Skincare

My night in with Spa Sanctuary Facial In-A-Box & Lush Twighlight Bath Bomb

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My Night In With Spa Sanctuary & Lush

My Night In With Spa Sanctuary & Lush

Ok so this post is still a product review, but rather than for makeup it’s for some pamper products that I recently tried.

Last pay day, I decided that my tired pregnant body needed some TLC. Now in an attempt to treat it with something other than chocolate (and because I can’t treat it with copious amounts of alcohol) I wondered around my local town shops for a product or two that I could enjoy at home.

From Boots Pharmacy I stumbled across a new product by the wonderful Spa Sanctuary called Youth Boosting Facial In-A-Box.

Described as a:

30 minute step-by-step pampering treatment for skin that looks and feels visibly firmed & plumped

Now, I’m not someone who can afford regular facials so this was very tempting and I promptly bunged it into my basket. Incidentally, I have since discovered a couple of variations of these boxes which would be lovely Christmas presents for any lady. In fact I bought the Sleep-In-A-Box one for a good friend who is also a full time working mum. So in some ways she probably has no issue sleeping, but a nice treat all the same!

At £16.50 each (and currently on a 3 for 2 offer), they are very reasonable for what you get.

The box is enticing to look at and inside you find the simple step by step instructions and products with very generous sample sizes of some of their most popular products. In fact, i’ve used the box once and would definitely have enough of all the products to use once or even twice again. Apart from the mask, which comes in a sachet, the other products are miniatures so also perfect for if you are travelling anywhere.

The lovely box
Step-by-step
Steps 1 & 2
3 & 4
Step 5
The products
Mask
Sample sizes

(Sorry for the slightly blurred images)

After that purchase, I could already envisage a flushed pink refreshed mug. My evening was coming together nicely.  I had already planned my music on Spotify, had a candle waiting by the wings and now had my pampering treat of my facial stashed into my shopping bag. Yet somehow it was missing an additional relaxing element to take it from a regular long hot soak to the next level. So, armed with some spare change left from my mid-shop coffee break,  I headed to Lush for something decadent to pop into the bath water (because sometimes your regular bubble bath just won’t do).

Now Lush is a shop that you smell way before you actually see it. Some people are put off because it can be quite overpowering, but for me, walking in there is like being enveloped in a sweet shop for your nose. Every flavour you can think of is there, in fact, some of the products smell so good you really do have to refrain from having a tiny taste of them.

I’ve been buying and giving Lush for years from many of their different stores and in every branch I come across the friendliest, most happy and helpful staff you could ever wish to encounter. Perhaps they are all giddy on the wonderful fumes of the soaps, bath bomb, massage bars, shampoos, shower gels and make up products.

I simply walked in and wondered around sniffing literally everything as I went until I simply had nasal overload. That’s when a very lovely sales assistant asked if she could help me.

I must have patted my baby bump without realising as I said that I simply needed something for the bath that would utterly relax me. In a flash she had grabbed a Bath Bomb called Twighlight. As  I went to pay she then very sweetly popped a complimentary massage bar into my bag (for the bump she said) and off I trotted.

Once home I ran a bath, threw in Twighlight and can honestly say sat there and watched it fizz into the most fantastic sunset colours then finally settle into the colour of the sky at, you guessed it, twighlight.

My Lush purchase
Ready for the drop
Marshmallow Pink fizzing action
Suddently a volcano of blue erupted
Bath swirls
Nearly there…
…My Twighlight bath

Now, I could try and describe the smell that accompanied the show, but Lush do it so much better.

If sleep is evading you, this combination of essential oils will help get you ready for a good night’s rest. As Twilight dissolves, it turns from the colour of the setting sun and gets darker, turning your water a shimmering deep purple. The fragrance has been designed to help you sleep: lavender is a soothing, mind-clearing and calming fragrance, used in aromatherapy to treat insomnia and aid restful sleep, while benzoin and tonka call to mind a milky caramel malt drink.

