How Do I Prevent Acne?

-Acne-

Acne is the most aggravating and frustrating skin disease we have to put up with throughout our teenage years and sometimes are adulthood years. In recent records, acne seems to be increasingly on the rise and more people are suffering from the skin disease. I have suffered with acne since I was aged 13 and it have been an ongoing issue for me which I could never quite combat. Anyone who suffers with acne will understand how painful the skin disease can be and how it isn't just necessarily on your face, but can be your back, arms and legs. Its a skin disease that really knocked my confidence and makes ordinary day tasks seems less enjoyable, like going to the beach and swimming. But being able to understand acne and your type of acne can actually help you stop it. For me, I had extremely oily skin, which was the main reason why my acne was so bad. This information helped me to find the products best suited to my skin type to help calm my acne down. 

What is acne?

Acne, which is also medically known as ‘Acne Vulgaris’, is a common skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of the hair follicles. It will commonly occur during puberty, although a lot of people suffer now with adult acne, but it is normally when the sebaceous (oil) glands come to life.  Acne is not a dangerous skin disease, although it is frustrating and can leave the skin with severe scaring. Acne is caused when pores (tiny holes) in your skin become blocked. The oil glands produce sebum, which is an oily liquid and carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin. Because of the blockage in your pores, an accumulation of oil under the skin is produced creating acne.  

The main factors that can worsen or aggravate acne is:

-Diet
    -Certain Medication
-skin Type
    -  Hormones. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum.  

 How do you prevent acne?

1.    Picking and Popping Pimples

This is a bad idea as pressing and popping pimples may cause a deeper problem and cause scaring.

"Instead of clearing the blockage out, you're pushing it further down, and that can lead to scarring," Zeichner says.

Use a Spot-treatment on the pimple instead. Put a little treatment directly onto the pimple to make it smaller and less inflamed.

2.     Eating Sweets and Starchy Foods

"When Mom told you to stay away from those items, she may have been on to something," Zeichner says.

No food is actualy proven to cause acne. But sugary, processed foods such as white breads, white pasta, potato chips, cookies, and cakes may be linked to acne.

3.    Keep your hands off your face.

Try to avoid touching your face. This is because not only can you spread bacteria onto your face, you can also irritate the already inflamed facial skin causing acne.

4.     Use makeup sparingly.

During a breakout, avoid wearing foundation, powder, or blush. If you do wear makeup, wash it off at the end of the day. If possible, choose oil-free cosmetics without added dyes and chemicals. Choose makeup that is labeled as "noncomedogenic," meaning it should not cause acne. Read the ingredients list on the product label before buying.  Using make-up on skin prone to acne can cause a blockage in pores, irritating the skin and inflaming acne or making it worse.

5.     Keep your face clean.

Whether or not you have acne, it is very important to wash your face twice daily to remove any impurities, dead skin cells, and extra oil from your skin's surface that has been produced throughout the day. Only Use warm, not hot, water and a mild facial cleanser. Using any harsh soap can hurt and inflame the already causing more irritation. Try to avoid scrubbing your skin harshly with a washcloth or exfoliating glove. Gently wash it with your clean hands or a very soft cloth. Always rinse well, and then dry your face with a clean towel.

Products I recommend:

·      La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] anti-blemish cream

(£15.50 Boots)

·      Nip + Fab Deep Cleansing Fix 300ml

(£5.50 Boots)

·      Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Night Renewal Cream 75g

(£6.99 Superdrug)

These products help prevent acne by keeping the skin clean and hydrated. They renew the skin and diminish scaring on the skin making it flawless and even-toned. I have been using these products for months and can’t say a bad thing about them. They have been truly life changing.

Hope this information on acne will help you combat acne and finally end the war on this skin disease.

Students & Money

-Saving Money-

As students, we all know how hopeless we are when it comes to money, the amount of pointless things we buy and at the time, we actually thought we needed that, Its ridiculous! I mean, I’m no angel but coming to my second I will be making an 8-week trip to America as part of my work experience and have been finding saving money a real challenge, especially over the summer holidays, which started in like, APRIL!

