The Beauty Chronicles: Moisturisers

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Moisturisers

Hey there babes!  In this post, I’m going to talk about moisturizers!

As you have read from the previous posts, it’s very important to cleanse and tone daily. If not morning and night, then try to make it crucial to do it before you sleep (so you sleep with clean face because skin renews and regenerates at night).

After you tone your face, it’s then important to moisturize your face, neck and décolleté with the appropriate moisturiser to your skin type.   In the morning, it’s important to apply sunscreen as well (all year round).

Why are moisturisers important?    Due to the environment (sun/wind etc), air conditioning, and other factors, our skin is constantly losing its natural moisture. Therefore, moisturizers help it stay smooth and supple. Also, our skin looses sebum low as it ages, so to prevent future moisture loss, the use of a moisturizer is necessary.

Moisturisers come in the form of creams from thick to light and fluffy, or very light. As a general rule, remember: The drier the skin and its environment, the richer the moisturiser. Below, I am going to describe 2 types of moisturizers: Creams (thick) and milk (light):

Moisturising creams:

Creams contain approximately 60% water. Their relatively high proportion of oil or wax prevents natural moisture escaping from the deeper layer of the skin.

Uses:  Moisturising creams are recommended particularly for people with dry skin.

Moisturising milk:

These have a more fluid consistency because of their higher water content (about 85%).

Uses: Moisturising milks have a lighter texture than creams and soak quickly. They are preferred by who doesn’t want a greasy film left on the skin and for a more normal/combination skin.

Some may ask; is it necessary to use a night cream?  A night cream is not necessary before the mid-twenties. They are basically rich moisturizers to balance and refine skin texture and help fight the signs of ageing.

The neck and eyes do, in fact show signs of ageing earlier than other areas, because the tissues are finer and more delicate and there are no sebaceous glands to provide natural lubrication.

I hope you found this post useful! Please comment!

Denise o.bo. The Fabulous Team xoxo

Denise’s review:

I am currently using Olay complete care daily UV fluid in the morning, am definitely will not be changing it anytime soon. I have reviewed this in the previous post about primers.

At night, I am currently using Vichy Aqua Thermal. It’s a fortifying and soothing hour hydrating serum. It’s the first time that I’m using a serum and I am definitely no disappointed, although it’s a bit expensive (approx. €20.00). My skin is dry in the winter, and this serum is so light, absorbs quickly and smooth out my skin nicely. I'm also glad that this hydrating serum did not break me out! Will definitely buy this again, but will pair it up with an Olay night cream.

Martina’s Review

I have used mainly two types of moisturisers over the past years which were the Effaclar M by La Roche Posay and Brevoxyl which was a medicated night cleanser.

These two moisturisers as per the previous Cleansers post were both prescribed to me by my dermatologist a while back and I kept on using them even with the Babor Cleansers.

Both Moisturisers are very good and effective when it comes to clearing spots, Efflaclar is gentler whilst Brevoxyl is quite strong and medicated and this might be one of the reasons why my skin was drying up.

Until recently I was still using both moisturisers Effaclar in the morning and Brevoxyl in the evening. Upon recommencing Cetaphil as a cleanser I decided to start using Effaclar both morning and evening. Up till now I am getting good results, the only down side is that in the morning Effaclar tends to make my face feel oiler (not in a bad way) and makes my face shiny.

The Make Up Chronicles: Primers

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Before bricks are placed to start building a house, a good foundation is required for it to hold. Applying a perfect base before your make up is as important as that solid foundation of the house.


Today, I will be discussing the first element that makes the ‘foundation’ solid and that is the primer. Now personally I do not use primers when I do a make up for my course but I do use it occasionally on myself.


So, as you all might know (well I hope you do know)… before every make up application you need a clean slate therefore always cleanse and moisturise your face, this really does a difference, your make up will look 10 times better than if you had to put it on without having a clean face. The next step that many usually take is applying a primer in order to prepare the face for makeup.
A primer’s job is to smooth fine lines on parts of the face and helps make up go on smoother! A primer usually contains certain ingredients such as wax or silicone which bonds with the other ingredients found in your foundation, blusher etc causing them to stay put longer than before.


