My New Favourite £2 Moisterizer

I can't remember if I read about this on my blogger reading list or somewhere else but I recently stumbled upon something that recommended £2 Sudocrem as an alternative to moisturiser.

I'd heard it works fantastically at clearing and preventing spots and I had to try it out for myself. I also read that Cheryl Cole uses it; if it's good enough for her, it's definitely good enough for me!

So I bought myself a large tub, applied a thin layer to the face and left it overnight while I slept. Now I can honestly say it worked amazingly and I will definitely be using it again! It reduced the reddish areas on my face, the size of my blemishes were much smaller and the skin on my face felt much softer in general. By morning it had all soaked into the skin and felt very smooth and healthy.

Now two points that I read before trying that I don't quite believe in: using it everyday and saying it smells 'good'. I wouldn't use it everyday, once or twice a week perhaps. Also I don't think it smells good but that could just be me. I think it's quite a 'Grandma' smell if I'm being honest. It's also a bit of a pain if you can't sleep on your back, like me, and if so it's very easy to get your face a little stuck to the sheets, like me.

Anyway I would definitely recommend giving it a try, the tub will last you ages and it's too cheap not to try out. I promise it will be £2-3 very well spent!

January Bites: Ten Tips for Rescuing Winter Skin

So although I submitted my monthly HerCampus article to the editors almost 3 weeks ago, it's not been put onto the site yet. Normally I would wait untill after it's been uploaded before posting it to my blog but at this rate it will be severely out of date! Enjoy....

So 2012 has already begun. At this moment in time you’re probably sick of being surrounded by tinsel and fairy lights, bored of the daily banquet of turkey sandwiches and Quality Street, fed up of irritating younger siblings and nagging parents and tired of being so worried about the impending exams that you’re yet to actually start any revision. Whether you’re one or all of these things, your skin will almost certainly be paying the price.

Stress, cold weather, poor diet, excessive drinking and lack of sleep are just some of the many factors that can leave the body particularly weak and run-down come January and us students seem to bear this brunt much more than most. Unfortunately, when our bodies are drained and our lifestyle is hectic our skin screams it. While we can easily cover a few mince pie induced pounds under an oversized jumper and a couple of shameful NYE eye-bags under thirteen layers of concealer, the sad state of our skin can be much more difficult to hide.

Understandably, an arduous skin-care regime may seem like the last thing any student feels like committing to this month, but it appears January really is the time our sorry epidermises need a little refresh and revival the most.  For that reason I give you ten easy, inexpensive tips for rescuing your January skin. I can’t promise you’ll end up with a complexion quite akin to Halle Berry, but unless you fancy sporting a balaclava for the next 28 days, they could be worth a try:

1) Exfoliate - Winter skin can be much more sensitive than usual and while you don't want to over-exfoliate or irritate the face, a gentle micro-exfoliant will help keep the skin silky smooth and radiant. Try The BodyShop’s Vitamin C Microdermabrasion (£12) or something a little cheaper such as  St Ives Elements Micro Dermabrasion (£3.99), which promises to do the job just as effectively.

2) Watch the Temperature - To keep the skin hydrated, be sure to wash your face with lukewarm water rather than hot, as this will only dry the skin out even more. It’s also important to moisturize your face immediately after washing, as this is when your skin is more likely to lock in that much-needed moisture.

3) Drink Water, Water, and More Water – No doubt you’ve heard this one more times than you’ve set foot on Campus, but drinking sufficient water is extremely important. With water fountains on every level of Edward Boyle and now also installed in the Brotherton Library, there is absolutely no excuse. Plenty of water helps keep the body hydrated and we all should aim to drink 8 glasses of water every day.

4) Body Butter-Up – Cold weather can seriously dehydrate and dry out the skin and consequently a good moisturizer or thick body butter is vital for soothing and replenishing; a rich emollient like shea butter acts to form an invisible barrier and helps prevent surplus water loss. My personal favourite is Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula  (£3.77) as it’s exceptionally cheap and smells incredible. I also love Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter (£20.50); a little more expensive, but if your student loan can stretch to it, worth every penny.

5) Get Your Glow Back - To snatch back your much missed healthy summer colour, exercise and a good night’s sleep are the ultimate natural ways to boost that longed-for lustrous complexion. Alternatively, go for a glow–boosting product like Soap & Glory Glow Job  (£9), which provides a healthy bronze veil of wash–off colour.

6) Skin Super-Foods – Dairy products such as natural yogurt, goat’s milk and cottage cheese are packed with essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin D, and calcium. Snacks such as blueberries, strawberries, nuts and sunflower seeds are also brilliant as they have extremely high nutritional value. Salmon contains many fatty acids that are essential to keeping your skin from drying out and if you can fathom facing another Christmas-esque dinner plate, turkey isn’t too bad either. Spinach, sweet potato and carrots are cheap and cheerful vegetables to enliven your skin and what better excuse to make something more indulgent like carrot cake, roasts or coleslaw.

7) Cut Down the Caffeine - Can’t live without your morning Starbucks? Rely on your Red Bull mixer to keep pulling out Beyoncé dance moves past 1am? You may have to reduce this intake severely in order to avoid the high levels of caffeine and sugar that can cause oily spots and rob your body of moisture. Green tea is one of the best natural alternatives to caffeine; it will still give you a pre-lecture energy boost and could also modestly increase metabolism, bonus!

8) Multi-Vitamins - Taking multi-vitamins is a sure-fire way to get fundamental nutrients in your system without having to worry about breaking the bank during the weekly food shop. Some are more specifically tailored towards targeting the skin, like Holland and Barratt's ‘Skin Hair Nails' formula (£7.69 – 60 caplets) which I’ve been taking for around 3 months. Although I can’t say they’ve made an enormous difference to my skin just yet, the condition of my hair has definitely improved and I’m hopeful that the rest will come with time.

9) Be Make-up Vigilant – Wherever possible reduce your daily face paint and work the more natural look. Swap your heavy, suffocating foundation for something lighter like a tinted moisturizer; this one from Nivea (£2.03) will provide good coverage and let your skin breathe. For particularly sensitive skin, use hypo-allergic, naturally coloured cosmetics for make-up; the fewer pigments, the less irritating property.

10) (Attempt to) Make a Face Mask – Fun, cheap and a fantastic source of procrastination. There are millions of recipes online and there’s sure to be one perfect for utilizing whatever’s hiding in the back of the fridge. Here’s a simple OatmealFacemask to try and an even simpler Egg YolkFace Mask to get messy with.

Feel Unique January Beauty Box: 1 Week On

So this time last week I received my first Feel Unique Beauty Box much to my personal excitement, my bank balances detriment and my skin's delight.

You can read about my initial reaction here.

The box promised to refresh and revive with the note inside reading:

‘New Year New You. Now the festive frivolities are over its time to get back to basics with our specially selected products, designed to put you back on the straight and narrow.'

I thought this was a great concept for January and for that reason I fully forgive them for not including any make-up. Although I'd love some next month please!

Here are my thoughts on the products after a weeks use:

1) Lierac creme Mesolift anti-aging radiance cream 15ml 

This was my favourite product of the box; it smells lovely, almost like orange Starburst sweets! It's fairly thick but applied last thing at night after cleansing for the past week had really enhanced my natural complexion and daily glow. Out of everything I would probably be most likely to buy this product. I would rate it 8/10

2. Dead Sea Spa Majik Salt Brushing - 2 Sachets

The predominant downside for me with the sachets was that I have heard they have appeared in a number of similar beauty boxes in recent months, which is fine, but sort of takes the excitement out of getting something new on the scene and perhaps unknown.

The scrub was brilliant at exfoliating and left my skin feeling clean, smooth and silky. Unfortunately however the salt pieces were quite large and I usually like a much finer scrub. Also any future users should be careful when scrubbing over any cuts or flesh wounds as the salt can really sting. I learnt this the hard way after scrubbing over a cut I had gained after trying to open my Beauty Box with a knife much too enthusiastically and cutting my hand - oh the irony! I liked this product but wouldn't buy it; there are many other  skin scrubs out there I much prefer. 5/10

 3) Caudalie Vinotherapie Nourishing Body Lotion 30ml

I really liked this lotion. It was light, seemingly long-lasting and left my skin feeling fairly soft. One downside to the product was it's smell which was quite strong, floral and a little bit old fashioned if I'm being completely honest. Despite this, it was a nice product and one that I'm sure I'll get future use out of. 6/10

