Exuviance Detox Mud Treatment

One brand a lot of my Blogger friends rave about is Exuviance and it is a brand until now I had never tried. I was kindly sent two new products which will soon launch and the one I am sharing today is the Detox Mud Treatment. Like anyone, I love an excuse for a good pampering session and this was something I looked forward to trying. If you have never come across the brand before, Exuviance is a dermatologist developed skincare range created by Drs. Van Scott and Yu, widely recognised around the world as leaders in the field of cosmetic dermatology. They are creators and original patent holders of the first glycolic peel and discovered the rejuvenating powers of Alpha Hydroxy, Polyhydroxy and Bionic Acids, which provide proven, visible results backed by evidence from numerous clinical studies, patents & articles in every major medical journal of dermatology.

Described as being a deeply purifying mask that works like no other, to decongest the pores and detoxify the skin it is perfect for anyone all skin types and obviously for anyone who feels their skin needs a really good deep clean. What caught my attention to this mask was the inclusion of Japanese Binchotan Charcoal, an ingredient I have seen in quite a few products and one that my skin reacts too really well. I have combination skin which gives me an oily t-zone and also dryness on my cheeks and there are times when my skin can just be a nightmare and like most of us needs something a little extra special.

Exuviance state that the inclusion of Japanese Binchotan Charcoal is what makes this mask unique. The Charcoal has strong absorptive properties that act like a magnet and in doing so it naturally draws out impurities and toxins from the skin that can be caused by environmental factors such as pollution. This results in a beautifully radiant and glowing complexion, leaving pores refined and energising stressed skin.  Alongside the charcoal there is a whole host of other ingredients which include:

• French Clay has a high mineral content that absorbs excess oil to leave the skin with a natural matte finish.

• NeoGlucosamine is clinically-proven to boost collagen production whilst lightly exfoliating the skin, leaving it smooth and refined.

When it comes to using the mask, you need to ensure that you have fully cleansed your face and décolletage and then having applied a fairly thin layer, simply leave it on for 15 minutes at which point it has dried but isn't too tight and then rinse off using warm water. Designed to be used twice weekly, I haven't found the mask to irritate my skin or leave it dry and taut, instead I love the fresh clean feeling I am left with.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Yope Hand and Skin Care

Looking after your hands is more than just washing them regularly and applying hand cream when you think your skin needs it.  For me it is about checking the products I put on my hands that do not dry my skin out.  Many years ago now I stopped using highstreet branded soap and instead switched to products which are kinder on the skin.

Yope is a new brand that I have been introduced too and they have a range of naturally unusual hand Soaps designed for everyday use. Yope soaps are made in Poland whilst they smell absolutely divine, they do not contain any enhancing substances such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).

Within the package I have there is a Natural Kitchen Hand Soap in scent Clove and it has been made with 92% natural ingredients, such as allantoin, Vitamin B5, and the Essential Oil from Clove buds (an ingredient with natural antifungal and antibacterial properties).

I absolutely love the scent of this, it is fresh and quite spicy and perfect for masking those horrid smells left on your hands after washing up along with other scents and smells from cleaning, which I really dislike. It comes in a 500ml bottle with a pump action dispenser so it is easy to use and requires little effort and of course the drawing of a raccoon on the labels adds to the cuteness of the bottle.

Yope Mineral Regenerating Hand Lotion with its etching of a Toucan also come with a pump action dispenser and it has been specifically formulated to moisturise, strengthen, and protect dry and rough skin.

The lotion contains rich and nourishing oils such as argan, coconut and tsubaki which work soften and regenerate the skin. Vitamin E which helps to prevent the ageing of the skin and organic shea butter which protects the skin and prevents dryness. This hand lotion is also free from parabens, silicones, and mineral oils.

I really like the scent of this hand lotion, it is light and fresh and has no chemical scent to it at all.  I love that the bottle compliment one another and you can find them priced around £6 each both online and in stores right here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Beauty Banks: How To Help Fight Hygiene Poverty

Access to the most basic hygiene products such a soap and sanitary towels is a right that for some is still out of reach to the many here in the UK, a fact which might shock most of you, perhaps it is something many of you haven't ever thought about or given thought too. Well two people who have are Jo Jones and Sali Hughes with their new organisation and guess what - You can get involved too.

Beauty Banks aims to encourage the beauty community to donate toiletries to people living in serious need and give the hoard of unused products many of us accumulate over time a much more worthwhile purpose. As a beauty blogger and beauty lover, I am fortunate enough to be gifted a lot of items and like many I do love a good 3 for 2 offer and take full advantage of them whenever I need too. 

My own local supermarket has a basket for the local pet charity, the food bank and my local church has somewhere for products to be taken for local domestic shelters. It isn't too much of a hardship to shop clever which is how I see it. You need toothpaste? Well look for an offer and donate the other, you need shower gel - same rules apply and so on an so forth. If you look in your cupboards you will have tins of food, still in date, that you don't need want or need... you might even have unopened PR samples that you won't use, isn't your shade, scent or even 'thing' so donate it, clear the clutter.

As Sali Hughes so rightly and poignantly puts it:

Clean hair, skin and teeth are a right, not a privilege. Personal hygiene – while not a matter of life and death – is crucial for our dignity, self-respect, personal pride and mental health.

