Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm review

So my  skin LOVES this stuff! 

The Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm is fast becoming a skin saviour.

When I originally received my natural skincare haul I did think wow that is a tiny pot.

 What was I thinking?

I can hold my hands up and say I was pleasantly surprised.
This balm goes a very long way and after 7/8 weeks of using it at least 3-4 times a week.
I have just about made a dent and I can be heavy handed!

My skin really enjoys creamy cleansers and balms but this is next level.
I am not the biggest fan of frankincense but it is something I can get past with this product.
 I have been using this in conjunction with my Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser which I reviewed here and have really seen a difference in my skin texture and brightness. I still get a few small blemishes but the difference is really great.

The balm helps to ensure the gel cleanser which I think would suit an oil skin type (me occasionally in summer when hayfever hits) perfectly. It doesn't unbalance my skin but works in harmony to allow both to do their jobs and improve/ cleanse my skin.

 I alternate these as my second cleanse and my skin feels utterly stunning and well moisturised.

 There is no excessively oily residue left either as I wipe my face down twice with a warm flannel.

The balm is incredibly smooth and you only need half a finger tip (even that is heavy handed once you become comfortable with the product) to cover your whole face where it liquefies. Massaging it in and letting it sit for a minute ensures all debris is removed and you skin is infused with moisture.

I wish this came slightly bigger as it is only 30ml but compared to other 

balms that aren't natural or of a better quality it is affordable.

 If you like or can over look the heavy frankincense aroma this is a great natural product to try. 

The packaging is nice with an apothecary vibe and would be great as a reusable container after the product is finished.

The balm feels really luxurious and as it is 100% organic. I will definitely be buying this again.
All the ingredients (Shea butter, Beeswax, Sunflower, Jojoba, Calendula, Frankincense and Grapefruit ) used have a purpose e.g soothing, removing impurities, smoothing, healing or rejuvenating. 

You can see the formulation has been well thought out for maximum results. Each use feels like a soothing mini pamper session. Result! 

About Balm Balm: This is a family run company, that use all natural and organic ingredients in their products. They are also against animal testing and strive to be as green as they can. Click here to find out more.

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

AW15 Jewellery: what I'm wearing

Autumn is fast becoming my favourite time of year.

Being in London the weather is always unpredictable but Autumn especially brings such varied weather you never know what you will be wearing from one day to the next.

So Jewellery is such a great way to jazz up any outfit, boost my mood and shop my collection.

I have really been inspired of late to shop my wardrobe/ jewellery box and have been loving these pieces.
All of these are pretty old and are a mixture of vintage, eBay,Asos and Primark.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces so far

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Alba Botanica: Hawaiian facial range review

Hi Guys, 

I am back to review my 3 picks from the Alba Botanica Hawaiian facial range.
which you would have seen in my
Finding natural and organic skincare brands post .

Bit about Alba: Their products are made from 100% vegetarian ingredients.
They do not test on animals, use artificial colours, add synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate or sodium myreth sulfates.
On top of all that goodness, their bottles are made from 100% recyclable materials!

"We make natural, 100% vegetarian personal care products that do beautiful for you and your friends: people, animals + earth. This means we DON'T use parabens, sulfates, or phthalates." read more here

I have to say the stand out product for me is the Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Mask 85g  , which I started using 3 days after incorporating the Alba range into my routine. My skin feels smoother, the small area of visible pores on my inner cheeks looks smaller and less obvious if my skin is dehydrated. A big bonus is that my skin is brighter too.

 Papaya is well known for it's healing and youthful skin boosting properties and I am super happy to have this mask in my arsenal. I did experience mild stinging the first time I used it. I used the cleanser to cleanse my face and applied the mask about 6 minutes later and I think that is what caused the stinging the first time. Since then I have used the mask weekly whilst using a balm cleanser first and had no issues. Just to make sure my skin wasn't reacting badly to the product without the balm cleanser, I repeated the first routine again and I didn't experience that same level of stinging just a mild prickle for approx 8 seconds then it was fine.  

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser 237ml  I like this gel cleanser formulation but it can be slightly drying and astringent if I use too much. As I said in my Summer skincare haul I am usually combination/ normal but during summer I felt like my hayfever made my skin feel more oily-oddly so I think this would be great for summer cleansing. I also think those with oilier skin would benefit from this cleanser. 

