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No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator

By Lina on March 10, 2010

I started trialing this Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator back in November and have been using it consistently since. This is the first Dermabrasion product I’ve ever tried, and I have to admit that I was a teeny bit unsure as to whether my ever so sensitive skin could hack something so abrasive, I mean, the whole concept of Dermabrasion is abrasion, right? But I put my faith in trusty No7, a brand I’ve always gotten on really well with in the past with no probs prior, and decided that my skin could really do with it.

The product comes with a leaflet that is pretty explanatory on how to use this product; once a week, apply a splodge on you nose, chin, cheeks and forehead (once dampened), and then exfoliate in upwards circular motions in the order it suggests, for a approximately 1 minute. Then rinse off and follow with a rich, nourishing moisturiser.

I followed the instructions perfectly, and instantly felt the benefits of the end result; my skin was smoother, radiant and brighter. My skin tone appeared more even, and the overall surface of my skin seemed much more refined. I honestly couldn’t believe how amazing this product was! However, as with many things that seem too good to be true, my skin pretty soon started a backlash against it.

The results remained brilliant for a good month or so of frequent, routine, weekly use. Then, out of nowhere I started to feel as if it was exfoliating my skin a bit too well, actually harming the healthy skin and making my skin feel a little too bitty. To be honest, I can’t impart the blame entirely on this product as I genuinely feel my skin was having a bit of a crisis anyway from the weather and central heating and so on (like many), but all I knew was I couldn’t use this product as it was just all of a sudden too harsh for my especially delicate skin.

So what conclusion does this leave me with? Well, after giving it a month break I have started to re-use it again, now that my skin has got a lot better and not so fragile anymore. Whilst it doesn’t ‘ruin’ my skin as such like it did towards the end of my last round of using it, it certainly didn’t boast results like I had previously felt with it. It just kinda stopped working for me.

As I have dry skin, this product was always going to be a bit of a risky trial as it does have tendencies to dry your skin out further, so for me with very sensitive and dry skin, I have to be careful. But if you have oilier skin, or even normal to oily skin, this product could possibly be amazing. It even suggests that if your skin is oilier you can use it twice a week (I wouldn’t dare though! Okay, that’s a lie, I did dare when I first started using it and got over-excited about how great it was, but learnt my lesson pretty pronto when I had veeeeery tight skin the next day)! But in a nutshell, if your skin is durable I can attest to the fact that it does brighten your complexion, smooth the surface and and generally give it a glow about it.

So I think for the majority of healthy skinned gals this is an effective, worthwhile product that is incredibly reasonably priced – one tube of this, priced at £10.50, has lasted me 5 months already and will probably last another 5! But for those with very delicate skin, just be careful, as as fine as the particles of this micro-dermabrasion exfoliator are, I read a review that pretty aptly described it as liquid sandpaper. And that was a positive review. So just bare that in mind..

DISCLAIMER: This product for sent to me for review purposes, but this in no way has any impact on my final opinion of it. All my reviews, as always, are honest, regardless of whether I bought or was sent the product for review.

New skin care brands to have a gander at!

By Lina on February 11, 2010

There was a brilliant event I went to yesterday hosted by a PR company who wanted to offer bloggers a chance to familiarise themselves with their [predominantly skin care] brands better. It was an amazing opportunity for us to discover new brands, and best of all, to meet the creators behind them!

Elizabeth’s Daughter

This range is 95% natural and a great alternative for those who do have problem skin and want something gentle, effective and free of fragrances and chemicals. Woman of all ages can use this, especially if most other products irritate their skin, but generally it is aimed for younger skin – it’s aimed for mothers buying their daughters skin care that is natural and kind.

Elizabeth, founder of Elizabeths’s Daughter

Elizabeth’s Daughter really appealed to me as I suffer from Eczema, and always have done. People do comment that I have good skin, but that is because I work really hard in looking after it. My skin is the sensitivest of the sensitive, and there are many products that people rave about that I simply can’t use. Such as Elizabeth Ardens 8 Hour Cream. I’m allergic to that. HOWEVER, Elizabeth’s Daughter have actually bought out an alternative to that product (Soothing and Glossing Balm) without the known allergens which I’m hoping I can actually use (woo hoo!). Elizabeth’s Daughter also have an Intensive Moisturiser which is supposed to be fantastic for dry, Eczema prone skin. Luckily we were given one of these in the goody bag!

Elizabeth’s Daughter Intensive Moisturiser

You can buy Elizabeth’s Daughter online from www.elizabethsdaughter.co.uk, or from retail stockists John Lewis (Oxford St, London), Peter Jones (Edinburgh, Bristol & Newcastle) and Harvey Nichols (Dublin, Edinburgh & London).

He-Shi

An Irish brand that specialise in self tanning products. I only really fake tan my pins during summer for the once in a blue moon I get them out, but I am still well aware of the problems most self tanners are rife with; horrible smell, patchiness, dryness. Yep, I’ve definitely noticed those in the past! However, this brand promises to be the genuine product that is the exception to all those common problems, and whilst I haven’t used it properly, Hilary (the founder), demonstrated it on my arm and it looked gorgeous, smelt lovely and didn’t turn orange (or stain my clothes!)!

Hilary McMurray, Founder of He-Shi

You can buy He-Shi online from www.he-shi.co.uk or from selected salons and day spas across the country.

Blooming Babe

A range mostly for the pregnant woman but they do also have some gorgeous sounding skin care products too! Blooming Babe have (as you’d expect) anti-stretch mark oils, tummy masks(!) and so on, but what excited me the most was their oil cleanser (Genie in a Bottle) and Glow Papaya Enzyme Mask – an exfoliator that was in a mask form. You applied it as a mask, let it develop for a certain amount of time, then washed it off. It worked by only removing the dead skin through enzymes alone, so it contained no scrubby bits! This is a fab idea as it meant you weren’t accidently scrubbing healthy skin that many of us probably do unintentially with a regular exfoliator.

The star products (in my eyes), Genie in a Bottle Rinseable Oil Cleanser and Glow Papaya Enzyme Mask

Blooming Babe’s Creative team – including founder Elizabeth Horgan Navarro on the left!

You can buy Blooming Babe online from www.beautique.com and www.bloomingbabe.com, or from retail stockists Urban Retreat and Harrods.

Bumble & Bumble, Korres and Tommy Guns

Yes, we’ve probably all heard of all of these brands already, but it was nice to have a good look at the ranges and in the case of Bumble & Bumble (I so heart Bumble & Bumble), see what new stuff they were coming out with.

As it happens, Bumble & Bumble are coming out with a new thickening range!

You can buy Bumble & Bumble from retail stockists Space NK.

Cosmetics ála Carte

I could have spent all day at this display! Although I don’t like to play favourites, especially as all these brands were all equally amazing, obviously I am going to be most excited by the one make-up brand show cased here!

I remember back in make-up school the tutors were always using Cosmetics ála Carte, so I knew they were of good quality. But for some weird and unbeknownst reason I had never ever gotten round to testing them out myself! I have now instantly fallen in love with their little cream blush compacts – the neon bright ones in the picture above! I WANT!

Hermoine, co-funder of Cosmetic ála Carte, on the left.

They are most famous for their Made-to-Measure foundations (much like Presciptives used to do) and general Made-to-Measure attitude. If you bought a lipstick from them that was discontinued, you have the option for them to re-make you one exactly the same. This does come at a price, but at least it’s good to know that if you do have ‘one’ lipstick that you wear every day, year after year (my mum springs to mind), all is not lost if it suddenly became discontinued.

You can buy Cosmetics ála Carte online from www.cosmeticsalacarte.com, or from their London store Cosmetics A La Carte (19b Motcomb Street, London, SW1).

Purity

I was briefly introduced to this brand last week at the Superdrug event, but in a nutshell Purity are a brand created by Canadian Banker Paisley Arnold (who now resides in the UK – still a banker!) who wanted everybody to have the option to use good quality, affordable organic skin care. Purity boast a staggering 98% of natural origin ingredients, with 82% of the ingredients processed from organic farming. Most of the products are under a tenner (some even under a fiver!) and are amazing value for money. I’ve been using the cleanser this last week (review to follow soon!) and can vouch that it’s pretty good, so far.

Paisley Arnold, founder of Purity, on the left.

You can buy Purity exclusively from Superdrug, and online at www.superdrug.com.

