Skincare 101

Hello again, I hope you are well! Grab a cup of tea and take 20 minutes to enjoy my latest post. The UK is currently back in a nationwide lockdown which in consequence means I have had to close the doors to my business for the third time. I have been trying to use my time whilst not working in the studio wisely and whilst walking on day 1 in lockdown 3.0, I reflected on my previous few months of business and tried to see if there were any gaps I could be working on to enhance it further. One thing that stood out prominently was sharing my skincare regime with my clients. When in the studio I am asked on a daily basis what I use on my skin to keep it healthy and glowy in appearance. If you know me or are a client of mine you will already know that unless it is a very special occasion I actually wear barely any makeup daily. A touch of brow mascara, brow gel and mascara completes my day to day makeup! There are three reasons why I choose not to wear very much makeup daily: -Firstly, I hate the way it feels on my skin! Now don’t get me wrong I love makeup, I love products and adore testing them out. For someone who hardly wears it my collection is obscene! It is definitely more a psychological thing I would say, which leads me nicely onto reason two... -I am terrified of it clogging my skin and giving me spots. If you have followed my blog for a while you will know that I suffered bad hormonal acne when I was 20. Really bad. Going makeup free then was absolutely not an option as I was so conscious of my acne. Roll on a few years, my acne clearing and my skin settling, my skin definitely favours being makeup free now and I love it! -Lastly I prioritise my skincare regime over applying makeup in the morning. I have a two year old and anyone else with little people or who has had little people will know that time for yourself is minimal when little people are in tow. Therefore I prioritise a good cleanse and nice products in the morning over applying a face of makeup! Your probably gathering by now that my skincare gives me life and I want you to be able to enjoy your skin the same. You may love wearing makeup and it may be part of your identity and that is amazing but just to have the confidence to leave the house makeup free and feel confident if it was desired would be lovely wouldn’t it? I have shared my routine with clients so often but with it being rather extensive it can get confusing. To simplify matters I decide to create an igtv series over on my Instagram (link below) and this blog post that includes all of the same information with added product benefits and details. Let’s get into it! AM Skincare Routine In all honesty I haven’t always cleansed morning and evening. I used to only cleanse at night! However, in lockdown 1.0 I fell in love with skipping workouts. I loved them that much that they have become a staple part of my daily routine Monday-Friday. I may do a weekday morning routine soon thinking about it as that is also something I get regular questions about. Anyway I am getting sidetracked! With the addition of a thirty minute high intensity workout daily into my morning routine, and being a sweaty mess by the end of said workout, a hot shower and thorough cleanse needed to be introduced into my morning as there was no way I could have gone about my day without. Hence my morning skin care routine was born! Around the time a new routine was born I was also reading the Caroline Hirons Skincare book (highly highly recommended to all). I took a lot of guidance and tips from this and that gives me a good starting point for my routine... Post workout I shower. Lots of people would wash their faces in the shower however a tip I took home for Caroline’s book was never to do this! The water will be to hot and damaging for your facial skin so keep that face out of the water, wash that bod, hop out and get in a big snuggly towel to cleanse. I use The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (£13.90 150ml) to cleanse both AM and PM. Squeeze a pea sized amount onto your finger tip, you will notice it is like a gel to begin with, rub it between your finger tips and it melts into a gorgeous oil like consistency. Massage into the face, concentrating on any congested areas and also any tight muscles! I clench my teeth in my sleep so often wake with a very tight jaw - a good massage helps ease this. Once you are satisfied you have thoroughly cleansed it is time to remove.

