Body Shop Buys

Hi all, just a little post today.

 

I have recently noticed that The Body Shop is become increasingly popular amongst skin care bloggers, and especially when I did the 'Skincare challenge' in January, I saw so many Body Shop items pop up. I went and purchased some of the items I saw the other day, and with a 3 for 2 offer being on, I managed to get a nice little trio of products.

Firstly I will start with the free item I got as it isn't massively exciting to talk about, but I have wanted a fan brush like this for ages as they are perfect for gliding on highlighter without being to heavy handed. This one is really gentle, and it is something I probably wouldn't usually pick up to buy, but as it was part of a deal, I thought why not!?

 

Next is the Chamomile cleanser which I have seen being talked about everywhere and I can understand why. This cleansing balm is so gentle and fantastic at removing makeup. It has become a bit of a cult product and for £10 it really is a great cleanser for all skin types. It melts on the skin and is really hydrating. As Chamomile is a calming ingredient, it is great for sensitive skins.

Lastly, I picked up this self warming Mineral and Ginger face mask. The only problem I have with this mask is that it is so hard to squeeze out of the tube as it is clay, but once it is one, I love the comforting way it warms up your skin, allowing your pores to open and have any dirt drawn out. This only needs to be on for 5 mins and it works absolute wonders!

 

I hope to use some more Body Shop skincare soon, and now I have a loyalty card with them, you can expect to see a lot more!

Ren Hot Cloth Cleanser

The Ren Hot Cloth Cleanser has been out for a while now, however it is still one of the newest cleansers to be launched (I think?!) from Ren. This comes from their Rosa Centifolia range, so contains hydrating rose. It also comes with a soft cloth, which is really gentle on the skin unlike muslin, which a lot of hot cloth cleansers are paired with.

The cleanser itself is really creamy, and removes all traces of makeup including mascara. The smell is a light powdery rose scent, that is really pleasant. This has lasted me ages, and I would certainly buy it again, due to it being priced at only £16.00. It was a really nice luxury product to remove my makeup with at the end of each day. What I liked about it was that I could use it with the cloth in the evening as more of a treatment, but also use the product on it's own in the morning for a gentle cleanse. I find some cleansers can be quite thick, and need the cloth to remove residual product, whereas this one left my skin feeling clean and moisturised, without needing to go through the process of using the cloth.

 The best known hot cloth cleanser on the market, is definetly Liz Earle's. If were going to be brutal and get straight to the point, then we want to know which is the best.

Well first of, Liz Earle's hot cloth cleanser is £26.00 for a 200ml bottle, so Ren's is better value for money.
 The Liz Earle one has the distinctive eucalyptus scent, which is a love or hate kind of smell. I personally find the smell a little overpowering, so I would choose the Ren cleanser again. I also found the Eucalyptus made the product slightly stingy on the eyes when I have used the Liz Earle cleanser a few times.

 I also prefer the softer flannel material in the Ren cleanser than the muslin Liz Earle provide.

I sound like I have really bashed the Liz Earle cleanser which I don't want to do at all. When I used it, I did really like it, and found my skin really cleared up and felt soft after the buffing process. I have done a couple of reviews on the cleanser before which I urge you to read if you are thinking about purchasing it.

The Liz Earle cleanser was the first hot cloth cleasner I had tried, and looking back, I was maybe a little blinded by the hype perhaps! Having tried the Ren cleasner afterwards, I have found this is much better suited to my skin type. Eucalyptus is an anti bacterial ingredient, so really good for clarifying skin, so I think the Liz Earle is great for someone with a slightly more oily complexion. Ren's cleanser has been designed to be softer on more sensitive skins such as my own, as rose is a hydrating, healing ingredient.

The only thing I will go back on in my previous post, is about muslin being gentle! I can't stand using muslin on my face anymore, as I find it scratchy and far to abrasive to be used everyday. If, like me, you have more sensitive skin, I'd say try either cleanser, but with a softer flannel. I'd recommend either the one in this post, or the Emma Hardie micro fibre cloths.

