DHC Astaxanthin Collagen All in One Gel

Ever wondered why flamingos are pink? It turns out that it's down to a compound in the algae that they eat called Astaxanthin, which also happens to be one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.
Considered to be around 6,000 times more potent than Vitamin C, Astaxanthin is also the key ingredient in this multitasking gel from DHC.

Using Astaxanthin harvested from a freshwater green algae, the all in one gel is designed to tone, moisturise, hydrate and brighten. Featuring hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin, the gel helps to firm the skin and uphold its natural moisture levels.

The gel has a wobbly, blancmange-like texture, which I personally think really adds to the joy of the product. After all, it's a nice break from the classic rich cream texture and who doesn't want their skincare to resemble some kind of pudding?
As with all of DHC's core skincare products, the gel is fragrance free (though does have a very slight, sort of sweet naturally occurring scent).
I've really enjoyed using this over the past few weeks. I'll admit I've not used it religiously but when I have, I've felt a little difference in my skin. After using it overnight, I've noticed a slight plumping sort of effect come morning and my face feels less 'tight'. Just as a sidenote, since I've been breastfeeding my son, I seem to become dehydrated overnight because drinking litres of water in the wee hours to keep my water supplies up just doesn't happen, so I often get up in the morning and have this horrible tightness on the skin on my face. With the Astaxanthin, the tight feeling is definitely less noticeable. I hope that makes some kind of sense.

The gel-cream is lightweight and absorbs quickly, so its ideal for use both day and night.

The full ingredients:

water/aqua/eau, butylene glycol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, hydrogenated palm oil, hydrolyzed collagen, pentylene glycol, squalane, hoplostethus/orange roughy oil/huile d’hoplostète orange, glycel stearate SE, tocotrienols, batyl alcohol, tocopherol, porphyridium polysaccharide, phenoxyethanol, carbomer, potassium hydroxide, cetearyl alcohol, hydrolyzed elastin, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, cetearyl glucoside, allantoin, sodium hyaluronate, alcohol, beer extract, polyglyceryl-10 oleate, placental protein, haematococcus pluvialis extract, hydrolyzed royal jelly protein, polyglyceryl-10 stearate, lactoferrin, lysolecithin, rape shushi yu (JTN), lactic acid

DHC Astaxanthin Collagen All-In-One-Gel is £40 at DHC and Escentual. *It's currently £34 at DHC until the end of the month.

Three Tubing Mascaras You Need to Try

Weirdly, I don't actually have a favourite mascara. I guess I just get bored easily and brands are constantly releasing new and improved formulas and high tech wands and brushes that promise to lengthen, curl or volumise lashes and I inevitably get sucked in and want to try what's new. While I can't say I have a favourite particular mascara, years of trying out various high street and high end offerings has led to the discovery of a favourite formula; tubing. Tubing mascaras are not a very new concept but the 'tube' formula is being adopted by more and more brands due to its staying power and ease of removal.

Tubing mascaras use polymer formulas that encase individual lashes rather than painting them, so they are generally a good option if you don't want to deal with smudges (and who does, really) and want a mascara that requires minimal effort to remove. Tubing mascaras generally remove easily with just a little warm water to loosen the bonds, so little to no rubbing is required- great for sensitive eyes and arguably better for the condition of the lashes themselves.
My first experience with the formula involved a miniature sized tube of Clinique Lash Power which I think may have been a magazine freebie or part of a gift with purchase. I remember being a little bit mesmerized by how odd it felt when taking the mascara off- like each eyelash had been wearing it's own little rubbery suit of sorts- and how there was no evidence of the dreaded panda eye in sight.
Since that first wear of Clinique Lash Power, tubing formulas have been one of my favourite types of mascara to use so I'm always keen to try tubing offerings from various brands. These are my current tubing mascaras I have on rotation right now:

DHC Perfect Pro Double Protection Mascara

I find the simplicity of this DHC mascara quite refreshing. The sleek, silver packaging and minimalist design perfectly complement the small brush which seems to easily grab every lash. Apparently this is Emma Watson's favourite mascara and I totally get why-  it's really, really easy to use and utilizes Japanese tubing technology to add volume and length to every lash. This mascara lasts ages on means I've even put in and taken out contact lenses with it on. The small brush and non-smudge formula make it perfect for doing bottom lashes too. £15.90 at Escentual.

