Alethea Grace Beauty

Skincare can be a difficult thing to master, that is, if you can even master it? First, you have to try and figure out what skin type you have in the first place and then, you've got to find a product that targets and fixes it?! 

With the beauty industry booming, and more and more people expanding across a larger variety of ages wearing makeup, it's so important that our skin is taken care of and given a little TLC because we expect a lot from it and don't necessarily always give much back into it.

Off course, common lifestyle changes like eating better, drinking more water etc. are going to aid clearer, healthier looking skin, but it's also important to cleanse your skin with good products, to get rid of the bacteria, germs and dirt that build up through out the day.

I mistakenly thought that I had my skin care routine mastered, and I did... for a little while. However, I have noticed that my skin has changed so much in the last couple of years and instead of being an 'oily skin' girl, I have more of 'combination' skin and there are concerns/issues that I didn't used to have.

So, what's my skin like at the moment? Best way to describe it is unpredictable! I think that my skin will always be slightly oily, it's just the way it seems to work, however, incorporating an oil into my skin care routine actually helped minimise how oily was skin was getting. I found that certain skin cares that targeted oily skin, actually stripped too much oil meaning my skin then began to over produce oil to compensate when there was already plenty in the first place! (This is all my own assumptions - I'm no skin care expert!) There are certain areas of my skin that I would consider 'normal', a.k.a. not dry nor oily, and also on occasion - especially in the colder weather - areas of my skin that gets dry.... whhhhaaattttt?! I know crazy, so I think I defintely fit into the 'combination' skin cateogry.

I also found that I was starting to notice things about my skin that I didn't used to a couple of years ago, things like a slightly uneven skin tone, my skin looking dull and tired, dark circles under my eyes, large pores, blackheads (oh these have always been around), and WRINKLES - well, they haven't arrived just yet but I became worried about preventing them.

When The Ordinary was released in NZ, there was an absolute buzz of hype everywhere about this multi award winning brand and with such affordable prices I decided that now was a good time to put my skin care routine to the test and see if these products could offer what I was needing. I've started off with just 3 products and I'm planning on building the collection, provided that I am seeing good results from these ones. I have some absolutely hideous before photo's and will provide a one week update, 2 week update and month update because when it comes to skin care... it's silly to think there will be immediate results.

The products I purchased are as follows:

The Ordinary.

Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%

A High-Strength Lactic Acid Superficial Peeling Formulation

This little serum has a dropper applicator. The product is described to be a mild exfoliating serum with lactic acid and hyaluronic acid. It is said to gently resurface the skin, to promote a bright even tone and a smooth, soft texture. (Details from www.lafemmebeauty.co.nz where I purchased these products).

The Ordinary.

Retinol 1%

A Stable Emulsion of Retinol

Now, I had already had a friend recommend me Retinol, however, I had only been able to find very expensive Retinol products, so had hesitated to buy until now!

This product comes in a squeeze tube and is 30ml. It is an anti ageing face cream. As quoted on La Femme Beauty "Used in small amounts, The Ordinary's Retinol 1% smooths and evens skin tone. Also known as Vitamin A, Retinol stimulates collagen production and exfoliates dead skin cells whilst reducing hyperpigmentation".

Lastly....

The Ordinary.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

Surface Hydration Formula

Not only is it important to have a moisturiser as part of your skin care routine but because the prior two products I had purchased were both about stripping the skin, resurfacing etc. I thought it was important that I had a product to apply at the end that was going to give back to my skin, moisturise and help regenerate what I was stripping away with the Lactic Acid & Retinol.

This also comes in 30ml tube and is described as "a non-greasy moisturizer with special hydrating compounds that are found naturally in healthy skin. This treatment offers immediate and long-lasting hydration and protects the skin against moisture loss. It replenishes compounds found in healthy, well-hydrated skin that may have depleted over time."

So as mentioned above, (and as a congratulations for reading the entire post, hah!) here are my 'before' photos. I will post an update in a weeks time, then a fortnight, then a month.

Lots of Love,

Alethea Grace

xo

Hi beauties! <3

I wanted my first post to be a welcome and to tell you a bit about myself.

I'm so excited to have finally launched my own website and wanted to create my blog from scratch here too so everything could all be in one collective space.

Now, if you've read the About section, there are some basic details about me but here's a little more!

When I was younger, I was always into art... along with every member in my family. I loved to draw and paint, learning new things off my mother and older brothers. However, I noticed as time went by and I began working in an office at 17 (I left school young!), I wasn't tapping into these creative outlets anymore. Perhaps lack of time or maybe more just distractions I stopped drawing and painting but these were activities that gave me so much joy and self satisifaction.

As I had begun working in an office environment however, I began using a lot more makeup then what I used in school, and slowly, as my skills grew in this area and I began doing makeup on other people, I realised that my creative outlet had shifted from my old love of drawing and painting, to my new love... Makeup and Beauty.

I find such peace and relaxation in doing not only my makeup, but moreso doing makeup others (however, being a perfectionist certain 'zen' moments can turn into frustration!) and I feel as though doing makeup taps into my love and passion of creativity - but - to make it even better, I get the opportunity to meet amazing people, the ability to enhance these peoples natural beauty and make others feel beautiful and that has got to be the best part about it for me.

I really value having a good discussion with my clients about their preferences, when it comes to how much makeup they want to wear, what they want it to look like, and ensuring that they are comfortable and still feel like themselves to a degree. I don't believe there is one type of way to do makeup, and like to cater the products I'm using and the way I'm using them based on peoples preferences and skin types.

I want you to feel beautiful in your own skin, and feel like you are still in your own skin and not so caked in makeup that you can't even scratch your face! Unless, off course, that's the look you're going for!

I am to make you glow from the inside out and feel truly beautiful, whatever the occasion.

I look forward to the opporunity to be able to work with many beautiful people and please, if you're even remotely interested or just want to have a discussion about prices, makeup, anything... don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

Lot's of love,

Alethea Grace

xo