My nightly skincare routine

I've always been more interested in makeup rather than skin care but over the past few months there have been a flurry of skin care posts by other bloggers and I decided it was time to up my game. To be honest I haven't always washed my face every night (the shame) and when I do, it's with a £4 face wash which doesn't cut it anymore, especially as I am now in my late 20s (!!). I've been trying my best to stick to this new routine instead of being lazy and just removing my eye makeup before jumping into bed.


I have a Clarisonic but I don't use it very often, preferring to use a flannel instead. I'm currently using this Avene gel cleanser which I apply to my dry face, massage in then remove with a hot flannel. Scrubbing with the flannel leaves my skin really clean and pink, you can really see the blood coming back into your face. It's not abrasive or painful in any way, just mild and very effective. It also really helped by unblocking my sinuses during the bad hay fever days. I can't recommend face flannel washing enough!

I usually follow up with this Trilogy gentle calming fluid which I received in a gift bag. As the name suggests it's typically used for soothing sensitive or irritated skin but can also be used as a light moisturiser. I hate using heavy face creams in summer because I can't stand having a sticky face! This fluid is almost serum like in consistency and adds enough moisture without being overbearing.

About twice a week I use this overnight intensive mask by Origins. I don't have very dehydrated skin but so many people have said how amazing this is and I wanted to see for myself. I had never used a leave on mask before and it felt a bit weird to apply it then not wash it off. It can be really easy to over apply which I managed to do a few times and you can really feel it on your face but it does work. Waking up in the morning my skin feels and looks plumper. It also smells lovely, like apricots!

I've also given myself a kick up the bum with eye cream. Day or night I always manage to forget. I had been using the Benefit one which was perfectly fine but I wanted to try something different. I couldn't decide between Origins Ginzing or Eye Doctor but eventually went for the latter as I felt my eyes needed more hydration. I don't think Eye Doctor helps reduce the appearance of dark shadows as it claims to do but it's very good at moisturing and soothing. No complaints so far.

So this is my nightly routine and whilst it's not the best out there it has been working well for me. I've also bought some other skin products but will be doing separate posts on those. What do you use in your routine and are there any must haves you can recommend?

My French Skincare and Haircare buys

Two weeks ago I spent five days in sunny Paris celebrating my sister's 21st birthday. I had already done all the touristy bits on my previous trip so this time was much more shopping focused and visiting lesser known areas of Paris.

Can I just say that the French have the most amazing food. I ate so much that I'm glad I don't own any scales coz I would be too scared to look. My bags home were bursting with cake, brie, crepes, madeleines and pain au chocolat. I'm still craving some authentic French bread and butter. Yummm!

My sister and I carefully planned out our shopping trips and did plenty of research beforehand. As recommended by Lisa Eldridge in her French skin care video our main destination was City Pharma (26 Rue du Four, near Mabillon metro stop). Although you are never more than 5 minutes away from a pharmacy the prices differ widely. I incorrectly assumed that a pharmacy more towards the outskirts of Paris would be cheaper but this wasn't the case. City Pharma is slap bang in the centre but was the cheapest around, however this meant it was rammmmed. I had to side step and squeeze my way through at every opportunity. Wasn't the best shopping experience but the low prices made up for it. Between my sister and I we must have spent around £100 in two separate trips.

This is my little loot






Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution (500ml): The holy grail of makeup removers and the accolade is well deserved. It swiftly removes eye makeup (even waterproof) without a leaving any horrid residue behind nor does it feel drying. I only use this on my eyes not my face but it feels just like water. I bought 3 bottles which were on promotion for 7.50 euros each. Bargain!! I don't want to think about what I'll do when I run out, I can't bear the thought of paying £16 for a bottle off ebay.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Astringent Micro-Exfoliant Lotion (200ml): My first foray into this brand and I am really pleased. I love astringents and prefer them over cleansing wipes. I don't feel like my face is clean enough until I see dirt and this removes a lot (thank you London pollution). This was 8.50 euros and I might buy it again. If it lives up to the claim of tightening and unclogging pores then I'll definitely do so.

Evan Facial Spray (300ml): I am hoping that this humongous bottle will be used if we ever get a summer this year. I have a mini Avene spray which is exactly the same thing but is much dearer. I actually bought this in a large Carrefour supermarket for about 3 euros.

