Review- BeautyMint

The ingredients in BeautyMint's advanced formulas work
together to create skin care synergy, targeting the specific skin
issues that differ from person to person. But the
results don't just come from the products alone. It's the way we
combine them that helps you achieve beautiful, protected,
youthful-looking skin.

About the product....
BeautyMint just launched last month- it's a personalized skin care line from Jessica Simpson and renowned skin care expert Nerida Joy. For review I was sent the Essential Cleanser and Ultra Replenishing Serum. You would take their free skin care consultation to get started.

Essential Cleanser:
Purpose: Nothing is more important than clean skin when it comes to bringing out the best in all your products. This gentle, lightly foaming cleanser washes away dirt, makeup and impurities, leaving skin feeling fresh and soft. Benefits

• No harsh lathering agents, fragrance-free, oil-free
• Aloe, cucumber and chamomile blend is designed to soothe and refresh
• Perfect for all skin types

Ultra Replenishing Serum:
Purpose: Time depletes our body’s collagen supply, sapping skin of its youthful firmness, smoothness, and glow. Comprised of an incredible 50% marine collagen, our exclusive serum targets visible and future signs of aging from every angle. Benefits

• Targets signs of aging from every angle
• Ingredients promote hydration
• Patented technology delivers a power-load of actives to skin

My Review:

First, let me say that I am mid 30's and looking for products now that help my skin stay younger looking and bright. I don't like or need strong smelling/oily/greasy cleaners or lotions to make me 'feel' like I am putting something on my face.

I was very pleased when I tried the Essential Cleanser- there is NO smell, and it is a low foaming wash. I feel like it was removing the makeup and grime gently- without in any way harming my skin. If you like your face care products gentle- this is a cleanser for you. One detail that I would like answered is if this skincare line is recommended throughout pregnancy- as Jessica has just announced she is pregnant, I'm curious.

I also really like the Ultra Replenishing Serum. You can use this day or night (I have been using it both) underneath my am moisturizer and before my night time moisturizer. My skin is in pretty good shape- and I would like to keep it that way. I feel like this was a light, easy, effortless addition to my routine and my skin appreciated the extra added 'oomph' I was giving it with this serum.

Overall, I liked the products that I tried in this line. I'll admit, I normally pick and choose at the department store (blindly) what I am going to put on my face. My husband told me tonight that without make up I easily look 7 years younger than I am (hahha, right) so I'm going to run with it. For $50 I can get an entire system? That's a great deal to me considering I have been known to spend over $25 on a bottle of toner alone- not to mention my everlasting hunt for the perfect moisturizer!

Connect: You can connect with BeautyMint on Facebook , Twitter, and their YouTube channel.
Buy It: You can purchase BeautyMint products on their website. Pricing for your customized system varies. Currently, one that I qualify for (and would enroll in) would be $39.99-$49.99 per month.

--Farrah


Disclosure: I was sent the above products to review, however the opinions are my own.

Review : Aromatherapy Associates Little Luxuries

Last week's relaxathon gave me the perfect opportunity to use up some bath oil samples I received a few months ago from Aromatherapy Associates. I'd never heard of the brand before but was instantly intrigued when it arrived in amongst a parcel of goodies. As the name suggests, Aromatherapy Associates focus their products on essential aromatherapy oils, with each one creating a perfect blend to completely soothe your mind and body. I got sent the 'Little Luxuries', which was an adorable little box with three vials of bath oil.

What do Aromatherapy Associates say?

This enchanting little trio is a gorgeous gift for all your friends and family. Three popular and stunning bath and shower oils - Light Relax, De-Stress Mind and Revive Morning -come together to bring calm vitality and a deep sense of wellbeing. The Relax range (blended with lavender, ylang ylang and petitgrain) gives a little respite at the end of a busy day - use these soothing blends for gentle or serious relaxation. The De-Stress range (blended with wild camomile, petitgrain and frankincense) is specially created for and overworked body and mind constantly dealing with everyday stresses and strains. The Revive range (blended with pink grapefruit, rosemary and juniper berry) helps you pick yourself up at any time of the day with detoxifying, uplifting and exotic blends of essential oils.

What do I think?

How adorable are these little vials? So cute! I was very exhausted and run-down when I cracked these bad boys open - what better time to use them?! Because these are bath and shower oils, I expected them to be a gel-like consistency. They're not, they're oil (no, really?) so no way are these suitable for the shower. I don't take a shower to relax either, I take a bath, so I don't really know why they thought this type of product would work. That aside, they are perfect for the bath.

The vials are tiny but the amount of product is adequate for even the fullest of baths. I was quite impressed at how soft my skin felt afterwards too. I've used bath oils before and have always felt the need to use an absolute ton in order to nourish my skin. This little vial was plenty though, which was very surprising.

I'm not familiar with essential oils and their uses, so do forgive me if I state something obvious. The Relax oil was the strongest smelling of the three, but that was the lavender. I'm not the biggest lavender lover anyway, so even the smallest amount would be considered strong to me. It definitely did relax me though, and although strong, it wasn't unbearable, and I happily soaked for almost an hour.

The De-Stress one was so lovely. This was the 'Mind' version (they also do a 'Muscle' one) but this one completely soothed my mind and muscles. I actually found it a lot more relaxing than the Relax one, but again that could be due to the lavender and my non-love of it.

