Hall of Fame - Darphin 8-Flower Nectar Oil and a Meet'n'Greet in John Lewis, Kingston

As much as I loved meeting Paula Begoun, it was when she said 'Don't even get me started on french pharmacy brands!' that I knew we would never be bonded by facial oils. 

If I could only pick one country from which to buy all my skincare it would be France. And Darphin would be in my Top 3 (ooh maybe a top brand by country post is an idea?). 

The hardest part of choosing a Darphin product for the Hall of Fame is keeping it realistic and not listing 5 straight off the bat. For this particular post, I also had the Intral range on my desk, and I've already added the Purifying Balm, the first product I properly fell in love with. 

In the end, dear reader, I plumped for the 8-Flower Nectar Elixir. If you are a teenager, this may not be for you. In fact if you aren't concerned about lack of elasticity, dullness, fine lines and surface dehydration, one of the other oils would maybe be better. BUT: if you smoke, drink, live in the city etc - and are under 30, I'd still look into this. ANYWAY: back to the basics.

What is it?

'Purifies and rebalances your skin overnight so that wrinkles and lines are smoothed, your skin feels plumper and your complexion looks revitalised and more radiant.

Who is it for?

See intro paragraph but essentially anyone concerned with signs of ageing. All of them.

What’s in it?

Jojoba Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hexyldecanol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Jasmine Flower Extract, Iris Pallida Root Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Phytosterols, Date Seed Extract, Cranberry Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Patchouli Oil, Helichrysum Angustifolium Flower Oil, Lavender Oil, Orange Flower Oil, Beta-Carotene, Rose Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Rosewood Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Benzyl Acetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol <ILN40767>

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

essential oils

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

natural/vegan

Tested on animals/sold in countries that test on animals?

no/unknown

What's not in it?

mineral oil

synthetic fragrance

How do you use it?

'In the evening, apply five drops to face and neck'

That's great in theory, but this is an open neck so getting precisely 5 drops is harder than one might think. I tend to do a small 'dollop', like a 5p size - (dime for US peeps), therapist swipe, and massage into face.

What’s good about it?

It's just a really beautiful formulation that absorbs almost instantly, leaving no residue after application. Skin is plumped and glowing, fine lines disappear (if only for a while - obvs) and any products applied on top also seem to work brilliantly. Some people would have you believe that 'an oil is an oil' and that there are no differences between something like this and an oil you can buy from a health food shop. I politely disagree. The proof is in the processes. 

This refines, smooths, softens, increases suppleness and elasticity, restores vitality, and ultimately nourishes and moisturises.

What’s not so good about it?

It's £95.00. But: it should last between 9 months and a year if you use it a few times a week in the evenings.

Where to use in your routine?

P.M. - over serums and under moisturisers. Although you can obviously use this on its own, I'm a big fan of layering and this is great for 'sealing' the deal over an active, thinner, serum. I like a little moisturiser over this but that's more for how it feels than any huge added benefit.

8-Flower Nectar is £95.00 from Spacenk.com and £94.00 from JohnLewis.com (at time of writing)

If you watch my vlogs you'll know that I went to Paris with Darphin recently to check out their revamped Institut on Rue Saint-Honore. I wanted to do some prep work for what will be my last 'southern' meet-up for a while.

On Thursday 3rd December, I am going to be working in the beautiful new Darphin space (pictured above) in John Lewis in Kingston-upon-Thames. I'll be on counter from 5pm-8pm talking all things Darphin and skin. And basically just everything in-between.

Darphin are throwing in some added extras too:

• With every two products bought on the day, you will receive an exclusive gift from Darphin.
• A chance to win a bespoke selection of Darphin products (£200 value)
• Complimentary Darphin Hand and Arm Massages
• Darphin gift wrapping
• Complimentary refreshments

I hope to see some of you there!

John Lewis, Kingston.

Thursday 3rd December

5pm-8pm (until they throw me out)

The event at John Lewis is sponsored by Darphin, my review is my review.

Travel Bag - or 'How to turn a dehydrating flight into a spa session'

Last week I spent over 20 hours on an airplane. That's not much for some but it is for me. There are a few conditions that really compromise your skin - one of them is an airplane. All that recirculated air, no fresh air and everyone else's germs. Ugh.

The picture above is what I took last week, but the essence of it can be used and altered by anyone, with any skin type, on any budget.

