This Works Perfect Look Skin Miracle Review

So this is a new product from This Works. It's a tinted moisturiser with lots and lots of skincare goodies in it. It has no coverage whatsoever but does brighten the face and give it a slight glow. The tinted part does help to even out tone and I find that after a minute or so a lot of the redness in my skin has calmed down so I can get away with just using concealer on the essential areas. It blends incredibly easily and smells lovely, very fresh and not synthetic at all. I think if you have oily skin you could skip moisturiser (this isn't mattifying but also isn't shine-inducing) but if you have normal or dry you might need to pop some on beforehand.

Overall this is a lovely product, whether you need extra coverage or not as you can use this as a base for your foundation regardless of your skintone. I do especially like the way they incorporate skin care ingredients as I feel my skin has been looking slightly better since I have been wearing this. It has no sulphates, synthetic colours, synthetic fragrance, mineral oils or parabens and lots of other nasties which you regularly find in make up.

I purchased mine from lookfantastic.com

Alpha-H Purifying Clay Mask Review

I've been looking for a replacement for my beloved Mac Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask and this one had been recommended to me. Alpha-H is an Australian skincare brand that focuses on actual ingredients that work rather than flashy packaging and expensive ad campaigns. It's relatively hard to find- just a couple of online retailers and spas stock them.

So, back to the mask, it contains vitamin A and clay to draw out any impurities in the skin. I found it did a good job when I felt a few blemishes coming up and it didn't aggravate my sensitive skin. It smells quite strongly of lavender but I didn't notice it after a while. It's quite a thick whitish paste which you leave on for about 10 minutes before rinsing off. As I said before, the packaging is very simple but you get a decent amount of product (100ml) for your money so should last a long time. Overall it's a good product and has kept my oily skin and any blemishes at bay since I've been using it 1-2 times per week.

 I purchased mine from lookfantastic.com

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask Review

I've been on the hunt for a non greasy hydrating mask for regular use, I do adore my Sisley Flower Express Mask but as it is expensive I tend to save it as a treat. Rodial have released a range called 'Dragon's Blood'- don't be alarmed though as it is just referring to some tree sap! I went ahead and purchased the mask in the line (which also includes a moisturiser etc...). It has a light gel texture that dries clear, isn't oily or greasy to the touch and once left on for ten minutes (or even overnight) my skin feels plump and a lot of the redness has been taken down. So far I haven't experienced any irritation or breakouts with this one.

 It has a light sweet scent but doesn't overpower once applied. The packaging is fairly simple in a coral plastic tube (50ml) which is perfect for travelling. I'm really loving this mask and even though it's a luxury brand it doesn't break the bank and is a great product and does exactly what it claims to and I can't wait to try the rest of the range. I haven't had long enough to trial it for any long term benefits but I'll keep you updated!

 You can get this at rodial.co.uk

Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil Review

This is one of my all time favourite body products. It's the Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil but you can also use it on hair and nails so is a lovely multi purpose product. It smells divine, very tropical- like coconuts, frangipani and gardenia flowers. It is a lightweight, clear oil that melts into the skin very quickly without leaving a sticky residue, I like to rub this onto my cuticles and through my hair to tame any flyaways. You can also use it as a hair treatment for 15 minutes pre shampooing.

Of course the main purpose of this is as a nourishing body oil which is best used after bathing when your skin is still a bit damp, concentrating on any dry patches like knees or elbows. The scent isn't so strong that it interferes with any perfume you might be wearing, it just gives a background sweetness which I love.  You only get a relatively small bottle (100ml) but a little goes a long way with this,  it's one of my favorite products to take on holiday with me if I know I'll be in sea water or in the pool a lot and I want to keep my skin in tip top condition.

I purchased mine from hqhair.com

Dior Beautifying Protective Suncare (Face) SPF15 Review

Not long after I reviewed the body version of this, I took the plunge and invested in the facial SPF 15. It has the same gorgeous tiare/gardenia scent and has a slight illuminating effect. I use this as both a moisturiser and sun protection (unless you have very dry skin this will do for both), it does leave a slight white tint to the face so it's probably wise not to use this one if you think you might be photographed but in real life it's unnoticeable.

I have sensitive skin and so far I haven't experienced any redness or break outs with this product, it doesn't feel greasy as some can but it is also not a matte finish- so you may need to powder if you have oily skin. It comes in a 50ml squeezy tube which is great for traveling, I think for when I'm on the beach I'll be purchasing the SPF 30 as well. Overall I'm really happy with both my purchases from the Dior Sun Range.

Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask Review

Possibly one of the most raved about products from Sisley is the Express Flower Gel Mask, it has won many awards over the years and you will generally find it lurking in many Make Up Artists kit bags to use on jet-lagged models in between shows. It suits all skin types and the texture is light and gel like- it comes out off white but dries clear. It sinks into the skin very quickly but doesn't feel heavy or as if it is going to clog pores but at the same time it's lovely and hydrating.