Revive was my favourite of the three. It was very refreshing with a slight hint of citrus. It was supposed to be used in the morning (whoops) but it was nice to use at nighttime anyway. It made me less lethargic and more humanlike for the evening, so it didn't matter to me what time I used it. It served it's purpose! It was definitely my favourite one though and I have dropped lots of unsubtle hints to Mr Lollipop to treat me to a full size Evening version. He's skillfully ignoring my request... 

Price?

The Little Luxuries set costs £12.00, which I think is very reasonable. Okay, it works out at £4.00 per bath, but let's be honest, using something like this wouldn't be an everyday occurance. It would be reserved for some 'me-time', and who doesn't like to indulge a little when you're treating yourself? The packaging is adorable - very simple, but the addition of the little white bow makes it look very special, and the vials inside keep in line with the luxurious essence of the brand. 

Recommended?

Yep, absolutely! I really liked using these and am a new convert to Aromatherapy Associates products. I definitely felt relaxed after bathing with one of these and I could still smell them on my skin and in the bathroom the morning afterwards. I particularly love the range of gifts on offer - there really is something for everyone. They would make an ideal stocking filler and I know this is something I'd happily give to my loved ones. You could just do what I did and use them for yourself, as it's a perfect opportunity to try them before you splash out £37.00 on a full sized one (are you listening Mr L? I've tried, you buy... please. From here). A must for any over-worked woman... which is all of us, then.

xoxo

Giveaway time {CLOSED}

Happy August lovelies! To celebrate the arrival of Summer (finally!), I have teamed up with Apothica.com and have a $25 giftcard to giveaway for one lucky winner to spend on anything they like on Apothica, SkincareRx or SkinBotanica.

Apothica is a great webste that stocks really fabulous brands, including the Stila goodies that I showed you on Saturday. Stila Cosmetics is a girl's best friend with its full line of face-friendly makeup and tools designed to work for all skin types and tones. It takes a non-intimidating approach to tackling makeup meltdowns, providing a product for everyone, so you can use this opportunity and snag some of that lovely Stila for yourself. Good luck choosing what to spend your $25 on though, because I'd have difficulty choosing between these scrumptious goodies:

Stila Smudge Pot - Gray

Stila Smudge Pot - Bronze

Stila Smudge Pot - Kitten

There are three ways to enter. If you use all three methods, you will gain three entries, so the more ways you enter, the more chance you have of winning!

♥ Option 1: Facebook

1.       Visit Apothica.com

2.       Write on Apothica’s Facebook wall about what you think of Apothica

Bonus: Opt in to Apothica’s Newsletter

♥ Option 2: Twitter

1.       Visit Apothica.com

2.       Tweet about Apothica on your own Twitter Account

Bonus: Retweet Apothica’s tweet about this giveaway

♥ Option 3: Blog

1.       Visit Apothica.com

2.       Write something on your blog about what you think of Apothica

Bonus: Write about the brand I highlighted and link it to Apothica

RULES {NOW CLOSED}

♥  You must be a follower of my blog.

♥  The giveaway is open internationally, but check on the Apothica site first to make sure they ship to your country.

♥  The giveaway is open until 23:59 (my time - GMT or BST as it as at the moment) on August 31st 2011.

♥  If you are not over 16, please make sure you have your parents permission as Apothica will need your full name, address, phone number and email address. It's also a good idea for you to add SkincareRx into your email contacts to stop your prize going into the junk folder. I have missed out on so many things because of emails being misdirected!

♥  Once you have entered using at least one of the above methods, you must comment on this blogpost stating:

a) Which Stila product is your favourite.

b) The links to your entry methods (if using your personal Facebook account and don't wish to share your real name on this blog, you are more than welcome to email me - lollipop.1984@hotmail.co.uk - You still need to comment on this post for the entry to be valid).

c) Your email address.

For example, my entry would be:

Happy networking ladies, and good luck!

xoxo

Review : Yes To Baby Carrots, featuring a very special guest reviewer

I have made no secret of the fact that I am not ready for children just yet, so when I received a baby shampoo recently I was baffled as to how I could review it properly, without resorting to using it as a brush cleanser. The perfect person people sprang to mind - my lovely friend and blogger Laura and her gorgeous little boy Jamie. Laura emailed me the review yesterday morning, and it really made my day reading it. Enjoy the review - I know I did!

Gentle Foaming Shampoo & Body Wash 300ml

Yes To Baby Carrots

Mummy gave me this big orange bottle when I was busy splashing in the bath and told me we need to tell all of the big boys and girls what we think of it. I told her I just wanted to play with the lid and the bubbles. She let me. I love my Mummy. 

Mummy said this foamy stuff is called shampoo, which made me laugh a little bit, what a funny name. Then she said something really silly...it's made from carrots! Well, she said it's actually packed full of Vitamin E, Organic Melons, which are full of things called antioxidants and vitamins, and it has Organic Pumpkins too, and they are stuffed with nourishing Beta Carotene. If you ask me, that's a lot of big words for a little boy, and she feeds me carrots for dinner, so I don't know why she puts them on my hair too! I tried to rub my dinner that had carrots in on my hair the next day, but she didn't seem very impressed with that!

Mummy said to tell you that you can buy this carrot shampoo, which is all natural and especially formulated for babies delicate skin, for £8.99 from Victoria Health (that is somewhere on the internet, Mummy goes there on her shiny iPhone that she won't let me play with).

