REVIEW: Una Brennan Super Facialist Purifying Tea Flower Deep Cleansing Wash and Tea Flower Deep Clean Mattifying Moisturiser

Cleanser

I do like this cleanser. I originally bought it because it said it had Salacylic Acid in it. I can't say that cleansers are meant to do miracles in my opinion, since they spend so little time on my face to begin with. If it's acne cures you want, you are probably looking for a nice gentle cleanser and other products to help you out there.

This cleanser doesn't really foam up, but the gel lathers up quite nicely. I think it's around £7.99, and it lasted for a decent amount of time (two months for me). Even though I'm now trying another cleanser, I wouldn't object returning to this one again in the future.

The Tea Flower range is designed for oily skin, and I can say that as someone with oily skin this cleanser is definitely a nice one. No break outs, and it does the job which is all I want really.

Moisturiser

I can't say this mattifying moisturiser is the mother of all moisturisers, but if your skin is only mildly oily this one will keep you good for all day. (Note: 20/05/2014. I've been using an acne treatment that has made my skin a bit drier so my skin has been doing well with this moisturiser) Despite this moisturiser not being that big, it has out lasted the cleanser. But this is because I've been using other things to moisturise my face and I don't use this one as often as it doesn't really mattify extremely well. It's pretty good, but after an hour or so I can feel the oil seeping through. I never expect any product to be amazing especially since I know how hard it is to keep oily skin in control. I wouldn't repurchase, because it's pretty expensive for a moisturiser at £12.99.

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REVIEW: Solait 50 spf Mattifying Fluid

*UPDATE 14/05/2014* I recently have had quite dry skin due an acne treatment, and this product works so much better! But as it stands, I still would only recommend this product to people with less oily skin.  

I really wished this product was perfect, but unfortunately it isn't. I've got quite oily skin, and this product doesn't really mattify me very well. It works well as a sunscreen and is very cheap, but it doesn't mattify really. I just feel tacky after using this, and throughout the day this tackiness stays. I plan on using in on places where I don't mind a little bit of tackiness in the future (arms, legs etc). I wish this product lived up to it's name, but since it was around £3/£4, I can't say I feel too sad about it.

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DIY ACNE MASKS - Cheap, easy, and safe! (Scroll down for easy DIY customisation!)

My acne hasn't gone. I suppose in recent months (during my time abroad especially) I have been more stressed and the different environments have taken a toll, and it has gotten slightly worse. But I'm fine, it's really not that bad.

Here are some easy acne masks that I do quite often, along with some hints and tips at the bottom so you can customise your own masks :)

TURMERIC MASK:

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of natural yoghurt
• lemon juice (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together, and leave on for as long as you like. Bear in mind that it does dry, and may leave a slight yellow tinge if left on for too long. If you do let it dry, it does make a great exfoliator though. Wash off. In order to get rid of the tinge, just wait till the next day and clean with your normal skincare routine.

OATMEAL MASK:

• 1 handful oatmeal

Put your oatmeal in a microwave safe container. Add a small amount of water, just enough to cover the oatmeal. Microwave until it's of a slightly thicker consistency than normal. Wait for the oatmeal to cool and stir. When cooled enough, apply the warm oatmeal to your face, and leave on for as long as desired. It does dry rather hard, but can be easily removed with warm water.

LEMON JUICE AND ASPIRIN (Not for sensitive skin! It buuuurns!):

• 4-6 uncoated aspirin 

(aspirin that comes in a more powdery tablet form, but if you don't have these you can just wash normal aspirin until the coating is removed.)

• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice (or slightly more, if you want to use more aspirin)

Mix ingredients together to form a powdery paste. Put on a clean face, paying attention to areas with spots and marks. And then feel the BURN! Don't do this is if you have a very low pain tolerance or have sensitive skin. After the mask has dried (bits of aspirin will start falling off) then wash off and apply toner and moisturise as usual.

HINTS AND TIPS:

For anyone who wants to mix and match their own masks, here is a list of ingredients you can keep in a cupboard or fridge so you can make masks any time!