Women who suffer from scarring especially acne scarring can find that primers are quite useful since a primer can temporarily fill in and level the skin.
There are several forms and ways in which a primer can come in for example you can find transparent primers and even tinted primers to match your skin tone which can be used on their own without the need to apply foundation over them.

There are three types of primers:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->-       <!--[endif]-->Face Primers

<!--[if !supportLists]-->-       <!--[endif]-->Eye Primers

<!--[if !supportLists]-->-       <!--[endif]-->Lip Primers

Face primers as I have already mentioned before are used in order to fill up fine lines and level the face and keep your face make up on for longer.




With regards to eye primers these are big must have if you have oily lids like myself since it helps your eye shadow to stay put and not crease also if you are using mineral eye shadows this will help you to build your eye shadow up. Also, apart from all these things you eye shadow looks brighter than if you had to apply it without primer.




Lip primers on the other hand help your lipstick appear fresher and to stay put on longer without bleeding. Also, when applying lip sticks you may note that you don’t necessarily get the same colour you are seeing in the tube since the lipstick adjusts to your natural lip colour, with the lip primer you are creating a blank slate and you will achieve the colour that you actually see in the tube.

I hope you found this review useful!!

Martina o.b.o The Fabulous Team

Martina’s Review:

Eye Primer:

As an eye primer I use the e.l.f Mineral Eye Primer. I had tried this eye primer for the same reason as before since I had heard so much good things about using an eye primer that I decided to try one so I had to decide between the Mineral and the Regular line eye primers. 

So I started looking up reviews and I saw a lot of negative comments about the regular line eye primer but people raved about the Mineral line eye primer, I honestly cannot say that the Regular Line eye primer is bad since I have never used it but what I can say is that the Mineral Eye primer is to die for!

The primer is a beige liquid consistency and is held in a small tube with a foam applicator. Again it is reasonably priced for the amount given (€ 3.50 for 4.5g/ 0.15 oz)

What e.l.f says about the product:

This gentle and completely sheer Eye shadow Primer has key vitamins A, C and E to help prevent aging and moisturizes the skin. The formula glides on easily and disappears instantly to create longer-lasting, crease-proof eye shadow. The Mineral Eye shadow Primer is designed to be used with your favourite mineral eye shadow to provide ultimate staying power for beautiful and vibrant colour that lasts. 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

My Views on it:

I agree with the description e.l.f  says it does have a good staying power and makes your eye shadow colour more vibrant and all you need is just a little dab and you can be sure that your eye makeup will not crease!! Also this eye primer is amazing when it comes to using it with mineral eye shadow, the way the eye shadow looks and the stay put factor it has is something which will make me keep buying this product over and over again!

Lip Primer:

Denise’s review:

Eye-primer:       I have started using an eye-primer only until recently. Before, I have only put concealer and foundation over it before applying eye-shadow. Now, I’m using E.L.F mineral eye-primer. It blends easily and adsorbs fast (unless you put loads of the stuff on your eye sockets) and I really like how my eye-shadow is more long lasting.

Lip primer:     Since I am not a lipstick fan, I have never used a lip primer. I prefer using lip glosses and when applying lipsticks, I do apply a lip balm beforehand. I have just discovered just how much I the E.L.F lip stain, so might try something from the same brand. 

Stay tuned . . .

Face Primer: I don’t actually use a face primer, but I do apply Olay complete care daily UV fluid. I love this stuff. The texture is so light and doesn't feel sticky when applied on the skin.It’s also great because it has an SPF 15 and essential vitamins for the skin. I will definitely keep buying it, (it’s not that expensive, approx. €10.00), although in summer, will layer it with a higher SPF sunscreen!

So I bought the e.l.f Lip Primer and Plumper a while back since it looked innovative so I wanted to try it out! The product comes in a black sleek portable tube which has to caps on either side where one is market prime and the other is marked plump. The prime side is like a beige lipstick and when it is applied the colour is like a nude lipstick but the colour is denser whilst the plump side is like a transparent lipstick which smells a bit weird and when applied is a bit sticky. This product is €4.00 and is reasonably priced for the amount given which is Primer- 1.6g/ 0.05 oz and Plumper- 1.7g/ 0.06 oz

What e.l.f says about the product:

Achieve longer lasting lip colour and sexy plumped lips. The Primer creates a base for lip colour for no budge, no smudge pigment that lasts all day. The cinnamon scented Plumper enhances your lips with a subtle plumping tingle effect for fuller, larger looking lips.

