My BAD Bio-Oil Experience.

Bio-Oil is one of those beauty products that seems to be continuously present as time goes by. It's been called 'the magic oil' by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Rochelle Humes for it's ability to banish wrinkles and stretch marks. I was looking for an inexpensive skin oil I should use to replenish my skin and keep it hydrated during the night, as I felt my skin was started to really hydrate during my sleeping hours, meaning I woke up with dull and drab skin. Bio-Oil promises to hydrate skin and ACTUALLY says it can be used on the face. So, for 6 pound, I thought Bio-Oil would do the trick. I started using it about 3/4 days ago. I would use it after moisturising in the evenings and would massage it into my skin for full impact before settling my head down for the night. 

The first few mornings, my skin actually looked great! My blemishes were a lot less noticeable and my skin seemed a lot brighter. Then, on the Friday night, I started to feel a burning sensation about my lips and on my chin. It felt like my skin was on fire and really tight, which really worried me as I'd never had this problem before. The next day, which thankfully I had off college otherwise I would have cried, I found my skin was a dark brown/red colour up both sides of my face, primarily around my t-zone and my skin resembled that of a reptile. I have never in my life experienced such dry and damaged skin on my face. My face burnt for the rest of the day and no matter how much moisturiser I applied to the area, it still felt dry and sore. The only product I could really connect to my skin change was Bio-Oil. I had been using some new Simple products BUT I have used this products in previous years with no trouble, so I can definitely write these out!

I decided I would research a little bit more into Bio-Oil and any side effects that could be present with it's use. I found out that Bio-Oil actually contains a great deal of chemicals.

Botanicals

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula Oil)
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil (Lavender Oil)
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil (Rosemary Oil)
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil (Chamomile Oil)

Vitamins

Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

Oil base

Paraffinum Liquidum
Triisononanoin
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Isopropyl Myristate
Glycine Soja Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
BHT
Bisabolol

Fragrance (Rose)

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Amyl Cinnamal
Benzyl Salicylate
Citronellol
Coumarin
Eugenol
Farnesol
Geraniol
Hydroxycitronellal
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Limonene
Linalool

Colour

Orange: CI 26100 (Red 17)
Pink: CI 26100 (Red 17) and CI 60725 (Violet 2)

An ingredient that really stuck out for me was Benzyl Salicylate, which is a fragrance additive and UV light absorber, primarily used in perfumes and hair dye. This ingredient is scientifically proven to cause dermal irritation. I found this bit of information when researching into the product:

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has restricted its use in fragrances because of the potential sensitization and allergic reactions. In Europe, it is listed as an “allergenic” substance and the European Cosmetics Directive requires OTC leave-on products to indicate its presence, even at concentrations of .001%.

I also started to think, how can an oil get rid of scars and stretch marks. When you think about it logically, a scar and stretch marks appears when the dermis (which is the deep, thick layer of skin) is damaged. This is why scars are usually so hard to get rid off as they are when the body forms new collagen fibres to mend the damage. These new fibres create the scar tissue which appears on the skin. Now, if this damage and the scar tissue's source is within the dermis, a product has to be very penetrating to get to to this layer of skin. It also must have some kind of drying and abrasive effect which allows the scar tissue to be broken down (which can usually only be accomplished when the first few layers of skin peel off which allows new skin cells to renew). Our faces are made up of natural fatty acids and oils which when lost can expose our face's to skin damage and dryness. My theory here is that Bio-Oil is not as natural or demagogically safe as it would like to make out it is. I CERTAINLY don't believe it should be put on your face is it's primary use is to rid you of scar tissue. 

I'm actually really upset with the damage this product has done. Thankfully for me, I found an amazing face cream by Superdrug called Vitamin E moisture cream which I have been using morning and night over the weekend in order to help my skin heal and I've got to say it's really working. However, my skin is still very dry and damaged. It's still sore and feels almost burnt. I also found out from a friend and a few other bloggers that the same damage has happened to them after using Bio-Oil on their face. I don't know if this is an allergic reaction to something in the product OR one of the ingredients of this product has reacted badly to my sensitive face but I know this oil is to blame. 

Please let me know if you have EVER experienced a similar problem with Bio-Oil as I really want to know if I'm one of the only ones to have a bad experience with this oil?

I will be keeping you updated on the healing of my skin!

Thanks 

G

x

P.S. Sorry for the grim pictures! I wanted you to see the real extent of the damage! 

Perfect Skin Overnight!

You've been looking forward to that Christmas party at work all week. And Sandra's wedding is just round the corner. Not to mention that holiday that you booked for this month with the boyfriend. But the morning of the event, low and behold, you are met with the most hideous creature you have ever layer your pupils upon. No it's not that ugly Chihuahua that the boyfriend got you last Chirstmas and it's certainly not what you had for dinner last night. 

It's the giant cluster of pimples you have developed on your forehead and the massive spot that can only be refereed to as 'Kilimanjaro'  that's sprouted from your nose. Now, I don't know about you, but in previous years this would have sent me running for the bathroom which I would spend a further 5 hours locked in until all events had concluded. But with the tips I have gathered over the last few years, this is no longer the case!

So here I am to share some of the best and fasted ways of ridding yourself of the dreading breakout. First of all, let's get an idea of how sports are formed. All over our skin are small pores or 'sebaceous glands' that secrete oil, keeping our skin lubricated and waterproof. However, sometimes these pores can become infected with the bacteria we come into contact with everyday, from the bacteria on our hands, to the pollution in the air. This in turn causes the pore to become inflamed with the infection, and causes it to fill with the body fluid we all know as pus. The spot itself is caused by the sebaceous gland becoming overactive which results in an overproduction of lubrication and over oily skin. As a teenager, you are more likely to have spots as the by product the sebaceous gland produces 'sebum' (which is what causes the skin to be oily) to a greater level, which causes the blocking of the pores and therefore, the dreaded spot. 

