Heaven Skincare Bee Venom Face Mask

At the beginning of the year I did a post featuring some of the products I wanted to try in 2014, many of which pricked an interest due to some odd ingredient.

I was lucky enough to be sent some of the Heaven Skincare Bee Venom Face Mask**, a product favourite of some of our Royal Family Members, which is how I became fascinated by it – I am a huge Royalist and if it is good enough for the Duchess of Cambridge, it is good enough for me right?

Well once I had it in my grasp, the whole idea then became much scarier, I mean actual bee venom on my face, why on earth would I want to do that?  Well this is why:

“Heaven's Bee Venom range is the only Bee Venom range that contains the special ingredient abeetoxin™..  It softens lines and wrinkles whilst plumping and firming. It is a luxurious cream that you will see and feel working instantly, leaving your skin looking its youthful and radiant best.

If that isn’t enough to capture your interest it also contains Manuka Honey which is renowned for its soothing and healing properties as well as softening and calming Shea Butter which also has moisturising properties and finally Rose and Lavender essential oils which are also both hydrating and moisturising when on the skin.

As mentioned it does contain Bee Venom which claims to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming, whilst getting to work on frown lines and wrinkles which is something I am always looking for, paranoid that I am getting old before my time.

The actual cream itself is not overly thick but you only need a small amount to cover your face.  So having cleaned and cleansed my face I took a few deep breaths and applied the mask as instructed to do so. There is a slight scent to it, definitely honey was the ingredient that I detected over and above anything else, but it glides onto your skin effortlessly and gradually sinks in.  Once your whole face is covered, you leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it off.  Once it was applied, I was sat on my bed relaxing and after about 6 minutes I felt my face start to tingle; it wasn’t unpleasant in any way, infact it was a relief to know that something was happening, I wanted those 20 minutes to hurry up so I can have a look at my face to see what the affect was going to be.  As soon as my time was up, I grabbed my Washi cloth and duly removed the cream or what was left of it, from my face and this is where I was so impressed.

Before using the cream, I had slight dryness on both cheeks and on my forehead between my eyebrows, it is a constant problem when the weather changes from cold to warm, no matter how much cream I apply, it always comes back.  So, having used this mask, not only did my skin feel smoother than it ever had before, softer than I have ever known it to be, but it was free from dry skin, I had a natural glow and even though I have hardly wrinkles, there was no sign of those that had been there, my skin felt tight and the puffiness under my eyes from lack of sleep had also gone. I was quite literally astounded by how good this was after one use.  

Now two days on, my skin is still soft and smooth and there is no sign of the dryness on either cheek or on my forehead, no wonder it is such a big hit with members of the Royal Family and now me!

As well as using this product as a mask, you can also use it both in the morning and in the evening by applying a small amount on top of your moisturiser.  I am yet to do this, but I intend too because I really want to see what the difference in my skin will be like.

This product for me is wonderful, now I have it in my grasp I am not willing to let it go, I have never tried a product like it nor been so impressed by its results, they more than live up to the claims and it is no wonder that Deborah Mitchell, CEO and founder of Heaven Skincare has won awards for the abeetoxin™ ingredient. 

Prices start from £25.30 and more information is available on the website which you can find here www.heavenskincare.com

Emmy Twenty – Fashionably Flat Shoes

There are very few amongst us that don’t own at least one pair of trusty ballet pumps. The reliability and versatility of this style means it has stood the test of time (heroines like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot were big fans), so it’s no surprise that in 2014 we’re still besotted.

I recently discovered Emmy Twenty – a newly launched company that designs “fashionably flat shoes”. Its founder Sharon Sunners, had originally set out on a quest to find leather ballet pumps for work (many will know that London’s pavements and tube escalators can make wearing heels a daily battle). What she found both on the high street and online though was that a lot of the shoes were made from cheap materials like PU and the ones that were leather would cost well over £100. There seemed to be no middle ground. Speaking to friends, family and even surveying other shoppers they all agreed. It was then that she decided that if she couldn’t find it, she would make it and began sketching out designs. 

Given her direct experience as a consumer, Sharon paid particular attention to detail during the sampling process. For example knowing how unforgiving pavements are, a heel cushion was added to lessen the impact of the ground when walking and provide extra comfort. The colourful range is designed to be stylish and fun but also practical for the busy, modern and yet on-trend woman.

On another note, in support of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March, Emmy Twenty has teamed up with the charity Ovarian Cancer Action (www.ovarian.org.uk) to raise funds for research. For every pair sold of the limited edition Danson Teal shoe, £5.00 will be donated to the cause. The gorgeous teal colour is just the ticket for Spring! 

You can view the full collection at www.emmytwenty.com and if you’re tempted to treat yourself, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s free UK delivery.