(BTW- I have enjoyed many Lush Bath Bombs, but this is one I’d re-purchase again and again for the smell and the glorious process of watching it fizz away – definitely one of the prettiest I’ve seen) Well worth the tiny £3.35.

The rather nice Therapy massage bar was thoughtful touch by the sales assistant and feels lovely on the bump! (Mine was a gift but usually costs £6.50 for 50g)

Lush Therapy Bar

Lush say:

A 100% organic massage bar to soften the skin and soothe the mind. The perfectly balanced blend of aerated cocoa and shea butters gives a lovely gliding massage and leaves your skin incredibly soft, whilst our carefully chosen blend of three organic essential oils has a powerfully cheering effect. Organic lavender oil balances the skin and relaxes the mind. Neroli oil has been shown to increase serotonin levels in the brain and improves the tone and texture of the skin whilst sweet wild orange oil lifts the mood

Needless to say that after the facial, bath bomb and massage bar I was feeling very relaxed, spoiled and Lush! (sorry – couldn’t help myself)

What do you do to relax at home?

I’m after some scented candle recommendations for my next at-home spa evening, please leave a comment if you have any favourites I should try out. 

My Favourite Exfoliators

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Having already spoken about my favourite cleansers in a previous post, I wanted to talk about my favourite exfoliators which, for me, are an intrinsic step in my skincare routine.

My skin is lazy and really doesn’t shed very well by itself. This has lead to adult acne and a bumpy dull complexion that I have been tackling over the last few years.

After much trial and error with all kinds of skincare products and medications, I’m starting to feel like I have a routine which includes a selection of products that seem to be working for me (right now anyway).

Because of my lazy skin, regular exfoliating (every or every other day) really is a crucial step in keeping the spots at bay and getting my skin glowing.

So, enough of my rambling, here are my favourite exfoliators.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is an interesting exfoliating product as it doesn’t contain any kind of beads or scrubbing particles or anything really that you can see that would ‘manually’ exfoliate the skin. And that is because it actually ‘melts’ away all the crap on your face with some clever ingredients.

Firstly, Dermalogica explain their product much better than I can:

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a unique, Rice-based enzyme powder that activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal. Our unique Skin Brightening Complex of Bearberry, Aspergillus, Grapefruit and Licorice helps to balance uneven skin pigmentation. Active agents derived from Rice Bran and Rice Extract help to regulate melanin production while micro-exfoliating dead cells. A super-soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal calms inflammation, leaving the skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed. Gentle enough to use on a daily basis.

See, I told you it was clever! The main benefits are removing debris, encouraging skin renewal and tackling uneven pigmentation. All of these things are fantastic if, like me, you already have old scarring, pigmentation and dullness coupled with skin that gets easily inflamed.

And if you read my post about cleansers, you will already know that i’m a fan of Salicylic Acid and I have to say that because you massage this in for a good minute or so, it really gets a chance to work it’s magic.

This is how it looks (my only bug bear with the packaging of Dermalogica is that I can’t see how much product I have left)

 

Now, Dermalogica as a brand is not cheap. But, I have to say that they seem to really push the boundaries of skincare, including the latest high quality active ingredients in their products without the nasties. Hence, in my humble opinion, the performance of their products really are quite impressive and sets them apart from the high street brands.

So again, this is a bit of an investment item (Retailing between £35-£40), but it does last an age. Also, although it is sold on many websites, the link I have provided takes you to a site which gives you quite generous free samples of other products when you place an order. And that is actually how I came to try out and become a huge fan of my next favourite exfoliator –

– Dermalogica’s Skin Prep Scrub. Now unlike the ‘melting’ action of their Microfoliant, this little baby manually exfoliates using very very fine (but surprisingly effective) corn cob particles. That’s right, corn cob, not beads or scratchy nut shells.

Over to Dermalogica for the low-down:

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub is a skin-polishing scrub exfoliant with natural grains that leaves the skin with a smooth, healthy finish. Finely-granulated Corn Cob Meal gently removes dulling surface debris, allowing for improved absorption of moisturising treatments. Comforting botanical extracts of Mallow, Ivy and Cucumber plus soothing Aloe Vera help to prevent over-stimulation of the skin.

