A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Elemis have recently introduced a new bodycare concept to the brand’s repertoire with Sp@home, a range designed to turn the mundane into something a little more indulgent, helping you to create your very own Elemis spa, at home!

Based around FIVE main categories, the Sp@home range includes everything you need to recreate a more therapeutic experience in your own bathroom.  From bath elixirs to hand lotions, hard-working body oils to temple balms for instant relaxation.  They’ve even developed a new room mist to help create the perfect atmosphere.

Infact, the room mist has become a surprising favourite for me.  I was worried it might be a little bit overpowering, like walking into a very alternative crack den!  My (slightly mental) fears were misguided because the Quiet Mind Room Mist* is gorgeous and for something that I considered a bit ‘unecessary’, I’m going through my bottle at a rate of knots.  Infact, it hasn’t even made it back onto my dressing table because I keep it on the floor by my bed so I can spritz my pillow before I climb in!

The Tranquil Touch range is destined for best-seller status with some of the best patchouli-based aromatics I’ve had the pleasure of sniffing.  Warming, woody and creamy with great depth and complexity that you wouldn’t expect to find in a range of bodycare products.

Prices start from around £14.00 but there’s a rather decent offer on at TimeToSpa.co.uk for the whole of August…

If you spend over £50 on the website, you can choose a full size Sp@home shower gel worth up to £20.50.  And let’s face up to it, it’s not exactly difficult to spend £50 on Elemis now is it?

Do you make attempts at recreating the spa experience in your own home?  What’s your favourite product to get you in the mood for a bit of pampering?

* press sample

I want to extend a really huge thank you to Gem at SparkleSparkle for guest reviewing the Elemis FreshSkin range for me.  1 month and 9 products later my head would be spinning – but she’s managed to keep her brain clear enough to provide some great analysis on the products from the new range!

Take it away Gem…

The new Elemis FreshSkin range is aimed at 16-24 year olds.

I am at the far end of that scale at 24, but my skin is exactly the same as it was as a teenager.  I’m getting to the point where I don’t think it is ever going to change.  I have combination skin which is very oily across my T-zone and can get dry in other areas.  I haven’t changed my skin care for years because what I have been using has left my skin reasonably spot free and balanced.  Before trying these products I was using the No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum and the No7 Balanced Results Day Sorbet.  I didn’t use an eye cream because all those I’d tried I was either allergic to (puffy eyes was the opposite of the effect I was going for!) or caused me milia.  So I’d given up on finding a good eye cream.

I was very pleased to try these products.  I had not tried any Elemis before and most young skin targeted ranges I had tried were quite harsh and targeted more at spots than normal skincare.  I can’t have much fun using normal skincare ranges as they all seem too rich for my skin and I need a lot of powder to get rid of the oily shine left behind.  After just over a month of using these products, I can say I really liked the range as a whole.  It had some really good parts and some bits I didn’t like so much.

Softly Softly Daily Moisturiser 50ml (£20.00)

This is my favourite product of the range!  The cream being nice is important for this range, because face cream is the item I think most people will judge it on.  It has a gorgeous lavender smell and leaves a really fresh feeling after you apply it.  It looks very creamy when you first see it, but when you spread it, it is very light and very easily absorbed.  Best of all doesn’t leave an oily layer, yet it still moisturises my skin really well, which is the most important factor to me.

It has lots of lovely ingredients to sooth and soften the skin such as, seaweed extract, sweet almond oil, chamomile, geranium, rosehip seed oil and lavender.  All these ingredients are focused on soothing, calming and moisturising, which I think is a good aim for the age group Elemis are aiming this range at.  There is one downside though, that it has no SPF.  Some people might say another downside is the price, but the No7 cream I’ve used forever is £17 for the same amount.  In fact I think I need less of the Elemis cream to cover my face.  The price difference really isn’t a lot.  I will be buying this cream when I run out!

Dreamy Sleep Night-Time Moisturiser 50ml (£22.00)

This cream is very similar to the day cream.  It smells of lavender like the day cream and absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving it oily.  I don’t know if you necessarily need both the day cream and the night cream, they are very similar.  I’m not sure if I would notice a difference were it not for the labels.

Tired Eyes Soothing Eye Rescue 15ml (£15.00)

This clear eye gel is de-puffing and cooling.  I’m not a morning person and will take anything I can get to wake myself up.  As I mentioned before I have had some trouble finding a good eye cream, so I was excited to try this.  I really like this eye gel.  It is very soothing, reduces any morning puffiness and feels nice and refreshing.

You only need a small amount to dab around the eyes so although the price is quite steep at £15, I think it is worth it if you are looking for an eye cream that is refreshing and de-puffs your eye area.  It isn’t all that moisturising, but it doesn’t claim to be.  For me this is ideal, but if you want a moisturising eye cream, you may want to look elsewhere.

Face Mask Duo Deep Clean and Magical Moisture 6 x 7ml, 3 of each (£15.00)

These face masks are a nice set.  The masks are individually packed in sachets containing a perfect amount of face mask goo. You just squeeze it out of the sachet, slop it on your face and relax.  The deep clean mask is a clay mask, which felt nice and cool when I put it on.  It tightens only slightly after 10 minutes and when I washed it off, it left my skin feeling really clean and soothed.

The magical moisture mask is more like a thick cream.  It smoothed on my skin nicely, and left it feeling nicely moisturised.  It didn’t leave my feeling extra oily, it just left me with nice soft skin.  My make-up seemed to go on really nicely after the moisture mask my skin just felt really nice.  I would recommend these face masks and the price isn’t too steep for 6 masks.

FreshSkin Make Up Away Cleansing Wipes (£8.00)

These wipes are ok, but I’m not sure if they are worth the £8 for 25 wipes.  It says it gently sweeps away impurities and make up, but I found it stung a little on my eyes.  Also, I wasn’t too keen on the smell of these face wipes.  It’s just a personal preference thing, but the chamomile and elderflower smell was a bit strange.  Most face wipes smell identical, whether you buy cheap ones or expensive ones, so I think I was surprised that these smelt different.  They did remove my make up, but I would say no better than my usual cleansing wipes.

Loving Lips Quenching Lip Balm 10ml (£8.00)

I wasn’t very keen on this lip balm.  I found it had a very greasy feel to it and wanted to rub it off straight away.  I am not a fan of using Vaseline on my lips and this felt quite similar to that.  If you like the Vaseline feel, you will probably like this.  It is a clear balm that is very moisturising and is peppermint flavoured.  I normally love all things minty flavoured, but I can’t get over the greasiness.

Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash 100ml (£12.00)

This is a great face scrub.  Like most of the products in this range it smells lovely, nice and fruity.  It is rough enough that you can feel that it is scrubbing away all the dead skin, but not too rough that I feel like my whole face is being scrubbed off as well!  It really leaves my skin feeling clean and looking radiant.  I’m not sure if it is worth the £12 though.  I think you can get a face scrub from the high street that is cheaper and does a similar job.

Peachy Perfect Gentle Face Wash 100ml (£12.00)

Again, this product smells gorgeous, quite fruity/citrusy.  It lathers up really well and leaves my skin feeling very clean, but not at all dry.  This seems to go further than the face scrub due to it lathering up so well, so is better value for money.

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Overall, I think the range has some good and not so good parts.

The day cream and eye cream are my favourites and they really suit my combination/sensitive skin.  The face washes and wipes are pretty standard really and I believe not worth the price that they are.  I think someone 16-24 will be happy to spend a little extra for a really nice cream and less likely to spend more for a face wash, unless it is amazing.

I think the range does fit the needs of the ‘average’ young person’s skin and has some quality products that aren’t too expensive for a young person’s budget.  I will definitely be purchasing the day cream and the eye cream when I run out!

