Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil

What is it?
'A nourishing cleansing oil.'

A liquified oil cleanser.

Who is it for?
Everyone. Elemis advertise this to all skin types.

What’s in it?
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 85, Sorbitan Oleate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Limonene, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica (Rose of Winter) Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Geraniol, Fragrance (Parfum), Citral, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
fragrance
essential oils

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Mixture of both.

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No/No

What's not in it?
mineral oil
artificial colouring
parabens
sls
sles
dea

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?
'Massage 1-2 pumps of the light-weight oil into dry skin and then add warm water. The oil will melt into a luxurious milky lather that cleanses the skin. Simply rinse off to reveal a clear and nourished complexion.'

I do apply to dry skin but I don't emulsify. Apply, massage, remove with flannel.

What’s good about it?
This is a lovely oil, much-needed on the market in term of volume vs price. Admittedly, there are only so many cleansing oils that you can call 'innovative', and while this is not reinventing the wheel, it works, and will appeal to both Elemis customers and fans of oil cleansing.
Heavy in omega 9, this is over 90% natural oils and leaves no residue, whether rinsed off or removed with a facecloth. Suitable for first or second cleanse.
Also, it's a whopping 195ml for £29.50.

What’s not so good about it?
I needed a couple of goes to remove eye makeup, but I do wear very 'kohl-y' types of mascara. If you don't wear a lot of makeup you should be fine.

How's the website?
Elemis.com is much better than the older timetospa.com, which looks really outdated by comparison. Lists ingredients, test results, returns etc very clearly.

Similar products?
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
Origins Clean Energy  Gentle Cleansing Oil
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil
L'Occitane Shea Butter Cleansing Oil


Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil is £29.50 for 195ml and available from www.elemis.com/nourishing-omega-rich-cleansing-oil and all Elemis stockists.

12 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS - DAY FIVE - ELEMIS

Day Five starts with Elemis. ;)

To celebrate 25 years as a brand, Elemis are offering one lucky reader their 25 Heritage Heroes set worth £225.00. They are also throwing in an Aching Muscle Super Soak because it's my fave and I asked them to.

The 25 Heritage Heroes contains:

SKINCARE
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 30g
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 50ml FULL SIZE
Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream 50ml FULL SIZE
Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment 15ml FULL SIZE
Pro-Collagen Marine Mask 15ml
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra-Rich 15ml
Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Mask x 2
Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser 30ml Tube
Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm 15ml
Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml
Gentle Rose Exfoliator 15ml
Total Glow Bronzing Moisturiser 20ml
White Flowers Eye & Lip Makeup Remover 28ml
Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules 7 x Rose 7 x Lavender
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash 50ml
Dynamic Resurfacing Gel Mask 15ml
White Brightening Even Tone Serum 10ml

BODYCARE
Frangipani Monoi Body Oil 35ml
Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream 50ml
Frangipani Monoi Body Cream 50ml
Jasmine & Rose Hand Cream 20ml
Instant Refreshing Gel 20ml
Skin Nourishing Milk Bath 60ml
NEW British Botanical Shower Cream 50ml
NEW British Botanical Body Cream 50ml

To win all of the above simply enter as always via the Rafflecopter widget below..

Open Internationally.

Thank you Elemis! Congratulations on 25 years and good luck everyone!

www.elemis.com/25-heritage-heroes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Special Edition 200ml size

Heads up fellow Cleansing Balm freaks. (We really should start a support group)

To celebrate the success of Elemis' Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, it is being released in a 200ml supersize. 

200 fat mls of juicy, velvety, cleansing waxes just waiting for you to savage. Ok. I know. I really need to get a grip.

The Supersize is available now on timetospa.co.uk and is £55.00 - it's worth over £75.00 taken ml for ml.

Not all good things come in small packages. Go get yours.

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream Ultra Rich - don't be put off by that name

First things first: I am not a fan of the original Pro Collagen Marine Cream. I know I'm in the minority but it did absolutely nothing for me. Nowt. Nada. If you love it and it's the best thing you've ever used, marvellous - crack on.

This however, is a completely different ball game. I mean completely different. I love it. I do however, think Elemis have somewhat possibly shot themselves in the foot by calling it 'Ultra Rich'. That puts thoughts into my head of something really, thick and gloopy and something that doesn't absorb. This is the exact opposite of that.
It absorbs brilliantly, gives great glow and makes your skin look amazing. I'd have stuck with something like 'Pro-Collagen Marine Cream - Advanced' but what do I know?

