BC Skin Journal
BC Blog
Cloudless skin: Why you want it and how to achieve it
by Jo Boyden
on May 01 2019
By now we’ve all heard of the k-beauty craze ‘glass skin’ but there is a new kid on the block, the latest k-beauty trend you have to try and it’s known as ‘Cloudless skin’.What is cloudless skin?The name speaks for itself – think of the purity and flawlessness of a bright blue cloudless sky and that is what this trend aims to achieve! To emulate the skin of a young child, you know the nearly transparent, radiant, blemish and pore-free skin, free of environmental damage. Yes please!But while creating the appearance of truly perfect, pore-free skin may seem next to impossible, there are steps you can take to give you the best possible chance.How do you achieve it?So now you know what it is, how exactly do you achieve cloudless skin I hear you say! Well sadly it won’t happen overnight, in short it’s all down to a strict diet and skincare routine to which you are devout – no faltering. A healthy, nutritious diet and skincare routine which will protect against four major skin concerns - dullness, clogged pores, irritation and environmental damage. Diet Gorge (literally) on dark, leafy greens, consume plenty of whole grains daily (I am personally loving whole oats rich in antioxidants, buckwheat which is packed with magnesium, iron, B vitamins and fibre! And quinoa which has more vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats and fibre than more other whole grains!) And try to avoid sugar where possible (so definitely no more muffins, cakes, bread, chai lattes etc…) Dullness Opt for gentle exfoliation 2-3 times a week instead of using harsher, gritty scrubs once a week. Choose exfoliators which will provide the skin with a dose of hydration as well as sloughing away those unwanted dead skin cells. Do be sure not to overdo it though as exfoliation can cause irritation and dryness which will not aid in achieving the cloudless skin trend! We highly recommend Phytomer’s Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes, it’s a soft gentle exfoliant for even the most sensitive of skin, which uses enzymes to encourage cell turnover without scrubbing the skin. It truly does erase the dullness that may hamper your glow, revealing a luminous, smooth complexion. Clogged pores It’s all about double cleansing baby! This will ensure that all those pore-clogging impurities, as well as excess oil and dirt, are fully removed from your skin. The technique is exactly how it sounds – start by using an oil-based cleanser - we LOVE the ELES Transformation Cleansing Oil - then follow with a water-based cleanser – we highly recommend Phytomer’s Doux Visage Velvet Cleansing Cream and Micellar Water from Vie Collection.Also applying a mask once a week will really help to de-clog skin and benefit the overall health of your skin. Our favourite is Phytomer’s Oligopur Flawless Skin Mask it’s totally no drying, has a cream-foam texture and after only a few weeks of use, pores will be visibly tightened. Irritation Keep inflammation to a minimum by using deeply nourishing, soothing products. We are loving Phytomer’s Douceur Intemporelle Restorative Shield Cream. It’s essential to maintain a healthy pH balance so be sure to use non-stripping toners too! Environmental damage Use skin specific products rich in anti-oxidants. These fight free radical damage. We are obsessed with Phytomer’s Citadine Citylife Face and Eye Contour Sorbet Cream. It not only sweeps away toxic microparticles and repairs damage caused by pollution, but it also provides an ultra-moisturising facial experience!Finally, religiously wear high factor SPF – not just when you’re heading to the beach but daily! Give ELES’s Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection SPF 50 a try, you won’t regret it!
