Indeed Labs Pepta-Bright

I've mentioned IndeedLabs Pepta-Bright a few times here on the blog now in various favourites posts so I thought it was about time I did a full review. I've been using it for a couple of months now and it has very quickly become my favourite skincare product! It claims to be a good product to help fade dark spots, even skin tone and brighten skin, as I had quite a few areas of pigmentation on my skin I was keen to give it a try and I'm so glad I did! It has faded all my dark marks dramatically, they're nearly invisible leaving my skin tone looking much clearer and more even. I was quite shocked to see such drastic improvements so quickly, I really wish I had taken some 'before' photos so I could do a before-and-after. 

The texture of the product is lovely too, it is a light cream serum that's also quite moisturising. Those with oily skin could possibly even get away with not using a moisturiser on top. It sinks into the skin quickly and easily and works well with other skincare products. I've been using it both in the day and at night as makeup sits very well on top of it.

If you have any problems with pigmentation, dark spots from either acne or sun damage or just a general unevenness of skin tone I would highly recommend this! It really has worked so brilliantly for me! 

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Current Skincare Loves

I seem to be on a bit of a skincare roll at the moment. My skin is by no means perfect but it does look the best it's looked in years. I think it's mostly down to the fact that I've been more compliant with my skincare routine and I've found some products that have been working really well for me. Here are a few of my favourites!

Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask full review here 

A really great 3 in 1 mask that decloggs, exfoliates and moisturises. I've been using it twice a week and my skin always feels clean, fresh and moisturised afterwards. 

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil full review here

This has been my cleanser of choice for the evenings, particularly when it comes to removing makeup. It's easily massaged on and rinses of as a milky liquid taking all the day's grime and makeup away with it. It also leaves my skin feeling super soft and nourished.

Rodial Dragon's Blood  Hyaluronic Night Cream full review here

I absolutely love this night cream, it's definitely the best I've ever tried. It leaves my skin feeling so plumped up, soft and just generally very healthy. It's expensive but very much worth it, I opened this tub 3 months ago and I still have over half left!

REN Clarifying Toner full review here

A toner that contains glycolic and lactic acid which exfoliates the skin and helps improve skin radiance. I've been using it every night and loving the results, my skin looks brighter and my pores less noticeable.

IndeedLabs Pepta-Bright

I've yet to review this one in full as I haven't been using it quite as long as the others. Don't worry, a full review is in the works! This stuff is truly amazing, I've only been using it for a month and my dark marks and pigmentation have almost completely disappeared! I honestly can't quite believe the results! My skin looks so much clearer and even toned, I really wish I'd taken some 'before' pictures!

Are there any skincare products you've been loving lately?

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Good Things Manuka Honey Mask

I've not had the Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask for very long but I can honestly say it's one of the best I've ever tried. The best thing about it is that it's a 3 in 1, it contains white clay, which like any clay draws out impurities and helps unclog congested skin. Papaya extract, a natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid which chemically exfoliates the skin making it look more radiant and finally Manuka Honey and Beeswax to nourish and hydrate the skin. Being someone who frequently buys and uses all 3 of these kinds of mask, finding an all in one is such a great time saver!

I find my skin looks and feels so much fresher, brighter and softer after using it. I use it about twice a week which has been working really well for me. It definitely helps with unclogging and radiance, if I can feel a few spots coming on I find using this can nip them in the bud and any blocked poses around my nose look a lot better. I think the addition of honey/beeswax makes it a lot more comfortable on the skin and doesn't leave it feeling tight and dry afterwards but it's not a mask I'd reach for if I was specifically looking to add more moisture to my skin as it's not the most moisturising. It is still a clay mask after all! 

I think it's a great mask all round mask for all skin types but I'd particularly recommend it to those who either don't have time to faff about with lots of different masks, if you're on a budget or if you're new to masks as it's a great all rounder. I'd be quite happy to use this as my only face mask as I could always just use some facial oil if I felt my skin needed some extra moisture. It's also such a bargain for only £5.99 from Boots!

What are your favourite face masks?

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REN Clarimatte Clarifying Toner

I've been using the REN Clarimatte Clarifying Toner for about a month and a half now and as I mentioned in my August Favourites, I love it. Of all the exfoliating toners I've tried (so far) this is my favourite. It's gentle enough to use everyday, I use it in the evenings, but it's still strong enough to actually make a noticeable difference. 

It contains a combination of exfoliating acids which break down and remove surface dead skin cells and increase cell turnover. This means any pigmentation or uneven skin tone fades quicker than it otherwise would. In the relatively short time I've been using it I've definitely noticed an improvement in dark spots and skin tone, plus I've still got just over half the bottle left! 

I've been using Indeed Labs Pepta-Bright for the last few weeks which has helped too, I think the combination of the two are working really well for my skin. I also think this toner would work well for all skin types (apart from maybe super sensitive skin), rather than just for combination to oily skin. It doesn't strip the skin or leave it feeling tight and contains lavender so it smells lovely and relaxing and is a pleasure to use. Definitely a product I'd recommend!