The first time I used this cleanser my face felt super clean, refreshed and a little dry. However a pesky little spot that had come up on my chin had all but disappeared the next morning. I have definitely had to experiment to make sure I am making the product work well for me. I have found that less than a 1/3rd of a pump is more than enough to cleanse my face each time. I use a flannel and rinse my face twice as this cleanser doesn't come off straight away. A good test is to finish your cleanse and wipe your face off with your flannel/ muslin cloth and then wet your finger tips and rub your cheeks in a circular motion to see if there is any lathering. I also use a balm cleanser (review coming soon) 3-4 times a week to ensure that my skin doesn't get super dry and remains balanced.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Toner 251ml  for me this isn't a everyday toner, although it is cooling and does calm any blemishes I may have. I do think this is a little too astringent to be an full face everyday toner. Especially as it is getting colder, I think this could be too drying for me so I have been using it every few days  and apply it with a cotton swab to any blemishes in between. I have noticed that my skin and complexion seem brighter and a little more even, which this toner promotes with hibiscus. I think this is another great one for those with predominantly oily skin or if you want something with a bit more ommphff in summer.

 I do think all three products have made some difference to the smoothness and appearance of my skin but I have had to adapt these to myself to ensure the all natural ingredients are giving me the best performance. I will definitely continue to use them with other products and definitely want to try out a few other products from their range.

As a woman of colour it is extremely important to find products that help to brighten and rejuvenate skin as darker skin is prone to hyper pigmentation and scarring. These products fit that brief perfectly.
As we get older some may become more apparent or take longer to fade so this is great for your skincare stash.
I have noticed a few small areas of hyper pigmentation from blemishes in the last year and these products have really helped with the process of smoothing out my complexion.

It's a thumbs up from me!

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Autumn style: Tartan and plaid scarves

Tartan is such a style staple.
There is something about their deep, crisp and vibrant hues that
especially comes into it's own during autumn.

I came across these gorgeous oversized scarves over a year ago, whilst browsing eBay as I often do.
There was such a variety I immediately purchased 3.
I would usually buy one to do a quality check but I couldn't decide which one I wanted.
So I took a chance and it paid off.

Turns out that the scarf looks a little bigger on the Asian models (go figure) so make sure to pay close attention to measurements.
However they are a really nice size and excellent quality too.
I haven't had any wear or tear plus they aren't too thick or uncomfortable.
which makes them excellent for layering and I am always cozy when I wear these and can wear them as a  shawl wrap.

At £2.50 each for 2 and £1.99 for the third they were such a bargain.
Unfortunately my vendor has been sold out for a while but I did find this vendor who has a similar range at a slightly higher price of £3.99.
eBay seller here

Until next time.......

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum review

I have been using the Simply Pure Hydrating Serum  for over 3 months and I LOVE it.
 I have had a few issues with small dry patches in the last few months which I have been sorting out (pretty much there) and I really like the way this glides and sinks into my skin.
 As I layer this under my moisturiser it does an amazing job at being richly hydrating without feeling heavy. 

My friend who has been using this since its launch in 2012, wept when it was discontinued and now stocks up religiously, swears by it and I am converted also.
This going to be a staple in my skincare regimen as it is giving my skin that extra bit of oomph and has great moisture boosting products packed into that 50 ml bottle.
I have spoken to women in their late 30's who love it and women in their early 20's who have jumped on to serums early who adore it. The feedback is the same , this product is an absolute gem!

The fragrance free, light weight creamy gel texture applies really well and sinks in within seconds.
 I use a pump and a half for my face and neck morning and evening and haven't experienced any stickiness.
I apply it, give my self a quick massage and within 15-30 seconds it has sunk in.
Then apply either my moisturiser for the day or a night treatment at night.
I have been using it in conjunction with Indeed Labs hydraluron™ moisture boosting facial serum  which I mentioned in my Summer skincare haul but I used this serum first independently and I am using the Indeed Labs hydraluron™ moisture boosting facial serum as a intensive treatment rather than a staple everyday serum. So once that finishes I will be using the Simply Pure Hydrating Serum solely, when I am not testing out other serums.

I purchased the Simply Pure Hydrating Serum with the purpose of layering under my moisturiser and wouldn't recommend it to be used solely on its own. In my opinion it is more a case that the serum is there to be used underneath a moisturiser which will then lock in the hydration being helped along by the serum.

I am very impressed with the Simply Pure Hydrating Serum and its very low price point. I actually thought it was on offer at £2.69 but have since seen it reduced and will definitely be going back to stock up!

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays