Mini Review: Nature's Extracts Indulgent Fig and Orange Oil Bath & Body Range

                         Nature's Extracts Indulgent Fig & Orange Oil Bath & Body Range                               

Shower Gel  //  Moisturising Hand & Nail Cream  //  Moisturising Body Butter

I present to you, the most incredible smelling bath and body range I have stumbled across in quite some while. And by quite some while, I might possibly mean ever.

I happened upon the Nature's Extracts Indulgent Fig & Orange Oil collection when hunting for tree presents in  the Marks & Spencer beauty section back at Christmas time, and couldn't resist sneaking a few of them into my shopping basket along with the gifts I'd chosen for everybody else. The fragrance is really  juicy, with just the right balance of zinginess and sweetness, and the products themselves are wonderful too.

The handcream is a snip at just £1, and I always keep one in my handbag or on my desk at work for a bit of a pick-me-up whenever my hands are feeling dry or tired. I must admit, I often pop some on just for the sake of it, as I enjoy the fragrance that much.

The Moisturising Body Butter is thick and luxurious, a dense cream that leaves the skin feeling soft as can be. An absolute dream to apply after my daily shower, and just the right scent for spring.

The only slight qualm I have is with the Shower Gel - but not because there's anything wrong with it. Personally, I much prefer shower creams to gels, as I find that they leave my skin feeling more comfortable after use, so I'd like to have this option in the range. However, the gel smells equally as incredible as the other products and combining the three is an absolute joy. 

All the Nature's Extract products are extremely purse friendly - ranging from £1 - £2.50, with the exception of the Body Butter, which comes in at £5. There are also a selection of other fragrances to choose from if fig and orange aren't your cup of tea - try Peach & Almond, Lemon Verbena, Coconut and Aloe Vera, to name but a few.

Have you tried the Nature's Extract range before? If so, what is your favourite find?

xx

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

Summer Skin

Whenever the weather starts to get a bit warmer, I'm the first to crack open the tinted moisturisers and lighter bases, and skin-permitting, I am much more of a fan of a barely there, natural look. For the last few months, however, as I'm sure you know, my skin hasn't been at it's best, which has left me reaching for medium-coverage foundations to hide a multitude of sins - otherwise known as unwanted hormonal breakouts.

With a few adaptations to my skincare routine (think AHAa), diet (lots more Omega 3 and minimal dairy), my complexion is looking a lot clearer now, and fingers crossed, is on the road to recovery. Currenty, I'm blemish free, so it's just a case of getting rid of the pesky scars that have been left behind (more on that in an upcoming post).

So, to celebrate my skin getting it's act together, I've been cracking out two of my favourite tinted moisturisers this week, the first of which being the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 in the shade Sand (the fourth darkest out of twelve options). It's such a light product, and blends seamlessly into the skin, giving a polished, dewy finish while still looking completely natural. Sand is the perfect match for me at this time of year.

I must admit that, were I to repurchase this product I'd be tempted to give the oil-free version a try, as my t-zone does tend to start misbehaving later on in the day and I really don't want to be using powder on my skin when I'm going for the natural look.

Another favourite of mine is the Caudalie Teint Divin Creme Teintee Tinted Moisturiser. This one is SPF free, which I like in the sense that my skin isn't always the best of friends with SPF, but on the other hand it is a necessity, and I'm not a fan of including it in my skincare routine, preferring to get my protection from my makeup. That aside, this is another nice, light option. It does look alarmingly orange and a bit too dark when you first squeeze some out of the tube - this is only available in light/medium and medium/dark (mine being light/medium), but once blended out it provides a lovely summer glow, giving my skin an extra hint of colour without being too mask-like or overpowering. It does look surprisingly natural, as it does seem to adjust to the skintone to some extent, but a word of warning for the palest of ladies - this one might not be the best choice for you.

Until I got my hands on this at the end of last summer, I had no idea that Caudalie did any such products, and I'd love to see them dip their toe into the world of makeup a little bit more. I really enjoy using their skincare, and the standard is so good that I think they could be onto a winner if they were to branch out a little bit.

A quick word on BB and CC creams, if you're wondering why I haven't included any such products in my Summer picks: I'm not a fan. The BBs I've tried have been disappointing at best, leaving me looking washed out and grey. On the rare occasion that I have worn one out, I've been horrified to catch sight of myself in the mirror later that day and reached straight for my makeup bag to cover the damage. 

As for CCs, I was reluctant, but did decide to give one a go a couple of months back, holding out the tiniest bit of hope that they might be an improvement on BB creams. The result? A bright orange, broken out face. No thanks.