I left the event massively inspired with a wealth of knowledge about all these amazing, mostly new to me brands and their equally awe inspiring founders. Most of them had started off as regular cosmetic and skin care savvy consumers, like us, who saw a gap in the market that simply needed to be addressed. I love the ethos of all of them and can’t wait to get cracking into the goody bag – expect a lot of reviews in the next coming months! Let me know if there’s anything/brands you want me to review first.

This entry is filed under Bumble and Bumble, Cosmetics Ala Carte, Elizabeth's Daughter, He-Shi, Korres, Purity, Skincare, Tommy Guns and tagged Blooming Babe. | 5 Comments

Garnier Caffeine Anti-dark Circles 2-1 Tinted Roll-on

By Lina on February 2, 2010

I was sent this for review a couple of weeks prior its release date last week. Sorry it’s taken a little longer to review, I know there have been a few reviews on this already and wanted to really test it out a few times before committing to a final opinion.

This eye product is a further development of the already massively successful Caffeine Eye Roll-on (one is sold every 15 seconds), but as I have never tried that product I can’t comment on whether it is better or either make any major comparisons. However I can tell you how it fares as an individual eye product on its own..

The 2-1 aspect of it is that it’s an eye treatment product, as well as a make-up product. It is specifically targeted for those who battle with dark circles and tired eyes – the tinted product part works as a concealer, whilst the caffeine anti-dark circles formula treats the specific under eye area. Interesting!

To apply, I simply rolled on under each eye, and blended with my finger.

Before

After

I am massively impressed with this product. Okay, I’ll admit that I didn’t notice the effects of any of the ‘treatment’ part of the product, but the tint was simply amazing.

The texture is so light, possibly the lightest under eye concealer I have use used. And once blended it was literally impossible to tell you were wearing make-up. The make-up particles on the skin were so fine; yet still provided coverage.

Granted, I don’t suffer hugely from dark circles (you can probably tell this from the pics), so for me this was just a really great under eye concealer. However, I did try it on my mum who does suffer from dark circles (although she did need to apply it more heavily than I did) and it did a pretty decent job of concealing that also too. She went to work, came back, and claimed her under eye was still perfectly concealed. Also, a good note for Asian or darker skinned woman – the concealer didn’t turn ‘ashy’ or grey once applied on the skin!

Before (sorry the pic ain’t great)

After

I originally thought this would be a product just for the woman who didn’t wear make-up, a woman who didn’t own a regular under eye concealer. However, I actually think the formula is far superior to most under eye concealers, simply because the texture and make-up particles are so fine you can really conceal without looking like you have cloggy make-up under your eyes. And best of all, it never settled in those pesky fine lines, regardless of how long you wore it! You could also reapply (if you so wish; at the most I only noticeably needed to do it twice throughout the whole day as the concealing effect was so long lasting) and it never caked or felt like you were applying over old make-up.

There is one gripe I have with this product – shade wise, there is only two to choose from. A fair shade and one for medium to dark skins. I chose the latter, and whilst it blended fine for me and my ma, I wonder how it’ll fare against much darker skins.

But in conclusion, a fantastic under eye concealer, regardless of how severe or not ones dark circles may be. As a treatment, I’d stick to your regular eye treatment, and then just use this on top either on its own or with the rest of your make-up. I’ll probably use it in place of my regular under eye concealer (especially for day time). A really lovely, natural finish under eye product.

You can pick Garnier Caffeine Anti-dark Circles 2-1 Tinted Roll-on from Boots or Superdrug for £9.99.
Lx

This entry is filed under Garnier, Skincare and tagged Garnier Caffeine Anti-dark Circles 2-1 Tinted Roll-on. | 6 Comments

My Skincare!

By Lina on November 27, 2009

A lot of my lovely readers often comment very kindly about my skin, and one reader in particular requested a post where I go through my skincare routine so you can all learn exactly what it is that I do. Before I start this post, I must add that my skin is by far from perfect, it is incredibly sensitive and the bad days are really bad. But because I’ve found products that work (through trial and error, like everyone else!), and stick to them religiously I know how to make the most of my skin and maintain the good points about it.

I’ve been through it all with my skin, a lot of people wouldn’t believe I used to have eczema, but I did. I managed to kick it by not using the steroid anti inflammatory creams the doctors are so quick to prescribe, but instead visiting a dietitian, finding out what was causing my allergies and also taking Chinese meds and using herbal creams. Since then I pretty much know exactly what it is that triggers irritation in my skin, and often if a product has a trace amount of an allergic ingredient – I can feel it immediately!

Moments after using a toxic blush product! Literally a minute after putting this on, this happened!

I now don’t need to take Chinese medicines (and haven’t done for over five years since I first took them, which then was only for a period of six months), and keep to a really simple skincare routine. I would love to use very expensive, fragranced super active anti aging products but my skin is so sensitive that I often can’t. I do however dip my toes back in every now and again, but usually have to stop pretty soon after because of an irritation occurring. Something I have noticed from years of having a striped down routine is that my skin is slowly getting stronger, and there are a few creams and potions I can now wear which maybe four years ago would never have happened!

My Skincare

Eye Make-up Remover

I’ve used a few, my favourite for the combination of both excellent price and great quality is my Simple Eye Make-up Remover. This stuff just feels like water, no greasy residue (which I, eurgh, hate) and removes everything, gently. Leaves your eyes nice and fresh, and drrry (not in an excessive, uncomfortable way). I go through buckets of the stuff, which is why the price pleases me a plenty!

Oil Cleanser

I have been convert to oil cleansing for over seven years now! I steered away from the Eve Lom original oil cleanser as her products contained Lanolin (a nasty fatty ingredient that makes me itch!), but I instead discovered Molton Brown Rosewax Cleanse, which is a similar type of oil product that you remove with a muslin cloth (or large cotton pad, or my favourite; a scratchy thin flannel!). I used this product for many, many years and I love it, it left my skin super smooth and got rid of every last trace of make-up. I’ve tried a few other oil cleansers and a great budget one I am currently using is Lush Baby Face, not as luxurious and gentle as my Molton Brown Rosewax Cleanse, but brilliant all the same and about one sixth of the price!

Lush Baby Face

Face Wash

Although my skin doesn’t usually react with a face wash, there are other factors that determine what I like and don’t like in a face wash. I like face washes that leave my skin clean, that I can actually feel remove the last traces of make-up and make-up remover (after my oil cleanse), yet not so stripping that my skin is left dry. My favourites are The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash, Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild and currently I’m using this cheapo but pretty damn effective one from Superdrug, Vitamin E Gentle Face Wash – it leaves my skin as clean as the Clinique did but more moisturised! I use a face wash every morning too.

Superdrug Vitamin E Gentle Face Wash

Serum

I’ve only started using a serum in the last few months, since I was asked to trial Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum. I have used some other serums in the past but never really stuck to any of them.. This one is great as initially I did worry about my oh so sensitive skin with such an active product but it doesn’t irritate it in the slightest, and really has improved my skins texture. So far in the two months I have been using it I have noticed my skin is smoother, more durable and best of all, my pores have seriously minimised! I must add, I never, ever had large pores until I heard rave reviews about an exfoliating toner a few years back. Never having used toners before, I started using this one and the outcome was gross large pores that until the last month never went away. Thank goodness for this serum!

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum

Eye Cream

I don’t really bother with eye creams anymore, I did use to use one from Superdrug which had an SPF 10 which was fine, but didn’t really notice any improvements with lines and wrinkles. Since reading that Paula Begoun said there is no difference in an eye cream and face cream and both are fine for the eye (if applied lightly) I quit using them. However, my main concern are wrinkles around my eyes so I think I’m gonna go start with some good anti aging ones again! Watch this space!

Face Moisturiser

This is the star product of it all! My Doublebase! I’d be seriously lost without this tub of emollient. It is basically something that is prescribed to eczema sufferers who can’t use any other product due to allergens. This cream is meant for the face and body, all over, and literally contains no ingredients other than water and some basic, basic ingredients – the whole thing has about three ingredients in total! And it works wonders on my skin. I smother this on all over my body after a shower/bath, on my arms and legs before I go to bed and also as my facial moisturiser. Leaves my skin gorgeous and dewy, comfortable and moisturised! The only problem I have with it is that sometimes I put too much on and my make-up won’t set properly on my skin, but I usually only have that problem when I’m rushed and my skin hasn’t had time to absorb the cream. Great for those with dry skin! I should add my entire family now use this as well! You can also buy this precription free from most chemists.

