Laura Geller Dripping In Gold Illuminator Palette Holiday 2018

Now, are you one of those super organised people who has every single present bought and wrapped by the first week in December? or are you a bit like me and are you a little bit stressed out at the moment? Bar one present that doesn't seem as though it's going to arrive in time, my gift shopping is done, but I still have a mountain of presents to wrap and a kazillion other things to do. I'm consoling myself in the knowledge though that at least I'm not one of those people that does their Christmas gift shopping on Christmas Eve!

If you're a person that does that I am in awe, I can deal with a little bit of disorganisation and panic but I think that, that would be a step too far. If you are still looking for that odd little thing though for either the beauty lover in your life, or to treat yourself for being so organised, then in the next two posts I'm going to be sharing a couple of last minute beauty gift ideas with you x

Now up until a few years ago, Laura Geller was a pretty difficult brand to get your hands on it the UK, QVC UK had sold it for quite a number of years now, but it was impossible to get on the high street. Thankfully the brand is now a little bit easier to get your hands on, a few online stores stock it, and you can now buy this fabulous artistry brand in Debenhams.

Laura Geller is a fabulous American make up artist, who learnt her trade in the US film studio system, working on the likes of Audrey Hepburn, and Ginger Rogers. I'm a huge, huge fan of her range, and although I've mentioned lots of her products in empties posts and in videos, I haven't actually reviewed anything bar a lip palette before, well today I'm going to remedy that and talk about a range of products from her, that I'd wanted to try for a long, long time, Gelato Swirls.

Now if you know anything about Laura Geller, then you'll know that her products are made using innovative techniques and to the highest standards. She's famous for her baked mineral based products that are infused with skin care and good for you ingredients. She was one of the pioneers of the baked formulation, that so many make up brands now have in their inventories, her products really are something special.

You should know by know that  I love a highlighter, I've bought a new one this week (I really needed that.... not!), and today I've actually found a highlighting palette that I've completely forget about - I have a problem! The highlighters, and illuminators that I already own are all pretty similar if I'm being honest. They're either powders, liquids, creams or in sticks, I love them all but very rarely do they offer anything that is truly different, a product from Laura Geller though, does offer something just that little bit more unique.

Her Gelato Swirl Illuminator range is probably unlike pretty much any other highlighter or illuminator that you've every tried, and I don't mean that just because they look almost too pretty to use. First of all we'll get the boring but essential bit out of the way, Laura Geller's Gelato Swirls are cruelty free and do not contain fragrance, nanos, gluten, parabens, minerals oil, soy, sulphates, Phthlates, or alcohol, and they are suitable for all skin types, so if you have allergies or sensitive skin then this range could be something to try. Now onto the interesting bit, just why are Laura Geller Gelato Swirls so special? Well it's all down to the texture, they are actually a baked gel, they have an amazing texture, and they apply like a fine, sheer powder, but touch them and almost feel like a velvety cream.

There are lots of different shades to chose from including beautifully shimmery pinks, almost icy whites, and of course champagnes, golds and coppers, and you can even get a few more blush type shades. My problem was always which shade to go far, not an easy decision when they all look so beautiful, and the shades are all so wearable. I had no clue, but as soon as the Christmas gift sets started to appear in store I found the perfect way to not only try this long lusted after formulation, but also to try a few colours at once.

Released especially for Holiday 2018, the Laura Geller Dripping In Gold Illuminator Palette, is a perfect example of something that I mentioned in one of my previous posts, gifts as decorations. This beautiful palette comes packaged in an unusual triangle shaped box adorned with product pictures, snowflakes and gold detailing, it also comes with attached hanging loop so you can hang it on your Christmas tree or use it as a table gift.

Open the box and you greeted with a bright metallic gold, triangle shaped cardboard palette. which has a magnetic fastening, open that and you're dazzled by not only a fabulous triangular mirror, but also by three fabulously festive, or even looking ahead, summery highlighting shades, carefully protected by a plastic, domed insert.

The palette contains 3 x 2g Gelato Swirl Illuminators, in the shades Molten Copper, Gilded Honey and French Fizz. Molten Copper is as the name would suggest is a gorgeous, metallic golden copper, Gilded Honey, is one of Laura Geller's best selling shades and is a gorgeous warm, champagne, caramel shade and although it looks almost white in the palette French Fizz is a sparkling soft gold.

