Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask With Rose Clay Really Does Retexture Skin To Its Original Smooth And Flawless Condition

What a concept! To retexture skin to its original flawless texture. For someone with congested skin, oversized pores, blemishes and irregularities, it's the kind of thing I'd roll my eyes at and ask to pull the other one. So can you imagine the spit take when I discover a mask that delivers smoother, supplier and retextured skin? The Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask With Rose Clay manages to be both a face mask and an exfoliatior; an expert resurfacing combination that really does achieve that flawless skin.

Origins' latest mask is a gorgeous pink little number contains active rose clay, Canadian willowherb and jojoba seeds to help provide that flawless look. Rose clay is a gentle way to extract impurities. This soft, sticky clay barely hardens, it remains gorgeously wet and hydrating when left for the 10-20 minute treatment. A little unusual for your typical clay mask, this mask manages to draw out impurities through its sticky texture, as opposed to the hardening and drying of clay. As a bonus, I use a cleaning cloth to remove (as I said, this mask can be a bit of a tough cookie), as a little boost to the exfoliation factor.

The added (and plentiful at that) jojoba beads helps to aid exfoliation on, ensuring that pores are unclogged, skin texture is resurfaced and any impurities are removed. The delicate jojoba beads are soft and natural circular seeds that gently move along the skin's surface aiding renewal. Everything about this mask is delicate and nurturing, transforming even my sensitive skin into a healthy complexion.

Original Skin is perfectly descriptive of what this mask achieves. Offering that youthful skin texture, skin is smoother, supple and healthy. Impurities are removed, skin is decongested and pores are emptied, creating a true silky smooth surface. My skin is left clearer, clarified, balanced, calmed and flawless. 

The floral scent of the rose clay is subtly sweet. It's a fragrance that endures, so for the 10-20 minutes during the treatment I can continue to experience this relaxing and calming scent. The clay is cool and wet when first applied, then begins to warm - in quite a comforting way - without any of the tingling that comes with a typical clay mask.

Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask With Rose Clay has been an expert skin treatment to keep my skin soft and supple. Whenever I feel congested, Original Skin is what I reach for, whenever my pores are clogged, Original Skin is my first port of call, whenever I what clearer, more clarified and balanced skin, Original Skin is always there in my hour of need. This mask really has become my saving grace, providing me with such well-conditioned skin that I never imagined my face could attain.

Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask With Rose Clay can be purchased from Origins for £23.00 / 100ML.

The #QuarterLifeCrisis; Do I Really Want To Be Anti-Ageing In My Early Twenties?

I have a very critical, and occasionally cynical, part to my mind that refuses to see the world for black and white. Nothing is ever what it is advertised to us as. A few months back, when Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum hit the shop floors, my feed was flooded with claims that any age-fearing human in their mid-twenties needed to add pre-anti-ageing anti-ageing into their routines. Red flag; my natural scepticism kicked straight in.

This isn't to say this product doesn't work, but really, would we ever know otherwise?

It's brilliant, really. A market that never existed before, has now been created. The product created for that marked has positively unmeasurable results. How do I possibly ever quantify whether pre-anti-ageing products work? I don't. I just close my eyes, continue to fork over the £32.00 bi-monthly and hope for the best. 

Without any possible way to measure whether this product will take any visible effect on my skin, lets talk about the immediate changes, the effects I can see happening now. And you know what, contrary to my thought on this scheme, this serum does actually have some merit.

Taking 1-2 pumps of this light mauve-pink serum into my palms - which is more than spreadable enough to cover the entire face - its silky thick cream-like consistency, feels almost velvety on skin. There is an instant pore-blurring effect, combined with the pinkish tint, it makes for the perfect skin smoother.

My skin condition has significantly improved. I have a much smoother skin, with the depth of pores minimised and any scarring or permanent blemishes drastically reduced in visibility. My skin feels so wonderfully supple and delicate and the only way it could possibly described as, is... youthful. There it is. They did it.

While I can't vouch for the anti-ageing effects, the potential is there and the Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum does have immediate skin improving qualities. However, the claim to delete skin dullness and enhance skin's glow are weak at best. In fact, my skin feels almost a little duller when using this. But glow can be added through other products as skin smoothing effects like this are difficult to come by.

So, where do I stand on pre-anti-ageing? I don't. I don't stand anywhere on it. It is just too impossible to quantify the results. By the time I show signs of ageing, I have no measurable way to say whether the Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum suspended the ageing process, accelerated it, or did utterly nothing at all. Maybe I'll come back in 20 years with some answers for you.

