RENU Relaxing Face Mask | Renu Flash Relax Mask review

RENUS relaxing flash relax face mask 100ml – I bought this mask on the cheap from the TKMaxx clearance shelf, around £5 or so. The box was a bit bashed, but luckily the tube inside hadn't been "tested" (thank you, TKMaxx shoppers who like to open up all the skincare products and stick your finger in to "test" then put them back). I was unfamiliar with the brand but the ingredients looked solid so worth a try. 

It felt good to use, I usually like anything with Aloe Vera as a main ingredient and the scent was very fresh and clean. I didn’t notice any benefit the first few times I used it so I applied more product to use it up and started to notice a result. Maybe this needs to be applied thickly to truly see any benefit. I would not repurchase at full price however, this retails for £32!

Description from RENU:

• This gel mask smoothes fine lines and helps firm facial contours for an instant face-lift effect.
• Ginseng and Magnesium gently relax fine muscles to smooth and lift the skin.
• Sodium Hyaluronate plumps the skin.
• Polysaccharides prevent dryness and maintain elasticity.
• Vitamin C enhance natural radiance.
• Vitamin B5 helps promotes moisture balance.
• Aloe Vera to soothe.
• Paraben free formulation

Here's a list of the ingredients:

Neal's Yard White Tea Toning Eye Gel review

Neals Yard Remedies White Tea Toning Eye Gel – I reckon that I've tried just about every eye gel ever made over the years and this is easily my pick for favourite eye gel. I first purchased this up a couple of years ago in their sale but didn’t use it until I’d started using an eye roll-on from Aldi that everyone raved about but gave me an ugly allergy all around my eye sockets. I turned to this in an effort to soothe my burning eyes and it worked brilliantly. 

It’s different from a lot of eye products in that it’s a runny gel, not a cream. It has a pump dispenser which can be fiddly to control and get the right amount of product. I use it morning and evening and it’s been the best eye product I’ve tried so far. My eyes have always been dry and you know when you close your eyes and your eyes sting a bit? Yes, that. This eye gel soothes and I really noticed the difference when I ran out and stopped using it. 

At £23.75 for 10ml, this is pretty pricey, but I don't mind paying when a product actually works so I’ve already repurchased and intend to keep on repurchasing until a better one comes along. Highly recommended.

"Cooling, soothing and refreshing, this is toning and firming for the delicate skin around the eye, while visibly reducing puffiness and minimising the appearance of dark circles. With antioxidant, anti-ageing white tea; suitable for both men and women's skin."

Here's the list of ingredients:

Hamamelis virginiana (Witch hazel) extract, Alcohol denat., Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Rosa centifolia (Rose) flower extract, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice powder*, Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright) extract*, Sodium hyaluronate, Camellia sinensis (White tea) leaf extract.

Neal's Yard Remedies Rose Facial Wash cleanser review

Neal's Yard Remedies Rose facial wash cleanser – I bought this travel size 50ml bottle with a flip lid when Neal's Yard had an offer of five travel sized products for £15. This cleanser has a gel consistency which I found a bit drying. This worked fine as a cleanser but I would probably not buy again because these days I prefer a cream or oil cleanser.

"Refreshes and cleanses normal or sensitive skin. Gently foaming with anti-oxidant aloe vera combined with precious rose otto and soothing pink rose petals."

Here's the list of ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Glycerin*, Lauryl glucoside, Sucrose laurate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice powder*, Rosa damascena (Rose) flower oil*, Rosa centifolia (Rose) flower extract*, Potassium sorbate, Citric acid, Levulinic acid, Alcohol denat., Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Neals Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisturiser review

Neals Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisturiser – this 50ml plastic tube was a magazine freebie I picked up just to get the NYR product. I'm getting towards the end of this so I've cut the tube open to scrape out the last blobs.

I always like to see a bottle cut in two so you can scrape out every last bit. It’s always a good indication that you’ve enjoyed using a product. Or that you’re tight fisted. I once read a blog where there was a photo of that month’s empties and every single bottle had been cut open, it was very impressive.

"Softens and replenishes NORMAL and DEHYDRATED skin.

Hydrating 'Hundred petalled' rose extract and damask rose oil soften, smooth and help restore skin's natural radiance in a light, easily absorbed, antioxidant-rich lotion. 

Proven in clinical trials to moisture for up to 12 hours."

I like the texture and efficacy of this product, but I don't really care for the scent. I'm not a sweet roses kind of guy. This 50ml tube has a screw cap and the product is squeezed out. I like the touch of embossing an expiration date on the top of the tube. 

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Glycine soja (Soya) oil*, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Calendula officinalis (Marigold) flower extract*, Cetyl alcohol, Borago officinalis (Borage) seed oil*, Cetearyl glucoside, Rosa centifolia (Rose) flower extract, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice powder*, Rosa damascena (Rose) flower oil*, Citrus limonum (Lemon) peel oil expressed*, Cananga odorata (Ylang ylang) flower oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) flower oil*, Tocopherol, Sodium hyaluronate, Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Alcohol denat., Glycerin, Levulinic acid, Potassium sorbate, Xanthan gum, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, Benzyl salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool.

Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask review

Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask – the first time I looked at this, I thought "an overnight mask, are you kidding me?" I had no idea how it worked and since I sleep on my face, I didn’t fancy having a sloppy mask go all over my pillow. Anyway, this was another 30ml sample size gift with purchase that I thought I’d crack open just to use it up. 

Turns out I really like this mask. It has a thick consistency which is easily spreadable and has a fruity, apricot scent which I wasn’t crazy about, but I’m used to it now and even find it soothing to fall asleep to. I often use this instead of a night moisturiser. Already repurchased. Twice. They had a great GWP offer that week. Don’t judge.

This 30ml sample size has a screw top lid, but the full size 100ml tube has a flip lid which is much easier to deal with. 

I've photographed the back of the 100ml full size tube as the 30ml sample tube doesn't list the ingredients (and neither currently does the Origins website). Here are the ingredients:

Water, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water, Myrtus Communis (Myrtle) Leaf Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethicone, PEG-75, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Amara (Bitter Almond) Kernel Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora (Shiu/Camphore Leaf) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans (Osmantus Absolute) Flower Extract, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Bran) Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Panthenol, Pantethine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Potassium Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol.