Going On A Skincare Journey With Ioma Paris

Hello there,

If you know me then you know that I am crazy about skincare. Wherever I go I can guarantee that I'll have some sort of serum or moisturiser in my bag and whenever I go away on holiday my loved ones echo "all of that is for your skin?!". Why yes, yes it is. I am a self-proclaimed skincare junkie which comes with it perks and of course downfalls. That's why when I was offered to visit the Ioma Paris counter in Harrods for a skin diagnosis I couldn't resist.

I first met the lovely Ioma Paris team at the Blogger's Hangout BLFW event and I was instantly intrigued by their skincare range. I loved the fact that you could completely tailor it to your skin and its needs as well as have an action plan to help you undertake your new skincare regime. They even have an app where you can record how your skin feels during your new regime and then the app changes and adapts your regime even further to suit your ever changing skin. My thoughts? Finally a skincare range where there is no thinking done on my part, I can just carry on with my routine without second guessing.

When I arrived at the Ioma Paris counter I was met by the lovely Victoria who was going to talk me through the range as well as do my diagnosis. I was excited to get started and talk about all things skincare.

When you first get your diagnosis done you're asked a few questions about your current skincare routine and what sort of skin you think you have. I explained that I have quite sensitive and dry skin and that I cleanse every day as well as exfoliate every other day. Whilst, I thought this would good and kept my skin clean, Victoria actually told me that exfoliating this much can actually damage your skin. Say what?! I know- I had no idea. I was just following the instructions that came with my old products.

I also explained my dark circles (which come with being so pale and having sensitive skin). I am not one for applying eye cream religiously (guilty!) but Victoria advised me to start doing so to protect my sensitive skin from ageing when I get older. It was nice to talk to someone who believes so passionately about taking good care of your skin and gives such informative advice.

The first step in the skin diagnosis was the check how hydrated my skin was. My skin was measured with Ioma's very own technology which can give you a full skin diagnosis in as little as three minuets. To my surprise my dry skin wasn't too bad. However, there is always room for improvement. Making sure that your skin is fully hydrated can eventually make your skin clearer, softer and protected from ageing prematurely.

Next my skin was scanned to analyse what sort of condition it was in, in terms of oiliness, ageing, sun damage and under eye circles. Yes, Ioma technology can tell you all of that! Although my readings were pretty average for someone of my age my skin is very thin so can be more vulnerable to damage. In addition to this I had been exfoliating too much which had left my skin too open and more prone damage such as sun burn and pollution damage. My skin had been creating pools of oil in my pores to protect itself resulting in quite a high oiliness score. This shocked me as I had such dry skin. It goes to show that you don't actually know your skin as well as you think you do.

After my scan was complete I was given a "shopping list" of which products would work best for me based on my diagnosis. As you can see all of the products have a different number on them. Each number represents which Ioma line the product is from as each line has it's own specific skin problem it solves. For instance, I have two products from the number four range which focuses on calming the skin and combating redness. However the beauty of Ioma is that you can mix and match all of the lines to suit your skin. Additionally you can always change and adapt your skincare regime as your skin changes. So if you feel that your skin is very problematic or has various different needs you don't have to worry about fitting into just one line. There is something for everyone.

I was very lucky and am very grateful to have been gifted quite a few samples and their new Lip Lift product (which I am really loving by the way) so stay tuned for an update of how I got on with my Ioma skincare products, coming very soon.

Beauty Hack: Nappy Rash Cream Face Mask?!

Welcome back!

I've been trying out a wealth of face masks ever since I was thirteen years old whilst attending and hosting some stereotypical sleepovers. I've tried them all from the £1 chocolate face mask right up to a full on gel face mask putting your pocket out by £18.

But what if I could tell you there's a brilliant face mask that doesn't break the bank like a gel one but also does a whole lot more than the £1 jobs? Well, it's been right under your noses the whole time. Sudocrem!

I first heard about using Sudocrem as a face mask when Bethan from Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model raved about it in an audition clip. And let's be honest, she has amazing skin. So she couldn't be wrong, right?

I know what you're thinking- nappy rash cream?! Ladies and gentlemen please throw your assumptions and pre-determined judgements aside because you'll be thanking me later.

The texture of Sudocrem is almost clay like when you apply it as a face mask. I like this because you can be sure that you are getting full coverage. I just applied the cream with my fingertips making sure that I got an even but thick layer across my whole face.

The first thing I noticed when I was applying my face mask was the smell; it smells slightly minty to me like toothpaste. Nothing too strong or eye watering though.

To remove the mask I just dampened a muslin cloth in warm water and wiped the product away.

Now, the results? At first my face felt kind of chalky when I initially removed the product. However after about two hours my skin felt smooth and plump. Also, (my favourite part) my usual redness had seemed to magically disappear.

