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?).

All For Eve

 Just a quick post to make sure that every single one of you knows about All For Eve!

I ordered the five piece set from QVC recently (which, ahem, does not make me a TV shopping nutcase, but rather a sensible beauty product lover I'll have you know), for the astonishingly cheap price of £21.79.

All For Eve was set up by beauty entrepreneur George Hammer (the man behind Sanctuary Spa, introducing Aveda into the UK and Urban Retreat at Harrods), with the intention of raising money for and awareness of gynaecological cancer - ALL of the net profits from All For Eve are donated to The Eve Appeal, so when you buy these products you are truly making a difference to the lives of all women.

The set contains; body butter, bath & shower gel, body scrub, hand cream and a rather sumptuous red lipstick (designed by Daniel Sandler).

In a nutshell, these are fabulous products. In particular I love the body butter. I'm a fussy so-and-so with body creams but this is gorgeous, ultra fine consistency but super-rich and moisturising.

So what are you waiting for? Order some now, for yourself and for your friends, and revel in the knowledge that beauty products CAN make a difference.

The All For Eve website
All For Eve on QVC

Boo Boo Velvet Hands

Boo Boo is one of my nicknames for my little girl. Let me explain. She's called Bonnie, which became Bonnie Boo (due to her resemblance to Boo in Monsters Inc),  which turned into Boo Boo. Daft, but it works. So when I heard of a range of products called Boo Boo I was keen to find out more.

Boo Boo is a 'mummy and baby range'; it's free of parabens, sulphates, TEA, petrochemicals, synthetic colours, PEGS and DEA, so it's pure and natural stuff.

The range now includes a hand wash and hand cream, which not only smell gorgeous, but do a fab job of keeping my hard working hands clean and soft.

Key ingredients include marshmallow root extract, white water lily and centella - a herb that's claimed to firm and strengthen the skin. It's all good stuff, and I've enjoyed testing them.

The trouble is although I'm a mum, I'm not really a 'mummy' any more. My girl is going to be eight soon, and I'm soooo over anything that looks like it's been designed for parents. These are great products, but I'm stumped as to why they've been packaged up like nappy cream.

I'm a sucker for hand washes and hand creams. But if it's going to be out on display in my house, then I like it to look good. Currently on display in my kitchen you'll find the classic Neils Yard blue glass bottles, so you'll get where I'm coming from. So although I love these products, for me they lose out on aesthetics. However if you're a yummy mummy you'd be a fool not to invest in some because my hands really are beautifully soft since I've been testing them. Plus my daughter thinks it's very cool that there are products names after her.

Boo Boo Velvet Hands (£10.99) and Velvet Hand Wash (£9.99) are available from Harrods, Wholefoods or online at www.boobooshop.com

Miracle product: Golden Silk Oil

 I like a multi-tasking natural product, so I was keen to try Golden Silk Oil, which claims it can be used on the face, hands, body and hair.

It's natural camellia oil, extracted from camellia flowers; though don't be mistaken into thinking it smells floral, as it has virtually no fragrance. 

Camellia oil has been used by the Japanese for centuries, and as well as healing the skin, it's claimed to have the ability to balance sebum in human skin that can be caused by diet, pollution, hormonal imbalance or ageing. It contains vitamins A, B, C and D as well as a host of other good stuff such as beta-carotene.

So far I'm loving this little bottle of oil. I've used it on my face at night in place of night cream and woke the next morning to super soft, hydrated skin. I've used it on dry lips, where again it's totally sorted them out. I've even used it under make-up, it absorbs really easily and provides a great base for foundation.

Best of all I've been using it on my hands, not only is it sorting out their constant dryness, but my nails are better than they've been in months. My nails really tend to suffer through the winter, they become dry and brittle and split easily; nothing has ever come close to sorting them out before. Right now, after only a week of using Gold Silk Oil, they're long and strong.

Approved by the Vegan Society, this oil is so gentle it can even be used on kids (it would be fab as a baby massage oil).

You can buy Golden Silk Oil from www.gentlebodycare.co.uk, and it costs £11.50 for a 30ml bottle.

Elemis’ Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow

A run of illness, busyness and generally not looking after myself has left me looking a bit shabby. The bits everyone can see - hair, face, hands, haven't done too badly, but the rest of me...well it's an embarrassment.

So, a plan of action:

1) To shed a few pounds. I must stop eating biscuits.
2) To tone up. I went to yoga this week and I'm doing a 5 mile walk with friends tomorrow.
3) To scrub up. I need to start using a fabulous body scrub!

Lounging in a luxurious bath is not enough for my sorry-for-itself skin, I need buffing up! Enter Elemis' Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow.

Unlike similar products it doesn't separate before use, so you don't have to stir it before sticking your hand in. Take just a small amount in your hands and rub it onto your body (be careful not to drop great blobs of it in the bath like I did the first time - oh the waste!). It smells divine, has a salty, yet oily feel and does wonders for your skin. Pay extra attention to knees and elbows, but rub it all over for silky soft skin.

It contains three oils, Kukui Oil which has restructuring properties as well as sought-after anti-ageing and softening virtues, Japanese Camellia Oil which is easily absorbed into the skin to nourish and condition and is rich in plant collagen and Jojoba Oil to moisturise and regenerate the skin.

Add to that lime peel and ginger (which is subtle, I'm not a big fan of the smell usually), plus the essential sea salt for making the scrub, well scrubby, and you've got yourself a fab product. Plus is comes in a glamorous red tub, which will brighten up any bathroom.

£35.80 for a 410g tub, which look set to last for months. Buy via Time to Spa, or from Elemis counters.