Beauty tips for the pool

I've been a swimmer since I was a little girl, and I still remember having really dry skin in my legs. For years, and as I've changed my swimming routine a few times, I have come up with a beauty routine that works for me. There's nothing here scientifically proven, but it works for me, and maybe you can benefit from it. So, let's begin!

The day before

Yes, I start the day before. First of all, considering the pool contains chemicals that can harmful for your skin and hair, avoid body and face exfoliation. In my experience, after leaving the pool, my skin feels overly dry, tight, so you need as much protection as you can get. When you exfoliate, as you remove the last layer of dead cells, you leave your skin ready to absorb products, and you don't want them to be chemicals from the pool. That last layer of skin, might help you protect your skin, and therefore, you might want to consider exfoliating AFTER the pool. The same goes with hair. If possible, don't wash it the day before, and before going to sleep, apply something oily and hydrating, especially in the ends, such as shea butter, argan oil, coconut oil, olive oil... you get the idea. My favorites: Elvive Extraordinary Oil and the Organix Shea Butter Liquid Glass Serum.

30 minutes before going to the pool

As you plan going to the pool, take 30 minutes before to:

1) Eat something light, like a piece of fruit. As any other workout, eating something right before starting, might make you sick, so, just eat a little something that metabolizes fast, like a piece of fruit, that will give you energy right when you need it, and give it some time before hitting the pool.

2) Drink one or two glasses of water. As hydration is necessary, and it's better to do it before; it helps not to get cramps and to keep you hydrated.

3) Apply moisturizer to your face. Again, I insist on protecting your face and hydrating your skin before hitting the pool.  

4) And maybe re apply the hair oil (optional). You can check up your hair, yet again, if it is a little dry, focusing on the ends, and add a little extra.

Right before getting into the pool

It's very important to protect your skin and specially your hair, to get a good shower before hitting the pool. Get your hair really soaked, in order to avoid your hair absorbing all the chemicals. Since I always go to the pool for training, I always wear a cap, which also protects you from getting your hair damaged.

 After the pool

When you leave the pool, make sure you take a nice, long shower. It's important to remove all chemical residues, so that also, you don't go around your day smelling like... well like you've been in the pool. Then, do all the thorough exfoliation you want. I prefer to clean my skin with something oily, or a very gentle facial cleanser (like the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser), as it ends up being really tight. It might also be a good idea to exfoliate, with a creamy, gentle exfoliator; my picks: Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub or the St. Ives Olive Scrub). Your skin will be prepped for absorbing the nutrients from your serum or moisturizer or both. And then, think about hydration. Put on some nurturing cream in your body, and if you have a hydrating mask (such as the Aloe Protective Restoring Mask), it will be a great idea to use it after the pool. Finish your beauty routine as usual. Last but not least, drink plenty of water during the day, as you should after every workout. 

I hope this was helpful.

Leave your comments below!!

XOXOXO

Simply Aphrodite

BB and CC creams

Hey guys! For the last few months, I have become obsessed with all BB and CC creams. After reading and hearing so much about them, I couldn't resist the temptation and over the last few months I've been buying a few and trying them all on. I've bought in all price ranges and in general I've found them all lovely.

BB creams appeared first, being advertised as an all-in-one product, that helps you skip a few steps in your routine, providing  healthy and glowing skin. After reading several reviews and watching my favourite beauty and makeup gurus go on about the benefits of them, I knew I had to try them.

1. Maybelline BB Cream

So, I'll start with some drugstore products. First, the Maybelline BB Cream. An 8-in-one formula is hydrating with decent coverage and it also contains SPF 30. Perfect for everyday use. And the price is really affordable.  What I really didn't like is that it left me a little oily and I had to use matte powder.

2. The Revlon Photoready BB Cream 

The The Revlon Photoready BB Cream was unsurprisingly good. I say unsurprising as all the products from the Photoready line are fantastic (check out the REVLON PHOTOREADY AIRBRUSH Foundation, is great!). It blends, it settles, protects and hydrates without saturating the skin. It has great coverage and although, skin still looks a bit oily after hours of applying it, it last for a really long time. 

3. Smashbox Camera Ready BB cream

Moving on to more high end brands, I'm gonna continue with the Smashbox Camera Ready BB cream. I must say that my opinion could be biased as I am a HUGE fan of Smashbox products. Specially the eyeshadows, but more of that on another post. This brand is one of my favourites for makeup products and the BB cream is no exception. It is thicker, and it looks more like a foundation than a BB cream, but it still offers great finish. Skin looks luminous, and as far as I can tell, in spite of containing SPF, which can look whitish in photos, I think it looks great. 

4. MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact SPF 30

The MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact SPF 30 is one of my latest acquisitions and it works really well, it blends and leaves the skin prepped, primed and with some great coverage. I must also use powder after it as it doesn't remove the shine from my oily t-zone, but I must say it lasts for quite a while and it looks great. This BB cream comes in a liquid form and in a compact form, which is the one I bought, and the makeup artist there told me works better on oily, combination skin, like mine.

5. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is technically not a BB cream, it is rather a great tinted moisturiser. I bought it at Sephora, when I went with a friend of mine, and we were kindly helped by one of the makeup artists, who made the skin IQ test on us. We mentioned we were looking for something really soft, sheer and rather easy to apply. Thanks to the test (which is done on three points of your face), the color clearly resembles that of my own skin. The texture is very light and although it doesn't have that much coverage, it's very hydrating, light and it blends in to reveal a fantastic complexion. In my case, as my skin is combination, it really helps with the oily parts throughout the face. When I bought it I knew exactly what I wanted, and this was it. If you want something with more coverage, you should look for a different product, as this one is simply that, a tinted moisturiser.

6. Kielhs BB Cream - Actively Correcting and Beautifying with SPF 50 PA+++

Now, my all-time favourite BB cream. The Kielhs BB Cream - Actively Correcting and Beautifying with SPF 50 PA+++. From the moment I tried it on, I fell my skin was transformed. First of all, I love going to the Kielhs store. Everyone is always nice and helpful and they have this tests to see what would be the right products for you. I have an acne-prone skin, and as my complexion is rather on the darker side, I have a tendency of getting dark spots were blemishes used to be. This BB cream really worked on my skin. Besides covering the dark spots, it really helped making them fade away. I also have to give credit to another Kielhs wonder, the Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment, which I used at night. Whenever I applied the BB cream, I could see that when I took it all after a long day, it had started to work, not only protecting my skin, but actually working throughout the day. I highly recommend it, to all of those with dark spots, and having a hard time finding products that work.

7.  Iris Angelica Sublime Beauty Cream SPF30

Another brand that I swear by, in almost every product is L'Occitane. For a few years now, I have been drawn to their store, their packaging, their smell... I love everything about them, so when I saw that they had a BB cream, the Iris Angelica Sublime Beauty Cream Medium SPF30, I knew I had to try it. It's a great product. I bought it in a shade that seemed to be a little too light for my skin, but it blends in great. It leaves a lovely luminous finish, and it makes your skin look healthy and glowy. Again, it doesn't have the greatest coverage, but it is a product I normally use when I'm going out during the day and I want to put on something light that leaves my skin moisturised and fresh.

8. Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Finally, I gave this post the name "BB and CC creams" mostly because of my latest addition, the Clinique CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I haven't been using it for long, but I must say I really like it so far. It blends, it color corrects, it hydrates, and one of the things I really liked about it it's that I didn't have to use powder on top of it. It let my skin hydrated but not oily. I went out all day, and in a particularly warm and humid day, I usually see my face oily, specially on my t-zone after a few hours. Not with this product. It's fantastic!

So, there you have it! I really recommend BB creams if you're on the go and don't want to be in front of the mirror for hours, trying to get every single dar spot covered. If you feel you need a lot of coverage, you should use a foundation and concealer (I'll be writing a post about it soon). But if what you're looking for is a lightweight cream that helps you keep your skin moisturised, protected from the sun, and with a healthy glow, this is exactly what you're looking for.

Thank you for reading! Please leave your comments below if you have any suggestions or thoughts you'd like to share!

XOXO,

Simply Aphrodite

Freeman Clay Masks

Happy New Chinese Year everyone!!! I wish you all the best in the year that starts. Now let's get to it...

For a very long time I've used several Freeman products, but I've stuck to the masks for a really long time. They are affordable, they smell great, and they work wonders on my skin. I've managed to have a collection of facial masks, as many as I could find and today I want to tell you about their clay masks.

My complete Freeman face mask collection

We have Avocado and Oatmeal, Chocolate and Strawberry, Açaí, Mint and Lemon and finally, Dead Sea Minerals. My favourite is, hands down, Chocolate and Strawberry. I love the smell of chocolate so much, that I've even been tempted to taste it (I haven't...). This mask is designed for deep pore cleansing and it definitely leaves pores unclogged, and a great sensation of freshness. It also contains Shea and Cocoa Butter to moisturize your skin. Among my favourites,  the Mint and Lemon Clay Mask comes a close second. I've used it to relieve the inflammation on some blemishes and it works wonders. It doesn't do miracles, but it definitely helps. Besides, one of my favourite benefits is that it leaves my nose blackhead-free! Most clay masks help with that, by I have to say, this one removes them for days. Definitely a must-have.

The Clay Masks!

The Acai Facial Purifying Clay Mask is not far behind. As some of you may know, the Açaí is a berry that grows in the Brazilian Amazon and other places in South America, and has antioxidant properties (much like its berry sisters). This clay mask, not only contains Açaí, but also Goji, Pomegranate, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni and Blueberry. Sounds amazing, right? Well it is. You might think that it's purple, but it's actually light green. It smells great and it leaves your skin clean. Much like the Mint and Lemon Clay, the Avocado & Oatmeal Facial Clay Mask is brilliant when it comes to cleaning the pores and remove impurities. In the label says it purges pores and it definitely won't disappoint you. Besides, the Oatmeal helps moisturising the skin and at the end, your skin will have clean pores, and moisturise your face.