So how can we stop this reaction occurring and prevent the breakouts that cause us to so much stress throughout the year. Well, it's pretty simple. For starters, DON'T STRESS OUT! KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON! Literally, because it's been proven that stress can cause your hormones to go wild which in turn will make your completion a lot less smooth. 

You should also try not to squeeze spots, no matter how tempting it may be. Theres nothing worse then that horribly pussy pimple giving you the eye every time you look in the mirror, taunting you with it's squeezability. But try not to give into temptation. 

Drinking water can also help to clear up your skin in the long run, but of course we are here to understand how to rid yourself of them in a quick and easy way. But still though, try to keep yourself hydrated, Mumma Coan knows best. 

Now we get to the good part. A lot of products that prevent and rid you of bad skin are filled with drying products, do it's best not to use these all the time or if you have to, use a hydrated moisturiser two times a day. The following products will dry up the grease and sebum that gathers within a spot as well as acting as an antiseptic which will prevent inflammation and stop bacteria in it's tracks. 

First of, Sudocrem. 

If your mum was anything like mine then this stuff would have been present throughout your childhood. Typically used for nappy rash or surface wounds, Sudocrem is an antiseptic healing cream which acts as a water resistant base, keeping all the bad things out of the wound as well as soothing and helping to aid the healing process. SO what better product to use against the battle of the spot. I have used Sudocrem for single spots for a while now. After removing all your makeup and cleaning your face so you have no traces of product on your skin, apply a generous amount of Sudocream to the spot. Clip your fringe back whilst you sleep and leave the cream on all night. During your sleep the cream will absorb into the skin. Due to it's antiseptic qualities, the Sudocrem will have removed any bacteria from the spot and soothed it. In the morning you will find your spot is no longer inflamed and has even shrunk, no longer sporting it's pussy head. I find this is one of the best products for beating bad skin. It is listed as helping acne but that will depend on the severity of it.  

125g Sudocream will cost you around £2 and will vary in price according to size. I can vouch that this product will last you a very long time though! It also now comes in a handy travel tube which means you can rid yourself of the spots even on your travels! 

http://www.boots.com/en/Sudocrem-Antiseptic-Healing-Cream-125g_1666/

Another great product for beating spots is Tea tree oil. It smells to high heavens but works a treat on the biggest of pimples. It's medical properties include antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. It's shown to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide (which can only be subcribed through a doctor) and has a greater amount of side effects. The antiseptic qualities of Tea tree mean that it has a very similar effect to Sudocream, healing and extractive bacteria from a wound (or in this case, a spot). Tea Tree oil can be very messy and is also quite overpowering, so if you want a Tea tree treatment that is not so much hassle, use a tea tree cream. Just like any antiseptic cream, Nelson's Tea tree cream is light and quickly absorbed. I have been using it for a year now and find it's perfect in drying up and healing my bad break outs. You can use this product by itself by applying it to a single spot on clean skin just before bed, or could use the technique I often use for my worst breakouts, which is to combine it with Sudocream. Rub a small amount of Tea Tree oil into the spot before placing a small amount of Sudocream on the top, remembering not to rub the Sudocream in as this will act as a resistant protective layer over the spot, keeping other bacteria out of the affected area. 

30g Nelsons's Tea Tree cream will cost you £2.99 from Sainsbury's but will vary from other stores and the size. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nelsons-Tea-Tree-Cream-30g/dp/B000FQVPK8

Now another quick and easy technique is toothpaste. You may have heard a huge spectrum of opinions regarding the use of toothpaste on spots. Some have reportedly said it can make your skin a lot worse, causing your spots to become more inflamed. I, however, have yet to experience this. Although I would not recommend this technique in the long run, for a one of spot it can do the trick if you have no other products at hand. It's best to use a plain white toothpaste which is not high in fluoride and apply a small amount on to a single spot before bed, leaving it to dry. Just like our previous products, toothpastes are used to reduce the level of harmful bacteria in our mouths due to an ingredient called triclosan. Due to toothpaste not being specifically targeted at skin (obviously!) it has been known to cause blockages and irritate the skin which is why I would not recommend using this treatment on a regular basis. I have found that it dries up single spots though and if you have no other products at hand when a spot raises it's ugly head overnight, it is a quick and simple way of drying it out if used overnight. But once again, I will add, this treatment is not scientifically shown to dry up spots SO please don't come back to me complaining if it has not worked for you!! I have found it has worked for me on the odd occasion so please no complaints!

If you are not bothered by a great deal of mess, honey is also a great antiseptic and anti-anti-inflammitry for spots. You can create a face mask with honey, or even apply it directly to the area. Because it is a natural antiseptic, it also does not damage or dry up skin and can leave it feeling a lot smoother within a matter or days. As I said before, this can be a lot messier then the other treatments, but can be a lovely treat on a friday evening snuggled up in front of the telly. 

And last but not least, perfume. Although this should not be used all the time as it can dry the more sensitive skin on our face, perfume is a great and quick way of shrinking down spots. It can be applied in the morning and before bed as it is not as visible as the other treatments. Due to the alcohol within most perfumes, it dries out the spot and acts as an antiseptic! I have found this actually really works for those mornings were Sudacream is too heavy for my skin and I'm in a rush for college. 

You could also invest in a toner/cleanser such as Simple's Pore Minimiser which will keep your skin clean and therefore prevent bacteria building up. 

Try these tips and let me know which one worked best for you! 

Love G 

oxoxo