Tips on your skin care to Look and Feel Fresh During this Holiday season!!

Tis the season to be partying fa la la la la la la la la!!!

Between all the Christmas and New Years Celebrations, you can be left feeling a bit worse for ware. Your skin can be dehydrated and dull....here are some of my tips on staying fresh and looking your best!!

Your skin is the key....keep this fresh and you have a great base for your makeup looking and lasting longer. Breakouts and blackheads can be rife at this time of the year..with all that chocolate and cakes. I love using a heat based mask to cleanse my skin so I dont get any unwanted visitors over the festive season. I use the Biore Warming anti blackhead cleanser. http://www.biore.com.au/complexion-clearing-products/warming-anti-blackhead-cleanser Its like a cleanser mask in one and gentle enough to use morning and night. Just wet your face in the shower and put a generous layer all over your face the water on your skin will activated the heat. Leave on for 5 mins while your shampooing hair etc and then wash off. The mask will unclog any unwanted blackheads and oil forming in your skin, to prevent breakouts. Its available at the supermarket or local chemists. At $12.99 a tube its great value too!!

Once a week you will need a moisture mask..I love the Aspect Dr Hydrating Mask, its $44 a tube but is the best weapon against dry dehydrated skin. I put it on once a week at night after my shower as a mask using a 5cent peice amount for about 20 min and then rub it in for a strong night cream...I wake up looking fresh and plump.
Its key ingredients are:

• Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Extract - Gives anti-oxidant protection against damaging free radicals.
• Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter – All reinforce the Natural Moisturizing Factor, helping to prevent moisture loss and provide the skin with a natural lubricant. Keep the skin soft and supple.
• Green Tea and Echinacea Extracts – A powerful source of antioxidants that also soothe the skin.
• Willowbark and Comfrey Extracts – Natural botanical extracts that help cleanse and detoxify the skin.
• Hyaluronic Acid and Glycosaminoglycans – Provide excellent hydration.

http://www.myshopping.com.au/ZM--1219335566_Aspect_Dr_Hydrating_mask

Elizabeth Ardens 8hour cream and been around for years but it will never go out of style. It can do so many things...but basically it helps protect soothe and moisturise as well as nourish the skin even in the most delicate areas. I use it after a flight all over my face as a moisture mask to help fight jet lagged skin, it can be used on lips around eyes (not to close) and helps with everything from sunburn to heat rash. It really is a miracle cream and can be bought from your local department store.
http://www.elizabetharden.com.au/product/111/Eight-Hour-Cream-Skin-Protectant/

The last product I cant live without during the year is my fave...Clarins beauty flash balm. 2 words Brightens and tightens...what more do you need to know!! Its not a moisturiser so put on after but it does act as a fantastic primer for makeup. I really just cant do a makeup without it!! You can use alone without makeup and basically it does what its says brightens and tightens the skin!! Love love love!!
http://www.adorebeauty.com.au/clarins/clarins-beauty-flash-balm.html

So I hope this helps you stay a little fresher this festive season....now go and enjoy a mojito by the pool!!

ICE ICE BABY

I was recently reading an article about how ice can be good for your skin. Turns out its the latest new facial treatment craze!! The best part is you can do it from home without it costing a cent!! Icing your skin is believed to improve your circulation as well as ward of wrinkles, and now that summer is on its way its the perfect time to experiment my ice facial tricks.

Help that unwanted pimple freeze away.....

Everyone gets an unwanted pimple from time to time.....Especially the morning of an important event. Ice can decrease inflammation and can even help with the pain caused by these annoying breakouts. Go to your freezer the next time you get a blinder of a pimple, pop some ice into a zip lock bag and hold the ice to the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes. The pimple will decease in size, and the pain will be less and then concealer is your new best friend!! If your doing it at night you can then add my fave pimple cream over the top to really zap that zit!! (Make sure you put an old pillow case on as it might stain the cover) Benzac AC 5% you can buy from any chemist. Just apply to affected area and kiss that pimple goodbye.

De- Puff those eyes.......

Have you had a rough night? or been crying??.....reach for an ice cube while your making your breakie. Wrap the ice cubes in a soft cloth and hold over your eyes for a few minutes and it will reduce the puffiness. You will feel and look better in minutes. For a stronger more effective treatment, freeze cubes of caffeinated black tea or wet tea bags and freeze them, or store sliced cucumbers in ice to keep you looking fresh!!

Prime your skin with ice......

Its a proven fact ice can reduce your pore size...... so before popping on your foundation run an ice cube over your face, focusing on the areas with enlarged pores. The cold water will help cause the pores to reduce in size and minimise their appearance under makeup. Try this before your primer to get even better smoother results.

Ice Scrub......

DIY ice scrub at home.... For a once a week pick me up! Try making blended fruit and veg ice cubes. Freeze either strawberries or cucumber or mango etc into ice cube trays and gently rub on your face once a week. The ice will start to melt and the chunky texture will exfoliate as you rub and your skin, will feel brighter and smoother and fresh!!

Well I hope these little tricks help you feel fresher this summer....