Part of me is actually quite shocked that I am even writing this blog post; as it's not something I ever thought that I would be discussing in the public domain.
For three years now, I have had Psoriasis. For those of you who are not aware of what this is, Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease which means your skin cells in certain areas reproduce every 24 hours, instead of their normal cycle, meaning there is a build up of skin on these patches. It is stress related and can get much worse the more you are stressed out.


​Mine first 'came out' when I was 18 and had just started uni, and at the time I was the most stressed I had ever been in my life up until that point (uni hits you like a tonne of bricks, literally).
In a way, I wasn't really surprised either, as my mum has been living with it for 40 years - so I was well aware of the skin condition before mine developed. Compared to my mum, I actually feel really lucky - she tells me every day how she feels Psoriasis has partly 'ruined her life', and how sad it makes her feel. She spent a lot of her childhood and teenage years in and out of St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin (currently now shut down and has been turned into the slug and lettuce pub just off of Leicester Square, lol) having numerous different treatments, sometimes staying in there for weeks at a time. Different treatments included being bathed in Sulphur Soap, smothered in different steroids, and standing in a special UV machine for an hour every day. All of which worked; however at the time were impossible to continue outside of hospital, meaning the Psoriasis would just come back angrier than before. As my mum's Psoriasis first developed when she was 11, she still tells me about how she was plagued by others for it at school, and to this day she still tries to buy clothes that cover it. It makes me sad that my mum still feels uncomfortable wearing a bikini on the beach. Although it is not covering her entire body, the patches are still noticeable, and she still feels that people stare at it.

​I mentioned in the paragraph before that I feel lucky compared to my mum, and this is because I have a lot less of it than she does, in much more manageable areas too. At present, mine is limited to Plaque Psoriasis on both of my knees, whereas my mum currently has it on both elbows, the backs and inner parts of her thighs, and under her breasts. The thing with Psoriasis is that it tends to have a mind of its own - it comes and goes as it wants, and pops up randomly wherever it wants.
Oh - and it's not curable yet because scientists still aren't 100% sure what the actual cause is. But, it is treatable.

Say hello to the Philips BlueControl:

This machine is the "world's first wearable blue LED light therapy" for the treatment of Psoriasis, and retails at £349 with a 90 day money back guarantee if the product doesn't work for you.
This technology differs from that has been used in hospitals for years as a treatment for Psoriasis; as the machine uses innovative blueLED light which contains no UV, making it safe to use. You are able to strap it to the affected areas, so that it won't hinder you from carrying on your normal daily routine/duties.

Below on the left are pictures of the Psoriasis on both myself and my mum before we started the Philips BlueControl treatment, and on the right the Psoriasis 2 weeks into using the treatment every day:

As you can see from the before and after pictures above, within 2 weeks the redness on the treated areas on my knees has been significantly reduced, and my mums elbows have faded to a more pinky colour.
It is important to remember that everyones Psoriasis is different, and not all will have the same results in the same time frame. Philips recommend using the product for at least 4 weeks to be able to see a significant improvement, and obviously those reading this with Psoriasis will know that there is no quick fix and that it takes time. 

Just like me, I want to encourage YOU to #TakeTheChallenge and challenge your usual Psoriasis treatment. If you have been using the same treatment for years, chances are your body has already got used to it, lowering the effect it has on you. If you try something new today, chances are it might have a positive effect on you for the better.

​You can purchase your own BlueControl Machine, as well as read other reviews here on the official Philips website.

Autumn is now upon us and seeing as it’s only just started, what better time is there than now to sort out your autumn skincare routine? It’s a well known fact that the change in weather has harsher effects on our skin and face, but it’s better to be one step ahead and ready for whatever winter throws at us!

At uni I massively slacked on skincare - I was so busy with being a full-time student and also a full-time blogger that I barely had any time for myself. I can totally see the difference in my skin since I’ve graduated and had more time for ‘me’, and if I miss a day of my skincare routine I can really notice. By learning which products suit my skin I feel like I’ve nailed it, and it’s left me feeling 100 times more confident than before. Being a full-time blogger, I’m always doing photo shoots for different clothing and products, and I feel so much more comfortable in front of the camera now knowing that my skin is the best it can be.

