Manna Kadar // Champagne Charcoal Scrub Review

Manna Kadar // Champagne Charcoal Scrub
RRP $24 for 520g

This is a full size 520g tub that I received in the FabFitFun Spring 2019 box.

First Impressions:

It smells kinda nice...I guess. It has an artificial sweetness to it that gets on my nerves after a while. The granules are very fine and it feels like I'm scrubbing my body with caster sugar. It did leave a mess in the shower though.

Usage
First use - June 2019
Last use - December 2019

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

This took me a long time to get through and eventually I just stopped using it. There's about two more uses left but I just couldn't be bothered with it anymore. I'm surprised I managed to make my way through it. I suppose if I used fake tan more often I'd be using body scrubs but they're just one of those products that I think are useless. I'd expect a body scrub when I go to a spa. Maybe if it had a better scent then I'd enjoy it more but saying that, I rarely use my Sol De Janiero brazilian body buff and I think the SDJ bum bum smell is the best scent ever created; so maybe I wouldn't.

Caudalie // Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser Review

Caudalie // Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser
RRP £16 for 150ml

This is a 30ml Sample that I received in a Look Fantastic box sometime in 2019 (I think...)

First Impressions:

Smells wonderful; like all the products in the Vinopure range. It's a liquidy clear, gel-like substance that doesn't really foam. My skin felt quite dry and tight after use.

Usage

First use - November 2019

Last use - December 2019

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

Unfortunately this was the last product I used in the Vinopure range as it just became too drying for my skin. I even had 2 full bottles of the toner to go through but I gave them away to friends because it was causing me to break out in spots. I no longer use cleansers like this anymore and rely on oil/milk cleansers and my skin has become less oily.

The problem with these products directed at oily skin is that they contain skin stripping ingredients like foaming agents in order to remove the excess oil however your skin then retaliates by producing more oil to counter what it lost. If you sufficiently moisturise your skin; it will eventually stop producing the excess sebum.

In looking up this product I discovered that Caudalie have a cleansing milk and it's not badly priced at £15 for 200ml. Once my current L'oreal runs out I will give it a purchase as whereas I won't be using anything from the Vinopure range; I still quite enjoy other Caudalie products (especially the cleansing oil).

Anatomicals // Sometimes Love Needs a Hand Rose Hand Cream Review

Anatomicals // Sometimes Love Needs a Hand Rose Hand Cream
RRP £2.49 for 50ml

This is a full size 50ml tube that received in the February 2020 Birchbox.

First Impressions:

This is an adequate hand cream however the second ingredient is Isopropyl Alcohol aka rubbing alcohol which is the main ingredient in hand sanitiser. So you think this product absorbs really fast but it's actually just evaporating. The rose smell is quite strong but not off putting.

Usage

First use - Mid February 2020

Last use - Mid May 2020

I used this on and off over the course of three months. I didn't use it all the time as I found that it would dry my hands out if used consecutively. 

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

This brand is weird. It's looks like if Ikea did beauty products but I have a feeling that Ikea beauty products would be much better. This is a cheap hand lotion with cheap ingredients. That said, I feel the £1.75 hand cream from Tesco to be a much better alternative with better ingredients. Sure it didn't have fancy packaging or a nice scent but it didn't contain drying alcohol as the second ingredient. I' glad it's empty and I can move on.

Murad // Age Reform AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser Review

Murad // Age Reform AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
RRP £38 for 200ml

This is the 200ml full size that I chose as part of my latest in beauty box in May 2019.

First Impressions:

This runny cream contains fine granules that gently exfoliate the skin but they do not dissolve. They are not microbeads but jojoba beads which take a while to dissolve in water. It slightly foams up but for the most part I did not find this to adequately remove makeup.

Usage
First use - September 2019
Last use - March 2020

This took me a long time to get through; mainly because it doesn't cleanse, it's just an exfoliator. This is the product that also caused me a trip to A&E in December as one of the jojoba beads got stuck in my eye. It was there for 2 weeks before I couldn't take it any longer and went to the hospital. They removed it by flipping my eyelid inside out and swabbing the area (and my eye) with a cotton wool bud. That was not a pleasant experience. It felt like someone was stabbing my eye with a tiny needle. Jojoba beads are marketed as"bio-degradable" so they're better for the environment but they appear to take a long time to degrade so are they really a better alternative?

