Q and A with The Doctor Brand!

Q and A with The Doctor Brand!

I know that I publish mainly at http://essjay23x.blogspot.com now but I have decided to publish this post here too as here on wordpress, there seemed to be a lot of intreast in The Doctor Brand. Read on to see what the brand had to say in reply to a few of my Doctor Brand questions.

Sometimes, there are brands and products which really intrigue me. You may remember that last year, I suddenly started to struggle with my skin. In particular, some horrible blemishes on my neck and chin area. It was such a horrible time. There I was in the middle of a mission to make more of myself when all these ugly spots turned up and despite everything, I threw at them, they were not going anywhere. It sounds dramatic but I think what I’m going to say will resonate with many of you who has had skin troubles. I was at my wits end! The shops, chemists and internet were full of products that promised to give me perfect skin (or almost as good as). Yet even after spending many pounds, my skin was still blemished and as far from perfect as it had ever been.

Personally, 2010 was a year where I met so many different skincare regimes and products but the one regime and brand that still sticks in my mind was The Doctor Brand (see here and here ).
For whatever reason, it was The Doctor Brand range that also seemed to strike a chord with you, my readers. I got such a response on my wordpress blog.

The Doctor Brand regime was developed by doctors. Despite lacking the spot fighting ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide, The Doctor Brand regime claims that 97% of people see an improvement in their skin within two weeks of using the regime.

Wow.

I had high hopes for these products and they did to a degree work for me. The blemishes I had no longer looked as aggravated, they also irritated me less which probably meant I was more inclined to leave the area alone and less likely to spread infection.

So far, so good.

However, my spots did not disappear within two weeks and in fact, little bumps started materialising mainly under the skin after the first few days of treatment which led me to question the regime although I probably continued with the whole regime for a month if not, two.

My skin has now substantially cleared and I think The Doctor Brand products started this healing process although I did give up on the full regime after going through a couple of starter kits.

However, I continued to cleanse, tone and moisturise each evening (with other brands) and I also layered on lots of The Doctor Brand Spot Eliminator to the problematic areas each night.

I honestly think this blemish clearing step was so significant in clearing my skin. It may be that other spot gels work as effectively. I don’t know but I do know that The Doctor Brand Spot Eliminator worked for me.

I have to say that the success of this gel has got me thinking about the entire Doctor Brand regime again and I think I would be inclined to give them another go at clearing my skin if I ever break out again (please, no).

Elle Swingler from The Doctor Brand kindly offered to answer some questions about the brand. Here is what she had to say.

– Firstly, please could you tell us a little about The Doctor Brand and its products?
The ‘science bit’ is that The DoctorBrand is a three step blemish relief system formulated with the help of a panel of Doctors; a Dermatologist, Nutritionist and an Endocrinologist (hormone Doctor). The products are formulated without Parabens, Sulphates or the drying chemical Benzoyl Peroxide (traditionally used in spot treatment products but now quite out dated).  The active ingredients are Salicylic and Glycolic Acid (an AHA and BHA, or in other words, natural fruit acids) which exfoliate blocked pores and Hydrogen Peroxide which acts as a topical antiseptic to zap any bacteria. 
There are also natural extracts, such as Pomegranate in the Purifying Cleanser which is an antioxidant, Liquorice Root in the Pore Clearing Gel, which is a calming anti-inflammatory, and Green Tea in the Spot Eliminator which is also antioxidant.  The Spot Eliminator also has sulphur to exfoliate deeper into the clogged pore and a little bit of cosmetic green to disguise redness.  The Oil-Free Soothing Lotion has calming Chamomile extract to sooth any redness or inflammation. 

 – The skincare shelves are full of products that promise to help to clear your skin. Why could The Doctor Brand products prove the most effective?
Because when used correctly they don’t cause the extreme dryness seen with Benzoyl Peroxide products yet they’re highly effective at clearing blemishes. The combination of ingredients mentioned in the previous answer mean that they’re very effective yet gentle and soothing at the same time.

 – The products in your blemish relief starter kit are free of Benzoyl Peroxide, sulfates, parabens and contain antioxidants. Please can you explain why these factors might be beneficial when we are trying to clear our skin?
The panel of doctors that helped to formulate the range decided that Benzoyl Peroxide is quite out-dated in spot treatment, having been first used in the 1930’s and having the strength to even bleach clothing. Some people find it extremely drying and it can even cause scabbing and inflammation. There are other active ingredients that can be just as effective but not as harsh on the skin. Parabens and Sulphates have been previously sited as a cancer risk, and whilst this isn’t 100% proven at this time, we didn’t want our customers to have to take that risk!
Antioxidants are good for your skin in general as they neutralise ‘free radicals’. Basically put, this means that aggressive molecules, which are missing an electron and seeking to grab that electron from something else in order to neutralise themselves, take the electron from the antioxidant ingredient rather than from your skin cells.

– Is it necessary to use all four steps in the system to see an improvement in your skin?
It really depends how bad your skin is in the first place – as with all skincare everything depends on the individual case. To get the full effects we would advise that you use all the steps but the most important product to treat the skin is the Pore Clearing Gel which has the highest levels of the active ingredients. However, it is still very important to use a cleanser to get rid of all of the dirt on the skin and a moisturiser to rehydrate the skin and all of our products are formulated to work well together. If you just had the occasional individual blemish you could use just the Spot Eliminator on those rather than the Pore Clearing Gel but again you definitely still need to cleanse and moisturise for healthy skin!

– Once the skin has cleared, is it necessary to keep using the system to maintain the improvement?
It’s dependent very much on the individual but once the skin has cleared we advise that you discontinue use of the Pore Clearing Gel as there’s no blocked pores or infection left to treat. You should continue to use the Clarifying Cleanser and Oil Free Soothing Lotion and use the Spot Eliminator on individual spots. If your blemishes reoccur at any point in future start using the Pore Clearing Gel as needed.

 – Obviously we all have different skin. For example, my skin tends to be quite dry and I’m in my late twenties but some people are older/younger with oily or sensitive skin. You do not have different products for different skin types, is the Doctor Brand suitable for all skin types?
Yes, The DoctorBrand is for all skin types that are affected with blemishes and acne, whatever the underlying skin type. The products should be tailored to the skin type in how you use them though, for example people with dry skin should use the Oil Free Soothing Lotion more liberally and more often than people with oily skin. Those with sensitive skin could use the Pore Clearing Gel more sparingly or less often to begin with to give their skin a chance to get used to the active ingredients. Recognising how your skin needs treating is important as your needs can change due to many factors such as climate and your hormones. How and when you use a product is as important as which product you use, so we advise people to be their own expert and use their initiative.

 – You claim that 97% of people see an improvement in their skin within two weeks. Can you account for why 3% of people may not have experienced the same success?
As you mentioned, everyone has different skin and as a result in a very small percentage of people it takes longer to work. One reason for this could be that it takes longer for some peoples skin cells to renew themselves and therefore show a difference on the surface of the skin. Also previously mentioned correct usage is essential too. We’re really pleased with the outcome of the study being 97%!

 – A couple of people have commented that their skin appeared to get worse when they started to use the Doctor Brand products. Two particular problems come to mind.
I, myself, experienced little bumps under my skin a few days after I started using the products. These bumps were actually new to me and were not part of my original skincare problem. Do you know what these could have been and is it ok to continue to use the system in such a case?
Whenever you begin using a new skincare line, your skin goes through what is called a purging process. This occurs because the product is actively cleansing and bringing all the trapped oil and impurities to the surface of your skin, which can cause you to break out more. Even though you may be purging, in order to see results you should continue using the products as directed twice a day.

 – Also, some people have said that they do find the products drying (especially to begin with). I notice that you claim your products do not contain Benzoyl Peroxide which can dry out the skin. Why would some people find the products drying and is there any reason to be concerned about this?
The products are designed to dry up blemishes as excess sebum (oil) in the skin provides a breeding ground for acne bacteria but they aren’t as drying or irritating as Benzoyl Peroxide products. Excess dryness may also be a result of overuse of the products. If you’re experiencing excessive dryness or oiliness you should reduce the usage of Gel to once every other day or even less if your skin becomes at all sore to give your skin a chance to get used to the active ingredients. Also, make sure that you are only using the Spot Treatment on affected areas and not rubbing it in all over your face as healthy skin doesn’t need treating. There’s no need to be concerned and if in any doubt give our customer services team a quick call and they’ll be able to advise you.

– I ,myself, think that The Doctor Brand products may have helped my skin eventually but I’m not sure that there was any noticeable improvement within two weeks. If we do not see an improvement in our skin condition within two weeks, should we continue to use the system? Could it still work in such a case?
As mentioned before, some people’s skin does take longer to see the benefits of the products but perseverance is important to see the full benefit in all cases. We would advise all users to maintain use for a minimum of thirty days (as provided in The Starter Kit) to see the best results. It can definitely still work even if you don’t see immediate results although we have seen that in most cases users do see a very quick improvement in the texture and appearance of their skin.

 – Is there anything that we can do when we are using The Doctor Brand products to increase the chances of success?
Yes definitely! It’s best to use lukewarm water when washing your face as hot water can further irritate and dry the skin. Don’t rub too hard when using the products as sore and delicate skin can be made worse that way. Keep drinking lots of water to keep skin hydrated from the inside and eat a healthy balanced diet to provide your cells with all of the right vitamins and nutrients they need to maintain healthy skin.

– Is there anything that you would like to add?
We just want everyone to know that we do really care about how people feel about their skin. Almost everyone in our team at DoctorBrand HQ has been affected with acne and blemishes at some point, including myself, and we really understand how miserable it can be and want to help people overcome their skin issues. The DoctorBrand products when used correctly can change people’s lives, which might sound bit dramatic, but we have the proof of how much confidence people have gained after using the products to clear their skin.
We’re always looking for more case studies with great before and after photos, to help us spread the word, so if you’d be interested in sharing your story get in touch with us!

 – Where is The Doctor Brand available?
It’s available in Boots stores, website, http://www.thedoctorbrand.co.uk/ and now Superdrug stores as well.

 – Who should we contact if we have any further queries or comments about the brand and its products?
You can call customer services with any questions about usage or problems and they’ll be able to answer your questions 0844 472 7059 (Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm).

Thank you, Elle!

So there we go, that is The Doctor Brand.
Have you tried their products? Is their regime something that would be of interest to you?

X

The verdict: The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. . . so far!

Okay, I may have been a little hasty. I had a post scheduled to go up today.

*Insert said post.*

The verdict: The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

In short, this did not seem to work for me.


There was no noticeable difference in the state of treated skin and I certainly did not notice any spots disappearing overnight.


Maybe (just maybe) it soothed my skin ever so slightly. However, the flaffing around in trying to get the solution out of the bottle -I tried cottonwool balls and cotton buds- sort of stressed me out and outweighed any soothing benefits. I was so worried about the whole ‘don’t shake’ thing that I’m sure by the end of treating my skin, I was so hot and bothered that my skin was as red and inflammed as it was to start with. Stress!


I know that you can repeat applications if your spot is a bit stubborn and does not disappear the first time. However, I found this pink lotion very noticeable on my skin and not something you can really wear as you go out and about. Therefore, I found myself using it more as a night treatment and could not really use it more then once (at a push) twice every twenty-four hours.


I tended to leave the lotion on my skin overnight and wash it off in the morning but for me, this lotion did not work and now I’m left with some pink residue at the bottom of the bottle which seems to have solidified and I can not get it out. It feels as if I have no choice but to throw half the product I brought in to the bin.


I doubt I was using this product properly but all I can talk about is my experience and it didn’t work for me. It is a shame because I was so excited (read that post here) when I found out about it and read some of the raves out there. I so wish this was a rave and I knew how to make the lotion work for me. This product is not that cheap and at fourteen pounds something titters on the edge of the ‘expensive mistake’ category. Argh!


On a positive note, I don’t think this lotion overly dried my skin out. Overdrying and irritating skin was one of the concerns I had gleaned from my internet research. However, thankfully, the condition of my skin was unaffected in this way. If only it could have banished the demon spots, boo!


If I was to buy this product again, there is no doubt I would want to talk to a skincare expert or an advisor before forking out for it.

So that was my thoughts a couple of days ago but it now looks like I may have been a little hasty and that to some degree my judgment was harsh.

After writing the review, I tried again to get the remnants out of the bottle with a cotton bud. It was pretty solid but with perseverence, I got some which I dabbed on to the spots and applied overnight before rinsing off the next morning as directed on the bottle.
The following morning, the selected spots were still there (NOTE: The selected spots had not vanished overnight) but I could not feel them. There was none of the normal itchiness or irritation. This made me think that just maybe the solution was doing something. I repeated the routine again yesterday afternoon and overnight, last night. This morning, my skin really does feel soothed AND it looks better. The selected spots are still there but they are flatter and no longer as red. They almost look more like marks.

