BC Skin Journal
BC Blog
Beauty mistakes to avoid in lockdown
by Jo Boyden
on Aug 18 2021
Let’s face it, lockdown has made many of us somewhat sluggish. But while we can’t afford to slack off when it comes to work and home-schooling, we can fall victim to being a little lazy in other areas, namely self-care, like neglecting our skin, and at a time when it needs our care and attention the most! You see looking after our skin isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good too! And sticking to your regular routine might be just what you need to pick yourself up out of a lockdown slump. So save your skin this lockdown and avoid making these 11 common skincare mistakes….and if you are already making them, now you know not to! 1. Skipping your beauty ritual all together…If you think now is the time to let your skin ‘be’ or you are simply using the excuse of lockdown as a means to not have to keep up with your 5-10 minute skincare (and makeup) routine of a morning and evening, you’d be wronging yourself and your skin!We are all aware of the benefits of skincare and how important daily cleansing and moisturising is! After all none of us want dehydrated, dry, dull, spotty skin! Plus keeping up the appearances so to speak isn’t just about looking good it’s about feeling great as well, and following your morning makeover has been proven to improve your mental wellbeing as well as ensuring that your skin stays happy and well-taken care of too!2. ...Or simply overindulging on your skincare routine!If being time poor isn’t something you’re facing right now, and in fact you have too much time on your hands, you might find yourself filling those extra hours at home by indulging your skin. Fantastic yes! But not if you are overindulging it! Your skin can become easily overwhelmed if you use too many products (and active ingredients) at once, resulting in skin irritation, clogged pores and even breakouts! It can then also be confusing as to which product caused the reaction!The general rule of thumb is to try introducing one new skincare product at a time, using it for a week or two before introducing another. If during that time you see no adverse reaction, it’s safe to say your skin is sold and you can start using the next new product. 3. Exfoliating too much or too littleWhether you are prone to acne, currently have a dull, devitalised complexion or suffer from sensitive skin, regular exfoliation is a must. Not only because it will smooth and soften the skin for a brighter complexion but because it helps reduce breakouts by removing excess dead skin cells and keeping pores from becoming clogged. Just make sure you opt for chemical and enzyme exfoliators that contain AHA’s and BHA’s as these will exfoliate skin’s surface as well as deeply penetrate into your pores.We highly recommend Pevonia’s Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser for blemish prone skin. It combines soapwort, Triclosan, Grapefruit Oil, Salicylic Acid and Citric Acid with Jojoba to gently remove impurities and delivers an intense exfoliating and deep cleansing experience! And if your skin is a little on the sensitive side, just be sure to opt for a super gentle formula – I LOVE Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, it gently polishes your skin with its unique creamy, granular texture. But if granules scare you, I also highly recommend Phytomer’s Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes. It’s a soft exfoliant for even the most sensitive or rosacea prone skin and uses natural enzymes to encourage cell turnover without scrubbing or irritating your skin.I’m not talking daily exfoliation though! Hell’s no. Just once or twice a week depending on your skin type will suffice, as too much exfoliation can be counterproductive! This is because exfoliators, especially physical ones with granules or beads can damage the outer most layer of your skin. One sign of over exfoliating is skin hypersensitivity. This can cause irritation, breakouts, and even a stinging feeling when you apply products! Aghhh. 4. Not keeping up with your SPFIt’s easy to think why bother with sunscreen if we are in the middle of winter and well you’re not really heading out, right? Wrong! As I’ve preached many a time before, sunscreen isn’t just a summertime skincare product, it’s necessary to religiously wear it All. Year. Round. Why? Because it is THE best protection against skin ageing. Oh and if you are staying indoors, and happen to work next to a window like me, the sun has the ability to penetrate the glass and your skin too! Eek.And then there is the issue of blue light damage. To read all about it click here. But in short, just like the sun, your devices omit harmful ‘blue light’ rays, so it’s important to wear sunscreen to protect skin against them too!!Sunscreens formulated with iron oxides provide enhanced protection against blue light, especially when combined with zinc oxide. A new favourite of mine is Medicalia’s Sunscreen SPF 30 with Blue Light Shield. If you’re a little reluctant to wear your sunscreen because quite frankly its smell and greasy texture puts you off, you are going to love this lightweight emulsion! This everyday sunscreen contains an exclusive mineral formula to shield skin from harmful sun rays, blue light and pollution. It delivers all-natural protection with the addition of zinc oxide which acts to form a protective seal over the skin to reflect blue light away. It also rubs into skin seamlessly without leaving a white cast or greasy residue behind. And even better, the formula is reef-safe and works for all skin types and tones! 5. Constantly touching your faceIf there is one thing covid has taught me, it’s to be vigilant about touch! But then I have to admit I did not realise just HOW often I touched my face before now!! In fact, my husband likes to point out this new (or maybe not so new!) habit I’ve mastered daily - rubbing my hand over my face when I’m tired (which lets face it is pretty much all the time at the moment – eek!) The thing is every time you touch your face, you’re exposing your skin to bacteria, so repeatedly touching it with your fingertips, resting your face on your hands, or simply rubbing your head can introduce dirt directly to the skin and in some cases cause pesky pimples and worse! So, try to be more wary of your actions, and I promise I will too!! 6. Becoming complacent and not cleansing your skin before bedIt’s easy to become complacent in lockdown, don’t I know! And even more so when you are exhausted after the daily juggle of in my case work, home-schooling and just generally parenting two young kiddies 24-7! Sometimes I even find it hard to peel myself off my bed to go and remove my makeup in the evening, but remove my makeup and the days grime I must!Cleansing your face especially at night to remove not only your makeup but any remnants of the day's sweat, dirt and grime is imperative for healthy skin. Not cleansing before bed means your skin is unable to regenerate effectively while you sleep, pores clog, and fatigue (ageing!) signs start to appear.For a fantastic makeup remover which effectively melts away makeup and grime with minimum effort try Phytomer’s Doux Contour Eye and Lip Waterproof Makeup Remover. Combining the effectiveness of an oil (a trio of oils in fact) and the gentleness of a lotion, this ultra-hydrating makeup remover, eradicates even the most stubborn of lips and eye makeup fast! And my absolute favourite cleanser at the moment is Pevonia’s new CleanRefresh Foaming Oil Cleanser. Its oil formulation transforms into a luscious foamy cleanser on application when mixed with water and it leaves skin feeling fantastically refreshed and beautifully clean without the drying effects that other cleansers can leave. Plus its subtle scent is just heavenly.To read more about sleeping in makeup and what it really does to our skin click here. 7. Not washing your makeup brushesIt’s easy to forget about our brushes in lockdown, but using this time to clean them properly will ensure you won’t be using grubby, bacteria-filled tools when lockdowns lifts. After all, our makeup tools are meant to be washed! Besides bacteria, both brushes and sponges also accumulate dead skin cells and oil which can clog your pores leading to skin irritation and pesky pimples! Also if you apply your makeup with a dirty bush the end result can be a streaky and patchy complexion! Clean brushes definitely make for a smoother makeup application and healthier skin! 8. Not cleaning your phoneYour phone is likely your lifeline right now, especially since socialisation is non-existent! But pretty much, like our makeup brushes, our phones collect tons of bacteria throughout the day. That bacteria then transfers to your face every phone call you make (I probably need to start using my hands free more often!) and puts your skin at risk of infections and even acne! Simply wipe off the screen of your phone with alcohol or with wipes to make sure it is constantly clean. 9. Not washing your sheets and pillowcases frequently enoughWe know lockdown can all make us a little lazy, but staying on top of your daily and weekly chores has its purpose that’s for sure! Unfortunately, clogged pores can occur when we don’t wash our bedding weekly. This in turn can lead to blemishes and breakouts. Why? Because there is a build-up of bacteria and oil on our sheets, especially pillowcases caused by sweat, saliva and dead skin cells. Yuck. 10. Eating a bad dietPutting on weight during lockdown because of all the ‘boredom’ food you might be consuming isn’t your only concern when it comes to diet! The effects it has on your skin can be a huge issue too! So instead of reaching for that sugary treat or bag of chips, treat your skin kindly and optimise your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts, and a varied and balanced diet. This should give optimal levels of the nutrients that are crucial for radiant skin, including beta carotene, vitamins C and E and zinc. 11. Not drinking enough waterI’m not sure if it’s just me and being out of routine is a hindrance but I am just not as disciplined with drinking water at home as I was in the office! Maybe it’s because I’m busy with the daily juggle but we all know hydrating yourself throughout the day is a necessity. This is because water helps to get rid of toxins in the body as well as aid in the rehydration of our skin.
7 essential makeup products for older women
by Jo Boyden
on Aug 11 2021
Over 40 and looking for the best makeup products for mature skin? Makeup that women of your age simply can’t live without. Products that will enhance your skin, so it looks younger than its years! Here at BC we’ve got you. After all, choosing the right makeup products for your skin can be a game-changer at any age, but choosing the right ones for those of us who are over 40 is critical. This is because as we age makeup is not just about concealing skin or enhancing your natural beauty, it’s about camouflaging visible signs of ageing, defying gravity and redefining features as well! So read on to discover seven essential makeup products for mature women, why you should give them a try and testimonials from the women who swear by them. ELES Retexturizing Face PrimerIf you have mature or ageing skin, you will really benefit from introducing a primer into your makeup routine! Primers can smooth imperfections such as fine lines, large pores and minor pitting which comes with age, add instant hydration to the skin, as well as ensure a perfect canvas for makeup application! Genius!The ELES Retexturizing Face Primer is a must! Packed with anti-oxidant goodness including vitamins A, C & E, this lightweight serum helps protect, condition and smooth skin for a fault-free base! “One word to describe this product? Incredible. I had no idea makeup would stay put on my face so long before this product - just thought it was not possible! I tested this out one day at the races, and my makeup STAYED PUT the entire day - and I barely had to touch up to go out that night. It's really that good. I'd tried other primers, and yes they smoothed out my skin, but as for lasting power? Non-existent. I'm never changing from Retexturizing Primer ever! The tiniest bit really does go the longest way too. Great value. Great product.” Lucy Gardner ELES Mineral Powder FoundationFoundation is the perfect product to disguise visible signs of ageing, but you have to choose wisely. A face powder, when used correctly and frugally can be a fantastic makeup staple (I’m personally a huge lover of powder compacts) however, no matter your skin type, too much face powder can have an adverse effect and actually age you! This is because it can highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them, so it’s best to use powder sparingly – on your t-zone or as the perfect tool for touch ups or opt for a mineral foundation powder packed with skin lovely ingredients like ELES’s Mineral Foundation Powder. It’s the perfect buildable foundation – you can wear it from natural sheer to polished opaque and what’s more the minerals condition your skin while you’re wearing it adding a little subtle luminosity to your flawless finish. No fine lines and blemishes in sight!