How to Achieve that Winter Glow-Up

  

Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash

You may have heard the word glow-up floating around on social media, but what exactly is it, and how do you achieve one? One urban dictionary definition states a glow-up is a 'mental, physical, and an emotional transformation for the better.' It may be something that happens naturally, but it is also something you can plan and achieve by following some of the tips below. 

Teeth    

You can easily swap your regular toothpaste for some teeth whitening paste instead or try a longer course of treatment through any kit readily available in drug stores.  

You can also look at getting some clear teeth aligners. These are much subtler than braces and can be easily removed when eating, making for a more comfortable and enjoyable tooth-straightening experience.  

Skin   

Treating your skin is so important, especially as the colder months descend and your skin gets chapped. As well as establishing a regular skincare regime, you can do a facemask once or twice a week to nourish your skin. If you want to go all out, why not treat yourself to a facial at a spa? Alternatively, you can also pick up face packs from the drugstore and supermarket, or have a go at DIY-ing your own!  

 

As well as treating your skin, you can also look at changing some elements of your lifestyle to protect it better. There are plenty of odd things that can affect your skin, like Bluelight from screens and irritants in laundry detergent. Knowing about them and acting to reduce the impacts will help keep your skin fresh and youthful.

Hair 

Book yourself into a nice salon and enjoy a relaxing scalp massage and deep conditioning treatment. It is also possible to do a deep conditioning treatment at home, and upgrading from a standard shampoo and conditioner to one suited to your hair type, texture, and concerns is a great way to improve your hair.  

 

Another thing to do is take the time to learn how to style your hair. This can include getting the right products for your hair type, learning some fun new braiding styles or experimenting with heatless waves - a great way to enjoy wavey hair without the heat damage!

Mental Glow-Up   

A glow-up is not just about the physical aspects of your life. It is important to indulge in a little mental self-care too. This can include things like taking time for yourself. Use that time during a face pack or hair mask to engage in some mindful meditation or enjoy some relaxing music. Why not take yourself on a solo date, where you treat yourself to a nice activity just because you deserve it.  

Solo date ideas include; taking a nice walk, reading in a coffee shop, visiting a museum or heading to the cinema alone. There are plenty of options, so long as it's something you will enjoy and you do it for yourself rather than to please someone else.  

  

Taking this time to reset and treat yourself will improve your well-being, which is by far the most important aspect of any glow-up. 

Living with a facial birthmark

I have never really addressed this openly and I am not too sure why I am now but I want to talk about it today. I have a facial birthmark. It is right under my eye. If I am completely honest with you all I don't really think about it often. but though out my life there have been comments about it and people can be cruel. 

Today I was doing some life admin and I realised I needed to renew my passport and due to the way you take these types of photos my birthmark is very apparent. Even with some make-up on you can see I have a mark under my eye. I also have chronic sinusitis so you can see that too. As I am very swollen and  I can not cover my swelling. 

No, I have gone round and round in circles with my birthmark. I have had horrid comments. 

Childhood. 

I was kinda lucky in my childhood I mean don't get me wrong I was bullied but they never really picked on my face. There were other things they liked to pick on better, for example, I was a good dancer and singer and this was a better area to use against me than my face. 

I do remember on a school trip once I had a couple of kids ask if I had poo on my face. Lovely comment it hurt as I could not change my birthmark and this was before I was old enough to wear make-up. 

But other than the odd comment I was left alone about my very obvious brown mark under my eye. It could have been the fact I grew up in a small village and everyone knew everyone that I was saved from lots of comments. 

My teens

In my teen, I was very conscious of my birthmark. I would wear a heavy foundation to hide it and I would do everything I could not stay hidden. I felt there was something wrong with my face. No one of my friends had any birthmarks or anything similar and I felt a bit different. 

Adulthood. 

This was the time when I became more accepting of my own face. I discovered that I was unique and different and I liked that. I would, of course, like everyone has self-doubts and hate the sight of myself in the mirror and even more so my birthmark but I found life easier the more I accepted the fact that I could not change my face. 

