A Signature Scent

It's safe to say that perfumes are some of the most beautiful and satisfying objets to collect - after lipsticks, obviously. There's something irresistible about those oh-so-chic glass bottles that instantly dress up any bedroom. I've noticed during the past few years that most women do love indeed to build a perfume collection to then pick one from the lot every morning as one choses an outfit. As much as I admire those collections and sometimes feel a bit frustrated myself for my lack of it, I chose to remember one of the many advices my Mum gave me ; a perfume is your signature. It is partly what people know you for, sometimes why strangers will notice you on the streets, how your loved ones recognize and remember you. We all ought to have a signature scent. Some women prefer to wear several, some chose a few different ones depending on the time of the day or the seasons. I like to have a second perfume for special occasions such as nights out - my scent of choice is the very dark and sexy Tom Ford Velvet Orchid - but most of the time I remain faithful to my one true love, Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. I've worn this perfume for as long as I can remember and even though I sometimes struggle not to succumb to the very daunting perfume section in department stores and adopt a new one,  I wouldn't give mine up for the world. 

What is your signature scent ?

xxx

M'

A Word On Sun Protection

Now that summer is just around the corner I thought it would be appropriate to touch on an essential subject; sun protection. The very fact that most people only reach for a sunscreen during the summer months is a first issue. I'll admit the whole science behind sun protection factors and ultra violets can be a bit confusing, but I'll try my best to give you a quick recap of what you really need to know and hopefully make it clear once and for all that we all need protection from the sun, all year round. 

There are two types of damaging rays; UVA and UVB. There are both radiations from the sun that can damage your skin to different levels. Long story short, UVA rays are associated with the aging factor as these are the rays that are responsible for, you guessed it, aging and wrinkling your skin. UVA are nasty because until recently they weren't talked about that much and people tend to forget they're there when in fact they're everywhere; they easily pass through the ozone layer, clouds, glass and even clothing. In other words, if you're taking a road trip this summer on a hot and beautiful sunny day thinking that you're all safe in your car, you're wrong, as it does penetrates through glass. UVB rays, more acknowledged by the mainstream public, are associated with burn; they're the ones responsible for sunburn. They're also known to contribute to skin cancer, although more and more researches seem to come to the conclusion that UVA rays do too. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor found in our sunscreen products and gives you an idea of how long you can stay in the sun before your skin starts to burn. For example, if you take an SPF 15, you'll be able to be exposed to the sun for 15 times longer than without protection, same goes for SPF 30 and 50. The one thing to keep in mind when purchasing a sun protection, is that most do not offer protection against UVA. Sunscreens were first designed to protect against UVB rays only, as UVA rays were once thought to be harmless. You now know better, so when you go out to shop for sunscreen, look for "broad spectrum protection" which refers to the protection of the full range of UVA and UVB. Application-wise, know that you should wear a sun protection every day and that it is the last step to your skincare routine (apply it right before your make-up). Now, you do not need and SPF 50 on a daily basis, especially during the colder months when you're less likely to hang out under the sun or when your routine consists mainly of going from home to work and back - for that an SPF 15 or 20 will do just fine. Enough of the science, let's move on to what you really want to know; which one should you go for? Granted, sunscreen weren't always glamorous. Until a few years ago, most were still those thick, heavily fragranced pastes that make you look white and clogged your pores. They were a real nightmare under make-up, too. Lucky us, nowadays brands come out with genius SPFs everyday. There is one for everyone really, some are more moisturising than others, some mattifying, even light reflecting but always light. I haven't tried them all, obviously, but here are a few I'd recommend:

• If you have oily skin: Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 this is a great one if you struggle with a shiny T-Zone. However, you should use a higher SPF for the summer months.

• If you have dry, normal to combination skin: Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 an awesome product, I've converted many people to that one. As its name suggests, it really is ultra light and leaves no residue whatsoever, works beautifully under make-up too. While it is light, it is also pretty moisturising so I'd say that if you have oily skin, use a mattifier on your oiliest patches and you should be good to go.

