The new way to exfoliate- AHA and BHA exfoliants

Alpha- and Beta-Hydroxy Acids, also known as AHA and BHA exfoliants, are the two products that have totally blown me away in the last few years. I keep banging on about them to anyone willing to listen, as they have done amazing things for my skin and I believe, everyone from teenagers to people with mature skin would benefit from using them. 

The main difference between them and standard abrasive exfoliants is, that they are applied on clean skin and left on to do their thing for several hours, in the same way you apply your moisturiser. You can use them both in the morning and in the evening, or once a day. They come in liquid, gel and lotion forms depending on your skin type.

AHA exfoliants are suitable for dry sun-damaged skin types, and BHA exfoliants are great for acne-prone oilier skin types, which struggle with blackheads, blemishes and white spots. AHA exfoliants contain glycolic acid and sit on the surface of the skin to help tackle unevenness, pigmentation and fine lines, as well as reveal new fresher skin. BHA exfoliants contain salicylic acid which is the only skincare ingredient able to penetrate into the pores and clean blemishes and blackheads from the inside out. Both exfoliants are based on fruit acid derivatives and promote collagen production and skin regeneration. They could be used in conjunction or alone, depending on your skin type and concerns. 

I tend to alternate between using an AHA and BHA exfoliant once a day most days. I prefer to use them at night underneath my night serum. Since I started using them around 3 years ago, my skin has has gradually calmed down and become more even-toned and balanced. To start with I used them every day, but over time I now need to use them no more than 3-4 days a week. As everyone's skin is unique, it takes a bit of experimenting to find your perfect routine. 

One thing to keep in mind is that these types of exfoliants require an SPF used over them, should you want to apply them in the morning. 

My top picks are:

• Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 1% BHA Gel
• Paula's Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

You may notice that more and more skincare companies are introducing AHA and BHA exfoliants in their ranges. Please be aware that salicylic acid in wash-off type exfoliants will simply not get the chance to do its job as it needs to stay on the skin for a period of time, hence I would not recommend using those. Also, not all exfoliants of this class are formulated at the effective range pH range. Hence the reason why both options above are from Paula's Choice range which are by far the best formulated and effective ones currently available. The bottles they come in will last you for 1 year each, if used regularly.

There is a body care lotion in the same class, that I have been using for couple of years now and will not be without.  It's the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion, which contains both AHA and BHA exfoliants, as well as Vitamin E and shea butter. Sold for a mere £4.09 in Boots and Superdrug, it is an absolute steal of a product that helps tackle keratosis pilaris - the red bumpy skin or the tops of the arms and legs many people get, and reveal soother and more even-toned skin. Due to the combination of moisturising and exfoliating properties, it is a great all-in-one product.

Revlon Nutri Color Creme

Over the years I have coloured my hair in most shades under the sun. Last year, I went blonde for awhile, and later on decided to grow my hair out. For that reason I opted for going back to my original brown colour and give my hair a chance to recover and stay healthy. In my search to find something that will allow me to colour my hair less often, I came across the Revlon Nutri Color Creme. 

It is best described as a semi-permanent colour wash that aims to revive, condition and tone your existing hair colour between colourings. It is applied on washed and towel dried hair and left for 3 minutes, before washed off. It deposits colour onto the hair and helps keep your chosen shade vibrant, as well as can be used as a toner on blonde hairs. 

I have found it to be an excellent way of extending the time between hair colourings. In fact if you like keeping your hair colour close to your natural one, this product could easily be used instead of a semi- or permanent hair colour. It comes in the full variety of shades ranging from black to platinum blonde, and a bottle of 250ml contains the equivalent of around 15 washes. 

People who love having their hair coloured in strong, vibrant shades such as red, purple or copper, will find this product a must. A once a week treatment with it should be enough to stop your colour from fading and keep hair looking glossy and in good condition. The blonde shades of this product serve as excellent toners for bleach blonde hairs and are great for toning down brassiness. I find that the product is extremely nourishing and leaves my hair shiny, manageable and much less frizzy.

Currently Revlon Nutri Color Creme is available on Amazon, Salon Direct and Ebay. 

Hand Creams

There are some amazing inexpensive hand creams on the market which help protect and nourish your hands. Depending on the condition of your hands, here are the ones I rate and use regularly:

• Aveeno Hand Cream with Colloidal Oatmeal- it is great for people with normal skin who need a cream for general maintenance. It absorbs quickly and leaves hands soft and moisturised for hours. I love it as a summer hand cream as it is less heavy than other hand creams. 

• Garnier Handrepair Intensive Restroting Hand Cream- I love this stuff and have been using it for years now. It contains Maple Sap and Glycerin which instantly soothe and help restore dry chapped hands. I used to have a painful crack reappear on one on my fingers every winter. This hand cream has helped sort it out for good. Although it is rich, once applied is sinks in quickly and leaves no greasiness on the hands.

