Dream Team #1

Again I feel like I need to make another little introduction - this is the start of another "series" I want to do. Essentially the premise is pretty simple and I'm sure you can guess it - it's basically show-casing a few products that work particularly well together or a common complaint. This time I picked two products I love for sensitive but breakout prone skin. That combination in itself is pretty tricky - often products for breakouts are quite harsh and drying and can make delicate faces feel angry and sad. I don't want your face to feel angry and sad so I am here to help,  friends. If this sounds like you read on - I have several of these ideas lined up along with more "Focus On" posts with some more lovely ingredients worth talking about. 

To give you a little background I have very eczema prone skin - especially during the warmer months when the heat tends to aggravate it. However it's also a bit oily in the t-zone resulting in frustrating breakouts. Trying to cater for both skin-types is a bit of a pain - these two do it beautifully.

Catastrophe Cosmetic starts out by absorbing excess oil and soothing redness with calamine powder - one thing I hate most about my skin is when it looks inflamed. The anti-oxidant blueberries are beautiful for this as well. Sometimes I wonder if the fact alone that it's blue helps cancel out red tones in the skin. This mask isn't scrubby at all (aside from the very few blueberry seeds in it) so is great if your skin is a little timid around exfoliation too. The almond oil helps balance oil production and leaves the skin moist rather than too dried out. Whenever my face is a bit on the breaking out side I always reach for this in my local Lush store. The fact it's also preservative free and kept in the fridge means it's very gentle ingredients wise and is lovely and cooling on sore or inflamed skin.

Following this the Very Gentle Calming Serum does exactly as the name would suggest - it calms redness further whilst sitting lightly on the skin. If your skin is a little on the dry side you may want to follow up with another moisturiser or oil as well. One pump is enough to cover the whole face - it's particularly useful I've found for environmental irritation - i.e. pollen and the such which is so prevalent around this time of year.

Afterwards I generally follow up with the Very Gentle face cream or rosehip oil depending on the condition of my skin at the time.

What do you guys think of this idea?

Claire x

Eczema/Dermatitis - how to manage it

I say how to manage it because really, it's a skin condition and you can never fully get rid of it. It can resurface at any time with seemingly no cause. I've had eczema and/or dermatitis since I was a baby so I've had 22 years of trying various methods to try and get it to go away. There are a few ways to treat it: topically, environmentally and internally. I'll cover each, what I've used and why I think it's good. This isn't going to be a super exciting post as it's not all about a new product or anything like that, but I know a lot of people have skin issues like this so thought I'd pass on what I've learnt.

If you have any more ideas to add comment below - I'm always willing to try something new! Especially going into spring/summer here in New Zealand it's prime season for skin problems, eurgh. Anyway, lets get on with this post without any more preamble.

Topical solutions: 
By this I mean of course things you apply to your skin to soothe inflamed skin.

Steroid cream
This is the least natural albeit most effective way of quickly treating eczema/dermatitis. I have a very strong 75% beta cream which I was prescribed - it's not great for extended periods of use but if your skin is as bad as mine (it would essentially crack, bleed, heal then start all over again...) this may be a good option. There are of course lower doses available and these are just as good if your skin isn't as dire as all that.

Frank
If you read my blog frequently you're probably getting sick of hearing about this product. It smooths skin, gently exfoliates (depending on how hard you scrub!) and moisturises skin beautifully. I'm most partial to the coconut variety as it's the most hydrating. It really helps the dry skin on my hands especially.

Charity Pot
Generally, it's wise to use unfragranced products but that doesn't mean you can't use products that are NATURALLY FRAGRANCED. What I mean by this is, coconut for example naturally has a smell but this doesn't mean it will be reactive to your skin. Charity Pot by Lush has a beautiful chocolatey smell which has resulted in me using 4 pots consecutively over 2 years. It's so gentle, hydrating and doesn't sting my skin. I think moisturisers/body lotions are very personal but I'd tried other lotions and this was one of the few that really helped. Another lovely Lush option is Sympathy for the Skin - a slightly thicker lotion but wonderful all the same.

