Review: The Body Shop's Aloe Vera Protective Serum

Earlier this year, my skin went really dodgy.  I don't know what happened to it but it went from being combination to really really dry.  Nothing I did was good enough until I bought Garnier's toner (reviewed here) and The Body Shop's Aloe Vera Protective Serum.

I tried tonnes of moisturisers that promised to inject some moisture back in but none of them did anything so I went on the hunt for something new.  I saw this in The Body Shop and was sold as soon as it said it reinforced your natural shield.

I bought it..used it and saw a difference after the first couple of days.  I don't believe that it gives your skin extra moisture, I think it just locks in the moisture you already have..that's what I'm lead to believe from the blurb on it.

You don't need to use a lot of it either, just a thin layer under your face cream.  Don't put too much on as otherwise I found it did nothing and you greased up really quickly.

When I thought it'd done its job, I put it away..

Now the weather has turned again and I've taken it out.   I don't have much left and I really wanted to finish it before throwing it away.

This is where my complaint comes in.  I have had this since about February/March time.  The little "use by" box says that once this is opened, it will last for 12 months.  It has already gone off.  How do I know this?  It doesn't smell like it used to.  It had a gentle scent to it before that you could barely sniff out but now it smells like freshly paint wood and that smell is really potent.

Me being a div, decided to carry on using it as it was nearly finished.  Big mistake.  I've got some annoying spots on my forehead and on my cheeks and I know it is because of this as nothing else has changed.  Well, one thing changed but that was weeks before I started using this again.

In conclusion, it does work but be sure to use it up continuously after you've opened it because it goes off fast.  I'm not sure why it went off though, I don't recall it having something special seal that I broke?  Maybe it's because I'd used the pump action.  I can't even type the words pump action without laughing.

Anyway, if your skin is really dry and nothing seems to work, this definitely helps.  It costs £10 and is available from The Body Shop. 

Review: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Cleansing oils are something of a novelty in Rhamnousia world.  I've only ever seen Japanese brands championing these and I wish we had more readily available in the UK.  The one that I've heard the most about is DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil.

The basic premise behind these is that they cleanse your skin, hence the name "cleansing oil".  Now my skin is combination and putting oil on it is not something that I thought I'd ever do.  I researched it and read many a review where combination skinned people had found oil to be a beneficial cleanser.

To me, it smells a bit like olive oil, but it feels a lot more liquid than oil.  I don't know how a light oil is formulated..you obviously can't mix it with water.

 There is something very comforting about massaging this oil into your skin.  I think it's because I spend those ten or so minutes all by myself, locked in the bathroom, alone with my thoughts.  I don't know why but I always stare at myself in the mirror and think about things.

I don't use it on my eyes as the instructions state to keep it away from eyes.  I have no problems using something else for my eyes and then this for my face.

I use this both when I'm wearing a full face of makeup and also when I'm not.  On both occassions it works fantastically.

I apply it to dry skin, massage it in and watch it blur my makeup off.  I then add water which emulsifies the oil.  I rinse it all off and then I'm done.

It manages to make my skin feel nice and soft once it has removed my makeup and I can often go without a night cream afterwards.  However, I have been using Olay's Renewing Night Elixir and that is doing only good things.

I can get carried away and if I use too much, it does make my skin feel tight.  My skin is combination so if you have normal skin, I'd suggest using just one pump for your whole face..and if your skin is dry, using a little less.  DHC suggest that this product is suitable for all skin types.

I have been using the product for two steady months now and I'm just about half way through it.

The best thing about this product is that you can buy it in different sizes.  The 30 ml bottle costs £3.50, the 70ml costs £9.50 and the 200 ml costs £18.50.  They can all be bought directly from DHC.  I signed up to their newsletter ages ago and whenever they send you a catalogue through the post, they send little packet samples which are a great way to introduce yourself to the brand. 

Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir: The stuff dreams are made of!

Before I get on with the post, someone out there better appreciate the pun in the title or else..I'll cry.

I think this might well be my product of 2011.  Although I get excited about many products, I retain a special level of near hysterical excitement for the best of the best.  You have to pass stringent testing to get me this excited.

Why do I love it so much?  Because it actually does what it says...and well!

Olay state the Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir "accelerates skin's natural surface renewal during sleep..improves hydration to leave skin feeling softer, smoother and firmer looking".

I've used products that promise the same in the past and all they've done is made my skin feel sticky and not much more.

I put the Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir on and went to bed..woke up and did the checks and my skin did feel a lot softer and smoother.  It looked firmer and more plumped up than it normally does.  But this was only day 1 so I told myself not to get too excited.