“I’m a bit of a powder lover when it comes to foundations as I find liquid formulations a little too much. I have however become more sceptical as I get older as a few power compacts I have tried have enhanced my fine lines. However not this one! It’s amazing! The coverage is just perfect! It looks so natural, in fact like I’m not wearing foundation at all, yet it completely hides my imperfections. I’m in my late 40’s but would recommend this product to anyone, any age whether you are simply looking for a translucent powder, a foundation to conceal your blemishes or a wonderful base for ageing skin. It has become my daily go-to!” Melissa B ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30Heavy duty matte foundations have a tendency to make older skin appear duller and more devitalised and can show up any facial hair eek! So you want a foundation that is subtle in terms of both coverage and finish and can enhance your natural features without bringing imperfections to attention!A hydrating or satin-finish liquid foundation will be your best choice, especially as skin gets drier with age. Foundations that have sheer coverage and dewy luminous foundations will be your best youth enhancing options especially for those concerned about lines and wrinkles.I am a huge advocate for the ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30, it is a multi-tasking wonder cream! It has the perfect light, dewy coverage and literally primes, tints, nourishes, evens out skin tone, and helps to strengthen and protect skin on application! “I absolutely love this product. I used it years ago, tried others but nothing compares. Such a beautiful feel on your skin and the perfect amount of glowy/dewy coverage. I love the spf included, I don’t need to use any other product but this on my Face of a morning. Perfect for aging skin when you want a lighter coverage that makes your skin look younger.” Krystle Wigley ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15If you do love a slightly more matte finish the best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15 should be your go-to. It’s a-mazing.“I used to work for Estee Lauder and a was used to great make-up from a young age, so it was a while before I gave another brand a chance. It was worth it. This ELES foundation is amazing and I've tried most of them! For my 50's skin this is the best. I've actually got my 80 yr old mum onto it and she loves it as well. Great smooth coverage, with silky, natural finish.” Melinda Hopkins ELES Dual Action ConcealerAs we age and our skin loses its youthful “plumpness” dark shadows become more prominent - under the eyes, around the nose, at the corners of the mouth etc. It can be tempting to reach for a heavy duty, light shaded concealer to hide these dark areas, the problem is that they can just make the dark shadows look dull and grey as opposed to concealing them! You should instead opt for peachy toned, lightweight concealers (that won’t cake on the skin or seep into fine lines and wrinkles) like the ELES Dual Action Concealer. This anti-ageing concealer is like 8 hours of sleep in a tube! Eyes honestly look refreshed after application and the clever formula provides continuous hydration and a natural longwearing finish so win win!“I love this product and have been using it for 2 years. You only need the littlest amount to hide dark under eyes reduce the look of wrinkles around your nose and mouth. I always have to have it.” Josephine Piper ELES Brow Blender PencilCreating the perfect brows can take years off your face (seriously). You just need to choose the right product and know how to apply it. Just as the hair on our heads can thin with age, so do our eyebrows, sparse brows are the ultimate giveaway as to a person’s age and can sadly make us look older than we actually are! I know right?! So to look younger, we want to create instantly fake fullness and to do this we need to fill them in with the perfect brow pencil. The ELES Brow Blender Pencil is a dual ended pencil - a unique brush tip to blend and shape brows on one end, and a soft-powder finish pencil to create full, natural looking brows on the other end.Tip: Apply the brow product in soft strokes to create the illusion of natural hair. Just be sure you don’t overfill the front part of your brow though! This area should have soft hair that graduates into more density. If you overfill this area you can make your eyebrows look way too harsh. “I have this brow blender in blonde and it is a great match for my brows. I love the texture of this brow pencil as it is soft enough to use without causing any pain, but firm enough to be able to draw on the missing hairs. Some eyebrow pencils are so hard that I find them painful, whereas others are so soft that I can't get a defined eyebrow. The ELES one is just perfect. I also love the attached spoolie to keep my unruly brows groomed.” Kate Knapman ELES Gel LiplinerOur hair isn’t the only thing that thins with age, unfortunately our once plump lips will begin to diminish as the years go on too, so it’s necessary to add fullness and a subtle colour to your lips in the way of lip pencil and a little coloured gloss. You can to choose a lipliner in the same shade as your natural lip colour or one shade darker. Try ELES Gel Lipliner for smooth, precision application. It has an extremely long wearing, super soft, waterproof formula which literally glides onto lips for transfer-proof, non-feathering wear for up to 7 hours!“I'm in my 50s and need something to fill the fine lines around my lips and this does it! It's absolutely brilliant, it's the best product I have ever used and believe me I've tried a few. It allows my lipstick to last the whole day without reapplying, I love it!” Traci Ring
10 of the best makeup tips for tired, devitalised skin
by Jo Boyden
on Aug 04 2021
Six weeks of lockdown hasn’t been kind to my skin. Most likely due to the never-ending late nights trying to play catch up on the work I’ve missed during the day because #homeschooling. And while I do love to preach about the importance of sleep, I’m sadly now a testament to how lack of sleep can affect your skin! Eek!You see I’m religious about my daily skincare ritual, nothing is getting in the way of that! But there is only so much my beloved products can do for this dull, devitalised complexion I’m currently donning. And while there is no painting the town red at present, I am doing daily video calls with my team and hitting the local parks with my kids and their pup so putting my best face forward is still a must! Cue the miracle of makeup and the 10 game-changing tips I follow daily to wage the war on this dull, dreary skin of mine! So if like me, you’ve not managed to catch enough shut eye but still need to look fresh faced on camera, keep reading! If you can’t make it, then fake it right? 1. Don’t forget to properly prep!As I said I’m a stickler for my morning skincare ritual and you should be too! Trying to conceal tired, lack-lustre skin won’t come easy unless you have properly prepped.Firstly, dry, dull skin lacks youthful luminosity, so exfoliating is a necessity! We’re not talking daily though, just once or twice a week depending on your skin type will suffice, as too much exfoliation can be counterproductive.If your skin is a little on the sensitive side, exfoliation is still important just be sure to opt for a super gentle formula – I LOVE Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, it gently polishes your skin with its unique creamy, granular texture. But if granules scare you, I also highly recommend Phytomer’s Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes. It’s a soft exfoliant for even the most sensitive or rosacea prone skin and uses natural enzymes to encourage cell turnover without scrubbing or irritating your skin. Washing your face in the morning is a must but make sure the water isn’t too warm! I love cleansing and then splashing my face with cold water! Not only does it wake me up but the cold-water boosts circulation and helps constrict blood vessels to temporarily tighten pores and reduce redness and puffiness too! Remember washing your face with warm to hot water will only dry out your skin as it strips away its natural oils. Boo.Finally make sure you moisturise. I love to slather my skin with my favourite serum first (my latest love is Pevonia’s Age Correction Intensifier Collagen & MyOxy Caviar, this is because it’s packed with anti-ageing and rehydrating goodness including collagen and hyaluronic acid), then next apply my moisturiser. Dehydrated skin plays a big part in making your face look dull, plus any dry patches will make foundation uneven. 2. Choose a foundation that will enhance your skin not just mask itIf your skin is dull and lacking life you want to choose a foundation with hydrating and skin brightening benefits. After all your foundation should enhance your complexion, not mask it. Change up your foundation for one formulated with hyaluronic and Vitamin A, these key ingredients will help skin appear more hydrated, plumped and healthy.ELES Cosmetics range of foundations are all formulated with these skin boosting ingredients. And for dreary, devitalized skin a sheer or satin-finish foundation will be your best bet, especially as skin tends to be drier in the cooler, winter months too.I am a huge lover of the ELES Age Defying BB Cream 20. It is a multi-tasking miracle! It literally primes, tints, nourishes, protects, blurs and evens out your skin tone for a truly, natural, flawless finish. And thanks to its skin-loving ingredients over time it helps to promote cell health, strengthen elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore that natural glow you once donned! What’s more, you’ll feel as though you aren’t even wearing makeup!3. Use a good under-eye concealer for an instant eye liftTo hide those dark circles and puffy tired eyes, ensure you are armed with a fabulous concealer! I’m obsessed with Pevonia’s Eye Renew Conceal & De-Age Treatment at present. It honestly gives me an instant eye lift every morning! It’s an eye cream and clever concealer in one! It’s packed with amazing anti-ageing and eye nurturing ingredients, and on application dark circles and puffiness literally diminish within seconds.If you don’t need another eye cream and you are just looking for a simple concealer, try ELES’s Liquid Concealer. You won’t be disappointed!4. Brighten eyes with a waterline eyelinerInvesting in a waterline eyeliner will be a game changer for tired eyes. All you need to do is line your bottom waterline for an instantly wide-eyed effect. We promise you it’s worth the money as one swipe will truly create brighter, more awake eyes. And remember to always finish by applying lashings of mascara to your top lashes.5. Apply a little bronzerWe are all on a quest for that healthy youthful glow, especially in the winter months when it’s almost non-existent, but dusting copious amounts of bronzer all over our nose, chin, cheeks and forehead can play up fine lines and large pores as the powder sinks into them. The best way (and the most flattering!) is to apply your bronzer with a bronzer brush to the perimeter of your face in the shape of a number three. Start on your forehead near your temples and loop down to the tops of your cheekbones, then curve out and around again along your jaw.6. Illuminate your face with a highlighterIf your skin is dull you need a little dose of liquid glow in the shape of an illuminator or highlighter! Apply to the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones and Cupid’s bow for a natural glow that will leave you looking rejuvenated and refreshed. Try ELES Stick Illuminator. I personally can’t get enough of it!7. Make sure you use a blushJust a few swipes of blush will not only add colour and depth to your cheeks but can make your entire complexion look healthier, and your skin more youthful. It adds an extra glow that bronzer and highlighter just can't mimic. Just be sure to apply it correctly - use a blush brush and lift colour upwards towards your temple from the apple of your cheek. I’ve been using the ELES Baked Blush for years now and just love its pigmented colour, easy application and the healthy-looking finish it gives me.8. Distract from tired eyes by accentuating your poutIf no amount of concealer seems to be hiding those dark circles then it’s time to distract from tired eyes! To take attention away use a pop of colour on your pout! Every day I use the ELES Gel Lipliner to line and add definition to my lips and follow with a swipe of my favourite shade of ELES Colour Balm. It combines the payoff of a sheer lipstick with the superior shine of a gloss and I love how hydrating it is for my lips.9. Fake full browsCreating the perfect brows can completely transform your face and make you look 10 years younger, you just need to know how. You want to create instantly fake fullness and to do this you need to fill brows in with the perfect brow pencil! Just be sure you don’t overfill the front part of your brow though! This area should have soft hair that graduates into more density. If you overfill this area you can make your eye brows look way too harsh. Read more on how to create perfect brows.10. Finally get a little more shut-eye IF you canWhile this is an impossibility for me at the moment, I’m hoping it won’t be for the majority of you! As I’ve said many a time before not enough shut-eye can have serious ramifications on our skin! We need to think of sleep as an essential step in our daily skincare routine. Not only will plenty of shut-eye let skin cells regenerate overnight, it will also help prevent dark under-eye circles which make us ALL look tired and older than our years. And we know, no one is choosing to be sleep deprived, the stresses of everyday life can seriously prevent us from getting the amount of sleep we crave, but if it’s possible to try and get our heads down at a reasonable time and try to stick to it nightly, it’ll improve quality of sleep and in turn have a positive impact on our complexion too!
