Tag: Skin Concerns

5 BUDGET BUYS I’D HAPPILY SPEND BIG BUCKS ON (BLOGTOBER – DAY TWENTY-THREE)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

I’m (mostly) about beauty on a budget. Adulting is expensive and I don’t have the cash to splash about on pricey brands so much anymore and I know that’s a common theme really.

Do you know what really makes my day though?

Finding drugstore priced products that deserve to be praised just as much as their luxury counterparts.

Below I’ve put together a little list of my everyday favs, let me know if you’ve tried any!

Carter Beauty

Word of Mouth Lipsticks

€6.95

Carter Beauty Word of Mouth Lipsticks €6.95

I love to support indie brands so now seems like the perfect opportunity to talk about CB. Headed by the ultimate beauty babe Marissa Carter it’s one not to miss. The Word of Mouth lipsticks are creamy, ultra pigmented and long lasting. What more could you want?

P.S. my favourite shade is Bey!

Physicians Formula

Butter Believe It Foundation + Concealer

£13.99

Physicians Formula Butter Believe It
Foundation + Concealer £13.99

Imagine chilling beside the pool, drink in your hand just living your best life. THATS exactly the kind of vibe PF is giving me.

Hayley over at Just My Look told me that I would love the foundation in particular. Do you know what? She were so right! It has the most beautiful finish and allows for layering your products so perfectly.

Would 100% recommend to absolutely everyone. It’s an incredible versatile base for use all year round.

Unicorn Cosmetics

Bear Brows Extreme Lifting Balm

£7.99

Unicorn Cosmetics Bear Brows
Extreme Lifting Balm £7.99

I really am still stunned by just how incredible this product is. For someone with brows that continue to piss me right off on a daily basis please take it from me when I say you need this!

It’s a one shade fits all type of deal (doesn’t discriminate and that’s a vibe I can absolutely fall in love with!) as well as being super long lasting and flattering as hell.

Revolution Haircare

Salicylic Acid Clarifying Scalp Serum

£8

Revolution Haircare Salicylic Acid Clarifying Scalp Serum £8

I’m slowly training my hair and scalp to go longer in between washes without feeling lank/greasy and whilst it’s a process I can see the difference already. I’m now getting a whole extra day of fresh, luscious hair and I am so living for it.

This beauty shows instant results with its squeaky clean fresh finish and I wouldn’t be without it now.

By Beauty Bay

Butter Cup Cleansing Balm

£8

By Beauty Bay Butter Cup Cleansing Balm £8

Balms have never appealed to me (no idea why, I’m just weird like that sometimes!) but this baby has completely changed my mindset.

Literally the best makeup remover I have ever tried. It’s incredible efficient as well as kind and feels like a luxury experience every single time.

Anything catch your eye?

ARTTITUDE COSMETICS BY RUKS GLOW GETTER OIL REVIEW (BLOGTOBER – DAY TWENTY-TWO)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

Meet the Arttitude Cosmetics By Ruks Glow Getter Oil!

Make up trends come and go, but glowing skin is always in! Introducing our brand new Glow Getter oil, an absolute essential for any skincare lover!

arttitudecosmetics.co.uk

Designed to target a number of skin concerns including acne, blemishes, pigmentation, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles it’ll fit in beautifully alongside your current skincare routine.

It’ll provide your skin with intense moisture and nourishment whilst maintaining a super lightweight, fast-absorbing and non-greasy texture.

Packed full of skin loving ingredients such as rosehip seed oil, ylang ylang, lavender frankincense, lemon, juniper berry, vitamin e, avocado kernal and jojoba for healthy, radiant, glowing skin all year round

I’m super oily so the sceptic in me tends to want to stay away from oil based products but this one just sucked me in and had me at first sight.

It smells incredible (imagine being pampered at a spa and feeling relaxed AF, that’s the scent I’m talking about) and has become the favourite part of my night time routine.

I can’t even explain how much my skin had benefited from having something so lovingly formulated within my arsenal.

For £29.99 you can pick up this absolute beaut in a bottle (and you won’t regret it!). If you’re still not completely sold then go with the sample size for £4.99 (and to me this shows confidence in their product, knowing you’ll be back to buy your full sized version after you’ve fallen in love).

I just really love it, can you tell?

Feature photo credit – arttitudecosmetics.co.uk

REVOLUTION HAIRCARE SALICYLIC ACID CLARIFYING RANGE REVIEW (BLOGTOBER – DAY EIGHT)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

Post contains gifted products. All views are my own.

Did you know I’m actually a hair stylist by trade? I haven’t worked in the industry for a very long time but a piece heart will always belong to it.

