Skin & Hair Care Haul

Good Day Everyone,

I don't have a Japan vlog for you this week. I've been struggling with my arthritis more than usual these last couple of weeks and as a result we've not ventured out and about. Plus, hubby also had to make an impromptu trip back home to England. I didn't go with him as all that travel would take a huge toll on my already struggling joints but I did give him a shopping list ;o).

Stocked up on face masks

For this weeks video I decided to film a skin and hair care haul. I thought it might be fun, and maybe even interesting, for you to see the kind of skin and hair care products I like to stock up on, as well as some new ones that I'm looking forward to trying. In the video, I also share my experience and thoughts on some of the products that I've already used.

I will be doing a Japanese skin care haul video soon so make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel so that you don't miss that :o).

Now that I'm finally starting to feel a bit better we will be venturing out this weekend which means I'll have another Japan vlog for you next week.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Love Sheen xxx

Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask

Good Day Everyone,

Towards the end of last year I noticed that my skin was looking particularly dull and I’d started to have occasional breakouts. Now that’s quite a big deal for me as I’ve been blessed with my mum’s good skin genes (thanks mum!) and so I’ve hardly ever had spots or breakouts. I think all my anaemia and health issues from last summer had started to take a toll. Also, now that I’m well into my 30s, looking after my skin has become more of a priority. In fact, one of my goals for 2015 is to improve the condition of my skin and hair. As some of you may know, I’ve experienced significant hair loss as a result of being severely anaemic, but luckily now that the anaemia is under control, I’m hoping that my hair issues will improve too :o).

On my last trip home to England I picked up quite a lot of skincare products (there'll be a haul video coming next week) and amongst them was this clay mask. This is the Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask by Unna Brennan (now that is a looong name!), a UK based facialist with over 15 years skin care experience. I picked this mask up along with a hydrating rose mask also from the Super Facialist range which I’ve reviewed here. The mask costs £8.99 and you get 125ml of product. It is regularly on a 3for2 offer at Boots which is when I picked it up.

I have been using this for about seven weeks on a weekly basis and I love it, yep that’s right I used the ‘L’ word. I have only recently started to get into masks as, I’ll be honest, I pretty much neglected my skin in my 20s and so I don’t really have anything to compare this to (yet) but I love the effect so much so that I would definitely repurchase this.

I feel that this mask gives my skin a deep clean where it pulls out all the gunk from inside my pores, you know, all that dirt and bad stuff that causes spots. The mask contains a number of key ingredients that help to detoxify the skin. I did a bit of googling so that I could explain the role of the key ingredients as I like to understand how they work;

• Salicylic Acid declogs pores by breaking up cells that stick together in the inner lining of skin pores thus helping to remove blackheads and whiteheads. It helps people with oily and acne-prone skin by reducing oil and being an anti-inflammtory it helps with the healing process of breakouts and evens discolouration from old spots.

• Niacin (vitamin B3) helps to improve blood flow to the skin cells which results in increased oxygenation of the skin.

• Dead Sea Mud is rich in a range of minerals that improve the condition of the skin. It also absorbs oil and helps to eliminate toxins from the skin.

• Avocado Oil is a great moisturiser and is rich in antioxidant vitamins such as A, D and E which improve the suppleness of the skin thus minimising fine lines and wrinkles.

• Acacia Honey has antimicrobial properties which helps to fight acne causing bacteria and it removes oil and bacteria from clogged pores. It is also soothing and hydrating to the skin.

The mask has a reasonably strong scent of clay mixed with a bit of herbal freshness and I find that it does linger for a while even after I've washed the mask off. Personally I don’t find the scent over powering or unpleasant at all but if you are sensitive to scents then it may be worth having a sniff before purchase :o).

The mask comes out as pale grey clay that is very easy to spread as it is quite soft and creamy. I use this once a week, although the instructions say that it can be used twice a week. I apply an even layer on my cleansed face and neck. The instructions say to leave it on for 5mins but I usually end up leaving it on for about 10mins and haven’t had any adverse effect as a result. The clay does harden over time as it dries, making it almost impossible to speak, and you can forget about smiling ;o).

