Ren Hydro Boost

As a huge fan of Ren products, when I saw that they needed testers for their new product that was under wraps, I knew I wanted to get a sneak peak of what they had in store. I had to email them telling them which products I used and why I loved them so much. While a one product answer would have sufficed, I think I wrote a five page essay on the tens of products I had tried, and how they had dramatically changed my skin.

Sure enough, a few days later, a package turned up and my door, and there wrapped in cute sparkly blue paper was the Ren Hydro Boost, a never before seen full sized product just for me! I thought I would get a small sample size so was delighted that I had the product as it would appear on shelves.

Although the product can be used by all skin types, I was really happy that the product targeted skin's hydration, as mine has been particularly parched recently with all the sun we've been having.

The flash hydro boost goes on after cleansing and before your usual skin care. You rub the cream onto the skin and then wet your finger tips and massage to activate the hydro boost. The first thing to mention about this product is the amazing smell. It smells clean, and purifying which is exactly the ethos of Ren.

I find the product soaks in really quickly, and makes my skin feel instantly plumper and more comfortable. I find my makeup goes on nicely afterwards due to the soft and plumpness to my skin, and the long term effects mean I have been seeing less fine lines.

I read in the Guardian the other day that Sali Hughes was a little let down by the product. She said it "throws a chalky cast over the skin (I don't even need to experiment to know that on a woman of colour it would be a disaster)" because of this chalky residue. 

I can honestly say I haven't found that at all, and that the product completely soaks in so long as enough water is added to the fingertips when massaging in, therefore anyone of any skin tone could use this product as it almost turns to water which is absorbed instantly. I can only think that she hadn't used enough water to activate the cream to water consistency needed to make the product work at its absolute best.

I have loved adding this new step into my cleansing and moisturing routine, and think that this will have to become a permanent product in day to day life. This product is £34.00 however you only need one pump of the product for it to work it's magic and after a couple of months it is still going strong!

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!

Ren Glycolactic Mask

Ren's radiance range biggest seller is this Glycolactic renewal mask. It contains the natural citrus of fruits to exfoliate and invigorate the skin, helping remove the dead skin cells from the surface, and to reveal soft, bright skin underneath with reduced wrinkles.

I used this product a couple of years ago and found it gave me a slight rash where my skin was more sensitive. But as I said in my last post, my skin has now normalised so I'd like to focus more on brightening the look of my skin. I used this mask for 10 minutes and had no problem this time. As it's quite an active mask, I wouldn't recommend this for skin that is undergoing treatment or is sensitive. I found this time round, my skin looked a lot more luminous, and it felt really soft afterwards.

This is fairly similar to the 1 minute facial they have recently launched, but this is more of a luxury treatment than a quick fix. I would highly recommend this mask for anyone who wants more luminosity to the skin whether it's for an occasion, or just for general maintenance.

Ren Instant Firming Beauty Shot

Ren's latest addition to the 'Keep Young and Beautiful' range is the firming beauty shot. More of a treatment product, this product claims to be like a face lift in a bottle. It aims to makes the skin feel instantly firmer and tighter, and can be used under or over makeup.

I received this little sample from work, and have been using it for a few days. From other reviews I've read, it is meant to slot into your daily skincare routine, and works with all the other products you use. The product contains Hyaluronic acid which makes your skin retain more water, therefore making it look plumper and feeling more hydrated. It also acts as a barrier so free radicals can't damage your skin. It works with all your other skincare so aims to magnify the moisturising effects from everything else you use.

I feel by itself, it has quite a mattifying effect and has a primer feel to it, so I really like this product under makeup, however the texture is like a serum so works best under a moisturiser so it can retain all the moisture to your skin. I have not tried it on top of makeup which it claims you can do, but I imagine it is perfect if your heading out and want to freshen up.

As for firming the skin, I definitely felt the skin on my forehead and around my eyes feel tighter, (in a good way not a dry way). This product retails at £36.00, for more information click here

Holiday Essentials 2014

So as you probably know by now, I just got back from a Summer holiday in Corfu, and I took along lots of cosmetics I haven't taken on holiday before, so I thought I would give you a little insight to my holiday routine!

(I realise now I write this, that photographing the products in the order of which they should be used would have been heaps easier but alas, we will have to make do!) 

Skin

When on holiday a lot of things tend to go slack, such as eating well, trying not to drink every day of the week, exercising less and not doing the usual makeup routine. One thing I do not let slack though, is my skin care routine. I do NOT want to look like a shrivelled raisin at the age of 30, so I took along all my usual skin care basics, just slightly more tailor made to the sun.

