Physiogel Calming Relief Lotion & Cream Review

If you suffer from eczema or constantly seem to contract allergies, it can be a bit of a nightmare to find a moisturiser that doesn’t irritate your skin. Thankfully, Physiogel is now available in Australia! For years I’ve heard how great this brand is for sensitive and allergy prone skin, and had eagerly awaited its arrival on our shores after reading so many great reviews.

Physiogel have released two ranges: ‘calming’ and ‘sensitive’ relief, which are both available in lotion and cream form. So far, I’ve only tried the calming relief lotion and cream. Both are virtually identical, with the cream being a bit heavier and catering for those with dryer skin.

What I really love about the lotion is that it’s light-weight and absorbs really fast. It doesn’t suffocate the skin. The cream absorbs just as fast, but can feel heavy on the skin in hot weather.  They’re both unscented, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and PH balanced, and I find the calming relief helps relieve the unbearable itchiness that usually accompanies freshly shaved legs and allergy ridden skin. I also have quite a ‘picky’ chest, which disagrees with a lot of moisturisers, and regularly breaks out. The lotion, thankfully, hasn’t hurt the skin on my chest at all. Success! The best part though, is that it keeps the skin feeling soft and moisturised for hours.

Seriously, I have nothing bad to say about this range. Doesn’t break me out? Check. Doesn’t irritate my skin? Check. Relieves itchiness? Check. Yup, I am drawing a blank here. Not only are these products incredibly affordable, a little goes a long way, and they last for some time. I’ve been using the 400ml pump bottle religiously for four months now and have only used up 1/3 so far. As you can see, I’ve already repurchased this a few times, and thanks to the Priceline skincare sale, I now have reserves for my reserves (yes, I love it that much). If you can get your hands on it, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Benton Snail Bee & Aloe Skincare Line Review

Benton has been a pretty hyped up brand in the Korean-skincare blogosphere this last year, and finally after months of testing and deliberating I can finally present this review. Seriously, it took me five months. It took me so long that Benton have already released a whole new range of products to their line! Before I go into the individual reviews, so I don't repeat myself too much, I just wanted to note some key ingredients that are present in all these products, unless otherwise stated of course:

Aloe Leaf Water

Instead of purified water Benton have used aloe leaf water instead. Aloe is an anti-inflammatory and is great for soothing and treating damaged and acne prone skin. It’s very hydrating, and contains natural anti-aging properties to help delay fine lines and wrinkles.

Snail Secretion Filtrate

Researches have found that, structurally, snail skin is very similar to human skin, and contains compounds (glyconconjugates) which are packed with proteins, peptides, anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories to help repair damaged skin. Some of these properties include: Allantoin, which stimulates cell regeneration, sooth irritated skin and moisturises. Collagen and Elastin, which gives the skin 'bounce'. Loss of collagen means a reduction in moisture and elasticity, which basically means 'hello wrinkles'. Collagen production slows down a lot faster in women than men, and this is another factor as to why we age faster than they do (damn them).

*None of these products contain parabens, alcohol or artificial fragrances or colourings, and just like most South Korean brands, Benton do not test on animals.

Aloe BHA Skin Toner

This is probably the nicest toner I have ever used. But there's nothing 'toner'ish about it. It doesn't strip or tighten the skin, its main purpose is to soothe and moisturise which is exactly what it does. My skin feels so soft after using this. Aside from the two key ingredients, aloe leaf water and snail secretion, this toner also has some sasylic acid in it to help fight blemishes. I definitely noticed any spots I had reduced greatly while using this toner. The only negative thing about this is the 'spritz'. It’s more of a squirt than a spray, so I've resolved to use the palms of my hands to pat this on my face.

Snail Bee High Content Essence

This essence can be used after the BHA toner, or in place of it. It comes out as a gel, and absorbs into the skin almost instantly. It's not very moisturising, as the packaging suggests, but it makes the skin feel super soft and supple. This essence contains a more concentrated form of snail secretion to help fight acne and aging as well. I don’t know about the aging part, but I feel my skin has a lot more elasticity or ‘bounce’ after I use this.

Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

This is the third step in the benton range and look, it's another gel! This one can be used as a moisturiser, and it definitely lives up to its claims for providing sufficient moisture. I actually found this gel too moisturising for my face, and ended up using it to soothe my sensitive legs after shaving, so I guess you could say it's a multi-purpose product.

Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream

Finally we've come to the final product and it's a steam cream! I've never tried a steam cream before, and for anyone who doesn't know, don't expect a dramatic poof of steam when you first open it, it's just the process in which the formula is emulsified. The cream itself looks quite light and watery but it's extremely moisturising, and can feel somewhat thick and sticky on the skin for a while afterwards. Oily skin, steer clear! This is a moisturiser for dryer skin types. I had a lot of problems with this cream in summer when my skin was oozing gallons of oil every minute, it was just too heavy and I suffered a lot of breakouts, but in the cooler seasons (when my skin can get quite dry) this works amazingly! Not only does it keep the dryness away but it also fights acne and makes my skin feel incredibly soft and bouncy. However, the heavy after feeling may be a drawback for some people. Another problem I found, just like the toner, is the packaging. I've found the bottom of my tub has shattered. It hasn't broken apart yet, but I have to be extremely careful with how I handle it. Has anyone else had this problem? I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore because Benton have already fixed the problem by switching the tub for a tube, which I prefer in my opinion, it's a lot more hygienic.