Left to right:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Cleansing Wipes - for basic forehead, cheeks and chin makeup removal. I also had Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes which I love, but ran out of them on the plane. Any 'won't burn your face off' wipes will suffice. Yes, wipes on the blog. Fannies, flights and festivals.

Muji travel bottle filled with The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Soak one cotton pad at a time, hold gently over the eye and swipe across, down and away. Turn the cotton over and repeat - then do the same on the other eye. Please don't rub your eyes like you're using a pencil eraser.

aesop Travel bottle filled with P50. Your usual exfoliating toner/lotion goes here. Use a saturated cotton pad and swipe it all over. I take it across the entire face, under the eyes, the eyelids and over the lips (P50 tastes grim). You aren't getting a proper cleanse here so this can help you out.

Georgia Louise Hydrating Rose Water (travel pack size) - a good spray toner/mist will be your most used product on an airplane. A normal can of Evian will just dehydrate you - it just works better as a toner/floral water etc. Any good alcohol free toner can be used and decanted in to the spray version of the Muji bottles above. Spray liberally. And frequently. Even when the people around you look annoyed. :)

Chantecaille Nano Gold Energising Eye Serum - (gold tube lying flat) God I love this product. No sugar coating - it's prohibitively expensive - so much so that I literally save it for using when I fly. You can substitute any similar roller-ball-effect cooling eye product from pretty much anyone. The joy in using something like this when you fly - for me - is the cooling effect and the hygiene. Look Ma! No hands! I reapply this whenever I can feel I need it. No stiff directions - depends on the length of the flight, your skin etc..

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum  (small size) - love love love this. Massive antioxidant boost to help protect against what is essentially a locked room of free radicals and other people's germs. Also, smells delicious (not relevant, but joyous nonetheless) and gives you a lovely glow. Nice if like me, long-haul flying leaves you looking like you've given birth. No-one, NO-ONE steps off a plane looking like a supermodel. Not even supermodels. They go straight to the toilets in the VIP section with their 'team'. Stop with the nonsense.

Darphin 8 Flower Nectar  (GWP sample size) - I love this oil but only really use it if I have an overnight flight. Whack it on, try and sleep (or get no sleep, end up watching 3 films and exit plane as above) and let it give you a layer of lovely smelling protection. Substitute any of your normal facial oils that you can decant into smaller bottles.

Chantecaille Magnolia, Jasmine and Lily Healing Emulsion (GWP sample size) - lovely, light, super-hydrating, really good for layering. Substitute any good hydrating, light lotion. You can layer this over other products, add extra layers on during the flight without it rolling...just keeps you soft and hydrated.

Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser (trial pack size) - pretty self explanatory. If it's a night flight/red eye: cleanse, P50, spritz, eye, serum or oil, then this. Marvellous.

Ila Day Cream for Glowing Radiance (travel pack size) - OK so my travel products clearly have a theme. Call something 'glowing radiance' and I'm in. Arriving during the day? When the seat belt signs go on for landing I do a quick spritz and apply this. You can substitute any of your daytime moisturisers and decant into travel pots. If you're landing in a hot climate remember your SPF.

Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration (decanted into brown pot front right) - This is probably my current favourite for travel - really seems to keep the moisture in and doesn't 'roll' when you layer. The citrus scent is again brilliant for being up in the Gods with no air.

Carmex/Duwop LipVenom - standard lip and a slightly more 'zingy' one to wake me up when necessary!

Chantecaille Gold Energizing Eye Recovery Mask - these are new. They're nice - but to be honest, I much prefer the roller. It's amazing.




*purchases and samples - no affiliates

Cheat Sheet - Sudden breakouts - what to do and what to do it with

Last week happened to be half term and coincided with me falling off the 'face' wagon. You know what I mean, you drink things you know you shouldn't (coke), eat things you know you shouldn't (Kettle chips I'm looking at YOU) - and unbeknownst to me, I was also pre-menstrual.
You'd think after having periods for 30+ years I'd see the thing coming. But NO.
I couldn't figure out why I was so tired and craving all the bad things - I even took an energy supplement to see me through - with catastrophic results* - more of which later.

I digress.

Consequently I woke up on Sunday morning with my period and a random attack of zits that would make the most hormonally-challenged teen proud (cry).

I had 3 particularly attractive (what I call) 'throbbing cysts' that perched happily right in the middle of my face - just in time for a week full of appointments with clients. You know, the appointments where I advise people how to have great skin? Yes, those.