Until reading Caroline’s book I only ever removed cleanser using my hands under a hot tap. Not any more! I now use a fresh flannel daily. Use one flannel per day and then launder to prevent spot causing dirt and bacteria build up. It is also worth noting that Caroline says to be careful what you wash your flannel in to be kind to your skin. Run your water until it is hot and then saturate the flannel, squeezing before you gently remove your cleanser and wash your face. The benefits from doing this include being gentler to the skin, the heat will open your pores and the flannel's material will give a gentle exfoliation. It is also worth noting then that I don’t dry my face on a towel after using my flannel. The air will dry it very quickly. Let your skin soak up that extra water! Once I am all cleansed I tone my skin. In the morning I use the Aldi Lacura Healthy Glow Toner (£3.99) It doesn’t come in very often so when it does I always stock up! I would have never thought a few years ago that I would be raving about the Aldi’s skincare products but here I am - I feature my faves in this post. They are all dupes of big name products that work equally as well believe it or not. I pop a few drops onto a cotton pad and wipe all over my face, even under and around my eyes, on my neck, décolleté, behind my neck and then to finish I wipe any excess toner left on my pads on my hands. Your hands are one of the first places to show signs of ageing so the glycolic acid within this toner will help refine the skin giving it that youthful glow. You may notice that I bring my toner right around my eyes. Another Queen Caroline hack! Products that contain an acid have to by law state “do not use on delicate eye area” this will be to cover there back. However these type of products can benefit these areas by gently exfoliating the skin, refining the appearance of pores and stimulating cell renewal to help the skin look brighter and clearer. Once my toner has absorbed and feels dry to touch I go in with my Forever Awakening Eye Creme (£17.72). Again, the forever products took me by surprise as I didn’t have high hopes for them but actually a few of the products have become firm staples in my routine. I only use a tiny half pea size amount of product for my two eyes and massage the gel like formula into the area surrounding my eye socket bone. If I have any excess product left on my finger tips after doing this I wipe this over my lips. The skin on our lips is similar to our delicate eye area so your lips will thank you! The creme uses peptide technology, collagen and other powerful ingredients. It gorgeously smooths and firms delicate under-eye skin to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness. Next up is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (£8.90 60ml). This high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula would be one of the first things on my dessert island list! I can’t even remember how I stumbled across The Ordinary skincare but I am so glad I did! “Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity.” “Independent studies suggest Niacinamide is also an effective ingredient for brightening skin tone.” I pop three drops onto my fingertips and apply all over my face and neck morning and evening. Due to its active ingredients this product can tingle on application - all a good sign it is getting to work! I let this product totally absorb whilst I brush my hair and pop my deodorant on.

Once my skin feels completely dry it’s oil time! In the morning I use The Ordinary 100% Plant Derived Squalane (£5.50 30ml). I use 8 drops onto my finger tips and apply this to my neck and face, again massaging in well. “Squalane is a saturated and stable hydrocarbon that is found naturally in the skin. It has very high emollience, is an exceptional hydrator and can prevent ongoing loss of hydration that impairs dermal suppleness. Squalane is non-comedogenic and is suitable for use on all skin types. It can also be applied to hair to increase heat protection, add shine and reduce breakage potential.”

Whilst my oil is absorbing I tend to get dressed for the day and make the beds. I like each product to have time to absorb as if you don’t let this process happen you wouldn’t benefit from each product. Once dressed and the oil has absorbed well I apply my moisturiser. For my AM moisturiser I use the Liz Earle Skin Repair Gel (£24). Don’t forget your neck again! I love the gel texture of this product, it’s super lightweight and fast absorbing so will soak in quickly - the perfect pre-makeup moisturiser! The gel is enriched with a blend of moisturising borage oil, avocado oil to smooth and soften, soothing echinacea, toning hops and natural source vitamin E. Now most days this would conclude my morning skincare. However, if for any reason I’m still feeling a little dull, I do have an extra product that gives a magic glow and even a hue of colour with the right choice of the product. The By Terry Cellularose CC Serum is rather an investment at £61 but it is just beautiful to use. It can be used alone on makeup free days or as a primer underneath your foundation to boost your glow and/ or your colour. “Enriched with White Rose Stem Cells and antioxidant Vitamin E, the lightweight, quick-absorbing formula enhances luminosity and provides long-lasting protection for a lit-from-within finish. Innovative light-reflecting technology effectively minimises the appearance of fine lines and imperfections, whilst promoting a radiant glow and a smooth, even skin tone. Blends seamlessly onto lack-lustre skin to leave your complexion looking bright, flawless and refined.” I personally use apricot glow in winter, this one smoothes and illuminates light to medium skin. In summer I use Sunny Flash which gives a bronze hue and sun kissed glow to darker skins. PM Skincare Routine Very similar to my morning routine, I start my PM routine with a hot shower. Again the rule applies - no face under the water! Once I am showered I wrap myself in a big towel to dry and move onto my skincare. If I have worn mascara or any facial makeup I douse two wet cotton pads in Garnier Skin Soothing Make-up Remover and use to remove any makeup. The oil in cleansing water solution breaks down makeup so quickly! I then cleanse using exactly the same product, method and removal as my morning routine below states. Let your face air dry again at this point whilst you prep your toner. My evening toner of choice is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£6.80). Another dessert island must have! I apply this using a cotton pad all over my face - remember the tip below, even under and around your eyes. Include the neck, décolleté, back of neck and wipe any excess over your hands again. Glycolic acid is an AHA that exfoliates the skin. This toner offers a mild exfoliation for skin radiance and clarity. The toner will also improve the texture of the skin when continually used every evening. Ideally keep this product to evening use as it will get to work on the skin whilst you rest and sleep. The use of direct acids on the skin can increase the skin's sensitive to the sun so an SPF the following daytime is recommended. If you are new to acids a patch test would be advised before commencing use.

