New: Darphin Uplifting Serum Eyelids Definition!

Available at www.darphin.co.uk at £45,

which is quite pricey but all good eye skincare always are!

I have briefly mentioned this eye skincare serum in my Summer PM Skincare blogpost, click here to read. Darphin Uplifting Serum Eyelids Definition has been launched this year in February so it's pretty new! I particularly like the gel like texture, which is great for the summer as it feels super light and refreshing. This serum has a triple anti-ageing formula and provides the delicate eye area with an immediate tightening effect. 

The Smart Firming System improves the skin's elasticity, which helps to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles by encouraging the production of collagen and elastin fibres. The Everlasting Essential Oil works in conjunction with The Smart Firming System reinforcing the action by boosting skin's natural collagen to provide a lifted appearance. The Wheat and Sweet Almond Extracts - these two extracs work on the surface on the skin lifting and soothing the eye area. The scent is very gentle hardly noticeable and great for those who don't like scented skincare. And I love the sleek packaging, great for travelling!

LOVE

Summer PM Skincare Routine for Oily/Combo and Blemish Prone Skin!

If you haven't read my updated summer AM skincare routine blogpost yet click here! In the evening I add a facial and change up moisturiser. I start by taking off my make-up and cleansing my face thoroughly using the same products as in the morning. About few times a week I like to exfoliate my skin with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, which is super gentle and very soothing. I've been using it for years, and literally repurchase it as soon as I finish the bottle, keeps my skin clear and the scent is beautifully calming! If I need a deeper exfoliation I do an enzyme peel, this one is Caudalie Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peel Mask. Next day I make sure to wear a high SPF50. 

Then I like to spray face and neck with Caudalie Beauty Elixir, it's a beautiful tonic with a bunch of great ingredients. On a hot summer's evening I really like to use Darphin Uplifting Serum Eyelids Definition. The gel texture feels refreshing and super light, great eye serum this one, I will do a separate review about it this week! As a face moisturiser I use Avene Cleanance Lotion with anti-shine regulation. It's designed for oily and blemish prone skin, also very light feeling and I find I wake up with a less oily skin next morning. If I have a blemish situation going on I apply Avene TriAcneal Skin Care, which helps eliminate severe skin imperfections. I apply it just on the spots and scars to make them heal and fade faster.

LOVE

Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood!

I have really been into skincare lately! I think it's vital to make sure you are looking after your skin... And in late 20s it's time to really indulge in skincare... Very often I see women neglect the importance of skincare and then later it really starts to show... Things like ageing process is inevitable but the earlier you start thinking about it the longer your skin will last looking young... Think of it as preventative! 

Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm is another beautiful cleanser, I have been really enjoying the concept of a balm cleanser! When you first apply it it feels quite balmy and thick, you only need about a pea size amount... Massage it into your skin and add a little water to transform it into a silky milk, which is not oily... My skin felt thoroughly cleansed, smooth and radiant! Usually cleansers leave your skin feeling tight, but this one de-clogs and hydrates! 

On my combo/oily skin that has been feeling dehydrated this winter I don't even need to apply a moisturiser after using this cleanser, immediately it nourishes and relieves tightness... It's perfect for those self-indulging spa evenings at home... Some of the ingredients are Marula Oil, Sage, Ylang Ylang and Rosewood Essential Oils... The scent is beautiful, it's like aromatherapy and cleanser in one!

LOVE

Skincare All-Rounder: Dehydrated Combo/Oily Skin Type!

Loving this Alphabetbags Cosmetic Bag! 

Available at www.alphabetbags.com

It's been unusually freezing in London since last month really, which isn't great for the skin... Everyone I meet is suffering from super dehydrated skin at the moment... This blogpost is going to be useful for any skin type that is dehydrated, even the combo/oily! I have combo/oily skin type that is prone to acne, to find hydrating skincare that will bring the right amount of moisture back into the skin without making it too greasy is pretty hard...  

Cold and especially windy weather can take its tall on any skin type... On top of that, I cannot stop exfoliating my acne prone skin as it will start to clog up again, which means my skin can feel really uncomfortable after I take off all the make up at the end of the day, use a cleanser and exfoliant... These skincare products are what I found to be working very well on my combo/oily acne prone skin but they would be equally great for any other skin type if you prefer the light weight hydrating skincare...

So, here is what I do at the end of a very long and very cold day! Firstly I light a scented candle and put some relaxing music on, it's all part of the self-indulging process... After I take my make up off, I use the Ren No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, it's a fantastic cleanser for all skin types - to read my full review click here! Then I spray the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, which is a soothing toner for glowing complexion and it's also great for blemish prone skin - for full review click here! And then I finish off with Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum, it's a very light and fast absorbing texture that hydrates the skin instantly without leaving any residue... Click here for my full review... These three steps balance my skin very well, and I wake up to a hydrated and fresh feeling skin! 

