Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm

September 4, 2013 - Vicki 5 Comments

I have been using this Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm* for over a month now & I wanted to wait a good while before I posted about it even thought I knew pretty early on that I absolutely loved it. Merumaya was a brand I hadn’t heard off but since doing a little background reading I have come to realise that once again I’m late to the party on this one. Merumaya is a brand that receives great reviews and in particular this Melting Cleaning Balm is a firm favourite in the beauty community. I even hear that my Oracle Caroline Hirons is a fan and recommends this as an alternative to the much hyped Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm.

I’ve never tried a Cleansing Balm before and was very excited to try this. It recommends you massage on to dry skin and it’s quite amazing how a little goes a long way. So don’t put too much product on as it’s really not needed. I take my time to really massage the Balm in and I adore the scent of this, I find it quite calming. As the name suggests my makeup melts away and it removes every last trace of foundation and dirt. After massaging this in to your skin you then add water. I clean it all off with a flannel and my skin is left feeling amazingly soft, like the kind of soft you’d expect after you’ve had an expensive facial. This balm is very effective and I’m absolutely sold on it.

The whole Merumaya range was created by a lady called Maleka Dattu, it’s developed to combat the signs of ageing and also to protect skin against ageing aggressors. So this is perfect for my skin as I’m in my mid 30’s and my skin really benefits from the anti oxidants and rich ingredients in this balm – such as

Almond Oil, Echium Oil (plant-based oil high in Omega 3,6 and 9), Mangosteen Extract (full of powerful anti oxidants) and Merymaya Signature Essence Blend. All very natural ingredients.

This balm is effortless to use and by massaging it into your face you remove all traces of makeup and give your skin a boost of moisture and hydration. I have oily skin and this leaves no greasy residue on my face, it has been a pleasure to use. I use this Merumaya Balm in the evening and my beloved balance Me pure skin face wash in the morning I seem to have an effective routine that is very gentle and soothing – Oh and that smells amazing too! My skin is looking bright and I have been getting less breakouts, infact I have had only one breakout since I began using this and that makes me a very happy lady.

If you’re in the market for a Cleansing Balm I highly recommend trying this one from Merumaya it is a complete bargain at£14.50 for 100ml.

Products 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.

Skincare Edit

September 2, 2013August 30, 2025 - Vicki 8 Comments

I adore skincare, I love discovering new products, and I’m trying to find a routine that works for me. I’ve been stressed for a good 18 months now, and it’s taken its toll on my skin, so I’ve been trying to use products that look after my skin and that give it nourishment and help it to combat this stress. The products I’m talking about today are just a cross-section of what I have been enjoying lately and what I use on a regular basis.

Sanctuary Spa Intensive Heel Balm – I’m someone who gets really dry heels and I like to have soft sandal ready feet. Not that we get much opportunity to wear summer footwear in the UK, but we all want to have nice feet, right! This heel balm is lovely, if you spend a little time to massage it in at night you will wake up with soft smooth feet. It isn’t greasy and is extremely hydrating. I like it a lot more than the Soap & Glory Heel Genius, as I find that too greasy.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner – This is so nice to put on when travelling as it’s very moisturising. I used it on a long haul flight and my lips didn’t dry out at all. It doesn’t have SPF, so I wouldn’t recommend using it during the day, but as a pampering lip conditioner it’s fantastic.

balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash* – I’ve been using this for about 6 weeks and I love it. It’s good at removing every last trace of makeup at the end of the day. I use it with warm face cloth and I find it calming and soothing for my skin. It is very gentle.

Pixi Glow Tonic – I bought this bottle in April after reading a review from Caroline Hirons, and I’ve used it every day since I bought it. It leaves my skin feeling so clean, and I swear it’s helping with my acne scaring. It’s alcohol-free and doesn’t try out the skin or leave it feeling tight. My skin is very sensitive and on the slightly older side, and this works well for me. I highly recommend it if your skin is looking a little dull.

Aesop Parsley Seed Serum – Anyone that has read my blog for a while will know that I would sell my soul for a bottle of this. It is my number one go to serum. I use it at night when my skin is feeling sensitive. It is so soothing and hydrating. This bottle (which I adore) has lasted me well over a year. It’s an investment you won’t be disappointed you made. It is Aloe Vera based and has a great range of botanical extracts which are perfect for sensitive skin and skin that’s in need of nourishment. This serum doesn’t sit on top of the skin, it is absorbed so fast and feels amazing. I think I’m its number 1 fan.

