How to beat Cystic Acne, and maintain it

Hey All,

I thought I'd do a blog that might be of use to some of you. As a teenager I suffered pretty badly from cystic acne - this means not the usual acne where you have spots everywhere, but big massive boils that looked like craters on my face, yet the rest of my skin would be crystal clear. It was quite strange, but these awful cysts would pop up where and whenever they felt like on my face, and sometimes I'd have 5 at a time - it truly was awful and a nightmare to cover up with make - up!

After trying countless creams and potions both over the counter and prescriptions from doctors,even antibiotic treatments,nothing worked. Eventually a dermatologist finally gave me a contraceptive pill called Dianette which was truly a miracle cure. I still get the odd cyst here and there (usually just before that fabulous time of the month us girls endure) but it is absolutely heaven compared to how it used to be. Side effects from the pill is another story, but for cystic acne's sake, it has been amazing.

My advice to anyone who is suffering from cystic acne - it is NOTHING to do with your hygiene (in fact overly washing your face can make it worse) and nothing to do with what you are eating. It is purely to do with hormones which you cannot control. Because of this, you will find it difficult to treat with any over the counter medicines and beauty products, because the oil sebum in your body that is being over produced, will not respond sufficiently to topical creams. The only way to get rid of it is to ask your doctor for Dianette(obviously for girls only!), or to use Roaccutane tablets that a dermatologist can prescribe. Roaccutane can have some contraversial side effects and is a lengthy process, so please speak to your dermatologist about the pro's and con's before going ahead with this method. However, its success rate is really high,and it has prooved to be the best acne cure for both male and females.

Which ever method you choose, you will still probably get the odd cyst or flair up (less so with Roaccutane). When you do, I strongly recommend these two products which I think scientifically help to reduce the inflamation and make healing and recovery much quicker. These products also work amazingly for mild types of acne as well without the need of further treatment.

Panoxyl

You can either get this on prescription, or buy it over the counter (it doesn't cost much, under £5). It contains 10% Benzoyl Peroxide which is the active ingredient to fight the nasty nasties that we want to be rid of! I found this to be such a great product as it reduces the swelling really quite quickly, and somewhat stops the evils in their tracks before they can get any bigger. You can also get this product in a lesser strength (you might want to start with the 2.5% version). The only draw back is that it is VERY drying, so be sure to only use it where you really need it (do not cover the surrounding area with it or you will be in for a flaky surprise after a couple of uses). I find I can live with the flakiness for a few days if it gets rid of a horrid cyst quickly!

Tip: Do not use this on large areas of the face due to the fact it will peal your skin as I mentioned above.  Only use it directly on the spot/cyst in question. And watch it dieeeee. :)

Freederm

I actually discovered this product when it was first launched many years ago before all the adverts and hype, when you had to dig around to find it in Boots, and I have never looked back. For areas of the skin with mild to moderate acne, this stuff is great. You can use it on large areas (unlike Panoxyl) and it will not dry out the skin. I find it's best to use this product at night, I have found that using it during the day and then adding make-up on top can leave you with a flaky finish - no likey.

Freederm is great because it reduces redness and swelling as well as treating the acne. It works differently to other products as it doesn't contain benzoyl peroxide but instead uses nicotinamide, which to my understanding is a high dose of vitamin A which works to combat spots.

As I said above, these products will only benefit you alone if you have mild acne. If your acne is moderate to severe, or you suffer from cystic acne, you will need extra help before these products can help you maintain your lovely new face. It truly will be the best thing you ever did to see a dermatologist and get your treatment started! 

I hope this has helped anyone that has been having issues with acne, and cystic acne!

Love

~Miss Christina C~

Hair Products: are high end products worth your cash?

So when it comes to hair, I will put my hands up and admit I often reach for a high end product rather than a drugstore alternative - this is because I really do find that they make a difference, and with coloured hair you can't just slap on any old product and hope for the best, as your coloured hair might not be too happy about it after. However, having said this, I have come across a few little gems on my way that have been nice to my bank balance. Today's blog will be comparing some high end products with their drugstore alternatives, the good, the bad, and the "what was I thinking" ugly. 

