Winter Skin Savers....

With the winter well and truly upon us I thought it would be a good time to share some of my winter skin savers with you! As soon as the weather turns my hands and face get so dry and just don't cope well with the change.  In order to cope I rely on these two little beauties.

The lovely Shea Butter, Macadamia Oil and Marshmallow Hand Food from Soap and Glory is not only hydrating and non-greasy but is seriously the yummiest hand cream I've ever used.  It's not badly priced at £5.00 for 125ml, especially when it's the only thing that seem to deal my the dry skin I get on my hands. I can't leave the house without this in my bag.

My other little gem is Boots Traditional Skin Care - Cold Cream.  For the bargain price of £2.42 for 200ml, this is such an all rounder.  You can use it too take your makeup off, for extra moisture and even as a hand cream. I tend to apply a little to my nose at night (always get dry skin on my nose) and then a little to my hand.  When I'm having a really bad week I apply all over my face or use as a mask.  A little of this goes a very long way and leaves my skin soft and hydrated.

Soap & Glory Clear Here Cleansing Cloths

Today's post is on Soap & Glory Clear Here Cleansing Cloths (Deep pore purifying t-zone).

 

I am a Soap & Glory fan. I love the names, packaging and smell of most things. So when I saw these wipes recently I decided to give them a go. My skin had become quite spotty.

Here is what is what Soap & Glory say,

'3-in-1 cleansing, toning and skin smoothing cloths. Infused with slow release Poreshrink-RS™ acid free exfoliator formulated to fight spots and blackheads.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Once or twice a day, rub a Clear Here clog-dissolving cloth across your forehead, then down the centre of your face, around your chin, around the sides of your nose, and repeat. Follow with moisturiser and eye cream. Reseal pack after dispensing so cloths don’t dry out. Dispose of cloths with rubbish, rather than flushing. (Trust us.)'

They are designed for oily to combination skin.

I really haven't got on with these at all and I have been left with my skin ruined and I only used them for 3 nights! They are just not suited to my skin at all. It's taken me a whole mouth to get my skin back to normal. I ended up with dry arches and breakouts on my cheeks.

 

Now I don't think you can take my review as you shouldn't look at these, unfortunately my skin just didn't like the ingredients. For some skin types these would be good. They removed my makeup well when I did use them. But for the other claims well I haven't been able to use them properly so I can't comment.

 

I will continue to love products such as Hand Food but I will stay away from the wipes and all ensure I am not using harsh products on my sensitive skin!

 

The wipes contains 25 at an RRP for £4.50.

 

Are you a Soap & Glory fan? What's your favourite product?


 

Thanks

 

Boots Star Gift of the Week : Soap & Glory £25

Hey,

I know you have probably already seen loads of posts on this week's Boots Gift of the Week (I know I have), but just in case here its is.

This week Boots are running the Soap & Glory Big Splendour set for £25 (was £60).

Last year when Boots reduced Soap & Glory set before Christmas stock went so quick it was crazy. This year the offer will run from today Friday 16th December to Friday 24th December. This set will not be available on the 3 for 2 offer.

This year the set contains:

· Clean on Me™ 500ml Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel has a bonus, built in body lotion, so you can get clean, smooth, sexy skin.

· The Righteous Body Butter™ 300ml A smooth, creamy, and velvety intense body lotion. With skin softening shea butter and aloe vera.

· Pulp Friction™ 250ml Foamy fruity body scrub with fig powder, pumice, peppermint oil, lemonade tree liquid, orange waterjuice™& vitamin balls™(A,C,E). Includes new Fruitigo™ fragrance with notes of frozen yuzu, orange oil, green fig, and jungle pomelo essence.

· Face, Soap & Clarity™ 150ml Fresh facial wash for super clean, fresh & bright skin. A 3-in-1 daily detox vitamin C facial scrub, a great exfoliator and brilliant for flaky skin.

· Off Your Face Wipes™ 3-in-1 cleansing, toning and skin smoothing for the quick ridding of makeup, dirt, oils and dead cell build-up. They’re your quickest route to clean.

· Heel Genius™ 125ml Foot Cream, a soak-in foot mask marvel that smoothes and softens while you sleep.

