My acne and Eczema breakout!!

When I was born I suffered with eczema really badly up, the use of steroid creams really did thin my skin so bad which resulted into super sensitive to a lot of creams which meant my skin was always needing TLC. Up to late teen age, I only suffered with eczema whenever I was severely stressed which would mainly be my exam periods also winter times would be the worst as my skin is super dry and nothing seemed to work unless I applied something every 2 hours to my skin. I was so grateful when I learnt so much about skin products and knowing how to deal with flare ups.
During my teenage years I suffered with spots as well as acne - dark purple pimples, red raw skin, painful to touch and of course, itchy skin. I had really oily skin which was annoying as my acne and eczema got worse.

Anyone else have this problem?

sore face and irritated neck building up in the first month

Now I am in my late 20's I thought it all had stopped but recently in September I started to have the odd pimple, then it turned into dark purple pimples, started spreading and before I knew it, I realised it was acne again!! It's been so long since I last suffered with it and I was suprised I had it again. I then had a massive break out of eczema on my neck, from a diameter of 1cm spread across my neck. I didn't even notice it until people were pointing it out to me at work, I didn't feel any itching or pain, which means there was absolutely no irritation. My face ended up red raw with rosacea skin - it was so painful.

5-6 weeks after

A week later it all got worse, my acne had spread from my cheek to my jaw line, painful to touch and I stopped using my Galvanic Spa as it was so painful to even have the gel over my face. The eczema started to get itchy and I was travelling to Hong Kong and Japan which was a real climate change from England, sadly my skin suffered - BIG TIME. I mentally suffered too!!

To totally clear up this I used various products as well as supplementing myself to detox the toxins that was lingering in my body. I didn't feel 'unwell' as such and did not catch anything such as the common winter flu or cold ( like I use to but for the last 2 years I have been feeling GREAT) so this is a way of my body suffering from the inside.


For the outside of my body I used:

acne life saver set  - cheaper to purchase as a set to save a huge amount of money!

Previously I tried various acne friendly products but with the amount of alcohol and acids in them, it burnt my skin and wasted my time as well as my money. I decided to try the Clear Action set from Nu Skin as I heard so many good reviews as well as good results from photos of people who used it to clear their acne.


The set included a foaming cleanser, toner, day cream and a night cream. Each set lasted me just over 3 months and within 2 days of uses I saw and felt results. The little bumpy spots dissapeared! I was so excited to continued to use the set as I LOVED how my skin felt as well as seeing that my dark purple spots were dissapearing. This was an important factor to me because it proves to me something is happening rather than waiting because when you are suffering, time is an issue. 
 
The clear action is a very gentle treatment system designed to help clear the blemishes you have now, fade the signs of past breakouts, and, most importantly, keep skin clear and vibrant for the future. Very easy to do and very effective results. I love how gentle the cleanser is when it's applied to the skin, it turns into a clear liquid when it's dried within 2 minutes.

Toner has a unique lid to prevent further bacteria feeding in your skin

The next step is followed by a toner, which has a unique lid pumping system so that no bacteria can access into the bottle.

The 3rd step is either a day cream or a
night cream, melts into the skin and looks after it whilst you sleep or work in the day.


For my eczema I used a blend of these 3 products together equal parts and stored it in a pot.

* this hand is not mine but someone else who had great results

•  Perennial - IBR-Dormin, Kukui nut oil and meadowfoam seed oil, Garcinia indica (kokum) seed butter- gives you super moisturised skin without the greasy feel on the skin, 
• Firewalker - Cordyline Terminalis & Orbignya Phalerata - works deep into the skin to repair the damaged layer of skin to stop the spreading
• Enhancer - containing aloe vera, Panthenol & Hyaluronic acid -super moisturiser to repair the broken skin and calm redness

As for the inside of my body I have always been on my Lifepak multivitamins, (I stopped taking them for a few weeks then this flare up happened along with other factors like stress) , I never again want to stop taking my multi vitamins as they are what's protecting my immune system. I was also taking R2 to deeply cleanse but I found it wasn't doing anything other than give me more energy. I decided to try Reishimax as the active ingredients help to fight the natural killer cells from the body. I felt like this was the last option for me and I was right!! It helped!! after about 2 weeks of taking this my eczema cleared up and m acne was very less visible, I was so relieved!

free from eczema!!

