My Beauty Hero's of 2020, What Saved Me?
I don't know about you but I treated myself to alot of beauty products last year, and enjoyed every minute of it. One of my 2020 goals was to learn more about my skin, what it needs, the language of skincare, and figuring out what my skin likes and diss-likes. Now I'm still learning, but I definity have a better beauty routine now, and a better understanding of ingredients then this time last year. I also started to form some new favourites. Items that I would bulk buy, or really missed when we couldn't get into the shops.
So I wanted to share some of my 2020 beauty hero's with you. Give you my honest review, tell you a little about each one, how they have changed my skin, and which I will continue to use now.
Lets get back to basic's, thats what 2020 was all about.
1. La Roche Possay Effaclar Range
"Targets breakouts and reduce the appearance of shiny skin and enlarged pores with balancing and calming La Roche-Posay formulations."
Since getting 'maskne', my skin has changed so much throughout the year. While still using my favourites from Enivorn, I just needed something with less active ingredients as my skin had gone so sensitive, and with wearing a mask for 12 hours at a time the breakouts just got worse. But with professional facials and useing the Effaclar collection at home the breakouts started to disappear, the harsh pigmination cleared up and the scaring evened out, like the maskne never exsisted. I can trust it every time when the hormone breakouts appear, and even after all the rich delish food after christmas. Washing away the day with a double cleasne, the toner really delmishs any old breakouts, or if I spoted the clay mask over the breakouts to help dry out any active pores. The moisturizer to hydrate and protect the skin with SPF 30. It will probaly be a staple skincare range that I can rely on and trust to restore my skin even when I change it up and try new products.
"Developed with dermatologists, Effaclar formulas contain carefully selected ingredients such as Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid, while thermal spring water soothes even sensitive skin", “Effaclar contains niacinamide that helps by reducing inflammation, controlling oil and reducing post inflammatory pigmentation, all very important in spot prone skin.” - Dr Justine Hextal
2. The Ordinary Hylauronic Acid + VitB5
"Hyaluronic Acid (HA) can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The molecular size of HA determines its depth of delivery in the skin. This formulation combines low-, medium- and high-molecular weight HA, as well as a next-generation HA crosspolymer at a combined concentration of 2% for multi-depth hydration. This system is supported with the addition of Vitamin B5 which also enhances surface hydration."
From using other products that contain hylauronic acid, I found my skin would soak it up, so I tired this very popular product to see if this will help repair my skin barrier, while keeping my skin hydrated and also plump. Well it did, and now I stock up on these bottles, as I can't be without it. Applied in the morning under my SPF and before primer, then again in the evening before a night cream.
3. Advanced Nutrition Programme Supplements.
During the first lockdown, I did a online course with ANP to learn more about these brand and the amazing results they have had over so many years. By the end of the course, I was able to identify what my skin needed, what was lacking in my diet, and learnt about the freshly sourced ingredients they use in each capsule. So naturally, I wanted to try everything! I needed a pro-biotic for my gut health, I needed an omega as I don't have fish in my diet, also a daily multi Vit, and a high dose of Vitamin C to boast my immune system to help fight against cold & flu's (aka the Cornavirus.) I have been taking multi-vitamins, probiotics and Vit C drinks for years and years, but never really saw a difference until I started using ANP. Not only boasting my immune system, gut health and providing all nutrients and vitamins a body needs. My skin has become alot brighter, hydrated, plumper and not just my face but my whole body. So these 5 tablets will be a staple in my diet now.
Skin Vitality 2 - Contains four seperate tablets, but together give every need to problem skin and a good immune system.
- Skin Vitality 1 which is your daily multivitamin with 28 vitamins and minerals
- Skin Antioxidant with seven plant nutrients
- Skin Vit C with vitamin c and bioflavonoids
- Skin Omegas+ which is packed with omega 3 fatty acids, omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin A encased in a fish gelatin softgel
Skin Youth Biome - A Pro-biotic formed by Nutritional and Skin Experts that have professionally fused together 5 billion live cultures of four scientifically studied bacterial strains with vitamin C to support skin collagen formation and give a smoother, more youthful-looking complexion.
Benefits
- Works from the inside out,
- Supports the skin's natural barrier
- Helps reduce fine lines
- Helps support gut flora
- Supports collagen formation
- Supports immunity
4. Aveeno Daily Moisturising After-Shower Mist.
"Fast-absorbing mist locks-in moisture to help prevent and protect dry skin for 48 hours. With Oat Extract improves your skin’s natural balance for healthy looking and more resilient skin from 1st use."