The shades swatched from left to right are Molten Copper, French Fizz and Gilded Honey.

As you can see the pigmentation, and colour pay off is superb. Depending on how you use them, what type of brush, pressure, amount and so on though, you can create either a full on metallic look or just a gently wash of colour and sparkle. Obviously you can use these anywhere on the face or body, that you would normrally use a highlighter, be it on your cheekbones, shoulders, your cupids bow or your brow bone, but you can also use them as solid eye colours and even lip colours.

Now given the horrendous lighting at the moment I haven't had a lot of chance to play with these yet but even this early on it's love. They feel so beautiful, they colour pay off is excellent, and they blend like a dream and feel almost weightless on the skin. I managed to do a really quick eye look using Molten Copper, and a bit of French Fizz as a highlight, and believe it or not I actually applied these and blended them out using my fingers. They feel creamy to the touch and they blend seamlessly into each other and the the skin, even without using any professional tools, The finish is silky and almost powder like. I did get a little bit of fallout but not as much as you would get with a comparable out and out powder product. I have quite oily eye lids, and given the smooth and buttery texture I wasn't expecting this look to last very long but it did, which really surprised me!

At this time of year, we all need a little bit of a glow and a bit of radiance and that is exactly what Gilded Honey give you , I actually used a brush in this case and used it as a conventional cheek highlighter, I was wearing a bit of face powder which can sometimes causs a few issues with some creamier textures, but because this is actually a powder it blended easily in the rest of my make up and again, wore really well x

These shades in my opinion will work on any skin tone, and they are perfect shades not only for the party season, but can you imagine some of these colours with a tan in the summer, or even if you're lucky enough to be escaping for a bit of winter sun!. As I said before Gilded Honey is one of Laura Geller's most popular shades of Gelato Swirl Illuminator and as a result you can buy it on its own in a larger 4g size for around £21, the other two shades though, Molten Copper and French Fizz appear to be exclusive to this set and a few similar palettes in the Laura Geller collection, in the UK at least x This palette really was almost too pretty to use but I'm glad I did, not only can I see myself using it throughout 2019 but it's also introduced me to the Gelato Swirl formulation and I may have already added another colour, which I'll hopefully share with you in early 2019 into to my make up collection.

I think that this palette would make an ideal gift for any make up lover. no matter what their skin type or skin colour, if they like shimmer and sparkle then I'm sure that this would be a very well received present, and I think that it would be a great introduction not only to a gorgeous formulation but also to a quality, and very moreish make up brand. The Laura Geller Dripping In Gold Illuminator Palette for Holiday 2018, retails at around £25 from a variety of retailers including Debenhams, Escentual, FEELUNIQUE, Pretty Little Things, Simply Be and of course directly from Laura Geller x If you have any questions please leave me a comment x Thanks for reading and happy last minute shopping x

Madara Multi Action Micellar Water - A Review For My Pure*

Listen to any beauty guru or skincare specialist and they will tell you that there is no point spending money on moisturisers and serums if you aren't cleansing your face properly. I think by now we all know how to do it - warm water, a muslin cloth or a flannel, and a cleanser carefully selected for our skin type , but sometimes, be honest, it can be too much of a chore. I stick to it for about 90% of the time but sometimes, I either don't feel well enough or I'm just too tired to do it properly. In the past I would have just reached for a face wipe but nowadays I'm more likely to use a micellar water.

Ah the micellar water - the perfect invention for make up artists, people in a rush and dare I say it for lazy people like me. Whilst a micellar water can't and probably shouldn't be a replacement for a proper cleansing routine, there are some good ones out there and whether you use them as the first step in your routine, as an eye make up remover or just for emergencies, they can be a useful and versatile addition to your regime.

There are a lot of micellar waters on the market at all price points, and believe it or not for something so simple they can vary an awful lot. I've tried a few and some I've loved, some I've hated and others I've just felt a bit mehh about. I think I've found a one that I really love, but I'm always looking to try something new so for one of August's My Pure reviews I decided to try one from Latvian brand, Madara.

The Madara Multi Action Micellar Water with Hyaluronic Acid is designed to cleanse, balance and hydrate the skin. It's suitable for vegans, it's gluten and nut free and it isn't tested on animals and like the rest of the products in the Madara range it's also certified organic. Suitable for all skin types including the most sensitive. it contains moisturising aloe vera, skin quenching hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, and northern peony extract, which it known for it's calming properties.

