Understanding...Cleansing

According to the Oxford Dictionary, to cleanse is ‘to make something (especially the skin) thoroughly clean’. Cleansing is that simple - it's just a technique that rids the skin of dirt, make up, sweat, excess dead skin cells and other pollutants.

Cleansing is the most important step in a skincare regime and it should occur at the end of each day. Some people choose to also cleanse in the morning, however this normally depends on their skin type and skincare needs.

How should I cleanse my skin?

The best way to cleanse is to deeply massage a gentle cleanser into your face and neck to ensure that all of the dirt is lifted out of your pores. It is important to focus on the more congested areas of the face, such as your t-zone. When you are done, simply rinse your face with lukewarm water.

Doing a double cleanse (aka cleansing twice) can also be very beneficial, especially if you wear a lot of makeup. An initial cleanse will remove makeup and excess oil from the skin; whilst a second cleanse will completely purify the skin.

Now cleansing may seem very simple, however there are important things to remember:

• You should only use a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type 
• Your chosen cleanser should contain little to no alcohol, as alcohol dries and irritates the skin 
• You should spend a minimum of a minute and a half cleansing your skin 
• If you choose to cleanse your face using a sponge or washcloth, ensure that it is washed every 2-3 days as these tools are breeding grounds for bacteria 
• You should only use lukewarm water to rinse your face, as hot water dries the skin and reduces its oily protective layer 

Recommendations 

1. Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh 450ml (£56.50 Selfridges / $67.00 www.shuuemura-usa.com) 
2. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 100ml (£12.75 John Lewis / $24.50 us.lizearle.com) 
3. Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser 200ml (£24.99 / $34.99 www.antipodesnature.com)
4. Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser 200ml (£11.50 Boots / $18.00 www.dermstore.com)

News: Kate Moss For Kérastase!

Kate Moss can add yet another campaign to her packed portfolio, after just being announced as the face of Kérastase’s new Couture Styling Line.

In a sneak peak, behind-the-scenes style video, Moss’ mane is given a make-over by the brand’s artistic director, Luigi Murenu, and the result is pretty amazing. Check out the video below!

The Couture Styling Line will be available from May.

News: Elizabeth Arden Ups The (8 Hour) Ante

Ever heard the expression ‘too much of a good thing’? Well Elizabeth Arden clearly hasn't, as the beauty giant has just revealed it will be adding another product to the 8 Hour Cream Collection.
                         
The latest addition, The Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm, is designed to give intense, long-lasting moisture to the lips. Ingredients include petrolatum, shea butter, palm tree butter, essential fatty acids complex and honey extract. The new balm will retail at £20.00 for 15ml and will be available across the UK at all Elizabeth Arden counters from March.

Now I hate to sound like a Negative Nancy, however, if the legendary 8 Hour Cream is supposed to treat everything, why the need for all the extra products?

What do you all think? Does this new Lip Repair Balm sound like a gimmick or a godsend?

A-List Advice: Blake Lively

There are several things a gal envies about the beautiful Blake Lively, however those locks have to be top of the list. Therefore it gives me great pleasure to announce that the blonde bombshell has just shared her secret on creating those gorgeous waves.

The recent Mrs Reynolds told Refinery29, “When I wash and dry my hair, I’ll dry it to where it’s still a little bit wet and then I’ll put it in a ballerina bun. Then, when I take it out, it has a really nice natural deep wave”.

To see the rest of Blake’s exclusive Q&A with Refinery29, take a little look below...

A-List Advice: Emma Stone

Not all Hollywood starlets use expensive moisturisers...well, not Emma Stone anyway. The screen siren credits pure grapeseed oil for that beautiful completion.

As she once told Style.com, “I'm seriously allergic to everything. So I just use natural grapeseed oil from the grocery store on my face as moisturiser”.

Grapeseed oil actually does more than moisturise sensitive skin. Packed with antioxidants, it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, treats acne, evens out skin tone and repairs dry and damaged skin.

Rich in omega-6 and vitamin E, grapeseed oil has a fine, non-greasy texture which makes it a popular ingredient for skin and hair care products.

For those of you who fancy testing grapeseed oil but don’t like the idea of picking up your skincare from a food aisle, I would recommend using Caudalie Divine Oil 100ml (£27.00 Space NK / $49.00 us.caudalie.com).