NIP + FAB Exfoliate | Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme

Nip + Fab have upped their AHA (and BHA) game by introducing their new extreme exfoliation pads.

My initial thought was could these rival the results of Alpha H's Liquid Gold?

To be used 2-3 times a week (I use every other day). They're even suitable for sensitive skins, but only once a week.

Specifically designed for oily and congested skin they contain 5% glycolic acid aiding skins natural exfoliation and smoothing skins texture. Salicylic acid to unclog pores and lactic acid weakening the bonds holding dead skin cells to the surface of your skin.

The pads are generously soaked, with one textured side. Make sure you keep the lid on tight to avoid them drying out.

They don't give the Liquid Gold tingle, but I do apply a light hydrating serum after using these, which I don't after LQ, but being more than half the price the payoff should should be the same.

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What NIP + FAB products have you tried?

Have you tried other exfoliating pads before?

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Staying Matte

Ever found searching for a foundation for your oily/ combination/ blemished skin hard?

Everyone's skin is different, so what might work for one person may not for another. I've always found recommendations a good place to start, so I'm going to share with you some of the foundations I have used.

Sometimes it's nice to look back at existing products too, as so often blogs focus on new releases, and we don't get introduced to current products which may be super for you!

This is not exhaustive of all the foundations I have tried, but a small selection I got along with :)

One of the first foundations I tried was bareMinerals. Which is very popular among all different skin types. 

The coverage is buildable (medium-full), and because it's mineral it does feel light weight on the skin. When I initially tried it I really liked it, but I do prefer liquid foundations now.  It's not ideal to travel with, or even have in your hand bag as it is a loose powder; although I'm sure bareMinerals have a suitable alternative for that now.

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Then I moved on to Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Foundation. This was when I was trying to combat my blemishes from every angle!

It's a medium coverage, needless to say matte finish. I can't say I noticed any improvement of my blemishes from solely this foundation, but it didn't harm.

I started using Clarins Ever Matte as I liked that it had an SPF 15 (which as far as I'm aware none of the other foundations have any SPF)** and before, I was wearing their Everlasting foundation and I wanted to try to wear less coverage and 'show more skin', as at the time I was still trying to improve my blemishes and acne scars.

I do still wear this foundation, more day to day, as it's a medium coverage as well as occasionally the Everlasting+ Foundation (they reformulated it and it's much nicer). Ever Matte is oil free, which is a plus point for many people with an oily skin looking for a foundation.

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The newest addition to my foundation is Smashbox Studio Skin. This is the least matte of all of them, but still enough so that an oily skin could wear and it wouldn't melt off your skin. This foundation is also oil free, and medium-full coverage.

I've never worn a foundation that promises 15/ 18/ 24 hour wear and actually got that many hours out of it. Definately not on my T-zone anyway. And who has foundation on twenty four hours anyway? Gross.

I do however, take the fact that it's long lasting to mean it will stay on my skin a reasonable amount of time. Some people may be luckier.

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**Now I use a separate SPF over my moisturiser, so having a SPF in a foundation isn't a key factor for me any more

I hope that gives you a few suggestions of what foundations to try for an oilier skin

Let me know what foundations you have used for your skin type

(Another) Skin Update

So a little over a year ago I did a post update on how my awful irrational skin had improved to a slightly more manageable state.

And me being the eagerly presumptuous person that I am thought you might all like to know how me and my skin are doing.

I think the easiest way to tell you is just to show you the pictures...

So above is the picture I posted last year on my blog when I was just starting to get to grips with controlling and understanding my skin.

And below is my skin now...

As you can see, it's far from perfect. But I'm surprised myself how much of an improvement there has been! Especially compared to the first picture.

I guess the key to my progress is investing in products for your skin. That certainly doesn't mean spending a fortune on skin care, just do research, read blogs, articles and reviews. Find out what works for your skin.

Also, your skin takes time to heal, repair and adjust to new products. No product, I repeat NO PRODUCT is a miracle cure that will give you 100% improvement overnight. Allow your skin time to reap the benefits of the glorious ingredients from your products.

I may do another post with my 'current skin care routine' and I'm trying to keep these posts short and concise! 

But that's all for now.

