SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer Review

I've been using the SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer every morning (not morning and night as recommended, which may be significant) for a full two months now and I thought it was time I report back. I had been hoping to see a major difference in the level of redness in my skin, particularly on my cheeks. Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case. If there has been a reduction in redness it has been subtle and wouldn't be visible in before and after photographs

What I have noticed is a reduction in the intensity of my flushes. I still get them, but they don't feel as hot or aggressive as before. The acid test would really be to observe what happens after I drink a glass of red wine but I rarely drink red these days in order to avoid palpating cheeks and also because it tends to make me headachey. Typically, my cheeks would flush after only a few mouthfuls and one large glass would be sufficient to make me a purpled-red all the way across my cheeks to my ears and down to my jaw. It also has a tendency to spread down to my chest as well. I might have to indulge in a glass, simply in the interests of thorough research. It's a shame I couldn't hire a VISIA specifically to quantify the red wine effect!

The texture of the redness neutralizer is very nice. It has the feel of a light cream and absorbs readily. I apply it after cleansing and leave it to sink in a little before applying a moisturiser. I do find it to be hydrating and I don't need to apply as much moisturiser, in a similar way to when I use a serum.

Ingredients

Although I've been disappointed in the lack of dramatic results, I have continued to use it and I intend to carry on until the bottle is empty. This will probably take quite a while as a pump and a half is enough to cover my face. I think I've refused to stop using it just in case it has had more of an impact than I realise. I'm particularly interested to see if there's a sudden increase in skin redness after I've stopped using it and of course, I will report back if that is the case.

SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer costs around £70 for 50ml. You can find a list of authorised retailers here.

Disclosure: Press sample

The French Pharmacy Discount Returns to Escentual.com

This is quick heads up that the popular French Pharmacy discount returns to escentual.com today. There's a 1/3 off Vichy, La Roche-Posay and Nuxe. Avene, Klorane, A-Derma, Rene Furterer and Pierre Faber are all reduced by 25% and there's 10% off Caudalie. Great news for those of you that are keen to get your hands on the famed Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

I will be taking advantage of the offer to re-stock on a few basics, particularly because my parents won't be returning to France until May. My Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk is almost empty and I need another tube of the LRP Effaclar AI Targetted Breakout Corrector. Also, Mr. MB wants some more of the Vichy Shaving Foam I bought for him last time the offer was on. As Escentual have recently started carrying the Bioderma range, I might have a look and see if they have the wipes pictured above but for goodness sakes don't grass me up to Mrs Hirons.

Talking of Mrs Hirons, if you haven't already spotted it via Twitter or Caroline's blog, the good lady herself will be holding skin care workshops and one to one consultations at Liberty's on the 12th and 13th March. Caroline is a lovely, extremely entertaining lady and I have immense respect for her knowledge of skin care and problem skin. You can find out more information about the workshops and personal consultations here.

Winter Skincare Routine

Over the last month or so I have added a few new products to my routine so I thought it would be a good time to write an update about what I'm currently using and enjoying. I also wanted to mention a product that hasn't been such a success, which is probably just as useful to share.

MORNING

Nuxe Micellar Foam Cleanser
Before anyone tells me off, yes, yes, I know current wisdom suggests that it's a bad idea to use a foaming cleanser. However, my skin always feels rank if I completely stop using a foaming cleanser as part of my routine. I'm certainly not advocating them for everyone but I do like this one very much. I find the Nuxe similar to the Emma Hardie foaming cleanser in formula but the Nuxe foam feels a little creamier. I bought this from Escentual.com during a 1/3 off French Skincare promotion.

Nourish Radiance Refreshing Toning Mist*
I use this to dampen my face post cleanse, before using either the MuLondon moisturiser or Suti oil. It has quite a powerful spritzing action, a bit too powerful to be honest and it makes me miss the very delicate mist of the Live Native MSM toner.

MuLondon Organic Rose Moisturiser*
I thought it would be nice to revisit this moisturiser as my skin was feeling a little dry and weather beaten. You can find my original review here. It has a solid balm texture which melts with body heat. I tend to scrape up a small amount, melt it between my hands before massaging into my face and neck, which I dampen with toner beforehand. I prefer to dampen my skin as I don't need as much of the moisturiser that way and it makes it easier to spread. 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm*
I'll sometimes use this in the morning if I didn't get opportunity to have a thorough cleanse the night before (see below for an explanation). It always leaves my skin feeling lovely and clean when used in conjunction with a hot flannel.

EVENING

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
I finally allowed myself to re-purchase this old favourite after finishing off all my half used bottles of eye makeup remover. I've dabbled with bi-phasic and micellar removers but I much prefer this light cream formula. It's quick and effective, I also find that it can double as an all over makeup remover when I'm feeling very lazy.

No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser
I've returned to using this cleanser as it's very nearly empty and I'm still on a major drive to use up products. Although this was also an old favourite (I've been through several tubes in the past), I think the love affair is definitely over. I still like the creamy texture but the fragrance is too synthetic and I suspect it irritates my skin very slightly. I much prefer the Pai cleanser and Emma Hardie cleansing balm to this. I'm actually tempted to do the unthinkable and throw it away before it's empty. 

Bioderma Crealine Micellar Water
I've had to use this as a makeup remover quite a lot over the Christmas period. It's not ideal but unfortunately our bathroom backs on to my daughters room and if she's stirring as we go up to bed, running lots of water often wakes her up. I'll take a sticky face over getting her back to sleep any day! As I mentioned above, I will use the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm in the morning to make up for it.
 
Suti Rejuvenate Organic Facial Oil*
Although facial oils seem very popular in the beauty community, it's not something I use very often. I don't think I've ever managed to review an oil as I am incapable of applying daily for a 28 day period. However, an excellent guest review of the Suti Rejuvenate oil on London MakeUp Girl encouraged me to give this a proper try. I apply this in a similar way to the MuLondon moisturiser, I ensure my skin is thoroughly dampened with the toner spray before massaging in several drops of oil. When I use it in the evenings, I find I wake up with beautifully soft skin without a trace of greasiness.