• Palmer's Shea Butter Formula Concentrated Cream with Vitamin E- I have been using it for the last few months and it is and excellent option for the colder part of the year, or for people who have their hands in water repeatedly throughout the day. It is great for any area with dry skin, like elbow, knees and feet. Easily absorbed, it is a joy to use.

• Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm- this is an amazing gentle and effective product for people with dry sensitive and eczema prone skin. It is the most emollient out of the all chosen products and creates a protective barrier over the skin to allow it to heal. It is a great versatile product that can be used for anything from cracked hands, lips, elbows etc. I love applying it last thing at night.

It is worth pointing out that an SPF cream applied at the beginning of the day and once again in the afternoon is essential for keeping your hands in great condition. Sun exposure is the main factor that causes skin ageing and your hands should not be ignored. I tend to apply the same SPF I use on my face onto my hands. 

Collection 2000 Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner

Eyeliner lovers, rejoice!

I am always super excited when I come across a true beauty bargain. These Collection 2000 felt tip liners as exactly that. At £2.99, they come in 4 great colours, including black, packed with pigment, easy to apply and very long lasting. I bought the blue, teal and purple ones as they make a nice difference to the classic black colour. All 3 shades are very flattering and easy to wear and give just enough pop of colour to liven up your make up look. They have a slightly glossy finish which looks elegant and understated. The felt tips are a lovely elongated shape that makes for an effortless application and perfect for drawing a flick. 

If you are an eyeliner novice, try and apply the pen as closely to the eye lashes as possible and let it glide over them. Worry less about drawing a perfect line and more about filling in all the gaps between the eye lashes. Short strokes work best if you find it hard to control the line. The pen will do the rest for you. For youthful eye lift effect, end the line a centimetre above the outside corner of your eye and draw a flick upwards. Ladies with hooded, deep set eyes or small eyelids should aim at drawing a thin line to avoid making their eyes appear smaller. The larger the visible part of your eyelids is when your eyes are open- the thicker the line you can get away with. For elongated feline looking eyes, start the line 2/3rds from the inner eye socket and make it thicker towards the outer corner.

Lastly, the Collection 2000 Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liners are very long lasting and you may struggle to remove them with some make up removers. I use Bioderma Crealine H2O to take them off and it works well. Another great alternative would be an oil-based eye make up remover. 

Feed Your Skin Healthy

You have probably heard this already, but there is no skincare or make up product in the world that could give you the glow that well nourished skin has naturally. If you are unhappy with how your skin looks, it is worth exploring whether there are underlying medical conditions you need to get checked out. Healthy people need to consider the following when thinking about how to improve the look of their skin:

More of: 

Water- I cannot stress highly enough the importance of water for supple healthy looking skin. 2-3 litres daily of water, green or herbal tea is a great daily target to aim for. 

Vegetables- Pick them in variety of colours and have them with most meals. Most vitamins contained in vegetables need good fats to allow for their absorption, so don't skimp on the olive oil on your salad or the butter in your meal.

Fruit- All types of berries are packed full of antioxidants and low on natural sugars. Make sure you eat some fruit every day, just be mindful of the quantities of sweeter fruit (such as exotic ones) consumed. A bowl of natural yoghurt, topped with berries and some almond flakes is a great way to start the day.

Protein- Whether you are a meat lover, pescatarian, vegetarian or vegan, protein should form a large proportion of your diet. Eggs, fresh meats, fish, seafood, pulses and nuts, cheese, as well as leafy vegetables are all great sources of protein.

Fats- Despite their bad reputation, fats are our friends. There is an overwhelming research about the importance of good fats for the functioning of our bodies. Fats keep us slim, they make our skin, hair, nails and eyes sparkle and also make everything taste so much better. The foodie that I am, I  cannot get enough of full fat diet, after years of eating low fat boring meals. Aim for natural fats such as olive and vegetable oil, butter, lard, nut based oils, avocado oil and the truly amazing and versatile coconut oil.

Keeping active- whatever exercise you prefer, keeping active will help your skin look its best. Ideally you want to spend at least 20 mins outside every day and reap the full benefits, both for your body and mind, of staying connected with nature.

Sleep- Regular sleep for at least 7 hours will make your skin look as young as it can possibly can be. You simply cannot fake the effect of a good night's sleep even with the best skincare or make up available. If you are a new mum or a busy professional who doesn't have the luxury of regular uninterrupted sleep (I have been there myself), please make sure you slot in as many daytime naps you possibly can.

Kindness- Be kind to yourself and others. It will make you feel good and your skin will glow from within.

Less of:

Sugar - You will hate me for saying this, but it has to be said. Sugar is bad not only for 

your waistline, but for your skin too.  Simple carbohydrates, like refined sugar, white bread and cakes, cause your insulin levels to spike, which causes inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the collagen in your skin through a process known as glycation. Aside from increasing the effects of aging, glycation can also exacerbate skin conditions like acne and rosacea. Plus, the more sugar you eat, the more likely it is you'll develop insulin resistance, which can manifest as excess hair growth (hirsutism) and dark patches on the neck and in body creases. Sugar is contained in many foods, from simple carbs such as cakes and biscuits, to low fat foods and natural fruit. It is worth making an informed choice about the foods you put in your body. Do not assume that just because something is natural or appears healthy, it necessarily is good for your skin and weight. Generally a high in protein and fats diet, with lots of vegetables, full fat natural yoghurt and small amounts of fruit should alleviate existing sugar cravings and help with keeping your body and skin healthy.

