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The Harley Medical Group NEW Skin Care Range

By Lina on January 23, 2012

The Harley Medical Group, known most commonly for their surgical practices, have bought out a luxury skin care range and very kindly sent me a few bits to try. I picked three products from the range that I felt suited my skin and its concerns best, and used them consistently for a three week trial.

The products I picked were the Gentle Cleanser, Replenishing Exfoliator and the Anti-Ageing Youth Serum.

The Harley Medical Group Gentle Cleanser
Regular readers of my blog probably know I tend to favour a cream cleanser for mornings, and an oil cleanser for evenings. It’s been a while since I’ve tried using a simple foaming face wash as my main cleanser, something not usually recommended for dryer skin, so understandably I did have reservations. However, being true to my trial, I used this cleanser every morning in place of my cream cleanser and then every night after my oil cleaner (it’s a gentle cleanser so not really strong enough to remove make-up) to give it a proper testing.

What first surprised me about this cleanser was that is was so creamy (despite being a pale yellow gel texture in the bottle), and felt very moisturising on the skin when mixed with water. Did not at all feel like I was stripping my skin, and I didn’t notice any dead skin build up (something I feared since culling the cream cleanser and exfoliating facial sponge regime I had gotten used too for mornings). For cleansing products that are this creamy and nourishing, I do tend to worry that they aren’t being thorough enough with the actual cleaning part, but my skin definitely felt properly cleansed after use – no multiple attempts needed to get that nice clean feeling – and it wasn’t dried out either! I actually could be swayed to use this all the time as it really does keep the moisture in the skin, and is definitely heads and tails above any other face wash I’ve tried.

The Harley Medical Group Anti-Ageing Youth Serum
I was really excited to try this product as since hitting 30, anti-ageing is ALL that I think about (actually, it’s been all that I think about since the age of 23, which might explain my 12 year old like face). This product promises to increase collagen, improve skin tone and firmness, whilst preventing age spots – a real concern of mine after having a skin test a while back and discovering I am potentially prone to them.

I actually started to notice results after a week of using this, my complexion definitely did look clearer and brighter, and a couple of blemish marks on my cheek which had scarred were starting to fade. My only complaint was that if I didn’t use a strong moisturiser afterwards, my skin didn’t feel as well nourished as usual. However I just got into the habit of doubling up my moisturiser and that worked really well with it. After three weeks of use my skin felt smoother and looked brighter. Although can’t comment on improved collagen, etc at this point, as I suspect I would need to trial it a bit longer to start noticing that.

The Harley Medical Group Replenishing Exfoliator
This exfoliator set is very similar in concept to one by another a luxury brand that I’ve been using recently (although I should mention it is about half the price!). It’s a set of two parts, Microderm Crystals (step one) and a Microderm Activator (step two). It claims to deliver “collagen into the skin resulting in a firmer regenerated skin tone. The stable Vitamin C derivative and Beta carotene both powerful anti-oxidants help to promote collagen formation whilst the natural bamboo exfoliator, gently removes dead skin cells leaving smoother softer skin”.

I’ve only used this product three times (once a week), and always follow it with an intensive moisturising mask. You exfoliate your (clean) skin with the Microderm Crystals for upto two minutes, then apply the Microderm Activator on top, massaging in, till it transforms in to a white foam/paste.

I love the thorough exfoliating this product does, but be careful if you’re skin is very sensitive as there is a good chance you could over exfoliate. Instead of going at it for the full two minutes, I gently exfoliate with the Microderm Crystals (step one) for only a minute, then follow with the Activator. This technique worked well for my very sensitive eczema prone skin without irritating it.

As it is quite strong, I personally wouldn’t use it more than once a week, however my skin is always glowy and super smooth the next day after using it so it’s great for prepping skin before a big night out or a special occasion!

And so..
Overall I do really like this range, the prices vary from being quite expensive (the Anti-Ageing Youth Serum) to very reasonable (the Replenishing Exfoliator) but all of the products are of noticeably good quality. I am absolutely going to stick at the Anti-Ageing Youth Serum and can’t wait to see what my skin will be like in six months time, and despite not being a fan of face washes in general – the Gentle Cleanser is without a doubt my favourite face wash to date! A lovely promising taster of the range, making me eager to see (and try!) the other additions out there!

The Harley Medical Group skin care range is available from www.harleymedical.co.uk.

