Make up update, new products, new tips

Since my accident I have been using Dermablend by Vichy to cover up the red marks and (minor but still there) scars on my face. 3 months after that fateful day I went to a Red Cross make-up lesson and was prescribed some make-up on the NHS. I was dubious about this. Prescription make-up on the NHS would be the poor cousin of expensive, fully priced, advertised cosmetics...right? WRONG!

The prescription make-up is Fabulous with a capital F.

DERMA COLOR CAMOUFLAGE CREME AND FIXING POWDER


DERMA COLOR CREME - HOW TO USE

Derma color creme doesn't look easy to use. It is a solid block of colour set inside a pot. I can promise that once you have the knack, you will have flawless skin.

1. You need to apply this creme with a sponge. I have been using a little piece of natural sponge as advised by Red Cross. Before using, damp the sponge under running water and then squeeze it in a towel. This will stop it being too wet, otherwise it won't work as well. (Learnt from experience.)

2. Dig your fingernail in the pot of creme (away from you so it doesn't go under your nail and just sits on top of it!) and get a little out. Take a small amount at a time. Wipe/dab it on the back of your hand, the opposite hand that you will use to apply it.

Amazingly, as soon as the creme hits the back of your hand and gets warm, it turns fluid!

3. Press your sponge on the creme on the back of your hand. Then press and roll the sponge on your face, starting from the nose outwards. You can also dab the sponge firmly on your face in harder to cover areas.

4. Make sure you blend at the sides of your face!

5. Wipe the sponge down each side of your nose.

I usually need to take a little 'dig' out of the pot for each cheek, one for my chin and one for my forehead.

6. After this, you should have a natural colour building up on your face. You shouldn't need much else! However, I do cover and blend the redder areas by using the Dermablend by Vichy Concealer stick that I bought from Boots. (See earlier post.)

DERMA COLOR FIXING POWDER-HOW TO USE

The fixing powder is interesting. I would like to know who created this impossible-to-use pot. Unfortunately it goes everywhere, a waste of product and a waste of money for the NHS! It really is a terrible design compared to the Vichy pot. There are many, many bronzers and loose powders out there, all in perfectly usable pots. So why the Derma color people decided upon this one in their camouflage board room, I have no idea. If I come up with a solution to limit it's scattering tendencies, I'll let you know!

1. You can use a powder puff but I don't have one so I've been using cotton wool pads.

2. Load up the pads with the powder and simply dab it all over your face, paying extra attention to the areas that have the most coverage on. Then you can go back and press the powder gently into your face. Don't be rough, you don't want to dislodge the make-up.

3. LEAVE FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES! Don't rush this process!

4. AFTER AT LEAST 10 MINUTES! Use a large brush to dust the powder off, very lightly. You will find that most of it has been absorbed.

5. Delicately add on your normal blusher and the rest of your make-up.

This company say that the make-up has NEVER caused an allergic reaction in anyone. I do think that this make-up seems to cause me less irritation than the Vichy one. It has also caused me less little 'blisters' or 'spots' under my chin but this could be because my skin is healed more now.

They also claim that the make-up is waterproof. While I can't vouch for this exactly, I have been swimming in it. I was slightly splashed in the face and it didn't budge one bit.

It also says in the instructions that you won't need to re-apply it at any time. Although it lasts a long time, you might want to re-powder during the day as it can go a bit shiny. The company do a pre-make-up cleanser for oily skin should you be having trouble with the longevity of the make-up. I think you would need to ask your doctor or Red Cross consultant if you wanted to use this.

They also make skin 'plastic' for very uneven skin. Although I don't need to use this myself, I think it would be another amazing product.

To get the make-up off I have been using Clinque Cleansing Balm and then a face wash but the Red Cross consultants used Aqueous cream....much cheaper!

You definitely need patience with this make-up but it is worth it.

Make-up lesson attended...useful advice issued!

I have been waiting for three months for my make-up lesson with the Red Cross, provided by the NHS but it was worth the wait! They had a range of brands to prescribe me and Dermablend was among them! I am very pleased about this as I am already used to this brand and it will be much cheaper obtaining it on prescription. The ladies were very nice and they took great care finding the correct colour to match my skin tone.

They applied the foundation, telling me to build up the colour and to not use too much. I was left with a very natural looking colour by the end, suitable for day-wear. Their aim was to cover the redness and scars with as little as possible but when I do it myself I would use more make-up as I am attempting to achieve as close to flawless skin as possible.