So how can keep myself entertained over the summer, without splashing the cash! Everything costs money, but you just really have to think outside the box.

Here are some tips I have come up with:

• ·      Budget your money: work out the amount you need to save and amount as spending money. Therefore you have created a plan to allow you to stick to throughout your holiday. This can also be used throughout the year so you keep track on your expenses such a rent, electricity etc.
• ·      Do cost-free activities. If your friends want to hang out and it’s a lovely day, go to the beach or go on a bike ride. You could go on walks and take trips to museums and art galleries. These activities will cost you no money and you can still spend quality time with your friends. And take in something spectacular that you never would of normally done. 
• ·      Buy non-branded products such as: Coke ‘a’ Cola, or Pringles. These products are costly and you can easily find dupes in stores such as: Aldi, Poundland and Home & Bargain. This will also be helpful throughout the year to keep those costly prices down.
• ·    Sell, Sell…sell!! If you have any unwanted books that you no longer need for your studies, sell them on Amazon or eBay and get a return for the price you paid. This will also cut down the space being taken up by books and helps some else who may need those books too. 

Skincare Products, Acne & Roaccutane

I've been suffering with acne ever since I turned  the age of thirteen and it has been bothering me ever since. It started as just being very mild, few spots every now and then that I could easily treat, but as I progressed into my late teenage years, I found it was getting worse, un-manageabe and was really knocking my confidence. Anyone who suffers with severe  acne will understand how painful it can be and uncomfortable it can be if it is on the rest of your  body. I suffered with face acne, shoulder acne and back acne and it made wearing vest tops a massive no for me. All i wanted to do was cover myself up as I felt really ashamed. 

I began research into treatments that would stop my acne as I didn't want it to progress into my adult years. I went to my doctors and was proscribed many tablets that would stop the inflammation and facial gel treatments that would dry my skin out as I was prone to very oily skin. This all worked for a short amount of time and gave me back my confidence. Yet, when I would stop the treatments, my acne would flare back up again and this time even worse then it had ever been before. I tried so many acne brands such as T-Zone, Dermalogica and Vichy. Nothing seemed to be working. 

I made a my last trip then to see my Dermatologist as all hope was doomed for me after that. The only thing that was left for me try was a tablet known as Roaccutane. It was to be a 6-8 month treatment of doses going up every month that would eventually stop the secretion of my oily glands, so in other words, would dry out my skin completely. I was very nervous to try this treatment but I didn't really have any other choice as nothing was working for me and it has been the best decision in my life. I have been on the treatment for 4 months and I have already seen a massive difference in my skin and its appearance.  I began on a 20mg dose that worked up to 40mg and my skin hasn't been considerably dry. I've only notice dry lips every now and then, which can be easily solved with a good lip balm product, but other than that, it has been a complete miracle for me and life changing. I would certainly recommend it to anyone suffering from acne. 

Along side Roaccutane, I use a few products to help the healing process of my skin and keep it clean especially after wearing make-up. These products have also been life changing me as they have helped to get my skin to were it is now. 

This is what my skin is like now and although their is still some slight pigmentation, which will eventually go when the skin heals. I can already feel my confidence coming back. 

These are the products I have been using since I started Roaccutane. 

- Korres Sensitive- Oily Skin 

(This product is natural and can be used on the face and body. Contains Sage and Salcyilic Acid to kill bacteria)

- La Roche Posay Effaclar Due

(Treats pigmentation and evens skintone. Can also be used to kill bacteria that causes acne)

- Nip + Fab Deep Cleansing Balm

(breaks down make-up and dirt. Can also be used as a face mask, spot treatment and moisturiser for the evening to nourish skin)

- Palmers Night Renewal Cream

(Contains retinol that penetrates the layers of skin for extra nourishment and rejuvenates skin cells.

Perfect for scarring from acne)

- Vichy Normaderm 

(Daily moisturiser that evens skin tone, kills bacteria that causes acne and is perfect for oily skin as it is fast absorbing) 

- L'Oreal Skin Perfection 

(Minimizes pores so less dirt and make-up residue sits in the pores.)