But for now, the Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum is a delicate thick serum which helps to blur pores and smooth skin. It gives skin a youthful-esque delicacy, applied in a gorgeously velvety formula with a petite, fruity scent. Effective, repurchase.

As early-twenties anti-ageing goes, I'm still sceptical on you.

Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum is available from Origins for £32.00 for 30ML (full size). Alternatively, you can pick up the 15ML (miniature size) for £15.00. Which, if you by 2 of, actually works out cheaper for you. Go figure. 

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash: The Ultimate Cleanser for De-Gunking Pores

There are two words, which, without fail, always make my skin crawl. 'Face Wash'. There, did you feel it, too? 'Wash' often implies sulphates, surfactants, chemicals and all manner of harsh foaming agents designed to strip my skin of all its natural oily goodness.  But, with a 98.7% natural formula, Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash manages to create a gentle and moisturising lather which effectively clears skin without over-stripping. 

In order to create that lather, the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash contains decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside (both natural sugar-based co-surfactants), which are both derived from coconut and fruit sugars, used for their foaming and conditioning properties. The way this cleanser foams is unlike any other, as it is bound inside the lovely moisturising gum, which aids in the retention of skin's moisture.

When I say foam or froth here, I'm not talking about bubbles and suds, I'm talking about a gentle creamy lather that leaves a gum-based residue. The cleanser has a sticky gelatinous quality to it (a parallelism to which, I'm not going to draw out loud), but when it is activated on skin it becomes soft and slick, like a nice thick mousse. The gummy consistency leaves skin supple, instead of the usual tight and stripped sensation given from other foaming cleansers.

Now, this is where Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash really comes into its element. This cleanser is absolutely bloody brilliant at de-gunking pores. My pores literally transition from grey and clogged before use, to clear and empty after use. Any build-up or grime that is trapped in my pores is instantaneously and gently whisked away effortlessly, leaving me with the ultimate clear complexion. This is the most effective face wash I have ever used, bar none.

When it comes to removal, the cleanser is partially water resistant, meaning water appears to just slip off. So, this is another job for our friend, the trusty flannel. I have used this product around eyes, but they were closed tightly. It is recommended on the tube to keep eyes firmly shut when using. Those are explicit instructions. You've been warned.

The scent of this product is fairly chemical. It has a somewhat acidic, burnt fragrance to it that is fairly unpleasant. Not unpleasant enough to stop me from using it, but it's definitely something to be aware of. However, when you weigh up a few fleeting moments of a disagreeable scent, versus utterly unclogged skin, there's only one clear winner here.

As you might have guessed, this is definitely something I want in my routine. It's clearing, moisturising, cleansing and the most effective product I've found for unclogging pores. Essential.

The Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash can be purchased from Balance Me at £11.00 / 50ML. Alternatively, a value size is available at £16.00 / 125ML here, and a sample size at £3.50 / 15ML here.

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.

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?

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Toner, Moisturising Lotion, Targeted Spot Treatment and Pore Refining Scrub

Putting bees and sustainability at the forefront of skincare, Burt's Bees is a sponsor to the British Bee Keeper's Association and founder The Greater Good Foundation, Burt's Bees helps to both protect the bees and the environment, with packaging made from recyclable materials and recyclable themselves, leaving a low environmental footprint and responsibly sourcing their ingredients, all the products in the Anti-Blemish Solutions range are 99.4-100% organic. 

Another haul. Okay, I'm insatiable, we know this. But this is a mini-haul (excuses, excuses). The only purchase I neglected from this haul was the Purifying Daily Cleanser. Not to deter, while it is 99.4% natural, it includes phenoxyethanol (chemical preservative) and lauryl glucoside (surfactant), ingredients which I don't usually take kindly to in my cleansers (but the reviews do seem positive so it may still be worth considering).

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Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Toner

I love using toners, and this is no exception. While it contains salicylic acid, witch hazel and alcohol denat, it is not at all overly acidic or tingly, in fact, it can't be felt at all on my sensitive skin. It's a fairly runny liquid. Yes, yes, it's a liquid, it runs, but this is super runny, so you'll want to use it with a fairly thick cotton pad. It is lovely and cool on the skin, and sweeps away any dirt or residue without issue. 

