If you’ve read my Suki review posted a few weeks ago, you’ll know that I really like the range. Unfortunately, I seem to have hit a snag – my skin is playing up in a rather disturbing way.

In early October, I posted about a blotchy red rash which had appeared on my right cheek. I attributed this indirectly to a nasty infection which I had at the time (and am still recovering from), however it’s been showing no sign of clearing up. I’ve plastered a variety of natural and non-natural products on it during the day, the most effective being sudocrem and calamine lotion, but they only control the intensity of the redness.

A couple of days ago, I decided to completely stop using the Suki moisturising products and return to my old routine of Aubrey Organics Toner and Oil-Balancing Moisturiser with only my microfibre cloth and water for cleansing. The rash has already calmed down and appears to be getting smaller. 

I’m obviously very disappointed that I’ve encountered this problem with Suki, especially as I’ve bought several full-size products and they don’t come cheap. I’m almost out of the serum, but still have roughly half the velvet creme and the toner left. I did use some of the lemongrass cleanser yesterday and it doesn’t seem to have aggravated the rash, so I’m hoping I can at least continue to use that.

I’m guessing that perhaps the Suki products may be too rich for my skin and/or I’m using them too often. I did cut down from toning/moisturising twice a day to only once, but it made no difference.

Hopefully returning to my old routine will clear this up for good – I’ll keep the blog updated with any news.

I got through my entire period this month with only one spot (and that was on my neck) so I think my regime is working very well. I’m not sure if it’s the Suki products or the microfibre cloth or a combination of both that’s doing the trick.

For the last week or so, I have noticed a couple of small dry red patches on my right cheek. This worried me as I suffered with these quite badly several years ago and I’m terrified of it coming back. I was concerned I might be reacting to something in one of the Suki products, so I left out the cleansers for a few days and only used the Blue Chamomile Serum and White Willow toner. This hasn’t really made any difference, though the patches aren’t getting any worse.

About two days after my period finished, two pimples suddenly appeared on my lower right cheek. This was followed by a third one the day after, plus a tiny one right above my upper lip, and then two more on my left cheek. I was really upset as my older acne marks were finally fading and I was looking forward to having blemish-free skin for the first time in years. Naturally I began to panic and desperately looked over all the Suki ingredients fruitlessly hoping to find a clue.

Then it dawned on me and I felt like such an idiot – since around the time all these new problems started, I’ve been feeling under the weather. I had shooting pains in my temple for a couple of days, then a slightly sore throat and most recently a blocked nose. I suspect I have a viral infection and if my body is busy fighting it, it would certainly explain why my skin is suffering.

As soon as I realised this, I made a concerted effort to drink lots of water and I’m continuing to do so. I think it’s making a difference as the existing spots are now drying up and no new ones have formed. I am using the Suki Facial Creme again, but I’ve decided to leave out the Moisture Rich Cleansing Lotion – although it’s nice, I don’t think it’s necessary and I prefer to just use the microfibre cloth at night. 

I will update again when my infection has cleared up and my skin is able to return to its normal state. In the meantime, I will tentatively state that I think I’ve found my acne Holy Grail.

About a week ago, I was doing some shopping in Tescos when I spotted a pack of two microfibre cloths for £1. I vaguely recalled reading something about using them as face cloths, so I thought why not give them a try?

Now as far as I’m aware, these are bog standard cloths designed for cleaning your car. Basically, they are made up of microscopic fibres that capture dirt and grease without damaging the surface they are being used on. I discovered that there are several different formulations, the most common being an 80% polyester 20% polyamide mix which is what mine are comprised of.

It seems that many people find microfibre cloths work very effectively using just water. However, I recently invested in a pricey natural cleanser so I wanted to utilise that as well. My routine now involves application of said cleanser then I soak the cloth in water, squeeze out all the excess and wipe the cleanser off in small circular motions. I have found this to work very well, with no trace of cleanser left on my skin afterwards.

But onto the really important stuff – has it made any difference to my acne? I have to answer that question with a resounding yes! I have had maybe two tiny pimples since I started using it and no blackheads! The light exfoliating action of this cloth seems to be successfully removing whatever it is that clogs up my pores before they have any visible impact. I’m very interested in seeing how it deals with my hormonal acne when that time of the month comes around and will update this post accordingly.

For those that use the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM), these cloths are apparently wonderful for removing final traces of oil. I really wish I had known this when I was using the OCM as it might have made quite a difference for me.

The cloth is also very gentle on my sensitive skin. You might think it would be very harsh if it’s exfoliating so thoroughly, but it’s actually very soft with a slight sticky grip that doesn’t pull at the skin.

These cloths can last several months with daily use, but I wouldn’t mind having to replace them more often due to the low cost. Do be careful not to wash/dry them with other fabrics though – they have a tendency to pick up lint and coloured ones will also run very easily. The best method of care is to simply soak them in water, squeeze the excess out and allow to dry naturally. If necessary, use a gentle detergent, but never apply fabric softener which will clog the fibres.

When I start getting low on cleanser, I’m going to try the water-only method and see if this is as effective. By all accounts, it may work even better, but I don’t want to waste the products I’ve already bought.

