OOTD - Christmas day

I'm spending my Christmas with my close family so nothing fancy. I decided to wear a warm and cozy sweater dress that will keep me warm, look cute and give me plenty of room for all the food I'm going to eat!

I dressed up my casual outfit with some jewellery all in rose gold, which I absolutely love.

Sweater dress: New Look (bought on Asos)

Watch: Michael Kors

Earrings: Baublebar

Necklace: Whistles

I kept the makeup pretty fool proof and only wore one eyeshadow that I blended up toward my brows and also a lip stain so I didn't have to worry about lipstick getting everywhere.

I really like this look and if you turn down the jewellery and makeup this is a great everyday look as well.


~Kira

Konjac sponge - review

I've been using the Konjac sponge for almost 2 months, and I really like it! There are a lot of different brands making this sponge, but I got mine from eBay where I bought 5 Konjac sponges for about $5. A lot of sponges are marketed as "infused" with red clay or green tea or other skin beneficial stuff, but honestly I don't believe there is anything "infused" into these sponges.

The sponge has a very funny texture but feels very gentle on the skin. It does exfoliate the skin very gently, and I have noticed my skin being a lot more smooth and soft after using this sponge. I have heard this sponge removes blackheads but I haven't noticed any difference there.

The Konjac sponges claim to do a lot of different things, but I honestly believe it's just a very nice cleansing sponge and nothing more. That's why I got mine cheap off of eBay, since I don't see the point of paying more for the same sponge under a different brand name.

If you are looking for a cleansing tool that is cheap and pretty effective then this is for you. I like this sponge more than my Clarisonic Mia, and it's a lot cheaper! It cleanses the skin well and makes it smooth which makes your makeup sit nicer. It's a win-win!

~Kira

I got my sponges here: Link

Acne update - short

If you have seen my Acne post you will know that I've been battling adult acne for a couple years now. After my antibiotics treatment it seemed to have gone back to pretty normal skin, though I still had a few breakouts it wasn't as bad as before.

About a month after my treatment I broke out again. This time on my forehead which hadn't been an issue throughout my treatment or before. I had a continuous breakout for 3 weeks, where my forehead was covered in new breakouts every day.

So I went to the doctor again and got another antibiotics treatment. This will be my last treatment with antibiotics since they aren't good for the body, but so far they don't seem to be working.

I'm about 3 weeks into my treatment and I shouldn't be breaking out anymore according to my doctor, since I only broke out the first few days, the last time I was on the same treatment.

This time my forehead and chin are the areas that are breaking out.

I will keep updating!

~Kira

Caudalie Divine Oil and Scrub

After a rough couple days where everything seemed to go wrong, I needed to really pamper myself with a long hot shower and some nice body products.

The Divine Scrub - a scrub made with brown sugar and has a similar smell to the oil. They don't smell the same in my opinion but they do compliment each other nicely. The scrub has a balm like texture that melts into the skin and only leaves the grains of sugar to scrub your skin with. It feels hydrating on the skin because of the balm like texture. 

The Divine Oil - This oil got it's name for a reason, it smells divine! It's a dry oil which means it sinks into the skin very fast and doesn't leave any oily or sticky residue which I love because you can get dressed right after your shower. The scent of the oil lingers on the skin for a good 4 hours or so on my skin, so you have to either wear it as your "perfume" or try to pair it with a perfume that will compliment it because it will be a noticeable scent if you use it on your upper body. The oil is suitable for use on body, face and hair.

I love this duo, but it is a "luxury" combo so I'll only be using it when I feel like I need a good pamper. The products aren't cheap but not too expensive either and I will definitely buy the oil in full size when I use this one up. The scrub wasn't anything too special and I feel like I could DIY a more effective scrub myself with ingredients from my kitchen. But if you want a luxurious feeling scrub this is a good one. 

~Kira

OOTD - Cozy sweater

It was pretty cold today so I decided to snuggle up in my warm oversize sweater. I love it because it's long and pretty simple looking, but it has zipper details on the front which makes it more interesting.

