A little TLC for your hands... Trouva's Meraki Linen Dew Hand Cream

These past few months I've been suffering really badly with eczema on my hands, particularly on the joints of the fingers and just under. I think it's probably the changing season and from all the central heating that's been on in the first quarter of the year. Usually it clears up but it seems to be lingering for a bit longer than usual. Usually my lanolin hand cream helps to soothe it but it doesn't seem to be doing such a good job this time around.

I've been using Hydrocortisone cream recently that I picked up from the chemist, which is helping, but inbetween applications I seem to have switched to a new hand cream to help soothe the itchy skin. Step in Trouva's Meraki's Linen Dew Hand Cream.

Trouva is an online collective of independent boutiques and it recently introduced Meraki to its virtual shelves, which is a Denmark-based brand specialising in skincare products with a Scandinavian aesthetic. The products use natural perfumes, basic oils and organic vitamins and all of its products are without parabens, colorants, endocrine disrupting substances and SLS. They only contain mild preservatives and are vegan-friendly.

As you can see from the packaging this has a very simplistic feel and a slight Aesop/Antipodes look to it. I'm a big fan of the simple style and typography and I'm an even bigger fan of the product itself. I've found in the past that hand creams with perfumes irritate my hands more so the fact this is very gentle and natural is a big plus.

The hand cream itself combines sunflower and chamomile with a scent of fresh mint. It's super refreshing and you get a nice whiff of mint every time you use it. It's non-greasy and soaks into the hands nice and quickly, leaving them lovely and moisturised. The hand cream also has antibacterial properties so my hands feel super clean after use too.

I've found myself reaching for this over and over and I have even taken to popping it in my bag so I can use it on the move. It's great for keeping my dry skin well moisturised and keeping the itchiness away. At £18.95 for 50ml this is definitely more than I would usually spend on a hand cream but it will certainly last a long time and if it continues to leave my hands feeling as good as they have been recently, then it's definitely one I'll be purchasing myself.

Have you ever tried anything from Meraki? Let me know in the comments.

*This post contains a PR sample.

The battle of the pores with Bioré

For the past few months I've been waging a war against pores. I'm not sure when they appeared on my face, more specifically on my nose and chin, but they're quite visible and not very nice to look at when you get close. No matter what fancy skincare I've used, they haven't reduced in size or really cleared so it was time to bring the big guns out.

One day I was busy browsing my local Boots when I thought it was about time I picked up some Bioré products as they're specifically made to target pores. I've seen this brand on the shelves SO many times but always bypassed it in favour of something else. It doesn't help that it doesn't have a prime place on the shelf at eye level so probably often gets forgotten about. This time though I stopped and had a thorough look through. I decided on the deep cleansing pore strips and the Baking Soda Pore Cleanser.

The strips were £3.99 and the cleanser £3.49 so not too pricey that I'd be annoyed if they didn't work. I've been using the cleanser every other day and the pore strips once a week for the past three weeks or so and I'm already seeing improvements. When I used my first pore strip it managed to catch quite a lot of dirt and grime from my pores. If you know what a used pore strip looks like then you'll know how gross but intriguing it is! Having used three of the pore strips, I can already see that the pores on my nose are much clearer as there were a couple of blackheads there too, which have now disappeared. I feel like they're not as visible when I look in the mirror too. I'm going to keep going with the strips and make them a regular thing, which will hopefully help stop dirt building up.

As I mentioned I've been using the cleanser every other day in the mornings. I just wet my nose and chin areas and use a small amount, working it into the skin in circles. The inclusion of baking soda is pretty interesting. I actually thought it would be a lot like a harsh exfoliating scrub but it's actually really, really gentle and it washes away really easy. The pores on my chin have definitely cleared and aren't so visible anymore so I'm super impressed.

It just goes to show that the cheapest, sometimes more unknown products are definitely worth giving a try as they could work just as well, if not better, than something more pricey. I'm now really interested to try the Charcoal cleanser and pore strips as well as the all over face mask from the brand.

Have you tried anything from Bioré? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

On trial: Pixi Glow Tonic and Nourishing Cleansing Balm

I think the Pixi Glow Tonic* has become one of those products that absolutely every blogger has on their beauty shelf. It's one that has been raved about for years so I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to try it! I think I was slightly hesitant because it contains Glycolic acid and I was always under the impression that it was super scary and my skin would not take kindly to it. How wrong I was.

The orangey liquid of goodness only actually contains 5% Glycolic, which I didn't find particularly harsh on my skin at all. There is only ever a slight tingling/tightness sensation to the skin but I put that down to the product doing its thing and banishing all those horrible dead skin cells from my face. The inclusion of Aloe Vera and Ginseng really helps to sooth the skin and keep it feeling super soft and refreshed once applied.

I genuinely don't know what I was worried about when it came to using the Glow Tonic. It's actually a fab product and a good starting point for anyone like me who hasn't tried acidic facial toners before and might be slightly wary. £18 is more on the expensive side of what I usually pay for skincare but for something that leaves my skin feeling much more healthier and generally in a better condition, I really wouldn't mind paying (however on this occasion I was lucky to receive it for free!).

I've also been loving the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm*, which is another brand new experience for me. I've not tried a balm-to-oil cleanser before, choosing to stick with generic liquid make-up removers on a cotton pad, however this has been a bit of a revelation for me and has opened my eyes to a gentler, kinder way of removing make-up from my skin, especially around my eye area.

The 90ml tub of balm is huge and here's a bit of a tip, you only need a tiny amount of product, otherwise you'll be left with a little bit of a greasy face. It also helps to have a proper flannel/face cloth for removing to make sure you get absolutely all of it off.

Once I worked out the right amount of product to use I found that the balm was super kind to my skin and was a dream to use. It melts off make-up in a flash and didn't irritate my eye area at all so that's a big bonus. It contains Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, which leaves skin feeling really soft and moisturised and as a perfect base for moving onto your toner.

Beauty blogging is really all about discovering new products that work for you and even if, like me, you think a product might not be right it's always worth giving it a go because you might be pleasantly surprised. I'd definitely recommend Pixi's Glow Tonic and Cleansing Balm as it's been fab for me and a great starting point in regards to the Pixi skincare range, of which I can't wait to look into more.

Have you tried the Pixi Glow Tonic and Cleansing Balm? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains PR samples.

On trial: Lancer - The Method

Back in January I received the January Look Fantastic Beauty Box, which contained a little mini Lancer Polish. It wasn't a brand I had heard of before but I was in the market for some new skincare so thought I'd give it a little try. I was using it for a week or two and my skin was feeling fab after every use so when I was contacted and asked if I'd like to try the entire Lancer - The Method range, I couldn't refuse.

The Method, by Dr Lancer, focuses on stimulating the skin's epidermis, or upper-most layer of the skin, shifting the dermis into high gear. Cell turnover speeds up, more collagen and elastin are produced and skin visibly glows - the skin effectively begins to follow a more youthful cycle, becoming more resilient and younger looking! It is made up of 3 steps – Polish, Cleanse and Nourish.

Polish
The polish is an exfoliating scrub that should be used on a daily basis in order to speed up cell turnover and produce collagen. I use a small amount for each cheek, another little dollop for my chin and a tinier amount for my nose. My chin and nose have quite visible pores that I'm really keen to get rid of so I've been concentrating mostly on these areas, however, scrub-a-dub-dubbing the rest of my face won't hurt surely. I have quite sensitive skin but the scrub is really gentle and contains brown sea algae, which helps to moisturise. I simply remove the scrub with a cotton pad soaked in warm water and instantly my skin feels super smooth. It is definitely removing any impurities in my skin as small blemishes have appeared but they've cleared up pretty quickly. Now the scrub is battling any dead skin and keeping it lovely and refreshed.

Cleanse
The cleanser is a super silky formula, which removes any residual exfoliation debris left on the skin. I've actually been applying the cleanser with my Magnitone Cleansing Brush to make sure it really gets in deep into my skin to work its magic. The cleansing product has a PH that interlocks with the Polish and the Nourish products, helping to enhance each step and leaves skin feeling really clean and refreshed.

