Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil Review

Skin radiance, it is what we all aspire to with our skincare routine but imagine if you could instantly cheat it with a product, but with regular use you can also achieve it everyday?

I absolutely love facial oils as part of my skincare routine and I was looking forward to trying out the new oil from Dermalogica - Phyto Replenish Oil.

Dermalogica say 

This feather-light treatment oil rapidly absorbs to reinforce the skin’s protective barrier. Wear it alone or layered under foundation for all-day dewy skin.

Next generation formula takes a three-phase approach to replenishing protective lipids that are depleted by ageing and environmental stress. First, phytoactives from Camellia and Tamanu oils help restore the skin's natural barrier. Then, an essential lipid blend that includes Orchid Flower and Chia Seed Oil smoothes visible lines and locks in critical moisture. Finally, Sunflower, Rice Bran and Rosemary Extracts create a luminous antioxidant shield against free radical damage. 

Ideal for daily use on normal to dry skin.

My thoughts 

This sample arrived just at a time when my skin was really suffering post pregnancy. Inside my body was in turmoil and as a result this was reflected in my dull, lifeless skin on the outside. Although I would say my skin is normal/combination I was experiencing drier than usual skin due to post pregnancy hormones.

That said my skin has settled down now and I still use this as part of my daily regime and haven't noticed it looking any greasy so for me this oil has been and continues to be great.

The first thing to mention is the lovely, subtle scent that the oil has - this is important as you don't want a scent you dislike lingering on your face. Dewy, radiant, bright skin is something that I really covet (I always think that glowing skin makes you appear younger).

How to use - press 4-6 drops onto skin (there is a handy guide on how to apply) follow with moisturiser.

The result is instant radiance and healthy looking skin, even though it is an oil there is no oily/greasy residue and the product absorbs instantly into the skin. Skin feels soft and you are left with the perfect base for your makeup.

Final thought - does exactly as it promises. Impressive.

Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil 30ml costs £56.20. Visit www.dermalogica.co.uk for more details 

*PR Sample

Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer Review

The newest Dermalogica Primer (Hydrablur) I have been testing had a hard act to follow as the previous one I have tried I described as the Rolls Royce of Primers - Skinperfect Primer SPF30 so how could this latest one possibly compare?

Dermalogica say 

Hydrating, smoothing primer

Lightweight, non-greasy primer minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, mattifies against oily shine and imparts a silky, luminous finish to skin.

My thoughts 

Well Hydrablur doesn't disappoint. It has a lovely lightweight texture that leaves skin feeling soft and silky, blurring everything in its wake. Skin looks younger and smoother instantly which is great for this thirty eight year old, pores are blurred and skin basically looks and feels great. It provides a fantastic canvas for foundation as it literally glides on after this primer application. I found it locked my makeup into place and kept it there all day, with no tell tale shine on the nose after a few hours.

A fabulous primer and one that I reach for every day. It may be fairly pricey but based on the previous primer I used it really lasts a long time so in my mind is well worth it.

Ooh yes I forget to mention... there is a handy little tool that comes with it to squeeze out every last bit of your product from the tube. Handy.

Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer costs £38 

*PR Sample

Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Pore Control Scrub Review

Dermalogica's Clear Start range may be aimed at teenagers and the youth market but I had such good results with a product from the previous range - Clean Start and its Ready, Set, Scrub which is rather similar to this skincare product so four years down the line I was willing to give it a go.

Dermalogica say 

Deep clean pores and scrub away dull skin for a clearer you! Purifying bentonite clay absorbs excess oil and debris from skin, and helps to control shine. Refreshing botanicals reinvigorate skin. Skin-smoothing scrub helps skin feel cleaner and fresher than before.

My thoughts 

I use this after I have cleansed with an oil based wash and I think it is quite simply brilliant. The paste is so smooth with a very fine grit so you know it is removing dull skin but extremely gently. I would call this more of a polish than a scrub but either way it is very effective. The menthol gives it a refreshing and cooling effect on the skin which is rather welcome in this heat.