My views on it:

At first I had no idea how I was going to use it so I tried the Primer first and put the plumper on second and the lipstick last and I hated how my lipstick appeared so before writing it off I tried using the primer first, lipstick second and plumper last. The primer was absolutely stunning since it really brought out the exact colour of the lipsticks that I wanted that before I used to write off but the plumper I wasn’t quite a fan of since it was oily in substance and although it did make my lips look plumpier I didn’t like it that much so I ended up writing it off. The primer I still use it though from time to time when I want to achieve a certain colour of the lipstick but I rarely use it because I would be constraint with time or I just forget it but I have promised myself that I will use it more.

With regards to primers these are the only primers I ever used so I cannot compare from one another.

Face Primer:

The primer I use for my face is the e.l.f Mineral Face Primer. Since I had never used primers before I didn’t know exactly what results I would get but after a long time of hearing e.l.f fans raving about this product I had to try it out for myself.

The primer in itself is a transparent gel and the amount given for the price is quite reasonable (€6.80 for 14g/ 0.49 oz)

What e.l.f says about this product:

Transform your face into a flawless and smooth canvas with the mineral Infused Face Primer. Developed to combat excess oil, flaky dryness, enlarged pores and fine lines to result in a natural and youthful looking radiance. This clear multipurpose skin primer will prepare your skin so makeup goes on evenly for a lasting finish.

My View:

The first time I used it I did the mistake of using too much of the  product which left me with an all oiled up sensation and a really red face! I didn’t really like how it felt so I ended up taking it off and didn’t try to use it again on that first time but I didn’t want to write it off that easily so I researched what others thought of it and quickly realized that you only have to apply a bit of primer. The second time around that is exactly what I did and although I still got the red face (since that always happens to me whenever I wash my face etc) it quickly calmed down and I started applying my make up, I quickly realized that my make up was going on quite smoother and some fine lines that I have primarily a little under my mouth had vanished. So I went out with my full make up and where usually I ended up appearing as if I don’t have any blusher or my foundation had magically disappeared, at the end of the night when I came back home my full make up was still there! 

The Beauty Chronicles: Cleansers

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Cleansers

Hello ladies! As I already said before, cleansing is the most important stage of any skin care routine. When I do it everyday, and also make sure to remove my make-up before going to bed, I always have beautiful healthy skin. When I neglect it for only a couple of days, I see the difference immediately. . !! This is because cleansing prevents a build-up of waste products and ;

1. If dirt and grime accumulate on the skin, they block up the pores…and the results are bad stuff like black heads…..
2. Make-up that is left on the skin becomes stale, irritates the surface of the skin and blemishes appear . . not nice L
3. Over the course of the day, the skin’s secretions attract dust, parasites and pollution from the atmosphere; these create further congestion which must be dealt with immediately to prevent skin problems. 

So get your cleansers out and use them!!   ;-)

Remember. Whichever cleansing product is used, should leave the skin looking and feeling clean, cool and fresh. The skin should feel soft to the touch and not tight or irritated. So if you feel any discomfort after cleansing, think about changing the cleanser!

Now, a little information about which types of cleansers you might find out there:

• Cleansing creams
• Cleansing milks
• Cleansing lotions
• Make-up removers
• Wash-off cleansers

** Cleansing creams

Some cleansing creams have a more fluid consistency which is lighter than a traditional cream but richer than cleansing milk.

Uses :                    Cleansing milks are particularly good for removing make-up and for cleansing balanced, dry and mature skin types. This is because they melt quickly when applied to the skin and penetrates the pores, dissolving stale make-up and grime.

**Cleansing milks

Cleansing milks are not always efficient as creams for dissolving make-up,  but on the up side, they are water-based, therefore are easier to wipe off the skin than creams. So don’t rule them out just yet, and remember to cleanse twice if you have make-up on!!

