Showing posts with label Bio-Oil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bio-Oil. Show all posts

Saturday, 5 July 2014

The best oils








A few years back, I would never have dreamt of going near an oil. As someone who has combination skin and an oily scalp, I have pretty much steered clear of them for the majority of my life. But then something happened, and something changed. I tried a cleansing oil and a hair oil, and from that moment on, I've never looked back. If you're someone with oily skin, or oily hair, don't dismiss oils as they're wonderful at balancing the skin.

The other oils in the Superfacialist range are wonderful too, but the reason why I love this one so much is because you get 200ml of product for £10.99. An absolute bargain, especially considering the range is constantly on offer. This cleansing oil completely removes and breaks down make up and leaves the skin feeling and looking refreshed, and smelling of oranges.

When it comes to hair oils, this is the daddy of them all. I don't know anyone who has tried this product and hated it. Moroccanoil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and protein and helps to improve the hair's manageability, control frizz, enhance shine, increase elasticity and leave the hair looking shiny and feeling soft. I use this when my hair is wet and when my hair is dry as it doesn't weigh the hair down.

Moroccanoil isn't cheap, so I have a bottle of this on standby for when it runs out. It's just as good but not as luxurious and doesn't have the classic Moroccanoil scent. This leaves the hair shiny, nourished, silky, soft and perfected. It smooths down flyaways all without weighing the hair down. L'Oreal also have a bottle for coloured hair and a dry mist for fine hair.

This Rosehip oil is my night time moisturiser of choice. It contains a powerful blend of natural nutrients that promote skin repair and rejuvenates cells. Once I've massaged this into my skin, my skin feels hydrated but not greasy. I've definitely seen a huge improvement in my scarring and skin tone. This also makes me wake up to glowing skin which is something that Bio-Oil doesn't do - and the reason I prefer this one.

I'm definitely a bath lover, and I can't have a bath without pouring an oil or cream inside of it. I love this one because it uses organic argan oil to regenerate the skin. It smells absolutely delicious and coats the skin is anhydrating layer that leaves it revitalised, soft and glowing, with minimal effort. It does leave the bath slippery afterwards though so be careful when getting out.

Bio-Oil* - £8.99
I'm quite sad that at the moment, Bio-Oil has been replaced by the Trilogy oil. My Bio-Oil story has been huge. As a teenager, I hated it as it made me break out. But as I've grown older and my skin's changed, it has become a godsend to me. It helps fade scarring and leaves the skin nourished, but not greasy. It's also incredibly affordable and the bottle lasts for ages.

If you follow me on Twitter then you might have noticed my little love-rant about this product. I'm a bit citrus lover and one whiff of this found me drenching my body in it. It uses pure almond oil to leave the skin smooth and supple, and citrus essential oils to leave a fresh scent that enlivens the body. After using this, my skin was left feeling unbelievable soft and I couldn't stop stroking my legs. I'm an addict.

And finally, Tea Tree Oil which is an oil that everyone should have a bottle of in their collection. Tea Tree Oil is a 100% natural antiseptic essential oil that has a variety of uses. It can be used to treat spots and acne, Athlete's Foot, cuts and burns, head lice, and can be used as a vaporizer and in aromatherapy. There are many more uses and a quick Google will show you how beneficial a bottle can be.

Do you use oils? What are your favourites?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 9:56 am
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Sunday, 6 April 2014

Three products under £10 for summer ready skin


The sun has just started peeking out of the clouds and despite the fact that it’s still quite chilly outside, it’s no longer bitterly cold which means that we may start turning our central heating down and embracing the sun. Less central heating is great news for our skin but it also means that our skin care routines may need a bit of a revamp. You can view my entire skin care routine here and find out more about these products.

You can kiss your heavy duty moisturisers goodbye and say hello to SPF and lighter bases. As mentioned, SPF is an incredibly important step that you should definitely be adding to your skin care routine. The sun’s rays are exceptionally harmful to the skin and as well as ageing the skin, they also can increase the risk of skin cancer. Gone are the days of heavy SPF’s that clogged your pores. Technology has advanced and there are now some wonderfully light formulas out there that not only protect the skin from the sun, but also have further beneficial skin care ingredients. The high street has been in need of a good, affordable SPF and Soap & Glory have answered our prayers. Their Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF 50+ (currently on offer for £10) is not only lightweight and protecting, it mattifies and evens out blotchy skin tone too. 

Instead of smothering your skin in a heavy moisturiser, it’s worth changing your skin creams so that they are lighter in formula. A gel-based moisturiser is great for smoothing onto the skin as they moisturise dry patches and balance out oily patches. Garnier's Revitalising Hydrating Gel (currently on offer for £3.99) fits the bill nicely. It's smells delicious, balances out the skin and isn't heavy on the purse strings either. Not only is this a lovely moisturiser, it's also a beautiful base for make up. 

