Ironing Out The Wrinkles

This year I turned 30. Over time I have noticed my skin look a little sad and dull no matter what I tried or used. The ageing bug has not been very kind to me. Fine lines under and around the eyes, deep furrows appearing between the brows and either side of my mouth being the biggest complaints I have. My mother likes to call them laughter lines, it shows that I am enjoying life. I may enjoy life but I don't enjoy getting older.

I had been hearing about a product that other friends in the beauty industry have been using with incredible results, according to them it was 'Botox in a bottle' and this certain face oil worked wonders on plumping the skin giving a fresh, youthful, wrinkle free appearance. Not sure if this was true or just overly hyped up I thought it was worth at least trying.

The product is Helenere - Maitrise Du Temps. 

The price tag, £173 for a pack of 5 - 10ml bottles. I can imagine jaws dropping about now.
I had no idea starting this adventure to younger skin that it came at such a high cost. However, for the sake of looking ten years younger I took the leap in Feb of this year and paid the price. 7 months in and I regret nothing, I would repurchase this pack in a heartbeat when the time comes that I run low.
Stopping the ageing clock and winding it back, this succeeds with top marks, having never had Botox I cannot tell you if it is anything comparable but what I can tell you is my eye area looks the same as it did at 20; smooth, wrinkle free and it even helped with a hood that was sagging down over my eyelid.
My fine lines are perfectly plumped out and even, my pores look smaller in size which results in foundation and powders looking better (no cakey lines that I have to smooth out half way through the day anymore). Dare I say my skin look in healthier condition than it did in my 20's. I don't think I could ever go back after using this product.

So what exactly is it? It is essentially an extra rich intensive formula serum that moisturises deeply that you use prior to your usual day/ night time face moisturiser. (In my case Philosophy - Hope In A Jar.) So, very simple to slip it into your skincare routine. This treatment renders its elasticity to the epidermis, benefits the cell renewal process, restores firmness and brightness to the skin while re-balancing its hydrolipidic film, and diminishing wrinkles.

A visible and dramatic difference in skin texture and anti ageing results appeared after around a month of using this, so not immediate but with time skin slowly winds back time and eradicates those wrinkles.
Do I think it's worth the money? Yes! Every last penny is well spent on this. I will be repurchasing the pack when I get to my last bottle, which even after 7 months I'm not even close to. The pack of 5 will probably last me a full year, as you only need a few drops each time, a little goes a long way. Overall, it probably costs you less per year than a normal face oil does, so it's pretty well priced when you do the math and good value for your money.

I highly recommend this if you want to wind back skin ageing, and help to stop it in its tracks; I can completely understand why people recommended this and hyped it up so much. In turn I recommend it to you and hope you have as much success as we did with this product. It's cheaper than Botox and drastic surgeries, both of which cost a huge amount of money - which could be spent on shoes, bags, cosmetics etc!

L'Oreal, Skin Perfection - Velvety Soft Toner

I am a huge toner fan. Not only do toners help the look of pore size, they also can regulate oils produced and even get those pesky last bits of make up you may have missed whilst cleansing.
I haven't really seen many reviews on this product, so I thought I would add a comment or two on it after using well over half of it up.
The scent is pleasant and refreshing, it doesn't make me recoil with horror. The formula is very thin, water like in viscosity. The solution is clear/ milky in colour.
I had a little trouble with the amount of product that would come flying out as I tended to get either a drop or two, or a soaked cotton pad; the flow of the toner is unpredictable so beware.
The application was nice, there was no sting on the skin, no redness after application, and no drying or irritation. It is suitable for all skin types including sensitive so I already knew these factors would not be included in this product from the beginning of use.
It does leave the skin silky soft and does remove impurities. However, personally a toner to me tones the skin, leaving pores closed; hence making the appearance of them look smaller. This did not achieve that at all. It also didn't really seem to regulate or balance out oil, I tended to see increased oils on the face half way through the day, particularly the forehead and chin.
I think if you have very dry, dry - normal skin this would probably be a great toner for your needs, but other skin types would get no benefit from using this toner. I know far superior toners for the same price that would suit other skin types better.

Overall, I don't think I would purchase this again for my skin type. If I had sensitive or dry skin I probably would buy this in a heart beat, as it did leave my skin baby soft.

La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Duo (+)

£11.62/ 40ml
www.laroche-posay.co.uk
Made in France.
Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive.

I have oily, blemish prone skin. I have suffered with acne for years and I had tried everything in an attempt to combat it, including prescription medication from my doctor. Nothing seemed to work, I would spend hundreds of pounds a year trying different washes, treatments, creams, lotions and potions that came out on the market. None worked!
Then I was recommended Effaclar Duo, I bought it, tried it, and loved it.
The first week I saw no difference; thankfully I can never abandon something I pay good money for, so to use it up I carried on using it and I'm thankful that I hate waste. The second week my angry, red, acne seems to look less red, enlarged and sore. By the third week my acne had started clearing up in large patches, and by a month I could only see the odd pimple here or there. My skin had never looked better. I loved the Effaclar Duo and had been repurchasing this every time that I have run low or run out.

Then I discovered that La Roche-Posay was launching an even better version of it and I was more than excited, I wondered how it could possibly get any better. Luckily for me I entered a competition on one of my favourite blogs: 'A Model Recommends' Written by Ruth an amazing, multi-talented woman. I won and got my hands on an Effaclar Duo (+), as soon as it arrived I had it smeared all over my face. It was like Christmas morning.
I found the consistency was very similar, the scent was the same. The only difference I could tell was the pimples that popped up, took less time to heal and healed perfectly, no bump, no redness and little scarring. It too does what it says on the box. The formula is non-sticky which to me gives it a massive thumbs up, as most of the products I had tried felt tacky and left residue on the skin - never the best feeling.

The product was created via a unique partnership with dermatologists worldwide and through extensive research, it is formulated with soothing and softening La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water and the unique formulation includes a new active ingredient 'Procerad' (a patented ceramide), Niaciriamide, LHA, Piroctone, Olamine, PCA, Linoleic Acid and Zinc.

I recommend this to anyone, people looking for a treatment for acne, acne scarring, better skin texture, brighter complexion. It gets the job done and at a small price tag. I love this product so much it's unbelievable. I will cry if they ever stop making this, it is simply - hands down - the best treatment I have ever used!

The Body Shop - Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion

£11.00/ 50ml           www.thebodyshop.co.uk
Made in the USA.
Tailored for combination skin.

This lightweight moisturising lotion hydrates, controls excess oil and combats shine.

• Lightweight moisture
• Rebalances oil
• Combats shine to give a beautiful matte finish.
• SPF 15 for UVA/UVB protection

It does control shine throughout the day I would say for a good 7 hours without having to use blotting paper or powder. It didn't cause any blocked pores or cause me to breakout, and it's oil free; so massive thumbs up from me. My skin felt soft and protected. I adore this moisture lotion, thinner than the cream so a little easier to work with and to apply, you also use less of this than you do the cream version.
I like the smell, it's very mild and doesn't linger on the face, which is always nice.

If you have oily skin, I would highly recommend trying this if you are looking for hours of matte finish. A beautiful, softening, protecting, moisture lotion that lasts for a very long time and great value for money.
I will repurchase this lotion, without a doubt.

La Roche Posay - Effaclar A.I, Targeted Breakout Corrector

 

£9.50/ 15ml             www.laroche-posay.com
Made in France.
Tailored for oily, imperfection prone skin.

An intensive treatment that purges imperfections in depth to accelerate their resorption and prevent residual skin scarring.
Niacinamide: Stops the development of a breakout.
Piroctone Olamine/ Glycacil combination: Purifies the bacterial activity to reabsorb skin imperfections.
Micro-Exfoliating LHA/ Repairing Thermal Spring Water: Activates the skins regeneration process.
Paraben free and non comedogenic.

