Review | Dr Jackson's Day Cream SPF30

Dr Jackson's Day Cream SPF30 is an impressive staple skincare product designed to protect the skin, whilst also providing hydration, comfort, and anti-ageing benefits. 

Review | Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream

The Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream promises to deliver plump-looking, baby soft skin by replenishing lipid levels and strengthening skin’s natural moisture barrier. I, of course, had to review it to see if it makes good on its promise. 

Review: Eucerin Urea Repair Replenishing Face Cream

I've always believed in the need to have a skin repairing product in your beauty cabinet at all times. Whether it's sunburn, reaction inflammation, or a bad retinol OD, your skin can find itself in need of emergency care at any moment.

One of my all-time favourite skin repairers is the iS Clinical Sheald. However, I was recently contacted about the Eucerin Urea Repair Replenishing Face Cream and was so intrigued, I had to try it.

Eucerin Urea Repair is lightweight, with a texture that sits between a lotion and a cream. Because of this, a little goes a long way, making that 50ml stretch! It is scentless and absorbs fully in a few minutes, leaving behind a ultra-soft skin texture. Designed for dry and damaged skin, Urea Repair is formulated with urea and lactate - two natural compounds that hydrate the skin and lock-in moisture.

I had a skin flare up recently and - with hesitation - reached for this over my usual iS Clinical Sheald. It quickly soothed my skin, added much needed hydration and, in around five days of continual use, returned by skin back to its normal healthy state. I was well and truly proven wrong. However, if I had to make a choice, I would still opt for Sheald in a skin emergency, but Urea Repair is a close second and - importantly - over 70% cheaper!

Damaged skin aside, I would recommend this cream to anyone with dry skin. Regular use keeps skin hydrated, plump, and smooth to the touch. For just £11, it really is a great skincare product. 

What The f**k Are Probiotics?

In super simple terms, probiotics are strains of friendly bacteria that are naturally found in the body. Although probiotics are found naturally, they are also found in certain foods and supplements. They are celebrated for their ability to maintain great gut health and a strong immune system. Now, you will often hear the word prebiotic alongside probiotics - making the whole thing even more confusing. However, prebiotics are just carbohydrates (mostly fibre) that feed probiotics, enabling them to go about their business and keep your body healthy AF. I will do a post on prebiotic skincare soon, don't worry, girl...

Review: Filorga Skin-Absolute Night

Filorga Skin-Absolute Night is the ultimate anti-ageing treatment that gets to work fighting signs of ageing while you sleep...

Review: Dior Hydra Life Deep Sorbet Water Essence & Fresh Hydration Sorbet Cream

I've always been a big fan of Dior makeup but when it came to the brand's skincare, I'm was a straight virgin. However I recently popped my cherry and tried two of the brand's newest skincare launches, the Hydra Life Deep Sorbet Water Essence and Hydra Life Fresh Hydration Sorbet Cream (aka the perfect skincare partnership)...

Review: Jivesse Marine Collagen Cream

The Promise: "A multi-dimensional anti-ageing cream containing potent active ingredients to rejuvenate and accelerate the natural production of collagen in your skin and defend against the key signs of ageing"

The Price: £80.00 50ml

The Stockist: jivesse.com

The Application: The Jivesse Marine Collagen Cream comes packaged in an airtight container and is removed by pushing down on a pump. This type of packaging protects the product from contamination and makes application clean and simple. It also enables you to dispense the perfect amount of product with each pump - one pump is enough to cover entire face and neck. As for the cream itself, it has a thick, rich texture that applies and absorbs into the skin quickly and easily! It also has an gorgeous fragrance that I am obsessed with. I know some of you don't like scented skincare (I get it, I get it!) but for those that do, this scent is really something.

Review: Neomist Face Formula Cream-Serum

The Price: £135.00 50ml

The Stockist: Selfridges

The Skin Type: Suitable for all skin types

The Application: The Neomist Cream-Serum is formulated with argan oil, shea butter, wheat ceramides extracts and a revolutionary wpe® technology. Neomist's wpe® technology (water plant emulsion) is a patented micro-emulsion procedure that enables the highly concentrated active ingredients to deeply penetrate the skin - making their anti-ageing properties even more effective.

Ingredients 101: Cranberry Seed Oil

Natural or Synthetic: Natural

Origin: Cranberry seed oil is extracted from the seeds of the superfruit. In most cases, the ingredient is extracted via the cold pressing method

Location: Most of the world's cranberries are cultivated in North America (Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin), as well as parts of British Columbia and Quebec

Beauty Benefits: Cranberry seed oil makes for an amazing skincare ingredient as it penetrates the skin easily, is deeply moisturising and is packed with antioxidants, helping it protect the skin from free radical damage (which accelerates skin ageing).

