Nigerian...African Black Soap

I told my mum I wanted some Nigerian black soap and she sent me some, but she had no idea which one I was referring to so she sent me the packaged version - 


Dudu Osun



ingredients.






and the traditional version.



I remember we used to have to make them in art class or home economics as a kid. I always found it fascinating. There are many different black soaps out there, I think if you google, you will find anything from a light ashy brown to a very dark one like the ones in this post. I think this is due to the fact that our african grandmothers rare ever had written recipes and eyeballed the quantities so it didn't come out the same every single time. Also, the ingredients and quality/quantity vary from one region to the next. That is why I hesitate to say this is "African" black soap, I'm using that description for search purposes only. The soap being shown in this Nigerian Black Soap and if you don't know, Nigeria is in West Africa. 


More shots of the soap. 


side by side comparison

Nigerian black soap is softer and can be easily be broken in half by hand. 
The Dudu Osun is like any normal soap.


close up of black soap 

it looks like fruit cake or carrot cake.



easily pliable -that ball was more than enough for my face.


Because I only need very little and it lathers well,  I haven't even begun to use the Dudu Osun yet!I have more than a few months' supply which goes well with embargo on buying new skin care products. Lets hope it makes a difference or it would have all been for a nought.


take care. xx

Skin Care Update 9 months later

the date should say '11 not '10. It was a typo and I couldn't be bothered to fix it.

I write the post with a heavy heart and frankly feeling sick and tried. As you can see in the comparison shots my skin appears to be getting worse. if you look back at my 6 month post, it looked like it was getting better. Well in the past month or so things took a turn. I had a rash of break outs and then a period break out followed right after. My skin felt so painful and I was frustrated . I was frustrated with washing twice a day, using face masks, chemical peels - everything! And just started phoning it in, some mornings I only used water, other days I didn't wash at night, I just used by Paula's choice 2% BHA liquid and if I felt like it I would follow with Retin-A before I went to bed.


The result of that is what you see above. You see, I don't have that kind of skin that requires doing nothing. I've read on some sites people talking about how they just wash with water and the end. I sleep with make up on once or I don't wash with my face brush and do my face treatments/mask every weekend and I am back to square 1...literally. I'm going back to the dermatologist in the new year to regroup. I will be back blogging about that experience.


I have had no make up on for the past two weeks that I've been home on holiday from work, and that hasn't helped on bit. but, I'm still considering going make up free in terms of not wearing foundation to work (this is a huge deal for me), if it would improve my skin. My dermatologist told me to go make up free last year when I first saw him, but his words fell on deaf ears because obviously I know better. 


I did notice that my spots have a peculiar pattern and always recur in the exact some spots. This week I finally figured out why, you know when you are told to not rest your face on your hands? Well, I used to say I never rest my face on my hands so...it turns out I do! I caught myself doing it this past few days. I put my hands across my mouth. And my spots follow that exact pattern - the right side has a row from where my 4 fingers rest and the left side has a patch for my thumb - crazy! it is annoying and amusing at the same time.


I don't think I have ever written a blog post this long before. Thanks if you have taken time to read it all. I just really needed to vent! I will be back in the new year and hopefully you all can carry on in my journey with me - who knows you might see my full face and video in the future.

Dealing with acne and Hyper pigmentation: October to November Update

Sorry for the radio silence, I work freelance so my work load varies from job to job.  And because of that I have been a bit lax with my picture taking and blogging. 


My skin has been behaving lately, last winter was rough as hell, I had acne under pimples under acne under cystic acne. These days I only break out around my period. 


As for my hyper pigmentation, I feel like I'm on a diet and unable to shift the last few pounds to get to my goal weight. I'm still using Retin-a as part of my nightly skin care regimen so, I'm hoping I'll see result during my December update. 


Finally, I'm changing my moisturiser again, I HATE to do this. I love the two I've settled on - Good Things Stay Clear and La Roche-Posay Effaclar M (review up soon). But, they do not have SPF and I feel that is one thing I've been slacking off with. I'm switching to Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Skin-Brightening Moisturiser, I've used it in the past I loved it and I was sad when it ran out. But, it was quite hard to find in the UK, so I went with something I could easily pick up at the drug store. Now, I've discovered I can get it from boots online, so I'll bulk buy (2-3 bottles), the same time I order my Dark and Lovely body lotion. 