 These are products I would also recommend if you are on Roaccutane and are suffering from severe dry skin. You will also need a high SPF cream as you skin becomes very sensitive to the sunlight while you are on Roaccutane. 

- ST. TROPEZ UVA + UVB sun protection (SPF 30)

(Doesn't clog pores, high protection and gives you a bronzed, glowing look all day)

- E45 Intense Recovery Lotion

(Used for very dry skin and nourish the skin without feeling cloggy and is fast absorbing)

- Simple Derma Intense Relief Cream

(For very dry skin on the face and is fast absorbing. Doesn't clog pores as it is very light and also works if you have sensitive skin) 

I would certainly recommend this treatment if you are having severe acne as this treatment is a miracle in getting your life back to normal. And more and more people are choosing Roaccutane, even from a very early age to help combat their fight with acne. Nobody likes acne and I will never cease to understand why we have it, but its thanks to products like this that we can carry on our lives without it.

I hope this article has helped you and any questions please ask. 

Michael Kors Jacket & Carvela Flats

-Michael Kors Jacket & Carvela Flats-

So a few weeks ago I did a blog post on a pair of gorgeous Guess trainers which I only paid £29.99 for in T.K Maxx, which is an absolute bargain and to my amazement, I didn't think I'd be able to find another bargain just quite like it. However, I was wrong, which is not often. I made a trip last week to the big T.K Maxx in Liverpool One shopping centre to find they had in stock a pair of Carvela patent flat shoes that were just to die for! Normally a pair of Carvela shoes would set you back at least £70, but I paid only £29.99 saving me £40. So how could I resist leaving them! 

Not only that…as I went upstairs to the Womenswear department I found a rail of gorgeous Michael Kors Jackets in blue, black and burgundy. spoilt for choice I know, but normally a jacket made by one of the best designers (in my opinion) would cost you in the region of £195. T.K Maxx were selling them for £59.99. BARGAIN! So I simply could not resist the jacket either. As a whole round up, my shopping experience was epic. 

I just simply love T.K Maxx. Although the stock may not be 'this seasons' you are still buying quality labels for bold prices and I think its great. It allows everyone to have a big of designer in their wardrobe without making you break the bank. I seriously recommend you get down to your local T.K Maxx fast! I've brands like Paul Costello, Superdry, Dune, Michael Kors, Carvela, Ralph Lauren, Versace, DKNY and many many more. 

Thank you for reading.

-Jessie-

Here are some photos of the the two items I had purchased for T.K Maxx.

Autumn/Winter 2014 Fashion Trends

-Autumn/Winter 2014-

Although we are firmly into the summer now, enjoying the 28 degrees spells, we cannot forget about the autumn and winter that will be fast approaching and need to be prepared for!

How do we dress for the autumn and winter months? Still be warm? Not spend a fortune, cause we are students! And be on trend in the fashion industry? It’s a lot of questions to ask but can easily be answered.

Autumn/Winter Fashion Trends of 2014:

• ·      Merino Wool is making an appearance in the Vogue Catwalk booklet and pricey wool will be sure to keep you warm in the winter. But their a plenty of cozy warm jumpers in the high-street such a Topshop, River Island and Zara.
•       Belted Coats are making a scene in the catwalks and now would be brilliant time to snap up that all-important coat for the winter. Check out the French Connection website as they are having 70% and further reductions on all their lines so you can easily snap up a bargain.
• ·       Military Khaki has always been a favorite of mine as it can easily be dressed up or down. On the French Connection website, you can find a khaki and leather coat in the sale for £85, originally, £195. Absolute bargain. But also checkout Zara as they have the same style but in a jacket firm, adequate for those autumn days.

This is just to name a few of the fashion trends for autumn and winter and they are all practical to pull off in terms of their overall look and expenses. A lot of this year’s trends have been around for quite some time, so you are sure to find something that will fit the trend a price.