Essential measures #10 - Eve Lom cleanser

Not an original choice, but I credit this cleanser with transforming my skin after months of battling troublesome acne on my cheeks. Since I started using it in Jan 13, my skin has been fantastically clear, with only one or two minor breakouts. After use, my skin looks and feels healthy, glowing, clean and balanced.

 The cleanser comes in a round pot and has a thick, paste-like consistency, so needs 'scooping' out. I enjoy the ritual of applying this to my dry skin, and removing with a warm, wet muslin. And whilst it is breathtakingly expensive - for a cleanser, at £85 for a 200ml tub - a little goes a very long way. I use it once a day, in the morning, and occasionally in the evening unless I’ve worn a lot of make up in which case I prefer a cheap cream cleanser to remove that - with careful use, a 200ml tub could easily last a year, and while the product info advises it has a nine month shelf life the girls at the Eve Lom counter advised me it would be fine for a good deal longer than that.

I also have a tube of the Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser, essentially a slightly less thick version of the tub cleanser. I find this gives similar results (super clean, healthy looking skin), but my tube developed a fishy smell a few months after opening, and its hard to get the product out when you're nearing the end of the tube. I was delighted in the recent Liberty beauty gwp to receive a compact travel sized version tub cleanser, which will more than suffice for weekends or weeks away and into which I can decant product from the larger tub when needed.

I use Eve Lom’s muslins, or my smaller Liz Earle or Boots versions. The Eve Lom ones are very generously sized, allowing you to blanket your entire face and neck with the muslin as recommended in the detailed instructions! I’ve more or less abandoned my former holy grail cleanser, Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish, in favour of Eve Lom. While I like Cleanse and Polish, Eve Lom’s cleanser has made a visible and long-term difference to my skin. I never want to be without this product.

I purchase my Eve Lom cleanser from online stores such as Beauty Expert, or Liberty of London. Liberty often has special beauty events for Eve Lom and other brands such as Sisley and Aromatherapy Associates, where you can enjoy a  facial or other treatment and the cost is redeemed against a minimum spend on products in the range. I tend to wait for these sorts of events before purchasing these more expensive products – if you’re going to splurge, why not treat yourself in the process at no extra cost!

£85/200ml

Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Scrub

I found this a decent scrub if not exactly life-changing. It made my skin feel soft and smooth, but the effects don’t seem to last as long as my other favourites (Ren Salt Scrub and Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub) and I didn't find it particularly luxurious to use - it look and smells quite earthy, though I was pleased it didn't leave any residue on the skin, a pet hate of mine!

I'm glad I tried it, but I won’t repurchase - still a huge fan of the Aromatherapy Associates range in general though. I recently purchased the Sisley Energising Foaming Exfoliant which seems to get excellent reviews, so looking forward to trying that next.

I can't see this particular scrub on the Aromatherapy Associates website at present, but it is available from Liberty and costs £35 for 200ml.

Liberty Ultimate Beauty Gift 2013 - What I bought and what's in the bag

I’ve indulged in a couple of beauty sprees at Liberty and Space NK this month, tempted by the beauty GWPs both stores had (and in the case of Liberty – still has) on offer with a  minimum spend of £150.

They’re both pretty impressive, but the Liberty GWP pips Space NK to the post in terms of the selection and size of products – in my opinion at least.

Here’s what’s in the bag (I didn’t get the colour bag I wanted, but I can live with that - and it's a fantastic size washbag).

I'm not going to list all of the items individually, but highlights for me include:

• Mini Diptyque candle in a scent I love - Baies
• A mini pot of Eve Lom cleanser - not only is this my favourite cleanser in the world but the pot is a perfect size for travelling, and I'll easily be able to decant cleanser from one of the larger pots into it when it runs out
• Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - never tried this but very keen to and this is a very generous sample size
• Nars Orgasm illuminator - ditto
• Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist - have wanted to try this for ages and again it's a very generous size
• ESPA body oil
• Plus goodies from Kiehl's, Dermalogica, Ren, Trish McEvoy, Aesop, Aromatherapy Associates, Phillip Kingsley, Cowshed, Hourglass, Chantecaille and more. 