Digression over - back to the product.

Who is it for?
Well it's aimed at people who have always used PCMC and who may now need something richer as their skin has aged. That makes perfect sense but I would say it's perfect for anyone with normal to dry skin OR someone with problematic skin for use maybe overnight to counteract dehydration.

What's in it?
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyacrylate-13, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Stearic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Lauryl Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polyisobutene, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Potassium Sorbate, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Citric Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Tocopherol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Flower Extract, Acacia Decurrens (Mimosa) Flower Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citronellol, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal. 


What's good about it?
The genius in this formulation is that Elemis haven't gone for the bog standard shea butter to give the 'richness'. The base oil is jojoba - the easiest for all skin types to absorb. The next oil is sunflower - cocoa butter doesn't make its appearance until way down the inci list. Good news for absorption rates and people prone to breakouts but still in need of something nourishing.

What's not so good about it?
The name has the potential to put off a large demographic and that is unfortunate because this would be fine for 80% of them.
It's £80.00 for 50ml. Not cheap but equally aimed at an age group that will spend that on their face before they spend it on a handbag. *waves* (If you would rather spend it on a handbag you crack on, it's your face love)

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra Rich (Advanced) :) - is £80.00 and available now - more information on the product can be found on timetospa.co.uk

Bloody lovely.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm - a rant and a review. - RE-REVIEWED 16.07.13

Let me say this about this cleanser. It comes with a flannel. Yes. A flannel (washcloth for my confused US readers). Amen, praise the maker - praise whomever you choose - I cannot deal with anymore muslin cloths. One brand says muslin cloths are better at cleaning the skin and everyoneelseinthehistoryoftheworld follows. I'm looking at you Eve Lom. And don't come at me with Cleanse & Polish. Eve Lom did it first. (Not that it's her fault that everyone and their brother copied her - that's a compliment - of sorts.)

I digress.

Here's the other thing about this cleanser. I can't decide. If I like or hate the smell, like or hate the texture - like or hate the results. I've had this for a while - before it launched - I haven't blogged it because I just can't decide - so I'm sticking with facts and a round-up at the end. I hope you don't end up as confused as me.

16.07.13 - Two months on and I like this cleanser. I still wouldn't use it to remove my makeup - it's definitely a second cleanse for me, but I do like the texture, the smell and the results. It's definitely softening.

What's in it?

Well it doesn't contain collagen - as I was asked recently. In fact, you'd be hard pushed to find the ingredients anywhere if you weren't standing in front of the box as neither Elemis, nor any of their online retailers PRINT THE INGREDIENTS. I've ranted about this before so I won't bore you with it again - but seriously - it's borderline arrogance to me that brands don't a: list the full ingredient list on their sites and b: insist that their other stockists do the same. 

How do you expect your customers to make an informed decision about purchasing a product if they do not know what is in it? And not just the ingredients you want to 'push' - all of them.

So here, in all their iPhone glory are the ingredients:

Now why couldn't Elemis have provided that? There's nothing to apologise for in that list - in fact Elemis make a big deal of saying what they don't contain - parabens, mineral oils etc - so why not say it loud and proud? 

On your website?

What's good about it?

Mineral oil free, paraben and SLS free - good almond oil base. Gives a great massage medium for second cleanse - or only cleanse if you aren't wearing a lot of eye makeup. The flannel! I like the smell.

What's bad about it?

It contains shea butter so I would consider avoiding if you are prone to breakouts/acne. Hardens slightly in colder temperatures so can drag slightly on the skin if not warmed in hands before - which you must do as this is aimed at 'mature' skin - the last skin type you want to be 'dragging'. 

If you keep your cleanser in your bathroom you should be ok though. Not great for eye makeup removal - leaves traces of mascara and a film on the skin. I have to pre-cleanse if I'm wearing makeup and give an extra wipe with the flannel to make sure it's all off before I tone.

Verdict:

The Pro-Collagen range is to Elemis what Lime, Basil and Mandarin is to Jo Malone or Touche Eclat is to YSL in that it is their 'pension fund' range.

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream was such a huge runaway success for Elemis that it was only a matter of time before they extended the line. Elemis fans will no doubt LOVE this and say that I am insane. And that's great - if it ain't broke, don't fix it on my account.

All that being said, I'm just not overwhelmed with enthusiasm. 

It is good, it's not great. 

To give more context, it's easily better than Eve Lom, but it wouldn't stop me buying another balm cleanser. Then again, what would? :)

I happily use it, but it wouldn't be my first choice. But it IS good. So much so that I have 3 of them - and I won't be giving any of them away - I'll keep them and use them all (I KNOW).

I'm just confused. Sorry Elemis. 

I do like it. I'm not obsessed with it - but I do like it. Especially for good gripping massage!

Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is available on TimeToSpa.co.uk and is £39.50. 

16.07.13 - Still £39.50 and still no ingredients on the website.

Please do let me know if you have had great results with this - I love Elemis as a rule and want to play fair.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment

Three years in the making, Elemis launch a new addition to their ridiculously successful Pro-Collagen range this Summer.

Advanced Eye Treatment is designed to aid fine lines and wrinkles and  moisturise and hydrate. Yes please. I have a sample so will report back when I've had time to use it properly.

On counters 1st July - £39.00.

Elemis Limited Edition Papaya Enzyme Peel

As brands go - very few have an entire offering of masks which are all not only amazing, but must-haves. Elemis is one of them. Exotic Cream Moisturising, Fruit Active Rejuvenating and Herbal Lavender Repair are all brilliant. The Gentle Rose Exfoliator is the only one my mum will use on her medicated lupus skin due to its gentleness.

The Papaya Enzyme Peel is to my mind, the most gentle of the masks. It's designed to regenerate tired and sensitive skin and does so without the rubbing off/sloughing off stage - the part that most people find irritating due to the friction caused.

To celebrate its 10 years Elemis commissioned Laura Oakes, a British (obvs) born designer to create limited packaging showcasing the key ingredients - namely papaya and pineapple from Africa. Being Elemis - a brand with a history of great CSR and charitable initiatives - they have linked up with SOCO - a charity dedicated to alleviating poverty, malnutrition and aiding the underprivileged around the globe.

So for every PEP sold, Elemis are donating £1.07/$1.75/1.34E to provide one '5 in 1' Pentavalent vaccine to immunise a child in Africa against diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis b and haemophilus influenza type b.

Elemis are aiming to provide 20,000 vaccines.

From 1st June you can go help them do that. And help your face at the same time.

Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise - Luke Stephens

The lovely Luke and I have known each other for quite a few years - he's old school SpaceNK. There's a large group of us prowling the country at any given time, but we're not all allowed out together due to Health and Safety reasons.
Luke is a fully trained make-up artist extraordinaire who writes for Who's Jack and also has his own lovely new blog called The Beauty Press.

Without further ado:

Cleanser - Rodial Glamtox Cleanser 

I like it because even though I'm not a make up wearer, it really does seem to make my skin feel really clean without stripping it and making it all dry like most other men's face washes. I also like the fruity smell.

No toner as such (I don't believe in them) <--- (sigh - BM) but I have to say I really like Laura Mercier's Multi Vitamin Serum am/pm. 

Smells like chocolate orange, and really does give my skin a clean bright, even finish. I notice the difference if I don't use it.  

Moisturiser - I change all the time, but generally I go for something in it that has a good spf. ie one I can feel in it. At the moment, I am really liking the Dermalogica Daily Defense Block SPF 15. Just rich enough, and feels like the SPF is fairly stable enough for it to be doing at least something. 

At night, I have fallen in love with ElemisTri-Enzyme Night Cream. It's not too heavy, skin feels smoother even shortly after applying and in the morning. Not wild about the smell, but it really does seem to do the job.

Thank you Luke!


Net week: @productpixie

The perfect Thalgo, Aveda and Elemis bath.

My steamy Sunday. 

In the same vein as the supplement post from yesterday - I've been meaning to write about my perfect bath for a while. As it was Mother's Day this past Sunday (in the UK) I took the time for one of my' mega baths'.  This basically involves me throwing all manner of products into a huge boiling bath (yes I know all about broken veins on my legs - I could give a rats arse) and laying in it for as long as possible - well, until I get bored or too shrivelled.

Above is what I used this week. The picture looks out of focus - its not - that's steam from said bath...!

