Anti ageing

Erborian Korean Skincare

- Vicki Leave a comment
Korean Skin Therapy

#Gifted It has been so nice to try a selection of Erborian’s best selling/hero products, a great introduction to a brand I have heard so many wonderful things about. Let’s start with the 3 skincare products, Red Pepper Paste Mask, Ginseng Super Serum and the Ginseng Infusion Total Eye Care, all three are focused on reviving tired, lacklustre skin. Exactly what I look for in skincare, I have quite dull, dehydrated skin and being in in my mid-forties I need smoothing, invigorating and energising products.

Erborian skincare combines the effectiveness of traditional medicinal herbs with sophisticated Korean technology. What is also pretty cool about this brand is that they create hybrid products that combine skincare and make-up, like their iconic BB Cream and award-winning CC Cream. I do enjoy make-up products that also give effective skincare benefits too, the Korean’s seem to be damn good at this!

Erborian Korean Skincare

Erborian Red Pepper Paste Mask

This mask is all about radiance and energising! It’s a powerhouse of skin loving ingredients, and because of this it quickly transforms tired skin,

  • Red pepper extract – Known for its energizing and antioxidant properties, it boosts the natural radiance of the skin.
  • Exfoliating enzymes – (fermentation): They smooth and improve the texture of the skin.
  • Niacinamide – Known for its illuminating properties. It helps to maintain skin’s hydration.
  • Licorice root extract – Known for its illuminating and antioxidant properties.

This mask has quite a thick consistency, and the red pepper means it is bright red. The mask is a paste, and it applies easily, and smoothly it feels cool and soothing on the skin. After 10 – 15 mins, wash it off to reveal a refreshed, velvety smooth complexion. It is quite astonishing how instantly it transforms your skin. A great addition to your Autumn/Winter skincare routine, to keep your skin looking healthy and radiant during the colder months, it is a great product to help protect skin from external stress that can accelerate signs of ageing.

So all in all, this Red Pepper Paste Mask is good skin health in a bottle! It gets 10/10 from me!

Erborian Red Pepper Mask

Erborian Ginseng Eye Cream

Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye Cream

Fantastic at reviving tired, dark under eyes, gives the skin a soft focus finish whist hydrating and invigorating. This rich, lightweight eye cream wears so well under make-up, concealer glides on and stays put, looking smooth and fresh. It’s not hard to see why this is not only one of Erborian’s best selling products, but also an award winning product and a beauty industry favourite too (oh & a firm favourite of mine).

The name is to be believed, it is a total eye cream, it’s anti-ageing, reduces the appearance of dark circles, fine lines and fatigue whilst nourishing and protecting the delicate skin around the eye area!  This is a morning skincare must have, even if you don’t feel awake, your eyes will look fresh and bright.

  • White Ginseng Complex – known for it’s anti-ageing benefits, is full of antioxidants that help soothe, smooth and protect the skin.
  • Corn oil – Ginseng Infusion moisturiser helps strengthen skin’s barrier function whilst Sesame oil and Shea Butter which help nourish and soften the skin.
  • Flecks of Vitamin E – help fight against the signs of ageing and protect the skin against environmental aggressors

‘Composed of white ginseng root, licorice, wild yam, horsetail plant and Kigelia fruit extracts, this unique complex is known for its protecting, smoothing and moisturising effect on skin’.

Korean Skin Therapy

Erborian Ginseng Super Serum

Right away after applying this serum you will notice how smooth your skin looks, it is that effective. Lightweight and smoothing, this serum is pretty incredible, I am quickly learning that the Ginseng products from Erborian are up there with the best skincare I have tried, especially for my age group.

Great for morning and evening, this serum will keep your skin looking naturally radiant, serum is one of my favourite skincare steps. I love the added hydration this serum gives my skin, how plump and healthy it looks after applying it.