by Jo Boyden
on Jul 15 2021
Has your skin been feeling the effects of the last few weeks thanks to the likes of lockdown and home-schooling while working from home!? Or are you simply prone to pesky pimples or all out adult acne? Whatever the reason, we have good news! Armed with the right products and a few expert tips, you can banish those blemishes! Just follow these steps and enjoy a clearer complexion in next to no time. Understand your skin When it comes to acne, it’s important to understand which type you are suffering from. Unfortunately, this skin condition comes in many forms (just to complicate things!), so if you’re looking to recognise the difference between blackheads, cysts and everything in between we’ve got you. Simply click here. Look out for key ingredients when selecting your products Finding the perfect products for your skin can sometimes seem like a never-ending quest thanks to the millions of options out there. But if it’s blemishes or acne you are looking to combat, there are a few key ingredients you should look out for when selecting your skincare, ingredients which will really help you accomplish that desired clearer complexion. These include;Salicylic AcidWhen it comes to breakouts, salicylic acid should always be your trusty go-to. This is because it’s calming, decongesting and antibacterial, as well as a proven superstar in reducing and preventing further pore clogging! Salicylic Acid is a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) that penetrates deep into the skin to exfoliate sebum-filled pores, as well as dissolve oil build-up and dead cells from the skin’s surface!Benzoyl PeroxideBenzoyl Peroxide is the most effective ingredient for actually treating spots as opposed to preventing them. This is because it actually kills bacteria! It can however be a little drying and irritating which is why it's best used in specific targeted spot treatments.Charcoal and clayIt’s tricky to soak up excess oil without over-drying the skin but products containing charcoal and clay do just that! They work by attracting and absorbing dirt and oil in the skin.AHA’s (Glycolic and Lactic Acids)These two alpha-hydroxy acids slough away the dead skin cells that cause pimple-producing clogged pores. The result? Smoother, softer skin.Retinol The master magician, retinol is the superstar of all ingredients thanks to its multitude of benefits including its ability to increase cell turnover, instructing damaged cells to produce healthier cells faster! As a result, pores are less likely to become blocked so blemishes unlikely to form! Cleanse twice daily and with the right cleanser! If you are prone to breakouts or suffer from acne, do not skimp on cleansing your face twice daily! Choosing the right cleanser will also help rid your skin of the bacteria that make their way into those clogged pores which lead to breakouts!In general, foaming cleansers are great for mature, oily and acne-prone skin, specifically because of their pore penetrating capabilities. If you want to get rid of acne or excess oil/sebum, you need a cleanser that can go deep in your pores and get rid of the debris without too much effort. Just beware of certain cleansers that can dry out your skin though as this will cause it to overproduce sebum (the natural oils your skin produces) which can lead to further clogged pores and breakouts!We LOVE Medicalia’s Clarifying Cleanser. Specifically created for those with breakout prone and sensitive/oily skin, it’s formulated with both Salicylic and Lactic acids (so we know that’s a good thing!) Its potent foaming suds work very quickly to eliminate surface bacteria, toxins, impurities and makeup while combatting inflammation too!“I have used this cleanser for over 15 years now and it is just awesome! I used to suffer from acne and this cleanser helped no end and without drying my skin out!” Bec Don’t forget to exfoliate Whether your acne is mild or more severe, regular exfoliation is a must. Not only because it will smooth and soften the skin for a brighter complexion but because it helps reduce breakouts by removing excess dead skin cells and keeping pores from becoming clogged. Just make sure you opt for chemical and enzyme exfoliators that contain AHA’s and BHA’s as these will exfoliate skin's surface as well as deeply penetrate into your pores.We highly recommend Pevonia’s Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. It combines soapwort, Triclosan, Grapefruit Oil, Salicylic Acid and Citric Acid with Jojoba to gently remove impurities and delivers an intense exfoliating and deep cleansing experience for problem skin!“I bought this product after being "prescribed" it by my beauty therapist for my mild adult acne. Firstly, the scent is light and non-intrusive, which is a huge plus. I also like that it contains both manual (small grains) chemical (citric acid) exfoliating properties. It helps to make my skin feel clean, smooth and prepared for moisturising. After a week or so I noticed a HUGE improvement in my breakouts.” Leah Do moisturise daily! Acne can cause your skin to feel oily and greasy so a moisturiser may be the last thing you feel like putting on your skin, but I’m here to tell you moisturising is an essential step for any skincare routine. I get it, you are concerned the moisturiser will exacerbate your already blemished complexion but on the contrary, if you don’t moisturise you run the risk that your skin will become excessively dry, it can then try to compensate for the dryness by overproducing oil. The result? More breakouts! Aghhh.Light, oil-free moisturisers targeted towards those with blemish prone skin is your best option and we are testament that Medicalia’s Clarifying Cream is one of the best! It is a wonderfully light-textured, oil free cream which really does control acne while magically preventing future blemishes too! Containing the powerhouse blend of Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid with Sorbitol and other soothing and protecting ingredients, it promotes a healthier and beautifully hydrated complexion.“It's expensive but it's been a lifesaver for my acne prone skin! I've noticed it helps keep my sebaceous filaments in check also!” Sophie If you are concerned about acne and ageing, give retinol a go. Just be sure to introduce it very slowly and only apply at night. To find out more about retinol and our recommendations click here. Make over with a mask Charcoal face masks can be a great treatment for both those with acne and oily skin. This is because charcoal is known for its purifying effects on the skin, literally drawing out dead skin, bacteria, excess oils from deep within the pores. It also helps clear pores without absorbing vitamins and nutrients that are vital for the skin.Pevonia’s Pure Skin Charcoal Mask is the ideal option for anyone with oily skin, dilated pores, blemished skin and for acne control. Formulated with charcoal and skin nurturing ingredients, it supplies essential skin lipids that moisturise and protect the skin while decongesting it!“Being in my 50's I wasn't sure if this would dry my skin out, but I bought it because of my breakouts. I've used it daily for about 3 days and it's totally cleared my skin up - it feels de-congested, clear and smooth. I love this mask!” Melinda SPF daily, even those of us at home in isolation! Sunscreen isn’t just for summer sadly! Your skin needs protection every day even indoors! This is because UV rays don’t just come from the sun but from your multiple devices too!Look for a sunscreen, daily moisturiser or foundation with SPF that is lightweight, oil-free or oil-controlling! And steer clear of thick pore-clogging formulations. Choose makeup that won’t clog your pores We know if you suffer from blemishes of any sort you are likely to want to conceal them. The thing is doing so can lead to further irritation so it’s important to choose makeup that won’t clog your skin. The best solution is mineral makeup as it allows your skin to actually breathe! We (and many of our customers) are OBSESSED with ELES’s best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. Its ‘non-occlusive’ long-lasting formula allows the foundation to enhance the complexion without covering up the skin, allowing it to “breathe” freely. It also glides onto skin beautifully but sets to a soft powder finish. And it is SPF 15 too!“I have been using this product for 10 years+ and cannot fault it. It is light, silky and even though my skin is oil based it does not leave it clogged like many other foundations I have used previously.I absolutely recommend anyone to try it to see how beautiful it is to wear.” Debrah Make sure you always remove that makeup! Whether you’re prone to the odd spot or suffer from all out acne, you’ll soon see that sleeping with a face full of makeup can result in a big breakout of blemishes. Eek! Makeup, unfortunately, clogs pores, and when your pores are blocked, your skin can’t breathe, and therefore it can’t regenerate. The oil in your pores builds-up and transform itself into spots. Fact. So make sure you always remove your makeup before bed! And finally…relax more, sleep more Although this isn’t as simple as it sounds when you are dealing with work, kids, home-schooling and lockdown! What I will say is if you’re dealing with a stressful situation, it is important to try and look for healthy ways to destress as there is a direct link between stress and skin disorders! Some simple options include;Daily exercising – just a little as 30 minutes can make a huge differentDoing breathing exercises – I find doing this with the kids helps us all!A morning yoga session - While this isn’t a possibility for all, if you are at home with kids try involving them in a little yoga fun. There are some great programs on youtube.Meditating for a few minutes – my time to do this is just before bed. I love the calm app.Playing music – something as simple as playing soothing sounds can have a profound affect on your mental state, reducing stress and it’s definitely a great option for everyone.
BC’s best rated beauty buys for oily skin
by Jo Boyden
on Jul 12 2021
It’s a fact, with winter brings dry, devitalised skin thanks to the colder weather, artificial heating, hotter showers to name but a few, but we’ve not forgotten about those of us who suffer from oily prone skin ALL. YEAR. ROUND.Here at BC, we’ve got you covered. Read on as we unveil our best rated beauty buys for oily skin types, and we aren’t just talking skincare but makeup too! ELES Pore Perfecting Face PrimerIf you’re a lover of foundation but are a little over it sliding off your face as the day goes on, you need to introduce a primer into your life! A good primer can be a godsend for those with oily skin, not only because it helps makeup last longer but a good mattifying primer will also tackle areas of high shine, soften the appearance of fine lines and pores too!Cue ELES’s Pore Perfecting Face Primer. This light-textured, skin smoothing, oil-free primer not only combats shine but absorbs oil and reduces the appearance of pores and wrinkles at the same time! The result – flawless looking foundation as soon as it’s applied.“A small amount goes a long way. Helps keep my oil controlled. Also, feels so lovely.” Lauri ELES Mineral Foundation PowderIf you are prone to oily skin, it’s best to steer clear of foundation with a dewy finish and instead opt for a matte, semi-matte powder or oil-free foundation. A handy powder compact should be the one staple in your beauty bag, that can come with you wherever you go for those times you need to do a little ‘touch up’. Just be sure to avoid illuminating powder with shimmer as this will only draw attention to skin texture and exacerbate pore size. Instead, opt for a translucent pore-minimising and oil-absorbent powder.Mineral makeup works wonders on oily skin because the particles tend to absorb moisture, preventing shine. The ELES Mineral Powder Foundation enables you to adjust your coverage from a translucent powder to a buildable coverage foundation with a richer, more opaque finish. What’s more, it’s formulated with skin loving ingredients including vitamins A & E, so it’ll provide antioxidant protection as well as condition skin!“Love this foundation, you can make it as light or heavy as you want. It sits really nice on the skin and doesn’t clog my pores. I have combination skin and this foundation lasts all day.” Chrissy ELES Liquid Powder Mineral FoundationIf power isn’t your thing and you’re a lover of liquid foundations but are concerned about slippage, fear not. The ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation is ELES’s global best-seller for many a reason! One being its long-lasting staying power no matter what your skin condition. It’s packed with goodness including an exclusive multi mineral complex as well as vitamins A, C & E but its formula while it goes on as a silky liquid, sets to a soft powder finish, perfect for those with combination and oily skin. What’s more, it allows skin to breath freely so it won’t clog up those pores leading to unwanted blemishes!“Love this product! It beautifully sets from liquid to powder! Great for oily skin or skin which becomes shiny during the day.” Laura Pevonia Phyto-Gel CleanserJust because you have oily skin doesn’t mean you need to use a harsh face wash to dry your skin out! No sireee. Using a face wash that is too harsh or strong can irritate your skin and in turn, trigger increased oil production! It’s best to look for a non-alkaline and non-drying cleanser specifically created for combination to oily skin or all skin types.Suited to all skin-types but particularly good for those with combination to oily skin, Pevonia’s Phyto-Gel Cleanser deeply cleanses the skin with a luxurious foaming consistency. It works by removing the excess and unnecessary oil from the skin’s surface, unclogging pores and ridding it of impurities and surface toxins.“Beautiful deep cleansing, non-drying cleanser. This product has been a favourite of my customers, especially those with normal, combination or oily skin.” Lisa Pevonia Mattifying Oily Skin CreamThis cream should be your go-to if you suffer from an overly oily complexion. Not only does this unique light-textured but subtly creamy moisturiser control excessive oiliness for shine-free skin! Its Lemon and Vitamin B complex ensures skin is hydrated and mattified at the same time to refine pores and prevent breakouts!“This is the best moisturiser for oily skin, the key to balancing oil production and staying youthful looking. I have used this for almost two decades and the results are amazing. it doesn't make my face shiny or greasy and I have oily to sensitive skin.” Brian Phytomer Oligopur Hydra-Matifying Control CreamIf you love something a little lighter when it comes to your moisturiser then this is the cream for you. It is ultra-light, almost like a lotion but delivers long lasting anti-shine, and eliminates oily patches for those with combination skin.“The perfect, lightweight, oil controlling moisture cream to wear day or night. It is the perfect weight under makeup and controls breakthrough shine.” Rebecca
Anti-ageing beauty tips 8 celebrities swear by
by Jo Boyden
on Jul 02 2021
It's not just genetics that grant our favourite celebrity’s beautifully bright, Benjamin Button-esque skin. Many A-listers have their go-to beauty regime which they believe keeps their complexions radiantly youthful. From daily exfoliation to drinking plentiful amounts of water, never for-going the SPF, to anti-ageing must haves, read on to discover the anti-ageing beauty tips 9 celebrities swear by and whether they’d really work for us all. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow“I drink a lot of water, it is full of healing powers”While drinking water daily is without a doubt imperative for your overall health and well-being, there is little research to support the idea that it will make a huge difference in your skin’s appearance. This is because when you drink water it doesn’t automatically go to the skin, in fact, it hydrates cells once it’s absorbed into the bloodstream and is filtered by the kidneys.So rather than relying heavily on water to boost your complexion, like Gwyneth, the best way to effectively hydrate skin is topically using products rich in hyaluronic acid. When it comes to getting dewy, hydrated skin, few ingredients deliver the way hyaluronic acid does. This is because it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water meaning it attracts and holds on to moisture in skin cells, enabling skin to both feel and look hydrated and plump. Genius!We LOVE Pevonia’s Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Serum. Featuring one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid on the market (12%), combined with the powerful anti-ageing duo of marine collagen and Escutox® (Hibiscus Esculentus extract which relaxes harsh wrinkles similar to that of Botox), it immediately boosts skin’s suppleness and combats ageing in multiple ways thanks to its skin-plumping properties. Actress Jennifer Aniston“I stay out of the sun”While it’s next to impossible to completely stay out of the sun (in fact 10 mins of sun a day will help with vitamin D production which is essential for health), limiting your time spent in it and definitely not bathing in it!! Will do wonders for your skin including keeping its smooth, even-toned texture. This is because the number one cause of wrinkles IS sun damage. Sunscreen is the most effective anti-ageing product going. Fact. So wearing an SPF daily come rain, hail or shine, whether inside or out is imperative for protection.For sunscreen that won’t clog your pores, look for formulas that contain zinc oxide. We highly recommend Medicalia’s NEW Sunscreen SPF30 with Blue Light Shield. This smooth tinted sunscreen formulated with zinc and iron oxides will not only protect your skin from UVA and UVB but also from the harmful effects of blue light caused by not only the sun but screen time too! What’s more, it rubs into skin seamlessly without leaving a white cast or greasy residue behind (which let's face it we all loathe ‘those’ sunscreens!) and its formula is reef safe!!And for extra protection and flawless-looking skin try ELES Age-Defying BB Cream 20 Actress Kerry Washington“I wear minimal makeup so my skin can breathe”Sure, sure, you might be one of those blessed celebrities that look just as fabulous without makeup on as they do with, but I’m pretty sure the majority of us aren’t going to forgo our favourite makeup must-haves in the hope it will preserve our age by a few years! What we can do though is invest in makeup that will allow your skin to breathe freely, so no clogged pores, reactions and premature ageing! ELES Cosmetics range of mineral foundations allows just that - your skin to “breathe” while shielding it against age aggressors.We can’t get enough of their best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF15! It’s a silky, mineral-enriched liquid foundation which sets to a soft, powder finish when applied. Its skin-safe formula rich in vitamins A, C & E, contains no chemical ‘nasties’, heavy fillers or potential pore-clogging irritants, such as fragrance, talc, oil and dyes. And it is also formulated with titanium dioxide which is UV-protecting! Victoria Secrets Angel Candice Swanepoel“I’m religious about going for facials”Of course, a monthly, even weekly facial, as many celebrities will admit to having, can do wonders for your skin, and wouldn’t we all love to be in the position to indulge ourselves in weekly treatments at our therapists’ hands! But sadly, we can’t all afford to frequent our local spa! Good skin maintenance is however something we can all manage daily! Being armed with the right skincare products for your skin type is a start and why not give yourself a facial at home? Socialite and Entrepreneur Kim Kardashian-West"I wash with a hot cloth... then use it to exfoliate"While hot water washcloth exfoliation may be a thing, it is unlikely to be extremely beneficial in the long run. In fact, while washing your face with a hot cloth and hot water can be seen by some as a little luxury, it does come at a cost! Firstly, you want to be gentle when washing your skin. Using a washcloth can cause friction if used vigorously or too often which can lead to inflammation, irritation, and damage to your skin barrier, in turn leading to premature skin ageing!! Eek.Secondly, hot water can strip the skin of its essential moisture and deplete its natural protective barrier which can lead to impairments in the skin’s moisture. I’m sure the majority of us aren’t going to stop washing with hot water but it’s a good idea to turn the heat down a little and ensure you replenish skin immediately after with a good hydrating moisturiser! I’m currently loving Pevonia’s Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream it’s deliciously rich and delivers intense and lasting hydration to my skin!And finally exfoliating your face with a washcloth doesn’t come close to using a skincare exfoliator which will effectively remove the days impurities. Try sticking to a face scrub or enzyme exfoliator specific for your skin type. Actress Cate Blanchette“I remove stress where possible, this will give you a better glow”Research has found that stress can have a major impact on our bodies and our skin too, leading to inflammation, skin sensitivities and even early skin aging! As stress can aggravate skin conditions, taking time to indulge in a little self-care, in turn, helps your skin stay clear and smooth. Practice self-care at home with team BC’s beauty recommendations and experience better skin health. Supermodel Christie Brinkley“I start every day by exfoliating my face”Exfoliation is key as it helps increase cell turnover and unclog pores, preventing breakouts and helping other products in your skincare routine absorb more easily for optimal results. But while Christie advocates for daily exfoliation, it’s definitely not a recommendation for everyone! Here at BC we recommend you exfoliate once or twice a week – as long as your skin can handle it. For those with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions, it’s essential to start slowly (minimum of once a week) and steer clear of physical exfoliators which contain eg. grains or microbeads to buff away dead skin cells as these can be too harsh and lead to further reactions. Instead, opt for an enzyme exfoliator such as Phytomer’s Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes. It’s a soft, gentle exfoliant for even the most sensitive skin, and effectively eliminates impurities and dead skin cells using natural enzymes to encourage cell turnover without any scrubbing!Supermodel Jessica Hart“I change up my products depending on how my skin reacts to the changing seasons.”Unfortunately, skincare isn’t a one size fits all. And over time our skin can change dramatically depending on our circumstances, from our lifestyle to the environment, our daily diet, to the stress we might be under! Also, with a change in season comes a change in our skin too so what worked for your skin weeks ago might now need some tweaking! You just need to recognise what your skin now needs and adapt your skincare to these needs.And then there are those of us that are self-isolating because of #lockdown. Here’s why it’s time to change up your skincare routine!
