Balance Me

Skincare Favourites

- Vicki 6 Comments
Favourite cleansers

Skin Care

I do have quite a few favourite skincare products and I like to change up what I use quite often depending on how my skin feels & what it needs, but these are a few products that I really like using.

L’Oreal Skin Perection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution 4.99

I have tried quite a few Micellar Waters, and although I don’t use them to cleanse my face, I do like to use one to remove the majority of my makeup before washing my face. This L’Oréal one is very good and gentle, and It is the only Micellar Water I have repurchased. It doesn’t dry my skin out and a bottle lasts me well over a month and that’s using it every evening. It is normally on offer at Boots or Superdrug and I have seen is in Asda at the moment for £2.

Garnier Simply Essential 2 in 1 Soothing Make Up Remover £2.99

This is a good budget friendly eye makeup remover and I have repurchased this over and over again. You have to mix the solutions, and it is slightly greasy but not in a bad way, it helps breakdown my mascara, and it even removes my beloved Covergirl Lash blast 24 hour mascara, that stuff is heavy duty.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm* £14.50

My love for this is no secret, and I’ve even converted my mum. She tried mine whilst staying with me and has asked for one for Christmas. It is a lovely Balm Cleanser and just (as the name suggests) melts away all my makeup, leaving my skin so very soft, hydrated and smooth. For the price, I just can’t get over how good this stuff is. If you’re looking to buy a Cleansing Balm, then I can’t recommend this one from Merumaya enough.

balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash* £16

I use this in the shower in the morning, and it helps keep my skin blemish free and is good for my redness. It is so very gentle and creamy that is works wonders to calm skin but keeps it clean too without drying it out. With all balance Me products they contain no Mineral Oils, Parabens, Sulpahtes, Petroleum, silicons or artificial colours or fragrances! So that is your skin taken good care of.

Kiehls Centella Skin-Calming Facial Cleanser £26.50

This is a very good Cleanser for people who have vey very sensitive skin. It contains Aloe Vera, Camomile and Tiger Herb (Centella Asiatica) which is good for healing. It is quite a thin consistency and doesn’t foam up. Not only that, but it feels like a light gel. I like to use it in the winter when my skin is dry and when I have been out in the cold a lot, as it is hydrating and calming. This 200ml bottle has lasted me over a year and that is using it at least twice a week. It doesn’t look like much in the bottle but believe me it is a lovely cleanser.

Tropic Skincare Vitamin Toner* £12

I use this when sat at my desk, it gives my skin a boost of moisture and it smells lovely. It is packed full of lovely natural ingredients,

Pure Aloe Vera soothes & refreshes

Vitamins A, E & C boost skin vitality, Cucumber & Camomile reduce redness and cool the skin

Specially formulated to promote optimum skin pH & moisture for naturally refined & glowing skin.

I work from home so tend not to wear makeup during the day, so I like to use this on my face to keep my skin hydrated and give it a boost of all those lovely ingredients. I like facial sprays but many of them don’t have any added skincare benefits, but this one from Tropic Skincare is jam packed with so many benefits for your face. For £12 you get 120ml

Have you tried any of the products I’ve mentioned, or something else from these brands?

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.

balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm

- Vicki 6 Comments
boldybalm

rose otto body balm

I think I’ve found my Autumn / Winter body product. This balance Me rose otto body balm* is hydrating and perfect for those areas that need a little more moisture / TLC during the colder months. You only need a small amount, but you need to warm it up in between your hands, so it is easier to work into your skin. I like to put it on after a bath, it smells so relaxing. This balm melts into the skin and leaves it very soft, smooth, very hydrated and not at all greasy.

balance Me

The almond oil and shea butter give your skin a double whammy of moisture and leave it looking healthy and feeling so smooth.

I can see this tub lasting me throughout the winter, as I’ve not even put a dent in it, even though I have been using it 2–3 times a week for a couple of months.

rose otto balm

If you’re looking for something lighter on your skin than a body butter or even as an alternative some nights this body balm is perfect and if you like rose scented products then this is a must for your winter skincare stash.

balance Me rose otto body balm £20 for 170ml

What body products do you like or switch up in the colder months?

Products 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.

Hand Products

- Vicki 4 Comments

Hand Care Products

I suffer from quite dry hands and if I don’t make a real effort my cuticles get flaky too, especially in the winter months and so I promised myself that this year I would take better care of them and I thought I would show you some of the products I’ve been using over the past few weeks.

Bath & Body Works Island Nectar Pocket Bac – This is me trying to hold on to summer, well the smell of it at least. This has a really fruity scent. It reminds me of sipping cocktails on the beach. I always have hand sanitiser on my bedside table and put it on before applying hand cream. These are really handy and I hope that Bath & Body Works open a store in the UK soon.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream* – I use this if my cuticles are particularly dry or need a little TLC. This is so nourishing and helps cracked skin. It performs overnight miracles. I do use it on my lips too, its a wonder products it really is.

balance Me Rose Otto Hand Cream* – This has such a calming scent and its perfect for before bed. I massage it in to my hands and it leaves them very soft and not at all greasy. The cream is very light and easily absorbed its is just lovely and very soothing for sensitive skin

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme – This is quite the cult product, Ive had this tin for a couple of years now and it hardly looks like I have used it. This lemon butter lasts forever. Mine will need replacing soon as it is starting to dry out but this is another product that smells lovely. If you like citrus scents then you will like this. I use this all the time and take it when I fly too and my nails get very dry. I have this tin sat on my desk and use it after I wash my hands just to make sure my cuticles don’t dry out.

Avon Cuticle Conditioner – I use this when I take my nail polish off to really hydrate and condition my cuticles. I brush it around my nail and over my cuticles. It dries quickly and seems to be helping keep my cuticles in good condition.

Avon Pearl Shine – Not really a product for hand care but on those days I don’t want to wear a colour on my nails but want them to look healthy, I use this. It leaves them with a pearly shine thats really subtle and pretty. It looks nicer than just wearing clear polish.

What do you use to keep your hand looking hydrated and moisturised?

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

- Vicki 8 Comments
Skincare Favourites

Skincare Edit

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.

Skincare Edit

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 Serum

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.

Skincare

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.