Nourish
Exfoliating and cleansing my skin makes it feel like it's been through a tough workout afterwards so the final step, Nourish, is a lovely, cool moisturising cream that really helps to calm my skin down a little if I've been a bit over the top with the scrubbing. It leaves the skin soft and supple, helping to retain moisture and boosy the skin's oxygen levels.

Since using The Method routine I've noticed the pores on my face have definitely got smaller. They were really visible beforehand so I'm pretty pleased with that. I feel like the products have really given my skin a deep clean and it's looking really well moisturised and just generally in a much better condition. I'm so glad I was introduced to the range because it's really given my skin the shakeup it needed.

Have you tried Lancer's The Method skincare routine? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains PR samples.

Blogger behind the scenes
Oh my God - this has got to be some of the trickiest blog photos I've ever shot. I wanted to steer clear of the usual product flat lay on a marble background but literally EVERYTHING I tried came out as a big fat fail. I ended up in all sorts of awkward positions in my bathroom trying to photograph these products standing up and looking lovely in great light but absolutely nothing worked. Why don't I have the perfect all white bathroom like every other blogger? I tried fixing the camera to my tripod after about half an hour of trying to find the connector bit and holding a piece of wood on a rail in my shower room with the products balanced precariously on it. It fell off many times and even when I got it situated perfectly the shots came out rubbish so I returned to my original flat lay style - that'll teach me for trying to be adventurous.

Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep Recovery Night Gel-balm

Sometimes all you need is a good night sleep, however getting that is sometimes easier said than done. Luckily my current favourite brand Vichy has come up with a miracle little product formulated for people, like me, who suffer from poor sleep.

I've been trialling this for a couple of months now and have seen some really positive effects. I simply pop it on just before bed and let it work its magic. The gel-balm texture of this means it's not too heavy on the skin, which is great just as you're going to bed, and it contains a mix of Hyalyronic acids, glycrryhizic acid from liquorice extract, LHA from salicylic acid and caffeine, all combining to even out the texture of the skin, decongest and stimulate it ready for the morning.

I am a big fan of this as I sometimes don't have a great night sleep. I can sometimes be quite a light sleeper and it doesn't help when the cat keeps bringing mice into the house every night and chases them around the kitchen, waking us up constantly!

I am a big, big fan of this and anything from Vichy in fact. It has fast become on of my favourite brands and while a little more expensive than I would usually like, I am happy to pay as I know it works brilliantly. I have a full Vichy routine going now, I use the Purete Thermale range in the morning followed by the Aqualia Thermal range and the skin sleep at night!

Have you tried the Vichy skin sleep? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains a PR sample.

Vichy Pureté Thermale Make-up remover and Micellar oil

Ever since I was sent the Vichy Idealea Eyes range, I have been absolutely hooked on this brand. I used the Idealea eye cream and serum right down to the last drops and have since moved onto some of the Aqualia Thermal products. I'm currently using these and have recently introduced a couple of items from the Pureté Thermale range after I was finally able to get my hands on them.

I prefer to buy my skincare in the shops but my local Boots just weren't stocking it. I was seeing the products plastered all over various bloggers and I just knew I had to get my hands on them so when pay day came around I popped a couple into my virtual basket. I was in need of a new make-up remover as my Soap & Glory one was down to it's last drops and along with that I decided to try a Micellar water as it's been a little while since I tried any.

What really caught my eye about this range was the packaging, the make-up remover and the 3-in-1 cleanser (not featured) have both been re-branded with the blue/turquoise, more clinical look, while the micellar water is a completely new introduction. I understand the re-brand is in order to attract a younger audience so I may not be that target market but I really like the colour and style of the packaging. I feel like skincare and bathroom products in general should all look like this!

I've been using the products for a little while now and I'm really impressed. During a blogging day I created a very heavy eye make-up look and the make-up remover was able to wipe it away in one swoop. It literally picked up every last bit of make-up and it was super kind on my eyes, where others can sometimes irritate them, as well as being really lightweight and not greasy at all. My everyday make-up is absolutely no problem at all for it so this is definitely a new fave of mine!

It's been a little while since I used any micellar oil but I decided to pick one up just to introduce something new to my routine. I simply apply a few pumps to my skin and work it in. To activate the oil you need to add water to help turn it into more of a milky consistency, which I find really lovely on the skin. The Vitamin E and Camellia Oil leave my skin feeling super soft and in general after using the micellar oil it feels wonderfully clean and healthy.

Vichy is definitely one of my favourite skincare brands at the moment and it's not too badly priced. It's not exactly budget but it isn't high end either as most of the Pureté Thermale products are mostly under the £15 mark. They are regularly on offer in Boots and online so you could even wait for a great deal before picking these up.

What do you think of the Vichy Pureté Thermale range? Let me know in the comments.

Before you go - are you following Cherry Pie on Bloglovin? Do it here!

Mad for moisture - Vichy Aqualia Thermal range

I really can't get enough of moisturisers. My skin just drinks them up and I've been on a long search for the perfect moisturiser for my dry skin. It wasn't until recently that I started using serums and I have found the combination of serum and moisturiser to be really great for my skin.

I'm now using Vichy's Aqualia Thermal range and while I'm not really sure if you're actually supposed to use both together or not, I have to say they're working really well for me. Both are infused with Vichy Thermal Spa Water and some kind of micro-encapsulated delivery system of Activ Hyaluronine works its magic and improves the diffusion of moisture into the surface of the epidermis. The skin should then feel replenished with water, as if continuously hydrated by misting micro-sprays. (PS, yes this bit is lifted from the product description, I must admit!)

I have to admit although it doesn't exactly feel as if my skin is being constantly hydrated with a misting spray, I definitely do feel as though the skin is well hydrated throughout the day.

I was previously using Vichy's Idealia Life Serum but when it ran out and I found out the price tag (the first pot was sent to me by a PR) I decided to instead go for the cheaper Aqualia Thermal serum.

The serum is very lightweight and it's been designed to sink in to the skin quickly. You only really need a small, pea-sized amount but I do tend to go a bit overboard. Before you know it, it's sunk in and I'm ready for my moisturiser.

The moisturiser comes in two variations, rich/riche and light. I opted for the rich pot just because my skin is that dry. It's very thick as the name suggests but it really melts into the skin nicely and quickly too and it doesn't leave a horrible greasy residue.

I'm loving the combination of the moisturiser and serum together as it leaves my skin feeling well moisturised all day long. If I do have a day of wearing foundation ahead I don't need to worry about any dry patches appearing thanks to this moisturiser/serum combo. The serum is around £22 and the moisturiser is £17 so not exactly cheap, but certainly worthy splashing out on. You can actually find them cheaper online if you search around, which is what I should have done in the first place, oops.

Have you tried the Vichy Aqualia Thermal range? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

No7 Beautiful Skin Energising Mask

No7 Beautiful Skin Energising Mask - £12.50
I didn't really need another face mask…but I had picked up two other No7 products and it was 3 for 2 so I just had to pick up another product. I mean, I didn't have a choice!!

Nothing else was really taking my fancy so I went for the Energising Mask, without realising I had a mini version sat at home that has never been used, oops!

This claims to give skin a bit of a much-needed boost, which is something I've been feeling my skin is lacking recently. I'm sure I've mentioned this before…my skin tends to get used to the products I use and I could definitely tell it wasn't feeling as clear and good as it could be so thought I'd give this mask a go, to try and revive it a bit.

The mask itself is a peel off one, which is so weird, I don't think I'll ever get used to it. I simply apply a thin layer, leave it for 10 minutes and then peel it off, except it doesn't come off all in one go like you're whipping off the mask of a baddy from Scooby Doo, this one comes off in bits, like you've been sunburnt and are peeling, gross, but also satisfying at the same time.

