Dealing with Hyper pigmentation: My Skin Now

Before picture of the right side taken in april 2011. After picture taken on September 2011 .



Before picture of the left side taken in June 2011. After picture taken on September 2011 .


6 months of trial and error. The things I believed worked for me are - Retin - A 0.1%, Duac (NOT used at the same time as retin-A), Mandelic acid toner, DHC face brush and weekly deep face scrub with Lush's lip scrub. Everything else has been a diversion, given me more spots or window dressing.


My routine for the past week. I'm trying to incorporate Lush products into my routine.


MORNING
Dark Angels cleanser
Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar Toner (I spilled my *Mandelic acid toner -aaargh)
Good things Mattifying Moisturiser (*La Roche-Posay Effaclar M Moisturiser)




NIGHT
Boots Botanics Pore Perfecting Deep Clean Mousse
Lush Brazened Honey (every 2 or 3 days)
Retin - A
Jojoba oil, Castor oil, Lemon oil mix (I'm not sure if this does anything, but I use it when it doesn't feel like a "Retin-A day")




ONCE A WEEK.
Boots botanics intensive moisture mask
Vitamin E oil - smothered on and taken off with hot water and a cloth.
Lush Lip Scrub as a face scrub - don't feel the need to use this as much since I started using Dark Angels


I'm sure it looks like I'm using a lot, but it is really just a 3 step system - cleanse, tone, moisturise. If you are about to embark on your own skin care journey you need to have at least those 3 things down. 


*I'll be switching to these products once I purchase them after payday. I also need to replace my DHC facebrush.

Music Post: Lauryn Hill - Repercussions

Sounds like a leftover song from the days of the "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".

Lush Skin Care Products Review

 I was stuck in a rut with my skin care routine and I was itching to try something new (and affordable). So, I popped into Lush and had a chat with one of the assistants told her about my issues and she recommended Dark Angels as a daily face cleanser, it has a sprinkling of sugar granules so it doubles up as a scrub.

I was also given a few samples and a full size Cupcake face mask for free because it is a fresh product and they can't sell it after a week, so they give left over stock away as samples. The lady told me I had 20 days left and to store it in the fridge. I got home and immediately stucked into my goodies.I've used all the products for a week now and here's what I think


CUPCAKE





This is the item I got for free. It looks like chocolate mousse and smells like spicy chocolate mousse. There is nothing on the box about how frequently it should be used and due to the impending expiration date, I used this every other day for about a week and a half. This made no difference in my skin  good or bad. There was no adverse reaction like breakouts and no drying either. I eventually used the left over product as a hair cleanser since a lot of the active ingredients like Rhasoul mud and peppermint are used in hair products. It worked perfectly fine, actually better than a shampoo for me because shampoos leave my hair dry and crunchy and I didn't get that with this. If I ever by this again, it will be as a hair treatment not a face mask.


DARK ANGELS



I love using this every morning, it cuts my routine in half because I don't have to wash and then use a scrub. My skin always feels clean afterwards, but not tight. It doesn't give me the grey, ashy look I get after using most face wash. You may have noticed this grey/ashiness in my progress pictures, I don't have that when I use this. And my skin feels so soft I can't stop touching it - eek!


Definitely a keeper...for now.


MOISTURISER SAMPLES



Vanishing Cream - this goes on like a dream, a little goes on a long way. I applied it several ways - on it's own, mixed with Grease Lightning, with Grease Lightning on top. and it worked best for me when I mixed it with Grease Lightning, My make up looked better and this is definitely one I'll be buying at after pay day.


Enzymion - I found this to be an okay moisturiser. It did it's job, but I was more bowled over by vanishing cream just having a look at my notes now I don't have anything written down about this (not good). I'm sure I didn't hate it, a bit like the cupcake, it made no real difference worth raving or bitching about. Good for someone else, but not me.


FACE TREATMENT
Grease Lightning - I used to use this about a year and a half ago and I loved the sucked the oil off my skin. Why did I stop using it? I have no idea, my bottle ran out and I never got round to buying another one.


coming next week my review of Lush's Brazen Honey - it contains a few spot lightening ingredients, I just had to buy it.

Some of my favourite "break up" songs

In no particular order...


Fefe Dobson - Scar


When I hear the Lyrics "And when you told me -  You don't love me anymore -You don't love me anymore - You punched me out  - You took me down". I want to crawl up under my duvet and never come out. 


Lee Ann Womack - Last Call

For me this song captures the moment when you realise what "you are too good for this sh*t".  
Lyrics: But baby, I won't be there to catch you when you fall. 


Amy Winehouse - You Sent Me Fly

I love how upbeat and yet, angry this song is. 


Fiona Apple - Paperbag

To me this song is about disappointment. Being madly in love, but realising the guy won't take a chance on you.  I have every single fiona apple album, she is one of my favourite artists to listen to when I'm heartbroken.


Anna Nalick - Wreck of the day

This song being me so close to tears, it is my "nail on the coffin-delete your email and phone humber-remove you from facebook" song. 


There are a couple of others that don't spring to mind at the moment, there might be a part 2 of this soon.

My most popular posts.