• Neal's Yard Facial Wipes - I don't usually use face wipes as they're packed with alcohol and dry the skin, but these Neal's Yard wipes are 100% natural and organic, and are made with rose water which is perfect for skin that's been in the sun. It is very soothing and sweeps away all traces of makeup, plus they're travel size friendly. Apologies for not having my own picture I threw away mine when it was finished!
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Correcting Serum - Usually at home I use the S.O.S hydrating serum from Caudalie, but the Vinoperfect serum adds radiance to the skin, as well as evening out skin tone and helping you tan more evenly. I applied this under my moisturiser every day.
• Caudalie Cleansing Milk - I used this little travel sized remover at the end of the day to remove all the grime from my face. I found it didn't remove my makeup very well with the Greek water (sounds ridiculous but it removes makeup fine at home!) but it was still nice to wash my face with, as it is lightweight and sweet smelling.
• Caudalie VinoSource Moisturising Sorbet - I love the name of this product! This was the moisturiser I used for the day on top of the serum, so my skin felt hydrated for the imminent drying affects of the sun. This is so lightweight so went on lovely under my sun cream.
• Caudalie Grape Water This fantastic little multi tasker is a great toner, skin soother, and general face cooler-downer. I had this next to me at night to spray over myself when the heat got to much.

Hair

I would never wash my hair everyday under usual circumstances, but on holiday it is a necessity! These are the products that kept my mane in tact.

• Aveda Smooth Infusions Conditioner - (This is exactly why I should have pictured the products in the right order!) This Aveda conditioner is a perfect little burst of moisture for the hair after a day of scorching it. This was a perfect travel sized and went on perfectly after my
• Aveda Sun Care Shampoo - I had never used a specific shampoo for sun and sea removal, but I am really glad I did. This made my hair feel normal again after a day of drying salt and chlorine. I would highly recommend a shampoo like this, especially if your a swimmer and need this kind of shampoo regularly.
• Number 4 Comb Prep and Prepare- This is the hair product I got in my Birchbox which I recieved the other day. I won't say all the same things again, but this was really good at detangling my hair before I used my Tangle Teezer on it, and it has UV protection in it which meant my hair was prepped for the next day of sun exposure.
• Aveda Smooth Infusion Perfectly Straight - I didn't use this product every night as I didn't want to waste it, but I have reviewed this product before which you can read here. This just took the edge off my naturally curly wavy hair so I could wear it down on some evenings without looking like a total nutter.

Makeup

Finally, my makeup routine is somewhat shortened, as it seems silly to cake on the foundation when its hot and sticky, and also not to take advantage of the sun tanning and clearing your complexion naturally anyway. I never wear makeup in the day on holiday, and I will only wear a minimal amount in the evening.

• Ren Satin Perfection BB Cream -  I used this as a moisturiser and face base in the evening. I used this as it still has an SPF 15 for when the sun is still out in the early evening. This cleverly adapts to your natural colour so will look right throughout the whole holiday, and is like a lightweight version of foundation.
• Eyeko Eyeliner Pen - I really love an eyeliner pen and will use this on its own in the evening for a easy to do makeup look. The pen means it easy to use and requires minimal effort.
• Clinique High Impact Mascara - This travel size is perfect for the makeup bag and lengthens and coats each lash making them natural but not too much.
• Cream Eyeshadows - If I really want to make a special effort, I will use some cream eyeshadows to make more of a statement with my eyes. The balmy consistency means they're easy to go on and don't take up much room in your luggage with brushes etc. Here, I used my 'Wild About Beauty' colour from my birch box as a base, and then added my 'Maybelline Colour Tattoo' on top for a pop of shimmer.

What are your Summer Holiday essentials?

Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

This is a product I have been patiently waiting for, for a very long time now. The first time I saw it was way back in October last year on 'It's a LDN thing', and I eagerly anticipated its arrival since. If you read Millie's post you will see it has changed a lot since then, thankfully the phallic looking pump has been ditched, and replaced with a much more bathroom appropriate tube.

The flash rinse is applied to cleansed, dry skin, and it feels like a really really fine exfoliate. It comes out in a green sort of paste, which is unlike any other beauty product I have ever seen.

You then wet your fingertips and massage the face again to activate the ingredients, and leave on as a mask for a minute. Once washed off, you can instantly see the results, and my skin felt smooth and it looked much brighter. It is the vitamin C in the product that creates the brightness, and it is an ingredient I am falling in love with as it is in a lot of the skin care I'm using at the moment. It also means it has a fresh and fruity smell to it which is another great aspect to it. It is advised not to use on sensitive skins, and I must admit the sensitivity around my nose didn't enjoy this product as much as the rest of my face. It didn't hurt or sting, it just felt slightly dry after using it.

This product can be used every 3 days as a boosting treatment, and I love how you see the effects instantly. It is also meant to have long term firming effects too. This product launched TODAY on the website, and I would highly recommend the product! At £32 it is a product that will last a while, and is a perfect quick and easy way to brighten your complexion.

