Murad Christmas Kits - Perfect Balance

I recently attended a Murad Blogger Event and got to hear some top skincare tips from the man himself – Dr Murad. But not only did we get some great ips, we also got to see what’s new in the house of Murad – The Murad Christmas Kits.

There are five different kits available, all of which aim to treat different issues, so there’s something for everyone no matter what your skin type. The products inside also massively exceed the kit’s price tag so they’re great if you just want to test a few things without bankrupting yourself!

I chose the Perfect Balance Kit*, which contains:

T-Zone Pore Refining Gel– 60ml
Blemish Treatment Concealer in Medium – 2.6g
Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 – 10ml
Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes – 3.5ml

Altogether these products are worth almost £90, but the kit retails for just £42.50 – which I think I pretty darn good.

T-Zone Pore Refining Gel – I’ll be doing a review on this soon as it’s special enough to warrant it’s own post. First impressions are fantastic though, so watch this space.

Blemish Treatment Concealer – Unfortunately I got this in medium so there won’t be any sort of review on this. However you can see the concealer in action in my Difference IsClear post. The concealer also comes in light (pale beige) and dark (coffee coloured) however, not as part of the set.

Oil-Control Mattifier – Again I’ll be reviewing this separately. But I’m liking it so far.

Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes – I’m not a big eye-cream user, but I like the fact that it’s in there. The full size is fairly expensive so this is a great way to try it.

Bottom line: At £42.50 it’s still on the pricey side, but considering what you’re getting it’s definitely worth it. It’s a great Christmas gift for a loved one or just a treat for yourself!

Murad Christmas Kits are available to buy now on the Murad website, prices start at £36.
The other kits available include, Complete Renewal, Hybrids, Hydration Sensation and Radiance Rescue.

---

#LiveBloggers Review: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant Cream

I know this product has been reviewed into oblivion so I’m going to keep this one short, but after receiving this in my #LiveBloggers goody bag it’s safe to say I’m in love. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant* is literally a Godsend – especially with the cold weather rolling in.

The uses are endless – cuticles, hangnails, lips, heels, elbows, knees, burns, eyebrows, cheekbones, cuts, scrapes – need I continue? I’m in love.

The smell is a bit strange, some people say it’s quite medical whereas I’d say it’s a lot like wax. It’s available in a scent free version though, so there’s alternative available if you’d prefer.

Bottom line: It’s amazing. Pricey, yes. But still amazing. It does contain mineral oil, which annoys me a little, but aside from that it’s good stuff.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant Cream is available from Boots, Debenhams and Feel Unique with prices ranging from £20 to £25 for 50ml. However I’ve found it on the Cheap Smells website, priced at £15.95/50ml – bargain!

---

TFWOC Project Week #4 - MakeBelieve Glow Tinted Moisturiser Review

Next up in the #TFWOC project is the MakeBelieve Glow Tinted Moisturiser*. Now I don’t have much experience with tinted moisturisers; I’ve got very oily skin and use mattifiers and oil-free moisturisers/serums to help keep the oil slick at bay.

Due to the fact that I get so shiny, putting anything shimmery on my face just makes me look like a greasy disco-ball – not attractive. But with winter fast approaching, along with the prospect of lacklustre skin, now could be the perfect time to ‘get my glow on’.

As with all of the MakeBelieve products we were generously sent for the project, the packaging really gets me going. I love it. But when I squeezed the ever-so-sexy-looking tube, I was a bit disheartened by what came out …

As a “Woman of Colour” (I really hate that phrase), I’m very intimidated by putting anything on my face that’s lighter than my skin tone and won’t appear translucent. I’ll admit I was immediately put off.

When I swatched it on my hand I was sure that it just wasn’t for me. Surprisingly, it worked in quite well and left my skin looking nicely illuminated. However it wasn’t enough to really give me a ‘glowing’ look.

When I tried to apply more, it was really difficult to work it into my skin and it left me looking ashy.

The left picture is a heavy swatch, lightly blended. The right is the product fully blended.

As you can see it’s completely changed the colour of my skin, making it look almost ‘grey’.

However, it works perfectly as a highlighter. If you’re going for a Kimmy K, countoured to the max look then it’s perfect.

I tried it on my Mum’s skin (I’m adopted by the way, she’s not a stranger haha), you can see how gorgeous it looks. The red line indicates the area that I applied the Tinted Moisturiser and the blue line is the area with nothing applied.

Bottom line: I’m going to revisit this review to show you what it’s like on dark skin as a highlighter, but as a Tinted Moisturiser for “WOC”, it doesn’t get my vote. On lighter skin tones, obviously judging by how it looked on my mum, it illuminates the skin perfectly.

MakeBeauty Glow Tiinted Moisturiser is available from the MakeBelieveBeauty website, priced at £15/30ml.

---

Review: Alison Claire Peppermint & Witch Hazel Foot Cream

I’m not really a foot cream kind of person, I’m not against them or anything; I’m just chronically lazy. The thought of having to use different lotions and potions on different parts of my body really puts me off. However, I recently tried the Alison Claire Peppermint & Witch Hazel Foot Cream*.

My feet are very dry, so body butters and body oils are daily essentials. But with winter months creeping up I’ll need to ensure that I’m keeping them as hydrated as possible, as the cold really dries out my skin. That’s where I can see this baby really coming in handy. Instead of using it as a daily moisturiser, I’ve been trying it as an overnight foot treatment with socks and the results have been great. My feet feel soft and smooth and really hydrated.

The cream smells like your average peppermint foot cream, but applies really nicely. It almost melts into the skin, giving it a quick burst of hydration. As always, the minty-ness makes your feet feel really refreshed, but this one also contains tea-tree oil and green tea, which are both great antibacterial and anti-microbial ingredients.

Bottom line: I really enjoyed using this product, and although the full size is a whopping 200mls (I say whopping because unless you’re Ronald McDonald you’re not going to need much and it’ll last ages!), I think it’s a little pricey for just a foot cream. I’d much rather try one of their body butters, and use that on my feet instead.

You can buy Alison Claire Peppermint & Witch Hazel Foot Cream directly from the Alison Claire website, priced at £12/200ml.

---

Review: Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream

I’m always really intimidated when it comes to trying new facial moisturisers. My skin is so oily and spot prone that the littlest changes can cause a break out, or make my face shine like a new car. This isn’t the case for the new Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream*, however.

What Vichy says: Vichy Idealia Smoothing & Illuminating Cream visibly smoothes the appearance of wrinkles, and leaves skin's texture refined, and softer. It re-awakens the skin's natural radiance for a fresh, and even complexion.

I’m 22 so anti-aging treatments aren’t something that I’m too concerned about using. However, it’s important for me to find products that will improve the overall condition of my skin.

Idealia is very light and refreshing and hydrating, without it feeling too heavy. It’s got a gorgeous smell to it, a lot like raspberries, and applies almost like a gel rather than a cream. It sinks in really quickly, giving my skin a burst of moisture leaving behind no residue.

Now I wouldn’t have I’ve noticed an improvement in the texture of my skin, nor have I noticed any extra radiance. But I have noticed that it takes a little longer for my skin to get oily. It doesn’t stop it completely; I think my sebum production is linked more to hormones so I rely on products that will help mattify and delay sebum production.

Whilst I do like this moisturiser, there are definitely a few things that put me off. When it comes to the product itself I think it’s a tad overpriced. Luckily I can see a tub lasting about 3-4months, as I’ve been using twice a day it for about a month now and have hardly made a dent in it.

The second thing that puts me off is nothing to do with the cream but with Vichy itself. They’re a company that tests on animals and I can’t help but feel guilty when I reach for this everyday. Ever since I heard that Sally Hansen test their nail varnishes on rabbits eyes I’ve avoided the brand like the plague. “Lucky” for me I don’t know what Vichy do to the animals, but it still makes me a little uneasy. Obviously there are some people that can overlook it; in fact I have a friend that doesn’t like to use products unless they’re tested on animals, because she thinks they’re “safer” (I don’t agree with this, but each to their own).

Vichy Idealia Smoothing & Illuminating Cream is available from the Gordon’s Direct website, priced at £22/50ml. It comes in two varieties, for dry skin or combination skin.

---