Sanctuary’s best facial scrub for a radiant complexion

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Let dry, rough and dull skin a thing of the past without breaking your bank with Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Radiance Exfoliator for a brighter and fresher complexion. Enriched with papain, pumpkin and grape seed extracts, this facial exfoliator rids your skin of dead skin cells leaving a polish skin for your make up to glide on.

One of the many skin problems that people face as we age is the decreasing ability of our skin to produce natural skin lipids on the outer layer of the skin essential for maintaining moisture levels. The skin will then start to have dry patches due to clogged pores and dead skin cells accumulating on the top layer of the skin. This can often cause spots, blackheads and other types of skin problems caused by trapped impurities under the skin.

However, all is not lost and Sanctuary’s Radiance exfoliator has saved me from the annoying and problematic Monday blues for my make up routine. It’s Monday and so I need to put make-up again and what I don’t want is caking the moment I apply my foundation. After just 1 week of using Sanctuary Radiance Exfoliator my skin never had a dull moment and dry patches around my nose had completely disappeared. Never again did I have a single sign of caking since using the product and my skin felt smoother than before.

Packed with natural ingredients such as papaya extract known for its brightening and superior exfoliating properties, I noticed that my skin is not just smooth but also brighter. The granules are very fine without losing its function of being a scrub and the grape like scent is invigorating; making you want to repeat the process. I was an avid user of St Ives, but I am now fully converted and will surely re-purchase. I would strongly recommend this product if you are looking for a mid range scrub that is effective and enjoyable to use.

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Best of Elemis samples and OMG I almost went blind!

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My mum has always been a big fan of Elemis and just like many other infamous cosmetic brands whenever you spend more than £100, you will get a few free samples. That was when I first met Elemis’s Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, Quartz Mask, Illuminating Flash Balm and Pro- Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream. Amongst all of the products the one I adore is the Cleansing balm as it feels divine on the face and removes all traces of make-up without drying the skin. It also saves you time from washing your face at night as you will just need to wipe off the product and rinse any remaining residue (unlikely).

The Pro-Collagen Quartz Mask is perfect for dehydrated skin and one use of this product will surely drench your skin with moisture. If you have dry skin or at that age where your skin is beginning to lack lustre and vitality, I would highly recommend this ultra moisturising mask.

Next is the Illuminating Flash Balm which is a perfect primer for your make-up particularly for oily skin. It helps the make-up glide osmoothly without making it slide off unlike other make-up primers, but just like what I said it is more suitable for oily skin types than drier skin.

Last but not the least is Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream which is for older more mature skin, but fear not it still works wonders and is not harmful for 25 year-old skin. Besides once you reach mid 20’s that when you start to use creams that will prevent wrinkles.

Overall, a good range of samples I got as a handover from my Elemis loving mum which makes me feel glad that I have a mum who loves to look after her skin just like me! And oh, I thought I was going to go blind when I woke up a few days ago because eyesight was still very bad with lenses on. Turns out my eyes were dry and overworked from wearing lenses more often than recommended but I’m fine now. Thankfully!! 🙂

Images: www.salonskincare.co.uk, www.timetospa.co.uk, www.londonbeautyreview.com, londonprettyboy.wordpress.com

Loreal Infallible 24h foundation review

I have always been a big fan of the Loreal infallible foundation since it’s currently the only foundation that has the right shade for me. However, Loreal decided to launch a new version of the same foundation promising 24h staying power at a cheaper price. First impression was it sounds too good to be true and although, I was tempted to buy the foundation right away I decided otherwise. I waited to use up all of my older Loreal infallible foundation before I decided to give the new version a try.

My first opinion about the product was that it is slightly unusual for Loreal to sell the same product for a lower price? I began to wonder if the quality would be different. Without knowing enough although, I do know some information about chemicals use in cosmetics, I decided to test the product on my wrist. The product seems more watery and lighter whilst retaining the same shade, but with a slightly different scent; I thought it was fine since I didn’t notice much difference. On the other hand, what I didn’t like about the new product is the packaging; the lid often comes off inside my bag and also the product looks cheap; the new packaging made it look more like a typical drugstore cheap foundation. This made me think that this possibly is the reason why it is cheaper but why? is Loreal financially suffering from some kind of recession? I don’t know, I’m not sure, and the product does not last 24h sadly. Overall, I didn’t notice much difference between the older and new version of the same product and in fact, I thought the new version disintegrates faster than the former when applied with a moisturiser.

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A cure from the Dead Sea

A traditional skin remedy from ancient times has been harnessed by Yarden’s Dead Sea Mineral soap. It’s packed with gentle minerals from the Dead Sea which can help relieve skin of its ailments. Lightly scented and with a creamy lather, this soap made my skin feel smoother without the need of a body lotion. Retailed for less than four quid, and with lots of varietes to choose from, Yarden’s Dead Sea range will cater to all of you skin needs.

 

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clear, bright and luminous skin for a fresh spring complexion

Yes! you heard that right, and for this spring season I went looking for a new addition to my current skincare, and found Kiehl’s clearly corrective line. First on the list is Kiehl’s Clarity-Activating Toner; enriched with Vitamin C, White Birch and Peony, it gives the product a wonderfully light scent and texture. It effectively removes dirt and make-up without leaving any residue.

