Elemis 'Papaya Enzyme Peel'.

I had heard so many good things about the 'Papaya Enzyme Peel', from magazines giving it countless accolades, dermatologist/expert recommendations and all-important beauty blogs, so it was only a matter of time before I would actually get my grubby mitts on it.

On the back of my tube, Elemis explains that 'this smooth cream peel contains an exotic cocktail of natural fruit enzymes from African Papaya and Far Eastern Pineapple that helps to gently exfoliate and purify tired or sensitive skin. Enriched with extracts of Bladderwrack, Sunflower, Porphyridium and Vitamin E to help remineralise and condition the skin, whilst providing Anti-Oxidant and free-radical protection'.
Basically, the 'Papaya Enzyme Peel' is a chemical exfoliator which uses fruit acids to do the exfoliating business!

It is alike the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash in the fact that it took a while for me to actually notice a difference. I'm the sort of person who expects results immediately, and am not patient. But instead of getting grumpy with the lack of results, I kept on using it, and over the period of two months I have noticed that my skin looks more radiant, more smooth and much more refined.
I do think it helps that my skin-care routine is aimed at refining, preventing and correcting, so my skin is generally quite good anyway at the moment, but this is definitely a gem which I couldn't be without.

It comes out of the tube as a cream (which smells so good you almost want to eat it), which you apply onto cleansed skin. You leave it on the skin for approximately 10-15 minutes, and then you remove it with a lukewarm water. Normally, I use mine before bed, and just leave it on the skin until it completely sinks in, and then I'll remove it and get on with the rest of my night-time skincare routine. Or sometimes if I'm being completely lazy I'll leave it on for the whole night. But this leaves my skin looking so bright and amazingly radiant in the morning, so maybe it does pay to be a lazybones!
I love how simple to use this is: just apply a thin layer to cleansed skin, with no massaging, no complicated mixing or whatever, and relax! Plus, it leaves even overly-sensitive (due to Retin-A) skin soft, plumped and dewy without a hot, sore, red face that some face masks can leave me with, making it a great pre-event facial treatment!

The packaging is very simple and wonderfully practical, but I think simplicity can be beautiful, which is definitely the case here. It is in a silver plastic tube, with a silver plastic screw-on lid, with the brand logo on and the necessary information printed on.
The fact that the product is in a plastic tube makes it travel-friendly.

I actually paid £22.08 for my 50ml bottle, compared to a RRP of £28.60. There was some sort of Elemis discount on Feel Unique, so I thought I would take the bait and get this and the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash for cheaper than normal!
I know it is quite expensive for an exfoliator, and being a poor student I should probably be a bit more sensible (hey, I can live off cheap tins of sardines for another month), but I still think that this product (and several others) has certainly given my skin a very youthful, radiant, more refined appearance, and for this reason (and the reasons above!) I would definitely repurchase, because it's a mask I enjoy using, and most importantly, it produces noticeable results!

Are there any other Elemis products I should consider using?

Elemis 'Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash'

I had heard good things about the Elemis 'Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash', and I was attracted to it by the the idea that it gently resurfaced the skin. This was appealing, since I struggle with my skin, and acne and acne scars and marks are the bane of my life. I am forever looking for the product which will give me that 'perfect complexion', and am pretty much willing to spend a lot of money and time trying to achieve it.

'Galactoarabinan, a Polysaccharide, enhances the non-abrasive exfoliation process, whilst Brazilian Babussu Oil replenishes moisture. Moringa protects the skin against environmental damage, whilst White Truffle, Poria Cocos, soothes and supports the skin’s natural micro flora.' The product 'sloughs away dead skin cells, smoothes and refines the complexion' and 'skin looks radiant and youthful'.
Personally, I am not sure how effective these ingredients are. I know the normal exfoliating agents used in skincare are AHA, BHA and retinoids, so I'm not familiar with any of the ingredients or how effective they are at resurfacing the skin...but I bought it anyway.

During the first few weeks of use, I became rather quite annoyed with the lack of results. I didn't feel like it was delivering the results I wanted and had heard of (perfect skin, acne remission, scars diminishing). I regretted spending a lot of money on something I really wanted to work, but just didn't. I carried on getting spots and I wasn't noticing any effect in my complexion. I resigned it to the 'never buy again' section in my brain, and just carried on using it to use it up. It was one of those products I loved to hate.
Then a couple of weeks later, I suddenly noticed how clear my skin was. It looked so bright, radiant and healthy, and bar the odd spot, my acne was gone. I haven't had a breakout in about 2 weeks! Even my mother complimented my skin, and she never compliments me!
I am not sure if it is this wash alone, or something else in my skincare routine. But I feel slightly more love for it than I did when I first began using it. It just goes to show, sometimes results aren't immediate and obvious.

When using it, it leaves skin feeling so clean and incredibly soft, without that dreaded tight feeling you get. It foams up into a really luxurious lather. I sometimes use mine with my Clarisonic if I want to give my skin an uber-clean and exfoliation.
Despite having all those dead-skin-eroding bits and bobs inside the bottle, it is such a gentle cleanser. I imagined it to be a bit stingy and to cause irritation as soon as I used it, but no, I haven't experienced anything but lovely, soft skin. Even when I've been using my Retin-A and my skin is all sore and red, there has been no irritation.

It doesn't take off eye makeup very well, so I take off all my makeup with a facial wipe and then use my cleanser. It is actually meant to be a secondary cleanser, so the idea is that you take off all the makeup and grime with the first wash, then use this cleanser after.
I only need one pump which is an adequate amount for washing the whole of my face and neck area, so a little bit goes a long way. Just as well, considering the price tag!
The smell of the product is well and truly beautiful. It's like stepping out into a tropical garden first thing in the morning, and is so calming and relaxing. It really sets me up for the day ahead!

It comes in a 200ml bottle, which is quite a nice large size. It means it has lasted me absolutely ages, I bought mine about 6 weeks ago, and I'm only about a third of the way through. It also has a pump dispenser, which is quite handy because you can't get too much product like you sometimes can with squeezy bottles. Plus, you can't lose the lid. Yes, it happens.

The RRP is £27.60, which is a hefty price for a face wash. I did actually get it for cheaper, there was an offer on and I got it for only £22, which is definitely more palatable than the RRP!

To be honest, I'm in two minds whether I would repurchase or not. On the one hand it is such a great secondary cleanser, it leaves skin clean and soft, it smells lovely, packaging is practical, it's a gentle and non-irritating cleanser, it has lasted me absolutely ages, maybe it cleared up my acne, and has left my skin looking quite radiant, but on the other hand it is expensive for a cleanser. Actually, that is the only con. But still, price is a very important factor!

Are you a fan of any Elemis products?

Pamper sesh/Mini-facial.

Once a week I like to treat myself to a little facial, so to speak. No, I don't go out and get it done professionally, I do it by myself on myself, in the comfort of my own room. Perfectamundo.

It is one of the most pampering things you could do and your skin will love you for it, and you don't really need fancy expensive products or equipment. For example, stage 1 is cleansing. Any cleanser would do, depending on your skin type. Stage 2 is a repeat, so essentially a double cleanse, and you could use the same cleanser as before or go for a different one if you fancy. I find that my oily congested skin appreciates a double cleanse and I find this really effective at leaving skin prepped and primed. If you don't want to double-cleanse or don't feel your skin needs it - don't. I only do it because I definitely need to! Stage 3 is exfoliation. Any exfoliator will do, just make sure that the exfoliating matierial within the product isn't natural - peach kernels or nut shells aren't naturally round and therefore can scratch the skin, which isn't good. Man-made beads or crystals in exfoliating products are better because they can be refined down and rounded so they have a less harsh effect on the skin but are still effective. Step 4 can be carried out over a bowl of water. You don't have to own a steamer! Step 5 can be carried out again with a preferred cleanser. Stage 6 can be carried out with any mask you like - hydrating, chemically exfoliating, cleansing, whatever you want!. For stage 7, use your favourite moisturiser, and hey presto.
Everyone does their own facial differently, but mine is through trial and error, and this method and these products work for me!

