Gutten morgen! (Or in plain ole English...good morning),

I've got a beauty pack to talk to you about. So recently I visited my local Tesco and noticed that they had some discounted skincare packs.  Then I spotted the Nip + Fab skin kit called the 'Laser Fix in a Box' and it was priced at an uber reasonable £5.65.  These normally retail at £15.99!  I promptly stuffed it into my basket and dashed to purchase it as soon as possible.

I love the pink and dark blue packaging and the value for money.  This would be an awesome kit to take on your travels with the small sizes.

In the kit you get from left to right: The Overnight Wrinkle Fix, Glycolic Fix Cleanser, Instant Radiance Wrinkle Fix, Glycolic Scrub Fix and a headband.

Just a closer look

Great instructions can be found on the back of the box

Unfortunately I haven't had an opportunity to try this kit out as yet, but I'll try to talk you through it quickly.

Step 1 of the kit is the Glycolic Fix Cleanser which should be used to obviously cleanse the skin. It is a foaming formula so should certainly make the face feel clean and great. It comes in a handy 120mL bottle and just requires dampening the skin whilst massaging the cleanser in and then rinsing it off.

Step 2 of the kit is the Glycolic Scrub Fix which is just your usual facial polish. It comes in a 30mL size and can be gently massaged into the face and rinsed off. It is a micro-exfoliant with 3 in 1 properties of refining, brightening and sloughing off dead skin cells with the glycolic acid. This sounds awesome!

Step 3 of the kit is the Instant Radiance Wrinkle Fix as well as the Overnight Wrinkle Fix.  Firstly both come in a 30mL size and can be applied to freshly cleansed skin of the face and neck. The Instant Radiance Wrinkle Fix is a miracle day moisturiser to boost radiance and improve skin's elasticity, whereas the Overnight Wrinkle Fix being an intense anti-ageing night gel to help hydrate, smooth and revitalise skin.

And finally you receive the Headband with 'Nip + Fab' embroidered onto a towelling-effect headband.  It is of a fairly decent quality and would be great to use whilst working on your skin care routine either day or night.

I'd say that I'm plesantly surprised by a great-value pack put together by the Nip + Fab team.  This brand has gone through many cult beauty statusses from various celebs over the past few years and I for one can't wait to try all these amazing little products. This was the first time that I've managed to get a kit by Nip + Fab. You can visit the Nip + Fab website here.

If you've tried this kit or any products from this brand, please let me know how you got on.

Skincare excitement,

No. 7 Hot Cloth Cleanser

Good morning beauties!

I LOVE skincare products.  I'm literally so excited about this topic I could jump out of my skin and the same thing happens when I'm off to buy new skincare products.

Recently I'd run out of my favourite No. 7 day and night creams and decided to stock up, and in my local Boots store I noticed that they sold a Hot Cloth Cleanser by No. 7.

I've already tried and tested the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, and am a huge fan!  But wanted to try something that I could get on a 3 for 2 offer!  And Boots just nailed that on the head.

What No 7 say: 

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser has been created to provide tailored skin nutrition for healthy looking, bright and beautiful skin.
Enjoy the luxury of a spa facial in your own home. The combination of this rich indulgent cleanser and the gentle exfoliating muslin cloth removes dead skin cells and daily grime whilst stimulating circulation, leaving your skin deeply clean, soft and radiant.

How to Use

Close your eyes, using your fingertips, gently massage over dry skin in upward circular motions. Run the muslin cloth under comfortably hot water, wring out the excess and place cloth over your face to open pores and relax. Then use the cloth to lightly polish off the cleanser in circular motions. to finish, splash your face with cool water to close pores and pat dry. Follow with your favourite No7 moisturiser.
Hand wash the cloth regularly in warm soapy water and dry flat.

The No. 7 Hot Cloth Cleanser is really nicely thick and creamy with minimal scent.  It applies really nicely onto skin and definitely doesn't dry out your skin which is a bonus.  I often use this cleanser in conjunction with my Clarisonic Mia and must say that they work well together.  After I've used it with my Clarisonic Mia, I use the muslin cloth to remove any remaining dead skin and cleanser.

This cleanser comes in a really nice big bottle at 200mL along with one muslin cloth.  It is priced at £9.95 and can be bought at your local Boots store.

I use this cleanser on a daily basis and don't get break outs or dry skin from it.  It is very gentle and moisturising and takes any makeup off easily and without fuss. 

