Purity Skincare

OK I have a moment to write something. In between mouthfuls of popcorn and with one eye on the telly. Because these things are very important to me right now - a simple day off feels like ten days in Tuscany and I have to optimise my time. Which is why I don't do videos, what with all the chomping and greasy fingers. (Sorry Little Macbook. I'll clean you another time. Along with the car and my bathroom and other chores I'm choosing to ignore.)

Right, so the point of this post is to tell you about a lovely and very inexpensive brand I have been using for several weeks now - Purity. I replied to a call out on Twitter to try it and the kindly folks there sent me a whole bunch of products to test. How nice!

I was initially very impressed with such generosity (what? I'm easily bought) but also with the clean and simple look to the range. It's very functional and straightforward. It doesn't look expensive because it doesn't have to. Nothing costs over a tenner making Purity a very friendly, easily accessible range (at Superdrug) which I hope will do some good to crossing over into the mainstream where so many natural brands have been overlooked and misunderstood.

I was sent the Facial Wash, Facial Exfoliator, Anti-Ageing Moisturiser, Anti-Ageing Serum and Mask and the Regenerating Overnight Moisturiser. I know. How nice!

The products I have used to death are the Facial Wash and Facial Exfoliator. The wash being perfect for the Clarisonic which I am still dabbling with. It feels fresh, with a nice light foam and doesn't dry out my skin. I have used is every other day as I alternate between trying other things and sticking to the old favourite - coconut oil (still in love with this). I had kind of forgotten how easy a face wash can be and this has really brought me back round to the idea, every now and then! Very good indeed.

The exfoliator is great for when you feel the need to march your skin outside into the glaring sunlight and give it a good whack with a carpet beater. Which is more or less everyday right now. I have made it sound really rather harsh and although it is very grainy these grains are actually in the most velvety, yoghurty cream. Feels like pudding for your face. Maybe an Eton mess. Or even just strawberries and cream.  It really enlivens the skin, leaving it soft and juicy. As if I might really have taken my tired old rug of a mug outside and given it a good thrashing with a carpet beater. Seriously though if you like a scrub this is actually a very kind one. Consider it recommended.

The moisturisers have been living in my kit, with good results and pleasant reactions -  the night time one has been enjoyed more by myself admittedly and although I don't like moisturisers that much (preferring a facial oil every time) I have been very happy with both of them. And very happy to use it as a way of getting people interested in natural skincare. I'm still horrified on a daily basis how  unaware most people are of what it is they put on their skin whilst assuming it must be just fine and dandy.

I admit I have only used the Serum / Mask combo once but this is mostly due to the distinct lack of time to do anything as nearly as indulgent as a mask for ten minutes and not because I didn't want to. It seems lovely but I must promise to road test it a bit more before I give you any feedback...

I have to say none of the products are heavily fragranced, or even register a smell at all and this is actually quite reassuring and makes a nice change. 

Purity is undeniably very affordable and is marketed as an option for those who want to buy natural but are put off by the price. There are several, very affordable ranges available now but usually only found in health food stores or online, not somewhere like Superdrug (which generally sells what I like to refer to as MUCK.) And it is this that I find most interesting. Encouraging even.  A great step towards people making a more informed choice I hope.

But at the same time something else worries me here - that people will read 'natural', 'pure' and even 'organic'  on other brands' packaging and feel they are getting a similar thing with those brands too when they most certainly are not. Greenwashing is a terrible, terrible thing and makes my blood boil. Don't go forgetting there is no legal definition of any of these terms and brands can wave words like this around like pretty little bunting at a summer's fayre to get you slapping on a whole host of synthetic chemicals, preservatives, fragrances and potentially carcinogenic material in the name of cheap and easy profit.

Labels are everything and although it as great to see a natural product from someone like Purity next to something like Dove, Simple or Nivea, it would actually make me weep if people didn't realise there was difference between them. 

Also whilst we are on this subject of ingredients - a full ingredients listing on a website, in this day and age, for a natural brand, is ESSENTIAL if a consumer is to trust who they are buying from and indeed what they are buying. It is a massive turn-off when a full list isn't available. At first, I was a little frustrated that I couldn't see an ingredients list right by the products on Purity's website. With a little more patience I discovered their ingredients glossary which clearly explains every ingredient they use and this I think is very, very commendable. Even I, up here on my high horse, can't be bothered to google every single ingredient and although I know I recognise and understand most things I read, there are plenty of chemicals, natural or not that I don't. This glossary is clear, transparent and something everyone should want to read. Well done Purity. 

Right, I got all serious there. So enough of that. Jurassic Park is on. See you next time.

Purity is available in Superdrug Stores and online 

www.purityorganicskincare.co.uk

Products range from £4.99 to £8.99. 

Try the Suti Core Facial for Yourself!

Get excited people I have news!  The Suti Core Facial is now available to sample at Wholefoods Market Kensington, selected dates throughout the year! "Welcome to my world... Won't you come on in... " sung in cheesy club singer style voice or maybe someone like Michael Bublé. Yes, I can hear Bublé singing that... with a twinkle in his eye and dashing Canadian grin...

This is cracking. Sample facials are either £30 for 30 minutes or £60 for 60 minutes, at The Whole Body Centre in the fabulous Wholefoods Market Kensington and wait for it... that's redeemable against products! Again. Redeemable. Oh dear lord! That is one hell of an offer and a great introduction to my favourite skincare line. I'm a little breathless just thinking about it. And not because of Michael Bublé. He won't be there.

