Xmas 2015 / Dermalogica Our Favorites Set

Give the gift of healthy, clear skin this Christmas with Dermalogica. They have 6 Limited Edition sets to choose from, targeting different needs: from intense hydration, to problematic skin, to a selection of top sellers. 

... and Dermalogica Our Favorites* is - indeed - my favourite! ;)

It contains 4 super-taskers, suitable for all skin conditions. The minis meet travelling standards and are perfect for trying out these products, if this is your first approach to the brand. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a well known raved about product in the blogosphere. It is a dry scrub, in the form of a rice-based powder; you just mix it with some water and massage on the face to reveal a smoother texture. It's pretty amazing and you can really custom the exfoliating action, best suited for you.
Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner comes in a pump bottle and it's ideal to prep the skin, before moisturization; it contains arnica and cucumber extracts to hydrate and refresh - especially after air travel.
Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque is an high performing treatment to inject much needed moisture to dry or stressed skin; it has a unique cross-linked hyaluronic acid that delivers hydration over time for, lasting results.
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm is one of my all time favourite eye product! It has a silicone/balm feeling that smoothes lines, protects against further damage and improves elasticity; it is really a cream & primer & treatment all together in one. Highly recommended!

Have you tried Dermalogica before? Which are your favourite products?

Haul / Philosophy

A couple of months ago, I received a discount code in the post from Philosophy; it was for £15 off on £60 spending, which I thought was very generous and silly not taking advantage of.

So this is what I ordered:

Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash

I had recently finished  a sample of this wash (link) and I loved it so much that I decided to buy the full size bottle. The consistency is perfection: the micro scrubbing particles are very effective but, because of the gel consistency, is also gentle at the same time. 

Philosophy The Great Mystery One-Minute Daily Facial

I also picked up this mask to try… sounded pretty intriguing.

When you massage it in, it foams up on the skin and you can feel it fizz actually; it's kinda of weird and worrying at first but, when you see that no damage is done to your face, it becomes a pleasant experience.

Plus, acts in 1 minute and it's delicate enough that could be used every day; again, a great purifying product: leaves my skin super-clean! 

Philosophy Senorita Margarita Shampoo Shower Gel & Bubble Bath

Loved the idea of a margarita scented shower gel (plus, I had to reach the minimum spending for the offer) but again not impressed with this Philosophy body washes. It's my own fault: I have already been disappointed before in the formula (link) and the smell just doesn't last out of the bottle. :(

Have you tried Philosophy yet? Which are your must-have products?

Empties / July

Body:

Clarins High Definition Body Lift: a favourite of mine, I have gone through a couple of these already. It absorbs fast and doesn't feel sticky on the skin. It's pricey but it's one of the few creams where I can actually see some improvement. It smells lovely and floraly too and comes with a booklet with massaging tips.

Repurchase: probably, like a treat due to the price.

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Cuticle & Nail Refiner: I've been using it once every fortnight; it's pretty gritty and an high duty exfoliant and a little goes a long way but I can't say it made any significant difference to the appearance of my cuticles.

Repurchase: probably not.

Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask: Definitely in my Top5 of favourite hair masks; I got it for free in a magazine... added bonus. I love how soft it leaves my hair and it's pretty fast acting in 10 minutes; I'm just not too crazy about the 'manly' scent.

Repurchase: yes.

The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub: I'm not a huge fan of The Body Shop, if I'm honest and I can't say to shop there regularly but their body scrubs are my absolute favourites. They are good value for money, they are just the right consistency for my liking and come in so many beautiful scents; Talked about the pink grapefruit one here.

Repurchase: Hell Yeah!

Face:

L'Oreal Perfect Clean Foaming Cream Wash - Soothing: this is actually not finished but I have had it for ages and when I tried to use it again it stung my face... I think it may have gone off, better safe than sorry!
I remember I quite liked this and the wee brush too - there are a couple of different ones and the blue, I liked it even better, very refreshing on the skin. I can recommend this but I'm not sure if I would repurchase, simply because I tend to spend a bit more money on face cleansers nowadays.
Repurchase: see above.
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream: nope - Balance Me just doesn't blow me away; I have tried few different products now but I'm once again underwhelmed. It's an ok cream but not moisturizing enough, for my needs. I was pretty glad to finish it off, actually.
Repurchase: no.
Ren Keep Young And Beautiful SH2C Serum: same as above - Underwhelmed! There are maybe 2 products from this brand that I like but the rest just disappointed me. This serum also broke me out so definitely thumbs down in this case.
Repurchase: no.
Yes to Cucumber Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towellets: I use face wipes to remove most of my make up before the gym and then I do a deep cleanse before bed. These served me pretty well: they are a handy travel size and stayed moist until the end (hate when wipes dry out mid-pack!). Scent is not annoying and not harsh on the skin.
Repurchase: yes.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub Invigorating: LoveLoveLove! Who doesn't like the St. Ives scrub, let's be honest?!
I love everything - from the apricot scent to the exfoliating particles to the price! It does the job and it does it well, it's easily available on the high street and convenient.
Repurchase: yep!

