Most people make new years resolutions to quit chocolate or join the gym. Mine was to get better looking skin, and figure out exactly what I needed to do in order to achieve this. For me, I felt like investing my time into researching skincare options was the way forward, as past dietary changes and following other standard advice gave me no change in the look of my skin.
My skin is quite dry and sensitive, and so every toner I've ever used has left my skin feeling dry, tight, irritated, red etc. For many years I have skipped the toner stage of my skincare routine, simply because my skin just couldn't handle it.
It was Caroline Hiron's blog that led me to discover Pixi
Glow Tonic - a product that has been talked about almost to death by bloggers and
skincare experts alike. Infact, it's only made in relatively small
batches and when it's announced as being in stock - it very quickly
sells out.
I was dubious to try glow tonic because as we all know, products are easily over-hyped in the beauty world. However, it helped reassure me when Caroline (an actual skincare expert) mentioned it on her blog, stating it was a dupe of a more expensive product called P50.
As I have mentioned before, I now use use La Roche Posay Effaclar K moisturiser, as well as my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I feel both of these products have been working great, however I wanted a product that would improve my skins texture and reduce the look of my pores.
The beauty of Glow Tonic, is that it is actually an exfoliating toner as it contains Glycolic Acid. This ingredient helps the skin to renew itself, in a way that is different from using a scrub that contains exfoliating particles. Frankly, exfoliating is something I rarely do because of how red and irrated even the gentlest of exfoliators leaves my skin feeling.
I added Glow Tonic as my second step after Cleanse & Polish, using a large cotton pad and sweeping the Glow Tonic all over the face. The smell is not what you would expect, and I liken it to the smell of soaps in posh hotel bathrooms. It's an odd one to explain, but definitely is a little strange, although not in any way unbearable. I left my judgement at the door though, because what's important is how well and if it works.
The first thing I looked out for was if it made my skin red, itchy or uncomfortable. I was worried this could be an issue as it contains Ginseng. I was relieved and surprised to find my skin felt completely normal and even somewhat refreshed after applying Glow Tonic. I of course followed up with Effaclar K, so I can't comment on how it would leave the skin feeling without moisturiser.
I have been using Glow Tonic for about 4 weeks now, twice a day as part of my skincare routine. My skin is honestly looking the best it has ever looked, and the most noticeable thing is how smooth to the touch it feels, especially when I wake up in the morning after it's had time to work it's magic overnight. The look and feel is comparable to how my skin felt as a child, just pure smoothness. This is especially noticeable around the chin which has always been my most self concious area, and always where I apply the most make up!
Glow Tonic has also been really effective in getting rid of those pesky little bumps that aren't blemishes as such, but just annoying blips in the texture which prevent the skin from looking smooth. I have also found I am needing increasingly less make-up, and have simply been using my Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser, and a little concealer here and there.
There still is a way to go before I have the skin I want - completely free of marks etc, however for me *any* improvement is greatly welcomed, and for once I feel as if my money hasn't been wasted (Glow Tonic is £16 + postage unless you live in London and can pop into a Pixi store). If like me you have to be extremely careful with what you use on your skin, yet want to improve the texture and appearance then from my experience, Pixi Glow Tonic is something I would recommend. I really can't think of anything negative to say, other than it can be a difficult product to get hold of. However, I feel this in itself speaks volumes about the quality of the product and it's obviously working wonders for alot of people!
A little while ago, I saw a video posted on into the gloss featuring MUA Robert Jones, discussing colour theory in make up in relation to skin tone. I found it incredibly useful, so thought I would write this post summarising the advice given to those of us with pale skin.
It's important to remember that a product can look very different depending on the skin tone. If you really like the look of a product on a model with tanned/darker skin... remember it may not suit you if you have very fair skin, and vice versa. Also, don't just go for colours that you like as colours, i.e you'd love it as a wall or dress colour - always keep your skin tone in mind and what it can and cannot handle.
Never be afraid to experiment with make up choices, although I feel Robert's advice could save you money in the long run, and make sure you are getting the most out of the products you buy and they don't end up unloved and unused! Blusher
"It's not to contour or re-shape your face with, it's to add life and colour to your face. A great rule of thumb, is if you were to run around the block, you don't want to use a shade of blush any darker than what you would flush to".