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

I'm a bit on/off with Murad. Some products I like, others just seem overpriced. This is one of them. I'd say my skin started to look better after I stopped using it. For AHA's I prefer using my Dr Nassif Detox pads (they work like a charm) and exfoliator wise; I tend to avoid them now as sugar scrubs can cause micro-tears in the skin and jojoba beads can get stuck in your eyes (it doesn't matter if you don't apply it near your eyes, they somehow still get in there). 

As a cleanser it's pretty much useless as well as it does not remove makeup adequately; I always had to use a second cleanser. 

Nuxe // Reve de Miel Ultra Comforting Face Cream Review

Nuxe // Reve de Miel Ultra Comforting Face Cream
RRP £27.50 for 50ml

This is a 15ml sample that I chose for my Lastest In Beauty box in March 2019.

First Impressions:

It took me a while to get round to get round to this. It's a lovely thick, rich cream and I used it once and woke up covered in spots. I check the ingredients and the 3rd ingredient is coconut oil which is a known comedogenic. This means that it's blocks the pores and causes breakouts. Now I love coconut oil; it's great for my hair but I always use it as a pre-poo and wash it off with shampoo otherwise my hair is a horrible greasy mess.

Usage
I used this once sometime in November 2019 and then promptly stopped using it. I didn't want to waste it though and finished the tube by using it has a hand cream which worked surprisingly well.

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

I've really started to go off Nuxe products; I just haven't found anything other than the creme fraiche cream to work. I love their perfume but the skin care products just seem to be full of cheap ingredients that should not cause the prices of the products to be as steep as they are. Take this product for example. The top 5 ingredients are water, glycerin, coconut oil, macadamia oil and rice bran oil. Moving on further down the huge ingredient list reveals more oils and many silicones. I used to think Nuxe were a luxury brand but not anymore; I'll be avoiding their products unless it's the Le Matin des Possibles perfume. I might do a review on that because it's a beautiful and unique scent.

Origins // Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review

Origins // Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
RRP £22 for 75ml

This is a 15ml sample that I received as a sample when I ordered some items from Origins on Black Friday. I've used several more 15ml samples over the past few years though.

First Impressions:
It has a lovely sweet apricot scent. It kind of reminds me of apricot yoghurts. The product itself is thick and creamy and only slightly oily but I don't mind that at night.

Usage

I can't remember the exact details anymore as I was using this on and off in-between the Grown Alchemist night cream. I know that this product doesn't cause me any spots so it was used as a "back-up" inbetween creams to let my skin calm down.

Would I buy it: Yes.

Overall Impressions:

I know this is a mask and it says to use it twice a week but I actually use it every night as a regular night cream and it works better than more expensive products I've tried (like the Grown Alchemist which is £86). I think this sample was the old formula though as the new one uses Avocado & Glacier water. Either that or they couldn't fit all that text on the tiny sample tube...probably that. 

I've used at least 4 of these 15ml tubes now and it's always been great with my skin. I wake up in the morning with visibly softer and plumper skin that feels hydrated. It is slightly greasy but it absorbs fully after about 10 minutes.

I love that this is only £22 for a large 75ml size; if I bought this it would last me a good 6 months which is great because night creams can get expensive. I only have a couple more night products to use up in my stash so one they run out I will be purchasing one of these as I feel it's on par with the Origins Night-A-Mins but that is more expensive and you get less.

Origins // Plantscription Anti-Ageing Power Serum Review

Origins // Plantscription Anti-Ageing Power Serum
RRP £65 for 48ml

This is 27ml bottle that I received as part of a Plantscription set that I bought off Origins for £30 on Black Friday.

First Impressions:

This is my first time using the product in an actual pump bottle. Before this I've used about ten 15ml sample tubes. I first tried it a couple of years ago after I chose one for my Latest In Beauty box and ever since then I've been hoarding samples of it and buying them off eBay. I do like the design of the bottle though with the twist lock and the pump that gives out just the right amount of serum.

Usage
First use - Beginning February 2020
Last use - 9th April 2020

I'm shocked at how long this lasted me. I don't think I was using enough though because I slipped back into my mindset of "preserve the expensive products; use lessssss". Of course you don't get the benefits if you don't use enough and I was using half a pump on my face in the beginning.

Would I buy it: In a heartbeat.

Overall Impressions:

So far, this is my favourite serum. I'm not quite ready to give it HG status but it's pretty damn close, it's just a shame about the price. For that reason I tend to buy up the gift sets on Black Friday and boxing day  and it gives me enough serum to just about last the year (as I use other things in between that I get in boxes).