It comes packaged in a hard, frosted plastic, 100ml bottle, with a flip top cap. The bottle is quite hard so you need to shake it a little bit to get the product flowing. 

Like most micellar waters it's a clear solution, that resembles water. It's probably a tiny bit denser than water and whilst it doesn't feel oily, it does feel more hydrating then say water on its own. The scent reminds of some of the Living Nature products that I've also tried from My Pure, it's subtle but there is definite herbal hint and you definitely pick up the witch hazel. I'm not fussed on the scent but really it's all about how it performs.

First up some before pictures - basically I'm wearing the same make up that you can see in yesterday's post plus some blush, lipstick, mascara and some cream eyeshadow x 

Before

 

and the afters x  All I've used is the micellar water on some large cotton wool pads and I've just gently wiped the solution over my face and my eyes.

After

and just to prove that was all I did, here are the cotton pads I used to prove it.

Well it certainly took everything off including my mascara and my long wear eyeshadow but how did it feel? Pretty good as it happens, it instantly melted my make up and it took virtually no effort to remove my eye make up, so no rubbing, no pulling and no tugging! Perhaps more importantly though there was no stinging, it literally felt as though I was removing my make up with water. My eyes are notorious for reacting to cleansers and eye make up removers but when I used this product there was no stinging, no burning and no watering. My eyes were fine and so was the rest of my face, my skin isn't that sensitive but it can be sensitised by product but again there was no redness, and no stinging or irritation. The pinkness that you can see in the after picture is just my normal skin colour, in fact I would even say that my skin felt  even better after I'd used this product, there was no dryness or tightness and my skin actually felt hydrated and though it had, been given a drink of water!

I'm so, so impressed with this product - okay I'm not too keen on the smell it did everything it promised and more. The only other drawback bar my personal opinion on the scent is the size of the bottle. It's only 100ml and if you used this product regularly as an eye make up remover or as main cleanser, it wouldn't last very long. That said if you're an occasional user or if you want an all in one product for holidays or for travel then this size would be fine but Madara if you're listening please make a bigger size! The Madara Multi Action Micellar Water with Hyaluronic Acid comes in a 100ml bottle and retails at £12 from My Pure. Have you tried a micellar water before? Let me know your favourites below xx 

*Sample

The Konjac Sponge Co - A Review For My Pure*

If you'd asked me a few years ago what Konjac was, I can pretty much guarantee that along with 90% of the western world that I wouldn't be able to tell you. Now though it's a totally different story, this Asian grown, vegetable fibre ingredient is everywhere, from slim noodles, to bubble tea and skincare, the majority of us will either have ate or drank something with it in, or we'll have used it at some point in our skin care routines.

Over the past year or so there has been of a buzz in the blogging community about face and body cleansing products from The Konjac Sponge Co, but I have to admit that by and large it's passed me by, Konjac for me was for eating in a stir fry, and not for putting on my face! Last month though I was browsing the My Pure website and I noticed that one of their newest brands was The Konjac Sponge Co so I thought I'd give them a try and see what all the fuss was about.

The sponges are made from natural vegetable fibres from the Konjac Potato or Konnyaku plant. This plant which contains 97% water is not only an excellent food source but it's also pH neutral so it's an excellent skincare ingredient for sensitive skins. The Konjac used in all of the products from The Konjac Sponge Co, is free from chemicals, colourings, irritants, pollutants and additives. The Konjac fibres that they use also comes from a sustainable source, and their products are both vegan and cruelty free,

The plant fibres are mixed with various other ingredients, depending on the sponge that you choose, and they are mixed together with the purest, cleanest, water possible, that is filtered through volcanic rock. Depending on your skin type there are various sponges to choose from but the one I decided to go for was the one with nourishing, rich, green clay.

Containing French green clay noted for its antibacterial properties, this sponge is designed specifically for oily, combination skin, and is designed to exfoliate, and deep cleanse the skin, whilst at the same time, refining pores and leaving the skin soft, smooth and radiant.

The sponge itself comes packaged in a plastic pouch and it contains full instructions on how to use it. It's round in shape, pale green in colour and comes with an attached, string hanging loop. When you first take the sponge out of the packet and it's dry, it feels quite hard, and almost scratchy to the touch.

