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Because QV moisturiser comes in such a big bottle I’ve been hesitant to take the plunge and buy it, even though the QV range is so readily available I see it in every chemist I go to.This huge white pump bottle of moisturiser arrived for review at exactly the right time. I have been struggling with dry skin on my arms and legs, a new problem for me. I’ve never had to deal with dry body skin before but I guess as I enter my late 40s my skin is changing and needs extra help. This moisturiser is perfect for humid weather. It has a lotion consistency, not runny but not too heavy or thick. It is lightweight and absorbs quickly and easily, leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth without any tacky or greasy residue. It doesn’t have a strong or cloying scent, just a light freshness that doesn’t linger or clash with any fragrance I might be wearing. And most importantly, after a week of use my skin had lost that dry bumpy feeling and felt smooth and soft again. I also used it on my partner’s back where he is prone to dry skin and eczema, and it cleared up a couple of dry itchy patches within a week, without causing any irritation. He is pretty limited in what he can use so I’m glad to have another option, especially one that is so cost effective and easily available. Now that I have trialled this product I can see why it comes in such a large bottle, I use it all the time because it’s so easy to apply and feels so nice to use. This is a definite repurchase.

Out of the three new Manicare foot products I have, this was my least favourite. I’ve never been a huge fan of pumice stones and the like, as I find them difficult to hold and use. I do think the shape of this Soft Roc is very ergonomic and pleasing to hold, making it easier to grip and use than other similar products, however it was hard to reach certain spots on my feet and after using the new Manicare foot file with its grippy handle, I found the Soft Roc a bit more fiddly. I have very neglected feet so when I first used this, I didn’t find it effective. Once I had been taking better care of my feet for a week or two I began to see the benefit of the Soft Roc and its gentle smoothing action. I use it all over the sides and soles of my feet and it softens and smooths the skin and gets rid of any remaining flakies. In my case, this exfoliator was honestly eclipsed by the Manicare foot file and I tended to use that product instead of this one. The main reason was because with the foot file, the handle made it easy to reach every part of my foot without effort, I couldn’t achieve this with the Soft Roc. It’s still a great product but in the end it wasn’t my preference.

I have never owned a callus remover before and I have to say it’s a complete game changer Holy wow my feet have never been so soft!! The Manicare callus remover has a longish handle, about as long as a hairbrush handle, with a matte hard plastic finish. I do wish it had the same soft rubbery feel as the foot file but it doesn’t really need it. It has a thumb groove and tapered handle with a little bump at the end to stop it from slipping out of your hand, and it’s very easy to grip and manoeuvre. I like the long handle because I’m not as flexible as I used to be! The filing surface is a bit like a tiny cheese grater with a metallic silver face and raised open circles that provide the “shearing surface”. The back of the filing surface is inset and concave which, combined with the cover, provides a chamber for catching the dead skin and preventing mess. The cover is clear plastic, shaped to fit the head of the remover, and contains the dead skin when clipped on the back. When the remover is not in use, the plastic cover clips onto the front to protect the filing surface. I used this callus remover on the thick dead skin around the edges of my heels and within seconds I had the softest feet of my life! I also get thick skin on the outside of my pinky toes - I was nervous that I would hurt myself using the callus remover on my toes but it worked perfectly, removing the dead skin without hurting the rest of my skin at all. This is life changing for me as normally those toe calluses cause pressure and pain when I wear certain shoes. To be able to get rid of them with 30 seconds of buffing is just miraculous. I can honestly say I will never be without a callus remover again!

This foot file is definitely way better than my old one I’ve had forever. I rarely used the old one because it was uncomfortable to hold and not very effective as a result. Partly because it wasn’t great quality but also because I could only use it for a couple of minutes before I got uncomfortable and fed up. The new Manicare foot file is streets ahead of anything I’ve owned, even though it is essentially just another file, The higher quality is evident and they have really put some thought into the design, comfort and ease of use. It has a matte black soft-finish handle with a slightly rubbery texture, so it is easy to grip and manoeuvre. This makes a big difference to the ease of use especially when filing parts of my foot that are difficult to reach. One side of the filing surface has some raised bumps like massage nubs, and is coarser. I used this side first to file away the thicker dry surface layer of the soles of my feet. It took hardly any time at all and my feet have been neglected for months! The other side of the filing surface has a finer texture which I use to polish and smooth my feet and get rid of any remaining loose skin. As someone who doesn’t spend a huge amount of time on foot care, I was happy to find this file so comfortable to hold and so easy to use. The comfort grip is definitely a big factor in making it easier to spend more time using the file, and giving me better results.