9 multi-tasking beauty essentials we’re obsessed with right now
by Jo Boyden
on Jun 17 2021
Whether you are time poor mum like me, love fuss-free makeup, or are simply a self-confessed beauty addict, who doesn’t love multi-tasking makeup and skincare! From convenient compacts to skincare products that do it all, here are our nine favourites we are loving right now! ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightThis clever little compact packs a punch! It’s your bronzer, highlighter and foundation powder in one that you can lightly brush over your face for beautiful “lit from within” skin.The glow-giving base contains light-reflecting pigments to make skin look impossibly fresh while the gorgeous warm tones act like a photo filter on your skin. Use it on its own for some lightweight coverage and an all-out healthy glow, pop it under your foundation like a luminising primer, or dot it onto cheekbones for some tactical highlighting. Either way, you’ll love it!And for the month of June, when you purchase this powder, you’ll receive the ELES Duo Fibre Brush for FREE.ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30Your moisturiser, primer, sunscreen and foundation in one, this BB cream is a multi-tasking makeup miracle, suitable for all skin types! It quite literally primes, tints, nourishes, protects, blurs and evens out your skin tone for a truly, natural, flawless finish. And thanks to its skin-loving ingredients including Vitamin E, Goji berry, Squalane; its multi-mineral complex, and age defying peptides, over time it will help to promote cell health, strengthen elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore that natural glow you once donned! What’s more, you’ll feel as though you aren’t even wearing makeup, no easy feat for a foundation or any product with SPF for that matter!Medicalia Sunscreen SPF 30 with Blue Light ShieldA true triple threat, this smooth, tinted sunscreen contains an exclusive mineral formula including both zinc and iron oxides to shield skin from harmful sun rays, blue light AND pollution! It delivers all-natural protection with the addition of zinc oxide which acts to form a protective seal over the skin to reflect blue light away. It rubs into skin seamlessly without leaving a white cast or greasy residue behind. And even better, the formula is reef-safe and works for all skin types and tones. So worth the investment in my books!ELES Colour BalmThis lip balm will be a serious saviour in your makeup bag during the morning rush.It combines the payoff of a sheer lipstick with the superior shine of a gloss and is formulated with polymer technology that forms an invisible film that moves with the lips providing comfort and extended wear.Whether you want to add a tint of colour and shine to your lips or a flush of colour to your cheeks, there’s a shade for everyone. It’s also formulated with aloe to treat and heal dry lips, silica to smooth and retexture lips and vitamin C & E, for superior repairing benefits, and what’s more, the multi-tasking featherweight formula imparts superior shine and provides long lasting hydration with glowing colour in a single sweep! LOVE.Phytomer Rose Visage Toning Cleansing LotionThis all-in-one cleanser, makeup remover and toner is quick, effective and wonderful to use. Alcohol-free and infinitely gentle, it thoroughly cleanses the complexion, removes makeup and tones skin without leaving an oily film just a silky soft and supple complexion instead!Phytomer Cyfolia Organic Radiance Exfoliating CreamPacked with marine goodness, this cleanser is your exfoliator and brightening cream in one! It immediately clears dull, dead skin cells while orange water provides vitamin C to support radiance, and the light-reflecting properties of cyfolia algae truly illuminate the complexion for that all out glow!Pevonia Micro Retinol MoisturiserRetinol isn’t hailed as the Holy Grail of the skincare world for nothing. This powerful anti-aging ingredient offers a multitude of benefits! From reducing the appearance of fine lines and preventing wrinkles, to correcting hyperpigmentation, reducing large pores and clearing acne, retinol also has the ability to speed cell turnover making cells function like that of a child! Crazy right? And we love Pevonia’s Micro Retinol range. The moisturiser alone seals in your serum, deeply hydrates, smooths, brightens and firms the complexion for outstanding long-lasting results.Phytomer Tresor Des Mers Beautifying OilThis beautifying dry oil enhances the beauty of the face, body and hair with its satiny texture. A true treasure of the sea, it infuses all the benefits of marine and vegetal oils to moisturise, nourish, repair, and protect both the skin and hair in a single step. Impressive stuff!ELES Custom PaletteWe all love a good multi-tasking makeup palette, but imagine one where you get to call the shots!!Whether you’re creating an everyday look, a look for nights or going for the perfect travel collection, with the ELES Custom Palette you get to choose your perfect shades! There are four empty face, blush and eyeshadow slots for you to customize. And the soft, powder formulas deliver rich, velvety, blendable colour that lasts. Also with the great colour collection, your options are limitless. The perfect five-minute makeup palette I say!
The makeup product that will transform your skin in seconds
by Jo Boyden
on Jun 10 2021
We are all on the quest for those multi-tasking miracle products, you know the ones that take minimal effort on your part but can transform your skin in next to no time? After all, in the fast-paced world we live in, who really has time daily to follow those 8-step skin radiance routines the gen Y You Tubers swear by, in the hope of achieving the perfect complexion? And how long does it REALLY take them to master by the way?Well imagine your bronzer, highlighter and foundation powder combined into one clever compact that you can simply swipe all over for your healthiest, natural looking glow!The ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light is just that! A palette of gorgeous glowing warm tones that acts like a photo filter on your skin, subtle enough for daily wear, yet gives you that truly “lit from within glow” in seconds.The microfine powder’s jet milled pigments bring a soft-focus finish for a blurring effect over imperfections and fine lines. Incredibly light, it never gets chalky, weighs down the skin or even looks like your wearing powder, yet keeps any shine at bay. And all you have to do is apply your morning skincare, then simply brush a light layer all over your face with a makeup brush and watch your skin truly transform. What’s more, for the month of June, when you purchase this outstanding powder, you’ll receive the ELES Duo Fibre Brush for FREE. After all how you apply a product can sometimes be just as important at the product itself!
7 foundation mistakes that are making you look older and how to avoid them
by Jo Boyden
on May 26 2021
All hail foundation! “The” makeup staple the majority of us can’t live without, and the one product that has the ability to cover redness, hide imperfections and smooth out skin texture, making way for a truly flawless complexion, even when we are having a “bad skin” day! But are we applying our foundation correctly? Are we using the right one for our skin type? After all applying foundation incorrectly or simply opting for the wrong base for our particular needs can be detrimental and actually add years to our skin! Well fear not! WE are here to help! Read on for the top 7 foundation mistakes you could be making and how to avoid them!Mistake No. 1: Not moisturising before applying your foundationHydrated skin is key to creating the perfect smooth surface for your foundation. If your skin is dehydrated it can have an adverse effect on your foundation’s appearance and make skin appear dull, dry and flaky too!Solution;Both your morning and evening skincare routine, no matter how busy you are, should include a good nourishing serum and anti-ageing moisturiser. Try products formulated with marine collagen and hyaluronic acid, two anti-ageing wonder ingredients. Just be sure not to overload your skin with product or overstimulate the sebum glands as producing excess oil can cause foundation to slide off your skin revealing what might be a less than desired complexion.Try; Two BC best-sellers - Pevonia Hyalouric Acid Hydra Serum and Pevonia Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream.Mistake No. 2: Using thick foundation formulationsThere is this pretence that as we age, we should opt for thicker foundation to cover our imperfections but actually when you use a full-coverage foundation or are too heavy-handed with your application, the makeup settles into the wrinkles, pronouncing them even more!Solution;Remember quality over quantity! Steer clear of the thick, full coverage foundation, instead opt for light, sheer bases that can be buildable, this way you can focus on areas that need that extra coverage.Try; ELES Cosmetics best-seller and multi-tasking wonder cream ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30. It literally primes, tints, nourishes, evens out skin tone, and helps to strengthen and protect skin on contact, Genius! Mistake No. 3: Overloading on powder foundation Face powder, when used correctly and frugally can be a fantastic makeup staple, however, no matter your skin type, too much face powder can actually age you. That’s right, it can, not only magnify fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them, but also accentuate pores, flatten the complexion, as well as dull and clog your skin!Solution;If you can’t give up the powder (I hear you!) try switching to a breathable, sheer translucent powder or better still a mineral-based one and use it sparingly and carefully – on your t-zone, or for quick touch-up’s.Try; ELES’s Mineral Powder Foundation. I’ve been obsessed with this product for years! Mistake No. 4: Applying your foundation with the wrong toolsThe key to natural-looking makeup lies in mastering the art of blending. Foundation that isn’t blended well can look heavy and imperfect.Solution;Get yourself armed with a few good brushes and a Beauty Blender, these tools will stand you in good stead and the beauty blender will enable you to reach every contour of your face. It is meant to be used damp, allowing for a flawless application and ensuring that foundation never looks heavy!Try; ELES Pro-Blender Sponge Mistake No. 5: Testing foundation shades on the back of your handYes, many do this but are they walking away with the correct shade for their complexion? No one wants a foundation to be too light so they look ghostly, or too dark so they look like they’ve spent too long in the sun!Solution;The back of your hands tends to be darker than the skin on your face so it’s best to trial a few shades on both your jawline and neck. Just remember though your face tends to get much more sun exposure than your neck so you really want to find a foundation shade that matches both areas when blended into the skin. Mistake No. 6: Selecting a cool skin base that is wrong for your skin toneMany foundations come in warm AND cool tones and choosing the wrong one for your skin can be detrimental.Solution;Opt for warmer tones as you get older that help counteract complexion pinkness that comes with thinning of the skin and exposure of fine capillaries. Warmer tones also conceal shadows better which means you need less concealer. Or give a CC Cream a go. Also known as colour correctors, they serve multiple purposes including disguising sallowness and imperfections such as dark spots and redness common with skin ageing.Try; The ELES Luminous CC Cream SPF 20. It’s a lightweight, oil-free, colour correcting cream with broad spectrum protection and demi-matte finish. And while it’s technically not a foundation, the full coverage pigments adapt to individual skin tones “cancelling” redness—be it from rosacea, pimples, irritation, you name it, while skin nourishing and brightening ingredients help even tone, diminish imperfections and maintain a healthy, youthful complexion. Mistake No. 7: You’re using the wrong foundation formula for your skin typeFrom mineral to traditional formulations, matte foundation to tinted moisturiser, oil-free to liquid, powder to stick and more, there are so many foundation formulations on the market so it can be tricky to know which is the right one for you! But knowing is key to creating the perfect base!Solution;Check out one of our latest blogs. It gives you the lowdown on each foundation type and which one will be best for your skin type and concern.
