Yay & Nay: Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream & Perfecting Beauty Balm

When I think of Simple, I instantly think 'face wipes' In my early teens my cleansing routine was a Simple face wipe morning and night. The thought makes me shudder now but they served me well. I've always had sensitive skin but the wipes never caused me any irritation and I was lucky enough to escape the spotty teen phase, so, for me they worked perfectly well. Simple have expanded their range since then though and as we all know, when a beauty blogger goes food shopping at Tesco, a few beauty bits always end up in the trolley.

Let's get the nay out of the way first

Simple Perfecting Beauty Balm: The universal shade of this is extremely orange but fear not as it does blend out, to nothing. Seriously, there's no coverage whatsoever. After testing it out I was met with ''do you know you have glitter all over your face?'' I have no problem with bases containing shimmer but this was something else. Not only does it offer zero coverage but if your skin is even the slightest bit dry, avoid like the plague. So as you can guess, the finish is matte which teens with oily skin will appreciate BUT, the shimmer overload and lack of coverage is going to highlight any spots you might have. It's not all bad news though as it does contain SPF15 and evens skin tone to a certain extent but unless you have oily skin with no imperfections, I can't imagine you'll be pleased with the result.

Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream: This moisturiser is lightweight which again makes it a great product for oily skin or Summer when moisturisers tend to feel a bit too heavy and slip around under foundation. For me it isn't moisturising enough on it's own so what I do is apply a small amount on top of whatever moisturiser I'm using. It contains the same shimmer as the Beauty Balm but because I use it under foundation I don't end up with disco face. In my opinion it's way too shimmery to be used alone but makes a great illuminating primer. I also dab a small amount on my cheekbones after foundation, it creates a gorgeous subtle sheen that catches the light but never looks OTT. If my skin starts looking a bit tired and dull as the day goes on, I just pat on some more. It never feels heavy and hydrates any dehydration lines that can creep up on us around the eye/cheekbone area.

Have you tried either of these products?

Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream, 7.99 & Perfecting Beauty Balm, 8.99 both available from www.tesco.com

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Filorga Time-Filler Eyes

'An absolute eye correction cream' that one line had me weak at the knees.

I have no idea how many eye creams I've tried out over the years but it's a lot! From cheap as chips to eye wateringly expensive but I'm always left wanting more. No matter the price point, I'm never 100% happy with the results or lack of in most cases so for that reason I'm not loyal to any one eye cream.

Filorga Time-Filler Eyes* makes a number of claims, claims I roll my eyes at usually. It doesn't focus on just one concern, instead it aims to tackle a number of them. A botox-like active ingredient combined with a powerful peptide smoothes out wrinkles/expression lines while a peeling-like active ingredient gives dark circles the boot. Latest generation plumping spheres help fill up hollow areas, a lifting complex gets in the way of gravity and your eye lids sagging, and wait for it - it increases lash volume. Is that blurb not impressive? I was instantly sucked in but at the same time thought 'mhmm, next!'

So, does it work? Yes but lets get the lash claim out of the way first. I haven't noticed any difference in the lash department as of yet but I'm hoping that with continued use I'll see a big change. What impressed me most was that it actually does get rid of dark circles, not fully but enough for me to be floored by the results. As for using an eye cream on my lids and pressing it into my lash line, even just the thought of it was enough to make my eyes sting but I've had no problems at all. There's a definite scent to the cream so how it hasn't irritated my sensitive eyes is beyond me but I'm not complaining. The texture is gorgeous and only the tiniest amount of product is needed to cover the entire eye area. There's no heavy, greasy feeling left behind on the skin nor does it make bags appear worse. I've been using it day and night for weeks now and still haven't made a dent, looks barely used so I'm guessing I'll get another 2 months use from it which is good as it isn't the cheapest and I don't fancy forking out almost 50 quid every month. The packaging is also lovely. At first I thought it was frosted glass but nope, it's plastic so I don't need to worry about smashing it. It looks big but don't be fooled, it only holds 15ml of product which is the norm when it comes to eye cream

Have you tried this or any other products from Filorga?
What's the best eye cream you've ever used?

