Happy Bank Holiday everyone! It's pretty gloomy here in London, so I thought I'd sit down to do some blogging about my newfound skin care gem from Marks & Spencers. I've been considering purchasing a serum for some time now, since hearing that they penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, essentially nourishing it from the inside out and thinking "yep, my skin could definitely use a hit of that". So whilst in M&S I thought I'd have a little peek at what was on offer in their skin care range (I actually went in to help my nan shop for a scarf, but somehow managed to end up in the beauty section.. it must be like a gravitational pull) I picked up the Super Active Face Serum from the Pure range and it took me no more than about 10 seconds to decide I wanted it. The serum promises to smooth and firm the skin for a more radiant complexion, but equally as important, it contains 95% ingredients from nature, 100% essential oil fragrances, British grown ingredients and is manufactured in a British eco factory. It is also free from the usual nasties such as artificial fragrance, parabens and mineral oil. Great, right? But it wasn't until I got home to open the packaging that I was truly impressed.
The Pure range supports the Bee Friendly Project and explains on the inside of the packaging why bees are so vital to the production of much of the food we eat. The Bee Friendly Project aim to help create the right environment for healthier, more sustainable bee colonies throughout the UK. In using Starflower oil in their products, the Pure range is assisting the Project in achieving this, as the Starflower plant cannot exist without pollination and farmers encourage bee keepers to erect two hives per acre. Another impressive factor is that using British ingredients allows the Pure range to support the UK farming community and reduce their carbon footprint.* Okay, so it's clear I am in awe of the ethics of the Pure range, but what about the product itself?
As with all the products in the Pure line, the Super Actice Face Serum contains four main ingredients, starflower oil, blackcurrant oil, camelina oil and oat oil. The packaging doesn't say a great deal about the properties of these oils, other than this is an anti-aging product, so I did a little research on google and here's what I came up with. Starflower oil is known to infuse moisture and smoothness into the skin, whilst helping keep signs of aging at bay, blackcurrant oil is an anti-oxidative, camelina oil increases skin elasticity and oat oil soothes and aids the skin's moisture barrier (it may be best not to quote me on this info though, my research wasn't thorough) I have been using the serum twice a day under my moisturiser for a couple of weeks now and have noticed my skin feels smooth, supple and looks in better condition. I can't comment on the anti-aging claims of the product as I'm only 19, but my skin certainly does have a plumpness about it and my dry patches have been reduced. The serum is very light, glides over the skin easily and absorbs quickly with no residue, in fact after it has absorbed you'd barely know you had put anything onto your skin, it is that lightweight. Consistency wise it is quite thin and feels like it is water based (it may be, I'm not 100% sure) because of this is does have a tendency to drip off your fingers if you're not careful but since the consistency is possibly what lends such a feather light texture to the serum, I'm not complaining. My only gripe is that I dislike the smell, but as it is fairly subtle I have stopped noticing it with continued use.
Overall I'm a bit in love with this product and it has quickly become a staple in my routine. Since I haven't tried many serums, when this one runs out I think I'll experiment with some different ones, but if they don't live up to this M&S offering I'll be repurchasing! I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything else from the Pure range as it all looks lovely and I'm sure a few more products will make their way into my regime soon.
M&S Pure Super Active Face Serum 30ml for £11 here
Ellie xo
*all information from packaging
As I mentioned in a previous post, I was looking for a facial mask and moisturizer with spf to complement my skin care regime. So when I saw feelunique were having a 15% off Easter promotion, I definitely could not resist ordering myself some goodies. The service was good plus I received free delivery as I had spent over £10 and some samples, lovely!
Deep Steep Honeydew & Spearmint Body Butter:
When it comes to body butters, I'm after something rich, nourishing and non-artificial feeling. I usually go for Palmer's Cocoa Butter but I fancied a change and deep steep's honeydew & spearmint body butter seemed to check all the boxes. Deep steep's products really appealed to me because they are all natural, cruelty free, chemical and preservative free and also use organic shea and cocoa butter. When applied to the skin, the body butter feels luxurious, it's very thick and salves on nicely. My skin felt really smooth, soft and hydrated and I adore the refreshing scent. Trying some of their other products is definitely on my beauty bucket list. £7.95 for 177ml
Dead Sea Spa Magik Mud Mask:
I wanted a facial mask to use once a week for a really deep cleanse and since this one got good reviews, I decided to give it a whirl. The product boasts mud, salt and mineral extracts from the dead sea as well as certified organic ingredients, which I like. It claims to deep cleanse, remove impurities, soften skin and give it a healthy glow. I can't say I'm completely sold. My skin did feel squeaky clean but I was disappointed that the mask didn't manage clear out my clogged pores around my t-zone and my skin felt a little tight after using it. However, I did get receive comments saying my skin looked very refreshed. I think this may be a product which requires weekly use over a period of a few months to notice any difference so I will persevere. £7.70 for 75ml
Green People Day Solution Cream SPF15:
Out of all the products I bought, this is probably the one I am most pleased with. As I said, I was looking for a moisturizer with SPF to protect against premature aging. I'm only 19 but I think it's very important to protect your skin against harsh environmental factors to keep it in tip top condition. I chose this product for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is vegan, contains 85% certified organic ingredients, alcohol free and as a company Green People donate 10% of their net profit to charity. Secondly, the Day Solution Cream claims it protects, nourishes and balances the skin and is rich in minerals and essential fatty acids. Lastly, the green tea and chamomile in the cream have powerful antioxidant activity which defend against free radicals, which are thought to be a contributing factor to aging. This cream is on the thicker side and applies very well. The light scent is nice and it leaves my skin feeling velvety soft. On the whole this product gets a huge thumbs up from me. £14.35 for 50ml
Samples:
Because I spent over a certain amount, I got to choose a couple of samples to try. I chose Vichy Skin Idealizer Serum, Glow Overnight Resurfacing Serum and Ruby Crystal Retinol Hydracreme. I haven't tried the latter two yet but the Vichy serum is lovely. I've been thinking about needing a serum for a bit and using this has shown me that it'd be a great addition to my regime. I definitely noticed a difference in my skin and loved the slight iridescence it had. At £29.95 for 30ml it's a bit out of my price range so I'll be looking for something a bit more affordable.
Ellie xo
