All about the eye's part two - The products

Are you confused about eye products? there are so many to choose to help with puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles and on and on it goes. Hopefully this post will give you a few ideas about Dermalogica products so you can treat yourself to a fab eye treatment.

I talked about treating the skin around the eye in part one of this post as like the rest of our skin we need to cleanse, exfoliate, rebuild the skin and protect so what products can we use.

The skin around our eyes is very delicate and needs to be treated as such, so easy does it, make sure you have enough product so you don't drag the skin in this area and use your ring finger when applying creams so you don't apply too much pressure.

Eye makeup removers, oil cleansers are brilliant for gently but thoroughly removing make up.  I love Dermalogica Pre Cleanse, it is full of essential fatty acids that your skin needs and antioxidants to protect skin from free radical damage.  The oil dissolves makeup and liquifies surface oils which when you add a bit of water turns to milk and easily rinses away leaving no oily residue, just clean skin.

I always like to do a second cleanse as the first one simply removes make up and surface debris, the second can really get to work on your skin and work to keep your skin and pores healthy.  Ultra calming cleanser is a perfect choice when treating the skin around your eye.  It has an anti ozinate complex in which protects skin from the varying temperatures of this time of year, cosmetics that we use and the not so healthy diet we were indulging in over Christmas (or is this just me).  It is a mixture of a gel and a cream and is so gentle on all skin types, particularly those feeling a bit sensitised.

Now you are all cleansed we then spoke about exfoliating this area gently, we need something to get rid of those dead skin cells but gentle enough for the eye area.  Alot of exfoliating products state that you must avoid the eye area.  This is where Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant comes in, a multi award winning product and this is one of my fall back products.  You know when you are having a one of those days when your skin just doesn't feel quite right, a bit dull, a couple of dry patches and just generally a bit yucky - well I can always rely on daily microfoliant to get me back on track.  It is a powder exfoliant that you add a little water to and then mix together until it makes a creamy foam, you then simply massage gently in circular movements to gently slough off those dead cells.  The powder has phytic acid in from rice bran along with papain from the papaya and salicylic acid to help dissolve and remove the excess of dead cells and then brightening rice, grapefruit and licorice to help even the skin tone.  After massaging for one or two minutes, remove thoroughly with water ensuring all of the product is thoroughly removed.

Now the skin is perfectly prepared to absorb the ingredients of a good mask or serum the Dermalogica hydrating booster serum can be applied first, just a couple of drops gently patted all around eye area.This is packed with hyaluronic acid which will hydrate your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines as it can attract and hold on to water to plump up the skin, along with pro vitamin B5 which helps with repairing skin as well as also helping to hydrate.

Now apply a thin layer of Dermalogica skin hydrating mask, this is packed with botanicals to calm the skin and help to reduce any inflammation along with vitamin C and E to help heal and protect.  Now you can pop on some cool pads of cotton and relax (thats my favourite part)

Once you have woke up or after about 10 minutes rinse with warm water and apply a little toner.  The Multi active toner can be spritzed on (eyes shut at this point - probably only me that would leave them open :-)) or applied to a cotton pad and gently wiped over, this again will build on the moisture content in the skin with the Sodium PCA it has in it. Apply a little more of the serum, one or two drops will do and then finish off with an eye cream.  The Dermalogica total care is a great day time eye cream as it has light diffusers and a SPF 15 for protection in it. 

A Dermalogica Skin Rescue Kit retails at £20.00, so is great value and gives you the opportunity to try a few of the Dermalogica products without purchasing the full size bottles.

Let me know about your favourite eye products

Wendy xx


Wendy xx

Do Serums really work - part two - BIOeffect EGF Serum

I am sure at some point over the last couple of months you would have heard the buzz about The Bio Effect Serum.  I first heard about this thanks to one of my favourite Bloggers - British Beauty Blogger, after she posted a message on twitter saying that this company was giving away samples of this new Icelandic serum as part of their launch campaign.  Well worth a follow on twitter and also visiting her blog!

