Favourite Skincare

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner

- Vicki 8 Comments
Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner

As most of you are aware British skincare brand Merumaya have been a favourite of mine for a while now, they’re always expanding their range with innovative and affordable products. The Gentle Exfoliating Toner is their latest offering and once again they have produced an affordable product that rivals even the more expensive brands.

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner* £17.50

I always like to use a toner as part of my skincare regime so I was very excited to start using this new Exfoliating Toner and see what the results were. The packaging is much like the rest of the Merumaya range which is simple and user-friendly The product itself is packed full of active ingredients some of which give immediate results and others that are more effective when used over a period of time, I have learned that skincare isn’t always about those instant gains but often about looking after your skin every day in order to see long-term positive results.

I will let Merumaya explain the most scientific stuff,

  • Natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) to gently yet effectively peel away dead skin, detoxify, cleanse and refine pores to reveal fresh smooth skin. It contains a complex of moisturising active ingredients to prevent skin drying out after the exfoliation.
  • Natural AHA’s Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are proven to act as exfoliants, loosening and removing the top layer of dead cells by decreasing corneocyte adhesion. This reveals the new skin cells below. Natural AHA Complex provides a superficial peel action resulting in an improved surface appearance for a fresher, smoother look to the skin. AHAs help to remove dry skin and can be useful in treating blemished or problem skin, unblocking and cleansing pores.
  • Hyaluronic Acid is highly prized for excellent hydration which helps provide plumpness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Natural Betaine is an osmoregulator manages water balance in skin cells. It can hold 1.6 times its own weight in water. It hydrates and softens the surface of the skin resulting in a soft and even finish.

I found this toner to be very gentle despite their being acid in this product, so don’t be put off by that. The acid is great for gently removing the dead skin, dirt and stubborn makeup you may have missed when cleansing. Removing this build up on a regular basis keeps your skin clean, evens out skin tone and helps your skin look more radiant.

Reducing the build-up of dirt also stops your pores getting clogged up which helps reduce blemishes and blackheads. I have noticed my skin feels softer, smoother and fresher.

This 128ml bottle will last a good amount of time because you only need a small amount each time and the dispenser is good at only allowing a little product out at a time.

Once again Merumaya has made a product that will work on all skin types and that you can afford to repurchase time and time again. Let me know if you have any favourites from the Merumaya range, I would also recommend trying their Melting Cleansing Balm and the Iconic Youth Serum.

What I also love about Merumaya is their focus on promoting #BeautyHasNoAge – so their products are not focused or targeted at Anti Aging but feeling positive about our age and embracing the changes that happen as we grow older. I love this positive message and Maleka, the incredible lady behind the brand has made a video all about it which I encourage you to watch.

*PR Sample

Products Currently in Use #2

- Vicki 2 Comments
Products Currently in Use

Products Currently in Use

So I’ve used up almost all of the products in my last ‘Currently In Use‘ post & thought it was time to switch things up and add in a few new products. I love switching up my skincare and consciously looking at my stash and rotating products, it means I use up more things and discover some gems that have been languishing at the back of the cupboard. These are just four products I have added to my routine, I do use more than this but these are the latest additions.

DHC Pore Face Wash

I have tried a couple of skincare products from DHC and never been disappointed, this is a Foaming Cleanser but don’t be put off by that, It is sulphate free and won’t strip or dry out your skin. It’s gentle but effective at removing makeup and dirt so your pores are not enlarged by dirt, I wouldn’t say it reduced my pores but its very good at unclogging them and helping remove dirt and excess sebum. This cleanser is also a gentle exfoliator and ‘has been blended with two caring exfoliants: pear juice alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) which help refine the complexion, and softly abrasive baking soda which dissolves dirt and eliminates impurities’.

This cleanser leaves my skin feeling refreshed, clean and looking radiant, oh and Its has a light grapefruit scent which is nice and uplifting. I use this at night and you need the smallest amount, honestly a pea-sized amount, you will be surprised at how much it lathers up. Another fantastic product from DHC, it’s easy to see why they’re one of Japans best selling brands.

balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm

I love using balm cleansers and they’re my favourite way to remove my makeup and this one from balance Me has gone right to the top of my favourites. Not only is it a fantastic balm cleanser but it has tiny oat powder in too which act as a very gentle exfoliator so your skin is not only left extremely clean but it’s also polished and smooth. Love a good two in one! This has a thick balm consistency but it feels so nice to massage over the skin and really break down the makeup remove all the dirt and grime from the day. It’s great for both Normal & Sensitive skin

  • Normal skin: Shea, Mango and Cocoa Butters dissolve make-up and deeply hydrate, creating a radiant, balanced complexion for all skin types.
  • Sensitive skin: Rosehip Oils help to soothe sensitivities and encourage healthy cell renewal.