After removing any trace of makeup from my face with makeup wipes (I only ever use Simple’s Cleansing Facial Wipes. They have a special aqua lock technology which means that they never ever dry out, and I find other brands just haven’t ever been able to compete with this. It’s also the only make up wipes I’ve ever used which SUPER EASILY removes mascara!), I then like to wet my face and rub on St. Ives’ Oatmeal Scrub and Mask.
This is brilliant as the scrub removes any extra dirt from the face which didn’t come off previously, but also isn’t a harsh product on the skin meaning that it’s fine for you to use every day. I also find this product incredible for helping anyone with dry patches or dermatitis on their face as it’s a well known fact oats are proven to help skin (if you have this too then you’ll know how much of a pain it is when makeup sticks to the dry patches), as it gets rid of the flakiness, but also controls oiliness, which meant I didn’t have as much oiliness on my forehead or chin anymore.

On a Friday night, as a treat to myself I like to do a sheet mask on my face to really calm and moisturise. Simple actually have just brought out a really good range of sheet masks, but my favourites are either the Pollution Protection sheet mask or the de-Stress sheet mask. I find these really give my face so much moisture and the Pollution one in particular is fab if you work in the city - I never realised how much Pollution affected my skin until I started spending the majority of my time in London!

After using the St Ives scrub, once my face is dry I then like to use Simple’s Hydrating Booster.
This is a gel consistency which I personally really like, as I find gels to have a cooling sensation on the face, and sink in reasonably quick too. The idea of this product is to hydrate the skin and treat it from within - our bodies are on average 75% water (don’t hold me to that exact percentage, every website I checked varied slightly LOL), and if you’re not giving your skin what it needs, how can it be perfect? Treating problems from within is a much better solution to just treating from the surface - it means you’re more likely to have longer lasting results.
The first day I actually tried this product I was completely sold with it - the only way I can really describe how this product makes me feel is by comparing it to that first sensation you get once you’ve had a drink of water that you’ve been gasping for - that’s what it feels like on the skin. It literally gives my skin the feeling of having a drink after I’ve been gasping for one - crazy I know, right? Honestly, just try it for yourself, you’ll be amazed. I have dry parts on my face from dermatitis and although this doesn’t stop the redness (it doesn’t claim to either - it’s not meant for that), it did stop the dryness completely. Miracle!

For the final step I use a moisturiser, and the one I’ve been loving recently is Malin + Goetz Advanced Renewal Face Cream.
It’s really light and airy, but incredibly moisturing. It gives my skin so much radiance and evens out my skin tone, but it sinks in and doesn’t just sit on the skin and become greasy, which is a key aspect for me. I don’t like anything that just sits on my skin and feels heavy!



I hope this inspires you to maintain your skincare routine - let me know if any of these products work for you too!

You can shop St. Ives Oatmeal Scrub here,
Simple’s Hydrating Booster here,
Simple’s Cleansing Facial wipes here,
Simple’s Pollution Protect Sheet Mask here,
And the Malin + Goetz Advanced Renewal Cream here.

If you’re reading this post then you’re probably either missing summer, in desperate need of a sunny escape, or just want a good damn tan.
‘But why would I need fake tan if I’m not a fake tan kinda gal?’ Ah yes, I can hear you saying that in your head right as you’re reading this.

Well, truth be told, those that don’t fake tan or don’t do it often, usually don’t because of a certain reason - I.e either they’re scared of waking up like an orangutan (been there, got the t-shirt - but that’s a story for another time), it’s too messy, they don’t like the smell... I am one of those people. I’ve had far too many fake tan accidents over the years than I can count on both hands and I’ve had times when I haven’t left the house in 3 days until any trace of orange is gone. In summer I tend to get really tanned but this of course fades in winter, so I’ve been longing to find the perfect tan for me, which works and ticks all the right boxes.

My fake tan checklist is 4 simple points:
• Does it have that typical fake tan smell?
• Does it make me orange in colour?
• Will it stain bed sheets or clothing?
• Do I have to use a fake tan mitt?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above, then it’s not for me.
That’s why Tan-Luxe products are the must have tanner for those gals that just haven’t found what they’re looking for - it’s essentially tailor made tanning.
I’ve been giving the Illuminating Self-Tan Drops for Face and Body a try, as well as another product from their range called ‘The Water’.


With the Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, it’s simple - you just add between 2-6 drops (I recommend starting at 3ish and then working up to how dark you want it once you’ve tried it) per body part to your normal moisturiser and voila, leave it to develop overnight. This means you can completely customise your colour to how you like your tan - and the best part is there’s no horrible applicator colour, and no staining any bedsheets or clothes. It also has a very slight fruity smell to it and blends with the smell of your moisturiser too if you use a fragranced one.

