Out of your comfort zone

As my quest for affordable high street products continues, I manage to find something for my partner.  











Lacura GentleMan's Skincare kit, which includes a 15 ml revival serum and 24 hr hydro cream. This costs £12.99 for the complete set so I thought that I would try just one as he has very sensitive skin and often reacts to the most subtle of fragrances.  


However, this one seems to be a winner, the only problem is trying to get him to understand that less is more.  You only need to use a couple of drops of the serum as 15mls doesn't really go a long way but the 24hr hydro cream is incredible and  feels luxurious to the touch.  If the truth be known I think my partner prefers the cream to the serum but he has agreed to give them both a go, for how long who can tell? 

Once he has applied both of these products his skin looks a lot less tired than it use to and the area around his facial stubble seems a lot more smoother than it did.  When I return to Aldi, I notice that the cost of the product has reduced to £4.99, so what do I go and do? Purchase another 5, I hope he uses them.

Bearded lady

For the last couple of weeks, I've been researching the different types of grooming products available for men.  I've discovered a product called By My Beard and have got a number of men who are sporting different styles of beards at varying lengths to test the products for me and the results are pretty impressive.  The products include a Beard Shampoo, Beard Conditioner/Moisturiser and Beard Oil.  So what's the difference between these products and what's already out there.  Its all in the price and in addition to this as well as using these products I've asked them to all start taking Omega 3. In just over the week, their complexion has improved and their beard is looking great.  

These 3 products are available from www.etsy.com.uk/shop on my SkinProducts4u page and cost £8.50 for all 3.  So if you know someone who has a beard that needs a little TLC then what are you waiting for? Make that introduction and make it happen.

By My Beard - Beard Shampoo 300ml

The Shampoo is made up of selected skin & hair conditioners that have been combined with tea tree oil, a great anti-bacterial.  This will keep your beard clean, soft and manageable and at the same time help to soothe your skin as your beard is growing.

By My Beard - Beard Conditioner & Face Moisturiser 300ml

This wonderful lotion is suitable for all facial hair which includes your 5 o'clock shadow, extended goatee through to your full on beard.  The menthol will reduce any irritation that might occur during those awkward stages of hair growth, whilst the essential oils provides moisture throughout the day.  The Moisturiser can be applied as part of your daily routine and will care for the skin at the base of your beard whilst helping to soften it at the same time.

By My Beard - Beard Oil 30 ml

1-2 drops of this conditioning oil warmed in the palms of your hands is all that is required for your beard hair and skin.  The oil absorbs quickly and leaves a pleasant fragrance, that smells really good.

Skin deep

For the last week, I've been taking skin, hair and nail vitamins, 3 tablets per day which seems quite a lot  but the results are worth it.  My skin started to clear up within a couple of days and my nails got longer and stronger.  I've also noticed that I'm getting less blemishes on my face so I'm hoping to see what happens if I continue to take these tablets over the next few weeks.  I've given up using the Lumie Clear light therapy and feel that taking the vitamins in conjunction with my skin routine is possibly having a better effect.

Skin, Hair and Nails vitamins is available from Holland and Barrett starting from £10.29 for 60 tablets and are currently in the penny sale.

Hiding behind the mask

They say that you can use a face mask (my favourite is Lacura Caviar peel mask £6.99) once a week and that you should steam your face before you do this to enable your pores to be opened. I have a facial steamer but I'm not its biggest fan.  I don't notice any improvement when I use it other than my face feeling warmer.  However, its a product that I rarely use and therefore am limited to comment about its long term effects.  Having said that LIDL also sell a ionic facial steamer which is by Sanitas and will hopefully be part of their special buy range in February 2017, if they decide to  sell it again.  I'm likely to give this a go  as you can never have too many beauty devices.

I'm not invisible anymore

I took it all off, every trace of make-up and I like what's in front of me but I did have a little help, Microderma-brasion.  I purchased my Sanitas Microderma-brasion £24.99 from Lidl about a year ago, I didn't have a clue back then what Microderma-brasion was but thought that it had to be good as there were only a couple left when I got to the supermarket.  So I watched a couple of videos on youtube and its still as effective today as it was back then. Any blemishes remaining on my face just seemed to fade away.  I then followed with Lacura facial treatment oil for dry skin even though mine is combination and the next morning, my skin looked amazing.  The blemishes had virtually gone, (likely to be hormonal given that they arrived quickly and departed in the same manner) my skin was glowing. So I left the house with just eyeliner and mascara and the rest is as they say another story.

