Showing posts with label cleansers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleansers. Show all posts

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Expensive but lovely: Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser


Ah, Murad, how I wish your products were a little more affordably priced!  This new cleanser, AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, is a stonking £34 for 200ml - more than I'd normally spend on something which is on my face for a few moments before being washed away down the sink.

Now we've got the price out of the way, we can talk about the product.  It's good.  Really, really good.  It contains three gentle acids to give you a gentle chemical exfoliation, and it also contains tiny jojoba beads to provide a bit of manual exfoliation too.  Despite the four different exfoliating ingredients, it's not too harsh - partially because it's a cleanser, you use it on wet skin, and it's on for a short period of time; and partially because those exfoliating ingredients are suspended in a cooling, hydrating gel-like base.

I've been using AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser for a couple of weeks now, and I can safely say that thanks to a combination of this gentle exfoliation every day, and the more intense exfoliation that comes with using Alpha H Liquid Gold every three to four days, my skin is smoother than it's been in a long while.  If you're looking to maximise the smoothness of your skin, and you like to exfoliate frequently, this product is well worth a try, despite the cost.

Disclosure:  PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 27 December 2013

The heaviest oil you ever did feel: Melvita Milky Cleansing Oil


I get through a lot of cleansing oil.  Bucketloads.  It's my preferred makeup removal method of choice, and I quite often use it in the morning with my Clarisonic too, so I really do go through a lot of it.  Despite having declared my love for Origins Clean Energy cleansing oil, I still try new ones out on a regular basis.

The latest is this Melvita Milky Cleansing oil, which comes in a pump topped bottle (so far so good) and has a delicate rosy scent (even better).  It's a very thick, heavy oil with a golden colour, and unfortunately I'm not loving it.  It's so heavy that I find I have to constantly splash my face with water to try to get it to turn to milk and wash off.  Eventually I give up and rub the remaining residue off with a flannel or cleansing cloth.

Unless you have seriously dry skin and like an oil which leaves a bit of a residue, avoid this.  Otherwise, you'll find it at the Melvita website, where it costs £20.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Monday, 4 November 2013

REN Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Balm


The full name of this product is REN Rosa Centifolia No 1 Purity Cleansing Balm, which is a bit of a mouthful.  REN's star ingredient, Rose Centifolia, has expanded out of bath and body and into skincare - this cleansing balm is one of a lineup of cleansers, all of which utilise the glorious rose.  I tried the Cleansing Foam a while ago, and found it to be a light, refreshing cleanser - this Cleansing Balm is almost exactly the opposite.

The balm is a thick, rich affair which would probably be better suited to a tub or pot than a squeezy tube.  I've struggled to get the product out of the tube thanks to its heavy unctuousness - you really have to squeeze hard to dispense a glob of cleanser.  But once you do, you're in for a treat - the balm is rich, oily and decadent, and scented beautifully with rose.

This is undoubtedly a luxurious cleanser - spread a little over the face and you're encouraged to do a bit of facial massage thanks to the silky, slippy texture.  It effectively removes makeup and dirt, and emulsifies with the addition of water.  I've found that it doesn't emulsify quite as easily as other balms I've tried - you need a good handful of water, wet hands don't quite cut it, and you also need to massage the water and balm together thoroughly.

Even so, this cleanser does leave a bit of a film on the face - I've not found my face squeaky clean after use at all.  The residue left over, though, is rich and hydrating, and doesn't seem to block up my pores or encourage spots.  Given the richness, I'd say this is better suited to dry skins, and better suited to winter cleansing.  Find it at Beauty Expert, where it costs £23 for 100ml.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 24 May 2013

Review: L'Oreal Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil


I was curious to try this L'Oreal cleansing oil as it's a great example of a niche product going mainstream.  At a mere £7.99, this one is one of the most reasonably priced oils on the market, and L'Oreal are clearly trying to bring more niche cleansing to the masses - the Skin Perfection range also includes an oh-so-trendy micellar water.

The snazzy orange bottle certainly looks bright and cheerful in my bathroom, and I've actually found it to be a very nice cleansing oil - a few drops dispensed into the palm and spread around the face dissolves makeup effectively.  I'm not too sure about the 15 second claim, though - three layers of waterproof mascara requires a few more moments, in my experience.  The oil emulsifies nicely and rinses cleanly away, leaving skin feeling soft and clean.

BUT.

The first ingredient in the ingredients list is mineral oil.  That, then, is why this product is so pleasingly cheap - and it's a contentious ingredient, with many people avoiding it, generally because it's a by-product of crude oil refinement.

