The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser

This was a bit of an impulse buy whilst browsing in The Body Shop. My beloved Clinique moisturiser had almost run out and I thought I would try something new – especially as this particular product is targeted at 'dull, tired, grumpy skin'! My skin has been looking a little dull lately for the usual reasons (I still don't understand why my vitamin-packed diet doesn't completely counteract the effects of too much alcohol or not enough sleep but there you go...)

THE PRODUCT
According to the Body Shop this mosturiser takes a three-pronged approach to improving your skin:
• Boost glow: Skin is clarified, revealing your natural healthy-looking glow.
• Energise: Fresh, lightweight formula fights signs of fatigue, with an invigorating fragrance. 
• Hydrate: Infuses skin with moisture.

APPLICATION
It is a gel like consistency that is very light-weight as promised. It absorbs quickly and has a cooling effect (possibly one of those products that would be particularly effective stored in the fridge, although I haven't tried that yet). The scent is really nice and 'orangey' without being too overpowering. The only downside is that it comes in a pot and, like many of you, I find a pump to be a more hygienic option.

RESULTS
I had high hopes for this moisturiser. The Body Shop has a good reputation for using great ingredients and at £16 it is on the pricier end of high street moisturisers, so I assumed I would notice a dramatic difference. (By comparison Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion is £18 for the same amount of product.)

Although it is a nice refreshing moisturiser I can't say I have noticed any real difference in my skin in terms of 'glow'. As it absorbs quickly it is a great pre-make up moisturiser first thing in the morning, but as we move into autumn/winter I prefer a cream to a gel and will be looking for something that is nourishing as well as hydrating.

THE VERDICT
This is a perfectly nice moisturiser and I really don't have anything bad to say about it. However, as the main claim is 'glow boosting' and I haven't seen any evidence of this I don't think I would buy it again. There are high street moisturisers that are far better value and high-end ones that might cost a little more, but that are truly worth it for the benefits that you see.

£16 for 50ml, www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Balance Me - Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25

As you know by now, we are always looking out for products that are natural yet effective, however sunscreen can be a tricky one. Products containing spf typically contain a variety of chemicals but as much as we like natural products, sun protection is one area where we aren't taking any risks! So if there is a natural way to protect your skin from the sun then we are all for it.

A couple of days ago an email landed in my inbox about the Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25 from Balance Me and although I haven't tried it yet I felt it was worth sharing. Balance Me is known for its fantastic products that contain almost entirely natural ingredients and I haven't been disappointed with anything I've tried yet. (You can read our review of the Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm here.)

According to the website this moisturiser is 'deeply hydrating, plumping and smoothing whilst protecting skin from sun and environmental damage, premature ageing and pigmentation.' So far so good!

What's in it?

An innovative natural titanium dioxide-based sun filter blocks out UVA and UVB rays. I'll need to do a little more research to understand exactly what that means but I trust Balance Me! Other ingredients include*:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Blackberry leaf extract with essential fatty acid-rich rosehip
- Camellia
- Kukui nut
- Jojoba Oils

This combination should smooth and firm the skin whilst shielding it from the sun, which sounds like a winning combo to me. I think I might just have to put in an order and try this one, in which case I'll write a full review, but in the meantime if anyone has already tried it I'd love to hear your verdict!

£26 for 40ml or £9.50 for 10ml from www.balanceme.co.uk

*You can find a full list of ingredients on the website

Long-haul Flight Skincare Routine

As you may have noticed, I have been a little quiet on the blog front lately, having taken a much needed getaway to Florida for some fun and sunshine. A big thank you to Kay for holding down the fort and reviewing some great products in my absence. I definitely want to get my hands on that Benefit Majorette blush!

Now normally I don’t give my skin too much thought on aeroplanes and then I wonder why I land looking red-eyed, dehydrated and generally in need of some TLC. So this time I did my research and put together a selection of products to protect my skin from the nasty re-circulated air.