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti Oxidant Eye Serum – After falling in love with the face serum, I just had to try the eye serum from the Parsley Seed range. I have this sat on my desk and I use it when my eyes are feeling tired or when I’ve been sat at the computer for a long time. It contains a high concentration of anti oxidants that are easily absorbed. The under eye area is so sensitive and gets dehydrated very quickly, this serum combats that and is silicon free. I do like it, but my heart belongs to the face serum.

NEOM Moroccan Blush Rose Hand Cream – This is on my bedside table at the moment and I use it each night before bed. I’m trying to get better at using hand cream and if I have one by my bed I remember to use it. This NEOM one came free with a magazine a while ago, and I just love the scent, it reminds me of summer.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream* – How amazing and versatile is this stuff! I use it on my lips before I go to bed, and I also massage it in to my cuticles. It’s very hydrating and works wonders. I need to buy a tube for my handbag, so I have one on the go too.

Origins Dr Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Treatment Lotion – I am a huge fan of all the products in the Mega Mushroom range, and they worked wonders at helping with my red skin. That has cleared up now, but I have still been using the lotion on occasion. I put some on to a cotton pad when I get out of the shower, and it is very calming in my skin. I love the smell of the Mega Mushroom Range, it smells so botanical, grown up.

So that’s a quick run down of a few skin care products I have been using these past few months. Have you tried any of the products I have mentioned? Or do you have a product to recommend that you have been loving?

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

An evening with Kiehl’s

August 7, 2013March 10, 2018 - Vicki 3 Comments

Last night I was lucky enough to attend a Kiehl’s event at the Selfridges store in Manchester. I am loving that we’re seeing more events up North as it is so nice to connect with other bloggers and hear about brands and their products. The evening was focused around Kiehl’s latest skincare release which is called Skin Rescuer and it’s targeted at people whose skin has signs of stress and fatigue (I think we all may be in need of this).

We first heard from Paul who gave us a little insight into the history of the brand and some of their hero products. Quite a few of which I’ve tried & love. Then we heard from Jen about the new Skin Rescuer and she spoke with such passion and knowledge about the product that we were all won over (she had AMAzing skin). I’m excited to try it out and give you all my opinion, so watch this space for quite a few Kiehls reviews.

There is a lovely classic chemist feel to Kiehl’s stores and their brand began back in 1851 in New York City. They have never paid for advertising, all of their reputation comes from amazing service and word of mouth. I’ve always had first class service from the stores I’ve visited so it’s so surprising that they let their products speak for themselves. Oh, & have you met Mr Bones? he is legendary.

Their products range from Skincare – serums, moisturiser, lip balm to haircare, body care and even men’s products too. They have most bases covered. I am popping back in later this month without makeup on so I can have a proper skin consultation and learn what products my skin would benefit most from. Kiehl’s offer this in all of their stores so if you can take advantage of some free skincare advice. I will let you know how I get on. I already have my eye on one of their exfoliators.

The Skin Rescuer is a product that Kiehl’s have been working on for a while and it is for targeting the signs of stress on your skin. Stress that causes breakouts/inflammation, dull skin/fatigue and dryness. It has four key ingredients Rosa Gallica Extract – to limit the impact of stress on the skin. Mannose – a sugar that helps protect and maintain the skins barrier function & leave your skin less vulnerable. Chamomile Extract (the only one I’d heard of) helps soothe and comfort skin and the final ingredient is Squalane – this is to replenish and hydrate skin. It’s all very scientific. I am going to put it to the test on my dull, angry skin and see how it fairs. This retails for £29.50 for 75ml.

We were given lovely goody bags at the event and I am thrilled to be able to try all of these wonderful products.

Thank you for having me Kiehl’s, I am looking forward to giving all these products a whirl. Let me know what you would recommend from Kiehl’s. I love their Ultra Facial Moisturizer.

July 2013 Favourites

August 5, 2013 - Vicki 5 Comments

July was mostly lovely and warm with a few wet days here and there. Pretty much perfect weather, I even managed to get my legs out which is nothing short of a miracle. It was a really quick month and I spent a week of it in Scotland, I am learning how to really edit my makeup / skincare for travel. I’m becoming a packing pro. So let me tell you a little about my chosen 8 products.

balance Me pure skin face wash* – I had a small one of these cleansers which came free with last months Glamour Magazine and I love it. This full size was kindly sent to me by balance Me and I was thrilled to bits as I love this face wash. I have left my smaller tube in Scotland for when I visit my dad. This is one of the most gentle cleansers I’ve tried. It leaves my skin baby soft, don’t think that because it is gentle that it’s not effective at removing makeup because you’d be wrong.

