I've been meaning to write a review on this for ages (or a few months at least).
What it is: Zelens Power D is a super lightweight oil or oil based serum that sinks into the skin very quickly. It is full of goodness: peptides, lipids, hialuronic acid, omega 3 and 6.To read more about the ingredients, the science behind them and what they do for the skin visit zelens.com
What it does: For me personally, it sinks in either instantly or very quickly (I have dry to normal, dehydrated skin). It gives a nice healthy glow, instantly plumps up the skin. Power D is meant to fortify and thicken the skin making it less susceptable to outside aggressors. For day time you can mix it in with your moisturiser, for night time I found that I preferred to put this oil straight on my cleansed skin and then add a moisturiser on the top if needed. It is also lovely on top of The Ordinary's Advanced Retinoid 2% or after a stronger acid peel. I found this to be great for spots, it would make them less irritated and red and I found them to heal faster too.
Is it worth it: Zelens is a holy grail brand among skincare addicts and it is so for a reason. The product is very expensive, but the quality is there, it delivers results. This oil will last me about 6 months because I don't use it every day.
If you have skin that is or gets in any way compromised, for example, is irritable, dry, red, flaking, itchy, tight and/or ageing... this would be an amazing product to try. If you have the cash.
Zelens Power D is £110 for 30ml and is available on zelens.com , cultbeauty.co.uk , beautybay.com , selfridges.com (pumpkin not included).
Post a Comment
Long time no see! I've been busy enjoying the last bits of summer while they lasted and then was slammed with work right after. Not complaining, but I have missed blogging!
Anyways, let's get to it.
Anyways, let's get to it.
L'Oreal Elive Colour Protect Low Shampoo - this love affair has ended badly. While gentle and nourishing this shampoo does not wash out dry shampoo properly and my hair gets greasy faster. I will not repurchase these. I am currently using Khiel's Amino Acid Shampoo which is great.
So I recently experienced a massive (hormonal?) breakout. Actually, it's only massive for me, my skin is typically well behaved. And even a few weeks later it feels congested with bumps along the jaw line. I am slowly and gently bringing it back to normal. If it wasn't hormonal, it could have been either Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion or Ren's Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk. Clinique's DDML I have only used a couple of times on my skin. I was aware of the not-so-great ingredients list and the smell was funny (plastic? petrol?) but the texture seemed very pleasant. Soon I realised I didn't want to risk using it and used it on my legs instead which was fine. Could two applications have clogged my skin and caused the breakout? Not sure. Especially since my skin didn't seem to react badly to it straightaway.
Could it have been Ren's Cleansing Milk? I am a big fan of Ren skincare, especially moisturisers. This cleansing cream didn't sit very well with me. It smelled great and felt very nourishing but even after using a face cloth my skin felt... not particularly clean. By no means am I a fan of squeaky clean skin, but it just felt like there was some residue left. Perhaps it was shea butter that's quite high on their ingredients list. Needless to say, I will not repurchase.
Ren's Anti-Redness serum didn't do anything except offer slight hydration. But I am not really suffering from a lot of redness. I could smell alcohol in it.
Nails Inc cuticle oil stick was lovely and I would repurchase.
Balance Me Radiance Facial Oil - full review here. I would use it happily but probably will never repurchase because there are better oils. And so many new ones to try.
Clinique Moisture Surge - such a great and pleasant texture. Hydrating. I may purchase a full jar...
Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit C Cream - this is a very thick cream, probably due to niacinamide. Pleasant, nourishing, brightening and didn't oxidize. It wasn't a great pick on my part for summer ut it would be great as a night cream during winter. Again, I would happily use it but wouldn't necessarily repurchase.
And finally, my favourite empty of this month was Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Milk - alas only a sample, but I am planning on purchasing this. I looved the light and milky texture yet it was super hydrating and nourishing. Just perfect. My skin looked amazing as soon as it was applied. I want to try more products from this brand.
That's it folks, thank you for reading, I will be back with summer faves next and then a few good ol' product reviews.
Overall, I am very happy with this box. I knew I wanted to get it because I was particularly interested in Zelens Power D oil and Tata Harper Regenerating eye cream and I would have probably bought them at some point this year. Just these two items cost £195. The box also includes Indie Lee toner, Dr Dennis Gross peel pads (both brands I have heard of a lot and haven't tried). And Pixi + CH double cleanse, of course, which is a favourite of mine.
The only product that I had my doubts about was the January Labs lotion, purely because they call it a lotion. I, as an owner of a dry-ish and dehydrated skin, don't typically go for lotions. However, I LOVE the consistency and feel of January Labs Moisture Balancing Lotion. It is light, yet really hydrating and will be perfect for warmer summer days.
Another product I know I will love until the end is Tata Harper Regenerating Eye Cream. It's not only a texture that I like (creamy but not too heavy. sinks in fast and moisturises well) or the smell (reminds me of Dr Hauschka eye cream) but also the effect on my skin. I don't know how to describe it, but it just looks and feels better. Instantly. The pump is a bit annoying because it deposits way too much product, I only need like a third of a pump because a little goes a long way (thank God, because this is one pricey eye cream!).
Zelens Power D is a lightweight oil which sinks in fast and leaves the skin comfortable and nourished. Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner also has some calming and soothing properties. Can't say much about anti-ageing but my skin liked it. And it smells good!
The only thing I haven't tried is the Dr Dennis Gross acid pads because I currently have three different forms of acids on rotation (liquid, serum and mask. and not all at the same time!) and I need to finish some of them up.