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Have you tried the Elemis FreshSkin range yet?  Any thoughts?

As one of many Pro-Collagen Marine Cream devotees, I’m always happy to discover an opportunity to purchase my beloved anti-ageing moisturiser in a tub big enough to drown myself in.

Due for a strictly limited release this June, the Elemis Anti-Ageing Super Duo combines two of Elemis’ most sought after skincare offerings…

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream – 100ml (usual price £127)

Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules – 60 caps (usual price £59)

The Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules are a new one on me.  I have to say, I usually overlook anything that comes in little pods like that… I’m quite old-fashioned about my moisturisers being cream based!  However, the capsules contain pure Moringa Oil and promise to renew skin elasticity and counteract the external effects of our environment thanks to a healthy dose of anti-oxidants.

The set doesn’t come cheap (but we knew it wouldn’t right?) at £128 but does offer a saving of over £59 were you to buy these two products separately.

It will be available online at timetospa.co.uk or at Elemis spas, salons and selected department stores nationwide.

Quick, sell your grandmothers!

Featuring 9 skincare products with prices starting from just £8, Elemis are looking to plug a gap in the market and bring their reputation for great skincare to a younger audience.

Noella Gabriel, Director of Product & Treatment Development at Elemis describes the range as … “a girl’s first serious skincare regime using high performance ingredients with lightweight textures and beautiful essential oils.”

Products in the range include cleansing wipes, separate day and evening moisturisers, two types of face wash, eye cream, lip balm, face masks and a serum which appears to be missing from the website at the moment.

Make Up Away Cleansing Wipes (25) – £8
Peachy Perfect Gentle Face Wash 100ml – £12
Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash 100ml – £12
Softly Softly Daily Moisturiser 50ml – £20
Dreamy Sleep Night-Time Moisturiser 50ml – £22
Tired Eyes Soothing Eye Rescue 15ml – £15
Loving Lips Quenching Lip Balm 10ml – £8
Face Mask Duo deep clean and magical moisture 6 x 7ml – £15

Gemx is kindly going to be test-driving the products on her (more youthful!) skin for a month before giving us her thoughts on the formulations of the new range and how they work for her.

My first impressions are mostly positive with a few doubts thrown in…

I think it’s a shame that Elemis chose to target it so directly to a female audience, I would have preferred to see something more unisex.  Secondly, thinking back to how far my pennies stretched when I was at uni… there are a few products in the lineup that wouldn’t have impressed.  £8 for 25 wipes?  £15 for 6 face masks?  I’m not saying they’re not worth it (I haven’t tried them!) but at that price, I don’t think I would have been inclined to either.  A simple question of economics would have prevented me!

On the flip-side?  I think that £12 and £20(ish) for core skincare items (face wash, moisturisers) is pretty good going from a brand that, let’s remember, is synonymous with some of the most luxe skincare products on the market.

You can buy the range online now from TimeToSpa.co.uk (UK) and TimeToSpa.com (North/South America)

It’s an interesting one, what do you think?

Onwards and upwards with the Mother’s Day gift guides! Yesterday we looked at some gift ideas for those of us on a budget but what if you’ve got a little more in the coffers for treating Mummy dearest?

Here’s my pick of the best Mother’s Day Gifts for £30 and under!

1. LUSH Mum Hatbox Set (£25.96)

Reusable hatbox full of luxuriously indulgent products for the industrious mums out there on Mother’s Day.  They’ve earned it!  This extravagant Mother’s Day gift box is brimming with joy for mums, containing everything she needs for bright spring days filled with flowers, fruit, rainbows, green grass, fluff and honey.

If your Mum is a bathing belle, this hatbox is full to the brim with lovely bath goodies.  The set contains: Grass shower gel, Pop in the Bath Bubble Bar, Dorothy Bubble Bar, Space Girl ‘Mum Ballistic, Keep it Fluffy Ballistic, You’ve Been Mangoed Bath Melt and Sultana of Soap.  You’re bound to come up smelling of roses with this gift choice!

2. Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me – Paula Begoun (£18.75)

Paula Begoun is the most unique, respected, and controversial source of skin care and makeup analysis available.  In the 8th edition of Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me you’ll find out the benefits and failings of each product so you can easily shop for the best of the best-and get beautiful skin and makeup, regardless of your budget!

A perfect choice for Mum’s who are a little intimidated by the wide choice of products available.  We can’t always be there to guide them in their selections but this book would make a really good place to start if (like mine) your Mum is cultivating a blossoming affair with beauty!  Plus, you get a free Paula’s Choice Surprise Sample Set with every book ordered.

3. Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection (£28.50)

The complete collection of Aromatherapy Associates bath & shower oils in miniature sizes.

Rapidly gaining cult status, Aromatherapy Associates deliver rich blends of scent-driven bath oils that promise to make every day that little bit more special.  Who says you need a spa to pamper?  With this miniature collection of oils you don’t need to make the tough decision over which one to choose – have the best of both worlds!

4. Sanctuary Skincare Spa Heroes Kit (£20.00)

You might be spending a bit more but who says that you don’t still want a bargain?  Wahanda have teamed up with The Sanctuary Spa to launch an unbeatable Mobdeal on its skincare products!

The set will contain: Radiance Boosting Facial Oil (30ml), Perfectly Polished Hot Cloth Cleanser (175ml), Warming Microbrasion Polish (100ml), and Warming Charcoal Detox Mask (100ml).

The deal is set to go live on Monday 28th March via this link.  So log on after midnight on the 28th to discover over 50% off a kit containing some real skincare treats.

5. Elemis Enriching Body Treats (£20.79)

A sensational selection of new and classic bodycare favourites in handy travel sizes, worth over £35!

The set contains: Wild Lavender Hand and Body Wash, Uplifting Sharp Shower and Bath Gel, Exotic Lime and Ginger Hand and Body Wash, Exotic Frangipani Monoi Bath and Shower Cream, Skin Nourishing Shower Cream, Skin Nourishing Hand and Body Lotion.

Nothing gets this Mum’s heart racing faster than a bunch of Elemis treats and one of the things that this British brand excels at is putting together these value sets.  The Elemis Enriching Body Treats is perfect to take on Summer holidays or to the gym!  Your Mum would be the sweetest-smelling lady in the locker room!

6. Rituals Under A Fig Tree Fragrance Sticks* (£19.90)

Rituals are one brand that need a greater high street presence in the UK.  You can pick up products in John Lewis but I’d love to see more stand alone stores like their one in Westfield.  I love this reed diffuser which is described as a natural and stylish way of fragrancing your home.  They look stylish and deliver a long-lasting scent that makes an impression without overpowering.

* I received a set of these as a press sample.

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Hope that gives you a little inspiration for lovely Mums everywhere, I’ll be back tomorrow with the £30 – £50 range – get your purses credit cards ready for it!

I never get round to doing “products of the month” posts because there’s inevitably something else that I wanna blog about when the ‘critical’ time is approaching.

I do love reading other people’s picks though so instead of giving up on these type of posts completely I think I’ll just throw random ones out there when the mood takes me instead.  Who needs time restraints anyway?

1.  Gielly Green Argan Rescue Oil (£19.50)

This has given my dry, overprocessed hair such a lift these last few weeks.  I don’t know how it compares to the likes of Moroccan Oil which I haven’t tried yet but the Gielly Green Argan Rescue add shine, softness and smooth ends without being too heavy on my fine (but lots of it!) hair.

You can buy the Gielly Green Argan Rescue Oil here.

2.  Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel (£19.40)

I received a sample size of this tucked into my last Debenhams order and “uh oh”, ‘cos it’s on the repurchase list!

