Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash

It is hardly news that most of us rarely get the sleep that we need. I’m no different, in fact I struggle to get a few hours each night and have various relaxation routines I follow to try and drift me off to the land of nod. However, when these don’t work I look like I have been punched in the face by Mike Tyson, yes, two black eyes - I believe women refer to this look as Panda eyes, but I may be wrong. Step forward Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash.

I have never thought about how I look around the eyes in the past, the only reason I’ve taken an interest recently is the fact that I look a bit old around that area and the bags under my eyes are to be frank horrific. The years of abusing my body have caught up with me - smoking and drinking are not friends with your skin (in addition to your heart, lungs, liver etc).

As my manly credibility died on the day that I posted a review of Lip Scrub I am standing tall and not admitting in the slightest that I bought this. It was given to me as a sample in a perfume shop in Mallorca in August. A nice 3ml tester that has finally seen the light of day.

If you want to buy some of this you can from here. A 20ml bottle costs an eye watering (pun intended) £29.

This is what the marketing blurb on the website says about the product:

‘Clarins’ quick ‘lift” for tired eyes — with refreshing Rose Petals, Lily and White Tea extracts—releases toxins to minimise dark circles, tighten eye contours, decongest and de-puff. Hydrates and protects the delicate skin around eyes, while chasing-away fine lines. Keep it in your emergency kit.’

And just to remind you, they mention that this was Winner of Best Eye Mask - Harper's Bazaar Hot 100 2011.

So, after three days of rubbish sleep I looked a bit rough around the eyes. The before and after shots are below so you can check out the results yourself. 

The rough look before application

30 minutes after applying

Personally, I noticed a difference within about ten minutes of dabbing a minute amount under each eye. First of all the colour took on a much more natural skin tone rather than looking like a bruise. Within half an hour the bags had visibly shrunk and within an hour they had gone completely. Nothing short of a hallelujah moment. 

This my readers is the fountain of youth, within minutes of applying this under my eyes my black bags had gone, the eye area returned to a natural colour and my eyes looked radiant. It’s a miracle - a miracle I tell you. After using for a few days I’ve used very little of the actual product, so a little goes a long way, which is a good thing when it sells at the same price as liquid gold!  

I am so pleased with the results - no longer do I rival Death in the eye department, in fact, in the right light, with the wind blowing in the right direction and the stars aligned I think it has knocked years off me, a mini-face lift so to speak.

FORGET THE REST, TRY THE BEST

You can keep up to date and follow Beautykinguk.co.uk using the various social media below:

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Google+
Bloglovin

View Post

Scaramouche & Fandango 'Hy' Hydrator

I have had the Scaramouche & Fandango 'Hy' Hydrator since just before Fathers Day. It came with two other Scaramouche & Fandango products as part of an amazing £25 male beauty box from Selfridges&Co.

It wasn't until early July that I got around to using this hydrator and putting it through its paces, I had been using the amazing The Bluebeards Revenge (TBR) Cooling Moisturiser and based upon the smooth and fresh face I had at the time it was going to be a stiff challenge, especially as the heat wave hit London.

Now this stuff is not cheap, oh boy no, a 100ml tube will set you back at least £10. Now to me as a tight wad I think that is quite a bit of cash when brands like L'Oreal and TBR are offering something that is basically the same with a made up scientific name on the side for less.

Anyway, what do Scaramouche & Fandango say about 'Hy' (so hip)?

'Benefits:

CHRONODYN^TM

A cell energiser from a unicellular pseudo algae. Clinically proven to help firm and tone the skin to fight against the signs of fatigue.'

Now my face takes a pounding from the filthy London air, I work on one of the most polluted roads in Europe and don't exactly take the best care of myself so my skin reflects this and hence why I cleanse and moisturise on a daily basis.

The moisturiser is white in colour and as soon as it leaves the tube it has a potent aroma. It's very, no extremely clinical and synthetic in smell and it lingers in the air.

When placed on the back of my hand it didn't soak straight in, in fact it just sat there. It has quite a thick consistency so no danger of it running off my hand and down my shirt - nightmare and its happened in the past.

