Common Skincare Mistakes

As much as I do love trying out new make up, my love really does lie with skin care and through-out my life I have made some absolutely horrendous mistakes which has caused dry skin, acne breakouts, scaring and sensitive skin. So I'm wanting to tell you some mistakes I made and hope that if you're doing the same, to please stop and save your beautiful skin!

1) Alcohol based cleansers - The bane of my life and what made my dry skin even worse. I was recommended by a skin care professional in Debenhams to go for a certain set of 3 steps that help get rid of acne so I was extremely happy when most have my acne had disappeared within a week but the dry patches started to become really red and angry and I was forced by a Doctor to stop using alcohol based toners/cleansers. However, in the certain '3 step system's' defence, they have now gone alcohol-free with their products, so good on you!

2) Over-exfoliating - As someone with dry skin, I used to do this to death and exfoliate every day, day and night but this removes the protective layer on your skin making you more prone to aging skin.

3) Not removing your make up - The classic and something that has happened with me many times. You think it's a good idea to just jump straight into bed and then you wake up in the morning and your skin feels like crap. As most of you will know, leaving on make up will clog your pores when your skin is trying to breathe and will more than likely cause a big spot (not good if you have an event the next day which has also happened to me too many times).

4) Not cleaning your brushes - Make up brushes need to be cleaned and whether that is using soap or a brush cleaner, it has to be done in order no dirt and grime goes in your pores.

5) Wearing your hair down for bed - This can cause a lot of oil build up where your hair is touching your face and due to the hair products, this can cause acne.

6) Using too many products - Applying too many products to the skin leads to a lot of build up and as a result, does not absorb into the skin so you get no benefits from the product and possibly a dry and acne prone face if use is regular. If there are multiple skin conditions then create a router in order to know what to use when, but don't apply together.

7) Using retinoid products during the day - Use them at night before bed as the sun can cause their properties to be useless and the whole idea of the product is again useless.

8) Products with a lot of chemicals - Don't use them! Please try not to! If there's something you like, maybe try and find a better alternative because at the end of the day, your skin will definitely not benefit from all of the chemicals.

9) Repeated use of the same make up - Make up essentially has a 'sell buy date' and using it past these dates can cause skin irritation or infection due to the spread of bacteria. After opening - eye products 3-6 months, make up sponges - 1 week (could lead to dermatitis otherwise), lip products - 1 year, powders - 2 years and foundations - 1 year.

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Mini Review - bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

Unfortunately, I called into Debenhams today and they did not have my colour in stock *still screaming on the inside* but the lady behind the counter was nice enough to take off my make up and do it all again using this product and other products but this was by far the highlight. (However, let's go back to the lady for 1 tiny moment.. how nice of her!)

Debbie (I think she was called Debbie.. I'm just going to call her Debbie) explained that this product was perfect for all skin types but amazing for dry skin. She asked whether I liked a dewy finish and I nearly cried of happiness.. I love a dewy finish but I really don't know why I got so emotional over it. She applied it with a buffing brush from their range and it felt lovely and when she told me she had applied it I felt a bit confused, it honestly felt like nothing was on my skin. I felt it with my hand and had an 'ooooooh' moment because it was so silky smooth. I was so amazed by the coverage of this gel cream that I knew I had to purchase it so she took down my number and had agreed to get somebody to call me when it is in stock.. very pleased.

She was definitely selling it to me though by telling me 100% of women saw an improvement in their skin texture, it was safe to say I was already sold when I felt my face. I just want that perfect summer colouring and I really hope this is going to be it as I love the finish and feel to my face.

I promise that once I get the full product, I will create a new post on any other pros or some cons I may have but as of my first try, I love it!

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Review - No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask (Dry to Very Dry skin)

I saw this and I just had to get it.

Look at the pretty colours for starters! When the winter approaches, I tend to get very dry skin due to it getting chapped from the cold and the dryness started to wear away through February-March but it's still there however towards the end of March and into April, I start getting horrible dry patches on my face which my make up sits and looks terrible. I have tried a lot of moisturisers and exfoliators but never a hydrating mask but with a £5 off voucher for No7 skincare (and being a massive lover of EVERYTHING No7) I thought, why not?

