Dermalogica Skincare with ASOS

New Year New Start and all that stuff... well I believe we have enough stress and pressure in life without adding to it with a long list of I will and I won't style commitments. But I do believe you need a good skincare regime that works for you and if this is one of the commitments you haven't yet made or have made but haven't got around to it just yet, then Dermalogica have everything you need and you can get it all from ASOS.

Dermalogica Foaming Wash - This foaming wash decreases the sign of clogged pores and breakouts with the help of its key ingredients Tea Tree, Lavender and Camellia. It also works to clear away dead skin cells, dirt and excess oils helping to clear the skin. I love a good foaming wash and I love how refreshed my skin feels after using. 

I am not usually a fan of products with Tea Tree in them, they are too clinical smelling for me, but within this facial wash it is just noticeable and isn't too much that your eyes water. Gentle on the skin and priced at just £13.10 (here) it is a great product that you can use as often as you feel you need too.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing All Over Toner -This described as being 'a unique mist-all-over purifying toner' and it works to control excess oils and helps eliminate breakouts on the face and body. Refreshing extracts of Lavender, Witch Hazel and Licorice Root Extract to name a few, help cool and revive skin. 

To use, you simply spritz over your face with your eyes closed and leave to absorb. I am a huge fan of facial sprays and I have never quite got round to using a toner as part of my routine, with this I have and I love it. Priced at just £13.10 (here) it is a great product to have.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Overnight Treatment - Wake up to clearer skin! This invisible treatment absorbs quickly then works all night to fight breakouts and reduce redness.  Using Tea Tree, Camellia extract and Lavender to name a few of the ingredients. 

To use you simply apply after cleansing and toning, pat a thin layer of the cream onto your skin and allow it to absorb, which it does really quickly. Then leave it on overnight and wash off in the morning.  Having used this several times now, the cream is quite light and a little goes a long way, it does feel sticky on the skin until it has completely absorbed and it doesn't leave a trace on your pillows.  Once it has been washed off, I noticed that my skin was incredibly smooth to the touch. For me, this is a product I would use when blemishes appear or when your skin is threatening a break out, every now and again I do feel the beginning of the odd pimple under the skin and priced at £13.10 (here) it isn't overpriced.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Cooling Masque - Designed to cool down inflammation and reduce the redness of irritated skin. On the skin, this mask, when applied instantly gives that cooing sensation which I find quite soothing. With ingredients such as camphor which feels tingly and cooling on the skin and has a menthol scent which you immediately notice upon application. Thyme acts as an antibacterial agent and as well as being great for oily skin, it is also said to be great for conditions such as acne. Liquorice is an ingredient that appears in quite a lot of skincare and it works to brighten the skin fade blemishes and it has antioxidants which help to protect against free radicals. Lavender and Aloe Vera are also ingredients. 

This mask has a gel texture and has quite a thin consistency so you only need a small amount to cover your face. It glides easily over the face and neck and quite quickly absorbs so that only a very thin, tacky-like film is left on the skin until the mask is rinsed off. The mask is to be left on the skin for up to ten minutes before being washed off and it does leave your skin feeling soothed, smoothed and refreshing clean. Priced at £16.15 (here) this is a little gem of a find.

If you haven't yet found a skincare routine that works for you, then these products from Dermalogica are not going to break the bank.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

The Beauty Blender

The Beauty Blender is a tool that I am sure most people have had, have used, want or dislike. There are so many to choose from that you can be like a rabbit in headlights trying to decide which one will work best for you, well I have amassed quite a collection thanks to a masterclass that I attended and having tried them all out since then, I have just about managed to get to grips with what is what.

The Original beautyblender - The one you might know better as 'the pink one'. This was the world’s first edgeless makeup sponge ensures flawless application of any complexion product - primer, powder, cream blush and more. beautyblender is guaranteed to leave you with a professional finish and its unique shape allows for that effortless blending to ensure a streak-free application everytime. There are three words that you need to remember when it comes to using your beautyblender and that is wet.squeeze.bounce. You can find it here

Before applying makeup you need to thoroughly soak your sponge in water and then gently squeeze out the excess - try to avoid wringing it out entirely to avoid tearing. Once wet, the beautyblender will expand to twice its size and become much softer.  Then bounce that makeup, whether it is a primer or your foundation across your face. Thus using the wet.squeeze.bounce method.

