An Experiment in Dermalogica & Other Beauty-full Things...

An E-Mail - WITH some Prices!!!

2010-02-16T11:48:00.003Z

Just got this through from Jersey Beauty Company who, as I explained in the previous post, have just changed their website in line with new terms and conditions from Dermalogica which stipulate, that they cannot show their prices anywhere but in the cart. So how delighted am I to check this e-mail out and see exactly what I can be saving on my fave Dermalogica Products.

So I thought I'd do a bit of price comparison on these prices shown and see how we get on. I searched for "Dermalogica" in Google and looked at the first few sites that came up

250ml Cleansers (Special Cleansing gel, Ultra Calming Cleanser, Dermal Clay Cleanser and Essential Cleansing Solution all priced at the same price point)

Jersey Beauty Company - £15.98
Beauty Flash - £17.99
Pure Beauty - £17.30
Donna Maisy - £16.90

Daily Microfoliant
Jersey Beauty Company - £23.60
Beauty Flash - £27.75
Pure Beauty - £24.00
Donna Maisy - £25.50

MultiVitamin Power Firm for Eyes & Lips
Jersey Beauty Company - £21.98
Beauty Flash - £22.99
Pure Beauty - £24.35
Donna Maisy - £23.80

Skin Smoothing Cream 50ml
Jersey Beauty Company - £18.98
Beauty Flash - £22.00
Pure Beauty - £20.75
Donna Maisy - £20.30

So, for me that's pretty conclusive! Jersey Beauty Company win hands down!!!

A New site - But with no prices? What the...?!

2010-02-16T11:27:00.004Z

My favourite Dermalogica purveyors, Jersey Beauty Company launched their new-look site yesterday with some confusing elements...

The site looks great, nice, clean, crisp design, but where you would expect to find the prices you have nothing but a direction to see the prices in the cart. How odd I thought, until I had a look round at the other big Dermalogica site Beauty Flash and what should I find but the same strange thing!

Apparently for some unknown reason Dermalogica's new trading terms with these sites is such that they cannot show their prices other than in the shopping cart. This adds a little to the irritation of browsing and seeing if you are getting a good deal. Rather than view the prices where you normally would do, you now have to add the product and then delete if you then choose not to buy. How odd? Even though deleting an item is not too much of a strain and is easy enough to do within the cart, as a seasoned bargain hunter this has thrown me somewhat of a curve ball. I like to see RRP's annihilated and a big fat group of numbers declaring how much I am saving - but alas with online Dermalogica purchasing this delicious luxury is no more... Boooo!

I am a little confused about Dermalogica's reasoning with this one - won't they be shooting themselves in the foot? Won't it put some buyers off? It's not as if they sell from their website and are trying to push traffic their way - they literally just seem to be making it more difficult for buyers and surely for the online shops too?

I understand that Dermalogica are a premium brand wanting to keep a premium profile - but I just can't get my head round the reasons behind this odd bit of their trading terms. It's not going to out me off buying, but will cause me a bit more hassle trying to figure out whether i am getting the best deal...

Did someone say FREEEEE?!

2010-02-09T15:31:00.004Z

Right now, pretty much alover the place online and also at Jersey Beauty Company, there are some FREE Age Smart Cubes on offer. At Jersey Beauty Company you have to spend £60 or more and they will send you one of these beauties. Now that's a lot of money to spend on Dermalogica - but i guess if you're out of a combination of cleanser, toner and moisturiser or even that you're running down - now might be a good time to bulk buy! Demalogica stuff is not the cheapest range (My motto in life has always been that you often have to pay for quality - and here I am much poorer for that fact!) so it could soon add up to you being sent something extra in with your products!!!

The Age Smart Cube contains the following:

Multivitamin Hand
and Nail Treatment -15ml 

Multivitamin Power
Firm - 5ml 

Multivitamin
Thermafoliant - 15ml

I LOVE Dermalogica's Multivitamin Thermafoliant which i use to polish my skin to a buffed shine, 3 times a week. For me it would be well worth getting it just for that - but I have also used Multivitamin Power Firm for eye and lips and although I have not tried it myself yet, have heard good reports about the hand and nail cream, which has just been rebranded as fully part of the Age Smart Range. (So no excuse for not erasing those tell-tale ageing signs on your hands now!)

Since the products inside are all good. (This isn't one of those gifts that you'd half use and the rest would sit gathering dust on a shelf somewhere!) I actually think that this is a pretty neat gift and well worth stocking up in order to try and get. One word of warning though - no doubt these things wherever you try and get one will be limited stock, so you'd better hurry to your stockist quickly and try and bag yourself this little bargain! It is worth noting that just about every site is offering them for different amounts and the one at Jersey Beauty Company seems to be a low one. Good luck in bagging one!

Money off EVERYTHING?!!!!

2010-01-18T09:13:00.005Z

I just got this latest e-mail through from Jersey Beauty Company about an offer that they are running during January. It is pretty fantastic as it doesn't designate what you get the discount on - you just have one promotional code to add in at checkout and it knocks money off whatever you want to buy! So head on down to the site before the 31st and grab yourself some Dermalogica bargains!

I am not sure why it doesn't exactly say(!) (don't want to be sued because they're claiming an exact percentage - who knows?!)- but working it out it seems that the discount represents an extra 5% off all your Dermalogica bits and bobs. Since its not that often that you get to have discount on everything - It's a great time to stockpile!

Things I will be looking to get:

Daily Microfoliant @ £24.25
Total Eye care - also @ £24.25
Active Moist 100ml @ £26.07
Special Clearing Booster - also @ £26.07
&
MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque @ £20.88

So, with these discounts you get a better price than you did before the 2.5% VAT hike that happened this January. Every one's a winner so they say!

Just remember to add the code in at checkout and you'll definitely be saving! Happy Shopping, People!

Please Vote for our short film!

2010-01-05T09:54:00.000Z

My Dermalogica Prescription from Christine Lesley Beauty, Oxton

2009-12-22T09:26:00.005Z

So here it is, my face mapped in all its glorious and not so glorious areas. Congestion, "breakout activity"(!) and redness are the main three issues to be addressed by the following Dermalogica products:

1. Precleanse - to be used before cleansing twice a day
2. Daily Microfoliant - to be used twice a day
3. Clearing Skin Wash - to be used Twice daily only on areas of breakout activity
4. Multi Active Toner - Twice Daily After Cleansing
5. Clearing Mattifier - In the morning under moisturiser, to help clear congestion
6. Skin Smoothing Cream - Twice Daily After Cleansing & Toning
7. Total Eye Care - in the morning
8. Overnight Clearing Gel - on affected areas at night
9. Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque - Twice a week for soothing, healing & reducing redness
and finally to reduce congestion:
10. Treatment Foundation 1.

Let's hope that they are my ten easy steps to skin health! Watch this space to find out!

My First EVER Facial!

2009-12-21T09:46:00.004Z

Last thursday I had the pleasure of having my first ever Dermalogica Facial at Christine Lesley Beauty in Oxton, Wirral, courtesy of Abigail Segall at Freedom PR. It truly was a treat and here's a little bit about it...

I arrived on a cold dark winter's evening into the warm and sumptuous surroundings of Christine Lesley Beauty, feeling half excited and half nervous. Having never had a facial before I had no idea what to expect. The nerves stemmed from the knowledge that very few people ever see me with my makeup off, and I knew that I was going to have to come out of there "naked" and exposed so to speak!

I filled in a Dermalogica skin questionnaire which took an indepth look at what problems or issues may affect my skin. Having completed that I was ushered upstairs by my therapist, Jan. She explained what she was going to do and then left whilst I got comfortable.

After hopping onto a very comfy treatment bed, Jan started with a deep cleanse, with the help of a bit of steam. The delicious aroma of the products is almost a treatment in itself! But with practised strokes I was smoothed and cleaned (and lymph drained? Huh? What?!) in preparation for my "mapping". This one was not the most pleasant part, but probably the most necessary! I was expecting to feel really bad about my skin as Jan looked at in zones according to Dermalogica's Face Mapping technique, but she was so gentle and subtle that rather than feel embarrassed by the term "Breakout activity" or "comedones", it all felt quite normal and I felt I was in the hand of an expert that had seen it all before! She broke down all the problems I was facing and helped me see more clearly what might be the cause and how I could go about clearing them up!

With exfoliation as one of the keys, she went that route next. As I had not exfoliated in a long while, Jan didn;t want to use anything to harsh or stripping that my skin would react to, but instead she used Daily Microfoliant where I did not have any breakout activity and a chemical-based professional product on my other areas. The professional product made my skin prickle somewhat as warned, but I trusted that it was doing some good underneath!

There were moments of relaxation in amongst the stroking, massaging and preening and Jan disappeared for a while whilst I was under the influence of the exfoliators and the dimmed lighting, warmth and general comfort had me near to slipping off to a !

After the exfoliator had been removed, leaving me with wonderfully new skin, it was time for a bit more indulgence and she brought out the bigs guns in the form of MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque, which was duly spread on like butter over a roasting turkey, and I was left again to cook nicely with the warm soothing wafts of the smell of the masque adding to my relaxation!

The part of most enjoyed though, was the shoulder and neck massage that Jan treated me to as I lay there. Totally delicious! I am a stressed person by nature and it was possibly the most relaxing thing I have ever experienced! As I lay there, I thought, "I could get used to this!"

After the massage (which if I had my way, could have lasted a few more hours...) it was moisturisation time. And then, all too quickly (even though it actually lasted for ovre an hour) it was over and time for me to get my detailed prescription...

Thanks again to Jan at Christine Lesley Beauty for an amazing facial and to Abigail at Freedom.

Also - If you're into Guinot...They have a NEW product out now!

2009-12-15T11:12:00.005Z

I got another e-mail about Jersey Beauty's Guinot and St Tropez site informing me about the VAT increase coming up at the start of January.

Also in the e-mail is a little blurb about a new anti-aging wonder treatment from Guinot. (Time Logic Age Serum)I haven't used their products but if you're into high end stuff I have heard its brilliant. When I say high end - if you click the link to have a look - the cost comes in at £133, which even though saving £36.00 on the RRP - is a little beyond my budget. Although most women would sell their Grandmother to be wrinkle free and Guinot do market their Time Logic Age Serum as a "wonder treatment"(!) I guess I'll just have to stick to Dermalogica and hope that their anti-aging stuff does a good job!

