Skin Update: Managing Adult Acne

Since starting this blog I've openly mentioned my skin problems, but I've never properly taken the time to talk about it in a dedicated post - until today that is. However I think I have finally reached a stage where my skin seems to be quite happy and I wanted to share how I've got there for anyone who may be in the same boat suffering from adult acne. I'm not going to be mentioning the exact products that I have been using as such because I think that sort of stuff should be saved for another post and I may eventually write up my skincare routine. Today I just want to focus on the changes I made to improve my skin. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Review

Today I thought it was time to finally review my holy grail daily moisturizer on the old blog! I tend to always take skincare related posts or Youtube videos with a pinch of salt because at the end of the day everyone's skin is so different and what works for one person may not for another. However despite that fact everyone just seems to love a bit of a skincare post don't they? And so here I am telling you about my favourite daily moisturizer the famous yellow cream from Clinique: their Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+. This seems to be a bit of a Marmite product in the beauty world - but I belong to the team that sings its praises!

Its taken me a long while to find a skincare product that actually works for me, I've tried my fair share of facial moisturizers that just haven't worked for me. Origins GinZing - loved everything about it apart from the small fact that it broke me out in hot unpleasant spots, similarly I had the same sort of results with the Clarins Daily Energizer  to name just a few of the top of my head. Looking back I think either my skin doesn't like those more gel like formulas or it was the fact that a lot of what I'd tried were quite highly scented? Fragranced skincare is supposedly a huge factor in contributing to these breakouts.

As I've mentioned many times now I've had a lot of issues with hormonal breakouts anyway in the last few months so I really wanted to find a facial moisturizer that would just agree with me and do its job at giving my skin some much needed hydration. I don't have oily skin, and its not dry either but in areas it just needs a bit more moisture especially around my nose.

And so onto how I find this moisturizer from Clinique - keep in mind I never tried the 'original formula' either because apparently this had a revolutionary change in the last few years and a lot of people who used to enjoy it didn't like those changes. But as I say I don't have any comparison to the original.

This yellow looking cream isn't particularly fancy by any means. When you pump out the cream it does in fact turn out to be the same yellow looking colour it is in the bottle, however as soon as it is massaged into the skin it becomes transparent. Another thing that you notice straight away is that it is unfragranced, for me this is not an issue but I know for some it would be as many tend to enjoy a moisturizer that comes with a scent.

Dramatically Different + is very light in texture and sinks in to your skin easily meaning its perfect for every day use, it absorbs very quickly and is a great base ahead of makeup. I don't ever find this sticky or greasy feeling. For me one pump is enough to cover my entire face but I usually use another small pump as well to allow for my neck area. I use this day and night because as I've mentioned this is the only moisturizer that I've tried that does not give me nasty breakouts.

Supposedly this cream is meant to strengthen your skins moisture barrier meaning that overtime the lotion becomes more effective and I would say that since using this my skin seems to accept the hydration of a moisturizer better. Obviously aside from the odd hormonal breakout my skin is generally very smooth feeling and it is definitely a result of using this.

I've been using this now since December when I first picked up my first Clinique skincare bits - I got a small 50ml bottle to start with to check my skin agreed with it and have since gone on to purchase the full size 125ml. I'm really happy with the results its never broken me out and my skin is smooth and hydrated. I think that this will definitely always be a moisturizer that I can safely rely on to give me exactly what I need without any fuss. As you can see I've used a fair amount up but I literally use it religiously twice a day and I think that this should easily see me straight through to the summer months, although I will have to remember that this doesn't contain SPF...

QOTD: Have you ever used Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion?

Spring Beauty Haul #2

Time for another Spring haul of things I've purchased in recent weeks.This is a small albeit mish-mash of a beauty haul but I thought I'd share my new bits none the less. It wouldn't be a haul from me without an item from The Body Shop would it? This time I picked up a tub of the Hemp Intensive Hand Butter - the Hemp Hand Protector from TBS is my ultimate hand cream so when I saw this tub on offer on the shelf I was intrigued to see how it compared to the original. I might do a comparison post on the two in the upcoming weeks. The next thing I picked up on a recommendation from my friend, and it was the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Scrub as she said it really helped in clearing her skin. When I saw it on offer in Wilkinsons for just £3.50 I thought why not give it a go?

