Sunday Facial Week 1

And another new regular feature.....I don't know why I haven't done this before because I do some sort of multi-stepped mask facial every weekend and even more often if I'm travelling.

After having my huge sort-through/clear out yesterday, I decided to up the ante and get as much of my routines/day-to-day goings-on up here or over on YouTube, including occasional vlogs. I KNOW. Me, vlogging. I hesitated for a long time but I actually get to see/do so much cool stuff that I figured I just needed to GET OVER MYSELF and get on with it.

Today's facial was a 3 step but not of the usual kind. I started with Omorovicza's Deep Cleansing Mask which seems to be 'zingier' than the last pot I had. Maybe it's a change in my skin but this one definitely has more 'oomph' and more tingle.

I tend to apply this all over my face and then add a second layer between the eyebrows (occasionally spotty for me because of my glasses), on the chin and on the cheeks.

I removed with a warm flannel and then I went in with P50 1970 Formula. I haven't used this for over 2 years and have Jordan to thank for bringing me a bottle over from the US when he was in town recently. Over 2 years since I breathed in that phenol whiff! :) I applied this on to cotton wool, took it slowly but surely all over the face, including lips, working top to bottom, then flipped it over and went back up the neck, over the cheeks and finished on the forehead. Numb bliss.

Then it was time for some serious hydration. Jane Scrivner's Ultra Hydration Masque went in a thick layer all around my eyes in a circle, followed by a light layer of SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque - I let that absorb and then went in slightly heavier handed with another layer as below....

Make sure you remember to take the hydrating mask right up and around the orbital eye area and don't forget the lips. I used Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Magic and again applied it fairly thickly.

The redness is to be expected after using P50, that's its job. It subsides fairly quickly, especially once the masks are put on top. 

I let everything soak in for a good 15 minutes, then spritz with a hydrating toner/water, in this case, Institut Esthederm's Eau Cellulaire, and apply more.

After another ten minutes or so you can remove any excess with a warm, damp flannel and apply another hydrating eye cream and moisturiser. You won't need much, your skin should be 'topped up'.

All of these steps can be replicated using whatever products you have that do a similar job, more affordable options - especially for the clay mask step and lip balm for example, will still work well. 

See you next Sunday! (maybe without the close-ups of my face though!) :)

Empties. Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist

Running out on New Year's Day, the first empty of 2014 is Omorovicza's beautiful Queen of Hungary Mist.

This is a beautiful hydrating spray that I use after exfoliating toning and underneath serum. It's also something that I keep a travel size of in my office to show to skin consult clients and to keep my face fresh and hydrated during the day. It's suitable for all skin types/conditions.

Inci:
Aqua (Hungarian Thermal Water), Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces (Hungarian Thermal Water) Ferment Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannitol, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Pectin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Water, Phospholipids, Yeast Extract, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol.

Omorovicza QOHM is £46.00 for 100ml and the travel size is available in their various kits.

More info on Omorovicza can be found on www.omorovicza.co.uk 

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm - Review

Omorovicza is based on the mineral-rich healing waters found in Budapest's thermal spas. I'm obsessed with all things mineral and love a range based on proven historical benefits as opposed to big corporate money.

Ethos:
Omorovicza is made without:

• Parabens
• Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
• Petrochemicals
• Silicones
• Sodium Laureth Sulfates
• Synthetic colors
• Synthetic fragrances

They do not test on animals and they do not retail in China at the time of this post.

What's in it?
Acerola, Apricot Seed Oil, Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Copper Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Oil, Magnesium Aspartate, Moor Mud, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Squalane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Sweet Almond Oil, Tocopherol, Virgin Plum Oil, Zinc Gluconate.


Acerola is plant based and hugely beneficial to the skin due to it's high vitamin C content. Copper, magnesium, zinc, calcium, selenium and manganese all form Omorovicza's patented Mineral Cosmetology and are used throughout the range to soothe, repair, neutralise free radicals, support the skin's infrastructure and promote cell regeneration. Sweet Almond Oil cleanses without stripping and Hungarian Moor Mud removes impurities and decongests pores.


What's good about it?
Unlike some cleansers, you feel the benefits on the skin when you use this. It is very clearly full of 'good' ingredients and the skin is left feeling very calm and hydrated. It feels like a treatment.
It's perfect for a second cleanse in the evening or a quick cleanse in the mornings.


What's bad about it?
It's not cheap. And if I had to use it to remove my makeup I would need to use too much to warrant the price. For that reason I tend to 'save' it and use it as previously mentioned. It may sound silly but it feels almost too good to use on a first cleanse.


Verdict:
I love this cleanser. I use it as a treatment cleanser when my skin is in need of help - whether because of acne breakouts, redness or just looking a little dull. It's a perfect morning after cleanser if you have over-indulged the night before - it feels deeply cleansing without stripping. I have friends that use it as their cleanser of choice - as I mentioned before, I wouldn't use it as an everyday makeup removal cleanser - I'll stick to my oil remover and then go in with this - I want the properties of this to hit my skin, not remove my makeup. 
Perfect for a slightly older skin that needs a boost.


Packaging: 4/5 - glass pot - which seems to be appropriate for the ingredients - I couldn't picture this in a tube
Texture: 4/5 - works across the skin very nicely, non-foaming (joy) and absorbs slightly on application due to the clay - which I love
Performance: - 4/5 - does what it says on the box
After effects on the skin: - soft, comfortable, clean, cool and calm


Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm is £46.00 for 50ml and is available from omorovicza.com



*PR Sample

April in the life of the blog.

(Yes I know its late) 

Behind the scenes of the What's in My Handbag? shoot.

Max's first time at Meat Liquor.

My lily addiction is out of control.

Dude.

One of my gorgeous nieces.

Max totally busted.

My kind of store. (No offence intended to the Irish. Including my own family. Obviously)

Enough said.

Loved this. As you can see.

About bloody time.

The other two ladies of the house.

Glad they're back on UK soil.

Quick visit to Monaco.

Loving this brand.

Got these out. Then put them away.

SO amazing.

Used a LOT.

At-home facial.

Great windows. Shame the clothes come in two sizes: foetus and five year old.

Anndddd Flannelgate in the Daily Mail. Amusing stuff.

Overnight Travel Kit

I went on an overnight trip to Monaco earlier this week - more of which to come at a later date.

I snapped off this pic very quickly as I was packing up to come home as it was probably the best overnight kit I've managed to put together for some time.

As I was going on my own and didn't have to make room for seven billion items belonging to my children that normally fill all of my cases - I didn't worry too much about travel sizes.

Included above is:

• balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm cleanser - full review to follow - but lovely!
• Serge Normant Volumizer, Shampoo and Conditioner (Hairspray out of shot) - the only range to use if you have long hair
• L'Oreal Tecni Art Volume Architect - when you want ridiculous OOMPH
• Aesop Petitgrain Hydrating Gel - reviewed earlier this week - lovely
• Alpha-H Liquid Gold travel size - obviously
• Frederic Malle Lys Mediterranee - obsessed
• Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist travel size and Illuminating Moisturiser - loving at the moment 
• Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair - brilliant for glow and travel due to the packaging
• Hampton Sun After Sun Moisturiser - as a body moisturiser - not aftersun...
• Oral B Pro Expert - I remain completely obsessed with this toothpaste and now have the entire family addicted also - go get your free sample via the link

That's it. Stood me in good stead. Anyone have any good suggestions for travel sizes for the future?

* the above are a mixture of PR samples, purchases and product from clients (Serge, Hampton) but are all equally amazing.  No affiliate links. Just being helpful.