But whether you fancy something that expensive or not, if you're into Guinot or St Tropez you can buy them from Jersey Beauty for really great prices including delivery. But get in there fast to avoid the price hike on 1st January! Happy Shopping!!!

VAT...Groan

2009-12-15T10:19:00.005Z

I just got this e-mail from Jersey Beauty Company -a little helpful reminder that as of the 1st January 2010 (Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!) VAT is going back up to 17.5% after our year-ish(?) 2.5% reprieve with the rate reduced to 15%. This means that everything will have an extra 2.5% slapped on the price tag quicker than you can recover from the hangover of New Year's Eve... Now I won't bore you with my thoughts on how premature I think this is, or my view on contemporary politics which are less than beautiful(!) - I will simply pass on the information..!

So, for anyone interested in buying Dermalogica at really cheap prices before it gets landed with the extra 2.5%, get over to Jersey Beauty Company before the end of the month to avoid the price hikes! Why not stock up on everything before it gets a little more expensive?!

I am hoping that Santa brings me some cold hard cash, so I can get my shopping in before it's too late!

Oh My Gooooodnesssss! I am having a facial!!!

2009-12-15T10:03:00.004Z

HOW EXCITING?

How have I managed to get through 35 years as a girl without ever having a facial???! I am a poor excuse for a girl. I don't wear heels, I don't like shopping, I have never had a facial - only these two large lumps on my chest attest to the truth...!

Well, on thursday I get to pop my facial cherry (did someone mention zits?) with a facial courtesy of Abigail Segall of Freedom PR, who do PR for Dermalogica. She got in touch saying that as Dermalogica is a prescribed range it would be much better that I get some professional advice and a prescription direct from a salon, rather than trying things out willy-nilly(!)

So I am off to Christine Lesley Beauty in Oxton, Wirral on thursday afternoon for a Dermalogica Treatment!

I am ssooooo excited, but also a little apprehensive. Since all my products have been running low and I am a little on the skint side and unable to replace them, my skin has gone into full rebellion mode. I will arrive at a salon with terrible skin! The thing I am most worried about is then having to leave, WITHOUT makeup... (Apart from my husband, nobody has seen me without makeup in years - and even he has conceeded lately that he's sees what I am worried about with my skin - it's got THAT bad!) I know I shouldn't be SO self-conscious, but I do feel genuinely embarrassed by my skin and feel like everyone notices it.

Well, I shall let you know all about my experience after the big day. Thanks again to Abigail at Freedom! Wish me luck!!!

Dermalogica Treatment Foundation :: Review

2009-11-17T09:39:00.005Z

I don’t know about you, but I find the thought of looking for a new base makeup totally overwhelming. Talk about choice anxiety – there’s the ones you’ve seen on TV – the ones that make you look airbrushed, the ones that last while you take your jumper on and off, the ones that cover your wrinkles or cover your spots. And that’s even before you’ve set foot in Boots. Banks of shiny displays give you hundreds of brands and even within the brands you have yet more options.

It makes my head spin.

The worst thing is that you usually have to buy a whole (expensive) tube before trying it out properly on your face, only to find that it’s too light / dark / heavy / thin / powdery / greasy* (*delete as applicable), at which stage it’s a case of throwing the whole thing out and going through the same rigmarole again… I can’t count how many expensive and needless mistakes I have made with foundation.

And, with my skin, I really need something that works. I am very pale, so it’s rare that I go for anything other than the lightest shade. I want something that won’t clog my already horrible pores; I want something that will cover my spots and blemishes well and give me an even tone, but without being too heavy or cloying. I also want something that represents good value. A half decent foundation will be an investment for me, but I don’t want to take out a bank loan!

No wonder when I find something I like, I usually stick to it like glue and then go on hunger strike when they have the audacity to replace it with a new model!

For over 5 years now I have been using a Colour Me Beautiful foundation called Morning light, which promises a flawless and natural finish. I love the smooth and even tone it gives my skin and although the finish is natural it still gives good coverage where I have blemishes.

But when I noticed that Dermalogica have a foundation in their range of products I decided that since I knew I could get hold of some samples (brilliant idea Dermalogica!) I would give this a try once my Morning Light was on its way out.

I chose the colour “1” as this was the lightest. You have the option of five colours, but with 1,2 & 3 coming in a matt and shimmer version. (1 is the matt version, but 1G contains a slight hint of shimmer, same for 2G and 3G)

When I got my samples I thought the colour looked a little dark for me, so I was sure to try it when I wasn’t planning to go anywhere!!!! The texture of the foundation is kind of “whipped” – almost mousse-like, so as with many of Dermalogicas products, a little goes a long way. I like to use my fingers to spread on my foundation as I am paranoid about germs being harboured in a sponge (! Ok, Ok, maybe I am a little bit OCD!) – so I dotted the product on my face then smoothed it over.

As I had been worried that the colour looked a little dark I was very surprised that it magically blended into my skin without leaving any tell tale tide-mark. Dermalogica use natural Iron Oxide colour pigments in order that the colour is all natural. It felt smooth and fresh on my skin, not at all heavy or ‘cakey’. I was pleased with the coverage, which made an ideal base for other makeup. In areas where I needed more it provided that coverage without becoming claggy, but where my skin is clear, the makeup went on sheer.

An other thing I particularly liked was the way that my skin felt moisturized and hydrated by the product and even at the end of the day, there was no flaking or peeling, or pooling of the product in fine lines or creases. The treatment foundation stayed on well all day (but can’t say I took many jumpers on and off !) and I was genuinely pleased with the way my skin felt like it could breathe through the makeup.

Dermalogica’s treatment foundation contains natural moisturisers and vitamins that work to give you healthy skin, rather than simply working to cover up a lack of skin health!

At £20.78 (from Jersey beauty)(RRP: £26.70) it’s about a fiver more than my usual foundation, but I do like the way Dermalogica is all natural and has these ingredients that feel like you’re using another skin care product rather than simply using a makeup.

Get the best by having your products prescribed…

2009-11-17T09:23:00.003Z

This is just a little note to say that although I am trying out lots of different Dermalogica products – as they have not been specifically prescribed for me there is no definitive way of making sure they are the right products for me personally. So, although I may not like the way a product works on my skin, this does not mean that the product won't be perfect for yours! So have a go yourself!!!

Having been contacted by someone from Dermalogica I just wanted to remind you all that the very best way of getting the skin health Dermalogica desires is to go and visit a Dermalogica salon and have a treatment or even a skin mapping analysis, where a trained Dermalogica professional will make sure that the products are targeted to your skin health issues.

You can visit the Dermalogica UK site to find a salon near you.

Review :: Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster

2009-11-10T09:04:00.003Z

Part of Dermalogica’s booster range, their skin renewal booster is a concentrated exfoliating complex designed to chemically clear dead skin cells, break down surface debris leaving the skin’s texture smoothed and improved.

Again, for those unfamiliar with chemical exfoliants, the smooth, fine texture of this lotion may come as a little surprise. The lotion is designed to be spread over cleansed skin as a leave-on layer, which works under your moisturizer or makeup.
Rather than simply scrubbing away dead skin cells like a physical exfoliant may do, (Using ingredients like crushed nut kernels etc) this product uses a “complex of hydroxy acids and soothing plant extracts” in order to do its exfoliating work. What is expected from its use is that surface skin cells are renewed, the skin is less congested and the complexion therefore brighter, smoother and clearer.

When I first used the product, the thing that first struck me was the smell. It is quite strong and not that nice. Along with Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Hibiscus Extract, the all-natural ingredients also list Aloe, Chamomile and Cornflower extracts. My husband and I have just decided after a sniff test that the initial smell seems to have quite an alcoholic kick and an almost Christmassy edge – a little like Brandy Butter or perhaps a boozy Christmas Pud!!! Now, you might just think that this sounds quite delicious and you’d love spreading it all over your face – BUT for me the smell then goes into a sort of licorice note and dare I say it – smells a little like a cheap false tan.

The VERY good thing is that the smell disappears very quickly and for sensitive skins Dermalogica recommends that you mix it in with your usual moisturizer. So, although I am a big one for smell being all-important, since it is usually covered very quickly with something a little more aromatic, I don’t mind too much!

The texture of the thin white lotion is very smooth and silky. A little goes a very long way so the 30ml bottle lasts an age. I have had mine for over 4 months now and using it about 3-4 times a week it is still going strong.

After use, the effects are not necessarily immediate and build over time. But, I do find that by the evening when I remove my makeup, my skin is smoother. In combination with other exfoliating products I have found that over time, my skin is becoming clearer, smoother and brighter.

Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster also contains Retinol (Vitamin A), which has been proven to protect the skin against the damaging and aging effects of UV sunlight. Obviously this is not necessarily a claim that I can comment on until I find myself looking exactly like I do today, 30 years down the line (!), but I do find comfort in the fact that these proven ingredients are included and can only help, rather than hinder against the inevitable tide of UV damage!

To summarise, I wouldn’t say that this is one of my favourite Dermalogica products. The smell is a little off putting despite the fact that it quickly dissipates. I am just not that sure that the effects I have seen are worth the £32.53 price tag (from Jersey Beauty Company – RRP - £41.90) For me I have been far more blown away by something like the Multivitamin Powerfoliant – but perhaps it is simply that I prefer a physical, rather than chemical exfoliant.

For those of you who like a gentle but effective chemical removal of those dulling skin cells, maybe this is for you, but I think I will stick to a good old fashioned polish! I am sure it is brilliant for some people and I can’t say it didn’t work at all, but I think I need a little convincing that it is the perfect route to go for my own skin health.

My Dermalogica Rescue Remedy

2009-10-27T10:07:00.003Z

I don't know if it was hormones, stress, excitement or a little bit of all three, but just before my brother's wedding at the beginning of this month I came out in the most hideous and vicious spots.

Great.

Just what you want and need, especially when you know you're going to be standing up in front of a hundred or so people doing a reading that you feel scared enough about as it is!

What you need right then and there is to be full of confidence and have GREAT skin. But mine was far from great. I would even say it had slipped into the appalling category. I had red raw lumps all round my jawline and spots over my cheeks. About one week before the big day I decided that I had to try and do something about it. I had been a little lax with my skin routine of late, favouring an all-in-one wipe at night rather than the hassle of cleansing. (Hmmm? another reason for my poor skin health maybe?!)

So, I declared war on my zits.

Weapons of choice were -

A daily face masque using Sebum Clearing Masque, which has a concoction of clays & ingredients that pull the excess oils from your skin warding off any other nasties. I found this also had the effect of drying out my spots and the antibacterial action seemed to do wonders too, killing off the evil lurking in my pores...