Consistency wise, it's a clear gel which feels slightly tacky.  I did need to shake it when using it as sometimes it bubbled before the actual product came out.

I thought my success might be a fluke and now, some two weeks later, my skin is still looking fantastic.

I had some hard bumps on my skin that just wouldn't shift but since I've started using this, they've either vanished or formed into proper spots and then buggered off.  I know that this is down to the Elixir because nothing else shifted them.

I'm using less moisturiser as my skin seems hydrated enough as it is.  I also find myself not needing to powder my nose as the hydration levels are at a good enough level so that my skin doesn't produce too much sebum.

As this is a sample, the product on shelves will actually look like the bottle pictured here on the left. 

I put the tiniest blobs on my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.  I stroke it around my face (avoiding the eyes) and it sinks in quickly and doesn't leave me feeling sticky.  Talking of nose, I didn't realise this until about day 10 but it has really made a difference to my pores.  My nose pores are my lifelong bugbear and this has really helped either shrink or disguise them.

The only thing I'm a bit confused about is what this product actually is.  It's called an elixir which is fair enough but is it a night cream? A serum? A peel?  I'm more inclined to think it's a peel because it has the trademark peel qualities (see through, a bit sticky, suggestion that you whack up the SPF in the morning).  However, I've always been told that peels are meant to tingle and this doesn't tingle at all which is good because facial tingles make me feel uncomfortable.

Now for the warning part..this product contains AHAs which are alpha hydroxy acids.  Don't freak out at the fact that they are acids.  These are used in a lot of cosmetics items.  I had a feeling it contained AHAs as I've used AHA based products before and my skin has felt the same, although I've never had the same results.

When you use products containing AHA, your skin becomes slightly more sensitive to light so it is highly recommended that you wear a moisturiser with SPF in it, both in the morning and for a week after you finish using this.

I got my sample from Supersavvyme, you can click to see if they're still available.

I am definitely picking up the full sized version when I eek the dregs out of this sample.  You might wonder how I got 15 days wear out of this, well, my original sample lasted me 8 days and then I nicked the one my mum had ordered herself too!

I have made a conscious effort every day this week to wake up earlier so I have time to trawl the aisles of Boots in the hope that I will find this product but I haven't seen it on the shelves.  I've ordered it online from Boots so it should be with me shortly.  They're on 3 for 2 at the moment so I've added one for my mum by way of compensation for stealing her sample and I've finally taken the plunge and ordered that Botanics eye makeup remover.

Spots be gone! Witch Blemish Stick..

A while ago now, my skin went into spot overdrive.  Even stranger, they only popped up on the right hand side of my face.  I had a particularly bad one on my cheek..it's still there now but it's nothing as bad as it was and it is fading.

The Witch Blemish Stick is an odd product.  When I first opened it, I wasn't sure how to use it.  The stick fell out of the packaging and fell to the floor.  Once I'd washed it and it had dried, I got to using. 

You just stick your finger underneath (ooh er) and stroke the product over the spot.  No need to remove the actual product!

This smells potent. POTENT!! The smell is a very strong astringent smell (it is Witch Hazel) and it immediately hits you when you take the lid off.  Consistency wise, the actual stick of product is easy to mould.  If you squeeze it, it will succumb to the shape you squeeze it into. 

I put it all over the spotty parts; it stung my eyes and the smell whooshed right up my nostrils.  I had to wash it off as my skin got really hot.  I used it again but a bit more sparingly and although the smell was still strong, there were no watery eyes or skin warming.  So, don't be heavy handed!

The next morning, the angered spot had simmered down.  The redness had really gone down and I wasn't compelled to touch it either.  I think touching is one of the main problems with spots, the more you touch, the worse they get so the fact that this lets you forget you have a spot is a very good thing.

Once you've figured out how to use it, the packaging is really useful.  I chuck mine in my bag and it's not difficult to find it due to the size and the cap sticks on properly so it doesn't open when you don't want it to.  I used to have another one which was shaped like a pen and I was forever pulling that out of my bag when I wanted a pen...or a pen when I needed the stick.

You can pick this up from Boots for £2.75.  As soon as mine finishes, I'm going to buy another as despite it being fiddly at first, it's probably the best on the spot (see what I did there?) spot treatment I've ever used. 

The story of Slick Rick and her oil blotting sheets

Remember last week when for a fleeting few days we had sun and warmth? I do.  Mainly because I got to bust out my oil blotting sheets.  These are a godsend if you grease up worse than Victoria Beckham back in the day.