LIQUIDS

• Lemon juice 
• Plain yoghurt (Big cheap tubs of it! I've found that many branded and non branded tubs are basically the same and last for up to a month.)
• Honey (raw is best, but the best quality you can find is fine)
• Witch Hazel (only a dash or too, don't just use this one on it's own with a dry ingredient, try to add another liquid.)
• Water is great too!
• Milk
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Mayonnaise (I've yet to try this one, but Google says yay)
• Egg White

DRY INGREDIENTS:

• Nutmeg
• Turmeric (stains your face yellow, but you can use a cleanser the next day to wash off, so any masks containing it should probably be worn at night!)
• Cinnamon (be VERY careful with this one, only use a bit less than a pinch in masks, otherwise you'll burn your face! Even with a little amount you can feel the slight burn of Cinnamon.)
• Aspirin (2 should do.)
• Banana (on it's own, just mush it up and paste!)
• Papaya (Same as with other fruits, mash and paste)
• Oatmeal (Ground up if you can, if not it's fine to just use it as is)
• Ground Almonds 
• Avocado (Ditto with the other fruits)
• Clay (you can buy it on line, the most famous one is the Aztec Secret Healing clay, which recommends apple cider vinegar in particular.)

The basic idea is this:

DRY INGREDIENTS + WET INGREDIENTS = APPLY TO CLEAN FACE

(If you end up making quite a lot of a mask mixture that contains yoghurt, I recommend keeping it in the fridge so you can use it throughout the week!)

You can use as much or as little of the dry ingredients as you like, just make sure to make it like a paste with an equal or less amount of the wet ingredient. 

Here's a a few easy ones that I've done:

Turmeric + yoghurt + lemon juice + nutmeg + dash of cinnamon + ground oatmeal and almonds

aspirin + oatmeal + warm water

Turmeric + lemon juice + dash of witch hazel + cinnamon + nutmeg + yoghurt (my current fave for my acne)

And that's it folks!

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Natural spot treatments, natural acne treatment: Bicarboante of Soda as an ex foliator/ Baking Soda scrub.

Hey guys - now this ex foliator is definitely worth writing about. It's so cheap and it really does scrub!

My teensy weensy jam jar (taken from a scone serving at Valerie Patisserie wahahahaa) filled with baking soda. It's so cute! xD

Despite the powdery texture of the soda, it really is gritty stuff. A large pinch of it in the palm of your hand with a little warm water and a wet face and it really feels like a a tough scrub. I've never felt anything so gritty. Not unpleasant gritty, like a tough sand if anything. This stuff is so much better than other ex foliators, those have zero exfoliation powers in comparison to this stuff.

Has it got rid of black heads or cured any of my skin issues? Not that I can see, as of yet. I'm using it in conjunction with the OCM Method, It definitely is getting of dead skin, and I look forward to see what long term effects it will have. One thing I've been very bad at is that I think I've recently over ex foliated my face, which has made my skin a little rough. I'll let my skin heal for a week and see how it goes. But on the whole, this stuff is natural, cheap and is really great so far.  

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REVIEW: Holland and Barrett PUKKA Castor oil & REVIEW: Miaroma Grapeseed Oil

Hey guys, just wrote another post about the oil cleansing method and here are the products I'm using for it! Just two oils, and that's all ya need for the method anyway.

I ordered both of these on line, and I think because my cart went over a certain price the shipping was free. 

PUKKA Castor oil &  Miaroma Grapeseed Oil

I think the price for both of these are just over £10, and considering how much you get and how much you need they really will last a long time. A scrub nowadays costs roundabout £5 anyway, so two of these together I wouldn't consider expensive. 

PUKKA Castor oil: One thing about Castor Oil. IT SMELLS. Now, I don't know whether it's just this brand,  because I've googled to see if it was just me dying from the smell and it seems that the internet disagrees since others have said that there shouldn't be a smell or that there wasn't one to begin with. This leave two options a) It's the brand I'm using b) My bottle has gone bad. I know it's not b), since the expiry date is about 2 years, and the bottle was sealed when I got it. So I guess it's just this brand. I'll write down below how to deal with the smell. Other than the smell "problem", the oil is thick very thick, and is a very, almost clear, pale yellow. It seems to be doing its job with the cleaning, and at 250ml it's a good size. The bottle is made of glass, which will be a pain in the butt for me since I don't want to take it overseas. Then again, I could just buy Castor oil when I go the USA as all the gurus who use the method are from the US anyway. (Also, this oil is cold pressed and organic, which is the ONLY type you want.)

