HOW TO | Exfoliate at home without spending a cent (almost)

I WROTE THIS entire post and then my computer ate it. (My pulse starts to beat through my ears when that happens...)

Mainly, I was whinging about how so many so-called gentle or sensitive-skin exfoliators are just plain crap. Utter useless stuff. They’re cream cleansers with like 3 exfoliating beads in the entire over-priced tube. By taking out the scrubbing component, you think you can call yourself gentle? How about ineffective and lazy. It riles me. Exfoliation is good, even for sensitive (skinned) types like me. That’s what you’re doing with peels, microdermabrasion and all those acids. As a young girl with acne, I exfoliated religiously, and to this day rigorously thank St. Ives and Buff Puff for my lack of scarring.

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SPONSORED POST | Clinique Anti-Blemish Liquid Makeup

Clinique's new anti-blemish range is pretty great, sponsored post or no sponsored post. I (just weeks shy of my 30th birthday) STILL HAVE SPOTS and love love love makeup that actually works to help clear up your complexion instead of just concealing (heh) the problem.

Clinique says "Many blemish sufferers need a foundation that properly addresses their skin imbalance.  Furthermore, the foundation needs to be gentle enough to not aggravate already irritated skin and not leave skin feeling tight or uncomfortable - which can further exacerbate the look of blemishes. Luckily, there’s now a solution.  An industry leader in dermatological skin care solutions, Clinique now brings blemish care to the makeup category by introducing NEW Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup, a new partner to treating blemishes that also leaves behind a beautiful, natural finish."

Say it, sister.

I tried it out in-store recently (because I'm a truth sleuth so have to know about what I'm talking about here!) and love the finished (minimized pores), that it doesn't have red undertones (huge if you already have ruddy skin) and didn't make my skin feel tight or dry. All key if you have inflamed, sensitive, acne-prone skin.

They say it lasts up to 8 hours. Curious? Find out for yourself... Anti-Blemish Liquid Makeup is available in 8 shades for all skin tones (from super light to very deep), is allergy tested, 100% fragrance free, oil-free, dermatologist tested, ophthalmologist tested and non-comedogenic.

Buy or learn more about Clinique Anti-Blemish Liquid Makeup (30ml RRP £20.00 €28.00).

LUST-HAVE | Ziana

YOU PROBABLY don't need this but you'll certainly lust after it. The double whammy of acne and ageing that I (and over 50% of other women) am facing almost demands I buy Ziana. Almost.

This stuff is almost immoral it's priced so high (several hundred $ a tube). I can't rationalise buying it. When I'm in the states I – of course – have American health insurance, which does not actually do all that much for me (maybe after I pay my $5,000 deductible it does something?), including pay for prescriptions.

So even with the discount card the Dermatologist gave me, I can't buy it (surprise! – my insurance only covers 30g tubes and the offer is only for 60g tubes. Did you really think they'd let me have it for $20 instead of the $187 (that's with my coverage) they're asking?).

Some might grumble that, well, insurance shouldn't pay for cosmetic prescriptions anyway. BUT this stuff is pretty unique in that it's for acne (a REAL medical condition. Wait until you have it and then see who's sniggering) AND helps with fine lines at the same time. The combo of Tretinoin (a Vitamin A derivative (or topical Retinoid)) and Clindamycin Phosphate (anti-bacterial) simultaneously nips acne and ageing in the bud.

One work around? Get an OTC with Clindamycin Phosphate and apply it nightly with some sort of generic (or medical-grade like Skinceuticals) Vitamin A cream/gel (of at least .01% concentration. Ziana is .025%).

In the meantime, I'll be calling the Dermo and get myself a satchel full of samples (take that Medicis).

An un-conventional lust-have but emotions (especially about material things) rarely are (nor are they always rational).