I have adult acne and I have tried alot of products that are said to zap zits; (gels, patches, creams, prescription only treatments etc). I try everything I see that aids in the healing process of spots. I saw this when I was buying the Effaclar Duo and thought 'it's worth a try'.
I've been using this for over a month now and I have seen a difference in the marking that is normally left behind after the spots go. I usually am left with red dots that tend to stick around for months.
I didn't see a difference in the time it took for the spot to go, it didn't speed up the process of eliminating the spots and I would say it did very little to break down the blemish. However, I was left with minimal scarring after the spot had cleared and the marking was gone in a matter of weeks.
It says you can use this under makeup, however, I would avoid doing so as the formula seems to become flaky looking once dry. I use this prior to bed.

I like the texture of the formula and the minimised scarring post-spot, if you have trouble with acne scarring I would highly recommend this corrector. It's valuable for flawless skin once the blemishes have gone. This could work brilliantly on other types of acne, I have only tested it on my own skin.
Overall, I enjoy this product. I would repurchase this to reduce my acne scarring.

Lush - Tea Tree Water

£3. 95 - 100g/ £7.50 - 250g          www.lush.co.uk
Made in England.
Suitable for Vegans.
Tailored for oily/ spot prone skin.
A toner water, made with Tea tree and Grapefruit; to keep skin clear and refreshed.

A toner that comes to the aid of skin that has emergencies.
Tea tree is antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial; it will help keep away the bacteria that causes spots.
Grapefruit is rich in vitamins and is also lightly astringent on the skin.
Juniperberry is an antiseptic and will also help to stimulate the skin.
Use any time of the day to keep skin refreshed, or to remove traces of makeup.
Ideal for oily and/ or spot prone skin.

I have been having problems fighting acne since the weather turned cold and my friend (who has used this product for over a year) recommended trying this toner to help the problem.
With nothing to lose, I picked one up from Lush and included it into my daily skin care routine; I am more than a little impressed, I am amazed!
I always thought Tea tree would be a little too powerful on my skin. This seems gentle enough for everyday use and my acne has started to clear up with no sign of new blemishes appearing.
I have oily skin and the toner seems to remove excess oils without stripping the skin through harsh chemicals or alcohol. The scent is mild and soothing, it caused no redness, irritation or drying of the skin. It removed the last remnants of makeup left on the skin after cleansing that had been missed and is also gentle enough around the eye area.

Overall, a great gentle toner; fights acne, usable daily, no issues to skin and great value for money. If you are trying to battle breakouts or have excess oil this is a toner I would highly recommend trying.

Johnson's Face Care - Gentle Eye Makeup Removal Pads

£3.29/ 30 pads        www.johnsonsbeauty.co.uk
Made in the UK
Tailored for all skin types.
Eye Make Up Removal Pads gently cleanse eyes of make-up, even waterproof mascara.

The formula contains pro-vitamin B5 to condition eyelashes and gentle lotion to care for the sensitive eye area. Eyes are left beautifully clean and make-up free, without the oily residue. Opthalmologically tested and suitable for sensitive skin.

I have tried a few items from this brand before and have quite enjoyed them. However, this product did not meet that enjoyed list.
I felt the pads themselves were dry/ had very little product on them. I dropped a little water on them to get them at least moist. On using them I left one pad on each eye (non-waterproof mascara) for over a minute, then gentle wiggled them downwards (this is how I usually remove my eye makeup) and the results was disappointing. Only a little product came away with the cotton rounds, most was still on my eye.
The only way these worked was rubbing the eye makeup off quite roughly, which to me personally is not the way to remove something from an extremely gentle area.

These were cheap, I loved the packaging, the fragrance was mild and lovely and I enjoy the brands other products. Perhaps I got an old stock item and it had dried up too much, but I don't think I will be running out to repurchase them anytime soon.

L'Oreal - Skin Perfection, Purifying Micellar Solution

£4.99/ 200ml            www.loreal-paris.co.uk
Made in Germany.
Tailored for all skin types, even sensitive.
As gentle as water on your skin but acts like a make-up remover, toner and skin soother all in one.

A cleanser for face eyes and lips, suitable for sensitive skin. Dissolves make-up, unclogs pores and removes impurities and tones and soothes the skin.
Swiftly dissolving all traces of make-up, the 'micellar' solution acts like a purifying magnet on the skin's surface to capture and draw out excess oil and impurities rather than spreading them around your face like some wipes can.
Hypo-allergenic. No Alcohol. No perfume. Dermatologically tested.