This has been getting a lot of use since looked it out & my skin has never felt as smooth and soft. This is a great affordable cleanser and if you’re looking for a new balm cleanser then look no further!

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash*

This smells like a luxurious spa or a summer holiday to Italy, it’s beautiful and when I use it in the morning my whole house smells incredible. With foaming agents derived from soap bark, corn and coconut plus soothing organic oats it leaves my skin smooth and hydrated. This massive bottle will last me until this time next year, I have been using it every morning for over a month and it still feels like its full to the brim. It contains ‘Naturally active ingredients include organic oats, natural source vitamin E, plus orange flower water and ten pure essential oils to lift spirits and delicately scent the skin.’ It’s the perfect uplifting product, its crazy how a scent can affect your mood & these citrus aromas are so nice and refreshing. I’d say this product is indulgent by so very worth it.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

This product comes as a dry powder which you mix with water in your hands and massage over your face. It’s not grainy or abrasive but turns into a paste-like consistency. It smells like porridge which is strangely nice and familiar (I eat porridge every morning). This is meant to be used after you have cleansed, but I have used it in the morning & only used this, it left my face clean and smooth.

  • Rice Bran and Rice extract gently microfoliate skin surface to facilitate penetration of the brightening complex.
  • Papain Enzyme and Salicylic Acid help dissolve excess surface cells.
  • Skin Brightening Complex of Licorice, Aspergillus and Grapefruit helps even skin tone.

I have used this 3 times over the past couple of weeks, I’m not 100% sure if its a product I need in my skincare routine. Especially as the DHC & balance me products also have exfoliating qualities. I think I will do a more in-depth review of it once I have been using it a little longer.

Let me know if you have used any of the products in my current line up or let me know what new skincare you have added to your routine.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Range

- Vicki 6 Comments
The Body Shop Vitamin C Skincare

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skincare

Over the years (many years) I have used almost all of the skincare ranges from The Body Shop but the Vitamin C Range for some reason I hadn’t ever tried and I am kicking myself for not giving it a go sooner. The Vitamin C range is formulated to give your skin a boost of hydration giving it a gorgeous energising glow. I have been putting it to the test over the past 2 months and I’m absolutely smitten with the range. Earlier this year The Body Shop added two new products to this range, the first being

Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser* £16.00

This is such a lightweight water based moisturiser – it feels like a gel and I was very surprised at how quickly it absorbed into my skin, it was almost instantly. I like to use this in the morning because it’s a great way to give your tired skin a boost of hydration making it look and feel plumped and the Vitamin C helps your skin look glowing, making you look healthy and more awake. The zesty citrus scent helps energise you too, it smells so fresh and uplifting!

The packaging feels and looks luxurious, it’s in a weighty orange glass jar with a black lid, its sturdy and really good quality too.

There is no SPF in this which I know a few people are disappointed with but I like to apply a separate SPF every day so it’s not a problem for me but just something to note if you’re looking to use this as your daytime moisturiser. After using it almost daily for 2 months my skin feels smooth and is looking radiant. Its a welcomed addition to my skincare routine.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Range

Being someone that has quite naturally dull skin I welcome any product that promises to give me a natural glow – most of the time the products end up being a little disappointing but The Body Shop seem to have hit the nail on the head with both these new releases. The second new addition to the Vitamin C Range is,

Vitamin C Instant Glow Enhancer* £14.00

I like to use this on top of my moisturiser, it has quite a creamy texture but it’s not heavy or greasy and to my surprise, it has a really flattering peachy tint to it. I apply this mostly to the centre of my face, focusing on my forehead, nose & chin as this is great at blurring pores and fine lines making my skin look smooth as well as giving it a slight peachy glow. You see instant results with this product, it really helps combat the signs of fatigue and is just the perfect base for your makeup.

Instant Glow Enhancer

It has a velvet finish and your makeup seems to glide on. It also helps keep my foundation in place and looking its best all day/night. There is no shimmer in this which I really like, it gives your skin more of a natural glow, the colour adjusts to your skin tone (like magic) evening out your skin tone and I love the blurring effect it gives the skin. I really like the tube packaging & the fact its bright orange and will be so handy to travel with or throw in your handbag for giving your skin a pick me up throughout the day. I also think its a great moisturiser too if you have oily skin, it adds another good layer of hydration to your skin which for me is always a good thing.

