Get The Glow

Hey guys, 

Its been a while since I did a post, but I had a few products I really wanted to put to the test before I blogged about them. 
I have had problems with my skin for some time, I often (triggered mainly by stress) get psoriasis on my scalp and skin. I have also had acne in the past, so my skin seems rather dull when I don’t have any make up on. The products I am posting about today were used to try and get rid of this dullness and to get a "glow" read on to find out if I had any success….

Herbal Soaps

Those of you who follow me on instagram (if you don’t then get following now... @kokobeautyuk) may have seen I tried two herbal soaps; black soap and shea butter soap. I bought both of these from @pure_herbal (instagram page) and completely replaced my usual cleanser with these for a few weeks each. 

The black soap was used for three weeks. The results allowed my marks to fade, and my skin to clear from blemishes, however post application of the soap my face never really felt fully soft and clean like it did with my cleanser, my skin also felt a little dry however I do have dry combination skin and this soap is not reccomended for dry skin. This is great for interim use when you might be having breakouts, but I would not reccomend relying solely on this, so don’t chuck out your cleanser just yet! 

The second product was the shea butter soap. This soap felt a bit sticky to apply to my face, and I felt it was quite hard to rub into my skin. If I am honest, I did not see an amazing difference using this, and I had to stop the use of the product after two weeks as my psorisis flaired up to the worst it has been. 

So these products didn’t quite live up to the expectation I had hoped, but for the value it was not a heavy price to pay. I continued my search for good products whilst out on my trip to the U.S recently.

Clarisonic

For month’s I have researched into the Clarisonic, and whilst in Lord and Taylor (5th Avenue, oh how I miss you) it seemed like the perfect time to get some in depth face to face knowledge on the product at the Clarisonic stand. I have read review after review praising this brand, and I have wanted it for some time but never wanted to give in to the price tag (they range from £100-220). I eventually ‘ummed’ and ‘ahhed’ and I gave in (thank god I have a credit card with me). 

The purchase I made is the newly launched Clarisonic Smart Profile which can be used on the face and body through the use of different attatchments. Unfortunately, I am not sure this version is out in the UK yet, so you girls may just have to wait… although the Clarisonic Plus is very similar and a close second choice to the one I would have bought. The reason I chose this is because I often get breakouts on my shoulders and back, so I thought this might be a good investment for me. The new version also comes with a pedi brush attachment which is also a bonus. I did pay a hefty price tag of $280 (ouch), but I do not regret it one bit. 

The lovely lady in Lord and Taylor gave me a few attatchments for free which was a bonus, as well as cleansers. I personally don’t see the fascination with the cleanser if I am honest, I feel the one I use already (Clarins Cottonseed Cream Cleanser) paired with my Clarisonic does a better job so don’t feel obliged to give in. 

I am currently using an attachment for deep cleansing, which I started off using twice a day. I have read many bloggers say they broke out in the beginning and I dreaded this but my breakout was very minimal. The breakout usually is all the dirt and oils trapped under your skin surfacing to the top. I now use the Clarisonic it once a day if I have worn makeup, sometimes I don’t even feel the need to use it on the days I haven't  worn make up as my skin still feels soft from the previous day. I also use the body brush twice a week on my shoulders and back, which has really helped control my breakouts and make my skin soft.

I did a comparison of how much makeup is left on my skin after removing makeup with a wipe, cleansing and toning vs the same routine with use of the Clarisonic to show the effectiveness it has of removing makeup: 

As you can see there is literally nothing left on my skin in the second picture.

Results of my skin without make-up after a month
As you can still I still have a few scars, but overall
my skin has a nice healthy glow. Note no filters were
used to take this photo, it was taken in natural light. 

I have been using the Clarisnoic daily for a month now, and I can not believe how many people have complimented me on my skin, a lot of comments to say I look glowing (I promise its for no other reason). I have found myself wear a lot less make up, as my products sink into my skin better and also blend better than they did prior to the use of this tool. My skin feels super soft and silky to touch, and I have also gained the confidence to go into the gym without tinted moisturiser anymore, and stay bare skinned(I am usually really conscice of my skin). 

I still cannot believe how great my skin looks in the morning, and when I take my make up off in the evening. I will not stop repeating this when I say, this is honestly one of the best beauty investments I have made. I am not saying go out and buy one now and you have to, I know many don’t have a fascination or need, however I can’t stress that although not a NEED once you try this you won’t look back. I can’t tell you if it work’s for everyone, it probably doesn’t but it really, REALLY worked for me. I am sold on the hype of the product, and wonder why it took me so long to give in. 

