Beauty CnR*

January empties. It's a big one this time.

1. Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser. This is one my most repurchased items ever and I'm not sick of it yet. I don't have a stash of this hidden away, but I typically miss it pretty quickly after I finish it. I like it when my skin feels congested and I enjoy using it as a mini face mask keeping it on while I brush my teeth or even take a shower. It's got glycolic acid in it, so I wouldn't follow up with an acid toner or use it if my skin is feeling irritated. Repurchase guaranteed.

2. Omorovizca Moor Cream Cleanser. I wanted to not like this purely for it's price. It's expensive for a cleanser. But this is one clever cleanser. When I had a dry, irritated and angry skin that was breaking out of nowhere, this was one of the products that made it more balanced, soothed and clear. It's got mud, minerals such as zinc and magnesium in it. It has also got a rather strong smell of muddy camphor, peppermint and menthol, so may not be for everyone. I wish it had a pump and it should have a pump for the price we're paying but I'm not an expert, perhaps there's a reason for it not having it. I may repurchase this.

3. Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask. This has lasted me a long time because I only used it sporadically. I don't know why, I think I just had a lot of acids on rotation. It's nice, not too strong so would be good for an acid-newbie. The smell was not particularly pleasant - like sour fruit and that smell that lactic acid has. I got this more than a year ago for a really good price, so if you want to try this, watch out for the deals.

4. QMS Medicosmetics Travel Size Activator Mask. A hydrating, refreshing hialuronic sheet mask. The sheet didn't fit my face comfortably - but then I do have long nose and most masks don't fit me properly. The skin felt nice afterwards but it's not repurchase-worthy for me.

5. La Roche Posay Cicaplast Levres lip balm. i had this little tube for quite a few years. It's very good. Nourishing, soothing, not too shiny, not fragranced. May be repurchased.

6. Tresemme heat defence travel size spray. It's been here before, it will be here again. Just a basic heat protection.

7. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%. This is a clever little thing, especially great for dry skins. Lactic acid is already quite mild and it's also a humectant. Combined with hialuronic acid, it offers a nice combo of mild exfoliation and hydration. It also contains Tasmanian Pepperberry (hence the pink tinge) which reduces irritation. May be repurchased.

8. Dr Sebagh Serum Repair. I don't know. I wasn't wowed. The immediate lifting and tightening effect (that lasts until you put moisturiser on) can be provided by much cheaper serums and I actually do not enjoy that effect, this may be different to those with more mature skins. It's got hialuronic acid, collagen and patented peptide that provide anti-ageing benefits. Like with most peptide and collagen boosting serums, the effects are never immediate so I cannot comment on that. It's expensive (£69 for 20ml) and the screw cap somehow broke. Will not be repurchased.

9. Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body scrub. I like the smell, give me all the limes and sugar. But as a body scrub, I'd rather use an exfoliating glove as it did bugger-all to my skin.

I think when most people hear the word retinol or retinoid, they either don't know what that is or they immediately think "major extreme harsh anti-ageing skin treatment". It's true with the prescription creams. However, there seems to be trend happening at the moment where major skincare brands are looking into making the vitamin A products as mild and non-irritating as possible while still delivering the results.

Human psychology is a funny thing though. I had a friend saying that she didn't like the Ordinary because she felt that it didn't do anything. I kind of felt the same thing about The Ordinary's The Buffet serum because there was no immediate effect. So how do we know that it works? With harsh retinoid products we see peeling and irritation and then the skin seems really great which is exciting and obviously we see the reaction which means it's working. With gentle retinoids there is no reaction, the skin looks alright all the time.

That's how I felt when I started using The Ordinary retinoid serum. I would use it every other night, avoiding using acids at the same time and would apply calming face oil afterwards. And it was alright, the serum was of pleasant milky consistency and my skin felt comfortable and slightly glowy right after the application. No irritation, redness or peeling at all.


I decided to use this serum every night for a week just to see if I notice any difference. And actually, I did. My skin is dryish-dehydrated but also prone to congestion, so I tend to use acids a lot to help with it. In the week of my retinoid use, I avoided using acids which usually help me with congestion. Still, I would always wake up with a smooth skin and by the end of the week I that my skin texture changed slightly and got smoother. I had zero spots the whole week. This is not atypical but I do get a spot from time to time.

Anti-ageing properties? Probably there are some. Try it for yourself with no fear and see. It's only £8.00. No cream will help deep wrinkles but continuous use may help to prevent some. Make sure to wear sunscreen!