Miaroma Grapeseed Oil: At 118 ml, this plastic bottle helpfully comes with a lid that you can squeeze oil out in drops. Still causes a slight mess, but it's better than the Castor which is just a screw on lid. A pain in the butt when you only need 3 drops! Anyhow, the oil is much thinner and is a yellow colour, very easy to distinguish both oils from each other so I can never get them mixed up. This oil doesn't really have a strong noticeable smell, and the only tiny tiny issue I have is that I'm not sure if Grapeseed oil in general should only be used if organic. If so, I can't tell with this one. The ingredients only say Grapeseed oil and vitamin E. Neither are bad for you, and the oil doesn't seem to have a negative effect even if it isn't strictly organic. 

Solving the smell and quantity issue! I recently bought these two joys from Ebay. Two glass 10ml droppers. One for Castor and one for Grapeseed Oil. This solves the smell problem with the Castor as I only need to open the droppeR and squeeze 3 drops onto my hand. This minimizes the strong smell and the only time you smell it is when you rub it on your  face. You have to squeeze the dropper quite hard on the Castor oil to get the oil into the pipette, but it's doable. Before getting these droppers I was pouring the oils into a small shallow plastic jar, which wasted SO much oil and made it so hard to measure. I would have to pour the oils into a spoon trying to get the right quantities and then pour them into the jar. Annoying as heck, especially with the extra cleaning you had to do all the time. These droppers also make measuring SO much easier, 3 Castor drops to 7 Grapeseed Oil crops. Mix, and rub it on ma face! Love these two, and using them is actually quite fun. Kind of like having vials of chemicals that you need to scientifically measure wahahaha. Vials are always cooler, they seem like fun old school chemistry that you see in old books. The droppers were relatively cheap by the way, when buying from Ebay only look for them sold in pairs, buying one on it's own isn't really worth it.  

Grapeseed Oil left (the oil is actually much more yellower in real life), Castor Oil right.

My review of the OCM:

http://thesilverpocketwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/natural-spot-treatments-natural-acne.html

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Natural spot treatments, natural acne treatment: The Oil Cleansing Method! OCM Method

Hey guys - as said in a previous post I said I would try the oil cleansing method. Well, I have, and so far it's been...good?

I add the question mark because I'm still using it and despite having used it for a while I've read that the method does take a few weeks to work its magic (and I think in general skincare products take 6 weeks to work, and I don't think I've used this method that long as of yet) so I will persevere. Having said that, I have noticed a few changes to my skin, so good, some not so good:

- The blemishes on the top of my cheeks and under my eyes have gone completely! My skin used to have a constant strip of tiny bumps and now they've been replaced with smooth smooth skin! Great stuff.

- My overall face has feels smoother and cleaner, despite what it looks like (more on that in a sec.)

- Some big pores that were bothering me have definitely gotten smaller or have gone completely. Another thumbs ups.

- OK, now onto the "bad" stuff. I say "bad" because the method has caused me to break out. Not major terrible breakouts but there have been a number of small white heads and recently there was a very large white headed on my chin, which is still healing. From what I can see the white head wasn't made from one big white head but a few small ones together. It's mostly gone, but there's still a spot and it will definitely make a mark afterwards. Hopefully it'll clear up soon.

- Blemishes have appeared elsewhere. For some reason very recently above my left eyebrow a group of spots have emerged - not big angry ones but little ones. Not even spots really, blemishes. Maybe they like that eyebrow for some reason. Also, my cheeks. Both cheeks have blemishes and they are pink and noticeable. Not big angry spots, but it sure is annoying. I hope these will clear up too since they are appearing in places where I don't normally have spots.

- Blackheads. When I talked about some of my cheek pores getting smaller, I'm sure it was my pores getting clean. My chin and nose however, haven't had massive changes. I know I have a deep suspicion that I will always get blackheads, so this isn't that big of a deal. I think some of my blackheads of risen to the surface a little and some have gone, but it's not been a magical change.

- *NOTE* I want to point out that I have recently (I think) over ex foliated my face. Two days in a row of ex foliating and I think I've caused a mini breakout or made more spots appear. These recent spots are VERY recent, so I will report back in the long run since I'm not sure if it's the ex foliation of the oil doing its work.

- *NOTE* For those who are unfamiliar with the oil cleansing method, there will be a detailed run down below. The reason I haven't stopped this method even with breakouts is that the method takes a lot of time to work. Also, I believe that the process I am going through with the breakouts is called "purging", as in my skin is getting rid of the impurities and pushing them out, hence the breakouts.