This isn't just an organisation only some people can get involved in, everyone can do their bit. So how can you get involved? Thankfully it is really simple and very easy. Beauty Banks need items such as:

• Shampoo
• Body Wash
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Shaving Products
• Tampons
• Sanitary Towels
• Wipes
• Hand Sanitiser
• Toothpaste

Literally everything you probably have in your bathroom collecting dust, your hotel miniatures, toothbrushes, combs, hand cream, body cream, hair masks and even toilet roll for some places. There are also some rules to follow and they are quite important - Products need to be unopened, to comply with health and safety rules. Also nail polish, nail polish remover and perfume are restricted solvents, so please don't send these either. Please also don't send money as this is a non-profit organisation and isn't a registered charity but if you really feel you want to send items the you can shop directly from their Amazon wish list and have it sent directly to them.

Where to send your stash

Once you've gathered a decent stash of products, put them in a box and write "Beauty Banks" on each side, addressing the package to the following address:

Beauty Banks

c/o Jo Jones

The Communications Store

2 Kensington Square

London

W8 5EP

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Beauty Expert - The Spa Edition

In the latest edition of The Beauty Expert Collection which is called ‘The Spa Edit’ it comes packaged inside a handy cosmetics bag and is packed full of relaxing products covering skin, hair and bodycare brands and they have been chosen with one thing in mind and that is to help you sit back, relax and rejuvenate your skin and mind and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.  Having seen off January, which never seemed to want to end, February has brought more rubbish weather and as I don't want to be outdoors and want to stay indoors and have a weekend of pampering.

The Spa edition is packed with six full sized products from brands you will all know and love and it has a combined worth of over £220 but can be yours for just £70 (here) and it is just amazing value for money.

First out of the bag is Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask (50ml). Omorovicza is one of my favourite brands, if you haven't tried The Queen of Hungry Mist you need too. This Mud Mask is rich in nourishing Hungarian moor mud, alongside calcium and magnesium compounds – proven to accelerate healing. 

Natural acids and Hectorite Clay draw out impurities then detoxify and cleanse to leave your complexion clear, bright, hydrated and visibly lifted. There is also the use of essential oils which include sage, chamomile, rosemary and rose geranium which have a cooling and antiseptic effect on the skin.  

Next is Caudalie Divine Oil (50ml). This oil was the very first product I used from Caudalie and I still absolutely love it. A nourishing, multi-purpose oil which can be used on dry skin, hair and nails. Encased inside a beautiful glass bottle, this oil smells just absolutely incredible thanks to the Moroccan and Bulgarian roses. 

As well as roses, there is also the inclusion of Shea Butter, pink grapefruit, spicy pink pepper, hibiscus, sesame and argan oils.  I love a good multi-purpose product and this is quite something because not only can you use it on dry skin, flaky skin, split ends and on your cuticles but it also works perfectly well as a bath oil and not only does it smell incredible, it leaves your skin feeling so well nourished and hydrated.

Also included within this Spa Edition is the ESPA Optimal Skin ProSerum (30ml). Described as being an intensely nourishing serum which works to strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier and help even skin tone, while enhancing elasticity to help minimise the early signs of ageing. 

What I love about this serum is how incredible it smells, it reminds me of being in a spa. Using Echium Oil and Sunflower Concentrate which replenish ceramides and omega oils, White Lupin which helps to smooth and firm while Turmeric brightens for beautifully radiant skin.  I haven't used many products from ESPA but this ProSerum is absolutely lovely, not at all greasy and has the kind of aroma which just makes you instantly relax.

Next is the Nourish, Breathe & Energise Hand Balm from Neom and as a brand, I know very little about it. This hand cream comes from Neom's Scent To Boost Your Energy™ collection and is described as being a cream to hydrate fatigued hands, the nourishing balm leaves skin ultra-soft, whilst boasting a rejuvenating scent. 

Enriched with a blend of grapefruit, lemon & rosemary which help to refresh and energise they work alongside both Shea and Cocoa Butter to hydrate and protect your hands.  On the skin, this hand cream which doesn't have too thick a texture, absorbs really quickly and leaves behind a really lovely aroma.

Another brand I feel I should know more about than I do is Elemis and within the Spa Edition from Beauty Expert is the Pro-Collagen Marine Oil (15ml). Described as being a rich and replenishing anti-ageing treatment and it is derived from ocean-based botanicals and marine-biological actives, the facial oil balances a trio of seaweeds – Padina Pavonica, Golden Seaweed and Roaring Water Kelp and they all come together and work in tandem to support skin’s natural moisture barrier, maximising hydration levels while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

There is also the use of White Poppy Seed which is said to create a visible plumping effect, improve the skin’s overall texture and tone for a truly lifted and radiant visage.   Again, the scent of this oil is just heavenly and has that spa aroma to it, it is non-greasy and absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin.

The final item within this Spa Edition is the NUXE Micellar Cleansing Oil (150ml). Described as being the perfect first step of your double cleanse, this cleansing oil makes light work of removing makeup, dirt, grime and impurities from the skin without leaving it feeling dry and taut. 

It is infused with rosewater micelles which lifts away the most stubborn waterproof mascara. I have never been the biggest fan of Micellar Water, I have never quite found something that I liked using and would repurchase, even those which are most loved, but this Cleansing Oil for me is in a totally different league and ive already ordered a back up, I am that impressed with it.

The idea of having a bag of products which have been put together to help you relax, de-stress and take some time out is such a great idea, especially when there is a lot of stress around January. ‘The Spa Edit’ is still available and if you need an excuse for a bit of a pampering, Beauty Expert have you covered, grab it quick!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here