REN Clean Skincare Perfect Canvas Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser

Whenever there is a new release from REN Clean Skincare I am always as equally intrigued as I am excited to find out what the product is, what it does and why I need it in my life.  New to the Perfect Canvas family is the Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser* (£25) and I have already ordered another tube.

Cleansing is definitely one of my favourite parts of my skincare routine, especially of an evening when I get to take the day off and begin to wind down from a day in the office. This Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser is described as being an all-new makeup removing, 100% naturally derived oil-based jelly cleanser that melts makeup, impurities and SPF. 

Perfect for all skin types, including dry and sensitive skin, this three-phase cleanser is, as you might expect from REN, it is packed with three amazing oils, the first is Sunflower Seed Oil which not only protects skin’s natural moisture barrier to prevent continued dryness, it also contains Vitamin E which is an antioxidant helps to protect skin from free radicals and from adverse effects of the sun.  The second oil is Meadowfoam Seed Oil which helps to replenish the skin’s barrier with essential fatty acids Omega 3 and 6. Finally, we have Grape Seed Oil which is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps restore skin health and protect against free radicals. REN also include Glycerin which locks in hydration as you cleanse your skin.

Unlike some cleansers, this one should be used on dry skin, to use, you need a small amount which should be warmed between the palms of your hand until it becomes an oil. Then apply, using circular motions over your entire face, it is gentle enough to be used near your eyes. The oil this jelly turns too is rich, luxurious and it feels divine on the skin, as the oil comes into contact with warm water it emulsifies into a milky texture and once your skin is clean, you wipe away with a cloth.  I always judge a cleanser on how it makes my skin feel after using it, if it strips my skin of moisture and leaves it feeling dry and taut then it is a no from me, but this cleanser does neither of those, in fact, what it does is leave my skin feeling hydrated to the touch, as well as being free from all my skincare and makeup that had been on my face. 

As part of RENs pledge to become Zero Waste by 2021, in that all of their packagings will be 100% recycled, recyclable and reusable. this Jelly Oil Cleanser is housed in a 50% post-consumer recycled tube with a 100% post-consumer recycled cap.

You can see all of the products Ren has to offer online and here for those in the US here. 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Top tips for combatting sluggish and sallow winter skin with Emma Hardie Skincare

During the cold and dark winter months, our skin can often appear dull and flat and can definitely be in need of a bit of a radiance boost! Jane Foulston, from Emma Hardie Skincare, shares her top tips for combatting sluggish and sallow winter skin and all you need to use are 4 products.

When your skin starts to look sluggish and your complexion sallow, Emma Hardie Skincare has a few products which you can add into your routine to help it look healthier and reinvigorated. 

The first piece of advice is to look for products that contain brightening ingredients, such as Vitamin C, and then add them into your routine where you can.  Starting with the Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream (£49), something I was introduced too just before Christmas as part of the Brightening Collection. This cream contains a pure blend of Vitamin B3 and time-released Vitamin C to reduce pigmentation and increase healthy collagen production, leaving skin looking brighter and clearer. It also contains Red Algae Extract which has a luminating effect to give you a gorgeous glow and it also aids in reversing the effects of UV damage and they work alongside Pumpkin Enzymes, Shea Butter and Grapeseed Oil all encourage increased cellular renewal and regeneration.

Evening skincare is my favourite and I enjoy the double cleanse part of my routine the most, something I honestly thought I would never say.  In the evening you can up the ante with a more supercharged product such as the Vit C Intense Daily Serum (£54). It is said that stable Vitamin C will release slowly overnight to help reduce pigmentation caused by UV damage, brighten the skin, and create a more evenly toned and refined complexion. You can then also use the Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil (£39) again, a product I started to use before Christmas. I absolutely love having an oil within my routine, especially in the winter when I feel my skin needs a lot more help with moisture.  This oil is described as being a multi-active, lightweight and nourishing facial oil complex which is infused with nine essential oils including - Palma Rose, Orange, Mint, Vanilla, Geranium, Camomile, Lemon, Rose and Lavender. Coming together, these oils work to re-balance and replenish precious moisture while balancing sebum production. Also included within the oil is Omega 3 which helps to restructure the skin and promote elasticity and finally we have Camelina 'Gold of Pleasure' oil which is known for its powerful antioxidant properties to protect the skin from environmental damage.

