My first time cleansing and polishing with Liz Earle

I have been washing my face with coconut oil all summer. I recommend it and it works very well. However, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, I was looking for an exfoliator suitable for rosacea and was drawn to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. 

So I used it last night and this morning. Since I was cleaning off my (minimal) makeup last night I used a full pump and a little extra. It is recommended you use it with dry hands on a dry face. This amount was enough for my face and neck. Using my finger tips I worked it all in. It is creamy and smells so good (eucalyptus mmm).

The only thing about this product is that I cannot use hot water (hot water and rosacea are not such good friends) so I use cold or tepid water. I rinsed and squeezed the muslin cloth (you get 2 cloths with the cleanser) and rubbed off all the cream gently. This gently exfoliates your skin. 

Unlike the coconut oil which I had been using, this cleanser has those added extras which will hopefully benefit me - rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus. 

This morning I used less than a full pump as I did not have any makeup to wash off. I wouldn't usually cleanse twice a day but I thought there was no harm in smelling that divine scent again :) I am booked in for a free Liz Earle facial in a few weeks time so I will keep you posted on my experience with Liz Earle products. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I am so sorry for the long wait but I just had not bought anything very interesting until today! It has been reviewed at length already but I thought I'd review it too. 

For this post I thought I would show how the cleanser is packaged, rolled up in the muslin cloths inside a zipped bag. I thought I would have to pay more for the muslin cloths but they come free with the cleanser. 

I am curious to try this cleanser and cloth combination as I have heard quite a bit about it. I was actually looking for an exfoliator today but the lady guided me towards this product which both cleanses and gently exfoliates. 

It contains naturally active ingredients: Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus Essential Oil. It is also alcohol-free so it's perfect for me and my roscaea :)

I will try it tonight and report back tomorrow. 

Coconut Oil #1 Face

I have been reading up and watching videos on the benefits of Coconut Oil for quite a while now and finally purchased it yesterday. 24 degrees celsius is the temperature at which it liquefies (it is a solid below this) which explains why it turns into an easy-to-use oil when rubbed between your fingers. As indicated on the jar, it can be directly applied to the skin.

Last night was my first time to clean my face using coconut oil. This included makeup removal. I dug my clean fingers into the jar (you could use a spoon) and softened it up between my fingers. Using circular motions, I worked it into my face and neck. Some even got in my eye but did not hurt at all. I then washed it all off gently with a face cloth and cool water. My face appeared very clean, soft and moisturised. I checked the effectiveness of coconut oil as a cleanser with a toner. The cotton pads had no residue, makeup or grime; the coconut oil had worked. I really was amazed that my face was so clean after such a quick and easy process. At the same time my face felt very moisturised.

For those of you with redness or rosacea, this is a very kind and calming way to clean your face- 100% natural too. If you are coming to the end of your facewash or cleanser, I highly recommend you to try this. Remember to wash off with cool water as warm/hot water will aggravate your skin.

The jar contains 453g or 16oz. which will last a long time. It is a very versatile product so I will blog about this a few more times, each time outlining a different use.
Stay tuned for Coconut Oil #2 Smoothie

What's new?! - La Roche-Posay, The Body Shop & dr.organic

I thought I would share a few new products I got lately. I am not going to talk about them in any great detail today as I do not know what they are like yet but if they work for me I will post about them again in a few weeks. 

La Roche-Posay's Rosaliac Micellar Make-up Removal Gel (for Redness Prone Sensitive Skin) - I have used this twice so far and I love it. Definitely a must try. It's unlike anything I have tried before in terms of consistency, application and removal. 

dr.organic's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Day Cream - this brand looks great and I wanted to buy more of their products but I thought I would start with this. This brand is definitely worth a browse. 

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Moisture Lotion (SPF 15) & Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil - to top up those Vitamin E and moisture levels

Malibu's Lipcare SPF 30 - for these brighter days!