Personally, I'm not overly spooked by mineral oil, but I would rather use a cleansing oil based on plant oils rather than mineral oil, but if it doesn't bother you, this is a good inexpensive find.  Find it at Boots now.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating our copyright.

Tuesday, 2 April 2013

Quick Pick: Bioderma Micelle Solutions


The legend that is Bioderma micellar water has exploded onto the UK beauty market, and unsurprisingly it sold out almost immediately.  I've recently tried micellar waters from both new Superdrug brand B. and Melvita, and I wasn't really expecting the Bioderma waters to be much different.

I WAS WRONG.

Where the B. and Melvita waters effectively cleanse the skin, leaving it feeling light and almost as if nothing had been near it in the first place, Bioderma cleanses incredibly efficiently and leaves skin feeling absolutely naked the second you remove the cotton pad from the surface of the skin.  The B. cleansing water leaves a slight almost toner-like refreshed, tingy feeling, and the Melvita cleansing water is super softening, but the Bioderma water is just nothing.

If you ever do your makeup, then decide it's wrong and you should start again, Bioderma cleansing waters will leave the skin immediately ready for more skincare / makeup.  If you swatch a lot, you'll find Bioderma removes swatches effectively and leaves the skin looking as if no makeup was there in the first place.  If you just plain like a good, unobtrusive cleanser, you'll probably love it.

I'm well aware I'm sounding gushy but I truly wasn't expecting to notice such a big difference between this, the original micellar water, and the others I've tried.  Instant love.

Find it at Escentual, with varieties available for sensitive, normal to dry skin and oilier skin - I particularly like the travel friendly 100ml size, which is a snip at £4.50.  A more bathroom friendly 250ml bottle will cost you £9.99.  When they're back in stock, of course.

Disclosure: PR samples

Monday, 18 March 2013

Review: Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm


Elemis have released a new cleanser into their Pro Collagen range.  It's a balm format, rich in oils and waxes for a luxurious cleansing experience.

It comes with a sturdy flannel, rather than the ubiquitous muslin cloth, with the premise being similar to other balm cleansers - warm a dab in your hands, massage over face, remove with damp cloth.  


Be warned: if you have a problem with products containing high concentrations of essential oils, you may find this product to be too much on your skin.  Its scent is heady and floral, no surprise given that it contains starflower and elderberry oils, as well as a base blend intriguingly called "Optimega", as well as rose and mimosa waxes.

Although it looks solid in the jar, it's soft enough to scoop out a dab with ease.  It melts quickly and feels wonderfully luxurious and fluid as you massage it across the face - like Emma Hardie's Amazing Face cleansing balm, it has the kind of silky emollient feel which makes it perfect for a spot of facial massage as you cleanse.  Removal is easy; the balm emulsifies into a milky fluid and rinses cleanly away with plain water or with the included flannel.  After use, my skin is left feeling incredibly soft and nourished.  The recent cold snap had given me a few dry patches on my face, but since I started using this cleanser, they've all cleared up.

Elemis' Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm is an expensive indulgence, at £39.50 - around £9.50 more expensive than the Emma Hardie cleanser I've been loving so much - but a little goes a long way, and I'm fully expecting the 100ml jar to last six months or more.  Find it now at Time to Spa.

Disclosure: PR sample

Sunday, 24 February 2013

Quick Pick: Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover


The other day, I had so little energy I couldn't be bothered to vigorously massage my face with cleansing oil. To be honest, I barely had enough energy to remove my makeup at all.  But.. I've never slept in my makeup, and I don't intend to start, so I reached for this new Clarins eye makeup remover, hoping it'd be good enough to take my makeup off with as little effort as possible.

And you know what, it did.  It's a bi-phase remover which contains oil but somehow doesn't feel at all oily, and it tackled my many layers of waterproof mascara with aplomb.  A quick shake, squirt on a cotton pad, hold over the eyelid for a few seconds, then wipe away.  No effort at all.  Glorious.

Find Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover at Clarins counters and concessions and online, where it costs a spendy but worth it £17 for 125ml.

Disclosure: PR sample

Monday, 18 February 2013

Quick Pick: B Pure Micellar Water



Micellar water seems set to be this year's hot product, with brands from high end to high street launching their own versions.  Having tried and liked Melvita's version a while ago, I was interested to hear that new Superdrug brand on the block, B, have their own version costing a bargain-tastic £4.99.

