I’ve long been a fan of the “double cleansing” method, especially on “makeup days” – cleansing once to remove makeup, and a second time to actually cleanse the skin. So I was pretty intrigued to see this range in Boots, which advocates an oil or “pre-cleansing” step.

Una Brennan is a pretty big deal in facialist circles in London, having built up an amazing reputation for herself over the past 17 years, so it’s great to see a diffusion range from her available in Boots. The range carries three lines – Rose to cleanse, hydrate and calm, Tea Flower to deep cleanse, balance and mattify, and Neroli for anti-ageing, firming and plumping, and is all meant to be suitable for sensitive skin, and all skin-types.

I picked up the “Rose Hydrate Miracle Makeover Facial Oil” in my local Boots for £14.99 (the range is currently exclusive to Boots and Boots.com) – Boots currently have a 3 for 2 offer on all skincare so this is a good time to go and pick this up if you do want it. The range includes face masks, cleansers, scrubs and moisturisers and is priced between £7.99 for the cleansers and £16.99 for the Neroli night cream.

The rose oil is recommended to use as a “pre-cleanse”, AKA, step one of a double cleanse – it recommends warming between the hands, applying and massaging, before removing with a muslin cloth or flannel, and then following with a cream cleanser from the range. I’ve been following these instructions but following up with my Trilogy Rose cleanser (review HERE) because I still have half a bottle to get through of that, and didn’t see the point of buying another rose cream cleanser yet. The oil can also be used in smaller quantities as a hydrating treatment, massaged in before applying moisturiser, but I haven’t used it in this way.

Now, as you might have spotted from the pictures, this is quite a small bottle of oil (30mls) when you compare it with other oil cleansers. However, unlike many oil cleansers, this appears to contain no mineral oil,and is a blend of pure oils including rose, avocado, raspberry and petchouli in a carrier or sunflower seed oil, so is much less pore clogging, and is made from quality ingredients. I was however worried that given the size of the bottle, I would go through this in about a week, which would make it a bit of an expensive cleanser…

This is however a bit different than other oil cleansers I have used – initially when you pump it out of the bottle it feels like it has quite a thick consistency, however, as you warm it up by rubbing it between the palms, it gains a thinner consistency when it hits body temp, which means it spreads quite well – I’ve found that one to two pumps, depending on how much makeup I have on is adequate, so this little bottle is lasting well – I don’t wear makeup every single day though, so obviously take that into account when weighing up a purchase.

The other difference is that this doesn’t emulsify like other oil cleansers I have tried when you add water to it – you really do need a cloth to remove it. On the plus side, this means that the oil can be used to massage whilst cleansing, which is never a bad thing – if you need a few pointers as to how to do a facial massage, check out this post by Caroline Hirons. The downside is of course, that you do need to be a little more thorough when removing it, as this doesn’t just rinse off.

As a cleanser though, this does a really good job, and dissolves all the makeup I use on a regular basis including waterproof mascara. And although I’ve harped on about this needing to be removed with a cloth, that’s no big deal as I use a muslin cloth anyway. This also a very hydrating and conditioning cleanser – it leaves my skin feeling soft, and comfortable, with no dryness at all, and I haven’t noticed any issues with congestion/breakouts other than those my skin already had before

This is my first foray into this range, and it’s definitely got my interest – I’m extremely likely to also try the Neroli oil, as well as the Rose Mask in the future.

Cruelty Free? As far as I can tell the range is cruelty free, although there is no information on the superfacialist site regarding this.

Ahhh, I do feel sorry for some of the people that most arrive at these occasional “Cheap Thrill” posts for reasons other than beauty reviews…

Anyway. I have recently decided that I need to make face-masks a more regular part of my routine because my skin often looks dehydrated, stressed and even a wee bit congested. Like most beauty bloggers though, I am a fickle type (you know it’s true. Otherwise why do we have a drawer full of taupe eyeshadows?) so I like trying lots of different ones. Sure, I have my staples, but, it’s always nice to try new things.

Cue the Montagne Jeunesse range – I found these in my local Home and Bargain shop on a 3 for £2 offer, but you can also pick them up in Boots or Superdrug for £1 each.

One of the three I picked up was this Strawberry Souffle Moisturising and Purifying mask, as I thought it might deal with both the congestion and dehydration issues I have with my skin at the moment.