Being such a product junkie, you can only imagine my excitement at the idea of this company choosing to promote their new product by giving real consumers an opportunity to try this high end product for free!  This has to be one brave and confident company that they are so sure that people will love this product so much that they will talk about it and advertise it for them.  Well they do say word of mouth is the best form of advertising and that is exactly what has happened.  Anyone and everyone who has tried this serum seems to be happy to shout about it and share their experiences.

So here is mine:  After a couple of days of leaving my address with Bio Effect and receiving notification to say my sample was on its way - it arrived.  Nice neat little bottle with dropper lid, which I love as you can er control the amount of product coming out and all tucked up in a lovely grey velvety pouch - good start!  I cleansed my skin thoroughly and then went straight in for the serum and a couple of drops did my full face and neck, I did read that you didn't have to use a moisturiser with this so as this was an evening and I was going to bed, I just left it at the serum.  When I woke in the morning my skin felt hydrated and looked quite fresh.  I applied serum again after cleansing, followed with moisturiser as I needed my SPF and continued this for a few days.  I would say it was probably about day 3 that I noticed a real difference in my skin, it looked very hydrated and healthy with fine lines visibly reduced - result!  Although I do tend to have an oily T zone, I can still get some dry patches underneath if my skin is a little dehydrated and this little beauty certainly took care of this.

The ingredients didn't take long to review either, simplicity is key here - only 9 ingredients! The product has a range of water binding and anti- oxidant ingredients which clearly work at hydrating the skin and then the all important EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), when I seen this was right at the bottom of the ingredients list I did think, how effective can this be.  However, after researching this ingredient I realised that the ingredient is so powerful that only a fraction is needed to be very effective.  The EGF, helps your skin cells to rejuvinate and encourages the healing process and cell turnover, so is great for anti aging, but would expect it to be good on problem skin to as it will help the skin heal after breakouts.

I have to say I did go into a little state of mourning when I came to the end of my sample as I loved this product.  I am saving my pennies to buy a bottle of this serum.  It isn't at the cheap end of the scale at £125, however, I wasn't on my own with loving this product- I haven't heard a single bad review , to the contrary all reviews have been extremely positive with everyone just wanting more and more of a dewy fresh looking complexion.

Keeping my fingers crossed for some new products coming from this company as we only have the serum to indulge in at the moment.

Let me know if you were one of the lucky ones to receive a free sample of BIOeffect EGF Serum!

Wendy x

All about the eye's - part one - salon and at home treatments

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, they are certainly where we are focused when having conversations, when looking in magazines at makeup, lashes etc.  Needless to say it is where most men and women notice the first signs of aging and the area we point to as one of our main areas of concern.

There is so much I could talk about to improve the skin, products and makeup tips and tricks for the eye area, I thought it would be better to do this in a few parts rather than try to embark on a post the length of  'War and peace'.

In my treatment room I offer a few different ways of treating the delicate eye area. The skin around the eyes is thinner and therefore more fragile then elsewhere on the face, it doesn't have an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands to lubricate and keep it supple and so can easily feel and look dry.

Exfoliation is a great way to get an immediate visible result and  one you can replicate at home.  Exfoliation works to rid the skin of the dead skin cells on the surface which haven't came off naturally and make your skin look dull and make any fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.  Its a bit like dust on a piece of furniture, when its dusty it looks dull and if it has been left there long enough it actually increases in height as the layers of dust mount up.  How different does it look when the dust has been removed, a nice sheen and its back to looking its best. The same can be said for skin which isn't regularly exfoliated, the dead skin cells work just like dust and build up on fine lines and wrinkles which increases the depth and makes them more noticable.  Once the skin has been gently exfoliated, the depth of these fine lines and wrinkles is reduced and the hydrated plumper cells which have been hiding underneath are exposed and give us a nice glow.  Easy does it, is definitely the advice I give for home exfoliation rather do little and often then go for a more severe approach.  Your skin will thank you for it. 

