Some more skincare...and a candle.

Hello again!

As promised, here is part two of my skincare posts!

So, REN.

A brand I have been itching (not literally!) to try for a while and which one of my favourite (and the most skincare-savvy) bloggers around - GhostParties aka Kate (here) features time and time again - how could I not purchase?

I love their ingredient ethos (see here) and their commitment as a brand to the environment, not testing on animals and production of great, natural products which actually perform.

After much deliberation I decided upon the Radiance line of products as my first foray into the world of REN.

I was actually lucky enough to be gifted these products for my birthday in November.

Here they are: REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (50ml) and Radiance Perfection Serum (30ml).

And..here's my thoughts.

Let's start with the serum. Firstly, this stuff smells so fruity its unreal - although upon inspection of the ingredients (they include orange, pineapple, grape, lemon, grapefruit and lingonberry extracts), its hardly surprising. It has a thin liquid texture and applies nicely to a slightly tacky finish. 

I enjoy applying this before bed and under my moisturiser in the morning along with my La Roche Posay Effaclar products (see previous post). Using this serum and my Effaclar I have seen an improvement in skin texture, tone and yes, you guessed it - radiance. 

My skin looks brighter overall and this makes me very happy :)

I use this 2-3 times a week.

Secondly, the mask. This also smells fruity and is a thick orange coloured gel which when applied is quite sticky.

 I leave it on as instructed for around 10 minutes on a freshly cleansed face before using the muslin cloth supplied to remove with warm water. I also use this in the evening before bed as I feel like the product absorbed into the skin has more of a chance to work its magic overnight!

In the morning my skin looks revitalised and I feel less obliged to pile on the foundation, something which also makes me very happy!

I use this once a week.

Both products get a big thumbs up from me and I shall definitely be purchasing more from REN and the Radiance line in the future - my eye is now on the AHA Resurfacing Concentrate which is said to be incredible - read Kate's glowing review here.

Two random things I love about REN:

-The products are colour coded by range/skintype. I love me some colour coding!                         (organising obsessive, me?) 

-They are super helpful - they repeatedly say on their website that if you have a question or problem to contact them via email for a response - and here's the best bit - if you would like a REN skincare plan tailormade for you by one of their skincare experts you are invited to contact them at info@renskincare.com.

Amaze.

Here's where you can purchase these lovely products:

UK - Serum £35 here and Mask £30 here or at Selfridges, Liberty, Space NK or John Lewis Stores.

US - in Sephora stores or through their website as above.

 REN will ship to most countries worldwide - see information here.

-

I also just wanted to put a note in here to tell you about the first candle I've ever bought - and it's love at first burn!

Here's the beauty:

This is the 'Water' scent from the Calvin Klein collection of candles. 

They are available in single or triple wick and I picked mine up in Homesense (TK Maxx owned home product store) here in the UK for around £12.

It smells heavenly and has burnt so cleanly and evenly its amazing. I have had this baby burning for hour upon hour in the past month or so and it is yet to hit the half-empty mark.

While researching these candles online (and looking for more - not much luck there sadly :( ), I discovered the secret to their brillance - they are created by Laura Slatkin of Slatkin and Co.

Now, I may not have ever bought a candle before but years of reading beauty blogs and following beauty channels on YouTube had my ears pricking up at the mention of the word Slatkin.

You may know Slatkin and Co as the people behind everyone's favourite candles - the ones sold at Bath and Body Works in the US. There is major hype around these at the moment and I wish I could get my hands on them (come to the UK B&BW!!).

 I digress.

Basically, this candle is beautiful for the price and if you have a TK Maxx or Homesense store near you, you might just find one!

Next on my candle hit list is Neom...any scent recommendations?

Let me know your favourite candle and if you have any thoughts on REN I would love to hear them!

NB - I'm off to Ireland next week to visit my uni chums so expect more posts on my return - massive Inglot haul anyone??
Also - please go check out Kate's blog - she's my fave!

 :)

Tweet me: @alliemac11

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My Skin Saviours - Part One

Like many 20 somethings I seem to be in a constant 'not talking to you' argument with my skin.

I have suffered with blemishes, persistant blackheads, dry flaky patches and generally all round annoying facial skin issues since I was around 14.

I distinctly remember feeling the need to cleanse my face with soap one day and seemingly breaking out in spots the next day - a cycle which I have been stuck in ever since. (I also blamed the soap I used entirely and refused to touch it for years afterwards...haha).

I have never really been able to put my skin into one of the standard classifications - it has never seemed to fall directly under a single category (oily, dry, combination), rather preferring to span all possible definitions, leaving me with spotty, oily nosed, dry, flaky, open pored, congested and frankly unhappy skin.

Nothing I have tried in the past has impressed me immensely, nor sorted out more than one of these issues without amplifying another problem in the process.

Recently, I have become more interested in skincare and more open to trying new brands and more importantly, splashing my hard-earned cash on more expensive products in my quest for great skin.

My research led me to two brands I particularly wanted to try - French skincare brand, La Roche Posay; and British 'clean skincare' brand, REN.

I am now a woman OBSESSED.

Allow me to introduce you to my current skincare saviours.

First up - La Roche Posay

La Roche Posay - Effaclar Duo 40ml (UK US) and Effaclar K 30ml (UK US)

These little beauties have quite literally changed my skin. I was hesitant to try them at first, due mainly to them being targeted at 'oily skin' - a camp which I wouldn't say I fully fall into.

I purchased regardless and I am so glad I did.

My skin has honestly not been this clear since I was 14 - and I can visibly see and feel a vast improvement in  the overall tone and texture of my skin.

I did fear that these products would be too harsh and cause already dry areas to resemble the Sahara (or as my good friend puts it - 'Jesus' flip flop'!) but after some initial mild adjustment there has been no problem - less flaky if anything!

I would say that perhaps both products are not necessary - one or the other would probably have the same effect - however I got both on a great '2 for £..' deal. They seem pretty similar products to be honest, with the only differences I can pick out being:

1. Effaclar Duo is 40ml where as K is 30ml - they are the same price in the UK however Duo is more expensive in the US.
2. Effaclar K seems to be more concentrated as a product overall - in that it seems to be stronger and more effective (although this may be just me).
3. The application instructions are more or less identical, stating that they can be used morning and/or evening - I have been using Effaclar K in the evenings before bed and Duo under my moisturiser/makeup in the morning.

Basically, in my opinion you don't need both!

They smell quite strong, a sort of medicinal, clinical smell but nothing off putting - at least I don't think so! 

Both have a cloudy, liquid consistency - somewhat similar to a serum.

More pros than cons and a flippin' amazing product! I'm sure I will be picking up more from La Roche 

Posay - definitely the Effaclar range and perhaps more - in the future!

If you've tried any of their products and loved (or hated!) them, let me know in the comments below, I love a good recommendation! What are your current skincare saviours?

:)

Tweet me: @alliemac11
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