Rodin Facial Cleansing Powder

Rodin is just such a luxurious brand and I'm yet to try a product of theirs that I don't like. Fact. It's been a while (years in fact) since my precious sample bottle of the cult Olio Lusso Face Oil came to an end so I am enjoying rediscovering the brand with the latest offering - the Facial Cleansing Powder.

It seems that this has really been the year of the facial cleansing powders and I myself have tried different versions from Givenchy, Nude, Indeed Labs and DHC and each have had significantly different formulas and selling points (foaming, exfoliating etc). The Rodin powder, however, is in a whole different ballpark and for me takes the crown for the most luxe of the bunch.

Fistly, let's talk about this packaging. While glass may not be the most practical packaging for the bathroom, the weight and feel of this bottle really adds to the whole luxurious ritual of using the contents. The bottle comes with a little stopper that fits very snugly in the top and effectively stops moisture getting in and spoiling the product itself.

The powder is granular and can be used in two ways - for an extra exfoliating cleanse, pour a small amount of the powder into damp palms before massaging over the face. For a richer lather, add more water and work with your hands until it reaches your preferred level of foam.

You then just rinse your face clean and away you go. I use a facial cloth to remove this but have used the rinse away method too and there was no residue left behind - just soft, clean feeling skin.
The Rodin Facial Cleansing Powder contains rice bran and moisturising sea algae and doesn't leave the face feeling stripped or tight. It just feels clean and smooth. And that's what we want, isn't it?
The real cherry on top is the scent - the cleansing powder has the same aroma as the facial oil thanks to the addition of the signature Olio Lusso blend of jasmine and neroli. It's just a gorgeous cleanser/ exfoliator that feels fantastic on and leaves my face feeling perfectly clean and rather blissed out really. It's got me lusting after a new bottle of Olio Lusso Face Oil now.

Rodin Facial Cleansing Powder launched last month and is £32 at Liberty.

Post contains sample

Garnier miracle wake up cream

Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream sounded so good on paper and I was very excited to get it on my face. If you're a regular reader, you'll know I love my skincare and I was so hopeful that I would enjoy this little bright pink pot of day cream. But alas, I am not a fan.

The cream is Garnier's latest launch and is designed to make your face look less tired. This obviously sounds great in theory but I found one major flaw (in my eyes) and that is this: it has an oddly matte finish.

When I think 'awake' I think dewy. I think refreshed. I think glow. I don't think matte.

Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream contains rice-micro peptides and apple extract, though I can't seem to find any information about the importance of these ingredients in the product so I'm not completely sure what role they play.
Notably, one of the cream's key ingredients is Dimethicone (listed as the 2nd ingredient after water), which is a silicone based polymer commonly found in makeup primers and some foundations. This sits on top of the skin and gives a smoothing effect, which is why it's so widely used in primers - it creates a smooth canvas to allow foundation to glide on smoothly.

Now, I am not anti-silicone by any means but I am not keen on the fact that it's so high up on the ingredients list. Especially coming from a brand called Garnier Skin Naturals. I'm sure I own some skincare products that contain silicones but it's like I can really feel it in this cream. I am too aware of the silicone! I am just a bit confused by this product I think.

On a positive note, this cream does make skin feel instantly soft and sort of silky (even if this is down to the addition of silicone) and would make a perfectly fine primer. Also, if your skin is on the oily side, you will probably like this more than I do - equally if you prefer a matte look to a dewy one.

Personally, I just don't get on with this cream - to the point that I felt the need to wash my face after putting it on because I felt strangely itchy!
I could not find the Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream on the Garnier website (why?!), which is annoying because I wanted to dig up more info but it is on Boots online for £12.99. I'm yet to see it instore, which is a shame because I really think it's something you should try before you buy. This is not a horrible product but it's just not to my tastes. If you've tried it, I'd love to know what you think!

Joik Chocolate Facial Mask

I found Joik on LoveLula the other night and my eyes were immediately drawn to the candles (crème brulee, apple glogg etc) and this little beauty - the Chocolate Facial Mask.

I've not experienced the whole chocolate-on-face thing (intentionally anyway) since Lush introduced their Cupcake facemask and figured it was about time. Besides, I like chocolate and I like putting things on my face, so why not combine the two eh?

The Joik Chocolate Facial Mask is designed to rejuvenate and tighten tired and stressed out skin and contains:
Rhassoul Clay - A natural Moroccan lava clay to absorb oil, sort out impurities, tone and rejuvenate
Milk Powder - To soften and smooth
Honey - A natural antibacterial that soothes and moisturises
Cocoa Powder - Naturally rich in vitamins and contains anti oxidant compounds. According to Joik, the scent fills you with 'happy hormones' that aid in relaxation, relieve tension and ease stress.