Have you tried any of these products?

Liz Earle Advent Calendar / 6

6th December - Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

Another exciting product for me to try: exfoliation is a constant in my weekly routine and I'm always on the look out for an effective, yet gentle product... High hopes for this one!!!

My Steamer and I

I've been using a face steamer forever... which translates to about 17 years now.

My loyal steamer decided to pack it in and stop working about 6 weeks ago and I shouldn't really complaint because it has always worked perfectly for nearly 2 decades.

Anyway, I decided not to buy another one straight away because I wanted to see if I would experience any difference in my skin or if I could live without it.

Well, BIG mistake!!!

Two weeks after I stopped using it, I started to experience some unusual break outs, I didn't really connected the dots straight away, to be honest.

But then, even though I managed to keep the situation under control, I noticed that I kept getting the same blemishes just few days after they cleared out.

During this time, I didn't change anything else in my beauty routine so I put it down to the lack of my deep cleansing weekly appointment and decided it was the time to get back into the routine.

I got my new facial steamer in Argos - there are a few different ones available but I went with the My Spa Revitalising Facial Steamer by Homedics.

I thought this was reasonably priced, you can control the steam and it's a brand that I know.

My routine:

I only need to use it once a week and I personally dedicate my Sunday evening to this treatment.

Once the water starts to heat up and the steam starts to rise, I tie my hair back and place my face on the rim of the bowl. I give it 10 minutes, making sure to move my face around during this time and when the heat gets too uncomfortable.

After that, I use a face exfoliator on the wet skin and follow with a purifying mask.

The steam will gently open up the pores so you skin can get the best benefits from these products and get a proper deep cleansing.

This routine works for me and I definitely recommend it; I do have sensitive skin and I don't think the steamer worsened my problem in any way, but I would be cautious if you have rosacea or delicate skin.

Have you ever used one of these face saunas before?

xxx

Introducing / Sprout p.2

Sprout Cleanser*

This cleanser is as simple as it gets: organic rosewater, organic vegetable glycerin, organic tea tree oil.

Did you notice the organic list? Yep and because it's also soap-free and alcohol-free, it's not drying... and no parabens, of course!

I've been using it in the morning - I spritz it on a cotton wool pad and wipe all over my face to get rid of the possible make up residue of the night before.

It's ideal for both sensitive skin and problematic, where the tea tree oil comes in handy.

Sprout Toner*

I think the toner could be the most controversial of the lot; it contains raw apple cider vinegar - giving it a strong vinegar smell - which may not be for everybody.

Myself - well I love vinegar and I could easily drink it so the smell doesn't bother me.

I have also learned that you're supposed to pat your face dry, after using a toner, otherwise the atmosphere will pull moisture away from your skin, leaving it dehydrated. Did you know that?

Sprout Exfoliant*

This is the face exfoliant of the line and contains a mix of almonds, oats and sea salt. They are finely milled and comes in a velvety powder.

You need to add few drops of water in the palm of your hands and then work it into the face; it leaves the skin soft and glowing... just be careful to keep the product dry inside the jar.

Sprout Lip Balm*

This wee tube is my favourite, definitely! I love smothering my lips with this indulgent stick. It's very soft and not sticky and leaves my lips super soft and smelling (and tasting) like cocoa.

There are also cinnamon, citrus, peppermint and vegan versions available... I want them all!!!

You can argue that the ingredient list is so minimal that you could try and make these yourself but when I think about beauty, I think about treating myself, pampering myself and I find comfort in knowing that somebody else has gone through the trouble of resourcing the best raw materials and all I need to do is buy and enjoy them!

You can check the bodycare reviews here.

You can buy Sprout on the official website www.sproutskincare.com and - for the Uk - is also available on www.cutecosmetics.co.uk

Introducing / Philosophy

Few months ago, I placed an order on the Philosophy website; I had never tried anything from Philosophy before and I decided to order directly from them (instead of using points on Boots) as they were offering a nice sizable sample bag.

Purity Made Simple

Main reason to place the order as everybody's been raving about this cleanser - apparently, the best match for the Clarisonic.

To be perfectly honest, I was disappointed... I suppose I was expecting more.

3-in-1 cleanser for face and eye - although I have never used it on my eyes - removes make up, tones and hydrates the skin.

It's a perfectly fine remover but I wasn't blown away - consistency is good to use with the Clarisonic, I agree on that but I was, also, left disappointed by the fragrance-free formula (well, I would say borderline chemical for my fine sense of smell - my husband calls me 'bloodhound' for a reason ;)).

Glad I only bought the small bottle!

Hope in a Jar

ummm, I don't like this... it feels really weird! :(

The consistency is really odd: it's kinda of waxy (look at the picture below... the product takes that shape and then doesn't move!) but it's also buttery, at the same time.

It's a bit too heavy and I can feel it on my skin... I'll give it another go in the winter and hopefully it will perform better. Maybe, I should have gone with the oil-free version, but to be fair, the jar is indicated for 'all skin types' and I don't need to buy products for oily skin, normally.

Plus, I really dislike the smell - lavander... bleugh!

Warm and Toasty 3pc Gift Set

I wanted to take advantage of the free delivery so I, also, picked up this bath set from the clearance.

Love the circular and glittery box and the visual is beautiful; these are 3 bottles of shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath, all in one: Hazelnut Espresso, Double Rich Hot Cocoa, Hot Buttered Rum.

Again, this is becoming a theme but I was left disappointed: these smell delicious and with a strong resemblance to the actual hot drinks in the bottle... but then the scent disappears when poured in the bath! :(

Also, they don't foam up much which is a shame if you're looking forward to a warming winter bubble bath but it's definitely an advantage when used as shampoo.

Finally, in the goodie bag I got:

Purity Made Simple: as I say, I don't love it but I will use it; good size for travelling.

Eye Hope: lovely eye cream! It claims to reduce puffiness, dark circles and fine lines... unfortunately, the sample is too small to really see any difference but I enjoyed using it and I'll consider buy it in the future. Very hydrating and fast absorbing.

Miracle Worker: I liked this moisturizer - again, I can't vouch for the anti-aging benefits because the sample was too small but the formula agreed with my skin better.

The Microdelivery Peel: OMG - This stuff is amazing!

 It's a 2-step, at home peel that delivers its promise BIG TIME: my skin felt so smooth and brighter after use... I manage to squeeze 2 applications - Yay ;)

I will, definitely, purchase this kit!

The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash: Another beautiful product that I will buy, for sure!

Extremely fine face scrub that buff gently into the skin... yet effectively.

This will become my exfoliant of chose for now on.

So... apparently, I ordered the wrong items! 

I seriously loved the samples... and I'm glad I had the chance to try more products, otherwise I would have - completely - written off Philosophy from my shopping list... 

Have you used Philosophy before? What's your experience? 

xxx

Delivery / REN

Hello lovelies!

Few posts ago - here - I was telling you about the amazing offer REN is running and last week, I received my order.

Six of the Best

This set was part of the offer and completely free with any purchase!

I've been wanting to learn more about REN so this is perfect as the samples are generous and they are a mix of everything: a cleansing gel, serum, eye cream, mask, .., ..,

It contains:

- Mayblossom Balancing Cleansing Gel

- Jojoba Micro Bead Invigorating Facial Polish

- Omega 3 Night Repair Serum

- Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

- Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream

Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel

Travel Kit

I decided to order this because the set above already gives me plenty to try about skincare; also, it comes in a clear zip bag which is going to be useful for carrying your hand luggage allowance.

This kit includes:

- Neroli and Grapefruit Body Cream

- Neroli and Grapefruit Body Wash

- Oat and Bay Conditioning Shampoo

- Pro-Vitamin Hair Conditioner

Finally, I picked this additional samples:

- Photoactive Sun Veil SPF15

- F10 Smooth and Renew Mask

*UPDATE*

Being the serum junkie that I am, I decided to start with the Omega 3 Night Repair Serum; it smelled really fishy and the consistency didn't seem right so I read online that it could have gone off, as the normal smell is more peachy.

