A super-easy hand care routine for smooth, well-cared-for hands
Posted inSkincare

A super-easy hand care routine for smooth, well-cared-for hands

If there’s something we’ve all had to up our game on over the last year, it’s handwashing.  

I’ve always been one to look after my hands, but all this repeated washing has led to them becoming drier and more sensitive.  Perhaps you can relate to this?  

It’s made me focus even more on my hand care routine, dig a bit into the science behind it all, road test a fair amount of product, and ultimately establish a hand care routine which keeps my hands smooth and well-cared-for even with the increased washing and sanitising.  Sounds good right?

So fingers at the ready, here’s a super-easy hand care routine for smooth, well-cared-for hands…

This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link & make a purchase based on my recommendation, I will be paid a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you but does contribute towards the running costs of this site. Click here to find out more.

Where to get started with skincare: a no-nonsense guide to looking after your skin
Posted inSkincare

How to get started with skincare: a no-nonsense guide to looking after your skin

I’ve been interested in skincare for as long as I can remember.  My time working as a beauty department manager for Boots was definitely a career highlight.  And so it would be fair to say when it comes to skincare, I’m a mega-fan; always eager to grow my knowledge and trial anything new! 

However, I appreciate this isn’t the case for everyone.  I understand that for some, skincare is quite daunting.  You can walk up and down the beauty department aisles and realise there’s a lot to figure out.  That’s before we factor in how interested you are in using skincare products in the first place.  

[Which, regardless of your level of interest in skincare, there is one thing we all SHOULD do skincare-wise every day – I’ll share what that is in a moment.] 

After discussing this with a friend, we started to feel there’s information overload for anyone new to building a skincare routine.  Start searching online, and quite often your requested ‘basic skincare routine’ is at least 7 steps, includes ingredients you haven’t heard of since GCSE science, and requires a significant investment of both time & finances. 

Figuring out where to get started with skincare can seem overwhelming

It really doesn’t need to be this way.

So, I want to take you back to the very basics.  To understand, in a simple, no-nonsense way, where to start with skincare.  

Where to Start With Skincare: A No-Nonsense Guide to Looking After Your Skin

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link is at no extra cost to you, but does help me fund this site.  All opinions expressed within are my own. For more details see my disclaimer here.  

Stylpro Easy on the Eye Cleanser and Cloth Review
Posted inSkincare

Recommended: Stylpro Easy on the Eye Cleanser

Stylpro Easy on the Eye cleanser is brilliant!  OK, I know I should technically leave my verdict until the end of my review, but I just had to say right from the start, how fantastic I find this cleanser to be.  

Disclosure: The product featured was sent as a PR sample. This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link is at no extra cost to you, but does contribute towards the running of this site.  All opinions expressed within are my own. For more details see my disclaimer here.  

Ready to find out why I rate it so highly?  Well, I’ll gladly tell you!

Here’s my full review of Stylpro’s Easy on the Eye cleanser…

3 Steps to maintain an effective skincare routine
Posted inSkincare

3 Steps to Build (& Maintain) an Effective Skincare Routine

In order to keep something in good condition for years to come we need to look after it.  This same sentiment can be applied to our skin.  That means feeding ourselves a nutritious diet, keeping hydrated, getting enough sleep and maintaining an effective skincare routine.  

On a scale of non-existent to uber strict and overly-complicated, where does your skincare routine reside? 

I hope you sit somewhere comfortably in the middle.  For me, the key isn’t how much you do, more how effective what you do is.

I can’t emphasise enough the benefits of implementing and maintaining an effective skincare routine.  And unless you’re absolutely in love with what you do right now, chances are your routine can be adapted to be more effective.  

With this in mind, here are 3 important steps to build (& maintain) an effective skincare routine…  

My Skincare Saviours Honest reviews of my favourite skincare products
Posted inSkincare

My skincare saviours

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra, and I only recommend products and services I trust. All opinions are my own. For more details see my disclaimer here.

One of my true passions in life is beauty. It completely fascinates me.  I’ve been interested in it for as long as I can remember, always eager to try new products and expand my knowledge. 

When I launched my website it was a no-brainer for me to include a beauty category; it feels natural to share what I’m very passionate about.  Recently I’ve begun to approach beauty from a more holistic point of view -in posts such as embracing makeup-free days.  I truly advocate beauty should be about embracing yourself.  I’m still fuelled by a desire to share with you what I discover and all that I love, and I hope I encourage you to love it – or at least enjoy it – too! 

