Facetheory Skincare: Cleansers and moisturiser review

I did a Facetheory skincare haul back in January. 

Having picked up a few products in the sales and have been trialling them since then.

I kept it simple and picked up 3 items. 
2 cleansers and a moisturiser.
Things that I knew I could test throughly and really see results with.

Gentle Skin Cleanser C1 (signature)
Containing avocado, coconut, silk and apricot.
This is targeted towards dry and combination skin- which fits my skin perfectly atm.

This is my favourite cleanser out of the two I bought. I really like how moisturised my face feels post cleanser.
It's very gentle yet oh so effective. It has just the right amount of creaminess and glides on over the face easily. 

You need a pump and half maximum for face and neck coverage so it lasts a long while.
I found the signature cleanser very easy to remove and it didn't leave any residue.
 I have also been leaving this on my face as a mask for about 5-10 mins whilst I potter about and it leaves my face hydrated and silky.
I really do see a subtle glow every time I use it.-Bonus!

Glycolic Exfoliating Cleanser (E1) 

Has natural micro pumice stones. 
As well as glycerin, glycolic and salicylic acid.
This means that the cleanser helps to keep skin moisturised as glycerin is a humectant but works 2 fold as a chemical exfoliator and a physical one.

I reach for this cleanser less than the other as the formula is a lot more runny.
I prefer a slightly thicker consistency but I have tried mixing the 2 together for a more substantial consistency.
Which works, so when I buy my next batch, I will mix the leftovers into one container.

I do however like the ingredients and how they make my skin look when I do use it.
My skin feels fresh, bright and soft.
This leaves a really even surface to work with and was a great help when testing out the Madam LA LA bronzer in my February blogger beauty box.
I have found that my skin responds particularly well to bark extract after testing out the Madara  clarifying toner and a few other products, So the willow bark in this formulation is a bonus.

The pumice stones are not abrasive and don't leave my face feeling sensitive or scarred. 
They are used sparingly which I like.
This is also a great gentle exfoliator for hands and feet!

Moisturiser for Oily Skin M3

Packed full of hyaluronic acid, vitamins E & C and passion fruit extract.

I really, really, really like this moisturiser!

I actually have combination skin but this is so nice.

It has a whipped quality, which works well with my skin.

From the moment I tested it , I liked it. 

It works well as a day and night cream and really helps to keep the cold weather from battering my skin.

I am experiencing light dryness on my cheeks and chin atm as explained in my Pampering and treatments: Facials- 7 things you need to know post,
 atm so having a moisturiser that is rich and nourishing but doesn't make my face greasy as heck is important.

It is very hydrating yet absorbs to a dewy matte finish.

This is just perfection!
One pump or even half a pump is enough to moisturise my face and neck. 
I also use this a hand moisturiser and find it to be excellent also.
This is a must have in my next order.

Overall I am soooo expressed with the quality and can't wait to stock up.
Being able to customise with natural fragrance. 
As well as having skincare questionnaire to offer you solutions specifically for your skin type really appeals to me.
I am also looking forward to seeing if they bring out any new releases to add to the range.
I think a serum and eyecream would be a great edition.

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

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

Facetheory Skincare haul

So if you haven't heard about the natural UK personalised skincare brand Facetheory, likelihood is you have been doing a good job of living under a rock!

I came across Facetheory early last year when there was considerable hype surrounding the brand.

Especially in the bloggersphere! 

As with most bloggers I have a long and extensive list of products I really like the look of and want to try and  Facetheory was one of them.

 I didn't order straight away as I wanted to see how the company progressed and see reviews from a variety of bloggers. 

As a blogger I think it's important to be aware of what is out there/ cutting edge but I also think it is just as  important not to jump on the bandwagon and keep your content authentic.

Which is why I waited for the hype to settle a little bit.

I really like their simple message and the fact that they use natural ingredients (check out my finding natural skincare post), are paraben free, against animal testing and another of their usp's being that they have a questionnaire to ensure your skincare is catered to you. 

Of course you don't have to stick to their results, if you think something would be better suited.

However it steers you in the right direction and gives you a place to start.

Facetheory also often have pretty good discounts, which is just dandy for a savvy shopper like me!

And so after that intro lets get into the actual haul.

I picked up 3 items and with a 40% discount code all 3 came to under £20!

Can't beat it.

Gentle Skin Cleanser C1
Containing avocado, coconut, silk and apricot.

Glycolic Exfoliating Cleanser (E1) 
Has natural micro pumice stones. As well as  glycolic and salicylic acid.

Moisturiser for Oily Skin M3

Packed full of hyaluronic acid, vitamins E & C and passionfruit extract.

I have just started using these and I have to say the signature cleanser and supergel moisturiser are standing out to me so far.

The moisturisers texture surprised me as I expected it to be more of a gel like consistency but having tested it I like it a lot and I also think it would make a really nourishing hand cream.

 I noticed after using it on my hands it didn't deteriorate or change after washing my hands a few times.

Obviously that is my first impression and I will be doing a proper trial. 

So far I like the quality of the products and as I know my skin thrives on natural oils etc I am excited to get started.

Have you tried Facetheory?

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

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

Natural skincare: MADARA Clarifying Toner Review*

As you know I have been dabbling with natural skincare brands,
see my finding natural and organic skincare brands haul and have really enjoyed discovering effective new products.
I have had my eye on the Madara Clarify Toner* for a while and couldn't wait test it out.

Madara is a Latvian natural cosmetics brand using the forests and certified organic farms in the Baltic area to create unique formulas. 
They are organic, vegan, nut free, gluten free and ECOCERT certified.