The Micro Mini beautyblender - The 'Green one' which is teeny tiny one which has been designed especially to highlight, contour and conceal. Owing to its size, the micro mini is perfect for applying makeup to small areas of the face such a under the eye, inner corner of the eye, the eyelids, brow bones, sides of the nose and the top of your cheeks.  Again, to use the micro mini you need to wet.squeeze.bounce. You can find this one here.

The Beauty Blusher - The 'Grey one' is the perfect sized applicator for cream and powder blush application. Made from the same exclusive beautyblender material, this is the first medium-sized blush applicator which is designed to deliver the right amount of blush to your cheeks and is made to perfectly match the apples of the cheeks for flawless application of blush. 

The Body Blender - The 'Black one' is designed especially for professionals and best for applying darker toned, long-wear cosmetic products, as well as self-tanners. It is large enough to cover the curves of your body and contoured enough to sit perfectly in the palm of your hand to ensure a controlled, even coverage.

The beautyblender blotterazzi (pink) - This game-changing washable, reusable alternative to blotting papers in iconic beautyblender® pink allows for precise, cushion blotting. Shaped to fit all contours of the face, blotterazzi™ saves you from unused corners like traditional blotting papers. The award-winning beautyblender ® material stays “thirsty” when its dry, absorbing excess oil without disturbing makeup and leaving skin looking radiant. 

The chic mirrored compact contains two blotting cushions for beauty touch ups on the go. A vented back and clear, hygienic separator ensures sponge freshness. Use dry. Wash with liquid blendercleanser® or blendercleanser® solid® and dry in a well ventilated area.

blotterazzi™ is easy to use: simply press the dry pointed side onto smaller areas of the face and the rounded side onto the larger areas of the face, absorbing oils and freshening makeup throughout the day. Wash with blendercleanser® and dry in a ventilated area. You can find it here

One of the newest products that I have been getting to grips with is the beautyblender liner.designer - Designed to become your steady hand and symmetry expert when applying liner to your eyes. It is perfect for use with all eyeliners, pencils, pens, gel creams, liquid and powder. You can find it right here.

liner.designer has a straight edge that is flexible and will stay in place when gently placed against the skin. The three different sides of liner.designer are devised to help create different angles and liner shapes. Its chic compact has a 5X magnifying mirror and suction cup allowing the compact to be used at eye level – anywhere, anytime. It’s also a great no-mess shield when applying mascara! If you are not convinced, the video below shows how easy it is:

So there you have a short but precise guide to the phenomenon that is the beautyblender and what their role in your makeup bag is.  I am a total convert to the beautyblender and find myself using them much more than I thought I would.  You find the entire range here on Cult Beauty.

Are you a fan of the beautyblender? Do you have a favourite?

*this post contains PR samples/AF Links unless indicated otherwise

NEW LAUNCHES | DHC

If you haven't yet come across the brand DHC then 'HELLO' you need to. This month there are two amazing new launches and you basically need them. DHC, which stands for "Daigaku Honyaku Center, are a Japans No. 1 direct skincare company and their Cleansing Oil is a product most people are possibly more familiar with. The vision behind DHC is rooted in the beneficial properties of virgin olive oil, Flor de Aceite – the finest quality, extracted from organic Spanish olives. The entire skincare range was founded on the beneficial properties of olive oil. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, it is a highly effective component in neutralising damaging free radicals. Olive oil also helps balance your skin's moisture. With its unique ability to mix with water, olive oil helps moisturise without clogging pores.

So with THREE amazing new launches in the form of a Q10 Face Mask, the Quick Film Smoother and the Gel Pencil Eyeliner EX it is quite an exciting time.

The Q10 Face Mask is a sheet mask that features antioxidant coenzyme Q10 which is a powerful antioxidant which exists naturally within the body but within this mask, it helps to firm and fight free radicals as well as helping to target fine lines, wrinkles and elasticity loss. With key ingredients such as Vitamin C and E which help to brighten and hydrate, collagen and sodium hyaluronate which help to plump fine lines and wrinkles.

As with any mask that you are using, you should apply to a cleansed face to ensure all that surface dirt and grime is removed and then leave on for up to 20 minutes before removing, once removed press any of the remaining treatment into the skin with simple tapping motions. At £4.50 (here) these masks are worth every penny for that soft, smooth, hydrated and clean feeling skin.

