Dermalogica/Normal to Oily Skin Kit Trial

Time to take the plunge and see what all the hype is about.

I know Dermalogica has been around for a long time and my theory behind giving it a go is that the millions of people who use it worldwide cant be wrong. I've used the Body Shop Seaweed Range for years now and although its OK, it's just that, it works well but I still get really fed up with my monthly breakouts.

I suffer with PCOS and I think on the whole I am very lucky to have such good skin, I know many women who suffer with this somewhat complicated condition and they suffer terrible acne, so I almost feel bad for complaining but my skin does get me down when it flares up.

I'm giving this skin kit a go for the next 4 weeks and I'll keep a diary of how my skin looks over the course of a typical month, it might not be pretty, it might be great, only time will tell, I'll update you with the results just before Christmas.




If you'd like to join in my trial head over to Dermalogica UK Store and pick up your very own skin care kit.

Check back in a few weeks to see how I get on, I used my products last night and this morning and I have to say it felt like I'd had a spa facial, the products feel lovely on the skin.

I'm trialling the Normal/Oily kit and it consists of:
Special Cleansing Gel, Multi Active Toner, Active Moist, Skin Prep Scrub and the Total Eye Care Cream, there are also samples of the mask and the pre cleanse so I'll give these a go as advised great value for under £25, and these sizes will be perfect for my gym bag so fingers crossed it works!

Here's to clear skin for Christmas.

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Clarins/HydraQuench Tinted Moisturiser

Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturiser*combines daily SPF protection of factor 15 and gives skin a beautiful radiant glow, I get really frustrated with these formulas though, not because they aren't good, but just because I feel like they don't offer enough coverage for me.

 The product applies beautifully and has the classic scent of peachy goodness, it makes it the perfect summer cover up on a much lighter than foundation basis. It doesn't give a really heavy coverage making it perfect for days when you need a little something but not a full face of make up, I've taken to wearing it to the gym, it still allows my skin to breathe and it feels really comfortable on the skin, that's thanks to the super moisturising formula and the bark extract.

50ml screw cap and tube retails for £30 head over to the Clarins Website to shop all 6 shades now, or pop into your local Clarins counter for a colour match.

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*PR Sample

Skincare/My Current Routine

I've always found it hard to get the balance just right when it comes to skin care. I've never suffered with dry skin, just oily/combination skin, the oil side of things is now under control the flare ups that come with the hormone induced tendencies of being a woman however, hmmm not so much. 

I think I've got a few really good products in the mix now and they seem to work well for me, so here are my skincare hero's.....

Body Shop Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub
Priced at £6.50 for 50ml, I'd say I use a tube every 6 weeks, along with my Phillips Visapure Cleansing Brush this leaves my face super clean without leaving it dry. I think this is really good for getting at blackheads too!

Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Toner 
Priced at £5.00  for 250ml this is really good value for money, is say use is 4-5 weeks per bottle, although it seems to have a strange sediment that settles at the bottom, although the sales assistant assures me it doesn't affect the results of the toner to me it doesn't look pretty. This toner is great all year round, and keeps breakouts at bay to a certain extent and helps dry them out when they do erupt.

Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion
I hated the smell of this when I first used it but as soon as the product dries you cant smell it at all, so don't be put off, all the Body Shop Tea Tree products do have a really strong smell but the products do work. I use a pea sized amount of this morning and evening after cleansing and toning, it gives the skin a really matte finish and is a perfect base for your primer to go on top.
Priced at £8 for 50ml, it's really good value for money and helps dry up breakouts when you have them.

Fade Out Eye Cream
I've just recently reviewed this cream, if you missed it catch up HERE. This little tube cost me under £9 and is still going strong I use the tiniest amount day and night and I am continuing to enjoy the lightening and brightening effect its having on my eyes.