So to conclude this post, I went through a lot not to mention my confidence level was much lower as I have always looked after my skin but when I did stop taking my supplements - my body lacked nutrition and whilst I Was dealing with a lot of stress factors it lead to poor sleeping patterns  sleeping 4 hours max per night/day) which lead to poor diet and I needed a deep cleanse as well as new supplements to the largest organ - my skin. If you know anyone who is going through anything similar and have tried lots of alternatives but nothing has worked - please let them read this post and feel free to message me.  I would LOVE to help people realise there is another way out of this!

Thank You

XOX

Real life testimonial about Pharmanex Lifepak

I just want to share some crucial information to you guys about my experience with Pharmanex Lifepak supplements in the last year or so and more-so, recently.

Lifepak is a money-back-guarantee product from Pharmanex, together with Nu Skin, the company looks after you from inside out. How it works is, you can check your carotenoid levels via the S2 or S3 scanner and within 90 seconds you will know for yourself how 'healthy' you are. This clever piece of technology uses raman spectroscopy to detect the amount of anti-oxidant cells that are actively working in your entire body for the last 5 weeks of your life, I see it as a lie detector and that is really important to me because I try eat healthy foods and drinks and also trying to do some sort of exercise to stay 'healthy' but little did I know, my body wasn't absorbing all the vitamins and minerals, essentially it is a waste of money.
To me, it makes sense to know what is going on inside of my body because although I cannot physically see what is going on inside, I can see the results on my skin and how I feel.

From how disgusted I was on my initial score, I decided to take the 90 day challenge, after taking Lifepak I could feel and see the results and people around me was complimenting me asking me what I had been doing differently. I knew it would be the Lifepak because I realised my skin was different.

I recently did a test, where I deliberately did not take my Lifepak supplements and I was back to eating crisps again. We all have a guilty pleasure, mine is definitely crisps!! I managed to stop eating them for 11 and half months, but then recently I went back to eating a packet a day, sometimes up to 4 packets.

Here are some results of my scan:

 on 17 07 14 - score was 48,000

on 16 09 14 - score was 43,000

on 28 09 14 - score was 53,000

2 weeks of inflammed healing eczema which I haven't had for over a year!

Between 17 July to 16 September I deliberately not take my Lifepak supplements for atleast 2 weeks, plus I went back to eating out and eating 'unhealthy' foods most of the time crisps and I saw the effects on my mood, sleeping patterns and break outs on my skin. Hence why the drop in my score, I felt like I was suffering because also my eczema had started and that was always a severe problem I had when I was a kid, for someone else to notice it when it didn't actually bother me had made me become aware of my own skin. I was very ready to go back to boosting my immune system because winter is coming up and I usually am poorly through the entire winter suffering from common flu.





Between 19 Sept to today, I have been taking my Lifepak and my JVi juice to help change my immune system, and the score today is 53,000. I can truly say I have never seen my score this high before and I can see my skin clearing up even though I have been eating bad foods until yesterday! This truly is a real life changing proof and although I still have my break out of spots on my chin and cheeks, they aren't red raw or painful.



If you are interested to see how 'healthy' you are with a small charge -  email me for details and I can advise on where your nearest scanner is!


XOX

Galvanic facial Spa results

I have been raving on about the Galvanic for the past year or so purely because of its immense results in as  little as 5 minutes..... this is why....

left  : before
right : after

Thanks to ageloc, it gives this result and no, these photos have not been photoshopped - they are simply true!

• ageLOC® targets the ultimate sources of ageing to preserve the look of youth and reduce the appearance of ageing.
• ageLOC® Transformation delivers unsurpassed anti-ageing benefits and is clinically proven to improve skin in eight significant ways:
• Promote youthful skin structure - patent-pending ingredient technology stimulates collagen production and reduces MMP3 (Matrix Metallopeptidase) production (MMP3s destroy skin structure).
• Smooth texture - contains ingredients proven to stimulate youthful cell renewal for smoother, softer skin you can feel.
• Even skin tone - by reducing the appearance of blotchy, dull and uneven skin for a smooth, youthful look.
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Increase skin radiance - with skin brightening technology.
• Reduce the appearance of pores - through youthful cell turnover.
• Reduce discolouration - brightening technology interrupts unwanted melanin production in the skin for a reduction in spots of discolouration.
• Increase hydration - by stimulating hyaluronic acid, a moisturising compound found naturally in the skin.

left : naked skin
right : result - client's left side of the face has been uplifted

As you can see, there is a difference on the face. The clients left side shows a natural cheekbone hence why the light reflecting from it on the top of the cheek, the line around the mouth has diminished slightly, and the fine lines under the eyes have been 'ironed' out. Our skin should be this way if it was damaged by the factors around us. This treatment was less than 10 minutes in total and used once only, however, if it is used 3 times a week for 90 days, results will change dramatically. 

