Gold Collagen® Anti-Ageing Lip Volumiser RRP £20 Sample Review

 

Having reviewed the Gold Collagen® Sheet Masks before and absolutely loved them (I took them away with me on my recent holiday, and they kept my skin hydrated), I was looking forward to reviewing the Lip Volumiser. 

I've been blessed with full lips however, at the ripe age of 50 I know that prevention is paramount especially as I do like to get out in the sun. I've a few light lines developing and have noticed recently these are getting deeper, and thus it's time I introduced a regular lip conditioner into my skin routine .I  have always had a lip cream on the go, but often I find them messy and fussy to apply. I don't like ones that I have to apply with my finger, as I just don't like faffing about with the tubes. So I was delighted to see that the one sent to me was in a bullet lipstick form. 

Upon testing it was incredibly easy to apply, something as a busy single mum is a must. It meant I could easily apply in the car, on the train and it was of course mess free. Before I give my verdict on how it feels, here's a breakdown of some of the ingredients:-

• Hydrogenated Coconut Oil - nourishing, helps prevent chapped lips as contains fatty acids so is incredibly hydrating. 
• Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil - rich in ricinoleic acid, an acid that helps prevents water loss. 
• Cera Alba (Beeswax) - a natural emulsifier, beeswax is incredibly softening. 
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter - an emollient that is naturally nourishing and repairing.
• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil - skin smoothing and again rich in fatty acids so helps prevent dry lips.
• Undeclenate Nacre (Mother of Pearl) Powder - this wonderful ingredient contains many repairing properties such as calcium, amino acids and is anti-inflammatory. It also contains anti-oxidants to help prevent damage to lips from the UV rays and pollution.
• Fish Collagen - helps firm and plump up lips, is skin healing and can help restore volume. 

So with a long list of active and nourishing ingredients, how did it actually feel? Well not sticky, more like a silky lip balm. However, what stood this out above all other lip conditioners was the beautiful, iridescent sheen it gave to my lips. This instantly made my lips look fuller and when applied over a neutral lip pencil it gave it a 3d shimmer. 

I've taken 2 photos both in different lights, using it without any other colour or pencil. You can see the natural highlights and the Mother of Pearl shimmering through, making this a multi-purpose product as it treats as well as gives that beautiful sheen. Usually when I test things I gift them out however, this one is staying put in my bag! You can purchase here at www.gold-collagen.com

GEOMAG™ Natural Glow In The Dark Magnetic Rods RRP £34.99

 

It's not often that I review toys, games etc however, often I often come across ones that are too good to not share especially when they cover the spectrum of 'Lifestyle', which I've always written about. 

Geomag™ are a magnetic construction company, and as on the box founded in 1998 and made in Switzerland. This particular set comprises of 20 'glow in the dark' plastic, magnetic rods, 20 metal spheres and 2 'platforms' to hold your designs. The plastic used is 100% recycled, and the company proudly hold a STEM.ORG Certified™ certification.

So why the fascination with reviewing this product? Firstly, whilst I'm a huge advocate of educational toys - and this most certainly is. I've also have first hand experience with autism and can certainly see how these could help with the imagination, whilst proving incredibly calming. Magnets are often used to help not only teach those with special needs, but also in preventing 'meltdowns' by giving a focus. In fact you will often find that both SEN teachers and Occupational Health often have magnets as tools to help children learn about shapes, feelings etc, as they can be easily constructed to suit a subject matter.

Children whether they have special needs or not often respond better to learning by pictures and practical examples. Not only can you build and learn shapes, but you can also use the rods to create animals, people, objects etc. It's incredibly fun, so fun that when I got them out my friend's son didn't want to put them away (he's 13) and it took him away from his PC game (quite an achievement in itself)!

However, not just for children or teens - I know of some people who keep them in their office, simply as a 'fidget toy' during stressful situations to help calm, or to simply wind down after work. They can be used as problem solvers, mathematical solvers as well as for imaginative play. Easily transportable so ideal for car journeys, and just to have a break as above from the computer screen!  They also look good on a nice glass coffee table, a waiting room, a reception area the list is endless.

Of course they also have the added benefit that they're 'glow in the dark' and so come evening, your shape will illuminate in a dark room. This makes bedtimes more exciting for those who refuse to go to bed, and for the insomniacs like me (menopausal) they're great to help wind down for some 'shut eye'. 

