PMD Personal Microderma Device

Microdermabrasion is something that has always intrigued me and is a treatment that I assumed you should only have done at a clinic/treatment center.  So when I was offered the chance to try a device that could be used at home, I jumped at the chance.

The *PMD Personal Microderma (£150) is said to replicate the treatment given by professionals to help unclog pores, smooth and even tone, reduce blemishes and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Inside the box you will find everything you need - 7 exfoliating discs, 1 electrical cord, 2 caps and a really helpful and easy to read/understand leaflet and instructional DVD. So, before I even considered using the device, I watched the DVD a number of times just to ensure I understood what I need to do to get this right and to ensure I was using it properly. 

The discs that accompany the set include an initial white training disc, two green discs and four blue discs all of which have different levels of abrasiveness. 

To use the devise, your skin needs to be product free and completely dry and then holding the skin so it is taught slightly, gently glide the device over the skin making sure to only pass over the same area once. The first time I tried this, I used my arm to practice on and whilst I was expecting the sound to be that of a dentists drill, I was surprised to find it less noisy than my hairdryer, though the noise is quite similar.  Once I had done my test patch, there was some slight reddening which quickly disappeared, so I was quite keen to try it on my face.  I don't have sensitive skin, but I do have an oily t-zone with dryness on both cheeks, so I started with the blue disc which is designed for sensitive skin and it took me quite a while to get the hang of it.  

As the disc spins, it not only exfoliates but has suction to it, so it sucks up the skin and any other grime that comes off your skin right out the way.  For me this took a few attempts to get used to, especially on my face because even though there is no pain, it does feel slightly odd to start with.  After finishing, the one thing I did notice was a very small amount of redness after using the device but not nearly as much as I thought I would and I haven't experienced any other effects such as breakouts which I had expected. 

Having used the device for the past few months, there is a notable difference in the softness of my skin and there is less dryness, plus the number of blackheads that had gathered on my chin have now almost gone, so for that I am hugely impressed.  What I do like about this device is how easy it is to use once you become comfortable with it, it is lightweight so it doesn't leave you with a dead arm and it is also really easy to clean which is another added bonus.

Have you tried an at-home or salon microdermabrasion treatment? Have you tried this PMD Personal Microderm device?

It's all in the Eyes!

Just like going to the dentist, getting your eyes tested is really important. I know that, you know that but it is one 'thing' that I always put off.  Infact I haven't been for over five years oops and it isn't as though the television advertisements are not a constant reminder.

I am short-sighted or what is referred to as mild myopia, which is not too severe but enough that I need to wear glasses when watching the TV, driving, reading a book/Kindle and sitting at a computer.  I went through a phase of wearing daily contact lenses, but a very drunken night out led to my forgetting I had them in and it was painful to remove them and my vanity was shoved to one side and I was back wearing glasses, not something I like wearing, but they are must.

So I need to go and have my eyes tested again to see if there has been any improvement or to see if I need new glasses and where I live there are not many easy accessible places to get to despite living on a high street.  Do I choose one of two independent optometrists or something more recognised like Optical Express?  I did use Boots for a time but my local store moved their resources to a new bigger store.  So for me it is more about finding somewhere new that I am comfortable with, a bit like going to the hairdressers, when my regular stylist who had been doing my hair for over ten years left, I suddenly didn't want to go to that salon anymore, even though everyone in there knew me and were very friendly.

I know I am going to have to go and have my eye tested, I need new glasses, my current ones (Silhouette Rimless) are in need of refreshing and there is now so much more choice than there was and even apps you can use on some online sites to upload your photo and choose your frames, something I have spent hours doing and here is my shortlist:

However I do need to get my eyes tested first before I can buy glasses!

How often do you have your eyes tested? Is it a regular appointment or are you like me and go infrequently?

SEWLOMAX SOS KIT

Did you Gran or your Mum ever explain to you the importance of having a safety pin in your handbag for emergencies, but you never listened and at times wished you had? For me, it is always something I intend to do, make up an emergency list of items I should have in my handbag(s) for those 'just in case' moments.  

Emma Lomax whom you may know better as SewLomax has a solution and has developed a whole range of emergency kits to tackle every problem imaginable and I was very kindly sent the SewLomax Gold Heart SOS Kit which is not just functional but super pretty too.

I love the gold design and think it really stands out.  The bag itself is really well made and the zip is really sturdy.  Inside the bag, which is really spacious there are quite a few items and it fits into my handbag really easily too.

