Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Soap & Glory skincare range for oily/combination skin.


 I'm not going to lie; Every Christmas and/or birthday I receive Soap & Glory gift sets, usually containing a shower gel and the range of body mists and I barely use them as I'm not really into 'bath stuff'. However, this recently changed when I decided one day to use the shower gel I had sitting in my shower for the last month; this product was the'CLEAN ON ME™' shower gel. I was considering using a body scrub which I hadn't used for a few weeks and decided why not, I may as well try whatever is scattered around my shower and I'm glad I did. The shower gel smelt crisp, clean and fresh, alongside the 'typical' soap & glory smell but to be honest the scent didn't wow me, what I did notice was how smooth my skin felt after using it, the tag line 'Soft, smooth, sexy skin whenever you want it. Contains natural mandarin peel extract and a bonus built-in body lotion. Scented with our Original Pink™ fragrance' certainly lived up to its name. My arms, legs, hands and feet felt so smooth and I really felt rejuvenated after my shower. 
This led me on to their website, as I was interested to see what their skin care range could offer me. I have oily/combination skin and find it extremely difficult to find skin care products which can both keep my skin matte, especially in the t-zone area but also moisturise my face as well, without it looking greasy. I stumbled upon their 'Acne treatment' and 'Oily skin' range, like so many of us, I haven't always had the best skin and although my skin is a million times better than what it used to be, I still have breakouts from time to time. I immediately noticed the change in packaging, before even reading what the products were and noticed mixed reviews. Most of the customers who had left reviews on the products were appalled at the change in packaging and the new higher price, for a smaller item. I can see their point; If you have been, unlike me, a Soap and Glory addict for a number of years then I can see their disappointment and anger towards the new price if you are accustomed to paying a certain amount for a larger product.


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I really do love the vintage, whimsical, eye-catching and extremely clever packaging on most of their other products and their use of puns to coincide with what their products do, e.g 'RICH AND FOAMUS™', 'HAND DREAM™', 'ENDLESS GLOVE™', 'ONE NIGHT TANNED™', WHIPPED CLEAN™', 'SCRUB, ACTUALLY™' and 'PULP FRICTION™', to name a few!
Some of the reviews stated that the company were 'getting greedy', others stated that they had 'upset their customers' and a lot of them retorted that they 'were not going to buy the products again', despite the items receiving a 3-4+ out of 5 star rating; This was mostly due to the fact that they felt that the products worked well. As a newly invigorated customer, I wanted to try them out for myself, despite the negative comments as I had heard really great reviews talking about the range, such as the lack of oiliness in the t-zone area, smooth skin and the pleasant scent of the products. So I went out and bought the 'FACE SOAP AND CLARITY™' 3-in-1 detox vitamin C facial wash, 'THE FAB PORE™' moisture lotion, 'NO CLOGS ALLOWED™' self-heating deep pore detox mask, 'THE FAB PORE™' 2-in-1 facial pore purifying mask & peel and the 'SCRUB YOUR NOSE IN IT™' self pore refining formula AHA facial scrub; When its 3 for 2 in Boots, youhave to go a bit crazy.
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FACE SOAP AND CLARITY™
3-IN-1 DAILY DETOX VITAMIN C FACIAL WASH
RRP £8.00/ €9.36 - 150ML

Face Soap And Clarity™ is a 3-in-1 daily face wash with ultra-soft scrub-beads, plus vitamins, amino acids and Soap & Glory’s exclusive SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU complex. It cleans and purifies skin, effortlessly removes make-up, and gently exfoliates. In short, it’s one killer cleanser!

• SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU - a skin energising, toning and brightening antioxidant complex pressed from natural Chinese citrus fruits
• a super-tasking VITAMIN AND AMINO ACIDS - to help refresh improve radiance and appearance of blemishes
• GLYCERIN - to help skin feel soft and supple
• gentle polishing MICROBEADS - to exfoliate and resurface the skin
This is a great cleanser, it leaves my face feeling super clean and minty fresh! It's especially useful to use after a long day at work, as it leaves you feeling restored and ready to relax on a night. I use face wipes to clean the top layer of make-up off my skin and the 'FACE SOAP AND CLARITY'' facial wash afterwards to cleanse deep into my pores. I use this product every day before I go to work and before I go to sleep.