Added to my daily routine of Precleanse,Daily Microfoliant andSkin Resurfacing cleanser, I topped up on my exfoliation using a wondrous product - Multivitamin Thermafoliant, which acts as a skin polisher and took off any of the dulling layers of skin debris leaving my skin, clearer and fresher. The recommended use for this is about 3 times a week, but I used it every other day and a little bit more in the run up to the day.

But during this time, I was conscious of not wanting to simply strip oils from my skin and leave my skin parched of nutrients and I had some testers of Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque and Multivitamin Power Concentrate which are both (as it says on the label right?) packed full of vitamins and minerals essential for skin health. I started using the concentrate on a morning and night after cleansing and made the executive decision to create my own POWER masque, by mixing the drying Sebum Clearing one with the Power recovery one. I think that Dermalogica need to license this one!

By combining the two, I got the benefits of the antibacterial ingredients whilst feeding my skin for faster healing. I used this every day for three days running up to the wedding.

I was not expecting miracles, but the combination of all these products went a very long way to drying and healing up the spots that I did have, whilst protecting my skin from new breakouts. i was absolutely delighted with the results in such a short time. Although it was a long way from being perfect, my skin was softer, clearer, brighter in about 5 days and I was able to hold my head high at the wedding and feel confident.

Thanks Dermalogica for saving the day!!!!

REVIEW :: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

2009-10-20T09:10:00.002+01:00

Dermalogica's site describes their Daily Microfoliant as a "unique Rice-based enzyme powder (which) microfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves the skin noticeably smoother and brighter." Now I don't know much about "Microfoliation" or "enzymes" but I do know about that general feeling of debris on the skin and the sense that there's something clogging and dulling the skin. This, I know all to well...

So reading about this product made me feel that it had to be one of the answers to my skin problems. My skin can be fairly sensitive and the promise from Dermalogica is that Daily Microfoliant is exactly that - caring enough to be used day in day out without stripping the skin of its necessary moisture and natural oils. I was intrigued by the fact that it came in powder form - that me took me back to the eighties/nineties? (I lose track of time these days!) when I use to used a body shop product which promised an end to my teenage blackheads. This too was a powder filled with scratchy particles which you worked into a gunk and scrubbed hard at your skin... So, when the Microfoliant arrived I expected it to be a bit of an upmarket remake of that old Body Shop one.

But what surprised me when I began using the product was that rather than a whole bunch of insoluble particles designed to physically slough away the skin cells, when I mixed the powder with a little water it became an incredibly soft creamy lather which felt so soft and gentle on my skin that i couldn't quite believe anything could be removed. Rather than the sandpaper feel of any physical exfoliant I had been used to, this was more like being cuddled by a duckling, which although very pleasant left me skeptical as to its effects!

I am big into the power of aroma and once again the natural ingredients that Dermalogica pack into every one of their skin health products are evident in the Daily microfoliant. The seemingly wierd base to the product are Rice Bran and Rice extracts which give the product its distinctive smell. I think it is a very neutral, almost sweet scent that would appeal to men and women alike. For me the scent actually takes me back to childhood and puddings like rice pudding and cremola and with each wash I am swept into a state of nostalgia!

But as ever with Dermalogica, none of the ingredients are there by chance and each one has a role to play. When the powder is mixed with water it releases Papain, (huh?) Salicylic Acid (phew - heard of that one!) and Rice enzymes which all work to clear away dead skin cells, leaving the skin clearer, brighter and prepared for toning and moisturising. The addition of a skin brightening complex of Licorice, Aspergillus and Grapefruit it claims, helps even out skin tone.

What I found when I first used the product was an immediate feeling of freshness on my skin. the product washed away easily rather than leaving any kind of residue and my skin felt really soft and clean. I had been so used to my skin being really dull that this first use made a big difference. My skin immediately looked brighter and clearer. Overall, I may not know or understand all the chemistry involved and all the ingredients, but I love the smell and I love the effect of the product. You can add it into another cleanser to boost brightening, or use it alone for a beautiful, soft, gentle wash. For me it really is gentle enough to use every day and I really feel like it benefits my skin to do so... What's more it lasts AGES! Big thumbs up from me!

I bought my last one from Jersey Beauty Company a little while ago. If you visit their site now, you can get it for £25.15 including delivery. Whatever your skin type, I thoroughly recommend it.

Looking for Cheap Dermalogica? Aren't we all?!

2009-10-20T09:06:00.003+01:00

I am a complete sucker for a bargain - yup - I'm the kind of person who submits my details to all the price comparison sites to get the VERY best deal on my car insurance THEN goes to the cheapest one direct to see if they can better the deal! Often they can't - but the researcher in me is satisfied that I have done everything in my power to save me money! Friends say I should start a business doing this for those people who can't be bothered, but for now I am just happy to tell you what i have found...

So for the passionate beauty fiend in me I am happy to report that I have found a great place to get cheap Dermalogica Beauty products. It's an internet site based in Jersey, meaning they can take advantage of the beneficial tax laws like Play.com do. So here's the link!

JerseyBeautyCompany.co.uk

As with many bargains you have to weigh up the pros and cons of the deal. The customer service is excellent but this isn't the place to go if you need your product tomorrow! As they are shipped from Jersey, it takes about 3-5 ish days to get to you so it's a case of planning ahead for when you're about to run out. Also, if you order more than one thing they sometimes arrive in seperate parcels...To be honest though, for the savings you get from them, it's a small price to pay!

Delivery is included on everything so there's no faffing around to see how much your total will end up and I have done the comparisons (Of course I have!) and they always come out on top!

I am signed up to their e-news which arrives nearly every week and often comes with extra promotional offers. I am totally impressed with their service but most of all, their prices just can't be beaten. Dermalogica are by no means the cheapest of beauty products, but Jersey Beauty Company offer the best deal I have found...for now! Heck - maybe I'll be able to wangle some free for the advertising?!!! Now that's what I would call a bargain!!!

EYE EYE!!! It's not about Dermalogica but it makes the world a whole lot more beautiful!

2009-10-19T11:53:00.004+01:00

This saturday just gone I took the plunge and had my eyes lasered so this picture of Lee and I at my brother's wedding on the 10th of October is now a thing of the past!

Both my husband and I got a really good (£300 off) voucher for Optical Express so we trundled off to their Laser Clinic for a free consultation thinking we wouldn't REALLY get them done... However after a really impressive (but not at all pushy) sales pitch we were both smitten by the idea. To be glasses-free, smear-free, opening-the-oven-misting-up-free - all just seemed too good to resist.

My prescription is lower than Lee's so mine worked out cheaper but even though i could have gone for the lowest price one (from £395 an eye) I plumped for Wavefront technology which deals with all the imperfections in your eyes (rather than correcting them in the same way as a lens) and promises you better vision than through your glasses or lenses! This all came in at £795 an eye, which although very expensive seems worth it to be free of glasses, have free eye care afterwards for life and better eyesight than I could hope for through my glasses! (My husband's came in at £995 an eye due to his higher prescription and we chose to take out a finance option through Optical Express over 2 years at a cost of 5ish%.)

I would love to tell you that the actual procedure was easy peesy, but after waking up on saturday morning with a few butterflies, getting to the clinic and being handed a very scary disclaimer form with all sorts of horrible possibilities outlined, being written down as patient number 13 (! - I am not usually superstitious but...!) then being rushed into the treatment room, by the time I sat on the edge of the treatment bed I was a panicking wreck! It was all so quick!

The whole procedure, although incredibly speedy was all a little petrifying. (In a way I would have liked it to be done slower with a bit more reassurance and explanation) The reality of the fact that they are cutting a flap off the front of your eye with a blade really hit home the moment I laid myself (by choice!!!) on the operating couch - but by then it was all a little too late!! Fist of all they put some anaesthetic drops into your eyes so you don't feel the blade, then they clamp your eye open... Now I have pretty small eyes so to make them big enough, it hurt quite a lot cranking them open! Then they put a suction cup over the eyeball to lift the surface of the eye to a point where they can make the dreaded slice! The suction hurt even more than the clamp! (being honest it probably didn't hurt that much but I was in such a state by this time!) When they suction your eye your vision goes dark for a few scary moments while they tell you to hold very still and a blade passes over your eye (yes really!). Then they release the suction and your vision returns but then the doctor whips off the flap and everything is blurry. Then comes the laser - a few seconds of clicking and whirring whilst you stare into a red dot, the the flap gets replaced and the blur is gone... Rinse and repeat...

Before you know it (literally no more than 5/6 minutes later), after this whirlwind of fear, you are sitting up having had both your eyes sliced, zapped and repositioned!

As I sat up, all the fear and anxiety truly hit me and to my shame I got a bit upset. I think it just hit me that as a healthy individual (albeit who wore glasses for distance) I had just put myself knowingly through a cosmetic procedure that could have permanent negative consequences. As an artist, the idea that I might have just paid to have my eyes screwed up freaked me out and sat on the edge of the bed, surrounded by care staff, I regretted having just done what I had done...What a big baby!

But all's well that ends well, despite the fear that I injected into the very quick operation, the few hours of stinging afterwards, and the embarrassment of wearing some very uncool goggles to bed for a week, here both of us sit with better-than-2020 vision and my artist's eyes are happy to be able to look at the beauty of the world without needing a lense...

Even though I found the whole thing petrifying the end is worth the means and I would definitely recommend it. Just maybe go in knowing exactly what to expect beacuse I think I got freaked out by the fact that it was more scary than I was expecting. Think on my story and it will probably be fine! You'll be wandering what all my fuss was about - I know now, I am!

Dermalogica Christmas Gifts Available

2009-10-19T09:15:00.006+01:00

Anyone looking to start shopping a little early for Christmas pressies might be interested in Dermalogica's three 2009 gifts. Always a sucker for how things look - the packaging is beautiful!!! But, are they the beautiful bargain you're looking for???