I like the fact that these masks come in handy pouches – that makes them great for a one-off try, so if your skin is acting out of character a bit, you can pick one up which fits your needs at the time, and they are also great for travel. Also happy to see that the range is BUAV approved, and suitable for vegetarians.

The ingredients list is a mixture of natural and chemical sounding concoctions – I am no good at interpreting these, but if that’s your thing then;

The mask itself is a very pale pink concoction and has strawberry seeds in it, and it has a good consistency – spreadable, not too thick, not too thin, and one pouch is just the right amount for one application in each pouch.

The mask is designed to be left on for around 15 -20 minutes before you remove. I personally didn’t keep a check on the time, but just left it on while I read a couple of magazines, and started feeling like it was hardening up a little bit, like clay masks do. After this time, added a bit of water to loosen it a little, then removed with a muslin cloth.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this mask – after removal my skin felt really smooth and nicely hydrated. I applied a layer of moisturiser and it sank in really well.  few hours later and I still felt like my skin was lovely and smooth. As far as dealing with congestion, my skin looked a bit less blotchy, but obviously one mask isn’t going to pull out every blemish in one go (indeed, you wouldn’t actually want it to!).

So, overall, a very impressive first run with this brand (can you believe, I’ve never tried this range before?!), and one I’d definitely pick up again.

Cruelty Free? Yep – BUAV approved, suitable for vegetarians.

What other mask for dehydrated or dry but congested skin types would you recommend?

Apologies for the late posting on this one… recently life has been trying to trip me up, and I’ve taken a bit of time to steady myself again.

September’s Glossybox is a very very pretty looking box indeed, with a lovely redesign from illustrator Maggie Li – you can view her rather charming website HERE.

I personally LOVE when Glossybox do these special edition boxes – I still have their eco style box from several months ago – I decant my samples into it to dip into – This box is super pretty, and I’ll definitely find a use for it…

So, lovely box (ooh Matron!), but what about the contents, so to speak?

The September box is based on the theme of “Rising Stars”, and mine contained the following;

Lady Gaga “Fame” Fragrance Sample – Often perfume samples get a mixed reception, but personally I don’t mind them – I’m unlikely to ever purchase a fragrance based on receiving a sample, but they are a nice way to try new fragrances. Plus, they can be chucked in your smalls drawer to keep things smelling nice when you are done with them. I wasn’t massively sure what to expect from this fragrance, what with all the buzz about it containing chemicals based on Gaga’s various secretions (delightful as I hear they are, that seems a bit of an “Ick” thought to me…). People also seem amazed by the fact that this is black (Apparently it is “Black like the soul of fame” – make of that what you will!), but to me this seems slightly gimmicky. What matters with perfume is how is smells, and this is not as unpleasant as it might have been – on first sniffing this has quite a blackcurranty fruity whiff, but then settles down to something more floral, but it has a peppery vibe to it that I’m personally not a fan of.

Rodial Sachets – two sachets of “Glamoxy Snake Serum”, and two sachets of “Five Minute Facial”. I’m not hugely excited about these, as I have a feeling the range is not cruelty free (the lack of information about their testing policy on the website is a bit of a giveaway), so I am unlikely to use or purchase them – my sister may enjoy them, as she is the likely recipient of these

L’Oreal Techni Art Volume Mousse and Smoothing Gel-Creme – Again, not overwhelmed with these as L’Oreal are definitely not cruelty free, and a brand I avoid when shopping. Decent sized samples, and I am sure I will be able to find someone to take these off my hands. Apparently these made the box as they were used backstage at LFW recently.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream – Love the Body Shop, love their vitamin E range, so I’ll definitely use this for travel. Just a little bit puzzled as to why this is is in a “Rising Star” box, as this has been around for longer than me (possibly, but you get the point…). A decent sized sample,and I know my skin likes this cream on dry winter days. I also love the smell of it – it’s like baby powder for big girls (and boys)

Balance Me “Wonder Eye Cream” – For me the most exciting product in the box, as I have yet to try anything from this line which is both cruelty free, and based more on natural ingredients and less on unpronouncable nasties. Again a decent sized sample, and I have tried this a couple of times – it sinks in easily, however obviously to see any real benefits or otherwise, I’d need a longer time-frame for testing. This has a lovely scent too.

So, overall a bit of a mixed review – love the box, but the contents were not the best for me on a personal level. What were your thoughts on this month’s box?

Want your own Glossybox? You can subscribe to this monthly sample service HERE for £10/month plus P&P.

Disclaimer – PR sample.

This seems to be a bit of a marmite product in the beauty community at the moment – bloggers are either raving about this or feel distictly underwhelmed by it. I recently took advantage of a sale on escentual, where they have 33% off french pharmacy brands until the end of September, so although this RRPs for £9.50, I got it for £6.27…

Nuxe are a cruelty free brand, although this particular balm contains honey, making it not suitable for vegans. It has decent “natural beauty” credentials, with 79.5% ingredients of natural origin, and is paraben free.

The pot contains a decent 15g/0.52oz of product. Packaging wise, this is a lovely product which comes in a weighty glass jar with a sturdy screw top lid. It has a nice feel in the hand (a poncy term, but the correct one here…)

The first thing I noticed about this product is the smell – I expected this to have a really sweet honey smell, and almost expected to dislike it or find it a little sickly, however, it has a really gorgeous citrussy scent due to the presence of grapefruit oil, which is not too sharp because the honey mellows it a little, but nowhere near the point of sickliness. The second thing that struck me was the texture, which is very thick and matte – I have heard other bloggers and youtubers describe this as almost gritty – I didn’t feel any grittiness in the texture of mine, however it is very thick, and unlike a lot of other balm products doesn’t change texture on reaching body temperature. This has advantages and disadvantages – the thick texture means that the product sits on the lips, and has a very very long lasting power – I apply this at night and it still feels like it is there in the morning. However the downside of this is that you might not like the feel of such a thick product on the lips. The other thing to consider is the effect of this under lipstick – I personally feel that the matte texture of this would make a great base for lip products with a more matte texture, which are often harder to pull off.

In terms of moisturising properties, this is not the most moisturising lip product I have ever used, however it is significantly better than products such as vaseline, which simply form a greasy layer on the lips but don’t seem to add any actual moisture. This is a balm which to me would act as a good protectant against dehydration of the lips during particularly colder weather, so would be perfect for the winter. This would also work well as a protective layer over a more penetrative lip product to boost its moisturising powers

So, do I recommend this? Well, really, that depends on what type of lip balm texture and properties you are after. If you like a shiny glossy look, which is not necessarily the longest lasting, then this might not be for you. If alternatively you are after a long lasting, protective and longer lasting balm, and you like matte textures this may be worth a try. Personally I like it and am confident I will get a lot of use out of it this winter.

Is it just me or is is starting to feel like we’re getting a bit autumnal now? The closing ceremony of the Paralympic games seems to have prompted rotten weather up North – it has, to use the vernacular, pissed down, for much of the day. So here we go. Soon I’ll be getting the winter duvet out, and cracking open the hot water bottle.

Needless to say, I’m also already noticing changes in my skin, namely that it’s feeling drier and a bit more sensitive. The cooler weather does have a plus point as I can slather on more luxurious and rich products to pamper my skin without just feeling hot and bothered. Autumn and Winter are the seasons of the richest body oils and body butters…

Now NEOM organics are probably best known for their fragranced candles (rightly so – those bad boys are lovely, and they last for ages!), but they also do a nice line in body care – including hand creams, bath oils and body oils.

The Moroccan Blush Rose body oil has a gorgeous rose scent (obviously), but it’s lifted by the addition of black pepper and lime, to give it a slightly more refreshing vibe than a lot of other rose scented products. As you’d expect from a premium range, the packaging is lovely – it has definite bathroom shelf appeal this one, the glass bottle is simple in design, but has a lovely design embossed onto it.

The oil also has impressive skin friendly and natural claims;

This oil contains 97% certified organic ingredients – which is always preferable when you’re applying directly to the skin.

After showering, I pat down my skin with a towel, leaving it slightly damp, and then apply this – a little goes a long way, but I find this to generally be the case with oils… It sinks in well, and leaves me feeling hydrated. The NEOM site reviews praise this for reducing stretch marks, but I can’t attest to this! I love that this doesn’t leave me feeling sticky or tacky for ages after applying. Lovely.

NEOM body oils are available in various formula’s and retail at £30 for 100ml, from the NEOM website, as well as various other online retailers.

Have you tried any of the NEOM line?

Disclaimer – PR sample. 

While I’m all for paying more for high end products that actually work, nothing makes me happier than finding a product on the high street that does a fantastic job and lives up to its claims.

