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 | Antipodes Baptise Ultra-Hydrating Gel

Antipodes is one of my favourite skincare brands and, when I heard it was launching Baptise, a gel moisturiser designed for dehydrated skin, I had to review it. I'm a huge fan of the New Zealand brand's Hosanna H2O Skin Plumping Serum and have been praying for something similar in moisturiser form. It looks like my prayers have been answered...

Review: Transformulas Flawless PhotoGlow Daily Skin Radiance SPF30+

The Transformulas Flawless PhotoGlow is a cream like no other, so much so that it's deserving of a post singing its praises. It describes itself as a multi-tasking treatment cream that transforms complexions, working "like magic to instantly nourish and restore radiance while correcting imperfections".

Save Face: The Best Facial SPFs

We all know that a quality SPF is one of the most important skincare products you can own, and that applying one is one is an essential step in any skincare routine. SPF not only protects the skin from short and long term damage, it also helps prevent premature aging. The problem is, as crucial as SPF is, slapping any old SPF on your face isn't always the answer.

As with face masks, serums, and face creams, we need to ensure we're using the right SPF based on our skin type or skin concerns. Below is a selection of great SPFs that should (hopefully) tick somebody's skincare box.

Grooming: Perricone MD CBX For Men

Perricone MD CBx For Men is the kind of skincare trio that every guy needs to get his hands on...

Review: YSL Instant Moisture Glow

If you have your eyes on the beauty world, you'll know that YSL has been putting a big focus on complexion. So far this year, the French beauty giant has launched the Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow Foundation, Touche Eclat Colour Correcting Blur Primers and Instant Moisture Glow. I recently got my hands on the latter and have been putting it through its paces over the last few weeks...

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: Pestle & Mortar Hydrate + Giveaway!

Promise: "Blended with a mixture of patented peptides, this anti-ageing cream dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Naturally moisturising ingredients, including jojoba and squalane will instantly make your skin softer and firmer while powerful antioxidants pomegranate, green tea and vitamin E help fight free radicals".

Price: £38.00 50ml

Stockist: pestleandmortarcosmetics.com

Application: Before I even get into applying the cream, I need to discuss Hydrate's amazing packaging. Pestle & Mortar's latest skin saviour comes in an airless container and is dispensed by pushing down on the top of it; clean and oh-so-simple. You only have to push the top down once to dispense the required amount of cream, no more and no less.

Ingredients 101: Salicylic Acid

Natural or Synthetic: Both

The Science: Salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid that can either be synthesized in a lab or sourced naturally through a variety of plants and fruits, including willow bark, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raisins, kiwis and apricots.

Beauty Benefits: The structure of salicylic acid enables it to gently penetrate the skin, breaking down and exfoliating the dead skin cells that block pores and cause acne. Salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which help remove redness and reduce the amount of damaging bacteria on the skin. It treats other skin problems by softening and loosening dry, scaly, or thickened skin so it can be removed.

Salicylic acid has also been proven to firm the skin, stimulate collagen production and improve the skin's barrier functions.

Warnings: Salicylic acid should be avoided during pregnancy.

Salicylic acid can also cause irritation, so it is not advised for those with sensitive skin. However if you have sensitive skin and are really desperate to try this ingredient, look for products that only contain low concentrations of salicylic acid.

Found in: La Roche-Posay Effaclar K (£13.00 Boots / $30.99 laroche-posay.us). This oil-free moisturiser provides great hydration. It also works as an amazing acne treatment and is my go-to product when pimples appear!

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