This video is a quick(ish) overview of the beauty products I picked up in France and England on my recent trip to Europe – the exchange rate was really good and you guys gave me a lot of recommendations, thank you! I maaaaayyy have gone overboard.
On my trip I also filmed a chat with Nadine Baggott, who loaded me up with a lot of these products – you can find our video together here, where we go through some questions that Nadine’s followers submitted for me.
My amazing Herschel Pop Quiz bag of holding – my favourite backpack, I use it for work (I carry a lot of stuff around) and it was fantastic as my carry-on for this trip as well.
Note: I went with Bioderma to Cannes for part of my trip (more on this soon!). PR samples and gifted products (mostly from Nadine!) are marked. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially, thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.
What the heck are those tiny those white bumps around your eyes?!
They’re white, but they’re not whiteheads. They’re too small to be pimples. And it doesn’t look like your skin is irritated either… What’s going on?
Milia seeds. Or white bumps on your eyelids, as we all like to call them. They’re common but super hard to treat. Prevention is key here.
But if it’s too late for that, don’t fret. You can still treat milia once they rear their ugly heads.
Here’s all you need to know to prevent and treat milia seeds:
What Are Milia Seeds?
Milia seeds form when skin cells get trapped under the skin’s surface. They look like white bumps, and often appear around the eye area (but they can pop up all over your face, just to annoy you). Blame them on:
Unprotected sun exposure
Lack of exfoliation
Moisturizers and sunscreens that are too rich for your skin type
How To Prevent Milia Seeds
Now that you know what causes milia seeds, you can easily prevent them. Here’s how:
Prevention is all well and good, but what can you do if you already got white bumps on your lids?
The safest way to treat milia seeds is to see a dermatologist. She’ll be able to remove them safely and quickly.
What about homemade treatments? I heard some people get rid of them at home with the help of a needle, but I wouldn’t recommend doing that. Milia often appear near the eyes, and, unless you have a super steady hand, popping them yourself could be quite dangerous!
Even if you are absolutely confident you can do it, it may not work. Once milia seeds have hardened, removing them is a tough job that’s best left to the professionals.
The Bottom Line
Exfoliate, wear sunscreen and stick to light lotions: that’s how you prevent and treat milia seeds. But if you already have them, go to a derm. Better to be safe than sorry!
What do you do to prevent and treat milia seeds?
Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping
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Q: Hello! I was hoping you could help me pick a hairstyle for my fine hair.
It seems to be very unmanageable. It’s not very thick, tangles all the time, and always seems to look stringy. See how thin and fuzzy the ends look?
Kristin’s long, fine hair tangles easily and has thin ends.
It also refuses to hold a style whenever I try to make an effort. I want a style that is low-maintenance, and especially one that can look decent without heat tools, as I rarely use them.
Kristin has trouble getting her hair to hold a style.
As for the colour, I’ve been using pure henna on my hair for a few years, and I don’t plan on changing that. Being a redhead suits me.
Kristin colours her hair red with pure henna.
I haven’t gotten a nice haircut at a salon in quite a while, as I cut my own bangs. So I’m in need of some guidance. Thanks so much for your help! — Kristin
A: Kristin, for your hair length, I think you should try the most current look right now, which is a short bob.
It should be below your chin, hovering above your collarbone. And slightly angled, but not a hard angle.
Emma Stone at the 2014 Cannes premiere of ‘Birdman.’
Charlize Theron at a 2018 screening of ‘Tully.’
Karlie Kloss at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2013.
With the way you described your hair as fine and hard to style, I think this will suit you very well. It’s the most flattering, simple look.
For your bangs, I would definitely do a slanted side bang. They should start from below the eye, on the higher cheek, and then slant down to the lower cheekbone. Your face is a little bit on the wider side, so the slant will help to chisel your shape. It will look great.
Emma Stone at a 2014 New York screening of ‘Birdman.’
Karlie Kloss at the New Museum’s 2014 Spring Gala.
If you choose to be a redhead, go for it. Your skin can handle it, and the short chop will actually look amazing with red. If possible, I think you should go a little more towards a light golden red. That will suit you more.
Emma Stone at the 2014 London premiere of ‘Aloha.’
Your ends are fuzzy because of a lack of moisture. Plus, your hair is too long for where it wants to be.
To get your hair in better condition, I would use either René Furterer or Kérastase products for fine hair. They don’t weigh the hair down. Fine hair will go flat and greasy if you use just anything on it.
On the annual Billboard Music Awards red carpet, anything goes. And I’m not just talking about the fashion!
The celebrity attendees also used their hair and makeup to express themselves, whether it was with glitter eyeshadow, purple lipstick or even pink hair.
Here are the best beauty looks from this year’s ceremony.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Priyanka Chopra at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
I can’t decide which I love more—Priyanka’s thicky, lustrous hair or her subtly colourful makeup. (I also dig her layered necklaces!) The lip colour is a lovely sheer berry, always my favourite shade on her, but the metallic purple and gold liners make it playful. Her lashes have just the right natural texture.
Close-up of Olivia Wilde at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
With a high-necked gold lamé gown, you need to wear your hair up, and your makeup should probably be more understated. Olivia did just that with this loose, face-framing updo and warm smoky eyes. Notice how the darker shadow at the outer edges of her eyes makes them pop. (I think she’s had a little something something in her lips, no?)
Kiernan Shipka
Kiernan Shipka at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Kiernan Shipka at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Kieran looks fresh, fun and age-appropriate (she’s 19) in this glittery silver shadow with tiny star appliqués. A stained berry on her lips keeps things low-key, and of course, her skin and brows are perfection. The last time we saw her, she was blonde, but now her hair is a darker reddish hue. I love it!
Close-up of Ciara at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Could Ciara’s skin be any glowier? And those cheekbones, OMG! She totally pulls off the tight, high ponytail, and there’s a soft Ombré effect happening with her lip colour, which I love. I just find the eyeliner a bit harsh, and the false lashes could be more natural (see: Priyanka).
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Sophie Turner at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Sophie played up her lashes in a big way, and I’m here for it. It’s actually the lower ones that are the focus, and her makeup artist confirmed that she used some falsies (although they look super natural!). I also like the matte rosy taupe all the way around her eyes, and the bouncy blowout. Too much blush though? Maybe!
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Sabrina Carpenter at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Sabrina tried out this negative-space winged eyeliner, and it looks so good! Surprisingly, she kept her lashes very, very natural, and you know what? I don’t hate the nude liner underneath each pupil. I think her beachy hair and big brows are gorgeous… but the lip fillers are getting a bit much!
Halsey
Halsey at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Halsey at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Her dress was a tragedy, but I can almost get behind Haley’s beauty look. With her short, wet hair and bronzed skin, I think she can carry off the dramatic purple lipstick. I also like the lashes, faux freckles and highlighter. But was the extra dab of purple under each eye necessary? And do her brows need to be so angular? No and no.
Close-up of Ella Mai at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Ella is channeling the 1990s in a tight skyscraper top knot, bold red lipstick and artfully arranged baby hairs (they’re molded into curls, while two pieces were left straight). This is so unexpected and cool! Also, her matte but luminous skin is utterly flawless.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Taylor Swift at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Did I mention that I’m obsessed with Taylor’s new bangs? (To the point where I had mine cut the same way after seeing them here!) Unfortunately, the bangs are the only part of this look that I really like. I think there’s a way to do purple eyeshadow with pink lipstick in a modern way, but this is not it. She reminds me of a figure skater!
Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Close-up of Julianne Hough at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Julianne’s waved bob with straight ends is adorable on her, but I can’t help but wish she’d tone down the platinum blonde. Either that, or the spray tan—because both together with the dark brown brows seems a little harsh. The same goes for the jet-black liner and pink blush. I’d love to see her go back to this!
BTS
BTS at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
As much as I enjoyed all the other looks, I think we can all agree that BTS were the TRUE stars of this event! I mean…
The hair, the lip stains, the SKIN! Are you not obsessed?!
Who had your favourite (and least favourite) beauty look on this red carpet?
Aging is unavoidable, despite how many anti-aging products there are on the market that promise you’ll look like you’re in your 30s again. While that’s impossible, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that there are external factors that impact the way we age, like our environment and how we treat our bodies. What might […]
Humectant is a fancy word to describe ingredients that attract moisture into your skin and bind it there. They take this moisture from two places: the air all around you and the deeper layers of your skin.
It’s not as drying as you think. Roughly 60% of your skin is made up of moisture, so redistributing it won’t do you much harm. Heck, it can do your skin a world of good.