4) Phyto PhytoBaume Color Protect Express Conditioner 20ml

This wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination but it was probably my least favourite product. I wasn't 'wowed' by it in any sense; I  tend to spend quite a lot of money on good hair conditioners and this one didn't really compare to some of my favourites like Catwalk, Aussie and Tigi. I didn't find it boosted the colour of my highlighted hair particularly. Maybe I will give this another try and see if a second verdict improves my thoughts. 5.5/10

5) This works Clean Skin for the Face 30ml

Last but by no means least, the thisworks facial wash which again I really liked. If you hadn't guessed already I'm a big fan good-smelling products and this smelt sufficiently fresh albeit quite strong. I found it took off every once of my make up and provided a completely clean base for moisturising. I would probably buy this product if the price was right. 7/10

I hope I haven't been too harsh, all just my honest opinion for those who are interested. I liked every item in the box, just some a little more than others.

I can't wait for Febuary's box and look forward to sharing my views on it.

Feel Unique January Beauty Box

                             

Just to make my day all the better the postman just dropped the Feel Unique January Beauty Box at my door. I've been so excited about this since I signed up and literally tore the packaging open to discover what was inside. I had no idea it had been dispatched so it felt like Christmas all over agin!

The Beauty Box concept costs £9.95 with free postage and although you don't know what goodies will be contained inside, you're promised 5-6 samples of high-end beauty products. 

There are a few different boxes out there but after doing a little research, I decided the Feel Unique Box was the best suited to me.

So this months contents:

1) Lierac creme mesolift anti-aging radiance cream 15ml

This product is sample size (15ml) and the full size version (50ml) retails for around £28. It contains apricot butter and lime wax and gives the skin 'an immediate radiance boost' post application. Although at 20 I may not need an anti-ageing cream just yet, I'm very excited about this product; the reviews are very good and I love face creams whether anti-ageing or not!

2) Dead Sea Spa Majik Salt Brushing - 2 Sachets

Next were two sachets of Dead Sea Spa Majik Salt Brushing - a highly nourishing, exfoliating body treatment that naturally exfoliates without irritating and eliminates dead skin cells. Again this product has fantastic reviews and I think it'll be good for a pre Fake Bake exfoliation.

3) Caudalie Vinotherapie Nourishing Body Lotion 30ml

Another sample size French product. This body lotion is a rich, hydrating treatment that promotes microcirculation and again helps prevent premature skin ageing. I'll be looking about 12 years old after trying all these products out!

4) Phyto PhytoBaume Color Protect Express Conditioner 20ml

My hair's in pretty poor condition after all the dyeing and exposure to heat I put it through; I'm looking forward to seeing what this product can do and whether it's any better than my favourite Clairol conditioner. It claims to be a creamy daily conditioner that instantly detangles and protects colour treated and highlighted hair...we shall see!

5) this works Clean Skin for the Face 30ml

This 'award winning cleanser' is another product with good reviews. It has a fresh, botanical aroma and contains palmarosa essential oil that hydrates and fights wrinkles. Again quite small in size but it smell divine.



The card inside notes: ‘New Year New You. Now the festive frivolities are over its time to get back to basics with our specially selected products, designed to put you back on the straight and narrow’. I really like this concept as it’s so true that we all need a little refresh and revival this time of year. The idea of ‘starting over’ is very apt for January.

So all in all I’m happy. The products are all something I would use and potentially buy and it will be nice to try smaller samples out before latently buying. Truth be told, however, I would probably have been more than happy to find a bag of frozen peas inside as I adore the concept so much!

The only downside for me is that I would have loved to receive a make-up product; this was one of the predominant reasons I signed up. I suppose the idea of a ‘revitalized new look’ kind of contradicts this and so it’s understandable that they’ve left make-up out this month.

There is also no full-size product contained but that is perfectly acceptable when the box only costs £9.95 and understandably it would be hard to include something full-size every month (I believe that there was some full Bed Head product in December’s box).

Beauty Boxes are available here: here

I look forward to trying the products out and blogging about their results!

Amy x