AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask - a fantastic pore unclogger!

Just lately I've been searching for a really deep cleansing facial mask that will help restore my skin's natural balance and clear up existing blemishes. Finally, I've hit on a face mask that really does bring those annoying trapped-under-the-skin spots to the surface once and for all and calm down the skin to a fresher, healthier state.

I have been using AHAVA's Time to Clear Purifying Mud Mask after thoroughly cleansing, exfoliating and steaming the skin (just over a bowl of water with essential oils added) to open the pores. It's a gentle clay-enriched formula containing a blend of minerals from the Dead Sea which smooths nicely onto the skin. It works to absorb toxins and removes impurities. All it takes is 2-3 minutes once or twice a week.

The following day after using this product, I found deep-set impurities rose almost magically to the surface of the skin so that I could then extract them easily myself. After 3-4 weeks of use my skin is much clearer, with fewer blocked pores, and is feeling much more even and cleaner than it has done in a long time. Combining it with the steaming really helps as the mask has lots of lovely open pores to start cleaning out!

Also worth a mention in my quest to find a pore-unclogging facial mask is Living Nature's Deep Cleansing Mask, another clay-based purifying mask which is particularly suitable for acne prone skin. £18.40 from www.livingnature.com

AHAVA Time to Clear Purifying Mud Mask, £20, available from www.ahava.co.uk

Just Soaps of the Earth - Cleanser & Moisturiser

I just knew when I blogged about Just Soap's gorgeous Organic Citrus Zing Shampoo back in April that this was definitely a brand to watch out for. Just lately, The Times and The Telegraph have picked up on this lovely niche company, too, who specialise in natural handmade skincare products.

I've got a simple yet effective skincare routine going at the moment, using a cleanser and moisturiser from Just Soaps of the Earth, that I thought I'd share with you.

I'm cleansing using the Melon & Papaya cleansing lotion, which is in fact - rather than a creamy cleanser as you might expect - a light oil-based cleanser. Initially, the concept of cleansing my sensitive, combination skin with oil seemed a little bit at odds with what I was trying to achieve (fresh, clean, non-oily skin) but I'm finding this cleanser not only gives a deep-down cleanse, it leaves skin feeling comfortably moisturised and plumped up too.

The Papaya Seed oil in the cleanser contains an enzyme, Papain, which works to dissolve excess sebum and loosen dead skin cells. It's certainly working to soothe and clear my congested, stressed skin at the moment. It also contains Watermelon Seed oil, a lovely light oil which gently dissolves impurties.

I'm enjoying smoothing one pump of the product over my dry face and neck and then, at the same time as cleansing, giving my face a facial massage to boost circulation and aid lymphatic drainage. I simply then buff the face using a soft damp muslin cloth and rinse away. It would make a therapeutic oil to use as a massage medium for a facialist, with the added bonus that it's actually cleansing the skin too.

It's lovely to use in the evening before bed because the aroma is delicious. There's soothing calendula and decongesting eucalyptus in there too, to help clarify skin.

After such a decadant cleanse, I'm finding that a light simple, almost non-scented, moisurising cream, like the natural Just Soaps of the Earth Facial Moisturising Cream with Aloe Vera & Calendula fits the bill perfectly. It sinks into the skin effortlessly and leaves skin feeling comfortable and calm.

Just Soaps of the Earth Melon & Papya Cleansing Lotion, 50ml, £6.50, and Calendula Facial Moisturiser, 60ml, £6.95, are both available from www.justsoapsoftheearth.co.uk

VIVO make-up - the new colour-tastic range at Tesco!

I'll hold my hands up and admit that, despite my love of all things beauty related, I am pretty scared of colour cosmetics. I never seem to have the surplus cash to splash out and experiment with the latest fashion colours, and always stick to my tried-and-tested trusty brown eye shadows and nude lip glosses. That is until now ...! 

Next time you're trawling around Tesco with your trolley and fancy a little make-up pick-me-up, I urge you to check out the fab new cosmetics line currently hitting the shelves - VIVO. With prices starting at £1.50, everyone, me included, can afford to pop a goodie in with the weekly shop!

The Baked Shimmer Palette (above), £6, is the stand-out product for me and features four exquisite marbled eye shadows and an accompanying blusher. I tried Paparazzi (which with it's colour-popping shimmer shades is a break away from my usual safe neutrals) but it was surprisingly easy to get right. The double-ended applicator allows for a great deal of precision, and the little mirror built into the case is just right for checking out how you're doing.

