Review on the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash

I’ve been using the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash nearly every morning for about 3 months (and there is still a tiny bit left!) so I thought it was time for a review! J. I was using the moringa cleansing balm before this (I have a review on this too!) and whilst I really enjoy using it, it is definitely something to use in the evening when you have that extra time to fully benefit from its amazing formula. At the time it was 25% off at Debenhams and I had a gift voucher too and as loved the cleansing balm, I thought I would give it a try to use as a quick and simple morning cleanser.

The cleanser claims to have the following benefits;

‘Essential oils of Rose, Neroli, Jasmine and Orange help to balance the skin.

A blend of Moringa extracts and Pumpkin fruit enzymes ensure the skin is left thoroughly cleansed, refreshed and lightly exfoliated, revealing smoother, brighter, younger looking skin

A gentle yet effective daily cleanser which brightens, softens and conditions the skin whilst essential oils of Neroli, Bergamot, Sweet Orange and Madarin help to uplift and energise the senses’

The product comes in a 150ml pump bottle and (as the name suggests) has a foam consistency when applied to the skin. It has a lovely light floral scent which is very similar to the moringa cleansing balm and it’s a pleasure to use every morning. I always apply the cleanser to a dry face, as is my rule with all cleansers…products don’t fully get to the skin if it is wet. I massage the light foam onto my skin for about a minute to really absorb the active ingredients. I then simply wash it with water and I only do this because it rinses away easily leaving behind no residue at all. I would highly recommend it for a morning cleanse as I don’t think it would remove makeup effectively enough.

Some mornings, I add a small amount of the ‘Indeed Labs facial powdered exfoliator’ into the cleanser for more of a ‘physical’ exfoliation and this works very nicely, I can’t use the powdered exfoliator on it on as it way too harsh for my skin and I always end up with angry red bumps L! Also, some evenings I mix my cleansing balm with some of the foaming cleanser (as a consultant at Emma Hardie kindly told me on my Instagram page) as the pumpkin enzymes add a mild exfoliation to the balm, which I then remove with a hot flannel.

Now this foaming wash doesn’t get half as much attention (and lack of reviews too!)  as the cleansing balm and I honestly think it its underrated. Having used the cleanser daily for a while now, I have found it does a great job of purifying and also nourishing the skin. I know lots of people have experienced foaming cleaners to be very drying, however, this doesn’t not leave my combination skin tight or stripped of its natural oils. I definitely agree with the claim that it is gentle whilst still being effective and the addition of the essential oils in the formula really maintain hydration and plumpness in my skin. It has gone some way to brighten my skin but I wouldn’t say this is its biggest plus point.. and as for the younger looking skin, I don’t think that any cleanser can make that much difference! All in all, my skin has been left smooth, nicely balanced and generally feeling very happy. It’s a product I can rely on and the days where I am having issues with my skin, it will just do the job without making anything worse.

To sum it up, I think it makes for an ideal and quick morning cleanser, suitable for most skin types and I would recommend it if you have been put off by drying foaming cleansers in the past. Just one point on the price, I believe it retails for £34. It may seem on slightly on the expensive side but it has lasted me ages! It’s definitely worth checking out if it is on offer and it may well be with Christmas only just around the corner! J

Have you tried this cleanser? I would love to hear you thoughts, comments and suggestions!

Xoxo

Acid exfoliators.. where have you been all my life?!

I have spent many years of my life thinking my skin would only be really clean by using an abrasive exfoliator. Until only quite recently, I have realised that it has actually been doing my skin more harm then good. Whenever I used an exfoliator with beads/particles, my skin was nearly always left red and irritated. I don’t have particularly sensitive skin so I never really knew why that happened. It was also the reason that I had little bumps just under my skin, I would continue to use the exfoliator to try to get rid of these… a never ending cycle really! On top of that all that, scrubbing my skin made any existing blemishes more tender which nearly always lead to scarring as a result… great(!)

 A little while ago I just stopped using abrasive exfoliators altogether. I finally realised that more gentle, but effective, cleansers would make my skin feel clean and refreshed but never left feeling stripped or tight. Balm and oil cleansers removed with a muslin/flannel in the evening and cream or gel cleansers (some foaming cleansers.. not all!) in the morning are now my skincare routine essentials. It took me a while to get used to not literally scrubbing my face, years of habit I guess! I have to admit, I did recently buy the ‘indeed labs powdered exfoliator’ and even though this is a very gentle exfoliator I have noticed my old skincare concerns starting to appear again.