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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Two Tubes in

Rather than doing a traditional style review of the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ I decided to write a post every time I finished a tube, that way I could share with you the progress and give you a good idea of how soon you can expect results. If you missed my pervious post, the one I wrote when I was one tube in, you can see that here. That post also contains all the info on what the product does, what it contains etc so give it a quick read if this is a product you're unfamiliar with. 

I mentioned in my first post that the most noticeable improvement was in skin texture and that's still the case, the clogged pores on and around my nose have almost completely disappeared, the area now feels smooth to the touch and the pores are barely noticeable. The second most noticeable improvement is my skin tone, it looks significantly brighter and my pigmentation has faded a lot. The marks I could perviously see standing a foot away from the mirror I can now only see if I get right up close to it. A lot of the ones that were already a bit lighter have now disappeared which I'm very pleased about!

I've now started using this just in the areas that I need it rather than all over so I'm expecting the third tube to last me a lot longer than the first two. Especially considering the area in which I need to use it keeps getting smaller and smaller.

As I said in my last post it's a great product that I'd definitely recommend to anyone with breakouts, pigmentation or uneven skin texture. Have you tried La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+?

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Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream

Moisturisers are a bit of a difficult one for me, I usually find them to be either not moisturising enough or far too heavy and clog my skin. I've found a few exceptions over the years that I like, but never one I've loved, until now. I've been using the Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream for just over a month now and I can honestly say it's the best I've ever tried. 

Why do I like it so much? The main reason is the formula. It feels like a thick, rich cream but the moment you start massaging it into the skin it sinks in. It doesn't disappear immediately leaving you feeling like you need to apply more but it doesn't just sit on the skin either. I often find that when night creams do that they mostly end up on my pillow! Rodial describe it as a 'plumping' moisturiser, and it definitely delivers on that account, I've been waking up every morning to cushiony soft skin. My moisturising skin serums and oils have been going untouched for the last month as I haven't felt like I've needed them, this cream has been giving my skin all the moisture it needs.  

It contains Dragon's Blood (resin from the Dragon's Blood Tree) which smooths and hydrates the skin, wonder ingredient hyaluronic acid which has the ability to hold 1000 times it's weight in water meaning your skin holds onto the moisture it already has a well as that of any products you're using. Retinol, an ingredient proven to even skin tone and pigmentation and Niacinamide which calms down  irritated skin. It also contains Shea butter which leaves skin feeling soft and nourished but is an ingredient that's best avoided if you have acne or very oily skin, for everyone else, it's fine!

I can't comment on the claim to visibly reduce fine lines in 4 weeks as I don't have any, but as I said it definitely does give a plumping effect. I have however definitely noticed my skin looking brighter and more even toned, thanks to the retinol I'm sure.

   

There is one thing I feel I need to address with this and that's the price, at £58.00 it's not exactly cheap but I do genuinely feel it's worth every penny. As I said before I've not needed to use any serums/oils along side it which is something I'd normally do, so for me this is a 3 in 1 product. As well as that I've been using it every single night for just over a month and as you can see from the picture I've only just scraped the surface, a little really does go a long way with this as it spreads so well. I've already decided that I'll be repurchasing this when it runs out but luckily for my wallet that won't be for a long time! 

Avialable at Space NK

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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ - One Tube In

I spotted La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ on a 3 for 2 offer a while ago and in spite of never having tried it before I took the plunge and bought 3 tubes. I'm not usually one to bulk buy a product I've never tried before but I'd read so many amazing reviews of the stuff that I knew I couldn't go wrong. 

Rather than doing a traditional style review I thought I'd do a post of how it's worked for me one tube in and then again later on when I'm two/three tubes in. 

First of all, what is it? A non-sticky melt in formula that's designed to tackle clogged pores, blemishes  and the marks they leave behind while also controlling shine and refining the skin's texture. Niacinamide soothes, LHA and Salicylic Acid gently exfoliate and Procerad prevents red and brown pigmentation marks from forming.

Does it work? For me, in a word, yes. Although I don't often get spots, when I do they seem to stay put for a while and leave behind marks that take forever to fade. This manages to speed up the lifecycle of a spot, meaning it disappears a lot quicker. The biggest improvement by far has definitely been to my skin texture, it feels smoother and all the clogged up pores on and around my nose look noticeably better. My skin also looks a lot brighter,  any new blemishes I've had since I've been using it definitely haven't left marks and although the old marks are still there they seem to have faded a lot, thanks to the exfoliating properties I'm sure. I've even managed to switch from wearing foundation everyday to a CC cream, something I've never been able to do before because I've always needed that extra bit of coverage. 

I would definitely recommend this product, to those with oily/congested skin as well as to those with just pigmentation. I'll be sure to do another post 2 tubes in to update you on the progress!

Have you tried La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+? What did you think of it? 

Botanics Facial Oil 100% Organic Review

Usually I'd wait at least 6 weeks before reviewing a skincare product, that usually gives it enough time to prove itself. With the Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil I had to make an exception, I just couldn't resist! I've been using it a mere 3 weeks and I'm already seeing such amazing results that I felt them just too good not to share! 

