Danielle's Beauty Blog: acne

Sunday, 16 August 2020

Skincare Review | Dermalogica Active Clearing Range

Dermalogica active clearing range review

About two months ago, Dermalogica sent out the most beautiful care package to help with breakouts which included their new Retinol Clearing Oil*, AGE Bright Clearing Serum*, AGE Bright Spot Fader* and a satin eye mask! I’ve gathered my thoughts on the products after trying them out now for the last 7 weeks and here they are!

To give you a bit of background, my skin has troubled me for around 15+ years now with varying levels of acne which right now is quite moderate and to be honest I will probably be looking for a referral to a dermatologist for another bout of Roaccutane should it get much worse. I’ve got combo skin that leans towards more oily in the summer and though that’s not the most positive intro, I do have plenty of good things to say about these three products! However, they are not the cure to acne, I’m still on the lookout for that :P

The newest product to the Active Clearing line up is the Retinol Clearing Oil* RRP £69. This is a luxurious dry oil that contains time-released retinol, salicylic acid, argan, rosehip seed and jojoba. It is usually recommended that you use either retinol or salicylic acid, not both at once, however, Dermalogica have created a formula that is both gentle and effective in this oil and you can apply moisturiser over the top of this if you wish before bed. The retinol has been working well to minimise the fine lines I am becoming conscious of on my forehead and especially my “elevens” between my eyebrows as well as helping with stubborn pigmentation while the saliciylic acid gets to work on my breakouts and also works as an exfoliator. I haven’t experienced any sensitivity or irritation with this formula and the oils really help nourish and protect my skin while the active ingredients work! I always wake up to smoother, calmer skin and this has been helping with my leftover pigmentation. I am still breaking out with the same consistency as always though like I mentioned before so the results for me are short lived as I seem to enter into a revolving circle of breakout/treat/heal/breakout again. The bottle is also luxurious with its ombre print and fancy dropper!

dermalogica AGE Bright clearing serum review

The AGE Bright Clearing Serum* RRP £65 has been a nice addition to my AM routine. Like the oil, it also contains salicylic acid as well as niacinamide and white shitake mushroom for even skin. AGE Bright complex promotes clearer and brighter skin and phytoactives from the resurrection plant hydrate and smooth skin. Again, this hasn’t cured my breakouts completely but I have noticed a much quicker recovery time while using this on active breakouts which has impressed me and my skin looks more even and bright! It sits really well under makeup and doesn’t dry out my skin at all. The scent is not my favourite thing in the world but you can’t smell it once it dries in.

dermalogica AGE bright spot fader review

Lastly, the AGE Bright Spot Fader RRP £45* was sent over to me which to be honest is the one I forget about the most! While I have been using the oil and serum about 4-5 times a week I have probably remembered about this targeted treatment gel maybe 1-2 times a week. It contains salicylic acid, niacinamide and hexylresorcinol which all work together to clear breakouts and improve skin tone. Any time I do remember to use this I do find it calms the area and like the clearing serum, contributes to a quicker healing time on active breakouts but I wouldn’t say I have noticed any major differences using this specifically on pigmentation though I will keep testing!

dermalogica active clearing range skinfluencer review

Overall, I am impressed with how quickly these get to work on active breakouts though it is difficult for me to see long term results as once I get rid of one patch of breakouts the next one seems to make its way onto my face! This is also a common pattern for my skin and not something I would say any of these products has contributed to. I start a new job on Monday where I think I will have to wear a mask all day so that will be a new test for my skin as I've only had to wear them for short amounts of time so far. I will be sure to keep you updated on how these continue working for me! Have you tried this range? What are your favourite products for clearing breakouts?

The Dermalogica Active Clearing range can be bought directly from their website as well as many UK retailers such as Look Fantastic, John Lewis and Feel Unique and is cruelty free, vegan, paraben free, gluten free and free from artificial fragrances and colours!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

Danielle xx

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Five Things I’m Loving | March 2017

five products im loving omorovicza mario badescu nivea foreo klorane

Probably not the first time you’ve heard it this month but I can’t believe its March! This year is absolutely flying and I have a few products to share today that as you can tell by the title, I’m loving!

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm

I won this last year in a Cult Beauty Instagram competition (lovely feeling!) and it sat in my collection for a few months while I tried to get some other cleansers finished. Then I thought life is too short, open all the cleansers and I’m so glad I did as it’s become one of my favourites! It’s a black oily balm made with Hungarian moor mud and thermal waters that works to draw out impurities and I use it as my second cleanse to remove the last traces of my makeup. I find it very gentle on my skin and a tiny bit goes a long way with this balm! I use the little scoop to get a bit of product out then warm it up between my fingers and massage into my face. I’ll then use a damp face cloth to remove and overall I’m left with smooth, clean, hydrated skin! At £48, this isn’t cheap but I will definitely be making a repurchase when I finish this – I alternate this with my Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm and both have lasted ages so are well worth the money for that and how they perform on my skin!