We should derive pleasure from our skincare routine…

Beauty should absolutely feel more like a treat than a chore.  I personally view it as a form of self-care investing some precious time in yourself.  And as part of this, it’s important you’re happy with the products you’re using.

At the moment, I’m using some fantastic products delivering on what they promise to achieve.  I appreciate not all products work for all people, but if you’re currently on the lookout for new skincare products or are thinking about making a switch then these are the products I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.  

Here are my current (much-loved) skincare saviours:

How to clean your makeup brushes fast!
Posted inSkincare

How to clean (& dry) your makeup brushes in under 30-seconds*

*under 30-seconds per brush// This post contains affiliate links. Find out more here

Something I’m quite embarrassed to admit – but hey I’m going to admit it anyway – is that I’m awful at cleaning my makeup brushes.  I just find it so laborious – all the scrubbing and the hours of drying.  Trying to find an opportunity when I a) actually have the time & b) actually have the energy for it, has proved elusive to say the least.  

It’s not that I never clean them – it’s just that I don’t do them as often as I should. Which, by the way, professionals say is once-a-week.  Hats off to you if you manage it, but the time between cleaning my brushes would lead into months.  Which knowing what I now know, makes me grimace if I’m honest.  

A collection of makeup brushes

Why should you clean your makeup brushes anyway?  

Dirty makeup brushes (and when I say dirty, I mean used) accumulate oil residue, dead skin cells and bacteria which you then sweep straight onto your skin.  This can lead to clogged pores, breakouts, cold-sores & general skin irritation.  Not to mention stopping the brush performing its’ best for you.  

Did you know?  A study by Loyola Marymount University found that after one month, uncleaned makeup brushes hoarded more bacteria than they were even able to measure. 

Source: Simonian, A., 2013, The Identification of Bacteria Found on Makeup Brushes, Loyola Marymount University, California.

When you’re someone who invests time, money & effort into your skincare routine – why would you blow it all the moment you apply your makeup with less than clean brushes?  

This was something I asked myself & what led me to make a simple but significant change.  

The easiest way clean your makeup brushes…

Gua Sha: Add Vitality to your Skincare Routine
Posted inSkincare

Gua Sha: Add vitality to your skincare routine

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (marked with a *). I receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra but does help me fund this site (thank you!) All opinions are my own. For more details see my disclaimer here.

You may have seen these little tools before (they do adorn many an Instagram beauty post) but do you actually know what they are – or perhaps more importantly – how they can benefit you?  

With the motivation to introduce you to products & techniques which – I believe – can help improve your skincare routine, allow me to share with you what I know about Gua Sha.

Gua Sha – a self-care beauty ritual.

Embracing makeup-free days - Is it time to ditch the makeup?
Posted inSkincare

Embracing makeup-free days

If you had told me just a few short months ago I’d be writing about how I’m embracing makeup-free days well, you’d have been met with a lot of laughter (and possibly a few expletives) but blow me down with a feathered makeup brush, that’s exactly what I’m doing! 

Let me tell you a little something about me and makeup…

I’m in love with makeup (I know I’m not alone).  I love everything about it – the colours, the textures, the packaging, what it can do, how it makes me feel!  I’ve been wearing makeup from as young as I was able to get away with it.  I was quite good at secretly applying it too, I never got called up to the front of the class to be issued with the dreaded baby wipe.  

This was all self-taught. My mother – naturally blessed with a flawless complexion – never had a need for makeup (yes, I envied her this too). In the time pre-YouTube, everything I knew was from magazines plus a good amount of trial and error.  

Makeup was something I would never leave the house without.  I was even wearing makeup during my labour (both of them).  Yes, I was obsessed with wearing it.  And for anyone who is nodding along reading this, you’ll know how much of a big step what follows was for me.  

Alex Grace in two pictures wearing makeup
I love wearing makeup!

Why I started embracing makeup-free days…

My Happiest Finds of 2019
Posted inSkincare Well-Being

My Happiest Finds of 2019

Promotion ||  This post contains affiliate links marked with a *.  Find out more here.  

I love discovering new things.  Especially when said ‘new things’ aren’t things you would necessarily stumble across on the high street.  Discovering products that make my life a bit easier, help me feel happier & maybe even indulge me just a smidge are absolute winners in my book. 