*UPDATE* 10/08/2013 Hey guys - I recently decided to stop using the oil cleansing method. For a short period of time I stopped using the method due to laziness and when I resumed using the method I broke out. I decided to persevere for a little longer but after another week or two I decided dealing with the breakouts really wasn't worth it. I'm not entirely sure if my skin was going through another purging stage or if my skin was rejecting the method entirely. Either way, I decided to stop. I have recently started using another natural cleansing method, and somehow that's backfired on me too -_-.


THE METHOD:

Now, I have read far better blog posts on the OCM method with much greater detail and easy instructions I have followed with no problem. I'll an excellent one here so I don't have to write a mediocre one in comparison:

http://www.crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method

Scroll down to "What oils are best for your skin?" And read from then on.


Follow those instructions well, and see how it goes! I have to point out that the method DOES NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE. As with every skincare routing it never works for everyone, but this method does take time to work and does cause breakouts, making it even harder to tell whether or not your skin is liking it or not. Only experience can solve it I'm afraid.

See ya soon! (Expect reviews on cleansing oils next!)

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How to get rid of Keratosis Pilaris

Aaah, keratosis pilaris. I didn't know it existed till I accidentally come upon it when I was watching a random beauty guru on youtube talk about her "chicken skin" on the back of her arms and how she managed to get rid of it. That's not to say I've never noticed my KP on the backs of my arms, heck from a short while I would just sit there at my desk and pick away and ease out all of the ingrown hairs (OK, gross, but it's not infected or gross, it's just like picking off dry skin) as a form of terrible procrastination. When I realised I had it, I was somewhat relieved and surprised that it was actually a thing. I haven't fully removed my KP, and even though I have made excellent progress I know the parts I picked at will leave a red scar for a long, long time. Anyhow, here's how I've managed to reduce my KP.

1. Exfoliating gloves. Ordered from Ebay for less that £2, and these gloves can be rough if you're too harsh with them. Gentle buffing motions guys.

2. Whatever shower gel you like. Being cheap and Asian I naturally gravitate towards the cheap gels, I'm currently working my way through a bottle of Palmolive something or other.

Method:

1. Put on the gloves and wet with warm water. I normally do this in the shower to kill two birds with one stone.

2. Squirt some shower gel onto the palm of your gloved hands, then rub both palms together to get the foam going.

3. Whatever area you want to exfoliate  buff in circular motions for a minute or two. Don't be harsh and over do it, the skin will look way worse afterwards.

4. Rinse off. After this ex foliation  I use excess oatmeal from my facial cleansing routine and rub it on my arms and legs. For more info on that click HERE. Then I get out, towel dry and use a body lotion as normal. Make sure to wash out your gloves so no shower gel dries up in them.

And that's it! The effects are eventual, but believe me, the skin will be so much better. I use this method every time I shower, if you shower everyday religiously, then that's fine but just be gentle. The eventual process should end up with smooth skin. I have been using it for a while, and there are still bumps, but there are definitely a lot less than before.

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Natural skincare products, natural acne treatment - Coconut Oil? Lemon juice? Oatmeal? Baking soda? The Oil Cleansing method?

Through out the majority of my life my skin was fine - until puberty struck! Now, my skin, by any standard is actually very good in comparison to people with actual acne. I'm so lucky in that respect. No dermatologist visits or acne treatments or anything for me, but I do have a annoying consistent condition on my face. Red/ pink cheeks, large pores (on cheeks mainly, where the redness lies), oily skin,blemishes all over and permanent (until I gouge them out with a extractor at least) blackhead armies on my nose and chin. Honestly, I am sure some of those black heads have been there for years, and when I squeeze my nose, the amount of tiny white dots that appear just makes me roll my eyes in defeat.

Constant clogged pores now seem a permanent part of my face, which I know isn't meant to be the case! Not to mention the occasional white head. These things are huuuuge, and when they arrive they leave marks and those take months to fade as well. Despite this graphic description, my skin on the outside really doesn't look that bad, it is very far from causing me real upset and I could probably cover it up with make up  easily if I could be bothered. I have a definite feeling that my skin problems are underneath the surface, and I need something that can really penetrate my skin and murder the cause.