The treatments will be with Suti's very own and very good Suzannah Jenkins and also with Claire Popham who has already been offering this incredible facial at her treatment rooms, The Lily Room in East Sheen. Booking is essential, so call The Whole Body Centre on 0207 3684531 or email on wholebody.uk@wholefoods.com

The dates are as follows, with appointments available between 12 and 6pm:
2nd March, 30th March, 11th May, 8th June, 6th July, 3rd August, 7th September, 5th October, 2nd November, 7th December. 

You can read up on my experience with Suti's Core Facial here. And my ravings about the products I have reviewed here. If you are in the slightest bit interested in trying it out, then do! I urge you. I am merrily working my way through a second bottle of my favourite Rejuvenate Oil and especially with this bitter cold it really keeps skin comfortable and nourished.

On that note and just for your amusement, something kind of funny happened the other day. Mr. BE came trudging in from the cold and tentatively asked me if I had anything for his face because it was all chapped and was hurting him. (Can you imagine? Heartbreaking!) "Of course!" I squealed! The first thing I reached for was the Rejuvenate Oil. And he was soon happily glowing like a bunny brought in from the garden and sat by the fire, all rosy cheeked but soothed. (Don't tell him I told you.) His verdict the next morning and I quote, "Yeah it's actually better, thanks!"

That's basically top marks!

Drop your comments below if you are going to give Suti a try or if you are already are! Let's hear it for Suti! Over to you Michael.

www.suti.co.uk

Clarisonic Mia: First Update

Right so I'm still a little undecided on the Clarisonic. Obviously for the price tag I want to love it. But I am aware of that. So I'm trying to not let that sway me. And I don't think it is actually. If anything I'm being more harsh on it.

Now I figured the point of it was to remove daily dirt and make up so it makes more sense to use it in the evenings but I like the potential for it to tighten up your facial muscles so I sometimes do a 'double shift' with it and use it again in the morning.

To give you an idea of the routine, I use a natural cleanser, Stem Organics Gentle Cleansing Milk (review to follow) for a quick pre-cleanse so as not to get the brush head too discoloured with make up. Then I squish a bit out onto the brush and I'm away. Rinse with cool water. Wash the brush clean and Tah-Dah! There's not much to it really.

I haven't suffered any breakouts, certainly nothing that I think was caused by the Clarisonic anyway, which is great. I've heard that this can be the case as your skin starts to respond but so far so good with me.

I do think I might have a little more firmness around my cheeks, in the smile line area. This is probably only noticeable to me and might be non-existent - I'm not squealing with excitement just yet. But I'm going to watch this carefully as I continue to use it and if this is indeed the case I might start a one-man parade with a sandwich board and a megaphone to declare my jubilation because that really was what I was hoping for!

I can't say I've seen outlandish improvement in the unblocking of pores around my nose and chin however, maybe a little bit but I'll persevere and monitor this.

One slight concern with using it was I was getting pesky dry patches on my forehead and nose which I never get and considering this is the oiliest bit of your face - the T zone- I did find this a little strange and obviously very much unwanted! This made me switch back to a hot cloth and coconut oil every now and then to sort this out. I thought the Clarisonic would be ace at getting rid of dead skin, like an industrial floor sanding machine but I suspect it's actually causing it. Maybe it's too abrasive?

In summary: It's not bad but it's not magic. More Paul Daniels than Paul McKenna.

I'm curious. I'm not blown away but I'm not disappointed. I will continue to subject my face to the experiment and I will report back when I have fully made my mind up on this funny little gadget.

I would love your feedback on this. If you have a Clarisonic, what are your experiences using it? Did you love it right away? Did it take time to notice a difference? Did you have any problems with it or has it been plain sailing on a sunny day?

Comment below! Thanks y'all.

Antipodes Divine Face Oil

I was asked if I could recommend a facial oil on Twitter today. And obviously I was very happy to oblige! But this made me realise how I get asked a lot of questions about facial oils. Probably because I rant about them to anyone who will listen. After discovering how good facial oils were I more or less ditched every other moisturiser I was using and subsequently told almost every person I met who may have merely hinted (probably with regret) at their vague interest at what I might be using on my skin.

So.... Oh yes, I have been happily using facial oils for about 8 or 9 months now. The Antipodes Divine Face Oil has been my current love. It's a beautiful blend of avocado, macadamia, jojoba and rosehip oils in that order and if you've been paying attention even slightly you will already know how good all these plant oils are for your skin. If not, quick recap:

Avocado oil is rich in chlorophyll which, along with lutein, is what gives it that gorgeous green colour. Chlorophyll and lutein are a potent antioxidants and these help support skin cell function, eliminating toxins and free radicals roaming around your body, willy-nilly. Or something like that. And, let me say that again, and avocado oil has been credited with stimulating collagen production by up to 51%. Good grief. That's actual 'charts and graphs' proof for you right there.

In fact all these oils deliver powerful and naturally balanced essential fatty acids into the skin. These act to promote skin healing, reduce inflammation and sun-damage, deliver moisture deep into the dermal layers, keep skin hydrated and retain its elasticity. You couldn't ask for more.