When all its layers have all the moisture they need, your skin plumps up so that your fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. Your face gets softer to the touch. Your complexion glows.
Its proper name is Ubiquinone (that’s how you’ll find it on the ingredient list). It’s a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, reduces UV damage and stimulates collagen production.
A 1999 German study shows that using Coenzyme Q10 regularly reduces oxidative damage and could reduce crow feet.
FYI, Ubiquinone is a great addition to this mask. But no antioxidant is better than another. The more you add to your skincare routine, the better.
Beauty Pro Thermotherapy Warming Gold Foil is made up of a gold foil sheet infused with a hydrating essence. The goal foil doesn’t do anything special. It just makes the mask look cool. When you’re competing with a million sheet masks, you have to stand out somehow…
The sheet is big enough to fit my face. It’s easy to apply and adheres to the skin well. The instructions say to leave it on for 20 minutes. Wouldn’t that be too long once the mask started to heat up?
I shouldn’t have worried. I kept counting the minutes but this thing didn’t warm up. AT ALL. Ok, my face started to feel a little warmer after the 10 minute mark, but by then Torn by Natalie Imbruglia popped up on my iPhone and I started dancing around. What can I say? Waiting for sheet masks to do their job is boring.
I was pretty sure this was a gimmick, but I was still disappointed. If you say you’re gonna do something, do it. How hard it is to keep your word?
At least, Beauty Pro didn’t lie about the hydration part. The essence is so rich, it doesn’t absorb quickly into the skin. When I took the mask off a few minutes later, I still had a lot on my skin. I gently patted it in, did the rest of my skincare routine and went to bed.
When I woke up the next morning, my skin felt super soft to the touch and was positively glowing. My face looked plumper, which in turn made the fine lines around the corners of my eyes look smaller.
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
And thanks to the new natural products that have recently landed on the market, you can easily turn your bath into a spa-like experience.
Forget the harsh, artificially fragranced and sulfate-laden bubble baths of the past. They’ve been been replaced by gentle formulas with clean ingredients that are unlikely to disrupt your pH or cause irritation.
Bath salts and bath soaks from Herbivore, Captain Blankenship, Salt by Hendrix, Fig+Yarrow and Ila.
Think: mineral-rich salts and skin-softening powders, infused with essential oils, algae, clay and other botanical ingredients.
Keep scrolling to discover my favourite non-toxic bath salts and bath soaks to indulge in during your next self-care session!
Goop G.Tox Detox 5 Salt Bath Soak
Goop G.Tox Detox 5 Salt Bath Soak
Goop G.Tox Detox 5 Salt Bath Soak is one of five new soaks from Gwyneth Paltrow (who takes a bath every night!). Each one has a salt base, infused with different botanicals and essential oil blends created by Gwyneth’s acupuncturist. So far, I’ve tried G.Tox, for detoxing the stress and pollution of urban life. It’s creamy, thanks to the charcoal and clay, and leaves you feeling super relaxed. (It’s worth having to wipe down your tub afterwards!) The other blends include G.Nite for deep sleep; Phys.Ed. for sore muscles; Nurse! for when you’re under the weather; and “The Martini” for taking the edge off a stressful day.
Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak
Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak
If you love coconut and vanilla, you’ll love Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak. It’s made from dehydrated coconut milk, which creates a fragrant, milky bath experience. There’s also a high concentration of baking soda, famous for its soothing properties. This one leaves skin so soft and moisturized, I find I can easily skip body lotion.
Captain Blankenship Sky Dancer Calming Bath Salts
Captain Blankenship Sky Dancer Calming Bath Salts
Captain Blankenship Sky Dancer Calming Bath Salts are one of three all-natural bath salt blends from a women-run indie beauty brand. Housed in their signature blue bottles, all have sea salt, Epsom salt, baking soda and Marine clay, but with different combinations of essential oils. The lavender-tangerine notes of Sky Dancer are indeed calming, while Orla is uplifting with rose geranium and blood orange, and Rusalka is like a walk in the forest with spruce and pine.
Pursoma Minerals de Mer Body Soak
Pursoma Minerals de Mer Body Soak
Inspired by the sea, Pursoma Minerals de Mer Body Soak promises to detox and de-stress you with just three ingredients. Mineral-rich sea salt helps draw out toxins, and algae and chlorella are hydrating and soothing to the skin. The company also has soaks for sleep (Digital Detox), fatigue (Resurrection), post-workout (After The Class), post-yoga (Après Savasana) and colds and flu (Hot Tub).