If, like me, you're a bit daunted by catwalk-inspired colourful shades and being 'alive with colour' as the tag line of the brand promises (eek!), rest assured you can use as little as you like to still create a fresh new look. I found just a light sweep of the purple/lilac/blue from the Paparazzi palette opened up my eyes no end and the teal green also looked great. They are lovely strong pigments, so if subtle is not your style and you prefer a more dramatic look, there's always that option too.

All the fail-safe colours are there too amongst the vibrancy, including rich chocolate, mink and espresso individual shadows, plus there's a collection of five trio eyeshadow palettes (£2.50 each) for creating the perfect smoky eye. The Innocence trio (below) is perfect and in shades I know I'd use again and again.

The range spans all the make-up essentials, from primer, foundation, concealer and powder, through highlighters, bronzers and blushers, to lip glosses, lipsticks and a full range for eyes including shadows, mascaras, liquid liners, kohl pencils, a brow kit and false lashes. With prices ranging from £1.50 for an individual eyeshadow, kohl pencils and mascaras to £5 for a baked bronzer and £6 for a skin-prepping primer, what's not to like?

VIVO is an affordable, inspiring and exciting new range which has opened my eyes to being more experimental with colour, safe in the knowledge I'm not spending a fortune!

Available from Tesco stores nationwide.

Kiwiherb Organic Calendula Ointment

Here's a cute little pot of Calendula goodness that offers a healthy dose of healing properties! It's potent but extremely gentle too, and entirely natural. So gentle in fact that it can be used on babies too, even newborns.

Created in New Zealand by medical herbalist Phil Rasmussen, Organic Calendula Ointment from Kiwiherb Herbal Remedies, is a practitioner-strength blend of organic calendula flowers and lavender essential oil in a base of organic sunflower oil and beeswax.

It's a handy little pot to have to hand as it works on a myriad of things. From dry skin, chapped lips and sunburn to dermatitis on hands, eczema, skin rashes and prickly heat - even cuts and grazes to speed healing - it's wonderfully soothing and has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic healing properties. New mums will also be interested to hear it can also be used on nappy rash, cradle cap and chapped nipples.

Personally I've been using it on my cuticles as a cuticle balm and it's softened them up so they're now nice and supple and my nails look healthier too. I've also used it to soothe dry patches on my face (caused by my over zealous application of a spot cream!) and found it really nourishing on my lips too.

Organic Calendula Ointment, £7.09 for 30g, is available from www.lifeplan.co.uk. For more info visit www.kiwiherb.co.uk

Queen Sensitive Skin Oil - fit for a Queen!

When I first blogged about Queen Cosmetics - experts in sensitive skin - back in March, my blog was buzzing with readers eager to find out more about this niche range, founded by three eminent dermatologists back in  1927. The response was quite remarkable, so here's another review for those of you who suffer with skin which is super-allergic or have a sensitive skin condition.

Queen Sensitive Skin Oil is a hard-working, multi-tasking product you'll reach for again and again as an ultra-safe bet if you're prone to skin flare ups. It's a simple blend of Paraffinum Liquidum (mineral oil), Arachis Hypogea (peanut/groundnut oil) and Prunus Dulcis (sweet almond oil) and is soothing, nourishing and protecting on the skin.  

It's lovely to smooth on as a body lotion, leaving skin satiny smooth. A quick sweep over the skin brings even the dryest areas back to life, leaving skin looking healthier and younger with a subtle sheen. It can also be used as an after-sun lotion to moisturise the skin and help prolong the life of a tan.

I found it particularly soothing after shaving my legs, after which my skin is always ridiculously sensitive, and I also liked it for removing wax residue after home waxing as it works well on post-wax skin redness.

I've also used it in the bath, mixing together a cap full of oil, a cap full of milk (which acts as emulsifier to mix the two together and stop the oil floating on the surface of the water). You could also add a couple of drops of essential oils to the mix, depending on the sensitivity of your skin, to make a super-soothing and skin nourishing aromatherapy bath.

Queen Sensitive Skin Oil would also make a safe and gentle oil for therapists to use as a body massage medium on clients with sensitive skin. 

  Queen Sensitive Skin Oil, £17.65 for 250ml, is available from www.queen-cosmetics.com

 

AHAVA Mineral Foot Cream - the best foot cream I have ever tried!

