Birthmark Removal

In my last post I revealed I was starting a new series called 'The quest for perfect'. This is probably the post I have been most excited about. From a young child I was insecure about my birthmark. Although no bigger than an inch in size I would never leave the house in a skirt or dress as it was on my leg. My insecurities would make me feel trapped, I never realised how controlled by my birthmark I was - crazy as it sounds I was just to embarrassed by it. I am fully aware that there are millions of cases that are more outstanding than myself but because it stemmed from when I was so young it had a profounding effect on me.

I had tried make up to cover the leg, as the birthmark wasn't large in size at all I thought the success rate would be high. As I am incredibly pale (the perks of being English lol) make up would just be visible and appear quite orange. After constant researching I discovered Sk:n Clinics. They specialise in many non surgical treatments including laser treatments. I booked a consultation to see what was treatment was available to me and to be honest I was terrified! I would spend numerous occasions on their website thinking it through as I wasn't aware of cost implications and if it would actually work, normal doubts that would cross anyone's minds. The reason I went with the Sk:n Clinic is because of it's reviews and great service. Trust me, I would look for reviews all day long just to make me feel less worried.

On the day of the consultation I was nervous, I dragged my mum along with me, I felt like a big baby. Talking with the doctor he actually said that I could have the laser treatment there and then, from that point the excitement kicked in forgetting I was going to have my leg lasered. From my understanding I had what was called a cafe au lait spot which is a light brown mark. The treatment that is offered is the same that is used in tattoo removal.

The pictures below aren't the greatest in quality as some were taken in the clinic - so apologies!

Before



After the laser treatment

The healing process went really well, it took around 2-3 weeks before I could see the skin almost healed. It was tender to the touch and the healing process isn't the nicest as the skin would scab and slowly fall away, it has a very similar feeling to a sunburn sensation.
The first question on everyone's lips is 'Did it hurt?' I will be very honest and say it did. The best way to describe the sensation is by saying it feels like elastic bands hitting the skin in a repetitive motion. You can actually see the laser work its magic so in a sense I was distracted by the excitement. I did move around a little but the consultant was great. Overall the mark has faded quite significantly although you can see a slight hint of what it once was, it's a improvement!

 

After the laser treatment

 

I would advise those considering having the laser treatment done to visit a clinic and ask any questions you have. The Sk:n Clinic had a very calming atmosphere with friendly staff. Remember if its not for you, you don't have to do it! Readers, please remember that everyone is different and costs are individual. Some may need more than one treatment depending on the severity. My laser treatment cost around £400 (this included a consultation, treatment and creams) You can visit their site here. They really looked after me from start to finish!

Have you considered having treatment? Share your stories, I am looking for you guys to get involved!!

Blog soon,

Kerry x

 

New series - I want your help!

I can't actually remember a time when I didn't feel self conscious about my appearance. I'm a shy girl that often likes to hide in the background, I know that's because I'm continuously worried about what I think people see when they look at me. I know I should love myself or at least learn to, but in this modern day everything and everyone especially in the celebrity world is 'perfect'. Now, I'm not naive I know that its at a certain degree of 'fake' and its all perceived wrong but when I have bad days it's as if im brainwashed and yet I still don't feel good enough. My insecurities have ruined relationships for me in the past; don't get me wrong past boyfriends never understood the battles I'd face, but I genuinely didn't think that because of my 'looks' I was good enough.

This series is about the bloggers that struggle with thoughts like me but also those that have risen.The title is a question, why? Does perfect exist? Is it actually worth aiming towards? Us beauty bloggers are real women/men and for those that are not rolling in money, aren't beauty products reviewed better by us, we are real and therefore our views will also be. Its easy for picture perfect person to sell a product - but our imperfections allow for a product review to be true and honest!

This series covers a whole range of things. I'm going to be reviewing products from a real girls point of view but also considering and researching about cosmetic procedures and reflecting. I wonder, if I had the money would I actually consider any procedures? 

You may ask what do I need your involvement for? Have you ever felt these insecurities? Have you had or considered procedures? I want your stories on here! Have you tried products that actually have made you feel more confident?

I really look forward to working with you!
What you need to do:

• Write a blog post
• Introduce you and your blog with a short paragraph
• Email me your post along with your blog link and photo (kerrytalkboutique@gmail.com)

I'll learn to love myself one way or another but first, lets go on this quest for 'perfect' and see if it actually exists!

Kerry x
 

Benefit Fake Up Concealer

I definitely do not have the greatest skin in the world, it's blotchy, full of freckles and uneven! Hence  why I love concealers so much, they help hide all the things I feel so paranoid about.

 

I recently went out and purchased the Benefit fake up concealer not only because of the great reviews but to be quite honest it also looks great. I have dry skin from time to time and certain concealers sit on the surface of my skin and look heavy and obvious. The Benefit concealer comes in the form of a lipstick style packaging that not only holds the colour but a hydrating formula. Some may ask - Does it actually hydrate? I can only answer that with a yes, once applied it had a very moisturising and dewy feel from the start.
I often have spots that dry out when healing leaving a dry/peeling area of skin, it can become quite red and hard to cover up - which is frustrating, especially when you've got to be places!  With other concealers I have used in the past my spots would actually become more obvious as they'd look cakey from endlessly trying to cover them up. The great thing about using this concealer is that my dry spots didn't actually look so prominent and blended into the skin really well. Because of it's a creamy texture it sank into my skin like a moisturiser and didn't crease for the duration of the day. If you are looking for a full coverage look then this is a great base. Don't get me wrong it also blends really well over the top of a foundation too.

Now, I know its main purpose is for dark circles under the eyes however it works great across the whole of my skin (See below)

 

You can see in the images above that I wasn't exaggerating, my skin isn't the smoothest but with the concealer applied using my finger it helped even the skin tone in seconds. With a foundation applied I get a really great overall smooth finish - I usually use Mac studio after applying the concealer as they work a treat together. *please not the image above is just the concealer*

 



So what's in it? Its ingredients are vitamin E and apple seed extracts that help smooth fine lines. Taken from the Benefit website I have pasted the overall percentage of what people actually thought and to be honest this is what sold me!

100% said fakeup hydrates skin*

100% said fakeup feels comfortable on skin*

100% said the texture feels silky*

94% said the effect is long-lasting*

94% said fakeup doesn t run*

97% said the formula is lightweight*

91% said fakeup conceals dark circles*

91% saw a natural appearance*

97% said the packaging makes it easy to use*

*Results observed in a consumer panel survey.

I really hope that this post has helped. Have you tried it? Tell me your stories!

Talk soon

Kerry x
 

Dove Deeply Nourishing Body wash

I don't know if anyone else has ever had a beauty product that they used daily or every so often without even realising its full existence - if that makes sense? I'll elaborate...
There is always a bottle of Dove body wash in my bathroom, its always there and everyone in my family uses it. It wasn't until the other day I was taking a shower and it hit me, wow - I love this stuff.
I have used it for years and yet I have never appreciated it before. As a product fanatic I will jump from one body wash to another, its what I do and its what I enjoy ( I am a beauty blogger after all)

Anyway, I'm here to tell you my love for Dove. The brand its self is a classic, its grown with the time. I have very sensitive dry skin and many body washes I have used in the past just didn't do the trick. So here's a little background: Dove deeply nourishing body wash has NutriumMoisture™ which allows the moisturising elements to actually be absorbed into the skin. Very scientific stuff I know! Not only does it do all that it actually smells amazing, Dove has always has a significant scent. What I love most is how thick and luscious it feels, its like I am using something a lot more pricey than I actually am for example a 250ml bottle is around £1.29. Like I say I have been using Dove on and off for years I've always been left with soft skin, I often use it as a shaving cream alternative because a little goes a long way and it really does stop my skin from feeling like its lacking in moisture.

It's a shame that not many classic products are blogged about these days - I'm always blogging about the new craze but what about the old ones eh!? Is there any classics you've forgotten about? Do share.

Until next time... take care! xx

bareMinerals Night Treatment

You guessed it, here's a review on a product I've been using for 4 weeks. I love the idea of night treatments, you go to sleep and wake up beautiful - well, that's the concept anyway. This particular night treatment is a little different from the rest and that's not a bad thing.
The results you are to expect are...

