Fruit Enzyme Therapy Range Review

I'll be Mr and Mrs.. a Review by Blogger Lyndsay Jayne of Thea's Fruit Enzyme Therapy Range and the Fruit and Spice Purifying Body Scrub.

Our Face Renew Fruit Enzyme Therapy Range has been scientifically formulated to brighten and revive dull skin using a blend of natural fruit enzymes. This unique fruit enzyme formula gently exfoliates the skin without the need for harsh scrubs, revealing instantly smoother, brighter skin.

Read Lyndsay's review

Love Thea

Thea's View Of Acne - What Causes It And How To Get Rid Of It

 Acne Tips by Althea Giscombe, the founder of Thea Skincare

What are the symptoms of acne, why do they cause such problems for sufferers?

Acne is a condition that can affect anyone at any time in their life. Although it is mainly associated with teenagers and young adults (reports indicate that up to 85% of people between the ages of 14 and 25 have had acne at sometime in their lives) it can affect other age groups also such as women who are going through the menopause.

Acne can be a confidence-reducing problem for sufferers because it is a condition that is very visible for all to see!

The symptoms of acne vary in its severity from fully blown acne, where the skin has spots with heads that have yellow pus on their surface, to just a few pimples of the face.

The main symptoms of acne are:

Black and whiteheads

Pimples

Yellow lumps on the skin

Cysts

Dry, itchy skin, scaring and blemishes.

It's obvious to all and very distressing to most sufferers as the symptoms are clearly visible. Plus, most people that have acne have it on their face (even though you can have acne on other parts of the body too); acne in other parts of their body can generally be hidden but on the face it cannot!

What Causes Acne?

The human body is a wonderful and dynamic natural machine but when it does not function properly it can cause us havoc.

We all have hair follicles in our skin. These are connected to very tiny glands called the sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil called the sebum whose job it is to keep our skin and hair naturally moisturised. 

People with acne have a disorder that causes the oil glands to produce too much oil. The glands then become blocked and bacteria builds up. The bacteria, combined with the dead skin cells lying on the face, cause infections that we call acne.

3. What sorts of products and regimes should consumers use at home if they suffer from acne?

If you suffer from acne, avoid any skincare products with alcohol in and try to use chemical free skincare lines wherever possible. Alcohol and chemicals can all aggravate the skin and worsen the problem.

Have and stick to a simple, regular skincare routine; it only takes 5 minutes to cleanse, tone and moisturise in the morning or night and you'll see the benefits almost instantly. 

Cleanse twice a day with a good natural foaming face cleanser, tone your skin and use a good anti-acne moisturiser.

Give yourself a deep cleanse once a week, with a face steamer or a bowl of hot water and a towel over you head - this opens the pores to get rid of the excess oil and impurities that are lying on the surface of the skin.

Use an exfoliator twice a week, remembering to choose one that's alcohol free and gentle. 

100% natural acne skin care products by Thea Skincare

What should they avoid doing and what sort of products and ingredients are bad?

Avoid foods that are particularly fatty or have a lot of sugar. I know someone who has become a Vegan and his acne skin has improved considerably due to significantly reducing his fat intake!

Drink a lot of water each day and if, like me, you find it hard to drink water then drink herbal tea 3-4 times a day to flush bacteria and other toxins out.

Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit; make juices from different combinations of fruit and vegetables to detoxify the body.

Can any lifestyle choices or changes help?

Exercise is great for refreshing the blood and ridding the blood of some of the toxins that can cause acne.

Try to have a professional facial treatment once a month or if it's not affordable give yourself an at-home treatment. A deeper skincare treatment once a week at home can help to remove the excess oil under the skin and can improve acne considerably.

Have a simple but regular skincare routine and stick to it every day. Throw out all the products you have in your cupboard that are loaded with alcohol and other chemicals too!

How can the chances of recurrence be minimised?

Like anything, getting rid of acne is not easy. You will need to review what you eat; it's vital to do so as certain types of food could make our acne worse.

Exercise 2-3 times a week and have a simple but consistent skincare routine with a deeper skin care treatment at least once a month. Finally, drink lots and lots of water!

I'd love to hear your own tips on how you overcame acne - leave a comment below! 

Your 5-Step Acne & Oily Skin Care Routine

No one wants acne or oily skin, but unfortunately they're both all-too-common skincare complaints. It's not just teenagers either - it's common to have breakouts well into your twenties, thirties and beyond.

Excess production of sebum is the cause of oily skin, and it can also lead to skin problems such as acne as it clogs pores and traps in bacteria. Your hormones control how much sebum your body produces so everything from puberty to pregnancy can have an effect, plus just being stressed or tired can wreak havoc with your skin's oil balance too. 

The Rebalance range by Thea Skincare is a 100% natural collection of skincare products specifically designed to target and treat acne, spots and oily skin.

It is often difficult to find suitable treatments for acne that are effective but not too harsh on your skin. An overly strong treatment can leave the skin dry, and your body will only compensate by producing yet more oil. Natural, pH balanced oily skin products are best, as they are more in tune with your skin's natural balance and are effective yet gentle and soothing.