L'Oreal Double Extension Mascara

I rather enjoy the two-step ritual of applying this mascara. First priming the lashes with the white conditioning base coat that contains little fibres and then sealing the deal with the inky black mascara. This mascara gives great 'length' due in part to the fibers in the base coat so it's a worthwhile option if your lashes are on the shorter side. The longevity is decent too but I did find it a little more difficult to remove than the other two tubers. £11.29 at Boots.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

Eyeko are pretty well know for their excellent tubing mascaras and Black Magic is no exception. Featuring a sizable curved brush, this mascara curls and lifts the lashes in one go and the formula dries pretty quickly once on the lashes. I really like the packaging of Eyeko mascaras in general- the squeeze tube means you get the most bang for your buck as you can almost get to every last drop before giving up and getting another tube. £17.50 at Marks and Spencer.

Like virtually all tubing mascaras, these three remove easily with just warm water. I found DHC Perfect Pro Double Protect Mascara removes the quickest though and (just like Emma Watson) I would say is my favourite out of the bunch for every day use.

DHC Quick Film Smoother

I have a lot of time for slightly quirky skincare products and the DHC Quick Film Smoother is no exception. I also like the no-nonsense approach DHC took to naming this product - Quick Film Smoother. It's designed to make an instant 'improvement' to the look of your complexion, it creates a kind of film over the skin and it smooths wrinkles in one fell swoop. Pretty much does what it says on the tin then really.

The Quick Film Smoother is a skincare and makeup product in one as it provides an immediate smoothing effect and delivers a dose of ingredients that work over time.

Particularly brilliant as a primer, Quick Film Smoother is a lightweight gel-cream formula that works instantly to smooth out wrinkles. This effect is thanks to the addition of egg shell membrane peptides that are rich in collagen- they provide the 'tighten and lift effect' that the Quick Film Smoother provides. Various derivatives of the humble egg seem to be a popular ingredient in East Asian skincare so it's not really surprising that DHC include it in this product- I myself haven't tried any skincare containing egg before (though I have had my fair share of egg on my face ha ha ha...) but trying this product has certainly piqued my interest in the power of the egg as a cosmetic ingredient. While the egg peptides provide the immediate effects, skin is nourished and moisturised by algae extract, Sodium Hyaluronate (a water-soluble salt form of Hyaluronic Acid) and soy protein.

As mentioned, this is brilliant as a primer and I'd say it would suit pretty much every ski type. It doesn't have a heavy, artificial, silicone feel on the skin and just provides a nice smooth base ready for foundation. Or it can be worn without foundation if you don't fancy getting made up but would like a little glow action.
DHC Quick Film Smoother is on special for £17.50 at DHC until February 28th. After this date it will return to its full price of £22. You can also find DHC at Escentual.

DHC Resveratrol Range

Remember that study from years ago that proclaimed that red wine was actually good for our hearts? Well it turns out that it's also pretty great from our skin too. Well, sort of.
Japanese brand DHC have released a skincare range that harnesses the power of the skin of red grapes. That's almost wine. Isn't it?

The range, called Resveratrol (try saying THAT after a few glasses of red) includes a Toning Lotion, Essence and Cream that actually include resveratrol, which is a potent antioxidant and polyphenol (micronutrient) that is present in the skin of red grapes. Resveratrol is known for promoting longevity and when applied topically, rather than ingested after a long day, has been found to improve tissue elasticity, support the natural moisture barrier of the skin and protect against environmental damage.
Unlike other 'anti-ageing' superheroes such as retinol, resveratrol is suitable for sensitive skin and doesn't irritate.

The DHC Resveratrol skincare system includes three products packed full of this powerful antioxidant that can be layered or used on their own.

DHC Resveratrol Lotion

This is a hydrating toner, which I've been applying after acid toning in the evening. Designed to smooth the skin and improve resilience, the toner combines resveratrol with cereal extracts to boost the natural moisture barrier of the skin. This toner is refreshing, soothing, moisturising and feels very, very nice on freshly exfoliated skin.

DHC Resveratrol Essence

I love 'essences'. Even if 'essence' is just another way of saying serum, it just sounds so darn whimsical doesn't it? The essence is applied after the toner and contains rice extracts, soy protein and peptide-rich cereals to encourage collagen and hydrate. It feels luxurious and leaves skin feeling soft. Instant gratification.

