REVIEW || SUPERDRUG VITAMIN E SKINCARE REVIEW - DUAL PHASE CLEANSING OIL, MICELLAR SOLUTION, OATMEAL EXFOLIATOR & HOT CLOTH CLEANSER

If you’re like me then you’re always looking for good and affordable skincare. We’ve all heard of Origins, Clinique, Liz Earle etc but these labels also carry a high price tag with their great products. Since coming across Superdrug’s Vitamin E range a few years ago I wanted to pick up a few of their skincare products and give them a proper go before reviewing them for you guys.

Vitamin E Gentle Oatmeal Exfoliator £2.99:

I have previously tried the Oatmeal Exfoliator and loved the smell but didn’t really remember the product so I had to buy it again and see if it was any good. As I already mentioned, the scent is really nice - it reminds me of a Lush soap I’ve had before. It feels very gentle on the skin as it’s sort of creamy but the oat grains are effective enough to scrub away the dead skin cells and sebum. I do find that the grains get stuck in the tube a bit making it harder to squeeze the product out but as long as the little nozzle is cleaned after every use it shouldn’t get blocked.

Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil £2.99:

When I picked this cleansing oil up I was really excited to try a new cleanser that will remove my makeup properly - including my waterproof mascara. I thought of this as a more affordable and cruelty-free alternative to Clinique’s Take The Day Off makeup remover which is one of my favourite products, but for obvious reasons (not being cruelty-free & price) I want to find a perfect alternative. At first, I thought that this oil was a bit rubbish as the bottle would leak after I applied some product to a cotton pad, it really got on my nerves as this would happen every time I used it!

The instructions say to shake the bottle to combine the two oils and then apply to a cotton pad ready to use to take any makeup off as well as to cleanse the skin from any impurities to leave the skin feeling clean and soft. I can say that this oil does work in a very similar way to the Clinique makeup remover, however, it doesn’t take waterproof mascara off as well which is slightly disappointing. It feels lovely on the skin as it glides on over the face and melts the makeup away but I feel like I need to double cleanse after (which I always do regardless of the makeup remover I use) therefore this might not be the right product for you if you want something fuss-free an easy to use, but at only £2.99 I think it’s definitely a product worth trying.

Vitamin E Gentle Micellar Solution £2.99:

I really love the scent of this micellar water, it smells very fresh and sort of sweet (similar to the exfoliator). This micellar water is designed to remove makeup and any impurities from the skin but I used it as a toner after double cleansing my skin. It’s an okay cleanser, I don’t think it takes off any makeup off however it feels great on the skin as a toner but that’s the only use I get out of it. I've noticed that my skin felt softer since using this product but it still has quite a lot of texture so personally, I don't think this works as a very good toner either, so for £2.99, I can’t be mad but probably won’t buy this again.

Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser £4.99:

Well, where do I start? I had really high hopes for this cleanser, especially after hearing that it’s a great dupe for the Liz Earl one. When I opened the box this cleanser came in, I found a cloth inside which I thought was a very good addition to the product as not everyone owns a face cloth (I have around 10 because I obviously lack self-control). The first time I tried this product I thought it was okay and it did cleanse my skin nicely but I had a feeling like it wasn’t enough so I’d always use a scrub after because I didn’t want to leave my skin feeling congested. Another time I used this was a completely different story and, to be honest with you, it was the last time I used this. My face was burning and carried on stinging after I removed the product. I don’t know what it was that made my skin react so badly but I haven’t touched it since. It does say on the bottle that it’s suitable for sensitive skin but I wouldn’t recommend it if you suffer from acne, rosacea, dry flaky skin etc. So this little guy will definitely not make it back into my bathroom cabinet unless they change the formula or create one for very sensitive skin!

Have you tried any products from the Vitamin E range? I know there are so many more, so if you’d like me to review any please let me know in the comments section down below!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

SS18 ESSENTIALS FOR BEAUTIFUL LOOKING FEET

Ever since I can remember I have always struggled with taking care of my feet as nothing seems to work. My feet are naturally quite dry and sensitive, so when I do apply some sort of ‘special’ foot cream it starts to sting and makes it unbearable for me to walk. This is why I started to try different products, and instead of spending loads of money on regular pedicures, I started to do them myself. I will write a full routine post for you later on but for now, let's focus on my new favourite foot care product.

