Perk - Cleanse with Benefits

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be the recipient of a Perk Facial, a treatment which manages to exfoliate, nourish and cleanse the face, eyes and lips in just half an hour.  Perk is described as being the world’s first hybrid facial to merge an in-office exfoliating treatment that includes take-home products to enhance your skin benefits.

I was given in-depth talks as to what each treatment would do for my skin, I filled out a questionnaire on my skin and then opted for the treatment on my face, lips and eyes using three different products. Perk uses what is referred to as a unique hybrid system which uses patented roller flex technology to gently remove surface layer dead skin cells and impurities due to liquid exfoliation while delivering vital antioxidants. 

The treatment started with my face and as my skin was being, what I can best describe as 'sucked' by this roller flex, it is totally painless, whilst feeling slightly odd, I could see all kinds of gunk being sucked off and out of my skin. As the pen-shaped machine moved around my face, lips and even around my eyes, my pores were ever so gently flexed as the roller ball embeds nutrients, ensuring absorption and afterwards, my skin felt just incredible.

A nourishing solution deeply cleansed skin while an Antioxidant Renewal Serum re-nourishes with key antioxidants including Vitamins A & E, White Tea Extract, and Horse Chestnut Seed Extract.  Smooth to the touch, slightly plump and very radiant looking, for once I didn't mind too much about wandering around central London without makeup on!

After my face had been treated, which took around 15 minutes, it was then the turn of my lips.  Like many people, dry lips can be an absolute nightmare and they also look unsightly too.  

This treatment managed to remove every single trace of dry skin and what I really liked was the Lip Revitalising Serum which uses key ingredients such as peppermint oil and peony extract to gently exfoliate, hydrate and lightly plump lips. Afterwards, my lips were left feeling plump and smooth and whilst I didn't feel the need to apply any balm, I am a tad obsessed with doing so and did.

The part of the treatment I was most nervous about was around my eyes.  Anything to do with eyes makes me nervous and slightly on edge, but it couldn't have been more straightforward, painless. 

The Eye Replenishing Serum which awakens the delicate eye area using ingredients such as green tea extract which brightens dark circles naturally with citric acid.  What I loved about this treatment was how soothing it was as it took place. I could have quite happily just laid down as the treatment was done.  Afterwards, where my skin feels dehydrated, actually felt hydrated.

Naturally depending upon your skins' level of sensitivity you might be a little rosy faced after the treatments, but I wasn't at all, in fact, my skin felt just incredible and later that evening I had an event to attend and the application of makeup was a dream.  No need to hope my foundation didn't cling to dry skin because there was nothing for it to cling too.  If that doesn't sound fabulous enough, the service and treatments I had gave me some take-home applicators which meant I could continue the routine at home.  With enough for a 30-day use at home with instructions on how best to each item.  I finished my 30 use some time ago now and admittedly I was skeptical as to whether or not it would be just as good using the home treatments as it was with the first use of the machine and I was wrong because it was just as good.  For me, the biggest difference was how my skin feels, not something you can really show in picture form, but to explain.  To the touch, my skin is usually soft, but that doesn't mean it is hydrated or even having a good day.  My undereye is usually dehydrated, partly because I spend a lot of my time in front of a computer typing away and whilst I do use mists and face sprays, I sometimes need a little more, a boost if you like and this is where Perk has come in so handy and it was such an eye-opener (no pun intended) treatment. 

I love the idea that I can have a facial treatment which treats my face, around my eyes and lips to exfoliate, nourish, plump, brighten whilst at the same time deliver vital antioxidants, flex my pores and just ensure soo that gunk, grime and dirt from everyday life stops doesn't build it, doesn't leave my skin looking dull and lacklustre but instead allows it to absorb all the good things I am putting onto my skin and letting them do their jobs.  Without question I would have this treatment again, you can mix and match which you have, you don't have to have all three, it depends on your needs at the time.  If it is something that does intrigue you, then you can find a salon/clinic near you which offers this treatment.

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

TOUCH IN SOL Beauty Aid Cream

If you have dry, sensitive skin, then Touch In Sol have a product that you need to have in your stash and it is called All in 1 Beauty Aid Cream.  I make no secret of my obsession with this brand, every single product I have tried, I have been wowed by and it is one of the few brands I have made purchases from when I am close to running out of a product.

Hailing from South Korea, Touch In Sol has been designed to embrace the spirit of Korean innovation. Touch In Sol is fun, innovative and uses some of the most advanced technologies. If you know anything about Korean Beauty, you will be aware that they are very much ahead of us with their beauty innovations, so the chance to try them as soon as they hit the UK is quite special.

All in 1 Beauty Aid Cream is described as being an ultra-moisturising formula enriched with heavenly hydrators, it boosts skin’s moisture barrier to make it more supple, firm and healthy. It is these ingredients which include sugar cane, shea butter, birch sap, hazel, walnut and olive combine to nourish and hydrate the skin, while ceramides boost elasticity. Putting all of these together you have a product which is:

• Highly concentrated and nongreasy.
• Instantly calms and hydrates skin.
• Skin feels revitalised and smooth.
• Formulated for dry and sensitive skin.

I like to use this cream on the driest parts of the skin and that doesn't just mean on my face. I have used this on my hands, the heels of my feet and even on my shins. I have also used it on my face as an overnight treatment on my cheeks, which thanks to having combination skin, means they often feel dry to the touch.  It isn't too thick a texture that it leaves your skin feeling greasy, instead, it absorbs pretty quickly and leaves no trace behind.

I love that when I use this on my cheeks it also creates a perfect base for foundation. I find it helps prime my skin to prevent anything sticking to dry skin. It is a cream you don't have to apply absolutely everywhere, just to the places you feel your skin needs it the most and it is absolutely perfect for having in your bag, luggage and even on your bedside table.

