Disappointing products – Soap & Glory Face Soap and Clarity, Mario Badescu Drying Lotion and DermaE Overnight Peel

In amongst my many face washes, I have Soap & Glory’s Face Soap and Clarity face wash. I bought this product as a last-minute purchase at the airport to use during a short break to Athens.  The product is described as being a ‘3-in-1 daily face wash with ultra-soft, jojoba scrub-beads, plus super-tasking vitamins, minerals, amino acids and Soap & Glory’s exclusive YUZU complex. It cleans and purifies skin, effortlessly removes make-up, and gently exfoliates.’ It also claims to include pigmentation-preventing antioxidants and is strategically formulated for oily/combination skin. I don’t particularly have oily skin but thought it would be good for my husband to use.  

The product has quite a strong scent, it’s minty and quite chemically in my opinion. Whilst it does contain jojoba beads intended to exfoliate the skin, there doesn’t seem to be many of them and are much too soft to be effective. Whenever I use this product I just feel like it is very superficial in that it doesn’t do anything to benefit my skin and it leaves it dry, tight and dull looking (the same can be aid for my husband’s experience of using it too). At the time I had a couple of blemishes, I thought the product would help to clear these up slightly but it really didn’t do anything at all. It also does a bad job of removing my make-up as my towel has traces of make-up on it after washing my face…don’t even think about getting it near your eyes it won’t do anything except really sting! As for the pigmentation preventing antioxidants, I can’t say that I have found this to be true either.  I honestly can’t think of one positive point about this product, unfortunately I think it will just sit on my shelf and maybe used in an extreme skincare emergency.  

My next disappointing product is Mario Badescu’s drying lotion. I gave into the hype about how great this product was and decided to give it a go. It is made up of calamine, sulphur and salicylic acid so it’s potent stuff.  It’s a strange formula with a watery substance and a pink sediment-like texture at the bottom of a small glass bottle. You have to dip a cotton bud into the pink stuff at the bottom and apply it directly to your spot. It’s supposed to working by shrinking the blemish by drawing out impurities from the skin. I have used it a few times now and I’m not really impressed by it. It does slightly dry the skin which helps the healing process but it hardly did anything to reduce the size of the blemish. Another thing is that it seems to come off quite quickly, it forms a bit of a crusty layer but I have found that it’s pretty much all gone after I wake up the next day so I’m not sure it stays on long enough to really be effective. As it is so potent, if you don’t like strong smells I think it will put you off wanting to use this. I honestly think the Freederm’s fast track treatment gel and Neutrogena’s visibly clear rapid clear treatment do a better job at reducing the redness and size of my blemishes, plus they have a transparent gel consistency so I can use them during the day unlike this product (I don’t really go for the ‘pink splodges on my face’ look!).  I will probably use it up but I doubt very much I would purchase it again. 

Lastly, it is Derma E Overnight Peel. Paula’s Choice has given this product 4 stars and calls it a ‘well-formulated AHA lotion with 5% glycolic acid plus lower amounts of the lesser-known AHA ingredients lactic and malic acids, all formulated at an effective pH of 3.’  It claims to reveal dramatically fresher, newer skin. With every use, skin tone becomes more radiant, pigmentation is evened and age spots are visibly diminished. I saw this product on Amazon for about £12 so I thought, given the great review, I would purchase it. It is a gel formula which is to be applied as your last step in your evening skincare routine. I definitely felt it tingling on my skin and so I thought that it must be doing something, I had high hopes and used it on a regular basis as recommend. Every time I used it, I woke up in the morning hoping to see some improvements to my skin, even though I really tried to be positive about it, I really couldn’t tell a difference in my skin even after regular use. It did nothing to renew my skin or help with pigmentation in the slightest and I just couldn’t understand what benefits came from using it. As a result, I hardly ever use this peel now (sometimes I use it to give it another chance) and I have come across far superior overnight peel products which are more expensive but they actually work.  Note to self… Paula isn’t always right! 

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? 

Xoxo

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser

Due to the enormous popularity of Liz Earle’s hot cloth cleanser, many have followed suit including Superdrug with their Vitamin E version. I really like the Vitamin E range in Superdrug as it is so affordable compared with other similar products.  I tried looking on the Superdrug website for this cleanser but I only found the ‘Naturally Radiant’ hot cloth cleanser which differs from this one. I bought mine store for £4.99 and its comes in a 200ml tube.

