Garden of Wisdom Vitamin C 23% Serum & Ferulic Acid

Not a very catchy title but the serum itself is wonderful, as is the whole Garden of Wisdom brand, but more on them another time. This Vitamin C is the strongest you will find, is combined with ferulic acid which will improve it's stability and is the real deal for those wanting help with skin tone, antioxidant benefits and pigmentation.

You can read all about Vitamin C here and Ferulic Acid here - I'd don't want to repeat myself too much but there are very few product featuring either of these ingredients that has really impressed me and this has.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

This has to be one of my most excessive skincare purchases. Having ummed and ahhhed over it for months Space NK did a £15 off orders over £60 deal and I decided to go for it. For those in the know for the past 6 or so months I have been using the Environ AVST range to try and help repair my skin barrier. The AVST moisturiser comes in 4 stages with increasing amounts of retinol in. I'm still on stage one but have already seen an improvement in my skin. Even so there are some problems with the AVST range which I'll go into in a separate post. One of them was that my naturally dry skin found the retinol and cream cleanser even more drying so the dullness and dry skin bumps I had spent so long trying to get rid off, returned. I needed something that would give me a moisture boost but wouldn't irritate and undo the work of the AVST moisturiser.

I've been using this every other day or when I need a moisture hit and it's made all the difference. A little goes a long way so although I'll never agree with products that cost that much at least I feel I'm not having to use too much each time. It's not as 'strong' as the AVST but I feel that as a much needed moisture giver it sort of works hand in hand with it... every now and then I contemplate using it under the AVST moisturiser but I'm a bit too scared at the moment. I don't know what of. *

LMB Turns 10 - April Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

Well, that March Giveaway had to run itself in the end. We moved house on 10th March and as I write this on 30th March we still have no Internet which is a massive pain. Anyway, there were a huge amount of entries to win the Louise Young Blushers which was wonderful but if make-up is not really your thing but you are into skincare then April could be the month for you. I have two amazing prizes up for grabs this month. Neither of which need any introduction for regular readers but for those who are new to the blog there'll be more on both throughout the month - Internet permitting.

Dr Sebagh Serum Repair

First things first, I’d have never coughed up £69 for 20ml of anything, not even in my hardest partying days. This product came as part of the 2015 Liberty Advent Calendar, a thing of wondrous beauty and which I can heartily recommend.

This serum promises to hydrate and firm and reduce wrinkles. It’s basically made of hydrolysed collagen (watery collagen), and a version of hyaluronic acid, as well as a lot of other things that sound really complicated and which I’d rather not know about.

I’ve been using it every morning, as I don’t care about my wrinkles when I go to bed at night. It’s a weird half gel/half liquid, and is dispensed via a dropper so you feel properly medical when you go about your post-shower routines. As you rub it in your face it smooths in and then your skin feels oddly sticky. You’ve got to massage it into clean skin and top with moisturiser, so that’s what I’ve been doing.

I would say I’ve absolutely noticed a difference. My skin looks brighter, less tired and definitely less puffy.  Less kind of old, basically. I have 41 year old, Australia-damaged skin and it definitely has made a difference to how I look for at least the first two-thirds of every day.

It’s one of those products I should never have started using. Now I’m up for £69 every few months. I should say that I’m only a third of the way down the bottle despite having used regularly for 3 weeks now so if using once daily it lasts better than some other things (NOT NAMING NAMES, CLARINS DOUBLE SERUM).


What You Need to Know - Dr Sebagh Serum Repair

• £69
• 20ml
• Claims: Firms, hydrates, reduces wrinkles, boosts production in collagen
• Contains hyaluronic acid
• Apply before moisturiser
• Available in the UK from Beauty Bay, Liberty, Dr Sebagh, Space NK 

My Current Morning Skincare Routine - October 2014

This is something that changes quite a lot but I feel that I've found a combination of products that really work well for my skin and what it needs at the moment. I've done separate reviews on some of these products (there will be links below) and I might do a video on my YouTube channel to go with this post eventually but I thought it would be useful to have it all written down somewhere... so here it is!

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser - when I first tried this I wasn't that sure, it felt almost drying on my skin but now my skin is generally less dehydrated it's really doing a lovely job of cleansing my skin every morning. And I do prefer to use this in the morning, I want a rich balm cleanser in the evening. £35

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - to brighten, tone and exfoliate, these are gentle enough to use every day but really effective. You get sixty pads per pot and since using them I've had no more dry patches on my forehead and visibly brighter skin. You can read my full review of them here. £20.50

Pixi Glow Tonic

OR

Pixi Glow Tonic - this has become a cult product and is the one to go for if you want a cleanser with no alcohol in it. This is my absolute favourite desert island toner, I trust it completely. Gently exfoliating it removes dead skin cells for healthier looking skin - you can read my full review of it here. £18

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - again the difference in my skin since using this has been incredible. A real morning boost, quickly absorbed. I've done a separate review of this here. Not cheap worth the money, and frankly a lot cheaper than a lot of serums out there. £18-£65

Yves Rocher Inositol Vegetal - I've been trying to write a full review on this for ages but I just never seem to get round to it and it's possible to find much info on it from Yves Rocher. I love this product.I use it most mornings and it's made my skin noticeably more radiant after consistent use. It contains citrus and AHA's to renew and resurface. Currently £6.50 instead of £19

Yves Rocher Inositol Vegetal

Quick Review - Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

I am love with this serum...

