Monday 17 December 2012

Coming soon...

I recently discovered completely new brand of natural and organic skincare - Michael Todd True Organics. I was doing a lot of research about the products and brand itself - all results were really positive. I was so excited and anxious to try it, that my husband ordered for me this Anti-Aging skincare regimen and in addition one more face mask.
I did get in touch with MTTO and they recommended products which are suitable to my skin type, based on the facts that I provided in our correspondence. So, when I was thinking about ordering the products, I noticed that almost all of them are in this set. The set itself was cheaper and at that moment on the promotion, so we ordered that. Now that I used up all my old creams and potions I am going to try this regimen and see how it goes. I did get 4 additional samples (of really generous size) and I loved them!
I will report back in a month or so. In the meantime, if someone has already tried some products from this brand, please let me know, I will be happy to hear your thoughts.

Love


Lace

Product Review: Trilogy Cream Cleanser

Hello everyone! Sorry for so long absence - too much to do and too little time... Anyway, today I wanted to share with you my review of this little beauty. I am sure that there are many reviews of this cleanser, however, I want to share my opinion as well.
I was looking for a natural cleanser, that also removes the make up. I can across this one in my local Boots store and decided to try it.
The cleanser comes in a very nice glass bottle with a pump (which always gets a thumbs up from me!) Packaging, although simple, still looks very nice and respectable on my bathroom shelf. The consistency is very creamy, but not runny - more of a lotion or light cream. It has a slight rosehip smell and on a contact with skin it  melts and feels really nice, creamy and moisturizing. When you massage it on your skin you can actually feel how it is getting deep inside the pores and cleans the skin. One of the best points is the fact that it doesn't dry out the skin at all- it feels very moisturized, without leaving a tight feeling or some oily residue.
One thing that really surprised me was the fact that it makes the skin very smooth. It feels like you just had a peel/microdermabrassion or just used a face scrub - very soft, smooth and even.  It removes all make up brilliantly. I am not sure how it will work with mascara - as I always remove my eye make up prior to washing my face, but it does remove the traces of mascara that my eye make up remover failed to clean up. I tried few times to go over my face with a toner to see whether some traces of make up were left - the cotton ball always stays perfectly clean!
I noticed that with continuous use my skin condition improved significantly. The texture of the skin is much smoother. Breakouts are a rare sight on my face now. Acne scars are fading as well. Skin has a very healthy glow and the best thing - I finally got rid off my blackheads on my nose! None of the solutions, even the ones that are specifically designed for that, were unable to do that. Now I have clean pores! I couldn't be more happier!
I must say I am impressed. At first I was hesitant on trying this product, but I really wanted to try natural cleanser. I was attracted by ingredients:
Aqua (Purified Spring Water), Glycerin, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides & Cetearyl Al, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis (Chamomile Flower) Oil, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, *Components of Natural Essential Oils

Not bad, right? Overall, I will say this is the best cleanser that I have ever used. When I'll finish my current bottle i will definitely repurchase it. It is £22.50, but 200ml bottle is huge and a little goes a long way. Anyway, based on the results I would say it is worth the money you pay for it.

Has anyone tried this cleanser or any other products from Trilogy? Let me know what you think about them!


Love

Lace

Sunday 18 November 2012

Ideas for Summer Wedding

This summer I will have two major events - my University graduation and the next week after that my younger sister's wedding. That means two things - I have to make sure my body is in tip top condition and I need two brilliant outfits to show it off.
Now I am on a health kick since the beginning of the summer and last week I finally signed up for gym membership, where I go as often as possible to run on the windmill. Call me lazy, but with horrible UK weather it is impossible to run outside - and I don't have a wish. The gym however, is a very good option - it is in the same building as my flat - just two levels below my flat. So there is no weather threat and no excuse. I think I will be looking for an outfit closer to the summer, as at the moment my weight is constantly changing, so it is too early to shop for a new wardrobe.
Now for the ideas - I have many, mostly inspirations out of the Internet style web sites. Does anyone have any suggestions to where I can buy some nice outfits? I would appreciate the advice. Here are some ideas - let me know what you think.