The full-size tube of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser is available for £33 from Space NK.

A 30ml tube of the Caudalie Teint Divin will set you back £18, and is available from the Caudalie Website.

What are your favourite Summer products for glowing, radiant skin? Do you favour foundations, tinted moisturisers, or just going au naturel?

xx

Review: Nourish Balance Mini Kit

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the wonderful Nourish Argan Skin Rescue (click to read review), and along with that product, which as I mentioned has now become a nightly staple in my routine, I was also very kindly sent the Nourish Balance Mini Kit* to try out.

This came at a great time for me, as only recently has my skin transformed itself from 'normal' to 'combination' - my t-zone is now quite oily, and as I'm sure you've heard me mention, I've been suffering from breakouts too. So I was really excited to get started with this lovely little set, and see what good it could do for my skin. After putting it to the test for some time, as I find to be necessary with any skincare regime, I now feel ready to share my thoughts with you .

What I love about Nourish is that when creating their skincare ranges, they take into account not only the different skin-types we are all 'blessed' with, but also individual lifestyles and needs. Their natural, anti-ageing range of products aim to optimise skin health around the life that you lead as well as providing all the daily nourishment it needs to keep it in tip-top condition.

There are four different ranges available from Nourish, including 'Radiance' for normal skin, 'Protect' for dry skin, and 'Relax' for sensitive skin. As I said, I was sent the 'Balance' kit, which is aimed at combination skin.

The mini-kit contains 50ml of the Balance Detoxifying Cleanser, 50ml of the Balance Refining Toning Mist, 15ml of the Balance Nutritious Peptide Serum, and 15ml of the Balance Essential Moisturiser, and is available to buy for £24.95 - great for anyone wanting to dip their toe in the water.

Nourish Balance Detoxifying Cleanser*

This is quite a liquidy, lotion-like cream cleanser, containing a balancing blend of emollients and apple extract to leave the skin feeling fresh and clean, as well as helping to restore the skin's natural barrier.

The instructions suggest applying a small amount of this to the face with a cotton wool pad and then rinsing with cool water, but I don't personally enjoy using my cleansers this way, so instead I just massaged it into my face before removing it with a warm flannel/face cloth. When wearing makeup, it's obviously advisable to double cleanse - once to remove it, and then once to deep cleanse. I did find that this removed all traces of makeup after two cleanses, and it has such a lovely, gentle fragrance of green apple that it was a pleasure to use. It always left my skin feeling soft and well-hydrated, ready for the next step in my routine. It's 80% organic., and comes in at a bargainous £9.95 for the full-size 100ml bottle.

Nourish Balance Refining Toning Mist*

Again, this has the pleasant fragrance of apples, and comes in a spray bottle so that it can be spritzed onto the face after cleansing. I'm still going with this one, and find it refreshing in the mornings as well as being a welcome pick-me up throughout the day, so I do, on occasion, pop this one in my handbag for whenever the mood takes me. Packed with vitamins and minerals, this restores the natural pH level of the skin, which is obviously great for helping to balance things out and keep them on a level. It's also 97% organic, and for a full-size 100ml bottle you would pay just £8.95.

Nourish Balance Nutritious Peptide Serum*

This is a really light, hydrating serum which I find leaves my skin looking much brighter after use. Again, it's choc-full of nutritious vitamins and minerals, has the same delightful fragrance and helps to renew the skin's natural surface. For me, one pump is more than enough for the whole face, and I tend to apply it to my neck too. It's strange to think that in the past, I didn't bother with serums, as they are now an integral part of my daily skincare routine. It's 80% organic, and will set you back £16.95 for a full-size 30ml bottle, making it the priciest of the bunch.

Nourish Balance Essential Moisturiser*

I think this is probably my favourite product of the four. It's a light, 89% organic cream complex containing sebum-controlling properties, and sinks easily into the skin upon application, with no greasiness whatsoever. I personally find it really difficult to find suitable moisturising creams that suit both my face and neck, but this one works nicely and doesn't cause any breakouts, which for me is a rarity. The full size comes in at £14.95 for a 50ml jar.

In all, I've really enjoyed using this range, and will definitely be repurchasing. The mini kit is ideal for keeping on hand for weekends away or unexpected road-trips, and there are also full-size gift-sets available for each range, priced at £45 - that's a saving of £5.80 compared to buying each product individually.