I received two shades of this lipstick to trial, Red for Me and Plum for Me. I’m pale skinned and cool toned so these shades were definitely in the colour family of what I normally wear. The lipstick casing is square plastic and colour coordinated to the shade inside, which I love because I have a million lipsticks I can’t tell apart and going through and reading the tiny writing on the bottom of each tube is so painful. The base and inner tube of the lipstick are shiny silver, overall the packaging is appealing and the lid secures with a sturdy snap. The formula is lovely and light, a welcome change from the heavy liquid lipsticks I’ve been wearing. It applies evenly and smoothly, and has a satin finish with a light sheen. I found it easy to apply, and while it’s not a long lasting formula, it wears evenly and fades to a tint, not a ring. It’s easy to reapply on the go and it made my lips feel better through the day. The colours both suit my skin tone perfectly, the red is a true red maybe leaning slightly cool, while the Plum is definitely cool toned and applies as a flattering berry shade. I love Plum For Me as an everyday colour, while I wear the red when I’m a bit more dressed up. Coming into winter, the lightweight moisturising formula is absolutely perfect and I look forward to picking up a few more shades.

This cream is a thick, white cream that comes in standard jar packaging. It took me a little time to get used to applying so that I didn’t overdo it, it can leave your skin feeling a bit greasy if you apply too much. I found that a pea sized amount was plenty for me, warmed between my hands and pressed onto my face before gently massaging in, concentrating on upwards movements, it applies fairly easily and absorbs well, leaving skin dewy and hydrated. The dewy/tacky feeling takes about 5-10 minutes to fully absorb before I can apply makeup over the top. The cream smells gorgeous, it has a herbal aroma that is wonderfully refreshing and uplifting, it really is a lovely product to wake up to. Application is easy once you get the amount right, and makeup applies well over the top. This cream is packed full of antioxidants including Camu Camu extract and stabilised vitamin C, making it a great protective day cream. Its combination of cutting-edge and natural ingredients work to improve skin tone and texture, increase moisture and plump fine lines. I also love that it doesn’t include a sunscreen because I prefer to choose my own. While I haven’t noticed any permanent reduction in fine lines as yet, being 46 I wasn’t really expecting to. Nature has to take its course! What I have noticed and appreciated is the temporary plumping effect that works to smooth lines and wrinkles, and the improvement in my skin’s brightness and smoothness, that dull, flaky skin layer is gone, making me look less “tired and old” and helping my foundation apply more evenly and not be so prone to settling into fine lines. Overall I love the antioxidant and skin smoothing/brightening properties of this day cream, and while I wish it came in better packaging to protect the vitamin c and other active ingredients from air exposure, I think it’s an excellent day cream that delivers quality ingredients for visible results.

I have to get my one complaint out of the way first - I hate jar packaging! Especially when a product contains active ingredients, I would rather prevent the premature breakdown of these ingredients by minimising exposure to air. Having said that, this is a really lovely night cream to use. The natural herbal fragrance is so perfectly soothing for bedtime it’s a lovely part of the night time ritual. Although marketed as more of a natural range, this cream contains some truly excellent anti aging ingredients. Hyaluronic acid for moisturising and plumping, niacinimide to smooth skin, improve the skin’s barrier function and reduce moisture loss, and salicylic acid to reduce surface dryness, dullness and congestion, all of which contribute to smoother, brighter, less congested, more hydrated skin. The natural ingredients include Shea butter, macadamia oil, echium oil to reduce wrinkles, and Camu Camu extract which is an antioxidant. All these ingredients make for an excellent partnership between science and nature, resulting in a cream that is relaxing and pampering to use while delivering visible results. Application of this cream is fairly simple, I take a pea sized amount and warm it between my fingers to help it apply more easily. I press my hands over my face to distribute the cream before gently massaging it into my skin, The cream is quite thick and white but once warmed and softened in my hands it absorbs quickly, leaving my skin soft and dewy, and in the morning still feeling refreshed. Results wise the biggest change I have noticed is in my surface dryness, I am prone to flakiness and dullness and my skin definitely looks fresher and brighter since using this cream for a few weeks. Foundation applies more smoothly without clinging to dry patches and I feel like my skin is less prone to drying out overnight, even with air conditioning running. Fine lines and wrinkles are still present but they do plump up when I apply the cream and while I am hopeful that over time I may see some more permanent reduction, a temporary fix is good enough for me at 46 years of age, and I love the brightening results that are definitely more than temporary. Overall this is an excellent night cream that fuses natural ingredients with modern technology and delivers results.