The best cleanser for your skin and why you need it now
by Jo Boyden
on May 21 2021
We all know it – cleansing is the first AND most important stage of any skincare routine. After all, if we don’t cleanse away the day's makeup and grime, how is our beloved moisturiser supposed to penetrate our skin for optimum benefit? And then there is the problem of clogged pores resulting in pesky pimples and acne too!
So we’ve established that cleansing is a necessity, but are we doing it right? While the actual process of cleansing may seem simple, with so many options, choosing the right cleanser for your skin isn’t always as straightforward!
There are foam cleansers, oil cleansers, balm cleansers, cream cleansers, cleansing lotions, and micellar water! And each type of cleanser works slightly differently and is targeted towards specific skin types and concerns! Did you know certain formulations are better for sensitive skin while others are targeted to be real acne fighters? Well, we are here to dish the dirt by breaking down the 6 main cleansing categories. After all, finding the right cleanser for your specific skin’s needs can be a real game changer, I am a testament to that!
Foaming Cleansers
Foaming cleansers create a foamy lather (hence the name), and are ideal for removing oil, layers of makeup, and even hard-to-wash-off product. They are designed to deep clean the skin by getting rid of excess oil and sebum as well as work to effectively unclog pores, helping to keep your skin clean and refreshed. As they foam, they draw out oil and as a result can be a little on the drying side, though some are formulated with oils or emollients to provide a more moisturising experience.
Who are they for?
In general, foaming cleansers are great for mature, oily and acne-prone skin, specifically because of their pore penetrating capabilities. If you want to get rid of acne or excess oil/sebum, you need a cleanser that can go deep in your pores and get rid of the debris without too much effort.
Also perfect for those that love to use a “foaming” type cleanser and like to wash off with water.
Try: Pevonia Micro Retinol Foaming Cleanser. It thoroughly cleanses, brightens and smooths skin with the added benefit of anti-ageing superstars retinol and hyaluronic acid. Perfect for those with advanced signs of ageing, sun damage, uneven skin tone and dark spots. Not recommended however for sensitive skin.
“How much do I love this! I think this has guzumped my present foaming cleanser! Fresh, firming yet doesn't feel like your skin is too tight.” Leah
Gel Cleansers
Gel cleansers have a very different texture from the light and airy one of a traditional foaming cleanser, instead, they have a thicker, gel consistency which provides a small amount of foam (if any) when mixed with water, and a milder, lighter cleansing experience. However, the milder cleanse doesn’t mean it’s inefficient! Quite the contrary. It simply means it cleans out the skin and pores, however not quite as deeply as a foaming cleanser but as a result does so without leaving the skin feeling stripped.
Who are they for?
They are ideal for normal to combination/oily skin.
Try: Pevonia’s Phyto Gel Cleanser. It’s lightweight gel to foaming formulation which gently but deeply cleanses the skin and regulates excess oiliness without causing dryness that many gel or foaming cleansers can.
“The best cleanser! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! I love the way my skin felt after the first time I used it. I have sensitive acne-prone skin and this cleanser works like a dream!” Dionne
Cream Cleansers
Cream Cleansers are typically gentler on the skin than any other cleansers, are usually thicker and creamy and offer deep moisturising as they contain moisturising ingredients. Skin is cleansed gently without stripping the skin’s natural oils and therefore won’t cause dryness as a result.
Who are they for?
These cleansers are best for those with sensitive or dry skin as they cleanse the skin but leave it feeling calm, comfortable and softened. Also recommended for normal skin types.
Try: Phytomer Doux Visage Velvet Cleansing Cream. This ultra-gentle and hydrating cleansing cream not only gently and effectively removes dirt, oil and makeup without drying skin, but will also soften and brighten your complexion after the very first application.
“Fantastic cleansing cream. I've used this for years and I love it. I have sensitive skin and have to be careful of what I use. This works wonderfully and I've never had an issue. Cleans gently without stripping face of moisture. Highly recommend.” Kate
Micellar Water
Micellar water is a water-based, non-soap cleanser. When oil and dirt is mixed with a surfactant (cleansing agent), the surfactant molecules arrange themselves into tiny clusters called micelles.
Essentially, it's oil suspended in a water-like cleanser that helps to remove make-up and dirt more easily than a regular cleanser.
Who are they for?
This type of cleanser is best for sensitive or dry skin.
Try: Vie Collection Micellar Water. It’s a gentle cleanser which purifies, conditions and effectively removes makeup in one easy step. Skin is calm cleansed and revitalized.
“I love that I can clean and moisturize my face in one step, I don't have to compromise, An efficient cleanser while hydrating my skin.” Millie
Cleansing Lotions
Cleansing lotions, like your traditional cleansers are formulated to remove impurities, makeup and pollution from skin, thereby allowing it to breathe. These lotions provide the most effective way to purify the skin and improve its overall health, shine and appearance. You can either use a cleansing lotion alone as your cleaner or as a next step after cleansing skin for a double cleanse and thoroughly clean, refreshed skin.
Who are they for?
All skin types. Anyone who loves to double cleanse.
Try: Phytomer Rose Visage Toning Cleansing Lotion. An all-in-one makeup remover and toner. Quick, effective, pleasant to use. Alcohol-free and infinitely gentle, this lotion removes makeup and tones without leaving an oily film. The skin is left velvety clean.
“This is fantastic, I use it to clean my entire face including removing my mascara. It removes any residual makeup or sweat from my skin & does not irritate my sensitive skin. Love it, can't lie without this.” Lauren
Cleansing Oils
Cleansing Oils are another great way to remove makeup and grime from the skin. They work on an ‘oil attracts oil’ basis, absorbing impurities while nourishing your complexion.
When they are massaged into the skin, the 'good' oils in the cleanser work to dissolve any 'bad' oils that build up on the skin's surface. The cleansing oil binds to these impurities, which are then drawn out and washed away with water. Skin is then replenished with clean, nourishing oils that help balance the skin’s natural oils leaving it soft and moisturised.
Cleansing oils are great for removing stubborn or waterproof makeup and suitable for all skin types since they gentle on the skin, are formulated with nourishing ingredients and designed to be rinseable with water so therefore not leave any oily residue.
Try: ELES Transformation Cleansing Oil. It quite literally melts away makeup and impurities without stripping moisture. When combined with water the oil transforms to a milky white formula that feels gentle on the face and helps maintain a balanced, hydrated and smoothed complexion.
“Leaves skin feeling really clean. Takes makeup off easy with just one application. Great product!” Marise
Triple-duty cleansers
And finally there is a new cleanser taking centre stage. Hybrid cleansers which offer the combination of gel, oil and foam!
Try: We love Pevonia’s NEW CleanRefresh Foaming Oil Cleanser. It’s a truly innovative, triple duty oil cleanser with a gel like consistency which features an advanced lipid-rich, alcohol-free, soap-free exclusive formula which transforms into a luscious, foaming cleanser on application (when mixed with water). It acts like a super magnet entrapping pollutants, impurities and bacteria to leave skin radiantly refreshed, soft and supple after every application.
Who is it for?
This cleansing wonder is suitable for all skin types, but especially great for those suffering from dry skin because of its perfect blend of foaming surfactants, skin-friendly oils and soothing, nourishing ingredients.
“I recently started using this cleanser and now I am a complete convert and will never look back. I LOVE it. I thoroughly enjoy the cleansing experience it brings as well as the amazing results after only a few applications. Beautifully cleansed, clear, smooth and healthy-looking skin every day! Yay!” Jo
BB, CC, DD Cream. What do these creams actually do and which is right for you?
by Jo Boyden
on May 13 2021
Beauty Balm, Colour Corrector or Daily Defence Cream? We’ve all heard of them, there is a lot of hype surrounding them but what exactly is the difference between these three cult beauty buys and most importantly, which one will be best for your skin? Well read on as we bring you the inside scoop on these skincare/makeup hybrids and reveal why you need at least one of them in your life!We’ve already told you all about the infamous BB, the multi-tasking wonder cream which triples as your primer, foundation and SPF in one. But how exactly do they differ from your CC and DD? CC CreamOffering more coverage than a BB Cream but in a light/sheer formula, CC Creams, also known as colour correctors, serve multiple purposes including disguising sallowness and imperfections such as dark spots and redness.Who’s it for?Ideal for anyone, but if you’re acne-prone, have dull skin, dark spots or suffer from facial redness CC Cream is the one for you.We loveThe Phytomer Skin Perfecting CC Cream SPF20 is a game changer! It’s a lightweight, colour correcting cream with broad spectrum sun protection that combines the performance of a professional moisturiser with makeup to effectively nourish skin, smooth pores and fine lines while concealing imperfections!The ultra-natural finish truly enhances and brightens the complexion while the skin nourishing formula relieves dryness and soothes inflammation.From the first application, skin flaws are softened, the complexion is even and the skin is literally enhanced. Within one month, skin is naturally even, bright and perfectly hydrated. Also this outstanding CC Cream comes in two shades – light for those with a lighter skin tone, and medium-deep for tanned, olive and dark skin tonesDD CreamDD or Daily Defence Cream, is also known as your “double duty” cream. A mix of both BB and CC, DD Creams basically include the skincare benefits of a BB Cream and the coverage benefits of a CC, with the primary focus being on anti-ageing.Designed to prime, perfect and protect both instantly and over time, these creams are your do it all cream! They will balance your complexion as well as protect even the most sensitive of skin types for healthy skin that glows.Who’s it forIf you are looking for a tinted cream that’ll reduce the appearance of wrinkles, then DD should be your go-to.We lovePevonia’s YouthRenew Tinted Cream SPF 30. Lightweight, age-defying, hydrating, pore refining and brightening, it really is the ultimate 5-in-1 DD cream!It delivers instant radiance to the skin while it’s subtle natural tint visibly reduces the appearance of enlarged pores for a flawless complexion. The added benefits of Collagen, Vitamin C and Green Olive Extracts repair fine line and wrinkles.In a nutshellBB Creams provide the coverage of a tinted foundation (although buildable) with the hydrating and anti-ageing properties of a moisturiser, and the added bonus of SPF.CC Creams have the ability to even out skin tone as well as neutralise redness and sallowness, with the added benefits of skin brightening and hydration.Alongside the BB’s skincare benefits and CC’s colour correcting, DD Creams have the added benefit of combatting fine lines and wrinkles over time. Think of them as the protector, their ingredients focus on defending skin from environmental aggressors like pollution resulting in glowing, healthier skin.
