Five Skincare Favourites June 2019

June 28, 2019September 4, 2026 - Vicki

Alex Steinherr Miceller Cleansing Gel

I was so excited back in May (after months of waiting to get to a Primark that stocked it) to finally get my hands on the Alex Steinherr skincare collection. I bought 4 products and all under £10 each, and they have all slotted right into my skincare routine. I love them all. This cleansing gel is gentle, soothing and will remove light makeup, I love using it in the morning to freshen up my skin. It works perfectly for a morning cleanser, as it will only remove light makeup, although you could use it as a second cleanse in the evening if you removed your makeup with a balm or something a bit more effective.

Tropic Skincare Pure Lagoon Serum*

If I only had one word to describe this serum I would use the word incredible. I received this serum at a time when I needed it more than ever, I was turning 40 and my skin had decided to breakout and go nuts like never before. It became my skincare saviour, I used it religiously for months and low and behold my blemishes calmed down, my pesky blackheads all but cleared up. This blue (yes it is really blue) serum has been formulated to prevent blemishes and blackheads as well as reducing sebum production. If you are blemish prone, your skin is in seriously good hands with this in your skincare arsenal.

It is jam packed with so many fantastic ingredients such as Blue Spirulina and Malachite Crystal Extract – which give the serum its blue hue, they’re also rich in copper and are anti inflammatory. The serum calms angry red spots and help your skin become calmer and have a more clarified complexion. It has Hyaluronic acid and watermelon fruit extract think amazing hydration and boosted moisture levels. This might be a lightweight feeling serum but it is very hydrating too. The fact that this is a preventative skincare product is what I love most about it, it prevents the build up of dead skin cells and sebum, so over time skin produces less blemish causing bacteria and is smoother, calmer, hydrated and it helps your skin break the spot forming cycle.

Tropic Skincare Face Lift Brightening Mask*

This is a wonderful mask that targets skin that needs tightening & lifting. It helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles whilst helping to keep saggy skin at bay. I use this mask on a weekly basis and apply it to my forehead, chin and neck. It has a very thick, almost clay like texture and I leave it on for around 20 mins. It is a great mask to use when multi masking, I apply it to targeted areas, to get maximum results.

It contains so many incredible skin loving ingredients, including – Agave nectar (rich in amino acids) and sea buckthorn extracts (rich in carotene) which work to hydrate and plump skin. Turmeric and glycolic acids promote a brighter, more even complexion and electric daisy extract works to tighten skin and minimise fine lines. So this mask is packed with nourishing, hydrating and firming ingredients which promote long term results. This is my 3rd pot in 2 years and I wouldn’t be without it.

B Radiant Day Cream SPF15

Rich, creamy, hydrating and a wonderful moisturiser to wear under your makeup. It keeps your skin smooth, soft and very hydrated. I love applying my foundation after this, it just goes on with ease and blends so well, I really like this B By Superdrug skincare, it is very affordable, and they have such a great selection of products. I’m slowly working my way through them and have tried quite a few products to date, the highlights so far have been this day cream, their acid retexturising pads and the Hyaluronic Face Mist.

This day cream contains some great ingredients to keep your skin looking its best including Tetrapeptide which improves elasticity and is great for plumping which reduces the appearance of those pesky fine lines. Hyaluronic Acid locks in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated throughout the day. Olive leaf and Jujube Seed extracts calms skin and fights the build up of bacteria whist Niacinamide improves moisture retention and boosts skins radiance.