My three favourites!

Last but not least we have the Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask. This mask, pretty much like the other ones, absorbs the excess oil out of the skin, with the added bonus of Dead Sea Minerals,  which help your skin look healthy and clean. I really love the fact that it has such a great smell that really relaxes you while cleaning your skin.

I hope you guys enjoy this post and if you have any other suggestions or any other masks I should try please write it in the comments below

XOXO

Simply Aphrodite

One big happy family

Tea tree oil. I recently discovered The Body Shop's tea tree line, and as I read the "suitable for blemished skin" on the label, I knew I had to try it. As there isn't a store where I live, I some of the products I was able to find.

My personal Tea Tree Oil stock

I have to start by saying that I love most of The Body Shop products, I love their natural ingredients, and although it might not be totally organic, I trust my skin in the efficacy of these products. I have combination, acne-prone skin and it has been hard to find products that can deal with all problems at once. so here's what I have to say:

Facial wash and toner

Let's start with the basics, facial wash and toner. Like every other beauty regimen, it's important to start by cleaning your face properly as well as toning it. Both the wash and the toner have a tingling effect on the skin. You feel it right after you apply either. Its refreshing and cooling effect, makes your skin feel super clean and ready for moisturizing. The downside? Well I checked the ingredients and it contains denatured alcohol, which probably gives the refreshing sensation after applying them. Also, alcohol might leave the skin too dry, after prolonged use. I use them for more than a week straight, day and night, after having a breakout in my forehead and partially on my cheeks. They helped a lot with the breakout at the cost of drying out some parts of my face that are usually hydrated and luminous. What I did to solve this problem was combine them with a much richer hydrating lotion, to balance things out.

Moisturizers

  

The Body Shop offers a day moisturizer, the "Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion". Actually now that I think about it, it doesn't specifically say that it's for daytime use, I guess you can use it at night as well or anytime of the day. This moisturizer leaves a matte finish that I love, because it's not dull, and it leaves the skin with a healthy look, especially for us girls with combination or oily skin. This effect is also long lasting, however, in my opinion has a problem. I like day moisturizers to contain SPF, so that I can save one step in my morning routine, and besides, I think putting a lot of products can have a detrimental effect on how you look and how your makeup is going to stay during the day. This moisturizer does not contain SPF and therefore,  you should either mix it up with some, or apply it after, which may ruin the whole matte effect I was talking about. In my opinion, the best to apply both separately, and with caution, using the minimal amount.

The "Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion" meets its promise of helping out with blemishes. They don't disappear overnight, but it definitely helps. Although the texture is creamy, it keeps skin fresh and matte, consistent with the whole product line, and I love the matte effect....During the day. When I go to bed I expect something richer as, at least in my case, my skin dehydrates at night and whenever I don't drink enough water or I don't use a rich creamy moisturizer, I wake up from my beauty sleep feeling my skin dry and dull. If you have a very oily skin, this moisturizer might do wonders for your skin. However, in my case, I should use it only partially, on top of other moisturizer. This is not the first acne-treating lotion with which I have this problem, as I guess they're designed to treat excess oil.

The complements

As a complement of the day routine, I also wear the "Tea Tree Pore Minimiser". Its a very light-weight gel, that works great as well as primer, before applying your makeup. After moisturizing and applying sunscreen, you can try the pore minimiser. I have considerably large pores around my nose, and some days, on my forehead too, and this gel really helps.

The "Tea Tree Oil" is also a great complement for specific zones, treating blemishes and  helping with the swelling. I use it overnight, mostly because I'm afraid it might leave a mark with sun exposure. I didn't even know what it was for, until I saw it in one of my favorite beauty blogs (http://www.youtube.com/user/GlamLifeGuru). It stings a little, but I think it works very well.

I love blotting tissues, they're necessary to keep your makeup in place or if you're not wearing makeup, to keep your face matte. The Tea Tree Blotting Tissues are not the most oil-absorbing I've tried, and I usually have to use more than one to leave my skin matte. To be honest, they're not my favorites, but every now and then, when my skin is not as oily, they work (when I've used the products of the same line, who are probably doing all the heavy lifting).



 

Face Mask

I'm a huge fan of face masks, especially clay masks, again to treat my combination skin. I can't go one week without them. The "Tea Tree Face Mask", although is not a clay mask, it's fantastic. As it says on the label, it doesn't dry out, like most face clay masks. However, it fulfills its promise, leaving skin matte, yet hydrated and clean.

I decided to write this really long post, because I believe that several products, including these ones, are meant to be used as an ensemble. And trust me, I usually don't follow these rules, but I think sometimes it pays off, and products can be appreciated better. This is the case, and I totally recommend using them together, at least the basics, wash, toner and moisturizer.

I hope you enjoyed this post and leave all your comments and suggestions below.

Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best for the new year to come.

XOXOXO,

Aphrodite