Here Comes the Sun! Skin Care from Sakare

Sakare products can help you tackle the sun in a safe and healthy way.

Summer in the UK is just around the corner (we hope) and most of us have already got our holiday wardrobes sorted and flights booked to some sunny resort. This means that it's time to get the tan on and relax by the pool with a cosmopolitan (or two).

In 3 weeks I will be jetting off to Cyprus and I couldn't be more excited. With fair complexion and hair I know that my skin is very susceptible to sun damage and that I really shouldn't be lying in the rays at all. At the same time I am dying to get a sun-kissed glow that will be the envy of all my friends when I return.

Of course I will be packing that all important sun protection lotion, but I also wanted to share with you a product that is a must for sun exposure:

Sakare Hydrating Mineral Complex Moisturiser  

Why I love it:

- Carrot Seed Oil provides protection and conditions skin, restoring moisture after sun exposure

- Useful pre-sun treatment due to the light hydration (doesn't leave you sweaty or greasy)

- Great as an after sun treatment as it reduces redness and pigmentation

- Prevents against signs of ageing, especially those as a result of harmful rays

USAGE: Before and after a period of sun exposure - massage a small amount into skin. I recommend not wearing make up in order to maximise an equal tan. Mix in a small amount of high factor protection with the Sakare Moisturiser for ultimate protection.

Happy Holidays!

Spring Beauty Trends and How to Achieve Them

Happy Easter everyone! Spring has finally arrived and the Easter bunny has brought us chocolate to get us out of that winter slump. Even the sun has reared it's head and made an appearance! It won't be long (hopefully) until the shorts and shades can come out and maybe the occasional ice cream can be enjoyed outside without getting hypothermia.

Seasons are changing and with it so are the latest trends. I took a look at the latest beauty forecast to predict what the hottest spring/summer looks are and how to achieve them.

Dewy Skin - Never fails to make an appearance at this time of year. A dewy glow if done right can takes years off your face and give you that healthy, radiant look that everyone wants for summer.

How To - The trick to dewy skin is all about finding the right base. I love Sakare Hydrating Mineral Complex Moisturiser because it gives you just the right amount of moisture to achieve this look. It is also great at reducing redness and evening out skin tone so you won't need to clog up your skin with so much foundation. Switch your powder for a subtle bronzing powder to finish off this look. Pale, shiny skin tends to make you look a bit unwell so be careful.

Fresh Faced - I love this trend because it is all about the no make up look which I think is the most flattering to women of all ages.

How To - It doesn't mean that you literally have to be so fresh faced and make up free. The trick is getting the right shades that are a real match for your skin tone. I recommend going to your favourite make up counter and asking for help with this. What you can do at home...make sure your skin is spotless and refined by using a gentle scrub such as Sakare Exfoliating Gel at least once a week. It will promote a vibrant, clear complexion, enabling you to avoid the 'caked-on' look.

Nude Nails - Neatly manicured nails with muted pale shades in nudes and pinks have been spotted all over the catwalks recently.

How To - Pale shades show up imperfections more such as bumps and chips and so preparation needs to be done before the varnish goes on. As I previously mentioned the Sakare Nail Kit will have you sorted with it's high quality nail buffer, nail file, cuticle oil and hand cream. As for colours I love Essie's Ballet Slippers.

Trends really do go round in circles and it seems like the natural look is up again. Make up can help but the real beauty comes from a good skin care regime and of course...a healthy lifestyle!

Everything You Want And Need From A Nail Kit...Thanks Sakare

I'm a sucker for a professional manicure. You get to sit there and feel pampered and leave with beautiful nails. If I ever tried at home it always ended up looking as if my 5 year old niece did it for me and I love taking half an hour out of my week to treat myself and simply switch off from the world. When I saw that Sakare have their own nail kit I decided it was about time to dust off my polishes at home and give it a go.

The kit includes a nail file, buffer, cuticle oil and Indulging Hand And Body Lotion, with the choice of 3 different scents. I started off by filing my nails and then following with the buffer. It's almost like magic! It makes your nails unbelievably smooth and shiny. I almost didn't want to paint them afterwards. I then used just a small drop of the cuticle oil on each of my cuticles. This essentially hydrates the cuticle and stops it from becoming dry, flaky, and unsightly. The oil was absorbed quickly and I could apply the varnish immediately after. I now had a smooth, even and primed area to paint, making it easier to achieve a better job.

It has to be admitted that Julia, my manicurist, definitely does a better job at applying the varnish than me, but I was impressed with the results. The kit was easy to use and effective...there was no faffing around with different creams and lotions or cutting of the cuticle. Sakare gives you exactly the right high quality products that you need to achieve a professional style manicure at home. Very reasonable price considering how much I usually pay for salon treatment.

To finish off I applied a small amount of the Indulging Hand And Body Lotion and rubbed in thoroughly. A really luxurious lotion that isn't too greasy but at the same time provides all the moisture necessary.

I am very happy with my purchase of the Sakare Exquisite Nails Case...although I can't say that I won't have to head back to the salon now and then to fix up my dodgy paint job!

Goodies, Goodies, Goodies!

Ok so I was a very lucky girl over the Christmas period. Not only did I get surprised to a trip to BARBADOS with my boyfriend, I received a whole load of goodies from the latest brand I am obsessed about....SAKARE.

So my new products that I have been playing with over the past week are the Exfoliating Facial Gel and the Anti Wrinkle Eye Cream.