I thought you might like to see some pictures of my hair. It's pretty cool. Lot's of people like to touch it because it's so soft and bouncy.

BEFORE:

DURING:

 AFTER:

Me and Mummy like this shampoo. I like it because it's all foamy and feels funny on my hands and tummy, and Mummy likes it because it washes my cool hair really well, and makes it even softer and shinier than before. I have sensitive skin, but this doesn't make it go all red and itchy. It is quite expensive for a baby product, but I don't have to worry about money because Mummy and Daddy pay for everything for me. I think we might be buying it again when it runs out though.

Product provided by PR.

Photographs copyrighted to romanticdreaming.blogspot.com.

How adorable is Jamie?! Almost enough to make me broody hehe. Thank you so much Jamie (and of course Laura!) for the review. Laura is one of the first blogging friends I made and she is still one I can rely on and trust to cheer me up, even if she isn't feeling too grand herself. She is such a lovely, lovely girl and if you haven't read her blog yet, I urge you to. You can find it here. I'm sure this isn't the last you've heard of little Jamie either!

xoxo

Biotherm Skin Ergetic Anti-Fatigue Moisturiser

I haven been trialling some new skincare items for a few months now, and since I am nearing the end of my pot, I thought I would share my thoughts with you. This will be a two-part review as there are two separate products I want to review, and the first one is a daily moisturiser; Biotherm Skin Ergetic Anti-Fatigue Moisturiser.

What do Biotherm say?

Anti-fatigue Biotherm innovation:
Biotherm creates SKIN ERGETIC, its 1st anti-fatigue moisturizer
with 5 fruit & vegetable extracts. A formula that reduces the
appearance of visible signs of fatigue.

RESULTS
Skin is plumped with moisture.
Features appear rested.
Tested on sensitive skin.

97.5% INGREDIENTS OF NATURAL ORIGIN
100% NATURAL-ORIGIN FRAGRANCE
PARABEN-FREE / MINERAL OIL-FREE
SYNTHETIC COLORANT-FREE

What do I think?

Firstly, I love the packaging for this. The little glass pot is really sleek and the bright orange colour makes me happy in the morning. When I open up the pot, I am immediately hit with a yummy, fruity scent, though I'd expect nothing less since it is packed with anti-oxidants from fruits like apples, grapes, pomegranates, seville oranges and tomatoes. Yum!

This is a light cream, so because my skin is a little on the dry side, I automatically assumed it would be too light. As such, on my first application, I whacked on a good dollop. I massaged it into my skin but it seemed to just clump up in little balls and roll off my skin. So I washed it off and tried again, this time using less. The same thing happened, but I stuck with it and just removed the little balls from my skin. It applied like this for about a week, regardless of the amount I used. To this day I still don't know if it was the amount I was applying, my skin getting used to a new product, or the fact that I was using it in conjunction with another product. However, after a week of perseverance, I was pleased to see it absorbed quickly and immediately nourished my skin. It made a lovely base for foundation too as it left my skin feeling silky instead of greasy.

I have mixed feelings about this cream. As soon as I got the knack of applying it, I could see my skin looking and feeling healthy. It seemed to nourish all day long too, as the dry patches I'd get around my nose in the afternoon were not there anymore. However, I wasn't sure if this was the cream alone, or the combination of cream and Biotherm serum (review coming soon). I tried wearing it alone for a few days and it was just... nice. Yes, it felt silky, and yes, it nourished all day long, but I did notice that it didn't brighten my skin as much. Which is why I'm confused. Is it a bad cream if it another product enhances it? If the cream alone brightened and moisturised, I'd love it even more, but I fear the brightening effect is down to the serum.

Price?

Depending on where you buy it from, it costs between £30 and £34. Although I like the results, I'm not sure it's worthy of this big price tag. My pot has lasted me 2 months so far and I have about 2 weeks worth left, which, when broken down as about £3 per week, doesn't sound so bad after all.

Would I repurchase?

I don't think so. It's not a bad cream, but I find that the day cream from the Good Things range does the job well enough for me and is more suited to my budget. If spending £30+ on a day cream is nothing unusual for you, then do give this a shot. It's almost completely natural and doesn't contain anything harmful, plus it smells amazing and is light on the skin. Like I said, not a bad cream, I just find my skin benefits more from this cream when used alongside the serum.

Hope you found my review helpful, and keep your peepers peeled for my review of the serum soon! :)

xoxo

Review : Ecover Citrus and Orange Blossom shower gel and hand soap

I was recently sent some shower gel and hand soap to try from the Ecover range. The Ecover brand feels that the more 'basic' shower and handwash products have been somewhat left behind of the eco-beauty revolution. Many of the products we use contain nasty chemicals which can cause harm to the environment and can also be harsh on our skin. Ecover’s personal care range is not only kind to the environment but also pH neutral, meaning it's gentle on your skin too. Ecover hand soap and shower gel are biodegradable and, once they go down the plughole, have a minimum impact on aquatic life.

I have to be honest, I'd never heard of Ecover before, but that could be because the brand is better known for ecological household cleaning products rather than personal care products. There are two scents available - Lavender and Aloe Vera, or the one that I chose, Citrus and Orange Blossom. I chose this one because

a) I love citrussy smells, and

b) I need something that will wake me up on these cold and miserable mornings when truth be told, all I want to do is hibernate under my duvet!