High End: ALTERNA CAVIAR MOISTURE SHAMPOO AND SEA SILK HAIR MASQUE

I have always been a fan of Alterna's Caviar Moisture shampoo and conditioner, they are sulphate free which means they are kind to coloured hair, really make my hair silky and shiny, and keep it in tip top condition, so I thought I'd try out the Sea Silk Hair Masque. I was in need of a masque as I'd been through a bad time illness wise and was finding my hair to be paying the price, it was becoming superly brittle and dull, and in need of a super duper moisture injection. I found it online at www.beautybay.com  for a whopping £27.95, and although a hefty price, I thought it would be worth it as I was familiar with their other products.

Hmmm...well, the first time I wasn't sure it was worth the price at all. I was quite shocked that this product didn't give me the results that I expected, since I was so in love with the rest of it's range. It didn't seem to make much difference at all, my hair in fact seemed even dryer than it had been originally! I thought I'd give it another go, and strangely enough the second time the results seemed much better, perhaps this is because I left it on for longer (10 minutes). After the third use, I actually did find that it really started to help repair the "dull" look and was bringing my hair back to life.

It smells gorgeous, and does seem to work after a couple of uses, but I'm still not convinced it's worth the price! It also comes in quite a small pot, which for my long hair isn't too great as I need to use a lot of it to see any results. All in all, I'd say the Alterna Caviar Sea Silk Hair Masque isn't a complete waste of money, does improve hair by around 60%, but is probably not worth the price. If it was a tenner I wouldn't compalin, but I was expecting gold for that amount of cash and was given silver. *sulks*

Drugstore Alternative: L'OREAL ELVIVE DAMAGE CARE REPAIRING HAIR MASQUE 

If you would like a cheaper alternative I hugely recommend the L'oreal Elvive Damage Care Repairing Masque. At an affordable £5.10 from Boots, (I believe they are also doing a 3 for 2 on haircare products and brushes right now also!) this really does do its job, I'd say almost to the same extent as the Sea Silk Caviar masque, the only negatives is that I don't think it can fully repair damaged ends, but is great for hydration.

Tip: I sometimes use virgin olive oil (yes the oil you put on your salads, us Greeks use this for everything! Make sure it's virgin olive oil and not compressed) from mid way to the ends of my hair mixed in with the L'oreal Elvive masque - any conditioner or masque you have will do the trick. Squeeze out any excess water from your hair after conditioning and rinsing out, then take some of the product into the palm of your hand as you would normally, and mix in one teaspoon of olive oil, and quickly apply to your hair (I don't recommend using it on the roots of your hair if you have European or Indian hair as it will become greasy-other hair types such as Afro can handle the oil on the roots). After massaging it in, wrap your hair into a towel or shower cap, and leave it on for up to an hour. I can actually get away with just 20minutes, it depends how damaged your hair is. Rinse out well for super luscious and moisturised locks!

High End: KERASTASE ELIXIR KULTIME

I had heard a lot about Kerastase's Elixit Kultime before I purchased it, and am really glad that I did as I find this serum really great. I purchased this from http://www.wantthelook.com/  it's currently on offer for £12.67 (15% off). I use it after I towel dry my hair, all you need is one pump for each side of your hair (possibly much less for shorter lengths) brush it through, then style as usual. I find that it seals the cuticle of the hair, making it much less prone to frizz until the next wash, and it gives the hair a glossy finish without being too heavy or greasy and makes it appear thicker. I find this product nice and light weight, and I will also use a tiny amount to tame fly aways after I've styled my hair. On the bottle it says you can also use it before you wash your hair - I am not sure what the point of that is to be honest, so I'd stick to using it after! All in all, a lovely product with great results.

Drug Store Alternative: TRESemme SALON SILK NO FRIZZ SERUM

So, I really should have known better when 1) my friend said "hey Christina, do you want a serum? I'm going to throw it out otherwise" and 2) I saw the words TRESemme, but I figured I'd give it a go. I was hoping the reason she didn't like it might have been because we have completely different hair types....yes? NO! I allas was wrong. I used this like I would the Kerastase Elixir (before I purchased it) and hated it. It's texture is gunky - yes gunky I cannot think of any other way to describe it, and really heavy on the hair. The friend who pawned it off onto me has Afro hair so I figured maybe it wasn't this bad on hers - but yes she confirmed it was. I found it weighed my hair down so much that it was even making it greasier quicker, dispite the fact I had put it nowhere near the roots. It didn't have any anti frizz properties either and without my trusted straightners I was a bit of a frizzy poof ball. Not impressed. The positives....erm...I am struggling...spend your £4.99 at Burger King you will be much happier.