Foreo Luna Play

Another little Cult Beauty gem – I got this in a GWP towards the end of last year and having never tried a manual cleanser before I didn’t use it straight away as I was worried it would break me out. Curiosity got the better of me and I tried it out one morning and haven’t looked back since! Its battery operated, non-chargeable, waterproof and as you can see from the close up has two cleansing zones – an ultra-fine one for normal areas and a thicker one for more congested areas. I tend to use the ultra-fine zone all over my face then concentrate the thicker touch zone on my nose and chin area. It uses T sonic pulsations to enhance the efficiency of your cleanser and I have completely fallen in love with this little device and can’t imagine my morning cleanse without it now! At £29, it’s good for 100 uses and it’s recommended you use it for a minute each cleanse. It’s hygienic, gentle and gives a non-irritating exfoliation and I’ve include a photo of my favourite morning cleansers to use it with! I will definitely be buying a full size chargeable one when the battery runs out!

best cleansers to use with a forea luna play

Klorane Oatmilk Conditioner*

I reviewed this just after Christmas but it’s nearly finished and I just had to mention it again as I’m very fickle with conditioner and apart from the OUAI one I haven’t found one I want to repurchase since this! I always brush my hair before I wash it and pat it dry with a towel instead of rubbing it to try and minimise how many tats I will inevitably be left with but I always have to spend so much time brushing my hair out because the tangles just come out of nowhere! That was until I tried this! It’s so gentle and I know every time I brush my hair after using it I won’t get any giant knots caught in my brush because they are just not there! It has a really inoffensive scent and is just a dream to use, I can’t wait to pick up a bigger size!

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

I got this in a set with the Aloe Herbs and Rosewater facial spray for Christmas and while I love it too, I wanted to talk about the Drying Lotion because it’s been amazing recently on any breakouts I’ve been having! It’s made with a blend of calamine and salicylic acid and where I usually find spot treatments dry the spot and skin around it out (all great until it’s a flaky mess with makeup over the next day) this works on my skin to dry out the spot, all while being soothing and not drying on the skin around it. It works really well to settle down my breakouts and they don’t last for as long, hooray! The instructions say don’t shake solution and use a cotton ear bud to reach the pink sediment at the bottom then dab onto any spots and it has quite a medicated smell which I love!

Nivea hand cream*

I was sent three of these before Christmas and this one in particular is my current hand bag essential! I go through hand cream so quickly but Nivea is by far my favourite as I love how soft it makes my hands feel. The scent and how quickly it absorbs as well as the fact I don’t feel the need to reapply 20 times a day are also plus points! This is the 75ml so will last ages but doesn’t take up a huge amount of room in my bag! Love!

That’s five products I’m currently loving! Let me know if you have tried any of these before and what you thought of them!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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PMD Personal Microderm Review*

PMD Personal Microderm microbermabrasion at home review

A few months ago I was lucky enough to be sent the PMD* to try out and after six weeks of use I’m ready to share my thoughts! I have quite a lot of hang-ups about my skin as I used to have acne so I've got quite a lot of scarring. This mainly affects how even my skin is more so than pigmentation as I had laser treatment last year for that so microdermabrasion has been on my radar for quite a while! My skin is also oily but dehydrated and can get quite congested around the sides of my nose and my chin! I’m happy with my skincare routine at the minute but always have room for something to give my skin the little somethin’ somethin’ it needs! Spoiler alert – I think the PMD is doing just that!

The device comes with everything you need to perform microdermabrasion at home and inside the box is:

· A PMD with training disc and plastic cap already attached

· Electric plug and 3 adapters

· 3 face discs and 3 body discs

· Plastic cap for body discs

Also included is an informative booklet and a short DVD that explains how to use the PMD properly and what to expect from continued use. Using the PMD on a regular basis will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and light scarring. It will also improve overall skin tone and texture by fading uneven pigmentation, sun damage, age spots and blemishes. It addition, it helps to reduce the formation of acne scars as it helps clear out clogged pores and release trapped dirt and oil leaving skin clearer and more vibrant. Sounds good doesn’t it?

The discs have aluminium oxide crystals on their surface which spin to exfoliate away the dead, dull skin cells on the surface of the skin. As the epidermis is removed, new cell growth is stimulated and topical products penetrate faster, maximising the benefits of the skincare products you are using!

The instructions and DVD give a brilliant run down of the dos and don’ts when using the advice but some of the main ones I thought were worth mentioning are: it’s important to use the device on clean, dry skin so it doesn’t drag and to use upward motions while pulling the skin taut. Take care not to go over the same area twice in the same session or hover in the same spot and don’t press down too hard with the disc. Don’t use the device on the area above the cheekbone near your eyes and never use without the cover in place. Give your skin 6-7 days to recover after using the device and make sure to wear sunscreen! It’s also important to refrain from using any chemical exfoliants for 48 hours before or after using the PMD as skin will be too sensitive and make sure and seek approval from your doctor if you are on any prescriptions for skin issues.

I've been using the device once a week for the last six weeks, starting like the instructions suggest, with the white trainer disc which comes already inserted into the device and is the least coarse to see how my skin would react. The sensation of the device is a little like if you take the foot off a vacuum cleaner and hold it to your hand, just on a smaller scale! This suction pulls the blood flow to the surface of the skin (and you will feel it and skin will look a little red!) and triggers the body’s healing process, building collagen and elastin and leaving the skin firm and radiant.