First of all, I hate the packaging of both of these items. For the shower gel bottle to have a hook, I'd assume the gel would get dispensed out of the bottom. It doesn't - you have to take the hook off then turn the bottle upside down to dispense some product. It's just not practical to have a hook at the top yet still need a shelf when it's actually in use. It just didn't make sense to me and actually, I was quite annoyed by it.

Also, the design on the bottles would be more suited to something like a fabric conditioner. The smell is nice. It's very citrussy but again, it would be more suited to a fabric conditioner or laundry detergent. It's nice as a hand wash though, so I guess it depends on how fussy you are when it comes to how your shower gel smells!

Aside from the packaging issues I personally have with the Ecover Shower Gel, it does the job. As I said, the smell is quite pleasant and refreshing, and it lathers up brilliantly. My skin doesn't get dry or irritated by it either, which is always a good thing. I love the fact that it's eco-friendly too.Would I repurchase it? Honestly? No, I wouldn't. If you are looking for a very basic, eco-friendly shower gel that is gentle on sensitive skin and smells pleasant enough, then Bob's your uncle, this is for you. If like me, you prefer your shower gels to have that special something, whether it's added moisturiser or exfoliant, or even pretty packaging, then this isn't for you, and unfortunately, it isn't for me.

The Ecover Hand Soap on the other hand is the saving grace. Because I work in a pharmacy, I handle tablets and money and touch sick people everyday, so I am quite religious with cleaning my hands to prevent the spread of germs. Because I wash them so much, I like to use a hand soap with moisturiser, like the Dove one. However, I've noticed recently that when I get to work, I still have foundation in the lines of my fingertips and have to wash my hands again. With the Ecover hand soap, I didn't have that problem. My hands were spotlessly clean and I didn't notice there being a lack of moisturiser at all. In fact, I'd say my hands felt a bit softer because they were cleaner? It lathers up brilliantly with very little water, and of course there's the citrus smell that works really well in a hand soap. I would definitely buy this again. I doubt I'd hunt it down on the shelves, but if I spotted it I would buy it again.

They both cost £3.09 which I think is a great price for eco-friendly products, and are available from most major supermarkets.

Hope you found my reviews helpful. Are you fussy when it comes to shower products?

xoxo

Latest love : Skincare oils

I'm loving the change of season, but sadly, my skin isn't. Going from the inside with central heating to the outside cold and wind has been playing havoc, and although I've found some lovely products that work brilliantly for my skin, sometimes I need that little bit of extra help. I've been using the following three products recently for that extra bit of oomph : Johnson's Baby Oil, Bio-Oil and Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil.

I remember in the early days of my relationship with Mr Lollipop, he complimented my skin lots. And lots. "Even your feet are soft! Your feet!" My secret? Body oil. I don't know what got me out of the habit - perhaps it was moving in with him and sharing a bed with a big scary boy that I refused to grease up the bedsheets - but these three little bottles have been my savours these last couple of weeks.

Johnson's Baby Oil

Any brand of baby oil will do, I just happen to have the Johnson's one to hand. This one is my body oil, and I use it when I'm in the bath. Once or twice a week, I run a steaming hot bath, squirt a good bit of this in, then sink in and relax. It's an odd sensation at first, but you soon get used to it, and every inch of your skin gets moisturised. The bath tub gets super messy afterwards and it's a bitch to clean, but that's worth it for me. My supervisor uses the same method every evening, so she uses less baby oil, but because mine is a skincare treat, I slosh in as much as I think I can get away with, without breaking my neck clambering in or out. Don't use any other products like bubble bath or a shower gel because you'll lose the effect. The baby oil is enough to nourish even the scaliest of shins and knobbliest of knees.

Bio-Oil

This is my facial oil and I massage this in at least twice a week. You're supposed to use it twice a day but my skin doesn't need it that frequently. It claims to reduce scarring, acne and blemishes, even out skintone, and generally make your skin look beautiful. It does to a degree, but I don't use it religiously enough to notice. I do feel like my skin looks healthier once I've used this though, and on the nights where I've scrubbed my skin to within an inch of it's life, this is the perfect therapy. It kind of has a funky smell, and is somewhat expensive, but you do get used to the smell in the end and it lasts forever and ever.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil

This makes the same skincare claims as Bio-Oil, and is my current favourite of the three. It smells gorgeous, oozing chocolatey yumminess, and works beautifully on the body or the face. I love applying a splash of this after my morning shower on my body as it sinks in quite quickly. The smell lingers all day long and my skin feels silky soft - I am confident that it is protected from the harsh extremes of the central heating and freezing cold rain. It's really nice on my face too. I sometimes (actualy, often) use this instead of the Bio-Oil, for no other reason than it smells better. It seems to be a thicker oil than Bio-Oil, but I do tend to use more of it. I think it sinks in so quickly that it feels like it's not enough, but it is. I haven't suffered a breakout from any of these oils yet, so they must be doing something good.

Do you grease yourself up in the colder months? Any body oils that you would recommend?

xoxo

Review : Good Things Skincare

My skin is a bit temperamental, and I'm forever switching up my skincare routine to find the best products for me. I've been interested in the Good Things range since I first heard about it, but was always put off by the fact that it was aimed at 'young skin'. Then I thought, at 26 I'm hardly ancient, so I caved and got some things to try out. I bought mine from Boots, and I believe it is exclusive to there - though please do correct me if I'm wrong!

