REN GLYCOLACTIC RADIANCE RENEWAL MASK

REN GLYCOLACTIC RADIANCE RENEWAL MASK

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask* - £30 - REN

I'll be honest, if a product is really hyped enough, i'll buy into it. This had been on my wishlist for months so you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to try it. So far, I haven't been disappointed with many hyped products and this is no exception. This mask is bloody good. I'm talking results-as-soon-as-you-wash-it-off good.

REN recommend applying a generous amount onto clean skin and leaving on for 10 minutes. It is a very peculiar consistency, feeling and smelling like marmalade on your face (don't get it in your hair... ew). This product is packed full of chemical ingredients such as glycolactic, lactic, citric and tartaric acids to exfoliate the skin rather than an abrasive scrub. I don't have sensitive skin so this has been fine for me but if you do, i'd recommend having a test before you slather it on your face. Included is a muslin cloth which you use with warm water to remove the mask.

When you wash it off, your skin looks instantly brighter and clearer, and I do love me a product which gives instant wow (hence why I struggle to stick at a skincare routine for long...). All I can say is this does exactly what is says on the tin. Renewed complexion? Check. More even skintone? Check. Radiance? Check, check, check.  It does leave me a little bit red so it is definitely one to be used at night, but i'd recommend this anyway because something about putting this on before bed makes your skin even better in the morning.

I can see why this gets so much love because this really is a product that just works. Although the packaging isn't anything to write home about, it is functional and it stands out in my bathroom cabinet. I'd much rather have a product with boring packaging that does the job well than something which simply looks nice on my dressing table.

It's rare that i'll admit that a product costing £30 is worth the money but this is something i'll definitely never be without. This is the only face mask I've managed to stay loyal to since I bought it and i'd love to try other things from this range.

FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE AT SUPERDRUG

FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE AT SUPERDRUG

Just a quick post today to give you a heads up about a free gift which you can get your hands on at Superdrug. I believe that if you buy something from Bourjois (perfect if you want to get your hands on their new Cream Blushes!) you can pick up this little makeup bag full of goodies for free. A little more expensive above your average high street skincare, B. is a new brand by Superdrug which aims to introduce good quality products at a reasonable price. It is a brand i've seen crop up now and then in the blogosphere and I was intending on giving a couple of their products a go.

The makeup bag contains mini 5 items; an eye cream, a BB cream, a rejuvenating serum, a lipstick and a cream eyeshadow, alongside a voucher for £2 off if you spend £10. I think this little set is fab for giving their products a test before you commit to buying them and first impressions are very good. Although the makeup shades are a little safe for my liking, there is a wide range of skincare products to suit many different skin types. 

MAC MATTE LIPSTICK IN 'SO CHAUD'

MAC MATTE LIPSTICK IN 'SO CHAUD'

MAC Lipstick in 'So Chaud' - £14.00 - Debenhams

Please excuse the moody face pic, it does show the colour of the lipstick well, but it doesn't half make me look like I need some cheering up!

Last weekend, I picked up my first MAC lipstick in aaaages. After rediscovering Angel, one of my all-time favourite shades, I had an inkling that it was about time that I got another. I honestly don't know what made me pick up this colour. I knew not to get another nude (I have 4 from MAC, which I seriously don't need) and for some reason I had this shade in my head as a must-buy (I blame Corrie). However, i'm not sure I even like it in the bullet. 

Even when I put it on my lips, I was still a bit unsure. The formula is incredible, however. More pigmented than any other lipstick I own, this matte shade lasts and lasts and lasts. Although a bit tricky to apply (not one for on the move) I find that this fades evenly to a warm orange stain. 

I can't fault the lipstick itself at all, but I'm just not sure it suits my skin tone and I don't know how much use it'll get. I do think that this is more of a wintery shade as it is quite warm toned (despite looking quite neon in the picture!) but I can't help but think I should have picked up a true matte red instead for both daytime and evening use.

JURLIQUE ROSE SILK FINISHING POWDER

JURLIQUE ROSE SILK FINISHING POWDER

Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder* - £24.50 - Jurlique

I've always been very on the fence when it comes to powdering my skin. Back in the day, when I had bad skin, I used to swear by a loose powder, not only to set my makeup but to provide that little bit extra coverage over my foundation. More recently, I was using the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, and although it did the job, it shattered within a few weeks and was almost unusable, and I can't say i've particularly missed it in my routine.