Results -  My skin is smoother, brighter and clearer since I started using this a week ago. The pores on my nose look far smaller and my foundation sits better too.

10/10 from me

Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Pore Control Scrub 75ml costs £13

*PR Sample

BeautySwot Beauty Products Of The Year 2013

As 2013 is drawing to a close, I felt it was time to share my 5 favourite beauty
products of the year. These awards are not taken lightly. All of these products have been selected for the following reasons

They live up to their claims
I reached for them the most
I would be happy to purchase them over and over again

So without further ado... the BeautySwot Products of the Year 2013 are -

1. Optrex Actimist 2in1 Spray for itchy, watery eyes

This product wins hands down for changing my life, literally. Although technically not a beauty product it was a product that was indispensable for me last Spring/Summer. I was hugely sceptical of its claims but one or two sprays per eye and I got instant relief from itchy, watery hay fever eyes. It meant that hay fever season wasn't miserable for me and it was so easy to use I could pop it in my bag and use it on the go. Magical

You can read my original review here... http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/04/instant-relief-optrex-actimist-2in1-eye.html

2. GINVERA Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream 

This BB Cream was my go to product over Summer and even now I still use it often instead of a standard foundation as it provides good coverage for even skintone whilst remaining light and natural looking and giving a nice glow to the skin. It has an SPF30 and it smells wonderful. I absolutely love this skin base, and although it came to the UK in 2012 it was in 2013 that I thankfully discovered it. A fantastic BB Cream that I rave to all and sundry about.

You can read my original review here..http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/04/ginvera-green-tea-nude-cover-bb-cream.html

3. Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF30 

A primer with a hint of colour, SPF30 and a base so good at smoothing and covering the skin that I could go out with nothing else on. This is why I gave it the accolade of the Rolls Royce of primers. Excellent on its own or under foundation. I give it 10/10.

You can read my original review here... http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/08/dermalogica-skinperfect-primer-spf30.html

4. Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow 

This salt scrub is like heaven in a jar, it smells amazing. Elemis have excelled with this launch, it smells good and the scrub is gentle yet smoothing. A beautiful spa experience in your home, this is guaranteed to transport you to sunnier climes... (I wish it could, but for now I will settle for this!) Best bodycare product launch of the year.

You can read my original review here...http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/06/elemis-frangipani-monoi-salt-glow.html

5. Makeup Brand Of The Year - Kiko Cosmetics Milano 

Finally no year would be complete without mentioning Kiko. This was undoubtedly their year. A huge range of products, consistently good quality and on trend shades. I have reached for many of their products over and over again this year. If you are looking for good quality makeup and tools at a great purse friendly price you cannot go wrong with Kiko.

Excitingly they have just opened a huge store on Regent Street in London. A must visit for beauty lovers.

Well that's it, my five products of the year..what products have stood out for you this year?

Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF30 - The Rolls Royce Of Primers!

Keen readers of BeautySwot will know that I have reviewed Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer before - you can read the review here -http://www.beautyswot.com/2013/02/sample-sachet-sunday-dermalogica-sheer.html . It is making a reappearance as I just wanted to reaffirm everything I said then, I still think it now.

Dermalogica say 

Skinperfect Primer SPF30 is a three-in-one product which smooths, protects and conditions skin, whilst correcting surface irregularities and creating a luminous finish. Created to improve the overall health of the skin, Skinperfect Primer SPF30, contains powerful peptides to stimulate collagen production and ingredients, such as white tea, known to fight the biochemical triggers which lead to skin ageing, including ROS, MMPs and AGEs.

Velvety silicones help even out skin texture, creating an instantly smooth surface, whilst hydrolysed pearl (pearl powder), a fine powder rich in amino acids, calcium, sugars and peptides stimulates cell renewal, fights glycation and helps to fight pigmentation by imbibing tyrosinase and enhancing skin luminosity. Natural earth minerals, combined with the pearl powder, provide a neutral tint, suitable for all skin tones, to enhance luminosity and radiance.