80% Ginseng extracts, 90% natural origin ingredients

White Ginseng Extract – prevents the appearance of the signs of ageing and helps to smooth wrinkles.
Fermented Red Ginseng – helps to preserve the youth of the skin.
Ginseng Aqueous Extracts – obtained through a process of steam maceration of Ginseng, they contain minerals necessary for the balance and the hydration of the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid – plumps up the surface of the skin
Peptides – maintains collagen levels for a firming and smoothing effect
Complex of Tara fruit and Red Algae extracts – smooths and reduces wrinkles

Erborian BB Creams

Now on to the make-up products. I’ve testing out 3 of Erborian’s make-up/skincare hybrid products, make-up with the benefits of skincare. I’m sure most of you have heard of, it not used at least one of Erborian’s iconic, BB or CC creams, they’ve won countless awards, and really put Korea at the centre of the beauty industry.

‘With a lighter texture than foundation, not only does it provide full coverage with a flawless matte finish, but it also moisturises the skin all day long and protects it against sun damage. Part skincare, part make-up, this hybrid product is the ideal alternative to foundation’s instant results, with long-term results on top. Erborian BB Cream is one of the best guarantees for year-round beautiful skin!’

Erborian BB Créme in Nude

This is a 5 in one BB Crème (beauty balm), with buildable coverage, it evens out your skin tone and minimises imperfections giving you a healthy, radiant flawless base. This formula is lightweight, hydrating, nourishing and looks very natural. It is a real powerhouse of skin loving ingredients, including a highly concentrated selection of herbs used traditionally in Korean skincare, to promote skin healing.

Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Liquorice Root Extract and Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract: these help to reduce blemishes and make the skin more radiant.
Licorice & Ginger: Act as anti-inflammatories, helping to protect the skin against free radicals
Titanium dioxide: Sun protection SPF 20

I’d say it is a great everyday product, fantastic to help your skin look fresh and radiant with a light (buildable) coverage of make-up. If you feel more confident wearing make-up but do not always want to apply heavy foundations, then a BB cream would be a great option. I wear the shade NUDE, which is the middle swatch below.

Erborian CC Cream

Erborian Super BB Crème in Nude

This is the newest addition to Erborian’s make-up products. Think BB Crème but with the ability to cover more imperfections which gives your skin a more flawless, but natural finish. This is the third swatch in the photo above, a slightly lighter shade than the BB Crème but still a good match to my skin tone. If you have redness, dark spots or uneven skin tone, the Super BB Crème is a must-have for your make-up bag. It is still very lightweight but offers a higher coverage, with the added benefit of amazing skincare ingredients too. This also provides SPF20.

Super BB – combines two Korean super-ingredients: White Ginseng and fermented Ginseng flower, in a formula that instantly reveals a smoother and moisturised skin. In order to visibly reduce imperfections (pimples, pores, blackheads, etc.), this BB cream for acne prone skin has been enriched with Niacinamide, a powerful active ingredient for clearer skin.
Erborian Hybrid Makeup Skincare

Erborian CC Crème in Clair

This is a game changer and works like magic. It comes out of the tube almost like a moisturiser, in that it is white, so the magic is that colour controlling pigments self-adjust to your natural luminous beauty. The intelligent, hybrid formula transforms your skin, to give a velvety, ultra-soft spotless finish, I have the shade Clair which is a light beige, very natural and flawless finish. You can wear this as your base, for a luminous, radiant finish, or underneath a BB Créme or foundation for extra coverage and glow.  lightweight. It is easy to see why this product is an industry favourite, it is so easy to use and it is so effective! This also provides SPF25.

‘At first glance cream appears white, but upon application, it adapts precisely to match your skin tone, naturally revealing a more even complexion, leaving skin luminous and soft, while reducing the appearance of blemishes.’

Centella Asiatica: Helps increase collagen production and antioxidant activity. Anti-ageing active ingredient.
Adenosine: An anti-ageing active ingredient. Improves skin elasticity and softness.
Vitamin B3: Protects from free radicals. Strengthens skin barrier and reduces skin unevenness.
Tiger Grass – Anti-inflammatory benefits and helps with healing
Honey Extract – Softens and firms the skin
Vitamin E – Has anti-free radical properties and helps protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Erborian Skincare Products

Trying a selection of their hero products has given me such a lovely introduction to Erborian, who are a brand that I’ve heard so many positive reviews of, and I am now on that band wagon. I am here to say, they’re all true, and they have not only lived up to all the hype, but quite possible surpassed it.

