L'ABU SKIN

 

I'd not heard of this brand before but I liked its USP, which is 'Pure and Simple'. Quite often our biggest dilemma in skincare is not our skin type, but by the overwhelming amount of products there are on the market. Constantly we are bombarded with new products for different skin types, skin problems and it's just all too much to take in. L'abu ethos is about the basic 3 steps in skincare that are 'cleanse, target and hydrate'. It's a simple approach yet using top quality ingredients, and born out of love from Netta and Hayley, mother and daughter! They not only have a love for their products but they also have a lot of love for our NHS and last year donated £4000 worth of skincare to frontline workers. 

I was sent the Oat Milk Cleanser £15 to test and Collagen Boosting Moisturiser £20.  Oats have been used in skincare for centuries due to the skin softening effects they produce.  This rich, creamy cleanser infused with Frangipani was a delight to use. Warmed into the palms of my hands and massaged into my face, once removed with a warm cloth, effectively and quickly got rid of my water resistant mascara and left my face feeling nourished. Often cleansers can feel stripping and leave the skin tight, but this just left my skin feeling supple.  There's a cocktail of ingredients that promotes softening skin such as rice bran, apricot kernel oil and poppy seed oil. There's Green Tea Extract, a known ingredient in skincare to help with breakouts and problematic skin.  The oat extracts help nourish the skin and remove make-up and debris from pores. Whilst you can double-cleanse I personally didn't feel the need to as my skin was left so hydrated. 

I was also sent the Collagen Boosting Moisturiser £20 and at the age of 49 something my skin needs. If it says anti-ageing I need to test it! A top skin scientist once told me that the most important vitamins in skincare are vitamins ACE as they have the most profound effect on the skin.  This moisturiser contains these essential vitamins, and in turn helps promote cell renewal and prevent fine lines.  Kernel oil helps improve skin tone and keeps moisture locked in, whilst coconut oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and ideal for breakouts.  Tocopherol or Vitamin E as is commonly known, is used in skincare as an anti-oxidant and can help with pigmentation, especially when combined with the other vitamins. Vitamin A is an amazing addition to any skincare as minimises the appearance of enlarged pores and can help with the appearance of wrinkles, as well as improving uneven skin tone. 

The reason why I like to feature these kinds of brands on my blogs, the un-known ones without all the huge advertising etc, is that it's personable to the founders and so their passion is high, and this reflects in their products. I've been a Beauty and Lifestyle Editor for many years, and I always get more joy writing about the brands that have a story, something that is slightly different. I also like to look at other reviews as obviously my perception is well just that, my opinion.  If you look at the website you'll see various reviews from people with different skin types and it's evident the products are well loved! 

For more information you can see the products at www.labuskin.com

The Body Shop Fresh Raspberry Gel Body Scrub & Whipped Body Butter

 

My son just came downstairs and asked me if he could have some of the raspberries I was using for this photo shoot. Of course I said yes, as it made a change from Skittles but I had to draw the line of him having a spoonful of the Whipped Body Butter! - Yes it smells that good, that my 12 year old thought it was a yoghurt (probably as I was arranging fresh raspberries around it), that's the hazard of photographing smellies! 

Anyway The Body Shop kindly sent me some of their summer collection and their Fresh Raspberry Collection caught my sense of smell! It's absolutely scrumptious and without being sickly sweet, simply captures the essence of a punnet of raspberries.  The Whipped Body Cream is, as my son thought an edible concoction of avocado oil, shea butter and raspberry seed oil. Slightly lighter than the original Body Butters, it sinks easily into the skin and leaves skin hydrated for up to 72 hours. I did find upon application that it had a slightly bitter top note however, this soon went and left my skin smelling lightly fragranced of berries.  

The Gel Body Scrub is almost coulis in texture and again smells like a rich, raspberry jam. Best applied in the shower before you turn the water on, the exfoliating walnut shell and raspberry seeds lightly sloughs away dry skin and leaves it feeling soft, and of course smelling utterly delicious. My only warning is, do not leave around the kitchen if you have young children! 

The Whipped Cream is priced at £18 and the Gel Body Scrub is £16. Available from www.bodyshop.com

Nourish London Skin Range

 

Nourish London landed on my desk last week as samples. I was very excited to receive these products, as the name suggests it is a British brand, and I'm passionate about supporting UK businesses (especially after the year we've all had)!  Created by Dr Pauline Hili, her vision was to bring to the market a brand that used the best organic ingredients she could find, and transform them into products that would produce radiant and healthy skin.  The products, which are vegan and cruelty free have won awards for their formulas and have been named as 'hero' products. 

I was also very excited as two of the products sent were aimed for tired tootsies, and with the amount of dog walking I do, going through the menopause - my feet are, let's just say kindly knackered.  Every night I crawl into bed, utterly exhausted and just relieved to get the weight off my feet.   The Smoothing Foot Scrub and Softening Foot Cream Duo £20 are filled with skin refreshing essential oils, including peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary. The scrub has natural almond shell particles to gently smooth the skin and Aloe Vera to freshen and hydrate, whilst the Nourishing cream has sunflower seed oil and shea butter as a base.  Lavender, rosemary and tea tree help to naturally ward off fungal infections and leave feet smelling and feeling revitalised. For an extra skin-softening treat slather a generous amount before bed time and pop on cotton socks. The cream soaks into the skin leaving feet incredibly soft the next morning.  A beautiful gift to give and receive, ideal for expectant mums, nurses, teachers or anyone on their feet all day!

I was also sent the Antioxidant Peptide Mist from £7, a beautiful spray bottle that is filled with antioxidants, anti-ageing peptides and probiotic minerals.  Just one mist over the face gives a calming effect and is ideal to keep by the office desk.  Containing an abundance of ingredients such as hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin brightening liqourice, it's a wonder multi-purpose product ideal for all skin types. The addition of turmeric, well known for its anti-oxidant properties helps guard against pollution, so ideal if you work in the city. It handily comes in a travel size or full size and perfect to take when travelling. 

Finally I was also sent the Kale Enzymatic Exfoliator £18. Used just once or twice a week as a mask, or daily as a cleanser, this rich in vitamin C and K, Kale extract will reveal brighter skin and again protects the skin from pollution.  It's gentle enough to use on all skin types and rather than an abrasive scrub formula, lets the natural acids gently exfoliate.  The essential oil of geranium, immediately relaxes the mind, making for a pleasurable skincare ritual.  My skin is very dehydrated and sapped up the exfoliator, when left on as a mask. After wiping it off, my face felt supple and my dehydration lines had disappeared!

I usually don't write up so much on a brand, but was super impressed not only by the quality of ingredients but the way the products work. Stunningly presented, each product would make an ideal gift too.  A brand that I will definitely recommend to friends and family, you can check out the rest of their range at www.nourishskinrange.com

SkinCeuticals Oil Shield UV Defense Sunscreen Factor 50

I often get asked the question 'what is my absolute must-have in skincare' and my answer is always 'sunscreen'. On cloudy days, rainy days and on sunny days it is always sunscreen.  I love the sun and as soon as it breaks through the clouds, I am the first to point my face into the sky - I even park on the sunnier side of the road during the school run. However, I am well aware of the damage it does to our skin and so will always wear sunscreen. 

Unfortunately if you suffer from oily skin you may often find it very hard to find a sunscreen that suits your skins natural texture. Many sunscreens leave a greasy film behind encouraging more oil and resulting in more breakouts. This is where SkinCeuticals Oil Shield comes in.  Made specifically for blemish and oily skin types, this lightweight cream instantly mattifies the skin upon application. A very clever cream, that not only blocks the suns harmful rays but also has Silica silicate as part of it's chemistry makeup. This is the ingredient that gives the mattifying and blurring effect making it ideal for anyone who suffers with greasy skin (you can see this on the hand photo where it has 'blurred' the skin). It's the perfect primer for makeup and will help ensure your makeup stays put by preventing it sliding off due to excess oil. It's suitable for both men and women especially those who enjoy outdoor sports. The high SPF of 50 whilst isn't an invitation to bask all day in the sun, does give UV filters (23%) to block out the suns harmful UVA/UVB rays.