A mirror which is encased in fabric to match the gold bag and it is a great size for and most definitely an essential that every bag needs.  There is also a mini hairbrush, lip balm, travel wipes, tweezers, a plaster, an emery board, a small sewing kit complete with needle, thread and some buttons, two kirby grips and a hair tie.

What I love about this kit is how much thought has gone into things you might need.  I for one am usually scrabbling around the bottom of my bag for a hair tie and a plaster, now I have them in one place and there is room for you to add other items too.

I think this is such a fantastic idea and it really is full of things that you might just need!  The SewLomax SOS Kit range in size and prices £20-£30 and you can see them all HERE

What do you think of these Sew Lomax SOS kits?  Are there particular items you keep in your handbags for emergencies?

June You Beauty Discovery Box - 'Beauty Hereos'

This month's You Beauty Discovery Box is themed 'Beauty Hereos' and the products selected are from some of the biggest brands in beauty, as well as the introduction of some lesser known brands. Choosing two products to go into my box was again quite difficult because the selection was once again so good!

In the box every month are at least two treats. This month we were treated to three treats which included:

• A packet of Urban Fruit which is described as being delicious baked fruit to curb on-the-go or desk based snack cravings. I have Magnificent Mango. 
• Two sachets of Clipper Tea of which one of Organic Green Tea and the other is Red Fruits & Aronia Berry
• Three handy Good To Go Anywhere wipes which are flushable and great for having in your bag.

When it came to the actual selections, there was a choice of skincare, make up and bodycare for product choices and brands such as Amie, Sanctuary Spa, Inika and Xen Tan are some of the brands to choose from. I decided to opt for two products that I had heard of but had never used.

Nude Skincare Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil (£9.50) is something I have had my eye for some time now, so I am delighted I was able to select it for my box. 

 I am a huge fan of facial oils and this one is described as being a skin saviour that refines and clarifies skin. Using Bakuchiol, nature’s alternative to retinol which is known to smooth and refine skin’s texture. Coleus root clarifies the complexion while antioxidant rich Rosemary and Thyme extracts help protect from environmental stresses. 

This fast-absorbing, ultra-sheer treatment oil revives and repairs skin with natural, healthy ingredients for results you can see.

The final item I chose is the Crown Brush C436 Mini Duo Fibre Blender (£7.39) which is the latest addition in the brands Duo Fibre Range, it has a slightly shorter head but is very soft and excellent for blending.

Due to the duo fibre blend of goat and synthetic hair, this brush is ideal for use with liquid, cream and powder. This brush is recommended for foundation application and/or concealer, and also to blend out areas of contour and highlight.

So that is this months box. It costs just £6.95 and look at the contents, isn't that just great value for money?  I would love to know if you also subscribe and what you chose from the list!

La Collection de Grasse Figuier & Osmanthus

I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes, I either like them or I don't and it is rare I come across one that I am on the fence about. When I was introduced to Figuier & Osmanthus which is L’Occitane’s newest addition to their La Collection De Grasse fragrance range, I immediately loved it. Inspired by and named after the famous town of Grasse in the South of France 'the world capital of perfumery'. 

Designed exclusively to celebrate L’Occitane’s 2015 Chelsea Flower Show Garden – ‘A Perfumer’s Garden in Grasse’ with the help of garden designer James Basson, for which they won the gold medal!
A unique and exclusive scent is described as being "a delicious mouth-watering fragrance that captures the essence of Provençal summertime, it unites the sun-warmed fig tree from Provence and the sparkling osmanthus from the Far East" and it is one I loved as soon as I was introduced to it earlier this month.

The fragrance opens with top notes of bergamot and blackcurrant and unsurprisingly there is also a ripe, fruity fig. The heart notes of fig leaves and the Osmanthus flower. Finally there is a warm base of cedar and musk.

As soon as I tried this in the Covent Garden L'Occitane store, I liked the scent. As soon as it is spritzed the warm fruity floral tones of the blackcurrant and fig are immediately noticeable with the cedar and musk also there lingering in the background. Once it has settled on the skin, it is those warm fruity floral tones which remain noticable and for me it is the perfect summery scent which on my skin lasts pretty much all day, I felt only a need to re-apply when leaving work to go on to a meeting, function or out to dinner just to top it up. 

Launched this month, Figuier & Osmanthus retails at £28 for 30ml which is great value for money and definitely a scent I would recommend.

