FutureYou Super Vitamin D with K2+

RRP: £19 for a 28-day supply

--What does the promo say?--
"Super Vitamin D with K2+ combines 25µg (micrograms) of vitamin D with 180 µg of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7 (MK-7).

The body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, hence why it is regularly referred to as the sunshine vitamin.

Vitamin D contributes to musculoskeletal health. It allows calcium and phosphorus to be absorbed normally, contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, and plays a role in the maintenance of normal teeth. It also contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system, maintenance of normal muscle function and contributes to normal blood calcium levels.

Vitamin K2 works together with vitamin D3 to mobilise calcium from the blood vessels into the bones, maintaining bone health. Vitamin K2 is found in particularly high concentrations in fermented foods. These include sauerkraut, hard cheese and natto, a traditional Japanese dish made with fermented soybeans.

The vitamin K2 included in Super Vitamin D with K2+ has been the subject of 19 research studies, highlighting the importance of vitamin K2 in bone and cardiovascular health."

--Packaging--

The yoga pose on the outer cardboard box evokes both relaxation and strength, and as such, good health. 

The capsules come in traditional plastic and foil blister packaging, and the foil is clearly labelled with days of the week to help you remember to take the capsules regularly.

--Usage--

Take one capsule per day, swallowing it whole with liquid. I usually take mine at the start of the day with breakfast.

--Appearance--

The capsules are an off-white colour, leaving no visible residue in the mouth.

--Scent--

Nothing discernible.

--Texture and consistency--

The capsule coating is thin and smooth enough so as to not be difficult to swallow, while not melting too quickly in the mouth.

--Effects--

While most of the benefits of vitamin K2 are not immediately visible (such as its positive impact on heart health and bone density), it's also starting to be hailed as a beauty supplement due to its healing properties. As a result, my habitually acneic skin definitely seemed clearer while I took this supplement, with the vitamin healing existing spots more quickly and preventing new ones from appearing. Skin also seemed less red and more 'glowing' - so I was definitely impressed by my 28-day supply (sent to me by FutureYou - thank you!).

It's also posited that K2 has anti-ageing properties, although of course the irony is that if this is working in this way, then nothing will happen - so in the short term, I won't be able to tell if it's really doing this.

--Value for money--

At 67p a day, it's up to you if you think this is worth it. For me, it is. The cost also goes down when you subscribe and save (£15 a month, or 53p a day) - arguably a small price to pay for both the internal and external benefits of vitamin K2.

www.futureyouhealth.com

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35

RRP: £28
# of shades available: 5

--What does the promo say?--
"Moisturise, perfect and protect-instantly and over time. Now it's easier than ever to get great skin with Bobbi Brown's new BB Cream SPF 35. Inspired by a skincare/makeup hybrid that's a cult favorite in Asia, this formula combines moisturiser, treatment, SPF and a lightweight foundation in one. Plus, it's available in five skin tone correct shades carefully formulated by Bobbi herself. Consider it your skin's new best friend. The secret to its multitasking magic: Water-attracting molecules boost hydration; light reflective pearls brighten dull skin; botanical extracts and caffeine reduce discolouration and redness; pore-reducing peptides minimise fine lines; and finally, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and antioxidants fend off future damage."

--Packaging--
The black and white design keeps things minimalist and simple, and the dispensation of product is well controlled. Bobbi Brown also has the advantage on its side that BB stands not only for Blemish Balm but also for Bobbi Brown - so half of the brand's work seems to already be done.

--Application--
BB creams often require more of a "slapping" motion as you put them on, rather than a "stroking" motion, so that they blend into the skin correctly and don't just sit on top in a cakey layer. This is no exception. After primer, "slap" this on, and then add concealer and powder if necessary.

--Appearance--
A very thick, luxurious cream, which on the skin provides a perfect match for my skin tone (Bobbi Brown's PR team sent me a free tube of Extra Light) and boosts radiance. It also really covers blemishes well: once I'd put it on, I'd often find myself reaching straight for the face powder rather than bothering with extra concealer.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible; no need to worry about chalky, chemical or overly-perfumed smells.

--Texture and consistency--
As mentioned, this is thick and luxurious and yet blends easily.

--Effects on the skin--
Sadly, I didn't notice much healing going on throughout my use of this cream, which is supposed to be part of the effects of BB creams.

--Longevity--
Lasts quite well, but tends to come off more easily around the chin area (which is possibly the area of my face that I touch the most, so it's probably more likely my fault than Bobbi Brown's).

--Value for money--
At £28, this is expensive, but a high-quality product in terms of the finish provided and the high SPF is a great advantage. However, I'd perhaps expect its short-term healing powers to be greater, in line with more traditional BB creams (although this product does have other traditional BB cream qualities). In the same price bracket, this compares favourably to Clinique's BB cream, and I'd also be interested to try versions by Dr Brandt and Smashbox to see how they match up.

perfect partner
Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, £17 

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

RRP: from £13.99/120ml online; also available with SPF15

--What does the promo say?--
"Skin MD Natural shielding lotion makes a great makeup base, soothes
unwanted skin conditions and gives us smooth, silky skin with no greasy
film. A shielding lotion is unlike any other conventional, artificial moisturizers
because it works with the skin to naturally moisturize and heal. Most
conventional, artificial moisturizers only add moisture to the surface of
the skin, but do little to repair the skin’s natural barrier against
moisture robbing irritants. Continued use of artificial moisturizers can
cause the skin to actually begin producing less of its own natural oils,
thinking that the skin has enough moisture. This can cause skin to form a
dependence on the moisturizer for hydration. Skin MD Natural breaks the dry
skin cycle by working to help restore skin’s natural protective abilities by
bonding to the outer layer of skin, strengthening skins natural barrier
against toxins and irritants that can dry the skin, while locking in the
skin’s natural oils."