Most importantly it doesn't feel like your wearing a cream due to it's light texture. My daughter has oily skin and at nearly 18 is learning about the importance of sun protection all year round. This is an ideal day cream for teenagers who may be suffering from breakouts, hormonal or otherwise.

This was sent to me as a sample, it costs £41, and is available from Lookfantastic 

Dove Shower Mousse with Argan Oil & Dove Exfoliating Body Scrub

For the ultimate pamper shower treat these two products pair beautifully.  Shower mousses are one of my favourite products for use in the shower, simply as the product glides on like a creamy, frothy explosion. The mousse makes the boring humdrum of shaving more of a pleasure, as the razor smoothly slides over the skin, leaving it feeling like silk. Lets talk about the scent a sweet, gentle and comforting burst of light floral, which lasted from 2pm, through the school run, dinner and still there at bedtime! Once again my eldest claimed it as hers and I know I won't see it again. For £3.99 the value is amazing, and if you are to go on any of the store reviews such as Superdrug or Amazon, you will see there is a huge fan club! Also you can actually smell the scent before you buy, by way of the handy 'scratch and sniff' sticker on the lid!

The Exfoliating Body Scrub contains extracts of crushed macadamia and rice milk, this enables a thorough exfoliation due to the finely milled ingredients.  Ideal for maximising a summer tan and a must do before using any kind of fake tan.  The scent is warm, softly vanilla and like many Dove products, leaves behind that cocooning essence. Priced at £6 this whipped up tub of cream (it is a 1/4 moisturising cream), leaves skin ready to bare. 

Both products were sent as samples and are available from Superdrug  

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

For many years I wrote for the paper as a Beauty and Lifestyle Editor, testing hundreds of products monthly. Since going freelance and working on other projects, my time is limited. However, this means that I can write up on the brands I love and Elemis has long been my favourite brand. Whatever skincare journey I'm on I always come back to Elemis. My favourite product is by far the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.

Thankfully, I have a good relationship with Elemis going back many years, and so I was lucky enough to be sent the cleansing balm as a sample. The balm is a treat for me, in fact I purchased the Rose version for myself at Christmas. It was my Christmas gift to myself for being a very busy single mum. 

Why do I love this product so much? Quite simply it's a ritual, the cleansing stage instantly sets me up for the day. As soon as I open the pot, warm the buttery textured balm into the palms of my hands, I take a few deep breaths and massage it into my dry, parched skin.  It's often dehydrated from menopausal hot sweats and the balm just soaks into my skin.  Next, I take the muslin cloth provided and run it under hot water, I let the cloth air for a few seconds before pressing it into my face and simply breathe in the aroma of Rose and Mimosa. After dissolving, my face is always left feeling clean, supple and like I've had the best hours facial. 

You can also use it as a mask by simply leaving on for 10 minutes. Sometimes I also apply a facial scrub, mixed into the balm (a tip I learnt from a therapist). 

The ingredients read like an English summer garden, Elderberry, Starflower, Rose, Mimosa and have anti-aging algae and Padina Pavonica a brown algae found in the Indian Ocean. Algae is commonly used in skincare to help with hydrating and revitalising the skin. It also helps with fine lines and wrinkles and, most importantly, a little goes a long way!

The RRP for the cleansing balm is £44 for 100g (Elemis often have special offers).  You can purchase at www.uk.elemis.com

Earthy Nail Polish Collection 'In Bloom'

Last year my nails had a good needed break from the chemicals found in gel colour etc.  They were strong, grew and for once didn't have ridges across them. As soon as the restrictions were lifted I decided to treat myself to some gel colour. Of course I will never learn not to pick off the colour, and within 2 weeks my strong nails were a distant memory. Not only that but I seem to have developed a seasonal allergy that results in itchy dots on my fingers not nice! 

