Skin lovin' ; Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner (Review)

Hey guys. How's the week going? I know it's quite some time I have posted anything up here. I've just been looking to redesign my blog before anything comes up. I'm still in the process and I hope to be done soon. I just decided to give a little peek into what I've been about lately.

I'm all about simple products. They are a Unilever brand that produce a range of skin care products. Ever since I tried their exfoliating wash and facial wash gel, I was literally hooked. I was like 'this is where i'm parking please!' Lol. I don't think I've hyped any other brand like this before.

Lately, I noticed my skin was bumpy / rough. I had no pimples but I didn't like how my skin looked. Coincidentally, I recently purchase the kind to skin soothing facial toner because it was on sale at Health plus at Marina.

The kind to skin soothing facial toner is said to contain vitamins (Pro-vitamin B5 & Pro-Vitamin B3), skin loving ingredients (Chamomile, Witch hazel, Allantoin) and no artificial perfume or color and no harsh chemicals so it won't upset your skin. It's dematologically tested and approved and It's also 100% alcohol free. 

To give a brief info about the main ingredient, Chamomile is antibacterial, anti-fungi, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. it is considered to be hypoallergenic with the ability to neutralize skin irritants. On the other hand, Allantoin helps to soften and protect while actively soothing skin. it also stimulates cell regeneration promoting healthier skin. It comes from an extract from the root of the comfrey plant and is a soothing non-irritating ingredient that heals skin and stimulates the growth of healthy tissues. it also works as an effective skin softener. Witch hazel is an astringent, toner, antioxidant and is anti-inflammatory. It's good for spot treating acne, soothing dry skin or itching.

This toner is actually clear, has the consistency of water and smells like medicine although the smell isn't overwhelming or disgusting. When I put it on my face, I don't perceive anything but when I put the liquid to my nose, that's when I can perceive anything. The only thing i don't exactly like about it is the fact that i noticed my face has become oilier ever since I started using it. But does it work? It sure does. My face feels smoother, softer and less bumpy. It's also healing my acne scars. Will I purchase again? I sure would. I would majorly because it is a toner and helps reduce my skin irritation. I've been using it for just 2 weeks.

You can purchase it at Health plus at Marina, Lagos for about 2,300 Naira. I however bought it at 2,090 naira because they just opened and are offering a 10% discount on all products purchased. I think it's still on.

Any experiences using the brand simple? I'd love to hear it.

Cheers!!

Ifeoluwa.

Ps: this is not a sponsored post. Opinions are solely mine. Post sponsored by any makeup or skin care brand will be communicated accordingly and I will give  my 100% honest opinion about it.

Skin Lovin'; Soap & Glory Smoothie star deep moisture body milk and Rich & Foamous body wash (Review)

Hey guys,

Happy weekend and I hope this week has been quite productive for you. I've been wanting to do a review of these Soap & Glory products since they came in but I decided to try it out for a few months you know, in order to be able to write something worth the review. Before i received them, I had just seen a review of a Soap & Glory product on one of the blogs I follow and my first thoughts were, 'Oh nice packaging. Lol. I have a thing for pink though. 

Soap & Glory Rich and Foamous body wash is cream in color and composition. Kind of reminds me of salad creme. *Side Eyes*

It's super creamy and smoothing. It lathers moderately, cleans well and leaves your body smelling all nice. It's that kind of wash that moisturizes while cleansing and it seems to me it also has anti-inflammatory properties. I used it a few times on my face and each time I did, It actually soothed my face - you know that feeling of relief your skin gets from using harsh chemicals? A con for me is that it's not a wash you can use on your face consistently if you are acne prone. Because of all the oils in it, it can leave you face with some heavy pimples so I stay away from using it except of course I feel my face is inflamed.

Some of its popular ingredients are water, Rapeseed Oil, Citric acid, Grapeseed oil, Oat, parfum (fragrance), lactic acid, sweet almond oil, caramel and Honey. Lest I forget, it also tastes sweet so you might wanna keep away from little children.

The use along Soap & Glory Smoothie Star deep moisture body milk looks just like the wash. You can immediately tell they are siblings. 

It's also quite creamy and very moisturizing. It's smooth as you work it into your skin and quite shiny. If you have dry skin, this product should be good for you. 

Some of its popular ingredients are Water, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter, Oat, Parfum (fragrance), Yogurt powder, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Seed Extract, Cocoa Extract and Honey Extract.

The first thing that stole my heart about the product is the packaging. It's really lovely and has an attractive fragrance. They are products you would use and immediately fall in love with it because of the way they smell. It is said to have the irresistible almond, oats and brown sugar scent. Using both products actually tone your skin over time as it appears fresher and shinier. They both come in 500ml bottles and retails for about £35 on Amazon which is about 10,000 plus each. For body cream and soap, I think it's quite pricey but pricey I know is subjective. I will give both products 4 / 5.

Have you tried any Soap & Glory Product? How was it?

New buys; Simple kind to skin refreshing facial wash gel & Sebamed Clearface care gel (Review)

Hey guys,

So it's a new week. Yay! A week to get to do amazing things. Make sure you get your hands and heart to do some. Okay?! I recently purchased two items because of course my skin is still suffering from acne. I can't wait for the day I'll be over and done with worrying about it. Mumsy says after menopause but it's just too far. Lol!

