Facial fake tan

As we all know, I am a great believer in my beloved Xen Tan Dark Lotion, in combination with the Sienna X aerosol mist for days when there is no one to tan my back. However, as I no longer get my face in the sun (SPF 50 and Sun Togs hat are always with me), I do have a bit of a brown-body-white-face situation and I looked to rectify this.

I am extremely careful what I put on my face. I only use active ingredients in their purest serum form and oil free, fragrance free products over the top. I therefore thought I probably shouldn't be using body tan on my face. I have used the Clarins Liquid Bronze tanner for years however as it gives quite a natural tan (compared to my body which goes very dark even with SPF 50 use), it has to be used repeatedly to give colour, and whilst this worked well, it also resulted in various blocked pores and comedones. I therefore avoided any gradual tanners as I do not want to have to apply a product daily to get a result when I already have a hefty skin care routine with very carefully chosen ingredients.

Therefore I looked for specific facial tanners with minimal ingredients and minimal oil.

I have tried A LOT for you. Prepare for some fairly hideous photos. Apologies in advance.

La Roche Posay Anthelios Self Tanner

I thought I would first of all see what one of my favourite skin care brands had to offer from their self tan. This comes in a large bottle as I believe it is meant for body, however good old La Roche Posay are famous for their no nonsense, non irritating forumlas so I was quite happy to use this on my face.

 As you can see, the result is VERY natural, and would only really pick up in darker lighting. I found the formula quite sticky and I definitely would not want to try applying make up over it. However, unlike a lot of self tanners, it does not have a guide tint so if you used a good primer you could apply make up over it without it affecting the shade until it developed.

Verdict:
Not for me. This would require multiple applications to get to the desired colour and I have way too many other skin care products I would rather use than fake tan.

Xen Tan Medium Dark Face Tanner Luxe

Whilst this is marketed as a gradual tanner, I purchased the medium/dark option so that it would give a strong enough result on one application.

The "light vanilla scent" is anything but light. My nurse could smell it from where she was sitting despite me wearing a mask. It is a lovely smell, but the level of fragrance that this product must contain to give said scent terrifies me. It does apply very nicely and leaves less of a sticky residue, however it does come with a guide colour which is slightly on the orange side. I would definitely recommend wearing make up over it as it is not a pleasant shade on its own.

See below

Clockwise from top left:
Before, during, after 1 application, after 2 applications

As you can see, the guide tan is quite dark and orange, it gave a good change in shade however it clung to my darker areas of pigmentation e.g. around my chin and mouth. You could definitely apply it avoiding these areas to give a nice result, or if you are blessed, apply all over.

Verdict:
Good colour however I woke up the following day with a huge spot and blocked pores so will categorically never use this again.

Hylamide Glow Booster

I did not even bother to take photos with this as it did absolutely nothing to my skin. It was a nice but slightly sticky serum but absolutely no tan occurred. If you were very pale this may work, and give a slight hint of colour. The best thing is that it does it without DHA which can be irritating on some skins.

Vita Liberata Invis Foaming Tan Water in Super Dark

This seemed to be the answer to my prayers.
1) Super dark so only one application needed
2) Virtually nasty and oil free
3) Light, foam texture
4) No transfer
5) No guide tan

HOWEVER this was without doubt the WORST tan I have ever used. It clung to every single patch on my face. I had zero dry patches but it clung to every area of pigmentation I posses, even the ones that do not even show up in sunlight. I have shown below the patchiness. I look furious/depressed because I was.

HIDEOUS.
I wouldn't even use this on my body.

I therefore thought I would try my Xen Tan Dark body lotion on my face and ta da, perfect results. I avoid any areas of pigmentation e.g. where my melasma is, and it blends evenly and perfectly after 1 application.

Conclusion

If you have perfect, evenly toned skin, I would go for one of the mousse tans or the xen tan face. If you are a human being and have any patches of pigmentation or dryness, I would stick with whatever your favourite body tanner is, and just use it as a one off.

Fragrance faves and education

Perfume is my thing. Wearing a crap outfit? Hair not done? Make up looks like you've done it in the dark? All of these things are over looked if you smell expensive.

To me, "you smell amazing!" is in my ultimate desired-compliment list (second only to my ever longed-for "your skin looks amazing").

Fragrance can change a mood, attract attention, make a statement and will always fit no matter whether you can do up the button on your jeans or not.

There are various different types of fragrance and as a general rule I like my fragrance to last. The more oil in a fragrance, the stronger it is. This is why perfume lasts better on those with oily skin than those with dry, and also why fragrance smells different on different people.

• Parfum: a 15% to 30% strength will last up to 6 hours
• Eau de Parfum EDP: 8% to 15% strength will last 3 to 5 hours
• Eau de Toilette EDT: 4% to 8% strength will last 2 to 4 hours
• Eau de Cologne EDC: 3% to 5% strength will last up to 2 hours

So let's go through my favourites:

1) Creed Virgin Island Water

I have to get the large bottle of this because I douse myself in it every day in summer.

Top notes: Sicilian White Bergamot, Jamaican Lime, Sicilian Mandarin
Heart notes: Herbaceous notes, Ylang Ylang, Indian Jasmine
Base notes: Tonkin Musk, Tropical Woods

It basically smells like summer. A little malibu, with some lime at the top. The Creed fragrances are notoriously long lasting because of the way the fragrance is concentrated into a form called Millesime - this is basically on the more concentrated end of the Eau De Parfum scale.


2) Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt

This smells more like the sea itself, like you are sat on the coast in Italy, rather than sipping cocktails in Barbados. I absolutely love it. Definitely my favourite day time summer scent.

I was a huge fan of the Blue Agava and Cocao but they discontinued it, much to my annoyance. 

Whilst these are both Eau De Colognes, because Jo Malone use more oil and less filler than high street brands, I find this lasts just as long as the cologne intense or eau de toilettes. 


3) Jo Malone Oud and Bergamot Cologne intense

This combines the warm middle eastern woody scent of Oud with much crisper notes of Bergamot. I also love the Oud and Amber. This is definitely an evening fragrance (although I wear it any time) as it is a deeper more sexy scent. You will smell this on your clothes even when they have been in the wardrobe for weeks. 

4) Marc Jacobs Decadence

I first tried this at the airport on the way to America. When I came to put on my travel outfit again at the end of the trip, I could still smell it. I was hooked. If you can get over how annoying the bottle is (the lid gets removed immediately). This is strong and sexy but not in a middle eastern scent way. It is fruity and woody at the same time, and you can definitely smell the amber in it. 

5) Prada Eau de Parfum Amber 

Begamot, Patchouli and Sandlewood combine to make this a warm but fresh scent. I love it and have gone through several bottles


6) Penhaligons Halfeti

This is the type of fragrance that will get attention. It is usually the scent that Penhaligons pump out of their boutiques to draw people in. Centred around Turkish Rose (nothing like the granny rose fragrances you've smelt before) with jasmine, sandlewood and oud to complete the Far East inspiration . This is definitely a unisex fragrance and smells equally great on men or women.

7) Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche

This is the least concentrated of all the fragrances but will still linger if applied correctly (see below)
This is your cocktail sipping, sun lotion wearing fragrance that everyone loves. Not to be mistaken for the Eau De Parfum version which smells AWFUL.

8) Liz Earle Botanical Essence No 9 (eau de parfum)

This is initially a fresh and fruity scent with top notes of blackcurrant and bergamot combined with zesty but warm ginger, patchouli, vetiver and vanilla leave a warm and woody finish which makes this fragrance perfectly rounded. 

