A quick one-two for Summer from January Labs

After the recent Fave Fives videos, I had so many comments asking about skins that are combination/oily/acne/sensitised/dehydrated and budgets that needed to be well under £40, that it made me look at the stash of blog posts I had prepped and rearrange them. So the reviews from the Instagram update of a couple of weeks ago are coming this week, but for now, those of you in the aforementioned categories could do worse than look at January Labs.

The Mist is old news to regular readers, but the range contains other great, simple-yet-efficacious products that won't break the bank.

The pricing is sporadic, with the more high-end eye cream, exfoliants and day and night creams pushing the top end. However, the Mist, Moisture Balancing Lotion and Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel are all between £18.00 and £24.00, making them great value, especially for the sizes. 

The Cleansing Gel is not foaming, and is one of the few that does not strip or dry out my skin - and is a whopping 237ml/8fl ozs for £24.00. Combo skins and boys, this one is definitely worth looking at.

The main reason for the post is the lovely Moisture Balancing Lotion, which I have found myself recommending to quite a few people this summer. It rehydrates and rebalances, literally like it says on the pack, and does so without causing further irritation or clogging pores. Working on literally all skins, I tend to reach for it when I'm using a particularly active serum or pardon the phrase, sweating like a horse (sorry). A little goes a long way, and for £21.00, the 60ml is a good 20% larger than average for moisturisers.

January Labs is one of the brilliant up-and-coming independent brands based out of California and as such is not as easy to get hold of as some, but if you're daft like me, that makes you want it all the more. I know I know. I really should see someone about it. But it's FUN.

January Labs is available in the US from www.januarylabs.com and in the UK from CultBeauty.co.uk who do ship internationally to a lot of countries.

Cult Beauty lists all ingredients.

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you are happy to click on the link and support this blog in that way, thank you very much. If you would prefer not to, just google the brand and the item, it's all cool. :) For absolute clarity: I do not use affiliate links on products belonging to brands that I work with on a professional basis. (I do not work with January Labs)

See my full disclaimer here:

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May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden

What is it?

'A botanical mist.'

Facial spritz/toner.

Who is it for?

Everyone.

What’s in it?

pure water (aqua)

*hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)

argentum metallicum (silver)

jasmine (jasmine) grandiflorum absolute

caprylic/capric triglyceride

jasminum officinale (jasmine) extract

*rosa damascena (rose) oil

*cananga odorata (ylang-ylang) oil

*vanilla planifolia (vanilla) CO2 total essential oil

theobroma cacao (cocoa) oil

*organic

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

essential oils

Natural? Organic? Man made? Gluten-free? Vegan?

Organic where possible, then wild-crafted/natural/gluten-free/vegan

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/No

What's not in it?

Not really applicable for a spray product, as they don't tend to contain a lot of things that are problematic (although there are some humdingers out there)

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?

Either as part of your routine, after acid toning, or as and when you need to refresh or hydrate your skin. OR simply because you want to smell the scent of this beyond-gorgeous product.

What’s good about it?

Everything. Since writing about Blue Cocoon, I have been asked frequently to review the rest of the range. The problem is, there isn't a bad thing to say about it and I don't want it to appear like I'm just fawning, but May, along with brands like Tata, Kate Somerville and Zelens are brands that I would never be without, one way or another.

This mist is on another level. Once you've used it there's no going back. It smells of jasmine and cocoa, with a hint of vanilla, which is, I realise, a bizarre combination. But it works, splendiferously so. 

It is designed to strengthen skin, restore elasticity, stimulate microcirculation and soothe signs of redness, inflammation and irritation. I use after acid toning and throughout the day if I'm feeling dehydrated, which is often in this weather. Layer over and under your other products to lock in moisture. I've been using it underneath the Chanel cream from yesterday and then rubbing Blue Cocoon on areas of redness caused by recent retinoids on my cheeks. Bliss.

What’s not so good about it?

It's £48.00 for 100ml, so if you're on a budget, this is obviously not for you. Also, it's so good that you will want to spray just for the smell, which is a tad indulgent, even for me. Calm down.

Similar products?

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist
Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
MV Organics Rose Hydrating Mist


May Lindstrom's The Jasmine Garden is £48.00 from Cult Beauty.com and $60.00 from MayLindstrom.com

The Top 10: Spritz Toners

The Acid Toning Top 10 was so well-received I thought I'd follow it with the most logical choice. These spritz toners/floral waters are ideal as either a second tone (spritz) or just your general tone for those of you that don't use acids and/or on days you aren't using acids.

These are a mix of budget chemist buys and high-end luxury. The differences being that some are water with added minerals such as zinc and magnesium, whilst others have added peptides, rice bran oils, rose oils etc - just more 'oomph'.

All are used frequently in my routine.

In no particular order.

Bioderma Crealine Eau Dermatologique - a great budget buy - similar to Serozinc except this has added zinc, magnesium and softening sugars including rhamnose. Lush.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc - finally made available in the UK last year, this is great for those of you with combination skin and acne - but can be used by all skins, including the most sensitive.

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray - reviewed only last month on here, this is borderline liquid moisturiser. Use this if you need a 'wet' face after you've spritzed. In the best way.

Vita Liberata Skin Plumping Peptide Mist - aloe vera, added peptides, a ton of flower extracts give you this beautiful mist from VL. Their tanning products are amazing but their skincare deserves more attention.

Cowshed Camomile Refreshing Toner - lavender and chamomile waters make this refreshing, soothing and calming. Another good 'wet' one.

Caudalie Organic Grape Water - frequently overlooked by the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, this is soothing, calming and very affordable. I use this far more than the Elixir.

Melvita Organic Rose Beauty Mist - rosewater with added glycerin - this packs a little more punch than your regular rosewater. Again, not extortionate, in a tin, great for travel.

Chantecaille Pure Rosewater - a beautiful, luxurious rosewater - usually only available in the summer months due to limited source ingredients, this is one of the Rolls-Royce Rosewaters. it also forms the base water of all Chantecaille skincare.

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist - this is the 'busiest' product. It contains everything from Royal Jelly to red algae to green tea to rice extract. Very, very soft on the skin.

Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence - aloe vera comprises the base of this product, making it extremely hydrating and soothing before you even get going with gotu kola, rice extract and willow bark extract. Absolutely beautiful.

N.B. I'm taking it easy on here this week/next as the children are on Easter break. I'll reply to as many comments/questions here and on social media as and when I can, but it may take a little longer than usual. Thanks!