Tag Archives: Beauty

Why you should avoid alcohol in your skincare products

April 4, 2018 By in Beauty Tags: , , , , , , , 21 Comments

I’m always on the lookout for products that will help improve my skin. And if you’re like me, you’re extremely careful with the kind of skincare products you buy and apply on your skin. No matter how positive the reviews on a product are, I make sure I read through all the ingredients to check if the product contains ingredients that would be harmful to my skin.

 

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One of the ingredients I watch out for is alcohol. Although there are negative views about cosmetics that contain alcohol, it has proven quite beneficial in some circumstances. For example, some of the ingredients some skincare products contain are not water-soluble and thus can only be dissolved in alcohol. Alcohol helps give our creams its creamy consistency but it has its downsides too. And depending on how you look at it, alcohol is an ingredient you should be wary about. Here are some of the reasons why.

 

  1. It dries the skin

Contrary to what many people think, not all types of alcohol are bad for your skin. Fatty alcohol like cetearyl, cetyl and stearyl alcohols actually help to improve the condition of your skin. However there are some types of alcohol that are harmful to your skin like denatured alcohol (Alcohol Denat.), SD alcohol and isopropyl alcohol that can irritate and dry out your skin. When your skin gets dry, it promotes the over production of sebum which makes your skin oily and lead to blemishes.

 

  1. Reduces the skin’s ability to retain moisture

If you want healthy and youthful skin, then you need to make sure your skin is constantly hydrated. What alcohol based products do to your skin is to degenerate your skin’s protective layer. This drastically reduces your skin’s ability to retain moisture. The protective layer of your skin helps to shield your skin from environmental damage like the harsh ultraviolet rays. This will cause your skin to go red or feel raw after applying a skincare product.

 

  1. Alcohol in skincare products leads to breakouts

We’ve all had our fair share of struggles with pimples and the blemishes they leave behind. Using alcohol based products can trigger acne breakouts. Breakouts come as a result of the pores on your skin getting clogged with sebum and those clogged pores get infected and inflamed.

Alcohol helps to kill acne-causing bacteria. It also helps to reduce the presence of oil. If used in moderation, alcohol based skincare products can help reduce the presence of acne. However excessive use of alcohol can strip your skin off its natural oils and this will lead to over production of oil which then leads to break outs.

 

  1. It kills the cells on your skin

Your skin is constantly renewing itself. The production of new skin cells helps you have healthy and youthful skin. The new skin cells will help protect the skin from environmental hazards. However, when you continuously apply alcohol on your skin, it not only removes the dead skin cells, it takes the new skin cells along with it thereby reducing the protective ability of the skin.

 

Do you look out for alcohol in skincare products?

 

 

Fashion and Style Police Reviews Rafra Balm Orange Extra Cleansing

March 26, 2018 By in Beauty, Product Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , 20 Comments

I had the great opportunity to try out Rafra Balm Orange Extra Cleansing some weeks ago and I am now completely sold on the product. It is my first time trying out this Japanese brand, and I am glad I got the opportunity. I have used this cleanser a few times now, and I really like it.

 

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Product Description

Rafra Balm Orange Extra Cleansing is multi-functional. This cleanser serves as a makeup remover, facial cleanser, massage cream, exfoliant, and a facial mask. It removes impurities from the pores thoroughly and promotes smooth, luminous skin, with an amazing natural orange fragrance.

It is formulated without artificial fragrance, coloring, mineral oil, preservative, petroleum surfactant, paraben, and alcohol.

 

How to Use

1. Place a small amount into dry hands and rub together to heat up before applying to a dry face.

2. Massage gently in circular motions.

3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

 

PROS
  1. I love the sweet orange fragrance. It smells so good.
  2. The cleanser feels amazing on my skin.
  3. I love the fact that to contains no artificial fragrance, coloring, mineral oil, preservative, petroleum surfactant, paraben, or alcohol.
  4. My skin feels soft and smooth after using this Rafra product.
  5. I like the fact that it is a multi-functional product. It means I can just grab this instead of 5 different product. Great to take away on holidays.

 

Rafra Product Review Image

 

CONS
  1. I would have found it easier to use if it came in a tube.
  2. It is quote pricey at £42.28 if you are shopping from the UK on eBay. I got this from Japan for the equivalent of that so it is quite an expensive product but I understand why.
  3. It does not wipe off my makeup completely especially the eye makeup area and when I have on heavy makeup. So it is best to wipe off the eye makeup before using this product.

 

Overall, I do recommend Rafra Balm Orange Extra Cleansing and I will be buying it again. I like the glow I get after using it.

Have you tried this product or any other Japanese skincare product before? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a beautiful day.

 

 

 

How to Use Oils in your Skincare

March 10, 2018 By in Beauty Tags: , , , , , , , 12 Comments

I was among those women who stayed clear from oils in my skincare routine. I believed using oils would make me breakout. Just like me there are many women who also avoid oil-based products. You don’t want your skin to feel greasy or look shiny, and you don’t want a breakout.

Although the use of oil usually spells bad news for women with oily skin type, women with dry skin need the oil because their skin loses moisture easily. If you want healthy and youthful skin, you need to ensure that you moisturize your skin at least twice a day after cleansing.

Moisturizing is even more important as you age because your skin loses elasticity when you grow older. Applying a good moisturizer will help your skin retain its elasticity and reduce the presence of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

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Here are the steps you need when introducing oils into your skincare routine.

 

STEP #1: Cleanse your face first

Facial oils lock in the moisture so it is important to make sure that your skin is always dirt and grime free. This is to prevent the breeding of bacteria in the pores that can cause acne which can leave your skin inflamed and painful.

Wash your face with a mild soap, pat dry and use your favourite cleanser to remove any dirt that may be hiding in your pores.

 

STEP #2: Apply the facial oil

Now this is the fun part. But I must warn you that there’s no need to add a lot of oil. A few drops of oil can do wonders for your skin.

Drop some oil in your palm, then pat the oil into your skin. Imagine yourself giving your face a nice and relaxing massage. Make sure that you pat the oil all over your face including your neck and shoulders.

 

 

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Handy Tip 1

Before applying the facial oil, dampen your face with some water. This will help you seal in more moisture in your skin.

 

Handy Tip 2

Make sure you know your skin type before applying facial oils. Dry skin would require a few more drops of oil or frequent application throughout the day. Oily skin doesn’t require as many drops.

There are special oils for those with oily skin types. Such oils penetrate into the skin faster and they do not leave your skin looking and feeling greasy. If you have normal skin, you need to make sure you apply a moderate amount of oil. I advice you test the number of drops to find out exactly how many drops will suit your skin.

 

Now that you know how much oil your skin needs, you may mix a few drops of oil to your favourite moisturizer, so you don’t have to layer them while applying the oil.

However, if you’re using sunscreen, make sure you layer the oil over your sunscreen. What this does is to create a protective layer over your skin so as to minimize the evaporation of moisture.

 

Do you use oils in your skincare routine? What are your thoughts?

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