Another treatment option is a microcurrent treatment, commonly know as a 'non surgical facelift'.  This treatment can firm and tone the muscles around the eye, it smoothes the texture of the skin, evens out the skin tone to give a much fresher and brighter look.  Again this is a treatment where a noticable difference can be seen with just one treatment. A course of treatments will give amazing and longer lasting results. But a one off treatment for a special occasion is great.  My clients describe it as looking as if they have woke up from an amazing week long sleep, they look so bright and refreshed.

Microcurrent works in sync with your bodies own electrical impulses and gives your cells an electrical kickstart to make sure that everything can work properly.  Toxins are removed from the cells, excess fluid is drained away and the circulation is improved bringing a fresh supply of oxygen , vitamins and minerals.  I liken this treatment to a car battery which has gone flat and needs a jump start with some cables, but the car can continue to work effectively once it has had this injection of power.  Your skin cells work on a similar basis.  The A Lift machine I use can increase your skin cells metabolism by 500%, so needless to say if your skin is looking a bit sluggish  an electrical jump start could be just what it needs.

Electrical product penetration is another professional treatment which is great for this area.  This ensures that the products being used in the treatments are reaching the deeper layers of the skin rather where they can really get to work.  These products will keep working long after you leave the treatment room and your skin should keep on glowing.

Last but by no means least my old faithful which I swear by, good old massage.  If you massage the products you use into your skin, boy it will show its appreciation in a nice healthy glow!  A good facial massage can remove excess fluid, lift and tone your facial muscles, redefine a sagging jaw line and much, much more.

When I massage my own skin as well as my clients I like to start at the neck and then work my way up the face.  It is important to start with the neck as this will open up the lymph vessels which will then let any excess fluid which is causing puffiness drain away from your face.

We can't all have facials as often as we would like so I thought I would share with you a lovely relaxing and effective eye treatment you can treat yourself to at home.

1.  Gently remove any eye make up by applying an eye make up remover to a damp cotton pad, place this on the eye area and hold for a minute.  This will let the product get to work and start dissolving any make up which should then wipe away without too much effort.

2.  Using a nice gentle, hydrating cleanser  remove any remaining eye make up and clean the skin thoroughly.  Apply the product in small gentle circular movements and then rinse thoroughly with sponges or damp cotton pads moving under eye in towards the nose and then over the brow.

3.  Exfoliation next, using a product which is suitable for the eye area ( I will chat about products in next post) apply exfoliant according to product instructions.  A product which has enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids is a good option for treating fine lines and wrinkles.  Ensure all traces of exfoliant are removed I would rinse, rinse then rinse again - very gently and with warm water.

4.  Your skin is now perfectly prepared for a mask or serum or both!   If you have a great eye serum, you can apply a little of this around the eye area and then apply a mask on top of this, soak a couple of cotton pads in quite cold water, place over eyes and relax for 10 minutes.  Remove mask with damp sponges or  cotton pads, using gentle sweeping movements around the eyes.

5.  A gentle toner can be used now to freshen and hydrate the eye area and finally finish with your favourite eye cream.

Treat yourself to this routine once a week, your eyes will love you for it. 

Go on, treat yourself - let me know if you have any questions or how you get on with this at home treatment.  If you have any questions about skin or products, just let me know and I will do my best to answer.

Wendy xx

What makes a cult beauty product?

I asked myself this question, what makes a particular product a cult beauty product?  is it the gorgeous actor or actress that a magazine quotes as saying they 'couldn't live without it' or if a celebrity makeup artist quotes something as a favourite product - do we all rush out and buy it?

I have to admit, being such a product junkie, I don't need that much persuading and find that I talk myself into many a purchase all for the good of my clients and now so I can talk to you guys about it (another justification).

