The Trip to Australia was Complete with the Help of RMS Beauty Facial Wipes

After 3 flights, 18 hours of flying, one overnight stay in Indonesia, travelling by plane, ferry, tube and taxi, I have finally arrived in Australia. Phew. If there's one thing that's kept me going throughout, it's RMS Beauty Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes. Facial wipes often get stuck with a bit of a bad rep, and rightly so; they have a limited expiration date, they offer a superficial cleanse and they often leave my skin uncomfortably dry. But not this little number. The RMS Beauty Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes contain nothing but wholly certified organic coconut oil, nothing but goodness. 

As the little sister to the RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream (reviewed here), these wipes are a convenient way to deliver similar results. Coconut oil is unmatched when it comes to removing make-up, and saturating compostable rayon fibre in this delicious oil means you can quite literally remove your make-up with the flick of the wrist.

While I wore make-up on the long-haul flight (12 hours), I found the Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes to be my ultimate companion. As there isn't the space in my hand-luggage or the on-board toilets for my full cleansing routine, I packed a few of these very travel-friendly wipes. There are 20 in total, and they are individually wrapped. At first, I had a big problem with this. My reflex screamed wastage, wastage! but actually they are housed inside a recyclable cardboard box, within which are 20 foil sleeves. If you read up on RMS' manifesto, they only ever use biodegradable, recyclable or reusable packaging (http://www.rmsbeauty.com/pages/about-us). 

The individual wrappers can be a real bonus when it comes to transportation and helping to extend their expiration. Furthermore, you will need to heat the packet up slightly before opening. Helping to activate and melt the coconut oil so it has a much easier time of removing make-up. 

As we know, oil likes to leave its mark. There will be an oily residue on the skin once applied, meaning, you'll want to wet a cleansing cloth to help remove it. Alternatively, you could use non-oil facial wipe (I was using Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes £4.99 / 30 WIPES) after using the Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes. This does slightly reduce the travel friendliness of it all, but the advantages are far beyond real measure.

The following flight was still a biggie (5.5 hours), I didn't wear any make-up for this flight, but I still used the Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes because coconut oil has more than one place. Sitting in a metal tube that's elevated 35,000ft above ground, breathing nothing but recycled air and being assaulted by air conditioning did only bad things to my skin. I left the residue of the oil (it's very subtle and lightweight) on my skin, to keep me moisturised and projected throughout. My skin revelled in it.

While I am already a member of the I-like-facial-wipes camp, the RMS Beauty Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes are unlike any wipe I've used before. They're just so friendly. Effective, moisturising, gentle and compact, these wipes really are hand luggage's best friend. 

RMS Beauty Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipes can be purchased from Naturisimo for £13.50 / 20 WIPES. You can also try a RMS Beauty Ultimate Make-Up Remover Wipe Sample for £0.75 / 1 WIPE

BLOOM Skin Essentials: Now Essential To My Routine

Well, I give up. I've done it. I've found just the most perfect, nourishing, revitalising skincare products, that I may as well just pack in this whole blogging journey thing right now. I'm all kinds of serious. BLOOM Skin Essentials have been an absolute glimmer of light, turned into a glowing reality. These oil control pangs I've been going through? No more. These oversized pores blessing my cheeks and nose? Hugely reduced. This dull and blotchy complexion? Balanced and radiant.

The BLOOM products are cruelty free, 100% pure, organic, sustainable and recyclable botanical skincare. They contain absolutely no toxic ingredients and are preservative free, even suitable for vegetarians and vegans. I thought that none of that really mattered that much to me (apart from the recyclable thing, that's a big concern of mine), but when I see the incredible effects of using toxin-free skincare, the penny drops and I think "Yes, this is the way forward!"

The entire BLOOM range is available in the Essentials Kit. Naturally, this is what I bagged myself. It contains 5 of the most wonderful products I've ever encountered:

• GLOW Daily Glow Tonic (Oil Cleanser)
• POLISH Everyday Brightening Polish (Exfoliant + Face Mask) 
• HYDRATE Hydrating Botanical Mist (Mist Toner/Essence)
• NOURISH Essential Facial Serum (Facial Oil)
• RESTORE Eye Cream (Yeah... exactly what it says on the jar, really)

These products are adapted for your particular skin type (Dry/Combination/Oily). This is particularly pertinent to the POLISH and NOURISH products, as these will vary to account for your skin's needs. For example, I picked up the Oily Range which contains a much rougher POLISH to help exfoliate and clear my much larger build-up of sebum. If you don't know your skin type, you can take BLOOM's test here. 

GLOW

As we all know by now, I'm a big purveyor of oil cleansing, and GLOW is definitely one I would push for anyone with a love for oils. It's a wonderfully thick oil, that is absolutely soft and nourishing to skin, effectively removing any trace of dirt or make-up while leaving skin, you guess it, glowing.

This is a completely natural oil, and because of this, it's unlike any other oil I've ever used before. It's thick and gloopy and downright wonderful. As it is a pure oil, you won't be able to remove this cleanser with just water. Oil and water don't mix, remember? Instead, you'll want to use a muslin cloth. I found The Organic Pharmacy's Organic Muslin Cloth to be a perfect partner. You'll want something thick and gentle to help pick up the oil and remove it from your skin.

It's also suggested to mix this oil with the POLISH exfoliant, which is exactly what I did, and boy, did I love it. You simply take a few drops of GLOW and a few sprinkles of POLISH and mix them together to form a paste. Massage the paste onto damp skin, without applying any real pressure, just gently glide your fingertips over your face and remove one again with the muslin cloth.

I have, honestly, the most glowing and radiant skin I've ever seen. I look so much brighter and clearer when using GLOW and combining it with POLISH just gives me the freshest feeling imaginable. As it's non-astringent, it leaves skin very hydrated and soft, leaving me with a very well-nourished and well-fed sensation. 

Don't get my started on the smell. I revel in the smell. This little family of products all have a very similar scent and it's one I just can't get enough of. It's fresh and natural and an absolute treat to be putting on your skin.

GLOW can be purchased individually for $22.00 / 4OZ. (that's 118ML, for us Brits). 

POLISH

With this collection, I find it quite difficult to pick favourites, but I've got to say, this product trumps all. POLISH is a multi-purpose product that can be used as both an exfoliant to buff away dead skin sells and soften skin, and also a face mask to draw out impurities and deeply cleanse. And it excels at both.

As mentioned above, combining POLISH with GLOW can make a lovely custom paste which is gentle enough to be used daily. The oily version is a rougher, but nothing our thick skins aren't meant to handle, as it is in no way harsh. It leaves skin softer and smoother by taking away the layer of build-up from excessive oil production.

POLISH (for oily skins) has a wonderfully grainy feel. It uses very finely ground and milled rice powder, chamomile petals and coriander powder. None of it is hard or clunky, it's all soft and gentle. Exactly what we want.

Now BLOOM recommends also mixing this product with GLOW to use as a face mask. But I don't play by the rules. I like to mix it with water as I find it to be a lot more extracting. My nose gets incredibly congested and this mask is the master at decongestion. After removing, all the gunk that was clogging my pores is extracted and I'm left with much clearer, more breathable skin.

A cute little wooden spoon is supplied with this mask. 1-2 scoops is enough for a daily exfoliate, and 3-4 scoops is enough to cover your entire face for the mask.

While this mask does dry and become hard on skin (only with water; with oil it will remain soft), it is in no way tight or uncomfortable. Yes, it is a bit of a pain to remove, so bring out the muslin cloth yet again. But once removed, my face is absolutely wonderful. My skin tone is completely balanced. I have no inflammation or redness, I'm just glowing and I'm clear and I'm fresh and I'm lovely.

POLISH can be purchased individually for $32.00 / 6OZ. (that's 170G, for us Brits). 

HYDRATE

Big claim, I know, but this is the best face mist ever. I'm standing by that sentiment, wholeheartedly. It's ultra-hydrating, enlightening, therapeutic, and totally moisturising. There is no better, or more effective way for me to give my skin the hydration boost it needs, than by spritzing it with this wonderful elixir.

I say spritzing, it's actually super delicate. One pump from the nozzle and the mist just very gently falls onto skin and politely kisses you on the face, followed by an instant hit of hydration. As oily as I am, keeping my skin well moisturised is usually at the back of my mind, as it usually contributes to excessive oil production. But using HYDRATE is just right and gives my face all the essential hydration it needs, helping to prevent it complaining later in the day.

It's absorption rate is fast, meaning there's little-to-no waiting around time for this little elixir to work its magic into skin. You feel the hydration boost immediately. If I'm ever feeling tight or dry or fatigued, I'll pick up this bottle and spray it all over and revel in its instantaneous hydration. 

When wet, using HYDRATE in conjunction with NOURISH is the perfect way to dilute the oil a little and help it carry into skin. It gives you a very fresh, dewy look. Something I know that we oily folk fear, as dewy always crumbles and becomes just oil. But not with these products. These products are perfect for adding glow and life into our otherwise wilfully mattified faces. 

As mentioned, this is a very therapeutic experience. I feel calmer and revitalised when breathing in this product. As it falls so delicately through the air, it becomes quite ritualistic to breath in the mist while letting it absorb into skin. It smells delightful and it's absolutely refreshing - a true delight to all the senses!

HYDRATE can be purchased individually for $28.00 / 4OZ. (that's 118ML, for us Brits). 

NOURISH

If you want oil control, look no further than this delightfully fragranced, effective and light facial oil. Oil for oily skin, you say? It's a question I hear quite often. Switching out a moisturiser for an oil has been one of the best changes my face has gone through and NOURISH is the queen of them all.

Giving my face the essential ingredients it needs, helps prevent it from overproducing oil to compensate. The brunt of this is taken on by the vetiver root and the palmrosa, which help to balance sebum levels and the brown rice powder, which helps to absorb dirt and oils without disturbing the skins natural pH balance. You can read up on the full list of organic ingredients here.

Let me tell you, it's bloody brilliant at controlling oil. Whenever I wear this, I can be absolutely secure in the knowledge that my face is shine-free, grease-free and clean. It's such a refreshing sensation. Quite literally. I now know what it is to feel fresh! It's just the lightest thing, positively weightless. So not once do I ever feel burdened or uncomfortable in this oil. Hydrating, nourishing, refreshing and light, this oil has got it all.

At the end of the day, this is an oil. It's oily, okay. The absorption rate is a little on the slow side. I'm talking an hour plus here. If I've got the time to wait around for it to absorb, which I often don't, I will go the entire day completely bare faced and without the need to touch up or blot. If I don't have the time spare, I will have to cover it with a primer, unfortunately. That helps to disguise the oil while it gets to work in the background.

My skin condition has massively improved with the use of this product. While I still rely on it to help me control oil, I look generally more smoother and brighter. As it's super moisturising and hydrating, my skin never complains and will never become inflamed or uneven. I'm well conditioned and well nourished. How aptly named!

NOURISH can be purchased individually for $40.00 / 1OZ. (that's 30ML, for us Brits). 

RESTORE

The eye area is extremely delicate and often has a dedicated product to help sooth, moisturise and care for. RESTORE is exactly that product. It's a gentle, nourishing balm that is massaged under and around the eyes to keep them supported and moisturised.

This product is incredible. I'm often very fatigued because I have very little sleep (nothing that isn't self inflicted), meaning I suffer with the heavy and dark under-eye bags. This has been the only eye product I've found that actually helps to sooth and revitalise my eyes, making them brighter and livelier after use. I look awake, I look fresh, and, most importantly, I'm bag-free.

I never realised before, that I had dark spots around my eyes. I assumed it was one of the side-effects of fair skin and UV exposure ie. freckles. But actually, it was skin damage. After using this product for a few weeks, the dark spots began to fade and then eventually disappeared entirely. I was so impressed at how effectively the product handled them, in the most delicate and nurturing way possible.

This is the first eye product I've used that is actually a balm. Bit crazy, right? The issue with balms is that they actually melt and become an oil. So once this balm has been massaged into the eye area, I end up with these rather wet looking eyes. The trick is, everything in moderation. I had to really reduce the amount of product I was using and I would no longer have wet eyes. The beauty of that is, the smaller the portion, the longer it lasts.

This is a wonder products that's brought me out of tired, removed my dark spots and kept my eyes completely soothed. It definitely has wonderful restorative powers.

RESTORE  can be purchased individually for $28.00 / 1OZ. (that's 7ML, for us Brits). 

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The clue is in the name really, these products are essential to my routine. Every last one of them. Which is why my second order is currently en route. You can pick up the entire range for $130.00 USD on the BLOOM Skin Essentials online store. Products can also be purchased individually, as priced above.

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.