I have to say, while I've been having some problems with breakouts and oiliness, I noticed a marked improvement in the condition of my skin within the first couple of days of use - it became much calmer and better balanced, as well as looking a lot fresher and generally healthier. Whatever your skin-type, I'd definitely recommend giving Nourish a try, as with such high levels of lovely, natural ingredients you're bound to be doing yourself a favour.

Nourish is available to buy directly from their website, and also from Feel Unique.

Do you like using natural and organic skincare?

If so, what are your favourite products?

xx

Quick Ones: A Look at Shea Butter/Along Came Betty It's a Skin Thing

I'm a sucker for vintage packaging, so when I received the Along Came Betty It's a Skin Thing Gorgeous Ultra Light Body Butter (bit of a mouthful!) as part of a prize from the wonderful My Beautie a while ago, I was instantly won over. The brand takes it's inspiration from '1950s screen stars and timeless beauty icons, still famed for their naturally flawless skin', and on each product you can find cute, beauty-related quotes from them. 

"A woman should never leave the house without spending time on how she looks...if only out of politeness."

                                                                       - Betty Leigh, 1958

Saying that, I'm not sure we agree - we shouldn't feel that we have to spend hours preening ourselves out of politeness at all - if other people have any complaints about the way we look then perhaps they should take a look in the mirror before judging. In my eyes, beauty products are all about the feel-good factor -we have every right to go out without a scrap of makeup on, embracing the natural look, but we are also free to use products to make ourselves feel more beautiful.

Anyway, off on a slight tangent there, but felt the need to get my tuppence-worth in there! 

Back to the product at hand.

It's a Skin Thing comes in a squeezable tube, and while quite thick in texture is much lighter than what I think of as being a body butter (think Body Shop). The product is packed full of Shea butter to leave the skin feeling soft, supple and smooth, and has a pleasantly sweet, vaguely coconut-ty scent, but nothing too over-powering.

A bit about Shea butter:

The fat of the nut taken from the African Shea tree, this lovely ingredient has a whole host of benefits for the skin, including anti-inflammatory and healing properties, so if you suffer from skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, scars or stretch marks then this may well be a bit of a helping hand for you. 

Shea has the fatty acids and plant sterols it contains to thank for its healing qualities. Oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids are oil-soluble components, and are present in a much greater percentage than in most other oils and nuts, making it one of the most obvious choices when it comes to skin complaints.

Shea also contains several derivatives of cinnamic acid, a compound that can be found in cinammon and balsam trees, and in one study that investigated the effects of four triterpene acids and four triterpine cinnemates (taken from Shea) on swelling mouse skin, the results were impressive. As well as demonstrating anti-inflammatory benefits,  Lupeol cinnemate, one of the compounds tested, was even able to prevent the growth of tumours in a carcinogenesis test (which involves tumours being grown in petri dishes).

Last but not least, Shea is packed with vitamins A and E, catechins and plant anti-oxidants, meaning it's a good choice for protecting your skin from environmental damage.

It's a Skin Thing sinks easily into the skin and doesn't leave any residue, but I must admit that actually, I've tried more moisturising body butters that have left my skin feeling much softer. However, at roughly £3 for 200ml (I can't actually find anywhere online that's got this in stock at the moment, so sorry for the inaccurate pricing - you can usually find this at Tesco) it's hardly going to break the bank, and is a nice product to have hanging around in the bathroom, whether as a daily body butter or as something reserved for when skin is playing up a bit.

Have you tried anything from Along Came Betty?

xx

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

Spirit of Beauty Dancing Orchid Skin Balancing Moisturiser

The Spirit of Beauty Dancing Orchid Skin Balancing Moisturiser was yet another of the skincare  goodies I was lucky enough to receive as part of a giveaway prize from the fantastic Product Pixie a couple of months ago. You might be bored of me mentioning that each time I review one of the products included in that haul, but I do feel that it's relevant, particularly in this case, as at a whopping £31.95 for 50ml, this is not something I was ever likely to have purchased myself. After mentioning last week that I found the Pai Camellia and Rose cleanser ( review here) pretty pricey at £25 for 100ml, and saying that I wasn't likely to be repurchasing despite my love for it, I think we can safely say that today's product well and truly blows that out of the water. 

The Dancing Orchid Moisturiser comes in a sturdy, frosted glass bottle with a pump dispenser, and would look pretty sitting on anyone's bathroom shelf. Personally, I always feel that products are more sophisticated if they are packaged in glass- rightly or wrongly - so I already liked the look of this when I opened the box. I am always happy to see a bottle with a pump, too, as I just find them much easier to use (unless it's one of those that tries to dispense the entire contents of the bottle into your palm with just one push!).