In no particular order:

1) Review of "Childish Gambino - Culdesac"

2) Brandon Flowers - Flamingo album cover

3) African Music Post (Barbara Kanam)

4) Free Album Download - Childish Gambino

5) African Music Post (christy Essien)

6) African Music Post (Akon)

7)  Review of "Rupaul-champion"

8) New video: Broken Bells - Ghost Inside

9) Free Music Download - Apple Trees

10) African Music Post (Rokia Traore)

11) New Music Post: Brandon flowers - Only The young

12) Refashioned Maternity Dress


So what have I learnt? you all love your african music. I assumed it was a bit niche and probably unpopular, but they get quite a remarkable amount of hits. The other type of post that get a lot of hits are the free music posts ....understandable! And finally my new additions the fashion and skin care stuff are slowly coming up. I tried focusing my blog on one thing and I got a bit bored and uninspired. I think if anything my readers- regular or those who stumble on this blog through search engines like a variety of things. As long as I have the time and I feel inspired I'll continue to provide that variety. One thing I will make an effort to do, is to find more African music, I have been so lazy with that lately.


See you later

Skin Care update

Sorry, I have stalled with my skin case updates. I wasn't too impressed with the results I got from the mandelic acid peel and that left me disheartened. I had a break out every time I used it which created more spots, I used it for 5 weeks, but I couldn't bring myself to do the 6th week. I felt defeated and I stopped using everything - Retin-A, Duac, face peel. I went back to basic face wash and exfoliate. Recently, I created my own little experiment, I mixed castor oil and lemon oil. and I've been using that for 2 weeks and waiting to see what happens. 

The benefits of castor oil
 Castor Oil cures acne
The Ricinoleic Acid in castor oil works to inhibit many viruses and bacteria, and as castor oil is able to penetrate skin tissue deeply, this makes it an effective treatment for acne.
To treat acne, dab a hot damp washcloth all over your face in the evening before you go to bed. The heat will gently open the pores on your face. After this, massage a little castor oil gently into the skin. Leave on overnight. Repeat this daily for 1 to 2 weeks to see results. You can also repeat this twice in the day, once at night and once in the morning.

http://skinverse.com/castor-oils-many-uses-for-beautiful-skin-and-hair.html/comment-page-15#comment-39815 

I don't use it with a hot wash cloth, but I do rinse my face with warm water. I'm going to try the wash cloth and see how it helps. 


Benefits of Lemon oil

Among essential oils, lemon oil is known as a strong antiseptic that prevents and clears up infections and inflammation. For oily and acne prone skin, it is used to control excess oil as it removes it easily yet it is not as harsh as alcohol, so the skin is not left dry and flaky. Since it is an astringent, it constricts blood vessels and reduces the appearance of pores, it is recommended for large pores.

http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/lemon-oil.html 

I've been using the mixture for two weeks now. I'm going to wait for month before I comment on any progress. I've also been using lush Mint Julep lip scrub...as a face scrub and my skin feels soooo good. 
 


I bought this when my lips were really dry and it didn't really work for me. So, rather than throw it out or leave it to gather dust, I used it on my face instead. I only use it once a week, but the results last for days. I use it as a dry scrub - so, very dry face and I lean over a skin and scrub. My skin feels so soft and smooth afterwards. I've tried to make homemade sugar scrubs, but I never get the consistency right. 
Store bough scrubs are too oily and I fine them hard to manipulate. This is unlike the typical face scrub which tend to use olive oil as a base. This contains Jojoba oil which is great for acne and oily skin. And peppermint oil which reduces the production of sebum. I'm trying out some other lush products so there is going to be another post with reviews on that as well. 




See you soon,

Golden Oldies

Janis Joplin - Work Me Lord.





A lot of white soul/blues/jazz artists are often described as sounding "black" - Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Boy George ( WTF?!) but, they rarely ever do. To me Amy, Duffy, Boy George (and others) all sound like white people imitating black musicians. But, with Janis it's different. She sounds like she should look like Aretha Franklin. I'm not the least bit religious, but I just love this song. 

Barbie Loves Stila Smudge Pots Swatch/Review

Barbie Loves Stila Smudge Pots- Little black Dress (Black with purple shimmer) and Cobalt Clutch 


No Flash






With Flash



 I'm not one for writing lenghty reviews unless is music so I'm just going sum this up quickly. I love the product, it dries on fast and lasts all day and even over night I can still see traces of my swatch test on the back of my hand. The only major downside I've noticed to this is that it is rather difficult to apply, I've settled for applying with a mixture of my fingers and a flat stiff brush. Other brushes I've tried move it around a lot and I ended up with a patchy application.  It has a weird consistency the best way to describe it is a "oily gel liner", but don't let that fool you the product is far from greasy or oily.


These go for up to £20 a pop, but was lucky to bag both brand new for £16.65 on ebay. I think if is definitely with a buy, because it is so convenient to use apply it all over your eye and you have an instant eye-shadow look. The two I purchases - blue clutch and Little black Dress but have a hint of glitter to them. Little Black Dress is PERFECT for instant dark eye, when you are on the go and in a hurry. The little purplish glitter particles makes it look like you made more effort than you actually did. 


These get a thumbs up from me.