For someone who cares a lot about aesthetics, I love the minimalist design and even though the bottles are plastic they do look very sophisticated. The pump bottles are very handy, hygienic and disperse the perfect amount of product, minus the toner, which just seems to go everywhere. I really enjoyed this range, there was a little bit of disappointment with the Aloe Gel & Steam Cream but overall I had really good results, but it definitely took a while for me to see the benefits. So if you are thinking of purchasing these products, don’t expect to see life changing results overnight.

Ladykin Vanpir Dark Repair Cream & Activator

Ladykin Vanpir Dark Repair Cream & Youth Activator

I've come across some pretty bizarre skincare in my lifetime but this tops the cake for me. A product that focuses on giving you the translucent, youthful appearance of a vampire? I had to try it. Ladykin is a fairly new Korean skincare and cosmetic brand. Yesstyle.com only started stocking their products earlier last year, and they're not too expensive either. The ampoule is priced at $28, the cream $15, but together on sale only set me back $31. It was because of the low cost I started to have doubts. To be honest I really only wanted these for the super cute packaging (look at those vampire teeth!), but ended up being very surprised by the results.

Both products claim to brighten the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and even pimples. Basically, give you the youthful appearance of a vampire. Rest assured, this range does not contain any glitter particles whatsoever. Just thought I should clarify that, so you don't have to worry about turning into this guy:

Another factor that perked my interest were the ingredients. Both products contain a lot of natural anti-inflammatory (allantoin, centella asiatica, dipotassium glycyrrhizate) and whitening ingredients (arbutin) including dragons blood (or croton lechliriresin extract). It is also free of parabens, animal derived ingredients, mineral oil, synthetic pigments and benzophenone. So yeah. It sounds too good to be true right?

The Repair Youth Activator

This serum is thick, but still feels quite light and watery on the skin and it absorbs instantly. It focuses on whitening and treating wrinkles, and on the box it also says it makes skin smooth and blemish free. I got quite a shock the morning after I first used this serum. The results were immediate. My skin was brighter, even a little paler, scars were lighter and there was hardly any discolouration or redness around my nose and cheeks at all. It does keep it smooth, and although it doesn't make my skin completely blemish free, it definitely helped keep spots to a minimum. The best part is that it continues to work with my skin even after four months.

Left: Vanpir Dark Repair Cream, Right: Vanpir Dark Repair Youth Activator/Ampoule

The Repair Cream

Out of the two products, I would probably say the ampoule is the most effective, but the cream itself turned out to be a really nice moisturiser. Together, they really do speed up the healing process of spots and scars. The only negative thing I have to say about the cream is the smell. It smells like some form of baby powder (or old people in general - no offence to old people). Luckily, it's quite light so it goes away quickly. The functions of the cream overrides the smell anyway. What I love about it is that its not too rich, it's the perfect balance for combination skin.  It feels heavy but with the right amount it's perfect. In fact, I've noticed my skin doesn't get as oily anymore!

Overall, the combination of these two products has improved my skin dramatically.  My skin isn't bad, but when that time of the month comes around it can take a while for the bad spots and scars to disappear, and by the time they're gone it's that time of the month again. I just can't seem to win when it comes to my skin. As soon as I started using these products redness and scars faded much more quickly, and overall my face has stayed clearer for longer. One of my friends even commented on how great my skin was looking (and that never happens).

Elizabeth Arden 8hr Intensive Daily Moisturizer Review

Eight Hour Cream: Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face

Now that winter has finally arrived, I’ve noticed a huge change in my skin. I was horrified when I passed the mirror at work and noticed all these dry, flaky patches along my cheeks and around my nose. Usually my skin is oily all year round, but has decided to settle into the dry/combination side of the spectrum. So for the first time, I decided to invest in a ‘richer’ moisturiser for the winter.

The texture is whipped, light to touch, and spreads like butter when you apply it to your skin. A little goes a long way, which is nice considering its only 50mls. My skin feels incredibly smooth and soft after I apply this, it’s amazing, and my skin stays hydrated all day. It also contains SPF 15 PA ++, which is an added bonus, and makes it my go-to daily moisturiser. The only negative thing I have to say about this product is the smell. For a high end moisturiser you would think the production company would come up with something that doesn't completely assault the senses. It smells like lemon scented dish washing detergent, and not the nice expensive detergent either. I’m talking bottom of the line, cheap branded detergent. It’s a huge turn off for me, because it makes me wonder what the hell they've put into this.