Love

Lace


Thursday 18 October 2012

Product Review: Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme

This was No.1 on my shopping list recently, as I ran out of my usual product. In addition to that I want to find a good natural version and this is my first test "subject". I paid around £12 pounds for it, but the tube is substantially big, slim and tall.
The cream is more like a gel, with slight yellow tint and gentle coconut aroma. In the beginning it feels like you are applying a honey on your feet as cream feels a bit sticky, but after few seconds stickiness disappears. The gel doesn't really sink in very well and it feels a bit greasy, like you covered your feet with oil. You do need to wait for a while, before walking again, although don't be fooled. Sometimes my feet were still looking very greasy, but they were nearly dry to touch and I could walk without my carpet or any rubbish sticking to my feet.
Apart from all the trouble it is really good. It eliminated dryness and roughness, so my feet are very soft and moisturized. I used to use Avon foot creams all the time, but they never gave the same effect, like this cream.
For a natural alternative I would say it performs very well, however, it is not my favorite. I am planning to try some other brands, before deciding which one is the best.
What are your favorites? Please share, I would love to know.

Love

Lace

Product Review: Burt's Bees Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream

Hello everyone! Sorry for my absence, but since my studies begun I have been quite busy, especially as it is my final year at the University, so I have twice more work to do than in previous years. Anyway, here I am with another review. This time it's a hand cream.
Possibly you all know Burt's Bees - it is actually very nice range of natural products, which I like a lot. I purchased this cream just because it was part of 3 for 2 deal in my local Boots store, where I was looking for something to pamper my feet and a lip balm. So this one was an added bonus.
first what attracted me to this product was the indication that it is 100% natural
It has Shea and cocoa butters and sesame oil. It is very good and effective cream for really dry hands. Cream is rich, but absorbs easily and doesn't leave sticky or greasy residue. It really works well and solves the dry hand dilemma brilliantly, but there is one big minus... The smell. How do you think it smells? Previously I had creams with Shea butter, which has very pleasant smell. Cocoa butter smell reminds me of white chocolate. Sesame, well it smells like sesame, it's OK, but nothing special. This cream doesn't smell like any of these products. And let me tell you - it smells awful... Horrible... Disgusting... It makes my eyes burn and I feel like I am going to faint after that aroma. How should I describe it? Well... Burnt wood or coal... Or even ashes - I remember that smell, as I used to have a fireplace than required frequent cleaning...
This is the main reason why I only use this cream at night - I apply it on and hide my hands under the duvet.
So overall the product is nice, but the scent is the deal breaker for me, so I am going to use this tube and never ever buy this again... Any suggestions for a nice smelling and natural hand cream? I would be very happy to hear them.

Love


Lace


Friday 21 September 2012

Product Review: Origins GinZing Brightening Mascara

This is my first ever purchase of natural eye makeup. This mascara appeared recently in UK and I decided to give it a go as at that moment I needed a new one. My lashes are quite long, but they lack in color, so what I look for in mascara is good pigment, volume and curl. Origins new mascara claims to be lengthening, brightening and lifting.
I prefer dry formulas as they are the ones which give me a proper curl and hold it during the day. Unfortunately, I was unable to find mascara with dry formula. Usual mascaras are too wet for me - they weight down my eyelashes and they look awful. That is why I get the desired effect only after multiple uses, when product starts drying out.
The reason why I decided to try out natural mascara is partly because of my new lifestyle, but also because my usual mascara started to irritate my eyes. I had a horrible feeling that I have sand in my eyes and they were constantly itching. So here it is - Origins GinZing...




It is available only in black color, which is fine for me as I don't use any other colors anyway. The brush is enormous! It is twice bigger than my whole eye. The formula is quite wet, so I thought again I will  have to wait for few weeks, before I can decide whether I like it or not. I was very wrong... When I first applied it, I thought "Wow!". It was amazing! Very rich color, no clumping, no flaking and most importantly it did everything that was listed on the packaging! It made my lashes longer, gave a bit more volume and curled them nicely! The curl stayed on all day long and my lashes looked beautiful! I never had this effect from the first use of mascara... Never! Amazing!
I also like the packaging, which is not the usual black tube. It is very nice, a bit heavy and fashionably looking. Seriously, I can't find any faults. Totally recommend!