As a result they only prescribe the foundation or 'creme' as it is known and the fixing powder. In the day-time this would be fine but for nights out or special occasions I would still advise using the corrective concealer on the most vivid parts.

Although everything on my previous Dermablend post still stands, there are a couple of updates.

Applying the make-up

I have been using my fingers to apply the make-up but the ladies used a piece of natural sponge. You put the foundation or creme on the back of your hand and soften it using your fingers to warm it. You then dab the sponge on it firmly. Then you apply the make-up from the sponge to your face in a rolling action, again firmly. You wipe the sponge down each side of your nose. Then you use your fingers to blend or pat into pores.

The ladies started from the outside of my face and moved inwards but I would start from the middle of face such as the sides of your nose and move outwards. Otherwise you do end up with a tideline around your face!

The sponge does help with any uneven patches. I have an uneven area under my nose due to scar tissue there and it is easier to apply using a sponge than my fingers. It clogs a bit when fingers are used.

The sponge can be bought from most chemists and also the internet in several places. I will let you know once I've got some. http://www.anniqueuk.co.uk/facial-sponge-pack.html

The sponges should be washed in a mild detergent and rinsed well. Try to use something that won't irritate if residue does get left on such as shower gel or tea tree dilution.

Fixing powder

If fixed and set properly, the make-up should last for up to 12 hours on the face and 4 days on the body. It is also waterproof.

I was a bit suspicious of this claim. As I have oily skin, I do find that it becomes very shiny and I need to re-set the make-up using the fixing powder. For example, I went to a wedding from 2.30pm until midnight and I set it once in that time and could have done with setting it twice.

I also couldn't see how it would be waterproof.

The advice regarding fixing powder makes sense. You must powder your face LIBERALLY with powder, pressing it into your skin firmly. (Not too firmly - you don't want to dislodge the make-up.) Once powdered...go and do something else. You need to leave it on for 10 minutes or longer to achieve the 'fix.' Although the Dermablend products say 2 minutes, the ladies said this is in no way enough.

Eat your breakfast, watch some TV...but don't rush the fixing process!

Once ready, brush the excess off with a large brush.

The lady applied the fixing powder with a cotton wool pad but if it comes with a powder puff, you can use that. Whatever suits!

Removal

The final interesting piece of advice was removing the make-up......aqueous cream! Cheap and easily obtainable from any chemist or supermarket! Who would have thought?

Apply the cream using fingers and remove with a cotton pad. You might need to give it a few moments to loosen the make-up. Then rinse with water.

Thank you RED CROSS!

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Health-and-social-care/Social-support-in-the-UK/Skin-camouflage



Red Cross is a charity and their work is very important. If you would like to donate to them then please go to www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now

If you want to give something back or have skills that could be useful perhaps consider becoming a volunteer. http://www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved

Removing Dermanblend make-up...a feat in itself!

As camouflage make-up is thicker and highly pigmented it is difficult to get off using conventional removers. With a combination of trial and error and some helpful sales people, I have found the answer!



I have been using Clinique take the day off cleansing balm. It's £20 for a tub and it lasts a very long time. It's a solid block or 'balm' that you rub your fingers across and then gently rub the wax into your skin. It dissolves hard-to-remove camouflage make-up and sunscreen too. Then I remove it gently with cotton wool like a normal cleanser. After that I wash my face to make sure it doesn't clog my easily-cloggable pores.

Although it is quite oily on the skin it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy as long as you wash it off with water afterwards.

It isn't really suitable for removing eye make-up simply because it's hard to apply on your eyes.



For my eyes I have been using Lancome Bi Facil. This is quite gentle but you must make sure to hold it on the lashes to dissolve the make-up instead of scraping it off and irritating your eye area. I had burns around my eyes so I need something sensitive such as this. However, as it is quite a gentle removing action, it takes some time to get all make-up off successfully and some mornings I have had panda eyes!

If anyone has used something more effective on their eyes, do let me know!



When I first got my make-up I was so excited to use it, I couldn't wait to buy any remover. I hadn't realised just how resilient Dermablend was. I did discover that bio oil works really well if you have nothing else. It's just it's a bit expensive to be smearing liberally over your face as cleanser!

I have my official make-up lesson today so I will share any illuminating information I discover.....