First of all, let me just mention the price, with most high end facial oils costing from 35 upwards and most high street/drugstore versions being laden with mineral oil and therefore not worth the effort. This one seems to contain ingredients good enough to rival the most expensive of facial oils but for a mere 9.99, and as if that's not good enough it's currently on half price at just 4.99! 

So what's in it? Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil, Rosehip Oil and Bergamot Fruit Oil as well as lots of other skin loving ingredients. Rosehip oil is particularly good for fading hyper-pigmentation so if you have old spot scars, sun damage or any uneven skin tone this would work very well for you. 

The instructions say to work a couple of drops into the skin morning and night but I find the finish to be a bit too dewy for me in the day time, perhaps that should be reserved for just those with very dry skin. I tend to skip the day dose and double up on the night one, 4 drops massaged into the face and neck until it has completely sunk in, leave it a few minutes (while I brush my teeth), then follow with my usual night time moisturiser. 

In just the 3 weeks that I've been using it, I've noticed an incredible improvement in moisture levels and skin texture, my skin gets very dehydrated during the cold winter months and even has a tendency to turn into eczema if left unattended. This has managed to keep that completely at bay, with not a single dry patch in sight. It has also left my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth come morning. It has also noticeably faded some relatively new spot scars and I'm hoping with continued use it will start to make an effect on the older ones too. 

All in all it is an incredible product that I would recommend to absolutely everyone! I just can't rave about it enough!  

Highend Beauty Wishlist

Stila Convertible Colour in Poppy 

Moroccanoil Hair Repair & Moisture Trio

Clinique - Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

Bioderma - Photoderm MAX Cream SPF50+ 

Nars - One Night Stand Palette 

Ren - Radiance Kit

Mac - Pro Longwear Concealer in NC35

Stila - Colour Me Glossy Lip Glaze Set

October Favourites

I hate to start a favourites post with a cliche, but I really can't believe october is over already! Christmas will be here before we know it and I am in no way prepared! But then, that's what november is for! Anyway, on with the favourites!

The first thing I've been loving and using no end of this month is the Palmers Coco Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil (Full review here). When the weather turns colder, my skin really starts to suffer, so I've been slathering this on post bath/shower to keep skin soft and hydrated. 

Next is Yardley London Peony Body Spray, if you're thinking, Isn't Yardley for grannies? I'll forgive you, because I thought the same. Then I spotted this and because I love the scent of peonies, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did because I love it. I believe they make an Eau De Toilette as well which I'm planning on tracking down.

My Avon 8 in 1 Eye Palette in In the Nudes has been used non stop this month, I did a full review with swatches earlier on in the month which you can see here. It contains a selection of matte and shimmery neutral shades housed in a compact the same size as my iPhone, perfect for traveling. The formula is really good too, very pigmented and buttery soft!

Next is the Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder which I've been using constantly since my beloved (and discontinued) Chanel bronzer breathed it's last. It's the perfect shade, brown enough to add definition and ever so slightly orangey, just enough to warm up your face without leaving you looking like an Oompa Lumpa.

I've been being rather brave recently and rocking a dark berry lip, see it in action here. My lipstick of choice has been Avon Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine, which suits my skin tone really well, looking autumnal rather that gothic. It has a smooth formula which lasts really well on the lips.

Last but not least I've been piling on The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter during the evenings and at night, the extremely nourishing formula helps to counteract the dryness which often goes hand in hand with wearing dark, long lasting lip colours. 

What products have you been loving this month?

Review - Clinique Even Better Concealer

Clinique Even Better Concealer is more than just a concealer, it also has added skincare benefits. The concealer itself works really well, it's creamy, extremely blendable and doesn't crease into lines. The shape of the pot makes it a bit difficult to dip your finger in, especially if you have long nails, but I use a brush anyway. Something like the Real Techniques Shading Brush works really well. I dab the brush into the pot picking up a small amount and then dab the excess off onto the lid, it's pretty high coverage so you only need the tiniest bit.

I then dab it on wherever I need it and blend it into the skin, mostly under the eyes (it covers dark circles amazingly well) and onto any blemishes. At the moment I've just been using it under my eyes as the shade I have (honeycomb) is slightly on the light side for me as I've tanned a lot this summer, but I know come winter it will be the perfect shade! 

This concealer is part of Clinique's Even Better range, a range designed to target uneven skintone in the form of pigmentation from acne scars as well as sun damage while also preventing any new hyperpigmentation from forming. As I said I've only really been using this under my eyes so far, so I can't really comment on these claims yet, once my skin is back to it's 'winter shade' (or if I cave and buy the darker shade) I will be sure to give you an update of the progress! In the mean time all I can say is it's a brilliant concealer and even if it doesn't fade any marks I'll still repurchase it. Not that I'll need to anytime soon because a little goes a long way!

Have you tried any of the products from Clinique's Even Better Range? What did you think of them?