I feel like quoting Jimmy Nail at this point, "Ain't no doubt it's plain to see...." *insert own lyrics now*  "...a facial oil like that is..." *original lyrics* "good for me!" Please note: Geordie accent is optional of course. That's enough of that.

The Divine Face Oil smells just that, divine, it's a light subtle fragrance of ylang ylang, jasmine and sweet orange. It absorbs quickly, giving you time to massage it in but without leaving you time to sit there and notice how you really need to dust your dressing table more often. And it can be used morning and night. And I do. Both.

It's simple, it's very effective. I never feel like I've missed a step of my skincare routine. My skin feels comfortable and moisturised without feeling sticky or greasy in any way. Plus it lasts all day. It seems to be giving my skin exactly what it needs. And I thoroughly recommend that!

It's also very reasonable in price too (at least it is when you are used to paying well over twenty-smackeroons for facial products...) at £18.99 and I can tell you I have been using mine for a good three months now and I'm still going with this bottle so it's fair value for money.

So there you go. Listen to Jimmy!

Antipodes Divine Light Facial Oil is £18.99 for 25ml
I bought mine from Naturisimo I believe...

The Clarisonic Mia: Oh go on then...

The Clarisonic has been paraded all over blogs and the internet for many months now and as much as I was sceptical about it's skin-changing prowess I was intrigued...

Just before Christmas my sister got one and after she raved about it and I started to pay close attention to what it claims to do, I was hooked on the idea. "What a great way to start the New Year," I lied to myself... "But why not give it a go, you know, for the good of the blog... " So I am!

If you live in a hole and haven't heard, the Clarisonic is a facial cleansing brush that uses sonic technology to deliver a more thorough cleanse to the face, removing more dirt and make up than a 'manual' cleanse. This helps decongest pores and keeps skin exfoliated which allows for products to penetrate the skin more readily and therefore, work more efficiently. AND (this is my favourite bit) the sonic waves help to improve overall skin tone, promoting a more even and glowing complexion.

If it does do these things, it will certainly have earned that £120 price tag, which after you've picked yourself up off the floor, will still feel expensive. But my thinking is this: it's your face. YOUR FACE! If it works it's worth every penny right? For all the money and time we all spend fiddling around with things that make no discernible difference, to have a product that not only helps all those products work more effectively but in itself will tighten up those jabbly jowls, well, then I will personally track down its inventor and take him to Afternoon Tea. Yes Sir!

And... if it doesn't it will be consigned to the 'messy drawer' of my dressing table never to fulfil it's face-shaping destiny. Stay tuned for regular thoughts and updates on how it's changing my life (for better or worse...)

Let the trials begin!




I bought the Clarisonic Mia in Lavender from SpaceNK for £120.

Pai Echium Eye Cream

Prelude:
OK so the deal I have just made with myself is that if I am not going to drag my behind to the gym I am going to sit it in front of the laptop and tap this post out. So here I am. And here it is!

Synopsis:
A simple 'two thumbs up' for a beauty staple by Pai - their Echium Eye Cream. And a way of making me feel less lazy.

Full article:
I tend to use a facial oil morning and night and if you read this regularly you'll know I LOVE A FACIAL OIL! And I was doing OK without the use of an eye cream as I find an oil is usually rich enough. That was until now. For whatever reason, since I finished up working a month ago (OK, OK! 6 weeks ago) my sleep pattern has gone all awry. I'm turning a little nocturnal and my eyes are telling the tale on me!

To the rescue, I have turned to Pai's Echium Eye Cream for its rich and most excellent capabilities of smoothing out those crinkly badger eyes. As with everything Pai does, it's supremely gentle - a thick cream, that absorbs quickly and mess free. The pump delivers a healthy amount and the packaging is well designed. Let it be noted that I hate tiny little eye-cream bottles that get lost at the bottom of a make up bag or down the back of the dressing table. It's a minor thing but it makes a difference.

But nevermind all that, the real deal with this cream is the bountiful benefits of echium. Echium contains GLA, gamma linolenic acid which is an omega-6 with a great reputation for anti-ageing and cell regeneration. And not only that, it also contains stearidonic acid (SDA) which is a rare form of omega-3, further supporting these anti-ageing credentials.

Topical application of these EFAs is reported to have results on your skin but if you really want to up the effects of the essential fatty acids EAT THEM too!

Here are some shelled hemp seeds. Delicious! Nutty!

Hemp seeds are a great source of essential fatty acids that occur in a ratio that is most beneficial to our body. I buy shelled hemp seeds and put them in my porridge in the morning. So there you go. Echium Eye Cream at Night. Hemp seeds in the morning. Easy really.

Afterthought:
I didn't realise I was going to sprinkle this post with a titbit of dietary information. But I did! Quelle surprise!

Pai Echium Eye Cream is £24.00 for 10ml available online
Shelled Hemp seeds available online at www.thesuperfoodco.co.uk

rms beauty - skincare with colour

rms is rocking my world right now. The reason I'm so in to this make up brand is because it's really all about skincare. Skincare with colour. Food for the face. There's many a great philosophy on their website (which I highly recommend you read) but the plain truth is these products are super-high-performing make up products made with beautifully beneficial ingredients for your skin. What's not to love!

rms was created by make up artist Rose-Marie Swift - so you don't have to just take it from me that these are great make up products! After many years working as a make up artist, Rose-Marie began to suffer with her health, tests revealing she had high levels of heavy metals, solvents and pesticides in her body. When asked if she worked in the cosmetics industry, a connection between her illness and her work as a make up artist was made. Launching the line only in 2008, the brand is one of the first truly organic colour lines of its kind and I think it is a relatively undiscovered little gem here in the UK.