So, I welcomed the addition of the Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder into my beauty routine.  Jurlique describe it as "A translucent facial powder with precious botanicals, designed to minimise oiliness and shine to help skin feel smooth and look radiant."

 It comes in a huge container which shuts tightly and is very practical for travelling and the lid also has a handy mirror. Overall, I think the packaging is well designed and beautiful. The product has a traditional rose scent, which may be too strong for some people but I personally like it. The powder is talc free which is what makes it so light on the skin.

The first thing I can comment upon is how messy this product is. I decided to remove the puff which is provided and use a powder brush (big mistake!). Although this makes application easier, it stopped the product from sitting in the pot below and it has all erupted above the sift - which means every time I open it, I get a big puff of powder which escapes. Not ideal.  However, i'm not sure if this is more my own fault, rather than an actual design flaw.

The lovely thing about this powder is it isn't a traditional matte finish. You get more of a satin finish, but it does help reduce shine, and keep it away for longer. I do also notice that when I use this, I get a bit of extra wear out of my foundations which is always a bonus when you have skin like mine. It is certainly a lightweight powder, with no cakeyness or heaviness in sight. It also disappears onto the skin, and despite being white, isn't chalky at all.

Overall, this is a lovely powder. Although I can't say that I use this everyday, when I want that extra bit of lasting power and oomph on my skin, this is my first port of call.

JOUER MATTE MOISTURE TINT

JOUER MATTE MOISTURE TINT

It took me a long, long time to finally fall in love with this product. The photographs have been sat in my drafts folder for months because I just couldn't make up my mind but I think I finally have a review i'd like to share with you all.

With foundations, it's rare i'll buy a product without testing it out first. Having a funny skintone with an unusual texture, combined with an oily chin and dry cheeks, buying a foundation without trying it is almost unheard of, and a maybe a little bitsilly. However, as Jouer is an American brand, fresh from LA I believe, the only place you can buy it is online, from Cult Beauty.  Now favouring a lighter base, (see my acne scarring post for deets) I felt sure that this product would be the one for me. Dewy- matte skin in a tube? I was sold.

The limited amount of shades isn't ideal and I toyed with the idea of getting the palest colour but I can safely say I think I went with the correct choice, Linen. If anything, this is still a little pale for me but I think going a shade up without swatching would have been a bit risky. I also find that this is often sold out - luckily for me a tweet to Cult Beauty informed of when it was coming back in stock so I was ready waiting, card-in-hand, for when it reappeared.

The product itself feels very different to other tinted moisturisers I've tried as it is almost whipped in consistency, and a little bit goes a long way. As for lasting power, you're going to need to reapply. I found it lasted about 6 hours comfortably but after that I was looking a bit patchy. I also found that it separated on my oily bits as the day went on, so I'd maybe avoid this if you do have oilier skin. The beautiful thing about this is it really does let your skin glow throughand although it is called a matte moisture tint, it is just the right balance between a matte and luminous finish. I find this is best applied with a normal flat foundation brush - rather than my usual real techniques expert face brush - and it blends really smoothly, almost disappearing into the skin.

This also supposedly has skincare benefits such as SPF15 and vitamins A, C and E which is obviously a winner. Overall, if you have fairly decent skin, you'll love this. Even if you have a few blemishes, with a bit of concealer this will make your skin glow and i'd totally recommend it. I have since tried the luminising moisture tint (just a sample) which was love at first application so I can't wait to buy it and feed back properly to you!

HE-SHI EXFOLIATING BODY WASH AND FACE & BODY TANNING GEL

HE-SHI EXFOLIATING BODY WASH AND FACE & BODY TANNING GEL

He-Shi Face and Body Tanning Gel - £17.50* and Exfoliating Body Wash - £11.00*

I've been scared of tanning products for a long, long time. Every so often I dabble in them but in general, I end up looking like a streaky mess and therefore I tend to avoid them on an everyday basis. I do, however, own quite a few different brands and although I've tried lotions, sprays and mousses, i've never tried gel formula. When I was given the He-Shi Face & Body Tanning Gel to try I was excited to give it a go.

