A Special Announcement

I've been working on something lovely for a few months and today is the big reveal.... Hope you like the thought of it! More details are in the video - in the meantime....

To sign up for the waiting list* for the Cult Beauty Box by Caroline Hirons click here.

And yes, it ships worldwide!











*The wait list gives you VIP access to buy the box before it goes on general sale but please note it doesn't guarantee you a box nor does it commit you to buying one. :)

NUDE ProGenius Omega Treatment Milk

What is it?

Not that you'd know it from the name, but this is a serum dedicated to improving hydration and nourishment quickly. 

Who is it for?

Anyone, but brilliant for sensitive and dehydrated skins.

What’s in it?

Water (Aqua), Isoamyl Laurate, Glycerin, Squalene, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Punica Granatum Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract , Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed (Safflower) Oil, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Lysolecithin, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Diglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, P-Anisic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Citral, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Fragrance

Benzyl Salicylate

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

Natural ish.

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No/No

What's not in it?

PARABENS, SULPHATES, PEGS, TEA, DEA, PROYLENE GLYCOL, PHTHALATES, PETROCHEMICALS, SYNTHETIC COLOR, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE, MINERAL OIL AND SILICONES

How do you use it?

Onto fingers, then onto face, in the serum stage of your routine.

What’s good about it?

This is a lovely product, good for those of you with various sensitivities including redness and rosacea. It is loaded with 10 plant oils, rich in 5 omega oils. Some of the more 'chemical-laden' brands would cast doubt on the effect of topical omegas, but personally, I've seen results and am a plant oil advocate through and through. This is a lovely product. I would use it more for soothing and plumping than anti-ageing, but of course stopping dehydration in its tracks is technically anti-ageing so if you are in your late 20's/early 30's and have no other concerns, this could be perfect for you.

What’s not so good about it?

Well, the name. I would immediately dismiss this as a moisturising lotion if I saw it on the shelf. I have no doubt this has hindered the popularity of this product, people may simply not be using it thinking it's a moisturiser for combination skins.

Similar products?

Aurelia Revitalise and Glow

REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Serum

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum

OSKIA Get Up and Glow

NUDE ProGenius Omega Treatment Milk is £62.00 for 30ml, available from www.nudeskincare.com and needs to be renamed as a matter of urgency. ;)

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!) :)

New Monthly Focus - and Zelens Z Luminous and Intense Defence

When I spoke at the Harvey Nichols Beautiful Mind event a few weeks ago - one of the audience members asked the panel what brand we would pick if we could only use one for the rest of our lives. Needless to say, none of us could give a straight answer - we all had 2 or 3 options for each category. I said: 'Zelens for serums. No competition.'

These new additions will only reinforce that decision. Z Luminous and Intense Defence are not available yet, but I wanted to give a special heads-up to Z Luminous, which, from first application, was mind-blowing. It brightens, softens and gives amazing glow - something which is, as per usual, top of my list of requirements. :)

What is it?

'A new lightening and brightening cosmeceutical serum.'

Who is it for?

Anyone concerned with visible signs of pigmentation damage and people concerned with dull skin that lacks luminosity.

What’s in it?

Full inci list coming 

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

Man-made in the best frigging way possible

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No./No.

What's not in it?

Mineral oil - this much I can guarantee.

This is all a little bit of a tease for what is to come on the blog during May. My focus will be serums - all types, all prices, all strengths.

I will still be doing my normal reviews and Cheat Sheets - but am trying to focus on as many reviews as possible for serums - some new, some oldies but goodies.

I have literally spent all day today sorting out my stash *SPOILER KLAXON* because there is nothing like an impending visit from Sali Hughes and her 'In The Bathroom' crew to make you try and get organised. 

How gorgeous is Hughes?

I am therefore spending tomorrow photographing said stash for upcoming reviews, including approximately 60 serums.

Sweet Lord in Heaven. Let's do this.

Meet & Greet at the Clinique Great Skin Lab

I'm so excited and thrilled to announce that I am teaming up with Clinique in their Covent Garden Great Skin Lab to meet as many of you lovely readers as possible and talk all things skin and let's be honest, play for hours with Take The Day Off - in its various forms. ;)

The store will be kitted out with all of my favourite picks from Clinique and there will be some nice extras available for those of you making purchases on the day.

When: Wednesday 13th May
Time: 4pm - 9pm
Where:
Clinique Great Skin Lab
4A East Piazza
Royal Opera House Arcade
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 8HD

Based on my experiences at previous events, we've tried to make this as accessible as possible for everyone - and give you as much notice as we can.
This is a non-ticketed event, there is no charge, and I wanted to make sure we spread the time out as much as possible to ensure you can get to the Lab either during the 'normal' working day or after work.

I'll be posting reminders nearer the time but I'm looking forward to seeing you there.

*This event is sponsored by Clinique.