Working from right to left:

Aveda Stress-Fix Soaking Salts - these are not actually released until April. I was lucky enough to get a sample pre-sale and they are SO lovely. Aveda's first Eco Cert endorsed range, Stress Fix is scented with lavender and clary sage. As soon as it hits the water the scent explodes around the room - it's lovely, not too lavender-y, just really fresh and relaxing. This is a mixture of sugar and salt - so it gently exfoliates while also de-stressing. The range also has a body lotion, pure-fume roller ball and Stress Fix treatments will be launching in their treatment rooms simultaneously. As per usual Aveda, job well done.

Thalgo Thalassobath with Algae - this is for those of us that enjoy bathing in what quite literally, is the sea. It's 76% sea salts and 24% fresh algae. Be warned: it smells of the sea - it's strong, sludgey (yes that is a word) and you will have to wash your bath (properly) afterwards. SO worth it though. Bits of the sea floating in the bath - I recommend standing up and showering afterwards. Otherwise you have green sludge on you when you are applying body creams. I'm really selling it here aren't I?!
Seriously - recommended.

Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak - This beauty has been on this blog before and was the first recipient in my Hall of Fame. It still stands alone as the best muscle soak out there. I add this last as it has a mild soap base and thus cuts through the tiny bit of oil in the Aveda. Also: blows your nostrils out of your head.
Can't recommend enough. That is all.

Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise - Tanya Burr

My first victim guest for Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise is Tanya Burr - You Tuber extraordinaire and all-round lovely lady. A fully trained makeup artist, Tanya has previously worked for Laura Mercier and Clinique and her YouTube channel currently receives over a million hits a month.

The whole point of this feature is to get products on to the blog that may otherwise not have made it - although I trial new products all the time, I'm pretty set in my ways when it comes to basics - so why not open it up a little?
I thought I'd pick Tanya's brain as she's (clearly) much younger than me and her skin is totally different...

Just a reminder that the the question is: What are your default 'go-to' products for the 3 basic steps?...

Tanya's choices are....

Cleanser - Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

I have been using this cleanser for the past 2 years and although being a beauty vlogger/blogger I try lots of different cleansers, I always come back to this one and find nothing beats it. It gently but thoroughly removes all my makeup including eye makeup and the muslin cloth polishes away any dead skin without being abrasive like a scrub might be.

Toner - Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner

This product was recommended to me when I had a facial at a spa last Summer. The lady said it would help to tighten my pores and balance the oily and dry areas on my skin, I have to say it did exactly what she said - and that is why I love it!

Moisturiser - Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief

Although like I said before I try out lots of different products, I have stayed pretty loyal to this moisturiser for the last 4 years! That is a long time for me to stay in love with a product, but this one is truly amazing. Benefits I see from this cream are, evenly hydrated, soft, clear and even skin. It's just incredible.

Thank you Tanya! - next up: London Makeup Girl

Heads Up! Elemis TSV - QVC 20th November

Attention all Elemis and QVC fans - Elemis's final TSV of the year is this Sunday 20th November and has 10 - yes TEN airings throughout the day.

The Five Piece Tranquil Indulgence Face and Body Collection includes all of the above plus a final secret product which will be announced with the lovely Keeley at Midnight on the 20th. It is priced at under £40 and guarantees a 50% saving. As you can see from the picture the new Pro Radiance Hand and Nail Cream launches with this TSV - it doesn't go on general release for another 3 months so this is your chance to try it. I've had a sneak preview and it doesn't disappoint.

Fingers at the ready.

QVC - Midnight 20th November. Item no 200194

Elemis' Think Pink Beauty Kit

October is almost upon us once again and having lived through the diagnosis, treatment and subsequent all-clear this year of my oldest and bestest friend, I am going to be all over Breast Cancer Awareness month like a Durannie on SLB (frequent readers will understand).

I love the team at Elemis. In the old days of donkeys and carts - well, almost - when I was a SpaceNK Manager, they carried Elemis. One day the front door to the shop opened and Noella Gabriel burst through like a friendly bat out of hell: 'JesusMaryandJoseph you've no bread and butter!'  Noella is Irish, actually she's Oirish - if you know what I mean - and in Noella speak that meant we had run low on stock of basics, cleansers, toners and moisturisers etc... I knew there and then that this was a woman to hang with.

Elemis have always put their money where their mouth is and have 'given back.'
This year for Breast Cancer Awareness month they are pledging £10,000 to the cause. £10,000! Take that in for a minute - it doesn't mean - 'here's a product and 5% of the sales (after costs) are going to the charity'. It means they are GIVING £10,000 to BCC.

