MV Organics Gentle Cream Cleanser and Rose Smoothing and Protecting Moisturiser - review by London Makeup Girl

Long-time blog readers will remember the lovely Lydia from London Makeup Girl. Blogging as Grace London until last year, LMG was one of the first blogs that I read and Lydia was one of the original crowd of people that encouraged me to start blogging. Her blog was intelligent, eloquent and always very well thought out. In the current world of 'press release cut and pasting', LMG left a big gap. I have been trying to get Lydia to write guest posts for me for a while - her specialty/interest is/was organic/all things natural (genuinely natural) - something that I enjoy, but not a prerequisite for me to use/blog about. I know, however, that a large number of you are completely passionate about that area of skincare so I thought you'd appreciate another opinion and slightly more regular postings from that domain. Below is what I hope to be the first of many posts from Lydia. Who knows - maybe we can persuade her to come back to us. (PS: Just in case it needs saying - you can assume that I endorse Lydia's reviews - I'd happily let her go skincare shopping on my behalf)

I’m Lydia and I used to write a blog called London Makeup Girl. Work and life has gotten in the way of regular blogging for me (I hear you - CH), but Caroline has kindly invited me to guest post on her turf about my favourite natural* skincare products.

Sometimes there seems to be a high-tech v natural skincare divide. I think it’s similar to how you might approach nutrition/diet - you can eat scientifically designed supplements and vitamins or a variety of organic produce. In either case, you’ll likely be healthier than if you lived on nothing but junk food. A combination of the two is often no bad thing.

I like natural skincare because I prefer a gentle, long term approach to healthy skin. My skin also tends to react badly to too many silicones, and they are easier to avoid in natural brands. So, that’s enough about me and my tao of skincare. The products I’m reviewing today are from MV Organic Skincare.

The Gentle Cream Cleanser is a thick cream cleanser - a bit thicker than a cold cream, and definitely more cream than lotion. I use one or two pumps on dry skin, but then I wet my fingertips to massage the cleanser over my skin as per the instructions. This makes it much easier to spread; if you don't use damp fingers you'll either drag the skin or need to use (and waste) a load of cleanser. It has a gentle citrus scent (from the mandarin essential oil). I remove with a wet flannel, and then splash with cold water. This cleanser takes off eye makeup efficiently (I don't wear waterproof mascara, but it can remove a Bobbi Brown Gel eyeliner with no problems).

Ingredients:

Water, Camellia (Camellia Oleifera) Oil*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vegetable Glycerin*, Olive (Olea Europaea) Fruit Oil*, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitamin E non GM (Tocopherol), Xanthan Gum, Honeysuckle (Lonicera Caprifolium & Lonicera Japonica) Extract, With essential oils of: Rose, Chamomile and Mandarin *, Potassium Sorbate, 

* Organically Grown

The Rose Smoothing and Protective Moisturiser is a thick white cream that has a subtle rose fragrance. I use half a pump for my face and the same again for my neck and upper chest. I find it applies best over skin that's slightly damp with toner - I like the MV Organics Rose Hydrating Mist, Live Native Essential Mist MSM Toner or Organic Pharmacy Rose Facial Spritz. It's a good base for makeup and doesn't leave the skin feeling or looking greasy if you use the correct amount. It's also very good mixed with a couple of drops of facial treatment oil for drier skin; the MV Organic Booster oils work well, so does Sunday Riley Juno (review on that coming soon) and the De Mamiel Seasonal Oils.

Ingredients:

Water, Camellia (Camellia Sinensis) Oil*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerin*, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinesis) Seed Oil*, Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Oil, Vitamin E non GM (Tocopherol), Honeysuckle (Lonicera Caprifolium & Lonicera Japonica) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, With essential oil of: Rose Otto and Rose Geranium     

* Organically Grown

These are good, simple products; they are very easy and no-fuss to use, and are particularly good on inherently sensitive skin or skin that has been riled up by a change of climate or harsh skincare. I also like that you can purchase 15ml travel/trial sizes before you invest in full sizes.

I purchased mine from www.beingcontent.com (most of my skincare comes from Content). There's more information on the MV Organic website at www.mvskincare.com.

*I use the term ‘Natural’ as shorthand for skincare based on plant oils/extracts, often organic. I know, not everything that is natural is good for you. 

A Week in the Life of the blog.

You know sometimes you stand back and think 'WOW - what just happened?' - the last 7 days have been that for me.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Monaco courtesy of La Prairie. 

Having dinner with Prince Albert. 

As you do.

When I got home I was asked to give a quote to Debenhams about 'saving the flannel'. I love a flannel.

So I did.

As you do.

Debenhams very kindly sent me a Gift Card and I thought no more of it.

Monday I went live on the 'What's in My Handbag' site. 

(We women really do like a nosy in other people's cupboards don't we?)

Early Monday morning I received an email advising me that I was quoted in the Daily Mail and the Telegraph.

'Oh - that's nice - Mum will be proud!'

#savetheflannel started to take hold on twitter and I was the butt of many a joke from my many (lovely) fellow bloggers. 

As you would expect. 

Naming no names (read the labels).

Monday afternoon I was on my way to a SpaceNK store to do some training when I get a message from the lovely Clare Forde - who very kindly provides free PR for Give and Makeup. And I quote:

'OI HIRONS!! CALL ME ASAP. WTF IS SAVE THE FLANNEL???'

Turns out BBC Radio 5live had been trying to track me down, had managed to find Clare through Give and Makeup and 'would I appear on their show that day to talk about 'my save the flannel' campaign?'.

And so it was that on Monday at 4.55pm I defended the flannel. 

On national radio. 

From a SpaceNK stockroom.

As you do.

Well it turns out all that activity pushed people towards this lovely little site and at some point yesterday I surpassed 1,000,000 page views. One MILLION page views. 

So the upshot of all of this? I just want to say Thank You to those of you that have supported the site from the beginning, tweeted me questions, emailed me directly, harassed me when I haven't posted as regularly as you would like, recommended me and most importantly to those of you that have bared your soul - and in some cases your faces on the Clinic days:

Thank you. No, really.

THANK YOU.

I'm really rather chuffed.

As Del Boy would say: 'Well, we've had worse days.'

Sunscreen - London Makeup Girl

For those of you who constantly ask about SPF and the variable types available - I have previously recommended asking Grace from London Makeup Girl - she (unlike my good self) has a healthy obsession with sunscreen and is a font of knowledge on the subject.

Well you're in luck - she has just posted an amazing guide on SPF along with reviews of ones she has tried. Go read it - and listen to her. She knows her sunscreen shizzle. 

London Makeup Girl