SVR Laboratoire Dermatologique Eau Micellaire

When something has a history dating back to before you were even born, you often wonder how it has managed to keep it self so well hidden. Born in 1962 visionary pharmacists Simone and Robert Véret created SVR: a dermatological laboratory whose key aim was to create "BEAUTIFUL SKIN". Over the years, their son and later their grandson transformed this small French family brand into a true star in the field of dermo-cosmetics.

I was kindly sent a trio of SVR Micellar waters to try and anyone who knows me or has read my blog will know that I am not the biggest fan of Micellar Waters and am yet to find something I like enough to repurchase, so this was quite the task.  The three waters I have are Physiopure, Sebiaclear and Sensifine and each one performs a slightly different role to the other.

The first one is Physiopure, a Micellar water which is described as being pure and gentle as well as ideal for busy women looking for perfect make-up removal in a single step.

Using:

• Oxygenating Magnesium : energises and re-oxygenates the cells while detoxifying the skin.
• Exclusive moisturising complex : Provides comfort, softness and suppleness for the skin, prevents sensations of tightness.

With these ingredients, this product is designed to remove all types of makeup, even that pesky waterproof mascara in one single sweep of the face, even surface dirt and grime. What I like about this particular Micellar Water is that it doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky, something that I have found with other brands.

The second is called Sebiaclear, a product which is said to be suited to even the most sensitive, oily-combination skin. 

Again it works to purify, cleanse and remove makeup in one single step, just as Physiopure does, but this one has one slight difference in that it also works to remove excess sebum without drying out the skin. Again, ingredients include:

• Gluconolactone which has anti-inflammatory action and incredible keratolytic power. As effective as AHAs with extra tolerance. It's function being to unclog those pores.
• Niacinamide, an ingredient you might see more and more, it is used for its antibacterial and sebum-regulating effectiveness.

I have combination/oily skin and often look to products which help to control that excess sebum, something that Sebiaclear is designed to do and does do exceptionally well, for me anyway.

Finally we have Sensifine AR, a selection of products which have been designed for skin which is prone to redness, sensitivity, even rosacea. The Micellar water is described as being extra-soothing, redness-reducing for face, eyes and lips. 

It is enriched with hydrating agents such as liquorice extract and Endothelyol which come together to soothe, decongest, and lower the temperature of the skin. They work alongside soothing niacinamide which gently and effectively removes make-up from the face, eyes, and lips.  I like how this feels when it is on my skin, it is soothing, it removes absolutely everything and it doesn't leave my skin feeling taut after using.

With all three of these Micellar Waters, to use you simply soak a cotton wool pad with the product and glide over the skin to remove your makeup and anything else which might be lurking.  Having used all three of these products, all three of them do exactly as they state they will do, makeup, even the hardest to remove waterproof mascara is erased in one swipe of the skin.  Given my own skin type, I found Sensifine AR is the one which works the best for me, so much so I have ordered a full sized bottle from Feelunique (here) because I was so impressed with how my skin felt after using it.  If any of these three have captured your attention, you can try and test all of them for just £5 for a 75ml bottle, again from Feelunique.

Do you have a favourite Micellar Water?

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

Burt's Bees New Glossy Lipsticks

Having had a taste of Spring for those few days before the Beast from the East Part2 arrived, I had been looking forward to using some of the beautiful new makeup releases I've had stored away in preparation.

Not too long ago on this blog, I was lucky enough to share with you (here) some of the incredible Lipsticks from Burt's Bees. To add to those 18 Satin finish lipsticks there is now 6 Glossy finish lipsticks. 

Burt's Bees Glossy Lipstick gives you medium coverage, glossy lip colour you'll love, with natural, moisturising ingredients that love your lips in return. These long-wearing lipsticks make lips super lustrous and keep them hydrated.

Within this collection, there are six nude and pink shades and they use the nourishing ingredients such as Red Raspberry Oil, Moringa Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Mimosa flower wax which not only delivers four hours of long-lasting hydration but also gives that smooth, glossy finish.  

The six shades: 

• Peony Dew is deep pink with a hint of cinnamon 
• Blush Ripple is a bright pinkish red 
• Nude Rain is delightfully neutral with just a hint of mauve
• Nude Mist is a soft, neutral hue with a pink undertone 
• Pink Pool is a bold pink hue with a hint of violet 
• Rose Falls is a lovely soft petal pink

If you are familiar with Burt's Bees lipsticks then you will be aware that they are all formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, SLS or synthetic fragrances, and made with recyclable packaging. They are also 100% natural makeup products and are never tested on animals.

