Lip Service Apricot Lip Scrub

Today’s post is quite possibly the most unmanly thing I could ever use and review - no I’m not talking sanitary towels, I’m talking lip scrub, Lip Service Apricot Lip Scrub to be more precise.

As my reputation for being a bit of a mean, tough spirited git takes a nosedive I will point out right now that I didn’t buy this, I have no idea where it came from but curiosity got the better of me and I had to try it once I had spotted it in the bathroom.

Available from Wilko for £2 for a 10g tub, it is tiny, yes, tiny in my hand. With my big bloke fingers I struggled to get into it and after asking what the hell it was for thought, why not, my boyish smile could do with a lift.

As soon as the lid is removed the faint hints of apricot start to become evident. I can’t say I’m drawn to it but it was completely inoffensive. As a newcomer to lip scrubs I was intrigued by the texture - the scrub looks like sugar, feels like sugar and crumbles like sugar.

Like a man possessed I rubbed some onto my finger and then started to scrub it across my lips - yep, it’s sugar and boy does it have a powerful abrasive action. My lips had been dry and dehydrated thanks to a hefty session on the old demon drink but the scrub removed any dead skin and left my lips feeling soft and smooth.

While it has a strong abrasive action it is actually quite a weird experience (for a bloke, am assuming women are used to this kind of thing) and so gentle after a while you forget that anything is happening as the sugar dissolves.

On the puckering up test they received top marks and I have to say my lips seemed to have colour that wasn’t there before. 

I’ve used it once and will use it again. I’m happy with the results, it doesn’t taste that bad if you lick your lips and is really affordable. Even with my massive fingers I only used a little. This little £2 pot would last me weeks making it great value for money.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub

I have been so impressed with the contents of my Limited Edition Birchbox for Men that there are a few products that have taken a pounding since it arrived just over ten days ago. The Richer Poorer socks were by far the best I’ve ever had on my feet, but the wow factor has been reserved for Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub.

A 150ml tube of the face scrub adorned my Birchbox, and once again, to my shame it was a brand I hadn’t had the chance to try……until now.

I have to say, that at £15 for a 150ml tube it sits well and truly above the prices I usually pay for a face scrub. Casting my mind back I think I was slightly stunned by the £8 cost of the Ted Baker Grooming Room equivalent. At nearly double the price this has to do something special to warrant any value for money brownie points.

This is what the Birchbox website has to say about the face scrub:

‘Get that flawless ‘I woke up like this’ complexion thanks to this gentle yet effective face scrub from Mazorin. Specifically designed with men’s needs in mind it lifts away impurities with a blend of bamboo and maracuia powder while white willow extract keeps grime at bay thanks to its antibacterial protection for a crystal clear complexion.’

The Mazorin site goes into a little bit more details as to what the ingredients will do:

‘For flawless skin, free of blemish and impurities:

The Bamboo & Maracuja powder exfoliates dead skin cell and unclogs pores;
The active ingredients help prevent blackheads and ingrown hair;
The gentle formulation leaves your skin hydrated and deeply cleansed;
Suitable for all skin types but fantastic for people with sensitive skin.’

The first time I used this I completely forgot to shake it and I ended up giving the tube a confused look as a watery liquid drained out over my palm. Yes, I can be that simple at times and yes, it took me a few minutes to figure out that I needed to shake the contents.

Second time lucky and after rinsing my face off in the shower I squeezed out a pea sized amount and started to massage it into my face. After shaking the texture was firm and the micro-beads from the bamboo are visible to the eye and really noticeable to the touch. Just rubbing between your fingertips will leave a strange sensation, you can feel it exfoliating and getting warmer. For me I found just how gentle the ingredients and texture were when applying to my face really pleasant.

A breeze to rinse off the results are almost instantaneous and even before drying I could tell that my pores had been opened and my face cleansed really well. My face wasn’t as tight and it had a healthy glow, something of a rare occurrence for me. After drying my face off and before moisturising my face received the prod test - the skin was soft and smooth.

As a bonus, since I started using this I’ve found that shaving is easier - less ingrown hairs and my stubble does seem softer. Result!

Finally, throw in the fact that this smells so fresh and clean, it reminds me of Nivea Cream and you have a winner on your hands! 

Despite the price I am delighted with the Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub. It is going to last for an absolute age as only a tiny amount is needed, even for a face as large as mine. After using this on my face and being impressed with how gentle it was I used it on my very recent tattoo to clear off the dead skin and ink. Once again, results were impressive. 

With no parabens you should take the time to look more closely at Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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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

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