Makeup tips that’ll erase years off your face in minutes
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 30 2019
Let’s face it, we are all on the quest for eternal youth and thankfully there are many things we can adopt to slow down the aging process; wearing sunscreen, eating a diet rich in fruits and veggies, drinking boatloads of water, exercising, using quality skin care, opting for facelifts, botox and fillers even, but did you know you can also cleverly erase years off your face in literally minutes with….makeup!Yes, something as simple as the way you apply your makeup can have a significant effect on how old you look (oh my!) so read on and discover makeup tips that can turn back the clock and make you look younger naturally. PRIME YOUR SKIN Creating a flawless, almost airbrushed complexion really is dependent upon small, refined pores. Reduce pore size with a pore minimizing product. We swear by ELES Pore Perfecting Face Primer. GO EASY ON FACE POWDER No matter your skin type, too much face powder to hide those blemishes or control oil flow can actually highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of concealing. It’s best to use it sparingly (and dust off excess powder from brush before application), opt for a light weight pressed powder (we LOVE ELES Mineral Foundation Powder) or simply use a liquid based foundation for a fresher more dewy complexion. We can sing the praises of the ELES HD Luminous Foundation all day long. FAKE YOUR GLOW Lost your glow? Then fake it! A few drops of Liquid Illuminator in your foundation will leave your skin positively luminous. Try ELES Liquid Illuminator. USE A BLUSH And do this daily. A blush applied correctly (with an angled blush brush to lift colour upwards towards your temple) helps elongate your face, gives you high cheekbones (which is synonymous with youth!) and will make it appear slimmer. We recommend ELES Baked Blush for pigmented colour, easy application and a healthy looking finish. INSTANT EYE LIFT Tired eyes? Dark circles? Ensure you are armed with a fabulous concealer! We are obsessed with ELES Liquid Concealer - dark circles literally disappear beneath with one swipe. BRIGTHEN EYES Invest in a nude waterline liner and line your bottom waterline for an instantly wide-eyed effect. We promise you it’s worth the money as one swipe will truly create wider, brighter, and more awake eyes. (The perfect tool when you have a toddler who just lurves waking me up multiple times a night!!) Finish by applying lashings of mascara to your top lashes. SHAPE YOUR BROWS Eyebrows can totally change how your face looks. Crazy right? But true. Fuller, well-shaped brows can and will make you look younger and more awake! This is because it adds structure and lifts above the eye that you lose with age. You can master the ‘perfect brow’ with the right tools – we highly recommend the ELES Precision Brow Pencil, with built-in grooming brush it offers controlled brow filling and lining to quickly and effortlessly impart fuller, natural looking brows.Or if pencils aren’t your thing try ELES Brow Sculpt to fill in, shape, correct and emphasize the natural arch of the brow. Just sweep the light shade through the brows and mimic hair with the dark side for youthful, natural looking brows. DON'T FORGET YOUR LIP GLOSS Lips naturally lose plumpness and volume with age. Steer clear of deep matte lippie shades that’ll make lips appear thinner while weighing down your complexion. Instead be armed with a sheer volumising gloss with built-in lip moisturiser that’ll give volume and plumpness and of course that much desired youthful pout, naturally! We can’t get enough of the ELES Pucker-up Lip Gloss, balmy and ultra-hydrating it’ll re-volumize lips in one swipe.
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 26 2019
Whether you are mourning the end of bright, balmy days or doing side-kicks now that cooler weather is on the way, we all need to give our skin love much-needed love after a season of summer indulgences. Think salty or chlorinated water, a little too much “Yes way, Rose” or even a beautiful bronze glow that’s starting to look more like a pigment patchwork quilt. Time for repair!So what are we dealing with now that autumn has arrived? More often than not, clogged pores, dehydration, hyper-pigmented patches, and of course chapped lips. Luckily, all it takes to reboot skin is a few tweaks to our current skincare routine.ExfoliateThose dry dead skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin are not only dulling it, they are blocking the hydrating ingredients from getting in. We shed approx. 30,000 skin cells a day naturally but this slows down dramatically with age. It can also slow down in summer as oil, sweat, and makeup join together and act like mortar for the skin cells, binding them tightly together and creating an impenetrable wall.There are so many ways to exfoliate but the gentlest method is with fruit acids and enzymes, instead of forcing the cells off and causing possible damage to the skin these ingredients gently loosen and digest cells to leave skin softer, smoother and more refined. Try Phytomer - Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes.Deep Pore CleansingNo matter how well you cleansed your skin in the last couple of months, deep down, where none of us can see, makeup, impurities, old sweat, and toxins are having a party in your pores. The result? Skin texture that looks coarse and spongy and never feels clean. To help clean them out detox your skin with a clay-based mask, or several if you are not afraid to be a multi-masker! Our go-to for deep cleansing is Phytomer Oligopur