First one is a duo pack of two of their Body Therapy Products all wrapped up in one of their beautiful wintery boxes. You get a 237ml Body Hydrating Cream and a 237ml Conditioning Body Wash for £30.18 from Jersey Beauty Company (RRP: £35.50). However(!) if you're going to be a stickler for a bargain as I always am(!) these sizes are pretty much half the size of the standard sizes sold in the body therapy section, but work out as more than half the cost, meaning that gram for gram, you get a better deal when you buy the bigger products and put them in a pretty box yourself!!! (These are using Jersey Beauty'sprices of £25.15 for the 473ml Body Hydrating Cream and £21.98 for the 473ml Conditioning Body Wash. I guess if you only want to spend 30 quid then you have to plump for the box set and of course this would be a very well received gift(!) - but if it's for yourself and you want to get the best value then I'd always plump for the bigger, better value products and not worry so much about the gift box which bumps the price up so vastly!!!

Next one is the Dermalogica Favourites Travel Bag, a lovely flight kit containing all you may need (depending on your skin type?!) for a winter holiday. This one contains 15ml PreCleanse, 13g Daily Microfoliant, 10ml Gentle Cream Exfoliant 10ml and a 7ml Skin Hydrating Booster. Now these may be some of Dermalogica's signature products, but a gift set is only worth it if it offers you the best for your skin, and for me, this just wouldn't work. I'd probably use all of the stuff, but just because it was there but I don't think it would be what my skin needed... Let's face it, I'd probably leave the gentle cream exfoliant at home in favour for my Multivitamin Thermofoliant and swap the Skin Hydrating Booster for a Special Clearing Booster and there would have to be a few more products thrown in there to make it my ultimate travel bag, so for me this would not be the bargain I was looking for...

BUT, saying all that, if you take Jersey Beauty's product prices and divide them up to make them comparable to the sizes offered in the travel bag, the total cost of the products (excluding the bag) comes in at £17.43 - which considering the price of £19.98 (RRP £23.50) makes this, all in all, pretty good value. So, again, if you're buying this as a gift for someone it will offer them a good value introduction into some of Dermalogica's signature products and if you use these products yourself, then its a lovely treat. Just steer clear if some of these products are not your thing or you might end up with an expensive mistake on your hands...

The last gift being offered this year by Dermalogica is a Stress Relief candle in a presentation box. Now, Jersey Beauty Company are not going to be selling this item and when I contacted them about this, they told me that they got some delivered to them, but felt that the candle's were so small that they offered the customer bad value so they took the decision to not sell this gift. The candle is a scented aromatherapy candle and is 85g in weight. Taking into consideration that the candle is wrapped in a heap of glass and that it is all roughly the weight of a Daily Microfoliant, then it must be a pretty small candle! At £5.17 on Beauty Flash (RRP: £5.75) I think this seems pretty expensive! I think I'll stick to what I know on this one and plump for a Yankee , which although always expensive, last for absolutely ages and give a brilliant aroma.

So to summarise - I think the Body Therapy Gift set doesn't present very good value, the Travel kit is pretty good if you use those products and the candle is a waste of time. There we have it, the Dermalogica 2009 gift gospel according to Claire...

New Look Website

2009-10-19T09:09:00.003+01:00

Jersey Beauty Company have changed their site a little to incorporate category sections into the centre column. It's still pretty similar but looks a bit neater and clearer. So maybe next time I'm buying it will be easier to get my hands on the dermalogica product bargains!

Autumnal Dermalogica Offers from Jersey Beauty Company

2009-10-12T09:52:00.006+01:00

There's some great Autumnal offers on some of my favourite Dermalogica products at the moment from Jersey Beauty Company. To get the products shown here at these brilliant prices, you need to enter the promotional code GOLDEN at checkout and it applies the discount. Visit Jersey Beauty for all the offers!

Naughty Naughty Boots!

2009-09-16T13:27:00.004+01:00

It appears that Dermalogica aren't at all happy with everyone's household favourite - 'Boots'! Apparently they have been caught selling Dermalogica products in some of their stores and online even though they are NOT an authorised seller.

Dermalogica's stance is that it does not sell products through purely retail outlets as it makes sure that the people selling can offer really good - 'official' advice about their products.

Click here to read the full article!

So the bottom line is, if you want your Dermalogica products, make sure you're going direct to an authorised seller and by doing that you can guarantee really god advice if and when you should need it.

You can contact Jersey Beauty anytime for advice on your skin or on the Dermalogica range and as they run a salon as well as the shop, you can be sure you are talking to a professional.

Clean Start Low Down

2009-09-16T11:29:00.002+01:00

Dermalogica's new teen range Clean Start has just been launched, but hasn't yet appeared on Jersey Beauty Company's website. I rang them yesterday to see when it is going to arrive with them, but was told that Clean Start is being marketed in a new way. Apparently the new range has to have its own website so they are in the process of designing a new site just for the clean start range and when that is up and running you can get hold of it through them. Until then, if price isn't an issue, you can buy it from Dermalogica direct by either seraching for Clean Start online or clicking here.

I think I might wait a little while and get it cheaper!

FREE is the magic word!

2009-09-15T14:30:00.010+01:00

Jersey Beauty Company are offering a FREE Mini Daily Microfoliant when you buy a 500ml Cleanser. So you can choose from either, Dermal Clay Cleanser,Special Cleansing Gel, Essential Cleansing Solution, or Ultracalming Cleanser.

It's a get one before they run out deal, so get buying!

Aileen's view on some Dermalogica Products

2009-09-15T13:46:00.009+01:00

SKIN SMOOTHING CREAM

I've used this nearly every day as a day cream. My first comment is that the first thing you notice is the smell and it's not that good! It's a bit clinical smelling and reminded me of hair removal cream! However, when you put it on your skin it does feel lovely. It feels really rich like a night cream, but it absorbs very easily into your skin. It felt quite indulgent and proved a good base for make up. I don't tend to have any problems with my skin anyway, but the whole time i've used it my skin has felt nice and no spots or blemishes have developed! Overall I really like it and would definitely consider buying it. The only downside I could find at all with Dermalogica's Skin Smoothing Cream is the smell.

SKIN HYDRATING MASQUE

I only use this about once a week but it's really good. It's really moist on your skin unlike other masques I have used which feel really drying. So it doesn't make your skin feel tight, but really lubricated!!! Again the product felt quite thick and luxurious like my skin had had a really long drink! It was surprisingly very easy to wash off (again unlike some masks that seem to get stuck on your hairline or under your chin!) again I don't tend to have problems with my skin but haven't had any since using it and felt my complexion has been lovely and smooth.

TOTAL EYE CARE

This product felt really nice going on, very creamy, and is slightly tinted so it appears to blend into my skin. However I actually felt that it left a bit of a layer of grease round my eye, which doesn't look that pleasant and doesn't help with the application of makeup afterwards! I have used it for a few weeks now and haven't noticed any difference whatsoever! However, I have tried lots and lots of under eye creams over the years and never feel they make a difference - perhaps I just have very puffy eyes and very dark circles?! When all is said and done this product hasn't convinced me at all that it's worth buying.

and finally ... my favourite ....

RENEWAL LIP COMPLEX

I love it! I have been using it all the time! I really hate dry or cracked lips so always have a lip balm with me, but this one is so super thick and creamy and moist, it really feels gorgeous on your lips and keeps them soft for a long time. I'm actually a bit addicted to it! It says its purpose is to prevent ageing lips but I can't comment on that really, as I think I would have to use it for a much longer time. All I know is that I've just been using it as a lip balm and it is super juicy and I love it. The only 'slight' downside I have found is that it can leave a bit of a greasy residue around your mouth, but that's is probably because I'm using it too much! Other than that it's just perfect ...and i've got what I always want - lovely kissable lips!

Thanks Aileen! x

Review :: Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster

2009-08-31T13:47:00.006+01:00

I have mentioned before that I am one of the unfortunate half of the female adult population that suffer (at one time or another) with acne. At the age of 35 when the lucky ones have only to contend(!) with the appearance of lines and wrinkles, me and many others are still blighted by spots and blemishes that often get much worse around that time of the month. These skin problems can be a real blow to self esteem and can really knock your confidence so it's not a big surprise that there are many acne treatments out there all ready and willing to sell you a promise of clear skin for (of course) the obligatory small (or very large) fee...

Now Dermalogica would fit very clearly into the higher end price bracket and for a long time I have resisted paying out more than a few pounds for my products. BUT, what I found was that nothing ever came close to solving my spot-riddled problems. My whole reason for this Dermalogica experiment was that I had grown weary with promises and the lure of beauty and in Dermalogica I found a new term "Skin Health". Not beauty, not pampering, not "try this and the boys will flock to you", but skin HEALTH. By labeling their skincare with this term, Dermalogica have aligned themselves with the health industry more than with the beauty one and it was this positioning and their claims about what did NOT go into their products that made me want to try them... Apparently many cheap (and expensive) skin care is full of pore blocking ingredients such as lanolin, SD alcohol, mineral oil, artificial colors and fragrances so when it came to creating the Medibac Adult Acne range, Dermalogica made exra sure there was going to be nothing in them to cause extra discomfort.

As part of this range, Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster is a targeted on-the-spot treatment designed to reduce swelling, and fight bacteria within the skin to speed healing time and target the causes of acne too. The idea is to apply regularly every 6-8 hours on the affected area until the breakout clears. What I have tended to do is use morning and night. I haven't yet been desperate enough to set a clock halfway through the night!!!

The creamy white semi-opaque lotion smells as you might expect - in the medicinal end of the spectrum but it falls into the soothing (warm memories of your Mum applying Savlon to a grazed knee) spectrum, rather than the hard-core (cold, stark, white & shiny hospital corridors) end. (Phew!) I really like the smell and the ingredients of tea-tree and sage all help to make this again have an aromatherapeutic edge. The scent is not at all overpowering and after applying any trace soon disappears so you don't have to worry about it lingering around if you're not that keen.

It is a very light lotion that spreads and is absorbed very easily. I tend to use it after cleansing morning and night on areas that are prone to spot development. When I do have a spot I use it topically and I have seen a reduction in the time spots take to heal.

I am not totally sure as yet about whether it actually stops spots from appearing (who can tell?!) I definitely have less spots than I did before starting the experiment - but I haven't got NONE! I do suffer terribly with my skin fluctuating throughout the month so I have good and bad days. Its tempting therefore to use this product twice everyday, but I think perhaps this limits its effectiveness as you just don't see how its working on actual individual breakouts. I am also a terrible picker of spots so I think this in itself does nothing to help!

The quality of my skin (between any zits!) has been radically transformed by all the products I have used in combination, and although Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster is not the magical cure we would all wish it to be, it does definitely help with the length of time taken to heal.Apologies that I do not have a "before" picture to go with this "during" shot! This picture shows my problem areas (the classic adult acne "hormonal" areas of the chin, neck and cheek) and as you can see there are not that many major spots. There are still some darkened patches where areas have yet to fully heal, but all in all, the skin is fairly clear. (For me at least!)

