Skin Saviour - Weleda Skin Food

I have always used Weleda's Calendula range on the little ladies as I find it to be very gentle and sweet smelling without containing any harsh nasties. So I was curious to try this Skin Food when it popped in my letterbox. It was the first cream created by Weleda way back in 1926, so it's a vintage recipe but one that holds true to now. It is designed as a skin repair cream so is particularly soothing for stressed, overly dry, lack lustre skin. It contains sunflower seed oil, wild pansy, chamomile and calendula and it has a delicate small of lavender and sweet orange. It's a thick cream and therefore does need some warming up between the palms before application and patting it onto the skin rather than dragging it also works well.
It's not one for the ranks of anti-agers that we are all concerned with these days but it is a soothing, nourishing, natural treatment for skin that is below par. I am in that bracket at the moment so have been enjoying using it for the past few weeks and my skin is certainly looking more glowy. As is the brand's way, it contains absolutely no dodgy ingredients and it's also very reasonable at only €11.25 for 75ml.

Think of it as a comfort blanket for your skin!

Skin Saviour - Trilogy Nutrient Plus Serum

Now, I've only been using this for a week, so not the full month or so that is required to really test efficacy but I have to tell you about it... It's just fantastic so far!
I have been dipping my toe into the Trilogy brand and have great faith in their now famous Rosehip oil as one of the beauty industry's great multi-taskers, so I was eager to try one of their heavy hitters to see how good they are.
I believe in serums. They are definitely the step in a skincare regime that can make a marked difference to the overall appearance. Somehow all that moisturiser just doesn't do the job on it's own - it tends to stick to the surface, which is fine, but not great for getting in to the lower layers where cells are turning over, and need a little help to do that, the older we get.
So off I went with this little brown bottle, I've applied it morning and night for the past  six days and I am impressed. My skin was looking dull due to my 'new mum' tiredness and the de-hydration from the central heating so I needed to add to the nutrient levels. This Nutrient Plus Firming Serum is chock full of Hyaluronic acid which adds moisture, and licorice and mulberry extracts to brighten, tighten and lighten!
It genuinely does make my skin look brighter, there is a radiance and plumpness that was not there last week and, no, I haven't had any more sleep ( even less perhaps!).
At €29, it's pretty reasonable and doesn't come close to the bank-breaking prices of the Super Serums on the market, so I think it's well worth a try.

Skin Saviour - Thermal Spring Water

I'm a HUGE fan of La Roche Posay. I really rate them as skin experts and the products I have tried have never failed to impress me. I'm currently working my way through their entire line. Next on my list to try is the anti-aging line and eye categories and baby products, due to my haggard appearance with all of these sleepless nights. So, on to my latest and greatest from them - The Thermal Spring Water. This water is at the very heart of the brand as it is the pure,unadulterated spring water that flows in La Roche Posay itself. Yes, it's a place! It contains a serious amount of  naturally occurring selenium which protects the skin against free radicals and other minerals including calcium, zinc and copper to name a few and it has a neutral free pH so therefore is tolerable for all skins, all ages, all ailments.
I bought it in order to refresh my skin whilst I was  in hospital having Anna.  Maternity hospitals are very hot places - great for newborns, not so great for Mums, so with that in mind I spritzed and sprayed it's cooling mist on to my face throughout the day.When I came home, I forgot about it for a while until my skin started drying out and looking flaky due to hormonal changes paired with reacting to the practically 24 hour central heating (hey, it's cold, there's a newborn here!). So I remembered my Spring water and resumed the spritzing and my skin cleared completely. In fact, it even cleared the mini-breakout I was having (hormones again), so I have forgone the tap water to wash my face and now I'm just using this wonderful elixir after I cleanse.
I'm so happy that I finally tried it out, having been aware of it for ages but never getting around to using it. It's a keeper...