Uses: These are particularly suitable for younger, greasier skins. People with a tendency to dryness, or who has a mature skin, should only use cleansing milks with a high oil content.

**Make-up removers

There are different types of products available for removing  make-up:

·        Make-up removers which  are suitable for removing all types of make-up

·        Others have special formulations which make them suitable for removing stubborn eye make-up, in particular waterproof mascara.

Important things to remember when removing eye-make up :

·        A good eye make-up remover dissolves make-up immediately so that it can be removed easily from the skin. This is important when treating the fine, sensitive skin in the eye area where there should be as little disturbance of the skin as possible.

·        People who wear contact lenses may prefer a non-oily eye make up remover to using a greasier product around the eyes. Otherwise, remove contact lenses before removing eye-make-up.

That’s all for now. Please ask questions in case of any doubts!

Denise o.bo. The Fabulous Team xoxo

What we use:

Denise’s Review:

I have been taking care of my skin since I was about 13. I started using products

by ‘Simple’. I think I have used a whole lot of products from that brand. From cleaners

and toners to moisturizers, scrubs and a clay mask. Since they are cheaper than most

products, those were the ones I pretty much afforded!

Since I have long stopped using that brand, I am going to write what I can still remember

about their cleaner:

It was thick and after I washed my face, it felt sticky and I almost couldn’t move my face.

After that, I started using products by Nivea. I love this brand, although I don’t really like

their smell. It’s not bad, it’s just not to my taste.

Recently, I have used Nivea Visage Refreshing cleansing lotion. It is a light cleaner and

my skin felt squeaky clean afterwards. Would definitely recommend it!

Thank God I have discovered the Cleaners, toners and moisturiser of Olay. This brand is

definitely my favourite. Plus, I love their smell!! The cleanser feel so fresh on my skin ,

and leaves it so clean. While using this cleaner, my skin has been clearer and brighter.

Would most definitely recommend this!!

Martina’s Review:

I have used the same cleanser for as long as I can remember since I had an acne problem

a few years back therefore I had to use the cleanser the dermatologist had prescribed

which was the Cetaphil Cleanser.

This Cleanser is a medicated cleanser which is very effective for people suffering with

problematic skin, the only downside to it is that once you are all cleared up the skin as it

happened in my case, from always having oily skin I started having normal skin (well and

good you might say) but my skin became lifeless that certain oomph I used to have went.

After that cleanser I went onto another cleanser by Babor for combination skin which was

very good it restored my healthy glow and my skin was looking fabulous! This combination consisted of an oil and a cleanser. The oil was used as a base for the cleanser and it was a really good make up remover and didn't leave my face all oily then I used the cleanser on top of it and took it all off by wetting my hands and taking the cleanser off with circular motions and repeating for 4 times.

But after a few months of using it my skin got accustomed to it and till recently my spots

started to emerge again due to stress mostly and I had (well still have) a lot of blemishes

therefore I’m back to using Cetaphil, till now I have re used it for one week and I must

say that my face has cleared up (not to the extent I want it to but still a progress)

Basic Make Up Technique

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Hello lovely ladies!

We hope you had a full fun packed weekend!! Today I am going to share with you the essential products used for makeup and in what way they should be applied. Now I know that everyone has their own technique on what comes before and what comes after but this is the technique that worked for me and the technique I have to know due to my make up course.

1. Apply Primer (this is optional, sometimes I leave this step out)
2. Apply concealer on blemishes or spots
3. Apply the right foundation all over the face including eyes and mouth and neck blending thoroughly
4. Apply Powder all over face and neck
5. Apply primer on the eyelid of your eye especially if you have oily eyelids
6. Apply eye shadow (we will be showing you different techniques in the coming posts)
7. Apply eyeliner (preferably pencil) on the lower lash line and set it with a black eye shadow in order for it not to smudge
8. Apply a liquid or cream eyeliner on the upper lash line
9. Arrange brows with a brow pencil, gel or wax if necessary
10. Apply Mascara
11. Apply False Lashes (optional)
12. Apply Blush
13. Apply Highlighter
14. Line your lips with a lip liner then fill in with lipstick and if you want go over it with gloss
15. Set your make up with a setting spray if you want et voila! You’re finished

The scope of this blog post is to basically show you how make up is applied step by step and to introduce you to different make up products that we will be covering in the following posts where we will go into more detail on different types of products you find on the market, how to apply them and so on.