Client noticed skin was soft to touch, and revealed her glowing skin, ageLOC restores the skins natural elasticity revealing glowing skin. 

If you're interested for more info , feel free to leave me a message below or email me strawbeefull@gmail.com

XOX





** I am a distributor for Nu Skin, this product was purchased with my own money and I have given my most honest opinion, I have not been contacted by the company to give this review in any way. ** 
Send me an email if you're interested to buy! 

Ever suffered with allergy reaction from unknown lotions?

 I have recently suffered an allergy reaction to a body lotion which kind of suprised me because the product was meant to be soothing for the skin but having very sensitive skin, can still have reactions.

During the colder seasons my skin all over my body begins to show reactions a lot more than warmer seasons. I use to have severe eczema, I was at the doctors every 2 weeks getting creams, dermatologist reviews and it really did have a major effect on my confidence. 

I don't have eczema anymore as I have got right down to the source of the problems but I do have rosacea on my face and it does happen on my thighs, stomach and arms even when I am wearing long layers to cover up.  It's so painful to touch especially when it comes to washing my face or shaving my legs , the skin feels like it's on fire and it's unbearable at times!

Having a skin reaction makes me feel so unhappy because it hurts and looks horrible! totally knocks my confidence.

Due to the environment in work in, I have to washed my hands at least 50 times a day with the foamy soap and water, I am not a fan of using soap nor the strong alcohol gel but I did cover up the affected area with a sterile dressing then let it breath at night when I sleep.

the start - redness and sore

I work as a nurse most times and due to infection control, we have to use soap and water after every patient contact, therefore I have to be very careful of what lotions I use on my skin and making sure it is looked after the best as it can be.

However, I used a lotion and just after a few times this was what happened...... 

 

day 2

This was what I used on my hands, after about 3 uses my skin began to hurt, the skin felt so tight and itchy and it stung so badly, then the bumps showed up.

day 2 - 3

I had the bumps on my hand for about 6 days before it actually calmed down. I used my Hyaluronic acid spray to calm down the redness, perennial to deeply moisturise it and also enhancer to stop it from spreading. They are the main treatments I use when it comes to any skin problems I have. 

After 2-4 days it calmed down to this. It's not as visible as before and the bumps are still there but the redness has definitely calmed down and it's not itchy anymore. 

I used 3 products to help the hand calm and resolve. They are all from Nu Skin ,

Moisture Mist Spray, Perennial moisturiser and Enhancer Gel

• I used the moisture mist spray to help lock in moisture as my skin felt so sore and tight, whenever the skin has a reaction it loses its hydration levels and causes the tightness feeling then show signs of a reaction. I also use this to set my make up and lock in moisture before I sleep by spritzing 2 spritz before bed. 
• using the Perennial moisturiser it helps the skin to reinforce the skin's natural defence mechanisms protecting against dry air, cold climate and wind. Fragrance-free. Safe and gentle for all skin types, including sensitive like mine. This is great for all over the body all year round. 
• the Enhancer has a cooling sensation when it's applied to the skin. The clear gel melts onto the skin absorbing deep into the epidermis, great for any soreness or burns, also for pre-post shaving for men!

day 6

after 7-9 days

If you suffer with skin problems such as rosacae, or eczema with sensitive skin type then you may want to consider this as an option. 

You can only buy Nu Skin products from a distributor and I am one of them. Send me an email with your skin problems and I will get back to you with recommendations. 

 The photos are all my hand, not editted.

Thank You for reading my ramble!

XOX

** I am a distributor for Nu Skin, this product was purchased with my own money and I have given my most honest opinion, I have not been contacted by the company to give this review in any way. **

Send me an email if you're interested to buy!

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Product Review

'Laneige' means snow in french - isn't that beautiful?