The following creams and ointments were bought out of curiosity after reading Gwyneth Paltrow's list of must haves. I don't have sensitive skin but the Mr does and these are for his benefit more than mine.

Avibon - Vitamin A cream for dry/rough skin and apparently wrinkles?
Homeoplasmine - An antiseptic ointment for skin irritations
Biafine Act - For healing superficial burns and sun burnt/sensitive skin.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Honey Lip Balm (15ml): A little pot of heaven. I am not easily swayed from my faithful Carmex and I don't usually like honey products but love this! It's preservative free and contains Acacia honey, Shea butter and grapefruit essence - it smells (and tastes *ahem*) so good. It's quite thick and I think this would be perfect for wintry chapped lips. I paid 6.90 euros at City Pharma.

Klorane Mango Butter Conditioning Balm (150ml): The words "mango butter" drew me in. It just sounds so moisturising! It doesn't smell very mango-ey which was a bit disappointing. In my opinion a balm is thick and creamy but this has a thin formulation. I've only used it twice so haven't noticed a considerable different in the texture of my hair yet but hope it works. I think I paid about 5 euros?

Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydration Shampoo & Phyto Phytobaume Hydration Express Conditioner: I've read about Phyto here and there but wanted to try for myself. There was such a wide range to choose from but I think I made the right choice. I normally always opt for hair products catering to dry hair in the hope that they will inject some life and moisture into my despairing barnet. I am waiting to run out of my current shampoo before cracking these open. I have only ever used "drug store" branded shampoos before so have high hopes. I paid 10 euros each.

With the exception of Bioderma most French brands are easily available to buy in the UK. I've included links to where you can buy them from in the titles but they are more expensive. I didn't buy anything from Avene, Caudelie or Liercac because nothing really took my fancy. I'm pretty pleased with my lot and am hoping I didn't miss out on something. What would you buy if you were visiting France?

(CLOSED) Giveaway: Win a Barefoot skincare set

The Barefoot SOS range is perfect for winter, especially for those with dry, sensitive and irritable skin. This range is also free from petrochemicals including paraffin, parabens & SLS, artificial colours and fragrances, and animal ingredients.



I've got one skincare set to give away to a lucky reader :)

Daily Rich Body Lotion - 200ml £22
A silky smooth lotion containing Chickweed and Mallow extracts to cool and soothe, Shea Butter for protection against the elements, Argan and Macadamia oils to nourish and Orange Blossom and Lavender essential oils for a calming aroma

Soothing Face and Body Wash – 200ml £16
A gentle non-drying wash with Panthenol (Vitamin B5) and Allantoin to maintain skins moisture level, Evening Primrose and Jojoba oil to condition, Chickweed and Burdock extracts to cool and soothe and Geranium and Lemon Tea Tree essential oils to create an enlivening aroma.

To enter, please leave a comment below and don't forget to leave me your email address if you haven't got one on your profile. Closing date is the 29 December at 23.59 when I'll pick someone at random (UK only, sorry guys). Good luck xx

Free skin health assessment at sk:n clinics

This isn't a sponsored post. I just thought it would be helpful for those of you worried about sun damage.

This summer sk:n clinics is offering everybody a FREE skin health assessment. If you’re worried about what damage you may have done to your skin, exposing it to harmful UV rays this summer, you can book in at your local sk:n clinic for a consultation.

The sk:n skin health assessment consists of a consultation with one of sk:n’s experts and facial scanning using state of the art technology, to highlight any existing damage with UV light. The consultant will also calculate your skin age based on its condition. The skin health assessment usually costs £25, but for a short time only, sk:n will be offering them absolutely free.

The offer is all part of the skin health campaign, fronted by the England cricket team to raise awareness about the dangers of the sun’s rays on the skin. As part of the campaign sk:n clinics will be donating £10,000 to the British Skin Foundation to fund vital research into important dermatology issues.

Visit www.sknclinics.co.uk for more information

Review: It's Potent! Eye Cream by Benefit

I received a small sample of this eye cream when I attended a Benefit event and I liked it so much I went ahead and purchased the full sized version. I've only got round to using this jar recently as the mini sample lasted for ages.