Here are my eyelashes before applying the mascara



Here they are after applying one coat of Origins GinZing




Very nice! One coat is completely enough for me, but you can apply as much as you need for a more dramatic look, as it is possible to build up the volume.
Have you tried GinZing? Let me know if you know any good natural mascaras, I would love to hear from you.

Love

Lace


Thursday 20 September 2012

Product Review: Dr.Jart+ Regenerating BB Beauty Balm SPF30

I apologize for the poor quality of the picture - it was very hard to get decent photo of this product as the packaging was mirror-like...
During the summer I thought that idea of wearing moisturizer and foundation was not the best one. I needed something lighter, like BB cream or tinted moisturizer. The only issues I have with those products are:
  1. They have very light or no coverage and
  2. They have little or no SPF
Then I found the range of Dr.Jart BB creams in my local Boots. I think there are total of four different creams aimed at different skin concerns:
  1. Dr Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF40 - Provides high SPF40 protection with anti-oxidants. A slightly glossy, low coverage cream which helps fight aging. Particularly suitable for those over 30
  2. Dr Jart+ Platinum Beauty Balm SPF30 - Provides high coverage in a light application. The moisturizing lotion is particularly suitable for those in their 30s
  3. Dr Jart+ Regenerating Beauty Balm SPF30 - Provides strong coverage for redness and spots which won't rub off as easily as traditional cosmetics. Skin will look brighter, whilst still suitable for problem and sensitive skin. Particularly suitable for those between 20 and 35
  4. Dr Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF25 - ideal for those aged 20-35s with a soft application which gives natural, fresh looking skin and controls sebum production
All options are really great as they have quite high SPF and target various skin issues. My main issue is acne scars, so I need the best coverage possible and sun protection as I am using products with glycolic acid. So I chose No.3. I did try to take a picture so you could see the ingredients, so let's hope they will be visible.
On the box it says that it is alcohol free, promotes cell regeneration, helps eliminate blemishes and it contains sunscreen, macadamia ternifolia seed oil (lubricates the surface of the skin), jojoba seed oil ( calming and smoothing out the skin) and the most horrible ingredient - snail secretion filtrate (hydrating and moisturizing)!!! Oh God...When I realized that I will be wearng sail secretion on my face I nearly died... But I was willing to try.
The cream is very thick. It is not greasy at all. The coverage is great - I barely need any concealer - only on my very deep and dark scars. It is not matte, but it is not shimmery as well, however, I do have a soft glow on my skin which I like a lot. The staying power is really impressive - no need for powder at all, as this cream stayed put for at least five hours. It is very pigmented so you need a very little amount to cover your face and the tube will last forever.
Also it doesn't give you a heavy feeling of foundation. In terms of regeneration - I did notice a little improvement in my skin, but it is hard to tell as I don't wear makeup every day. And another bonus - it is very moisturizing! I tend to have dry patches on my skin - with this cream they are not visible at all.

There is only one problem with all creams in the range - there are no color selections. They all have only one color and it is very light. I usually use light/medium colors, but this one is  a bit too light for me. If you have olive skin tone - it will not suit you, so it is best suitable for very pale girls.
Overall I really like this cream and enjoy using it - it has good coverage and sun protection - everything I really need in a product.
Have you tried any of those creams? What do you think? Let me know what are your favorite BB creams.

