Sponsored Post: Paula's Choice

This is a sponsored post.

Paula's Choice is a range of skincare created by Paula Begoun, who has been working in the beauty industry for more than 25 years - so has really taken the time to learn what works and know what skin care ingredients really live up to their hype - to make sure women are getting the best value for money with skin care. A couple of 'hero' products from the range include:


Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

The antioxidant serum promises to help skin to generate healthy collagen to resist the signs of aging and contains antioxidants to protect against the environmental damage. The serum works to repair damaged cells and prime skin for make-up.

Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

There seems to have been a lot of talk about products with Alpha Hydroxy Acid as a good exfoliation/peeling treatment for skin to keep it smooth and glowing. The 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid product promises the following:

- reducing signs of ageing, including wrinkles, sun damage & discolorations
- corrects uneven skin tone
- restores a healthy, radiant, firmer look to your skin
- calms skin with potent anti-irritants

It also contains 0.5% salicylic acid to help clear/exfoliate skin. I like the fact that there are anti-irritants included as sensitive skins can be prone to redness with some glycolic treatments.

Both products are priced £25.15 and available from Paula's Choice. Links to specific product pages are below:


Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

WIN! Afternoon tea with Paula!

If you fancy the chance to bend Paula's ear about all things skin care, then you can win afternoon tea which will include a personal skin care consultation.

To enter, all you have to do is:

Subscribe to the Paula’s Choice monthly newsletter before 31st May 2011 and be in with the chance to enter the prize draw. Plus there are a selection of great Paula’s Choice prizes for the runners up. As a newsletter subscriber you will receive exclusive monthly Paula’s Choice offers, helpful articles on all things skin care and beauty related plus pre-sale deals on Paula's Choice products.
The prizes!
1st prize: Three people will win afternoon tea sessions with Paula Begoun (including transport to London).

2nd prize: Two people will win Paula’s Choice skin care sets (worth £135 per set).

3rd prize: Ten people will win a personally autographed copy of Paula's best-selling book 'Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me.'

Winners will be informed via email by 1st June 2011. Restricted to UK citizens only.

You can find out more on facebook.


This is a sponsored post.

SkinCeuticals: Phloretin CF

SkinCeuticals' Phloretin CF is the latest hot-name in the anti-oxidant fight against ageing.

Launched in the UK in March 2009, as the culmination of over five years of research, Phloretin CF contains a powerful antioxidant derived from the skin and flesh of apples along with root bark from pear and grapefruit trees. Combine pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), which has been clinically proven to stimulate collagen synthesis along with ferulic acid, a powerful plant derived antioxidant that seeks and destroys free radicals and improves the performance of vitamin C.


Phloretin CF is an anti-ageing cocktail is perfect for oily and problematic skins as well as normal skin types and contains:

• 2% Phloretin (a natural extract, derived from apples and root bark of pear and grapefruit trees)
• 10% L-ascorbic (the only form of Vitamin C that the body or skin can use as far as topical treatments are concerned. Vitamin C is the only antioxidant that has been proven to stimulate the synthesis of collagen)
• 0.5% Ferulic acid (a powerful plant derived antioxidant that seeks and destroys free radicals and improves the performance of vitamins C and E)

I have been using Phloretin CF for about three weeks now and can report a marked improvement in the texture of my skin. The serum comes with a pipette applicator, making me feel a little like a mad scientist when applying it- which is not a bad thing!) I would suggest only using a couple of drops if you have fairly young skin like myself, as pure vitamin C has been known to cause reactions, so take it slow and allow your skin to adapt to the concentration.

Living in London, I like to apply this product in the morning if I am heading central to offer some added anti-oxidant protection against the smog of the city (and the grimy tube air!) As Phloretin CF is a preventative serum, the true effect of this product will only show over time, so we will have to wait and see how good it really is, but in the short term I am pleased.

The point that hasn't been mentioned yet is the price. This is not a cheap product, priced at RRP £128.00 for a 30ml bottle (eek!) but remember it is the product of over five years of research and is still a lot cheaper and less painful than botox (not that I have had botox, I am too scared of needles) but as they always say, prevention is better than a cure.

Random beauty product... Golden Emu Oil Hand and Body Lotion

If you had asked me a year ago if I thought I would be writing about the benefits of Emu Oil then I would have laughed at you, and thought you were a little crazy. But here I am, about to write a review of one of the strangest named products I have ever experienced "Golden Emu Oil Hand and Body Lotion".