Why I love this exfoliator is that it never scratches or irritates my skin, it lasts soooo long and because it is so fine in texture but still robust (it doesn’t evaporate like some fine exfoliators), you can really work it into all the nooks and crannies of your face (around those pesky nostrils and into the pores on your chin) for as long as you want. I guarantee you that you have to rinse this off afterwards and it doesn’t give up until you do.

Despite its ability to buff away relentlessly, it’s also super gentle and contains clever ingredients such as the natural anti inflammatory Arnica, which ensures you don’t look red and blotchy afterwards.

Sorry to harp on, but I really can’t find another fine particle exfoliator to match it. If you do please tell me because, once again, this doesn’t come cheap.

Retailing between £25-£30 for 75ml, once again it is an investment.

Now, if this really is too much of a stretch for your budget, there is one other exfoliator which is a great fall back for me. I can’t say it is a favourite when I compare it to the other two, but it does a fairly good job for the money, contains natural ingredients and perhaps i’m a little nostalgic about it because it is a brand my mum always used. I’m talking about good old St Ives.

Now i’ve always used (stolen from my mum) the original apricot scrub and until recently didn’t realise that, behind the scenes and rather quietly, St Ives have been re-vamping their range which now contains a number of variants of the original.

Screen Shot 2014-08-14 at 11.11.04

Now available in the range are: “Fresh Skin” (to invigorate)/ “Timeless Skin” (to renew and firm)/  “Naturally Clear” (blemish and blackhead control)/ “Sensitive Skin” (to be gentle).

They also have a new “Even & Bright” (Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange scrub) and a “Green Tea” (for clearing black heads).

Now as I said, i’ve only ever used the original version but I’m always interested in saving money, so fully intend on purchasing one or more of these and reviewing them properly at a later date.

From the ingredients side of things it looks quite promising. They are all paraben free, the particles are naturally derived and i’ve already spotted some Salicylic Acid in the “Naturally Clear” version – all positive so far.

In fact, now i’ve had a look at the website I’ve also spotted their oatmeal scrub/mask and a collagen/elastin moisturiser which could tempt me..

Have you used any these products yourself ? I’d be interested to hear your experience and which one you’d recommend, especially if you have delved into the new St Ives range.

 

My favourite Cleansers

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Firstly, before I dive into spouting on about my favourite cleansers, I thought a bit of background info on my skin woes would be prudent.

Skincare is something i’m really interested in because despite being in my 30’s, I actually suffer from Adult Acne.

It all started when I stopped taking the contraceptive pill over seven years ago (for health reasons) and finding out within weeks that the teenage skin i’d never really allowed my body to experience, decided to rear it’s ugly, painful and inflamed head all over my chest, back and face.

After several months of oral antibiotics and daily applications of medicated creams, I was getting rather fed up with the reoccurance of painful cyst like spots that would appear over night and then take months to disappear (often leaving me with scarring).

It wasn’t until I had a makeup trial for my wedding last year, that a makeup artist recommended I overhauled my skincare routine and started giving my skin a bit of TLC.

Now it sounds like common sense in a way, but it never occurred to me that spot prone/acne prone skin is by its nature, very sensitive and reactive. So applying products designed for spot prone skin can sometimes prove a bit harsh and make the problem worse. This is something, celebrity makeup artist (and personal girl crush) Lisa Eldridge discusses in her videos – and if you suffer with your skin, her tutorials and recommendations are well worth a look. This is a link to one of her skincare videos.

Also, both my makeup artist and Lisa Eldridge put forward various reasons why spots can appear. Lisa herself has what she calls ‘lazy skin’, which doesn’t shed very well and allows the build up of cells and debris, which clog the pores and then voila! A breakout nightmare.

Suddenly this made so much sense to me, and looking at my spotty, bumpy, dull, slightly dehydrated, red and partly oily skin, I suddenly realised this could be my problem too – and the best way to tackle this is with consistent and effective cleansing and exfoliating.