But that being said I have had as an adult comment on my face. 

I was in the police and a senior officer asked me if I had ever considered having my birthmark lasered off It actually took me a couple of minutes to realsie what he was talking about as I was at a stage in life where I had accepted it as part of me and forgot about it. But that comment hit me like a ton of bricks.  

He said you would be prettier if you had it removed and my reply was well I don't need you to think I am pretty. 

I have had a few I think there is something on your face comments. These tend to be completely innocent as in certain lights it can look like that basically if I am tanned. For

At my wedding, I had a big dilemma as to whether or not to cover my birthmark. I don't really wear heavy make up preferring a more natural look and I really went back and forth with this. Until I ask my now husband. How told me I shouldn't even be considering covering it. He loves my face with my birthmark and for our wedding day, I should need to cover it to please other people. If I am happy with my face why would I try to hide it just in case someone else has an opinion. I did not cover it and had the natural make-up I wanted. 

Lately, my favourite little boy asked me about my birthmark and for the first time I didn't have an ounce of embarrassment. I just explained it to him and he told me I liked it and it made me special. Sometimes children just have a way to make you feel good about yourself. 

Things I have learned with my birthmark 

There are people who are mean and they will find any way to be mean birthmark or no birthmark. You can not change that you can only change how you feel towards them. 

Some people just want to stare at unusual things. Yes, I have had people stare at me and I have heard whispers. But I honestly no longer care. If you are that into my birthmark on my face you are kinda strange in my opinion. I personally would never stare at someone like that but each to their own. 

Without my birthmark, I would not be me. I am me there is no one else like me my birthmark proves that. I am not you and you can't be me. I have one face and it is mine. I can put make-up on it or not I can show off my birthmark or hide it. But no matter what I do I have a birthmark on my face and it belongs to me. 

If you have a birthmark you are trying to come to terms with I hope my experience makes you realise you are not alone. There are lots of people around the world who have birthmarks and I am just one of them. 

I am here anytime you need to chat. I know how you feel. 

Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic retinol anti aging moisturizer review

Well, am I the only one who has been putting a bit more research into what they are using on their skin lately. A few years ago I actually trained in facials and learned a lot about skin and how to treat it better and how it all works it was fascinating. 

I am not getting any younger and I want to give my skin the best chance when it comes to anti-ageing. I want to talk today about Dr Dennis gross ferulic retinol anti-ageing moisturizer which I have received from Skinstation. Skinstation is an amazing site cram-packed with all the latest and greatest skincare brands and stocks all their best products. If you like skincare like me you should check them out. 

Back to the review,

Who is Dr Dennis Gross? 

He is a leading and practising dermatologist. Dr Gross has so many accolades I can't even begin to cover them all. He is not only an innovator in skincare but he has pioneered a new way to combat the sign of ageing. He formulates all his product on his patients and this gives results that people really want. All his products are vegan and not tested on animals. Not only that but all his products have visible and proven results and are of medical-grade. 

About me and my skin

I am a 30 something female who lives in the highlands. This might not seem an important fact but I spend a lot of time outside in our constantly harsh weather. If you haven't been to the Highland you might just have a lovely picturesque view of it. Yes, that is true but so are the harsh winds and rains. I have just returned from Devon and I saw a weather warning with 25mph winds. Here in the highland, we would not get a warning for this as this is considered low for our winter. We do however get warnings for 50mph and above. I am highlighting this because environmental factors impact our skin and its texture. 

I am blessed in that I do not look my age I am very lucky and I know that but I also know that with time this will change and I want to do everything I can to prevent time catching up with me. I have some lines forming especially on my forehead and between my eyes. 

The product - Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic retinol anti-ageing moisturizer

The price £72

This is a higher-end skincare product and this comes with a larger price tag. 

The packaging 

The packaging is really lovely. It comes in a lovely box and the jar feels and looks really high end. I actually think it looks like a very expensive product. 

