My Beauty Fix: Flaky Lips

Hi guys,

So for the next problem for My Beauty Fix, I wanted to tackle flaky lips. Now I'm sure we've all had this at some time or another, but if you are anything like me then as soon as the weather changes and it gets cold, your lips just act like a snake and want to shed, shed, shed! Gross I know but it's just natural and means that you have to take care of your lips more.

Did you know, your lips contain very few oil glands and no sweat glands which means they don't produce the natural oils the rest of your skin does. Your lips lose moisture 3 times faster than the skin on your cheeks. This is why it is very important to take care of your lips.

Fix 1: To tackle dry, flaky lips you can use products like Mary Kay's Satin Lips set (which is an exfoliating mask and balm set) or Lush's Lip Scrubs which contain exfoliating beads that gently buff away the dead skin cells leaving you with smooth, soft lips.  These can be used daily, weekly, or monthly depending on how flaky your lips get, just make sure you don't over exfoliate!

Fix 2: if you don't like the idea of using these sort of products on your lips, then that's ok you can try using a clean toothbrush to gently rub along the lips (try to use upward, circular motions) and this will help buff away the dead skin cells. Just be sure to clean the brush afterwards and keep it separate from your normal toothbrushes so they don't get mixed up.

Fix 3: (or perhaps this should be 1.2) if you don't want to buy new products to exfoliate your lips, then you can try these homemade options I found on Pinterest,

Homemade Lip Scrub Recipes
DIY Lip Scrub
DIY: Grapefruit sugar lip scrub

Once you have chosen your fix and you now have silky smooth lips, just remember to keep your lips moisturised and protected from the cold. For an everyday lip balm, I really recommend Blistex's Daily Lip Conditioner, Carmex Lip Balm or The Burts Bee's range. For really chapped and suffering lips, try Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream (the original one, which I keep by my bed as its great for so many things) or they do a specific 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant.  

If you would like to see more on Mary Kay's Satin Lips set, take a peek at my how-to video,

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

Mary Kay Cosmetics Satin Lips Review & Video

I decided to write a review on the Mary Kay Cosmetic's Satin Lips Set, because I just love, love, love it!


I am prone to dry, chapped lips, so this exfoliating set has become a staple of my beauty regime during the past summer months.


This 2 part set costs £19, which seems quite steep for two little tubes, but you only need a tiny amount each time that it will last for ages.


This product is only available in a fragrance free formula, so it is great for everyone, even those with sensitive skin.


This heavenly set comes in two parts, step one is the exfoliating mask and step two is the nourishing lip balm.

The mask contains miniature buffing beads that gently exfoliate the dead surface skin cells that are present on your lips.  These cells cause your lips to appear dull and lifeless, buffing these away helps reveal the newer, fresher skin.

The two step process is quick and simple and can be done as often as required. Step one is to apply the mask to your lips using a finger and rub in circular motions.  This action helps stimulate the skin and remove the excess dead cells. Once you have sufficiently rubbed the mask into the skin, remove using a damp cotton pad, tissue or facial wipe. Then movce on to step two which is applying the lip balm.  The lip balm tube has a slanted nozzle which helps for quick application and that’s it you are ready to go! 

It is as simple as 1, 2, 3, GO! Your lips will look and feel softer and smoother after just one application and you will wonder where this product has been all your life!!  Well, I did anyway! 

Check out my video on how to use this product!

 

As it is a Mary Kay Cosmetic’s product, you do need to purchase this item through a Mary Kay Consultant but that doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds.  A Mary Kay Consultant is a cosmetic enthusiast. One that has the lovely job of helping her customers to find the right skin care routine to suit their needs and lifestyle.  If you would like to contact a Beauty Consultant, click here and you can use the postcode finder to see where your local consultant is based.  Or if you would like to contact me for more information, check out my Mary Kay webpage here 

The 3in1 Miracle Cleanser!

I am completely in love with this product and so I have to tell you all about it! I used to be a soap and water girl (even though I knew better) then I started using a cleanser from Clinique which I thought was working well with my skin. Then I was introduced to Mary Kay's 3in1 cleanser!