I found them totally by chance in the clearance section in Boots when I blinded myself..

They are brilliant.

They have no "coloured" powder in them and are impregnated with Tea Tree Oil (their words, not mine!) and they really take the oil away.  They remove the oil without telling the world that I've been blotting  They leave my makeup in check and are cheap to boot!  I have tried a fair few blotting sheets in the past and they either didn't pick up all the oil or left behind traces of powder.  The traces of powder is fine if you're not Indian/black but it's a right pain if you are because it looks live you've dipped your face in talcum powder.

I like the fact that they contain Tea Tree as they not only take the grease away but they also lend an antiseptic hand in helping you get rid of spots.

I tend to use them after going to the gym..of course I shower but I don't have enough time to be messing with all my face creams so I just wash my face and use these to pick up the excess oil on the way back to the office (before I get a chance to leg it to the loos to moisturise my face).  I have also reviewed the moisturiser from this range and I loved that too.

They cost me £1.50 but full price they will set you back £3.56 (but they're currently on 2 for £4). 

My current night cream: The Body Shop Carrot Moisture Cream

My previous night cream (mentioned here) finished long ago and after buying two full sized products I decided to buy something else. 

During one of my many conversations with my grandmother, I mentioned that I needed a new cream and she told me that the only cream she has ever used on her skin is a gajar cream.  Gajar being the Punjabi word for carrot.  This was all I needed to hear..her skin is fantastic so I take up all her skincare tips.  She told me this one week and the next week The Body Shop had their 30% off dealy going on so I decided to test out their Carrot Cream.

I've never ever found a nightcream which works properly for me.  Thus, I've started finding day creams sans SPF to use at night.  The Clarins one was like that and this is exactly the same.  It's a day cream for people with dry skin.

This cream smells gorgeous..it reminds me of gajar halwa.  It's a light orange/apricot colour and it applies and sinks in very well.  You know sometimes you get a cream for dry skin and it feels very oily and cloying on the hands? This doesn't..it feels thick..but not overly so and you don't get any sticky residue left on your hands once you've applied it.  

Being combination skinned, I find it hard to find a night cream that hydrates the cheeks but keeps the T Zone from greasing up.  This cream managed to do not only this but to also make my skin feel softer and more plumped out.  I can even go a bit mad with it and apply lots to my T Zone without it greasing up and giving me whiteheads overnight.

It comes in at £4.00 and you can buy it from The Body Shop website and in store.

Oily T Zone? Mix your mud masks and get perfect skin!

It's no secret that I love a good mask.  Being "blessed" with combination skin means I can use one more often than those with normal skin.  In this vein of mask love, I picked up The Sanctuary's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask with another of my £5 off vouchers.  On my first use, I wasn't really impressed with it.

One thick coat and an hour later, it hadn't dried at all.  A thinner coat gave the same result.  The "thermal" heat is activated by water so you have to apply it to wet skin and even then, the heat is gone by the time you've finished applying it to your nose.  It feels like someone has blasted your skin for a second with a hair dryer on the cool setting.  However, it doesn't have the usual "raw mud" smell, it smells like teabags.

Ater using it, I checked the pores on the side of my nose and was super chuffed to see that they were clear.  Pardon the TMI here but my pores have expanded recently and I can see them full of a white substance that just won't budge.  Nothing else I have used has cleared these pores out.  However, it wasn't as good on my forehead as my Origins Clear Improvement mask.

I would never have thought to use two mud masks at the same time until I read the tips on the back of the 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask box.  The tips stated that if you have combination skin, you should use a mask for oily skin on the T Zone and a mask for normal skin on the cheeks and chin so that all your skin concerns are addressed at once.  So I got thinking..why not use the Origins mask on my forehead and the Sanctuary one on my nose?

Since I've started doing that, my skin has not looked better.  My nose pores are behaving themselves after their once a week clearout and my forehead doesn't grease as it used to.

The main difference between both masks is that the Origins one dries very well on the skin whereas the Sanctuary one doesn't dry at all.  Both are easy to remove, the Origins one flakes off with ease whereas the Sanctuary one can be removed with a wet hand.  There's another difference..if you want a mask to just clear the oil but leave you moisturised, choose the Origins mask..if you want your pores to be sucked clean, choose the mask by The Sanctuary.  The Sanctuary one clears my pores and keeps my nose from greasing up.  If you need help with both issues, buy both!

If you have clogged pores that you struggle to clear then I'd seriously suggest buying this as my pores were terrible but it's worked a right charm.

