Thursday 29 October 2015

Acne & Lush Products

I've been using Dermalogica products for about the past year and a half; however, I'm coming to the end of most of them and basically it's time for a change! Dermalogica's Ultra Calming line was a saving grace a year or so ago when I started getting adult acne. My skin was so sore and dry just as a result of having acne, and also due to the harsh creams that my doctor had been recommending me. 

I was using a combination of azelaic acid in the evening and Benzaclin in the morning. Azelaic is... for want of a better word, a right bitch! I would lay in bed some nights in tears as it stung my face. Looking back, I must have been putting too much on. It also brings everything to a head (a very ugly, pussy, white head) which at the time seemed like the right thing to do, but I'm sure my skin got so bad because of it. Benzalcin was better as it was drying and made me feel less inflamed, but trying to put makeup on top of it was a complete disaster! I completely lost interest in makeup at that point as the last thing I wanted to do was draw any attention to my face. 

Fast-forward to October 2015 and it's time for a change! I do really love Dermalogica, but I can't afford to be spending hundreds of dollars every couple of months; I also didn't really like two other lines that I tried (Powerbright & AGE Smart). Powerbright makes my face incredibly itchy and Age Smart is too heavy and makes me break out. 


My 'acne' (I hate that word! Such an anxiety trigger!) is considerably better than a year ago; however, I still deal with breakouts daily. I do think acne is caused from within and whether it be genetics, hormones, food, allergies, stress - it's all connected so there's no point singling out one thing and then trying to fix that. 

By cutting out most of the foods that can cause inflammation such as gluten, dairy and grains, I have seen a big improvement. I also try to eat a more keto-based diet (high fat :-0, moderate protein and low carbohydrates). Fats like avocados, coconut oil, grass-fed meats etc.

Along with diet... which actually is the main purpose of this post! I will also be using some new products. I have been feeling very attracted to Lush for three reasons. 1. They don't test on animals 2. I have read lots of good reviews 3. They are really well priced and they smell good. Okay, that's fours reasons. 

A full blown Lush addiction has ensued. 



I bought a cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliant, mask, a serum and 2 samples to also try out. 



1. Bûche de Noël Facial Cleanser (I hated this at first, but you take a small chunk, mix it with water to make a paste and the gently cleanse the face. This one has really grown on me. I leave it on for 5 minutes or so to let the magical ingredients have some time to work! I still use the Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser if my skin feels particularly irritated. It's important not to over exfoliate your skin. 

2. Cup O' Coffee Fresh Face Mask (Smells nice. Actually, I'd quite like to eat it. I think you could probably DIY this one.)

3. Magical Moringa Moisturizer (Really matifying for oily areas like the forehead and nose, but too drying for the lower parts of my face where I have spots).

4. Cosmetic Warrior Mask (Keep it in the fridge! After using it, the redness on my lower face was really lessened!)

5. Full of Grace Serum (So lovely!)