There is no better feeling for me, when I make a purchase and find that it really does work - it is as amazing as the hype.  But equally, there is nothing more disappointing than looking forward to a purchase and finding that for whatever reason it just doesn't do it for you.

I have to say Eve Lom Cleanser is one of these Cult beauty products that has been on my radar for quite some time and after seeing an Eve Lom Travel set for only £25.00 in the Space NK sale, how could I possibly deny myself any longer.

After using and loving my Lancome Balm to oil massage cleanser, Eve Lom did have a lot to live up to.  But in the line of duty I was prepared to give it a go.  The product comes in a pot, which I am not really keen on, for hygiene and for keeping the ingredients fresh.  I much prefer products in tubes or pump dispensers, but moving onto the product itself, I was quite taken back by the feel of the product.  I suppose I was expecting the balm to feel luxurious and silky smooth and to be honest, my first thoughts were that it felt as though I was spreading a slightly grainy vaseline all over - not really a sensation I enjoyed. I did love the smell however, natural, fresh and relaxing.   I persevered and applied and massaged into skin as instructed, you then use the muslin cloth which comes with the cleanser. After rinsing the cloth in hot water I gently placed on face and repeated three times, then using the cloth removed the product with circular movements.  I finished the cleanse by placing the cloth on my skin once again but this time after rinsing in cold water to close the pores and clarify the skin tone.  Now this part although it does sound a bit long winded, takes a couple of minutes and does make skin feel really nice.

I have used the product for almost two weeks now and I have noticed some underlying congestion developing underneath my skin particularly on my cheek area. 

The main ingredient in this product is liquid paraffin (mineral oil), whilst a natural product could potentially block pores in consumers, particularly if like me you can be prone to this anyway. The cleanser also has a lanolin derivative which again can block pores, the cocoa butter will assist in moisturising skin, with the anti bacterial addition of clove oil and the soothing and regenerative effects of chamomile oil this could potentially be a pleasing product for someone with a drier skin type.  I have a typical combination skin a little drier on the cheeks but an oily T zone  and found this product to heavy and oily for me.  The instructions advise you not to follow with a moisturiser if you have oily skin, however, I always like to apply a moisturiser to help with hydration and also the all important sun protection which should be applied hail, rain or shine. 

So all in all not a product suitable for me, so that is me back using my Lancome balm to oil massage cleanser and I must admit my skin looks and feels happier as a result.  This is one cult beauty product that I won't be purchasing again.

Love to hear your experience of this product

Wendy xx

Do Serums really work?

Well the easy answer to that is sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.  Serums can work brilliantly at giving your skin a really intensive boost to treat any skin condition, be it signs of aging, dehydrated skin or skin prone to breakouts. But this a product which must deliver on ingredients.

As mentioned in my post about my Nubo Peel & Reveal Exfoliator, I received a free 10ml Cellular Dynamic The Essence serum also by Nubo.

Well true to form I looked straight for ingredients but as it had came without the box they weren't listed.  However, Nubo happily provided a full list for me within 24 hours - fantastic customer service (a rarity these days)

If you could imagine an oscar ceremony for ingredients, this product has every A list star you could imagine listed there!  You have arginine which helps to heal skin, it encourages collagen production and increases elasticity, along with calming and normalising the skin. There is also a particular type of vitamin C which is very easily absorbed into the skin, it encourages your skin to produce its own natural moisturisers, keeping skin plump and hydrated. One of my favourites hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water. It has ingredients to give your cells the energy they need to work properly by getting rid of waste and the ability to hold on to the good stuff that they need.  It has a whole host of ingredients including a variety of peptides which are going to encourage the skin to produce fresh collagen and rejuvenate your skin improving the texture, the colour and the overall appearance.

Wrinkles, fine lines, dehydration and a whole host of other aging signs have met their match with this little beauty. 