Moral of this story? 
Mud/charcoal masks, like human beings, were not created equal.  One may be good at one thing, another good at something else.  And don't be scared to experiment with your facial skincare!

The Sanctuary's mask comes in at £10.20 and the Origins mask is £17.36.  You can pick them both up from Boots.

Review: The Sanctuary Brightening Facial Radiance Exfoliator

It's no secret that I love the body exfolatiors from The Sanctuary.  For some reason, their facial skincare never really jumped out at me.  The only reason I bought this was because I had a £5 off voucher and I'd be damned if I wasted it. 

The Sanctuary say "ultra-fine apricot granules and grape seed exfoliate and refine, while a trio of pumpkin, pineapple and papaya extracts work naturally to help increase cell renewal. Skin is left feeling smooth and glowing with radiance."

What do I think?
The granules are anything but fine.  The suggested usage for this is every 2-3 days.  My skin is combination and I can only use this once a week.  Even then, I have to be careful with it because I will end up with a red face...and you know how hard it is for Indians to go red.

The smoothness and radiance I get from this is immediate.  My skin feels like a peach.  No other exfoliator has given me instant radiance like this does.  As soon as I've washed my face, I can see it looking a lot smoother and brighter. You know sometimes you use a scrub and it gives you fantatic skin and then a few hours later you've greased up because it's removed too much of your natural oils? This doesn't do that.  It may feel harsh but it manages to make my skin radiate and not strip the oils away.

Consistency wise, it's sticky to the touch.  The directions say to use it on a damp face which does aid in the spreading process.  

The citrus-y smell of the scrub is due to the fact that it contains citrus oil.  I thought that as they big up pineapples and pumpkin in the blurb, it'd smell more of those.

You can't see it from this photograph but it seems to contain little clear bubbles..they look like oxygen bubbles but I'm not sure what they are? I don't know if they burst as you smooth the scrub on..

I do quite like this.  You also don't need to use much to get the results.  The instructions suggest a pea sized amount but I find a grape sized amount is better.  For the record, it felt just as harsh when I used a pea sized amount so it's not like I'm tripping myself up by using more than I need.

Repurchase?
I would buy this again but only if I had the £5 off voucher.  I feel a bit of a twat saying that but then who would shell out the full price when Boots always have their vouchers flying around?  Taking into account that it gives me brilliant radiance and doesn't make me grease up, I will definitely be picking up a replacement.  If you fancy it, you can pick it up from here for £10.20..or £5.20 with the £5 off voucher!

Rhamnousia Reviews: Biotherm SKIN.ERGETIC Anti-Fatigue Concentrate Serum

After my last disaster with serum, I was really looking forward to giving this a go.  My bottle has no print on it but I saw a few in Boots and they all had a nice Biotherm printing on it.  This is also the reason why you're getting a stock photo in this post.

First, how to use it..

The box comes with a silver packet inside, inside this is an alternative top for the serum bottle.  You take the standard top off, put the alternative top on and push down, releasing a brown powder into the serum.  You take alternative top off and put the standard lid back on.  The instructions say one tap is enough to immerse the powder properly into the serum but I gave it a good shake to mix it in well.

It smells very fruity..to those of you who have been to India and have ice cream there, that is exactly what this smells like.  The brown powder smells like fish food but when mixed into the serum, it takes on the fruity smell.

The bottle is made of glass and it reminds me of when I used to play with the glass bottles on my mum's dressing table.

I use one stingy drop a day.  This was found out via trial and error.  I use only the tiniest amount on my forehead, nose and chin and a little more on my cheeks as I have combination skin.  If I use more, it makes my skin greasy.  The day cream I put on top of this is Garnier's Soft Essentials Day Cream.  It sinks in quickly if you use the right amount, if you find it taking ages then you're using too much. 

It claims to turn tired looking skin around and make it look radiant and fresh.  Claims which, if actually true, would sum up exactly what my skin needed when I got it.  So..does it work?

After the very first use, my skin looked a lot smoother when I was putting my eye makeup.  The morning after, I didn't have my usual dry flakes around the nose that I'd suffered with from the onset of winter.  My skin also felt quite plumped out and it looked a great deal more radiant than it did before I used this.  The sweet smell doesn't linger at all after the first two or three days.  I've used this for three/four weeks now and there is still a lot left.  I'm still using one drop on my face and it has really made my skin look very good, a lot of the ladies at work are convinced that I've been going for facials on the sly..  It's brilliant for those who don't have time to be masking themselves up all the time, it makes you look like you've used a brightening mask which is brilliant.  I find myself using less foundation and concealer as it really evened my complexion out.