 

This cleanser has a very thick and creamy consistency which feels lovely when massaging into the skin. I believe it is most effective when used on a dry to damp face and it is gentle enough to use around the eyes and lip area too. After applying to the cleanser, you remove it with the muslin cloth (this comes with the product), I like to soak mine in very hot water and just leave it on my face for a little while before gently removing the cleanser with it. Some people have commented on the smell but I don’t find it particularly offensive (it’s like sunscreen and coconuts apparently?), I use some potent stuff on my face so this doesn’t bother me in the slightest!

 

Whenever I use hot cloth cleansing balms, not just this one, what I find really annoying is the fact that need to wash the cloth very often. Personally, I really don’t like to using the cleanser on a full face of make up as the cloth gets so dirty that I hate using the cloth again with it going in the washing machine first! To ensure that my cloth doesn’t get so gross, I like to remove the majority of makeup beforehand with either a makeup remover or wipes (the only time when I use wipes!!) and then follow it with the cleanser. Whilst this is an extra process, this way my skin is super clean and the cloth can be used for longer as it isn’t full of makeup.

 

I think it does I good job of making my skin feel refreshed, smooth and nourished, it has helped to improve the overall texture of my skin too. It contains some really great ingredients in addition to the Vitamin E which makes it suitable for all skin types. I like to use it in the evening because it so gentle and it’s very much needed before I apply my AHA Liquid Gold (review on this coming soon!).

 

The amount of product you get is amazing for the price and I would definitely recommend this product if you are new to hot cloth cleansers and are interesting in seeing how they work for your skin.

 

Which hot cloth cleansers are your favs? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

 

Xoxo

La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Serum

I recently went through a phase of getting patches of post-spot scarring which refused to fade away! I did a bit of research which products would be best for this but this was actually bought on a whim after browsing the aisles of my local Boots.

La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Serum is described as ‘an intensive serum with patented innovation to reduce the appearance of pigmentation. With a gentle moisturising fluid texture and specially formulated for sensitive skin. Skin tone looks more even and radiant. Complexion looks brighter and more even, pigmentation irregularities appear significantly reduced.’

 

The product is a light serum and has luminous appearance so it instantly makes your skin hydrated and leaves you with a lovely glow.  It blends into the skin very nicely and has a subtle scent which is quite pleasant. It comes in a handy (and hygienic) pump glass bottle and 1-2 pumps is sufficient for the face and neck area. 

After using it for about 6 weeks (a bit on and off if I’m honest), I think it’s been long enough to share my thoughts. The good points are; the serum contains clinically tried and tested ingredients targeted for pigmentation, it instantly brightens your skin on application, it didn’t break me out and it works! The serum contains a high concentration of beta-lipohydroxy acid (LHA) which gently exfoliates and removes bacteria from the surface of the skin, it is also the key ingredient found in their cult Effaclar products. It also contains B vitamin niacinamide, which research has shown can improve excess melanin production, lessening and potentially eliminating dark spots. Whilst there have been some reviews to suggest there are ingredients which may irritate the skin, I didn’t find this to be an issue and had no breakouts as a result of using this product, a major plus for me. I have also found that it clams and soothes any redness from blemishes, I think this is probably due to the LHA ingredient. 

As I have used it for a while now, I can quite confidently say that the product does go some way in delivering its promises. It’s worth mentioning that pigmentation can be hereditary more and if you are using products to target pigmentation they should be used religiously and over a long period of time to see any real benefits, it simply can’t be done overnight. I have noticed the areas where I had scarring haven’t totally disappeared but have lightened and become less visible. Aside from the scarring, I do have patches of pigmentation and some freckles (thanks mum!), I also found that the serum helped diminish and improve the clarity of these areas too.

 

However, I do have some negatives points too. I find that it makes my skin slightly oily. I started to use it during the day, mixed with my moisturiser, underneath my foundation and noticed there was a bit of shine around my nose and forehead. At first, I thought it was due to my foundation but one day I skipped using the serum and realised there wasn’t as much oiliness on my face. Since then, I have only been using it as part of my evening skincare routine and if I do use it during the day I make sure to use a transparent mattifying powder to combat any extra oils but still take advantage from the luminosity it gives my skin. 

I bought this serum for £30 ( I think it’s on sale for about £20 online right now, typical!) and I do think it is on the expensive side considering there is only 30ml of product. I know there many products targeted at pigmentation on the market which are a lot more expensive but I feel like for the price, this serum should be doing a bit more for me then what it actually does. Whilst I do enjoy using it, I am not really sure if I would repurchase only because I believe in switching up my skincare products to see real changes in my skin. However, if you are looking for something which will gradually help with minor areas of pigmentation whilst being gentle on your skin then I would recommend this. If you are need of an industrial strength formula to target larger and darker areas of pigmentation then I feel you may be disappointed.

 

I hope this review has been informative and useful too. Please feel free to comment below!

 

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