I'm under the slight suspicion that I MIGHT have a very mild form of acne, but I've yet to see a doctor or dermatologist, and in reality I don't really want to. I understand that if I do have mild acne, I might have to take various medications or creams despite it not being that bad, and that is terrifying considering I have no idea what may lie in those products, and I'm only relying on some else's word. I need to take time to analyse and break down what's good and bad for my skin, and understand my body better.

So, I've been looking at natural remedies, and I've come under the impression that they all have some common attributes with each other.

• They're cheap
• Edible
• Generally found in kitchens or easily bought at super markets
• Come in large quantities so you hardly need to stock up

I mean, there's nothing to lose with all of these treatments. If they don't work as cleansers and exfoliators I can at least bloody eat them so I don't waste anything.

So, from what I've gathered, here are the ones I'm interested in the most that I'm going to try in the coming months:

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil - there's a lot of information and blogs relating to this one. For some, it's a MIRACLE product. It's destroyed acne, cleared skin, some people have even stopped using cleansers, moisturisers and toners and use coconut as a replacement for EVERYTHING. People cook with it instead of using other oils, they eat it on toast, they take a tablespoon  day, they shave with it, use it as lubricant (?!?!?!?!) and they steam it off with facial steamers or hot towels. Oh, and it makes a great hair mask apparently. 

BUT! The side effects vary. For some, they say it clogs their faces like nobody's business and makes them even worse and it takes months to clear out the clogged pores. But there are those who strongly advocate that these breakouts after using coconut oil are necessary  as the oil brings out impurities to the surface and after a week or two, it clears up. After all, it is anti bacterial, and anti fungal. By the way, make sure it's an organic extra virgin coconut oil brand - other types will definitely clog you up. 

Summary on coconut oil:

- Coconut oil can be used for acne, some swear by it, some stay away after use. People are different, so the only way I can know is if I try.

- No matter what happens, I will try it for at least a week, and if I do have a break out I will keep using it until the week is over. If it's a no go, then I'll just eat the stuff or use it on my hair or legs or whatever.

- It can be mixed with other oils for the OCM method (oil cleansing method, whereby you mix oils in varying amounts and use it on your face - there's science behind this one, but to sum it up, oil beats oil.)    

Lemon juice - An old favourite. Never cleared blackheads out for me, I would use it as a after cleaning toner and sleep with it on. You can certainly feel it working (stings like heck) and some say that it's too harsh to use like a toner, and that you should wash it off when you've let it set a little. I never found that my skin went insane after I used it, if I put on too much it would go red certainly but then I would just wash it off. It certainly faded scars for me, not so much on the miracle blackhead cure though. I need to go back and use this stuff some more. Bottled juice is fine by the way, I can't use real lemons all the time at university so I just have a bottle of the stuff in my room. I wrote a post dedicated to lemon juice HERE.

Summary on lemon juice: 

- It's not bad stuff, but if you have really sensitive skin you can use a few tablespoons in a mask or scrub and it should be fine. Not a miracle cure for me, but the blackheads I have are the deep rooted kind, so I was hoping for a little too much maybe?

Oatmeal - I've talked about this in a previous post, and I'm still using the stuff on my body and face as per usual. It still cleanses, and is a nice mild exfoliant. However, I want to say that it DOES NOT PREVENT spots/blemishes/e.t.c  for me but merely CLEANSES without agitating the face. If you have great skin, you'll love this stuff, and with the amounts it comes in a bag will last you for ages. It's a nice cleanser, I'm thinking if I combine all of these natural treatments into one routine oatmeal would only be for the shower since it's messy. Oatmeal helps with redness too, and you really do end up with a smooth face. I wrote a post dedicated to it HERE.

However, after a bit more research on the internet, some people have said that oatmeal has helped their acne a lot, which I think is mainly due to the calming properties of oatmeal on the skin. It's not "fighting" the acne aggressively per say, but the cleaning certainly aids in calming the face. Oatmeal mixed with yoghurt and other natural ingredients seem very popular as masks, so do try.   

Summary on oatmeal: 

 A good cheap cleanser, gently exfoliates, can be used all over the body and calms redness and could possibly help out with angry red acne. I would recommend this for anyone who has a low tolerance to harsh chemicals, it's really nourishing. 