So this is a bit of a multi-tasker – a primer, lightweight moisturiser and tinted cream all in one. I really recommend trying this! Oh, & it also has the same zesty orange scent – smells good enough to eat.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skincare

Vitamin C Energising Face Mist* £10.00

This isn’t new but its new to me, I love using face mists and always have one on my desk but if I remember I do like to keep a couple in the fridge that makes them so refreshing and cooling especially in this crazy heat.

This face mist is an instant pick me up, it smells like oranges and it instantly cools the skin. Like the other products in this range it contains Camu Camu which is rich in vitamin C and aloe vera, so its hydrating, calming and helps boost the skin’s radiance. Its so nice on a warm day & you can spray on top of your makeup throughout the day to keep skin feeling fresh and hydrated.

I feel like The Body Shop has really stepped up their game over the past 18 months & are releasing some really great products. Let me know what products you have recently discovered from The Body Shop.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

5 Current Skincare Favourites

- Vicki 6 Comments
5 current skincare favourites

5 current skincare favourites

Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean Deep Cleansing Milk £8.00

I took this with me on my recent trip to Scotland & I used it every evening to cleanse off my makeup. It is a very gentle creamy cleanser that doesn’t dry out or strip your skin. It’s not amazing at removing eye makeup but I do tend to remove that with a micellar water first then just make sure its all off with the cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean and after 3 weeks of daily use my skin is looking bright and it hasn’t broken me out. This cleanser smells incredible and sweet and I have been surprised at how much I have liked using it as I tend to use a cleansing oil but this has been a nice alternative. It’s also so handy having the pump dispenser & this is the larger 200ml bottle so will last forever.

Balance Me Radiance Mask £18.00

I like to use this mask in the morning (when I have time). It has a thick creamy consistency with fine exfoliating walnut shells which you smooth over the skin & leave it to work its magic. You then massage it off lightly letting the fine walnut shells exfoliate your skin, to reveal smooth, hydrated & radiant skin. I promise your skin will feel so smooth after using this. Balance Me say you can use this product in two ways – if you’re in a rush then you can use it as a face wash or if you have time on your side you sit back, relax and use it as a treatment mask. I do like a multi-purpose product. This product removes dead skin, replenishes lost moisture and soothes & smooths your skin. I love it!

Vichy Idealia Eye Cream* 23.00

This is the perfect eye cream if your skin is dehydrated & fatigued but the first thing I have to talk about is the really cool applicator, It’s a silicone spatula & the product comes out of a little hole in the centre. It makes applying the eye cream very hygienic and really easy. This cream has quite a thick creamy consistency, so if you’re looking for a really nourishing hydrating eye cream then this is for you. It does take a couple of minutes to absorb but once it has you’re left with smooth, hydrated and brighter looking skin. This cream helps reduce the signs of fatigue as it contains caffeine & is enriched with instant illuminators and a combination of DRM-Bright complex and vitaminB3. I think it has helped reduce puffiness and dark circles too. It wears well under concealer & foundation, although the formula is on the heavy side it isn’t greasy. I really like this as part of my morning routine & have used hardly any product even though I have been using it for a couple of months. If you’re on the hunt for a new eye cream give this a go!

ESPA Naturally Radiant Gradual Tan*

This is a brand new product from ESPA & a great addition to their range. It is a lightweight nourishing formula that is no fuss or mess, you simply apply it like a body lotion and leave it to work its magic. It gives your skin a gorgeous natural glow which develops over four hours and intensifies each day. The formula has a combination of Shea Butter, Coconut and Sweet Almond Oil which leave the skin feeling deeply hydrated and soft whilst Jasmine, Rosewood and Ylang Ylang essential oils leave your skin subtlety scented. I can 100% say this smells incredible.

La Roche Posay Micellar Water

This is a great gentle but effective micellar water. I use it to remove my eye makeup before cleansing & it even removes my Benefit Roller Lash, which is very stubborn. It has a very light scent to it but nothing overpowering and it never stings or irritates my eyes. So if you’re in the market for a new micellar water then this is a great option & now that it is stocked in many Boots stores it’s so easy to get hold of.

What skincare have you been enjoying lately & have I mentioned any of your favourites?

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.