Probably since turning a teenager was when I first noticed my skin being an issue. I sometimes feel I have been a bit harsh and under appreciative of my skin because in hindsight it has not been nearly as bad as some. I have never suffered from acne, other than the odd spot and I know I have been very lucky for that. However, I have had visible, enlarged pores, a very oily t-zone, patchy colouring and raised skin coloured bumps which have all contributed to my skin looking uneven, unsmooth and not very fresh looking. After trialling and testing a large number of screams, treatments, scrubs and washes to try to fix the problem without any luck, throughout my teens I stopped the skincare and turned to covering up the problem with make-up. Looking back, I think this only made the problem worse when I could have been treating it if I had kept up a skin care routine. 

For some highly inconvenient reason, my skin has been returning to its school days of spots and pesky imperfections and just a general rough, pain in the arse, especially when applying make up. So it was time for a treat! As I was heading on holiday, I was really worried about my makeup looking terrible the moment I stepped out into the sweltering heat of Vegas in June. Thankfully, Timeless Truth kindly allowed me to take a travel pack away with me to try out against the elements! 

I think this little pack is so nifty and great for taking away. I reckon most skin care brands are seriously missing a trick with this three in one packet. I was literally able to fold it up and slot it in my wash bag. You certainly don't want to be taking full sized products on holiday, but sometimes even the travel sizes are too big. For something like treatment products, whether is is hair care or skin care, you only want to use them once or twice while on hols, so I think this sachet alone is winning me over already. 

So whats in the pack? You get two oil based make up remover sheets. Even though I have oily skin, I find oil based removers are the best for getting off stubborn mascaras and brow gels such as They're Real by Benefit and the Dip Brow by ABH, so this was really effective. You also get two sheets of the water based cleanser, which freshened  my skin and removed the traces of make up remover. It also smells pretty nice. The cleanser sheets also has a light exfoliating effect which is very similar to my usual Nip+Fab night time cleanser pads. The final piece in the kit is the sheet mask. I've never used a sheet mask before, so I was apprehensive about how well it would work and if it would stay on, but I have read several reviews stating it is the best sheet mask they've ever used. Surprisingly, it did! And helped my pretty battered skin become glowy and soft once again - something I've not experienced in a long old time. The second stage helped clear blocked pores and the mask simply injected a whole load of moisture and goodness into the skin. I feel, if used occasionally, it will help keep the pores away. 

I actually used this mask on my second stop of my holiday. I began in San Francisco which wasn't super hot, it was about 20C, then moved onto Yosemite National Park where the temperatures skipped up to 30-34C. I thought this was the best place to give this product ago before my skin takes a further battering from the 45-50C heat of Last Vegas! I had a long car drive the next day, and I think the treatment mask helped to keep my makeup and skin settled in the dry air conditioned car.

I also got sent a cellulose eye mask. I've used this kind of mask for my lips and I loved the feeling afterwards. I found there to be similar effects for the eye area. I don't suffer from puffy eyes too much, but when I returned from my trip to America they were the size of shopping bags. After using I felt my under eyes were tighter and hence helping to minimise the look of that awful puffiness. I think I would definitely always like to have one of these in my drawer, just in case I have a special event and need to get rid of any occasional puffy eyes the morning or night before. The product also claims to help with fine lines. I don't have any of those, so I can't really comment but due to the tighter feeling I felt around that area, I can see this product may be effective at minimising fine lines too. 

I don't tend to use oil based products on my face as I have very oily skin as it is. Despite this product containing Olea Europaea Husk Oil, it didn't feel overly oily which was surprising. I wouldn't use this product all the time, like I said I don't tend to get puffy eyes often, so it will be perfect for occasional use. 