Love

Lace



Friday 14 September 2012

Product Review: Sk:n Anti Blemish Intense Spot Lotion

Since recently I noticed an increase in my breakouts because of Avene D-Pigment I stopped using it altogether on my face and decided to treat the blemishes with this spot lotion. In the past I tried few - mostly cheap ones or the ones you can buy in pharmacy that has tea tree oil in it. They all dried my skin out, but didn't help with breakouts. What attracted me in this spot treatment is that amongst its ingredients it has both - glycolic and salicylic acids. The first acid, also known as AHA acid is aimed at clearing the top layer of the skin, the other one - BHA acid is aimed at goin deep into the skin and pores.
This gel is supposed to be applied only on the spots and not to the whole face. I applied it twice a day on affected areas and my skin cleared up already on the second day.
The gel itself is clear with slight yellow tint to it. It has some medicinal smell and sometimes stings when it is applied on to the blemish. It does dry out the skin a bit and in my case even makes it feel a bit tight, but the product is invisible under make up, which is really good - usually these kind of treatments start creasing when I try to apply foundation on top of it. Overall I am impressed as it did help to heal and clear my skin, so I am always having it on my bedside table for emergencies. Try it out and let me know what you think.


Love

Lace

Monday 10 September 2012

Acne Scars - How To Make Them Dissapear?

Yes, it is the most asked question, especially for those who had acne and cured it. Acne by itself is a huge problem - it ruins your looks and knocks down your confidence. Curing it is very long and difficult battle. We all think that when it is cured all problems will be over, but no. One problem is gone, another appears. Acne scars. Uneven skin texture. Huge pores. Dark or red spots/scars left by those horrible blemishes.
I tried many products, which claim that they help eliminate acne scars, but most of them don't work. At least for me. here is my story:

Bio Oil

For some people it works, for me it did nothing... I really wanted to like this, but.... nothing happened. I went through 3 (!) bottles of it - and not the small ones, but the 200ml ones - the biggest size available. I was applying it only to areas with scars and marks and as you can imagine three huge bottles lasted me a very very long time, but unfortunately - no results. Not a single one! Very upsetting and disappointing.

Verdict: 2/5


Trilogy Rosehip Oil

I wanted to like this one as well as it promises to minimize the appearance of scars and improve the condition of skin. I went through two big bottles of this oil and saw little improvement. And for some reason it made my skin very dry... Why? Have no idea..

Verdict: 3/5


Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Scar Serum

Absolutely horrible!!!! Sticky, greasy and smells like fish. Does nothing for your skin apart from making all the dust and your own clothes to stick to it... I barely made myself finish the bottle. That is all I have to say about it...

Verdict: 1/5


Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

Beautiful! Really works! I only used up one bottle of this, as back then it was too expensive for me, so I wasn't able to buy another one. The only problem I have is the packaging - the bottle is white and even when empty it still feels heavy so I had no idea at some point how much of the product I used up and how close to the end I am. But overall this product is great - silky, lightweight, doesn't cause breakouts and I did see improvement in my scars. I used the moisturizer with the similar name from this line, but it wasn't as effective as this serum

Verdict: 4/5


Alpha H Liquid Gold

I already told about this one, so you know that it works as well. The problem with this is it might not be the best solution to use in winter as it dries out the skin. In terms of acne scars it really helps to lighten them. Of course you will not see the results straight away, like with all these products, but they will be visible. Just be patient.

Verdict: 4/5


Avene D-Pigment Light Dark Spot Lightener




This is the latest product that I have tried. It says in the instructions that you need at least 30 days to see the improvements. This is exactly what I did. And I must say, there are some improvements and the best thing is that I haven't used up even half of the tube (30ml).
D-Pigment Light Dark Spot Lightener combines 3 active ingredients: Melanyde to slow down the production of melanin (pigment), Retinaldehyde to help eliminate excess melanin in the skin and Pre-tocopheryl, a vitamin E precursor (powerful antioxidant) to protect the skin cells from free radicals. This product must be used only at night, and applied only to areas that need to be treated. The cream is yellow cream with no smell. I have the Light version, for dry skin Rich version is available. I must say I did notice few breakouts in the areas where I was applying this cream, but I am not sure if it is because of the product or something else.
My main area of concern were my upper arms. I even took photos so I could see the change.
This is my upper arm on the first day of treatment.
And this is 30 days after. I am not sure if only the cream worked as once a week in addition to everything I am using my Microderm tool, which helps as well. But here it is - not too big, but some improvements. I will update what happens when I'll finish the whole tube, but so far I am happy.