PMD Personal Microderm face and body disc

I then progressed onto the grey disc which is for very sensitive skin then the blue disc which is for sensitive skin and now for the last three weeks I have been using the green disc which is medium strength abrasion and I have been loving the results! I generally use the device on my forehead and temples, round my nose, chin and some areas on my cheeks and have noticed such a difference in my skin! It is so much smoother, more even and feels nowhere near as clogged around my nose or chin! My skincare products feel like they have been getting absorbed more effectively and in the morning my skin looks so much brighter and clearer! I've also been enjoying using the body discs on my elbows although it can be a little fiddly and more difficult to get the PMD to stay suctioned on to move around!

I have absolutely loved using this device; at £150 it’s not cheap but when compared to the cost of professional microdermabrasion treatments offered in salons it seems so much more of an investment! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have tried it and will certainly be purchasing the replacement heads which are £19 regularly to make sure I keep getting the best treatment possible as the aluminium oxide crystals that provide the exfoliation wear off after continued use and hope to see even more of an improvement in my skin tone and texture!

The PMD Personal Microderm can be purchased from the PMD website!

Have you tried this device or microdermabrasion before? What did you think?

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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Skincare Saviours

Skin Saviours Avene Triacneal Eucerin UVA UVB Aquaporin Active Origins Clear Improvement

Although I've used a scarf as a background this time round, these skincare items are saviours for me all year long not just in Autumn and Winter!

Eucerin AQUAporin Active SPF 25 UVB + UVA Protection* RRP £16.50

As a big fan of Eucerin skin and body products I was excited to give this a try when it arrived a few weeks ago! It promises to provide deep 24 hour hydration to dehydrated, sensitive skin. This is right up my street this time of year when my usually oily/combination skin starts to play up with the change in weather/heating etc. and dry patches pop up! I recently took a reaction to a face tanner I used and my skin got really dry and flaky and none of my usual moisturisers were working so I gave this a whirl and have been so happy with the results! At first, although this moisturiser has SPF I though it would be too rich for me during the day but since my skin was so dry I piled it on anyway and was surprised by how well it soaked in, soothed and smoothed my skin. I didn’t use a primer and felt it gave a good base for my makeup too! I love the fact it has both UVA and UVB protection and will definitely be taking this on a short trip away next month (thank God for hold luggage)! There is a whole scientific explanation as to how this hydrates involving the skins aquaporin’s which you can read about here. The Eucerin range can be found at Boots, Look Fantastic, Escentual, Feel Unique and some independent pharmacies!

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask RRP for 100ml is £23

I got this in a set last Christmas and its one of the first Origins products I've tried and loved. The activated charcoal in it is meant to act like a magnet to draw out anything clogging your pores like dirt and pollution through daily life. I like to use this about once a week for a real deep clean and my skin always feels amazing afterwards! It really softens it and seems to draw out any impurities by drying up spots and blackheads! Plus I love how quickly it dries in! I like to rinse this off just in the sink with my hands, I found when I used a facecloth it stained really badly and didn’t come out in the wash but other than its great! I’ll then follow up with a moisturiser like the Eucerin one I’ve mention above as I find it can dry my skin out a bit but it’s totally worth it!

Skincare Saviours Origins Clear Improvement Alpha H Liquid Gold Eucerin UVA UVB Aquaporin Active Avene Triacneal

Top to bottom - Avene Triacneal, Eucerin AQUAporin Active SPF 25 UVB + UVA Protection, Origins Clear Improvement

Avene Triacneal RRP £23

This has become my Holy Grail spot product! It’s pricey at £23 but it lasts ages! The product itself is a yellow paste that is not greasy in the slightest and helps eliminate severe imperfections. I use this over active spots at night where it helps to dry them out and also over old acne scars which I find it helps to fade. I have a funny feeling this is being discontinued as unfortunately as it’s out of stock on a lot of sites, this seems to have happened to a lot of products I love over the past few months! Avene did just bring out a new product called Triacneal Expert and their Cleanance Expert is also targeted towards spot prone skin so they would work well too!

Alpha H Liquid Gold RRP £33.50

This is one of my favourite treatments and I have gone through various bottles of it! It’s an overnight chemical exfoliator and I bloody love it! It claims to resurface the skin and help to diminish wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage. I totally bought this because of the hype and its one I’m happy to say completely delivers on its claims! I can’t quite put my finger on it but my skin just looks better the morning after I’ve put this on. It’s clearer, more even, and plumper and my old acne pigmentation doesn’t look as pronounced. Couldn’t be without this now! Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic among others!

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned? What are your skincare saviours?

P.S. I also just got Twitter and Instagram and they are embarrassingly empty at the minute but links are below if you feel like saying hello :)

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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Danielle's Beauty Blog

Sunday, 16 August 2020

Skincare Review | Dermalogica Active Clearing Range

Monday, 6 March 2017

Five Things I’m Loving | March 2017

Monday, 7 March 2016

PMD Personal Microderm Review*

Monday, 26 October 2015

Skincare Saviours