'It cleans and purifies skin, effortlessly removes make-up, and gently exfoliates. In short, it’s one killer cleanser!' .

Indeed it is Soap & Glory! It's simple, straight forward instructions allow you to use just the right amount of facial wash for your cleanse. It really does gently exfoliate, it doesn't lather your face too much or is an almost invisible layer; It quickly turns into a fresh, light and soft lather, the perfect half way point.

'SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU - a skin energising, toning and brightening antioxidant complex pressed from natural Chinese citrus fruits'.

I loved the smell of this product, whenever I exfoliate the aroma of minty freshness and slight citrus scents emerge, which makes your face feel so awake and alive; 'Scent-wise' it is everything you want in a cleanser.

'A super-tasking VITAMIN AND AMINO ACIDS - to help refresh improve radiance and appearance of blemishes'.

I have been using this product for about a week now and I can honestly say that it has helped my skin look clearer. Obviously, it won't get rid of your blemishes overnight but it certainly helps to improve them.

I would highly recommend this product, not only does your skin feel so much softer, but it actually feels like it cleanses deep into your pores leaving your skin feeling renewed and reformed; It makes me feel like I haven't worn make up at all!

To buy this product, click here:

http://www._soapandglory.com/face-soap-and-claritytm

http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%E2%84%A2-Face-Soap-and-Clarity%E2%84%A2-3-in-1-Daily-Detox-Vitamin-C-Facial-Wash-150ml_1364150/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soap-And-Glo_ry-Clarity-Facial/dp/B00DC3NW0W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395261878&sr=8-1&keywords=soap+and+glory+clarity

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NO CLOGS ALLOWED™
SUPER SELF-HEATING DEEP PORE DETOX MASK
RRP £11.50/ €13.46 - 100ML

It deep cleans, melts away pore-plugging sebum and softens keratinised skin cells to prevent breakouts and blemishes. Just massage on, and stop when the paste changes from yellow to blue. No Clogs Allowed™ is perfect for weekly use on areas prone to blackhead build-up, or more often as a deep-oil-emulsifying, detoxifying face mask and all-round scrubby WONDER!

• 1-MINUTE HOT PORECLEAR™ TECHNOLOGY - a fast-acting, smoothing and polishing blend of micropumice, salicylic acid and hot clay, which activates with water contact
• GLYCERIN - to help skin feel soft and supple
• unique COLOUR-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY - (blue indicates when it’s activated)
• PLUS surface-polishing micro beads
• use weekly on areas susceptible to blackhead build-up
• strategically formulated for oily/combination skin
I loved this product; my skin felt so soft after using it and it only took 5 minutes! I am not a huge fan of face masks; Yes, they are fun for sleepovers or just slapping one on now and again to make yourself feel better, but they are not something I buy often at all but I was willing to give this a go.

'A fast-acting, smoothing and polishing blend of micropumice, salicylic acid and hot clay, which activates with water contact'.


It claims to be 'fast-acting' and it certainly is; One of the things I absolutely hate about face masks is the 'cakey'consistencywhich results in an inability to dry quickly; I am clumsy enough as it is anyway, so adding a melting face mask to the mixture doesn't bode well and often leaves my clothes covered in face mask paste. I also cannot stand the really thin masks you have to peel off; The ones which leave curled up remainders of face mask skin embedded into your hair line. However, this product has all the right combinations of an ideal face mask in one. It dries within five minutes, and by dries I don't mean it makes your face feel as if Medusa has won a staring competition, it feels light, soothes your skin and you can feel it working almost instantly as it heats up. Furthermore, the process of wiping the face mask off with a damp hand towel was so quick and easy in comparison to the thicker face masks which leave lumps of goo all over your cloth.

'1-MINUTE HOT PORECLEAR™ TECHNOLOGY'.

Another element I absolutely loathe about 'self-heating' face masks are the rate at which they rise in temperature. As I have sensitive skin, my face usually reacts badly to different products, leaving it an unsightly tomato shade; After the stinging stops, I am forced to hide indoors until it subsides. This face mask didn't heat my face like a stinging nettle but gently warmed it, which although only lasted a short while (due to it drying within five minutes), it was a refreshing change from my usual burnt face and one I much prefer.