Next up is another Aldi steal. The Lacura Glycolic Pads. These haven’t been in store for a while now so when/if they will be back in is anyone’s guess. The pads are actually the supermarket's very cleverly done version of the Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads, just a fraction of the original brands price. I’d still absolutely recommend the Nip & Fab pads if you can’t get Aldi’s one anymore. The pads come pre-soaked in resurfacing Glycolic Acid, soothing Witch Hazel and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and will help improve the skins texture, eliminate dead skin, impurities and brighten the skin. The same product and routine comes next for my eye cream followed also by the same The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% formula! Again let these soak in before moving onto the next step. For my evening oil, if my skin is feeling pretty good and hydrated I use the same oil mentioned below, The Ordinary 100% Plant Derived Squalane. If I am feeling rather dry or in need of a treat I use the Lacura Healthy Glow Rose Oil (£7.98 for a pack of two). Rose oil is intensely moisturising and suitable for sensitive skin. I apply this in exactly the same way as the Squalane oil.

To conclude my night time routine, once my oil has had time to absorb, I go in with the Infinite By Forever Restoring Creme (£56.33). This gel like formula contains over fifteen skin conditioning ingredients, absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling so soft without feeling greasy or heavy. This product also contains squalene so will support the oil you have just used! Weekly Skin Treat Once a week I treat my skin to a peel. I got into skin peels around five years ago and that is when my love of direct acids started! I am currently using The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (£6.30).

AHA’s exfoliate the skin’s topmost surface for a brighter and smoother appearance. BHA’s also exfoliate the topmost layers as well having the extended function to clear pore congestion. “This combined 32% AHA/BHA solution offers deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and for improved skin radiance. The formula also improves the appearance of skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines with continued use.” “Note: This formula contains a very high concentration of free acids. We recommend use only if you are an experienced user of acid exfoliation and your skin is not sensitive. Contraindications: This formula should not be used on sensitive, peeling or compromised skin. Please refer to additional sun protection note and other warnings in provided Directions.” I use this product only once a week for no longer than 10 minutes. It fits into your evening routine straight after your cleanse and before your toning solution. Remove with the same flannel you used to cleanse (obviously rinsed in fresh warm water.) The peeling solution does tingle on the skin - this is a sign the free acids are at work! I hope this post will further help and enhance your skincare routines! For any more information or any questions either contact me via email or through my socials. Love Beth xoxo

Link to my Instagram Link to my Facebook

Cheeky Chocolate Hidden Greens Smoothie Bowl

The first recipe on the blog!

I am literally loving a smoothie bowl right now. Not only do they taste incredible but they are an amazing way to pack in a lot of micro nutrients within one meal. They are also amazing one hand food and quick to make when you have a tiny person on board!

This is a go to for me and my eldest at the weekend as a quick lunch. The cacao powder, banana and date make this bowl super sweet - you cannot taste the spinach or avocado, hence the "Hidden Greens" name. Perfect if you have a little salad dodger!

Whilst exclusively breastfeeding my baby it is really important to me to pay high attention to the quality of my diet. A small amount of everything consumed will end up in my milk and therefore I want my diet to be full of a wide range of vitamins, minerals, micro nutrients, proteins and fats etc. Not only do I want my milk to be the best it can be for Baby O, I also want to feel the best i can possibly feel. I actually find I need to eat and drink more now than I did pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy! This was something that took me by surprise. I had heard the term "breastfeeding hunger" but not actually given it much consideration until it was happening to me. Has anyone else experienced this?!