Sweater - River Island (bought on asos)

Jeans - Pieces

Boots - Rieker

I really like this outfit and it's a look I can wear to work as well, since I work with children it's important to be comfortable in your clothes so you can play both inside and outside and still be warm and cozy.


~Kira 

Keeping warm

I live in Scandinavia so winter cold is already hitting here, which means its time to get out the warm fuzzy sweaters, jackets and boots. I tend to feel cold a lot of the time which is why I wear as much warm clothes as I can. 

This year I've bought some new items for my winter wardrobe, and this is what I'll be wearing when I go out in the cold streets. 

Jacket - Vila

The whole jacket and hood is lined with teddy fabric except for the sleeves, which makes it very warm and soft for the cold months. I've been looking for a jacket like this for a while so I'm very happy with it. 

Boots - Rieker
Lined with fuzzy fabric through the whole boot. The boots have a zip in the side of the boot which makes them easy to put on and take off. The soles are thick and great for walking in snow or on slippery surfaces. They are a bit pricy but I'll be using them for years so in the end they are worth it.

Hat, Scarf and Gloves - H&M
The hat it pretty big so I folded it up a little, other than that it's warm and I think it looks pretty cute. The scarf is a tube scarf that you just pull over your head and your done. It's warm and fits easily under a jacket. The gloves are lined with a soft fleece material that feels very nice, they're probably not the warmest of gloves but they'll work for every day use. 

~Kira

Hourglass - Ambient lighting powders + blush

I've always been fascinated with the Hourglass powders but never thought it would work for my combo/ oily skin because these powders weren't matte. If you have seen my FOTDs you'll know that I use the Diffused powder (light yellow powder) under my eyes and everywhere I have some redness. I've always liked the powder but didn't think the other powders were for me, but since the palette was made permanent in the collection I thought it was a good place to start. 

When I saw the blush palette I knew it had to get it - it is simply too beautiful to pass on!

The powders and blushes are all very smooth and finely milled. The blushes has a nice pigment and can be worn as a sheer hint of color or be build up for more of a pop of color. I knew I'd love the blush palette, not only because the colors are stunning but because blush is the product I love the most and the thing I change the most in my routine.

I was very unsure about the powder palette. I didn't know if the powders would match my skin tone since the swatches I saw online were very dark. Of course these powders are supposed to be a last step in your routine and you're not supposed to pack it on, only sweep it lightly over the areas you want the "lighting effect" on. To my luck the powders work on my skin tone but I do have to be careful with the darkest color because it can look orange on me.

I did my makeup as usual - BB cream, concealer, mascara, brows and lips. I put some oil control powder on my T-zone since the powders doesn't provide any oil control. Then I swept Diffused under my eyes and on any redness on my skin followed by Dim all over the face. I bronzed my skin lightly with Radiant and highlighted with Incandescent. For blush I used a little of every color in the palette. 

When I was done I looked at my skin close up in the mirror and I felt disappointed. I didn't see a difference other than a slight "glow" to my skin. I thought the whole "lighting effect" was a scam and that I had just spent my money on an indifferent powder palette. Then I got up from my makeup table and wanted to check my outfit before heading out the door. I looked at my face again and yelled "WOW!". I couldn't believe the difference the powders had on my skin when I was in natural daylight, so I checked all the mirrors I could find and inn every one of them my skin looked so healthy and glowing like never before - and I was even going through a breakout at the time but it wasn't even that noticeable anymore. I even caught my reflection in a car window and thought "damn those powders are good!". They are like a filter you put on pictures - just in real life!

I'm super happy I tried the powders out! I can't explain how they work they just do, and I'm loving the result! 

~Kira

"Chubby Stick" - Comparison

It's no secret that a lot of companies make their version of the "Chubby Stick" but is the expensive ones from Clinique better than the ones from the drugstore? In this post I wont pay attention to the possible color dupes since a lot of companies carry very similar colors, but I will focus on color pay off and lasting power.