· Hand Food™ 125ml Hand cream, a super-silky gorgeously-scented non-greasy hydrating hand cream featuring shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow,, which leaves your hands super smooth.

· Mist You Madly™ 250ml A flirty, floral, fragrant body spray featuring notes of bergamot and blackcurrant, magnolia, freesia, vanilla and musk.

· Sexy Mother Pucker™ Extreme formula lip plumping gloss, in seductive Candy Gloss colour with a fabulous vanilla flavour.

· Calm One, Calm All™ 500ml A double function bubble bath soak. With a built in body lotion and a moisture magnetising skin conditioner you’ll be smoothed while you’re soothed!

You will be getting such a great mix of hand, body and face products! The total RRP for the products (what Boots is selling them for singularly) is about £70....so bargain!!!. It is a great way to test out lots of different items from Soap & Glory as well. Last years box helped me discover Hand Food and the Off Your Face Wipes, which are now both staples in my regime.

Are you tempted? I know I am!

Thanks

Soap & Glory - Tell Me Why?

Hey,

You would think by the name of the post that this was a product review of an item from Soap & Glory but no it's a me whinging about them changing packaging.

I have previously mentioned S&G Off you face cleansing wipes in my Current Skincare Rountine and it's been in my monthly favourites. I enjoy using the wipes as they are quick and simple to use, they actually feel like they are working and they only cost around £4.50 for 25 wipes.

As these have been part of my regular routine I popped along to Boots this month to pick them up and I was annoyed to see they had changed the packaging. The original packaging was:


As you can see it had a clip lid for you to open and close to get the wipes out. Now it's:


It's just a sticky label! From having a child I have learnt that the packets of wipes are best when they come with a proper lid not a sticky label. No matter how hard you try to make sure it's shut properly the label loses it adhesion and won't close, thus it won't keep the wipes moist.

So I was very annoyed that they had changed the wipes. I know it will be a money saving exercise, prices of raw materials across the world are going up and companies need to still be making good margin so they can make a profit. But as my wipes look like this after using up half


I don't think the packet will survive the next half!

I am going to first try to search for old packets it Boots stores nearby. But then I am unsure whether I will continue to use them with the new packaging. As it will continue to annoy me!!

Do you have any favourite items where companies have changed the packaging for the worse?

Thanks

K

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery....

Firstly I will say this is a little bit of a rant.

I have started looking and buying Christmas presents recently and I know Soap & Glory are already doing a name and shame, see here. But I was still so surprised at how many of the major stores stock items that are basically copies of major brands, for example Debenhams, BHS, ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury's and even M&S. Now I understand that there needs to be items for all price ranges but there is no need to ripe off someone else's products just to increase your sales.

What had started this was popping into Sainsbury's the other day and looking at the Christmas gifts they had in store. And I noticed these nail varnishes that were £5, which look very much like Nails Inc.
And when I started looking at the rest of the gifts they had a range that looked like Sanctuary and Soap & Glory. When I think about it you seem to now notice this is far more shops, I know we have the saying 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery', but to me they just seem to be using a well known brand to increase their own sales.

Soap & Glory do seem to be hit the hardest by this, everywhere I went seemed to have a range that was similar to them but at half the price.

Now season Soap & glory fans will be able to spot the difference and know the items probably don't work the same. But people obviously are buying them or why else would they stock them. Also I have to say customers like my Nana would buy them thinking they were Soap & Glory etc. I have shown some examples below,

They even use a play on words to name the items just like Soap & Glory.

I used to work in retail Head Office (fashion) and we used to do 'Competitor shops' to see what we weren't stocking or doing at the time. So I know that this goes on everywhere and in all industries, you have to keep up with your competitors. But from a customer perspective I just wish they would stop cashing in on bigger more popular brands to sell inferior products and come up with their own ideas!

And if anything if would be nice to have more of a choice when looking for gifts instead of all these beauty sets looking the same. I am fed up of going shopping and having all the christmas gifts looking the same! It like looking at Boots christmas shop but at cheaper products. The best part of Christmas shopping for me is seeing all the different gift ranges that are around. But everything just seems soooo samey, which I am just getting bored of! I wanted a cheaper option but I would like it to be a diferent choice not an imitation.