Invisible sun protection is provided by the inclusion of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which give broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection without the intense chalky, whitening and drying effects so commonly associated with physical sunscreens.

My thoughts

Skin Perfect Primer really is the Rolls Royce of primers if you are looking for a flawless finish - It smooths EVERYTHING and covers pores providing a beautifully smooth base for applying Foundation/BB/CC Cream and it keeps makeup in place all day long. A primer with skin benefits.

Try it.

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer 22ml costs £37.50

*PR Sample

Sample Sachet Sunday - Dermalogica Sheer Tint, Cover Tint, Skin Perfect Primer

Three sample sachets today from skincare brand Dermalogica.

Sheer Tint, Skin Perfect Primer and Cover Tint swatched

Sheer Tint Medium SPF20

Dermalogica say

Lightly-tinted moisturizer provides an all-day sheer wash of color.
Natural, light-diffusing Iron Oxides provide translucent color for radiant skin, while Broad Spectrum sunscreens shield against damaging UV rays. Hydrolyzed Pearl amino acids, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidant Walnut Seed extracts help improve 
skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine dehydration lines. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

My thoughts

This tinted moisturizer is available in 3 shade, the medium was perfect for my skin tone. Reading on the Dermalogica website I saw that this is a replacement product for a previous one that was well regarded. Having no experience of the previous Sheet Tint I can only tell you of my experience.

I wore this in place of a moisturiser after cleasning and toning as per the instructions. It was hydrating and my skin felt soft and comfortable all day.

I was expecting this to be runny but actually it was quite a thick cream which surprised me. I wore this over the Skin Perfect Primer and loved the result. I had really clear, perfectly natural looking skin that was bright. It didn't quite cover any blemishes but a concealer would be able to do this. Perfect for a light make up look with no hint of shine even after wearing it all day, I liked this a lot.

Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 £37.50 for 22ml

Dermalogica say 

Smooth away fine lines, brighten and prime for flawless skin and to prep for make-up application. Velvety silicones create an instantly smooth surface. Neutral tint helps balance tone and enhance luminosity and radiance. Peptides and AGE Smart® actives help firm and shield against MMP and free radical damage, as sunscreens shield against sun damage. Wear alone over your moisturizer for visible smoothness and luminosity, or after moisturizer application and before foundation to help fill fine lines for a lasting make-up finish. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

My thoughts 

I was blown away by the Skin Perfect Primer, it has a slightly herbal scent which is pleasant,  it is soft and easy to apply. Texture wise this reminds me of Benefit's Porefessional Primer. As you can see from the switch this has a slight colour to it but this was just ideal for my skin. It left my skin silky soft to the touch, evened out my skin tone, hid the pores and just made my skin look so nice and bright that I would have been happy to have left the house without anything else. It makes an excellent base for makeup, Ooh and I didn't suffer any shine ALL day! 

Amazing primer that does exactly what it promises to do and I love the fact that it contains SPF30. I have a few more applications of this in the sachet but I am sorely tempted now to purchase a tube.

Cover Tint Medium SPF20

Dermalogica say

Creamy foundation delivers full coverage that lasts.
 Natural, light-diffusing agents and Iron Oxides balance skin tone and soften fine lines while Broad Spectrum sunscreens help protect against damaging UV rays. Hydrolyzed Pearl and extracts of Ginseng, Purslane and Centella help firm and smooth the skin while marine extracts hydrate skin to minimize fine lines and provide an even finish. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

My thoughts

I wore Cover Tint after moisturising and with no primer. As you can see from the swatch, the medium in the Cover Tint is really dark and not my shade at all. Used sparingly I did manage to make it work for me (just!), the warmer shade providing a healthy sun-kissed glow. On application it has a slighty dewy finish but this soon settles down to a smooth, velvet finish. I wasn't entirely convinced by the coverage as I felt my pores were still visible. However, it could be that I just hadn't used enough product because the shade was so wrong. On the plus side it was long lasting and once again not a hint of shine.