I will keep persevering with this dermalogica treatment and let you know if I continue to see an improvement. What I would really like to see is a levelling out, of my hormonal spot patterns which I have not as yet experienced. Watch this space!

If you're interested in having a try of Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster on your spots you can get it from Jersey Beauty for £27.37.

Happy spot-busting!

Review :: Multivitamin Power Firm

2009-08-17T14:16:00.005+01:00

My Dermalogica product of the week has to go to this little tube of magic!

Part of Dermalogica's Age Smart range, it is the silkiest eye cream I have ever come across - goes on like a dream without pulling or scraping the skin. (due to the protective organic silicones?) I don't even do the "dabbing" thing - I just smooth it on with no worries! You only need to use a teeny tiny amount as it spreads so easily. I use it twice a day as suggested around my eye area only and it has definitely smoothed that area out. My eyes are not massively wrinkled as yet so hopefully this product will keep them that way!!!

It smells sweet and delicious - kind of fruity I guess, but generally fresh and yummy! It's always a delight to put on and never feels too heavy for me even at night. In the past, when using other products at night, I have suffered from puffy eyes in the morning, as if my eyes seem to have reacted to the product. This has never happened with Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm and instead I have seen a reduction in the puffiness. Allergies to anything and everything can make me look puffy and tired even when I am fully stacked up in my sleep and this area of my eyes has really benefited from all that Vitamin packed goodness! (Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm contains Pure Vitamins A, C and E in an anhydrous (waterless) base)

The product can also be used round the mouth, but as I don't have any wrinkles there I don't really bother - maybe I should as a preventative measure but for now I am really happy with the results of Power Firm round my eyes.

The greatness of any cream is really in its long term effects so I will keep you posted as to how this is all working out in a few decades time!!!! Seriously though, I do believe that it is really worth investing in a great eye cream, above many other beauty products and I would thoroughly recommend Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm. My eyes have definitely suffered from not taking as much care as I should have over the years - so my advice is - get something good like Power Firm early and be consistent. Also - if you're allergic to everything like me don't rub your eyes - or you'll get bags and stretched skin like mine!!!

The only downside I can see with the product in this regard, is that it does not contain any sun protection. However, this only causes a problem if none of your other products contain SPF so make sure you pick other products which are light and delicate enough to use around the eye area and contain SPF of at least factor 15. Another thing you could try (recommended by tester Lindy R) is Total Eye care form Dermalogica as this does contain SPF. If you have a favourite that you simply can't give up on but it doesn't have sun protection why not try Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster which can be added into any other product to add SPF30 into it! That should keep you covered!!!

CHEAP DERMALOGICA OFFERS! With Promotional Code! Ends 23rd August!!!

2009-08-17T10:56:00.005+01:00

Better be quick!Jersey Beauty have some amazingly cheap deals on at the moment but you'll have to be quick! I got a reminder e-mail on friday and the deals end this coming Sunday.

They've got:

Daily Microfoliant at £21.73
Intensive Moisture masque at £21.57
Total Eye Care at £21.73
Multivitamin Thermofoliant at £20.87
Tri Active Cleanse at £20.87
Daily Defense Block at £21.73
and
Body hydrating Cream at £21.73

All you need to do is add the code "FAVOUREX" into the section at checkout and you'll pay these lower prices! Good eh?!

Rachel's First Impressions of her Dermalogica Products

2009-08-17T09:50:00.008+01:00

Dearmalogica Active moist

Dermalogica describe their Active Moist as a "lightweight, oil-free lotion for daily moisture protection that actively combats surface dehydration while smoothing the skin's surface with botanical extracts."

Rachel's View:

The product has no scent, feels silky smooth and sinks in beautifully. The skin feels gorgeously smooth after use and feels like it is being effective as soon as you use it.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

Dermalogica describe their Daily Microfoliant as a "unique Rice-based enzyme powder which microfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves the skin noticeably smoother and brighter."

Rachel's View:

The product looks a little like fine chalk, and has a slight chalky smell. The texture is like very fine granules. She particularly loved the soft lather of Daily Microfoliant because she knew that it was polishing her face well but the skin was not getting irritated in any way. Rachel found this great for her skin because she has rosacea and it didn't even aggravate that.

Dermalogica Ultra Calming Cleanser

Dermalogica describe their Ultracalming Cleanser as an "extremely gentle cleansing gel/cream that can either be rinsed off or gently removed with tissue or damp Sponge Cloth." They claim that it "helps combat skin sensitivity caused by exposure to pollution, harsh climate, stress, hormonal imbalance, irritating cosmetic products and other environmental influences."

Rachel's View:
The product is a creamy white lotion with no real smell, which applies so easily over face with water. She uses it all over her face and it doesn't sting even when used on the eye area. Her face felt very clean after the very first use. To sum up - it does exactly what is says on the tin!

Dermalogica Total Eye Care

Dermalogica claim their Total Eye Care is an "advanced alpha-hydroxy eye treatment cream which helps protect and repair the delicate eye area while reducing the appearance of dark circles and lines."

Rachel's View:

The appearance of the cream took her back a little and reminded her of the colour of germoline. The product had only a slight, light smell, and only a very small amount was needed to cover the eye area. On the first application, Rachel found that she had used too much as she used it all round the eye and it took quite a while to sink in and stung a bit. For her she has found that the product works best using a very small amount applied only to the bottom of the eye.

These are Rachel's first impressions and she will give a more detailed view of each of her products after she has used them for a longer time.

Thanks Rach! x

You can get Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant for £24.98, Total Eye Care for £25.15, Ultra-calming Cleanser for £29.85 (500ml) and Active Moist for £27.25 (100ml) from Jersey Beauty Company.

A View on Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant from Hannah

2009-08-10T16:09:00.006+01:00

By Hannah D

Hannah had a somewhat similar experience to me when I first discovered chemical exfoliants. When she first used Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant she didn't think it was actually an exfoliant as it doesn't contain any of the usual gritty-feeling particles. She found the texture unusual and a little odd on her skin, not rough, but not quite smooth either. She also found it a little hard to rinse off with the product although creamy, feeling a but "clay-like", which wasn't all that pleasant and seemed to leave a film on top of the skin.

So for Hannah the Gentle Cream Exfoliant didn't quite feel like it was doing its job.
Rather than the usual gritty additions, Gentle Cream Exfoliant uses a combination of Lactic and Salicylic acids to slough off dead skin cells and for Hannah this product didn't seem to give the promised "dramatic improvement to skin texture".

After using the product for a few weeks she came to the conclusion that the notion of a totally 'gentle' exfoliant wasn't for her as she wasn't happy with how her skin felt afterwards, and found that she had more spots and blemishes than before she began using it. She did concede that her skin felt smoother in places, but she also felt that although Dermalogica promise none of their products use anything that clogs the pores, her skin seemed more congested in some areas than before. Overall she concluded that she just didn't think it agreed with her skin type.

With any skin-care product, there is no one size fits all. If you have had a posotive experience using Gentle Cream exfoliant I would love to hear how it worked for you. I haven't tried it myself and having used Daily Microfoliant and Multivitamin Thermofoliant I have found these as a great combination of both chemical and physical exfoliants. There are 6 exfoliating products in dermalogica's stable so I am sure there is something in there for everyone. If you want to have a go at any of them, Jersey Beauty are really great with samples (I get a collection with every order!) so why not contact them and ask for a bunch and then chose the one you like!

Lindy's View on Total Eye Care with SPF15

2009-08-10T15:40:00.004+01:00

By Lindy R

Dermalogica Total Eye care SPF15 was thicker than she was expecting and than other eye creams Lindy had used in the past. Her first impression was that this strange looking salmon coloured cream was going to be quite substantial and Lindy was a little concerned that it may be a little heavy.

Total Eye Care is much like any other eye cream in that you are directed to apply it under the eyes once or twice a day and pat into the skin from the outer corner in. As the cream was "substantial" you only need a teeny-tiny amount, which absorbs pretty quickly despite the initial view of its thickness.

After application Lindy found that her eye area immediately felt smoothed and moisturised and the "optical light diffusers" definitely helped to diminish the look of dark circles. (Mum's everywhere know how it is Lindy! x)

Even though Lindy has enjoyed the eye cream she has found it hard to tell if there has been any significant difference to the eye area over the past few weeks. (That comes with being so gorgeous already Mrs R!) However, she really thinks Dermalogica's Total Eye Care does make a definite immediate difference and the psychological benefits of knowing you're using a good quality eye cream has done wonders for Lindy's belief in the product and its benefits!!! (Thanks for your honesty Lindy!)

Having said this, she definitely feels like she is doing the right thing by using eye cream and she particularly likes the light diffusers. All these good things do encourage Lindy to put the eye cream on in the morning under my make up, which is good as it has SPF 15 in it, so will also benefit her during the day and protect her from any further sun damage.

The only warning from Lindy because the cream is fairly thick is to go easy and only use a tiny amount AND (thanks to the Health & Safety officer in Lindy for this one! - does this come from experience?!) DON'T get it IN your eyes!!

Thanks very much to Lindy for her frank opinions of these Dermalogica products. If you would like to try Total Eye Care SPF15 you can get it from Jersey Beauty for £25.15 or obviously you can get it from salons.

Lindy's View on Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment

2009-08-10T09:28:00.005+01:00

By Lindy R:

Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and nail Treatment is a Silky light pearl coloured mousturiser that smells vaguely reminicent of a summer holiday. The scent is light & not overpowering, faintly sun cream-ish. To sum it up she thought "creamy citrus" might cover it! Lindy loved the smell and felt it was thoroughly feel-good.

The treatment is to be massaged into hands at least once a day. Although Lindy is usually quite impatient with massaging in hand cream and ends up wiping half of it off on the nearest towel, this one does need a quick rub in, but then it's quite non-greasy and doesn't leave a residue so you can get on with your life!

The product had a "lighter" texture than I was expecting but seems to mousturise really well without being thick, which she liked. Dermalogica's hand treatment left her skin feeling really lovely and soft and Lindy said she could feel the difference for hours afterwards.

After continued use Lindy feels that it has made an improvement to the condition of the skin on her hands. She was suffering from dry skin between her fingers from excessive housework since becoming a mum(!) and Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand & Nail Treatment seems to have really helped with this. Her hands are much softer and less dry and chapped.