I contacted REN on Twitter and they offered to check it for me and to send it back freepost; apparently, it was fine but it clearly wasn't right for my skin as it's a very oily serum... so they offered to send me another serum to try: I chose the Keep Young and Beautiful SH3C Serum.

Very impressed with their friendly and prompt service! :)

Have you tried any of these?

Which one is your favourite? :)

Boots Haul

... apologies - I wrote this post back in October but then It got forgotten in my draft so these offerS are no more available in store, I think...

Sanctuary Warming Microbrasion Polish - I love this product! It's a thick, creamy exfoliator to use on wet face and the water will active it, warming it up and helping drawing all the impurities out.

I have been using it regularly (I just requires once a week, personally) for over 2 years but I was running out so I decide to stock up again because Boots was giving the 2nd Sanctuary item for free.

Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask - as just mentioned, I got this for free! It's a full size bottle and works with the same principle of the polish: heat! The only criticism is that it's quite glue-ish and I found difficult to spread uniformly so ended up using more than necessary.

Also, it will not dry completely, which is a bonus as it's easier to remove.

I find these mud, clay masks really effective - especially with heat.

After using one or the other - my face feels so smooth and free from any oiliness.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Skin-Brightening MOisturiser SPF15 - I like many things about this product but somehow failed to wow me.

I got it because I read many positive reviews and it was on promotion with 3 pounds off.

I like the packaging, the bottle comes with a pump; I like that it got a SPF15 and the smell is nice too and fades away quickly.

'Skin brightening' because it has sparkling particles that reflects the light and helps hides imperfections - (well, in my opinion - I don't really think all that 'diffuse, trick the eye'-concept makes much of a difference!).

Anyway, the main issue I have with this cream is that it's too heavy. It looks like soufflé when out of the bottle but then I can feel it on my skin for many hours and it doesn't seem to sink it very well; in fact, I'm only using it when in the house or when I don't wear make up.

TRESemme' Naturals - Nourishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner - I never used to be too fuss about hair brands but now I wanna try to use more natural products. 

This new line says is 'hypoallergenic, no added colour with certified organic aloe vera and avocado oil'. Also, shampoo is lower in sulphates an conditioner silicone free.

I like this combo: my hair feel clean, not heavy... not sure about all the claims but I would recommend them. Promotion was buy 1 get 1 free.

No 7 Eyeshadow Blend and Contour Brush - much raved about brush, Mac 217 dupe... you all know... Used the £5 off voucher so it only cost me about £2.25

Finally, I got these samples:

Ojon Damage Reverse - Restorative Hair Treatment: Unfortunately, my face didn't like it. :(
 I put it on my hair, all was good and I really enjoyed the treatment but when in the shower, rinsing it off, I had an allergic reaction on my face. it was pretty bad, all red and burning so I, definitely, can't use this product but I would recommend to others.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF20 in Nude - to be honest, I was pretty disappointed!  This is supposed to be The Daddy of all tinted moisturisers but I found it too thick for my liking. I wouldn't want a foundation this heavy, nevertheless a tinted moisturiser. 

Colour-wise is a good match and it's a shame because I seriously love other LM products... just not this one. I'm glad I didn't cave in and bought without trying.

Lancome Teint Miracle - Lancome regularly send out vouchers to go and try products in store and this time it was for the foundation. I tried it before and I love it! That much in fact that it's on the short list for my wedding make up kit!

Anyway, I went in Debenhams, House of Fraser and Boots and I got matched 3 times with 3 different colours!

l-r: 010, 01, 03 swatched

blended

My shade is 010; the others are too dark or too yellow or too pink - I'm neutral.

Previously, I tried 02 which is also pretty good for me.

I really can't recommend this foundation enough! Have you tried it yet?

mini-mini-haul

I'm between masks at the moment. I just found out that one of my all time favourite (Clinique Deep Cleansing) has been discontinued, so I've picked up these sachet to try:

The Montagne Jeunesse' masks are quite expensive - at around 1pound each - but got them with bundle deal of 4 for £3; also, used another £5 off from no7 for the Radiance Revealed Exfoliator - never tried this one before, but I don't tend to spend huge money on mechanical exfoliators.

Finally, I'm going to try this Johnson's 24hour Moisture Radiance Hand Cream: I can't seem to find a GOOOOOD hand cream... any suggestions?