New Year New Rules

I know, creeping in on the last day of January was not how I envisaged this post going. It's been a while since I last blogged but even though life got in the way a bit, I still missed it. Creating new year's resolutions is something I wouldn't normally do as I set goals all year round, yet the beginning of January saw me in a bit of a rut. Here's my list for 2015.

1. Spend less and use more

A particular highlight of last year was working at a high end beauty brand where I took advantage of their staff discount. My leaving gift was also quite generous and I probably could get by on those goodies alone. Needless to say, I still spent my hard earned cash looking for the next big thing despite owning a mountain of products already. This year, I'll be shopping my stash more - this goes for skincare, makeup and fashion where I often sniff out good deals on quality items and buy in bulk if the price is right.

2. Stick to what works

Again, this is related to beauty but could also be used across my entire lifestyle. I am a self-confessed product floozy, but when my skin broke out in a horrific way last November, I looked for a miracle cure whilst forgetting that my dehydrated skin likes oil. Especially in the winter. Also, trying to reinvent yourself completely when things aren't happening fast enough could also be a recipe for disaster. Sometimes it just takes perseverance and you'll get there by doing your own thing.

3. Do what you love

For me, 2014 went by so quickly but I still grew as a person. I grew in confidence. I made leaps in my career and figured out the path I want to take in life. But in some ways it was very unbalanced. This year, I'm going to seek out the things I enjoy doing - writing, going to gigs and taking the time to see family and friends more often. This also involves stepping out of my comfort zone, finally booking that musical bingo night and nurturing this corner of the web a lot more often.

I may have already indulged in the January sales, but making sure that I only spend on essentials has really helped. A post on products revisited is on its way, so here's to a more productive year!  

Budget options for Chemical Exfoliation

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has dabbled in using chemical exfoliants to refine and gently buff the skin. But in reality, my skin tends to get used to one product after a while and it becomes less effective. Here are my options that are incredibly effective without breaking the bank.

Yes To Grapefruit Brightening Facial Wipes - £3.99

I could pretend that I never have lazy days with my skincare, but that's just unrealistic. These textured wipes act as a 2-in-1 and take off make-up whilst those citric acids get to work blitzing away any breakouts. They are 98% natural and are actually really good at removing a full face of slap - the snap closure helps to keep them moist and you only ever need one.

Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Pads - £12.99

These pads are often on offer for around £6 and are an absolute dream to use. Packed with glycolic and hyaluronic acids, it is perfect for drier skins and daisy extract is used for brightening any dark marks and blemishes. The smell is very inoffensive and the witch hazel makes it a great choice for an exfoliating toner. Unlike the wipes, these are better value with 60 pads per tub compared to 25 wipes.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator - £25

Okay, this doesn't really count as budget, but it is on the lower end of the spectrum regardless and it is one of the milder exfoliants available. Suitable for sensitive skin, you just need to go over your face with a cotton pad and it clears away any dead skin cells. I'd still say this is worth the high price tag as the bottle has lasted me around 6 or 7 months and are gentle enough to use daily.

Are there any similar products you enjoy using?

Candice x  


 

Sun Damage Saviours - Murad Environmental Shield

I know I've already shared my views on most of this range before, but the Environmental Shield has done wonders over the warmer months to prevent and reverse the effects of sun damage. It was only this year that I took a close look at my skin and learnt the difference between sun spots (which originate at the surface) and acne scarring which occurs on a much deeper level. These products contain a stable form of potent Vitamin C to perk up the complexion and defend against free radicals. These items come in a starter kit complete with an eye cream, which you can now get for £29.50. 

The Essential-C Cleanser is a firm favourite of mine and I always break it out during the summer as a quick morning cleanse. The orange beads contain antioxidants to perk up the complexion and is completely non-drying despite having to work the gel into a foam. It has been a godsend for my dehydrated skin and is excellent for getting rid of pollutants and city grime as a second cleanse.

Despite its anti-aging properties (have you read my thoughts on that yet?) I am finding it pretty hard to find fault with the Advanced Active Radiance Serum. I use it every morning in conjunction with the cleanser and my skin has become brighter within 3 months of use. A lot of dark spots have been cleared because of this serum! It uses AHA's to refine the skin and imparts an effective hit of Vitamin C to help correct any sun damage. I tend to use AHA's during my night-time routine, so this only gets used once daily to avoid overloading my skin. It is mighty expensive (the full price is £100) but it has been so effective that I might just cave. BeautyBay are selling it for £60 here. 