If you've not used sheet masks before, I really recommend trying these out from Timeless Truth. They do many different things for many different skin concerns so be sure to check out their website, I have linked the products I used below. The products are also really inexpensive, so a perfect way to test something like this or offer as a gift. 

c/o Timeless Truth // Travel Pack // currently £13 normally £17.80

c/o Timeless Truth // Eye Rejuvenating Bio Cellulose Eye Mask // £3 for 1 // £18 for 5

Weleda Skin Food

As for the scent, this product had a fairly odd smell, but I think I like it. It smells quite clinical but this tells me it is going to work well. I like to use Skin Food on occasion as it is a really great, deep moisturising treatment but it is suitable and gentle enough for every day use. I really rave about this product, it has been tried and tested for 90 years and Weleda have certainly perfected their formula in time for their special 90th birthday! It is super great for very dry rough skin, especially dry rough skin that tends to appear on holiday, which is why I took this one with me. I have very dry skin on my chest anyway and this has certainly helped me on holiday as a substitute for my regular routine which would not have been convenient to carry out while away. You can read my regular dry skin routine here. This Skin Food comes in three different sizes, the small one is great to try before you purchase a bigger one and great for taking on holidays. 

c/o Weleda // Skin Food // £2.25 - £9.95

Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Day Cream

This cream is actually my favourite out of all the samples I received. It goes perfectly on under makeup and made for a perfect base before primers. Whilst it doesn't have an SPF, my foundation did have a factor 40 so it was fine. Since I was using this on holiday, it would have been a problem and I'd have to of used another sun protecting cream in addition. As with all the products, the smell was light and fresh. I really think this day cream has made a difference to the wear of my makeup. 

c/o Weleda // Wild Rose Smoothing Day Cream // £19.95

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Cream

I find this one extremely similar to the Smoothing Day Cream above. So I'll happily use this one when the other runs out! The main difference is the smell, this one does smell subtly of almond, as the name suggests. Overall, I think the Smoothing is best for applying under foundation when compared to the Soothing. 

c/o Weleda // Almond Soothing Facial Cream // £14.95

Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion

This rinse off lotion is effective for removing makeup (I even used it with Benefit's They're Real mascara). I usually use a Clean and Clear cleanser in addition to a makeup remover, but this product also cleanses really well, leaving the skin fresh and soft like the other products in this range. I think this is great to have a 2 in 1 for holidays. With all of these products a little really does go a long way. 

c/o Weleda // Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion // £9.95

Weleda Wild Rose Pampering Body Lotion

Again with the soft, fresh fragrance of the Smoothing cream, this one is very similar but applied to the body. It is really lights on the skin, I think it is a great one to apply before fake tan because it dries so quickly and therefore not likely to mix too much with your tan, making it go streaky.

c/o Weleda // Wild Rose Pampering Body Lotion // £21.95

The issue

I've always had really bad skin on my chest area, usually manifesting itself as being very dry, rough, raised pores and prone to break outs. I like to use tanning products in the summer months and I always dread putting it on my skin as the dryness makes it go super patchy looks almost cracked as it clogs my already clogged pores and dry skin. I do often feel self conscious about this area of my skin and like to choose high neck clothing to cover it up. Which actually makes it worse in the long run. To note, I've never come across anyone with the same skin problem as me and I've never spoke about it before.

I've tried almost every product to try sort it out, from creams and lotions to Sudocrem, pore cleansers, spot treatments and blemish gels. I should probably take a visit to the doctor/dermatologist to see if they could give me stronger creams or something to help but it is just finding the time! 

Whilst giving the area a good scrub with a poofy bath scrunchy thingy.. (yeah I don't know the name...) and some exfoliating scrub, followed by loading on the cleanser and creams does make the area feel smoother, it does make my skin very irritated and inflamed and barely lasts a couple hours. This proves an issue when applying fake tan as it would require a heck of a lot of time to maintain this smoothness to allow the tan to sit well. Everyone knows, scrubbing removes the tan and then my chest would look different from my shoulders and arms - meaning I'd basically have to re-do my whole body with tan everyday and just.. no, it's far too much faff. 

