REN Skincare Test Run

I'd heard a lot about REN skincare before I finally got round to trying it. Let alone hearing about it on every blog I read, my boyfriend always used to rave about their Moroccan Rose range. So when I saw Lily Pebbles' video about her sample box, I popped to my local apothecary (oo-er, apothecary), and purchased the selection for sensitive skin. I've never thought of myself as having sensitive skin before, but the gentlemen who owns the shop immediately had me down as sensitive skinned. Apparently if you experience a lot of redness, it's sensitivity. Shows how much I know, I thought that was just the colour of my skin!

For starters, this kit is just so cute. It just really appeals to me. It's such a fantastic way of trying lots of new products without having to spend an absolute fortune; you can pick up these kits for different skin types for only £13. The deluxe samples have lasted me so long and I've really been able to get an idea of whether the products suit me. 

To begin with, rather negatively, the cleanser. I hate to be a negative nelly, but I really don't like this cleanser. You apply it to dry skin, add a little water to emulsify it and then rinse it off. I found it really drying on my skin; after using it my skin felt incredibly tight and shiny. I actually think this is the product that prompted a resurgence in the eczema around my eyes. It also didn't remove any leftover makeup that well. I just found it really ineffective. Thumbs down!

The night serum is absolutely lovely, since using it I've really noticed that the redness on my skin has lessened and everything is generally clearer. It is an incredibly oily serum and when I first used it I thought it would really play havoc with my skin, but its actually a really light oil and soaks in very quickly. The only downside is, it does have a rather suspect scent to it - a sort of rotten fish smell. It's quite faint so I can just about get over it.

The stand out product for me is the day cream. It smells clean and fresh, it's light, absorbs well and is the perfect base for make up. It keeps my face hydrated for the whole day, without it feeling oily by the afternoon. I can honestly say I've noticed an improvement since using the two products together. I love it so much, I purchased full size only yesterday. I can't quite justify the serum yet though...

I'm still on the fence about the face mask, I'm not keen on the texture. It's incredibly shiny and sticky and I'm never quite sure if I've managed to remove it all! It also smells very strongly of orange, overwhelmingly so! 

Overall, I think these little sample sets are such a good idea. It's such an affordably way of trying a relatively high end skincare brand.

Are there any REN products that stand out for you?

♥

The Sunday Night Pamper Sesh!

So, it's Sunday night. Back to eleven hour days tomorrow! Sunday nights just feel perfect for pampering; a nice face mask followed by a glass of wine and Downton Abbey is just unbeatable. I've had flu followed by a really bad cold this week, so I feel more in need of it than ever.

I started with a hair mask. Now, I'm pretty new to the world of hair masks. This James Brown one is the first I've ever tried and I won't lie, I mostly bought it for the smell. Not that I can smell it at the moment with my cold, but I know its there. I honestly notice a difference when I use this. My hair feels so much lighter and softer after using this, even after a couple of washes. I just need to get myself into using it weekly and stop being lazy! I was worried that I would notice my hair getting greasier quickly when I use this, but there's absolutely nothing of the sort. It's so lovely. After washing my hair I use Moroccanoil, but I always use that, so it technically doesn't deserve to be in this post...

At the same time, I whack on a face mask. I love Mask of Magnaminty, it just sets my skin back to normal again, it's like a magic face-yuk eraser! My skin feels particularly gross at the moment from blowing my nose all the time and just generally dry from the change in weather, so this was definitely needed. It's my magic cure-all and Sunday nights wouldn't be the same without it.

As soon as I hop out of the shower I slather on a small bucketful of Biotherm anti-drying body milk. I swear this stuff is the best body moisturiser I've ever used. It feels very sheer to apply and soaks in really easily, but at the same time it is incredibly moisturising. It smells delightfully fresh and light too.

This is the gross bit, so I'm going to gloss over it quickly! Foot scrub and moisturiser! I hardly ever take the time to scrub my feet; it's that extra step in the shower that I can just never be bothered to do. It's awkward, you end up hopping around on one leg and invariably slip over. But I'm always really glad when I do manage to do it. I then rub in some of the Sanctuary foot moisturiser and pop on some moisture socks (sexy) until the next morning. Et voila, smooth tootsies!

Happy Sunday Pamper Sesh!

♥

My Current Beauty Wishlist: September!

Can you believe it's September already? The lack of time I've spent on the beach this summer is frightening; I haven't used half the beachy, summer beauty products I wanted to! I'm seriously making the most of the sun that we're having now, who knows how much longer it'll be around?!

All of that said, here's what I've got my eye on this September...

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in Bare - Liz Earle, £21; Vaseline Pink Bubbly - Selfridges, £3.49; Essie Bikini So Teeny - Boots, £7.99; Hydraluron - Boots, £24.99; Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Prince's Trust Limited Edition - Liz Earle, £19.75.

 I made my first Liz Earle purchase a few weeks back, with the iconic Cleanse and Polish, and I was absolutely blown away. The speed at which it arrived was incredible, the packaging was beautiful and the customer service was second to none. A lot of brands could take a leaf out of Liz Earle's book, for sure. There was a lovely personalised letter, which I know everyone receives, but it just made it all the more special. And my parcel was FULL of free samples. I received a travel size Instant Boost Skin Tonic, which I love and a little envelope with a sample of every shade of Sheer Skin Tint. Which I LOVE. It's not as sheer as I had expected it to feel, and does feel quite heavy on your skin to begin with, but for the rest of the day I barely noticed it was there. It didn't come off on my fingers when I inadvertantly touched my face, which I often do, and it stuck around and gave me great coverage all day. On a day when I was stonking round a country show on a slightly wet and most definitely windy day. I can't get enough of this and have even moved onto the shades that don't actually suit my skin tone. Intervention required!

That leads me onto the Prince's Trust Limited Edition Rose and Lavender Cleanse and Polish. I love the original so so much and have really noticed an improvement in my skin since I started using it. Seeing as I am sucker for anything that purports to be relaxing, I'm drawn to this like a moth to a flame. I think it would be just lovely to use at night just before bed. The limited edition aspect makes me want it even more too. I should definitely get it now in case it runs out... right?!

I've seen Caroline Hirons raving madly about Hydraluron, and I go in for anything that claims to magically hydrate your skin. My skin isn't dry, but it always feels a little papery, in a dehydrated kind of way. I'm hoping this would help me on the way to the super smooth skin that I so badly desire! That and a hundred glasses of water a day.

The obligatory Essie has to be in there. I love this shade so much, it just looks so striking on the nails! However, everytime I pop into my local seaside Superdrug, there aren't any! Come on Weymouth, what are you playing at..

And last but not least, Vaseline's limited edition Pink Bubbly. It's all about the limited editions this month isn't it? It's hard to understand, unless you know me, quite how much I love champagne. So I was more than a little excited when I read about this. I can't justify spending more on the p+p than on the actual product, so I think I'll have to wait until it migrates from Selfridges to Boots and Superdrug on the 12th of the month. Hurry please, Vaseline!

♥