Having now got my hands on a bottle, I can confirm it's every bit as good at lifting dirt and makeup as its more expensive, more organic counterpart.  It does struggle a little with waterproof mascara, but so does the Melvita version, and a couple of passes eventually removes every last trace of mascara.

After use, skin is left feeling fresh and clean - amazing given how light the water feels.  If I had to be picky, I'd say that the B micellar water is a little less hydrating than the Melvita, and that the packaging is a little difficult to operate - the plastic is a little too inflexible and it's quite hard work to squeeze it to dispense the product.  For the tiny price tag, though, these are small niggles.

Find B Pure Micellar Water at Superdrug now, where it'll cost you £4.99 for 150ml.

Disclosure: PR sample

Sunday, 3 February 2013

Steer Clear: The Sanctuary Ultimate Cleansing Oil


Passing Boots on a Thursday night, I decided to pop in and buy a new bottle of cleansing oil, as my bumper Shu Uemura bottle had finally kicked the bucket.  I was really surprised to find that there was only one cleansing oil in the whole shop: the Sanctuary's Ultimate Cleansing Oil.  It claims a three in one action - it dissolves makeup, purifies the skin, and moisturises.

I slathered a pump's worth of the oil over my face that night, glad to be using an oil again, particularly as I was wearing waterproof mascara.  You can imagine my horror when my face immediately started turning red and hot, clearly disagreeing with something in the formula.  I wet my hands and rubbed them over my face, expecting the oil to emulsify and rinse off - but no, instead of getting thinner in texture, the oil seemed to become thicker and more unctuous with the addition of water.  It took me three or four rinses to get the oil to loosen and rinse off, and by the time I was done my face was red and burning hot.

I don't often react to skincare products, and I've yet to find a cleansing oil my skin has hated so much.  I tried it again the night after to see if it was a one time reaction, and whilst my skin didn't flare up and go red, I still found it incredibly difficult to remove the oil from my skin.  Having now read the ingredients, it seems that mineral oil is one of the main components of the oil - which might go some way towards explaining my skin's reaction and the heaviness of it.

This one's going straight in the recycling box, and I went straight back out and bought some Origins Clean Energy oil instead.  If you want to risk try the Sanctuary's Ultimate Cleansing Oil for yourself, you'll find it at Boots, where it'll cost you £13.

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Quick Pick: Melvita Fresh Micellar Water


Micellar waters are one of those things that are a bit of an insider's secret.  Bioderma make one of the most often spoken about: it's hugely popular and yet hard to find outside of France.  Melvita recently added a gently rose scented micellar water to their skincare lineup, and when I found myself outside their Covent Garden boutique recently, I had to buy a bottle.

I'm really glad I did - it's a fresh, floral cleanser which is surprisingly good at removing dirt and makeup given that it feels more akin to a toner than to a "proper" cleanser or makeup remover.  It dissolves the thickest, heaviest mascara and leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean.  Granted, if you're wearing a significant amount of slap you may need to use a couple of cotton pads worth of this, but it will eventually defeat any amount of makeup and dirt on the skin.

The rose scent is sweet, not at all synthetic, and refreshing - it turns the act of cleansing from something basic into something a little more luxurious.  Lovely stuff.  

Find it at the Melvita website, where it costs £15.

Saturday, 6 October 2012

Liz Earle launches Limited Edition Cleanse and Polish for the Prince's Trust


Liz Earle's cult favourite, Cleanse and Polish, has been released in limited edition packaging with the addition of Rose and Lavender essential oils, perfect for calming both you and your skin before bed at night.  It's in aid of the Prince's Trust, more specifically their Tomorrow campaign, which matches young entrepreneurs with iconic mentors with the aim of inspiring the next generation.  Liz has been mentoring Rebecca Taylor, 26, who overcame unemployment with the help of the Prince's Trust and now owns a beauty salon.

The special edition Cleanse and Polish is in stores and online now whilst stocks last, and costs £19.75, of which £2 goes directly to the Prince's Trust.


Monday, 18 June 2012

Review: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm


I've heard many rumblings about Emma Hardie's Moringa cleansing balm, all of which where overwhelmingly positive.  So, when QVC offered up a skincare set containing a full size jar of it, I had to indulge.  

The packaging is absolutely gorgeous - one of those tube-within-a-tube affairs which refract the light in an interesting way.  It looks and feels heavy and expensive, and looks very smart on display in my bathroom.


