It's true that there is already enough information circulating the web, and certainly enough beauty bloggers for one lifetime (and I am certainly not and never will be a beauty blogger), but there is SO much information circulating that it's hard to determine which beauty tips are backed up with real knowledge. I am hoping that the knowledge I now have is all legitimate, so here goes.
P.S: All product suggestions are cruelty free :)
Best Beauty Tips
1. Sun protection - there's nothing healthy about a tan
Our main goal when it comes to beauty is to ensure that we age gracefully, and we have this friend who we call Mr. Sun who is bearable in small doses, but also very damaging to our skin and body and is the leading cause of premature ageing. It's never too early to begin using sun protection. Your sun exposure as a teenager can actually come back to bite you when get older, so start now!
Ageing caused by the sun (called photo or actinic ageing) presents externally on our skin as uneven pigmentation, dehydration (water loss), weakened collagen and elastin fibers resulting in lines and wrinkles (elastosis), skin sensitivities, bumpy/leathery texture or extreme thinning and most importantly; deadly skin cancers that can spread through your body and kill you dead. Seriously.
So your best bet here is to just get yourself some sun protection and actually use it. The best sun protection is the creams that contain zinc oxide as this provides an actual physical block of UV rays. Good old fashioned covering up your skin with clothing is also effective.
My product recommendations:
2. Cleanse, exfoliate & moisturise
You probably already know that you are supposed to have a skincare routine AM and PM, but can't always be bothered with it or can't find anything that works for you. You probably even buy the latest trendy Garnier and L'Oreal products that are recommended to you on the telly - STOP! Please stop doing this because you aren't doing yourself any favours. Everyone's skin is unique in that you have a skin type which is determined by your complexion, genetics and conditions that present on your skin. By using cheap or harsh products that are full of toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients that aren't suitable for your skin you're just damaging it.
You may have oily skin, dry skin (lacking oil production), combination skin, normal skin and if you're older you will have a mature skin that could be post-one of the above types. On top of this you may have skin conditions such as breakouts, sensitivity/redness, dehydration, pigmentation and a whole host of other things that are caused by internal and external factors.
All skins need a healthy balance of water (for hydration) and oil (for moisture), and after each day your skin needs to be cleansed of dirt and bacteria. You also accumulate dead skin cells on the surface of your skin which need to be exfoliated regularly to keep your pores clear and your skin's texture feeling smooth. As a general rule you should cleanse and moisturise morning and night and exfoliate a few times per week, but it all depends on the conditions and type of your skin. You can use masks also, there are different types (such as clay which draws out impurities and is best for oily/acne skins and hydrating masks which are great at rehydrating all dehydrated skins, especially mature).
As you get older it's also recommended to look into specialised products like like serums (vitamin A, B and C), eye creams and rich night moisturisers to combat the signs of ageing. Avoid changing to different products too often however as you need to give your skin time to adapt to a product. The general rule is that if you aren't beginning to notice results after using your products for 6 weeks, then it's not going to work for you.
As you get older it's also recommended to look into specialised products like like serums (vitamin A, B and C), eye creams and rich night moisturisers to combat the signs of ageing. Avoid changing to different products too often however as you need to give your skin time to adapt to a product. The general rule is that if you aren't beginning to notice results after using your products for 6 weeks, then it's not going to work for you.
I use and highly recommend the A.S.A.P product range. It's an Australian company that produces simple but very active cosmeceutical products at a fairly affordable price and there is something for everyone. Some of the products contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) which are effective chemical exfoliants that soften and smooth your skin beyond belief. There is a gentle cleanser which is great for sensitive and dry skins and a cleanser that contains AHAs for oily to mature skins, and an active exfoliant that contains AHAs also. After using an AHA product on your skin, you can instantly feel results.
When beginning to use AHAs on your skin, ensure that you work up to your routine as they are quite strong and could lead to some sensitivity or peeling if overused. They also need to be matched with a strong moisturiser to replace stripped oils and A.S.A.P has some great ones for all skin types. I purchase my A.S.A.P products from SkinCareStore.com.au as they have the best prices with regular 20-30% off discount promos.
It's also very important to nourish your skin from the inside out. Drink plenty of water, eat a nutritious diet full of antioxidant rich foods that fight free radicals in your body and of course, don't have too much fun by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or smoking cigarettes or you will end up looking like a washed up, grey hag. The damage you do inside your body shows on the outside.
P.S. Change your pillow case weekly so that you aren't sleeping in breakout causing bacteria and avoid touching your face with your grubby hands.