Have a fuss free day!

DIY: Getting rid of that spot overnight!

You guys might be wondering how is it possible to get rid of a pimple overnight with things that you usually find in your kitchen.. Well I assure you its 100% Possible and Natural.. This is an ancient Indian Recipe which was lost through centuries.. 


I found this recipe on the internet and decided that I'd give it a go.  It works very effectively on my skin.. Now I don't guarantee it will work on Everyone because everyone has different types of skin. So lets get started..

You Need:
Honey
Cinnamon Powder

Be sure that you are not allergic to Cinnamon so test it before use. It might feel a little itchy in the start but that's how it works. You will find it in any grocery stores.

Directions:

Take 1 tsp of honey and a pinch of cinnamon powder. Mix it well and apply it directly on the pimple. Leave it over night. I know its sticky and yucky but trust me ITS WORTH IT.

This is a great little remedy and I'm definitely going to be looking for more natural remedies for my spots.  Hope this works for you as well!

xoxo,
Angelique

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - Rose and Lavender

 I believe that cleansing is the cornerstone of every skincare regime and the foundation of beautiful healthy-looking skin.  Since day one, Liz Earle have only ever had one cleanser – and for good reason.  Their iconic Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is the ultimate in effective yet gentle cleansing power, is suitable for all ages and skin types, and has won over 80 prestigious beauty awards and accolades.  Now, for the first time, they have given their skin-cleansing hero a new twist for an exceptional cause and have created this special edition exclusively for The Prince’s Trust Tomorrow campaign.

Their award-winning formula has been updated to include rose petal and lavender essential oils.  The calming and relaxing lavender oil and the soothing properties of rose petal oil make this product ideal for night-time use, so you can continue to enjoy their original Cleanse & Polish in the mornings and use this special edition for your evening cleanse.

The Prince’s Trust Tomorrow

The Prince’s Trust is a youth charity that helps change young lives.  Giving young people practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation, The Trust works with 13 to 30 year-olds who have faced difficulties, empowering them to fulfil their potential.

Their Tomorrow campaign has paired six Trust-supported young people with industry leaders to create a product that will be retailed to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust.

·         Liz Earle Beauty Co. Ltd will pay £2 per product sold to Prince’s Trust Trading Limited. 

Three Reasons to Love:

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Rose and Lavender Special Edition

 1.       Original Benefits – This rich, concentrated cream offers the same skincare benefits as our original formulation, containing cocoa butter to soften, smooth and moisturise, and rosemary, chamomile and hops to tone and soothe.

  

2.       New Twist – The addition of rose and lavender essential oils makes it the perfect choice for your evening cleanse.  Gently massage onto dry skin and let the calming fragrance help you unwind at the end of the day.

3.       Better Tomorrow - £2 from every special edition sold will go towards supporting The Prince’s Trust vital work, and we are hoping to raise £100,000 for this worthy cause.

I'd really like to try this cleanser and am hoping that it will become a part of their regular range.  Just hop onto their website to have a look here.

xxoxo,

Angelique

MAN post: How to Get Great Skin She Will Notice

This is a post for all my male readers...which is funnily enough a growing readership!

There are two major factors that come into play when caring for your skin — your lifestyle and your skin care routine. (Yes, there is such a thing as a skin care routine.)

In order to get a great complexion, you might need to make a few adjustments in the sleeping and eating departments and may have to adjust the products you use on your skin. (Again.  Yes, you’re supposed to be using products.)
Here, I share the seven steps you should take in order to improve your skin. To see results in about a month, stick with this plan. Like exercise, taking care of your skin requires consistency.

 Step 1: Eat Well
Eating well is “one of the easiest, least expensive and guaranteed ways to achieve and maintain great skin. There are a few key vitamins and nutrients skin needs to look fantastic. They are:
Essential fatty acids — the body doesn’t naturally produce these, so eat things like avocado, cheese and other dairy products to load up on them. Lucky for you, these things are delicious.
Vitamins C, E, lycopene — not only do these benefit your skin, but they also have heart-healthy and even cancer-fighting benefits. Get them by eating colorful vegetables. The more colors you eat, the better.

Step 2: Minimize Stress
Easier said than done, but there are a few ways you can help minimize the effect stress is having on your body, and a bottle of Jack is not one of them.
I recommend vitamin B, which helps calm the nervous system. In addition, I suggest taking an omega fatty acid supplement like fish oil, and exercising regularly.
Together these will help prevent breakouts and keep your skin cells functioning the way they need to in order to keep your skin looking young.

