My Totally Make-up Free Look for Gym/Mornings with new men

I read recently that wearing make-up to the gym in a cause of adult acne.  As you wipe your sweaty brow all the make up and dirt is embedded deeper into your enlarged pores leading to breakouts.  I don't suffer from acne thankfully, but I have noticed that my skin has been spottier since joining the gym a few months ago so I've decided not to wear make up to the gym anymore.

That's all great and everything, but I don't want to look like an extra from Prisoner Cell Block H, pumping weights with my scrubby face so I have been trying ways to look more groomed without make up on.

Here's what you need:

• Oil based cleanser (I make my own using Olive Oil, Geranium and Orange essential oil)
• Muslin Cloth/flannel
• Tweezers
• Eyelash Curlers
• Child's Toothbrush
• Aloe Vera
• Very rich moisturiser ( I use Nivea Creme, or Weleda Skin Food)
• Vaseline

Here's what to do:

• Start with well groomed brows.
• Massage your cleanser well into your face.  The aim is to reduce puffiness and 'wake up your face here, so really work it in.
• Wet your cloth using the hottest tap water and wring it until dry.  Hold it over your face until  steam reduces.  Then gently use circular motions to remove the cleanser. Repeat.  This cleansing, exfoliating step brings a glow to the skin and refines the pores.
• Smooth on your Aloe Vera Gel. Fantastic product that is great for your skin.  Leaves a matte base and fill in imperfections slightly.
• Take your rich (alright, greasy) moisturiser and apply with a firm circular motion to the apples of your cheeks only.  This will get the blood moving to your cheek area and provide a lovely natural flush (You won't get a more custom colour than this).The texture of the moisturiser also gives a highlighting sheen to the cheekbones.
• Apply a smudge of Vaseline to your brows and lashes.  Brush them into place with the toothbrush and curl your eyelashes.
• Apply Vaseline to your lips and use the damp toothbrush in small circular motions to gently exfoliate your lips.  This step smooths and adds natural colour.
• Apply a final slick of Vaseline to your lips and your done.

This look would also work well in the morning when you don't want to frighten a new man off with being au naturel, but don't want to have obviously put on make up.  Scurry off to the bathroom and follow these steps.  Not a foundation smeared pillowcase in sight and he'll think your a natural raving beauty - perfect!

Aloe Vera as Make up Primer

I thought I'd start off with a review for Aloe Vera Gel as I just think it's a fantastic natural product with a multitude of uses.

I recently read a tip that you can use it as a make up primer.  I think this is a great idea, priming is essential for me to stop make up disappearing but I don't like the idea of using silicone based products on my skin every single day so I gave Aloe Vera Gel a go.

My routine went  like this:
I moisturised with Nivea Creme and let it sink in for 10 minutes, then taking a hot, barely damp muslin cloth wiped of the excess using circular motions.  (By the way, you don't need to buy posh muslin clothes from Liz Earle et al,  I pinched my babies, and you can buy them really cheaply in boots).  I love Nivea Creme, but it is just too greasy for day time unless I do this.  I then applied Aloe Vera gel.  It left a lovely texture on my skin, moisturised but not greasy.  It also seems to act as a slight 'filler' for imperfections in the same way as a good primer.  I do feel you need to moisturise well before hand though as Aloe is not moisturising enough alone.  I use Bare Essencuals mineral foundation and I think a perfect base is really important for a good result.  Too greasy and it clogs, too dry and it drags. But if you get your base right it's fantastic.

I'm not going to stop buying my Gosh Primer, I think it performs too well to give up, but it's being relegated to weekend/special occasion use.  Aloe Vera Gel is a great alternative, it doesn't 'fix' make up so effectively as a conventional primer but it provides a good base and given that it's soothing, natural, anti aging and heals scars I will definitely be adding this to my daily regimen.