The sponge when it's dry is way too hard to use so what you need to do is wet it. The first time you use it you need to wet it completely through, and give it a good squeeze, and then you're ready to go.

Dry

When it's wet the sponge feels more like the conventional sponges, that we're used to, it's soft and squidgy to the touch with just a hint of texture.

Wet

Then all you do is wash your face, you can either use the sponge on it's own, or you can use it with your favourite cleanser. There is no discernible smell or residue, and when you use it on it's own, it leaves the skin feeling surprisingly fresh and clean, and very smooth once it's dry. Use it with cleanser and you get a similar result but you seem to need less product.

Once your done you just rinse the sponge and leave it dry till the next time you want to use it. It you look after your sponge it should last for around 2-3 months before you need to replace it. Even then the sponge is full biodegradable so all you need to do is put it in the garden or in the compost bin.

I get it! I get it! I really do !I finally understand the hype surrounding these sponges! I've mainly been using this on a morning and on my no make up days but I can honestly say even with using specific face scrubs and masks, my skin has never felt smoother! From something rock solid and rough, to something smooth and soft, with just a quick soak in water, this sponge is gentle on the skin, yet you feel as though you've given it a good scrub without any of the roughness or the abrasive action . I can't recommend this sponge enough and I'll definitely be buying another one when this one gives up the ghost. 

If you have skin! I would thoroughly recommend that you add one of these to your routine. If you don't have oily, combination skin that's fine, there are plenty more sponges in the range with different ingredients for different skin conditions, so even if your skin is super sensitive this product could work for you. You can find a full selection on My Pure, but the one I got, The Konjac Sponge Co 100% Natural Vegetable Fibre Face Sponge With Nourishing Mineral Rich Green Clay For Oily And Combination Skin retails at £7.99 from My Pure, Have you tried Konjac sponges yet, or even the noodles ;)? Let me know below x 

*Sample

A Review Of The Make Up Revolution Blush And Contour Palette in Hot Spice And A Giveaway

I'm never a one to pass up on an offer or a bargain so it's no surprise that I took advantage of the current 3 for 2 on all make up offer at Superdrug. I was good though, and bought a few things for presents and so on and just one little thing for me.

I may have just got one thing, but it was something that I'd wanted for a long, long time the Make Up Revolution. Blush And Contour Palette in Hot Spice. 

When these palettes were originally released I was torn between Sugar and Spice, and Hot Spice but in the end I went for the more pink, toned Sugar and Spice. You can read my full review here but suffice to say I was very impressed, the colours and the pigmentation are superb and the blushers are silky soft to the touch. I love it so much that it was inevitable that I end up buying Hot Spice.

Where as Sugar and Spice is quite pink toned, Hot Spice is all about the peaches, the corals and the neutrals. It contains 6 blush shades, a combination of shimmers and mattes, and 2 merged, baked blushers which are packed full of shimmer and sparkle.

These blushers are super soft and silky but not at all chalky and as you would expect from this brand the pigmentation is superb.

I once read something that said you should only wear blushers that are the colour that you naturally blush, well I think that's rubbish. The lovely peaches, corals and neutrals in this palette give the skin a real warmth and a real glow. Peach blushers are ideal for counteracting redness in the skin so this palette will fab for my rosy cheeks in the winter months. The blushers in this palette do look quite bright and because of the intense pigmentation I can understand why you may be apprehensive but don't be - use a light hand, and blend them in for a really pretty look.

Buy both this and Sugar and Spice, and you have pretty much every blush colour that you could ever want for less than £12. I know I said it last time but I just can't believe that these palettes are only £6! You're paying less than £1 for each blush which is pretty amazing when you consider the quality and the pigmentation. If you don't believe me check them out for yourself. You can buy Make Up Revolution products from either their own website and from the Superdrug website and in selected Superdrug stores x 

I'm a nice person though and thanks to the 3 for 2 offer I also picked up an extra palette for one of you lucky readers. So to win your very own Make Up Revolution Ultra Blush And Contour Palette in Hot Spice, simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below x 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This giveaway is open until the 8th December and it's open internationally x Please remember that my comments are moderated so your comments may not appear straight away x Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please leave me a comment 

Soft And Smooth From Top To Toe With Astral And Astral Light & Creamy*

Unlike a a lot of children nowadays I only have three real beauty memories from my childhood, first up the smell of my mums perfume - she always wore YSL Rive Gauche, and Mystere De Rochas, secondly Matey Bubble Bath :) which child or adult :) didn't love this, and finally Astral Moisturiser.

