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.

I first encountered the Suki range over a year ago thanks to the free samples that Debbie from Pure Skin Care often included with my orders. I did try them once or twice, but I think they just didn’t last long enough to wow me, plus the potential cost was a major concern. A little over a month ago, I was feeling a bit frustrated with my existing routine and Suki caught my eye again.

I decided to take the plunge and buy the anti-inflammatory mini-kit. Needless to say, I was very impressed and promptly purchased several full-size versions.

This is going to be something of a mega-review as I’m going to talk about all six products from this range that I use. So grab yourself a nice cuppa and read on!
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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.

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!

Sunday was Mother’s Day here in the UK and I had planned to visit my mum and my nan. The day before, I had an acne breakout, so that evening I used my First Aid Lotion from Essential Care instead of my usual Camellia & Copaiba oil. This does a good job of drying out the spots thanks to the tea tree and although it doesn’t make them disappear overnight, they do look less red and glaring.

On the day itself, I discovered why I’d had the breakout (and why I’d been cranky for a few days) - my period started. It couldn’t have waited one more day, oh no, it had to come about three days early this month. I tend to get nasty stomach cramps, plus the usual discomfort for the first few days, so it wasn’t much fun driving around and putting on a happy face for my relatives.

On the plus side, my mum liked the two moisturisers I gave her and the big box of Milk Tray. :D

I’ve decided to ditch the Coconut and Rosewood dry oil (at least for the time being) as I keep breaking out shortly after I use it. I initially read that coconut oil can cause breakouts when newly introduced, but that it’s due to toxins being brought to the surface and should subside within a few days. I guess I’m just a little nervous, especially as the author of the aforementioned post wrote a few days later that things actually seemed to get worse and so she scrapped it. I’ve decided to go with the Camellia and Copaiba Bath & Body Oil instead, which hasn’t caused any breakouts so far and smells fantastic.

I’ve also adjusted my stretchmark routine. Basically, I was getting annoyed at how greasy the Monoi Oil and the Whipped Butter were leaving my legs, so I’m solely using the Camellia and Copaiba Oil for that as well. There’s been no obvious improvement in my stretchmarks, but it’s only been a few days and the general opinion is that it takes months of daily use before scars are visibly reduced. I’m not really bothered by how long it takes, I just wish I knew for certain that it will work for me. Nothing is more disheartening than spending a lot of time and money on something only to find it didn’t do any good.

Oh, one final thing. I’m sad to say that I won’t be using the Whipped Butter in my hair either. I used a tiny amount yesterday and, though it did leave my hair luxuriously soft and smoothed out my split ends (briefly), it also left an oily sheen and needed washing again within a couple of hours.