The Product - Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic retinol anti-ageing moisturizer

The good part is what's inside the jar. It doesn't really matter about the aesthetic yes that is lovely but it's the actual product that we are interested in. So what's in it and most importantly does it work and is it worth the price tag? 

What the brand says 

This moisturizer has triple benefits of hydrated skin and the appearance of reduced wrinkles and firmer texture.

Incorporating proprietary blends of proven actives, this skin-strengthening formula delivers healing moisture to the areas that need it most, while fighting wrinkles and making skin look firmer. NYC dermatologist, Dr. Dennis Gross created this breakthrough formula with ECG Complex™ including antioxidants ferulic acid and retinol to increase the appearance of a firm complexion. The time-released hydration plumps as it helps strengthen the skin’s ability to repair itself and improve skin’s overall complexion, helping you age gracefully.

Ferulic Acid is a plant-based antioxidant that works to boost the effects of other antioxidants while Retinol smooths lines and wrinkles and improves skin elasticity.
ECG Complex™ reduces the appearance of dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles.
Gallic Acid helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and protects against harmful free radicals.

Key Benefits:

• Helps improve the visible signs of aging

• Dermatologist developed 

• Locks in moisture 

• Aids skin repair 

• Antioxidant protection

My experience with Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic retinol anti-ageing moisturizer

I started by cleansing my skin with my normal routine and waiting for it to dry before applying the cream. This is a very thick cream product it has an orangey citrus scent to me. I applied this cream at night and in the morning and if I did a workout and had a shower mid-day I would use this after on its own. I find this really hydrating. I have really dry skin at the moment as it's winter. I found it to be one of the best moisturisers I have fun with for this time of year. 

I would say you need to let this dry in before applying any make-up to your skin this product really need to be absorbed into your skin. 

I have been using this for about a month now. I wish I had taken before and after photos for you. I can really see a difference in my skin. I can see a reduction of the lines in my forehead and even the deeper line in between my eye look a bit better. The overall condition of my skin looks better and feels smoother and freshers. I think this jar will last me another month if I am honest. So the price per use is actually really affordable in my opinion. What is that saying? you have to pay for quality and I think this product is in that category. 

Would I buy it again? 

So the golden question would I buy this product again? Yes, I will be repurchasing this product. I am not the biggest fan of the scent but I can get over that for the result I am seeing with Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic retinol anti-ageing moisturizer. I am really loving the texture of my skin. I think I need to try this with the recommended serum too to see if that enhances it even more. 

I hope you enjoyed this review and look out for more to come. 

4 Odd Things That Affect Your Skin

What does the face in the mirror say to you?

Understandably, our face is constantly changing. If you’ve had a rough night, your skin might feel pale and dull. After indulging in a greasy takeaway last night, you might wake up to an oily complexion. Or perhaps your spring allergies are playing up, and your eyes have gone all puffy. These things happen! 

But thankfully, you understand how to maintain your youthful and healthy appearance. A fitness routine is an integral part of your beauty regime, along with the appropriate skincare routine and an (almost) healthy diet (we all need to indulge a little from time to time). We all know the usual things to do to help our skin health like stopping smoking drinking more water and leading a healthier lifestyle But did you know that other factors can affect your skin too?

Stress is the most common thing that comes to mind. But what if we told you that your household is the source of most of your skin worries? 

Unsplash - CC0 Licence 

Toxic chemical house products

Some of your favourite household products could cause skin irritation, rashes, and itchiness. Most people don’t make the connection. But here are some examples to help you narrow down some of the most common culprits at home. 

If you find yourself itching or developing unexplainable rashes on your thighs, chest, shoulders and waist, you may want to change your laundry products. Indeed, detergents contain toxic ingredients that may cause unpleasant reactions in the areas where the fabric touches your skin. You can test the theory easily by switching to a non toxic laundry detergent to see if it stops your problems. 