The final product of the four is one of my favourites and it is the Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask (£49) which I fully reviewed on my blog some time ago.  A divine treat for the skin, this mask should be used at least once a week. With ingredients such as Resistem™ and Red Algae Extract to visibly improve the evenness of complexion and stimulate cell regeneration to restore skin’s natural glow. Moisturising and conditioning Hyaluronic Acid and Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil leave skin feeling vibrant, plump and radiant.  I love that this mask can be used in two different ways depending on your preference too, the first is as a treatment mask which should be applied to freshly cleansed skin and left for up to 15 minutes or it can be used as an overnight intensive treatment mask if you feel your skin really needs a little bit of TLC.  If you are familiar with the Emma Hardie Moringa products, then this one is up there with the deliciousness of fragrance!

Four products which add a little something extra to your skincare routine.  Have you ever tried anything from the Emma Hardie Skincare range or is there anything you have got your eye on?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Pop Beauty Permanent Pout Liquid Lipsticks Review and Swatches

Just when you thought you had enough Liquid Lipsticks, in comes Pop Beauty to shake it up.  As a brand, Pop Beauty has been around for quite some time and to me, are known for their slogan "Shake Up Your Make Up".  

When this amazing package featuring nine shades of their Pop Beauty Permanent Pout Liquid Lipsticks arrived in a bright almost Fuschia box with some plastic glasses, intrigue got the better of me - why did we need the plastic glasses? 

“Get pouty with this full-coverage liquid lipstick with a velvety, matte finish. Extremely long-wearing and kiss-proof, these lip colours are 15 shades of audacious! Lasts all-day & all-night. Paraben free. Not tested on animals.“

So it would seem the plastic glasses had cleverly been included so that we could try the transfer-proof formula for ourselves.

The Pop Beauty Permanent Pout Liquid Lipsticks are packaged inside a metallic silver tube with a clear lip-shaped window which allows you to see the shade of the lip colour inside. The doe-footed applicator is really easy to use, picks up enough product without overloading and I really like that there is quite a long handle. 

With fifteen shades available within the range, I had been sent nine of them which are:  

• Butter Babe - a nude but with a slight pink undertone
• Plump Peach - a peach which is on the orangey side
• Pink Tutu - Is a pretty pink
• Berry Boost - a bright berry shade
• Red Velvet - A dark red berry shade
• Poppy Pout - a red but not as bright as Red Velvet
• Razzle Rose - a loved muted nude and my favourite
• Coral Crush - a pretty coral shade with a red undertone
• OMG Violet - An amazing shade of purple

The Permanent Pout liquid lipsticks are priced at £8 each. Within this collection of shades, there are some that I am more comfortable wearing than others, but they are all really pretty and have a really sweet almost fruity to scent to them when you first apply or swatch them.

Give that these are liquid lipsticks, I would always advise ensuring you have exfoliated your lips and if they are still dry, applying a base of sorts, for me, I tend to opt for a lip balm, let it settle for a few minutes and then apply these lipsticks.  As the given name is Permanent Pout, they are exactly that, the longest-lasting liquid lipstick I have ever come across, even swatches proved to be testing to remove, but in the end, I managed it with some Micellar Water and then makeup remover.

Priced at £8 via the Pop Beauty website, they are worth every penny if you want a long-lasting, never budging liquid lipstick.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Products to help you sleep

If you follow me on Instagram then you will have probably noticed a bit of a pattern, if you have noticed that pattern then you, like me, have a little trouble staying asleep or nodding off to sleep.  Over the years I have tried quite a few different routines, not having caffeine after certain times to eventually not having it at all, unless there is an occasion when I really feel like it. Getting a good night's sleep is really important and I miss my teens when I could sleep for 16-18 hours with no effort.