I’ve spoken before about the power of the right cut and finding the correct person to help you achieve it (shout out to my stylist Sian at Sian Hair & Beauty because she is the best in the biz!).

Part of my journey has always been finding products that work for me (and that changes depending on the season just like your skincare!).

I’ve been trialling the Salicylic Acid Clarifying Range by Revolution Haircare and it seems to be working wonders on my super oily hair and scalp! It genuinely feels like a treat to use and so much more luxurious than it’s price tag would lead you to believe.

Revolution Haircare Salicylic Acid Clarifying Shampoo for Oily Hair
£9

Revolution Haircare Salicylic Acid Clarifying Conditioner for Oily Hair
£9

Revolution Haircare Salicylic Acid Clarifying Scalp Serum for Oily Scalp
£8

If you really want to elevate your routine from basic to something truly epic then you could also pick up a couple of treats that work beautifully alongside the range.

Revolution Haircare Stimulating Scalp Massager
£5

Revolution Haircare Microfibre Hair Wrap (2 Pack)
£8

I’m slowly training my hair and scalp to go longer in between washes without feeling lank/greasy and whilst it’s a process I can see the difference already. I’m now getting a whole extra day of fresh, luscious hair and I am so living for it.

What are your hair heroes and do you have any tips for someone who may be struggling with achieving their dream style?

PIXI BEAUTY REMEDY MASK COLLECTION REVIEW (BLOGTOBER – DAY FOUR)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

Post contains gifted products. All views are my own.

If ever there was a time I needed a pick me up it’s now!

I’ve just started university as a mature student and my head is absolutely fried! Pair that with tackling my children’s never ending school commitments/general life and that’s pretty much just a recipe for stressed out skin.

Thankfully Pixi Beauty we’re kind enough to send me over their Remedy Mask Collection so fingers crossed I’ll be back to myself in no time!

Pixi Beauty Vitamin-C Remedy Mask.

Packed to the gills with nutrients and botanicals to give your skin all kinds of goodness these lightweight jelly masks have been such a welcome addition to my skincare collection.

With three gorgeous masks to choose from…

Vitamin-C Remedy Mask – a brightening, toning jelly packed with nutrients and botanicals to help refresh and revitalise your skin. Blend of Citrus, Green Tea, Ferulic Acid and Ginseng energises, brightens and hydrates.

Milky Remedy Mask – a soothing, toning jelly packed with nutrients and botanicals to help revive your skin. Blend of Coconut, Oat, Chamomile and Sea Buckthorn calm, soothe and hydrate.

Rose Remedy Mask – a nourishing, toning jelly packed with nutrients and botanicals to help refresh and deeply nourish your skin. Blend of Rose, Argan Oil, Cica and Turmeric refreshes, nourishes and hydrates.

…it’ll be easy to find one to suit every mood or concern.

Pixi Beauty Vitamin-C Remedy Mask.

Let’s not forget these are the ideal trio to multi mask with. If you are blessed/cursed with combination skin then you’ll LOVE working with these beauties (which are sooo simple to use by the way!

• Use in the AM & PM, or as needed.
• Step 1: Apply a thick, even layer to clean skin, avoiding eye area.
• Step 2: Leave on for 10 minutes.
• Step 3: Rinse or tissue off.

pixibeauty.co.uk

Each 300ml tub costs £20 which is at the priced end of what I’d be willing to pay for a mask (your girl has children to feed, clothe and entertain!) but will last you as the product is definitely in the ‘a little goes a long way’ category.

Despite my cheap skate ways I can honestly say the masks are beautiful, smell divine and left my skin feeling super smooth, taut and revitalised ready for another day just being a boss.

ECO WARRIOR (SELF CARE WITH A CONSCIENCE)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

Post contains gifted products. All views are my own.

A bit of a different post from me today my loves but you know what they say, a change is as good as a rest.

When I was first contacted some time ago and asked to test out a couple of cleansing bars I have to say I was intrigued! I’d never actually owned a product of this sort before and am always up for trying new things so of course I was immediately onboard. What I didn’t know was that I was going to fall head over heels in love with this beautiful company.

Little Soap Company were founded in 2008 and have turned big dreams into a reality with their unique approach to the bathroom staple.

Eco Warrior Beauty Edit Chill-Out Bar.

Eco Warrior – a cruelty free & vegan collection under the Little Soap Company umbrella contains 99.9% natural ingredients and is plastic free, eco friendly and biodegradable (both the soap and packaging) so you can treat yourself to a luxurious self care session with the knowledge you are doing your bit for the environment.

Did I mention they also smell amazing?! Like not regular amazing, ACTUALLY amazing. The scent alone is just a hit of instant relaxation.

Eco Warrior Beauty Edit Cleansing Bar.