Palm-related itchiness and rashes can be caused by a variety of factors. But you can rapidly test whether it’s linked to your household products. Bio-surface cleaners and dishwashing liquids are unlikely to cause any skin reaction. 

Your smartphone

We spend a lot of time using our beloved smartphones. Unfortunately, mobile phones can affect your posture as you sit or stand with your neck bent forward toward the screen. According to cosmetic experts, the phone neck affects our chin and jawlines. When you look down at your phone, you crunch up the skin, creating a large neck appearance and an almost double chin. Looking down affects your youthful appearance. 

Makeup can age your skin

If you are a makeup lover, here’s the good news first: wearing makeup does not age your skin. However, the ingredients contained in your favourite brands could affect your skin’s ageing process, such as parabens, talc, dimethicone, and propylene. Indeed, they can aggravate buildups on your skin, making your skin appear dull and uneven. Additionally, makeup can also trap pollutants against the skin, which accelerate oxidative stress. 

Pandemic work habits

Last but not least, if you’ve been working from home since the start of the pandemic, your indoor lifestyle could also lead to premature ageing and dark spots. If you do suffer with them try Gundry MD Dark Spot Diminisher it's a miracle worker.

The British population has struggled with vitamin D deficiency during the pandemic. What you may not realise, though, is that vitamin D is crucial to prevent ageing. If you feel that the pandemic has changed your appearance, chances are that it’s true. The combination of indoor living and smartphones can have dramatic impacts! 

Is it too late to transform your lifestyle and improve your skin health? The answer is no. The skin cells have a regeneration cycle of 30 to 60 days, which means that you’ll see positive results with consistency. Are you ready to make your lifestyle skin-friendly? 

4 Ways To Stay Looking Young & Beautiful

 

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You may look in the mirror one day and notice that you don’t look as young or feel as beautiful as you once did in the past. This is normal and happens to most people as the ageing process begins.

The good news is that there are steps you can take that will help you to stay looking young and beautiful so you can continue to exude confidence. When you look good you feel good and are simply happier all around. Therefore, it’s worth your time and energy to figure out what you can be doing differently to appear younger and more attractive.

1. Exercise & Move More

Keep physically active and make exercise and moving more a part of your daily life to stay looking young and beautiful. You’ll shed extra pounds and can work on toning your muscles so you have less saggy skin. Carrying around excess weight can make you look older than you are in reality and it may also bring on unwanted health issues. Find activities that you enjoy doing and mix up your routine so you don’t become bored. In addition to working out and getting your heart rate up, you should also try to get more steps and movement in, especially if you have a sedentary job.

2. Follow A Skincare Routine

Another way to stay looking young and beautiful is to follow a skincare routine. Take good care of your skin and use vegan skincare products that are reputable and free from harsh chemicals. There are products out there for all types of skin and whatever issues you’re dealing with. For instance, you can choose oily skin skincare solutions that control shine and reduce the appearance of pores and redness. Protect your skin from the sun by wearing plenty of sun cream each day and wash and moisturise your face before you go to bed.

3. Eat A Healthy Diet

Your diet also plays a role in how you look and your overall appearance. Therefore, commit to eating a healthy diet and putting foods in your body that reduce stress and anxiety and help your skin glow and stay healthy. Choose leafy greens and fresh vegetables and keep away from added sugars and bad fats. You can stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and also limit your alcohol and caffeine intake to stay looking younger and more beautiful. You may also want to consider boosting your diet with nutritional supplements.

4. Focus on Your Hair

Your hairstyle, including the cut and colour, will also impact how old and attractive you look. Focus on your hair and work with a hairstylist to come up with a cut that highlights your face in the best way and makes you look younger. You can also choose to colour your hair a lighter hue and use it as a way to cover up any grey that is slowly taking over. The right cut and colour can make you look years younger and you’ll feel more confident in yourself when you know your hair looks good.