This product helps to tone and clarify the skin. I look much clearer and much, much brighter after using this toner. It helps to balance my complexion. I'm not as red in all the wrong places and I'm not as dull all-over. 

In terms of its anti-blemish properties, I don't feel like it's quite enough. It's brilliant as a toner, but it's not enough for blemishes. While it does contribute to keeping me clear, it isn't powerful enough, making it quite a slow burner. 

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Toner is 99.5% natural and is priced at £9.99 for 145ML. 

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Anti-Blemish Solutions Moisturising Lotion

I have been desperate to use an anti-blemish moisturiser for a while. Unfortunately, this one didn't deliver exactly how I wanted it to. I don't want to be super neg towards this product but it's just a little too heavy. But heavy in a greasy way. Heavy can be nice, it makes my face feel heavenly well moisturised and nourished, which is exactly what this product achieves. After a few hours though, I'll start to get greasy. In a slick way. 

Its consistency is, yet again, a little too runny. Which leads to it making me greasy. Ideally, I need more of an emulsifying moisturiser, so this is just not suitable for me needs. However, it is more suitable to my neck where my skin is normal - yet varr blemish-prone. 

On a better note, it does help to reduce blemishes. It is both soothing and anti-inflammatory. It does feel nice to wear, I just wishwishwish it didn't make me greasy. Can't I ever have it both ways?

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Moisturising Lotion is 100% natural and is priced at £14.99 for 55G.

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Anti-Blemish Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment

This is the staple in the range. I love how effective this product is! It is a miniature solution that takes big effect. As mentioned, my blemishes are primarily on my neck so I pour a few drops into the palm of my hand and slap it straight onto my neck, kind of like I'm applying aftershave. But you have to work super quick with the product, as it will dry in your palm almost immediately. 

This product does dry on the skin without leaving a trace. Yes it doesn't dry the skin. It works quickly to reduce blemishes, so quickly that within 12hrs I noticed a difference and with continued use my skin remains calm and clear. 

Unfortunately, the application of this product is all kinds of wrong. You have to tip the glass bottle upside down and it will come running out of the top. As as a targeted treatment, you aren't given much control when wanting to target a blemish. Which is why I have to put it in my palm and slap it onto my skin. Once more, it's another overly runny product, meaning you'll want to be super precise. 

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment is 100% natural and is priced at £9.99 for 7.5ML. 

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Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub

Exfoliation is one of my all-time favourite skincare things. Nothing makes me feel clearer than sloughing off all dead cells in the gentlest way possible. And this products delivers on that front. I use this every-other-day, taking a portion the size of one digit and massaging it softly into my cheeks, chin and forehead - the areas where my pores are of more concern. It features jojoba beads for exfoliation, which are super tiny making them super gentle to use. 

It is soft, so soft in fact, that I'm never left feeling dry or tight after use. In fact, my skin is left feeling pretty well nourished. It exfoliates in a really good way. My skin feels so clear after use, smooth and absolutely not irritated. 

In terms of pore refining, that doesn't really mean much. The focus of the product is to smooth skin - which is successfully does - and to exfoliate - which it also successfully does.

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub is 100% natural and priced at £9.99 for 110G. 

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I do like these products. Nothing in this range is irritating, everything is soothing and everything has its benefits. Both the Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Toner and the Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Moisturising Lotion both scored Effect, don't repurchase. While they are effective at what the do in terms of toning and moisturising, they are not effective enough at reducing blemishes. The Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment scored Essential. I love this product, and it has become a staple in my skincare regime. It's quick-working and effective without leaving any irritation. Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub scored Effective, repurchase. While I enjoy using this product, I will still be looking for other solutions, which focus more on combating blackheads and minimising pores.

All products featured here can be purchased from Burt's Bees.

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 

Eliminating What I Thought Were Blackheads Once and For All: Mario Badescu Silver Powder and Origins Modern Friction

Let's talk about blackheads, and what they apparently aren't. I thought I suffered with blackheads through all of my teenage years, right up to present day. Actually, I haven't. Instead, I have suffered with sebaceous filaments. These are blackheads in disguise. They don't look too dissimilar to blackheads, in that they are dark, clogged pores. When you squeeze them they excrete a translucent/white gunk, yet they never seem to be cleared. Alternatively, blackheads are actually much darker, and can raise the surrounding skin. When you get rid of a blackhead, it's gone for good... Unless it comes back. 