Before I started using the Organic Rose moisturiser in the mornings, I often used the Suti oil and found it an excellent prep for foundation. I find that in winter, foundation can sometimes accentuate dry patches (even when you thought you had none) but both the MuLondon and the Suti oil are very good at counteracting this. The Vapour Soft Focus Skin Perfector is also very good for this.

OCCASIONAL

I noticed there was a bit of theme to these three supplementary items. The short days, winter winds and central heating all do an excellent job of making my skin look rather dull and grey. I use all of these products in the quest for more radiant skin.

Live Native Essential Earth Exfoliating Cleanser*
This lives in my shower and I use it a couple of times a week. It has quite a gentle exfoliating action so it doesn't feel over the top to have this and the exfoliating mask in my routine.

Omorovicza Radiance Renewal Serum*
Before I switched to using the Suti oil, I used this serum to supplement my moisturiser in the evenings. The moisturiser I had been using wasn't sufficiently hydrating on its own and I felt that the  serum helped to counteract this.

Sjal Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask*
I used this on Christmas day and before my night out at the beginning of December. It's an expensive item that I can't see myself replacing, so I feel the need to eke it out! It smells very odd (and not in a good way) but the pay off is smooth, glowing skin. A cheaper, less smelly alternative is the Dr Darren McKeown Mask from Superdrug. 

DIDN'T LOVE

I really wanted to love the Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream and my initial impressions were good. It smells beautiful and the texture is lovely but much richer than you would expect for a light cream. Despite the rich texture, I found it behaved oddly on my skin. Rather than being absorbed or leaving a film, after a couple of minutes it would begin to dry on the surface of my skin. Whilst it didn't exactly make my skin tight, it was an uncomfortable feeling. I would also need to use something else before applying foundation as this left my skin too dry to apply directly. I'm hopeful that I can make it more servicable by adding a drop of oil as I apply it.

Have you discovered any new skincare favourites over the last couple of months or have you been re-united with your old winter favourites?

* The items shown here are a mixture of items purchased by me and PR samples. The samples are all indicated with an asterisk.

November Empties

I've had another flurry of finishing products off recently. Unfortunately, it only includes one makeup item which reminds me that I must update you on my progress with project Use it Up.

The first item that I finished off was my tube of Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre. I quite like the Embryolisse as a fairly bland moisturiser that I turn to if my skin is upset or used in conjunction with other more active products. I know it has a garnered rather a cult status but I wouldn't refer to it as a must have. I can see why it's very useful for makeup artists but I can also understand the 'huh, is that it?' anti-climax from people expecting a wonder cream. I may ask my Mum to replace it when she's next in France but for now, I'm concentrating on using up other products.

The Kneipp Pure Bliss Bath* is something that was actually adopted by my children. I like to think that it helped calm them down before bed. It certainly calmed my nerves whilst bathing them and left them smelling beautiful. They were also quite keen on the fact that it turned the bath water pink. We've replaced it with the Kneipp Lavender Bath product which I find needs to be used more sparingly for the children than the Pure Bliss.

I was really sad to finish both the Live Native Essential Mist MSM Toner* and the Rahua Conditioner. The Live Native has such a beautiful fine misting action and I've appreciated it even more now that I'm using something with a much more vigorous spray. This is something I will definitely replace. The Rahua Conditioner was the first bottle out of the shampoo and conditioner to go but the shampoo isn't far behind. It's not unusual for me to use up two bottles of conditioner to every one shampoo, so I think it's lasted very well. I've loved using the Rahua but in the run up to Christmas, I can't justify the expense of replacing it. I won't rule out repurchasing when I'm feeling more flush though, as it's the nicest 'clean' haircare that I've tried so far.

The last item to go was my Max Factor Second Skin foundation*. When the pump stopped working towards the end, I took to using the tube inside as a spatula. I've always liked this foundation as the finish was between a tinted moisturiser and a foundation on my skin. I believe it has been discontinued now so unfortunately there's no option of replacing it. I do feel a strong urge to try a new winter base but I'm still working at finishing off various bottles of half-filled foundation and tinted moisturiser, so hopefully I will stay strong instead of adding a new bottle to the pile!


Disclosure: Items indicated with an asterisk were originally received as PR samples for review.

Skin Pampering Favourites

On Sunday, I tweeted about a trusted few products that helped perk up my skin and I thought I would share this here too. The majority of these are products that I have been using for a while, they are from a mixture of brands but the combination is a good one and guaranteed to make my skin look better immediately.

I started off with a thorough facial massage with Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm* (if you haven't read Face Goop's recent review, you really should). There's something about the texture and scent of this balm which encourages me to take more time over cleansing that I normally would. To remove the balm, I used a hot flannel which I left on my skin for a moment before wiping everything off. Rinse and repeat.

I followed up my cleanse with a spritz of Live Native Essential Mist MSM Toner*. I've been using this twice a day for a few months now and it's an absolute pleasure to use. It's refreshing, hydrating and smells beautiful. I find the Live Native concept of using raw ingredient in their skincare absolutely fascinating and it makes a lot of sense from a scientific perspective. There are some skincare ingredients that I assume are biological inactive (or unavailable, like collagen) once they hit your skin but oddly I'd never considered the impact of heat during the manufacturing process. It's certainly more food for thought.

With my skin still slightly damp from the Essential Mist toner, I applied a pump of Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator*. I still really rate this and find it does a good job of softening my fine lines, although the fishy smell does limit its popularity. I have to confess that last month I made a terrible mistake whilst using it. In a sleep bleary state I slapped it on moisturiser style, taking it down my neck and decolletage. Later that day, the skin on my chest was covered in fairly large bumps which took over a week to disappear. There's no doubting that the active ingredients in the Activator really are active!

My skin felt really good after using the EH Cleansing Balm, Live Native Essential Mist and Face Firming Activator and I consider these three to be a golden combination for my skin. Alongside the massage and the hot flannel, of course. Although my skin felt well hydrated at this point, I finished off with a moisturiser out of habit. I've just started using the Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream so I will refrain from my making any comments but I will say that its scent did an excellent job of masking the post-Perricone smell. I also used the Zelens Triple-Action eye cream* which I previously reviewed here. Job done!