 Lotus and Dancing Orchid Essences are, apparently said to 'revitalise, boost vitality and nurture a sense of confidence, beauty and grace', which, while sounding very lovely, are not things I would expect  from a skincare product!  Containing  Jasmine, Rose and Geranium oils, too soothe and rehydrate the skin, it did sound as though using it would be a pleasant experience - I love using products with calming, relaxing scents, as I need all the help in that area that I can get, especially before bed.

The moisturiser itself is quite liquid in consistency. It's smooth, but a little bit watery, and a couple of pumps will dispense a sufficient amount of product for both your face and neck. 

Now, Spirit of Beauty recommend popping some into your palms and rubbing them together to warm the product, before sweeping over the skin using circular motions, but you can just as easily pop some on as you normally would if you're in a bit of a hurry. It soaks into the skin quite quickly and leaves it feeling nice and soft, though not overly so. Given that it doesn't contain any SPF, this can be used both morning and night, and also throughout the day as needed. Be aware though, that this does not contain any active  anti-ageing ingredients, so if that's what you're after then this is not the one for you.

This is designed for combination skin in particular, claiming to balance your oily and dry areas. Well, I don't particularly have dry skin, but I do get the occasional flaky patch on my nose,  and I don't find this cream to be rich enough to deal with those. However, my t-zone does seem pretty satisfied with it, and it certainly doesn't break me out, so it's a nice product if you don't have any extreme skin issues.

I do love that this moisturiser contains lots of natural goodies, and it does smell rather pleasant. But do I think it's worth the £31.95 price tag? No.  I have enjoyed using it so far, but I can't honestly say that I have found it any better than any of the other moisturisers I have tried. It's a good everyday product to have around, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it - for me to repurchase something at that price, it would have to be pretty special. 

I would like to point out, however, that not everything in the Spirit of Beauty skincare range is quite so extortionately priced - they have a lovely selection of facial spritzes for around £18-£19, and cleansers come in at around £20. I do think they are a really nice brand, and I like the concept of their products, so if you are someone who is happy to splurge then do head over to NutriBeauty and check them out. If, like me, you are a fan of organic skincare then this is the site for you, as you will find a selection of fantastic brands, many of which consist of  natural or naturally derived products where possible. Lovely!

Have you ever tried anything from Spirit of Beauty? What did you think?

xx

Herbalife Skin Activator Daily Replenishing Cream: Review

I always find it a little bit difficult to review face creams. We use them for their long term benefits, rather than immediate effects such as those you might experience when applying a new foundation or lipstick, and it's really impossible to know whether a cream is really doing what it claims to, even after a few weeks. However, I can definitely tell you what my first impressions of this cream are, and how my skin seems to be responding so far (I've been using it for about four weeks now), and on that note, here goes.

Where you can find Herbalife Skin Activator products:

Herbalife Skin Activator Daily Replenishing Cream is not available to buy in the shops, so if you want to get hold of it, or anything else from the Herbalife/Nourifusion range, then you will need to pop onto their website (here), where you can leave your details and have a distributor contact you. All products are supplied and sold by the distributors, meaning it is not necessarily the easiest brand to get hold of, but at the same time, the distributors seem to always be very quick to respond, and extremely helpful when they do.

What Herbalife says:

Onto the actual cream itself. 

According to Herbalife, the product:

'Helps to supply the nutrition the skin needs to maintain a younger, healthier appearance.

A luxurious, ultra-rich cream that helps to rejuvenate the skin. Supports collagen production and hydrates and nourishes the skin. Used regularly, it may visibly increase the luminosity and clarity, and also help to improve skin firmness. Recapture your youthful look'.

Well, I must admit, I'm not a huge fan of the fact that it says it 'may' do a couple of things. I like my face creams to be scientifically proven, and only like to spend money on products that are actually going to do the job (evidently, I didn't read this description properly at the time!). But anyway, let's not be put off by this just yet. The cream also claims to help prevent the first signs of aging, minimise fine lines and wrinkles and generally improve the texture of the skin.

Texture, consistency and smell:

The cream is certainly luxurious and rich, as claimed. On opening the pot, the consistency of the product is almost blancmange like, although it does not seem to stay this way when you put some onto your fingers. You need only swipe your finger lightly across the top and you will have gathered enough product for your entire face - a little goes a really long way, and the cream feels really smooth and pleasant upon application. It also has a nice scent, which is not a million miles away from that of suntan lotion, although it is much more subtle.