Besides the fact you’ll feel smug AF for making good choices there are also some practical positives that go hand in hand with choosing to swap your regular skincare or haircare for a bar.

  • Easily transportable. Chuck them in your bag without fear of those pesky spillages!
  • Less waste, which is a entire reason in itself am I right?
  • Cute as hell (because in the age of Instagram you know we all appreciate a good aesthetic!).
Eco Warrior Beauty Edit Cleansing Bar.

With that being said I wanted to finish this post with a bit of a plea for help with a new project Little Soap Company are working on.

A brand new Hand & Body Bar in collaboration with the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS).

Eco Warrior Special Edition SOS Hand & Body Bar.

For every bar sold Little Soap Company pledges to donate 25p to the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) to help plant seedlings in Sumatra, Indonesia as part of their forest regeneration and conservation mission. SOS works to protect Sumatran orangutans and the forests they depend on. They have planted over 2 million trees and rescued over 200 orangutans so far and continue to work on new solutions for the issues facing orangutans in the wild.

Eco Warrior SOS Bar Press Release

Both Little Soap Company and SOS believe that the future is all about sustainable palm oil and that a complete boycott could have more devastating effects for orangutans and the rainforest they depend on for survival. They only use RSPO Sustainable Palm Oil, produced without harming rainforests or the species that rely on them. Their passion is infectious and an asset to the beauty industry.

It would have been easier to have bowed to pressure years ago and made palm-oil free soap, but I truly believe it is the business of a business to help improve the world. I realised very early on I wasn’t just making soap – Little Soap Company is also a vehicle to educate about big issues that big brands were not only avoiding but adding to, like the use of cheaper, non-sustainable palm oil and the question of responsibility for what we are flushing down our plug holes. We used to be regularly pressurised into boycotting palm – but this is not the right approach. My wife is an ape conservationist and runs a zoo and we met arguing about palm oil!! She said how terrible it was I made soap and contributed to the crisis and I said some equally inaccurate things about zoos. The world is not black and white and we both had a journey to come to value each other’s viewpoints and learn the other side of the argument.

Emma Heathcote-James, Founder of Little Soap Company.

The special edition bar is is fragranced with a blend of pure essential oils, fitting in nicely with routines for all skin types.

For less that a fiver you can add this beauty to your collection AND do your bit for the cause. You can pick yours up here… or find more information here…

SUFFERING FROM ‘MASKNE’? I GOT YOU BOO!

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

What is MASKNE?

Mask related acne otherwise known as ‘MASKNE’ will typically appear in the way of pimples/blemishes, redness, or irritation around your mouth, cheeks, and jawline. Basically anywhere your mask touches.

Sweat, oil, and bacteria are essentially just building up underneath your face masks and blocking up your pores, not to mention the incessant rubbing of the material which can cause damage to your skins protective barrier.

How do I treat it?

First things first. Mask hygiene. If your using disposables then you need to understand that it is essential they are changed regularly. Especially if you are required to wear one for long periods of time (in your place of work etc, I’m sure everywhere has their own procedures that need to be followed so obviously best to seek guidance through the correct channels).

I tend to go with reusable masks but that’s my personal preference. They need to be washed after every use (to stop the spread of the virus but also to help get rid of any bacteria that lurks inside  ready to pounce on your skin.

Skincare has taken on a whole new level of importance since we started wearing face masks. Now more than ever It’s really important to find a routine that works for you.

I’m oily and blemish prone so had already experimented a lot to find my perfect products and coincidentally they also really do the job with it comes to mask related acne too so I thought now would be a good time to share them with you.

My absolute ride or die is the Bye Bye Blemish Witch Hazel and Tea Tree Toner. It’s so incredibly calming and soothing and I honestly do credit this product with how clear my skin is on a day to day basis. You also can’t go wrong with their Skin Rescue Serum (which also dries down to a tacky finish and works well as a primer).

The Revolution Skincare Niacinamide Range has everything you could possibly need to tackle those pesky outbreaks as well as mattify the skin without dulling it down to nothing.

These products obviously won’t work for everyone but they are all really affordable so worth a go. Sometimes it really can be trial and error. If you’d like to try something different though look out for products that contain Salicylic Acid or Niacinamide. These are both great for acne control.

Can I cover it up?

Short answer? Yes you can.

Unfortunately makeup can also really aggravate the whole nasty situation. Obviously it’s totally up to you but personally I have found myself going bare faced more often than not at the moment I just don’t feel like putting all that effort in to go ahead and hide it anyway. It’s also given me the opportunity to really trial a ‘less is more approach’ which couldn’t be more different to how I usually do things.

Some brows, a bit of concealer and a slick of mascara and that’s about as glam as it gets right now.

