Cleansers for teenagers

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I think the most important step in your skincare routine is cleansing. I love double cleansing and usually use the hot cloth method. I have looking into cleansers for oily skin because my brother has been getting acne breakouts. I don't really believe in foaming cleansers but I thought I'd try one. I needed to find something that would be simple and effective for my siblings to use. I heard great things from the Paula's Choice range so I thought I'd get the skin balancing oil reducing cleanser from the range.

I found that that this cleanser was a little too stripping for my skin. I think that because it's in a foam, it's more dying for my skin - when I mean drying I don't mean significantly but just enough to feel like I need to moisturise immediately to counteract the dryness. When I asked my brother what he thought of it, he said it was fine but I think his skin is oilier than mine. The cleanser effectively takes off my my makeup but leaves my eyes a little sensitive if I'm not careful when washing my face. Sensitive where my eyes actually do sting but keep in mind that my eyes are generally very sensitive so it's not unusual for a product to have that effect on me. Other than that, if someone is looking for an great cleanser, and maybe has oily skin - this could be for you. 

I think that the Kiehl's ultra facial cleanser felt like it was halfway between a milk and a foam cleanser. The cleanser did sting my eyes the same way the Paula's Choice cleanser did but didn't leave my skin feeling tight. While both Paula's cleanser is the same price as the Kiehl's, you have to pay for shipping for with Paula's because it is only available online.

I received the La Roche-Posay Effaclar foaming gel in a set with the Effaclar Duo and Effaclar Clarifying Moisturising Lotion Toner. This cleanser is my favourite out of the three cleansers. I think it's because it hasn't stung my eyes yet and it very gentle effectively cleaning my face without stripping it. 

All of the cleansers are not heavily scented which is great. I think that all these cleansers are great - you just need to consider your skin type and what is suitable for you. What cleansers do you like to use?  

Confident with your deodorant?

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I've had a love and hate relationship when it comes deodorant. Dove deodorant was a clear favourite of mine in school and still is but wasn't heavy duty enough at times. I was also not very happy with the hyper-pigmentation under my arms and thought that if I applied a more effective deodorant, I wouldn't have to apply as much product reducing the amount of build up on skin. I stupidly started testing out a heavy duty anti-perspirant which caused me to have a severe allergic reaction to the point where what ever ingredients that were inside said deodorant, actually burnt my skin. Stupidly because I disregarded the fact that my underarms are sensitive and should have started on a more moderate anti-perspirant. I should have seen the signs - the painful feeling when applying and the red rash left behind and despite the such symptoms, I still continued to use it hoping it would get better.

I started using natural deodorants while my underarms were healing and found some great ones but they still did not address my issues of keeping perspirant at bay which is important to me especially when excising. I heard great things from Michum and I felt I was ready to start using a normal deodorant again I picked one up. I was pleasantly surprised on how well it worked. It's a deodorant that you feel comfortable using when you're running after your bus in the sweltering sun where in normal circumstances you're just like, oh no I'm going to sweat bad. Sometimes when I've even forgot to apply deodorant that morning, the application the night before is sufficient enough for me to be like, I'm alright.

When I'm exercising now, I am comforted with the fact that I'm working up a healthy sweat rather than a gross smelling one. Having that comfort allows me put that extra effort in, having the confidence that you're in control of your body. Apart from that, I find that the deodorant has a pleasant clean smell that isn't ridden with an overload of the scent of talcum powder which I absolutely detest in most cream like deodorants. I do want to reiterate the Michum deodorant I am talking about is the yellow coloured one called the Mitchum pure fresh deodorant. I bought the pink coloured one thinking it would be similar but completely missed the fact that it said "powder". I really can't get passed the scent of it to the point where even my mum encouraged me to throw it out saying it smells like 'cheap perfume'. Some people might like the smell, I have a friend who actually likes the smell of talcum powdered deodorant but each to their own.

So, what what deodorant works for you?

Winter Lip Balm: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

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So, I am one of those people who gets really chapped lips - I mean, to the point they can actually start BLEED. I know I'm being dramatic - I mean, it's a small wound that eventually heals but it lingers around like an annoying ulcer and seriously, why wouldn't you try and fix something that can be avoided? I mean all those winter months slapping on layer upon layer of lip balm as a preventative measure, hoping to create some sort of barrier against the cold, windy and dry winter conditions.

Where I live it's not necessarily the cold but the strong winds that really affect the moisture levels of my skin, around my cuticles, my lips especially. Then suddenly, when you let you let your guard down and forget to apply a few times, BAM! winter attacks leaving you with a wound that takes a few weeks to heal. Something you feel when you eat, talk - just like a constant nagging voice and you're just like, 'why did you underestimate the importance of lips in life?'

So, I did a bit of research looking for a reasonably priced lip product that was going to give me better results. I came down to two products - the NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm and the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. I wanted to buy both - the NUXE because it was cheaper and available in Australian pharmacies at comparable prices to online. The Bite Beauty lip mask on the other hand, can only be sourced online and opportunity presented where I could purchase it without paying the shipping price so I went for it and purchased it first.

So onto how the lip mask turned out. I find that this is an effective product. I'd say that I've halved the amount of times I normally apply lip balm around winter time. To me that's pretty good but you know, everyone is different. The scent of the product is understated and slightly sweet - just the way like it. The consistency of the lip mask can get hard especially when the weather is colder so sometimes it's hard to dispense the product. Despite that, it is by far the best lip product I've used so far (as a heavy duty lip balm and as it should, I mean it's a mask).

It's in a tube form which allows you to control the amount of product squeezed out and is more hygienic than in a jar form. Another interesting thing to note for all those natural conscious people, is that the Bite Beauty lip mask is made with natural, food grade and organic ingredients so if you really wanted to, you could eat it. I'm interested to know what other great lip products are around, so let me know what your favourites are!