Active ingredients and effects:

The active ingredients in the Skin Activator cream are glucosamine, almond oil, green tea and....sugar!? I'm really not sure how I feel about that, as it doesn't really sound like something I would expect to be putting on my skin, but the glucosamine is needed to build collagen, while the almond oil and green tea are obviously moisturising and calming.

Even after the first use, I noted how lovely and soft my skin was feeling. I must admit, I have never used a cream before that has made my skin feel so smooth and hydrated. I have continued to feel this way ever since, and really enjoy using this on a daily basis after my cleanser and toner. As I mentioned before, I can't comment on the long term effects, but so far, so good.

I will be continuing to use this cream as my daily moisturiser, so I will be sure to let you know if my opinion on any aspects of it change in the future.

xx

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: Review

Not being someone who suffers from particularly dry skin, I had never really thought about purchasing the cult  Elizababeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, but when I was given this travel-size tube by a friend, I was happy to try it out.

At first, I wasn't really sure what to do with the cream. Being a multi-use product, it's designed to be applied to any area of dry skin, anywhere on the body, so as my lips do get a bit dry and flakey from time to time, I decided that this would be the best area on which to test the product.

The cream is really more of a balm, and is thick and waxy in texture and dark orange in colour. 

I must also mention, as I know it's a deal-breaker for some of you, that this product is meant to be fragrance free, but personally I have noticed a slight vanilla scent. It's very mild, but it is there.  Personally, I couldn't imagine using it as a general moisturiser or hand cream as suggested, as I find it too dense and sticky, but I can see that it would be useful if you are someone who tends to develop very dry patches of skin or eczema.

I have been applying this product to my lips a couple of times a day for about a week now, and I must say, I have noticed an improvement in the skin on my lips. It feels smoother andless flakey, and they feel slightly plumper too. I wouldn't say that my lips tend to get overly chapped, but even so, I have always failed to find a lip balm or other treatment that made a great deal of a difference to them - they always feel 'thirsty' and in need of moisture. However, while I wouldn't say the Eight Hour Cream is a miracle-worker, it certainly does a better job than anything else I've tried.

I will definitely be packing this in my hand-luggage next time I go on a long-haul flight, as my skin really tends to dry out in the cabin and I think this will help. I'm also going to continue using it as a lip balm, although I don't know if I'll repurchase when it runs out as it's an expensive product to buy for this purpose only (£25 for 50ml from Boots).

Other potential uses for this product include eyebrow grooming and highlighting, but neither of those ideas really float my boat - I don't tend to use any sort of grooming product on my brows, and I much prefer the effect I get from powder and liquid highlighters.

Have you tried Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream?

 If so, what do you like to use it for?

xx

Mini Skincare Haul: Herbalife/Nourifusion

Just a quick post to show you the new Skincare bits I've picked up this week. I will be writing full reviews of them in due course, but for now just a sneak peek for you.

I have been looking for a good new anti-aging day cream, as well as a night one. I am not exactly drawing my pension just yet, but as they say, prevention is better than cure, and I am starting to worry that I really should have started this a bit earlier! Anyway, I decided to try out the Skin Activator from Herbalife, which is a brand I have never tried skincare from before, but have read great reviews about. The Skin Activator is a daily replenishing cream, so since I got it, I have been applying it in the mornings before my makeup.

The second thing I purchased was, surprise surprise, a face mask. Most  of you will have noticed that I have been going a bit mad for facemasks recently, and I have been trying out countless homemade versions over the past few weeks. But what I really wanted was a clay mask, as my T-zone has become a little bit oily and I've suddenly started getting the odd blemish. In the end, I decided to go for the Nourifusion Multivitamin Clarifying Mask, which contains orange and eucalyptus oil and witch hazel. It claims to deep-cleanse the pores, removing impurities and excess oil, which sounded like just what I need. I have already used this mask once, but I want to try it out a few more times before I spill the beans and share my thoughts.

Have you bought any new skincare products recently?

xx

Liz Earle Skincare Review

Ok, first of all, I'd like to apologise for not having included any photos of my own for this post, and probably the next couple. The reason for this is that my camera has decided to break on me and, as I am currently abroad in Brazil, I'm finding it hard to get my hands on a new charger or battery, one of which seems to be the problem! As soon as I do, I will most definitely be including my own snaps, so I thank you for your patience on that one!

Onwards.