Estee Lauder Pore Minimising Skin Refinishing Serum
This is my newest addition to my routine, (my boyfriends mum uses it, always has she tells me and at 61 her skin is amazing) it is pricey but I am so glad I've given this one a shot, it's designed to target those pesky pores, which for me are one of my biggest skin flaws. This is a skin treatment so it must be applied after toning and before moisturiser. It leaves your skin feeling like satin and I no longer have to re powder through the day as it really seems to keep my t zone oil free.
Although it doesn't stop breakouts its helped dramatically even out my skin tone, and reduce my pores so I'm really happy with the results it's given me. Prices start from £41 for 30ml, but one pump is all you need per application.

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion & Drying Lotion
In my battle of the breakouts these products work well as a duo at combating unsightly spots, the buffering lotion must be shaken well and it's a really runny consistency, this stuff is best applied to those 'under the skin' really painful cystic spots, the ones that haven't yet appeared but the ones you know are going to hurt when they do, a couple of nights blasting them with this and they reduce greatly, catch them in time and they don't surface at all. It's pretty pricey at £15ish but the amount you use means this will last you probably a good 12 months. Doesn't dry the skin, and seems to (so far) prevent breakouts.

The drying lotion is a really weird product, its a dual layer liquid which you must not shake, you take a cotton bud and place it in the jar right down to the pink layer, then you dot it on the affected area, this is good for spots that you've already been squeezing or picking (we all do it) as it will dry them out and leave you with a much smaller scab by the morning, smells quite strong and leaves you with pink dots all over your face, but hey beauty means no boundaries right :) Calming calamine lotion and salicylic acid makes the spot almost disappear while you sleep. Expect to pay around £14 for this one, but again a really good product to have if a breakout appears. Great for spots elsewhere on the body too.
Shop the entire Mario Badescu range in the UK at Harvey Nicols

What skincare products cant you live without?

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Fade Out Eye Cream/Bye Bye Dark Circles!

Dark circles are something I've unfortunately inherited from my Mum, I sleep well, I drink lots of water and I have a healthy diet, I have tried absolutely everything to combat my dark circles, and to be honest I've lost all hope of ever getting rid permanently, if you suffer with dark circles then you'll know what I mean when I say they really are depressing! 

There are lots of great products on the market to help conceal and lighten the skin around the eye area, but I've been on the search for an eye cream to treat the skin, to deal with the actual root of my problem. 

I wanted my eyes to look brighter and healthier without the need for illuminating or trying to conceal them.

I have featured Fade Out on my blog before I had a friend trial some face creams for me and she had really good results, so when I was perusing the isles of skincare in Boots a few weeks ago I saw the Fade Out eye cream, and for under £9 I thought it was well worth a shot.

It promises to deliver results in 4 weeks, and I have to say at just over 3 weeks into my trial I actually feel a bit better about my dark circles.
Fade Out claims this cream can combat dark shadows, target fine lines and wrinkles, minimises puffiness, brighter skin.
The cream is skin toned in colour, it has a hint of shimmer through it, although it does not look shimmery on the skin at all, it does lighten and brighten and smoothes the area ready for make up to go on top.  

I hope you'll agree you can see a difference, I personally feel a lot more confident about my eyes and make up seems to make them look flawless now. 

I love dusting a light sweep of the Bourjois Java Rice Powder over the cream once it's dried, the two combined are a good combo! 

The tube contains 15ml of product & using such small amounts means it'll last for ages, it's good value for money and the tiny nozzle applicator makes it easier to apply to the eye area, i dot mine on and pat in with a soft brush.

If you are on the hunt for an eye cream to lift your dark circles them I would recommend you try this, you might just be surprised. 

You can find Fade Out products in Boots stores nationwide. 

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Face B4 Skincare Update & Giveaway!

I recently reviewed the new skincare range from FaceB4, it's a revolutionary 2 step skincare system targeting blemish prone skin, if you missed my first thoughts on it catch up here 

I have been using FaceB4 for 6 weeks now & to say I am impressed with the results is an understatement. I'm not going to promise you that you'll never see a spot again, but you can expect to see a reduction in pore size, as well as clearer skin in general and a much faster clear up time if you do the occasional breakout & it tackles blackheads.

I wanted to show you the difference in my skin's appearance after 6 weeks use, so here is my comparison:

This is me on the 1st day of my holiday a few weeks ago, make up free!