I bought 'Un'-cover up because I desperately wanted a concealer that wasn't adding to the problem of ageing around the eyes. I was convinced the one I was using (not natural) was thinning my skin and helping to deep furrows beneath my poor peepers. You'll agree that urgent and expensive measures were necessary. 

Although it feels like you're paying a lot for this TINY little glass pot (its £28.00 for 5.67g) let me stress that this is a very highly pigmented little product that packs a powerful punch, metaphorically speaking - no black eyes here! It conceals very well. Not mask-like mind, which is fine by me. And without deadening the skin too, which I think many uber-concealers do and is something I hate.

Even better you can also use this as a foundation too. This encourages you spot correct the areas that need a little coverage, like around the nose and mouth without the need for a heavy layer all over the face. I mean you can still do that (and I often do!) because with a product like this, you are only feeding your skin not suffocating it. It doesn't cake and with good blending it's quite undetectable on the skin.

It's very different to other mineral make up I've used and to your regular foundation/concealer. It's a very solid, opaque, pigmented 'balm'. It's not a cream. It's dense. But it is very oily. Please do not let that put you off.  This base of coconut oil is precisely why it's so good for your skin and what makes it special. Although I do feel the need for some kind of finishing powder (welcoming Lily Lolo mineral foundation here) I love the texture of this product. It spreads better than butter! And it doesn't drag the skin. And it's actually keeping your skin nourished and protected whilst you look fabulous. Besides the coconut oil we have castor seed oil, beeswax, cocoa seed oil, jojoba seed oil, vitamin E and rosemary extract, plus various minerals like titanium and iron oxides to give it its colour. And that's it ...I know! 

The other product I bought was the Lip2Cheek which (the name has probably already tipped you off) can be used as both a lip colour and a cheek tint. Multi-tasking to the max. The colour I chose was 'Smile' which is a beautiful coral (above). rms ask you to note that this particular shade is 0.2% safe synthetic colour - it seems not even nature does this kind of coral all by itself! Oh well. I can live with that.

The texture of this one is similar to the 'Un'-cover up but a little less oily. It dabs in very nicely on the cheeks and the lips, again it's very pigmented and contains a similar line up of natural base ingredients with various mineral pigments making up the colour (+ that 0.2%). It's the same price too, £28.00 but for slightly less product. But I say think of it as getting two products in one. (All the other colours in the range are 100% natural by the way. Typical I wanted the one that wasn't! Hah!)

I think it's fair to point out that I think these products don't have that 'last all day' factor like some make up promises to do (but never does either). But after all, why would you want it to? It's much nicer to top up your make up during the day, keeping it fresh and keeping out those nasty ingredients.

And one more thing! I also think it's important to point out that although these products mightn't last all day, they do LAST FOREVER! I have been slapping on the 'Un'-cover up literally all over my face in what I like to call the Three Layer Effect (using Madara Moonflower Tinting Fluid under it and Lily Lolo mineral foundation over it) and there is still loads of it left. The Lip2Cheek I have barely even dented with every day multiple applications. There is actually great value here.

And furthermore, compare these prices to those of the big beauty houses and there's nothing in it except that these products are uniquely designed to be nothing but nourishing on your skin, acting like skincare whilst performing like make up. And there's a lot to say for that.

rms beauty 'Un'-cover up and Lip2Cheek available at Content Beauty in store and online, which is  such a lovely shop and where I bought mine.

Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation

I admit I am very late to the mineral foundation party. I mean years late! It's not that I was unaware just uninterested. But I'm not trying to deliver breaking news here, just wanting to share a little favourite. I have been using this foundation for ages now and although it is no surprise I haven't yet written about it (considering a distinct lack of activity since the zombies took over my life) I can't actually believe I still haven't written about it! Gah!

So here's the story. I was sceptical on mineral foundations. I was sceptical of loose formulations especially. Only because those I had seen wear them just had a cakey kind of finish which is something I'd prefer on a plate rather than my face. (Mmm... cake) It all seemed a bit messy and not very portable. Well. The portable thing is still an issue with me but this, Lily Lolo Mineral foundation, has undone a few preconceptions making my foundation of choice right now - and it has been for many many months.

It's very silky. You can really buff it in which is the key to this kind of make up. Buff and double buff. It's simple really and the Super Kabuki brush I bought at the same time makes easy work of this. I bought the shade 'Blondie' after seeing it recommended as a 'suits all' shade for fair skins in some Sunday supplement and I think it probably does. It gives great, buildable coverage (did I mention the need to buff enough?) and a nice subtle glow with matte finish which doesn't even sound possible but it is. I use a layer of Madara Moonflower Tinting Fluid before applying as I like to optimise this glow and boy that really does it.

Quick aside: I really hate heavy coverage foundation that blanks out skin and looks too even, too mask-like. The thing with coverage (I keep finding myself saying this) is that if your skin needs a little help, going for full on warpaint only emphasises uneven texture and can highlight problem areas, like spots etc. If you go for a lighter, slightly more sheer formula (which is the good thing about this kind of application - you can gently build it) you get a finish which makes skin still look alive! And then you can target problem areas with precision concealing and colour correction. It's far more effective for a real look. Sorry rant/lesson/opinion over. Back to Lily Lolo...

