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 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.

February empties - L'Occitane, Weleda, Neal's Yard Remedies, Origins, Naked Bodycare

Take Care Naked Sensitive Skin Bodycare Orange Blossom 250ml body wash – I have a ton of these. This has always been my favourite frangrance of all the Naked body washes, it has not “parfum” or artificial fragrance, just the natural fragrance of neroli essential oil which is one of the most uplifting fragrances and has long been a favourite for both men and women. I guess means that they’ll probably pop up each month in my empties for the rest of the year. And maybe the next…

Weleda Rosemary and Ginger conditioner 250ml– I really liked this, a good silicone free conditioner which I'd buy again but I think Weleda have reformulated and no longer make this.

Phytorelax Lavander Body Lotion 500ml – I picked this up at the TKMaxx clearance shelf for £1. It’s not the most natural product (you can’t see the ingredients on the back label as they’ve been rubbed off with oily hands) but at least it doesn’t have any silicone. I really liked using this at night time as the lavender helps lull me to sleep.

Naked Bodycare Star Flower 250ml body wash – I don’t like it as much as the Orange Blossom, but this is still a good sulphate free body wash which doesn’t dry me out. Plus, I have the body butter to match. I think it’s the patchouli essential oil in here which I’m not a fan of. I have a couple more in the stash as I pick these up whenever they go on offer at Boots and I want to use up my points.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Almond Moisturiser 50ml – this was a good basic day cream, a silicone-free basic moisturiser This is one of NYR’s least expensive creams at £18.75 for 50ml.

Naked Bodycare Star Flower body butter 300ml– found this in one of those bargain beauty shops you can find in shopping centres, it was £1 so I bought three. Not my favourite scent, but satisfyingly thick and just what my dry husk of a body needs in winter.

Origins Checks and Balances face wash – this is a GWP 30ml sample.  Already repurchased as I’ve bought the full size.

Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask – another GWP 30ml sample from Origins. Already repurchased. Twice. They had a great GWP offer that week. Don’t judge.

L’Occitane Almond shower oil 2 x 35ml. Love this, but don't love the ingredients. I've purchased the full size 250ml bottle as well as the 500ml refill. I had a voucher. Again, don't judge.

January empties - Neal's Yard Remedies, Naked Bodycare, Korres, 4711 and Unique Nature

Unique organic shampoo and conditioner from the TK Maxx clearance shelf. Herbal scent, easy to rinse out the conditioner. Good for someone who wants all organic, all natural hair products. Would repurchase if I see them again.

The Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose beauty balm is expensive at £37 for 50g but this is one of Neal's Yard's star products, often spoken about in magazines and beauty blogs. This is an oil based cleanser which can be used in multiple ways, as a facial cleanser, as a body balm on elbows or feet etc, left on as a mask, or my favourite which is as a pre-shave massage treatment. I thought I’d never get through the tub within the recommended three months, but I used it in as many ways as Neal's Yard suggests and just about managed to get there. Would repurchase, but pricey! Recommended.

Neal's Yard Remedies Aromatic Foaming Soak – I wasn’t a fan of this, the scent of pelargonium often overpowers other scents for me and this bath oil was no exception. I wouldn’t repurchase.

Soft Touch Naked Bodycare Starflower body wash 250ml - one of my favourite body washes, already repurchased. Recommended.

4711 50ml – the only way I could love this any more is if it lasted more than twenty minutes on my skin. It’s inexpensive sure, but having to reapply throughout the day means you get through a bottle quickly. I splash it on my hair and around the neck of my t-shirt to help the fragrance last. I used to only wear this in the summer, but this year I’ve been using it in the cooler weather too and it’s equally as gorgeous. Definite repurchase.

Korres yoghurt face cream 50ml – I suppose it shouldn’t have bought this as it’s intended for oily or combination skin, but I thought it might make a suitably light day cream. It was only alright though. My dry husk of a face requires more hydration than this can deliver, but this could be ideal for an oilier complexion. One bonus was that this light cream leaves a natural looking matt finish. I wouldn’t repurchase, but simply because of my skin type.