The packaging of this serum is very sleek and stylish in a black  pump action container, a perfect dispenser for such an active product, it will keep it fresh and active throughout use - which is what you would want for the price.  It also has a little view window which runs up the back so you can actually see how much product is left.  This is a high end product, but boy does it work! Full price is £200 - now you understand why I  was so excited to be given the 10ml of this super serum as a freebie.

A tiny bit of this does go a very long way and one little pump of this covers my full face and neck, I have been concentrating my application around my eyes and forehead and then spread the rest on my face after cleansing.  I then finished off with a little moisturiser after I allowed the serum to soak in for minute or two.  I have been using the product  for over a week now and have definitely seen an improvement with the lines around my eyes, this skin looks and feels so smooth.  The overall texture of my skin has improved, my makeup goes on so much easier due to the smoothness of my skin - RESULT!

This is certainly one of those wonder products that anyone would love to have in their skin care regime, so get saving or get it on a birthday or Christmas wish list.  I have certainly added it to mine.

This is an amazing product, but I am currently on the look out for a super serum with a more middle of the road price tag.  If you have a super serum that you use I would love to hear from you.

Wendy xx

Nubo Diamond peel & Reveal part two

I just thought i would give you an update on the Nubo Diamond Peel & Reveal review.  I have used this product for a second time now and have to say I like it even better the second time around!

My skin is definitely looking smoother, the open pores which are the bain of my life are certainly more refined.  The fine lines around my eyes 'another one of my obsessions' are looking less obvious as well.  If my skin tone and texture keeps on improving at this rate, this will definitely be one of my 'must have products'

I am waiting for another couple of Nubo products to be delivered and can't wait to try these and tell you all about them.

I really appreciate your comments and also your messages on twitter, please let me know of any 'must have products' you have.

Wendy xx

Exfoliation for winter skin - Nubo Diamond Peel and Reveal

Its that time of the year when we have often switched to using a richer moisturiser, have been wearing more make-up than normal at the Christmas parties, possibly not removing said makeup before falling into bed after one or two cheeky vino's and wow does it show on our skin.

With this in mind I decided to try a product which has caught my attention over the last few months, NUBO Diamond Peel & Reveal.  It is certainly not at the cheap end of the market, with a price point of £65.00 it may seem a little steep.  However, I decided to give it a go and see how it helped my skin get back on track after the Christmas binge of unhealthy food, beverages and late nights.

The box arrived and I must say I was more than just a little excited as I was lucky enough to be given a 10ml Cellular Dynamic The Essence, which has had some amazing reviews by a variety of beauty editors and bloggers alike.

The Diamond Peel & Reveal box was okay, and the two tubes inside where in what I would call understated packaging for this price point, other than a few little glittery diamonds on the lid of one of the tubes.  This could be a good thing as all the money has hopefully been spent on the ingredients!

I was a little disappointed at the instructions that came along with the products.  As with all exfoliators you should use on freshly cleansed skin, this isn't in the instructions - neither is it mentioned whether product should be applied to wet or dry skin - however, this is how I have applied it. 

I cleansed my skin thoroughly with a gentle balm cleanser, patted skin to remove excess water and then applied some of the step 1 exfoliator (approx size of ten pence piece)into wet hands and in gentle circular motion across face and neck, concentrating on my problem areas, pigmentation on forehead, blocked pores on nose and chin.  The product has a slightly grainy texture to assist in the manual exfoliation but is delivered in a luxurious cream which smells divine. 

The active ingredients in this stage include an array of humectants (water attracting ingredients) which whilst
the product is exfoliating your skin these welcome additions ensure the skin doesn't dry out.  Papain - which is one of my favourite ingredients as a therapist.  This is a fruit enzyme from the Papaya fruit and it basically works like a pacman - munching up dead skin cells to reveal fresh hydrated skin cells underneath. Then the diamond dust (as i like to call it) is an entrapped diamond complex which is designed to correct skin discolouration, add luminosity to skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pores and even out the skin tone.