Apparently Emu Oil is now well known in the UK, having made headlines following Paula Radcliffe’s world record breaking run in the 2003 Flora London Marathon. Before the race it was in doubt over whether Paula would even be able to compete, having been involved in a collision with a cyclist whilst out training and picking up severe cuts and grazes, a damaged shoulder and a broken jaw. Emu oil was applied to her injuries however and they were seen to heal a lot quicker than expected.

Sports and fitness side aside, the oil is an excellent moisturiser and is renowned for its soothing properties. Supposedly Demi Moore, Goldie Hawn and Melanie Griffith all swear by it for the oil's anti-aging properties.

It was recently published in a top scientific journal that when emu oil was applied to skin defects they healed twice as quickly, when compared to controls. This strongly suggests that emu oil has skin cell regeneration properties, which should not only help with the healing of wounds, but also with skin rejuvenating and scar and wrinkle reduction. Combine this evidence with the fact that emu oil contains natural anti-oxidants, which help combat oxygen free radicals, the main culprits blamed for aging skin, and you begin to realise the massive potential that this ‘age old remedy’ has in a modern world, where everyone is trying to look those few years younger.

Golden Emu Oil Hand and Body Lotion not only contains emu oil, but combines it with a sunscreen and fruit and nut oils, which are packed full of vitamins and anti-oxidants.
Lavender oil is one of the most versatile and soothing oils available. It is wonderfully relaxing and is known for its rejuvenating properties. It leaves the skin scented and senses relaxed.
Orange oil can help stimulate skin circulation and promote the production of collagen, used for tissue repair. Orange and Lemon oils are also known to aid with the removal of toxins from the skin and control sebum levels, the cause of acne.

Apricot oil is particularly helpful for dehydrated, delicate, mature and sensitive skin.
The benefits of almond oil come from the fact that it is high in minerals, protein, naturally occurring vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6 and E) and in mono and poly-unsaturated fatty acids; all important for healthy skin. The oil is often used to help with skin itch, irritation and dryness.

Avocado oil is said to stimulate collagen metabolism, increasing the proportion of soluble collagen in the dermis, retarding visible signs of ageing and remarkably softening the skin.

The result of combining these ingredients is an exquisite lotion, which is a true gift from nature. It instantly soothes, protects and revitalizes from head to toe. Easily absorbed it leaves the skin with a younger, softer and smoother looking complexion.

The thought of rubbing 'Emu Oil' into my skin made me a little uncomfortable, but if it is good enough for Goldie, then it is good enough for me (especially if I manage to look as good as her at her age). I have been trying this lotion for over a week, and it is a perfectly nice moisturiser. No remarkable results yet, but my skin does feel soft, and I don't smell like an emu. My sport-playing boyfriend is keen to try it out for its healing qualities so next time he is having a whinge about his aches and pains, I will pass him the Emu Oil....

Available from http://www.pion-tc.co.uk/ priced £14.99 for 250ml.

Anti-oxidant Virgin?

I was first introduced to Virgin Vie beauty products by my sister who held ‘Virgin Vie’ parties to sell the products. I was also lucky enough to be given a selection of their lovely products including some yummy lip glosses (which really are good enough to eat), eye shimmers and a gorgeous bronzing make up kit.

Anyway, onto the products in hand, Virgin Vie have two skin care formulas containing anti-oxidants to protect the skin, these are:

Beauty Essence Superfood Serum with Coenzyme Q10 and Pomegranate Extract (£15 for 30ml)

The beauty world craze for serum refuses to go away (for good reason) and this is a top-spot competitor. Firstly, as a sucker for packaging, I was already impressed by the stylish silver and white packaging before I even tried it out.

As with most serums you only need a small amount of the delicate velvety serum to nourish skin and leave it soft, smooth and energised. I have to say, the serum doesn’t smell too tasty, but since you’re not meant to eat it (despite it being ‘super food’) then that should be overlooked. The serum melts into skin and works as the ideal base for make up, with the added bonus of the protective anti-oxidants working to protect your skin from premature ageing to keep your complexion youthful, fresh and revitalised.

Face the Day (£17.50 for 30ml)

Face the Day, like the whole Virgin Vie range has really simplistic, pretty packaging. This non greasy, ultra light SPF 15 lotion is designed to be applied underneath or on top of your usual day cream.

The anti-ageing benefits of wearing an SPF face cream every day cannot be over stressed, and this is the ideal light weight version which gives you the protection you need without feeling like you are coated in thick, greasy sun block. Face the Day offers anti-oxidant protection against free radicals as well as medium protection against damaging UV rays – the perfect base for summer skin.

