Skin sins!!!

Hello again!

I've been wanting to do a post about skin sins for a while but as I usually am quite OCD with skincare I haven't been in a position to write it......until this very moment that is.

My skincare routine is pretty good. My current routine is. ... cleanse (Philosophy Purity Cleanser), tone (Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic), moisturise (Philosophy Hope in a Jar),  and exfoliate (Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant).
I also include various facial oils (Clarins Lotus Oil or Decleor Iris Oil) when I need them as well as drinking lots if water.
The only thing I need to include regularly is a good eye cream. **if you have recommendations let me know**

I rarely commit *crimes against skin* because now I'm approaching 30, I feel like I need to really look after my skin.

Then......tonight, it happened.  The ultimate skin skin (or one of).
I took my makeup off with. ......... BABY WIPES!!!

Let me explain. ... its 11.30 pm ish and I've just returned from a trip to A&E.
I really just wanted my bed,  which is where I am as I write this.
In the bathroom,  merrily brushing teeth, I spied the baby wipes.

"Dont do it!!" Screamed my face.....too late,  there I went, rubbing away.

Not only did they do a rubbish job, my face now feels tingly in the not-so-good way and its dry as sand.

Why?? Why did I do it???
Sheer laziness,  yes. But really,  its no excuse.

Lesson learned!  No matter how late,  how sick and how lazy I feel....do not reach for the wipes!!!
Its got me thinking though, we all must have these monents no matter how dedicated we are to our routine, no?

So, what skin sins do you commit and why?

Much love
UG
xx

Vitiligo and it's patchy self....

Not sure if I've mentioned before that I have a skin condition called vitiligo? Pictures for reference are included.

Its basically an immune disorder where the body essentially attacks its own pigment and you end up with pure white patches all over.
They start out really small and eventually they all meet up to make one huge big patch.

My mum has the same condition and hers started when she was around my age (29) too.

We've been told its linked to the fact that we have under active thyroid glands and given that this is a life long thing, there's pretty much nothing we can do but wait to become one big white patch. Oh the joy!

My mum has huge big patches which have joined up over the years but luckily she had never had any on her face.  Unlike me....

It started out as small patches on my hands and under my arms....these have and are still getting bigger.
Then came my very own connect the dots on my upper thighs. ..then my hands and now, either side of my chin.
I have bilateral symmetrical vitiligo, so I look like one of those paint splodge pictures!

Now obviously I can cover up with makeup on my face,  but gradually I wonder how big these patches will get?

I'm kind of getting used to it, but I'll admit,  I really really dont want the patches on my face to get bigger.

Is that vanity? Maybe.... I do feel conscious of it. Hopefully one day there will be something to help it disappear.

Until then, patchy as ever.....
UG
xx

Unimpressed with Bare Minerals.....

This week, after months and months of deliberation and seeking advice from fans of the products, watching countless QVC UK shows and visiting several Bare Minerals counters in several different stores (including a Bare Minerals Boutique in the USA), I finally took the plunge and coughed up £49 whole English pounds on a starter kit. I had originally wanted the "try me, love me" kit, a dinky little £20 kit with just enough to see if you like it before having to jump in feet first with a £50 purchase......however it appears you can only get this in the USA from Sephora.
You might want to rethink this Bare Minerals!

Keen to see if the hype surrounding the "swirl, tap, buff" phenomenon, I eagerly tore in to my newly purchased addition to my ever increasing make up collection.

I have to say I was utterly disappointed.
Although the pots are convenient with a "click, lock, go" system to avoid spillages etc that's pretty much the only thing going for these products in my opinion.

I bought the "medium" kit, which includes a 2g pot each of original formula foundation in medium and medium beige, a mineral veil finishing powder and a powder called "warmth" which is waaaay too dark for anyone unless you're going for the oompa loompa look this season and a mini prime time face primer.
It also came with a full flawless face brush, a flawless face brush and a concealer brush plus the most long winded "how to" dvd ever.

I do think the brushes are good quality, however I did hear that this kit used to come with a kabuki brush,  which I think would be much better than the 2 face brushes (full flawless and flawless) which are essentially the same brush but one is fuller as the name suggests.

Basically,  and this is only my humble opinion, it just doesn't work.

The brushes dont seem to pick up enough product,  the product itself doesn't seem to stay on the skin, it dries out skin, takes about an hour to actually have any effect and lets face it,  who wants to wait an hour before going out after doing make up? ?
The primer I felt was too greasy and made my skin feel tacky.

I attempted use of this over three days and by the third day my usually clear ish skin was irritated, itchy and clogged atound the nose and chin.

In all, I really think this was a waste of £49 and there's no way I'll be converted.
There are plenty of BM fans out there,  friends of mine included. If it works for you, then great but this certainly won't be on my re-purchase list.

Bare Minerals UK tweeted me and said I "wouldn't be disappointed". Well, I am.
Massively so.

Back to liquid I go......

UG
xx
Apologies for badly lit pics!