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!

My 12 days Christmas Beauty Wishlist

It is getting so close to Christmas now and I thought I should share with you my top Beauty Christmas wishes!

Ciate Advent Calender

Image from 'SheSaidBeauty.com'

To start things off, I think it is fair to say that an apt advent calendar is needed on the countdown to a beauty bloggers christmas day?? That said, beauty advent calendars have rocketed this year, with a lot of brands bringing out a calendar with little goodies inside! However, as a nail varnish enthusiast, I have  had my eyes set on one calendar and one calendar only. The Ciate nail polish calendar is perfect! I am an avid Ciate fan, and with each window revealing either a colour, an effect, sequins or caviar, I think this would make me very happy for the whole of December! At £42.00, I would consider it a Christmas present in itself, but it really is quite exciting!

Aveda Curl Controller

Image from Johnlewis.com

I work opposite an Aveda counter, and as I have started to learn more about the brand, the more I love it. Aveda is a very earthy brand, very in to natural skincare (which I am now a great lover of) and also natural haircare. Not only do they strive to save the world, they also make great products. I have used the tester in the shop of this curl controller every day, where my hair has felt a bit wild.  It instantaneously lengthens the natural curl in my hair, but doesn't weigh it down, as the product contains no silicone. This product make my hair look less frizzy and matted, and more beach-hair and tousled. For only £19.00 it is an absolute must have for a mop head like me!


Kiehl's Soy Milk and Honey Creme de Corps

Image from Vickyb.tv

This Kiehl's whipped body butter smells so amazing! I had a luxury sized sample of the stuff and I love applying just after I have showered as I find the smell really comforting and soothing. The whipped cream makes it really light so it absorbs quickly, so I can put my pajamas on straight after. It is also really good for the eczema on my arms. I find this a perfect winter warming body cream. The large size (which I would need!) is £45.00.

Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Mask / Eve Lom Moisture Mask

Image from feelunique.com

image from beautybar.com

Both these masks come in a gel form which you leave on the skin for about 10 minutes. In that time, your skin will soak up exactly the amount of moisture it needs, and you can wipe away the excess.

The Aromatherapy Associates mask is made from hydrating rose and soothing aloe vera. The Eve Lom mask uses moisturising coconut extracts. Both are beautiful products that do a similar job. The Aromatherapy Mask is £36.00 and the Eve Lom mask is £65.00.

Ren Omega 3 Serum

image from harveynicols.com

This serum is the re packaged Omega 3 night serum from Ren, which for some reason looks so much more appealing in it's diddy little blue label. This serum was described to me as 'a vitamin smoothie for the skin'. In other words, it will give your skin exactly the amount of nutrients it will need to look healthy and radiant as well as boosting radiance and help to fight ageing. This serum does NOT smell of fish considering it is packed with omega 3. It does in fact smell of peaches as it is not derived from fish so therefore can be used by vegans and is totally addictive to smell. This serum costs only £23.00.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

image from thisworks.com

This pillow spray is This Works' best seller. It absolutely flies of the shelves where I work and people absolutely swear by it. That said, I am a bit of a worrier and work myself up over small things, and due to this I find it hard to drift off sometimes. This spray uses Lavender and Vetivert - a natural sedative- to help ease you into the land of nod. At only £16.00, I think it is fantastic value for money, as a good nights sleep is priceless.

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser

image from Lizearle.com

This is another product that flies of the shelves where I work on the Liz Earle counter. The hot cloth cleanser is a best seller, as the cleanser removes makeup, the muslin cloths provided gently exfoliate the dead layers of skin. The Cocoa butter and Eucalyptus leave the skin fresh and hydrated using only plant extracts. This cleanser is £13.25

Bare Minerals Starter Kit 

image from grace-beauty.co.uk

Bare Minerals is the most natural form of makeup as it uses only minerals (funnily enough!). This american brand uses powders and cleverly crafted brushes to allow really amazing coverage. As my skin tends to be slightly red and uneven, I want to give this mineral makeup a go as it feels lightweight, but has all the coverage. The Bare Minerals starter kit comes with a foundation, a finishing powder, a foundation primer and three brushes to help apply the products. It also comes with a DVD to show you how to get the best out of your products. For £50.00, I think it is quite a worthy investment into the world of Bare Minerals.

Nail Art Book by Helena Biggs

Picture from bloglovin.com

I am currently subscribed to Scratch Magazine which I LOVE receiving every month. The deputy editor of the magazine, Helena Biggs has also brought out this book, which I would like to have a look at. Some of the nail designs in here are more technical, like putting on super long extensions and doing crazy designs. Although I wouldn't have nails like it myself, I love seeing what other nail technicians can create on such a tiny canvas!  

