My Current Skincare Routine

It's been a while since I mentioned skincare, I think - which is mainly because I have a rather settled routine at the moment, which I'm a bit loathe to change before the weather does!

And the title's a misnomer too, as I actually have two skin care routines, one am and one pm!  So here's my evening routine first:

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(L-R) 

Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex, Absolution La Solution + Controle, Absolution La Creme du Soir and Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel.

Taking these in reverse order - as that's the order I use them in.  Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel is a very recent addition to my cleansing routine, but I'm a big fan already.  I'm usually a bit scared of gels, as they tend to contain high levels of alcohol, but this is a thick oil-based gel, and is almost a balm.  It's unusual to use, as it liquifies as you massage it over your skin, getting runnier the more you rub, in fact.  It's perfect for removing heavy makeup, and even removes your eye makeup, which is great.  The lightly citrus scent might be better suited for morning cleansing, being a little invigorating, but I prefer a deep cleanse at night (with my clarisonic) and a light cleanse in the morning, as you'll see.  I said this was a recent addition, but before this, I would use an oil-based cleanser anyway (either Shu cleansing oil, or the Nude cleansing oil I've been using on and off for a couple of years now)

Absolution  La Creme du Soir - Up until recently, I tended to use the same skincare for both morning and night, thinking night creams were a waste of time.  This, from my very first use of it, changed my mind totally. It's rich, it's thick, it's nourishing, it's organic, and whenever I use it, I wake up with smoother, hydrated and plumped up skin you can see the difference in.  It's amazing.  It's so amazing, I tried to use it during the day too.  Ironically, that little experiment didn't work, it was far too heavy.

I use it alongside the La Solution + Controle which is a balancing complex that you add a drop of to the night-cream and helps control blemishes and oil production.  My skin has been going through an oily phase this winter - I'm contrary, I know - and this has helped keep everything in check.

Absolution products are 99% natural, and these two items are around 65% organic.  I love the packaging too, the "cylinders" the products arrive in actually unroll to form the instruction leaflets, which is a cute and environmentally sound use of the packaging.  Also, the product packaging is both air-tight and protects the creams from the light, meaning that there are few, if any, preservatives used in the creams.

Then I use  Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex all over the eye area, including the lids.  This a cooling, refreshing and moisturising eye gel which I can't get enough of.  It's worked wonders on my bags and dark circles, and it's all I can do not to apply it twelvety times a day.

In the morning, this is what I use:

(L-R) Absolution L'Eau Soir et Matin, Alpha H Balancing Moisturiser, Alpha H Age Delay Facial Oil, and sneaking in there, Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex.

I mentioned that in the mornings I prefer a lighter cleanse (and in fact, sometimes I just have a rinse with water, if I really can't be bothered), so the Absolution L'Eau Soir et Matin works a treat.  Micellar waters are massive in France (indeed, Absolution is a French brand), and they're great for sensitive skin.  You merely wet a cotton pad with the water - and I can't tell you how much I LOVE the bottle for this, as you can pump it onto a pad with one hand - and run it over your face to remove the remains of your night creams. You don't need to rinse it off. It also works admirably well as an eyemakeup remover.  One thing, it smells - rather strongly - of lemon balm so if you're sensitive to strong scents (or indeed, you're not a fan of Thai food) then this might not be a good product for you.


I then follow this up with Alpha H Balancing Moisturiser, to which I add a drop of Alpha H Age Delay Facial Oil.  I like this combo, because the moisturiser is very light (though it contains 10% glycolic acid to help with signs of aging), but then I can add a drop - or two - of the facial oil, if it's a particularly cold or windy day for an extra drop of protection.  I really enjoy the little tingling sensation I get when I use this moisturiser, too.  And I think I can actually see the benefits I'm getting in my skin at the moment too.


Well, I could until I started using a primer that's given me zits, but more about that next week.


Then, as in my night time routine, I finish off with the eye complex.


So, what's your routine?


The Fine Print: As usual, this is a mixture of stuff I've bought, and stuff I've been sent by PRs.  It's all great, wherever it came from though, half of this is repurchases.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

What's In My Shower?

Some people might know that I'm more of a bath person than a shower person, so this is a hodge-podge of bath/hair and shower products, but this is everything I have in current rotation - and more!