I am converted, addicted, in love with this brand (not an exaggeration). Every single one of the products they sent me to try out, are now in my everyday routine. I am very much looking forward to trying more from them, especially the Ginseng Collection – which targets fine lines and wrinkles.

Let me know what Erborian products you have tried, what you’d recommend or if, like me, you are new to this brand what would you like to try out.

If you want to learn more about Erborian and their product range, visit them at www.erborian.com

Introducing ARK Skincare

- Vicki Leave a comment

{gifted} ARK is a British Skincare company that has a refreshing, modern approach to skincare. They acknowledge that age plays a big roll in how our skin changes and so our skin concerns change alongside. They have  developed what they call ageintelligent skincare, which focuses on treating skin by age as well as concern.

You start by picking your ageintelligent range, then if you need any targeted treatments you select their skinperfectors for effective treatment (like redness, hydration and de-stress) and then their core skinessentials collection which is daily skincare to enhance your regime.

All their products are easy to understand and incorporate into your regime. They are clear, specific and fuss free.

The three ageintelligent ranges are,

  • ageprotect – for teens and 20’s
  • agedefend – for 30’s and 40’s
  • agedefy – for 50’s and over

I have been trying 2 products from the agedefend collection and 1 from the skinessentials

ARK Skincare Product Review

ARK agedefend Replenishing Moisturiser

This collection aims to boost skins collagen production, protect skin from free radicals and nourish skin to reduce the signs of ageing.  The key ingredients in this collection are,

  • Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids – packed with Omega 3 fatty acids to boost skin’s moisture
  • Blue Lotus – a powerful antioxidant which boosts firmness and elasticity
  • Vitamin A – keeps skin strong, plump and increases collagen production

This replenishing moisturiser contains natural moisturising agents Shea Butter and Olive Oil which are rich and hydrating, leaving your skin feeling soft and velvety smooth to the touch. It is also helps skin look plump and toned, which reduces those fine lines and wrinkles.

I have been using this cream as part of my morning skincare routine and love the way it feels on my skin, not too heavy but very moisturising and my skin looks fresh and healthy after using it. I think it’s a fantastic cream to add to your routine for Autumn/Winter to keep your skin hydrated, boost elasticity and keep skin looking radiant whilst targeting the early signs of ageing with all its fantastic skin loving ingredients. Your skin is in good hands with this in your skincare arsenal.

The packaging is hygienic and feels very luxurious. The product is dispensed by pushing the lid down, I find that two pumps is enough product for your face and neck. It is a slick and easy to use, I like that you get the right amount of product, which means no waster and you don’t have to scoop out product which keeps everything clean and germ free. 

ARK Skincare Age-Defend Conditioning Cleanser

 ARK agedefend Conditioning Cleanser

This lightweight cleanser is great at keeping skin not only clean and washing away the build up of dirt, grime and impurities from the day. It also nourishes skin, protects against moisture loss and gently exfoliates helping remove dead skin cells to keep your complexion looking rejuvenated and blemish free.

  • Moringa Oil – rich in Vitamin A and C and helps skin retain essential moisture.
  • Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids – packed with Omega 3 fatty acids to boost skin’s moisture levels
  • Blue Lotus – a powerful antioxidant which helps skin firmness and elasticity.

I use this in the morning and night, I find the botanical scent uplifting very fresh. The cleanser leaves my skin looking energised and although I do not typically remove my makeup with it, I have used it to remove a light face of makeup and found that it did it with ease. I have been very impressed with both products I have used from the agedefend range and if like me you’re in your 40’s, I think your skin would benefit from the extra boost of antioxidants, lipids, and vitamins that this collection provides. This collection helps you achieve beautiful, healthy, radiant skin.

ARK Skincare Skin Protector SPF30 Primer

Ark skin essential Skin Protector SPF30 Primer

I never leave my house without wearing a facial SPF as we are all fully aware by now, the best way to protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays (the primary cause of premature ageing) is to wear a good quality broad spectrum UVA & UVB SPF.  So when my primer contains SPF30 this makes me very excited. This lovely product has taken pride of place in my skincare line-up, I have been using it religiously for a couple of months now and LOVE it.