Pantene BB Cream for Hair

Picture from dailymakeover.com

We have all heard off BB creams for your face, but one for you hair?!? Pantene have brought out this BB cream which claims to do 10 things in one bottle. I first saw this on another beauty blog, and the author said she really liked the product so I want to give it a try! On their website it has five star reviews, and it claims to repair, soften, protect, smooth just to name a few of it's talents! I quite like an unusual product and this is one I want to try!

Michael Kors Watch

Picture from selfridges.com

Now I know I said this was a beauty Christmas list, but the last item on my list is this gold Michael Kors watch, I have wanted for so long now! So much so that I have started having dreams where I am trying on a selection of different watches from him. I already have a beautiful Marc Jacobs watch I got for my 21st birthday, but that is silver and the strap has got a bit tatty and needs replacing. I love big chunky watches and want a gold one to wear with gold jewellery and special occasions. At £229.00 I would not expect to get it from anyone, but this is a wish list remember! Its not a beauty product, but it is beautiful!

So there is my list! Is there anything on my list that you are wanting this Christmas?

Glastonbury Essentials

Apologies for being quiet the last few days! The truth is, I was lucky enough to go to Glastonbury festival, and as much as I love my blog, I needed a few days escape! Anyway I'm back now so I thought a good post would to be to share my festival essentials with you! They are probably products you have all used before as they're mostly high street brands, that don't cost too much but here is what I took with me.

1. Batiste Dry Shampoo- This product is a life saver for boys and girls travelling to places with minimal shower usage. My hair is quite thick so I only used it once, but for people who suffer with thin hair or hair that gets greasy easily, its a great product to pack as it makes it look clean and adds a bit of volume I find too.

2. Ren Photoactive Sun Veil- Again, this is product that I didn't use as much as I should have and as a result I got a very burnt nose! However, this SPF 15 is a lightweight cream to put over moisturiser and under makeup, and is not as harsh on the skin on your face as normal sun screen.

3. Garnier BB Cream in Light- This is the first BB cream that I ever got and I love it. The smell is really summery, and the colour is perfect for my skin. When I go to a festival I am a au natural girl and cannot be bothered with makeup. In fact any opportunity I get to not wear makeup I won't. Therefore this is a great product to give you the glow of foundation but not the heavy feeling of it.

4. Ultrasun SPF 30 Sun Cream- This sun cream is amazing! It's only needs to be applied once a day and then its done its job. The sports formula which I have, tricks your body into thinking it is water due to its water like consistency, so your skin absorbs it for 12 hours before releasing it again. I used it on my body everyday and didn't burn at all even in the blazing sun all day. The smell when it first touches the skin is very alcoholic and a bit off putting but it is a natural product and once absorbed is is scentless. The only reason I didn't put it on my face was because of the smell, however maybe I should have!

5. Tangle Teezer- This hair brush is my hero, my thick matted rat tails were sorted pretty sharpish with this brush and with minimum pain. This brush is an essential for every girl and it is easy to slip into a handbag.

6. Simple Cleansing Wipes- These are a great alternative to a cleanser if your going away and need somthing travel sized. 'Simple' is a brand that aims to look after sensitive skin and use minimal chemicals, so these wipes are a great way to remove makeup and cleanse skin without damaging the skin to much. With my sunburnt nose these were a lifesaver as they're cooling as well.

Ren BB Cream

The new Ren BB cream launches TOMORROW and I would strongly advise people go out there and get it! For £26.00, it's not the cheapest BB cream on the market, but Ren is a all natural brand that contains no parabens or nasty ingredients that can cause trouble, plus it is a very large size so it will last a while!

So what IS a BB cream? I get asked this question a lot at work so I will explain to you too. BB Cream stands for Beauty Balm, which aims to mattify, protect, moisturise, even skin tone, and add radiance. It basically does what a foundation does, but feels as lightweight as a moisturiser.

So what makes the Ren BB cream different to other BB creams? Well, the Ren cream is silicone free so will not block pores therefore having an anti-oxidant effect. It also firms and tones the skin whilst on your face creating an anti-aging effect. The cream contains an SPF 15 and leaves the skin feeling satin soft. With some other BB creams I have tried it has left a slight tacky feeling whereas this one feels flawless. This cream also has clever skin colour adaptive technology which sounds like rubbish, but myself and some of my friends from work all tried it, and it matched up to everyones skin tone. At the moment it is only light to medium so obviously on very dark skin it may not work as well, but I don't know whether that is somthing Ren will work on.

Pictured below are my hands, the left hand with nothing on and the right hand with the BB cream on. The cream evens out any blotchy patches of skin, whilst giving it a healthy hint of colour.

I also used the flash to show its mattifying effect.

I think the cream is a definite must have for the summer if you want all the benefits from wearing foundation, but none of the heaviness. It feels so nice on the skin and feels really moisturing. I think this would be £26.00 well spent.