I have used my fair share of micellar solutions over the past few years; easy to use, fast makeup removal, no water needed.
An essential part of any makeup artists kit. This on cotton wool, in my opinion, is far better than any wipes, it's also more gentle, pulls the skin less and isn't as drying and harsh on the skin.
This impressed me, it gets the job done correctly, quickly and brilliantly with no residue left on the skin.
It contains very similar ingredients to Bioderma, but at a fraction of the price.
It works brilliant on people with very sensitive skin, no redness or drying to the skin at all. I always restock my kit with this cheaper dupe now and I highly recommend trying it out for yourself if you haven't already done so.

Brilliant value for money, high performance, suitable for even the most sensitive skin, gentle and unclogs pores, even after the heaviest of makeup coverage. Massive thumbs up!

The Body Shop - White Musk, Sumptuous Silk Shower Gel

I have been a huge fan of The Body Shop's, White Musk Perfume Oil for many year's. This year for Christmas I got a gift set including this shower gel; prior to this I had never tried anything from the White Musk body collection, (not quite sure why not?) so I was rather eager to try this.

On using the bottle up I was rather sad, I wanted more. I loved using this shower gel immensely, not just because it smelled amazing but it left my skin silky soft. It cut my moisturising time in half as I didn't need as much.

It has a very creamy, full lather from a pea sized amount, so a little goes a long way with this gel. Another great angle that I enjoyed was the soap-free aspect as I find soap far too drying for my skin. It cleanses well and removes greasy residue from the skin without stripping the natural oils.

It created a stronger base for my perfume; once I used the shower gel, the lotion and the perfume oil from the set, it created a beautiful layered fragrance of the iconic scent that lasted longer than wearing the perfume oil on it's own.

Will I be repurchasing this product - Yes.

Lush - Prince Charming Shower Gel

£4.65/ 100g      
£9.25/ 250g
£15.95/ 500g        
www.lush.co.uk
Suitable for Vegans.
Tailored for all skin types.
A shower gel from the Valentine's Day 2014 collection - for beautiful smelling, silky soft skin.

With marshmallow root, fair trade vanilla and fresh pomegranate juice. Prince Charming will sweep you off your feet and carry you off into the sunset, leaving your skin silky soft and smelling lovely - the fragrance is made using a beautiful blend of grapefruit, sandalwood and geranium oils.

I would call this the Marmite shower gel, you either love it or hate it!
Personally, I adore it. The scent is sensual and seductive; perfect for a romantic Valentine evening.
To my nose, it smells like fresh pomegranates and vanilla, a fresh and sexy smell.
It lathers up very well, you need very little for a shower; I would say this will last a while meaning great value for your money.
I love the Lush stand point, natural ingredients, suitable for vegetarians, vegans or both. So another feel good factor is I know everything is fresh, natural and researched for me.
The formula is fantastic it leaves the skin nourished, baby soft and most of all cleansed. It works brilliant as a shampoo, it made my hair sparkle and ever so dreamy soft.

I have to give this a massive thumbs up. Great value for money, natural ingredients, smells great and doubles as a shampoo. Best of all it left my skin silky smooth.

Sunday Special...

Unfortunately, this Sunday I was unable to pick just one product which impressed me the most. 

Both of these blew me away equally, for different reasons. 

You can see the reviews for each of these here: 

Trilogy - Rosapene Night Cream.

Aromatherapy Associates - Inner Strength, Bath & Shower Oil.

Why was I so amazed with these? I have been using both products either daily or several times a week since I purchased them, you see results instantly and they are both brilliant value for money.

The night cream smells great, it sinks into the skin fast with no residue, it smooths out fine lines, restores moisture evenly, and in my case it actually helped soothe and remove patches of acne I had been suffering with.

The bath & shower oil is just an amazing bathing experience. A true luxury, I adore the scent, I loved how it made my skin soft and supple and how it relaxed me deeply. One of my new favourites from Aromatherapy Associates. 

I would highly recommend trying both of these products. Both equally deserving of the Sunday Special position.

Carmex - Vanilla Lip Balm.