DO: Go for softer colours such as pinks, peaches and apricot.
DON'T: Try to pull off something that's too dark for your skin tone.
Lips
"Keep a few things in mind. Your lip size - that's always the most important to me because you never want to wear a shade that's dark if your lips are thin. A lighter shade will make them look fuller if they are thin. Secondly it is your skin tone - you want to choose something that is very complimentary to your skin tone. If you want to play it safe, you can always choose a shade a couple of shades darker than your natural skin tone. That will give you definition without it being too much".
DO: Although you can wear both, go for warm tones over cool tones, as these will make you look younger and add life to the face.
DON'T: Wear brown toned lipsticks, as these do not suit extremely pale skin tones. I hope the above advice from Robert helped! If you have any recommendations of products you use, then feel free to leave a comment below!
Let's be honest, the biggest pet peeve when it comes to buying foundation when you have pale skin, is finding shades that are light enough. Strictly speaking, there isn't an awful lot you can do to find *ultra* light shades (as in darker that white yet lighter than NC15 in Mac). The best way you can make the most out of your makeup, and get
away with wearing brands of foundations that do not make shades light enough for
you - is to invest in a white foundation and get into custom mixing to
your shade.
I
have found the above foundations which are white or off white that
you may want to look into.
1. Barry M Foundation Creme in White- £3.99(currently unavailable on the Barry M website but will I contact them to enquire when it's back!)
Yes, mixing means putting in a little more effort and spending cash on a white foundation, however if like me you have a drawer full of foundations that are too dark, then really it will mean you will actually get to use them, and they will go from looking orange to looking great!
There is also a key problem to look out for that I feel many people neglect to notice, that mixing can drastically help with. Tide Marks (duh duh duhhhhh!)
When your foundation colour does not match the colour on your neck either because your shade is too dark or.....
When your foundation appears to be a perfect match when applying (in good daylight this is, not store lighting) yet when you look in the mirror some time later you notice it is distinctly darker, creating a contrast between the face and neck that wasn't there when you blended and checked for it earlier.
The process is known as oxidisation - which is when oxygen reacts with the particles in your foundation which in short turns them darker. Some foundations do this much worse than others and can look considerably darker than when you first applied them.
The best way to check for oxidisation within your current foundation is to swatch on your hand, leave it 10 minutes and swatch again next to it to see if there is much of a colour difference. If you are finding there is a difference, then be sure to mix your foundation with a white foundation before application to the face so it's *slightly* too pale. So long as you don't overdo the white, your mixed shade will then oxidise to your natural colour and nothing darker. This may be more of a trial and error thing for some of you, but once you get the hang of it, it will make a massive difference and greatly improve the look of your makeup. Remember: the wrong colour base looks great on no one!
I tend to mix on the back of my hand and at the minute I am using Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser for my base, in "Alabaster Tint" with 1 pump of Dainty Doll in 001 as my mixer. However as Dainty Doll are no longer in business this is
extremely difficult to find so I'd recommend buying one of the alternative ones pictured above.
To mix, I tend to place both shades side by side, and gently mix by hand. I wouldn't advise mixing with your foundation brush as in my experience, half of it ends up just caking up the brush and doesn't get mixed as well.
Alternatively, you can get a small plastic lid to insert your products into, and use a thin brush to mix the two together. Although for accuracy, mixing on the hand gives you a better idea of your natural skintone (even if it's slightly different to to the colour of your face/neck).
My final word on mixing is once you get used to it, it really isn't much of a hassle and only really adds a few seconds onto the time it takes to apply your makeup.
As always, daylight is your best friend trying to get the perfect shade, not artificial yellow light. Try and position your make up mirror so that it reflects lots of natural light, and is not facing away from it.
Unfortunately when shopping for foundation, counter assistants will tell you the shade of foundation is perfect even when it's not not (do I need to remind anyone of when I was sold Estee Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige?!) Always have your wits about you and don't be afraid to say no if you are not 100% comfortable on the shade, or wish to go outside and look at it in natural light.