Drugstore Alternative: AUSSIE DUAL PERSONALITY SMOOTH AND SHINE MILK

Although this is not a serum like the Kerastase Elixir, I really do love Aussie, and for a drug store brand I think their products are really great value for money. This hair milk is great for softening, smoothing and taming hair that is prone to frizz. I'm not sure how well it would work on tightly curled hair, but if you have wavy to straightish locks, then it really does do what it says on the tin. I use it in the same way that I'd use the Elixir before blow drying my hair. It doesn't quite have the staying power or glossyness that the Elixir has, but for £4.69 you can't really complain!

High End: GHD HEAT PROTECT SPRAY

I received this free with my GHD straightners purchase and really love the consistency. It's price can vary depending where you get it from, it usually retails around £15 in salons but I found it the cheapest at http://www.wantthelook.com/ for £8.46 (currently 15% off). As a heat protector I find it doesn't stiffen my hair down like some others do, and smells really lovely and fresh. I've found in the past that some heat protectors still wouldn't protect the ends of my hair from frazzling after daily straightening and curling, and I'd begrudge having to have more chopped off at the hairdressers, so I have been quite suprised that this product seems to have saved the split ends from coming so quickly. *Happy Face*

Drug Store Alternative: TONI & GUY IRON IT HEAT DEFENCE SPRAY

Before I had discovered the GHD heat protector I really liked this Toni & Guy version, and compared to other drug store products I found that it was at the top of its game. The smell isn't too chemical, and the bottle is massive so will last you absolutely ages. It does a good job at keeping your locks protected while styling, and you can usually find some sort of 3 for 2 deal involving this product in Boots (it is currently in the same deal as the L'oreal hair masque-bargain!). It's currently selling for £6.63. The negatives are that I didn't like the way the bottle nozzle was made as I found unless you hold it quite far away it can drench your hair a little too much, so they could work on their pump, also unless you want a slight hold to your hair, you might find it a little weighty as it does have a slight flexible hair spray type feel to it. It's advertised as a product for straight styles, although I have used it while curling and it didn't seem to straighten the curls. All in all, a good alternative.

I hope you have enjoyed the reviews - What do you think, high end hair products always win, or can drug store brands rival the pricey ones? Please leave your comments I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Love

~Miss Christina C~

Chanel New Autumn Collection Nail Varnish! Graphite

CHANEL - Graphite nail polish £17.50

Hey guys,

I'm sure most of you have already seen this nail varnish floating around youtube and blogs, it seems to be so popular and in high demand - the lady at the Chanel counter yesterday told me it sold out in 4 hours of being released in their concession! I was lucky to get my mits on some, as I had been stalking this particular shade for some time.

Chanel's new nail colour releases for Autumn includes 3 different shades; Quartz, Peridot and Graphite. I was drawn to Graphite because it just doesn't look like any other nail colour I have ever seen before. The colour to me seems like a mix between silver and gold, and has so many layers that in some light it even looks like there is a very dark metalic green thrown in there too, along with glittering sprinkles of shimmering particles. Notice how the colour on the nails actually looks exactly the same as the varnish inside the bottle which is rare (see picture above). In most nail varnishes anything with shimmering glitter "bits" can feel and look a bit rough, but with Graphite I found it glides on with ease as if it is all sealed and the consistency is just so smooth. You could actually get away with just one coat but I used two. I did use a base coat (Barry M) and I usually use a top coat to make nail varnishes shine and stay put, but I really didn't need to with this, it just looked so beautiful and shiny.

I've been wearing it for 3 days now, and so far no chips or fading of colour, it really does seem to be quite durable unlike some other cheaper versions of this particular colour. An old Russian saying has always stuck in my head "I'm too poor to buy cheap" and I do sometimes think this is so true! This colour will look great into the winter season and I can see it teaming up well with outfits during the day with black, creams and whites, aswell as at night giving you that extra touch of sophistication.

I have always been a Chanel nail varnish fan (and everything else!), and when I worked for them as a Christmas temp a couple of years ago I absolutely loved trying them on, yet never got around to buying any as I must say they are pricey, but sometimes its ok to treat yourself and loved ones!

What do you guys think? Have you tired any of the other colours in the Autumn collection?

Autumnal budget pieces - Primark and Forever21 mini haul!

Hey dolls!

Today's blog is a budget mini haul of a few Autumnal items I've picked up from Primark and Forever 21 that I feel can be used well for layering in these unpredictable months, and some accessorie bits and bobs. You don't have to spend a fortune to look fabulous this season, or buy a whole new wardrobe. Get yourself a few key pieces that will let you work them into what you already have, and layer up.

