Review : Mad Hippie Exfoliating Face Serum!

Last October, I bought Mad Hippie’s Exfoliating face serum from iHerb. I love serums. That’s no secret. Mad Hippie, though unusually named, is an advanced skincare brand. All of their products have very powerful, natural antioxidant ingredients. The more powerful the ingredients, the better the results are.

I have been using it for about 2 months now and it’s a good time period to judge the product well. This serum contains 16 active ingredients in it. Those 16 ingredients are : Glycolic acid, Vitamin B5, Lactic acid, Matrixyl 3000, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Sodium hyaluronate, White tea extract, Goji berry extract, PhytocellTec (Apple Stem cells of the rare Swiss apple which have been shown to protect skin cells from age related damages, in combination with a few other ingredients), Gigawhite (A natural blend of six organically grown alpine plants that lessen discoloration by inhibiting melanin production), Melatonin, Caffeine, Biotin, Tocopheryl acetate and Ceramide 3. This product contains no parabens, harmful chemicals, synthetic color or fragrance.

These ingredients work together to help shed dull, damaged skin & discoloration to reveal brighter, smoother skin. Within a couple of weeks, I could see the results!. My skin was visibly brighter. Even my family noticed it when they saw me after a gap of two weeks. There is a bouncy feel to my skin which is really healthy.

The outer packaging has cute floral designs on them. The brand believes in flower power and being close to nature when developing their products. The serum itself, comes in a dark brown glass bottle. It has a dropper, which is one of my favorite kind of packaging for such products. The serum is beige in color. It looks a bit sticky when you dispense it out through the dropper. However, when you apply it onto your face, it isn’t sticky at all. It’s almost liquid like, then. It gets absorbed into the skin, super fast. It smells like apple and coffee mixed together!. Though individually these smells are nice, combined am not a fan of it. So, I am disliking it’s scent however when looking at how amazing the product is, I can live with it!

The bottle contains 30 ml and will last a LONG time. You only need 2 drops each time. I give two long presses on the cap of the dropper. That dispenses enough amount to cover both my face and neck. The liquid consistency is easy to work with and spreads well. I use this every night right before applying an oil. To read my nighttime skincare routine, click here.

Since some of the ingredients in this serum can cause sensitivity to sun, it’s best advised to use it only at night. Use sunscreens, if you like to use it in the morning. I highly recommend this serum. This is one of the best serums I have ever used. It’s not just about having my skin brightened. It’s about the overall feeling of healthy skin that I just love!.

Price : $27.99 (AED 102.81) for a 30ml bottle. It seems really expensive but in the long run (since a bottle lasts really long), it’s a good investment. Also, iHerb has the lowest prices. It’s best to buy from there. Even Mad Hippie’s own website sells these for $34.99 (AED 128.52).

iHerb ships worldwide by the way. It ships from US, ultra fast. Use the code SCZ695 on your first purchase to receive an instant discount of upto $10.

Review: L’Oreal Extraordinary oil cream!

I tried L’Oreal’s latest product, the Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil cream and I am quite in love with it. It is a nourishing cream, infused with precious oils and white jasmine.

The outer packaging is really gorgeous with a black and golden design. The glass container with the product is compact and simple, yet looks expensive, with a pretty golden lid. The cream is a light yellowish cream in color. It’s really light and silky in texture. Skin easily absorbs the cream and though it has oil micro-pearls in it, it’s non greasy and non-sticky. As soon as the cream is applied, the skin looks radiant and nourished. The oil pearls illuminates the skin with the slightest bit of shimmer.

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This moisturizer is suitable for anyone within the age range of 20 – 60. I highly recommend this moisturizer to you. It’s a great addition to your skincare routine. I got this from Lulu Center.

Skin Republic Launches their Spots + Blemish Facemask!

Think spots are something just teenagers get? Think again. Around 20 per cent of women suffer from acne well into their 20s and 30s, which can be caused by anything from stress to hormone fluctuations and more.

All is not lost, however as Skin Republic  Spots  +  Blemish  Face  Mask  is  the  latest  addition  to  the Skin Republic range. This  hypo-allergenic  and dermatologist tested Face Mask was designed to specifically target irritated skin suffering from acne, blemishes, redness and excess oil secretion. Containing Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Centella Asiatica  and  Witch  Hazel,  this  Face  Mask  is  one of the most effective treatments  for  controlling problem skin.