Overall this is my favourite beauty buy so far. So if you are contemplating, I hope you sway towards getting one; I promise you won’t regret it. I know there are many brands who do similar and cheaper products, however what I liked about Clarisonic is their confidence in their product and customer service (30 day money back guarantee), the range of heads available so you can change dependent on skin type or even share with your sibling/parent if you buy different attatchments. Some of the other brands also have bristles which turn, this in effect can be harsh on the skin, the Clarisonic pulses but does not turn. Finally I love that it is gentle enough on my skin to be used daily. 

Have you used any products that have lived up to their expectations? If so what were they? 

K xx

Please feel free to post any skin care tips, products or comments you may have which could benefit others. 

Do Miracle Products Exist?

Bobbi Brown BB Cream 

£29  

Source: Bobbi Brown Website

Some of you may know from my previous posts that I am quite conscience of my skin following teenage acne, therefore I refuse to wear foundation on a daily basis. Until now the Laura Mercier oil free tinted moisturiser has been my daily choice of skin base, until I received a sample of the Bobbi Brown BB cream which I tested for a week and then decided to buy.  

I never did give in to the BB Cream phase, it all seemed like empty promises to me, and I have never come across a review that completely changed my perception of this. I still remain unconvinced that any BB Cream is the "miracle solution" but I have to say I have been quite pleased with the Bobbi Brown Product. 

I used the tester I received for a week in my day to day routine to see how it held up against my original skin routine. It can sometimes get anywhere between 10-14 hours within my day before I get a chance to remove my make up in the work week, at the end of the day my face is usually oily and my dry patches seem more obvious that usual. 

Apologies for the poor picture,
it was the only photo I could track where
I could show the use of the BB Cream
on my holiday. 

I noticed with the Bobbi Brown Bb Cream my face did not look oily at the end of the day, and my skin remained matte with maybe a slight shine at the most. The coverage is also good, I have red patches which are covered as well as evening my skin tone without looking like I am wearing anything.I don't like to feel like I am wearing much on my face during the week, so this product worked out great for me as it was light; the oil free part was a bonus! 

I decided to purchase the full size in time for my trip to India seeing as my tinted moisturiser was running low and following my recent laser treatment I was also in need of a high SPF product (this is SPF 35). This was the real test of the product, as I wanted to see if I would get the same level of result in 28 degrees and long days. 

Overall I found the product worked really well for about 6 hours in the day before needing a blot, or powder touch up. By the end of the day my skin was slightly greasy, but not anymore so than with my normal products, as well as some dry patches.  

I would recommend this product as a good day to day skin cover, however it is quite on the expensive side for a BB cream (£29) however it still works out cheaper than the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, so I would be willing to repurchase until I come across something that might be more suited to my skin. 

Have you ever come across a product which really is a "miracle" cure? 

Please feel free to post any skin care tips, products or comments you may have which could benefit others. 

A Quickfix for Skincare Insecurity

Hi All, 

I know I have been slacking on the blogposts, therefore I thought I would use my Easter weekend to catch up. I wanted to dedicate today's short and sweet blog to possibly the BEST foundation/concealer I have used to date. 

As mentioned in previous posts I have an ongoing battle with my skin. Although I have weeks where my skin will glow and I need little cover up, this has not been one of those weeks. With my graduation, and an uncomfortableness to reveal marks on my skin I searched high and low for good camouflage make up. 

 Clinique Even Better Concealer £18

I picked up two products, one Clinique’s Even Better concealer and the other  Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup. I bought the Clinique concealer based on online reviews, and I can’t help but say I was very disappointed. I love Clinique for their skin range, but I don’t think I will be in a rush to buy make up from this brand again based on this product. Considering a very small pot cost me £18, I found the concealer worked well to cover some minor blemishes but no better than my everyday concealer stick by Bobbi Brown. 

Disappointed with my first buy I asked friends for recommendations, and was told to try the  Estée Lauder Maximum Cover. Although it cost £27.50 for a small tube, I can really say this investment was well worth it. The product is marketed as a camouflage foundation, which means it’s great to cover more noticeable blemishes, marks and areas on both the face and body. Only a small amount is needed, therefore it is better applied like a concealer than foundation due to the thickness of consistency. 

As little as this amount of the foundation
was enough to cover half my face well. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover £27.50

It felt and looked flawless on my skin and I can ensure it will be what I first reach for on a bad skin day. Due to the thickness of the product I don’t think it is one I could personally use daily as I prefer light make up for every day purposes. 

