Beauty: My favourite favourites of 2015

My sister often gets upset with me when I tell her about a product that I love. ‘But you said that one is your favourite?!’ She likes to give me the third degree. I try not to use the word favourite too often when talking about the things I love as there is just too many. There are a few products and services that stood out last year, so I have decided to share my favourite favourites of 2015 with you today. Let’s jump right in with my Beauty Favourites of 2015.

Beauty Favourites of 2015

Dermaceutic Mask 15 (and pretty much everything from this brand)

Dermaceutic mask 15 for oily skin review pretty please charlie

If I had to choose just one skincare brand to use for the rest of my life, chances are that Dermaceutic will come up tops. I have raved about Mask 15 many times and I am still amazed by the results. Every. Single. Time. You can read my thoughts on the mask HERE. I have also been using Activ Retinol 1.0 and Turn Over. I will be posting a review on these two shortly. Keep an eye out as these products are amazing.

REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial

REN Skincare Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial review

Want to wake up with smooth, bright, fresh-looking skin? Then this product is a must have. I love it. Pop over to read my full review HERE.

BABOR New Skin Fluids Ampoule Concentrates FP

BABOR Moist Lipid New Skin FluidLove. That is what it is. I used these ampules when I started at home derma rolling and my skin loves it. This product is definitely one of the top 5 best skincare products that I have ever used. Visible results almost instantly. Fresh-looking, plump and radiant skin. I would use these ampoules every night if I could. I can’t wait to try the other ampoules that BABOR has on offer. Full review over HERE.

Eucerin Sun Gel-Creme Oil Control Dry Touch Face SPF50+

Eucerin Sun Gel-Creme Oil Control Dry Touch Face SPF50+ high protection sunscreen for oily skin

If you struggle with oily skin, this sunscreen is a must try. LOVE IT! I am really struggling in this heat and a heavy sun protection cream just makes it worse. I hate that ‘aangeplakte’ feeling. My skin needs to breathe. If you feel the same way, then this is the SPF for you. Read more HERE.

Rain Biologie Winter Therapy Bath Soak

Rain Africa Biologie Winter Therapy Bath Soak review Pretty Please Charlie

This stuff is awesome. The fact that I am including a bath product in this post already says a great deal. I don’t really enjoy lying in the bath. There are also only a handful of bath goodies that I truly enjoy as my skin (and nose) is very sensitive. I think I may be the only woman in the world who is not crazy for Lush. But this Rain Africa soak is amazing. I would buy it by the bucket if I could. More about this beauty HERE.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Hair Care Range

Beauty Favourites of 2015

This range has been my best hair discovery since I started blogging. I have tried amazing high-end products that I would recommend in a heartbeat, but I am always on the lookout for a budget alternative. I rate Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula range up there with the best of the best. The shampoo is amazing. I don’t think I will buy another shampoo again. If you have dry, damaged, colour treated and/or curly hair, this is a must. Since posting my review (HERE) I have also tried more products from the range and I have not been disappointed.  Hey Palmer’s, I spotted Hair Pudding on the web! When are you bringing it to our shores?! My curls are waiting…

Style Bar is my no.1 choice for highlights

Style Bar highlights Pretty Please Charlie The Best of 2015

I think my colour and smile says it all. It is perfect every, single time. You have one extremely happy customer Style Bar.

BambiShoes Semi-permanent Hair Colour

BambiShoes semi-permanent hair colour best of 2015 pretty please charlie

A full review is coming your way shortly, but I had to mention it as it is one of my ultimate favourite finds. BambiShoes semi-permanent hair colour is an all natural, vegan, cruelty-free product that gives you vibrant colour without any damage. And it is very affordable. I am obsessed. The pop of colour in the selfie is thanks to the pink in the above pic. Keep an eye out for that review and pics of how stunning the colour truly is.

What are your Beauty Favourites of 2015? Please share!

xoxo

There’s urea in my body lotion?

Over the holidays a friend of mine asked me why I recommend creams containing urea for very dry and eczema-prone skin. I was reminded of a post I wrote on the subject for Beauty Bulletin a couple of years ago and thought it wise to repost it here; in case you have ever wondered exactly what urea is and why you may see this ingredient on the packaging of some of your favourite body creams and lotions.

What is urea and why is it in my body cream?

There’s urea in my body lotion?

Most people cringe when they see this ingredient on their body lotion/cream packaging. Not to worry ladies. The urea in your cream is a manufactured chemical. Its chemical name iscarbonyldiamide.

Urea is naturally present in healthy skin cells and it helps to maintain the skin’s moisture level. When your skin is dry, a cream containing urea can increase the water content of the skin whilst preventing water loss – thus your skin will become plumped up and supple. Urea also helps to get rid of dead skin cells. Because of this particular benefit, an urea cream can work like a charm on those very rough areas like your elbows and heels.

Both my daughter and I have eczema, and our dermatologist has recommended that we use body creams containing urea.

In my research for this post, I have found out exactly why it is recommended:

‘Urea has been medically proven in various clinical studies to have extraordinary anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties that promotes fast healing of dry cracked split skin, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, acne, burns and other types of problem skin.’ – www.skinremedies.com

Creams containing urea really does give my extremely dry skin some relief.

My favourite is Epi-max Plus (see my review on this brand HERE) which you can find it Clicks and big pharmacies. Also check out the Eucerin body range. Many of their products contain urea.

If you suffer from dry skin (or dry skin conditions) I suggest that you try an urea cream. It may just turn out to be the solution that you have been looking for.

I really hope that you have found this post informative and useful.

xoxo

Image source: www.thegloss.com