Muslin is the devil for sensitive skin!

November Birchbox

I thought long and hard about posting this as it's a very old Birchbox now, and I will warn you some of the reviews are not very reliable, but I felt very strongly about a few of these products so I thought I should post it anyway!

Dr Jart V7 Cleansing Foam

This foaming cleanser smells really orange-y and zesty. It's brightening, antioxidant cream foams once it's rubbed between wet hands. It feels really lovely on the skin until it comes to washing it off. It leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean, and I am talking literally. You know when your skin feels stripped of all oil and theres that dry squeakiness afterwards? That's how it makes my skin feel, and it becomes difficult to remove all of the foam due to it. It doesn't actually leave me skin feeling tight afterwards, but I prefer creamier cleanser I have used in the past for my drier skin. I personally wouldn't use this again, and even though it was a full sized product, I have only used it a couple of times.

English Laundry Perfume

So my first unreliable review is this one. If I'm honest, I lost this sample of perfume so I have no idea what it smells like. I'm never good at reviewing perfumes anyway though so your probably not missing out on a review here!

Beauty Protector Leave In Conditioner

I genuinely swore out loud the other day when this ran out. This has transformed the condition of my hair and really changed my view on leave in conditioners. I assumed leave in conditioners would leave my hair feeling greasy and weigh it down. As my hair is thick anyway, I hate the idea of adding any weight to it at all. The nice thing about this 'Beauty Protector' leave in conditioner is that it is a spray in so you can control the amount of product going in. I only spray it in the ends and comb it through and it makes it so much more manageable and less tangled. It smelt really nice and sweet and I really loved this product. I am definitely going to explore the usage of leave in conditioners from now on.

Lord & Berry Bronzer

My next rubbish review is this one. This bronzer was not my colour at all so I haven't used it so I can't really review it for you I'm afraid! I like the brand though from other stuff I've tried from it so I would explore the makeup further!

O.P.I Nail Colour

I love receiving a full size nail polish in a Birchbox, especially one from O.P.I. This Colour is called 'A Grape Affair' and is a deep purple colour. I have to admit that the colour looks slightly better in the bottle, and more purple. On the nail it looks basically black, and you can only see the purple tone on closer inspection. Saying that, I have had a lot of compliments on this nail colour, and think it is a nice one for the more wintery months. 

Apologies for this half arsed attempt, but hopefully you enjoyed the products I did try!

Emma Hardie Cleanser

I'm going to go right out there and say it... but this is my favourite cleanser I think I have ever tried. Usually when a product is coming to the end, I am always thinking what I can try next, and this little sample size of Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing balm, has just not been around long enough for me.

Up until very recently, the idea of a cleansing balm made me sick to my stomach. A waxy oily balm all over my face and eyes sounded vile to me. Since trying a cleansing balm, I am now an addict, and would say it is my favourite consistency of cleanser. I like having the soft balmy feel afterwards, and I like feeling like every scrap of my makeup has been removed.

This Emma Hardie cleanser is said to rival the number one cleansing balm by Eve Lom, (small review at the end of this post here) which Vogue has said is the best cleanser in the world. I'm not one to argue with a top fashion magazine, but I think this just maybe better.

I do love the Eve Lom cleanser, but my only problem with it, is the clinical smell it has. It is also quite pricey at £55.00 for 100ml. Emma Hardie's cleanser is only £36.00 for the same amount, and this balm is made from all natural ingredients, and that really reflects in the beautiful smell it has. It's main ingredients are Grape, Almond, Orange and Bergamot. I smells almost like Neroli, the orange flower, which is undoubtedly my favourite smell at the moment. It melts on the skin and sweeps away all traces of makeup. 

