Sunday, 29 April 2018

Unisex Facial Oil.

Finding a unisex facial oil to suit all skin types can be quite a difficult task. Men's skin can tend to be more oilier than a females, due to a higher level of DHT in the body that can cause over production of sebum, leaving your skin looking greasy and oily. Facial oils have gained a momentum over the past year and have seen changes in formulations switching from being less heavy based to packed full of skin-friendly nutrients and vitamins, so all skin types can use one! It is important to look at what the facial oil contains and what claims it states, to then evaluate if it is suited for your skin type and how your complexion will benefit when incorporating one into your skincare regime.
Using a facial oil in your skincare can hugely boost your current routine, whilst also aid and target any skin complaints you may be suffering from. The other benefit is on application to boost blood flow, contour, relax and relieve stress, when using massaging movements on the face. You can use directly onto cleansed skin, ideal for guys after shaving to restore hydration, soothe, and target uneven skin tone, even if you are an oily skin type. Worry not if you already have a skin routine in place, the facial oil can still be used as long as you apply all water based products before the oil, like your favourite serum, remembering oils can penetrate water, but water cannot penetrate oil as it sits on top. A facial oil can benefit your skin in many beneficial ways:
  • Target fine lines and wrinkles to boost your anti-ageing efforts.
  • Aid hydration and replenish moisture for dry skin.
  • Balance and target blemished prone skin. 
  • Protect skin from damaging free radicals.
  • Primes skin for perfect application of make-up.    
The bloom and glow from Angela Langford is a natural radiance restorer that is perfect for skin that needs and is asking for some tender loving care. Containing essential key actives, you will notice a huge difference from your first application, due to these skin-friendly ingredients. Suitable for all skin types and can be used day & night, the oil restores balance, radiance, protects and has anti-ageing benefits. The key actives in the formulation are:
  • Vitamin E - Repairs and protects skin. 
  • Q10 - Antioxidant that can help skin regenerate.
  • Evening Primrose - Penetrates skin to help retain moisture.
  • Chia Seed & Evening Primrose contain high levels of omega 3 to aid healing and repairing of the skin, while also contributing to anti-ageing benefits to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Jojoba - Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits to soothe irritated skin and helps with acne or blemish prone skin.
  • Chamomile - Calms skin, while contributing to a natural glow on any complexion.
  • Sea Buckthorn - Multi-beneficial to help repair, calm, heal and help with anti-ageing problems.
  • Neroli - Promotes cell regeneration to combat signs of ageing.
The bloom and glow facial oil is light in texture and obtains a natural light scent that influences your well-being. You can apply the oil before your moisturiser or mix it in with your current one, to boost your hydration and protection. It feels so light on the skin, without feeling overly-greasy or sticky, giving skin a natural radiance and smooth base to apply your following products. Skin throughout the day is left supple and renewed, without any high-shine or greasiness that needs to be blotted away immediately. Adding it into your night time skincare routine is highly beneficial when skin is repairing and regenerating, waking up to a refreshed complexion not based on how many hours you have slept is always a product you will return to use. Add the multi-tasking, multi-beneficial, unisex facial oil into your skincare routine to feel and see the benefits for yourself, X Neil.

Friday, 27 April 2018

Organic Bath & Body Care.

