Elemis

With the Jubilee and the Olympics coming up I'm feeling very proud to be British and what better time to celebrate some of this country's best beauty brands!!

My favourite of the larger British brands has got to be Elemis. Their products are incredibly effective and they have a great ethos too.

Over the years, some Elemis products have become my beauty must-haves and I thought I would share a few of my favourites with you now.

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream: This is one of their best-sellers and is ultra moisturising and highly effective at fighting wrinkles. I love the scent of this cream and the way that it makes my skin look and feel.

Papaya Enzyme Peel: This face mask is one of their all time classics. My husband and I both use this every week or so and it is gorgeous. I find that it is great at reducing scars and making you glow.

Frangipani Monoi Body Oil: I adore this product. When I have time, I use it as an all over body moisturiser. The scent instantly transports me to my honeymoon in Mauritius and my skin is always super-soft for days after. This also makes a great massage-oil, cuticle oil and can even be used as an intense moisturising treatment for your hair. You can take a peek at all of their products here: http://timetospa.co.uk

Olay Total Effects 7 in One touch of MaxFactor Foundation

I've never been one for wearing foundation. I'm probably crazy as the right one can make you look amazing, but I just feel that it clogs my pores and isn't necessary.

However, I recently read a glowing report about Olay Total Effects with a touch of MaxFactor Foundation. I liked the idea that it was a moisturiser/foundation which was really good for your skin and not too heavy. It also contained that all important SPF which really is vital for maintaining young and healthy skin.

I have worn it a few times now and find that a little goes quite a long way. When applied, the skin instantly looks fresh and glowing. The coverage is light and the skin feels good. The only down side is that it doesn't make a very good base for makeup. I've found that my bronzer really clings to this product and looks blotchy.

This is a great moisturiser for creating a natural look with added protection, but be careful to apply a primer with it if you want your makeup to look good too.

serums

Women have been following the beauty mantra “cleanse tone and moisturise” for years and years. The thing is that these days there are so many new products out there that the list should be a lot longer. Something along the lines of “Cleanse, wipe off cleanser with a hot cloth, exfoliate, tone, apply serum, apply eye-cream, moisturise” would just about sum it up.

Now of course there are those women who swear by soap and water and still manage to look pretty good, but being a bit of a product junkie, I love trying out all the latest lotions and potions, particularly if they promise to rid me of wrinkles and make me glow.

I’ve been testing out a variety of serums in the last few months. To be honest until recently I didn’t really get what a serum was all about but have since learnt that they are great for locking in moisture, many are anti-ageing and the good ones can make the face glow with radiance. Many serums contain exciting ingredients that promise to work wonders and the main difference between a serum and a moisturiser is that they work their magic at much deeper level on the skin.

As I said, I’ve spent the last couple of months trying out a few serums and one in particular has made such a difference that I’ve been getting quite a few comments that my skin looks good. (More about that in a bit)

Here are a few serums that I recommend with my marks out of five.


Algenist Concentrated Reconstructing Serum (£72 from Space NK) 4/5

This stuff is expensive but I love it (as does my husband). Algenist the brand was formed by a group of scientists in LA who discovered that alguronic acid (often used in bio-fuels) had amazing anti-ageing properties. This serum is said to reduce deep-set wrinkles by 25%. I found that it made my face glow and was also good at reducing scars.


Nude Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum (£68) 3/5

The thing I love about Nude is that their ingredients are totally natural and I always find their products very effective. This serum is again expensive but it really does make your skin glow. I applied it at night under my night cream and always woke up with bright looking, healthy skin.


Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum (£19.50) 3/5

When this first came out the whole world went crazy for it. Trials had shown that not only did this serum reduce wrinkles dramatically but that it made the skin look really good. I think this is a great cheaper option and is just as effective as many of the more expensive serums on the market.


L’Occitane Extrait Divine (£69) 5/5

This stuff is amazing. I have been using it for the past fortnight and I can honestly say that my skin has never looked better. Yes it smells a bit like tomatoes and is very expensive but if you are looking to treat yourself or someone else then I really do recommend it. I apply it under my moisturiser every morning and evening (a little goes a long way) and have not only noticed a difference in how I look but have found out that my makeup goes on more easily.