I’m Judge Makeup Tips and  I’m about to bust you for believing one of the biggest beauty myth’s out; you now have the right to eat chocolate.

“I really want to eat chocolate but it causes acne…” she said. Sometimes when I hear someone talk about a beauty tip which they believe to be true; I squirm a little and ask myself (and them!) “Where on Earth did you hear that?” In this case it is the Pizza Face theory which says your diet has a direct effect on your skin. Whilst in some cases according to some dermatologists & doctors this is true (IE: too much sugar which can cause inflammation, resulting in pimples) a vast majority of the time it isn’t. Chocolate doesn’t cause acne but it is still best to eat healthy foods in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. (Bonus points if you eat high quality, dark chocolate which is full of antioxidants unlike white and milk)

BEAUTY MYTH: BUSTED! Chocolate doesn’t cause acne, case dismissed.

Long air-flights, taxi’s, public transport and hotels are all usually a sign that you are traveling for more than a weekend get away. These turn of events can make you feel and look pretty shocking! We can’t all take our whole beauty collections with us when traveling so here are a few tips so you still look fresh faced.

I usually pack my products in  my *Tender Love + Carry Topiary folding pouch  because it fits in my suitcase well and holds a lot for the size. It contains two zip sections that are plastic and waterproof which means I can keep my skincare + makeup separate and leaking isn’t a serious problem. The products I take are beside the essential body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc are:

Skin/body: Nude Skincare Perfect Cleansing Oil, *Argania Hair Oil, Origins Gin Zing eye cream, U Little Beauty Night Cream, Bioderma Crealine H20, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse,  Nude Skincare Progenius oil, *Urban Rituelle Cotton Candy Perfume and Lanolips Golden Ointment (not pictured)

Makeup: Urban Decay Naked Palette, NARS Smudge Proof Pro Prime, Benefit Hoola Bronzer & High Beam, MAC Lipstick in Honey Love, Smashbox Photofinish Oil Free Primer & Hyperlash Mascara, *Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, Too Faced Three Way lining lash tool. Nail Polish remover pads, Revlon box o files, Sally Hansen Quick Colour Pen (better than a bottle of nail polish as they are less prone to leaking) and Urban Decay Brow Box (not pictured)

Sample size:

Ask your local beauty counter for some samples or buy travel size items.  “Try it” kit’s from a brand like Benefit, Too Faced or Smashbox; these come in sample size and are much more convenient for traveling than lugging along your full size product. Otherwise buy some travel containers (or bead jars) and fill them up with your product. For perfumes and oils I prefer to take pre-packaged travel sizes as they are often prone to leaking. I recommend you leave your loose powders at home and take pressed powders instead (bonus points if they are packaged in cardboard which absorbs shock, meaning no broken products!) Should any powders  break you can use this method to fix them.  I also like to take products that can double up like lipstick as cream blush, bronzer as eyeshadow, etc. 

Chlorine:

If you aren’t the proud owner of a swimming pool or hot tub/spa bath/jacuzzi and are staying at a hotel that has one chances are that you’ll probably go for a dip or two. These are overly chlorinated to kill all the germs and can take a negative toll on your skin and hair so make sure to take a quick shower after your swim and wash all that chlorine out of your hair + pop in a hydrating mask and slather on your body lotion.

Climate:

Wherever you’re traveling off to will probably have a different climate than you (and your skin!) are used to, if it’s a tropical destination make sure to pack the highest SPF you own and don’t bring your most super charged extra hydrating products, a chilly climate? The heating can dry out your skin so make sure to pack a little something extra to give it that bit of hydration it needs.

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“Which serum should I be using?”

“What is a serum even for?”

“Are they even necessary?”

I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these questions has popped into your head before, serums can be pretty damn confusing. Choosing a cleanser, moisturiser and your makeup is hard enough so why would you want to throw another spanner into the works?

Unlike your moisturiser which is designed to nourish, smooth and hydrate your skin; serums are designed to target any specific skin problems or skin concerns you have (like dullness, aging, oiliness, etc) they help to treat these problems and help them in the long run.

Your serum should be applied before your moisturiser and after cleansing (and toning) in either the morning or evening. It is important that you wait a few minutes before moisturising because although serums do absorb quicker than your regular moisturiser you don’t want to disturb any active ingredients. On the topic of active ingredients, these can often oxidize in serums so if you notice any change in colour, scent or texture, toss it.

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Whether you’re 14 or 40 it’s not unusual for a pimple to pop up from time to time, whether it be caused from stress, hormones or bad diet; with these tips you won’t feel like you have to call in sick for work or school because of that pesky little pimple or use up your whole concealer trying to cover it.

Diet:

No, chocolate doesn’t cause acne but that doesn’t mean you can eat a diet full of processed, greasy and sugary foods and think your breakouts are going to go away. It’s important to have a well balanced diet, you can’t be healthy on the outside if you aren’t healthy on the inside. A diet full of fruits, vegetables and lots of water is always a good thing.