I have been able to skip the primer in my usual make up routine and wear less make up in general, I have never had skin confidence before and although scary, I like it.
The results I have in just 6 weeks are fantastic so in time this should only get better and better. 

My top tip for the face wash would be to invest in a muslin cloth or a flannel and use it to wipe the face wash off, this helps to remove any traces of make up not removed from the washing process.

The moisturiser is so beautifully absorbed into the skin and is the perfect base for make up, it really does give it staying power all day.

Here is my face with make up on...

and with a tan...

I have one set of FaceB4 to giveaway to one lucky winner, the face wash & moisturiser worth over £25!!
To be in with a chance of winning please follow the instructions in the widget below....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to follow FaceB4 on Twitter @FaceB4
For updates & more like the Facebook page.

Have you tried the FaceB4 Skincare range yet? 

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Giveaway open to UK residents only, one prize of 1x FaceB4 Facewash & Serum rrp £30. 

Winner will be contacted by email no later than the 10th of June. 

Bio-Oil Skin Confidence Campaign & **Giveaway**

Every body has a story to tell.

Stretch marks from your beautiful baby, a scar from an operation?

What ever your 'skin story' is, I would love to hear it. 

I am currently working alongside the lovely people at Bio-Oil, and helping to raise confidence to love the skin your in.

As a nation we are so self-conscious about skin issues like scars and stretch marks, that we keep them bottled up and don’t even discuss them with our closest friends and family.

Part of the problem is that many women don’t realise how common they are.  Just one in five believes everyone has them with many falsely believing they are the only one with skin blemishes.

Research carried out by skin specialists Bio-Oil reveals the reassuring reality – on average every woman has three scars and nearly half (43%) have stretch marks somewhere on their body whether from puberty, pregnancy or weight gain.

To help women feel more confident about their skin, Bio-Oil is using our love of social media to address these issues by encouraging women to share their Skin Stories on Facebook and Twitter.  The campaign aims to demonstrate to women how common these issues really are whilst also encouraging them to celebrate the often amazing stories behind them and what they represent in the story of their life, such as becoming a mum, surviving an illness or accident or falling off your bike as a child.There are over 33 million Facebook accounts and 10 million Twitter users across the UK, However, despite the fact that as a nation we’re used to sharing every aspect of our daily lives online, from what we ate for breakfast to our baby’s first picture, almost half of us have never discussed our skin worries with friends or family.

 Skin issues can have a real impact on women’s day to day lives.  Bio-Oil’s survey of 7,000 women revealed that a quarter of women1 (26%) said they’ve actually avoided going out with friends because they didn’t feel confident enough and one in five admitted that they worry about their body and skin every day.Bio-Oil has announced they will be launching the ‘Skin Stories’ campaign on the 15th April in a bid to improve skin and body confidence in time for summer.

For every story shared, Bio-Oil will donate £1 to one of three charities - the British Skin Foundation, cancer support charity Look Good Feel Better and the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust, who provide funding for midwifery education, practice and research. Stories will be submitted via the Bio-Oil Facebook page (www.facebook.com/biooiluk) and on Twitter @Bio-OilUK using the hash tag #myskinstory

Julie Lardieg, Bio-Oil Brand Manager, said:

“In the run up to summer we want to encourage body confidence and help women connect with the story behind their scar or stretch marks. It was shocking to see how many people worry about them but don’t talk about it to anyone, so we decided something had to be done.”She added: “Social media is a fantastic way for women to share their experiences and by joining in the conversation, people will gain a more informed, healthy and realistic attitude to scarring and stretch marks, as well as honest and practical advice on how to keep skin healthy. Hopefully, by channelling the support we have in our on line community, we can bring people together to share their common experience and help women understand that very few people, if any, are perfect!”

The campaign is back for a second time after having run on a smaller scale in 2011.   This time, an inspirational story of the week will be chosen to be showcased on the timeline with the author winning a bottle of Bio-Oil to help them continue to care for their skin. A monthly favourite will also have their story shared on the Facebook cover photo.Sarahjane Robertson, Executive Director at Look Good Feel Better (LGFB), said: “Look Good Feel Better is pleased to be one of the charities to benefit from Bio-Oil’s ‘Skin Stories’ campaign. The money raised by women sharing and celebrating their own skin stories will help LGFB continue its skincare and make-up programme for female cancer patients.” She added: “Our confidence boosting service helps women combat the visual side effects of cancer treatment and regain a sense of normality and control during a difficult time in their lives.”

If you take part in the ‘Skin Stories’ campaign, you can:Follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/biooiluk or on Twitter @Bio-OilUK and swap stories with women just like you who have overcome their own skin issues by connecting and caring for their scar or stretch marks Join the conversation and contribute your own skincare or body positive ideas, thoughts and recommendations to encourage women like you to embrace their skin worries and pass on a positive body message Become a campaign ambassador: talk about the campaign on your own Facebook wall and Twitter feed. Offer a link to our page; tweet any positive news or views you learn using the hash tag #myskinstory and use the campaign to help you embrace your own skin issues and discuss them with you family and friends.

I have a bottle of Bio Oil up for grabs, for your chance to win simply comment below and follow the other options to enter on the Rafflecopter widget below, you need to add Bio Oil UK on Facebook or Twitter, so please leave me your name or Twitter name along with your comment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!


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A winner will be announced on the 1st of June, and the giveaway is open to UK residents only.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Body Products

Palmer's is a brand that has been around for many years, I always remember my Mum & Nan swearing by the stuff during pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, it was a brand I saw a lot growing up and never gave it much thought....

Palmer's have a solution for every body hang up you may have, from gradual tan to lip balm, they have it.

I was delighted to receive some Palmers goodies to review and at this time of year when we are all a little dried out and dull from the freezing winter months, I think we should all be treatiing our bodies to a good pamper session.

I have been reviewing....

Palmers Body Scrub, Cocoa Butter, Intensive Hand Cream & Lip Balm.

The first thing I must comment on with these products, is the smell, so sweet, yet not sickly and literally good enough to eat, the hand cream is fragrance free.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Body Scrub £4.99

The unique combination of pure Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and natural exfoliating ingredients that refine and polish to reveal brighter and smoother looking skin.

The ultra rich and creamy texture provided by pure cocoa and shea butters melt upon application, whilst the natural crushed cocoa beans gently slough off dry skin cells and polish your skin for a softer feel.

I am a fake tan addict and I really love using this pre tan for the ultimate smooth skin to apply your faux glow on to.

For me this is up there on my must have product list & one I will always buy.

Palmers Original Formula Cocoa Butter £3.77

Luxurious yet affordable, this iconic beauty classic has been a cult favourite world-wide for generations.

An everyday essential, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion bathes the skin in moisture.

I find this butter absorbs into the skin effortlessly and doesnt leave you greasy or sticky, and the smell reminds me of white chocolate, yum! A little goes a long way, and this stuff tones and evens skin tone so is a great all rounder for all skin types.

Palmers Intensive Hand Cream £2.25

Perfect for really dry, chapped hands, especially at this time of year.

My other half has really dry hands so he has been trialing this little gem for me and what a difference, he has gone from brillio pad to fab in just a couple of weeks, a huge improvement.

This hand cream is fragrance free which is a shame as I love the cocoa butter smell, but it gets the job done, this would be a real treat for working hands and i think a layer on the hands with cotton gloves overnight would leave your hands feeling like satin by the morning!

Plamers Cocoa Butter Lip Balm Dark Chocolate & Peppermint £1.99

Packed full of vitamin E goodness, this stuff leaves even the dryest of lips, super smooth!

All you need to treat cracked, chapped lips, and all with the added bonus of a gorgeous dark chocolate & mint scent, which gives you a lovely minty breath.

Having previously overlooked Palmers, I am definitley glad to have had the chance to see what they have to offer, and some of these products will remain on my beauty buy list for the foreseeable future.

Are there any Palmers products you simply cant live without?

Check out the Palmers Website and see their full range of products, also add them on the

Palmers Facebook Page

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