Here's my latest vlog - 5 Winter Skincare Tips!
Hope you enjoy and please let me know what you thought x
My five fav beauty products right now
I am not, as I have said previously, a beauty expert. However, I use products and I know what like. For many years my go-to brands were Dermalogica and Elemis. Both of which, I think are fantastic, but on occasion I have branched out and experimented with new products and if I love them, I stick with them. I also find, and maybe this is just me but sometimes mixing and matching different brands can be very effective.
Now, the products I am highlighting are higher-end products. There are three points I’d like to make here. Firstly, these are a selection of products I personally use; secondly, I am not 17 so my skin needs targeted help sometimes (!). And thirdly, sometimes a product seems like costly but then lasts for ages and produces noticeable results – so might be worth the investment.
So here goes:
John Masters Organics, Vitamin C Anti-aging Face Serum
I have used this for years now. I love it and though I might have a break, I always come back to it. I know Vitamin C has been hailed for sometime as a key anti-aging ingredient – this really works. It is light, but penetrates your skin and gives instant lasting radiance.
Balbec Beauty’s Restorative Oil with frankincense & geranium
You may have read my post on Balbec and may be thinking “here she goes again with her cousin’s wife’s brand”. But this is really good. The frankincense is wonderful for aging skin because it stimulates cell regeneration and geranium stimulates the lymph system and also aids with cell regeneration.
Aurelia’s Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser
I must be honest, I bought this product because my usual moisturiser was out of stock and I was looking at a few options. I think I plumped for this one because the texture was light but rich if that makes any sense, and the packaging appealed to me. What can I say? Sometimes I am a real girl! Anyway, I am delighted I happened on this brand - I love it. The cream is makes my skin almost immediately radiant and vibrant.
Nude’s Miracle Mask
This is another product I have used for a while. On their website Nude say it is, “an exfoliating mask that works to brighten and resurface skin”. Yes, a definite yes. I was first sold this by being told that make up artists often use this on models before preparing for a shoot. And whilst I am no model, I would quite like similar results where possible.
Nars Multi-Protect Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
This again is a staple for me. I am quite OCD about sunscreen and paranoid about sun damage. And in general I don’t wear foundation except for special occasions. So I find if I put this primer over my moisturiser I seem to look a little bit more “polished”. It’s light and contains mineral powders to blur fine lines and wrinkles – who doesn’t love a blurred wrinkle? So there you have it some of my favourite products. Tell me about your favourite products and what you think I should try.
Feeling the beauty buzz for Balbec
Discovering new things, whatever they are, always give me a bit of a buzz. Skin care products are no exception.
I am quite touchy about my skin, I had very bad eczema as a child and was admitted to hospital twice as my skin became badly infected. Apart from unhealthy skin, as a teenager being acutely aware of looking awful at times triggered lots of issues (as you can imagine). But I digress. Maybe those issues are posts for another day, if you want to talk issues I have an extensive list...
So. Skincare. I am a fan of products that are as natural as possible (although I appreciate sometimes skincare can need a bit of an added oomph). So on a recent trip to New York, I was delighted when I stumbled upon a new product called Balbec in my cousin’s bathroom.
My excitement multiplied when I discovered that this range was created by my cousin’s wife, Maneesha Patel. But, that’s not the headline. I’m telling you about these products because I've tried them, I liked them and they have worked for me. If it hadn’t I wouldn’t be writing about it (I wouldn’t want to hurt my lovely cousin-in-law's feelings!).
I am a fan of oils and Maneesha very kindly gave me a few bottles (well, I am family after all!). I used them under my moisturiser during the day and on their own at night and after a few days my skin was more glowing and radiant.
Whilst my skin problems took over my childhood and teenage years, Maneesha started having problems with her own skin as an adult. She found no respite from mass-produced skincare brands or from dermatologists' recommendation, so she was compelled to create something that worked for her.
She began a facial cleansing regimen based on a classic Indian preparation of yoghurt and turmeric and created fresh, preservative-free, food-grade & nutrient-dense preparations. She even got used refrigerating her cleanser and toner!
I guess the kicker here is you have to accept a shorter shelf life for your skincare products. But the ingredients are so pure and fresh it makes perfect sense.
A lot of thought and care has gone into this range (trust me, I know the creator). The name "Balbec" has been taken from the seaside resort in Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time, where the narrator recuperates from his illness within a landscape of fresh air, sea, and light. Knowing the origin of the name adds something intangible.
I am well aware that different people like different things. But I want to share with you things that I like, and work for me.At the moment, Balbec is in its infancy and is only available in the US, but I have a feeling it might be winging its way to our shores at some point.
And on that note, in case Maneesha is reading this, I have run out of my lovely oils…
Check it out, www.balbecbeauty.com