The nice thing about Lily Lolo is that it really is a pure brand. Other mineral make ups of this type can contain fillers, dyes, bismuth oxychloride, nanoparticles etc which is misleading when you are trying to flex a bit of buying power and choose natural. And there are a lot of 'mineral' make ups out there, from practically every major make up house. But not all are made equal. Read the labels and don't be fooled!

The bonuses of natural mineral make up are plentiful! There is a natural SPF with titanium and zinc oxide (though this isn't accredited) as these both align on the surface of the skin helping to reflect the sun. Plus both these ingredients can have an anti-immflammatory effect. Since the minerals stay on the surface of the skin (if they aren't nano-sized), nothing gets absorbed which keeps pores clear and prevents anything unwanted ending up in you body and damaging cell health. The absence of liquid means there is no need for preservatives, keeping it even more natural. The Earth has a million colours and somewhere out there is a rock that can be crushed into your prefect match - no need for chemical dyes. And in this particular case, Lily Lolo mineral foundation is really cheap! Half the price of some at £12.49 and of superior quality in my opinion. So that really is a high scoring round. Triple bonus points.

Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation is £12.49 for 10g (which is normal and way more than it sounds)
Super Kabuki Brush is £14.29 (brush in picture above is a powder brush not the kabuki one)

Take a look here
www.lilylolo.co.uk

P.S. You can get smaller 0.75g samples of all colours from the website and try a selection of colours with their trial kits making it really easy to give it a go.

Pai Lotus and Orange Blossom BioAffinity Toner (You can't say that in one breath can you?)

So then. First on the long list of posts I need to catch up on is the.... here we go... Pai Lotus and Orange Blossom BiAffinity Toner. And what a start to the day that is!

The BioAffinity range includes the Lotus and Orange Blossom Toner for dry/sensitive skin and the Rice Plant and Rosemary Toner for combination/sensitive skin. I have tried both, though the Lotus one is my favourite so I'll jump straight to it...

Now then, this isn't your average toner, where regular water has a nice smell and some clever extracts put in it if you're lucky (alcohol and inactive extracts if you're not), offering little benefit to skin and maybe even drying it out (boo!) No, the Bioaffinity range is different. Made with 'living water' as Pai puts it, that is water taken directly from the plants, which not only contain all the benefits of the plants used but at a pH level that is exactly like skin.

The reason this is so much better for your skin is because skin is slightly acidic at 5.5 and at this pH, the natural barrier function is optimum, keeping bacteria at bay and protecting it from the elements. Regular water, although being pH neutral at 7.0 can make the skin slightly more alkaline, interfering with the natural barrier function making it easier for bacteria to cause breakouts (argh!)

So alongside it being pH friendly, you also get the added benefits from the plants themselves. Lotus is very calming (something to do with cutaneous neuropeptides which I don't pretend to understand but am very impressed by) and also helps protect skin from free-radical damage. Orange Blossom has a brightening effect as it stimulates circulation. Great!

It is very fresh. It's a very light spritz, not too much of a soaking. The smell is slightly sweet but not over-powering in any way, I can't detect anything orangey but that's OK. I usually go for 2-3 squirts in the morning and evening after cleansing and then apply a facial oil whilst it's still drying to get that extra bit of mileage. Simple really.

I can't really skip this step now. I have myself hooked on it. I love a bit of science behind my skincare and the reasoning makes sense to me. I think it's really easy to go overboard when cleansing, stripping the skin of it's natural barrier, even with something as gentle as water. And so bringing back at little life in a handy pump spray in an attractive heavy frosted glass bottle has definitely got my vote. Pai, you've done it again. Well done.

Pai BioAffinity Toners are both £30 available from their website.

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

So, when my Suti cleansing balm ran out I grew quite distressed. What to do next? I didn’t really want to try anything else, because it truly has become a firm favourite. But in the name of research, I sacrificed my own feelings for the good of the blog and went out in search of another. (Sorry Suti, I’ll come back to thee soon.)

What I came home with (after a trip to Whole Food Market) was Antipodes Grapeseed Cleansing Butter. You may be able to tell, if you know either cleanser, that I was really trying to find something the-same-but-different. It is a lovely balm, with slight texture, to massage in and remove with a nice hot cloth. It works on the eyes too, which is a must for me as I hate the fuss of taking off eye make up. And it does do its work bravely, making easy work of mascara. It is actually quite grainy (from the hibiscus flower it contains), nothing that would hurt and certainly nothing that would endanger your eyes. 

And I tell you what, its lasting blooming ages. I bought it about two months ago and I reckon I have another couple months worth in there at least! Maybe longer. In fact, I’ve started using more and more of it just to try and run it out. For fun!

The main players are sweet almond oil, shea butter and coconut oil so you know you are definitely getting good cleansing action with these babies. Plus there is harekeke seed oil which is a new one for me, intended, along with blue chamomile to soothe the skin. It also is a good antibacterial which is what you need in a cleanser.

And here is the really good bit, it also contains the sauvignon blanc grapes of New Zealand, the Vinanza Gold grape seed extract, which gives your skin that lovely, relaxed glow that usually only comes after a nice glass of dry white. Wonderful.