Before and after the use of 

 

  Estée Lauder Double Wear without the use of any other powder or product on top

All in all this has been the best foundation I have come across for full coverage, and would recommend anyone to invest in buying regardless of it falling into a higher price range. My blemishes are one insecurity I fell will always lie with me, we all have our own insecurities whether it be inside or out. I ask my readers today: 

How do you tackle your beauty insecurities? 

Please feel free to post any skin care tips, products or comments you may have which could benefit others. 

Skincare: Is It A Girl Thing?

This week I have decided to go back to basics and focus on what I feel is the most important part of make-up; skincare. Looking after your skin is the basis of any beauty regime, this will reflect whether you decide to apply make up or are having a day off and ditching the foundation.  Once you have cracked your perfect skin routine it its like hitting a goldmine. 

Skincare is an underestimated part of daily routine for many, it is especially important if you lead a busy life, or breakout due to weather, stress, or skin type. It is important to experiment with products and brands before you get the results you want. 

My 3 top tips for healthy skin : 

•   A good diet is key
• Don’t cheat in your beauty routine
• Tea tree oil is your saviour 

Image Source:
www.atasteofkoko.com/product-spotlight-resource-natural-spring-water-giveaway

Healthy inside and out

It may seem obvious, but if you arent eating right, or keeping yourself hydrated with plenty of water then this will reflect on your skin. I am sure you have all had the hefty weekend; alcohol, a hangover diet, and to go with it rough feeling skin. Like most I learnt this the hard way; as a chubby teenager who binged on fizzy drinks and an unhealthy diet I was faced with terrible spots and unhealthy and uneven skin. I  now try to drink as much water as I can throughout the day, carrying a bottle of water with me in my bag encourages me to get into a habit of drinking it any chance I get. 

Don’t Cheat: Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise 

Image Source: www.clinique.co.uk

By avoiding cheats I mean take your make up off every night, no mater how tired or lazy you are feeling; make up left on your skin can allow dirt to build up in your pores. Take your make up off in the gym, seriously, no guy is going to like the sweaty running foundation and panda eyes so clear it all off before you work out because the sweat and make up will only anger your skin. Don’t wash your make up off with water, this is such a no-no, invest in some wipes or remover, they don’t have to be very expensive in order to be effective. 

One of my favourite brands for skincare products is Clinique, which works well for both females and males. Although this brand may not be for everybody, I have found the “blemish prone” range cleared up my teenage skin and I have now moved on to the combination skin range, which is continuing to work wonders. Although I speak highly of the cleansers and toners I am not a big fan of the moisturiser. 

Moisuturisers  are my biggest beauty nightmare. I have still not come across what I would class as “my perfect moisturiser.” Currently I am relying on the good old fashioned E45, which has never let me down. With skin that tends to get very dry, it helps to smooth rough areas, it’s also lightweight as apposed to some thick and heavy feeling moisturisers. 

Using a scrub one or twice a week can brighten and smooth skin when it is feeling rough. For blackheads I cannot stress the importance of a scrub, just twice a week in circular motions where the blackheads appear will help smooth the skin and clear the blackheads. My new beauty find is The Body Shop’s microdermabrasion Vitamin C scrub. After using this my skin feels instantly refreshed and smooth for up to three days.

Image Source:

www.superdrug.com/healthcare/superdrug-tea-tree-pure-tea-tree-oil-10ml/invt/657593

Tea Tree Oil

I will never get tired of mentioning this; Tea Tree Oil is your best friend. Just this week I had a big skin break out, within 48 hours it went from being unmissable to unoticable thanks to my trusty little bottle, which only costs £3 in superdrug. You can buy either pure tea tree oil, or the distiled version that can be applied directly. I have used both, and I can't say one works better than the other. Although the bottle is small, only one drop is needed at a time so it lasts a long time. 

As a female I consider myself lucky as most skin imperfections can be covered if needed. Clear skin acts as a basis for those who wear make up, it is also a healthy reflection for those who want to feel comfortable in their own skin. For men it is especially important to take care as regular shaves and hair removal on the face can often aggravate the skin, if this is ignored (which often happens) it can only be made worse. I have heard many males say "girls are lucky, they can cover blemishes." I ask my readers the following question: 

 Do you think clear skin is as important to males as it is for females?

Please feel free to post any skin care tips, products or comments you may have which could benefit others.