SuperFacialist Vitamin C Micro Polish Wash

I wrote about this in my recent Skincare For Radiant Skin post & I am on to my second bottle. Still enjoying as much, if not more a couple of months on. It really gives your skin that refreshed feeling, it smells of citrus and I love that it is such an invigorating uplifting scent. Think gentle but effective & in short that is this exfoliator. It has a refreshing gel texture which is infused with biodegradable micro-beads (good for your skin and the ocean) to softly remove dead skin cells & daily impurities and dirt. It is boosted with antioxidant ferulic acid and vitamins C & E to promote brighter looking skin, help protect against environmental aggressors. So if you have quite dull skin and get a little texture where dead skin forms around your nose, chin area then this is perfect for addressing that! Packed with Vitamin C and natural skin brighteners, it encourages skin’s renewal and energises the complexion to keep it looking fit, radiant and youthful. I also like how well my makeup applies after using this and that my skin is smoother and super soft! Affordable and great for daily use!

*Products marked with an * have been gifted as PR samples. The words and opinions are my own. This post also contains one affliliant link.

5 Beauty Products From Jurlique

March 16, 2017September 4, 2026 - Vicki 5 Comments

Jurlique Activating Water Essence

I discovered this product last year, and it was the first Essence I had tried. I’d heard using an Essence was a very popular step in Asian skincare routines, but was dubious whether I needed to add another step to my already quite rigorous regime. After using it for a while, I realised that it was that perfect step for refreshing and hydrating your skin before going in with your serum. Just to be clear, an Essence is not a toner, nope it’s used after both cleansing and toning, it can replenish moisture, balance skin’s PH levels and help skin look glowing, and it is now one of the steps in my routine that I look forward too.

At the centre of the Jurlique Activating Water Essence is their star ingredient – Marshmallow Root Extract, which is great for deeply hydrating skin and improving its ability to retain moisture. If you have yet to try an essence, I highly recommend trying one.

Rose Moisture Plus Balancing Serum

Jurlique are well-known for their incredible quality rose products, they have an Organic Farm in the Adelaide Hills of Australia where they grow many of the herbs, flowers (including their roses) and plants for their products. This serum is part of their Moisture Plus range, and it is fantastic at reviving tired, dry skin. It combines rosehip fruit oil, evening primrose oil and green tea extract to protect the skin’s barrier and provide extended moisture to keep skin cushioned, fresh and looking radiant.

PurelyAge-Defying Firming Face Oil

LOVE this product, in fact, I really like the whole Purely Age Defying range, if I was pushed to name my must-have product from Jurlique it would 100% be this Face Oil. I have used up so many bottles and always have one on the go. I use it at night, and it performs nothing short of a miracle because when I wake up my skin looks well rested and healthy, it also works to even skin tone and keeps skin looking plump. It is infused with a trio of potent anti-ageing ingredients; Blackcurrant Seed Oil helps to improve elasticity and firmness, Buriti Oil reduces fine lines and wrinkles and Rock Samphire Extract helps to support collagen synthesis and promotes a firmer complexion. So your skin is in good hands with this, and my skin always feels incredible after I have used it.

Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder

Most people are unaware that Jurlique does finishing powder, I think it is the only makeup product they stock, but it is one of my absolute favourites. This loose powder is so fine & lightweight that it never feels heavy or drying on the skin. It’s a translucent powder so it’s not going to add coverage or leave a white cast on your skin. It is great for setting makeup and keeping that oily t zone in check. I like to apply this with a big powder brush & sweep the product across my t-zone & chin, it has a really nice floral scent and my go-to powder for eliminating that dreaded shine but leaving the skin with a slight matte velvety smooth finish.

It contains the key ingredients Corn Starch & Rice Starch which act as natural substitutes for talc, while Silican imparts a smooth texture on the skin, Glycerin helps to moisturise and prevent moisture loss and Arnica helps soothe and cool the skin. If you like your setting powder to leave your skin with a slightly matte finish without looking flat, then this would be a great product for you.

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream

This moisturiser does feel quite thick and rich when you first apply it but give it a minute and your skin will have absorbed it to leave you with a velvety soft finish. It’s so nourishing and instantly smoothing. It contains powerful natural ingredients such as Yeast Extract to help promote collagen synthesis, Amino Acid Lipid Complex promotes skin remodelling and contraction of collagen fibres, Rock Samphire Extract supports skin density while reducing the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles and finally Beech Tree Bud Extract accelerates the production of fresh new cells. For me, the one thing I noticed almost instantly from using this is my skin looked smoother, which is why I think it makes the perfect base for foundation. It helps give you that flawless base.

