Are Night Creams Necessary?

Whether night creams work or not is an age old questions asked by most women. The main thought being, do we have to use one specifically designed for nighttime use? Why can't we just use our normal day cream?

The Beauty Myth: You Don’t Need To Use SPF During the Autumn & Winter Months

Beyond False. You always need a good SPF! Although the autumn and winter months are cold, damp and dark, UV rays are always hanging around and your skin will absorb them. UV rays are as harmful in the autumn and winter as they are in the spring and summer.

The Tuesday Tip: Stop Being Flaky!

Do you suffer with mascara flakiness? Often ending the day with more mascara around your eyes than on your lashes? If so, your mascara has most likely expired and you need to throw it out!

Once a mascara expires, it loses it staying power and becomes difficult to apply. However that isn't the worst of it - expired mascara also puts the eyes at risk of infection....

Grooming: Perricone MD CBX For Men

Perricone MD CBx For Men is the kind of skincare trio that every guy needs to get his hands on...

AW17/18 Trend Focus | Washed

The Washed beauty trend, aptly named by the good folks at M.A.C Cosmetics, was plastered across the runways during AW17/18 fashion week. I'm talking Missoni, Dior, Emilia Wickstead, Erdem, Proenza Schouler, Burberry and Lavin to name just a few.

The Washed makeup trend is beyond beautiful and the best thing about it? It couldn't be easier to achieve.

Perricone MD & The Pre:Empt Series

One of my favourite skincare brands, Perricone MD, recently launched a new skincare collection and being the fan girl I am, I had to try it ASAP Rocky.

It is called the 'Pre:Empt Series' and it's designed for young-ish girls (20 - 30) that want to prevent skin damage and premature ageing. Having just turned 28, I'm the perfect candidate for this range...just (phew!).

Behind The Brand: Perricone MD

Date of Birth: 1997

Founder: Dr. Nicholas Perricone

History: If you don't already know, Dr. Nicholas Perricone is a board-certified Dermatologist (as well as a world-renowned healthy aging expert & New York Times best selling author). He created a name for himself when he started researching ways to prevent and reverse the negative effects of chronic and sub-clinical inflammation - which he argued was the cause of aging and disease. As far as Perricone is concerned, ageing is not a natural process, it is a disease; an inflammatory disease...

Review: Perricone MD No Lipgloss Lipgloss

The Promise: "An anti-ageing lip serum designed to restore the colour and shine of youthful lips"

The Colour: Natural pink

The Price: £25.00 / $30.00 3.3ml

The Stockist: perriconemd.co.uk / Sephora

The Application: This lipgloss is lightweight and not remotely sticky, so it applies like a dream. You can apply it on naked lips or over any lipstick, however I tend to wear it alone as the shade is designed to mimic that youthful lip colour we had as babies and I need all the youthfulness a girl can fucking get.

Weekly Worship: Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Firming Eye Cream

Price: £53.00 / $65.00 15ml

Stockists: perriconemd.co.uk / Sephora

The older I get, the more I worry about wrinkles; I have a right to be worried, I'm 27 and have spotted a few around my eye area. So, to keep my ageing lines in line, I researched anti-ageing eye creams, discovered the Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Firming Eye Cream and started applying daily doses. Being a massive fan of Perricone MD, I expected a lot from this little pot and boy did it deliver...

The Hypoallergenic Firming Eye Cream comes in a 15ml pot, alongside an adorable little spatula. The cream itself is rich and smooth, making it a dream to apply. It absorbs quickly, is grease-free and sits really well under makeup.

The Beauty Myth: Oil Should Not Be Used On Oily Skin

Verdict: False

The idea that oil is bad for oily skin is a complete myth. The absolute key to controlling oil is to use oil based products. This is a homeopathic approach whereby ‘like treats like’, therefore if you use products with a similar makeup to your own sebum, then you naturally produce less oils and your skin is healthier and more balanced. So, if you suffer from oily skin, give a face oil a try. I would recommend applying face oils in the evening if you're a little nervous about using them.

One of the best face oils available is the Perricone MD Chia Serum 30ml (£62.00 Selfridges / $75.00 Sephora). It is an antioxidant-rich face oil that is packed with - you guessed it - chia oil. Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids strengthen the skin cell membrane of the epidermis and improve the texture and quality of the skin. This has been my staple face oil for the past three months and I am absolutely obsessed. I don't know how my skin would cope without it!