From left to right:
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax bath/shower oil (just visible) - I adore this stuff, and have been through several bottles of it.  I will never be without it again.
Ren Rose Otto Shower Gel & Bath Oil - I adore the scent of roses, and for me, it's hard to beat the scent of these items, sweet and heady these are my real "special occasion" treats.
Morrocan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner (back)- I've had these for a while now, and not got around to giving them a full review, but I think these are good all-round shampoos and conditioners, but they don't have anything particularly special to recommend them, to be honest.  Rather on the expensive side, they're perfectly acceptable, but ... they're not something I'll re-purchase.  I'm just using them up at the moment.
Connock London Comforting Body Wash - This is a pricey (£22.50), but rather wonderfully moisturising shower gel.  I adore the subtly floral scent, and find that it really does leave my skin feeling softer and smoother after using it.  It's full of papain, which I think explains why.
Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak - Love this stuff.  It foams slightly in the bath, so it's a slightly different effect to my beloved Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax oil.  Intoxicatingly herbal, and truly a relief for any aching bits you might have, it's a wonderful addition to any bathroom.
Elemis Sharp Shower & Bath gel - I've mentioned before my love of minty products, and this is a wonderful smell.  I've only used it once though (it's a very recent addition to my collection!) so can't tell you how it works with my skin, but if you like minty scents, then you must try this.
Naked Rescue Repairing Hair Treatment - a hair mask.  It's okay.  It didn't really do what it said on the label, but ... it smells nice. I got it after a failed Keratin treatment last year that left me with crispy frizzy hair, and it left my hair a little softer, but didn't really treat the problem.
Haus of Gloi Bubbling scrubs - I love these, not having much experience with satisfying body scrubs, these were a revelation for me, and I love their squidgy texture, which is really satisfying to play with in the mornings.  The scents here are Eggnoggin' and Snow Wolf, both of which I also have full-size pots of.  Sadly, they were part of the Christmas collection so no longer available in those scents.  I'm hoarding mine!
Body Shop Earth Lovers Shower Gels - in Apricot & Basil, and Cucumber & Mint.  These are soap-free, 100% biodegradable, and contain no colourants, parabens or sulphates.  And they're very nice indeed, they lather nicely on a shower lily, and smell delicious.  Nice to know you're not harming your skin or the environment using these.
Shu Uemura Pleasure of Japanese Bath oil - I wish this stuff hadn't been discontinued.  That is all.  This is my back up bottle, and I shall cry - yes CRY - when it runs out.
Haus of Gloi Whipped Soap - Haus of Gloi don't always have this in stock, but it's worth grabbing them when you can.  I use this as a shaving foam, and on occasion as a soap (who knew?) and they're rich and luxurious on the skin.  This is Eggnoggin', which again, I have a back up for, as it won't be back until next Christmas.
Haus of Gloi Bathing Dust - Again, another discontinued product that I love.  This is in the scent of Samhain, which is a glorious leafy scent that perfectly encapsulates autumn in a tub.  Gloi have - currently - no ability to bring these scented salts back, which distresses me greatly.
Body Shop Spiced Vanilla shower gel - Another (sorry!) discontinued little gem.  The warm scent of vanilla mixed with just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg makes this a cuddle-some little bottle of love.  I'm hoping they bring it back next Christmas.
Paul Mitchell Wild Ginger Awapuhi Shampoo & Conditioner - These are currently my second favourite shampoo & conditioner, but don't let that put you off, they're actually excellent.  Very excellent indeed for sulfate and paraben-free products, it's just that I've found something which is unexpectedly better for my hair (and which I'll tell you about later).  The shampoo lathers wonderfully well, which means I don't have to double-cleanse with it, and the conditioner - which is silicone free - has wonderful slip and leaves my hair soft, silky and very, very shiny.  I adore the slightly spicy scent of ginger too. They're the best shampoo and conditioner on this shelf of my shower.


So, what's in your shower?


The Fine Print: This is a mixture of stuff I've bought, stuff I was sent by PRs, gifts, and stuff I've snuffled around eBay in a mournful manner for.

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Win!

Psst!  I forgot to mention in this post that if you follow @welbeckclinic on Twitter, they'll give away the full package of Zoom2! Whitening (exactly as I had) once they reach the magic figure of 150 followers!

So, if you fancy whiter teeth, and my description hasn't scared you off totally, go follow @welbeckclinic now! It could, as they say, be you ...

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com/ All rights reserved.

Zoom2! Tooth Whitening at The Welbeck Clinic

So, the amazing people at the Welbeck Clinic have finished whitening my teeth, and I can't wait to show you the results.