The creator of Good Things is award-winning beauty journalist, Alice Hart-Davis, so with her experience, it would really seem that she knows what she's doing! Good Things prides itself on the fact that it is free from parabens, mineral oils, animal ingredients and sodium laureth sulphates, and everything has got the 'Free From' stamp to prove it.

They've released a good range of cleansers and creams, with specialist products like eye creams and spot treatments thrown in for good measure, and the brand also caters for oily/breakout/blemish-prone skin types too, as indictaed by the light lavender coloured packaging. The packaging is consistent across the brand - everything has the same pretty, swirly logos, and I think it all looks so cute lined up on my bathroom shelf, so it is aesthetically pleasing too. Everything contains a superfruit extract so not only do they smell delicious, they supposedly work wonders on your skin, and if you want to find out more about what the super-ingredients do, check the Good Things website here. So with all that, does the Good Things brand sound like too much of a good thing to be true?

Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser with Grape & Pomegranate

Good Things Say : A gentle creamy cleanser enriched with moisturising mango-seed oil to clean delicate young skin thoroughly without drying it out.

I Say : My skin type is combination edging more on the dry side, particularly in colder weather, so I love using cream-based cleansers as opposed to those you wash on and off. This one is lovely and smells absolutely wonderful. It says to massage it into your skin for a minute to loosen up make up, dirt, and oils, then wipe off with a wet wash cloth, which is good because I feel really clean afterwards. It has the consistency of a smooth, thick and hydrating lotion, but it is lighter than you'd think. It's still super creamy though and a little goes a long way. It doesn't irritate my skin and there's no greasy residue or anything, so I feel quite refreshed. It isn't sticky so wipes off easily, and I'm left with clean and soft skin. It almost feels like I've rubbed in my moisturiser already because it is so creamy.

Price : £4.99 - which is a bargain! I'd have no qualms about paying this on a monthly basis if need be, but it lasts longer than that which is even better.

Would I Repurchase? : Definitely! This is my new favourite cleanser. I'm quite lazy when it comes to skincare, but I love coming home from a long day and cleansing away all the crap. It's really therapeutic - I think it's something to do with it smelling so good!

Good Clean Fun Freshening Polish with Strawberry & Cranberry

Good Things Say : Banish dead skin cells with this gentle facial polish which has exfoliating particles made from strawberry seeds and jojoba beads.

I Say : Regular readers of my blog will know that I love exfoliators, and my philosophy is the more abrasive the better. My skin can take anything, so I tend to be quite disappointed with scrubs that are too gentle. This scrub confuses me. It is gentle, yet I feel really invigorated afterwards. I love scrubs that make me feel all renewed, and this definitely ticks that box - though technically it shouldn't. It has a fairly thin gel-like texture and at first glance I was somewhat disheartened by the exfoliating particles. It seemed to have only sparse strawberry seeds, but on closer inspection I could see that the scrub was jampacked with teeny, tiny jojoba beads, meaning that every inch of your skin gets scrubbed. It doesn't feel uncomfortable to me, but I am used to scrubbing my skin raw! Seriously though, this is a gorgeous scrub, and smells (like everything else from the brand) scrum-diddly-umptious.

Price : £4.99.

Would I Repurchase? : Yep, and I think I would gladly use this in place of my beloved Lush Ocean Salt, and save that for those times when I'm a little congested.

Face The Day Moisturiser with Goji Berry & Papaya

Good Things Say : This light, hydrating lotion is easily absorbed and has UV filters for added protection.

I Say : I only bought this as it was on offer, and to be honest, I didn't really have high hopes for it. I don't know why - I think it's because my previous experience with day creams are that my skin is absolutely parched by lunchtime, and flaking away by bedtime. This one was a really nice surprise though. Like everything in the range, it smells fruity and yum, but it kind of has a funky-musky type of smell to it. The face mask has the same smell so I think it's the goji berry, but it still smells nice nevertheless. It's a nice, lightweight cream that absorbs super quickly, which is perfect for the morning rush. What surprised me most was how fresh and hydrated my skin felt and looked all day. I'm not sure whether it was the combination of the creamy cleanser and this cream, but there wasn't a scrap of flakiness during the day, which is exactly what I look for in a moisturiser. Very impressive! There's no greasy residue, but my skin does feel smooth, and it seems to provide a lovely base for make up too.

Price : £7.99 - which is great value I think. It's more expensive than most of the products in the range, but it does the job brilliantly and you don't need to use a lot, so will last a good while. It's cheaper than many other face creams on the market too.

Would I Repurchase? : Yes, I certainly would. It's a lovely, light cream. I'm yet to see how it performs in the freezing cold Winter, but it's worked brilliantly during the end of our rubbish Summer, and pretty cold and windy Autumn, so I have high hopes for it.

Dream Cream Night Cream with Fig & Avocado

Good Things Say : A light but nourishing night cream enriched with avocado oil, shea butter and fig extracts.

I Say : I use this after I've used the Creamy Cleanser, and Mr Lollipop thinks that the combination of the two products make me smell like raspberry jelly - and we've both decided that raspberry jelly is a good thing to smell of! I love, love, love this cream. It has a really thick consistency so it seems like it would be really heavy and greasy, but it actually feels quite light on my skin. Although it is a rich cream, it absorbs really quickly and nourishes my skin almost instantly, so you could use this as a daytime cream too should you wish. It's not greasy or sticky, which is something I tend to experience with other rich night creams, and the lovely soft feeling lasts all night. I wake up in the morning with glowing, soft skin that feels velvety smooth, and I can't stop running my fingers along my usually troublesome dry and flaky cheeks. This is the stand-out product from the Good Things range, and if you only buy one thing, it should be this!