• Reduction on visible pores
• Increased luminosity 
• A faster cell turnover 

It claims to do all that with help from its exciting new ingredients - 'ActiveSoil Complex' which is described as a group of minerals that renew the skin. Whats really important is what it doesn't contain too, you'll find no Parabens, sulphates or synthetic dyes in this little pot of joy! 

As previously mentioned I've used this for just a little over a month, giving it a good chance to work its magic. Its texture is like that of a powder foundation and the experience of applying it is weird, simply because you feel like you are putting on make up after you've just cleansed from the day. Its not heavy on the skin at all to the point where you forget it is there and that's important when it comes to bed time and wanting to feel relaxed. I've opted for the shade light - and yes just like foundation there are shades to it which for me is fab! Say you are not confident in your skin and you're heading to a sleepover and you're afraid of taking that face wipe to your face, trust me this is a product that really evens out the skin tone, you look naturally beautiful, it even covers up redness and spots. 

The morning results are that of the night before, my skin appeared smoother and less blotchy. It gave a great base to apply foundation to as my skin felt treated. I usually suffer from dry areas but that wasn't an issue either. If you wanted to, you could actually apply this during the day - very versatile I say! If you don't fancy a shade then it all comes in clear, you have options. If you're wondering on the price, I picked it up at Look Fantastic for around £39.00, they often have some great bareMineral deals so do shop around. 

Thats all this time, don't forget to follow me over on Twitter to keep up to date with my rambles

Kerry x

My dressing table

It's been a vision for as long as I can remember to own my own dressing table. I live in a small London flat so those dreams could easily be just that - A dream. I had a small space in my bedroom that would allow for a small table so I went dressing table hunting. What girl doesn't want to feel like a princess?

So a day or so of crazy hunting I came across the Toulouse dressing table at Dunelm Mill, you can actually choose from 3 colours (Black,white and silver) I opted for the white as my room is grey and I actually have some white accessories - I honestly feel like it was made for me (insert heart here lol)
Its very quaint and has such a romantic feel about it, I haven't had a chance to add some accessories to it yet but I truly believe that with a simple candle it will look charming.

It was delivered fully assembled and I actually unpacked it myself, that might make you think that it's light and comes across cheap but, it's very well made and sturdy. Most pleasing of all it fits in that small gap I had, it might be small but it doesn't compromise on beauty. It has some great detailing around the legs and the mirror, the draws are also a great size to hold brushes and beauty tools.

If you've struggled to find something that doesn't break the bank then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. It did take almost 3 weeks to get here but honestly worth the wait. I brought this beauty for £169.99 which also includes the small stool too. There is also a Toulouse bedroom range which also includes draws and bedsteads.

Heres the beauty it all it's glory...

If you enjoyed this post please don't forget follow me over on Twitter, I'll be definitely willing to see some ideas on how I can spruce it up with some cute accessories. :)

Write soon

Kerry x

P.s anything you want me to review? ...give me a tweet! 

Next home haul

Not so long ago I wrote a small post on my mini Next haul, I absolutely love their home accessories. I could spend every penny on them. I won't ramble on all day about how I love them, although I easily could. Heres a quick post on how I've added a few romantic touches to my room for less than £100. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

3 Ceramic hearts £16 - These are a brilliant size, bigger than I was expecting. The largest being 16cmx16cm. They have lovely detail to them (See below) Great for adding a romantic and subtle touch to the room. 

Set of 4 coasters £8 - Excellent quality, these have a slight lilac/plum tint to them. They look lovely contrasted against my dark wood coffee table. Things that are small and sometimes overlooked  in a room happen to be my favourite thing, even down to my coasters lol! They are well made, perfectly round but a little rough on the edges - this brings a very earthy and natural look. 

 

Butterfly framed print £30 (50x50) - One of my favourite pieces from the haul, it really goes with my neutral theme. I love the thick frame that comes with it, hence the price. its simple in design but not one that would be overlooked. Even the cat loved it...

 

Smoke jewel twig lights £16 - I've wanted twig lights for some time but I always feared that they would come across christmassy. I don't know why I worried, they were a fantastic impluse buy. They are detailed with small plum and grey jewels that really add a glamorous touch to my living room. There's nothing like curling up on the sofa with just these on - they really add a homely and cosy feel. 

 I really hope you enjoyed this quick post.

Don't forget to follow me over on twitter...

Kerry x