Skincare : The Lip Balms I Swear By

I have always found lip balms to be a confusing little product. The idea of a layer of moisture to hydrate cracked lips is a winning feat, although this is rarely the case. Many balms I have tried create a smooth sheen that quickly wears away and my lips are left feeling drier than ever. This is why I have found them to be a slight gimmick; purchased for their attractive, berry themed packaging rather than their ability to improve the condition of your lips. I have built a collection of countless half-used tubes and a reluctance to ever invest again. I have only ever found two balms that, for a purse-friendly fiver, actually improve the texture of my lips and I am excited to share with you both an old favourite and a recent discovery.

1. The Body Shop Aloe Lip Treatment

This has been a long-standing member of my skincare and a product that I continuously repurchase. Rather than a gimmicky tube of strawberry flavoured balm; this is a clear gel that cushions your lips and leaves a layer of moisture that lasts throughout the day. The thing I love the most about this balm is that, even after the initial swipe of moisture has faded, my lips are left feeling soft and nourished. 

This balm is priced at a mere £5 and is specifically made to provide a gentle hydration for very dry, sensitive lips. It is non-greasy and simply creates a smooth barrier to hydrate and protect. I would recommend this to anyone who struggles with chapped, sore skin as after only a couple days of using this I noticed a dramatic difference. My lips were plump, velvety soft and this is now a permeant addition to my skincare routine.

2. Tropic Lip Love Balm

This is a more recent discovery of mine that I was tempted to test out after falling in love with the Tropic Skincare line, which you can read an entire review on here. This is again priced at £5 and is enriched with 100% natural ingredients. Among the stars are Shea and Cocoa Butters, Carrot Oil and Vitamin E; all of which promote softer, smoother skin by aiding to repair and protect.

As this product does create a slight orange tint to your lips, I prefer to wear this overnight. A little goes a long way and I like to apply a generous layer before I go to bed. I wake up in the morning and this miracle formula has entirely absorbed into my lips and they feel amazingly soft.

A bonus of this product is that it is a multi-purpose nourishing balm. Not only can it be applied to your lips, but also to your nail, cuticles, elbows and heels to provide deep hydration for all and any rough patches of skin.

I hope this little suggestion of two amazing and affordable lip balms helps you to find a product that actually works. I use to struggle a lot with dry, cracked lips and now they are soft, plump and pain free. I would love to hear what you think. Let me know the lip balms that you have discovered that improve the condition of your pout!

Devon

xoxo

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Skincare Week : Face Masks

I adore using face masks and I am a true advocate of incorporating them into your regular skincare routine. Whilst a mask is a permeant Sunday evening staple of mine as a relaxing detox at the end of the week, I also love to use them as often as I feel my skin requires it. They are a wonderful way to detoxify, hydrate or add a glow to a dull complexion.

It is important to understand the different types of face masks there are so that you can choose the right option for your individual skin needs. As a girl with an oily/combination complexion and blemish prone skin, I tend to sway towards masks aimed at detoxifying and drawing out impurities. Although I also suffer with mild eczema and so I shall share my favourite solutions for adding life and hydration back into sensitive skin.

My first favourite is the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Clay Mask; this is the harshest mask I use and is my instant choice for when my skin needs rescuing from a serious breakout. As it is a clay mask, it may not be suitable if you have dry skin as it hardens on your face, making your skin tight. It also creates an initial tingling sensation that dies down as the mask sets, but could easily irritate sensitive skin. 

However it is the perfect option one to two times a week to purify and decongest blemish prone skin. Sadly in writing this post I discovered that this particular mask is no longer available, although you can buy the very similar and equally effective Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Clay Mask.

I also adore the Sanctuary Spa 5 minute Thermal Detox Mask and it is my solution for a gentle yet effective deep cleanse. It is a better option for those who want a purified complexion, but fear that the harshness of a clay mask may irritate their sensitive skin. 

This mask is self-heating and gently warms up to a comfortable temperature, which opens up your pores so that the charcoal and kaolin clay can draw out impurities deep within the skin. This also helps to soothe, calm down breakouts and rebalance your skins natural oil production. 

