Review // Ziaja Skincare

A few weeks ago, the lovely people behind Ziaja Skincare sent me a few products in the hope of giving me some relief. They found me via Instagram and understood the grief my skin was putting me through, they sent me the products in pure goodwill only hoping for me to find relief, nothing else. Recently, I've met a few people in the beauty industry who have been so helpful and generous to me , it's really quite lovely to receive help in such an industry, without feeling forced to buy what they're showing you, so I am extremely grateful.

Now, back to Ziaja, if you have sensitive skin like myself and haven't heard of Ziaja, it's about time the you're let in on the secret. Ziaja Skincare rules by the mantra 'focus on skin'. They've a wide range of products that are all completely backed up with a serious amount of scientific and dermatological research as well as modern technology. All their products use minimal amount of ingredients as possible, excluding the harsh ingredients like SLS, parabens and chemicals, and I swear to god their products actually work.

Most recently Ziaja have released the Dermo Cosmetic range that aims to relieve the symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis. The products can be used on babies, children and adults with varying stages of AD and those suffering with dry and sensitive skin. The range aims to intensely moisturise, soften and reduce the roughness of skin, as well as reduce itching, burning and even redness! The best bit is that the creams will also build up the skins natural bacterial flora to improve your skins own natural defences. Out of the products they kindly sent me, Ive used the Atopica Body Lotion and Atopica Body and Face Oil the most. I'm still using sample sachets daily and my mum has put the anti-aging products to good use. 

The Body Lotion and Oil says on the bottle that it hopes to soothe and calm angry and inflamed skin while reducing the itch, and its totally true. When I received the parcel and started using the moisturiser, I had for some unconscious reason had stopped applying topical steroids to my body. The lotion alone kept the worst of the itch at bay and I could see a genuine change within two weeks on my torso and thighs from the lotion alone. Its thick enough that I feel like its helping my skin, and the best bit is that it is not greasy! My main problem before this moisturiser had been that I couldn't find a cream that is thick, but isn't greasy, that it would calm the inflammation but isn't almost a water like consistency. Thankfully Ziaja found me and really has helped in making my dermatitis a bit more manageable.

The oil is fantastic too, my only issue on first using it was that it said it shouldn't be used near the eye area which made me worried if it would sting like nobodies business, Fortunately I took a deep breath and chanced my luck and it was fine. The night I first used it, I had had an allergic reaction to something I had eaten and my right side of my face was swollen, roaring red and hot. The oil left my skin feeling smooth, which was so nice to feel that it had taken away the small dry flakes on my cheeks as I am not meant to exfoliate. What I particularly like about the oil is that it lathers up into a foam when you add water and start to cleanse. Its the little things yanno. Ideally you should use a cotton face cloth or muslin cloth if you have one when using the oil, it'll make the whole experience so much nicer.

So there you have it, a cream and oil  that actually does exactly what it says it will do. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is suffering from sensitive skin and is searching for a cream that will do all of the above. Ziaja do a lot more products, you only have to visit there site
 Ziaja Skincare to view all of them, if you want to order any of their products online I'd recommend using  Original Beauty.ie 

      

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UV Therapy // Part 2

So first of all, to answer everyones question of what exactly is UV therapy, this post will be solely about the the types UV rays that exist, and how they effect the skin and the type of treatment I am doing. So what is UV therapy?

UV therapy is like a sun bed. But it isn't. Basically.

Thats how I've been describing it to friends and anyone who asks me about it. However, the difference between the sunbed you might be using down in your local tanning place, and the magical UV booth that I'm using is that all the harmful stuff, like the UVA and UVB rays are controlled. I hear you say "the hell are those?". Well, I've just gone ahead and done a quick FAQ about it all...

What is UV light/radiation?

Ultraviolet Light is what is omitted from the sun and is made up of UVA and UVB wavelengths or rays. The stuff that makes you tanned and sunkissed during the summer. 

Thats all well and good, but what is UVA and UVB?

Well let me tell you...

> UVB rays are short, powerful and harmful rays that affect the outer layers of the skin. UVB causes sunburn and produces melanin, which gives people a tan. It also damages DNA in the skin, which causes skin cancer.

> UVA rays are long rays that penetrate deep into the skin. UVA damages the skin causing wrinkling, sagging and premature aging. It may also have a role in causing skin cancer.

How does this apply to light therapy though, is there a difference for the therapy?

Yes, actually there is. There are two types of light therapycalled broadband UVB light therapy and UVA light therapy...

>BroadbandUVB therapy has  been used to treat skin conditions since the 1920s. Eczema treatment involves standing in a light box three times per week for a total course of 20 to 30 treatments. The length of the first treatment is determined by a MED light test, after the length of each treatment increases until the skin becomes slightly pink, but never burnt.

>In order for UVA light therapy to be effective, an oral medication, psoralen, is taken an hour before the treatment to make the skin more sensitive to the light therapy. This combination of psoralen and UVA is called PUVA phototherapy. PUVA eczema treatments are given two to three times per week for 12 to 15 weeks. As with UVB, the length of exposure is increased gradually, and weekly maintenance treatments may be given after the first phase of treatment. Some people are unable to tolerate PUVA because of nausea from psoralen.

So what type of of uv therapy are you receiving? 

I am currently receiving UVB light therapy! This is my second course of light therapy, and its going a lot smoother than my first time during the Summer of 2015.

Will you do another post on your experience of the magical light booth? 

Yes. Yes I will 

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