1-2-3 Detox Ritual from Erborian

If there is one thing I have come to learn about the Korean skincare regime, that is if there is one thing you don't compromise on it is cleaning the skin. The traditional and sophisticated Korean beauty routine includes using different textures which are adapted to different types of make-up and honestly it is so fascinating. So silicone-based textures for mascaras, oil-based textures for lipsticks and water-based for water-based makeup. The 1-2-3 step routine from Erborian is based on this tradition to remove your make in three steps and it looks a little like this: 

Solid Cleansing Oil £29 - Based on the Korean double cleansing method, the Solid cleansing oil combines the performance of a cleansing oil with the gentleness of a cream. 

Once it comes into contact with the warmth of your skin, it transforms into an oil to help dissolve impurities on the face. Then when rinsed with water, it transforms again into a silky lotion, to cleanse skin perfectly and leave behind a protective film leaving your skin feeling perfectly cleansed and free of make-up. 

Double Mousse Cleansing Foam £22 - Double Mousse with 7 Korean herbs is described as being a 2-in-1 beauty solution. It's rich, fine foam gently cleanses the skin to help eliminate impurities. It also then helps to visibly refine skin's texture for a flawlessly smooth effect leaving it visibly softer, more supple and more luminous. 

To use, you apply two pumps to your dry face and leave it on for at least 30 and then rinse with water. It is designed to be used daily, both morning and the evening.

Erborian Konjac Sponge £10 - I am sure most people will have heard of Konjac sponges, but this is honestly the best Konjac sponge I have ever used. 

The Konjac sponge is made from an Asian plant that has long been used in Korea to cleanse the face and body. This natural sponge helps to stimulate microcirculation as it massages the skin.

I am absolutely loving these products in my routine, the solid cleansing oil is just an absolute delight to use and it is perfect as part of my double cleansing routine, I love how soft and smooth it leaves my skin feeling and how it feels able to breathe.  The mousse is also a delight to use and is incredibly easy to use and works so well as a second cleanse.

Have you tried any Korean skincare?

Bodhi & Birch Siam Ginger Bath and Shower Therapy

Cold, dark miserable mornings make getting out of bed a really unwelcome task and that is what it is a task, a chore and something I do not want to do. Having dragged my backside to the shower, there is one product that is guaranteed to make me feel as alert and awake had I just hopped into a cold shower and it is by Bodhi and Birch - Siam Ginger bath and shower therapy!

"Invigorate and revive body and mind with an uplifting fusion of gingery Galangal Root, sharp Cardamom and fresh Kaffir Lime Leaf. Inspired by ancient remedies from the Far East, this is your home spa rejuvenation. Body and senses are vitalised and awakened. Skin feels refreshingly clean and alive with hints of ginger and spice"

Packaged inside this beautiful brown bottle with bright label, it isn't one you will miss when half asleep. The pump action dispenser is really handy to use and a few pumps onto the palms of your hand are more than enough to make enough lather to wash and cleanse your body. As the lather comes into contact with the steam of the water, the scent comes alive and literally kicks you awake and with this amazing list of ingredients, it is not a surprise:

• GALANGAL - Warming oil with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, anti-oxidant and stimulant properties. It is great for muscle aches and fatigue. 
• KAFFIR LIME LEAF - Kaffir Lime Leaf has a sharp, aromatic scent. An indisputably effective cleanser, it refreshes and uplifts the spirit, eases depression, anxiety and a tired mind. 
• CARDAMOM - Cardamom imparts a fresh lemony fragrance that is uplifting, benefiting those who are mentally and physically fatigued. 
• TURMERIC - Turmeric contains curcumin which is highly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Also naturally improves skin complexion. 
• LACTIC ACID - Lactic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid with anti-ageing and skin rejuvenating properties.

As well as waking me up of a morning, it also leaves me skin soft and smooth to the touch and you can also add it to your bath water which is perfect if you have aching muscles. I find that with a bad back, something I suffer from regularly, a bath with Siam Ginger helps to relieve that nagging ache.

This has been an absolute delight to use and one I wouldn't hesitate to purchase and one that is added to the 'must have' products for the bathroom.

New from Sleek Makeup - Lip VIP lipstick collection

Sleek Makeup have some amazing new releases to be looking out for in your local Superdrug and I am sharing them with you today. 

The NEW Sleek MakeUP Lip VIP lipstick collection boasts six velvety, on trend shades which have been inspired by the luxuries of being a VIP – think red carpet premieres, the front row of fashion shows and celebrity photo shoots. Each lipstick has a luxuriously creamy, long-lasting formula which glides on smoothly to leave an even, semi-matte finish. These lipsticks are also packed with Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, a new formula which is really moisturising.

