My Current Faves!

I've been trying out a lot of new products recently. It's hard for me to find products, especially one's that are going to go on my skin, that don't irritate my eczema so when I do find the odd few I use them over and over.

1. Boots Simply Sensitive Deep Cleansing Face Mask - I like a pamper just as much as the next girl but I haven't ever found a face mask that doesn't make my skin feel like it's on fire. I decided to try this one out, for £1.49, what have I got to lose? This mask does have a slight burning sensation but only for the first few seconds after you have put it on, and it leaves the skin feeling very clean and super soft. It's cheap and will never be as good as the high end masks out there but for a budget buy, it works great!
2. Collection Fast Stroke Waterproof Eyeliner - Another budget buy at £2.99. This eyeliner stays on as long as you need it without it flaking off as you can often find with cheaper brands. I really like the brush as it makes flicks easy and gives a very precise line. Only grumble about this product is that it is maybe a little too waterproof? I know that sounds silly but it really does take some scrubbing to get off!
3. Nivea Creme Soft Shower Cream - Unfortunately I can't use any gel based washes so that's why I absolutely LOVE this shower cream. It has slight scent to it and feels really nice on the skin in the shower. It doesn't dry the skin out like you find with some shower creams as it contains almond oil. Again, another bargain at just £1.99.
4. Paul Smith Optimistic - I love this perfume, it's definitely my spring scent. It's such a lovely smell and people have been complimenting me on it nearly every day. It's currently on offer on the Superdrug website so grab it while you can! I'm absolutely rubbish at describing smells so I took this description from the Superdrug website: 'Containing an energetic top note of sharp mandarin and spicy black pepper, this fragrance really grabs your attention. The heart is a mix of sensations with the fresh note of mint and the softness of geranium. The base is a classic Paul Smith combination of aromatic and woody ingredients, with vetiver, cedar and the sensual surprise of amber.'
   
5. Primark Nails - Now these really are the buy of the month! Primark have loads of different designs for you to try; some are on trend and some, like mine, are just adorable. Considering these are only £1.00 they're not the best nails you're going to find but they are well worth the money and stay on your fingers pretty well! I suggest you pop down to your local Primark and grad yourself some! 

So there you have it :) I hope you enjoyed this post guys and I'll see you soon. Thank you for reading,
Charlotte xx

My Eczema Skin Care Routine

Hello again :)

I'm going to be going through the products I use to keep my eczema under control and, although I don't necessarily like all products, they do work.

 Aqueous Cream is my holy grail. I use it to wash with as well as to moisturise. It's a very thick cream and has no perfume to it. I use it to moisturise all over my skin as well as my face and it leaves my skin feeling very soft. For a large tub like this I paid £4.09 and I get mine from BOOTS. 

This was a bit of a bonus buy really. I wanted a cream to go in my bag for my hands as they get very dry outside, especially in the winter. All the other creams that I had tried contained perfumes and made my eczema flare up horribly. This was from the 99p store and has worked wonders. I did try it on my face and it dried my cheeks out further so I have stuck to just using it on my hands and I am very happy with it!

I get Betnovate from my doctors and it is a mild steroid cream. I don't use it very often as I personally feel that it does not have any effect on my eczema and it is not something that I would get again. I have used it countless times of inflamed eczema patches and find it does not clear it up, on dry skin however it does have a small effect.

Mometasone is a strong steroid cream that is for eczema that is flared up and very angry. It is not recommended that you use it on your face as this is a very strong cream and is too harsh for the sensitive skin on the face. This is a miracle worker and with the tiniest amount heals even the worst patches of eczema.

So there you have it. It's not perfect and it's certainly not a cure but it works ok for me.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon,
Charlotte xxx

Beautiful Skin - Inside Out!

We all know how important it is to have a great skin care routine. Cleanser, toner and moisturiser are usually the bare minimum now with so many other products sneaking their ways into our everyday regimes. It's all well and good using these products and hoping that they will make us look 10 years younger and as fresh as a daisy but without eating properly and concentrating on the basics, how well will they really work? 

I'm going back to the very basics, before all the magical creams, and take a look at what we can do ourselves to look beautiful. 