This year, I’ve been fortunate enough to discover upon some real gems.  So I’ve wrapped them up neatly here for you complete with a great a big Living.Pretty.Happy bow on top.  I hope you’ll join me in supporting these fantastic – and on the whole – small, UK-independent companies this Christmas & beyond…

WELL-BEING FINDS:

Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation
Posted inSkincare

Recommended: Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation

Have you ever had a panic buy turn out to be a real diamond of a find? It’s funny how a product can go from ‘this will have to do‘ to ‘I don’t think I could do without’. But that’s what happened to me when I panic bought Clinique’s Even Better Glow Foundation.

What you need to know about Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation*

*This article contains affiliate links.  Find out more here.

My Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation Review

It’s a lightweight fluid foundation containing subtle luminising pigments to give a glowing finish.

The addition of Vitamins C and E brighten & even out the skin tone. Plus they’ve put some clever bits in it that ensure, once applied, this foundation won’t change colour, streak or clog pores! It also won’t catch on any dry bits.

So, if you want to look natural but flawless, this a foundation to sit up & pay attention to.

Why do I love this foundation?

Well aside from the above, quite a few things actually. Like the fact a little goes a really long way. Enough coverage for me is just two dots on my stippling brush* (which is also what I recommend applying it with!).

It’s so blendable & although it’s sheer, it’s easy to build up the coverage to medium, making it a really flexible foundation.

But most importantly for me, I really love the dewy finish. I have combination skin and previously, ‘dewy’ just looked borderline oily. That’s not been the case with Even Better Glow. I’ve always been genuinely happy with the result.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush
The Stippling Brush I use to help create a flawless finish
ARK Skincare Skin Protector SPF30 Primer
Posted inSkincare

Recommended: Skin Protector SPF30 Primer by ARK Skincare

There are two pieces of skincare advice I stand by… you should wear a broad spectrum** SPF every day and makeup stays on better with primer. 

Despite knowing & believing in these beauty rules I had yet to have any success in finding either a great SPF or makeup primer, and believe me I have tried a lot.  The SPF would usually overwhelm my skin and make it near impossible for makeup to stay put.  And nearly every primer would clog my skin and cause breakouts. 

Then along came ARK Skincare’s Skin Protector* – A broad spectrum SPF & skin primer all-in-one.  I had finally found what I was looking for. 

By Sarah London Organic Facial Oil Review - Image of 30ml & 10ml By Sarah London Facial oils on a windowsill
Posted inGiveaway Skincare

One oil to rule them all: Organic Facial Oil, By Sarah London

“All you need to do is cleanse & follow with this,” said Lauren, (one of the sisters behind the award-winning British skincare brand, By Sarah London) as she handed me their Signature Organic Facial Oil. 

I was sceptical.  Just one product?  No other lotions or potions?  And an oil, on my combination skin?  But I’d read the reviews, I loved the ethos of the brand & I was more than a little swayed by the packaging, so I bought one. 

In all honesty, I’m beyond pleased that I did!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link is at no extra cost to you, but does help me fund this site.  All opinions expressed within are my own. For more details see my disclaimer here.  

What is so great about the By Sarah London Organic Facial Oil?

How to do your makeup in only 5 minutes. Image of peppermint makeup bag with various makeup products and brushes coming out of it
Posted inSkincare

How to do your makeup in only 5 minutes

5-minute makeup has been a necessity most mornings for me for years now.  Nothing will throw you off a perfect smokey eye quite like the sound of a toddler as it wreaks havoc around your home – all before 7 am. 

Even with a more hectic lifestyle, makeup remained (still remains) a much-loved part of who I am and how I identify.  So it was important to me to work out how to continue to use it without causing any additional stress. 

Sound good?

Maybe you want to look more polished, but struggle to find the time?  Or maybe you just want to reduce the time it takes to do your makeup in order to free yourself up for more exciting things? 

Whatever your motivation, you too can also achieve a your-skin-but-better look easily within the space of 5-minutes. 

But before we look into how to do it, here are a few things to consider…

– You’ll naturally require less makeup if your skin is in good shape. 

– Adopt healthy skincare habits such as cleansing, toning & moisturising daily.  Remove your makeup thoroughly every evening. 