I’ve been trying to work out a morning skincare routine that suits my combo/dry skin and this has become my morning cleanser of choice.  Normally, I use a ‘cleansing gel’ to remove my makeup but this one is so light that a pea-sized amount cleanses my bare face beautifully.

It has a delicious ‘wake me up’ grapefruit scent and is the only cleansing gel/oil/balm type product I’ve used that makes me feel clean without doing a double cleanse.  Add to that the fact that it’s one of the least drying cleansers I’ve discovered and I’m delighted to start the day with this gem!

Now, I’ve said that… watch me hate it once I purchase the full size.  It’s always the way right?

You can buy the Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel here.

3.  Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum 20ml (£34.00) *

Now available in a travel-friendly 20ml bottle, Balenciaga Paris is simply exquisite.  I’m not sure how it manages to capture so much in one small bottle.

It opens with a crisp, floral freshness that announces itself with all the fervour that BIG openings bring before mellowing into something quite creamy yet grown-up.

It seems to capture both a lightness and a depth that feels more sensual, darker… naughtier!

My only gripe is that it needs a top-up every 3 hours or so as the fragrance sadly doesn’t last the day… but I guess that’s the benefit of a 20ml bottle!

You can buy Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum 20ml here.

4.  Bliss Blood Orange & White Pepper Hand Cream (part of a duo set that cost £8.00)

Beautifully citrusy with a hint of spice, this hand cream is light, fast-absorbing and nourishing.  The scent lingers for a short while and will keep you sniffing your hands until it fades!  It’s a great daytime moisturiser that sadly only comes in a 30ml tube.  I think it may be limited edition too…

Oh well, as much as I love it – I guess I’ll have to find something else to replace it.

You can buy Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Hand Cream here. (on offer!)

5.  Vicks First Defence (£7.14)

I know this is a bit of a weird one… but I’ve used it twice now at the onset of a cold.  As soon as I get that “drowning feeling” in the back of my throat, I pull this out and use as often as the directions allow me.  Whilst it hasn’t killed or cured the ensuing snuffles, it’s made a real difference to it’s severity.

The last two times I’ve used it, my cold hasn’t progressed into full-blown face ache/streaming nose type horrors as it normally would.  I’ve been able to get on with day-to-day life with a couple of paracetamol and this nasal spray nearby quite happily!

You can buy Vicks First Defence here.

6.  Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist (£12.95) *

Since my run in with the Prai o2 Infusion I reviewed yesterday, my skin has been in dire need of TLC and the Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist has provided this well.  Once made up in the mornings, I obviously can’t moisturise with normal creams and this refreshing spray gives my skin a hydration boost with a couple of squirts throughout the day.

It’s alcohol-free and at 60ml is handbag-friendly.

You can buy Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist here. (Guthy Renker sells products through a ‘membership’ scheme and you may need to cancel your membership if you don’t want automatic product topups every 90 days)

7.  Melvita Eye Contour Gel (£18.00) *

Organic brand Melvita failed to impress me first time round… I tried a particularly stinky oil that I just couldn’t bring myself to use because of it’s… um… aroma.  However, the Melvita Eye Contour Gel is a delight!

Incredibly lightweight and fast-absorbing, I’ve finally found an eye cream that I’m happy to wear under my makeup.  I’ve noticed a decrease in puffiness since incorporating this into my routine… not sure it does much for fine lines or dark circles but it feels wonderfully refreshing and lifting for bleary morning peepers!

You can buy Melvita Eye Contour Gel here.

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What are you currently using and loving?

* press sample

You know I’m a sucker for Elemis and on Sunday, they’re launching their brand new Melting Cleansing Gel to the fanfare of one of QVC‘s legendary TSVs.

I get excited when TSVs like this come up.  They sometimes include products that I’m less likely to use which reduces the value of both the TSV and the set for me.  This one?  Love everything in it and the new Melting Cleansing Gel sounds exciting! (you know you need to get a life when you genuinely get excited at the prospect of cleansing gel).