Overall Lindy loved the nice smell and non-greasiness which really motivate her to use it, which is one of the problems she has encountered before... She was always too busy to stop and be bothered putting hand cream on. But it feels like a small luxury as she's whizzing through her day and her hands look and feel better for it. She was also thoroughly impressed by the long list of things that go into it! (Pro vitamin B5, Algae Extract, Licorice Extract, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Ginkgo Biloba, Grape Seed, Vitamin E)

The only claim that she is unsure of yet having only used the product for a couple of weeks is that it says on the back that it can help to reduce splitting and peeling of nails, but she hasn't noticed much improvement in this as yet. So for one aspect the jury is still out!

So it's a thumbs up for Dermalogica's Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment from Lindy, who has seen some real improvements in only a few weeks!

If you're interested in trying Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment you can get it from your nearest Dermalogica salon or if you want to get cheap dermalogica you can get it from Jersey Beauty for £13.75 (75ml)

Antioxidant Hydramist - Deliciousness in a spray...

2009-08-03T12:23:00.006+01:00

My definition of a toner started and ended with alcohol. Spots are caused by too much oil right? No oil = no spots - right??? Ergo - to rid myself of Oily skin and spots I simply had to strip my skin of all that excess oil with something that smells like it'd be good mixed with orange juice... So the few times I tried a toner I went straight to the "Teen/problem skin" ranges and invariably came back with something which resembled nail varnish remover and practically evaporated on contact with air. Somehow, in my brain I had linked this stripping action with the cure for all my skin ills. Desperate as I have been, I have put all sorts on my skin to try and combat my spots and soak up the grease - I really have dabbed nail varnish remover, perfume & toothpaste on my angry blemishes - only to infuriate them further!

Now, apparently that's not the way...

The oils in our skin (a combination of sebum and lipids (from the surface skin cells) are a necessary part of skin health. It is an overactive production of sebum that can lead to overly greasy skin and spots. BUT, if you completely remove those natural oils from the skin by using the stripping action of things like alcohol (found in many cheap toners) the skin often goes into overdrive to compensate for the unnatural loss. What you can end up with is even GREASIER skin that ever as your biggest organ tries to rectify this inbalance.

Of course, Dermalogica knows this full well and none of their products contain alcohol meaning that even their toners are a very gentle way to refresh and hydrate the skin for ultimate skin health.

It was a surprise to me to use a toner which concentrates on hydration rather than cleaning as my old alcohol based ones did. (I remember being so chuffed when I looked at the layer of "dirt" on the cotton wool ball!) Antioxidant Hydramist is a spritz-on toner for use after cleansing. It claims to have flash firming properties, improve skin texture, defend against ROS, intensely hydrate and stimulate collagen formation. Wow! As their blurb states :"Antioxidant hydramist, supplements skin’s protective barrier by creating an active antioxidant shield of White Tea, Licorice and Vitamin E to fight damaging free radicals, while a patented polypeptide helps prevent the signs of aging caused by Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs – a damaging byproduct of sugar/protein reactions in the skin). A highly-active Vitamin C complex, combined with collagen-stimulating peptides, encourages firmness and elasticity to help reduce the appearance of fine lines." Double Wow!

I use it morning and night and also during the day, I use it as a mist-on refresher to combat the dryness that comes with sitting staring at a screen all day. It's fab for giving you a lift in that post lunch slump with its mixture of refreshing botanicals and delicious scent. I like to use this after cleansing instead of a night time moisturiser and I find that it gives me the hydration I need overnight without the heaviness and cloying nature of a cream.

The smell of the product is a gorgeous mixture of the spicey & floral, with a subtle hint of rose and clove. It gives an aromatherapy lift to the skin and the senses as you spritz it on.

I don't really know about all the claims it makes - that it stimulates collagen production etc, but I do know how it makes my skin feel. Using it gives a really gentle hydration and you do feel that, after cleansing, the skin drinks in the fine multivitamin packed particles. It is a feast for the skin and the senses. Somehow I can only describe that it make my skin feel "happy"?! There's no grease or stickiness and all that's left is quenched glowing skin, all ready for moisturising proper.

As a sufferer of oily skin and adult acne to varying degrees of severity, Antioxidant hydramist was never designed to do what I was expecting from a toner. Instead I have found that it delivers the boost to the proper level of natural healthy oils needed in my skin, rather than stripping it, leaving my skin healthy rather than sucked dry. I have not had any extra problems with overactive sebum production, rather I have found my skin becoming clearer and altogether healthier.

I look forward to seeing the longer term effects that it has along with other Dermalogica products as my skin continues to become healthier and healthier with time and continued use. Maybe over time I will understand the full claims that Dermalogica make about the anti-aging properties contained in their Antioxidant hydramist! Maybe I will, but maybe I'll just get on and enjoy using it? Who knows! Either way, I'm happy. I realy do love it now, but if it does more for my skin over time - then bring it on!

Dermalogica have 3 different toners all of which are in this same leave on misty spray. If you want to chose one perfect for your skin type, check out Jersey Beauty with all their deals. I got Dermalogica Multivitamin Hydramist for £21.75. Jersey Beauty are really great with giving out testers with their products - why not try e-mailing them and ask for a tester of each before you commit to buying? You never know until you ask! I am sure you'll find something you love and maybe some of you, like me will be converted to the hydration route rather than the stripping route! Get behind me alcohol!

Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermofoliant :: Review

2009-08-03T09:25:00.006+01:00

Having fallen in love with quite a few of the products I have been testing, I had high hopes for Dermalogica's new Age Smart exfoliator, Multivitamin Thermofoliant.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermofoliant is described as "a powerful thermal skin polisher that combines physical and chemical exfoliates to refine skin texture and enhance penetration of age-fighting actives into skin."

After using Daily Microfoliant and Daily Resurfacing cleanser I had come to expect a delicate exfoliant from Dermalogica. Having never experienced chemical exfoliants before I was very surprised at the effectiveness of these two products. So when Multivitamin Thermofoliant promised a powerful combination of the chemical (Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid) and the physical (fine mineral powder) I was excited by the prospect - My new discovery mixed in with my old ways...

I first tried the product after cleansing with Daily Microfoliant and I thought I would try using it dry as suggested for "extra effect". I think my skin was a little shocked by just how much of a "powerful" punch this product packed! I can only assume that the physical exfoliant described by them as a "fine mineral powder" must actually be sand. As I slapped on the product and began doing the usual pre-requisite circular motions it felt a little like my skin was being held firmly under a Black & Decker Mouse! Saying that - the experience was not an unpleasant one - I think it was mainly the shock of the difference to the other, much more gentle products that made it feel initially so extreme!

The other weird part of the product is the "Thermal" bit. The product self-heats as you use it and even more so when you add a little water. This has a soothing action on the skin and gives a tingle during its use.

Scent-wise the product smells deliciously citrus-y with a hint of floral. Again it is like all the other products used so far, that it only smells of the ingredients rather than any additional pefumes. I do love the fact that using Dermalogica's products is a little like having a session with an aromatherapist. Multivitamin Thermafoliant is one of those feel good smells that really gives you a lift whilst using.

Regardless of my initial shock at the strength of the product, I was absolutely blown away by the results. My skin was left truly polished with it appearing to glow. Every pore felt cleaner and the skin new and bright! As a result my toner and moisturiser went on smoother and I felt my skin soak up all the good stuff, with nothing getting in its way! Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant had me hooked! Despite the power of the physical exfoliating action my skin wasn't left sensitive or raw, just clear, bright and clean! It even felt soothed and softened by the active vitamin ingredients.

The next time I used it I added water before use and the experience was far gentler, but without losing the effectiveness of the physical exfoliant. For anyone with mega sensitive skin I would suggest that you don't ever use it dry, but for those of us needing the odd extra boost to our exfoliation every now and then, I would try it dry sometimes. I maybe use it once a week dry and two other times with water. This keeps my skin feeling really smooth and clear.

As for any anti-aging claims of the product it is like everything, hard to judge until I am 70 and look wrinkle free(!) - HOWEVER, I do feel like the brightening of my skin from this product (and from the combination of other Dermalogica wares) has gone a long way to lift the clarity and texture of my skin to a point that was long since gone until now! Years of dulling debris had made everything so lifeless but I can honestly say that my skin is back to how it looked when I first got married, over 7 years ago. Bonus!!!

So, initial shock aside, the results of Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant have really won me over. Now I know what to expect from the product, it never fails to amaze me how beautiful my skin looks after I use it. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone but those with the most sensitive of skins. Enjoy!

I got my Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant from Jersey Beauty Company for £24.15.

Review :: Skin Resurfacing Cleanser

2009-07-28T14:57:00.006+01:00

Dermalogica claim that Age Smart Skin Resurfacing Cleanser is a dual-action exfoliating cleanser containing Lactic Acid that smoothes, re-texturizes and delivers ultra-clean skin.

It is a chemical rather than physical exfoliant which uses a highly active Lactic Acid concentrate to smooth and retexturise the skin.

Before trying Dermalogica products for the first time, I hadn't ever heard of a chemical exfoliant. The only things I had ever used were products containing physical scrubbing agents which although mostly effective, were sometimes a little harsh on my fairly sensitive skin.

I use Skin Resurfacing Cleanser on an evening after Precleanse (see below for Review) At 35 I am aware more than ever that my skin is losing texture and gaining more lines and wrinkles. I chose to go for the Age Smart Range as I was interested as to whether it could help with my "age" related "issues"!

As I have mentioned before, the scent of a product is very important to me and again with Dermalogica, what you get is the scent of the ingredients rather than an additional chemical perfume. It contains rose flower Oil which provides a very subtle background scent rather than an overwhelming whiff of rose - don't worry, you won't smell like your Nan! The other smells are harder to place (I don't know what lactic acid smells like so I can't quite pick that one out!) and I have to say, it's not my favourite smelling product of all time, but not the worst either. It certainly doesn't give me the warm fuzzy feeling that Precleanse does, but it's not totally off-putting! I guess when it comes down to it I would rather it smelled slightly weird rather than thinking it had a whole load of synthetics making it smell yummy. After all Dermalogica are the experts and I bow to their greater knowledge... However, I don't know what it is but truthfully, sometimes I get a slight hint of asparagus or burning rubber from it and at those times I do have to tell myself that it's doing my skin good!

