Payot Uni Skin Perles des Rêves

RRP: £54 for 38g

--What does the promo say?--

"The latest addition to the Uni Skin perfecting routine, Perles des Rêves offers your skin just what it needs to ensure a more even, brighter complexion in the morning. Its pearls enriched with shea butter melt on the skin, enveloping it with infinite softness. Used night after night, your skin will look more beautiful, softer and more harmonious."

--Packaging--

The jar is elegant and ergonomically designed, with the opaque glass jar beautifully displaying the pearls. The Payot logo is minimalist and unobtrusive. The white lid is a screw top, but it has no place for the opaque white spatula to sit or slot in, which seems inconvenient. The spatula itself is a good size. There's also a cover once the lid has been removed, to protect the pearls. This is easily pulled off when you need to use the product, but sits securely when not in use, so that you can travel with this product with confidence.

--Application--

The Payot website instructs, "In the evening, use the spatula to collect a pearl, then melt it in the palm of your hand. Apply to the face and neck after thorough cleansing." Unfortunately, I didn't read this prior to use and don't remember it being indicated on the silver cardboard box that encased all of the above. So I took four pearls (as that was the amount that seemed to sit comfortably on the spatula). This was probably too much - but I am not sure that only one pearl would cut it either (more of which below).

--Appearance--

The white pearls are gorgeous to look at and have the sheen that you would expect as well. When warmed in your hands, they melt and coalesce to create something resembling a more traditional face cream that we would be familiar with. Once rubbed into the skin, no visible residue is left.

--Scent--

A more heavily perfumed scent than I would normally choose for a face cream, proving quite botanical thanks to the various plant and flower extracts that are included. However, this soon settles down and doesn't feel too intrusive once the cream has been rubbed in, though it is still detectable. I actually quite liked this in the end as it made the bedtime routine feel more ritualistic.

--Texture and consistency--

As mentioned, four pearls was probably too many. This amount moisturised my face and neck generously this evening. However, I feel like one pearl would not do my full face, let alone my neck. So I will definitely be trying 2 or 3 pearls next time and seeing what works for me and my skin. This was perhaps exacerbated by the fact that I felt that the pearls, even once melted, had quite a thick texture and were not easy to rub into the skin compared to other face creams I have tried. This lack of smoothness perhaps detracts from the overall experience. The cream sat somewhat stickily on the skin for a while after applying it. While, as a night cream, we could argue that this does not matter as it has plenty of time to absorb, I have used other night creams that sink into the skin more easily than this one does.

--Effects on the skin--

This product promises a more uniform complexion, more nourished skin, and increased radiance. It may well be purely cosmetic (thanks to the product's literal pearlescence) but I suspect the product's slightly shimmery effect does indeed make the complexion appear more uniform and radiant, thanks to the effects of light-reflecting particles. Whether this is indicative of any deeper changes perhaps remains to be seen. Similarly, it promises to be "anti dark spot", meaning that ironically, for a product to fulfil its preventative aims, nothing should happen - so it's difficult to tell whether dark spots might have developed even if I had not used this product. However, I strongly suspect that increased nourishment is possible with this product thanks to its luxurious thickness and high-quality ingredients - and a higher percentage of users reported seeing this effect than increased uniformity (according to the statistics on Payot's website).

--Value for money--

Payot is a prestigious brand and so I was pleased to pick up this jar in my local TK Maxx for a mere £12.99. As a result, I would definitely be interested in trying more from the Uni Skin range (or indeed even their Pâte Grise anti-blemish range). Different websites and shops seem to be offering it at a range of different prices at the moment, so definitely shop around online and near you for the best deal. However, I am not sure if I would pay the full £50+ for a jar, just because I typically wouldn't spend this much on moisturiser anyway. More objectively, it's a luxurious product in terms of texture and scent which many will find a pleasure to use - and it's a visual treat as well. More to the point, I genuinely believe it does nourish the skin - so it will tick many people's boxes and would make a beautiful gift this Christmas.

perfect partners

Uni Skin Masque Magnétique, £38

Uni Skin Mousse Velours, £36

Uni Skin CC Cream, £41

Uni Skin Concentré Perles, £82

Uni Skin Yeux et Lèvres, £45

Dolce & Gabbana L'Imperatrice Eau de Toilette

RRP: £39/100ml

--What does the promo say?--

"L''Impératrice opens with top notes of rhubarb, red currant and juicy kiwi accord. Fresh watermelon accord in the heart of the fragrance creates a mouth-watering concoction that is then offset by the drama of pink cyclamen for an exhilarating fragrance sensation. The musky notes, sandalwood and grapefruit wood in the base notes are boisterous, brilliant and incredibly addictive."

