDIHEAL Trouble Dressing Patch is a bit over P300, but I say it’s worth it because it already comes with 80 patches. I only apply this at night, and after I’ve thoroughly washed my face. Make sure not to abuse the patch because repeatedly using it can cause that area where you applied the patch to burn. Use it, at most, twice in the same area, never more. Usually, after the first night, it should already be dry. When that’s the case, I just repeatedly wash my face and then apply the day cream, strictly no make up so it doesn’t get irritated.

Prior to using pimple patches, I always used toothpaste. It’s an old and traditional hack, but it works to dry the acne. Apply toothpaste using a cotton swab directly on the acne before sleeping and wash your face when you wake up. Make sure not to mix Eskinol and toothpaste because you could end up burning your skin (it’s happened to me).

The Ponds Day Cream helps me lighten the dark spots that are left by acne. Like the facial wash, I’ve used this all my life too.

Another way to lighten pimples is by applying Aloe Vera gel to your face (also helps hydrate it). I only apply Aloe Vera when I know the pimple is completely dry. I also store it in the fridge so it’s cool on the face and closes your pores.

5. 𝙎𝙩. 𝙄𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣 𝙀𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙧

This moisturiser is magic. It’s also very affordable. If I remember correctly, a tub is below P300. Before, when I didn’t use toner or didn’t apply some sort of serum like the Skin Salve at night, I only applied this on my face before sleeping and I would always wake up to baby soft skin. I always always recommend this moisturiser to my friends and they always love it just as much as I do.

[lindoig8]

On to Gemtree

Monday, 17 May

I did say today would be a biggish day – and it was. We were up before 7am and did all the final things ready to move on and we were on the way to the repair shop by 7.50am – almost a record for us.

We arrived and received a short sermon about how we should be treating our van to avoid the ravages that the poor thing had suffered. I tried not to react too strongly so explained what needed to be done and we left him to it. He said it would take about an hour so we bought a couple of things we needed from Woollies and sat in the car to warm up in the sun beside the dry Todd River. A couple of hours later, they rang to say the van was ready – but they deal ONLY in cash – no cards of any sort that require mechanical or electronic contraptions to clutter up workshop. Fortunately, we had enough because we got cash out at the supermarket so off we went to collect the van. On arrival, another tirade started. The mess under the van was the ‘worst botched job’ he had ever seen and the entire caravan below the floor ‘should be ripped out and rebuilt from scratch’ – his words! No hint of customer-friendly relations there. He had replaced the broken tap and installed a new hose where the fitting was broken – but he didn’t know if it would work because he had run some new hosing to connect the tanks but didn’t know if it was correct or not – ‘if not, just pull it all out myself and start again!’ I had drawn his attention to some bent protective shielding when I dropped it off and he said he had removed some of it and ‘smashed it out and refitted it’ – his words again. (But he didn’t install the new protective shield around the hose and tap as he said he would as part of the job!) Then his wife started in with the 15/25 rule again and told us not to ‘smash up’ anything else on the van on the way to Gemtree (all of which is on good, sealed roads). She took our $295 in cash and then we realised that he hadn’t fixed the trailer hitch so we couldn’t reconnect the van. It needed 2 small plates to be fitted where I had replaced the bolts a week ago – so he replaced them with second-hand items and charged us another $50 for 5 minutes work. And to top it all off, when we got to Gemtree and connected water to the van, his new length of hose leaked badly in 3 of the 4 places where leaks could have occurred. (We subsequently taped it us as well as we could to make it usable in the short term.) Wherever we go, people ask where we were taking the van, or where we had the work done, and when we say JC caravans (the ONLY caravan place in Alice), the eye-rolls start and the tears of sympathy start to flow – obviously, they are widely known for their utter incompetence and gross offensiveness to customers and suppliers alike – but there is nowhere else to go so people just have to suck it up. We eventually got on our way with his wife still haranguing us as we drove off – back to the G’Day Caravan Park to fill all our tanks – by agreement with the managers there after staying for a couple of weeks.

Gemtree is great! It is very rustic, no bells or whistles, but a fascinating place. There is a small shop, not much stock, but you could survive if you had to, any sort of fuel at $2 a litre, and a huge area (hundreds of acres!) only partly cleared for caravans. There is a gem-shop and display and a heritage-listed museum – a historic house (the Old Mt Riddock Homestead) from the relatively near vicinity - 45 kilometres east.