The swatches smoothed out a bit 

Have you tried these products?

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Review

This mini size pot of Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant came in November's GlossyBox. I was quite excited to be trying this as at first glance this seemed to be like a product I used in my mid to late teens from The Body Shop - Japanese Washing Grains.

Dermalogica says

Our number one exfoliant! Gentle, Rice-based exfoliating powder activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes that micro-exfoliate dead cells, instantly leaving skin smoother and brighter. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

How to use 

Dispense about a half-teaspoon of Daily Microfoliant® into very wet hands and create a creamy paste by rubbing hands together. Apply to face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Massage gently for one minute, then rinse thoroughly. Follow with toner and moisturiser. Daily use.

My thoughts 

I am not going to beat about the bush here, I absolutely love Daily Microfoliant. It is one of the best exfoliators I have ever tried, doing everything it promises to do.

Despite my first thoughts comparing it to the Japanese washing grains of old this is NOTHING like it. The Body Shop product was harsh and scratchy. This feels so gentle against the skin, it is a wonderful powder that turns into a smooth and creamy paste which dissolves as you massage it into the skin. The photos above show this process step by step.

The result is that I am left with incredibly soft, ultra smooth skin that feels fantastic and looks bright.This makes a great addition to my skincare routine.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant costs £38.50 for 75g

What's Inside My November 2012 GlossyBox

The theme of November's GlossyBox is 'Stocking Fillers' and its aim is to serve as an inspirational gift guide.

When the delivery man knocked on my door with the familiar box I had no idea what to expect inside. I think this month's box is another winner. Out of the 5 samples inside I will definitely be using 3 of them completely.

The contents

ALISON CLAIRE NATURAL BEAUTY Mango Body Butter 50ml (£15 for 200ml)

This is a new brand. A wonderfully sweet mango scented thick (but spreadable!) body butter that has so far left my skin feeling lovely and smooth. Look forward to using this.

MONU Firming Moisturiser 20ml (18.50 for 50ml)

This is a Marine Collagen enriched cream that is for dry/sensitive skin so I will probably pass this on to my sister as I have normal/combination skin. I have used heavier creams before not designed for my skin type and they just leave it looking and feeling greasy.

NAILS INC Notting Hill Gate Nail Polish 4ml (£11 for 10ml)

A cute sized bottle, Notting Hill Gate is a bright, almost neon pink shade that is probably better suited for Summer. Personally I would have much preferred to have had Porchester Square (a mushroom colour) in my box as it is the shade I would most likely wear more often and more suited to this time of the year.

CRABTREE & EVELYN Himalayan Blue Hand Therapy 25g (£5)

I love hand creams, one of my all time favourites is the rose one from C&E and this is going straight into my handbag. It is the perfect size to carry around, smells absolutely wonderful and fresh. Described as - An enigmatic blend of smoked black tea, warm ginger and spices, and golden champaca, touched with a mysterious accord of patchouli, leather notes, and exotic woods. Very nice indeed.

DERMALOGICA Daily Microfoliant 13g (£38.50 for 75g)

I actually have sachets of this facial exfoliator that I haven't got round to trying but I far prefer this sample pot to use, it is a bit like a salt shaker! A decent quantity for daily use to judge whether I like it or not. I will be started this tomorrow, look out for a full product review shortly...

Final thoughts 

Generous sized samples and a decent variation of product type mean that I give this month's box a thumbs up.

For more details on GlossyBox click here 

*PR Sample

October 2011 GlossyBox - First Impressions

This morning my postman delivered the October Glossybox. 

I was sent one to review back in May when it was newly launched, you can read my original review, find out more on how it works here.  I didn't sign up at the time as I wanted to see what future boxes contained and well for me personally, I am not a huge fan of surprises!

6 months in and Glossybox now costs £10 + P&P which is £2.95. At £12.95 a month I think it still represents good value if it consistently contains products like the ones that are included in this month's box.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the box contained the following

Recognisable brands like Stila, Dermalogica and Leighton Denny and a perfume sample.