3. Dry body brushing
Dry body brushing for 5 minutes twice a day before you take a shower will help to exfoliate away dead skin cells leaving you with smoother skin all over, will ensure that your pores aren't blocked so that you can receive and absorb nutrients into your skin, stimulates your blood circulation and also stimulates the lymphatic system which helps your body to release toxins and encourages the production of fresh new cells to keep your skin looking fresh and radiant. Some even claim that regular brushing helps reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Start gently when beginning your body brushing until you get used to the sensation. Brush from your feet upwards and in circular motions and always toward your heart (avoid genitals, face and sensitive areas) to encourage lymph flow. Only brush as firm as is comfortable (brushing should never hurt) and ensure that you take a shower after brushing to wash away the dead skin you've removed. Always rinse your brush after use. Follow with your favourite (and hopefully natural based) body lotion. One of my favourite body lotions is 100% organic, raw, virgin coconut oil and if I were to explain all the benefits of this stuff it would need it's own post, so definitely Google it and check out the coconut oil praise.
You can get them at most chemists, health stores and also from The Body Shop. Just make sure it has natural plant based bristles (The Body Shop uses cactus - this is good!). Go get one and start right away! DO NOT buy the Manicare one that will tempt you with it's cheapness at Priceline as it's made of boar bristles which should be on a boar (a cool and smart animal that looks like a pig by the way) and not a brush.
4. Use mineral make-up
The quality of your make-up is exceptionally important because it stays on your skin for hours every day. Of course it's better to wear no make-up at all and just allow your skin to breathe, but if you must then it's best to use a mineral make-up because it's mostly free of synthetic and chemical preservatives and artificial fragrances that are often responsible for causing irritation to the skin and is also most often fragrance-free. It is especially beneficial for those suffering from breakouts or acne as it does not clog the pores, and also for those with sensitive skin and those with inflammatory skin disorders like psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis as it has a calming and soothing effect. It also prohibits the growth of bacteria, helps even your skin tone and is so gentle that it can even be used after a waxing, laser or chemical peel session.
I personally don't often wear make up, but on a daily basis for evening my skin tone I wear and highly recommend Natio SPF 15+ Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream. This cream is so awesome because it covers my uneven pigmentation and gives me a nice even skin tone and gives me a natural healthy look - like I'm not wearing and don't need make-up and you can get Natio from very nearly every chemist and online chemist stores. On the occasion that I need more coverage, I wear Innoxa Pure Mineral Loose Foundation powder over the top of my BB Cream.
Remember that the things you put ON your body are absorbed INTO your body, so be sure to pay more attention to the ingredients in a product when shopping and if you also want to be a good and ethical person on top of that, you will always make sure that you look for products that state that they are not tested on animals. If it doesn't say they aren't then they are! Choose Cruelty Free actually have an app you can download to your smartphone to help you shop for cruelty-free products.
5. Pay some attention to your hands and feet!
Your hands and feet often go neglected in your beauty routine, but when you consider it, they do a lot for you and deserve some attention. Your hands are pretty much exposed to the same things that your face and neck are exposed to and even more and so they need the same treatment. Many people don't even think to do anything for their feet which you spend many hours a day standing on, trapped inside shoes. I've met people who didn't even know they had foot fungus!
Your hands and feet are very privy to dryness, rough skin and nail disorders/fungus. Regular manicures/pedicures which you can give yourself at home can help to keep your nails in tip top shape. Use a cuticle oil regularly on your fingernails to keep your cuticles moisturised and nourished and free of hang-nails, keep your nails clipped to a reasonable length to avoid accidents that could cause trauma to your nail beds and avoid overuse of chemicals like nail polish that contains harmful ingredients and nail polish remover that can be excessively drying. Always clip toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails.
The hands and feet need exfoliation to resurface the skin and remove dead skin build up. You can make your own salt or sugar scrubs for this - just look around the internet, there's 100s of different recipes that you probably already have the ingredients for. Your feet might also need the addition of a foot rasp/pedi-paddle for sanding away that dead skin a bit more vigourously.
Keep these areas moisturised too! For the hands I LOVE the certified organic and 100% natural Jasmin Aromatique Hand & Nail Cream which is made locally on Mt Tamborine here in Queensland, but for a more affordable option I like to use Sukin Hand & Nail cream which is also natural but retails for around $10 a tube. The feet require more intense moisturisation and so I will often use a heel balm, paw paw ointment or a natural body moisturiser. I apply it very thick to my feet at bedtime as often as I like and then put socks on and leave them on overnight. When I remove the socks in the morning, my feet feel soft and silky all over! You can do the same on your hands but replace socks with cotton gloves. Excessively cracked heels require more specialised treatment, and there's many natural alternatives available at the chemist shop in the foot care section. My favourite chemist to shop at for these sorts of things at the best prices is Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse.
It is also good advice, coming from an OCD girl with a hand washing problem, to not over-wash your hands! Continuously stripping your skin of it's natural protective oil can leave your skin very dry, stingy and thin. That said, don't be disgusting and never wash your hands ever, general hygiene rules still apply.
Theres many more things, but that's the main stuff I want to share for now. Let me know if you have any questions and I hope this post helps someone out there.
