Well oiled: the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour All-Over Miracle Oil

elizabeth_arden_eight_hour_all_over_miracle_oil_review - 1A couple years ago I developed a serious love of facial oils. The effect oils made for my skin is quite amazing.

The Eight Hour Cream is a must have classic and lives in my makeup bag – it’s great for everything.

When I found out about the Eight Hour Miracle Oil, I had a little silent squee and just needed to try. I was intrigued by the multi functionality of this product, as I can be used on face, body and hair.

When it arrived, I was going away for the weekend, had packed and boyfriend was picking me up from the office and bringing my bag. He mention a parcel had arrived, and there it was! I immediately told him to throw it in the suitcase.

It was a god send as I forgot my body moisturiser and hair conditioner!

Used it after washing my hair with shampoo only and my hair immediately felt soft and manageable. Plus it dried shiny and it didn’t weigh hair down.

elizabeth_arden_eight_hour_all_over_miracle_oil_review - 2Feels great on the body too. It is super light in consistency, spreads and absorbs very well.

Where it shines, however, for me, is on the face. It’s supple but light enough to use during the day under makeup, just beware it does compromise durability a bit, just like any oil.

I’ve been massaging it deeply on face a neck. It delivers superior hydration throughout the day, something very welcome as my skin is suffering a lot with the weather at the moment.

At night, can be combined with a thin layer of the traditional Eight Hour Cream; I woke up to replenished, hydrated, soothed, soft and radiant skin.

It contains tsubaki oil (extracted from camellia flowers), omega 6 and 9, grapeseed, avocado, sunflower seed oils, ginger root extract, boswellia resin and vitamin E.

Overall, a superb product. And the price is quite something too: £29 for 100ml.

It’s available at Elizabeth Arden online, concessions and retailers nationwide.

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

So Many Lovely Things beauty retrospective 2015: skincare

skincare_retrospective_somanylovelythingsIn 2015 I fell in love with skincare even more. I really drilled onto the nurturing aspect of dealing with my difficult and acneic skin, and the results, overall, are amazing.

Another very tough choice as the options are aplenty and great, but here we go:

Facial oil

dr_jacksons_face_oil_review - 1Dr Jackson Facial Oil: what an oil, what an amazing brand. The product is rich and nourishing, a delight to use. My skin loves it.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Oil: what a delight. I am a fan of the Eight Hour Cream, and this oil delivers in all areas: face, body and skin. It’s light and locks moisture for the long haul.

Face cream

Day

kiehls_ultra_facial_cream_review - 3Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: super light, a delight under makeup, steady moisturistion during the day.

IMG_2530Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Broad Spectrum anti-wrinkle protect cream: lovely smell and texture, great moisturisation and SPF20.

thisworks_lightime_skin_plumper_review - 1This works light time skin plumper: super light and efficient, it’s plump-tastic. Plus the smell heps you wake up.

Night

Dermalogica pure night: light, moisturising and directed to pigmentation issues.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Cream: rich with oil goodness and a fab smell.

Serum

Skinceauticals Blemish+Age Defense: the product that has it all for my skin type. It fights blemishes and ageing signs. Very fluid, easily absorbed and works a treat.

jurlique rose serumJurlique Rose Moisture Plus: a fluid moisturing serum, quickly absorbed by the skin which smells of roses.

liz_earle_serum - 1Liz Earle Superskin Face Serum: thicker than your usual, but light on the skin. Full of goodness and perfect for night.

bee_god_serum_review - 1Bee Good Hydrate, Smooth and Prime Serum: having honey as main ingredient, this light serum is quickly absorbed to create a semi-matte finish.

Hydration booster

dermalogica skin hydrating boosterDermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster: a little pot of goodness with a fluid, water-like liquid that delivers a boost of lasting hydration to your skincare routine.

Skinceauticals Hydrating B5: also fluid and water-like, works to potentialise the effects of your other mositurisers.

Lip balm

Nivea lip butterNivea lip butter: still a favourite, not losing its place in my favourites. This year, the coconut version is the star!

Eye cream

Ole Henriksen ultimate lift eye gel: bright blue and super light, this gel is refreshing and super light, perfect for day.

dermalogica wonder eye creamDermalogica intensive eye repair: also very light and extra moisturising.

S5 RENEW EYE CREAMS5 renew eye cream: a brand close to my heart that makes the most amazing products. This eye cream is supple, light and super moisturising.

Facial wash

s5_clarity_cleanser_review - 2S5 Clarity Cleanser: a star. Ever so gentle, cleans deeply, soothes and helps with blemishes.

a light foam that cleans deep. Skin feels purified and there’s no tightness.

Face scrub

Alpha H Micro Cleanse Exfoliator: with glycolic acid, this granulated product exfoliates and polishes skin, in a gentle manner. Skin feels renewed and radiant after use.

PMD Microdermabrasion: an amazing personal microdermabrasion device. Used weekly, I really felt a difference after a few uses.

Best all rounder

elizabeth arden eight hour creamElizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: no praises spared on this one. Fabulous all-rounder for the face, I use on lips and occasionally on the skin when the wind gets stronger. Amazing regenerative properties, so great for scrapes.

Blemish fighting

Malin + Goetz Sulphur paste: spot zapping at its best. This weird product does work a treat, you do, however, have to put up with white patches on the face. One to use overnight.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I.: a gentle target breakout corrector. Not a killer zapper, but a gentle worker.

Face masks

Trilogy Mineral Radiance Mask: a lovely dark clay mask that is super moisturising. A great treat.

caudalie glycolic peel maskCaudalie Instant Detox Mask: a pink clay mask that purifies and tightens without drying. In fact, all Caudalie masks are ace, I also use the Glycolic Peel and the Moisturizing mask which are fab.

Toners

pixi glow tonicI love a good toner, and the Pixi Glow Tonic is just that. Slightly exfoliating, it delivers radiance within days of use. And has a great price.

The Clinique Anti-Blemish Clarifying Lotion is great for when skin is not behaving well and is breaking out.

When skin is sensitive (after microdermabrasion or exfoliation), the dermalogica multi-vitamin toner saves the day as it’s very mild and hydrating.

Pre-routine

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 1I wasn’t sure how to call the Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion, but it’s in. It’s fresh, slightly moisturising and a delight to use.

Face mist

pixi glow mistCan’t live without a face mist, and in the winter even more so. The Pixi Glow Mist is a firm favourite and delivers in all areas.

The Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist is fresh and an office staple, and the Liz Earle Skin Booster Tonic Spritzer is nourishing and refreshing. Long live the facial mists!

What products couldn’t your skin live without in 2015?

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This post mentions some press samples.

Honey goodness for your face: Bee Good Youth Enhancing Hydrate, Smooth & Prime Serum

bee_god_serum_review - 1Aside of coconut, honey is my other obsession in life. I love the taste, the smell and even the texture of honey so was delighted to try the lovely .

A honey serum, is for me, a marriage made in heaven as serums are another obsession of mine.

This one has a thicker consistency than your average serum, but is quite light in texture. Once applied is quickly absorbed by the skin.

bee_god_serum_review - 3It has a very fresh smell and feels great on the skin – not sticky or heavy.

Applied at night, skin feels nourished and happy in the morning, although alone I don’t think is enough; I combine with an oil or lighter cream in my arsenal.

For day, it is pretty good; because it is quite light it behaves well under makeup, living up to its “primer” name, although I don’t feel it enhances durability.

It contains peptides, which stimulate collagen production, hydrating British honey, antioxidant-rich propolis and firming blackcurrant seed oil and larch extract, which all combine aim to smooth the skin and help with ageing signs.

It is suitable for vegetarians.

bee_god_serum_review - 2Bee Good is one of those companies you can’t help but fall in love with; they use British honey and botanicals, have an eco conscience, are free from synthetic colours, mineral oil, silicone, SLS and SLES or parabens, don’t test on animals and look after their bees, support the countryside and bee keeping initiatives. They are good ones; overall a lovely company brimming with amazing products.

The Bee Good Serum costs £25 and is available from Waitrose, which has a great beauty range including Bee Good.

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Tackling pigmentation with the Dermalogica C-12 pure bright serum

dermalogica_c12_pure_bright_serum_review - 1Every summer is the same: I develop unsightly hormonal hyper pigmentation on my face, just below the eye area.
Although it fades when winter is full on, it does take it time, so I got a helping hand from Dermalogica C-12 pure bright serum.
With its fluid consistency, it sits and absorbs well on the skin, and behaves ok under makeup.
dermalogica_c12_pure_bright_serum_review - 2I did notice that, using this in conjunction to the pure night moisturiser, the hormonal spots seem to fade quicker and evenly.
Apart from tackling hyper pigmentation, this also works to help brighten up the complexion and balance uneven skin tone in general.
It contains a trademarked technology, PowerBright TRx plus oligopeptides, phytic acid (from rice), zinc glycinate and algae.
The Dermalogica C-12 pure bright serum costs £79.80 for 50ml and can be purchased from Dermalogica online as well as in their shops and concessions.
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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

More oil: The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 10When I heard The Body Shop was bringing out a whole range based on oil blends, I was very excited.

The first product from the Oils of Life range I wrote about was one that intrigued me. After all, the Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion is a different product that added new step into the routine.

The second one I am going to talk about is more traditional. A facial oil, which is a type of product I love (I tried hard not to say I love oils, again! Failed!).

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 12The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil, however, is slightly different, it feels lighter in its consistency.

It is absorbed well by the skin, and it feels very soft after application, although I need a good 4-5 drops just for the face, whereas usually for richer oils, 3 is enough.

What it does, however, is to enable me to wear an oil during the day. It’s great to wear alone, with moisturiser or serum on top or mix to your face day cream to give it a little bit of winter skincare richness, without weighing it.

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 13Either way, it behaves very well under makeup and adds that extra moisture and protection so needed in this weather.

Currently, my skin is super mega dry, so I am pulling at all stops to replenish it. This product has proven to be very handy.

Oils have really changed the appearance of my skin. Since the introduction of them to my routine I feel the texture and radiance have improved dramatically. This product has contributed to that too.

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 11Packaging is a lovely ombré glass bottle with pipette. The oil itself is light yellow.

It’s made from 99% natural origin and contains three precious seed oils: black cumin, camellia and rosehip, ingredients are known for their repairing and revitalising properties.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil costs £28 and it is available online and in the shops nationwide.

You can also read about the product I count on for when the weather is not treating my skin very well!

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Pillow face no more: meet this works light time skin plumper

thisworks_lightime_skin_plumper_review - 1This works is a brand I like more every time I use a product or discover a new one. They don’t seem to do much wrong in my eyes.

The light time skin plumper is one of those things we all need in the morning. I am definitely not a morning person,so welcome anything to make me feel or look alive.
It’s a face moisturiser with a very fluid consistency and a lovely “wake-me-up” smell.
The secret? Hyaluronic Filling Spheres that help smoothen up the skin appearance. Although the effect is quite subtle, I do feel some plumpness in my skin after application.
It’s absorbed quickly, skin feels good and the cream behaves very well under makeup.
thisworks_light_time_skin_plumper_review - 2
Antioxidant vitamin C and Persian silk tree extract help the hyaluronic acid work in moisturising, plumping and smoothing the skin.
Overall, a good morning product. It is recommended for day and night use, but I think this is more a day cream than night, to be honest, especially in the winter.
The this works light time skin plumper cost £29 for 30ml and is available online and from selected retailers.
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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Discovering Dr Jackson’s natural products

dr_jacksons_face_oil_review - 1How many times have I started an article with “I love oils”? Probably more than you’d be comfortable with, but the truth is, oils really changed my skin.

Being the lucky girl I am, I was invited to iconic London store Liberty to hear from Dr Jackson, or Simon, as he prefers to be called, for a showcase of his fabulous products.

And yes, I brought home the Dr Jackson’s 03 Face Oil.

This wonder oil is luscious and thick, but spreads divinely and is extremely well absorbed by the skin. The smell is rather herbal but not too overpowering.

dr_jacksons_face_oil_review - 3Skin immediately feels soft and nourished, and when I wake up in the morning it looks supple and radiant, with a fabulous texture.

As part of my skincare routine it helped minimise breakouts at that time of the month, which are a certain for me. Well, much less this time.

The oil is 100 % natural and contains the goodness of a unique blend of oleic and linoleic acids, baobab (see the little seed on my pics?) and marula oils, calendula and arnica.

The blend of ingredients has anti-inflamatory properties and works on improving skin tone and elasticity, minimising scarring, deeply moisturising, reducing redness and healing – read damaged tissue repair. The result is a visibly smoother, re-texurised complexion.

I left the event inspired. By beauty, of course, by nature, by science and human nature. Simon is fascinating, and his work, not only the science bit (which is mesmerising, by the way), is just wonderful.

dr_jacksons_face_oil_review - 1 (1)Dr Jackson is a pharmacognosist, so he is and expert on the active chemical components of medicinal plants. 

He fell in love with regional indigenous plants’ medicinal properties and traditional medicine early in life and went on to study them.

His travels got him exposed to different cultures and uses of plants as healing agents, and introduced new plants to his life. Amongst his studies, he came across beautifying properties in certain plants, and ran with it, creating a fantastic natural skincare range which was four years in the making.

He will only use carefully selected ingredients of the best quality that can be found int he world, extracted the closest way they would at source, pure and at the right concentration to be efficient, while also supporting the communities which grow them.

Now, wouldn’t you trust your skin to this man? Well, you should.

They now have a whole concession at Liberty London and there are also treatments available.

The fantastic Dr Jackson’s 03 Face Oil costs £55 for 50ml and £30 for 25ml and is available at Liberty London, and online.

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A gentle face wash: the S5 Clarity Cleanser

s5_clarity_cleanser_review - 2Many a times I mentioned how much I love S5 Skincare. Apart from having fabulous, natural products, the founder is a darling and genuinely caring about skin issues.

To join my beloved Balance Fluid moisturiser and Purity Serum, I got the great – and new –  S5 Clarity Cleanser, which cleans and detoxifies skin.

It is so mild on the skin that it’s not even funny. It’s scent is very subtle and it foams quite well.

s5_clarity_cleanser_review - 1Skin feels soft and extremely comfortable, not the faintest sign of drying. A real joy to use. It also does a very decent job of removing light makeup – even eye makeup!

On its formula, exfoliating papaya enzymes gently help get rid of old cells – leave it for a couple of minutes after applying to best results – and alpine epilobium fleishieri, which has sebum regulating properties.

The organic S5 Clarity Cleanser cost £28 for 200ml is available to buy now from the S5 Skincare website and selected retailers.

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Look good, do good: Kiehl’s Tinie Tempah Ultra Facial Cream

kiehls_ultra_facial_cream_review - 2Kiehl’s is a brand I’ve always regarded quite highly, but had never tried anything from, even though I many a times set myself to buy.

I was very happy that the first product I got to try was the limited edition Tinie Tempah Ultra Facial Cream. Hang on. Tinie Tempah?

Kiehl’s partnered up with Tinie, who designed the lid for their classic Ultra Facial Cream and MTV Staying Alive Foundation to raise money – and awareness – to the prevention of HIV and Aids spread. Tinie Tempah is the UK ambassador for the charity.

kiehls_ultra_facial_cream_review - 3The Ultra Facial Cream is a 24-hour moisturiser as it helps reduce moisture loss and draws moisture from the air to keep skin hydrated for longer.

The white cream is much lighter than it looks. It spreads and absorbs well and is great for use day or night.

It feels great on the skin, you don’t need an awful lot to cover face and neck as it spreads extremely well and behaves very well under makeup.

With no fragrance, it’s great for men and women. For me, it is a no-nonsense approach to skin care. Even the boyfriend liked it!

kiehls_ultra_facial_cream_review - 1It contains antarcticine (a glacial glycoprotein extract), which helps protect against dryness and combat free radicals; desert plant extract, rich in potassium for hydrating effects and squalane, a signature Kiehl’s ingredient which is a vegetal lipid very similar to our skin one.

Kiehl’s is no strange to HIV/Aids prevention work. They have been working hard since the 80’s and have raised more than £2.5 million to the cause in the past 10 years alone.

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation provides funding and training to youth-led HIV prevention projects around the world. Their work helps these projects and their young leaders to develop vital skills to build innovative, culturally relevant and sustainable organisations that lead the fight against HIV on the ground.

Kiehl’s UK is giving £2 from every pot to the foundation, so it can help them carry on with their fantastic job.

You can get the Kiehl’s limited edition Tinie Tempah Ultra Facial Cream from the Kiehl’s website and retailers nationwide. it costs £43.50 for 125ml.

Because I got mine as a press sample, I have made a small donation to the foundation directly, after all, I am using a pot that should give back to the charity. You can donate directly here.

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

The Body Shop Oils of Life: fuelling my obsession with oils

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 1As if I weren’t obsessed enough with oils, here comes The Body Shop and adds more fuel to the fire with the amazingly luxurious Oils of Life range.

It contains a massager and four great products: two creams, an oil and a lotion, with which I will start with, as it is a bit different from all skincare products I tried before.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion has, of course, oils, mixed with water, making it a bi-phasic solution, much like the best eye makeup removers out there.

As every item in the collection, this contain three precious seed oils: black cumin, camellia and rosehip. Lovely, no? These ingredients are known for their repairing and revitalising properties.

The Revitalising Lotion is a pre moisturising step, preparing the skin to receive the care and it should be applied after cleansing and toning.

I have to say that my skin routine has enough steps, but this ones adds something extra. Apart from making skin feel softer and helping spread the products that follow, it proved to be particularly valuable in the morning, as it is a helps to wake me up with its freshness and subtle lovely smell.

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 2Obviously, it is super light, feels like water and really gives the skin that pick me up before the nourishing routine. You just need a few drops, after shaking to mix, for the whole face and neck.

Packaging is quite simple; a plastic orange bottle with a sturdy cap, not exactly luxurious but gives you that apothecary look (but the feel as it is not glass!). I like the label is small and you can see the solution mix as you shake it.

It does make me wonder that this product would make a fab spray to be used during the day; I might put it in an atomiser to carry around, being the huge fan of face mists I am.

Doubtlessly helps boost radiance as part of the routine, but for me, its “wake me up effect” is its best feature.

The lovely Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion costs £15 for 150ml and can be bought online or at The Body Shop shops nationwide.

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.