Spa Technologies Vitamin C Mist

RRP: from £15

--What does the promo say?--
"An Isotonic Seawater Mist fortified with Hyaluronic Acid to attract and retain moisture to the skin and Antioxidants to restore lost minerals and vital elements. Use after cleansing or whenever skin needs refreshing."

--Packaging--
A chunky glass bottle with an eyecatching metallic blue band that looks sophisticated and modern while helping the brand name to stand out. I'm a fan of glass bottles - they are recyclable and help you to easily see how much is left. While this glass bottle is on the heavy side perhaps, this means it shouldn't shatter when travelling. The spray mechanism is good too and easily detachable from the bottle for recycling.

--Application--
Spray onto face directly after cleansing, or onto a cotton pad which you can then sweep over the face to pick up any excess dirt or makeup.

--Appearance--
A clear, watery liquid.

--Scent--
Slightly salty, but not overbearing. A natural scent that really evokes the sea.

--Texture and consistency--
The watery liquid goes on smoothly and leaves no visible or palpable residue.

--Effects on the skin--
As promised, it's immediately refreshing and keeps the skin hydrated. It also removes any excess dirt or makeup for optimum cleansing, meaning that you should see increased radiance, decreased dryness, and some overall improvement in skin condition, particularly thanks to the natural ingredients this contains.

--Value for money--
I was kindly sent the 30ml version by Spa Technologies, and while I loved it, I didn't find that this smaller bottle lasted as long as I was hoping, so when purchasing another bottle I would without doubt go for the better value 100ml bottle (which is only an additional £10). Natural, effective toners are hard to find, so this one definitely joins my skincare staples.

perfect partners
Vitamin C Moisturising Serum, £35
Revitalising Sea Cleanser, £25
Essential Kit, £59
Repair Kit, £101

Ankh Rah Moringa Tablets

RRP: £13 for 80 tablets

--What does the promo say?--

"The 80 dried Moringa leaf tablets are packed in a pocket sized container. Ankh Rah High Quality Moringa Tablets can be taken on the move at any time, anywhere. Moringa is a plant that may energise you, relax you, nourish you, detox you, rejuvenate you, and give you mental clarity. Ankh Rah Moringa Leaf Powder is tested according to the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) testing standards (ISO 17025). It has 7 times the vitamin C of oranges, 3 times the potassium of bananas, 25 times the iron of spinach, twice the protein of milk and four times its calcium, as well as 10 times the vitamin A of carrots. High in antioxidants and amino acids, every part of the plant is used, including the leaf and seeds."

--Packaging--

The white plastic bottle is indeed compact and lightweight, with a flip-top lid that closes securely (meaning you don't find moringa tablets all over the inside of your handbag!) but opens easily when you need to use it. The green and purple colour scheme is not only unusual and unisex but the green also fits well with moringa's natural and active properties.

--Usage instructions--
Adults should take two tablets twice daily, with children being able to take one tablet twice daily. This is easy enough to do at breakfast time and dinner time, even if you eat lunch outside the home. The tablets are smaller than a 5p coin, so easy enough to swallow alone, but are also easy to break into two if you have trouble swallowing tablets.

--Appearance--
The tablets are a khaki colour, but leave no discoloration on the tongue, lips or teeth.

--Scent and taste--
They don't really smell of much, but have a slightly bitter aftertaste. Nonetheless, this is inoffensive and does not linger.

--Effects on the body--
The claims are vague, as feeling energised, relaxed, detoxed, mentally clearer, and rejuvenated will vary vastly from person to person. The nourishment claim is easier to substantiate given the clearly high proportions of vitamins and minerals that moringa contains. The promotional materials also state that those taking moringa "report rapid improvement in skin, digestion, eyesight, mental clarity, and overall wellbeing" - and it's true that I did see some improvement in my skin condition while taking this moringa supplement.

--Value for money--
At £13 a pot, it's not extortionate; it comes to a little more than 16p per tablet, or around 65p for an adult's daily dose of four tablets per day. At four tablets a day, though, one pot would last you 20 days, which may seem a little short for some. As for myself, I've seen better results on my skin using other supplements, such as Skin Vit A, so would be more inclined to spend the money there, and furthermore acknowledge that with acne plaguing me now for 19 years *eek* I am a special case of sorts. However, you can only keep shopping around to know if this would work for you, and I would definitely be interested to try Ankh Rah's other moringa products (see details below).

perfect partners
Moringa Powder, from £12
Moringa Seeds, £12
Moringa Oil, from £7
Coco Moringa Soap, from £4.75

Spa Technologies Vitamin C Moisturising Serum

RRP: £35

--What does the promo say?--
"Our bestseller, this Moisturizing Serum combines powerful Botanical Extracts and two forms of Vitamin C. Vitamin C Serum, delivers the moisture-locking properties of rich creams. Seaweed and Antioxidants stimulate collagen synthesis for firmer, healthier-looking skin."