The foot cream I recently tried out has become my new holy grail skincare item. I came across it when I went on a shopping spree with my mum, and I wish I bought more! It is the Origins' Reinventing the Heel Mega Moisture for Dry, Cracked Feet and retails at £24 so it is quite pricey. I have had it for nearly 3 months now and been using it on and off and have noticed amazing results. Because of the salicylic acid in the cream, it strips the dry skin off while moisturising the fresh layer ensuring your feet are very soft and comfortable. Since I've been using this foot cream it has really boosted my confidence when it comes to having my feet out and wearing sandals and other shoes that expose a bit of my heel.

Because of the lovely weather we've been having, my love for sandals keeps growing, so when I was offered to test the services of FootWay I was beyond excited. Anyone who knows me or reads my blog will know how much I love shoes and that I buy about 3 pairs a week. I have always loved Birkenstock shoes, so just had to get a pair with the voucher I was offered by the company. The pair I decided to go for was the Arizona Regular Birkoflor Myda Espresso which were only £60 in the sale compared to the usual price of between £75 to £90 - bargain! They are sooooo comfortable and make any outfit look super cute, even though you might think they’re granny shoes! I would usually pair them up with a pair of high waisted skinny jeans and a flowy top, or a midi dress in the summer. 
The FootWay website is very easy to navigate as it asks for your shoe size and it can either show you all brands sorted by price or you can select the type of shoes you're looking for. There are many styles to choose from and I struggled a lot picking a favourite pair (because I love all shoes) but have found shoes that are perfect for me. They don't look too bulky on my feet which is great as I find that many buckled sliders look a bit manly, the colour is also very nice as it's a brown-black shade with speckles of glitter (yay). I would highly recommend FootWay for those looking for shoes on a budget as they offer new collections as well as discontinued pairs. I couldn't be happier with the service I received, plus the delivery only took 3 working days which is always a plus especially if you need some shoes for a special occasion or before a holiday! These will definitely be coming with me to Majorca this year.

So my summer essentials for 2018 are the Origins foot cream, fresh pedicure and a comfy pair of sandals. What are your essentials for beautiful looking feet?

*I was sent the pair of shoes to review by FootWay. This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || THE NEW AND IMPROVED MOISTURE SURGE 72-HOUR AUTO-REPLENISHING HYDRATOR

Some of you may already know that I recently started working for Clinique, and I couldn't be happier to be sharing one of my all-time favourite products with you. The original Moisture Surge Hydrator has been around since 1980's and has not been spoken about enough. Moisture Surge has been labelled the UK's number 2 best-selling moisturiser of all time which is very well deserved. I have tried many moisturisers for my oily-dry combination skin and none of them seemed to work as well as this one.

The first Moisture Surge I have tried was the newer version which was released in 2012 (I think) and I absolutely loved it. It felt very lightweight and soothing on my skin and made the perfect base for my makeup. The new, and improved version, however, is pretty much the same texture as the previous one but with more benefits.

The inspiration behind this miracle in a jar was to bring our skin to a baby-like condition. As we mature, our skin loses its ability to create its own hydration, becoming drier and losing its natural suppleness and healthy glow. Now, the new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Hydrator has been designed to keep your skin hydrated for up to 72 hours from within the dermis even after washing your face! This, of course, does not mean that you shouldn't apply the product twice a day, but what it does mean is that it will deliver a continuous flow of hydration to every living layer of the skin - sort of like watering a plant you can see the water sink in to the roots and that is exactly what this product does.

There are actually 7 different ways you can use your Moisture Surge Hydrator, which make it so much better value for your money! These include:
5-Minute Moisturising Mask - apply a generous amount to your entire face and wash off after 5 minutes for a hydrating face mask.
Cuticle Treatment - tidy up your cuticles in seconds by massaging the product over each nail bed to soften and soothe dry and rough cuticles.
Frizz Fighter - get rid of frizzy hair by applying a dime-size amount onto your palms and running your hands lightly through the ends or any frizzy bits.
Glow on the Go - apply a small amount of the product on the back of your hand alongside a thick swatch of the Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, mix both products in together and apply the mixture to the high points of your face as you would with a liquid highlighter.
Dry Spot Soother - apply a small amount directly to any dry spots in need, even over your makeup.
Sheer Bronzer - mix in a liquid bronzer then blend the mixture all over your face for a sun-kissed glow.
Wow Now Practice - apply Moisture Surge onto the back of one of your hands and dab over with face powder - apply only powder onto the other hand and compare results - you should see how smooth the hand will look where you've used the hydrator.

