BIOeffect update! Wonder product from the June Glossy Box

Just wanted to give a little update on the BIO Effect serum that was included in the June Glossy Box, see my previous blog post here.

As the sample is coming to an end :-( I thought I would share my opinions. Although I have had the sample for four weeks I have not used it everyday (thus only just finishing the sample now).  I must say though, the sample has latest really well as I have used it about 4 days of every week, a little really has gone a long way- which is great for a product that is £125 for 15ml.

The serum is for use at night and is a sticky fluid. You can feel it is a layer on the skin and when I have woken up I can still feel it there, this is not a problem as it is not uncomfortable or messy but suggests that it works like a mask. It certainly wouldn't be a good idea for using during the day. Overall, my skin has felt smoother and healthier and the tone very much improved. The first couple of times I used it, I got a few small spots but these stopped and it also helped to tone down the redness of my acne.

You use the serum on the eyes too and it can be applied all over the eye lid. As I don't normally use eye cream I think I noticed the most difference here. The skin around my eyes was much plumper and softer. The small creases were basically gone and my eye area looked much fresher. I also found it improved the texture of my eyelid and my eyeshadow went on much more smoothly and stayed put longer that usual.

I was really impressed with the serum, I am still not sure I will spend the £125 straight away but I would be more willing knowing how well it worked and how long a small amount can last. I think that more expensive products should be available to sample as people would be less reluctant to buy if they felt they knew it worked for their skin (take note Estee Lauder Idealist!).

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Mask- £28.60 for 50ml

In a bid to prep my skin for the summer and to indulge my love of face masks, I ordered this Elemis Papaya mask. I have not bought Elemis products before but I have had them used in the salons before.

The details suggest that the mask is a natural and non grainy exfoliator, using fruit enzymes to gently remove any dead skin and leave you glowing. As I can't resist the promise of glowing skin I thought I'd give it a go.

The first thing I noticed was the scent, it smells amazing, really fruity and fresh. It goes on like a thick cream and dries sticky. After rinsing it off my skin was soft and really moisturised. I exfoliate a lot so it is difficult to judge if this renewed the skin surface but it is a really luxurious product and my skin felt very smooth after using it. I also noticed that my blemishes looked less red.

As masks go, I think I prefer this Dermalogica one for a nice skin treat, but I think this was a really lovely product to use. And very gentle, I would definitely recommend it if your skin is too sensitive for a grainy exfoliator.

Neals Yard Remedies Rose Facial Polish -£14.80 for 100ml

I first tried the Rehydrating Rose Facial Polish a couple of years ago and I always go back to it.  I love exfoliators and this really lives up to it's name as a polish. It smells amazing, due to the fact it contains flower and essential oils and leaves skin really smooth and so hydrated.

Of all the exfoliating scrubs, masks, gels etc that I have bought over the years this remains the best in my opinion. I suffer from mild acne and discolouration under the skin on my jawline and cheeks and within a few uses of this it clears up. I am not suggesting that this is an acne cure and certainly that it would work for everyone but, for my skin, this is fantastic.

First off, although it is very grainy the actual cream it is in is quite oily. Despite my blocked pores my skin is actually quite dry and works best with oil based products. Although the grains of this polish are fairly harsh the softening cream base counteracts this so it sloughs of the skin but leaves it really soft, smooth and hydrated and most of all without irritation. Compared to much cheaper face scrubs from the drugstore this is a real winner hands down. I should point out that this is not a cleanser and will not take your make up off, I use it every other day but I think people with less problematic skin than mine could use once a week as part of their regime.


As with all Neal's Yard products the ingredients are really high quality, natural and in most cases organic. I am a big fan of NYR mostly due to quality of their products, which are all very gentle but make such a big difference to my skin. In recent years I notice they have cut back the number of larger sizes that are available which is a real shame, particularly for their face washes. They aren't the cheapest brand but I do feel that you get what you pay for.

June Glossy Box product review & pics

I was so excited about getting my first Glossy Box. I read about it after the first box was sent out which was disappointing as there was some fantastic products in there.
Anyway, I signed up straight away. The concept is great, a £10 monthly subscription gets you a goodie box of five products to sample.

The box looks great, really beautifully packaged and feels like a real treat. Similar packaging to Net a Porter where you pay £10 just for P+P!

Perles de Lalique perfume sample (4.5ml)

I adore this, it is my perfect type of scent quite spicy and exotic but still fairly floral. It reminded me the smell in the gardens when I went to Mauritius. I think it is quite an unusual choice because I am not sure it would appeal to everyone, it is very grown up and distinctive and if you like fruity, floral scents this is probably not for you. But for me this is a real winner. I will definitely be purchasing a full size bottle.

OPI nail polish (3.75ml)

As I have mentioned in previous posts, OPI is my absolute favourite nail varnish brand. They go on smoothly, last well and are touch dry almost instantly. This is a pretty small sample bottle (about 3.5ml) and the only disappointment for me was the colour is not something I would choose. I tend to buy bright opaques so a silver metallic colour would not be my choice. But a great product to add in as OPI really is brilliant.

