Mybeautywaxstash

Tag: skincare

  • Time For A Revisit. Beauty Kitchen’s Potent Sleep Mask

    It’s easy to use skin or body care products once and then move onto something else. Why? We have so much choice at our finger tips and we are fickle creatures. But it’s nice to remember products we’ve used before especially if they were really good. After a few years in between use, would the results still be the same for such a product? Well, I’ve just used Beauty Kitchen’s Abyssinian Oil Night Halo Potent Sleep Mask for the second time after not using it for a long time! And what did I think?

    Beauty Kitchen’s Abyssinian Oil Night Halo Potent Sleep Mask
    Why did I buy this?

    I actually bought a set of products from Beauty Kitchen ages ago and it included this. It was on sale, it was great value and had a good mix of products that I wanted to try. But honestly l totally forgot I used Potent Sleep Mask before and didn’t realise it was even included in the set.

    What is this?

    This is a mask/treatment that you put on your face, leave on over night and remove in the morning. It’s designed to be nourishing to the skin and provide a sensory experience thanks to the inclusion of various essential oils.

    Ingredients

    Some ingredients in this product are Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Cocoa Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Abyssinian Oil, Black Currant Seed Oil, Bitter Orange Leaf Oil and Rose Absolute.

    Packaging

    Like a lot of products that try to focus on the more ‘natural’ side of skincare e.g essential oils, various natural ingredients, this packaging reflects this. This comes in a darkened glass pot not plastic. Labelling yellow with the pot coming boxed.

    Texture

    Soft, smooth, balm like in look and feel. I LOVE texture so this made me happy. For some this will look like a pot of Vaseline and they wouldn’t be too far off to be honest!

    Fragrance

    This smells like it contains essential oils, but it isn’t strong or overwhelming. There’s a floral, slightly citrusy scent to this and a touch earthy. It’s quite pleasant and relaxing to smell.

    On The Skin

    I applied a finger tip of this mask over my skin one evening after cleansing my skin. It was so soft and melted and moved easily over my face. Identical in feel to a cleansing balm which I like to use anyway. And that was that, I left it! My skin felt comfortable and highly moisturised, it wasn’t heavy but my skin did feel as if there was a layer of something on it. And to look at my face it did look greasy.

    I could still smell the fragrance but it was pleasant and was just there in the background.

    The Day After The Night Before

    I wish I had applied this earlier in the evening to give it time to soak in because I’m convinced lots of it got soaked into my pillow! BUT first thing in the morning my skin looked and felt fresher and smoother. It didn’t feel tight and felt hydrated, but did look matt. So did my skin look better after application compared to before? Yes it did! It looked more rested and conditioned.

    Recommended?

    It’s important to say the first I tired Beauty Kitchen’s Abyssinian Oil Night Halo Potent Sleep Mask was in 2019! I deliberately didn’t read my first blog post on this till AFTER writing this one and it’s very similar! I still really like this product. I loved the texture and how this applied on the skin. Fragrance was nice and skin the following day looked better. So I would recommend this because it’s a great product. But with this containing various essentials oil, give this a miss if you’re sensitive to them or think you are.

    It’s not one of the most affordable skincare products I’ve used although I bought this in a set which was brilliant value. For 60ml it costs £17.50. It should last a good while because you need the smallest amount. But look at special price promotions and sets available to get the cost down. Available direct from Beauty Kitchen, Holland & Barrett (at time of writing £13.12) and other stores and websites.

    Past blog post on Beauty Kitchen products:

    Beauty Kitchen Night Halo Potent Sleep Mask 2019

    Beauty Kitchen’s Hydration Hero Face Mist

    Beauty Kitchen’s Seahorse Plankton High Definition Facial Oil

    Beauty Kitchen’s Abyssinian Oil Prime Time Cream Cleanser

  • Under £2.00 Skincare? Lidi’s Cien Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Cream

    Is anyone else finding it hard to get hold of a good eye cream? Even more so when you are on a budget? How much is a decent one in a skincare range these days? £5.00? £10.00? Shall we try to keep the spend under £2.00? For £1.99 you can get 15ml of the supermarket Lidl’s Cien Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Cream. I’ve been using for the last 2-3 weeks and I have to say it’s an interesting product….

    Lidi’s Cien Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Cream
    Why did I buy this?

    I stumbled across a recommendation from a Youtuber (Rob at Mad About Skin) who mentioned how good and affordable this product was. Supermarkets have upped their game when it comes to their own skin and body care products, so I was totally open minded to trying this out.