So if you've been reading my blog, you'd see I made mention of a product from simple in this post here.Well I got her sister - Simple kind to skin refreshing facial wash gel. A milder version of the former.

It's 100% soap free and contains vitamins and no artificial perfume or color. I chose to buy this because the Simple clear skin oil balancing exfoliating wash I was using before finished and I decided to restock. Both products are really good and if you have sensitive skin, you can go for either. However, if you skin  reacts to scrubs like mine does, it is better to go for the Simple kind to skin refreshing facial wash gel which has no tiny grain-like particles in it that act as a scrub and help exfoliate your skin. Simple products are good because they do not dry out skin leaving it to work overtime trying to moisturizer your face and produce oil which eventually trap bacteria and dirt in your skin. It was really smooth on my skin as I washed my face with it and the product left my skin feeling cleansed and not completely stripped of all its oil. It comes in a 150ml tube and you can get it at the Poise store in Ikeja City Mall for just 1800 naira. If you are looking for a gentle wash and the price is within your budget, you can go for it.

I also got the Sebamed clear face care gel.

I was desperately in need of a moisturizer that was free of oils and pore clogging substance but that would actually moisturize my face and that I could use just before I wear make up. We all know that it's essential to moisturizer before you make up right?

I had actually used this product before now and I can tell you it is a fantastic moisturizer. It doesn't leave my face heavy, it improves the glow to my skin and helps to even calm my inflammations. People even at that period of usage testified that my skin was looking more relieved and was healing. It is gel-like and dries off quickly once applied. It looks like this on the skin.

I also got it at Poise store in Ikeja city mall. It comes in a 50ml tube and retails for 2,550 Naira. 

Have you had testimonies using any of these products? Do drop a comment below, would you?

x,

Ifeoluwa.

Some melanin goodness; Lupita Nyong'o

Ahhh... I'm in love with the way her skin shines. She makes melanin look so good!!! This is exactly what i'm talking about when I see a dark beauty. Her skin looks well toned and I mean, it's not coke, fanta and sprite all over. Dark women need to understand that their skin is beautiful and more when well taken care of.

Lupita was recently on the cover of the October edition of Vogue magazine and I thought to create an album on here of it. Hopefully someday, I'd get to interview her about her skin regime. I also included some of her other pictures that I love. Here goes some Eye candy. Enjoy!!

I particularly love her hair too :D

So girl, Convinced now?? Love the skin You're in!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Image Credit; Vogue.com

Skinlovin': Regular skin care routine for beginners

Hey guys,

So, because I get complements from people about my skin and questions about how I manage it, I have decided to write this. This is really basic and cost effective. It doesn't cost so much and will give good results. I decided to go this route because I am still not ready to experiment with other skin products until I have done a thorough research on them. I don't want anything that will harm my skin or anything. So here's what I do on a regular;

1. Exfoliate.

Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, revealing new & brighter skin. I exfoliate once every week because I work 5 days a week and I get home pretty late on those days. I used to twice every week but couldn't keep up. My immediate suggestion is that you do it twice a week.  Make sure to use lukewarm to cold water so you don't strip off all the oil on your skin. Use a exfoliating sponge to get better results but be careful not to scrub your body too hard. I got the Eden apricot scrub for face and body 227g and the exfoliating sponge from Eko market for 500 Naira and 200 naira respectively.

2. Cleanse.

Because I have been using warm water lately, I started using the dove moisturizing cleansing bar as I noticed my skin was drying out and wrinkling. This helps replace all the stripped oil from your skin. Also at night since I don't moisturizer, I add a little bio oil to my water. Depending on your skin, you may find out that you don't need to add oil to your bathing water nor use a moisturizing cleansing bar but if you don need I suggest asides using bio oil, you can get the Neutrogena body oil.

Also, watch your skin as I hear these oils tend to make one darker. I was gifted the Bio oil but that bottle is about 1000 naira. The dove beauty bar comes in a pack of 4 and cost between 500 to 1000 naira depending on want to purchase it

3. Moisturize.

This is my favorite part!!! I love using this because every time I have a bath and put it on, I see my skin come alive. As we all know cocoa butter is excellent for healing and repairing skin and adding shine to dark skin. I got this 1,150 naira in goodies supermarket in onikan but it's way cheaper in Lagos. There is the anti-aging version which i haven't tried so i can't say much about it. Interestingly, I hear a woman is supposed to start using anti-aging products from 25 so yeah, why not? I'd probably do a review sometime soon.

4. Protect.

Yes! Use sunscreen. As you know, sunscreen helps protect you from the harmful rays of the sun and your skin is better off with than without it really. I use although the Forever living aloe sunscreen SPF 30. Actually, I just mix mine with my body lotion. It has aloe vera which is very good for your skin. It's quite pricey in my opinion and costs between 2,500 to 4,000 Naira in Lagos.