The first thing I noticed apart from the lovely packaging was the scent.
It smells like an autumnal cocktail. Somewhere between sweet elderflower and spicy figs.
 I really like the fact this toner leaves my face matte as opposed to dry and there is a marked difference
in the two feelings!
My skin feels refreshed, smooth and supple and most importantly moisturised.

As I have combination skin it is great to find, a non abrasive exfoliant toner that balances
the skin and gives me an even surface to apply my serum to.

The Madara Clarifying Toner* is made up of a few natural ingredients such as Northern oak bark, Rose water and sweet flag which have been formulated to clarify, minimise pores and exfoliate the skin.
I was a little apprehensive about it having a naturally derived alcohol on my face but it hasn't been stripping at all and I have not had any stinging which is great.
In fact it is very gentle and soothing.

I have been using the toner for just over 4 weeks and think it a really nice toner for normal/ combination skin.
The main areas it has targeted for me is clarifying and pores.
 My blemishes were reduced and my overall skin looks clearer and a little more glowy.
Along with using my Alba Botanica products which I reviewed.  I have seen further improvement
to the small area of visible pores.
They are constantly tight and hydrated which helps to minimise their visibility.
They are definitely a great combination.

I experienced really good results on how my skin looked overall.
I still have the occasional blemish but I love the results.
Autumn onwards can be very harsh on the skin and some toners are very stripping,
 however the clarifying ingredients in this really help to balance the skin.
I have really enjoyed using this toner and can't wait to see further results.
I would definitely buy this in future, as it is so mild and nourishing.

*Lucyrose kindly sent me this product to review. However all views expressed are my own.
 Please see the  Ms. Wednesdays Girl disclaimer in full here.


Until next time..................

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

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

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  

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  

Skincare: Finding natural and organic brands

So by now I am sure you know I like a good bit of natural and organic skincare. 

You can see my D.I.Y's on how to make Coconut oil and making Shea butter whip.

Over the last few weeks, I have been looking into a few natural and organic brands that can
 be sourced in the UK at an affordable price
 and came across Lucy Rose The Online Organic Beauty Boutique. 

After seeing a good variety of products I could work my way through. 
I signed up to Lucy Rose and received a 10% joining discount. 

Then chose 5 skincare products and 1 haircare product as a starter testing pack. 

These have been on my beauty list for a while and what better way to delve 
into natural skincare brands while ticking products off my endless beauty list?

 So here are the items I picked up.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser 237ml £6.56

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Mask 85g £6.56

  

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Toner 251ml £6.56

Balm Balm Frankincense DeepCleansing Balm 30ml £7.19

Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treatment Shampoo 60ml  £2.24

Marilou Bio Cleansing Gel 75ml  £2.88

(PLEASE NOTE: The prices above are after my 10% was deducted)

I also picked out 5 samples to try.

Sample Sachet Green PeopleClarifying Vitamin Conditioner 5ml

Sample Sachet Green PeopleHydrating Firming Serum 2ml

Sample Sachet Dr Bronner's Organic Peppermint CastileLiquid Soap 2ml 

Sample Sachet Jason OrganicVitamin E Creme 25,000 IU - 5g

Sample Sachet Jason C-EffectsCrème 3ml 

Postage and packaging was fuss free, easy and quick.
I am super excited to try out this skincare and will definitely be doing reviews.
So look out for those in future

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

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

D.I.Y: Home made Shea butter whip ( Skin Care edition)

Hi Lovers,

So in my Shea butter hair edition post,  I showed you 2 of my fav recipes for hair and now I am going to show you my tried and tested, no muss, no fuss Shea butter bodacious body whip.

This has been my main/ consistent go to body moisturiser for the last year and a half and I LOVE it. Before this I had made it sporadically but now it is everything. You really see a difference in your skin!

It's natural, it's affordable, it's effective and it lasts a long time (2-3 months including daily use).

Shea Butter whip

As seen in my hair care edition , all you need to get started is a clean large mixing bowl and a electric whisk. I use a separate one for food but there are no harmful chemicals associated with Shea butter and once the product is cleaned there is no chance of you getting sick.

Instruments you will need:

Clean large mixing bowl/ container

1x 16oz containers ( another recycled container)

Spoon/ spatula

Electric whisk (I bought a cheapy one from Argos specifically for doing this)es)

Once all the ingredients have been added

Classic Shea butter whip (intense moisturising):

Crumblef Shea butter into your mixing bowl.

Add

2 tbsp Castor oil

1 tbsp Coconut oil

2 tbsp Olive oil

2 tbsp Almond oil

1 tsp Flax oil

1 tbsp Grapeseed oil

3 tbsp of Aloe Vera water

3 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil

1 drop of Lemon Essential Oil

2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil 

2 drops of carrot seed Essential Oil 

2 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil 

3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil  

2 drops of carrot seed Essential Oil 

Combine all ingredients and whisk until smooth. Depending on you personal taste adjust the amount of oil if it seems too oil heavy or you have been a little heavy handed (guilty lol).

The finished product should be light and fluffy with a silky texture that allows it to sink into the skin while sealing moisture in. This is also great for deep moisture and hair repair. Add a heaped tablespoonful to a deep conditioner for those with finer hair / Caucasian hair who can't take or don't like having a bit of weight to the strand, as this may make their hair appear greasy and lank in moisturiser form.

All products were purchased from Naturally Thinking and are of the highest quality which is handy. Be ready to spend a fair bit of moolah because you will want everything .

Final product

I am dying to know about your  go to Shea butter whips?  
So do let me know.

P.S sneaky tip: If you have dry or chapped lips apply some of this after a sugar scrub. Works wonders

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

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