I would heartily recommend giving one of these amazing cloths a try. Like any product, they don’t work for everyone but they are so cheap it’s really worth a try. Don’t worry that all the marketing says they’re for cars and other hard surfaces – it’s not what they’re used on, but how they work that matters. Many companies offer microfibre cloths especially for the face and body, but they are essentially the same thing. The only difference is that you will pay considerably more.

I’d love to hear readers thoughts and experiences (positive and negative) so please pop a note in the comment box if you have anything to say. :)

We’re having a bit of a heat-wave here in the UK at the moment and, unfortunately, it’s doing my poor skin no good at all. The rash I suffered with last summer is trying to come back, thankfully I still have my tea tree and eucalyptus cream to keep it at bay. I’m absolutely terrified of it being really nasty like it was last year as it took several months to ease off.

The heat is affecting my hair too. Though the vinegar rinse is successfully keeping dandruff to a minimum, my hair is greasy and limp within hours of washing. I don’t really want to wash it every day, but I’m not sure what else I can do. Any tips from readers familiar with this predicament would be greatly appreciated.

My acne is slowly improving. I think my body is finally getting used to being back on the pill – it’s taken about 6 weeks. The old acne marks are taking their time fading however, so I’m having to wear make-up whenever I go out and this frustrates me somewhat. The good news is that it hasn’t messed up my periods though (a common complaint from users with this particular pill), I started my last one bang on time.

I shall trudge on as always. And hope for a cool day sometime very soon.

I was browsing through some old emails today and suddenly realised that I’ve now been using natural skincare products for a whole year! I’m amazed how quickly the last 12 months have passed and I’ve learnt so much about my skin. It’s been a fascinating journey for me – I’ve gone from trying out all manner of new products to finally settling on a few basic essentials that really suit my needs.

Though I still suffer from a few skin problems, I feel that I understand them a lot better and am more positive about keeping them under control. I can confidently say I won’t be returning to mainstream, synthetic products.

Anyway, just thought I’d mention it as it’s a pretty important milestone for me. :) I’ll be updating more frequently in May, thanks to my shiny new internet connection which was activated yesterday!

In my early 20s I switched from the mini-pill to the combined pill in the hopes it would improve my acne. I ended up quitting after trying two different brands unsuccessfully and never got around to going back on the mini-pill. Until three weeks ago that is.

Well I expected to have a few issues with my skin and that’s certainly what I got. In fact, I’ve been experiencing the whole range of typical PMT symptoms – increased acne, overly flaky scalp, a very short temper and incredibly tender boobs.

To counter the skin problems, I’ve been using plenty of apple cider vinegar in my hair and face care routines.  Even so, I’m noticing greasiness returning after only a few hours. Not a lot I can do about my temper, other than try to bite my tongue before I say things and for the last concern I just have to make sure I’m wearing my most comfortable bras. :D

Generally, I’ve been trying not to worry about all this. I’m adding a new hormone into my body and it’s understandable that I’m going to have some balancing issues for a few weeks. But two days ago, something happened (which may be totally unrelated) that made me freak out a bit. I had a tiny little whitehead appear just under my lip and upon gently squeezing it, an enormous purple bruise suddenly appeared right underneath!

I can only assume the spot I squeezed was close to a capillary or something. I have never ever had bruises on my face and it was quite upsetting to see this prominent blotch on my chin. Applying a liberal amount of concealer didn’t manage to cover it either, so I skulked around indoors all day with no intention of being seen by anyone.

Thankfully, it’s already started to fade, but it’s certainly made me think twice about popping any more spots. Which I guess can only be a good thing really. :D

So, I shall continue to hang in there and hope my body adjusts to the mini-pill soon. Wish me luck!

During my journey of natural skincare discovery, I have tried several products that didn’t work for me as I’d hoped. Rather than stash them away in a cupboard to be forgotten about however, I experiemented a little and found that while they didn’t serve their original purpose, they provided benefits in rather different ways.

The beauty of natural products is that they are so safe and gentle you don’t have to worry about using them on varying parts of your body. I thought I’d share a list of items I regularly use in this manner:

• Anita Grant’s Ylang-Ylang & Kelp Babassu Shampoo Bar:  I was really hoping this would be a nice shampoo for me, but it made my hair sticky and heavy. Not too surprising as it’s designed for thick, curly hair which is the total opposite of mine, but I thought it sounded nice. I have found it makes a fantastic soap and use it all over my body – it exfoliates gently and the ylang-ylang and kelp prevent oiliness.
• Pure Nuff Stuff Shampoos, Shower Gels and Handwashes: I do actually use these as intended, but I’ve also found they are interchangable. So if I like the sound of a certain shampoo, but want to use it as a bodywash, I can do.
• Essential Care’s First Aid Repair Lotion:  I also use this as intended, but in addition it makes a nice moisturiser if I’m feeling particularly oily. It’s also great at drying out acne and sometimes even prevents a spot appearing if I apply it early enough.
• Akamuti’s Kalahari Watermelon Body Oil: As well as being a gorgeous massage oil, it’s useful after shaving to prevent itchiness. Is also wonderful used as a bath oil leaving my skin baby soft after drying.
• Anita Grant’s Carrot & Wheat Germ Cleansing Oil:  Though my OCM attempts were unsuccessful, I’m currently using this twice-daily on the stretchmarks behind my knees. I’ve only been using it for a couple of days, but it might help and at least enables me to use a product I had 95% of left and no idea what to do with.
• Pure Nuff Stuff’s Afterscrape Balm:  Great for general itchiness and not just after shaving. I’ve even tried rubbing some onto my underarms as a deodorant and it was quite effective.