I used ground flax seeds to provide an omega 3 boost, the leafy green vegetables contain phytoestrogens which have been shown to have a positive effect on breast milk production and the avocado is full of healthy fats as well as vitamin B, K, C and E! The banana, avocado and spinach also all contain good amounts of magnesium - a mineral I found depleted really quickly post birth and left me with severe postpartum migraines... I will do a more in detail post on this topic soon as it may be of help to someone else who is suffering with the same. 

Ingredients 

• Handful of spinach 
• 1 Frozen banana (you can use a normal banana but it doesn't give the same ice cream like consistency)
• 1/2 Avocado
• 1 Medjool date
• 1tsp Almond butter
• 3tsp Raw cacao powder
• 6tbsp Plant based milk
• Ground flax seed to sprinkle on top

Directions

Place all in the blender, whizz up, pour into a bowl and enjoy! You may need to stop the blender a few times and give the mix a stir if the frozen elements stop mixing.

Did you find this post helpful and would you like more like this? Also if you try the recipe please leave a comment below with your thoughts!

Bethany xx

Something NU.

I'm pretty sure you will have seen some of the NU Skin products floating around in your Insta feed by now. They are really popular and talked about at the moment! I was asked to try some for a blog review recently and after trying their lip gloss (see my previous post) I was definitely excited to be given three products to test: Polishing Peel, Glacial Marine Mud and the AP whitening toothpaste. Here's what I thought..

AP Whitening Toothpaste
Is brilliant! The best toothpaste I have ever used! I had been very sceptical over this product. After seeing so many posts raving about it on social media, it just semt too good to be true, this is really not the case. I have only used the toothpaste morning and evening for only three days and could see whiter tegs in just that tiny amount of time!

The toothpaste has a really nice and fresh taste. It leaves the mouth refreshed and teeth feeling smooth, very clean and polished with the added bonus of whitening at the same time! It contains no peroxides or harmful chemicals and will actually help to remove staining.

This product retails at £13 and I will definitely be ordering myself some more. A toothpaste is something we use every day, it's a necessity and yet so many have funny tastes/ negative results. £13 does seem pricey for an everyday essential but for the whitening effects it is worth it! I have popped my results from just three days use below. All photos were taken first thing in the morning after I had brushed my teeth so excuse the minimum makeup, lack of gloss etc. Your used to my no makeup pictures by now anyway so what am I worrying about?!

Polishing Peel
This product is quite unusual and different to anything I have used before! It features pumpkin enzymes that resurface and polish the skin and bentonite clay to remove dull skin cells and toxins. It is another Nu Skin product that is raved about.

Now this one did take me two uses to make up my mind. On the first use I wasn't overly keen on the texture. I personally favour products that melt onto my skin and have no drag. This had an almost rubber like texture that I did find difficult to spread and move. However I thought I would give it the benefit of the doubt and try it again. On second use I still felt the product was quite stiff to manoeuvre but I persevered..

I did as instructed for use, I used after the Glacial Marine Mud mask first, I then applied the peel and left the product too work for about 2 minutes and then buffed it away in circular motions. On the second time I did manage to buff the peel away, slowly but surely. My skin was left really soft so it definitely refined it! I still think I need to keep playing with this product to see if it's just me using it incorrect or if it just doesn't work with my skin that well.

Glacial Marine Mud
This is the mask responsible for the majority of those Kermit green 'maskies' taking over social media right now! I have been quite intrigued about this product for a while, especially after hearing of multiple friends getting great results.

This multi-use mask was created to lift dirt, impurities and oil from the skin as it dries out. You can actually see this happening as the mask is drying when all of the congested pores become visible and go darker (see picture below).

The mask is predominantly used for helping clear acne, breakouts and congestion but can also be used to help relieve dry skin and dull complexions.

I didn't love the smell of the mask. I have used nicer smelling products but that is probably due to the ingredients being natural and unperfumed - which is obviously better for our skin one million percent.

After using the Glacial Marine Mud I was left with very smooth and clear skin. It even managed to draw out a few stubborn blackheads on my nose making them easy to pop out and clear! I am quite hormonal and congested at the moment so will be treating myself to one of these natural masks again this week.

I will link Verity's Instagram below for if you wanted to try any of these products for yourself. You can message her directly to place any orders. If you comment BESSIEGRACE within your message you will receive 10% off your order! I hope you all have a lovely week! If you have any more questions about these products please don't hesitate to comment below or contact me.

Bethany xx

Link to Verity's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veritygaunt/

No Needles Required!