Let me know what you think? Are these companies just using good business sense to push and sell their products? Or are they trying to rip customers off?

Soap & Glory - Make Yourself Youthful Super Rejuvenating Face Serum

I've had a bit of a thing lately for serums, currently trying out a couple at the moment, however I've had this one for a few months now and its been my most used serum.

Firstly it costs £13.00 from Boots which is about normal for the drug store serums and secondly its promises to make your skin smoother, healthier, firmer and younger! Basically its meant to make your skin glow.

I've done a few quick pictures below to show it straight out of the tub and blended in

I put it on just before my moisturiser (although on the warmer days I've just been using this on its own). It blends in well, but I would recommend waiting a few minutes before you apply anything on top as it can take a while to sink in. It also has a slight sweetly orange smell about it - I don't mind it but I think some people could be put off.

Verdict - Now I don't have massive issues with wrinkles or aging skin, so its not like I've seen a huge improvement in the quality of my skin, however it has become smoother (but not necessarily tighter) and its mainly for this reason that I've kept using it. Also I'm working with the somewhat nutty hope that if I start now I may not develop as many wrinkles!

Lx

Soap and Glory - SuperEyes Moisturising Eye Gel

Now this is supposed to reduce visible wrinkles and depuffs your eyes (especially if stored in the fridge). My mum picked this up for me for my birthday - she'd listened to me moaning for a while about he fact that I couldn't find an eye cream/gel that I liked.

I wouldn't say I'm concerned about wrinkles just yet, but I do suffer from puffy eyes in the morning! So as you can imagine with statements such as 'reduces wrinkles' and 'depuffs', you can imagine that its got to include a lot of different ingredients - so I've checked Soap and Glory's website for the main active ingredients....

What’s inside that counts?
- A Swiss Syn-Ake like venom Stimulating Age Fighting Tripeptide: to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles by
inhibiting the micro-contractions on the surface of the skin
- A Collagen-Stimulating Tripeptide: to firm and regenerate
- SWIFTLIFT™ Technology: our instant tightener
- Micronised Light-Reflecting Pigments: that instantly camouflage fine lines and wrinkles
- Caffeine: it depuffs your thighs, so why nto use it on your eyes

So the gel itself is transparent with a slight shimmer effect to it (I'm assuming that's the light reflective pigments), which you can see in the picture below

Once you get it on your eyes, you just need to pat it in (not rub) and your done. Have to admit it does tingle a bit once its on.

I've been using this morning and night since I got it in July (and surprisingly I've still got over a half a tub left which is quite nice since its only £8.00 from Boots) and although I've not seen any changes in the few lines I have. But as I said above I don't have any real concerns yet about wrinkles so I'm not too concerned that I haven't noticed any difference.


I love using it every morning. It really cools and depuffs my eyes and its a great start to the day. I haven't tried it in the fridge as I probably wouldn't remember to use it if a did.


Overall I love this - it just perks me up first thing and its just a good start to the day.

Rose & Co Apothecary's Formula Eyebright Eye Gel

If you have been following my blog for a little while you will know that I took a trip to Leeds with the boyfy a couple of weeks ago.

Whilst we were there I found a lovely boutique called Rose & Co. It had a lovely retro feeling to it and one of the ladies there was styled like a pin up girl and looked totally DIVINE! They sell cosmetics, but there was also some kitsch jewellery in the store. Their website is super cute and can be found here.

During my little peek around the shop I a little tub of eye gel. I had been used to using Soap and Glory's eye gel but I had none left so I purchased this one.






What do I think of this product?
I found it to be quite basic. Yes it went on cool and did seem to make my eyes feel a little more refreshed but I didn't notice the same reduction in puffiness that I get with Soap and Glory's.

Also, I noticed that it dried onto my skin a bit strangely. It felt like I had to blink loads and keep opening my eyes wide so the skin sorrounding my actual eyeball was not tacky. Like the feeling you get in the palm of your hands if you are using gel and forget to wash it off your hands after.

Would I repurchase?
Honestly, I probably wouldn't.
There is nothing wrong with this product at all. However, there is nothing that makes it exciting. It doesn't smell divine, it doesn't provide me with amazing results and the packaging is pretty boring. So it doesn't really tick any boxes for me.
Yeah I only paid around £5.00 for it but I don't feel like it makes any difference to the skin around my eyes.

I think the best way for me to describe my feelings towards this gel is indifferent. I don't dislike it but I don't love it either. I think in terms of eye gels I will stick to Soap and Glory's for now.

Soap & Glory Bright Here Bright Now™ Instant Radiance Energy Balm

Ok I admitted that when we started our blog I was a Soap and Glory virgin!

Can't really say why I'd never tried anything before, always wanted to but just never did. Well following my first purchase of The Fab Pore....I'm now well and trully hooked. The products I've tried so far have been great and the packaging super cute.

I recently picked up Bright Here, Bright Now Instant Radiance EnergyBalm, as in summer I do like to use some sort of radiance mosituriser, as I'm quite fair and don't tan, so I feel my complexion just needs something to make it glow. I've previously tried Olay's Daily Radiance, but found that Iwas breaking out if I used it for a few days in a row, so I thought a balm might be better.

So the product promises to (from the site) 'make your skin dazzle with moisturising apricot kernel oil, aloe vera and our immediate face firming active INSTANTIGHT2™'.




Ironically I picked the perfect time to give this a go!. I'd been suffering from dental problems recently and ended up having one of my wisdom teeth removed...ouch! Resulting in a month of continuous painkillers and serious lack of sleep! Most mornings I looked a delightful shade of grey haha!

I applied this in the morning after my moisturiser and before my foundation. The texture is creamy and a little thick, but not the same a mosituriser and doesn't feel heavey on at all. It's not shimmery as it doesn't have any silly sparkly bits like some other radiance products (which is even better!) and its just perks my skin up in the morning. I just get a nice fresh look to my skin and its really helped to hide my sleep deprivation.

In the pictures below, the one with the flash has really picked up the nice glow, although you'll see in the one without its only subtly and its picked up in that one.

without flash

with flash

I've been applying it over and I do think this is the best way, however you could probably just apply it where you think you need it.

As I said it is a little thick so I was concerned it may break me out, but so far so good.

I can't really say I've found any faults with the product. The packaging is hygienic and a little goes a long way. Its priced at £10.00 which isn't a bad price.

Verdict - Definately going to be a re-purchase. I just love it!!

(alreay eyed my next Soap and Glory pruchase - Make Yourself Youthful Super Rejuvenating Face Serum)

L x

Review: Soap and Glory - Fill Monty Facial Wrinkle Filler

So one of my beauty purchases yesterday was this...


I had intended to purchase the eye gel they do because I do really like that, however I left it in NYC so I had been using Boots cheapy eye cream only (which incidentally is good, but I get puffy eyes because they are so darn sensitive so the eye gel really helps).


Anyway, firstly I picked up the eye gel which was on offer and had like a £1 off or something in Boots. But next to it there was the "You won't believe your eyes illuminating serum"... Well I am always one to be tempted by something new and it did look quite nice so in the basket it went, and out went the eye gel.


Then I dragged L and myself over to the other Soap and Glory section "just incase" there was anything else. And that was where I spotted the Fill Monty Facial Wrinkle Filler. Now I read the description which says

"Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles in just seconds after application!
An instant wrinkle filler engineered with Virtual Retouching Technology™, a blend of wrinkle-baffling spheres and skin moisturising magnets"

Yeah right! I thought to myself and put some on a crease on the palm of my hand. "Woah!" L said when I showed her that it had practically dissapeared!! Maybe it does work I thought and out went the illuminating serum and in went the wrinkle filler into my basket.


Ooooo goody I thought. This is perfect! Especially because my eyes are looking pretty tired this week due to the jet lag and max of 4 hours sleep I have been getting. Now I am (only) early(ish) 20's so I am not heavily wrinkled (yet). However, as I said I have very sensitive eye lids and eye balls haha!! So this has resulted in me getting little fine lines under the eyes due to my furiously rubbing off like 80 layers of mascara each night. So when I came to do the usual routine this morning I though oooooo I am going to have no lines AT ALL ladies!! Excited!? Very.