Primark

Primark - Atmosphere Animal Print Blouse £10.00

I found this top at the last minute on my trip to Promarni (yes, it sounds so much better) and if anyone has visited the Oxford Street store you will know how awful an experience it is to ever bother to try anything on, so the best policy is the quicker you can grab your items,pay and get out, the better! So I was slightly worried about the fit since I hadn't tried it on, but it's actually so lovely. There is a slit down the back (I should have taken a picture of this-sorry!) it's actually not so noticeable when the top is on, and two cute buttons that do up the top of the collar at the back. I think it could be worn on its own on a night out with a high waisted skirt or puff ball mini, some nude or black heels depending on the rest of your outfit, and it would look gorgeously sophisticated. You could also wear this during the day with a vest top underneath with dark jeans, high waisted trousers, or even in the office. I like this piece for versatility.

                     Primark Scarf £4.00

I like the texture and soft feel of this scarf, I think it would suit any age, and so many different outfits. It could be paired with comfy cardigans for autumn and coats for winter, so many different colours, worn with jeans, or to brighten up an all black outfit - pretty much anything goes! Bargain price too.

    Primark Poncho Style Top around £10.00 (I can't remember the exact price as I already took off the tag)

I thought this was a really nice floaty sheer top. There are sleeves so it's not a poncho, but has that kind of style although it is slightly longer at the back than at the front. It's in a  peachy/pink colour, and I especially like the lace detail on the shoulders.Although this was probably designed to be worn in the summer, I make it work for Autumn as well by layering it with a mid sleeve cotton polo neck which you can pair with tights and shorts, or jeans - tada!

    Primark Ring £2.00

I love Primark for rings, they are so awesomely priced, and their small IS actually a small unlike most store's rings which end up swimming around my fingers and falling off. It is always such a mission for me to find fashion rings that are actually small enough so I'm always happy at Primark. I like the Victorian feel of this ring, it would add a pop of glam to any Autumn outfit, and it can be worn by itself or with other rings as it's not too loud.

   Primark Burgundy 'I love my atmosphere tee' £4.00

I already had this in black and was so impressed with the fit and material for a plain T, that I picked one up in Burgundy that I can layer for Autumn and Winter with absolutely everything. The material is stretchy, and it also seems to be a popular colour for this season, so I thought it would be a nice basic wardrobe piece. I paired it with a necklace I randomly found at Boots for around £9 during August (I actually bought it for my mum but I steel it now and then-and yes Boots, who would have known!) I would have also photographed it with a cardi, bangles, and full examples of layering it, but then I figured you wouldn't actually see it that way!

   The necklace up close!

   Primark Small Purse

My friend gave this to me in a goodie bag for my birthday during the summer and I think it's such a handy little thing for coins/pill packets you always need in your bag/hair clips etc. It's girly and cute, and so yes me likey. I unfortunately don't know how much it is, but it's probably around £1-£2.


Forever 21

    Forever 21 Burgundy Bag £28.80

This bag is just SO on season, SO gorgeous, SO burgundy, and SO I just got to have you. So I did. It has a mobile phone pocket, and a couple of pockets for your odd bits and purse inside. There is a long strap that you can use to wear it hanging long over your shoulder, or tuck it into the bag and use the smaller straps to hang over your arm (because you're just so cool like that!). It's quite large and just so perfect. Ok I am done now. As you can see bags are my weak spot...

    Forever 21 Tribal Bangles £4.90

  Had to pick these up, I love bangles and thought this quite a fair price for a bundle like this. Elsewhere this would probably cost you triple the amount. Brown and gold are colours of the season as well, and will match with the mustard yellow and dark greens that are making their way into our wardrobes, so these were a nice find.

    Forever 21 clip earrings £3.15

  I really liked these, they have a 'Chanel' type feel to them, and I like these style of earrings they remind me of the late 50s look. You could show them off with your hair in an up - do, or they would look equally nice with short hair, or long hair waved. I'd wear these at night with a glamorous outfit, or dressed down during the day with a comfy slouchy jumper and leggings.

Hope you enjoyed my mini bargain haul! Thanks for reading :)

Love

~Miss Christina C~

Natural day look in just 8 minutes!

Hey all!

