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.
Image: http://www.pinterest.com
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
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.
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.
Images: http://www.boots.com
Cleanance K from Avene comes in two types: one is an exfoliant and another is a mattifying moisturiser. I recently bought the creme-gel exfoliant which made my skin smoother. It has glycolic and lactic acids which is good for dead, flaky and dry skin. I really like this creme as it has a refreshing citrus scent to it.
Next on my list is the PONDS hydronourishing cream which I use as a makeup base. It is often underrated, but this cream does wonders for my skin. It moisturises well and is a perfect base for liquid foundation: helping it glide like a dream, while looking natural. I recommend using this cream with slightly drying foundations or matte-based makeup to help balance out your moisture levels and to prevent it from looking dry and caked up.
Images: http://www.boots.com
Many acne sufferers or people with skin problems have tried several products for their skin problems to no avail. However, after seeing hydrolysed collagen from H&B I decided to try it since I get dry skin during the colder months. First 2 weeks of using the product and taking 2 caplets per day I noticed a visible difference. My skin was more supple and smoother even without moisturising the night before. It may or may not be entirely because of the product, but I noticed that whenever I ran out my skin is not as good.
However, there are some disadvantages to this product one is the size of the caplets. It is too big that it can hit your throat when swallowing; it is £20 for the bottle. Overall, I would say that this product is good for people with slightly drier skin and can be added to compliment your external skincare routine.
For spot prone skin I would recommend DermCleanse capsules from USA. They sell it in a set and the capsules are packed with natural herbs. 
Unlike the caplets from H&B it is easier to swallow, but you’ll need to take around 6-8 capsules a day depending on the severity of your acne. Personally Zenmed DermaCleanse was ok however, I did not like the fact that I can only purchase it online. Overall, the product is quite effective and seems good for the skin.
Images: http://www.zenmed.com
Many creams in the markert promise to moisturise the skin overnight and claim that they give you the glowing skin that you have always wanted. However, although most of the drug store brands can be a hit and miss, one of the best creams that do certainly work wonders by the very first application are La Mer and Sensai. Creme De La Mer is one of these creams that many women rave about in youtube, magazines or even just from gossip. I have tried the product myself and although I thought that it is more suitable for mature skin I was hooked. It has a very light texture and doesn’t make your skin look greasy, but upon application your skin will feel babysoft and silky smooth guaranteed.
It is also a perfect makeup base for your foundation: It helps the foundation glide smoothly and if your makeup used to cake then this can be your saviour. It is meant to counteract moisture loss and perhaps any other skin concerns you may have with the exception of acne. It comes in different jar sizes and can be expensive.
Next cream on the top of my list is the Sensai Premier. I have never purchased the full jar but similar to very high end creams it is luxurious. It ‘s rich but does not make you look oily and like Creme De La Mer can make your skin feel smooth by the first application.
Images: http://www.selfridges.com
Toners are a must have for most makeup users and whilst there are various types of toners in the market, I have always liked Decleor products. You get 250ml for the price of £18-20 and one of my favourite is their Mattfying lotion. It is for oily to normal skin, but this is no ordinary toner: it is packed with natural ingredients such as papaya, ylang ylang and melaleuca essential oils, witch hazel and mint essential waters, burnet, ginger and Chinese cassia bark extracts. It is known to have clarifying properties that are good for enchancing complexion and fighting discolouration. Furthermore, this product helps your makeup glide smoothly as it effectively exfoliates. It also smells divine which I love about Decleor. 
Another toner that I love from the brand is the Aroma White lotion now with a new name as Aroma White C-Hyra brightening lotion. It has creamy texture and can suit someone with dry sensitive skin. It’s aromatic like it says on the name and despite its creamy texture it can still get rid of dirt and makeup effectively. It is more expensive than the other toners, but it’s a product worth spending your money on: I always go back to it.
Images: http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk
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Kyla's Diary Of A Makeup Junkie 