My problem skin and facial steaming

I recently tried out a new skincare range, it contained no nasty parabens etc so I thought my skin would be fine. After about a week of using it I found my skin felt really tight and I developed a sore, itchy rash on my face that was so uncomfortable and quite painful and also a cluster of angry spots on my chin. I very rarely get spots apart from a certain time of the month so put it down to the new skin care range I had and stopped using it straight away. I went back to my old products and found that the issues weren't getting any worse but they weren't getting any better either. 

After about a week I decided to try a product that I know other people have had success with for getting rid of spots. Freederm. I didn't use this on the areas that had the rash just the horrible spots. I followed the directions exactly as stated on the  box and within 2 days my skin was horrendous. My chin is so dry (bear in mind that I have oily skin) its painful and looks like I have a really bad rash. I stopped using the Freederm right away, this was about 2 weeks ago now and its still just as bad as it was. 

My skin is something that I do try to take really good  care of and this has really knocked my confidence at the moment. Its almost impossible to cover even with a good concealer and I have a constant feeling of discomfort and putting moisturiser on my skin stings like a bitch.

I've gone back to my old products that I have never had a problem with and can see that they definitely work for my skin, so goes the saying, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The range I use is First Aid Beauty. Its available online at various retailer or in selected Boots stores. Its really reasonable priced, doesn't contain parabens or harsh chemicals and its suitable for sensitive skin. It works for me so I'm now sticking to it.

So whilst in my search of something to help my skin I came across a couple of articles about facial steaming. I've done the whole bowl of boiled water with a towel thing and I just felt like I couldn't breathe and gave up after about two minutes. Reading a little more into detail about steaming I realised that there was alot of benefits to relatively cheap and easy addition to your routine. Some of the benefits include

• Helps to soften plugs in pores which can make it easier to remove dirt and dead skin debris
• Stimulates skin blood circulation allowing the skin to look refreshed.
• Allows for deep cleansing.

Source

I decided that I wanted to try a facial steamer but didn't want to fork out a fortune for something that I may only use once. So I found one at Argos for only £9.99 

I figured if I didn't like it, £9.99 isn't a huge amount of money but if I love it I can invest in a more expensive one at a later date.

It was really easy to use, fill the water up to the water fill line, plug in and switch on. I managed to do this all by myself so it really is simple 

I sat with my face over the steamer for about 10 minutes. The book stated 15 but I thought 10 was enough with it being my first time.

After I finished I splashed my face with cool water and used a gentle exfoliator on my face. I then finished off with my First Aid Beauty moisturiser. My skin feels so soft, my forehead really is as soft as baby's bum! I also found that my skin looks alot brighter and it didn't sting when putting my cream on like it has done. I'm not sure if this is down to the steaming or if it is just FINALLY getting better!

Either way I'm definitely going to continue with facial steaming and see how it goes, I have some blackheads on my nose which are being rather stubborn and seemingly are rather comfortable where they are and don't fancy moving so hopefully this will help. After I have done this a few times I will do an update to let you know how I get on, hopefully I will be reporting on some glowing skin and a blackhead free nose!

Have you tried facial steaming? Whats you opinion on it, I'd love to know so please comment below!

Lots of Love

CF x x x

Cheap make up haul & review

Today I picked up a couple of bargains from the Poundshop. My local was quite well stocked today with lots of Sally Hansen, Revlon and Rimmel. I have plenty of nail polishes at the moment, most of which I don't even wear so I didn't pick any up although there were some beautiful ones that would have looked really good in my collection. I was strong and resisted. Go me, I am learning.

Heres what I snagged for the grand total of £5.00

As you can see from the swatches these are super sheer, these have been built up quite alot and they still don't have much colour to them. The pigmentation isn't all that great but they would probably be ok if your really pale and don't like too much colour. They are a little chalky but not as bad as some I have tried that have cost more than £1.00. These are also sold at Superdrug for £2.99, I wouldn't pay that much for these blushes even though £2.99 isn't a lot of money I have found other blushes that I think are much better for around the same price. For example the 17 one I picked up from Boots for £3.49

Next up I spotted this, I was a little surprised to see Bourjois in the Poundshop. I have never seen this brand in there before

They also had light and dark which I was really happy about as usually whenever I find something that I like they only have it in dark so its never suitable for my uber pale skin.