Skin Saviour - Huile Santal

Brrrr.... it's really getting nippy isn't it? My skin always acts accordingly and changes type from fairly normal/combination in the Summer to mainly dry in the Winter. I'm not crazy on this process but it's just what my skin does. It also changes how my foundation looks so I need to nurture my skin as I don't want to change to a totally different product. I'm currently wearing Teint Miracle by Lancome and loving it for it's medium and soft coverage, but my increasing dryness is making it look a little dull.
So! It's time for oils. Last week I wrote about the lovely Rosehip Oil from Trilogy but have since used up every last drop so I switched to this Huile Santal from Clarins and I'm finding it fantastic so far. I massage in a pearl sized drop at night after exfoliating gently with Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant and my skin is glowing and hydrated and bouncy looking (not quite a 'skincare' term I know!). It could be in part down to the facial massage which never fails to enliven sluggish celll turnover but I really think this oil has a lot to do with it.
Containing lavender, cardamom and soothing sandalwood oils, it has a definite aromatherapy aroma, which I happen to like but it soaks in quickly if you don't use too much so it's a winner for all you dry skinned ladies.
A little pricey at around €40 but one for the wish list perhaps??

New Lip Balm Love

I'm not sure I agree with the old lip balm addiction myth but I do use one every day and this Moisture Plus by Carmex is my new favourite. I've always been a fan of Carmex. I like the slightly medicinal smell and it's moisturising qualities are really good. Now the old classic has been upgraded somewhat, they have launched new stick balms with colour tints as well as a clear one. They contain an SPF of 15 as well as vitamin E and Aloe. This results in them feeling very smooth and slick on the lips. I have the peach one which doesn't add much colour but a hint of a tint. It still has the reassuring tingly feeling after application and I really like it. I'm using it daily in fact! At only €5.99, I think they are well worth it and a great lip protector for the colder months.

Luminosity In A Bottle

Can your skin be in love as well as your heart? Well mine is. I was sent this Vital Light Serum by Clarins to try a few weeks back and I feel I've waited enough time to ascertain it's effects on my skin. So without being overly effusive (I hope!) - it's bloody brilliant. I don't actually have a huge issue with dark spots, just a few larger than average freckles and a bit of pigment around my chin that I keep at bay with my SPF so I guess I can't really vouch for it's totally transformative powers in that department. But what it has done for me is make my skin look a lot brighter and plumper. Clarins say that it helps with 'deep luminosity' and you know what? I believe them! It contains the wonder ingredient Hyaluronic acid to help you skin produce collagen and Cangzhu extract which helps with cellular metabolism. So basically it plumps up and gets your skin turning around quicker so there is less time to look haggard as it is repairing itself all the time. Bear in mind that this is aimed at people in their mid-late thirties plus, so all you fresh faced readers can skip this one for now (or take notes and buy it for your Mum for Christmas!)

It's a pricey serum at almost €70 but a little goes a long way, I'm expecting mine to last months.

Oh Honey!

I've come over all Winnie The Pooh this week with my penchant for honey! I'm eating Manuka honey smeared on toast because it's delicious and also because it's so bloody good for you (said to ward off winter colds like nothing else) I am also washing myself in this Ultra Rich Cleansing Gel from French brand Nuxe which is made up of honey and sunflower oils. It's soap-free so non-drying and the smell, oh the smell! It's divine...

Eye Wonder

I have to tell you about this little eye cream that actually made it's way to me via my Christmas stocking (yes, that long ago!). I have been using it since and I really love it. It is simple, not too heavy, almost totally natural and has never left me puffy or red eyed. My eyes look properly hydrated and this is usually a problem area for me, so I am pretty delighted to have found this little tub of effectiveness. Kudos to Burts Bees for another good product...

Hand Cream for the Soul!

My hands are parched at the moment, I've no idea why but this hand cream is sorting it right out. It contains geranium, orange blossom, rose and bergamot oils so smells divine as well as being properly nourishing.  I like Tisserand a lot actually as they are totally free from synthetic fragrances and parabens...all those nasties that can build up and become toxins for our systems. All the essential oils are ethically harvested too, so it's good for the hands and good for the soul!