9) Jo Malone Orange Bitters Cologne

This has the lovely citrus scents to lift the fragrance but the base is still warm and woody with sandalwood and amber

10) Jardin de Fragonard Rose Ambre Eau De Parfum

This has a similar scent to the hideously expensive Tom Ford Santal Blush. Difficult to find the the UK but readily available in Europe. 
Again, this features my favourite bergamot, but combine with rose, patchouli, almond oil and vanilla which gives it a lovely warm scent. 

11) L'Occitane Roses et Reines Eau de Toilette

This smells like pure crushed rose petals. If you want a fragrance that doesn't smell like perfume but instead smells like freshly washed hair and clothes that have been dried in a summer breeze - this is the one 


My favourite "budget" buys

New Look Dusk Eau De Parfum

Smells exactly like Miss Dior. Fraction of the price and the scent lingers amazingly well

New Look Petal Crush Eau de Parfum

Has the same headiness as Lancome La Vie Est Belle. More of an evening scent but again, stays very well.

Zara Vibrant Leather Eau de Parfum 

Another woody strong scent based on Patchouli, leather and vanilla.


Application tips.

DO NOT spray on wrists then rub together. You crush the fragrance and change the scent
DO NOT spray directly on skin of the neck or chest. The high percentage of alcohol and other products not only directly dehydrate and damage the skin, but can be amplified in the presence on sunlight. You can see in fact on some people, some dark pigmentation around the neck (excluding melasma of course). This is where fragrance has been sprayed and sensitised the skin to sunlight over many years. Instead spray on the back of the neck, in the hair and on clothes.
DO NOT keep your fragrances in the bathroom or anywhere with direct sunlight. This will degrade the fragrance much faster and if you are shelling out money for Creed or Jo Malone, you want it to last.
DO apply your body lotion first, preferably unscented, then spray over. This will extend the life of your fragrance significantly

My Summer Body Survival Kit

Following on from my SPF post, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss body skin health too!

These products are my fail, safe go-to, summer survival products .

Dirty Works Glow Girl Buttery Salt Scrub

Without getting anyone in trouble....this whole range seems to be a knock off of Soap and Glory. The scent is EXACTLY the same as some of the Soap and Glory range - especially the Hand Food hand cream. There are some pretty similar products too, at a fraction of the price!

This scrub is my absolute favourite. I have tried tens of body scrubs and they are either way too oily, not scrubby enough, or too expensive for something that rubs off dead skin and goes down the plug hole. This has little salt and pumice grains (no microbeads) in a carrier that is in no way oily. It is the perfect prep for fake tan unlike a lot of oily scrubs out there, as it does not leave a residue.
It also does not foam, which causes the opposite product of drying out the skin too much

This is a necessary before, during and after holiday to keep the tan looking fresh and avoiding the dreaded "skank tan". This atrocity can be seen on those who are so desperate to keep the tan they got on their yearly sun-baking-skin-leathering holiday, that they don't dare touch the tan in case it fades. This leads to the skin becoming dusty grey, wrinkled, dehydrated and at the slightest touch they turn to ash. Like someone has emptied a hoover onto their arms and rubbed it in. To me, this completely defeats the object of a holiday glow.

Body Fake Tans (facial tanners to follow soon in a new post!)

Xen Tan Dark Lotion

In my opinion, the best fake tan. Here's why

1. It is olive based (hence a slight greenish tint to the guide colour) so no orange legs
2. It wears AMAZINGLY well. It just fades gently rather than patching and leaving you looking like a tiger bread loaf from your local bakery
3. The solution is easy to apply. It gives a dark tan within 4 hours. Other products with the power to do this are usually in a mousse (very difficult to apply, hard to blend if you make a mistake, clings to dry patches) or a spray (very wasteful for large body parts)
4. The smell is bearable. Any fake tan that actually tans you, will end up smelling like fake tan as it develops. You cannot get around this. 
5. I have never experienced body acne when using this
6. It is under 15 quid for a bottle so very competitively priced

Sienna X express self tan mist

They have changed the bottle from the one in the photo, I stockpile this every Christmas and birthday so I never run out so I still have some with the old design.