So maybe there is hope, after all.

The label on the bottle states
‘For immediate relief from unsightly whiteheads and pimples, dab one drop of the solution on each erupted area overnight. DO NOT SHAKE SOLUTION. To use: Dip a cotton swab into pink sediment. Dab on pimple and let dry. Wash off solution in the morning’

Reading that and it seems, that over the last forty eight hours, the lotion has lived up to any promises it makes.

I do wonder if it failed me before because the lotion had been disturbed in the post. Maybe now, it has settled and the magic can begin.

Hmm, time will tell. I will carry on using the remnants of the product at night and see what happens.

At the moment, I’m reluctant to call this a miracle product. I have used it several times before and have never lost a spot overnight. However, there is no doubt that over the last 48 hours, my treated skin is behaving differently and I have benefitted from immediate relief as the bottle promises.

Fingers crossed!

Have any of you experienced this product? Any thoughts or advice?

X

Skincare: The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Yes, another skincare product for my collection. I drafted this post last week, I have since started using the product and will update soon to let you know how I have been getting on.

I know some people were very interested in the Doctor Brand posts (especially on wordpress).
Here is another skincare product that I am impatient to try now that it is finally in my possession.

Have you ever met the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion before?

Apparently this Lotion is infamous in healing spots in a spot zapper kind of way.  The idea is that you apply the lotion to the existing spot (particularly whiteheads) before bed and then wash the product off the next morning to find that the spot has gone (yes, just like that) or at the very least shrunk. If it has only shrunk, you simply repeat the regime a couple more times and it is alleged that the spot will soon vanish.

Ooh, well time will tell but I can tell you now why I have high hopes for this product.

* It contains calamine lotion, widely used to treat other skin conditions.

* It claims to work quickly which is good because if there are any spots on your face then there is an increased risk of spots spreading through cross infection.

* It is supposed to be soothing so even if it does not zap the spot then maybe the spot will be less irritated, red and noticeable.

* It is simple and quick to use.

* It is meant to be suitable for any skin type

* Even though it is a ‘drying’ lotion, I think it may well be more moisturising then those horrible gels and sticky cream spot zappers that I have encountered before and this isn’t very scientific of me but the creamy pink potion just looks more skin friendly and gentle.

* Mario Badescu seems to have a huge following as a brand. Sophie has just posted a big thumbs up for one Mario Badescu scrub. Again not very scientific of me but tens of celebrities supposedly use their skincare products including Jennifer Aniston, Kate Moss and Eva Longoria. Oh yeah and let’s not forget, Will Ferrell!

* The Drying Lotion seems to be particularly infamous. HQ Hair has selected it as one of their featured products in some kind of X factor spin off on their site this christmas.

* Although the drying lotion can be used alongside other products from the Mario Badescu brand, I do not feel the pressure, that some other skincare brands make me feel, to buy a whole system with three or four products straight off.

* The Drying Lotion can be used on any whitehead or pimple spot (as long as it is visible and on the skin surface). So it could be used for the face, chest and back. It may well be a good product to have on stand by. I think I read somewhere that somebody said it is a good product for ‘first date’ prep.

*Mario Badescu claim that they do not and never have tested on animals.

Wow, there are quite a few positives there.  So let’s be fair and go for a bit of balance. To the negatives!

* The Drying Lotion is only meant to extingish spots that are actually already there. I haven’t seen any claims about it zapping lumps under the skin or that it should be used those times when you feel that there might be a spot coming.

* It is best to avoid shaking this product as much as possible, the pink lotion works (drys best, I guess) when it is seperated from the water. It actually seems so difficult to remember this when most other products have a ‘shake well’ direction.

* The Beauty Brains have studied this Drying Lotion and indeed, agree that the product really will dry out spots but it could also dry out your skin which could cause further irritation and spots. I read this after I had purchased the lotion and was a bit ‘oh dear’ but then I saw two or three comments to the Beauty Brains saying in effect that despite what the science says, this product really was/is a miracle worker in their personal experiences. One thing is clear, the people who love this product really do love it. There is such a lot of enthuasism out there!

* I had to fork out £14.50 for my little 1oz bottle from HQ Hair. That is right on the limit of what I would pay for such a product (I think but then again, never say never . . !). For that amount of money, I really do hope the bottle lasts and that there is some visible results when I use the product.

So wish me luck, I will try this and let you know how I get on.

X

The Final Curtain!!!

Oh, sometimes a final curtain is something to celebrate.

Often when it is stage exit for those bad boys also known as horrible, evil sodding blemishes, the original drama queens!

Yes, people, my skin is clearing at last.

Three cheers, please!!!

I will never know exactly why the blighters are moving on now (but er, yay! Go, go, go!!!). However, I suspect it is a combination of letting time take its course and some of the numerous products I have been using.

It would be impossible for me to pinpoint cause and effect exactly but if I may just summarise some of my thoughts for you.

So, The Doctor Brand. These products felt good to use. I loved the feel of the cleanser and even though the Pore Clearing Gel made my skin sting slightly. It felt as if it was doing something. However a few days after religious use, spots were still appearing although they did not seem as aggravated as earlier ones.

This regime did not clear my skin in two weeks (and the marketing does suggest clearer skin in two weeks) and I soon became disheartened with it and took a break of about a week from almost ALL facial products using water alone to cleanse and bio oil to moisturise.

But then after recieving a positive comment on my wordpress blog about The Doctor Brand, I decided to finish the products off and this was when I first really noticed an improvement in my skin.

About time!

Now, it may not have been the work of The Doctor Brand but at the very least, the regime did not break me out further although I have recieved some negative feedback about these products.

Personally, I believe that The Doctor Brand may help to clear the skin to some degree but would suggest that you give it time and not expect miracles.

I read somewhere that no skincare product will clear your skin if you or your body are not healthy in the first place. This makes sense. After all, your skin is the biggest organ that your body has and therefore is likely to reflect what is going on inside. I do wonder if my low water intake -I’ve bored you all before with how I never get thirsty- contributed to why I found it so difficult to clear my skin. It may be that I’m not the ‘perfect’ or ‘accurate’ lab test for skin regimes and those of you who drink more may find products that I have dissed slightly more effective or speedy. This would explain the blemish problems I have had and why when one area of my skin clears such as my back, another breaks out. This has never worried me too much before because firstly, the blemishes are never major but usually there are some quietly somewhere and secondly, because in a decade, my face (what everybody sees) has never ever broken out to any noticeable degree. Until this year!!! Now I suddenly really do realise why the water uptake needs to be upped.

Bio Oil (by the way, big wow to the bio oil and er, why wasn’t this on my shelf earlier?) and The Doctor Brand are the latest in a long line of products and regimes that I have employed since the new year to enhance what was actually relatively good facial skin. Since my skincare resolution at the beginning of the year, I have encountered more skincare problems on my face then I have since my early teens fifteen years ago. Hard lesson learnt, if it ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it!!! When I think of all the money I have spent on cleansers, exfoliators and er, spinach which have barely brought my skin back to where it was a year ago before I first started messing with it . . , argh!

Now I have admitted before that my former skincare regime (pre blog and 2010) consisted of little more then the occasional exfoliation and a whole lot of moisture and this is what I am hoping to move back towards. I have no doubt that my skin reacts well to as much moisture as possible. However when it comes to the cleansing, it seems to make little difference to my skin. I do wonder if over the last few months, my relentless scrubbing scrubbed away not only all the horrible dirt and grime but also the poor innocent protective layer which had so angelically defended my skin until silly operation scrub. Now I will clean my face two or three times a day with pretty much standard products (I’m currently using a Neutrogena scrub) unless this too starts working against me. I will follow with moisturiser maybe a cheapie, maybe a splurge but basically just whatever I want. I think I have been over thinking the whole skin thing.

Finally, the spinach and the supplements.  In certain lights, there has been almost a certain glow and softness in my skin over the last month or so. This may be the all the spinach and antioxidants from the green monsters. If so, nice payoff.

However, I would not go as far as to say that such nutrition alone was ever going to clear my skin even though I am now taking a daily skin tablet from Laboratoire Physcience (yes, the hair one as suggested by Lollipop26 impressed me that much) which I hope will help to protect and preserve my new clearer skin. I would suggest that nutrition is more preventative then reactive. Going back to the water though, I’m not sure anything will be reactive without it but like spinach, once the blighters are blemishing your skin, I am not sure if the water alone will be enough to take the baddies down.

Anyhow, that is enough of my ramble, my very senseless one. I am not a skincare expert and there is probably no science to back up much of what I have said here. However, these thoughts are just some that I have had over the last few months when I have been ever so slightly skin obsessed!

X

Like!

Hands up, all those who have slathered their skin in olive oil in the hope that it might transform in to something more silky and smooth.

Oh yes, me!

In fact, I guess I should put up not only one hand but two.

For I have not only slathered my skin in olive oil several times, I have also been known to pour vast qauntities in to the bath where it sort of lingers in a lump before sticking stubbornly to all surfaces once the water has ran away.

Be warned, the olive oil may be economical but the cost of cleaning in time and money will accelerate.

Now, although I’m not going to suggest pouring olive oil in to the bath, slathering myself in olive oil after a bath or shower does seem to go a little way in to moisturising my skin and making it a little softer. The oil can also give you a little bit of that much sought after ‘healthy glow’. However, you do have to be careful as it is easy to go beyond the glow and in to grease territory. Unfortunately this is not the only negative with the kitchen remedy.

Used daily, Olive Oil can become a bit of a chore. I went through a phase this year of using olive oil daily to moisturise my body, more often then not I would also use it to soften bath water and even as a hair treatment. Usually, the olive oil delivered great results.

Still once the bottle was finished, I felt I had earnt the right to fork out on other body products to do the same work. Olive oil is great as a one off but to be honest, frequent use got a little bit tiresome.

Olive oil is very sticky. It is hard to dress afterwards without everything clinging. Seriously pulling on skinny jeans equals mission impossible. Then even if you decide to stay in and give the olive oil time to soak in overnight, it has the strangest smell and to be honest, it was one that after half an hour or so really put me on edge. So although it works, it is not the most sociable of body treatments and probably should be kept aside as an emergency remedy or something.

So I’ve used various gels, bubble baths and melts and body butters since but one of my more recent acquisations has really impressed me and that is the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Moisturising Body Oil.

Image from here

This can be used in your bath water to moisturise your skin and also on damp skin after showering or bathing prior to patting yourself dry.

This oil is easy to use. It washes out of your bath tub easily and seems to be absorbed in to your skin relatively easily and with very little stickiness. Oh and the scent is slightly remniscent of the Body Butter one but a little lighter and a little prettier. As you are using it on damp skin, it will not only moisturise your skin but it will trap some of the water in your skin from your bath or shower mutiplying the moisturising function.

I have used Palmer Products before and have never been disappointed. I am a fan of their body butters although I hate the old style bottle and lid packaging. That is useless for thick body butter, I get so little out. Even after throwing the bottle across the room, I just get a dollop. Great!

Alas, similar packaging does work for the oil and I like the fact you can use the cap to measure it out. You can’t do this with the metal olive oil caps, I have caught my skin on those a few times. Ouch!

I have used the oil all over my body except my face and neck and gained near enough instant results especially on my legs and elbows. The skin feels so much softer then I am used to especially around the notorious dry knee and elbow areas.

I was a bit wary of using the oil around my decolletage as in the past, some lotions and oils seem to have broken me out there but that is not the case with this beautiful oil. My skin just looks happy and well looked after.

Yay and that is all for the small price of £4.79!

Now if only I could find such a product to work such wonders on my face and neck.

X

The Doctor Brand.

This is it!

The Blemish Relief Kit from The Doctor Brand is going to be the last product I purchase solely to try and heal my skin.

Hopefully I won’t need to buy any more products anyway because The Doctor Brand works some magic but if not, then it will be time for my wake up call. I will have to relax and accept that I have tried so many products and now, it is nature’s turn.

Oh but . . !

However, deep breath because The Doctor Brand sounds promising (but then what skincare doesn’t?!).

It works a bit like the Clinique, three products and three steps. There is the Purifying Cleanser, the Pore Clearing Gel and the Oil free soothing lotion. These products have been designed by doctors, each a specialist in different areas. One doctor was a dermatologist(skincare), one a endocrinologist (hormonal changes) and one a nutritionist (who knows a lot about antioxidants, nutrients and anti-inflammatory ingredients). I think this kit has been billed along the lines as treatment from the doctor without a prescription. I have to admit this attracted me to the products as did the fact that these products are sulfate-free, paraben-free and antioxidant.