Do you ever scroll through Facebook and totally bypass all of the ads and majority of pages your friends have liked that then appear in your feed? Or is that just me?

The product I want to share with you in this post was something that initially kept popping up in my feed as various friends had liked it. The video that does pop up hadn't grabbed me before I must say.. Probably why I hadn't pursued this product earlier. However it finally did snatch my attention when I actually tried some of a friends on a recent night out.

On pulling it out of her clutch a few of the other girls also asked to use some and were very excited over the product - hence my intrigue. I asked what the product was and my friend explained it is a plumping treatment for the lips that actually works. Not only that but it also has different 'heats' and you can customise your personal results. This one needed a try..

Talk about first application love with the added bonus that I could feel it working as well as see results. The girls were 1 million percent right this stuff works!

It is without a doubt that the majority of the population of girls are lip obsessed right now. What with the likes of Alexandria Morgan and Lydia Elise Millen as well as other people within your social media streams, a girl can't be blamed for desiring that fuller Jolie lip.

This isn't the first time I have tried a lip plumping product (see my previous post)and it most probably won't be my last. But two things happened when I tried this product: 1) I knew I had to have one and 2) I knew this deserved a post so I can share this find with you in case you hadn't heard of this either.

The product itself is sold by a brand called Dollywood Boutique.. Recognise it now? The lip treatment is called 'Chamber Made, Turn up the Voltage'. It retails at £18 pound and £3 for postage and packaging so it's fairly in line with most good plumper's out there at the minute.

How does it work?

The treatment has 7 custom settings:

-Just Plump No Tingle (Long term results with this)= A Peptide Collagen

conditioning treatment that is clinically proven to give you fuller lips in 30 days. 

-Cool Tingle (Long term results with this)= This is for a more sensitive skin, without a hot sensation will give a quick plumping result.
-Warm Tingle (Long term results with this selection) = For normal skin types, by choosing this you get a quicker and more effective plumping result.
-Hot Tingle (Short term results with this) Gives an extreme tingle which in turn gives the best plumping results.

To make your selection you simple twist the tube marked with an arrow onto your choice. The 'Hot Tingle' is perfectly named - it definitely packs a short term punch, perfect for those full looking lips on a night out! The instructions of use do advise a patch test to be carried out before your first full application.

I saw instant results on my night out with the girls, I topped up about twice throughout the night and was mega impressed. I don't use this product everyday, I want to keep it as my night out lip boost and treat!

I have taken a few pictures to show you before application (above) and 15 minutes later (below) on the hot tingle setting. Fillers are not a route I personally want to go down so for that plumped up look this is perfect!

I know this is a shorter post compared to most of mine but I just wanted to share an amazing find with you. If you have any questions as always please don't hesitate to ask or comment below. Also if you have any other amazing lip plumper's please share for everyone below! There is also a link to the products website below.

Bethany xx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronzedglamour/

You Have To Peel To Reveal !

There's one thing about being off to recover from an operation that I have actually enjoyed.. The freedom to work on my blog! As I've felt brighter and not so knocked out from my meds, I've found myself just chilling with my laptop working on a couple of posts and planning some future ones. I started writing this on day 10 post op and at that point my voice still hadn't returned - a bit of time spent blogging meant I could be quiet and truly rest my throat. Winner!

Anyway let's get to it. I have a new treatment to share with you this week! It was developed 2 years ago and is to be released nationwide imminently. Following my first Cosmedocs review I was lucky enough to be invited to try this treatment so that I can share it with you.

So what exactly is it?
'Peel to Reveal' is the name of this treatment and it is a professional in-clinic peel treatment. You would choose to have this treatment for a multitude of reasons, I will cover all of these within this post.

As we age our skin cells become dormant and turn over far slower than when we were younger. This can result in dull, dead and damaged skin cells being left on the surface of our faces. Our collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin and other elements that keep the skin healthy start to decrease around our mid 20's. The increasing number of dead skin cells and pigmentation from scarring or sun damage can cause unevenly toned skins with a rough texture and larger pores.

Even though we use makeup, serums, moisturisers and other beauty products to disguise these issues, they cannot actually reverse them. This is why the Peel to Reveal treatment has been created - to effectively correct the previously mentioned!

The peel consists of powerful skin antioxidants, brighteners, exfoliants and stimulants to improve the skin's radiance. It uses multiple superficial to medium peeling agents such as Glycolic, Lactic & Salicylic acids & Glutathione to treat more than a dozen skin issues at once. 