The product is a creamy white lotion and I tend to use two squirts to cover my face and neck. Rubbing it on you don't feel anything particularly. It's just soft and smooth and is completely without any sense that it is actually working on removing dead skin cells. It washes off nicely without any sticky or drying residue and leaves my skin really smooth, soft & glowing. Slight warning though - I have managed to get it in my eyes several times (despite the warnings on the packages to avoid the eye area somehow the rebel in me thinks it knows better...It doesn't!) and it does sting a bit - so don't be like me and actually take the advice and steer clear of them! You'll thank me!

Dermalogica promise ultra-clean skin after using Skin Resurfacing Cleanser and it does make my skin feel very open, breathable and clear. A few other people who have used it have found it a little harsh on their skin, but I have had no adverse reaction to it.

With all the products I have tried so far I have seen a noticable difference in the texture of my skin. It is certainly brighter and starting to glow! It is so amazing to be seeing a real difference in the quality of my skin when I had almost resigned myself to the fact that when i hit 30 it was downhill all the way! I really do think that the general re-texturising of my skin that Skin Resurfacing Cleanser is partly responsible for, has gone a long way to bring some fizz back into my skin - and yes, I think that helps make it look younger!

I wouldn't say that this is my favourite Dermalogica product, but then there is fierce competition at the top! I do like the way it makes my skin feel and I am interested to see whether, with continued use, it has further benefits on my skin - AND as my skin continues to age, whether using Skin resurfacing Cleanser slows down the aging process.

Watch this space!

If you are interested in trying Dermalogica Age Smart Skin resurfacing cleanser you can get it from Jersey Beauty for £21.75 - Bargain!

Am I the only one?

2009-07-28T13:53:00.004+01:00

When a product says rinse with warm water, my little heart sinks. Somehow I find it extremely difficult to make the water hit my face rather than my tee-shirt, my hair and the floor. And how the heck are you meant to do behind your ears?!

I have never heard of anyone giving tips on how to rinse your face - but seriously I actually need some! Many a night has seen me and the bathroom covered in water and my face seemingly still sticky and un-rinsed. What is a girl to do?! I am even having bigger problems since moving to a flat with a sink that has a fixed middle tap - now I can't even get that out of the way to give me a fighting chance!!! I tried flannels but other than changing them every day I was left with the dilemma of knowing that I was possibly adding bacteria to my supposedly clean face whilst in the rinse stage... Not good at all. Dermalogica have a Sponge Cloth - but wouldn't this have the same issues as a flannel? Surely?

So I have taken to buying (really) cheap face wipes which I rinse out and use to remove my cleansers. Clean. Simple. Use then throw away. Perfect. Until someone tells me how I can stay dry whilst rinsing the traditional way or, that the Dermalogica Sponge Cloth is a bacteria free "magic" solution, I am going to have to keep on with my new face wipe strategy. Any help with my "problem" will be gratefully received! Am I really alone?!

Review of Dermalogica Precleanse

2009-07-28T12:04:00.006+01:00

I was a little worried about the claims of Dermalogica Precleanse. For a start - it seemed a bit of a rip off to be told that I had to buy two cleansers instead of one to get my face clean? Weren't Dermalogica meant to be a professional outfit? Weren't their cleansers supposed to be some of the best on the market? AND, there was the little consideration of cost - were they just trying to make a whole heap of extra money by sowing the seed of doubt over not only their own, but every single cleanser in the world?!!! ("Mwaa haa haa" - The Eviiil Consumerist Money Making Monster rubs his hands with glee!)

I was also more than a little dubious when it came to looking at the ingredients and their claim that Precleanse is suitable for ALL SKIN TYPES. Now, I have very oily skin. Precleanse is made from a whole heap of - OILS? The last thing I want from a CLEANSER was something that added to my oil slick. What I was wanting was the oils gone, NOT multiplied! Surely something wasn't right?! Had they got the advice wrong? Were they simply trying to sucker me in to line their pockets some more???

But as I read up on the whole process things began to drop into place. We've all had experience with our cleanser not taking off ALL our makeup. However much I scrubbed, there would be little bits left over - and that can't be good! We've all know by now that to strip the skin is not the answer - so could some organic oils actually help combat my oils? What they promised, was that the oils in Dermalogica Precleanse would lift the oils in my skin (makes sense I guess - oil, being attracted to oil?) then when you add water the oils in Precleanse trap my oils in the water and then with rinsing BOTH are washed away. Well, it had to be genius or the biggest con ever and I had to find out!

So, I went and bought a bottle of Dermalogica Precleanse from Jersey Beauty for £20.45.

I started using it at the end of the day, when I thought I would give it the hardest job - a day full of old stale makeup and the build up that comes from a day of pollutants and the general slick of my oily skin. The first thing I always notice about a product is whether I like the scent. As with Dermalogica's other products there is no added perfume, the product smells of what it's made of and in Precleanse's case, it is a cocktail of natural oils:

* Olive Oil
* Apricot Kernel Oil
* Safflower Oil
* Kukui Nut Oil
* Borage
* Oryza (Rice Bran) Oil
* Tocopherol
* Caprylic/Capric Trigleyceride

I LOVE the smell of it! It's hard to describe (cue Jilly Goulden) but it has hints of olive and the sweetness of nuts but with a citrus edge. It really is a treat for the senses when you apply it - definitely a feel-good smell, comforting yet invigorating!

It was with definite trepidation that I began spreading it over my dry face and neck. Having become so utterly miserable with my continuing adult acne it felt like a massive risk spreading oil all over my face - almost an invitation for an acne free-for-all! As oils do, Precleanse spread easily and gently and I pursued with my all over circular smearing, wincing and praying as I went!

The surprise came when, after the initial dry application, I added water to the oils on my hands. Immediately I saw that the product turned into a milky emulsion and I felt the oily texture disappear. So I began the second, now wet, round of circular motions and saw the water lift the oils straight off my face, as if by magic! My face went from being shiny and oily to being wet and milky. I was totally amazed at how the product simply disappeard into the water and rinsed off so easily! Maybe they weren't lying after all?!

What I was left with was a soft, clean face without any trace of oil. All prepped and ready for the second cleanser, which now I didn't feel had to work so hard! Brilliant.

To sum up, my fears have been allayed about 1.putting oil on an oily face and 2.That Dermalogica are rip-off merchants! I really see that my skin feels better with the double cleanse you get from Precleanse. Rather than dull and congested I have seen my skin begin to breathe again! The oils in the product really do draw away much of the stuff that an ordinary 1 step cleanse leaves behind and with this double cleaning system I have seen my skin improve dramatically! The smell makes me feel good, but the way my skin looks and feels, makes me feel even better!

I would really recommend Dermalogica Precleanse to anyone, oily, dry, whatever - basically anyone who wants truly clean skin! I definitley think Precleanse is "good" genius, not "Eviiiil" Genius! Try it for yourself!

Why Its Great to be Double Clean!

2009-07-28T10:41:00.011+01:00

Before embarking on this Dermalogica Experiment my skincare routine was none existent. My main concern was always my oily skin and the regular spots that marred my face, so when I looked for products I was always drawn to the medicated shelf at Boots where products in light greens and blues promised an end to blackheads/ spots/ oil. I was strictly a face scrub and moisturiser chick. One minute and I was done. A swish of Clean & Clear and a dab of Garnier Ultralift ("Take Care!") and I was off. Then I discovered the joy of Face Wipes and things got even quicker and didn't even need me to move to the bathroom!

The Problem was that my skin just wasn't getting any better and all the claims from my magic face scrub just weren't paying off! I have also never been for a facial and although I would love to have one, what goes on behind those beauty salon doors remains a mystery to this day...

So, actually doing a beauty routine with all these gorgeous Dermalogica products has come as quite a shock to the system and I find myself spending much more time in front of the mirror than the good old days. One of the biggest revelations to me was that according to the bods at the International Dermal Institute, one cleanse is simply not enough! Apparently being double clean is being properly clean...

So who am I to argue so I toddled off to Jersey Beauty and bought myself some Dermalogica PreCleanse, which Dermalogica claim, delivers " a level of cleansing, traditionally found in a professional treatment room". (No need for that facial after all then?! - I am determined one day I WILL treat myself!)

The idea of double cleansing is that even professionally designed cleansers leave behind residues of oil, dirt & makeup (if they don't its likely that they are full of alcohol and what you have done to your skin is strip it rather than clean it!), so two gentle cleansers are much better than one.

Dermalogica claim that their Precleanse dissolves oil-based make up, sebum, sunscreen and environmental pollutants from skin’s surface, preparing skin to be thoroughly cleansed after using. It also claims that none of the ingredients clog pores so it is perfect for all skin types even oily ones, just like mine!

As the advert says here's the science bit from Dermalogica and why Precleanse and the right Dermalogica Cleanser makes for the cleanest skin:

Compare this to:

So it seems especially if you have oily skin, to be really clean you need to be double clean, just like at a salon. But with Dermalogica Precleanse I can get that at home!

Review of Dermalogica Shine Therapy Shampoo & Silk Finish Conditioner

2009-07-21T11:22:00.015+01:00

REVIEW FROM LINDY R - TESTER

Now, when I recruited the gorgeous Lindy to have a go at some Dermalogica products it was never going to be a case of dramatic results. She has just become a mum and is the ultimate Yummy Mummy! I have always thought how beautiful her skin and hair were so i was interested in what she'd been using prior to this experiment and how Dermalogica compared to her usual...

She loves her hair products but isn't one to spend hours primping and preening, or spending loads of cash on stuff and before trialing Dermalogica's daily groomers for her hair she was using Elvive Nutri Gloss. She has tried other things as well like the Aussie range, Tigi, and Brilliant Brunette. She has lovely medium thickness shiny mid-brown hair that holds a nice amount of volume.

The first surprise for her when opening the bottle was the colour of it - bright yellow just like her little boy's baby shampoo. She described the scent as medicated and the nearest thing she could compare it to was the smell of vosene. (Blast from the past or what?!)

The shampoo lathered up ok and left her hair feeling "sqeaky" clean before the application of the conditioner. When opening the Silk Finish Conditioner, she was a little relieved to find it looked pretty normal! (Creamy white & opaque) It went on ok and she then went on with her day...

Unfortunately after drying, she noticed that rather than her usual smooth glossy feel, her hair felt like it was full of product, was knotty, wasn't shiny, didn't feel smooth, was all fuzzy on the top and just felt generally horrible!