I found I was left with some little bits where I had to rub my skin a bit in order to get it off but overall I was quite impressed with the mask. My skin felt really soft after I used it and was definitely feeling more boosted. I would recommend this as a morning mask, if you have the time for one, as it can really give a little extra boost to your day.

Have you tried the No7 Beautiful Skin Energising Mask? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Pamper night faves

Every Sunday night I like to wind down before the start of a new week. I like to have a bath with lots of bubbles, lots of moisturising bath products and maybe a bath bomb too. I like to lay in the peace and quiet without the distractions of TV or phones and once I get out I like to have a little pamper session.

All week long my skin is covered in products and make-up so on a Sunday night I like to treat it. I recently bought one of the new Origins Facial Brushes, which are an absolute bargain at £5. It's really sweet and dinky but is great for working away all the dead skin cells that have built up over the week and it really helps to leave your skin feeling nice and fresh.

Once my face is nice and cleansed I tend to follow with a moisturiser. The GinZing Energy Boosting moisturiser is probably not the best one to use at night up as you want to be on your way to sleep, not bouncing about full of energy but I feel like any boost to my skin is good, no matter what time of day. As if the moisturiser wasn't enough, I usually follow this up with a face mask.

It depends how I'm feeling on the night as to which one I use but the one I use regularly is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, which I pop on after my bath. It's one you can put on and leave to soak up through the night so in the morning my skin is feeling lovely and smooth.

I sometimes have real problems/anxiety about sleeping on a Sunday night. I guess it's to do with the thought of a new week and that 'back to work' feeling but I've found that having a night time routine really helps. Having a nice bath and pampering myself helps to ready me for bed - I'd definitely recommend it!

What's your pamper night routine? Let me know in the comments.

*PS - this post isn't sponsored, I just really, really like Origins!

MUA Cosmetics Spring 2015 Pro-Base Prime & Conceal

I haven't featured MUA on this blog in quite a little while. I think the brand took a bit of a back seat towards the end of last year but I am really happy to see that it's back with a bang this year. I was recently sent the new Spring 2015 Pro-Base Prime & Conceal range, which is a very purse-friendly range of products, great for helping correct various skin problems.

The Smooth, Set & Prime works like a normal primer but is in a solid, balm form so you don't use too much product on application. It's great for creating a good base for your make-up and helps keep it in place for the majority of the day. I was also sent the new Prime & Conceal creams, which are not only brilliantly coloured, but all have very important jobs that they do.

The yellow cream helps brighten and conceal areas of your skin with purple tones while you can use the green cream to apply to areas that are susceptible to redness, this will help neutralise and reduce the redness - definitely something I can get on bored with. Use the lilac cream to illuminate or help mute yellow undertones in your skin and use the peach cream to add a touch of radiance to your skin.

While using green/peach/yellow/lilac colours aren't new groundbreaking tones to use in the concealing business, the range is a great budget-friendly alternative to normal highstreet and higher end brands at just £2 each. The creams themselves are lovely and creamy, great for applying with a brush or your fingers and I'm a big fan of the green cream to help reduce redness, which is something I do suffer with.

Overall I'm really impressed with the new range from MUA and the fact that it's providing people with a more budget-friendly way of helping their skin look great, in particular, teenagers who could be new to using make-up and don't have much spare cash.

Have you tried MUA Cosmetics before or its new Spring 2015 range? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains PR samples.

My morning skincare routine

Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Mask and Scrub

Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Mask - £9.66*
Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Scrub - £7*



I must apologise as I'm a bit late on reviewing these products, I've had them for quite a while now and have been trialling them quite regularly. I have to say I'm very impressed.

All skin conditions suffer from dehydration thanks to climate, stress and pollution among other things, so the new Hydrabio range is aiming to combat this by retraining the skin to boost its natural hydration process and rebuild its defences. It's all very complicated, but all I know is that it seems to be doing what it says on the tin.

Both products contain Aquagenium®, which is a biological complex that stimulates the skin’s ability to fully generate moisture, while locking in the essential moisture level on the skin’s surface. I'm always very wary of using scrubs on my face as my skin is very sensitive but the Gentle Moisturising Scrub is really kind. Using it's magical powers it raises your skin's tolerance threshold while respecting the skin's sensitivity. It's also hypoallergenic, which is great for me and my skin is left feeling super soft and not harsh/stripped like many other scrubs leave it feeling.