Cleanse:

Cleansing the skin is extremely important, breakouts or no breakouts. Breakouts are caused when the pores get clogged up with dirt’s, oils and dead skin cells so it’s important to cleanse as this will remove that build up. However this doesn’t mean you should rush out to your closest beauty store and buy a super strength cleanser for acne prone skin. A lot of the time chemical based cleansers can strip the skin of all it’s natural oils which are necessary to maintain healthy skin, this can cause the skin to over produce oils to compensate for the oils lost, resulting in oilier skin AND more breakouts! Instead opt for a gentle, foaming cleanser which is sulfate free, look for ones which contain a citrus base as these are usually beneficial to those with pimples. Try: Sukin Foaming Cleanser, La Mav Sweet Orange Foaming Cleanser,

Spot treatment:

Spot treatments are fantastic little gems. You only need the smallest amount and WHAM your pimples are gone within a matter of days, some even a matter of hours. Spot treatments work by containing an extra dose of acne fighting ingredients (such as salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide)  and are designed to be used in small doses, on small areas for fast pimple cure. It’s important not to use them more then twice a day or you may irritate your skin. Contrary to popular belief toothpaste is not a spot treatment and it should not be used as an affordable, quick substitute for a spot treatment. The fluoride and tartar reducing ingredients can be extremely damaging to the skin. Try: *Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment, *Benefit B.right Specialist Boo Boo Zap (or if you are allergic to salicylic acid, like me use a 15% strength tea tree oil, or make a mixture of salt and warm water and apply it to the areas where you have breakouts)

Facial:

If pimples are an ongoing problem for you (or you have some bad acne) a facial can be a great way to get rid of some of them pimples. At first it can seem like it’s made your pimples worse but this is often because the facial has drawn out the impurities from the skin.

*This post contains a product/sample which was sent to me for editorial consideration (products are marked with *) in accordance with my disclosure policy, this does not alter the honesty of this review or the blog, all opinions stated are honest and my own.

As the seasons change, so does our skin and whether you have oily, dry or combination skin chances are you are probably going to have to make some small changes to your skin care routine, even if they are minor. If you are unsure of what your skin type is please refer to the figuring out your skin type guide.

Spring/Summer:

The months of Summer and Spring are hot, warm and sunny, there is a lot of humidity in the air so you may find your skin is a little more oilier than usual.

Dry/Normal Skin:

Cleanser: For the warm weather there isn’t to much you need to change in the way of cleansers, you should be fine to stick to your regular cream or oil cleanser but just be sure you are cleansing twice as always to ensure all traces of makeup and impurities are removed. I love: *U Little Beauty Cream Cleanser, Trilogy Very Gentle Cleansing Cream, Nude Skincare Perfect Cleansing Oil Face & Eyes.

Moisturiser: Whilst hydration is still vital for drier skin types no matter what the season it’s best to cut back a little on the intense hydration products to avoid ending up with breakouts, clogged pores and oily looking skin so instead opt for lighter night creams and oil free moisturisers during the day which contain a minimum of SPF 25.

Treatment: During the warmer months you probably won’t find serums and oils necessary but may find that you do need some extra hydration and some deeper cleansing so once a week using a clay mask and follow with a hydrating mask to ensure that the skin doesn’t dry out, also be sure that you are exfoliating no more than once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells, oils and other impurities from the pores. I love: U Little Beauty Clay Based Facial Cleansing mask, *A’kin Jojo & Corn Gentle Exfoliating Scrub

Oily/Combination Skin:

Cleanser: If you haven’t yet done so it’s time to start using your foaming cleanser, this will help to cleanse the pores more thoroughly as skin may be prone to excess sweating and oiliness. I love: Sukin Foaming Cleanser, Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel.

Moisturiser: You’ll also be best to switch up your moisturiser to a lightweight oil free moisturiser and be sure to use a specific sunscreen or a moisturiser with at least SPF 25 during the day.

Treatment: As the pores can often become clogged during the summer time the skin may also benefit from a clay mask once a week and regular exfoliation (no more than twice a week) to help remove dirt and impurities from the skin.

Autumn(Fall)/Winter:

During the cooler months there is a lack of humidity in the air this can cause the skin to become drier than normal so you may need a few extra products to help keep your skin from drying out, feeling tight and becoming flaky.

Dry/Normal Skin:

Cleanser: As someone with dry skin you should already be using a cream or oil cleanser to remove your makeup and remove the skin of any dirts, oils and impurities, for winter there isn’t much you need to change in terms of cleansing products. My favourite winter cleansers for dry skin: Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser, Planet Eve Organics Cleansing Oil.

