Fashion Advice, Beauty Tips, Skincare Tutorials

January 19th, 2008

How to Rescue Dry & Chapped Lips

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips, Lips

Having dry and chapped lips can be very annoying. What we want is the kissable plumped lips, not that flaky and sand paper like lips.

Dry lips can be caused by many factors including extreme temparatures (both hot and cold), tiredness, Vitamin B deficiency, using old lip sticks or lip gloss(usually more than 3 years old). Licking lips can also dry the lips even more, so try to avoid doing it.
Here are the tips to rescue the lips.

1. If you are currently using a lip balm that contains petroleum, swap it with a natural base lip balm (e.g., beewax and sheer butter).

A Petroleum base lip balm tends to make lips drier because it cannot be absorbed by the lips or the skin and sometimes cause skin irritations. In contrary, a natural lip balm is absorbed by the skin and increases the moisture retentions and the natural elasticity. I love Burt’s Bees Beewax Lip Balm. It’s not expensive (around £3.50) is also edible.
2. Apply (quite a lot of) lip barm and exfoliate the lips gently with cotton butts.
Remove the flaky skin. Make sure to do it gently.
3. Re-apply the lip balm.

The dry and chapped lips will transform to soft and fuller lips.

January 3rd, 2008

Post Festive Season Skin Recovery - Remedy for Fatigue Skin

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

Did you have a fabulous time on Christmas and New Year?
Now you might be started worrying about your skin looking tired, dull, dry and so on. Unfortunately a combination of partying, drinking and skin condition doesn’t get on well.

For Tired or Sallow Looking Skin, it needs hydration and vitamin boost. You can have a “Exfoliate & Radiance Mask” in the bath or use Guinot’s Masque Nouvel Eclat to exfoliate and supply radiance at the same time. Try to eat more vitamin rich fruits and vegetables. For more information, please go to Skincare for Tired Skin - Sallow Looking Skin Care under Skincare Tips.

For Dehydrated and/or Sensitive Skin, apply a gentle exfoliator to remove the dead skin and hydration mask 2 to 3 times a week. Using a hydration serum on a daily basis to boost the skin’s hydration level up. More tips are shown on Skincare for Dry Skin - Dehydrated & Flaky Skin Care section.

For Oily skin or Skin with Blemishes / Acne, it requires both deep cleansing and mattifying mask. The skin may have been affected by a consumption of Christmas food and alcohol, causing to have more blemishes and acne. If you have spots or pimples, apply a dub of Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion with a cotton butt. It will heal and dry spots / pimples quickly. I know it’s tempting but do not squeeze them out. It may leave a scar. If you’d like to read more tips, please have a look Skincare for Oily Skin - Shiny Skin Care.

October 19th, 2007

Skincare for Combination Skin - Oily + Dry Skin Care

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

Oily T-Zones but dry cheeks?

Your makeup dissapears on T-Zones but cakes up and goes flaky on cheeks?

Combination Skin is the most common skin type, usually refer as Normal skin.

A possible solution is to use two different products;

- Use an oil-free mattifying moisturiser on oily area (fore head, nose and chin)

- Apply a hydrating cream on dry area (cheeks and sides of the face)

This is a great suggestion but I don’t think I will be asked to do this all the time.

If you want a quick solution for combination skin, have a look tips below:

Tip 1: Apply a lotion or gel type moisturiser.

A lotion (emulsion) or gel type of moisturiser is a most suitable for combination skin, as it does not over moisturise nor dries the skin.

Tip 2: Use a hydration serum as a daily skin care.

A hydration serum works deeper levels of the skin, and hydrates the skin without making it greasy.

It also makes the skin very soft and plumped.

Tip 3: Exfoliate the skin mainly around Oily Area.

If you are currently using a hydrating + gentle exfoliator, you can use it all over the face.

If you are using exfoliator for normal or oily skin, work on oily area and go very gentle on dry area of the face.

October 19th, 2007

Skincare for Oily Skin - Shiny Skin Care

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

The definition of Oily skin usually means that the skin gets shiny and greasy all over the face.

If  the skin goes shiny or oily only at T-zones and chin, the skin can be categorised as normal or combination skin.

The main cause of oily skin is due to an excessive production of sebum (skin oil) from sebaceous grounds.

One’s genetic make up, hormone level, contraceptive pills and diet can also contribute him/her to have oily skin.

The advantege of having oily skin is that the skin tends to stay younger.  The skin is protected from dehydration because of oil production. Dehydration has a direct link to wrinkles.

The disadvantage is that the skin is prone to have black heads and spots. People with Oily skin may have to look after skin slightly more than people with Normal skin.

If you want to have a smooth matt skin, and the, try the tips and see how it goes.

Step 1: Use Oil Controlling Skin Care Products.

Choose skin care products that have purifying, astoringent or mattifying effects.