This serum pretty much has no fragrence and is a light green cream. It isn't thick or rich; it feels more like a gel and my skin just feels comfortable when I use it. It really helps even out my skintone and reduce the appearance of red marks left behind by angry spots. I also don't tend to get any spots when I'm using this.

It's pricy but I can usually get hold of it via other means so it's ok but if I had the money I would definitely purchase it full price.

Oskia London // Renaissance Cleansing Gel Review

Oskia London // Renaissance Cleansing Gel
RRP £35 for 100ml

This is a 35ml sample that I received in the September 2019 Look Fantastic box.

First Impressions:

It smells like rose Turkish Delights, which I love. It adequately melts makeup but does not emulsify with water well. The oil parts still cling to the skin.

Usage
First use - November 2019
Last use - January 2020

I used this on and off as I don't wear makeup all the time.

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

Oskia describe this as "the cult and original gel-to-oil cleanser". I have doubts about that. I'd never even heard of oskia before this but the packaging looks cheap, the product feels cheap and to me it's nowhere near worth £35. 

My favourite oil cleanser is the Caudalie Oil cleanser which is £18 for 150ml. That rapidly removes makeup and emulsifies immediately on contact with water and washes everything way. This product is not even in the same league as that one yet they're charging almost twice as much. I don't really have much else to say about this product other than; there are better and cheaper products.

Philip Kingsley // Elasticizer Review

Philip Kingsley // Elasticizer
RRP £19 for 75ml

This is a 40ml sample that I received a beauty box. I think this is the third or fourth tube I've got from beauty boxes now.

First Impressions:

I remember the first time I got this and when I realised it was a pre-poo treatment I didn't like it. I was very lazy and the idea of wetting my hair, applying this, leaving it and then having to wash my hair again was very unappealing. 

Usage

I'd say a 40ml tube lasts me a good couple of months as I only use it every two washes. But I do use about a third of the tube each time (my hair is down to my butt). I wash my hair every 5 days with one wash day using my mudmasky pre-poo treatment + deep conditioner (that's the hydration wash day with no protein), the second wash day is just a normal shampoo/conditioner and the third is this followed by protein sprays.

Would I buy it: Yes.

Overall Impressions:

When I was 18 I cut all my hair off into a pixie cut and bleached it blonde. I have semi-afro hair in a community where all the hairdressers trained with predominately Caucasian hair. They saw me come in with my straightened hair, chopped it off and then I looked like a toilet brush for years as I desperately waited to grow it out. During that time I was obsessed with this website called the Long Hair Community and I started really taking care of my hair but I was still treating it as though it was straight Caucasian hair. At 24 I decided to go back to Uni and get a degree and in those 3 years I completely neglected myself and only now, almost 5 years later have I started getting back into some sort of self-care routine. I think that's why I initially hated this product.

Last year I found a YouTube channel called Manes by Mell and she has transformed how I treat my hair. It took about 6 months of serious care but for the first time in my life I now wear it naturally curly and it looks great. She taught me that pre-poo treatments are really important for curly hair as well as ensuring the perfect balance between protein and hydration. The elasticizer is a protein deep conditioner so it helps add structure to your hair and my curls are super soft and bouncy afterwards. I don't use it all the time, about once a month, so even though £19 is pretty pricy for 75ml it lasts me a long time. I would be super happy buying this full price. They've even brought out a new vanilla and orange elasticizer...is it payday yet?

As for a routine, I now comb my hair through with a detangler whilst it's dry. Then I wet my hair, apply this and wrap it up in plastic bag/shower cap and apply some heat from my hairdryer for about 5 minutes. I then wash it out and proceed with shampoo/conditioner. As long as you don't let a cotton towel touch your hair whilst it's wet, there will be no frizz. You need to take your time with it but in the end it's worth it.

Prai Platinum // Firm & Lift Creme Review

Prai Platinum // Firm & Lift Creme
RRP £35 for 50ml

This is a 10ml sample that I received in a Look Fantastic box.

First Impressions:
(I can't remember)

Usage
First use - Not sure, definitely 2019
Last use - December 2019

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

I'm starting to make my way through my box of used products to write about so the details on this one may be a bit more vague. I know we received a Prai neck cream in a previous Look Fantastic box so I decided to use this in the exact same way even though it's not a dedicated neck cream. It is a luxe, thick cream and I like the texture but I don't feel it did anything for my decollete area. Due to this I don't feel it would do anything for your face either. Due to how rich it is as well it may end up being to much for some.