Flawless Skin Mask with Kaolin Clay.RehydrateSeriously pack it on! Summer leaves your skin depleted of moisture and not only is this uncomfortable it’s also ageing. So up your moisturiser game by adding some concentrates beneath and get out the hydrating masks. Don’t forget your body too! After your shower, smother your damp skin from neck to toes with rich balms and body oils. Did you know the skin’s outer layer swells open when it’s damp allowing products to penetrate better?We love Phytomer - Hydra Original Thirst-Relief Melting Cream and Hydrasea Thirst-Relief Rehydrating Mask for the face and the heavenly texture and aroma of Phytomer - Trésor Des Mers Beautifying Oil for the body.Check the damage!Unfortunately, you can’t undo the damage that UV rays cause, which is why a Broad Spectrum sunscreen is your most important skin care product. And, it’s important to keep your eyes open for any changes to your skin. A visit to a dermatologist for a skin cancer check should be a priority for every Australian and while it may seem a nuisance could be lifesaving.You can however help minimize the visible appearance of sun damage on the skin’s surface with little effort. To help fade the look of dark spots and even skin tone, use a hyperpigmentation formula such as Vie Collection - Laser Light Concentrate.Keep up protectionEven though it’s not summer anymore it doesn’t mean you should stop using your SPF. Reach for it every day and ensure your skin care is always loading with anti-oxidants. The combination of both will decrease skin ageing by a whopping 90%. Our go-to is Vie Collection - Vita C Concentrated Solution. You can put a few drops in your regular moisturiser or apply it beneath for a brighter complexion. It also has the added benefit of fading hyperpigmentation and stopping ageing free radicals in their tracks.Eyes and LipsOur lips lack melanin so they are especially susceptible to sun damage and after several months of hot weather are also prone to deep dryness. Squinting, sweating and the sun can also cause damage to the fragile eye area. So give these areas some TLC. Reach for nourishing lip colour instead of drying mattes, apply SPF over your lips and at night offer some much needed repair. Phytomer - Youth Contour Reviving Wrinkle Correction Cream - Eye and Lip is our favourite because it is formulated to calm, soothe and replenish delicate skin.
Sleeping in makeup – what it really does to our skin
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 26 2018
What girl doesn’t love makeup! It can literally transform the way we look and feel! But sadly with every good, comes bad, and makeup is no exception to the rule!There is a downside to wearing makeup - the affect it can have on our skin if it’s not property removed at the end of the day. I’m pretty sure the majority of us could admit to sleeping with makeup on at some stage of our lives. I know I’m guilty of it, perhaps one time to many! But after learning these simple facts, like me, you might think twice about doing it again!What makeup does to your skin while you are sleeping... Eye irritation and sensitivity Neglecting to remove eye makeup whether it be the entire shebang or just a little layer of mascara, can cause dryness, irritation, redness and even infection! This is because the particles from mascara can harbour harmful pathogens and if it gets into the delicate eye area can cause havoc.No thank you. Dry, dull complexion Our skin is covered in pores which allow us to sweat and secrete sebum, a natural lubricant that moisturises skin and removes dead skin cells. Makeup can trap these dead skin cells, preventing them from shedding and leaving us with a dry, dull complexion. Just remember sleep is the body's time to repair itself from the stress of the day. While you sleep, new healthy skin cells are created. Spots Even if you're not normally prone to spots, you'll soon see that sleeping with a face full of makeup can and will result in breakouts. 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. Premature aging Sleeping in your makeup can trap dirt and pollutants inside the skin, therefore increasing your exposure to free radicals. This is turn can lead to collagen breakdown. If collagen can’t be produced properly, your skin will age faster.Scary right? Fear not, if you have only been subject to sleeping with makeup on a few times there is no long term effect but it’s definitely not something you want to make a habit of. Yes sometimes it’s hard not to just want to climb into your comfy bed after a long day or a big night out even, but if that’s the case and your usual cleansing routine seems like way to much of an effort, opt for a quick, easy and effective cleanser that you can even use from the luxury of our bed!Try;ELES Transformation Cleansing Oil. Packed full of anti-aging and nourishing ingredients, it literally melts away makeup and impurities without stripping skin’s natural moisture, all while helping it maintain a balanced and hydrated complexion.Also ensure you use sensitivity tested or breathable makeup free of potential irritants such a fragrance, talc, oil, dyes and parabens.Try;ELES Liquid Powder Foundation. Its ‘non-occlusive’ long-lasting formula allows the foundation to enhance the complexion without covering up the skin, allowing it to “breathe” freely.ELES Sensitive Eyes Mascara. Hypoallergenic and sensitivity-tested, this fragrance-free water based mascara is perfect for the most sensitive of eyes. It lengthens, separates and darkens lashes without clumping. It dries quickly and resists smudging under eyes.
Probiotics in skincare – what are they and why are they trending?