The Water also has the same key aspects - no fake tan smell (it actually has a GORGEOUS scent to it), no horrible applicator colour and no staining. This applies as a fine water mist which you then rub in and leave to develop overnight, which I also found really hydrating at the same time. I found this even easier to apply than the previous and the colour was also darker so I woke up this morning looking like I’d just hopped off a flight from Barbados ;) it also gives your skin a really luminous, healthy brown glow - I like to use this as a top up after I’ve used the self tan drops as a base.

I’ve added a picture below of the colour difference between my current skin tone and with the Self tan drops on (I stopped halfway on my hand so you can see this clearly.)

You can get the Illuminating Self-Tan Drops for Body here,
The Illuminating Self-Tan Drops for Face here,
And The Water here.

Happy Friday - this post is for the 41% of you that voted for a blog post on my Instagram stories. ;) Given that Instagram stories only last 24 hours, it’s also a refresher for the other 59% of you!

This week I gave a couple of products from the Perricone MD “No Makeup” Makeup Range a try. Since leaving uni I’ve turned into a bit of a beauty junkie and skincare addict so I’ve had my beady lil’ eyes on this range for a while...

The verdict?

60/40.
(Yeah, I’m that awkward person that’s accurate with percentages, soz.)

I firstly tried the “No Foundation” Foundation. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s things I absolutely love about this product. BUT, there’s certain things about this that just don’t work for me...
I will say that this product literally does do exactly what it claims on the box. It minimises pores (no jokes here lads), reduces redness and the appearance of darker marks/scars, as well as giving a dewy finish to the skin.

However, as someone that really really doesn’t like having skin that looks oily/shiny/sweaty, this was the main aspect that just wasn’t for me. I found that it sort of remained sticky even after applying (which to be fair did make the setting powder firmly stick), but I found that I just didn’t like the way it felt on my face. That’s not to say it’s a bad product, it just didn’t suit me, so if you like a matte finish for your makeup then this probably isn’t for you, but if you don’t mind, then this product is great. It gives a really light coverage on the skin, so I’d say it’s more like a BB cream than Foundation. Great for people that like light coverage.

I did, however, really like the No Bronzer Bronzer. To apply, you squeeze two drops onto the palm of your hand and rub together (be prepared for VERY tanned hands - wipes at the ready) and pat lightly onto the face. To be honest, I was actually shocked at how easy this Bronzer was to use, and I liked that it actually applies as a brown colour and not orange (no Oompa Loompas here gals) so you like like you’ve just spent two weeks on a beach in Bora Bora (a gal can dream).


I’m really keen to try some more of Perricone MDs products so I’ll do another post soon.

You can get the “No Foundation” Foundation here
And the “No Bronzer” Bronzer here






Disclaimer: this is NOT an ad and all views in this post are of my own opinion. The links provided in this post are affiliate links which mean that if you decide to buy anything I have recommended then I will get a teeny tiny percentage. No biggie.

​We all have a beauty routine, right? Even if we don't realise it - there are certain products we always use, a certain order we all do our makeup in... (got you thinking now haven't I!)
For me, I had been using a mattifying powder as a base for my foundation for quite some time (I know, please don't hate me - I let my skincare slip whilst I was at uni and ran out of primer! #girlprobs) as I HATE having a shiny face more than anything!!
When I got my hands on Ren's newly launched product called Perfect Canvas, I was excited to test it out as I love clean skincare, but also skeptical - how could a serum leave your face mattified and not greasy...

I followed the instructions on the back of the bottle which is to either apply to clean skin (which I did) or apply with/after moisturiser, before makeup. The 30ml bottle comes as a pipette applicator, so I used 2 drops for each part of my face (2 for each cheek, 2 for the forehead etc) and smoothed it over my face until dry (it dries very quickly btw, and makes the skin very soft and smooth).
I also think this would be really nice to use even if you're not going to wear makeup, as it just evens out the texture and tones of your skin (so you'll look as smooth as a baby's bum :))
It also claims to boost the skins immune system - meaning less breakouts (YAY for clean skincare!! lol)

You can purchase your own Perfect Canvas here (£50), or let me know if you're already using it in your daily routine! Also let me know if you want another post on all beauty products I'm currently using (skincare, haircare, makeup etc), or a post on my beauty routine? Maybe I'll do a poll over on my Instagram stories. Or alternatively, you can let me know if you quite frankly don't care and don't want one ;) haha.



​
DISCLAIMER:
This post is not an ad and in no way affiliated by REN Skincare. All views and images in this post are my own and please also know that I will only recommend beauty products to you if I use them myself, if they work for me and if they are not bad for you.