Finding a good foot cream is one of my life's missions! Having worked as a beautician, I've worked my way through many a professional foot cream (OPI is the most effective and most-loved by clients in my experience - the OPI green foot file is amazing at sloughing off dry skin!) right through to pharmacy-based brands like Flexitol (another fab brand for smoothing rough heels) but this Mineral Foot Cream from AHAVA's Dead Sea Water range tops the lot.

I've hit upon a seriously good product here for anyone with rough cracked soles, or those who simply like to look after their feet and give them the TLC they deserve.

For me, this foot cream combines the beautiful packaging and silky smooth  formulation of a spa brand with the results-driven efficacy of an advanced chemist-based treatment. After just one application my feet felt like I'd just stepped out of the salon having indulged in a spa pedicure. They felt so smooth (like wearing a pair of silk stockings!), delicately scented and had a  lovely light, cool 'walking on air' feeling.

What was really impressive was that silky soft feeling lasted, even after I'd showered, right through to the next day when I re-applied. The gorgeous scent lingers too, it's a beautiful light, almost powdery-smelling fragrance, which smells really comforting, just lovely!

I've also noticed a huge difference in my hands since using the cream, my cuticles are smoother and my nails have grown quicker.

It's also really handy for smoothing onto heels before you go out wearing strappy sandals. It re-hydrates dry heels instantly, leaving them looking so much more attractive, and with regular use gets to work on banishing those unsightly cracks for good.

Just like all the products in the AHAVA range, the cream is packed full of the natural skin-friendly elements found in the nutrient-rich Dead Sea region, including the area's mineral-filled water, mud, salt and plants. Perfect ingredients for hydrating the skin, increasing moisture and restoring skin balance. The range is paraben free, contains no harsh synthetic ingredients and is free from petroleum-based ingredients, making them suitable for sensitive skin too. 

I'm blown away by how good this product is, and I think you will be too. 

As a PS to this post, I've recently been trying out the AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream too, a luxurious, pampering treat for the hands which is just as divine. It's infused with aromatic green plum and sandalwood and smells delicious. It's as effective as the foot cream, leaving hands feeling like they're covered in silk, and the scent lingers on the hands throughout the day.  

If you'd like to experience hands and feet at their softest, smoothest and most supple best, click here www.ahava.co.uk. 

AHAVA Mineral Foot Cream, £13.30, for 100ml.
AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream, £13.30 for 100ml.

Living Nature's fabulous Firming Flax Serum

My ears pricked up when I heard about Living Nature's Firming Flax Serum, not only because I love any product which promises smoother skin with finer lines, but because it recently won Best Skin Serum in the Natural Health magazine Beauty Awards 2011 - the Oscar's of the natural beauty industry - quite an accolade!

I've had to seriously re-think my skincare regime lately. The years are ticking by and, at 37, those fine lines and wrinkles are definitely starting to show! I wanted to add something into my nightly routine that would be a little more powerful and potent than my average moisturiser, and a product that would get to work overnight, helping the skin to repair and replenish itself. What better time to put this 100 per cent pure, oil-free product, described as 'Nature's Wrinkle Defence,' to the test.

The Harakeke Flax, a native plant of New Zealand, is not an ingredient I was familiar with, and to be honest didn't sound that appealing until I read about all the clever things it can actually do! Hailed by Living Nature as more powerful than aloe vera, this plant feeds moisture along its leaves, and can do the same for our skin to leave us with a firmer, smoother complexion. It also acts as a mild astringent, causing the pores to contact, which prevents moisture loss and therefore can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

I've been smoothing it on after cleansing every evening for a few weeks now as part of my new anti-ageing routine (you could use it in the mornings too), making sure I apply over expression lines around the eye area, upper lip area and also on the neck. I've also been sleeping on my silk pillow which doesn't wick products like serums away from the skin during sleep like a cotton pillow can.

It's very nourishing due to the addition of active Manuka honey, and the rosehip oil is rejuvenating on the skin, too. The scent is subtle and the formulation is light, silky smooth and a joy to apply, sinking into the skin effortlessly. You can apply a moisturiser, such as the Living Nature Nourishing Night Cream, over the top too, but I've been using it on its own.

My skin now looks as if it's had a visible moisture boost, with the dullness I put down to age (and stress) replaced with a brighter more youthful glow. For such a small and simple tweak to my nightly skincare routine, adding this potent product has made a big difference. It's well worth the investment, whatever your skin type.

Living Nature's Firming Flax Serum is available from www.livingnature.com
priced £22.45 for 13ml.