Foreo Luna Mini Skincare Device

Looking after my skin is really important to me which you might have guessed by now. Over the last year, I have been lucky enough to try out a few cleansing brushes, something I really love being able to do. One item I was really excited to try was the Foreo Luna Mini** which is quite unlike anything else I have ever used and the principle idea is one that is so simple, I am left wondering why I hadn't tried it until now.

I have the Magenta coloured Foreo Luna Mini and it is to all intents and purpose a silicone device which has been designed to gently but deeply clean my skin and as I am prone to blemishes, I need something that not only leaves my skin looking healthier and brighter but I also want something that will leave my skin feeling doubly clean. Living here in London, the air isn't as clean as you might expect and some nights I get home and just want to spend hours slapping lotions and potions on to ride my skin of pollutants, dirt and grim. The Foreo has gone almost all the way there to prevent me doing that! 

I have never tried any other of the Luna devices and this one, as the name suggests, is mini versions of the larger device and both of them fit perfectly into the palm of your hand and are easy to grip hold of and it is the perfect size for travelling with because it has its own protective case, which I have kept, and it fits neatly into my weekend bag.

The 'brush' for want of a better description is actually small silicone nodules which feel soft to the touch.  It is those nodules which gently massage and cleanse the skin but they are two sided with one side used for regular cleansing and the other for that much needed deeper clean.  On the top of the brush are small nodules which are really helpful in getting into the smaller crevices of the face such as around the nose to ensure every part can be reached.  There are two different cleansing speeds, one is slightly more intense than the other but astonishingly each one uses up to 8,000 sonic pulses per minute, which sounds absolutely incredible and in all honestly it is.

Foreo recommend that you use the Luna Mini for at least one minute, twice a day.  It is totally waterproof which means it can be used in the shower (hurrah) and even more brilliant is that you never have to replace the brush!  Once changed, using a USB and your computer, it will not need to be charged for at least 300 uses which is yet another impressive statistic and because of its design it is said to be over 35 times more hygienic than your traditional cleansing brushes, which if like me, you sometimes suffer from blemishes, then this will not be another worry for you.

Since using the Luna Mini I have used both creme based and foaming cleanser and it works well with either, though my person preference is a foaming cleanser and I always use the Mini as the second part of my double cleanse, with the first part usually involving a balm cleanser, something which I don't think does work well with the device.

Now I have this device I can't imagine anything else living up to how good it is. My skin really likes it but what I like the most is that feeling of totally clean skin after using, especially after a day of travelling around the capital on public transport.

The Foreo Luna Mini retails at £99 and can be found online from Boots, Feel Unique and Amazon, as well as in store in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols and it is available in an array of different colours.

Have you tried a Luna device before?

The Libbie Club September Box

The September Libbie Club Box has arrived through my door and once again it is a fantastic mix of products. I absolutely love the July and August Boxes which had some amazing products in them (whose offers you can still take advantage of right here). This months box contains one full and two trial size beauty products with a total value of over £50 (all for free!) 

The first item is the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask (£22.00 for 75ml) - Now I am a huge admirer of the brand and have loved the products I have tried to date. This instant Detox Mask is said to purify stressed skin and is a 99.3% natural clay formula which sweeps away impurities and toxins leaving your skin looking and feeling refined, your pores are tightened and your complexion is even. It is advised that you apply a thin layer to the face twice a week, leave for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse with water.  This month The Libbie Club are offering 20% OFF Caudalie Instant Detox Mask (75ml) which makes it just £17.60.

Next we have Teez Desert Metals Mascara in Midnight Sky (£17.00).  I have to admit that I am not that up to speed with this brand, though I have heard of it. The Mascara is a Volume Mascara which includes silk proteins to help protect and nourish your lashes all day and all night long. It is also a water-based formula and can easily be rinsed off. It claims to give fuller, flirtier lashes and not only is it long lasting, but also smudge-proof. I am a huge fan of mascara and I am looking forward to putting this one to the test.  The Libbie Club offer for this item is 25% OFF Teeez Desert Metals Mascara Midnight Skinny Dip which makes it just £12.75 and definitely worth trying.

The final item in the September box is from Mio Skincare and it is The Activist Firming Active Oil (£29.50 for 120ml). This product is described as being the best multi-purpose antioxidant body oil you will ever use which is quite a claim! It states to give daily nourishing for dry stressed skin and work wonders on scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. The Activist is free from parabens, petrolatum, synthetic fragrance and colourants, xenoestrogens, PEGs, glycols and pthalates. It is also packed full of powerful Omegas, Vitamins and Antioxidants that help to keep your skin firm, smooth, resilient and strong. The Libbie club offer this month is 20% off The Activist Firming Active Oil plus a free 50ml Double Buff Enzyme Exfoliator worth £23.60

Being lucky enough to be part of The Libbie Club means that I have had the honour of trying and testing some amazing products and finding some new favourites which I am then able to offer to you, with a discount. It is that offer and discount which sets this beauty box apart from any other I have tried and just a reminder, those offers are:

• 20% OFF Caudalie Instant Detox Mask (75ml) – £17.60
• 25% OFF Teeez Desert Metals Mascara Midnight Skinny Dip – £12.75
• 20% OFF Mio Skincare The Activist Firming Active Oil (120ml) + FREE Exfoliator (50ml) – £23.60

These exclusive offers run for a limited time and there is a limited amount of stock, so to take advantage, visit my Libbie Club profile page. All offers end on Wednesday 30th September!

Have you heard of The Libbie Club? 

What are your thoughts on this month’s products?

I Love... Cleansing Hand Gel

I am a big fan of the I Love... range from the shower gels and body cremes to the hand cream and these little beauties - Hand Gels oh and of course it is a British Brand, something I do like to trumpet every now and again.  he one thing I love about this brand is the scents, they are a little fun, smells just as you would expect them too and they have some amazing combinations.