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 19 2018
I’m sure we’ve all heard about the benefits of ingesting probiotics, whether it be by taking a supplement or eating certain foods. Now a new trend is taking centre stage – probiotics for the skin! Serums, Moisturisers, Masks…packed full of friendly bacteria to help restore the natural balance of our skin while refining, protecting and rejuvenating the complexion all at the same time!Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty for those of you who like to be further informed. What exactly are probiotics? And how is it that they actually work?What exactly are probiotics?Probiotics are good bacteria that normally reside in our bodies and in our skin. Due to sickness, toxicity, the use of antibiotics, and other external factors, our good bacteria diminishes and the bad bacteria becomes more prominent in our system.How do they actually work on our skin?For the skin, they work in a similar way as they do for the digestive system. Topical probiotics help deliver a dose of good bacteria directly to our skin, restoring radiance and balance. Some are recommended for mature skin because of their ability to regenerate as well as protect the skin by retaining moisture, healing wounds, and increasing collagen and elastin production for anti-aging effects. They are also an effective anti-inflammatory which means they bring calm to the skin soothing redness and irritation.Would I benefit from using skincare featuring probiotics?Yes! With its multitude of benefits, skincare rich in probiotics are great for anyone wanting to restore balance and radiance to the skin! They have the ability to boost the skin’s natural defence, rebuilding and strengthening it. Thanks to their calming, nurturing and anti-inflammatory qualities, they are also really beneficial for those with skin conditions such as Acne, Rosacea and Psoriasis.Interesting right? Sound like something you need right now? If so, Pevonia have just launched a new skincare range – Micro Pores Bio-Active Collection. It is formulated with a new breakthrough probiotic called Pseudoalteromonas (you don’t need to know how to pronounce it, just know that it’s darn good stuff for your skin!). By incorporating probiotics in this collection, Pevonia offers a natural, powerfully effective solution to counteract the most searched concerns: pore-refinement, uneven texture, oil control, aging and dehydration!
ENLARGED PORE: Truths and Common Misconceptions
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 01 2018
If you don’t like the size of your pores, read up! Here are common truths and myths about this whole pore thing:The TRUTH will set you freeIf you’ve been wondering… Yes, POREXIA is a thing! There are two types of pores. Having pores is healthy and essential. UV rays can make them look larger. Hormones can also make them look larger. Enlarged pores come with age. Over-washing your face makes them bigger. Men have larger pores. Many of us are obsessed with our pore size and if we’re given a chance to make them smaller, we would! Some of us are even more worried about our pores than our wrinkles.Oil pores are hair follicles that contain sebaceous glands. These produce sebum (oil) that causes our pimples. Sweat glands are very small and don’t cause irritation. Both are very important to our health. Sweat pores are our body’s breathing holes, transporting unwanted substances out of the body. Oil pores are needed for hair to grow and hair is needed to protect skin.The average adult has about 20,000 pores on their face.When pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, blackhead and whiteheads may form. When bacteria comes in contact with these two, a pimple is born!Ultraviolet rays weaken collagen and without collagen, our pores become less tight. Decreased elasticity causes them to enlarge.When hormones spike during OVULATION, our pores enlarge and will shrink again when hormone levels decrease. Hormonal shift during PREGNANCY and MENOPAUSE also do the same. So yes, mood swings and pores are related. Try to relax during these trying times.As we age, our body produces less Elastin and Collagen and without these two, our skin sag and our pores become enlarged. This is something inevitable but can be managed. WE WILL REVEAL OUR NEW SOLUTION LATER IN THIS ARTICLE.Wash your face twice a day – morning and evening. Washing too often can dry the skin leaving more dead skin cells on the surface.Men have larger pores than women. Because men are naturally more active, their oil glands produce more oil and so their pores appear more visible.The Pore MYTHology Blackhead is dirt. You can close pores. Toothpaste can tighten pores, just like how it solves acne problems. Blackhead is oxidized oil, not dirt. Sebum is usually white. There may sometimes be dirt but blackhead is mostly oil.Pores dilate and can change from wide to narrow but you can’t totally close them. You can only TIGHTEN them.Never put toothpaste on your face. Toothpaste doesn’t cure acne and it certainly doesn’t clean and tighten pores. It will only cause irritation. Use proper skincare products that address your skin concerns.If large pores have always been a problem for you, fret not! We’ve found a solution!Pevonia’s NEW Micro-Pores Bio-Active and Probiotic Skincare is an anti-aging and pore-refining in one. If you have been dreaming of flawless skin with refined texture, Pevonia’s NEW Power Repair Micro-Pores collection is the solution you have been waiting for.Benefits: Reduces pore size Normalizes oil and moisture levels Increases collagen and elastin formation Bio-active formula contains elite actives that positively affect skin Probiotics help address uneven texture, and dehydration and other skin concerns Get the entire Pevonia Micro-Pores Bio-Active Collection and see visible results within just 2 weeks!