Update: I stopped using it on my face as I noticed a significant increase in breakouts exactly in those areas where I am applying this product. Once I stopped my skin cleared in 2 days. So it does cause breakouts. I am still using it on my upper arms, as on my body I have dry skin so it is not affected that mush by heavy creams.

Verdict: 3/5 only because it is breaking me out

Another point is that there are other natural remedies available, like using lemon or raw potatoes or making masks with honey, lemon and apple vinegar - I tried some of them and can't really say that they helped. Maybe I'm just impatient, who knows. In the skin clinic I was told that the only thing that will help me to get rid off acne scars is the chemical peel, but it is painful, extremely expensive and very unpleasant for at least a week. So for now I'll stick to these remedies.
What about you? Do you know any tricks? What helped you? Let me know.

Love

Lace



Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Treatment Serum


I like using additional hair treatments, masks, serums and oils. Until recently I was using L'Oreal's Mythic Oil, which was fine, but as I decided to go organic and natural it wasn't an option anymore. I found this serum by accident, passing by my local Holland and Barret store. It got my attention because of really pure, natural and organic ingredients and because of Argan oil itself. I am not going to list you all benefits of Argan oil - Internet has various sources, which explain and list huge amount of information regarding this topic.
I have dark and quite long hair - they go up to my waist. Since I started using Yes to Tomatoes Volumizing shampoo and conditioner they became more healthy and shiny and this particular serum is a great addition to my haircare regime.
I really love the packaging - so far it is the nicest looking bottle on my bathroom shelf. I like the proper heavy glass bottle. It gives it more expensive vibe. I also love the pump, which is super easy controllable - whether you need half of pump or one little drop - with this pump it is easy to control the amount of product you are trying to dispense.
The ingredients are beautiful and pure. Don't confuse it with proper oil as I did. I thought it will have the same consistency, but it is different. The serum is much thicker and even a bit stickier, but don't worry as you will not get that stickiness on your hair. I found that using 1-1,5 of a pump is enough, but the amount you use will depend on your own hair length and thickness. I use this serum after I wash my hair - I spread 1,5 of a pump in my hands and then apply to lowest 1/3 of my hair, really concentrating on the ends.
i used this serum five times and I can say that I already can see the results. My hair are shiny, manageable, easier to comb and my ends are more healthy looking. It also has a slight smell of Cinnamon, which I like.
I would recommend this product to anyone, who wants to have beautiful and healthy hair, however, you must remember that it will not fix your split ends. The only thing that will - a pair of scissors. This serum will help keep the hair healthy in between cuts. It also eliminates frizz and nourishes the hair, so it will be great if you have dry hair.
Let me know if you tried this product or anything similar.


Love


Lace

Nails Of The Month

Hi everyone! here is the quick look at my nail design this month. Don't know why, but it reminds me of wallpaper design for the nursery, which I visited recently. But overall I quite like it - fun and still colorful. Hope you like it. See you next month with another design.


Love


Lace

Friday 31 August 2012

Product Review: Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Night Cream

Honestly, I have never paid attention to Dr Organic products. They are mostly sold in health food shops and in a very little quantities at the drugstores. They are quite cheap, which always was the one factor that made me think that products that cheap can't be effective. Until  I decided to completely change my lifestyle and pay more attention to natural and organic products. I already mentioned Dr Organic Royal Jelly Cellulite Cream, which I really liked and a while ago I was passing by Holland and Barret shop, which usually stocks full range of all Dr Organic products, and saw that they have a new range - Organic Moroccan Argan Oil. It was very fortunate as I was looking for a hair oil to complement my new natural hair care. Until now I was using L'Oreal Mythic Oil, which is fine, but not totally organic. So after carefully checking all ingredients in the new line I picked up a Hair Treatment Serum from this line - I will do a separate review on it once I'll have a proper try. As all products were buy one get one half price I had to buy something more. I did needed a night cream, so I decided to try Dr Organic one from Moroccan Argan Oil line.
I only had it for a week and maybe it is too early to judge, but I am totally in love with this little gem and can't really find anything wrong with it, so I had to share it with the rest of the world.