After rubbing it onto my fingertips I gently applied it into my forehead (a notorious spot for me to get dry skin in between what I call my Gordon Ramsey lines) and it spread easily. A peanut sized blob was enough for me to cover my whole face (and I have a big face, huge Herman Munster forehead).

It was absorbed by my skin really quickly and any worries about the smell were gone. It loses its aroma very quickly once it dries into the skin so no danger of it interfering with an aftershave if applying it quite quickly afterwards.

As the heatwave hit about a week after using this I noticed a bit of dry skin on my hairline. I simply applied a little more of Hy and it cleared the next day - result. 

All in all I was really pleased. Through massive temperatures, long stints on London Underground and lots of sweat (nice), my face has remained moisturised and feels soft and smooth. You can't say fairer than that.

I think it's expensive but if you don't mind the cost you have a product here that does the business.

RECOMMENDED 

View Post

You want me to put WHAT on my face?

As I get increasingly older I’m always on the lookout for new products in an attempt (failing) to turn back the clock to the days when blackheads, dry patches and broken skin were just a pipe dream.

With a vigorous facial cleansing routine to ensure that my face radiates and projects a clean image I was more than impressed to find a 50ml tube of Thalgo Men Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub sitting in the bathroom cabinet.

As a firm advocate of the Men Expert range by L'Oreal particularly the Skin Renovator, I am increasingly being won over by the range of facial products produced by Thalgo.

Thalgo Men Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub claims within the marketing blurb to rid the skin of impurities and smooth away imperfections leaving the skin fresh, clean and invigorated.

 

Source

Most skin exfoliators I have used in the past state clearly that twice weekly use is more than adequate, however Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub should only be used once a week according to the instructions for use.

The main ingredient is Algue Bleue Vitale which isn't not something I have heard of before, but the helpful notes included put my inquisitive mind to rest. Thalgo state that the product is specifically designed for men, but why? Thalgo claim that Men's skin is much thicker and richer in sebum and is easily stressed by the daily process of shaving.

The Algue Bleue Vitale has the ability to be both anti-aging and anti-fatigue at the same time, calming down the skin to repair and smooth any stressed cells.

The product is alcohol free and uses silica and polyethylene beads to act as the exfoliant. Finished with hints of menthol the product should be the daddy of all exfoliants.  The exfoliator itself is a light blue colour and within the cream are darker blue beaded shapes which are the actual pieces of Algue which act as the exfoliating scrub.

To the touch you can feel the abrasiveness if you press it hard enough on your hands but because this product has been designed for use on the face and neck where the skin is less tough, it is actually not that noticeable when being used.

After splashing my face with warm water to open my pores, I squeezed several dots of the exfoliator onto the palm of my hand and then onto my face where I began to massage the scrub into the skin in a circular motion as directed. As soon as I started to massage it into my skin I was amazed by three things:

• Firstly it spread really well from a tiny dot placed in the middle of my forehead, one on either cheek and a dot on my chin was needed to completely exfoliate my face meaning that very little was needed each time I used it.
• The second revelation came from the fragrance as soon as it started to be absorbed into my skin. It became so much stronger and the smell reminds me of the sea, clean and fresh with the hint of menthol giving a slight waft of mint.
• Finally, the aroma becoming more pronounced whilst finally and most importantly the actual texture became slightly abrasive but not as much as similar products as other exfoliators used in the past. Knowing what to expect the slight harshness on the skin when massaging was needed to help remove all of the dead skin and impurities.

As the product is massaged into the face you are basically left with what feels like finely ground sand on your fingertips and I for one could only keep rubbing it into my face for around a minute before I rinsed my face. I was horrified by the colour of the water. I had expected some sort of residue but it was really brown and dirty looking. *cue much retching and muttering of being a filthy boy*

The product had obviously removed a hell of a lot of dead skin from my face and in doing so had fulfilled the first part of the product promise.