The other winning counterpart to this product for me are the cloths. The full size cleanser comes with a cloth, or you can buy three in a pack like I have done. You can see the packaging of the products as well from the picture.

Emma Hardie has created this dual sided cloth, as the muslin material is traditional for cleansing balms, and is great at removing stubborn eye makeup. However on the other side is a micro fibre flannel, which goes deep down into the pores to really remove all grime, and give the skin a good polish. It is gentle enough to be used everyday, and you really see every trace of makeup come of on the cloth. It can also be run under a tap to remove the grime, and the cloth looks basically clean again. Obviously after a while they do need a quick go in the wash, but they are a good size and take a lot of usage before it needs to be washed.

The Emma Hardie 'way' of cleansing is not to scrub at your face, but to gently sweep down the natural lines in your face, so down each cheekbone, down the nose, and just general downward motions to really give yourself a mini facial.

The combination of this cloth and the lovely smooth balm makes me look forward to my evening cleanse. The balm can also be used as a mask for 10 mins, but I didn't have enough in my little sample size to try it! She also has a foaming face wash cleanser which is great for people on the go, or for morning cleanses. The two can also be added together to make a mega cleanse mask. I hope to try more products from the Emma Hardie range, so keep your eyes peeled!

Caudalie Cleansers

This time last year I only just started using a cleanser as I was completely clueless about the skincare world. Today, I will be telling you how I now use two cleansers in my daily skincare routine. As many of you may know, I love Caudalie and have down lots of posts about their products. Most recently I have been using their cleansers morning and night. Double cleansing is really important, especially at the end of the day after wearing makeup. After initially removing makeup, you would be surprised at how much dirt is still there on your face. Even after removing your makeup, you need to actually cleanse the skin after it has had a layer of makeup taken off if you see what I mean?

The cleansing milk pictured on the left is now in newer packaging similar to the green bottle on the right. The cleansing milk is great at removing makeup, and has a a sweet, light scent to it. It's very gentle on the skin and eyes and feels very moisturising too, like it has a slight oil feel to it. 

The foaming cleanser I was dubious about to start, as I have often found foam quite astringent. This cleanser is not drying at all, and is actually quite moisturising. Most foaming cleansers have a foaming agent in them which is what makes them so drying. With this cleanser, the actual pump is what makes it foam, so the liquid in the bottle is not actually a foam at all. This makes my face feel really really clean, and I often use it with my Konjac Sponge which give it a perfect exfoliation effect. They're a match made in heaven. 

Both cleansers together mean my makeup is removed and my skin is gently cleansed as well. I have had these cleansers for a while and they work really well for my skin. Even when my skin became slightly more oily, the cleansers in unison balanced my skin where it was dryer and also where it was more oily. At this point it is also worth mentioning the moisturising toner. I have a similar view on toners as that of the astringent foam. This toner however also changed my mind, as the name says, it is actually very moisturising.

In the summer when my skin is not as dry, I will use this toner after cleansing just as my night cream. It is a very 'juicy' toner and perfectly damps the skin before moisturising, allowing your moisturiser to go further and helping it soak into the skin. Again, this toner is perfect at balancing the skins natural oil levels and it is very comfortable to wear.

Both Cleansers and the toner are £15.00 which I think is good value for natural products. I think they work well individually but work as a power team altogether.

Ren Cleansing Balm

We may be coming to the end winter, and entering the Spring season of April showers and the occasional burst of sunshine, but in the UK the weather could not be wetter or windier if it tried. During the days of sideways rain and whipping winds, my skin really goes into panic mode and becomes, dry, uncomfortable and flaky. Anyone who reads my blog will know I suffer from severe dryness around my nose area, that looks like eczema or something similar which I really battle with, and I would say is probably my number one skin concern. Walking to work when the weather is like this, makes my nose so unsightly but also really chapped and painful. I have friends who seem to be suffering with something similar, is anyone else?? When my nose becomes as painful and sensitive as it is, I have to really give it some TLC. My latest saviour is the Ren 'Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Balm'. Just to clear up any confusion, Ren have recently repackaged a lot of their stuff, and this used to just be called 'No.1 Cleansing Purity Balm' with a grey band at the top. Now thats sorted let me tell you why I love this balm.