So I was really very happy when, after picking this up on a whim in Boots on a three for two type offer recently, I found that after a few uses it actually did make a difference to my feet.

At £5.50 for a 125ml tube, this doesn’t break the bank, but Soap & Glory is so often on offer in Boots that you can often pick this up for virtually nothing.

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with my feet – as in I love to hate them. I’m the least likely person ever to develop a foot fetish (seriously, never EVER try to suck my toe seductively – it’s actually not going to ever happen – and as for expecting me to suck yours? Are you on crack!?). My feet are functional, and I try to make them look reasonable especially in sandal weather, because I hate looking at other people’s dry heels so I feel duty bound to spare them the same. I also paint my toenails religiously, because I dislike seeing mine bare, plus you know, every little helps.

So now we all know where we stand (geddit), I’ll crack on with the review eh?

This is a thick cream, which is pale blue in colour, and has a light citrus-fruity smell, which I find pleasant enough. The tube directs that this is applied at night and advises that cotton socks be donned overnight to maximise its efficacy. Now, the fact that this is an overnight treatment is a Good Thing in my view – I can’t be doing with slippery greasy feet in the daytime, and I like the fact that this is put on last thing at night and any residual greasiness is washed off in the morning. As for the cotton socks thing, that is a minor irritation if you get hot feet at night I suppose, but it’s worth putting up with that a couple of times a week for heels that look a LOT more presentable…

The cream has a fairly thick consistency, but absorbs pretty quickly into the skin, although it does leave skin feeling a bit tacky – this is where cotton socks are a bonus, because a quick toddle to the bathroom to wash hands after applying doesn’t leave the place covered in greasy footprints. On the subject of cotton socks though, I often hear it mentioned that any cream under cotton socks will have a positive effect on feet – this may be true to some extent, but in my experience, the effects from the Soap & Glory cream used in this manner seem longer lasting than the “any old body lotion under a pair of socks overnight” method.

The cream contains Glycerin, which helps skin retain moisture, and “Fruit Acid Smoothers” – Now, I can’t attest to the science behind these smoothers, but gentle acids such as lactic acid and fruit acid seems to be a good method of getting rid of dead skin cells, the likes of which can be found in abundance on my heels.

This is a great foot cream, although lets be realistic – you’ll still need to file off the dead skin once a week and maintain a routine using this a couple of times a week, or your beautifully soft heels will revert to looking like a horror film monster soon. Also, I can’t say I’d be comfortable recommending this for use on heels so bad that they are actually cracked – the fruit acids might irritate them and make the problem worse. But for the average pair of trotters that need a bit of TLC, I can wholeheartedly recommend this.

Have you tried this cream? What did you think?

I’m a fan of cream cleansers, and find that they suit my dehydrated to slightly dry skin better than foam or gel formula’s which leave me with attractive dry patches. I also like creamy formula’s as they force me to use my muslin cloths and/or face flannels (delete as appropriate), of which I seem to have amassed a fair collection, which would sit unused and unloved otherwise. This would be a shame really, as I do find my skin benefits from regular manual exfoliation with a cloth. I am also a fan of oil cleansers, and I like the idea of balms, however I am often wary that they will be full of mineral oils, and I don’t fancy the idea of smothering my skin with a waste product of the petrochemical industry!

A fellow blogger kindly sent me this cleanser to try, as she found it didn’t suit her, as she disliked the rose scent.

So, as you can see, this cream comes in a pump bottle (the bottle is glass, and obviously recyclable). The pump is pretty good actually – the amount  in one pump seems like a perfect amount to cleanse the face with.

Ingredients wise this is packed with natural oils and non GMO ingredients – including organic rosehip, almond, jojoba and carrot oils. The range is cruelty free and supports ethical and fair trade practices, which earns it bonus points in my book.

All that is very well and good, but does this work? Does it set itself apart from other cream cleansers?

This cleanser claims to “gently wash away makeup (including eye makeup)and impurities without drying or disrupting natural pH levels leaving skin feeling smoother, softer and beautifully refreshed”.

