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Acids

Let’s talk about skincare acids.

I talk a lot about using skincare acids in my routine, so in this post I’m going to cover the most popular acids for exfoliation, and how to build them in to your skincare routine.

Why do we exfoliate?

Exfoliation is one of the most important steps in any basic skincare routine.

It gets rid of dead skin cells and helps to unblock pores which in turn reduces breakouts.

It can help reduce fine the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it allows your other products to work more effectively as they’re penetrating a brand-new layer of skin. And by removing the dead skin, you’re left with fresher, glowier skin. Win.

To try and keep this post short and sweet I’m going to focus on the acids that are the most popular, and the ones we’re most familiar with.

Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, and Lactic Acid

These acids fall into two different categories; Alpha Hydroxy Acids, or AHAs, and Beta Hydroxy Acids, or BHAs.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids work on the surface of the skin. They’re fantastic for anti-aging, for getting rid of dead skin cells, and for giving you that glow.

Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid are AHAs. Glycolic Acid is generally considered the holy grail for exfoliation. It removes dead skin cells, evens skin tone, resurfaces and smooths, it’s anti-aging, and because of its strength it generally needs to be introduced slower.

Lactic Acid also resurfaces the skin, improves skin tone and texture, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, targets pigmentation, however, it’s quite a bit gentler than Glycolic Acid, and more moisturizing

Beta Hydroxy Acids work on the deeper layers of the skin. They’re fantastic for breakouts, for acne prone, or congested skin.

Salicylic Acid is a BHA. It gets deeper into the skin, unblocks pores, reduces breakouts and the appearance of blackheads, resurfaces the skin, and is great for oily, or acne-prone skin.

AHAs and BHAs can be used daily, and they can also be used together – as they target different layers of the skin. There’s lots of great products on the market now that have both AHAs and BHAs.

If you’re not using acids at all in your skincare routine, and you would like to introduce them – make sure to do it slowly. Start using them once a week, and build up from there, taking note of how your skin reacts.

Skincare acids come in many forms; cleansers, toners, masks, exfoliating pads, etc.

lets-talk-about-skincare-acids

I’ve linked some of my favourite below, and keep scrolling to find out more about them.

AHAs – the below products are great for resurfacing the skin, getting rid of dead skin cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and so on.

Pixi Glow Tonic is a great one to start with, if you’re not using any acids right now.

It has 5% Glycolic Acid and is gentle enough for daily use, when built up over time.

The Inkey List Glycolic Acid is a favourite of mine. I’ve raved about it many times. It has 10% Glycolic Acid so it’s twice the strength of Pixi Glow Tonic. I use Glycolic Acid two to three times a week. I use it at night, after cleansing.

The Inkey List Lactic Acid is also an AHA, so it’s from the same family as Glycolic Acid. But it’s a lot gentler than Glycolic Acid. Lactic Acid is more moisturizing and less irritating. This product also has 1% Hyaluronic Acid for extra hydration. If you have very sensitive skin that’s prone to redness or irritation I would opt for Lactic Acid over Glycolic Acid.

BHAs – the below products are great for penetrating deeper layers of the skin, helping to stop breakouts, target congestion, and

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser. This is great cleanser for oilier skin, or for skin prone to hormonal acne, breakouts, or congestion.

Products that have both AHAs and BHAs – the below products exfoliate, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smooth and brighten the skin, and target breakouts, congestion, etc.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate

And there we have it.

If you’d like to watch me talk through acids and the products I like using step by step, please click here.

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Categories: Beauty, Homepage, Skincare Guides

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Let’s talk about SPF 🧴 SPF stands for Sun P Let’s talk about SPF 🧴 

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and is a measure of protection from UV rays. 

The sun emits two types of ultraviolet rays; UVA and UVB. When we think about SPF a lot of the time, we think about sunburn on the surface of our skin. This is caused by UVB rays. UVA rays on the other hand, penetrate the skin deeper, and can cause damage on a deeper level; think uneven skin tone, hyper-pigmentation, and sagging skin. UVA rays can also lead to skin cancer. 

We’re all familiar with the different levels of SPF available in products in the market; SPF15, 20, 30, and so on. But what do those numbers mean and how much protection do they actually give you?

The number on the tube tells you how long you can stay in the sun while wearing that sunscreen without burning, compared to staying the same amount of time in the sun and not wearing that sunscreen. So, for example, if you apply SPF30, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you used no sunscreen.

In terms of blocking the suns rays, an SPF of 15 blocks 93% of UV rays. An SPF of 30 blocks 97%, and an SPF of 50 blocks 98%.

It’s important to remember, however, that no sunscreen can ever block sunburn and associated skin damage completely. Wearing sunscreen is only one part of effective sun protection; stay in the shade, wear a hat, apply sunscreen 😇 

#wearsunscreen #protectyourskin #sunscreeneveryday #evenindoors #fortheloveofgod #thankyou #loveyou
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As it’s Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I’m talking all things SPF on my Stories today, in partnership with Millie’s; why it’s important to wear SPF every day, how much to apply, reapplication, and some of my top SPF picks. 

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If you’re on the hunt for some delicious rosé this summer, here are some of my favourite rosé producers:

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I’ve been having a hard time with neck and muscl I’ve been having a hard time with neck and muscle pain the last couple of days. This is something I experience pretty regularly because of chronic anxiety. 
My anxiety is mostly physical, and so a ‘flare up’ (as I like to call it) usually looks like one or a mixture of these things: 
Neck pain, muscle tension, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, brain fog, night terrors, and poor sleep in general. 
In the past, it has also showed up as breathlessness, slurred speech, extreme dizziness, tingling in my hands and feet, muscle spasms and heart palpitations. 
I have spoken about, and written about, my experience with anxiety many times, and I think it’s important to keep talking about it because so many of us are struggling. 
I started taking anxiety medication last year, under guidance from my brilliant GP. It was one of the best decisions I made. 
It turned my life around, and helped me - in the words of my GP; ‘start living again.’
This decision was stigmatized by some, which I found interesting. As it had absolutely nothing to do with them. 
Of course, medication is not for everyone, and it’s not forever - but it does changes lives. It saves lives. 
People who continue to stigmatize medication and mental illness in general, are the problem. Not you. 
If you have anxiety or depression, it’s important that you know there is nothing ‘wrong with you’. You are not a lesser person because of it. 
You are a person. And you are not alone. 
So let’s keep talking about it ❤️
A sunny afternoon in Ranelagh ☀️ (Living in t A sunny afternoon in Ranelagh ☀️ 
(Living in this trench until I figure out what’s going on with the weather).

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I don’t know if I’m more excited about the pro I don’t know if I’m more excited about the products or the makeup bag they came in 😂 

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