Price : £8.99 - which is a little more expensive than most other products from the brand, but it is worth every single penny.

Would I Repurchase? : Definitely - I adore it and think that my quest for a bargainous night cream that actually works is finally over!

Stay Clear Purifying Cleanser with Mango & Blueberry

Good Things Say : This gentle anti-blemish cleanser is good for young skin that is prone to breakouts.

I Say : I don't suffer an awful lot from breakouts, but when I do get them, they are like little monsters on my face! I bought this to use on those occasions, and fortunately have only had to use it twice. This is probably the nicest smelling thing in the range, and if you are a fan of blueberries like me, you'll love it too. I don't like the consistency at all. Unlike the Creamy Cleanser, you use this on damp skin, so you'd imagine it to be a gel that lathers up easily. It's actually really runny and just pours out of the tube - no squeezing necessary! It also doesn't lather up a great deal. It doesn't state that it lathers, I just assume that it should, since it's like a face wash type of cleanser. It did cleanse my skin nicely though, and didn't dry it up like I expected it to. My issue with this product is that it seemed to sensitise my skin. This didn't tingle or anything when I used it, but when I applied my Dream Cream afterwards, it stung like hell and was so uncomfortable that I had to wash it off! I don't normally get a reaction to the cream, only when I used this, which is quite bizarre.

Price : £4.99.

Would I Repurchase? : No. It's not an awful product, it just obvously doesn't work with my skin type. People with oily skin would like this though, I think.

Five Minute Facial Face Mask with Avocado & Goji Berry

Good Things Say : This mask is a true multi-tasker, designed to make your skin clearer, brighter and smoother, all at the same time.

I Say : This is aimed at people with breakouts and blemish prone skin, which, as I've already said, I don't normally suffer with. I am a huge fan of Lush's Fresh Face Masks, but thought that this would be a great alternative due to it's fruity nature. This has the same funky smell as the day cream, but as I said, I think that's something to do with the goji berries. It's got a fabulous texture - really smooth and creamy, it's almost like applying a glossy cream. It smoothes across my face easily and has a lovely, cooling effect. It contains clay, so is one of those masks that dries and sets. I can feel my face tightening as it sets, but it definitely isn't uncomfortable. When it's dried it feels like silk, seriously, it feels gorgeous, and I loathe washing it off! With traditional face masks, I 'stretch' my face over the sink once I'm ready to wash it off, and it'll all flake away into the sink. Not with this one - I can stretch my face and the mask will crack, but nothing flakes off, so a big thumbs up for the lack of mess! It rinses away easily, though I do wash it off with a wash cloth. Considering it's for blemish prone skin, it doesn't dry me out at all. I do sometimes feel that the only benefits of a face mask is the opportunity to relax for 5 or 10 minutes since they make diddly-squat of a difference to my skin, but this one does make my skin look a little clearer - though it doesn't leave me feeling as moisturised as I'd like. Applying either of the creams from the range would sort that out in a jiffy though.

Price : £5.99.

Would I Repurchase? : I still prefer the Lush masks, but this is one of the nicer 'non-Lush' masks that I've tried and would gladly buy it again if it was on offer, or got fed up of the Lush ones only having a 3-week lifespan.

Overall : Everything smells absolutely delicious, and I'm a big fan of the fact that it's free from 'nasty' things. I really, really like the brand and will continue to use many products from it - namely the Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser, Dream Cream Night Cream, Face The Day Moisturiser and the Good Clean Fun Freshening Polish. Nothing I tried disapppointed me - it just didn't work with my skin type. I think this is a fantastic range though, and with everything costing less than a tenner, you really can't go wrong. I love how my skin has been looking since I started using the Good Things range, and Mr L loves the smell. He normally turns his nose away if I'm climbing into bed with a great concoction of products on, but he loves these! I would definitely urge you to try something if you haven't already!

Have you tried the Good Things range? I'm yet to try the eye cream or the spot treatment, so would love to hear your thoughts!

xoxo

Review : St Ives Elements Olive Scrub

I first used the classic St Ives Apricot Scrub when I started to try and look after my skin aged 14. I hated it. It gets rave review after rave review, and I must be missing something because I thought it was bland and did nothing. It's had the same, dreary packaging for years which made me doubt very much that the product had changed at all. It kind of put me off trying anything from the St Ives brand, but I have been quite intrigued by a few of their newer products. I decided to bite the bullet and try another of their facial scrubs recently - the Moisturising Olive Scrub from the new Elements range.

What do St Ives say?

Gently exfoliates while leaving skin moisturised. This scrub, with all natural exfoliants, smoothes and re-energizes the skin. Olive oil nourishes the skin, leaving it feeling soft and moisturised.

What do I say?

The packaging is nice - a lot more updated than the traditional Apricot ones! The scrub itself smells lovely and fresh, and really 'healthy' or herbally, but then you'd expect it to with jojoba oil, chamomile and olive oil. The consistency of the scrub is more like a face wash/gel product, so combined with the smell it makes a really refreshing scrub that feels light on the skin.