Revlon offers good color pay off as well as a stain which mean they will last hours, if not all day, on your lips. The darker colors provide a longer lasting stain than the lighter colors but for the price you pay I think they are very good and I get a lot of use out of them. 

Bourjois offers more of a shiny finish to their sticks, and as far as I know they don't have as many colors as either Revlon or Clinique. They do have a decent color pay off but since they are quite shiny I find that they wear off within a couple hours. As a drugstore product they are nice if you want a pop of color and some shine to your lips.

Clinique offers a ton of different colors and a shiny finish to the lips. The color pay off isn't that great, they are all pretty sheer and leaning towards being a tinted lip balm. These last maybe an hour at best on my lips.

Compared to the other sticks I think you pay more for the brand name than the actual product with the Clinique sticks and I'd much rather have more pigment and longer lasting power than a stick with a fancy name on it. The drugstore "Chubby Sticks" takes the trophy this time!

~Kira

Intensive acid exfoliation

I've been using this trio treatment every time my skin has been looking worse for wear, and every time I felt like I was breaking out too bad. I do this treatment about once a week maybe two if I've had a bad skin week, but mostly once a week is enough. 

Origins - Clear improvement charcoal mask: Any mud mask would do the trick really. I use a mud mask to get the impurities to the surface of the skin, so the exfoliation will catch all the nasty spot the mask brings to the surface.

Paula's Choice - 2% BHA liquid: This is my everyday night time toner. I use it after the mud mask because the BHA exfoliates the skin deeper into the pores which makes it great for getting rid of blackheads and spots in general.

Alpha h - Liquid gold: This is a treatment that can be used every other day at the max. It is an AHA exfoliant which means it exfoliates the surface of the skin but doesn't go deep into the pores like the BHA does. This acid will also help heal the spots quicker. 

You can choose to clean your skin and then use this trio combination and then leave your skincare for the night at that, but if your skin feels like it needs moisture then go ahead and put on a serum and/or moisturizer.

I hope this trio combination was helpful. I notice a difference in my skin the morning after I do this treatment, where I wake up with smoother, less bumpy and less red skin. 

~Kira

Rosehip oil - Comparison

I love using rosehip oil on my skin, and since using it I've noticed that my scars and redness fades quicker than before and making my skin look more even in tone.

Pai - This oil has a very strong earthy herbal-ish scent. I don't really like the scent but it doesn't linger on the skin for too long so I can live with it. This oil also has a very strong color, it doesn't make your skin orange but I would avoid getting it on your clothes or towels just in case it could stain them.

Trilogy - This oil is pale yellow and has no scent at all. I really like that it has no scent or color but I would still avoid getting it on clothes and towels.

Both of these oils sink into the skin really fast and they don't leave a greasy residue. They feel similar on the skin in terms of moisture and how fast the sink into the skin. I haven't noticed one being better at fading scars than the other, so besides scent and color they are pretty similar.
In terms of price Pai gives you a little more product for your money, however if you haven't tried rosehip oil before Trilogy makes a 10 ml bottle which I think is ideal if you just want to try it out without committing to a full size bottle. 

~Kira

Acne update

 

I have finished my 3 months of antibiotics about 10 days ago and here's an update on how my skin is doing.

During the months I took antobiotic I would still break out once in a while, but the spots would heal very quickly and the breakouts weren't as bad as they were before I started the treatment.
Before the antibiotics treatment I was also on birth control pills that would control my hormones in case my hormones were the reason I was breaking out. I'm still on the same birth control pills just because I could start breaking out from stopping or changing brand.

A few days after I stopped the antibiotics treatment I broke out like crazy. Normally my trouble areas were my chin and cheeks, but I broke out all over my face. I was doing my normal skincare routine and freaked out that the breakouts might be back again, so I did an intensive acid exfoliation ( I will make a post of the treatment I did and what products I used). The day after this exfoliation I noticed that my skin was looking a lot better than the night before and I've continued with my normal skincare routine since.