I first discovered Laneige a few years ago in Hong Kong whilst I was looking for some new skin care products. Quite a lot of asians use this brand and trust it so I thought I would try their best selling items to see what the hype was all about.


Laneige is a Korean brand and specialises in skin care for all skin types giving you dewy radiant skin.
Laneige has a speciaility in the study of water crystals, meaning their skin products have been made using the science of water and the results of it for our skin giving us immense results. I was super excited to test this and feel it for myself!

Laneige is huge in Asia, there are independent Laneige stores in a lot of places in Hong Kong, can't imagine how it is in Korea!!

I decided to try the worlds number 1 global best selling night pack, it has been nominated various awards from known magazines such as Elle Beauty 2011.

 

Light gel-type texture provides intensive hydration, vitality, and brightening effect while restoring skin with deep relaxation - Laneige.com 

It promises to:

- Antioxidant effect of Hunza Apricot Extracts helps brighten skin tone evenly by removing harmful oxygen and purifying skin.

- Recoverine from Chestnuts promotes turnovers of horny layers to remove dead cells away for vigorous water supply and sleek skin texture.
- An aromatic essence compound exclusively developed by AMOREPACIFIC, Sleepscent™(Patent application No. 10-2009-0043726), helps to relax your mind and body and derive for a good sleep. A good sleep effect allowing sufficient relaxation eventually reinforces skin restoration for healthier skin condition. Essential oils from Orange Flower, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Sandal Wood etc. are contained in the Sleepscent™.
- Light gel-type texture without stickiness but moisture leaves you a comfortable sleep. 

from : Laneige.com

Pro's:

• great relaxing scent
• soft cold formula
• cute packaging
• formula glides onto skin easily (comes with a spatula but I have lost it now! woops)
• refreshing scent

Con's:

•  formula sticky on the skin, it just sits on the skin
• wake up to sticky skin
• hard to find to purchase as it is a very popular item from Laneige
• jar is quite big for travelling
• not good for the skin during humid weathers

It comes with a spatula (which I have lost) and I scoop it out and place it onto my fresh cleansed face before I sleep. I let the product sink into the skin and slightly melt, then I would gently massage it all over my face, working from the centre, lifting it upwards and outwards.
It has been recomended to absorb the scent of this product for 3 seconds before massaging it to the face, and it is so relaxing. Infact, the scent is quite addictive! It smells abit like fresh linen and flowers, so refreshinggggggggggg!!

There is just one size available for this product, 80ml , suitable for all skin types.

I purchased mine from SaSa for $148hk -  drug store in Hong Kong, it isn't available in all stores but it was the cheapest I found on the market. You can purchase this online too! Shipping would depend on your location.

Main ingredients:

• Beta Glucan = skin regeneration effect
• Ceremide SLN = moisture loss protection
• Hunza apricot extract = skin purification
• Chestnut extract = improving skin texture

I guess by the sounds of the ingredients, it's all very natural and has major benefits for our skin. I tend to only use this when my skin is in need of emergency TLC, like if I was only to be sleeping for less than 4 hours (which happens from time to time). It's great for when I am resting before another job I have to get to, it makes my skin feel plumped but too sticky which is why I don't use it very often. I seem to use this when I want to smell the scent, but the scent wears off after a minute or two, but by then I would be asleep , kind of defeats the object of using it to be honest!

I have used this when my skin is flawless, breakout-free and still my skin is sticky and the lotion is too watery. When I have used it when my skin is red and have break-outs, it stings and makes it worse so I have stopped using it when I have my bad skin days. I wouldn't recommend this to those who have skin problems, even though this states it is for any skin types, purely because the active ingredients in this sleeping pack does not benefit your skin problems. You need to address the problems before layering it with anything, it won't give the effect that it is suppose to.
I used this in Asia when my skin is dehydrated from the humidity to test out how moisturising it can make my skin, it only worked for me sometimes, not all the time which is why I stopped taking it with me to Asia. It's more suitable for cooler climates like England but that's just me personally. It might work for someone else but this is what happened to me.

It seems it is more of a product to use when you are massaging our face because of how it should be applied, by relaxing and massaging into the skin muscles to let it sink. I enjoy massaging my face, even better when someone does it for me but for those of you who don't do that sort of thing, you wont see the benefits of this product as much.

Sadly, I don't like this product as much as I thought I would but I am happy I got to try this! I enjoy using Laneige products but this one let me down.

XOX