--Packaging--

I just had a small vial sample of this, so can't comment on the real deal, but the pale pink seems quite ordinary and the outside of the spray bottle almost too minimalistic. However, as a collection the pastel colours harmonise beautifully, with each scent in the Anthology series (which comprises four fragrances for men and four for women) having a different colour, ranging from slate to green, passing through pinks, corals and yellows on the way. In a way, you arguably expect more for the money, but in another sense, if it means the company has spent money on the product rather than on its packaging, then so much the better.

--Application--
Spritz on pressure points and perhaps through hair for all-over impact.

--Appearance--

A clear liquid with no glitter or colourants; no visible residue is therefore left on skin.

--Texture and consistency--

No irritation was experienced while using this product.

--Scent--

The first thing to hit you is the fruit, but it's not overly sugary and definitely not cheap (as some reviewers have derided it for being); it's completely authentic and nothing about it makes you feel like it's been synthetically put together, which means that someone somewhere has done an excellent job. However, I'd say that all of the fruits mentioned fuse together in such a way that you can only tells that each of them is there if you really think about it; none of them stand out individually over the other, making for a truly harmonious creation. If I were to think really hard and had to choose one, I'd say that the redcurrant notes were the most obvious. The muskier and woodier notes mentioned in the promotional material are barely evident. It's therefore more on the fruity and enthusiastic side rather than being yielding, without (at the same time) being overbearing or lacking in subtlety.

--Longevity--

Definitely not an all-day fragrance; by 4pm it had worn off, so expect to have to reapply at least once or twice during the day.

--Value for money--

I reckon that Dolce and Gabbana have pitched this at a good price point, with brands such as Kenzo, Givenchy, Guerlain and Hermes also selling their 100ml eaux de toilette for this amount of money. It's a small price to pay to buy into a real designer brand and for a high-quality, delightful fragrance that's suitable for all ages of women. It's just a shame there are no companion products (such as shower foam or body lotion) to go with this - but perhaps they're working on that. Either way, I would splash out on the whole bottle in future.

No7 Lift and Luminate Day and Night Serum

RRP: £24.95

--What does the promo say?--

"No7 Lift & Luminate Day & Night Serum 30ml targets the most common signs of ageing in 45+ skin. Clinically proven to lighten age spots and visibly lift skin to reduce the appearance of deeper lines and wrinkles.

This powerful day & night serum duo work together to effectively target the 3 key signs of ageing in older skin:

1. Uneven pigmentation
2. Lines & wrinkles
3. Lack of firmness.

After the very first application, skin feels smoother & looks more radiant. After 4 weeks skin looks younger & more attractive: it is more even toned, age spots are faded, deep lines & wrinkles are less visible and skin feels firmer & looks lifted.

Both these light, silky serums contain our advanced lightening complex to help prevent & fade uneven pigmentation plus the highest level of our clinically proven Protect and Perfect anti-ageing technology to help restore skin structure.

The refining night serum also contains targeted, L-carnitine, which helps boost skin renewal to even skin tone & fade age spots.

Renowned for offering pioneering clinical proof for their products, Boots experts have developed No7 Lift & Luminate Day & Night Serum 30ml with one of the world’s leading experts in pigmentation, Professor Ortonne, Head of Dermatology at Hopital L’Archet in Nice.

Professor Ortonne commented: “This has been a very exciting and innovative trial to be involved with. The results are exceptional, better than any other cosmetic product I have tested for the fading of age spots, with similar performance to the gold standard prescription only treatment after four months use.”

Hypo-allergenic: Because all skin can have sensitive moments all our products are hypo-allergenic so they are kind to even the most sensitive skin."

--Packaging--

The day and night serums are presented in two separate tubes, with the night serum tube being blue while the day serum is white. The different colours are aesthetically pleasing and the tubes are easy to use too. Information is kept minimal and both fit in well with the No7 brand. Although a pump-action mechanism is perhaps preferable for cleanliness reasons, it is recognisably advantageous for such thick creams to be contained in tubes rather than in bottles. This also makes the serum stand out against competitors which do have their serums in bottles, such as Olay and Lancôme.

--Application--

Rubs in well all over the face and never fails to be easy to use.

--Appearance--

The day and night serums look the same (a pale off-white colours), and despite the luminescent effect that the creams have on the skin, the creams are not pearlised themselves. They leave no visible residue on the skin once applied.