Today my skin is looking good, there's still scaring that needs to heal but I haven't had a breakout for a while, only the odd tiny spot here and there.

~Kira

OOTD - Lazy day

Today was just a Lazy day where I wasn't really doing anything other than going to the market. The weather was a bit cold so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get comfy in my sweater-dress. It's warm and snuggly and the best thing - it has pockets!

Sweater-dress: Asos

~Kira

Evening Skincare Routine

For the most part I slather on the moisture at night, because I find if I don't, then I'll have dry patches when I wake up in the morning. Like my morning routine I focus on serums because I find they work better and penetrate deeper into the skin.

Kiehl's - Midnight Recovery concentrate: Since I started using this I've fallen in love with it. I wouldn't want to be without it! It makes my skin smoother and makes it look more healthy. Love it!

Estée Lauder - Advanced Night Repair: After I started using this serum I noticed my skin didn't look as tired and dull. My fine lines didn't seem so noticeable and my skin seemed to look more radiant and brighter.

Caudalie - S.O.S Thirst quenching Serum: My hydrating serum. It does what it says on the box and layers well with my other serums. The texture is a lot more runny than my other serums, but it feels nice and light and it adds a lot of moisture.

Nuxe - Créme Fraiché Enriched moisturizer: A very thick creme that really packs a punch in the moisture department! It's good for sensitive and dry skin, and I can't be without it especially since we're going towards colder weather.

~Kira

Morning Skincare Routine

In the morning I like to use product that will help reduce the redness in my skin and hydrate it so my skin will be smoother and ready for makeup.

Before this routine I cleanse and tone. I don't really give much thought to my cleanser since it's not on my skin for that long and in the mornings I just need something that will take off any sweat or grime that has occurred during the night. As a toner I always use an acid toner! Using an acid toner has really done wonders for my skin and it helps my serums and moisturizers sink it faster.

Trilogy - Rosehip Oil: This is the first serum I use in the morning. Rosehip oil is great for fading scars faster and it has really helped all my acne scar fade super quickly to the point where a fresh acne scar can be pretty much gone within a few days.

Antipodes - Skin-Brightning & Tone-Correcting serum: This smells amazing! This serum is a bit thicker than my other serums but I feels wonderful on the skin and it smells fruity. This serums does what the rosehip oil doesn't. It makes the skin more even in color and helps reduce the redness I have around my nose, chin and cheeks. It doesn't completely remove it because that's just how my skin is but it does make it look more even and bright.

Kiehl's - Skin Rescuer: This is targeted for stressed skin, which in my case is spots. It feels light and hydrating without feeling greasy. I can't say how well it keeps spots at bay but I find that it's good at balancing my skin and calming it as much as a skincare product can.

Origins - Ginzing Moisturizer: This is the last step on the routine and honestly it could be any lightweight moisturizer. Basically I just use this product to "lock in" my serums and add in a bit of moisture.

If it's not obvious from this post I am obsessed with serums since I feel like there's a lot more science behind the products and they just work better and more targeted to your skin concerns.  Of course you don't have to use as many serums as i do, but I haven't had any problem layering these serums because they all sink in so fast.

~Kira

OOTD - Dad's Birthday

My dad's birthday wasn't anything big but I wanted to dress it up a little but still keep it comfortable and not too over the top.

Top: Warehouse (bought on Asos)

Skirt: H&M

I was actually approached by a guy when I was waiting to be picked up. When I told my mom she laughed and said he probably thought I was a prostitute, but I choose to be positive and take his approach as a compliment and as a sign, that I looked nice and attractive. Plus I showed my friend the above picture and he said I looked too cute to be mistaken for a prostitute.

Judge for yourself.

~Kira

OOTD - Comedy show

Today I'm going to a comedy show with my friends, and out to dinner before the show. Because I'm going to a buffet I decided to wear something that's really comfortable but also isn't too tight fitting.