Another good idea is to use an oil, even if you have oily skin. If you completely strip your skin of its oils, it will go into overdrive and produce more oil than necessary to make up for it. Using an oil balances the skin and leaves it “normal.” Bio-Oil* (currently on offer for £5.99) is a cult classic that's loved by many. It's a dry oil which means it won't leave your skin looking overly shiny. Instead, it's the perfect night-time moisturiser as it evens out skin tone and helps reduce scarring and pigmentation.

What products are your favourite for summer?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 9:08 am
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Friday, 4 April 2014

My current skin care routine feat. Garnier, No7, Lush, Epiduo, Ponds & Bio-Oil









I think it's safe to say that I'm a complete and utter skin care addict. Skin care was the reason I started blogging; I have bad skin - that's no secret - and I'd tried out a lot of products so I wanted to get my opinions out there. Since then (over four years ago) I've tried out even more products and nothing makes me happier than seeing a comment, tweet or email from you guys letting me know that my recommendation has helped your skin care woes. Skin care, in general, makes me happy. I was watching skin care routine videos on YouTube last night and I was literally like a little girl in a sweet shop. But enough of that, here's my current skin care routine. It's changed a little bit since the last one and my skin is doing well at the moment.

Make up removers:
At first, this eye make up remover seems quite expensive however with No7's £5 vouchers (and my staff discount), this ends up being a bargain. I'd compare this to Lancome's Bi-Facial as they work in the same way and get the same results. The oily formula instantly dissolves all eye make up and makes removing waterproof mascara a doddle. I don't use this daily, just on those days when my eye make up has been particularly heavy.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - £4.99 (currently £3.33)
I have fallen head over heels in love with this product. I was always a Bioderma fan but I still find it hard to get a hold of in the UK and it works out quite expensive. So when I saw Garnier's version on the shelves, I had to get it. Dare I say it's better than Bioderma? I certainly think it is. It's a fraction of the price, breaks down make up instantly (I only need one cotton wool pad to completely remove a face of make up) and leaves the skin feeling soft and nourished. This is a product that I use when I'm feeling lazy with make up removal.

On most days, this is the make up remover I use. I thoroughly believe in the double cleanse and you may know that I use to be a massive fan of Super Facialist's Vitamin C Cleansing Oil. However, since getting this cleansing cream from LUSH, I haven't gone near the oil. I adore this product as it breaks down make up exceptionally well and leaves my skin feeling incredibly nourished and soothed. A lot of people comment on the scent of this and while it's nothing to rave about, it certainly isn't unpleasant like many people say. I doubt I'll stray from this cleansing cream, it's perfect, and dare I say, a wonder product?

Cleansers:
I'm not going to lie, I bought this because of the scent. It smells like fudge and leaves my face smelling good enough to eat. However, I've now been using it a couple of weeks and it's become my favourite cleanser. All you have to do is a scoop a little bit out of the pot, mix it with water to create a paste and you have your very own exfoliating face wash. It buffs away dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking glowing and feeling incredibly soft and subtle. Since using this I've found my make up application to be flawless - foundation glides onto the skin. 

Once again, this is another product I use if I'm having a lazy day. It's not something I believe I'll repurchase once I've ran out as I can't see many benefits when using it but it's a nice little extra. I keep it next to my bed in case I'm in need of a quick pick me up throughout the day as the scent is really uplifting and soothing. It doesn't really do much to my skin other than gently cleanse it (when I use it first thing on a cotton pad) or refresh my make up.

Moisturisers:
Garnier Moisture Match Wake Me Up Revitalising Hydrating Gel - £5.99 (currently £3.99)
I've been in need of a lighter moisturiser for a while now. I originally wanted to invest in the Origins GinZing Moisturiser but I saw this gel doing the rounds on blogs. It was on offer for £3.99 in Boots and of course, with a price like that I just couldn't resist. I'm very glad I picked it up as it's lovely. It's really refreshing on the skin and feels lightweight but nourishing. It doesn't interfere with my make up but instead, creates a beautiful 'awakened' base. One of the best moisturisers I've tried.

Bio-Oil* - £8.99 (currently £5.99)
Bio-Oil is a product that I've dabbled in since my teenage years but over the past few months, it's become a firm favourite of mine. I use this as my night time moisturiser as it's wonderful for balancing the skin and diminishing any scars and redness. I have noticed a reduction in my scarring since using this and the other day my housemate commented on how calm my naked skin was looking. Bio-Oil really is the perfect night time moisturiser as it's moisturising, sinks into the skin quickly and rejuvenates the skin whilst you sleep.

Treatments:
Epiduo - prescription only
I won't go into too much detail about this product as I've mentioned it a few times before. But if you don't know, this is my daily spot cream that I use every single night on top of Bio-Oil without fail. A combination of this and Yasmin (the contraceptive pill) has really helped to clear my skin up no end.