We hope you found this blog useful!

Martina o.bo. The Fabulous Team xoxo

Skin care advice for everyone!

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Skin care:

A beautiful skin is a healthy skin. Good skin care, practiced routinely, helps to keep the skin healthy by:

-          Keeping the outer surface clean and soft.

-          Maintaining adequate moisture levels.

-          Ensuring a healthy blood supply to living cells and tissues.

-          Helping the skin to resist infection and infestation.

-          Providing protection from external damage

The main aim of skin care is to create or maintain a balanced skin. A balanced skin is a healthy skin.

The following advice, in intended for everyone, whatever skin type!

      Eat a balanced diet. Skin must be fed from the inside with all the necessary vitamins , minerals and nutrients. This should include plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit and fiber. Foods containing vitamin A, B , C and E are particularly important for a healthy skin. So are proteins and the essential fatty acids. Vitamin A keeps skin healthy and prevents it from becoming dry and flaky. Vitamin C is important for the production of collagen and vitamin E helps to rehydrate the skin and speed up the healing process.

      Drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day. This helps to maintain a healthy water balance in the body and speeds up elimination of wastes and toxins which can affect the skin.

      Sleep at least 8 hours at night. Remember that the rate of skin cell repair and replacement increases when we are asleep. Tiredness and exhaustion deprive the skin of the energy  it needs to recover and regenerate.

      Protect the skin. A balanced skin can easily become dry if it is not protected  from the weather, extremes  of temperature, sunlight, pollution and cosmetics. Wear a moisturizer to create a barrier between the skin and the outside elements. Whenever possible, avoid exposing the skin to strong sunlight; otherwise use a suitable sunscreen.

      Exercise regularly. Apart from stimulating the flow of blood and supply of oxygen to the body tissues, regular exercise speed up cell division and helps to build collagen. Keeping the body fit minimizes stress and its effect upon the skin.

      Use an effective cleanser to remove make-up, dirt and skin blockages caused by a build-up of sebum in the pores. Always remember to remove make-up at night before you go to sleep!

      Avoid harsh treatment. Do not pull or stretch the skin. Be gentle when washing the face and using skin care products. Blood vessels are very near to the surface of the skin and can become damaged quite easily. Avoid using perfumed products on facial skin. Also, apply eye –creams lightly with the ring finger!.

      Avoid smoking! Cigarettes reduce the necessary nutrients and oxygen required for a healthy skin and cause a dull, lifeless looking skin. Smoking activates harmful free radicals and weakens collagen and elastin fibres , causing premature wrinkling of the skin.

      Keep alcohol intake to a minimum as it dehydrates the skin!

Hope you found this post useful!

Denise o.b.o The Fabulous Team xoxo

Skin types and Skin care Advice for each Skin Type

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Hello dear bloggers!  As our first post, we are going to give you some information about different skin types, products and skin care advice.

Needless to say, make-up is best applied on clean skin, and looks much better if you regularly take care of your skin. Babies and tiny children have perfect skin – it’s soft, smooth and dewy, needing just a quick wipe to keep it fresh and clean. But as you get older, your skin changes, and caring for it take more time and effort. It also becomes more vulnerable to the effects of fluctuating hormones, the weather, the environment, what you’ve eaten and how well you’re feeling.

Doing what’s best for your skins starts with understanding its type. Use the following information to discover which of the five different skin types  - normal, oily, dry, combination and sensitive – you have, and what you can do to keep yours glowing.

·       Oily skin

It’s not just teenagers who get oily skin – many people in their 20’s and 30’s get it too. Oily skin tends to have larger pored and often looks shiny because the oil-producing sebaceous glands are very active. This makes you more prone to sport and blackheads, but the extra moisture in your skin means it won’t age as fast as other skin types.

Taking care:

Oily skin attracts more dirt than other skin types because it’s greasier, but it still needs gentle treatment - harsh lotions and too much scrubbing can over –stimulate the oil glands and make it even greasier.