We often go into the festive season with loads of good intentions. The party where you swore you’d only have one or two drinks. The lunch that went so well… until the desserts came out. And the snacks you only ate because they were, well… there! All the festivities of Christmas, the celebrations over the New Year and the overindulgence associated with both, can take its toll on the health and beauty of our skin, especially the delicate skin on the face. Whether skin looks dull, tired and lifeless and in need of a boost of vitality, or the toxic overload has resulted in breakouts, it’s the time of year when salons often see an influx of clients seeking solutions to their skin care problems or wishing to embark on a detox programme.

The Skin Republic Spots & Blemish Face Mask is a saviour after the festive binge. It helps cleanse the skin’s pores. Clears spots and aids in preventing breakouts with tea tree extract and salicylic properties. Witch hazel helps tighten pores and stabilises the barrier function of the skin. These ingredients remove pore-clogging oil, control shine and reduce redness without over drying, helping to maintain a healthy and clear complexion.

Salicylic Acid is a highly effective and gentle pore cleanser. It works by  causing  the  cells  of  the epidermis to slough off  more  rapidly encouraging new, healthy skin to regenerate. Salicylic Acid is ideal for people with  sensitive  skin who  are  prone  to  breakouts  as  it  gently cleanses the pores without irritating the skin.

Tea Tree  Oil  is  widely  known  for  its  enormous  skin  benefits  with antibacterial,  anti-fungal, antiseptic, and germicidal  properties. In addition Tea Tree Oil contains anti-inflammatory properties helping to soothe the skin and reduce redness.

Centella  Asiatica  has  several  skin  care  benefits  such  as  boosting circulation,  improving the collagen foundation of the  skin,  fighting oxidation and improving the skin firmness and elasticity.  In addition, Centella  Asiatica is believed to  be  the  primary  stimulate  in  the production  of collagen and speeds  up  the  skin’s  healing  process of spots and blemishes.

Witch Hazel helps with controlling water loss ensuring skin remains hydrated.  It is  also  a  highly  effective astringent visibly  reducing  the size of  the  skin’s  pores.  Witch Hazel  helps  to  stabilise  the  barrier function  of  the  skin, reducing  skin  redness  and  has  antioxidant properties.

The Skin Republic Spots + Blemish Face Mask is the ideal treatment for people suffering from acne and problem skin. With its  active  ingredients,  this  Face  Mask  helps  cleanse  the  skin’s  pores  and  aids  in  the prevention  of future breakouts whilst simultaneously tightening pores and stabilising the barrier function of the skin helping to fight spot causing bacteria. The Skin Republic Spots + Blemish Face Mask removes pore clogging oil, controls shine and reduces redness without over drying the skin, leaving you with a clean and clear complexion.

As the skin has a four-week regeneration period, Skin Republic’s Face Masks are most effective when used twice a week for the first month and then as required. An application takes between 15-20 minutes.

The Spots & Blemish Face Mask has a three year shelf life and is available from Boots the Pharmacy and United Pharmacy across the UAE retailing at 22 AED.

The Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm Dupe

There’s not a beauty blogger in sight that hasn’t heard of the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm, and you’d be hard pushed to find someone that’s tried it and not adored every aspect of it. Every aspect that is, except from the price. At a whacking great £36 (on FeelUnique) it’s way over most people’s cleansing budget, including mine! After splashing out and buying myself a tub of the cleansing balm I was devastated when it eventually ran out and extremely reluctant to spend out that amount of money on it again, so I went on a mission. A mission to find something equally as good for a fraction of the price, and I think I’ve managed to do so!

Behold the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop. At a mere £12 this cleansing balm hits the nail on the head…big time!

The slim metal packaging looks fantastic and makes storage easy (a lot more convenient than the bulky plastic of the Emma Hardie balm). The solid white butter is densely packed in and melts immediately when in contact with the skin. The ability to remove make up is on par with the Moringa Cleansing Balm and this product is a third of the price!

I take a small amount (as shown above) of the cleansing butter, rub it between all of my fingertips and massage it into my skin, taking extra time when it comes to my eyes as to remove stubborn eye make up.

Once I can feel that all of my make up has been lifted from my skin I rinse it all off with a muslin cloth and warm water. My face then feels clean, smooth and perfectly make up free.

This is a fantastic product for people, like myself, who wear a lot of make up as it removes all traces in one go, without having to use numerous products or half a packet of cotton wool!

It’s also great for those who are a tad lazy on the cleansing front. A quick massage onto the face and rinsed off in a matter of seconds will leave the skin feel nourished and squeaky clean.

As much as I love high end skin care and am willing to splash the cash on certain items, it’s nice to find an affordable alternative to use. Are there any other products similar to this that you think I should try out?