Tag: Skin Care

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask Review

I love trying out new skin care products, so when I saw that Glamour magazine were giving away one of four Balance me products with this months issue, it gave me a great excuse to purchase and try out something new.

I went for the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask. I always like trying out different face masks and I like to use different ones for different times, depending on my skin. I’d came across Balance Me products before but never given any a go until now.

The face mask comes out of the tube as a cream like consistency and as you rub it onto the skin you can feel the tiny bits of ground walnut shells very gently exfoliating the skin. It feels rather like a very thick cream once applied all over the face and doesn’t set hard or tighten on the skin but instead firms slightly and remains a little tacky. It feels really kind and gentle on the skin and I experienced no tingling or discomfort, as I can with some face masks.

The Balance Me face mask is 98% natural, so maybe the fact it contains less chemicals explains why it feels so gentle on the skin. It has a really fresh, almost plant like smell which I think think smells rather pleasant too.

After washing off the face mask, my skin is left felling so soft and hydrated. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and and looking refreshed.

I’m really pleased with this face mask (not bad for a freebie). I actually think I’d be tempted to purchase this now in the future as I love how nice and soft it leaves my skin feeling. I think I’ll also be tempted to purchase more Balance Me products after trying this one. Maybe I’ll have to pick up a few more of this months Glamour mag to try out a few more Balance Me freebies!

Samio x

March 8, 2015
My Skincare Routine Video

I finally got round to uploading a video of my skincare routine.

You can read my previous skincare routine blog post here.

Samio x

February 7, 2015
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Review

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying this but the winter weather wreaks absolute havoc with my skin and at the moment my lips seem to have been suffering the worst. In the past I’ve never really suffered with dry lips particularly but recently Vaseline just hasn’t been cutting it and so I moved onto using Carmex but still no luck. Next thing I knew I started getting dry patches of skin on my chin too, which I then tried numerous thick creams on without much improvement. I knew I needed to try out a new alternative, when I remembered the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant. I had used this product numerous times before on shoots. Often it’s a makeup artist’s go to product for reliving models dry/chapped skin and lips. It’s a product that for years I said I’d have to buy but never got round to doing so until recently.

Finally I made the long over due purchase and literally after a day of using the Eight Hour Cream on my lips and on the dry patches of skin on my face, my lips were no longer chapped and the dry skin on my face had improved significantly. I don’t know why I didn’t purchase it sooner to be honest. Actually, I do, it’s most likely the price that had been putting me off, as spending £26 on a 50ml tube of product doesn’t seem worth it when your skin is feeling great but as soon as your having an absolute nightmare with it, it seems significantly worth it. However I was pleased to find that after shopping around, I found a couple of places selling the Eight Hour cream for way below the regular retail price. I ended up purchasing mine from Bodycare where I was surprised to see they were selling it for only £13.99. And after that I found it online for only £11.99 here, which is even more of a bargain!

The Eight Hour Cream squeezes out of the tube in a gel like consistency which has a slight orangey tinge on first appearance but then looks clear as it is rubbed in. It has a distinctive smell which I cannot quite describe, however it is not over powering or offensive. The cream is slightly sticky to the touch (similar to that of a lip balm) but absorbs easily into the skin and like I say it doesn’t take long to start working wonders on the parts of the skin in need of that extra TLC.

I couldn’t recommend this product enough. Whether you’re currently suffering from dry skin or not, it’s certainly a beauty must have as it can be used for so many different purposes. You can even use this product on dry hands or on your cuticles and nails and It’s the perfect size for popping in your hand bag, which is where I now keep mine.

Samio x

January 28, 2015
Johnson’s Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Pads

Finding products that I can throw in my bag and use when I’m on the go, is something I always keep a eye out for, especially when it comes to makeup remover. Whether it’s for before the gym or after a shoot I always like to keep some form of makeup remover in my bag so that I’m prepared. In the past I have used makeup wipes to remove stubborn eye makeup when away from home, however I’m not so keen on them if I’m honest.

I came across these Johnson’s Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Pads and thought I’d give them a go. Johnson’s is a brand I’ve often used, as their products are usually gentle on the skin and I wasn’t disappointed with these makeup removal pads either.

The pads come in a plastic circular tub with a screw top lid, which is perfect as it prevents the pads inside for drying out. There are 30 circular pads inside the tub and it recommends using one for each eye, however on days when I’ve just been wearing mascara, I’ve found I’ve been able to use either side of one pad for each eye.