    Who is this for?

    This is an anti-wrinkle eye product designed for mature skin. So think of lines, wrinkles and tired under eye areas. This contains Q10 (antioxidant benefits that help to combat things that cause harm to the skin externally e.g pollution), Hyaluronic Acid (hydrates the skin and helps to keep it plump), Vitamin E and Caffeine (both antioxidants).

    My Eyes

    Tiredness shows with my eyes. Sometimes they can look a touch sullen and dark underneath, but thankfully at this moment of time no massive issues with wrinkles or lines. They just need a jump start from time to time!

    Packaging

    This eye cream comes in a small and thin plastic tube. Basic in look, mainly white in colour with some gold, yellow and blue detailing. This comes boxed and mirrors the design of the tube. The packaging reminds me of the brand Nivea and some of their Q10 range. Coincidence? I doubt it!

    Texture

    This is quite rich in look when squeezed out. It holds it’s shape but does look very cream like in it’s consistency. Off white in colour and totally smooth.

    Fragrance

    There isn’t one! It’s fragrance free, which is good because who really needs a scented eye cream? Plus fragrance is one of those things that can irritate some people if they have sensitive skin. If it holds no actual use in the product why put it in? So happy to see it’s fragrance naked.

    In Use

    I use Cien’s Q10 Anti-wrinkle Eye Contour Eye Cream in the morning and evening after cleansing my skin. A little bit does go a long way and the smallest blob will cover both under eyes very well. What I’ve noticed is this eye cream has a slight waxiness to this. If I’ve used too much it takes a little more time to sink into the skin. When the right amount is used a little dab will get the job done and it sinks in well. It doesn’t leave the eye area looking shiny but it does look moisturised and feels it too. This feeling of moisturising lasts all day.

    I enjoy using this, I love it being on my skin and I can’t wait to use this during colder seasons. During this hot and humid Summer in the UK, my eyes haven’t dried out at all and the skin around them has been well conditioned.

    Any difference to my eyes?

    Did I think this product would change this area like magic? No. And the reason I didn’t was because there’s lots of reasons why our skin is the way it is. If I had zero sleep, cried like a running tap and had a bad episode of hay fever, there’s only so much this product would and can do, so I have to be realistic. So what I wanted from this product is for it to keep my under eyes supple, hydrated and well conditioned which this did. This makes my eyes look the best they possible can be!

    Recommended?

    I really like this eye product. The texture is so good and feels luxurious. It’s moisturising and protecting and if your under eye area is on the older, drier, wrinklier side, I think you will like this! Would I tell a 16 year old to buy this? No. So it isn’t for everyone although won’t do a younger skin any harm. But if you’re looking for a richer, nourishing, moisturising and protecting eye cream, on a budget, get down to your local Lidl store and buy it!

  • Not A Face Wash! The Body Shop’s Camomile Cleansing Oil

    When it comes to cleansing, do most people think of grabbing a face wash? If I’m honest years ago that’s the first type of cleansing product that would come to my mind. But there are so many different types of cleansers out there to suit different budgets and skin types. As part of my current cleansing routine, I’ve been using The Body Shop’s Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. I bought this when it was on a special offer through a rep last year (can’t remember the price).

    The Body Shop’s Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil
    Why did I purchase this?

    I’ve used The Body Shop’s Camomile Cleansing Balm in the past and absolutely adored it! I wanted to try the oil version to see if I got the same results and enjoy it just as much as the balm. I’m not afraid of textures such as oils. I enjoy using them and hoped this would slot nicely into my skincare routine.

    What is this supposed to do?

    This cleansing oil is designed to gently remove make-up, grime and dirt from the skin. Suitable for sensitive skin.

    Packaging

    200ml of this cleansing oil lives happily in a plastic pump action bottle. I like how practical this is because you can’t overuse this oil unless by choice and with the bottle being clear I can see how much oil is left before I need to worry about replacing it!

    Consistency

    Liquid, oil like. Originally this was a golden colour when I started to use it but my current bottle looks a touch cloudy.

    Fragrance

    There is a very light and subtle white floral scent to this. Pleasant, non-offensive and not strong at all.

    How do I use this

    I use this once a day at night time as part of a 2 step cleansing routine. I don’t wear make-up but I do use sun cream everyday. So I start off with this and then finish off with a facial wash. This is to ensure sun cream AND dirt has been removed from my face every evening.

