My Skin and Me

For as long as I can remember I have had red blemishes on my cheeks, some refer to it as Roseacea and others mild flushing, whatever it is, it sometimes really annoys me and I do as much as I can to cover it up with make-up.

As you can see from the two photos below, taken inside and outside, the redness is clearly visible for all to see.

So I was asked if I would like to try some products that might help combat the blemishes by Salcura Antiac Skincare line** which I have seen on Channel 4's embarrassing bodies.   Naturally I agreed to try some to see if there was anything, other than lots of BB cream and foundation that could hide, cover and get rid of the redness.

So I was sent these lovely products to try.  All Salcura products contain an ingredient called Sea Buckthorn oil which is referred to as a 'Super Ingredient' and it helps to reduce inflammation, it calms and soothes the skin and helps to nourish and cleanse the skin.

Derma Spray -  This product is said to have a proven track record and is our most effective and practical solution for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea and other related skin conditions.  You can and it is suggested that you spray this onto your face 3-4 times a day, so I tend to use this only at weekends and when it is on the skin, it instantly absorbs itself and leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturised.  Designed for people with dry skin, another condition I tend to suffer from on my cheeks more than anywhere and since using this, I have noticed a big difference.  It does contain Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Oil which give it a definite scent. It retails for £14.99 for 100ml but there are other sizes available.

Face Hydrator - This product contains Omega 3,6,7 and ( and is designed to give your skin maximum deep hydration and it is designed for itchy, dry and sensitive facial skin.  I do have a slight itchyness on my cheeks where my redness is this gives an almost instant end to that itchy feeling, I was actually really surprised the first time I used it that I didn't want to scratch my face as much.  It retails for £11.99

Daily Face Wash - It is pH neutral and again contains no nasties and it doesn't leave your skin feeling dry after using.  You are told to use it morning and evening which I have been doing and as a wash it is light, unscented and lathers up really well once it has come into contact with water.  This face wash retails for £8.49

Daily Face Wipes - Yes, before some of you start typing in capital letters in the comment box below about the evils of face wipes, these ones contain no nasties and nor will they leave your skiin feeling really dry after using.  They are really moisturising and offer effective deep cleansing, ideal for on the go and they help remove hardened sebum (yuck) as well as excess oils, dirt and grime.  They retail for £6.99 and you get around 25 wipes.

Activ Liquid Spray - Designed to be used after cleansing the skin, you apply the spray onto your hands or a clean cotton wool pad and massage into the areas which are most affected.  As soon as it touches the skin it instantly absorbs itself. I found this spray to be quite cooling and refreshing when applied to the skin and from all of the products within this range, so far this has been my favourite.  It retails for £9.99

So having used them for the last month I am sure you want to know whether or not there is any difference, so here are my after photos and I would love to know what you think:

So what do you think?

All Salcura products are free from chemicals that are known to cause additional sensitisation of the skin.  Totally free from parabens, SLS, perfumes, steroids, antibiotics, hormones, lanolin, cortisones, soaps, phthalates and peroxides.

Amie Skincare - Your Skins Best Friend

Amie has become a brand I am always excited to see and use. the name meaning friend in French, is a brand which is non-expensive, kind to skin and contains no nasties. My morning routine at the minute involves two Amie products - first there is Morning Clear which is a facial wash and then there is Morning Dew, a matte finish moisturiser.

Starting with Morning Clear which is in the pastel pink coloured tube, this product is pH-balanced and uses what are called harmonising natural actives such as:

• mayblossom and elderflower purify and decongest the skin, keeping oiliness in check and helping prevent spot formation. 
• Natural sugar moisturisers ensure skin is not stripped or dried out. 
• Cocoa seed butter nourishes and sweet almond oil softens. 
• Orange blossom and raspberry tone pores and refresh skin.

Putting all of these ingredients together it leaves your skin feeling fresh, properly washed and smooth to the touch. What I love about this product is the texture of the wash which is quite creamy and it lathers really well upon contact with water and the fruity smell it gives is wonderfully refreshing.

After showering and then further using a toner and cleanser, I moisturise and again with Amie. Morning Dew, which is contained within a pastel yellow coloured tube.

Morning Dew is described as being a "really light daily moisturiser that’s totally mineral oil-free and parabens-free" which I am sure will get the thumbs up from some bloggers. As you apply this to your skin, it is surprisingly quick to absorb itself and it leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch. When a product states that it will leave a matte finish what does it really mean? Well in the case of this moisturising cream I am told that "it gives skin all the hydration it needs while controlling shine and leaving a smooth, matte finish that’s a perfect base for make-up or facing the day or night ‘au naturel’" and having used it for the last few weeks I can almost certainly tell you that it does that.

As with the facial wash, this product also contains those harmonising natural actives and in this case they are:

• organic rosehip and bilberry nourish, 
• natural plant sugars hydrate 
• Vitamin E acts as an anti-oxidant protecting against sun damage and pollution. 
• Lemon Fruit Extract acts as an effective antiseptic 
• Orange Blossom is an excellent skin clarifying agent, helping to remove excess sebum and keep oily skin clear.

Again this smells really wonderful and it has one of those scents which lingers on your skin all day long. As someone who often suffers from an oily t-zone, I can confirm that it does indeed help remove excess sebum and keep oily skin clear, so much so that I haven't even opened the new pack of blotting pads I bought prior to use these two products.

Both of these products retail for £4.95 and they can be found in places like Waitrose or from their own website which you can find HERE

Have you tried these products? have you tried any Amie products?