Once you've picked out your perfect skincare products, here are the five steps you should include in your daily skincare routine to say goodbye to acne and oily skin once and for all...

1. Firstly, you should cleanse your face thoroughly twice a day. You should use a cleanser which is designed for oily skin as they tend to be gentle on the skin and contain ingredients to control shine. 

2. Next, apply a cool cloth over your face to leave it feeling refreshed and clean. Let it sit for a few minutes, as this will help to reduce excess oil production and will calm red, inflamed skin.

3. Now use a gentle toner on your skin. This will ensure your skin is soft and smooth and it will also help tighten up your pores, making it harder for dirt to get trapped in them and cause spots. Toner also helps to remove any tiny traces of makeup your cleanser might not have got rid of. Make sure you choose an alcohol-free toner as this is better for oily skin and will not leave it overly dry.

4. Next, you should moisturise - yes, even if you have oily skin! Use one that is specially designed for your skin type however, as a moisturiser for dry skin will be too rich for you and may lead to more spots. Look for natural hydrating ingredients such as shea butter or jojoba oil that moisturise whilst controlling shine.

5. Finally, use a mud or clay face mask at least once a week to absorb oil and give your skin a super deep clean. Masks work deep down into your pores to remove every last trace of impurities but again, use one designed especially to treat oily skin and acne for best results.

View the Thea Skincare skin care for oily skin range now!

COMPETITION - Win a 100% Natural Anti Acne Skin Care Set

WIN

a Thea Skincare

Rebalance Starter Set 

for acne & oily skin

Worth £24.95

20% Off Anti Acne Skin Care Until May 31st

We know that acne, spots and oily skin are amongst the most common skin complaints, and they're also some of the most depressing to live with.

Our 100% natural, organically-enriched Rebalance range is specifically developed with a blend of pure, botanical ingredients to target these problems, revealing skin that is clearer and a you that is more confident!

All this month there's a massive 20% off our entire Rebalance range, with prices starting from just £3.16 for our Anti Acne Essential Oil Blend. 

Even better, we're also giving away one of our Rebalance starter kits, worth £24.95, which contains a cleanser, exfoliator, toner and moisturiser all developed with acne-prone and oily skin in mind. 

Containing a scientifically-formulated blend of ingredients such as lichen to soothe inflamed skin, Shea butter to moisturise whilst controlling shine and bermagot essential oil to eliminate spots, these natural and organic skincare products are highly effective and contain no chemical ingredients whatsoever, so they're suitable for even the most sensitive and easily-irritated of skin types.

For your chance to win this fabulous anti-acne skincare set, here's how to enter... 

• Like us on Facebook (1 entry) 
• Follow us on Twitter (1 entry)
• Join us on Google+ (1 entry)
• Follow or subscribe to this blog (1 entry)
• Subscribe to our newsletter (1 entry) 

Then simply drop us a comment below to let us know how you've entered, and leave an email address we can contact you at if you win!

Deadline for entries: 31st May 2012

The winner will be notified by email on 01/06/2012

20% Off Natural Skincare for Oily Skin & Acne

20% OFF NATURAL SKINCARE

FOR OILY SKIN & ACNE

If you're among the many people who suffer from acne, spots or oily skin, it can be very frustrating trying to find the right skincare products to get clear, beautiful skin - especially when you consider that many of the chemical-filled products on the high-street today are likely to aggravate the problem, not make it better.

That's why we've created a range of high quality but affordable natural skincare products specifically targeted at acne and oily skin, and until 31st May 2012 we're giving you 20% off the entire range too!

View our acne skin care products now

Our natural, anti-acne range Rebalance is scientifically formulated using a blend of natural and organic ingredients that have been specially chosen for their balancing and soothing properties. Just check out some of the fantastic, natural ingredients that go into the Thea Skincare anti-acne skincare range...

Jojoba oil provide exactly the right amount of nourishment your oily skin needs, eliminating shine without over-drying. 

Tea tree and cedarwood essential oils have a gentle, anti-bacterial effect to stop spots before they form and effectively clearing up breakouts.

Juniper berry essential oil naturally regulates sebum production, reducing oil on the skin which is a major cause of spots.

Bergamot and Roman chamomile essential oils have a mild and gentle soothing effect to calm red, irritated skin and reduce the inflammation that comes with severe acne.

Plus many more!

Pick your perfect, natural skincare product now:

Cleanser for oily skin

Moisturiser for oily skin

Or see all products for oily skin

I have oily skin and spots - what do I do?

 Image via Robyn Lou

I receive many requests for help with acne and oily skin, a few of the common ones include questions such as...

What should I use on my skin?

What can I do to stop spots?

Why do I get spots?

How should I treat spots?

The list of questions is endless! In short, there are so many reasons why people get spots such as hormonal changes, diet, a poor skincare routine and much more. Here are a few simple facts on what causes spots, and things that you can do to help to get rid of both spots and oily skin.