Cleansing:

Use a light lotion, a milk cleanser or a wash-off gll. Foaming gels are good as they dissolve oils.

Toning:

Refresh your skin with an alcohol-based toner – but only when it looks really shiny. Look for the word ‘astringent’ on the Label. With hazel or tea tree and grapefruit oil are great natural toners for oily skin.

Moisturising:

Use a water-based formula round your eyes, cheeks and neck.

TIP:  Treat yourself to a face mask containing mud or clay to soak up excess oil and calm breakouts.

·       Sensitive skin:

Sensitive sin is easily irritated and can look blotchy and feel itchy. It’s often dry, but sensitive skin can also be combination or oily. Products can make it flare up and allergic reactions can cause problems too.

Taking care:

The most important thing is to treat your skin very gently and use as few products as possible. Look for hypoallergenic or allergy-tested products which have been screened for irritants like perfume - but beware, even these may contain ingredients that upset your skin.

Cleansing:

Never use soap – it can upset your skin’s natural balance and leave it feeling even more sensitive. Use a very gentle cream or lotion cleanser instead.

Toning:

Use tepid water and cold water can be too harsh, and avoid toners as they may also irritate the skin.

Moisturising:

Use gentle hypoallergenic cream, preferably with added sunscreen.

TIP: Always patch test new products. Apply a blob behind your ear and wait 48 hours to see if there is a reaction.

·       Dry skin:

Your skin tends to get drier as you get older, though you can have dry kin – or the occasional dry patch - at any age. Dry skin can look flaky and thin with very fine pores, and air\r conditioning, wind and sun can add to the dry feel.

Taking care:

Dry skin needs gentle treatment and lots of nourishing to keep it healthy and supple. Your aim is to boost the moisture in your skin so it looks plump and smooth.

Cleansing:

Use a cream cleanser, a very rich liquid cleanser or a non-perfumed moisturizing soap.

Toning:

Splash with cold water after cleansing to boost circulation or use a mild alcohol-free toner. Rose water is a soothing natural alternative.

Moisturising:

Use a rich nourishing cream, both day and night.

TIP: Drink plenty of water – up to 2.5 litres a day – to replenish the moisture in your sin and eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit to nourish it.

• Normal Skin:

If you’ve got normal skin, you’re one of the lucky ones ! Your skin is balanced, which means that it’s neither oily nor dry, it feels fine and smooth and has pores that are almost invisible. You rarely suffer from sport and blackheads, or allergic reactions to different products.

Taking care:

The challenge with normal skin is to keep it that way for as long as possible by maintaining its natural balance of oil and moisture.

Cleansing:

Use a gentle pH- balanced facial wash or mild cleansing lotion, and rinse off well to ensure skin is completely clan,

Toning:

Use rose water or a refreshing toner to wash up your skin and revive it, but avoid astringent toners or ones containing alcohol.

Moisturising:

Protect your skin and maintain moisture levels  with a light to medium moisturizer, and pat an eye gel round the delicate eye area.

TIP: Use a rich moisturizer when the skin needs more protection, for example in winter, then it can be drier.

• Combination skin:

Combination skin combines both normal and oily skin – usually, the cheeks are normal with oily skin on the nose, chin and forehead. This area is called the T-zone because it makes a T-shape.

Taking care:

Because you have two different types of skin, it’s best to treat each individual area in a way that suits it best – products for your oily nose may be too harsh for the finer skin on your cheeks.

Cleansing:

Use a light lotion, gel or milk cleanser on your T-zone. If you have dry skin elsewhere on your face, use a rich, moisturizing cleanser. Otherwise, pick a cream cleanser for normal skin.

Toning:

Use an astringent toner or a natural product such as witch hazel on your T-zone and water or rose water on the other areas.

Moisturising:

Use a light, non-oily formula with added sunscreen on your neck, cheeks and forehead. Make sure that it’s a non-comedogenic.Don’t bother moisturizing your chin or nose area as they produce enough natural oil.

Tip: Use a pore minimiser on your T-zone to even out the appearance of your skin. Don’t make co mbination skin worse by over cleansing or moisturizing.

Hope you found this post useful!

Denise o.b.o The Fabulous Team xoxo