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I was fortunate to receive the Revlon Intense White kit as one of the items in the July Discovery Bag so thank you Beauty Heaven. The kit arrived in a red and white box and contained 14 Whitening Strips treatments and a 3ml Instant Whitening Pen, neither of which contain more than 6% Hydrogen Peroxide. The instructions were to use the strips daily, each foil packet containing an upper strip for the top teeth and a lower strip for the bottom teeth. Before use it is recommended teeth must be dry. Following the instructions carefully I placed strips on my top and bottom teeth and left them to dry for thirty minutes. After 30 minutes I removed both strips which wasn’t that easy as they tend to become a tad gluey but having done so I rinsed away any residual gel from my teeth. The first time I tried the strips I did feel a slight irritation but from then on I felt nothing. It’s advised to use the strips once daily for 14 consecutive days for the best outcome. The whitening pen included is best used to prolong the whitening effect delivered by the strips and also for touch ups on the go. Before use it is necessary to shake the pen for 5 seconds and proceed to click end button until gel covers the brush. Twenty or so clicks was recommended but I found I had to do more. It is then advised to smile wide and gently apply a thin layer of gel onto upper exposed teeth and allow to dry for 30 seconds followed by the same procedure for the bottom teeth. The first time I tried the pen I have to admit I used too much and my teeth felt gluggy. In this case obviously less is more! It is then a case of leaving gel on for 30 minutes followed by a rinse. During the 30 minutes it is advised not to eat or drink. I enjoyed using the minty strips as they contain wonderful ingredients like Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Cranberries and Peppermint. I also found having repeated the treatment daily for two weeks that my mature tea stained teeth did look a couple of shades whiter, so I was more than happy with the results. This pack retails for around $30 and is well worth the money.

Thank you Beauty Heaven for inviting me to trial this very interesting kit in the July Discovery Bag. The kit which is meant to be used daily contains 14 whitening strips and a 3ml instant whitening pen and is purported to achieve professional teeth whitening results without any irritation. To commence the treatment it is necessary to ensure teeth are dry, then it is just a case of tearing open the pouch which reveals two strips, one for the upper teeth and another for the bottom. It is then recommended that one places the whitening strip on the lower teeth first and then the top teeth. I noticed that the taste of the strips was quite minty as well as containing added botanicals such as Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Cranberries and Peppermint. It’s advised to leave the strips on for 30 minutes and then remove them (which wasn’t always easy) and rinse away any gel that remains on the teeth. The whitening pen is great for touch ups although I found I used too much at first and my teeth felt gluey so just a thin layer of gel firstly to the exposed upper teeth followed by the lower teeth. It is then recommended the gel be left on for 30 minutes before rinsing. During these 30 minutes it is advised one should not eat or drink. After trialling this product I have to admit my aged teeth do appear a lot whiter which I am really thrilled about so I will continue to use the whitening pen to enhance the treatment even more.

I was thrilled to receive the Omnilux Contour Face Mask as one of the items in the July Discovery Bag so thank you Beauty Heaven as it was such a surprise. The mask arrived in a luxury green and white box which also contained a charger and several country specific adaptors along with a fabric carry bag and User guide. Valued at $605 the mask is clinically proven to boost collagen production and reduce facial wrinkles. As instructed I firstly performed the Skin sensitization test and fortunately had no reaction. I then proceeded to charge the controller which must be charged on its own and not when attached to the mask. Once fully charged all three charging lights will illuminate indicating the mask is ready to be used. The mask must then be connected to the end of the controller. I immediately put the mask on and found it sat comfortably and could be adjusted with straps if necessary. To activate the controller one has to press down on the button for one second. This enables one to have a ten minute session and then the device will shut off. I must admit I was quite surprised to see how many infrared lights the mask contained and although it’s stated that due to its portability one can read a book or watch TV with it on, I found it impossible to do so because of the brightness. It’s purported that in some cases skin may appear red after treatment but should return to normal within 1-2 hours. Thankfully this didn’t occur but I will admit that immediately after each light treatment I developed a headache which was extremely offputting although it was warned this could happen. Due to that I didn’t trial the product the full 4-6 weeks it was recommended so really couldn’t see the benefits.

I received this unusual Hemp balm as one of the products in the July Discovery Bag. I was very keen to try it having heard lots of good remarks about Hemp products. Made in New Zealand, it arrived in a 30g white jar with a gold lid enclosed in a small cardboard box. The balm contains Calendula and Manuka Oil, Peppermint Oil and is rich in Vitamins A and E and Hemp Seed Oil and is recommended to soothe skin irritations and relieve tired and stressed skin. It certainly has a lot going for it seeing all its ingredients are natural as well as being Paraben, Silicone and Sulphate Free. So I gave it a go on some itchy skin lesions I had and unfortunately found the balm very difficult to get out of the jar as it is set very firm. It was a case of sliding my finger over the balm and extracting as much as I could with that process and then working it gently into my skin. I noted it had quite a soothing effect and at $29.99 a jar is certainly a great product and one I enjoyed trialing.

I received PB SKN Glow Gleam-Giver as one of the products in the July Discovery Bag. It arrived in a pale green plastic cylinder with a white pump top. It’s purported to prevent and reduce signs of sun damage and also addresses those skin concerns such as dullness, pigmentation and redness. To dispense this velvety serum one only has to press one pump onto a damp face after cleansing and before moisturising morning and night. I found it was very easy to apply, one drop was certainly enough and it absorbed readily. I loved it that it was Australian made, natural and vegan friendly. What I wasn’t so impressed with was the price as I felt $65.00 was rather exhorbitant. Howeve it did leave my complexion looking brighter and more even toned.