The cleansing balm itself is gorgeous too.  It's generally solid at room temperature, but the second you scoop any out of the jar, it softens into a rich oil.  To use, you mix a few drops of water in with the softened balm, creating a milky fluid, and then massage over the skin.  You're supposed to remove it with a muslin cloth, but I've found that it washes off just as well with a splash of warm water.

Once it's on the skin, it's almost impossible to avoid massaging the skin for a good few minutes - the texture is so rich and emollient that fingertips just glide over the skin - it's almost hypnotic.  After use, the skin feels incredibly soft and velvety, as well as perfectly clean.



The only downside I've found to this product is that the packaging is a little fragile.  A great big crack has appeared in the lid after a weekend away, and droplets of balm have melted between the inner and outer tubes.

All in all, though, this is a pretty dreamy cleanser.  And at around £30 a jar, it really should be.  Having used it for a few weeks, though, I can say it's definitely worth the investment - this is easily one of the best cleansers I've ever used.  It's also a bit of a secret multi-use product - the balm can be used directly on dry areas as an intensive moisturiser, or left on the face for ten minutes as a hydrating mask.  Lovely stuff - which I'd happily replenish when empty!

Monday, 23 April 2012

Quick Pick: Superdrug Aqua Hydrating Cleansing Gel


I've been using this little beauty for the past few weeks, and I've really come to love it.  Designed for dehydrated and sensitive skin, this refreshing gel is wonderfully cooling and light on the skin, and leaves it feeling clean and moist, thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid.  Be warned, though - given it's lightweight nature, this won't effectively remove heavy makeup - I've been using it with my Clarisonic after an oil cleanse, though, and it's perfect for that.

Costing just £4.59, this is a great basic gentle cleanser.  Find it in store at Superdrug.

Disclosure: PR sample

Monday, 9 January 2012

Review: Rodial Glamtox Cleanser


Rodial's Glamtox cleanser is described as "formally an a-list cleanser".  I'm not sure how one goes about getting a cleanser formally certified as "a-list", whatever that means, but I'm guessing that this is a veiled way of saying that lots of celebrities supposedly use it.  It's an anti-ageing cleanser, packed full of oils and vitamin C to help nourish and brighten the skin whilst fading age spots and reducing signs of inflammation.

I've been using it for about a month now, and I can't really say that my nearly-30 skin is looking much younger.  I can say, however, that this is an incredibly lovely cleanser to use, largely because of it's texture.  It's a thick, unctuous balm, albeit one that's dispensed by a pump rather than one found in a tub.  A single pump is enough to cleanse the entire face of dirt and makeup, and the silkiness in the balm make it very easy to distribute across the skin and to massage away stubborn eye makeup, including waterproof mascara.  It's also very gentle, and I've suffered no irritation or stinging from using it around my eyes.  Once applied, it can be emulsified with water, turning it into a milky solution which washes easily from the face.

After use, my skin is left feeling soft, clean, and well hydrated - I've noticed absolutely no dryness, tightness, or discomfort after using this product, even when I've had to rub a bit to dissolve particularly heavy eye makeup.  

Overall, then, a very good cleanser - and one I'd recommend if not for the rather terrifying £50 price tag.  In comparison to some other high end cleansers I've reviewed in the past, Glamtox cleanser is around twice the price of Nubo's Velvet Cleansing Cream or the Perricone Super Sweet Clean cleanser I tried and loved a little while back.  As lovely as this stuff is, I truly couldn't justify such a high price for a product that stays on the skin for such a short amount of time - no matter how many incredible ingredients it contains, a wash off cleanser isn't going to transform the condition of the skin on its own, and so for me, this isn't a product I could bring myself to repurchase.

If you're got some cash to splash, and want to try it for yourself, you'll find it at Rodial's website, where £50 will buy you 100ml of cleanser.

Disclosure: PR sample

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Quick Pick: Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil


I adore a good oil cleanse.  I'm a firm fan of Shu Uemura's classic cleansing oil, particularly in the light Fresh variety, so I was keen to test out Origins' cleansing oil, Clean Energy.  Designed to remove dirt, makeup and pollutants whilst preserving the skin's moisture levels, this oil is a little thicker and more, well, oily than others I've tried.

One thing I really like about this oil is the scent.  It's light, fresh, and citrus-y, no doubt down to some of the essential oils used to create it.  Comparatively, it's one of the best smelling oil cleansers I've ever used - the Shu ones are a little bit perfume-y, and the Muji one I've tried was clearly unperfumed and didn't really have a scent at all.