The powered sites are fairly close to the amenities – our van is 30-40 metres away, but all of the powered sites are within maybe 150 metres or a shade more – but I went for a walk in the bush and saw unpowered sites (obviously unused for at least a couple of years) with running water and fire pits half a kilometre or more away. Someone had even dug their own firepit about a kilometre from the ablutions. There are signs for the golf course, with at least a few tees, and it seems that they had regular golf tournaments here about 20 years ago. There is a strange open structure (the Club House?) with a leader board in it from the ‘2001 Gemtree Open Bush Golf Classic’ but the course itself is completely overgrown now.

There is a bush area that I walked to that was at least 500 by 500 metres littered with every imaginable item of junk, old vehicles, brand new boults of wire and equipment, dumped fridges, washing machines, etc., a defunct caravan or two, a massive bulldozer rusting away, parts of buildings (doors, windows, stairs, you name it) – it is an incredible area, with everything just laying around higgledy-piggledy with no attempt to create a dump – just things left where they were tossed off the truck 50 metres from the nearest other collection of rural detritus.

But we are comfortable. The artesian water is pretty hard, lots of calcium, but quite palatable enough to drink and without any restrictions on usage. The ablution block is a bit old and tired, but clean enough, there are plenty of mulga trees to offer some sparce shade – and every site has its own firepit. It was wonderful to have our first fire for about 3 years a couple of nights ago. There is something quite primaeval about sitting and watching a cosy fire – yes, it gets pretty cold at night and early in the morning – and we burned all our accumulated rubbish. There is plenty of wood around if you want to go scavenging, but we have carted wood, pinecones and other inflammables for tens of thousands of kilometres so it is good to relieve the car of some of that. And there seems to be a breeze each morning and evening that whistles through the mulga with almost the romance of the sound of the wind through sheoaks (highly evocative of wonderful times in my youth) – absolutely magical. I love it.

Tuesday, 18 May

We spent a good deal of Tuesday, rearranging the car and van. We took everything off the roof-rack and put some things from the van-boot up there – and rearranged everything in the back of the car and the caravan to make it all much more compact; but easier to access and use. It was a big job, but we were very satisfied when it was finished. A side issue of doing anything in the desert is that our hands are constantly dry, no matter how much moisturiser we use. Our fingers are so dry, the skin catches on everything, our clothes, the bedsheet, anything that is not entirely smooth – and constant washing doesn’t do anything to help. But it is a tiny cost for being here in such wonderful surroundings.

Note the comparatively empty roof-rack compared with earlier photos. Some of gear we removed is stacked at the rear of the van.

There is virtually no phone or internet access here. There is a little near the shop, but almost nothing and only very occasional at best near the caravan – so we go up to the shop each day with our phones and PC and hope to download anything that might be waiting for us. There is a tower somewhere relatively nearby (we saw one about 30 clicks away), but it is for some commercial business and often gets turned off randomly for hours at a time.

There are lots of birds here – literally thousands of Zebra Finches in clouds, hundreds of Galahs, but quite a few Black and Whistling Kites (mainly Blacks), Torresian Crows, Crested Pigeons, Willie Wagtails, and Budgerigars – as well as occasional Red Goshawks, Rufous Whistlers, Red-capped Robins, Singing Honeyeaters, Magpies and probably others I can’t recall at present. We still see plenty of flocks of budgies – maybe about 6 to 20 in each flock, but the zebras come in their hundreds, flocking around every leaking tap and descending from the nearby shrubbery like a cloud for a quick drink and back again – again and again and again. And as soon as one flock migrates to another tap, they are replaced with a couple of hundred more. One interesting bit of animal behaviour I have noticed is that the crows systematically visit all the firepits each morning to check for leftovers once the visitors leave, either to move on or just for the day.

And on the subject of birds, the Red Goshawk I saw a few minutes ago was the 101st species I have identified since leaving home. I added 6 to the list yesterday, including 2 new lifers for us – subspecies of the Hooded Robin and Horsfield’s Bushlark that we haven’t seen before.

[dawnasiler]

Is Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum Really A Vitamin Bomb For Dry & Sensitive Skin?

Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum is a “Vitamin Bomb” for your skin.

That’s what the brand says, anyway. They packed it to the brim with lots of natural oils and extracts to give dry skin all the vitamins and TLC it needs.