Pants: Pieces

T-shirt: H&M

Jacket: Asos

Necklace: Accessorize

It's an easy outfit to put together but it still looks like you put some effort and thought in to it. The necklace adds color to an otherwise simple outfit. 

~Kira

Think positive

Lately I haven't felt like there was much positive in my days, but after realizing that I make my own happiness and shouldn't rely on others to make me happy, I found this journal helpful. By writing down 3 thinks you're thankful for every day you'll soon realize that even if all days aren't good, there's good to be found in all days.

All pens and the journal are from kikki-k.com where they have tons of cute stationary. After I signed up (for free) I received a $10 coupon code which pretty much equaled 50% off of this order. 

The journal contains cute designed pages which makes it enjoyable to both write a look back on previous days. In the back of the journal there are thank you cards you can rip out and give to someone you want to show your gratitude to.

I've only used this journal for a short while but I already appreciate every day and the small but beautiful and enjoyable things in them.

~Kira

FOTD - Nudes

Since my skin has been a lot better lately I finally have the confidence to let my skin be the focus and have a very neutral nude color on lips and cheeks.I really like this look because it's kinda like "me but better" effect.

Complexion:
Bobbi Brown - Skin foundation stick (warm ivory 1)
Maybelline - Age rewind (light)
Hourglass - Ambient lighting powder (diffused light)

Cheeks:
Korres - cream blush (Philia rose)

Lips:
No7 - BB lips (Ballerina)

Eyes:
Benefit - They're real (black)

Tools:
Real techniques - expert face brush
Louise Young - super foundation brush (LY34)
HM - eyelash curler

~Kira

FOTD - 5 products face

Even on a lazy day we all want to look decent and put together, so to make it easier for myself I picked out 5 products for a simple every day look.

Face:
Missha - perfect cover bb cream in No 21

Hourglass - ambient lighting powder in Diffused light

Maxfactor - cream blush in Soft pink

Eyes: 
Maybelline - the rocket mascara


Lips: Clinique - chubby stick in Voluptuous violet

I think this look is great for school and most products are drugstore or can easily be replaced by a drugstore product.

~Kira

OOTD - Boyfriends favorite

My boyfriend always told me he imagined me in white dresses all the time, so when I saw this I had to get it. When I showed it to him he got really excited and said "that's my dream girl in my dream dress!". Apparently this dress is taken right out of his imagination which I think just adds to how much I love it too.

Dress: Topshop

Necklace: H&M

I like how this dress is easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion, and since I'm getting more into statement necklaces a white dress just makes them stand out more which I love!

~Kira

Hydrating serums - comparison

Whether you have dry or oily skin chances are you have dehydrated skin without knowing it. For years I've had very oily skin and never in my wildest dreams thought of putting more hydrating products on my skin, since clearly I needed to take away all the excess oil from my face, right?

Wrong! my skin was screaming for moisture and I wasn't listening. Since using hydrating serums my skin is close to normal and is looking a lot more healthy. 

Hydraluron - a clear gel texture and at a decent price. Sadly compared to other serums I've tried this doesn't live up to it's claims. When I used this it felt like an unnecessary step in my routine, but I have heard others rave about it so if you are curious give it a go.

Caudalie SOS thirst quenching serum - very runny texture that sinks in quite fast. At first it doesn't seem to make a big difference, but in the long run I've noticed my skin is more balanced and looks more healthy. 

Origins Make a difference serum - this has a more rich texture and feels hydrating as soon as you put it on. The texture of this is definitely my favorite of them all, but it is a pricey product. 

Serums are by far the products I spend the most money on. Serums makes the biggest difference in my skin, where cleansers and moisturizers doesn't make a huge difference. 

~Kira

Lip Care

For the longest time I've had dehydrated skin and the part of my face that suffered the most was my lips. At one point my lips were so bad that I started to develop dry skin all around my mouth, that would crack and bleed when I opened my mouth.