So don’t go throwing out those expensive goodies you can’t use. Think about how else they might be useful and experiment. Even if something is totally wrong for your skin-type, chances are it will come in handy somewhere along the line. Even though my skin is generally oily, I still get the odd dry patch sometimes.

Also bear in mind that hormones affect our skin and so you might find that some products work better at certain times of the month. If possible, give yourself a few weeks to thoroughly try out a product before dismissing (or praising) it.

In the unfortunate event that you have products which still offer no useful purpose, consider giving them away to friends and family. I gave half a dozen items to a friend the other week and, while she didn’t like all of them herself, her family soon snapped them up with gusto! :D

I’ve been considering trying Aubrey Organics’ Calaguala Fern Leave-In Texturizing Treatment for a few months, to complement the matching shampoo I’ve been using. This is something Pure Skincare don’t currently stock, so I had a quick look around and found an eBay store exclusively selling Aubrey Organics products: iloveaubrey0rganics

They have quite a range and, even better, their prices are cheaper than retail! I was getting low on toner and shampoo I decided to order them too and, as I’d spent over £15, was entitled to a free bottle of Sparkling Mineral Water Complexion Mist. If I spent just over a pound more, I would qualify for free delivery too, so I topped up my order with a bottle of Aloe Vera.

I ordered on Saturday, the goods were sent out promptly on Monday and arrived early Tuesday. There were several samples included, a natural ingredients guide, a product guide and even a tote bag. All very well packaged in a cardboard box with lots of brown paper wrapping. I was expecting the products to perhaps be close to Use By date given the cheap prices, but none of them expire until 2009.

I really like the Complexion Mist too, so I may be ordering some more of that in future. I’ll give my mum the Rose Mosqueta samples and she’ll probably love those. :D

The store changes offers periodically, currently they’re giving away a soap bar when you spend £30 or more. I don’t think they’re doing free delivery at the moment, but I’m sure they’ll do it again at some point.

Yes, it’s true, I’ve decided to give up my OCM routine. I’ve definitely overloaded my face too much and need to give it a rest and time to calm down. It’s been about 5 days since I stopped using it and already the pimples that wouldn’t go away are drying up and healing.

My period started two days ago, but I’ve only got a couple of the usual hormonal bumps. After the explosion of pimples from the OCM, this is actually heaven – I never thought I’d be saying that! I guess it just goes to show how everything is relative and while I might view my PMT acne as bad sometimes, it could certainly be a lot worse.

Anyway, I’m really sorry to report such a negative outcome. I’m not saying the OCM doesn’t work, I just think I went about it wrong. I still stand by my earlier advice that the right oils can make all the difference – perhaps one day I’ll try again and use the sunflower oil that Kloggers and Helen suggested in a previous post.

Interestingly, I think the Camellia & Copaiba oil I’m using as moisturiser may be doing a bit of OCM on it’s own and perhaps the combination of this and the other oils was simply too much. This is one product I will be sticking with, as I still don’t need to exfoliate, my skin is rarely greasy and it doesn’t aggravate my acne.

Well this is very weird. For the last couple of days, my face has been much oilier than usual. I don’t know if it’s the OCM doing some kind of rebalancing, but I’m going to have to quit using my Camellia & Copaiba oil for a few days to see if it dies down. I’ll be gutted if I have to stop using it permanantly, especially as I forked out £20 for a full-size bottle only three weeks ago.

Not only am I oilier, but my skin feels a bit rough too, like I need to exfoliate. My acne isn’t giving up either, although at least the whiteheads are small and I’m not getting the nasty boil-like bumps I tend to suffer from. I’m going to try using my facial cleanser after the OCM just to make sure the oils are definitely being removed – it’s very gentle (and all-natural of course) so it shouldn’t do any harm. I also tried using the Angel Face Scrub yesterday with apple cider vinegar instead of water, but I applied the Camellia & Copaiba oil straight after so I may have negated any positive effect. Will try that again tomorrow I think.

I also bought some Agnus Castus (chasteberry) capsules from Holland & Barratt today. Not sure I should be starting these in the midst of a skin crisis, but they’re supposed to help with hormonal problems and I’d like to get them well into my system before my period starts.  As my acne does seem to be primarily hormonal, I’m hoping they’ll help. I’m trying to increase my water intake too – so far that’s just resulted in lots of trips to the loo!

Apologies for the lack of recent updates BTW. I’ve had speed issues with my ISP all week and dared not use the computer lest I throw the cable modem at the wall in annoyance.