Review: Nuxe Reve de Miel Creme Visage Ultra-Reconfortante Ultra Comfortable Face Cream

After falling sick three times last month my skin was definitely showing its displeasure. It had become super sensitive, dry in patches and my nose actually started peeling, which was a sure sign of how dehydrated and unhappy my body was. I therefore stepped away from my usual skin care routine to give my skin some intense TLC and purchased Nuxe’s Reve de Miel Creme Visage Ultra-Reconfortante Ultra Comfortable Face Cream.

This Nuxe day cream is super soothing as it has a balm like texture that works hard to hydrate, calm and repair sensitive skin. It doesn’t sink in quickly, but plumps the skin leaving behind a protective barrier. Though I normally prefer a lighter moisturiser this has been working really well in the mornings for me and is a great base for makeup. Foundation applies really quickly and smoothly over it, though I have found that it doesn’t last quite as long as usual. However, if I have an event in the evening or want my makeup to last for a special occasion I often use the Urban Decay setting spray that works really well!

The Nuxe Reve de Miel range would also be wonderful for use in the winter as it really hydrates and protects the skin. It replenishes lipids with Sunflower Oil Derivative, Safflower Ceramides and Precious Plant Oils, soothes with Barley, Argan Oil and Shea Butter, repairs with Honey and protects against external aggression with Vitamin E and Sunflower Derivative.

If your skin is feeling aggravated or you just want to give it some extra pampering I would definitely recommend Nuxe Reve De Miel - Ultra Comfortable Face Cream For Dry And Sensitive Skin! My skin feels so much smoother, more hydrated and much less sensitive since I started using it a few weeks ago! I purchased mine from lookfantastic for £24.

Review: Cowshed Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum and Skin Perfecting Facial

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of popping down to Cowshed’s Carnaby spa to sample their new Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum in a mini facial. After an early start and a long day in an air conditioned office my skin was looking far from its best and I was definitely in need of a few quiet moments to let the day melt away. The new Cowshed Skin Perfecting Facial (£85 for 75 mins) is a gem. While it keeps true to the usual routine of a facial (cleanse, steam, exfoliation) the yoga style massage that is performed using the new Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum is absolutely fantastic. While being extremely relaxing it works hard to bring out your facial contours, get rid of any puffiness with lymph drainage and stimulate blood flow while firming and tightening the skin. Divine! I would love to book in for the full treatment soon.

Cowshed’s Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum itself is the ultimate all in one skincare treatment. I have recently tried to simplify my skin care routine (to save time and in the hope that if it’s simple I will be more diligent in doing it every day). I have always struggled with my night-time routine as by the time I’m finished with my day I am so ready to crawl into bed (probably having already fallen asleep somewhere beforehand… on the sofa, on the tube, but hopefully not at my office desk). However, as I wear makeup regularly I know how important it is to have a thorough cleanse and make sure my skin can recover overnight and stay hydrated. Therefore, I have been sticking with a micellar water for makeup removal, a cream cleanser and then an eye cream and an oil left on overnight. The Cowshed serum- oil hybrid is absolutely perfect for this and fits into my routine really easily. It has a beautiful, calming scent, is lovely to apply as it feels smooth, but not too ‘oily’ and is packed full of botanical actives and essential oils.

The Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum is designed to address multiple ageing concerns such as loss of radiance, fine lines, pigmentation and dry skin. It is infused with brightening, tightening ingredients such as the Actiscent complex, which not only gives the serum its dreamy scent (combining natural extracts of Sandalwood, Green Tea and South American Copahu), but also works to stimulate cell renewal and turnover. VC IP is an extract derived from Vitamin C, which is added tp help strengthen skin’s antioxidant abilities. Matrixyl 300 Lipo Peptide stimulates skin’s repair process to improve skin tone and elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Juvenity is a complex anti-ageing lipid, that works inside skin cells to protect, restructure and thicken the dermis and epidermis, encouraging the production of healthier skin cells. It also features natural compounds such as of Rosehip oil, Evening Primrose oil, Jojoba oil, zinc and vitamins B and E.

I have been trialling this oil serum for the last 2 weeks and have to say that I am really impressed. I am sometimes wary of oils as some I have tried in the past have had a slightly unpleasant scent and have been a little heavy, taking a long time to absorb into the skin making it feel greasy. This serum is very light and smells beautiful. It sinks into the skin leaving a light layer of oil on the surface so that you feel your skin is protected through the night, but not suffocated. It definitely plumps and smoothes while keeping skin nourished and hydrated, which is particularly important in the harsh, cold months of winter. I adore it.


Cowshed Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum (£48.00) is available from all Cowshed UK Spas, shops and www.cowshed.com

Dry Skin Saviours

Since coming back from skiing last week I have noticed that my skin has become really dry. Even though I made sure to load up on moisturiser and SPF every day while on the slopes the mix of altitude, sun, snow and wind definitely did more than simply bring out my freckles.

With the freezing temperatures in the UK I thought that perhaps some of you may still be suffering so wanted to share my recent skin saviours, especially if your skin is feeling dry and lacklustre.

Cream cleansers are great when your skin is feeling sensitive as they will easily remove dirt and makeup without stripping skin of its natural moisture. Lately I have been using Green People's Gentle Cleanse and I absolutely love it! This product is extremely gentle, while being a really effective cleanser with a beautiful, delicate rose scent. I would highly recommend this for those with sensitive skin, allergies or skin ailments such as eczema as it is organic, paraben and alcohol free.

Green People Gentle Cleanse and Make-Up Remover (£18.95)

Another product I have been using is the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix. These pads are super handy to use as they are presoaked in the solution, which contains glycolic acid to help resurface the skin, hyaluronic acid to moisturise and refresh and blue daisy to calm and soothe. With 60 pads in one tub these are great value and really work to brighten and refresh the appearance of skin.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix (£12.95)

As a moisturiser in the morning I have also recently started using Origins Plantscription. I am already a big fan of Origins so I was excited to see how this cream would work when it arrived for review. This moisturiser feels fairly rich, so only a little is needed for each application. It melts into the skin really well and leaves it feeling hydrated and smooth, without looking oily. Coming from a science background I am not totally sure whether the raspberry stem cell technology is something I am wholly convinced by, but looking at the feedback on the website it seems that customers really have noticed a difference in the anti-aging benefits!

Origins Plantscription SPF25 (£46)

At night I have been using a lovely moisturiser from Vichy. This cream is great for any age as it is designed to smooth and illuminate all skin types. This cream feels very light and soft as it melts into the skin leaving it feeling smooth and healthy.

Vichy Idealia (£22, but on sale for £18.70)

As an intensive overnight treat I have also been using the Origins Drink Up Intensive face mask. This product is absolutely amazing to give your skin a boost of moisture. Japanese Seaweed repairs skin's barrier while you sleep to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. When my skin is not misbehaving it tends to be a little on the oilier side so I was anxious when I first used this product, but it really is fantastic and I would recommend it for any skin type.

Origins Drink Up Intensive (£20)

So there we have my little list of my current skin saviours. Have you tried any of these products before? Do you have any favourite products to treat your skin when it's feeling dry and sensitive? xxx

Footner Exfoliating Socks

Feet. Now there's a topic I did not think I would be discussing on this blog! Due to the fact that I inherited my mother's incredibly high arches I tend to suffer from unsightly dry skin on the balls and heels of my feet. Coupled with the fact that my feet are very ticklish I find pedicures  often a really uncomfortable experience. Therefore, I was really excited to try out a new product that promised to give me baby soft feet at home with no scrubbing, buffing, cutting or sanding!

The Footner Exfoliating Socks need to be worn for one hour to let the solution on the inside of the socks penetrate the skin onyour feet. After 60 minutes your feet should be rinsed with warm water and that's it! All you have to do is wait patiently for all the dry skin to peel off your feet in the next 5-10 days. And peel it does!!

About 6 days after application the skin on the bottom of my feet and around my toes started peeling in large sections. As I am always honest with you I will not hide the fact that it was a really unpleasant sight. You are not meant to peel the skin itself, but wait for it to drop off to ensure the whole process takes its natural course and your skin is not damaged. Although there was no pain or discomfort I am really impatient and was very tempted to start picking at the skin, especially as I was away on a work trip and felt quite self conscious that my feet were peeling off. Fortunately for you I don't have any photos to show you, but I am sure you can imagine...

It took 5 days for the peeling process to finish and I was really impressed with the results. My feet were left smooth and soft and I would say that about 90% of the hard skin had disappeared. In my opinion it was worth the wait, especially as the whole process was completely painless. Though I would say that if you share a bed with your loved one make sure to wear socks at night not only to protect their eyes from your flaky feet, but to ensure that they do not wake up in the remnants!

Footner Exfoliating Socks can be found here for £19.99 and at half the price of a regular pedicure I will definitely be purchasing them ahead of any special occasions.

Mama Mio Bootcamp for Arms Challenge: Part 2

Over a month ago I wrote about the Mama Mio Bootcamp for Arms Challenge and promised to share my experience of this combined skincare and workout routine with you. Although I tried my best I have to confess that I did much better on the skincare than the work out part, though I doubt that will be a surprise for anyone!

I have really enjoyed using the Body Buff exfoliator and the Skin Tight tightening serum and have  seen a visible improvement in the texture and tone of my skin. My arms feel so much smoother and definitely look better so I am thrilled.

I haven't quite achieved Jennifer Aniston guns yet, but I can see that my arms have gained more definition, which I am really happy with and look forward to carrying on with this regime. The bf always used to tease me about my lack of biceps, but now there actually seems to be a little something there when I flex. Not bad at all for just 4 minutes (most) days!

So what do you guys think? Perhaps the team GB kit is a bit much. Is it too early to apply for Rio 2016? ;p

If you are looking to tone up and get those bingo wings in shape you can check out the Mama Mio Bootcamp for Arms kit here.