Yon-Ka Skincare

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With the weather becoming ever colder I have noticed that my skin has started reacting to the disparity between inside (tropical, especially on the train where I am currently typing this) and the outside (Arctic). If you have been noticing a few dry patches creeping in, despite maintaining your normal routine, now is the time to inject some serious moisture into your skin and make sure that it’s barrier function is not compromised by all the hazards that lie in store for us this winter!

A new skincare brand I have recently been trying out is Yon-Ka, a natural collection that aims to capture the greatest benefits of plants, fruits and aromatherapy. They have an impressive range that is suitable for any skin type, even the most sensitive!

Even though my skin is oily around the T-zone I prefer using cream cleansers (especially during the colder months) to ensure that while my skin is thoroughly cleansed it is no way stripped of its natural moisture. The Yon-Ka Nettoyant Cleansing Cream does this beautifully as it effortlessly dissolves any impurities (be it makeup or city air pollutants) while being easy to rinse off with tepid water, leaving behind no residue; simply skin that feels soft and comfortable. The extracts of peppermint also help to make this cream feel refreshing on sensitized skin, so you can easily use it both day and night.

As one very wise woman said (CarolineHirons is my oracle when it comes to skincare) during the winter months you need to layer your skin with moisture until it can’t absorb any more. If, like me, this doesn’t sound feasible as you know that your skin will start to look greasy the trick is to use creams that are hydrating, but not necessarily oily, such as the Yon-Ka Crème 93 for combination skin. This cream is rich enough to provide your skin with the injection of moisture that it craves, but still leaves a relatively matte finish on the skin. It’s a great base for makeup too!

You can shop Yon-KA products in the UK here. 

Have you ever tried Yon-KA skincare? What products are you currently using to soothe winter skin? 

Murad Christmas Kits - Perfect Balance

Yes, I know it's too early to talk about Christmas, but you can't deny it is already everywhere! The shops are being stocked with stocking fillers, carols are on the radio and lights are being lit on every high street. So to begin our little Christmas round up I thought I would share with you a selection of skincare kits from Murad, which would make a perfect present for the complexion conscious!

The Perfect Balance Kit is designed to create a healthy, balanced environment on your skin by controlling oil production, maintaining clear pores and establishing an ideal level of hydration.

The kit contains the following four products:
Zone Pore Refining Gel, 60ml 
Blemish Treatment Concealer – Medium, 2.5g
Oil-Control Mattifier, 10ml
Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for eyes, 3.5ml 

My favourite products in this kit are the mattifying moisturiser, which hydrates the skin, while controlling oil throughout the day. It also works great as a primer if your skin tends to get oily. The concealer has a really soft texture and comes in a handy stick form perfect for touch ups on the go. I love the fact that it both clears and camouflages blemishes!

The perfect balance kit can be found for £42.50 here. Other kits from Murad include Complete Renewal (£52), Shake Up Your Makeup (£36), Hydration Sensation (£73.50) and Radiance Rescue (£58.50).

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser

The biggest beauty mistake I ever made in my teen years (along with being a little too tweezer happy) was trying to combat oily skin by stripping it of all moisture, which inevitably made the problem worse! In fact oily skin still needs moisture to keep it soft and healthy, the last thing you want to do is remove all your natural oils, breaking the barrier function of the skin and basically asking for trouble.

Good Things Miracle Mattifier is a great moisturiser to use if you have oily or blemish prone skin as it pulls off a clever balancing act. It is quickly absorbed and gives your skin plenty of hydration while clarifying blackcurrant extract helps to absorb any excess oil, so your skin stays smooth and matte and is less prone to breakouts. This cream smells delicious and with a little going a long way it really lasts whilemaking your skin feel smooth, but not at all greasy. It is also free from parabens, mineral oils, sodium laureth sulphate and is suitable for vegans.

The Good Things Miracle Mattifier moisturiser won't break the bank either as it's just £5.33 here.

Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse

With the Summer sun finally peeking through the clouds I thought this would be a good time to talk about sun protection. It is so important to protect your skin all year round, but particularly in the summer months. One of the products I have been relying on this season to shield my skin from sun exposure is Shu Uemura's UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30.

This mousse was developed based on Mr. Shu Uemura’s idea to create a product which performs as a veil between skincare and make-up for a better make-up canvas. A little goes a long way with this product. The recommended quantity is a walnut size.

 

The mousse is easy to spread and unlike most sun protection products it is super light weight. It doesn't feel sticky, creamy or thick and sinks into the skin instantly.

