2014 Favourites: Skincare

Skincare products are always difficult for me to find as I have sensitive skin, prone to occasional eczema, and my skin is dry. Although this year I have found a lot of skincare products that I have LOVED from fantastic brands!

Facial Cleanser Winner: REN Hydracalm Cleansing Gel 

Runners Up: Burts Bees Sensitive Cleanser & RMK Cleansing Balm

Micellar Water Winner: Bioderma Hydrabio

Runner Up: Nivea Sensitive Cleansing Water

Face Scrub Winner: Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Scrub 

Face Mask Winners: Bioderma Soothing Mask & Neutrogena 2 in 1 Mask

Runner Up: Botanicals Balancing Mask 

Face Cream/Moisturiser Winner: Nivea Sensitive Day/Night Creams 

Runners Up: Bioderma Atoderma Zinc Ultra-Soothing Cream & The Body Shop Aloe Day Cream

Facial Oils Winner: Rodial Stemcell Superfood Oil

Runner Up: Bodhi + Birch Desert Rose Facial Oil

Lip Balm Winners: Nuxe Reve De Miel & Rodial Glam Balm

Runner Ups: Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm & Nivea Hydro Care

Eczema Care Winner: Protopic 0.1% for my facial eczema

Runner Up: Betnovate 0.1% for the eczema on my hand 

There are my 2014 skincare favourites, no toner or spot treatment as I don't really use either but here are a couple of skincare products that I love but didn't quite make the cut: 

The Bodhi + Birch Neroli Facial Oil is gorgeous but I just prefer the rose version most of the time; also I love my clarisonic but I haven't been using it as much as I was last year. 

What skincare products will be on your 2014 favourites list? Have you tried any of the products I have mentioned? 

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November Beauty Favourites

I cannot believe it is December already! This year has gone so quickly! Now it is time for my November favourites which is a little later this month as I've had so many blog posts to publish, including my big international christmas giveaway - don't forgot to enter! Here are the skincare, body care, makeup, haircare and makeup tools I have been loving throughout November. 

Firstly, skincare. I love been obsessed with the Rodial Stemcell Superfood Facial Oil for the past few months, it has quickly become a daily staple in my skincare routine. It gives my skin an instant moisture boost and radiance although it absorbs fairly quickly and doesn't leave my skin greasy - check out my full review, here. My next skincare favourite is the fantastic Nivea Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Water which is just as amazing as Bioderma, in my opinion. It leaves my skin so smooth, soft and cleansed without stripping the skin - however I wish it was better at removing waterproof mascara! My final skincare favourite for November is the Body Shop Aloe Soothing Day Cream which I have almost finished. This day cream is so hydrating and smoothing, although I assume that is because it contains silicones (which aren't amazing for the skin) but its a great day cream for those bad skin days. 

Onto my haircare favourite of the month, the Moroccan Oil Extra Volume Conditioner which I received as a sample from Hairtrade to review. It is a massive 500ml bottle, it smells DIVINE and it is incredibly moisturising yet it doesn't weigh my hair down or make it greasy! I think I have found my perfect conditioner! Full review coming soon. 

I only have one body care favourite and it is the gorgeous Body Shop Glazed Apple Hand Cream (full review here) which doesn't irritate my eczema at all, it smells really nice and it absorbs quickly - what more could you ask for in a hand cream. Also it is so inexpensive!

My only makeup favourite of the month is a mascara! Shock horror! It is the Rimmel 100% Waterproof Mascara which gives natural but fluttery long lashes instantly and it definitely is waterproof; it is also very affordable. 

My last beauty favourites for November are makeup brushes, the first is from Bare Minerals and it is their Flawless Face Brush which is one of the softest brushes I have used and it is travel sized so it is great to keep in your handbag. I received it as part of a christmas starter kit from House of Fraser (full review here). My last favourite is a powder brush from Spectrum Brushes. I have reviewed their brushes previously and I cannot rate them enough! The brushes are cruelty free, incredibly soft and affordable. I would definitely recommend them. I recently bought a set and some individual brushes from their sale, some of which were only 99p!

There are my beauty favourites, what beauty products have you been loving recently? Have you tried any of the products featured in my post?

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Review: Rodial Stemcell Super Food Range

A few weeks ago I was very kindly sent five items from the Rodial Stemcell Super Food range which I was so excited to try! I've tried the original Rodial Glambalm which I adore. I was interested to see how this range would work for my dry, sensitive skin type. For more information on my disclaimer, click here. Firstly, can we have a moment to appreciate the gorgeous, luxe purple packaging! Any product from the range would make an amazing gift, yes, I'm thinking about Christmas gifts, well halloween is over so it's Christmas Central now...here are my thoughts. 

Lets start with the *Rodial Stemcell Super Food Hand Cream (£19, 40ml) which again has the same pretty packaging. I have used so many hand creams as my hands can become very dry and I also have a large patch of eczema on my left hand which can be very sore, dry and red/noticeable. The hand cream doesn't irritate my eczema at all even when my eczema is broken and sore. The hand cream leaves my skin so incredibly soft and smooth; also the hydration lasts for a while. The hand creme has a lovely light rose scent. Overall I have to rate it: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Next up the *Rodial Stemcell Super Food Glam Balm Lip (£19, 10g). I have tried the original glambalm which I love and this one is the same! The lip balm is more like a lip treatment, it is thick and so moisturising and nourishing, I LOVE it! The pot isn't great for travel with regards to hygiene but I do have the tube version (a magazine freebie) which I have been keeping in my bag. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

100 uses, one balm - is that even possible...yes! The *Rodial Stemcell Super Food Glam Balm Multi (£35) which is the wonder product. The balm can be used 100 different ways, a leaflet that comes with the balm notes all 100 uses. I have been using the multi balm as a nail/cuticle cream, lip balm, as an intensive foot cream and as a general balm for dryness. It can also be used on the bust to help firm the skin and on the ends of dry/frazzled hair to moisturise and add shine. Before use you do have to shake/gentle squish the tube to mix the balm and oil. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Now onto the facial skincare, the *Rodial Stemcell Super Food Facial Oil (£60, 30ml) is one of my very favourite products from this range (although it is quite apparent that I genuinely love them all!). I have been using it twice a day, underneath my facial moisturiser. It smells nice and absorbs really quickly leaving the skin super moisturised, smooth and nourished without feeling very greasy or oily which is fantastic. I also love the pipette dropper, a little goes a very long way and the oil gives my skin a plumped, fresh glow! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

The final product is the *Rodial Stemcell Super Food Day Cream (£49, 50ml) which contains spf15, a great addition as I always forget to apply a separate SPF. The day cream feels light on the skin although it is moisturising especially when used on top of the facial oil. It also contains micro shimmer which gives the skin an instant radiance that looks very natural and beautiful - which is definitely needed during the colder months when my skin can look quite dull. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Overall, I am so impressed with the Stemcell range - the packaging is gorgeous as are all of the products! Also none of the products irritate my eczema which is amazing! My favourite products include the facial oil, day cream, hand cream and lip balm...I would definitely recommend this range if you have dry, dehydrated and or sensitive skin. 

Have you tried any products from Rodial? What are you favourite autumn/winter skincare products? 

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