Using… Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm

I'm getting to the stage where my skin needs a bit of love. The cheaper cleansing products that I've resorted to since being at uni and not having the luxury of mummy helping me to pay for them are fine but I can tell that as my skin begins to get older (I know 23 isn't old but being told by the woman on the Clinique counter that I should have been using an eye cream for a couple of years already does make it hit home!!) I'm going to need to give the products I'm using a bit more thought. 

So, I decided, no more baby wipes for cleansing (unless very drunk/hungover/travelling). I was recently given a couple of pots of Emma Hardie cleaning balm at a launch party and they've been sitting on my dressing table ever since. But the more that the bloggers raved about it, the more I decided that I really should give it a try! My mum has the best skin and in her 60 odd years swears she's never put water on her face - she believes that's the secret! - so I've always been a little reluctant. But I braved the fact that she's just got good genes and am crossing my fingers that the come to me as well and started using the cleaner a couple of months ago, combined with an eye make up remover, followed by a good toner and moisturiser.

The balm is described as a balanced daily cleanser that thoroughly cleanses and moisturises. It claims to calm sensitive skin and revitalise dull or mature skin. To use, you simply take a small amount on your finger, mix with a little water to create a milk and massage into your skin. It melts onto my skin amazingly and smells delicious. I use a muslin cloth, textured side followed by smooth to remove the cleanser which gently polishes and leaves my very dry winter skin feeling nourished and cleansed. 

I use the cleanser in the shower every day and have been following this routine for the last month. My skin feels obviously smoother and dry patches (winter skin is awful!) are a lot less frequent. The cleanser is on the more pricey side at £34 for 100ml but I really do think its worth it and will look to repurchase if its still working for me in the same way when I reach the end of the pot. 

Emma Hardie also suggests that it can double as a soothing and hydrating mask if left on the skin for 10 minutes which I will definitely be giving a try! Have you tried the cleansing balm? Or any of the other Emma Hardie products yet?

Angels on Bare Skin

'...As gentle and beautiful as being kissed by angels...'

I popped into Lush the other day for the first time in a while and it was all to grab a sample of Angels on Bare Skin, a cleanser based on an age old formula that uses pure ingredients to great effect. My sister is a fan of the cleanser but I've always taken after my mum with the very odd idea that you shouldn't wash your face with water - who knows why?!! - so have never been a huge fan but on my last try I was converted and decided to try it out for a couple of days.

Angels on Bare Skin evens out skin tone, reduces redness and improves the health and appearance of your skin – giving a natural healthy glow. The ground almonds in this product release their goodness and turn to an almond milk on your hand when you add water. It smells yummy , with Lavender being one of the main ingredients and appears, unlike a lot of other water based cleansers not to try out my sensitive skin. Definite positives.

The cleaner is a solid, that turns to a cleansing milk when added to water. It has no preservatives either which makes it pretty natural to use. I've been experimenting with it for a couple of days now and I'm definitely a fan. At only £6.50 a tub that seems to last for ages I will definitely be investing!! A student budget well utilised I reckon, especially as I have had to cut ties with my Dermalogica habit during term time!