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser is £24.99 for 75g

Pai BioRegenerate Rosehip Oil: Revisited

I love Location Location Location and Relocation Relocation. And also Grand Designs. But I really love each one of those programmes when they repeat them with an extra part - REVISITED! Kevin McCloud pitches up in his Barbour and boots with a whole monologue of insightful and slightly irritating architectural analyses written on the back of his hand and you get to see how that stainless steel conservatory worked out or what they did with that dated old 'two up two down' with front garden and side access and a rotten roof. So, you know what? I thought I'd do the same and revisit Pai's lovely Rosehip oil as I have been using it solidly for ages now and it really is something special.

I wrote a post a wee while back now so read the original here.

I ran out of a particular facial oil I was loving (Suti) and with the inconvenience of buying online when you are working all over the goddamn place and trying to track down natural products in the usual rubbish high street stores I decided to stick with something that I already had and was a tried and tested hit.

The BioRegenerate is such a potent rosehip oil which is excellent for straightening out your skin, repairing damage, keeping oil production in check and bestowing a youthful glow upon one’s bonnie wee cheeks.

I have been using it and nothing else, morning and night for well over a month and I have to say, after switching completely to facial oils maybe even six months ago now, my skin has definitely become more refined. It seems less congested around my nose. There is a certain smoothness or dare I say plumpness to my complexion, which given that I'm getting an average of 5 hours sleep a night what with work and all, I think that is nothing short of fantastic.

I can’t recommend using facial oils enough in place of regular moisturiser. And if you really don’t like the idea of only using oil at least make the switch at night time when your skin goes into it’s repair phase. But it’s worth reiterating here that I really don’t feel it makes my skin oily or takes too long to absorb. After cleansing my face, I put maybe three drops into the palm of my hand, press it in and by the time I have inspected my brows for plucking, I’m ready to go ahead with the rest of my make up. So please don’t be put off using it in the morning. I really think it makes a difference. So there you have it. Pai BioRegenerate : Revisited.

Pai BioRegenerate Rosehip Oil is £20 for 30ml

Suti - Feed Your Skin

I came across Suti at the Natural Products Show in April and shortly after I was sent some lovely products to test out.

With facial cleansers and moisturisers being my most favoured products I was sent the organic Facial Cleanser, the Rose Water Facial Toner, and two of their hero products, the facial oils - a Rejuvenate Face Oil and the Nourish Face Oil for Night.

I was completely wowed by the look of the products (and the generosity of Tina, co-founder of the range, who sent me the products - thank you!) The glass jars and bottles are solid and serious whilst the design and colours are light and pretty. It's a beautiful range. And the contents all surpass your highest expectations. They are gorgeous...

Starting with the cleanser, this is a buttery balm that can be used to dissolve make up and daily dirt,  all removed with a muslin cloth (included), which is my cleansing method of choice. I love this texture, it's very luxurious, very rich and smells incredible thanks to the lime, mandarin, lavender and geranium oils. In a base of shea butter and avocado seed butter are yet more delicious skin loving oils - apricot, olive, sunflower and cocoa seed butter and calendula extract too. All these ingredients work to sooth, nourish and revitalise skin.

When applying this, by gouging a bit out of the pot with my finger (I'm not proper enough to use a spatula as recommended!) and working around in a massagey-motion, my skin actually starts to look even better mid-cleanse than it does still with make up on pre-cleanse. This is a weird point to make but it really does! If I could go around with this stuff smeared all over my face then I would! Sure I might look a bit greasy but also even-toned and radiant. Luckily, this effect does indeed last after cleansing!  I have been using it very happily for weeks now and my skin has loved it. It's smoother and more even and less congested-looking. And there is still loads left in the pot too. Glorious.

Following cleansing, I use the Rose Water Facial Toner which is a very juicy spritz of pure Rose Damascena flower water, cultivated and prepared under a full moon to harness the lunar energies! Cosmic. The pure flower water delivers all the benefits of rose and is not to be mistaken for water sprays with rose added for fragrance (where aqua is listed as the first ingredient). I love the feeling of spritzing it lightly all over my face, it's uplifting, calming, refreshing and provides a little moisture which helps to massage in the facial oil in the next step.

Another little beauty, the facial oils seems to be the signature products from Suti. This oil is my favourite out of the two I was sent simply due to the smell and that it can be used both day and night. And previously I would usually never use an oil in the day time, but I am well versed on how good oils are for the skin - much more understood and received into the skin than creams. I bravely ditched my moisturiser and opted for using only this, morning and evening. 

You know what, I'm hooked. It absorbs so fast it doesn't leave me feeling greasy, it certainly doesn't mean you feel oil-slicked half way through the day either. My skin loves it.  I love it. Pure magic. The oils in this blend include rosehip, frankincense, argan and evening primrose, all famed for their impressive effects on healing and repairing skin, improving elasticity and tone and dimishing lines and sun-damage. You can't beat it.

And the Nourish night oil provides equally delicious results but I have to say the smell, predominantly jasmine and patchouli, which ordinarily I would love, is a little too strong for me and I like something a little softer especially at night when going to sleep.  