Moisturiser: For winter time try using a night cream packed full of different natural oils and butters like shea butter and rosehip oil during the evening to ensure that skin gets optimal hydration, during the day time it’s best to still opt for a oil free moisturiser so that your makeup doesn’t slide off.

Treatment: You may find that having a dry skin type could cause your skin to go looking for extra hydration so try using a hydrating serum or a facial oil underneath your night cream. Be sure to exfoliate once or twice a week (no more than twice or you may damage the skin) to remove any dry patches. Once a week or every fortnight make an effort to use a hydrating face mask so that your skin stays extra smooth and hydrated. I love: Akin Rosehip Oil, Apivita Prickly Pear Hydrating Face Mask.

Oily/Combination Skin:

Cleanser: It’s very possible that in the cooler months your skin might feel a little tighter and maybe even drier than usual. Depending on how oily your skin is you may even notice some dry patches appearing. It’s best to switch your cleanser to a cleansing oil as this will help to balance out the oil production in the skin, it will hydrate the drier areas of your skin and will remove excess oil as oil is attracted to oil. I love: Nude Skincare Nude Skincare Perfect Cleansing Oil Face & Eyes, Planet Eve Organics Cleansing Oil.

Moisturiser: During the day time it’s best to stick with a light oil free lotion as you won’t want anything that makes your skin look greasy or feel oily, be sure that your moisturiser has at least SPF 25 in it, even if it’s rainy and cloudy outside as UVA/UVB rays are still present. For the evenings try using a night cream as apposed to a standard moisturiser for a little more hydration.

Treatment: Twice a week exfoliation with a gentle exfoliant should be sufficient, you may find hydrating masks a little to much for your skin but if you notice your skin getting drier it could be worth while popping on a face mask designed for hydration.

*This post contains a product/sample which was sent to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy, this does not alter the honesty of this review or the blog, all opinions stated are honest and my own.

Eye makeup is a great way to enhance your whole face and make you look pulled together in the blink of the eye; but sometimes removing it can be time consuming and whilst it may be tempting to partially do it or even worse not do it at all some of us just may need a reminder as to why we need to be removing it.

- Sleeping with your eye makeup on can cause eye infections such as Styes and Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis

- Eye makeup can be substantially irritating to the eyes throughout the day & especially at night!

- If all traces of eye makeup have not been removed the next time you apply product to your eyes you risk contamination of your favourite products.

- Any treatments or creams you apply to your eye area will not absorb properly and work to their full potential.

- Some mascaras and eyeliners contain ingredients such as magnesium which can cause eye lashes to fall out over night wearing of cosmetics increases this risk.


- Most people subconsciously rub their eyes whilst they are sleeping; by rubbing your eyes you push product further into them.


- Liquid eyeliner can cause a burning sensation when they penetrate the eye so you may be subject to further irritation and discomfort.


- Eye shadow can crease or slide due to oil production on the eye lids and cause the product to enter the eye causing discomfort or infection.

Remember to remove your eye makeup every evening it’s also a good eye to quickly use an eye makeup remover in the mornings prior to makeup application to ensure you start with a clean base so that colours or formulas don’t get altered or oxidize. It’s best to use a specific eye makeup remover preferably that’s oil based in the evenings, generally two toned eye makeup removers give the most effective results.

Did you miss the Back To The Basics Cleansing Your Skin article?

So today is something a little different then the normal, we tend to forget about the importance of cleansing our skin so here’s a little refresher. One of the most basic rules when it comes to skincare is to remove your makeup before you hit the pillow at night, although basic, and although simple are people beginning to forget the importance of cleansing? Or are they just plain lazy? Here are the basic facts about why you need to be removing your makeup.

- Sleeping with your makeup on can clog the pores; resulting in acne and

breakouts.

- Sleeping with your makeup on can cause skin irritations such as contact dermatitis, redness, eczema and lots of other nasty skin conditions.

- Most makeup contains pore clogging ingredients and other nasty chemicals, leaving them on for long periods of time is potentially dangerous to your skin and your health.

- Sleeping in makeup which contains mineral oil (a petro chemical) can increase skins photo sensitivity and cause acne. (photo sensitivity is where your skin is more sensitive to the sun, shows up wrinkles faster and absorbs more UVA/UVB rays)

- Most makeup contains some SPF even if it’s only a very small amount, and if your makeup didn’t; your skincare  used to prep for your makeup would. Normally at least one of the products you are using will contain SPF. SPF is normally Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide based, when these products are on your skin the skin cannot properly repair itself as these ingredients create a barrier.

- It can cause the skin to come under stress and produce excess oils.

- Your skin needs to be able to breathe.

- Skin needs to be replenished and packed full of nutrients and moisture at the end of each day as it is subject to environmental damage.

- None of your serums, or moisturisers will work to their full potential if you’ve got a layer of makeup between them.

- Wrinkles.

What do you think of this post? Would you like to see more articles like this;taking you back to the basics?