The six new shades are:

• Reserved - A sweet candy pink for everyday wear
• Private Booth - A Classic nude, a make-up bag must have
• Backstage - A warm coral pink to take you from day to night
• Guest List - Bright coral, sure to get you noticed 
• Flaunt It - A punchy, stand out orange
• Night Spot - A chic red for opulent Hollywood glamour

So there is a different shade right across the spectrum and here is how amazing they look:  

From L-R we have Reserved, Private Booth, Backstage, Guest List, Flaunt it and Night Spot

The Lip VIP Lipstick Collection are now available from Boots and Superdrug and are priced at £5.49.

Do you have a favourite shade?

I had the Celebrity Facial Everyone is Talking About!

On Friday night I was booked in to Beauty Rehab in Muswell Hill, here in London, to have the Skinbreeze Facial, the celebrity facial everyone is talking about. The Skinbreeze treatment has picked up a celebrity following that includes: Made in Chelsea’s Binky Felstead, Rosie Fortescue and Spencer Matthews. Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff and TOWIE’s Chloe Lewis, Lewis Bloor and James Diags. Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry and Marnie Simpson are also Skinbreeze fans. Now going back to work after two weeks off has been hard, getting back into a routine, getting up in a morning and this horrible cold weather has left me feeling rather 'eurgh' to be blunt. So a chance to have a bit of pampering really cheered me up.

The Skinbreeze Skin Rejuvenation system provides a wide range of result-driven treatments utilising five different technologies that dramatically improve the skin’s condition. Living in London, my skin can feel clogged up, dirty and just vile in general, even though I double cleanse twice a day. 

Once inside the salon, I was given a brief overview as to what the facial would entail, asked whether I had any particular issues and whether or not my skin is sensitive. I was then asked to make myself comfortable on the treatment couch and the treatment began. One thing that I did like, was being asked what skin issues I had, it put me at ease. The first part of the treatment starts with Orbital Microdermabrasion and it felt so nice to have someone else exfoliate my skin for me, it didn't hurt, there was no pulling or scraping of the skin, I didn't feel as though someone was rubbing my face with sandpaper, infact I was so relaxed I almost dozed off. The process lasted about 15 minutes to complete and even the underside of my chin and neck was exfoliated.

Next came the LED Light Therapy which I was told might make a few crackling sounds but is perfectly normal. What this part of the treatment does is utilise the therapeutic properties of red light and blue light to calm the skin, neutralise any bacteria and reduce redness in order to help tackle acne, blemishes and scar tissue. Now for me, I had mentioned the redness on both cheeks was an issue, not that it is in anyway itchy or sore, it is just there and I use plenty of products to cover it when I am out and about. This part of the treat again took around 15-20 minutes and it was really relaxing.

The part I had been really looking forward too because when it was explained to me I was intrigued was the O2 infusion. What it does is deliver bursts of air to drive specially formulated Skinbreeze serums, which are applied by hand beforehand, deep down into the skin to enhance the effectiveness of their active ingredients. So as it happens, you can feel the short bursts of air, which at first made me jump slightly, but I soon got used to them. This process really helps to rehydrate the skin, plumps and smooths lines and wrinkles, so it is essentially providing you with a painless, needle-free alternative to dermal fillers.

O3 Ozone therapy which has an anti-bacterial action on the skin that helps to heal acne and blemishes. This part of the treatment is said to create a warm sensation, which it does, but it isn't at all uncomfortable, to increase blood circulation, improve lymphatic drainage, reduce dark circles under the eyes, stimulate collagen and elastin.

The final part of the treatment is called the 02 Product Spray The O2 Spray which is the delivery application for the liquid based Skinbreeze skincare products. The Hydro Mask filled with hyaluronic acid was then applied onto my face and the sensation was incredible. I am a huge fan of sheets masks anyway, but this one was slightly different to anything that I had ever used. It is formed in two parts, the top half and the bottom half and each one is applied by your therapist and left for up to 20 minutes. For me, it was the perfect mask because not only was it soothing and calming, it also worked to immediately reduce the appearance of skin redness and irritation and as soon as I saw my skin afterwards, I was surprised at how much my redness had faded. So once the mask is removed, any excess product is massaged into the skin and then the 02 spray is used and again a fine mist is gently spritzed across the face and neck and in doing so, it instantly refreshes and calms irritated, sensitive and sun damaged skin.

This facial took just over an hour and it was one of the most relaxing facials I have ever had. As everything had been explained beforehand, I was left to drift off into a sea of nothingness and forget where I was and what was happening whilst my skin was being looked after. As soon as the experience was over, my skin felt tight, a bit like the feeling you have as a mask is about to set on your face, so I knew the facial was something pretty special. My skin felt amazing, I am not sure it has ever felt so soft to the touch and just free of dirt and grime, as though I had been cleansing it all day long.

As I write this two days after the treatment, my skin still feels just incredible and I don't feel like I just want to scrub my face until it is raw.  As a treatment, it is definitely something I wouldnt hesitate to have all over again. Skinbreeze Skin Rejuvenation facial is priced at £120 at Beauty Rehab London