I immediately went into my usual plan of action - and as I've been talking about it a lot with clients on appointments I thought it may help some of you who suffer from those extremely irritating red spots/welts/cysts/whiteheads/swellings - anything really that comes on in a hurry and tries to teach you who is Boss. Rude. If the cause is unrelated to food/changes in diet or routine or you simply don't know why your skin is reacting...try this anyway.

First things first - food:

• Pop an antihistamine (assuming you have no medical contraindications). Antihistamines job is to calm the redness and 'put out the fire'. Chlorphenamine maleate is better for the skin problems than cetirizine. This translates as Piriton over Zyrtec/Clariton - but ask your chemist/read the boxes. Technically of course, antihistamines do the same thing, I just found a slightly better result with the Piriton. To each their own.
• Be honest about any dietary changes you've had and make adjustments. For me this means no coke or crisps - for a lot of the people I've seen in the office it means the 3 C's. Coffee (the extravagant kind that involves shots/cream/syrup), Coke and Cadbury's. Sadly you need to get rid.
• Drink water likes it going out of fashion. Still. No fizzy. (Although fizzy is obviously my favourite. It would be.)
• Ingest fish oil and salmon like you haven't eaten in weeks. My default 'fix my face' eating plan is pretty much anything Dr Perricone mentions in his 3 Day Diet. I tend to go overboard but in all honesty, nothing works as quickly for me as this eating regime. Dr P really is the King of the anti-inflammatory diet. He pioneered it when everyone thought he was crazy and has stuck to his guns to be proven correct. Read all his books. You won't regret it.
• If you are vegetarian and fish isn't an option you need flax/Udo's oil and should binge on seeds and nuts high in omegas. Flax, walnuts and soy are your friends.
• No sugar.
• Minimal dairy - and dairy should always always be organic full fat.

Routine:

• Evening cleanse is key. Balm/oil cleanse the skin. Make sure you've rinsed properly.
• Acid tone. Make sure you go over the spots/cysts really well. If they are bleeding, go over them until the acid quells the bleeding, which it should. Don't be traumatised by a little blood, work your skin normally.
• Apply something topically to the area - my go-to is Aesop's Control gel. It contains vit c, niacinamide and salicylic acid but its in an aloe base so it calms, gets rid of the redness and hydrates - as opposed to harsher products designed to 'dry-out' spots. They don't need drying out, they need nourishment.
• Apply a facial oil. One designed for a combi/oily skin is ideal but in all honesty, most oils will do the trick (assuming you personally are not allergic/intolerant to them). My go-to here is Clarins Lotus oil. Put 3-4 drops into your palm, swipe across the other palm, apply to the areas affected first, then elsewhere. Don't saturate your skin. Less is more. Layer. Don't suffocate.

Now you need to monitor the situation. Keep the Control gel to hand, and reapply after you've used the oil. Leave it half an hour or so, check your skin, reapply the oil if its absorbed. I had to reapply 3 times last night over the space of a couple of hours. My skin was drinking it. Alternate: Control gel (your spot treatment)/Oil/Control gel/Oil.

Before you go to bed check your skin. Apply a last hit of Control gel, followed by your oil. I chose to seal the deal with some Kate Somerville moisturiser, in the way you would add an extra blanket to the bed. It was cold, I was just going the extra mile. This routine works best with little or no silicone. Layer upon layer of silicone gives you 'rolling' and gets in the way of absorption of the gel/oil.

In the morning:

• Light cleanse
• Acid tone
• Hydrate tone - Darphin Intral is a bit of a gem for this - brilliant for redness
• Control gel
• Couple of drops of facial oil
• Moisturiser

You should find the redness has subsided a little and the spots have either come to a head or started to go down. 

Keep an eye on your diet, check your skin regularly throughout the day - the Control gel is clear and can be used over makeup etc if you want to - and repeat the process the next evening until you start to see results.

This may not work for everyone - but when you're at the end of your tether it's worth trying!

*The energy drink I had was purely vitamin B6. B6 triggers my skin something shocking. B12 I'm absolutely fine with - but the other B's? - NO. I should have read the label. Never again. This is one of the many reasons I don't advise taking multi-vitamins. Target your supplement needs to your body. Don't just take a one-shot-hits-all pill and think it's doing the job. I promise you it isn't.

*No affiliate links and I've been using/buying these products forever.

Discontinuing products. Please discuss with your clients first!

Today, dear readers, I bring news of a grave nature. If this was a telegram, it would be trimmed in black.