Available in the UK from Feel Unique, Selfridges,

Available in the US from Sephora, Ole Henriksen,

See my full review here.

Serums

I am a make-up artist but I am a huge, huge believer in, and fan of, skincare. If you ensure that your skin is the best it possibly can be the better your make-up will look and the less you will need (if you want less...) but for many people it seems a cheaper, quicker fix to neglect skincare and slap on more make-up.

I can completely understand why this is. You get immediate results from make-up. Spend £30 on a foundation you've tested on the back of your hand in the shop and see it working as soon as you use it. Spend £30 on a serum and, well who knows if it's ever going to work at all? But that's why I write this blog. I'm here to help. 

Since I started concentrating on my skincare my skin looks and feels so much better but it takes a while to work out what your skin needs and when. If you have problem skin it's really worth going to a skincare specialist and seeing what they recommend and what's on offer - some brands you can only get from a salon so it is worth doing some research if you think you need something tougher. There are also some great brands available at more affordable prices on the high street so you don't always need to spend ridiculous amounts to get the best results though I have yet to find a high street serum to beat the more high-end ones I've tried.

If I can convince one of my friends to cleanse, tone and moisturise I'm very unlikely to be able to get them to add a serum into the mix but using a serum has been a big game changer for me. So I've done a little bit of research.

What is a serum and why use one?
Serums have high concentrations of certain active ingredients (hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C or glycolic acid for example) to give intensive focus on one or two things like anti-aging, dry skin etc. Moisturisers are formulated to be absorbed into the very top layer of the skin but also add a barrier against the elements and whereas serums have smaller molecules to be easily absorbed deeply into the skin. Serums are more expensive than moisturisers because they are more concentrated but you need less product and you don't have to use it every day if you can't afford to.

Why shouldn't you use a serum?
People with eczema or rosacea - conditions that weaken the skin barrier - may want to avoid serums as they can cause irritation. There are some that say they are fine for use with eczema and other skin conditions but I would definitely find a way to try them out before you buy.

When to use a serum?
Apply after cleansing and toning before your moisturiser (after your eye cream if you use it). But your skin will only absorb what it needs so don't use so much, a pea-size amount is usually enough. If you have sensitive skin then it's best to wait ten minutes after cleansing to apply the serum. As with all skincare take it down your neck and decollete.

Results
You can see some serums working pretty much immediately but it's best to use them consistently to see the best results.

Which serum to use?
Oily skins - will want a water-based serum and you may want to use it instead of a moisturiser so you are getting an intensive treatment without over-loading the skin.
Dry skin - can use water- or oil-based serums. Retinol can help accelerate cellular renewal and brighten the skin and make it appear more luminous but can irritate if used too much. Essential oils and fatty acids can help the skin repair itself overnight and make sure it's barrier function is working. If you have dry skin then you should use a serum and a moisturiser.
Anti-wrinkle - you need to choose an anti-oxident rich serum (Vitamin C for example) as these work well at preventing oxidative strain from pollution and UV which also makes them ideal for use in the morning. Peptides will help boost collagen and elastin production and restore firmness to the skin.

A few serums that you may want to look into trying out...

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster - I've done a full review of this which you can read here. I love this and think it suits all skin types. It's water based so good for oily skins but is really rich in vitamin C so fantastic for dry or more mature skins. If you are not sure which one to go for this is the one I'd recommend £47.
Sunday Riley Juno - I haven't tried this but I am desperate to, I've heard nothing but good things about it. Rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 and Vitamin C so this suits dry and mature skins. It's one of the most expensive at £98.
Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate - best for use overnight and actually great for normal to oily skins (my sister loves this one and she has combination skin) though if you have an oily skin you may want to skip moisturising afterwards. Full of plant oils this award winning serum is available in 3 different sizes, the smallest being 2ml (£6) so you can try this before you have to buy the full size of it.£6-£40.50
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Night Repair Sychronized Recovery Complex II - yet another one I haven't-yet-but-want-to-try. For all skin types, a reformulation of an original product that a lot of people swore by, this version has stepped it up a notch. To be used before moisturising at night (obviously) this serum is another multi-award winner. £49
Sisley - I haven't tried any of these serums but I trust Sisley when it comes to skincare and have heard great things about their Black Rose products so worth having a look if you are already a fan or wanting to try something out from their range. From an eye-watering £138

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

I have used a lot of serums in my time, some great, some that make no difference whatsoever but none that have made such a noticeable difference to my skin and in fact my morning routine.

I still find that the majority of my friends barely cleanse and moisturise let alone use the 'added extra's' of toning and serums (they may stretch to an eye cream if they think that's a problem area). And in a way I completely understand, it can take a while to find products that work with your skin and you can spend way too much money on your failed attempts but the right serum used in a good morning and evening skin routine can really make a difference to the look, feel and health of your skin. I'm going to do a whole different post on serums...

What I want from a serum is collagen boosting/mild-anti-ageing, vitamins and moisture. I have dry skin and I'm 31 so although I don't want anything harsh on my skin it does need a bit of help. The only serum that's really made a difference up until now it Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate which is good but has been over-taken in my affection by the Truth Serum Collagen Booster from Ole Henriksen.