Filorga Time-Filler Eyes, 44 quid available from www.marksandspencer.com

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*PR sample

Pur Minerals Mineral Mudd Masque

It's no secret that I love the CC Cream from Pur Minerals (review) but this is my first dabble with any skin care from the brand. Unlike most mud masks, this Mineral Mudd Masque* can be left on the skin for upto half an hour or if you're in a rush, 2 minutes will do the job. The results won't be quite as impressive but 2 minutes still give this muddy miracle enough time to work some magic.

When this stuff tightens, it tightens, to the point where I feel/look like I've had a face lift. My eyebrows almost reach my hair line and talking is near impossible (funny to watch in a mirror) once removed my face returns to normal but feels smoother, tighter and looks clearer. The only downside for me with mud masks is that they tend to be quite drying on the skin so for that reason I never leave it on for longer than 20 minutes, I allow it to fully dry before removing which is usually around 15/20 minutes. Your skin type will depend on how often you need to use this mask but twice a week seems to be perfect for me. On Sunday's I apply it all over my face avoiding the eye area and on Wednesday's I apply it only to my t-zone.

Removing this mask can be quite tricky. I find the easiest, quickest way is to soak a flannel in warm water and leave it on my face for around a minute to loosen the mud before I try to remove it.

Have you tried this Mineral Mudd Masque?

Pur Minerals Mineral Mudd Masque 25 quid for 120g available from www.marksandspencer.com

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*PR sample

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Dark Circles Eye Cream

For the last 5+ weeks (day and night) I've been trying out the Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brightening Dark Circles Eye Cream* which claims to target dark circles under the eye area with a proven anti dark circle peptide.

 Eye cream is one product I don't think will ever make it on to my Holy Grail list as not only do I have horrendous dark circles but I also have bags, fine lines and puffiness, and am yet to find one product that tackles all. Straight away I have to say I haven't noticed much, if any difference in the dark circle department which is disappointing especially after reading a few reviews on how it makes dark circles disappear after 3 weeks but all isn't lost - it hydrates my fine lines making them invisible and doesn't make the puffiness any worse. It sits well under concealer, keeping the under eye area hydrated all day without feeling heavy or greasy. The texture is very light which at first made me question how moisturising it would be but I needn't have worried. Even though the texture is light a little goes a long way and is easy to spread around the eye contour. It's also worth mentioning it absorbs quickly meaning concealer can be applied straight away instead of having to wait around for a few minutes before cracking on with your make up.

As far as affordable eye creams go, it's a good'un and one I would recommend but not for it's intended purpose. If your dark circles aren't too bad, you may have more luck with it than I did.

Have you tried this?
What's your favourite eye cream?

Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Dark Circles Eye Cream, 12.99 (currently 8.66) from Boots

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*PR sample

Great For Irritated Skin: Yon-Ka Creme 11

Me and my big red face are always on the look out for products to help calm my skin and reduce redness. I haven't tried too many lotions and potions targeted towards redness so if you have any recommendations please let me know. This post is long overdue but thanks to my crazy skin over the last few months I didn't get to fully put it to the test untill around four weeks ago.

Yon-Ka is a French skin care brand which has been around since 1954 but I've only recently started to hear about it, mainly on blogs. 

Creme 11* is a 2-in-1 soothing cream designed for people with sensitive skin and redness. The first thing I noticed about Creme 11 was how thick and rich it felt. I don't like my skin to feel heavy with product but I needn't have worried, it sinks into the skin immediately and instantly makes my skin feel smoother. While on my skin it has a calming effect and takes the heat out of my cheeks where I have the most redness. The redness does die down a bit but doesn't disappear completely. At first I was really disappointed as I was expecting the redness to leg it but I noticed my face wasn't getting as itchy. If you have a lot of heat coming from your face you'll know it can get very itchy, blotchy and having a good scratch only makes the redness worse. If I apply Creme 11 asap after cleansing and toning, any redness and irritation I get is kept to a minimum.

The directions say to apply the cream to red patches and follow with your usual cream but it does such a good job of  moisturising that I slather it all over my face and don't need to layer anything on top. I really like the packaging, you can squeeze out just the right amount of product and it's handy for travel.