You can find Beauty Aid on sale at Cult Beauty (here), FeelUnique (here) and ASOS (here) ranging in price from £22-£26.

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

M&S Beauty: FORMULA Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream

Did you know Marks and Spencer had its own skincare range? Called Formula it describes itself as being "From bespoke sensitive skin care and advanced anti-aging solutions to cutting-edge ingredients taken straight from the lab, find your skincare soulmate from our newly reformulated Formula collections".  Whether you want a day cream, night cream, a serum, cleanser, toner, eye cream, neck cream and so on, there is an incredible range to try.

I love an overnight product, something I can put on to my skin and let it works its magic as I sleep.  I would love to be able to say that I get 8 hours sleep every single night, that my skin doesn't need any extra help, but in truth, I get around 5-6 hours sleep unless insomnia has kicked in and then I am awake every hour if I can eventually nod off.  So in an effort to ensure my skin looks good, feels good and I have little in the way of suitcases under my eyes, I have a night time skin care routine. We all know that the lack of sleep can cause so many issues for the skin, it is something most skin care experts will talk about and it is well worthy of listening to them as they explain just how important sleep is. Just like any other cell in your body, your skin cells take advantage of when you are asleep to repair and rejuvenate your skin, not giving your skin time to do this can lead to the moisture level in your skin being affected, your pH levels dropping and of course, those pesky dark circles appear.

The Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream is quite the cult product. When it launched it had rave review after rave review, it sold out everywhere and had a massive waiting list of people wanting to get their hands on this cream. It is described as being supercharged with anti-wrinkle peptides, moisturising hyaluronic acid and skin-brightening actives as well as shea butter, marula oil, kukui oil and Vitamin E. 

The cream which smells just divines is not too thick a texture but it is incredibly rich in feel.  You literally need just a small amount of this cream to cover your face and neck and once it is applied, it doesn't sit on the surface of your skin, so it isn't going to ruin your pillowcase. The following morning, there is a slight chance that there will be some residue of the cream left which will need to be removed, but as I double cleanse anyway, so I would always ensure I did wash my face (ewww) the following morning.  That said, I am yet to find any of this cream not used on my skin. 

What I do love about this Sleep Cream is how my skin does feel after using.  I find that my skin goes through cycles of feeling dry and in need of moisture despite using face oils and masks, this is where this cream comes in really useful because it literally does leave my skin feeling softer and smoother to the touch, my lacklustre skin suddenly looks plump and radiant and just this week someone asked me what I was using to make my skin glow.

At £22 (here) it is amazing value for money and it gives some other well-known brands a real run for their money.  If you need a new night cream, then this is not one I would overlook, infact having used it, I am now keen to try even more from the range.

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

Benefit Cosmetics: BAD Gal Bang Mascara

I am sure everyone has heard of, come across, read about and in some cases tried the NEW Bad Gal Bang Mascara from the babes at Benefit Cosmetics by now and it is seemingly a product which has a lot of people sat on the fence as to whether or not it is any good. I have had this product in my possession for a good few months now, I decided not to rush a review out to give a half-hearted insight into what I think.  Mascara for me is the one item in my makeup bag that I never leave the house without, it is the one item I obsess over and the one product I want to try, especially if it is new or I have never tried it before.

One of my favourite mascaras from Benefit is Rollerlash but I like to use the wand with the formula from They're Real if I really want to make my eyelashes stand out. I have fairly long lashes, so I need a formula that isn't too wet or I will have spatters of mascara around my eyes and on my cheeks. I also don't want a formula which is too dry because I cannot stand that caked on, crusty eyelash look. BAD Gal Bang:

BADgal BANG! 36-HOUR* FULL-BLAST volumising mascara creates MASSIVE volume without weighing down lashes. The gravity-defying formula contains aero-particles, one of the lightest known materials, derived from space technology. This innovative intense pitch-black mascara layers easily for bigger & BIGGER impact.

That is quite the description from the Benebabes as to what their new mascara is and does.  Firstly it contains what is referred to as gravity-defying aero-particles, described as being one of the lightest known materials derived from space technology, which I personally think is quite amazing and intriguing all at the same time, who even thought to include such a thing in a mascara?. Anything, aero-particle inclusion is said to ensure that the mascara formula can be layered up for the maximum impact such as adding volume, length and curl without clumps or weighing lashes down.

The packaging is something I really like, the space age handle with the lumps and bumps making it easy to grip onto. The streamlined brush referred to as 'Slimpact' has been designed so that it coats every lash evenly and the formula is described as being both smudge-proof and water-resistant.  Firstly the formula - it is quite wet initially and it is also a very dark intense black but after using it daily for 3-4 weeks I did start to notice a change. I won't lie, I hated the formula after using it for a few days, but it is a mascara and it is Benefit and I wasn't ready to give up on it just yet, so I continued to use it, persevering and finally that formula did dry slightly making the application less clumpy, but again depending on how many applications you apply, depends on how clumpy it is.  For me, no more than two applications and I am happy with my lashes, anything more and the clumps start to appear.

So it does give those lashes a coating of very dark mascara, the formulation for me needs a good few weeks to settle and become usable and it is also a case of less is more for my lashes. It doesn't smudge one iota once applied and given the weather we have had of late, it is waterproof, windproof and even snow proof! When it comes to the removal it does come off the lashes with incredible ease, there is no need to over rub your eyes to remove every single last trace, I find my eye makeup remover does the job pretty well and there is no need to buy a special remover (I am looking at you They're Real).

Overall, I don't think this is a bad mascara, it pretty much does do what it promises to do, albeit I've not tested the 36-hour theory. I like it, I just don't love it as much as Rollerlash.

Priced at £21.50 (here) you can find this Mascara at all Benefit counters and online too.

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