So, any products you've discovers that works for your skin? Please leave a comment below. Would love to hear from you.

x
Ifeoluwa

An acne girl's guide to wearing makeup

Most believe that once you are acne prone, it's best to stay away from make-up which is neither true nor right. What having acne simply means is, you have to be quite selective with the kind of makeup you wear. Makeup enhances your facial features, so why not? Because our skin is sensitive, there are dos and don'ts with regards to finding and wearing make-up on your skin.

1. First things first, treat your acne. Don't skip over it and pretend like it's not there. Treat acne from inside and outside. Use cleaners, washes, exfoliating products, blackhead removers or even get a spa treatment. Have a regular cleansing routine and try to keep it. Consistency goes a long way. I can testify! Do as much as you can to improve your breakouts. If so bad, see a dermatologist. Study what kinds of food breaks you out and avoid it or eat in less quantity. Eat fruits, vegetables and drink lots of water. Incorporating a blood purifier in your diet may also help. Stay away from fizzy / carbonated drinks & sugar. Cleansers help clean your skin from all the sweat, dirt and build-ups that have accumulated through the course of your daily activities. Because some type of acne is caused by dirt, oil and bacteria trapped in the skin, most people think that using cleansers that leave your face dry is the way to go. However, drying out your skin only forces your skin glands to work overtime producing excess sebum and the oil leads to only more break out. Products like simple  help clean your skin without completely drying it out. Acne caused by hormonal imbalance can be regulated by taking supplements such as fish oil supplements and other health vitamins.

I will write another post explaining my daily cleansing regimen and why I use these products.

2. Wear non-comedogenic makeup products. From your concealer to your foundation to your powder to your bronzer to your blush! They are usually water-based with little or no oil in their composition as opposed to oil-based products. They also help to minimize the frequency of your breakouts. Matte concealers, foundations and powders are usually the best types for acne prone skin. Thankfully, many beauty products are beginning to see the light and include these type in their product range. For a start, I went for the MAC Pro longwear waterproof nourishing foundation and I must confess, it has been treating me well. I also use the Maybelline clear smooth all in one powder along with it. Both are matte and are good for acne prone skin. What's even better is that my foundation has skin reparative ingredients. I almost leaped for joy after watching this in a review. I bought a win-win!!

3. Keep it clean & hands off. NEVER go to bed with your make up on. Cleanse your face every night even if you didn't wear makeup through the day. Keep your sheets clean as much as possible. I suggest you change them every 2 weeks or even 1. Keep your hands away from your face and touching your pimples. You'll find that as one day rolls into the other, you'll have beautiful skin and less often breakouts and you'll be able to maintain your skin even as you look gorgeous in your makeup. 

Any other thing you'd add in your routine? I'd love to know!

xx

Ifeoluwa

Last weekend roundups - Beauty shopping + My experience using the MAC Pro longwear nourishing foundation

Hello guys,

So last week Saturday, I went to Ikeja City mall, here in Lagos, Nigeria to purchase a few make up items. I got a set of 15 make-up brushes and the MAC Pro longwear nourishing foundation.

I especially love the make up brushes and I feel ladies get one so as to get your make-up on properly. Meanwhile, I have stayed away powder talk more foundation due of the nature of the weather here in Africa and also because I've been battling acne all my life. As a woman in my mid twenties, I thought, now should be the best time to try some makeup on.

I had done my research on MAC products. I noticed they were good for dark skin and made your face look really good and well done. I also read that you are more likely to find products in your skin color in their range of shades. What didn't occur to me was the fact that they could clog my pores as I have acne-prone skin. I walked into the store and asked the lady attendant a ton of questions. I intended to buy the MAC studio fix fluid foundation but didn't because

1. The pro long wear nourishing foundation could function as both a concealer and foundation at the same time. It has better coverage than the studio fix foundation. Super!!! I have dark spots on my face although fading out.

2. The Studio fix foundation was 1,000 Naira costlier although 5ml larger than the pro longwear foundation. I know a thousand Naira will not kill me but I always work with a budget. My budget was 6,000 and I even over shot it. Moreover, I'm still a struggling writer. Lol!

She made me know the MAC pro longwear nourishing foundation was good for oily skin and it doesn't clog pores i.e is non-comedogenic because it was a matte foundation. In her words, 'Matte products don't clog pores'. Okay o!! She did a full make up on me with the foundation and the studio fix powder.

I absolutely loved how my face lit up but before several hours later I noticed I was beginning to break out seriously. As in like some boil-like pimples.

I really thought it was the soap I was using but I did a few research again on MAC products.  There are comments that generally MAC products cause severe break-outs to acne-prone women. Since it was a full makeup done onme, I also suspect the reason for my break out may also be the fact that she used her make-up brushes on me which she most likely has used on a ton of other women or probably the powder she used. It is said that the Studio fix powder is a full coverage powder and so clogs pores and causes people to break out. I intend to wear the Maybelline Clear smooth all-in-one powder with the MAC Pro longwear nourishing foundation as it is boldly written that it is non-comedogenic. I haven't used any of these items ever since my break out as I am treating my acne. The next time I will be wearing any of these will be when my skin has recovered from all the clogging! I'd be watching my skin meanwhile.

So, what has been your experience using with MAC skin products. I'd love to know.

x
Ife