Skincare in Quarantine

My skincare routine is normally pretty varied – depending on how much makeup I’ve been wearing all week. Well, no more! Since March 23rd, I’ve stopped wearing makeup and am taking better care of my skin.

“How?” you ask. Well, water for a start. I’ve been drinking buttloads of water since well before March, but now I’m making an conscious effort to drink good old tap water and keep my skin hydrated. Dr Jina Yooh is sk:n clinics‘ leading dermatologist and she advises a daily intake of 6-8 glasses of water, regular ventilation and application of moisturiser to help improve the hydration in your skin. “Vegetables and fruits are also a good source of antioxidants which can help to boost your immune system,” she says.

READ MORE: Check out my last skincare regime

But I’ve also taken on board the lessons learned from London Fashion Week (remember, before the pandemic?). The Spring/Summer 2020 show saw Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria Beckham and Burberry, among others, sporting fresh and natural looks. So, naturally, the beauty world is taking note.

Fresh, moist air is key for allowing your skin to breathe

Dr Jina Yooh, sk:n clinics

So, here’s a rundown of my Lockdown Skincare Routine, for a natural glow, and to give my skin a break.

Morning: I start simply by washing my face in cold water. Then, I use Kiko Milano’s Green Me Facial Cleansing Bar to wake up my face and remove any dirt (and sweat) from the night before. I absolutely love the Green Me range – all products are made up of 98% natural, raw ingredients, cruelty free and suitable for vegans.

To protect my skin from London pollution (less necessary now) I use Sephora’s Super Radiance Serum, which hydrates and protects the skin. It is crucial that you get some fresh air and time outside though. Dr Yooh says, “Fresh, moist air is key for allowing your skin to breathe. Your skin creates a barrier against the environment. The climate created by central heating – a high temperature combined with low humidity – can make your skin drier.” So, I like to add another hydrating moisturiser on top. Namely, the B. Radiant day cream, available at Superdrug. It’s a lightweight formula that keeps my skin hydrated all day, even while I’m spending extra time indoors.

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A post shared by Anamika Talwaria (@anamikatalwaria)

Evening: Before the lockdown, I’d remove makeup with a clay formula, but now I use it every night as a cleanser. I love using liquid or foam formulae over makeup wipes as they’re more environmentally sustainable, and often way better for your skin. The clay formula feels so fresh and hydrating and it honestly helps me sleep better, knowing that my skin is fresh for bed.

I’ve been loving self-care during this time, too, so I’ve been trying to add facemasks to my weekly routine. The most apt one of these was Catastrophe Cosmetic from Lush – honestly, just the name made my Sunday. And it left my skin feeling soft and supple.

READ MORE: SS19: The minimal makeup look

Crucially, though, less is more. Dr Yooh reminds us not to overdo it. “You could find that your pores start to clog up with too many products. Instead, I recommend that everyone starts off by making sure they are using the correct products for their skin type when it comes to cleansing and moisturising.”

What products are you loving this lockdown? Have you been taking any extra skincare steps? Let me know in the comments!

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The best makeup of 2019

As we approach the last month of 2019, party season is upon us. Here are my favourite makeup products for this festive season.

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With Christmas and the New Year just weeks away, I’ve put together some of the best makeup looks and products that I love, offering long-lasting wear, a light feel and wow factor. 

Concealer

My go-to concealer these days is none other than Queen Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty range. It’s thicker than my usual preference, but it matches my skin perfectly, and means I don’t have to bother with foundation on a regular basis.

If I’m going for a more full coverage look, I go back to basics with the Maybelline age rewind concealer, which is a few shades lighter than my skin tone, but offers buildable coverage. It works super well when paired with a foundation or BB cream.

Foundation

Depending on the coverage you’re going for, you may even want to skip this step. When I’m using Fenty Beauty’s concealer, I let the rest of my face breathe by leaving out anything extra. But if you’re going for a more glamorous look, the Lancome teint idole foundation is my pick. It’s lightweight, so offers you the flexibility to build a heavier look, or just keep it simple with one layer. 

Sculpting

I must admit, I’m not a heavy contour/highlighter gal – I prefer a more subtle look myself. That said, the Maybelline powder contour is always a staple in my makeup bag, just in case.

I find eyeshadow works well for highlighters, so make the most of my gold Kiko shadow and pop it on my cheekbones for a little more glam.

Plus, adding a little colour to my cheeks is easy with Kiko’s rose blush – I’m nearly out, so hoping to find it under the tree on Christmas morning! The darker tones in this warm dusky tone add colour to my cheeks without being too cold and bright.