Elevate your bath & body care routine when opening the scent free, pure organic wash and lotion.  The two 250ml products arrive with pumps for easy dispensing and are formulated with exclusive plant based ingredients from conscious skincare. Free from sls, parabens, phtalates, synthetic chemical preservatives, colours or fillers, these cruelty free and vegan friendly products are suitable for the most sensitive of skin.
The pure organic wash can be used for your face, hands or body. Formulated to be scent free, the wash is perfect for skin that cannot tolerate fragrance. Containing a mixture of fatty acid derived from coconut oil, the humectant glycerin that attracts moisture to your skin, evening primrose that obtains a high vitamin E content and anti-inflammatory properties, the wash is ideal to pamper all skin types especially dry/irritated.
I really like how little you need to use, when applying to wet skin. Using the pump that screws into the bottle, you can dispense the measured amount to your liking, rather then wasting product when trying to use a product that has no pump feature. You will notice the wash does not foam because it is sls free. Foaming products can upset your skins PH balance and can effect the skins natural moisture barrier, not great if your barrier is already effected and you suffer with dry/irritated or sensitive/redness skin. Looking for non-foaming products and importantly sls free products will help keep your skin at a more healthy PH balance and help relieve flare-ups, while organic products include vitamins and proteins that your skin will thank you for using. Rinsing the wash off thoroughly, skin feels clean without feeling stripped of its essential moisture and is prepped for you to proceed with a lotion.
The pure organic lotion can be used to hydrate your face, hands or body. Light in texture, but packed full of natural skin-friendly moisturisers, this will be your go-to-lotion when needed. Containing the pre-biotic alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, it provides a protective and restoring action by reducing undesirable bacteria, restoring the natural bacteria balance on your skin. Nicinamide (Vitamin B3) is known for its skin restoring properties, while also improving texture and tone of the skins appearance. Licorice root extract is a powerful antioxidant that targets age spots (great for the hands) and is also an excellent natural ingredient used specifically for sensitive skin. Packed full of naturally rich oils and moisturisers, Shea butter, Coconut oil, Sunflower seed oil, Apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E oil, the lotion is surprisingly non-greasy. Applying a small amount to clean skin using massaging movements, the lotion absorbs into skin easily without feeling greasy or sticky. You can use throughout the day on your hands to instantly restore moisture and reap the benefits of soft silky hands. Applying to the body and not having to wait around for the product to absorb before getting dressed, great for those mornings when your in a rush. Applying to the face after shaving or over make-up to instantly refresh and hydrate any complexion, any time of the day. Add both scent free products to your bath and body care to experience the organic benefits both products deliver and achieve. X Neil.

Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Fun Skin Care!

Sticking to a skincare regime can sometimes be mundane and repetitive, but that all changed when a face scrub landed on my desk. Products usually arrive and are packaged in the most clinical attire, that it seems that most products blur together making one big picture. Appealing packaging is just as important as what the product feels like on the skin and the claims it can do, plus u can immediately identify the product that u know works wonders on first application.
Face scrubs are an excellent tool to reach for and use in your army of skincare products. Exfoliating the skin removes dead skin cells and in turn helps unclog your pores, revealing a fresher complexion. Men can exfoliate before shaving to lift facial hair away from the skin to achieve a closer shave and stop ingrown hairs. Natural glowing skin is an achievable task when it is not looking its best, but only if you are using the right product and your doing more GOOD than harm.
Over exfoliating can cause your skin to become irritated, tiny tears in your skin barrier can lead your skin to lose hydration, become inflamed and cause breakouts. Exfoliating your skin in a gentle and delicate method using circular motions and taking your time is the better technique, rather than scrubbing away at your skin like a scouring pad. The maximum of times you should exfoliate your skin is three times a week, while looking at the ingredients of the product to find out what the scrub particles are and what other skincare benefits are in the formulation.
The scrub-doh from Corpore Sanctum arrives in a child-like play dough container, eye appealing and being unique setting itself apart from the other face scrub contenders. The volcanic face scrub uses black charcoal to detoxify and purify any skin type to help your skin glow. The creamy texture is great for dry skin types who suffer with dry patches and flakes, as this wont dry your skin out even further. Ideal for acne/combination skin to unclog pores by lifting dirt and absorbing excessive oil to leave skin purified and balanced. Normal skin types can treat their skin to a weekly at-home facial by incorporating the product in your skincare regime following the simple steps, scrub, cleanse and mask.
I was really impressed on how light and hydrating the face scrub feels on the skin, thanks to the properties of the apricot kernel, sunflower, coconut and avocado oils. The natural antibacterial properties of the castille soap helps to combat and kill the bacteria that causes acne, while the black clay powder and activated charcoal draw out impurities, helping congested skin. The liquorice root extract and powder is a powerful antioxidant that can help with discoloured, uneven skin tone, while also helping to balance oily skin. Applying to wet skin, the particles of the scrub feel gentle on the skin without feeling scratchy, enjoy the blackberry & lime natural scent before rinsing off with warm water. Skin feels soft, smooth and hydrated! Add some fun into your skincare regime by heading over to the vegan & organic brand Corpore Sanctum, they also have a green tea face mask! X Neil.