I actually rather like this, the roller ball is cooling on the eye area so would help with the puffiness and does disguise my circles quite well. Although mine aren't too dark. I have read a few reviews on this with people putting the concealer down and saying it doesn't cover spots very well. Its not that type of concealer it does state on the packaging that it is anti puffiness concealer. I think people should use products correctly before giving negative reviews. Just my opinion. Its definitely worth a try. I found it easy to apply, it doesn't put on too much product and it blends really well. Bargain for £1.00. I think I'll be popping back for a few back ups.

 

Finally we have this, I picked this up purely for the packaging as it was so cute. I'll be honest and say I did not know what it was when I purchased it, I figured it would either be a highlighter or a blush. How adorable is that polka dot packaging?

The product itself is also pretty good.

 

Its a real bubblegum/ barbie pink when you first apply it but it blends out so well to give a more subtle pink colour if required. Technic are a brand I have heard of before but never really paid any attention to. I know there was a lot of buzz recently about a glitter nail polish but I couldn't find it anywhere near me. This is beautiful though. I absolutely love it and again will be popping back to pick up a few back ups. My local Poundworld always runs out of the good products fairly quickly and never gets anymore in. 

All in all I like my purchases, a little disappointed with the pigmentation of the blush but I can't expect too much for £1 the real gems though are the concealer and Technic I love them and they will definitely be the new addition to my everyday make up bag.

Have you found any Poundshop bargains?

Lots of Love

CF x x x

 

17 Purchase

I popped into Boots today to pick up a new blusher, not that I needed another one but I wanted something a little more pink than the others I have. I've seen a couple of reviews on these so I picked one up. 

I got this in the shade In Bloom, it has two very different pink shades.

The blush is not chalky at all and is quite soft considering the price of £3.99. It does blend quite nicely and leaves a lovely flushed look to your cheeks. Its exactly what I was looking for colour wise. 

Secondly I spotted this little beauty

IT CHANGES COLOUR!!!! Ok so its really gimmicky but I'm a sucker for anything like this. The polish goes on a silvery lilac colour but when you put a top coat on it it turns a darkish purple colour. It really does work too. I'm not overly sure on the point if I'm honest as I would say most people would put a top coat on there nails anyway, I know I do so I really would never get the chance to benefit from the lighter shade apart from the first ten minutes of applying when its drying but hey ho. I really like the brush and the formulation. I found that one coat and my nails were covered nicely and it didn't take too long to dry.

The left is the colour it goes on straight from the bottle and the right is after a top coat. Apologies for the awful picture my camera just did not want to take a photo of my nails today. I love both the colours, before and after and I think I'll just have a great deal of fun watching my nails change colour. Small things and all that!

So these two rather lovely items came to £7.48 and Boots currently have an offer on, if you spend over £5.99 you get a free gift.

The gift contained a lip gloss, eyeshadow and a cream blush. 

I love the shadow, its so pretty and its one I will definitely wear. I'm loving my nudes at the moment. My  husband won tickets to the Leeds Festival in a couple of weeks so this will be perfect for taking with me and I wont mind if it gets smashed up with it costing me nothing.

The lipgloss is also nice, I swatched it on my hand and it looks quite bronze and I cannot pull off bronze lipglosses they just wash me out really badly but it goes on your lips a really nice nude colour and it looks quite nice.

The cream bronzer unfortunately is the dud of the box in my opinion. It says on the box to use it to contour. I have no idea where they got this from. I would never use this to contour it looks like a really sheer orange colour and I just cannot see how this would look nice if you used it to contour. I may be wrong but I wont be trying it out. But considering it was free I can't complain too much. I'm sure I can find another use for it.

All in all I'm happy with my purchases and considering I was expecting to pay around £7/£8 for a blush I think I got a pretty good deal, all this for £7.48! (+ an extra 100 boots points for buying two 17 products)

Lots of Love 

CF x x