New in Garnier Ultimate Blends - Delicate Oat Soothing Balm

I popped into Boots to pick up my family's favourite shampoo - The Garnier Ultimate Blends 'Honey Treasures' Shampoo - Which has been really great at helping to strengthen my hair and prevent breakages. 

Only to find some new exciting versions had been added to the line-up!

I of course picked up my trusty 'Honey treasures' shampoo.

Out of the new versions, the ones that interested me were: The Mythic Olive Shampoo, The Delicate Oat Soother Shampoo - which is designed for sensitive scalps and The Delicate Oat Soothing balm for Face and Body.

The delicate oat soother shampoo couldn't have come at a better time as lately my scalp has been really irritated and sore. Think it must be this cold weather, I really should wear my wooly hat more! I have had a few washes with this delicate oat shampoo and it seems to have helped. My scalp is less irritated but hasn't gone altogether but I suppose that takes time. My scalp certainly feels less itchy and it leaves my hair feeling touch-ably smooth and silky soft. I haven't tried the Mythic Olive shampoo yet but will certainly be giving that a go when my scalp has calmed down. It has a pleasant olive scent and says it nourishes your hair when it is feeling dry.

The product that excited me the most was the 'Face & Body Delicate Oat Soothing Balm'. 

First of all, when I saw this I thought "surely it can't be for both face and body?" but I have since tried it on both my face and body. It was lovely to apply, thicker than a lotion but also not a greasy balm, it feels light enough for the face but nourishing at the same time to be enough for the body too. 

Has a pleasant almond oaty slightly vanilla scent but it isn't overpowering, very subtle and sinks in nice and quickly. Your skin feels lovely and smooth. It contains 2 caring ingredients - restoring oat milk and soothing white almond cream. The thing I like most about this balm, is that it is suitable for all the family and is incredibly gentle on sensitive skin. I can confirm this as I have very sensitive skin on my face and any harsh products irritate and bring out the redness in my cheeks, after using this balm it didn't sting or feel tight and seemed to help soothe too. I would say it definitely helps to protect and restore the skins barrier and best of all doesn't leave you feeling sticky or greasy. 

So I would say if you are looking for a time saving multi tasking moisturiser that is just as good on your body as it is your face then this is ideal. Great for after a morning shower, when time is of the essence.

There are a few more shampoo and conditioners as-well as body butters and lotions added to the Ultimate Blends line-up, may be worth checking out whilst they are on offer at Boots and Superdrug. Half price! The Honey Treasures restoring body butter is next on my list!

The Delicate Oat soothing balm 200ml was £2.99 in Boots (£2.89 - In Superdrug)
The Shampoos 400ml were £1.94 (£1.93 - In Superdrug)

Have you tried anything from the Garnier Ultimate Blends range? What was your favourite?

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel- A mini review!

Just had to share my thoughts on this amazing face mask!!

A while ago I got this sample free with a magazine, I still  hadn't got around to using it.

My skin was feeling a bit dull and lacking a pick me up I was long over due! I was about to do my usual origins charcoal mask - as this does a fabulous job of helping de-funk my skin, but I spotted this one from Elemis in my skincare stash and thought I'd give it a whirl!

First of all I want to mention the scent .... It is HEAVENLY!! Seriously so fruity and delicious but not in an overpowering way. Just enough to smell exotic. Fruit enzymes from papaya and pineapple help to smooth and ex-foliate without the scrubby beads! Suitable for even sensitive skin.

It is a cream mask you apply to your face avoiding the eye area and leave for about ten minutes. 
It feels comfortable to wear, I even forgot I had it on! Doesn't tingle or sting at all.

Then the magic happens when you rinse it off with a warm flannel - My skin was left feeling so smooth and soft and thoroughly refreshed.

I have about  2 more applications left but this mask is seriously worth saving up those pennies for!

Have you tried this face mask? What were you're thoughts? x

Brand Focus: First Aid Beauty Skincare

Brand focus / Spotlight on a brand

F.A.B Skincare - First Aid Beauty

Lilli Gordon launched this skincare company in 2009 when she felt that products that worked felt like medicine or smelled great but irritated her skin. 
It is an american brand but is readily available at feelunique, lookfantastic and beautybay.

I get the feeling that at "First Aid Beauty" simplicity is a part of their ethos. Packaging is kept minimal and the products clearly state what they do, along with the ingredients list.

Their products are free from known irritants, harsh chemicals, parabens, phalates, fragrance, alcohol and artificial dyes.

Even suitable for sensitive skin types such as acnes and eczema.

Face Cleanser

This is a lovely gentle and mild creamy cleanser. Removes dirt and make-up from the skin without stripping it or making it feel tight or reddened.