• For all skin types: Radical Skin Perfecting Screen SPF 30 on the pricier side but it is a genius product that adds a hint of tint and radiance to you skin, does a wonderful job as a primer and is even gorgeous on its own for when you're feeling the no make-up/make-up vibe.

It kills me that still to this day I meet so many people who have no clue about what SPF, UVB and UVA stand for. Actually, most people I meet on a daily basis have no idea, or do but chose to ignore that knowledge. It kills me because sun damage is something we can prevent, something we have some kind of control on. Skin cancer is no joke, it is very much real and should not be overlooked. There are thousand of other diseases we cannot prevent, heal or even explain. I'm not saying sun damage is the only factor at the origin of skin cancer, but it is one of them. And if this doesn't sound scary enough, then think about the aging factor. It's pointless to spend hundreds of quids on anti-aging treatments of all kinds if you spend your summer burning at the beach. Wearing a sun protection on a daily basis is the first move to keep those deep, nasty wrinkles at bay or at least to prevent them from appearing prematurely. Dark-spots and discolorations ain't no fun either, if you ask me. So next time you leave the house without your sun protection on thinking you're all ready for the day, think again - you're smarter than that. 

xxx

M'

Something Different

Today's post won't be about make-up or skincare, instead I thought I'd do something different and share with you my favorite brownies recipe. As much as I could talk about cosmetics all day long, I felt like adding something new to this blog - because in the end there's more to life than make-up (sorta' ?) and well, I'd like to write about something else once in a while. Now for the serious part, if you're up for a chocolate-y, gluten-free and lactose free (not calorie-free at all I'm afraid) treat, then get in your kitchen and keep reading !

What you'll need (can be adjusted obviously, you don't have to go lactose-free or gluten-free if you don't want/need to):

200g Lactose-free butter

200 Dark (or whatever you prefer, the darker the healthier though) chocolate

250 Caster sugar (I like to use brown raw sugar or coco sugar)

70g Flour (I used some Maïzena which is gluten free, coconut flour will do just fine too if you can get hold of it!)

70g Cocoa powder

1 tsp Baking powder

4 Eggs

All you have to do is pre-heat your over at 180°, melt the butter and the chocolate together, add the dry ingredients and the eggs, pop the mixture into a baking tray and then in the oven  - and you're done ! Depending on how gooey you like your brownies, you can leave them to cook for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Store them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge (hint, they're even better once they've been in the fridge for a while) if you don't eat them all straight away ;)

Bon appétit !

xxx

M'

Skin Heroes: Some of my Favorite Treatments

Today I'd like to introduce you to some of my favorite serums and treatments. Some may not agree but I do believe that first of all, you should invest in skincare (if you can) before investing in anything else - remember, you only have one skin, look after it. Second of all, to me if you're going to invest in a fancy product, it should be a serum. You know how much I love skincare, I own way too many cleansers, toners, moisturizers, serums and oils but that's because it's a passion of mine and honestly no one need that many of each. Be smarter and stick to what you actually need - plus using too many products isn't always the best way to go (nor the most economic). When it comes to treating particular skin issues, whether it's acne, hyper pigmentation or fine lines, serums are you best bet (assuming your basic skincare routine and eating habits are spotless, obviously) and are totally worth investing in. I won't go into too much details for each of the treatments or we'd be here forever, but feel free to ask questions in the comments, I'd be glad to help if I can!

Alpha-H Liquid Gold 

A classic - if your familiar with blogs or/and Youtube, I'm sure you've heard all about this little gem already. For those of you who haven't yet heard of it... well you've been living under a rock. It's basically a toner (alright, a very fancy toner) with glycolic acid and licorice that helps brightening the complexion while targeting dark spots, acne and acne scars, fine lines as well as improving the skin texture in general. Anyone could benefit from it, everyone should in fact own a glycolic acid based product (the Pixi Glow is an awesome more gentle alternative), however if you have very sensitive skin you may want to try a sample first (although I have very sensitive skin and it works just fine for me), same thing if you've never used acids on your skin before. I know acids can be frightening, but I swear if you use them properly and find what works for you, you won't be able to live without it. I'd recommend using Liquid Gold one to three times a week depending on your skin type (careful not to over use acids, you don't want to over exfoliate!) at night time, apply it with a cotton pad like you would a toner. Some people use it as a treatment on its own and don't apply anything on top but I find it tingles quite a bit so I like to add an oil for more comfort.

