Madara Cosmetics Hyaluronic Collagen Booster

Previously presented in ampoules, the new and updated Madara Cosmetics hyaluronic collagen booster is now presented in a tube for easy dispensing and applications. The treatment booster is ideal for those who are seeking to reduce dryness, irritation, and the signs of ageing with its hydrating high molecular size hyaluronic acid, Collagen-enhancing low molecular size hyaluronic acid, and moisturising xylitol that is also featured in the formula. Disclaimer: The links used are not affiliated and are placed for you to discover the product.

The Madara hyaluronic collagen booster works instantly to improve hydration and prevent moisture loss by forming a moisturising hydro film over the skin for immediate effects and results. It also promotes firmness and smoothness while the ingredients in the formula reinforces the skins barrier function for better improvement in moisture retaining and protection from elements that can damage the skin such as UV rays, pollutants, microbes, and chemicals. The full ingredients are as follows:

Aqua - Solvent for ingredients to dissolve in. 

Glycerin - Moisturiser and humectant but also keeps the skins lipids healthy, protects against irritation, and supports the skins barrier function. 

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - Emollient that makes the skin feel smooth and soft.

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil - Similar to human sebum of the skin it acts as an emollient that absorbs into the skin while also forming a protective barrier. 

Pentylene Glycol - Moisturiser and humectant to improve dryness, it also acts as an emulsion stabilizer, solvent and a broad spectrum antimicrobial.

Cetearyl Alcohol - Non-drying fatty alcohol that acts as an emollient to keep skin smooth and soft while also acting as an emulsion stabiliser for oil and water ingredients to mix. 

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate - Emollient to keep skin smooth and soft while also acting as an emulsifier to combine water and oil ingredients together.

Cellulose - Natural polymer from green plants, it helps improve absorption while also mattifying the skin but also aids in the thickening of a products formula. 

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid - Moisturiser and humectant that helps the skin retain water, skin protectant, and also help water-soluble actives to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Xylitylglucoside - Moisturiser and humectant that is the main part of a moisturizing complex called Aquaxyl. Comes from two water-binding plant sugars glucose and xylitol and increases natural moisturising factors within the skin while also improving the skins barrier function by reducing water loss.  

Anhydroxylitol - Sugar derived moisturiser and humectant that is part of skin-beneficial Aquaxyl.

Aroma - Helps the product smell nice.

Xanthan Gum -  Improves the flow and feel of the product while also stopping water and oil ingredients seperating.

Glyceryl Caprylate - Preservative with strong antimicrobial activity while also having emollient and moisturising benefits.

Xylitol - Moisturiser and humectant that is part of skin-beneficial Aquaxyl.

Sodium Hyaluronate - Moisturiser and humectant that serves as a reservoir for the skin to regulate moisture content. 

Ascorbyl Palmitate - A vitamin C derivative that is an oil soluble antioxidant that may help to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation, minimise the signs of aging and support collagen production.

Raspberry Ketone - Used as perfuming to fragrance a product. 

Sodium phytate - Helps the product stay the same over a long period of time by neutralising metal ions from the water ingredient used.

CI 77491 Iron Oxides - Colourant that gives this product its red colour but also used to give foundations their pink tones.

Potassium Hydroxide - Sets the correct pH of the formula. 

Applying to a cleansed skin at night, you want to apply this product first and for best results use as a course of treatment for 10 days and then follow-on to use 2-3 times a week to support the effects. The hydrating formula glides over the skin easily and absorbs quite quickly to leave the skin feeling hydrated and nourished without feeling sticky or greasy, you will notice that raspberry scent but it soon disappears after 5 minutes. It isn't runny like a serum and it is not thick enough to be a moisturiser but what it does do well is supply the skin with hydration (water) and nourishment (oil) both things the skin needs for optimal health.  It works perfectly under any moisturiser at night and with continued applications a hydrated and healthier looking complexion will greet you in the mornings. The Madara Cosmetics product is priced at £29.90 and available here: Madara Hyaluronic Collagen Booster x Neil. 

LUSH Joints CBD Massage Bar.

Soothe away physical tension when applying the LUSH joints CBD massage bar that is infused with 25mg of CBD oil. The perfect product to include in your selfcare ritual throughout the day or can be included in your evening routine to unwind and de-stress. It is noted that children, pregnant, or breastfeeding adults are recommended to seek advice from your doctor or medical professional before application. Disclaimer the links used are not affiliated and are placed for you to discover the product. 