It was while reading Really Ree's post Is it a Blackhead? And How to Treat it! that the whole thing really hit home with me. "Yes, my blackheads never stay gone!" I exclaimed out loud, in my mind. And everything came into perspective, I was treating them all wrong. 

I actually accidentally discovered the answer to my face. While it's far from perfect, I am in love with my unclogged de-gunked pores right now.  Thank you Mario Badescu's Silver Powder and thank you Origin's Modern Friction for giving me the answers I never knew I always needed. 

The routine is simple. Silver Powder is a face mask that is activated with water. This is applied first then rinsed away with the help of Modern Friction; an exfoliating gel.

Mario Badescu Silver Powder

When I first purchased Mario Badescu's Silver Powder, I was rightfully confused. What even is Silver Powder? Well, it is just that. Except it's white instead. 

Supposedly, you dip a wet cotton pad into the powder and blot it onto your face. But when I did this, I found that it was difficult to evenly distribute and the cotton often transferred. Ideally, this powder needs to be mixed with water to form a paste, and then applied to the face like you would a conventional mask. The thing is, the  powder absolutely disappears in water. Like, some serious dissolving right there. So mix your water sparingly. A few drops, even. Apply the paste to all problem areas of your face and let it sit for 10 minutes. 

You'll find that as the mask starts to dry up on your face, it will turn back into powder (thank you). Meaning it will begin to fall off even when you think you're not moving, getting it all over your clothes and house. Problem. Big problem. But not big enough to make me hate it, given the results.

I saw results from this product instantaneously. After the first use, literally. And I hate that, I know, it's corny and untrustworthy, but after the first use I saw a massive reduction in clogged pores. And I continue to see results week after week. 

Essentially, the product seems to take all those real tricky articles in pores and remove them. That's what a lot of clay masks claim to do, but this one actually does it. This doesn't mean my pores are invisible. It means my pores are cleared. My pore size is still large, unfortunately. But they are far less noticeable because they aren't filled with any dark matter. Instead, they are now just fleshy coloured, and I really can't get enough of seeing that. 

When you rinse off the powder it then turns back into a paste. It's a lot of powder-to-paste-to-powder-to-paste with this process, and while it's messy, it's worth it. This powder is very light on skin. You will not feel it drying and hardening. In fact, you won't feel it on your face or doing anything to your face at all. But it is. 

Origin's Modern Friction

Origin's Modern Friction is an exfoliator, and it's a strange one at that, but a great one. 

It's fairly unconventional. Most exfoliators I've encountered have contained microbeads or have been a chemical fussed gel. Instead, this is like a thick, creamy gel, that, when smoothed into damp skin, turns into a thin, silky cream. It also contains rice starch, which are really soft clumps that roll around your face. It's odd at first, but instantly refreshing. It feels very comforting and it effortlessly helps remove the sticky Silver Powder.

WARNING: NEVER LEAVE THIS PRODUCT ON YOUR SKIN FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

I have moderately sensitive skin and I let this product sit on my face for ~30 seconds. Never do that. My skin became very raw, red and sensitised. But don't let that be a deterrent. This product work perfectly when removed instantly. Use it to scrub, then wash away.

This product will last a long time. You only need a very small, 2 pea sized amount to cover your entire face as it spreads like a dream. Always apply to damp skin. Not only does this help the product spread further, but it also reduces irritation.

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Both of these products are extremely powerful and successful. But they are also extremely drying. I find that after using these products it is always best to follow it up with either an extremely hydrating moisturiser, or an oil. I always use PureChimp's Super One (Natural Face Oil) as it prevents any dehydration or dryness.

I do this combination 2-3 times a week. After the first use, I saw results from the Silver Powder. Small results, but results nonetheless. After a month of use, the pores of my forehead were completely cleared and colourless. I am still trying to combat my cheeks and nose. These are far more stubborn areas of skin. But I still continue to use the products on the no-longer-congested-areas to prevent a comeback tour. 

They aren't perfect. Both of these products have some pretty major faults. But when used together, their results are so successful that I can't help but look past all that. They have become an absolutely essential part of my skin care routine.

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Mario Badescu's Silver Powder can be purchased from Beauty Bay for £10.25 / 1OZ (UK Retailer). For the brand listing, visit Mario Badescu. 

Origin's Modern Friction can be purchased from Origins for £33.00 / 125ML. Alternatively, a smaller 50ML version for £12.50 can be purchased from John Lewis.