Ark Skincare Pre Cleanse & Make-Up Remover

For me, 2017 has been quite the year for discovering new brands, some of which I am bringing with me into 2018 on this blog.  The one I have to share today is from a brand called Ark Skincare.  Ark is an award winning, British skincare brand, which treats skin by age and by skin concern, using bio active natural ingredients, containing highly effective antioxidants, lipids and vitamins. Split into three key age specific ranges they have Protect for teens & 20s, Defend for 30s & 40s, & Defy for those over 50.   I love that you can shop by age or by concern and from which, you will be given a whole range of products to choose from with descriptions and information on what it does, how to use it and most importantly the ingredients it has within it.

The one product I have just finishing using up is the Pre Cleanse and Make-Up Remover (£30) which is formulated for all ages and is described as being a revolution in skin cleansing. I always ensure that I double cleanse every day. Living in London, a city which is over polluted means my skin can change from week to week and I do change my skincare up and down as I feel I need to, but double cleansing is always a must because there is nothing quite like taking the day off your face.

This cleanser combines Omegas 3, 6 and 9 alongside a Multi-Fruit Lipid blend which lifts literally everything off your face, even that waterproof mascara that is a complete pain to remove and with it comes all the surface dirt and grime which has deposited itself on your skin throughout the day. It always amazes me just how much 'muck' comes off my face, even though my journey too and from work on average is less than an hour! So for me, a pre-cleanse before I cleanse is essential because I want that nastiness off my face to then allow my cleanser to work its magic.

Using a combination of Grape Seed Oil with Avocado and Kiwi Oil which work to nourish and protect against dryness, Margosa Leaf which extracts and destroys bacteria growth alongside the herbal benefits of Zi Cao, an Ayurvedic herb which soothes and comforts sensitive skin.  Combining all of these ingredients together and you have a cleanser which, thanks to its oily texture, grabs hold of everything and removes it so effectively and it leaves your skin feeling absolutely clean, soft and smooth ready for the following cleanse.  To use it, I simply ensure my face is damp and then pouring just a small amount into the palm of one hand, I massage it onto my face using circular movements to ensure that the gunk knows I am coming for it, then once I have finished the massaging, I use a muslin cloth to remove everything that has come loose, look in shock and horror at what has been found, then splash my face with warm water to ensure I have removed absolutely everything I possibly can and then do my second cleanse.

I had no idea what to expect from ARK, I hadn't read any reviews about any of the products or even see this particular one featured anywhere, so it was a nice surprise to find a product which does exactly what it claims it is going to do, is kind to my skin and feel like an absolute treat to use each time I used it.  It does retail for £30 and all of the products available from ARK Skincare are cruelty free and are also free from Parabens, SLS, mineral oil, S.D. Alcohol, Formaldehyde, and Artificial Colours and Fragrance.

Have you ever tried any of ARK skincare products?

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

Ancienne Ambiance Bacca Berry Luxury Scented Candle

Not too long ago I wrote a post (here) on the candles I had been burning in the run up to Christmas. There is nothing I love more than being cosy, snug and relaxed and candles burning do just that for me. 

Over the last week there has been another candle that I have fallen in love with and it is the Bacca Berry Luxury Scented Candle from Ancienne Ambiance and honestly, it is just divine. Ancienne Ambiance is a London-based luxury niche brand which was founded back in 2004 and they specialise in creating fine fragrances, home fragrances, body-care, perfumes and natural hand-poured scented candles. Everything you find from Ancienne Ambiance is paraben free, has been created using natural ingredients and has recyclable packaging.

Described as being a sophisticated and vibrant fruity blend of redcurrants, blackcurrants and an array of freshly picked bursting berries. A seasonal staple for early hunter-gatherers for thousands of years, Bacca (Latin used for ‘small round fruit’) were also enjoyed by the Romans, Etruscans and Greeks.   I absolutely love the scent of this candle, it is one that you can smell as you unwrap it and one which doesn't need to even be alight because it scents the entire room within which it sits.  Once alight the fragrance intensifies and because a lot stronger and once it has been burning for a good few hours, the scent intensifies enough to float through the entire house, so if a fruity berry scent with a slight earthy twist is a scent you enjoy, then this candle is one you need.

Each candle is hand poured here in the UK, and it’s a slow burning natural wax with a lead free wick and it comes packaged inside a straight glass jar and because it is a huge 200g sized candle, it has a burn time of around 60-65 hours which is really impressive and it costs just £40.

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

The Ordinary Harvey Nichols No-Brainer Set

Just this week, The Ordinary officially launched at Harvey Nichols and if you know anything about Deciem, then you will know it wouldn't have been a quiet launch! So to mark this new partnership, The Ordinary have an exclusive to Harvey Nichols set of essentials, I introduce to you The No-Brainer Set.

Under the Deciem umbrella, The Ordinary is described as being an evolving collection of treatments offering familiar, effective clinical technologies positioned to raise pricing and communication integrity in skincare. I absolutely love The Ordinary and it is a brand and have featured some of their recent launches on the blog which includes both Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone and the one with a waiting list of 25,000 here - namely the foundations which had everyone in a frenzy wanting to get hold of them.  

The No Brainer Kit is priced at £24 (But worth £27.50) and features three products which are:

The Ordinary “Buffet”: Described as being a Multi-Technology Peptide Serum, it is water-based and combines a comprehensive array of studied technologies which work to target multiple signs of ageing at once.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA: Described as being a Surface Hydration Formula. The formula offers non-greasy hydration that acts as a direct topical supplement of impaired Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF) components. It also provides immediate hydration and lasting results with continued use.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Emulsion: This products uses what is referred to as 'next-generation retinoid active technologies' and they have been shown to achieve a much better reduction in signs of ageing than retinol without the irritation associated with retinoids.

Coming together, all three of these products work to target key concerns such as dehydration, dullness and signs of ageing. If you want to start 2018 with a new skincare regime but without breaking the bank The Ordinary is the brand to do just that as they offer clinical formulations with integrity and with prices ranging from £3.90 - £14.90, the brand brings effective, familiar technologies to market at very affordable prices.

The Ordinary Harvey Nichols No-Brainer Set is an in store offer only and it features alongside a full brand line up and stock is limited, so grab it quick!

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