chloe-etc

It's the end of July already! I want to try and get into the swing of doing monthly favourites (whether that's going to happen I don't know!) I've been enjoying quite a few things this past month and I just couldn't not share them with you!

Originally today's post was meant to be a lemon drizzle cake recipe however the last week at school has been really busy and I haven't had a chance to finish it so that one will be coming the week after next. That out of the way, summer has finally begun! *cheers*


Day 1 and I headed to the beach with my family. I've literally only just got back. Anyway, I took some pictures of my outfit and thought I would share it with you.






Thank you to my mum and step-sister Chloe for taking the pictures, and thank you SO much for following my blog. Almost 80 followers! 

Last week I did a post on the basics of skincare and helping to know what products to use for your skin type. If you haven't read it already you can here: http://chloe-etc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/skincare-part-one.html

Forming a skincare routine is going to be different for everybody - some more complex than others. But one thing that should never go a miss is cleansing. Cleansing the skin is very important. You can use a gel, cream, oil, balm or exfoliating cleanser depending on what skin type you have. They help to remove bacteria, make-up, and any dirt, sweat and oil that has accumulated on your skin (gross right?) I wash my face with a facial wash twice a day but once will work just fine. This one works well for me: http://www.boots.com/en/Simple-Kind-To-Skin-Moisturising-Facial-Wash-150ml_6131/ I would say I have normal/combination skin which can sometimes be a little oily but not very often. Twice a week I swap my cleanser for a gentle scrub to help remove any dead skin cells, however don't over do it and make sure you don't scrub too hard. The one I use and recommend is the 'St.Ives Gentle Apricot' scrub. St. Ives are great because they do loads of different scrubs formulated for specific skin types. Buy them here: http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Brands-A-to-Z/St-Ives/

The number one rule for any skin type is to NEVER SLEEP WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON. If I'm wearing a lot of makeup I remove my eye makeup first. I tend to use some sort of micellar water. I like this one from L'Oréal http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Paris-Skin-Perfection-3-in-1-Purifying-Micellar-Solution-200ml_1299734/ I personally don't think there is anything wrong with using makeup wipes to get rid of face makeup. It's better than not taking it off at all! Cream cleansers will also help to remove makeup. To make sure that every last trace of makeup is removed, I use a cotton pad and some more of the micellar water over the rest of my face. Of course, do all of this before cleansing in the evening.

The basis of any skin care routine should consist of:

1. Tie your hair up - Make sure you secure your hair off of the face.
2. If wearing makeup, REMOVE IT! - Start by using your preferred type of makeup remover for the eyes and remember to be very gentle as this part of your skin is very delicate. Then remove the rest of your make up using wipes, micellar water or oil/cream cleansers.
3. Apply cleanser to the entire face - Using a cleanser appropriate for your skin type, massage in a circular, upward motion. Remember to include the neck.
4. Rinse the face with warm water.
5. Pat the face dry with a soft towel.
6. Tone the face - Don't use toner around the eye area and don't use if you are breaking out. The toner helps to restore the skin to its natural pH level and to remove any left over dirt and excess oil. Toners are more useful to those with oily skin types or people who wear a lot of makeup.
7. Moisturise - Moisturise the skin using the correct formula for your skin type. Never skip this step it is very important
8. Eye cream - If you are under the age of about 25 you don't really need to worry about eye creams.
9. Moisturise the lips - apply your favourite lip balm to moisturise dry/chapped lips

*To really restore the skin, all skin types (especially oily and blemish-prone) will benefit from using treatment masks.

For more information on skincare check out http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skin-care-basics/

Thank you for reading,

Chloé
x x x

Healthy skin starts with a healthy lifestyle. Some aspects of the skin cannot be changed and are determined by your family; eating the right foods, drinking plenty of water, exercising and getting enough sleep however, are essential to maintaining beautiful skin.

Personally, having healthy skin is very important in making me feel more confident and happier about myself. Since taking more time with my skincare routine I have definitely noticed a huge improvement. I don't believe that you have to spend a lot of money on skincare products and I think that there are plenty of great products out there you just have to know which ones work for you. Knowledge and understanding of your skin can make shopping for skincare a lot easier, so I have put together this post to hopefully help you.

The Dermis (middle layer of your skin) is a combination of blood vessels, hair follicles and oil glands. This layer also has the nerves that sense pain, temperature and touch. The Epidermis (outer layer of your skin) is made up of 4 layers and is responsible for protecting you from the environment.

There are 5 main skin types, although they can vary from one to the other.

Normal - Normal skin needs regular cleansing, exfoliating about twice a week and a light moisturiser.

Dry - Use richer cleansers e.g. cream cleaners and thicker, more nourishing moisturisers.

Oily - Cleanse regularly, use a toner of your choice (preferably alcohol-free) and choose an oil-free moisturiser. However, using oil products can help to balance out the oil in your skin.

Sensitive - Use products that are mild and fragrance-free. Look for products that are specifically labelled for sensitive skin.

Combination - Combination skin requires regular cleansing, toning and moisturising. Products containing AHA are great to use on this skin type.

I hope this has been useful to you, whatever your skin type, but remember to use what works best for you because everybody's skin is different. There will be a part two coming next week.

Thank you for reading,

Chloé
x x x