Monday, 16 July 2012

Simply pure: simply amazing!

Thanks to boots and their decision to discontinue my favourite cleansers, I have been on the look out for a new face cleanser for my poor dehydrated and ageing dry skin. What I am after is  a cleanser which:

  1. cleanses effectively
  2. specially formulated for dehydrated or dry skin
  3. doesn't cost the earth (maximum £6)
  4. visually attractive (nice packaging)
  5. something which has a nice smell or a smell which I won't be bored of half way through the bottle.
I stumbled on the Superdrug ‘Simply Pure Aqua Hydrating Cleansing Gel’ facial cleanser last week end and guess what? I am baffled on how many boxes this ticks already.

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The whole line was designed with sensitive skins in mind and are meant to very kind to your skin. No fragrance or parabens which some find irritate their skin, just kind for you, and as harmless as a feather coming close to your skin, hence the packaging. There are 4 ranges within the line, but more about that later.

When I read the description (see picture below) of the 'aqua hydrating cleansing gel' I felt it was just designed for me. I've already used it for a week now, day and night and I am happy to report that it works: No feeling of dryness, quite hydrating and it does exactly what it says on the tin. So that's 2 boxes ticked right away.



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The price was the aspect which shocked me the most. Usually this would retail at £4.59 but it was at half price. KERCHING. This sounds too good to be true. If I carry on enjoying this product, I won't have any problem repurchasing and it's even cheaper than my beloved discontinued botanics one. Can't go wrong with that!


The packaging is inoffensive, simple, discreet and minimalistic (a bugger to photograph though Winking smile) Will I get bored of the smell? Absolutely no risk of that, the product is fragrance free. So just like that, Superdrug ticked all the criteria boxes. BAM!


Do I love this cleanser? No. I will repurchase this product, without the shadow of doubt. It does everything I ask, it's functional but it doesn't send me to cloud nine. Yes the packaging is inoffensive but omg, how boring. I am drawn to something which reminds me of nature, something green, a leaf, a plant and now all I get is blue. I don't connect with this cleanser. At this point, I hear you scream 'get a grip, who needs to connect with a cleanser, a cleanser is supposed to cleanse your skin, not having a romantic fling with' I know, I know but what can I say, I miss the fresh herby olive oil or honey smell of my boots cleansers, I miss the cream texture (this one is a gel) and I am still grieving their disappearance. This aqua cleanser is like the guy you find at 2.00am when the bar is about to shut, the guy which will do I guess but it's not James Bond.


Have you found the james bond of cleansers?



If I am not mistaken, I *think* that the dehydrated range from simply pure range is still on half price at the moment, but don't delay if you want to try. This would also cater for oily skin, and yes oily skin can also be dehydrated. Even though the whole range is for sensitive skin, they also do a calming range,  combination skin range and oily skin (now the packaging for the oily skin grabs me so much more. I wish I had oilier skin just to be able to buy that)



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If, like me you've been left high and dry by Boots discontinuing your cleanser, one of these might be for you.  Thank you Superdrug Smile
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Sunday, 1 July 2012

£2.50 Moisturising water for your face?

To say that I've been obsessing about my skin a lot lately is an understatement. This had a major impact in the beauty products I've been buying lately and I have definitely been spending more in skincare products rather than in makeup itself. My skin is dry, dehydrated and I feel it has aged a lot in the past two years *sobs* with no sign of decelerating.


For years, the beauty industry has been banging on about the fact that your skincare regime should be 'cleanse, tone, moisturise' but I must confess that I've never been good in the 'toning' department. When I was a teen, I would religiously use a toner and I remember that it felt very satisfying seeing the last bits of dirt on a cotton pad, after I swiped my face (or is swept?) with it. But for the past 8 years, I've found myself skipping the 'toning step' out of my skincare routine. Should have I kept using a toner for the past 8 years? I don't know. My view is that if using a toner had been so crucial, skin care experts and the beauty industry would have made big campaigns about it, campaigns similar to 'you should eat five portions of fruit and veg a day' or 'smoking can kill you'.


I am finding it hard to trust skincare advice online. Most of the articles I stumble on are usually infomercials trying to sell me some products. However I do trust Skincare Care expert Caroline from The Beauty Mouth and when she says it's good for you, then I believe her. For her, using a toner has three basic functions (you can read her article in full here) one of them which I couldn't dismiss any further: 'A good toner helps hydrating your skin. It acts as a humectant - attracting moisture from the air and trapping it in the top layers of the skin'


My skin being very dehydrated, I couldn't carry on with not using a toner any longer. So I went ahead and bought a cheapo toner from Boots. I got home with the 'Boots Vitamin E' toner (£2.54 for 150 ml)


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What they say:
Boots Vitamin E Hydrating toner gently and effectively removes makeup and excess oils to leave the skin toned and refreshed. Contains Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, to help protect the skin against environmental damage. Naturally derived Wheatgerm Oil conditions, moisturises and nourishes the skin.

The fact that it contains vitamin E is making me very happy. Vitamin E (together with vitamins A and C) has been hailed as a very good anti ageing ingredient and anti ageing, together with addressing the dehydration of my skin have become my skincare/beauty priorities.


Does this toner work then? Not only does it work but I could kick myself for not having tried it any sooner. While people would usually apply their toner on a cotton pad to then sweep over their face, I like to pour a little bit into my hand (the stuff is so inexpensive, I can afford to) and then pat it onto my face. I don't know how it does it, but my skin feels like I've applied a moisturising water over it. It's not like I've applied a proper bona fide moisturiser - obviously - but my skin feels magically already a bit smoother and softer, even before I apply my moisturiser. For me, it's mind blowing and the lovely delicate fresh smell adds to the pleasure of the experience. Call me sad, I actually look forward to the toner step in the morning and evening.


Will I repurchase this? The question doesn't even need asking. I need ample supplies of this, before Boots goes off on one and decide to discontinue it. As luck would have it, my local shop never seems to have any but this is what the website is for, right?


Let's face it: Skipping a toner would never be as dangerous as skipping brushing your teeth, time in the morning is precious and toning your skin is not vital. You'd knowit if it were absolutely crucial. But if your skin is dehydrated, it is a step you might want to consider. It will cost you £2.54 if wanted to take the risk to find out :)


what: Boots Vitamin E toner
where: erm, Boots, innit
how much: £2.54. Special offer (Buy 2 for £4)
further reading: Toner: The basics (Beauty Mouth)
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