Doublebase! I go through mountains of this stuff!

Night Cream

Another product I’ve only started using within the last month or so – Siana Anti-Wrinkle Nourishing Night Cream. I initally read about this on another blog, and apparently it was a wonder product that beat all the other designer brands in effectiveness during clinical trials. Best thing about it was that it was only £1.89 and available exclusively from Aldi in the UK. I wasn’t sure whether I’d react with this but so far it’s all good, I put this on after my No7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum (very generously) and have also started putting it on my hands at night. Haven’t noticed any wrinkles disappear as yet but it does leave me skin ever so soft!

Siana Anti-Wrinkle Nourishing Night Cream

Exfoliator

I’m cheeky with exfoliating. I used to use this lovely exfoliator by Molton Brown, Molton Brown Gentle Refine Papain Exfoliator, which was gorgeous. Super fine granules that gently buffed my skin to brand new. I now simply use those exfoliating gloves soaked in Aqueous Cream in the shower, and do my face quickly then as well about once every week. Not the most glamorous but it does work! Having said that I am just about to trial some new exfoliators so this glove business on the face will probably soon end!

Moi! Make-up less (except for some tinted lip balm smeared all over my lips, niiiice)

As I mentioned above new products are always being introduced as my skin has definitely become more durable so finally I can now play with the more active ones (hooray!), but as always I will be updating any skincare wins or fails on here so keep checking back, and if my skincare does dramatically change for the better I’ll do another one of these!

Here’s a sneaky pic of what’s new in store, about to be tested out!

So that’s my skincare regime! Any questions, ask away! What are your skincare secrets and star products?

This entry is filed under Skincare. | 9 Comments

No7 Protect & Perfect INTENSE Beauty Serum

By Lina on September 11, 2009

You’ve all heard about how in an independent clinical trial against a number of other brands this beauty serum by No7 was the only one to actually have showed any significant results. Well, they’ve now bought out this same serum, but in INTENSE, which I gather is more intensely active and beneficial for targeting wrinkles and other common skin complaints the original serum targeted.

The studies show that there is visible and structural improvement to the skin when used for 12 months and over. Therefore I, the girl who can’t even stay faithful to a can of deodorant, have pledged to test this beauty serum, religiously, morning and night, every night, for twelve. whole. months. I will be reporting updates frequently so you can, as it happens, check the improvements in my skin for yourself. See how much I love you?

It’s a hard job but someone’s gotta do it!

It came all lovely in gold padded envelope, I had to photograph it on that!

Keep checking to see how I’m getting on with it!

This entry is filed under Boots No7, Skincare and tagged Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum.

Lush Baby Face

By Lina on September 1, 2009

Do you know your shiz about skincare? Then you’ll know the ONLY method for good make-up cleansing is a cleansing oil. Yes, generally cleansing oils can be fairly expensive and really, who wants to add another expensive product to their skincare regime? It’s pretty ridiculous how high street brands haven’t cottoned on to the fact that cleansing oil is the way forward, even NOW, after all the beauty mags are solely recommending them. So of course I was very eager to see how Lush’s solid cleansing oil bar, priced a mere £3.95, would compete against the rest of the (pricier) competitive cleansing oil market!

I’ve tried a few cleansing oils over the years, my first was Molton Browns Rosewax Cleanse about 5 years ago, which was lovely but at over £20 a pop, it was getting expensive. I have no problems with putting an oil on my skin as I have dry skin anyway, and honestly, once you use an oil correctly just once you will be probably never go back, regardless of skin type. By massaging the product into your skin, it literally melts the make-up off. Then all you need to do is get some dampened cotton wool, a face flannel or a muslin cloth and remove your make-up and the oil product, (you can repeat a couple of times if you’re a cleanse fanatic like me). Done. Your skin will glow afterwards. Cleansing oil lesson over, now onto Lush’s Baby Face..

It comes in a tiny solid bar, which is great as there’s no risk of leakage, mess or cluttering. Being solid form also means Lush doesn’t have to use any nasty preservatives, double good! It contains four natural plant butters/oils; Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Avocado Oil (amongst other skin beautifying natural ingredients) which work as the oils that cleanse your skin.

