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

What I Wish I Had Known - Postpartum.

So you spend 9 months growing your tiny little human. 9 months eagerly awaiting their arrival. 9 months of being plunged into a whole new world of things you never knew existed and things you didn’t realise could happen. It’s a learning curve right? 

Whether it is baby number 1 or 6, I think all mummies to be try to educate themselves the very best they can. The world is constantly evolving and therefore the world of parenting changes rapidly in line with that. From the very first midwife appointment we are given all sorts of resources to read and digest. I also enjoyed doing my own research on various topics from the likes of breastfeeding to vegetarian pregnancy and weaning. 

This being said, I have still managed to get to 5 months postpartum and think to myself “I wish I had of known that!” about a handful of different topics. My blog seems the perfect platform to share my findings; after all they may be of help to someone else... 

Postpartum Hair Loss

Now I did know that during pregnancy the hair thickens in response to the hormones and obviously some of that will naturally shed following birth but I was not prepared to lose the amount I did. I was losing hair whilst brushing, washing, styling, you name it - it was fur ball city for a good few weeks. The worst part? I went bald in the temple area on both sides of my head! Yes bald! Mum life is fabulous right?!

Luckily after feeling rather conscious of my two new bald spots the hair has started to grow back. This is amazing news although I feel I have swapped the bald eagle look for a newly sprouting alfalfa resemblance. Hair loss may not affect everyone, surprisingly though since I have opened up about it with friends it turns out it has happened to more people I know than I had realised. It’s something I wish I’d have been prepared for as it did come as a shock. Pesky hormones!

Postpartum Migraines

A killer. Not what you need when you are already physically and mentally exhausted post birth of your little baby. 

I started getting frequent migraines following the birth of Oliver around 4 weeks postpartum. I don’t suffer with headaches or migraines usually, I’ve been very lucky in that respect, so for me to be getting regular ones was definitely out of character. 

Due to exclusively breastfeeding O and being anti taking medication, I was trying to manage the migraines by plodding on but I wasn’t succeeding. I told my mother in law who asked if I was taking a magnesium supplement as she had previously read an article on the association between low magnesium and migraines. Admittedly I wasn’t. I was however still taking my pregnancy vitamins as recommended by my health visitor. 

Back at home I decided to look at the magnesium content in my pregnancy vitamin - it was present but not as high as a standalone magnesium supplement. I decided to take an additional supplement for a week to boost my level of the mineral and I also opted for the breastfeeding postnatal vitamins to try and ensure my needs and the babies were being met.

A week later and my headaches had gone. I shared what I’d found with my health visitor when she visited and she was equally amazed. She specialises in post birth care and although she was fully aware of postpartum migraines and headaches even she hadn’t thought of using vitamins to aid recovery. 

Whilst reading various sources I realised something that naively I hadn’t thought of before. When breastfeeding a baby will take from the mother whatever nutrients they need. This commonly leaves the mother deficient in various vitamins and minerals which can have knock on effects. At six weeks old, baby and mother attend a check with their GP and if all is well with both they are discharged. I do wonder, should breastfeeding mothers take it on themselves to get a regular vitamin and mineral check? Every Mum wants their milk to be as nutritious for their baby as possible and it is important that they can feel their best too! 

I found reading about this subject fascinating. One particular article that is interesting is:

https://www.activationproducts.com/blog/magnesium-why-breastfeeding-moms-need-this-mineral-for-good-health/

Diastasis Recti 

Thank goodness for YouTube. Seriously! 

I not only found out about but also recovered the separation in my abdomen thanks to YouTube.

What even is diastasis recti you may be wondering? Diastasis recti is a weakening of the abdominal walls in the centre of the abdomen due to pregnancy hormones and the weight of a baby. Basically a weakening in the tension of the muscle fibres. Not everyone will experience this however many will. 

I watch Anna Saccone’s vlogs - yes YouTube is my guilty pleasure. Anna had her 4th baby around a week before I had baby O so I found it great to watch her postpartum updates. Although I was subscribed to various baby websites that send you an email with weekly baby progress advice it was good to watch and see how someone else with a baby the same age was getting on. Fairly early on in the vlogs Anna identified her diastasis recti and whilst listening I thought this was maybe something I was experiencing. 

When I had baby number one my tummy snapped back within 7 days (I know, I know - sickening.. maybe it was down to me being only just an adult myself?!) However this time with baby number two I felt my tummy was taking longer to return to its former self. I want to say here that I have been very lucky regarding my postpartum body. Some people would have been more than satisfied with how I was but to me, my stomach felt weak. I could sense that nothing was being supported as well as before. Although I was back to my pre-baby weight my tummy certainly didn't feel as taught. 

