The Secret To Super Clear Skin?

In the late stages of my pregnancy I wasn't sleeping so well, I spent hours watching YouTube videos on the widest variety of topics imaginable but one I randomly stumbled upon I actually found really useful. I love Ruth at AModelRecommends.com but I'd never watched her videos before. I trust her advice when it comes to product recommendations as she's tried so many different brands and seems to really know her stuff. I will link said video at the bottom of the page, it's really insightful but as she says she has combination skin and is 30.. not everyone's skin will react the same way to the products she uses. I am not 30 but I'm not teenager and children definitely take their toll so I think what she recommended will work for me.

I have recently started using my Liz Earle cleanse and polish again after writing it off as too much hard work and not really seeing a marked improvement in my skin. I have used it for about 3 weeks and in that time the closest I've come to a breakout is a little, rash-like patch of blemish "threats" on my chin which never developed in to anything. I have always suffered with hormonal breakouts and they are usually around my chin so if this cleanser can prevent those it is absolutely a winner in my book. Of course the true test will come now that I am no longer pregnant and benefiting from all of those lovely hormones that give you glossy hair and great skin... will it continue to work so well? I am ready to persevere.

Anyway... Ruth mentioned Liz Earl as one of her favourite deep cleansers, suggesting you leave it to soak for several mites before buffing it away with a muslin cloth or Clarisonic (I wish). She attributes her clear, healthy looking skin to this daily deep cleanse and one more thing...

Overnight Exfoliants.

I'll admit I am a total skincare novice. Just as I think I have it sussed I hear something like "overnight exfoliants" and realise I am still so far from well educated in that field. There were a few bits and pieces she mentioned that I was already aware of, one of which was that if you totally strip your skin of oil it will then over-produce more to compensate.. leaving you with a much higher chance of break outs. It took me a really long time to realise how important it was to replenish the moisture in your skin even if you are oily. I am so used to my night-time moisturiser that the thought of using anything that leaves my skin feeling tight or dry is definitely out of my comfort zone but if a model recommends, what can we mere normals do but follow, right?

The main point Ruth was trying to get across in the second half of her video was about cell renewal. As we get older this slows down and leaves our skin looking dull. Since she's used exfoliants she has found it appears brighter and her other products are allowed to penetrate her skin more deeply and therefor work more effectively. The exfoliants she talked about were all Glycolic acid based. Now as i said.. I'm no expert (which is why I am linking her video) but I've seen a lot of products on the market recently trading off this ingredient so I was already semi-aware of the benefits. Lot's of bloggers have reviewed the Sanctuary's peel off mask (part of a 30 day skin renewal system) which I've been dying to try and after Ruth's video I am absolutely convinced it's what's missing from my routine.

I am probably going to start off with that as it is a mask and allows me to still wear a regular moisturiser to bed but if I see any results whatsoever I am almost certainly going to have to try Ruth's "Hero Product", Liquid Gold. She had already raved about it on her website and for those wanting her full review as well as great places to buy you can find that here.

I understand I'm not giving you any new information here, it's a lot of regurgitated recommendations really but for those of you that don't follow amodelrecommends.com I couldn't let you miss out on her fantastic advice, you really must get over there for yourselves! I also wanted to let you know this is the new skincare I will be following over the coming weeks/months (we'll see how it goes) so if you see a great improvement in my skin you'll know why. I will of course review the routine once I have first hand experience but for now.. here's what I'll be using...

As it is I use my Liz Earle and alternate my Clean and Clear moisturiser with Soap and Glory's Wish Upon A Jar so the only changes I'm making are introducing a facial brush (I don't feel the muslin cloth really leaves my skin as smooth as it could be) and the Glycolic peel. I am very interested to try the liquid gold but I'll start with the Sanctuary mask and see how I go. 

*for stockists click on the photos to be taken to the website*

Here's Ruths video as promised...

Have any of you tried Glycolic Acid on your skin?

Miss BB

Elizabeth Arden 8hr Cream for £13!!!

Really quick blast to tell you that Buyapowa have Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream (50ml) at 40% off RIGHT NOW. This is NOT a sponsored post, I have bought this deal myself (look for me on the list) and I couldn't keep it to myself. It will go for £13 when it sells out... which of course it will. I had to have it for my hospital bag, I've never actually bought a full sized tube before but what with winter coming and 40% off... I couldn't resist!!!

You can get the offer here

Do any of you consider this a "must have" ?

Also must mention... have you seen their limited edition range for Christmas? 

I might have to treat myself to this bling lip balm to match... even if it is a whopping £19 *eek*

You can pick that up online at very.co.uk

*Again, I received no compensation for the publishing of this post and there was no request by any companies for me to do so, just genuinely sharing a very good deal with my lovely readers!*

My Daily Skincare

Hey There! I have recently become a little bit skincare obsessed. 

I've never been into cleanse, tone and moisturise and that lark, mainly because my skin has been acne prone and so any treatment I gave it was targeted to those needs. I've come to realise lately that I am not getting any younger and eventually (hopefully) my problem skin will improve but I may find that the lack of care I've taken   catches up with me. So... I've taken steps..