    In Use

    I find I don’t need to use too much of this cleansing oil, 2 pumps will do. Used over dry skin, this glides over the face easily and I really enjoy massaging this into my skin. I even take this over my eyes and under them, and I have’t experienced any stinging.

    Very easy to wash off with warm water. And once I’ve done this I will pat my skin with a damp cloth ready for cleanser number two in my routine. At this stage my skin feels clean, soft and comfortable. But I do feel my skin prefers this with a facial wash because without it, I feel a slight coating is left behind on my face.

    I wouldn’t use this in the morning because my skin doesn’t need it, and doesn’t need 2 types of cleansers.

    Is this better than the Cleansing Balm?

    I thought I would love this in the same way but I don’t! There’s something very special about the balm and although the oil is a nice cleanser it doesn’t quite give me the same experience as it’s balm sister.

    The Body Shop’s Camomile Cleansing Butter
    Recommended?

    This is a nice and effective cleansing oil. It cleans the skin well, doesn’t irritate or dry it out and is a pleasure to use. Great for those who wear make-up regularly or/and suffer from dry skin (this won’t strip it). This is a good product and if you like textures you should like this. So yes, recommended…BUT I think this has either been discontinued or reformulated. It’s not on the website, but Camomile Dissolve The Day Make-Up Cleansing Oil is. This is a similar product but not identical to what I have. Still worth a go, but what I do find with The Body Shop is prices sometimes aren’t very budget friendly. 160ml of Dissolve The Day is £12.00. This isn’t expensive but not cheap either. So if interested, keep an eye for special promotions, sales or discount codes to get the best price possible to purchase.

  • July’s Round Up. What Products Did I Use?

    Anyone else found July to be a very busy and draining month? End of the school year (in the UK), start of the Summer holidays (we’re bored and hungry…have you heard that yet parents?). A heatwave that crippled most of us and just living general day to day life has been exhausting! So a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly, is what most of us have or are experiencing that’s for sure! I could say the same for the products I’ve used in the month of July. Which ones will go in the bin or be repurchased again because they were amazing? Here is a recap of what I’ve been using in this crazy month.

    July’s Products
    Primark’s PS Elderflower Shower Steamer

    Sometimes you want a shower but would love to enjoy it as you would a bath. That’s what’s great about shower steamers, they are the shower alternative to a bath bomb. I wasn’t too sure how Primark’s PS Elderflower Shower Steamer would perform and I have to say not very well. No real scent, not enjoyable to use and I ended up throwing half of it down the toilet. I won’t be buying this again!

    Primark’s PS Elderflower Shower Steamer
    Boots Ingredients Vitamin C Serum

    If you’re thinking of adding the ingredient of Vitamin C into your skincare routine but don’t want to spend a fortune, I would suggest having a look at Boots Ingredients Vitamin C Serum. It’s affordable, sinks into the skin quickly and very lightweight. The whole Ingredients range is something to look at as a whole because it has such a wide variety of products in it, and regularly on a price promotion. So far I’ve bought this product twice!

    Boots Ingredients Vitamin C Serum
    Simple’s Hydrating Eye Gel

    Moisturising, slightly cooling and lightly textured, Simple’s Hydrating Eye Gel is a beautiful product! Great for those who just need their eyes to feel hydrated without feeling greasy and experience an instant cooling effect to help combat tiredness or hay fever. Perfect for people who have sensitive skin as it doesn’t contain fragrance or colouring.

    Simple’s Hydrating Eye Gel
    Designer Fragrances Body Sprays

    Although I think these could be improved, Designer Fragrances Body Sprays are such a good purchase if you want a designer inspired fragrance at a budget busting price! These smell great and would be loved by people who are fans of the mighty but humble body mists.

    Designer Fragrances Body Sprays
    Beauty Laundrette’s Radiate & Glow Sheet Mask

    This was quite a surprise! Beauty Laundrette’s Radiate & Glow Sheet Mask available from Superdrug was an a joy to use. Jam packed full of serum/solution, great for those who need their skin to feel moisturised and plump. Cooling on the skin and would be even better coming out of the fridge when ready to use. I need to buy this again!

    Beauty Laundrette’s Radiate & Glow Sheet Mask

    So there we go. Another month bites the dust and some great (and not so great!) products have been used and reviewed by me and shared to you, hopefully inspiring your next purchases when it comes to skincare, bath, body and fragrance.

    See you in August!x