– Look after yourself from the inside with a balanced diet, keeping hydrated & exercising regularly

– Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. 

– Get as much sleep as possible. 

Related: Sleep well:  How to win at sleeping! (and why you should want to)

Now you’re ready, set your stopwatches, here’s how to do your makeup in 5 minutes…

Here comes the sun: the easy ways to get yourself summer ready
Posted inSkincare

Here comes the sun:  the easy way to get yourself summer ready

This is not a how to get your body ready for summer post… Your body is summer-ready!   This is more of a beauty housekeeping post.  Sharing some of my top tips to get yourself pretty effortlessly and easily into summer mode.

Taking on some of these tips will help you avoid the ‘my feet aren’t ready for sandals’ panic and will also have you braving the shorts with a ‘leg hair what leg hair?’ attitude.

Here are my top ways to easily get yourself summer ready…

*This article contains affiliate links.  Find out more here.

Featured graphic for dealing with spots in adults. Young woman is holding pink balloons in front of her face wearing a white t-shirt against a blue background
Posted inSkincare

Face Invaders: dealing with spots in adulthood

Seriously? Spots appearing when we’re adults? Didn’t we deal with that trauma as teenagers?  Why do these little puss-filled joy killers feel the need to reacquaint themselves with us and invade our faces?

Yes, unfortunately, spots in adults is really a thing!  It’s more common than many of us want to acknowledge.  Whether you’re in your late 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, (and I can go on) spots aren’t necessarily done with you yet. 

They started making an unwelcome appearance for me in my 30’s.  In my opinion, spots are complete confidence stealers and as such, an affront to my well-being.  So as soon as one appears, I always go to war.  Over the last year, they seemed to be setting up camp and it was actually quite upsetting.  But through lots of research and slight changes, I’m finally reclaiming a clearer complexion!

Want to know how I did it?  Well OK, you’ve twisted my arm, I’ll tell you. 

But first, let’s look at what causes those un-welcome spots in adults…

How to get the most out of your skincare products. Illustration of a girl wearing an alice band, with her hands to her face, her eyes closed and looking contented. Illustrations of different skincare products are in front of her
Posted inSkincare

How to get the most out of your skincare products

Hopefully long gone are the days you believed the magazine model’s amazing skin had nothing to do with airbrushing and 100% to do with the product she was promoting – or maybe you always knew the truth? 

Regardless, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least expect our skincare products to perform as they claim to – we’re all entitled to skin that is the best version of itself (even when it isn’t being airbrushed.)

Sometimes though we can seriously sell our products short and never fully allow them to deliver what they offer – which not only negatively impacts our skin but also our wallets!

Despair not!  You only need to remember a few simple things (and follow a few easy steps) to allow those products all the opportunity they need to work the magic they were created for.  

Here’s how to get the most out of your skincare products…

Recommended exfoliators for face, body & scalp. Image of Sanctuary Spa Classic body scrub. Philip Kingsley exfoliating scalp mask and The Ordinary Glycolic acid 7% toning solution against a white background
Posted inSkincare

Recommended exfoliators for face, body & scalp

Ready to get your scrub on?  To buff like nobody has buffed before? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

If you’re not yet fully aware of the benefits of exfoliating, the different types of exfoliator or the right way to exfoliate, you’d definitely benefit from reading: For the scrub of it: why should you exfoliate and how to do it right!

I’ve been exfoliating for years – tried countless products and here are my recommended favourites…

For the scrub of it! Why should you exfoliate and how to do it right. Image of a woman's bare legs holding a body brush on them over a white background
Posted inSkincare

For the scrub of it: why should you exfoliate and how to do it right! 

For years I’ve religiously exfoliated – everywhere – well almost everywhere.  So I guess you could say I’ve earned my scrubbing stripes.  I couldn’t imagine not exfoliating.  However, for a number of people I’ve spoken to, exfoliation doesn’t factor in their skincare regime – anywhere.  They believe it’s just one more step in an already exhaustive list of beauty chores to be completed and for what?  A few days of smoother feeling skin? 

Yes, at the heart of it, exfoliation does deliver smoother feeling skin and that may not be enough to encourage people to do it.  But, there are so many further benefits of exfoliation and there are a number of simple, affordable and may I say surprising ways to incorporate it into your routine that if you skip it, you really are missing out. 

Let’s start with the science part…