The best way to protect your skin from blue light damage
by Jo Boyden
on May 07 2021
Blue light damage, we’ve all heard if it, I’ve personally blogged about it, but what’s the best bet for protecting our skin from it?First, to recap. Blue light damage IS a problem. It’s caused by our digital devices (as well as the sun) and having read a scary statistic the other day – the average person in their lifetime will spend 17 years on their phone – it’s something we need to take seriously.Blue light from electronics is linked to a number of issues, from digital eye damage, to sleep deprivation (and lack of sleep never did anyone any good) and then there is the adverse effect it has on our skin! Why spend all that time, energy and money on skincare only to have the good undone by our devices? As quickly as a collagen cream can replenish our skin and soften fine lines and wrinkles, overexposure to “screen time” can actually prompt the formation of free radicals which break down collagen causing fine lines and wrinkles! And that’s not all! Excessive blue light can cause inflammation, leading to redness and dark spots, as well as hyperpigmentation, particularly in those with darker skin.Let’s face it though, we aren’t going to give up scrolling on our phone or our love of Netflix at night, nor can those of us who work, simply shutdown our laptops and say no more! But what we can do is a number of steps to help protect our skin and reduce the effects that blue light damage can cause. Look for key ingredients in your skincareLayer your products with skin protecting ingredients including iron oxide and antioxidants, they will all significantly aid in protecting your skin from too much screen time. Iron OxideLook for products with formulations that contain iron, this is because iron oxide helps neutralize and repair blue light damage. Try ELES Mineral Sheer Tint SPF 20.AntioxidantsProducts that contain antioxidants help protect against oxidative stress, which is one of the negative effects of blue light. By applying topical products containing vitamin C and E you can assist in counteracting the damaging effects of blue light. Try Medicalia C Serum with Oxyzomes which protects and infuses the antioxidant deep within our skin for maximum anti-free radical benefits and collagen-boosting effects. We also love Pevonia’s stem Cells Phyto-Elite range, rich in vitamins C, E, Marine Collagen and Retinol! It deeply repairs any damage caused to the skin, effectively minimising the most common signs of premature ageing.Wear a BB CreamIn the same way that physical sunscreens can help act as a barrier for the skin against blue light, so can products that contain light-reflecting pigment, like BB cream, which has been proven to reduce the effects of blue light by 80 per cent. Luminous skin and (partial) blue light protection in one! Our favourite and one of BC’s best-sellers is the ELES Age-Defying BB Cream 30. It is your multi-tasking wonder cream, because this product simply put does it all! It’s your moisturiser, primer, foundation and SPF in one! Don’t forgo your SPF, everIt’s important to protect our skin in the same way we would from the sun, so wearing an SPF daily year-round is a must (you should be doing this anyway!)Sunscreens formulated with iron oxides provide enhanced protection against blue light, especially when combined with zinc oxide. A new favourite of the team at BC is Medicalia’s new Sunscreen SPF 30 with Blue Light Shield. A true triple threat, it contains an exclusive mineral formula including both zinc and iron oxides to shield skin from harmful sun rays, blue light and pollution! It delivers all-natural protection with the addition of zinc oxide which acts to form a protective seal over the skin to reflect blue light away. It rubs into skin seamlessly without leaving a white cast or greasy residue behind. And even better, the formula is reef-safe and works for all skin types and tones. So worth the investment in my books! Protect your eyes with a good eye creamBlue light harms the delicate skin around your eyes so an eye cream is essential. This is because eye creams are different to your daily moisturisers and serums as they are formulated with specific active ingredients to nurture and repair the fragile eye area – the thinnest layer of skin on our entire bodies and up to 1/10 thinner than the rest of the skin on our face! Their main objective is to target specific eye concerns – crow’s feet, under eye bags and dark circles, delivering brightening and anti-ageing ingredients in a mild, gentle and safe dose.We highly recommend Vie Collection Chrono Eyes Puffiness – Dark Circles Wrinkle Cream. Enriched with the best antioxidants and skin-nourishing ingredients including; encapsulated high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, Botox-like peptides, fatty acids, vitamin c and vitamin B3, this silky cream is inspired by eye-rejuvenating Botox and hyaluronic acid injections to effectively fight signs of ageing and fatigue. Suitable for everyone even those with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.There are also other ways you can aid your skin including, avoiding screen time an hour before bed, eating a well-rounded diet rich in anti-oxidant and fatty-acid foods and purchasing blue light blockers and filters, you just need to make sure you start incorporating all these factors into your daily routine!
The BB Cream that will really benefit your skin
by Jo Boyden
on May 06 2021
BB Cream, beauty balm, blemish balm…We’ve all heard of the infamous BB Cream, right? But do we really understand its benefits or why we should invest in one for that matter? Well, I’m here to give you the low down on this beauty multi-tasker and how it can (and will!) totally transform your skin. So what exactly is a BB Cream?In a nutshell, BB creams are your 3-in-one foundation. They offer all the benefits of a light-to-medium foundation (and sometimes fuller-coverage as well) in a speedier formula that nourishes, corrects, and protects your skin too! Its smoother texture also allows BB Cream to function as a primer by evening out skin tone for flawless makeup application.Is a BB Cream for me?If you’re a busy mum on the go like me, you’re simply looking to simplify the products in your morning routine, or for days when you want a little coverage but don’t have time to apply a full face of makeup, then a BB Cream is a must. Formulated with skincare benefits that include hydration, anti-ageing properties, and SPF protection, BB Creams are a quick and easy way to effectively even out your skin tone without caking on the makeup!Problem is, with so many on the market, which is the right one for you?Your moisturiser, primer, sunscreen and foundation in one, the ELES Age-Defying BB cream SPF 30 is a multi-tasking makeup miracle, suitable for all skin types! A big call I know, but it’s not BC’s best-seller for nothing!This BB Cream primes, tints, nourishes, protects, blurs and evens out your skin tone for a truly, natural, flawless finish. And thanks to its skin-loving ingredients including Vitamin E, Goji berry, Squalane; its multi-mineral complex, and age defying peptides, over time it will help to promote cell health, strengthen elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore that natural glow you once donned! What’s more, you’ll feel as though you aren’t even wearing makeup, no easy feat for a foundation or any product with SPF for that matter! How do I apply it?Because BB Cream isn’t quite as thick as a traditional foundation and has the slip of a moisturiser, it’s easy to blend for a seamless finish. Using the warmth of your fingers, or a damp beauty sponge if you’d prefer, blend until it melts into skin to achieve a smooth even finish.The ELES Age-Defying BB Cream 30 can be applied alone as your moisturiser, primer and foundation in one or after your moisturiser if your skin if feeling a little parched. Skin caring and skin perfecting in one simple step! And who doesn’t want instantly healthy even skin with a sheer luminous tint!
Take your skin to the next level with team BC’s best beauty buys
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 29 2021
Here at Beauty Collective, we are very privileged to be surrounded by the best of the best when it comes to beauty. Collectively our panel of experts, as well as our head office team, have tried and tested hundreds of skincare and makeup products over the years, but these are the 7 favourites that we all agree to stand out from the rest of the pack, and take it from me, if a product has made it onto this list, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s a gold star beauty buy, here is why; Pevonia “C” ComplexInstantly brighter, dewier skin? Who doesn’t want that right? Well this product certainly delivers! For the ultimate skin brightening boost, this product is a must. Superhero glow-getter Vitamin C comes together with hydrating and anti-ageing powerhouse hyaluronic acid to deeply nourish and correct photo-damage! The citrus scent is simply heavenly, and it feels amazingly refreshing on application! But more importantly, the results speak for themselves! Radiant looking skin instantaneously. ELES BB CreamI’m personally not one for foundations because I find them a little OTT for my skin, but this BB Cream is an everyday favourite of mine and I would say for the majority of girls at BC. I LOVE that it is quite literally a multi-tasking wonder cream! It primes, tints, nourishes, protects (thanks to its SPF of 30) and evens out skin tone for a truly natural, flawless finish, plus it feels like you aren’t wearing anything, no easy feat for makeup with SPF that’s for sure! So if you are a busy mum on the go like me, this product is one you should seriously consider too! Pevonia Age Correction Marine Collagen CreamMy personal absolute can’t live without product and the no. 1 favourite of many here too, the Marine Collagen Cream isn’t Pevonia’s global bestseller for nothing! It’s a gorgeously rich, yet fine cream that feels amazing on application and really does leave skin super soft, supple and like it’s had that much-needed boost of moisture, a feeling that lasts all day! I swear my 40-year-old self has less visible lines and wrinkles thanks to this superstar cream! Pevonia Dry Oil Body MoisturiserFor a little extra energy and a spring in your step, try indulging your body in the numerous benefits of this botanically infused body oil!Absolutely luscious it quite literally indulges skin in aromatic glory for want of a better word! It’s a dry oil without being oily or greasy (which is a no no from me!) and immediately absorbs into skin, replenishing and nourishing every inch! After using it (it’s great to use after stepping out of the shower) I promise your body will have never felt so silky-soft! Oh, and the smell is divine too! Pevonia Vitaminic ConcentrateWe all LOVE this product and for very good reason. It’s a radical dry skin saviour and especially at this time of year with the change in seasons skin can be dry, sensitive and lacklustre. I personally can’t get enough of it at night! It is soothing and silky and has the most amazing mandarin aroma. Yes it’s an oil but it’s fast absorbing so you know it’s doing good stuff to your skin, and it combats dehydration instantaneously by locking in that much needed moisture, so simply put you’ll wake up to smooth, supple and seriously glowy skin every morning, I can vouch for that!Pevonia Micro Retinol CreamAside from Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C, Retinol has long been worshipped as the hero ingredient in the fight against ageing and we know why! A derivative of Vitamin A, this ‘holy grail’ of ingredients offers a multitude of benefits from reducing the appearance of fine lines and preventing wrinkles, to correcting hyperpigmentation and photo ageing, reducing large pores and clearing acne to speeding cell turning over and making cells function like that of a child!! Crazy right? With all this in mind, our entire team at BC were up for the challenge of trialling Pevonia’s Micro Retinol Cream but were sure to do so by slow introduction as retinol if applied topically too much too fast can have an adverse effect.The cream is beautiful! So light in texture, non-greasy and with a subtle scent. We collectively noticed changes in our skin from smoothing of lines and wrinkles, to skin softening, improvement in firmness and reduced in pore size as well as pigmentation! What more could we want? I’ve personally tried retinol-based products before but had found them irritating and a little unpleasant, not with this product! After weeks of using it at night my skin appears so much more luminous, refined and visibly hydrated too! Phytomer Oligomer Well Being Sensation Essential Mineral Relaxing BathNothing relieves stress and induces relaxation quite like an indulgent bubble bath, better still a bath laced with the remineralizing magical properties of the sea! Phytomer’s Oligomer Well being Sensation Essential Mineral Relaxing Bath, enriched with Oligomer – a partially sodium reduced seawater concentrate that contains all of the remineralizing properties of seawater – is one of those little gems we all need in our lives. You feel like you could quite literally float away as it evokes a feeling of pure weightlessness as all pent-up tension slips away. Pure bliss. From the best in professional skincare to makeup mast-haves, these are the beauty heroes the team at BC can’t get enough of.