 Nowadays I choose to exfoliate my skin by using liquid products which contain AHA’s (glycolic and lactic acids) and BHA’s (salicylic acid). If you have read my post on Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold (containing glycolic acid) you will know how much this has transformed my skin. I still continue to use it every other night and definitely notice a difference if I don’t use it for a while. Everyone who reads Caroline Hiron’s blog will know how much she raves about acid exfoliators.. and she is never wrong! They really are the most effective way of brightening and smoothing skin by sweeping away dead skin cells. As some acid exfoliators can be quite potent, your skin may feel quite tingly but should never feel burnt. Therefore, if you do have sensitive skin then I would suggest using mild versions of BHA’s to begin with.  It’s also really important to hydrate the skin after use as well as using an SPF on top during the day (this should be done anyway!). Below are some products that I have used and/or would recommend;

 

Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold (obviously!) - £31 for 100ml/£45 for 200ml

Clearasil daily clear superfruit refreshing pads (I like to press these pads on my skin as opposed to swipe it across my face.. they are a bit scratchy!) - £3

Clinique’s mild clarifying lotion (a very gentle but effective exfoliator, keeps the skin balanced) - £16.50

Biologique Recherché's Lotion P50 - £52 (the ultimate acid exfoliator! Quite hard to get hold of, but you can order it through BR’s UK website)

 Nip+Fab's glycolic fix night pads extreme - £15 (currently on offer ar Boots for half the price)

Pixi's glow tonic (an afforardble but highly rated product) - £18

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner  (to be used once or twice a week) - £25

First aid beauty's facial radiance pads (can be used daily) -  £22 for 60 pads 

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant - £18

I hope you found this post helpful! As always I would love to read your thoughts and comments! :) 

Xoxo 

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make-up Remover

I bought this eye makeup remover at the same time as the warming mineral mask (check out my review on this mask) as my ‘Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover’, which did a good job, ran out. 

I don’t tend to wear much lip and eye makeup on a daily basis. I mostly just wear tinted lip balm and a clear mascara, the odd time I will use the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara if I need something a bit more! However, if I am going out for an occasion or an event I try to make a bit more of effort with some eyeliner/eye shadow or a bold lip. So I decided to test it out when I had a lot more makeup up than usual to see just how well it performs.  

Firstly, I like the formula of the product as it is fragrance, colour and alcohol-free which I think is great for the eye and lip area. I know that some makeup remover products have a lotion or milky texture but I personally don’t find this comfortable to use especially around the eye area as it can irritate and leave you not being able to open your eyes to see what you’re doing! This product has water-like formulation which you apply with a cotton pad. When the product is sitting it is normally clear but when you shake it to activate the product, it becomes cloudy and a bit soapy looking too. 

Did it do a good job in removing all my eye and lip make-up? Well actually, it did a pretty good job. I found that it didn't take too much effort  (no harsh scrubbing!) to take off my makeup, I would recommend using at least two cotton pads for the eyes but one should be sufficient for the lip area. I like to press the cotton pad on my eye/lip area for a few seconds to let it really soak in. For me, it does what I need it to as I wash my face afterwards using a cleanser suitable for the eye area so I can get any remaining bits of the makeup (if there are any) off then too. I also found that it leaves my eyes and lips feeling fresh, clean and hydrated too and it doesn’t leave an oily residue as other products can do when they are heavily oil based.

I would say, for the price, this product is a good choice for those who wear wear light eye/ lip makeup daily or those who wear more ocassionally. 

What's your favourite makeup remover?

Xoxo

Sleek CC Cream

I recently went on holiday for a week to Turkey and came back extremely tanned! My skin hasn’t been this tanned for a while and even though I do like the bronzed glow it has given me, it meant that my current foundations are much too light for my skin now.   

I made a trip to Boots after work to find a foundation which would match my tanned skin perfectly. Firstly, I was really surprised at the lack of shade ranges that were available, especially in regards to darker shades. I came across mostly medium toned foundations at best with heavy pink and peach undertones – not all suitable for my yellow toned complexion.