The Suti range was created by Suzannah Jenkins (The Su- in the name), a homeopath, aromatherapist and alternative medicine practitioner and Tina Steadman (the Ti- in the name), graphic designer and brand manager. Knowing this, I can really see how each has had their influence on creating this gorgeously packaged and beautifully blended range. And I have really been enjoying using the products together as a holistic skincare system. All the products really compliment each other and have really changed what I regularly use, I wouldn't want to leave any of the products out of my routine. All the ingredients are so pure, ethically sourced and sustainable, certified organic where possible to be so and fair trade. The range is available to buy online from the equally attractive (and very informative) website as well as a couple of others but there are very few shops to stock it yet. Suti really is a skincare secret so get in there before the rest of the world beats you to it!

Suti Cleanse Facial Cleanser £26.00 for 50ml includes muslin cloth

Suti Rose Water Facial Toner £18.00 for 100ml 

Suti Rejuvenate Face Oil £28.00 for 30ml

Suti Nourish Face Oil £28.00 for 30ml

All available at www.suti.co.uk

Neal's Yard Rose Formula Hydrating Eye Cream

As I mentioned in the last post, I had a lovely facial at Neal's Yard (again you can read it here) a while back and along with the Lemon Balm and Rose Tea I was also given the Rose Formula Hydrating Eye Cream. How nice!

So the reason I was given this particular cream was because although I was concerned about the onset of fine lines around the eyes (in which case the White Tea Toning Eye Gel is also a good option) I was actually more interested in finding a cream to plump out my under eye area for a more wide awake look. So many eye creams drone on about relieving puffiness and being cooling etc... as if you might suffer from a permanent black eye on the brink of swelling up like a baboon's behind. Now I might be alone in this but I don't really get puffy eyes (unless I'm sobbing my heart out to Beaches or something) so I'm not really in the market for this kind of effect. Instead, I'm more prone to the reverse, looking a little sunken if that isn't too scary a thought. And obviously, I know the only real cure to this is to get more sleep, but I think it's almost too late for that. I might have to live out the rest of my days asnoozin' on the veranda, stacking up the Zs to chase away my dark shadows. By which time I might wake up in my nineties and my sunken eyes won't be the problem,  it'll be my hips, my knees, my teeth! Good god what a shocking glimpse of the future. Ugh.

Anyway. Luckily I have help before we get to that stage. The Rose Formula Hydrating Eye Cream is a very soothing and very, well... hydrating treat for the eyes, that has now become firmly lodged in my skincare routine. 

Years ago, I didn't really care much about eye cream. I guess I didn't have to. But the more I think about it the more I realise how important it is to protect and feed the skin around the eyes, as it's the thinnest, most delicate and the first place to go, so to speak, when age sets it.

The rose formula is suitable for all skin types as it's extremely gentle and calming. I use it twice a day and like to take a minute carefully patting it in though it does absorb really fast. Witch hazel is the first ingredient, not aqua (water) which is almost always the first ingredient in a cream. And witch hazel is a great toner but apparently it also has an anti-oxident effect to reduce those fine lines for a smoother appearance. It's got a whole host of other goodies in there too, like pomegranate seed oil, avocado oil, starflower oil and propolis extract. It tightens the skin in the nicest possible way. And it promotes collagen production. All that, along with the hydrating effect, will help to get that lifted, plumper look.

It's a real nice and easy cream and I love that the pump delivers exactly the right amount. But it maybe more helpful to praise this cream for what it doesn't do as I have used many eye creams that have left me a bit underwhelmed - where I haven't noticed I've applied it at all except for that sticky, tacky feeling. This one isn't too rich, isn't too icky, spreads very smoothly and quickly, absorbs very fast, doesn't leave a residue, doesn't have a weird smell, actually smells quite nice, but not too strong and isn't mega expensive. In fact it's quite reasonable.

You just can't go wrong.

Neal's Yard Rose Formula Hydrating Eye Cream £22.50 for 10ml
Available online and in store at Neal's Yard Remedies

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

When I met some of the lovely people of Pai at the Vitality Show the other week, I was given their newest product to try, the Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil. Now, I'm a big fan of oils for the skin and rosehip especially. I have used rosehip oil before, as a nourishing night treatment and so I know a thing or two about what makes a nice oil, and I'll give you the verdict first up: this is excellent.

I want to dispell any myths still lurking around that oil is bad for your skin. Mineral oils aren't good for your skin because they clog pores and suffocate it. But plant oils, like rosehip, jojoba, almond, these are all very, very good for for skin. This is because skin just gets oil. It produces it as sebum, and contrary to what is often feared (that applying oil to skin makes skin become more oily) I think it actually allows skin to better regulate oil production as it knows how to absorb and use it. 

Rosehip Oil is known for it's powerful skin healing properties and lots of companies have jumped onto this old wagon. The benefits of this oil have been proven for 30 odd years now so obviously it has been appearing in all kinds of anti-ageing potions. But not all rosehip oil is made equal...

As you can see from this proud little bottle, Pai's rosehip oil is bright orange. I mean vivid! And this is testament to just how potent it is. The colour comes from the high concentration of carotenoids with an anti-oxident effect to seek and destroy free radicals (which damage cell health.)

It is also abundant in trans-retinoic acid which is a naturally occurring form of vitamin A. Because it is naturally - occurring and also in total balance with other essential fatty acids, this makes it very bio-available, healing sun damage and scar tissue and repairing the lipid barrier of the skin. This helps to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines and it is great for boosting collagen in the dermis too. Your new best friend then.