I have written out what I normally do once a week facial-wise. Sometimes I skip out a stage if I'm feeling pushed for time, but normally I don't feel like I'm doing my skin justice unless I do the whole caboodle!

1) If I have a full face of makeup (which is rare), I take it all off with a baby wipe first and then I cleanse my face with the Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear 2 in 1' face wash to remove all the impurities and oil from my skin, leaving skin already feeling fresh and so clean.
2) I cleanse my face again with my Clarisonic and a foaming face wash (I am loving Neutrogena's 'Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash'), and then follow with Boots' Botanics 'All Bright Cleansing Toner', just to ensure I have cleaned every last trace of grime from my skin.
3) I follow the double-cleanse with micro-dermabraison courtesy of No7's 'Total Renewal Micro-dermabraision Exfoliator'. This is hands down the best exfoliator I have ever used. I haven't yet found one to beat it (yet). It removes all the dead skin cells, revealing new skin, ensuring all my products are ready to be absorbed well!
4) Then I steam my face with my own steamer - I've had it 6 years and it's still going strong! I add Boot's own 'Glycerin and Rosewater' or tea tree to the water. It really depends how my skin is feeling, if it's a wee bit sensitive I opt for the rose water, if I have a massively huge breakout I opt for the tea-tree essence just to clear out my congested pores.
5) Then I cleanse with a foaming cleanser, to make sure I have removed all the micro-dermabraison crystals from my skin.
6) I then apply a mask; this could either be the Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear 2 in 1' used as a mask (I love those multi-purpose products I do) or the Elemis 'Papaya Enzyme Peel'. I normally alternate but if skin is feeling congested, I will plump for the Neutrogena mask above the Elemis one, and if skin is looking dull and lifeless, I'll opt for the latter!
7) I then apply Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum, followed by a nice big sticky layer of Eucerin's 'Aquaphor' to ensure my skin is moisturised like hell - and I'm done!

I do think it is important not only for the skin, but also for the mind to completely de-stress and focus on yourself - I don't have much 'me-time' at the moment so this is the one selfish thing I revel in.

Feel Unique January 2012

I want to sob. And this is because this is the last ever beauty box that Feel Unique are doing. For reasons unknown, they've decided to discontinue the monthly beauty box. However, they did promise they would be doing something better in the future so this is a little bit of a sad/happy situation.

I super-love this months box! Super-duper-mega love it, making the fact the boxes are no more a bit more of a bitter pill to swallow.
I have tried and love the Nuxe Multi-Usage Dry Oil. I used it under my Darphin cream on my face last night and my skin this morning looked and felt amazingly hydrated and soft.
I love the Leighton Denny nail polish. I got was 'Viva La Diva', and it is the brightest, most colourful nail polish I have ever owned. It sucks I'll be in a hospital for the next three months, cause I won't be able to paint my nails with it! I love it, and I may even go as far as saying I might purchase the full size one because I love the colour so much.
I haven't used the Philip Kingsley 'Elasticizer' before, but I've heard so much about it! I think you must have been sleeping for the past few months not to have heard about it. So I'm dead excited about using it, and I think my hair needs all the restoration it can get!
I can't wait to lather myself up with the Elemis 'Lime and Ginger Hand and Body Wash'. It definitely smells amazing. From the bottle it does smell quite strong, but I like very aromatic/smelly things, so this just rocks my socks.
The Decleor 'Phytopeel Face Peel Cream' excites me very much, and I can't wait to put it on my face! Exfoliating products always tick my box, so I'm very pleased to have received this.

I will try and review this collection as separate products, but I still have some products from the January box still to review, so I'm not being very proactive, but I will aim to change and get some reviews bashed out as soon as I can!

RIP Feel Unique beauty box, there is a box-shaped hole in my heart where you used to be.
I think I'll just cry myself to sleep now.