So I was intrigued and quite happy to be sent the Earthy Nail Polish Collection as a sample. You may guess from the name, the nail colours are free from many of the chemicals found in ordinary nail polish, and so suitable for sensitive and damaged nails like mine. Launched alongside The British Beauty Council Patron, the set comprises 4 high shine colours in 

Damson in Distress - a beautiful rich and glossy magenta

Maya's Rose - a subtle and delicate ballerina pink

Pearls of Wisdom - a glossy, skin tone neutral

Peaches and Cream - a tangerine sorbet shade

It's advisable to use a base coat, but I did one swipe on my daughters false nail tips. The brush spread easily and unlike many pastels only needed one coat (although her nail tips are opaque). A great gift set or just to treat yourself! 

The whole set is £24.95 and available from www.earthynailpolish.com

Dove Pro Age Range for Mature Skin

 

Sent to me as samples for review - I was interested in testing this as, being in the thick of it - literally, I'm in menopause and those bugger hormones are playing havoc with my skin. Dry, itchy and very dehydrated from those lovely hot nightly sweats.

The Dove Pro Age range is aimed for 'mature' skin. The type of skin that is more lined, drier, sensitive and not so nicely put aging. It happens to all of us. 

I am not one for gimmicky products, for me it’s about results. I also am not one for spending a fortune when I don't have to. These products fall into that category of does the job, smells divine and leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and soft.  

Whilst before the age of 49 I would have bypassed hand cream, I am now finding myself using it daily. Especially as my hands are constantly being sanitised before every shop visit. I can always tell a ‘Botoxed' face and am usually proved right as one can tell an age by looking at their hands. This hand cream is a delight. It's not greasy (my pet hate) and it also leaves a slight iridescence due to the oils. It helps with the appearance of age spots and only costs £3.99

Next up is the Body Butter, a luscious thick butter that is ideal for very dry skin. It's suitable for very parched, dry areas such as elbows, feet (fully recommend after a long dog walk) and is incredibly nourishing. I slathered some on before bed, put some little trainer socks on and the next day my feet were baby soft.  They also do a Body Lotion which is lighter -  I prefer this for all over the body after the shower. Both are £6.29

Finally the Pro Age Body Wash £4.99 - ideal for sensitive skin as it's Sulfate free and like all the products dermatologically tested too. It's creamy and leaves skin so soft that you can, if rushed for time skip the moisturiser. Dove's spin is that it protects your microbiome (the skins protective living layer), so leaves the skin it's nutrients to protect itself. Regardless of the blurb (it confuses me and I've had years of writing beauty...), it's so good my daughter has nicked it and I haven't a hope in hell of reclaiming it (even if she isn't mature). 

Now I haven't mentioned much about the fragrance. This is what sells products to me, most of the time (that and they cosmetically work obviously).  The fragrance is a cocooning scent of vanilla. Some people may find this sickly, but I like that indulgent smell - it's buttery, sweet and soft. 

You can buy these products from Superdrug

Sanctuary Spa White Lily & Damask Rose Himalayan Salt Scrub

I was recently sent this to test as a sample.  Due to being a very busy single parent, time is stretched and so I can only review a few items a week.  However, with the sun shining and my crocodile legs on full display, it was more of an essential need rather to test out a body scrub.  For me body scrubs are an essential part of my beauty regime, quite simply as I like to keep my skin soft and I occasionally like to wear shorts.

The Sanctuary Spa Himalayan Salt Scrub is a real treat. Firstly, as it suggests the base is made of Himalayan salt, mixed in with sweet almond oil this leaves the skin baby smooth. It also has the added benefit of Vitamin E and kaolin clay, so helps detoxify the skin (although the salt will also do this).  This is what stands out for me above the rest of the scrubs on the shelves. Firstly it works - none of those jojoba beads that quite frankly melt and do bugger all. The salt in this leaves your skin baby smooth. Secondly it smells utterly divine - lightly floral and lastly it doesn't leave skin greasy, just smooth. 

Sanctuary Spa have a range of body scrubs - check out their 5/5 reviews on the Boots website! 

RRP £10 Boots