The Review: Argentum La Potion Infinie

I have a funny story to share with you. Well it wasn’t funny when it happened but I can laugh about it now.

I was contacted a little while ago to find out if I would like to try out a cream called Argentum La Potion Infinie. I had never heard of the brand before (It's called Argentum Apothecary) but after reading other reviews, their brand story and looking at their beautiful website, I was intrigued. On the day it arrived I happily bounced downstairs to sign for the parcel.

Now lets rewind for a minute... The day it arrived was a wet, windy and cold day in April (I know, I know, a little hard to imagine due to the barmy weather we are currently experiencing) but try and cast your mind back.

Anyway, when the doorbell rang, I bounced downstairs to sign for the parcel (the postman was being lazy and refusing to climb the stairs) only to get back up to the flat and find out that the latch I was so convinced I had flipped up wasn’t flipped up at all, and I was now well and truly locked out. At this point I would like you to remember that weather I referenced earlier and note that I was wearing a pair of jeans, flip-flops and a t-shirt! With no phone, keys, coat or money to speak of and Mr LPM wasn't going to be back home for a few hours.

Now you might be wondering why I’m sharing this story with you, well it was because at this point I set extremely high standards that the cream would need to meet to warrant the predicament I was in. 

Fast forward just a short couple of weeks later and to answer the question, was it worth getting locked out for? It most definitely was.

The Review: Palmers Even Tone Body Milk & Skin Therapy Oil

For anyone who has been following me for a while you will know that one of my biggest beauty challenges is scarring left from previous breakouts both on my face and back, so when I was given the Palmers Even Tone Body Milk and the Skin Therapy Oil, I was keen to try them out to see if they could help both with the scarring and just my overall skin tone 

I have been using the Body Milk and the Skin Therapy Oil together for a couple of months as I wanted to give them enough time to see some results, so thought this would be a good time to do a review 

Even Tone Body Milk

What they Say

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Dark Spot Corrector delivers a dose of advanced ingredients for targeting discoloration such as age spots, dark spots, post-acne scars, and sun damage to even skin tone and unveil a brighter, more luminous complexion. A blend of Palmer's Eventone Tone Enhancing Complex containing Cocoa Butter, Niacinamide, Synovea, Vitamin C, Licorice Extract and Soy combine with powerful Japanese Songyi Mushroom Extract, and work synergystically to balance skin's tone and texture. Recommended for all skin types and tones.

Aveda Body Scrub Love

There’s nothing I love more than a good scrub down… ooh that sounded a little naughty! Let me explain

I absolutely love body scrubs, the gentle ones that come in shower gel form, the fine/medium grains that give you a good scrub and the salt or sugar ones that get down to business. Basically I love any scrubs and tend to use them about twice a week.

#74 Inlight Organic Skin Care Review

I was recently sent some skincare products from Inlight Organic Skincare which I have been using for the last month or so to see how they work. The skincare line was developed by Dr Mariano Spiezia a medical doctor, homeopath and herbalist with over 30 years of scientific research to his name. The brand is certified by the Soil Association and is 100% organic and wholly plant based.

First up is the Inlight Organic Face Cleanser which they describe as a deep skin cleanser with a mild exfoliant action which removes the outer layer of dirt and dead cells.
I was quite keen to try it as I have discovered I have a new love for oil based cleansers especially at night time when I feel like I have some spare time and really want to remove all my makeup and give my based a good massage. It looks like a cross between a balm/oil and is packed full of highly nourishing oils such as Coconut, Jojoba, Evening Primrose, Shea Butter and Olive oil as well as a particular blend of essentially oils such as lemon, green tea, ginger and lavender. I found that it deeply cleansed my face but unlike some other deep cleansers I have used in the past it didn’t leave it feeling dry or irritated. A good thing to note with this cleanser is that unlike a lot of other oil cleansers it doesn’t emulsify with water so after you have massaged it into your skin you need to remove it either using a muslin cloth or damp cotton wool. I initially wasn’t too pleased that it didn’t emulsify but after a few days I found that my skin seemed to prefer this method, It might just be that it loves the extra layer of nourishment that it leaves behind. Another thing I found is that because of some of the essential oils that it contains, I think it’s slightly more astringent than other oil cleansers I have used in the past, but I really liked this about it, as it worked perfectly for my combination skin leaving it feeling moisturised but clean. It retails at £24

I also tried out the Floral Face Tonic which is a blend of fragrant floral waters such as rose, lavender, grapefruit and chamomile. It has a very interesting smell and to me it smells more herbal than floral but I love that it is alcohol free and it helped to freshen and tone my skin without drying it out. It retails at £18

For further information or to purchase any products check out their website at www.inlight-online.co.uk

#48 Rodial LA Facelift - An Update

So, you might remember I have been testing out Rodials LA Facelift for the last week? Just as a little reminder, the LA facelift is a starter kit that is offered as an alternative to surgery and the kit contains the following.

a-list cleanser 20ml
glamtox peel 10ml
SPF 15 glamtox eye light 5ml
SPF18 glamtox 10ml

glam balm 8ml

Well 7 days into using it and I am very impressed. I guess the big question is do I look like I have had surgery? The answer would be no, mainly because I don’t have any of the skincare concerns that someone with older skin might have, so I can’t really judge it on that.
What I did have though was skin that was misbehaving and needed a miracle to bring it back to order and did I get that? Yes I most definitely did! After using the products on a daily basis for the last seven days my skin is brighter, clearer, smoother, softer and more hydrated and those horrible flaky patches I had been getting have completely gone. If I was only allowed to select a few products from the kit I think I would choose the a list cleanser – I noticed that all the fine hairs on my face have actually turned lighter so over time this product could really help with pigmentation as suggested , it also leaves my face clean, soft and comfortable after use. I also love the glam balm which I have been using all over my face as an intensive treatment at night time – and it has definitely given my skin a much needed moisture boost. Finally I would pick the glamtox peel as after only one use this clay based mask really helped to refine, cleanse and brighten my skin. The kit retails at £78, so its not the cheapest range on the market, but seeing as the full sized products start from about £32, the LA facelift would be the perfect way to try out all the products for about two-three weeks (depending on how you use it) and see how you find them on your skin. As for me I am definitely adding those items to my Christmas wish list, maybe Mr Lotions & Potions will pick up the hint. http://www.rodial.co.uk/

Xoxo

#44 Why!? Why!? is my skin misbehaving?

Ok I need to find a new face cream! With the turn of the weather my face is suddenly looking really flat and dull. I was actually trying out Olay’s Total Effects after being swayed by an offer in Boots and unfortunately my face has decided it really hates it. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks but have realised that my face is speaking out in protest – a mini rash has started to appear (it always does that when it takes a dislike to something) its also making my face really dry with some flakiness and general dullness! After looking at my face today I thought I better stop before it brings out the big guns of breaking out all over.

So does anyone have any suggestions? My skin is classic combination with some annoying open pores and a bit of scarring I’m fighting with. Let me know if there is something you use or think will be great….

Xoxo

#33 Natures Gentle Demabrasion

I absolutely love face scrubs, I love the fact that you feel like your whole face has been scrubbed clean of all the debris and dirt! Which is why usually I always feel that the more grainy or abrasive they are then the better they are – you would think so no?

However for the last few weeks whilst working on my face overhaul I have found that all my grainy and chemical based scrubs have made my face feel a tad bit sensitive and more than a little sand blasted, which was how I found myself agreeing to buy and try out Origins Modern Friction, and what can I say I have been converted to the more smooth and less grain school of thought!

They describe it as “Natures Gentle Demabrasion - an age-smoothing exfoliation without irritation. Skin-refining Rice Starch, cushioned in cream, rapidly removes sluggish cells, uneven patches and signs of skin damage and discolourations. Lemon Oil kick starts the process of illumination. Vitamin C mops up skin-menacing free radicals. All while Aloe keeps skin calm and comfy. There's no ouch, extra steps or other complications. No redness or flaking follows. The before-and-afters are amazing. Signs of lines and size of pores appear to shrink. Skin looks perfectly polished, smooth and luminous. And the perk-me-up aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint help you look on the bright side.”
I have found that on using it twice a week (and note here that a little goes a long way) it did away with any pesky flaky bits, helped to hoover up my blocked pores, and left my skin looking smooth and polished. It also seems to be helping to even out some discolorations as well as providing a bit of a glow prior to me even putting on any makeup! And best of all, my skin has lost that sensitive scrubbed feeling. Love it…

It’s available at Origins and is priced at £28.00

#23 Balmy but Blissfully Clean

Over the last couple of months my skin has been going through a dull, grey, flaky, oily but dehydrated phase, so I decided to road test a couple of skincare cleansers to see if I could find anything that would clean, nourish and brighten my changeable complexion. I have found and fallen in love with two of those cleansers