What they say

It's Potent! Eye Cream fades dark circles, helps smooth fine lines & hydrates the eye area for brighter, younger looking eyes. This potent yet gentle eye cream contains burnet an ancient Chinese remedy to help soothe the skin, & a blend of hydrating botanical extracts. Contains apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage. Includes a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity & firmness to the skin. Contains sodium hyaluronate, a powerful hydrating agent capable of holding up to 1000 times its weight in water.

How did it work for me/What I think:

I initially liked this very much. I used it twice daily and I felt that it really did keep the thin skin under my eyes well moisturised. The cream itself is slightly thick and rich but it sinks it beautifully without disappearing from the surface of my skin completely. It also has a nice light inoffensive scent akin to cucumbers. Did it fade my dark circles? Not really but then again I don't think any cream can (unless you know of one?). I liked it purely for the fact that it kept my skin hydrated and I found it cooling even though it's not marketed as such.

I did find that after several months, the cream lost it's "potency" and the consistency was much thinner. I think this is due to the packaging, if it was in a tube this might solve the problem. I also think that the jar is way too big. It will take a while to finish but according to the sign on the bottom, you're supposed to dispose of it after 6 months! Less product would also bring down the hefty price tag of £23.50.

I wouldn't repurchase this purely because it thins out after a while and I think I need a richer eye cream because the skin under my eyes is so dry. However for someone in their late teens/early twenties, this isn't a bad first eye cream.

RRP £23.50 for 14.2g

Body Oils - Yay or Nay?

Image source

Weleda have released this LE set of body oils in celebration of their 90th birthday and they sound like they would smell amazing. The gift set (£9.95) contains 10ml each of the precious Wild Rose Body Oil, Relaxing Lavender Body Oil, intensively nourishing Sea Buckthorn Body Oil, the refreshing Citrus Body Oil and the anti-ageing Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil.

I've never really used body oils before and it made me think about the body creams I use and how effective they really are. I don't have particularly dry skin but no matter how moisturising creams/lotions claim to be, they don't live up to my expectations. Perhaps it's just the ones I have used? At the moment I am using the Body Shop's Brazil Nut body butter and I love the smell and the way my skin feels after the initial application, but after a while I have to reapply as it seems to sit on the surface of my skin and rub off easily.

I'm already a convert of using oil in my hair so why not on my body too? The best way to apply is onto damp skin straight after a shower so it can be absorbed quicker. My only apprehension is that oils sound a bit messy to use and I wouldn't like anything too heavy or greasy. I guess you wouldn't even need to go out and purchase branded body oils as some people use plain old olive oil (the daddy of all oils) but I would prefer something lighter and nicely scented.

What do you think about body oils? Would you use them? And if you already do, which ones do you like? I'd love to know what you think.

p.s. Sorry it's taken so long but the winner of my Trilogy Giveaway is Hannah! x

Benefit b.right radiant skincare

The other week I attended an event held by Benefit in their Spitalfields boutique where they introduced their new b.right radiant skincare line. We were also given the opportunity to have a mini facial to experience the products in action.

After my makeup was removed, I explained that my main problems were the blackheads around my nose and chin area, and that the skin under my eyes could get quite dry. Bearing this in mind, the beauty therapist used the following products on me in the following order:

Refined finish facial polish

This polish contains natural clay and seaweed extract. It was applied as a mask and left on for a good 5 minutes. It has little particles that gently exfoliate and it left my skin feeling really clean. It also contains Glycolic acid to help smooth away imperfections. Plus it really did get rid of some of the blackheads around my nose.

It's potent eye cream

I loved this eye cream because although it isn't overly rich, my skin felt very moisturised and it has an instant cooling effect.

Ultra radiance facial re-hydrating mist

This was used last of all and liberally sprayed onto my face. It contains Benefit's tri-radiance complex to deliver immediate and long-term hydration, which is exactly what it did as my face felt refreshed afterwards.

These are already on sale (prices and more products here) but the facial mist launches on the 21st May 2011 along with the Moisture prep toning lotion and Remove it make up remover.

I was impressed with the results of my mini facial and my skin looked far more polished and less dull than before. The products look and smell great. The scent is vey light and refreshing - in my opinion there's nothing worse than heavily perfumed products! All in all, I think this skincare line is really good quality and there will be something for everyone.