The pads are really soft and feel gentle on the skin, which is of course important as the eye area is very delicate. The pads feel slightly damp to the touch and I have found that they do work well at removing even waterproof mascara. They are also very lightly fragranced with a fresh scent and after use they leave my eyes feeling moisturised as apposed to leaving the skin feeling slightly dry like some makeup wipes can.

A great thing about these pads are that my eyes are left looking fresh after removing my eye makeup and don’t leave my eyes looking red. I would definitely recommend these eye makeup removal pads as they are gentle on the eyes and are great for travel use. I give them a big thumbs up.

Samio x

January 27, 2015
Superdrug Tea Tree Skincare Review

As usual I’ve been trying out some different skincare products (forever buying new lotions and potions). I was in need of a new face wash and some other skin care essentials and so I thought I’d give some of the products from Superdrug’s own Tea Tree range a go.

Superdrug Tea Tree Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash

I really like this face wash for day to day use. As you can see, I’ve already started to work my way through the tube. I opted for the Tea Tree face wash in pink grapefruit, there was also lemon (linked above) and original available, if I remember correctly. This product has a subtle yet refreshing grapefruit scent and it comes out in a regular face wash gel like consistency which you wash on, wash off. I like this product because it doesn’t feel too harsh or drying on the skin and so it’s great for everyday use.

Superdrug Tea Tree Facial Cleansing Pads

As I’ve mentioned in a previous skin care post, I often like antiseptic and tea tree smelling products. Without sounding like a freak, it’s basically because I love that extra fresh smell and often I’ve found products that have those sort of smells often leave your skin feeling in a similar way. I’m a big fan of cleansing pads anyway, as many models will tell you it’s so handy to have skin care products that you can pop in your bag and use after removing your make-up on shoots. I’ve previously used many of the well known brand cleansing pads and this time I thought I’d give these Superdrug own brand ones a go. These cleansing pads are probably my favourite out of the three products. Not only do thay have that clean, fresh tea tree smell (with peppermint too) that I love but they also leave your skin felling so clean and refreshed. I’ve found I like using these most when my skin in feeling on the oily side and especially when I fell like I’m about to have a break out.

Superdrug Tea Tree Moisturising Face Cream

The moisturser if I’m honest is my least favourite out of the three products, however that’s not to say that I dislike it. For me I feel this moisturiser is a little too matte and dries straight onto this skin, whereas I rather more creamy moisturisers that hydrate the skin a lot more. Again this product has that great fresh tea tree and peppermint smell (although a lot subtler than the cleansing pads), and although I won’t be replacing this with my regular day moisturisers any time soon, I have managed to find great use for it as one of the products that I keep in my gym bag. As it’s a 30ml plastic tube this facial moisturiser makes for a great travel size and I’d say this one is a good back up to keep in your hand bag for on the go.

Overall I’d give this range a thumbs up. At under £3.50 per product you can’t really complain as I think these products are great value for money! They are certainly ideal if you’re on a budget, especially when you can get points on your Superdrug card in the process, which is always a bonus.

Samio x

January 5, 2015
The Body Shop Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz

As someone who is often on the go, I do appreciate products that are small enough to fit in my handbag and can be used whilst out and about. One product I love for this exact reason is The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz. I don’t need to drone on too much about this product, as it basically is what it says. It sprays on like a watery mist and feels like a diluted moisturiser on the skin. It smells fresh and zesty and so instantly makes you feel refreshed and energised.

I appreciate this product most when I’ve had a day of traipsing around to castings, most of all when it has been a long day and I can actually feel my skin drying out. It’s so handy to be able to grab this out of my bag, spritz this product onto my face and give my skin a much needed boost of hydration. I also love to use this face spritz after long, early morning journeys. I simply spritz this on my face and it works as the perfect wake me up (along with a strong coffee of course).

The best thing about this product is that it can be applied over makeup. So if you’ve had a long day at work or out and about, you can instantly refresh your face with a spray of vitamin c spritz.

Samio x

December 16, 2014
The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3-in-1 a Scrub Mask Review

My obsession with The Body Shop seems to be ever growing with each new product that I buy and love. So now I seem to find myself in this store on almost a weekly basis, buying yet more beauty and skin products as my eagerness to try them gets the better of me. One of my recent purchases from The Body Shop was this Honey & Oat Scrub Mask which claims to cleanse, polish and moisturise in one. I was doing an online shop of my regular purchases when I decided to add this item to the basket and give it a go.