In the beginning I was slightly sceptical of it’s efficacy, but I noticed that after a week of use my skin is brighter, smoother and even-toned. In terms of packaging it comes in a clear bottle, and the product is colourless with bubbles inside -I supposed it’s the active ingredients- making me even more curious as to what’s in the product that makes it this effective.

 

Next is the holy grail of the line; Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution made from pure Vitamin C with Peony and White Birch extracts which is an effective serum against dark spots. It comes in two sizes; 30ml and 50ml and I bought the latter as it is only £13 more, and I plan on using it regularly for optimum results. Similarly, to the toner it has the same scent however, what sets the serum apart from others is the texture; it is extremely light and sinks into the pores without leaving a greasy feel. My skin felt instantly softer and it looked brighter. Furthermore, I found that it makes my dark spot easier to cover with concealer which makes them almost undetectable.

 

Overall, a lovely product line from Kiehls, which they also claimed to have been tested and specially made for Asian skin that craves for a luminous complexion. I will definitely try more products from this line and will make it a staple to my skin care regime.

Images: http://www.kiehls.co.uk

Elemis Pro-collagen Marine Gel Cream

Gone are the days of sticky, suffocating and heavy creams, as brands like Elemis now offer gel creams for oily to dry skin.

This limited edition gel cream provides maximum comfort and hydration without the sticky feeling. With active ingredient Padina Pavonica: a marine plant from the mediterranean sea helps keep skin soft and smooth. Upon application my skin felt smoother, softer and more resilient. It’s sold for around £60 and comes in a 100 ml jar: it is certainly worth the money.

The product will last for a long time and a little goes a long way. The packaging is also attractive, and the scent is refreshing. Unfortunately, it is only a limited edition product and you can only buy the 50 ml version once you’ve run out. Overall, a good quality cream worth investing for.

Image: http://www.salonskincare.co.uk

Eye shadow dupe for Mac’s paint pot and benefit BBE kit

My search for a cheaper, pigmented and long lasting eyeshadow is finally over after finding these gems called Colour Tattoo from Maybelline.  This eyeshadow with its gel creme texture blends effortlessly and gives your eyes a vibrant look. No wonder beauty gurus and bloggers crave for these sweet candies: they are sold for £4.99 and will spoil you with choice. It surely is like a mini candy store for eyeshadow lovers. I chose the shade 65-gold pink which I will use as an alternative to Benefit’s BBE kit base shadow. Overall, I avoided spending £25 for an eyeshadow base alone because of this gem.

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Drugstore skincare must haves!

Hey, guys lately I have been loving drugstore skincare products and one of my newly found lover is Vichy’s Normaderm Toner. It contains salicylic and glycolic acids which can help diminish imperfections and prevent spots. It is also gentle on skin despite the fruit acid it has and it never overdries the skin. I would definitely recommend this product if you are suffering from acne.

The two other gems that I have been loving are the Botanics radiant youth serum and the organic facial oil: the serum contains hyaluronic acid which can be found in more expensive serums. It is reasonably priced and has a mild scent which makes it a perfect base for make up. The facial oil has rosemary, bergamot, almond and rose oils: making it a perfect pampering oil for a home spa experience.

               

These three products can be used as part of your regular skincare without contradicting each other and they won’t irritate the skin.

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A creme de la mer alternative without the price tag

Hey guys, just wanted to give you some quick update on what I have been loving this spring/summer season. Recently, I have been using Aveene’s Rich Compensating Creme and I’m liking its luxurious texture, which I think is equal or close to the infamous La Mer. It has a very mild to almost fragrance free scent and has a creamy but light texture to it. I know that the product says rich, but it is nothing heavy or oily.

Other than the good quality it has it is also very effective and from the first day of use you will notice a dramatic improvement. My skin was still plumped and moisturised the next day even after washing my face: It was very soft, smooth and no sign of dryness. I could feel it working since my skin has never felt like it was producing its own collagen to the surface. It comes in a small jar but you do not need a lot of the product for it to work. Overall, I would say that this product produces results rather than just promises, also it is more affordable. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Image: http://www.boots.com

Stila’s kajal and convertible black eyeliner

Recently, I bought Stila’s kajal eyeliner, as I wanted to see if it is any better than the Maybelline kajal liner that I am currently using. First impression was it looks cute like most  Stila products, but I find the eyeliner a bit too light. The shade is bright brown and gives a natural look; I expected it to be more black/brown as it is a kajal eyeliner. I think if you want a natural looking eyeliner you can use it on its own but if you want it to be slightly darker you can always use another on top of it.

Next is the convertible eyeliner, which I originally wanted to order in teak but for some reason it is not sold in the UK anymore. The shade is onyx (black) and it is very dark. This eyeliner is good if you are looking for quite a dark eyeliner, however I wouldn’t recommend it for daytime use.The texture for both liners are great and they are both very soft and creamy: won’t drag, but it can be slightly hard to take off with an ordinary make up remover. It does last all day except if your eyes get watery as they are not waterproof. Overall they are both great and I would recommend trying them.

Image: http://www.stila.co.uk