Keep your skin hydrated in the summer heat

There are four skincare products that I can not live without, especially in this heat. All are products are  from Biotherm.

Skin needs water as much as the body does, but the skin is the last place water is given too when you drink water, and no matter how much you drink either, it always goes to your organs first.

One way of giving your skin the water it needs is though your skincare products and for one brand, water is the heart of its skincare.

Now you know I have written about Biotherm many times before, with reviews on the Skin Ergetic and the Blue Therapy range.  If you would like to know more about the company history visit the Biotherm Website.

The four products I use on a daily basis are;

• The Blue Therapy Serum
• Aquasource Normal/Combination Moisturiser
• UV Supra D-Tox SPF 50 
• Aquasource Nuit

The Serum, Moisturiser and Nuit are good for all year round. The White Detox SPF 50 I use in the summer periods.

So why do I love these products so much?

You may have already read about the Blue Therapy Serum review, and so this is a great product to use to keep the damage of the UVA and UVB's at bay in the summer time, as well as a good anti ageing serum to firm and give radiance to your skin.

 The Aquasource moisturiser is a very light weight and refreshing cream/gel and within it, it has the equivalent of 5000 litres of the thermal plankton cellular water, which is the spring water that Biotherm obtains its unique ingredient from - Thermal Plankton. Unlike most moisturisers, the Aquasource keeps you hydrated for 24hours. My skin always looks plump, radiant and constantly hydrated when using this moisturiser. The best bit is you do not need a lot of it to go a long way either. I use a 20p size amount on my face and neck. A 50ml pot definitely gets you a good 6 month worth of usage too and for just £28 I find that very reasonable. More information on the Aquasource Moisturiser can be found here

For the summer months, I wouldn't leave my door without putting on my sun block, UV Supra D-tox SPF 50, on my face. Like a lot of us, there are have been many years where I have forgotten to put my sun cream on my face. Yes I have natural freckles but I have notice I have a few more at recent times, than those I was born with. This is sun damage ( which the blue therapy will help but you also need to wear a sun cream/block to help protect too ) and since working in skincare, I have become more aware of the damages the sun can do to your body.
What I most like about this product though, is that it is still very light weight and not sticky as you would expect from a spf 50 or sun block. This can be used a primer under makeup as well and even applied on to of makeup if need to re-apply during the day. Price is £19.50 for a 30ml.

For the evening, and I use this all year round as I totally love this product for night time, is the Aquasource Nuit. As part of the Aquasource range, you instantly know it is going to feed your skin with the water and mineral nutrients it needs. The blue gel which as it touches the skin turns in a liquid/oil like texture, boosts your skin though the night with moisture. results is you wake up to fresh looking, luminous skin which feels more elastic and radiant, as if reawakened. I call this a facial in a bottle. It is suitable for all skin types too and just like the moisturiser you don't need alot. One pump is enough to do your whole face. Price is £28 for a 50ml and again, I get a good 6 month use out this bottle.

For more information on Biotherm's product visit www.biotherm.co.uk or visit facebook.com/Biotherm

Brevity Beauty - A quick yet effective cleansing system.

So who are Brevity Beauty?  It was only a couple of weeks ago I had heard of them, and via twitter!
They had contacted regards to trying out their 3 step cleansing system, and as I love trying new products especially beauty products, you can imagine I jumped at the chance in doing so.

I am not sure when the company was founded by Sue Jones but the background into the products and name of the company is a wonderful story - with Japanese connections and Shakespare ( Brevity Beauty - History and Philosophy
The Shakespare part is the the word Brevity, derived from Polonius’ speech in Hamlet where he stated “Brevity is the soul of wit” . Brevity Beauty's ethos is “Brevity is the soul of beauty”. Brevity means brief, quick and certianly their regime is breif and quick. Which for some of us with busy lifestyles will love without having to compromise on quality and effective skincare regime.

Ok, so what is in the products that makes it so effective yet quick? - Marine Collagen! combined with licorice, geranium and Hyaluronic acid which are all renowned for helping reduce fine lines and wrinkles, diminishing pigmentation spots and firming the skin.