The result is a bomb indeed. One that could trigger a rash or something in sensitive skin. Here’s why:

What’s In Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum?

GLYCERIN

Glycerin is a moisture magnet for your skin. Like a magnet, it attracts moisture from the air into the skin and binds it there.

Moisture is the foundation of good skin. When you have enough, you see it. Your skin plumps up (a visual trick that makes your fine lines look smaller).

Its texture become softer to the touch. And the whole complexion takes on a subtle glow.

Related: The Complete Guide To Glycerin In Skincare

SUNFLOWER & SAFFLOWER SEED OILS

Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum is packed to the brim with oils. But only two are listed higher than preservatives. In other words, only these two do the bulk of the moisturizing work.

Sunflower and safflower seed oil are rich in fatty acids, the little bricks your skin need to create a healthy skin barrier.

It works like this: fatty acids create a barrier on the skin that keeps moisture in and germs, bacteria, and other skin enemies out.

Now moisture can’t evaporate through your broken skin’s barrier, it stays in – just where you need it to moisturize skin.

A stronger skin barrier also means your skin is better able to withstand attacks from harsh weather, irritating skincare products, bacteria and anything else that tries to harm it. Phew!

Related: The Complete Guide To Sunflower Oil In Skincare

ESSENTIAL OILS

My problem with Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum? It has too many essential oils.

As a rule, the better an oil smells, the higher its irritating potential. The reason is simple: what makes these plants smell good to humans is what repels insects and predators. In other words, plants smell good so they won’t get eaten.

For most people, these fragrances are harmless. But if you have sensitive skin, beware. They could trigger a rash or allergy.

The main culprits in this serum are eucalyptus, orange, lavender and peppermint oils. They’re all present in small amounts, but still, if your skin reacts bad to anything, I wouldn’t take the risk.

Related: 7 Natural Ingredients That Can Irritate Skin

Texture

Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum doesn’t feel like a serum at all. It’s more like a lightweight lotion. Non-greasy, it spreads easily on the skin and sinks in quickly.

Fragrance

Refreshing and medicinal, it’s a mix of eucalyptus and mint.

How To Use It

Every morning and night, after serums. If you have very dry skin, you can follow up with moisturiser.

Performance & Personal Opinion

I have mixed feelings about Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum. It sure has a lot going for it.

For starters, I love the lightweight texture. I use it after my retinol serum at night and follow it up with moisturizer. It sinks in quickly and plays well with the other products in my skincare routine. No pilling or anything like that.

It definitely helps to protect my skin during these cold winter months. When I wake up in the morning, my skin is softer to the touch and a little plumper.

The best part, harsh winds don’t break it down so easily. Oh, they’re trying, but my skin stays soft and supple even when I venture outside for a few hours.

The only thing I don’t like is the sheer amount of essential oils they’ve used. Salcura claims Bioskin Dermaserum can be used by everyone, no matter how sensitive their skin is.

Yet, orange, lavender & co are common sensitisers that do trigger irritations and allergic reactions in lots of people. If you formulate for sensitive skin, you MUST leave them out.

What if you don’t have sensitive skin? I don’t, so the fragrance doesn’t bother me. If you don’t get a bad reaction from it, no need to avoid it. But I still wish it weren’t there.

Related: What To Do When Your Skin Products Start To Pill Or Ball Up

Who Is This For?

Combination to dry skin that needs an extra dose of moisture.

Who Is This Not For?

Acne-prone skin: Too many oils that may aggravate breakouts

Sensitive skin: The essential oils may irritate your skin

Packaging

Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum comes in a sleek white and blue tube that releases just the right amount of product you need for each application.

Does Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIMTRUE?Light face serum, which can be used on a daily basis to ensure a deeply hydrated and nourished skin.True.Will feed your skin the healthy nutrients it needs to become stronger and show less symptoms like dryness, redness and itchiness.True again. But then any moisturizer can do this.May also be suitable for people who may be prone to eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea.I personally wouldn’t risk it. It has too many essential oils that are common allergens and irritants.

Price & Availability

£13.99 at Feel Unique

Do You Need It?

It’s definitely not a must-have. But if your skin doesn’t react badly to essential oils, this serum/lotion can help strengthen your skin’s protective barrier.

Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum has a lightweight, non-greasy texture that sinks in quickly and deeply moisturises dry skin, leaving it softer, smoother and better able to withstand harsh weather. But it's loaded with essential oils that can irritate sensitive skin.

Beautiful With Brains

PRO

Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture

Moisturizing, makes skin softer and smoother

Reduces dryness and redness

Strengthens the skin's barrier and protects it against harsh weather and germs

CON

Too many irritating essential oils

Not suitable for sensitive skin

Dupes & Alternatives

Ingredients

Aqua, Glycerin, Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil), Safflower Seed Oil (Carthamus Tinctorius Seed oil), Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Grape Seed Oil (Vitis Vinifera Seed oil), Isononyl Isononanoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sea Buckthorn Kernel Extract (Hippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract), Eucalyptus Leaf Oil (Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil), Tea Tree Leaf Oil(Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil), Urea, Sweet Orange Peel Oil (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil), Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Lavender Extract (Lavandula Angustifolia Extract), Olive Oil(Olea Europaea Fruit oil), Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil), Rosemary Leaf Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract), Lavandin Oil (Lavandula Hybrida Oil), Camphor Tree Leaf Oil (Cinnamomum Camphora Formosana Leaf Oil), Linalyl Acetate, Pine Leaf Twig Extract (Pinus Species Twig Extract), Rosemary Leaf Oil (Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil), Peppermint Oil (Mentha Piperita Oil), Aloe Vera Leaf Juice Powder (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder), Camphor, Beta-Carotene

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams - even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Is Salcura Bioskin Dermaserum Really A Vitamin Bomb For Dry & Sensitive Skin? syndicated from Beautiful With Brains

[wingitmakeup-blog]

Instagram hyped products that I don't think I would buy again!

As my first blog was about the products I love the most at the moment, I thought would do a blog about the products that got some great reviews. I bought these products to find out what all the hype was about, and found myself disappointed. DISCLAIMER - I would never tell anyone not to buy a product, it is always a matter of opinion. Products react differently to other peoples skin, so you will never really know till you try yourself. 

#1 NYX Total Control Drop Foundation

This foundation was all over Instagram for a long period of time so I went a bought it. For a foundation that was as cheap as it was, I wasn't expecting amazing things. I colour matched myself in store and with the lighting I thought it was a good match. I was very excited and immediately went home and tried it... WOW it was orange! Luckily I had the NYX Pro Foundation Mixer in White. It did the job of toning it down. I tried this foundation for a fair few days.. It completely dried out my skin and gave an uneven coverage. I love NYX eye products but this one is not one I would buy again.

#2 Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil

I am all for trying new brow products and I normally have great experiences with them. I love Ka-Brow! by Benefit, but this one was not the best. If you are looking for a quick brow fill in with a natural look, do buy this product. It just didn't sit well on my brows, it didn't last and was not easy to get a shape from. 

#3 KIKO Sculpting Touch Creamy Stick Contour

Now, contouring is not something I am big on. When I have a client I will contour, but on myself I struggle as I do not have a strong bone structure in my face. I bought this product to use on my clients. I normally make my own contouring shades from a mix of the lightest and darkest shades, but I thought I would branch out. This product is creamy to apply but sets in very quickly, making it hard to blend, and I am all about blending! Just wasn't a product for me.

#4 e.l.f Illuminating Face Primer

This brand is not as easily accessible in the UK, so on a trip to the States I got very excited and went e.l.f crazy! It is a great affordable brand. This primer was not what I was expecting for an ‘Illuminating’ primer. From the packaging it looked pigment and moisturising. It came out as just a drying face primer with a bit of glitter, not fully what I expecting. 

#5 Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW Foundation 

I love Benefit’s moisturisers and bronzers, but this product did let me down. I alway find there products to be moisturising and lovely to apply to the skin. I found this product dried out my skin. As I said before, this is a personal opinion and this is just how it reacted to my skin. In terms of coverage.. did the job! Don't rule this one out on my opinion, was just what I found!

#6 Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Fine-Point Eye Pen

This one is a strange one. I LOVED this product. It was pigmented, it was easy to use, and it was defiantly waterproof. It was perfect in my eyes, then about 2 weeks later ... it ran out. As you pay double what the average cosmetic store brands sell, its not worth it. Of course if you have the money to spare, grab it!