The 5 best-selling makeup must-haves on BC and why you need them
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 28 2021
Who doesn’t love makeup? It’s fun, fabulous and can bring out that inner artist you didn’t know you had! It can boost your mood, mindset and confidence and has the ability to totally transform your complexion! (some makeup can even improve your skin thanks to its skin nurturing ingredients too.)Having worked at BC, (and in the cosmetics industry for that matter), for many a year, I have to admit I’m very blessed to have been able to try copious amounts of makeup in my time! But, out of the many, I have a few go-to products I simply can’t live without, the ones I go back to time and time again. You know that miracle mascara which turns your non-existent lashes into full, flirtatious lashes? My favourite foundation which really does leave my skin looking fresh and flawless every day and my super convenient compact which lives in my handbag for those urgent touch-ups. We all have our makeup must-haves and our BC customers are no different. Below we’ve put together Beauty Collective’s top 5 performing makeup products, our best-sellers, and there is a very good reason why our customers keep buying these ELES essentials, so read on and see what they are. A few of my absolute favourites are on the list too! ELES Mineral Liquid Powder Mineral FoundationIf you haven’t tried this foundation, you should now! It really will become your go-to solution for achieving that perfect complexion we all seek.Not only is it formulated with skin-loving ingredients including vitamins a, c and e, as well as anti-inflammatory zinc, it allows skin to ‘breath freely, so none of that clogging up pores exacerbating or creating unwanted skin issues which many foundations do! It contains zilch chemical ‘nasties’ such as fragrance, talc, oil or dyes, yet shields skin against age aggressors! And when applied transforms into a beautiful soft powder finish that is oh so natural!“An amazing product that I have used for years. Gives a natural flawless finish. I am the ‘Queen of Cosmetics’ and without a doubt this is the best product I’ve ever used!” Catherine ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30BB Creams or otherwise known as beauty balms, are infused with antioxidants, brightening agents, acids, broad-spectrum SPF to treat the skin while giving it a fresh, even glow, and let me tell you this BB Cream is no exception! Multi-faceted it really packs a punch as it quite literally primes, tints, nourishes, protects, evens out skin tone, and helps to strengthen skin on contact. So if you are a busy mum on the go like me, this is for you! It’s your sunscreen, primer, and foundation in one! Genius!“I have used a few BB Creams before and this one by ELES is this is by far the best. A little goes a long way and the coverage is great. I wear it as a foundation and it looks really natural. I love it!” Jennifer Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightIf you are after a little radiance in your life, try this for size! The soft baked powder provides skin with that hint of a natural sun-kissed glow without having to use a heavy bronzer and thanks to its jet-milled pigments it creates a beautifully luminous airbrushed effect every time!“When you need to look like you always have a great night sleep and eat all the right things….this will make you look like you do. Fresh, bright and perky but no one will realise because it is so natural! I call this the working mum’s secret weapon.” Lisa Precision Brow PencilCreating the perfect brows can completely transform your face and make you look 10 years younger too,! but you need to know how.Just as the hair on our heads can thin with age, so do our eyebrows, so to look younger, we want to create instantly fake fullness and to do this we need to fill them in and shape them with the perfect brow pencil. Cue ELES Precision Brow Pencil. This double ended brow tool (one end pencil, one end grooming brush) offers controlled brow filling and lining to quickly and effortlessly impart long-lasting fuller, natural looking brows!“Can’t live without it. The most natural looking brow pencil on the market and it stays put all day! So easy to apply too.” Sophie ELES Lip StainIf you’re constantly on the quest for that long-lasting lippie that’ll not only go the distance (even after food, drink and kisses) but look and feel fabulous too, give this a try! You won’t be disappointed! This next generation lip colour (in between a gloss and a lipstick!) moisturisers and provides a vibrant, full-coverage lip stain without feeling heavy, sticky or tacky!“This stuff really works! If you are after natural looking plump lips that last the distance, this should be your go-to. Don’t get me wrong I love my lipstick but it disappears after the first sight of food, not this Lip stain! It says put all day and I love the way it feels on my lips too!” Jojo
From me to…me. 5 beauty treats you’ll love this Mother’s Day
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 23 2021
While we should show our love and appreciation for our amazing mums year round, I have to admit I do love a dedicated day to buy that special something for mum, and while I’m spending my pennies on her, why not make it into a day to gift and indulge myself too? Cheeky maybe but I’m guessing my 5 and 8 year olds aren’t going to know what mummy might love this Mother’s day! And whether you are a mum or not, we all deserve to pamper ourselves from time to time right?So whether you are on the quest for that perfect gift for your mum, looking for ideas to give to your hubby, or simply wanting to spoil yourself, because why not? It’s time to forget the flowers, friends and copious amounts of chocolate (because hey if you’re like me, you might still have enough to feed an army after Easter! Eek) this year why not spend your hard earned money on makeup and skincare treats that’ll not only last longer than a few days but will make you and your mum feel fabulous too! And what woman doesn’t love a good beauty buy! Phytomer Oligomer Well Being Sensation Essential Mineral Relaxing Bath Nothing induces relaxation at-home quite like an indulgent remineralizing bath. Coupled with a little music to set the mood and a candle here and there it could be said to be nearly as good as a pamper session at your favourite spa! We are loving Phytomer’s Oligomer Well Being Sensation Essential Mineral Relaxing Bath. This little gem really does create an unparalleled stress-relief experience. It’s lightly foaming and enriched with Oligomer – a partially sodium-reduced seawater concentrate that contains all of the remineralizing properties of seawater –to strengthen and restore the skin and release all pent-up tension. I need me one of these baths’ stat! Phytomer Marine Mist Scented Water with Oligomer This totally indulgent marine mist is the perfect spritz to cover your body from head to toe when you’ve stepped out of your relaxing remineralizing bath (or after a shower for that matter!) It’s an all-purpose skincare mist that quite literally soothes the mind and the senses for a moment of pure calm and relaxation, whilst showering your body in all the beautifying benefits of the sea, thanks to Oligomer, Phytomer’s emblematic seawater concentrate. Rich in natural ingredients it hydrates, brightens, and recharges skin cells. Usually reserved exclusively for the spas at the start of each Phytomer treatment, it’s available in retail for a limited time only and comes presented in a gorgeous blue Phytomer pouch! Yes, please! Pevonia Enzymo-Spherides Peeling Cream If no one else is going to treat you, why not treat yourself to an at-home peel. It’ll do wonders for your skin I promise. And no don’t let the word ‘peel’ put you off! Pevonia’s Enzymo-Spherides Peeling Cream combines natural fruit pineapple and papaya enzymes to eliminate impurities, blackheads, dead cells and toxins revealing silky soft, smooth and glowing Acids skin. You can thank me later! ELES Custom Palette As a busy mum the words makeup palette is music to my ears! Containing a slot for bronzer, blush and two eye shades, this super convenient compact is the perfect way to add subtle colour and radiance to your everyday look, but it’s also great for little touch-ups when on the go! What’s better with the ELES Custom Palette, YOU call all the shots. Whether you’re creating an everyday look, a look for nights or going for the perfect travel collection, this palette will be your go-to. Pevonia Home Facial Gift Set Everything you need to deep cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate your skin, this gift set is the holy grail of pampering and skin perfection in one! Containing four of Pevonia’s best-selling products; Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, Hydrating Cleanser, Hydration Lotion and Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream, and samples of three skin brightening and perfecting masks; Collagen, Green Apple and Charcoal, each product will ensure you feel truly indulged while donning excellent results after every application and who doesn’t want soft, glowing skin every day of the week?
Suffering from rosacea? 4 essential products for covering up facial redness fast
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 22 2021
If you have rosacea and constantly fret over your facial redness, you are likely to be on the forever quest for the best redness reducing skincare, and makeup products too!Since we’ve already advised of our favourite rosacea fighting skincare collection, it’s now time to talk makeup! While skin redness can be caused by a number of factors, the good news is it can be covered up! You just need to know how and with what, since falling victim to poor product choices will only result in exacerbating sensitive skin conditions. Understanding what key ingredients to look out for, and opting for mineral makeup where you can, is a must!So read on to understand what to look for, as well as our top 4 product picks for concealing rosacea redness. We promise they will not only give you back your confidence, but they’ll actually benefit your skin and help calm symptoms too! What to look for; Products with fewer ingredients Generally speaking, the simpler the ingredient list, the better, as less ingredients to irritate your already stressed skin! Products that are alcohol free, paraben free and fragrance free! Just as you would with your skincare, make sure you steer clear of makeup containing these ingredients, in fact the three most common irritants there are! Products containing calming and repairing ingredients We are very fortunate today that makeup formulations can include skincare ingredients that can help calm, soothe, and correct skin! Look for products that include ingredients such as aloe, chamomile, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and vitamin e. Products that are breathable Make sure you select products that are ‘breathable’ meaning they’ll allow your skin to still breath and enhance your complexion, instead of simply clogging up pores which will only irritate skin even more. Mineral makeup will be your best friend. Our top picks; Best Primer: ELES RETEXTURE CRÈME FACE PRIMERUsing a primer will create a smooth foundation for your makeup while ensuring it stays in place all day, and we don’t be wanting our foundation sliding off our face and revealing its redness now do we! It’ll also create a barrier between your skin and your makeup preventing any further irritation.Our go-to primer for all skin types even those with seriously sensitive skin is the ELES Retexture Crème Face Primer. It’s a deeply soothing liquid-cream made with Aloe Vera leaf extract, Roman Chamomile, Witch Hazel, Calendula, Mallow Flower and Centaurea Cyanus Flower extract, which leaves skin with the smoothest sensation. It soothes, hydrates, retexturizes and refines, so foundation applies effortlessly and endures impeccably for hours longer.Best full coverage: ELES LIQUID POWDER MINERAL FOUNDATION If you haven’t tried this foundation before, I highly recommend you do! It’s ELES Cosmetics's no. 1 best-seller and for very good reason! It quite literally glides onto skin effortlessly, thanks to its silky liquid formulation, yet sets to a soft powder finish which lasts all day. It looks totally natural on application yet covers up facial redness and blemishes beautifully, what’s more it’s breathable which means it won’t clog pores, provides the sunscreen and antioxidant protection that ultrasensitive skin needs, and is formulated with skin-loving ingredients which means it not only conceals skin but protects it throughout the day too! Genius! Best sheer coverage: ELES MINERAL POWDER FOUNDATION As a sufferer of want for a better word ‘flushed skin’ I personally LOVE the best-selling ELES Mineral Powder Foundation! It’s one of my all-time favourites. It’s one of the most natural-looking, if not THE most natural-looking foundations I have in fact ever tried and being in the industry for 20 years I’ve tried many! It contains zero chemical nasties, instead, it’s packed with skin loving ingredients including vitamins A & E, can be used as a buildable foundation from natural sheer to polished opaque (dependant on what you need) and it’s highly compatible with common skin sensitivities, working wonders at camouflaging facial redness while protecting skin against ultraviolet damage too! Best overall product: ELES LUMINOUS CC CREAM 20 Rather than covering up your redness with a thick layer of concealer followed by foundation, you can always opt for a colour corrector which will help visually correct redness and even out skin tone. Using one with UV protection will also help shield your sensitive skin from exposure that can aggravate rosacea.The ELES Luminous CC Cream SPF 20 is a game changer! It’s a lightweight, oil-free, colour correcting cream with broad spectrum protection that really does multi-task like no other! And while it’s technically not a foundation, the full coverage pigments cover redness—be it from rosacea, pimples, irritation, you name it—so well that you very well may be able to get away without wearing any other makeup.
Love your lips – 8 tips for your best lips yet
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 31 2021
If lip filler isn’t your thing but you find you are forever on the quest for the perfect plumped lips I’m here to tell you, you can achieve the perfect pout by using a few key products and following a few simple steps. So read on and experience your best lips yet… Prep your lips Exfoliate Just as we prep our skin each morning before applying our makeup base, it’s essential to prep our lips so they don’t end up all cakey and flakey post lippie application!Creating a smooth canvas is a necessity when it comes to perfecting your pout and the best way to achieve this is to remove any dead skin cells that are subtly sitting on the surface of your lips with a lip scrub. Don’t have a lip scrub per say? No worries, a gentle face exfoliator such a Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser will do the job perfectly and means you save on the pennies too. Moisturise Next, it’s important to moisturise your lips just as you would your eyes. Moisturising is important as many lip products can be drying and our lips, like our eyes can be particularly vulnerable to showing signs of ageing. They have an especially thin outer layer which gets even thinner with each passing year thanks to a breakdown in collagen. Choosing a good lip cream can be paramount. I personally use and love Pevonia’s Lip Renew Plump and De-Age treatment. Its name speaks volumes as it quite literally deeply moisturises, renews, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and volumizes lips! How? It is rich in powerhouse, anti-ageing duo Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, as well as sesamin from sesamum indicum seed extract – the latest hero ingredient proven to plump the lips with natural lipo-filling action form dramatic results. Simply apply and massage a small quantity on your lips and around your lip contour and laugher lines morning (and night.) Hydrate and set Finish by applying lip balm to lips and let it sit for a few minutes to soak in. After all, you don’t want your lipstick literally sliding off minutes after application.Now lips will be silky smooth and lipstick ready, no dry or flaky spots in sight. Don’t forget to line those lipsDon’t wear lipliner? You should now. Lip liner is to lipstick what a primer is to foundation, it’ll make your lipstick last longer as well as look better too!As we age our lips start to thin and lose their colour. Lip liners will not only define and shape your lips, they act as primers to boost the colour and longevity of your lipstick too. Simply line the lips or draw it on all over your lips before your lipstick and you can turn virtually any lipstick into a “longwear” formula. Try ELES Gel Lipliner for ultimate waterproof, transfer-proof, long-lasting staying power! The formula helps lipstick adhere to your lips better without any bleeding or featuring.If you have thin lips, using a lipliner will enable you to overline your lips just a little which will add both shape and fullness. You want to overline on the cupid’s bow and the fullest part of your bottom lips (but never overline the corners). Begin by applying a fine line just outside your natural lip line starting from the centre of your lips and working out to the corners keeping it light and fine, then blend it inwards.N.B If you find (like me) that once you’ve worn in a brand new lipliner it’s next to impossible to get that perfectly sharp tip again no matter how much you sharpen it! Well all is not lost! Instead of using it straight out of your makeup bag simply pop it in the fridge overnight or even for a matter of minutes and when it comes time to apply your lip liner should be hard enough to create those perfectly lined lips we all want!Finish with a lipstick or lip tint a similar shade to your natural lip colour. Dark lipstick will only make thin lips look thinner.We LOVE the new ELES Velvet Satin Lipsticks. 12 stunning chic and sophisticated shades with subtle satin finish and formulated with a lip-loving blend of emollient oils and butters to help keep lips soft, smooth and super hydrated throughout the day.Make sure you match your lip liner to your lip colour though!Even if your lips tend to be on the paler side you should match your lip liner to the colour of your lips, not your darker (or lighter!) lipstick shade. A natural-toned liner will make it easier to correct shape (especially if your top lip is uneven or has lost definition so fades into skin) as well as add fullness. Keep lip colour in place all daySo you’ve got yourself a long wearing lipstick and you’ve applied your lipliner but after eating you find your lips aren’t looking a peachy perfect as they were at the start of the day. Blotting your lippie with a tissue, then dusting some translucent powder of top will help set the pigment without dulling your lip colour as well as making it instantly last longer not matter what your lipstick formula.Another option is to give a lip stain a go! The ELES Lip Stain imparts lips with long-lasting vibrant colour that protects the lips and stays in place for hours even after eating, drinking and kissing! Plump lips that little bit moreAfter applying and setting your chosen lippie, be sure you brush either a little shimmer eyeshadow in an ivory shade or some concealer in light to the middle of your lips. This creates a 3D effect that makes lips look fuller and no lip plumping products are required! The same goes for your lip gloss – for a little extra lip plumping apply in nude to the centre of your lips, just remember gloss is fluid so it’s not designed to wear all day. Cleanse lips as you would your faceWant to remove your lippie at the end of the day without any rubbing or pulling? Use a lip specific cleanser designed to be gentle on lips while removing stubborn long lasting lip products. Try Phytomer’s Doux Contour Eye and Lip Waterproof Makeup remover.
