Lush Gorgeous facial moisturiser review

A while back, I received a bunch of complimentary goodies from Lush.

Read my unboxing post here.

I reviewed two of the products that I received but haven't got round to testing the others until recently.

Read the Comforter Bubble Bar review here.

Read the Rub Rub Rub review here.

So this is the Gorgeous facial moisturiser review!

I received the Hello Gorgeous box and inside was this 10g trial size version of the Gorgeous moisturiser. 

Here are the facts:

☮ It contains 18 natural ingredients and 7 safe synthetics

☮ None of the ingredients have been tested on animals

☮ It's vegetarian

☮ It costs £39.95 for 45g

My experience?

First, I must comment on the smell. As you can probably guess, it smells divine - like most Lush products. It smells fresh, light and little bit like orange-scented flowers.

One thing I have to say about Gorgeous is how universally suitable it is for all skin types. If you have dry skin, you'll notice how it soaks into any patches but isn't too heavy. If you have oily skin, it will hydrate you but not leave a thick layer on top of your oily spots. And, if you're like me and have combination skin, it's basically perfect. 

This product goes a long way. One little scoop on your forefinger and it's more than enough to cover your face and even a bit of your neck. I only have a 10g sample but I imagine that a 45g tub would last a long time (though, the expiration date might be a problem).

It is quite runny - something I'm not really used to with moisturisers - but I suppose this helps it to soak into your skin.

It contains pineapples which contain enzymes to help refine pores; fresh organic limes and oranges to help skin stay matte/not develop extra oil and remove dead skin cells and orange blossom honey water to soothe and moisturise. 

Gorgeous is perfect for anyone with dull or tired skin as it really brightens you up.

Overall, it is a little bit too expensive for a student, like myself. Almost £40 on moisturiser? I just cannot justify it when I can get a Simple moisturiser for about £3.99. Nevertheless, if you have a spare £40 to spend on beauty products, I would definitely recommend trying it. If you don't want to part with your money on a product you aren't sure about, ask for a sample in store.

I do love how this moisturiser made my skin look and feel and I was really surprised that I didn't break out in a rash due to my sensitive skin. Hallelujah!

I'd probably rate this an 8 out of 10. It would easily have been a 9 if the price wasn't quite as steep.

Thanks, Lush! ☮

Estée Lauder product review

If you have read any of my previous posts, you may be aware that I have sensitive skin. The way I often buy products is to ask for a weeks worth of samples first so I can make sure that I won't react before parting with my money. 

But that's not quite how I bought these... 

*ahem* Impulsive splurge *ahem*

In this post, I'll be looking at three Estée Lauder products that I bought over Christmas.

Sorry for the scruffy background and the iPhone photography!

The first product I want to talk about (and my favourite of the three) is the Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II serum. I bought the 30ml bottle for £48 (50ml is £65 and 75ml is £78) from Boots. It's kind of expensive but it actually WORKS! I absolutely love this product! There has been a lot of research into anti-ageing products and also into how our skin and cells try to fix themselves over night. The Advanced Night Repair serum works with your skin's natural renewal process to reduce signs of ageing so you wake up looking as beautiful ever!

The product is fragrance free - which is possibly why I can use it without my skin flaring up. The serum still has a scent to it which smells quite perfume-y but it's a nice smell. Just to clarify for those who may not understand: "fragrance free" means that no scents have been added to the product to mask its natural smell... I didn't understand this for years.

Like I said above, my skin doesn't seem to react to this product. I'm not entirely sure why because I have unbelievably sensitive skin (I currently have bobbly cheeks because I slept in my foundation). Now, I'm not saying this will work for everyone with sensitive skin but I don't react at all to this! The label says it is suitable for all skin types. I've used it almost every night since I bought it over the Christmas holidays and, as you can see in the photo below, there is still LOADS in the bottle. You don't need much at all. It should be applied to clean skin before you moisturise. I apply it by popping a little blob on each of my four fingertips, lightly rubbing them with the fingers on my other hand and, starting at the centre of my forehead, lightly drawing round to my temples and down towards my mouth. I then put my fingers on my nose and sweep them out towards my ears. I'm not sure if this is the correct way to apply it but it works for me and I don't want to pull my skin too much. This should NOT be applied to the eye area. Your skin is 40% thinner around the eyes and this product contains some pretty strong chemicals. If you want a product for the eyes, Estée Lauder do have an eye version of this product. I have sampled the eye serum and it is lovely!

I know some people may think I'm a bit daft having a product like this when I'm only 19 and I don't have any permanent lines on my face. However, for me, prevention is better than cure! If I have a stressful day, I often get little faint lines on my forehead and this product makes me feel better and they are completely gone by the morning. 