EAT YOUR WAY TO BEAUTIFUL SKIN

1. We all know how important it is to drink plenty but to get glowing skin we should be aiming to get about 6 glasses a day! And that does not include coke or coffee. 
2. Fruit and Vegetables!!!!! I can hear you all now, "5 a day, yes yes we know!" But did you know that carrots, broccoli, apricots, strawberries, watercress and oranges are all skin superfoods, so get them down you as often as you can! 
3. Chocolate hasn't been linked to having problem skin, so you can still indulge in your little choc-attacks. Within reason people! 
4. Skipping meals is a big no-go when it comes to healthy skin so make sure you're sticking to a regular, balanced diet. 

LOOKING AFTER YOUR SKIN IN SUMMER

Winter is on it's way out (thank goodness) and Summer is just around the corner so here's some things to remember for when the sun comes out.

1. Slap on that suntan lotion! Do it before you get dressed as part of your normal moisturising routine. 
2. Don't forget about the skin on your lips. They are so prone to burning and people often miss them out so invest in a lipsalve with SPF.
3. If you can stay out of then sun between 12 and 3. You're all shouting at me again, "We know this!" but how many of you actually do it?! 
4. Buy a fashionable summer hat, one that you really like, and WEAR IT! 

LOOKING AFTER YOUR SKIN IN WINTER

Although we may be seeing a tad more of the sun now, Winter is still lingering and so we need to be protecting our skin from the cold weather. 

1. Cold weather and freezing winds dry out the skin and make us itch so make sure you're covering up and trying to keep as much of your skin away from the elements. 
2. If you're layering up in this weather then make sure the layer closest to your skin is a light cotton as this keeps the skin warm and dry and is less likely to irritate it. 
3. I know you're all dying to hop into a nice hot shower or bath when you get in but the water dries out your skin! I'm afraid that if you want beautiful skin you're gonna have to turn the heat down just a little bit, and keep your time in the water to a bare minimum! 

So there you have it, just a few tips and tricks to save our skin without the expensive products. However, integrating these pointers with your usual regime will most definitely give you the best skin you have ever had! 

Thank you for reading and I'll see you soon,
Charlotte xx

Body Shop Vitamin E Range

Now, as an eczema sufferer, I'm not really one to buy products from The Body Shop as I have to be really careful and selective about the things that I put on my skin, especially on my face. I had, however, read somewhere that Vitamin E was supposed to be really beneficial for those with eczema and so I decided to give it a go. 

The Body Shop isn't always cheap and so my Mum said that she would buy me some Vit E stuff to try out for Christmas. (Side Note: I have since been into Body Shop and seen that this set was on offer for around £18 so not too expensive!) 

In the set you get 3 products: a Cream Cleanser, a Hydrating Toner and a Moisture Cream. 

First thing that I noticed, and loved, was this little step-by-step guide on how to use the kit. Now I know that not every needs to learn how to cleanse, tone and moisturise but I thought that this was a great little addition for beginners and it was super simple to follow. 

The cleanser does exactly what it's supposed to. Unclogs pores, removes make up and cleans all the dirt from your skin. It's very gentle and contains shea butter and oils. Despite this it does not leave the skin feeling greasy, even on somebody with a very oily complextion. 

The toner finishes off the whole cleaning process but getting rid of any left over make up, cleanser and nasties that may be on your skin. Again this one was very gentle, it smelt pleasant and it was alcohol-free; BONUS! 

Last but not least is the moisturiser. This had a lovely, soft texture to it and felt really refreshing on the skin. It did not leave the skin looking greasy like some moisturisers and my skin drank it up very quickly. 

Overall I really like this set, it's gentle and smells lovely. However, as I said earlier, I tried these products as part of my search to find an eczema friendly routine and I'm afraid to say that this is not it. I started off by using the products twice a day and at first it worked out just fine. After about a week however my skin started to get very dry and red patches started to show on my cheeks. I immediately stopped using these products and went on a very basic water and aqueous cream routine until my skin healed up. 

I have since restarted using the products as a once a week treat and it seems to be working out really well. My skin is looking better than ever and I have a lovely, healthy glow. I would not say that these are bad products, however I would advise that if you have eczema (or any other skin condition) then use them sparingly. 

Thanks for reading and I'll see you all soon,
Charlotte x

P.s. The little owl featured in my pictures was also from The Body Shop, isn't he cute?!