All in all this gets my absolute thumbs up - if it were Christmas I would be putting it as the Number 1 spot for my gift guide.

This set is fully compatible with other Geomag™ magnets, so you can build up your collection and go as big as you want to! You can purchase here at www.thetoyshop.com

Pixi Clarity Lotion RRP £24 50ml / Clarity Mist RRP £16 80ml Sample Review

 

Many people notice that their skin changes during the hot summer months, especially those with oilier skin types. It's typical that you may find your make-up sliding off your face more than normal, as excess oil production is more apparent due to humidity and rising temperatures. Even those with drier skin types may suddenly find themselves having to change their skin care routine due to over-active oil production.

Pixi's Clarity range is ideal for those suffering with such changes, be it weather related, hormone related or if you simply suffer with oily skin all year round. 

The Clarity Lotion contains an abundance of ingredients to help combat enlarged pores, shiny skin and breakouts, whilst at the same time providing hydration to keep skin feeling supple, moisturised and prevent aging.  Some of these ingredients include:-

🌿 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water - helps prevent acne, anti-inflammatory and contains high levels  of vitamins A and C.

🌿 Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract - anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, ideal for cleansing    pores and helps with skin irritation and sensitivity.

🌿 Arginine - anti-aging and helps plump up the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines.

🌿 Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract - helps reduce puffy skin types, is soothing and calming.

🌿 Hyacinthus Orientalis (Hyacinth) Extract - anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, helps skin conditions   such as eczema.

🌿Charcoal Extract - purifying and draws out toxins, helps keeps blackheads at bay.

🌿 Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract - cooling, acts as an astringent and helps tone the         skin.

As you can see from the application, the lotion is incredibly light and takes minimal effort to massage in. Skin is left feeling soft, supple but without any greasy residue or stickiness. It's ideal for the hot months not just as a skin hydrator but to also wear as a make-up primer, whilst treating skin conditions with active ingredients.

The Clarity Mist is a must-have to keep next to you whilst working (it's stayed next to my computer all week)! It not only acts as a refreshing toner that can be spritzed to give skin a light glow, but it also can be used to set make-up, remove grime after a long day and is most definitely a must have when travelling, be it train journey to work or after you stepped off the plane!

The Clarity Mist is packed full of active ingredients, some of which include:-

💦Centella Asiatica Extract - anti-aging and provides hydration, also protects the skin from  environmental pollution.

💦Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract - calming, brightening and helps  bring radiance to dull skin types.

💦Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Leaf/Twig Extract - antiseptic, ideal for those who     suffer with acne and breakouts.

💦Vinegar Extract - anti-bacterial, helps prevent eczema and fungal infections.

💦Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract - anti-inflammatory, ideal for those who suffer with skin redness and painful spots.

💦Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract - excellent for those suffering conditions such as psoriasis, it's both healing and skin soothing.

This wonderful refreshing mist also contains Cica & Hyaluronic Complex that helps keep skin moisturised in the hot weather and provides hydration to parched, thirsty skin. Products can be viewed here at www.pixibeauty.co.uk

L'Occitane Icy Body Shower Gel 250ml RRP £17/Refreshing Hand Gel 30ml RRP £8

 

Yesterday was Sunday and it was a hot day. Most people when they wake up and see the weather is going to be warm, prepare their day often to fit around the weather i.e. taking it easy. I decided on my day off that I was going to clear the garage and go to the tip. By midday, utterly exhausted and with my back aching and feet swelling up, I changed my plans and headed off to the beach. Whilst I had a blissful hour, the truth was I spent much of that in traffic on the A12 and so by the time I got home, all I wanted was a cold shower, to wash off the sand, sun tan lotion and feel refreshed.

It was then I remembered I had the L'Occitane Icy Body Shower Gel in my 'review' cupboard and so I grabbed it and headed off for a shower. The bottle beckoned me with it's translucent, green gel and I knew I was going to be in for a treat as soon as I started using it. The scent is undeniably citrus, verbena but with underlying menthol it was an immediate head clearer. A small amount lathered up well with my body puff and, as often say with L'Occitane products was 'a instant shoulder drop'. All the tension of the day melted away, the gel was cooling, refreshing and made me feel utterly revitalised. The coolness lasted on my skin so I didn't feel sticky throughout the rest of the evening, and for the first time in a while, I slept soundly.