Before:

After:

  I couldn't really be happier, I went a whopping six shades whiter!  (Important note: no photos in this post have had the colours adjusted in any way, the only changes I've made to the originals has been to crop them)  the difference is most noticeable in this picture here:

So, what does Zoom2! Whitening involve?  There are three stages,  Pre-whitening, Zoom2! Whitening itself, and a bit of aftercare.  I'll take you through the three stages of my experience here:


Pre-whitening:

After being fitted for trays to hold the pre-whitening gel (as detailed in my last post here), you spend four days using the trays for four hours a day - or overnight, as I did - in order to get your teeth ready for the laser treatment.  Basically, you're given a couple of tubes of gel, and you fill your trays with them, pop them in, and presto!  Whiter teeth!  Well, not quite, you have to make sure you don't over-fill your trays, or you can irritate your gums (I did this, please don't be like me, I had itchy gums for a while), and you can't eat or drink anything whilst the trays are in. I think you can see why I used them overnight, really ...  Oh, and you can't drink tea or coffee, eat curry, or anything with a tomato-based sauce or beetroot etc whilst the pre-whitening is going on.  Which, for four days of just white food can be a bit ... dull.  But hey!  Cheese and champagne were okay, so I did alright ...


The custom-made trays aren't the most comfortable thing in the world, but, they're thin, and won't make you feel like your mouth is overloaded with plastic.  It is important to remember to clean them only with cold water though, or they will distort and won't fit well.


Zoom2! Whitening


So, after four days of white food, and whitening at home, you'll be in the chair, what can you expect?  Well, I was pleased to find that the treatment was neither as painful nor as uncomfortable as expected, and the 90  minutes treatment time passed quite quickly.  The procedure is explained in a lot of detail - again mentioning that results are unpredictable, and are therefore not guaranteed - then the whitening begins.


There are two stages, and the first is the one that takes most time.  This is when they are isolating your teeth to ensure that neither the peroxide solution or the laser damages your gums.  You are put into a cheek retractor (sheckshy!), then cotton wool and gauze pads are put into place to absorb excess saliva, but it is still easy to breath, and you can swallow normally too. It's not the most comfortable I've ever been, but it's in no way painful, and you soon get used to the sensation. At this point they colour match your teeth - they use your canines as these are usually darker than your incisors.  

A gel is then placed onto your gums and set with an LED, and you're all set to start whitening.  The technician will paint a peroxide gel onto your teeth, and then the laser is set in place and your teeth are zapped for between 12-15 minutes.  This gel-then-zapping takes place three times, and it's oddly relaxing.  The room is quiet and dark, and it's actually difficult to stay awake through!  They do warn you that you may feel little "shocks" of sensitivity during the third round of lasering, but I was lucky enough not to suffer that.


Once the zapping has taken place, the gauzes and gel are quickly removed (in one go), and you are colour-matched again, this is where you discover how much whiter your teeth are, and it's quite astonishing to see.


Aftercare:


I won't lie, the 24 hours after getting my teeth lasered were a bit tough.  Whilst nothing was painful, per se, my teeth did "zing" for a full 24 hours afterward, to the extent where I was grumpy and wanting to scratch my gums to death.  The dentist did warn me about this, and I was given some oral-care gel to wear in my trays overnight if I was bothered by it at all, I was bothered by it, and using the trays did give me a little relief, I have to admit.  But, almost exactly 24 hours after the treatment, my teeth suddenly stopped itching - if you've ever had prickly heat, it feels exactly like that, only in your teeth - and I've not had a problem with them since.  There has been no increase in sensitivity at all since, and I've not had to use the gel since either.  I have switched to a sensitive toothpaste (Colgate  Sensitivity Pro-Relief + Whitening, in fact, it's very good) for the time being though, just in case.


You do still have to adhere to the white food diet for a few days afterwards, and, after a week of no tea, I can tell you that that first cup last Friday was the Best Cup of Tea EVAH.


So, am I glad I had it done?  Yes, definitely.  The shade of white I've been left with looks natural, and healthy (it's not over-white, like Simon Cowell or Jodie Marsh), and it's just brightened up my look in a subtle kind of way.  I look "better", somehow, in a way that's difficult for people to put a finger on.  And I love the look of them.


So, would I get it done again?  Yes, most probably.  The treatment last 2-3 years (with a top up at 18 months), and I think that will be more than enough time for me to forget how itchy my teeth were in that first 24 hours ... ! Plus, I love the subtle way that it has improved my looks!  Let's face it, I need a lot of help ...