See you later peeps

xx

Dermaflannel Results - Skin Care Update - Dairy Update

This is a bit of a wordy post, but I hope it will be helpful to people struggling with skin problems, and I've tried to throw in a few pics to break it up a bit

If you've read any of my previous posts, you'd know I've been suffering from various levels of problems skin. It has really yo-yo'd in state since I was eleven, but I believe I may have nailed a skin care and diet routine which is nourishing and healing for my skin, and I'd like to share my results with you.

I've always wanted to do a dramatic skin transformation results post, but have never had enough improvement to justify one, so I put the idea on the back burner for a while, and it wasn't until I stumbled across some photos I took around the time I wrote the Dairy Disappointed post, which I published nearly a year ago, and was shocked how much my skin had improved!

Before I share my results with you, maybe you'd like to know what lifestyle changes to achieve this improvement?

First, and I really do think most important, is your diet. Not only do you feel different on the inside, it shows through your skin. I can't stress enough, I have not embarked on some strict 'dieting' scheme, just eating less sweets and junk food, more veggies and fruit. You know the deal, it's not rocket science!

Source

I have also found an incredible difference eating full fat dairy products, which I know to some of you would seem like a no-go. I don't exactly know the in's and out's of the science behind it, but it's something to do with the skimming process which reduces the fat in dairy products which alters the produce and some peoples digestive systems can't process the enhanced food. Also many companies add extra sugars to low-fat foods to make them taste decent, which kind of counter acts the reduced fat part!

Source

Once I had my diet pinned down, I wanted to (gently) tackle my acne scars. They were red-raw and bumpy, and even the best concealer couldn't hide them, and my make up would end up cakey and didn't grant me any confidence. The opposite of what I wanted to achieve!

I had banned any nasty scrubs as I knew now these irritated my skin, and wanted to try some BHA and AHA products, but I had limited funds, I then stumbled across the Dermaflannel. It promised to achieve similar results to those acid products but was suitable for people who couldn't use them (or who were on a budget) I asked for one for my birthday this year and haven't looked back.

The Results

I have actually decided to share the worst side, as I felt it had more improvement. It's also the side I sleep on the majority of the time, although I'm not sure how much of a impact this has.

I also noticed when comparing the photos that I have more of a defined jaw, which is probably another result of diet improvement.

As I'm sure you can see, I still have improvement to make, but I felt what I had been doing in the last three months had made such an improvement I was confident and trusting enough to share these slightly grim photos from my past.

What skin care improvements have you noticed recently?

Do you think it's a good idea to track developments?

On a side note, my blog will be a year old on the 25th May, how does a blogger celebrate this?

Dairy Disappointed

I have unfortunately suffered from what can only be described as 'problem' skin a bloody big problem since I was about eleven, and although I have tried many, many treatments from creams and ointments from the drugstore, to prescribed topical lotions, and pills, even Roaccutane (which I would not recommend to anyone) from my GP and Dermatologist. 

It has luckily got considerably better since my teenage years, only 'breaking out' during that time of the month, but the red bumps and soreness have never diminished *sigh*.

Recently I have considerably upped my game when it comes to my skin care routine, which I will divulge into later in my blog, and through my exhaustive research into what products are most effective for treating and nourishing blemished skin, is what you put into your body effects whats on the outside of your body too, i.e your skin!

This may seem like common sense 'eat greasy food, have greasy skin', but I'm not talking about that, I've seen many bloggers exclaiming how much their skin has improved once they removed dairy from their diet.

Humans are the only animals who consume the milk of another animal (whether it be a cow, goat etc) which is kind of gross, considering it's purpose is for baby calves. And the possible reason for it causing acne (urgh, there, I said that dreaded word) is from a natural hormone that the Mumma cows produce. A natural hormone for COWS, not humans!

I really don't want to become one of those people who avoid eating certain things because of something the read on the internet, which they weren't allergic too, and I'm not preaching to everyone to start a dairy free way of life, as it's not necessary for most people. But for me desperate times calls for desperate measures, and I am now going to embark on a dairy/milk free diet.

Here are some cute pictures of cows, as I don't want them to feel unloved!

Whats the most extreme thing you've done to get better skin or hair? 

What are your top tips for perfect skin?

Images from http://farm8.static.flickr.com, http://www.collapseboard.com, http://www.siliconrepublic.com, http://earthhopenetwork.net