DISCLAIMER: Sponsored post

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Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir

By Lina on August 31, 2011

After my skin was left a little dry from trialling the Olay Professional Kit, the lovely people at Olay sent me over the newest edition to their Regenerist range, the Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir, as they thought it would be much better suited for my skin.The Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir is a ‘power-house’ of ingredients, including penta-peptides, glycolic acid and anti-oxidants. It claims to even out skin tone, boost hydration, boost surface skin cell turnover and reduce fine lines. Thanks to the glycolic acid, it gently exfoliates skin as you sleep resulting in smoother, firmer, more even skin in just seven nights!

That’s big talk. But can it deliver?

In one word, Yes.

I seldom do a skin care review so shortly after first using it, but considering this product is meant to deliver noticeable results in only seven nights I felt it was fair to report the results having now used it that amount of time. From the first night of use, I woke up and skin was beautifully hydrated and smooth. I honestly couldn’t believe how my OH SO dry skin was this hydrated (in a non greasy way!) with such a lightweight product, so much so I would touch my skin constantly throughout the night in disbelief. It literally overnight turned my dry, slightly irritated skin around into gorgeous, healthy, dewy perfection. Exactly how I wanted it to be.Having now used it the full seven nights my skin is still in great nick, admittedly I saw the most improvement in the first few days but it’s definitely smoother all over and I will without a doubt continue to keep using it. There were a few hard bumps on my skin caused by the last skin care I used, and since using this Elixir a couple of them have turned into spots – however I’m pretty sure this is just a case of them needing to come out in order for that area of skin to improve, so I don’t really count it as a bad thing against the Elixir and am looking forward for it all to heal.

Quite simply the most loveliest, lightweight skin care product I’ve ever used that delivers results to rival the richest of creams – and does it fast! What more could I ask for? I love this Elixir so much, I might even make a bold statement of saying that it is my favourite skin care product of at least the last six months…!!! Ooooooo!

Oh, yes, AND, it’s shimmery in the bottle.. Ahhhh..

The Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir is out nationwide from the 15th September, but a few select Boots and Superdrug stores are currently stocking it now. I’ve just checked online and both places have it for £19.99 – that’s £10 off recommended retail price!

Are you tempted in trying this shimmery bottle of goodness?

DISCLAIMER: PR Samp

Olay Professional Anti-Wrinkle Kit

By Lina on August 12, 2011

I’ve been using the three products in the Olay Professional Anti-Wrinkle Kit a full month now. This is actually less than I’d give a skin care regime normally before reviewing, but considering the studies given surrounding this range, a month (28 days, actually) is all that is needed to start seeing noticeable results.Image: Google

The Olay Professional range uses ingredients in strength often found in prescription only products, and is aimed at mature skin starting to see the first signs of deeper aging. Typically, this would be for someone in their thirties onwards, however if you’re in your twenties and are seriously considering botox, this would be suitable for you also.

I’ve just turned thirty, have small signs of ageing under my eyes and if I scowled you can see the onset of a frown line between my eyebrows (spots I’d definitely hit the botox with, if I was too). Other than prone to dryness, the texture of my skin is pretty good (still got a little bit of youth left in me!), however I am really concerned with ageing and am willing to use anything as a preventative measure that also tackles the parts already suffering.What you get in Olay Professional Anti-Wrinkle Kit:
Age Defying Moisturiser SPF30 – Day cream with SPF 30
Wrinkle Smoothing Cream – Night Cream
Deep Wrinkle Complex – A targeted treatment used directly on the wrinkles themselves, containing both Pro-Retinol and Niacinamide, for day and night use.

For a kit that costs £44, it’s not cheap for the high street, however it is boasting some pretty powerful ingredients. The day cream is light, spreads easily and make-up applies nicely over it. The night cream again is quite light and sinks in quite quickly (to my annoyance). The Deep Wrinkle Complex is easy to apply, thanks to its nozzle, and isn’t greasy nor drying. Forgettably so, in a good way.

I have to be honest, I haven’t really noticed any major results but I suspect that is because my skin was simply too dry for it. So whilst it may have been working in some way, the dehydration it felt was very much worsening it in another. I spoke to another blogger who had briefly trialled it and she interestingly said she found it too greasy for her oilier skin. Seeing as, at present, they only have one formula of each product for all skin types, this might be where the problem lies. I needed something that was richer for my dry skin, she needed something more lighter for her oilier skin.

I also found my skin broke out a little bit, and even had hard bumps similar to milia appear, but I suspect that has to do with the high SPF and I’d recommend perhaps using their everyday cleanser that exfoliates to remedy this. I do tend to have a problem in general with primers and such with SPF, I always break out a little, but many people are fine with them so this may not affect you.