Although the mousse doesn't provide much coverage it mattifies the skin blurring pores and imperfections.

I have found it a great base to use after moisturiser before foundation as it sets matt and ensures liquid foundation stays put. As my skin does get more oily in the summer it's great to have a base that doesn't shift and provides SPF 30.


Shue Uemura UV Under Base mousse is £29 and available to purchase online here in the original beige shade.

Do you use a primer with SPF? Which are your favourites? Have you tried the Shu Uemura Under base? xxx

How to Cover Blemishes and Undereye Circles

I have wanted to do a video about concealing flaws for quite some time, and given I have been ill with bronchitis for the past week I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity... flaws aplenty!


Products mentioned in this video:
Nars Sheer Glow foundation
Babbi Brown corrector/ creamy concealer
MUFE Full Cover concealer
L'ancome Effacernes
NARS Laguna bronzer
MAC Moonriver blush
MeMeMe ArchAngel
MUA Plumping Lipgloss in Peach Shimmer

What are your favourite products for covering spots and undereye circles? I have just purchased a new Dior concealer so no doubt I will share with you how well it works. xxx

Review: The Chelsea Day Spa Boutique

Last year the team behind the fabulous The Chelsea Day Spa on the King’s Road opened their sister spa The Chelsea Day Spa Boutique on Hollywood Road, SW10. The new salon is smaller and more intimate, but still offers a great range of face, body and nail treatments in its three cosy treatment rooms and nail bar.

The spa’s team of highly qualified therapists are trained in Darphin and HydroPeptide luxury facials, plus personalised Aromatherapy, Swedish, Hot Stone and Deep Tissue massages. The salon also offers basic personal grooming and express treatments for both men and women, which includes waxing with Perron Rigot, eye lash and brow tinting, plus express manicures/pedicures and ‘everlasting’ gels with Jessica.

I was kindly invited to The Chelsea Day Spa Boutique to experience one of Darphin's signature facials, which are priced at £85 for 60 minutes.

On arrival I was offered some lemon water while I filled out the usual forms relating to any allergies or medications. I was then taken to my treatment room, which was cosy, but quite small. After I had made myself comfortable the therapist  performed what she called 'a welcome ritual', which is a light foot massage to begin the relaxation process. She then analysed my skin and noticed that it was looking rather oily in the t-zone, with some slight dehydration in the cheeks and around the eyes. My appointment was at 7pm, so after being on the go all day I was definitely looking very shiny! As I had expressed some concerns about a few developing blemishes my therapist recommended The Lemon & Lavender Deep Cleansing Treatment, which is described as a deep purifying and detoxifying treatment for all skin types that refines pores and leaves complexion refreshed, sparkling clean, clear and bright.

She began by thoroughly removing all makeup and then cleansing the face, neck and chest twice with Darphin's Purifying Foam Gel (£17.10). This felt very light and cooling on the skin, leaving it feeling fresh and clean. She then followed with an exfoliator and Darphin's Mild Aroma Peeling (£24.30) to gently remove impurities. While the mask was doing its magic I was given a head massage, which felt wonderfully relaxing. After this she applied the Soothing Eye Contour Mask (£31.50) and performed two types of facial massage (lymph drainage) with Darphin's Niaouli Aromatic Care Elixir, which smells absolutely amazing. To balance the oil in my skin, while making sure it remains hydrated, she also used the Skin Mat Balancing Serum (£40.50) and Matifying Lotion (£34.20).

The whole treatment lasted just over an hour and I left feeling very relaxed, while my skin looked clear and fresh. I could feel that the products really saturated and plumped my skin, yet it didn't feel greasy or look shiny in the slightest. After five hours I can see that my skin still looks on the healthy side of matte, with a subtle glow void of any oiliness.

The The Chelsea Day Spa Boutique is a lovely little salon, and given that it is practically on my doorstep I will definitely be visiting again. It provides a great selection of treatments at comparatively reasonable prices using an impeccable range of products. Plus, it is open till 8pm Mon-Thurs, which makes it a perfect evening antidote to a hectic week! While looking through their website I stumbled upon their Daily Deals page and found that they often offer discounts on their treatments. Their current deal is TWO 60 minute Rejuvenating Facials for £85 (originally priced at £170), but I think this may change daily to give you lots of options!


Have you ever visited the The Chelsea Day Spa or The Chelsea Day Spa Boutique? Do you treat yourself to regular facials? Are you a fan of Darphin products? Which are your favourites? xxx