To confirm my query I asked my GP when Oliver and I had our 6 week check and she agreed that I had a two/ three finger separation. Basically this meant that when I lay down and tilted my pelvis to tense my abdomen I could place two/three fingers easily in between either side of my ab walls! The GP told me that there was nothing available on the NHS to solve this problem as it was not classed as serious however, I could seek help from a physiotherapist or find some simple correction exercises online. Whilst it was not severe, she did say it was something I should focus on correcting as if I didn’t it could lead to the problem worsening in any future pregnancies or lead to other problems like lower back pain later in life. 

This is why the vlogs have and continue to majorly help. Anna and her PT, began a postpartum diastasis recti healing workout series. The initial workout was super gentle and as healing has progressed the series has since built up to now being a fairly intense HIIT session. Link to initial workout here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eS0X1mo66w&t=2s

The videos have been a god send. With a new baby that I am exclusively breastfeeding I don’t have the chance to get to a gym. I needed a solution that worked around family and this was it. I can now workout at home, at any convenient time. By working through the series at my own pace I have completely healed my separation and actually feel stronger than I ever have. Now when I lay down and tilt my pelvis it is clear that the muscles have completely stitched back together - no gap present! 

I have committed myself to these workouts - I feel I need to put this out there. I wouldn't lie and say it happened easily over night. I’ve been doing a video 2/3 times over 4/5 times a week alongside walking around 4.5 miles 5/6 days a week. I hate driving so if I can walk I will. I started with the first easiest routine when Oliver was 7 weeks old and I had been cleared by the GP and health visitor as safe to exercise again.

As always, I hope this post will be of help to somebody! I have added a link to Anna’s first workout video above and you can navigate to the harder ones from there. Please comment with your thoughts/ tips below, I love hearing from you!

Bethany xx

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/

Getting That Balance..

So 14 weeks ago I started Happy In My Skin and at that point I didn't expect anybody to read or take an interest in my blog. In fact I was imagining one of two things to happen..

1) People wouldn't even look at the blog.

2) People would look at my blog, see the state my skin gets in and laugh at me.

Neither of the above happened. In fact it has been quite the opposite.

I have actually received a huge response from my posts. People have messaged me who can relate, others have found help from some of the things I have posted about and surprisingly various companies have taken an interest in my blog and my journey to clearer skin. Every different response has meant so much to me and if I can help just one person by sharing my experiences and trials I will be a happy girly!

About 6 weeks ago I received an email from a skincare company called Premae. They had come across my blog and had a product range they felt would be able to help my skin. After speaking to them to find out a little bit more about the brand I knew it was an offer I couldn't turn down for a multitude of reasons..

Premae is located on Harley Street in London and was created by an one of the UK’s Top 20 natural beauty experts. The brand was started after the founder, Dr Clare, had been using makeup and skincare to mask acne and eczema. Clare spent a period of 7 years blending her own natural ingredients to resolve her own skin issues and rebuild her confidence. In 2009 Dr Clare began creating handmade products that adhered to her vegan diet. After a year of testing the formulations Premae was born.

If you follow my Instagram you will know that I follow a vegetarian and sometimes vegan diet - I have been vegetarian since I was 8. I never liked the taste of meat that much as a child and when I learnt what it was, that was it. For me personally being vegetarian is an easy way of life - I don't like meat and I really don't like what meat is. It isn't an opinion I would ever force upon anyone else, I don't voice my opinions to others around me that eat meat.. everyone has a choice.

I have mentioned in my previous post that I often opt for vegan meals in a bid to help my skin. This is something a lot of people who suffer with acne actually choose to do. It is well known that animal products like milk can contain hormones that the animal will have been fed to mass produce the products desired. These hormones are transferred from the animal into the product and then when consumed by humans reside in our bodies until absorbed or expelled. It isn't 100% proven but there is a lot pointing to dairy products and acne aggravation, so in order to minimise the risk I try to keep my milk and dairy consumption to a minimum. I love coconut, almond, cashew or hazelnut milks so I don't find substituting hard at all.

As I was saying, a lot of people who suffer with a skin condition can end up following a vegan, vegetarian or plant based diet as well as trying to keep their products as natural as possible. For me its all about keeping aggravators to a minimum and that is exactly what Premae is about!

