Where Art Thou Olive?

I wonder how many people actually look at the ingredients in the products that they buy? I have to admit that before i started making my own products i didn't really take a huge amount of notice about what was in what? Nowadays that has all changed though and i am very fussy about what i put on my skin, in my bath and on my hair.

I have found a new love and appreciation of different oils and butters and when you look into the benefits of each single oil its no wonder that so many people are turning back to nature.

One of my favourite oils is good old Olive Oil. Now i say old because its the first oil i ever used as a beauty product. Being half Italian i was taught from being about 11 years old that the best way to condition long hair was to warm a little olive oil up in a pan and massage through the hair. Wrap in a towel and leave for or a few hrs and shampoo out. It works like a dream and my Nana & Great grandmother always had the most gorgeous shiny hair from years of doing this. 

So i guess it was natural for me to have a love of this gorgeous oil not only as a beauty product but of course in cooking as well.

Olive oil naturally contains Vitamins A & E which are often added into expensive Face creams as an ingredient which helps to repair and renew skin damage. Olive oil penetrates the skin easily and moisturises exceptionally well without clogging pores. Its good for all skin types and best of all you can buy it at your supermarket.

If you have a bottle of olive oil lying about and you fancy a little bit of DIY beauty then here are a few ways to use it:

Deep hair treatment: As i said before warm a small amount up in a sauce pan so its nice and warm (Not hot) about 3 tablespoons depending on hair length. Wash your hair and rinse then massage this through the hair. Its great for a dry scalp or dandruff and brilliant for dry ends. Wrap in a towel and leave for a good few hrs, the longer the better and then just shampoo out. It leaves hair silky soft and so shiny.

Zesty Body Scrub: I'm not going to give amounts as its easier to do this by feel just throw them in together mix well. Juice of a lemon or lime, good swig of olive oil, natural brown sugar. Mix them well so it makes a nice paste and then massage over wet skin and rinse. This will leave the skin super soft and moisturised but if you don't like the feel of oil on your skin then you can just rinse off with your usual shower gel.

Lip Scrub: If your lips are feeling a bit flaky then add 2 teaspoons of olive oil with 2 teaspoons of white sugar and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix well then gently massage over the lips and wipe off with a soft cloth. Apply a dab of lip balm (Works Wonders)

Do you look at what ingredients are in your products that you use or are you happy to use something without reading the label? Would you be interested in more DIY Posts?

Korres Wild Rose Brightening Mask!

My skin has been rather shoddy lately. Due to a mixture of me not taking care of my skin as well as i should and lots of late nights and a lack of water. I've been looking dull and have a bit of an outbreak too. Grrrr i hate it when my skin looks like this.
I have however disovered a new Facemask which is just Amazing. I've only used it 3 times but each time it has left my skin feeling so much smoother, less congested and looking really bright.

Wild Rose Instant Brightening Mask

The mask feels amazingly creamy on the skin and smells beautiful. It doesnt set hard which i quite like and it isnt too heavy for my oily areas either. I can see this mask is one of the few that really works on all skin types.

 

Packed with gorgeous natural ingredients like Wild Rose oil, Shea Butter and Avocado Butter

 

I'm going to continue to use this hopefully twice a week for about 15 minutes as it really seems to be helping. I can see a visible difference immediately after use and my breakout seems to be clearing up too.

You can get this mask over at Bath & unwind for £16 here

Have you tried this mask before and do you like the smell of rose?

For Your Eyes Only!

 I have been going through a bit of a faze of trying out lots of different eye creams and thought i'd share my thoughts on a few of my favourites so far.

At my age i really see the difference if i dont use a good eye cream. My lines appear worse, my eyes feel tight and my dark circles look worse. Therefore i am constantly searching for a perfect eye cream.

Eucerin Aquaporin Active 15ml £13.27 from Boots

The Eucerine Eye Cream was a bit of a slow starter for me but the more i used it the more i liked it. It feels nice and light on the skin and it seems particularly good for dehydrated skins rather than dry.

A very good price and probably the one i would recommend for somebody who is starting out with eyecreams and doesnt want anything too rich.

