Girl Meets... Pay Day Treats

Christmas is over, the long awaited January pay is finally here, but how do you treat yourself? What items have you been secretly coveting? Do you finally splash out and spend that little bit more on that lipstick/ those shoes/ or that moisturiser? These are the questions I've been mulling over the past few days, so I thought I'd do a quick run down of my top 3 Pay Day Treats this month in case you are need of inspiration.

3) Acqua di Parma Candle (Harvey Nichols £50)

I am absolutely in love with Acqua di Parma's Colonia Assoluta at the moment, with it's Jasmine and Rose heart notes and Amber base notes I haven't found anything that smells as elegant and distinctive. I adore this fragrance and I thought how amazing it would be to have this scent in a candle for my new apartment. With it's simple design and chic yellow colour I think this candle would be a gorgeous accent for both my lounge and my bathroom!

http://www.harveynichols.com/beauty/categories/lifestyle/candles/s389094-colonia-cube-candle.html

Why not find a matching candle to your favourite fragrance, it's a great way to relax further when you get home after a busy day. If you struggle to find a candle to match, Jo Malone is the perfect place to visit to pick a new scent and matching candle.

2) Riedel Vinum Wine Glasses (John Lewis £32)

What better way to relax and unwind than a satisfying glass of Merlot at the end of the day, and everyone knows the better the glass the nicer the wine tastes, which is why I am treating myself to a pair of these beautiful Riedel lead crystal glasses.
Ok, so I won't get them out when my friends come round for drinks in case they get knocked over, instead they'll be boxed away for my pleasure when I really want to savour that Friday night glass of red.

http://www.johnlewis.com/230550304/Product.aspx

1) Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro 400-The Red (Harvey Nichols £24)

With it's velvety texture and long lasting colour (an impressive 8 hours) this revolutionary lip stain makes me feel like a Hollywood siren from the moment I put it on. Armani offer a wide range of highly pigmented colours including pinks oranges and browns, but true to form I go for the classic red! This is my must have buy for the month, the perfect way to achieve that glamorous Valentines Day look this February.

http://www.armanibeauty.co.uk/make-up/lips/lipstick/lip-maestro.aspx

Send me your Pay Day Treats @GirlMeetProduct

Girl Meets... Snow!!!!!!

Happy Snow Day Everyone!!

Finally, after weeks of weather reports the long awaited snow has arrived, and there's nothing like waking up to a white garden to regress back to childhood! Instead of working I have spent the whole day outside, making snow angels, building snowmen and having snowball fights.

As I was wrapping myself up in my snow gear, multiple pairs of socks, ski gloves and earmuffs I realised I had protected my whole body from the cold apart from the one place I spend hours a day inspecting, protecting and perfecting. My face! In my profession I should know better than to neglect my skin on a cold winters day like today, throughout winter the changing conditions of the bitter cold into centrally heated houses and offices severely dehydrates the skin. As the skin loses its moisture in this way your protective barrier becomes impaired, leaving it vulnerable to irritants, bacteria and further dehydration. This is why throughout winter you may become sensitive towards products you have used for years, develop chronically dry flaky  skin and even experience unknown breakouts.

So, what can you do to protect your skin throughout the winter? First of all wear your moisturiser every single day, by doing this you are protecting your skin and preventing the moisture loss that leads to dehydration. By using a moisturiser that is slightly heavier in consistency you will also reinforce the Lipid Barrier within the skin by replenishing your Essential Fatty Acids.

One product that I adore throughout the year, but particularly in winter is Dermalogica's Barrier Repair, this is a must have product for anyone outdoorsy. The ideal product for skiing, walking, biking or just for those with sensitised skins. It works by mimicking the skins Lipid Barrier, filling in any gaps that may allow moisture to leak out and irritants to get in.

http://www.dermalogica.com/uk/html/products/barrier-repair-126.html

The best way to use this product throughout the winter to prevent dehydration is to layer a five pence piece sized amount on top of your daily moisturiser, thus locking in the hydration and moisture. For those who are more sensitive or suffer from Eczema, Barrier Repair can be used underneath your moisturiser or eye cream in order to slow down the rate at which the ingredients penetrate into the skin. By doing this it will slow down any physiological response to your products such as stinging or burning.

The added benefits of this product is that it contains Dermalogica's UltraCalming ingredients such as Ginger and Evening Primrose Oil in order to calm and soothe sensitised skin, along with Oat Kernel Oil. For those with dry skin like mine, it can even be used underneath foundation as a make up primer, as the silicones provide a smooth, long lasting finish.

One other tips that I would always recommend throughout the year is wear SPF all day (even in winter your skin is subjected to harmful UVA and UVB rays), and one of my New Years Resolutions; top up your water levels!

So, as you enjoy yourself in the snow this week follow my tips to ensure a beautifully hydrated and thoroughly protected skin, after all, you can hide your hands and feet but your face is out there for everyone to see! Tweet Me @GirlMeetProduct

Girl Meets... 2013!

Happy New Year everyone!

After a hectic Christmas and New Year everyone seems to be reevaluating their personal goals, many of which include getting the skin they desire in 2013! We're only a few weeks into the new year and I've already had numerous clients telling me that their skin care regime is their New Years resolution.

My own resolution is to give myself a complete health overhaul, which I am already seeing the effects from, including various changes to my skin!

So, throughout the rest of January and into February I will be addressing various skin concerns and answering any questions to assist those with their resolutions.

As we all know resolutions are hard to keep, so take everyday as it comes and remember the reasons why you chose to make this change! Tweet Me @GirlMeetProduct