Your Skin But Better- IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream With SPF 50+

I'm sure at this stage most of you reading this are familiar with the brand IT Cosmetics. I was introduced to them in the past couple of years due to their Your Skin But Better CC Cream which has become a bit of a cult beauty product amongst bloggers and YouTubers. 

I think I first heard of the CC Cream a couple of years ago from Lily or Anna and then again from the lovely Lorraine of John, It's Only Makeup. There are two versions of it, the normal one and then the CC+ Illumination which is infused with 'Drops of Light Technology' for a subtle touch of radiance. I have the normal one as I generally tend to add any illumination I desire with a liquid or cream highlighter afterwards however I think the Illumination version could be amazing for the Winter months so I think I'll try it out later in the year. 

This was at the top of my list of products to buy when I was in New York. I couldn't find it in Sephora at first, but when I asked a sales assistant if they stocked it she informed me it was in the skincare aisle. I thought it might be interesting (to some of you) to go into some detail about IT Cosmetics as they're a company I wasn't really all that familiar with until I started researching for this post. 

The company's co-founder Jamie Kern Lima founded IT (Innovative Technology) Cosmetics after working as a news anchor for years and having to wear layers of makeup to cover her Rosacea. She began working with leading plastic surgeons to develop clinically proven, innovative and problem solving makeup that will give you "compliments on your skin, not your makeup". 

I really like the story behind this brand, Jamie Kern Lima had an issue with her skin and couldn't find a product that suited her needs so she sought to create one. The second most viewed blog post I've ever written is a review of the La Roche-Posay Rosalie CC Cream which I can imagine is because so many Irish women (and men) suffer from Rosacea. One of the key ingredients in the La Roche-Posay CC Cream is Ambophenol which is an anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce the redness associated with Rosacea. The IT Cosmetics CC Cream however uses Turmeric Root Extract which again is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant that helps with rosacea, eczema and acne as it contains an ingredient that helps to fight bacteria that can lead to breakouts. 

So what is this CC Cream supposed to do for your skin? It's meant to offer full coverage, which I can attest to as it's easily buildable. I recommend applying thin layers and building them up as desired. The formula is so hydrating that it doesn't look at all heavy even after a few layers. If my skin is looking a bit red or if I'm suffering from breakouts I can build this up in the areas of my face that need a bit of extra coverage. It has SPF 50 with UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection, it has a brightening colour corrector which helps to cover and correct any redness or pigmentation. It contains a hydrating anti-aging serum. One of the main ingredients is snail secretion filtrate, which sounds gross, but is a big ingredient in Korean beauty and skincare products. It contains ingredients that are very beneficial to the skin including hyaluronic acid (which restores hydration), it also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin as well as repairs damaged skin. So although the term "anti-aging" really annoys me, I can overlook it if the product contains ingredients that actually help to prevent pre-mature skin aging. 

If you're going to be outside exposed to the sun, you need to remember to reapply this every 2 hours, one of the things about wearing SPF 50 is that it's easy to forget that you do need to top it up. This can also be done with SPF mists if you don't want to disturb your makeup too much. This would be an excellent choice for anyone with sensitive skin, rosacea prone, acne prone or if you have any pigmentation as it offers coverage, protection and prevents further damage. 

As you can see it comes in super travel friendly packaging, the tube is plastic AND it has a pump. It also comes in a very handy travel size version which is 12ml and $15, so it's perfect for holidays or if you just want to try out this product without committing to the 32ml full size that costs $38. It also has a light scent, nothing offensive, I actually quite like it. 

The one drawback that I can see is that the shade range is limited at only 7 shades, they actually only recently added a couple of new shades to the range. I have the very lightest shade Fair, which is a perfect match for me but as with most brands, they could definitely have one or two shades even lighter especially as I feel like Irish women (and any women with very fair skin) would love this product because of the excellent correcting and protecting ingredients. 

In the photos above I've only applied one layer just so you can get idea of what the coverage is like. It blends like a dream, I tend to just use a brush but I'm sure you could use a Beauty Blender for a more full coverage finish. I find it lasts very well on my combination skin. I've tried it without powder and I did get quite oily on my t-zone during the day which is normal for me but if I use powder on those areas it lasts a lot longer without needing to blot. I'd imagine if you have oily skin you might need to use a magnifying primer or powder all over. But like I said already if you're not sure but you really want to try it out, that 12ml travel size is a great option.