I decided to look at the Sleek counter as I know they cater quite well for those with darker skin tones.  I came across their ‘CC Cream’ which is advertised as a cream to boost radiance and mattify shine and a complexion corrector that treats and conceals imperfections. It also contains vitamin C said to protect skin against damage caused by free radicals, reduces fine lines, wrinkles and improves skin elasticity and the formula nourishes skin and combats dull and uneven skin tones leaving a beautifully fresh and even complexion. Furthermore, it contains ‘colour adaptive technology that adjusts to your skin tone and works to brighten and enhance skins natural radiance, whilst fighting against shine’. It also contains SPF 29 which is a bonus and I have found that is photographs quite nicely given the SPF factor.

 

I went for the medium shade in this but, as you will see from the images, it is really quite dark (even for my current skin tone) and I would possibly compare it to a MAC NC45. The reason I picked it up was because of how yellow toned it was in comparison to all the other foundations I came across and it was my intention to mix it with my current foundations so I didn’t mind that it was a bit on the darker side. I also felt that getting a CC cream was hopefully better for my skin then just an ordinary foundation, or convinced myself of that at least!

Just swatched

Blended

I would say that is coverage of the cream is medium and buildable too. It does cover minor skin imperfections and evens out the skin tone nicely, however, you probably will still need a concealer for any problematic areas.  It has quite a thick consistency but does blend well into the skin and I like to apply it with my Real Techniques buffing brush. The finish is quite dewy on application but doesn’t feel sticky or uncomfortable if blended well. In terms of colour adapting technology, I’m not sure I can comment fully as I do mix with another foundation but I think it suits and also brightens my tanned skin quite well. It also has quite a decent lasting power considering it’s a CC cream.  

However, my only gripe is that I’m not 100% convinced that the cream mattify’s shine. I have combination skin and have found foundations I’ve used in the past such as Bourjois’s Healthy Mix Serum and Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua, which have not left me oily in my t-zone area, however, this slightly does. I mean it’s not terrible but I have used it a few times now and have learnt that I must use a mattyfying powder on top to prevent too much shininess from occurring throughout the day. Therefore I  wouldn’t really recommend this product for those with very oily skin types and it is probably more suited to those with dry skin. Due to the formula and finish, perhaps it would be more suited to the winter months?  

All in all, it’s a doing a pretty decent job of giving my current foundation more of a golden brown hue and I will probably use it all up. However, apart from the shade, I wouldn’t say that it is a stand out product for me as I think it does a job which many other creams and foundations can do.

 

I hope you found this review to be helpful, I would love to read your thoughts and comments!

 

Xoxo

Aveeno Moisturising Creamy Oil

I have used many body moisturisers in my time ranging from the cult Body Shop body butters to the likes of Dove, Nivea and the classic Palmers coco butter too. It is worth mentioning that I do not have severely dry skin but occasionally, mostly during winter time, it can sometimes get tight and itchy. 

Every time I buy a new body moisturiser I have the best intention of using it on a daily basis as recommended but can’t help but be put off by how my skins feels after use – pretty much all of them left my skin either sticky or just plain greasy. I know that I need to moisturise but find it uncomfortable when I have to put my clothes on afterwards so some days I would skip it altogether.

I have recently tried the Aveeno Moisturising Creamy Oil which currently sells at about £7 for a 300ml size and comes in a handy pump application. I guess it’s a tad more expensive than other brands but for me, it has been a stand out product.  It is ‘formulated with naturally active colloidal oatmeal and sweet almond oil, this non-greasy product combines the moisturising benefits of an oil with the convenience of cream.’ The product contains many naturally beneficial ingredients and is not heavily fragranced but you do get subtle scent from the sweet almond oil which isn’t particularly offensive - I actually quite like it. 

    

I bought this moisturiser to take with me on holiday to Turkey as I knew my skin would need it after all the sun exposure along with the being in and out of water. I used it every day and it was perfect for the hot weather as it didn’t make my skin feel sticky at all. The moisturiser blends into the skin easily and absorbs very quickly too and my skin is left feeling supple and super soft instantly. I love that I can’t tell I have put moisturiser on but my skins feels (and looks) as though it has. I actually used another body moisturiser the other day and was amazed at how different it felt to the Aveeno one. It felt clammy and as though my skin was just coated in a superficial film, so different to my experience in using Aveeno.

Even my husband, who rarely moisturises!, also used it every day on holiday and still continues to use it in evening after his shower, so it’s a guaranteed winner all round! I also think that a little goes a long way so hopefully it will last me for some time yet.  It’s a definite repurchase for me and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a new body moisturiser.