Vertly Hemp CBD Infused Bath Salts
Vertly Hemp CBD Infused Bath Salts
If you’re curious about the CBD (cannabidiol) trend, Vertly Hemp CBD Infused Bath Salts would be a great way to dive in! Not only do they contain an all-natural mix of salts, sulfur, baking soda, glycerin and essential oils, they’re also spiked with a hemp-derived cannabinoid extract. Topically, CBD won’t make you high, but its anti-inflammatory properties can ease aches and soreness.
Indie Lee I-Recover Body Soak
Indie Lee I-Recover Body Soak
Indie Lee I-Recover Body Soak is a new two-in-one bath soak and skin scrub from one of my favourite clean beauty brands. Meant to soothe overworked muscles, it’s high in magnesium sulfate, coconut oil, Dead Sea salt and Himalayan salt. You can either dissolve it in a bath, or apply it to damp skin as an exfoliant.
Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath
Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath
Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath has a cult following amongst athletes, who swear by it for healing sore muscles post-training. The main ingredient is indeed mustard (in powdered form), along with essential oils and sodium carbonate. It was the creation of the late Dr. Shyam Singha, a London-based acupuncturist, osteopath and homeopath who was considered one of the most sought-after healers in ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
Salt by Hendrix Coco-Soak
Salt by Hendrix Coco-Soak
Salt by Hendrix Coco-Soak is from an Australian-made skincare range focused on botanical ingredients and minimalist packaging. With fine grains of Dead Sea salt, coconut powder and aloe, there are three infusions to choose from. Matcha has matcha green tea; Rose has real rose petals; and Pomegranate has pomegranate extract. So far, I’ve tried Matcha and it creates an amazing milky bath that leaves your skin like silk!
Unlike most bath salts, African Botanics Kalahari Desert De-Tox Bath Salts are made with Kalahari crystal salt, a pure and mineral-rich salt harvested from the Kalahari Desert in Africa. They’re also unique because they’re infused with caffeine—which de-puffs and treats cellulite—plus seaweed extract and marula oil for hydration.
Shiva Rose Venus Milk Bath
Shiva Rose Venus Milk Bath
Shiva Rose Venus Milk Bath takes inspiration from Cleopatra, who famously bathed in goat’s milk to preserve her beauty. So yes, you’ll find goat’s milk powder in here, along with baking soda, sea salt, lactose and amber oil. Bonus: The milk is a natural source of lactic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin.
This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak
This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak
This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak is all about promoting restful sleep. So, the sea salt base is spiked with chamomile and an array of aromatherapeutic oils, including lavender, patchouli and vetiver. There is some synthetic fragrance in here, but it’s less than one percent (so it meets Sephora’s “Clean Beauty” criteria).
Kaia Naturals The Sleep Detox Hot Bath
Kaia Naturals The Sleep Detox Hot Bath
Another option for creating a relaxed state before bed is Kaia Naturals The Sleep Detox Hot Bath. In hot water, the minty magnesium and salt mixture should encourage a sweat, which will help release toxins while the body absorbs minerals. There’s also a Matcha bath for detoxing and a Turmeric bath for sore muscles.
Herbivore Calm Soaking Salts
Herbivore Calm Soaking Salts
Herbivore Calm Soaking Salts are a fusion of Pacific sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, kaolin clay and my two favourite scents: ylang-ylang and vanilla. I find these ones take a little more time to dissolve, but make up for it with the cute packaging and affordable price! There’s also a Detox version, with blue clay to draw out impurities.
Agent Nateur Holi(Bath) Coconut Milk Bath
Agent Nateur Holi(Bath) Coconut Milk Bath
Agent Nateur Holi(Bath) Coconut Milk Bath contains not only coconut milk powder but also salt, magnesium, calendula, chamomile, baking soda and honey. So, you’re getting a little bit of everything in this one, with a jasmine, rose and sandalwood scent. Plus, there’s no guessing about how much to add to your bath—it’s already divided into 10 sachets.