Your skin is naturally acidic as it has a protective acid mantle on its surface, so you should use oily skin care products that are pH balanced.

All Thea Skincare products are not only Paraben free but also pH balanced to be in tune with your skin's normal acid levels. Using skincare products that are too alkaline can damage the skin's natural acid mantle and may lead to oily skin and spots.

If you suffer from acne, oily or spot prone skin use a gentle, natural foaming cleanser for oily skin such as our Rebalance Clarity Foaming Facial Cleanser which is mild on the skin but still gives a deep, purifying clean.

A moisturiser for oily skin is essential to reduce spots

Always use an oily skin toner - toners remove excess cleanser from the skin after you have rinsed most of it off, and help to keep the pores clean and tight, making it harder for impurities to get in. The Thea Clarity Calming Facial Toner is gentle with no stinging sensation, and is effective at helping to keep oily skin at bay.

Exfoliators are great for giving a deeper clean and for removing dead skin from the face, which can otherwise cause premature ageing. For acne, oily and spot prone skin use a gentle face exfoliator such as our Thea Clarity Crème Face Exfoliator . Do not use harsh scrubs on the face, as it just worsens the problem by irritating the skin. Use a gentle exfoliator instead with natural, exfoliating ingredients to help to remove excess oil under the epidermis.

Finally, always use a moisturiser - having oily skin does not mean that you do not need to nourish and treat your skin. Moisturisers help the skin's oil balance and a natural and organic cream for oily skin such as the Thea Clarity Crème Face Moisturiser will do just that, helping to stop the over-production of oil which is one of the main causes of oily and acne prone skin.

Thea x

5 Tips on How to Get Rid of Spots

 Image via Tudor Rose

No one likes to have oily skin or spots, but unfortunately they are one of the most common skincare complaints. It's not just teenagers who suffer from acne either - the problem can last well into your twenties or thirties, or can possibly even start in later life even if you had perfect skin as a teen. Factors such as your diet, your overall health, how stressed you are and even getting pregnant all have an influence on your skin and can lead to breakouts.

 

Unfortunately, there is no overnight cure - miracle creams that claim to turn your oily, acne-prone skin into a perfectly clear complexion overnight simply do not work. However, by making the right adjustments to your lifestyle and to your skincare routine, you can stop acne, spots and oily skin.

So, wondering how to get rid of spots? Here are my five top tips for a clearer, more perfect complexion...

1. Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
You could be using the best skincare products in the world, but if you don't have a great lifestyle to match you will likely still suffer from acne and oily skin. Your skin is affected not just by what you put on it, but by what you feed it from the inside too, so ensure that you are eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals (think lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and lean meat or fish) and also drinking plenty of water, to give your skin the hydration it needs. Thirsty skin dries out and your body will produce excess sebum (the natural oil in your skin) to compensate. Lots of exercise and fresh air won't hurt either!

 2. Moisturise Daily
Do not be fooled into thinking that because you have oily skin you don't need to moisturise, or that moisturising is going to make the problem worse. In fact, exactly the opposite is true. Your skin needs a certain level of moisture to stay healthy and if it is not getting it, your sebum glands will go into overdrive and produce much more oil, so by using a light moisturiser day and night you can keep excess oil to a minimum.

However ensure that you buy the right moisturiser for you - a rich, thick cream designed for dry skin will do nothing for you, so opt for a specially designed moisturier for oily skin that is lighter and probably contains some anti-bacterial ingredients to help with spots, too.

3. Exfoliate Regularly

It is a common misconception that exfoliation is only for dry skin. Yes, it does remove the dead layer of cells on the surface of your skin that can lead to dry, flaky skin, but even those with oily skin have this layer of dead skin cells too! They actually cause more of a problem when combined with oily skin because the dead cells become trapped in the oil and clog up your pores, leading to the infections that cause spots. 

So, find a good quality exfoliator with gentle beads and use it twice a week - avoid harsh facial scrubs and do not exfoliate every day however, as this will only irritate the skin and lead to more breakouts.

4. Change Your Bedding Often

If you tend to wake up with new blemishes most mornings, it could be that your pillow is not clean enough. If you stop to think about it for a moment, we spend hours on end every night with our faces pressed against our pillows, so if these have any dirt or bacteria on them then it's bound to have an impact on your skin. Wash your pillow cases and bedding at least once a week and you're certain to notice an improvement in your skin if you suffer from acne.

 

5. Avoid Heavy Make Up
If you've woken up with a breakout, it can be very tempting to cover it up with a thick layer of concealer or foundation. However this will not let your skin breathe and will only make the problem worse. If you're at home alone, skip makeup altogether, and if you're going out and want to put some makeup on then ensure that you are using lightweight products that say 'non comedogenic' on the packaging - this means they will not block your pores, so they will not cause spots.

Similarly, if you have particularly oily skin avoid caking your skin in a thick layer of powder and instead opt for a loose, non comedogenic powder and then carry specially designed makeup blotting papers with you, to blot away excess oil throughout the day.