After 10mins I take a warm wet flannel and lay it on top of my face and press it onto my skin to soften the clay, making it easier to remove. I then use the flannel in circular motions to gently rub off the clay and wash my face using warm water.

Afterwards my skin looks clearer, my pores are reduced, blackheads have been removed and my complexion looks brighter and more awake, if that makes any sense? The mask doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or stripped and I have dry skin. I do follow up with a moisturiser but on the odd occasion where I’ve forgotten to moisturise this hasn’t left my face feeling too dry. 

I did notice that the first few times I used this mask, the day after, I would wake up to find a couple of small spots, white heads, on my chin and/or around my nose. I think that was just the mask pulling out all of the dirt and dead skin cells that had built up inside my pores. The spots cleared within a few days. More recently, I haven't been developing any spots after using this mask so I think regular use is helping to keep my pores unclogged.

I love the effect of this mask so much that I’ve even got my hubby using it. He has combination skin and is more prone to spots and so this really helps to keep his pores clean and remove the excess oil from around his t zone. As he has sensitive skin he only keeps this mask on for 5mins because any longer and he feels it stings ever so slightly.

I’ve been very impressed with both masks that I've tried from the Super Facialist range and it’s great that they are so affordable. I did pick up some more higher end masks on my recent trip home and I'm looking forward to trying those over the coming weeks, primarily to see how they compare to these and determine whether they’re worth the hefty price tag!

Have you used this mask or any other from the Super Facialist range? What was your experience? What is your favourite mask?

Love Sheen xxx

Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask

Good Day Everyone,

Since living in Japan, a climate with seasons for the first time in three and a half years, I have been very aware of the toll the cold winter is taking on my skin. My skin is naturally on the dry side. I’m not sure why this is, maybe it’s genetic but I’ve been a psoriasis sufferer since my teen years and that is a dry skin disorder so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. My skin also gets dehydrated very quickly and we all know that dehydrated skin emphasises any fine lines and wrinkles all too easily.

So with my dry skin concerns in mind, I stocked up on a few skincare products when I was home last month, as well as picking up some products that I have used in the past that I love. Whenever I try a new skincare product I like to use it for at least a whole month before forming any firm opinions on it just so that I’ve used it during the time of the month when my skin is at its best and worst…. I’m sure you ladies know what I mean ;o). 

Today I wanted to share my thoughts with you on this Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask by Una Brennan. There’s been quite a bit of buzz around the Super Facialist range in the online beauty and skincare world given its affordability. Una Brennan has over 15 years of skincare experience and is now a sought after facialist in the UK. Her range, the Super Facialist has been designed to address specific skin concerns. I picked up a couple of products from the range in a Boots 3 for 2. The masks costs £8.99 but is regularly on offer at Boots and you get 125mls of product in the tube. I have been using this moisture masks for the past 6 weeks on a weekly basis (occasionally twice a week) and I really like it… a lot. I won’t go as far as saying I love it as I don’t have anything to compare it to since I’ve only recently started to get into masks but it’s something I would definitely repurchase. 

The mask contains a number of key ingredients that work to hydrate the skin and improve its appearance and texture, namely;

• White willow extract which is good for removing old skin cells that cause dullness in one’s complexion, making way for new skin cells due to the presence of salicylic acid in the white willow extract.

• Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant which is good for mopping up free radicals that cause dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, thus helping to repair and protect the skin.

• Urea, a humectant which in effect is a moisturising agent because it absorbs water and promotes the retention of water in the skin.

• Marshmallow extract, given that the only marshmallows I know of are the type to go into a hot chocolate, I had to do some Googling to fully understand it’s role. Apparently marshmallow root extract, which is the type contained in this mask, has a soothing and softening effect on the skin. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat dry skin conditions.

