TruSelf Organics Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser; Relinquish The Foam Once More!

Foam. I wash my hands of it. Or, don't wash my hands, or my hair, or my face with it, as the case may be. Foaming cleansers are something that have been heavily on my avoid list for some time, and for good reason, too. As foam is usually a result of sulphates and other astringent chemicals, I figured trying an organic foam would offer the same sense of clean without all the nastiness. I was wrong. Enter saponified oils.

Saponification is the process of converting oils or fats into soap. While the process will differ from brand-to-brand, you can read an extensive overview of saponification on Dr. Bronner's An Overview of Soapmaking article or on good old faithful Wikipedia. Saponification can be used to create soft, hard and liquid soaps from a completely natural chemical reaction. All three of which can lather, offering a foaminess not too dissimilar to that created by chemical sulphates. 

Foaming cleansing agents are exceptionally powerful at removing oil, dirt, grime and anything that's generally a little tough to remove. The trouble is, when you use something that super strength on your skin, you are often at risk at removing essential oils and moisture as well. This can result in a disturbance of your skin's acid mantle, meaning your pH balance will be off-kilter. Ever wondered what that tight, dry feeling is after using a foaming cleanser? That's the disruption of your acid mantle, and that's not good.

The TruSelf Organics Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser is absolutely caustic on my skin. This sud-ridden froth lathers straight out of the pump-dispenser and leaves my skin with one of the nastiest, most uncomfortably tight sensations. It strips my skin past the bare bones, stealing away all my natural goodness and leaving me exposed and disturbed.

This liquid soap comes in a magical pump-dispenser that does all the foaming for you before you've even started. From the first pump you are supplied with a bubble mass with which you are to move around your face. It stings, oh how it stings. As you roll the soap around your pre-wetted face, the suds begin to multiply, converting you into a monstrous bubble. At this stage, my skin is already inflamed, I'm the sensitive type, I've gone beyond tingly and my skin is screaming out. There's difficulty in removal as the suds continue to breed and burst as I attempt to wash them away.

This cleanser is dangerous.

After finally removing all the foam, my skin is just outright irritated. I'm blotchy, I'm red. This isn't an allergic reaction, this is just an extremely corrosive cleanser. I feel dry now. My skin is alone and stripped bare. I layer on moisturiser on top of facial oils on top of hydrating mists, but nothing is doing the trick. My skin has been exposed and it's not something you can simply re-nourish.

This cleanser removes any nutrients from the natural barrier of my skin in an attempt to make sure I'm thoroughly clean. It's harsh, it's corrosive, it's stripping, it's skin-tightening, it's something I will be ostracising from my routine indefinitely. No. Organic does not mean skin-friendly. Foam is never, ever, friendly to my skin.

I contacted TruSelf Organics regarding the corrosive nature of their cleanser, I was told I could return the cleanser and receive my money back. How compensatory! When I brought up I lived in the UK, and the cost of return P&P would actually be greater than the worth of the product itself, I was effectively shown the door and asked to leave. It's good to see real-honest brands looking after our skins and our well-being.

AVOID? YOU BET. BOYCOTT FOAM? ABSOLUTELY!

#MissoinEmpties Week 04: The Curtain Call

The #MissionEmpties Challenge is in its final week, and with it comes a whole new list of products I've managed to tick off my pledge list. On the round-up this week, we have a wonderful range of delicate and nurturing products, all of which keep sensitivity in mind.

You'll notice a sizeable amount of Bee Good products featured this week. That's because I picked up the Bee Good Bee Beautiful Gift Pack (£45.00) a few months ago, giving me the opportunity to try out (nearly) everything they have to offer, and boy, it did not disappoint.

So, for the final time, let's see what's graced my body this week, shall we?

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Balm Balm Tea Tree Organic Lip Balm £3.50 / 7ML

I am terribly prone to cold sores, and, if you've ever had a cold sore, you'll know just how difficult it is to keep your lips hydrated without risking spreading the infection. Tea tree is a fantastic natural antiseptic, making it super useful to feature in a lip balm, as it helps to fight the cold sore infection while keeping the rest of the lips nourished and hydrated. This has to be my all time favourite product. It has a very balmy (clue is in the name) texture, that melts into a warm, nourishing oil. It has no greasiness or stickiness, just a smooth moisturising layer. There is a lovely inoffensive tea tree smell, making it the perfect partner when my lips are damaged or sore. Essential. 

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Bee Good Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser £11.50 / 100ML

I have a bit of a love affair with this cleanser (full review here). It has a lovely pillow-y texture that effectively clears the skin while helping retain optimum moisture levels. Don't get me started on the smell. This wonderful piece of cloud is scrumptious, hydrating, rich and refreshing. You can bet I'm bumping this thing up from Effective, repurchase to Essential.

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Bee Good Honey & Wild Flax Daily Moisturiser £19.50 / 50ML

As moisturisers go, this has to be the thinnest one I've used to date. This almost runny liquid easily glides and spreads over skin, absorbing instantaneously. Skin is left feeling light and fresh, allowing for that breathable skin sensation. It has a gorgeously sweet scent, that helps to make you feel, look and smell delicious. This moisturiser is perfect for helping any non-absorbing products to absorb. For example, with any particularly stubborn facial oils, when I apply a small amount of this on top, they sink into skin instantly. While I do love this, I think it is really rather too expensive, making it a tough purchase to justify. Effective, don't repurchase.

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Bee Good Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water £10.00 / 100ML

The 3-in-1 properties of this product include: cleansing, toning and refreshing, it can be used for any of the aforementioned. Similar to that of your typical micellar waters, it can be used to cleanse skin and remove make-up, or as a non-astringent replacement for a toner, or as a pick-me-up to help refresh throughout the day. I use this as a toner as it is very light and delicate, making it super suitable for sensitive skins. It offers an instant refreshing sensation that is cooling and nicely soothing; making skin feel fresh and clear. It's best for those more sensitive days, when skin is feeling a little delicate, but otherwise offering no real skin benefits. Effective, don't repurchase.

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Bee Good Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair £12.00 / 50ML

A considerable amount of bee-centric companies have their own gardener's hand cream, that is usually far more intensive than your average day-to-day one. This is no different. This supper intensive cream is fantastically hydrating, helping to keep hands protected. However, because it is super strength, I can only use it before bed, when I no longer plan to touch anything, as it leaves a white cast on hands, along with an almost sticky finish. The smell is pretty and fresh and my hands are left in very good care. Effective, don't repurchase.

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Moss Skincare Clear Resolution Balancing Facial Oil $65.00 / 20ML

This wonderful little oil helps to keep skin clear of blemishes while providing the utmost nourishment and hydration (full review here). This orange-green elixir can stain, so its important to fully blend in, allowing the oil to fully absorb and moisturise the skin. It's perfect for keeping blemishes at bay, and as it's completely non-astringent, it makes skin feel revitalised. Effective, repurchase.

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PureChimp Super Face Cream £14.95 / 60ML

This is one of those heavy duty moisturisers, when your skin requires something a little more powerful to protect and rehydrate. This is a balm that turns into a near grease-like texture on skin, and it will remain greasy, without absorbing. It has a bubbly consistency, that feels almost exfoliating. I find this perfect for helping to rehydrate and re-nourish after using a particularly strong face mask. It will help remove that tight, inflamed feeling, restoring my skin's balance. As always, it features that truly edible signature PureChimp banana smell. Effective, don't repurchase. 

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PureChimp Super One (Natural Facial Oil) £13.95 / 60ML

As compliment to the PureChimp Super Face Cream (featured above), I use this facial oil to help nourish my skin when it is irritated, tight, inflamed or dehydrated. This oil is expertly nourishing, helping to restore, revitalise and care for my skin. I use this on both face and body, it will not absorb on the face, but it does absorb on the body, helping to soothe rashes and calm any inflammation. Effective, don't repurchase.

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John Masters Organics Spearmint & Meadowsweet Scalp Stimulating Shampoo £18.00 / 237ML

This little sachet appeared in the September edition of the LoveLula Beauty Box, I wanted to talk about it briefly as it inspired me to pick up the full size. This lovely orange-gold syrup has an uplifting and gorgeous mint fragrance. As it contains no sulphates, it doesn't actually foam, however, it still offers a thorough cleanse. My hair is left silky smooth and shiny. I honestly feel like I have advertisement-worthy hair. An absolute full purchase. Effective, repurchase.

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A'kin Macadamia & Wheat Protein Conditioner £10.00 / 225ML

This nutty and naturally fragranced conditioner is wonderfully conditioning and nourishing for my dry hair. My strays and fly-aways are contained, without this product being too heavy or making my hair lank/weighed down. This is the perfect conditioner to help lock-in moisture. Effective, don't repurchase.

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Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum £32.00 / 30ML

Said to see you through a #QuarterLifeCrisis, this serum allegedly provides a pre-anti-ageing treatment (more on that in my full review here). This delicate little serum helps to improve skin condition by smoothing and redefine the skin, offering a more youthful appearance. Pores are made to appear reduced, and scarring and blemishes are diminished. While this doesn't delete dullness, it provides a much smoother complexion. Effective, repurchase.

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Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray £9.50 / 50ML

Having spent a lifetime of holidays on Fistral Beach, Newquay, I am a big lover of ocean-fresh hair which can only be achieved by natural sea salt. While this product doesn't do much in the way of creating those beach waves, it does add a salty rough texture, which then can be styled as pleased. Applying the correct amount is key, use too much and your hair will become super try and matted, use too little and it won't take any effect. Effective, don't repurchase.

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Yes to Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturiser £11.99 / 50ML

This is something I talked about a good while ago (full review here), and something I've completely changed my opinion on. I no longer like it. While it is aimed at combo skins (meaning it isn't really applicable to me), it doesn't nothing in the way of oil control. It is think and spreadable in consistency, but it doesn't exactly absorb. Nor does skin feel all that fresh, after a few hours of wearing I feel almost dirty. It's a fairly moose-cream type consistency that doesn't offer any hydration. Yet, it still features a wonderfully sweet smell, so there that is. Ineffective.

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LUSH Imperiaus Facial Moisturiser £13.50 / 45G
This is a moisturiser I only use pre-exercise. As it has a light consistency, yet offers a heavy dose of hydration. This product is perfect for keeping skin moisturised while being in no-way suffocating. It's quite a refreshing product, lightweight enough to sweat through and still remain intact (full review here). Effective, don't repurchase.

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Andrea Garland Face Cream With Lavender and Rosehip £24.00 / 60ML

I don't know what it is, clearly me and Andrea Garland don't see eye-to-eye as this is yet another product that I just can't stomach. It as been an agony to use this, and once again, the blames lies with the scent. Smelling like something in the way of used tea bag, this has a strong sharp and lingering scent. While said to help balance sebum production, this product does nothing of the sort. Instead, it makes me very oily, very quickly. It has a horrible heavy and thick consistency, that likes to sit atop of skin. While it's not all criticism, this moisturiser does effective balance my uneven skintone, helping to calm and reduce and redness. Avoid.

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That's another 15 product empties, only 8 of which were on my initial pledge.Tune in tomorrow for the final tally. There will be many statistics. Don't all cheer at once!

To catch up on my initial pledge list and rule about the self-directed #MissionEmpties Challenge, please read the #MissionEmpties MASTER POST.

Benefit the POREfessional; My First Dabble in Benefit

EDIT: The score for this review has be adjusted to AVOID as it has been brought to my attention that Benefit test on animals. Please see the PETA archives here. The original review, unedited, is below.

I finally decided that it was high time to dip my toes into the Benefit pool. Yep. I managed to make it to 23 years without even trying this brand. I totally get why folk be crazy for it. Its branding is just so on point. The playful product names, the witty tag statements, the just gorgeous imagery, the super luxurious packaging, the irresistible colour palettes. Let alone the content of these products, Benefit have got their branding down.

Not really knowing where to start, I figured the Benefit Best of You Kit would be a fantastic introduction. For £66.00 you get to choose one complexion, cheek and eye product from a set selection, followed by a free eyeshadow or lip product and absolutely darling make-up bag. 

For my selection I chose (the lack of correct capitalisation here is going to kill me) the POREfessional face primer (£24.50 / 22ML), dandelion a brightening face powder (£23.50 / 7G), roller lash super-curling & lifting mascara (£19.50 / 8.5G) and new! ultra plush lip gloss in shade: A-lister bubblegum pink (£14.50 / 15ML). With the free lip gloss, make-up bag and 2 additional samples, I couldn't be merrier. 

Benefit the POREfessional is a super lovely luxury primer. It's a velvety little number that is extremely lightweight and versatile. It definitely helps to blur pores, but controlling oil is where it unfortunately falls short.

As per usual, I use a primer to help control oil throughout the day. As I don't wear any base make-up, I don't use this in the traditional prime-your-face-for-make-up sense. For oil control, it lack stability. Occasionally I can hit 6-8 hours without needing any touch-ups, other days it falls way short at only 2-4. The crucial note being, I always need to touch-up when wearing this product. That means blotting.

The consistency of this product is just luxurious. I generally apply with my fingertips, as it's so light and spreadable, tools hardly need to come into play. It feels like silk to touch then transforms into this divine velvet-like finish. It's incredibly light to wear, so my skin can't feel it, meaning I feel very fresh and free, ideal for everyday wear.

The primer is of a light beige/brownish colour, but this doesn't transfer to skin, in fact, it goes on perfectly translucent, that is to say, with my fair skin tone. In terms of blending, this product is just a dream. Due to its translucency, there's little-to-no blending needed. I delicately glide the primer onto my skin, and it blends in seamlessly. Its pore blurring effects are minor, but present all the same. It very subtly disguises my pores without clogging.

A minor pitfall for me, is using this product in conjunction with oils. As I have an unwavering love with oils, they have absolutely replaced moisturisers for me. Application of the POREfessional struggles here, as the oils make the surface slippy, meaning the primer can't get much purchase. It's far more effective when applied to dry skin. 

This is a perfect product when I need fast, easy oil control to cover me over shorter periods of time. It is super lightweight and super comfortable. As a luxury product, the cost does factor in. I would buy this again, Effective, repurchase.

Benefit the POREfessional can be purchased from Benefit for £24.50 / 22ML. The larger value size can be purchased from Benefit for £29.50 / 44ML.

#MissionEmpties Week 01: Getting the Ball Rolling

To mark the inauguration of the #MissionEmpties Challenge, I figured it important to reflect (and/or keep tabs) on the products I've emptied into digestible weekly chunks. Following it up with some unflattering photography of empty jars, pots, tubes, bottles and the like. Just how do you make used up product look good, especially the ones I hacked away at with scissors? You don't. 

In part, this first week has been a little easy. A lot of the products listed here were very much nearly finished up. I just had a few drops and a few uses of each left. This is all my own hoarder fault.

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Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm £12.95 / 55ML

This little wonder product is an expert multi-tasker and I've put it to the test in every possible way. It's a thick, soft balm that melts into a lovely, silky oil when heated slightly. I primarily use it as a cleansing balm as it's very gentle and non-irritating on eyes, while effectively removing make-up. I also use it as a moisturiser, its thick balm-texture creates a barrier on the skin to retain moisture. Finally, I use it as a face mask when I need an extra boost of hydration. This product delivers, and it delivers out of the park. Essential.

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Human+Kind Hair Conditioner for Dry Hair (Orange) £7.50 / 200ML 

I suffer with some insufferable frizz. My hair needs moisture from every angle it can get, the most effective of which being conditioner. This is such a nourishing conditioner, it provides my hair with all the essential moisture it needs without weighing it down or becoming lank. The orange scent is so very faint, but lovely all the same. Essential? You betcha! 

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Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil £16.50 / 20ML

I reviewed this very recently here and decided to finish off the few remaining drops I've been coveting. Yes, I still think it's just divine. This oil is great for offering nourishment and moisture while controlling oil. It's extremely lightweight, so it effectively absorbs, while helping to maintain my skin's balance. Effective, repurchase.

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Our Tiny Bees Über Balm £7.95 / 45G

Admittedly, a solid favourite of mine. I'm now on my 4th tin of this little delight, and my psoriasis has never been better. It's an all-natural balm made be our hard working bees. It sinks straight into sink, while supplying me with essential, long-lasting moisture. For years I have been using prescribed medications for my psoriasis, more of which were effective, but had a god-awful scent. The Über Balm smells of sweet, delicious honey. Truly scrumptious. Essential.

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Bee Good Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser Travel Size £4.95 / 30ML

I fell in love with this product some time ago (full review here), and that love is still going strong. I received a trail version of the cleanser free with the Bee Good Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator (review here), and 30ML is the perfect size for travelling, and due to this being a thick, read cream, it lasts bloody ages. The scent it beautiful, and the results are great. I'm left really clean and fresh and very well moisturised. Hat's off, once more. Effective, repurchase.

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Makuka Doctor Normalising Facial Oil £19.99 / 30ML
This is a facial oil that I didn't initially get along with (full review here), and still don't entirely get along with. It's truly wonderfully at oil control and balancing/normalising the overproduction of oil. Just a few drop in the evening will do the trick to see you through the following day. However, this thing smells something horrid. I can't get past that. The results are fantastic, sure, but I've really struggled to use this oil up. Effective, don't repurchase.

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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] £15.50 / 40ML
Perfect for reducing the signs of scarring, imperfections, blemishes: I'm on my second batch of this and it has yet to disappoint (full review here). It has a very light, spreadable texture, which doesn't entirely absorb, so I now reseve it for evening use. It has help reduce the appearance of raised marks I have on my forehead and cheeks. Effective, repurchase.

