The #2016 Edit
Hello! I hope that you are well and that you have had a great start to 2016!
The new year is a great time to review and revise one’s current skincare routine. I am a big believer in using quality products to get the best results for your skin.
Here is a round up of a selection of products that I have been using over the past couple of months and that I wouldn’t hesitate to add to my regimen going forward.
Vantex True Tone Exfoliating Cleanser – Fashion Fair
I started using this cleanser just after Christmas. Prior to that, I had gone away for the season and had brought a mass brand cleanser to use ,as I had forgotten to take this cleanser with me. Unfortunately I immediately saw the negative impact of using the mass brand product. My skin broke out and it felt much more drier than usual. As soon as I got home, I resumed the use of the Vantex Exfoliating cleanser and my skin has improved no end! I really do recommend that one invests as much as they can in a quality cleanser and the results are incomparable.
I use this cleanser with my Sensio Spa Deep Pore Cleanser. The exfoliating beads are soft and dissolve quite readily and it contains antioxidant Vitamins A, C & E to restore clarity to the skin.
The only downside with this product is that it is not sold separately and is only available as part of the Vantex True Tone Vitamin Cleanser kit – which retails at £50. 
The kit contains a Skin Brightening Night Serum which I have just started using, so I will write a full review of this product in the coming weeks.
Nutricentials Creamy Cleansing Lotion and pH Balance Toner – Nu Skin Range
US brand Nu Skin’s range of high quality yet complementary skin care basics can be added to your current routine. The Nutricentials range is formulated with topically applied nutrients derived from natural sources. The Creamy Cleansing Lotion which contains soy lipids (fats), which cleanses the skin without disrupting the natural moisture barrier, Meadowfoam seed oil which provides hydration and softness and Mugwort, licorice and algae extracts to soothe and calm delicate skin, is perfect for removing make up in preparation for a deep cleanse.
View more items from the Nutricentials range here.
Oils Of Life – The Body Shop
Last year, I featured the newest addition to the Body Shop’s bath and body portfolio, the Spa of the World collection, which received a resounding ‘thumbs up’ from me!
The Oils of Life skin care range release followed hot on the heels of the body care line and I have been using the range for a couple of months now.
The range celebrates the power of oils and their ability to treat and revive the skin. I for one have been a fan of facial oils for a while now and despite having combination skin I have found that the application of a daily facial oil has helped to rebalance my skin’s moisture levels hydrating the drier areas and maintaining the moisture in the oilier areas, thus I was keen to give this range a try. The collection consists of the:
- Intensely Revitalising Bi-Phase Essence Lotion
- Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil
- Intensely Revitalising Gel Cream
- Intensely Revitalising Cream
I tested the Bi-phase essence lotion, the facial oil and the gel cream which is targeted at those with a combination – oily skin type. Each of the product contains and infusion of 3 seed oils known for their revitalising and repairing properties on the skin – Black Cumin seed oil from Egypt, Camellia seed oil from China and Rosehip seed oil from Chile. After you have cleansed (with any cleanser), the Bi-phase Essence tones and hydrates in one step, preparing the skin for the next product. It is light and non greasy – just make sure you give the bottle a good shake to mix the two phases before each use! I really did like the oil. The packaging is perfect to manage the dosage and the oil absorbs very quickly into the skin upon application. 
I was less keen on the gel moisturiser, only because I do prefer a more creamy, heavier texture to my creams. This is even more so during the winter months. However, the cream did hydrate and provide a smooth base for the application of my SPF (yes, yes, I am still using a SPF of AT LEAST 30 every day!). I think this will be a moisturiser for my holidays in the sun, when something lighter is required. However, if you are looking to incorporate more oils into your routine, this range will do just the job!
Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil, Glycolic Peel and Vinoperfect range – Caudalie
Staying on the ‘oils’ theme, I had the opportunity to test a few products from the French beauty company Caudalie, including their new Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil, which was launched in the summer. The Caudalie brand is beautiful, I first came across it when I worked at Selfridges in the Beauty Buying Office and in the late 2000s and fell in love with the Beauty Elixir. The brand’s USP is that it was the first to harness and patent the extraordinary anti-ageing prowess of a vineyard’s crop, in technologically advanced skincare. The active ingredients in the products are all derived from the grape vine – the grapes, leaves and seeds produce natural molecules that fight the signs of ageing – polyphenols provide a staggering 100% free radical protection, resveratrol boosts collagen, and vinifine brightens skin tone. The Make-up Removing Cleansing oil is perfect for the first step of the ‘double cleanse‘ – a pre step used by many facialists to thoroughly remove make-up and oil before the cleansing step.. A gentle blend of sunflower seed oil (anti-inflammatory), sweet almond oil (emollient), vitamin E (protects against free radicals) and grapeseed oil (moisturising and very light in texture), fuse together for a deeply cleansing experience that won’t strip the skin nor leave behind a greasy residue. Use it on dry skin – it will dissolve your make-up – follow with a splash of water to emulsify the oil and then a final rinse to remove the residue fully.
The Vinoperfect range is aimed at those looking to brighten the skin and even the tone.
The hero of the range is the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. It claims to be ideal for those who wish to regain a bright, radiant and even complexion, helping to eliminate existing dark spots and prevent the appearance of new ones (pregnancy mask, scars, age spots, sun spots, and spots due to hormonal imbalance etc.)
I am always keen to test such products to ascertain how effective they are on a darker skin tone.
I was impressed with the texture of the serum, it was not sticky and absorbed well. After four weeks of use, I found that my skin certainly looked brighter, however I didn’t see a massive difference in the levels of my darkest pigmentation marks. At £45 it is certainly a premium priced product, so if you are seeking a product that will be effective on darker pigmentation issues, this may not be the serum for you but if you are seeking luminosity and radiance it is a joy to use!
The Glycolic peel mask is also a great product. It is suitable for sensitive skin types as it doesn’t sting nor does it react adversely on the skin and added a brightening boost to my routine
The fragrance is subtle and the formulation is luxuriously creamy.
Find out more about the mask here.
Have you used any of these products? If so, let me know your thoughts!
Leave a comment below or tweet me!
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