Lilly Loves

Medik8 PRETOX Eyelift

PRETOX Eyelift is a professional strength anti-ageing eye gel designed to combat dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and uneven tone. It is formulated with four peptides: Reguage; Haloxyl; Tetrapeptide (Rigin) and Pentapeptide (Matrixyl) and is packaged in a 15ml hygienic pump dispenser.

This did a great job at leaving the eye area refreshed and moisturised and although I do not have ‘bags’ as such i do feel that any puffiness had diminshed in as little as 2 weeks. My dark circles however are hereditary and I have come to the conclusion that nothing is going to eradicate them. Having said that they are not that bad so perhaps someone with a more severe case would notice a difference after the recommended 6 weeks of use am and pm. Fine lines and winkles are not much of a problem for me yet so I cannot comment on its effectiveness in this area.

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This is a super soft deep cleansing microfiber washcloth at a fantastic price. Excellent at removing all types of cleansers on all skin types especially sensitive skins. Your organic make up may look great on your skin in the day but it’s not so great on your pillow! Currently priced at £3 from John Lewis stores.

Earthbound Organics Cream Cleanser

This is a great cleansing balm for normal, dry, sensitive and mature skins with minimal ingredients of Organic Sunflower oil, Rose water, Organic Camomile, Organic Calendula, Organic carrot and local beeswax.

Calendula is well known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties and is widely used externally for sunburn, excema and wounds slow to heal. Likewise Camomile, in particular German Camomile, soothes inflamed skin due to its primary active ingredient bisabolol which is also anti-irritant and anti-microbial. Rose water is well tolerated by all skin types.

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Neal’s Yard Remedies Rose Facial Oil

After reading many good reviews of this product I decided to give it a try for myself. It is now perhaps my favourite product for 2007.  Targeted at dry, sensitive skins I see no problem in using this for all skin types since it not only contains rose absolute oil but also geranium and patchouli. Whilst rose helps to calm redness associated with broken capillaries and irritation accompanied with itching and heat, geranium helps to regulate sebum production whilst containing anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties making it beneficial for oily and/or acne skins. Likewise patchouli also has anti-inflammatory properties but may also help to improve scarring or stretch marks. Interestingly it is used in anti ageing preparations and therefore may help lessen wrinkles. Combined with evening primrose, grapeseed and hazelnut oils this is a great all round product priced at a very reasonable £16 for 50ml.

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Neal’s Yard Remedies White Tea Facial Mist

This is another great product from Neal’s Yard Remedies. Contains White Tea; a highly regarded antioxidant that can help prevent premature ageing, and possibly skin cancer, by scavenging free radicals from UV rays, environmental pollution, stress and poor diet. Taken from Science Daily, Elma Baron, MD, and Director of the Skin Study Center at the University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University states:

“We found the application of white tea extract protects critical elements of the skin’s immune system. Similar to the way oxidation causes a car to rust, oxidative stress of the skin causes a breakdown in cellular strength and function. The white tea extract protects against this stress. This study further demonstrates the importance of researching how plant products can actually protect the skin.”

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Living Nature Purifying Gel Cleanser

A lovely refreshing purifying cleansing gel most suited to oily, combination and acne skin types. It is made with the natural antiseptic Manuka Honey which has antibacterial, antibiotic and antifungal properties. The gel also contains grapefruit, lavender and tea tree oil; excellent for blemishes. Its gentle lathering quality is down to Kumerahou oil extracted from the leaves and flowers of the Pomaderris Kumeraho plant. It leaves the skin soft and refreshed with a gentle radiance and is a great way to wake you up in the morning.

Price: £18.99 for 100ml. This is available online at www.naturisimo.com along with other selected products from the Living Nature range.

