Four New Moisturisers: Plump, Brighten, Hydrate & Rest

I’ve been putting some new skincare releases to the test in recent months and discovered some great multi tasking moisturisers. While I generally depend on what goes beneath my moisturiser to actively improve the appearance of my skin, these four have been particularly impressive. Most are quite rich and best suited to 30+ dry and/or dehydrated skin.

THE INSTANT PLUMPER - I’m always excited when Indeed Labs release a new product and this one didn’t disappoint. Indeed Labs Fillume is a volumising moisturiser that gives skin an instant boost of mega hydration and plumps it up at surface level for a temporarily smoother, more relaxed effect. It works for me and I’m saving it for special occasions! NB just to keep things real, this won’t plump up deep creases and folds, but makes fine lines and pores look less obvious.

SKIN BRIGHTENING - If you find that your skin looks increasingly dull throughout the day, you may like to try Vichy Liftactiv Supreme, (£10 off at Escentual) with optical correctors to give skin a more radiant appearance. Designed to keep skin looking its best all day (I couldn’t really measure this accurately), this rich cream visibly improves the appearance of my skin - instantly and temporarily - with a similar effect to applying a primer. It’s quite strongly scented, which might not be for everyone, but left my skin well hydrated and makeup applies beautifully on top, with notably less foundation required when tested on one side of my face for comparison.

SOOTHING & HYDRATING - I first tried Aveda Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Rich Creme shortly after a reaction to another product (none of the above) when I was feeling quite apprehensive about dipping into anything new. From first use, I knew I was on to a good thing as it felt instantly soothing and so nourishing on my skin. Although quite a rich cream, the texture doesn’t feel at all heavy and sinks in quickly - a definite favourite.

NIGHT CREAM - Many skincare products now claim to sculpt and firm facial contours, which I just don’t buy into, but aside from that, Clinique Repairwear Sculpting Night Cream is a gorgeous moisturiser that I’ve been reaching for a lot. I don’t typically use a specific night cream - and am pretty sure I could get away with this during the day too - but it does feel like a treat to use and has a luxurious, silky cream-gel texture that my face drinks up gratefully. Not a dry patch in sight!

Which moisturiser are you loving right now?

3 Moisturisers for Sensitive Skins: Dr Hauschka, Pai & Organic Surge

Hello everyone, I’ve missed being here & chatting with you all. Three days feels like a long time for me to be away from my blog, ridic as that may sound.  Today I want to talk about three great moisturisers for sensitive skins.  While I don’t think my own skin is particularly sensitive, it occasionally suffers from product overload through testing so much skincare to review on these pages.  I then feel the need to strip things back to a very gentle, simple procedure and show my wee face some extra tlc.  That’s where these guys roll in, so I thought it might be helpful for you to hear about them.

Dr Hauschka Melissa Day Cream - This award-winning product is designed to meet the needs of sensitive combination skins, soothing redness and moisturising where needed. Rich in lemon balm and herb extracts, it smells amazing and feels gentle and fresh on my skin.  All ingredients used in Dr.
Hauschka products are cultivated under fair trade conditions.  I’ve recently discovered that the brand produces makeup products too - have any of you tried them?

Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream - I bought this just after Christmas time when my skin had taken the toll of over indulgence and was practically squealing ‘no more selection boxes!’ In recent months I’d also developed a Rudolph situation, in that my nose would get red and hot when I’m stressed or after a glass of wine!  The jury is still out on whether this could be Rosacea or some kind of allergic reaction, but it’s pretty horrible and I hoped this product might help. Admittedly I haven’t been good at using it consistently to see if it helps with that just yet, but it is beautifully soothing. I hold Pai Skincare in the highest esteem and always send sensitive skin sufferers in their direction. A special thank you to Sarah, its founder, for her patient advice on my nose situation!

Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser - Made with 94% naturally derived ingredients and certified organic extracts, this lightweight moisturiser contains a blend of hydrators and antioxidants  including essential lemon, rosemary, sweet orange and sweet almond oils.  Despite this range of lovely ingredients, its fragrance is barely distinguishable, which will appeal to many.  It sinks into my skin instantly, unlike some natural products, leaving a perfect base for makeup.  This entire range is brilliantly priced for the quality and ethical production.

Blessed with skin that tends towards dryness, I’d normally reach for richer products, but when it feels a little fragile, I much prefer lighter textures that won’t overload it or leave any residue. If I do feel the need for extra hydration, I just layer Hydraluron Moisture Booster underneath (detailed review coming soon).

If you’d like to read more about why I think it’s important to Give Your Skin a Break, I wrote a guest post on the subject on Modesty Brown’s blog here, one of my fave reads - well worth a visit and a follow!

I have lots of new products to write about this week, which I’m excited to share with you… ohhhh!  Hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend (I’m still full of roast chicken & spuds!) xx