How Health and Beauty Go together

The way we look plays a huge part in the way we feel, which is why health and beauty are so closely linked. The way we look on the outside is often a window as to what’s going on inside- and our physique, skin, hair, eyes and teeth amongst other things can all be improved with good lifestyle choices. If you look after your body then looking great is just an added bonus, here are some of the ways you can go about it.

Diet

The foods you eat really are so important for your health. Eating the right combination of macro and micronutrients, and getting plenty of vitamins and minerals will allow your body to thrive and work to its best potential. From a health point of view, the right foods can ward off cancers, boost immunity, keep cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar in check and give you energy.

The wrong foods will do the opposite, leaving you feeling sluggish in the long term and susceptible to all kinds of preventable illnesses in the long term. While exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight, it’s actually a diet that plays the biggest role.

You need to be eating the right number of calories to maintain a healthy BMI, and at your correct weight not only will you feel great but you’ll look your best too. You’ll look neither too large or too thin, just exactly as you’re meant to. This can be a great boost for your self-esteem, especially if you’ve not been the right weight for quite some time. Nutritious foods can also make your skin, hair and nails look healthy and beautiful so you’ll look fantastic as well as feel energised. You can get all of these ingredients in popular hair, skin and nails gummies so they are also a great option. 

Exercise

While eating the right amount of calories in your diet will make the most impact to weight loss, exercise can certainly help. You can burn around seven hundred calories in an intense hour exercise session which can help burn off any excess. The trouble a lot of people have is that overestimate how many calories they’re burning and underestimate what they’re eating. For this reason, you can exercise regularly and work hard and not actually lose any weight.

However one thing working out is great at is toning muscles, sculpting the body and improving cardiovascular fitness. So not only will you be physically stronger and have more endurance but your body will look toned and shapely due to working out. Exercise can strengthen bones, lower blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. It releases endorphins meaning it can lower stress and anxiety, increase feelings of happiness and overall improve mental health as well as physical health.

From a beauty perspective, exercise shapes your body so your clothes fit you better and your physique looks its best. It can also improve skin by nourishing skin cells, improving elasticity and transporting away any toxins more quickly. As with the right foods, it also promotes healthy hair growth too.

Sleep

It’s called ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason. We all know how awful we look after a bad night’s sleep, our faces and eyes look puffy and those dark circles are a telltale sign of not getting enough kip. But it can also cause damage in the long term too. When we sleep, our bodies release powerful hormones that repair the cells of the body. When we’re not spending enough time asleep we miss these benefits, and from a superficial point of view can cause things like premature ageing in the skin.

However the health benefits are far worse, and research is showing that sleep is even more important than was first released. Missing even a few hours sleep can cause the equivalent of low-level brain damage, and over time this can be disastrous. Lack of sleep affects hunger hormones, meaning you’re more likely to overeat and gain weight- being overweight of course comes with its own health issues. It can lower immunity meaning you’re more susceptible to all kinds of illnesses and can lead to heart issues, heart attacks and stroke amongst other things.

Get into a good sleep routine, going to bed and getting up roughly the same time each day can help with this-this means not lying in for too long at weekends or going to bed too late. Switch off gadgets and technology an hour before bed since the lights can affect the hormones needed to wind down and sleep. Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) will play a vital role when you are looking to achieve your health goals. RMR is an estimation that shows the least amount of energy (calories) that your body consume when you do zero activity. 

Massage and Pampering

There are numerous health benefits which have been scientifically proven relating to massage therapy. As well as being able to ease and unknot stiff muscles giving you a greater range of motion, but it can release endorphins meaning you actually feel better too after having it done. It can help with certain injuries and soft tissue damage, digestion, headaches and much more.

Massage can also help you to look better too. Stimulating the tissues helps with circulation, reducing water retention and can even improve the appearance of cellulite. Where toxins are being flushed out by the lymph system more quickly due to boosted circulation you also get the benefit of better skin.

As well as feeling great, it’s also good for your health and your appearance too- why not book in at a spa and treat yourself now and again? There are lots of other pampering treatments which are great for skin health and improve appearance as an added bonus. Microdermabrasion, mud bath treatments and much more will rejuvenate appearance as well as hydrating and nourishing skin cells.