Opening the Dermalogica mini bag (handy for storing products) was an additional teeny 1ml product for the lips.

Returning home and taking a closer look at the package I opened the pink organza bag to find that the perfume sample was actually three different scents from the same brand.

In October's Glossybox I have -

Dermalogica Age Smart Multivitamin Thermofoliant - Skin Polisher - 15ml
Dermalogica Age Smart Multivitamin Power Recover Masque - Facial Masque - 15ml
Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex - lip treatment - 1ml (includes beauty bag)
Leighton Denny Expert Nails - shade Baby Doll - Full Size 12ml
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner - shade Moray - Full Size
Robert Piguet Eau De Parfums - Fracas, Visa and Calypso - 3 signature scents in 8ml sample bottles

My initial thoughts - 

I am looking forward to trying out the perfume samples from Robert Piguet. I love perfume and discovering new scents so the fact there are 3 is fantastic and I am bound to like at least one of them as the descriptions sound lovely.

The shade of Leighton Denny polish is not really one that I would choose so I will probably end up giving this away as I fear it is a little too pink and sugary for me.

The Dermalogica samples are something that really appeal to me. I have tried Dermalogica before and liked what I have used, so cannot wait to try these out.

I was really excited to find the Stila Waterproof eyeliner in the box as I have never tried Stila products. I couldn't resist a quick swatch of it. Moray is a gorgeous olive green shade with gold flecks, I think this will be really flattering for my green eyes and perfect for this season. Ps It really is smudge proof, it did not budge! This is the winning product for me in the October Glossybox.

Final thoughts - As the Stila and Leighton Denny products are full size and equal in value to £24, you will easily have recouped your outlay this month and more. I like the sound of the Dermalogica products, being 34 I am increasingly drawn to products that are going to delay the signs ageing... although I am not entirely sure that they will appeal to younger subscribers.

What do you think of the contents of the October Glossybox? Have you subscribed or are you thinking of subscribing. I would love to hear your thoughts.

*PR Sample

Dermalogica Total Eye Care Spf15

I have a terrible time in Summer suffering with hay fever. Most affected are my eyes, they itch like crazy and water, I end up with puffy, red eyes that are dry and wrinkled. I was also also suffering from dark circles. I knew I had to take action as my eyes looked truly awful and were ageing. I had come to the end of Clinique All About Eyes and was looking for something else to try.

A few people on twitter recommended Dermalogica Total Eye Care and having read their website I thought it seemed like it would be ideal so I thought I would buy this and give it a go.

Claims - An advanced alpha hydroxy eye treatment cream to help protect and repair the delicate eye area while reducing the appearance of dark circles and lines. Contains no artificial fragrance or color.

Instructions for use

I like the tube as it has a handy and hygienic nozzle to dispense the cream out.

I have been using Total Eye Care for about a couple of months now and I really like it. As the eye area is so delicate I have to be careful trying out eye creams as they can bring me out in spots but I have had no adverse effects using this. The cream is light and blends well. It hydrates the eye area, reduces puffiness, smooths out the lines I already have and diminishes their appearance with light reflecting particles or optical light diffusers as Dermalogica call it. The cream is ever so slightly tinted in colour, which helps with the camouflage!

I think it is great that it contains a chemical free SPF15 as this will help to reduce future damage and has no artificial colour or fragrance.

I like the fact that it disguises the bad bits immediately for a fast solution but is working away long term. I have seen a real improvement in the texture of my under eye area, it is less wrinkly and my dark circles are lighter. My eyes are not so puffy now either, but I do find that going to bed earlier and getting plenty of rest also helps!

I would definitely repurchase.

Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF15 for 15mls - Cost varies depending on stockist. 

Olympia Beauty Show/Face Mapping at Dermalogica

This was my first visit to a beauty show and after a hard week I was happy to dispense with the toddler for the day and enjoy some grown up company (my beautiful little sister) and perhaps learn about some new brands...

