First Impressions: Ginvera Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel

This is Ginvera's Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel, I was lucky enough to receive two decent sized samples, (enough for 4 uses each) to review and give my opinion on. The full size is 60ml and retails for £22 here. 

This is an exfoliating gel wash designed for use daily, and I think it is gentle enough to be used on a daily basis, it is suitable for all skin types and the usage recommended to see a difference in your complexion is 30 days. It contains green tea essence - which is rich in antioxidants to help protect skin from the sun, soybean extract - with amino acids which have moisturising and illuminating properties, Vitamins C and E - revitilising skin cells, smoothing and clarifying skin and finally biogel - which breaks down skin care products into smaller molecules allowiing deeper penetration and absorption by skin cells. The gel aims to, stimulate skin metabolism resulting in younger skin, refining pores, fading pigmentation and scars, regulating oil secretion, preventing pimples, evening skintone and allowing rapid penetration of skincare products. (Please note the description has been taken from a Ginvera card received with the gel.)

I've used up both of the small samples, I chose to use it in the mornings for the first tube and in the evening for the second tube. The directions are to use this on dry skin with dry hands, it comes out as a light slime green shade and when rubbed on the skin turns into a white thin liquid, after continued rubbing small flakes form, and this Ginvera say is all the dead skin being removed from the top layers of skin.

On occasions when I used it in the evening, twice it just absorbed into my skin, no flaking or anything just absorption, this I believe was because I'd used a moisturiser with sunscreen on my face and it probably just got drawn into it, although I would have thought it would just behave normally and take everything off, it didn't so I just used a regular face wash.

I did enjoy using this product, although I can't say whether it is effective in the long run with regards to all the claims, my skin did feel very clean and the scent is pleasant, it was also interesting to see the bits of skin flaking off.

I think I would purchase a full size but it does concern me that it was drawn in to the moisturisers with sunscreen in them, although I could just use it in the mornings... I did enjoy using the samples, my skin felt much softer and smoother after using the gel and products definitely seemed to absorb better.

Please be aware this is only a first impressions post and not an entire review as I have not used the product for long enough!

Have you tried this gel? What did you think?

GlossyBox - October 2011

I received my GlossyBox a little while ago and I thought I'd share my thoughts and first impressions about the October box.

Here's what was included:

I forgot to take out the Dermalogica Renewal Lip Complex from the bag - too excited, sorry!

Dermalogica AGE smart Multivitamin Thermafoliant - 15ml sample - worth £8.10
Robert Piguet Eau De Parfums x3 small vials
Leighton Denny Expert Nails Colour & Care in Babydoll - full size - £11
Dermalogica AGE smart Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque - 15ml sample - worth £7.07
Dermalogica AGE smart Renewal Lip Complex - 1ml sample - worth £12.86
Dermalogica Beauty Bag
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Moray - full size - £13

Total Value of Box: at least £52.03
Amount Paid: £12.95
Total Saving: £39.08

I think this month's box was brilliant, it was a 6 month anniversary special for them so there were 6 products, admittedly a lot of Dermalogica, but they are a very well known brand with lots of positive feedback on their products. I've had a chance to try most of the products and here are my thoughts.

The Dermalogica thermafoliant felt very strange on my skin, it has very tiny scrubbing particles in it which made my skin feel odd, but after using it left my face nice and smooth. The perfume samples are beginning to annoy me a little because I now have no more than 18, all from various beauty boxes and orders, I suppose it's a nice way to try lots of different perfumes though, so I'll keep my annoyance at bay. I definitely got the nicest shade out of the 3 Leighton Denny polishes that were available but I'm not entirely sure it's for me, I've yet to try it though...I haven't tried the Dermalogica Masque yet but it looks interesting! The lip balm is amazing, I absolutely love it, I can't believe it's so expensive though! Full size (1.75ml) is £22.50! It's luxurious, melts onto your lips well, moisturises and smells lovely. The Dermalogica beauty bag was a lovely addition and they're right, we can never have too many cosmetic bags! Finally Stila's Smudge Stick Eyeliner, I used this on the first day and it was gorgeous, the colour is so pretty, the gold flecks look beautiful with brown eyes, it really impressed me and I looked it up in more shades. I also wore this the day after I got it, unfortunately it broke once, and quite a chunk of it broke off, I ignored this and twisted it up for another perfect line, the third day I picked this up again as I was in a rush but it broke twice! And small chunks each time, I've informed GlossyBox and they were very helpful, they gave me suggestions on how to use it but after I sent them my picture of broken eyeliner they have offered to replace it when stock comes in.