It is rich in vitamin E and vitamin A and is also high in phytosterols and phospholipids. Cranberry seed oil also contains a unique balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids. These amazing properties enable cranberry seed oil to treat and sooth irritated skin (it is great for those with eczema and psoriasis) and acne. For the hair lovers out there, this wonder ingredient also helps to heal, strengthen and moisturise the hair and scalp.

Warnings: Cranberry seed oil is considered safe to use topically

Found in: Decléor Intense Nutrition Comforting Cocoon Cream 50ml (£44.50 decleor.co.uk / $65.00 decleorusa.com). This thick and ultra nourishing face cream is the perfect partner for those with dry skin. In addition to being packed with cranberry seed oil, the Intense Nutrition Cream contains avocado oil, argan oil and phytosqualane. These hero ingredients work together to deeply moisturise the skin, strengthen its protective barrier and improve the overall quality of the skin.

Lately my skin has been going through a nasty dry spell (thanks winter!) and I've been experiencing flakiness. However, since using the Intense Nutrition Comforting Cocoon Cream for over a week my skin has returned to normal.

Faithful Four: Face Creams

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream

Promise: “Multi-targeted anti-ageing moisturiser that corrects the most visible signs of aging”
Price: £48.00 / $62.00 50ml

Purchase: John Lewis / Nordstrom

The first face cream on the list is Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream. This wonder cream applies well and absorbs incredibly quickly. It actually absorbs better than any other face cream I've tried and it isn't greasy or remotely sticky after application. It provides an ultra smooth, even finish that makes subsequent makeup application a dream.

This Super Multi-Corrective Cream is fragrance free, safe for sensitive skin and paraben free. What makes this cream particularly special is that it is packed with hyaluronic acid, which deeply moisturises the skin and locks in moisture. This face cream is lacking in a SPF, so you will need to apply a SPF primer and/or foundation over the top of it, to ensure your skin is protected.

Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream

Promise: “Say good-bye to dry skin and hello to "total moisture." This facial cream provides concentrated immediate & long-term hydration for a radiantly refreshed complexion”

Price: £28.50 / $42.00 50ml

Purchase: Boots / Sephora

The Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream is the perfect face cream for just about any skin type. It is formulated with mango-seed butter and caprylic capric triglycerides which work together to deeply moisturise the skin and create a barrier on the skin's surface that locks in moisture. The cream is not too heavy and absorbs quickly, leaving behind a soft, even finish that is perfect for subsequent makeup application. As only a small amount of product is required per application, this 50ml pot will lasts a loonnng time. It doesn't have a SPF, so be sure to protect your skin with a SPF primer or foundation.

The only downside to the Total Moisture Facial Cream is the scent. It has a strong perfumed scent that I find a little off-putting. However the smell goes within a few minutes after application.

Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream

Promise: “A light but intensive hydrating cream that feels beautifully fresh and alive on your face”

Price: £26.99 / $48.00 60ml

Purchase: feelunique.com / antipodesnature.us

The Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream is the most moisturising face cream around. It is 100% natural and is packed with avocado oil, manuka honey and rosehip oil. These skin-benefiting ingredients work to deeply moisturise, repair and protect the skin.

Now the Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream is very rich, so it wouldn't be ideal for those with oily skin. It glides on to the skin easily but takes a little while to fully absorb. However, when it does, you are left with soft, plump and deeply hydrated skin. After a couple of weeks of using this face cream daily, you will also see a reduction in pigmentation. This has been my go-to moisturiser for the past few years, I'm beyond loyal! Oh...and it smells amazing.

Unfortunately this face cream is also lacking in SPF, so make sure your skin is protected by applying a SPF primer or foundation over the top of it.

SK-II Essential Power Rich Cream

Promise: “This lavish facial cream addresses signs of ageing and keeps the skin nourished to perfection. It contains a key plant-derived ingredient that protects the skin from harsh environmental conditions, leaving skin moisturised and healthy”

Price: £143.00 / $260.00 50ml

Purchase: Harrods / blissworld.com

I know what you're thinking? F**k, this is an unbelievably expensive face cream! Now, you're right, however it is as amazing as it is expensive...I promise!

The SK-II Essential Power Rich Cream is a ultra nourishing cream that has a gorgeous  silky texture. To apply this cream is nothing short of a dream. It glides on to the skin effortlessly and only a small pea size amount of product is required to cover the entire face. It sinks in relatively quickly, however I always leave a good five minutes before applying anything over the top. It is worth the wait though, as once this is fully absorbed, the skin is left plump and soft, with an even texture - setting the perfect base for makeup. This cream is also the perfect anti-ager, firming the skin and reducing fine lines. Like the other creams here, the Essential Power Rich Cream is also lacking in a SPF, so you will need to apply a SPF primer and/or foundation over the top of it.