This will set you back £35.  Do I think it's worth £35? I do.  Simply because I find it hard to get a serum which is aimed at my age (26 years old) that doesn't make my skin overly oily because it is too rich.  I've used a fair few in the past and this is the only one that has does what I'd want a serum to do.  Plus, the fact that it lasts so long is also a good thing.  You can pick it up from the Biotherm site or from Boots.

Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish: is it worth the hype?

This is another one of those products that beauty editors would swear blind deserved its cult status.  But does it? Does it really? *looks mean*

This is one of my wordier posts so make sure you click under the jump to read it all, wouldn't want you missing out on one of my gems of knowledge now, would I?

I have had this since about last September (ish) and it has been used thoroughly..I'm sure I had a post about this in draft form already but I couldn't find it anywhere..

Anyway, do I think it is worthy of the hype that surrounds it?

Read on and you'll find out!

The Body Shop Passion Fruit Cleasing Gel

I bought this back when The Body Shop had 30% off their products.  It was accompanied by their Carrot Cream, blackhead remover and the new face brush.  Not the sexiest items you could ever buy but then hey, it's not always glam!

I have had nothing but good experiences with cleansers from The Body Shop.  I used the cucumber one before and despite it smelling horrible, it really did wonders to my skin.  I wanted to try something different and this was the lucky bugger that caught my eye.

I haven't had a good history with cleansing gels, I had a Nivea one which was like gristle and nigh on impossible to spread around the skin and then wash off.  This thankfully, is the exact opposite.  It slides out at a speed which is neither too fast nor too slow and you don't need a lot to cover your face.  The smell is pleasant and not at all overpowering.  You only smell it faintly when you're applying it to your face,

I haven't used it over my eyes because I'm sure it said not to put it on your eyes..

I tend to use this in the morning before putting my work face on as it helps brighten my face up.  It leaves my skin looking very radiant and not at all tight like some cleansers can do.  I cleanse my face with this, miss out toning and go straight onto my moisturiser.

My skin was feeling quite dry and sorry for itself before this made its debut..since I've been using it, my skin has gone back to its usual moisturised self and I'm sure this plays a part in that.

I am so glad that The Body Shop brought this product back, it's brilliant for my skin.

The design on the label is something that caught my eye, it's the old school packaging..the photograph is of the old Body Shop shop front design.

This will set you back £3.99 from The Body Shop.

Cellnique Paramedical

Today I'll be rambling about the Cellnique Expert Series Amino-Collagen C Intense Set and the Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel.

The former is an anti ageing product and the latter is for those with oily skin.  As I'm now 26, I'm trying my best to get all the anti ageing goodness into myself whilst I still can.

Cellnique Expert Series Amino-Collagen C Intense Set
I feel it pertinent to point out that this came with no instructions whatsoever.  I usually don't mind if things have no instructions because it doesn't take a genius to figure out how to use most skincare items.  However, I have never ever used something like this on my skin before so some help would have been nice.  I didn't know whether you were meant to use them at the same time or individually, which step of the skincare routine they would come and or how often you were meant to use them.

The Cellnique website says the following:

"Use day and night after cleanser, toner and eye care.  Use Amino Collagen Intense I first, followed by Amino Collagen Intense II.  Apply to face evenly, in upward and outward circular motions."

When I first got this, I did a test patch on my arm.  I never usually do this but as I had never used a product like this before, I thought it best.

My first impressions of the product were slightly marred by the smell.  Both the products smell like an old school pet shop.  I say old school because I haven't been to a pet shop for ages and I doubt the chain shops smell this way.  I grew up with a pet shop on the corner of my road and we'd always go in there and marvel at all the animals.  I remember once my brother got scared by a parrot and he cried.  I laughed.  I miss that shop..

I used this for a fair while and felt that it did not do much.  I gave it to my mum and she felt the same.  Somehow my dad (who I am sure is the most metrosexual dad out there) got his hands on it and he too disliked it.

I asked them why they disliked it and they said:

• It smells funny
• The pipette tests their patience ( this was my dad, he is the one I get my impatience from)
• It stings near the eyes
• It makes your face feel as if you're wearing a mask and that if you smile, your face will shatter.
• It leaves your hands feeling like you've washed them in cement
• It's hard to get your hands clean afterwards

Going on all the above, they gave up with it.  I'm sure a lot of people would, if something like that after the first few times you've used it, you're not going to carry on with it, are you?

Skin Action Sebum Gel
This smells pretty strong and a bit funny.  One pump (ha!) gets you a tiny bit but you need quite a few to coat your face properly.