Regular lip balm couldn't save me, so I looked for something stronger. The pharmacy had some options but they were all expensive and non effective.

That's when I stumbled upon Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm. This thick lip balm is perfect for applying at night and when your lips really need some pampering. I used this lip balm for about a week and my dry lips was a ghost of the past! I use the lip balm every night no matter the condition of my lips and it really makes a difference.

If my lips need a scrub I use the LUSH Bubblegum scrub. You could make your own lip scrub from sugar and honey if you want a cheap alternative.

When I do my makeup at home I like applying a moisturizing lip color. I love the Revlon Lip Butters since they come in a lot of colors. Some of my favorites this summer has been (top to bottom): Juicy Papaya, Sweet Tart and Invite Only.

Another fave this summer has been the No7 Shimmering Lip and Eye Screen SPF 30. Lips and eyelids are often forgotten when you put on sun screen, at least mine were so this was a god send this summer. It's not that good for the eyelids because it is so balmy but I can make it work with a primer under it.

On the go I always have an EOS lip balm in my bag. They are easy to find and smell and taste amazing. I have pretty much every flavor but my faves are Mint and Strawberry.

If you have trouble finding the No7 Lip and Eye screen then try the L'Oreal Color Rieche Balm. They are similar to the Revlon Lip Butters except they have SPF 15. Perfect for summer!

~Kira

LUSH: Rub Rub Rub - review

My sister got me this scrub, and I thought I was really going to like it, but I didn't. Normally I love most of LUSH products and scents but something about this scrub just doesn't agree with my skin. 

I don't have sensitive skin but this scrub burns my skin as soon as it touches it. 

It is a fine salt scrub with a floral scent. It's a very runny formula and more often than not most of what I scoop out ends up on the floor, making it slippery to the point where I'll slip and fall (yes that happened). 

The salt is fine and to me it doesn't feel like it's scrubbing properly and it's hard to scrub the same place more than 2 seconds because it just slides off. 

I don't know if it's the oils or the salt that's making my skin burn, all I know is that I'm not going to use up this product and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Let me know if you've had the same experience with this product of if you like it.

~Kira

OOTD - hot summer day

The weather has been crazy hot here lately, so hot that it is now officially a heatwave. And since I'm on strict orders from the doctor to stay out of the sun I have no choice but to sit in the shade and eat ice cream (I'm definitely not complaining about that!).

Normally I wear some kid of tights or shorts under my dresses but lately its been too hot, so minimal clothing is the way to go for me right now!

Dress - HM

Sunglasses - Asos

I love walking barefoot as much as possible so since I'm not going anywhere today barefoot it is! No makeup today either since I'd be sweating it off within 5 minutes (not even kidding).

~Kira

My Acne Story - with pictures

This is my story about how I treated my acne and how it all began. This post is long and full of pictures, but I feel like I need to fully explain my situation and why my skin was such a big issue for me. Here we go!

As a teenager I had spots like everyone else. I wasn't too worried about it since it really wasn't that bad. I had small bumps all over my face but they were pretty much all skin colored so I didn't consider them as spots, and at the time I felt like my very oily skin was a bigger problem for me. When a guy pointed out that my skin was bumpy I wanted to do something about it and asked my older sister for advice. She suggested I tried a 5% Benzoyl peroxide cream and so I did.

I used the Benzoyl peroxide cream when I was about 16 to 19 with good results. The bumps vanished and my skin was clear for the most part. I had the occasional spot but treated it with the cream and it was gone after a few days. Since I had very oily skin I didn't worry too much about the cream drying out my skin since nothing really seemed to combat the oil on my face.

When I was 19 to 22 I rarely had spots, but my oily skin persisted and I was desperate to find a product that would take the oil and shine away. I had a sample of the Murad Acne Cleanser (can't remember the full name of it) and I tried it. BIG mistake!

I woke up the next day with whiteheads covering both sides of my jaw, and very red, sore and irritated skin. I tried using the Benzoyl peroxide cream but it only made it dry and more irritated and sore. 

After that day I would break out with whiteheads on my jaw every month for a couple weeks. I thought it would go away by itself since I had clear skin before I used the cleanser, but after 2 years and still no improvement in my skin I contacted my doctor, who then prescribed me birth-control pills because the acne seemed to follow my hormonal cycle. The first 3 months of birth-control was hell. My skin got worse and I was very sad and hated the way I looked. I had whiteheads on my jaw all the time and new would form within few hours every day. 

So I went to the doctor again and without question I was prescribed birth-control made to control acne. I was hopeful that this would be the answer I had been looking for. 3 months went by and my skin got a bit better, but I still had spots all the time. They would be worse some day and better on others, but I would have active acne at all times.  

During the time I started the new birth-control my acne seemed to "travel" up my cheeks and was no longer only concentrated on my jaw. Now my jaw, cheeks and forehead was affected.

Being 25 and having skin like a teenager again really hit me hard, and one day when I visited my parents I broke down in tears and told them about my frustrations about my skin. They both wanted to help and my dad set up a meeting for me with a lady who swore by Aloe Vera products. 

After I talked to her I was even more depressed. I had imagined meeting a lady with flawless beautiful skin and instead I met a lady with red bumpy skin which put me off trying her expensive Aloe Vera products. 

However, I had been interested in the Aloe Vera plant since my research online had giving me a very clear impression that where there is Aloe Vera acne cannot exist. So I cut off a leaf of my Aloe plant I had in my kitchen, rubbed the clear gel on my face and after 3 days with this routine my skin was clear! 

I stopped putting Aloe on my face and within a few days my acne came back. I used Aloe again with the same result and decided that Aloe was my cure and started using it every morning and night. Sadly I was wrong, Aloe was not my cure. After a few weeks the Aloe seemed to stop working and my acne returned even when I was using Aloe Vera twice a day. 

I went to the doctor again and he prescribed me an acne cream called Epiduo, which is a cream with effective results. Or so he said. I used Epiduo for 5 days and found myself left with dry, burning skin and acne. My skin was so bad that it would crack open when I would eat or talk. I stopped the cream and got my skin back to my "normal" acne state. 

 Back to the doctors I went and this time I wasn't going to leave with an overpriced cream. He told me I would probably benefit from an antibiotics treatment, however normally he wouldn't prescribe it during summer since it can give permanent sun spots and damage. He looked at my pale skin and said "It doesn't look like you get a lot of sun, so if you promise not to tan and protect your skin with a high SPF I'll make an exception this time". I promised to follow his directions and was off to pick up my antibiotics pills. The doctor did warn me that I would see my skin worsen before it would get better, and as long as he guarantied it would get better I could survive a period of worse acne than I already had at the time. 

After just 3 days on antibiotics I woke up like this:

Again it was all whiteheads, but a lot of them. My skin dried out in the lower part of my face and it was once again sore and irritated. 

After 4 days:

The acne was now traveling up my cheeks and I started having whiteheads around my lips. As you can probably see my skin got even more red and irritated. 

In the pictures above you can tell my forehead really wasn't affected (left and middle picture) in the first few days on antibiotics, however on the 6th day when my jaw had stopped breaking out my forehead broke out like never before (picture to the right).

After 8 days:

No active spots and only a bit of redness from the breakout remain. I couldn't be happier with my skin! It looks and feels healthier and because of my current skincare routine my skin is now a lot less oily and my face just feels comfortable.

As I'm writing this post I am on my 12th day on antibiotics. I do have 2 small spots as we speak but compared to what I've been through in the past 3 years I couldn't be more happy about the current state of my skin. 

Finally I have the confidence to have a naked face! I will make an updating post when I finish my antibiotics treatment or if anything happens during treatment.