But because I know you lot are as tragic as I am… have a listen…

This gorgeous cleanser is suitable for all skin types and transforms from a gel to a milky cream when it is mixed with water. (Love cleansers that emulsify like this and am sorely tempted to give it a try whilst ignoring the 4 half full bottles of cleansing oil still in my bathroom)

key ingredients include :

~ Argan Oil to tense the skin and support the skin’s fibre networks.
~ Rice Silk to eliminate shine.
~ Assai Fruit to protect the skin’s lipid barrier to avoid it getting dry.
~ Rosemary Leaf a powerful antioxidant to stabilize oil flow and the sebaceous glands.

Will you be checking out the Elemis TSV on Sunday (sky channel 640)?  What’s been some of your favourite TSVs to date?

Gifts with purchases are welcome throughout the year… they really are.  But never are they more welcome than at this time of the year when we have to part with our cash like it or not! (one for you, two for me)

And I’ve got a reet good’un here.

Ohhhh Elemis…

I can’t even pronounce your name in my head without getting a bit sexy about it…. flicking the ‘L’ and gently hissing the ‘S’.

You are my elicit internet lover.  I find myself daydreaming of alone time with you… my arms submerged up to the elbows in Fairy’s finest whilst you drain my bank account faster than Burak from Bodrum.  I am your Shirley Valentine and my husband must never discover the extent of our relationship.

But God you give good product.

And this is a very good offer but you need to be QUICK!

Right… here’s the offer…

[stextbox id=”custom” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa”]Head down to your Elemis Debenhams counter to take part in this exclusive COMPLIMENTARY offer, 5 special size products worth up to an incredible £97 with any two or more Elemis purchases.  Available now until the 21st November 2010. To ensure each product is tailored to your skin type, they are prescribed by Elemis trained experts who will give you your own personal consultation, assessing which product is best suited to you. [/stextbox]

The offer includes a selection of hero products from across the Elemis range:

· Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser 30ml
· Maximum Moisture Day Cream 20ml
· Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream 15ml
· Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml
· Tri-Enzyme Facial Wash 50ml
· Skin Nourishing Milk Bath 125ml
· Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt 35ml
· Aching Muscle Super Soak 125ml
· Skin Nourishing Hand and Body Lotion 50ml
· Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Serum 10ml

The offer is available at Debenhams London Oxford Street, London Westfield, Belfast, Chester, Newcastle, Meadowhall, Birmingham, Glasgow and Brighton.

None of those are near me (waves from the South/South West) which sadly means that I’m screwed… but my marriage is intact.  Oh, the irony in that sentence.

When I was contacted and asked if I wanted to review a couple of products from the Elemis range, I tried to choose carefully.  The last thing I wanted to do was choose something that left me feeling uncertain of it’s value.  I wanted products that I could have an opinion about…. something tangible that I could describe to you.  I don’t care if it’s rubbish, fanastic or unfathomably dull… I just want to be able to have confidence in my feelings on the product.  And sometimes skincare leaves me feeling a little confused.

It’s to this end that I chose two masks that claim concrete results.  You may have already seen my Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask review.   That mask blew me away with outcomes that I could almost instantly appreciate…. smoothing, refreshing, complexion lifting… most of it’s promises came true on my face.  A blogger’s dream and an absolute delight to describe to you.

But then it all went a bit wrong.

Elemis Absolute Eye Mask will leave your purse £27 lighter for a generous (considering how far a little goes) 30ml tube.

It describes itself thus:

Elemis Absolute Eye Mask is an eye-brightening treatment that combines vital extracts of Rose, Mimosa, Cornflower and Comfrey to help decongest, firm and minimise dark circles and leave the delicate eye area soothed and revitalized.

So… I’m looking for decongesting, firming, dark circle reduction and a soothing/revitalizing effect.

So far, I haven’t experienced any of this.

In a complete contrast to the tri-enzyme mask, this eye mask leaves me with no instant impressions.  It doesn’t tingle, soothe, feel cooling, refreshing or even hydrating upon application.  Infact, if anything… there’s a small amount of tightening.  And not in a good way.