And here's what makes Pai's oil so potent and so rich in colour... they extract from the fruit and the seed, which is quite rare really. All the rosehip oils I have come across only use the seed. The fruit, I have been told, is hard to deal with. Something about it being tricky and messy (I'm picturing vats of sticky, squashy fruit dripping everywhere and spilling all over the place in some kind of magic factory not too unlike Willy Wonka's!?) But they plain do it anyway because it contains twice the sterols (with an regenerative effect) and five times the carotenoids. Determined!

The oil is thicker than some of the others I've used which kind of confirms to me it's better! I use a couple of squirts from the dropper, whatever I feel like really, and massage into face and neck at night time. There is no fear here, slap it on I say! And I usually do get a bit left over which I also attempt to apply to Mr. BEskincareful who isn't in the slightest bit interested in being careful with his skin... And then he moans a little bit about the smell. I admit, the smell of rosehip oil isn't the nicest but it's not awful! It's not going to make you wince! (Unless you are Mr. B who is a little bit of a wuss.) And anyway, you don't use it because it smells good... you use it because of it's anti-ageing prowess! So don't whinge about the smell. Nevermind!

Like with all anti-ageing products,  I find it difficult to tell what effect it is having and won't know until later down the line, but I'm certain it's money in the bank where rosehip oil is concerned... I haven't been using it on stretch marks or scars etc... so I can't quite comment on it's regenerative capabilities on these things but I do think it makes my skin a little more refined and even toned by morning! I'd love to hear how any of you get on with it...

Pai BioRegenerative Rosehip Oil is £20 for 30ml
Available direct from Pai and all sorts of other lovely shops too.

Oskia Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum

The Oskia Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum is not just an eye cream. It's an eye serum... The clue was in the name. I like the word serum because you can imagine some one has poured various liquids into special little glass vials and held them up to the light, tinkering around with a glass probe and a measuring device, whilst a smaller, mousey-looking man observes, writing down the results on his clipboard with his Parker pen. What I mean is there's some proper science going on here...

As with all Oskia products, the formula is based on MSM, which is key in the production and support of collagen - we all know how important collagen is in staying youthful. There are so many other clever ingredients in here but I'll point out what I think are some of the most innovative ones, because that seems to be what Oskia is all about - creating products that only use exceptional ingredients that have some clear results to their name...

First up we have arnica, commonly applied to the skin to lessen bruising. What a great idea! Together with another ingredient, Laminaria, and also Vitamin B3 they act to decongest, banishing dark circles for a clearer and brighter look. 

Next we have milk peptides and Galactoarabinan (GA, an alternative to collagen from the plant Larch) which works to lift and firm the skin for an instant boost. I can really feel this effect...

And we also have Swiss Apple Stem cells and these are derived from a rare variety of apple that was known for its resistance to shrinkage and wrinkling of the skin. Can you see where this is going? These stem cells help our own adult skin stem cells in repairing the skin and reducing the depth of wrinkles. 

As with all these ingredients Oskia's website highlights some very commanding research to explain what each one does in far more depth so for more information check it out here.

The Eye Wonder serum is a very lightweight texture and a little goes a LONG way. By a long way, I mean it will cover all of your face if you wanted it to. It's very cooling, very fresh, very pleasant to use either day or night. And I have been using it for several weeks now twice a day. 

My initial reaction was one of wonder, suitably enough being called Eye Wonder. It was quite strange! It did seem to lift and firm and tighten once it dried. And I say dried because it is more like a drying rather than an absorbing. This drying effect does the clever tightening part, giving a smoother looking appearance. But I'll be honest, I did struggle a little trying to work out how much to put on, not sure that this much was really right. The pump bottle delivers a massive amount! And because it goes so far and seems to feel like too much I started trying to use less, not wanting to overload my skin as well as not wanting to waste it (it's 58smackeroons!) So I was unscrewing the top to use just a dab instead. But you know what? After awhile, I was a little underwhelmed and realised that this wasn't perhaps the idea. The effects I was getting before were better so I have gone back to pumping out whatever the pump wants and massaging it in (lightly, obviously, we all know the rules) all over the eye area, as it says on the bottle, from temple to temple. I don't just mean delicately tapping just above my eye lid and just below. I mean above the brow to above the cheek, right across the temples, even across the bridge of the nose. Everywhere! Spread the love right? I'm not sure if this is the idea... but I think it works for me, it's such a light texture it really doesn't drag and once it goes kind of 'tacky' it pulls the skin into shape and you're laughing! Clever, clever stuff.

Trying to decide if it's had any life changing effects is really tricky because I have to say I am much happier with my skin now, more so than I have been in long, long time. And this is totally down to changing my ways and choosing genuinely clean and pure products. The overall appearance of my skin has definitely improved. I'm really impressed with Oskia's range and the ethos behind the brand. And I'm in firm support of the research that goes into each ingredient. The Eye Wonder serum is lovely to use, with a very clever instant boost effect. As for diminishing wrinkles, it's hard to tell and that's surely down to the test of time, whether I end up with a face like a saggy grey tracksuit or a brand new lycra one-piece. 

But I like to put a little investment in and a little trust too so I'm going to continue to use it and you can watch my face... It'll be like Play Your Cards Right - higher... lower...no,  higher! 

Oskia Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum 

£58 for 15ml (which is quite large for an eye cream)