Step 3: Get Enough Sleep
Again, I know this is a tall order, because you have already vowed to sleep when you're dead, but getting eight hours of sleep every night is key to keeping your skin in great shape.
When you don’t get enough sleep your skin can become dull and pale, and the lack of shut-eye “actually causes our bodies, including our skin, to generate free radicals.
Free radicals are responsible for a lot of the aging you see on your face, such as dark spots and sagging.

Step 4: Be Consistent With Your Skin Care Routine
If you want to see a noticeable difference in your skin, follow good skin care habits every day and you’ll reap the benefits. Four simple steps will keep your skin in great shape — if you do them every day.
Cleanse: Wash your face morning and night with a cleanser suited to your skin type.
Use a cream or lotion cleanser if skin is dry or normal (try Neutrogena Continuous Hydration Cream Cleanser, £3.99 ) or foaming cleanser if skin is oily or acne prone (try Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash, £3.99 ). And avoid aggressive cleansing of the skin. Although clean skin is very important, over-cleansing the skin will not reduce breakouts. In fact, it might dry out the skin, which can cause MORE breakouts.

Step 5: Exfoliate
Although this is something you do partially when you shave, you should lightly exfoliate your entire face to help boost collagen production, which will make your skin look younger.
No, it does not make you less of a man.
I'd recommend using daily peels in lieu of grainy scrubs or masks because they’re more gentle on skin.
Try Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, £50.35. Use the peel once a day at night or before shaving in the morning to prevent irritation.



Step 6: Moisturise
After shaving, moisturise your skin to soothe it and keep it hydrated.
Look for products that contain ingredients like green tea extract (nature’s cortisone), hyaluronic acid, essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids). They will calm any post-shaving irritation and help fight signs of aging.
Try Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturiser, £32.95.
At night, use a different moisturizer that contains peptides or retinol to kick your anti-aging program into high gear. Try L’Oreal Paris Men’s Expert Vita Lift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Moisturizer, £8.05.
You will like the way it feels. But you don't have to tell anyone.

Step 7: Protect
Sunscreen should be applied 365 days a year, it is possible to sustain sun damage all year-round, even on cloudy days.
Apply SPF 30 after your moisturiser daily (or use a moisturiser that contains SPF like Olay Complete SPF 30 Defense, £12). If you use a sun block that also contains green tea and vitamin C (like Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Towelettes, £19.12), you’ll get additional protection from environmental toxins found in pollution.





Your other option: never leave the house. But then who will see your beautiful skin?

Share this with the man in your life, and give them the opportunity to have skin that shines and stands out from the crowd.

xoxo,
Angelique

7 Oils That Can Transform Your Skin

I remember when Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil, £40, first launched. Everyone was shocked and amazed that you could put oil on the skin but the skin care oil trend was blowing up -- all the mainstream brands were clamoring to get one on the market.

The Bobbi Brown version came in a hefty glass jar, smelled appealingly earthy (patchouli and lavender oils will do that), and was luxurious in that classic Bobbi Brown way. I dabbed some on the back of my hand; it felt lovely. However, despite being curious about face oils, there was absolutely zero chance I was going to put it on my face. Oil on my acne-prone skin? That seemed like a terrible idea.

One of my co-workers routinely rubbed a few drops between her palms and patted it on -- like a man applies aftershave -- right over her makeup. I was disgusted -- I could just imagine the oil mixing with her foundation and clogging her pores. However, I never saw any evidence of that happening -- her skin was amazing, and the oil made her makeup look refreshed and more luminous.

It wasn't until I came across Sundari Essential Oil for Oily Skin, £75, that I dared to try a skin care oil for myself. The formula is extremely light, the instructions call for only two drops (how much damage could that do?), and the website explains that peppermint helps control skin's oil production. Of course I was hesitant the first night I used it, but when I woke up to glowing, more even skin I knew it was the oil -- and I haven't looked back since.

I've been using face oils regularly for at least five years now, and I'm hooked. In fact, I'm such an oil fanatic that I also use cleansing oils, body oils, and hair oils -- all of which used to scare me as well. My skin isn't as likely to break out as it used to be, so I've swapped out peppermint and tea tree oils for anti-agers like Argan and antioxidants like rose hip seed.