The result? For the first time ever, I got off the plane with skin that looked considerably better than when I boarded! My husband was giving me some strange looks as I made him touch my face, saying “seriously, I’m not being funny but look how great my skin is!” He might have thought I was crazy but ladies, I know you'll understand my excitement, so here is my new routine:

OLE HENRIKSON 'THE TRUTH TO GO' WIPES

I don’t wear makeup to get on a flight (well maybe I whack on a bit of concealer and fill in my brows but that doesn’t count right?!) but I still start by giving my face a quick cleanse. I know face wipes are generally a massive no-no but these ones are great. They are gentle on your skin and infused with brightening Vitamin C and firming micro algae. They have a delicious vanilla-orangey smell too! 
Currently £25 for 100 on lookfantastic.com, (half price) 
Note: I believe they have now been re-branded as The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths.

CLINIQUE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT MOISTURISER

I then give my skin a quick moisturise using my old faithful Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which you can read a bit more about in my July Skincare Routine here.

£17 for 50ml, www.clinique.co.uk

CAUDALIE BEAUTY ELIXIR

Next up is a spray of Beauty Elixir. This product is a bit of a cult classic with an impressive following but one that I hadn’t tried before. It was inspired by the centuries old ‘elixir of youth’ used by Queen Isabelle of Hungry and a quick spritz adds an instant burst of radiance to your complexion. I wasn’t sure if it would live up to the hype, but the 30ml was perfect size for a flight so I thought I’d give it a go. My verdict? I love it! The scent doesn’t really do it for me but it is refreshing and it certainly perks up my complexion. Very happy with this one! I also used it regularly after a tiring day on holiday before putting on makeup for the evening and it definitely rejuvenated the ol' face.
Currently £9.50 for 30ml from www.feelunique.com 
Note: Usual RRP approx. £11.50

ESTEE LAUDER RESILIENCE LIFT FIRMING/SCULPTING EYE CREAM

This is a long name for a little product! It’s a nice, hydrating, quickly absorbed eye cream, but as always I haven’t seen any spectacular differences. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks though, and while I was on holiday I was sporadic in my application of eye cream to say the least, so the jury is out until I’ve given it a fair trial. It did the trick nicely on the plane however and kept the skin around my eyes well moisturised.

£46 for 15ml, www.esteelauder.co.uk

ORIGINS DRINK UP INTENSIVE OVERNIGHT MASK

Next I slap on a layer of this mask. When I purchased it in Selfridges, I asked if they had any samples and they gave me a small travel size to take on the plane. (Always ask for samples when you're making a purchase ladies, they'll happily hand them over and the small sizes are perfect for travel.) It’s a clear mask which is exactly why it’s ideal for a flight (you’re going to get some funny looks if you slather on something white or green). It’s pretty thick but exactly how quickly it absorbs depends how much you put on. Don’t be afraid to apply a generous amount on a flight though, it really does prevent your skin from drying out! A little goes a long way and you would normally only use this a couple of times a week, so the full size tube will last a long time.

£23 for 100ml at www.selfridges.com

COCOA BUTTER VASELINE

It might be an idea to use something a bit more hydrating on a plane, but as I was just trying to protect from dehydration I felt Vaseline was enough, so I packed my favourite cocoa butter. As we all know, Vaseline's useful for everything from moisturising cuticles and removing makeup smudges, to taming brows and highlighting cheek bones, so it's a useful multi-tasker to have in your hand luggage.

£2.18 for 20g, www.boots.com

EOS HAND LOTION

This came in a bargain of a Selfridges Beauty Box I purchased a while back (£120 worth of products for £30? Yes please!) and was a nice size to pop in my hand luggage. It absorbs quickly, has a 96% natural formula and is hypoallergenic and paraben-free. The packaging isn’t very glamorous but it has a nice scent and it does the job so no complaints here. It's now on my desk and I enjoy slapping it on throughout the day.
£8 from www.topshop.com, although I’m pretty sure you can get it for as little as $1.99 in the US!

And that's about it! I topped up the Beauty Elixir, Eye Cream, Mask and Lip Balm mid-flight, used another face wipe before landing, moisturised and put on a bit of concealer and I was good to go. Like I said, my skin was better when I arrived in Orlando than when I left England! It might seem like a long list of products but it really isn’t, they only take a matter of minutes to apply and the results were really worth it. The Origins mask and Caudalie Beauty Eixir kept my skin looking good all holiday and are now firm favourites.