It would seem that Darphin have taken the decision to discontinue my beloved Purifying Balm. 

I don't know the reasons (I shall assume it's insanity) nor would I expect them to keep a product just because I love it (how rude). 

It did lead to a conversation with Mum however, about favourite products that have fallen by the wayside courtesy of their manufacturers....

So: what products have YOU loved and lost...?

Here's a few of ours.....

Laura Mercier Sundown

NARS Ipanema brow pencil

Chantecaille Oak Brown brow pencil (old packaging - lead in new one is too soft)

Dior Self Tan for the Face (new one has shimmer - 'Hideous' - Mother)

Lancôme Flash Bronzer for the face (original) - 'new one is just NOT as good, if it's not broke, WHY do they try and fix it??' - Mother

Lancôme Primordiale - Mother will never forgive you

Breasts, October, all things Pink and a slightly uneasy feeling.

Let me say this from the off: I wholeheartedly support anything to do with funding research into cancer, helping cancer sufferers, helping cancer survivors.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I have been touched all too closely by cancer in recent years.

Cancer is a bastard. Make no mistake. I did the half marathon Moonwalk in May with my best friend Tracy who is a breast cancer survivor. Nothing else would make me walk 13 miles with my boobs out. Except maybe the odd long-haired-tattooed guitarist - but I digress.

The joy of doing that kind of event with someone you have a bond of 30+ years with is the dark humour that not only makes you laugh, but gets you through it. At one point in the middle of the night I turned to her and said 'It's just as well that cancer didn't kill you because this bastard walk is going to finish us both off.' 

(Next year I'm sending a cheque.)

So October rolls around and the world of beauty turns pink. Monuments are pink for the month and we are inundated by brands selling a vast array of 'Pink' products claiming to give a percentage of the profits to breast cancer research funding.

Well I'm not going for the blanket approach anymore. It's too much. I hate to be sceptical but if you can't name the value of your donation then I'm not promoting it. Or buying into it. The work I did in recent years with All for Eve and The Eve Appeal  (let us not forget the vajays) has proven to me that it is always possible to say how much your brand is ring-fencing as a donation per product. You simply work it into your cost price or budget for it from the moment you sell it in to retailers. Done.

What Estee Lauder have done to support breast cancer awareness and fund research for the last twenty years was and continues to be pioneering. Every year for the last 20 years Lauder has released products and named the value of the donation. Clear as day. Crystal.

So: Monday sees the lighting of the British Museum by Elizabeth Hurley on behalf of Estee Lauder. It has a special significance this year since the passing last year of Evelyn Lauder, the pioneer of the entire movement in the beauty industry. I'll be there supporting them because they put their money where their mouth is. 

By October 2011 Estee Lauder had donated $8.5 million to the Breast Cancer Research Fund. The fund itself has raised $380 million.

If you want to - you can meet Elizabeth Hurley at Selfridges in London on Monday between 1-2pm and in Manchester next Thursday 8th at the same time. She is also lighting up Selfridges Exchange in the Trafford Centre at 7.40pm that evening.

If you are a brand jumping on what you think is a pink bandwagon and simply saying 'profits from' or 'a donation from every sale' are going to breast cancer I'm sure you mean well, but I have seen too many the last few weeks for my liking. Name your price people. Our mammaries deserve better.

More information about the Evelyn Lauder Dream Collection is available here. 

Clinique Limited Edition Chubby Stick (gorgeous) is available here.

Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Limited Edition BCA Set is available here.

Jo Malone is donating £5.00 from every sale of Red Roses 100ml Cologne here - to BCRF.

Aveda Hand Relief for BCA is available here.

Darphin Hydraskin Serum for BCA can be found here.

Alternatively, if pink is not your thing - you can send your money directly to the following:

Breakthrough Breast Cancer 

Cancer Research UK

Breast Cancer Care

And if you have taken leave of your senses and have no need for the full use of your feet, you can sign up for next year's Moonwalk. May the force be with you.

Most importantly, feel your boobs. Know your boobs. Don't, ever, ignore them. 

The short blonde sitting on my knee circa 1982 (?)  is still with us thanks to  breast cancer research and her penchant for feeling her boobs.

Hall of Fame - Darphin Purifying Balm

If there was such a thing as a 'Church of Beauty' - I would surely worship at the altar of this product.

I first used this when I worked in SpaceNK in the 90's. I took a sample home (technically not allowed but we'll brush over that) when my skin had a couple of breakouts and was so impressed by the overnight results that I started selling it like hot cakes. Customers had similar reactions to the product and it has been a staple in my routine ever since.