  • Vitamin E – antioxidant and provides photo protection
  • Shea Butter – nourishes skin and protects from free radicals
  • Sunflower – packed with vitamins and minerals
  • Hyaluronic Acid – helps skin retain moisture keeping your complexion plump, smooth and radiant

Its not as heavy as a cream but is more like a thicker serum, I like the consistency and it instantly feels refreshing on the skin.  The fact that it is lightweight is important to me especially when layering quite a few products, quite often a primer can feel slippery or tacky on the skin. I like them to be almost weightless, like they’re not even there. This is quite hard to find in skincare products that contains a high level of SPF protection, but ARK have managed to pull it off.  This primer is for me a multi tasking product, you can use it not only as a primer, your SPF too and I find it to be hydrating enough to use as my moisturiser. I do this on really warm days, where you do not want to wear a heavy cream under foundation and that works well to keep everything in place without becoming greasy. This primer can also be worn alone, it helps my skin looking very fresh, that classic healthy, natural glow. Its wonderful.

 

I have enjoyed using all three products over the past few months and although I would say the Primer is my stand out product I think they all have enhanced my skincare regime. My skin looks healthy and feels hydrated. The agedefend collection is perfect for me in my 40’s. I have my eye on a few of the oils from the skinperfector range to see how they help tackle a few more targeted skin concerns, like pigmentation and redness. Let me know if you have tried anything from ARK and if so what products would you recommend.

ARK Skincare is proudly developed & manufactured in Britain. Cruelty Free, with many of their products being Vegan friendly. They use Bioactive, natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin but give effective results.  You can browse their entire range on their website www.arkskincare.com  and tailor your skincare for your specific skin concerns and age.

*This post contains PR Samples

OLAY Regenerist Age Defy Skincare

- Vicki 1 Comment
Olay Regenerist Age Defy Skincare

Olay Regenerist Age Defy Skincare

Olay is such an iconic brand and over the years I have tried quite a few of their products and they’ve always been pretty good. I have been using 2 products from their new Regenerist Age Defy 3 Point range and they have been a welcomed addition to my skincare routine. Up first is the:-

Regenerist 3-Point Super Serum*

This serum is fast absorbing and non-greasy the formula is lovely and feels lightweight on the skin. It contains a highly concentrated amino-peptide complex which is specially designed to help give you dramatically firmer-feeling skin on your face, neck and décolletage, all the places which seem to show the first signs of ageing. I like the way this smooths my skin and instantly makes it feel hydrated and plumper, its great as my morning serum because it helps my skin look hydrated all day and stops it looking fatigued and dull.

A couple of pumps is more than enough for your face & neck, I found it very easy to massage in and it feels very comfortable on the skin. As I said this serum contains Olay’s complex amino peptide formula which will really help combat those early signs of ageing – like sagging skin and fine lines. Its gives the skin a boost of hydration which lasts all day. Both this Olay serum and the moisturiser have Niacinamide which is also known as vitamin B3,

‘Niacinamide can improve skin’s elasticity, dramatically enhance its barrier function, help erase discolorations, and revive skin’s healthy tone and texture’

So its a wonderful ingredient to have in an affordable skincare range and it has quite a few fantastic skin care benefits. I think this serum is a gem of a product, I love using a serum and this one instantly makes my skin feel and look smoother and after a couple of weeks my skin feels more supple and looks fresh and healthy. Like the moisturiser I’m excited to continue to use these and let you know how my skin looks after using them both for a couple of months.

OLAY Skincare

OLAY Regenerist 3 Point Treatment Cream*

This contains Olay’s most advanced, concentrated and powerful amino-peptide formula to date. Its designed to target those areas that are prone to premature ageing, eyes, jawline and neck. It claims to provide deep down / long lasting hydration as well as giving the skin a more lifted and firmer feel. This cream has a very lightweight texture and once you have applied it to your skin it leaves it feeling velvety soft and nourished.