I’ve tried this on days when I’ve been wearing makeup and on days I’ve been makeup free. The cleanser can either be tissued off or removed with a cloth – I definitely prefer this method – I think it’s probably psychological, but for me, tissue-ing off a cleanser never actually leaves me feeling properly clean…

As far as the claims above, it definitely leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed without feeling stripped in any way. It removes the majority of makeup well – I would quibble with it’s claims that it removes eye makeup, as I usually found that I needed to cleanse twice to remove all traces of mascara and eye liner properly. However, unlike some cream cleansers, I didn’t find this irritated my eye area at all. Considering I usually do find that eye makeup is hard to shift and I am a proponent of double cleansing if I have worn makeup, the eye makeup thing isn’t a deal breaker for me, but I can see it would annoy some people, especially given the price of this cleanser… It’s also worth mentioning that I wouldn’t describe myself as a “heavy makeup” wearer – this easily deals with medium coverage liquid foundation, mineral foundation, blushers and eye shadows – I’m not sure how well this would work with heavier full coverage style products.

I love the texture of this cleanser – not too runny, and not too thick, which basically means that you can work the product really well into the skin and get a thorough cleanse – I often find that if a cream cleanser is too thin, it can feel like it’s being absorbed by my skin (probably due to its near permanent state of being dehydrated), whereas if its too thick it can feel like it is smothering and clogging up my skin, and is difficult to spread over the face.

It retails at £22.50 for 200mls – the size shown in the picture. This for me places this very definitely in the high-end bracket price wise for cleansers, and so it would have to be a treat rather than a routine purchase. I’d expect the bottle to last around three to four months given that in six weeks I’ve used somewhere between a third and a half of the bottle

The smell may also be a factor for some – it has a creamy rose scent which I personally like, but this may be a factor worth considering.

Would I repurchase? I actually really love this cleanser, but the high price point means that I might not be able to afford it on a regular basis, however should I be feeling particularly flush and in search of a new cleanser, or I had masses of Boots advantage points, then this is definitely one I would consider.

I’d recommend this for drier skintypes – this is a gentle cleanser which I actually feel would benefit most skintypes, even oilier skins, however personal preference may mean that you dislike cream cleansers… I’d also say if you are sensitive to fragrances (even though the fragrance in this is from natural oils) that you might want to check out the ingredients list. I’d also recommend this if you are a fan of cream cleansers, but like your skin to feel clean and fresh after cleansing.

The Trilogy Cream Cleanser is available in larger Boots stores, as well as Boots online HERE.

I have also reviewed another Trilogy product HERE. Have you tried anything from this range? What are your thoughts?

Hot weather calls for a drastic increase in sunscreen when you are as “pale and interesting” as I am. I hate the feel of heavy creams on my face during hot weather though, so I try to find creams and lotions that double up with a decent level of SPF in them. I do struggle in hot weather as I have dry and often dehydrated skin, but in hot weather I just find that I’ll sweat SPF off (an attractive thought I know…).

I’ve been using two creams this summer, both of which I rate, so thought I’d share!

I picked up the Natio moisturiser in Tesco, after my local branch had a big revamp and added a bigger and better beauty section which included some great natural and organic brands. I picked this up as I liked the look of the brand, the packaging, and the SPF 30 plus rating.

This contains rosehip, lavender and lemon – its easily absorbed but hydrates my skin well – I suspect that this would be too heavy for oilier skin types. I took this on holiday with me recently, and it worked well even in very hot weather – I can vouch for its SPF qualities too, as I didn’t experience any facial burning at all, and this was pretty much all I used on my face. I do tend to avoid sitting in strong sunshine though when I’m on holiday…

My skin felt sufficiently well hydrated without any oily or greasy residue, and I didn’t experience any breakouts whilst using it – and I do continue to use this.

I actually liked the scent of this lotion, but if you are particularly averse to either rose or lavender then this might not be the cream for you.

This cost me around £12-13 in Tesco.

I also like the Body Shop Vitamin C daily moisturiser, which is £11 and available instore and online.

This has a slightly lighter texture than the Natio so would suit a more wide range of skintypes. This is the one I go for when I feel like I need something really light. I love the scent of this one, which is light and citrussy, and the ease with which this sinks in. I also like the fact that this does seem to leave my skin looking a little less dull with repeated use. As to the SPF – I can’t say I’m as confident with this one, but that’s literally because I picked this up after I came back from my holiday – It works fine in the UK though, and acts as a decent sunscreen. It may be that the slightly thicker texture of the Natio one makes me psychologically believe that it works better as a sunscreen though!

What are your favourite SPF containing daily moisturisers?

Disclaimer – both items were purchased by me.