My personal favourites…

Enlightened and determined to get my skin clear and glowing for my impending nuptials, I decided to take my makeup artists recommendation and change up my cleansing routine by investing in Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

And I tell you, boy did this do wonders!!

This cleanser is creamy and soothing and removes every scrap of makeup and skin debris without burning or pulling at your face. It’s part of a 3-step process recommended by Liz Earle, but I prefer using the cleanser and moisturiser without the toner step. I just find the toner dried out my skin a bit too much (probably because of the topical medicated cream i’m still using).

Liz Earle says about its product:

Our original, multi award-winning hot cloth cleanser quickly removes daily grime and make up to leave skin clean, soft and radiant.

Ideal for your morning or evening cleanse, this formulation works on every age and skin type, offering concentrated yet gentle cleansing power.

Our plant-based cleanser has a two-phase action. Phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, cleaner skin.

These guys have quite a lot to say about their product, but for me, it was all relevant and true.

Within two weeks the tiny bumps on my cheeks and forehead had all but disappeared, leaving brighter, smoother and calmer looking skin and within about two months the big cyst like spots on my chin area appeared less and less. The old scarring marks also started to fade.

The way you use their cleanser also provides a gentle form of exfoliation because you remove (“polish”) it with a muslin cloth. This was perfect in helping my skin cell turnover and preventing future breakouts.

Now, when I say I invested in Liz Earle, I mean that for me, it was a step up into the more expensive realms of skincare. If you are new to Liz Earle and can’t afford to plunge head first into their three step routine, they very kindly supply starter kits for a fraction on the full sized price. This is what I bought for the first few months until I decided it was working for me.

A 15ml tube + 1 muslin cloth will cost you £3.25 or the 50ml pump starter kit with muslin cloth is £9.25 – although the 15ml tube sounds like a bargain, remember that your skin follows a cycle and you need to try a new product for a good few weeks to see true results, so the starter kit may provide more value for money.

Now, as much as I love Liz Earle, it does require more time out of your day to use it properly, so I tend to alternate between products during the week, depending on how my skin is reacting and how much time I have. So if i’m not cleansing with Liz Earle, i’m doing it with Neutrogena Visibly Clear® Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash.

Now I know I said that some products for spot prone skin can make the problem worse, but thankfully this is not one of them and it’s one of the few lower priced brands of skincare that includes a great ingredient for treating spot prone skin – Salicylic Acid. A form of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), it penetrates the skin to loosen dead skin cells and is gentler than Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), so ideal for regular use on sensitive skin.

As it is a foaming face wash which doesn’t require a cloth, it is my ‘quick time’ routine on days where I am in a rush. In fact, cleansing in the AM with Neutrogena and then in the PM (in the bath) with Liz Earle works out well for me.

The is what Neutrogena say about their product:

image-6NEUTROGENA VISIBLY CLEAR® Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash is an uplifting daily facial cleanser for clearer, fresher and healthier looking skin every day. With powerful MICROCLEAR® technology, the formula cleanses deeply to help eliminate spots and blackheads. The refreshing gel gently purifies the skin without overdrying, whilst a wave of pink grapefruit uplifts the senses with a burst of invigorating freshness!

A 200ml bottle will cost you less than £5. An absolute bargain in my opinion. I bought mine over six weeks ago and it’s only just running out. It’s effective, smells lush, is affordable, practical, lasts ages (with one pump being enough to wash your entire face) and it doesn’t dry out sensitive skin. Using this means that my more expensive Liz Earle product needs replacing less frequently, so I can keep up my skincare routine without bankrupting myself.

So thats it, a bit of a ramble, but a crucial step in skincare which is individual to every person. Getting a product that works for you can make a huge difference to your skin condition (and confidence).

I’m also going to do a post about my favourite exfoliators as they are also crucial to keeping my skin in good condition, so keep your eyes (and skin) peeled – sorry I couldn’t resist!

What are your favourite cleansers? I’d love to hear your recommendations and skincare experiences!