The formula is really lightweight on the lips and because it is so hydrating, they do last for four hours and from the unedited swatches above, you can see that some are far glossier than others and that there is a nice mixture of shades, something for everyone.  Each Lipstick is priced at £9.99 and can be found via Burt's Bees, John Lewis, Feelunique, Lookfantastic and Amazon.

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

American English Haircare

When it comes to hair care there are many things I don't really want in my Shampoo and Conditioners because I have got to that stage where I know what my hair likes, I know what irritates my scalp and having combination hair - oily roots and dry ends, I need to be using products which don't excaebate the problems.  This is where American English comes in.

American English is one of those brands you might have seen in your Social Media feed, it is a vegan hair brand whose products are full of natural ingredients such as seaberry, baobab and quinoa and to ensure they tick all of the boxes, each product is formulated without parabens, phthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate and the ingredients are ethically sourced.

Giving props to nature, the experts behind American English use sustainably-sourced ingredients to create a revolutionary range of vegan haircare. Free from parabens and sulphates, the brand’s dry oil and sea-salt sprays are packed with vitamins that heart your hair, while its shampoos and conditioners breathe new life into washed-out locks.

I have been using four products from the range, all of which are availble here at John Lewis and here at ASOS.

As far as I am concerned you can never own too many bottles of shampoo, especially if you find a product you absolutely love. The American English Youth Repair Shampoo (£23) is designed to gently cleanse hair and not only aims to hydrate, restore elasticity and prevent breakage but also to repair damage, strength and add shine.

Enriched with Vitamin A, C, E and Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 as well as rosemary which helps to balance the pH. What I love about this shampoo, other than how incredible it smells, is that it is lightweight and doesn't weigh my hair down. It also doesn't take an age to rinse out of my hair and because of the ingredients it is enriched with, ive found my hair an absolute breeze to style. 

When it comes to using a Conditioner, I don't use one everytime I wash my hair, instead it is something I use every other to every two washes. The American English Youth Repair Shampoo (£25) compliments the shampoo in that it aims to hydrate, restore elasticity and prevent breakage but also to repair damage, strength and add shine.

Again it is enriched with Vitamin A, C, E and Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 as well as rosemary which helps to balance the pH.  With this Conditioner it is one of the lightest I have ever used, almost weightless when on the hair, I apply it to my mid-length and ends and then any that is left over on my hairs, I sometimes run through my hair with my fingers.  This is a shampoo which really does help with the frizz, I will always have flyaway bits of hair, but the frizz can be tamed and this Conditoner helps with that.

Having greasy roots, the last thing I ever expected to use on my hair is an Oil, fearing those greasy locks would turn greasier, lank and dull.  Not so with this American English Seaberry Dry Oil (£25).  If ever there was a product I wish had been turned into a bath soak, this is it because it smells just divine.

Designed to eliminate frizz and static from hair as well as add shine, strength and rejuvenate the scalp, this multi-tasking spray is a lightweight formula rich in Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 as well as seaberry, amino acids, olive oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil. This oil isn't greasy, it doesn't weigh the hair down and it can be used as a shine spray, style finisher or as a heat protector with a recommendation that it works its best as a second day re-styling spray.

The final product I have been using is the American English 24 Karat Thickening Lotion (£25). This is quite different to any other product I have used on my hair and what makes it different is that it is described as being a revolutionary lightweight water based formulation which is not only designed to add volume while protecting the hair but to also provide flexible hold when used with heat styling tools..

Non-sticky or tacky when used, I love ths shine it adds to my hair and I love how smooth my hair feels when it is used. I apply this spray to my hair whilst it is still damp and then, once I have blow dried it, I find my hair straighteners run glide through my hair. As with the rest of this range, this lotion is enriched with vitamin A, C, and E and Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9 as well as seaberry which works to lock in hydration and prevent breakage.

As I have mentioned already, American English hair care products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate. I have noticed a difference in how my hair shines when I use these products and anything that doesn't make my roots greasier, irritate my scalp but manages to control my frizz and static will always get a huge thumbs up from me, especially when it smells as good as this collection.

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