I usually keep this Cleansing balm at my boyfriends house. It is such a versatile product its the only thing I really need to keep round his. This Cleansing balm is similar to products such as Eve Lom's famous cleanser, because as soon as it touches the skin it turns into a oil, and melts into the skin. When water is added, it turns into a milkier consistency, and washes away leaving skin feeling comfortably cleansed. This cleanser removes all traces of makeup, including waterproof eye makeup (although it stings slightly if you get it in your eye), and comes with a cloth that allows you to gently buff and exfoliate.

The Rose in the product makes it really soothing, and perfect for my dry nose. When its feeling particularly sad, I apply the balm to soothe the sensitivity and just leave it on. You can see why it is the only product I leave at my boyfriend's as it cleanses, removes makeup, exfoliates and makes a lovely face mask. Not only all this, but the brands is a natural brand and has no parabens, sulfates or mineral oils, meaning the product is helping your skin in such a gentle way, which we all know by now is a big thumbs up from me. I have had to bring this product home so I can use it more often, but I am also away on a skiing holiday in a couple of weeks where the whipping winds and cold will really harm my nose, so it is the first product going in my suitcase.

Ren has so many exciting new products and ranges coming out, including a hot cloth cleanser to rival Liz Earle's cult product, which will join the cleansing range along side the balm. Their new V-Cense range also has some interesting products coming out such as the one minute wonder facial product, which I cannot wait to try! I've been using a lot more Ren recently so keep your eyes peeled for more reviews!

This Works Skin Care

A few months ago, a representative for 'This Works' came into the shop I work in to give us some product training and to give us a bit of information about the brand. As a little gift, she gave me the 'Perfect Skin Super Moisture' to say thank you for listening, and to let me have a go of the products. I was running out of cleanser at the time, so I thought I would buy their 'gentle cleanser', so I had a proper experience of the brand.

The brand was created in 2003 by Kathy Phillips, who spent seven years at Vogue as Health and Beauty Director. She saw so many brands go into the magazine but wanted to create something herself, that was modern and natural. The brand has a panel of 50 women who test each product before it comes out, and they will not launch the product until all 50 women agree, 'This Works'. As a natural brand it contains no parabens, sulphates or synthetics, and uses organic plants for their products.

The 'Clean Skin Gentle Cleanser' I bought contains Roship, vitamin A, Frankincense (an anti aging ingredient) and Eucalyptus. I really love this cleanser as it removed makeup really well, including eye makeup. It left my skin really hydrated and I could go to bed without using any moisturiser which I quite like, as I find it a bit heavy when I go to bed. For £19.00 its quite reasonably priced for a high end cleanser, and I really would recommend it due to its luxurious feel. I've had it for a few months now, and there are no signs of it running out anytime soon, although the bottle is white plastic so I can't see what is inside! I'm not great at cleaning my face every day but I enjoy doing it when I use this cleanser.

The 'Perfect Skin Super Moisture' is a daily moisturiser with a built in serum, which means it protects the skin on the outside, and further down. I personally found it a little hard to rub into the skin, and that it absorbed quite quickly before I could get it all over my face. Again, rose is quite a heavy component to the moisturiser with is evening primrose oil, but it also has vitamin C, blackcurrant, walnut and shea butter. The representative gave this product to me as she said it was perfect for my age. It's very hydrating but also has anti ageing properties. The life span on the moisturiser was not as good as the cleanser but it still lasted me a good two months of morning and night application which isn't bad for £22.50.

Both products smell quite strongly of rose which I am not usually keen on as I find it quite a dusty scent, but I have overcome the smell and just have two products I enjoy using.