Before looking at products, it’s important to correct any issues that may be preventing you from shutting off at night. Financial worries will naturally keep you up at night. Using a house calculator to check that you can afford the property you are planning to move into can put your mind at ease. There is also the bed you sleep in, beds such as a Stone TV bed, could be the one to provide you with the comfiest nights sleep. Meanwhile, you should keep other financial matters under control. On a side note, too much screen time before bed may be holding you back. 

However, even those steps won’t guarantee a great night’s rest.

So over the last few weeks and in some cases months, I have been trying out some amazing products from across quite a few brands to see whether or not they have any effect whatsoever on my ability to sleep, some have had mixed reactions and responses and others have surprised me.

The first brand is Dr Teals, not a brand I am personally familiar with but is one I have heard of. Dr Teal’s state that they are one of the fastest-growing wellness brands aligned with a healthy and active lifestyle. If you didn't know, they have a range of products from Epsom Salts to Foaming Baths which help promote self-care in your everyday.

I have been using the Dr Teals Soothe & Sleep  (£9.99). With Lavender range and it is said that the calming and soothing scent of Lavender helps your body and mind de-stress and unwind naturally, promoting a better night’s sleep.   I love the scent of Lavender, especially if it is a fresh scent and as soon as I opened the box containing the bath salts and the foaming bath, the first that hits you is that soothing scent of Lavender.    I decided to use both the salts and the Foaming Bath together, having used them separately and it is here that I found they made the most difference.  As soon as the bathwater was running, I used two cups of bath salts and a generous amount, as advised, of the Foaming Bath and let the products work together and settle before climbing into the bath. The immediate sense of relaxation was quite quick and after around 20 minutes I could feel myself beginning to get sleepy, so at this point, I got out of the bath.  Not expecting to feel so relaxed as I did, I expected to nod off to sleep after getting into bed only to wake up again a few hours later, only I didn't. Instead of waking up around 1-2am, it was 5am, so I unusually got almost a full nights sleep, which for me had been around 4 hours and now it was 6!

It has long been advised that a mist is worth trying and I have been using the Tropic Skincare So Sleepy Pillow Mist. So Sleepy is described as being 'the ultimate bedside companion for an easy, restful night's beauty sleep' and it uses a blend of essential oils which includes eucalyptus, rose geranium, frankincense, chamomile, rosewood and rosemary alongside lavender. 

These essential oils have been specifically chosen because in turn they all have calming, stress-relieving properties, to help relax the mind, so perfect for those of us with a busy lifestyle because it helps you to unwind and relax in the evening. So Sleepy does differ from many of the Pillow Mists I have tried because it isn't just designed for those who need to relax, calm down or drift off to sleep, instead, it works to promote a deeper, more restful sleep so everyone can enjoy that energised feeling when your alarm sounds.   Again, I have been using this product for around a month and whilst it is calming and relaxing, whether the sleep I have had is deeper and more restful I am yet to decide.  Priced at £20 you can find So Sleepy Pillow Mist.

I absolutely love candles, you'll find them featured a lot on my blog because I believe they really do create a more relaxing and soothing atmosphere if you choose the right one for your need.  From Kiss Air Candles, I have been using the Sleepy Head scented candle. 

Sleep Head uses a calming blend of lavender, chamomile and vanilla help you relax and unwind ready for a restful night's sleep.  It is vegan and vegetarian-friendly and is handmade using natural soy wax and cotton wicks and has a burn time of up to 35 hours.  Again, if you are not a fan of the scent of Lavender then a candle such as Sleepy Head is definitely one I would recommend because although it is an ingredient, it isn't a dominant scent.  I found that once this candle was alight, the aroma of Chamomile is by far the strongest scent but with a hint of Lavender and it is absolutely wonderful.  This is the candle I had burning in the bathroom as I settled down to enjoy some 'me time' with some bubbles and a book, it is relaxing, it does help you to wind down and you might even find the yawning is brought on as the fragrance drifts into each room of your house.  Priced at £14.