There is one other secret to looking good when you get off the plane. Don’t touch the plane food! I took all my own healthy snacks and it was the best long haul flight decision I’ve ever made, I can't tell you how much better I felt for avoiding all the nasty pre-packaged processed food. Lastly, remember to hydrate your skin from within and drink plenty of water. If you end up being that annoying person that has to go to the bathroom 10 times then so be it... And on that delightful note I'll wrap things up! But if you have any of your own recommendations for in-flight skincare then please do let us know, we'd love to hear them.

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Refining Moisture Cream Complex

 

THOUGHTS

Extremely moisturising and not to sound too odd but it feels comforting. It's not greasy and smoothes easily onto the skin. It absorbs quickly and almost feels as if you have a seal over your skin (not to be confused with the animal or singer). However, it is not uncomfortable. More like an extra layer of skin....that sounds really creepy but it is a lovely feeling.

Having had a virus from hell for three weeks (yes, I was a little dramatic about the whole thing), my skin has been dry and has felt tight and uncomfortable. Facial oils have not worked, when usually they are the bees knees, but this product has provided the moisture my skin needed.

Supposedly you will see a visible difference after 21 days and I can imagine that this is true. Although I haven't used it for three weeks yet, I went away for a few days and didn't use it, and I definitely noticed a difference. So, my three weeks test starts again.... I will keep you updated.

APPEARANCE AND PACKAGING

Glass jar, which looks luxurious. The cream is a white colour and the only thing that I don't like about this product is the smell. It is very floral, which is not noticeable once the cream is applied to the skin but I do tend to grimace when I first smell it.

APPLICATION

A little goes along way and unlike other moisturisers that I have used, a re-application is not at all necessary. Recently, I have been educating myself on skin care (thank you Caroline Hirons for helping me pass the time at work) and realised that moisturiser is the least important part of a skin care routine, but for me it really makes a difference. Mind you, I don't skimp on serum, eye creams, toners, cleanser and exfoliater either.... I really should stop spending money! Anyway, I'm a fan of a good hydrating moisturiser and this one seals in any product that has been used on the skin, making me want to stroke my face to feel the softness. I realise that this is utterly weird but hey, we all have our moments.

REPURCHASE?

Only if I could get it in a sale..... now that I have experienced the bargain price, I wouldn't mind having it again. Also, I like to try out various moisturisers and I'm currently looking for one that makes my forehead lines completely disappear! However, they do look better after using the Visible Difference, so I will re-evaluate after the 21 day test.

£45 for 75ml

I bought it for £15 so will definitely try and buy it in the sale again!

www.elizabetharden.com 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+

TYPE OF PRODUCT

Moisturising lotion for combination to dry skin.

INITIAL THOUGHTS

Last summer this cult classic moisturiser got a revamp in terms of formula (hence the little + added to its name) having stayed the same since it launched in 1968. Since then our lifestyles and diets have changed dramatically and pollution is weakening the skin's barrier, so Clinique have adjusted the formula to address common skin complaints – dryness, redness and breakouts. After using it religiously for many years, I ran out a while ago and strayed to several other moisturisers, but in light of the updated formula I decided it was time to give it another go. According to Clinique the new version now offers all-day hydration and an ingenious new strengthening complex and although I haven’t noticed any difference to the old formula, perhaps the effects will be more noticeable long-term.

APPEARANCE AND PACKAGING

A light-weight yellow cream that absorbs easily. I often buy it in the tube rather than the bottle because when you reach the end you can snip the top off and get out every last bit! It comes in a gel formula too, but I find the lotion perfect for my normal/combination skin.

APPLICATION

The quick absorption is ideal prior to applying makeup and I also like to use it in the evening as it has no SPF and is lighter than most night creams.

REPURCHASE?

Definitely. I’d forgotten just how much I love this moisturiser! In a world of all-singing all-dancing products that essentially promise to turn you into Gisele overnight, sometimes it’s nice to use something that isn’t filled with scientific ingredients that you can’t pronounce and an SPF of about 4000. (If you live in England you are probably more in danger of Vitamin D deficiency than sun burn!) After almost 50 years one of these babies is selling in the world every 4.9 seconds and there’s a very good reason why.

 £17 for 50ml

www.clinique.co.uk