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Beauty Products
For all my life I've always had eczema. I used to have it really badly all over my face and neck (but it's only now triggered if I eat dairy products or some other foods/environmental factors) so my skin is quite sensitive. I'd never had acne or any spots as a teenager (just trying to keep my eczema under control) until my skin started to get REALLY oily in ~ 2016 and I'd always have several big red spots on my face. My skin just tends to get overly oily which I think is the cause of my spots for me.
I had been using Liz Earle cleanser and simple moisturiser as my routine for many years. and because they're very moisturising they didn't help. I realised early 2019 I should maybe change my skincare routine and see if it helps with products better suited for oily skin, and then I found Facetheory.
I started by doing a "Build your own routine" quiz on the Facetheory website to see what products are recommended for my type of skin - which I had never seen before choosing products.
I was tentative to try a new brand because it can be really expensive to try new products and then have your sensitive skin react, and have spent lots of money for nothing. What I LOVE about Facetheory is that they offer a 365 day no quibble refund if you don’t like the product or it doesn’t suit your skin, or the option to change it for another product that they deem more appropriate for your skin type - which I thought was an amazing guarantee!
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I've been using the following products for over a year and my skin has improved so much that I wanted to share in case anyone else has a similar experience but also wants to keep the products natural, but with ingredients that work.
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Affiliate code for 20% off all Facetheory products - BBPCT20PERCENT [lasts till 15th May 2021, message me for a code thereafter]
Face routine
This cleanser is really great for oily or combination skin. My skin is super sensitive due to my allergies and I used to have eczema fully over my face several years ago, but I don't find it too strong for me.
You can feel it removing the oils and has helped me amazingly with breakouts but it also doesn’t make it dry (provided I follow up with the below moisturising products)
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It contains Glycolic acid (4%) and lactic acid (1%) that exfoliate the skin and Salicylic acid (2%) that penetrates deep into the pores for all those excess oils! You can feel it working in seconds and can leave it on for a minute as a glycolic face peel but I don't ever need to as it acts so rapidly.
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It is free of parabens, silicones, PEGs, SLS, SLES and mineral oils, alongside being vegan and cruelty free.
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PS. the bottle in this photo has lasted me since November 2019 (it's August 2020) so that is why it uses a plastic cap, however Facetheory have now transitioned their packaging to more sustainable materials so it's now in a glass jar.
After the cleanser, this Regenacalm Serum is my next step that I do in the evening before bed.
It contains retinol ester (2%), hyaluronic acid, vitamin C & E, aloe vera and extracts of dill and liquorice which is amazing for making the skin look smooth, removing fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, acne scars, rosacea and hyperpigmentation. Because my skin has lots of scars from spots I find this really helps reduce them.
This serum makes my skin so soft that sometimes I don’t even need to moisturise afterwards
I just put a few dots on my forehead with the pipette then rub it in from there.
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It’s thin and creamy and momentarily sticky whilst it dries only and it gives this amazing glow afterwards and has really helped my skin.
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As it can increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight it's super important to wear a good SPF though with this product.
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This Supergel Oil Free Moisturiser is the best moisturiser I've used that is both soothing for my sensitive skin and also controls the oiliness of my acne-prone skin.
It contains niacinamide to reduce pore size, salcyclic acid to relieve congestion without causing irritation, vitamin B5, chamomile, aloe vera and green tea extracts to hydrate and soothe skin. Vitamin C also fights acne-inducing bacteria.
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It is the consistency of aloe vera and has a lovely light smell of oats
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Keeps my skin plump and hydrated but without triggering me to breakout in spots. This moisturiser is most suitable for oily, combination skin.
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Free of parabens, silicones, PEGs, SLS, SLES, and mineral oils. Vegan and cruelty-free.
I avoided taking photos during the three years that my skin breakouts were at their worst, but I've collated some before photos that I've managed to find to show you what my skin was like before using Facetheory
This eye serum from RINGANA contains a range of toxin free ingredients that work to reduce swelling and dark circles around the eyes.