From Boots I decided to pick up another Tangle Teezer Compact as they're really handy. I picked up the leopard print Style compact Tangle Teezer from duty free a while ago so went for the purple one this time as they're just great to keep it in a handbag and I wanted to get another as back up. The compact Tangle Teezers are light and obviously 'compact' as the name suggests with a protective back you push in and out. Then lastly a high end beauty piece that came from the Chanel counter in Boots is the Rouge Allure Gloss in number 13. I've seen quite a lot of these glosses pop up on the beauty scene - literally as these glosses slide in and out of the packaging in such a chic format. But I won't say too much more as I will definitely be doing a full review on this soon.

QOTD: What have you picked up recently?

The Spot Saviour

I'm always a little bit sceptical about these spot treatment/blemish sticks that claim to reduce the appearance of spots. However in the last year or so I have discovered the benefits of tea tree oil for its antiseptic and healing powers, I used it back in the winter on my breakouts and while it did improve my spots I found that it dried my skin up so badly. I know that Origins do a spot treatment however its like over £10 for a tiny little bottle which I didn't really want to pay out for. So I was intrigued to try this blemish gel from The Body Shop which currently retails for £6 for 2.5ml of product, which is still quite pricey but considerably less than other brands.

In England we have been experiencing like heatwave type conditions in the last few weeks and last month I was suffering from terrible breakouts from the change in the weather. I find that I get very hot doing my new job, I was exercising 5/6 days a week and I've also noticed that I seem to be sweating a lot more during exercise (more than normal) all of these factors I think just made my skin breakout and it wasn't looking its best. If you read my blog regularly you will know that I'm pretty obsessed with TBS skincare so naturally this was the first place I headed. I picked this up in a 3 for 2 offer, I will be reviewing the other products I got in due course too but this has definitely been a stand out product for me.

The product comes with a wand/ doe foot applicator and the first thing I noticed was how soft the wand is on your skin. Some of these doe foot applicators you get can be a bit harsh but this feels so soft and refreshing. Depending on how fussy you are you can take the wand straight to the blemish or swipe a bit on the back of your hand to keep it a bit more hygienic then use your finger to apply it.

The gel is very cooling and feels lovely on those angry, hot blemishes I sometimes suffer from. I like to use this before bed and upon waking up the blemished area is considerably less red and swollen. I have been really impressed with the way that this reduces the appearance of blemishes, redness etc without over drying the area. I also think that you could use this on blemishes that are no longer active as tea tree fights infection and will speed up the duration it takes to heal the area. This has just been a saviour in helping clear my skin and gives me that confidence back. I wished I had known about this as a teenager!

QOTD: What products do you reach for when you have 'problemed' skin?

The Holy Grail Skincare Trio

Skincare is something that is relatively new to me. It wasn't until I started wearing makeup on a regular basis that I realised the benefits of a skincare routine. Because skincare is a bit of a new area to me, I feel like I'm still in a bit of an 'experimenting' stage ie trying out different skincare products that work for me. However there have become three staples in my skincare routine that quickly earned their way to holy grail status. One is a cleanser, one is a mask and the other is a serum. I'm still on the lookout for the perfect moisturiser, so feel free to leave me any recommendations!

1) The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil.
This product from The Body Shop went wild on the beauty blogging scene a couple of months ago, everywhere I looked this bad boy was cropping up with rave reviews. Naturally I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Let me say, the hype around this really is true. This is such an incredible product that I have been obsessed with ever since purchasing it. I use this at night time if I have a face full of makeup as it literally melts away every last scrap off your face. Just massage a pump of this cleansing oil onto dry skin and when you add water it lathers to a slightly milky consistency and simply wipes your makeup away. I am constantly blown away by how easily this removes your makeup. As an extra bonus this is a really affordable high street skincare product setting you back around a tenner I believe, and a tiny bit goes a long way so it will last you ages!
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2) Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask.