Today, I actually read the instructions and found out that not only can you use it as a normal shower gel, but for a more intense icy hit, you can apply to dry skin and then shower off! It's like applying a Menthol Hall sweet to yours skin. To describe better, I'd say it's what cough sweets do for your sore throat aka soothing and cooling, this is the equivalent to your tired skin - it feels almost medicinal.  The main ingredients are:-

• Coco-Betaine - derived from coconuts, this ingredient is known as a surfactant. It helps bind together dirt, and is one of the mildest ingredients to use for producing lather, as it's primarily made of coconuts and thus is hydrating.
• Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract - helps with inflammation, is ideal for sensitive skin and helps balance irritated skin. Due to it's uplifting scent it's also ideal to help alleviate mental stress.
• Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil - clarifying and excellent for acne proned skin. This ingredient acts as an astringent and helps unblock oily pores. 
• Menthol - a wonder ingredient used for so many reasons, such as alleviating itchy skin, helping soothe sunburn, calming prickly heat. However, it also has an immediate effect on allevating headaches and tension. 

Not a hand cream, this is a 'Hand Gel', the consistency is likened to 'granita', and is the perfect size to take with you travelling. One of my biggest bug bears is hand cream can be too rich, and often it transfers to my phone, hair, eyes etc. This is a gorgeous, lightweight gel that simply sinks straight into to dry, dehydrated skin without leaving any greasy residue. As the name suggests, and like the shower gel it's refreshing, icy, cool and has many of the same ingredients as well as:-

• Propanediol - skin conditioning, skin smoothing. 
• Glyceryl Caprylate - a natural emollient that helps keep hands moisturised.
• Geraniol - used to repel mosquitos, acts as a natural insect repellant.

It's the perfect companion to take away with you on holiday or just to keep one in your every day bag. 

The range is ideal for anyone who suffers with water retention, menopausal hot sweats or who, like the majority of us haven't been coping very well with the heat! You can check out the range here at www.uk.loccitane.com

SBC Skincare Sample Review

 

I was very excited when I received an email asking me if I'd like to review some of the products from the SBC Skincare range. Excited as I have very fond memories of this brand, going all the way back 30 years whereby I first discovered QVC, and one of my first purchases was the SBC Arnica Gel. The gel had worked well on my bruising following endometrial surgery! So I had a complete heads up that I knew I would like to review this brand, especially as I don't get paid for reviews, and so time writing is sacrificing a million and one other jobs I could be doing! 

SBC - if memory still serves me correctly, stands for Simply Beautiful Collection. The award winning company is British founded by a family based in Suffolk, been going since 1990, and such is it's popularity that it's still going strong today on QVC. So many brands come and go, and it's a testimony to the quality of ingredients used and that the products work, that SBC has gone from strength to strength. Before I start the review, it's also worth mentioning that many of the products are available in 100ml size starting at around £4.50 so ideal for trying out. 

Propolis & White Willow Body Wash 300ml £15

The Propolis range is part of their three hero collections. As with all the products the Body Wash is free from Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (the chemical nasty often added to cosmetics to produce lather).  The Body Wash is formulated with ingredients to 'Restore & Renew' and so ideal for anyone who's feeling jaded, not themselves, mentally exhausted, physically exhausted and who just needs a pick-me-up.  The product can be used with or without a body sponge, and can also be poured under running water, to create an uplifting, spa haven.  

Propolis Extract is produced by honeybees and has so many benefits such as:-

• Healing
• Anti-septic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-fungal
• Anti-oxidant
• Anti-viral

It's miracle skin-healing properties can help so many skin conditions from eczema, psoriasis, acne, dry  and oily skin types.  The Body Wash also includes:-

• Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract - helps soothe irritated skin, ideal for those suffering with rashes (such as prickly heat), and also helps clear pores to keep acne at bay.
• Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract - skin healing and ideal for those who have been in the sun for too long. Helps moisturise dry skin and aids in the healing of minor wounds and burns. 
• Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract - another ingredient that helps with eczema and highly sensitive/irritated skin. Is full of anti-oxidants so helps protect the skin against pollution. 
• Salicylic Acid - excellent for reducing acne, blackheads and reduces redness and swelling around pimples.