I've been using Sudocrem as a face mask once a week for about three weeks now and am thrilled with the results. It seems I have found the perfect face mask without breaking the bank! Score one for me, zero for confusing beauty products.

My Moisturiser: The Best For Combination Skin

Welcome back!

I have been on a little skincare hype lately but this post is super overdue. I have combination skin with extremely different needs- I get a dry forehead and cheeks but oily nose and chin. So I have to have a very versatile moisturiser to combat this. I have been using the same moisturiser for more than two years and I have to say it is the best in the business!

Introducing my favourite moisturiser clinique's dramatically different!

The dramatically different moisturiser has a renowned reputation and it certainly lives up to it. For me, I use this moisturiser both day and night to keep my skin soft, springy and glowing all day everyday. A little goes a long way with this product as well. I only use about a ten pence piece size for my whole face. 

The scent of the lotion is almost non-existent which works for me as some heavily scented products can irritate my skin. The consistency is soft and creamy and can be applied very easily. The new formula allows the moisturiser to be quickly absorbed leaving your skin in bliss.

Overall this product is definitely worth the hype even after clinique changed their formula. If you have combination skin this lotion is really worth the investment!

*CIAO*

Bye Bye Under Eyes: The Best Products That Banish Dark Circles

Welcome back!

If you are an avid reader of my blog then you know that this summer I am rocking the "no make-up" make-up look. Mainly because it gets so humid here in London and make-up just makes my skin feel uncomfortable. In the summer I want my make-up on quickly and to remain fuss free throughout the day. So I thought I would amp up my skincare routine to minimise the amount of make-up I have to wear- particularly around my eyes.

Like many lovely ladies out there I suffer from dark under eye circles. No matter how much I sleep or how much water I drink I always have the dreaded purple-ish patches under my eyes. Perfect for halloween but not any other day of the year. Anyway after a year or so of trying different products I have found two that work for me and I would not leave the house without applying them.

Introducing my under eye saviours, both by benefit. The It's Potent eye cream and the Puff Off eye gel!

First things first I don't use these products together. I use the eye cream at night after I have finished the rest of my skincare routine. I just apply one large dab under each eye and pat it in gently with my ring finger. Being as gentle as possible is the best way to minimize dark circles. In the morning just before I apply my make-up and just after I have prepped my skin for the day I apply the eye gel with the built in applicator.

This eye cream is honestly my favourite part of my night time routine. It smells gorgeous and doesn't make my eyes water like other products. The product claims that it can actually fade dark circles and smooth fine lines over a prolonged period of time. I have been using this product for about six months and I definitely feel that my under eyes have gotten brighter and less purple. 

The texture is creamy and consistent and feels fresh once applied. When I wake up in the morning I can see a huge difference if I haven't applied it the night before. It really brightens the skin around your eyes and makes your skin look so fresh. 

As I said I apply this gel in the morning. The consistency is smooth and smells lovely. It glides over the skin and I can instantly feel it soothing my puffy eyes. 

The tip of the tube even has this handy iron shaped end which helps you move the gel around your eyes with ease. Once I have applied this I can definitely see that my under eyes are less puffy and discoloured. Sometimes this works so well I don't even have to apply concealer. Brilliant! 

Overall I would recommend these products to anyone suffering with dark circles. But just remember what works on my skin may not work for you. We are all different and have different skin types which work in different ways. I always recommend that you buy a sample size of any product before investing in a full sized version. 

*CIAO*

Review: Love Lettuce Face Mask

Welcome back!

Recently I went to a Lush store to pick up the usual bath bombs for my routinely Sunday soak. However whilst I was in there I met the most lovely Lush staff member who gifted me a pot of love lettuce face mask. Now, I have never tried a Lush face mask before, please don't shoot! I am just a bath bomb girl, but I thought as it was given to me through such good will I would give it a go. 

On the pot the product is described as an effective, exfoliating face mask that gives normal to oily skin a radiant glow. I have combination skin so I thought that it should work just fine on me. The face mask's main ingredients are almond shells, almond oil and lavender oil. 

Once I opened the pot I was overwhelmed by how fresh the product smelt. It was like walking through a fresh produce market. The colour was also very natural looking so I knew straight away there were no nasty ingredients. The texture of the product is also very thick and clay like which is what I like in a heavy-duty facial mask. 

On my skin the mask felt extremely thick but once it dried it thinned out a bit. When I applied the product I could really feel the almond shells so it was definitely exfoliating my skin and cleaning out all the oils. I left the mask on for ten minuets as instructed by the packaging. When it was time to take the mask off my skin felt really tight and I couldn't really move my face. This is how most facial treatments feel on my skin though so I wasn't worried. 

I removed the mask with warm water. It was very easy to get off once you have done a little scrubbing. I am actually really impressed with the results. My skin not only felt silky smooth but my redness had seemed to have disappeared entirely! This definitely gets a huge thumbs up from me. 

*CIAO*