Contains ingredients such as:

Feverfew, Licorice and Aloe to help clam irritation and redness

Glycerin to help protect and moisturise

Infused with antioxidants to scavenger those free radicals from the day.

I love how gentle this cleanser is on the skin, feels very soothing to use both morning and night. If I'm honest, not a huge fan of the scent - it's not overpowering or perfumed just more of a natural scent. This cleanser does such a good job that I am willing to overlook. I basically just breath through my mouth for a minute or two!
 I apply this to my dry face, then with a warm flannel the cleanser transforms into a milky consistancy. Leaves my face lovely and smoothe and freshly cleansed.

Facial Radiance Pads

When Caroline Hirons recommended these I knew I would end up getting them!

They are handy pads that contain both glycolic and lactic acid to keep your face .. well ... radiant.

Cucmber and Indian Goosberry tone the skin, helping to reduce visible pores.

Lemon peel and licorice root help to brighten and leave the skin glowing.

I use these after cleansing my face, usually in the evening as that's when I use a lot of my treatment skincare. Although it does say you can use both morning and night.

The tub has a screw top lid to keep the pads moist and fresh, the pad is so handy as it has just the right amount of product to swipe on my face. One side is embossed for trickier areas such as your chin and nose. The other side is smooth, great for cheeks and forehead.

Ultra Repair Cream

This is a very thick rich emolient cream. Great for those extra dry areas. Can be used on both the face and body. It is a lovely hydrating and soothing moisturiser, that helps to improve the natural barrier function of the skin.

Ingredients include oatmeal, shea butter and soothing eucalyptus oil, as-well as antioxidants to combat free radicals.

I use this as an over night moisture mask when my skin is feeling dry. A really lovely thick moisturiser that leaves your skin feeling smooth not at all greasy or irritated. I also use this on my elbows and any other dry patches that crop up. I find it absorbs easily and doesn't take forever to sink in like some moisturisers do.

Milk Oil Cleanser

I use this cleanser after I have removed my make-up with my bioderma micellar water, I then go in with this lovely 'no-rinse' milky cleanser, sweeping a cotton pad across my face to remove any left over make-up / sunscreen. 

I find this is a very gentle cleanser that at the same time really does help to nourish and hydrate my skin. Leaves it skin feeling supple and soft due to the coconut seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil and avocado oil. I tend not to rinse off although you could if you wanted to. 
This is my I'm feeling lazy 'go-to' face cleanser!

So those are the products I have tried from 'First Aid Beauty' Skincare. I really like how gentle the products are and how attention is paid to the ingredients that go into each skincare item as-well as leaving the harsh chemicals and other nasties out!

Highly recommend their skincare, if like me you have sensitive and easily irritated skin. So often cleansers leave my face feeling tight, stripped and red, these First Aid Beauty cleansers don't do that. Soothe and hydrate as-well.

The radiance pads although contain glycolic and lactic acid are gentle and have really helped my skin, with blemishes, oily t-zone as well as leaving my face feeling fresh without stinging or irritating my sensitive skin. I noticed a difference after my first use, my skin felt so much smoother the next morning! 

Have you tried any skincare products from First Aid Beauty?

How to treat Pre-teenage Acne breakouts

I was on the hunt for a gentle but effective cleanser and treatment lotion for my son, who as he approaches his teen years, has started to get a few spots! 

Now you know something works when it runs out and you feel a sense of panic if you don't have another one. 

My son felt this exact rise of panic when the tube of La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo he'd been using ran out. ... If it goes on the shopping list above milk and bread AND chocolate!! Then you know it's good-Un!!

I have to admit the two step attack on his pre-teen spots really seems to be keeping them at bay, with the odd appearance now and again which is to be expected. He is extremely happy and has stuck to the routine religiously!! Which surprised me.

So here's what I recommended for him.....

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review

Another affordable dupe for the French brand 'Bioderma Sensibo micellar solution' has popped up!

Have to say this is a very affordable alternative. Do love my Bioderma, (my review here: Bioderma-Sensibo ) but I have found since picking this up from Boots, I reach for this a lot of the time. Possibly because it is a cheaper version, and my bioderma i am nearly down to less than a third left! eek.

The Garnier is a bigger 400ml bottle huge compared to the 250ml Bioderma.

Says 200 uses on the label, did originally try to jot down how many uses....but that didn't work out!

 Can tell you I have been using this for over a month now and as you can see from the photo has barely went down.  

A really nice gentle make-up remover for face eyes and lips, cleanser.

Suitable for even sensitive skin. Skin doesn't feel tight or stripped. Just feels like you are removing your make-up with water.