What's in it?

A mini rant. Apologies about the quality of the above picture but I searched far and wide online to find the ingredients (for ease) and couldn't find them - anywhere. I was so annoyed I dug out my spare pot from the back of the cupboard and quickly fired this off.
Online retailers need to seriously up their game when it comes to ingredient listing - some do, most don't. I went to every single retailer of Darphin. No full inci. Infuriating. And what's even more annoying? The paid-for ads on google - that say 'Darphin Purifying Balm' - and then you click through to find they don't even SELL it. Sod off and stop wasting my time.

I've been inspired by this little episode to always show the inci listing on the product I am posting about - because clearly - there is a need. This is something that is regularly done by London Makeup Girl - the most ethical blogger out there. So Grace, *tips hat* - I'm joining you.

Right - now that's sorted - these are the key ingredients - to my mind..
Apricot Kernel Oil
Sunflower Seed Oil
Vegetable Oil
Beeswax
The above 4 form the base. Good, non-clogging oils - note the lack of mineral oil!

Sage Oil
Nutmeg Kernel Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Thyme Oil
Grapefruit Oil
Rosewood Oil
Balsam Oil
The above are just a few of the oils included and are by turn, decongesting and anti-bacterial.

What's good about it?
It does what it says on the box - The leaflet included in the product says 'ideal for combination to oily skin, prone to imperfections, with a dull, unhealthy appearance.' Personally I would argue with that. It may have been designed with that skin type in mind, but I find this works really well on all skin types. Sensitive, ageing, dry - it ticks every box.
It's not full of 'filler' ingredients - its fairly pure.
Smells beautiful - not vital, but important to me.
It lasts AGES - a little goes a long, long way.

Its worth mentioning two further things. Darphin do have another balm - Aromatic Renewing - I suspect this was released to cater for the older, dryer market in response to the popularity of the original Purifying. It's good, but I MUCH prefer Purifying Balm.
And - huge credit to Darphin here - since I first bought this product in the 90's they have made it completely organic. It's EcoCert certified and is now called Organic Aromatic Purifying Balm.

If your skin is dull, needs a little glow, is prone to impurities, oily, sensitive, dry - whatever: this product works. Highly - and always - recommended.

Darphin Organic Aromatic Purifying Balm is around £40.00 and is available at pretty much every major online retailer. ALL of whom need to start listing ingredients. On everything. I'll link to the ones that DO in future.
*huffs*

4beauty - Acne Do's and Don'ts!

I'm over on 4beauty today talking about acne and such like. Please do take a look.
Thank you!

Current Skincare Routine - January/February

I posted on Wednesday about the changes I have consciously made to my lifestyle, diet and skincare routine.

The upshot of it for me is that organic/natural has had to take a backstep. I still love my balms and oils but as treats. For day-to-day maintenance this is my current routine:

I'm starting with the evening because that is the most important stage to me:

P.M.
Start with dry skin!
1st cleanse with my staple: Emma Hardie
2nd cleanse with Perricone's Nutritive Cleanser.

This is new to me and I am LOVING it. Firstly, it smells of Johnson's Baby Powder (score!) and it feels really, really luxurious. This has helped my skin tremendously and I would like it on tap in my bathroom please. A little goes a long way.
I alternate this with Alpha-H's Balancing Cleanser - another recent find.

This leaves the skin really soft yet definitely cleansed...

Toner/tonic stage
Depending on the day I do one of two things:
Day One: I wipe over the skin with Alpha-H's Liquid Gold and then leave the skin bare for the night as directed.

Hard for me as I am ingrained with covering the skin with something afterwards but no! I am doing as I'm told! This is some serious stuff and has made a clear, definite difference to my skin.
Day Two: Either P50 or a standard toner depending on whether I feel dry or am flaring up.

Eye Cream - currently Alpha-H's Absolute Eye Complex 

On days I am not using Liquid Gold I apply toner and then go straight in with Perricone's Cold Plasma

 followed by their Face Finishing Moisturiser.

A.M.
Again start with dry skin.
Cleanse either with Nutritive Cleanser or Balancing Cleanser and a fresh hot cloth
Tone with a toner that suits my skin on the day. Can be anything from Guinot to Dr. Lewinns
Apply Cold Plasma
Apply Perricone's Face Firming Activiator

Again - new addition to my regime but loving it so far...
Apply Face Finishing Moisturiser on top.
Note the above 3 products are used in small quantities and leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated, not greasy and heavy.