First up is Bliss Steep Clean Cleansing Milk – described as being the ultimate cleansing weapon for t-zones that are bogged down by clogging or worse, clad with acne. It is formulated with smoothing salicylic acid and enzymes to digest dead cells and diminish inflammation. What can I say, within a few days of using this I realised I was on to something special, my skin felt really smooth and my pores seem much smaller like they have literally been hoover-ed up! My face is also so much brighter and flatter (it seems to have reduced any inflammation) which I can only put down to those enzymes that are digesting any dead cells. I totally love this and it’s definitely going to become a staple in my cleansing routine. It retails at £23 and is available from www.blisslondon.co.uk

The second cleanser I have been trialling is Darphin's new Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood. Everything about this balm screams i'm luxurious and opulent so use me! It’s a bit of an unusual honey consistency but it’s actually this soft and rich consistency that encourages you to want to massage it into your skin, which only seems to enhance its benefits. You work it in with your fingers and when you add water it turns into a smooth and milky emulsion.
Packed full of essential oils such as rosewood, ylang ylang and sage it really did relax my mind as well as soothe, cleanse and decongest my skin.

Initially when I first started using it, my face felt extremely soft without the usual squeaky clean feeling so I thought, this is odd I don’t think its working! Yes you see, I come from the race and school of thought that usually thinks if it doesn’t tingle or at worst sting it can’t possibly be working; as everything needs to be felt and felt quite strongly for it be believed. But no, on wiping my face with a toner (which I didn’t actually need) my face is completely clean! In fact after about a week of using this cleanser at night my face feels quite normal, it’s not oily, congested, dull or dehydrated. I’m very impressed and have been converted to the school of gentle cleansers. This again is going to become a staple in my bathroom cabinet. It retails at £54 and you can get it from Space NK.

#22 Anti-tan gel for darker skin - Uzuri Natural Beauty

There are certain products which on arriving through my door literally leave me buzzing with excitement. And Uzuri Anti – Tan Gel is one of them! Finally a sun protector specifically formulated for my skin type, which addresses the needs of many women of colour to maintain their natural skin tone and not go darker during the summer months.

New to the market, Uzuri natural beauty is an anti tan lotion, which has been developed with a high SP factor (SPF 40) for the darker skin types (Asian, Afro Caribbean, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern) to specifically help prevent tanning. It also protects against the harmful effects of the sun and premature skin ageing with high UVA (3 stars) and UVB protection.

It’s the brainchild of two sisters Tazeen Usmani an orthodontist and Naila Usmani a consultant dermatologist who got together to develop the product after failing to find a suitable alternative on the market. Tazeen explained that "Having an Asian skin I naturally didn't want to go any darker in the sun and tried for years to find a sun block that didn't leave an unsightly white residue on the skin"

On trying out the product I found that it was easy to apply and absorbed very quickly without me needing to rub it in. I love the fact that it’s a high SP factor of 40 but in contrast to other high factors on the market, it is a completely clear gel so it didn’t leave that horrible white residue on my skin.

It retails at £11.99 and is available to buy on the website. As if the product itself wasn’t enough, until the end of August there is an offer on their site for you to buy one and get the second half price. For further information check out their website www.uzuriskin.com

#18 Herbal Green Peel Day 5

Wow what a relief it’s finally over! My follow up treatment ‘bacial’ felt like a complete treat after the week I have been through and I literally ooohed with joy when I felt the wet sponge on my back. Was it worth it? It definitely was. The scars are not completely gone but my back is noticeably clearer, more refined and the scars are lighter. I will keep you all posted on the results and on if anything changes but for now it looks good.

Xoxo

#17 Herbal Green Peel Day 4

I’m quite excited I received a comment/question about my blog and about the green peel to be precise…..it means someone out there is reading, yay! I was going to respond to just the reader but realised it was a valid question that I tut tut should have written about in my first green peel post. The question was as follows

“Sounds very interesting but as it is a herbal rather than chemical peel - i assume that is why you have to go back twice? what exactly is in the peel - do you know? Pain and Beauty go hand in hand - one word - threading!Waiting for part deux and please follow up so that we know the true effects i.e how long does it last? when does the pain actually end? is it appropriate for black skin - although i suppose you, as the guinea pig, will be the best answer to that! That kind of thing.”

