Street & Rail: beauty essential

Showing posts with label beauty essential. Show all posts

Winter is coming. Wait, sorry, winter skin is coming. You know it when you feel it, that slightly flaky, taut, and mildly (and sometimes very) uncomfortable state of skin. Your poor hands and face are trying the best that they can. And they could probably use some help.

I found that people with oily skin unfortunately shy away from oil based products. I say unfortunately because its all about balance. I am constantly trying new products, but its important to adapt your skincare to your environment. While protection is my main focus all year round, summer skincare is light, whereas winter skincare is all about layering. Remember, lightest products first like gels and serums and heaviest last like cream moisturisers and oil.

6 top tips for that winter glow //

Water Intake // This can be a hard one when your on the run, but with cold winds and drying radiator heat parching your skin its so important to hydrate from within
Turn up the Cold Tap // Luke warm water is the way when it comes to face washing, as is a non-stripping cleanser like Vitamin C Super Facialist.
Moisturise // Layer up on the moisturisers to lock in that goodness during the day with SPF for protection. Facial oil's work best at night and applying moisturisers to damp skin will maximise absorption
Exfoliate! // I personally like a strong exfoliator (partly cause my skin can take it), the microdermabrasion scrub from Body shop of the Botanics Scrub is a dream! For those with sensitive skin, chemical exfoliation is best so head to Pixi and grab yourself some glow tonic.
Humidify //As mentioned in point 1, there's nothing like radiators to totally parch your skin! Stick a bowl of water above the radiator to keep moisture levels up.
Pamper time // If you notice your skin needing extra moisture, grab a hydrating sheet mask. These are all the range at the moment so you'll have no problems finding them.

You can thank me later ;)

Tan xx

Your smile is the first thing that people will see. Being self conscious about an instinctual reaction and expression of happiness is the last thing you want, especially when all eyes are on you!

With a few special events coming up and plenty of things to worry about, my cheesy grin was not going to be one of them was. While I might not have the straightest teeth, they sure are pearly white thanks to Smile Brilliant!

I tried a few whitening products and while they have worked well, they've probably not achieved that glowing white I was looking for. First was whitening strips and although convenient to carry around they tend to slide in your mouth and not hold product in well. Next was the swabs. These I liked, gentile on my teeth and easy to transport but not the bright white I was after. Then Smile Brilliant!

They contacted me just before Christmas, always a little apprehensive in my approach to whitening, I thoughtful I would give it a go. They provide a casting set so the whitening moulds exactly match your teeth! Loved this bit and casting wasn’t as tricky as I thought it might be, although I would leave the mould in my mouth a little longer the necessary if I did it again. This ones probably as good as Tooth Whitening Gel from the dentists office but from the comfort and convenience of home… or wherever you might be whitening. I found this one easy to use and even easier to fit in around my evening routine (this one also helps with night-time snacking, of which I have a definite problem ;P)

Based in the US, my kit took some time to arrive but it was shipped over the holidays so the postman had a little catching up to do. The impression trays however came pretty quick ;) I struggled with serve sensitivity which I haven't experienced before. Also unlike any of the other products, they also provide a desensitizing gel that not only removes the sensitivity but also prevents further staining.

Quite a commitment, but nothing worth it comes easy. And what a difference it makes. It's like having a completely new smile!

To make it that bit easier, I have teamed up with Smile Brilliant to be able to offer you not only 15% off all of their products but the chance to win $149 Smile Brilliant credit!

COUPON & GIVEAWAY//

15% off coupon code: streetandrail15

Giveaway: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/streetandrail

The giveaway is for a $149 Smile Brilliant credit.

It is open for 1 week (7 days from this post going Live) and open to USA, UK, Australia and Canadian residents.

- Be sure to apply with your emails and you could be the lucky Winner!!

Good Luck Guys - Get entering

Tan xx

*Sponsored Post in collaboration with Smile Brilliant

February rolls in and i just can't help but feel love in the air as Saint Valentine works his magic! While many of us look for love from a partner or soul mate, we often miss out on the one pretty spectacular person who has some amazing love to give, I'm surprised you missed them: the person looking back at you from the mirror!

Loving yourself isn’t as easy as loving another person. Loving yourself is, however, more important than loving anyone else. After all, you are the only person that's guaranteed to stick by your side for the rest of your life.

Love is more easily experienced than defined.

This year I'm treating myself (and you) to some fab February favourites, including a few luscious skin savers to get me through the harsh winter weather!

WATER //
No#1. Easily achievable, but quite often not...
During winter, it's easy to forget to drink as much - a cold glass of water isn't always appealing! Try warm. Ginger tea is anti-inflammatory, improves circulation, fights free radicals and again is rich in antioxidants ( a.k.a hydrating skin boost in a mug). Herbal teas are a great way to stay on top of your 8 glasses of water a day and how I survive year round!