I was never a regular moisturiser user when I was dinky, I guess I didn't need it, most children seem to have gorgeous, peachy skin and I think I must have been one of them but I do have one vivid memory of applying Astral moisturiser. For my first ever school overnight trip, at the age of 10 or 11, I spent a week alongside my fellow classmates, fell walking, looking at waterfalls, and getting stuck in the mud in the North Pennines in December!! Yes, December! I went on a school trip hiking up hills in the middle of winter! Although it didn't snow I do remember it being very cold, and windy, but my lovely mummy anticipating the effect of the cold on my peachy cheeks, popped a little bright blue tub of Astral into my case. I distinctly remember using it every morning and night before we left the hostel, and I also remember not rubbing it in properly and having a teacher laugh at the white blob on my nose!

Ah memories, recently though for the first time in nearly 20 years I was the given the opportunity to try out Astral again, this time as an adult.

The original Astral moisturiser was first formulated in the 1950's and it's changed very little since. It's longevity speaks for itself, Legions of men and women including celebrities such as Joanna Lumley, Patsy Kensit, Sam Faiers, and Jesy from Little Mix swear by this cream for it's intense moisturising and hydration properties. It isn't just for the face though this is a multipurpose product that can be used both on the face and the body.

The product is instantly recognisable by the traditional bright blue pot. I always remember my mum having the little 50ml handbag size pot but it also now comes in the 200ml size that you can see here and a 500ml supersize.

The cream itself is white and colour and has a soft fresh smell that reminds me a little bit of baby creams or nappy cream. This isn't really that surprising when you consider that some of the key ingredients in original Astral - glycerin, lanolin and paraffin, which are well know for their hydration, protection and moisturising properties also appear in a lot of baby products.

It' has quite a thick texture, almost like that of a barrier cream. As a result it does take a little while to absorb into the skin and it does leave a sort of protective film on the skin, but the the skin is left feeling smooth and hydrated.

I used this cream in a number of ways - first up on my face. As you probably know I have combination / oily skin, so I have to be honest and say that this wouldn't be my first choice when it comes to a facial moisturiser. I found it to be a little bit too emollient and greasy for my skin. That said I did find this protected my skin especially when we had the cold and windy weather that we've had this winter -  instead of my skin feeling tight and little bit tingly it felt smooth and hydrated.

As soon as she saw the pot Mummy Lou couldn't resist a dip in, and unlike me she loved this as a facial moisturiser. She has more mature, drier skin and she loves creams that actually feel like creams, none of your light textures for her. She loved this and the thicker more greasier feel that it left on her skin.

As well as a moisturiser I also used Joanna Lumley's  tip and I used to remove my make up. I just massaged a thick layer of the cream across my face and eyelids and removed it's gently with a damp muslin cloth. I have to say I was so impressed with this, it took every scrap of make up off including my eye make up without redness, dryness or irritation, and it left my skin feeling super soft, and hydrated - result!

I also liked using the original version on my body. When I first received it I'd just got back from holiday and my ski was feeling a little bit dry and sun ravaged, so I put it to the test and it came up trumps. It made a great after sun and I think it really made a difference to both how my skin looked and felt.

Despite the continued success of the original Astral the brains behind the company haven't rested on the laurels, and recently brought out a new version of the cream to retail alongside the original - Astral Light and Creamy

It contains similar ingredients but it also includes added Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, and is designed to protect even sensitive skin from dryness and also to protect the skin from ageing and environmental stresses.

Everything about this cream is lighter and fresher. It has a completely different lighter, fresher scent, and the texture itself is completely different. Although it's still a cream, it has a much lighter, less dense texture and it feels a lot creamier on the skin.

As you would expect with a lighter texture it absorbs quickly and easily leaving almost a smooth, silky slightly matte finish.

Out of the two I definitely preferred using this one on my face. It moisturised my skin and left it feeling soft and smooth with no residue and film, and it made a good make up base. Mummy Lou on the the other hand wasn't a fan, she prefers heavier textures, and a more greasy feel, and this was way too light for her. It also worked equally well for removing make up and as a slightly, lighter everyday body cream.

