Una Brennan Super Fan

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Renew Cleansing Oil, £10.99 for 200ml.

It's no secret how much I love and trust the Super Facialist by Una Brennan range, specifically the Tea Flower products designed to combat combination and oily skins. I've had good experiences with both the Foaming cleanser and the mattifying moisturiser (I've gone through several tubes of this myself and also carry it in my makeup kit) so when I saw a product that I hadn't spotted before, I had to give it a go.

I am a cleansing oil newbie, and I haven't been disappointed, infact I'd say I am pretty much converted and will be seeking to use them more. Many of you who have oily or combination skin similar to mine might have been worried or put off by the word 'oil', sending you into panic with visions of greasy skin and clogged oily pores, however with the cold weather change setting in, it's important to maintain and lock as much good moisture into your skin as possible, and using a harsh or foaming cleanser is probably not the way to achieve this (though of course there are exceptions).

This cleansing oil lathers a little, into a soft layer of small bubbles when massaged onto the face with warm water. It rinses off easily and doesn't leave a greasy film behind, which is what I was most concerned would happen. Alas, it doesn't! In the evenings I double cleanse with this and my skin is left feeling soft and nourished, not dry or tight. It has quite an overwhelming scent, sort of citrusy, though my fiance did insist the other night that I smelt of oranges. Either way, it's pretty fruity. My skin is never perfect (I'm hoping my new Clarisonic Mia 2 will change this) but this cleanser has certainly calmed my, at times, irritated and sore skin and seems to balance my oily t-zone. It hasn't tightened my pores, which is one of the reasons I like her foaming Tea Flower cleanser, however I reckon they could make a pretty sweet duo. It is gentle, and something I would recommend to all skin types.

As with all of the Una Brennan range, it is free from nasty ingredients such as mineral oil and parabens. The majority of my skincare regime is completely free of these ingredients generally, I have absolutely no desire to go out and buy a £40 Clarins moisturiser bursting with the stuff. This one contains lots of seed oil extracts- sunflower & olive along with more exciting passionfruit, cucumber and rosehip.

PS I've been absent again. Thankyou for putting up with me and for continuing to read my blog, I spent a few weeks back and forth to London (makeup lyf- assisting on a very exciting campaign that I will tell you more about on its release) and then been ill for a week and a half inbetween which has been boring as hell. i.e. not ideal circumstances for blogging, but I am feeling better and looking forward to sharing more stuff with you over the coming weeks!

Thanks for reading,

E.

Botanics Cleansing Balm

Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm, £8.99 for 65ml.

I'm on a budget at the moment, and it has hit me hardest when trying to buy skincare. I've got enough makeup to last me years, but skincare inevitably runs out and needs to be replaced. 
When I spotted a budget cleansing balm, claiming to be 97% organic I thought it sounded promising. From Botanics, Boots' own range of affordable skincare with a nod to the natural, this cleansing balm contains ingredients such as jojoba oil, almond oil and shea butter and comes in a 65ml tub.

Similarly to other cleansing balms I have used, the product is a stiff substance, that massaged into the palms of your hands under warm running water remains thick in consistency but semi melts, ready to massage into the face. It has quite a 'natural' scent that is difficult to describe, not overwhelming like the Emma Hardie balm, that although delicious, smelt too strong for my liking. It is a deep yellow, almost green in colour and comes with a large muslin cloth.

For reviews sake, I tried using this without a muslin cloth. It is so thick that it is near impossible to remove with hands and water, a residue remains. The cloth is essential as the muslin grips and removes the product with ease. My skin feels soft and hydrated after using this, but no matter how hard I try it always ends up in my eyes and although it doesn't sting or feel uncomfortable, it makes my vision cloudy for about ten minutes! 
I still use this every evening, it is nice to use and I would probably repurchase as it is gentle and makes my skin feel supple. Plus it is free from nasty ingredients and is paraben free which is always a bonus in my eyes.

Give this a go if you are interested in cleansing balm or if you are into organic products :-)

Thanks for reading,

E.