MaskerAide Sheet Masks | Review
Let’s Talk About Bacne
I apologise if things are getting a little TMI in these parts today, but we shouldn’t be ashamed of talking about our supposedly embarrassing issues. Bacne (or back-acne, body acne etc.) is an issue that I’ve dealt with on and off for quite some time now, but I’m happy to tell you that I have found my solution, and hopefully this can work for all my fellow sufferers out there…
I’ve been much more into working out recently, and working out equals getting very sweaty whilst wearing a sports bra. I was breaking out in the whole area where the bra had been touching and rubbing against my skin, and I knew I had to bring out my tried and tested shower gel. Introducing The Body Shop Tea Tree Body Wash. This stuff works wonders for me. I will use this on any areas I’m breaking out on my body and it tends to clear up in about a week. If you’re unfathomably flexible, then you may be able to reach all areas of your back with just your hand, but I find using some sort of bath lily or loofah really helps. It’s almost important to me that I don’t stay in my sweaty gym clothes for too long after a workout – this seems to really aggravate my skin.
Do let me know if you have any other tips for treating and getting rid of one of the most irritating skin issues, as I’d love to try some other products. Also, if you’re going to give this one a go, make sure you get it when The Body Shop are having an offer (when are they not?) – I got mine for £3.60!
–RachelElizabeth
I’ve been much more into working out recently, and working out equals getting very sweaty whilst wearing a sports bra. I was breaking out in the whole area where the bra had been touching and rubbing against my skin, and I knew I had to bring out my tried and tested shower gel. Introducing The Body Shop Tea Tree Body Wash. This stuff works wonders for me. I will use this on any areas I’m breaking out on my body and it tends to clear up in about a week. If you’re unfathomably flexible, then you may be able to reach all areas of your back with just your hand, but I find using some sort of bath lily or loofah really helps. It’s almost important to me that I don’t stay in my sweaty gym clothes for too long after a workout – this seems to really aggravate my skin.
Do let me know if you have any other tips for treating and getting rid of one of the most irritating skin issues, as I’d love to try some other products. Also, if you’re going to give this one a go, make sure you get it when The Body Shop are having an offer (when are they not?) – I got mine for £3.60!
–RachelElizabeth
What’s in My Travel Skincare Bag | Blogmas Day #16
In case you didn’t read yesterdays post, I am currently in New York! I thought I would take this opportunity to make a somewhat short travel series, and walk you through all the beauty goodies that I am hauling across the Atlantic with me. Today we are talking all things skincare…
It may not be the most travel-friendly option, but I couldn’t not bring the The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil (full post) as it is my ultimate favourite makeup remover. I haven’t found anything that removes makeup quite like this does. For my cleanser, I am bringing a sample size of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish that I got in my You Beauty Advent Calendar – this actually used to be my favourite cleanser, so I’m quite happy to have this back in my life. Next up we have another also slightly bulky product – the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. I reviewed this only a couple of days ago here, and the convenience of them definitely made me take them on my trip. The final basic product I am taking is the Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser, which is just a really simple effective lotion.
Because I’m a little worried that my skin will freak out after the 8 hour plane journey, I am bringing the big guns when it comes to fighting blemishes and dehydration. The La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo + has become a classic in my routine, and a serum that I constantly use on blemishes because it helps to reduce them without drying out the skin. For spot treatment, I am bringing the Aesop Control Gel which is a personal staple. A product that hydrates, helps any blemishes and is generally a life-saver is the BalanceMe Radiance Face Oil, so this is a must for me. The final product I am brining along with me is the Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm as planes (and cold weather) really take a toll on my lips.
This isn’t the most travel-friendly skincare bag, but as I’m not too strapped for space on this trip, I was more concerned on bringing products that would really help my skin. I’m also brining a few extras for an in-flight routine, but that’s a whole other blog post…
–RachelElizabeth
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads | Review – Blogmas Day #12
If you didn’t already know, I am little obsessed with skincare, and this rather unfortunate for someone who has a somewhat limited student budget. I am all for the philosophy that you should invest in skincare – and I also think this is important for any age. Looking after your skin and making it look its best is not only hugely confidence-boosting, but also makes the application of makeup that much more flawless. After quite a bit of experimentation, I am really starting to learn what my skin does and doesn’t like, and I have come to the conclusion that it just can’t get enough of acid exfoliation.