Baking soda - Now this one is one I really need to try. My current exfoliator claims to have the maximum concentration of Salicylic Acid, and while it certainly ex foliates  it really hasn't made a noticeable difference. Oatmeal doesn't ex foliate my skin enough, and my recent try with ex foliating gloves on my face was a no go - waaay too harsh and despite my skin feeling smooth afterwards it did not look good. All of my blemishes felt raised and my cheeks looked redder. Whether I had finally removed a necessary amount of skin so my spots could  breath or whether I went overboard I'll never know. Either way, looking red ain't a great look. 

There are a few points to note about baking soda. For some it's a miracle worker, and for others it was too harsh or it burnt or it dried up skin like nothing else. This won't stop me from trying it, it does have 4.1 out of 5 on Make Up Alley, but I think I'll be wary in that I will only use it for a short amount of time, not leave on the scrub to let the ingredients sink in! Also, I think the general consensus is that you use a TINY amount in GENTLE motions and for a short amount of time, and only ONCE A WEEK since it's pretty abrasive.  

Summary on baking soda:

- A small amount, mixed with a tiny bit of water and in gentle motions, once a week. The stuff is darn cheap, and if you really need that little of an amount it should last you a long time. This can also be mixed with oils to combine a exfoliant with a moisturising oil (like coconut). If you have very very sensitive skin you must be cautious, test a bit of this stuff on a small patch of skin before going the whole way - you may be one of the people who can't do with baking soda. No worries there, you can always revert to oatmeal for something milder.  

The Oil Cleansing Method  (OCM) - Another one I'm very interested in! This one links back to coconut, but rather then using one oil on its own, the OCM mixes two oils and you apply it on the skin. After you rub it in like you would any cleanser, you remove the oil. A better post on it would be found HERE. I can't say I know too much about this one, but the idea remains simple in that oil beats oil. Also, there are different ratios of oil for different skin types, e.g. an oilier skinned person could use more of one oil than another in comparison to a dry skinned person. *UPDATE* click links below about the OCM method, it goes into specifics about the method on what to use and what not to use! 

Summary on The Oil Cleansing Method:  

- Really interesting, and potentially less risky than coconut oil since coconut oil can be too heavy for some. However, like coconut oil the routine established with OCM will take a a week or two to adjust to. But I'm definitely interested in this one and I'm definitely going to research some more.

*UPDATE* Link here for my review of the OCM!
http://thesilverpocketwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/natural-spot-treatments-natural-acne.html

LINKS (No copyright intended!It's a really great blog to follow, highly recommended):

http://www.crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method
http://www.crunchybetty.com/trying-and-troubleshooting-the-oil-cleansing-method-tips-for-flawless-oil-cleansed-skin
http://www.crunchybetty.com/when-your-extra-virgin-olive-oil-isnt-so-wholesome

Please note, there are SO many websites talking about the OCM method, many conflicting with each other on different types of oils and in reality the only way to trust the method is to experiment and research yourself, everyone has different skin so there's no foolproof method regardless of what you try - some things are more reliable than others, but you may find yourself in a minority when it comes to certain products and methods.

ALL IMAGES TAKEN FROM GOOGLE - NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED

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Natural spot treatments, natural acne treatment: The Lemon juice trick! (A.K.A. Using lemon juice on your face!)

Lemon juice has received rave reviews on how it can help spots, breakouts, blemishes, acne and blackheads.

Seems like a miracle right? Well, the reviews aren't really lying - I tried lemon juice for a while, but I eventually stopped because I got lazy!

I can say it really does work - however, it STINGS! If you have sensitive skin and can't tolerate pain very well, then there are a number of DIY face masks that incorporate lemon juice mixed with other things so it doesn't hurt. Also, you do carry the risk of doing damage to your skin if you overdo it.

For me, I went all out and put lemon juice on a cotton pad and wiped my face a while after cleansing and just before going to bed. I would let it dry first, and I made sure to try to sleep on you my back, but in the morning I always found myself lying on my side anyway, so no real worries. The juice dries like a shiny mask, so it doesn't rub off.

Blemishes and blackheads still remained, but they were much less so! I believe consistent use will be really great in the long run.

NOTE: Lemon has bleaching properties - so don't do this then go out into the sun! (It's sticky and dries shiny any way, so why would you?) Either rinse it off or do it before going to bed. A paler face and darker neck is hard to explain!

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Natural spot treatments, natural acne treatment: using oatmeal as a face wash! Picture heavy post!