The blurb on the back tells me to apply sparingly around the eye bone area avoiding direct contact with the lid and inner eye areas.  “Sparingly”… I like it when expensive products say that.  As previously mentioned, a very small amount will spread nicely over the eye area… this tube will last me months!

But the problem is this…

Ultimately, Elemis Absolute Eye Mask is marketed as an anti-ageing product.  Maybe I’ll see some beneficial anti-ageing effects in a years time but unlike their anti-ageing Pro Collagen Marine Cream (be still my beating heart) this doesn’t even feel that nice before, during or after application.

And there you have it.

I’ll keep using it a couple of times a week as suggested on the box, and if in 6 months time I start noticing some longer term benefits, you can be sure I’ll be back to update

But those instant mask-type results that I was looking for?  Move along… there’s nothing to be seen here.

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living organism. An enzyme acts as catalyst for specific chemical reactions, converting a specific set of reactants (called substrates) into specific products. Without enzymes, life as we know it would not exist.

Impressive, but why would you wanna put ’em on your face?

Enzymes are a great exfoliator… it’s a bit more scientific than grabbing at some oatmeal and giving your face a scrub.  Enzymes work by chemically loosening the glue-like substance that binds the upper cells on your face.  These upper cells are dead, and their only reason for existing on your face is to provide protection from the elements.  Obviously, that’s an important function in itself… but they pile up unevenly on your skin’s surface over time, giving an overall dull and uneven texture.

As you get older, your skin’s ability to rejuvenate it’s cells begins to slow down… rejuvenation is the key to a smooth, even complexion.  Without rejuvenation, that layer of dead cells gets thicker and thicker, making the skin appear duller.

So, now we know what enzymes are, it makes sense to slather your face in something that is proven to “speed up chemical reaction in a living organism”. no?

Let’s bust some dead skin cells!

Enter Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask…

Elemis say that their Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask contains:

Amazonian Acerola Cherry, White Truffle Poria Cocos, Great Burdock, Erysimum and amino acids.

Yum!  I can’t decide whether I’d benefit more from eating it!

I jest… although it does smell ah-mazing.

There’s also mention of patented tri-enzyme technology… I’m not sciencey enough to give you the full low-down on this, but it basically means (google is my friend) that Elemis’ Tri-Enzyme products contain three enzymes (Subtilisine, Protease and Papain).  These are the work-horses in the formula, and Papain is an enzyme found in papaya.  How good am I at googling, seriously?

So anyway, now that I’ve finished with the theory behind the product… does it do anything?

I accepted this for review consideration because I’ve generally loved everything I’ve ever bought from the brand, and had heard great things about this product in particular.  Though I must admit, I was also a bit nervous about using it.  You’ve heard me go on about my redness and sensitive skin before, and I was worried that I would experience additional irritation from using this product.

There was no need.  I find Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask really pleasant to use, despite warnings of a powerful tingling sensation.  I feel a tingle… but less than most lip plumpers I’ve used.  If anything, it’s quite a refreshing, cooling sensation.

I wash my face and ensure that my skin is patted dry.  Dispensing about three pumps of the Tri-Enzyme mask, I spread it evenly over my face, avoiding the eye and mouth areas.  Then I go and put my feet up, or um… ok, in reality I go on Twitter.  10 minutes later, off I trot to the bathroom where a sink of warm water awaits me to wash the gel off.  It doesn’t harden or crack and is easy to rinse away.

It took 4 sessions (I’m using it twice a week) before I started to notice any real difference.  It claims to improve skin smoothness, decrease the appearance of fine lines, blemishes and uneven skin tone.  I dunno about all that but I’m definitely noticing a difference in the texture of my skin.  I had some rough patches on my forehead and nose that foundation would cling to… these have disappeared.