Bio Oil //
Bio Oil is a miracle multi-tasker made of vitamins and plant extracts that helps to hydrate to leave the skin supple and smooth. Although I suffer from oily skin for most of the year, I am still affected by the cold and see dry patches every winter. A drop or two applied with your moisturiser every morning and directly to your skin every night will do a world of good, and it doesn't stop there! The vitamin complex also works wonders for scars and hyper-pigmentation.

Dr. Lipp's Nipple Balm //
Don't worry, I'm not about to go on a rant about nipples....
This is a 100% natural medical-grade Lanolin - an oil made from wall. It is Extremely thick, and took a little while to get used to... particularly on a cold day when I had to wild significant force to get it out the tube! When you do get used to it, you'll never turn back. Rub a dot of this over your lips and it gets somewhat soft and is a long lasting force against any weather.

MAC Studio Fix //

This little trust compact gets me through every occasion, as you would know from this post. Although this is a foundation, I actually use it for contouring. Studio Fix is one of the best pressed powders I have dared to try. Exceptionally silky its applies and blends like a dream making it versatile and reliable!! Everything you could possibly need.

Rimmel Lash Sensational //

I Live for this mascara. It is one of the best I have tried on the high street. My third repurchase!! It ticks every box you want a mascara to tick. From first application it curls and separates so that lashes look curved but not clumpy. It also volumises so that they look full and flirty. (Valentines Day Tick!) UGH. LAV IT.

Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Colour //

This is made up of a double ended wand - colour and balm! I must admit I'm a bit mixed on this one as it can be quite drying on the lips, but designed to be used with the balm on top the colour really does last all day long. I struggle to keep lipstick on longer than 5 minutes so this is impressive and the balm is just dreamy. So dreamy in fact that I sometimes use the balm just on its own!

Get pampering guys and girls.

Valentines in rolling in and it time to treat yourselves. You’re not “okay”. You’re damn well SPECTACULAR. You’re a gem in the rough. You’re a shimmering, exploding supernova and its about time you treated yourself like one!!

Tan xx

Unblinking, brow furrowing, lip chewing concentration.

•

Little habits like these are doing my face no favours. With ever changing needs, I'm endlessly searching for the signature skincare routine to suit me. It's a great way to showcase your personality, show off in the sunshine and maximise your time in the morning (who doesn't want to spend more time sipping coffee and staring into space). It can take some trial and error to find the look, but here are some tips to help you find your signature routine.

BASELINE //

Take some time to decipher your skin type. It's really helps to know how your skin reacts naturally, as well as any problem areas. Skincare ranges usually cater to a standard range of skin types: Oily, Normal, Combination, Dry, Sensitive.

Don’t stress if you can’t work it out yourself, some skincare brands like dermalogica and Kiehl's offer this as a complimentary service in store, but bare in mind that they are responding to how your skin is that day. Only you will know what it’s like day in day out.

My skin fluctuates seasonally, so I switch to different products to work with this, rather than forcing my skin to be something it’s not. Using aggressive alcohol based products to fight the shine, will only the problem worse.

PLAY TIME //

Dig out all of your skincare products. And I mean all..

First things first, its out the window with the ones that have been sat at the back of the bathroom shelf for too long to remember. Aged produced actually do your skin more harm than good.

Sit down with what your left with and figure what really works for you, what you like and why. This will all help in your signature skincare search.

TOP TIP: There’s a small sign at the back of most products that show their shelf-life Check it out…

RESEARCH //

Now you know your skin type and roughly what your looking for in a product. Notice my use of the word “product”, who knows this could be a cream… gel… mousse… mask… serum… the possibilities are endless!

There's a wealth of inspiration out there so immerse yourself in all things skincare. Browse Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, look at bloggers and youtubers with similar skin types and problem areas, what do they use? Talk to friends, colleages, skincare counter specialists.

It’s out there at the very end of your fingertips and all within reach…

EXPERIMENT //

Don’t be nervous, this is the fun bit. Get out there and let yourself experiment with new products. This doesn’t mean you have to spend millions on magical remedies. It could be as simple as using tea tree oil to treat pimples and blemishes.

I’ve recently traded in my pricey cleanse and tone favourites for a for quick and simple Orange Flower Water alternative. Not only have I found that it works better for me, but more importantly its natural and uncomplicated. Exactly what I’m looking for.

Remember it’s important to focus on compatible products to treat or compliment your own skin. So find ones that really work and ones that you will want to use every day. This will take some trial and error but you’ll get there.

PATIENCE //

Results won’t come instantly and you have to accept that. Be Patient. Tempting as it is to abandon a product within a week when you don’t see results, stick at it! Your persistence could pay off. I’m pretty strict with myself and don’t buy new product to replace anything till something is finished. The exceptions are seasonal products or those that cause skin irritation. Never persist with a product that clearly doesn’t agree with you.

Be reasonable. Don’t rely on a 20-step routine that relies on you dedicating 2 hours of your day to skincare. Realistically its never going to last.

EMBRACE //

Although it tempting to stick with a regimented routine It's still important to experiment. If you find something that works, then great stick with it, but don’t be scared to try new things too. It's always fun to switch things up! Who know’s, you may find something even better ;)

Love & Kisses,

Tan xx