I have heard a lot of hype about the Liz Earle skincare range over the past few months, what with the awards it has won, and the praise it has received on a couple of my favourite fellow bloggers' pages, and have finally managed to get my hands on some of their products. I must admit, I was a little skeptical at first, not least because I have never managed to locate a skincare range that really seemed to suit my skin. I have naturally pretty good skin, though I do get the odd blemish, as everyone does. But I find that many ranges tend to dry my skin out (yep, even the high-end ones), which is certainly not desirable, and this has often left me feeling like I was better off keeping it simple. However, I loved the sound of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and so decided to give it a go along with the Instant Boost Skin Tonic, and the Skin Repair Moisturiser for normal/combination skin.

What Liz Earle says:  Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare is a Great British beauty brand, founded in 1995. We are passionate about all that we do and create products that really work on every skin type by harnessing the potent powers of the finest quality naturally active ingredients. (uk.lizearle.com)

For the record, their website also states that none of the Liz Earle products are tested on animals, nor do they use genetically engineered ingredients. Good to know.

My products arrived just a couple of days after I had placed my order, and were very well packaged, stored neatly in a white cardboard box, and then individually wrapped in tissue paper and secured with Liz Earle stickers. 

I was excited to find that, as well as the three main products I had ordered (along with a mask, which will be featured in a forthcoming post), Liz Earle had kindly included some sample sachets of each shade of their Sheer Skin Tint , travel-size squeezy tube of the Hot Cloth Cleanser, and a full-size bottle of the Energising Bodywash! These were free gifts because of the amount I had spent (over £30, I think. Apologies for not remembering exactly, I will make sure I note it down next time! Anyway, check their site uk.lizearle.com , as they've always got some fab offers on the go).

Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

The Hot Cloth Cleanser, like the other products in this range, comes in simple, pale green packaging, which I think adds visual emphasis to the fact that the brand favour natural ingredients. The bottle has a pump dispenser, which makes it easy to deposit the required amount onto your hands (one to two pumps, depending on your preference). One thing I wasn't crazy about, though, was the fact that, due to the hard, opaque bottle, I would never know when it was about to come to an end!

The concept of the Hot Cloth Cleanser is unique: You massage the cream into dry skin, taking care to do so thoroughly, and then you 'polish' it off with one of the two muslin cloths provided. The cloths must be soaked in hand-hot water to do so, and then you splash your face with cool water to finish.

I must say, I absolutely love this cleanser. It gets off even the toughest of waterproof mascaras and leaves my face feeling completely clean, fresh and soft. Using it in conjunction with the cloth means that you are able to slough away dead skin cells, so essentially, it also serves as an exfoliant, which is great.

Ingredients include cocoa seed butter, chamomile, rosemary and eucalyptus, but I'd say the most prominent of those in terms of scent is eucalyptus.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic

This toner comes in a bottle with a practical 'twist-up' cap, which you basically twist one way to open and the other to close. The idea is that you use this after the cleanser, and is applied by pouring a generous amount onto a cotton wool pad and sweeping over the face and neck. 

This really does have a lovely, gently sweet fragrance, and contains Aloe Vera, Calendula, Rose-scented Geranium and Cucumber, along with natural Vitamin E. It feels cool and refreshing on the skin and for me, again, is a winner. I'm not sure I can comment exactly on what this product as an individual does for my skin, but using the three products together certainly makes for an enjoyable and refreshing session in the morning, and a relaxing one at night.

Skin Repair Moisturiser

Containing Borage and Avocado oil and Echinacea, this is a real feel-good moisturiser. Applied after the Skin Tonic, the cream feels thick and indulgent, and is really easily absorbed. By far my favourite of the three products, I absolutely adore it's scent. I want to describe it as sweet yet refreshing again, but I feel silly repeating the same thing again given the difference in ingredients! But really, I think that the whole range is designed to be a bit of a sensory experience as well as a skincare routine, and the whole lot has a relaxing feel to it.

I don't think I really need to spell out the fact that I absolutely adore these products and feel that I have found my skincare regime for life (well, until I have to start resorting to anti aging products instead, that is!)

I love the packaging, the consistencies of the two 'creams' (cleanser and moisturiser), and of course, the heavenly scents! But most of all, I love the fact that not one of these products leaves my skin feeling dry or tight. The moisturiser doesn't leave an oily feeling on my skin, as so many do. My skin has been really clear and soft to touch since I started this regime and I will be stocking up on more of these treats as soon as the old bank balance allows!

Have you tried any Liz Earle products? What did you think? Would love to hear your thoughts!