The products are not only plant based but also, vegan, alkaline and free from tree nuts, gluten, oats, soy and parabens. All of the ingredients are 100% natural, unrefined and not tested on animals. Premae is actually renowned for being the first luxury vegan beauty brand! For me it ticked every box - How exciting to be given the opportunity to try?

When the products arrived (beautifully with skinny popcorn I need to add) I was so excited. The products are really generous sizes and look gorgeous on my bathroom shelf. I received the Harmony Range which is formulated to target and help acne. I opened my package at work and couldn't resist a quick sniff.. The smell of a product is always really important to me, what can I say? I'm quite a sniffy person! The products didn't disappoint, they have a very fresh scent without being artificially perfumed which is down to the ingredients within being all natural and unrefined.

The Harmony Range retails at £69.00 and consists of:

• Cleanser - Balancing Face Wash (£21 when purchased individually) This cleanser turns into a lather when a small amount of water is added and foamed up. I use around 4 pumps every evening after I have pre-cleansed and it really does wash away remaining makeup and dirt! It's formulated for oily and combination skins and contains Lemongrass Oil which fades scarring and reduces oil build up. My face always feels really fresh when I've used this cleanser and any larger pores really tighten up. Since using Premae my skin seems a lot more balanced on the whole.
• Toner - Essence Water Toner (£17.50 when purchased individually) Featured in the Glossy Box in 2013 and British Vogue, this rose infused toner is perfect for oily and combination skin types. The toner comes in a spray bottle which you can either spray directly onto the skin after cleansing or do as I do and spray a couple of pumps onto a dry cotton pad and wipe over the face. A lot of people still don't tone but it is a really important part of a cleansing routine! Toning the skin helps soothe and refresh open pores whilst keeping blackheads at bay. Closing the pores tightly with a toner can actually result in less future blemishes. As well as the rose water which restores balance in the skin's acid, Lemongrass Oil helps to fade acne scars and reduce oil build up. I have tried a lot of toners and I have to say this is my favourite to date!
• Serum - Balancing Shine Control Serum Primer (£19.50 when purchased individual) A game changer in my skincare routine! I adore this serum. It's going to have to be one of my staples from now on and I'm so pleased Premae introduced me to it. This lightweight oil-controlling serum can be used as a foundation base or mixed with a small amount of foundation to create a daily BB cream. The serum hosts grape seed to smooth uneven skin and soothe redness, lemongrass to fade spots and mineral salts to treat bacteria build up such as whiteheads. I don't tend to cleanse and tone in the morning unless I am super oily, but that's just the routine that works for me - I wash my face with cold water, apply my eye cream, moisturise and then pat two pumps of this serum onto my face. I like to pat the product in to stimulate my circulation and wake up my skin. I'll then make a tea whilst it soaks in before I apply my makeup. This really is a dream product if you are struggling with acne and oiliness throughout the day!
• Moisturiser - Matte Sheen Balm (£25 when purchased individual)
  Nourishing and not oily.. Did you ever think you would hear that in the same sentence? Well I have found the product that I can finally say this about. The balm can control shiny skin and absorb excess oil whilst hydrating. It is the perfect combination of aloe vera and jojoba that give this product the clever ability to hydrate whilst mattifying. Bizarrely, for saying I suffer with acne and breakouts I still get dry skin so I have always struggled to find a moisturiser that hydrates my skin without making me oily. I spent years not even moisturising in the morning because I could never find that product that wouldn't turn me into a grease ball and cause my makeup to fall off my face one hour into the day. It was a constant war between a dry tight face or a hydrated oil slick so this for me is a revelation. I use this morning and night - underneath my serum in the AM.

Whilst writing this post I've not only learnt about the benefits of each individual ingredient used in these products, I have also learnt about new ingredients within the range that work well with a skin that struggles with acne and blemishes - some that I hadn't experienced before or known about!

I've really taken the time to appreciate these products and have realised just how much I love them. I already knew I really liked the range but writing this has really made me concentrate on how each one works independently. Each product goes one step further that just being a product - they all achieve the results they promise and are delivering great results for me.

I have taken photos of my skin's journey with the Premae Harmony Range from the night before I started using the products to four weeks later. I took a series of photos every Saturday morning so you can see my skin calming and clearing. The photographs go in order as I said from the night before use commenced, one week later and then every week until week 4. It's the general improved condition of my skin that I've noticed the most, along with the clarity and reduction in oiliness. The products are doing exactly what I want from a skincare range - especially when I struggle with acne.

