Quick-fire recommendation: Gleam Body Radiance

I never thought I'd come across anything as good as Rio Blush (as blogged about here) until I tried GLEAM Body Radiance (RRP: $15 but available in the UK) - love love love it!

Created by Melanie Mills, the  make-up artist for Dancing with the Stars, GLEAM was originally developed for use on the celebs and dancers on the programme to keep them looking hot without any smudging or transferring.

What I love most about the product is that it makes the skin look healthy, while delivering as much colour as you want as it comes in four different shades (light gold, rose gold, bronze gold, and deep gold), not many other instant radiance products do that. I received all four shades to test so used a darker shade to create an instant tan on my legs, then lighter for winter when I had no colour but needed my skin to look glowing. When I do have a slight tan there is also the perfect shade to enhance rather than add to it.

 

Although this isn't necessarily noticeable because I only use it occasionally, it's still nice to know that GLEAM contains anti-ageing ingredients that slow the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin to keep it healthy; made from water and Olive Oil, the lotion is infused with Jojoba Seed Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, antioxidant Japanese Green Tea and White Tea extracts, Aloe Leaf Extract and Brown Seaweed as well as a hydrating marine extract that stimulates synthesis of Hyaluronic acid and increases elasticity. 

Secret Beauty Verdict: GLEAM does exactly that; leaves a gorgeous glow for all skin types and lasts until you want it gone!

Quick-fire recommendation: Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush

This is something I received in a goody bag and threw into my 'emergency' make-up bag I keep in the office. This emergency make-up bag comprises random bits I've been given/don't use as found something better so I literally only use if I'm desperate. After having meetings all day and realising I was out with a friend that night with no 'proper' make-up with me, I shoved a bit of this on and ran out the door. The first thing she said to me when I saw her was how fresh I looked and that my make-up was really pretty - I looked in the mirror and saw what she meant, the blush looked gorgeous!

I used Soft Pink and it really is just that, it adds a beautiful, subtle sheen to the skin which lasted all evening, and the colour can easily be built up without looking too much, this one has definitely been upgraded to the daily make-up bag!

Secret Beauty Verdict: I tend to just use powder blush as quite often I find the creams don't last and can be tricky to apply in a rush without looking like clown make-up. This one is such a lovely consistency and the colour really works, think I'll be getting myself a few more of these - especially at £6.99!

Quick-fire recommendation: Darphin Nourishing Smoothing Body Scrub

I'm a huge fan of Darphin products and although they're pricey, they really do last and get results. I am also a fan of body scrubs but have always felt that although the expensive ones do feel nicer, there are many cheapy ones out there that get the same results. Oh how I've changed my mind after trying Darphin's Nourishing Smoothing Body Scrub (RRP: £38 for 200ml).

This comes in an easy to use tube in a gel-like texture which smooths onto the skin easily andn turns into a silky oil. It contains organic cranberries, bamboo and silica, Organic safflower oil and 3 wood oils; phellodendron, barley and sandalwood as well as organic thyme, eucalyptus and bergamot essential oils which all work to gently exfoliate the skin and leave it feeling gorgeous and soft, even before you're out of the shower! 

Secret Beauty Verdict: Although very pricey, a little really goes a long way with this and the results are amazing. Definitely worth every penny if you want to keep skin glowing.

Crystal Clear

 For those of you have been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I'm constantly on the quest for clear skin. I've tried supplements before and to be honest have never really noticed much of a difference, so have always concentrated on topical solutions to either prevent or treat. My skin problems are hormonal (definitely stress related through working in an environment with constant deadlines) so I've just always assumed that that can never change unless the stress is removed which is only going to happen if I give up the job I love! 

So when Pantothen sent me 3 months' supply of its natural acne solution (RRP: £29.95 for one month's supply) I just took it on and off without giving it a proper try, as any supplement I'd stuck to rigidly hadn't really done anything. For some reason though, I decided that as of January (New Year, New You and all that) I'd really knuckle down and try anything to help my skin. I'd forgotten I'd even been sent Pantothen until a couple of weeks ago so decided to give it a proper go. You have to take one tablet four times a day (they recommend morning, afternoon, late afternoon and evening) with water and should start noticing the difference within one or two weeks. Once I got into the habit of taking the four a day keeping one pot on my desk and one in my handbag, it becomes second nature, so much so that when I realised my skin has been really clear for the past week it took me a while to realise that it must be down to Pantothen! It may just be a coincidence, and I'll keep you all updated but at this time of year my skin is usually in meltdown after having two weeks off work over Christmas and struggling to get back into the swing of things.

So, how does it work? The website will tell you better than I can but it's all down to increasing the natural chemicals in the body that break down oils before they can cause breakouts, and the great thing with this is that it does it naturally, by working with your own body chemistry. I've taken the video below from the website to help explain as, to be honest, I don't really mind how it works as long as it's getting the results I want!

Secret Beauty Verdict: So far, so good. Obviously using the correct skincare regime and having a balanced diet to include the essential vitamins to build a healthy skin is essential, but that's something I've always done yet have still struggled, and the only thing I've done differently recently is taking Pantothen every day!

DISCLAIMER: I would just like to point out that I've noticed the company has been advertising through Google on my blog, but I absolutely PROMISE you all that this has nothing to do with it, I try not to let companies send me products specifically for the blog unless it's something I think I can benefit from, and if I don't get results then I simply don't post about it!

Quick-fire recommendation: Buddha Beauty

This body lotions is one of the best I've found, and having dehydrated skin means I have tried A LOT! The Buddha Beauty Company approached me for the magazine I write for as I hadn't heard of them before, but loved the concept of the product range: inspired by the many places the founders have travelled resulting in a gorgeous range of products which are natural and certified organic.

The Lemongrass and Bergamot Organic Body Lotion (£12.50 www.buddha-beauty.com) smells amazing and natural (although it may be a bit too strong for some) using Lemongrass to lift with Bergamot to bring balance.

I absolutely love everything about this lotion, the smell is gorgeous, it sinks in beautifully and really hydrates immediately. It also leaves the skin looking amazing with a lovely sheen without being greasy and this has lasted me a good 6 months using it almost daily - pretty great value I'd say!

Secret Beauty verdict: In my eyes this product is perfect although the fragrance could be slightly strong for some, but I LOVE it and everything about it!