My Top Skincare Tips

I've always looked after my skin, I like to have clean and moisturised skin. I hate the feeling of my skin feeling clogged up or dehydrated. I don't have perfect skin by any means, I get the occasional breakout like everybody else, but my skin is quite good and that's because I do take care of it, so I thought I would share with you my top skincare tips.
(please note, I am not a professional nor an expert, these are just things I have picked up and things that work for me, a lot of these tips are just common sense)

1. ALWAYS remove your makeup before bed. Not removing your makeup before bed will mean your pores get clogged up, which is the main cause for skin imperfections. Your skin needs time to breathe, during the day it's been covered in makeup or faced with outside pollution, it needs a break!
A lot of people say "your skin mends itself at night', that is complete rubbish. Your skin is repairing itself 24/7, but at night when your asleep it doesn't have makeup, pollution or sunlight on it, so it can focus on repairing.

2. DON'T use makeup wipes. I think more or less everybody I know uses makeup wipes, and I used to until about 10 months ago, and the difference I have noticed in my skin since I stopped has been amazing. Makeup wipes contain alcohol, which dries out the skin and if you have sensitive skin they will make her skin more red. Alcohol will also strip the skin, and is a breeding ground for bacteria. Stick with a non-foaming cleanser, much better for your skin and actually takes your makeup off better. Also, if you wear makeup during the day remember to double cleanse at night.

3. DO watch what you eat. About 99% of what your face is showing comes from what you eat. Basically, cut out the crap. Fast food, chocolate, sweets, microwavable meals - all are not good for your skin and if you cut them out you will notice a big difference. Cut down on dairy, so many people I know who have had problem skin and cut out dairy noticed a huge change - humans are the only species that eat and drink milk that comes from another mammal, it's not a natural thing to do.

4. DO cleanse in the morning. Washing your face in the morning is very important, you may think "but I have just been laying in bed all night, and I cleansed before bed, I don't need to do it again"…so you think bacteria doesn't breed whilst your asleep? You don't sweat? Then why do you ever change bedsheets if that is the case?

5. DON'T smoke. Like I said earlier, it's just common sense. If you smoke it decreases the amount of oxygen in your skin, not to mention the amount of rubbish you're breathing in. But hey, I guess smokers care more about cigarettes than they do for their health and skin.

6. DO take supplements. Obviously this is not crucial, but if you have problem skin I'd recommend taking some supplements that contain fish oil and/or zinc, both are brilliant for the skin.

7. DO use acidic skincare. That sounds quite scary, but acids are very good for the skin. A lot of toners will have acid in, the one I use the Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner which contains Hyaluronic acid which helps with cellar renewable (review here). Another brilliant one if you can afford it is Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner.
A toner should be an essential in your skincare routine.

8. DON'T use exfoliators with beads in them. These spread infection.

9. DON'T use sudocream. I know so many people use this, and I have been known to. Yes it does reduce inflammation, but in the long run it clogs pores and just sits on the skin.

10. DO invest in skincare. Now, I know not everyone can afford high end skincare, and I am one of those people. But if you are willing to spend money on clothes or accessories then why not spend it on skincare instead? You only get one face, look after it. Ideally you should have two moisturisers, and two cleansers - one each for morning and night time use.

Product everyone should own - Hydraluron Moisture Booster (I do not own this myself but I am saving up, skincare experts have said everyone should own this - hyaluronic acid can absorb up to 1000 times its weight in moisture, so if you put this on and then your moisturiser then the moisture will stay there. It also helps heal the skin, reduce bacteria, and softens the skin)

There you go, my top 10 skincare tips. I guarantee you if you do those things you WILL have better skin. I hope you found this helpful.

Will you be trying any of these things out?

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Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner | REVIEW

I have been hearing a buzz online about a skincare company called Michael Todd, and I needed a new toner, so I decided to treat myself to one from them…what a brilliant decision that was!

I opted for the Blue Green Algae toner, because I'd heard amazing things about it and also because if the things it promised were true I knew I would truly love it. And I wasn't disappointed.

Michael Todd's Blue Green Algae toner is full of nutrients, it contains blue green algae (obviously) and organic kelp in a base of aloe vera juice, which is so soothing on the skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid, amino acids, tea tree oil and black willow tree extract. All these things in combination with each other help eliminate toxins from the skin, speed up cellar renewal, and naturally nourish and replenish the skin. This toner is aimed at removing bacteria from the skin for a clearer complexion so it has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It cleans the skin and maintains the skins pH balance, and as it does not contain alcohol it isn't harsh or drying on the skin (massive bonus).

This toner claims to be moisturising, I wouldn't say it actually brought any moisture to my skin but it definitely didn't dry it out at all. 

I definitely don't have problem skin, like this is meant for; I get the occasional break out like everyone else, but not all the time. However, when I purchased this I was going through a phase where my skin was not as clear as usual and using this toner helped SO much. I am not exaggerating when I say literally over night I saw a difference. I used this the morning I got it and then in the evening before bed, I just applied some of the product to a cotton pad and swept it over by face, and by the morning the 'problem areas' had cleared up a lot and were less red. I also noticed my complexion was brighter and my skin just looked a lot healthier. 

Normally I am not one for toners, I find they never do anything, dry out my skin, smell chemically, and are just a waste of time. But this is so different. 

It feels so refreshing and soothing when applied to the skin, it actually feels like it's doing something, it isn't at all drying because of the no alcohol, it smells really nice - like a mixture of tea tree, lavender, and birch wood, and it's become a vital part of my daily skincare routine. 

One of the massive bonuses I found with this is it's 97% organic, a lot of companies claim to be organic but then when you look they're only like 15% organic or something pathetic, but Michael Todd is not like that. 97% organic is brilliant, I love that. 

The packaging is fab too!

This toner retails for $18 which converts to about £11 for 230ml of product (yes it's an American brand and can only be bought online unfortunately), but Michael Todd is brilliant, if you sign up you get 10% off your first order and they constantly have deals on - I actually got this toner with 25% off!

You can buy it here! 

I'm now a massive Michael Todd fan, this toner has become by absolute favourite skincare product, just overtaken my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, and I will definitely be trying out more from their range.

Have you tried this toner?

What's your favourite toner?

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