 The next product in my skincare holy grail trio is this face mask from Origins. I use this mask once or twice a week as a sort of deep cleanse to rid my face of underlying impurities. The active charcoal is the ingredient which unclogs your pores from all the dirt that is beyond what our eyes can see. This isn't the prettiest of face masks when you put it on as you can probably expect from the soot black colour of the tube. Upon rinsing this away you get an initial 'ahh' that feels good to be off as it can become a tad dry and tight on your face and immediately after taking it off your face just feels so clean and fresh. One thing I would bare in mind is that this can bring any underlying spots to life because it is so effective in clearing your pores out,but at the same time that does just go to show how well it works and overall it does leave your skin looking and feeling clearer. You only need a thin layer so again this should last pretty well, I have the 50ml size which I believe retails for around £12 so its not the cheapest but well worth it in my opinion.

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3) The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil.
The third and final installment in my trio is anoher product from The Body Shop, this time from their Vitamin E range. I love the Vitamin E range from TBS, if you've been reading my blog for a while no doubt you will have seen the odd piece from the range show its face from time to time so of course I was instriguied by this serum. Other high end beauty serums will set you back quite a lot of money but this is again an afforable product retailing £12. I use this three to four nights a week over a night cream and the next morning my skin is visibly plumper and revitalised and it solves the problem of any dry patches I might be suffering from. I was a little bit nervous about putting an 'oil' on my face as I invisioned greasiness and oily looking skin as a result however it is not in the least bit greasy. I massage a few drops into my fingers first and then apply to my face in a patting motion as advised by the website. As well as doing its job properly the quality of the packaging feels really luxurious with a glass bottle and pipette applicator. This is going to be a saviour come winter time!
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QOTD: What are your skincare holy grail products?

The Body Shop Honey & Oat Mask

Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Mask | The Body Shop | £10 | Link

The world of skincare is still all relatively new to me, however a brand that I have begun to rely on to help with my skin woes recently is The Body Shop. With an email reminding me that my welcome offer of 25% off was shortly expiring I decided to branch out and purchase the Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask. The fact that this little pot claims to be a 3 in 1 product had me intrigued that this product could be a little different. The ingredients in this also caught my attention especially the fact that this contains honey which is widely known for its health benefits in both diet and beauty.

 

According to The Body Shop this is meant to 'cleanse, polish and moisturise' [link] but what did I think? Well firstly my initial impressions, I thought that the consistency was really good I didn't have to apply a tonne to get a decent coverage across my face. I expected this to be a tad on the messy side as it looks gloopy and thick in the pot but its not at all like that once applied. I also liked the fact that this wasn't gritty so it was pretty comfortable even when it had set in and dried somewhat. The smell is really fresh and had me craving a bowl of oatmeal infused with honey afterwards!

One thing that I have noticed is that this does dry pretty quickly it turns into more of a transparent layer as it begins to dry up, for this reason alone its therefore advisable to not leave this on for too long - I've found the 5 minute mark works best for me. So after looking like you've dipped your face in your breakfast bowl then comes the nicest part which is rinsing the mask off. I like to run a small luke warm bowl of water and take my time to work my fingers in small circles to fully achieve that exfoliating benefit before washing it off with a cloth. Immediately after all traces are washed away my skin is left feeling super clean and supple.

All in all I've really enjoyed using this mask, its definitely a nice product to use in your weekly skin care routine, and because this is so gentle you can get away with using it a little bit more than you could with some masks. I tend to use it every other day and my skin has been fine.

 

What do you think of face masks? Have you tried this one from The Body Shop?

Champneys Facial Cleansing System Review

Champneys Facial Cleansing System | Boots | £19.99 | Link

Hey, today I'm coming at you with a product review and that is a review of the Champneys Facial Cleansing System.  I'm going to be giving you the run down on how I've found this product, and ultimately answering the question - is this the budget friendly alternative to the Clarisonic Mia?

 

The hype around the innovative forms of facial cleansing have become undeniable with a range of brands now adding their own versions of facial cleansers to the market - however this type of technology does not come cheaply with a Clarisonic setting you back at least £100. However much I researched and read mostly only positive reviews there was no way I was parting with that kind of money without knowing if it would be something I liked or if it would work for me. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across the Champney's Facial Cleanser on offer on Boots online for £19.99 - what did I stand to lose?

