My top 10 skin care products for sensitive skin.

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion

My new holy grail moisturiser! Being fragrance free and hypoallergenic, it so so gentle for your skin yet thoroughly moisturises and replenishes. If you have oily skin, try the gel formula.

2. Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Moisturiser

Like the Clinique moisturiser, this is incredibly gentle and won't irritate you skin. This one is more price friendly and you can find it at most supermarkets and chemists. 

3. Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

If you skin if feeling dehydrated, this product is perfect for you. It absorbs right into your skin without it feeling greasy and sticky. I apply this instead of my normal moisturiser twice a week, just to give my skin a little extra boost. 

4. Philosophy Purity Cleanser

This cleanser doesn't dry out the skin and leaves it feeling fresh and clean. You can use it on your eyes as well so if you are lazy like me, you are doing two things at once!

5. Clinique Cream Cleanser

A little bit pricier than the Philosophy cleanser but definitely worth the money. Lets your skin feeling smooth and soft without feeling tight and red. 

6. Dermalogica Clear Start 

Perfect for breakouts and blackheads. If you are prone to acne and get those sore, blind pimples then this is perfect. It is designed for sensitive skin so it won't aggravate any recurring pimples. 

7. Alpha-H Balancing and Pore Refining Mask

This mask is amazing for balancing the oils on your face will cleaning out the pores. Other make tend to leave my skin feeling hot and dry but this mask doesn't at all. 

8. Palmer's Clay Mask

This clay mask is affordable gentle and really cleansing. Perfect for bath and pamper nights!

9. Bioderma
This make-up remover/cleansing water is famous among the internet beauty world. I use it before moisturising in the morning and after cleansing at night, to ensure my skin is extra clean. 

10. St Ives Green Tea Scrub
Unlike a lot of exfoliating scrubs, this one isn't too abrasive but still gets the job done. It doesn't damage your skin and leaves it feeling really clean and revitalised.

I swear by all these products listed above. My skin is dry/combination and is sensitive which makes it a little hard to find products that work without leaving my skin irritated. If your skin is oily, there are many alternatives within the same brands for you. I hope this has helped!

Xxx

Worrying about being judged.

I think it's time to stop and think for a minute.

You know what I am totally sick of? Spending 98% of my time worrying and thinking about what everyone else is thinking about me. It is probably the most unnecessary, most time consuming and time wasting thing you and I do. Why should the opinion of some else define how you feel about yourself when in fact, everyone else is so focused on their own worries about the opinions of others? It is a circle of self destruction that has to stop.

We are human beings, obviously, and we want other people to like us. It's basic. It's normal. But when we feel anxiety because of a possible view some might have on us or we put pressure on ourselves because others might judge us, we can obsess over this need for acceptance. It's brutal.

Every so often, I get into a rut. I walk down a street or through the main walkway at university and all of a sudden, I am totally aware of how I walk, how I am dressed, what my hair looks like, my facial expressions etc. and I become paranoid that I look ugly and ridiculous. And when I talk to someone, whether it's a friend or a stranger, I get worried that they'll think I'm stupid or boring and whether I am worth their time.

Don't worry, I don't feel like this all the time. I have days where I feel slim and stylish and totally sociable and charismatic. But occasionally, I'll go through a bit of a self conscious phase and I obsess over my appearance, what I wear and how I act around people.

I feel everyone goes through these crappy phases. Whether it's hormonal of just our fluctuating self esteems, lets all agree that we can all feel like shit and that's totally normal. Back to my first point, I am sick of worrying about other people's judgments. I, like the rest of the world, have moments where I feel gross about myself but if we stop obsessing over what other people think, we won't feel self conscious as often which will lighten the pressure we put on ourselves.

If you can relate to any of this (if it makes sense that is), I have some advice and tips.

1. Have a mantra that you can repeat to yourself in mirror before work/school and when you feel self conscious. Say and think something like, "I am beautiful the way I am".

2. Meditate. Not only is it incredibly relaxing, it eases stress and clears your mind of negative thoughts.

3. When you are in a place full of people, stop and actually have a look at what people are doing. You haven't got millions of eyes on you and chances are everyone is focused on their own stuff. When you do see someone looking at you, smile at them. They might smile back; hopefully!

4. Get outside of that warm, fuzzy comfort zone that we all love. If you are shy, try smiling at someone. If the thought of wearing no makeup makes you feel sick, try not wearing any and realise it doesn't matter. If you aren't confident around a large group of people, try speaking up in class more. Little changes can be uncomfortable at first but totally worth it.

5. And lastly, remember that most people are feeling the same way. So talk to someone! Or remind yourself that you are unique and that a person's opinion of you should not define you.

Lets be more free and adventurous! Screw the pressure to be "perfect" and screw judgmental people. Live your life for you and only you and have fun.

Xxx