MORNING
La Roche-Posay EFFACLAR Purifying Foaming Gel
Home made toner
La Roche-Posay Effaclar M Moisturiser




NIGHT
Any face wipe I have at hand to take off make up
Dark Angels cleanser
home made face mask (I'm experimenting with this, but will share the recipe)
Retin - A




WEEKEND
Queen Helen Mint Julep face mask.
Vitamine E oil (taken off with steam/hot cloth).

Dealing with Hyper pigmentation: Home-made spot lightened facemask.

 So, I did this on a whim, I was shopping for natural haircare products when I came across a pack of lemon peel powder and I added it to my basket along with Bentonite Clay. My intention was to make a turmeric face mask out of Bentonite Clay and Turmeric. 


But, I got thinking of all the stuff I have read about skincare and fading spots and came up with a mixture of Tumeric, Bentonite Clay, Milk and Lemon Peel powder. The first mix was fine, but the consistency was off and I wasn't 100% satisfied, I kept thinking of replacing the milk with sour cream or yoghurt - which ever one had the highest lactic acid connect. 


Long story short, I feel to have figured it out now. Unfortunately, I don't have exact quantities or step by step pictures because I didn't think I would be blogging about this.  These are guestimates based on eye-balled quantities. 


4 tbs of lemon peel powder.
3 tbs of turmeric.
1 tbs of Bentonite clay.
1 tsp sour milk.
dash of lemon juice




Optional: Your favourite face oils.
I went with castor, vitamin E and Jojoba...a bit of all 3.


*Bentonite clay and turmeric are used in a few of Lush's face masks and cleansers.


Mix them all together till you get a spreadable consistency you might need to add more sour milk or lemon peel powder if it is not spreadable. 


Final product:





I use after taking off my make up and before applying night time medication. I leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes then rinse off. It tingles a bit after you put it on. I won't use this everyday because it has citrus which can be irritating to the skin.




UPDATE (well not really):
After I came up with this mix I found out that Vitamin E is comedogenic (clogs pores which then causes acne) which is kind of confusing because it is also supposedly good for skin repair. I use a 70000i.u vitamin E with no additives. I can't say for certain that it has or hasn't caused me any problems because I only use it once a week with other products. 


More conflicting info on Vitamin E and acne here: http://www.acneassasin.com/146-will-vitamin-e-cause-acne/ and http://www.beautifulskincareblog.com/comedogenic-vs-non-comedogenic-skin-deep/.

Products For Oily/Acne Prone Skin - Save and Splurge

A few tried, tested and loved products from over the past few months.

FACE WASH

Splurge  

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel - £10.21 at boots. 

Save

Lush Dark Angels available for £5.95 - can't beat cleansing and exfoliating all in one easy step. I would carry on using it if it did not stain the bathroom. 

MOISTURISER

Splurge 

La Roche Posay Effclar M available for £13.50 at boots. Matifes my skin like no other, definitely my top choice. 

Save

A long time favourite -Good Things Miracle Mattifier Lotion available for £7.99 at boots. 

Save

Boots Oil Of Evening Primrose With Vitamin E £2.79 at boots. Great product to have at hand when dealing with the dryness from Retin-A.

TONER

These products are neither Save nor Splurge. They are very affordable.

Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater - £2.32 at boots. 

Alpha Bright Skin Brightening Toner with Mandelic Acid - £5.40 from ebay

EXFOLIATOR

No Splurge products, I've got two saves.

Save

Lush Lip Scrub - controversial choice, I know, but if your skin can take the sugar granules, it is the way to soft smooth skin. I can't stop touching my face after I use it - eek! £4.95 at Lush.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Scrub at amazon for £3.17. 

MASK

I'm very new to the face mask scene, so my experience is limited. 

I'm very impressed with Lush Brazen Honey, good thing is it retails for only £5.50, so I can stock up regularly.

With any product I suggest sticking it out for at least 2 weeks to a month before you decide, unless your skin reacts badly to it then feel free to chuck away! However, if I had thrown my Retin-A out after the first week I won't have seen the progress I've documented over the past few months.  And, nope I'm not being paid to endorse boots, they just have the best deals and best rewards points system so I shop there often. You can easily purchase all of these items including the more pricey stuff with their 3 for 2 offer.  Review of the La Roche-Posay products coming soon. 

La Roche Posay Review: Effaclar M Sebo-Regulating Matifying Moisturizer

I've put off writing this review for so long, I don't even know where to begin! 


I've come to appreciate mattifying face creams since I switched to the Aveno face cream with SPF. I probably should have done more research and tried to find something that ticked all the boxes - mattify, sun protection, doesn't clog pores. I guess, there a face cream change in my future, but not for a few months. I want to finish the stash I have. 


