Recent skincare empties

In the past few months, I have really tried very hard not to buy skincare products. I have been attempting to use up what I have before buying anything new as well as trying to save my pennies for a very exciting move that’s going to happen next year, watch this space!

So that being said, today’s post is going to be all about my recent skincare empties…

 

Zelens Luminous Brightening Serum

This has to be one of my most expensive purchases even though I got it as bargain for nearly half price it’s RRP! Whilst I do love skincare, I really can’t bring myself to spend extortionate amounts on tiny little jars (even though secretly I would love to go crazy sometimes!).  I’ve had it since Christmas eve and having used it only a few times a week as it’s so precious, I have just finished the bottle.  

I have actually mentioned this already in my February favourites where I raved about it. Now that I have used it all up, I can still say that it’s a great product. Until the last drop, it gave me a serious glow. My skin felt and looked so radiant, there was a noticeable difference on the days I used the serum to when I didn’t, it’s that good. As I seem to be developing increasingly sensitive skin, I can confirm that this gave me no irritation whatsoever. It is very gentle on the skin but powerful, a perfect mix!  

This is a product where you can almost justify spending so much. As the serum  markets itself for being  high in niacinamide, I noticed ‘The Ordinary’ range by Deciem offers a niacinamide and zinc serum and immediately I was attracted it.. I thought it would be the answer to my prayers at only £5 compared to £135 for the Zelens. Unfortunately from what I have used so far, I am disappointed. I feel like it doesn't do much for me compared to my beloved Zelens. I think those of you that can compare the two would probably agree … annoying isn’t it?

Repurchase? Yes (only if I had more pennies L)

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash

I picked up this face wash whilst browsing in John Lewis. It was 20% off (normally it sells for £16 for 125ml) at the time which is probably the reason why I bought it. I used it every single morning until the bottle was empty and it’s one of the nicest cleansers I have used. It has some fantastic ingredients which get to work on congested skin as well as calming and reducing existing blemishes.  For me, it does exactly what it says on the tin. The fact that it is 99% natural is an even bigger bonus I reckon.

Now that I have used it up, I really do miss it. It seemed to keep my skin under check with my blemishes being under control. I have noticed that lately some angry buggers have reared their ugly heads and this has made me realise what a good job it did.  

Whilst the cleanser is effective, unlike others, it didn’t leave my skin dry or uncomfortable in any way. I was always left with clean, supple and calm skin…. Just how I like it! However, don’t expect it to do a good job at removing your make-up. It’s definitely one for a second cleanse or morning cleanse (which is when I prefer to use it). 

Overall, for the price and it’s performance, its definitely worth trying out if you are on the look for an every day cleanser. I am beginning to really like this brand and having loved their radiance face mask too, I will probably be picking up something else from them!  

Repurchase? Yes definitely 

 

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm

I enjoy using cleansing balms and I’m all about trying out new brands and formula’s alike. Of course, I have the famous Emma Hardie in my stash which I love but as I do like switching it up, I decided to try out the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm. I got a mini size from eBay so it only cost me a few quid (that’s pounds for you non-Britishers!).

 The balm contains echium oil high in omega’s, sweet almond oil and fruit extracts. As with all balms, it is recommended that you remove it with a muslin or wash cloth.

I have seen many bloggers and skincare enthusiasts talk about how fab this product is, but unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to be one of them. On my first time using it, I really enjoyed the lovely melty texture and the fabulous scent. I thought it did a good job  at removing my make-up and my skin felt soft too. However, it was the next morning when I realised it wasn’t suited to me. My skin just looked ‘bleurgh’. Let me explain, it didn’t look glowy and fresh which is how it should look when I’ve done a good routine the night before. And on top of that I had some small spots pop up. Nonetheless I preserved with it thinking it may have just been a one off, I mean how bad could it be? Each time I used it, I had issues. I know I hadn’t done anything different in my routines or used any other new products so I could only put it down to this. 

Having had a closer look at the ingredients, as its more synthetic then natural, I think this may be one of the reasons why my skin didn’t like it. Luckily, as it was a trial size I didn’t have much left to use up so I ended up reserving it to remove my eye make-up only.. I didn’t let it touch anywhere else on my face! 

Sadly, while this wasn’t for me, I am still hopeful for the other products in the Merumaya range and I have my eye on their eye cream J  

Repurchase? Unfortunately not 

 

Superdrug Vitamin E Toning Facial Mist

First and foremost.. this is £2.99 and it's 150ml. I think that alone is justification to go and buy it.

One a serious note, this has been the only toner I have been using recently. As I have mentioned before, my skin is becoming hyper-sensitive to just about everything, what I could happily use on my face before now causes big lumps to appear on my face.. not pretty. All my other toners are rather to astringent (lavender and tea tree) or chemical exfoliators, salicylic and glycolic acids are really not my friends right now.  Therefore this toner ticks all my boxes. It is super gentle with vitamin E and soothing aloe vera which is ideal to replenish dry and irritated skin.

It also comes in a handy spritz bottle which gives you an instant refreshing and hydrating boost, its lovely to use at any time during the day or night.  You can also use it on top of your makeup for a dewy finish. It has that classic sunscreen smell which is present in the whole Vitamin E range, which I personally really like.  My verdict is that this whilst this is a simple toner, I think everyone should one…your skin will be very happy.    

Repurchase? Yes definitely

My top Korean skincare picks

Recently I have really been loving skincare products from Korea. I have found them to be so varied, fun and innovative too. The best part for me is that they actually work and are surprisingly affordable which is a definite win-win. If I ever got the chance to visit Korea, I would truly be in my skincare heaven!

Whilst you can get them on many beauty websites here in the UK, I always check out eBay as its always much cheaper and directly from Korea too! I must admit I haven’t tried lots of brands and products just yet (I intend to though!) but here are my top picks so far…

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch 

This is the perfect solution to that monster spot which seems to appear at the most convenient of times! They are basically little circular patches which you put on the affected area, they claim to work by  ‘healing acne, blemishes and preventing future breakouts quickly. Prevents secondary infections and encourages wound repair process more faster.’ Essentially it is a hydrocolloid treatment, this substance is used commonly for healing wounds by creating a moist healing environment which helps to minimise scarring too. 

 

Whilst they say you can wear it during the day as they are quite discreet, I personally don’t like being in public with plasters dotted all over on my face. Instead, I use them in the evening (or on days which I know I’m not going to be leaving the house!) on freshly cleansed skin, you should use it on bare skin as it will work more effectively and adhere to your skin properly. I like to use it blemishes which are stubbornly lurking underneath my skin, the patch helps to surface the gunk which makes the healing time much quicker. It’s also fantastic to use on spots which you have picked at (which you really shouldn’t if it’s not a white head but we all do it!!). It heals the dark mark left (scarring) at super speed so you aren’t left with an unsightly mark for weeks on end.  

For me, there is no acid, gel, drying lotion or cream which tackles my spots as effectively as this does.

 

The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Aloe

I first picked up this cleanser whilst on my honeymoon in Malaysia (or was it Singapore?!). I was after something with simple ingredients which would really help to purify my skin given the very humid climate I was in. I enjoyed using it so much that I have since purchased more from eBay at roughly £5 each (including shipping).  

I tend to buy products which contain Aloe Vera as it has beneficial properties which include soothing and healing the skin. The formula is very creamy and lathers quite a bit too. After I rinse it off with warm water and my skin is left feeling really clean, soft and refreshed. It provides relatively deep clean, it would appeal to those who like their face to feel ‘squeaky clean’.  Whilst it doesn’t make my dry or tight, it’s not as moisturising as other cleansers but it’s nothing that a good moisturiser or serum/oil can’t sort out. Also, it will not remove your make up (don’t get it near your eyes!), I use it as a second cleanse or a morning cleanse for that reason.  This makes for a good no-fuss face wash when all you need is to clean your skin without the use of overly complicated formulas. This is what I would use when my skin is feeling a bit out of whack as I know it will do a job of normalising it without causing further irritation.

 

O.S.T Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum

I bought this serum just a few weeks ago but is already proved to be of the best targeted serums I have used.. and it only cost me £12! This product contains about 6,000mg of 100% Pure Vitamin C. It contains 20% concentration of L-Ascorbic acid. It aims to offer whitening, exfoliation and pore care effect, but also helps smooth rough areas on your skin, caused by spots or acne breakouts, when used regularly or long term.

This serums pretty much does everything it claims to do. As far as whitening goes don’t be scared, it will help to even out your skin tone and not make you look like Snow White!

The serum comes in an opaque glass bottle, because of the high Vitamin C content it will oxidise very quickly so it’s best to keep it in  cool, dark environment.  I mix the serum with either my Zelen’s Luminous Serum or sometimes with my moisturiser as it can feel a bit a sticky/tacky on the skin... SPF is a must when using this product. In the evenings I prefer to use it ‘neat’ to get the full benefits.

As I have said I have only been using the serum for a short while but I have already seen a noticeable glow to my skin, the overall texture and is definitely helping to improve some patches of pigmentation.  For the price, I am very impressed by the results so far.  I have other products which promise to work in a similar way (and that are far more expensive!) which don’t even come close to this.  

 I will be doing a full review on this very soon (with photographic evidence!) so please check it out if you interested in this fab serum! 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Which Korean brands/products do you like? J

 

Xoxo

Brand focus - Elemis

I realised I haven’t blogged in quite some time! I have really been trying to be good lately and not splurge so much on new skincare, but instead using up what I have. 

Nonetheless, today I will focus on the British skincare brand that is Elemis. I have memories of my eldest sister buying the Elemis Pro-collagen Marine Cream for a whopping £80!!!...at the time I thought it was so fancy and dreamed of when I could afford to buy my own.

As I have grown, I have explored many other brands but have somewhat overlooked Elemis which seemed pretty bog standard and not hugely exciting compared to others.  Over on the Hiron’s blog and Instagam, there seems to be more and more Elemis products popping up. They have recently resigned their logo and packaging, it's looking a lot more slicker and professional which do their products much more justice.

Back in March I spent the day at a spa for my birthday. As with many other spa’s in the UK, they stocked the Elemis skincare range. At the time I was in need of a new cleanser (morning/second cleanse type) and found myself staring at the products for quite a while. The skincare adviser who was working there wasn’t really helpful, she looked quite bored and uninterested to be honest. But I was keen on purchasing the ‘Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash’, of which I googled and read lots of review on anyway so I wasn’t bothered too much.

 

The price of this cleanser is £30 for 200ml which is fairly reasonable as you don’t need to use much. However, at the time they had a gift set on offer for £38 (bargain!) which included a full size version of the cleanser, the Balancing Lavender Toner (also 200ml), Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm (15ml) and Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil (50ml).

 

I have been using these products for a couple of months now and I thought I would share my thoughts so far.

This facial wash is one of Elemis’s bestsellers and many people swear by it. I have been using it pretty much every morning since I got it. The cleanser comes in a sturdy bottle with a pump which gives you the right amount of product. The formula is creamy and lathers slightly when massaged into the skin. It has a scent which I can’t really describe but it’s not flowerly or fruit, it’s just neutral if you know what I mean? Maybe a bit ‘almondy’?!  Anyway… the facial wash claims to ‘stimulate your skin's natural cell renewal cycle, actively smoothing and refining whilst removing the dead skin cells that can dull your complexion’. My experience of using it is that is does a good job of purifying the skin but doesn’t leave it tight or dry after use. At first it felt tingly on my skin but I don’t mind that because I know it’s doing something. I wouldn’t use it remove make up, it’s not meant for that. When I apply the product I leave it on as long as I can before washing it off. As it contains resurfacing ingredients (enzymes), I like to allow these to work a little longer on my skin. 

Whilst I do enjoy using it and it doesn’t irritate my skin, I’m not sure what difference it has actually made to my skin. Some have commented that it helps with acne scars but I haven’t noticed this too much. Part of the reason why I chose this cleanser is that I thought it would give me a deep clean to combat some little bumps just on my right cheek (they are so stubborn and will not budge!) Sadly it hasn’t done much for them so it’s a bit disappointing. I will continue to use it up but probably won’t be repurchasing given the price and also its performance. 

The Balancing Lavender Toner is pleasant to use, gentle and contains no alcohol in its formula which is a big plus. The ingredients are fairly minimal with the only active ingredients being lavender extract and sweet betty flower. It is aimed a combination to oily skin and works by clarifying and helping to reduce inflammation. It comes in a spray bottle and has a strong lavender scent (obviously!) which I personally find very refreshing. It helps to maintain and balance the pH levels whilst softening the skin making it a great base for applying further skincare products. I think it does a good job of mattifying the skin but provides just the right amount of moisture too.

I like to mix this toner with others that have more skin beneficial properties such as toners tea tree and salicylic acid. I sometimes spray this onto a cotton pad and sweep it across my face and other times when I’m in a rush I just spritz it directly onto my face, just be sure to keep your eyes closed or it will sting! Whilst I can’t say this toner is ground-breaking, it does what most people want form a toner and the fact that it is a spray makes it last ages too. I can see myself using this toner throughout summer as it is perfect to refresh and revitalize the skin throughout the day too.

My favourite product within the set has to be the Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil. As it is generous size of 50ml, I have been able to use it quite a few times. The cleansing oil says it works by ‘soothing, softening and lifting impurities without stripping the skin. Blended with over 90% natural oils, it has been formulated to ensure it maintains the skin’s delicate acid mantle at its optimum pH 4.5 - 5.5. Maintaining this optimum level ensures that the beneficial microflora on the skin are kept in balance to keep skin healthy.’

I think this is a lovely cleansing oil and is right up there with my beloved Body Shop camomile cleansing oil. It has some really great ingredients too such as winter rose oil (high in Omega 9), chia seed oil and pomegranate extract, it is suitable for all skin types too. I massage the cleansing oil onto dry skin, focusing more on my eyes and lips to remove any makeup I may have on and is perfectly gentle enough use on these areas. As I don’t wear a lot on my eyes or lips most days, this oil is effective enough at removing my makeup. That being said, if I did have more on, I would most probably use my eye and lip makeup remover beforehand just so my skin is really and properly cleansed. The oil itself is light and subtly fragranced, thankfully it doesn’t leave behind any residue or grease. 

My skin is left very clean but still supple due to its effective formula. I would recommend this product to anyone new to oil cleansing as well as seasoned pro's.. I really think this would appeal to anyone!

I haven't got round to using the flash balm just yet, this is described as a moisturiser, radiance booster and primer. I will be doing a mini review on this on my Instagram page soon so keep your eyes peeled! 

I hope you enjoyed this post, do you like Elemis? What other brands would you like me to review?

Xoxo

More disappointing products…

In today’s post I will be sharing a few products that haven’t overly impressed me and quite frankly have been a waste of money. I have tried to give them all a chance by using them quite a few times but its safe to say they are pretty second-rate. I fully appreciate that some of you may well love these products but every skin is different and this is my opinion only :)  

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

I received sample size of this within a beauty box. I love AHA and BHA’s in all forms and I was really excited to try this chemical and physical exfoliating cleanser. As it was a sample size, the ingredients were not available on the tube itself. I used for the first and I realised my skin did not like it. After trying to give it a go on several occasions, my skin just continued to react badly to it and I couldn’t understand why. One word - Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). I finally understood why I got the usual red and bumpy rash around my mouth and chin area as opposed to ‘revealing younger-looking skin by loosening dulling build-up on skin’s surface and to help retain plumpness and elasticity needed to function as a strong, healthy barrier’- it was literally the opposite. I was left with irritation, a drearier complexion and it wasn’t a nice experience to actually use the cleanser itself. Like I have said, every skin is different and some have no problem whatsoever with SLS. I really think that the formula could do without this ingredient, it’s quite potent and it seems so unnecessary to include it (its commonly used in shampoo’s to remove the grease from your hair!).

It’s also worth noting that the chemical exfoliators used are most affective when left on the skin for a longer period of time. As this is a cleanser, you are simply washing it away before it can actually do anything for your skin. I would therefore recommended using AHA and BHA’s within toners, serums, moisturisers and peels.

This is a thumbs down from me and I have already donated it to my husband who will use up pretty much anything I give to him :)

 

Ole Henriksen Empower Foaming Milk Cleanser

This is another product I got as sample within a beauty box… hmm I see a trend here!! Its badged as ‘A unique, lightweight milk transforms into a creamy lather to effortlessly and gently dissolve all traces of dirt, impurities, and makeup, while helping preserve skin’s moisture mantel. It's infused with antioxidant-rich artic cloudberry to protect from the onslaught of damaging free radicals, omega-6 powerhouse nordic cotton extract to deliver weightless hydration, and gentle willowbark extract to smooth skin. This nourishing cleanser leaves skin soft, supple, and revitalized’….Talk about hyping it up!

My main issue is that I feel like it doesn’t clean my skin thoroughly enough, it’s awful to use around the eye area too. It doesn’t do anything for me and feel bleurgh after every time I used it. I also don’t like the consistency, it’s like watered down yoghurt and doesn’t really foam up like it claims. You may think I have high expectations from my cleanser and I would agree, I know how amazing my skin can look and feel when I use a good quality cleanser. Another point, I feel like it clogs my pores too. After using it for a few days in a row, I saw few blemishes pop up (I hadn’t changed anything else in my skincare routine). I stopped using it for a while and my skin was back in its happy place. My skin is normal to combination so I can't imagine that oily skins would like this at all. 

I think Ole Henriksen’s have some great products such as the lemon peel and truth serum but I feel that this cleanser doesn’t do them any justice. I know this range is promoted by many famous beauty bloggers but unfortunately it is a case of unnecessary publicity around a mediocre product, there are far superior cleansers to spend your £20 on.

Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick 

I have seen many rave reviews for this cheap spot clearing blemish stick. The predominant ingredient is witch hazel which is well known for fighting off spots. It is in stick form with a compact gel inside which you apply directly to any blemishes you may have.

The first thing I don’t like it that it is rubbish under and over make up. It makes any foundation or concealer go blotchy which draws further attention to what you already feel like is a mountain on your face! Now this wouldn’t be a problem for those who don’t wear make up but I have noticed that when the product dries on the skin, it leaves it slightly white so you can see exactly where its been applied.. Again drawing unwanted attention! Therefore I think you can only really use it as part of your evening routine or days when you aren’t leaving the house.

When you apply the gel, you really need to rub it in so the gel softens and absorbs into the skin. When I have used it on some red and angry spots, I didn't like the idea of tugging at my skin in an already sensitive area. It just felt like I was probably  aggravating if further. In terms of performance, I did see a very slight improvement in the redness of my blemishes but not much more then that. The results seem very temporary too and you have to constantly reapply throughout the day, which is not that practical given how visible the product looks on the skin. I have come across other targeted spot treatments which do the job better and quicker whilst having a better application too. So my thoughts on this are, yes it is cheap so I can't expect much, but a small bottle of tea tree oil is similar price which can be a more effective option.

Have you used any of these? What did you think? Would love to hear your thoughts and comments! 

Xoxo

This months skincare favourites

I have recently discovered some products that I am really loving at the moment that I thought I would share with you all!

Zelens - Z Luminous Brightening Serum


Firstly, it has to be Zelen’s luminous brightening serum. I bought this from eBay just before Christmas at an absolute bargain price, I have been wanting to try it for some time so I simply couldn’t resist.  I first used it on Christmas day and immediately noticed a glowing effect on my skin. So much so that I used very little make up that day (except a bright red lip) as I wanted to show off my skin! I have been using it every morning since and I can safely say I am addicted. It claims to ‘diminish the appearance of dark spots and discolouration, evens skin tone and enhances radiance, while refining skin texture. Leaves skin brighter, clearer, softer and younger-looking’. I have noticed it has considerably brightened my complexion and has evened out my skin tone too. The formula contains many active ingredients, one of them being Niacinamide which is in high amounts, it is well known for being great at tackling hyperpigmentation. It’s perfect for mixing with other active ingredients such as my retinol and ferulic acid solution to make it work that bit harder. 
 

 

It is worth mentioning that it has also lightened my skin slightly and this is probably due to the zinc-glycine complex. I personally don’t mind this effect as it is winter so the rest of my body is quite fair skinned right now but maybe in the summer when I tan very easily and my face remains still quite fair it may be a slight issue. But for now, it is doing a great job of minimising the appearance of a patch of pigmentation on my forehead, some freckles I have near my eyebrow and also slowly helping to fade any scars left from pesky spots! If you interested in this but now sure if you want to fork out £135, I would suggest indeed labs Peptabright, whilst it may not quite be in the same league as Zelens, I think it’s a fantastic affordable option for those looking to deal with mild hyperpigmentation or just want a glow to the skin.

Avène - Cicalfate 


 
This has been my saviour when trying to deal with my perioral dermatitis (see my post on sulfate shampoos for more info). Cicalfate is repair cream that purifies and soothes irritated skin rapidly and has anti-bacterial agents encourage healing. I apply this cream every day and night around my nose, lip and chin areas as this is where I am most sensitive. It immediately calms my to redness and irritation, I feel like a there is a lovely comforting barrier which helps to protect and heal my skin...I slather it on! It is non-comedogenic (it won’t clog your pores) and is hypoallergenic which makes it ideal for any skin type.

 


I also like to use it on my blemishes. It speeds up the healing process quite significantly and minimises scarring too. I just make sure to really rub it into the affected area as often as I can, it is white in the tube but easily absorbs into the skin. It can also be used on rashes, burns, cuts and any areas of dryness too, it would make for a brillie hand (or foot) cream during the winter. I think it is great multi use product and I can't imagine not having it in my stash.. I just know when it runs out I will definitely be purchasing another in its place!

La Roche Posay - Serozinc



This is cult spritz toner which has been highly raved about. It only contains three ingredients which is water, sodium chloride and zinc sulphate making it friendly for even sensitive skin types whilst it is aimed at oily blemish prone skin. 

 

I like to layer this on top of my Pixi glow tonic as I still like to use glycolic acid in my toner stage. Whilst you are supposed to spray directly onto the skin, I personally find this quite messy.. It always ends up in my hair and on my ears! So instead I spray a load onto a cotton pad and quickly sweep it across my face concentrating on areas that need most attention. It leaves my skin looking more matte and feeling smooth and refreshed. I like that it reduces any inflammed areas and takes away the shine from any blemishes which otherwise stick out like a sore thumb! It makes a nice canvas for layering further skincare products as the skin is left feeling purified. I like the addition of zinc sulphate in my routine and can see its benefits, as it retails for around £8, it makes it an affordable option too. I can definitely see this being used a lot more in the summer when I am in need of controlling the oiliness of my face! 

Have you used any of these products? What did you think? Please comment below, would love to hear from you! 
 
Xoxo