Skincare

MONU Brightening Boost Serum

- Vicki 6 Comments
MONU Radiance Boosting Serum

MONU Skincare

MONU Skincare

This MONU Brightening Boost Serum* has been a staple in my summer skincare routine, I have been road testing it for about 3 months now and my skin loves it. It is a lightweight serum designed for more Mature Skin or those that have Sun Damage but I think it can be used by people of all ages and It’s an ideal product for people with a dull complexion as it leaves your skin instantly smooth and looking radiant.

I find it to be very hydrating and lightweight, I massage two pumps worth into my face and neck and that is quickly absorbed leaving my skin looking smooth, bright and feeling soft. I have been using it on the backs of my hands too as I do have a couple of age spots appearing & it seems to be helping them look lighter. I will keep applying it until I’ve run out & let you know if there are significant changes to them.

MONU Brightening Serum

So this serum promises to,

  • Lighten & Brighten Complexion
  • Improve Radiance
  • Reduce Hyperpigmentation
  • Even Skin Tone
  • Reduce Sun Damage
  • Plump skin & reduce the signs of wrinkles

That’s a lot of promises but I will say that you see almost instantly a brightening and smoothing of the skin which helps your complexion look radiant and healthy. I don’t have hyperpigmentation so can’t comment on that but my skin tone is looking even and a few dark spots around my eyes are looking less visible. I’m not too sure I have a huge amount of visible sun damage but I guess it can do no harm in keeping the effects of sun damage at bay.

This serum contains Vitamin C which helps combat free radicals and helps even skin tone. Also, Hyaluronic Microspheres which hydrate and plump the skin helping to reduce the visibility of wrinkles. Which is something I really need help with, I have quite a few wrinkles around my eyes & a few appearing on my forehead, so anything I can do to keep them as small and not notable. The packaging is also sleek and in a frosted bottle, it looks and feels expensive. It takes up no room as all in my skincare box & is a great size if you travel often, the bottle is so slim and has a very handy pump.

MONU Vitamin C Skin Brightening Serum

MONU Brightening Serum

I like the hydrating feel to this serum and how easily it absorbs into the skin. Its gives me radiant healthy looking complexion but its always hard to say definitively if a product is helping you look younger & diminish signs of sun damage. I’m naturally freckly and have quite fair skin so this serum can be doing no harm in helping fight the signs of ageing & sun damage. As I’ve said  in many posts I’m very much in to SPF and wearing it all year round but there are times when we are exposed to the sun & this serum seems like an effective way of giving your skin a boost to keep some of the first signs of ageing at bay and help you improve skin tone.

Its been a welcomed addition to my skincare routine & if asked I would recommend it to people that are concerned with dull skin & that want to give their skin a boost of Vitamin C to give them radiance and even out their skin tone. I also think this wears well under my makeup and helps my skin look radiant all day long. I think my mum would really like this serum.

Let me know what skincare products you are using to help give your skin radiance & let me know if you have tried anything from MONU and have any other recommendations of product that I should try from them.

MONU Brightening Boost Serum £22.50 

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own

Moisturising Facial SPF from Balance Me

- Vicki 6 Comments
balanceme SPF25

Balance Me

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25*

When it comes to SPF and protecting my skin from the sun I haven’t always been very good at it, although I have been a lot better in my 30’s than I was in my 20’s. I know most damage is done before we are 20 but we still need to protect ourselves from the harmful effects of sun damage no matter what age we are. We are all becoming a little more sun aware & with products like this Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser, it’s getting easier to protect ourselves. I have been vigilant in applying a facial SPF this year & without fail, I have worn at least SPF25. I have made applying a broad spectrum SPF part of my skincare regime & it’s a step I will not miss out.

Balance Me SPF25 Moisturiser

 

Balance Me have this Natural Protection Moisturiser with SPF25 and it is for all skin types, It is quite a creamy white consistency (fairly lightweight) takes a little massaging in but once you have left it to absorb for a few minutes there is absolutely no white cast on your skin, you can apply your foundation over the top if you wish without it feeling greasy or like you have too many layers of product on. I think it makes a good base, hydrating and slightly dewy too.

Balance Me say ‘Our rich yet easily absorbed SPF 25 face cream is specially designed to care and protect skin in everyday life. To support your skin’s own defence system, our SPF 25 moisturiser contains an innovative natural titanium dioxide-based sun filter to block out both UVA and UVB rays. A blend of super hydrating hyaluronic acid and powerful anti-oxidant blackberry leaf extract with essential fatty acid-rich rosehip, camellia, kukui nut and jojoba oils work gently yet effectively to soothe, firm and shield your precious skin as well as enhancing the activity of the sun filter.

So this SPF is packed full of skin benefits which whilst protecting your skin from sun damage that will in turn help reduce the signs of premature ageing, shield it from environmental aggressors and keep it hydrated this is definitely a product to have in your skincare routine. The fact that it’s not only a very good SPF but also a very effective moisturiser mean that you don’t have to apply as many products whilst still giving your skin maximum protection from both UVA rays which penetrate deeper & are responsible for premature ageing & are always present even during the winter and UVB rays which cause your skin to burn & are stronger during the summer months.

Balance Me Skincare

The top photo is me starting to massage the moisturiser into my hand and the bottom photo shows you that after a few minutes the cream has been absorbed and there is no residue and no white cast.

This contains Hyaluronic Acid which is a bit of a beauty buzz word at the moment & we are all looking for products that contain it – its good because it provides your skin with deep hydration & it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. This is good for delivering water to your skin and also hold it there to provide hydration, plump skin which helps reduce the size of your fine lines & wrinkles. 

Balance Me Skincare

The thing that I like most is that it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a heavy sunscreen, it’s not tacky on the skin or greasy. This innovative formula has taken Balance Me over 2 years of research & it has been developed so it’s even suitable for people with sensitive skin. Its lightweight formula is soothing, nourishing and doesn’t block pores making it a great moisturiser to wear all year round. So you can benefit from not only its skincare benefits but its sun protecting qualities too. That’s a win-win situation in my book. I want to keep the wrinkles and age spots at bay for as long as I can.

Let me know what facial SPF’s you have been enjoying and let me know if you wear one on a daily basis?

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own

Summer Beauty Favourites 2014

- Vicki 12 Comments

Great Summer Products

These are eight of my favourite Summer beauty products, my most reached for and the things I just can’t live without as the weather gets warmer.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Facial SPF 50 £16.50 for 50ml – I have poured out my love for this SPF on my blog quite a few times now & I won’t apologise for it. I have convinced all my family to purchase the one thats best for their skin type (there are 3 options). I have the Anti Shine one & that dries to a Matte velvet finish. I have worn it for the entire month of May & June – in all weathers, rain or shine. Its a fantastic broad spectrum SPF, giving you the highest protection from both UVA & UVB rays. It wears very very well under makeup & doesn’t have that fishy SPF smell that quite a few sun care products have. I love the protection this gives my skin & also the fact that it won’t leave my skin looking greasy or feeling sticky. Its part of my daily skincare routine.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir £9.95 for 30ml – I have a love / hate relationship with this product as I have had a few bottles of this now & I do like it when I have it, although some days the minty scent is a little much for me especially in the morning. I like spritzing this when I feel hot, Its a nice and refreshing, but I think I have come to the conclusion & decision that I just like facial sprays / toners and won’t go out of my way to repurchase this one. So this Caudalie one I do like (its a little pricey) but this product is more included in this Summer Products roundup as more of broader I love facial sprays in the Summer to cool down & keep my makeup / skin feeling refreshed.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets – I love these & I was sad to hear Kleenex have discontinued them (cries). If you like them too & have a Home Bargain shop near you, they are selling them in there for 29p a pack & you best believe I have stocked up on many many packs. I get very oily in the warm weather & no one likes that look so I carry a pack of these in my bag just to blot away that excess oil throughout the day. These ones are very good & don’t lift off my makeup and I find them to be really absorbent. Each pack has 50 sheets so they’ll last me a good couple of weeks. So handy to have in your bag for those very hot days. I also got some Essence ones at a recent launch event. So I am excited to try those.

By Terry Baume De Rose Lip Balm £38.00 for 10g – This is a mini sample pot & is sadly almost all but gone. This leaves my lips so soft, smooth & hydrated. Its been my day time go to lip treat. My lips have been spoilt & now have a taste of the high life. I’m going to have to do some saving in order to be able to afford the full size of this. It’s worth every penny though, my lips are in such great condition even matte lipsticks have been applying like a dream, thats got to mean its worth the hefty price tag.

Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream £6.00 for 30ml – No one wants dry nasty feet in the Summer. I am all about the sandals & flip flops when its warm, keeping it casual and I have to have my feet looking their best. So I have been using this Elemis Foot Cream from my British Beauty Blogger: The Dream Box & Its been working a treat on moisturising and keeping my feet looking smooth & feeling soft. Its very nourishing and not greasy. I put it on before bed & sleep in some small cotton socks & I have sandal ready feet by morning. This is a Summer must have for sure!

Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose £8.00 for 6g- I don’t like to wear too much makeup during the day when it is really warm as I always end up feeling like a hot sweaty mess, but I do like to wear something on my lips just to give them a little colour & its helps it to look like I have made more of an effort. These Korres Lip Butters are fantastic, not only are they hydrating but the colour pay off is pretty damn good too. These won’t hang around for hours & hours on your lips but still they will give you a pretty flush of colour & keep your lips moisturised too. There are quite a few colours but this Wild Rose one is a pretty red and is so easy too apply and looks great on. My go to summer lip product, it is always in my handbag.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Colour in Blue Me Away – This is my most used polish for my toes, in the Summer this just looks so pretty and lasts a very very long time. I have got 3 weeks wear from it on my toes without it chipping or needing touched up. It reminds me of swimming pools, just a fantastic vibrant bright blue shade. I always get compliments on the colour & I love it.

dr.Organic Virgin Olive Oil Body Scrub £6.69 for 200ml* – I use scrubs all year round but in the Summer I get my (very white) legs & arms out a little more than usual & I like them to look as smooth & healthy as possible & this Olive Oil Scrub is so nice. It leaves my skin feeling soft & moisturised. Its a nice gentle but effective scrub and I use it daily as it helps to wake me up, get rid off all those dead skin cells and keeps my skin feeling very very smooth.

Let me know if you have been loving any of the products I’ve mentioned & also what your favourite Summer must have products are.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Baylis & Harding Body Care

- Vicki 3 Comments

Baylis & Harding

Baylis & Harding are a fantastic purse friendly brand, they have such an extensive range of products but they have excitingly released a new 5 Step Body Care System. The range harnesses the power of Wildflower Botanical Extracts to create formulations that really work & they are designed to work on all skin types as part of a daily body routine (pamper). This is the perfect way to get your body Summer ready, or at least get it looking its best. They kindly sent me two of the steps to try  I have been putting them to the test.

First off the packaging is something different from Baylis & Harding as it is in pretty pastel colours and very eye catching. I like the packaging & the products look pretty sat out in my bathroom.

Great Body 5 step system

Step 1 : Great Body Polish* £4.99 – I think exfoliating your body is such an important step, especially if you’re going to fake tan. It removes all the dead skin to leave your skin feeling smooth and looking great. The exfoliant is tiny pieces of Walnut Shells which are small enough that its not too abrasive but scrubby enough that it gets the job done. This also contains Shea Butter to soften the skin & Coconut Oil to moisturise so your skin won’t feel stripped or dry after using this, it feels smooth and soft. It smells nice too (bonus).

Baylis & Harding Body Care

It also contains Skin Brightening Vitamin B3 & I can’t say that my skin looks brighter but I think its a nice extra ingredient & I’m sure we can all use a little help with keeping our skin looking bright & glowing. Especially in the Summer when we get our legs & arms out a lot more . This has a really nice creamy consistency and is easy to massage in to your arms & legs. I use this in the morning mostly as It wakes up my skin & leaves it feeling prepped for moisturiser.

The packaging is user friendly for the shower & comes in a squeezey tube & the product comes out quite slowly which is good as you don’t waste any. The packaging for the Body Polish is also a pretty pastel yellow shade so thats pretty in my shower.

Great Body Skincare

Step 4 : Body Firming Cream*  £4,99 – I go though body lotions like there is no tomorrow & I love testing new ones out especially if they claim to help sculpt, I can use all the sculpting I can get. This body lotion contains Baylis & Hardings secret weapon (or rather secret blend of ingredients) known as

Acusculpt : A new blend of standardised herbal actives from India, utilising traditional herbal medicine. The combined benefits of the actives help to locally breakdown and remove fat allowing for shaping and firming without irritation or discomfort.

I have to say this lightweight body cream has been so nice to use its easy to massage in to the skin, its absorbed quickly and dries to a velvet finish. No tackiness or greasy feeling at all. I have been using it for over a month, although not daily as I have other creams that I rotate but I have used it a couple of times a week, concentrating on my thighs & I have noticed that they’re looking smoother, and less like chicken skin so much much better than before. Its always hard to say if a cream has helped sculpt or firm your skin but I have been walking more & eating a healthier diet so I think all those things combined with a good body care routine has helped my skin get a little more Summer Ready & look a lot better. I will take that as a success.

The only downside to the Body Firming Cream is that the scent is a little odd, not botanical or sweet I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. All I can tell you is its not as nice as the Body Polish.

Im feeling smooth, hydrated and a little more sculpted so I guess the two products I have tried from this 5 Step Body Care System have done their job. The other 3 steps that are available are,

Step 2 : Body Wash – which is aimed at keeping your body moisturised and conditioned.

Step 3 : Body Lotion – Which is a 48 hour moisturiser that is aimed at reducing skins roughness and protect it from external aggressors.

Step 5 ; Body Mist – this is to sooth, refresh and moisturise the skin.

I think Baylis & Harding have done a great job with this affordable body care range, we are so used to looking after the skin on our faces & even hands that our body can get a little overlooked. I am in a good routine now for looking after my body that I am hoping by the time my holiday comes around I will be looking my best! I will be treating myself to the Body Mist as it sounds perfect for a summer holiday.

Have you tried any products from Baylis & Harding? If so tell me your recomendations.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.