Susanne Kaufmann St. John’s Wort Bath
Susanne Kaufmann St. John’s Wort Bath
For dry, sunburnt or stressed-out skin, Susanne Kaufmann St. John’s Wort Bath is just the ticket. The St. John’s wort extract is soothing for sensitivity, while cocoa butter and milk protein nourish the skin. This one has a cool fizzing effect when you add it to the water (thanks to the baking soda)
Ila Bath Salts for Inner Peace
Ila Bath Salts for Inner Peace
Even the packaging of Ila Bath Salts for Inner Peace feels luxurious, it’s such a heavy jar. Inside is a generous amount of Himalayan salt crystals, infused with organic rose otto, sandalwood and jasmine essential oils. These actually last a long time, as you only need one or two tablespoons per bath.
Botanica Nude Beach Bath Soak
Botanica Nude Beach Bath Soak
Botanica Nude Beach Bath Soak had me at banana. This milky bath is a combination of powdered coconut milk and fragrant oils (and sounds good enough to eat!). There’s also a Beauty Bath version, if you prefer violet and rose notes. From every product sold, the company donates $1 back to non-profit organizations in the areas where they source their fragrance ingredients.
Shea Moisture Muscle Relief Mineral Soak
Shea Moisture Muscle Relief Mineral Soak
Your best option on a budget is Shea Moisture Muscle Relief Mineral Soak. Unlike most bath soaks at this price point, it’s completely free of chemical ingredients. Instead, they use Dead Sea salts, Epsom salts, baking soda, coconut oil and shea butter for a hydrating and relaxing experience.
Salt by Hendrix Soak Infusion
Salt by Hendrix Soak Infusion
If you like the idea of bathing in flower petals, you have to check out Salt by Hendrix Soak Infusion. I’ve tried the Lavender + Hibiscus blend, which contains magnesium flakes, Epsom salt and Himalayan pink salt infused with real lavender and hibiscus. I was pleasantly surprised to find it turned my bath pink! There are two other infusions: Rose + Heather Flower and Globosa + Green Tea.
Naturopathica Sweet Birch Magnesium Bath Flakes
Naturopathica Sweet Birch Magnesium Bath Flakes
Naturopathica Sweet Birch Magnesium Bath Flakes are ideal if you do a lot of working out, yoga or sports. The magnesium flakes are an alternative to Epsom salts, and are made from some of the world’s purest natural magnesium chloride. Sweet birch oil creates a warming sensation and has been shown to reduce inflammation and pain.
French Girl Menthe Sea Soak
French Girl Menthe Sea Soak
If you’re a fan of mint, French Girl Menthe Sea Soak is for you. This blend of six salts (Himalayan, Dendritic, Epsom, Dead Sea, French grey and Pacific) is fragranced with peppermint, rosemary and lavender. The salts help to relax muscles while the essential oils invigorate your senses.
Mauli Inner Beauty Rituals Himalayan Healing Salts create an indulgent, spa-like soak. The Himalayan pink salt and real rose quartz powder (!!) are blended with 13 fragrant oils, including geranium, blood orange, grapefruit, lime, sandalwood, jasmine and vanilla.
Fig+Yarrow Pink Love Salts
Fig+Yarrow Pink Love Salts
I just invested in the Fig+Yarrow Pink Love Salts, which are handcrafted in small batches by adding an aromatherapeutic blend of essential oils to a base of Himalayan pink salt. The ylang-ylang, patchouli, bergamot, orange and geranium bourbon are said to get you in the mood for love!
Shop Editor’s Picks
What’s your favourite bath soak? Have you tried any of these?
Peter started his brand to deal with his acne. It worked, but I’m not too impressed by his anti-acne range. Too many essentials oil that can irritate skin that’s already inflamed.
His anti-aging line is another matter entirely. From sunscreens to retinol serums, here you’ll find plenty of products to help you prevent sun damage, treat wrinkles and brighten your complexion. Here’s what’s worth the splurge:
Best For Sun Protection: Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Naked Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Lotion ($38.00)
Looking for a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t make you look like Caspar The Ghost? Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Naked Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Lotion is IT. More of a moisturizing cream than a lotion, it uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide excellent broad spectrum protection without irritating skin. It’s so gentle, even sensitive, rosacea-prone skin can use it! The tint is almost universal, blending in effortlessly with most skin tones. Only those on the far ends of the spectrum (very fair princesses and very dark damsels) are left out. It may be a tad too moisturising for oily skin, but everyone else will love it.