Joining Lush's existing CBD offering, the massage bar has been carefully formulated so it can be left on the skin. In fact Lush buys the shea featured in Joints massage bar from two suppliers working directly with women producers in Ghana. The knowledge and expertise surrounding the shea butter extraction process are passed down from women to women through the generations. Nowadays, it provides income to many women's groups and cooperatives across the Sahel. 

The Full Ingredients: 

Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Organic Castor Oil, Perfume, Patchouli Oil, Pimento Berry Oil, Petitgrain Oil, Ginger Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Celery Seed Oil, Cannabidiol in Hemp Seed Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, *Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, Isoeugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool

Natural Ingredients

Safe Synthetics

*occurs naturally in essential oils.

Warming between your hands and then applying to your whole body or you can concentrate on certain areas such as the chest, arms, and temples to allow the essential oils and CBD to influence your wellbeing before bed. The other great thing i like is you can run the massage bar over a direct spot in a specific area for a natural remedy solution while the nourishing and emollient ingredients keep the skin feeling soft, smoothed, and nourished! Just be sure to store the massage bar in a cool and dry place such as a soap tin or soap dish for maximum effectiveness each time it's used. Priced from £10 and available here: LUSH joints CBD massage bar X Neil. 

Ooh! - Oils of Heaven Organic Milk Thistle Face Oil

Applying the Ooh! - Oils of Heaven organic milk thistle face oil to the skin can be beneficial because of its anti-aging, soothing, and dark spot fading abilities. The 100% Sylibum Marianum content that comes from the milk thistle plant contains antioxidant polyphenols and flavonolignans which contribute to the oils reparative and soothing abilities when applied to the skin, but that is not all. The plant ingredient also has the ability to neutralise damaging radicals such as UV light that influences depleting collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid which all lead to visibly aged skin. Inhibiting enzymes in the upper most layers of the skin to counteract damage, studies have also shown that when applying milk thistle topically it can help fade discolouration without any adverse side effects. 

The Ooh! - Oils of Heaven organic milk thistle face oil content contains alpha tocopherol (vitamin E), phospholipids, squalene, and polyphenols such as vanillic acid and p-coumaric. The anti-inflammatory benefits are also ideal for chronic inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, constitutional dermatitis, and acne. Finally an oil for oiler skin types and spot-prone skin because it wont block your pores while also having antioxidant benefits to protect (though always wear a broad spectrum SPF) and improving skin tone! The oil is a great substitute if you have tried other antioxidants such as vitamin c but your skin has kindly said no thanks and disagreed. 

Applying onto clean skin either on its own or over your water based serum, this is what i like to do so the skin is supplied with hydration (water) and nourishment (oil), i was amazed at not only how easily this oil spreads but at how quickly the skin absorbs it. I then follow on with my chosen moisturiser and sunscreen because this is a treatment oil i want it to be applied first and the oil to not disrupt the effectiveness of my sunscreen's protection. It does work well with other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and retinol which is ideal at night if you do experience any dryness retinol products can cause then you can apply as your last step in your evening skincare routine.

The Ooh! - Oils of Heaven organic milk thistle face oil is priced at £19.00 and available here: Organic Milk Thistle Face Oil 30ml x Neil. 

Moschino Toy Fragrances

Discover the Moschino Toy fragrances that each present their specific scents in the legendary Moschino bear bottles. Launched in 2014, the Italian fashion design house presented the first scent Toy, followed by Toy 2 (2018), Toy Boy (2019), and then Toy 2 Bubble Gum (2021) in which each bottle is distinguished by the colour it presents with. I have loved Moschino fragrances throughout the years, in fact i can remember the scent Uomo? that still invokes happy memories from my teenage years, lets take a look at three of the Toy Fragrances. 

Toy 2.

Presented in a clear bear bottle, Toy 2 was created by Alberto Morillas and Fabrice Pellegrin to be a floral, woody, and musk fragrance for women. The opening notes of apple, mandarin orange, and magnolia welcome the senses with sweet and fruity notes but there is a floral undertone from the magnolia to stop the citrus and fruit becoming too much. The heart notes peony and jasmine elevate the floral appeal while the white currant brings a character of tartness and sweet fruitiness. The base notes of musk, amberwood and sandalwood bring depth to this fresh and clean feeling scent.

Toy Boy.

Presented in a opaque black bottle, Toy Boy was created and designed by creative director Jeremy Scott to be a Woody Spicy fragrance for men. The opening notes of pink pepper, pear, indonesian nutmeg, elemi and bergamot bring attention to your senses with its spicy, citrus, and woody profile. The heart notes of magnolia, rose absolute, clove bud, and flax flower contribute florals with spice and warmth. The base notes are Sylkolide, Cashmeran, Haitian Vetiver, Sandal Wood, and Amber that bring spice, warmth, sweetness, with woody, leathery, and smokey undertones in its entwined scent profile. A unique fragrance that sets itself apart from any other scent in your collection because its a rose scent that has been formulated extremely well!