Introducing Bean Burst Coffee Srub

I've been using Bean Burst's coffee scrub in the Grapefruit Blend for about 3-4 weeks, and I have noticed a significant difference. I do like to ensure my reviews are 100% honest, so I'll point out that the product did not reduce the look of the pores. Basically, you can not really see them, they are skin coloured, unless in a certain light, so I do remind myself of this when feeling a little unconfident about my skin because chances are no one will actually see the problem! However, it is such a great scrub! As another side note, I have altered my whole routine so collectively several products are helping with the skin issue, which I will talk about shortly. The scrub is made of coffee and all natural ingredients and several nourishing oils.  Oil. I have found out that this is the key ingredient I need to help with my skin problem. The skin is extremely dry and I can't think of anything more moisturising than essential oils, so I think this is why the coffee scrub works better than other scrubs I've tried in the past. The scub is also useful for reducing to appearence of scars and other skin imprefections, so do give it a go

The routine

So, I want an even, soft bronze glow. I hope in the shower with my Bean Burst scrub and using a gentle exfoliating glove I gently buff the coffee granules over my skin in small circular motions. The reason for using the glove not only adds extra exfoliation but also protects my hand from being scrubbed within an inch of its life. You'd probably want to do this if you are applying the scrub to your whole body as by the time you're done, I found, the skin on my hands had began to very slightly peel. The skin on my palms is quite delicate so I don't like to over do it there, I'm happy to just use some hand cream. Anyway, once I'm all buffed and smooth, I rinse all of the coffee off very thoroughly. The weeny little coffee granules can get in every bloody nook and cranny...(!!) so you do need to make sure you get it all off! After one application my skin feels literally soooo soft and not only soft but moisturised too due to the heavenly oils in the scrub, which is a feeling I don't tend to get from other products I've tried. 

Whilst still in the shower, I like to apply an antibacterial scrub or soap to eliminate any spot causing bacteria that may be left behind. I use Clearasil's Rapid Action Scrub, other Clearasil products or Clean & Clear's facial scrubs and wash off treatments as these brands are great for controlling spots and tend to be fairly gentle.

Once dry, my chest feels noticeably smoother, less irritated and feeling a lot fresher. I actually only need to apply the coffee scrub once a week because it is so effective and by using the following products to maintain the effects. 

Secondly, I've turned to Bio Oil to inject some more of those glorious oils into my skin and use a spot-on spot treatment from Clean & Clear to clear up any present spots. This is really effective at drying out and reducing the size and redness of the spot in just a few hours. 

When I'm ready for fake tan - usually the evening or day after to allow the Bio Oil to do its work, I turn to Bondi Sand's Liquid Gold Dry Oil. This is the best fake tan I have ever tried, and I've tried Fake Bake, St. Tropez, Cocobrown - the lot! I will be doing a full review of this product soon so keep an eye out. I was drawn to it because of my new found love for oils, so an oil based fake tan seemed completely perfect! You'll have to wait for the full review, but I get no clinging to dry patches, an even coverage and a long lasting glow. I like to add a moisturiser to my chest before and after the application to ensure it is even but it always is and is working super well. It even contributes to eliminating the dryness by being an oil. 

The verdict

I believe, whether you have got problem skin like me or not, the basis of a good fake tan starts with a good base. The first picture above was taken before I used Bean Burst for the first time and the second was taken a few days ago having used my new routine for about 3-4 weeks. The second photo you can see my skin is much clearer, less spots and I felt it was in much better condition to apply fake tan onto. Remember, this was the effect after using this routine for the first time too, so it is really effective immediately and preventing nasty spots. It is not perfect but it is vast improvement to me and I am personally much happier about my skin. I really love and recommend Bean Burst's Coffee Scrub for a revolutionary way to buff and moisturise your body. Whilst I wouldn't get oil based products anywhere near my face as it is very combination, I feel I have found a breakthrough ingredient to assist with the dryness on my chest. This is definitely down to the kind people behind Bean Burst who introduced me to the coffee scrub and got me hooked on essential oils! 