The Think Pink Beauty Kit is available now and contains a 15ml Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust 'Boob Tube', a 30ml special pink edition of their No.1 selling Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and a 50ml Skin Nourishing Shower Cream. Not to mention the patent pink bag that should have 'Caroline' printed on the front. It will retail for £29.90 but is worth a whopping £59.80.

Go get your groove on. And while your at it get your hands all over your boobs. Take care of yourself Ladies. Elemis have so far raised over £50,000 for Breast Cancer Care - Elemis, I salute you.

Elemis Birthday Giveaway

Right first off the block - I posted about this amazing new range a couple of weeks ago and as promised the lovely folks at Elemis have provided one very lucky reader of Beauty Mouth with the ENTIRE new freshskin collection.

And as if that wasn't enough - it comes in this gorgeous Limited Edition Vanity Case. What's not to love?

To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is:

1. Follow Beauty Mouth
2. Sign up for the FreshSkin newsletter over on Elemis.com
3. 'Like' the Elemis Facebook page
4. Leave a comment below or email me saying you've done the above - makes it easier to track!

That's it. Simples.

Couple of T & C's:

Elemis and I will pick the winner at random after checking all criteria completed.
Our decision is final.
One prize.
One winner.
Prize value £99.00.
Competition open until 21st April.

Good Luck!

Elemis freshskin

I love a little Elemis - they were the first entry in the Mouth Hall of Fame and have consistently provided high quality, well-thought-out, must-have products.

Yesterday I attended the launch of their newest range - freshskin.

Aimed at teens - 20's, freshskin aims to not only fix those 'inbetweener' skins, but educate (refreshingly in a non-patronising way) younger peeps in the how-to's and how-not-to's.

Launching with a Gentle Face Wash, Exfoliating Face Wash, AM and PM Moisturisers, Eye Gel, Lip Balm, Cleansing Wipes and a genius Face Mask Duo that frankly, they need to make in an old, mature pack for the Mums of said teens - 20's, the range starts at a beyond reasonable £8.00 and goes up to £22.00.

With elemis's heritage and reputation I would spend that on my teenagers' skin - no hesitation.

I have given the products to one of my teenagers to trial and will be feeding back the outcome - if I can get more than a grunt out of him.

In the meantime if you want to get your hands on the ENTIRE range packaged in this far too adorable polka dot vanity case - worth £99.00 - keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming giveaway right here.

Elemis freshskin launches in the UK on 14th April.

Hall of Fame - The First Recipient

Well I surprised myself with this one. I've been toying with what would be in my own little 'Hall of Fame' for a while - and then I found myself in a very famous department store with a gift voucher - and even surrounded by every other big counter available - I found myself coming back to this.
Three visits later - after thinking 'I should get clothes', 'I could get something for the house', - after thinking 'What do I WANT?' (Why is it always harder to pick something out when you HAVE funds?) I found myself at the Elemis counter saying 'Aching Muscle Super Soak please.'

A bottle of bliss.

Oh Aching Muscle Super Soak - how I love you so.

I don't know about you but if and when I actually get the time to bathe as opposed to shower in 2 minutes flat (with children banging on the door - or just waltzing in as if they own the house - and me) - I do not want to sit in a bath smelling of flowers or something sweet, or something vanilla-ish.

This beast of a potion contains Juniper, Birch, Clove, Alpine Lavender, Wild Thyme and Blue Chamomile and tears a strip off your nose - and your muscles - and your body - and anyone else who happens to be in the vacinity for approx four hours following your bath. It's like Deep Heat on crack.

I'm not kidding. There is only one other brand that does something even close to this (posting soon) - this is hardcore. It says in the spiel that it is suitable for aching, overtired muscles especially after exercise.  *Laughs to self* - yeah - good one. Exercise?? My ENTIRE LIFE is an exercise. Kids. House. Clean. Work. Kids. House. Clean. Work. Rinse and repeat for about 15 further years.

Anyway. There is not enough room on this page to rave about this product.

If you like a bath - buy it.
If you have any kind of muscle ache going on - buy it.
If you 'have it all' i.e. - if you have it all 'to do' - busy lifestyle/tired/recuperating from illness/post baby (not while pregnant!!)/tired and need to wind down - WHATEVER - buy it.

Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak - I salute you. *The Mouth Recommends - HIGHLY

Aching Muscle Super Soak is £32.00 and is available from Elemis Time To Spa here.

What are you waiting for?