I wouldn't use this all over the body as it does lean towards the orange side of tan but still looks natural. However it does not last very long in terms of wearing off. The guide colour is lovely and actually, if you have skin that can tolerate it, sprayed over the face gives a GORGEOUS glow, tint and almost a hint of coverage, as well as developing into a colour over the course of the day.

I use this solely for my back. It is a single girl habit I have not grown out of. It sprays at any angle and doesn't need rubbing in so it's great for all those hard to reach areas - back, down the sides, over the feet and hands to give a more natural distribution if you struggle in these areas.

Dry Body Brush

I personally use this one from Dunelm but any FIRM body brush will do. Avoid the ones with the plastic type bristles as I find these don't work as well. They can come on handles but you can simply detach this and slip your hand under the other loop.

I use this every day on my thighs/bums/hips

You always need to work towards the heart to improve circulation and lymphatic drainage.
I move the brush in circles up the thighs and round the hips and bum, always moving up.
After covering the whole area, I then do straight, upward strokes over the area.
It takes about 2 minutes.
I then put on some body cream, and I'm done.

It's also great for backs of arms or anywhere where you get puffy or have uneven skin texture.


PLEASE NOTE:
NOTHING cosmetic will remove cellulite. It is an unfortunate fact that most women have to deal with. Creams, treatments, massage etc will not make any long term difference.

Massage will temporarily push the fat layer back into the compartment where it should be so might work for a few hours but the cellulite will return again.

All you can hope to do is improve the skin texture, aid lymphatic drainage to remove the "heavy leg" feeling and make the skin more even and smooth and stop fluid pooling in the area worsening the appearance of the cellulite, exfoliate so the light reflects more evenly, and disguise it with some fake tan.

La Roche Posay Serozinc

Amazing for anyone who is prone to body acne (bacne). I take it on holiday with me to use as a cooling mist (because it is anti inflammatory and anti bacterial vs some of the moisturing or hydrating waters which just add oil or heavy layers).
I also use it after showering to cool the skin and reduce the risk of acne forming.
Great also after the gym if you just have a quick shower and need to make sure your back and chest are clean

Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion

I have now tried and tested this for a week and can confirm I LOVE IT.

It smells a bit odd...I think it is a combination of the sweet almond oil and almost a milky smell (unsurprising seeing as the major selling point is the lactic acid base). It is not bad by any means but it wouldn't be my chosen fragrance. HOWEVER it works amazingly.

The lactic acid is a non-harsh and hydrating alpha hydroxy acid (AHA - see my toner post if you want more info) and so if you have been lazy on your exfoliating/can't be bothered with body brushing/your skin is too sensitive for physical exfoliants.

This massively improved the look of my legs even with my obsessive scrubbing and has also improved the texture on my chest. This is also a great one to use on the neck if you are doing the quick shower and out the door routine and don't have a lot of time. It has some great skin care ingredients as well as being a great, hydrating body cream.

If you have bumpy back of arm syndrome (Keratosis Pilaris) this is also amazing and what the product was initially designed for.

Escentual have an offer on this until the end of April if you're quick! They also do different sizes so you can try a small tube and go from there.

Gillette Fusion Proglide Flexball Razor (half price at superdrug currently)

If you are somewhat retarded at shaving (like me) then you will be well versed with having various cuts and nicks on your legs every time you shave. I accepted this as a part of my hair free lifestyle, until I thought I would try a man's razor as a last resort.

This is without doubt the best razor I have ever used and will never use another. When I went away the other weekend I forgot this bad boy and had to use a disposable one. I thought "oh it'll be fine". It was not fine.

This is a pricey option but in the year that I have been using it, I have not cut myself shaving once. I can skim around knees, ankle bones and all sorts with no problem. It requires no shaving cream - just running water. A point on this - just use a shower oil (I love The Sanctuary 2 day Long Lasting Moisture Shower Oil which is an over-half-price dupe for the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil )  or hair conditioner if you struggle with shaving bumps or are very dry.