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Pure Organic Hair Care.

Revitalise and transform your hair, when incorporating the pure organic hair care from conscious skincare. The shampoo and conditioner are newly released from their highly popular scent free range that are made from plant based ingredients. Organic hair care products are usually better for your tresses over long term use, depending on which brands to buy from and what to look out for. Products labelled organic usually draw you in, without you looking at the contents of ingredients, and you part ways with your cash. Always be cautious and check the ingredients, as the cheaper shampoo might contain less harmful ingredients than your actual organic product.
Healthy hair and a comfortable scalp can become compromised from certain products that claim to achieve miracles when using their products. The usual suspects contain ingredients ending in "Cone" that coat the hair for instant results, but stop the hair from receiving other beneficial treatments. You then get caught in the cycle of over-washing your hair as your hair becomes dull, lank, and lifeless from the products you wash your hair with. 
Suffering from a dry and irritated scalp can also be a repetitive cycle due to products stripping the scalp of its natural oils and the certain ingredients drying out your scalp even more, not to mention products loaded with fragrance that will aggravate the problem. Looking for hair care products that avoid using harsh chemicals is a great solution to get you on a healthy hair and scalp journey.
Conscious skincare offer a pure organic shampoo and conditioner that are both scent free, great for any sensitive or scalp issues. Organic hair care typically contains nourishing ingredients such as, vitamins, proteins, essential oils, and you wont find any harsh chemicals or preservatives. You will also notice if you have ever used an organic hair care product that they wont and shouldn't contain SLS, the ingredient that makes your shampoo lather. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a detergent and potent de-greaser that can over-dry your hair making it feel brittle and prone to breakage, you should also avoid this ingredient if you have coloured your hair or had a keratin treatment.
The scent free, pure organic, shampoo and conditioner from conscious skincare are free from:
  1. SLS.
  2. Parabens.
  3. Phtalates,
  4. Synthetic Chemical Preservatives.
  5. Colours.
  6. Fillers.
The pure organic shampoo contains the water soluble pro-vitamin B5 that functions as a humectant and improves elasticity, a popular ingredient in hair care products. Jojoba oil naturally moisturises the hair and scalp follicles, without leaving any residue that leads to build-up. The scalp soother aloe vera features to instantly soothe, while also containing amino acids, the essential building blocks of scalp and hair. The shampoo also features the pre-biotic alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, it provides a gentle
protective and restoring action for the scalp by reducing undesirable bacteria, restoring the natural bacterial balance, and is an excellent emollient for a dry scalp.
Applying to wet hair and massaging gently, the shampoo cleanses hair without foaming, before rinsing thoroughly. The non-foaming action is something you have to get used to because we have been conditioned to associate foaming with being clean. Hair does feel clean without feeling overly stripped and you only have to use a little of this shampoo to experience its potential.
The pure organic conditioner contains the naturally moisturising shea butter, that is known to soothe a dry irritated scalp and is a great remedy for dandruff. The conditioner also features four oils that are known for their natural abilities to help a distressed scalp and hair. Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil is rich in polyphenols that have anti-fungal and anti bacterial properties helping to improve scalp health, while also preventing breakage of your hair and improving elasticity. Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil contains linoleic acid to help control dandruff and keep the scalp microbial free, while also providing a natural emollient to hair for moisturising and hydrating benefits. Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil has endless hair benefits it can provide, it can prevent breakage, be used as a protein treatment for hair and also act as a natural anti-dandruff solution, thanks to the fatty acids present. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) oil is a nutrient and antioxidant that can instantly hydrate dry and brittle hair, while also helping to relieve a dry scalp and boosting follicle strength. Applying a little after you have shampooed, the conditioner glides through the hair easily, instantly smoothing and hydrating, before rinsing out thoroughly. You can also leave the conditioner in your hair when u are taking a bath or shower for a luxury hair treatment.
I was impressed on just how little you need to use for your hair, for it to feel stronger and look healthier. The products arrive with pumps that make it easier to dispense the products, so you can determine how much you want to use depending on your hair length and type. Standard bottles that don't have pumps can lead you to use too much of the product because u cant control how much product that comes out in equal measures, you end up using too much shampoo that strips your hair and too much conditioner that can weigh your hair down. The great thing about the shampoo and conditioner is that it cleverly cleanses and hydrates your hair naturally and can fit into your hair care regime easily. You can wash your hair everyday with this perfect combo or if you wash your hair just twice a week, the choice is entirely up to you. I did notice how comfortable my scalp felt just after one use and my hair still felt clean and looked vibrant the next day. Vegan friendly and cruelty free, Conscious skincare have the highest regard for the environment with all their packaging being fully recyclable. Discover pure organic products for yourself and the whole family, take your hair care to the natural level.  X Neil.