Fame At Last

I have to have a little rant and rave about this new instant tan called Fame from Rockstar Tan's ever growing stable of products. It's bloody great! Some of you will know that I am not a huge tan fan but I do admit that occasions tend to present themselves where unveiling the pasty white legs just won't do. I was at the super girly and glamorous launch for Fame a few weeks ago and took a bottle home to try. I delayed trying it slightly until I was going to a wedding and I was a bit dubious as I have to say I am old enough to have pretty bad memories of slathering myself in Sunshimmer from Rimmel in the early 90's which was good at the time but not really good if you get my drift. Fame looks just like the dreaded Sunshimmer as it is a very dark brown colour but thankfully the similarities end there.
The first thing I noticed was the smell (nice) and the consistency and blending qualities are excellent. It glides on without patching (at all), it also has ingredients to help firm and moisturise the skin, not just tan..ain't that clever! It adds a slight sheen too thus avoiding that flat brown look that so many tans have. Healthy glowing skin should have a sheen so I was thrilled to see this element included in Fame.
It washes off with soap and water and doesn't patch when in contact with rain. I should know, I was in a biblical downpour on the way to the wedding and although I had an umbrella to save my blowdry I had visions of arriving with legs like a reverse dalmation...not so!
All in all, it's a truly great tan for the commitment-phobes among you who are just too scared of full on false tan and all it's inevitable mistakes.

Fame is €19.99 and worth every cent...seriously good.

Rose Sheen

A few weeks ago I attended the launch of the new St Tropez products and this little beaut was my stand out product. It is a skin illuminator designed to give tanned or untanned skin a lift as so often the skin on our bodies (particularly when tanned) can look a little flat. There are three shades, Rose, Gold and Violet and they were trialled at various catwalk shows and at the Oscars - on Gwyneth Paltrow!
My absolute favourite is Rose. It is a stunning soft pearly rose tone that is beautiful on pale skin. Imagine a mother of pearl finish without any glittery particles that a lot of other illuminators feature. It was used at the ERDEM show to give an ethereal look to skin. I have used it on a few brides lately to add a sheen to their collarbones, shoulders and even cheekbones. It is a stunning little product and one that has made it's way into my professional kit with ease.

Wonder Oil

I was sent this (slightly scary looking) black bottle called Skin & Bones to try out recently and I was quite curious as to what was inside. It is labelled as a luxurious face body and hair oil so I immediately became a little dubious of it's 'multi-tasking' properties. Can any one product really do it all? Or do one or two of it's claims get left behind a tad. God knows, I know how hard it is to truly pull it off as an effective multi-tasker... Show me any mother and I'll show you a slightly frazzled, slightly breathless, slightly about-to-lose-it 'multi-tasker'!
But that aside, perhaps it's easier for an oil... their requirements merely being to soothe and moisturise. Oh and also nourish, condition and nurture. Sounding similar to a mother's role now eh?!
I digress, this oil is in fact, a bit of a wonder oil. It consists of 9 essential oils in a jojoba base. Jojoba is the one oil that is totally skin compatible so it doesn't leave you looking like an oil slick ten minutes later. The other oils are Ylang Ylang, Rosewood, Lemon, Frankincense , Myrrh, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Grapefuit, and Cedarwood. Phew! This roll call of top oils work together to create a completely balanced gentle warrior for your skin all housed in a violet glass bottle to protect the integrity of the oils. And it can indeed be used everywhere. I have used it to condition the ends of my hair, on my face at night, on cracked heels and dry elbows all to great effect. So it does multi-task and very well too. Mine came from fab Irish store Mise Beauty and I've given it a Hero In My Bathroom status.

I also like the tone of the brand and the press release made me smile, here's an excerpt... I love the 'alien' part!

Skin & Bones is a unisex product, a single product for all your skin care and body needs. Love it.

What do you do with it?  Put in hands, rub everywhere.

Examples of everywhere:  Moisturize face, neck, hands, and feet.  Reduce wrinkles.  Balance oil to give a glow while still getting the dry areas.  Heal cuticles, energize scalps and hair follicles, tame split ends, condition hair, conquer stretch marks and melt cellulite.

Who gets to use it:  Women, men, children, babies, pets, and aliens.

When:  Morning and night, all the time, as much as you want.

Why:  Because it is simple, pure, real, luxurious, organic, therapeutic, and free of anything bad.  It also happens to be glorious, celebrated, magnificent, splendid, famous and wonderful.