My answer: First of all thanks for the great question. I have to go back twice because the second treatment is essentially a follow up treatment a ‘Bacial’ Back Facial where all the old skin will be massaged off and thoroughly cleansed, steamed, scrubbed and massaged. The green peel contains a combination of herbs, vitamins, plant hormones, enzymes, algae and minerals. It is meant to be suitable for all skin types, black skin included (yes I am the perfect guinea pig) and can help the following conditions – oily acne prone skin, scarring, and sun damaged and wrinkled skin. As for the pain and results, I will definitely keep you posted on the results. Hope this helps …

Moving on to today’s diary post. The word lizard woman and scaly really springs to mind, I seem to be shedding skin like its going out of fashion. I have taken to walking around with a dust pan and brush – I have never been so pleased that my floors are wooden and hiding out at home (I almost refused to open the door to the postman!). Thankfully the itchiness has calmed down considerably but its still there like an annoying fly in the background. I simply can’t wait till this is over……

See you all tomorrow for part five of my diary and hopefully the last

Xoxo

#16 Herbal Green Peel Day 3

I’m in major itchy mode today, well to be honest it’s been since last night really – seriously my back itches like mad! You know what its like when you get a weave, and it seems to go through that itchy phase so you have to pat your head gently rather than dig at your scalp, just in case people start thinking that you have lice! – Well intensify the feeling by about 100!!! I eventually called the salon this morning in a panic and was told it was nothing to worry about (apparently its actually good news!! because it means the herbs are stimulating my skin and encouraging new growth) I had to get Mr Lotions & Potions to pat my back with a book…thank God we are already married otherwise this might have scared him away. I also seem to be 2 shades darker and my skin has started to crack. I eventually take some nurofen and drink camomile tea and funnily enough this seems to help which is fine for now but I can’t help wondering what I have gotten myself into

See you all tomorrow for part four of my diary

Xoxo

#15 Herbal Green Peel Day 2

So today the million nails digging into my back have now been reduced to a bad case of constant pins and needles and I feel like itching my back (all the time!!!!). My skin is also starting to look quite dry but when I touch it, it feels really oily. I keep staring longingly at my long bristle brush which would be perfect for the itch…but no I’m strong and must persevere.

See you all tomorrow for part three of my diary

Xoxo

#14 Herbal Green Peel

So today is the first day of my five day diary on my Green Peel - I will be writing about the process and results on each day. I arrive at the Rag & Beau Salon feeling slightly excited but extremely nervous. This trepidation only increases when my therapist Anna asks me if i'm ready and if I took any pain killers before arriving…..I immediately panic and think – OMG should I have done? And question 4 on my consultation form “on a scale of 1-5 how high is your pain threshold?” doesn’t do anything to calm my anxiety! You see i’m here to put the theory of beauty is pain to the test by having the green peel done. Now you might remember me mentioning that in the past I had gone through a phase of adult breakouts? Well unfortunately this wasn’t just on my face; I also had a few on my back as well. So when I heard about the green peel I decided to have the treatment done on my back to help fade the scars away.

The green peel is an intensive exfoliation treatment – and is described as being an alternative to a chemical peel but with the same results. It uses a blend of natural herbs which when massaged into the skin is designed to increase blood circulation, inducing the regeneration of the skin cells and collagen fibres. As a result this then causes the upper layers of the skin to peel off. The treatment will involve two visits to the salon – the first which was today and the second is on the fifth day for the follow up treatment

The first part of my treatment which lasted for about thirty minutes started off with me thinking hmmm – it’s not as bad as I thought. The herbs were massaged into my back and initially just felt like a very grainy scrub. Fifteen minutes into it and its now starting to feel quite uncomfortably abrasive and hot which only gets worse when she turns on the steamer (i’m told this helps to increase the effectiveness of the treatment). Twenty minutes into it and my back feels like its on fire, i’m wriggling my toes in pain and thinking I really don’t think I can take this anymore when suddenly she stopped. Now just as i’m thinking phew! I’m told the herbs need to be taken off – all I can say is a sponge and a burning back does not equate to pain free. I emerge from there thinking surely my back is red and sore? But no its not, it actually looks quite clear and smooth on the down side though I feel like there are a million nails all over my back and i’m told the worst bit - which is that I can’t get water anywhere near my back until I come back for the follow up treatment. I leave there thinking this week will be an interesting shower or bath experience and what on earth was thinking!!!! I sooo need some pain killers and this had better be worth all this. It’s definitely not for the faint hearted.

See you all tomorrow for part two of my diary

Xoxo