Burt's Bees Banana and Beeswax Hand Cream
This is the thickest and most luxurious hand cream I've ever used. Even in the worst days of my dry hands this has been such a relief to use. It smells beautiful, has very few unnatural ingredients and lasts a really long time both in the pot and on your hands.

Calamine Lotion
This can be a little drying but if you're desperate to stop that itch this will do the trick. You can get it from the pharmacy, keep it in the fridge and smooth it on it's or hot feeling skin and it really soothes it.

Environmental solutions:
Certain environmental factors can affect your skin in different ways, these are a few things that can help!

Sun
The sun is great for dermatitis, obviously you don't want too much but I always found the sun made my skin a little less tight and itchy feeling. I'm not sure if it's the vitamin D or what but ten minutes a day with your problem areas exposed can really help.

Salt water
This can be a bit painful if your skin is really bad but the more salt water exposure you can get the better. If you're miles away from the beach, you can always dissolve a cup of salt into a bath, let the water cool until it's just warm and have a soak.

Shower temperature
Too much hot water will irritate your skin. You know how your skin feels all soft and can go pruney in water? That's not good if you have skin problems! Likewise for the bath, by all means have a soak but a dermatologist once told me water is in itself an irritant - too much will make your skin worse. Don't stay in the tub too long.

Avoiding soap
Really foamy products like shower gels and bubble bath are especially rough on your skin. Trying a creamy soap with olive oil or something more neutral like QV wash is a good option.

Internal solutions: 
Some foods and supplements can do harm to, or benefit your skin. These are some things I've noticed.

Citrus can aggravate your skin
When I was a kid I used to drink lots of Raro (that citric acidy orange drink - with the powder you dissolve in water?) and ate a lot of tangelos and the like. There was often a trend between sugar/acid consumption and my skin flaring up.

Cod liver oil/krill oil
Of all the oils I've tried krill seems to have helped my skin the most. My hands flare up less often, my face seems to have less break outs and I can have more things that would usually be a bit irritating to my skin in my diet e.g. coffee.

Hopefully this very wordy post has interested/helped someone. Do let me know if there's anything you find particularly useful - it's always helpful to hear other peoples perspectives because I know how common a problem this is!

Claire x

Manual cleansers - which is better?

I thought another skincare post was in order - this time it's about "manual" cleansers. I.e. brushes/fibres that clean your skin as opposed to using a cleanser. I have two of these both of which I've been using for several months - one is the Clarisonic Mia 2, the other is the Jane Iredale Cleansing Mitt. I'll give you a breakdown of both and let you know which I find to be better. 

Clarisonic Mia 2 - 

The Clarisonic is one of those things that is definitely an investment item - it's not really something you'd buy lightly with the hopes it'll help your skin. Coming in at £120 from Feelunique it's not an inexpensive item. I got it at 10% off as I selected Clarisonic as my "brand for life" discount brand.

With the Clarisonic you get a little instruction manual, a charger, one brush head and the Clarisonic itself. Naturally I chose the pink shade for myself. The Mia 2 has two speed settings - I tend to just use it on the "normal" setting as opposed to the sensitive one.

Although it says you can get more makeup off with the Clarisonic over a regular cleanser I would be inclined to disagree - I used this as an additional step to my routine and although it did help remove extra makeup I wouldn't use it solely for makeup removaland I still needed to use a cream cleanser with it. The brush head often comes away a bit foundation coloured but if you use it consistently everyday this becomes less noticeable.

That brings me to my next point - it says that it's safe for everyday use, twice a day. I did this for three - four weeks and while initially I did "purge" a little and have more breakouts my skin did clear up significantly. However, over time I started breaking out again when using twice a day even when using it on the gentler setting.

I started only doing it every second night instead and found my skin bounced back. Personally I think this device is too harsh to use everyday. In essence it's exfoliating your skin and too much of a good thing...well, you get the idea. On top of this the brush needs to be replaced every 3 months, which is an additional cost you need to consider when purchasing.

The verdict: Yes, I like my Clarisonic, but would I recommend purchasing it? Probably not. Having found other scrubs like Frank that I prefer/get better results from I don't think the Mia 2 is worth the price tag.