Thursday, 19 April 2018

The BB Cream With Colour Adaptive Technology.

The BB Cream, typically known for being a blemish or beauty balm, took the beauty world by storm when it first launched with many brands offering their own versions. Over time and still being hugely popular, the formulations have changed to offer many more benefits this multi-purpose product can achieve. Lighter in texture than a foundation, a BB Cream is a moisturiser for hydration, a foundation for coverage, while also offering an SPF in the formulation for protection, depending on which brand you purchase.

So why should you use a BB Cream? The product is great for those who want a multi-tasking product that offers coverage to your skin, while still offering some skincare benefits. The many ways you can introduce the BB Cream in your regime is pretty simple and the different ways you can use it is endless. You may swap your moisturiser out of your skincare, to then apply the  BB cream, but if your skin tends to lean on the dry side and the formulation contains SPF and pigments, this will dry your skin out even more. You can apply the BB cream over a moisturiser giving you coverage of imperfections and is especially great if you are not a fan of make-up foundations. Applying a BB cream before application of a foundation is a great tip if you love your make-up, a lot of BB cream formulations act as primers so you will find that your make-up will stay in place longer. 
The REN satin perfection BB cream provides colour adaptive technology that adjusts to a wide range of skin tones. Choosing between the shades, light to medium or medium to dark, the guessing game of deciding which shade to choose has just become easier. The silicone free, multi-function cream, offers more than a standard BB Cream by providing: 
  1. Coverage.
  2. Banishing Imperfections.
  3. Anti-Oxidant Protection.
  4. SPF Protection.
  5. Photo-Rejuvenation Technology - Toning, Firming, Anti-Ageing Effect.
The BB cream also features the bio extracts - Ochroleuca Seaweed, Arctic Cranberry Seed Oil, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Glycogen, that all work together to boost your skins complexion each time its applied. Opening the flip-top cap and squeezing the 50ml tube, the BB Cream is of a pale pink colour but soon disperses when applying over the skin and then tapping into the skin for maximum absorption. You can apply using your fingers, a beauty blender, or a brush, as each method works great for achieving an even coverage. I was impressed of the non-oily, satin smooth feeling with a matte finish, each time this BB cream is applied. You will find some BB creams are too greasy due to the fact they are more like tinted moisturises, but call themselves a BB cream to appeal to a wider audience, not this one! The SPF 15 that is offered is Zinc oxide which is a powdered mineral that sits on top of the skin, scattering, reflecting, and absorbing UVA & UVB rays. I would of liked a higher SPF in the product, but you can always apply an SPF mineral powder that sits extremely great on the skin and over this product. Suitable for all skin types and colour matches extremely well, thanks to that colour adaptive technology, the BB Cream is available to purchase from LoveLula. X Neil.  
© Blonde Male
Maira Gall