Flint + Flint Moisturiser

The regular Flint + Flint moisturiser is extremely hydrating and gentle; the smell is neutral (not overpowering in the slightest) and a little goes a long way!

It helps to protect the skin from pollution and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; I use this constantly after microdermabrasion/peels as it soothes the skin and makes it feel smoother.

It's extremely non greasy and works well with my oily skin as it absorbs quickly without leaving a tacky residue after application, and non of the ingredients cause my sensitive skin to become itchy or sore!

It cost £32 http://flintplusflint.com/products/moisturiser

- Natalie

Flint + Flint Exfoliator 2x

A few months ago I started using Flint + Flint products so I'm going to do some reviews of he products I have found most helpful to my skin.

Today I'm going to write about the Exfoliator 2x; all Flint + Flint products come with a colourful cross on the front of the packaging, the Exfoliator 2x is the orange one.

Ta a double action exfoliator which doesn't aggravate the skin; as you can see from the above picture the product comes in a gel like form and is filled with microparticals for a gentle yet thorough exfoliation.

It contains Salicylic acids meaning it can be used on acne prone skin to help kill the bacteria, and Jojoba Oil which can be used on all skin types and helps to balance the sebum in the skin. The ingredients work together to soften the skin and give you a more radiant complexion.

As well as using on its own as a regular exfoliator the creators of Flint + Flint (Max and Adam Flint- owners of Skin Health Care Spas) give helpful tips on the website on how to get the best results from their products. You can apply the Exfoliator 2x to dry skin and leave for 1-3 minutes before washing off for a deeper exfoliation.

It is recommended for use two/three times a week. I use it regularly and find it is gentle enough not to cause any irritation but it does help buff away dead skin cells to give me smoother skin, it's what I have been using after my peels to gently encourage the dead skin to peel away fully.

It costs £30 and can be purchased on the website: http://flintplusflint.com/products/exfoliator-2x

Have any of you ever used these products? I'd love to hear!

- Natalie

Face Peels for Acne scars : the reaction

So I decided to document my skin after having a higher percentage peel last Saturday. 

During the peel I could feel my face burning, more so than usual but I persevered because I live under the illusion that the more it hurts the more it works! They apply a coat of the peel to the skin, let it dry, and then add another coat and as the peel is applied you can feel any affected areas start to tingle; the stronger the peel the stronger the sensation.

(If you've never had a peel before hey wouldn't start off on a high strength one, most likely you would have to prep your skin with a glycolic wash for about a week prior to prepare your skin and then the more peels you have the higher percentage of acid they will use).

I took this picture straight after the peel:

And then I took these pictures yesterday (2 days after having the peel)

The skin is cracking and it looks like I have a giant cold sore! It's impossible to cover with makeup so I had to go to work looking like that; I tried to avoid most people so they wouldn't ask about it.

It's very tender as the skin has peeled away leaving there skin beneath new and raw; I've been keeping my skin moisturised and this morning I used a gentle scrub to try and move some of the peeling skin off my cheeks and nose but it hasn't helped.

- Natalie

Skin 3 days after Peel

I took these pictures 3 days after my peel, as you can see the peeling is happening mainly around my nose/upper lip area.

Before makeup:

After makeup:

I've been using a Flint Plus Flint exfoliator to remove the peeling skin and dead skin cells; it's not too rough that it aggravates the skin but I've found it's helping to encourage the skin on my nose to gently peel away... 

http://flintplusflint.com/products/exfoliator-2x

I've also been regularly moisturising to make sure the skin is hydrated!

- Natalie

How to get rid of acne scars

I have suffered from acne for years and a particularly bad break out of cystic acne left me with scars across my cheeks.

Years of various treatments have helped lessen the severity of them but I can still see them!

Treatments such as Laser: used directly on the affected area to kill bacteria and remove the superficial layer of skin to reveal a new and unblemished layer

Microdermabrasion: crystals/grains are used to exfoliate the skin and get rid of any dead skin cells to rejuvenate and make the top layer brighter/clearer

Derma rollers: Tiny needles roll across the skin to increase levels of collagen which help plump the skin

Chemical Peels: causes the top layer of skin to peel away revealing a clearer and more rejuvenated layer underneath.

All of the above help create more Collagen in the affected area; collagen is a protein produced by the skin, it can regenerate itself and helps keep the skin plump and smooth; new cells replace the old ones and indented acne scars can be filled in!

If you are having a treatment such as Laser it is recommended you leave a period of at least 2 weeks inbetween sessions to allow new cells to develop.

You can buy creams and gels but I have yet to find one that has helped my skin, but it depends entirely on how severe the scarring is.

I'd love to know what you all use to help get rid of acne scars as I'm always open to trying new products; did anything completely get rid of your scarring?

- Natalie

Skin after a Micropeel (pictures)

I had a Micropeel this morning and took a picture of my face straight after (which is possibly the most unattractive picture of me ever):

They do a peel first, today's was a 40% lactic/salicylic/citric acid, and then they do a microdermabrasion straight after the peel has been removed. Even though this was a stronger percent peel than the last one I had I felt it burnt a lot less?? My skin must have been particularly sensitive last time.

So from today onwards my skin will start to peel and become flaky, this can last up to a week, and it's important to keep skin moisturised. The skin becomes tight and then starts to peel, kind of like how a snake sheds its skin!! 

It's not ideal to walk around with a peeling face and I do get embarrassed when people ask me what's wrong with my skin! 

Ill take a picture of my skin during the week so you can see what happens on the days after a peel. 

- Natalie

Does Roaccutane work?

Last week me and my mum went for a spa day at a hotel ; we had a massage, a manicure, and a facial and after that we went up to the hotel restaurant for lunch.

Everyone who's ever had a facial knows that it's basic skin care etiquette not to apply makeup after a facial/peel/microderm so what did I do? I went up to that restaurant with no makeup (and a slightly greasy face) and ate lunch! My mum noted this and said "look how far you've come" and I have come a long way! From being the girl who wouldn't take her makeup off in front of her family to going bare faced in public.

Now I'm not saying I walk around with no makeup on all the time, my face isn't perfect and I'm still self conscious but in this instance I decided not to let my skin control my life. And it felt good!

As you can see I still have a few spots but my dermatologist said that is normal and not for me to panic.

I also have a lot of congestion and blackheads, especially around my nose!

Roaccutane gets a lot of bad press but I am so thankful for it. My life has changed unequivocally; a few years ago I was depressed, I felt hideous, and I distanced myself from everyone. I'm not saying R is a quick fix and will cure your acne-remember that this is the 2nd time I've taken it! After I had taken it the first time I was so disheartened with the results. My dermatologist said that potentially I'll have to take it again and if I needed to I wouldn't hesitate.

I hope everyone's skin is getting better and I'd love to hear about your experiences!

- Natalie