Jane Iredale Cleansing Mitt - 

My mum bought this mitt for me as a surprise about a year ago now. I've had problems with my skin since I was about 18 - before that I barely ever got spots now I have hormonal breakouts on my chin almost all the time. This mitt is designed to help remove extra makeup, much like the Clarisonic, but instead of scrubbing as such it uses tiny fibres (it's a microcloth) to pick up anything left on your skin.

It's very gentle to use, I can and do use it everyday (usually just in the evening) and it doesn't need any cleanser to use it. It's a pretty simple principle, put your hand in the mitt and wipe your face as you would with a conventional facecloth.

To wash it you only need to use a gentle soap. Rub it over the mitt, work it into the fibres and rinse it clean. Let it air dry (that's what the little loop on the end is for) and it's perfect everytime. As you can see they do last the test of time - I've had mine a year and it doesn't need changing/replacing and still cleans as well as it did the day I first got it. It was about $30NZD but you can but it here with free shipping for £17.

The verdict: The mitt is long lasting, reliable, gentle and much more affordable. I'd recommend this over the Clarisonic anyday. Again, it should only be used as an additional step in your regular cleansing routine (I use mine in the shower after I've removed all my makeup) but it will remove dead skin, makeup and excess oil really well without damaging your skin.

Cleansing is so important and I think having the right tools/products really do help. Also, just because it's the "miracle" device that costs a lot doesn't always mean it'll be better.

Hope this has helped some of you!

Claire x

Just in...

...Hurraw! lip balm.

Another miracle product I've discovered this month (August weather may be awful but I'm having good luck with new discoveries!) is Hurraw! lip balm.

I've been an avid fan of Burt's Bees since I was about 17 but I think I'm starting to convert. Hurraw is vegan,  packaged in post-consumer recycled plastic, cruelty free, organic AND there's an SPF option. I bought two from Oh Natural as they ship within in New Zealand (very good service by the way). Initially I just bought the mint and the night time variety.

I must say I'm particularly a fan of the "Moon Balm" it's the more moisturising of the two and smells lovely (can't go wrong with vanilla!). I've already purchased another - the SPF version which is made with zinc oxide i.e. the natural version of sunscreen which is a physical barrier rather than a chemical one. I've even managed to get my dad to use it - which is quite something.

Highly recommend these balms, as their shape is oval they fit in your pocket perfectly, don't melt and are really long lasting on the lips. Will definitely be re-purchasing.

Claire x

Oh, Frank

Having been using Frank for a few weeks now I think it's about time I do a follow up review from my first impressions post which can be found here. Sadly I don't have any new photos or before/afters as my laptop is rapidly dying and I can't easily upload to the desk top computer booo.

Put simply, Frank is about as addictive to use during your night-time shower as drinking your coffee is first thing in the morning.

Used regularly (I frank'd every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) my skin responded really well. It's tempting to do it more because it smells so amazing but for me, I think this was about right.

The "frankeffect" is somewhat miraculous. I am a convert to say the least. My skin looks glowy after - which for me is wonderful when I'm mid-winter with zero percent tan whatsoever. It's like the glow you get after you've been on holiday minus the expensive air flights and accomodation. The redness on my face is reduced, my skin is smooth, moisturised, buffed but not oily or "overdone."

On top of this the best thing was it helped get rid of blemishes and dermatitis simultaneously. Anyone with dermatitis will know finding something that helps diminish it's effects is worth it's weight in gold. My hands were less red, less dry and didn't crack as much.

All in all, Frank is addictive, and as soon as my original Frank gets low I will most definitely be buying the coconut and cacao varieties too. I love getting things in the post and even the packing Frank comes in is beautiful. He ticks all the right boxes, cruelty free, vegan and preservative free.

Again, to order you can get Frank shipped to a shower near you from here and if you're interested you can see some amazing before and afters of the #frankeffect here.

On an unrelated note my blog may be undergoing a bit of a transformation in the next week or so with a new theme. Very excited.

Claire x

Trilogy Rosehip Antioxidant+

I thought it was about time for a post about one of my most loved products. That on top of the fact that so many people still seem unaware of how amazing it is for all skin types made me think this would be the best product to start with.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + is like the younger brother of the regular rosehip oil with the added bonus of extra antioxidants. It's hydrating, balancing and of course helps counteract daily damage your skin encounters from pollutants and (in my case more so) sun damage.