Scent:

The scent of the product isn't described on the website, so I'll give it my best shot. The way something smells, especially if your putting it on your body needs to smell good, otherwise you will smell...well bad and no one wants to smell like that. I cannot stand body/face products that are overwhelming even if the smell is initially pleasant, too much of it is not good and can completely overpower you. On the other hand, something which has little or no scent at all, I think, is rather pointless. Although some people prefer products which are 'fragrance free' ect, when it comes to bath/body products, for me this doesn't apply! I think that if I buy a product which claims to have all these exotic ingredients in to make you smell lovely and they end up smelling of nothing or only have a faint scent, they obviously don't deliver what they claim; If an air freshener would smell more poignant than you would, don't bother. However, this face mask had subtle hints of what I can only describe as a 'light citrus' smell, which wasn't too overbearing; It smelt very fresh, as if it would wake you up, if that makes any sense at all. I always feel so much more wary when I put products on my face, not only because of my sensitive skin which I stated before, but also because if anything is under my eyes/nose and the smell is over the top, it will usually sting my eyes and nasal passages, leaving me no choice but to take it off my face as soon as possible. The smell this product had was not overpowering and offered just the right amount of scent to not burn your eyes off.

'Just massage on, and stop when the paste changes from yellow to blue.'

To be honest, I didn't really notice a huge change in colour 'from yellow to blue', but it didn't really bother me that much as I didn't purchase the product because it changed from one primary colour to another.. perhaps they included this element to try and reiterate to the customer that 'it really does heat up' because it changes colour, I don't really know.

I have read mixed reviews about this product; Some customers stated that it made their face more greasy than before, for example when they wiped it off or tried hot and cold water, whilst others said it dried their skin out too much. Fortunately for me I found it dried your skin out just the right amount, leaving you with a matte finish and super soft skin, especially on my forehead.
Overall I would recommend buying this product, although I think it is a little bit expensive for the size of the bottle, you only use it once a week and use a small amount which covers your whole face, allowing the product to last a bit longer. The massive pro about this face mask is how bright,clean and fresh you feel after using it, like your dirt and stress of the day has been brushed away and youv'e woken up bright eyed and ready to relax. Once again, I wanted to reiterate how smooth your face feelings after using it, it's a great product!

To buy this product click here:

http://www.soapandglory.com/skincare/skincare-treatments/acne-treatment/no-cloggs-allowedtm

http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%C2%99-No-Cloggs-Allowed%C2%99-Super-Self-Heating-Deep-Pore-Detox-Mask_1364146/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soap-And-Glory-Allowed-Heating/dp/B00EYG72CU/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1395185837&sr=1-2&keywords=soap+and+glory+no+clogs+allowed
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SCRUB YOUR NOSE IN IT™
SPECIAL PORE REFINING FORMULA AHA FACIAL SCRUB
RRP £9.00/ €10.53 - 100ML



Formulated with Soap & Glory’s exclusive, deep pore detoxing D-CLOG™MICROMUD – a super clarifying, triple action, diatomaceous earth mix – it helps to exfoliate, clean and purify the skin, lift away pore-clogging dead skin cells, soak up excess oils, and stimulate fresh oxygen to your face.

• SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU - a skin energising, toning and brightening antioxidant complex pressed from natural Japanese citrus fruits
• D-CLOG™ MICROMUD - a blend of highly refined, purified, diatomaceous earth and fruit acids that help dissolve pore-clogging debris and clear away dead skin cells
• MONTMORILLITE CLAY - a soft, white, purified, highly absorbent clay that soaks up excess oils
• SUPER AHA FRUIT ACIDS - to dissolve the ‘glue’ that keeps dead cells stuck to your skin
• strategically formulated for oily/combination skin
After using the facial scrub on my nose, I did feel an immediate difference, as my skin felt very smooth. This product is perfect if you just want to concentrate on cleansing your pores in your T-zone, this area is the worst for oil prone skin as it collects dirt quickly and leaves your face looking overly greasy; I suffer from this daily, I cannot find anything to eliminate the oil around my nose. I find this product rather like the 'FACE SOAP AND CLARITY™' facial wash, however the subtle difference between the two are the wash focuses on cleansing the whole of your face and the 'SCRUB YOUR NOSE IN IT™' facial scrub is used to further exfoliate and unclog pores focusing on your oil prone areas.

