The skincare you have all been after!

By Bombshell Charlie Wilson

Hey gays, guys, fems queers, queens, and everyone in between!

I know that currently we are all feeling like absolute trash and this is the hardest time for all of us, but I am here to show you/ walk you through the best way to take care of the skin and body you are in because after all WE are all BEAUTIFUL! So, whether you need a pamper night, a reason to wake up in the morning or just to feel like you again, I have the skincare routine to brighten up any day.

THE PAMPER NIGHT

So this routine is to really take care of yourself, love the skin you’re in and make you feel like the baddest bitch ever! I have come up with the best way to make you feel exactly that!

Step 1.

Pop in that plug and run yourself a hot bath girl, drop in your best bath bomb and a splash (half a bottle) of bubble bath, because it’s not a bath without bubbles lets be real. Grab some of your favourite smelling candles or wax melts – let’s set the mood hunny! 

I recommend any form of muscle relaxant bubble bath; it allows the body to fully relax and feel zen while taking care of any tight or strained muscles from carrying 2020.

Step 2.

A face mask I hear you ask!? Oh, that is coming! Once your bath is at the perfect temperature climb in and let the steam open those nasty pores. Let’s be honest face masks are clogging those pores. Grab your silicone brush and apply the best face mask you have.

I recommend The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling solution, this one should be applied with fingertips (it works better). This will fully penetrate the skins layers and exfoliate deep within. Physical exfoliants are NOT a good idea, throw that St Ives apricot scrub away now! If acid is not your thing then try a clay detox mask, this is for those cloggy pores – once pores are open the clay will take effect and really get deep into those pores and clean them out. Both work wonders for the skin. After you must pat skin dry then splash with cold water, it closes the pores. 

Step 3.

Now that body ody ody ody. Sugar scrubs are the best to thoroughly clean off those dead skin cells, it also softens the hair follicles for a lovely silky-smooth shave wherever that may be. Remember shaving foam. No DRY SHAVING! The Body Shop do amazing sugar scrubs! 

Step 4.

On to the luscious locks. Hair masks, shampoos, and conditioners wash that hair and get the stress of Boris out. Scrub the hair from root to tip and lather up, wash out and apply conditioner to the middle and end of the hair and comb that baby through.

Recently I’ve been loving Herbal Essences Botanicals range, they smell absolutely divine. Maui Moisture Revive & Hydrate Shea Butter Mask is amazing for hydrating the hair and leaving the hairy silky smooth.

Step 5.

This step is optional – just sit back and relax basically.

Step 6. 

Wrap up the hair and body in a towel and hop out. Bring the Netflix with you and allow your body and hair to air dry. Apply a hydrating or repair oil to your hair and rake through (only on the middle and ends). Air drying both the body and hair stops any damage from force drying and keeps and moister locked in, if you want to blow dry, a cool setting is the best. Now once your body has air dried, apply a generous layer of your favourite body butter/ lotion. We need to add the moisture back into the face so apply a thin or thick layer of moisturiser which ever way you like. 

The Body Shop do amazing body butters, CeraVe also offer a light yet deep moisturising body lotion. 

Last and final step. 

Light some more candles, turn on the fairy lights, change the lights to a lovely lavender and get into bed.

The daily routine for the on the go. 

This next routine is for everyday use. For the gals that are “up down left right, around the hill and back again.” 

This routine will give you the skin of a goddess!

Step 1.

Steam that face and open those pores, like I’ve said before a physical exfoliator is like ripping your skin apart, so first off we want to apply a generous pump or squeeze of your favourite cleanser, preferably a cleanser that has skin enhancing products and that is gentle on the skin. To begin with the GLAMGLOW gentlebubble conditioning cleanser is amazing with ingredients such as, apple extract, vitamin E, TEAOXI and Green Tea Leaf. TEAOXI is a form of real leaf steeping, this cleanser opens pores with skin caring ingredients, the tea detoxifies, and the vitamin E improves skin impurities and rehydrates the skin. Rinse off with warm or hot water. Then you want to go in with an acid cleanser which exfoliates the skin gently, removes black heads, evens out texture of the skin, minimising blemishes, and overall redness of the skin. Rinse off with warm or hot water then pat face dry with a towel. Pat face with cold water to close the pores and then pat face dry once again. Using your hands is great but maybe find a soft bristle brush which removes contact with hands for a cleaner face.

I recommend the CeraVe SA Smoothing cleanser, this contains 3 essential ceramides, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid.

Step 2. 

Grab a cotton pad and your favourite toner, apply to cotton pad and gently wipe across the face get in all the crevasses, allow face to dry. The next steps are optional, but I highly recommend.

I have found that L’Oreal finer flowers toner balances out skins ph level and improves overall clarity of skin. Rose and Jasmine Flowers, in a toner for soft, comfortable, and fresh skin, every day. The fresh texture invigorates the skin and eliminates the last traces of impurities, for perfectly cleansed complexion. Another amazing toner is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid which contains an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin. The 7% toning solution offers mild exfoliation for improved skin radiance and visible clarity. The formula also improves the appearance of skin texture with continued use.

Step 3.

This next step is to grab a hydrating face oil and apply first to your hands and pat into the face. This will sink into the pores and deeply penetrate layers of skin for all day hydration. The Ordinary Hylaronic acid is amazing for getting right in there. The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 delivers lasting hydration and offers visible plumping and moisture retention so that skin looks smoother, softer and healthier.

Enjoy pampering yourself during this lockdown – you deserve it!