3 common skin concerns and how to best conceal them
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 26 2021
Whether you are prone to acne, suffer from hyperpigmentation or your skin appears forever red (thank you rosacea!), there really are genius ways to cover up your skin concerns without further aggravating the issue, you just need to know what to use and how!Don’t get me wrong, it’s imperative to fix the problem rather than simply hiding it, (cue tailored skincare), but what if I told you there are products (“skincare makeup” to be precise) that offer a solution to the seemingly never-ending battle against eg. breakouts. Makeup formulated with skin loving ingredients that’ll effectively calm and conceal your problematic complexion without exacerbating it. After all who hasn’t at some stage awoken to an outbreak of pesky pimples or skin looking ridiculously rouge thanks so a rosacea flare-up and needed that quick makeup fix?So read on to learn how to best conceal your skin dependant on your concern and relish in the results. AcneIf you suffer from acne the likelihood is your foundation could be exacerbating it. I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of hiding those flaws by slathering on foundation and the thicker the better right? But have you really thought about what foundation you are using? Could it be formulated with chemicals that will cause the skin to worsen?When it comes to acne prone skin, mineral makeup should become your best friend. Opt for mineral foundations rich in anti-inflammatory zinc! But before applying your base, using a primer first will ensure your makeup remains in place all day long, and let’s face it we don’t be wanting that makeup to slide straight off our skin a reveal those unruly blemishes right? Plus wearing a primer will create a barrier between your skin and foundation preventing it from seeping into pores creating more havoc!For blemishes and breakouts, ELES’s Pore Perfecting Face Primer is a must! It’s a light-textured oil free face primer that will firstly combat any shine you might have as it absorbs excess oil, but it also reduces the appearance of large open pores and promotes antiseptic properties to keep skin at bay!Next step is to cover up those blemishes without aggravating them. Best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation will be your go-to solution. Not only is it formulated with anti-inflammatory zinc, it allows skin to “breathe freely” whilst shielding against age aggressors. It’s free of heavy fillers and pore-clogging ingredients (phew!) and the skin-safe formula contains no chemical ‘nasties’ or potential irritants, such as fragrance, talc, oil and dyes.Sensitive or rosacea prone skinIf you have rosacea, you don’t want to overstimulate the skin, remember less is more! Less product to clog your complexion which in turn causes heat, making skin even more red and aggravated! Instead, you want to use makeup that will not only effectively conceal redness but soothe and calm the skin too!As a sufferer of want for a better word ‘flushed skin’ I personally LOVE the best-selling ELES Mineral Powder foundation! It contains zero chemical nasties, instead, it’s packed with skin loving ingredients including vitamins A & E, can be used as a buildable foundation from natural sheer to polished opaque (dependant on what you need) and it’s highly compatible with common skin sensitivities, perfectly camouflaging facial redness while protecting skin against ultraviolet damage too!Just remember when it comes to choosing your foundation shade be sure to avoid products that are too yellow. Neutral shades are best and will help reduce the redness harmoniously.Lastly, the way you apply your makeup is almost as important as the products you use too!We’ve all heard it before, touch your face with your hands and you’ll likely cause a breakout so it comes as no surprise that you might well have heard that it’s best not to use your fingers to apply your makeup since even the oil and bacteria on your fingers can irritate skin, also hand heat can add more warmth to an already warm, aggravated complexion. Instead, use a damp latex-free beauty blender! It is the least irritating way to apply your product and honestly provides the most effective results! Not only is the sponge strangely soothing on your skin, but is also so easy to clean after use and minimises the amount of bacteria that comes into contact with your skin, making it the perfect beauty tool for those suffering from sensitive complexions.Makeup brushes are another option but just beware that the brush bristles can irritate your sensitive skin, therefore opt for brush bristles made from taklon, a “green” and allergy free synthetic fibre. Its smooth synthetic fibres do not absorb or trap pigment making it easy to keep clean!HyperpigmentationYou can fight discolouration in your skin by keeping it protected with sunscreen. Sure SPF is the best way to decrease your chances of getting hyperpigmentation but for those of us who suffer from it, SPF will actually help reduce it too!Double-duty products will be your best friend. Look for foundations with sunscreen and complexion-perfecting ingredients such as vitamin A & E, zinc and titanium dioxide.We love the ELES Luminous CC Cream 20 and for very good reason!! Colour correcting and broad-spectrum protection in one, it adapts to your skin tone so it will darken and lighten as needed to blend and conceal pigmentation, while skin nourishing and brightening ingredients help balance your complexion and fight free radicals for a more even, youthful glow.
You’ve not experienced glowing skin until you’ve tried this
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 23 2021
Just as we are told to keep up our daily intake of fresh fruit and veggies, thanks to the multitude of vitamins they contain, it’s equally as important to apply vitamins topically to our skin for optimum skin health. While vitamin E helps increase nutrient levels and inflammation and vitamin A is a real wrinkle fighter, it is wonder ingredient - vitamin C that receives all the beauty buzz and for very good reason.Recommended by every beauty expert as a go-to ingredient in your beauty arsenal, this notorious glow-getter not only radially brightens skin, lessening hyperpigmentation, it also increases collagen production (which diminishes with age) and protects skin against pollution and sun damage by effectively neutralising free radicals (which can wreak havoc by harming healthy skin cells as well as promoting premature ageing – we are talking fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and more…eek!)So if you suffer from hyperpigmentation or your skin is literally lacking life and needs some serious brightening, vitamin c should be your go-to. We promise you when we say you haven’t experienced glowing skin until you have a vitamin c rich routine, and these 5 BC favourites will help you achieve just that. For those who need the perfect pick-me upPevonia Vitamin C ComplexeFor the ultimate skin brightening boost, this product is a must! Vitamin C and hydration hero hyaluronic acid, work together to quite literally drench skin with repairing antioxidants, deeply nourishing skin while correcting photo-damage. Not only does it have the most beautiful citrus aroma, when applied skin looks instantly brighter and dewier too! For those with maturing skin concernsVie Collection Vita C SolutionWe can’t recommend this skin-smoothing serum enough! It provides rapid revitalising for maturing skin, brightening and enhancing skin tone like never before with boosted (10%) vitamin C to truly promote a healthy, beautiful glow. For those with blemish-prone skinPhytomer White Lumination Brightening Serum This ultra-light serum which visibly lights up the complexion helps reduce the appearance of blemishes to achieve an even tone and skin that literally glows from within! For a flawless baseELES Cosmetics Luminous CC Cream 20The ultimate skin correcting cream, ELES’s Luminous CC not only adapts to skin tones for a flawless foundation, its skin nourishing and brightening ingredients help even tone and diminish imperfections too. It’s not one of ELES Cosmetic’s best-sellers for nothing! One for the eyes….Pevonia “C” Evolutive Eye GelIf you love the feeling of a cooling eye gel to soothe and depuff your peepers, this product is the one for you. Anti-ageing dynamo Vitamin C is the star ingredient in this eye gel. The skin saviour coupled with hyaluronic acid and Ginkgo Biloba is a sure thing for cooling tired eyes and effectively decongesting and de-puffing them in one swift application.
What’s your foundation formula? Choosing the right one for you
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 03 2021
Whether your skin is oily, prone to breakouts, sits on the more sensitive side or is simply dry, it’s important to take care of it with good skincare products as well as using the right foundation base too.From mineral to traditional formulations, matte foundation to tinted moisturiser, oil-free to liquid, powder to stick and more, there really is a foundation out there for every skin type and need, but with so many options on the market, it’s not always easy knowing which is likely the best for you! And then there’s the issue of finding the correct colour too!So whether you are looking for the best foundation to help conceal those pesky pimples, without being the cause of yet another breakout, are after a longer-lasting formula which won’t slide of your oily-prone skin in next to no time, or are simply having trouble determining what might be best for your dry, dehydrated complexion, BC have you covered.First things first though is understanding your skin type as this will dictate what’s right for you and we are here to tell you how; For dry, dehydrated and lack-lustre skinChoose a liquid, stick or tinted moisturising foundation.Liquid and sticks both tend to have a creamy texture and are formulated with ingredients that deliver moisture directly to the skin while offering great coverage too.Try: ELES Foundation Stick. It provides the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid and the weightlessness of a tinted moisturiser in a longwearing formula that delivers flawless, natural coverage! Winning.If you prefer something with a dewier finish, try ELES Mineral Sheet Tint SPF 20 For Oily skinSteer clear of foundations with a dewy finish. This is because oily skin can make the foundation appear way too shiny. Instead opt for a matte, semi-matte powder or Oil-free foundation, whether it be a liquid to powder formulation or a powder compact. They contain ingredients that absorb oil, creating a smooth, matte finish.Mineral makeup often works well on oily skin because the dry particles tend to absorb moisture and prevent shine.Try: ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation For problematic skin prone to breakouts and skin sensitivityIf you struggle with blemished or sensitive skin, you really need to navigate the ingredients in a foundation. It’s best to avoid skin irritants like alcohol and fragrance which can be found in many a foundation and opt for a mineral formula every time. These contain no chemical nasties and will allow your skin to breathe freely.Try: ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation or ELES Mineral Powder Foundation For combination skinCombination skin can be a little tricky as you don’t want to accentuate the dry patches but you need a base that will treat the extra oily spots. A mineral powder foundation will allow you to distribute the oil-absorbing makeup where you need it and less where you don’t without leaving visible lines like some foundations do.Try: ELES Mineral Foundation Powder or treat the oil with a mattifying primer first before applying ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation.For ageing skin with pronounced fine lines and wrinklesThere is one type of foundation you should sadly seek to avoid as your skin starts to really age and that’s piling on the powdered foundation. Most face powders tend to magnify lines in the skin, accentuate pores and flatten the complexion which in turn can age us.Try: If you can’t give up your powder, we get you, but try simply switching to a sheer translucent powder or a mineral-based one. We highly recommend the ELES Mineral Foundation Powder. ELES HD Luminous Foundation is a must too as it will reduce shine but create a youthful luminosity.Once you’ve selected the right foundation formula the next challenge is choosing the correct colour. But this goes beyond simply looking at your skin tone, instead, you need to understand your skin’s undertone, the colour from underneath the surface of your skin that affects your overall hue…A cool undertone is generally associated with skin that has hints of blue, pink or ruby red, while a warm undertone is more peachy, golden or yellow. To work out which you are, one trick is to look at the veins in your wrist – if they appear blue or purple in colour, you’re cool, if they are green, your warm. And if you have a mix of both you’re neutral!For a cool complexion, a foundation with a pink undertone will be best, if your complexion is on the warm side go with a shade that has yellow undertones.Another option is to do the three-stripe trick. Take three foundations that are close to your skin tone, but one that looks more pink, one that looks more yellow and one that looks neutral in colour. Apply one stripe of each along your jawline and gentle blend. Whichever shade disappears into the skin will give an indication of what the undertone really is.Now your ready for flawless foundation and no more second guessing if you’re wearing the right formula for you!
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