£3.25/ 4.25g        www.mycarmex.com
Made in the USA.
Not suitable for vegetarians.
Tailored for all skin type's.
A balm that protects and nourishes the lips.

The Carmex ultra moisturising formula provides superior, enhanced hydration and makes even the driest lips soft and supple again. Extra gentle twist stick will not stress chapped or cracked lips, and offers a broad spectrum sun screen.

Glides on like a dream, ultra smooth; this extra moisturising balm makes your lips feel incredible!
The creamy flavour is unlike anything you have tried from Carmex before. It has a buttery, vanilla scent comparable to sugar cookies but with a minty undertone. Personally, I'm not a fan of the feeling of residue left from lip products; this leaves only a thin layer and unlike many on the market I have tested it is not as tacky or sticky.
Comes in a twist tube, so easy to use with no mess and no sticky finger. Contains an SPF15 and protects brilliantly against the wind and cold weather.

It soothes, it moisturises, it protects.
Brilliant value for a very small price. Great before applying lip colours as it prevents fade lines.
This is another hit product from Carmex. I will be repurchasing this again.

Trilogy - Rosapene Night Cream

£28.50/ 60ml             www.trilogyproducts.com
Made in New Zealand.
Suitable for vegetarians.
Tailored for all skin type's.
A night cream to brighten the complexion, rehydrate and restore the skin.

Enriched with Trilogy's unique anti-oxidant rich Rosapene oil blend, Goji and Manuka Honey.
A high performance night recovery cream that works with the skin's own natural process for optimum regeneration. Revives, restores and rehydrates.

I have oily skin, so I am always a little nervous on encountering new oils and moisturisers as I either look very shiny or I have bad breakout's.
On using this cream, I was in love! Not only is it hands down the best night cream I have used, but it cleared up areas that was affected by acne.
Skin was not as oily through the day and I saw improvement in fine lines. It smells lovely and feels amazing on the skin; it sinks in immediately, so you are not left with any residue.
I would highly recommend trying this cream. I would be surprised if it disappointed you. It has become one of my hero products that I have already repurchased.
Great value for money. Good sized jar, that lasts for months. A real treat with real results.

Neom - Moroccan Blush Rose Organic Hand Cream

£20.00/ 75ml        www.neomorganics.com
Made in England.
Suitable for vegetarians.
Tailored for all skin types.
A hand cream for soft, supple, smooth hands; with the added benefit of anti-ageing properties.

Packed with anti-oxidising extracts which are great for anti-ageing; including nourishing Argan Oil and Acai extract, known to aid collagen production to tighten the skin.
It penetrates fast and leaves hands soft, smooth and non-greasy.

A lovely formula. It has an addictive scent; it reminds me of summer days, definitely lifts the mood!
You only need a pea sized amount, so the tube lasts a very long time.
Instant results; left my hands deeply nourished, smooth and supple with no greasy residue.

On purchasing, researching and using this hand cream, I can honestly say it is worth every penny and great value as it lasts so long.
Taking into account all the natural/ organic ingredients that goes into the cream, you can begin to understand the actual cost.
On using the cream; feeling and seeing the immediate results, you realise what a gem you have found.
I will without a doubt be repurchasing this hand cream.

Steamcream Moisturiser

£12.95/ 75g.             www.steamcream.co.uk
Made in the UK.
Suitable for Vegans.
Tailored for all skin types.
Long lasting hydration for the face, also great nourishment for hands and body.

Handmade using high quality, fresh, natural, traceable ingredients; fused together by a shot of steam.
It's super moisturising, sinks deep down instantly and revives your skin straight away.

Very strong Lavender scent. Use more than a pea size amount and skin can look and feel greasy.
I would not recommend this for normal to oily skin; this is definitely a product for dry/ very dry skin. I personally have oily skin and this created a very shiny finish.

A good size but also a mid-range price tag, if you have dry/ very dry skin this may be value for money and works incredible to nourish your skin.
I will not be repurchasing this as it is not suitable for my skin type.

Sunday Special...

My favourite out of this week's reviewed had to be Weleda - Skin Food.
I got so many uses from this product that it was hard not to choose this gem, it works a treat on any type of skin; eczema is dealt with almost instantly. Visible results from first use, protects as well as nourishes and most of all brilliant value for money.