The Trilogy website claims rosehip will improve brightness, reduce fine lines and increase elasticity and firmness. On top of all this it's also great at balancing sebum production in your skin and reducing redness from acne or eczema.

I use this little beauty year round. I know some people find fault with the price, but ultimately the amount you need means a 30ml bottle will last a long time. I use 3 - 4 drops on my face and neck and the bottle I have has been going strong for 4 months now already and that's with everyday use.

I'd recommend this for any skin type - dry will benefit from the moisture it gives, out-doorsy types will get antioxidants to help with sun exposure, city goers will benefit for the same reason from the everyday pollution that damages skin. Oily skin is balanced by rosehip as adding oil to your skin means it doesn't feel the need to produce so much. Sensitive skin including those with dermatitis and eczema can use this and know it won't upset or inflame their skin too.

Definitely a holy grail and something I'll never be without. At a pinch it can even be used in place of a night cream (as I often did in my university days when a night cream was too big for my budget). For best results I'd recommend applying it after your shower while your skin is still warm and damp - don't dry your face with a towel, just let it dry in the air for a minute then apply your rosehip oil.

If you try one new thing, make it this one. You can buy it from Healthpost if you're in New Zealand, or Feelunique if you're from further afield.

Claire x

Evening Skincare Routine

My night-time skin care routine is naturally very important to me as in my mind it's what maintains the integrity of my skin (when it's behaving itself...). I always love reading about new products from people with similar skin types to me so for the record: I have normal/combination skin i.e. slightly oily t-zone and normal cheeks. I'm a quite prone to annoying hormonal breakouts on my chin and sometimes forehead too. 

OK, so from left to right (the order in which I would use these...) we have: 

Ultrabland from Lush, it's an oil based cleanser. It's VERY waxy and thick and is quite intimidating at first, I'd never have touched it for the life of me before I worked at Lush but after my manager shows me how to use it/how amazing it is for the skin I've been a convert. I think this is about my...6th tub? It lasts about 6 months daily use for me which, for the price, I think is really good value. I use about a pea and a half sized amount (pea and a half, is that a thing? I think it should be a standard unit of measurement) all over my face/down my neck where I've blended any makeup. You can use this one on your eye area too - I've yet to find any makeup that can withstand the power of this cleanser. The best part is it's amazingly gentle and very balancing for all skin types. 

The next product in the line up I use in tandem with my Ultrabland is Eau Roma Water toner. To remove Ultrabland you either need a nice hot face cloth or, what I prefer a couple of cotton pads and this lovely toner. I spritz it all over my face, everywhere the cleanser is (including the eye area...) and wipe it off. The oils in the cleanser break down makeup, the toner lifts the cleanser and in turns you get all that makeup off ya doll face. 

As I'm pedantic about cleansing I "double cleanse" I always remove my makeup before the shower, then use my next cleanser (yes it's another Lush one...) 9 to 5. This one again is an oil based cleanser and helps remove the absolutely last traces of makeup/leave you with clean fresh skin. I put a blob on my fingertips then massage into my face. Once in the shower after the steam has warmed your skin up a bit, wipe it all off with a hot face cloth.

Post-shower I get out but don't dry my face entirely. I sort of let it "air dry" a bit then apply my holy grail Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ urgggh what would I do without this stuff. It absorbs best when your skin is a little damp (how I don't know as oil and water don't mix but trust me on this one...). I use 3 - 4 drops on my face and neck every night. This product counteracts sun damage with its antioxidants and reduces redness (read: acne scarring) beautifully. It also hydrates without being "heavy" and my skin seems to slurp it all up come the morning so I'm left with perfectly "normal" feeling skin that's very hydrated, smooth and NOT RED.

The final step is this beautifully scented moisturiser, the Trilogy Replenishing Night Cream. Like all Trilogy products, it smells lovely without being "fragranced" if you know what I mean? It's not too much - it's just right. That aside, this night cream is from the same range as the Line Smoothing Day Cream from my day time routine. Like the day cream, it has hyaluronic acid in it which means your skin can take on up to 10 times the amount of moisture it normally would. It's not too heavy but leaves your skin smooth, firm and sort of "new" feeling somehow.