Faithful Four: Face Oils

Perricone MD Chia Serum

Promise: “This scientifically formulated serum rapidly transforms dull, dry skin to a visibly vibrant, glowing and healthy complexion”

Price: £62.00 / $75.00 30ml

Purchase: Selfridges / Sephora

First up is the Perricone MD Chia Serum (aka the radiance booster of the group). Although the word 'serum' features in its title, this face oil really is just a face oil.

The Perricone MD Chia Serum is an antioxidant-rich face oil that is packed with - you guessed it - chia oil. Chia oil is extracted from the seeds of a chia plant, which is native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids strengthen the skin cell membrane of the epidermis and improve the texture and quality of the skin.

Weekly Worship: Perricone MD and La Roche-Posay

Price: £8.50 / $34.95 150ml

Stockist: escentual.com / amazon.com

La Roche-Posay Serozinc is a cult product that is loved by French women. Until recently, girls in the UK were able to get hold of this super spray but not easily. Luckily, Serozinc launched in the UK at the very end of last year and beauty fans around Great Britain rejoiced.

Serozinc is made up of three simple ingredients; water, sodium chloride and zinc sulfate. Zinc sulfate is the hero ingredient in this toner, as it does an amazing job at calming and treating breakouts. Applying this product is a dream; it provides a fine, refreshing mist that covers the entire face in seconds. It leaves no mess and it absorbs very quickly. It begins to calm the skin - soothing irritation and redness - the second it is applied.

Serozinc also makes good on its promise; after a few days of use, any breakouts I have begin to clear. Now, it is not the best spot treatment I have ever used, however it comes close and it is definitely worthy of worship - especially considering the affordable price tag!

Price: £24.00 / $135.00 30ml

Stockist: John Lewis / Sephora

The Perricone MD Hyalo Plasma is one of the best skincare products I've ever used.

Packed with three unique forms of Hyaluronic Acid, this treatment has a gel consistency that is lightweight and soothing on the skin. It applies easily and evenly, leaving behind smooth and instantly hydrated skin.

I have been using the Hyalo Plasma for about three weeks now and I've noticed a big difference in the texture and general health of my skin. It is plump, softer and free of pesky fine lines (caused by dehydration).

It is on the expensive side...there is no point avoiding this. However it one of only a few products that have really impressed me in the last couple of years and I am sure I'll be worshipping it for many years to come.

Understanding...Antioxidants

If there is one thing you expect to see in a great skincare product, it's a s**t load of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are natural molecules that are found in plants, fruits, vegetables and even meats, fish and dairy. What make antioxidants truly amazing is that they protect skin from damaging free radicals, which are unstable molecules caused by environmental nasties (for example UV exposure, pollution, and smoke). It is these free radicals that cause wrinkles, pigmentation and poor skin condition. 

In addition to protecting skin from free radicals, antioxidants can:

• Reduce the appearance of wrinkles 
• Reduce the appearance of scars 
• Firm skin 
• Treat sun damage 
• Calm the skin and reduce inflammation 
• Increase collagen production 
• Treat pigmentation 
• Treat acne

Due to their amazing benefits, antioxidants are considered active ingredients that are commonly found in result-driven skincare products. The most common and most effective antioxidants in these products are:

•           Vitamin C
•           Vitamin A
•           Vitamin E
•           Retinol
•           Alpha-lipoic acid
•           Polyphenol
•           Zinc
•           Selenium
•           Coenzyme Q10

So the more antioxidants a product contains, the better that product will be at achieving great results (see antioxidant-rich product recommendations below). Don’t forget that ingredients are always listed on the packaging in descending order of predominance - so make sure that the product's advertised antioxidants are listed as high as possible. 

It is important to mention that although antioxidants are beneficial when put onto the skin, they are even more beneficial when put into the body. For these reasons, make sure you have a balanced diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables to ensure your body is healthy from the inside out!

Recommendations

1. Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque 75ml (£34.50 Liberty / $48.00 ULTA Beauty)
2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash 100ml (£8.00 The Body Shop)
3. StriVectin-AR™ Advanced Retinol Night Treatment 50ml (£79.00 Harrods / $109.00 www.strivectin.com)
4. Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator 59ml(£99.00 www.cultbeauty.co.uk / $120.00 Sephora)