Would I visit the Welbeck Clinic again?  In a heartbeat.  The lovely friendly staff, and the clean comfortable surgery makes visiting a pleasure rather than a chore, and there's nothing like sitting next to the occasional celebrity in the waiting room to make visiting more interesting than my usual dentist!  I'm considering booking in with them for my next hygienist appointment, in fact. 


You can find out more about tooth whitening at The Welbeck Clinic here.


The Fine Print: Get Lippie was a guest of The Welbeck Clinic, and is very, very grateful.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com/ All rights reserved.

Prai 02 Infusion with Vacuum Technology

 At the moment, I'm on a bit of a cleansing kick, and when the opportunity came up to try this one out, I leapt at it, as it sounded intriguing.  It promises an "innovative formula" which contains oxygen molecules to stop your skin being lackluster and promises a more youthful and "refreshed" look.

In use, this light, apricot coloured gel transforms into a mousse, and it foams, foams, foams it's way to cleaner skin. It's actually huge fun to use, you massage it lightly into your slightly damp skin, and watch it do it's stuff for a couple of minutes then rinse it off, and Presto! Cleaner, smoother, brighter skin!


Or ...

As in my case, itchy, flaky, burning, sparkly skin. For this cleanser contains micro-glitter, which adheres to your skin even after you've removed the foam (with a wet washcloth, in my case).  Too late, I remembered that my (slightly oily, not as sensitive as it used to be) skin hates anything that foams, and boy, did it let me know afterward.  It took several days of intense moisturisation, and very, very, very gentle handling to get it back to anything like its former equilibrium.  This, plus looking like a Twilight reject once I'd used it makes this product a complete no-go for me, I'm afraid.  On the plus side, it smells lovely, and a little of this goes a very, very, very long way.

One for the greasy-skinned, less sensitive souls amongst us to use for Father Christmas impressions, I feel.  Prai 02 Infusion costs £19.75 from QVC

The Fine Print: PR Sample.

Lanolips - Now in Boots

(l-r: Rose, Rhubarb, 101, Dark Honey, Apples)

 I popped along to Boots on Oxford Street last week, and noticed they now have Lanolips in store. They've been available on Boots.com for a couple of months now, but  it's good to see them in-store finally. Even better, they're currently on 3-4-2, so it was an ideal chance for me to pick up a couple or three new ones to add to my collection (like I ever need an excuse to stock up on lipbalms ...)!

Made from medical grade lanolin (the tube labelled 101 is 100% pure), Lanolips are an Australian import, and are the brainchild of the lovely Kirsten Carriol, who has made it her mission to make a natural lip product based on lanolin.  I'd say she's succeeded, I've pretty much swapped out most of my other lipbalms and this winter I've rarely been without a tube in one pocket or another.

Initially I started off with just Rhubarb (I love rhubarb, I couldn't not have this one) and Dark Honey, but I picked up 101, Apples and Rose in-store recently too.  The shades are lovely and very wearable:

(l-r: Rose, Rhubarb, 101, Dark Honey, Apples)

Dark Honey (surprisingly) is probably the one I get the most wear out of, as it's a pale, dusky mauve shade that's very similar in shade to my natural lip-colour, and I find it evens out the tones in my lips very well - but I have very pigmented lips, with a natural "lip-line" that paler shades don't cover up too well.

The balms are fragrance and flavouring-free, and yes, they are a bit sticky.  Sticky to the extent that you may have to warm it in your fingers before applying it to your lips, and it's practically solid on a cold day, but on your lips it's feather-light, and hugely moisturising.  I haven't had cracked lips once, in spite of the bitterly cold weather, and I like to think it's because of Lanolips!  I've also found that it makes a great overnight treatment for sore lips too.

Enlarge to see ingredients

 So, do you need Lanolips?  I think so, they're moisturising, flavour-free, and best of all they work.  I'm not entirely happy with the packaging, the labels the UK distributor uses to seal the tubes peels the gold paint off, and there is just a plain nozzle on them, which means you can't apply direct to your lips from the tube, but these are minor gripes, my lips love these.


 The Fine Print:  I bought these, with my ill-gotten gains garnered from my other life as an accountant.
This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Nail of the Day: OPI The One That Got Away

I could give a stuff about Katy Perry, and the associated crackle polish from her recent collection for OPI, to be honest, but even so I can't deny this deep fuschia-purple shade that's just packed with glass flecks is almost too gorgeous for words:




I'm about to get MrLippie to paint my toes with this too... Don't tell him! Perfect happy-making shade for a wet Saturday afternoon.

This came from Selfridges, and cost £10.50. Thought the rest of the shades were just a bit ... meh, so passed on the rest of them.