The First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads are essentially thin pads soaked in a liquid exfoliant with its main acids being lactic acid and glycolic acid. Within my skincare routine (stay posted for a full updated post coming soon), the liquid exfoliant comes after cleansing the skin. I was really intrigued by these pads as it seemed like a convenient way to do this step. The pads come incredibly saturated with product, more than enough to use all over the face and the neck. The way I like to use these is to gently rub in circular motions, and I especially like to concentrate the product on any active breakouts.
After using these for a while now, I definitely find that they help with calming and ridding of breakouts, as I find that many exfoliating toners do. I also feel that they leave my skin looking brighter and fresher, and feeling ultimately a lot smoother. They claim that these are suitable for sensitive skin (which I personally think means absolutely nothing) but if your skin isn’t used to exfoliating toners then I would probably only suggest to use these daily. I personally like to use these in the morning as, for some reason, I think its easier to grab one of these than soak my own cotton pad in another toner… I will then use a different toner at night.
Overall I think these pads are a great way to exfoliate the skin without using those really intense and vigorous manual scrubs. If you’ve got acne-prone skin, I think you definitely need to give some sort of liquid exfoliant a go – since I’ve started using them they have done absolute wonders for my skin. Have you tried any acid toners? Leave your recommendations below!
–RachelElizabeth
Nuxe Reve De Miel Review | Blogmas Day #2
Here we have yet another purchase from a Parisian pharmacy. Although Nuxe is by no means hard to access in the UK, it is considerably cheaper in France, being a French brand. I have been meaning to try this cult lip balm for the longest time now, and I thought my trip to Paris was the perfect excuse…
The Nuxe Reve De Miel is a interestingly-textured lip balm. A lot of people describe it as slightly gritty which I get because it’s so thick and almost waxy, but it is very smooth in consistency. It has a matte finish which is perfect for those who don’t like the typical glossy or shiny look that lip balms can give (also making this ideal for guys!). What I love about this lip balm is that you can put it on before bed and you will wake up in the morning and still feel product on your lips, which I haven’t experienced with any other product. It is incredibly nourishing and hydrating and my lips are so thankful for this purchase. I love the anniversary packaging that I picked up, and the glass jar makes it feel very luxurious. It’s actually not too expensive at £9.50, and I personally think it’s worth every penny.
I can definitely understand why this product has received cult status and I think it is well-deserved. If you struggle with dry lips – especially as we enter the colder months – this should definitely be added to your wishlist, ASAP.
–RachelElizabeth
Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask | Review
I apologise for starting another post like this, but I picked up my fair share of beauty products on my recent birthday day trip to Paris. Heading to the pharmacy, I was a little overwhelmed with this huge store filled to the brim with amazing skincare. My eyes were immediately drawn to the brand Formula 10.0.6, as their packaging is so bright yet so simple with the striking bold text taking up most of the product. Intrigued, I browsed all the products they had on display, and amongst the many masks they had on offer, I decided on the one targeted towards blemishes…
After a little research I realised that this brand is also widely available in the U.S., Canada and Austrailia (sadly not the UK) and the Deep Down Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask is available at Ulta here. This mask in particular, as the name would suggest, is ultimately supposed to deeply cleanse your skin and aid your skin towards a clearer complexion. It contains orange and bergamot, and it definitely has a strong orange scent, which is definitely something to take into consideration. In terms of texture, it is your standard mud mask. It is a pale peach shade and dries on your skin much like a typical clay/mud mask. As the packaging suggests, you leave it on for 15 minutes, which is about the time it takes to dry and then I rinse it off with a flannel.
In terms of results, I wouldn’t say they were miraculous, but I don’t think I can say that about any mask I’ve tried. I will say that it seemed to help calm my active blemishes and made them go away a lot quicker than they normally would. It didn’t break me out, which, I have to admit, the scent did lead me to think that it may. For an affordable mask, I would say that this an excellent mask for those with blemish prone skin as it did seem to help clear mine up. Have you heard of/tried anything from this brand before? I’d love to try more.