DHC Resveratrol Cream

I am a little bit obsessed with the Resveratrol Cream, partly because it feels so hydrating and soothing and delicious on the skin, but mostly because it has that fun 'bouncy' texture found in many Asian face creams. The cream, which is the final step in the skincare system features high amounts of resveratrol combined with rice and cereal extracts and meadowfoam seed oil. Overall, it's a rather lovely, rich cream that I'm very much enjoying using on my face and not just for the fun, bouncy effect.

All three of the Resveratrol products are fragrance free and are a real pleasure to use. Each product retails for £43 and has just launched at www.dhcuk.co.uk, Feel Unique, Amazon and Escentual. You can also find them in store at John Bell & Croydon, Bentalls, Selfridges, Bliss Pharmacy, BeautyMART, Fenwick and some Urban Outfitters stores.

Post contains samples - words and opinions my own

DHC Face Wash Powder

Powder face washes seem to be having quite a moment don't they? I first got a taste (not literally, ugh) of the whole powder/exfoliating/cleansing combo in the form of Givenchy Hydra Sparkling One Minute Glow Powder in the #BBB Latest in Beauty Givenchy Box a couple of months back and was totally blown away/ sucked in by the rather simple concept of mixing powder with water. My second foray into this mysterious powdery realm was in the form of Indeed Labs Facial Powdered Exfoliator, which you can read about in a previous post and now I'm getting all sudsy with this little beauty - the DHC Face Wash Powder.

Unlike the aforementioned two, the powder from cult Japanese brand DHC is a cleanser and exfoliator in one and contains ingredients to do both jobs. This is not a new product but it has recently relaunched in this cute baby blue bottle with a flip top lid that allows you to pour the right amount of powder out.

Featuring a fine powder cornstarch base, the exfoliating action of the powder is delivered via protease enzyme - a kind of enzyme that aids in dissolving dead skin cells- while licorice, honey and lavender cleanse, soothe, soften and moisturise.

To use, you simply mix a little bit of the powder with water and massage it in to a wet face. The formula does lather up but not like traditional foaming cleansers or, say, a bar of soap. 

In other words it doesn't suck every last drop of water out of your skin but on the contrary my skin feels a bit moisturised once rinsed.

I found the exfoliation with this to be very gentle so I'd imagine it would be a good match for sensitive skins and, as is the standard with DHC products, it is fragrance free.

Overall I think this is a great little product and the powder formula makes it an ideal travel companion. I didn't find the exfoliation quite strong enough for my liking and I'm happy to use a separate cleanser and exfoliator but I can tell you that this little blue bottle came with me on an overnight break in Salisbury last weekend and it did the job just fine!

DHC Face Wash Powder is £9.50 for 50g of product and is available at DHC, Feelunique , Escentual and other selected retailers.

Post contains sample

DHC Olive Body Butter

I received the DHC Olive Body Butter this morning and can happily report that it is simply scrum-didly-umptious.
Before now the only product I'd tried by Japanese super brand DHC was the much loved Deep Cleansing Oil, so I was pretty keen to try something from the body range.

Firstly, the packaging for the Olive Body Butter is gorgeous - it's amazing how far some strategically placed flower illustrations can go in terms of increasing the desirability of a product! the 100g plastic jar comes in an equally pretty cardboard box that tells you all you need to know about what's inside:

"Wrap yourself in rich, moisturising cocoa and shea butters. Natural emollients olive, argan and avocado oils boost hydration for velvety-soft, supremely touchable skin. Enlivening green apple and rose scent."

That pretty much sums it up - the Olive Body Butter is a delicious concoction of various hydrating oils and butters all topped off with a very yummy apple and rose scent.

As I literally received this today I haven't applied it directly after a shower as yet but I have been smothering it on my arms today and it isn't greasy in the slightest, in fact it seems to sink in extremely fast. Perhaps that's testament to just how dry my skin is in this moisture-sapping English weather? Moisturising lotions and potions without the grease factor get a giant tick in my book so I'm going to go ahead and recommend the bejesus out of this product.

The DHC Olive Body Butter hasn't actually launched in the UK yet but will be available from the 1st of January from DHC UK and possibly BeautyMART and Selfridges London as they stock other DHC products. The Olive Body Butter will retail for £15.50.
You can stay up to date with new products from DHC by following them on Twitter @DHCUK_Skincare.

*PR Sample -   words are my own