It was 3 for 2 in superdrug on L'Oreal so I figured there was no better time to try their skincare range.

There are lots to choose from but I plumped for the Triple Active.. I may move on to the Youth Code if I get on with this as I've heard very positive things.

So thats my 3 step..

But I needed an eyecream, right?

I picked this Bliss one up in Debenhams better than half price! It was reduced from £24 to £7! Bargain! 

I can't tell you if it's doing anything yet but it can't hurt!

Now I am still true to my old faithful Clean and Clear moisturiser for night time... it works wonders on blemishes while keeping your skin soft.  

And I am totally loving this new Garnier Body 7 day moisturiser.. it's totally amazing and smells devine.. again this is on offer in superdrug right now! 

So that's my current skincare regime..

I'm liking it so far but am always on the look out for new things..

what are your fave skincare buys? 

XOXO

Oil free moisturisers - REVIEW

REVIEW

I have been trialing some moisturisers for you guys recently and these are my thoughts...

They are all oil free/matte or spot fighting but all very different in their own ways..

First Up

Simple Spotless Skin : Anti Blemish Moisturiser

it's a good moisturiser... it went on a little thin and it was sort of sticky... it did sink in but it did absolutely nothing for my skin - spot-wise! I'm told by my loyal subscribers on YT that this is fabulous for those with extremely oily skin... I didn't really benefit. Of all of the ones I bought to review I persevered with this one the longest because I so wanted it to work, I used it at a time when me skin would definitely have shown visible results as I was suffering from terrible breakouts.. but this product did NOTHING!

all in all... I give it a 4/10

For the following reasons..

It does moisturise... It does have a kind of mattifying effect BUT the brand has sold this as a big spot fighting wonder product and for me it just was not at all. Simple!

Next

Clean and Clear - Oil Free - Dual Action Moisturiser

Now this is a product I can endorse..

I'll admit I have been using this for several years so maybe it's at an unfair advantage... but there's a reason I've repurchased this so many times... IT WORKS!

I can use it as a moisturiser and it generally keeps spots at bay... OR, what I find fantastic about this one is if I have a bad breakout I can put a good dollop of this stuff on while I'm watching the tele and in a couple of hours you can see a huge improvement and it doesn't dry out the affected area because ... IT'S A MOISTURISER!!! haha! It's fabulous! If I use tea tree oil ... yes it shrinks the breakout but it leaves me with flaky dry skin... this is like another world of spot fighting..

I am awarding this product 10/10

BECAUSE

I am yet to find a fault with it, some people tell me it's not moisturising enough for them but for me it's fantastic and I recommend you all go out and buy it, it's CLEARLY the best ;) x

*****

The next two in the range are more daytime oil free...

*****

NEXT UP

OE - dsf 10 - Mattifying Lotion

This is the skincare range from the Royal Effem

I was lucky enough to be sent some items to try out and since I recieved this product I have worn it under my makeup every day... and also the days I haven't worn makeup.

I have to say, I LOVE IT!
It goes on creamily, It's a lovely thick formula, not what you would expect from a matte lotion

It sinks in quite quickly... you can put your foundation or primer on withing 2/3 mins of putting it on which I think's pretty good going. It's not a bidget product and not something I would normally have shelled out for but having trialled it I think it is something I would re-purchase...

It remains to be seen as I mentioned on YT ... once this pot is empty I will let you know if I loved it enough to go buy it but I replaced my Clinique DramDif lotion for this and I have seen an improvement..

i don't know if it's the "organic elements" or what but my skin really does feel smoother!

I give this product a 7/10

I really like it.. but I think the price tag is a little steep... I know "you get what you pay for" and organic products do cost more, I think those of you that love organic would love this... but for me budget has to come in to play.. and I'm on one lol.

Lastly

Garnier Pure - Long Lasting Shine Control Moisturiser

I bought this with high hopes because I use to LOVE the nightime garnier pure gel thing (whatever it was called) It used to cost somewhere in the region of £7 but it would get rid of any breakouts and leave my skin feeling really smooth..so when I got this home I was expecting a daytime equivalent..

This wasn't quite what I wanted.. I tried this on my off days without makeup and I tried it underneath..

Don't get me wrong I'm not going to throw it out... It will get used possibly as a primer occasionally and it will live on my dressing table but I just don't feel it had any stand out qualities..

It did have that old garnier smoothing feel but it wasn't THAT matte and I know it doesn't claim to fight spots but it does say "sebum control" and it definitely didn't help my skin when I broke out... some people have reported this moisturiser has dried their skin out... I didn't have that problem I just didn't really think much of it... it was ok... and that's probably as much of a review as I'd give... who knows.. I might change my mind over time if I keep using it, sometimes when you combine products you find a miracle mix...]I just don't see anything special about this on its own.

So I'm giving it a 5/10

It moisturises... It kind of controls shine, I think I was expecting more of this product than it was actually possible, but either way I was disappointed!

So obviously I have a winner!

I've always love that clean and clear product even though I've never been a fan of much else from their range..

If you have any questions of thoughts please leave me a comment I'd love to hear from you and if there are any products you'd like me to review please feel free to leave me a request xxx

miss bb