Written by Hanna Ibraheem
Welcome to Stylist’s Pretty Damn Good, a weekly series in which different women share the one product – across hair care, skincare, make-up, body and fragrance – that remains a forever staple in their beauty routines.
When it comes to your make-up routine, it always come down to your base. More specifically, your skincare routine.
Your skin type can have a big effect on the way that your make-up sits – something that Iman Leila came to realise.
In fact, Leila has been working in the beauty industry for a while. Starting her career in the PR industry working with global beauty brands, Leila went on to launch her own PR company; LIMA Comms. But she didn’t stop with her own business.
Leila is also the founder of So You Want To, an initiative that runs workshops, mentor schemes and internship programmes to promote inclusivity in the beauty industry. She’s also a co-host on fashion and beauty podcast 2 Queens In A Pod.
Yep, she’s very busy. So it makes sense that when we asked Leila about the one product she finds pretty damn good, her response was one that helped cut down the amount of time she spends on both her skincare and make-up. Here’s what she said.
“I’ve been using The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Exfoliator, £11, for five years.
“I think I was introduced to it through a YouTube tutorial – I had really bad oily skin through my teens and early 20s and was forever seeking things to help combat my skin type. I remember hearing that no matter what primer I used, if my skincare routine didn’t cater to my skin type, I’ll always have excess oil. Once I was introduced to this product, it completely changed my skincare routine.
“This seaweed exfoliator is for oily skin types and it’s one of the only exfoliators I’ve tried that’s actually very gentle on my skin. Some products I’ve tried in the past have been very harsh on my skin and sometimes left it more damaged.
“Apart from helping me keep my frying pan of a face oil-free, it removes dead skin, doesn’t dry out my skin, smells refreshing and has helped with my blocked pores. Since using it, I haven’t had any issues with excess oil. It’s like magic.
“When I wear make-up, I love a full face. I like to go all out with foundation, contour and highlighting. In order to achieve my ‘perfect’ full face, I need the perfect base and this exfoliator helps me achieve that. It’s also made it a lot easier because I don’t need to use several oil-reducing products.
“I am a massive fan of skincare – my bathroom cabinet can show you that! Since investing in my skincare routine, I’ve seen a massive difference in my skin and in my confidence. I’ve suffered from acne and hyperpigmentation in the past, so finding products like this seaweed exfoliator – that don’t break the bank but are effective – has been amazing.
“I usually use it three times a week to tackle my excess oil, which is particularly handy if I’m about to do a full face of make-up. I rinse my face and, keeping my face damp, I gently massage the exfoliator onto my face and neck.
“Sometimes I keep it on a bit longer – which I certainly recommend, I feel like that’s the trick to helping with excess oil – whilst I tidy my room or straighten my wig for a night out. I then rinse it off and my skin feels super clean and refreshed.”
-
The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Exfoliator
Shop The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Exfoliator at The Body Shop, £11
buy now
Main image: Iman Leila/courtesy of brand
Source: Read Full Article