The Treatment.
Is super quick, with minimal side effects! It takes between 10-20 minutes, so you could squeeze this into a lunch break or have after work as a quick pick me up! The professional carrying out the treatment can control the depth and intensity of each peel, dependant on skin types, nationality, sensitivity and results sought. The process consists of four processes that are carried out in 3 steps: 

• Cleanse - To remove makeup, excess oils, dirt and any other debris from deep within the pores using Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acids as well as Salicylic acid to treat and prevent breakouts.
• Revitalise - By replenishing key vitamins and antioxidants that are essential for skin cells and decreasing pigmentation such as skin dullness, pigmentation, sunspots, scarring and melasma.
• Exfoliate - This gets rid of dead skin cells to stimulate cell turnover and improve the texture of the skin, decrease the size of pores and refresh skin dullness by using the multiple peeling agents mentioned above.
• Stimulate - Collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin production are stimulated by activating cell functions using various ingredients including: peptides, vitamins, retinoids, immune boosters and natural extracts.

How does it work?

Initially the pores on the epidermis (the top layer of skin) that are clogged with sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria are unblocked, this happens in the cleansing stage. In the exfoliating stage, the dead skin cells just underneath our top layer of skin are turned over far quicker than the natural process resulting in a must thinner layer of dead cells. In turn this will smooth the texture of the skin and reduce the size of enlarged pores. In the revitalise stage the melanin in our skin is regulated and distributed evenly which will give the skin a more even appearance. Finally in the last part of the treatment, the stimulating part, the ingredients work together to repair and produce more collagen and elastin fibres. Overall this leaves the skin looking younger, more radiant, smooth and hydrated.

Ingredients explained.

The peel uses a variety of ingredients in groups that I have listed and you might be thinking "what an earth?". So I thought I would briefly explain their benefit just in case you did want to know:

• Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, willow bark extract (in the cleansing stage). Together these ingredients are anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and provide deep pore cleansing. 
• Glutathione features in the revitalise stage and is considered to be the most powerful, most versatile and most important part of the body's self generated antioxidants. This ingredient has been proven effective to lighten, even skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, freckles, age spots, acne scars and dark patches when applied topically.
• TCA, lactic acid, glycolic acid are the main ingredients in the final two stages of exfoliation and stimulation. Together this combination improves the skins texture, increases cellular turnover, stimulates collagen production and improves fine lines and wrinkles.

Side effects.

Are minimal! If you did decide to have this treatment during your lunch break you can actually return to work straight after with minimal changes to the skin. If it is sunny outside you will definitely need to apply a good SPF (50 if possible) as your skin will be more susceptible to burning and damage for a good couple of days. If you don't like going makeup free, a light cover of mineral makeup can be applied immediately after without causing irritation. The ultimate results will be seen around week 6, I had my treatment six weeks ago as of the Saturday just gone so my pictures show you my results after the full period.

• You may experience mild redness for a few hours after the treatment dependant on your skin's sensitivity and if you've had a peel before etc.
• Peeling/ flaking of old dull skin will begin on day 3/4 and last a couple of days.
• Post peel your skin may feel very dry and this can last 7-10 days. This can easily be treated by moisturising well and as often as you feel necessary.

My results.

I loved the whole experience. When having a peel you can certainly feel the active ingredients working. Dr Bhatti told me something really interesting during my peel - "if you can't feel your skincare working, it isn't doing anything". It's so true, if you think of any skincare that delivers a result such as a retinoid for example, you will always feel a slight stinging/ burning sensation on application. These are the products/treatments we need to achieve any of our skin wishes.

I personally would describe the sensation when the peel is on as very tingley and warming - you can certainly feel those actives getting to work! I have had numerous fruit acid peels before which I have already posted about and this could be one of the reasons why for me this didn't sting as much. I also didn't experience a great deal of peeling compared to what some people can have. I think this is because it had only been about 10-12 weeks since my last peel so my skin was in a decent condition already.

My skin flaked rather then peeled and this started on day 2 post-peel around my nose and top lip. I can only describe it as little scales flaking away. I also got the dry, tight feeling this day to so I just upped my moisturising game. You do look like you have very dry skin at this point but just remember it will all be worth it!

