STEPS FOR GLOWING SKIN

STEPS FOR GLOWING SKIN

 

GENIKA

Glowing, youthful skin is something all women strive to achieve through various products and treatments. Our skin is very fragile; it gets damaged very easily either from factors we something to do with (like diet and makeup) or factors out of our control (like the environment and time). Although it is not easy to change the effect these factors have on our skin, there are ways for us to protect and even repair our skin by minimizing the effect of the negative factors. Bellow, I share with you guys some easy daily and weekly steps that should not be omitted and that will help to achieve the glowing skin we all desire.

 

DAILY STEPS

Daytime

  • Cleansing: Every morning it is important to cleanse our skin once we wake up. You might think that it is not necessary as all we did was sleep, so how come the skin is dirty. However, throughout the night, our skin is exposed to the environment around us, plus there are the products we used the night before that need to be removed. Therefore, we should cleanse our skin with a mild cleanser, to merely refresh it and wash away any impurities.
L-R: first aid beauty, philosophy, lancome, lancome, first aid beauty, clarisonic
L-R: First Aid Beauty, Philosophy, Lancome, Lancome, First Aid Beauty, Clarisonic
  • Moisturizing: Once we have cleansed our skin and before applying any makeup, it is important to moisturize it. During the day our skin is exposed to the harsh environment, like the sun and the car fumes, plus we have makeup on. Either the weather or the ingredients of our makeup, might dry our skin. In order to keep our skin hydrated we need to apply a light moisturizer, that will not burden the skin or interfere with our makeup.
L-R: kiehl's, charlotte tilbury, lancome, lancome, jurlique
L-R: Kiehl’s, Charlotte Tilbury, Lancome, Lancome, Jurlique
  • Sunblock: The final step of a daytime skincare routine, must be the sunblock. We all know how harmful the sun can be for our skin. From creating free radicals and quicker aging to skin cancer, the sun rays are a major source of skin damage. Therefore, it is essential to apply a good, high protection sunblock before applying our makeup.
Apivita
Apivita

Nighttime

  • Remove makeup: Removing our makeup at the end of the day is the basic step of a good nighttime routine. Many women tend to omit that step, which results in all the chemicals from the makeup products to stay in the skin for the entire day. This essentially results in a lot of damage; from breakouts to dry and irritated skin. Therefore, it is crucial to remove all the makeup from the face and eyes.
L-R: Koh Gen Do, Clinique, Johnson & Johnson, Biotherma, Ren
L-R: Koh Gen Do, Clinique, Johnson & Johnson, Bioderma, Ren
  • Cleansing: Once the makeup is removed, we should cleanse our skin. Even with the makeup remover products, some makeup will remain on the skin. Plus our skin has been exposed and covered in makeup throughout the day. Therefore, it is very important to cleanse it with a stronger cleanser than the one we used in the morning. The cleanser will relieve the skin from all the dirt and damage it has been through since morning.
L-R: fFrst Aid Beauty, Philosophy, Lancome, Lancome, First Aid Beauty, Clarisonic
L-R: fFrst Aid Beauty, Philosophy, Lancome, Lancome, First Aid Beauty, Clarisonic
  • Serum: Before applying our nighttime moisturizer, it is important to apply a lightweight serum over our skin. Based on the skin’s needs, it could be a hydrating one, a brightening one or an anti-aging one. Serums are more concentrated than moisturizers and packed with beneficial ingredients. They are basically boost-shots for the skin.
F-R: Algenist, Nude, Jurlique, Dior, Lancome, Dior
F-R: Algenist, Nude, Jurlique, Dior, Lancome, Dior
  • Moisturizer: The last step of a good nighttime routine is the moisturizer. Same as in the morning, the moisturizer will hydrate the skin during the night. Since during sleep our body doesn’t function as intensively as the rest of the day, and since we don’t put makeup on while we sleep, the night moisturizer has to be a bit thicker than the day one. The night moisturizer can also have anti-aging properties. Don’t forget that during sleep, our body heals itself and repairs any damages, so we should do what we can to help it.
L-R: Kiehl's, Charlotte Tilbury, Lancome, Lancome, Jurlique
L-R: Kiehl’s, Charlotte Tilbury, Lancome, Lancome, Jurlique