#7 Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

As all of my clients and friends know, I love Illamasqua. If I had to use one brand for the rest of my life, it would be this one. This is the only product I have found so far that doesn't work with me. I was very excited when I received this product, but it reacted badly to my skin giving me dry patches. Foundations are such a hit and miss nowadays. So many brands are bringing out BB Creams and full overage foundations, its hard to know which is best. This foundation gives a lovely glow to some clients and patchy coverage with others. Overall, as this foundation isn't a consistent product I don't think I will buy this again for my kit.

#8 MAC Match Master Concealers Stick

I do try to avoid MAC as much as possible due to their animal testing but I had heard so many great things about their concealers and thought I should see what the hype was all about. MAC is such an established brand, and their products are great so I was expecting big things. This specific concealer is hard to work with. When applied to the skin it sets very quickly, so before I had time to blend and set it underneath the eyes it had creased. It’s a very pasty product. I think this concealer would be great for concealing blemishes around the chin and forehead, but anywhere with loose skin, such as under the eyes, I wouldn't use it.

#9 ZOOEVA Smoky Eyeshadow Palette

I bought this product on a whim back home in Australia. This brand is great for brushes, so I was expecting a product with great pigment and amazing blending ability. For me the colours do not blend well together. They are not colours that work well with a smoky eye. I bought this product years ago and I think I use two colours out of it, as a base for the eyeshadow. For the price I don't think I would recommend this to anyone

#10 Lancôme Grandiose Liner 

I was SO excited for this product. I bought this liner for personal use. As many make-up artists will know, once you are so used to doing clients liner all the time, your knack for your own liner isn't as great. Lancôme created this liner to help with getting a consistent wing on your weaker eye. The top of the wand bends to either side. Since using this liner, I have never really used the bend in the wand. It is a good liner as it stays on for 12 hours without loosing any pigment or wearing off. It is hard to apply though, as it dries out very quickly. After every stroke you need to apply more liner to the wand and this takes time. Although it was fun to try, I don't think I would buy this again.

[leadvan2012]

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Nine Badly Beauty Habits and you should Break Them

Permanent Makeup Tattoo Machine,Permanent Makeup Needles ,Permanent Makeup Ink ,Microblading Tools ,Microblading Blades,Microblading Pigments ,Tattoo Topical Anesthetic ,Permanent Makeup Practice Skin,Micro Needle Therapy Pen,Eyebrow Shaping Tools,Permanent Makeup Accessories,Disposable Hygienic Products,Disposable Microblading Handtool,Eyebrow Design Tools,Led Head Magnifier,LGeliable NX Machine,Micro Needle Therapy Pen,Microblading Blades,Microblading Pigment,Pigment for Microblading,Pigment for Micropigmentation,Microblading Tools.

It’s that time of the day: I’ve had enough coffee and I’ve ALREADY seen at least five girls today who have totally gone overboard with their makeup.

Which brings me neatly to today’s topic: Bad Beauty Habits and How To Break Them!

Because let’s be honest… we all make mistakes. Daily!

I’ve always wanted to blog about this, because we all have certain habits concerning our skincare routine that may actually be causing some damage in the long-term.

That’s why I’m selling myself as a sort of emergency beauty doc today, and am compiling nine of the most common bad beauty habits, and some ideas on how to break them. All in the name of clearer, healthier and prettier skin!

Let’s launch straight into the «worst» beauty sins, shall we?

I AM SPEECHLESS! But I have a number of friends who wear makeup, but hardly ever make an effort to remove it at night!

Seriously, girl… you not only ruin your pillowcase by doing this, but you’re also preventing your skin from breathing freely! Plus, your lashes are way more prone to breakage, because they’re stiffer than in their natural state and rubbin mascara-ed lashes can actually cause them to break. So please, please, please believe me: IF YOU USE MAKEUP, REMOVE IT AT THE END OF THE DAY!

Sorry for yelling. Here are two of my favorite products to remove eye makeup… one’s pretty affordable:

SOFT SURGERY Wireless Eyelid Lifting Plasma Pen Fibroblast Pen, US$ 68.00

SOFT SURGERY Wireless Eyelid Lifting Plasma Pen Fibroblast Pen

SOFT SURGERY Wireless Eyelid Lifting Plasma Pen Fibroblast Pen

  …and one super-useful (but very effective!):

CLASSIC THIN MICROBLADING HOLDER-AUTOVLAVE, US$ 35.00

This brings us to the next bad beauty habit:

Okay, am I the only one who really likes the feeling of clean skin? I know that face wipes can be really handy: one swipe and you’ve gotten everything off, right?

