Clinique 3-Step-System | REVIEW

As someone who suffers from really bad acne, finding something that cleanses my skin well but doesn't irritate my skin is really tough. My acne is so horrible that I've actually been placed on accutane in the past.

Accutane for anyone who doesn't know is the absolute last resort when it comes to acne. It's a prescription medication that is so strong that it can't be prescribed by your GP in your local doctor surgery, it's something you need to go to the hospital every month to be prescribed but only if you pass the blood and pregnancy test the make you do. Every single month. The medication was amazing, it gave me clear smooth skin for the first time since I hit puberty but it came at a cost. I was constantly in pain, aching bones and muscles, I bruised easily, if I cut myself I would be bleeding for an hour. It also caused me to fall into a depression, which is a serious side effect of the medication and therefore it was recommended I be taken off the medication.

Since being off the medication, my acne has flared up horribly. My skin is just not something I want to show around people, its a source of great embarrassment to me, so bad that I can't leave my house without a full coverage foundation and concealer on, even if its just to the shops.

I started the Clinique 3-Step-System on Christmas day as it was a Christmas present and let me tell you, it's a life saver. Gods gift to acne prone skin. At least my acne prone skin. Within a day, redness had calmed significantly, spots that were swollen were now half their size. For the first time in a long time, I was comfortable enough to go outside with no makeup on and it felt amazing.

What I like about the 3-Step kit is that there's no fussing about what you need to use and in what order, it gives you all the information you need to know. That's the scariest part about changing up my skincare routine for me personally, not knowing what any of the products outside of the typical cleanser, toner and moisturizer are for. There's so many different oils and creams and gels out there now.

STEP 1 ~ The liquid facial soap is so mild on my skin, it hasn't caused me redness or rashes as soaps usually do. It lathers up very nicely, you only need to use a tiny drop. There's no scent to these products, which I like as it can cause my sensitive skin to flare up. What I like about this cleanser is that it doesn't cause my skin to feel tight after use like the Neutrogena Grapefruit face wash had been doing. It wasn't a comfortable experience, beginning and ending my day feeling like I needed to do facial yoga to stretch my skin out. Not how I wanted to live my life. This cleanser is honestly amazing, I love it so much.

STEP 2 ~ The Clarifying Lotion. Does what it says on the tin. This bottle of pink liquid goes the extra mile and makes sure that every little spec of dirt, makeup whatever you have on your face is totally gone and makes your face feel 10 times cleaner. This is now an essential part of my day, I have used the clarifying lotion so much in the last month and a bit I needed to buy a full new bottle because I am almost out. 100% the best thing to happen to my skin.

STEP 3 ~ The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. This was something I was really scared about trying if I'm being honest. I had been using the Nivea daily moisturizer and it hadn't done me wrong at all, I had no dry patches or anything but I decided to give this new moisturizer a try anyway and I am so glad I did. I liked the Nivea one but I LOVE this moisturizer. My skin may not have been dry before but it was not this smooth and didn't feel like I had moisturized if you get what I mean? Since using this moisturizer, my skin has been feeling amazing. It's also really good for applying your foundation over, it kind of creates a layer of protection on top of your skin so your makeup applies evenly and flawlessly. I'd even go as far as saying that it minimizes the look of pores on your face which is always an added bonus!

I have only been using this system for a short while and already I can tell I won't be switching my skincare routine up for a while, as there's no point in fixing something that's nowhere near broken!

I would definitely recommend using this system, they are on the pricey side with the individual products ranging from £16 to £30 but you can get the intro kit from Boots for £20 right HERE.

Hope you guys enjoyed this blog post, as always send me suggestions for future posts to my Twitter, or even if you just want a chat at racheIem.

Much Love,
                    Rachel xo

What do you guys want?

As you guys know, this blog is very very new (37 minutes old) and this is already my third blog post. Overenthusiastic much? Incredibly. This will be my last post for the night, and I just wanted to have a discussion with whoevers reading.

I'm not entirely sure which direction I'll take this blog in for the first little while untile I find my groove and find my niche in this little community, so I just wanted to know what you guys are interested in reading.

Do you guys want to read about beauty? fashion? food? travel? I can do all of that. I would happily write about all of that. I want this to be incredibly interactive, I want to have a real relationship with you guys and make sure you enjoy if not all, the majority of my posts. How you guys feel about my content is very important to me.

I feel slightly out of my depth by creating this blog as I am (typically) a very private person, I wouldn't say 'conservative' but I could definitely be pushed to express myself more and I hope that along with you guys we can accomplish that.

If you guys have any ideas or suggestions of what you want to see, products you'd like me to review, please tweet me at @rachelem or comment on this post and I'll try to make it happen.

Even if you don't have a suggestion, definitely drop me a line and we can have a little chat!

Much love,
                   Rachel xo

Hopes for 2016

It is 23:22 on the first of February 2016 which means, for me, its time to work out my hopes and goals for this year. As a general rule, I avoid doing that in January as it just seems like a waste of time as I never stick to the ones I make in January.

1 ~ The Classic, the Oldie but Goldie, eating healthier. Lose a bit weight. Always good to do - unless        you're at a healthy and comfortable weight for yourself, obv.

2 ~ Be more experimental. Be it with makeup, food, style.. Just experiment more. I tend to go for the       safe options, foundation and concealer only, jeans and tshirts that kind of thing.

3 ~ WRITE THINGS DOWN MORE. Every year I try to keep a diary/journal whatever you want to          call it and I keep it up for a month or two before I just give up. So that's what this is!

4 ~ Don't take family for granted. Family is the most important thing to me, and last year my whole           world was shattered with the news that my mother had had a heart attack. Luckily, she's okay but       the thought of how close I was to losing my mum and that we had been arguing at the time - it             was so bad I wasn't even staying at home or talking to her. So my top priority this year is to spend       more time with my family and let each and every one of them know how much I love and                   appreciate them.

And that's that for this year. I know they're the typical new years resolutions but they all mean the world to me, in terms of personal growth, of emotional growth and of preserving memories. They are all so important and I hope to God that I stick to them. Hopefully you guys help me with that.

Follow me on Twitter! - @rachelem

Thanks so much for reading guys. Please do stop by my twitter, lets have a chat.

Much love,
                   Rachel xo

Little Princess Trust

On Saturday, I had 10 inches of my hair taken off to donate for the Little Princess Trust. I am so happy and proud that I have taken part in something so amazing, there's no better feeling than knowing you have made some little girl or boy happy with not only themselves, but happy in general.

No person, child or otherwise, should have to go through a horrible disease such as cancer but adults can understand why they are losing their hair due to their treatments. Children on the other hand have a bit more difficulty understanding why they don't have hair like other girls and boys. I have had personal experience with a child who has cancer and can't come to grasp the reasons why they have lost their hair and let me tell you, there is nothing more heartbreaking than a young child crying over their lack of hair.

Taking part in this charity has been such a humbling experience. Everyone was congratulating me and telling me I should be proud of what I have done but I'm not proud of myself for taking part in it, I'm proud of what taking part means for someone.

Please consider taking part in such a wonderful organisation, whether it's by donating your hair or raising money, any contribution will be absolutely amazing.

Please note that should you wish to donate your hair, it must be AT LEAST 7 inches long, clean and in suitable condition (ie - no split ends).

So, please please PLEASE consider getting involved!

Thanks so much everyone who reads and does take part and thanks to those who have already. You are all amazing.

Rachel xo