The Skin

"The beauty of the skin is that you can affect it from both inside and out," 

The skin is the largest organ of the body, with a total area of about 20 square feet. The skin protects us from microbes and the elements, helps regulate body temperature, and permits the sensations of touch, heat, and cold.

Skin has three layers:

The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone.

The dermis, beneath the epidermis, contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles, and sweat glands.

The deeper subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) is made of fat and connective tissue.

The skin’s colour is created by special cells called melanocytes, which produce the pigment melanin. Melanocytes are located in the epidermis.

The exposed layer of skin we're slathering with lotions, creams, toners, scrubs and cleansers is called the epidermis -- it's the outermost of the three layers of skin. The epidermis is the most vulnerable to environmental damage, typically UV light that can leave it discoloured and old-looking; and skin in general undergoes an ageing process that can leave it looking dull, wrinkled and dry. 

What You Eat Matters

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants is good for your whole body, including your skin.

Antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins C, E, and A can curb the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. These molecules can harm skin cells and cause signs of ageing.

One of the best ways to get more antioxidants is to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

I recommend going for as much variety and colour as possible in your diet, try snacking on blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit, kale, spinach, and different kinds of peppers.

Another good idea is to stock your grocery cart with foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, including wild salmon, sardines, fortified eggs, and walnuts.

Omega-3 fatty acids help keep the top outer layer of the skin strong and intact so that external toxins and pollutants are kept out.

What About Supplements?

The ideal way to get the nutrients you need for a radiant complexion is eating a healthy, balanced diet.

but also taking an over-the-counter daily multivitamin with minerals to boost your nutrient intake can be very beneficial. It's also a good idea if you spend a lot of time outdoors or are exposed to high levels of air pollution and secondhand smoke.

Thank You

 I'd just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout 2015! 

2015 was a great year for me and my blog. 

Thank you to all the awesome people who are giving me amazing opportunities,

and to all the lovely PR's and brands I work with, and will continue to work with you're all amazing!

Thank you to all my amazing friends for inspiring me to work harder.

Thank you to my family, who keep up with and support my blog even though most of them have no interest in makeup or clothes whatsoever!

Finally, I'd like to thank all of you. The ones reading this right now. Whether I know you, or we've never met, If you're new to my blog, or readers that have followed me over the years, I honestly appreciate it so much. Thank you to everyone who takes the time out to comment and show such an interest, It means the world!

Hope you all have a brilliant 2016!

I love you all! 

Jo

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Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I had a lovely little break from blogging over the holidays and now It's time to get back into the swing of things. I have a whole plan made out for 2016 regarding blog posts and things I'd like to do and achieve. 2015 was a great year but 2016 will be better and I'm excited to see what the new year brings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, MAKE IT A GOOD ONE.

Jo

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November Favourites

I understand I don't post these every month which is why I sometimes just do a 'Current Favourites'. I don't find myself trying new products all the time, I just stick to the ones I know I love. However, I'm going to try my best to do one every month!

NYX Eyebrow Gel - I have this in the color brunette. It's a beautiful neutral/cool toned dark brown. This product is INTENSE. It's definitely not for those times when you want a more natural brow look. This makes your brows look sculpted and carved. Your brows look very done up which isn't a bad thing depending on the look you are going for. If i wanted to do my makeup for a formal event, or wanted a more "glam" look, this definitely fits very well. 

However, some days I tend to like a more natural brow look. I want my brows to have some definition but not to the point where I need my face to look "made up". I find that when I use this brow gel, I have to do a full face of makeup otherwise my brows just stand out too much.

This brow gel is waterproof and stays on the whole entire day. It's very difficult to wash out of my brushes. I use an oil based makeup remover and i still find some product stuck in the bristles.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer - I bought this in the lightest shade, to conceal and brighten the under-eye area.I find this concealer has really good coverage and very pigmented. It blends wonderfully and definitely buildable. I use this in my everyday make-up routine and will definitely re-purchase! 

Eyelure Individual Lashes - These Eylure Individual False Eyelashes are applied to the lash themselves to give body and length. This means they will last as long as your natural eyelashes, up to four weeks.

These false eyelashes instantly add volume to understated lashes, giving your eyes a subtle, natural but fuller style. They are also perfect for daytime and evening styles. I wear these lashes most weekends, usually not during the week as I have school, but you can also just wear a few if you just want a very natural look.

Rimmel Kate Moss Nude Collection - I adore these shades! I own four out of the six. I am more of a nude lipstick person, because I like my dark smokey eyes. On the days I wear something a little less strong on the eyes, I usually opt for an autumnal shade or a classic red. These nude lipsticks last ages, are super pigmented and very moisturising.