--Packaging--
The glass bottles used by this brand are substantial, practical and sophisticated. The double metallic brand (which is a different colour depending on which product the bottle houses) is a good identifier for the brand itself, proving modern, unisex and minimalist while still standing out. The pump-action mechanism is easy to use, and also to detach for recycling purposes.

--Application--
Smooth over face and neck at night-time after cleansing.

--Appearance--
A creamy yellow (a colour which, I suspect, comes from the buriti as well as the shea) serum that in fact has the richness of a cream rather than the typical wateriness of a serum. However, it leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Again, the Amazonian superfruit, the buriti, is responsible for this serum's creamy orange-like scent. Delicious and different!

--Texture and consistency--
Rich and creamy, but sinks in instantly.

--Effects on the skin--
While I felt this was a bit too rich for my oily/combination skin type, clogging my pores a bit on my face, it did a terrific job on my neck (where the skin is more 'normal'), keeping it naturally smooth and moisturised.

--Value for money--
While seeming a bit expensive on the face of it, this product lasted me a very long time - more so than the cleanser and toner I was sent by the same company. The ingredients are also of high quality provenance and the serum's moisturising properties speak for themselves. Even though I snagged this for free, I would genuinely spend my own money on this product thanks to its natural formulation, pleasant texture, and excellent moisturisation. Based on the quality of this product, I would also be inclined to try the company's Marine Serum, which I understand is more tailored to acneic skin.

perfect partners
Laminaria Oil, £22
Luminous Eye Serum, £35
Restore Kit, £80

Nivea Pearl and Beauty Spray

RRP: from £2.29

--What does the promo say?--
"NIVEA Pearl & Beauty Deodorant – for beautiful, smooth underarms. Together with NIVEA’s 48-hour protection against underarm wetness and odour, its caring formula with precious pearl extracts leaves underarms feeling soft and looking beautiful. It’s the perfect combination of NIVEA‘s mild care and reliable protection."

--Packaging--
Mine is actually in a tiny mini format (so would have cost less than £2.29 too), so it's great to have all these different size options depending on your needs. There's also no lid to worry about losing: instead, you twist the deodorant open and closed to reveal or hide the spray hole respectively. The pink and navy colour scheme is pleasant, moving it just that little bit away from the usual cliché.

--Usage--
Once you are clean and dry after your bath or shower, just spray onto your underarms, holding the aerosol of course at a safe distance from your mouth and nose. I tend to open the bathroom door as well when using sprays, just for better ventilation (though I guess whether you want to do this depends on how sensitive your fire alarm is!).

--Scent--
Powdery and soapy. Not too floral or chemical.

--Appearance--
No white marks on clothes or skin. Yay!!

--Effects on the skin--
It's mid-June and yet skin was kept dry and smell-free all day. Admittedly, it wasn't terribly hot today, and it was a quiet day at work too (a day of invigilation is hardly comparable to tearing around the classroom checking student work or supervising interactive quizzes). Nonetheless, a solid performance.

--Value for money--
Despite my usual general contempt for these (suspiciously?) cheap high street brands, I probably would buy this again for its sheer efficacy. The baby travel sizes are also great ideas for stocking fillers (thanks, Mum!).

perfect partners
Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes, £4 for 40
Cashmere Moments Shower Cream, £1.89 

Beauty Byte: Massive £700 beauty giveaway!

In celebration of her birthday, renowned beauty blogger Michelle is giving away beauty products worth £700 on her blog, Thou Shalt Not Covet. You can enter here: http://thoushaltnotcovet.net/2015/06/12/my-big-birthday-giveaway-2015.

I have massive respect (and slight envy!) for people like Michelle who can actually make a living out of blogging, out of sheer passion and talent. Being a beauty journalist was always my dream, but I guess I just didn't have what it takes, or I was just unlucky. While I now gain massive fulfilment from another profession I love, it's great to know that there's still plenty of people out there willing to read and write quality content, especially as journalism (print in particular) continues its steady decline.

So get over to Michelle's blog, not only to have a chance of winning shedloads of amazing stuff, but also to keep the cause of quality journalism going.