Yes To Blueberries Eye Repair Cream 15ml £19.99 from Victoria Health

Yes to Blueberries Intensive firming Eye Repair Cream is probably the smoothest feeling cream that i have tried before. It is clinically proven to reduce lines within 28 days.

It does make my skin feel lovely and supple. A great all round product that i would definately buy again.

Packed full of natural ingredients and antioxidents it is really good value for money.

Elemis Absolute Eye Serum 15ml £26.60 from Debenhams

Elemis Absolute Serum is the lightest feeling of all 4 products. It works well on its own but comes into its own when applied on top of another eye cream. I love to use this when i need something a bit extra like when Ive had a lot of late nights or am going somewhere nice. It is a little pricey but a tiny drop is all you need.

 Savar Wonder Lift Eye Cream 30ml £25 from Savar.co.uk

Last but by no means least i have been using the Savar Wonder Lift Eye Cream which contains twice as much as the other creams with a price tag of £25 it is a steal.
Ingredients including organic bilberry and black tea extract help reduce puffiness and encourage firmness in to the area.
Again i would definitely re buy this eyecream.


Do you use an eyecream and if so which is your favourite?

Evening Skincare Routine! 23.08.11

I thought i'd break down my skincare routine as i have changed what i use quite a lot recently and it would be just too much to fit into 1 post.
It's quite hard to stick to the same routine as im constantly testing out new products and tweeking what i use to try and get the best possible results.

Night Time Products!

Makeup Removers & Cleansers!

 Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover £3.05 from boots

This eye makeup remover is brilliant and at such a fab price. It removes all my eye makeup easily even water proof mascara and it leaves eyelashes soft and moisturised. The ingredients are super effective but also very gentle. It's one of the few eye makeup remover products that causes no stinging.

Botanics Face Soothing Cleansing Balm £6.63 Boots

I purchased this cleanser after reading lots of rave reviews and rightly so. It is a thick waxy balm that melts on skin contact. It smells beautiful and feels so luxurious on the skin. It does a great job of removing makeup when used in conjunction with a muslin cloth.
I love how soft my skin feels when i use this and it never aggrivates my spot prone skin. I alternate this with the Liz Earle cleanser.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish £13.25 100ml

If i could have a long term Love affair with a cleanser then this would be the choosen one. When i use this cleanser not only does it remove my makeup but it really feels like i am giving my face a thorough deep cleanse. I like to massage this in for a couple of minutes and enjoy the Eucalyptus and Rosemary scent.
This is so gentle yet really works. It's my holy grail of cleansers.


Toners!

La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water

Ok so i know this is not a toner as such but it really makes a great refreshing spray which my skin seems to love. The product contains a combination of minerals and trace elements which feels really soothing and cooling on the skin. I have been using this for a while now and love the way it makes my skin feel

Alpha H Liquid Gold £28.50 QVC

I use the Alpha H Liquid Gold 3 times a week after my thermal spring water and it really is an amazing product. I'm sure you will of heard about this product as so many people have been raving about it.
I apply this with a cotton wool pad at night ( No moisturiser afterwards )
This wonder product is described as a multi action formula with silk protein and licorice extract to refine the surface of the skin. It contains glycolic acid which exfoliates the skin and leaves me looking brighter and fresher and has definately helped prevent as many breakouts. It's quite amazing.


Moisturiser

La Roche Posay Effaclar K £13 Boots

 I use this moisturiser on nights when i dont use my liquid gold. This moisturiser is made for spot prone skin. It feels gloriously light and has a really fresh lovely scent. It makes my skin feel really clean and soft.

Eye Care 

Elemis Absolute Eye Serum on offer at feelunique for £20.99

This serum is ultra light in texture but seems to do a great job of keeping lines at bay and helping with dark circles. I've always used some kind of eye cream as i think its so important. This one can be used under a heavier cream if you wish but i feel its enough at the moment for me.

