It's been absolutely years since a toner (in the traditional sense) formed part of my skincare routine but my newfound love of Korean beauty has seen me finally reintroduce this step. I've introduced this as a step during my nighttime routine to ensure that I'm removing every trace of my cleanser before continuing on with the rest of my routine, although I stand by the fact that I haven't done this for years so it's more a "nice to add" rather than something I view as a necessity. Etude House Soon Jung pH5.5 Relief Toner appealed to me as a hydrating toner (it contains glycerin and panthenol ..read more

The Body Shop's Body Butters are an iconic staple product for the brand and have been a bestseller ever since their introduction way back in 1992. Confession time.. I'm actually not the biggest fan and prefer body butters from other brands. I've historically found the ones from The Body Shop to be a little too far on the greasy side for my liking and I also find them to be pricey. That said, I thought I'd keep an open mind and revisit for the purpose of today's review, not least given the tough times the brand's currently experiencing. I've opted to trial the Shea version which is designed to ..read more

I really like the brand, Youth To The People and having been impressed with the products I've tried to date, picked up the Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask from Cult Beauty. I treat my skin to a weekly home facial (you may be familiar with my regular "Sunday Facial" series on Instagram) and inevitably, this incorporates a detox mask in one form or another so I felt justified in the purchase. It combines 2% niacinamide with triple clay, algae, salicylic acid and kombucha and is designed to purge pores of excess oil and dirt to leave skin clear, calm and balanced, without disrupting the skin ..read more

Over the last year, I've really discovered and been impressed by Korean skincare products and notably SPF. Cosrx is one of the better known K-beauty brands here in the West, thanks to their cult snail mucin essence and they're also more readily available than some, for example, some of the brand's products are stocked in Boots so today, I thought I'd share my thoughts on their Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+. Typically for a K-beauty brand, the packaging is fairly miniamalist and almost clinical in design although it clearly communicates what the product is. The directions are clear and state ..read more

This is the first product I've tried from ARKIVE, the haircare brand by hairstylist Adam Reed. It's a brand which has appealed to me, despite typically finding it difficult to be excited by haircare, as I've heard positive feedback from those who have tried it. The brand is a certified B Corporation and products are both cruelty free and vegan friendly, with recycled plastic used in the packaging. I was sent ARKIVE's All Together Now Co Cleanse for review. It's been a while since a co-wash featured in my hair routine. They were popular a few years ago and at the time, I was intrigued by the ma ..read more

Molton Brown are a long-time favourite brand of mine for pampering hand creams and I always think they make great gift ideas too. Today's review is of the Flora Luminare Hand Cream. On first impressions, the tube hand cream is aesthetically pleasing. I love that it features my favourite colour, yellow, to impart an instant sense of happiness! Plus, it's practical as it means it's easy to find in a crowded handbag. The 40ml size is travel friendly and the twist off lid means that it's secure from leakages. The fragrance is described as "London via Tahiti", tying in with the sunshine yellow pac ..read more

I really like the brand, Allies of Skin, thanks to their curated collection of science-led and quality products. The Multi Hyaluronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum initially appealed to me as a multi-level hyaluronic (this means that it has different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid to effectively penetrate the skin) but I also appreciate the inclusion of 8 antioxidants, Resveratrol and Peptides, which makes it a brilliant multi-tasking serum, ideal for those days when you're short on time and want a streamlined skincare routine. These multiple benefits also go some way towards justifying the ..read more

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm is one of the affordable brand's bestsellers and it's easy to see why. According to the description, the cleanser is formulated with 3% oat kernel oil to help maintain skin moisture levels as well as helping to smooth and reduce blackheads. It also contains 1% oat powder which helps to reduce redness and irritation. Despite the wallet friendly price tag, The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm is presented inside of a box. Inside, you'll find a generously sized tube in the brand's signature monochrome design. The descriptions on the tube make it foolproof to use, c ..read more

I'm baaaack! I posted a poll on my Instagram and the general consensus was that a reignition of my blog, which I first started over a decade ago, would be welcomed... so after a much-too-long hiatus, here we are again! My plan is to focus on product reviews and I'll try to post a new review every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It seems fitting to kick things off with a review of one of my favourite products... my favourite SPF. It couldn't come at a better time either, with a recent furore splitting social media into two camps: the SPF devotees (where I sit) and those who are less keen, to vary ..read more

I always think of L'Oreal as offering good quality haircare products at affordable prices, which are usually fantastic value for money. I put this down to the group owning premium brands, e.g. Kerastase, which invest in research and these investments subsequently trickle down to the more wallet friendly brands within the family. As such, I always like to keep an eye out for offers on L'Oreal haircare (the brand is frequently on offer so I tend never to buy at full price). Having previously enjoyed the Fibrology Hair Mask , I thought I'd try the conditioner from the same range which I spotted ..read more