I tend to wax during winter but during summer I do not have the time or patience for regrowth between appointments

Bonus product
Australian body care tea tree oil body lotion

This is an absolute must for anyone who suffers from bacne .  It is also the ONLY product I have ever found to ease sunburn/heat rash/insect bites. I would not recommend tea tree oil near on spots but this lotion is amazing. All summer I use it on my back and chest.


Enjoy!

Look out for my body SPF and facial fake tanners posts coming soon!

SPF review - mineral(ish) wonders for sensitive and acne prone skin

Hi. My name is Michelle, and I am a tan-aholic.

I love being tanned. I think the issue stems from the fact that summer, when I have a glow and some colour, is the only time I ever receive a compliment (get out the tiny violins). My tan is something people envied and aimed to achieve (mostly resulting in my boyfriend looking like a lobster).

The issue with this is that the sun is BAD, but the more compliments I got, the darker I wanted to be.

Sadly, this has caught up with me now I am hitting 30.

Whilst I have always been able to use any body spf (I have tried many but always go back to the Boots Soltan range, as there are very few highstreet suncreams that have 5 star UVA protection as well as stable photofilters (believe it or not, some chemical filters can actually degrade on exposure to sunlight, so what started as an SPF 30 can rapidly become an SPF 0). Similarly, the range works well for my heat rash prone skin, and is generally hypoallergenic.

I also love the different formulations including the “once” range. I do however take this with a pinch of salt and always reapply every few hours because even if you do not towel down after swimming, you are probably moving around on your towel, or resting your book somewhere and rubbing off the protection.

My face however is a different matter. I HATE putting suncream on my face. I can put up with the texture because, as a product obsessive I am used to perpetually being slightly sticky. What I cannot deal with is the eruption of bumps and spots that occur just a day after using it.

Thus it has become my mission to find a facial sunscreen that does not do this.

As I mentioned in my “wait that line wasn’t there yesterday” post  my research showed that physical filters were the way to go.

1.           The formulations in which they are placed are generally designed for the face (because most people’s bodies can tolerate chemical filters/less elegant preparations) and therefore less likely to cause issues   
2.       They provide superior UVA and UVB resistance, they are photo stable and they cause absolutely no irritation to the skin because they are made of minerals.
3.       Most people are turning to physical filters because the standard SPF’s are causing skin issues – heat rash, sensitivity, acne, eczema etc

So my next quest was finding a good one.

I have tried, compared and taken photographs of 5 mineral based SPF’s and documented it for you. The photographs are EXTREMELY honest, taken in various lighting situations (including glaring sun, soz for squinting), with no photo editing so you can see exactly what they look like, because the issue with mineral filters is…they are very white when applied. This is fine if you are just in your back garden, or in fact very pale, but in order to be placed under make up, or not look like a ghost on the beach, this white cast needs to be minimal

ELTAMD: UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46 - For Skin Types Prone To Acne, Rosacea & Hyperpigmentation – Tinted

Initial application

Great. Really smooth. Surprisingly so. I imagine there is some silicone in here which makes it go on much nicer than any mineral sunscreen I have ever used.

No white cast at all. Tint is nice, the pigment concentration is low so is just enough to take away the white-ness of the mineral sunscreen but not enough to cover anything.

Sun exposure

No burning, no irritation

Water resistance not great – I went for a run in this and most had disappeared from my sweaty top lip before I got home. It does not claim to be water resistant so this is fine

Otherwise, gives a matte appearance to the skin

Reapplication

Reapplies very easily. No pilling, no build up. On my roaccutane ravaged skin however, it did get a bit dry by the end of the day so I would need a good moisturiser underneath.

Removal

Easy. No need to discuss further

Skin reaction

Absolutely none. No clogging, no spots.