I'm really impressed with the range of samples and their sizes. It's a definite improvement on last year's Beauty Gift, and while the minimum spend has increased from £125 to £150, I think the contents more than justify this.

So what did I buy? I had a few things in mind, but all that changed when I dropped by the Trish McEvoy counter and received a mini-makeover using the two products pictured below - Instant Solutions Beauty Balm and the Instant Eye Lift.

I've never tried any Trish McEvoy products before, but the natural colours of the blushes and eyeshadows have always caught my eye when passing by the counters (I'm a sucker for delicate pinks, peaches, and soft taupes and browns). I needed a new base and concealer, so I asked the sales staff what they'd recommend, and ended up having a lovely mini makeover.

First of all the exfoliating Beta Hydroxy Pads were used on my face, which I really liked, before an eye serum and face serum, then the BB cream, eye lift and a beautiful gel blush with a powder on top. I was impressed with the results of all products, and purchased the BB cream and the eye lift, with the others all added to my wishlist for a later date. They are costly products - up there with Sisley, By Terry and Chantecaille - but I'm hoping they'll prove to be worthwhile investments - fuller review to follow soon.

I also booked a facial with Eve Lom, which brought me to (and beyond) the required £150 spend. In my opinion, money very well spent. The Beauty Gift provides a great opportunity for you to treat yourself to products you've had your eye on, replenish stocks of tried and tested favourites, and also to buy some early Christmas presents in for beauty-loving friends (the products in the GWP make great stocking fillers too). Judging by the popularity of the Liberty and Space NK beauty GWPs (and I think Harvey Nic's do one too) it surely won't be long before some of the other big departments stores start doing similar... here's hoping anyway!

The Liberty GWP is sold out online but still available in store - though I'm not sure for how long, so hurry on down there if you're interested! I'll post about the Space NK GWP and what I purchased soon.

Rodin Olio Lusso Lip balm

I first bought this lip balm on impulse a year or so ago, when stocking up on items to qualify for the Liberty beauty gwp.

At £23 for a mere 5g of product, I suspected I was paying as much for the sleek packaging as I was for the product itself. But intrigued by claims that the product is a favourite of various supermodels - and by the lack of reviews on the web - I decided to give it a go.

I didn't know anything about Rodin so did a bit of googling - the brand was started by former model Linda Rodin, who, unable to find products suitable for her dry skin, starting creating her own. There were just five products in the range when I purchased this - face, body and hair oils, a body cream, and the lip balm - they now seem to have added perfumes, candles and a travel kit. Each product contains natural, plant-based ingredients (the lip balm includes jasmine, orange and also beeswax and shea butter) - as well as essential oils - marketed as 'Olio lusso' (luxury oil).

The lip balm comes in a pleasingly heavy, clear lucite case and is certainly very pretty to look at. The balm itself is a delicate rose pink shade. The texture is soft and ever so slightly greasy without being sticky, though its kind of hard to get a decent amount onto your finger and then on to the lips.

and on the lips!

The "famous floral scent" I'd read about obviously needs a far more delicate sense of smell than mine to discern - my balm doesn't seem to have any scent at all! It is marketed as a lip treatment rather than a colour - I think it does prettify my lips a little, giving them a delicate pink sheen, but that is about it.

It is meant to be smoothing and moisturising - I don't find it to be either of those things particularly, especially in the winter when my lips seem to constantly cry out for something more heavyweight such as Eight Hour Cream. I actually use this more in the summer when my lips are less dry, just to make them look a bit more polished.

Overall I'm really not sure how I feel about this product, though I did repurchase it recently so it does seem to have wheedled its way into my affections. This has been my first foray into luxury lip balms and I do feel there's a hint of the Emperor's New Clothes about it - it is so subtle it's almost invisible, yet somehow I'm happy to spend money on it. I'll use up my second pot, but I doubt I'll repurchase it as I have a brand new pot of By Terry's Baume de Rose to try next - will be interested to see how the two compare.

Has anyone else tried this balm or any other Rodin products? Despite my mixed feelings on the lip balm, the other products in the range do look rather lovely, especially the facial oil, so there may be more Rodin on the blog in future.

Rodin Lip balm is available from Liberty and Cult Beauty (cheaper at Cult Beauty!).