I have been using this for years, off and on and still a staple in my bathroom. We all know we should be applying a cream onto the body daily, its not always about the face. But the effort, right? and never being able to reach certain areas so we always end up with a dry patch somewhere on the body. Well let me introduce to a body mist, not a spray, a mist bottle! where you can lighty mist the product every night. I love a good body mist, just for the sheer handiness of it. Spray after you towel dry, after your shower every night, and your skin will soon feel as soft as a babys bum. (but a little tip, spray in the shower, or your whole bathroom will be hydrated and slippy!).
5. Lycon Hand Cream.
"leaves skin feeling soft and silky smooth from head to toe. This fast absorbing hand and body moisturising lotion, specially formulated with Pro-vitamin B5 and Vitamin E, effectively minimises the visible signs of ageing, nurtures and protects the skin, while it conditions cuticles and nails."
Comes in 6 different scents, all you will want to try. My favourite has to be the Lavender & Chamoile. At the moment I'm at the end of the apple and cranberry (for the season in it). Especcailly now during these times using hand cream every night is so important. top tip for you is to use enough so you can reach right up to your elbows and moisturise there too.
7. Silk Eye Masks.
Some of the benefits of sleeping with an eye mask are better quailty sleep, blocks out harsh lights and uv rays, keep the eyes warm which help to fall asleep better. I have only started sleeping with a silk eye mask this year as a tool to help me sleep on those quite lockdown days where it hard to get the recoomended sleep. But I have also found that my eye cream is working better when wearing the mask at night as im not touching or rubbing my eyes during the night. Now it did take me awhile to get used to wearing it, and most mornings the mask had disappeared of my face. But now I'm so used to it and now waking up with it still on. Its a game changer for me and my sleeping. I wouldnt be without it.
6. Juilette Ardmand Hand Sani.
"This product responds to the health and safety needs of our times, containing 70% ethyl alcohol for immediate antimicrobial protection. A unique property of this product is that it also contains Hyaluronic Acid which hydrates the skin and leaves a pleasant and soft feeling on the hands".
When this came into the salon, it quickly became a popular product and our favourite hand sani to use daily, comes in a large pump bottle or a good handbag size. I have a bottle everywhere, the handbag, the car, on my nail station and at home. I even added this to my christmas hampers for friends and family, and now they love it too. As their hands are not dry, cracked or sore from using it multipule times a day. As I'm a big fan of anything with hylaronic acid in it, this was a winner for me.
7. Piz Buin Sun Mist SPF30.
With the fantasic weather we had in 2020 spring/summer I was out in the sun every day either in the garden, walking my 5km radius or the endless days on the beach. I haven't spent so much time at the beach since the school summer holidays. It was great! But unfortually the sun doesn't like me as much as I like it. I do have to be sat in shelter as much as I can and constantly wear a SPF to protect my skin. But lets face it, sun cream is sticky and doesn't smell that great. So knowing this brand for years I never gave it a chance, but this year I found the body mist bottle, and also the same but with an added gold shimmer, which looked amazing with the fake tan. So this year I will looking at more of the brand.
8. Catrice Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer.
I think its safe to say that, this very addordable concealer is in every makeup bag in ireland. This has to be my most stocked item, and first purchase when pennys open their doors. Wearing a mask alday, I didnt bother much with a foundation as this concealer did the job on its on. With a high-coverage formula, waterproof and long-lasting, with a great range of shades for all skin. Just try it and you'll love it.
9. Bahama Body Ultra Dark Self Tanning Mousse.
A self tanning mousse, with a olive natural colour, with a tropical scent of goli berry and kiwi extract, enriched with vitamin E to hydrate the skin, develops in 4-8 hours, vegan friendly and cruelty free, fades with no stricks and is easily removed... AND for only €10!! This has been a favourite of mine for more than a year, my saving grace in the summer months. This is also a stock up product from pennnys.
10. Grande Lash Serum.
The past year lash serums was a big trend as we couldn't get to our lash techs, going in and out of lockdowns trying to get appointments, was dificult. So I deceided to jump on this trend give my lash a little tlc at home with a serum to help promote growth, thickness and fullness. So I applied this serum for 4 months and on the odd occasion I put mascra on during the first lockdown I noticed and huge difference. I couldn't beleive the length they got. So I think I'll keep going with it as there are new baby hairs coming through, and see how my lashes go when we come out of Lockdown no.3.
An award-winning lash enhancing serum infused with a blend of vitamins, peptides, and amino acids to promote the appearance of naturally longer, thicker looking lashes in just 4-6 weeks, with full improvement in 3 months. It’s a favorite for helping to enhance short, thinning, brittle lashes.
These are some of my beauty hero's that kept me going through 2020, some I am still using today and will continue to use for the forseeable future. If you like these beauts aswell, please let me know, by commenting which one you like or even sharing this blog post with friend.
I'll be back soon with another addition to the 'Nail Art Inspired by' Series, as we come into my favourite time of the year Spring/Summer.
Stay Safe, Talk soon,
Steff xxx