What's new?! - La Roche Posay, Benefit, Nivea & treaclemoon

I have not been blogging lately as I have been so busy preparing for my piano exam! I am a late starter to this instrument so I should be on grade 8 by the time I'm 60,  haha. No, seriously I love it and do intend on continuing with it. I sat my grade 2 exam today so I'm delighted. The past few weeks piano has been top of my list of priorities and other things like gym and blogging fell by the wayside. Now that I have more time, I will be able to blog more often!

Here are a few new things I have bought recently or started trying out. I had been refraining from testing products as my skin had reacted badly a few months ago but recently I have started trying out a few, more gentle ones.

La Roche Posay's Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for Oily Sensitive Skin

-Soothing and Anti-Irritating

-pH 5.5

-Soap free

-Colorant free

-Alcohol free

-Paraben free ( I still do not know what a paraben is, haha)

-Tested on imperfection prone skin

I had not intended to buy this but it came with the Effaclar Duo + as a special offer. I am not quite so sure that this suits my skin type but the brand is gentle and for sensitive skin so I knew it would not do any harm. I have used it a good few times now. It is quite a thick gel so you need to wet your hands or face to build up a lather. I find it removes make up very well. A little goes a long way so it's very good value. 

Nivea's Pure & Natural Soothing Day Cream

- 95% of natural origin
-Chamomile - naturally soothing
-Argan Oil - source of vit E

I had been using Avene's Skin Recovery Cream and while it has not caused a bad reaction, it has not helped or improved my skin either. I think a good moisturiser should make a difference and that one wasn't. So ... when I spotted this in Tesco (oh how I love to browse the beauty aisles of Tesco!) the words 'Gentle' and 'Soothing' jumped out at me, even 'Natural' was in green! I had to get it. I have used it twice so far and I find it very moisturising and I have not reacted badly to it. It has quite a thick consistency but absorbs well.

La Roche Posay's Rosaliac CC Creme

-SPF 30

-for all types of redness

-a universal tone for fair to medium skin

I received a few samples of this colour correcting cream. I have yet to use it but will let you know how it goes as soon as I try it a few times.

Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup

-Oil-free

-SPF 25

I forgot I had a little sample of this and used it yesterday and today. While it is not too dark ( shade Honey), it gives a very healthy look which I like as I am on the pale side. It has a very light feel and for me it is more a tinted moisturiser than a foundation. I had to build it up a bit to cover some blemishes. Without a setting powder, its staying/lasting power is not so good so I would not rely on this for a night out or special occasion.

treaclemoon My Coconut Island Body Butter

-smells divine

-smooths and softens

I can't wait to slap this all over me, haha. When I opened it to do the sniff test, I went to lick it, it is just so delicious. It reminds me of those coconut gooey things - yum!! I love their simple packaging and website - such a humble company. 

More soon!!

Honey as a cleanser and moisturiser!

Honey has antibacterial properties and has a calming effect on the skin so it is perfect if you have acne, rosacea or if you just want to prevent any further breakouts. If you don't have blemishes but just simply want softer, nourished skin, try it out too. 

It is a little messy but if you're careful you shouldn't get any on your clothes, shoes and floor like I did. I took out a small spoonful and used a cotton bud to apply it directly on the areas I wanted to treat. For me, that was my forehead and sides of my nose. Avoid your eye area. I smoothed it out so that there wasn't a very thick layer or any big blobs. Gravity will obviously take an effect but you can always catch any drops and lick them - yum! 

After a few minutes it will harden and you will feel it tighten. I left it on for about 20 minutes and then washed gently away with warm water and a facecloth. 

I immediately felt my skin was softer and my blemishes looked less red - much improved appearance over all. I did this at night time and in the morning my skin was so moisturised from the previous night's treatment that I did not need moisturiser at all!

I used a jar of honey that has been in my press for ages - it had congealed so I heated it up by placing the jar in a pan of hot water. I put this on the heat, stirring the honey as it softened and hey presto, I had runny honey in no time!

Does Effaclar Duo really clear up breakouts??