Best For Antiaging: Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM ($65.00)
One of the best retinol serums I’ve ever tried, Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM uses a whopping 1.5% retinol in a squalane base. Retinol fights wrinkles in 3 ways: it destroys free radicals before they can form them, speeds up the skin’s exfoliating process to smooth them out and boosts collagen production to keep skin firm. At this concentration, it can easily irritate skin, dry it out ad make it flake, too. The moisturizing squalane base counteracts the drying effects to an extent. Still, I recommend this only to women who have built up tolerance to retinol over the years. Start with a smaller concentration and work your way up here.
Best For Wrinkle Prevention: Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum ($95.00)
Tired of Vitamin C serums that go bad after one month? Blame it on L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA). It’s the most powerful form of Vitamin C… and the faster to deteriorate. Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum ditched it in favour of its derivative Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (TA). TA is oil-soluble, meaning it penetrates skin better and faster than LAA. Once there, it boosts collagen and fights free radicals to keep wrinkles at bay. The best part? The serum also has ferulic acid and Vitamin E. These antioxidants are Vitamin C’s best friends, making it even more powerful and strong.
Best For The Eye Area: Peter Thomas Roth FirmX 360 Eye Renewal ($75.00)
If you’re a regular here, you know I don’t recommend eye cream. Your face moisturiser can do the job. But if you feel naked without one, Peter Thomas Roth FirmX 360 Eye Renewal is worth every cent. It uses a blend of film-formers and brightening agents to hide wrinkles and dark circles in the short term. The film formers tighten skin so crows’ feet look smaller while mica and titanium dioxide lighten the shadowed under eye area. These are temporary cosmetic tricks, but they work a charm. Plus, the eye cream is loaded with antioxidants and soothing agents that fight free radicals and inflammation, two of the main causes of aging. With regular use, it keeps wrinkles off your face.
Best Cleanser: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cream Cleanser ($28.00)
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cream Cleanser cleanses skin while moisturizing with pure water vapor drawn from the clouds. Or so the brand says. In truth, it’s just a gentle foaming cleanser with hyaluronic acid to help skin retain enough moisture during the cleansing process. When you rinse it off, your skin is both clean and soft.
What do you think are the best Peter Thomas Roth products? Share your picks in the comments below.
Affiliate links.
Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
Half of them swear this moisturiser can soothe their sensitive, even eczema prone skin. The other half that it turns their skin into a red, irritated mess.
Who the heck is right? I mean, a moisturiser can’t possibly give such completely different results, can it?
If it’s dealing with sensitive skin, YES it can. Here’s why:
Key Ingredients In Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream
Apricot, Jojoba and Thistle Oils
The bulk of Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream is made up of sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and thistle oil. They all work by creating a barrier on the skin that prevents moisture loss, keeping skin hydrated for longer.
They may all do the same job, but each oil has something that makes it unique:
Sweet Almond Oil: It’s commonly used in massage oils because it dries quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind.
Jojoba Oil: It’s very similar to human sebum, so your skin instantly recognises it and absorbs it quickly. This makes it one of the few oils even oily skin can use without breaking out all over.
Thistle oil: It has antioxidant and soothing properties that can prevent wrinkles and calm down irritations.
Did you know that thousands of little bacteria live on your skin? Yes, for real.
They’re responsible for keeping your skin in top shape. When the good bacteria outnumber the bad ones, your skin’s clear and healthy. But when they bad guys take over, anything can happen. Acne, irritations, eczema… It’s not pretty.
Adding the good bacteria back into your skin can help. FYI, I’m not talking about live bacteria. Bacteria need to eat to survive and there’s no food in a moisturiser.
But chamomile is still a member of the daisy family. If you’re allergic to ANY plant in this family, putting chamomile on your skin won’t soothe it. It’ll give you a bad rash… or worse.
Chamomile could be it. But then people with allergies are careful to avoid triggers. Must be something else…
Lavender oil and rose geranium oil. These natural oils have fragrant components that can irritate sensitive skin real bad. I don’t know what Pai was thinking in putting them here…
Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion
Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream has a rich, thick texture that sinks into my dry skin quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind. It doesn’t break me out either.
I can’t vouch for how soothing it is. My skin isn’t sensitive or prone to redness (I know, lucky!), but there are goodies here that can do the job.