It soaks in very quickly and your skin immediately feels a bit more plumped out.  My skin was sticky to the touch for about five minutes but after that, we are all good.  My skin feels soft and normal.  I touched it frequently whilst trialling this just to make sure that my skin was still matte.  It was.  I applied it all over my face as I dislike faffing about with a million and one creams.

A few days into using it, I found  that it was the devil.  It made me matte in the morning but I was oilier than an oily thing come lunchtime, NOT GOOD.  Nothing has ever made my nose as shiny as this has, and I used to use a rich moisturiser..

A few days later I found myself breaking out all over my forehead and nose.  I have NEVER broken out on my nose before..NEVER!!

I tried to use it with powder on the top and that didn't work either, this just sucked the powder in.

It broke me out and I know my t zone is not the oiliest out there so I can't really give this a glowing reference.  I am not going to carry on using it for obvious reasons, it's going to go to an unsuspecting aunt or cousin.

Thus, sebum gel - bad, amino-collagen c intense set - also not good.

You can buy Cellnique from here.

Review: Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub

I was very reluctant to use this, I can't think why..it's not like I had a million scrubs to get through first..I finally manned up and decided to use it..that was a few weeks ago.

The packaging (as per usual) deserves a mention.  This is the first facial scrub I've used which comes in a glass tub..which I think is a double edged sword.  The glass is not good for butterfingers like me but the tub is brilliant because you get to use every last grain.

The scrub itself is in a solid form.  Scooping it out is not a problem, it's quite soft and it doesn't really stick under your nails.  You just scoop out "one fingers worth" ( whatever comes out on the tip of one finger).  It doesn't say how much you need so there is a bit of guesswork involved but it takes about two or three turns to figure out how much is right for your skin.

I can't put my finger on what it smells like but I know I've smelt it before.  It's like spicy warm oranges with an earthy goodnes..but definitely not soily.  It's a very comforting smell, not synthetic at all.

It mixes very easily with water in your palm and the scrubby grains start rolling out so you can feel them.  They don't feel very harsh at all, they're like little round pods with a slight edge..

It's easy to transfer them over to your face and have a good clean.  The scrubbies are quite large so you can see and feel them rolling over your skin, the scrub isn't harsh at all.  Talking of that, I think I've come to a realisation..harsh scrubs don't work for me anymore.  I've noticed that the more gentle ones do leave my skin clean and they leave some moisture behind and that is what you want. 

This scrub left me with clean, soft skin and I think it would work well for most people with the same skin type as mine.  I'd go as far as to say that this actually left my skin glowing..which is something that is hard to achieve with combination skin without looking like you're actually oilier than when you started out.  

Retail price varies, mine was £3.50, I don't think it still costs the same but you can buy it from here.

Review: Origins Clear Improvement Mask

I have never found the one mud/clay mask that I like.  I used to like Superdrug's own one but after a while that made me itch like mad.  I had the Liz Earle one and that didn't really do anything.  It didn't cause me any adverse reaction but it didn't do me any good, either.

I bought this when I reeling from the pain of John Lewis not having my ice cream maker in stock.

I told the SA's that I wanted a mud mask that dried properly on my skin so that I felt it had some benefit.  They assured me it would.

I asked whether it would peel and they told me it wouldn't, but that it would come off without you having to put more water on.  That is my major gripe with some mud masks, they don't dry properly and you have to put water on the get them off.  They should just flake off with a face brush..

Anyway, I traipsed off home deciding that I would use it in the evening.

I didn't..mainly because X Factor was on and I left my bag downstairs and couldn't be bothered to go back down and get it.

I have used it about 5 times since I've had it and without any bias towards the brand at all, I can wholeheartedly say that this is the mask I wanted.

It dries rock solid..I use it when I'm wearing my lens and it stays on me for about 30 minutes or so.  You can leave it on for less time but 30 minutes works best for me.

The colour changes as it dries so can look in the mirror and know when you can start removing it.  When I remove it, it comes away easily with the aid of a face brush.

This photograph was taken when I'd used it a few times and it still looks pretty full.  I use a thin layer and that works really well.

When it's off, it leaves my skin physically looking radiant and very clean.  I never expected a mask like this would do that.  My skin feels soft and I don't feel the need to use a toner to get rid of any residue as there isn't any.

Some mud masks smell a bit funny but this has no tangible smell to it..I also find that the Superdrug one can be a bit watery..this is not like that. 

It retails for £17.00 and can be bought from here.

Which mud/clay masks do you swear by? Are there any decent High Street ones out there?