Perricone MD Blue Plasma

Similarly to the Alpha-H Liquid Gold, the Blue Plasma is a peel that helps to improve skin texture by banishing dead skin cells, tighten pores, fades acne scars and wrinkles. If you have an overly sensitive skin and have a hard time using glycolic or lactic acid on your skin, then this is the one I'd go for, as it is super gentle and while super powerful, won't ever irritate your skin (trust me on this one, I even used it for god-knows-what-reason when I had my allergic reaction to benzoyl peroxide and it didn't burn my skin off, so that's something...). I like to use this one daily, during my day time routine as it sinks into the skin immediately and leave no tacky or sticky trace like some other treatments sometimes do. Beware however of the rotten-fish smell (which doesn't last once applied to the skin, don't worry) - I personally would apply anything on my face as long as it works, no matter the smell but I know some people are sensitive to it.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron

Hydraluron is a moisture boosting serum packed with hyaluronic acid (the star ingredient when it comes to hydration) that will help plump up your skin and enhance the effects of the moisturiser you will put on top. Again, anyone could benefit from the use of some hyaluronic acid and this product in particular, whether you feel like your skin looks dull, tired and dehydrated or if you're in a mature age (as when we grow older, our body naturally produces fewer quantities of the molecule, which is one of the many factors influencing skin aging).

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +

Another superstar in the blogosphere, this one is a winner - and also one of the cheapest of the bunch. It has a light, gel-y consistency that sinks in quickly and can be used during the day or night or both (works well during the day, even if you're oily). It is meant for problematic, blemish prone skins and the key ingredients are Niacinamide, which has anti-inflammatory properties, LHA and salicylic acid which exfoliate and fight bacteria. The new formula (the + one) has been enhanced with Procerad that targets hyper pigmentation and help to fade acne marks. I'd recommend this one if you suffer from the occasional spots or hormonal breakouts and if you don't want to or can't use benzoyl peroxide or retinol. It is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and many people swore that it fixed their angry, blemish-prone skin. I myself have used it consistently over the past couple of years and if I don't use it as much as I used to ('cause you know, I have like ten other treatments in my cabinet to use, silly me), I still rely on it during that happy (joke) time of the month or at any time when my breakouts are getting out of hand.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

A cult favorite of many people, this one is a good all-rounder night time serum. As you can guess by the name, it helps to advance or speed up the repair of skin cells, targeting all kind of skin damages and improving the overall look of the skin. It's basically good skin in a bottle, the kind of product I'll use the night before a big event or if my skin is particularly stressed out and I feel like nothing else can help. You will wake up to a brighter, plumper, healthier looking complexion and everyone can use it, from dry to oily skin types - although I guess mature users might witness more results.

Philosophy Help Me 

My personal favorite, although they're all my favourite, this is my ultimate skin hero, the one that made an almost immediate difference to my skin (externally that is, keep in mind that to see actual results you have to wait between three to four weeks). Its main ingredient is retinol, which makes miracles against both skin aging and acne. If you are allergic to benzoyl peroxide like I am, you may have tried a retinol based product, or the famous Retina A. Although I didn't have an allergic reaction to Retin A, it still massively dried out my skin and although I know it is part of the process, I wasn't quite ready to endure it for months. Help Me is much more gentle to the point that even I, with my super sensitive skin, have never experience irritation, redness or patchiness while using it. It makes wonders on those nasty spot you picked (because, don't we all do that?) or regular active blemishes, reduces the inflammation overnight so they're either gone or look much smaller in the morning. It's also fabulous to use on scars and hyper pigmentation, unclogs pores and generally leaves you with with a clearer complexion. I use it sparingly every night on my problem areas only, although it is gentle enough to be used all over. For those of you struggling with breakouts and who feel like salicylic acid isn't cutting it, give this one a go - it changed my life (like seriously).