Rather than judge it on this one outing she followed the same routine again the next day but this time added way more conditioner just in case this was the problem and made sure she rinsed for longer. Even though, after drying she felt that it was marginally better, overall, her hair still "felt knotty and unmanageable, and thick- not in a soft way, but in a not sitting straight kind of way".

For Lindy this was not at all what she expected from a "Shine therapy" shampoo and a "silk finish" conditioner! Both she and I are disappointed with her findings and it's posed the question as to whether dermalogica's International dermal Institute should stick to what it knows and does best?

But, everyone's hair is different and like skincare, there's never a "one size fits all"- So rather than write off these products totally I have decided to trial them myself and see if my experience is different to that of Lindy's. Once I get going with them i will let you know whether I agree with Lindy's thoughts...

If you fancy trying it for yourself you can get all the Daily Groomers at Jersey Beauty Company.

Shine Therapy Shampoo - £12.16 delievered
Silk Finish Conditioner - £14.68 delivered
From Jersey Beauty Company

Just a little heads up that I forgot!

2009-07-20T13:02:00.004+01:00

Thanks to BFF Beauty Blogspot for the reminder here, but for anyone trying Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant a note to leave it somewhere dry so you don't get clumping of the powder. I managed to clog my first one up - it's not the end of the world but its just easier to keep it out of the shower and take it in and out when needed! For spendthrifts like me it makes sure that absolutely nothing gets wasted! Now, we wouldn't want that would we?!

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant :: Review

2009-07-20T10:03:00.004+01:00

Offers you can't refuse....2!

2009-07-20T09:51:00.003+01:00

Just visited the Dermalogica shop at jerseybeauty and they have two new offers listed.

This one is for lovers of the Dermalogica Skin hydrating booster. Buy this one product and they send you a freebee containing a 22ml Dermalogica Skin hydrating Masque and a 30ml Dermalogica Multi Active toner! Sweet! Always love something for nothing!!!

It says while stocks lasts so better get in there fast!

Happy Shopping!!!

Offers you can't refuse....

2009-07-20T09:21:00.011+01:00

Just visited the Dermalogica shop at jerseybeauty and they have two new offers listed.

This one is a blanket offer where if you spend 50 quid or more on anything at all they send you a freebee containing a 5ml Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm and a 15ml Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque! Nice!

It says while stocks lasts so better get in there fast!

Happy Shopping!!!

Dermalogica Age Smart Reductions

2009-07-07T12:40:00.006+01:00

I have just received this offer from Jersey Beauty Company giving some amazing savings on the anti aging AGE SMART range.

Simple put the code SMARTYEX10 into the promotional code section at Checkout and you save money off your order!!! Pretty amazing!

Perfect for keeping the years at bay!

Coming soon - Hope for Teen Skin from Dermalogica!

2009-07-06T12:34:00.006+01:00

I have heard rumour that Dermalogica are going to launch a brilliant new range called CLEAN START that is designed just for teenage skin, at the end of summer. The range has been out in the US for months now and has attracted a lot of media attention.

The range attacks teenage skin problems in three easy steps -

1. Getting Clean -

a teen specific cleanser and toner designed to minimise oil production and attack spot-causing bacteria

2. Taking on Issues -

Targeted treatments in the form of a two-in-one scrub/masque, an overnight treatment and a powerful on-the-spot gel

3. Protecting Skin

Two lovely moisturisers containing SPF15 and a lip gloss which all aim to fight bacteria and promote skin health.

Dermalogica have applied their 25 year know-how to this new range, making sure it includes only the best ingredients to work against hormonally caused issues without stripping the skin or over cleaning which can take you back to square one. They also exclude any pore-clogging ingredients and SD Alcohol.

I do not know the exact launch date over here, but will let you know once I have found out. I am going to try and get some for some friends kids to try out and will let you know how they feel about the products. I am hoping to be able to pick some up cheap from JerseyBeautyCompany.co.uk

The New Routine

2009-06-30T12:02:00.011+01:00

In my quest to find a skin care routine that really works on my generally 'problem' skin I came across Dermalogica's range of products. With their claims for using natural ingredients and their products having been developed by the swanky and ever-so-legitimate-sounding "International Dermal Insitute"(!)

So here's what I am using at the moment (cheap prices on Dermalogica to be had from JerseyBeautyCompany.co.uk-

Morning:
Daily Microfoliant
Daily Resurfacer or Multivitamin Thermofoliant
Clearing Mattifier
Special Clearing Booster
MultiVitamin Power Firm for my eye area
Oil Free Matte Block SPF20

Throughout the day I mist on Antioxidant Hydramist Toner for freshness and hydration.

Evening:
Precleanse
Skin Resurfacing Cleanser
Overnight Clearing Gel

Three times a week I am using the Sebum Clearing Masque
Once a week I am using the MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque

and if my skin is not in an oily phase - I sometimes use MultiVitmain Power Concentrate.

I am yet to try any of the Dermalogica Moisturisers as mine have not come to the end yet - so at the moment I am also using Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Serum and Boots No7 Day Moisturiser with the same anti aging properties as their acclaimed Protect & Perfect Serum. They always seem to have great offers on these so NEVER buy them at full price! Wait just a little longer and you're likely to get them three for two...

Writing all that down shows me just how much stuff I am trying right now - but to be honest I have been so miserable about my skin for quite a few years now and I am really determined to find some good products that really work for me. If that takes a bit of time and a few products to find - so be it! I know I haven't gone into detail with the properties or benefits of each of the products above so watch this space for a more detailed view as I look into each one separately over time...

Dermalogica: Number 1 Acne fighter...

2009-06-30T09:34:00.005+01:00

Dermalogica's Medibac Clearing Range for targeting Adult Acne is winning fans in America. Their MediBac Sebum Clearing Masque has won the title of “Best Acne Fighter” at AOL Health this month.

Having started to use this product this month myself I have found that like the voters in AOL, that the masque seems to work well without drying out my skin. Although I am not using all of the Dermalogica Medibac Clearing range I have found a significant difference in my skin and the amounts of spots I am developing.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have suffered from acne since being a teenager and have tried all kinds of products to try and shift the spots and most of them have left my skin very parched and stripped. In the past I have equated the harshness of a product with its effectiveness - thinking that as long as my face burns after application the product MUST be doing something?!

What I am loving about the Dermalogica products that I am using at the moment is that they feel very gentle on the skin. The natural products seem soft and delicate and with an emphasis on skin HEALTH it really does feel like I am making an investment in my skin for the future rather than just making it feel good today. I know I am a sucker for marketing speil but I do believe in the genuine power of the natural ingredients Dermalogica uses. Obviously nothing is going to suit every skin type but I know that I would much prefer to be packing the biggest organ on my body with natural plant extracts, vitamins & minerals than a whole heap of nasty man made chemicals.

So for now I am trying a few things out and will let you know how I get on - but for now I have to agree with AOL and its readers that I am loving the Sebum Clearing Masque and the fact that today, Tuesday 30th June 2009 is the first day in years that I have got up and thought, "Today, I can go without foundation!"

Have a read of AOL's full article here

The site says that in the US the price for the masque is $41 - I paid £29.95 delivered from Jerseybeautycompany.co.uk

The trouble with my skin...

2009-06-29T10:31:00.008+01:00

How did I ever get to the age of 35 and STILL have all the teenage problems?! The fact that I still get spots is a cause for constant misery - but I console myself that somehow they will fool people into thinking I am MUCH younger!!!

They say that loads of people have adult acne, but it's a strange thing that bad skin can make you feel so alone - the faces staring up at me from magazines and the TV all seem so perfect. Is it simply airbrushing and good lighting?

I suffered with really bad skin as a teenager and ended up resorting to Accutane which is the mother of all acne treatments only available from a specialist. 6 Months of liver function tests and cracked lips and dry skin as the accutane stripped all the oils from my skin finally left me pretty much spot free. This lasted about 5 years and then slowly but surely the little buggers began to appear once more and by the age of 30 I was back to feeling pretty low about the condition of my skin. It never got AS bad as it had been, but it was bad enough to knock my confidence. No one (apart from my husband!) saw me without makeup and still I knew that it was only a patch on the problem...

About the same time I started to notice that age was beginning to take its toll on my skin too. I spent a year in South Africa doing voluntary work and the combination of sun and resorting to the use of generic aqueous cream (It was a very lean time!) left me with far more wrinkles than I had ever had before. I suffer with allergies and often have very itchy eyes that I rub constantly and I began to notice the damage I had been causing coming out in bags and creases. My skin just looked dull and lifeless, spotty still and increasingly old! I felt cheated out of the time that I should have had, between teenage zits and middle age wrinkles, to enjoy the freedom of beautiful glowing skin!!!

So I began to look round for something that could attack the problems I had been facing. I knew I wasn't going to reverse the damage that had been caused so far, but perhaps I could find something to work on my T-zone oiliness and adult acne and something that could possibly slow down the signs of aging? Could I find something that would make me glow again?

Reading around and searching the internet I came across Dermalogica. Like everyone I am a sucker for marketing - but with dermalogica it all seemed so low key. (Reverse marketing?!) I fell in love with their ethos for natural ingredients, simple packaging and lack of over-hyped claims. It all seemed supported by genuine research so I thought I would just have a go...

Heck, with my skin I had nothing to lose!

Looking for Cheap Dermalogica?

2009-06-09T09:26:00.002+01:00

WELCOME TO ALL THINGS DELICIOUS!

2009-06-02T16:55:00.001+01:00

OK so I admit it. I am a beauty fiend. A lover of all things "beauty-filled." I'm not a girly girl, I don't pile on the slap, I am not particularly young, thin or model pretty - I am just your average lady who loves to beautify! I love my surroundings to be gorgeous and I want to sit right there in the middle of it all, feeling gorgeous

Beauty for me is nothing to do with perfection. I'm not into cosmetically enhanced, airbrushed, fakery - beauty to me is in those little imperfections that show that I have smiled, that I have lived my life, that I have loved... Don't get me wrong - I love to look my best and will try all that I can to enhance what I have - but I can't hide in anything but this skin I have been given and I have to find it comfortable to dwell there.

So what I look for in a beauty product or something beautiful to live alongside me may be different to other people. I am not looking for that magic product that will turn me into (*insert desired Z-List celeb in here). I just want to make the best of what I have and enjoy it all along the way!

I decided to start this blog to follow me and a few friends as we experiment with Dermalogica products to see how they actually work on REAL women's skin! I hope it will be a journey into all things beauty-filled - one which covers the internal as well as the external. Let's see what happens...