To get top marks from me though depends upon how it leaves my face looking and feeling after rinsing and drying. This is the acid test. I have to say that like the Dead Sea Facial Peel I usually use the end results were perfect and highly satisfactory.

My face looked a lot cleaner and comments were passed about the healthy glow to my skin. My pores seemed totally unblocked so there were no blackheads and since using the incidence of spot outbreaks have been kicked to the kerb. No sight of a zit. Result!

To top it all off, days after using my skin remained baby soft.  In the past I have been very sceptical about deviating from L'Oreal Men Expert or from what I consider the best exfoliator ever produced, Dead Sea Facial Peel but Thalgo really have won me over.

Dead Sea Facial Peel will probably remain my favourite because I can see the dirt and grime being removed but as a more regular treatment for my face Thalgo really knocks the spots (pardon the pun) off the Men Expert Range.

With all of the wonderful things I have had to say about the product surely there is a drawback, and that it the price. Thalgo aren't the cheapest products around but you do really get what you pay for, although many will see the purchase price of £16 for a 50ml tube from places like FeelUnique and baulk, in terms of value for money and longevity it actually works out at around the same price as the L'Oreal Men Expert Skin Renovator.

Thalgo Men Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub is exceptionally masculine, smells beautiful, is slightly abrasive and does everything it claims to do. Given that only a tiny amount of the exfoliator is needed the tube has lasted for months and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

View Post

Hackett London Body Wash

Ever since I watched Rhod Gilbert and his rant about Imperial Leather ’invigorate’ and ’relax’ and their clever marketing I’ve spent longer than is actually healthy reading the marketing of body washes and shower gels.

I have a vast array, but for some reason I decided to delve into a boxset and try Hackett London’s Body Wash - it’s Essential British Kit by all accounts.

Here is the marketing blurb - try to contain yourselves readers….

"The home of authentic British style, Hackett London aims to kit out today’s gentleman from head to toe, whatever the occasion. Hackett grooming is an essential part of that kit. Fast foaming formula with a clean and invigorating blend of citrus and woody notes for a clean, refreshed feeling".

Seriously, when I read that I nearly died laughing! I could hear Rhod’s words in my ears and I nearly reached for a pen to write a letter.*

My tube came as part of a boxset and I did as always. Squirt far too much into my hands and then slap myself with it in the shower until it started to lather and foam up. White in colour, as soon as the Nivea like wash leaves the tube the smell fills the bathroom.

The smell is strong yet clean - a very masculine overly woody fragrance. It lathers up brilliantly and washing is a breeze. Every inch is covered and the pits always get extra attention.

After rinsing off, my skin always looks really clean (you’d hope so after a shower), but what I mean is that it has a glow and to the touch it’s smooth and soft. It’s as though baby oil has been rubbed in it’s that smooth. That is a result in my book.

I had no irritation and after drying my skin was still soft to the touch.

Personally I found the fragrance bland and when mixed with my deodorant I wasn’t impressed. This isn’t the fault of the body wash, it’s more a culmination. However, being comfortable is key, and if you doubt how you smell to those around you how can you be confident. Before it had dried and a few hours in I’d rate this probably 7/10 but it drops significantly because of how it mixes with standard deodorants.

You can find this for around £5 for a 200ml tube if you want to bid for it on an auction site!
At that price I’d say no. It’s OK as a gift, but I wouldn’t buy this if I had the choice. Imperial Leather soap and I’m talking old school bars of soap deliver the same feel and results.

NOT RECOMMENDED - sorry Hackett London

* If this section is all alien or meaningless to you then I strongly, no I positively insist that watch Rhod Gilbert’s DVD titled - The Man with the Flaming Battenberg Tattoo. If you don’t like it you can post insulting comments that question my sanity, masculinity or both. 

View Post

Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel

I have over time devoted more and more time to a cleansing regime to ensure that the skin on my face despite the constant battering it takes from the London air and my sometimes unhealthy lifestyle remains smooth, soft and generally appealing. Nobody wants to stare at or get up close and person with someone with a layer of grime on their face with dead skin aplenty. 