Batiste original dry shampoo 50ml

I read a lot of disappointed comments from other Glossy Box recipients on the inclusion of the Batiste dry shampoo, as it is pretty cheap (about £2) and easily available and is certainly not a luxe brand.
As someone who washes their hair everyday, and has dry hair, I was not sure this was of use to me. However, I went out after work and gave my fringe a spritz to freshen it up and it was really great. Although my hair was not greasy it gave it a bit of a volume boost and a nice fresh scent. I am not sure this is a product I would use loads, particularly having short hair, but I think it will be kept in my desk drawer for certain! I definitely would prefer a more luxurious brand in future but it was an interesting trial of something I would not normally consider buying.

Abahna White Grapefruit and May Chang Shower Gel 100ml

The shower gel is huge! Great to save for trips away. The gel itself smells good, quite heavy perfume content. It is quite a woody scent and gave a nice foam. According to the Abahna website, it is reach in essential oils and has natural rather than chemical cleansers so as not to irritate the skin. The full 250ml bottle is available for £17, which I would not spend on a shower gel, but it was a nice treat to include in the box and I will be saving it for my holiday!

BIOeffect EGF Serum

Thought I would save this for last. I was really excited to receive this sample. as I had read about it before and love facial serums. The bottle provided doesn't have a size but I would guess it is about 2ml and comes with a little dripper. I would say the sample would last a week maybe two. Considering the cost of a bottle that is a pretty generous sample!

The website lists benefits as, improved skin tone, reversal of the signs of aging, added radiance and luminosity, deep moisturisation and improved complexion. It only contains 9 ingrdients- one of which is alcohol (although less than 1%) and another is water- so I should hope the other 7 ingredients have something special! The EGF part is a natural protein from barley and use 'cellular activators' to renew the skin.

I gave it a whirl last night before I went to sleep, it had been a pretty heavy night out so had a bit of work to do. The serum is slightly sticky in feel, although this is probably the glycerine. It absorbed really quickly and I felt like my skin really drank it up. This morning I had really soft skin is was particularly firm and plump around my eyes and on my cheeks. The skin on my forehead also looked firmer and softer. Much better skin than I would expect after a night out!! I hope to see so more improvements as I continue to use it, and would consider buying it (despite the high price tag) if I noticed a difference. I was a bit sceptical when I saw the limited ingredient list but my skin seemed to like! Really great sample to receive!!

Overall, my first impressions of Glossy Box are really good. I look forward to see what will be included next time. It would be nice to get some make up but I am a skincare junkie so I love an overpriced miracle cure to try!! After receiving the box yesterday, I was emailed by Glossy Box to let me know that, starting with the September box, there will be a £2.95 charge for delivery. I had wondered how they could keep going with such a lot of packaging and sending the boxes out recorded delivery so I am not completely surprised or disappointed by this but the extra £35 a year may put some people off. Can't wait to see what its in next months box!!

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Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque- RRP £33 for 75ml

I have been using this Dermalogica for a few years now since discovering it during a facial. It is a really rich, creamy, water-based mask with a lovely fresh scent. Although it is part of the Age Smart range, it is not greasy or heavy. This is definitely my favourite staple products. Apply a thin layer to the face and leave for  15 minutes, then rinse off. It leaves your skin feeling really soft and smooth and glowing. It is a great product before a night out to give you a fresh glow (or after a night out when you need a glow). After using it my skin looks plump, moisturised and really healthy. I have found it works quite well if you mix it in with your moisturiser before going to bed. Mr. VB is also a big fan!

I think the only disadvantage to this product is the price, although I don't think I have ever paid the RRP (£33) for it as you can find it online pretty discounted. Because you only need a thin layer the tube tends to last a while as well. I use it once a week and am still on the tube I got at Christmas.

SK-ii Facial Treatment Essence- £92 for 150ml

I was given a half empty bottle of this stuff, which is pretty lucky as I am not sure I would be willing to splash out 100quid without testing it first!

 The product description lists it as a treatment to "help restore helps restore vital balance by promoting the skin's natural 28-day surface renewal process" using its magic ingredient Pitera (90% of the product), which, a quick google tells me, is a mineral rich yeast by-product from the fermentation of Sake.
It is a moisturiser to be used daily, a teaspoon of the product poured into your palm and patted on to the skin, and will "renew skin's surface for a smoother texture.

When you pour the product out, it has a texture very similar to water- certainly not an oil as I was expecting it be. It has a very light fragrance, I patted it in to the skin as described and it was absorbed in instantly.

Being that it seems so watery, I was a little concerned at how moisturising it would be, however by the morning after it was applied my skin felt fine as if it had been moisturised and not at all dry.

It does not specify whether this should be used in the morning or night or both, but I am going to try it as my nightly moisturiser as it does not contain SPF which I prefer for the day. I will let you know if I notice a change.