Toy 2 Bubble Gum. 

Presented in a transparent glass body with a cap offering the colour pink, the nose behind Toy 2 Bubble Gum is Olivier Pescheux that created a floral fruity fragrance for women. The opening notes are Candied Fruits, Bitter Orange and Lemon that when mixed bring a clean and fresh citrus with added sweetened fruit appeal. The heart notes are Bubble Gum, Bulgarian Rose, Blueberry, Peach, Cinnamon, Peach Blossom and Ginger which consists of sweet florals and fruits while the cinnamon and ginger add a touch of spice and warmth. The base notes are Musk, Ambroxan and Cedar which play a sweet and woody undercurrent to add dimension and play the important foundation to boost the lighter notes. A fun and playful eau de toilette that gives you a scent of bubblegum before transforming to a sweet and candied rose aroma.

It will be interesting to see if Moschino will be adding any new toy fragrances to this existing scent line and i wonder what the next one will be? I believe all scents are gender neutral, regardless of the marketing, if you like the scent and want to wear it, then wear it! x Neil.

Gallinée Skin And Microbiome Food Supplement

Featuring 25 billion probiotics, One Gallinée skin and microbiome food supplement capsule is equivalent to 25 probiotic yoghurts. Including probiotics into your daily routine can have its advantages in many ways by helping to bring balance and support to your microbiome to fight off bad bacteria when you have too much. Everyone's microbiome is completely different but it presents itself as microbes that live in and outside of the body such as the gut, mouth, skin, lungs, and urinary tract keeping it healthy and balanced. The main purpose of taking a probiotic is to support the role of the microbiome while also supporting the immune system and controlling inflammation, good bacteria is needed! Let's take a look at what the Gallinée skin microbiome supplement contains - Disclaimer the links used are NOT affiliated and are placed for you to discover the product. 

Full Ingredients: 

Inulin - A soluble fibre found in many plants, it is also a fructan Prebiotic that feeds the good bacteria in the gut.   

Maltodextrin -  Improves the effectiveness, shelf-life, and overall potency of probiotics.

Capsule (Hypromellose) - Produced from cellulose, a natural polymer and fiber, which is considered to be safe for human consumption

Freeze Dried Bacteria Powder - Contains Soy. 

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus - A type of friendly bacteria naturally found in your gut that is a probiotic and can survive within the body while also adhere to and colonize your intestinal walls for optimal health benefits. 

Lactobacillus Casei - Beneficial to your digestive system, this probiotic helps to keep harmful microorganisms under control as well as used to prevent or treat diarrhea and other digestive problems.

Lactobacillus Paracasei - Boosting your immune system, this probiotic can also reduce inflammation and improve your digestion with its good survival within the gastrointestinal tract. 

Lactobacillus Helveticus  - Naturally found in the gut and certain foods, this probiotic helps with gut balance and stability as well as improving oral and mental health. - 

Selenium Enriched Yeast - A form of supplemental selenium, which is also referred to as organic selenium, the body depends on selenium to help produce thyroid hormones and glutathione peroxidases, which are important antioxidants. Selenium also helps the immune system by boosting white blood cells to fight infection and disease. 

Magnesium Stearate - Used as a flow agent in powder formulations to stop ingredients sticking together and the machine that creates the capsules.

Ascorbic Acid (Antioxidant) - Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant in which your body does not produce but supplementing it in your daily lifestyle has its benefits because it can boost immunity while also support growth, development, and repair of all body tissues.

Vitamin B2 - All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy while also metabolizing fats and protein within the body. The water-soluble vitamin also supports the liver, skin, hair, and eyes for optimal health and is also a great antioxidant that fights against free radicals that can damage cells and DNA.  

Gallinée have changed the capsules to a blue colour but don't worry the formulation is still the same if you are still taking the original ones. It is important to speak to a healthcare professional if you are taking medications before introducing any supplements into your daily lifestyle. I take one easy-to-swallow capsule before a meal with a glass of water each day and even though i follow a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, pulses, nuts and wholegrains that all feed the healthy bacteria, the Gallinée skin and microbiome food supplement is also helpful in supporting the many tasks the microbiome performs which influences your overall health and then ultimately improves your skin. Purchase Here: Gallinée Probiotic Skin & Microbiome Food Supplements 30 capsules.
Read my thoughts of the Gallinée Youthful Serum i blogged about here: Gallinée Youthful Serum  x Neil.