Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial

Sarah Chapman's Overnight Facial has been on my wish list for some time now for two reasons;
(1.) I really enjoy putting oily serums on my face
(2.) I'm a sucker for a cleverly named beauty product

Prior to Overnight Facial, the only Sarah Chapman product I had any experience with was the Skin Insurance tinted SPF which is a product that I basically wore daily this Summer. I loved the effect and the finish of Skin Insurance, so it only made me more keen to try more from the brand. So now I've got Overnight Facial on the go and I've been using it most nights since I got it for my birthday two weeks ago. Thanks mum.

The name is a bit of a giveaway, but this serum is designed for use at night. You just massage it in and let it do its thing while you sleep.

An oil-serum formula, Overnight Facial was developed by Sarah Chapman to allow users to recreate the 'glow' of her famous Skinesis facials in the comfort of their own home. Pretty much nothing can compare to a really good facial but after trying this product for a couple of weeks, I can confirm that it comes pretty close - if only it came complete with an Indian head massage and ambient rainforest sounds.

Since I've just turned 33, which we all know is very, very old, I have started venturing out into the world of Vitamin A. It's good timing then that Overnight Facial came into my life when it did, because it's a main feature of this serum.

On top of Vitamin A, Overnight Facial is rich in anti-inflammatory omegas, antioxidants, a cocktail of vitamins including a stabilised version of Vitamin C and a brightening complex. The formula also features something called Renovage which claims to prolong the life span of cells and Dermaxyl which boosts collagen production via an advanced peptide technology.

As well as all of these super ingredients, Overnight Facial contains a blend of jasmine, tuberose, rose and frangipani essential oils for a soothing scent. On the topic of scents, I read a few reviews of Overnight Facial that raved about the amazing way it smells but I'll admit that the first few times I tried it I didn't really even notice much of a scent. It wasn't until just the other night when I took the time to purposefully breathe in the scent after swiping it across my palms and holding my hands in front of my face that I actually understood what these people were talking about. I totally get it now. This stuff smells gorgeous.

Pretty smells aside, the reason I wanted to write this review is because I'm thus far pretty impressed with Overnight Facial. I am convinced that in the short amount of time I've been using it, it has made a definite improvement on the overall texture and plumpness of the skin on my face. My crows feet (ugh I hate that term) next to my eyes are looking a lot smoother and sort of plumped out, which is quite remarkable because I have spent a large portion of the last few months squinting, thanks to that weirdly hot and sunny summer we've just had.

The packaging has its good and not-so-good points. It looks sleek and modern and lovely,, and the airless pump means the integrity of the active ingredients isn't compromised. However, you also can't see the product at all until you pump it into your hand so you therefore can't tell when you're about to run out. Overnight Facial is £49 for 15ml, which does seem a lot for such a small amount of product but I've found that one pump is the perfect amount for my face.

If you want to try it for yourself, Overnight Facial is available at Look Fantastic, Space NK, John Lewis, Feel Unique and Sarah Chapman.

Another Review of Glossier You

I know that Glossier's cult fragrance debuted around a year ago now, but I received it for my birthday a few weeks ago so it's new to me! Truth be told I've been a little bit in love with this fragrance since my sister got it for Christmas and I'm so pleased to have a little red capped pink bottle of my own.

You is quite a departure from my usual favourite scents. The majority of my perfumes are gourmands or are at least quite heavy on the sweet notes, whereas You doesn't really have any dessert-like qualities at all. In fact, to me it's almost got a savoury edge, probably thanks to the pink pepper top notes.

The really cool thing about this scent is that it's described as a personal fragrance - in other words, it was created for the wearer to enjoy rather than to be spritzed to impress anyone else. I personally really like this sentiment and think it's a much savvier way of marketing the fragrance rather than simply saying that You is quite a subtle scent. It also makes me feel marginally better about the fact that I'll often just sit there absentmindedly sniffing my own wrist.

Officially, Glossier You consists of the following notes (notes and descriptions borrowed from Glossier):
Base
-Ambrette (comfy, warm)
-Ambrox (smooth, salty, animalistic)
-Musk (long-lasting, addictive)

Top
-Iris Root (earthy, green, woody)
-Pink Pepper (spice, sparkling)

And then the final (or first) ingredient is you and the way your skin reacts with the fragrance.

Both the concept and scent remind me of Escentric Molecules 03 which I had the pleasure of sampling back in 2015 as it was one of the goodies in the Liberty Advent Calendar. 

I have read that others compare You to Molecule 01(the original), which I haven't actually smelled but can imagine that there would be definite similarities going by what I've read about that one.
The longevity of this scent seems to have mixed reviews; some people claim it lasts and lasts whereas for others it disappears within hours. I think i'm somewhere in the middle when it comes to how long it keeps my skin scented though I do stop noticing the fragrance quite quickly. Nothing a quick wrist-whiff can't solve though.

Right, onto the packaging;

I LOVE this bottle. From the thick frosted pink glass to the contrasting red cap, it's almost like they created this bottle with Instagram in mind. It's even ergonomic too, with an indent to place your thumb whilst you spritz away. Handy.

The 50ml fragrance bottle is perfectly handbag friendly and I've thus far had no leaking incidents whilst transporting it which is always a bonus. After all, I want You on me and not on my stuff.

If you've not already tried You, it can be ordered online at Glossier for £45 where it qualifies for free delivery as it's over the £25 threshold. There is also a kitsh solid perfume compact version which is £19.

In terms of other Glossier products I've tried, I like the Cloud Paint and Generation G matte lipstick (I have shade Cake and it's a very wearable and sheer your-lips-but-better nude) and don't mind my Coconut Balm Dot Com. I regularly use Boy Brow too, that's a fantastic, super quick and convenient brow product. I've also tried the Milky Jelly Cleanser (meh) and really didn't get on with the Body Hero products, though I think I'm in the minority there!

I think I'll be a long term fan of Glossier You though and am definitely keen to see what the brand will do next.