Despite the popularity of face oils, I realize that there are still plenty of people who are as intimidated as I was. Here's the key: You have to figure out which face oil is right for your skin, and start slowly with just a drop or two. These seven skin care oils are some of the most popular, and they come highly recommended by experts. Read on to find out which one you should try.

Tea tree oil

Best for: Acne
Even though I was afraid of face oils, I remember using The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, £5, as a blemish spot treatment when I was in high school. It feels and smells more like an astringent than an oil, so it doesn't have the same ick factor that turned me off with the others. And tea tree oil really works: Studies have found that 5 percent tea tree oil is as effective at treating acne as 5 percent benzoyl peroxide. Dermatologist Leslie Baumann recommends it as a gentle, natural alternative to harsher acne treatments.

Try: Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick, £10.29

Grapeseed oil

Best for: Oily skin
If you have oily skin -- even if you don't have acne -- you're probably as averse to oils as I was. In the middle of the afternoon I needed blotting papers or pressed powder -- definitely not more oil on my already shiny forehead. But grapeseed oil (like peppermint oil, which I mentioned earlier) can actually help regulate your natural oil production. Plus, it's packed with antioxidants, including skin-brightening vitamin C. Still not convinced? I often tell people who are interested in skin care oils to start using it on your body, and if you like the results, try it on your face.

Try: Caudalie Vinosource Nourishing Concentrate, £19

Argan oil

Best for: Anti-Aging
When I think about Argan oil, supermodel and skin care guru Josie Maran immediately comes to mind. Her entire line is based around this miracle ingredient -- and her perfect complexion is proof of how well the stuff works. The oil contains a high concentration of vitamin E and fatty acids, and it's more stable in sunlight than other antioxidants -- so it's perfect to wear during the day. It's also very rare and expensive -- so it's a good thing that you only need a tiny amount for it to be effective. If you see 1 ounce of Argan for £15 that's not right. And these cheaper versions may have added ingredients that make them less effective.

Try: Josie Maran Argan Oil, similar found here. 

Black currant oil

Best for: Repair
I asked an expertwhat she would recommend for a client whose skin had been traumatized in some way -- like after a laser treatment, too much time in the sun, or even wind-burned from skiing. Her answer? Black currant oil. It's her favorite reparative treatment because it's rich in fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties. It even works on eczema.

Try: Cecilia Wong Reviving Black Currant Serum, £58

Chamomile oil

Best for: Sensitive skin
The same way you can drink chamomile tea to relax, you can use chamomile oil to calm your skin. It soothes redness and irritation in a matter of seconds. "It has amazing anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for patients with rosacea," says Baumann.

Just be sure to dab some on your wrist and wear it for a day to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction, she says. And be especially careful with organic versions. Since organic ingredients are treated with fewer chemicals, they're often growing alongside weeds and other allergens, which means organic essential oils are more likely to have traces of those allergens than conventionally farmed varieties. The result? They're more likely to cause allergic reactions on the skin.

Try: Darphin Organic Chamomile Aromatic Care, £36

Rose hip seed oil

Best for: Discoloration
Mally Steves Chakola, the founder of M. Steves Skincare, first realized the healing power of rose hip seed oil after applying it to an 18-year-old scar for two weeks -- it faded significantly. So she developed her brand around the ingredient, which contains essential fatty acids, an antioxidant (vitamin C), and a natural retinol (vitamin A). It's ideal for protecting your skin as well as increasing cell turnover. She recommends using it as a boost for your moisturizer -- just mix in a few drops before you apply. If you're skeptical about putting oil directly onto your face, this is a great option.

Try: M. Steves RHSO Power-Packed Ultra-Nourishing Boost

Olive oil

Best for: Dry skin
We've all heard stories about women in Italy bathing in the stuff -- and I'm sure they have beautiful skin. But using olive oil as a face oil is the scariest of all. I may have become an oil enthusiast, but I've never been able to use this one for anything other than cooking and salad dressing.

However, some people swear and love extra virgin olive oil for people with very dry skin. (Note the word "very.") You can buy it at the grocery store -- just be sure to look for the term "first cold press" on the bottle. (These formulas are higher in antioxidants than other varieties.) Not only is it super moisturizing, olive oil is also rich in compounds like polyphenols, squalene, and fatty acids -- all of which are nourishing and help fight aging.

So there you have it, oil up!