We were sent away with this mini trio kit which is brilliant if you're not quite sure what to get or whether you will like it or not. It's currently £7.50 from Benefit's website but it's limited edition so be quick! They also had this in Debenhams but I can't see it on the website. If you do want to buy a full sized product, Debenhams currently have 10% off on all beauty & fragrance products (in store tomorrow) and free delivery until the 21st May.

I've almost finished my sample pot of It's Potent and I've already bought the full sized version, so an in depth review on that soon. Is there anything from this new skincare line that you'd like to try?

New additions to my skincare routine

I am a devoted Neutrogena skin care user but these are the three new skincare products I'm currently using:

1. Garnier Pure Active Blackhead Scrub - I'm usually dismissive of products which claim to get rid of blackheads because they never work for me but this one does. As it's also an exfoliator I only use it twice a week in conjunction with my face brush and there has been a noticeable difference in the reduction of blackheads around my t zone (especially my nose). I feel like it cleans my face thoroughly and I love the zingy fresh feeling - it's like toothpaste for the face! I didn't see a result from day 1 (as promised) but it's become a favourite which I repurchase again and again. Usually £4.19 but I like to buy when it's on promotion for £3.49 :)

2. Good Things Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser - I haven't seen many cleansers on the high street but I bought this a while ago after reading good things (hehe) about the brand. SLS/Paraben free and only £4.99, it's affordable and easily available. Once massaged into your skin, you're supposed to use a hot wrung out flannel to remove the cleanser. It left my skin soft and smells REALLY nice and fruity but wasn't very effective at removing my non waterproof mascara - the flannel had to do most of the work.

3. Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser - Two small pumps of this cream gel cleanser is all I need to clean my face and it removes my eye makeup very well. No flannels or muslin cloths needed, just a quick rinse with warm water. It's got a light fresh scent and my skin feels soft and clean afterwards. Hypoallergenic and designed for normal to combination sensitive skin, this product is rich in Avene thermal spring water which is supposed to have soothing and anti-irritating properties. Available in Boots for £11.50 (200ml) it's slightly pricey and probably more suited to those who like to invest in their skincare. However not much product is needed so it would probably last for a while. They also have two other cleansers which are slightly cheaper at around £8 (see here and here).

[CLOSED]Giveaway - Win £30 worth of Avene skincare products

(Promo photo, not actual prize)

French brand, Eau Thermale Avene are dedicated to sensitive skincare and I have recently been trying out two of their products. I'll be posting my thoughts on the Skin Recovery cream and Gentle Gel Cleanser later this week.

However today you have the chance of winning £30 worth of Avene goodies!

All you have to do is go to Avene's Facebook page and "Like" it. Don't forget to leave me a comment below so I know you have entered.

Closing date is next Sunday the 20th February at 23.59 when I will pick someone at random. Good luck xxx

Hand Cream - my handbag essential

I hardly carry any makeup in my bag, just a black pencil liner but I ALWAYS make sure I have hand cream. For me, there's nothing worse than having dry crusty hands!

I wash my hands a lot more during my working week. I take the tube to work and have to hold onto rails with lots of sneezy/coughy people. I don't even want to think about what else could be on those rails. Also as I'm on the computer all day, I wash my hands everytime I eat and the handwash at work is very drying.

I have tried a lot of different hand creams but these are the ones I'm currently using:

Dr Organic Rose Otto Hand & Nail Cream - If you like the smell of rosewater then you'll love this one. It's a very rich but effective cream and is paraben/sls free. It has lots of natural ingredients such as rose flower oil, olive oil, geranium oil and clove oil which is why I suspect it's so moisturising. The tube is huge and you really only need a little blob of the thick cream. Any more and it would leave your hands feeling greasy. I even use this on my elbows as it's good for rough skin too. (£6.69 for 125ml).

L'Occitane Fleur Chérie Hand Cream - This cream on the other hand is the total opposite, very light and the consistency much thinner. If you suffer from very dry hands then I wouldn't say this is the best hand cream for you. Even though it contains shea butter and grape seed oil, it's not very moisturising and  I use this mostly during summer. It does however smell really nice - a light floral scent. Mine is the 30ml travel size which was free in a magazine but is otherwise £7. I prefer their shea butter version but I think I'll wait for another magazine promo to get one.

What is your favourite hand cream?