Verdict

8/10 – tint could be a bit darker, would prefer it was pure mineral filter vs physical and chemical, but the chemical filter does not seem to cause me an issue at all

ELTAMD UV Pure Water-Resistant Face & Body Physical Sunscreen SPF 47

Initial application

Exceptionally smooth going on. Can barely feel it after a few minutes. Goes on very white but it disappears fast and just gives a slightly dulled down/mattified appearance to the skin

Sun exposure

No burning, no irritation

Water resistance very good. I have not swum in this but even if I did, I would reapply afterwards. No movement on sweating either.

Reapplication

Reapplies very easily. No pilling, no build up. No increase white cast

Removal

Easy. No need to discuss further

Skin reaction

Absolutely none. No clogging, no spots.

Verdict

9.5/10 – This is as close to perfect as I could find. It is just slightly drying but I am happy with this because the alternative is an overly moisturising oily formula which will lead to breakouts.

SkinCeuticals Protect Sheer Mineral UV Defense SPF 50

Initial application

White. White white white. This does dry down slightly after 10 minutes but will still look white. If you are pale then that’s fine but anything darker than Snow White will cause an issue.

Sun exposure

No burning, no irritation

Water resistance poor. Unfortunately as you sweat the white pigment rolls away with it. Also, if you swim, wipe your face then reapply, it will leave a white build up around the eyes where you haven’t quite removed it before reapplying.

Reapplication

Reapplies easily but you get more white cast as you go

Removal

Still easier to remove than chemical sunscreen but not as easy as the EltaMD. I had to use an oil cleanser just to be sure.

Skin reaction

Absolutely none. No clogging, no spots.

Verdict

6/10 – No breakouts and no burning but you do look like a ghost. Fine for in the garden, not so much for anything else. Make up does apply nicely over it as it leaves a smooth base but it may affect the colour of your foundation.

Immediately after application - inside

Immediately after application - sunlight view

Avene Tinted Mineral Fluid SPF50+

https://www.escentual.com/avene/avene0131/

This is about a high of an SPF that you can buy in the UK. Due to EU regulations our products cannot be labelled as more than an SPF of 50 even if they may provide more. This is because, theoretically, the difference in sun protection between a 50 and a 70 is so minimal that it may appear like false advertising.

Initial application

Great! Not as smooth as the eltaMD products so I had to use a little more than normal. Tint is great, it is undetectable in fact even on my skin with a slight tan, it just looks a bit more matte.

Sun exposure

No burning, no irritation

Water resistance seems OK but would definitely need reapplication on serious sweating

Reapplication

Reapplies easily

Removal

Seems easy enough to remove

Skin reaction

Absolutely none. No clogging, no spots.

Verdict

8/10 – No breakouts and no burning but not as nice to apply or reapply as the EltaMD. Tint is good and slightly more pigmented than the EltaMD

Bioderma Photoderm Mineral Spray SPF50+

Initial application

Very smooth but VERY white. Whiter than any of the other mineral SPF’s I have ever used. You could definitely use less but then are you getting the proper coverage?

Sun exposure

No irritation

Water resistance is great

Reapplication

You will look like actual Casper the ghost. Far worse than the SkinCeuticals. So comical in fact I didn’t bother taking a photo

Removal

Pain in the arse. Had to do a double oil cleanse and then my regular Cereve with my Foreo

Skin reaction

This feels so lovely and silky on the skin but would definitely cause spots and clogged pores on me as it is a much heavier, stickier formulation. This would be lovely for a drier skin as it goes on super smooth. No fragrance and no nasties, but not oil free

Verdict

3/10 – Will break me out, hard to get off and BEYOND white.  It is also worth noting, this made my fringe feel DISGUSTING, unlike all the other mineral sunscreens which actually act a bit like dry shampoo!