Love Kira ~

Caudalie - shower gels

From my french pharmacy haul I bought a sample size of the Caudalie Thé des Vignes and I loved it so much I just had to try the others!

The shower gels all smell nice, however Thé des Vignes is still my favorite by far. I've heard a lot of people talk about the Zeste des Vignes which is also my sisters favorite.

These shower gels lathers up very nicely and the scent lingers for about an hour or so after a shower. I really like these for shaving my legs, because they feel moisturizing and the razor glides over the skin easily plus the gel doesn't clog the blades up.

I got these at cocooncenter.co.uk and they ship worldwide.

I would give these a sniff before ordering online if possible, since I found the scent didn't match the name in my opinion.


~Kira

New Stuff - some travel finds

I recently found some awesome new stuff. A lot of which are good and handy for travel, other are just things I needed to replace or simply just wanted to try.

Whistles: A beautiful light blue leather clutch. I've seen a lot of people use this as their makeup bag, which it is the perfect size for. I'd most likely use this for my phone, headphones and passport and important documents since its pretty easy to find in a bigger bag because of the feel of the leather. I bought this clutch on asos.com.

Card holder: This is the best thing ever. I've wanted one for a while and I never really found one I liked for a fair price. I found this on asos.com and it comes in other colors as well. I think a card holder is ideal for traveling when you don't want to bring your normal (in my case massive) wallet and just want to bring the necessary cards and a little cash. This is also a must-have for nights out at a party!

Super Foundation brush: This Louise Young brush has been around for a while now. But recently it has been hyped on youtube and I had to try it. It feels extremely soft and it seems like it'll be fast and easy to apply foundation with it. I will make an update on this brush later. I found this brush on beautybay.com.

Sunglasses case: A handy little thing from H&M. The case I have is big and bulky so this is perfect to save room in your handbag!

Phone case: I love this phone case! My old case was literally falling apart so when I saw this I picked it up immediately. I love the colors and the peony print. I found this in H&M.  

Eyelash curler: This is supposedly rose gold, but to me it looks plain gold, but anyways. My old eyelash curler needed to retire badly so I got a new one from H&M. My old one was from H&M as well and I honestly think they're pretty good.

Jewellery travel bag: I've never traveled with more than one pair of earrings, because I never knew how to store them in my suitcase - so when I found this I was thrilled. Necklaces and bracelets might get a bit tangled in this since they are stored in a zip compartment, but the earring storage is brilliant. This nifty bag can be found in H&M. 

~Kira

Exfoliating toners

I always hated scrubbing my face, it always felt uncomfortable and I never really noticed a difference in my skin. Then I stumbled across Caroline Hirons blog where she raved about exfoliating toners or like she calls it "acid toners".

And boy did I see results! my skin feels smoother and I've noticed I get less blemishes and black heads when I use an acid toner twice a day.

Now using an acid on your face sounds very scary, but it only stings for a few seconds and then your skin just feels fresher. Stinging is good, burning is bad - if you try an acid toner and your skin feels burning and it doesn't go away after a short while then your skin is probably too sensitive or the brand you are using is too harsh.

REN: Clarifying toning lotion - this is the first acid toner I tried, and I think this is a good place to start the acid toner romance since this toner is very mild and doesn't sting or burn - it just works!

Mario Badescu: Glycolic acid toner - the ingredients in this toner are amazing! No nasties and only ingredients you can pronounce. This does sting a bit and it stings even more if you have a blemish. But oh my god it works! I have already repurchased this toner, I just love it!

Paula's Choice: 2% BHA liquid - this toner is great for acne prone skin. BHA exfoliates deeper into the pore and makes this toner awesome for removing black heads without scrubbing or squeezing. This toner doesn't sting unless you have a blemish. - But hey, if it stings it's working it's magic.

Normally I use the Mario toner in the morning and the BHA toner at night, but since I'm actually out of all acid toners right now I'm use the Mario toner morning and night till I can get another bottle of the BHA toner.

~Kira