The only reason I have the next two products is because they came free with the Advanced Night Repair! It was a limited time offer so I doubt you will be able to get the same deal I did. If I were to buy this product, I would have definitely sampled it first. Creams are my skin's arch nemesis! 

This is the Advanced Time Zone Age Reversing/Wrinkle Creme. Again, this product should NOT be applied to the eye area for the same reasons as above. Normally, this would cost £53 for 50ml. My tub is only 15ml, so it's a baby. I don't think you can buy this size. I think it was just available on the offer.

What I love about this product is that it is oil-free and has SPF 15. It's quite a luxurious and thick cream. It even smells expensive! Again, it's fragrance-free but it still smells like a lady's floral perfume! I usually don't like any scent in my products at all but this is quite a nice smell. The product claims to make you look younger in five days. Obviously, I'm probably a little too young to notice any difference on my skin right now. However, like the Advanced Night Repair serum, this does reduce any fine lines that I have. 

The science behind it: it contains something Estée Lauder call "Tri-HA Cell Signaling Complex". This helps skin boost its natural production of line-plumping hyaluronic acid.

It should be applied AM and PM after the Repair serum.

The problem? My skin isn't a fan of this product. I get a few rashes around my cheeks and chin after a couple of days use. I think I will give this to my mum since I can't use it. I know she loves her anti-ageing products and she never shops at Estée Lauder so this will be a new experience for her.

The final product I want to talk about is the Advanced Time Zone Age Reversing/Wrinkle Eye Creme. I am a bit of a novice when it comes to eye creams. This usually costs £38 for 15ml. Again, I got a dinky version since it came free. This is only 5ml. For me, that's quite a lot. It'll last me a while because you don't need much.

This product should be applied AM and PM after the Repair eye serum.

I love wrinkles around the eyes. I think it really gives a person character to see laughing lines. However, I'm still young and I don't want them just yet! I like this product a lot. It works. Another brilliant product. It reduces any lines that may have appeared during the day.

Surprisingly, this didn't give me any rashes but it did have a slight burning sensation. I probably won't use this often (a burning feeling can't be a good thing, can it?) but I think I will keep it.  

Estée Lauder really smashed it with these products. I would go as far as to say that the Advanced Night Repair serum is possibly the best product of its kind right now! 

I hate and love my sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin, you'll already know how difficult it can be to maintain a fresh and glowing look.

My skin isn't quite as bad as it once was and I definitely know that other people have it a lot worse. But, if you have sensitive skin, you'll probably know which products you can use and which you can't and you will stick to those.

Having sensitive skin is the bane of my life! I recently spent a fair amount of money on Estée Lauder lotions and potions and have had to give away two of the four products! I usually don't try products because I'm too scared to part with the little money that I have on products that may cause a break-out.

For years, I have stuck to The Body Shop's moisturiser and toner from their aloe vera range, but not the cleanser because that makes my skin flare. I use the cleaner from Simple and an exfoliator from the vitamin E range in Superdrug. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on foundation. For the first 19 years of my life, I tried every brand of foundation over the counter. I would either get instant irritation or be lured into a false sense of security, believing that I had finally found THE foundation for me, only to wake up covered in flaky red rashes all over my cheeks, chin and forehead.

About a month after my 19th birthday (bearing in mind that I am not even 20 yet), I finally tried MAC's Prep & Prime BB cream and their Studio Fix Powder Plus foundation. I can wear it for a few days until my skin starts to dry out - but I never get a red rash! It's a bonus that the BB cream is slightly tinted since I can't wear false tan either!

But having sensitive skin isn't all that bad. It took me 19 years to realise that growing up and going through your teenage years never be able to wear makeup and not being able to use any shower gels that you got for presents isn't all that bad! I'm actually almost HAPPY that I have sensitive skin now. I feel like I'm part of a rare group of girls who will happily go for weeks without wearing any makeup at all. I will go to lectures, shopping and even work without wearing even mascara. People always say I have a "fresh" look. I love that I can spend more time making my outfit look amazing instead of focusing on my face. I love going all out for events like nights out and birthdays and I get some lovely compliments when I do because people aren't used to seeing me that way.

I love my skin being sensitive for the confidence and originality it has given me. But I hate it because it costs a lot to find the right products.
The most important part is to listen to your skin. Don't over-treat any out-breaks but don't be afraid to try new products, if that is what you want (just be prepared to look a little blotchy if things go wrong).

And for those who wear makeup everyday, why not try going bare-faced for a few days?! It's not as scary as it sounds!