A super clarifying, triple action, diatomaceous earth mix – it helps to exfoliate, clean and purify the skin, lift away pore-clogging dead skin cells, soak up excess oils, and stimulate fresh oxygen to your face. 

It certainly does feel like the scrub soaks up the excess oil, once you wash it off your nose it does feel very smooth. The grains within the scrub are very fine and don't feel harsh on my sensitive skin when I rub it into my pores. When I have used facial scrubs in the past, they have always left my face feeling red and quite irritated, I loved the fact that there is no redness at all after I have used the facial scrub. I haven't really noticed a huge improvement with my pores becoming less clogged up but after you use the product it does leave your skin with a matte finish.

The reviews for this product have been mostly positive with customers commenting on how soft their skin felt and how much it had improved their blemishes. However, the same negative comments kept creeping up; The packaging and price were completely slated and I would I agree with them to a certain extent. I'm not sure that it is worth the £9 price tag, I prefer the facial wash and self-heat face mask to this product.

To buy this product, click here:

http://www.soapandglory.com/skincare/skincare-treatments/acne-treatment/scrub-your-nose-in-ittm

http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%E2%84%A2-Scrub-Your-Nose-In-It%E2%84%A2-Special-Pore-Refining-Formula-AHA-Facial-Scrub_1364174/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soap-And-Glory-Refining-Formula/dp/B00EYG6ZDC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395349094&sr=8-2&keywords=scrub+your+nose+in+it
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THE FAB PORE™
2-IN-1 FACIAL PORE PURIFYING MASK & PEEL
RRP £10.00/ €11.7 - 50ML



Infused with SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU and Soap & Glory’s super-active secret weapon, PORESHRINK-R™, this deep cleansing facial treatment is a must-have for any girl who wants to see less of her large pores. Use once-a-week for maintenance (unclogging pores, spot prevention, and face detoxing), or twice weekly if you’re battling breakouts. Guaranteed to give exhausted skin its fresh back. Genius in a jar!

• PORESHRINK™-R complex - an amazing, double-action, beta-hydroxy acid (a blend of encapsulated salicylic and lactic acids) which fights spots by gently peeling away pore-clogging dead skin cells and reducing intra-follicular inflammation, plus fomes officinalis mushroom extracts to tighten pores, and kaolin microclay to soak up excess sebum secretion and smooth the skin’s surface
• RICE MICROBEADS - scrubbing spheres that gently smooth, polish and exfoliate
This product gave the same sort of feel as the self-heating face mask; Smooth, soft, matte skin. It recommends that you use it 2-3 times a week and leave it on for 5 minutes and 15 minutes for a deep cleanse. I usually alternate between the two, one day leaving it on 15 minutes and the next 5 minutes and would imagine if I had a bad breakout I would leave it on for 15 minutes each day I used it.

PORESHRINK™-R complex - an amazing, double-action, beta-hydroxy acid (a blend of encapsulated salicylic and lactic acids) which fights spots by gently peeling away pore-clogging dead skin cells and reducing intra-follicular inflammation, plus fomes officinalis mushroom extracts to tighten pores, and kaolin microclay to soak up excess sebum secretion and smooth the skin’s surface.

I loved the fact that this mask and peel were the right consistency, the thin but noticeable layer dried quickly and I felt as if my face tightened slightly. I felt the beads instantly working the moment they touched my skin creating a slight exfoliation. I then washed the excess from my face, it left it, you guessed it, smooth! I would recommend the 'FAB PORE™2-in-1 facial pore purifying mask and peel if you want a product to feel light on your skin even if you have a lot on, which leaves it feeling matte, soft and fresh! It also doesn't leave a gunky mess all over the bathroom when you come to wash the product off. However, I did expect a peel off mask not a 'wash-off' product and expected a bit more for the £10 price tag.

The reviews for this product were rather mixed; Some customers were questioning the longevity of the product and that their blackheads were back the next day, others complained that it felt as if their skin was burning when applying the product. As someone who has sensitive skin, I didn't notice any form of redness on my skin after using it and I would agree with most of the positive reviews. The mask and peel really did seem to reduce the size of my pores and overall I am happy with it!