According to the instructions, you should apply on to perfectly cleansed skin and after 3 minutes wipe any excess off with a tissue (i.e don't rinse). I personally like to use this after my Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant so it penetrates into the skin better, or if my skin is feeling particularly dehydrated then I would leave it on overnight. By the time I take it off (even if it is just 3 minutes) my skin feels soft and toned- I can't comment on its firming or anti aging abilities as those aren't my problem areas yet but a lot of people swear by it.

There's no getting away from the fact that it is Sisley and so it is expensive, I think it is currently £72.50 in the UK or about 100 euros in Spain. Also, you do get quite a small amount of product- just 60ml so just over half what most brands would give you. Having said all that, is it worth it? Well, in my personal opinion, I love it! It is very hard to find a hydrating mask for oily/combination skins that isn't greasy or one that doesn't cause the redness in sensitive skin to flare up and this one fits the bill perfectly. I would however always advise that you go along to a counter and pick up a sample before investing in any sort of skincare product.

Dior Bronze Protection Solaire SPF 15 Review

Dior Bronze Protection Solaire Beautifying Protective Suncare in SPF 15 For Body. I came across this on a recent shopping trip and decided to take the plunge as I needed something to pop on when I was walking around town (I live mainly in Southern Spain so it is always pretty warm & sunny).  I haven't used Dior Suncare before and to be honest I wasn't aware they made any! The first thing I noticed was the scent- it's beautiful! A bit like Monoi or Frangipani, reminds me of tropical holidays, jasmine and coconuts, it's by far the nicest smelling sun range I've ever come across.

It's a 200ml spray bottle, the lotion is white and quite runny. It blends into the skin very quickly and leaves no residue or stickiness but it still feels hydrating. Usually I used the Institut Esthederm lotion which are amazing but very expensive so I think I'll save those for the summer time when it's ultra hot. I haven't experienced any breakouts or reactions to this so far- will keep you posted if that changes though.

* FYI: I have blonde hair and am naturally fair but as I live in a hot climate and do a lot of sport outside I tan quite easily, I will burn very occasionally but try to avoid it so always use sun protection.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Review

I've always been curious about this cleanser from Liz Earle and whether it really lives up to all the hype that surrounds it. The main reason it's taken me this long to take the plunge is that I'm very much in the camp of "the gentler, the better" when it comes to skincare, especially if you have sensitive skin and I really think that scrubbing your skin can damage or cause broken capillaries. So I've never been one to advise the use of Clarisonics, rough cloths or even exfoliators with beads in them (I much prefer cream exfoliators that use ingredients like lactic acid).

I bought the 100ml bottle which comes with a little pump that gives about the right dose in 1-2 doses. It's a thick white paste that smells quite strongly of eucalyptus, after gently rubbing into your face you take the muslin cloth soaked in warm water and wipe away. You are supposed to be able to take of mascara with this but I prefer to remove it with a cotton pad soaked in Bioderma Crealine first to minimise any rubbing around the eye area.

I haven't experienced any irritation or spots with this so far but I do find the muslin cloth a bit too rough to use twice a day so instead I've been using this in the morning without the cloth and then in the evening with it. Overall I would say this is a nice cleanser and at a good price point, it hasn't dried out my skin, made it feel tight, uncomfortable and always makes it feel clean and doesn't leave a residue behind.

My Top 4 Face Masks

Skincare is and always has been close to my heart. I've been on an endless quest to try and sort my skin out! So here are the fruits of my labour of love!

PS

For reference I have at the moment combination skin with dry cheeks and oily T-zone. Very sensitive skin that is very, very "rosy" let's say. Pores, dark circles, the occasional spot. You name it, I got it! Oh and I'm also sensitive to mineral oils!

Kiehls Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

This is a greyish clay based mask, when I feel a pimple coming up I whack this on and for the most part it keeps them at bay. Bit of a God send in all honesty!

Mac Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask

Please bring this back Mac! A thick black goopy mask that heats up on application. Smells a bit like Lavender. It's good for softening the skin and declogging the pores! I loved this so much I bought 4 back ups!

Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom Face Mask

This is a putty coloured calming face mask.  I've used it on models when constant application and removal of make up starts to affect their skin. It smells sort of earthy- which might be good or bad in anyone's book. It does take down redness and brighten the skin wonderfully though!

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

Not really a mask but is a great exfoliator if you have sensitive skin. Instead of the usual granules which can irritate and damage the skin, this has gentle acids which eat away at the top layer of the epidermis without hurting it. I tend to use this before applying other masks to increase their effectiveness!