Exfoliate Your Skin and Achieve a Radiant Glow
by Jo Boyden
on Feb 23 2018
Exfoliate for a Radiant GlowSummer is almost over and we have a few days to go until it’s officially autumn. The weather will be cooler and friendlier. If you’re a beach bum like most Aussies are, you seized every weekend strolling along the beaut seaside. Some have patches of sunburnt skin all over, and some just look like they had a very relaxing holiday! Want to know their secret? EXFOLIATE!Do you know how good exfoliation is for your skin? Rubbing it with granules help remove dead cells from the surface, revealing a softer, smoother, and youthful you. It is important that you know what exfoliant to use as there are plenty of products in the market that are too abrasive and do more harm than good. We’re proud to say that Pevonia exfoliants are gentle on the skin but do a great job in getting rid of the dead skin cells. Pick the right exfoliant for you:ALL SKIN TYPESYour skin needs a little help every once in a while. A regular cleanser cleanses your face but Pevonia's Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser has exfoliating jojoba beads, saponaria and chamomile that wash away impurities and toxins. A true bonzer! The beads are finer than what you’ll usually find in regular exfoliants so it’s gentle but truly effective in refining texture and adding glow to your skin.PROBLEMATIC SKINIt’s easier to clear the skin of acne with a cleanser that has powerful anti-bacterial properties. Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser combines Soapwort, Triclosan, Grapefruit Oil, and Citric Acid to gently remove impurities. It helps control breakouts, brightens the skin tone, and refines your skin.DRY, DULL SKINAnd for a more intense solution to dry, dull skin, the Enzymo Spherides Peeling Cream is a must-have! Experience the cutting-edge technology of this cream’s unique enzymes entrapment. The encapsulated Pineapple and Papaya enzymes eliminate impurities, blackheads, dead cells, sebum, and toxins as you work this cream into your skin. Using this once a week will help you gain a bright, smooth complexion with ABSOLUTELY ZERO DOWNTIME.Regular exfoliation with one of Pevonia's refining exfoliants promotes a brighter, satiny texture. Get rid of unwanted impurities and dead cells, and prevent follicular clogging and surface accumulations. Your skin becomes luminous and revived.
Our Favourite #Selfie Foundation
by Jo Boyden
on Aug 04 2017
National Selfie Day may have ended in June, but you can capture your best self all year around with the ELES HD Luminous Foundation. It’s formulated to deflect imperfections so you won’t need the blurring filter for your next selfie. This new tech foundation will do all the high-tech work for you. Plus, you'll have a luminous glow all day long.Let's start with the coverage: It feels very light, you can barely feel it on the skin and you can build it with layers that give you any desired effect from super-light to full. A little goes a very long way! You may need concealer; a little under the eyes and on blemishes if you want the “perfect skin” look, however most are happy with the coverage and don’t feel the need for added cover up.One thing we love is the flexible pigments in HD Luminous that float above lines and wrinkles and adjust to your facial movements, giving you natural-looking coverage that won’t crease or crack. Great news for those of us with fine lines!What’s inside? Pro Barrier Complex helps protect and repair damaged skin. This complex contains LCA Complex for advanced moisturization, multi-layer skin renewal and antioxidant protectionIt is formulated with ceramides, cholesterol and essential fatty acids to aid in restoring a healthy lipid barrier over impaired skin making it ideal for all skin types, including sensitive and rosacea-proneIt also has specially-engineered Titanium Dioxide which helps scatter light for a more even skin tone and Optical Diffusion Technology which helps minimize the look of lines and wrinkles and acts like a “soft filter” for the skin.If that’s not enough we’ll throw in some Ascorbyl Glucoside, which slowly releases Vitamin C for all day skin radiance and Silk Powder to help hide pores.Finally White Water Lily, Indian Jasmine, Vitamin C and Vitamin E help brighten and condition skin.So all up this foundation is so much more than makeup, in fact, if you took away the pigment you’d have a wonderful anti-ageing skin care product!And the exciting news is we’ve added two new shades! Welcome Linen and Cream Beige, two of our most popular shades in the Liquid Mineral Foundation.What’s more…this month when you purchase a HD Luminous Foundation, you’ll receive a free Pro-Blend Sponge, an indispensable tool for getting an airbrush effect to your base!
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