A small puddle of oil is plenty to effectively remove all makeup and dirt from the face - no second cleanse required.  It spreads easily over the face, and remains slippy and silky until you add water, which makes it pretty useful for a spot of facial massage whilst you cleanse, if you go in for that sort of thing.  It does emulsify with water, going more milky than brightly white as I've noticed with some oils.  It's also incredibly easy to rinse clean - a splash of water and the skin is left looking and feeling clean and soft.

Overall, I've really been enjoying this cleansing oil, and I definitely feel that it's a better option for the colder months than my usual Shu favourite, as it really does leave the skin feeling moist as well as clean.  The only thing that prevents me from giving an all out recommendation for this product is the packaging.  It's crap.  Underneath that curvy cap, you'll find an open neck on the bottle - no pump, and no filter top, just an opening around the size of a penny.  This pretty much guarantees that product gets wasted - I always tip too much out of the bottle.  Add in a pump or even a squirty-filter thing, and I'll be more convinced.

If you'd like to try Origins Clean Energy cleansing oil, you'll find it at the Origins website, or at Boots online, where 200ml will cost you £17.

Disclosure: PR sample

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Review: Perricone Super Sweet Clean Cleanser with Acai


Super is the new range from Dr Nicholas Perricone, and as the name might hint, it's based on superfood ingredients.  I've been using the Sweet Clean cleanser for the past few weeks, and I've been enjoying each and every cleanse.  Formulated with acai, this thick, creamy cleanser is safe for use on the eye area, and claims to purify, soothe, and hydrate the skin.

First off - the texture.  As a confirmed Clarisonic lover, I adore a good, thick cleanser which can be used with my beloved skincare brush.  This absolutely does the trick - it's thick enough that a couple of pumps dispensed into the hand holds its shape rather than melting into a puddle, and once applied to the face it remains emollient and spreadable.  After a good rinse, my skin is left feeling soft, clean, and definitely not dried out - there's no squeaky clean feeling on the skin after using this product.

I absolutely love the scent, too.  I presume it smells of acai - I wouldn't know, really - but whatever acai smells like, the scent of the cleanser is juicy, berry-sweet, with just a hint of tartness and a little bit of a sherberty fizz.  It is relatively strongly scented, but as none of the Super range contain fragrance, I'm guessing all the scent comes from the ingredients.  I suspect this'll be a love-it-or-hate-it type affair, and I'm definitely in the love it camp.

So, all in all, this product is sounding like an absolute winner.  Great scent, great texture, skin left feeling clean and soft, no stinging when applied to the eyes.  And indeed, if we ended the review there, I'd be pledging to repurchase repeatedly.  Sadly, though, we must now talk about the price.  This attractive glass bottle, containing around 120ml of cleanser, will cost you an eye watering £25.  This puts it in the same price bracket as brands like Nubo - and as I've said before, I will never feel good about spending a lot of money on a cleanser.  Ultimately, it's on the face for so little time, that it really feels like you're washing money down the drain.

That said, if you're in the market for a high end, enjoyable cleanser, and you're not afraid to dig deep into your wallet, this little bottle might be worth a try.  If you're interested to try Super Sweet Clean cleanser, you'll find it at Boots, where 118ml will cost you £25.50.

Disclosure: PR sample

Thursday, 15 September 2011

Quick Pick: Organic Surge Gentle Cleansing Lotion


I'm almost at the end of my bottle of Organic Surge Gentle Cleansing Lotion.  I bought it to use with my Clarisonic, and to be honest I was expecting a thicker texture - more fool me for not actually reading the bottle properly.  This is billed as a cleansing lotion - and unsurprisingly, it does have a fairly liquid-y texture.  Despite this, it still packs a potent punch, smoothing easily across the skin and providing plenty of slip for a good massage (or going over with a Clarisonic, if you prefer).

After use, my skin is left feeling clean but soft - no squeakiness involved.  With a pleasant if slightly overpowering essential oil based scent, this cleanser is a pretty decent way to round off your makeup removal regime.  I'm not sure it has quite enough deep cleansing power to fully remove heavy makeup on its own, but as I only ever use cream cleansers after a thorough oil cleanse anyway, it works well enough for me.  At £4.99, it won't break the bank either.  If you'd like to try it for yourself, you'll find it at Boots, or online via the Organic Surge website.

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Quick Pick: Waitrose Pure Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

I'll admit it, I rarely buy own brand skincare products.  I also rarely buy eye makeup remover, preferring to dissolve my eye makeup with a good dose of oil cleanser.  When a beauty therapist recommended Waitrose Pure Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, though, I had to buy a bottle and try it out.