My skincare changes seasonally but only slightly - I'll probably re-do these come summer to see what I'm using then!

Where to purchase these products:

Lush is worldwide, and can be ordered online, to find your online store here.
Trilogy can be bought from several websites, I buy mine from Healthpost but you can also get it directly from the Trilogy website or if you're further afield than New Zealand you can get it from Feelunique.

Morning Skin Care Routine

My morning routine is pretty simple but it includes a few products not a lot of people seem to be using. I'm trying not to incorporate more "natural" products when I can whilst also making sure I have some SPF too. I think this is especially important in the New Zealand sun!

 

To start with, I use a cream based cleanser - Lush 9 to 5 is my go to as it removes anything your skin has purged in your sleep but doesn't leave a greasy finish. I use a ten cent coin sized amount and smooth it all over my face and then wipe off with a hot face cloth. It's a very reasonably priced product - around the $20 dollar mark in New Zealand and lasts such a long time. It's also vegan for those of you so inclined! 

The next step is my moisturiser. I use Trilogy Line Smoothing Day cream - yes it's sort of anti-aging but the main thing in it to make it such is hyaluronic acid which helps your skin absorb up to ten times the amount of water it normally would - filling in the fine lines around your mouth/forehead etc. Aside from this it's not sticky, smells beautiful and  goes on a dream. I smooth it all over my face and neck.

After this I usually go have breakfast, then come back and start my makeup. Strictly the final product in my morning routine is my tinted moisturiser but I listed it because it has an SPF in it, which is important year round but particularly in summer. Again, this get mushed all over my face and neck to protect it. Less sun damage means less wrinkles and discolouration in the long run so a well worth it step!

Just in...

...Frank Body scrub. 

I love getting things in the post and was so excited to get my little brown paper bag with an apricot coloured Frank label this morning. Isn't he and his packaging lovely?! This is the first "proper" post from me, I'll be aiming for a new blog post every Thursday and Sunday - this weekend I'll be writing my little hands off so I have plenty up my sleeve in case I get busy. Without further ado here is my first "first impression" on my new blog. (Eeek, excited).

I've just tried Frank for the first time, he promises to smooth skin, help eczema, acne and cellulite. Given that it's very reasonably priced, vegan and preservative free I was more than keen to give it a try. Aside from that I'm currently breaking out like mad and am willing to try anything once for the sake of my skin (acne in your 20s...arghh). I bought it on Friday afternoon and he's made it to my letterbox in just under a week. (Yes I did just refer to Frank as a he - more on that next...)

The marketing Frank uses is a part of the draw for me - I can't even begin to explain how so I'll let you see for yourself here. I'm actually slightly in love with this product/marketing already.

To use him you just need to wet your skin, use a few little handfuls of Frank and rub all over. A little really does go a long way - something I was surprised at as typically sugar/salt based scrubs I've used before I've found don't seem to cover a lot and often dissolve very easily, not the case with Frank. I focussed on the bits that needed most attention - i.e. my legs, elbows, back and buns of steel (ho ho). It's recommended you leave it on for a few minutes 5 - 10 ideally but given it's the middle of winter I only managed about 4 before I turned the shower back on (big cold wuss). The novelty of smelling like coffee and oranges as well as actually looking quite brown (albeit covered with coffee grounds...) was also quite enjoyable...!

I was skeptical about how amazing it could really be, I'd heard rave reviews of it making your skin feel like silk after just one use. I can tell you for sure - it's true. My skin hasn't felt so smooth in...well I can't remember how long. You're also lightly moisturised without feeling oily or greasy. I even patted/rubbed the excess on my face and my skin all over felt amazing. I put my usual rosehip oil on my face straight after and my skin slurped it right up.

The plusses of Frank I noticed initially are it's super scrubby (which I love), not drying or too abrasive - the grains are small enough to buff rather than scratch or scrape your skin. It leaves your skin moisturised without being oily and smells delightful (I got the original Frank for those interested). I can't wait to use it again. I'll do a follow up post in a few weeks when I've had time to use it some more!