This cleanser is very good paired with a face cloth at removing the days makeup and leaving the skin clean, hydrated and ready for your night-time skin routine. I used to use a different cleanser in the morning but that’s a little redundant right now because I have been using this balance Me one morning and night. balance Me pure skin face wash – 125ml for £16

Elemis White Flowers Eye & Lip Makeup Remover* – I use this before using the balance Me cleanser and they make a very dynamic pair. This removes my eye makeup in one swoop of the cotton pad. Swoop & the makeup is gone! No endless rubbing back & forth which is a very good thing as I’m fast approaching my mid 30’s I do not want to be rubbing my eyes and making unnecessary lines & causing damage. Oh no!

I’ve been using this every evening for a month and I’ve used about a third. I like that only a small amount of the liquid comes out the top at once as I have a tendency to waste these kind of products and that gets expensive. This product is bi-phase and this helps remove makeup and also cleanse the eye area. I find that it leaves my eyes feeling clean but not greasy even thought there is oil in the liquid. It even removes my Covergirl Waterproof Mascara and that’s some heavy-duty black war paint! I can’t say if this removes lipstick as I don’t wear lipstick 99% of the time (are you shocked) so haven’t put that part to the test. Elemis White Flowers Lip & Eye Makeup Remover 125ml for £19. I am reckoning it lasting me a good 3 months so that’s great value for money

No7 BB Lips SPF 15 – I bought this a while ago with one of those No7 vouchers (I love those). I like the packaging and the colour range. I bought the colour Blink Pink it comes out a real baby pink colour & gives your lips a hint of colour. The great thing about these BB Lips is they have SPF 15 in, perfect for summer & holidays, you get beautiful lips & sun protected too. I will be popping back into Boots at some point to swatch the others colours, of which there is 6. Let me know if you’d recommend any of the other colours. No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm 11ml for £8.50

Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist – I love a facial mist especially during the crazy heat we had in July. I get so hot and these face mists are a great way to cool down and most of them you can spray over your makeup and it won’t ruin it. This Simple one is really hydrating and if you keep it in the fridge it’s so cooling too. It sprays a fine mist and doesn’t just soak your face. When I’m not at home I carry this in my handbag for those moments when your skin feels clammy. If you haven’t tried this you need to give it a go. Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist – 50ml for £5.99

Sally Hansen Blue Me Away Nail Polish – This is the ONLY polish I have had on my toes during July. I bought this polish whilst I was in San Francisco in June and it is the prettiest shade of blue I have seen. It just reminds me of blue holiday swimming pools. It has been long wearing on my toes and I’ve had lots of compliments on the colour. You can get away with one coat if you’re in a rush but 2 coats looks fab if you have the time. Sally Hansen Blue Me Away – 11.8ml for £2.99

I wanted to mention quickly the cotton wool I use – Skin Therapy Large Oval Cotton Wool Pads. I get these from Wilkinson for 65p. They’re really good value and perfect for taking off makeup / nail polish and all that jazz. I stock up on these whenever I am in.

These have been my go to cheek combo for July and I love both these products in equal measures. NYC Smooth SkinBronzing Face Powder in the colour Sunny – I bought this in poundland and its my best beauty buy ever. This is a Matte bronzer and gives my skin a lovely sun-kissed glow. I think I have worn it everyday for about 3 months. 9.4g for $2.99

Sleek Blush in the colour Sunrise 924 – This comes off as a plum colour, it’s a really warm colour and it gives my cheeks a beautiful healthy glow. It is very pigmented with a pretty shimmer to it and the colour lasts all day on my skin with no touch ups. Sleek do some of the best value blushes. I do no own enough of them! Do you have any recommendations? Sleek Blush in Sunrise 8g for £4.49.

I know this next item isn’t a product but an old magazine – but it has been a favourite of mine and may I just say that David is looking mighty fine! No need to thank me, just enjoy!

Products marked with an * were kindly sent to me for my consideration and I am under no obligation to blog about them. My reviews are 100% my own honest opinions. x

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Skincare

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm

Skincare Edit

An evening with Kiehl’s

July 2013 Favourites