The Gel Pencil Eyeliner EX available in shade black or brown is a product that never seems to be on my list of 'must haves'. I do wear eyeliner occasionally but I have to be in the right frame of mine to attempt to apply it, otherwise, I get annoyed when the application doesn't go quite right.  Whether you like your eyeliner to be barely there or if the old cat eye with perfect wing is for you, DHC have created this non-smudge eyeliner which is as precise as a pencil but has the smoothness of a gel and all I am going to say is that this does not budge one each, even with a hand swatch!  

The colour which is super pigmented stays true to colour and creates a line in just one stroke, so you won't need to sit for hours in front of the mirror going back and forth across your lash line to see a bit of colour.  Designed in a twist up pencil format, so no need for sharpening, these pencils are priced at £9.50 (here) and basically one of each is needed.

The final product to share with you is the Quick Film Smoother and it is described as being a lightweight moisturiser which smooths out the look of wrinkles instantly. It houses some amazing ingredients such as collagen-rich eggshell membrane (ESM) peptides alongside a combination of algae extract which instantly firm the appearance of the skin and support collagen levels. Sodium hyaluronate protects the skin's natural moisture levels and soybean protein complex works over time to protect the skin's natural elasticity. Put them all together and you get a more youthful-looking glow. 

It works great as a primer for your makeup and instead of covering my entire face with the cream, I tend to stick to between my brows, around my eyes and around my lips and sometimes on my cheeks.  I absolutely love this and as a Primer, it is simply amazing, my makeup doesn't slide off point way through the day and because it is so lightweight, I don't feel as though I have anything on my skin.  Priced at £17.50 (here) in the DHC sale so grab it quick, this is a product I adore.

Seriously though if you have never come across DHC products before then you need to give them a look, I have featured so many amazing products on this blog and you can find some of them right here on the DHC Website, where there is a sale!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Skinceuticals phyto corrective masque

Facemasks are something I look forward to using, along with an eye mask and a hair mask, I mean if you are going to pamper yourself at home, you might as well go all out and slather yourself from head to toe as much as you can.

The latest mask I have loved using is the Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Masque which is described as being an intensive botanical gel mask to soothe and calm temporary skin reactivity. Perfect if your skin has become inflamed, is aggravated or during times of stress and hormonal issues. For me, my skin changes around that time of the month, often become slightly sensitive and with more often than not little red patches on my cheeks.

The masque is very much gel-like, think back to times of your Youth when your brother might have been using a hair gel to spike his hair and that bright green tub of joy that proudly sat on his bedside table, well the colour very much reminds me of that. Quick thick in texture too, this mask is one of those I find easier to apply with a brush. I use an old make-up brush for the application and it applies really smoothly and evenly.

Once on the skin, there is an instant cooling feel, really comforting and soothing much like the feeling of Aloe Vera on Sunburn or Calamine lotion on an itchy rash. The ingredients consist of a unique blend of cucumber, thyme, and olive extracts soothe skin for optimum comfort and are referred to as the 'green botanicals. Then there is the Calming Dipeptide which helps reduce the perception of heat sensitivity and finally Hyaluronic Acid which as well all know is a natural humectant (preserves moisture) capable of holding 1,000 times its own weight in water and the body’s natural hydrator.

I also ensure I have cleansed my face before using any mask, removing that surface dirt and grime is key to ensuring your mask works as well as it can do. Once applied, you leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then remove using a cloth that is slightly damp. Then moisturise after using.  Because this mask is so gentle on the skin it can be used daily particularly during the hot months with sun exposure or after a hot bath, weekly and after some procedures, but always seek guidance first. I have also used this mask after burning my wrist on the oven, I am quite clumsy like that, and it did cool and soothe and no blister formed and I had the smallest of red marks which soon faded.

What I love about this mask is that it is oil free, it hydrates, it is cooling and it does soothe therefore ticking every box that it promises. If you feel your skin needs a little more TLC then you can leave this mask on overnight, but my warning to you is to not sleep on your very best pillows and instead a towel.

This mask is incredible and it is priced between £51 and £56 for 60ml it isn't on the cheap side of face masks, but you do get a product that lives up to its expectations and you can find it here.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise