All Beauty, No Beast: Rosalena Oils Beauty & The Beast Facial Oil

Rosalena do only all-natural, clean, botanical beauty, and boy, they do it so well. Their blends of naturally occurring oils are a divine mix of luxurious ingredients with powerful results. Rosalena's truly indulgent range of oils offers the ultimate way to moisturise, delivering long-lasting hydration in only a few golden drops.

Beauty & The Beast is a vitamin-loaded facial oil catering for both the Beauty & The Beast of the house. Believe me when I say, I couldn't let my partner anywhere near this oil, I wanted every last scrumptious drop for myself. While that could paint me in a selfish light, he certainly admired my wonderfully rejuvenated skin, so really, win-win!

Oils are, hands down, my favourite way to moisturise, and the Beauty & The Beast keeps me exceptionally hydrated. This sunglow yellow oil is hydrating, toning and rejuvenating, helping to keep my skin fresh, moisturised and looking stellar. All I need is just 2-3 drops to cover the whole face and jawline, applying a little pressure and massaging in circular motions, this lightweight oil absorbs right in and gets straight to work.

As someone who suffers with redness and inflammation, Beauty & The Beast surprisingly manages to balance and calm my skin, resulting in an equilibrium for both skin tone and oil production. An all-round skin balancer. This nourishing oil provides an even complexion and optimum hydration, keeping my skin balanced and oil-free throughout the day.

The ultimate oil for hydration and rejuvenation, loaded with antioxidants and skin beneficial ingredients, the Beauty & The Beast really is all beauty, no beast. Just a few luxurious drops of this magical oil is enough to provide healthier skin. With a lovely sweet, fruity, almost citrus-like fragrance, Beauty & The Beast really is rejuvenation for both the skin and the senses. Being ultra-hydrating and readily absorbed, this darling little oil makes for the perfect complement to my oily, inflamed skin.

Rosalena very graciously included a generous sample of each of the other three oils they offer, and I must admit, after trailing them all, I'll be investing in The Rosalena Collection this week. All four of these divine oils provide everything my skin needs for an unmatched hydrated, balanced, radiant complexion.

Beauty & The Beast can be purchased from Rosalena for £38.00 / 15ML.

Disclaimer: I purchased Beauty & The Beast myself, and I'm very much of the opinion that that's money well spent! 

Easy As Pai: A 1-2-3 Step Routine to Create That Perfect Balance

Minimal skincare routines really can be something of a luxury, especially when there's a range of simple, clean and super efficient products at your fingertips. Pai Skincare are formulated specifically with sensitive, intolerant and allergy-prone skin in mind. This means gentle and caring, but that does in no way means Pai skimp on their effectiveness. 

With a clean list of organic and naturally derived ingredients approved by The Soil Association and a conscientious cruelty-free Leaping Bunny certification to boot, alongside a wealth of sustainable ingredients and recyclable packaging, Pai Skincare really do put the conscience into beauty. 

The Pai Perfect Balance Range has been formulated for us combination, oily and blemish-prone lot. Intended to rebalance oil production, clear and calm skin, the Pai Perfect Balance Range is for those of us who are frequented with blackheads, congestion, shine and oversize pores, all while considering those sensitive skin types.

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Step 01. Camellia & Rose Hydrating Cleanser

A calming and replenishing cleanser is the perfect way to kickstart any cleansing routine, and the Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser does it so masterfully. The almost cream-cum-lotion type cleanser manages to be rich and creamy while also lightweight and easily spreadable. 

This silky smooth cleanser positively glides across skin, leaving nothing but a smoother and softer complexion in its wake. Pai really meant what they said about looking out for sensitive skins, as this highly gentle cleanser is in no way harsh or stripping.

This nourishing little cleanser takes away any impurities, smooths the complexion, all while replenishing the skin. After clearing the skin, removing any make-up or dirt, skin is left fresh, clean and hydrated. The cleanser also comes with an Organic Muslin Face Cloth (2 pieces / £6.00), which adds a little bit of exfoliation to the routine, encourage circulation while helping to fully remove the product; this muslin cloth makes for the perfect complement.

Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser can be purchased from Pai for £28.00 / 100ML and includes a muslin cloth.

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Step 02. Rice Plant & Rosemary Bioaffinity Tonic

Once cleansed and cleared, an instant hydration booster is the next port of call. The Rice Plant & Rosemary Bioaffinity Tonic is a spritz-based toner, which graciously sprays out of a pump-dispenser and delicately falls onto skin. There's an instantaneous surge of moisture which is readily absorbed.

This lightweight tonic is very soft, effortlessly falling onto skin. The effects are super refreshing, skin is revived and boosted. Helping to balance the skin at the optimum pH balance, this tonic managed to calm any disrupted skin, making for a healthier complexion.

This refreshing pick-me-up is the perfect way to deliver instant hydration that balances, calms and helps to control oil, capable of absorbing and moisturising instantly. While making for the perfect tonic for a simple routine, it can also double-up as a top-up toner to be used throughout the day.

Rice Plant & Rosemary Bioaffinity Tonic can be purchased from Pai for £30.00 / 50ML.

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Step 03. Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream

My all time favourite step: moisturising. The ultimate way to finish off any routine and help provide long lasting hydration, the Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream manages to deliver hydration, calm redness and control oil. It really is the whole package.

This extremely light moisturiser absorbs straight in with little-to-no effort. My skin just feeds off this day cream, delivering a truly replenished sensation. Instantly, my skin is calmed. Any redness or irritation is reduced and balanced, I'm soothed and I'm clarified.
The Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream creates almost the perfect canvas. The lightweight moisturiser just glides over skin and the absorption rate makes skin instantly mattified. There is no residue, no grease, no oil, no shine, only a perfectly flat and clear canvas making it far easier to follow up with any primers, foundations or powder.

Skin is fresh, matte, breathable and balanced. This moisturiser, really does deliver a controlled complexion alongside long-term hydration.

Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream can be purchased from Pai for £34.00 / 50ML. 

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This simple routine really is easy as Pai. All three products have a superb texture, silky, lightweight and absorbent. Followed with a delicate fresh scent - very much garden in spring bloom. 

Three easy steps that really do lead to calmer, balanced and controlled skin and it's all positively hassle-free. This minimal routine really is one to make my skin flourish.

I purchased all products featured here. The Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream was free as part of a spend over £50.00 promotion. Keep your eyes peeled, as Pai very often host these promotions. 

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.

The Lovely Ones: Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner and Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

For those of you who read beauty blogs on the regular, these are two little gems that will not have slipped under your radar. Call it saturation, call it exposure, but after all the positive reviews of these things, I just had to try them for myself. Mission accomplished, right?

Trilogy are a natural skincare brand, sourcing the purest of natural plant oils and botanical extracts. They are big on natural beauty, big on animals and big on conservation. We certainly can't knock that. But, most favourably, they are big on rosehip. It's in, like, everything (well, nearly everything).

The Hydrating Mist Toner is a really gentle and hydrating way to tone and moisturise the skin. Follow this up with the Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, designed for dehydration and scarring, and you've got yourself the perfect duo for keeping your skin healthy and revitalised. 

Hydrating Mist Toner

Now that I've segued from traditional astringent toners to their far more kinder cousin mist toners, my skin has been happier, calmer and healthier. I've never looked back since and the Hydrating Mist Toner is certainly a product to keep in your quick-hydration-boost arsenal.

If there is one thing that can be said about this, and the clue is certainly in the name, this is very lovely and very hydrating. After cleansing, I instantly want some moisture on my face to protect me. This is the quickest way to deliver that. Spray, spray, spray, hey-presto! My skin can breathe and relax. It's definitely best as a quick pick-me-up. The kind of thing now, that I would use throughout the day, as opposed to in my real skincare routine. But that's not a bad thing, as it's definitely something to keep to hand.

When it first comes out of the bottle, it is (un)surprisingly wet, but it also (un)surprisingly dries very quickly. Ideally, I'd like to use this to help carry/distil my oil or moisturiser, but as it dries so quickly, there's little chance of that. This is why I think it's more of a through-the-day pick-me-up. As it dries quickly, you don't have to worry about moisturising your face, as you'll look pretty fresh afterwards.

While it says it's a 'mist', it's more than a little fast and fierce to come out. The product itself is really gentle, but it likes to fire out the nozzle in a way that took my by surprise. The toner will shoot straight onto your skin instead of falling quite gracefully like the BLOOM HYDRATE did (review here).

The scent is fresh and light and certainly very mild. It's not at all distinct or memorable, and that's fine. But it certainly detracts from this being an aromatic experience.

I won't knock this thing for it's ability to hydrate, it's certainly good at that. It's just a little weak everywhere else. The ferocity, the scent, the quick absorption rate. It caters more for a handbag than a cabinet essential.

The Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner can be purchased from LoveLula for £17.50 / 100ML.

Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

Now this oil, this is the oil our faces have all been waiting for. While it's primary design is to combat dehydration and scarring, it's oh so much more than that. It's hydrating, nourishing, soothing, smoothing, calming, revitalising and a super-duper food for the skin.

The Certified Organic Rosehip Oil comes in a small glass bottle with a pipette. The pipette is actually the most functional one I've used to date. It hooks around slightly at the tip to help prevent and oil from coming loose and accidental spillage. Neat!

This is the first ever facial oil I've been able to use that I can wear for an entire day without needing any other cover (other than SPF, if I'm headed outside). That's right. I don't need to use a primer over this to control oil, I can go super au naturel and no need to worry in the slightest.

I'll only use 2-3 drops of this baby to cover my face. It spreads really quite well but absorbs really quite fast. But that's great, an oil that doesn't leave me oily and prevents further oil? It's the perfect restoration for my skin's moisture balance. While it comes out of the pipette all orangey, it doesn't stain the skin in the slightest.

This is absolutely essential nutrition for my face. My skin feels healthier and looks healthier after using it. I needn't worry about dehydration or oil control, I feel comfortable and fresh and I feel very, very nourished.

The Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil can be purchased from LoveLula for £16.50 / 20ML.

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.

Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+

As we all know by now, I'm very fair skinned. We also all know by now that fair skin and good weather really don't mix well, so I am always sporting the factor 50. The trouble with sunscreen is that it's generally fairly greasy, and when your skin is very grease-prone already, you're left with nothing but trouble on your hands.

This is why I've been on the search for something a little more mattifying. Enter Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+. As my first encounter with a face-specific SPF, and one designed for combination-oily skins at that, it was completely contrary to any sunscreen I've ever experienced.

First up, we can't ignore the fact that this just does not spread. No spread means difficult to blend, which means white cast. I'm very conscious of sunscreen leaving white traces as they are often very stubborn to remove. You'll have to work quickly with this, trying to blend as quickly as possible before it dries. It's a very tough liquid that likes to grip, so good luck with that, right...

While white cast is an issue in and of itself, this product actually likes to make you turn a little... purplish? Don't let that discourage, as it actually offers some neat benefits and you won't look purple in the slightest:

• It evens out the skin tone, so any redness or inflammation is balanced. My skin always looks very fresh and natural after applying as it really helps restore the equilibrium (through disguise)

• It has a very effective pore blurring effect. My pores are honestly invisible after applying this, as it covers them in a very thin whitish/purplish finish, making them only visible at very close inspection

As a dry touch sunscreen - the contributing factor as to why it's so difficult to spread - this product has a lovely satin-like finish to it. My face feels delightfully smooth and velvety after use, and it absolutely no way sticky or greasy. While it is designed to give a matte-finish, it does offer a nice real-glow so your skin doesn't appear completely dry or dull.
While it is quite a lightweight formula, utterly weightless on skin, it does feel heavy when coming to the end of its 2 hour life-cycle. Layering this product over itself also contributes, making it quite a thick and clunky product further into the day. 

This sunscreen does aims to reduce sebum production, but I don't think it delivers on that promise entirely. My skin looks wonderful after first application, it's a fresh glow, pore-free, UVA-safe face. But after 2-3 hours, things start to slip. My own facial oils kick in and really show this sunscreen who's boss. Unfortunately, the matte promise falls a little short.

The Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ offers full range coverage from UVA rays and also covers UVB. It's designed for hypersensitive skins and causes no irritation. It provides great protection so long as the product is spread in correctly. It comes in a pump-action dispenser, which makes it super easy to use and minimises product transfer. While it kept me always protected and blurred my pores, I will not be repurchasing due to issues with white cast and spreadability.

The Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ can be purchased from Boots for £16.00 / 50ML.

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.

Korean Beauty Haul: BeautynetKorea

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Obligatory Korean Beauty Haul? I think so. While this might be fashionable in current times, that's not without good reason. Korean, and by extension, Asian beauty products, are powerful, adorable, targeted and reputable. While it might be a little confusing at first, there are a lot of cute infographics to mill through, complimented by confusing English, these products can be both entertaining and powerful.  

As this is completely new territory - where do you even begin? It's important to shop from reliable sources, and, during an introductory phase, focus on the wider, more popular brands. I shopped with BeautynetKorea. They stock a tonne of beauty, make-up, skincare, body and perfume products for both men and women. Their prices are reasonable (usually discounted), they offer free worldwide shipping on orders over $50.00, not to mention the wedge of customised samples I received with my order.

This is just an introduction, not a review. I wanted to show you what I picked up and why. There is a big focus here on blackhead removal, lots of scrubs, exfoliators and masks. 

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TONY MOLY Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm 30G + Tightening Cooling Pack 30G + Silky Smooth Balm 20G ($35.27 USD) This little set was just too adorable not to pick up. I know, that's no way to shop, but I kept seeing these products mentioned time and time again, success story after success story. This Egg Pore 3 Pack Collection contains a Blackhead Steam Balm, to be used first to 'open up' the pores. This facial exfoliator warms up as it is massaged into the skin, preparing you to follow it up with the Tightening Cooling Pack, a cooling face mask used to tighten pores and improve the skins condition. Finally, the Silky Smooth Balm is more of a primer (make-up), offering no real skincare benefits. This is to be applied on its own, or under make-up, to keep you matte and blur them pores. 

ETUDE HOUSE Blackhead Final Kit Double-Up Blackhead Romving Toner-X 60ML + Black Head Smooth Cream 15ML ($17.49 USD) While the first item in this kit is referred to as a toner, it is not a toner in the traditional Western sense. In fact, you soak a cotton wool pad, or a cloth, in the toner then press it onto your face and leave it there for 10-15 minutes, after which, you wash/clean away. Follow this up with the cream, used to sooth the skin and control excess sebum. 

INNISFREE Jeju Vocanic Blackhead Out Balm 30G ($6.99 USD) Innisfree is an admirably green Asian beauty brand. Their ingredients are pure and naturally sourced. The Blackhead Out Balm (fun name, right?) melts blackheads away. It is a solid balm, which when massaged into the skin, melts into an oil, which then dissolves blackheads and absorbs sebum. 

Holika Holika Pig Nose Clean Blackhead Cleansing Sugar Scrub 30 ML ($7.78 USD) Pig Nose is for the removal of sebaceous filaments (white and horny clogged pores). The sugar scrub effectively removes these filaments, alongside blackheads by massaging the product softly into skin. Once massaged, leave the product on the skin, converting it into a mask, to allow the pink clay to absorb the excess sebum.

SKIN FOOD Black Sugar Mask Wash Off 100G (10.49 USD) While mask is in the title, this is actually just a face scrub. Gently massage this sugary product into the skin for a few minutes, then wash it away. As the name implies, this brand uses food within their products as part of their key ingredients, believing that good food products make you healthy inside and out. 

Here are the collection of samples I received with my order, all TONY MOLY, probably one of the more prominent Korean brands. While some of them are dupes, samples often go a long way in my books. The samples include: Magic Good Banana Hand Milk, Panda's Dream White Hand Cream, Panda's Dream Eye Patch, I'm Real Avocado Rich Cream and Floria Whitening Capsule Essence.

Are you tempted to splurge on a Korean Beauty Haul? What items are you interested in picking up?

The Body Shop: All-in-One™ Instablur™ Universal

For make-up wearers, primers have become an essential part to face/base application. Understandably. Primers can prep the face for easier application, hold make-up for longer, blur pores and, what I would consider most important of all, control oil. The Body Shop: All-in-One™ Instablur™ Universal is a dream come true for oil control. It is not, however, a dream come true in any other department.

This is a product you will need to learn to use, persevere with, fail with, get frustrated with and then and only then, finally have mattified skin which honestly does match that 12 hour promise. You read right. 12 hours. This product controls my oil production for an entire half day cycle - maybe longer, but who can ever try? 

When you first squeeze this product out of the tube, you will be greeted by a somewhat sticky, yet fairly crumbly, translucent balm. It will fall out into your palm or your sponge in 'chunks', with a consistency that isn't quite strong enough to hold together. However you apply this product, with your fingertips or with a tool, it will fall off. It's just completely unmanageable. I use my fingertips. I take a very small piece between my index finger and thumb and begin to massage it onto my skin, moving outwards from the nose. Using my other hand, I cup this underneath my face to catch any product that falls off, and their will be product that falls off. I then repeat this process until my entire face is covered by the balm. 

If you think the horrors stop there, think again...

During the first hour after application, if you touch or move your face in any way and disturb the product, it will become unsettled on your face, returning to its original balmy form. It almost makes you appear as though you have dry, flaky skin. I do, however, have a solution for this (though that doesn't make me any happy with this product's performance). After about 20 minutes of having this product on my face, I simply brush my fingertips very quickly over my skin. I'm talking seriously light here. It seems to take away any of that excess or build-up and prevent it from clumping on your face.

So why do I even rate this? Well, it's the results. Its ability to keep me shine-free is unmatched. It lasts all day long so I don't need to worry about my face, not once. I've become far more confident and relaxed. It's a really light balm that you won't feel it on your face, nor see on your face, and one tube lasts an absolute age. You really only need 1-2 pea sized amounts of this product to cover your entire face and you'll be laughing. 

I've been through tubes and tubes of this stuff and I won't be stopping any time soon, as it is absolutely an essential.

The Body Shop: All-in-One™ Instablur™ Universal can be purchased from The Body Shop for £14.00 / 25ML. For first time The Body Shop users, make sure to check online for any discounts/offers they are currently running as they are always, always running.