What i'm using at the moment: dr darren mckeown's AHA Active Radiance Cleanser

This is just an introductory review of Dr Darren McKeown's AHA active radiance cleanser, since i have only been using it  for one week and  i want to be able to give an honest longterm ( 6 weeks minimum) review.
I walked into superdrug and was surprised to see a product containing AHA's in a high street store( i never see them) and to be honest i was eying it up for a good two weeks. It was bizarre though  that all the other products in the line were on offer but not this one. I decided to go online ta-da! and found a "better than half- price" offer online. Its not a cheap product- i think it retails for £12.99  and so i was over the moon.
I have developed acne recently (urgh) and have really tried many things to combat it. I'm not hoping for perfect skin, i just don't want to see a billion spots when i wake up in the morning. I had read about AHA's and acne for a while and in skincare in genral  and was willing to take the chance.

When it comes to any sort of skin regimen i proceed with caution. I have sensitive skin that has recently transformed from dry to oily( i have no idea  why either) blemish prone and being black much more susceptible to scarring. So if something is bad for my skin there is not that much help for it out there once damage has been done.
So here comes the nitty grityy.

I use it only at night, followed by a heavy moisturising cream( when i wake up i use water only- followed by sunscreen)With any AHA product USE SUNSCREEN.
and i follow directions EXPLICITLY- two to three pumps on face for 2-3 minutes. Oh how it stung! The first day it stung, ow! I was a bit frightened but i read that all AHA products do. After the third day my skin was fine and  i dropped down from 3 minutes to 2 just to be safe.

Whilst washing it my face felt so smooth. It was weird, like washing a freshly waxed floor or something! Very smooth i felt like a mannequin

 It felt squeaky clean but not like your face is stripped at all.


The claims of the product are
"AHAs are the secret ingredient to luminous skin. Clinically proven to promote cell turnover, they help restore a glowing, radiant complexion and softer skin. We have added active apple AHA - a complex of glycolic, malic and lactic acids - to natural cleansers and created this daily wash to sweep away dull, old skin cells, remove excess oil - even stubborn make-up – and reveal a glowing complexion. Shea butter and panthenol help lock in moisture and plump skin. Sulphate free, to reduce the chances of irritation "


I'm not using it for luminosity factor or smoothness but to see if it will help my skin, and to be honest i do feel like it has. I know its early early days, but i think my skin looks better (placebo effect?) i've only had a few new spots ( and its that time of the month tmi! when my skin goes haywire) and i do feel like my skin does look better and more radiant.

Anyway it is sulphate free and i will be back tomorrow with a full ingredient list ( left it somewhere) and check back in 6 weeks for a full report.

BYE

shikakai powder. Heaven sent for dry/prone to build up scalps.

I admit i use sulfate shampoos, i have to. In the natural world its a taboo, but they are the only thing that will get my scalp clean. My scalp is so prone to build up its awful. I've tried everything frequent washings to infrequent washing and its the same result. So until it sorts itself out  I'm stuck. ( my scalp goes on swings and roundabouts every couple of years)

 The problem is i often have to shampoo several times, leaving my hair horrendously dry and making styling my hair that much harder.
 Well I've found something that doesn't eradicate my need for  sulfate shampoo, but does lessen it.  Its Shikakai powder. I am aware that i am a billion light years behind the Ayurveda bandwagon but i never thought it would work for me. Oh and i couldn't be bothered.
What the powder does is, it brings to the surface any buildup or debris and then only one round of shampoo is needed. It also makes your hair appear darker and with more sheen.
There are two main brands I've seen readily available in asda and Afro hair shops, its Hesh and Ayuuri. I prefer the Ayuuri because it is more finely milled.

 Now HEED MY WARNING. Follow the instructions on the packets EXPLICITLY. DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT leave the powder on your scalp for the allotted time. Why? Because if it dries you can not get the damn granules out of your hair!!! It'll feel like coffee is in there. Believe me i learnt this the hard way.
Both retail for around £1.99 or cheaper  and depending on how big your head  is and how thick your hair is can last i say 4-6 washes. Don't make too much either i always make that mistake.

Ever felt bad for buying a product because it goes against your principles?

 DR Miracles Daily moisturizing lotion review


I had a problem. I was in a bind. I had only a couple of pounds on me and i needed a moisturiser. Fast. I went to my local Afro hair shop/BSS and that's when the trouble started. I was rooting around, i was tired, i just wanted to pick something up and go. Listlessly wandering the isles i steered my way towards a product range i never go near. Dr Miracles. Why you asked? Because of their (past?/present?) advertisements. That in the words of Run DMC "Go a little something like this"

Google them there are worse. That's right they usually depict natural hair as being "yuck" and then the problem solver being a Dr miracles relaxer!!! Why did no one tell me this before??? Anyway the inference that natural afro hair is disgusting and needs to be fixed put me right off their range. I'm not their desired customer so i just look the other way. Until now.

I was a natural haired traitor. I bought their daily moisturising lotion, and you know whats worse. It was GOOD! Damn, damn, damn. I bought it because it was £2 i needed a quick fix and it was freely available. How can something so bad feel so good????

If you like heavy products this one is for you. Too much can leave hair feeling greasy( i don't mind that) and if you set your hair in styles such as twist outs and braid outs etc, it does give definition. It smells kinda nice too. Its silicone free, but not paraben free

 INGREDIENTS:
Aqua (Water) Deionized, Sorbitol , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Mel (Honey), Simmondsia Chinensis (JoJoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Barbabadenesis (Aloe Extract), Stearic Acid, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, PEG 25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cyclohexasiloxaine, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben , Propylparaben, Diazodinyl Urea, Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Citronellol, d-Limonine, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde, Lanalool.

Would i buy it again? I have principles so I'm on the look out for an alternative.  But if push comes to shove....... ( Never count on me when the revolution comes i don't have the mettle)