Footner Exfoliating Socks

RRP: £19.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Footner Exfoliating Socks is a revolutionary product to give you smooth, softer feet with just one 60 minute application Footner Exfoliating Socks make use of the skin’s natural exfoliation process to rid your feet from years of dead skin build-up. After just one application your feet will shed this dead skin. Feeling young and rejuvenated, your feet will be smoother than ever.

Using this product will result in the peeling of the hardened skin build-up on your feet. Footner Exfoliating Socks makes use of the skin’s natural peeling process to remove callus and dead skin from the feet. 5-10 days after application the layers of dead skin will peel from the soles of the feet. This peeling process will continue for about 2 weeks depending on the thickness of the skin.

After this time you will be left with soft, smooth, rejuvenated, baby-soft feet."

--Packaging--

The pink box is cheerful and the silver pouch containing the 'socks' is modern and sleek. The 'socks' themselves are more like plastic bags, filled with the treatment fluid.

--Application--

Cut open the 'socks' along the indicated line, and ease your clean, dry feet into them. Seal them with the adhesive strip along the side of the 'sock', closing gaps as far as possible. Finally, put normal socks on (perhaps an old pair in case the treatment fluid leaks) so that you can walk around as usual during the treatment. Once the treatment time is up, remove and dispose of the plastic 'socks' and rinse and dry your feet. This is an easy process that is not too messy.

--Appearance--

As mentioned, the 'socks' are made of durable clear plastic. The treatment liquid is also transparent and leaves no visible residue on the feet.

--Texture and consistency--

The treatment fluid is watery and is easy to rinse off post-soaking. Rather than being the kind of exfoliator that comes with bits of beach embedded in it, this is a chemical exfoliant that has an even consistency.

--Scent--

None discernible.

--Effects on the skin--

Skin does not feel irritated by the treatment fluid, and initially little difference is felt. However, over the next week or two, there is visible peeling as the vast majority of dry skin falls away. You will need a powerful vacuum cleaner, a patient partner, and a good gross-out factor threshold. Just when you begin to genuinely believe you were actually a lizard in a past life, you are, as promised, left with baby-soft skin.

--Value for money--

Initial results are impressive, and value for money increases if you look out for special deals (Boots are offering a 25% discount at present, for example). Equally, we could definitely argue that this is excellent value compared to the prices of traditional spa treatments. However, I found that the results weren't as long-lasting as other exfoliating socks that I've tried, so would be keen to shop around to ensure that I was getting the very best outcome for my money. 

perfect partners

Soft Foot Foam, £10.95

Daily Repair Cream, £8.49

Spa Technologies Luminous Eye Serum

RRP: £35

--What does the promo say?--
"Brighten up your eyes. Formulated with Marine Extracts and a blend of Peptides and Transresveratrol to reduce the appearance of dark circles and fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Seaweed Polysaccharides firm the skin’s connective matrix and repairs sun-exposure damage to cellular DNA."

--Packaging--
The brand's characteristic double metallic band adorns this chunky glass bottle, which all makes you feel like you are getting something substantial yet sophisticated with a clear brand identity. The pump action system is efficient and easily detachable for recycling.

--Application--
Use your ring finger (why? It's got the weakest muscle of all your fingers and will pull at the delicate skin around the eye area the least) to gently rub the cream into the skin around the eye area morning and night.

--Appearance--
A translucent white cream that leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Nothing from the ingredients list particularly stands out; it just seems clean and natural.

--Texture and consistency--
Sinks into the skin instantly and feels rich and creamy without weighing the skin down.

--Effects on the skin--
Moisturises well and adds radiance too. Skin seems to regain some elasticity with dark circles being reduced.

--Value for money--
This easily competes with some high-end labels price-wise (the eye serums of Estee Lauder, Shiseido and Origins are all priced similarly), but it's still affordable, and even the tiny sample pot I was sent lasts FOREVER (I'm still using it a couple of months later!), so by my reckoning this bottle would last you a good year at least. Luxurious, utilitarian and natural? Simply brilliant.

perfect partners
Laminaria Oil, £22
Firming Booster Kit, £59.99
Skin Brightening Kit, £59.99

No7 Beautiful Eyebrows Kit

RRP: £12.50

--What does the promo say?--
"No7 Beautiful Eyebrow Kit lets you create perfectly defined brows for face-framing flattery. The combination of wax, powder and highlighter means goodbye to unruly brows. Top Tip- Try mixing the brow colours together to create your most natural shade."

