Let it Glow!

Paying attention to what you put on (and in!) your body is important. And the steady stream of compliments I have received about my skin in the last few weeks is definite proof of this.

I wouldn't say that I suffered from bad skin. As a teenager, I had the odd annoying pimple which would take a defiant stance on the end of my nose, or on the middle of my forehead, but it wasn't anything life threatening. And in my twenties nothing much changed. However, I started to notice that although I didn't have spots, my skin was dull and actually felt rough.  

At the time, I was using St. Ives Apricot Scrub to exfoliate twice daily.There was nothing wrong with it, and it kept the pimples at bay, however I felt my skin needed more. So I decided to make some changes.

Before, I tell you about the products I switched to, I think it's important to tell you first that I have combination skin. This means I have an oily T-zone (which included my forehead, eyelids, and the bridge and the end of my nose),  while the rest of my face tends to feel dry and tight.

The first change I made was to ditch the fizzy drinks and juices for water. This was difficult for me as I have a sweet tooth and love sugary drinks. But a change had to come.

 I used to treat the natural stuff like I would bleach - great for cleaning the toilet and sink, but otherwise should not be touched. What a whole lot of good a change of mindset did for me. Do not underestimate the benefits of water guys. Drinking water will hydrate your skin, and make you look younger as it'll replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin and increase its elasticity.

There was a time where I felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with smothering my face in cocoa butter. I ignored the advice of the beauty experts to use a lighter moisturiser, and saw it as a ploy to get me to spend more money. Why buy a separate moisturiser for my face, when I get just use the cocoa butter already sitting in my room right? WRONG!

I knew I needed to make changes when my skin started to look dull and greasy. I invested in Superdrug's Naturals Papaya and Mango Body Butter. As good as it is, I felt I needed a bit more moisture for this awkward UK weather. So I mixed it with Coconut oil. And ladies, this is what I feel is mostly responsible for my new glow. Coconut oil is an excellent moisturiser and also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.

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Finally I changed my exfoliator. I felt my skin had become accustomed to St. Ives, and it was no longer having an effect. Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Natural Facial Scrub can be bought from most hair shops, and generally costs around £3.00

I am not an expert when it comes to skin care. I just found what works for me, and wanted to share it with you. The important thing, I guess, is to know your skin, and most importantly to LET IT GLOW!

What products do you swear by? What works for you? Don't be afraid to share.

Amusez Vous Bien.

Madeline

xx