I've really enjoyed using both of these products and I've really enjoyed their versatility. The fact that they can be used by all the family and on both face and body is a real bonus in this time of austerity.
 I also liked the fact that you only needed a small amount of each product, so the tubs seem to last ages. If I was going to repurchase, which I might they I would definitely be picking up the Light & Creamy version, which I think I would probably get more use out of, Mummy Lou on the other hand would go for the original - we hardly ever agree on anything so why doesn't this surprise me :)

Astral can safely be added to the realms of budget beauty too. You can pick up a tub at most major chemists and supermarkets and the prices are superb for the amount you get and the usefulness of the product. The Original Astral All Over Moisturiser retails at around £1.52 for the 50ml pot, £4.28 for a 200ml pot  and just £8.16 for a 500ml tub, and the Astral Light & Creamy retails at around £4.28 for a 200ml tub. Have you ever tried Astral? and What are your favourite beauty memories? leave me a comment and let me know x

(*PR Sample)

Daily Facial And Body Cleansing With The Magnitone Pulsar* - Warning Long Post!

I guess I should start this post with an apology - I went sent this product towards the end of last year and the intention was to use if for a month and then get a review up in time for Christmas. It wasn't to be though and in someways I'm glad about that. This product isn't the cheapest and the time span has given me the opportunity to give it a full and thorough review.

So what is it ? Well in it's simplest terms it's a daily cleansing brush. There are lots of these on the market now catering for all budgets but the Magnitone Pulsar is different.

What It Does

Designed with Active Electromagnetic Technology it nor only provides around 15,000 rotational oscillations a minute but also has a unique pulsing action to stimulate the skin.

Magitone Pulsar claim that you will see up to 10 amazing benefits to your skin with 7 days of usage

More effective deep cleansing and removal of impurities***

Can help increase collagen level in skin**
Softer, smoother and clearer looking skin tone*
Firmer, tighter feeling skin texture*
Can help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles*
Noticeable increase in blood circulation to the skin*
Helps reduce appearance of visible pores*
Gentle exfoliation of dry skin for silkier arms and legs
Helps reduce razor rash and irritation after hair removal*
Enhanced moisture and nutrient absorption of your regular skin products (SPF, self-tan, moisturisers)

* 28 day home-use study, SGS Institut Fresenius GmbH 2013
** in-vitro study, Trinity Bioactives 2013
***internal study of Magnitone Pulsar vs hand washing until visibly clean
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What Do You Get? And How Does It Work?

Impressive but what do you get? and how does it work? -  Well inside the box you get the basic hand held unit, a stand and charging adaptor, full instructions and two brush heads.

The main handheld unit comes partly charged. It features an indicator light which flashes when it needs charging up. The unit is fully sealed and cordless so you can use safely in the bathroom and it can even be used in the bath or shower. It comes complete with it's own stand / charging cradle. You can use it to store the unit in the bathroom, and all you need to do is plug the stand into the adaptor provided to wirelessly charge your Magnitone Pulsar.

The brush comes with easy to attach and remove brush heads. The brush head at the top of the picture with the blue ring is the Active Clean Brush. This is your basic daily, facial cleansing brush, ideal for deep cleansing and gentle facial exfoliation.

The slightly larger brush below is the Body Cleanse Brush. The bristles on this brush are slightly firmer, and this brush head can be used in the bath or the shower for general body exfoliation and dry skin removal. Each brush heads comes complete with a ventilated plastic cover to keep it clean. Each brush head lasts about 3 months with regular use. To care for mine I just give them a quick rinse in clean water and leave them to air dry.

The brush itself has a rubberised feel, meaning that it's easy to hold with wet hands.

The brush operates courtesy of just two button, a basic on off switch and a mode selection button.

The brush four distinct massage and cleansing settings. The first setting is Sensitive, this is the setting that you should start off on. It offers a deep cleansing experience but with a more gentle action ideal for delicate and more sensitive skins. I'll say more later but this is my preferred setting. Next up you have the setting that's unique to Magnitone Pulsar - Pulse Lift Massage. This isn't a cleansing setting really and it's a mode that you would use after say the sensitive or deep clean settings. As the name would suggest this mode gives more a massage treatment. Next is the Exfoliate setting, this setting is predominantly for use with the body brush. It's a more vigorous motion that helps smooth and exfoliate the skin.. The final setting is Deep Clean. This is the setting that the majority of people will use of they want to amp up the results of the Magnitone Pulsar and give the skin a good deep clean. This is the mode to use if you want real result.