Inhale and exhale are two words I am hearing a lot about right now and Go2 is a brand which fits perfectly into this conversation.  Go2 Inhaler sticks are available in 4 different varieties and whilst I have all 4 of them, for the purpose of this post, the Sleep Stick is the one I was most intrigued by.

Inhalation is said to be one of the most effective ways of getting the benefits of Essential Oils. Different aromas can trigger the desired emotion, to that extent Sleep Stick is designed to help promote your quality of sleep, assisting to help give you a deeper and better sleep. Using Lavender, Red Mandarin and Frankincense as the three main essential oils, all of which are knowing for their relaxing, soothing and ability to promote the sense of inner peace and contentment.  To use, the advice is to place the GO2 stick closely under your nostril, hold the opposite nostril closed and then inhale slowly and deeply. I tend to count to three and then switch nostril. With Sleep Stick there is an instant hit of the essential oils in one hit and whilst I have only been used to using an inhaler when I have a deep cold and therefore not really able to smell much, I really liked the sensation from this and again, the inhale, exhale technique is really beneficial and it was relaxing especially after having had a long day in the office and I just wanted time out.  Priced at just £3.99, I think these Inhaler Sticks are great value for money and there will shortly be a review of the rest of the range on my blog.

I have mentioned Silk Pillowcases quite a few times on this blog now, life-changing is what they are, but today sees the turn of the Silk Sleep Eye Masks from Phoebe Grace (£50). Phoebe-Grace was established in London and is a British designed luxury leisurewear brand and the foundation of the brand is to re-invent luxe leisurewear by creating a connection between comfort and chic sophistication.

I have used many sleep masks over the years, some have been heated, some have been made of cotton and other materials, this one is made from 100% silk and is designed with a Cactus pattern, which I absolutely love.  I am one of those people who needs to have absolute darkness to sleep, any crack of light and I am awake, so a sleep mask is a must.

One of my grips with sleep masks is that many are uncomfortable owing to their fastenings, some have a knot which sits uncomfortably at the back of the head, some get tangled in your hair if you move about a lot in your sleep, some slip down your face and there have been many a time when I have woken up in a panic that there is something on my face.  What I love about this mask is firstly it covers the entirety of your eyes and sits comfortably either side of the nose without feeling too tight.   

As regular readers will know, I am a huge fan of bath salts and the Westlab Sleep Bath Salts (£6.99) have been quite the revelation and I can't believe I've never tried them until now.

These bath salts are made using 100% pure Epsom and Dead Sea Salts and when added to your bath, their aim is to create the relaxing bath that helps prepare you for a peaceful night's sleep. It is said that a bathing ritual before bed can help encourage a deep, restorative night’s sleep.  These vegan bath salts are enhanced with Lavender and Jasmine which together create one incredible fragrance and within these bath salts, they promote calmness as well as work to soothe the mind.  What I really like is the addition of Valerian, an ingredient you don't really see used in many products and within this one, it works to help promote a deeper more restful sleep.   As soon as the salts come into contact with hot water, the fragrance from the essential oils quickly fills the room creating one of the most relaxing scents I have come across with bath salts and it is relaxing and it is definitely calming.  At the time of using these salts I had one of the worst colds I had had for some time, so sleep was something I really wanted after a few nights of being awake coughing. Thankfully, sleep came a lot easier than I was expecting and for longer than I had been having in a few weeks!

Staying with bath products, Dr Hauschka isn't a brand I know a lot about but having tried the Moor Lavender Calming Bath Essence (£17), I definitely feel I need to know more about the brand.