It does have good reviews which is strange with one reviewer saying "all women over 35 should be using this". I'm a few years off 35 but I've got some bad lines forming on my neck due to the dreaded "tech-neck". I feel other products have done more to combat these lines than this cream. 

At £35 it's not horrendously priced for a multi-purpose day and night cream but I'd prefer to use separate creams as your skin has different needs during the day than during the night. This cream also offers no SPF which I know can be a turn off for some. I apply an SPF separately as most SPF containing products only offer UVB protection (leaving you exposed to UVA radiation).

I have no desire to purchase this cream after using up the sample though.

The Botanica Lab // Collagen & Hemp Oil Body Lotion Review

The Botanica Lab // Collagen & Hemp Oil Body Lotion
RRP £4.99 for 739ml

This is 739ml bottle that I bought from TK Maxx for £4.99.

First Impressions:

The scent is not what I was expecting; it's way more lavender than vanilla and quite bitter. I was hoping it would be smooth and sweet. As a lotion it's cheap and cheerful. It takes a while to absorb and your skin kind of feels a bit dry after application.

Usage
First use - October 2019
Last use - January 2020

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

After some research it appears that this is probably one of TK Maxx's "in-house" brands as I can't find it anywhere on the internet. There is a Botanical Lab sold in superdrug and a cuisine website called Botanica Lab but nothing on google about this product. It's clearly something you can only buy in stores.

I ended up buying this one because at the time I was in a bit of a bind and I needed a body lotion that would last me a good 3/4 months that didn't cost over a fiver. For that price point I wasn't expecting miracles and ended up purchasing this one due to it's hefty 739ml size. I managed to completely finish it as I don't like wasting products anymore but I wouldn't buy it again (or anything else from this 'range'). It left my skin feeling dry even though it wasn't really all that dry. I think crunchy might be a better word to use. Like when you're hair is crunchy and you need to scrunch the product to get it feeling soft again...only I can't scrunch my skin.

I was deliberately using more than I needed as well so I would go through it faster. I'm always wary of buying TK Maxx brands because of the cheap ingredients and whereas this didn't cause any negative effects it didn't wow me. It was adequate is the best thing I can say about it.

Grown Alchemist // Detox Night Cream

Grown Alchemist // Detox Night Cream
RRP £86 for 40ml

This is the full size 40ml product that I received as a 'mystery item' in the FabFitFun Autumn box.

First Impressions

Oh man, was I super hyped up to use this cream. The FFF forum boards go on and on about this brand and I was so excited to have received this as my mystery item as it's a staggering £86. It has quite a strong masculine scent to it that I wasn't expecting; it reminds me of my uncle's aftershave that he's been wearing for the past 25 years.

Usage
First use - November 2019
Last Use - 27th May 2020

I initially started using this in November 2019 but stopped as I felt the strong fragrance was causing me to break out after using a quarter of the tube. I started using it again at the beginning of February 2020 but, started breaking out again so I gave it rest. Another trial period began mid April; by this point I was halfway through the tube.

11th May 2020 - I have about a quarter left to go now and some cuts in the packaging have appeared due to creases, allowing product to seep out and go hard. You'd think for an almost £90 product the packing would be a little sturdier? I'm not impressed that the product left inside the tube is effectively exposed thanks to all these cracks. I've been quite gentle with the tube as well; with how it's acting you'd think I'd been rolling it up like toothpaste. I just want this cream to be over with though; it's not great.

18th May 2020 - I'm almost done. I think there must be another week left? More holes have appeared along the tube now and I'm having to be super delicate otherwise product is just squeezing right out everywhere. My skin has been fine though so I'm certain now that it doesn't cause spots but it still doesn't do anything. It's riding on the back of my hard working Elizabeth Arden booster and Ren Serum. If it weren't for them I would be looking awful right now.

Would I Buy It: No.

Overall Impressions

I finally finished this product after 7 long months. In the end I don't think it caused any irritation to my skin but it didn't seem to do anything else; it was a cream. I suppose my skin was adequately moisturised but that's it. £86 is daylight robbery. You could buy a £5 cream from Asda that would perform in the exact same way. I also started finding this brand in TK Maxx (just before lockdown) and this exact product was selling for £9.99 with no RRP price on it. I'm always wary when products in TK have no RRP; it often means it's an in-house brand.

Grown Alchemist appear a lot in FabFitFun sales and I can say that my money is safe. I will not be purchasing anything from this brand in the future.

Trifle Cosmetics // Sugar Pear Sublime Lip Scrub Review

Trifle Cosmetics // Sugar Pear Sublime Lip Scrub
RRP $9 for 10ml

This is a full size 10ml tube that I received in a Glossybox way back in either 2014 or 2015. Yes, this is a vintage lip scrub...don't worry, I haven't been using it.