WEEKLY STEPS

Apart from a good daily routine, it is important once or twice a week to exfoliate our skin and apply a mask. Exfoliating is important as it removes the dead cells and skin. It basically rejuvenates the skin and polishes it. The “bad” skin is washed away for the “new” one to emerge. Because the exfoliating process could be a little harsh for the skin, it is important not to overdo with it; exfoliating once or twice a week is more than enough. Apart from exfoliating the skin, applying a mask is equally important. It could be a hydrating, brightening, anti-aging or anti-blemish mask; the mask’s purpose is dictated by the skin’s needs. Face masks are concentrated and therefore easily absorbed by the skin. They offer an instant boost or repair of any damage done to the skin. Applying a mask on the face is a spa-like treatment but in the comfort of your own home. Again a little goes a long way, so once or twice a week is the perfect frequency for face masks.

exfoliators
F-R: Lancome, Fresh, Chanel, Laura Mercier

 

L-R: H&M, Fresh, First Aid Beauty, Lancome, Fig & Yarrow, Kocostar
L-R: H&M, Fresh, First Aid Beauty, Lancome, Fig & Yarrow, Kocostar

Following some simple daily and weekly steps will result in clean, glowing, youthful skin. Using only a few products, can help achieve the perfect skin we all desire. Although my skin doesn’t have any specific problems, I follow these steps, as much as I can, to protect my skin and keep it glowing and fresh. Comment below and share your favorite skincare routine steps. Also let’s connect on Instagram (@vogueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron)!

 

Till next time take care dolls 😉

Vicky x

4 AMAZING MOISTURIZERS FOR DRY SKIN

4  AMAZING MOISTURIZERS FOR DRY SKIN

KREMES 3 Dry skin is a problem we all have encountered at some point of our lives. Although I would not normally characterize my skin as dry, in the winter due to the cold weather and humid atmosphere, it can get pretty dry. This is really frustrating as I hate seeing my skin flakey and dry, plus it is more challenging to apply my makeup and for the makeup itself to last. In order to keep my skin hydrated and soft, I apply a moisturizing cream every day. I like to alternate my moisturizers because once my skin gets used to a product, the product doesn’t work anymore. All the moisturizers mentioned below are my favorites and I am really satisfied with all of them.

Lancome Binefait Multi-Vital Night

LANCOME

This is my favorite night moisturizer. I use it literally every night for the past 3 weeks and I am really happy with it. It has a light, sheer feel but it is a very rich moisturizer. A small quantity is enough for my entire face. It doesn’t have an unpleasant scent, and it doesn’t have any oily residue. It moisturizes my skin incredibly. Once it is fully absorbed, my skin feels very smooth and soft. In the morning my skin looks plum and clear. It has a nice healthy look and it is still very soft. I absolutely love this cream!

Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Moisturizing Cream

GIVENCHY

I have this moisturizer for a couple of years now and it doesn’t fail to satisfy me every time. It is a thick, creamy moisturizer that is easily applied and instantly absorbed by the skin. It makes my skin immediately soft and smooth. It moisturizes it and keeps it hydrated for hours. It has shea butter which does wonder for the skin, as it gives it a nice and fresh glow. It does have a perfume scent which might be unpleasant to some, but I personally am not bothered at all. I really like how good my skin feels afterwards.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

I got this cream as part of the Gift Of Goddess holiday set and I was really looking forward to try it. I was instantly in love with it. With its SPF 15 it is the perfect day moisturizer. It has an amazing scent, as it smells like roses and gardenia. It is easily absorbed, although it is quite thick. Again a small quantity is enough for the entire face, as it is easily applied. I love how smooth and soft my skin feels afterwards; so plum and fresh. Plus it is protected from the damaging sun rays. Hydrated, soft and protected; what more can you ask for your skin?

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

KIEHL'S

Kiehl’s moisturizer is another favorite of mine. It is a nice, thick moisturizer without an unpleasant scent. It is easily applied on the skin like the others and it has a sheer finish, which means it is absorbed quite fast. It does stay on the skin a little longer than the others though. It makes the skin very hydrated and it is supposed to keep it that way for an entire day! I really enjoy wearing this moisturizer when I don’t intend to put makeup on as it takes a little longer to be absorbed.

Moisturizing your skin is one of the most important daily rituals that should never be omitted. Not only dry skin needs moisturizing; any type of skin needs hydration. It is a way to keep the skin soft, plum and glowing. All these moisturizers are equally amazing. They make my skin smooth, fresh and hydrated. I can’t pick out my favorite one as they are all great. There is the one for the night, the one for the day when going out and the others for any moment really. I would love to hear which are your favorite moisturizers and why. Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@vogueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron) and say hello!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

 

CHANEL AND LANCOME SKINCARE REVIEW

 

CHANEL AND LANCOME SKINCARE REVIEW

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Happy February everyone! As you have probably realized by now, I am into skin care products more than make up ones. Skincare products improve the skin and help deal with any problems it may have, instead of just masking and covering them up. I like trying different skin care products from different brands, as I am always searching for something better and different from the products I already have. I don’t really have high-end brands makeup and skin care, but on January there was a huge sale on a few shopping centres and I decided it was my chance to get some high-end skin care. Therefore, I went with Chanel and Lancome. I already have a couple of skin care products from both brands and I really like them. From both brands I picked a toner and a mask, because I love toners and I always like to try new masks.

