Skin Science - Lunchbreak Lift

I really loved the Skin Science products I tested recently, so I'm happy to report that on 17th, 18th and 19th July the Skin Science Lunchbreak Lift facial is available in Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London.

It's a 30min treatment which promises to leave skin energised, plumped, lifted and glowing - and all for only £30 which is redeemable against any Skin Science products purchased on the day. Personally I'd go for the Bio Active 24hr Protective Complex Cream with SPF 15, it's fabulous.

Call  020 7235 5000 Ext: 2705 to book your appointment.

My oh my another luxury brand that I love - Skin Science

It's been a long time since I've risked a new moisturiser, I'm not a girl who takes skincare risks easily, and let's face it, every time you try a new skincare product there's a little bit of risk involved.

Skin Science is a new brand from Norway, which is said to be inspired by the marine life along the country's Arctic coastline. It contains ingredients which scientists claim have a radical effect on the skin. These include - 

Spermine - an antioxidant estimated to be 25-30times more powerful than vitamin E

Omergatri - an omega-3 product from Atlantic salmon, but a nano-encapsulating version that's odourless and can be delivered deep into the skin

Zonase X - a natural exfoliant from salon embryos - discovered because salmon hatchery workers have smooth hands, despite working in freezing cold water

I tried the Bio Active 24hr Protective Complex Cream with SPF15. I've rarely used the same face cream during the day and at night - but actually this really does the job. It's not too heavy to apply make-up over (actually it creates a lovely base), and although it feels a little light for a night cream, my skin doesn't feel dehydrated in the morning. Personally for me, SPF 15 isn’t enough through the summer, but that’s a personal niggle. After two weeks of use my skin is looking better than it has in a long time, even though I've been going through a particularly busy/stressful time (normally enough to knock my complexion for six).

But the real gem in this range is Bio Active Instant Replenishment Complex. It’s a set of seven little tiny ampoules are used after peels or laser treatment, can be used as a complete course, or anytime your skin needs a pick-me-up. Just use half of an ampoule in morning and half at night. I've in love. They really make a huge difference to my skin making it much softer, smoother and far more radiant. I’d recommend exfoliating before use to really feel the benefit.

Also I used a tiny dab a day on a scar/dry patch from a particularly nasty spot, and it vanished in days.

This stuff isn't cheap,  I know I say that often, but there you go. But the results are great, so in this case, you get what you pay for.

Bio Active 24hr Protective Complex Cream with SPF15 is £85 and the Bio Active Instant Replenishment Complex is  £120

Skin Science is exclusive to Harvey Nichols nationwide and the range also includes a mask, eye cream, serum and a moisturiser aimed at older skin (not sure why I wasn't sent this, perhaps the PR company missed my rants about turning 40 this year?).

The Beauty Cult guide to surviving flu

I've had flu. I'm not a hypochondriac, and I'm not prone to exaggeration. This was actual flu. A friend shared her definition of flu: If you are lying on the sofa feeling terrible and you see a £50 note blowing about in your garden, do you get up and get it. And the answer was no, because I was just too ill.

Flu, or even a bad cold, takes its toll on your entire body. My skin and hair really suffered, so what beauty products (when I could be arsed to apply them) did step up to the mark?

Kamillosan Ointment
My number one flu saviour is one of my favourite products of all time. And also one of the cheapest I own. Best known as a nipple cream for breastfeeding mums, I first bought this as a nappy rash cream for my daughter, but she's a grown-up seven year old now, and I still buy this cream for as it has infinite uses.

Blowing your nose (repeatedly) makes the skin on your nose dry, red and sore, we all know that. Kamillosan Ointment, applied in copious amounts at night time, and thinly throughout the day when you've got the sniffles, works wonders to avoid Rudolph syndrome.

I have also used this cream for: eczema, dry skin, those weird rashes kids get and no one can explain, on scabby knees etc to stop my daughter picking them, on the random dry skin she gets behind her ears and on my face after a VI Peel (ouch). Seriously, this stuff rocks. And it's got no nasties in it and costs around £4 from any chemist.

Karin Herzog Oxygen Body 3%
This cream actually pushes oxygen into the skin, and oxygen is anti bacterial, anti viral and generally a fantastic thing for the body. I applied this to my neck (I had a very sore and swollen throat) during my flu, and definitely felt the benefit. It's £35 from KarinHerzog.co.uk, lasts ages and has a multitide of other uses including detoxing, getting rid of stretch marks and scars, acne, sun damage and sun burn.

Jan Marini Anti Oxidants Recover E
However crap you feel, apply a night cream. Colds and flu your skin really dehydrate your skin, and this cream puts the moisture back in like nothing else I've ever tried. It's around £40 for a small pot, but a little goes a long way. I don't use this evey night, just when my skin feels like it needs some extra tlc.

Macadamia Healing Oil Hair Treatment
I raved about this stuff before, and with good reason. My already dry, knackered hair really suffered last week. I was too ill to wash my hair every day, but when I did an application of this stuff put lots of moisture back into my sorry looking locks. It's getting harder to track this product down, I've just ordered some from Luxuryhaircare.com, great site - ordered on Sunday, they're delivering on Tuesday.


So, what else did I learn during my week of flu?

• Loose Women is best when Kate Thornton is presenting.
• No medicine helps, so don't waste your money, you just need to sweat it out (nice).
• Not wearing make-up for five days makes wearing it again more fun.
• My husband is not a natural nurse.

Add a drop to your favourite beverage...

I struggle to feel truly healthy. I do some of the right things, I eat healthily, I don't smoke (anymore). But I do some things really badly. I exercise once a week at most, I buy supplements and forget to take them, I drink too much wine.

So I'm always on the look out for ways to cheat, to be healthy without putting in the effort.

Health Drops are a liquid supplement, you just need one drop, and it can be mixed into a drink. I'm going to quote the press release here: "Just squeeze one drop into a bottle of water or your favourite beverage and the potent formulation of nutrients, vitamins and minerals will be quickly absorbed to support detoxification, increase antioxidant levels, and promote and support a healthy immune system." 

Hmm favourite beverage....do you think red wine would count?

I've been sent Antiox, and a tiny 1ml serving of this stuff contains the same amount of antioxidants as 15 cups of green tea. And it's created from 'botanicals' - to you and I this is a mixture of teas, bilberry, pomegranate and other healthy bits & bobs. You can hardly taste it in water, perhaps a slight hint of green tea, but if you added to a bottle of water you really wouldn’t know it was there.

The thing that I find slightly odd about these supplements is that they're sold in Harvey Nicks rather than a health food shop. The press info says that "Functionalab joins the dots between nutrition, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals by approaching beauty from the perspective of health". Hmm what do you think about that? I'm sure being healthy does make us appear more beautiful, but I'm not sure about blurring the lines to this extent. Maybe women these days want to buy their supplements alongside their skin care, but to me it's still a little odd.

However, a few days in and I'm committed to taking Antox every day. I'm successfully fighting off a cold which Mr Beauty Cult and our daughter have succumbed to. So maybe it's the antioxidants helping me, or maybe I'll come down with it tomorrow, or maybe I just don't get colds that often.

The fact is, these days we all need to up the amount of antioxidants in our diet, I've had two people close to me diagnosed with cancer in the last year, so I'm ready to start taking this stuff seriously. Plus the retro looking little dropper bottle does look cool in the cupboard.