All in all, I enjoyed using The Ordinary's Advanced 2% Retinoid and will continue using it. Seeing as this is the first retinoid product I have used, I will be interested to try some others and compare. But I will be sticking to the gentle ones.

How is it the 8th of May already and it's STILL dark and cold outside. So NOT impressed with this spring. Apologies for a grainy picture yet again, I blame the weather, clearly.

I haven't bought anything much this month and that's because I forked out the big bucks for a 100ml of Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady. It is a gorgeous rose scent, quite dark and intoxicating and the staying power is superb. Try it if you get a chance!

Next, it is The Ordinary again with two overnight treatments: Advanced Retinoid 2% (full review is coming soon) and Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%. Both are super gentle but effective.

Pixi by Petra Multi Balm in Wild Rose is so easy to use and has been my blusher of choice for months. I just apply it straight from the stick and blend it out with a brush.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defense spray is an old favourite. Offers heat protection, doesn't weigh my hair down and smells GOOD.

And finally, style favourites: my 22k yellow gold earrings I bought in India and my monochrome leopard blouse from Primark. A true high and low mix here.


Anyone else excited about CH + Cult Beauty box? Fingers crossed I will manage to snap it up!

                             

Apologies for a grainy image!
Sigh, after a month of use, I don't know what to say about this serum!

The Ordinary's "Buffet" is a multi-technology peptide serum that targets multiple signs of ageing at once.

The technologies are Matrixyl 3,000 peptide complex (with palmitoyl-pentapeptide 35), Matrixyl Synthe'6 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tripeptide-38), Syn-Ake peptide complex (with dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate), Relistase peptide complex (with acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine), Argirelox peptide complex (with acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18), Probiotic complex (with lactococcus lactis lysate), in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 25.1%.

It is a gloopy liquid that is slightly milky in colour. 3 drops are typically enough for my entire face and it sinks in fairly quickly but the skin is left slightly sticky. I don't mind it much. It layers well with other serums and doesn't affect makeup. No smell. I haven't noticed any irritation or negative effects on my skin. However. It's not hydrating, even though it has got HA in its' ingredients list. I still have to use a hyaluronic serum on top of it. To be honest, I haven't noticed any effect on my skin at all. Now, I am only (ha!) 30 years old so you might say I don't have a mature skin. But I am a mother to a toddler and haven't slept properly for the past 3 years, I enjoy my chocolate and coffee and an occasional cocktail so the tone and condition of my skin is not the same as it was in my early twenties. I just wish I saw any kind of improvement. But alas, nothing.

I will continue using this serum as prevention is good enough for me and I will post an update if/when I see any results.

This is the most expensive serum (except for one vit C) in The Ordinary range and it's £12.70 for 30ml.

I, like many of us, typically assume that a really cheap product will not be great. The Ordinary moisturizer has proven me wrong. I actually really like it!

It comes out of a tube as a thick white cream but becomes runnier on the skin and sinks in quite quickly. Instantly, the skin is left feeling hydrated and comfortable. There's no leftover residue and my skin didn't look shiny, but it wasn't matte either, it looked plump and hydrated. Some moisturizers feel great but leave a residue on top of the skin that never quite sinks in.
If memory serves me right, this moisturizer is very similar to Ren Ultra Moisture Day Cream. Actually the sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) sits much higher on the ingredients list in the Ordinary NMF which means there is more of it than in the Ren Unltra Moisture.

No natural or added fragrance. Doesn't smell of anything. The packaging is simple but effective.

I found that I reached for this cream in the morning as it was perfect under makeup and I left richer face creams for the night time. I have read some reviews that the moisturizer made the spf and makeup roll off the skin during day time but I never found it to be the case.

I would like to hear about it more from people with combination or oily skins and see what they think, but if you believe that moisturizers should be quite simple and that most of active ingredients to treat skin concerns should come from serums, emulsions, essences and masks, this might be a moisturizer for you. And after all, the Ordinary NMF is not so simple:  It contains 11 amino acids, phospholipids, alpha/beta/gamma fatty acids, triglycerides, sterols and sterol esters, glycerin, ceramide precursors, urea, saccharides, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid.

The best bit? It costs £4.90. Not even a full fiver! You can put the money you save towards a fancier serum!

I have been using the Ordinary NMF + HA for a month now and I will update you on whether I will repurchase when it goes into my empties pile.