Personally, I'm a massive fan of really abrasive and scrubby exfoliators, otherwise I just wonder what's the point? Sadly, this scrub doesn't quite cut it. The scrubby bits are too feeble and sparse, and the ones that are there just don't scrub enough. They kind of just roll over the skin instead of getting all the dead skin off, which defeats the object of using an exfoliator. I like to feel invigorated and revitalised after using a facial scrub, but I don't with this. I think it's just too gentle.

All is not lost though, because here is where the review gets confusing - I love the effects this has on my skin! The thing that sets it apart from most other gentle scrubs, is the moisturising oils that make my skin look radiant and glowing. The olive oil, jojoba oil and chamomile are known for their moisturising properties, and are a fab combination. My skin feels really hydrated when I use this, and I think that's more to do with the luxurious oils rather than the pretty poor exfoliating properties. It doesn't feel greasy, but I definitely feel like I can feel the layer of dead skin still sitting there.

I think St. Ives would benefit more from removing the pathetic 'exfoliants'. The consistency and results would make this a perfect, light facial wash to use in the mornings. It's really moisturising, even on my dry skin, and is actually a good little cleanser. This is definitely not good enough to be an exfoliator though!

Price?

Because I bought this on offer, I can't remember how much it was, and I'm struggling to find it online anywhere. I believe it's around £4-£5, which is a bit more expensive than the traditional products, but is still great value I think.

Would I repurchase?

Nope. I think if this was a face wash and not a scrub I'd be all over it.

What do you think of St Ives products? Are you a fan of their Apricot Scrubs anyway?

xoxo

Review : Skin Wisdom Instant Beauty Balm

For as long as I can remember, magazines and celebrities have been raving about Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. It's a cult product that is supposed to add a bit of oomph to tired looking skin. I say 'supposed to' because I've never actually tried it. I can't quite bring myself to part with the moolah and my skin is far too temperamental to be undergoing a £20ish experiment. About 2 months ago my skin was going through a really bad phase and I was in desperate need of a product like the Clarins one to perk up my grey, dull and lacklustre skin. No matter how much sleep I got I just looked really knackered. I was determined to find an inexpensive sister of the Clarins cream, so when I sumbled across this little bottle by Skin Wisdom, I snapped it up.

Skin Wisdom is a range developed especially for Tesco by top skin expert and facialist, Bharti Vyas, and as far as I could tell, everything in the range was less than £10. Bargainlicious!

What do Skin Wisdom say?
Acerola Cherry and Vitamin C helps promote radiance, whilst Papaya moisturises. Provides up to 24 hours moisturisation.

What do I say?

First off, I love the packaging. It looks clean and isn't overloaded with logos or information, and it has a pump applicator. I love pump applicators! It also smells amazing. The cream that is, not the packaging! It smells fruity - berry-ish not citrus-ish - and it's quite refreshing in the mornings. Now, the cream itself is more of a lotion consistency - quite thin but very light and smooth, so it is easy to rub in. It's not in the slightest bit greasy so it absorbs quickly, which is perfect for when you're pushed for time, that is when you've hit the snooze button a few too many times! You only need to use a little bit - I'd say half a pump is plenty to do my whole face, with a generous layer underneath my eyes. The cream is orange in colour which I wasn't expecting, but I find it leaves a really pretty sheen, thus making my skin look more alive and healthy. Perfect!

As I've already explained, it definitely has instant benefits, but I also found it had long-term benefits. After a week or so of using this everyday, my skin felt smoother, looked more illuminated and my dark circles were a LOT less exaggerated, and after about 2 months use my skin looks fresh, soft, more even, and my dark circles aren't anywhere near as prominant as they were. I'd go as far as to say they are looking brighter. Not vibrant but brighter in the light-reflecting sense. I'm happy enough to wear a foundation with minimal coverage and don't need as much concealer either, which is a stange concept for me. I haven't suffered with dry patches for a while either, which I'm assuming is also down to this product.

Once the cream has been absorbed it leaves a beautiful, silky-finish, so this makes an excellent primer. It is for that reason that I use it post-moisturiser and pre-makeup. I'm not sure how it performs in making my foundation last longer as I'm not a big advocate of foundation primers, but it definitely makes foundation application smoother and leaves a lovely, silky, almost airbrushed finish.

I think you can tell I absolutely LOVE this product, and have used it every single day since I bought my first bottle 2 months ago - which, by the way, is nowhere near empty yet. I have my back-up waiting though, as I dread to think how awful my skin looked before I used this!

In the picture above, I rubbed a little bit onto the back of my hand then applied a fresh blob, so I hope you can see how dewy it looks!

Price?

I can't remember the exact price, but I believe it costs around £6. I know I bought my last bottle about two weeks ago for £4ish but it was on offer then, so keep your eyes peeled as Tesco often has skincare offers.

Would I repurchase?

Yep, I already have. I think it's fantastic value for money and leaves me looking like I've had my full, 8 hours sleep. My skin has been feeling softer too, which is always a bonus! You'd think I have shares in Tesco with all the raving I do, haha!

Have you tried this beauty balm? What do you think?

xoxo

May 2010 favourites

Hello my sugarplums! Hope you've all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend. I had a pretty quiet one with Mr L's family on Saturday, my family yesterday, and a day of eating yummy food and shopping with Mr L today. My baby cousin Leo came to visit over the weekend and he was fascinated by the washing machine ...

...and the tumble dryer.