Best reason to use:  If a moisturizer was alive and would lovingly do whatever you told it to do - this would be it.

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...

Winter Skin Heroes

I'm freezing. Even though my central heating is on and I'm wrapped up in woolens and drinking endless cups of tea. I get like this in the snow- my body heat decreases entirely leaving me a chattering wreck! Then I go out to play in the snow with Lu with the aim of getting moving and thus warming up, which works of course, but my skin does not love these extremes of temperature at all. Not one little bit.

So when I look at myself sans makeup (which I have been all week due to being more or less snowed in) I see a skin in need. A skin crying out for nourishment and moisture. Begging for TLC! But I also possess a skin that will break out at the slightest overloading of heavy creams. So a balance must be sought.

Last winter I took the advice of my local pharmacist who isn't just a pharmacist; she stocks all sorts of gorgeous beauty things in the old school style apothecary she runs. I love browsing in there and chatting about lotions and potions with her. Anyway, she turned me on to Neal's Yard Remedies, which I have seen for years and read many good things about but never tried.

She recommended the Frankincense Hydrating Cream for me and my poor skin loved it. It brightened up, softened up and became an overall nicer skin. It contains the super anti-aging oils of Frankincense and Myrrh ( how Christmassy!) as well as vitamins E and A to feed and revitalise. It is also completely organic so therefore no toxic nasties to pollute stressed skin.

What I really like about it is the fact that it's not an overly heavy cream; so no oily face and it's ok under makeup. It also feels like it's a good barrier against the arctic conditions we're playing host to in this country at the moment!

There is another product from the range that I can't do without and that is the gorgeous Wild Rose Beauty Balm. Even the name is lovely! I adore anything that smells of real rose oil and I use this nourishing balm all over my hands in this cold weather as well as on my nose before I go out! It protects my nose and gives me a constant rose fragrance as I walk! It soothes both my skin and soul...what's not to love?

***please vote for me to win Best Irish Blogger here***

Thank you

x

Saving Grace for Skin

I have been searching for a skin saviour for recent months. For reasons unknown, I have developed what is know as 'hand dermatitis'. Yep, sounds awful and is awful. In fairness, it merely equates to very dry skin on my hands, but the constant washing and baby wiping them is pure torture to my lipid barrier and my hands are screaming out for relief but can't tolerate anything...even water stings at the moment and causes tiny little blisters to erupt. It's Hand Hell.

I've been trying to find a soothing balm to help. The dermatologist I saw recommended Neutrogena non-scented hand cream which he told me to apply 15 (!) times per day, but even that stung like crazy. So did Aveeno, E45, Elave, Allergenics...you name it; I tried it.

I finally got around to trying the new and much lauded cream from La Roche Posay called Lipikar AP with added 'anti-scratching' technology. It worked! It took a few days to take down the flare up I was experiencing last week, but it did and now my hands look normal. It hasn't healed the condition as I can still feel it and the little blisters have been popping up from time to time but they are so much better. Almost un-recognisably better in fact.

Here's the science bit...

Lipikar Baume AP offers an anti-scratch efficacy which breaks the vicious spiral of itching thanks to the addition of a new active ingredient, a high concentration of Niacinamide 4%. Niacinamide stimulates skin's natural defences against irritating factors. It helps to re-build the cutaneous barrier and thereby limits the penetration of irritants and curbs the release of histamines.

Active Ingredients - Lipikar Baume AP boasts a fragrance-free & paraben-free ultra-penetrating texture with the ability to replenish lipids in the most severely dry skin in record time and contains high concentrations of specially selected active ingredients. Lipikar Baume AP contains 20% Shea butter, a reference dermatological active ingredient to restore skin comfort 10% Glycerin to hydrate the skin, 5% Canola oil proven to be naturally resistant to oxidation and anti-inflammatory, and 1% Glycine which is particularly soothing. Lipikar Baume AP also contains La Roche-Posay Thermal Spa water which has been dermatologically proven to be anti-free radical, anti-irritant, healing, soothing and decongesting

The winner of the Friday Freebie is Ria... email me!

Heaven in a Jar

Just a quickie.... this Enrich Body Butter from Aromatherapy Associates is a completely luxurious and deeply lovely way to treat yourself, should you feel it necessary (of course you do!)