First, what I really like about this cream  - the ingredient list. It's beautiful and absolutely natural, pure and organic. As the hair serum was the most expensive of the two products I got this one for £4.50.
It is a very rich cream, with very interesting smell. It is very hard to describe this scent - not sweet, but not awful at all. On the packaging it says that cream can be used at night time or as often as needed on the face AND body. That was very surprising, considering the fact that they have a body cream in the range...
Anyway, cream is very good for repairing skin, treating dehydration and it also claims to have anti-aging properties. I was a bit worried that this cream will be too heavy for my combination skin, especially as it has so many oils in it. But it surprised me a lot. It is not heavy at all and it is different form any rich creams that I have used before. Usually rich cream is very thick and makes my skin look shiny/greasy. This one didn't. It has very thick texture, but upon application my skin had matt-like finish. It absorbs very quickly and your skin becomes dry to touch instantly. However, cream is very moisturizing, keeps the skin very smooth and comfortable. All my dry skin patches are gone and I always wake up to a soft, glowing and beautiful skin. Every mornign I was carefully examining my skin and I couldn't find any faults. It was beautiful, I looked rested and radiant. Not bad for a £9 cream! I am totally sold. Now I am willing to try more products from that range and if you are interested I can review them as well.
Have you tried any of Dr Organic products? What did you think of them? Let me know your thoughts.

Love

Lace Butterfly

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Few Little Tricks For Beautiful Skin

This is a follow up to my post about how I got rid off acne. There are some things I forgot to mention.
  1. Drink 2-3 liters of water every day. It is the obvious rule, but very effective. I notice a difference in my skin straight away as I tend to drink less water in the winter. Water purifies our skin from the inside and helps to keep it clean and glowing.
  2. Change your pillowcase every week. Especially if you suffer from acne. Bacteria is building up on our pillowcases, so it is wise to change it frequently. The best option is every two days, but once a week is good enough, too.
  3. Have a separate towel for your face. Never use the same towel that you use on your body to dry your face. It has build up of bacteria and hair products, so I always have a small towel just for my face.
  4. Try to sleep on your back. I have no idea how as sleeping on mu stomach is the best sleeping position for me. However, I am trying to fight it and sleep on the back. So far - unsuccessful. If you know any tricks on how to change this habit - please let me know.
  5. Take supplements. I try to get all my vitamins and nutrients from my diet, but there are some things that I can't get this way. Also I don't eat fish and seafood, which is very wrong, but that's just how I am... That's why I am taking fish oil capsules every day to get some Omega 3,6,9 acids, which are essential for beautiful skin, hair and nails.
  6. Miracle water. You know my obsession with Katia's blog and you-tube videos (harmonyof beauty). She has a recipe for a special drink, which you have to drink every morning when you wake up. Most of the experts advise us to start a day with a glass of water, preferably with lemon. Well this is even better. At first, all the ingredients might seem weird, but it tastes good and does miracles (hence the name). You can see her video about it here if you are Russian speaking and here for those who speak English. There she explains everything in details, also the quantities of each ingredient and the benefits of them. Most of the benefits you already know, as ingredients are: water, apple vinegar, honey, aloe juice and lemon juice. Since I started drinking this water in the mornings I feel more refreshed, have more energy and my skin became clear and glowy - no more breakouts!

So try it out and you will see results, however, consult your doctor if you have problems with stomach, acid levels or if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Hope this helps


Love

Lace Butterfly

Yes to Carrots and Yes to Tomatoes = My New Love

I heard about this company before, but never had a chance to try it's products. Honestly I never even paid too much attention on this brand - not sure why. Until my recent decision to start using more organic products. Now the Yes To... line is not 100% organic, but it is nearly there. Most of the products are 99.4% - 99.8%. I guess it is due to the Parfum, which is the only chemical ingredient which I know and which is in the ingredient list. I tried few products from this line and instantly fell in love, so in the future I am going to try more. Here is the overview of products I have so far:

Yes To Carrots Nourishing Body Lotion


This is amazing product. Absolutely gorgeous! It is thick lotion, which is very easy to blend and it disappears into your skin instantly so no need to rub it in for ages. It is not greasy, so the bonus point is that you can get dressed straight away and it has very gentle smell of..... carrots :)
In the beginning I wasn't sure about it as it sunk in into my skin and it felt dry - I don't mean dry as a skin concern, but dry like if you would wiped yourself with a towel - no residue at all. Usually all lotions, no matter how light they are, leave at least some residue, which makes you feel like you just applied a lotion. This product doesn't have it. However, the moisturizing properties of this lotion are amazing!!! I usually use this lotion after the shower in the evening and my skin still feels moisturized in the following morning and sometimes even in the afternoon.
It is a truly great product - makes my dry skin soft, supple and velvety-like.

Yes To Tomatoes Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner


This was my first attempt at trying natural shampoo, which has no parabens and SLS. I searched all over the Internet for brands and reviews on them and so far non of them convinced me to try them. Another point is the high price - for some reason all natural shampoos are very expensive. 

Yes To Tomatoes come in huge 500ml bottles, however it didn't surprise me. People say that it is SLS that makes all shampoos lather so good and as natural shampoos has no SLS they don't lather that good so yuo need more of the product.
I have long hair so on my first use I used more than I should. This picture was taken after my first use of both products and you can see how much is gone - too much.
Firstly, this shampoo lathers brilliantly! So you really need a small amount and the bottle will last for a very long time. Second, the product smells amazingly tasty. It has very delicate scent which does stay, but it is very gentle, fresh and not overpowering at all.
Both products are amazing! Shampoo cleanses the hair brilliantly - they really feel squeaky clean and conditioner makes them very soft, manageable and shiny. I did notice improvement in the volume of my hair as well - only after one use! Something I was never able to achieve even with expensive brands. At the same time hair were feeling very lightweight and it was very easy to comb them.
My only disappointment is the packaging for the conditioner. The product is extremely thick, so it is very difficult to squeeze it out through the tiny whole in the cap, so I have to unscrew it to get the product out.

Yes To Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask


Another beautiful product! It comes i a 50ml jar - which is the only downside. Having long nails doesn't make the application of this product a pleasant procedure. The mask smells amazing! Not like a typical clay mask - it has some sweet and delicious smell - good enough to eat! :)

The product does everything it says on the box - clears the skin, tightens the pores, makes skin very smooth and it doesn't leave you with tight and dry feeling on your face.
All these products are wonderful and I regret that I never tried them earlier. I recently purchased Yes To Carrots shower gel and am planning on trying Yes To Tomatoes Moisturizer. Another great point is that all products are very affordable and currently on sale on beauty bay and feelunique.com.
Let me know your thoughts on natural products - which brands have you tried? Did they work for you?


Love

Lace Butterfly

Friday 24 August 2012

Beautiful Skin - How I Got Rid of Acne

Pictures, like the one above always made me jealous. This girl's skin looks so flawless and beautiful, that I have a sudden desire to touch it. And to have it myself. Now, my skin is not that perfect, but it is in so much better condition. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of me before, so I can't show it to you for comparison. I had whole face covered with acne - blackheads, whiteheads - you name it, I had it all. It started when I was in my teens, but, unfortunately for me, my Mum had no idea what to do, so her only advice was to wait, as when I will get older my skin will sort itself out. I never owned a moisturizer or a face wash - all I used was a soap and sometimes a bit of original Nivea Creme.
So guess mu surprise, when I got 19 then 20, then 22 and no changes happened. Then I started earning my own money and was able to buy products to take care of my skin properly.