Having never thought about using a facial peel this fell into my possession while trying to escape the hell of a shopping trip to the mall from hell. I do of course refer to the place where discount goods go to die - Shopping City in Wood Green, London.  Accosted by a rather persistent sales assistant on a stall she gave me a quick demonstration which literally turned my stomach. Within seconds a pure white cotton pad was as black as the ace of spades. Yuck! What was worse was that I was only 30 minutes out of the shower! 

I was shamed into parting with £30 for a 30ml pot of Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel

Now in my opinion £30 is a lot to pay for any sort of beauty treatment/product so the proof is in the value for money test, how it performs and ultimately if it can be found elsewhere for cheaper. 

When replacing my first tub of the facial peel some 6 months after my first experiences with it I paid only £25 from the same stall (the prices never stay the same and haggling is always the order of the day) however when looking online I felt rather violated by the fact that it can be bought for as little as $22 (yes, that US Dollars not Pounds) from places like eBay. 

So, I think I have established that this is something of a luxury item, but once you remove it from the outer box you find a mock glass (clear plastic) tub which looks remarkably stylish with a black screw top lid. 

Contained within the outer box are no instructions on how to use the product, how often you should use it or indeed what the potential benefits should be. Going off from the sale patter given by the stallholder I was told that this would remove black and white heads, dead skin whilst at the same time retaining moisture to maintain the pH balance of my skin. 

In layman terms she advised that it was good to clear off the gunk that builds up on the face that just isn’t removed by a normal exfoliator or day to day washing with soap and water. She stated that it was only to be used once or twice a week and that only a pea sized amount was needed. With this in mind, I couldn’t wait to see what came off my face as soon as I got home.

Containing Dead Sea Minerals and various other anti-oxidant ingredients such as Echinacea, Ginseng and Rosemary as soon as the lid is unscrewed the delightful aroma is unleashed. Rather than being overpowering and with a chemical base in terms of fragrance was greeted me was a subtle, fresh smell akin to watermelon, not too strong with hints of Rosemary. If I had to sum up the fragrance I would say a cross between fruity and herbal.

The facial peel has a gel like consistency when in the tub and is easy to remove and apply to the face and neck. I dipped my fingers into the tub and the pale green facial peel literally stuck to my fingertips. As recommended I tried only a pea sized amount but found that after smoothing it across my face it only covered one cheek so 3-4 pea sized amounts were needed to cover my forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. As it is smoothed over the skin it does thin quite a lot making it easy to massage into the face. At this point the minerals that should remove the dead skin and black heads were not noticeable in the slightest however there was a gentle tingling sensation and my face felt very cool.

After massaging the facial peel in for 2-3 minutes most of it was absorbed and the more I massaged it became evident that what can only be described as small clumps of dead skin started to build up from nowhere. The entire massaging process took 5 minutes and once finished I took a cotton pad and started to methodically wipe my face. The results judging from the colour of the dirt and grime that had been removed were exceptional. In the end I used 3 pads as the grime built up on each pad really quickly. A closer inspection of the pads I had used revealed something I had never noticed when looking in the mirror, blackheads, and lots of them stuck to the pad in between the obvious grime. Instead of just removing the head, the entire root was on the pad.

After washing my face down with cold water and patting it dry I took the brave step of touching my own face and found that the skin was so smooth and soft I could help stroking my cheeks in disbelief. The results were simply put - out of this world. 

After using it the first time the amount of dirt, grime and blackheads removed each week decreased slightly but it is still removing that stubborn stuff that insists on sticking to my face.

My first 30ml tub of the facial peel lasted 6 months using it once a week. Based upon the initial purchase price and the results I would have no hesitation in recommending this to any potential consumer. 

Personally I did not suffer any sort of irritation but would provide an air of caution to those with sensitive skin. The tingling if left on the skin for too long can start to burn a little. Try a tester before making such an investment. If I had to pay £30 for another tub I would happily part with it because I am delighted with the results but now that I have found a supplier much cheaper I will continue to cleanse using the Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

View Post