I wish the box had included some kind of fancy SPF but that's just me being super picky. All in all, money well spent. I am probably sorted for most things skincare until autumn. Except SPF.
 |
| photo from balanceme.co.uk |
Anyways, I've used this on and off all winter, however I was also using the previously reviewed EH and Clarins oils at the same time and I noticed I was reaching for them more than for this little roller ball bottle. It's probably because of the smell. It's similar to the Clarins Blue Orchid but more intense. It's that botanical/medicinal/herbal smell that is okay with me in general. However, if you've got a nicer smelling oil, you'd probably reach for that one. Also, I could've sworn one of the ingredients was sea buckthorn oil because it smells like it, but nope. Too bad. I love sea buckthorn.
Smell aside, it's a nice oil, especially if you're looking for something natural and budget friendly (£30 for 30ml). It would be a great for someone who's just entering the world of facial oils and has dull, dehydrated or mature skin. It sinks in easily (only 2 drops needed!) and has not irritated my skin.
By the way, Caroline Hirons advises to use this oil as a sort of topical spot treatment. Interesting.
P.S. I just noticed CH blog post was written in 2013. I am SO late to the party! Oops.
I may be slightly (or very) late to the party because both these oils have been released ages ago and there are numerous reviews online, however I thought it might be interesting to compare the two as they both promise similar effects but their ingredient list is rather different.
* I have used up the Emma Hardie Oil and trialled Clarins oil for 8 weeks before writing this comparison*
Emma Hardie Briliance Facial Oil, 30ml. is described as 'a light-weight, multi-active everyday facial oil complex, containing 9 essential oils of Palma Rose, Orange, Mint, Vanilla, Geranium, Camomile, Lemon, Rose and Lavender that help to condition, hydrate and smooth the skin's texture.
Also includes 5 plant oils, Grape Seed Oil, Apricot, Almond, Olive Oil and Sunflower Oil that contain Omega 3, to help restructure the skin and promote elasticity and moisturise. Also including theunique Camelina 'Gold of Pleasure' oil for its powerful anti-oxidant properties to protect the skin from free radicals.'
Ingredients: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Geraniol, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citronellol, Linalool, Bht, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citral, Farnesol.
Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is 'a targeted treatment for dehydrated skin that tones, revitalises and restores radiance to moisture-depleted skin. Utilising the principles of aromatherapy and phytotherapy, the moisture care face oil combines plant extracts and essential oils to help balance the skin. Made from 100% pure plant extracts, this best-selling face oil contains extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid. Added Hazelnut Oil helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines. The rebalancing moisturiser for dry skin nourishes and revitalises dehydrated skin, and leaves it feeling satin soft. Suitable for dry or combination skin.'
Ingredients: Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Fragrance, Dendrobium Phalaenopsis (Blue Orchid) Flower Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Eugenol
COMPARISON
Smell: EH oil wins hands down. Just read the ingredients list and try to smell them all at once. Not too floral, not too fruity and not perfumey, ut incredibly delicious. Although it is quite strong, it relaxed and calmed me down. Clarins oil smells like potent medicinal herbs. Not a problem for me,but could be for some.
Texture: Clarins oil is lighter and sinks in much faster. If your skin is really dry, it will drink it up leaving no residue on the skin. EH is described by some websites as lightweight oil. It's not. It's heavier than Clarins. Great for facial massages. It will sink in but it will take time. That's why I barely ever used it in the morning, Even one drop mixed in with daily moisturiser would leave me glowy while with Clarins I could easily use 2-3 without becoming a grease ball.
Effect on the skin: Both oils would be a lovely addition to ones daily routine. Clarins is probably easier to use because it's so light, I wouldn't say it hydrated my skin (hello, it's an oil!) but my skin felt more balanced, protected and softer than usual. With EH my skin felt more nourished, radiant and glowy. Both oils come in 30ml glass bottles with a pipette. Both last for a long time (6-8 months with almost daily use) and cost approximately the same (Clarins Blue Orchid £33, Emma Hardie £34)
More facial oil reviews and comparisons to come! What oil are you using right now? What review would you like to see next? Care to share? Leave a comment below.
Smell: EH oil wins hands down. Just read the ingredients list and try to smell them all at once. Not too floral, not too fruity and not perfumey, ut incredibly delicious. Although it is quite strong, it relaxed and calmed me down. Clarins oil smells like potent medicinal herbs. Not a problem for me,but could be for some.
Texture: Clarins oil is lighter and sinks in much faster. If your skin is really dry, it will drink it up leaving no residue on the skin. EH is described by some websites as lightweight oil. It's not. It's heavier than Clarins. Great for facial massages. It will sink in but it will take time. That's why I barely ever used it in the morning, Even one drop mixed in with daily moisturiser would leave me glowy while with Clarins I could easily use 2-3 without becoming a grease ball.
Effect on the skin: Both oils would be a lovely addition to ones daily routine. Clarins is probably easier to use because it's so light, I wouldn't say it hydrated my skin (hello, it's an oil!) but my skin felt more balanced, protected and softer than usual. With EH my skin felt more nourished, radiant and glowy. Both oils come in 30ml glass bottles with a pipette. Both last for a long time (6-8 months with almost daily use) and cost approximately the same (Clarins Blue Orchid £33, Emma Hardie £34)
More facial oil reviews and comparisons to come! What oil are you using right now? What review would you like to see next? Care to share? Leave a comment below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)