Oral Hygiene

Teeth are consistently ranked as one of the most important features when a person is looking for a partner. A nice smile makes you a desirable mate, as well as boosts your confidence. If you’re unhappy with your teeth, dentists really can work wonders these days.

From braces to whitening to veneers and implants, no matter what your situation is you will be able to achieve the teeth you want. But oral hygiene is about more than just looks, mouth issues such as gum disease can actually cause problems with the heart amongst other things. Visit your dentist and take their advice on whatever they find, not only will you look more beautiful but you cut your risk of all kinds of other linked health problems too.

Win a massive Maybelline make up bundle worth £135

Welcome to a wonderful competition I am co-hosting with some of my lovley blogger friends. We are struggling in our own way at the moments and with this, in mind, The lovely Vicky From Being Tilly's mum has organised this insane Maybelline cosmetic giveaway. I am a self-confessed makeup junkie and qualified Makeup artist. So you know I had to be part of this giveaway. No matter what is going on in the world we all need to remember to be kind and to think of others. Competitions like these are a fantastic way to really give back to you.  read below for the full details of the prize but you are not going to be at all disappointed. I love Maybelline I hope you do too. So with our further a do get entering for your chance to win. 

I have got together with a group of fantastic bloggers to bring you a competition today. We all know money is tight for some people, after being made redundant or furloughed. So we wanted to help by bringing you a full selection of cosmetics from Maybelline. This bundle is worth £135 and contains a range of products from mascara to lipstick.

How to get the flawless skin of your dreams

If you want to have the kind of smooth, flawless and radiant skin that requires no photoshopping; the kind of skin that makes everyone around you feel envious, you’ve come to the right place.  I am not only a qualified makeup artist but I have a qualification in facials too. I think it is so important for any makeup artist to really know skin. Right here is a collection of the greatest skincare tips of all time. Read them, remember them and implement them if you want to have flawless skin.

Drink water
One of the most important thing to the body and the skin is hydration. Your body needs to be hydrated. This is, of course, the same for the skin. Your body needs to flush out the toxins. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will show visible improvement in your skin.

Use a Mist Moisturizer

If you mist your skin and then moisturize it, you’re doing it wrong and spending more money than you really need to on your skincare regime, You see, if you use mist and then add a moisturizer to your skin, it will only dry your skin out. It’s much better to use a product like the Body Shop’s Vitamin E Face mist, which will mist and moisturize effectively in one fell swoop. It’ll save you money too.

Apply Sunscreen with a Sponge

It’s a no-brainer that if you want your skin to look youthful and radiant, even as you age, you need to apply sunscreen each and every day. If you already do this, you’re on on the right track, but if you’re applying that sunscreen with you5r fingers, you haven't quite cracked it yet.

The best way to apply sunscreen is using a sponge or beauty blender, which will not only stop your skin from feeling tacky and making it more difficult for you to apply makeup effectively but also ensure that the sunscreen penetrates more deeply for better protection. It’s way less messy too!

Change Your Razor Blades Regularly

Men and women who use razor blades to remove unwanted hair should change their razor blades more frequently than the often do if they want to have flawless skin. How often should you change your razor blades? Ideally, you should change them after around five uses, but if you shave every day or so and you have thick hair, you may need to change them sooner. If you keep them for longer, not only will they stop being quite so effective, leading to stubble and cuts, but they will also be pretty dirty, and that dirt could cause skin infections which look and feel unpleasant, too.

Exfoliate Longer, Not Harder

If you want to really get rid of that dead, dull skin for a fresh-faced look (and who doesn’t), you might be tempted to start really scrubbing yourself raw with your exfoliant of choice. Not only could this be quite painful and leave you with unattractively red skin, rather than the radiant glow you were hoping for, but it actually isn’t that effective either.