Ponds Eye Contour Cream* - £7.99
I don't have any problems with my eyes - the only area of my skin that's actually decent - but I do believe that prevention is better than cure. I use this eye cream every morning and every night as it isn't heavy and sinks into the delicate eye area nice and easily. The long term benefits include: reduced puffiness, smoothed out wrinkles and nourished eyelashes.

What products are in your skin care routine? Do you use any of the above?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 11:20 am
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Monday, 3 February 2014

SKINCARE | Updated Routine (with before/after photos)





The top image on the left is my skin last year with no make up on and the bottom image on the left is my skin last year make up. The top image on the right shows my skin how it is now with no make up on, the bottom image on the right shows my skin how it is now with make up on.


The main reason I started blogging was because of my bad skin. It's no secret that I've been cursed with what can only be described as "nightmare skin." Since those awful teenage years, my skin and I have been at a constant battle with each other. I've tried literally hundreds of products, mixed and matched, splashed out money on "must-haves" and shed many tears. However more recently, my skin has cleared up. And I do believe it's because of my current skin care routine. The images above is what my skin currently looks like - to you, it may not seem like much but when you think about how my skin has looked in the past it's a beautiful miracle.

Oh I could talk about this all day long. Whenever people ask to be recommended a pre-cleanser, I always recommend this one. It's completely changed my skin care routine. Not only is it great value for money (£10.99 for 200ml and it's almost always on offer) but it does an exceptionally good job at dissolving and removing every single trace of make up. It smells like oranges and leaves my skin clean, clear, refreshed and glowing.

I bought this on a whim when I was going through a rough patch with my skin. I'd used Clearasil as a teen but steered clear when it bleached my eyebrow. However, I was at my wit's end and needed to clear my skin up quickly before Freshers Week. This was on offer and I'd read a few reviews saying it was decent. The reviews were right; it's fabulous. It's a creamy face wash that I spread all over my skin and leave for a few minutes while brushing my teeth. Once I've removed it with a hot flannel, my skin is left feeling beautifully soft and not dry at all. It helps to keep my spots at bay and ensures that any nasty marks that have been left behind are removed asap.

I've owned this treatment since the end of 2012 and despite using it daily, I'm only just starting to run out of it. You need the tiniest amount all over the skin and you're instantly given a boost of hydration. I think it's similar to Hydraluron (but much prettier) and feels like jelly to apply to the skin. It's quite expensive - the most expensive thing in this routine - but like I said, it's lasted me absolutely ages and ensures that foundation doesn't cling to any dry patches.

I've chopped and changed my daily moisturisers more times than I've been to McDonalds. But this one seems to have stuck with me. I do mix it up every now and then but most of the time, I reach for this one. Massaging it into the skin feels like silk and instantly the skin is blurred and almost perfected. It's also very lightweight so perfect for everyday use yet extremely hydrating and nourishing. I have combination skin so I tend to get dry patches but this (and the Oasis Treatment) sorts those areas out like a dream. Oh and the cream itself is pink and the packaging is bright pink, a girl's dream!

Epiduo & Yasmin - prescription only
My two prescription saviours. After years of begging the doctors to help me, they finally prescribed me some wonderful things. Epiduo is a gel-cream that I apply after Bio-Oil at night. It never made my skin dry (although I know a few have experienced irritation around the eyes) and it never made me break out further. It's been an absolute godsend and something that I use without fail. The contraceptive pill is controversial but when you think about the millions of women on it, it can't be that bad, ey? For me, it's worked well in terms of my skin. Apparently this is the pill to go on if you're wanting to sort your skin out and considering I can't take tablets (seriously, I still struggle with this tiny pill now and won't take any other form of tablet) this is one that I refuse to miss.

Bio-Oil* - £14.99
As a young adult, I dismissed Bio-Oil. I believed it made my skin worse when I was younger however that could've been my hormones or my lack of cleansing routine. 6 years later, I've gone back to this stuff and it's sorted my skin tone out spectacularly. It's working hard on my deep, old scars and I am seeing minor improvement in them. But before using Epiduo, I had a massive breakout on my forehead (something I never experienced before) and it left behind many red scars/marks. Since using Bio-Oil, those scars have all disappeared and now, my forehead is completely blemish free. As far as skin tone goes, it's perfect. I use this as a nightly moisturiser; a couple of layers is enough and it hydrates my skin and leaves it glowing the next morning.

Now I'm 21 and quite frankly, getting old, I decided it was about time I used an eye cream. This one is fragrance-free and formulated with Vitamins A, E and B5 which all work together to improve the skin's structure and its hydration levels. I use this morning and night and after a few minutes, my eyes are de-puffed and hydrated. It's nice and affordable and does exactly what I want it to.