Masks are obviously with us for the foreseeable so I hope this post has helped you in some way to coping with it, I’d also love to hear about what’s working for you! There really isn’t an exact science to all of this, it’s still very new to a lot of us. For now, just be kind to yourself.

HOW TO GET THAT PERFECT DEWY MAKE UP LOOK THAT LASTS EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OILY AF

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

Guys, my skin is OILY. I’m talking make up sliding off of my nose an hour after application kind of oily, and that’s fine. We can combat that with a good base and matte products which is great. However, if you’re like me then sometimes you just don’t want a full face of heavy slap. You covet the fresh faced dewy goodness you see on Instagram. 

Here I’m going to share with you some tips, tricks and products I’ve picked up in my search for a glowy complexion and hopefully they will work for you too!

Just a quick disclaimer, I’m not an MUA but these steps definitely work for me and I am an oily disaster.

Hydration

Hydration is KEY! I know that sounds bizarre because when you have oily skin it feels like the last thing you might need but trust me.

Drink plenty of water. 6-8 glasses a day is the current recommendation and it is so vital so your overall health and well being. I like to add a couple of slices of lemon to mine to give it a little extra something.

Hyaluronic Acid is also something you might want to think about. I know that sounds scary but I explain exactly what it is and the benefits of adding it to your skincare routine HERE.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, there are plenty of brands on the HA bandwagon now so you can purchase anything from a toner to serums and even a refreshing facial mist. The choice is yours. A good skincare routine is so important but does take a while to get to grips with as everyone has different concerns.

Base

A good base and knowing what products to use is going to be your best friend. It’s taken me ages to work out what does and doesn’t work for me but I think I’m finally there and my advice is don’t be afraid to mix products.

Most of us aren’t oily everywhere. If you really think about it you’ll realise the problem lies within certain areas. Mine is my t-zone. 

Basically I use various products in different areas of my face. I know that my nose is my biggest issue so I use a touch of the PLouise Base (£10) to really prime that area before applying my foundation and honestly I haven’t found anything else that does the trick as well as that little gem! 

My favourite dewy foundation at the moment is the Revolution Conceal and Hydrate. It has such a beautiful finish and is a bargain at just £9. I apply this with blending sponge carefully to avoid anywhere I have just laid down my PLouise Base. I then go back in once I have blending all of the product elsewhere and apply the tiniest bit of matte foundation (the best I have found is the Revolution Matte Base) to my problem area to add a touch more coverage and cover the base. The trick with oily skin is less is more and to really take your time with blending and pushing the base and foundation into the skin. It really does make all of the difference.

You’ll then need to set it all. I’m still on the hunt for my ideal powder but at the moment I’m quite liking the Collection Primed & Ready HD Blur Setting Powder (£3.99). A little goes an extremely long way so please be careful! It’s slightly pearlescent so really helps to give your skin some life and stop it from looking flat.

Finishing Touches

These are the things that are going to make the most difference overall in my opinion. You’re going to need a bronzer, blush and highlighter. Any brand will do! I then highly recommend you check out this video by Jamie Genevieve for some application tips when it comes to these specific products because she has changed the game for me!

Finish off with a dewy setting spray and whilst your face is still damp I want you to apply a little bit more of your highlighter in the usually places but also to the top of the apples of your cheeks. This step is going to make all the bloody difference when it comes to getting that glow especially now you have your base down!

I hope you have found this post helpful! Fingers crossed you can take something away from it and be able to live your best life with the dewy skin of your dreams!

MAKEUP REVOLUTION REHAB COLLECTION REVIEW

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Beauty

Post contains gifted products. All views are my own.

“It’s time for some serious TLC with the Revolution Rehab collection. This collection is designed to nourish & recover your brows, lips & lashes.”

Let’s face it, we could all do with a little bit of extra goodness in our lives right now couldn’t we? 

With ingredients such as shea, cocoa and mango butter, hyaluronic, castor oil and jojoba you’ll be feeling like a brand new you in no time!

Makeup Revolution Rehab Collection.

The collection includes everything you could possibly need to get your brows, lashes and lips in tip top order ready for those long awaited nights out (and with summer approaching fingers crossed some scorching hot days dressed up to the nines with a cocktail in hand!).

Makeup Revolution Rehab Collection.

With prices starting at just £6 you can’t go wrong with these bargain beauties!

Makeup Revolution Rehab Brow Care Mask

£6.00

Makeup Revolution Rehab Soap & Care Styler 

£6.00

Makeup Revolution Rehab Overnight Lip Serum

£6.00

Makeup Revolution Rehab Brow Care Serum

£9.99

Makeup Revolution Rehab Lash Care Serum

£9.99