So I have been smoothing this on my face as well as down my neck over the past few weeks and I really like the visual results. I think it instantly makes fatigued skin look brighter and plumper and my skin does feel firmer and more hydrated. I noticed that my concealer doesn’t sink in to the fine lines around my eyes and my skin doesn’t look as tired. I think I need to use it a little longer to see if the skin around my jaw line looks tighter but I will keep you posted on that.

New Olay Skincare

I have enjoyed revisiting OLAY skincare and I have been recommending this 3 point treatment line to my Mum & Auntie, I think they would love them too. I have to say despite it being a very affordable brand these products feels so luxurious and the results have so far surpassed my expectations which is wonderful. I think these products would be ideal if you suffer from dull, tired skin in need of a hydration boost and if you’re concerned about the first signs of ageing. Both products I have tried are gentle and not at all greasy so I will continue to use them and let you know if I see any further changes in my skins appearance.

If I had to pick one product from the two I would say my favourite it the serum, I love serums anyway but its just so lightweight and my skin feels and looks healthy after I have applied it!

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.

Radical Hand and Nail Multi – Repair Créme

- Vicki Leave a comment
New Release from Radical

Radical Hand and Nail Cream

Radical Skincare is an anti ageing skincare line started by Liz and Rachel, the daughter of Dr. Richard F. Edlich MD.PHD, world renowned Professor of Plastic Surgery. They dedicated years of research to formulating advanced skincare products that protect and rejuvenate skin.

The key to the Radical Skincare line is their Patented Trylacel Technology which maintains the potency of active ingredients by up to 300% by combining Multiple Antioxidants, Anti Ageing Active Ingredients and soothing Ingredients which enable maximum benefits and quick results.

I tried some samples from their range a couple of years ago & was very impressed with them so was excited to give their new Hand and Nail Cream a try.

Radical Skincare

Radical Hand and Nail Multi – Repair Créme* 75ml

This cream has so many high-performance active ingredients, much like all Radical products, so I will list some of the wonderful ingredients

‘Hyaluronic Acid: Recreates the hydrolipid film of the skin, which boosts its barrier function protecting optimum hydration levels on the palm and back of hand.

The nutritional and antioxidant powers of the Radical TrylacelTM technology re-stimulate the synthesis of essential collagen and elastin fibres to improve skin firmness and elasticity and protect against free-radicals.

Hexylresorcinol visibly reduces the appearance of dark spots. Combined with raspberry extract, rich in ellagic acid, this ingredient is known to regulate melanin synthesis and therefore help to prevent dark spots forming.

Myrrh extract supports the strength of the nails and condition cuticles, it was used by typists in the days of the first Remington typewriters to strengthen their nails. Natural Myrrh also calms micro wounds and irritations.

Rice extract absorbs excess secretions by the hands.’

So this cream is a powerhouse of anti ageing as well as giving your hands an all in one treatment. The cream is quite thick when you first apply it to your hands but its so easy to massage into the skin. It sinks into the skin within minutes leaving them feeling very soft, noticeably smoother and brighter and not at all greasy. You don’t have to wait ages for it to sink in and I found I didn’t have to reapply too much throughout the day, my hands stayed feeling nourished and soft for hours. I only tended to reapply after I washed my hands so you don’t have to use a lot of product throughout the day which is great!

New Release from Radical

I don’t think you can ever take a good hand cream for granted, our hands are really put through the ringer on a daily basis and as I am edging ever closer to 40 (3 years to go) I am really trying to look after my hands and keep the age spots and inevitable wrinkles to a minimum. I have really noticed a difference in how soft and healthy my hands look, I have been using this cream for over 2 months now & it has even helped reduce an age spot I had on the back of my right hand so that’s really pleased me.

The more I use this the more it’s protecting my hands and giving them the nourishment and hydration they need. I suffer from really dry skin on my hands all year round but this hand cream has been the best to date for combating my lizard skin.

This is a high-end skin care product but in this case, you get what you pay for, you don’t need to use a lot of product so there is no wastage. If you’re 35+ then I would highly recommend investing in this. I always have it with me, either on my desk or in my handbag and the results are visible so I’m completely smitten.

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.