Generally when my face starts feeling dehydrated the chances are so will be the rest of my body! For my body I love to use the Darphin Nourishing Satin Oil, it's with red ginger essential oil - for full review click here! It warms up the skin beautifully, perfect for the winter!  After taking a hot shower or a hot bath I massage the oil into my skin before going to bed... And of course it's also important to keep your hands really hydrated in the cold weather as they are exposed the most! During the day I like to keep reapplying the gorgeous Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, hands down it's my favourite hand cream... Not only does it soften the skin beautifully but it also minimizes age spots and strengthens nails! 

And finally I like to keep the Cowshed Lazy Cow Soothing Perfume Oil roll-on in my handbag, and reapply it during the day on my wrists... It's got jasmine, clary sage and geranium essential oils, a very soothing and relaxing scent that helps me to get through a freezing day!

LOVE

Darphin Essential Oil Elixir, Rose Aromatic Care Hydration...

I started to really enjoy the Darphin skincare products at the end of last year... I love the fact that Darphin products are entirely made out of natural ingredients, which is quite exquisite... Darphin has a whole Essential Oil Elixir range, this Rose Aromatic Care is a hydration treatment for normal skin, but they also have Essential Oil Elixir designed for dry and oily skin types... This Rose Aromatic Care is quite fitting with the whole V-Day spirit as most of us gals will be having lovely spa evenings pampering our skin at home before the big day... Although I have oily/combo skin type I can just about get away with this oil treatment  now during the winter when my skin can feel dehydrated... The scent is lovely, it's not overpowering, very subtle and natural...

LOVE

Darphin Nourishing Satin Oil with Red Ginger!

Couple of weeks ago I had Chickenpox, it was horrendous! Never had it as a kid, but there you go... There's nothing you can do during the process of being covered in those hideous spots, but now I'm trying to get my skin in a good shape again... Don't do anything to your skin until the crusts begin to peel off and even then choose the most gentle and nourishing skincare... Some of my few last crusts have peeled off and now I have a few scars left while my skin is still healing... So apart from baths with Dead Sea salt and gentle scrubs this is the only moisturiser I have been using on my body... 

I find Darphin Dry Oil very nourishing on my skin, and it has made a great progress in terms of how my skin looks only a week after the crusting has begun... It's actually amazing - I was told this process could have taken upto a couple of weeks... The Darphin Dry Oil is free from the harmful chemicals and filled with great ingredients that look after your skin, some of which are: Safflower Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Vanilla Fruit Extract, Jasmine Flower Extract, Nutmeg Kernel Oil, Ginger Root Oil, Cedarwood Bark Oil, Sweet Almond Oil etc... This Dry Oil is a gorgeous rich nutrition that intensely beautifies your skin - Inca inchi, Safflower, Sesame and Sweet Almond provide the skin with a perfect balance of fatty acids, while the Red Ginger Essential Oil is a powerful anti-oxidant...

It smells lovely with the Jasmine coming through... I generously apply it all over my body after a bath or a hot shower before going to bed and wake up with a very soft and healthier looking skin... Although it says it's a dry oil, it still feels quite oily after you apply it, so it might not be for everyone but I personally love to smother myself in beautifully fragrant oils or thick body butters before sliding under the duvet, especially during winter... I figured if it has been so good to my post Chickenpox skin, anyone could benefit from it...

LOVE

Gift Guide 2012: Last Minute Stocking Filler Ideas!

The last few pre-Christmas days have been absolutely crazy busy! Everyone is working super hard to finish up their projects before Christmas, running around trying to get everything done in time before we finally can relax with our loved ones, cook delicious lots of delicious festive food and watch old Christmas movies.. Uhh bliss! But before we get to that, some of us are still wondering around in shopping malls trying to get the last minute gifts so I thought since I've been doing the Gift Guide pretty much for a month now to share some of my stocking filler ideas in case you still will be getting a few things tomorrow... These are mainly small but nonetheless cute and thoughtful! 

As it's such a busy time of the year, especially these few days I didn't have time to swatch all the products and create looks with some of them, but I didn't want you t miss some of the limited edition products... I chose things that are really fun to find in a stocking filler within a wide price and age range... I won't be reviewing every single product now, but I will be creating looks and doing separate reviews in the New Year, so here it goes!

STOCKING FILLERS LIST:

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in 360 Laced Up + 260 Glitz Blitz

Nail Rock Designer Nail Wraps in Metallic Moon + Python + Pink Leopardskin

RealTechniques by Samantha Chapman Expert Face Brush

Lush Solid Massage Bar in Midnight Massage

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Twist and Spray Eau de Parfum Purse Spray

The Body Shop Chocomania Gift Set

Avon Glimmerstick Gift Set

Cowshed Lazy Cow Soothing Perfume Oil

Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Fallen Angel

Percy & Reed Simply Sumptuous Shine Gift Set

Eylure Naturalites Accent and Lengthen Strip Lashes

Lush Christmas Party Gift Set

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Color in 02 Cha-Ching! + 04 Blingtastic

Pixi Early Bird Palette

Darphin Dry Oil Body Care Nourishing Satin Oil with Red Ginger

Tangle Teezer Salon Elite The Professional Detangling Hairbrush

LOVE