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The Body Shop Vitamin E Body Lotion £8.00 / 250ML

For the longest time, this was my go-to skin saviour for my psoriasis. But it just wasn't enough to see me through the entire day. While its primary use isn't actually to combat skin conditions, its ability to hydrate and moisturise was perfect for my dry skin. It quickly absorbs, so doesn't leave any transfer onto my clothes, and it smells so fresh and divine. Effective, don't repurchase. 

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The Natural Deodorant Co. Clean Deodorant Balm £10.00 / 60ML
Featured here is only a 5ML sample I received this week as part of my order from the Peace & Beauty London Samples Mini Box for £5.00. This is now, very unsurprisingly, completely sold old. It's an all-natural deodorant wet balm, that is scooped up and massaged into your skin. It dries near instantly and has a powdery finish. It smells wonderfully fresh, while keeping my body wonderfully fresh all through the day. It is very super effective and I have already purchased the full size. Effective, repurchase. 

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Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover £19.00 / 125ML

This is actually a 30ML trail version I received free with purchase of the Cleansing Vanity for Combination to Oily Skin value kit. I'm glad I didn't part real money with this because this thing stings. It stings hard. For a make-up remover specific to the eyes, I was expecting it to be very gentle and sensitivity-concious. Nope. It hurts. Instead, I used it to remove eyebrow make-up only, avoiding the actual eye area entirely. Avoid.

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Origins Super Spot Remover £15.00 / 10ML

Given that, I didn't originally consider this product to be tops (full review here), I went back and purchased it anyway. Hello contrary! It is the fastest product I can find for reducing the appearance of blemishes. It tackles redness and inflammation like a boss, and definitely deserves some credit for that. However, the price tag makes me do an audible gulp every time I see it. I just cannot justify this purchase. Effective, don't repurchase.

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I must admit that I am already starting to feel the withdrawal symptoms of my usual skincare routine. My skin has become very out of sync, so I have purchased Balm Balm Frankincense Hydrosol Soothing Facial Tonic (£7.99 / 30ML) and Botanicals Organic Hydrating Mist (£15.00 / 100ML) to help boost hydration and help rebalance my skin. 

Of the 11 products listed here, 9 are of the original pledge. Only 38 more to go...

To catch up on my initial pledge list and rules about the self-directed #MissionEmpties Challenge, read the #MissionEmpties MASTER POST.

The Not-so-Lovely Ones: Trilogy Cream Cleanser and Blemish Control Gel

I don't like these products. There, I said it. I had a very, very bad experience with both of these things. Admittedly, one of the products was just faulty and can't be held accountable and Trilogy have rectified that by sending me a free Everything Balm (a kind gesture, I know). But these products are bad. Just bad.

As we know, cream cleansers are one of my favourite ways to cleanse, outside of oils and balms. But the Trilogy Cream Cleanser just plain hurt. It left me dry and vulnerable. As for the Blemish Control Gel, well, let alone the struggles I had with getting the product out of the tube, this thing was very slow to get to work.

These products just did not sit with me.

Trilogy Cream Cleanser

At first glance, I thought I liked the Trilogy Cream Cleanser. It's quite light and thin for a cream, which means it spreads a lot easier and further than others. Yet, once it's massaged in, it begins to thicken-up, behaving more like the traditional cream cleansers we have come to know and love. 

Once it gets thick, it gets sticky, and sticky is when it gets to work. It very effectively cleans the skin and picks up grime. I did not like to use this to remove make-up - I'll stick to oils, thank you - but it was effective at cleaning and clearing the skin. Furthermore, I absolutely loved the way this felt on my lips. It was so conditioning and nourishing. So hats off, for that.

But now we get to the faults. In my books, anything that makes your skin feel dry is a fault. This champions in dry. As soon as I've rinsed away the cleanser and towelled off my skin, I am hit with the horrid sensation of dryness. It's a tough old thing to make oily skin feel dry, but my face - specifically my nose - is left with the burning sensation of aridity. It's actually quite painful. Even after using face mists and facial oils, it's honestly quite difficult to replenish that moisture. 

Dryness and irritation. This, of course, then results in my skin over producing oil to compensate. I don't blame my skin for that, actually, I welcome it. Like I said, it's really quite painful to feel dry and in moisture-lust. 

The Trilogy Cream Cleanser can be purchased from LoveLula for £16.50/100ML.

Blemish Control Gel

Let's get the whole, this-product's-packaging-was-faulty thing out of the way first. This product's packaging was faulty. I think the responsibility might lie with the ingredients and I can peg it down to either the Hectorite Mineral or the Xantham Gum, both of which seem to be used as some sort of thickening agent. Possibly crystallising and hardening during temperature changes, causing them to expand and block the passage. 

The nozzle would frequently become blocked. I could relieve the blockage by gently massaging the tube. The trouble is, when you relieve the blockage, it very quickly comes firing out, three times as much product than you intended. So I burned through this thing, and fast. Or slow, if you count that it took ages to actually access it. 

The Blemish Control Gel itself isn't actually all bad. It's a gel, and as gels go, it's not in the slightest bit sticky. When it dries, I can't feel it or see it on my skin. But, it's runny. That's great because you get good spread, but it also makes it a little messy. There's no real accuracy with this thing, so if you want to target particular areas with it, I wish you good luck.

It's a really gentle little gel, I felt absolutely no discomfort when using it. That's a bonus. But it's quite a slow burner. It takes a considerable time to reduce inflammation and even longer to reduce the size of a blemish. Don't get me wrong, it works, but it likes to take its time about it. 

The Blemish Control Gel can be purchased from LoveLula for £12.50/20ML.

LUSH Moisturisers: Enzymion and Imperialis - Not Highly Rated

LUSH Moisturisers... I'm still undecided on this one. Do I like them? I'm so unsure. They have some very common traits that seem to feature amongst all of the LUSH Moisturisers. While I have only purchased Enzymion and Imperialis from the line-up, I have tried Gorgeous, Celestial and Vanishing Cream samples. They are heavy (yet somehow watery?), greasy and not very effective. I guess that wraps up the whole do-I-like-it thing then. The answer is no. 