It was busy, very busy. I didn't need to walk, I was carried by the crowds. Every coffee shop was heaving. Can you tell refreshments were at the top of my agenda?

I think the show, as it is a trade show, is aimed very much at the beauticians and therapists in the industry. Nails featured heavily, whether it was colour or technique. Equipment, treatments and tanning were well represented and make-up artists were catered for. So, plenty for the professional and perhaps less so for the beauty blogger but no matter it was an experience.

So what was there for me? I noticed that the newer brands that are launching are using buzz words such as natural and organic. Not a bad thing in my opinion. I definitely think that this is shaping the industry now. Consumers are seeking out natural products more and more.

Well, I politely declined offers of spray tans and the ladies with their huge brushes to give me the ultimate glow and found my way to the OPI stand where I picked up two nail polishes - Dulce Du Leche - a gorgeous neutral colour for winter for the bargain price of £5.50 and one of their Designer ranges - Glow - again at a bargain price of £8.50!

Glow - as worn by my sister

I left the Dermalogica stand till last and waited patiently in the queue for the free face mapping service.

Can you see me?

What is face mapping ?

The concept is that your heath is written all over your face and using Chinese Diagnosis - the belief that the skin provides an outside view of your body's internal health - A therapist maps your face with concerns like fine lines, milia, dehydration, redness/sensitivity etc

It is an analysis of the skin by scrutinising it inch by inch using both a magnifying lamp and sense of touch.   The face and neck having 14 different zones, for example Zone 7 is the nose - A reddened nose can indicate high blood pressure or early signs of Rosacea and so on. The therapist will look at each zone and then prescribe products to deal with your skin's outer problems...

Once this is done, they have a prescription sheet recommending what products you should use, again the idea being that you only use what your skin needs.

Now I have never had this done (they do recommend it as they promote themselves as a prescriptive brand) but I have used the odd Dermalogica product, in fact my favourite mask is the one from their youth range - Clean Start - Ready, Set, Scrub. I was interested therefore to see what happens during this process and what they made of my skin.

It was explained to me that usually they would spend 20 minutes or so in a Salon doing this but this was a 5 minute one special for the show. Obviously it wasn't as in depth.

Here is a picture of Becca doing the face mapping

I was told I had really good skin - I think it is generally good, the odd break out but nothing overly concerning. I look after my skin, cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day. I use a scrub/exfoliator twice a week and drink plenty and (usually) eat quite well.  My hydration was good and the only major concern was my oily/shine t zone. Pretty much spot on I would say. Although if I was picky I would say that I am starting to be concerned about the fine lines around my eyes but have taken steps to rectify that.

I was prescribed the following to use

Precleanse
Daily Microfoliant
Special Cleansing Gel
Skin Smoothing Cream
Intensive Eye Repair

I will try these out and let you know how I get on with them in a later post.

Did you go to the show? What did you think?
Do you use any of these products, I would be interested to hear your views on them.

Dermalogica Clean Start Ready,Set,Scrub!

After I had my child Aaron, I found that my beauty routine went out of the window due to lack of time. At first I seemed to have got away with it but within a few months I noticed that my skin had lost its sparkle, was dull, flaky and my pores large. My skin was literally crying out for attention. This didn't do much for my confidence and even my favourite foundation couldn't wave its magic wand. I knew I had to take action to return it to its former glory.

I know that face scrubs/masks are ideal for this and when I picked up the Clean Start Kit it contained a mask that I was itching to try to see if I would get instant results. This product is aimed at the Dermalogica youth market and at 33 I wasn't sure whether to use it but I am so glad I did as it gave instant results which has made me go out and purchase the full size product.

In just 5-7 minutes this mask/scrub cleans the pores, and smooths the skin making it softer and brighter. You apply a thin layer, let it set, wet your fingertips, and massage it over the skin and then rinse off with warm water. I use it twice a week and it's made such a difference.

Dermalogica Clean Start Ready,Set,Scrub! costs £14.30 for 75ml