To buy this product, click here:

http://www.soapandglory.com/skincare/skincare-treatments/acne-treatment/the-fab-pore-trade-facial-peel

http://www.soapandglory.com/skincare/skincare-treatments/acne-treatment/the-fab-pore-trade-facial-peel

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soap-Glory-Pore-minute-Facial/dp/B00EU8FM42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395349308&sr=8-1&keywords=fab+pore+facial+peel
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THE FAB PORE™ MOISTURE LOTION
DAILY MICRO SMOOTHING MOISTURE LOTION
RRP £12.00/ €14.04 - 50ML

Try our new, multi-tasking, quadruple-action FAB PORE daily micro-smoothing moisture lotion. With DETOXYBOOST™ technology (to up your oxygen), our special PORESHRINK-12H™ complex (as an astringent), and energising citrus SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU – for all-day control of clog-prone pores, surplus sebum, and that endlessly greasy t-zone.

• DETOXYBOOST™ - a circulation-boosting, organic ginseng-based blend of oxygenating molecules
• PORESHRINK -12H™ complex - a blend of ‘intelligent’ slow-release salicylic acid that’s gentle on skin, vitamin B6 and Fomes Officinalis Mushroom; a pore-tightening, moisture-boosting astringent agent that reduces sebaceous gland secretion
• SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU - a skin energising, toning and brightening antioxidant complex pressed from natural Japanese citrus fruits
• NYLON 12 - a highly porous, absorbent micronylon that delivers instant mattification
Moisturiser, the last step in your skin care routine and one of the most important! I have always had trouble trying to find a suitable moisturiser, especially for my skin type. One aspect Soap & Glory tried to promote in their oily skin/acne treatment skincare range were that their products always had a matte finish. This is a crucial element in any oily skincare range as this skin type is prone to intense greasiness around the t-zone. I was intrigued by the description'instant mattification', so I thought I would try it out.

SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU - a skin energising, toning and brightening antioxidant complex pressed from natural Japanese citrus fruits.

It really does make my skin feel refreshed, especially when I use it in the morning before work. The packaging of the product remind me of a toothpaste tube, which I found really easy to squeeze the moisturiser out of and the scent which accompanied it also smelt rather minty. It did energise my skin and left it feeling both moisturised and matte at the same time.

• NYLON 12 - a highly porous, absorbent micronylon that delivers instant mattification.

The tagline for this product is very important for those seeking to eliminate the build up of grease or oil from their face. The promise of 'instant mattification' attracted me immediately, I wanted to test how matte this product really was on your skin and whether this claim would be true. Once I had rubbed the moisturiser into my face, it sank into my skin with ease, the formula is great! I would say that it left me with a 'half-matte' finish, matte in certain areas, but moisturised at the same time, leaving my face glowing!

There were mixed reviews with this product, but most were positive. Some complaints were that it stung your cheeks after applying it, whereas others were praising the fact that their face seemed to glow afterwards. I found that a little really does go a long way with this product and although it is rather pricey for the size, you really only need to use a small amount to cover your whole face. I also didn't find that this product burnt my skin at all, once I applied it I felt a slight sensation on my face accompanied by the subtle scent of mint which I found incredibly refreshing. I began my day using the 'FACE SOAP AND CLARITY™' facial wash and then moisturised using the 'THE FAB PORE™' moisturising lotion. After an 8 and a half hour day at work (I work in an office, so I sit down for most of the day) there was still  a build up of grease around my nose. However, I will say that it did really matte my face when I first used it and for a while afterwards. It also did reduce shine in my t-zone area, it's just a shame that it didn't last all day.

To buy this product, click here:

http://www.soapandglory.com/skincare/skincare-treatments/acne-treatment/the-fab-poretm-moisture-lotion-new

http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%C2%99-The-Fab-Pore%C2%99-Daily-Micro-Smoothing-Moisture-Lotion_1364148/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soap-And-Glory-Smoothing-Moisture/dp/B00EYG71LC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1395349650&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=THE+FAB+PORE%E2%84%A2+MOISTURE+LOTION
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My favourite products from their oily/combination skin care range has to be the 'NO CLOGS ALLOWED™' super self-heating deep pore detox mask and the 'FACE SOAP AND CLARITY™' 3-in-1 daily detox vitamin C facial wash and I will definitely be purchasing them both again when I run out!

What is your favourite product from Soap and Glory's skincare range for oily/combination skin?

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