Step 2: Deep Cleanse the skin on a regular basis.

Exfoliate the skin 2 - 3 times a week, particularly focusing on forehead, nose, and chin areas.

This will help to reduce a chance of developing black heads.

Step 3: Apply a mask with purifying and pore tightning actions.

Use a mask at least once a week to have a smooth matt skin.

   

 

October 17th, 2007

4 Steps Skincare - The Basic Skin Care Routine

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

The basic skin care usually consists of 3 steps - Cleansing, Toning and Moisturising, whereas Japanese one consists of 4 steps - Cleansing to Remove Makeup, Cleansing to clean the skin, Toning, and Moisturising.

I think this is a secret of beautiful skin amongst Japanese ladies!

Using two different cleansers for different purposes may give the skin deep cleansing effect.

The Four Steps Skincare

Step 1: Remove makeup with a cleanser of your preference.

Step 2: Wash the face gently with a rinse-off type cleanser.

Step 3: Apply a Toner to soothe the skin.

Step 4: Moisturise the skin.

I’ve been trying this double clensing method for a while, and it seems to work on my skin fantastically.

I don’t need to exfoliate my skin as many times as I used to, and my skin looks a lot clearer.

The routine will have a benefit for someone with clogged up pores or dull looking complexion.

If you are interested, try and see how it goes!

October 17th, 2007

Skincare for Irritated Skin - Sensitive Skin Care

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

Does your face goes red and blotchy? Or do you get itchy and burning sensation?

This is a clear sign of having a sensitive skin. People with sensitive skin usually have a thin or very fine textured skin.

The skin tends to react to sudden change of temparature, both hot and cold.

People with sensitive skin have a tendency to get sunburn and windburn easily, too.

If you suddenly developed the sensitive skin, particularly in a localised area, it could be due to an allergic reaction from your skin care or make up products.

The tips to combat with the sensitive skin as following;

  • Step 1: Use a Alcohol Free Toner
    Any skin care product which contains alcohol (mostly Toners) is a main factor to cause irritations on the skin.If your skin is very sensitive, try to use alchol + fragrance free toner.Aveda All Sensitive Toner is the one of them (see the picture below). 

    • Step 2: Apply an Alchol Free calming emulsion / lotion, before applying a moisturiser

    A calming emusion is a life saver for sensitive skin. The product works on a deep layer of the skin where nerves cause irritatiions, and calms the skin immediately.

    I love Chanel’s Precision Solution Destressante Calming Emulsion. It is very effective for any skin irritations, including after shaving or waxing and skin rashes. I found it even worked on mosquito bites!

    • Step 3: Change your cotton pillow cases to silky satin ones.

    Surprisingly, a cotton pillow case can irritate the skin while you are in sleep.

    A silky satin case would be more ideal for sensitive skin, as it doesn’t cause the irritation as much as a cotton one.

    Swap it to the satin one and have a lovely beauty sleep.

February 4th, 2007

Skincare for Tired Skin - Sallow Looking Skin Care

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

Is your complexion looking dull or sallow?

After a cold and long winter weather, the skin complexion tends to lack of vitality.

Having a hectic work schedule also makes the skin very tired, too.

Many cosmetic houses offer a range of moisturisers, masks, and toner that help improving the skin radiance.

Swap your skincare products to the radiance range for at least a couple of months, you will notice a difference on your complexion.

February 4th, 2007

Skincare for Dry Skin - Dehydrated & Flaky Skin Care

Posted by admin in Skincare Tips

Does your skin look flaky and feel tight?

Many people suffer from Dry Skin during Autumn and Winter.

One of my obsessions is to have baby soft skin all the time.

I think seeing dry flaky skin can be such a “turn off”.

Well, it won’t look great isn’t it?

If you have dry skin, want to swap to silky smooth skin, and then have a look on the tips as following;

Skin Care Tips for Dry skin - Face

  • Step 1; Make sure to remove your make-up every single night.

This is the most basic and important part of skin care routine.
Removing make-up with Cleansing Milk or Cleansing Oil would be the most suitable for dry skin. They can remove it gently and doesn’t cause irritation on the skin as much as Cleansing Wipes.

  • Step 2; Use Hydrating exfoliator and Mask once or twice a week

If you have a dry flaky skin that have been built up for a while, it makes very difficult for moisturiser to work. It is very important to use exfoliator on a regular basis. Find a good hydrating or very gentle exfoliator.

The best time to use face mask is straight after exfoliating the skin.

    • Step 3: Add a Hydration Serum in your daily Skin Care Routine

    A serum works on a deeper level of the skin, whereas a moisturiser works on the surface.

    Apply a serum prior to the moisuriser twice a day.

    • Step 4: Try to improve your life style.

    Drink lots of water and sleep well. When you are out for a drink, make sure to have a glass of water in between.

    Hope you will get silky baby soft skin!