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June Birchbox with French Sole

So June has arrived much quicker than I thought it would and that means I am only one month away from getting another year older (sobs).  To put a smile on my face though the June Birchbox has arrived and it is just so pretty.

This month Birchbox have collaborated with French Sole for this box which features the most stunning Bassett Allsorts kind of design which really jumps out at you and it is one of the brightest boxes I have seen from Birchbox so far.  French Sole is the flat show of choice for celebrities such as Poppy Delevigne and Olivia Palermo and are described as being comfy and chic!  If you want to get your hands on them, the check out the Birchbox flash sale on June 16th!

Inside this months box are products that are designed to help you make feel fresh faced, cool and down with it!

Firstly is the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave In Conditioner which is described as being a 'wonder spray detangler' which minimises frizz, safeguards colour and add shine.  The first thing I did was spritz it and it reminds me of Lee Stafford Poker Straight in scent, which I actually quite like, so I am looking forward to giving this a try.

The fabulous brand Cowshed are next with their Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion.  I love Cowshed because whilst their product names a little bit tongue in cheek, everyone I have tried, I have loved.  Knackered Cow contains a lovely mix of essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus which are not only incredibly relaxing but also beautifully scented too, so your skin is left soft, smooth and smelling amazing.

I was really happy to see a Penhaligon's pefume sample in this box, anyone who knows me will know I love a good perfume sample because it is nice to try a perfume on your skin away from department stores and boutiques to get a really feel as to how it smells. Iris Prima Eau De Parfum is described as being "an elegant fragrance which mingles fresh bergamot top notes with musky Sandalwood and sweet Vanilla". Once it settles on the skin, it smells absolutely divine and is a scent I could happily wear on a night out, or for a special occasion.

The next product is the Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar. I did have a different shade in my October Birchbox, but as I am a fan I am more than happy to add another to my growing list. Described as being super nourishing with ingredients like Shea Butter and Vitamin E, the lip balm adds a pop of colour to your lips as well as leaving them feeling soft, smooth and supple.

I was delighted to see a product from REN in my box too and it is one I was lucky enough to sample a few months ago. The Instant Firming Beauty Shot is a liquid matrix of hyaluronans and phycocolloids which instantly life and firm leaving your skin looking dramatically smoother, lighter and more youthful.

The serum is gel like, only it is a little runnier than your average gel, so you only need a small amount on the top of your finger to cover your entire face. When I used it for the first time, I was quite surprised to find that within half an hour of applying it, my face felt slightly tight and much firmer than usual and these effects lasted all day, 7 hours.

The final product inside the box is a packet of the STYL London Temporary Tattoos.   Whilst they are not really my thing, it isn't going to stop me from trying them out because they are little bit cool. 

If all of that isn't enough, then hidden at the bottom of my box was a drawstring shoe bag in matching print to my box and whilst it is perfect for carrying around a pair of flat shoes in your bag.  Anyone who lives in London will know how heavenly it is to carry a pair of flats around with you in times of need and this bag is perfect for the job, I love it.  If you don't use it for your shoes, it would also double up quite nicely as something to store in your make up, your make up brushes and so on.  

I think this is a fantastic box from Birchbox, it has a nice mixture of products to try and they are all really good sizes too.  There is not a single product in the box that I dislike and I cannot wait to give them all a try properly.  If you like the look of this box and want to get your hands on it then as you know

Birchbox is a monthly beauty box subscription which costs £12.95 a month.

What do you think to this box? 

Welcome to The Libbie Club

Today I want to tell you all about a brand new beauty box called The Libbie Club. Latest in Beauty (LIB) have recently launched The Libbie Club – described as being a community of influential beauty fans who are rewarded for reviewing, sharing and referring beauty products.

So, every month members of The Libbie Club are sent a free of charge box of full sized beauty products to try out, you then write your honest reviews about each product on their site and if anyone makes a purchase via any of your recommendations, you will then be sent another box the next month to review again. However, with each product comes an offer, more of which you can read about below with what was in my box.

I was kindly sent the June box which had some amazing products:

Vintage Cosmetic Company Essential Face Brush Set (£33)

I am a big fan of Vintage Cosmetic Company, I love the whole vintage theme to the packaging and love how the products are packaged.  This set of three face brushes consists of a Powder Brush, Blusher Brush and a Foundation Brush.

Each brush was really soft natural bristles and is lightweight when holding.  My favourite brush of the three is the powder brush which I use for both fluid and powder foundation as well as for my setting powder because I love the finish it gives.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 75ml (£16)

This product was said to have been originally created by Philip Kingsley specifically for Audrey Hepburn, who wanted a super-moisturising treatment that would repair her hair and keep it in great condition throughout the frequent colouring and styling done to her hair on movie sets. So if that isn't a reason to give it a try, then I don't know what is. 

As a pre-shampoo intensive moisturising treatment I love how soft and smooth this makes me hair feel and it is  product I use on occasions when I feel my hair needs a little treat and some TLC.

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan: Medium 125ml (£41)

I am on the fence with this product.  Whilst the tan in my box was medium making it too dark for my own super pale skin, I have tried the fair tan in the past and liked it, but didn't love it.  It does claim to be easy to apply, which it is and naturally you do need to use a tanning mitt.  The whole process in fact was incredibly stress free and easy, I just wasn't a fan of the after colour. 

So, I gave this product to a friend of mine who has incredibly lovely olive toned skin and it suits her perfectly and she loves it.

What do you think to the Libbie Club?  Are you a member?

Brand Focus - Deciem

For those of you who haven't heard of DECIEM , they are a boutique and exciting umbrella of many amazing beauty brands. Products such as Fountain, Grow Gorgeous, Hand Chemistry and Inhibitif to name just a few. For me Deciem was the first brand to give me a big break in the blogging world with Inhibitif, a product that I am still using today and it is just as good now as it was to begin with and a post which is my most popular with almost 100,000 hits.

It wasn't until I started using some of these products that I truly understood what ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid did because it is quite complex to explain.  What Deciem have done, is take the science and make it easier to understand, not just what it is, but what it is designed to do and in doing so they have created some amazing products which I couldn't be without.

I am yet to try a product from Deciem and not love it straight away and I thought a post showing some of those products that I love, which you might not have heard of or ever come across would be a good introduction to the brand.  There are full reviews coming on each of them, so this is just a brief insight.

Hylamide is the newest product by Deciem that I have been using. Described as being "Clinically-advanced serum for multi-depth rehydration, visible plumping and texture regularity". Give me a product with a pipette and I am going to be excited by it.  As a serum, this product aims to work on:

• Surface hydration
• Below surface hydration
• Fine lines
• Wrinkles
• Dynamic lines
• Sagginess
• Textural irregularities

The idea is that you apply it both morning and evening and you should begin to notice changes within 10 days!

Grow Gorgeous is all about the health of your hair and the three products I have been using are - Back to the Roots, Cleansing Conditioner and Overnight to Gorgeous Hair Masque.

• Cleansing Conditioner - It is free of sulphate and parabens and is designed to replace the need for separate shampoo and conditioner to leave hair looking clean, healthy, thick and lustrous. It works to rebalance the scalp and restore hair to flourish and realise its full visible potential
• Back to the Roots - This is a 10 minute scalp masque with vitamins, caffeine and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid. I absolutely love how cooling it is once applied and it is a great pick me up for hair when it just feels yucky and in need of a treat.
• Overnight Masque - To be applied whilst you sleep, a combination of high- and low-molecular weight forms of hyaluronic acid, purified mushroom and Amazonian açaí and palm oils work hard to visibly hydrate, strengthen and smooth your hair . Now this masque I adore and use at least once a month.

Hand Chemistry - One of my all time favourite handcreams, Hand Chemisty is made by Deciem and you can read about it right here. Within the Hand Chemistry range is a whole host of products which are designed for the hands, body and feet.

• Heel Chemistry - Not just for feet but also hands, specifically those which are dry and cracked. It is designed to repair the skin rather than remove/make it peel by hydrating the cracked skin whilst rebalancing below-surface hydration.
• Hyaluronic Concentrate - Just the world Hyaluronic and I get excited. My skin loves it in all forms. This product is again for the hands and body. I use this straight after being in the shower or bath and it absorbs into the skin incredibly quickly leaving behind incredibly moisturised skin which is soft to the touch.
• Hyaluronic Body Mist - I absolutely love this and it is my second bottle. It is a light refreshing mist which is actually a non-aerosol, yep mind blown! The mist is really really fine and as soon as it settles on the skin, it disappears and leaves my skin feeling really hydrated.  

Each of these products has a full review coming up on my blog over the next few weeks, so look out for them.  In the meantime, you can find all of these products in Boots and read more about them HERE.

Have you tried any of these products?