Here is another makeup post for you to check out, a natural day look in just 8 minutes for busy people who need to be ready quickly for the day ahead (extra time in bed-hurray!), or for those who like to keep it super natural:

                                                                My '8 minute' day look

Products I used to achieve this look:

My essential base products for this look are by Bobbi Brown: Luminous Moisturizing Foundation-Sand 2, Under Eye Corrector-light to medium bisque, Creamy Concealer-cool sand & Sheer Finish Powder-pale yellow

How to achieve the 8 minute natural day look:

So you're running late, and you need to look presentable and have no idea how this can be possible - it CAN if you have 8 minutes to spare! (On a train, on a plane...)

Prime
Start by moisturizing and priming the skin, I use Bobbi Brown's Hydrating Gel Cream which is both a moisturizer and a primer, saving time. Then apply an under eye corrector to camouflage any puffiness or dark circles around the eyes, I use Bobbi Brown Corrector and use my fingers to pat it into the skin. Tip: Don't rub - dab and pat instead - rubbing will cause 'cakeness' and will end up moving the product away from the area you are trying to camouflage! 
Extra Tweak: The corrector might be enough, but if you need some extra help add some concealer over the corrector, again, not too heavy. I use Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer for the eye area, and there is a handy little powder that comes with it that sets it just right! I use my MAC 130 brush for the powder. 

Base
Now dab some natural sheer foundation/tinted moisturizer onto the back of your hand, and apply a very thin layer to the skin with your brush of choice - you don't want anything too heavy. I find for myself Bobbi Brown's Luminous Moisturizing Foundation works best, as it's light weight and the first foundation I have ever found that matches my skin tone in sunlight. I apply this with my MAC 107 brush in circular motions (I explain in my previous blog why I choose this brush over foundation brushes). I then quickly dab on Benefit Boiing Concealer to any areas that need more coverage (such as to dreaded spots). Alternatively you can just use a powder foundation by itself if you are one of the lucky ones and have great skin which is even quicker, I do love The Body Shop's All in One Face Base for this.
Extra Tweak: If you have time, dust over some loose setting powder to stop your liquid foundation from sliding out of place (obviously this is not needed if you are using a powder foundation), I love Illamasqua Loose Powder in LP135.

Brows
Frame your face by adding some depth and shape to your eyebrows by using an eyebrow pencil. The secret to making this look natural is to brush the pencil on against the hairs rather than in the direction they grow, this ensures that they pick up the colour naturally rather than making them look "drawn on". Fill in any gaps, and brush brows back into shape. I use MAC's Eyebrow Pencil in dark brown, or Illamasqua's Eyebrow Cake with Illamasqua's Eyebrow Brush - this is the best brow brush I have come across as its stiff, and makes it extra quick and easy to get the right amount of product onto the brows in the shape that I require.

Eyes
Use an eye primer if you can (I use MAC's Prep and Prime), then add some brown koal eyeliner to your top and bottom lids. Brown looks more natural in day light than black, and still has the benefits of making eyes look larger. Add one coat of mascara, I love Maxfactor False Lash Effect as with just one coat eyelashes appear longer and fuller. Tip: If you want to curl your lashes before hand, curl each eye's lashes twice, once mid way, and once nearer to the ends-it makes a huge difference! 
Extra Tweak: If you have time,  Use a pale pink/nude liner into the inner bottom eyelid. This brightens the eyes instantly. Also an eyeshadow applied one shade darker than your skin tone into the crease of your eye sockets (not the lid) will make eyes appear larger and more awake. Blend this well with a blending brush, I use MAC's 218 Brush.

Cheeks
Use a cream blusher as it catches the light and looks more youthful and natural, I like MAC Cream Blusher Something Special  right now, which I apply in circular sweeps using my MAC 107 Brush.
Extra Tweak: If you have time apply a sheer/shimmery blush to the apples of your cheeks only over your blusher. I love The Body Shop's Shimmer Wave pallette which also doubles up as eyeshadow.Tip: Since I like using my 107 brush for both foundation and cream blushers, I have invested in two seperate brushes so that it doesn't get too messy. If you are on a budget, a cheaper alternative to MAC's 107 brush is Elf's Stipple Brush.

Lips
Use a neutral slightly pink based lipstick or gloss to finish off the look. I opted for Elf's Plumping Lip Glaze in Baby Doll in the picture above.

You are now ready to face to day ahead!

What tips do you have for a quick daily make-up routine? Any secrets you would like to share? Do leave your comments below!

~Love and Light~

Miss Christina C