SINNERS

Proactiv Solutions
Yes, I tried it and it didn't help. It worked in the beginning, but after second set my skin got used to it and all problems came back, including a new one - products made my skin extremely dry and flaky. I did like the face mask, but it wasn't available for sale seperately, so in the end I cancelled my subscription


Clinique 3 Step System
No, no and no again. This is a waste of money. The soap always left some residue on my skin, lotion burnt my skin and made it dry and moisturizing lotion was too greasy for me. Consultant at the Clinique counter refused to believe my claims, when I came to her with my problem - she said it is impossible for 3 step system to be ineffective. But it was. I really wanted to like it and I tried it for a whole month, but I did not like the results. 


Garnier Pure Active

It did help in the beginning, but after using it every day my skin got very dry, sore and red, so I had to stop using it. 


WINNERS

As all these popular products did not work for me, I knew I had to make some significant changes overall and look at my skincare regime from another perspective. So one of the changes was to stop using face toners. Their only job is to remove the possible leftover traces of makeup that you might have after cleaning your face. So basically it was a waste of money as well. Also I discovered that it was enough for me to wash my face properly once a day - in the evening, after whole day of wearing makeup. In the morning all I do is splash my face with water. In the evening I do a proper cleans and follow two rules: never go to bed without taking a makeup off. That is very important and will cause you problems if you will. And second rule: try not to use the face wipes, unless you really have to. Theya re quick and easy to use and I used to use them instead of a proper face wash, but since I stopped I saw improvement in my skin and it's tone.
Now to the products. These are the products that work for me, I did a lot of research and testing, before concluding what works best for me.

Clarisonic Mia

Beautiful device! Cleans skin perfectly, makes it smooth and helps to get rid off stubborn blackheads. I use it in the evening only. When I first got it I used it twice a day, but it was too much for my skin, so I decided to use it in the evenings. Also I use it 2-3 times a week. It really does clean the skin very effectively, so it is worth to invest in it.


PMD Personal Microderm
i discovered this little beauty through You-Tube and ordered it on line from official PMD web site. As it was coming from US I had to wait the whole month for it to arrive. It is a brilliant tool. I used to have dremabrassion sessions done in salons and I do know what a great effect it has on the skin, so having one at home is wonderful option. It costs £124.99 and is worth the price. It comes with two nozzles - one small for a face and one big one for body. It also comes with discs, which have aluminum oxide coating and are available in three colors: blue, green and red. My set came only with blue (for sensitive skin) and green (medium grit). It also has DVD with instructions, so you have to watch it first. The device itself removes the top layer of the dead skin and you have to use it once a week. After using it skin becomes very smooth - no scrub will ever give you this effect. 

Originally I ordered it for improving my acne scars and so far I am happy with results. Now they sell it in UK as well and you can find it here.

MD Formulations Facial Cleanser Cleanses and Exfoliates

This cleanser is also brilliant. I discovered it on You-Tube as well. It has 12% glycolic acid, so it is very effective chemical exfoliant. It has a mild chemical smell which is not too bad and overall it is a pearly white gel. I massage it on a dry skin, with my make up on (of course you can't use it on the eye area, so I remove my eye make up separately). After massaging for few seconds I leave it on for 30 sec and then rinse of. After that skin is very smooth and make up dissolves instantly. I do not need to double cleanse as there is no dirt or make up to remove. It also is very effective in fading the acne scars. I use it three times a week, and when I use this gel I will not wash my face with Clarisonic. Also you must remember that all products with glycolic acid make your skin sun sensitive, so sunscreen is a must if you are using this product.


Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
My absolute must have product! After cleaning my face I apply 3 drops of this serum, following with my favorite moisturizer and job done! This serum is aimed at repairing your skin and reversing all the damage done to it while you sleep. This little beauty changed the look of my skin dramatically! I do not have acne anymore, scars are fading, skin is smooth, texture is improved and skin tone is more even. Beautiful. I had a 30ml bottle and it lasted me for 6 months so don't be afraid of the big price tax. I absolutely recommend it to everyone!


So basically this is it. I do not use toners or scrubs, only the products listed above plus the favorite night and day moisturizers. If somebody is interested I can do a separate review on the moisturizers that I am using, however I am still on a hunt for a perfect eye cream. Also I will write a post about good/bad face masks and acne scar fading treatments. Hope you will be interested!


Love


Lace Butterfly