 Bubzbeauty! I'm one of the last folk to follower her advice of using oatmeal as a daily facial cleanser, but better late than never right? My skin hasn't been great as of late - a combo of bad university diet (I'm catered, and that's never good) and unsuitable cleansers has made me desperate for a change. I considered getting a a new cleanser, but the amount of cleansers and the time it takes to find one that works is something I don't have the time or patience to do!

So I'm setting myself a challenge. I will use oats to wash my face every time I shower, with occasional updates when I decide I have the time to blog. Once I've finished this humongous bag of oats, the final verdicts shall be clear! 

Handy benefits of oats:

- Natural, so no harsh chemicals that'll tear my pores open and leave large holes on my face!
- Cheap, around £1.10 for a bag of natural oats from the corner shop.
- No waste! Even if the oats aren't the best for me, I can still eat them and they will last a year when stored. That £1.10 goes a long way!
- Easy. Water + oats = face wash. Even I can't mess this one up.

So, my first try made me a happy, happy person!

Here's a before shot in one of my university dorm's bathrooms.

I look really sad here lol. But as you can see, there's redness and spots. Believe me, the picture doesn't do the badness of my skin justice, it's actually a lot worse but the lighting was bright.

Here are some close ups:

Again, the lighting makes it look better than it actually is! Trust me, my cheeks were red and I have blemishes everywhere. And my chin is actually embedded with blackheads that have been there for months!

And here's how I store the oatmeal, the brand I use and the amount I used today:

 Believe me, the amount in that cup was TOO MUCH. It looks like so little, but then again a handful with my tiny hands really isn't much. I used the excess oatmeal on my legs and they are now smoooooth!

Instructions:

1. I got in the shower put the cup at a corner of the shower where I knew it wouldn't get wet. I cleaned the rest of my body with my normal shower gel and ex foliated my legs and the backs of my arms (I have ingrown hairs in those areas, ex foliating will eventually get rid of that.)

2. Take a handful of oats, and  hold them under the shower head until they get wet and soggy. Squeeze, and you should see a white milky liquid come out. Cup this liquid in your other hand, and rub on your face, it's all goodness!

3. Gently ex foliate your face with the oatmeal. It get's messy, but it should be fine if done in slower steps. I took pinches and ex foliated my face with them. Any remaining oats can be rubbed anywhere else you would like on your body. I did my legs.

4. Rinse! WARM water only, hot water is too much for your skin. After rinsing feel free to take the shower head and spray it in the areas of the shower where oatmeal has landed. For me the oatmeal rinsed away with no issues at all, and my university showers don't have plughole strainers.

5. Rinse away any oatmeal from your body, and change the shower temperature to cool/cold, and rinse your face gently to close the pores.

6. Pat yourself down with a towel, with extra gentleness when drying the face.

Here are my AFTER pictures after using the wash ONCE:

(It's normal to have a slightly red face after ex foliating.)

SO much better! Less red and angry, with smaller pores and soft skin. I am so psyched for this natural cleanser, and this is after ONE wash! I have high hopes for this method.

Here's a comparison of my before and after ONE wash:

Before









After, a little red and you may not be able to see the difference right away....








But! Here are more:
                                                                                       


Before








After









Honestly guys, my pictures can't do the method justice, no matter how clear! I can hand on heart say my skin was less red, softer and I was very pleased. If this is one wash, how will my skin look after a few more washes?

I'll update soon. This the beginning of the oatmeal journey!

*UPDATE* 29/03/2013
Hey guys, quick update here. I've been using the face wash when I shower for a while now, and it consistently helps my face stay nice and clean. However, my skin has been so rotten lately during exam season and my lack of exercise and diet has certainly contributed to blemishes and spots. Oatmeal definitely helps calm these down, but I need to use it longer before I make a final verdict.

*FINAL UPDATE* 21/06/2013
Hey guys, I finally finished the whole bag of oatmeal, and I while I stick by my opinion that oatmeal doesn't "fight" spots or acne aggressively, it really hasn't got any cons when it comes to being kind to skin. It soothes and calms redness for sure, and while for some reason I do find it a little drying on the face after my shower, it hasn't had any other negative effects on my skin. So if your skin is irritated and angry for whatever reason, I highly recommend using oatmeal because it's so mild, and will certainly make your skin softer.

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