By day 5 my whole face was flaking lightly, some people can experience a sheet peel effect but I just had a little snake skin effect going on. One thing I found amazing was my sun damage - I catch the sun on my forehead and nose particularly (shock) and where I did have some pigmentation damage these areas really did shed! The pictures here show my sun damage from before the treatment and after.

Around day 7 I experienced a small breakout where my skin had previously been quite congested. I struggle with acne along my jawline as you know and I get super congested here. This is typical around a week after a facial treatment, especially with this one giving my pores a good clear out.

I was still experiencing light peeling on my cheeks on day 12, I did try to take a photo but the flakes were too little to catch on my camera. This stopped on day 15, I was still feeling more on the dry side but the flaking has subsided! My old acne scarring along my jawline was starting to look considerably lighter here too and this was one of my aims from the treatment.

I know full results are supposed to be after 6 weeks but I was thrilled with my skin from week 3! It is not only smoother, the small bumps of congestion under the skin have gone, my makeup is going on a dream, the overall clarity has improved,  my scars are lighter in appearance and the sun damage I had has reduced. I have since seen a little bit of sun and coloured up again so this may come back (naughty I know!). You can see the reduction in scaring from before to after below.

All in all, the 'Peel To Reveal' treatment was ever such a quick process and once it was done I applied my sunscreen and carried on my Saturday! I had no redness at all, in fact my skin had a lovely glow! The flaking was more than manageable, as was the dryness and I am so happy with the overall results - the peel delivered as promised! The three pictures below are from just before my treatment straight after and the evening of the same day - you can see the glow!

Costing.
The peel treatment starts from £120.

6 week journey.

I would say if you are struggling with acne, post-acne scarring, bumpy skin, congestion, fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage or pigmentation - give this treatment a go. There's not many skin issues this treatment cant resolve so even if your experiencing something I haven't mentioned give Cosmedocs a call and I'm sure they can advise. I will pop a link to the treatment page below and their contact details (area dependant) will be accessible on the website too.

As always, I hope this may be of help. I love finding new ways to help my skin and erase my acne scarring as well as improving the overall condition and appearance. If you have any questions, pop a message below or contact me directly.

Bethany xx

Treatment: http://www.cosmedocs.co.uk/services/skin-rejuvenation-treatment/

It Works!

Well I hope you are all feeling a million times better than I currently do. I had my tonsils out 12 days ago and it's safe to say I still don't quite feel like me. I've decided I'm going to do a post about my tonsillectomy experience soon for anybody who may be having to have one in the future. I hadn't known what to expect if I'm honest and I have had a big shock. If I could have read a few other posts with an honest opinion I  might not have been so optimistic prior to the op and in shock post op. Anyway I will tell you about that in a couple of weeks when I am healed and know if the operation has been a success.

Today I'm here to discuss as promised, the 3 month results of the jawline reduction treatment I underwent with Cosmedocs in Derby. If you have read my previous post you'll already know my reasoning for undergoing this procedure. In that post I have done a full explanation of my reasons why I felt this treatment was necessary as well as a fully detailed breakdown of what the treatment involves, how it is done, aftercare and the costing structure etc. so I won't ramble on about all of that again in this post. If you click the link above it will take you back to my initial post about the treatment so you can find out more if you wish. 

When I attended my first consultation, Dr Bhatti told me I would see the best results from the treatment around my 3 month review and top-up appointment. I already knew from previous experience with acne tablets etc. that the best way to track a product/treatments effectiveness is to schedule a series of photographs on the same day and similar time every week. I always find you adjust to changes quite quickly, especially when you see them every day so they become less noticeable. Not forgetting I have a terrible memory so without the pictures I have no chance of remembering how something looked 3 months ago!

The pictures I took to track my jawline Botox progress are by no means the most flattering pictures - they are true passport style pics - face on, looking straight at the camera. I also have minimal makeup on (if any) as I didn't want any false results by contouring etc. This was the best way for not only me to see the treatment working but also for you as well.

It's all well and good reading a post about a product that someone is raving about but I guess I am to sceptical for my own good at times. I like to see images backing up what someone is saying.  You've probably noticed that this is a common theme in my posts that share a product/treatment with you. I always try the product for a minimum of 28 days and take regular photographs so you can take the journey with me to see if something does work or does not.

So onto my personal results from this treatment. In short, I couldn't be happier. This is for a multitude of reasons..