Review: Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

You don't know happy I was to hear the words "skin tonic" be bandied about.

I was more than in love with my Boots Original Beauty Skin Tonic before it was cruelly snatched away from me by the devil that is discontinued products.

So, here I was, holding this beautifully wrapped Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic hoping that it would work just as well as my other skin tonic..

What do Liz Earle say?
"This heavenly scented, non-drying floral tonic revitalises, soothes and brightens. Gentle and alcohol-free it also adds a fine layer of moisture. With conditioning natural source vitamin E, hydrating organic aloe vera and rose-scented geranium."

What do I say?
It's nice..but I don't think it is as good as my HG skin tonic.  This does not mean that it doesn't work.  The Liz Earle one dries very quickly and leaves your skin feeling lovely.  You don't need to moisturise after using it if you use it generously.  I do this and leave my skin alone.  When I'm tired and don't use it properly, I make sure to use a moisturiser afterwards.

I feel that it does add moisture which is nice from a "toner".  Whether it soothes and brightens is yet to be seen.  However, I didn't really notice a brightening effect with my other skin tonic.  It smells pretty nice and works how I'd want a toner to work.

Even when I use it with a light hand, it feels a bit heavy for my skin so it might work better if you have dry or normal skin.

Repurchase? 
I don't think I will.  I'm not totally convinced by this.  I have been using it for a fair while and it hasn't wowed me in the same way that my other tonic did.  I suppose it is unfair to compare it to my other skin tonic so I will say this: it does work, it does everything it promises to but for me, it's not as good as my baby.

The Sher System

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Want a gentle exfoliator? Liz Earle to the rescue!

I LOVE exfoliating.  I'm not quite sure why, but a part of me loves the feeling of a scrub on both my face and my body.  It's the glow of nice, smooth, clean skin that comes out underneath it which really fascinates me.

I think scrubs are quite foolproof because if one makes you too oily, you can wash your face, tone etc..as normal and if it makes your skin too dry, you can always put more moisture in.

I already have two scrubs on the go but wanted something a bit different.

Then I got this Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator.

I am usually anything but gentle with my skin but with this product, you can't help but be gentle.  It's not your typical facial scrub, it has a thick, cream like consistency and the "beads" only come to force when you rub it over your face.  The "beads" are there, you feel them washing over your skin and taking dirt with them but they're not so hard that they feel like granuales.

I didn't really see a big difference with my skin after using this the first few times.  I think you have to use it for about a month or so before you see results.

My nose is my current bugbear and I'm convinced the pores could be a lot cleaner.  After using this for a fair while, I found that it did make my pores cleaner and tighter.  I could actually see that they were cleaner and they looked a lot smaller.  I'm fairly chuffed about this and think I have finally realised that a gentle scrub is what I need to sort my nose out.  I didn't have the forethought to take before and after photos but believe me, there is a marked difference and for that reason alone, I think I will buy it again.  Having said that, it has not had any adverse effect on my face at all, I just feel that I can get away with a harsher exfoliant on my face..

If you like to give your skin a good deep clean via exfoliation then this may not be what your heart desires..but then I suppose you know that anyway, don't you? Otherwise why would you buy a gentle scrub?

My mum has normal skin and she really liked it, she said her skin felt a lot softer after using it so I'm thinking it is more suited to normal skin than it is for oily skin if you're looking for a gentle all over scrub.

This retails for all different prices, a 70ml bottle will set you back £12.25, a 50ml bottle will cost you £8.75 and a 15ml tube is less than a fiver.  I quite like the fact that you can get differing sizes so you can trial products before spending a lot of money on them.  You can buy them from here.

A Surprisingly Brilliant Night Cream

I think I have finally found the perfect night cream for my mush.

It came as a total surprise to me because this cream is one I would never ever have bought myself as it is aimed at dry skin whereas the skin on my face is normal on the cheeks but oily on the forehead and nose.

I usually remove my makeup, wash my face, use some toner and then use a moisturiser.  If I don't tone, I don't moisturise.

I have been toning and using this cream for two weeks now.  It is a fairly rich and thick cream which once massaged in, makes my skin feel nicely moisturised and "normal".  Despite the fact that it is quite rich and thick,  it never makes me feel greasy and I don't wake up with whiteheads and a greasy face in the morning.  It makes my skin feel plumped up and pretty smooth.

The one negative thing I have to report is the smell, it smells like a cream my grandmother used to use..with a slightly citrusy scent.

So, what is this mystery cream?

Clarins HydraQuench Cream!

If you have combination skin and find your skin a bit tight after toning, this might be the one for you.