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As someone that experiences chronic fatigue, I have permanent dark circles around my eyes that I have never used a serum on, so they have progressed over the years, but I've been using this serum day and night for a month and it does seem to be helping.
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I simply tap a very small amount under my eyes and a tiny bit above my eyes. Products that I apply close to my eyes usually make my eyes water, but this hasn't at all!
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The texture is thin and creamy and has a gentle, honey botanical scent.
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I love that the ingredients are fully toxin free and approved on several databases.
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I’ve been experiencing lots of facial pain recently so I decided to purchase one of these jade facial rollers. For me I experience facial pain related to tension from migraines and due to blocked sinuses from hay fever and chronic sinusitis.
The rollers should be used at least a few days per week and are hugely beneficial in improving circulation, stimulating blood flow, reducing fine lines, lymphatic drainage, and getting more nutrients and oxygen to your skin. It's recommended that you only roll upwards in one direction (you're not supposed to both ways!)
These are the points I like to focus on:
Neck - down up
Chest - middle out
Forehead - upwards
Eyebrows - middle out (sinus too)
Jaw - middle out & up
Eye (up and low) - middle out
Cheek - middle out (sinus)
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For a video demonstration go to my Instagram story highlights "skincare"
So I used this as my face suncream travelling for 3.5 months and there’s loads left even though I used it daily.
It’s from Australia Gold and it’s factor 50 which is important for protecting your skin, it’s vegan, chemical free, reef friendly. It's fragrance free so suitable for sensitive skin.
It contains minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for the sun protection. Now these have been debated in the non-toxic community, however over a normal sunscreen (which have not been deemed safe in many studies) there is a consensus that products with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are a lot safer.
Really good for avoiding breakouts as it’s matte and non-greasy, but it does sometimes clog my pores slightly (I wish Facetheory had an oil free moisturiser with factor 50 like this!)
Has a tint which I do find a little too light for my skin tone now (probs the only downside)
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I really recommend this as the best I've tried yet, but if you do have other products similar to this that are factor 50, non-greasy please let me know
Please get in touch with your favourites as I'm all for finding new toxin-free, matte & non-greasy suncreams!
Bodycare
I have been using this toxin free deodorant from RINGANA for over 2 years.
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It's a white thick cream that you pump out and apply to your armpits using your finger. It's a unisex fragrance and smells subtly botanical and herby.
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I used this as my only deodorant when travelling in very hot climates, and out of MANY that I've tried over the years this is the most effective. I would sometimes have a little underarm bath halfway through the day / shower after the beach and then re-apply in the evening, so would apply it sometimes twice a day with some still left after 9 months!
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The only downside of this product is probably that it doesn't stop you sweating (like an antiperspirant) but targets the smell when you do sweat, which means that I do get sweat patches/yellow marks on white garments, but they come out with a stain remover. However I'd much rather a sweat mark than the toxins from an antiperspirant.
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I've recently started using the Green People scent free range, that is really ideal if you have very sensitive, allergy prone skin. I find it hard to tolerate any fragrance because of mast cell issues so this is now one of my go-to shower gels. They're organic, toxin free, vegan and also a UK based brand so it's supporting local business.​
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The body was contains aloe vera, yucca, coconut and marshmallow. It's a thick clear gel consistency that foams when you use it. Although it's scent free it works really well as a body wash, and I love the peace of mind that it's made with super natural ingredients.
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I have eczema on my hands too and lots of body washes can irritate it, but this one hasn't at all!
As part of the scent free range that I've recently started using from Green People, I've also started using their hand and body lotion. ​
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I'm constantly sampling hand creams because of my eczema I have on my hands.
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Before trying this, I was someone that doesn't actually use a body moisturiser because I have never found a brand that has a good, natural, toxin free and fragrance free one!
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It has a super subtle chamomile and marshmallow smell that comes directly from the plants inside. It's a cream that's super moisturising but not too oily that sinks in easily and has also been helping the eczema on my hands, so I've been applying it several times a day for that too!​
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