HydraFacials and oxygen facials are both booked for a quick, glowing complexion before an event, and both are marketed as gentle treatments with no downtime. They work in quite different ways, though, and one does far more to clear pores than the other. The main difference between a HydraFacial and an oxygen facial is what…
A European facial and a HydraFacial are two of the most booked treatments on spa menus, and both leave skin cleaner and brighter. The difference is in how the work is done: one relies on a therapist’s hands and products, the other on a device that runs a set sequence of steps. The main difference…
Microderm infusion and a classic facial are both booked for fresher, brighter skin, and some spa menus list them side by side at similar prices. But one is a device-based resurfacing treatment and the other is a hands-on, multi-step skin treatment, so the experience, cost and results are quite different for most people. The main…
A Fire and Ice facial and microdermabrasion both promise smoother, brighter skin with little downtime, and both are popular before events. But they resurface the skin in completely different ways, so they suit different people. The main difference between a Fire and Ice facial and microdermabrasion is how they exfoliate. A Fire and Ice facial…
A European facial and microdermabrasion often sit side by side on spa menus, and both promise cleaner, brighter skin. But one is a relaxing, all-round skin treatment and the other is a targeted resurfacing procedure, so they suit quite different needs. The main difference between a European facial and microdermabrasion is scope. A European facial…
Microdermabrasion facials and HydraFacials both promise smoother, brighter skin with no real downtime, and both use a handheld device with suction. It is easy to assume they are the same thing, but they work differently and suit different skin. The main difference between a microdermabrasion facial and a HydraFacial is how they exfoliate and what…
Microdermabrasion and dermaplaning are both popular ways to get smoother, brighter skin with little downtime. They are often compared because they both work on the surface of the skin, but they do it in very different ways and suit different people. The main difference between microdermabrasion and dermaplaning is how they exfoliate. Microdermabrasion uses a…
Microdermabrasion and facials are often listed side by side on salon menus, and sometimes a facial even includes a microdermabrasion step. But they are designed to do different things, and choosing the wrong one can mean paying for relaxation when you wanted results, or for exfoliation when your skin needed calming. The main difference between…
Microdermabrasion is one of the most popular in-clinic skin treatments, partly because it has little or no downtime. But it is often sold as a fix for almost everything, from wrinkles to deep acne scars. The reality is more modest, and knowing what it is actually good for helps you decide whether it is worth…
You apply concealer, it looks perfect in the mirror, and an hour later there are fine lines of product settled under your eyes. Creasing is one of the most common makeup frustrations, and it happens to almost everyone at some point, whatever their age or skin type. To prevent creasing under your eyes, hydrate the…
Dark under-eyes are one of the most common skin concerns, but the darkness is not always the same thing. Some of it is shadow, some is blood vessels showing through thin skin, and some is true pigment in the skin itself. The words dark circles and hyperpigmentation are often used for all of these, which…
You enjoy a salty takeaway, a bag of crisps or a ramen night, and the next morning your eyes look swollen and heavy. It is a very common pattern, and in most cases it is harmless and temporary. Puffiness under the eyes after eating a lot of salt happens because sodium makes your body hold…
After a long day, a late night or a hangover, the skin under your eyes can look darker, hollower and more tired than usual. Many people blame dehydration, and they are partly right. But drinking more water will not erase dark circles that are caused by genetics, pigment or the shape of your face. Dehydration…
You can pick a foundation that is the right depth and still end up looking slightly off: a little pink, a little orange, a little grey. Nine times out of ten, the undertone is the problem. The same goes for blush that looks muddy or lipstick that makes your teeth look yellow. To match makeup…
Green concealer on red skin sounds like a strange idea until you see it work. Colour correctors can make redness, dark circles and dull patches almost disappear under foundation, but only if you choose the right shade and use very little of it. Colour correctors neutralise unwanted undertones by using the colour opposite on the…
A foundation that is even slightly the wrong shade is hard to miss. It can leave a line at the jaw, make your face look grey, orange or pink next to your neck, or look fine in the shop and completely different at home. Most shade mistakes come from checking the wrong thing in the…
Store-bought setting sprays can be pricey, and some contain alcohol or fragrance that not everyone enjoys. So it is tempting to mix your own from a few simple ingredients at home. The good news is that it is easy to do. The catch is that a homemade spray works differently from a commercial one, and…
You check your makeup at lunchtime and everything looks fine except one spot: the area above your lip, where foundation has faded, gathered in lines or disappeared entirely. It is one of the most common trouble zones on the face, and it is not your imagination. Makeup does not stay on the upper lip because…
You spend twenty minutes on your makeup in the morning, and by lunch your foundation has faded, your concealer has creased and your nose is shiny. It is one of the most common makeup complaints, and the fix is rarely a single miracle product. To make your makeup stay on all day, use a combination…
Walk down any makeup aisle and you will see fixers, setting sprays, finishing sprays and makeup mists, all promising to keep your face in place. The names overlap so much that many people buy one when they actually wanted the other, then wonder why their makeup still slides off by lunch. The difference between a…
Most of us have a drawer of makeup we cannot quite remember buying. A mascara from last year, a foundation from the year before, a lipstick that has travelled through three handbags. It all still looks usable, so it is easy to keep going. But makeup does not last forever, and some products go off…