Finishing touches

Depending on the look you’re going for, eye makeup can be as subtle or as bold as you like. If the event is fairly understated, a matt shadow and eyeliner look might be all I go for. On the flip side, I love to dress up, especially for special occasions. So, my eyes might be bold, with a dark lipstick and dramatic lashes.

At the moment I am absolutely loving Eyelash Emporium’s new range of full strip lashes. Whether I’m going subtle or full glam, these lashes complement my look and just finish it off beautifully. Plus, they’re lightweight and super comfortable.

Set everything with Urban Decay’s all nighter setting spray and you’re good to go! Whether you’re watching a fireworks display or dancing the night away. 

Keep up with my social media accounts @anamikatalwaria and @namitalwarrior for some glamorous looks for the season!

Thought of the Day: Toxic Advertising

With TV on-demand, streaming sites and the BBC, it’s rare to be sitting around and watching adverts on the television. And a good thing too – I’d forgotten how damaging some adverts can be.

Case in point: Bio-Oil. Now, we all know what Bio-Oil does – the product reduces the appearance of scars and marks on the skin, and makes everything blend in. That’s all they had to say.

And on the whole, Bio-Oil has always been positive – their #ScarStrong initiative last year was refreshing, and body positivity is in fashion, on trend and marketable. So that’s why their latest advertising campaign really shocked me.

Bio-Oil helps improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks

Bio-Oil Advert, 08/04/19

Red flags. Immediately. Now, the average person may find this an overreaction; after all, no one wants their scars and stretch marks on show, right?

Wrong.

This advert is another case of beauty products being marketed at women by making us feel insecure in our own bodies.

My scar shows that I am strong.

My stretch marks tell a story.

It is up to no one but me whether I choose to have them blend in with my skin or keep them visible. I choose to wear them with pride.

Not everyone has to – if you feel prouder to have them blend in with your skin, that’s great. But Bio-Oil, and the beauty industry as a whole, should not be making us feel bad about our marks. They are normal. They are part of us. They do not need to be “improved”. They are perfect the way they are. They are perfect the way you choose to have them or hide them. They are a part of your body, and it is yours to control, and yours to be proud of.

Get the No-Makeup Look

London Fashion Week is over, and one of the biggest 2019 Spring/Summer trends has me shook. I’m not talking about all the 90s fashion making a comeback, I’m talking about models strutting down the catwalk with no make up on.

My Daily Skincare Routine

Now that the weather is changing and we’re experiencing harsh extremes (global warming, I’m looking at you), it’s the most important time to really take care of your skin. The key is to give your skin consistency that the elements can’t. I’ve outlined my general routine as a guide to keeping skin hydrated and happy all year round.

Style 2018: Beachy Waves

Summer is fast approaching, and one style that always, without fail, makes an appearance is the ‘big beach waves’ hairstyle. Giving the air of an effortless, carefree hairstyle, the beachy waves are one of my favourites to sculpt into my hair.

Perfect Summer Carefree Waves

It took me a singular, recently discovered, product to get this look, so for an easy way to get your locks ready for the summer, follow my simple steps:

1. Start with freshly washed, damp hair:

Damp hair is best for this look as the tonic takes nicely to the natural waves and kinks in your hair, usually brought out by a good wash and condition. I like to towel dry my hair slightly and then wrap it up so that it’s not dripping all over the carpet. A cut-off sock used as a doughnut works wonders when worked through the hair, and does a really good job of bringing out the curls in your hair.

2. Section the hair and spray L’Oréal’s Stylista Curl Tonic evenly throughout

Start with the lowermost layers and work your way upwards – this will get you the bounce that you need underneath, to lift the curls higher and make bigger waves. I usually have hairbands to hand, but if you have hairdressing clips, these would probably work better. I’d also recommend using a heat-protecting spray in a similar way before using the curl tonic, to keep your hair from being damaged by the hairdryer.

3. Dry your hair in sections

The real key to this look is the sections. As you focus on each part of your hair, you can isolate the curls better and shape them properly. The technique is similar to using mousse – tilt your head so you’re upside-down and scrunch your hair up towards your head while you aim the hairdryer, on diffuser mode.

And it’s that simple! One product and 10 minutes later, you’ve got curls for days and waves ready for the high street or the beach! What are some of your tricks to keeping curls in your hair?

#CurlsForDays

Trending Now: Ombré Lips

Spring-time is coming up and what better way to celebrate the transition from those dark and cold nights to bright, cool evenings than looking at the ombré trend sweeping through 2018.