The 3 Step System:
1) The Cleansing Lotion
2) The Conditioning Bar and Lather Net ( unique and fun to use )
3)The All in One Moisturising Gel

When I received this, I was wondering what the net was for, and it this that makes their 3 step rather unique and fun to use. However, I will explain usage in a second.
The Brevity 3 Step uses a double cleansing system and a combined toner/moisturiser. The cleansing lotion removes any makeup  efficiently and effectively. Apply this to your hands and massage into the skin, than cleanse away with water. You than place the cleansing bar into the net, wet with some warm water and rub the net between your palms to create a foam. Take the bar out, and squeeze the net with one hand from top to bottom to remove the foam onto your hands and massage foam onto face ( do not use the net on the face ). Then just rinse with water and pat dry.  I found my skin beautifully squeaky clean - but not drying like soaps can be. It felt gentle but definitely effective.
Once you pat dry, apply the moisturising gel all over face and neck. The texture of the gel was lovely and my face felt moisturised afterwards.
I have placed the video of how to use the products, as it is best seen!

I have used it for 4 days now, and I haven't any problems with it. My skin has felt really clean, soft and moisturised after using the products. I also liked the fact it was quick, all 3 steps took less than 5 Min's to do, and as mother, and I work full time too, a regime like this is great.
As someone who works in the beauty industry, I know you really need a good 4 weeks to see real improvements on your skin, although some results like I have mentioned are seen instantly, for results on wrinkles, lines, tone of skin etc you would need at least 4 weeks. I would recommend using the products, as they have felt really comfortable on my skin and would continue to use to see the longer term results.
Price wise, I feel they are very reasonable, falling in the same category to other premium brands that offer similar products in terms of marine, or anti ageing.

I believe as I write this, Brevity Beauty are still offering samples out to try their skincare - if you follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Difference between a Serum/facial oil and Moisturizer

As a NYR Organic independent consultant, I am often asked the questions what are the difference between a facial serum/oil and moisturizer, and why we advise you to use both.

To avoid giving my host and her guests a load of scientific jargon, I always explain in simple everyday terms.

" would you go out in a dress without your underwear on? " the answer is always no with some laughs.

I than ask them to imagine the serum or oil ( depending on your skin type or what you want out of it you would use one or the other ), as the underwear and the moisturizer as the dress. They compliment each other as the serum or oil penetrates the skin deeper than a moisturizer does and so giving you extra benefits and protection, again depending on which serum/oil you use with the moisturizer you chosen for your skin type.

For those who would like to know the science behind this - the difference is:

A serum or oil has smaller molecules than a moisturizer has which means it can penetrate into the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin providing it with extra nutrients, moisture and other benefits depending on which serum or oil you have chosen ( for instance anti- aging ).

The difference between a serum and oil is :
Serum is a thick liquid concentrate, made out of extractions of natural ingredients. They are water based which makes them lightweight and absorbed quickly into the skin. It’s quick absorbing formulation helps the ingredients to be delivered deeply through the skin’s pores for maximum active potency.
A facial oil is a concentration of pure oil extracted from plants and herbs and are ideally used to provide nourishment for combination to dry, rosacea, mature, fragile skin types. It’s botanical concentration means it is rich in vitamins, essential oils and antioxidants.

But won't a facial oil make my skin look greasy? I am always asked this question too and so I always use the facial oil to demonstrate at parties or pamper evenings. It is often assumed that because it is only most people associate it as being greasy like cooking oil or car oil. On the contray it is quite the opposite, and the skin readily drinks the oil into the deeper layers, leaving your skin grease free with a lovely soft feeling and glow.

So why than use a moisturiser?
Well you have only put your underwear on remember!  The moisturizer ( the dress ) complements the oil/serum by giving you extra nourishment on the outside of your skin, and protecting it from the environmental damage and maintain the moisture balance within the skin.

I hope you have found this article helpful and welcome any comments.

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