The scent is uplifting and refreshing and so is ideal for men/women and children (from above the age of 3). A perfect addition to any family bathroom and any gym/holiday bag!

Hydra-Collagen & Black Pearl Body Wash 300ml £12.50

The Hydro-Collagen range is all about luxury, nourishing, conditioning and moisturising. It's ideal if you have dry, dehydrated, aging skin and need some serious TLC pampering. The scent is quite floral, which reflects the delicate pearl, pink shade of wash. The fragrance contains notes of violet petals, iris and jasmine and has a nurturing, pampering scent and is, for me, like a little hug in a bottle. Ingredients include:-

• Soluble Collagen - this ingredient gives skin an injection of water, so skin feels smoother and more supple. It almost creates an invisible skin barrier so protects the skin whilst making it look plumper. 
• Hydrolyzed Pearl - a healing ingredient used to fight skin infection and acne. It helps promote cell turnover too.
• Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract - helps increase elasticity to the skin, so makes skin feel tighter. Ideal for sagging skin and also those who suffer with uneven skin tone.

Rosehip Oil Moisturising Gel 300ml £17.50

As a busy single mother of two, I love finding products that can be used several different ways. The Rosehip Moisturising Gel is not just for dry, dehydrated skin on the body, but can also be used on the face as a mask to give the face a real injection of active ingredients.  You can either apply all over your body after your shower, or apply a thick layer to your face (avoiding eye area), for 20 minutes to give skin radiance. It can also be used as a primer under makeup, to help make up last all day and be used with electrical beauty (positive and negative) tools (check the instructions first). 

The thick, gel like consistency disappears instantly into the skin leaving no greasy residue or stickiness that's often found with gels. The scent is incredibly light so ideal for both men and women/children, and won't interfere with any other fragrance. Ingredients are such that you would find in top skincare serums and include:-

• Rosa Canina (Rose) Fruit Oil - excellent for helping prevent wrinkles and delaying the signs of aging. Helps protect the skin against free radicals/pollution such as sun and smoke. 
• Panthenol (Provitamin B5) - improves hydration, keeps skin moisturised and is also anti-inflammatory making it ideal for those who suffer with breakouts. 
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E) - an anti-oxidant that helps strengthen skin cells and protect the skin from sun damage. 
• Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C) - known to brighten the skin and give radiance to dull, sallow skin types. 
• Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) - helps reduce brown/aging/hyperpigmentation spots often caused by sun damage. It also supports the skins immune system and is a key ingredient used in skincare to promote radiant skin.

The gel is vegan friendly, cruelty free (as are all their products) and non-comedogenic so do not block pores. 

Body Sculp Intensive Gel 300ml £32

You can feel this gel working as soon as you apply it to the skin. Initially this instantly cooling gel, warms up until you feel your skin tingling with warmth. It's ideal for anyone who suffers with cellulite, stretch marks and uneven skin tone, and over time reduces the appearance of dimply looking skin. The gel is formulated with ingredients to help tone the skin as well as eradicate cellulite by improving direct circulation to problematic areas.

I certainly suffer with that dreaded orange peel skin at the top of my thighs, and will look forward to using this regularly. Upon application the gel sunk in immediately without leaving any greasy residue. It does feel warm and the tingling sensation lasted a good hour or so. Active ingredients include:-

• Chlorella Vulgaris (Green Algae) Extract - ideal for all skin types, helps reduce redness and helps produce collagen. These are comedogenic as they actually penetrate the pores so that the ingredients can get to work deep inside the skins layers. Often used in salon treatments as the key ingredient to 'wraps', algae flushes out excessive fluid.
• Corallina Officinalis (Red Algae) Extract - excellent at clarifying and toning the skin. This natural detoxifier s full of anti-oxidants and proteins that help replenish the skin with moisture. Algae is known to stimulate blood flow and can help the body get rid of unwanted toxins. 
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice - naturally cooling and ideal for those who suffer with stretch marks and cellulite, thanks to it's high moisturising properties.
• Menthol - cooling and stimulating so gets the blood flowing, helps increase drainage and excess water retention. 

The products all have five star reviews on their website however, I would also urge you to look at reviews from satisfied customers of QVC - these are all genuine reviews so you can be assured that the products are highly rated. For prices and to purchase view here at www.sbcskincare.co.uk