I usually use the Moisturising Mask after the scrub and leave it on for about 10 minutes or so. It's a very thin mask that sinks in to the skin really well, leaving it feeling moisturised and hydrated. Used together these products can really help in the fight against dehydrated skin and I've seen real results in my own face. My skin feels much healthier and more glowing if that's possible. Most importantly it's feeling more hydrated so I'd really recommend picking these up if you can as they're definitely worth your hard-earned cash.

Have you tried the Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Mask and Scrub yet? Let me know what you thought of them in the comments.


*These items were gifted to me by the brand and I have given an honest review.

The Steamcream Face Challenge

Steamcream Precious 75ml - £12.95*
I genuinely can't believe I've not tried Steamcream before. I've definitely heard of it before but I wasn't aware of how good it is. It's simply a moisturiser for every need and every body part. You can use it on your face, hands, legs, feet…well, you get the idea really. You can use it all over!

It's absolutely ideal for dry skin as it contains oatmeal, cocoa, jojoba and neroli oils to name a few, all of which work their magic when combined. All of the natural, high quality ingredients are fused together with a shot of steam, which is a unique method that causes the finished product to be very thick but lightweight and a lovely texture.

Having been using this I can say for certain that everyone needs something like this in their make-up bag. It really is a staple product and the patterned tins are a really cute bonus. You can buy bigger and smaller tins depending on where you want to keep them - in a make-up bag/handbag or maybe a suitcase/holdall.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask - £6.25*


I'm a recent convert to the world of face masks and now I'm a big, big lover of them. I'm also a big lover of Lush but have never tried any of its skincare products - shocking I know.

I was introduced to the skincare range when I attended a blogging event at one of the Lush stores at the beginning of August and we actually watched the face mask being made, which was really interesting! It contains actual blueberries, calamine and chamomile, rose and almond oils. The blueberries are used whole as they are rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, and E that help to protect the skin from damage. The rose and almond oils are also fab for softening and smoothing the skin so this is a real treat for your face.

The mask itself is very clay like, which is my preferred face mask consistency as there's no dripping or mess and for extra skin help it's best to keep the mask in the fridge so it's lovely and cold on application. It feels really good when applied cold but it's very weird seeing your face covered in little blueberries! It also smells absolutely gorgeous.

The mask dries quickly and it is a little tricky to get off - it takes a bit of scrubbing but it left my skin feeling super soft and smooth as well as very fragrant! Unfortunately as it is a fresh face mask it does have to be used within a couple of weeks. I think perhaps the face masks could come in a smaller pot for people like me who don't do face masks that often, probably only once a week or so. Saying that, my pots don't have an end date on as they were free samples so I'm not sure exactly what will happen if I use them when they're 'out of date' so to speak.

I've read a couple of other reviews on the Lush website and some people have used it after it's best before date so I think I'll keep mine and not waste it! I really like this mask as my skin feels lovely afterwards and it only benefits from the natural ingredients.

Have you tried any of the fresh face masks from Lush? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Dove Purely Pampering Nourish Body Oil

Dove Purely Pampering Pistachio and Magnolia Body Oil - £5.99

This is the second time in as many weeks that I've featured a Dove product on the blog. In case you missed it I recently gave my thoughts on its new Oxygen Moisture Advanced Hair Series and now my thoughts on another new-ish product…

I've been walking past this on the shelves in Boots for weeks now and every time I've stopped and had a quick look but then passed it by. I didn't really need a body oil if I'm honest but when I gave the tester a quick sniff I quickly decided that I did need one. There were two to choose from, Shea Butter and Warm Vanilla and Pistachio and Magnolia and I went with the latter, which is weird for me as I'd usually go for the Shea/Vanilla one but the Pistachio one was a much stronger scent and I fancied something a bit different so in it went into my basket.