The mask has a strong rose scent which can be a bit over powering upon application but eases over time. It is not unpleasant to the extent where it would put me off from using this mask but if you are particularly sensitive to scents then it is worth bearing in mind and perhaps smelling the product before parting with your money.

The mask comes out as a thick white cream that is easily spreadable. I use it once or twice a week, as per the instructions, depending on how dry my skin is. The instructions say to apply a ‘generous’ layer on to cleansed face and neck. I'm sure we will all have a different interpretation as to how much a generous layer actually is and that will certainly affect how long this product lasts. I don’t go crazy with it, but at the same time I ensure it covers all of my skin.

The instructions state to leave it on for 5mins, but I’ve always left it on for about 10mins and not had any adverse effects. Over time my skin seems to sort of absorb some of the product because when it comes to taking it off, there are some patches on my face/neck where there is less product than when I applied it, as you can see from the photo above. After 10mins I rinse it off using a damp flannel and some warm water. 

This mask leaves my skin feeling soft, supple and hydrated. However, the effect that has really impressed me is how my skin glows after using this mask. My face is left looking incredibly radiant, bright and glowy, and the best thing is that this radiance lasts. I still see it in my skin the next day. 

Even my hubby noticed and commented on how great my skin looks. When I asked him to describe it he said it looked like I’d just had a very expensive facial because my face was glowing, my skin looked soft and bouncy, like a baby’s bottom and just altogether happy and healthy. Now that’s a pretty comprehensive description from my hubby ;o).

Over the weekend my hubby was complaining about how his skin looked dull and greyish. So I pulled this face mask out and he loved the effect too. Now we have face mask sessions together lol. He may not want this knowledge out in the public domain, but as I explained to him, men need to look after and pamper their skin too. Skin is skin at the end of the day, irrespective of whether it’s on a woman’s face or a man’s…. that certainly made him feel a bit better about it ;o). 

The mask is apparently suitable for even the most sensitive of skins. I don’t have sensitive skin and so can’t vouch for that but my hubby does. He hasn’t had any issues with it, however, he has only used it a couple of times so far. 

Have you tried this mask or any other products from the Super Facialist range? What was your experience? What would you recommend from the range? 

Love Sheen xxx

Recent Absence

Good Day Everyone,

I hope you’ve been keeping well over this past month and had a great festive season. I know I’ve been absent for the best part of a month but trust me I didn’t have much choice in the matter. 

So what have I been up to? Well, in December my hubby surprised me by booking me a ticket back home which was wonderful. He had to go back to England for a week on business and given how expensive the ticket prices were and the fact that the journey home takes 2 x 7.5hr flights and 2-3hrs transit time in between flights, I’d made the decision not to go back with him as I didn’t think Arthur (aka arthritis) could cope and I certainly couldn’t cope with a moody Arthur! However, I’d also been feeling a bit homesick during November/December time which my hubby picked up on and so a trip home was just what I needed :o)

As it was only the second week of December most friends were not on holiday leave yet so I didn’t see everyone I wanted but I was so happy to see those that I could. It’s amazing how much of a tonic a catch up with a few close girlfriends can be. My spirits were lifted and I felt a lot more positive and happier after this brief trip back home. Even though we’ve been in Singapore over two and half a years I do still occasionally get bouts of homesickness, after all there’s no place like home, right?

It was lovely spending some quality time with my mum too. Naturally we had a couple of girly shopping days. I always use a trip back home as an opportunity to stock up on my toiletries and things that I can’t get in Singapore. My mum (and dad of course) treated me to a couple of early birthday presents as it's my birthday this month and I obviously won't be seeing them. The day before we were due to fly back I popped into Boots (drugstore) to pick up a prescription when my mum and I spotted what must be (in my opinion) the best beauty bargain of 2013. If you live in England and shop at Boots then I’m sure you know what I’m talking about ;o) and if you don’t then not to worry I’ll be sharing it in a blog post very soon. Having heard the frenzy around this beauty bargain I was surprised to see it still on the shelves as it sold out at most Boots ridiculously quickly. When I explained the hysteria around it to my mum, we both took it as a sign that I was meant to have one ;o)

Once back in Singapore I got ill, really ill. You see over the past few months I’ve known (at the back of my mind) that I wasn’t looking after Arthur as best as I should and tensions between us had been mounting for some time. Needless to say things came to a head after the long return journey from England. Clearly Arthur had had enough and he wasn’t shy in letting me know either! Whilst I was very good at looking after Arthur through a healthy diet and daily exercise and physio sessions the first half of 2013, I let things slip during the second half of the year. Mid 2013 my hubby’s office got very busy and they were short staffed so I stepped in and started helping out 3-4 days a week working just half days (my joints couldn’t cope with full days). As I was feeling much better and Arthur and I had been getting along wonderfully I thought I’d be fine working part time but then complacency set in. I wasn’t going to the gym much and my diet started to slip too. Healthy breakfasts of fresh fruit and smoothies were being replaced by croissants and iced mochas. Even though I was only working half days, typically afternoons, I found I was too tired to cook in the evenings and too tired for the gym in the mornings. Gradually things slipped further and further and I knew I needed to take control but I was having too much fun spending time with hubby and being in a work environment and ultimately ended up neglecting Arthur.

Since mid December I've had a severe case of pleuritis (inflammation in and around the lungs) which has been very painful as it causes chest pains when breathing, especially when taking deep breaths - a bit scary to say the least. I also had severe inflammation of the tissue and cartilage around my ribs on the left side. That, in particular, was excruciatingly painful and I had a week of nauseating pain, sleepless nights and being unable to eat properly. Many people think that arthritis is just a few aches and pains in ones joints and that most of us probably suffer from this at some stage in our lives. But trust me that is so not the case. Arthritis is so much more than a few aches and pains. It can cause excruciating, nauseating pain as well as debilitating fatigue where you don’t even have the energy to get out of bed. It causes joint deformity that can be very visible (and embarrassing). It restricts your movement and ability to do simple everyday tasks - it really is a life changing condition.

The arthritis in my right wrist has been and still is very active and inflamed which makes typing difficult and that was another reason for my recent absence. I’ve been trying to rest my wrist as much as possible and sleeping with a wrist support at night. With all this going on I was completely out of action for a while. After lots of rest, heat therapy, healthy eating and Thai massages I finally started to feel better after Christmas. Around New Year I got severe mouth ulcers and a bad case of fatigue. As a result, Christmas and New Year was a pretty quite affair for us. I did manage to attend my hubby’s work Christmas lunch and take part in their office Secret Santa. I got a tube of the Urban Decay Primer Potion in my Secret Santa. Most people in my hubby’s office know I love makeup, especially eye shadows. In fact, one afternoon I had a Naked session with the girls in my hubby’s office. A couple of the girls had bought the Naked 3 palette and wanted me to show them how to create various looks. So one afternoon, I took in my Naked original and Naked 2 palette and the girls brought in their Naked 3 palette and we all got to compare and contrast the three palettes and have some fun :o)

I started New Year’s Day with a severe headache that lasted three whole days and not feeling particularly great which is not the best way to start 2014. However, I have started 2014 with the realisation that I need to prioritise Arthur above all else, even when I am feeling well and we are getting along just fine, because if I get complacent he won’t hesitate in letting me know and I really don’t want to go through another bad arthritic flare. So with that in mind, I have made a good start with a much cleaner diet this first week. Next week I plan to start my exercise regime again and getting back into a routine of looking after my permanent, albeit unwanted, guest. I won’t be helping out at my hubby’s office anymore as I need to reserve all my energy for getting along with Arthur and that does make me a little sad as I really miss working (and having a career) but I also appreciate that keeping my health for as long as I can is much more important – c’est la vie.

I hope you gorgeous glisteners glistened over the festive period and had a great Christmas. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2014 for us all :o)

Love Sheen xxx
P.S. I hope you enjoyed the few more shots above of Christmas lights in Singapore