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REVIEW: Flormar's Duo Shimmering & Body Lotion

. Be a shimmer queen this Autumn with Flormar’s new Duo Shimmering & Body Lotion. The lotion has a dial where you twist to adjust the amount of shimmer you want mixed in with your body lotion. You can go from sheer beauty to glowing goddess in no time.

This skin finishing duo contains a body lotion enriched with shea butter, sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil on one side, and a gold shimmer gel formulated with aloe vera and panthenol on the other side.  It is the perfect skin enhancer for dull and tired looking skin, giving you a gorgeous healthy glow with a subtle golden sparkle.

I first used this a few nights ago after my bath, and this stuff smells AMAZING, and is also very moisturising.

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My Top 5 Bronzers

Today I thought I’d share some of my favourite bronzers from Boots and High Street stores. I find myself using bronzer more than ever before. They have so many uses, and are particularly good in the summer for complimenting a tan, as well as handy tools for contouring and sculpting.

Soap and Glory’s Solar Powder is a bronzer and a highlighter all in one. Again with a light shimmer, it creates a really natural glow, especially when you dust the lighter shade highlighter over your cheekbones. Having the combination of the two in the compact makes it nice and easy to take with you, great for touching up your complexion on the go.

Bourjois’ Delice de Poudre bronzer is a rich, warm brown so is great for when my skin is looking naturally more tan than usual. It has a super soft finish making it easy to apply with a lovely texture. It has a tiny, subtle amount of shimmer to it which gives off a natural looking glow, great for making you look like you’ve just got back from an exotic holiday! I love the chocolate bar design and it even has a sweet, chocolatey scent to it.

L’oreal’s Glam Bronze is one of my absolute favourites and one I find myself reaching for all year round. It has a matte finish for a natural looking tan, but is in a particularly golden shade, adding warmth to your skin, and the matte finish makes it great for contouring.

Revlon’s Bronzilla was a more recent addition but the neat compact with brush included made it ideal for taking with me on holiday. This bronzer has a strong colour payoff so you only really need a small amount, but is long lasting so will stay put throughout the day.

Last but not least, The Body Shop’s Honey Bronze in 02 is on the fairer side of bronzers, and even comes in a shade lighter, so is great for those with paler skin tones. It comes in a handy mirrored compact too, I tend to throw this in my handbag to take with me on the go. Again with a matte finish, this is perfect for subtle contouring and adding shape and definition to your face.

 

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REVIEW: No7 Beautiful Skin

I am ALWAYS open to trying any new brands or ranges. Personally I think skincare is one of those things we must all pay great attention to. There’s no point spending lot’s of money on makeup to cover up our skin if we aren’t spending the money on making sure our skin is up to scratch underneath it. No7 is a brand stocked in Boots, and is one I am often drawn to in terms of skincare and makeup.

 Amongst the collection, there are balm cleansers, water cleansers, foaming cleansers, gel cleansers, exfoliators, masks, serums and both day and night moisturisers for all skin types. I am definitely more of a “cream cleanser” girl. I feel as though a cream and a muslin cloth cleanse the skin a lot more thoroughly than a water on a cotton pad. However, I have been reaching a lot more for the water cleansers in the morning, as a quick refresh and instant pick me up. I still use my Liz Earle cleanse and polish for removing makeup at night, but i just find that a water cleanser is a nice morning boost. This water cleanser is among many I have tried, and I can’t say it is my favourite, but it is lovely. The smell of both these products are absolutely amazing, really fruity and summery. One thing I like on this water cleanser though, is the pump. Not a lot of the water cleansers I’ve tried have a pump, and require you to use the “tip and squeeze/shake” method (one which normally ends in an overly drenched cotton pad). The main thing that meant this cleanser wasn’t up there with my favourites though, was that I didn’t find it that good at removing makeup. Great for a skin boost in the morning yes, but removing makeup (even a light coating) took too many cotton pad refills and left my skin feeling a little tacky. 

The moisturiser is also really lovely. The cream is a nice consistency and again, smells amazing. It does feel quite thick on the skin, even though it says it’s for normal/oily skin.

Overall I was impressed with the few products I tried although they haven’t taken the lead in the skincare stakes. I think that I will have to pop into Boots to have a little look at other items in the range, the cleansing gel and balm sound interesting. No7 is a really well priced skincare brand, so even if these products aren’t for you, it’s worth taking a look at what they have to offer.

Have you tried anything from the No7 Beautiful Skin range? Anyone tried the balm or gel cleansers?

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