Lastly, if you do use exfoliating acids or want to protect against sun damage, a high performance SPF is a must. Especially in summer. I was originally using another Murad oil free formulated SPF15 from the Pore refiner range, but then again I didn't want to undo all the good things that happened to my face. So as spring turned to summer, I made the switch to the Essential C- Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and never looked back. It protects against UVA and UVB rays and still manages to be non-greasy and natural looking i.e. no white cast for those with darker skins. I have fallen for it, it has a rich texture and my purse is weeping as I will have to replace it shortly. It is £57 here.

I know that the range is pricey, but there is a difference between falling for hyped products and investing in your skin. These starter kits are a great entry point into the brand and if you have to get one item from the range I would suggest the serum, which as also been spotted in TK Maxx in recent months. If you have any experiences or solutions for sun damage, I would love to hear them.

Candice xx

Views on Anti-Ageing in the Beauty Industry

Just to warn you, this is a bit of a long rant but it also explains why I haven't been blogging as much lately.

Despite spending the last few months working for a well-known beauty brand, one thing has managed to rub me the wrong way - the industry's (and society's) response to ageing and perpetual youth. I'll never be able to sum it up as well as this Refinery29 article does, but I thought I'd at least share my own experiences along with the wisdom shared by Gabrielle Korn here.

"But, if older women are treated like the aging process makes them imperfect and younger women are treated like they don't know anything, what age are we supposed to be if we want the respect we deserve? Is there any "right age," or are we just forever jumping through hoops?"

As a baby-faced woman about to turn 25, this deeply resonated with me. I feel on a regular basis that my looks stop people from taking me seriously - I often had to correct colleagues that thought I was still at school. How is that flattering? It implies a lack of life experience; and is something that has constantly undermined my confidence during my working life. Before this article, I never even realised how much this paradox was limiting my growth as a person. I could play up to my youth & miss out on opportunities, or try to look older and be judged for it.

Apparently youth is preferable as most of the beauty products I use have the words 'Anti-Ageing' stamped on them to appease the masses. Even the phrase itself is a myth because it's not like a topical cream can stop time. Doing research on competitors had also exposed me to anti-ageing products with very questionable product names. The worst offender was Lulu's Time Bomb skincare range, which really surprised me as she is 65!  At best the names are hilariously bad, but the underlying message is that women must wage war with lines and wrinkles in order to preserve their beauty. Instead of, you know, accepting nature.
      

With packaging like hand grenades and names like 'Hand to Hand Combat Eye Cream', I genuinely didn't know whether to laugh or cry. My mum recently turned 60 (much to the shock of most acquaintances) and doesn't buy into any anti-ageing campaigns. Washing her face with soap, moisturising with cocoa butter and leading a healthy lifestyle has worked out better than an expensive face cream ever could. I am still a self-confessed skincare junkie but as my stash increases, thoughts have crept in about whether this is completely necessary. After all, I only have one face and I still sometimes get ID'd in bars.

In short, I feel bad supporting an industry that vilifies and shames women on a regular basis. A few brands are bucking the trend by using older women in their campaigns, but a considerable chunk of consumers still feel alienated by the unobtainable goal of staying youthful. When the time comes, I will embrace my wrinkles and my grey hair. It's not letting myself go if I accept the inevitability of time and experience.
 
Rant over. I will publish a review next to balance this negativity out, I promise :-)

NOTD: O.P.I Kermit Me To Speak

It's been a very long time since I last did a Nail of the Day post, but frankly when you're interning (or just living life really) the strong talons you once had tend to transform into pathetic flaky stumps. In between coating them with rose hip oil at night to destroying them with sellotape and frantic typing by morning, a no fuss nail colour was needed and Kermit Me to Speak from the Muppets Most Wanted Collection caught my eye.

This duochrome formula can lean pink in some lights and olive green/gold in others. I am a sucker for these shades, but this O.P.I offering is by far the most wearable. One coat is enough for a subtle sheen, but I used two for a more intense look. It applied evenly and faultlessly, so I feel less bad about not having long nails any more as the variation in colour from my little finger to the index leaves a cool, quirky effect.

For someone who used to wear Topshop nail polish in Moonshine religiously, this is a more sophisticated version and looks amazing with my skin tone. I find it hard to pull off versatile nail colours but this to me is work appropriate with a bit of play thrown in for good measure. What do you think?

Candice x