Supplements - what to buy and what to REALLY not buy

Following on from my previous post about diet changes (read here) there are certain supplements I now take that have definitely improved my health, improved my skin’s ability to cope with what I make it do (Roaccutane, retinols, peels, life).

I have never really believed in supplements, I was always of the philosophy that if you are deficient in something then your diet must be unhealthy.

I still believe this to a massive degree, e.g. vitamin C, iron, magnesium etc but there is no in harm in giving the body a hand in a helpful way especially if you are going through a time that puts physical stress or you have done something/going through something which alters the body in some way e.g. roaccutane, antibiotics, chemotherapy, colonic hydrotherapy, diet changes.

After my first colonic session, Jackie recommended various things to me to improve the health of the gut. It is important to say that colonic hydrotherapy does not “strip the gut of bacteria” or wash out everything. Quite the opposite, it simply removes all the crap (literally) and allows a clean and neutral environment in which you can introduce good helpful things without the unhelpful things getting in the way. Before I started looking into all things diet, I took a combined multivitamin and probiotic.

The problem with this as it turns out is that 1) the probiotic was not in the right form, the right bacterial count  or in the right carrier to actually do anything 2) multivitamins are pretty much pointless.

The issue with multivitamins is that your body processes it like a drug. Anything taken orally is already absorbed at a very low level because of the digestive process, add into this a foreign capsule shell and a load of chemically synthesised vitamins and the amount you absorb is negligible. Effectively you just pee it out.

So…I now take a probiotic with 7 or 8 different strains of gut bacteria with 30 billion bacterial count at expiry. The expiry bit is important as many probiotics will state they have significantly more than this but then do not state how stable the carrier is etc. Yes they are expensive but yes they make a massive difference AND MOST IMPORTANTLY  do not need to take them every day until the end of time unless you are on long term antibiotics. 30 days is enough to colonise the gut with enough bacteria for them to then continue to multiply by themselves (as long as you are eating well, minimal alcohol or medications etc).

The second thing she recommended was something to replace the multivitamin aspect. I now take either chlorella or spirulina ( you can get a huge pack for about £5 on ebay – I have linked some below). These provide all the vitamins and nutrients a normal healthy (ish) person will need on a daily basis. INCLUDING the buzz word of the moment “magnesium” – which everyone seems to herald as the miracle cure for everything. Both supplements are made from green leafy plants which have simply been dried and crushed. For this reason your body processes it from food, so not only does it contain everything you need, your body actually stands a chance of absorbing it. Interestingly they have more iron than beef, more potassium than bananas and more calcium than whole milk as well as protein, zinc AND Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, C, D, E, k AND all 8 essential amino acids that the body does not synthesize. Sold yet?

I also take hyaluronic acid capsules which helped immensely during my roaccutane treatment. I bought one bottle and could not see a massive difference, I then stopped taking them and within a week my flaky skin had upped its game and the dry-PVA-glue skin was back.

Vitamin D3 is a new one. I thought I would give it a go after Dr Sam Bunting recommended its use especially being on Roaccutane and avoiding the sun like the plague. Vitamin D is a tricky one as the levels set for appropriate levels are a cause for contention. In the UK where we see the sun for about 3 hours a year, pretty much EVERYONE will be vitamin D deficient compared to these levels yet only a small proportion will have symptoms of deficiency. This being said, I found myself in February feeling ill, sluggish, unmotivated. Whilst I have days like this sometimes, I am very much a bounce-off-the-walls-with-energy kinda girl, and this awful feeling had been going on for months.

A week into taking D3 and boom, I was back to having to jog on the spot in work to release the extra energy I had. A month later and I still feel that way (much to my nurse’s annoyance as she has to careful work around my jogging with the dirty instruments)

As I say, not everyone will need it, but I leave the house at 6:45 in my car, go to a leisure centre until its time to go to work, drive the 2 minutes from there to the hospital, work in a basement level in said hospital for 8 hours, then drive home. Whilst I am very active, little of this activity takes place outdoors, so my vitamin d levels were probably rock bottom despite my efforts to eat well.