Alcohol, Tobacco, Processed Food- Nothing new here, we all know these are not great for us and should be used with caution. 

Stress- It ages you, and it is not good for your heart and mind. Whether it is something you can actively avoid or need to manage long-term, there are a plenty of ways to do so. Please do not delay dealing with stress.

Supercharge your skincare routine

Winter is by far the hardest season for our skin to cope with. The constant change between hot and cold environments causes irritation, dehydration and exaggerates underlying skin problems. As a rule of thumb using more intensive moisturisers and treatments for specific skin concerns should help keep your skin in good condition.

I have combination skin with oily T-zone which is also mildly sensitive. Generally I use serums as my moisturisers as I find creams to be way too rich for my skin. In the last month or so I have been using La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Light as my daytime moisturiser. It is aimed at dehydrated, normal to combination sensitive skins and contains a broad spectrum SPF 20. I find it to be very absorbent, leaving my skin soft and hydrated throughout the day, without looking shiny.  I used it as my eye cream too. The hydrator's main ingredient is Hyaluronic Acid which helps keep water in the skin. It is an excellent base for make up too.

If you  suffer with redness and find it becomes more problematic during the winter months, I can thoroughly recommend La Roche Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Localised Anti-Redness Care. It is a soothing serum designed to calm the skin, reduce signs of rosacea, and also prevents its reappearance. You can apply it day and night over the areas of concern. A little bit goes a long way and once sunk in, the serum leaves no residue. You should see an improvement in your skin condition after a month or so of using it.

People with dry and mature skin would love Avene Eluage Cream, which is formulated to tackle loss of firmness, wrinkles and dryness. It feels rich, yet light and leaves a lovely dewy finish on the skin. I use it over drier areas on the face and find it does not cause any breakouts and nourishes my skin very well.

Another great budget-friendly serum that most skin types would love is the Boots Botanics Super Serum Radiant Youth. Packed with antioxidants, it helps protect skin from environmental damages and keep it healthy. It is gentle, non-greasy and suitable for most skin types. 

Big Glossy Hair

I am pretty useless at styling my hair and rely on products that make the process as easy as possible. My hair is thin, wavy and below the shoulders and I most often use my beloved BaByliss Big Hair to style it. Now, there are two Big Hair stylers- the original 50mm one and the 42mm one. I have tried them both and would recommend the bigger one for people with thicker and longer hair, and the smaller one- for people with thinner or shorter hair. 

Here is what I do when I want a quick blow dry that leaves my hair big and bouncy. I wash and towel dry my hair. Then I liberally apply TIGI Catwalk Your Highness Root Boost Spray onto the roots and massage it in. I also apply either Organix Moroccan Argan Oil or Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique to the middle and ends of the hair. I use a hair dryer to dry my hair whilst tipped forward until almost dry. Then I use BaByliss Big Hair, still with my hair tipped forward and slowly run it through all sections, by pumping the volume into the roots and creating loose flicks at the ends. When my hair is dry, I tip is back and use the styler to finish off any stray hairs before letting it cool down for a minute or so. Styled this way, my hair looks great for up to 2 days.

On days between washes I prefer to use Urban Fudge Texture Blaster, which is a cross between a dry shampoo and a hair spray. Applied to the roots of the hair, it is amazing at giving extra body and texture to hair that is limp and in need of volume. It mattifies the hair and smells faintly of coconut. The great thing about the Texture Blaster is that by massaging the roots occasionally throughout the day, it produces more volume, whilst keeping the hair movement and without a sticky residue. An added bonus is that is leaves no colour or white cast, unlike most dry shampoos.

• TIGI Catwalk Your Highness Root Boost Spray- both Amazon and HQ Hair tend to have great offers on it. It's fairly economical and a bottle should last you several months. 

• Organix Moroccan Argan Oil- available in Boots and Superdrug, it is times cheaper than other brands and just as good. It makes hair feel soft, strong and shiny. A drop or two is all I need for my hair.

• Kerastase Ciment Thermique- HQ Hair often have it on offer. A walnut sized blob is all I need to cover my hair. It melts instantly into the hair and works to strengthen and give volume to processed, weak hair. It is activated by heat and acts as heat protectant too, so people who style their hair regularly would love the practicality of it. I have noticed that my ends are a lot less frizzy and splitting less since I have been using it.

• Urban Fudge Texture Blaster- available in Superdrug. Great, as it is in effect two products in one, and thus great if you are travelling or, if like me, you dislike the cast that dry shampoos leave on your hair.