Have you tried any products from Jurlique that you would recommend?

Elizabeth Grant Skincare

October 20, 2014August 24, 2025 - Vicki

I have been trying out a few products from the brand Elizabeth Grant. This is a brand that is sold on Ideal World & I call myself a skincare addict, but I had never heard of them before. I quickly learnt that Elizabeth Grant was founded in London, England in 1958 and has a rich history, it’s a brand focused on quality and customer satisfaction and is now sold worldwide.

I’ve been trying a selection of products from the Elizabeth Grant Collagen Collection over the past two months, and there are one or two products that have really stood out to me that I wanted to tell you about. I do have to say the packaging for the products in this collection is gorgeous, they feel luxurious and are very good quality. They look pretty out on my vanity and all the pots of creams come with little spatulas, which is so good for hygiene and just a great extra touch.

The 7 piece Collagen Collection included the following products,

Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Day Cream 50ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Night Cream 50ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Platinum 24hr Firming Eye Cream 30ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Body Firming Cream 200ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Silk Edition Extreme Wrinkle Serum 30ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Gel Eye Pads 6 packs

I really enjoy using Eye Pads / Masks & think they really help revive tired eyes & give your skin a boost of hydration, especially when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends. I’ve been enjoying these Elizabeth Grant* ones & found they’re great for puffy tired eyes, they hydrate and nourish your skin and help temporarily smooth the fine lines. They fit perfectly under my eyes & are very comfortable to wear, I leave them on as long as I can & once I take them off I pat the remaining products in around my orbital bone. I like to travel with these as they’re a great way of combating tired dark under eyes. They are great to incorporate into your pamper routine, too. I get quite dehydrated under my eyes & for me, it’s showing the first signs of ageing & those pesky fine lines are appearing, so eye pads are a nice way of giving that area a little TLC.

Another stand out product from this range was the Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Silk Edition Extreme Wrinkle Serum*, Serum is a step I never miss out from my morning & evening routine, but often it can be hard to see or feel the actual effects. From about the 3rd day of using this Elizabeth Grant Serum, my skin felt so smooth and looked plumper. It feels lovely and silky and once applied it’s absorbed quickly in to my skin, I like to massage two pumps into my skin in the evening and I then apply my night cream on top. I don’t use this during the day as I find it a little too rich and think it works better for me as a night serum.

The Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Platinum 24hr Firming Eye Cream* is working wonders for me too, it looks like a cream in the jar but once you apply it to your skin it feels like a gel. It absorbs very quickly and is instantly smoothing, which is why I like to use it in the morning, as I find it wears very well under makeup & provides a smooth base for concealer. The gel like consistency means it’s not greasy on your skin. You get a whopping 30ml of product & that’s quite a lot for an eye cream, this is going to keep me going for a while. I wouldn’t say it diminishes fine lines or firms the skin, but it does feel hydrating it makes a nice primer for my concealer.

The other 3 products I am still trying out, so expect reviews on those in the coming months. Let me know if you have tried this brand & if any of the range works for you. If you want to see more of the range, you can here. Also, Ideal world do lots of great offers (make sure you keep your eyes peeled for those) as this 7 piece collection was £39.99 instead of £183.94.

These products have been sent to me for my consideration. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser

June 5, 2014March 8, 2018 - Vicki 8 Comments

I think we are all familiar with the Hot Cloth Cleanser by now, massage on to dry skin & wipe away using a damp warm face cloth. They’ve become very popular in the beauty world and I for one really like using a Hot Cloth Cleanser in the evening, I find them to be relaxing and a great way to remove makeup and wipe away all the grime & dirt from the day. So I was excited to use the REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser* which comes with a lovely 100% Cotton face cloth (perfect).