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From Chanel I got the Silky Soothing Toner for Comfort and Anti-Pollution and the Hydration, Protection and Radiance Mask from the Hydra Beauty line. I used both products and I sadly have to admit I am not very satisfied with both of them. First thing’s first, the Toner is a nice toner which refreshes the skin, but it is not something that wowed me. It smells lovely, but I don’t feel it really cleanses my skin. It is supposed to be anti-pollution, but besides refreshing my skin, I don’t feel it does anything else. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just feel that the other toners I have offer something more. The Mask, as well, is not something amazing. It is a moisture mask for radiant and smooth skin, that you apply on your face before you sleep and you massage it into your skin before you sleep. It felt really greasy on my skin and my skin couldn’t absorb it at all. I don’t know if this is how the product is supposed to be, but I really hate greasy products that make my skin look shiny and they are not absorbed easily. Even once I woke up the product was still there. It had been absorbed a little but you could still feel my skin being sticky. I didn’t like the mask and I felt it also broke me out a bit. I never had acne or any skin issues but after the mask I had a couple of zits and irritation, which to be is a break out. Really unhappy with the mask.

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From Lancome I got the Clarifying Exfoliating Toner and the Purifying Mineral Mask with White Clay. Unlike with Chanel, I was really satisfied with Lancome. I have two products already from the brand and I really love them, so I had high expectations from the two new ones. The Toner is amazing. I absolutely love it! It has a strong scent because it contains alcohol. Toners which contain alcohol, are not suitable for dry and sensitive skin types; they will dry out the dry skin and irritate the sensitive skin. It didn’t irritate my skin at all. I would classify my skin as a little sensitive, but not much. Therefore, the toner didn’t affect my skin negatively at all. On the contrary, It actually helped my skin a lot. Every time I use the toner, the cotton pad is quite dirty even after I have cleansed my skin. This is something I hadn’t noticed before with my other toners. I was always under the impression that I had cleansed my skin a lot and therefore there was nothing for the toner to remove. With this toner I realized I was wrong; there always was some dirt left and this toner will definitely remove it. So happy I actually got the 400 ml bottle (double the size of my other toners), because it will last me for a long time. The Mask is really good as well. It is a clay mask and as with all clay masks, it becomes solid on my skin before I rinse it off. Its scent is quite unpleasant, but it doesn’t really bother me and the results I get are amazing; my skin feels really tight and bright afterwards which I love. I used the mask on my mom, who has a different skin to mine, and it was a success as well. Her skin was so moisturized, tight and brighter than before. Such a lovely mask. The skin really feels extra clean and refreshed. It even feels tighter which is great! I prefer it much more than the Chanel one.

Recently I added some high-end products to my skin care collection, from Chanel and Lancome, as I don’t have anything almost from the first brand, and I love whatever I have from the second. I was quite disappointed with the Chanel products, because although the toner was simply ok, the mask was quite underwhelming. The toner has a nice, refreshing feel but nothing more than that. The mask is greasy, sticky and not easily absorbed. It also broke me out a little bit, which doesn’t happen often. Unlike Chanel’s products, the Lancome ones were great. The toner is amazing, because it really moisturizes and cleanses my skin and the mask is great because it makes my skin feel more plum, tighter and brighter. What more could you ask from a mask right? I totally recommend the Lancome products but for the Chanel ones I am not satisfied therefore, I can’t really recommend them. The toner is ok for refreshing your skin, so I suppose you could try it out but the mask is a let down. I would love to hear your opinion about these products and which is your favorite toner in general? Comment down below and share! Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!

 

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

My favorite skincare products

My favorite skincare products

KINHTO 243

Healthy and naturally glowing skin is very important to every girl! As spring is about to be over and summer has already stepped in and with the weather only getting hotter and hotter, I decided that this is the best time to share my favorite skincare products. The daily pampering of my skin is a ritual I never skip, even when I am extremely tired and sleepy. At the end of the day, I just can’t wait to remove all the make up and cleanse my skin; I just love to let it breathe and to feel it clean and smooth. Therefore, I am very excited to share with you guys the products that I absolutely trust and reach out daily.