When it comes to exfoliating, it is much better to do it gently for longer than it is to scrub harder. You’ll get rid of more dead skin without hurting yourself that way.

Ditch the Chemicals

If you can, it is much better to choose products that have few, if any chemicals that you haven’t hear of in your skin. It’s much better to use natural products like coconut oil, aloe vera juice, and brown sugar to create your own cleansers, exfoliants and moisturizers because chemicals can actually inflame your skin and make it puffier and redder, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you’ve noticed that you have a slightly red complexion after completing your skincare routine, chances are you’d definitely be better off without the chemicals.

Avoid the Alcohol

I know, I know - you love a glass of wine or three in the evening and cocktail night is your favourite night of the week, but if you want to have youthful-looking skin in your 40s, 50s and beyond, you really do need to at least cut down on the amount of alcohol you take in. Why? Because alcohol, if you drink more than one glass a day can cause the amount  of oil your body produces to increase, causing shiny skin and enlarged pores., There is also evidence to suggest that heavier drinkers, perhaps because they are often dehydrated, tend to visibly age faster than people who rarely drink at all.

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

One of the best pieces of advice to bear in mind if you want to have beautiful skin is that there is only so much any skincare routine can do, and truly radiant skin comes from the outside in. Eating a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, particularly avocados and tomatoes, which are known to maintain healthy skin, and fatty fishes which contain lots of healthy omega 3, will give you the kind of glow that money simply cannot buy.

Cleanse Twice

If you tend to wear a lot of makeup, then cleansing twice can be a very effective way of improving your skin. What you need to do is first remove your makeup and any SPF protection you are wearing, with a mild cleanser that is designed specifically for makeup removal. Once you’ve done that, use a soothing, hydrating cleanser to perk up the skin. Apply this very gently in slight, upward strokes, moving from your neck to your hairline for best results.

Keep Your Skincare Products Cool

If you get a lot of breakouts, or you suffer from acne or red skin, it can really help to keep your products in a cool box or even the fridge, when the weather is hot because cool products, when applied, will cause your blood vessels to constrict, taking away some of the redness you hate.  Good makeup will do the rest.

Avoid Spicy Foods

Avoiding foods containing hot peppers is another good way of reducing redness in the skin. You might want to try it if you have a ruddy complexion and eat a lot of hot foods.

If you try out as many of these skincare tips as are applicable to you, you should definitely see an improvement in the look and feel of your skin, especially if you practice them regularly.

A Brazilian blowout what you need to know

A Brazilian blowout is gaining extreme popularity since women want smooth silky hair without all the fuss. With this new treatment, you don’t have to be afraid of getting your straight style wet. It’s easy to just wash and blow-dry the hair in minutes instead of hours. Since this process does not make your hair completely bone straight, you can also wear your hair in its textured state – just without all the frizz. Explore how this technique can give you the versatility you’ve been hoping for.

Benefits
Unlike relaxers, texturizers and perms, this technique allows the hair to go back to its natural state after about three months. This means you won’t have to deal with the awkwardness of two different textures as new hair grows in overtime. For instance, with a perm, as the hair grows out, you’ll have straight hair at the roots and curly hair further down. This can look strange and even make it difficult to style your hair. With a Brazilian blowout, by the time your hair begins to really grow, everything will have washed out. Furthermore, this process doesn’t have all the damaging chemicals, like formaldehyde, that can come with some other techniques.

Process
If you have a couple of hours to spare and approximately £300 to £600, then you can get the Brazilian blowout. Basically, the technique is pretty easy, only requiring clean hair that has been clarified. The stylist will apply the solution and place you under a hairdryer. Once your hair is dry, the stylist will then use a flat iron to help secure the solution into the hair. After this is done, your hair is rinsed, you’ll get a deep conditioning treatment and the stylist blow-dries your hair.