I'm not letting go

My partner has no idea what I am doing, he knows that I use a lot of products and that I'm always trying out some new beauty treatment but he never tells me that I should stop. If he did I wouldn't listen to him anyway, the point is everyone has a vice of some sorts and I guess mine is about getting quality at a fraction of the cost that others would want to pay. 

For years, I've have only ever used brand named products. I have lived and breathed Clinique for approximately 18 years but when my skin started to change as soon as I hit my 30's in that I was prone to several outbreaks some would even call, mild adult acne.   I figured that I wasn't really getting what I was paying for, so at the age of 39 I decided to take my skin care routine into unknown territory.  I began by researching a beauty product called Lacura that I discovered could be purchased from my local Aldi store.  I then plucked the courage to do a few skin patch tests to see if I would react to any of the ingredients and four years later I haven't looked back.

First day back at work?

As you may have guessed my blemishes didn't reduce as well as I hoped, if anything they appeared to be increasing.  So I had little choice but to revisit what has been my mantra for these last few months oil cleansing.  For those of you who haven't come across this term, this involves using no more than half a teaspoon of coconut oil (preferably extra virgin oil, at a cost of £2.49 Aldi) for your face and neck, anything more than this and it just gets messy. 
I use a warm wet flannel to take the excess of oil off and then follow this procedure with a facial wash, Lacura Gentle Facial Wash 99p Aldi.  I use this in conjunction with my Silvercrest Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush £19.99 from Lidl, my Clarisonic wannabe.  I purchased it over a year ago and loved it so much that I bought a further two during the Christmas holidays. 

My last step involves using light therapy, I purchased a Lumie Clear several years ago and admit that I haven't been consistent with this product, I paid approximately £149 for this but have noticed that this has been reduced to  £74.50 at Amazon.  This form of Light therapy is aimed at mild to moderate acne and needs to be done for at least 12 weeks before any noticeable improvement is made.

I end this routine by using a couple of drops of Lacura Caviar Serum £7.99 on my face and neck before I apply my Lacura Caviar night cream £6.99 and pray that my skin starts to settle down.  After all the time and energy that I've invested to use these treatments, things  have got to get better, don't you think?

Bank Holiday a day of rest...no such luck

Last night I cheated, I cut corners with my bedtime skin care routine and will probably end up paying for it in the days ahead.  Although disposable face wipes appear to take away most traces of make-up, all they actually do is move the dirt around your face.  However, when you've had a late night and the last thing you want to do involves a further 15 minutes delaying your beauty sleep.  I suggest you purchase (whilst their in stock) Lacura Caviar face cleansing wipes £1.79 for a packet of 25 and sold by Aldi.  

I convince myself that by using two of these wipes as opposed to just one, I'm attempting to remove a little more  make-up than I did first time round.  I know,  I'm fooling myself but its late and I'm tired.   I then follow with Lacura Intensive Treatment Oil, a 3ml capsule of which 20 drops in the palm of your hands is more than sufficient.  My night cream is a favourite of mine, one which was purchased during Aldi's special buys events but unfortunately has not returned, Lacura Clear Effect night cream £2.99.  This cream is for adult blemished skin for mild to moderate acne and does the job when my skin decides to churn out some of the impurities that its had to deal with during the week.

Later on this evening, I'll have to step up my routine, if I want my blemishes to look reduced before I go back to work on Tuesday.

New Year's Day and still counting

So here it is New Year's Day 2017 and I'm sat in my living room looking at my partner of nearly 10 years and thinking that something has to change.  If not him, then it has to be me, the change involves opening up my world to those of you that maybe interested in finding affordable beauty products.  Skin care products that actually work and won't involve you having to pay above the odds for something that is going to enhance your beauty regime and get your friends asking how much does it cost? or where can I get it from?  Have I got your attention yet?  Do you still need convincing?  Am I wasting my time? If you've answered yes to two at least two of these questions, then I only ask that you keep an open mind.  Along the way I'll invite you to explore some of my skin successes and disasters that you may find of some interest.