First Impressions:

I remember way back in the day, the first time I used this I loved how it tasted. I think that's why I've held onto it for so long. It had a really sweet, pear scent and taste and I could've just eaten the product.

Usage
First use - Sometime 2014/2015
Last use - Several years ago

Would I buy it: Yes? Maybe?

Overall Impressions:

I think out of all the lip scrubs I've ever used this has stood out as my favourite. I came across it when doing a clear out of my stash as I've realised that you really should stop using products after their expiry date. You can read about my experiences with the 6 months out of date eye cream and 1 year out of date eye cream. It just goes to show though how little I go through my stash. It's only since I started seriously panning products in September last year that I've been going through items systematically and finally getting rid of all the samples I've been hoarding for years. Being subbed to 6 beauty boxes didn't help either.

Back to the product though; from the few times I did use this, I did enjoy it. This past winter I could've really done with a lip scrub but there's no way I'm sticking this on my lips (especially with my tendency to eat some of it...). For $9 this is pretty good and I'd be willing to pay full price for it. It's a shame that shipping is a $25 flat rate to the UK (and that's not even tracked). Trifle Cosmetics is featured quite often in UK beauty boxes which is odd considering they don't sell anywhere else. I've seen a few things in TK Maxx over the years but nothing is there regularly. It's annoying because their Lip Parfait (in the blue tube) is my favourite lipstick of all time and I reluctantly threw it away because it was almost 6 years old. 

I'm pretty sure that there was over half a tube of this lip scrub left when I binned it which means if I were to buy another lip scrub it wouldn't be a necessity. I think I would use this once a year, or whenever I felt like "pampering" myself. I think if you're wearing matte lipsticks all the time then you need one but if you just like to stick some lip liner on and mix it with lip balm, it's a product to skip. 

Look Fantastic Beauty Box // June 2020 Review

I think the bag that this months product came in is actually the best part about the entire box. It's absolutely adorable! A shame we can't travel anywhere but our gardens

Anyway, here are the items:

Polaar // 50 Factor Sun Lotion

20ml Sample

RRP £18.83 for 50ml

Finally! They've sent SPF products with both UVA and UVB protection. That said this doesn't have a star rating for the UVA so I don't imagine it will be very high. But some UVA protection is better than none. This isn't advertised as for face and body so I will stick it in my bike bag. It has a very light sun cream scent (it's really only noticeable if you stick you nose to your skin) and the consistency is very light and non greasy. It also doesn't leave a white cast on the skin. I like it 👍

Molton Brown // Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel Bath & Shower Gel

100ml Travel Size

RRP £22 for 300ml

You can't buy the travel size individually but you can get 3 for £23 via their Pick n Mix service. I'm not a fan of Molton Brown. We've received 3 of these shower gels from Look Fantastic over the past couple of years; at least it's a different scent this time. I think this is the nicest scent so far; it reminds me of the beach in the morning. It's crisp and salty with some slight sweetness coming through. 

Ultrasun // SPF30 Lip Protection & Care

4.8g Full Size

RRP £6

Another product with UVA protection! You can never have too many lip balms and this one actually has a 3 star UVA rating as well as being SPF30 so it's an excellent lip balm to have. It's a lovely balm texture that isn't greasy or slippy; it reminds me of the malibu balms. I can definitely see myself buying another.

Josh Wood Colour // Everything Mask

30ml Sample

RRP £19 for 140ml

I have hair down to my butt so this 30ml sample will probably last one use. I colour my hair once a year (if that) but this claims to hydrate and condition in just 5 minutes; or it can be left on overnight. Looking at the ingredients I can see a few silicones (which is great for my type of 3b hair) and some proteins. So it appears to be a good all-round deep conditioner.

Glov // Mini Detangler

Full Size

RRP N/A

This is not for sale anywhere. It didn't come in any packaging and I have no idea what it's actually called as the booklet is online this month. I think this is a bit of a cop-out item as it must be something the brand had lying around that was bundled with something else and they wanted to get rid of it. I have 5 of these brushes now from various boxes (and brands) and they're all the same. I find them annoying to use in the shower as well because they slip out of your hand easily.

Shangpree // Aroma Blend Calming Mask

1 Sheet

RRP £3.50 each or £25 for 10

Can't go wrong with Korean sheet masks. I just wish they would give us a whole box instead of just one. 