Results
Keep in mind that everyone’s results will vary depending on hair type, texture and length. But for the most part, you’ll have hair that is more manageable than you ever dreamed it could be. You can even wash and go if you want. Rain, wind, snow, even swimming pools are no longer an issue since you don’t have to be concerned with whether or not your hair can stand up against a little humidity or strange weather. If you do get it wet, you can simply restyle it in less than 20 minutes because you won’t have to fight with it anymore. Best of all, if for some reason you feel the Brazilian blowout isn’t for you, you can have your original curls and waves back only after about three months. No need to cut your hair and start over like you would if you had a relaxer.

Risks
When getting a Brazilian blowout, be extremely cautious, since similar versions of this process can include the chemical formaldehyde. This can put your health at risk since this chemical can make you feel queasy, cough or damage your skin. In the worst-case scenario, some believe it can cause certain cancers. Be sure to ask for a formaldehyde-free formula to help minimize problems. If a stylist says he or she can safely complete the process using formaldehyde, find another stylist. Versatile hair isn’t worth risking your health.

Try before you commit
Why not consider ordering a straight hair wig, These are a way of having the straight hair of your dreams without having any chemical treatments. This will give you the change to find out if you really like this style on you and you are not committed to it as you can easily remove it. This giving you the most flexibility and style options. 

how to straighten your hair

Sleek, shiny and straight hair is eye-catchy isn’t? Straight hair looks cool. It gives a classy look even if your dress is not rocking. It is pretty easy to do and takes less time, so whenever you are in a hurry, or just feel lazy, hair straighter is there at your disposal.

Most girls are aware of straightening tips though, for a professional look, you need a lot of practice. Boys can also be pro at this too. Here are the tips to straighten hair like a pro, and it will work for boys and girls alike.

• Take shower

Prepare your hair before getting started, hair should be dust-free, clean, and oil-free. Some conditioners and shampoos claim to give straight hair but it is unlikely to give effective results.  Many hairstylists also suggest not changing the shampoo, if it suits you.  It will lead to other problems like hair fall, dandruff, thinning of hair, etc. Still, if you want to try something for it, pick a product that smoothes the hair.  Straightening looks best on smooth hair, on rough hair, frizz will happen.

• Blow Dry

After washing hair, don’t dry it in a towel as most people do, it will encourage frizz and curls. Lightly dab on hair and use a smooth towel for this purpose, rest leave it for natural drying for a few hours. When hair is half dry, use blow drier on minimum heat, don’t exceed the temperature, it will turn hair brittle.  One pro tip to use a blow drier is, keep the nozzle in a downward direction all the time to avoid frizz. Don’t do the blunder of skipping heat protectant.

• Wait until hair is extremely dry

Don’t start straightening unless the hair is extremely dry.  There is no use of running a straightener on moisturized hair, frizz will come out. Let the moisture escape from hair completely, till then complete your set up process for straightening. To evaluate the situation, touch strands of your hair, if you hear sizzle then stop for a moment before beginning the process.

• Use heat Thermal protectant

While straightening, you need to take care of the frizz factor on an extreme level. So stop being lazy and apply a heat protectant. Many hairstylists insist on using hair serum not only to add shine but also to protect hair from damages. Many hairstylists are biased for hair protection, so they will always show you the right path. They will even suggest you avoid heat application if your hair is damaged; such hairstylists are available in a unisex salon.

• Set the temperature

The setting of temperature depends on the quality of your hair. For fine hair, color-treated, processed hair should stay in the range of 350- 400 degrees. To avoid application repeatedly, maintain a 410 degree. Professionals use 450 degrees, but they are highly trained for managing the temperature. If you are already pro, you can try it but the apt temperature is 350 to 400 for a beginner. Well, you can go for hair straightening anywhere, it’s pretty easy to find. If you want to avoid straightening your hair why not try fashionable straight wigs and this will save you time and you will not cause any damage to your hair. 

• Final step

Make sections and start the process, for flawless straightening, use flat iron of high quality. Split the hair from the middle to make sections, bring it forward, if your hair is thick, make sections and apply clip. Apply the final product to add shine. If the process is too long for you, go for hair ironing.