--Packaging--
The ovular black compact is a little bulky, but nonetheless sophisticated in its simplicity. You are also rewarded by a generously-sized mirror, good quantities of product, and two brushes that are convenient for travel.

--Application--
My PR version arrived with no instructions, so I had to work out for myself that clumsily poking the brow brush into the wax would be an error. I resorted to applying the colour with the angled brush before smearing the wax on with my finger and using the brow brush to tidy. The highlighter seemed a little redundant for a few days, but is also easy enough to apply should you have the inclination: again, use a brush or your finger.

--Appearance--
My brows are quite dark (contrarily to my naturally blonde hair), and both colours fill in brows effectively for a bolder, more defined look without seeming artificial. Those with lighter brows might want to stick with the lighter colour only, though (although of course you can mix both colours if you like). The wax is also handy for taming unruly hairs, and the highlighter gives a nice shimmery look that is great for a summer glow without making you look like an 80s reject.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible.

--Texture and consistency--
The brow colours blend nicely without sending powder everywhere and it's easy to pick up the colour on the brush. As mentioned, the wax does its job well without weighing brows down or making them look like you've decided to apply Brylcreem to them. The highlighter also has a delicate texture - again, not feeling weighed down is so important for summer skin.

--Longevity--
Holds well throughout the day, without smudging or fading.

--Value for money--
A little goes a long way with this kit, and it's a practical purchase that travels well too. Would recommend.

perfect partners
Perfect Light Pressed Powder, £11.50
Natural Blush Tint Powder, £8

Facetheory Sensitive Toning Mist

RRP: £7.50

--What does the promo say?--
"A toner that’s tailored for sensitive skin. Specially formulated for fussy skin, Sensitive Toner T2 gives you complete treatment and protection for your skin – without the irritation and redness. And while we’ve created a light formulation, we haven’t compromised on care. With aloe vera and grapefruit oil, it’s an antiseptic, decongestant and impressive anti-ager all in one."

--Packaging--
My sample took the form of a small pot with a screw-top lid, but the green and white spray bottle is appealing for targeted use with no wastage, as well as for the colour scheme's connotations of antiseptic healing. It's also a nicely unisex concept.

--Application--
Spray onto a cotton pad and wipe over cleansed skin. Easy as.

--Appearance--
A clear, watery liquid.

--Scent--
Citric without being bitter. A natural scent overall that combines the orange and grapefruit well.

--Texture and consistency--
A watery liquid with no visible particles or viscosity.

--Effects on the skin--
Removes any excess makeup that your cleanser didn't pick up, and calms and smooths skin too.

--Value for money--
Costs less than many other toners of the same quality (and sometimes even those of lesser quality!) and has positively calming effects on the skin thanks to its natural ingredients. Would purchase the full size product.

perfect partners
Clarifying Cleanser (C2), £9.50
Supergel Moisturiser (M3), £12.50
Ultraglide Makeup Primer (P1), £1.75
100% Organic Cotton Muslin Face Cloth, £1.50

Spa Technologies Revitalising Sea Cleanser

RRP: £25

--What does the promo say?--
"A deep pore cleanser formulated with a rich paste of organic Laminaria Algae imbued with aromatic essences that revitalize the skin by stimulating micro-circulation to restore a healthy glow. Ideal for oily/congested skin types."

--Packaging--
This appears to come in a pump-action bottle, while my sample came in a tiny pot with a screw-top lid. Based on the other samples I was sent that did come in full-size pump-action bottles, it likely dispenses efficiently and the bottles from this company seem quite robust. The bottle is also not too crowded/busy in terms of writing or images, making for a sophisticated overall appearance.

--Application--
Massage a small amount into damp skin before rinsing off. Easy really.

--Appearance--
The khaki colour is not terribly appealing (even if it clearly connotes the sea), but it leaves no residue on the skin.

--Scent--
The mint comes through most strongly, which is both pleasant and unusual, as well as supporting the general notion of the refreshing cleanse.

--Texture and consistency--
Very smooth, does not lather, and washes off well.

--Effects on the skin--
Seems to visibly calm the skin in the short term, but unfortunately my sample was a bit small to be able to test any effects on my acne long-term. No signs of any irritation.

--Value for money--
Based on the immediate results of my week's sample, I would definitely be interested in investing in the full-size bottle to give it a chance to work more completely. The products I have sent have a pared-down, high-quality set of ingredients that so far seem to be doing the skin good, and I would thus recommend this cleanser to those with acneic skin.

perfect partners
Marine Serum, £35
Vitamin C Mist, from £15
Spot Cure, £14.95