The consistency of the Effaclar M Sebo-Regulating Matifying Moisturizer isn't as creamy as favourite - Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser (that is a mouthful). And in all honesty, La Roche Posay makes some big claims, but gun to my head I will take the Good Things Miracle Mattifier over it. 


According to the blurb on their website the  Sebo-Regulating Matifying Moisturizer will....

Day after day, can slow the production of sebum thanks to the exclusive combination of: - Sebum Targeting technology™ to target and unclog pores blocked by sebum, - Zinc Pidolate to neutralise shine at the source, - vitamins CG and E to prevent sebum oxidation, which aggravates oily skin problems. Oil-free texture enriched in absorbent microspheres for matt skin that lasts.

Honestly, I didn't really notice all that. My skin was matte, but I didn't see any of the other changes they promised. Maybe I didn't use it long enough. I didn't get to the end of the bottle. 


Another issue I have which I only discovered jsut yesterday is La Roche Posay is under the L'oreal umbrella. I don't use anything by L'oreal or it's sister companies for personal reasons. So, I'm afraid this is the end of the La Roche Posay journey for me. No big loss, there are products that offer the same things they promise for much less. 

Hope you all had a merry xmas....

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.

Skin Care Journey: Products

I paid a trip to boots on Sunday and picked up a few new items to add to my arsenal.





Boots Intensive Moisture Mask
I love, love love this. I used it on Sunday night after taking my make up off and before applying Retin-A. My skin was so soft this morning. It got me thinking about how much I moisturise my skin. I think of moisture in relation to my hair, I know what to use - oils, baggies, scarfs, deep moisturisers and even ghee. But, I never really intensely moisturise my face outside of my daily face cream. I think this might be a new beginning for me.



Boots - Cleansing Mousse, Pore Perfecting Deep Clean Mousse
For the past couple of months, I have been trying to use up skin care products I had laying around the house and I've managed to do that. I haven't been able to make it to the shops to replenish my supply so my brother gifted me a bottle of - Usana face wash which I mentioned in a previous "Skin care Products" post. Unfortunately since using it, my face started to breakout. I felt an under current of bumps beneath my skin that sent a shiver down my spine. Needless to say, I stopped using it, but not quickly enough. I have some new spots that have scared and darkened. I went to Boots to see if I could get a bottle of their Vitamin E face wash which I have had good experience with. But, they didn't have it so I settled for the  Cleansing Mousse and the Pore Perfecting Deep Clean Mousse from their botanicals range. It's only been a day, so I've yet to see the difference.



Lancome Genifique Sample
On my way out of boots, I stopped by the Lancome counter to pick up a bottle of their hypnose mascara (which I love) and I got this sample free. It is a light moisturiser and I was told it can we worn under make up...so it is like any other moisturiser. I tried it today and it started out fine, but the moisturing effect didn't last all day. By mid afternoon, I found myself reaching for the nearest moisturiser to get rid of the tight feeling. 




Skin care update to come shortly....

Skin Care Journey: Treating, and Dealing with Hyper-pigmentation and Acne (products I use pt 2 and update)

Murad cleanser - night time face wash. I got it free in a magazine. 



(trying to take an artsy shot, obviously failed)
Vitamin E - used on the weekends in the morning. It is the purest grade no additives at all. 



My new face scrub used daily. 


Week 7 and 8
I had a break out all over my forehead and temples this is weird for me as my breakouts are usually concentrated around my cheeks. I'm slightly worried that it might be caused the the vitamin E gel, but I'm still using it (eek! ). 


I'm running out of the 'Murad Cleanser' (it is only a tiny size) and 'My Good Things Stay Clear' face wash which I use daily. I'm not sure if I'm going to stay with them, because neither of them seem to have helped with my break out.  My routine is the same as I stated last week. I'll be posting my 8 week comparison pictures soon. I'm starting to think I should come off the Retin-A and give my skin a break. 


till then.

Skin Care Journey: Treating, and Dealing with Hyper-pigmentation and Acne (products I use)

Some of the products I'm using at the moment. I'm fine tuning my routine and I'll post more details about them and how I use them very soon. 


BOOTS SCRUBBING PADS
Dry



Wet



RETIN-A



TONERS CLEANSERS AND MOISTURISERS



 - Burts Bees Toner, - Good thing miracle mattifier, - Jojoba Rich Cleanser





 - Boots evening primrose, - Clinique take the day off