In Defence of Your Skin - The Friday Freebie

So you know the feeling in winter when you're skin is feeling a bit de-hydrated and weathered so you load on a thicker moisturiser to nourish it? Only to find that your makeup won't stick and when you get indoors into a centrally heated environment you start to 'glow' exessively due to the barrier of cream. The other extreme is when it is warm and you want something lightweight yet are concerned about getting enough moisture as well as a decent level of SPF. I have found that I have been layering products in the summer time in order to address my skin's needs and end up 'glowing' again! But don't even mention the disaster that would be your skin if you didn't protective products at all.

So what to do? What to use? It all gets a bit confusing...

Well, the clever clogs (and dermatologists) over at Neutrogena have sorted it. They have just launched their Multi-Defence line which is their first daily moisturiser that protects against sun damage, pollution, cold, heat and wind. Wow! What a claim, can one bottle of lotion really do all this?

It seems yes. They worked with eminent dermatologist, Dr Susan Mayou from the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group, whom I quizzed at the launch, and she was very excited about the breakthrough technology that Neutrogena have harnessed to develop this range. They call it PROT-AOX which is a blend of highly performing ingredients including Moringa seed, Brazilian Green Tea and vitamins C and E. This particular cocktail protects the skin from environmental aggressors and improves the skin's own resistance. They include a spectrum of UVA and UVB filters as well as being able to protect against ozone, cigarette smoke (shame on you!) heat and humidity. So it works to defend you against all these skin enemies in one bottle, but how does it feel I hear you cry!

I divided my haul between three people, myself included, all of us with different skin types and the results were a unanimous positive from us all. I road-tested the wipes and the moisturiser for all skin types which has an SPF of 25. This high level of protection at under €10 is amazing so for that alone I give it a huge thumbs up, but mainly, I loved the texture. It's light, my skin felt smooth and my makeup sits perfectly on top. In fact, people commented on how well my skin looked when I started wearing it.

My tester with oily skin used the Gentle Purifying Scrub and the moisturiser for normal and combination skin. The result? Happy skin!

Ivan tested the one for dry and sensitive at my request as I wanted to see how it would fare in warm environments (he's a chef - it gets hot!) and he was impressed - no oily residue or sticky feeling.

So there you go, my verdict is that Neutrogena have worked hard to develop this range which really performs and protects. It's your skin's own bodyguard and with each product at under €10, I'm in...hook, line and sinker.

Here's the best bit - Neutrogena have some goodies to give away to two of you!

Leave a comment below and I'll announce the winners on Monday...