L’Occitane Floral Toner with Honey and Floral Waters

Part of the sensitive skin range this alcohol free toner is delicately scented with the soothing floral waters of lavender, lemon balm, orange blossom, rose and sweet clover.  It also contains mineral rich spring water from the Alpes and, as it name suggests, softening organic honey. The refreshing spray distributes well and leaves the skin feeling calm and hydrated wthout any residue or “tackiness”. This would be suitable for all skin types in particular sensitive and drier skins. I have experienced no problems on my combination skin. It is reasonably priced at £11 for 150ml and should you be unfortunate not to have a L’Occitane boutique near you it is available online at www.loccitane.com. Be warned postage and packaging is £4.95 and is only free on orders over £75!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Promising a”burst of radiance to the complexion” this elixir really does just that. Made without parabens and petrochemicals this refreshing spray is fraganced with 100% natural aromas of grape, orange blossom, rose organic balm mint and rosemary.

It is a little pricey at around £25 and therefore I do not use this as a toner everyday, despite it being skin smoothing and pore tightening, but rather as an occasional finishing touch to my make up or as a skin pick me up on those less than perfect days. The spray distributes a fine, even mist and is therefore perfect for setting make up. The shelf life of the elixir is 15 months and is 115ml (although you may be able to buy a smaller handbag sized version) and not only is it a lovely product but comes in a gorgeous recycleable bottle. Madonna is said to be a fan.

Suki Exfoliating Lemongrass Cleanser

I was so pleased to discover the Suki range in my nearest natural healthcare co-op “Eighth Day” located on Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester, UK. It was the packaging that initially caught my eye; simple and attractive but mostly bright. Since I had not set out to buy a product for a particular need the choice of which product to actually try for the first time was not easy. Do I buy a cleanser, a toner, a moisturiser, a serum and so on, all of which I have sitting on my bathroom shelf from various other brands? Well as you’ve guessed from the title I opted for the Suki Exfoliating Lemongrass Cleanser. I was not disappointed.

Upon opening the jar the uplifting smell of lemongrass is refreshing but not overpowering and is an excellent ingredient in skincare products for those with open or blocked pores and acne conditions. Since this is an exfoliator it is beneficial for drier skins also although I would limit its use to once a week as opposed to daily use despite this being recommended on the instructions. A small amount of the product is sufficient for the whole face which foams upon application and gradually dissolves without being abrasive. The skin is left soft and smooth without feeling stripped and is ready for the application of your favourite moisturiser. The only down side to this product is having to dip your finger into the jar to extract the product unless you use a spatula or spoon perhaps? Also contains Vitamin C which is great for brightening the skin and preventing premature skin ageing.

Made from 100% natural ingredients the Suki pure skincare range is suitable for all skin types in particular those with sensitive, fragile and allergenic skins. It is available from www.naturisimo.com and the Suki UK website.

A'kin Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One

After stumbling across the advertisement for this range in the Organic Life magazine I just had to view their website. Not long after this the Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One was on my bathroom shelf.

This is a lovely creamy cleanser that is suitable for normal, dry, sensitive or mature skin types. It contains soothing geranium oil which has a balancing action on the skin by regulating sebum secretion as well as anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties and is therefore suitable for normal to slightly oily/mild acne skin types. The addition of rose makes it particularly suitable for sensitive skins with broken capillaries or inflammation. Rose is renown for its rejuvenating properties and combined with geranium has a lovely sweet, floral smell; a perfect combination.

The cleanser is suitable for the removal of eye make up (except waterproof mascara) and a little goes a long way. With all cleansers apply to dampened hands first before massaging into the skin. Not only does this facilitate easier application but less product is used. It can be wiped or rinsed off and does not leave any greasy residue, instead a soft dewiness that illuminates the skin. For those with normal skin but with a tendency to oiliness on the T-zone I would recommend this cleanser for night time use only. I personally use this as the second step in my cleansing regime after first removing my make up with jojoba oil. Since this cleanser contains witch hazel it is not necessary to use a separate toner. Personally however I do prefer to tone separately and will no doubt add the {A’kin} toner to my ever increasing collection in the very near future. The [A'kin] Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One is a part of The Purist Company product range.