This product is great for when you don't have much time in the mornings and if you are one of those people (just like me) that always thinks there's better things to do with my time than to sit there for 10 minutes each morning and evening to go through a strict skincare routine. With this product, just as the name suggests it is 3 products in one! Once you take your eye make-up off, you apply this cleanser which has lovely little microbeads that help to exfoliate the skin, while the cleansing lotion cleanses the skin. And for that added extra, the microbeads adds a fresher as hey burst while you're rubbing the product into your skin.

In addition to having great cleansing qualities, it is part of the Timewise collection which means it is formulated to help erase the visible signs of ageing and leave your skin feeling smoother and more radiant looking!

What's great about this product is that it is available in 2 formulas, one for normal to dry skin (which is a lotion) and one for combination to oily skin (which is more like a face wash).  Personally, I have combination skin which falls more on the oily side of combination, and I must say that after using this cleanser for a few weeks my skin felt less oily.  Now I rarely have to worry about reapplying powder throughout the day because my skin is far less oily compared to what it was before!

Priced at £20 it is not a cheap cleanser, but neither is it at the pricey end of the scale. Also, bear in mind this should last you 2-3 months with use twice a day (morning and night) so it is a good product that will last.

I really like this product, it has made my skin feel soft and smooth every time I use it! And who can complain against having 3 steps done in one go!!

Mary Kay products aren't available in shops but you are able to order them online through their website.  As a company, they are completely focused on taking care of your skin, which is why they have Independent Beauty Consultants rather than shops.  These consultants are there to help women learn how to look and feel their best everyday in the comfort of their own homes. Also, Mary Kay Cosmetics has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Now where else can you get that!

Why Don't YOU Wear foundation?

I found this great article from Kay Montano about why people don't wear foundation.

It is so true that most women will go into a department store or shop looking for the right shade of foundation, pick one they like and then come home to find it looks a completely different shade to what it was in the shop and then it get demoted to the bottom drawer never to be worn again.  I don't think I have ever met a woman that hasnt been through this.

When trying out a new foundation before purchasing it, you should test it along your jaw line, this will allow you to see the base colour of your skin as you will have less sunlight affecting the colour of your skin at the jaw line.  The perfect shade will disappear along the jaw line, if you want to make doubly sure you have the right shade, try applying a lighter and darker one either side to see which one disappears best.  Then walk outside and see if has still disappeared into your skin.  Please remember the lights are bright in department stores and will show differently to natural light.

Also, whatever you do do NOT let anyone in the shops pressure you into buying a foundation colour or product you are not completely happy with.  Remember, it is your hard earned money you are spending and the last thing you want to do is to spend it on something that will sit in your dressing room table for the upcoming months.

To read Kay's article, click here

If you do find it hard to select the right shade, and do feel intimidated when you enter a department store to buy make-up, why not try a complimentary facial from your local Mary Kay Independant Beauty Consultant.  The Mary Kay range of foundations is very large and has shades coveing the palest snow white, to the darkest bronze skin under the sun.  All of the products are backed with a 100% Satisfaction guarantee, so if you decide you do not like the shade selected for you, you can swap it for a better match.  Now you dont get that at Boots!  For more information take a peek here

The Next Step....

Hello to all you wonderful people!

I have to apologize for being quite distant recently, I have had lots going on and its all very exciting!!

I have met some amazing women over the last few weeks as I have become an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.  During my years after University, I had found myself drifting further and further away from my dream in Make-up and a life working in an office was not for me.  So I have left my job and am planning for my future, and it is going to be all about the make-up!

My love and my passion is and always has been for make-up and everything about it and so I realised it was now or never and so I took the plunge and haven’t looked back since! I have been meeting some great people and everything is changing around me and I wanted to share this with you all.

Mary Kay Cosmetics is one of the leading brands of skin care and colour cosmetics in the United States and has been for over twenty five years.  The wonderful Mary Kay Products are sold in over 37 countries around the world. Having tried these products, I fell in love! So keep an eye out for some product reviews that will be on there way!!

Take care and stay beautiful!!