Then, I moved to Dubai and perhaps it's the water, air con, the heat, the humidity, the daily use of high factor SPF (or maybe all of the above) but I started getting terrible spots. I once again tried numerous cleansers and also the Foreo Luna mini which helped loads.
But what has actually changed my face - and my skincare regime - is coconut oil. My friend with beautiful skin recommended it to me and I've been using for nearly six months and wow. Happy skin. Who would've thought that putting oil on spot prone skin would work- but it does.
I use the purest I can find which is available from my local pharmacy in a big tub. It's organic, virgin, cold pressed coconut oil from Barlean's. It cost 96aed and this one tub has about a third left after six months, so lasts for ages.
Here's how I use it: every night I take my eye make up off using Bioderma Sensibio H2O first.
Then I take a cleansing cloth (mine came from when I tried the eve lom cleanser... Verdict: gross smell, overpriced, not for me at all!) and place it under the hot tap in the sink.
Whilst the water is heating up and soaking the cloth I pour a dirham sized blob of coconut oil into my palms (the oil will solidify if you keep it cold so scoop out what you need but in my flat which I keep at around 23 degrees it is near liquid!).
Then I heat it in my hand by rubbing them together rapidly and then I massage into my face and neck for about 30seconds, paying attention to any areas that are prone to break outs (around my nose and on my chin).
Next I turn off the tap, ring out the cloth quickly (careful cos it'll be hot!) and place the steaming cloth over my face for ten seconds until it cools. Then I use the cloth to wipe away all the oil and all the make up comes away with it!
My face is so clean and soft afterwards! I use my Bioderma Sensibio again as a quick toner (and there is never any make up left!) before I use serum and moisturiser etc.
I only do this once a day to take off make up. In the morning I just splash my face with plain water in the shower. And then about once a month I use my Foreo Luna mini device for a deeper cleanse with Decleor Aroma Cleanse 3-in-1 Cleansing Mousse before I use a moisturising face mask. (This cleanser is lovely but a bit too drying if I use it every day, so occasional use works for me.)
And so far, so good :-)
Coconut oil can be used for lots of things, including to cook with, and I also use it on the ends of my hair when they are a bit frazzled and dry. It smells divine and is natural so a winner in my mind.
Wash out your cloth each time under the warm tap but remember to regularly wash your cloth in the washing machine to keep it super clean and remove all traces of old make up.
