You Little Scrubber

 I was unfortunate enough to suffer a bout of adult acne during my early twenties, let me tell you nothing knocks your confidence like a good old spot (or twenty). I did not see it coming  - it popped up over night, quite literally. I spent a year trying every product on the market and became quite the expert, I could give any dermatologist a run for their money. When I finally found Roaccutane to be the miracle I had been waiting for my skin was clear within weeks.

I am very lucky and grateful to be spot free nowadays (I do not count the odd pre-menstrual breakout), but I am still very strict with my skin routine and am constantly on the look out for a product that will transform me into Nicole Scherzinger. Following endless research for a smoother and rejuvenated face I tried a course of microdermabrasion at a Manchester salon and it was fantastic. The process was painless and involved crystals propelled onto the skin whilst a vacuum system sucks at the top layer of the skin removing dead cells.

The treatment lasted 30 minutes and I completed 3 sessions over a four week period. My skin was ever so slightly red immediately after treatment but I made sure the appointments were booked after work so I would not have to wear make-up until the following day. I could feel and see the difference after just one session, my skin was smoother and I had an even complexion. However, it is not cheap and I spent £120 for the three sessions. Due to the expense I tried home kits with hope I could do the job on a budget, but nothing had the same impact - the creams did not have the same umph the vacuum machine in the salon had. I even contemplated buying the equipment to use at home but it is way too pricey.

It was only the other month when I was spending my usual Saturday afternoon wandering Boots for some bargains that I spotted Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion kit and thought for £25.99 I had nothing to lose.

The box includes;
Derma-Crystals Microdermabrasion Cream  - standard microdermabrasion cream found in most skin care ranges except it uses bicarbonate sodium crystals instead of corundum crystals.
Peel Activator Serum - An Amino-Peptide Complex which is designed to chemically stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin.


How I used it:

1) I cleaned my face and neck with a gentle toner

2) Apply a 50p piece size of microdermabrasion cream to your entire face (you only need a small amount as it goes along way)

3) Massage the crystals into the face and neck for one-two minutes

4) Apply the Peel Serum (again you only need a small amount) - and massage into the face for another minute, the crystals will dissolve and create a white paste

5) Rinse with luke warm water

It is a quick and mess free process, although I would recommend tying your hair back as the crystals can get into the hair line. The instructions recommend using the kit once a week - depending on how sensitive your skin is I would definitely use it at least twice a week.

Does it work?

I like the combination of the crystals and the peeling serum as a double whammy of exfoliation, it certainly leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. However, the strength of the peeling agent is very very mild, making it impossible to achieve the same results of a professional chemical peel or microdermabrasion treatment. I personally think Olay has created a great facial scrub, but in comparison to other home kits is neither better nor worse. If you are hoping to eradicate fine lines or acne scars then stick with the salon treatments it may be expensive but trust me it is more effective than any over-the-counter cream.

Green with Envy

As we all wait with bated breath to hear the five words we have longed for - 'clear skies and high temperatures' - I have accepted that in the UK half of the fun is the uncertainty of a decent summer. The unpredictable weather means spontaneous bbq's, road trips on a whim and pub gardens packed with eligible bachelors. The sun may not always be shining, but that does not mean as Brits we let the summer pass us by.

On Saturday I went searching for a little bit of summer, despite the rainy start to June it has not dampened my spirits and my mission was to find a nail varnish that would brighten my outfit. It took me all of five minutes to try and buy Barry M's Mint Green polish.

The colour is a perfect pastel shade and really compliments a tan (which at the moment I am seriously lacking). It is certainly hard wearing, I applied two coats and after three days is still chip free. The consistency is perfect and does not have the watery texture of Rimmel's polishes, the brush provides a precise application - great if you are in a rush. OPI polishes have always been a favourite of mine as they offer a varied colour range, but with Barry M's strong collection of bold and classic colours at a third of the price it is hard to justify splashing that extra cash, I applaud Barry M for creating a range that produces great make-up at even greater prices.

All-in-all this is a summer must and I do not have enough perfectly painted fingers to count the compliments I received about this nail polish.

http://www.barrym.com/nail-paints 

Water Logged

I do not think a week of my life goes by without hearing the words ‘drink more water’. No matter the ailment everything appears to be cured by a glass of the free stuff. If I so much as cough in the street it is likely a passerby will jump at the chance to spout off the healing properties found in water.

‘I feel sick’ - have a glass of water  ‘I am so tired’ – you don’t drink enough water  ‘my car won’t start’ – Fill up the water

I cannot ignore the fact JLo swears by it and confesses to drinking at least three litres a day, if so then who am I to argue with the sexiest woman in the world (sexiest woman title is now official).

The Benefits

Skin: Water replenishes skins cells and helps elasticity, well hydrated skin looks youthful giving a bright clear complexion.

Weight: Drinking water can help weight loss because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking a glass of water before meals can reduce hunger as it is an effective appetite suppressant and we often mistake hunger for dehydration.

Energy: Since the body is 75% water, dehydration can have an effect on memory and productivity. Water makes you more alert and helps you concentrate.

There are a number of other health benefits to convince us to replace the Vodka with the Volvic, but I don’t feel I need to go any further. If by drinking the recommended 2 litres I am going to have fabulously smooth skin, a lower fat count and bags of energy then what more can a girl ask for?

Yes I understand the scientific jargon - we need water to function and survive blah blah blah - but I am not convinced 2 litres is the golden number.

What obscurity has that number been plucked from?

Call me cynical but the folks over at the ‘water bottle manufacturing company’ could be sitting on a nice stack of notes while we run around the streets looking for the nearest Tesco Express to feed our water habit. Cynicism aside, in the name of beauty I am willing to eat drink my words and spend the next 7 days drinking at least two litres of water.

Follow me on twitter for updates and I will hopefully be writing in 7 days with a younger, fresher face - a face that pity’s my foundation because we no longer require it services.

Gucci Gifts

I recently baby sat for a week whilst a good friend of mine enjoyed a well deserved holiday. I thought her a little insane when she asked, as I wouldn’t trust myself to look after a potato, but she disagreed and dropped her little bundle of joy off the following week. Let me tell you I will not argue with any woman who says it is a full-time job. My time was spent cleaning up ‘accidents’, constant feeds and walks in the torrential rain at 6.30am. Ok so I may have exaggerated a little...it was a puppy not a baby... it’s all tomatoe – tomato to me.

Do not feel too sorry for me because poop scooping before sunrise does have it perks, my friend returned from the East bearing gifts... Gucci gifts.

I am now guilty of loving Gucci Guilty, the sexy gold bottle holds a perfume with an even sexier floral scent. It is subtly strong which makes for a great day or night perfume.

I am also a fan of;

Miss Dior Cherie,

Nina Ricci ‘Richie’

Givenchy ‘Ange Ou D Mon Le Secret’

but I must say Gucci Guilty has become a firm favourite and I would recommend to perfume lovers with a sweet tooth, it does not have the sickly punch of Flower Bomb and oozes feminine sophistication. All in all it is the Marilyn Monroe of perfumes...love love love it (did I mention I love it)!

Welcome

Welcome one and all to my new beauty blog. If you are not a family member or friend I have badgered into reading it, then you must be here because you also share a passion for all things beauty based. I have challenged myself to write an alternative beauty blog using real women and everyday situations to test the latest products, so here you will find videos, photos and plenty of rants on what’s hot and what’s (don’t touch with a barge pole) not.