The only downside to this product has to be the price, it is one serious splurge!

Review: Urban Retreat Skincare

The Promise: "A staple yet luxurious skincare range that uses effective natural ingredients that leave skin feeling soft and looking radiant".

The Stockist: Urban Retreat at Harrods / urbanretreat.co.uk

The Review: The new Urban Retreat skincare range features seven essential skincare products that include a face oil, eye gel, lip treatment, moisturiser, cleanser, mask and exfoliator. I got my hands on the cleanser, exfolitor and moisturiser and, for the past couple of weeks, I've been putting these products through their paces.

The Urban Retreat Cleanser 120ml (£20.00) is a lightweight cream cleanser that deeply cleans the skin, whilst keeping it nourished, super soft and radiant. In addition to apricot kernel, olive and rosehip seed oil, this gorgeous cleanser contains avocado oil and pomegranate - two antioxidant-rich extracts that protect skin from environmental damage and improve its overall texture.

This cleanser applies effortlessly, rinses off easily and smells wonderful. The only downside is that it isn't so good at removing mascara.

The Urban Retreat Exfoliator 75ml (£30.00) is one of the best exfoliating face scrubs I have used in a long time. I'd put it up there with Kiehl's Epidermal Re-texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion, which is really  saying something! It is a rich, creamy exfoliator that, unlike most exfoliating face scrubs on the market, is jam packed with very fine biodegradable Ecoscrub beads that help to buff the skin quickly and more effectively. However this major pro can also turn into a con, as applying a product this effective too frequently can cause irritation.

This exfoliator smells amazing and can be worked into the skin easily. It contains coconut, wheat germ, avocado and sweet almond oil that all work together to deeply moisturise the skin. Even hours after rinsing, skin feels soft and nourished!

The Urban Retreat Moisturiser 120ml (£60.00) is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins E and B, making it a great anti-ager. It plumps up the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and  it helps to correct pigmentation. It is also great for treating dry and dehydrated skin as it contains rosehip seed oil and jojoba oil - two ultra-nourishing ingredients. If that's not enough, it includes Sodium Hyaluronate, an ingredient that not only draws in moisture but also retains it!

This moisturiser has a thin, lotion-like texture that applies evenly and absorbs quickly. When it comes to dosage, only a tiny amount of product is needed to cover the entire face, neck and décolletage. The only real downside to this moisturiser is that it is lacking in SPF.

What do you think of the new Urban Retreat Skincare collection? Have you tried anything in the range?

PR sample

Review: Bioderma Photoderm Ski SPF 50+

The Promise: "Maximum high altitude photoprotection for face and lips, for intolerant skin types"

The Price: £10.00 / $25.00 20ml

The Stockist: garden.co.uk / amazon.com

The Application: The Photoderm Ski is a 2-in-1 face and lip protector, made up of a cream and a stick. It is designed for life on the ski slopes, helping to protect skin from the affects of high altitudes and cold weather conditions. If you don't already know, high altitudes, intense sunlight and freezing temperatures on the slopes can leave skin dry, sun damaged, cracked and sore. So it is important to keep your skin as protected as possible.

The cream has a SPF50+, as well as a lightweight consistency and nourishing texture that creates a strong protective barrier on the skin. As well as preventing the skin from harsh UV rays, this strong protective barrier prevents skin from becoming dried out and/or dehydrated. It applies effortlessly and is absorbed into the skin very quickly. It also has a lovely, sweet (but subtle) scent.

The stick is my favourite part of the Photoderm Ski. It has an unbelievably creamy consistency, which makes for a smooth and gentle application - a must when applying products to sore lips. It also has a unique texture, which has been specially designed to prevent chapping. The stick is flavourless, however, like the cream, it has a sweet but subtle scent.

The Results: The cream does a great job at keeping skin protected for a prolonged amount of time. More importantly, unlike other sun creams, skin remains hydrated and smooth during application and  a long time after!

The stick is great for keeping lips soft, hydrated, and protected from cold weather conditions. It also helps to heal cracked lips and improve lip texture. In addition, the protection lasts a really long time - which is rare for a lip balm.

What is really interesting about the Photoderm Ski is that both the cream and stick have been specially formulated to withstand the cold (up to -10°), wind, snow, and high altitude. You often find SPF creams that protect against extremely hot conditions, however you rarely find those that protect against extremely cold ones!

The Pro: What makes Photoderm Ski SPF 50+ really special is the stick. It keeps lips well protected and ultra-nourished for a prolonged amount of time.

The Con: There is only 20ml of cream - which isn't much considering that you would need to apply the product more than once a day. However it would last at least a week and, considering the average skiing trip is only a week long, £10.00 for an entire week of great sun protection isn't that bad!

Are you a fan of Bioderma? Have you tried any other products from the brand that you would recommend?