Overall I think I'd give this box a 9/10, every product looked well thought out and in general I think I will like them all. I did enquire as to why there were so many anti-aging products, and they are for prevention apparently, a mask is a mask to me and an exfoliator exactly that, so I don't really mind, it's just that I've heard using anti-aging products early speeds up aging...but a great box all in all!

What do you think of this month's GlossyBox? Will you be signing up?


Click here to sign up!

August Empties - 2011

This month I have used up the following products, I was aiming for at least 10 empties every month but I guess I'll have to try harder in September! (Please click on names to be taken to the review post on my blog.)

1) No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser (200ml) - The first hot cloth cleanser I've ever used, I really liked this, it cleansed well and removed makeup too, the cloth with it was the only downside I think.

2) No7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator (75ml) - I've used this exfoliator a lot, I think this was my second tube, it's a lovely creamy exfoliator suitable for more sensitive skin as well.

3) Olavie Chardonnay Wine Therapy Antioxidant Body Butter (30ml) - I received this in my Boudoir Privé box and I loved it, the only downside to this is the price for the full size, otherwise a fantastic, luxurious feeling, thick body butter.

4) Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel + Shampoo (100g) - I didn't love this shower gel, it says that it's a shampoo too, and it absolutely sucked at lathering as a shampoo for me. As a shower gel it was fine, I used it with a puff and it did the job well enough but again lathering up was an issue and the smell wasn't as addicting as it is in the Honey I Washed The Kids soap.

5) The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Night Treatment (30ml) - I really like this, the only issue was that it makes me wake up to an exploded oil rig on my face...however it works very well. After I wash my face in the morning my pores look better and my overall complexion is improved. Works best with the entire Seaweed Range.

6) Simple Sun Sensitive Protecting Lip Balm (5g) - SPF 20 with 3star UVA protection, this lip balm is in a lipstick format and I love this. If I only were permitted to use one lip balm for the rest of my life (from everything I've tried so far...but then again I do have a lip balm addiction...) this would be it. Why? It glides on perfectly, no smudging, yellowing of the product, no seeping or separation of formula like some liquid lip balms, easy to use, one swipe is perfect and with added vitamins and SPF protection.

7) I managed to use up all the samples Amarya Beauty kindly sent and the perfume samples from Beauty Boxes.

Hopefully I will meet my minimum of 10 empties target for September! Thank you for reading :)

Liz Earle Offers

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts, I was trying to stop myself from blogging so much and study much more...didn't work too well though...oh dear!

Anyway, today I bring you the fantastic offers available at Liz Earle for spring, and the 2 I have taken advantage of...(seeing as I'm a collector of all things beauty, I feel like I should repurchase already - even though I haven't used anything yet...*slaps on wrist*!)

So here's the link where you can view the offers: http://uk.lizearle.com/offers

And here are the 2 that I bought! :)

This is the New Springtime Must Haves Offer for £41 but with a retail value of £64.55. Included are:
- 2 Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleansers (100ml) and 2 muslin cloths
- Instant Boost Skin Tonic (200ml)
- A choice of moisturiser depending on your skin type
- A beautiful beauty bag

First Impressions:
- Packaged beautifully, each item is individually hand-wrapped and packaged so that nothing will leak or break
- The beauty bag is of very high quality and is very pretty inside, sporting colourful stripes and convenient compartments
- Very fast delivery
- The skincare items look gorgeous too
- Also a great deal with savings!

This is the Clear Skin offer for £20.65 with a value of £33.15 and includes:

- Deep Cleansing Mask (75ml) and 2 sponges

- Gentle Face Exfoliator (50ml)

- Spot-On (6ml)

- Soft White Headband

First Impressions:

- Again, very well wrapped and presented

- Speedy delivery

- Fantastic savings and am thinking of purchasing this set again before the offer runs out in May...

I am very impressed with the whole ordering - delivery process and especially with the free gift of a 30ml cleanser with a muslin cloth and a personalised letter congratulating me on my first order. As I said to my boyfriend, "I feel like a Queen!"

I will forever associate opening my package with that feeling and as I had had a great day when it arrived too! I hope that my interview was successful and am offered a place...won't reveal too much there just yet!

Have you tried any Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare Products? What do you think?

Thank you so much for reading and don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Boots No7 Skincare Giveaway! - CLOSED

If you haven't done so already please don't forget to enter my giveaway here which has now been extended to 10th March!

Items to win are:

Good Luck! :)

Review: Soap and Glory The Fab Pore 15 Minute Facial Peel

This facial mask/exfoliator/peel is really effective in terms of what it says it will do. It is available at Boots and other retailers for £7.15.

Soap and Glory say that this is best for "greasy, spot prone or problem skin, or for a strategic attack on a misbehaving T-Zone." They also add details about their "Poreshrink-R Complex", which contains the following:

• "Fomes Officinalis Extract: A mushroom extract to tighten pores.
• Salicylic Acid: which loosens up the dead cells that contribute to pore clogging
• Kaolin: That’s ‘cosmetic’ for clay. It sops up extra oil on your skin and smooths your skin’s surface!
• Vitamins E & C: Antioxidants. Just because you’re oily, doesn’t mean you’re not aging"

My opinion:

This is an effective scrub/mask/everything to do with your face, the formula/texture is soft and creamy and has little blue/green beads that you rub into your skin while applying the mask and they burst. This is a fun process - burst every bead or you can't start timing the entire 5/15 minutes for the mask, depending on which you choose.

When the mask is on, it doesn't dry so you can still move your face fortunately - woo! I usually keep it on for 15 minutes because I feel it does a slightly better job than leaving it on for only 5 minutes.

After you take the peel off I've always found that it leaves a white-ish residue on my skin and all of a sudden I have a lot of skin sort of "peeling" off, especially around my T-zone. I think this is what they mean by the "peel" but I really don't like that part and scrub especially hard to get the flaky skin off and moisturise loads too. The positive points are that it's effective, it does what it says, peels my skin...it also evens out my complexion really well which is something I hadn't found in a mask/scrub/peel before, and it looks like I have fewer blemishes. These are the immediate effects only though.

After a few months of using it, (I'd say 3 months, I didn't use it 2-3 times a week, probably 1-2 times) I found my skin to look more even in tone but I didn't notice any other majorly favourable changes. My T-zone remains as oily as it chooses to be and my blemishes are still present sadly, but generally, overall skin does look better.

I found picking a rating quite difficult as it does a useful job but not exactly what it claims or what I expected and it's slightly more in price than I'd like to pay...probably a 7/10.

Thank you for reading, please leave your comments below, have you tried this? PASS/FAIL? :)

Review: No7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator

This retails for £8 at Boots and I really like it! It's a creamy exfoliator with little beads that you can manoeuvre around your face for a decent clean. It's hypo-allergenic and contains fruit acids to help clear your complexion.

You receive 75ml which lasts for a very long time as you only need a tiny amount to wash your face with. I would recommend this especially as a winter exfoliator due to its creamy properties, preventing the skin from drying out as well.

I like the simple tube packaging as its easy to use and keep clean, I've used it now for 3-4weeks daily (I have combination skin and I feel it works fine daily), as it is gentle enough and I notice the slightly clearer complexion I now have.

You can win this as part of my giveaway at the moment too!

Thank you for reading :)