I have popped links to the Premae website and Instagram below so you can have a look if you wish. I hope you will find this post helpful and that you have all had another wonderful bank holiday weekend.. They go by far too quick don't they?! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Bethany xx

Premae Website: http://premaeskincare.com/product-category/harmony/
Premae Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/premaeskincare/

Coverage, Heal, Conceal..

So a non-sufferer would question why we use makeup.. "Surely it will make your acne worse?" they will say.

Wrong.

Wrong, wrong, totally wrong.

Years and years ago potentially they may have been correct. The times have changed however since the days of the old cakey, thick pan stick foundations. Formulations have evolved and so have the ingredients used in the makeup we use today.

Our knowledge of the effects, benefits and disadvantages of what we put on our skin has increased rapidly - to the point where we can now reverse years of skin abuse and solve problems such as acne, pigmentation and ageing. More importantly for this post, we now know more than ever about different skin types and the products best suited to each which will enable that skin to be the best version of itself possible.

Back to the makeup. I've touched on this subject briefly in my previous post but I want to go into more detail as I promised I would. It's not just any makeup I am talking about, in particular it's mineral makeup.

I have been using BareMinerals for years now, even before it became really well known. My mum has always been a bit of a QVC queen and once brought me a starter kit for Christmas. That was when I fell in love with the brand. At that point I had no idea that I would go on to train with the brand during my time in the salon and that I would learn a more in depth knowledge about the products and how they can aid a problem skin.

As you'll know if you have already been reading my blog, I only developed acne when I was 21. I was using the mineral makeup prior to that so it wasn't until the spots came that I truly appreciated the products. Initially, I was using their Original SPF 15 Foundation alongside other pieces from the collection but then around the time my acne started the brand brought out the Matte range which became one of my skin saviours.

The Matte SPF 15 Foundation (£26.50) is brilliant for people who struggle with their skin. Some people can be put off by the fact the product looks like a powder as they fear it will be drying or cakey but it is neither. Yes the product looks like a powder however it is actually only made from pure minerals - free from pore-clogging, drying fillers like talc, which can often constitute up to 80% of other brand formulations! In a nutshell, it will help absorb excess oil and eliminate shine without causing any dryness.

Whilst being able to build a full (and I mean full) coverage, the skin isn't being clogged up - it can still breath. The minerals may look like a powder but they feel like a cream and blend in beautifully. The foundation can actually help increase cell turnover, minimise the appearance of pores and aid the healing process of existing spots and blemishes. Not to mention it has a natural SPF 15 that exists in the product, this is one of the amazing properties of certain minerals.

I think that one of my favourite things about this foundation though is the healing properties it has. There aren't many products alike that you can wear and say the same thing about. The key ingredients that give these benefits are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which are both naturally anti-inflammatory and help to calm redness. I always notice a difference with my spots and blemishes after a day wearing my Matte SPF 15 Foundation.

I can't control new spots appearing but I can certainly control what I choose to put on my skin and what I use to conceal my blemishes! I use this as my day to day foundation because I know it has nothing in it that is going to cause me to break out. I also like knowing that what I am wearing on my skin is helping it, not hindering it. Not to mention I can cover pretty much anything with this product alone. If I was being stranded on a desert island and could only take one makeup product this would be my one!

If I'm having a really good skin day I will just buff a light coverage over my face to give myself a touch of colour and cover any old scar markings. On a bad day I will build a really good coverage and then use a smaller concealing brush to apply specifically wear I need it. I use the Bareminerals Seamless Buffing Brush (£24) to apply and an EcoTools concealer brush to precisely conceal. There's no faffing with the Matte SPF 15 Foundation either, it's so quick and easy to use.

There's so many amazing products by the brand. I do choose to use predominantly their products to complete my daytime makeup. Mainly because I know it is good for my skin whilst also having the added bonus of being super speedy to apply - a must when you are a full time working mum! The under eye concealer, blushers, contouring products and mattifying powder are all made using the same minimal ingredient approach and that is something that remains important to me.

I will pop some pictures below to show my skin before use and after. That's when you can really see how well the foundation can mask marks and blemishes! If you are struggling with acne or even just get the odd breakout and are yet to find that foundation that will not only cover, but also help your skin - give this one a go! You will be best to pop into your local department store or salon that stocks Bareminerals as a trained professional will be able to match your skin to the correct shade - no one likes a tide line!

Hope you have all had a fabulous Easter break and enjoyed this post. Any thoughts or questions please pop them below - I will always answer asap! Links are below to the Bareminerals website and Instagram so you can have a peep if you wish.

Bethany xx

Bareminerals Website

Bareminerals Instagram