 

After using this daily now for almost a month I think I can give you an honest and fair review of my experiences with this facial cleansing system and offer you my opinion of the Pros and Cons of the Champneys Facial Cleansing system. Before I start I should point out that my skin is normal and I 

usually just suffer from the occasional breakout.

 

 

How does this work?

Switch this on and it begins vibrating: it is these vibrations that are said to cleanse your face thoroughly and 'remove impurities from the skin'. I have been using this daily either in the mornings or in the evenings with my Body Shop Vitamin E cream cleanser which I have found to be a really nice combination. For best results I dampen my skin and run some warm water over the brush head so it becomes really soft before I apply it to my face. In the evenings when I'm using this to remove my face makeup I always make sure I've taken off any eye makeup with my Bioderma beforehand. The leaflet provided in the box suggests you to work in circular motions and the rough guidelines are to spend 10 seconds on your cheeks and 20 seconds on your T-zone area so the forehead, nose and chin. Once I have roughly cleansed my face to those guidelines I simply rinse my face and I'm good to go.

 

The set is very simple and in the box you just have the main piece that you attach the brushes to and this comes with a small stand. Also included are two sets of exfoliation brushes and two normal brushes.  I haven't really used the exfoliation brush so I won't touch on that but basically you can very easily remove the brush heads and swap them around for your own choice and this is also handy when it comes to cleaning the brushes themselves. The normal brush is very inoffensive, it hasn't irriated my skin but it still manages to make it feel nicely refreshed afterwards.

 

Pros:
- Price Tag
This has got to be the biggest thing in its favour as its considerably more purse friendly in comparison to others similar on the market. For under twenty pounds this is so cheap and definitely more accessible to people who aren't prepared to spend an excessive amount for their skin care routine.
- Effective in what it says it does
Since using this I have noticed an improvement in the way my skin looks and feels. I really do feel as though this removes my makeup more thoroughly than I could and you can visibly see what it is removing on the brush as you move it away from your face. Black heads around my nose and chin have definitely been reduced and I have just noticed a general positive effect on my skin in general, my spots are nowhere near as bad as they had been which is probably a result of this removing my makeup more effectively. And considering its winter and my skin is usually quite dull I have noticed a perkiness to it that I normally wouldn't see during this time of year.
- Water resistant
You can use this in the shower due to it being water resistant which is definitely helpful to me as it means I can incorporate it into my morning routine every morning.
- Compact / lightweight
This is very light and compact which would make it ideal for those who are frequently travelling or maybe to leave in your gym bag for those who are on the go. Although this also works as a disadvantage too (see below.)
Cons:
- Battery operated
One of the biggest drawbacks for this in my opinion is that it is battery operated. Being battery operated means that when this runs out of charge its not as simple as being able to plug it in at the wall and leave it to charge for how ever many hours, you have to be prepared and have batteries backed up (which by the way,who even keeps batteries anymore?!) Although in the box this did at least contain two AA batteries but in the future it means the inconvenience of needing replacement batteries as apposed to charging it through the electrics. Another thing that this means is that although this product is initially cheaper to buy up front than other facial cleansing systems having to buy replacement batteries each time it runs out of charge eventually results in you spending out more money than you originally thought.
- Basic
This is very basic and though that may be ok to some people I just feel like this shouts its £19.99 price tag a little too loudly. With its all white design that looks a little too plastic for my liking and the simple on/off setting there is no denying that this is nothing fancy and instead is rather a true reflection of its price tag. I've also noticed that this has slipped out of my hands a few times as there isn't any grip on the handle and considering that this isn't the sturdiest feeling thing in the world it makes me a little unnerved that one more drop on the floor could eventually see the death of it altogether.

Overall Impression.

My overall impression on the Champneys Facial Cleansing system is that you get what you pay for, I found this to work quite well on my skin but I also found it to be nothing outstanding but then again what can you really expect from something that is under twenty pounds? Although I personally have not ever tried the Clarisonic I would say that for those on a budget that yes this is probably a good high street equivalent. For now I am going to continue using the Champneys Facial Cleansing system and at least get my moneys worth out of it but this has made me decide that I am probably going to invest in a Clarisonic or something similar one day for use in my skincare routine for the long run as I can't see this lasting forever.

What is your must have item in your skincare routine? Do you use a facial cleansing system like this?