Review: Kosmea Skincare

If you know me at all from reading my posts, you'll know how much I love trying out new skincare brands, and particularly those based around lots of great, natural ingredients. Sometimes they are OK, and sometimes perhaps not so much for me. But sometimes, I find some real gems, and Kosmea Skincare definitely falls into the latter category.

An Australian brand, Kosmea believes very much in 'skincare as nature intended', formulated with

no mineral oils, petrochemicals, artificial colours or fragrances, no sodium lauryl sulphate (often referred to as SLS) and no animal ingredients. None of the products are tested on animals, and the packaging is recyclable, too!

A natural skincare range formulated around organic rosehip oil and the finest herbal, plant and flower extracts from Australia and around the world, Kosmea instantly piqued my interest, and over the past few weeks I have been testing out three of the brand's products: The Clarifying Facial Wash*,  Hydrating Rosewater Mist* and Replenishing Moisture Cream*.

At first glance, I wasn't sold on the concept of the cleanser, mainly because I tend to go for creams and balms due to their intensely moisturising properties. The Clarifying Facial Wash is somewhere between a gel and a cream, milky in appearance and quite liquid in consistency, and actually, I couldn't have been more wrong.

With Australian Lilly Pilly and Quandong extracts to clarify and tone, the cleanser is packed with hydrating rosehip and macadamia oils to leave skin soft, smooth and free to breathe.

To use, I massage a small amount into dry or damp skin for about a minute, and rinse. I have to say, after the first use I really was blown away by how soft and hydrated this left my skin, and couldn't stop touching it! It's rare to find a cleanser which offers such a noticeable and immediate effect alone - and this one smells incredible, too.

The Hydrating Rosewater Mist, unsurprisingly, comes in a handy spray bottle, and I generally mist some over my skin post-cleanse, but it's also great for a quick pick-me-up for a tired and weary complexion during the working day, so I tend to keep it on hand. Gentle, soothing, cooling and hydrating, this is definitely one of my favourite facial spritzes yet, which is no mean feat considering the number I have tried. The gentle rose fragrance is simultaneously uplifting and calming, and it's the perfect follow-up to both my morning and evening cleanse.

The Replenishing Moisture Cream is an impressive conclusion to the three-step routine, and is easily absorbed into the skin. Rosehip oil nurtures and protects the skin with antioxidants and essential fatty acids, while carrot oil provides a natural source of Vitamin A to help improve elasticity. Add to that a shot of horsetail and nettle extract to aid in the rebuilding of collage, and skin is left plumped, smooth, replenished and rehydrated.

I don't often say this, but I really cannot recommend this range highly enough. I feel that it has done my skin the world of good, and having come to the end of my samples I am eager to replace them, integrating them into my skincare routine for the long-term.

If you haven't heard of Kosmea and you're a fan of good, natural skincare with a whole host of benefits then I'd definitely suggest checking them out. And if you're yet to make the move over to natural ingredients and fewer chemical nasties, then give it a try - you'll wish you'd done it sooner!

Are you a fan of natural skincare? What are your favourite products?

xx

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Hydrating Skincare: From Winter to Spring

The weather may be getting warmer, and the evenings longer and lighter, but that doesn't always mean you can slack off on the skincare front. In fact, a sudden change in the climate, and weather that can't make up its mind can wreak havoc on the skin, making it more important than ever to ensure that it's taken care of.

When it comes to hydration, I have a few trusty favourites that I know I can reach for whatever the time of year, and they will always get things sorted in no time. A common mistake a lot of people make is to think that if they haven't got any dry or flaky patches, then their skin is not dehydrated, but actually, this is a long way from the truth in many cases. Personally, I don't tend to suffer from the former, but I'd definitely put a tick in the latter box from time to time. Usual triggers for me are leaving makeup on for too long or skipping on exfoliation (I tend to use AHA toners rather than manual scrubs), but often, an unstable climate is to blame.

The Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum* is a favourite of mine when I feel that my skin could do with a boost. Containing a powerhouse of proteins, vitamins and minerals, a couple of drops of this applied after my toner and before my moisturiser in the mornings make all the difference when it comes to radiance and vitality. On its own, it doesn't pack enough of a moisturising punch though, so I follow up with my go-to morning and evening moisturiser, Origins Make a Difference Rejuvenating Treatment Plus. With a deliciously orangey fragrance, this is a gel-cream, so although it's incredibly hydrating, it won't feel heavy or greasy on the skin like some products can. It sinks in like a dream, leaving my skin soft and plump, and I know it's a product I can always rely on to keep things in check.

The Balance Me Radiance Oil* is an extra little night time treat, and if my skin is feeling particularly out of sorts then I often mix a couple of drops of this in with my night cream. With a divine herbal scent, it sinks in fairly well - but I'd always recommend pinning your fringe back if you don't want to have to wash it in the morning. The Radiance Oil really does do what it says on the tin, and my complexion looks brighter and healthier after a couple of uses.

I really do find that hydration makes the biggest difference to the appearance of my skin as a whole, as when it's in need of a little extra moisture I look tired and drawn by comparison. It doesn't take much to get things back on track, and it's always worth the extra effort.

What are your go-to products when it comes to giving your skin a moisture boost?

Have you added any new products to your skincare arsenal of late?

xx

Balance Me Radiance Oil review
Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum Review

Garnier Intensive 7 Days Hydrating Lotion

Excuse the fact that this is another foreign version of a product, but I just had to share it with you. This stuff is ah-mazing!

It's not the sort of body moisturiser I would ever normally go for, as I usually prefer something a bit more luxurious, thick and delicious smelling to slather myself in after a nice relaxing shower or bath. But upon spying this little gem in the supermarket, I remembered having seen a blogger or two sing it's praises at some point, and as it was an absolute snip (£1.99!) I thought I might as well put it to the test.

Enriched with soothing Aloe Vera extract and L-Bifidus, the formula claims to work like a shield and help lock in moisture for lasting hydration.

This is a light, non-greasy lotion that sinks easily into the ski, wet or dry.

No word of a lie ladies, this stuff is incredible. After just one use, my skin was feeling silky soft and smooth, and that's saying something considering that I suffer from slightly bumpy skin on the backs of my arms, and have never had these results from any other body lotion or butter. All of a sudden, I know what I've been missing! All those years of hoping for baby-soft skin, before eventually becoming resigned to the fact that no product could work miracles. Well, I take it back.

At just £1.99 a pop, I say you'd be a little bit loony not to give this stuff a go. Let me know if you decide to give it a try and what your thoughts are!

xx