An ok month with the highlight being the bag and the only item I don't like being the hair brush. For £13 it's not too shabby.

Balance Me // Vitamin C Repair Serum Review

Balance Me // Vitamin C Repair Serum
RRP £32 for 30ml

This is a 7ml sample that I received in the March 2020 Look Fantastic box.

First Impressions:

27th April 2020 - Has a strong herb/medicinal scent to it that reminds me of Kiehl's products. I'll be using this in the morning only for the next week as I'm using the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide capsules at night.

Usage
First use - 27th April 2020
Last use - 11th May 2020

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

I ended up using this morning and night after the capsules ran out and man did my skin go downhill quickly. I'm positive the strong scent caused issues with my skin and made me break out in many angry red spots that I haven't seen in a long time. I was very happy when I finally ran out of this because it did absolutely nothing for me. Not using a serum was better for my skin that using this. Absolutely unacceptable for a £32 product.

I just looked tired and dull. Balance Me claim that this serum helps reduce pigmentation and even out the skin tone; it made it worse. The dark red spots left behind by the spots would just not disappear until I stopped using it. It's been 4 days since I stopped and it's like my skin has done a 180; who knew a product could wreak such havoc. 

Malin + Goetz // Revitalizing Eye Cream Review

Malin + Goetz // Revitalizing Eye Cream
RRP £68 for 15ml

This is a 2.5ml sample I chose as part of a Latest In Beauty box in February 2019.

First Impressions:

5th May 2020 - This is not an eye cream; it's a face oil. I honestly just feel like I'm spreading coconut oil on my eyes, it's so weird. It just doesn't absorb in the slightest and I'm worried this is another product that's gone off.

Usage
First use - 5th May 2020
Last use - 11th May 2020

Would I buy it: Absolutely not.

Overall Impressions:

I've barely used the 2.5ml sample but I just can't go on using it anymore. I hate this product. I used it for 6 nights and the dark circles kept getting darker and my eyes would be dry with white patches in the morning. I was not impressed. Due to the greasy nature it kept getting in my eyes causing my vision to blur slightly due to the oilyness of it. It didn't matter how careful I was in my application; it still got in my eyes. It's funny because when writing this post I went to Malin + Goetz to look up what they claim this eye cream does and they say it doesn't migrate into the eyes!

Absolute lies. I'm pretty convinced this is just coconut oil despite what the ingredients say as it's somewhat solid in the morning and then after a shower it's this curdled gloopy mess that has separated from the warmth and you have to mix it back together again. This product had clearly gone off even when I received it back in February last year because even then when I quickly opened it, it was an off-white gel looking product with white granules in it. This is what it looks like on the website:

It has never looked like this. I've tried other things from this brand and been sorely disappointed by all of them. I really don't understand the extortionate price tag on them. I will definitely avoid this brand from now on.

Elizabeth Arden // Superstart Skin Renewal Booster Review

Elizabeth Arden // Superstart Skin Renewal Booster
RRP £45 for 30ml

This is a 5ml sample that I chose in the Feel Unique Pick 'n' Mix a couple of months ago. The service costs £3.95 for 5 samples.

First Impressions:

27th April 2020

I thought this was a serum but after reading the back I realised it said to be used before your serum, so right now I'm doing cleanse, tone, essence, booster, serum, eye cream, moisturiser then SPF. I've used it twice so far and I actually really like it. It's a lightweight gel that absorbs super fast but it doesn't feel drying. I have no idea what it's supposed to but I love adding products to my routine.

Usage

First use - 26th April 2020

Last use - 8th May 2020

2nd May 2020

I've been enjoying this product so much that I've just purchased four 5ml samples off eBay for £5. I really can't afford to be spending £45 every month on a serum but fortunately a lot of the 5ml samples go regularly on eBay for 99p. I've been using it morning and night before my serum and my skin is just glowing. Although that could also be the combination of this and the Ceramide capsules. I only have 2 of those left and they're just so expensive 😥

Would I buy it: Yes.

Overall Impressions:

What a fantastic product. I now have six 5ml samples thanks to eBay which has effectively given me a £45 full size product. In total it cost me £10. I've set up an alert now that emails me when more of them are posted on eBay and I will continue to keep buying the samples. After I ran out of the first sample on 8th May, I didn't open another until a week later to see if it had any effect on my skin; I had terrible skin that week. This booster just seems to 'boost' the effectiveness of other products and helps remove the dark redness left behind by angry spots. My skin looks flawless when I use this. I can't recommend it enough.