The Gentle Cleanser Post...

Anybody that's been a long term reader of my busy little musings will know that my skin does tend to have a hissy fit at the first sign of something it doesn't like, be that something I've eaten or a new product I've used that my skin hasn't taken a liking to.  So I'm constantly on the lookout for gentle cleansers that will be tough on makeup but not cause my skin to freak out too much.  Now these are a few I've been using recently and having given them each a fair trial I thought I would share my feelings.

The Body Shop Camomile sumptuous cleansing butter says it's suitable for all skin types but you know if it has camomile in it, it's going to be calming and gentle on the skin.  Apart from the fact it comes in a tin that you have to dig the product out of I really can't fault it.  It has a light floral scent and you know with The Body Shop you can't really go wrong with the ingredients.  Once warmed up in the hands and applied on to a dry, full face of makeup this just melts away everything you have on including stubborn mascara and all you need is a clean muslin cloth or flannel to rinse away the product.  It's great for my dry skin as it leaves my skin feeling nourished without that tight feeling some cleansers can leave.

Now you may think if you love the cleansing butter so much why buy more cleansers but it was the messiness of it that led me to the Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash.  This says it 'gently lifts away makeup and impurities' which I would say it only half does.  It has a gel like consistency which you are supposed to massage into damp skin to remove makeup but I always find I'm left with panda eyes from my mascara and eye liner after using this and even if I then go in with a second cleanse I still don't feel as though it's all gone.  I don't really feel as though my skin benefits in any way from using this although it is marketed as containing Hibiscus as 'Nature's brightness booster' and that natural AHA's from the flower act as a mild exfoliant to smooth and brighten.  There could possible be some slight brightening effects with this but aside from that and the convenience of a gel cleanse it's pretty redundant.

And finally the No 7 Beautiful Skin foaming cleanser for normal/oily skin.  You're probably wondering why I would buy a cleanser targeted at more oily skin types but I don't use this everyday.  This is more a cleanser for those evenings after a sweaty long day at work or for a quick cleanse after a good gym session.  This again does nothing for removing mascara or eye liner although it says it dissolves makeup I beg to differ and because this is targeted at removing oil and tightening pores it does leave a little bit of a tight feeling just after washing but as long as I only use this once or twice a week and I go straight in with a good toner, serum/oil and moisturiser that feeling doesn't bother me too much.  I will however continue to hunt for the perfect gentle cleanser and if anybody has any suggestions please do pop them below.

My current skin saviour...

You know that feeling when you're feeling run down, exhausted and like you just want to crawl into bed and come out when its summer?! yep that has been me this past couple of weeks paired with the virus from hell! I've had achy joints, fever shakes, the lot but my skin has looked pretty good all down to this wonder bottle.  Clarins usually bring it when it comes to skincare and this toning lotion is not exeption, it's made for dry skins like mine and alcohol free so it isn't stripping or drying at all.  The standard sweeping of the cotton pad ritual with this has been all I've been able to manage in terms of skincare routine these days but it must be working as my skin is clear and radiant in the morning.  Priced at £19.00 for 200ml its fairly standard Clarins pricing however for the results totally worth it in my opinion.  Only the smallest amount is needed for a full face and neck sweep and this bottle is still going strong 6 months post purchase however I must say I don't use this everyday.  This being my good skin in a bottle skin saviour of the moment means I whip it out in dire times of need and am never left disappointed!

Beauty from the inside...

I felt like blogging today! Now that hasn't happened in a very long time... So I figured while the mood was right I should just run with it!
I haven't done a healthy eating post in a very long while so I figured why not start there! I've always believed that while a good skincare regime is important its equally as important if not more to feed yourself from within.  I know I bang on about it a lot in my health posts but if it feels good on the inside, it'll show on the outside.

Drink lots of water! Water helps aid digestion, helps keep your body well hydrated, works wonders for glowy skin and has 0 calories!  If you're like me and don't think water tastes as good as a can of diet coke try adding some fresh fruit to your bottle of water and popping it in the fridge to keep it nice and fresh.  My favourites are lemon slices, strawberry and kiwi chunks and blueberries for that extra antioxidant hit!  Drinking a glass of water half an hour before your meal will ensure you probably eat a bit less and having another glass half an hour after your meal will help aid digestion.

Don't skip breakfast! It sounds so simple but it really really helps!  Eating a well balanced healthy breakfast will keep you going until lunchtime, it'll stop you from craving sugar and fats mid morning and give you all the energy you need to achieve your full potential rather than feeling lethargic and grouchy like I often did.  My favourite breakfast choices have become porridge oats with 1% milk topped with blueberries and sometimes a cheeky banana if I'm feeling devilish or A slice of wheat free toast topped with rocket leaves, poached egg and sliced smoked salmon....mmmm delish!