I am at my happiest in water, perhaps being a water sign has something to do with this, but if I am not well, feel stressed or am anxious, an hour in the bath and it generally sees me right. Within this Bath Essence from Dr Hauschka, it is described as being "a welcome treat to come home to at the end of a demanding day or whenever you are feeling agitated, restless or cold" and I couldn't wait to give it a try. Alongside Almond and Avocado Oil which moisturises and hydrate the skin, this Bath Essence also uses the key ingredients of Moor extract with almond and jojoba oils gently moisturise and fortify skin, horse chestnut and horsetail extracts and of course Lavender essential oil which helps to calm skin redness and sensitivity while imparting feelings of care and protection.  If you want to relax and wind down, this really is a wonderful bath essence to do that with, the fresh Lavender scent is quite special and I just love how my skin feels once I am out of the bath.

As well as sleeping with an eye mask on, I also love to use other types of eye masks, notably the Starry Eyes Self-warming eye mask.

These masks are described as being 'a calm in a pouch', and it is designed to give you that 20 minute break from life, the chance to lie and relax and think of no-one but yourself. Made from non woven cotton, not only is this mask easy to wear, it features loops which fit over your ears to help hold it in place. The mask works once it has come into contact with the air as the iron powder inside heat cells reacts with oxygen in the air causing it to heat up gently. The mask reaches a maximum temperature of 100.4 F or 38 C and stays at this temperature for at least 20 minutes.  The perfect treat after a busy day and even better to use just after getting into bed before relaxing into a slumber.

The final product within my little better sleep stash is something we always have in the bathroom cabinet. Olverum Bath Oil (£35), which I featured here, is described as being a unique and highly concentrated, therapeutic bath oil which contains 10 pure essential oils, carefully blended to work synergistically.

I love to use this oil when I am feeling under the weather or have a cold because it shakes the cold right out of you. Using ingredients such as Siberian Fir Essence, Lavendin, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Rosemary, Exotic Verbena, True Lavender, Lime, Juniper and Geranium together they create quite the fragrance.  Using just 1-2 drops which turns your bathroom in a home spa with that fresh fragrance, the oil is non-greasy, so there is no chance of slipping as you lower yourself into the water.  Once in the water, again inhale and exhale become your best friend as the vapours from the essential oils help to clear block sinuses, help with headaches, sore and aching muscles -  a literal hug in a bottle and because it is so highly concentrated, you need just a little at any one time.

Finally, we come to massage and there are two products that both the mister and I have been giving a try too. The first comes from Tisserand with the Total De-Stress Massage and Body Oil.  

Described as being a calming body oil that is designed to still the mind and soothe the senses, used a unique blend of lavender, marjoram and mandarin essential oils which help to soothe, restore and restore. Added to that blend are the vitamin and antioxidant-rich omega 6 and 9 blend. As a massage and body oil, it does help to have your loved one apply and massage your shoulder knots, back pain or even just because 'why not'! I adore the scent of this oil, it is definitely a relaxing blend and when it is on the skin, it feels silky smooth and not overly runny.

Then the final product is the Gtech MYO Touch Massage Bed and there is a full review of this coming to my blog shortly, but I had to include it here. Staying with the massage theme, this bed gives you the ability to have some time out, a bit of me time and have a massage at home within your own surroundings.

This is probably one of the most amazing products I have ever had the pleasure to review and I love that I have the control as to how intense I want the massage to be, where I want that massage to take place and currently I love using it on my upper back and deltoids. 

Having shared so many amazing products in one post which I have been lucky to try, what I have realised that the ability to wind down and calm before bedtime is an absolute must, the difference it makes to my sleep pattern is adding an extra hour or two to it, that in itself is absolutely invaluable, now I just need to figure out to stay asleep and high up on my list is the change of bed, mattress and pillow to see if that improves my sleep pattern any further as both my bed and mattress are more than 12 years old  - oops!

Do you have any tips or products you absolutely swear by to help you get that full nights sleep?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.