It does work but don't be expecting miracles, you'll just feel disappointed like I did at first. 

Have you tried any products from Yon-Ka?

Yon-Ka Creme 11, 40ml  35 available from www.elementsthebeautysalon.com

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One For The Teens: Good Things Instant Dark Circles Concealer

I'm forever going on about how bad my dark circles are. They drive me mad and concealer seems to be the one product I have the most trouble with. They're either too sheer or too heavy which results in crease city. I've been trying out the Instant Dark Circles Concealer* from Good Things in the shade Light-Medium which comes in rollerball packaging and claims to depuff the eye area as well as conceal any darkness. I have a weakness for rollerball applicators, they instantly cool the eye area and make me feel more awake so I was really excited to try out this 2-in-1 product.

Good Things products are free from Parabens, SLS, Mineral Oils and animal ingredients, and are very reasonably priced. The Instant Dark Circles Concealer Has a lightweight formula which is great if you're like me and have puffy bags as well as dark circles. It's packed with skin-calming raspberry, clarifying lychee, circulation-boosting caffeine and a depuffing peptide. It depuffs my eyes as promised and feels very soothing but unfortunately the coverage isn't enough to tackle my dark circles. It's fine for no makeup days but when I really want to cover those bad boys I need to reach for something a lot more pigmented.

I think this would be the perfect product for teens who don't really need to use an eye cream just yet but want something to help brighten their eye area. Even if you're not in your teens and are lucky enough not to have bad dark circles, this would be ideal. BUT if you're a long term member of the dark circles brigade, you're going to have to look elsewhere.

Have you tried this product from Good Things?
Are you part of the panda eyed party like me?

Good Things Instant Dark Circles Concealer £5.99, currently £3.99 from Boots

Instant Hydration: Caribbean Essentials Radiance Hydrating Facial Spritz

I love vanilla, I love natural products and I love toners. This facial spritz from Caribbean Essentials is a hit with me and if you love a hydration boost in spray form then you're going to be adding this to your skin care booty.

Caribbean Essentials isn't a brand I know a lot about, I've heard a few whispers here and there but this is the first product I've tried from the brand. I'll link the website at the end of this post so anyone interested can have a read through the 'About' section as it's too lengthy to post here but in short, Caribbean Essentials is a luxury global spa Ritual company.

The Radiance Hydrating Facial Spritz* is one of those products that makes you feel good just from the scent alone. It contains nutrient rich ingredients including neroli to improve skins elasticity, witch hazel, carrot seed oil, sweet orange, vanilla and aloe vera. To me it mainly smells like vanilla, there's no not-so-nice witch hazel pong thankfully. Instead of just tending to one skin concern I find it helps soothe my reactive skin as well as adding a shot of hydration either after cleansing or throughout the day when my skin needs it. It can be used over makeup which I think anyone with mature/very dry skin could really benefit from as it gets rid of  the dreaded dry skin clinging onto foundation look.

If you're a bit of a facial spritz fanatic, this is one worth adding to your arsenal of instant hydration hits.

Have you tried this or any other products from Caribbean Essentials?

Caribbean Essentials Radiance Hydrating Facial Spritz, 100ml £18 available from caribbeanessentials.com

Review: Etat Pur Skin Care

Etat Pur Enoxolone 280, Q10, Smoothing Eye Contour Care

For around 2 months now I've been trying out these 3 products from Etat Pur which are targeted and best suited to all my major skin concerns. This is my first brush with Etat Pur but I've been impressed with both the results, and the prices.

Etat Pur Enoxolone 280, £12.60*: This product is designed for people with very reactive and irritated skin. If you experience any tingling, redness, burning or any discomfort at all then this is the type of product you should go for. I get a lot of heat and discomfort in my cheeks which is often made worse after cleansing. The redness can be so extreme that sometimes it looks almost purple and the heat that radiates from those areas is unbelievable! Enoxolone has soothing properties which promise to provide effective, long lasting relief. Does it? Yes it does, it works from the first use and within a matter of minutes but I found I needed to use it every day and night to get the best results. On my skin, it's only something that works while it's actually on the skin which is good but I was hoping it would get rid of all my problems once and for all which is probably something that no product can do. The texture is a cross between a serum and cream, it sinks into the skin straight away and adds immediate comfort.

Etat Pure Q10, £8.60*: Q10 comes in the same packaging as Enoxolone. The narrow tip means there's no product wastage and at the base of the bottle there's a push mechanism which allows you to dispense the right amount of product each time. The texture is also very similar to Enoxolone. Q10's job is to slow down the first signs of wrinkles and keep the skin looking younger for longer. Coenzyme Q10 is something we all have in every skin cell but as we age, our levels diminish which results in wrinkles appearing. I'm all over anything that promises to keep wrinkles at bay and because of the texture, I would say this product is something that even people with blemish prone skin could use without having to worry about their skin being overstimulated. I usually apply this product at night and by morning my skin has a glow (it almost looks as if I've applied a light layer of tan) and is plump. Obviously I can't say if it's keeping wrinkles at bay as I don't have any but I can only assume from the results I've had that it is.

Etat Pure Smoothing Eye Contour Care, £12.20*: Eye cream is the main product I always struggle with. I have fine lines, dark circles, bags and puffiness. It's hard to find one eye cream to target all my eye concerns without making one worse. Often if I use a cream designed to target fine lines it will make my puffiness worse but if I use a cream to target puffiness, it does nothing to help my fine lines and I'm yet to find an eye cream that really does get rid of dark circles. Smoothing Eye Contour Care claims to fade wrinkles and fine lines, reduce signs of fatigue, protect against the harmful  free radicals and deliver optimun moisturization. It did plump up my fine lines without making my puffy bags worse and my eye area did feel moisturised all day but it didn't reduce signs of fatigue.

Have you tried any of these products?

Whats your thoughts on Etat Pur?

All products mentioned are available from www.etatpur.co.uk

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*PR sample

Apivita Haul

Last week M&S had 20% off all beauty products. M&S isn't a place I usually go in search of beauty booty but this offer along with all the fab brands they now stock was too much temptation. I decided now was the time to get my mitts on some goodies from Greek skincare brand, Apivita!

I've heard nothing but great reviews about this brand and love how the products are free from a nice amount of nasties. I only ordered a few things as I wanted to see how well my skin reacts to the brand but if it's as good as people say it is, I'm sure I'll go back for more and Apivita will be a permanent fixture in my skincare routine.

Express Beauty With Cucumber: Intensive Hydrating Mask x2

Express Beauty With Honey: Moisturizing & Nourishing Mask x2

Express Beauty With Pink Clay: Gentle Cleansing Mask x2

Express Beauty With Grape: Anti-Wrinkle Eye Mask

Express Gold With Rose: Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Eye Patches

Express Beauty With Ginkgo Biloba: Dark Circles & Eye Puffiness Mask x2

Natural Soap: Organic Honey & Lavender

I'll post reviews once I've had a chance to try them all out but let me know if there's any masks I don't have that you would recommend.

Have you tried anything from Apivita?

Don't forget to enter my Urban Decay Mariposa Palette giveaway!

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Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Purifying Facial Wash

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Purifying Facial Wash*

Una Brennan seems to be the buzz word(s) of the moment. The Super Facialist is kicking up a storm with what seems like cleansing routines to suit every skin type. From oils to facial washes and cream cleansers there's bound to be something to suit everyones needs. Over the last 5 weeks or so I've been testing out Tea Flower Purifying Facial Wash and although facial washes are my least favourite way to cleanse I was interested to see what changes if any it made to my skin.

Tea Flower Facial Wash is formulated with skin clearing salicylic acid which helps to decongest skin of excess oils and impurities in a non irritating way. The cleanser is a lightweight gel which foams up nicely once mixed with water and while it sloughs away make up really easily it struggles with mascara so you would be best using eye make up remover first. The scent is quite strong, Elderflower I think? If you need to avoid scented skin care then Tea Flower Facial Wash isn't for you. After each use initially my skin felt clean and fresh but without that awful tight feeling. My skin remained clear with no new breakouts but after a fortnight of daily use my skin started to dry out, mainly my cheeks.

I already knew my skin didn't get on the best with foaming cleansers. It doesn't matter if they're natural or full of SLS, my skin always dries out at some point. I did like how clear my skin looked though so I haven't cut it out of my routine completely. Tea Flower Purifying Facial Wash now lives in my shower where I use it around 3 times a week which seems to be the perfect balance for me.

Have you Tried this facial wash or any other products from Una Brennan?

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Purifying Facial Wash £7.99 (currently £5.99) from Boots

*PR sample

Review: REN F10 Smooth & Renew Mask

REN F10 Smooth & Renew Mask

The reason I went for F10 Smooth & Renew Mask over the Glycolactic Peel is because my skin is so reactive. Honestly, if the wind blows on me the wrong way I come out in hives. Some of my favourite products cause the same reaction so I decided it was time to listen to my skin and go for products it needs rather than products I want. The F10 Smooth & Renew Mask is designed for sensitive skin and after reading reviews on the REN website I decided to order it.

F10 Smooth & Renew Mask is formulated to gently exfoliate and detoxify the skin, promote skin renewal and leave the complexion looking smooth, toned and radiant. I can never find any faults with REN packaging. The mask is held inside a clear bag in a fuss free pump tube with a small cap to place over the opening after every use to keep the product fresh. The mask itself is a thick orange gel/gunge. It feels so, so strange and once applied to the face it feels instantly cooling because of the texture opposed to the tickly/tingly sensation most exfoliating masks seem to have. The scent is incredible! It smells like a tropical drink and is by far the nicest smelling skin care product I own. I must admit I was a bit concerned about how my skin would react to a product with such a scent and expected the mask to be fragrance free since it's designed for sensitive skin but thankfully it didn't cause any irritation. After cleansing you apply the mask to dry skin and leave it to to work its magic for 10 minutes. The mask comes with a muslin cloth but the instructions say to pat the mask off first before using the cloth. To be honest this step is pointless. It doesn't remove the mask so I go straight in with the muslin cloth. The skin is left feelng perfectly smooth and plump, it also looks a bit brighter and most importantly I don't end up with bright red cheeks an remain hive free.

Overall the F10 Smooth & Renew Mask is a hit. It lives upto it's claim of being suitable for sensitive skin but I do have one thing to moan about - within 2 days I feel like I need to exfoliate again (has anyone else noticed this?) but I refuse to do so more than twice a week as it's not great for the skin. If you dont use a muslin cloth to remove your cleanser and gently exfoliate then F10 Smooth & Renew Mask isn't going to be enough to keep your skin feeling smooth.

After thinking I've maybe used this before I had a look through my empties posts and turns out I had. I had a sample tube at one point. Duh me.

Have you tried this mask before?

Organic Golden Camillia Mother & Baby Oil

Organic Golden Camillia Mother & Baby Oil*

First of all you need to ignore the Mother & Baby part. Yes its perfect for mothers and babies but I'm neither and absolutely love this! This beauty is the mother of all oils - Its 100% pure and natural | suitable for all skin types | vegan friendly | not tested on animals | soil association approved | contains vitamins A, B, D and E | 85% equivalent to human sebum, one of the most anti-oxidant materials known | its a rich source of Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, beta-carotene, polyphenols and other anti-oxidising and moisturising substances such as Squalene 'an important constituent of human skin which acts as a moisturizer and also processes Vitamin D from sunlight'

This Golden Camillia Oil has so many uses -  relieves dry and irritated skin on both the body and face | can be used as a cleanser | lip balm | intensive hair treatment | as a serum to tame frizz | add salt or sugar to it and make your own scrub | bath oil | hand cream | cuticle oil | overnight foot treatment.

It works on every type of skin - broken skin | young skin | old skin | stretch marks | lines and wrinkles.

This takes 'multi purpose' to a whole other level. The ingredient list impressed me the most as it only contains one ingredient - Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil. I cant think of one negative thing to say (which is rare for me) it works and it works well. I've been using it as an all over body oil and hair treatment. The difference it has made to the condition of my skin is like nothing else, my legs feel so smooth as if I've exfoliated daily and it has improved the overall look of my arms. The scent is barely there and my skin hasnt reacted badly in the slightest.

Have you tried Golden Camillia Mother & Baby Oil before?

Camillia Mother & Baby Oil is available from GentleBodyCare 24.99 for 100ml

*PR sample

Review: La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution

Right I think we all know how I feel about Micellar Waters by now. For me they're NEVER going to replace a proper cleanser and if you're using a micellar without cleansing after, your face isnt clean. Its as simple as that. Another thing I'm sick of hearing is 'hold the soaked cotton pad over your eyes for a minute and your mascara comes off completely in one sweep' uhm, no it doesnt. WHY YOU LIE! Its clear to see I'm not the biggest fan so why did I buy another one? Well, I just cant accept that other people love them and I dont. I'm deluded enough to think that out there hiding away somewhere is a magic micellar that actually does remove mascara with just one sweep of a cotton pad.

Theres a few things I hate about micellars - most leave residue on the skin, the amount of cotton pads you need to go through before your face is semi clean and they dont remove mascara as easily as they would have you believe. Let me just say this isnt a negative review. La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution is the best I've tried so far. Heres why..

The formula is ideal for sensitive skin. Its soap free, paraben free, alcohol free and colourant free. There is a slight scent but its barely there which is perfect for me as it doesnt cause hives to pop up all over my face. It contains The La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water which is rich in anti-oxidant selenium and known for its anti-irritating properties making it brilliant for anyone with extremely sensitive skin.

Does it remove mascara with one sweep of a cotton pad? No it doesnt but I didnt expect it to so I can live with that. Does it leave any residue? No! :) You dont understand how happy this makes me. Yes I cleanse after using micellars for make up removal but if I'm not wearing make up and I'm out and about I'll use it to freshen up if its really warm but the last thing I want is a tacky feeling face. The bottle is a generous 200ml and priced at £11.50 in Boots but I'm sure you could find it cheaper online. I still need to go through quite a few cotton pads and I'm halfway through my bottle already. I think 200ml would only last me around a month which isnt very economical so for that reason it wont be a constant repurchase.

Whats the best micellar you've tried?

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution 11.50 from Boots and La Roche-Posay stockists

Review: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask 100ml £20

Y'know the face we all pull while applying mascara? Yes that one. Well do you ever notice thin vertical lines at the tops of your cheeks/under your eyes whilst pulling said face? I do, its dehydration. I moisturise on a daily basis but sometimes even the thickest most creaminess creams dont help and instead just leave your face feeling and looking like its been dragged along the floor of a chippy. After reading review after review on Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask I decided to go to Debenhams and get me summa that while I had some beauty card points. I think I got it for around £12 instead of the usual price of £20.

Origins Intensive Drink Up Mask is best suited to those with dehydrated skin. I used to get dry and dehydrated mixed up and even thought they ment the same thing but they dont. Its designed to hydrate the skin and make it feel smoother. You can use it twice a week or as needed. I use it twice a week as an overnight mask plus I apply it to just my cheeks every other day while I'm just sitting around the house. The results are pretty impressive and instant, probably due to the silicone but it works and thats the main thing. It smells lovely and fruity but nowhere near as nice as Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, mmm. The only bad thing I can say is it turns my face into Hive City. A lot of products make me come out in hives, I cant remember a single day I havent had a hive but Drink Up Intensive Mask makes it slightly worse for some reason.

For night time use I dont apply a thick layer as it doesnt really sink in so doing that would be a waste of product and money but even when I only use a thin layer my face still feels tacky and the thought of it rubbing off all over my pillow is a bit gross. £20 for an 100ml mask that actually works is a bargain. If you're seeing signs of dehydration then you NEED this.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask £20 from all Origins stockist

Review: Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel

I'm always banging on about my eye bags. I'm so greedy, not only do I have bags but dark circles and puffiness too. I've lost count of how many eye creams I've tried so decided to go for something a bit different - Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel. I'm not a lover of the ingredient list (paraben city) but I was desperate and willing to try anything.

Prolagene Gel can be used on the face and body. Its a treatment designed to improve skin imperfections and supply our deep tissue with ingredients necessary for the reconstruction of our natural collagen. It claims to help revitalize the support structure of the skin, accelerate the skins renewal process, increase tone & firmness and diminish unsightly marks.

As I've already mentioned, the reason I got this was to see if it would help to firm my eye area but I'd also heard it can be used over the entire face so thats exactly what Ive been doing. Day and night I'll apply a thickish layer around my eye contour and allow it to sink in (which it does really quickly) then apply it to the rest of my face really concentrating on the jaw area in the hope that somehow my round chubby face will end up with a chiseled jawline. I know thats never going to happen but hopefully it'll prevent the dreaded jaw sag. The gel sinks in leaving no residue behind and theres zero roll off. If there is then you're using too much. Depending on how my skins behaving I'll either wear it on its own during the day or as a serum and layer my moisturiser over the top.

Has it helped my eye baggage? I dont think so but, and its a big BUT! I've noticed it helps fade spot marks. I'm a squeezer, I cant help it and as a result I'm left with red marks months after the spot has gone. Within 2 days of using Prolagene Gel the main red mark on my chin had faded dramatically. So even though Prolagene Gel didnt do what I'd hoped it would I'm still getting some benefits from using it.

Have you tried Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel?

If you know of any miracle eye cream to help my bags then please let me know.

Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel 150ml £36.52 from QVC

Review: Santaverde Fragrance Free Aloe Vera Cleansing Gel

I'm such a cleanser hoe! I dont know why I need so many cleansers but I do. Ok, maybe I dont but I like variety. I've had this cleanser a few months now, I received it in an Amarya beauty box so thought it was about time it made an appearance on my blog. Santaverde is an organic brand so I was really excited to try it out.

First things first, it isnt fragrance free like the name states. If you need to avoid scented products then this isnt for you. I love the scent, it smells like fresh apple juice and looks like it too. The gel is very thin and runny but once mixed with water it develops into a light foam. It doesnt lather up much so isnt going to strip the skin or be too harsh but it still does a brilliant job of cleansing.

'The light gel made of aloe vera juice and apple juice cleanses the pores throughoutly without harming the natural protective layer of your skin. Mild plant-based cleansers gently remove dirt particles and make up. It prevents moisture loss and leaves the skin even, clear and refreshed'

I use Santaverde Aloe Vera Cleansing Gel in the mornings as it really does leave your skin feeling refreshed and the scent is just lovely. Its easy to rinse and fuss free but I wouldnt recommend it for night time use if you wear a lot of eye make up as it struggles with mascara. I havent had any irritation and my skin hasnt dried out at all but if you have very dry skin I doubt this cleanser will be moisturising enough for you so probably best suited to those with oily/combination skin.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera Juice CO, Sugar Emulsifier, Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Amino Acid Tenside, Willow Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Irish Moss, Plant Glycerol Fatty Acid Ester, Sodium Phytate From Rice, Levulinic Acid, Glucose.



Overall its a nice cleanser but I'm a bit baffled by the price tag so for that reason I probably wont repurchase.

What type of cleanser do you prefer in the warmer months?

Santaverde Fragrance Free Aloe Vera Cleansing Gel 100ml £22 from Amarya

Review: Montagne Jeunesse De-Clog Pores Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips

I'm baaaack! I've been without internet for what seems like a long, long time but in reality it was just under a week. I havent been able to blog or read blogs. I felt like I was going crazy. In that week of bloglessness I finally gave into Montagne Jeunesse. After seeing review after review I decided it was about time I jumped on the bandwagon.

Back in the day my mum would always buy Montagne Jeunesse masks for me and my friends when I had sleepovers. The price combined with the fact I always associated them with something I just done for fun when I was wee ment as I got older I didnt think Montagne Jeunesse was a 'proper' skin care brand.

While in Asda I filled my basket with a mixture of masks and Deep Cleansing Pore Nose Strips. I've tried a few different brand of nose strips, the majority of them do nothing at all and to be honest I was expecting the same from these but I'm pleased to say they work, very well.

Deep Cleansing Pore Nose Strips come with 3 in a pack and cost just £1.49. If you're only using the strips once a week then one pack will last three weeks which is brilliant value. The citrus contained in the nose strips helps to draw out deep rooted impurities and leaves pores less noticeable. The whole process is so quick and easy. After cleansing you wet your nose, apply the strip, wait around 10 minutes untill it goes stiff then slowly peel to remove.

I went back to Asda today and picked up another 3 packs and some more masks. Have you used these strips before?

Elizabeths Daughter: The Intensive Moisturiser & The Skin Spritz

The Intensive Moisturiser £22* | The Skin Spritz £15*

I've had this post drafted up for so long now but somehow it managed to get lost. Tsskk

Elizabeth created Elizabeths Daughter after years of trying to find products that suited her own skin. She also wanted to create simple and effective skin care for young girls, including her daughter. All products are on average 95% natural and the botanical extracts are sourced responsibly. None of the ingredients or products are tested on animals and all products are free from parabens, sulphates and petrochemicals.

The Skin Spritz made it into my favourites last month (link) and its safe to say its still a firm favourite. A lot of hype has been surrounding the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (I love it and have repurchased three times now) but I still stand by what I said in my review, it has a tingly effect on the skin but thats as far as it goes and I wouldnt recommend it to anyone with dry skin as it adds zero moisture. If anything, I find it to be drying at times. The Skin Spritz is the complete opposite. If you've tried Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic then you'll know how moisturising it is, you almost feel as if you dont need to apply moisturiser after and thats exactly how The Skin Spritz feels. If my cheeks flare up or get really dry this instantly soothes the skin and helps with any redness. It contains fresh strawberry cells, aloe vera leaf juice, rose water and naturally occuring glycoproteins from mountain balm. It smells so, so good. If you have oily skin then The Skin Spritz might be too moisturising for you but anyone with dry or irritated skin should really give this a try.

The Intensive Moisturiser is a whopping 100ml and is designed to calm sensitive/dry skin. Ingredients include Sacha Inchi oil, Tahitian Monoi, Kakadu Plum Extract which has a very high Vitamin C content equivalent to 10 oranges, Apricot Kernel Oil, Mango Butter and Argan Oil. Each help to nourish, moisturise, relieve, soothe and help inflammation. When the skin on my cheeks flares up I get really itchy and hives pop up all over my face. I dont know if its because of medication, weather, temperature change, water or just a combination of everything but when this happens I reach for The Intensive Moisturiser. The hives dont disappear straight away but it seems to stop more from popping up and kills the itch, I've even used it on my body.

The range is aimed at young girls but I dont see any reason why boys/men couldnt use it. I feel both products would be too rich for oily skin but could be HG products for those with dry/sensitive skin. I used Caudalie Beauty Elixir and Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic for comparison as they're probably two of the most popular toners at the minute and I know a lot of people have tried them.

Have any of you tried these products before? Whats your thoughts?

All products can be purchased from www.elizabethsdaughter.co.uk

*PR sample

Review: Derma Eraze Miracle Oil

Derma Eraze Miracle Oil* is an all purpose healing oil and is made from Olive, Avocado and Almond oil. It can be used in a number of ways and almost anywhere on the body which makes it a handy product to have around the house. I'd never heard of Derma Eraze before Catalyst PR who do the PR for Derma Eraze introduced me to the Miracle Oil and since then it's been something I reach for on a daily basis.

It can be used to treat/prevent stretch marks | to moisturize extremely dry skin | as after sun | to help bumps and bruises | on chapped lips. Anytime you feel your skin needs some extra help then Derma Eraze Miracle Oil does the trick. On the website it doesnt mention anything about using it as a hair oil but thats exactly what I've been doing. I add a tiny amount to my midlengths/ends and it acts as a serum. Miracle Oil is as the name suggests an oil but its quite thin. Not at all thick like Moroccan Oil which means it sinks in to the skin/hair really well and doesnt leave any residue behind.

My bottle is just a sample size, full size comes with a pump and I'm sure it'll last such a long time. I've been using my sample almost daily for a few weeks now and it still looks full. I think I might try it as a bath oil next and see how many different uses it really has.

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E. For external use only not suitable for those with nut allergies.

Have you heard of or tried anything from this brand before?

Derma Eraze Miracle Oil £20 inc. shipping from http://www.dermaeraze.co.uk/

PR sample