When the Honey & Oat Scrub Mask arrived I had to try it right away. It instructs to apply the mask to clean skin and leave on for five to ten minutes before rinsing. The mask (as expected) has an oat consistency and smell. It actually smells almost as if you could eat it (but please don’t do that). I really like the honey and oat smell and the feel of this mask on the skin. It goes on the skin feeling wet and although once left on the skin it doesn’t set completely dry (like many face masks), it still slightly solidifies on the skin.

After rinsing off the mask my skin was instantly left feeling refreshed and moisturised. I have been really pleased with the results from this product and am glad I made the purchase. I would recommend this product, however it isn’t the cheapest price on the market for a 100ml pot. But what I will say is that you don’t need to use a huge a amount for each mask and as a product you’ll only use once to twice a week, the tub should last you a while. Also it’s nice to treat yourself every once in a while and one of these pots would even make a great little stocking filler for someone who loves their skincare products.

I give the Honey & Oat Scrub Mask a big thumbs up.

Samio x

November 12, 2014
No7 Beautiful Skin Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm

Very early mornings and late finishes, whilst striving to look fresh faced and bright eyed is one of the challenges faced when modelling. It doesn’t sound like the most arduous task but believe me, when you’ve been up since 4am, hauled ass across the country to your shoot’s location and then have to look wide eyed and most importantly, alive, in front of the camera, it can often be a losing battle. Obviously makeup artists do an amazing job of covering dark circles and adding highlighter to give that ‘bright eyed’ look but on the other hand no amount of makeup can hide the dreaded puffy eye.

For me, my weapon of choice is No7’s Beautiful Skin Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm. As I sleep with my face buried into the pillow, I often wake up with puffy eyes and so I’m glad to have found a wonder balm that actually gets rid of my puffiness and as a bonus, reduces dark circles too.

The No7 revitalising eye balm, is meant as an overnight eye cream, however I like to use it in the mornings after washing my face too. I find this eye cream works well, both mornings and nights to help maintain a more fresh eyed look.

I think at £12.00, this product is good value for money. If you’re into your skincare then you’re probably used to spending more on products similar to this anyway and this product does the job at a fraction of the price of some other more well known brands. The product size is 15ml, which doesn’t sound like a lot but as a product I use daily and buy repeatedly, I can say that it lasts ages as you only need to use less than a pea sized amount each time you apply it.

I give this product a big thumbs up as it works well for me, so I would definitely recommend it.

Samio x

October 1, 2014
Superdrug Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream

I absolutely love finding new skincare products that work really well and don’t break the bank. I’m constantly on the look out for different lotions and potions to try but as I’m not one to waste money I usually like to do some research on products before investing my cash. On this occasion however I went on a whim, as I was buying a Superdrug’s own brand so it wasn’t too pricey and it was also on offer. The product in question is Superdrug’s Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream.

I’ve now had several weeks of using the Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream and I am really impressed with it. I was afraid at first as the product does feel a little oily and for a night cream I was scared it would block my pores and cause pimples. However I have been pleasantly surprised with this moisturiser, as each morning I’ve woke up with my skin feeling soft and rejuvenated.

As the product is rather creamy, you don’t need to use a lot as it smooths easily onto the skin. I really like the smell of the cream, as I always like the scent of skin products that smell slightly antibacterial and this cream has a very clean and slightly sweet scent.

After using the night cream most evenings since having bought it, I have noticed some blemishes on my cheek appear reduced and I also feel it has helped my skin to look more refreshed in the mornings. I think this cream is great value for money and I’d certainly recommend this product for those with normal to dry skin. I personally give this renewing night cream a bit thumbs up.

Samio x

September 16, 2014
No7 Essential Moisture Day Cream

I first starting No7 skincare when I was in my teens and although I’ve used many other brands over the years, No7’s moisturiser is one I always come back to.

This Essential Moisture Day Cream is great for dry skin, which is why I like to use it during the Autumn/Winter months as it does feel moisture rich on the skin and helps provide that TLC when the skin most needs it.

I find this moisturiser feels creamy on the skin without feeling too oily and creates a good base for underneath makeup whilst keeping your skin hydrated. It’s also Hypo-allergenic and fragrance free to make it suitable for sensitive skin.

Like I said, I’ve been using this No7 moisturisers on and off for years now (occasionally changing to alternate my routine) and No7 still remains one of my favourite brands for skin care. Essential Moisture Day Cream is a moisturiser I would definitely recommend.

Samio x

August 26, 2014