–RachelElizabeth
Indeed Labs Hydraluron | Review
It’s always a little difficult when reviewing skincare. It’s an extremely subjective topic – we have to keep in mind that everybody’s skin is different. For reference, my skin is normal, but I am relatively prone to breaking out. Now that we’re coming into the colder months it is getting a little more dry, but nothing too outrageous. When looking for moisturisers, I look for something that will pack a punch of hydration but leave my skin overly greasy or break me out. So naturally, when I heard about this new launch from Indeed Labs I was incredibly curious. A few months later and an empty tub, I can finally give you a comprehensive review…
The Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly retails for £24.99 from Boots. If you’ve been living under a rock and you haven’t heard of the brand’s Hydraluron serum, which I included in my skincare routine here, this is the brand’s first moisturiser counterpart. The key thing about both of these products is the inclusion of hyaluronic acid – an ingredient that is super hydrating. What was most interesting to me about this product is the texture. As the name suggests it feels like a jelly – if anything on first impressions you would think that this wouldn’t be very hydrating at all. But that’s the beauty of it. It feels incredibly lightweight and cooling on the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the skin. Despite that texture, it feels incredibly hydrating – my skin feels incredibly smooth and plump after I use this.
Another huge plus is the packaging. It comes with one of those pumps which you press down and it disperses the perfect amount of product for your face. This is great as it keeps it extremely hygienic as you don’t have to dip your fingers into a tub.
However, I do have one issue, and that is the sheer speed I got through this product. It comes with 30ml of product which is a little on the low side when it comes to moisturiser. I didn’t even use this every morning and night and I was finished in a couple of months… I think this is something I could get over as it isn’t too expensive in the grand scheme of moisturisers, but there’s something about having to buy it so often that puts me off.
Overall, this is a good moisturiser, particularly if you are quite dehydrated but hate thick heavy creams, hence why this is a great pre-makeup product. Have you tried anything from Indeed Labs? They’re currently on fire, and I can’t wait for more releases from them.
–RachelElizabeth
No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser | Review
I realised one day when I was browsing the aisles of Boots (a.k.a my second home) that I hadn’t tried that much budget-friendly skincare. My philosophy has always been to invest in the products I use on my skin so I tend to ignore the more affordable options. Obviously this isn’t practical or feasible for everyone; admittedly I do wince when I fork over the cash for some high-end skincare, so I decided to try and hunt out the hidden gems on the high street…
Of course there is a reason why some products are cheaper than others, and there are some pretty dodgy ingredients lists in the budget skincare department but this doesn’t mean this is applicable to every cheaper option. When I was searching for a cleanser, I came across the No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser which had a promising list of ingredients. I try to stay away from any butters (Shea and cocoa in particular), mineral oil and fragrance as I know that these have aggravated my skin in the past. The No7 offering is free of those except fragrance, but it is quite far down the list. The texture is quite interesting – you would typically expect a gel cleanser to be quite drying but this feels quite nourishing on the skin. As with all cleansers, I remove my makeup first (Body Shop Cleansing oil post here) and then massage into clean, dry skin. I then rinse a flannel under warm water and remove the cleanser from my face. It leaves the skin feeling clean (but not that stripped and squeaky clean) yet nourished and hydrated.
I have been using it for about a month, and my skin is in pretty good condition right now. My skin hasn’t shown any adverse reactions to this product and it is fitting nicely into my skincare routine as a good simple cleanser. I have normal to oily skin, and although this cleanser is targeted at dry skin it still works perfectly fine for me. For £9.50 I think this is a steal, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing this in the future.
Have you tried any No7 skincare? I am now very intrigued about the rest of the line…
–RachelElizabeth
The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil | Review
If you read my evening skincare routine post you would know that I love the Emma Hardie Morninga Cleansing Balm for removing my makeup. I absolutely adore the product but I don’t love the price tag. When I was reaching the end of it, I was on the lookout for something slightly more affordable that I could use as my first cleanse. So I gave into the hype and bought this Body Shop offering…
The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil retails at £10. I massage one pump into a dry fully made up face and work the makeup off my face and eyes. I then run a flannel under warm water and wipe off all of the product. I only use this product as a makeup remover, and I would then go in and cleanse the skin afterwards. This works amazingly for removing any sort of makeup, even waterproof mascara, and works in a matter of seconds. It doesn’t irritate my eyes at all, but bare in mind I don’t have particularly sensitive eyes. I do however have blemish-prone skin, and this has not made me break out whatsoever. For those of you with oily skin who run a mile from any product that mentions the word ‘oil’, do not be afraid to try this product. Using a flannel completely gets rid of the oily feeling on the skin, and it doesn’t leave any sort of greasy residue on the skin.
If you’re the kind of person who likes things to be quick and simple, this is definitely a product worth considering. It eliminates the need for a separate cleanser and eye makeup remover, which definitely gets a thumbs up from me. Have you ever tried cleansing oils? Which is your favourite?
–RachelElizabeth