So thats it for night time. I know it looks a lot but its actually only 4 or 5 products at the most. Unfortunately for me my skin is really tempremental even at my age and i still get outbreaks quite regularly. Having said that my skin is looking better than it has done for a long time so it goes to show that finding the right products that work for you can work wonders.

Just a quick note to say that botanics is on 342 at boots at the moment as well and in my local boots La Roche Posay was half price ( Although not online ) Just in case you were thinking of buying anything.

Look out for part 2 My morning regime xx

Updated Skin Care Routine !

Me and my skin have a constant battle between each other. My skin given its own way would be spotty, greasy t zone with lots of blackheads and painful lumps at odd times to top it off. I am forever trying to find the perfect products to fight back and regain, healthy clear soft skin.

I am so lucky that i get sent some amazing products to review on my blog and what I'm using at the moment has really made a noticeable change so i am excited :)
I'm not going to go through everything i use as some is the same as before but i will tell you about the new products I'm using and why i love them so much.

Skin Science Bio Active Stimulating Serum £95.00

The serum claims to rehydrate and protect the skin whilst the gentle exfoliation action of the Zonase X helps prevent clogged pores, leaving skin luminous. The powerful antioxident spermine protects the skin from environmental damage. Delays Ageing by 20%

Now i have been using this serum every night instead of my usual moisturiser and when i say it's amazing i really mean it. Put aside the price and you have the perfect treatment for me.

I have only been using this for a few weeks but within days my skin was so much clearer, softer and even my fine lines look less noticeable.
It feels very light on the skin and when i wake up i have a lovely glow to my face. I cannot tell you how much better my skin looks from using this product.

My only qualm is the price. I simply cannot afford to buy this regularly but if i could i most certainly would.

Skin Science  Bio Active Eye Contour Complex £75

This specialised eye cream combines quicklift to give an instant lifting and de-puffing action. Other powerful ingredients including ultra potent Spermine which over time protect the delicate area and help diminish dark circles.
Up to 55% improvement in tensing effect after only 2 hrs

I have been using this every morning and it again is brilliant. I'd go as far as to say this is the best eye cream Ive ever tried.
The texture is really soothing and easily absorbed. My dark circles have lessened it seriously de-puffs my eyes and  my whole eye area looks slightly lifted and younger looking.
Again I've only used this for 2 weeks but the results speak for themselves.

These two products are available exclusively from Harvey Nichols and i feel really lucky to have had the opportunity to try them.

 First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Face Cream SPF 30 £28

 This cream is targeted as a multi action anti aging cream with an added bonus of an SPF30. Suitable for all skin types . Infused with technology to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and to help correct uneven skin tone.
Contains Homeostatine, an active complex of two natural botanical ingredients to prevent wrinkles, Licorice root , feverfew and white tea which are powerful antioxidants.

I was a little worried at first as i find some products with spf in really break me out but this one definitely does not. This leaves my skin feeling lovely and smooth and the best bit is i know im protected all day from further damage to my skin.

I've been wearing this everyday and it also makes a great base for makeup as it leaves my skin feeling nice and smooth.
Available from Boots the chemist along with a full range of other skincare goodies.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser £31.00

This is a gentle exfoliator which smooths away dullness and impurities. Contains Salicylic, lactic and Glycolic acids to encourage clarity and brightness by dissolving dead skin cells.

I've been using this for a few months now about 3 times a week and i love it. Its so gentle on my skin yet it instantly makes it look brighter and feel so soft. I massage it into damp skin for about 2 minutes and rinse off then follow with moisturiser.
I know that by removing the dead skin cells any other product i apply has got a much better chance of being absorbed properly and it leaves my skin feeling extra clean and fresh.

Foundation free with just a touch of bronzer :)

This week i have felt confident enough to go without foundation for a few days as my skin is the looking the best it has in a seriously long time. For 2 weeks i have had no outbreaks at all, no hard underlying lumps in my skin and a healthy natural glow that i have been searching for. xx

SkinCare Routine & Night time rituals

Hello you lovely lot, i thought today i would do a post on my skincare products that i am using at the moment. I do chop and change my products quite a lot as im often reviewing different ranges but heres what im using at the present time.