I absolutely love this, I'm so impressed with everything about it, the ingredients, the coverage, the packaging and the shade match for my skin. I'll definitely be repurchasing it once I run out.

IT Cosmetics are now available from Selfridges and QVC in the UK and Sephora in the US priced at £30/$38.

At the moment the only site that stocks IT Cosmetics and ships to Ireland is Beautylish which is great because I didn't think we could get hold of them here at all. I'm dying to try the Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer and the CC+ Eye Correcting Concealer as well as lots of other products. So if you have any recommendations of their products for me to try next, please let me know.

Have you tried this yet or are you interested in trying it?

Emma x

Kiehls Actively Correcting and Beautifying BB Cream

Recently I promised myself I would wear a facial SPF 50 in some form every day that I'm outside, all year round. I was looking for something that I could incorporate into my daily routine easily and that would benefit my skin in other ways. My other facial sunscreens from my holiday last year had since gone out of date so I needed something to take me into this Summer. I decided on the Kiehls Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream after hearing so much about it over the years. The girls at Kiehls recommended it highly and told me it that can be used alone or underneath your usual foundation.

This is a two in one treatment because it's both a broad spectrum SPF 50 but it also has a tint that unifies and corrects the skin tone. It has a high level of Vitamin C which brightens and clarifies the skin. The formula helps to reduce fine lines and the appearance of pores as well as providing long lasting hydration and improving texture. 

For anyone that doesn't quite understand it, broad spectrum means that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and are the main cause of skin aging and contribute to the development of skin cancer, they are what cause the skin to tan. They are present all day even during the Winter months which is why it is so important to wear SPF all year round if you're going to be outside. UVB rays however are what cause sunburn on the skins superficial layers and are key in the development of skin cancer as well as contributing to tanning and aging, they are most prevalent from April to October during the middle of the day (from 10am-4pm), but again they can damage you skin all year round. PA+++ basically means that the product provides very high protection against UVA rays.

I'm such a sunscreen fanatic. When I'm on holidays I wear SPF 50 all over my body including face and I reapply frequently. I'm very fair skinned so I burn easily and I need this high protection from the sun. However it's so easy to forget that your skin can be damaged during the Winter months too, even if it's cloudy. I'm definitely guilty of forgetting this which is why I've been making myself wear some kind of SPF 50 on my face and neck for the past few months every day that I know I'll be outside for a while. 

Every single time a skincare expert is asked what their best advice is for having good skin or preventing premature ageing, the answer is always to stay out of the sun or use high sun protection. It's something that's so easy to do but also so easy to forget. Most people like to look tanned when they come back from a holiday but really the only way to looked tanned in a healthy way is to use fake tan. Save yourself the expense of having to buy loads of anti-aging skincare prematurely and just use a high protection sunscreen now!

I was very surprised by the amount of coverage this BB Cream gave my skin. As you can see below it really does even out the skin tone and help with pore visibility. You will need extra concealer if you have particularly red spots or blemishes but apart from that I've been very impressed by this product. If you're oily you might want to powder but I tend to just use blotting papers instead because I've been enjoying the look of not using powder recently. The only negative I can think of is the scent which is that slightly sunscreen scent mixed with Vitamin C which can be quite strong too. It doesn't bother me at all but you might want to give it a sniff before buying it just in case. It comes in five shades, I have the lightest one which is Fair and it's a perfect colour match for me. 

no make up/ just Kiehls BB Cream

I wear it both ways depending on the coverage I need, it works perfectly alone and underneath any of my foundations. Just be aware that if you're having your photo taken with a flash it may be an issue but that shouldn't be a problem because it's not the kind of product you'd wear on a night out. I'll definitely be wearing this all Summer when I don't need too much coverage. I also have the Ultra Light Daily UV Defence which is a great alternative if you don't want the tint element. I love how easy this is to use, it blends in quickly and evenly and it means I have my sun protection and coverage in one and significantly streamlines my makeup routine.   

full make up, no powder

There are plenty of brands that make excellent sun protection protects, some of my favourites include La Roche-Posay, Bioderma and Eucerin all of which are very affordable. This is priced at €30 for 30ml, but worth every cent. Think of the money you'll be saving on skincare or other anti-aging methods in the long term. 

What are some of your favourite sun protection products?

Emma x