My Top Skincare Tips with Zoe's Beauty Blog

Hi everyone! My name is Zoe and I am a blogger from the Highlands of Scotland. With the help of my little blog, my aim is to help and inform people on all things skin. 
My inspiration is the amazing Caroline Hirons, who is the skincare Queen! I try to follow in her footsteps, helping as many people as I can get the best out of their skin. 

I feature many skincare posts over on my own blog, that you can click here to visit (I'd love if you did that!), which I go into more detail in and really narrow down to specific concerns (e.g blackheads) and individual product reviews.

In this post however, I will be doing a brief (as possible) run down of my top skincare tips. This is advice/information that I learned that really made a difference to how I looked at skincare/my skin. They made a massive difference to me, personally and they are always the first things I tell people when they ask for advice on skincare. This is basic advice that I feel everyone should follow, no matter what your skin type is or how old you are or what budget you have to spend on your skin care. It will work for everyone! 

Ditch the face wipes- and the foaming face wash!
A lot of you will know that "face wipes are bad" and that you shouldn't use them. But why? Well, they are full of alcohol for a start which isn't going to do your skin any favours, it will however make it red and angry. Plus, they really don't remove that much makeup, they kind of just smear it around your face. Nice. 

As for foaming face wash.. A note on anything that "foams", try and avoid putting it on your face. Foam/lather is caused my an ingredient called Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), this breaks down/strips the skin of the natural protective layer on your skin (Acid Mantle) which is made up of sweat and oil. This layer keeps the skin anti-bacterial. By breaking down that layer, you leave your skin in a state called "alkaline". Which means you're basically inviting bacteria to have a little (or should I say big) party on the surface of your skin. Your skin will also naturally produce more oil to make up for the oil that has been stripped away. Excess oil + bacteria party = spots. 

(Oh and also, never aim for "squeaky clean" Your face should not squeak. 
If you ever get that "tight" feeling, you've done what I mentioned above, about the bacteria party? Yeah. Leave the squeaking to the mice and old doors.) 

"So what should I use!?" I hear you say. Well, that will be my next tip...

Use a cleansing balm/oil - EVEN IF YOU ARE OILY. 
No matter what your skin type, an oil/balm cleanser is a must. They hydrate and moisture the skin, without being heavy or greasy. They are also fantastic at removing makeup. It completely melts everything away, without stripping the skin. Your skin will be left 100% makeup free, soft and hydrated. Cleansing oils/balms are great for all skin types!

Although keep and eye out for and avoid mineral oil 
Mineral oil is a very cheap ingredient that is used to bulk up product. It is claimed to be "moisturising" and all the rest, but really it is a disaster for the skin. It creates a layer over the skin that is difficult for the skin to absorb(It also blocks any other ingredients from penetrating into the skin). This will cause congestion, blocked pores etc. It also takes moisture from within the skin, dehydrating it from the inside out. Yikes. It is found in a lot of moisturisers, lip balms, cleansers. Just have a quick scan over the ingredients list before you make your purchase!

Acid toners are your new best friend!
Acid toners? They sound quite scary at first but I promise you, they aren't! In fact they are one of the best, most effective products I have ever used on my skin. I recommend everyone uses one in their daily routine. 
An acid toner is basically a liquid exfoliant. They exfoliate the skin by using acids called AHAs. The most popular one being glycolic acid. 
The acid melts away any dead skin cells and bacteria found on the surface of the skin, revealing new, fresh skin cells underneath. Your skin will glow after working an acid toner into your routine. They are also great for fading scars left behind from blemishes and reducing the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles. I talk far more in depth about acid toners on my blog, if you're interested in learning more about them! 

Do not be afraid to use oil on your skin
Most people, especially if you have an oily skin type, are very hesitant to put moisture on their skin. Which is completely understandable. Why would you want to apply oil onto an already oily skin?! It is all about what kind of oil you use.
Plant oils are great for the skin and will actually help to balance an oily complexion. They are light and easily absorbed into the skin. Use a light, hydrating facial oil before bed and you will see a massive difference in your skin. All skin types can use oil, whether you're oily, dry, dehydrated... You just need to find one that works best for your own skin. And as always, avoid mineral oil! Click here to read my recommendations. 

And last but not least, please remember... This is your face. The only one you will ever have. Please look after it!

Okay, so those are my top skincare tips! Like I said previously, I stand by this advice and offer it to anyone who asks me about skincare. I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know if you found it helpful by leaving a comment below! Also, let me know if you have any skincare tips that you stand by.

Thank you so much to Scottish Bloggers for giving me the opportunity to guest post on their blog. I really appreciate it! 

Thank you for reading.

Zoe x 

Find Zoe...

Blog | Bloglovin | Twitter