This is available at Bath & Unwind.
A few months ago I mentioned Talika Eyelash Conditioning Cream and I’ve finally managed to get some. Over the years I feel like I’ve lost density in my eyelashes and I’m hoping this will boost them. First let me say this is the smallest little plastic jar of beauty cream I’ve ever seen. You can see a picture of it here next to a 2p coin!
I am going to use this for the recommended 28 days twice a day to see if it really does make my lashes grow and look fuller. The cream doesn’t have a particular smell and has a light Vaseline type texture. I will be doing another post in 28 from when I started to see what progress I’ve made so stayed tuned!
Society has been obsessed with youth since time began. Now that we are living longer youthfulness has a longer life span. At age 23 in 14th century Britain you were nearly considered an elder. Now 23 means you get to faff around and ‘find yourself’ on a gap year until you get a real job.
When I was in my twenties I was obsessed with anti-ageing beauty products and cosmetics. I would try any wrinkle reducing cream or potion I could get my hands on. If Retinol, Tretinoin, or any other form Vitamin A was in the latest product I was there like a shot. Throughout my thirties my interest in ‘fighting the signs of ageing’ gradually became less of an obsession and more of a mild interest. I’m going to be 40 in August and I can say hand on heart that I’ve lost all interest in anti-ageing beauty products and here’s why.
There are so many on market now that there is no way to know what works and what doesn’t. The great thing about cosmetics is that there is a lot of choice out there and what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. However the high street cosmetic giants that you find in most Boots stores L’oreal, Olay, and Garnier etc. have a never ending parade of miracle products in magazines and TV ads. They are like the annoying teenagers stood on the street corner who aren’t really doing anything but are enough to twitch a few curtains. I know most cosmetic/beauty brands have anti-ageing ranges, but these offenders need a ‘you aren’t allowed to release a new youth range every five minutes’ anti-social behaviour order.
Olay is by far the worst offender. They used to only have a few products including their classic pink Beauty Fluid which my mum has used for years. But now they have four different types of anti-ageing ranges. Regenerist, Definity, Total Effects, and Anti-wrinkle. Regenerist, Definity and Total Effects have between them 10-15 products in their range. The Anti-wrinkle range has another four different ranges; Nature Fusion age 25+, Aqua Physics age 30+, Classic age 40+, and Provital age 55+. There are four different products in each of those ranges. I’ve lost count now of how many different items they do for anti-ageing alone. Is someone going to tell that all these products do something different? This doesn’t even include the two other lines they do Classic Care and Complete. They are also notorious for the ‘even better’ syndrome. Taking a moisturiser/serum/cleanser that has been around for a whilst giving it new packaging and saying it’s new and improved.
I don’t smoke, have never used sunbeds, and rarely drink alcohol. I’ve always taken good care of my skin and maybe one day I will start using the latest anti-ageing cream but it won’t be Olay and it won’t be before I turn 40. I already love the skin I’m in!
It’s not that often that an entire skincare range can make me feel so disappointed. Normally I can find a few different products that I like and some I don’t, and that’s just the way it is. Biotherm is a division of L’oréal which might explain something.
I was approached by a Biotherm sales person whilst I was looking at another range of skin care products. Looking back I should have told her I wasn’t interested and carried on doing what I was doing. The only problem was she had this little device in her hand and was going to tell me how hydrated my skin was or not as the case may be. Of course I had to find out or else I’d never know! Well I left with a bag full of stuff and much lighter purse. But I was promised moisture and my moisture levels were dangerously low. What like a plant? I also booked an appointment so I could come back in a months time to see if my low hydration levels had improved. Here’s what I bought:
Biosource Biosensitive Soap Free Cleanser – this is the only thing that I’ve managed to use the most of because it’s okayish. Better than a kick in the bum. It’s supposed to help my sensitive skin but it just feels like regular cleanser to me not dissimilar to other L’oréal brand products. Mmm.
Biosource Biosensitive Instant Cool Down Mist – Now what could possibly be wrong with this you say? Well there’s nothing wrong with it but it doesn’t do much. I regularly use toner so I’m not in the ‘what’s the point of toner club’. However this just feels like I’m spraying water on face and then having to wait for it to dry, which then makes my face feel sticky.
Aqausource Biosensitive Dermostabilising Hydrator – Wow what a mouth full! This moisturiser did nothing to relieve my sensitive skin. I think with the combination of the mist and this it just made my skin feel tacky and very unloved.
Source Therapie Superactiv – Now this is a serum to help hydrate and revitalise the skin. Remember as I said before my moisture levels were low. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a total idiot for buying this. Why? Because I can’t stand serums. I’ve used several from other skincare brands as I thought they could do something for me but clearly my skin hates them with a passion. My face felt horrible after I used this. Serums are meant to be used in tandem with your moisturiser and the rest of the ‘regime’ you use on your face. But I think you can have too much of a good (in this case bad) thing. If you see me purchasing another serum ever again please feel free to clobber me over the head with a rolling pin!
Hydra-Detox Bio Defensive Mask – This is another product promising to add more moisture to my skin. It’s a mask you can sleep in. I tried it a few times and it was alright but I’ve seen better results with a .99p mask from Montagne Jeunesse. I don’t think they even make this mask anymore as I can’t find it on their website. Maybe even they thought it was rubbish too!
I never went back to find out how much more hydrated my skin was but I learned several lessons; don’t be pressured into buying an entire skincare line you’ve never used, always take samples home before you commit, don’t buy stuff that isn’t in cute packaging, and never ever under any circumstances buy any more serums!