Have you tried any of the other products in the Aveeno range? What did you think?

Xoxo

Worth the hype? Review on Glam Glow Bright Mud Eye Treatment

After having read rave reviews on the Glam Glow products, I decided to purchase ‘The CAMERA-READY Try Before You Buy’ trial pack, currently retailing at £13. It includes 3 of their mud treatments in single-use sample sizes including the Youth Mud, Super Mud and their Bright Mud eye treatment.

 

Today, I will be reviewing the Bright Mud eye treatment. The product claims to be ‘The world's first tap-on-wipe-off eye product designed to work for Hollywood actors in just a few minutes, just before going in front of a camera on-set. It is designed for instant 3-minute results targeting dark circles, puffiness, tired eye, fine lines by hydrating, brightening and plumping the eye area.’

I don’t really have any major concerns around my eye area, but I was looking for something which would brighten my under eye area as well as help with a few fine lines and this product said it would do just that.  

The formula is said to contain advanced active ingredients (including caffeine) and you can visibly see the bits of the ‘teoxi peppermint leaf for a brightening finish’. When applying the product, you tap the product under your eyes (you can use it on the orbital area too) and then wait for 3 minutes, and wipe off with soft dry tissue, using a clean part for each wipe. I personally found the application process quite unpleasant, the leaf bits felt odd and uncomfortable around my eye area and I’m not sure I even waited the full 3 minutes as I wanted to take it off as soon as possible!

After I removed the product as recommended, this was a bit of a pain in itself and not great for the delicate eye area, I was hoping to see some instant results as promised by Glam Glow. It’s worth mentioning that I used the product on 2 separate occasions in order to write a more informed review. While I saw a very slight improvement in that it seemed to tighten my under eye area, it was no way near the results I was expecting. It did nothing in terms of brightening or helping to diminish my few fine lines. I can’t really comment on the puffiness aspect as I don’t have this concern but I am 99% sure it wouldn’t have helped with that either.  I actually did some before and after photos which I was planning on posting but there really was no visible difference so I thought it would be pretty pointless.  

Disappointingly, I can’t help but feel as though this product is quite gimmicky and there doesn’t seem to be any proven scientific research or benefits behind its ingredients.  The product retails online at £44.99 (for 12 single treatments) which I think is massively over priced for what it actually does (or doesn’t do!) and I’m very glad I didn’t waste that much money on it. I think there are much better (and cheaper)  products out there which give significantly better results and with longer lasting benefits too.

Are there any eye creams you would recommend?

Xoxo 

Review: The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask

The Body Shop is quite renowned for its face masks and when this mask was available at a discounted price due to a payday sale at my office, I thought I would give it a try (along with some other unnecessary purchases too!).

The product is described as ‘This mask magically warms itself up as you smooth it on. With feel-good ginger, cinnamon oil, and kaolin clay to deep cleanse all skin types’. As the mask contains the ingredient Zeolite, this acts as the warming agent which gently heats on contact with your skin. The sensation is not uncomfortable or intense (at least not for me anyway) and I like to have a like have a lie-down whilst I have the mask on as I find it calming and like to pretend I’m at a spa!

To use the product, you simply wet your clean face and then apply the mask evenly making sure to cover areas such as around your nose, chin and forehead (of course, avoiding your eye area). It’s has quite a thin consistency for a mask so it glides onto the skin well. You can wash the product off after only 5 minutes if you wish but you can leave it on longer if you have the time, I wouldn’t really recommend for more than 20 minutes. The kaolin clay helps to give the skin a deep cleanse and unclogs pores from excess oils and other impurities. I find that it does a decent job of this and my pores do seem more purified, my skin is also left feeling smooth and refreshed too. I  like the fact that it doesn’t dry out my skin or make it feel tight, as some other clays masks can do, but I would still recommending using a moisturiser after.  I tend to use this mask at least once a week as part of my evening skin care routine to help remove any build up on my skin.

 

It’s worth mentioning that as this mask is intended to give your skin a deep cleanse, you may find that you get a few new spots after using it. I have noticed that this happened to me occasionally but I rather have my impurities being drawn out of my skin instead of sitting underneath it. Therefore, I wouldn’t really use this mask if I had an important occasion or event coming up… just in case!

If you are looking for an effective deep cleansing mask which is pleasant to use and affordable too, then give this a go. However, if you are looking for more dramatic or targeted results from your facial mask then this may not live up to your expectations.