Isn't he the cutest? Anyway, May has gone so quickly, it's unreal. Finally some sunshine has arrived - I just hope it's here to stay! Onto the things I've been loving this month:

Benefit Erase Paste - No2 Medium

This mini one is from the Confessions of a Concealaholic kit, but I'll definitely be buying a full size one. I normally wear concealers slightly lighter than my skintone, so I was a bit concerned when I saw that this was medium. I needn't have worried though, because although it's a salmon pink colour, it blends into my skin (no matter how pale) really naturally, and conceals the blue circles perfectly.

Dove Summer Glow

In the Winter I embrace the pale, but I do love a tan in the Summer. I've started earlier this year and have loved smothering myself in Dove's Summer Glow. It's a moisturising, gradual tanner so has been great to use on my face and problematic areas, and it has given me a subtle golden glow. I have been feeling and looking prettier and healthier when I've used a bit of this.

Barry M Nail Paint - Pink Flamingo

When the tan comes out, this beautiful nail paint comes out. It's just a stunning, almost-neon, pink-coral colour. It applies like a dream and lasts for a good few days on my toenails before any chips, though I'd reapply it everyday if I needed to as I love the colour so much.

Bronzed Eyes

I like to keep make up minimal when I'm tanned, so throughout May I have been opting for a wash of gold and bronze tones on the eyes. I've been using my Urban Decay Get Baked palette, minus the Flipside colour, most days, and if I haven't worn that I've worn a slick of gold/bronze eyeliner, which comes courtesy of Urban Decay's Baked, Honey and Lucky, or GOSH's Bananas. Love them all and couldn't possiby pick a favourite.

Blistex Relief Cream

At the beginning of this month I had a major coldsore. I lived on this stuff and if I hadn't, I'd still have it now. 'Nuff said!

What have you been loving?

xoxo

Preparing your feet for summer

Hands up who has been neglecting their feet over the Winter? Well, I certainly have - and I'm willing to bet that after months and months of being stuffed into warm and snuggly footwear, your tootsies are hardly summer-ready either. If they are anything like mine, they are likely to scare anyone who looks at them... even I tremble when I look at my own feet! Yesterday I gave in, and decided that if I want to wear gorgeous sandals like this:

Marc Jacobs - £375.00

I need gorgeous feet to match. I decided to have a little pamper session without spending a fortune :)

First of all I gave my feet a good wash - I love the feeling of freshly cleaned feet! No special product here, any old shower gel/soap/foot wash will do, you just need to wash away all the mingingness that comes with feet :) Then I got a bowl suitably sized for my big hooves, which unfortunately was an old washing up bowl. It was pink though! I filled it about halfway with some lovely warm water (as hot as you can handle is best with feet, I think) and soaked my feet using a homemade mixture.

My foot soak recipe is simple - just chuck in 1/4 of a cup of sea salt and a few drops of peppermint oil. It's not important to have exact quantities, but as a guide that's what I used. I soaked my feet for a good 10 minutes, just to soften up all the skin, and the salt really soothed any aches I had from my morning jog. You can put marbles in the bottom too, and roll your feet back and forth over them for a little massage. I didn't - purely because I didn't have any!

Next I scrubbed feet, using another DIY recipe. Of course you can use a pumice stone, a Ped-Egg or a foot file, but I'm really into mixing up my own beauty products lately, plus this is supposed to be on a budget remember! Anyway, my scrubby recipe is:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar - you can use any type of sugar or even salt, but I like to use brown sugar as the grains are bigger, making a more abrasive scrub.
• 1/4 cup almond oil - you can also use olive oil if that's what you have to hand.
  
• A few drops of some essential oils - you can use whichever is your favourite, but I particularly like peppermint or tea tree oil for feet. I used peppermint oil again.

I mixed mine by eye so that I could get the consistency I like, but the recipe above is one I found online if you want to follow that as a guide. As you can see below, mine is still quite grainy because I prefer harsher scrubs, particularly for super rough areas like feet, and I applied it with my exfoliation gloves to get that extra exfoliation. Just call me a scrubber!

Any oil will do really, but I love using almond oil on my feet. I bought a little 50ml bottle for about £1.50, and it's fantastic for softening any rough skin. The skin on my feet couldn't get any rougher, so it's the perfect treatment in my eyes. If you want your foot scrub to be a little gentler, use more oil. You need to work quickly with this though - if you leave it to sit for too long the sugar will start to dissolve, so it's no good preparing this mixture in advance.

Once the scrub was washed off and my feet were dried thoroughly, I trimmed my toenails and generously slathered my feet in a foot lotion. Of course I used the Flexitol Heel Balm that I reviewed yesterday. It pongs a bit, so make sure you wash your hands after using it! I also rubbed Lush's Lemony Flutter cuticle butter all around my toes and popped on a pair of socks. Meet Maisy and Daisy :)

I only tend to use foot lotions when I haven't got anything planned that involves wearing shoes, so I spent my afternoon playing Rockband with Mr Lollipop. After a few hours, I took off my socks and revealed gorgeously soft feet. If your feet still feel a little greasy, just plunge them into some clean water and dry them off.

Then, the best bit, you can paint your nails in whatever pretty colour you choose. I used Collection 2000's Siren - a gorgeously vibrant, hot pink with fuschia/purple sheen. I won this in Briony's giveaway and I love it. Et viola! I'll spare you the pictures of my feet but I've got perfectly pampered tootsies ready to show off in some pretty summer sandals. Now the difficulty is deciding on a pair...

xoxo