And that's it. Four, fairly simple natural ingredients. Well played Joik, well played.
The mask comes packaged in a round, plastic 50g tub and is in loose powder form, meaning you have to mix up the mask yourself, which is kind of fun in itself.
To make the face mask, mix about one teaspoon of the powder with equal amounts of your choice of water, milk or herbal tea. I really like this element of choosing which liquid to use and thought perhaps mixing it up with some chamomile tea might be a winner.
This time though, I used milk. Controversial.

I used way too much milk though, so ended up with a much thinner consistency than I would have liked, but I still put it all over my face.
As this is a clay based mask, it sets and hardens, indicating when it's time to wash it off. I used a warm damp flannel to do this and it came off easily enough and left my skin feeling rather heavenly.

I'm sure you've already guessed what this smells like - pretty much exactly like a steaming cup of hot chocolate - so it's certainly not unpleasant to wait around for it to dry. Unless you don't like chocolate, obviously.

While it's certainly not what I'd call a beauty essential, it is a lovely treat product and would make a great gift for any sweet toothed friends/ family this christmas.
The Joik Chocolate Facial Mask is £11 at LoveLula.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm Review

I'm always interested to try skincare from brands I haven't used before and the Melting Cleansing Balm has been a nice little introduction to Merumaya.

I'm a major fan of balm cleansers but have only ever used ones that come in tubs, so the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm has been a bit of a revelation for me.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm Review

Not only is it packaged in a tube (which some may argue is more hygienic than sticking your finger in a tub countless times) but the balm cleanser is a pretty special formula that actually turns into a milk when water is added. This little trick makes it relatively easy to rinse away and you don't have to put in as much elbow grease as you might with a traditional balm cleanser. 

Designed for use on a dry face, the cleansing balm spreads easily and pretty much annihilates makeup with the help of some gentle massage. You then add a little warm water and continue to massage as the balm turns milky.

I've removed the cleanser using just my hands and found it wasn't quite enough (though this is just a personal preference) so tried again with a damp flannel, which is how I usually remove cleansers anyway and found it more effective. Once removed, you just go in for your second cleanse using the same motions.

The end result is cleansed, comfortable and conditioned skin. Conditioned might sound like an odd word to use in describing a cleanser but it's the best word I can think of- my face felt pillowy soft and 'fed'. It's not a 'squeaky' sort of clean (we don't want that anyway!) but sort of nourished and cleansed all at once. If that makes sense?

This wonderful, hydrated feeling is down to the addition of Sweet Almond Oil and Echium Oil, which is sort of like a vegetarian version of fish oil and is rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9. The cleanser also contains Mangosteen Fruit Extract which is rich in vitamins and anti oxidants, and is nicely rounded off with the signature Merumaya scent- something I've seen many people rave about!

Overall this is an incredibly gentle balm cleanser that is nothing short of a pleasure to use. It's a yes from me!

At £20 Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm has an affordable price point, especially when compared to other balm cleansers. You can find it at Merumaya.com and John Lewis.

Post contains sample

Sunday Riley Artemis

Artemis is a facial oil I reach for daily so I'm a bit surprised with myself that I haven't been bothered to write about it until now. The dropper bottle of yellow tinged oil brings a little bit of joy to my day because I'm just so darn fond of it. I love the slightly lemony smell, the thick texture and above all, the fact that it's positively packed with delicious, skin nurturing oils that leave a gorgeous glow.

Sunday Riles Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil contains an array of plant oils including:

Pomegranate Seed Oil- Improves skin texture, contains high levels of anti oxidants and is rich in Vitamin A, C, E and K. A good all rounder really.
Milk Thistle Seed Oil- Combats redness and is increasingly included in herbal anti-acne products.
Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil- Conditioning and high in Vitamin C to revitalize the skin.

Black Cumin Seed Oil- An anti inflammatory oil that's known for its effectiveness in combating acne. It's also rich in moisturizing fatty acids and allegedly fights infection.
Lemon Ironbark- Part of the Eucalypt family, Lemon Ironbark is soothing, calming and is responsible for the lemony scent of Artemis.
Lemon Myrtle- An Australian medicinal oil widely used for its cleansing and purifying properties. It grows naturally in Queensland (where I'm from) and New South Wales and is a natural antiseptic.

Flax Seed Oil- Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. Anti inflammatory.

One of the most interesting things about Artemis is that it is particularly good for combination skin types, congestion, and those with oily complexions. While the thought of putting oil on an already oily face may seem like a big no no, so long as they are the right oils, it can have a great effect in clarifying and clearing the skin. I suppose this is why Artemis has become a firm favourite among oily/combo skinned folk- if the reviews are anything to go by.

A little bit of this oil really goes a long, long way - I use about a fifth of a pipette/ one drop for my whole face- and the dry oil formula means it absorbs beautifully, leaving you with a slightly dewy glow rather than an oil slick.

You can find Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil at Space NK, Cult Beauty, Net a Porter and Blow Ltd for £60 for 30ml.