Face the Day includes UVA and UVB filters offering a broad spectrum of protection from the sun and premature ageing, Hyaluronic Acid to enhance your skin’s ability to retain moisture, Purple Laver Extract (a liposome encapsulated Seaweed Extract to supplement the UVA protection) and Anti-oxidant White Tea Extract to help aid the fight against free-radicals.

Elave Dermo-Cosmetic Skin Care

The Elave dermo-cosmetic range is the first of its kind and has been tipped by those in the know to become a cult product. Originally created to be used post-cosmetic surgery, sold exclusively through selected dermatology clinics in Ireland, the range has since developed a word of mouth reputation as an effective anti-ageing skin care.

Endorsed by celebrity make up artist, Jemma Kidd, the products are designed for use following cosmetic procedures such as Botox, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and laser resurfacing when skin can be super-sensitive and needs suitable care. The elave range has been specifically formulated to be extra gentle on skin. Made with purified water, anti-ageing vitamins and anti-oxidants and developed by experts in dermatology, elave dermo-cosmetic is free from unnecessary sensitisers like perfume and dye and harsh chemicals which can dry out the skin.

Although the range was developed for post-cosmetic treatment, it can also be used on sensitive skin, as it only contains ingredients necessary to hydrate, plump up and repair the skin, leaving it unbelievably soft and smooth.

Products in the range include:

Daily skin defence SPF 30+ (£31.00 for 32ml)

Protects delicate skin from the ageing effects of the sun with SPF 30+, UVA and UVB filters as well as anti-oxidant vitamins A, B, C and E. This day-cream also includes allatonin, an anti-inflammatory agent to help stimulate the growth of new and healthy skin tissue and alleviate the symptoms of parched, dry, inflamed or irritated skin, restoring elasticity and suppleness.

The cream has an iridescent look, so is an ideal base for make up, or can be used alone for a fresh look on make up free days.

The skin softening results of the cream are fantastic, and it does leave a healthy iridescent glow. First time I used this cream I did find it a little oily for my skin, and had to apply a dusting of powder to combat the shine. But by applying less next time I found this was more suitable for my skin texture. Apply the cream lightly as a little is plenty (and means the cream will last longer).

Intense moisture surge (£24 for 32ml)

A non-greasy lotion specifically created to help repair and intensively surge moisture into dry skin leaving skin soft and smooth out dry lines and wrinkles. The cream contains a unique blend of emollients to help defend the skin against ageing and improve cell regeneration. Shea butter and coconut oil rehydrate and give a boost of moisture whilst calming and re balancing inflamed, dry or sensitised skin.

This cream is ideal as a night-time skin treat; the texture of the lotion feels quite light but does offer an intense surge moisture as promised. Similar to the daily skin defence you only need to apply a small amount to get the benefits.

Super Simple Skin Serum

Skin serum has been a buzz word in the beauty world for some time now, especially since the sell-out mania that was No7 Protect and Perfect Serum (which is as good as the hype by the way!) The skin boosting benefits of vitamin E are also well known, and now Simple – the UK’s fastest growing skin care brand – has combined the two into an innovative product.

Part of the age resisting, Regeneration product range, the vitamin E serum products also include avocado oil, glycerin, and allantonin to give skin a convenient, pampering dose of vitamin goodness with no perfume, no colour, and no harsh chemicals.

I would recommend using these products once a week, before bed as a quick and easy pampering treat. Applying the serum before bed and leaving it over night gives the vitamin E a chance to really penetrate skin and do its thing. You will be happy to wake up with soft and glowing skin.

Priced at £3.99 for 16 pads and available from Boots, Superdrug and leading pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide.

Beauty basics

Getting the basics of a beauty routine right is the foundation to looking and feeling good.

The morning shower/moisturise routine is the way to start the day if you are a beauty junkie or prefer your beauty basic. I recommend the following products for a clean and fresh start to the day:

Radox Tea Infusions shower range: Green tea balances and soothes, whilst white tea cleanses and awakens. I have to say the green tea one is my personal favourite, but that is because I love anything green tea scented, so clean and fresh.

The Tea Infusions range combines everything Radox knows about natural ingredients to create a truly indulgent bath and shower experience.

Following the morning shower routine is slathering on a decent coat of moisturiser. No, not the most glamorous product but E45 Endless Moisture is a God-send for dry skin. Probably explains why it was voted ‘Beauty Product of the Year’ for 2009.

The range includes a Light Caring Body Milk (ideal for every day, especially the large sized pump-action bottle) and a Replenishing Care Body Cream (an extra moisture boost for post winter skin).