Enzymion

Enzymion - the one that is designed for oily skin. Its definitely not designed for my oily skin. In fact, the ingredients are so not what my oily skin needs. Ever. The main ingredient is Cocoa Butter. This is a natural emulsifier that is generally used to moisturise and condition dry and irritated skin... What? Sure, it's nourishing and conditioning, but why is this featured as a star ingredient for this moisturiser. If I'm missing a trick here, someone please enlighten me!

Next up, this thing likes to brag about the fact that it includes a whole freshly squeezed lemon in every pot. Again, what? The thing with lemons is, they are highly acidic. These things are generally used to exfoliate and brighten dark marks. The issue being, that due to their high acidity, they are going to disrupt the pH balance of your skin. This results in over compensating oil production!

Why does my oily skin want any of this? It doesn't. Which is precisely why this thing don't work. 

A note on the fact that this moisturiser is super watery. This is never good for me. Sure, that means it spreads great, but it's so thin and watery that it just slips right off the skin. And because it is watery, it just doesn't hydrate. If anything, it leaves my skin feeling dehydrated and exposed. I am certainly not left to feel moisturised with this moisturiser (ho, ho, ho). It's a moist definitely a nothing product.

So we've established that the ingredients are just nonsense, the product isn't moisturising, it's very dehydrating. Could there actually possibly be anything else wrong with this thing? Yes. Of course there is. It doesn't bloody control oil. Surprise, surprise...

As has already been said, the moisturisers are greasy. From first spread, these things are greasy and it only gets worse from there. It both feels and looks greasy, and since it doesn't control oil, I'll become gradually more slick with grease as the day goes on.

You guess it, I couldn't continue using this thing, I hate this thing, I will never be purchasing this thing again.

Imperialis

Imperialis is one for the combination skins, for the skins that can't quite make their minds up and don't really know what they need. I know my skin type, and it's not combination, but I often tend to foray into products aimed at combination because I generally find them a little more hydrating, and this one is hydrating, hooray! 

The thing is, we're now dealing with both Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter, which are both high up on the ingredients list. This means, we're looking at super nourishing ingredients (that's great, no complaints there), but super buttery and oily textures which aren't compatible with my oily skin (that's not so great, definitely complaints there). 

But, you guessed it, greasy once more. It's greasy going on and remains greasy through the day. But there's on key difference between Imperialis and Enzymion, Imperialis actually makes my skin feel comfortable and hydrated. I like it. It's one my skin sometimes craves.

I tend to use this product before exercise, to keep my skin hydrated without being suffocated and before applying a particularly dry face mask, to make prevent my face from becoming painfully tight afterwards.

It really is quite refreshing, it's fairly soothing, it's nourishing and hydrating and it smells absolutely wonderful. While it doesn't control oil, it's one I use in situations where I'm not entirely fussed about oil control and want to feed my skin with a little hydration.

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Enzymion can be purchased from LUSH for £14.50 for 45G. Imperialis can be purchase from LUSH for £13.50 for 45G. Happy moisturising! 

TONY MOLY Egg Pore Tightening Cooling Pack + Silky Smooth Balm (we're ignoring the Blackhead Steam Balm for good reason)

The first contenders to enter the ring from my Korean Beauty Haul: BeautynetKorea is the TONY MOLY Egg Pore Collection. WARNING: please, please note that the Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm CONTAINS MICROBEADS. I had to throw this product away after first realising. To read more about the environmental hazards of microbeads, please click here.

This trio's philosophy is to exfoliate, tighten the skin's elasticity, and prime. Essentially, remove blackheads, clear pores and reduce excess sebum, They are packaged as three adorable little eggs that are simply twisted open to reveal their contents. As cute as it is, the packaging is utterly redundant, making it a fairly wasteful product. While TONY MOLY do adopt a Green Philosophy, in that these products are made from recycled materials, the lid is nearly twice the size of its contents! It's impracticable, unnecessary and highly wasteful. Quirky egg design should be no way to market these products.

Blackhead Steam Balm

As mentioned, we're ignoring the Blackhead Steam Balm for good reason, because WARNING: IT CONTAINS MICROBEADS. While the principle of exfoliating the skin before applying a face mask is something I subscribe to, I wanted to instead provide two far less dangerous alternatives that offer the exact same results.

Origins Modern Friction This exfoliator mimics the effects of microdermabrasion treatments but with the considerably less abrasive rice starch. It's quite a soft, plump exfoliator which offers the same warming effects. But this product can be very harsh. I found my skin to become a little irritated when using, possibly because the ingredients list features SLS and lemon oil. £32.00 / 125ML

Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub This product is a fantastic alternative, and the one I found myself using most often. It uses small apricot kernels to exfoliate, and its rich and creamy texture makes it very soft and kind to skin. It contains 100% natural ingredients and is sulphate-free, making it extremely gentle on my sensitive skin. £10.99 / 110G

Any of the above two exfoliators are a better alternative. As matters of ethics, morales and principle, I cannot use cosmetics containing microbeads. 

Tightening Cooling Pack

The Tightening Cooling Pack is possibly the gentlest face mask I've ever used. Assuming this is where the product's name comes from (beside the packaging), its texture is just like scrambled eggs! Oddly, it is actually very cool to touch, and remains cool on the skin. While the cooling qualities are supposedly to help 'close' the pores, that's just nonsense. It does, however, very effectively de-gunk my pores.

Simply scoop out a small piece of the gelatinous mask, and begin to spread it onto the skin. It's not a great spreader, it does tend to be a little too on the sticky side, so I often found myself laying it on quite thick. The most interesting thing about this mask, is it doesn't dry on the skin, it manages to retain its moisture, making it incredibly soft, gentle and barely feel-able and all the while, staying lovely and cooling. 

It has an inoffensive sweet scent to it which I can't actually smell while wearing the mask. However, as it's feather-light, gentle and odourless it is completely easy to forget this product is even on your skin. 

While it may not dry on the skin, it does like to grip the skin, making it fairly tricky to remove so you will need to grab the muslin cloth. Afterwards, I'm left with slightly red and irritated skin, possibly due to the difficult removal. However, this is amazing for de-gunking pores. My skin is far more clearer after every use, turning my pores into a more greyish colour, making them increasingly less and less visible. 