Added extras: Vitamin E Serum from Alpha-H, Darphin Purifying Balm, Payot Speciale 5 Drying and Purifying Gel are all in rotation and I use them like a buffet - as and when I need them...

That's it. As you can see it's two things:

• hardcore - there is nothing organic/natural about my current routine - I still use all the natural products I have at home on my teenagers but for me, at the moment, bring on the chemicals...
• expensive - some of these products are not cheap. In fact they're borderline mortgage payments. But I'm telling you if they keep working the way they are at the moment it's worth it to me. I'll have to do without something else. Some people buy designer shoes/handbags/clothes, not me - skincare is my crack. And I can't just throw any old cream on my skin anymore and get away with it...

Other things that have helped me:

• keeping my skin hydrated with spray toners. Treating acne rosacea in any form is incredibly drying when you are used to big fat moisturisers and I have a decanted spray toner on my desk and two at home. It calms my redness. Soon as I feel that telltale 'heat' coming I spritz myself. Bliss.
• Going in with a second round of moisturiser after the first has absorbed. I make sure my face feels comfortable all the time.
• Cut down the spicy foods - sad but true. Jalapenos are a distant memory for me at the moment...

If you do have acne and/or rosacea and you want to just start with one thing? Go for the Liquid Gold. That has given me the biggest, quickest, noticable difference. And its not extortionate. You can currently get a supersize on QVC for around £33 which I will be ordering...

If anyone has any suggestions for anything that has really worked for them I would love to hear about them.

Will keep you posted on my progress.... Here's hoping...


Small print: I received the Perricone and Alpha-H products mentioned in goody bags at recent events. But I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't love them. And I will be purchasing off my own back when they run out. If I recommend something on this site it's because I recommend it - not because I've been paid to.

Toners - Which ones??

Following yesterdays post about toners - here's a quick guide to a few of my current faves and some trusty reliables.

Starting from affordable 'cheap as chips' up to middle priced - I won't spend £££ on a toner. A treatment lotion - absolutely - but a toner. No.

L'Oreal Age Perfect - Mature Skin

This toner retails for around £4.69 for 200ml and being in the 'mass' category you can sometimes find it on offer in the big chemists. And it does what is says on the bottle. Very refreshing and leaves the skin soft and smooth. I have some of this decanted into a mini-spray bottle on my desk - for hot weather AND hot flushes?

If you're on a budget - this is for you. *The Mouth Recommends

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic retails for £11.50 for 200ml.  In a world where toners are being forgotten and discarded (not MY world you understand!) this is bucking the trend. Sales are up and continue to grow.
It contains organic aloe vera, natural vitamin E and rose geranium - but if you are a 'natural' freak - it is not completely natural - and claims otherwise are misleading. Check your inci's. Does absolutely leave the skin refreshed, plumped and hydrated. Also available as a spritzer - very handy.

Clarins Lotion Tonique - Camomile

Clarins Lotion Tonique comes in two flavours - Camomile and Iris and retails for £16.00 approx - you can buy it as a kit with the suitable cleanser and it comes up a bit cheaper. The Camomile is for a dryer skin and the Iris is for combination. But they are much of a muchness in my opinion. I should probably use Camomile but I prefer the smell of the Iris. Both toners contain alpine herbs and really do soften, plump and in my opinion - nourish. NOM.

Lancome Tonique Douceur

This retails at £20.00 for 200ml and is here for my mum. She has used this for over 20 years and swears by it.  Again alcohol-free, it contains pineapple as an anti-inflammatory and papaya extracts to hydrate. She is a woman 'of a certain age' and her skin is a marvel. This obviously contributes to that.

Gatineau Nasturtium

Gatineau's Nasturtium retails at £21.00 for 250ml - but if you are a fan you can get salon sizes cheaper on QVC.  This is aimed at a more combination skin as the nasturtium flower extract rebalances the skin. Leaves skin plump and fresh.

Darphin Intral Toner

Darphin Intral Toner retails at £26.00 for 200ml. I love a bit of Darphin and I love this toner.  If
like me you suffer from sporadic outbreaks of redness, or basically any inflamation whatsoever - this is the toner for you. It instantly calms, takes away redness and really does leave the skin soft, smooth and nourished. Lush.  *The Mouth Recommends

What about you? Have I missed any of your favourites? Let me know!