Link me to your skincare posts!
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 9:53 am
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Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Bio-Oil's #BigThankYou


A couple of weeks ago I received a knock at the door and waiting for me was a huge box. The postman told me that I had flowers and quickly, I picked the box up and went back inside. I was incredibly excited - and confused, did I have a secret admirer?! - and when I opened the box, the most beautiful bouquet of flowers from Interflora and a bottle of Bio-Oil were waiting for me. When it comes to Bio-Oil, I've been on a journey with the product. I tried it when I was younger when I first started noticing scarring on my skin and I hated it. It broke me out badly and left my skin an oily mess. However, as time went by and my skin started settling down, I went back to the bottle and now, it's my night-time moisturiser; I absolutely love the stuff.

I've been supportive of the brand since starting this blog. Their campaigns are beautiful and they recognise the beauty of the skin and encourage people to embrace their flaws - what's not to love?! Their latest campaign #BigThankYou recently ended and as a thank you to me, Bio-Oil sent me the flowers and another bottle of product. I couldn't thank them enough as they've been wonderful to me. I just wanted to show the flowers in case you hadn't already seen them (seeing as I was bragging on Twitter, oops). But I also wanted to know who you would say thank you to if you could. Especially around Christmas, it's important. Let me know in the comments!

*Flowers and Bio-Oil were sent to me free of charge as a thank you
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Written By Unknown at 10:48 am
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Wednesday, 29 May 2013

REVIEW: Bio-Oil


























Bio-Oil* is a product that I'm sure you have all heard of before. It's one of those multi-tasking cult beauty products that a lot of people will forever rave on about. This isn't my first time trying out Bio-Oil - I used it many, many years ago when the first signs of scarring started to appear on my face. However, it broke me out pretty badly and back then, I didn't understand the "purging" stage of skin care. In fact, I didn't know anything about skin care and believed that tons of spot-fighting ingredients that dried my skin out were the way forward. Big mistake. I have been trying this out for a good few months now and I'm pleased to say that it's become a staple in my routine. If you don't know, my scarring is pretty deep and I went to Harley Street last year for a skin check up where the lovely Lee Garratt from Freedomhealth told me that my scarring would never fully disappear. So I wasn't expecting miracles from Bio-Oil like I was when I was younger. I understand that my scarring will be there for a life but there's no harm in trying to soften and lighten my scars a little bit, is there? Bio-Oil has a unique formulation that has been designed to maximise the skin's elasticity which helps to prevent the appearance of skin blemishes such as stretch marks and scars. It uses ingredients such as vitamin A, E, Calendula, Lavender, Rosemary, Chamomile oils and the unique ingredient, Purcellin Oil™ which means the oil is dry and non-greasy. I think the word "oil" puts a lot of people off of this product. I do have combination skin so I was worried that this would make my skin shiny but like I said, it's a dry oil that is quickly absorbed into the skin and leaves the skin looking balanced. If you're someone who suffers with any skin blemishes then I'd highly recommend giving this a go. It's a great price and a nifty little product. You can buy Bio-Oil here where it retails for £8.99.
xxx
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 7:01 pm
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Sunday, 1 January 2012

Bio-Oil Campaign - Accept Your Imperfections

1 in 3 women feel self-conscious, embarrassed, worried or even ashamed about having scars or stretch marks. And nearly 1 in 5 women report that scars and stretch marks have a negative impact on what they choose to wear. Which is shocking as both are very common - on average, every woman has three scars and 43% of all women have stretch marks somewhere on their body from puberty, pregnancy or weight gain.
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To help improve the nation's relationship with their skin blemishes, Bio-Oil has launched 'Skin Stories.' This campaign celebrates every scar and stretch mark and helps women realise that all of theirs has a story to tell. The campaign in centred around Facebook and it encourages women to upload their own Skin Stories as inspiration to other women. Not only this but Bio-Oil will donate £1 to the British Skin Foundation for every story in order to help fund research into skin health.
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Now for me personally, I do have scars. I have a few scars on my face that have been left from spots when I was a teenager. I can remember absolutely hating them when I was younger. I wouldn't want to leave the house and I'd never been seen without make up to cover them up. But now, I've accepted them. They're a part of who I am and they've made me see how far I've come, skin wise. It may not seem like a lot to you and people who have never suffered with bad skin may not understand the negative impact it has upon your life. But your self confidence is shattered. But seeing my scars makes me see how much I've grown as a person and now, I'm proud to have them. I can go outside and face the world without make up. It may have taken me a few years, but I've got there. Also, if I'd have never suffered with bad skin, I wouldn't have taken an interest in make up and beauty products so therefore I'd never have found blogging. And right now, I can't imagine my life without it.
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So share your Skin Story on the Bio-Oil Facebook Page! And if you do, make sure you leave a comment below. I'd love to read your stories.
Written By Unknown at 8:10 pm
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