Freeze your fruits! Buying larger fruits or fruits in bulk means you can freeze what you don't eat immediately, frozen fruits taste great in smoothies or just as they are as a refreshing hit and it means you don't waste what doesn't get eaten the day you buy them.

Switch to Coconut Oil! The apparent benefits to this new wonder product are endless so obviously I had to jump on the Coconut Oil bandwagon!  Now I've not been cooking with it long enough to sing its praises too much just yet but according to the numerous articles that have popped up recently the possibilities are endless with this product.  You can cook with it, cleanse your face with it, condition your hair with it, moisturize your body with it as well as it's endless digestive and medicinal properties.  I'll leave you to make your minds up about this one for now while I continue to test it out.

Until next time
Ciao  

Neal's Yard Remedies Skincare...

Hey there Beautifuls,

I apologise for the slight absence from the blogging world but yet again life has just gotten in the way a bit...you know how it is...work, sleep, more work, It's been tough (poor me!)

I recently instagram'ed ( esjaym for those that would like to add me, I am however a private user so I will have to approve) a pic of some skincare I was contemplating on a shopping trip and this is what I ended up picking up on my travels...

I've been using the Vitamin E and Avocado Night Cream every night for about a week now which isn't really long enough to give an in depth and full on review but so far...I'm loving it.  It glides on the skin and feels really rich and silky but sinks into the skin really quickly and doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy or oily.  It's really soothing for dry sensitive skin but claims to be aimed at all skin types.  This jar contains 50g and I got this on sale for £10 however RRP is £24 I think so a bit of a bargain there.

The Power Berry Facial mask was a bit of a spur of the moment thing but again, from the few times I've used it I'm impressed.  Again it's very soothing on the skin but has a sticky, tacky texture which is quite weird when slathering on the face.  It has tiny berry seeds which act as a very gentle exfoliator which my sensitive skin enjoys thoroughly.  When applying it should be on a dry face which feels really sticky and gooey and frankly a bit weird but that's ok, we all like a bit of weird if it's good for our skin right? However when washing off the water turns the product milky and really silky feeling on the skin and washes off like a dream leaving radiant, clean, fresh skin which doesn't feel at all tight.  This little jar is priced at £10 normally but again I picked this up in the sale for half price.  I've used this 3 times so far and have used about a third of the jar so I'd estimate a good 9-10 uses of this as you only need a thin layer.

I hope these little reviews were helpful for you.  I'm very fond of Neal's Yard skincare, they smell gorgeous and luxurious and feel really beneficial for the skin.  Has anyone tried anything from Neal's Yard? Any recommendations?

Until Next Time

Ciao for now
xoxox

Review...No7 Melting Gel Cleanser

Hey there Beautifuls,  I have a quick review for you guys as you can guess from the title, It's the Boots No7 Melting Gel Cleanser for Normal to Dry skin.

Boots say...'The first step to beautiful skin is effective cleansing. Specially formulated to effectively clear away dirt and impurities, No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser leaves dry complexions feeling as soft and supple as normal skin.'

'The gel develops into a non-drying oil to protect the skin’s natural moisture levels and hydrate dry areas at the same time. It then changes into a light milk formula for easier rinsing, so skin is left residue-free and totally refreshed. What’s more, it’s enriched with rosehip oil to really lock in moisture and offer a fuss-free approach to truly tailored skincare.'

My thoughts? I like it but I'm not blown away... It does feel nice on the skin but used on a full face of makeup it only removes approximately 75% of the makeup (It tends to struggle with mascara and eyeliner) However used with a muslin cloth (if you have you're own because this isn't designed to be a hot cloth cleanser) you dont experience the panda eye problem so much.

You only need a small amount and the transformation from gel to milky texture is gentle on the skin and good for those with dry and sensitive skin like mine, however it does have a floral scent which can be quite over powering so if you don't like scented skincare products then I'd suggest stearing well clear of this...that being said it's in no way an unpleasant scent.

The best thing about this cleanser is the lovely soft supple feeling of your skin after you've cleansed, it doesn't leave a residue on the skin but it does feel moisturised yet clean at the same time.

This retails in Boots stores for £9 however with the infamous £5 off vouchers lurking around at present you can pick this up for £4 if you're quick.

Does anyone have any skin care recommendations? or anyone tried any of the other new No7 skincare range please let me know...

Thanks for stopping by, Ciao For Now World

xoxox