face care

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask {Product Review}

Swathy · January 6, 2012 · 4 Comments

Price:13.50 Pounds (Rs 1200 approx) for 50 ml

Ingredients

Packaging

Everything came wrapped within the Zip pouch

Liz Earle knows the knack of how to make their customers feel special. So, there are no second thoughts about packaging – it is simple, classic and full of utility.

“In a nutshell”

Pros

Gives a beautiful glow to the face as if you have applied a foundation and leaves the face looking dewy and radiant

Cons

The effect stays for a very less time measured in a couple of hours

Wish List

I wish that the effects are more than temporary.

My Experience
I have been using this product since over a month and I have really worked hard to make it work. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. It works for a very less time and that’s all there is to the product. I was thinking it would be path breaking but I would say that the Deep Cleansing Mask is amazing and does more than a cleansing job!!! I have tried using this in the morning everyday and for quick fixes and both times, I observed that the effect was temporary.

It leaves the skin soft and supple and plumped up and if you follow it with the Instant Boost Tonic, your skin will stay moisturized for a long time. And, your skin will look really radiant and dewy as if you have applied a foundation which matches your skin tone so well that it disappears into your skin color. But, this effect is probably an hour to a few hours long. And, that’s all.

When I tried keeping the mask for 2 minutes, the mask was not entirely absorbed and it looked as if the product is wasted than used and it didn’t do any good to my skin. Unlike the advise on the packaging, I keep the mask on for 15-20 minutes and the mask gets absorbed completely into the skin and then, I can wipe off the residue with the muslin cloth provided along with the mask. Keeping the mask for 15-20 minutes ensures that my skin absorbs all the goodness of the mask and it makes my skin hydrated and nourished which I really like.

The mask is creamy and easy to apply and two pumps are enough to cover the neck and face both. You would want to apply a very thin layer of the product so that it is absorbed into the skin properly and easily. Applying more of the product really gives no results and in case of Liz Earle, ‘less is really more’. The only thing I have to say is that I wish it had worked better.

Availability
Online – Liz Earle Website

PS: Product sent by brand for consideration. This review has been written over a course of time so you can find the timeline references. Pin It

Check out other reviews from Liz Earle:
Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint – Beige
Update on Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Pomegranate Saffron Skin Toner {DIY}

Swathy · January 4, 2012 · 9 Comments

So, did you have fun in the guessing game held a day back? The two ingredients were: Saffron and dried Pomegranate peels. As you all know, Pomegranate has emerged as a potent anti-aging ingredient in the recent days. And, as orange peels are extremely rich in juices, similarly pomegranate peels are also valued for pomegranate extracts. So, we shall make the toner which will have anti-aging properties.

Ingredients:

Pomegranate peels (fresh or dried) (I had one Pomegranate peel)
Water
Saffron (optional) (The Saffron I used was also not of good quality)

Method:

Take half liter water and put the pomegranate peels in the water.
Let the water boil and then simmer till 1/4of the original quantity of water is left.
The liquid would be dark golden color by this time. Let the liquid cool.
The liquid would be red color by the time it cools off. Add a tea spoon of saffron strands to the liquid now and dissolve it nicely.
Strain the liquid and store in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator for longer shelf life.

How to use?

Use it as a toner after washing your face.
Mix with face packs and scrubs.
Mix a spray of the liquid with your mositurizer and apply it on your face.
This is something I haven’t tried but you can: Make ice cubes of this liquid and apply it after a long and tiring day. This is something I would do in summers.

Did you try anything with Pomegranate? Pin It

Why do natural products break you out? {Skin Care}

Swathy · January 1, 2012 · 13 Comments

Have you started using a new product which has instantly led to breakouts on the skin? When you start using a new product, it is always advisable to do a patch test so as to know beforehand whether the product is going to suit your skin or not. Let us be frank and say that we often assume that the product is going to work and do not do this patch test. In over-the-counter products, not doing a patch test doesn’t really make a difference because almost all the products contain same ingredients and do not affect the skin adversely. The problem starts when you either use an entirely natural product or a medicated drug prescribed by the dermatologist for anti-aging purposes or for addressing the problem of wrinkles or even acne. These are highly concentrated products. In such cases, a patch test done on the hand may not be effective so it is advised to do the patch test on the skin behind your ear.

Potency of the product and its effect on the Skin

The medicated products have high concentration of chemicals which are useful for the skin but in higher doses, these useful products may well become harmful. For example, retinoids are great for wrinkles but cause photo-sensitivity and can also make the skin sensitive if used too often and at wrong time. So, read the product literature properly and use the products only when advised. Such products are restoratives are usually supposed to be used at night and compliment with other products so that the concentration of the products is not too high. In case of medicated drugs, do not dilute the products. Just use less of the product to make your skin used to the product.

Similarly, if you have a natural products which is made up of original essential oils, your skin may react to the high concentration of EO’s. In such cases, it is always best to go from a lower dose to a higher one. You can dilute the product with other complimentary product and use it on the skin. When your skin gets used to that concentration, you may increase the concentration to a higher level or continue using at the same level if you see benefits.

Acceptance of Product by the Skin

When we keep on changing the products very often on our skin, our skin sometimes becomes really sensitive and stops accepting new products and reacts in the only possible way it can – by breaking out. Thus, if you skin is showing any such behavior, review all the products you have lately used and stick to ones which compliment each other.

Also, if you are trying out a new product, do not change it as soon as it break you out. It might be just a phase of skin where skin is getting used to the change in the product so give your skin a little bit of time to get adjusted and decrease the amount of product you use as I have mentioned in the above case. Test out the product for a month at least before discarding it. Generally, a rest period of two to four weeks is required to determine if your skin is accepting the new product or not. If after that, there is no change, you should definitely discard the product.

And, also remember, consistently changing the product can also cause your skin to become sensitive and unreceptive to the new products you introduce to the skin. So, keep your skin care routine simple and minimal.

Did you face any such problems with any product you have changed?