Coffee Scrub Grapefruit Blend c/o Bean Burst UK - £15

Also try

Coffee Scrub Sweet Orange - £15

Coffee Scrub Peppermint - £15

All Three - £28

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I adore Nip+Fab products! They are literally the best skin care brand I have discovered and I'm never disappointed when I try something new. I have five products in total, this little post will explain what each of them do, my thoughts and why I love them. This post is in no way sponsored by Nip+Fab but I urge anyone after a new affordable skincare regime to try out some of these! 

 Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum

Starting with the best! This product is my absolute favourite. I like to put it on at night as it gives my skin an intense hydration over night as well as a legit plumping sensation. In the morning, my skin feels a lot tighter as well as smooth and moisturised. When applying make up in the morning, I find my make up goes on a lot nicer. Secondly, it smells so god damn nice!! I don't like to use it every night as it is so effective, I'd hate for it to become ineffective. So I usually apply it when my skin is feeling a bit rough and in need of some TLC, or if I have something going on the next day that requires my make up to sit well for a long period of time. It may also be a little pricey to be using every day so, this is another reason for using it sparingly. 

Bottom line: This little baby is a delight. 

Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask

And repeat. This product is baso the same as the serum, in mask form. It is a great alternative when my skin needs extra fixing or if I'm running low on the serum. I don't use this very often at all, but it is a super good intense mask to turn to when my skin is in desperate need. Again, I don't want this product to get too used to my skin and become ineffective. 

Yoga Blend Body Lotion

Another one I'm super loving is this lotion! Definitely my favourite body lotion of all time. It smells subtly like lavender so it is very relaxing and I like to apply it just before bed. The bottle is really big so I do use this one every night and it seems to be lasting me ages! It is probably my favourite mainly because of the gorgeous scent and the fact it doesn't make my skin feel sticky, or like it has something on it. The product is extremely light wait, rubs in really easy and absorbs fast. 

Yoga Blend Body Scrub

This one is just a really nice body scrub! And has been lasting me ages because I have a lot of body scrubs that I like to alternate between depending on what my skin needs. I don't like to use a scrub on my face unless it is specifically for the face as I feel some body scrubs can be a little too rough for my face. 

Gltcolic Fix Cleanser

I know I've already said the Dragon's Blood is my fave, but this one is probably equalling it! I adore this one. The smell. Oh my. Grapefruit loooveee! So delicious. A little of this really does go a long way. It foams up nicely on my face and leaves it feeling sensationally soft and smelling absolutely delicious! Recently I haven't been taking great care of myself, my skin included, due to the volume of university work I've had, so I hadn;t used this in a while. I seemed to have got a lot of spots during this time. I could have been due to the stress, but I don't normally get that amount of spots, usually just the odd one pop up now and again, so it was kind of strange after discontinuing this product that a lot popped up at once. Since returning to my routine, my skin has got significantly better and I put that partially down to Nip+Fab. There isn't anything more to say about this product really. If you get any, get this one, it's a dream. 

Glycolic Fix Night Pads

Pointless feature alert! I haven't actually tried this one yet, hence why it is still in its packaging in the picture. Basically, I'm saving this one for my holiday to America I bought it for this specifically because I think it would minimise the amount of heavy liquid toiletries I'd have to take. It is basically my boo Fix Cleanser and an exfoliator in one easy to apply pad. So no need to bring multiple products and no need to rinse the product off my face. It is going to be a really easy, fast skin care routine for my holiday. If anyone has tried this product, please let me know your thoughts in the comments! I will also update this section as and when I have actually used the pads! 

So there is my mini review of my beloved Nip+Fab products! In addition, I am loving the packaging so it really doesn't bother me if I have to leave them out on display or anything. They all smell delicious, all do exactly what they say on the bottle and work wonders for me! I only write about things that genuinely work, sponsored or not!!