Kiss Air Candles - The Ice Cream Parlour collection

When someone says candles and Ice Cream, the two probably shouldn't go together right? Wrong!  They very much do. Today Kiss-Air Candles have launched their new Ice Cream Parlour Summer collection and within the range, there are going to be five new candles, all of which have been inspired by popular ice cream flavours and all sound good enough to eat.

The Ice Cream Parlour collection will include scents such as Mint Choc Chip, Salted Caramel, Mango Sorbet, Rum and Raisin and Black Cherry scented candles.  I was kindly sent Mint Choc Chip and Mango Sorbet and all I can say is that I wanted to eat them not burn them as soon as I lifted the lid to see how good they smelt and whether or not they did remind me of ice-cream - they did!

Mint Choc Chip** is the first one I lit and it smells very much like a Mint Choc Feast Ice-cream to me, the kind I always want on a hot summer day because it cures my craving for chocolate whilst being cooling at the same time.  

This candle is spot on with an equal mix of being peppermint and bitter chocolate, both scents you can detect separately and together and it smells so good, seriously amazing and it is neither over the top sickly sweet or pungently minty, for me the mix is just perfect. Combining notes of peppermint with a twist of bitter chocolate chips, this is a massive thumbs up from me.

Mango Sorbet** is made up of a refreshing blend of exotic ripe mango, lemon and raspberries all rolled into one to create what can only be described as heavenly.  The kind of scent you want to burn on a hot spring/summer day and one that reminds me of a Calippo ice-lolly that I love to eat to keep refreshed and hydrated during the summer. One alight, the scent, which is not at all overly sweet or sickly, quickly fills the room and lingers really nicely. 

For me Mango Sorbet is a scent that everyone can love, male or female and when it is alight, it smells exactly as you expect it to.

The candles I have pictured above are the large tins which have an RRP £8.50 and have a burn for up to 30 hours. As always, candles do come with warnings, one of them being ensure you don't leave them burning unattended and take extra care when handling the metal tins because they get really hot. I would also advise placing all candles on a heat proof mat when burning the candle.

If you like the look and sound of Kiss-Air's Ice Cream Parlour Collection, look out for them as they launched today and prices of the products differ depending on their size.  

What do you think to this collection?  Do any of the scents catch your attention?

Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer

The Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer is a product I picked up on a whim having forgotten to take primer with me to work, I ha toyed with just repurchasing one of my regular primers, but decided to give this a try. 

I am a huge fan of using a primer and tend to use Max Factor Facefinity or POREfessional by Benefit, my two favourites. I use them because I love the smooth base they create when it comes to applying make up especially liquid foundation. As someone with combination skin, I hate it when a product clings to the tiniest flake of dry skin, a primer solves this problem for me, plus they can reduce the appearance of pores and my make up lasts much longer.

The Face Base Primer which cost just £5 is a really lightweight but fairly thick transparent gel, similar in texture to Baby Face my Maybelliene with that silicon like feel. On the skin it blends in really easily and smooths incredibly well so that you cannot see or tell that there is any product on the skin whatsoever, it is as though it disappears and behind it leaves soft, smooth skin.  I tend to use my fingers to apply my primer and with this it is a case of a little goes a long way.  One applied the effects for me on the skin are really similar to POREfessional especially if I have give it time to settle on my skin it works so much better, the only difference is that POREfessional isn't clear.

I tend to swap and change my foundation depending on my mood, so I either use my Boots No.7 Stay Perfect Foundation or MAC C1 currently and Face Base works well with both of them.  I also sometimes just opt for powder foundation over a BB Cream or tinted moisturiser and again, Face Base worked really well and ensuring my coverage was not only even, but there was no clinging to my dry skin on either cheek and my make up lasted for the entire working day, which is a lot more than I had expected and hoped for, when you consider it costs just £5 for 25ml.

The tube itself is a pink pearlesque shade which is really quite plain but also very pretty at the same time.  The twist off lid is also easy to remove and replace and the part I like the most is the long nozzle which dispenses the primer because one quick squeeze gives enough to cover your entire face.

If like me you have combination skin with an oily t-zone with a slight dryness of the cheeks, this primer is very much worth trialing, not only is it a cheaper alternative for other primers, but it is amazing value for money and is one of those products you shouldn't dismiss just because of the £5 price tag!  It does make a great primer, it doesn't cling to imperfections, it does reduce the look of your pores and it does allow my make up to last 8-9 hours without the need to re-apply.  For me this was a great find and one I have since repurchased.

Have you tried this Primer from Makeup Revolution?

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