Pore form!

I know, I know..what a pore joke.

*ahem*

I'm forever banging on about pores. Pores in the morning, pores in the evening, pores all over the damn shop.

Why are some products called pore perfectors and others called pore minimisers? I know you can't get rid of pores full stop so shouldn't they all be called pore minimisers? If pores were perfect, they wouldn't be there!

I bought a pore minimiser the other week..got home and realised I also had a pore reducing serum that I'd never used so I decided to put them both to the test.

I should point out that one is marketed as a pore minimser and one is a marketed as a pore minimising serum.  I'm not too sure what the difference is there but the instructions on both aren't identical.

The first is this baby, L'oreal Derma Genesis Pore Minimising Serum:

I'm not too sure where this came from..I assume either Boots or Superdrug.  Going by the hazy nature of its acquisition, I'm not sure of the price.

This is marketed as a serum and the instructions state that you should put it all over your face but not near your eyes.

I take issue with that, for the following reasons:

It says smooth all over your face but not the eye area..I count the eye area as stopping where the eye socket bone is.  So I didn't put any there but instead whacked it over the rest of my face.  It stung me so bad I had to remove both it and my moisturiser.

So now I have pores which are being minimised and pores which are being left out..not the results I really wanted.

Anyway, once you've had a bit of trial and error with it, how does it hold up?  Hmm..I like it BUT I have to be careful when applying it due to the sting factor.  It does minimise your pores and it keeps your skin nice and non greasy looking throughout the day.  I put a fair bit on my nose and it didn't dry it out at all.

It does have problems.  It smells pretty potent.  Not a nasty smell, just an in your face smell.  It smells like Comfort washing liquid.  The pump which dispenses the serum always has that one bit of cream on it which was left from last time and has since hardened.  The annoying thing is that it lives inside the pump so you can't expel it all at once.  You don't need to use much to get decent coverage of your face so in that respect, it's pretty good.

Another "negative" thing..I always thought that pore minimisers did just that..minimised your pores on application.  I couldn't see any immediate minimisation..

The second is this, Almay Pore Minimizer.

This directs you to just smooth it over wherever you have prominent pores so I put it on my forehead, my nose and the sides of my nose.

It did dry my nose out a tiiiiiiiiiiiiiny bit so I had to add some extra moisturiser.  The L'oreal one didn't do this.  However, for the sake of science, I applied this all over my face too (including the scene of Sting-gate) and it did sting me.  HOWEVER, atleast this one tells you where you should put it.

Another massive plus point, I COULD SEE MINIMISATION OF PORES! The area surely looked a lot smoother than it did (immediately) after I applied the L'oreal serum.

Which do I like better?
For foolproof application: The Almay one.
For not giving you a sliiiiiiiiiiiiightly dry nose: The L'oreal one.
Price wise: The Almay one was £1 from the Pound Shop, I think the L'oreal one is about a tenner?
For best all over results: The Almay one.

By the way, when I was Googling a face photo, Google Images suggested this which freaked the hell out of me.

You can buy it as a piece of art for your house but looking at the link online scared me enough, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be a bit spooked seeing that staring back at you in the middle of the night.

Anyone had any success stories with pore perfectors/minimisers/serums? Let me know because I'm still on the lookout.

Review: Clean and Clear Instant Dissolving Cleansing Sheets

Sheesh, I can't remember the last time I actually wrote a review on here. 

I've been getting into soaps recently, having acquired five pineapple soaps and an exfoliating soap..which I'm yet to use.

I picked these up totally by accident, I didn't have my eyes in and thought they were the very hard to find Clean and Clear Oil Blotting Control Paper.  Should really learn to read before I pick things up..

Amongst the copious crap I chat on Twitter, I did mention that my Pears soap had finished and I hadn't opened the backup.  I've been using these sheets in place of soap for a few weeks now and I really like them.  They clean my skin and my pores are empty after using them, which is always a good thing.  I really like the way they work, I just need to make sure I don't use too much water because otherwise the sheet doesn't foam up.

The only problem I have with these is one I created for myself.  I opened the container and touched them all with my wet hand..they're all sticking togther now and I have to carefully rip them apart but I can live with that.  Also, there are 24 sheets per pack, I use one in the morning and one in the evening so they will last me 12 days.  I don't really mind that though because firstly, you don't need to use them twice a day and secondly..they only cost me a quid.  Yep, this is another Pound Shop bargain.

I've decided to stock up on these because the stuff I like is always discontinued, I'm currently suffering from toner withdrawal.  If you know a good toner, let me know!