The Body Shop Body Butter Offer

Just a heads up that The Body Shop have a buy one get one free offer on the body butters which are already in the sale for £6 each. This includes Almond, Papaya, Passion fruit, Blueberry, Brazil Nut, Raspberry and the Christmas ones (see here).Considering the 200ml tubs usually retail for £12.50 each, this is a huge saving. The BOGOF offer is also available on sale body scrubs and shower gels. Instore only but I don't know how long it lasts for, so if you're interested get down to your local Body Shop.

 I bought almond and brazil nut for a total of £6 and I may just go back for more! 

Review: Dr Organic - Royal Jelly Night Cream

It is only recently that I've become more aware of the amount of chemicals in beauty products I use. This is down to one of my best friends who now only uses products that are 100% natural. She uses shea butter (which she buys in bulk), coconut/almond/olive oil, rosewater and even makes her own shampoo and shower gel! I'm not going to go that far just yet but I've started to think more about the ingredients in the products I buy and if there are more natural alternatives.

Whilst I'm aware of the brand, this is the first Dr Organics product I have used. SLS and paraben free, this is made from natural ingredients (see detailed list here). I was expecting the cream to be thin and watery but it's actually thick and performs like any other, just without all the chemicals. It also doesn't feel heavy or greasy. I especially like the swish glass container it comes in. It has a pleasant light scent - to me it smells like the inside of a flower (sorry, I'm terrible when it comes to describing scents).

This is what it says on the back of the box:

I can't comment on if it has made any difference to fine lines/wrinkles as I don't have any but what I can say is that it's rich and very moisturising. I apply this every night before bed and when I wake up my face feels soft and hydrated. In this harsh weather, I've also used this as my daily moisturiser.

I don't have senstive skin but if you do, and you are looking for a cream made from natural ingredients, I would reccommend this or any other in the range.

I'm happy with the results so far and would like to try more products from this brand. I think next on my list will be this Rose Otto hand and nail cream.

Don't forget you can win this night cream as part of a set in my Dr Organics giveaway!

Holland & Barrett paraben and SLS free awareness drive + Dr Organic xmas giveaway

Holland & Barrett has made the decision to reformulate all of their beauty products to be paraben and SLS free, and in future will no longer stock brands containing these ingredients. Earlier this year, they launched Dr Organics, the first natural, organic, paraben and SLS free range of beauty products from a high street store.

Although I have briefly touched on the subject of paraben and SLS free products before, I have never been fully informed and found this editorial to be an interesting read.

Controversial chemicals

Whilst all chemicals must be approved by the EU to be used in cosmetics, there is emerging evidence[1] to suggest some of these chemicals are harmful and may be linked with breast cancer[2]. And there are two particularly controversial chemicals commonly found in cosmetics: parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS).

Parabens

What are parabens used for?

Parabens are added to everything from food to skin care to deodorants. They come in different types and are essentially preservatives to give products a longer shelf life.

What do they do?

In 2004 a study in the UK found that when applied to the skin (as opposed to eaten) parabens may seep in and accumulate in the body’s tissue. This is significant when you consider that in the same study, 19 out of the 20 cancerous breast tumours examined contained parabens[3].

Dr Phillipa Darbre, who led the study, said “This is the first study to show their accumulation in human tissues. It demonstrates that if people are exposed to these chemicals (parabens), then the chemicals will accumulate in their bodies."

"Detection (of parabens) in human breast tumours is of concern, since parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen."

Oestrogen is thought to stimulate the growth of most breast cancer tumours[4] and so any chemical that acts like the female hormone may increase the chances of developing breast cancer.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

What is SLS used for?

SLS is a harsh detergent first used as an industrial degreasant to clean garage floors but is now found in most shampoos and toothpastes.

What does it do?

SLS strips the oil layer off skin; irritating and eroding, leaving skin rough and pitted. In fact, the chemical is often used in clinical studies to deliberately irritate the skin so that the effects of other substances can be tested[5].

SLS has a low molecular weight and is easily absorbed by the body. It builds up in the heart, liver and brain and can cause major problems in those areas[6].

---

[1] Hand et Al, Toxicology. 2006 Oct 3;227(1-2):62-72. Epub 2006 Jul 28 ‘Methylparaben potentiates UV-induced damage of skin keratinocytes’

Philip W. Harvey* and David J. Everett, Significance of the Detection of Esters of p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (Parabens) in Human Breast Tumours, JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY J. Appl. Toxicol. 24, 1–4 (2004)

[2] Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, et al. (2004). Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. J Appl Toxicol, 24:5-13.