Erm, NO.

While you can remove your makeup with wipes, you should really cleanse your skin afterwords. Otherwise all the not-so-great stuff, like alcohol and preservatives, just sits on your skin for aaaaaages.

DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT?

It’s okay for travelling, but at home it’s really not that big of a deal to properly clean your face, is it?

True story: A friend of mine suddenly noticed that her skin was going haywire, with redness and a nasty stinging sensation. At the end it was neither her moisturizer nor the makeup, but the face wipes which caused the problem. Enough said!

Yes, I too love peels and cleansing masks. And it’s of course super-beneficial to the skin to exfoliate regularly and gently. And that’s the keyword: «gentle»! Mechanical peels, either with a scrub or with a cleansing brush, can feel really good and give your skin an instant glow.

But you should pay attention to what you’re putting on your skin after exfoliating.

Using a product that exfoliates chemically, with ingredients like AHA- or BHA-acids, directly after a mechanical peel might just be too much for the skin.

Over-exfoliated skin is stressed skin, because it doesn’t have enough time to regenerate and rebuild its natural barrier. This can result in red, shiny skin or even weird blackheads.

So: Yes to frequent peels, but don’t overdo it. A good way to incorporate a gentle exfoliation is to cleanse your face with a clean washcloth.

I’ve been preaching it for years: Daily sunscreen is a must if you want to prevent your skin from aging prematurely!

And yes, I’m 44, so I get to say things like that! Many of us think that it’s enough to rely on the SPF that’s in our BB cream or liquid foundation. The problem with that is that we never use enough of the product to build up the SPF to its full extent.

The solution?

Apply a proper sunblock after you’ve moisturised!

  Are you one of those people who complain that their makeup doesn’t last through the day? Then you should really consider using a primer!

I haven’t applied eyeshadow without using a primer first for years, but it took me a while to start using one for my face, too. But the results are pretty instantaneous:

If I use a primer, I don’t have to powder or blot my face as much during the day, my foundation applies much easier (and I use less), and my pores seem tighter.

A lot of primers contain silicone, which makes the product glide on more easily. If you don’t like the slippery feeling, or if your skin reacts to silicones, there’s a lot of great products without silicone, such as Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Monika Bluner Primer (see below) or REN Skincare’s Perfect Canvas.

  I know, I KNOW. I’m also a passionate belly sleeper! But it’s a fact that wrinkles appear faster if you sleep on your stomach, especially if you (like most people) don’t have a silk pillow case!

Those who sleep on their backs, look much more relaxed in the morning.

The good news? You can train your body to sleep on your back! It’s worth a try, isn’t it? Lying on your back, try to breathe deeply so that you almost start to meditate. That way, your brain starts to associate lying on your back with relaxation.

Or you do what I do: Use tightening and plumping skincare in the mornings, to counteract the «damage» that happend during the night.

While you were sleeping, so to speak!

Have you already noticed that little image of a open jar on the label of most of your beauty products? This is an indicator on how long you can use a product after opening… but I have to admit, that I may also be guilty of not cleaning out my beauty drawer often enough.

Generally speaking: the more liquid a product contains, the faster you should use it up. Especially creams in jars, which you take out using your finger, can build up an impressive number of bacteria after a few months, even if they contain preservatives to counteract this. And beauty products (but skincare with active ingredients in particular!) really shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight.

Because I love you (and because I’m so talented), I made a cheat sheet on how long you can keep beauty products!

Chic, isn’t it? And so Pinterest-y…

And about powdered make-up products: I’m still using blushes and eyeshadows that I’ve had for several years! But as a last tip: If a products changes consistency or starts to smell weird, throw it away. Better safe than sorry!

Don’t worry. I’m not going to lecture you on how you should never pop a pimple. Because let’s be honest, who really wants to be seen with a visible whitehead? NOBODY, THAT’S WHO.

So if you have to pop a pimple, please make sure your face is make up free and clean. Then you press a warm washcloth onto the area, to soften the pores up a bit. Even better? Take a steamy bath and wash your face a few times during it.