I hesitate to include the following observation (simply because it’s a real big deal for me) but I’m also sure that my redness has faded a little.  Now, in all honesty… I don’t understand this, it was the last thing I expected to see an improvement with.  The treatment room manager at Liz Earle mentioned inflammation as a possible cause for my redness, so I’m wondering if there’s something in the Tri-Enzyme mask that’s reducing inflammation.  I should stop, because I’m totally hypothesising on this.  All I know is that I’m not concealing my cheeks with pan-stick at the moment.  They’re looking rosy rather than red.

One last thing that I’ve noticed an improvement with is my pore size.  I know that nothing can physically reduce pore-size, but I think that sloughing off the top dead layers of skin has had the effect of revealing my true pore size, which is definitely smaller than they previously appeared.  Sadly, it’s done nothing for my nose pores or congestion in that area.  I also haven’t noticed any decrease in fine lines.

I don’t think it’s some miracle anti-aging product.  But I think that it’s wonderful at sloughing away god knows how much dull crap from the surface of your face.

So why not grab your St. Ives Apricot scrub and be done with it?  Honestly, I don’t know… what I do know is that I’ve been using a facial scrub twice a week in the shower for over 7 months and haven’t come even close to the results that this has taken 3 weeks to achieve.

Yeah, I like it.  A lot.

You can purchase Elemis’ Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask (£45) from the TimeToSpa website, alternatively (and more of a bargain) opt for the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing System (£45) which not only includes a full-size mask, but also mini-sizes of the facial wash, night cream and a cleansing mitt.

Oh, oh!  One last thing, I nearly forgot… remember I said about those top dead layers protecting the skin from the elements?  Well…. yeah, if you do use this – be sure to be super vigilant with sun protection (and I’m not talking factor 5), wear a hat… slip-slop-slap and all that.  Your face will thank you for it.

Elemis, who were recently voted “Best British Brand” at the prestigious UK CEW awards are marking a special occasion with a rather special release.

Celebrating their 20th year, one of their most celebrated products has undergone a transformation!

From the 31st May until the 27th June, you can purchase a supersized 100ml pot of Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for £99.  Taking into consideration that a 50ml pot retails at £75 and if I do my maths correctly… that makes a saving of £51!

Now, I’m not gonna pretend this is the “bargain du jour”, some skincare is just pricey, and Elemis’ Pro Collagen Marine Cream most definitely falls into the luxe range.

It’s been a product that I haven’t been without since I first got a sample from the Elemis counter last year… infact, I think I posted about it.  Yes, I did!  I’ve never actually reviewed PCMC other than to declare random love for it occasionally (I will put that right soon!).  Anti-Ageing skincare reviews are HARD, I think they’re so personal and more often than not based on how a product makes you feel rather than any immediate effects.

By the way, Elemis are hustlers with their generous sampling policy!  That 15ml sample I innocently picked up last Summer has cost me a bleedin’ fortune since!

You can buy the Limited Edition 100ml Pro Collagen Marine Cream online from their website at TimetoSpa or from your nearest Elemis counter or Spa.  But only until the end of the month!

Follow the Elemis Spa Bus on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with it’s whereabouts during Elemis’ 20th Anniversary nationwide tour.

Always fancied an Elemis treatment?  Well for a budget-friendly £10 you can enjoy one of 5 unique and luxurious 15 minute facial or body spa therapies performed by a professional “Elemis Angel”.  Instant relaxation and rejuvenation is promised with a maximum results in minimum time ethos.

Ensuring that it’s not only you who benefits from a bit of TLC, Elemis will be donating £1 from each treatment and skincare kit sold to charity Mothers4Children and they hope to raise well over £50,000 for the charity during the campaign.

I’m keeping my eye on the @elemisspabus updates and am trying to decide between a Skin Booster Facial, Chill-Out Shoulder and Scalp Massage, Sole Rescue Foot Treatment or Re-Charge Power Back Massage.

I think it’d have to be the facial.  What d’ya reckon ladies?