Lancome Gel Eclat 

KINHTO 251

What can I say about this cleanser? It is an amazing product. I am absolutely in love with it. I got it around Christmas, as I wanted to try something different from what I was using so far. I hadn’t used Lancome skincare products before and I was excited to try this on. From the first use I was simply blown away by it; only a little quantity – the size of a hazelnut- is enough to create massive foam and basically wash the entire face. Due to its flowery ingredients -Lotus and Rose- it has a lovely scent. Full with anti-oxidants, it deeply cleanses and purifies the skin. It is very easy to rinse off and my skin feels amazing afterwards; so smooth and soft! I use it almost every night after I remove my make up  however, when I feel that my skin is not very clean I might also use it in the morning.

Lancome Tonique Confort 

KINHTO 250

I know some of you may be sceptical about the toners as products and if they are useful or not; well they do! After I remove the make up and cleanse my face, I use this amazing toner in order to remove any make up residues. It is very refreshing and moisturizing. Not only it purifies the skin completely and refreshes it but it also hydrates it and makes it more radiant and smooth. I love this toner so much! It is a necessary part of any skincare routine although it may seem as redundant.

Givenchy Hydra Sparkling moisturizing cream

KINHTO 249

I have tried many moisturizers over the years and although I was satisfied by some, I always like to experiment with my routine and try new ones. Therefore, I decided to get the Givenchy one as I never had any skincare products from this brand. I was pleasantly surprised at how soft and hydrated my face felt after only one use, due to the cream’s velvet finish. I absolutely love this moisturizer! On the downside though, this cream has quite a strong perfume scent. Even though it doesn’t bother me, I understand why it may bother some. In total it is an amazing cream with a velvet finish that highly hydrates my skin and I use it every night as the last step of my routine.

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish

KINHTO 244

 Oh my this exfoliator!! It is so gentle and soft and it smells lovely! Just a very small quantity is more than enough for the entire face! With circular gentle motions I exfoliate my face once a week or whenever I feel my face is not in its best state and it could do with some extra pampering. When I first tried it on my hand I was shocked as to how soft my skin was afterwards, that I had to get it! It doesn’t irritate my skin and it is not too harsh on it! On the contrary it’s one of the silkiest exfoliators I have ever used! Now it’s my go to exfoliator!

APIVITA Suncare cream with SPF 50+

KINHTO 245

With summer just around the corner, it is important not to forget the sunscreen as part of our everyday routine. Even when I don’t have makeup on I always manage to apply some sunscreen on my face as it has the most sensitive skin of our body and therefore, it gets damaged easily. I got this sunscreen as I love Apivita for the natural ingredients it uses on its products. This specific one has sea lavender and algae and it is fragrance and parabens free. It is absorbed immediately by my skin without making it shiny or oily and it doesn’t smell at all. It is perfect for under my make up and with its SPF 50 it’s the perfect weapon against the damaging sun rays. Don’t forget to invest on a good, high protection sunblock for the face!

Fresh Sugar lip polish + Fresh Sugar tinted lip treatment 

KINHTO 248

Guys this winter was a disaster for my lips. Because of the cold almost for the whole winter my lips were dehydrated and chapped; the Fresh lip polish literally saved my lips! Only a bit of it was enough to exfoliate and condition my lips. They were so smooth afterwards, I couldn’t believe it! And the orange and sugar taste of it is just amazing! We all know how sugar is a natural exfoliant and a very tasty one as well! After exfoliating my lips I used the Fresh tinted lip treatment to seal the moisture; this lip balm is the bomb! It is hydrating, it gives a natural tint on the lips and it also has SPF 15 to protect them from the sun! The cherry flavor is a plus 😉

Clarins eye contour gel + Origins GinZing eye cream

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I mention these products as a duo because I use them together every night. My biggest eye problem is my dark circles that are quite intense especially when I am tired. Therefore, Clarins eye gel is perfect as it cools them off, reduces the puffiness and fights the persistent dark circles. The gel form is very refreshing and not heavy at all unlike any eye serum. Following the gel, I use the famous Origins GinZing eye cream which is perfect for me as not only it fights puffiness as well but it also brightens the dark under eye area. Although it is quite a thick cream, it is absorbed immediately from the skin and it doesn’t feel greasy at all. It makes my eyes look less tired in the next morning.

There you go! I know it might be quite a long list but I felt compelled to mention all the skincare products I am in love at the moment because they are perfect for my skin and therefore a part of my daily routine! And don’t forget how important it is to take good care of not only your skin but also your eyes and lips, as they all deserve a little pampering 🙂

Till next time take care dolls xxx

Vicky