Sleep.
Probably the most important to me, above any aesthetic reason is improved sleep. Since I had my top-up injections two weeks after my first set, my sleep has improved dramatically. Prior to having this done I was grinding my teeth terribly every night as a result of stress and anxiety. No matter what I had tried previously I just couldn't stop myself from my nightly tooth grinding sessions. The dentist had suggested a guard but I find these highly uncomfortable and even more of a disturbance during the night. Due to the Botox relaxing my muscles I no longer wake myself up from either the noise or pain of wearing my teeth down repeatedly each night. I have been tensing my jaw a lot post surgery but that's a side effect of my operation due to the location and pain but I'm sure once I'm on the mend this will subside again.

Pain in teeth and tense jaw.
I was waking up with this every morning. An obvious side effect of grinding my teeth every night. It's such a pleasure not have to face this every morning anymore. Not to mention my teeth are finally safe from erosion - I only have little tegs so could really do without making them even smaller!

Softer masseter muscles.
I have popped a picture that shows you the location of these muscles below. The masseter muscles are the large muscles either side of the jaw that control chewing. Over time when you clench the jaw daily/nightly you end up building quite a considerable masseter muscle. This can eventually lead to a squarer appearance of the jaw line as well as pain and tension in the area. As a result of the treatment my masseter muscles feel considerably softer and the tension in either side has reduced to next to nothing - a lot less pain for me!

Increasing definition in face.
Both of the muscles appear to have depleted in size because the movement has been relaxed in each one. Due to carrying less tension, my face is less puffy in said area each morning and I have started to regain the cheekbone definition I used to have. I do have naturally high cheekbones but I had totally lost any definition I used to have through grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw every night. I personally think you can see a difference in the photo journey below from before the treatment to 12 weeks later looking straight on at my face just as Dr Bhatti said I would.

The power of social media never fails to amaze me. I know people have a love/hate relationship with the different platforms but I can safely say I am definitely a lover. I have been very lucky to date and experienced no negativity from the platforms that I use. I had no idea that this treatment even existed a few months ago nor did I realise that the symptoms I was experiencing were not only being caused by something but could also be treated. It's thanks to the Cosmedocs Instagram that I discovered something that has improved my sleep quality dramatically, eased me of a daily pain and given me aesthetic results that I am very happy with.

Obviously I was slightly nervous as well as sceptical initially when I decided to go ahead with this treatment. The procedure sounded so simple, pain-free and quick - almost too good to be true! How could something so easy be able to solve one of the bains of my life just like that?

For me it has been worth every penny, I don't have a single regret and I will most definitely be maintaining my treatment. I am due to return for my 3 month review (3 months after my initial top up appointment) in June so I will be booking that imminently. After this appointment, as I mentioned in the previous post, I shouldn't need another set of injections for one year.

I have already said this in my initial post and I still stand by it 100%. I cannot not recommend Cosmedocs in Derby enough! From the minute you enter as a newbie you are made to feel welcome. After being in similar places before I have experienced the hostility you can sometimes receive from the staff but it is non-existent here. I'm the kind of person that does take things to heart so feeling comfortable for me is very important. Everyone I came across was more than welcoming. It's the same as finding a good hair dresser - when you find a good one, you stay!

Dr Bhatti's knowledge of the treatments he carries out is amazing, I feel totally at ease when I visit for my appointment. Again this is something that I would say is super important when you are trusting somebody to inject a substance into your face that will temporarily relax/ prohibit movement in the targeted muscles.

I would say as far as Botox goes - don't go cheap. I truly believe you get what you pay for. Please don't be tempted by the offer of cheap injections/ aesthetic fillers! Do your research beforehand too, incorrectly injected Botox comes with an array of problems and side effects.. none of which I would want to experience. I personally would only trust a qualified and experienced medical professional. They understand the anatomy and physiology of the face and body a million times more than a person offering the same procedure with no medical experience.

I really hope this post might be useful if you have been experiencing any of the symptoms that I did for a duration of time. The jawline reduction treatment is still a very unknown procedure to most people and yet it's proven to be amazing for me. By having the treatment and sharing my results you can see for yourself the aesthetic results and I have told you about the other benefits I have had. As always I hope I have given you enough information but if you do have any questions please don't hesitate to comment below or contact me, I will always reply!

Any links in this post are in bold pink as usual, so just click them to be directed to the page being discussed.

Bethany xx

Treatment: http://www.cosmedocs.com/treatments/botox-jaw-reduction.php