Basically you apply the oil to your skin, rub it in and enjoy the delicious scents for hours afterwards. It includes pistachio oil, grape seed, sesame oil and sea buckthorn oil, which just leave your skin feeling super soft. The oil itself is really light and non-greasy so it sinks into the skin really quickly, meaning you can get on with the rest of your routine or get dressed without having to wait around for it to dry.

Body oils are pretty much another step up from moisturiser and they feel much more luxurious. This is a real treat and it's really quick to use as well so I can just whack this on in the mornings before work. For £5.99 this is a tad expensive in my opinion but I think it's going to last quite a while so you'll get your money's worth.

Have you tried the Dove Purely Pampering Pistachio and Magnolia Body Oil?. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Lush 'The Olive Branch' Shower Gel

The Olive Branch Shower Gel - £4.50*

Another Lush shower gel for you today and another one that has become a firm favourite of mine. I must admit when I saw it in store I thought it looked…weird. As you can probably tell it contains olive oil, which obviously seperates from the rest of the product and it just put me off, but after visiting an event at Lush recently I was given this in a goody bag and I am so, so glad as I now love it! You should definitely not judge a shower gel by its cover…or something like that.

You should definitely give this a shake before use just to mix up all the ingredients, which includes vine leaf infusion, mandarin juice, bergamot, lemon and orange flower. The scent is just lovely and really fills the bathroom, much like the Flying Fox shower gel that I recently reviewed. The product itself is a lot runnier than other shower gels from Lush, but it really sinks into the skin and leaves a gorgeous scent behind as well as leaving it really moisturised and soft.

I absolutely love this and use it on a regular basis. For £4.50 you can't really go wrong as it lasts a really long time too. I will definintely be repurchasing this when it runs out and might even go for the bigger 250g or even the 500g versions.

PS. Did you know you can use Lush shower gels on your hair? I've yet to try it but would love to hear your thoughts if you have!

Hydraluron Moisture Jelly

Hydraluron Moisture Jelly - £16.66*


The wonderful people at Hydraluron have already blessed us with a serum and even moisture boosting masks but now we must bless them for bestowing upon us the new moisture jelly, the next big beauty product in the range.

The Hydraluron Gods have created a product that is the ultimate in daily moisturiser and what's even better is that it has been formulated for most skin types. Hallelujah!

It's important to point out that the jelly and the serum are two completely different products but they can be used alongside each other or instead of one another. I've been using both just to give my skin that extra little boost and I've really seen and felt the benefits. My skin is continously feeling wonderfully moisturised and after application it feels lovely and soft and supple.

The jelly contains five magic ingredients within the formula, including Patch H20, which locks in moisture and helps to reduce water evaporation from the skin. Fucogel also helps form a protective film on the surface to defence against moisture evaporation. Hyaluronic Acid is also a key ingredient, much like the serum, and it works to boost hydration levels and stimulate collagen in your skin, leaving it looking plump.

Vivillume restores luminosity and gives you a lovely radiant complexion and Hydrolite 5 which gives the other ingredients a good old boost.

I have to admit I don't know much about the science behind skincare but I'm always interested to read what ingredients are in the products, see what they do and see if I've felt any of the effects of them, which I have to say I do with this.

The pot of jelly itself comes in a little tub with a push down pump, which keeps things a lot cleaner and gives you the correct amount of product you need. It's so handy to have and the tub itself is something you can pop in your handbag and take away with you.

I am so happy to have received this as it's quickly become a staple of my morning routine and I am loving my skin at the moment!

Have you tried the Hydraluron Moisture Jelly? What are your thoughts, let me know in the comments.

This post contains PR samples

Lush Flying Fox Shower Gel

Lush Flying Fox Shower Gel - £4.95

I think you'll know by now that I am a huge fan of Lush. I made an online purchase recently and received a tiny sample of this shower gel packed in with my order and I loved it so much that I purchased the full size version.

I have a thing about shower gels…a lot of them are just overly scented and don't actually clean you so I tend to stick to shower gels like Sanex as they aren't stupidly scented and actually get in and clean your skin. The Flying Fox is an exception to my weird shower gel theory as it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties so really gives you a good all over clean while also smelling absolutely amazing.