If you would like a more in-depth review of this product please click on the link Click Here. This will give you all the details that you need to know surrounding price, description and results.

Well deserving of the Sunday Special place this week. I would highly recommend trying this product.

Dr. Organic - Dead Sea Mineral Eye Rescue Rollerball

£8.99/15ml       www.drorganic.co.uk
Made in the UK
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans.
Tailored for both male and female consumers.
An eye cream which uses natural ingredients to effectively reduce puffiness, tired eyes, dark circles and improves micro-circulation.

Dr. Organic is committed to creating unique, natural products, free from parabens, SLS, artificial colours, fragrances and harsh preservatives.
A bioactive base formulation of Dead sea mineral salts with natural and organic extracts and over 20 essential oils. This targeted formulation energises skin cells which increases oxygen consumption and lypolytic action, resulting in the breakdown of fat deposits. Instantly addresses fine lines around the eyes, puffy, sagging skin and dark circles.

I enjoyed the packaging as it was clean and mess free. Very easy to use.
The rollerball made application quick and easy. The product lasted well over three months. (used day and night)
A lovely cooling effect to the under eye, making it feel refreshed. The scent was mild. No burning or irritation occurred while using this product.
The formulation did decrease the puffy, sagging skin under the eye but the fine lines and the dark circles remained the same - no visible difference in my opinion.

I would place this at average value for money.
The rollerball is personally not my preferred method of application due to hygiene reasons. The formula only addressed the puffy and sagging skin and failed to effectively target other problems.
However, if you are looking for a firming and tightening product for under the eye area and suffer from tired, puffy looking eyes, this product would be worth a try.

Weleda - Skin Food

 
£8.95/ 75ml   www.weleda.co.uk
Made in Germany. 
Suitable for Vegetarians.
Used for dry and rough skin. 
This product is tailored for both male and female skin.

From the original green beauty pioneer, around since 1926. A backstage beauty secret and a cult beauty favourite of celeb's.
Made with extracts of Chamomile, Wild Pansy, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Calendula and revitalising Rosemary extract. Added essential oils of Sweet Orange and Lavandulae give it an addictive soft fragrance.

It is a nourishing repair cream for face, hands and body to replenish and revive dry skin. It's deep penetrating and fast acting. It can also be used as a protective cream in very harsh weather. (Helps to comfort and protect from harsh outdoor conditions.)

A little goes a long way, so use very sparingly and work quickly, as this cream/ balm absorbs very fast. It leaves no residue on the skin - it is totally absorbed in seconds and gives visible results after just the first use.

It is very fairly priced and lasts such a long time as you need so little, brilliant value for money.

I would definitely repurchase this in a heartbeat. Especially great for winter weather as well as summer on sun damaged areas that need a little extra care.
I can see this product being used in various situations already - hero product!

Welcome to Exploration Beauty!

Hello and welcome to Exploration Beauty. 

I have been in the hair and beauty industry for over 14 years. In this time I have picked up lots of knowledge about the business and used a whole heap of different products. 

The most important factor to anyone in the industry, novice or expert is if the products you use actually work; if they don't it doesn't really matter how good or knowledgeable you are, the look you're trying to achieve will not turn out the way that you desired it to. 
So, with this I am embarking on a journey to find product's that do what you need them to do. If the product fails the test this will be in the results. All the opinions on the product's I review are my own and 100% honest.

I will update content on a daily basis of tried and tested products, on each day of the week I will review a product giving details of:

• Price
• Amount of product
• Where it is made
• Who it is suitable for
• Information about the product
• What it is for
• If the product worked
• Is it value for money
• The end results

On Sunday, I will be doing a Sunday Special. This will be the featured product of all the products tested in that entire week and why it was my favourite.
This will give a spotlight to products that I personally think are great and give fantastic results; making looking beautiful quick, easy and correct - for your skin tone/ skin type/ hair type.

Vegetarian and vegan approved products will also be included in the testing; so hopefully there will be something for everyone.
(If you are curious on how I test products, please read the 'About Me' section.)

Have a great New Year and again welcome to Exploration Beauty!