I’ve stopped using the entire range now, simply as my skin started to feel really dry and looked it, and the bumps weren’t pretty either! However I do still use the Deep Wrinkle Complex, the targeted treatment, under my regular moisturiser day and night.

I’m going to pass the creams on to my mum and see how she fares with them; her skin is less dry than mine and she may even reap brilliant results – I’ll report back if she does! But for me, in one month of trialling (which arguably may not be near enough time for my skin to adapt) the results were regrettably less than spectacular.

DISCLAIMER: PR samp

This entry is filed under Olay, Skincare and tagged Olay Professional Anti-Wrinkle Kit.

Eucerin AQUAporin Skincare

By Lina on July 13, 2011

Eucerin is probably mostly known for its treatment of sensitive skin. Created in Germany back in 1900, the brand soon became renowned for being recommended by doctors, doctors having discovered first hand how effective the products were for everyday concerns such as sore hands from over washing, alongside its original purpose for treating skin diseases in surgery.

I’ve been trialling two products from the new AQUAporin Skincare range; the Eucerin AQUAporin Active Moisturising Cream Rich (for dry and sensitive skin) and the Eucerin AQUAporin Active Moisturising Eye Cream (for all skin types).

Eucerin AQUAporin Active Moisturising Eye Cream
Using this twice a day, I really enjoyed applying this light gel cream to my eye area. It’s fragrance free and has been formulated for very sensitive eyes, so great for those who suffer often from allergic reactions to eye creams like me. It sunk in so quickly, the lightest consistency I’ve tried in a long while for an eye cream, and kept the eye area looking fresh and hydrated. A nice product that is especially great for being worn under make-up due to sinking in so quick; less chance your eye make-up will melt/run from having applied too much eye cream!
Priced £13.27 and available here from Boots.com.

Eucerin AQUAporin Active Moisturising Cream Rich
This product is the richest of the three face creams from the AQUAPorin range, so essentially perfect for my oh so dry skin. It felt really nice to put on, instantly cooling and hydrating. Whilst it did sink in, it also left a little bit of a dewy residue which I always prefer from my creams as it then works better with my foundation, having dry skin. I did find my skin would eventually absorb the residue and would start to dry out again during the day, but I also feel that with more continual use it would treat the dehydration on skin causing it to be less dehydrated over time.
Priced £13.27 and available here from Boots.com.

Visit www.Eucerin.com for more information on all the products.

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post.

This entry is filed under Eucerin, Skincare and tagged Eucerin AQUAporin.

Dr. Lowe’s got me hitting pan…

By Lina on May 18, 2011

Skincare, skincare, skincare… I’ve tried a lot of new skincare products these past few months (so expect reviews aplenty in the next few weeks!) and I thought I’d begin this little series with my favourite of the bunch – Dr. Lowe The Secret Is Out Lifting Cream, and to an ever so slight lesser degree the night cream that compliments it.

That paragraph above was effectively one giant sentence. Eek! Back to the product.

Well, the proof is in the pudding…

I genuinely cannot remember the last time I hit pan on a face cream, this is BIG stuff (dictionary: hit pan – hit the surface of the ‘pan’/base of a product). I am actually quite gutted that it’s finished as I love this stuff. I have so much more day cream waiting to be used from other brands that I can’t reason (right now, at least) to buy a fresh pot, but this is probably my favourite day cream out of all the brands I’ve had the pleasure of trying. Uh-huh.

So what’s so good about it? Well, it makes your skin glowey, gorgeous and moisturised, the perfect base for my foundation of choice (MAC Face and Body) and even on its own it has a genuine brightening finish. Whilst I was using it I somewhat misguidedly thought my skin was just naturally great, that it was all down to me just keeping it in really good condition.. Ha! Since I’ve run out I feel like my skin has lost all its luminosity.

It sinks in easily, but it isn’t one of those products that completely disappear once on skin, which I like. For me, it leaves a slight film on the surface, but not a yucky greasy one, just a lovely moisturised dewy one. I have dry skin and it feels perfect (so if your skin is on the oilier side it may not be as pleasant and a little too heavy), with the added benefits of SPF, once I’ve got this on I feel like half the job is done with make-up!

The night cream is a joy to use, a completely different texture to the day cream it actually leaves your skin silky as opposed to dewy. Sinks in quickly, no film on top – I actually feel like I need to apply a fair bit to get the sticky skin effect I often crave!

I’ve tried a few other pieces in the range, their foaming cleanser (okay for morning), the brightening cream (need further testing of this before committing to an opinion) and their spot gel (definitely helped with the odd spot I’ve got!). So far really impressed with the range and would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone. Dr. Lowe, I’m a fan.