This shower gel really fills the bathroom with the gorgeous scent of honey, jasmine, ylang ylang and cypress oil. I could just stand in the shower all day and smell this fragrance.

It also helps to nourish and moisturise your skin and it really leaves it feeling lovely and soft. Essential oils also help to really lift your mood…it's just magic in a bottle really and the best thing about it is that you can smell it on your skin for a couple of hours afterwards as well.

£4.95 for this is really reasonable as it lasts absolutely ages too. I would certainly recommend giving this a go as well as any others in from the Lush range. I have another review of a different shower gel coming up very soon too!

Have you tried Flying Fox from Lush? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Nourish Skincare Radiance Mini Kit

Nourish Skincare Radiance Mini Kit - £27*


Today we're talking skincare… radiance inducing skincare to be exact as recently I was sent the Radiance Mini Kit from Nourish Skincare and I couldn't wait to try it out.

I have a regular morning skincare routine already but my skin has been feeling/looking a bit dull recently. It's not as if it isn't clean/clear but I've been feeling as if it could do with a little brightening up so the mini kit quickly took up residence on my bathroom shelf…

Radiance Purifying Cleanser
What I look for in skincare and in cleansers in particular is for them to be kind to the skin. This one really is gentle on the skin and just grabs all the grime and clears it away.

Radiances Refreshing Toning Mist
This has been a bit of a saviour in the recent warm weather. As well as a toner it's also a lovely and hydrating facial mist, which refreshes the skin wonderfully.

Radiance Brightening Moisturiser
This moisturiser is particularly thick, almost balm-like. Not something I'm used to with a moisturiser if I'm honest, but I've found it really lovely to use and it's been keeping my skin feeling lovely and plump.

Radiance Rejuvenating Peptide Serum
I've been meaning to introduce a serum to my skincare routine for a while now and this one has slotted in really well. It's really delicate on the skin and primes it really well for any make-up I might be putting on. It leaves my skin feeling uplifted and just generally in a good condition.

Using all of the products together has really improved my skin recently. It's feeling much softer, smoother and radiant.

After doing a bit of research I discovered that the majority of the products in the kit include foxberry, which can be known by a few other names, but most importantly it can help pigmentation, so this is a great little kit for those worried about pigment problems.

All in all this is a really cute little kit, which would be great as an introduction to the brand for teens or skincare in general for someone of any age who isn't familiar with it. There's just one teeny tiny thing that irked me about the kit and that is the press down pumps, which are really tough to press down without it making a right old mess. This is only a test/starter kit so I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem with the full size versions.

Have you tried anything from Nourish Skincare before? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

This post contains PR samples

HealGel Eye

HealGel Eye - £32*
Eye gels can be very hit and miss. In the past I've tried my fair share and to be honest I've not really seen much of a difference after using them. I've been going through a very long phrase of not wearing any eye gel at all but when I was contacted and asked if I'd like to try the HealGel Eye I thought why not?!

At £32 this is pretty expensive for an eye gel in my opinion. However, having looked further into the product itself and having seen results I think it might just be worth investing in. I know it's important for someone my age to take care of their skin and the introduction of this eye gel has opened my eyes (excuse the pun!) to what a real difference it makes.

I did notice quite large dark circles forming under my eyes about a month or so ago and I was constantly looking tired out, but having used the HealGel Eye I've really, honestly noticed a difference. The skin under my eyes looks much more youthful and I definitely don't look as tired as I feel.

The gel is really lightweight and sinks into the skin almost instantly, leaving me feeling a bit more revived in the mornings. The gel itself contains Arnica and Madecassoside, which help give the skin a bit of a boost. It also contains Hydraluronic Acid, which locks moisture in and firms the contours.

To put it bluntly, this is a perfect morning pick me up. At 25 I feel like I have the under eyes of a 15-year-old! In all seriousness though, this is well worth your hard-earned money, especially if you're slightly older and need something that's really going to do a good job of your under eye skin.

This post contains PR samples