The product comes out in a slightly off white colour and it feels like a foamy cream but it looks just like a cream. You need to apply this to freshly cleansed skin so I like to use this once I have used my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish products which I use twice a week on top of my usual night-time routine. I leave this product on for around 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water and my face always feels amazing afterwards. When I wake up in the morning, I can apply my foundation with ease and there are hardlies any dry patches. I also saw a difference in the pigmentation in my face straight away after this and it did not look so dull, red or puffy.. it looked glowing and slender. It was really weird when I woke up, I felt very refreshed and like a different person. This might sound really strange but waking up and having smooth skin is not normal for me so it was like I was in different skin.

This is the perfect product for me as it is also hypo-allergenic. I still can't believe that it has been out for years though.. why have I never seen this before? I am an avid No7 fan and I honestly can't believe it! If you have dry patches, I can not rave about this enough.. even if you don't, it is a fabulous pampering product. My friend uses this as a weekly pamper and she has oily skin and says she also feels very refreshed after using it and her face also doesn't seem as puffy. Win win for all skin types!

The only downside is I really wish there was more product, even if it did not look as pretty and just came as a simple moisturiser, so I could use it all over my body for the summer as I do have a lot of dry areas and this would honestly be perfect! However, for the price their is definitely the right amount of product and is well worth the money. As said above, I use it twice a week and have used it for around 2 months and I am about 1/3 of the way down.

But wow, this is an utter delight to put on my face!

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40 Beauty Questions

I have decided that in my blog, I am going to answer some 'tag' questions and for it to be a bit of a 'get to know Amyleigh' session. If there are any tags you would like me to do then please let me know via any social media or the comment section below!

Here are the questions:
SKINCARE
-How many times do you wash your face daily? I only tend to wash my face once a day and that is in the morning but I give myself a deep cleanse before bed.
-What skin type do you have? Very dry
-What is your current facial wash? Yes To: Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser
-Do you exfoliate? Yes
-What brand do you use? Good Things - Manuka Honey
-What moisturizer do you use? Aveeno on my face and Palmers on my body
-Do you have freckles? A couple and I get quite a few in the summer
-Do you use eye cream? Yes but this is only due to me having dry eyes due to an eye condition, otherwise I wouldn't
-Do you or did you have acne prone skin? I used to and still do but now only on my chin and sides of my face 
-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? Yes, but if you do not continue then your acne breaks out even worse (I found)

MAKE-UP
-What foundation do you use? Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Light Porcelain
-How about concealer? Rimmel Wake Me Up
-Do you know your undertone color? Yes, yellow toned
-What do you think of fake eyelashes? Look horrendous on me and I'm allergic to eyelash glue but look lovely on other people on the right occassions
-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months? Yes
-What brand of mascara do you use? Max Factor or No7
-Sephora or MAC? Never used Sephora products so Mac
-Do you have a MAC Pro-card? No
-What makeup tools do you use in make up application? Stippling brush, blush brush, powder brush, deluxe crease brush and a dome shadow brush
-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? I just apply a creamy concealer underneath
-For the face? No
-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)? Taupes are my favourite
-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? Liquid
-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? I used to a lot but now I do not wear it
-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? Awesome if you can use them without getting them all over your face which unfortunately is not me.
-Do you use mineral makeup? Yes, if I want a natural look I love to wear Bare Minerals
-What is your favorite lipstick? Maybelline Colour Drama
-How about lipgloss? Bare Minerals Moxie Lipgloss in Spark Plug
-What is your favorite blush to use? Rimmel Soft Blush in Pink Rose
-Do you buy your makeup on ebay? No
-Do you like drugstore makeup? Yes
-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) A few times
-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? I would to learn the skills behind it and what suits certain shapes or colouring but not in order to apply make up, I just can't follow instructions when it comes to an art
-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? Yes
-Name a makeup crime that you hate? Blue mascara, wow my inner 12 year old is cringing
-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones? Neutral all the way
-Which celebrity always has great make up? Pixie Lott
-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use? Mascara
-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? Yes
-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? No, I look very drained
-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? For drugstore - Rimmel / High end - Clinique and No7 
-What do you think of Makeup? I like to wear it to make me feel more confident and I like how people can express themselves using it

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