Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum

The fact that Elemental Herbology is a cruelty free brand has always warranted a big thumbs up from me, and with no parabens, sulphates, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances or artificial colours in their products it comes as no surprise that they have quickly made their way up my mental list of great skincare brands.

The Elemental Herbology Cell Food Radiance and Vitality Facial Serum* is one of the brand's best-selling products, and once you have given it a go it's not difficult to figure out why. Containing fourteen active ingredients and six anti-oxidants, this serum is packed full of nourishing goodness to get dull, parched and lacklustre skin looking back to its radiant best in no time. The anti-ageing 'power house' of proteins, vitamins and anti-oxidants provide a real boost, helping to stimulate collagen and elastin production, as well as reducing the prevalence of lines, wrinkles and dark spots.

With kombuchka to improve skin texture and diminish pigmentation, pomegranate to moisturise and nourish, and vitamins A, C and E, CoEnzyme Q10 and green tea (phew!) to fight against free radical damage and wrinkles, it's like feeding your skin a perfectly nutritionally balanced meal. But how did it actually fare when I put it to the test?

The Cell Food Serum comes in a sleek metallic bottle, making it the perfect decorative addition to any skincare shelf. But it's not just a pretty face.

Every morning and evening, I dispense a couple of drops of this onto my fingertips (using the handy pipette), and massage it into my skin after toning. It's a white liquid, which absorbs almost instantly into the skin without so much of a hint of greasiness or tackiness, meaning it won't slow you down on those days where you just don't have the time to wait around. Anyone with sensitive skin will love this, as the Aloe and Rose Damask water it contains will calm and soothe, making it the perfect partner for any and all skin-types.

The Cell Food Serum has made quite a considerable difference to my skin since I began using it, with a much more even tone and diminished dark marks (from going out in the sun without a high enough SPF on  - naughty, naughty). The best thing of all though, is the healthy, radiant glow it has given me - a much needed boost, and a welcome distraction from the pesky blemishes that have been bringing me down of late. My skin now feels healthy, comfortable, plump and well-nourished, and I'm more than happy to have this serum in my day-to-day routine.

The Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum is available direct from Elemental Herbology, and also from Feel Unique, priced at £45. 

Have you tried anything from Elemental Herbology? What are your favourite products?

xx

The Weekly Selection

Hi everyone, hope you're all having a good weekend and that there's a bit of sunshine where you are. It's really hot here today so I'm thinking of getting out in the garden with a good book this afternoon and making the most of it before I come back home to the usual British downpours!

This week saw me shunning my favourite summer blushes (Topshop Flush and Mac Peachykeen, if you're wondering), in favour of an old favourite I found lurking at the bottom of my makeup bag - Nars Deep Throat. It's such a gorgeous, natural peachy-pink shade with ever such a hint of shimmer, and while I'm only to pleased to dot on a pop of colour throughout the summer months, sometimes a subtle glow is far more flattering. I'm talking about those days where you wake up looking pale, drawn, and just plain exhausted - those days where a bright blush only serves to add to these effects, but that Deep Throat will always throw me a lifeline and make me look alive again.

Skincare-wise, it's been all about the Elemental Herbology Cell Food Radiance and Vitality Serum*, mainly because it does exactly what it says on the tin. It absorbs into the skin withing mere seconds, and since I've been including this in my daily routine, I've noticed a dramatic difference in the condition of my skin. It looks healthy and even, with a lovely glow, and as a result it has fast become a daily staple.

It's all about the fruity fragrances at this time of year, so I've been spritzing myself with an old favourite, the Nina Ricci Eau de Toilette. It's subtly sweet without being sickly, and the aroma of apples is so fresh and delicious that I'm only too glad to reinstate it as my signature fragrance throughout the summer months.

Last but not least, it would be rude not to pop a bright colour on your lips to celebrate the sunshine, and this week my weapon of choice has been Mac Impassioned. It's a gorgeous bright, fuchsia pink with a hint of coral, and is enough to liven up any natural, undone look.

What products haven't you been able to live without this week?

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

Ren Keep Young and Beautiful SH2C Serum

As you have probably realised by now, I do love a skincare brand that uses lots of natural goodies in its ingredients, and avoids nasties such as parabens, sulfates and mineral oil (amongst other things). In fact, I have already bigged Ren up a fair bit on here in the past, being quite the fan of their delightful face masks (the infamous Glycolactic Radiance Peel being my favourite - not alone there). So, it'll come as no surprise to you at all that when I found myself in need of a new serum, Ren was my first port of call.

Yes, I know I'm only in my twenties, but having developed some rather alarming creases and crinkles below my eyes, it seemed only right that I start proviing my skin with the defence it needs against the dreaded ageing process. So, with this in mind, I chose the Keep Young and Beautiful SH2C Serum to come and join my skincare collection. After all, prevention is better than cure, as they say (but I was kind of hoping for both...)

According to Ren, the SH2C Serum is an advanced bio-active serum, formulated to keep skin looking smoother, firmer, younger and more radiant', and promises to reduce and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leave skin looking plump, firm and lifted, correct skin tone and give a healthy, glowing radiance and - the big one - keep you looking younger for longer.

Bio-extracts include hexapeptides from yeast, to stimulate skin renewal, native peptides to smooth expression lines, glycosaminoglycans to provide lasting hydration and hyaluronic acid to increase moisture levels and plump the skin. Joining them is sirtuin, which increases the longevity of skin cells and promotes natural repair, and vitamin C to correct skin tone and brighten the complexion.

I was pretty impressed by these claims, especially as I've had such success with Ren products in the past. A serum which provides radiance as well as having anti-ageing properties is just fine by me. However, at £46 for just 30ml, this product had a lot to live up to.

On first impressions, the serum seemed to have the vague scent of tea, and it's thin and milky in consistency, spreading easily over the face and sinking in completely within a few seconds. My skin feels immediately plumper and firmer, and it's even gentle enough to use under my eyes, which is a huge bonus for me.

However, after the first couple of uses, I noticed the smell beginning to change somewhat, and noticed that it was leaving a rather unpleasant, fishy scent on my hands (niiiiiice!). The product itself doesn't smell like this, but I have begun to notice a rather soy sauce-like aroma upon application on a regular basis now, which frankly is a bit off-putting. The tea fragrance is still there too though, and it seems to veer between the two, which is all very odd.

I can't say I've noticed any smoothing of the lines under my eyes, but perhaps a month isn't long enough to see those kinds of results. I can say that the serum has definitely left my skin feeling plumped and  lifted after use, though I do feel that it could be more moisturising. Of course, I follow this with day and night creams, but I don't feel that the moisture stays locked in in the same way that it did with my previous serum. It has given my skin a nice glow, as Ren products tend to, but I can't really speak for the long-term effects and whether it really is keeping new wrinkles at bay! Only time will tell.

Would I repurchase?

Probably not. I've tried better serums, and for the price I'd expect a little bit more in terms of moisture and a nice scent. There  are lots more serums out there I'd like to try, and this one hasn't done enough to persuade me to stick with it. I hope I won't regret this in years to come!

Have you tried any of the Ren serums? If so, I'd love to know your thoughts.

xx