My Experience

Face

It's recommended that you start off using the unit on the Sensitive setting for the first few days to get used to it and I have to say this is without the setting that suits my skin best.

There are a few ways to use it and for me it depends very much on the cleanser that you use. For more thicker and creamier cleansers I found it easier to wet my face and then apply the cleanser directly to my face before removing it with the damp brush. Where as with more liquid based face washes and cleanser, it worked just as well applying the cleanser directly to the dampened face brush, and then using on my dampened skin.

Once you've worked out the best way for you, you use the brush either on the sensitive or deep clean setting and move it gently in circular motions around your face I normally split it into sections and did both cheeks, then my nose, then my forehead and finally my chin and jawline, taking about a minute or so in total.

I didn't use the unit on the Pulse Lift Massage setting that often but I generally used after I'd use the brush to cleanse. Making sure my face and the brush were both wet, I concentrated specially on my chin and jawline. The sensation is very different, the name fits the setting and the unit perfectly, you can almost feel it pulsating on the skin, and the you can really feel the increase in circulation that it provides.

Immediately after using the brush I noticed how pink my skin was, not uncomfortably so but it definitely exacerbated my already pink toned skin. My skin can be quite sensitised anyway so after a few uses I decided to change how I used the brush and what I used with it. As I said earlier the brush comes with two types of brush heads but you can also buy another type of brush head for more sensitive or delicate skin.

So I decided to buy a two pack of Sensitive Brush Heads to see how I got on with those. Whilst none of the brush head feel overtly hard or scratchy, the sensitive one feels extra soft. It's plain white and colour and despite the softer feel you still get a good level of cleansing and exfoliation. This brush definitely suited my skin better and it's the only brush that I will use on the Deep Cleanse setting.

It's recommended that you use the brush twice a day but after a week or so I realised that this wasn't for me. I've been using it once a day on a night time either on my bare skin or after I've removed my make up as part of a double cleanse.

So what results did I see? well after the first couple of weeks I have to be honest and say it wasn't great - my okayish skin started to breakout - From just having the odd hormonal spot on my chin I had spots on my forehead, cheeks and on my nose! They do say that this might happen, it's just a result of the new cleansing method pulling out all the gunk and impurities out of your skin so you just need to deal with it. I upped my water intake and took a few more vitamins which I think helped.

After that though the spots cleared up and haven't came back. What has came back though is much clearer and much smoother skin. I've actually had nights where I can't stop stroking my cheeks they feel soooo smooth. Other people have even commented on how much clearer and brighter my skin looks, and I've even being cutting back on the make up going barefaced eek or managing with just a BB cream. Yes the large pores are still there but they don't seem quite as obvious as they were, and the bumpiness of my forehead and chin has definitely reduced.

Body 

I'm going to let you into a secret I hate upper arms! The thought of accidentally touching someones upper arms makes me feel a bit sick, and to be honest I'm not even a fan of my own. Over the last year or so I've noticed that my upper arms are starting to get that rough, plucked chick look - urgh!. So I've looked for solutions and one of the most important things are to moisturise and to exfoliate. 

So this was the first place that I tried using the Magnitone Pulsar, I tried on both the deep clean and the exfoliation settings with equal success again it depends of you shower product how you use it but I preferred to create a lather on my skin first before using the bush under the shower. It wasn't an in your face, scratchy or harsh exfoliation but it still felt as though it was doing something. Immediately afterwards the skin felt really invigorated and much smoother and over time I've noticed a definite improvement in the skin texture.

Personally on my legs I prefer a bit more of a gritty exfoliation but for my arms and upper body, and for after hair removal I think that this does the job perfectly.

Okay this isn't the cheapest product by any means and if you'd asked my a year ago if I needed one in my skin care routine I probably would have said no, but having used it and found a way to use it that suits my skin type I can definitely see me continuing to use as part of my regular routine. All results will vary I guess but I've seen enough of a change to keep using it and to recommend it. The Magnitone Pulsar is available from various retailers including Superdrug, Boots, Look Fantastic and HQ Hair. The recommended retail price is £129.99 but at the moment is on sale for half price in a lot of retailers making it a much more affordable £65. The replacement brush heads are available from the same retailers and retails for around £15.99 for a pack of two. If you have any questions on the Magnitone Pulsar please leave me a comment or check out their official website. 

(*PR Sample)