Interestingly for a blemish relief kit, none of these products contain Benzoyl Peroxide. Now Benzoyl Peroxide is meant to be a super spot fighter but it can also dry the skin so I’m quite excited about going in to battle without it!

I purchased this kit in Boots for £19.96. There was 1/3 off. It is normally £29.95. I guess this is an expensive product and I was tempted to get the Clean and Clear Advantage Spot Control kit (which has earnt very positive reviews on the Boots website) instead for £12.99 but I am kind of fed up of chemicals and “spot fighting technology” and in fact, I was actually put off by the claim that 100% of people had clearer skin within 24 hours. I wish! It just sounded too good to be true.

Clean and Clear also billed itself as a treatment for teenage skin and as much as I would love to believe my skin problems (if I have to have such problems) are due to the fact that my skin is young for its age, I’m in my late twenties and maybe it is more appropiate that I should be investing in my aging (let’s have an immature eurgh!) skin.

So let’s see what happens, fingers crossed!

You can find out more about The Doctor Brand at http://doctorbrand.com/

Have any of you heard of or used The Doctor Brand?

X

Ocean Salt from Lush!

So the quest for skin wonders continues. This week I have started to use two MORE products. Ocean Salt from Lush and the Neutrogena Wave.

Today I will talk about the Ocean Salt.

I have wanted Ocean Salt for a long time. It is a Lush product that I’ve heard mentioned so many times. Most people seem to love it. I get the impression that this little concoction is meant to be the exfoliator of exfoliators. Lush haven’t used this title though. Instead they label the product as ‘a facial scrub for a complexion that glows.’

Now, is it just me or does this look delicious?

It is made up with lime, grapefruit, coconut and sea salt and these are mixed together in a fruity, vodka based scrub. The sea salt is meant to scrub away the dead skin and all the horrors blocking the pores. The coconut hydrates and meanwhile the lime and alcohol have antibacterial effects. So it all sounds quite promising but then is there any skincare product that doesn’t sound promising?!

Despite being labelled as a facial scrub, I brought the Ocean Salt to use mainly as a body scrub. I have a few dry patches where I caught the sun a month or so ago and nothing seems to have brought these areas up to par yet. I’m hoping that the Ocean Salt will do the trick!

My first attempt was a tentative one as I know the few who do not like this exfoliator generally find it too harsh for their skin. I was expecting some stinging. In fact, I was a little bit scared as one of the Sanctuary scrubs really seems to sting me but no, I haven’t experienced any stinging at all with the Ocean Salt, even after shaving. The product actually looks and feels a lot creamier then I was expecting and even foams a little. Consequently I’m finding that I’m not using much product at all. I have used this on my body about three times now and have experienced no stinging or soreness. The dry areas that I wanted to work on feel smoother. My skin is certainly less bumpy near the top of my arms and may in fact also, be a tad softer.

With caution, I have used this product on my face maybe three times. Again I have had no stinging and it certainly does not seem to have irritated any blemishes or caused further breakout. Fingers crossed, my damaged skin seems to be healing. However, I don’t think that is due to this product. I have only used it a couple of times. Though I might be wrong as I am using so many things in my skincare at the moment that it is impossible to identify cause and effect. Currently I’m using everything a bit haphazardly as and when. However, I’m hoping that this product will prove itself a staple in my face routine and I can use it every other day once my skin returns to a more ‘normal’ state.

The only area where I may have had a slight reaction to this product is on the thinner skin around my decolletage where I noticed some scratch and prick-like marks after a relaxing bath. Now I’m not sure if this was the Ocean Salt but to be just sure, I have refrained from using it again in this area which luckily is quite smooth and clear anyway. The scratches and prick marks cleared within 36 hours.

I have encountered no further problems with Ocean Salt and am actually looking forward to using it. For me, it feels like more of a treatment for my skin then so many of the other exfoliators I’ve used out there including my own Coconut Oil concoctions.

I have only just started using this product but let me tell you now, I love the scent of this. For me, the scent is more remniscent of a moisturiser and body butter. It is lovely and lingers all day. I’m not sure how to describe it. You can certainly smell the lime and maybe even the ocean air . . ! When you add this gorgeous, yummy scent to the creamy soft texture then I’m so glad that this product got to the top of my wishlist and on to my skin.

250g of Ocean Salt currently costs £11.20 so fingers crossed that this does indeed go a long way!

Have you tried Ocean Salt? What do you think?

 

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