Dr Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask

So I'm really not sure where I sit with this one. This was my first foray into Dr Sebagh, tempted by the many rave reviews extolling the glow-giving virtues of the Deep Exfoliating Mask.

The mask is a thick creamy orange paste with a rather pungent smell. Lord knows what gives it that colour! I've been slowly working my way through the pot and used it five or six times - perhaps once a month or so. According to the instructions, "maximum effect will appear after 3 months of continual use one or twice a week." I haven't used it enough to test that theory, but I am a bit underwhelmed thus far.

The first time I used it was, thankfully, at night. I felt a fair bit of stinging, particularly where my skin was a bit drier such as around my nose - the instructions say some stinging is normal. However when I removed the mask I was horrified - my skin was red, fiery looking and blotchy - and stayed that way for a couple of hours. Had I used it in the morning before work I would have had to apply a very heavy face of make up to avoid scaring my colleagues (remember when Samantha has her chemical peel in SATC..?)

Perhaps foolishly I continued to use the mask (determined to get my money's worth!) and not every time has resulted in the red scary face.  And I do notice some improvements to my skin after use - it looks clearer, smoother and perhaps just a bit glowy. But not spectacularly good - and my skin also feels quite tight and somehow 'stripped' - though a bit of moisturiser solves that problem.

All in all, not a huge fan of this product and I'm not in a hurry to try any other items from the range. I won't be buying it again, because there are other masks that I get better results with, that don't feel (and look) as though I'm harming my skin. Would be interested to hear what others think of this line?

Dr Sebagh Exfoliating Mask costs £59 for 50ml. I purchased mine from Beauty Expert.

My blog has a new name!

Amina's Bazaar is now Measures of Beauty. I've been wanting to change the name of my blog for a while now to something that gives a clue as to the actual content!

I'm not sure that MOB is the one - but it's a decent interim, and maybe it'll be a keeper.

I'm also now posting as Ali rather than Amina.
Thanks for bearing with me!
Ali x

Omorovicza Firming Body Oil

Earlier in the summer, I had the pleasure of experiencing an Omorovicza facial at Fenwick on New Bond Street, London. It was the one of the most unusual (and effective) facials I've had (imagine the feeling of dozens of pairs of tiny feet scampering over your face for several minutes!). Afterwards my skin felt much firmer - especially round the jawline where I'm conscious of some slight sagging of the skin. My face was glowing for a good couple of days; given that the cost of the 60-minute facial was redeemable against purchase, it was an absolute bargain imo.

I purchased the Rejuvenating Night Cream as part of the redemption offer, which costs £96 for 50 ml (the cost of the facial was £70 so essentially I got the night cream for a £26). I haven't used it much yet as while it feels amazing on the skin, I think it may be a bit rich for my combination skin until the weather turns a bit cooler. I did however use it as a facial aftersun during my holidays and felt my skin benefited.

However the purpose of this review is to share my thoughts on another Omorovicza product, the Firming Body Oil. I'm about 2/3 of the way through my bottle and already thinking about stocking up again - after an unsure start I'm really starting to see / feel the benefits and have become quite hooked.

It comes in a simple glass bottle and has a subtle, reassuring, almost aromatherapeutic scent. It doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy or feel like it's sitting on the skin surface. I wouldn't say it's the most moisturising of oils - I actually find myself using quite a lot of it to be able to fully cover my body (I apply to damp skin and then usually then lock it in with a layer of Kiehl's Creme de Corps which also makes it easier to spread over the skin). However I really think it has improved the condition of my skin. I've been using it 2 or 3 times a week for a few months and (bold claims coming up!) my skin looks firmer, healthier and more toned. It is also incredibly soft for a couple of days after use and feels much more nourished. I find it really comforting to apply - and, it doesn't break me out around the chest (problem area). Yes, I'm a fan!

I would 100% buy this again, though I do also have my eye on the Dior Svelte Body Beautifying and Toning Oil and will be interested to see how the two compare. I'd also like to try the gold shimmer version of the Omorovicza oil whilst I still have a bit of summer colour.

Overall, if you're looking for a body oil that delivers firming / toning benefits as well as moisture  you could do worse than check this out. According to the website it can also be used to give hair a bit of a sheen though I haven't yet tried that.

£46 for 100ml.