Omega 3, 6 and 9. This was especially important during Roaccutane treatment as it hammers your liver risking change to fatty acids and triglycerides in the body. My good cholesterol levels were 3 times the level of a normal healthy person and were even slightly higher by the end of treatment. Now yes you can get these from eating fish, but my boyfriend hates fish so while I still eat it, it is not at a level that will provide enough.

I prefer getting mine from vegan sources (flaxseed etc – which I also add to my porridge), see below

Heliocare care ultra capsules are my latest addition. Sun safety is obviously hugely important but with Roaccutane treatment your skin is extremely sensitised so while I am now careful in the sun and wear my high SPF’s etc, anything that can boost the body’s ability to protect and repair from UV damage is obviously a good thing.

What NOT to take

Separate tablets for every nutrient. Unless you have severe dietary restrictions then you really do not need as many nutrients as Instagram tells you you’re missing.

Your body cannot absorb collagen through tablet form, the molecule is too large, so don’t bother taking those .

Vitamin c to prevent a cold – absolutely no evidence for this, there is some anecdotal evidence that increasing vitamin c intake during illness might help speed up recovery but you are FAR better doing this through food than you are through supplements

Please DO NOT BUY COD LIVER OIL. The liver is the filtration system of the body. The sea is full of the rubbish that we have put in there, including the much feared mercury, so the liver will also be full of this. Concentrate this down a few hundred times to give the potency of a cod liver oil capsule and you’re doing far more harm than good. Krill oil is far better, you want the oil that has come from the flesh not the liver.

Perfectil. Biotin is the only proven supplement that will increase hair and nail growth/strength. This issue with this is that it makes ALL hair grow quicker and stronger. Your upper lip wax will be getting moved to weekly rather than monthly. That’s all I’m saying. If you don’t suffer with this, just buy plain Biotin rather than spending your life’s savings on Perfectil or branded ones. Whilst this is the only supplement that alone will help hair and nail growth, having the right amount of amino acids and fatty acids will also do the same job. You're covered there by the chlorella/spirulina and the omega oils

Food substitutions – just a quickie.

As I found I was intolerant to most sweeteners, but did not want to use sugar, I found this was the best to use. It takes the same as sugar, is not gritty, does not have an after taste like pure stevia, and causes no bloating.

Natvia All Natural Sweetener

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/291614360

Protein – my first blood test for Roaccutane showed my albumin was towards the lower end of the range, and having not scored low on a test my whole life, I wanted to fix this. I REFUSE to take the disgusting stuff they have in the gym and fitness shops. It is absolutely loaded with garbage – sweeteners, enzymes to break down the protein, flavouring etc etc so eventually I found this. I use the soy one, but they also do a hemp and a brown rice protein too in case anyone has soy allergies . Please note, these do not taste good, hence why I use sweetener. The plain soy is completely inoffensive, it just does not taste of anything. The cocoa brown rice one STAY FAR AWAY.

Pulsin Soy Protein Powder

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/pulsin-soya-protein-1kg-60006973

I also now use almond milk in my cooking etc as I needed a dairy free alternative. Its also great to use in curries etc as well as in the obvious porridge. I have tried several that taste like actual soil but this one is great

Alpro Almond Roasted Unsweetened Fresh Milk Alternative

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/275067782

Supplement links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Udos-Choice-Super-8-Probiotics/dp/B0036E5KG6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hyaluronic-Acid-Capsules-250mg-High-Strength-and-100-Pure-Supplement/112813220964?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vitamin-D3-5000IU-x-150-Caps-MAX-Strength-Bones-SAD-Immune-System-Lindens/322481059234?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/255431548

http://www.zestbeauty.com/heliocare-ultra-capsules-30-capsules.html

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suma-Bagged-Down-Organic-Linseed-golden-organic-1kg/182948960066?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649