Here's a speed review of five skincare products (in no particular order) I've trialled and my thoughts.
1)
Elemis Visible Brilliance- described as a "double action serum which actively brightens and re-energises dull, fatigued and stressed skin".
http://www.timetospa.co.uk/ £40 for 30ml
Now, I'm a huge fan of Elemis- it's one of those brands that I get really excited about & I love seeing what they come up with next. I really wanted to give this a fair chance & so trialled it until the bottle was used up but I'm afraid, all I can say is "meh". I simply couldn't fall in love with this (although I did adore the packaging- great idea for dispensing & limits the risk of wastage making it ideal for travel; Vaishaly Patel's range uses the same style). It is easily absorbed but to be honest, if you're going to spend £40 on a product, there are far better serums out there. If you specifically wanted to try something from Elemis, I'd recommend the fabulous Exotics range which truly encompasses the luxurious, pampering values of this British brand.
Which brings me nicely onto...
2) Aesop Parsley Seed Antioxidant Serum- a fantastic choice for those with sensitive skin. The pipette dropper makes it easy to dispense the desired quantity, avoiding wastage, although the bottle (glass so not ideal for travel) size is incredibly generous & lasts absolutely ages! Although the serum is a gel-like formula, it sinks into skin, rather than simply sitting on the surface, immediately improving appearance and hydration levels. A worthwhile purchase!
£33 for 100ml at http://www.beautyexpert.co.uk/
3)
Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Creme with SPF 15 (for normal/ combination skin)-hugely popular in the US, I've had the opportunity to trial a few OH products but this is the first one which I've really stuck with and used the entire pot for a fair test. The packaging is sleek, with signature brightly coloured label although the pot style wouldn't be to everyone's taste. I'm a stickler for using SPF on my face, every day, without fail so I loved that this was included in the formula. The scent is quite a herbal one which again, might bother some- it certainly isn't a "nice" fragrance but I didn't find it offensive. Again, not a miracle worker but I did really like how easily absorbed, yet moisturising, I found this product.
£30.65 for 50g (which lasts AGES) at
http://www.beautyexpert.co.uk/4) Amie Skincare Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash
Amie is a natural skincare range aimed specifically at young skin. Many who have reviewed this range have said that this is precisely the kind of range that they wish had been about when they were young and I have to say, I firmly concur. Banish the alcohol-based Clearisil type brands from your bathroom teenage girls!
I absolutely fell in love with this cleanser. It's gentle, creamy to apply & has a fresh scent. What's more the convenient tube lasts for ages, even when used daily. I liked that it's quick & easy to use- a simple wash on, wash off formula which encourages a regular routine without being confusing. Despite knowing that this range is aimed at teenagers, I was still shocked when I saw the price, it's fantastic value for money and I'd highly recommend it.
£4.95 for 150ml at http://www.amieskincare.com/
5) Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant- As one of the skincare brands hero products, I was looking forward to reviewing this. Its celebrity fans are as numerous as the awards it's won. Presented in the brand's sleek, minimalist packaging, Daily Microfoliant is a fine, granular rice-based powder which you mix with water in wet palms to form a paste. I liked the ritualistic aspect of this and it's easier to use than it sounds- it's fairly obvious how much of the powder to dispense (a little goes a long way), quick to combine & it means that you're applying a fresh paste to your face. The downsides are that the packaging isn't ideal for shower usage (although, in fairness, I'm not sure how else they could present it short of individual sachets!).
It has a distinctive, although not offensive scent.
I feel that the name is slightly inappropriate as for most, daily exfoliating to this degree would be excessive in my opinion. Having said that, it is a gentle exfoliant which doesn't remove every single trace of dry skin so those accustomed to chemical formulas would probably be slightly disappointed. Skin is left with a clean, freshened appearance although texture is not noticably improved in the short-term.
It's not a cheap product but it does the job. Yes, you can buy more reasonable exfoliators which would do an equally good job but if you're a beauty fan, I'd definately say it's worth investing to try this cult product.
£35.10 for 75g at http://www.beautyexpert.co.uk/