As the weather gets colder and those pesky little germs begin to multiply, it is time to ensure you do your bit and keep them to yourselves.  I do have hand gel in my desk drawer and I do often have some in my handbag too,  for me it is always more of a winter item than at any other time of the year. The I Love... range, with their fabulous scents and uber cute bottles have really captured my attention and that of my boy!

The formula smells absolutely as you would expect.  I have both Raspberry & Blackberry and Mango and Papaya and they smell just amazing, exactly the same as other products within both of these ranges, not at all of chemicals. Once on your hands, it is really quick drying and not at all sticky or tacky as you might expect it to and the gel works to cleanse, whilst the use of natural Jojoba Esters help to ensure your hands are kept soft, smooth and really moisturised.

I Love... Cleansing Hand Gels comes in four different varieties currently which are Strawberries & Cream,  Rasbperry & Blackberry, Mango & Papaya and Coconut & Cream. Each bottle contains 65ml of the cleansing gel and the RRP is just £1.25 

You can find the I Love... range in Superdrug stores and online at Superdrug or you can find everything you need right HERE 

#MyBath with Matalan Direct

If there is one room in our house that I am most ashamed of and is in need of a makeover it is the bathroom. Whilst it is the one room where I got to relax, it is one I hate being in. We need to paint, re-tile and have a new suite, so it is something we are constantly saving for. 

Did you know that Matalan Homeware have a newly launched home improvement site? I didn't until I was challenged by them to share my ultimate bath routine and having spent a good hour or so browsing at what options I could have, I pretty could have my perfect bathroom.  Anyway, I chose Coconut Vanilla as my favourite scent from the Matalanhome fragrances, I was sent a lovely package to help me share that routine. The package included a Coconut Vanilla Reed Diffuser and Candle Jar which perfectly compliment one another and a huge soft bath towel plus a £50 voucher to spend in Boots on bath time beauty goodies for my bath routine that will also compliment the Coconut Vanilla fragrance. 

I spent some time online deciding what I thought would work. Having a bath for me is about total relaxation and something I look forward to doing, usually because I am usually tired, stressed or in need of an escape and this is exactly how I choose what is going to go into my water. So using my voucher I went for the following items:

• Westlab Epsom Salts - I am a huge fan of bath salts and they are so underrated. Epsom Salt is a natural solution aid for a fit and healthy body, which has been around for hundreds of years and it is ideal for muscle relaxation, sports recovery, and helping to reduce fluid retention. Westlab Epsom Salts are made of pure Magnesium Sulphate and are great for helping to remove toxins from the body, encouraging muscles to relax thereby accelerating healing and reducing soreness, as well as increasing magnesium and sulphate levels. Magnesium aids muscle control, energy production and helps regulate the activity of more than 300 enzymes in the body. Sulphate is essential for many biological processes including helping to flush toxins.
• Dead Sea Aromatherapy Bath Salts - Dead Sea Aromatherapy Bath Salts with Frankincense have therapeutic minerals along with aromatherapy oils and rose petals help you to feel your stress just float away. The Frankincense also works to calm both your breathing and your mind whilst soothing tense muscles and rejuvenating your skin
• Soap and Glory The Daily Soothe Bath Float - This product is packed with rejuvenating Phytofleur cactus, calming Passionflower fruit extract and moisturising Herbasol Mallow which work to invigorate, calm and soothe to promote a good night’s sleep.

Once in the bath I always like to ensure I have something to exfoliate with and then wash with for my body and whilst doing that, I always ensure my face has been double cleansed whilst the bath is running and then I apply a facemask just before getting into the bath. So the products I bought for this are:

• Soap and Glory Sugarcrush body scrub - This has turned out to be one of my favourite body scrubs. It uses mashed brown sugar & sweet lime, almond oil & macadamia grains to exfoliate and polish your skin to leave it soft and smooth.
• Soap and Glory Sugar Crush bodywash - This bodywash smells divine and compliments the body scrub really well. It has a really energising scent which gives you a bit of a wake up and it moisturises as well as cleans your skin, which is always helpful after a good scrub.
• Biore Self-heating One Minute Facemask - This purifying face mask warms to open pores and draw out deep down dirt, oil and impurities, then cools leaving skin tingly smooth and refreshed.
• Quick Fix Facials Facemask - This Calming Clay mask is designed for sensitive and red skin. It uses Oatmeal to help relieve skin dryness and discomfort. Aloe Vera - perfect for helping to reduce skin inflammation and provides moisture. Chamomile Extract - helps to soothe and calm sensitive skin and finally Rose Extract to help minimise redness caused by enlarged capillaries.
• Biore Deep Cleansing Nosestrips - At least once a month, I use nose strips, just to ensure I have removed dirt and grime as I possibly can. Travelling around London can leave your skin feeling clogged, dry and forever dirty. These strips are infused with natural charcoal, these innovative pore strips draw out excess oil for the deepest clean

No bath would be perfect without some final accessories.  So for me, this includes a flannel to do a final wipe of the face, a headband which keeps your hair off your face when you are using face masks.  I never wash my hair in the bath, ewww, so I do like to ensure that I don't have numerous products stuck to or in my hair and either wear a shower cap or use a headband like this one. 

Finally, the best accessory for making a bath enjoyable is a bath pillow.  I have tried 4 or 5 quite expensive bath pillows in the past and frankly, this one from boots which cost a mere £6.29 not only users suckers to stick to the bath to keep it place, it doesn't lose air, it is comfortable and it doesn't need to be machine washed.

So there you have it, my perfect pampering session at home in the bath, all that is missing is my book and a chilled glass of wine!

*PR collaboration, all words my own.