It's full of shea and murumuru butters and leaves a lingering scent of jasmine on your skin to transport your senses to a warmer place.

I love it...

The Friday Freebie

Anything that promises that it will 'wake up tired looking skin' has to be tried in my opinion. I have never understood the term 'tired looking skin' as much as I do now. Before wonderful motherhood, I had wonderful skin...there was an exchange somewhere along the line! Not one I'd reverse of course, but any help in the exhausted complexion department is most welcome.

I've broken out of my usual Jan Marini skincare regime this week to test Olay's latest offering and I'm suitably impressed. Now, everyone knows that Olay champion their 7 anti-aging steps in every cream; they serve to minimise lines, hydrate, firm, fight dullness, exfoliate, reduce appearance of pores and contain plenty of antioxidants. Sounds good to me.

This new one has the addition of mint extract which provides the 'wake up' element and it does feel minty and fresh when you smooth it over your skin.

Obviously, I have to test for longer to really see how it performs, but my view so far is that it is a very nice moisturiser with a good feel. It is a good makeup base and it's a decent price point.

I have one to give away today in The Friday Freebie, so leave me a comment below and check back on Monday to see if you've won.

Happy Weekend my darlings...

Old Reliable

I can set my watch by it; one week after turning on my central heating for the winter, the skin on my body becomes snake-like! Yes, that's a bit dramatic I suppose but I really can feel it becoming more taut and dry. It' s a horrible feeling, so I know it's time to bring out my faithful Creme de Corps by Kiehls. I first started using this amazing body cream when I worked for Space NK in London many years ago and I have been loyal to it ever since. Back then it was the best seller in the range and it probably still is. I used to come home for visits laden down with bottles for my mum and all of my friends who would get a bit frantic if I dared forget. Thankfully, they opened a gorgeous stand alone store in Dublin in the past year, so goodbye to the days of suitcases filled with the stuff!

It's key ingredients are Beta Carotene, Cocoa Butter and Sesame Oil, all of which merge together to give the silkiest skin I've ever had. The best thing though, is that it feels deeply nourished, and not just the top layer, which I find with some other body creams - it's as though they can't penetrate properly and jut sit on the surface like a layer of grease.

I do think that other Cocoa Butter creams such as Palmers are a worthwhile budget option. They don't have the superior cocktail of quality ingredients that Creme de Corps has, but if funds are as tight as your skin, then they are the way to go.

Today I will be making my annual pilgrimage to Kiehls to stock up on my old reliable. Isn't it great to have something that really works?

It's a body cream that doubles as a security blanket!

Everything's Coming Up Roses

I've been using this Rose Exfoliating Cleanser by Aromatherapy Associates for the past few days and I'm seriously smitten.

I'm a lovefool for anything with real rose oil and this contains damask rose which is divine. To be honest, if it didn't perform as an exfoliating cleanser, I probably wouldn't care as the scent of rose mixed with uplifting and balancing geranium is so fantastic. The thing is though, it does perform. And very well too.

My skin is buffed and brightened by the gentle jojoba beads which are really soft on the skin. One of my pet hates is a scratchy, sand-papery exfoliator but this is not one of those.

It's a keeper!

3, 2, 1....Relax

Hello my friends. I hope your weekend was blissful and Autumn-y. I'm really getting into the new season now and feeling all 'mellow fruitfulness' . The winds have picked up here by the sea and the trees are dropping their leaves at a crazy rate!

I've had a pretty busy few days with not much rest so when this bath oil and a couple of other delights arrived for me in a package from the gorgeous Aromatherapy Associates, I was thrilled.

Needless to say, I didn't give it much thought before diving in!

It's called the Equilibrium Bath and Shower Oil from the Support range...two words that resonated with me well today. I am in dire need of some equilibrium. And support? who doesn't need more of that...

I sank into the bath and the fragrance went deep into my lungs. Geranium, frankincense and rose oils worked to soothe and soften my skin and soul....

That is that.

It was a perfect bath.

And now, I'm off to bed, feeling much more human and happy...

Sweet dreams.

* the winner of the Friday Freebie is Sherrie *