My skin, which reacted badly nearly 2 months ago, still has not fully cleared up so I have decided to go gung ho on La Roche-Posay products only. My forehead is quite bumpy and actually looks worse under make-up than without. Around my mouth has cleared luckily. I finally gave in and bought La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo  - Corrective and Unclogging Anti-Imperfection cream. I had been refraining from buying anymore products. 

The assistant was guiding me towards their Rosaliac range as it would treat redness but at the moment I just want to clear my bumpy forehead. It did look very tempting though!! If this Effaclar Duo clears my forehead I might treat myself to the Rosaliac range :)

I had simplified my routine and minimised the application of products; I had even avoided make-up but my breakout is still sticking around. There were a few blemishes around my mouth but they have subsided thankfully. 

Many months ago I got a sample of La Roche-Posay's Physiological Cleansing Milk which I loved; I recently bought the full size. It is so soothing, moisturising and smells so so good. It is one of, if not the most soothing, moisturising cleansers I have used. I also got a sample size of the Physiological Soothing Toner.

My plan is to do a 3 step routine of cleansing milk, followed by soothing toner, followed by Effaclar Duo &/or moisturiser. I will post before and after pics once I see a difference.

Calming the Skin!!

Recently my skin has been breaking out in areas it does not usually break out, like the forehead and above the lip. It has been going on for most of March. I am still trying to figure out what I am doing differently to cause this. It could be because I was trying and switching a good few products like cleansers, moisturisers and foundations. Or it could be my diet? Or that I don't always wash my face at night? Or hormones? Weather? Or a combination of all the above. It's hard to know for definite!

Anyway today I was dying to get home from work to clean my face, so as to let it breath and be product-free. However, in order to become product-free I needed a product to clean off my make up so I decided on Avene's Gentle Gel Cleanser as I thought it would be the most gentle. I used the facial brush very gently as I have not used it in a week or two! Oh how I love those bristles!!

  

I went about my evening then, product-free but before long my face felt tight and dry and I knew I wouldn't last in that product-free state. So I rummaged through all my moisturisers (as the one I have been using the past week or two could be the cause of my breakout) and went back to the good ol' faithful Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturiser. During the rummage, I rediscovered their Redness Solutions which I had forgotten about. 

I have not had the most consistent skincare routine lately as I have been trying and testing a cleanser here and a moisturiser there. My face does not know what it will be lathered in from one day to the next so I think it's time to be more consistent and simple and minimise the amount of product being applied. This, of course, puts an end to the shopping for a while as I am quite the skincare shopper!

I have been drinking more water than usual lately so I am going to continue to do so, alongside my more consistent skincare routine. 

 What do you do to calm your skin??

L'Occitane Immortelle Collection

I treated myself to some new creams last weekend, deciding to indulge in L'Occitane. Their store in Liffey Valley is so inviting and I could have bought many other things but these should keep me going for now! There was a special offer on their Immortelle collection which targets anti-aging. I got the day cream, night cream, cleansing foam, serum and lots of samples thrown in. It ended up being very good value for money. I have been using these for a few days now and they feel amazing!

La Roche-Posay Toleriane - Cleansing and Make-up Removal Fluid

I really like La Roche-Posay's packaging and their products always draw me, as someone who has sensitive skin. A few months ago I started using Avene's Extremely Gentle Cleanser and I was curious to see how La Roche-Posay Toleriane Cleansing and Make-up Removal Fluid would compare. I found it thicker in consistency and easier to apply to my face. Rinsing is optional; it all depends on whether you are removing make-up or simply cleansing a clean face. On the occasions I did use it for removing make-up I wiped it with a facecloth, cotton pads or water wipes. 

Personally, I found this did not remove make-up quickly and easily but it is quite nice as a cleanser once your face is clean. It leaves skin feeling hydrated and soft. I would not buy this particular product again but I am definitely not turned off the brand. 