I began by using the exfoliating body wash, again from He-Shi. Oh my days this stuff smells in-credible, a really lovely berry scent. If you're not a fan of sweet smells it might not be to your taste, but it was certainly an unexpected surprise! The wash itself is a purple gel with large crystals to scrub and prep your skin. It contains fruit AHA's as well as the larger beads to exfoliate really thoroughly. It also lathers up which is a nice surprise as it makes it an effective body wash as well as exfoliator. I probably wouldn't use it if I wasn't tanning purely because it doesn't leave my skin feeling particularly moisturised like other products do. However, it is extremely effective for leaving your legs feeling smooth.

I followed by applying the He-Shi face and body tanning gel with a tanning mitt. It says not to use moisturiser beforehand which is a bit alien to me but I followed the instructions and didn't have any problems. I don't really have a technique as such, but I usually work from my legs up. The tan looks scary in the tube as it is so dark and actually turns a bit yellowwhen massaged into the skin. It does blend really smoothly and has no smell at all upon application. I find that the gel formula makes it a lot less messy than other ones I've tried. It claims to take 6-8 hours to develop so it's certainly not a quick fix tan as the colour on application is a bit peculiar. Once it has developed, it is actually quite a light shade and even on my really pale skin, I was tempted to do another layer. I still managed to end up a bit streaky but that doesn't reflect badly on the product as it is more my own lack of skill.

It claimed to last from 5-7 days but I can't argue that this is the case because i've had it on about 3 and I feel like it's faded quite a lot. 

I do actually prefer this for facial use and I might restrict myself to using this as a facial tanner in future. I feel like it gave a natural glow to my skin which cheaper products haven't been able to do. At around £18 it is on the cheaper spectrum of high end tanning products and I definitely would buy it again because I felt it gave my skin that something which is above and beyond other products i've used.

SAYING GOODBYE TO ACNE SCARRING

SAYING GOODBYE TO ACNE SCARRING

Botanics Cleansing All Bright Toner - Boots - £3.99

Bio Oil - Boots - £14.99

Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask - £30.00*

I've had bad skin for as long as I can remember. I had acne before I even started secondary school and this stayed with me until I was about 18. Over recently years, my skin has calmed down a lot and I've stopped getting such frequent, nasty blemishes. This is probably a combination of many things; namely having a better knowledge about how to look after for my skin and which products to use. 

However, I was left with horrible acne scars and although my skin has returned to normality, what was left behind was almost as bad. (almost). I've never had much confidence with my skin so although I was glad to see the back of the spots, I still wasn't happy with what I was left with.

So I went on the hunt for products to reduce acne scarring. I tried quite a lot over the years but I didn't stick with anything for long enough to see results. However, recently I've been using a combination of three products and I'm really starting to notice a difference. Okay so my skin still isn't perfect. But my pores are smaller and any marks on my face have faded considerably. I was actually advised against buying a heavy coverage foundation and told to buy a tinted moisturiser instead by a lovely MUA at Space NK. I have never been so stunned in my life!

The first thing I introduced to my routine was Bio Oil. I'm not sure what Caroline Hirons would have to say about me putting this on my face but it seems to be working. I never used to be able to use this alone as it broke me out but combined withBotanics Cleansing All Bright Toner to detox my skin, it works a treat. I have heard that it is good to combat oil with oil so this keeps my skin hydrated whilst working on my scarring. 

The Botanics Cleansing All Bright Toner is something that I wouldn't live without. At around £4 it is an absolute bargain and it contains natural AHA's to naturally exfoliate the skin, much like some of the popular chemical exfoliating products. I like this because it is gentle enough to use twice a day and fits easily into my skincare routine. I have considered buying more expensive chemical exfoliators (Alpha H Liquid Gold, i'm looking at you) but for the moment i'll stick with this as it seems to be doing a pretty good job.

Finally, the Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask* is something that i've only recently started using but I noticed results after it's first use. I plan on doing a full review so I won't say too much, but I noticed a difference in the scarring on my face overnight.