Application

There is a trick to using this product. The first time I bought it I was totally using it the wrong way, and that really made an impact on its effect. You need to really work the product into dry, clean hands. Not just rub lightly, seriously rub the bar on your palm till a liquid oil melts out. If you’re not getting the oil, rub harder. Trust me, eventually it will come. You can even put a little hot water from the tap on it to soften the bar if rubbing alone isn’t working for you, but for me just rubbing works fine (it actually took me going into a Lush store and the assistants giving me a demo as I didn’t think the product was working for me to see exactly HOW it’s meant to work. The sales assistants are really good, do not hesitate to ask them, they’re genuinely there to help! FYI, I go to the store in Bromley, and I think those assistants are the best! ;D)

You need to really work that bar, to get THIS type of oil

Seeeee..

Once you have the oil on your palms, massage onto your dry face (do not wet face first). I like to take my time and really massage it in as that’s good for your circulation as well. Then all you do after that is remove the product and thus make-up with either damp cotton wool or a face flannel. I usually remove with cotton wool first, then repeat the procedure a couple more times (I have a kinda OCD about cleansing make-up) and on the final application, I use a hot, wet, wrung out thin face flannel and let it rest on my face fo a few seconds, so the steam further cleanses the product, then I remove that final layer of oil with it. I then follow with a face wash to get any residue oil off my skin, although many simply leave it at that as they like the oil left on their skin (I don’t as I worry about build up of oil creating spots and like to do the japanese method of double cleanse, but that’s just me and my OCD ways).

Verdict

I love it! SUCH good value for money, I doubt I will ever use any other cleansing oil as this simply suits all my cleansing needs for a fraction of the others’ price. The best thing about it is that it’s a bar, which means once you leave it to dry (an hour? Half an hour) you can just pop it into a make-up bag for travelling. No messy leaking and minimal space used. Being me I would probably put it in a case of it’s own or a little bag first rather than just putting in a make-up bag but you get my drift – super portable! And this little bar will last you a looong time, as I don’t wear make-up every day I expect to have it for months still, I can even imagine it lasting upto a year! I cannot stress the value for money here. Also worth a mention – yes, it does fully remove all eye make-up. It is actually a great eye make-up remover, very gentle. Definitely worth a try for those who don’t want to splash out on an expensive cleansing oil but is eager to try one out – you’ll probably never go back.

Let me know your thoughts on Lush’s Baby Face..

This entry is filed under Cleanser, Lush, Skincare and tagged Lush Baby Face.

Avene Rich Hydrating Cream

By Lina on June 2, 2009

I am always on a quest for a good face cream, so Avene Hydrating Cream for Dry and Sensitive skin sounded like just what the Doctor ordered!

It comes in 40ml size white tube, where all that is required is to squeeze the desired amount out. A good feature to this cream is that you hardly ever squeeze more than you intend, which is incredibly practical.

Application

As with most face creams, you simply apply to a cleansed face, morning and evening. The texture is quite thick which is great for dry skin as it nourishes instantly, and having the sensitivest of sensitive skin it didn’t irritate it at all and actually was rather cool and refreshing on application, and absorbed nice and quickly.

Verdict

Although I choose to continue to use my regular very basic cream called “double base” that is simply an emollient (prescribed by the docs for super sensitive skin), this was a great alternative for a few one off occasions. I wouldn’t choose to use this as my basic moisteriser as the effects with this moisteriser simply weren’t as long lasting, and I would often feel my skin dry out half way through the day. However it is great for carrying around in your bag for when you need to quickly top up on any dry patches and it worked well under make-up!

I think it’s important to stress that you really need dry skin for this product, or else the texture will be too thick and heavy. It was perfect for my skin, but just not long lasting enough, my skin literally drank it up. However my skin has been very problematic of late and is exceptionally dry right now, so possibly when it’s in better condition this cream will last longer on me. Until then, I’ll continue to carry this around my hand bag for the occasional overnight stays at friends and for that purpose it was great! It absorbs quickly and calms your skin, but unfortunately I’m sure if I used this everyday my skin would start to play up a little more from lack of deep concentrated moisture. So a semi thumbs up!