--Packaging--
A white squeezy bottle with red lid. You definitely get the impression of natural ingredients being used (from the picture of the aloe plant on the bottle), but the idea of this being endorsed medically is not successfully conveyed (and nor, indeed, is it in the usual publicity material: you get the impression more of the photographed human saying "hello, I am an actor dressed up as a doctor" rather than of a competent "hello, I am Doctor Zorg"). The lid of the product consists of a flat disc that you push downwards to reveal the aperture out of which the lotion is released. Easier than it sounds, I promise.

--Application--
Squeeze out a pea-sized amount of lotion and rub over freshly cleansed face and neck. The beauty of this product is that it is multiuse and will do your whole body good, so feel free to rub any excess into your hands, arms or feet.

--Scent--
Virtually scentless, despite the presence of aloe vera and arnica.

--Appearance--
An opaque white gel that leaves no visible residue or shininess on the skin.

--Texture/consistency--
As promised, there is no greasy film remaining on the skin after use and the lotion absorbs quickly.

--Effects on the skin--
Immediate softness, although in real problem areas (e.g. the feet) it takes much longer for very dry skin to improve or disappear. I did, however, in conjunction with my use of the Pond's cleanser (also reviewed this month), notice an overall improvement in my acneic skin (soon I'll be able to see how well the lotion works on its own, as one bottle of it lasts much longer than a jar of Pond's cleanser).

--Value for money--
£13.99 might seem a bit steep for something that doesn't exactly display miracle effects, but it's a reasonable price overall for a product that generally maintains a good, healthy skin condition, and I definitely like the fact that it's multi-use.

Elemental Beauty Mineral Foundation

RRP: £0.85 per sample canister (0.5-1g); £10.99 per full size pot (9-10g)
# of shades available: 15 in sample size; 20 in regular size

--What does the promo say?--
"At Elemental Beauty we know that not everyone has the same type of complexion or skin qualities, so we have created a range of Soft Focus and Healing mineral foundations to help meet your skin’s individual needs. Our Healing mineral foundation contains Allantoin to help heal and regenerate damaged or irritated skin and therefore a good choice for those suffering from acne or rosacea. Our Soft Focus mineral foundation contains a much larger content of Silica Microspheres. These have light scattering properties and a silky feel to reflect light away from lines and wrinkles and give a soft focus appearance. Our mineral foundation powders are soft matt in appearance and can be layered and built up effortlessly to give your required coverage."

--Packaging--
The full-size pots are in keeping with the usual pot design used by Elemental Beauty. The sample sizes (of which I was kindly sent four, in an adorable little chiffon bag) come in tiny plastic vials with flip-top lids. The sample sizes are extremely practical for travel, so this is a viable option in many respects, whether you're off on holiday or just want to try out some shades.

--Application--
Load up your brush with a little of the powder and sweep it evenly over the face. Several lighter layers will look better than one heavy one. The Elemental Beauty site also suggests applying them with a damp brush or sponge to give fuller, complete coverage of blemishes and dark circles, meaning that in fact you have a dual-use product (foundation and concealer) all in one pot. Nice.

--Appearance--
As mentioned, I was sent four shades: Luminous (Soft Focus), English Rose (Soft Focus), Nude (Healing) and Barley (Healing). Barley was a tad too dark for my liking and Luminous almost made me look ghostly (rare in a foundation! But nevertheless, it's probably fine for me for the winter months). In terms of colour match, English Rose and Nude were probably the best for me. Truthfully, I did not notice any difference in the finish between the Soft Focus and Healing variations: both finished soft and matte as promised.

--Texture and consistency--
As with all of the Elemental Beauty products that I have tried so far, my foundations were non-irritating and were pleasant to use on the skin. All good things.

--Coverage--
Excellent; I couldn't wish for better.

--Longevity--
Use of a finishing powder of some description is advised just for general hold (for the sake of the foundation itself as well as to help the company's mineral concealer along a bit). However, the results were generally good.

--Effects on the skin--
My skin has improved lately, but I can never tell what has affected it, especially since I have also been using a few different skincare products, so I don't feel that I can attribute any improvement solely to the foundation, but I'm sure that it didn't do any harm either (particularly since the Soft Focus versions also contain kaolin, a healing clay, which would have also helped any skin recovery).

--Value for money--
Marginally cheaper than Lily Lolo's foundations, which are £12 for the same amount of foundation, so the price is certainly competitive. You need such a tiny amount each time that I'm sure one full-size pot would last months (I've used each of my vials several times and it barely seems like I've made a dent in them). This, combined with generally good coverage and durability, would make this a sound choice for any skin-conscious female.