--Scent--

The creams have a pleasant fragrance that is mildly floral and slightly powdery. Very soft and mild scent; not nearly strong enough to offend.

--Texture and consistency--

While thicker than normally expected of a serum, the day and night serums both still rubbed in easily. However, the day serum seemed thicker than the night serum, which could appear incongruous to some.

--Effects on skin--

According to the Boots website, "after the very first application, skin feels smoother & looks more radiant". Our tester found this to be true without doubt; however, the claims that "after 4 weeks skin looks younger, more attractive, and more even toned" and that "age spots are faded, deep lines and wrinkles are less visible and skin feels firmer and looks lifted" were far less easily noticeable. No drastic changes really took place in our tester's skin during the trial period; there was a slight improvement in terms of radiance and depth of existing lines, but ultimately the main observation was that skin condition did not deteriorate, rather than that there was any massive improvement. Ultimately the claims made are so subjective ("younger and more attractive") that it would be difficult to say if they really did stand up or not.

--Value for money--

The £24.95 price tag seems reasonable given that the serum tubes lasted a long time (several months) and given that a small amount of improvement was noted (even if not the drastic changes predicted by the promotional material). This is also just about in line with market prices in some cases (prices are similar for products intending to achieve the same purpose made by brands like Avon, Olay, and Yes To Blueberries) but seems to push the company's luck in another way (is No7 really "worth" the same as similar products by brands such as Caudalie and Nuxe?). It's therefore really worth bargain hunting, so try to buy this product when there's an offer on at Boots (currently this product can be purchased as part of a 3 for 2 deal across selected products). Worth a try for minor short-term results, even if significant and longer-term results are less obvious.

perfect partners

Lift and Luminate Foundation, £15.50 

Lift and Luminate Eye Cream, £16

Lift and Luminate Day Cream, £23

Lift and Luminate Night Cream, £23

Lift and Luminate Regime Bundle, £47.95

Betty Hula Body Moisturisers

RRP: £14.99/120ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Here at Betty Hula we believe in honest, natural beauty. All of our products have been handmade using traditional techniques and the finest quality, fairly traded natural ingredients. This stylish range is laced with a selection of delicious and exotic Hawaiian inspired scents to stimulate your senses as your body is pampered. Traditional values with a contemporary twist. Delicately applied every day your skins youthfulness will be brought to life. Good for relieving signs of stretch marks, scarring, dry/sensitive skin, combination skin, oily skin and for soothing sun burn."

--Packaging--

The Hawaiian theme of this brand is pretty, cheeky, feminine and exotic, as well as being very different to other brands currently on the market. But don't mistake this for some wishy-washy brand: the pots' bold colours also pack a punch (orange for Champagne & Spice, green for Kiwi & Lime, and pink for Rum & Blackcurrant). The sample sizes I was sent didn't feature these, but the screw-top lids look secure and durable.

--Application--

The Betty Hula website advises "[applying] delicately to your body after a shower or bath or as part of your nightly routine." This is not only easy enough to do but the strong scent also relaxes you in time for bed, too.

--Scent--

And speaking of which, the scents of these body butters are not only distinctive and authentic but true-to-life too: what you see on the packaging is definitely what you get, with the Champagne & Spice being my clear favourite as well as the variant that strikes me as being the most unusual. The least true-to-life is possibly the Rum & Blackcurrant scent, with the rum not coming through as clearly as I had thought it would. It's also unclear where the scents come from; given Betty Hula's philosophy, I'd like to hope these come from natural sources such as essential oils, but this is only going to go so far (when's the last time you walked into a hippy store and found a rum essential oil on the shelf?) and so it would be nice to have the origins of the different scents made more transparent to go with the basic composition of the body moisturiser (which, FYI, is made up of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E).

--Appearance--

All of the moisturisers are an off-white colour, which sinks invisibly into the skin.

--Texture and consistency--

Not at all greasy or slippery; thick and luxurious while still absorbing quickly and well.

--Effects on the skin--

Keeps skin soft and smooth; I haven't had a beautician complain about my dry body skin for months, which is something I used to hear quite frequently. Would definitely consider this as a long-term maintenance product for between waxes for use around the legs and arms, as well as on the bust and stomach as a luxury product.

--Value for money--

We are really in luxury territory here with this being more expensive than any body butter you will buy on the high street for the same ml. However, to my mind it really is the perfect product, combining effective body improvement with the feeling of a luxury at-home spa experience. Would definitely have that Champagne & Spice smell filling my bedroom any day of the week.

perfect partner

Betty Hula 'The Secret' Anti-Ageing Oil, £15.99/50ml