[3] Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, et al. (2004). Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. J Appl Toxicol, 24:5-13.

[4] Cancer Research UK (2009). Types of treatment for Breast Cancer. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/breast-cancer/treatment/which-treatment-for-breast-cancer

[5] Keith Green, PH.D., D.Sc., Medical College of Georgia: ‘Detergent Penetration into Young and Adult Eyes, Research to Prevent Blindness’ cited by the Wall Street Journal (11.01.1988)

[6] Vance J, Beauty To Die For, Promotion Publishing, 1998

What Holland & Barrett say:

More research is needed to give us conclusive evidence of the affects of these substances. But whilst the majority of retailers continue to stock products containing these chemicals, we have removed all SLS and paraben ingredients from our entire beauty range. 

 
As part of their awareness drive, I have been provided with a prize for one of you lovely readers!

Dr Organic - Organic Royal Jelly Perfect Complexion Gift Set

I’ve actually been using the night cream (included in this set) over this past week and will be posting my review tomorrow.

Leave a comment below if you would like to be entered. I find “Enter me” comments boring so perhaps let me know your thoughts on parabens and SLS in skincare/cosmetic products? Are you aware of them? Do you actively avoid them? Or are you not convinced?

The giveaway (UK only, sorry!) will close on the 4 January 2010 at 23.00 (GMT) when I will pick someone at random. Looking forward to reading your opinions! Good luck xx

Beauty on a budget: The many uses of Almond oil

A few months ago I bought this bottle of sweet almond oil with the intention of creating my own makeup remover. Sadly this turned out to be a big fat fail as I couldn't get the correct quantities of water and oil. Instead of chucking it, I decided to use it as a hair conditioner.

It's much heavier than coconut oil so a little goes a long way. Mostly on my ends and a little massaged into my roots. I leave it in for at least an hour and wash out throroughly. It makes my hair look glossier than it's usual dull state.

There's many other uses but here are my preferred ways:

On my skin: Instead of using body lotion, I use almond oil after I shower. Almond oil is often one of the main ingredients in body butters because it's a rich source of Vitamin E and a good emollient. It's especially good on rough areas such as elbows, knees and feet. I don't slather myself in it, I rub a pea sized amount between my hands then apply - it isn't greasy at all. It doesn't have a strong scent and I can only smell it if I sniff from the bottle - a faint sweet nutty scent. Body oils are usually really expensive but this does the same job for a fraction of the price. My bottle was only £1.50 from Waitrose.

Conditioning my eyelashes: I wear waterproof mascara everyday which isn't too kind to my lashes. I rub almond oil into my lashes and along the lashline to condition them.

Conditioning my nails and cuticles: Similarly, constant nail polish wear makes my nails dry and brittle. I use almond oil to try and repair the damage. It's also great at softening up ragged cuticles.

All in all, a big thumbs up for almond oil. It's inexpensive, multifunctional and 100% natural.

HELP! How do I get rid of puffy eye bags?

This photo is from last year and I've kept it small as I didn't want to subject any of you to a massive close up of my face. The bags under my eyes are horrendous and they seem to be permanent. They look even worse now and no matter how much sleep I get, I wake up with them every single day. I've tried cooling gel eye masks, cold spoons, eye creams and eye strips but all the ones I have tried haven't done a thing.

It's something that really upsets me and is one of the main reasons I don't post photos of my face, as they look so awful. I'm worried that they'll get progressively worse as I get older. There are millions of products out there but I don't know where to start, nor do I want to waste my money on something that does naff all.

Is there anything you have tried and can reccommend? I'm willing to try anything! :(

Muji Hinoki face brush - The £3.95 skin marvel

I've read about how amazing face brushes are on many other blogs (most recently on Secret Beauty Blog and Desi Girl Does Makeup) so when I was in Muji the other day, I decided to see for myself and bought this dinky little face brush.

I was initially apprehensive about using an actual brush to clean my face but my skin's been looking a bit dull lately and my usual exfoliator just hasn't been cutting it. The problem I find with exfoliators is that I'm never sure if I'm reaching all the areas I need to, with the exfoliating beads/granules being so scattered. I then end up overdoing it and leave my skin (especially around my nose) feeling sore.