I am thinking of trying out their 'Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask' at the next payday sale, the lady did quite a job of selling it to me and I have heard some good reviews about it too. Have you tried this mask, what do you think of it? I would love to read your comments!

Xoxo

Current Skincare Favourites

Welcome to my very first blog post!


I'm really excited to share my skincare obsession with you, I hope you find my blog informative, honest and if you're like me, feed your skincare obsession too! I thought I would start off by sharing some of my current beauty favourites that I am loving right now. So here goes!....


Since my Biotherm Blue Therapy Day Cream ran out (which I adored but it's so difficult to and more expensive now) I was on the hunt for an equally amazing moisturiser. Whilst on my frequent lunch break visit to Boots, I walked by the Estée Lauder counter. The beauty consultant was really helpful and talked me through several of the products and which one would be most suitable for me. As I have normal/combination skin and being in my late 20s I wanted a product which would help with the first signs of ageing as well as perfectly hydrating my skin. I therefore decided to go for the Estée Lauder Daywear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme (wow that's a mouthful!). It claims to use its anti-oxidant power to fight the signs of early aging such as dullness and fine, dry lines as well as safeguard the skin.

I have been using it for about 3 months now and it's still a pleasure to use every day. It is calming on the skin and hasn't irritated my skin or caused me to have any major breakouts. While the jar says 'DayWear' it can actually be applied in the evening as well as in the evening. It has a refreshing cucumber scent which I love and it instantly smoothes and plumps up my skin. Whilst it does a great job at hydrating my skin, it doesn't feel sticky or greasy and I find it works really well under foundation. It also has SPF15 which is an added bonus to someone who is very lazy with sun protection! I would love to try the other products in their skincare range, is there any that you would recommend?

My second product is the Mild Clarifying Lotion by Clinique. To be honest, I have never really been a huge fan of the brand and used any product of theirs which did wonders for my skin. However, I was in need of a toner to use after cleansing which wasn't too harsh on my skin but still effective to use in order to get rid of the last traces of makeup and other grime which ends up on my face! I heard that the other clarifying lotions in the range were not the best and after reading some good reviews on this one I thought I would give it a go. The formulation is free from alcohol and contains 0.5% salicylic acid which is proven to help with reducing blemishes. The product is actually aimed at those with very dry skin and gently exfoliates and de-flakes the skin to reveal clearer skin. Unlike most toners, it has quite a thick consistency similar to a light gel. I wasn't really looking for any miracles with this clarifying lotion but it has done a good job of keeping my skin free of the odd dry patches I used to get occasionally and keeps my skin balanced and happy. I would recommend this product if you are looking for a simple, gentle but effective product which can be incorporated easily into any skincare routine 

Lastly, I have to mention my current favourite mask. I have tried several facial masks from own-branded Superdrug and Boots masks which do a decent job in decongesting my skin, to the likes of GlamGlow (I really don't understand why that product is so raved about??). A while ago, after watching too many YouTube videos by my fav beauty bloggers, I decided to try some Michael Todd products. I got the skincare discovery kit which contained the Cleanse and Tone One Step Cleanser, Organic Lemon AHA + DMAE Toner, Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub, Citrus Cream Moisturiser and the Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask. I really wasn't impressed by the moisturiser as it left my skin quite greasy after use and the toner, cleanser and scrub were ok but not stand out products for me. 

However, I can't get enough of the pumpkin mask! This product contains active pumpkin enzymes as well as glycolic acid which work together to really brighten and smooth the skin. It also claims to refine pore size and loosen dead skin cells with sugar cane and maple sugar extract.  You simply apply the product onto a clean face and wash off after 10 to 15 minutes (you get used to the weird pumpkin smell, my husband can't stand it haha!) Unlike some other masks, it doesn't dry out my skin and actually leaves it feeling super soft. It also makes my skin look ultra glowy after use so I like to use it when my skin needs a pick-me-up. I have yet to come across a facial mask which works so well at giving instant results. It's work mentioning that you may feel a tingling sensation and while some reviews have said it's quite intense, it is bearable for me. However, I would definitely NOT try this on sensitive skin types! So if you have normal to combination skin like me then I would say give this product a go if you are considering trying out the Michael Todd range. 

I hope you enjoyed my first post, I would love to read your comments, tips and suggestions too! 

Until next time.... Xoxo