Semester two has recently started, which gives you the chance to start fresh with new modules and lectures. Yet you might still be affected by the aftermath of semester one assignment and exam stress; I know I am. With all the stress from assignments and exams, it can cause your skin to breakout, which makes it difficult to look forward to starting a new semester. Due to such stress, my skin has not been very good lately, so I’ve trying to repair it so I can look and feel better when meeting new people this semester. Skin care is very crucial, even more than make-up. Whenever I’m having a bad skin day, applying make-up seems to be much more difficult, my foundation doesn’t apply as smoothly and the make-up ends up looking cakey and bumpy.
The first, and arguably the most important, step in a skincare routine is removing your make-up properly. My personal favourite way of removing make-up is with micellar water, I find it much more cleansing and refreshing. During exam period I ran out of micellar water and couldn’t find the time to buy more, so I used make-up remover wipes, which didn’t work well as they irritated my sensitive skin. This proves you must select the right products for your skin.
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Another product that is a must in your skincare routine is an exfoliator. Three favourites of mine are St Ives Apricot Scrub (£5.65), which specifies in fighting blemishes and removing surface oil and dirt that lead to blackheads and spots. The Black Sugar Honey Mask (around £10) by the Korean skincare brand Skinfood, helps soften the skin and leaves it looking smooth and glowing. Lastly, there are The Body Shop’s Drops of Light Pure Resurfacing Liquid Peel (£18), just like it says in the name this product peels away the dirt and impurities on the surface of your skin, leaving you with brighter, glowing skin. Like make-up, when it comes to skincare the tools you use are just as important as the products. With exfoliators it’s more efficient to use a facial buffer, whether it’s an electronic or manual buffer, the tool will allow for a deeper cleansing as it will be better at removing dead skin and cleaning your pores.
To freshen and even out the skin including a toner is important for your routine. Try Dr Organic’s Rose Otto Skin Toner. This specific toner includes rose petals, witch hazel and aloe vera, which help get rid of excess dirt, soften and refresh the skin. If you breakout with large blemishes and you want a quick fix, a product which has really impressed me is the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. Apply this product before going to sleep directly on the blemish and when you wake up I guarantee you that it will have reduced significantly, or even removed it completely.
Image Credit: @muradskincare (Instagram)
Face masks are essential for everyone’s skincare routine. There are so many different masks so you will find the right one for you. One option is sheet masks, such as the array of Tony Moly sheet masks (£5) or the Egg Cream Mask Pore Tightening (£5.50), as they hydrate, freshen and brighten the skin. If my skin is not in good condition, like during exam period, I use The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask (£17), this minimises the appearance of clogged pores and deep cleans impurities on the skin, leaving it soft and clean. There are also different versions of this mask such as Tea Tree, Japanese Matcha Tea and British Rose, which have different purposes, so I’m sure there is one to help with your skin. No matter what your skin type or what imperfections your skin may throw at you, The Body Shop offers a super range of fairtrade and cruelty-free products you can try.