Stage two of this treatment is applying a gel like activator lotion on top of the stage one you have already massaged into your skin for two minutes.  After a gentle massage of the two products, they turn into a slightly foamy white mousse on the skin.  I continued to massage for one minute as instructed and then rinsed very thoroughly with warm water. This does need a really good rinse to get rid of any bits of grittiness left behind.

The main active ingredient in the activating lotion is Lactic Acid.  Lactic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA's) which has a natural affinity with the skin as it is in our bodies anyway, therefore less likely to cause any irritation.  It works to loosen the dead skin cells which sometimes feel like they hang on for ever making our skin look dull and a little flaky.  Lactic Acid hydrates along with exfoliating the skin unlike other AHA's.

After rinsing my skin it didn't feel dry or irritated in any way and looked fresher.  I applied my bonus Cellular Essence, added a little moisturiser and got on with my housework.  It wasn't until I looked in the mirror an hour or so later I was quite taken back, my skin looked fab, it had a lovely healthy glow, the lines on my forehead and around my eyes definitely looked better and the skin around my eyes felt so soft and hydrated.

I am looking forward to using this product again. As with retail exfoliators I am assuming it is okay to use this once or twice a week - but again instructions didn't indicate how often the product should be used.

Overall review:

Packaging - both parts come in tubes so great for keeping ingredients fresh and active, looks wise - they don't particularly strike me as looking like high end products.
Instructions and general information about the product definitely lacking - would like to see more information.  This is an expensive product and as a consumer you need to make sure you are using it correctly to get the best results.
Ingredients list very impressive, some fab ingredients which will do a great job of exfoliating. Plus all Nubo products are free of SLS, parabens, irritating peto-chemicals, synthetic colours and fragrances.
Price - at the pricey end. 
All in all I think I would after a first use would give this a 4 out of 5 rating.

I would love to hear from you if you have used this product, to see what you think of it and share your views.

Wendy x

I can't resist a bargain!!

I don't like food shopping and just think its a necessary evil, so to give myself a treat i always wonder down the shampoo and skin care isle just to see if anything catches my eye.  Last week Sainsbury's had a bit of a sale on Olay products and as Anastasia Achilleos has endorsed these products on numerous occasions i was drawn for a closer look.

As one of my challenges this year is to find some great, reasonably priced products I picked up a toner which was reduced to £2.50!!!!!!!!!! normal price still under a fiver!  I read the label and in my amazement found it had no alcohol in which is always a good thing in a toner, and the first few ingredients were water, as you would expect, glycerin which is a fab hydrating ingredient, vitamin B3 and vitamin pro B5 and vitamin E - hang on a minute, this is £2.50.

It has some salicylic acid in which helps keep the pores clear and has a nice fresh, clean fragrance.

I have used this for just over a week now and so far so good, I am really impressed and its certainly worth a try whether you are on a budget or not.

Let me know if its one you use or if you give it a try

Wendy x

A gem of a find - Lancome Baume `Eclat -- balm to oil massage cleanser

I am so excited to be writing this post and it is all thanks to my twitter friend @nicjoss  - an amazing facialist based in London, most certainly worth a follow!!

Nic mentioned that she loved this cleanser and with that recommendation it would have been rude not to give it a go.  I am always dubious about giving up my reliable Dermalogica products to try out new ones, but so excited at the same time.  Its the same as the years I spent tormenting myself with green olives, loved the look of them but hated the taste, but kept going back and having another go!  (I actually love them now)  So it goes to show perserverance eventually pays off..........

I brought my new little purchase home and unlike me decide to just go straight into  having a go, rather than analysing the ingredients list to death first.  The product is in a tube, which scores lots of points for me.  You will get to know I am not a big fan of products in jars, I much prefer it to be in a dispenser that you can't get your hands into and can't be ruined by leaving the lid off or someone else sticking their hand in to try out your goodies.

The cleanser looks like a thick glossy balm/cream when it comes out but is so soft and light to touch, once massaged into your face it simply melts into an oil - this feels and smells amazing. Not much is required either, just about a five pence piece should do it.  A couple of minutes massaging in (now that's a really important part) your skin will thank you for a nice massage once or twice a day when you use your products - gives you that fab glow.  Once massaged add some warm water and continue to massage a little bit more you will feel the oil turn into a milk a good rinse with warm water or even remove with a muslin cloth for a little bit of exfoliation and voila!  Fresh, clean and amazingly hydrated skin and in the middle of winter.

I have used this product for about three weeks now and my skin has never been so hydrated in the winter months.  After cleansing your skin already feels as if you have applied moisturiser, so I haven't had to use a richer moisturiser to compensate for the blinkin freezing weather we are having and so keeping my makeup on throughout the day hasn't been an issue.

For those with oily skin who are unsure about using any oil on their skin, don't worry - the oil attracts excess oil and rinses it away but without stripping it of any of the natural oils your skin needs for protection.

The cleanser has a mixture of emollients and humectants, which attract and keep water within the upper layers of your skin, hence the improved hydration of my skin. It also contains white lotus and rose extract which seems to be a great combination in this product,with Rose extract in particular being renowned for skin regeneration.

So all in all a fantastic gem of a cleanser, particularly for through the winter and I am a bit disappointed to be leaving it to move onto review another cleanser. Eve Lom cleanser is next on the cards, its another balm cleanser, perfect for this time of year, so hopefully will not disappoint.  It is known as a bit of a cult beauty product so will let you know how it goes.

Let me know if you have tried Lancome Baume `Eclat and if so what your thoughts were.  I actually gave it as a present to a friend who is a firm Dermalogica fan and like me she loves her new glowing, hydrated skin.

Wendy x

A little bit about me.

Hi,  I am Wendy a Mum of two and with a fantastic supportive partner to boot.  I am a trained Beauty therapist and specialise as a facialist , HD Brows and lash stylist and also creating with makeup.  I love my job!

I am a total product junkie and can lose hour upon hour in any beauty department looking and testing all of the products and reading what fantastic ingredients they have in.  I am surprised I haven't been asked to leave and accused of loitering or told that it isn't a library.

I am a bit (no, total understatment) totally obsessed with products and how best to use them.  This is where most people stop, I do realise that.  But I love reading the ingredients lists, the good, the bad and the ugly and seeing if what they are promising to deliver is really possible to achieve.  'Freak' I know, but I love it, what can I say.

I can spend days on my laptop researching which peptide is going to make me '10 years younger', hence the name of my blog 'The Beauty Trail' - surely I'm not on my own looking for this!!  Don't get me wrong I don't want to stay forever young or be back in my twenties (way too much pressure), but I do want to look the best I can and I need  a bit of help to do that.

I would love to take you on my journey through the trials and tribulations  I go through trying new products, new treatments and the latest equipment.  As a facialist, I love nothing better than a new machine to make those fabulous products work even better.

I hope to take you into my treatment room with me to show you some tricks that you can use at home to get the best out of your products, just trying to persuade a couple of friends to volunteer to go on camera.

I turned 40 last summer and that really made me think about diet and lifestyle and the effect these choices have on how I look (probably after I'd been celebrating with family and friends for about 6 weeks - you can't rush such occasions). I would like to share some of these discoveries with you too.   Don't get me wrong I still love good food, wine and the odd cocktail or three - but you get the gist.

As you will have gathered I talk rather alot, but hopefully in my chat I will share with you some true gems I find along the way.

I look forward to your comments and any suggestions you have about my blog.  If you have any questions you would like me to answer or topics you would like me to cover, just drop me a line.

Everything in my blog is my own personal thoughts and opinions, as a consumer and also as a professional.  I sometimes get sent products to review in my professional capacity, however I can assure you that this does not mean a good review.  I say it as I see it good or bad.

If you like my blog and would like to follow me on twitter please send me a message at @wendymmilne and I will follow you back.

Chat soon

Wendy xx