Then, you can GENTLY try to pop it, using your two index fingers, wrapped in a Kleenex. But remember: Don’t overdo it! If you press to hard or too long, you can really damage your skin. If the pimple won’t «give» after one or two tries, KNOCK IT OFF and back away.

And if you manage to pop it, be sure to use salicylic acid afterwards to help avoid spreading the inflammation.

  This is the snowflake that turns into an avalanche. Or the grain of sand that turns into a dune… Wait.. well, you know what I mean.

Your first instinct when you spot a grey hair ist to pluck it, right. The problem with that? Each plucked out hair grows back, but not necessarily in the same direction as before. This may ruin your hairdo, no joke!

Who wants a head full of weird, sticky-out-y antennae halo hair?

But even more dramatic is, that if you pluck a hair out one time too many, the follicle, at some point, will be traumatized enough to simply stop growing hair, which means: Thinner hair for you, and maybe even visible thinning spots on your scalp.

My suggestion would be to dye your hair or maybe have some highlights done, which make grey hair appear softer. On another note, I’m looking forward to my white hair! White hair is significantly thicker than my fine hair! INSTANT OLD LADY VOLUME!

And that’s it for today’s beauty sermon.

I hope you didn’t feel caught-out too often… but if you did, you know what to do!

Have a great day and be good!

[dawnasiler]

Is Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Really Kind To Skin?

I like my cleansers simple. No fragrance. No colour. No fancy bells and whistles. Just gentle cleansing power that takes everything off sans the irritation.

That’s just what Simple Refreshing Facial Wash promises. Heck, it proudly boats to be the kindest cleanser the brand has ever made. Does it live up to it?

Key Ingredients In Simple Refreshing Facial Wash

Cocamidopropyl Betaine To Cleanse Skin

Don’t let the complicated name fool you. Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a gentle surfactant that cleanses skin without irritating it.

It works by helping water mix with oil and dirt so they can be rinsed away. But it never goes overboard. It removes dirt, but it doesn’t strip skin naked of the little sebum it needs to stay naturally soft and moisturised. That’s why Simple Refreshing Facial Wash chose it.

FYI, Cocamidropyl Betaine doesn’t foam much. That’s ok. More foam doesn’t equal better cleansing powers. It just equals more irritation!

Related: Should You Avoid Sulfates In Skincare Products?

Panthenol To Moisturize Skin

Panthenol, or pro-vitamin B5, is a humectant. In plain English, it means it attracts water from the environment into the skin and holds it there.

That’s the secret behind Simple Refreshing Facial Wash’s kindness. While Cocamidopropyl Betaine does the cleansing, Panthenol ensures your skin has all the moisture it needs to stay soft during and after the process.

While it’s at it, Panthenol helps soothes dryness and irritation, too.

Related: What Are Humectants And Why Do You Need Them In Your Skincare Routine?

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

First things first: foaming cleansers are for oily skin. Mine’s on the drier side these days. But I still wanted to give this cleanser a go, so I opted for a small travel size.

True to its “no perfume, no colour” motto, Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is fragrance-free and completely transparent. Its texture is gel-like, lightweight and a little slimy.

It doesn’t lather much when you mix it with water, but don’t let that fool you. This cleanser removes all traces of dirt and grime from my face (I use a separate makeup remover for my eyes).

If I’m wearing a water-resistant sunscreen or long-lasting foundation, I need to use two pumps to get everything off my face. I was afraid that’d be too drying for my skin, but I shouldn’t have worried.

It doesn’t matter if I use one or two pumps, my face always feels clean and soft afterwards. No tell-tale tight feeling that warns me the cleanser has stripped too much natural oils from my skin.

If you have oily and sensitive skin that reacts badly to most cleansers, give Simple Refreshing Facial Wash a try. It truly is one of the kindest cleansers I’ve ever tried.

Available at: £3.79 at Superdrug

Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is a gentle, lightly-foaming cleanser that removes all traces of makeup and dirt without irritating or drying out skin.

Beautiful With Brains

PRO

Gel-like, lightly foaming texture

Removes all traces of dirt and makeup

Gentle, doesn't irritate skin

Leaves skin clean and soft

CON

You need two pumps to remove long-lasting makeup

Have you tried Simple Refreshing Facial Wash? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams - even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Is Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Really Kind To Skin? syndicated from Beautiful With Brains

[dawnasiler]

Is Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ The Best Natural Sunscreen?

Is Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ the best natural sunscreen out there? It sure has a lot going for it.

Gentle UV filters that provide broad spectrum protection without irritating skin? Check.

Its fair share of antioxidants to boost sun protection? Check.

A texture that feels like you’ve got nothing on? Check.

Yet, it has a couple of small flaws that can make it or break it for you. Should you go for it or leave it on the shelf? Let’s find out:

Key Ingredients In Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+

Zinc Oxide To Provide Broad Spectrum Protection

It’s no secret zinc oxide is my fave UV filter. This white mineral protects, ON ITS OWN, from the entire UV range. UVA, UVB… it makes all rays harmless to your skin.

Plus, it’s so gentle that even six year old babies and super sensitive skin can use it. I have friends who thought there were allergic to sunscreen and then tried zinc oxide… Turns out they were allergic to some chemical UV filter.

So… where’s the catch? Zinc oxide has a thick, white texture. There are ways to work around that and make it more lightweight and pleasant to use but…

Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ uses a whopping 16% non-nano zinc oxide. Unless you’ve got fair skin like me, it WILL leave a white cast on your skin.

Related: What Can You Do If You’re Allergic To Sunscreen?

Shea Butter & Natural Oils To Moisturise Skin

Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ uses a generous dollop of shea butter, one of the most moisturising substances on this planet. Studies shows it works even better than mineral oil (the gold standard for moisturization, according to dermatologists).

It works because it creates a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. Its effects last for up to 8 hours! Plus, shea butter has its fair share of antioxidants to fight premature aging and boost sun protection.

FYI, shea butter doesn’t play alone. This sunscreen also uses avocado, carrot and raspberry seed oils to help moisturise dry skin and keep it soft and smooth all day.

Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Shea Butter In Skincare

Fragrant Oils To Make The Sunscreen Smell Good

Now for the not so good part… Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ contains sweet orange and jasmine oils, two oils that give it an uplifting floral citrusy scent.

It’s absolutely gorgeous. And irritating. Fragrant oils like these can easily irritate sensitive skin. If only Mad Hippie removed them, this sunscreen would be almost perfect.

FYI, if you have resistant skin that can tolerate pretty much anything, you’ll be able to use this without problems. But if you know your skin reacts badly to these oils, stay away!

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ isn’t the thickest mineral sunscreen I’ve ever tried (Phew!). It’s not the most lightweight, either. It falls somewhere in between.

It’s thick enough it takes a few minutes to pat it into the skin. If you’re in a rush, this ain’t the right option for you… Yet, it’s lightweight enough you don’t feel like you’re wearing it once it’s properly on.

I shake the bottle well before application. It makes the texture easier to apply but… there’s no way around the white cast. It’s not that noticeable on me. I’m so pale, I look like Casper The Ghost anyway.

If you’ve got darker skin, just wait 15 minutes until it dries down and then apply foundation on top. DON’T mix the sunscreen with foundation! That dilutes the SPF.

I haven’t tested this on the beach yet, but we’ve had some summer days in London these past couple of weeks and this did a great job at protecting my skin. I didn’t develop a slight tan or get sunburnt.

It’s fairly hydrating, too. I slather it on after Vitamin C serum, skipping moisturizer entirely. My skin still feels softer for hours, so I know it has all the moisture it needs.

I don’t think I’ll be repurchasing just because I prefer sunscreens with a lighter textures. But if you’re looking for an all natural sunscreen that doesn’t break the bank, this is a good option to consider (as long as you’re not sensitive to fragrance!).

Available at: $24.99/£22.00 at Free People, iHerb and Ulta

Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ provides gentle, broad spectrum protection that keeps you safe from sunburns and premature aging. The hydrating texture is on the thick side and leaves a white cast behind.

Beautiful With Brains

PRO

Once blended, it doesn't feel like you have anything on

Provides gentle, broad spectrum protection

Fairly hydrating

CON

Takes a while to apply

Leaves a white cast behind

Fragrance can irritate sensitive skin

SHOP THE POST

Have you tried Mad Hippie Face SPF 30+? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parki (Shea Butter) Butter Fruit, Deionized Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Glycerin, Isostearic Acid, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Phenethyl alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Ester, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Sodium Hyaluronate Acid Powder, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E)

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Is Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30+ The Best Natural Sunscreen? syndicated from Beautiful With Brains