This is a lovely little eye cream to use. The tube is hygienic and practical and easily controlled to dispense just the right amount of product (I use slightly less than a rice grain sized dab for each eye). The cream feels quite thick but after warming it between the tips of my ring fingers it applies easily with no tugging at the delicate skin around the eye area, I apply it by tapping it gently onto my undereye area and around my outer eye socket to get those pesky crows feet, then across under my brow bone. It then absorbs into my skin easily with some gentle tapping and massage. It leaves my skin feeling slightly dewy but that residual feeling is quite refreshing, especially at night. My eyes feel good when I wake in the morning, no puffiness or shadows. I’m not chronically prone to either but if I have a late night you’ll usually see it in my eyes, with this eye cream I could get away with a few late nights here and there. As far as wrinkle reduction, while I didn’t notice any permanent changes, it definitely plumps and smooths fine lines when you apply it, and my foundation didn’t settle so much into my deeper lines. So as long as it does the job and makes me look good enough to leave the house I think that’s exceptional for the price. I also apply it along my upper lip line to get rid of those little creases that come with age, and it does a good job of reducing these, my makeup applies well over the top and looks a lot more flattering, and my lipstick is less likely to bleed into my lip lines. Overall this is a lovely eye cream that performs well for the price point, and would be excellent for those who avoid aggressive and expensive anti aging treatments in favour of a gentle, natural approach that still includes high quality ingredients and delivers visible results. .

Minenssey Flannel Flower Absolute is a clear oil/serum with little to no fragrance that makes it perfect for my redness-prone skin. It comes in a simple glass bottle with a push button dropper dispenser. I use five drops to cover my face and neck, applied after cleansing and toning, and before my moisturiser. It absorbs easily and doesn’t leave any residue on my face or neck at all. With the recent weather change my skin is starting to feel a bit drier so I have also been adding two drops to my moisturiser in the evening, and my skin still feels fresh and moisturised when I wake up. After using this product for a few weeks my skin feels and looks fresh and hydrated, it gives my face a nice glow and I feel like my redness has reduced and my skin is calmer and less reactive, I don’t get as red on my chin and cheeks. Normally as the weather gets colder my redness becomes more of an issue but this serum is so soothing and calming. One great extra use for this is mixed with long wear foundation. Being in my 40s I have drier skin and some fine lines and as the day goes on, my foundation tends to dry out and crease into these lines. At the end of a long day my skin feels tight and uncomfortable and my foundation looks a little flaky in places like old paint. Rather than trying to find another foundation (shade matching is a nightmare) I mixed 2 drops of Flannel Flower Absolute with my MAC Studio Fix foundation. It made application so much smoother and easier resulting in a perfect satin finish, and my foundation still lasted all day but stayed even and natural, rather than settling into lines and pores or going flaky. My skin felt much more comfortable, I’ll be using this trick all through winter! Overall this serum is fantastic, the lack of fragrance is a definite bonus for those of us with reactive skin, it’s soothing, absorbs quickly, it’s versatile and my skin benefits from it and feels better when I use it. My one issue is the dropper applicator doesn’t quite reach the bottom of the bottle which might be a problem when the level gets low, but it’s an issue worth working around. Minenssey Flannel Flower serum is a pleasure to use.

On first impressions I loved the travel friendly jar, it’s quite slim and lightweight while still being pretty and functional. The scent of this cream wasn’t for me, I am headache-prone at the moment and the strong floral scent didn’t agree with me, but of course I took a huge whiff so I probably overdosed myself! I showed my mum and she adored the scent, so it comes down to personal preference. I also found that the scent didn’t bother me as much if I was careful during application, rather than on my first encounter where I basically shoved my nose in the jar and inhaled. The texture of this cream is quite thick and I was worried it would take forever to absorb, however it melted into my skin very quickly. It is lovely and hydrating and provides a great base for makeup. I could see that after application my skin looked smoother and my foundation didn’t settle into fine lines as much. Even late in the day after hours of wear the creasing was less obvious and my fine lines didn’t look as deep, particularly on my upper lip which is usually a problem spot for me. I didn’t feel that this cream provided any long term improvement in my skin with use, it was more of a cosmetic plumping and smoothing effect on application. I’m happy with that though, as long as I apply it each morning I get the benefits throughout the day. Bonus points for the spf, a little extra sun protection is always welcome, and it didn’t bother my skin or interfere with my foundation application like some sun products can. Overall, I enjoyed using this cream and would recommend it to others.