The Body Shop's Facial Brush

This brush is so soft and gentle and yet loosens all the makeup. I use it with my cleanser. It feels so nice, especially if you make time to brush it all over the face and neck - so soothing and relaxing. It is all in the bristles!! You are then ready to just rinse and pat dry :)  It is also super cheap!

Quick and Easy Way to Clean your Face!

I just thought I'd share a very easy way of cleaning your face - suitable if travelling light,  in a hurry or just feeling lazy!! There is no need for cotton pads, face cloths or water!!

DermaH2O WaterWipes  &   The Body Shop's Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser.

All I do is squeeze out some cleanser and massage it into my face and neck. Then I wipe with a waterwipe. These are very moist and refreshing. They consist of 99.9% water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract.

Urban Veda Daily Radiance Facial Wash

I am back after a short hiatus, sorry for my absence!! My daily dabbles were not so daily but now that I have recovered from 'back to work' shock I will try my utmost to blog daily :)

Last month's Glossybox included this facial wash which is amazing and I will definitely be buying more of it. It's a gel and seems to really suit my dry/sensitive skin. It maintains it balances skin tone and has an overall brightening effect. The best thing though is the scent - it smells divine!! It contains Ayurvedic Turmeric with a botanical infusion of Marigold, Papaya and Coriander. Of course it does its job and cleans your face without drying it out.

Yes to Carrots Nourishing Cleanser & L'Oreal 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil

I thought I would talk about these two cleansers as they are both very good and very affordable. 

Yes to Carrots is very creamy and indulgent. The carrots are said to nourish dry skin and are rich in beta carotene, a powerful anti-oxidant. I love that it is thick and creamy, a change from my usual type. I sometimes count it as 1 of my 5 a day!! :) This is the only Yes to product I have so I must keep my eye out for more.

 L'Oreal's Cleansing Oil is amazing and one of the best cleansers I have used. It says it instantly dissolves make-up which it does very easily. It is lightweight and non-greasy. I remember thinking when I bought it that it was unusual to clean my face with oil but it works a wonder!! My face is left very clean and soft. You only need a few drops so it will last you a good while. I highly recommend it!! 

I have started using face cloths again but avoid any dragging. When I don't use face cloths I use damp cotton pads. 

Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser

Here is the latest cleanser I am using and loving! It is amazing and leaves your face feeling super soft!

What I just got in ... The Body Shop!

I had received a voucher for free eyebrow threading (which is usually €12) and I needed my eyebrows done so in I went yesterday. The voucher included 20% off all products. I thought it would be mean to just walk out after getting my eyebrows done for free so I said I would avail of the 20% discount and this is what I got.

I used this Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser with the facial brush last night and it felt so nice. It actually helped with removing my make-up as the bristles loosen everything. This aloe range is for sensitive skin and is very gentle. I know I have been using Avene but I didn't have a full size gentle cleanser to remove my make-up. 

I needed an exfoliator as I only have a mask so I picked this up from the same range. I have not used it yet but will let you know how it goes next week. 

I didn't have any eye cream and as I am in my 30's I definitely think I should be using one. The sales girl strongly recommended Nutriganics Soothing Eye Cream so I'll use this daily and see if there's a difference in a month. 

I love this brush! I've only used it once but it feels so nice. It says it lightly exfoliates and stimulates circulation, improving skin tone and texture so fingers crossed! I think it looks so cute. Last night I put the cleanser on my face and then started brushing which worked well but today I think I'll apply the cleanser directly onto the brush to see if there's any difference.

After I cleansed I used this toner from the same range. There are only a few ml left in it as I got it about a year ago. I love the cool, minty green colour they use - it definitely suggests its soothing and calming. I highly recommend these for anyone who has any sensitivity.

I also got a free sample of their Coconut Body Butter which smells divine! I actually wanted to taste it! As usual I would love to hear from you :) 

My skincare routine

If you are like me and have redness/rosacea, you may want to see how I clean my face as gently as possible. Lately I have become obsessed with Avene and La Roche-Posay! Read my routine