However, I've never been so impressed with a product and it's so simple to use. I use a squirt of normal face wash and brush my whole face avoiding the eye area. It's not harsh at all as the water softens the bristles (not 100% sure if they're natural) and the results are instantaneous. I couldn't believe how clean and soft my skin felt afterwards, something I have never experienced from washing my face normally.

Since I've been using this my skin has definitely improved in appearance and I don't know why I didn't buy this sooner!

Naked Bodycare - Wake Up Naked White Ginger Body Wash + mini giveaway

I first became aware of the Naked brand last year and although I have only tried a few products, they have always left me more than impressed (especially Coco de mer body butter!). The added bonus is that Naked is 97% natural and free from chemicals such as parabens, petrochemicals and sulphates - which is great for those with sensitive skin (you can read more on their values  here).

I have been using this body wash for a few weeks and would happily replace my usual one for this. The true ginger scent is unusual but definitely invigorating and does a great job of waking me up in the mornings. It leaves my skin soft and I feel really clean which is the most important thing. I would reccommend this for people who love zingy shower gel scents, but if you don't, get Coco de Mer instead - it's lush!

The white ginger body wash is £3.99 and is an online exclusive but Naked are currently offering a free bottle with any purchase (see here).

Have you tried any Naked products? If not, here's your chance to....

I received a bottle of Coco de Mer bath foam in a competition a little while ago but I don't take baths so I thought I would pass it on to someone who does.

Leave a comment below if you would like to be entered and so it isn't boring, let me know what bath/shower products you're currently loving. This will close at 10pm (GMT) on Tuesday the 7 September 2010 when I shall pick someone at random. Good luck! xx

Olay Beauty Fluid

 
When I last ran out of my usual moisturiser, I picked this up in Sainsburys after lots of umming and ahhing. Despite being a well established and long running brand, I have never used anything by Olay  before but I thought I would give it a go.

What I like most is the fluid consistency and how easily it's absorbed. I found this strange at first as I'm used to thicker and creamier products which need to be rubbed in. However, this is light and non greasy which makes it a perfect moisturiser for summer. It has a pleasant fragrant scent and does the job well. Coming in at under a fiver, I can't complain and will be buying another bottle when this runs out. I'm also keen to try other Olay products. Any reccommendations?

Summer + Skincare

I may not be going on holiday this year but this British summer is proving to be a scorching hot one (and please God let it last!). The last bottle of sunscreen I purchased was about 3 years ago so I promptly dumped it and went in search of replacements.  I'm quite concerned about protecting my skin from harmful rays so I always buy at least SPF20.

Garnier Ambre Solaire Light & Silky protection milk SPF20 - Superdrug has a buy 2 get cheapest 1 free promotion on most suncare products right now so when my boyfriend bought this, he gave me the other one (woo). It's everything I need in a suncream - non greasy/sticky, smells great and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It's so light that I also use it on my face from time to time. It retails at £13.97 which I think is a bit pricey so I would only repurchase if on promotion.

Simple protecting facial hydrolotion SPF25 - This was a sample that I received in a goody bag in November and it's only now that I'm putting it to use. It's fragance free and light but only protects against UVA rays. I haven't seen this anywhere instore though so I have no idea how much the full product retails for.

Korres sunscreen face cream watermelon SPF20 - My first Korres product which I got for the bargain price of £4.99 in TKmaxx. I'm really not impressed with this. Considering it's a face cream it's so thick and hard to blend in. It left my face ashy and ghost like plus the watermelon scent is awful. I can't bear to throw things away so I'm going to try mixing it with moisturiser.

Now I'm off to browse lastminute.com and teletext holidays and lament over the fact that I will not be beach bound this year *mopes*

Products and their use by dates

I know that beauty and make up products all have a use by date as I've read many useful blog and magazine articles on the subject. However I can never remember exactly how long different things last for. 

Today I was casually flicking through a copy of Good Housekeeping (wasn't mine, honest!) and came across this statistic:

"Nine out of Ten women have no idea that they only need to look at the symbol on the product that looks like an open pot. This will tell you how long your make-up, moisturiser or lotion will last once it's been open"

I've noticed these symbols before but it never clicked in my head.  Please tell me I'm not a total noob and I'm not the only one who was oblivious...?