My initial thoughts on this new Moisture Surge are that it made my skin feel like velvet and baby-like. If you've read my Porefessional review you will know what sort of feeling I meant by this, but it is quite indescribable unless you've tried the product yourself. Once I've applied the Moisture Surge I let it sink into my skin for a couple of minutes, (it does have a tacky feeling to it so if you like to put your makeup on such consistencies then go right ahead as it will make it last longer) and go on to apply my makeup. I've found that my makeup sits on my skin a lot better when I use Moisture Surge 72-Hour and actually lasts longer without my foundation separating. Even after I take my makeup off, I can feel how smooth and velvet-like my skin is - this is definitely the best product of 2018 and it's only February! So, well done Clinique! You have really outdone yourself this time!

*Available in UK stores from the 2nd March 2018.

You can purchase the new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator through their website here.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 9 - A CHRISTMAS GUIDE FOR A SPECIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE - BEST FACIALS FOR ALL SKIN TYPES FT. DECLÉOR

I recently had my very first facial and back massage done properly and I couldn't stress enough about how amazing it made me feel not only on the outside but on the inside too. I've been feeling very stressed out the past few weeks hence my lack of absence on social media and this blog (I do apologise to those who actually take their time to read my posts).
Because I work in the beauty industry, I had the opportunity to book myself for a facial and massage with Decléor for free which was amazing. At first, I was taken into the beauty room and asked to fill out a form which had a variety of skin problems/allergies etc. to fill out, so I circled my main concerns as prone to breakouts, acne scarring, redness, and oiliness. After I had filled out this form, I was asked to strip down to my knickers and cover myself in a towel and lay on my front. The masseuse then used oils to massage my back and put pressure onto my knots to get them out. You can only imagine how relaxed I had felt at this point, I do wear heels a lot so my back hurts quite a bit, but the way she relieved the pressure in my back has really helped.

Moving onto the facial, I don't exactly know what she did but I know it felt amazing during and after! I really loved the mousse cleanser and the phytopeel exfoliating peel which made my skin feel amazing. She also used this clay face mask on me which I really liked and ended up buying as she advised me to wear it overnight to have very fresh and soft skin in the morning. Overall, this was a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to book in for another treatment soon! I think one a month is vital for good skin health, and it's very affordable as you get your money back in products. I know for a fact that I'll be buying a full-size mousse cleanser and the exfoliating peel next.

Have you tried any Decléor products? Would you treat a loved one to a facial treatment?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || INDEED LABS Q10 BOOSTER & EYSILIX 2 TOTAL EYE RESCUER - SKINCARE ITEMS TO START USING IN YOUR 20'S

Now that my 22nd birthday is just around the corner I've been feeling the need to step up my skincare game and start using anti-ageing products. By that, I am not saying that you should start using anti-ageing skincare, all I'm trying to say is that I started to notice lines under my eyes and darker circles under them so I thought now is the time to finally start using products to aid my ageing process in the most natural and graceful way.

I was recently gifted some Indeed Laboratories products by the lovely Maddy from Bux & Bewl including the Q10 Booster and the Eysilix 2 Total Eye Rescuer and I couldn't wait to try them.
Both products are designed for fine lines and wrinkles - whether that's on your face or crow's feet, there's something available for everyone.

The Q10 Booster also helps to defend against free-radicals, is paraben, colourant and fragrance-free and on top of that feels amazing on my skin. The booster is said to be used twice a day (morning and night), either on its own or mixed with a serum, moistures or foundation - I prefer to use it on its own before moisturising, however, it also works amazingly applied onto a beauty sponge before blending foundation. I have noticed an instant glow to my skin and been trying to use this product as instructions say (twice daily), and have also seen a difference in how my skin feels and looks. The Vitamin E and Vitamin C which slow down the ageing process and are antioxidants that get rid oxidant chemicals that are caused by literally everything.

The Eysilix 2 is a 'total eye rescue cream formulated with peptides, ceramides, extracts and probiotics to help instantly smooth wrinkles and reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes'. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it sort of is... just like the Q10 booster, this eye cream is free of parabens, colourants and fragrance, and feels amazing on the skin. It's very light-weight and absorbs really quickly so it doesn't mean that you'll have to get up early in the morning just to fit in a new skincare routine as this one only takes a couple of minutes! I do find that this fills up the lines around my eyes nicely and allows my makeup to sit on top of my skin without sinking - I did tell you it was a dreamy product!

These two are honestly some of my new favourite skincare products and I would highly recommend them to all who are wanting to start an anti-ageing skincare routine as these are suitable for all skin types - even sensitive so you can't really go wrong with them now, can you?!

You can purchase the Q10 Booster here, and the Eysilix 2 here.

Lots of love,

Maya xo