This Hot Cloth Cleanser is a rich two-phase cleanser that purifies, decongests gently exfoliates and removes all make-up. It leaves skin refreshed, radiant, smoothed and replenished without dryness or tightness. The cleanser itself is very creamy and light in texture, I massage it into my skin for a couple of minutes so it can start to break down my makeup and the dead skin cells. I also make sure to take it all across my eyes to loosen my eye makeup. This doesn’t irritate my eyes at all, in fact, this is a very gentle cleanser so don’t be afraid to use it all over your face. It’s gentle enough to be used on all skin types, this has a very mild rose scent but it’s so subtle you hardly know it’s there.

This does a really good job at removing my makeup and leaving my skin feeling clean and smooth, it’s not stripping so you won’t experience that tight drying feeling (that I hate). I had never heard of Vitamin P but this cleanser contains it & a few more nourishing ingredients that help revive, soothe and decongest your skin. Let me know if you’ve heard of Vitamin P. The main bio extracts in this cleanser are

Vitamin P from Rosa Centifolia protects the capillary venous system to decongest and soothe
Triglycerides from Cocoa Seed Butter improve the skin barrier functions against moisture loss
Rosa Damascena from Damask Rose Petals relieves and soothes skin

Since using this my complexion has been looking bright and the redness around my cheeks is reduced, I think because this has such a hydrating and soothing milky texture my skin isn’t getting dried out or irritated, you don’t need to be abrasive when washing it off. Just polish away the product using the cotton face cloth and then splash a little cold water on your face once it’s clean to close your pores.

The packaging of this is really handy too, it comes with a pump which is great for dispensing just the right amount of product (also very hygienic), you can also see how much product you have left as you’re able to see the cleanser through the clear packaging. So no panic when you come to use it & there is none left, you will get plenty of warning. If you like using a Hot Cloth Cleanser then I think you should give this one a go, you will be left with a healthy complexion and skin that’s clean, hydrated and decongested. It gets two thumbs up from me.

This contains no parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, synthetic colours or scents.

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser £16 for 150ml

I have also been testing out a few samples of the REN V-Cense Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial*, as I only have a couple of sachets to test out I can’t tell you how this performs long term but I had enough for three uses & I’m already excited for this to go on sale so I can get the full size.

The way this works is you apply the light green coloured gel to your face & neck then massage a small amount of warm water to activate the Vitamin C and let it get to work brightening your complexion. You leave the product on your skin for 1 minute then you rinse with warm water and that’s when the tiny exfoliating beads get to work by buffing and removing dead skin and help fight the signs of fatigue, boost skins radiance levels and reduce imperfections.

REN say – ‘Discover a high-performance complexion boost that lasts 72 hours with the V-Cense Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial! A transformative gel-rinse that instantly revitalises and visibly rejuvenates the skin. Formulated with water activated Vitamin C, it neutralises ‘urban grey’ in a flash, removes blackheads and dead skin cells to reveal a firm, toned and smooth complexion.’

It’s like a facial and a face mask in one and it only takes you one minute – perfect if you’re pushed for time. This has a lovely quite sweet chocolate orange scent with a hint of peppermint (how yummy does that sound). I have used the sachets I was given to try and I loved how instantly smooth and bright my skin looked & that’s after 1 minute. So I imagine after a more long-term use your complexion will look less dull and start to have that healthy glow we all long for. I liked using this in the morning so my skin looked healthy and fresh for the day ahead.

I think this is going to be a popular addition to the REN range, I mean who doesn’t want quick, no fuss skincare that gives results in just one minute. This V-Cense 1 minute facial isn’t released until later this year, so this is a heads up, I will be treating myself to a bottle & getting onboard with the 1-minute facial. I don’t know the exact release date of this but it will be £30 for 75ml.

Let me know what your favourite REN product is & if you like the sound of a 1-minute facial.

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.

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