Some of you may remember that back in October I picked up a few items whilst in London, including the Origins "Make A Difference Plus" Moisturiser. Despite being told by the counter assistant this was a "much less heavy/greasy formula than other moisturisers, and will definitely not break my skin out".... this moisturiser has done nothing but. Infact, my skin has been at it's worst for quite some time all since I started using this one product.
Hence I was in need of an actual miracle. I promptly gave up with MADP two weeks ago after finally having enough and scoured the skincare section of Boots for a remedy. I have heard pretty much every beauty blogger mention "La Roche Posay" in their skincare favourites and recommendations, so decided to have a look and see if there was anything that may help.
To be honest the LRP stand in Boots was a little overwhelming as not only is the packaging in French, (GCSE Grade C will only get you so far...) but the titles of all the products sounded more like scientific experiments rather than skincare. I finally went with a moisturiser entitled "La Roche Posay Effaclar K", which cost £9.75 for a 30ml tube. The product is boxed, and so this is what it looks like on the shelf...
The product itself comes in a squeezy metal tube, and is a thin white liquid. It has a very faint citrus smell, although is hardly noticeable at all and also smells quite clinical but in a good way. There's nothing worse that heavily scented skincare, and thankfully Effaclar K doesn't offend the senses in the slightest.
It is very quick to sink into the skin once applied and evenly distributed. Once it's absorbed, it does not sit on top of the skin like some moisturisers - instead the skin just feels soft - not wet, greasy or stingy. It also states it can be applied under makeup.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this product, afterall it's a moisturiser - not a mask, cleanser, facial, toner, exfoliator or anything typically aimed at problem skin. So, I cleansed as normal that night with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and then applied this afterwards.
The next morning I had a look in the mirror and had to do a double take. My skin actually looked different, noticably different. No it was not super clear with not a mark in sight - but it had definitely cleared up considerably in just a few hours with just one use!
I have continued to apply this moisturiser day and night for almost two weeks now, and my skin has completely changed in texture and appearance. I do have a few marks/scars as pale skin shows up imperfections like nothing else it would seem. However, as this product doesn't state it is for fading marks or scars I feel it's not fair to mark it down on that.
What it does claim, is that it "gradually exfoliates the skin texture to reduce pores and regain a smooth and clear complexion." In my opinion, I feel this product absolutely delivers on this promise and I have noticed a huge difference in just a short space of time.
The problem with breakouts and their aftermath, is the effect it has on our confidence. Yes we can cover with foundation and concealer, but really deep down everyone wants beautiful clear skin when they take their make up off too.
Finding products that genuinely make a difference, no matter how big or small has unmeasurable benefits to the way we feel about ourselves and I know how happy this product made me after just a few days, and I can't wait to keep on using it.
As far as I'm aware, this product isn't for long term use and is really for when the skin is playing up big time. However, I will be making sure I always have some of this handy in my makeup bag as it's really surprised me.
I have used so many products in the past in a vain attempt to get better looking skin, and I've even cut out certain food groups for months on end. I can honestly say nothing has had such a dramatic impact on my skin than Effaclar K, and I'm really impressed, especially as it hasn't aggravated my sensitive skin or dried it out.
Inside the box, there is also a leaflet explaining the different La Roche Posay products and when to use them according to your problem or concern. I love this attention to detail, as skincare can be overwhelming, especially when you are looking to fix a problem and have been let down by so many other products in the past.
Of course, everyones skin is different and as I have said before "similar to a mathematical formula", therefore finding what works for you is often a personal and unique thing so this should be something you bear in mind. Interestingly, this moisturiser states it's for oily skin (there wasn't another option for my skin type) as mine is actually dry/sensitive. I was worried this could cause me problems but it genuinely hasn't, so don't be put off if like me, your skin isn't oily.
Overall, I feel this product definitely is worthy of "Holy Grail" status - something I was saying after just a weeks worth of use. I've had barely any more problems since using this moisturiser, and my skin continues to get better and better with each use.
For £9.75, you can do alot worse, believe me!
Effaclar is available in Boots stores as well as online