Do you have any trusted face favourites?

* PR Samples

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

Clinique Even Better Eyes has been a bit of a life saver for me recently. This peachy cream instantly gives the effect of brightening my dark circles and the unusual applicator nozzle is so cooling and soothing, it's very relaxing to apply. Given that my sleep is always disturbed and school problems have had me holding back the tears, you can see why something like this is a bit of a God send!

I'm not sure it has any lasting effects on the darkness under my eyes, I suspect that a lot more sleep and a better diet are the only way I'm going to make a serious difference. It is silicone based so I know it won't suit everybody. However, the soothing and instant brightening are quite sufficient for me to give it a big Mummy thumbs up.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector costs £28 for 10ml.

Disclosure: press sample

Current Skin Care Routine

I've been in a non-testing phase with skin care for the last month or so. I don't expect it to last, and I already have a few new things I intend to test for review, but sometimes it is nice to have a break and use things that I already know suit my skin. I'm also keen to use up some of my opened products.

This is just a general overview of the products I'm using. I have reviewed quite a few of the items mentioned and I will include the links where available.

Morning Routine

Face Wash - Själ Balans Deep Pore Cleanser* or Lise Watier HydraSmart Foaming Wash. It's important to mention that foaming face wash DOES NOT suit everybody. However, I like to use one as part of my routine and never use one that makes my skin feel tight or stripped. Neither of these are my favourite but I'm determined to use them up.

Toner - A spritz of Mineral Källa Energy Tonic* or Pai Bioaffinity Rice Plant & Rosemary Toner before moistuiser. I was a little disappointed by the Pai Toner, I wanted to love it but I think it doesn't suit my skin type. It has a slightly odd smell too which I don't get on with. I imagine I would have had more success with the hydrating version.

Moisturiser - I had been using the Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion* but finished this up recently. I purchased the Avene Antirougers Jours SPF 20 as a replacement.

Eye Cream - Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Firming Eye Cream*. I'm on the fence about this cream, but I do think I have particularly fussy eyes. It feels nice and is fine if I apply during the day. If I apply at night, I wake up with a swollen undereye area. This is a problem I have experienced with most eye creams and the Zelens and BcomBio Serum are the only ones I have found so far that do not do this.

Evening Routine

Eye Makeup Remover - Gemey Eye makeup remover or Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover. I used up my first bottle of the Gemey and am on to my second bottle. The Botanics is not to my taste, it's a bi-phase oil based remover, but I feel duty bound to use it up. It does remove heavy eye makeup swiftly which is in its favour.

Makeup Removal - Bioderma on lazy days, Zelens Radiance Cleaner* for most days and Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm* and a hot flannel when I feel like I need a thorough cleanse. Sometimes, I use the Moringa balm the morning after the night before. I'm not confessing to sleeping in my makeup but I will admit to being slap dash on occasion.

Second Cleanse - Face Wash, as above.

Moisturiser - Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser. Now that I've finished this completely, I'm having a go with the Suti Rejuvenate Organic Facial Oil*. If you want to know what prompted me to give it a try, please read the excellent guest review on London MakeUp Girl.

Eye Cream - Zelens Advanced Eye Cream*

Extras

Exfoliation - It's a long time since I routinely used a physical exfoliant but I received a little sample of the Pai Kukui and Jojoba Bead Exfoliator with an order. It's really enjoyable to use and feels a lot like using a cleansing balm but with texture. The first time I used it, it felt like it left a slight film on my skin after rinsing, so on subsequent uses I removed with a warm flannel. I've used up my sample now and I am considering buying the full size.

Glycolic Acid Treatments - Now, before I start worrying you by writing about two different products, I promise that I am not overdoing it with AHAs. I never use a glycolic acid treatment more than three times a week. I've ended up switching between two different products because I'm forgetful and the time of day that I remember dictates which product I use. If I remember in the morning, I use the Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator, and if I remember in the evening, I use Alpha H Liquid Gold*. Texture wise, my preference is for the Perricone Serum but the Liquid Gold is very quick and allows me to skip moisturising in the evening.

As usual, what seems like quite a simple routine, looks quite product heavy when written down like this. I hope it's useful, even if it is a little ramble-y. What products are you using at the moments? Do you have any recommendations or products you've found disappointing? 

* PR Samples

Zelens Skin Care Review

When it comes to skin care, I am particularly drawn to smart botanical formulations. The Zelens range, described as an 'eco-responsible skincare line', was created by Dr. Mark Lens. Dr. Lens is a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon with expert knowledge of skin cancer and skin ageing at a molecular level. It was this understanding of skin ageing that led him to develop his own range of cosmeceuticals. The range is compact but it's obvious that a lot of though has gone into each formulation.

The products that I have been trialling from the Zelens range are the Radiance Luminous Facial Cleanser (£40), 3t Complex Essential Anti-Ageing Cream (£95) and Triple Action Advanced Eye Cream (£75). Something that struck me early on in testing all three products, was how nice the textures were to apply. They all feel really luxurious and have a delicate botanical fragrance and whilst you'd probably expect that from high end products, it isn't a given.

The Radiance Cleanser has been really enjoyable to use. It made me appreciate how much I favour milky cleansers over thicker balms. Most of the time my makeup is light enough not to require heavy duty, oil-based cleanser so this kind of texture works well for me. It does seem to have a touch of oil to it (maybe the Camelia Seed Oil), so that it cuts through makeup easily but still rinses away easily like a milk without leaving any residue. As always, I dispense cleanser into my hand, warm up between my palms before massaging all over the face and I remove using a warm, damp muslin cloth or flannel. The Radiance Cleanser will remove eye makeup but I prefer to do this with a separate eye makeup remover.

Radiance Cleanser Ingredients

The 3t Complex Anti-Ageing Cream is a hydrating cream moisturiser which feels beautiful. Although it is quite rich, it glides on and doesn't feel greasy (the formula does contain silicone). When I was trialling it, I applied both morning and night. I felt that it really plumped out my skin, making my crinkles look less obvious. Unfortunately, it obviously was a little too rich for my combination skin, as I did experience some congestion on my chin. I wanted to believe it wasn't as a result of the cream but like a good scientist, I swapped the cream for the Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion for a week and the congestion disappeared. Although I loved using it, I think this cream is probably best suited to drier skin types than mine.

3t Complex Cream Ingredients

The star of this trio for me is the Triple Action Advanced Eye Cream. The texture is really interesting and probably best described as a gel-cream hybrid. I really struggle with eye creams, I've tried quite a few now and many of them leave my eyes puffy in the morning if I apply them before bed. The Zelens cream doesn't make my eye puffy and I'm convinced it improved the appearance of my undereye area. Nothing is likely to eradicate all of the creases I have on the outer corners but the lines were definitely softened. It also provides a good base to apply concealer.

Triple Action Advanced Eye Cream

One thing that I must mention about this Eye Cream is the unusual sensation when I apply it. I find that when I initially apply it to the skin, it stings a little. Of course, this freaked me out the first time having had reactions before, but I fought the urge to wash it off immediately. Fortunately, the sensation is fleeting. I also find that I don't feel it as much if I apply to damp skin, although I suppose I am diluting it when I do this. I am assuming this tingling sensation is down to an ingredient that is designed to plump out the skin, but I admit I can't immediately see anything on the ingredients list that I know would do that. I'd be really interested to hear from others that have used this eye cream and whether they have had the same experience. It is entirely possible that I am an oddity. No comments necessary!

I won't dance around the fact that these are expensive items. However, if they are within your skin care budget, I think the brand is definitely worth a look. Both the face and eye cream come in reasonably quantities (50ml and 15ml respectively) and based on the amounts I have used, applying morning and night for just over a month, I would expect the face cream to last 3-4 months and the eye cream to last around 6 months. Would I buy any of these products myself? I would definitely put my hands in my pocket for the Triple Action Eye Cream and have already recommended it to friends. I really like the cleanser too but I think it would be easy to use it up very quickly.

Zelens skin care products are available from SpaceNK and beautybay.com. You can find out more about the Zelens range, including detailed information about the active ingredients and a glossary of the plants used in the formulations, on Zelens.com

Disclosure: These items were sent to me without cost for review purposes.

Själ, So Good

My 'me' time has been very limited recently and this has the effect of making me more grumpy than normal. I have hit upon a new technique for making sure I do find time to pamper my face. I know it isn't novel and I'm probably the last person to catch on, but I've taken to slapping face masks whilst I do the cleaning. It's Mum multi-tasking at its very best.

The products that I have been pampering myself with for the last couple of weeks are from the Själ Skincare line. This premium, mineral based skincare brand contains some rather interesting and expensive ingredients. This is my way of preparing you for the prices. You may want to start buttering up your Sugar Daddy now!

The Själ Holiday Essentials set that I was sent to try contains both the Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask and Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask (it also contains their Balans Deep Pore Cleanser). I tend to apply these masks one after the other: I apply the exfoliating mask first to a freshly cleansed face, followed by the perfecting mask. It is recommended that you leave both masks on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.

The Pearl Enzyme exfoliating mask is my favourite of the two in terms of results. It has a similar feel and effect to the Dr Darren McKeown mask that I have reviewed previously, however the grains are more refined and less scratchy than the Dr Darren version. The Pearl Enzyme mask also dries down on the skin a little too. The exfoliating mask does have a bit of a strange and not entirely pleasant odour. I've tried and failed to pinpoint exactly what it is but it is worth putting up with the smell for the super smooth skin it reveals once rinsed off with a damp cloth.

The Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask is a thing of beauty. It looks and smells divine, it also contains some rather impressive ingredients. According to the blurb on the packaging, it contains 'Chinese herbs, silk proteins and blue lotus to protect, soften, calm & tone while increasing oxygen uptake. Gold, platinum & GABA amino acid for firming; sapphire and bio-tissue salts for cell regeneration & pore minimization'. Although it promises much, I think most of these benefits are pretty hard to judge on a personal level. Certainly, the improvements to my skin aren't as easy to see and feel as the Pearl Enzyme.

The two other items from Själ that I have been using are not new to me. As I mentioned above, the Balans Deep Pore Cleanser is included in the Holiday Essentials set and I have been reunited with my old favourite, Mineral Källa Energy Tonic. The Mineral Tonic has been reformulated and it's still as good as ever. The refreshing and hydrating feel of this mist is just as I remember. I'm not a big toner fan generally but this is definitely the mayonnaise in my chicken sandwich (analogy shamelessly stolen from the Beauty Mouth).

Although no one has said so, I suspect that the Balans Deep Pore Cleanser has also been reformulated. I find this formula doesn't foam at all and it has lost that chilly menthol after-zing. I haven't used this as much as the other Själ products as I had anticipated the cleanser would be too 'strong' for my skin based on previous experience. As this seems to be a more gentle formulation, I will continue to use this and report back.

I don't necessarily think you need to be going on holiday to appreciate the items in the Holiday Essentials set, of course, combining it with housework is strictly optional too. I can't find this set online but individually the items cost: £124 for the Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask, £128 for the Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask and £47 for the Balans Deep Pore Cleanser. My favourite Själ product remains the Mineral Källa Energy Tonic (£47) and it's something I would feel happy replacing when I run out. Previous experience tells me that it lasts months. As nice as the masks are, I really struggle once prices go above my £50/60 threshold for skincare items.

Själ is available from Zuneta and Harvey Nichols in the UK. You can find details of other stockist Worldwide on the Själ website.

Disclosure: These items were sent to me without cost for review purposes.

Omorovicza Balancing Moisturiser and the Radiance Renewal Serum

The name Omorovicza has been popping up on radar quite a lot recently. My perception of the brand was of luxurious skincare without any of the ridiculous claims that seem so popular these days. If you promise me more radiant, supple skin without suggesting I'm going to look 10 years younger or that I'm applying botox in a jar, I'm a happy lady. So, when approached, I was very keen to see how the brand would match up to my expectations.

The products I was sent to try are the Radiance Renewal Serum and Balancing Moisturiser. As you can see, there has been much attention to detail in the presentation and packaging. I like that both the serum and moisturiser come with a pump dispenser. In the case of the moisturiser, I find it best to depress the pump slowly to dispense the exact amount that I require, as a full pump is more than I need for both my face and neck. Although I have been using these products for a month, I've still got plenty left as you can see in the pictures. They are expensive items and probably more than I would normally spend on skincare, but it's clear that they will last a good while.

The serum has a nice fluid-gel consistency and is easy to spread. I find it sinks into my skin without leaving a film. The Balancing Moisturiser has a really light texture and I find it very hydrating. It's a little thicker than a lotion and feels really fresh and cooling when applied. Both of the products have a fresh 'cologne' like scent which I enjoy.

I discovered that the serum and moisturiser have very compatible textures and I will confess to pumping them both out together and mixing them between my fingers in order to apply in a single step. I find that the combination of the serum and moisturiser have left my skin hydrated and more 'fresh' looking which is impressive considering how tired I really am. For best effect, I think I probably need to use these in combination with a good anti-ageing night cream, as I felt my fine lines became more noticeable.

The Balancing Moisturiser is designed to hydrate the skin without leaving a shiny T-zone. My skin has been getting a little shiny on the chin and forehead by mid-afternoon. However, it's really hard to say if the moisturiser is at fault or if the combination of using a separate sunscreen plus the heat of the last couple of weeks is the real culprit. I suspect in Autumn/Winter I would be less likely to experience such breakthrough.

Radiance Renewal Serum

Balancing Moisturiser

I've included the ingredients list for both products for completeness. Omorovicza use Hungarian Thermal Water as a key ingredient in all of their products. You can read more about the idea behind using minerals in skincare here. As an aside, if you're interested in the power of thermal water you might enjoy reading Musing About Beauty's guest post about the benefits of Avene Thermal Water.

The Ormorovizca Balancing Moisturiser costs £74 for 50ml and the Radiance Serum costs £68 for 30ml. The products are available direct from the Ormorovicza website, as well as Cult Beauty and Liberty in the UK.

Disclosure: These products were sent to me without charge for review consideration.

Guest Reviewing on A Model Recommends

Today I am very honoured to be guesting for Ruth on A Model Recommends. The subject of the post is a review of the Perricone MD Radiant Skin Collection pictured above, and includes my thoughts on the (rather marvellous) Advanced Face Firming Activator. I'd love it if you went along for a read, although you might want to put the kettle on first, it is a bit of an epic!

For anyone interested in the product ingredients you can click on the image below to enlarge. 

Edward Bess Radiant Lifting Serum

This post is so overdue, I feel a little embarrassed. I try and use any new skin care product for 28 days before reviewing. In this case, I 'tested' the Edward Bess Black Sea Radiant Lifting Serum for a month, started a new cycle with another serum and I'm almost ready to review the new one. So, if it seems like I'm reviewing a lot of skin care all at once, I am but I promise I'm not cheating on my 'rules'. I'm just slow!

Anyway, with that confession out of the way, let's talk about the Black Sea Radiant Lifting Serum. I'm rather taken with the packaging, it's stylish in a masculine kind of way. The pump dispenser makes it easy not to waste product too. The texture is like a slightly milky gel which becomes more watery on contact with the skin. The more watery texture allows it to glide on the skin and it feels pleasantly cooling. I do find that it sometimes feels slightly tacky as it dries: I like to wait for a minute or too between applying serum and moisturiser to allow it to absorb and minimise dilution of any active ingredients. This sticky feeling disappears as soon as I apply my moisturiser. 

I wouldn't say this serum made my skin more radiant. I think you either need something with a slight peeling effect or light reflective particles to do that. However, what it did do was hydrate my skin sufficiently to plump out my fine lines so that they looked less obvious. It is perhaps unsurprising that the only active ingredient that I really recognise on the ingredients list is sodium hyaluronate, which does help skin hold onto water.
 
The benefits of the Black Sea Serum are transient but I like how it feels and, as someone that suffers with dehydrated but not dry skin, I really appreciate a product that hydrates my skin without leaving me with a greasy face.  I also like that it doesn't include any silicones, instead they use ethylhexyl palmitate as an ingredient to provide slip. I do think it is a little on the expensive side at £50 but on a positive note, it is £50 for 47ml so the bottle will last quite a while.

It's hard for me not to feel the urge to compare the Black Sea Radiant Lifting Serum to the Dr. Perricone Advanced Face Firming Activator that I'm currently using but this is an unfair comparison. The two serums have quite different functions. The Perricone is a lot more active, refining the skin and improving existing signs of ageing whereas the Black Sea Serum is good for hydrating the skin and cosmetically improves the appearance using 'natural' extracts rather than refined active ingredients*. In fact, I have started to use the Black Sea Radiant Lifting Serum on the days which I do not use the Advanced Face Firming Activator and this seems to suit my skin well.

EDIT: I've brooded on this one overnight and really wanted to come back and add a few more thoughts. This serum is OK but the ingredients list is not really worthy of a £50 price tag. I was also really disappointed to find the Made in Taiwan sticker on a product from a luxury brand. I think you can find better products in this price bracket. 

The Edward Bess Black Sea Radiant Lifting Serum is available from Zuneta and costs £50.


Disclosure: This items were sent to me without cost for review purposes.

* I really hesitate to use the word natural. I desperately need to find an alternative as I think the word natural is frequently misused in the beauty industry. In this case, I'm referring to the fact they use extracts rather than purified chemicals. It is worth noting how far the ingredients list these extracts appear.

Stuff

I thought it would be nice to have a general catch up today. I spent a huge amount of time battling with technology yesterday (I won on most fronts with the exception of our home phone line) so I lost quite a bit of swatching time. I'm not sure I'll get much opportunity to catch up today either.

Last weekend I caved and finally bought myself a Kindle. In all honesty, I bought it because I'm impatient and I desperately wanted to read some of the books that were recommended to me as a result of this post. I'd finished Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult with only an hour left before the shops shut and somehow buying a Kindle seemed the most sensible solution. I don't regret it at all. Granted, it's not the same as reading a book but it is very convenient. I've already finished The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler (excellent once you get past the strange choice of tense) and I'm currently catching up on some Tempe Brennan.

In an even more unusual turn for me, I've bought some running shoes. I gave them their first outing yesterday, I ache a bit today but it was nowhere near as hard as I expected. I'm using the NHS Couch to 5K podcasts to get me started. I've no end in mind, I just want to improve my fitness and lose some weight.

I'm normally quite reserved about sharing products before rigorous testing but I'm afraid I couldn't contain myself in this case. I'm especially excited about to show you colours from the Lancôme Rouge in Love* and Vernis in Love* collection, hence the sneaky peek above. Skincare wise, I have some items from Ormorvicza* and Perricone MD* to try, so you can expect reviews in due course. As an aside, I spotted that Cult Beauty have a lovely GWP with any Ormorvicza orders over £30 from today which is worth a look if you're interested in the line.

I bought some lovely Antipodes products whilst I was on holiday (I'm a sucker for the GWPs!), I tried the Aura Manuka Honey mask last night and I really like it. I actually wished I'd bought their night cream too as it felt beautiful and I suspect that will niggle away until make a purchase.

Finally, I wanted to share something that my husband will probably kill me for posting. He was away for a conference this week and returned home, to much ribbing, with this...

Apparently that bit at the top that looks like a lump of coal is a Blue John crystal. As much as I made fun of the award, I'm rather proud of my geeky husband for winning a prize. I think he was pretty chuffed with the £100 cheque too.

What have you been up to over the past week? Do you have any exciting news to share?


Disclosure: The items marked with * are PR samples.

Lanolips Triple Buttermilk Body Balm

Up until recently my only experience of Lanolips was their tinted 101 lip ointments. I know opinion seems to be divided but I really like the lip ointments. I have mentioned before that I often used Lansinoh nipple cream as an overnight treatment to repair my lips but the Lanolips formula is infinitely less gritty!

The Triple Buttermilk Body Balm is one of the new editions to the line along with the Herbal Body Treatment Oil. The Body Balm comes in a large squeezy tube and has a medium thickness cream consistency. I find it spreads easily for a balm product and the moisturising feel is long lasting. I use it on my legs post shave and also on my hands when they are feeling particularly chapped. I regularly use it on Miss MB's very dry skin too. She proffers a leg now whenever she sees the tube!

I have to say that I am a little addicted to the scent. It's not a particularly strong fragrance but there's something about the smell which transports me back to being a little girl. It is a comforting sweet powdery smell and I'm still struggling to bring to mind exactly what it reminds me of.  

The Triple Buttermilk Body Balm costs £14 for 170ml and is available from www.victoriahealth.com and Zuneta.


Disclosure: This item was sent to me without cost for review purposes.

Guest Post: Why Avene Thermal Water is not just water in a spray bottle, and other miracle skincare stories

We have a guest post today from the very lovely Musing about Beauty. Mariella lives in Belgium and I secretly hoped she would pick a European pharmacy favourite as her subject. She hasn't disappointed! I've got a cup of tea on hand and I'm about to settle down for an interesting read.

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I was thrilled when our lovely host invited me to guest post here, and my first question was: what shall I tell them about. «The world is your oyster, subject wise» she said. There, I had a learned a new English expression, yet I was still subject free. Until I remembered one of my pet peeves that regularly comes up in YouTube videos and beauty blog: people saying that Avène Thermal Water is just water in a spray bottle.

Actually, people will say that about pretty much any thermal water in spray bottle, and I don’t know about all the others, but if we’re speaking about Avene, they’re wrong. And I thought it would be good to explain why, given that I’m currently using that product myself at this very moment and it is my saviour in a time of very upset skin.

So, what is «thermal water» exactly.

In order to be declared thermal, a spring water must be naturally mineralized and suitable for therapeutic use. It has a particular content in minerals and trace elements, as well as a particular temperature and flow, which all contribute to the healing properties. It must also have verified results on particular skin disorders.

The Avene Spring Water comes from very deep in the ground and is from very ancient rainfalls, yet there is still a huge quantity available (good for us). It undergoes no chemical treatment so its composition is not altered.

What is the Avene Spring Water good for?

Avène is a little thermal city in France, and each year, thousands of people go there to treat their skin issues. The Avene water is proven to reduce inflammation and irritation (itching), and to accelerate healing. It is particularly useful for:
- burn-related scarring
- follow-up to dermatological treatments
- psoriasis
- eczema and dermatitis
- ichtyosis (a hereditary condition of dry skin with lots of itching)

The Avène water has been used for over 200 years in skin healing treatments and has been declared of public benefit in 1874; it is well-known by dermatologists and cures at the Avène Thermal Stations are mostly prescribed by a doctor.

Ok, but what’s in it for me?

If you get Avene Thermal Water Spray just to set your makeup, clearly, you’re spending unnecessary money on something that you won’t find special.
However, if you suffer from dryness, sensitivity or eczema, you can definitely include this water in your daily skincare routine to help relieve your skin.
Simply spray the water on your face after your cleansing routine, and gently pat a towel to dry your skin (no rubbing, ladies, it’s irritating!), then follow with your skincare products (and if necessary, use the Avene products recommended for your skintype and condition: these also contain the Avene Spring Water)

Being seriously addicted to trying new beauty products, it is bound to happen that I, once in a while, would get a reaction to something new that I am trying. Every time that happens, I remove the culprit from my face and spray with Avene Thermal water - it always helps my skin calm down really quickly.

If the water is particularly hard where you live, you can use the Avene Water to rinse off your face after you’ve washed it with tap water: it will help your skin restore its balance. If you suffer from dryness a lot, you can even skip tap water altogether and cleanse your skin using micellar water then Avene Water, and you’re good to go!
I have actually been doing that myself lately, as my skin was seriously dehydrated after Winter and the tap water was really giving me a hard (no pun intended) time. It made such a difference over the course of 3-4 days, it is truly amazing!

It’s a kind of magic.

The composition of the Avene Thermal Water being well-known, scientists have recreated it artificially, which is actually pretty easy to do.
It turned out the copycat water just didn’t do the job.
It looks like, when it comes to thermal water, the real deal is more than the addition of its components. How interesting is that?

Intense Triple Action Eye Contour Cream from BcomBIO Organic

This does have a very long name and I'm still not sure I've written the brand name correctly but this eye cream is worth mentioning, so I'll crack on! I bought the BcomBIO Organic Intense eye cream on my trip to France last year. I was actually searching for their firming serum but I picked this up as an alternative: eye creams are something that are sadly lacking in my routine. I've had some strange reaction to eye products in the past and I will admit that I tend to be forgetful about applying them regularly.

I've been forgetful about using this too and it has sat neglected in my bedside cabinet for months. I randomly pulled it out the other day after another broken nights sleep and it felt blissful! I'm not the only one who likes it either. The pump got a little jammed up having sat unused so I accidentally dispensed too much and generously donated the excess to Mr MB (I don't like being wasteful). Later that day he randomly commented on how nice it had felt and he's been using it regularly since then.

I can't really comment on the efficacy: I've not been using it for long enough plus using any cream is going to make any improvement to my eye contour area as it was definitely dehydrated. What I can say with conviction is this feels very soothing and refreshing and that feeling lasts after the initial application. It has a pleasing fluid texture, it's a somewhere between a gel and a lotion in feel and it doesn't cause any puffiness. You can find more details about the active ingredients here.

If you're going over to France over Easter or even over the summer, I can recommend having a look for this brand. I bought this from the pharmacy within the Carrefour at Cité Europe but I imagine you will find it in most of the larger pharmacies. It costs 18.90€ which is approximately £16. I noticed that can buy it from leguidesante.co.uk and www.mondebio.co.uk if you're in the UK but I can't vouch for either of these sites as I haven't purchased from them myself.

PS. If you fancy bit of French pharmacy shopping without leaving home, don't forget that Escentuals.com have a 1/3 off Avene, Vichy, La Roche Posay, Klorane and A-Derma until the end of this month.

Recent Empties

I've been collecting up my empties for the last month or so. This is partly for me to keep an eye on how quickly I finish products up. Not at any great rate it would seem and there is a very woeful amount of makeup in this batch. I've linked to previous reviews wherever I can.

The lone makeup item is my RMK Super Basic Liquid concealer. I was quite sad when I realised it was empty as this has been my favourite undereye concealer. It has lasted such a long time as I've swapped and changed, trying others along the way but I always returned to this one. I know I probably should have just replaced it but I couldn't resist trying something new and I've put in an order for the Ellis Faas S202 that I tried last year.

There are quite a few hair bits and pieces that I finished off recently. I've had the Pureology Hydrate shampoo* for a long time but I started using it again when my scalp took against the John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo (it smells gorgeous but caused spots on my scalp and hairline). It's SLS free and really hydrating, the only negative is that it does take a bit of effort to rinse out thoroughly.

I've gone through several rounds of the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette shampoo and conditioner. I've used it to try and fight the brassiness/ginger glow that I suffer with now I'm only colouring my roots. The conditioner is ok but it's not quite rich enough to tackle my tangled locks.

Including the Bed Head Mega Whip* is cheating really but it was in amongst the other containers for the recycle bin. I received this as a PR sample and Mr. MB seems to have taken his reviewing duties here very seriously, he clearly scraped out every last drop. He's been dropping unsubtle hints about me replacing it for him so it's obviously been a hit.

The I Love My Muff wash* lastest longer than I expected for a small bottle. I'm not going to embarrass myself by explaining the line all over again (you can read about it in my original post) but I surprised myself by permanently switching to using this in preference to my regular shower gel. I mentioned in my review that the products are a bit on the expensive side, so I'm not sure yet whether I will replace this. It's somehow easier to justify splurges on.....erm, other areas!

The last few items are all skincare products. The Naked Truth AHA Cleanser* has had a name and packaging change since I originally reviewed it. The line is now called Dr. Darren McKeown and the simple packaging has been replaced by busy molecular structures. The line does seem to have struggled to find a market as I predicted in my initial review and the products are always reduced in price. In fact, you can currently buy this AHA Cleanser for £6.40 which is staggering considering the original RRP was £17.99. I do wonder what the future is for these products.

I was sad when I realised I'd pumped the last drop from my Pai Cleanser*. It has lasted really well and has become a staple of my routine. This is one item I will definitely replace. It smells beautiful and has been a joy to use at the end of the day. It's also really useful to have as I know that even if I have irritated skin, I can still use this to remove my makeup without it making any redness worse.

The last item is a mini Night Cream that came in a set I received as a gift last year. It's from The Body Shop's Nutriganics range. It started out in my soap bag for use away from home but drifted into general use. I wouldn't say it's especially fancy but I found it pleasant to use and not so rich that it caused congestion or greasy face in the morning.

What have you been using up recently? Are you good at making sure you use everything up?


*Items originally received as PR Sample.

Guest Post: Give your skin a break

I'm pleased to be able to let a really lovely lady take over today, with such an excellent choice of topic too. Nic of Strawberry Blonde Beauty Blog has been inspiring my beauty purchases for a long time now (we go back beyond the blogging days). Nic is more than just a great beauty blogger, she's an all round good egg and has held my hands through some difficult parenting moments, for which I am extremely grateful. Anyway, without further ado, I will leave you in Nic's very capable hands.

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Thank you Jane for inviting me to guest blog… I am honoured!

Sometimes I lie in bed at night mentally listing the number of skincare and beauty products I use daily… a number which, unsurprisingly, has increased since I started beauty blogging.

I’m passionate about skincare and have used it religiously since my late teens. I care about what I put on my skin, research it thoroughly, and spend as much as I can afford on what I believe are the best products for me. I’m fickle too… I get bored easily and even if something is working for me, I always want to try the latest wonder product I’ve heard about. At times I’ve used poor quality products (for financial reasons) and while I know quality doesn’t always equate with cost, my skin has suffered as a result – and improved when I returned to ‘the good stuff’!

What has never occurred to me until recently, is that maybe all this goodness I’m applying to my face twice daily isn’t always so good for me. Maybe my skin feels overworked, or perhaps there really can be too much of a good thing? Hormone fluctuations can occur throughout key stages of our lives, like puberty, pregnancy and menopause, but factors such as contraception, diet and stress can play a big part too and it’s definitely true that our skin reflects what’s going on inside.

Several months ago I tweeted about a skin flare up and Pai Skincare responded. I’d previously had no contact with Pai, though I was familiar with the brand through reading reviews by some of my favourite bloggers.

Sarah Brown, founder and owner of Pai asked me about the exact condition of my skin and requested a list of every product I used at the time. She then researched potential allergens or irritants within the product ingredients and came back to me with some advice.

The main thing she thought I ought to do was give my skin a complete break from complicated skincare. When the owner of a highly respected skincare brand suggests this, you sit up and listen! I was both surprised and humbled by Sarah’s advice and would like to personally thank her for the time she took to advise someone who at that point, had never even tried her products. (I since have and love them, though Pai held off sending them until my skin was back to normal!)
This was Sarah’s advice, which she agreed to let me share in this post…

“Even the most robust of skin can develop sensitivities to ingredients that it may have previously been tolerant to. These sensitivities can be caused by hormone fluctuations, stress, illness, tiredness or overuse of particularly harsh or active cosmetics.



In all cases I'd recommend first giving your skin a rest.



While all beauty lovers want to sample a wide variety of skincare classics & new innovations, chopping and changing products regularly can leave skin very confused and out of balance.



As it responds to the varying oil levels in each, your skin adjusts its own oil production to reach an equilibrium. If this happens too often, your skin simply can't keep up, and can breakout, dry-out or develop a red reaction.



Allow your skin to rediscover its natural balance, and protect this with gentle products.



Increasing your intake of Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3,6&9) can also help calm and condition your skin from the inside out, as they are powerful anti-inflammatories. Oily fish, seeds and nuts are great dietary sources, or you can opt for 1-2 tsps of organic Hemp or Flaxseed oil a day.”

Sarah Brown, Pai Skincare

With the EFA (omega oils), try and buy out of a fridge in your health food store and store it the same way at home. If they're on a shelf in a shop it's not a good sign and are best avoided. These oils are very prone to degradation and you want to take them in their most 'active' fresh form.

Obviously I had to keep cleansing and moisturising my skin at the time, so I used the most simple products I had, which at that time were Purity organic cleanser and moisturiser. Next time I’ll use a gentle natural oil, such as Jojoba; Pai products or Neal’s Yard Calendula Cleanser. 

I also minimised the amount of makeup I wore at the time, so that my skin could breathe. Products such as Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint or Estee Lauder’s new BB cream are perfect for this, along with a slick of mascara and gloss. My skin definitely benefited from this whole process. The sore spots and under-skin bumps cleared up and my face returned to normal.

While I still test new skincare products for my blog, I’m now much more careful about how I introduce them, adding one new product to my regime at a time, so that if I have a negative reaction, it’s easier to figure out what’s caused it. And in between switching to a new range, I’ll stick to basic, gentle products for a week or two, to avoid throwing my skin out of balance.

Have you given your skin a break recently or is it something you’d consider?

I hope this has been helpful… thank you for reading – and thanks again to Jane for letting me post on one of my favourite beauty blogs!
Nic x

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

I have been using Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser by Pai Skincare for a couple of months now. The cleanser is recommended for all skin types and comes with an exfoliating muslin cloth. I always remove cream cleansers with a damp muslin and I have never tried using this with cotton wool so my review is based only on this method of removal. It is possible to use this on cotton wool to remove eye makeup but I haven't used it this way.

I really like the dispensing mechanism and find it's very easy to use even with slippery hands. One pump dispenses enough to remove all of my makeup completely. I tend it rub it between my palms to warm slightly before massaging over my face. The cleanser has a nice creamy consistency and has a lovely rose scent. It cuts through makeup quickly and removes eye makeup too (not all mascara though). It's easy to remove all traces of makeup and cleanser using the muslin cloth.

I was reluctant to try the muslin to start with. It's made of unbleached material and felt quite stiff, I feared that it would be too abrasive (I have damaged my skin in the past using cloths that were too rough) but I need not have worried. Once the cloth is damp it is soft and I find it to be of very good quality. It has enough texture to gently exfoliate the skin and remove the cleanser without feeling scratchy.

The cleanser leaves my skin feeling thoroughly clean and hydrated. Although the details on the box say that you do not need to use a separate moisturiser at night after using this, I always use a moisturiser after cleansing. This is partly force of habit but I'm not sure the cleanser would be enough on it's own for my skin.

Ingredients (from the Pai website)
Aqua, camellia sinensis leaf oil*, ricinus communis seed oil*, prunus amygdalus dulcis oil*, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin*, butyrospermum parkii butter*, cetearyl glucoside, sodium anisate, mixed tocopherols, rosa damascena oil*, pelargonium graveolens flower oil*, sodium levulinate, lavandula angustifolia oil*, lactic acid, litsea cubeba fruit oil*, sodium lauroyl lactylate.

The Camellia & Rose cleanser is suitable for all skin types including sensitive and allergy-prone skin. As with all Pai products it is free from irritating chemicals, artificial fragrance and alcohol and the products are certified organic by the Soil Association. The Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser (100ml) plus cloth costs £25. Pai Skincare is available from www.beingcontent.com and www.lovelula.com as well as their own website.


Disclosure: PR Sample