At a very wallet friendly £1.94 a bottle, the packaging is basic and functional.  The product within, though, is surprisingly good.  It's a thin, slightly cloudy liquid, with very little discernible scent, and rubbed gently over the eye with a cotton pad, it effectively removes eye makeup.  Granted, you'll have to apply a bit more pressure for waterproof formulas, and ultra waterproof products may not come off cleanly, but for normal eye makeup, it works a charm.  The eye area is left feeling cool, clean and refreshed, with no residue and absolutely no stinging at all.  Even with oil cleansers, I'm sometimes left with eyelashes that feel like they've still got a bit of mascara clinging to them, but with this remover, my eyelashes are left absolutely clean and soft.

Overall, this is a gem of an eye makeup remover, and one I'll definitely repurchase.  At £1.94, it's perfect for the smallest of budgets, too, leaving more money in your wallet for high end lipstick - works for me!

If you'd like to try Waitrose Pure Gentle Eye Makeup Remover for yourself, you'll find it at Waitrose and Ocado, where 200ml will cost £1.94.  What do you think?  Tried this yourself?  Already got a favourite budget eye makeup remover?  Let us know in the comments!




Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Review: The Body Shop Nutriganics Softening Cleansing Gel


I originally bought this Body Shop Nutriganics cleanser to use with my Clarisonic.  I thought it was an emollient, thick cleansing gel which would work perfectly with the Clarisonic to provide the perfect second-cleanse I do after removing my makeup.  And it is an emollient, thick cleansing gel - but with a twist.

Spread across the face and massaged in, the gel changes texture and slips from being a thick, unctuous liquid to being a slippy, silky oil.  Like most oil cleansers, it effectively removes dirt and makeup from the skin, including waterproof eye makeup.  My skin is left feeling soft, clean and smooth after use.


One of the problems I find with oil cleansers is that they can be dangerous to transport - I've had cleansing oil leak into my washbag before, and clean up is an absolute pain.  This product solves that transport problem very neatly - you get all the benefits of a cleansing oil, but in a much more portable form.  I'll definitely be keeping a tube of this handy for travelling.

Nutriganics Softening Cleansing Gel is available from the Body Shop, both in store and online, and costs a reasonable £8 for 100ml.  What do you think?  Tried this product?  What cleanser do you take with you when you travel?  Let us know in the comments!

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Review: NuBo Velvet Cleansing Cream

NuBo make serious, high end skincare with a pricetag to match.  The products are designed to keep the skin looking youthful by invigorating the skin on two levels; by fighting damage caused by free radicals, and also by "convert[ing] toxic waste into oxygen and water within the skin cell".  Now, I'm no scientist, but I can't help but view the latter claim with a healthy dose of cynicism - it sounds a little bit like alchemy to me.

Either way, one certainly can't dispute that the products are extremely luxurious.  Packaged in a clean, simple, expensive looking container, Velvet Cleansing Cream is a thick, creamy cleanser which I've been enjoying for the past month.  It's a bit like a traditional cold cream in texture, but feels lighter once applied to the skin - two pumps is enough to coat the face in a thin layer, which almost melts into the skin as you massage it in.



It's rose scented - but not synthetically so.  In fact, it smells exactly like the rosewater I like to use for making cupcakes.  After use, my skin feels incredibly soft and almost plumped up, with the residual dirt of the day effectively lifted off (I use this after an oil cleanse to get off the worst of my heavy mascara).  Since I cracked open the gorgeously sleek tube, my skin has been very well behaved, too - my regular monthly dose of spots has failed to appear, and I've not suffered from any extreme oily nose incidents or found any dry patches.

All this, of course, comes at a price, with the Velvet Cleansing Cream costing a slightly eyewatering £28 for 100ml.  My tube has yet to run out, though, and I've been using it for a month and a half, twice daily, so it's not like it runs out amazingly quickly.  That said... it's not something I'd buy again for its anti-aging properties (although I might well for that glorious scent).  It spends so little time on the skin that apart from a good cleansing with a softening finish, it's not going to make-or-break an anti-aging skincare regime.  If you're looking for a thoroughly good, thoroughly luxurious cleanser, though, and you've got £30 in your wallet for it, then this is a great product to try out.

If you'd like to try NuBo's Velvet Cleansing Cream for yourself, you'll find it at Beautique or on NuBo website, where 100ml will cost you £28.

Disclosure: PR sample
Related Posts with Thumbnails