So you can imagine how dissapointed I was when my eyes looked pretty much the same!!! Yes, it didnt bleeding work!! All it served to do was act as a normal hydrating eye cream. Well I am sorry but my freaking moisturiser can do that!

So yes, I feel a little conned! After all the promise of hope and linefree eyes yesterday I have come to the conclusion that it must work because of what that crease was like - but it must only work on REAL wrinkles, I mean lines (I feel bad saying wrinkles - makes me think of the witch in Snow White, anyway it's their word not mine). I don't think that it is designed for fine lines, or infact under the eyes because it was quite thick. And after all it says its a Facial Wrinkle Filler so I have to blame myself haha!

Would I recommend?? No, I would say try it if you want to smooth out deeper set lines on the face because it probably would be sort of effective and for something like that it is cheap. But if you have relatively young looking skin I would say that it's not worth it because I wasted like £9!!

I wonder has anyone else used this?? Or the Soap and Glory You Won't Believe Your Eyes serum?? If so, what were your thoughts? I will go and purchase the eye gel again for now but I do fancy the serum too!

The Fab Pore...

This is one of my recent purchases, brought in my quest to get rid/minimise my pores (or at least the bigger looking ones!).

This is actually my first ever Soap and Glory Purchase and I have to admit I had very high hopes. I'd read alot of good things about S&G products on various blogs so was really excited to give it a go.

I would say my skin is best described as combination - I have a greasy t-zone, but also suffer from dry skin (which is very bad on my nose) and despite being in my mid-20's I seem to still suffer from regulary break outs.

Now The Fab Pore is described as being a '15 minute facial peel - ideal for greasy, spot prone or problem skin, or for a strategic attack on a misbehaving T-Zone'. Given its description as a 'facial peel', I really wasn't expecting to see little green beads - I was expecting more of a creamy/clearer type of product. However, I was put off. The instructions tell you that you need to massage the product onto your face until the beads dissolve and then you can leave it on for either a quick 5 minute refresher or a 15 minute deep cleaning facial. Its quite nice as you get to have a little face scrub before you leave it to remove all the weekly build up from your face that your daily routine doesn't remove. I've given both ways ago and I think I do prefer to use it as the 15 minute facial then the quick 5 minute refresher - I'm not always great at sticking with a rountine so this was definately a great way for me to use it!.

I've only been using this for a couple of weeks but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!. My face feels really great after I'd used it and although I haven't noticed any change in the size of my pores, my face doesn't look as greasy and feels great. This is definately something I would get again and can honestly say I can't wait to try some more of the S&G products. Definately a new addiction haha......

I've also been using this along with Pears Soap as part of a new skin care routine and really think its the prefect addition to my new rountine.

......Continuation of Todays Purchases

Hi - this is L

As you know I went for a stroll around the shops at lunch with the Giddy Princess. I didn’t partake in the mini hair straightener’s purchase (although seem as I am seriously addicted to straightening my unruly, frizzy mane - I do think that these will be a future purchase.......ooooo and definitely in ♥pink♥). Instead today I went a little crazy in Boots........


I picked up Boots Original Formula Vanishing Day Cream, Boots eye-cream (along with the trusted beauty obsessed sidekick) at the bargain price of £1.94, Collection 2000 Illuminating under eye concealer, Soap and Glory – The Fab Pore Facial Peel, Barry M nail varnish in 303 Bright Purple, Boots 17 Anti-redness correction stick, Natural Collection eyeshadow in White Opal and some new eye-shadow brushes.

I’m absolutely loving the Boots Original Formula products after a referral from my beauty obsessed pal, Giddy Princess. I’ve already picked up the Cleansing Milk and the Facial Tonic and I adore the vintage packaging which really cries out to me girly side ♥. Once I tried out the moisturiser, I’ll review the 3 products together.

I was also quite excited about purchasing the Soap and Glory – The Fab Pore peel. This may come as a bit of a shock but.............this is actually my first Soap and Glory Purchase. I know I’ve been a bit slow on trying this range, kept meaning to get something and give it a go but was never sure what to get. I’ve eventually decide to try The Fab Pore after reading a couple of good reviews. I’m really excited about trying this with the promise of minimising your pores (which is a serious quest of mine!) – Hopefully I’ll do a review on it in the next couple of days.