Aside from the smell, it does a really great job at keeping my skin hydrated throughout the day. I have no longer noticed any dry patches or flakiness on my face. Above all, even though it’s one of the thickest moisturiser’s I've ever used, it hasn't broken me out! I didn't exactly have high expectations when I decided to fork out $50 on this, but I've been pleasantly surprised by this little guy.

| 20 Days of Liz Earle | Collective Skincare Review

A few months ago my Liz Earle skincare package finally arrived, and I immediately began to use the products and document my experience with them each day for 20 days. I had heard and read so many great reviews about their products so I did have high expectations, but for now, here’s a breakdown of my thoughts on each product:

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

A very gentle and moisturising cream cleanser with rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and essential eucalyptus oil, that you’re supposed to wipe away with some warm water and a muslin cloth that's provided. It’s a gentle cleanser up to the point until you use the cloths, which are great, but for someone with oily, acne prone skin sometimes too much rubbing or exfoliating will just irritate spots even more.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic

This toner claims to revitalise, soothe and tone the skin for instant radiance. It definitely removes any excess makeup or dirt that is left behind, but as far as the rest goes, I couldn't tell. But in a way I don’t really care because it smells amazing (and also looks good on the bathroom counter). It’s definitely a nice toner, it’s soothing, and it doesn't strip or dry out the skin. The packaging is really nifty as well, you twist the top and it elevates a little pump hole so it’s easy to dispense onto a cotton pad or your hands.

Skin Repair Light Moisturiser

Ah, yes the moisturiser, which is supposed to be 'light, gentle and balancing' enough for combination to oily skin. For me it wasn't light or balancing at all. My face quickly became very oily and I soon started to break out; but as soon as I omitted this product and replaced it with my old moisturiser my skin went back to its former state, which was a lot better than what it had become unfortunately. Luckily I bought a sample size!

Gentle Face Exfoliator

This is probably my favourite out of the four. I don’t like exfoliators with beads that are too harsh on the skin, but I also don’t like cream or gel exfoliators because it feels like they’re not doing enough. This one is the perfect balance between the two for me. It’s a creamy mixture of eucalyptus and cocoa butter but it also contains some very fine jojoba beads that aren't too harsh and buff away dead skin cells leaving behind smooth and bright skin.

Ordering From Liz Earle.com

Although buying off ebay was very tempting, I ended up ordering from LizEarle.com in the end. It was probably the most expensive shipping I had ever paid.Seriously, $25 for standard shipping to Australia? I know its Australia but for $25 you expect express next day delivery. Not only was it more expensive it was also slower, and took four weeks to arrive.

The Verdict

I’m not going to lie; it was a very frustrating 20 days for me. By day 5 my skin felt and looked absolutely crap. I told myself it was just my skin getting used to the new products, but two weeks later my skin was still dull, tired and congested. Soooo much congestion. There were headless lumps all over my cheeks and forehead, something I wanted to get rid of not produce more of! Gah!

By the end of it all I ended up dropping the moisturiser completely, and only started using the cleanser once a day in the evening. I still use the muslin cloths, but only for removing face masks. I probably won’t ever go back for the moisturiser or cleanser, but the toner and the exfoliator on the other hand, I would repurchase until the end of time if I could. I just wish shipping wasn't so expensive...(hello, ebay!).

Anyone else tried Liz Earle products? What do you like about them?

| Products of The Month | March '13

My first favourites post in ages! I should really start doing this every month now, it's great to go through your products and see what you have and haven't been using. 

Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Cleansing Oil

This product is great for removing makeup, and it doesn’t clog pores or strip the skin either. Review to come! 

 

Botani Boost Balancing Moisturiser

An organic, anti-bacterial, balancing moisturiser that also fights against blemishes? I’m sold. And now that it's Autumn, and my skin is less oily, this moisturiser helps to balance my skin, protecting it from becoming too dry but not making it too oily either.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil

I’ve heard many great things about this oil, so when my Trilogy Rosehip oil ran dry I decided to give Kiehl’s a go. So far I am loving the results, and will definitely be posting a full review on this soon.

Portmans Polish in 'Opulent Peacock'

A nail varnish that I’ve only been using for a week but am absolutely in love with. I just love the colour. Click heading to check out the swatches!

Origins Zero Oil Moisturising Lotion Review

Origins Zero Oil moisture lotion, 50mls

I was in the market for a new mattifying moisturiser for summer and came across this little guy. Origins Zero Oil moisturising lotion, an oil free moisturiser containing saw palmetto and mint. It smells lovely, light and fresh. The texture is lightweight, absorbs quickly into the skin and reduces sebum production throughout the day. It makes my skin feel smooth and look less shiny. It's great for putting on underneath make-up because it just makes it last that much longer.

It would be great if it came in a larger tube, because I don't feel 50ml is much. Even though I only use this in the morning before make up, its been less than three months and it's practically empty :(

Overall, really, really impressed. I think I'm now officially an Origins lover.