Another warming mask I love is the Tropic Mineral Mask, a recent yet permanent favourite of mine and one that I would encourage anyone to incorporate into their regular routine. This is the perfect choice for anyone with dry and sensitive skin. It helps to hydrate and nourish without irritating so that you are left with a glowing complexion. I have never tried a face mask before that has made such an immediate difference; my skin is calmer and literally glowing the instant I wash this off. 

Like all Tropic skincare products, this mask is filled with 100% natural ingredients. The gentle warming sensation immediately soothes and nourishes your skin so that you are left with a radiant, baby soft complexion. It is the ideal mask for using more regularly and I have added it as a permanent addition to my routine two to three times a week. 

My final favourite mask of the moment is the perfect choice to brighten a dull complexion. The Body Shop Honey & Oat Scrub Mask is a handy little 3-in-1 product that will help to cleanse, polish and moisturise. It is made with oatmeal grains and fair-trade honey meaning that it not only works perfectly to nourish your skin but also smells divine. 

I apply it first as a face mask and leave it till it dries before using warm water to massage the product into my skin. This transforms the mask into a gorgeous creamy cleanser and the oat pieces act as a natural exfoliant. I then wash it off and I am left with a moisturised and bright complexion. 

I hope you can find the perfect option for you amongst these four face masks and I would love to hear what you think as well as the masks you swear by in the comments below. I read and appreciate all of your comments!

If you missed the start of Skincare Week then you can find out the Tropic cleansing routine that my skin is currently loving and my Acne Dos and Don’ts as well as my tips for the right approach to concealing your blemishes with makeup.

Devon

xoxo

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My Winter Saviours : Skin

With Christmas officially over and the New Year in full swing I think we're all doing our best to beat those annual January blues. For me, January and February are definitely the hardest times of the year. With cold weather, dark days and the festive excitement all but a distant memory, it is easy to get stuck in that new year slump.

The first thing I notice this time of year is the affect of the cold weather on my skin. I seem to lack moisture from head to toe and I am constantly battling dry patches as well as a dull, lifeless complexion. When looking for a moisturiser I want something intense and nourishing but that's going to absorb quickly and not leave behind a greasy sheen. The Weleda skin food is a saviour for rough patches. It is very rich yet absorbs into the skin nicely and, whilst slightly too heavy for a day moisturiser, it works wonders over night providing intense hydration that puts the life back into my skin. I have oily/combination skin that is blemish prone and sensitive, so finding a moisturiser that hydrates without clogging my pores and breaking me out is a miracle!

 

Dry, chapped lips are also a common problem this time of year. As far as lip balms go, the body shop aloe lip treatment is my absolute saviour! This has a gel-like consistency and glides onto the lips with ease, leaving behind a layer of hydration that lasts all day.

 

 

For a body moisturiser I've been loving the Vaseline smoothing cocoa body butter. I have always adored the smell of any cocoa butter, it is the scent my mum has used for years and instantly brings back childhood memories. This body butter is rich and intensely nourishing and leaves the skin soft, supple and not at all greasy. I find the delicious scent also works amazingly at perking me up on these dreary winter days by bringing back fond memories of summer.

Finally, to keep my skin hydrated and glowing this time of year, I try to remember to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. This is not only essential for keeping that lifeless, grey complexion at bay but also helps to detoxify the body after the indulgent holiday season. I don't know about you, but I have always struggled to drink enough water. I find plain water so bland and unappealing that I can often reach the end of the day and realise I haven't had a single glass yet. However I seem to have had a break through this year and I have been obsessed with my new fruit infuser water bottle. I simply chop up slices of lemon, cucumber or lime and place them in the infuser compartment and fill up the bottle with either plain or sparkling water. This transforms the plain water into a tasty, refreshing drink that I am constantly refilling throughout the day. It is not only hydrating but also detoxifying and I find that using sparkling water particularly helps to mimic unhealthy and far more expensive sugary, flavoured sodas.

 

These are my top tips for healthy, glowing skin this dreary January! I hope this provides some inspiration for you and I'd love to hear what you guys recommend for battling the new year blues.

 

 

Devon

 

xoxo

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