• I'm not old but I will definitely be using this cream to fend off the wrinkles from trying to appear in the first place! I have to admit that anti wrinkle cream wasn't really top of my list this year but after using this product just for a short while I am noticing a youthfulness that just wasn't there before. Small fine lines I had are basically undetectable now. I have a feeling if I keep using this I'm going to be 60 and almost completely wrinkle free. This light but potent formulation is extremely effective from the get-go. It gives your skin the exact amount of moisture that it needs, with primrose oil extract to work on those nasty black circles. 

• This exfoliating gel is gentle enough to use even on sensitive skin! As you may have read before in my past blog posts, I struggle with sensitive skin. Having such fair skin often makes this so much more noticeable and embarrassing. These products so far have all worked fine with my skin, causing no irritation, but I expected their exfoliating gel to cause a bit of a ruckus. Nope. No red outbursts or anything. It's gentle enough to use more than once a week although I would recommend to do it only once every two weeks. If your skin gets used to being stripped back that regularly it will start to produce oil much more quickly.

I always say it's never the wrong time to treat yourself. So if you didn't get any Sakare under the tree this year you can always get yourself down there! 

Happy 2015....let's make this one a year for really great skin :)

New Levels of Nourishment from Sakare

As a bestseller in the luxury brand's range of products I had high hopes for the Intensive Nourishment Mask. I have been raving about their products recently and I have to say I have been continually impressed. The mud mask was yet another success story for me.

Yes it feels great, smells great and makes my skin soft and rejuvenated....but what are the highly effective ingredients that Sakare are known for and what do they actually do?

Indonesian Nyamplung Oil: amazing anti-ageing properties. Enhances the suppleness of the skin

Omega-6 Borage Oil: works as an anti inflammatory. Smoothes out skin tone and enhances radiance

Skin-activating sea minerals: deeply nourishes the skin and helps to calm environmentally stressed skin

(yes I did my research)

One of the best Mud Masks out there on the market right now. Results are visible almost immediately. A great investment that will become a staple in your skin care routine.

I like to use it once a week when I feel like treating myself to a relaxing bath and a glass of wine. It refreshes your skin and complexion but is also a great recharge for the brain after a stressful week.

Stuck for a Christmas present this year? Buy them this mud mask!! Suitable for all ages and skin types, a truly enjoyable experience that they will not be disappointed by. Play it safe and make sure you get them something they will love this year!

Merry Christmas & happy shopping!!

The Secret to Super Soft Skin (without moisturising)

Ladies I'm sure you will all sympathise with me...the high standards of presentation that are expected of us on a daily basis. It's not really realistic is it? We have busy lives...careers and kids and family, sometimes other priorities overtake. Don't get me wrong...I'm not a slob and do not think that we should just go about our lives in pyjamas all the time. Although on more than one occasion I have been asked to defend myself over "flaky skin" on my elbows and "blotchy red patches" on my face. I have been suffering with dry and extremely sensitive skin for the most part of my life and have become hypersensitive over it. People pointing it out and telling me "you should get that looked at by a doctor" (have done, no success) hasn't helped my self-confidence at all.

I went through a stage of spending loads of money on all the latest treatments and fads but to no avail. One day I decided to stop spending hours at night and in the morning lathering myself with lotion, or searching for some other cure on the internet. I decided that people would have to accept me for who I was and constantly reminded myself that I have a lot more to offer than just looks. While I truly believed this it still got me down.

After being recommended by a friend to try out the Sakare Deep Cleansing Salt Scrub (Check out my post about it) for my dry skin, I was hooked to their products! I haven't experienced any irritations or blotchiness and my skin is no longer flaky. On my latest visit to Sakare I was looking for something that delivers the effectiveness and sense of luxury that the brand is renowned for, but that also cuts down and simplifies my beauty routine. I was recommended the Soothing Shower Oil, a formula that revitalises and rehydrates skin perfectly due to it's richness in vitamin E.

For me it has been a wonder product!

• Slathering this oil on in the showers gently cleanses 
• It packs in so much hydration that you won't need to use any other moisturiser afterwards
• A good base for shaving so there is no need for any creams or gels
• Unrivalled sense of luxury with this high quality product 
• It cuts my daily routine down giving me more time for me!

Don't succumb to the pressure...just because you are a woman doesn't mean that you have to spend all your time and money on looking tip top. It can be achieved easily by investing in quality, effective products like these from the range at Sakare.

Sakare Deep Cleansing Salt Scrub

I bought the Sakare Deep Cleansing Salt Scrub last week and I am certainly not disappointed. I went for the Ocean fragrance but you can also choose passion or patchouli. Deciding in the shop was very difficult as they all smelled really nice. So far I have only used it once but I have noticed immediate effects. My skin is a lot softer and smoother, as you would expect, but it also has a regenerated glow. Any spots or dry patches I had cleared up and my skin feels soft and hydrated without even using moisturiser! 

High-range Sakare Salt Scrub does wonders for your skin

Ladies this product is great for getting rid of those unsightly ingrown hairs! Use once a week for optimal results (not more as this could be harsh on your skin). Another tip which the sales assistant told me in the Sakare store (on Bond street) was that you can also use the oil from the scrub as a bath oil. Such a great tip as the oil smells beautiful and is just perfect for a relaxing bath after a long day. Another thing I love about this product is that a very small amount goes a very long way. I'm sure this product will last me more than a year. If you think about cost per use it's really not much to pay for such high-end quality and luxury.

Many scrubs can be harsh on the skin, creating adverse effects, although this scrub is the perfect mixture of exfoliating and moisturising. When the seasons change I always get extremely dry skin on my hands and feet. The Sakare deep cleansing salt scrub was even delicate enough to use on my fragile hands and feet, gently removing the dry skin and locking in moisture. 

I would highly recommend this product to anyone. High quality, great results, amazing value...Sakare scores highly on every level.