I Keep all my daily products in this Mark Hill Bag that my friend brought me for xmas.

It fits so much in and keeps everything away from my inquisitive 3 year old.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. I use this everyday, sometimes twice a day. Its made such a difference to my skin. See Here for photos of before and after my Liz Earle Daily Essentials trial

Asda Essential wipes. For emergencies or lazy days. I'm not a fan of any of the wipes but these do the job as good as any.

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Toner. I use this twice a day and love it. It really helps control the blemishes and leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. Review Here.

No7 Eye Makeup Remover. I use this if i have heavy eyemake or waterproof mascara on. Its brilliant and very gentle on my eyes unlike a lot of others.

Aromatherapy Associates Refining Face oil Lavender & Ylang Ylang. I use this at night to help balance my skin and give it a boost. I've not been using it long but am loving it so far. Review coming soon.

Eucerin Dermo Purifyer Creme-Gel. I use this spot fighting moisturiser in the mornings after my cleance and tone. It really mattifies my skin and prevents spots its a long term favourite product. Review here

Monu Eye Gel. I use this twice a day its so refreshing and great for reducing puffiness. Review here.

Liz Earle Spot on. I use this under my moisturiser at the first sign of a spot. It works wonders at taking down the redness and stops spots in there tracks.

Bio Effect EGF Serum. This little sample has worked wonders on my skin. So much so that i dont want to use it up as i cant afford any more lol. It makes my skin, clear, bright and healthy looking. A tiny amount goes a long way as well.

Dr Rose Apothecary Balm of English Roses. I love the smell of this. I apply it at night to help keep my lips soft and moisturised.

Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Creme. I love this stuff the smell is like marzipan and it leaves my hands so so soft. I apply it at night a few times a week. Its without a doubt my favourite hand cream.

Green Grocery Avocado & Lemon Foot Salve. I apply this a few times a week at night to wake up with soft tootsies. A gorgeous pampering natural treat. Review Here.

Xen Tan Face Tanner Luxe. My favourite facial tan which i use a few times a week to put some much needed colour back in my face. The colour of this is perfect for me and it makes me look so much healthier. Review here

Liz Earle Gentle Exfoliator. I use this a few times a week to help brighten up my skin and remove any dead skin cells. I am such a fan of the Liz Earle range as the products are all fabulous and seem to suit my skin. Review here

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask. I use this once a week to help detoxify and remove impurities from my skin. Also i like the experience of a bit of self pampering. My skin looks so much better after using this.


So thats the lot lol. I know it seems like a huge amount of products but i dont use everything everyday. Have you tried any of these products and do you have a night time ritual?

Perfect Pai !

I love skincare products, i love trying new things and so when i was sent these products to review via Beautyjudge i was extremely excited.

Firstly because i had heard great things about this product range and secondly because my skin seems to really like the more natural ingredients and with Pai skincare you don't get much closer to nature.

The Camellia & Rose gentle hydrating cleanser is compatible with all skin types. The cleanser itself is just amazing. The smell is really uplifting and yet comforting at the same time. The texture is really creamy yet it removes every trace of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling fresh , clean and really soft. I cant say how much i love this cleanser. Add to this the fact that its packed full of A B C  & E and you are on to a winning combination.

I have been using this for a while and my skin is looking so much brighter and my hormonal skin seems to be really soothed with this cleanser.
Hardly surprising when you see all the fantastic organic ingredients which are used to create this product.

I was also sent the Avocado & Jojoba moisturiser which is a fantastic moisturiser. Again its packed full of goodness which your skin will just lap up and free from all those nasty chemicals. This cream is designed for normal skin types and it left my skin looking and feeling really smooth and supple. I didn't get any outbreaks from it ( always a concern with a new moisturiser for me ) My pores looked slightly better and again it had a real calming effect on my skin.

I think i will try the Chamomile& Rosehip moisturiser once this has finished as its for sensitive skins and i think it might be even better suited for my skin type.
All these products are available from Pai here

Seriously if you haven't given these products a try yet and you are looking for a luxury, natural organic range then this is the one to try. xx