What I can vouch for is how moisturising it is. As soon as I put it on, this moisturizer makes my skin softer and smoother. The effect lasts all till evening. At no point during the day I feel that tight tell-tale sign my skin needs more moisture.
The cream has a faint lavender scent. It’s pleasant and disappears faster. But it could cause all sorts of trouble for sensitive skin.
The thing with sensitive skin is that it’s different for everyone. Even a common allergen like lavender can cause a rash in 50 people and leave another 50 unscathed.
My opinion? If I had sensitive skin, I’d avoid anything with fragrant oils, like lavender, in it. But if you’re curious to try it anyway, get hold of a sample and patch test. Better safe than sorry.
P.S. The cream above is a sample size. It came in a holiday skincare set I bought with my own money over the Christmas holidays.
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“How often should you exfoliate with AHAs/BHA? The instructions on my glycolic acid exfoliant say I need to apply it every night. But then why is my skin so dry all of a sudden?”
Exfoliating acids are double-edged swords. Use them right and they’ll brighten up your skin, smooth out your wrinkles and unclog your pores. Overdo them, and they’ll punish you with dryness and irritation.
How do you get the balance right? It all comes down to your skin type and what type of acid you’re using:
What The Heck Are AHAs/BHA?
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) are two families of exfoliants. They work by dissolving the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together.
These dead cells are old. They’ve been battered by UV rays, pollution, freezing winds… They’ve become rough and lost their glow. When you get them off your face, your whole complexion is softer and brighter.
Not all acids are created equal. Each of them has its own skincare superpower. No matter what skin type/concern you have, there’s an exfoliating acid out there that can deal with it. Here are the most common:
Lactic acid: The least irritating member of the AHAs family, it exfoliates and hydrates sensitive skin at the same time.
Mandelic acid: The new kid on the block, this AHA is a large mocule that easily penetrates the skin’s lipid layer and gets into the pores. It helps unclog them, but it works more slowly than salicylic acid. I only recommend it to oily, acne-prone skin that can’t tolerate salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid: The only member of the BHA family used in skincare, it can get inside the pores and unclog them from within. Bye bye, blackheads and pimples! Plus, it has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and irritation. It’s my top choice for oily and acne-prone skin.
Using AHAs/BHA too often terribly backfires. I totally get it you want to get rid of the dead skin cells that are roughening up your skin and stealing its glow.
But you CAN’T remove ALL dead cells. You see, those cells are there for a reason. They protect the newer, healthier cells that aren’t ready to come to the surface yet.
When you remove too many layers, you’re destroying your skin’s protective barrier and exposing skin that’s not ready to be exposed yet. It’s ugly. And it hurts like hell.
It depends on your skin type and what acid you’re using:
Glycolic acid: On dry, sun-damaged skin, you can use it every other night.
Lactic acid: Use it once or twice a week at night on sensitive skin. Other skin types can use it more often.
Mandelic acid: On oily skin, it’s safe to use once a day, either morning or night.
Salicylic acid: You can use it every day, either morning or night, on oily, acne-prone skin. If you’re having a bad breakout, you may use it both morning and night.
It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that these are just guidelines. If your skin starts experiencing any sign of dryness – flaky patches, redness, irritation – cut back usage.
Some cleansers contain acids to remove makeup, impurities and dead cells all in one go. In this case, the acid won’t stay on your skin for long. When you rinse off your cleanser, the exfoliating acids go down the drain with it.
You know what this means? They don’t have the time to do much exfoliation. That’s why they’re safe for daily use, no matter your skin type.
If your skin tolerates leave-on exfoliants, go down that route. You’ll get better results. But if your skin is sensitive and doesn’t react to acid well, trying an exfoliating cleanser makes sense.
This may surprise you, but I’m NOT happy about it. These high concentrations can be very irritating. They’re for people who built up tolerance to acids over the years, not someone who just wants to try what’s new at Sephora.
If your skin can take them, use them no more than once every 7/10 days. They remove way more dead cells than an acid toner or serum, so DON’T use them as often. Less is more with peels.
Exfoliating acids are the quickest way to get a brighter, smoother complexion. But they can dry out and irritate skin if you overdo them. Use them in moderation!
How often do you use AHAs/BHA exfoliants? Share your experience in the comments below.
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Dawn Siler 