I was very excited to be chosen to trial L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Serum seeing I am of mature age and am at the stage where I am willing to trial anything if it will turn back time! The serum arrived packaged beautifully in a 30ml sleek etched dusky glass bottle complete with a clear glass liquid dropper. It really does look very luxe in pride of place on my vanity. At a recommended retail price of $59.95 the serum is not cheap and is a creamy peach consistency with a delightful fruity fragrance. Best of all it contains a powerful antioxidant derived from bitter orange and Vitamin E claiming to protect against free radical damage and reinforce the skin’s barrier. It’s also made without parabens or mineral oil so great for those with sensitive complexions. L’Oreal purport that mother cells, the source of new skin cells, become less active as we age therefore fewer new cells are created. The activity of these cells occur at night hence “Midnight” in the title. I tested this serum over a period of approximately five weeks which is about as long as the bottle lasts. I found 2 drops of the serum applied to a cleansed face and neck every morning and night was ample even though the packaging did state 3-4 drops. Maybe this is because the serum itself is non sticky, has a melting texture so easily spreadable and absorbed. When used in the morning I found it completely hydrated my skin so much so that at times I did not find it at all necessary to use a moisturiser. Since using this serum my complexion has felt soft and hydrated but other than that disappointingly I can’t claim that lines and wrinkles are reduced or that my skin feels tightened so maybe not as much benefit to mature aged complexions as I would have wished.

I am probably not the best candidate to trial Biore Original Deep Cleansing Pore Strips as I am mature aged and thankfully seem to have passed the blackhead stage of my younger years. Nevertheless I did trial this product which is made in Japan and which arrived in a navy and white box containing six nose strips. The strips claim to work like a magnet, instantly locking onto and lifting out deep down dirt, oil and blackheads, thus one is rewarded with a deep clean. The instructions were easy to follow, remove strip from pouch and twist to loosen and separate. One must then wash face thoroughly and wet the nose as the strip won’t stick on a dry nose. I applied the strip to my nose, smoothed it down, making sure there was good contact with skin. I then let it dry for about 15 minutes until the strip felt stiff to touch. I then peeled off the strip slowly. Upon inspecting the strip I couldn’t find any blackheads but do feel it left my nose soft and smooth as I am prone to sun damage on the side of my nose so do felt it helped in this regard.

I no longer sun bathe and very seldom wear self tanning products and I guess that’s because I was a marching girl for 10 years and the horrible leg tan “March On” was mandatory and the smell still lingers …, However when invited by BH to trial amongst other products “Jergens Natural Glow” I decided to give it a go. This is an American product consisting of US and imported ingredients and it arrived in a glamorous golden 221 ml tube. It purports to reduce the appearance of cellulite in as little as 7 days and at the same time gradually create flawless, natural looking colour. The cream itself is white and blends to clear and has a lovely coconut fragrance. I applied it on my legs after showering and discovered that it went on very smoothly but did take quite a few minutes more to dry, in fact my legs felt rather sticky which doesn’t help when one is in a hurry to get dressed as I was. Not sure if I was imagining it or not but it did look like my legs had taken on an immediate faint glow. I was disappointed that this product did not contain sunscreen so therefore does not protect against sunburn, but by the same token is infused with Collagen and Elastin and Paraben and cruelty free. I will continue to use Jergens Natural Glow as it does give a natural glow which is the look I am after.

Seeing I’d not heard of John Plunkett’s Super Bright Exfoliating Skin Brightener before I was very keen to trial it. It claims to be an overnight exfoliating serum for laser like resurfacing, visibly refining pores, reducing fine lines and surface discolouration. I was particularly interested in its claims of reducing surface discolouration as I have sun damage on one side of my face. The serum which contains salon strength Glycolic and Aloe Vera, arrived in a plastic 15ml clear container with a push pump dispenser and ranges in price from $24.90 - $38.99 at various pharmacies so shop around girls! The instructions state to apply one pump of the clear serum like liquid of an evening on finger tips and gently spread evenly over face and décolletage avoiding the eye area and then let it dry before applying moisturiser. I found it spread extremely well and to use more than one pump would be totally wasteful. I was not able to discern fragrance of any kind. I wouldn’t say that my complexion is sensitive but I did notice a slight tingling the first time I used it, however I kept it on and then applied my usual night time moisturiser on top. As it is recommended that one only apply it 1-2 times per week, I really haven’t had sufficient time to actually see if this product does what it claims as I didn’t notice any visible difference to my face the following mornings i trialled it, however I will continue using it to give the product a fair chance.

As there is an abundance of hand cream and lotion out there I really thought what would be so special about this one? However I was pleasantly surprised, DU’IT Tough Hands Intensive Skin Repair formulated for dry, cracked and irritated hands and best of all an Australian made and owned brand, really did live up to its promise so little wonder it purports to be Australia’s No. 1 Hand Cream Brand in Pharmacy. The cream which is considered industrial strength, arrived in a very recognisable and generous 150g yellow, white and blue tube with a blue click cap with the promise of visible effects within one day. Another surprise was that it is completely free from Lanolin, Parabens, Petrolatum and a few other nasties. Upon using it I found it to be a very rich cream. It is white with the slightest tinge of pink which blends to clear and surprisingly is completely fragrance free. Only a very small amount is needed as it can be greasy if too much is used. I have to say I found it extremely moisturising and my hands felt so soft and stayed that way for quite some time. I found it worked very well on the heels and soles of my feet too.