Silky Smooth Balm

The Silky Smooth Balm is actually a primer, and does not offer any skin benefits. Its aim is to reduce excess sebum production and control oil. You can apply this product alone, after your usual skincare routine, or just before make-up. I like to wear it alone, as I don't tend to wear any make-up products.

As the name suggests, this is a super silky smooth customer. Scoop a little piece onto the end of your finger and begin to spread it onto the skin. Do not massage it in. Just glide your fingertips over your skin, outwards from the nose. It's far more effective when you let it rest upon your skin as a barrier against oil. 

Your skin may feel like its wearing a barrier, but I find it in no way uncomfortable and it's very soft to touch. You will notice that the balm instantly eliminates any shine, leaving you with a flawless matte finish. It is very, very effective, keeping me oil-free for the entire working day. Yup. Its effects are astounding. 

It smells absolutely delicious, a really sweet and pleasant scent. Everything about this product is a real catch, the smells, the texture, and most importantly, the effects. It is definitely a favourite of mine for oil control.

While we're always told not to put all our eggs in one basket, the Blackhead Steam Balm is definitely one egg that I will be avoiding in all of future shopping baskets. The Tightening Cooling Pack was effective sure, but I won't be repurchasing this product as it's difficult to remove and contains a very small helping. However, the Silky Smooth Balm is a dream come true. I've loved how successful this product is, and have categorised it as an absolute essential. 

The Tightening Cooling Pack can be purchased from BeautynetKorea for $10.99 / 30G. The Silky Smooth Balm can be purchased from BeautynetKorea for $13.22 / 20G. 

Nourish Balance: Detoxifying Cleanser, Refining Toning Mist, Peptide Serum, Essential Moisturiser

Nourish. British. Organic. Natural. Vegan. Some of my favourite words to describe my skincare brands. Nourish is an absolutely beautiful brand with products focusing on treating the skin by providing it with the essentials it needs, as opposed to counteracting its behaviour by stripping away. The Balance Range, does exactly that. While this set it targeted at combination skins, I've found my oily skin to just fall completely smitten with it.

This is all about hydration. The key is to feed skin with essential ingredients to keep it at optimum hydration levels while balancing the over-production of oil. It does this just swell. I picked up the Nourish Balance Gift Box (full size) from Feel Unique as I just had to try everything in this range. The box includes Detoxifying Cleanser, Refining Toning Mist, Peptide Serum and Essential Moisturiser.

The key ingredient for this range is apple extract. You can really tell from the truly scrumptious smell of these products, just how pertinent that is.

Nourish Balance: Detoxifying Cleanser

The Detoxifying Cleanser is an extremely lightweight cleanser. It's silky smooth to touch and spreads like a dream on skin. It's lovely to run it over my face, and it's so, so light, I can scarcely feel it. As this is a lotion-type cleanser, it is fairly runny, but that makes it very sufficient to spread. 

It's a pump-based product, I find 1-3 pumps is more than enough to cover my entire face and jawline. I massage it in, in circular motions, until the product has practically disappeared from my face, then I rinse it away with cool water. 

This is totally gentle. I have moderately sensitive skin but this is lovely and kind to me. It is a very refreshing and cooling product. This is actually fairly powerful at removing make-up, even eye make-up. As a rule, I tend to just use oil cleansers for make-up removal, but this does a bang up job and it super delicate enough to be used on the eye.

While I do love everything about this. I mean everything. Its only downfall is the depth of the cleanse. It's very surface level. I don't feel particularly cleared or clarified in a deep sense, but I do feel very fresh-faced and clean from a surface sense. Qualifying this as more of a day-to-day product and not something you reach for when you want deeper nourishment.

Nourish Balance: Refining Toning Mist

The Refining Toning Mist is my first encounter with a spray/mist type toner and I must say, I am completely sold. This is a very, very refreshing product and major factor into keeping me oil-free. It is light and calming and offers up a perfect spritz of hydration.

Simply put, you spray 3-6 pumps of this product directly onto your face with closed eyes. Give it a few moments to settle and then wipe it away with a cotton pad. You can leave this on your face, without wiping, you're totally allowed to do that, but I find it can leave me feeling a little sweaty later into the day if I don't remove it. I allow myself to breath in the apple-y aroma of this product. It's truly lifting and refreshing.

It's a very light spritz, it's not too fast or too fierce, it's nice and gentle. The toner gently drops onto the skin, light as a feather, so there are no nasty surprises when spraying with your eyes closed. Do not, however, get this product in your eyes. It's a real stinger. But on skin, this product is cooling, refreshing and balancing. My absolutely favourite in the entire range.

Nourish Balance: Peptide Serum

Sadly, this is one product I could live without. This focus of the Peptide Serum is to refine the appearance of pores - who knows what that even means? - , optimise skin nutrition and brighten the complexion. This serum follows directly after toning, but before moisturising. You take 1 pump and smooth it into the skin. 

Now firstly, this is the runniest product I've ever used. It shoots out of the pump like water and its consistency just fall apart. When applied to the skin it is left very wet. While it might not be greasy, just wet, it does not at all absorb into the skin. Instead, it sits there, on the surface, making it feel as though my face just won't dry.

Later into the day, this product will find its way into your pores and clog them. My face becomes extremely sweaty looking. While it isn't sweat, it's just the serum, it captures in the pores and shines like little beads of sweat. So I never use this product in the day time, only during the evening.

The results of this product are slim, at best. My complexion was not brightened, my face felt suffocated and my skin did not feel nourished. It did, however, reduce the appearance of my pores by turning them into a more greyish colour. In stead of dark and obvious, they blended in better, making them far more subtle. 

Nourish Balance: Essential Moisturiser

The Essential Moisturiser, as moisturisers go, it a really solid product for oily skins. It's a very creamy consistency, with a great spread and fast absorption rate. It is also very lightweight, it doesn't burden the skin in any way, so it has a lovely breathability. 

It keeps my skin oil-free, yep, but not in a way I like. The product absorbs instantly, which leaves me looking a little matte. I know, that the reality us oilier folks have always dreamed of, but it just leaves me too dull. I'm flat, without radiance. So I always need to highlight my face when using this moisturiser to stop me from looking so dead... But that, I don't mind, when my oil is kept under control.

This product very strongly smells of sour apples, and the longer you use it, the stronger it smells. It's extremely potent, so always make sure to keep the lid tightly sealed to stop it from turning. I actually don't mind the smell one bit. I love apples! But towards the bottom of the jar, I started to feel it had gone beyond strong.

The Nourish Balance Range is a perfect kit for anyone wanting to introduce themselves to Nourish, or try a range with some very powerful balancing products. I would qualify the kit as Effective, repurchase. However, on a product-by-product basis, the individual products score as follows:-

• Detoxifying Cleanser, scored Effecitve, don't repurchase. While I do like this product, it works at cleaning the skin, it is far too gentle and surface level as I require a deeper, more nourishing cleanse.
• Refining Toning Mist scored Essential. I'm absolutely enamoured with this product. I love the sensation of refreshing my skin, it's lightweight and calming, and most importantly it kept my skin very well balanced.
• Peptide Serum scored Avoid. Unfortunately, this product was not complimentary with my skin. It was too runny and wet. Most importantly, it left my face looking sweaty. While it does diminish pore intensity, that's not enough for me to continue using.
• Essential Moisturiser scored Effective, repurchase. This product keeps me oil-free, I like it. But, because it does steal all the radiance from my skin, it's not perfect. I want my oil to be controlled, but I don't want to look dull.

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The Nourish Balance Gift Box can be purchased from Feel Unique for £50.00. The set includes Detoxifying Cleanser priced at £13.00 for 100ML, Refining Toning Mist priced at £11.00 for 100ML, Peptide Serum priced at £20.00 for 30ML and Essential Moisturiser priced at £19.00 for 50ML.

Yes to Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub, Daily Clarifying Cleanser, Daily Repair Treatment, Daily Balancing Moisturiser and Clearing Facial Mask

Yes! Yes to Tomatoes in fact. This was one of the first brands to really take my interest when I first took the unreturning jump onto the skincare wagon. I unwittingly thought that this brand was nowhere to be seen in UK waters, I know better now. Yes to ranges can be purchased from Boots, BeautyBay, Asos and LoveLula. I realise now, that I can't actually move for the stuff.

Yes to Tomatoes is that one you want if you're fighting with blemishes, blackheads and/or oil control. Harnessing the powers of, you got it, the tomato (lycopene), the pull of this range is using powerful anti-oxidants to help fight free-radicals and restore pH balance. Okay, so does it work? Short answer... Yes to some of it does!

Yes to Daily Pore Scrub

Okay, so I love the sensation of exfoliating. Put that in a formula that's gentle enough to use daily and I've found myself a match made in sweet grounded mango seed heaven. Swoon. This product is designed to target blemishes, reduce blackheads and unclog pores. It also does a neat little trick of reducing redness.

I use this daily, towards the end of the evening as one of those take-the-day-off systems. I can really feel it slough off all those dead skin cells, excess oils and dirt from the day gone by. I take a 50 pence piece sized amount into my palm and very softly massage it into my skin applying almost absolutely zero pressure. Focusing primarily on my cheeks, nose and forehead, I notice afterwards than any foreign bodies camped up in my pores have been eliminated. 

While unfortunately I did not notice a reduction in blackheads, it is a very powerful product for clearing and renewing the skin. It gives a very solid clarified sensation without any stripping, drying or *cringe* squeaky feeling. It also helps to even out my skin tone. After use I don't feel like I'm red in all the wrong places. 

The exfoliating factor in this product is finely ground mango seeds. And boy are they finely ground. They are almost indistinguishable, which, I suppose, is what makes them gentle enough for daily use. They don't come in short supply either, there's absolutely thousands of these little grains waiting to kick out any muck from your pores.

Yes to Daily Clearing Facial Mask

This is my favourite. Trumps all else. You know by now my position on face masks (I just don't understand them!), but this is something I can really get into bed with. Stating it will refine and purify pores, absorb sebum, and clear skin, you can forget all that, this product is for balancing your face and when timed correctly, you'll get some simply wonderful results.

It smells exactly like the Daily Balancing Moisturiser, so I'm more than happy to let this sit on my skin for 5-10 minutes. It is a very thick and hard mask. One that feels heavy when you scoop it out of the pot, and will really solidify when you place it on your face.

 
It's a pure white formula that is lovely and cool to touch. It will go very firm after a few minutes, and you will feel its presence on your face. One removed, my skin tends to feel a little off-kilter, so I always double moisturise. I know, you're wondering why I even like this so...

I use this mask whenever I have a long day ahead of me when I don't have the luxury to blot or fix, as this mask keeps my skin completely balanced for the entire day. Thank you Yes to! That doesn't mean I use it every day, I couldn't do that, my face would weep. I just save it for those important days.

Yes to Daily Repair Treatment

Designed to reduce blemishes and acne, this product went down really well with me. It answered everything that was wrong with Lush's Grease Lightning (review here). It was effective, light, absorbent and completely gentle. 

While it doesn't work quite as quickly as Grease Lightning at removing blemishes, it does reduce redness in due course. As mentioned previously, I only get heavy subsurface blemishes along my neck and jawline, and within one week those were very much disappeared. 

The product sinks in instantaneously and does not leave a single trace. It's perfect for my sensitive skin, I was scared it wasn't going to kick in as I couldn't even feel its presence. I apply it all along my neck and jawline twice daily and find that it is perfect at keeping any blemishes at bay and reducing inflamation.

Yes to Daily Balancing Moisturiser

Now, a downfall with this product is that it's actually aimed at Combination Skin (not the products fault, my face's fault, probably). Meaning, that this moisturiser isn't quite well equipped to deal with everything oily skin brings. Which is mostly just yucky oil. While it is a little heavier than I would have liked, it isn't without its positives. 

This product is one of my favourite smells. Not sure what it even is? But it definitely isn't tomato. In fact, nothing in this range even smells remotely of tomato, or the same as each other. But this is sweet bliss, making it a pleasure to apply. 

It certainly does keep my skin well moisturised, not in a way that makes it pump out oil, but in a way that makes it feel hydrated. I apply it and my skin will feel silky soft. It's got a very good spread and a wonderful finish. The feel of this product is just perfect.

I find that pushing the pump dispenser only half way down gives me more than enough product to cover my face and neck. It will leave me looking and feeling very refreshed and awake after use and while it can't quite control my oil enough throughout the day, it really does feel wonderful to use.

Yes to Daily Clarifying Cleanser

Now this, this is actually the only product in the entire range that was a big miss for me. It smells super chemical, while it is 98% natural it does contain alcohol, mild surfactants (lauryl glucoside) and preservatives (Sodium Benzoate / Potassium Sorbate). While it isn't my aim to induce fear, these are the qualifying ingredients that turn me away from the product.

It is a translucent gel cleanser, which is a really very runny product. As mentioned, it does contain mild surfactants so it does foam slightly. Not enough that it becomes stripping, but enough that it makes me uncomfortable. 

This product does offer a nice clean feeling, but it doesn't aid much in the way of skin benefits. I find that it isn't quite nourishing or healthy to skin. Instead, it just does its job of remove dirt and cleaning your skin. Which is fine. But it isn't enough. 

All of these products are listed here on the US Yes to retailer but can be purchased in the UK from Boots. Yes to Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub / £11.99 for 112ML / Yes to Tomatoes Daily Clearing Facial Mask / £11.99 / 50ML / Yes to Tomatoes Daily Repair Treatment / £11.99 / 50ML / Yes to Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturiser / £11.99 / 50ML / Yes to Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser / £6.99 / 90ML 

Cleaning Oils: The Good, The Even Gooder and The Just Too Cheap To Really Be Included

I've done it, I've hopped on the double cleansing bandwagon and I am here to stay! Well no, that's not entirely true. I've jumped on the cleansing oils bandwagon, that can definitely stay and double cleansing is really super rewarding, so actually I'll let that one stick around, too.

I don't know why I never did cleansing oils sooner. The oil cleansing method leaves my face feeling truly purified. True pure. It's incredible how effective it is. It honestly does just dissolve make-up in front of your eyes. Which, yes, you can happily do as they are so gentle that I can gladly get oil in my eyes without any agitation. 

Cleansing oils are to be used like most regular cleansers. You simply dispense several drops into the palm of your hands and begin to massage it gently into your skin, starting in circular motions from the centre of the face, outwards. You'll feel any make-up, dirt and grime melt under your fingertips. Once finished, simply wash away all traces of the oil and follow it up with your favourite toner.

Double cleansing, is well, very self-explanatory. You cleanse your face twice. That is, just apply a cleanser to your face, twice. Apply oil cleanser then rinse. Apply milk/gel/cream/micellar water/whatever your normal cleanser is, rinse, then continue with your normal routine.  The first cleanse is to remove all make-up; a deep cleanse. The second cleanse is to pick up any of the slack the first cleanse might have missed out on. 

While I have never done oil before, I thought it appropriate to compare three different brands of varying price ranges to get to grips with quality and results. There's DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil £21.50 / 200ML, L'Oréal's Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil £7.99 / 150ML and Superdrug's Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil £3.00 / 150ML.

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I actually started in the middle price bracket with the L'Oréal Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil and I instantly fell in love. At first touch, I felt every foreign particle on my face crumble away in the mixture. When I first pumped the oil into my hands it was warm, it was delightful. It has, what I can only pin down as a peach-y scent. But the texture, the warmth and the smells make it an all-encompassing pleasure to use. 

The L'Oréal Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil also claims to help "rebalance skin's natural oil production". Admittedly, I didn't notice this. I did, however, notice that my skin texture was a lot smoother and brighter. I definitely appeared and felt clearer after using this product.

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I jumped into the shallow end next with Superdrug's Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil. That was a mistake. £2.99 for a cleanser that removes make-up, impurities, moisturises dry skin, defends against pollutants and prevents premature skin ageing (yup, check the description yourself), for less than three of my finest British pounds? Someone really missed a trick there with that mark up. Or it doesn't work. And it's most likely the latter.

This thing is just truly horrible to use. It's cold, it doesn't mix well, it doesn't wash off well and it stings my eyes. 

Looking at the bottle, you can see the separation between the oil and water, because oil and water don't mix together! So you shake the bottle well before use, but of course, they still don't mix together! 

I pour several drops of the solution into my palm, and it's always cold, that's the first disappointing part to this never ending problem of a product. When I apply it to my face, it kind of just sits there on top of my skin. It doesn't feel like it's actually applying to my face in any way, it's just sitting on top and getting pushed around a little. 

For removing eye make-up it's utterly useless. It stings if you get it in your eyes, so either close 'em real tight or don't bother with this product at all (I would suggest doing that last thing). 

When it comes to removing the product, I feel like I have a film of this horrible mixture still sitting on my skin. Enter the double cleanse, save the day.

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Finally, I tried the luxury DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. Now this did blow the other contender(s) out of the... water/oil. Sometimes price is synonymous with quality, and this is that time. 

This is a real rich oil cleanser. Once again, I can feel a warmth and a weight to the product when I pump it into my hands. And it smells like real olive oil. Scrumptious.

It gets straight to work from first application, melting away any impurities from my skin and dissolving them in the mixture. Eye make-up is honestly removed in a single wipe. I can't believe how effective this is.

My skin texture feels deliciously soft after using this product. I'm so supple, so princess. It definitely nourishes my skin in a way I've never felt from a cleanser before. 

Deep Cleansing Oil scored Effective, repurchase and can be purchased from DHC for £21.50 / 200ML. Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil scored Effective, repurchase and can be purchased from L'Oréal for £7.99 / 150ML. Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil scored Avoid and can be purchased from Superdrug for £3.00 / 150ML.