Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Eye Serum Reviews

Review of Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Intensive Eye Serum
By Gillian L.

Packaging: The serum comes in a recyclable plastic applicator tube, in a box.

Application: Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Intensive Eye Serum is a light but rich cream described as “natural Botox” for the eyes. It is a gentle, but effective treatment for dark circles, puffiness, crow’s feet and wrinkles around the eye area. It is suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive and mature. It is applied twice daily, to cleansed skin. Using the applicator dot a tiny amount around each eye and tap gently to help it to absorb.

Ingredients: The 100% natural plant derived ingredients are manufactured in The Netherlands for all Barefoot Botanicals Products, according to the company’s strict ethical policy. All ingredients are vegan and cruelty free. The active ingredients include Rosa Mosqueta, Argan oil, starflower oil, Witch hazel and Q10 which combine to tone, smooth and blur out wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles .Essential oil extracts -damask rose, honeysuckle and lavender give the serum a delicate, wonderfully feminine scent.

Results: As I have very chemically sensitive skin, I have until now avoided any scented eye products, but after doing the suggested patch test I was delighted not to have any unpleasant reaction. I do not have any wrinkles or crows feet yet but do suffer from puffiness and dark circles, so applied the serum twice daily over a 6 week period. The cream left my eyes feeling refreshed and awake and I loved the delicate scent. I have noticed a definite improvement in the puffiness and also in the shade of the dark circles which are now less noticeable. I will be re ordering again soon!

Pros
Ethical, cruelty free product using only botanical ingredients which are suitable for vegans.
Very suitable for sensitive and mature skins, even if you would normally avoid scented products.
Good value for money as a little goes a long way. I am still using the 15ml tube after 6 weeks.
Cons
I can’t see any apart from fact that the price may seem expensive, if you don’t read the reviews.

Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Intensive Eye Serum (£24.95) and Barefoot Botanical Products are available at Naturisimo.com

Review of Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

Review of Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser
By Caroline Scott

Packaging: Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser is packaged in a really handy, flexible plastic tube with screw top lid. It is extremely easy to use, the tube is soft and easily squeezes to allow you to control the amount of product dispensed.
The tube itself is made from 42% recycled plastic and can be recycled after use.
It comes in the recognisable earthy tones of yellow, orange and brown which mark it out as a Burt's Bees product from the outset.

Application: I have been a fan of Burt's Bees Products for a few years now - the Super Shiny shampoo does exactly what it promises and the Honey Lip Balm is delicious - however I have never tried the Orange Essence Facial Cleanser before.
This cleanser had a lot to live up to because orange oil is my absolute favourite scent in natural products and my expectations for this one were pretty high. Luckily, it was everything I had hoped for!
The scent of this cleanser is strong, tangy, sweet and refreshing - like plunging headfirst into a bathtub of freshly squeezed orange juice. It is truly delicious and makes your mouth water. For an uplifting boost, you could do far worse than have a big sniff of this!
I admit it took me a couple of tries before I worked out the optimum amount of cleanser to use as it is a very thick gel/paste - not a liquid face wash or a cream cleanser. In fact, I'm not quite sure how I would categorise this at all.
I tried applying it to a wet face with my fingers and rinsing off, as stated in the instructions. It didn't foam at all and dissolved very quickly on the skin, leaving behind plenty of make-up residue and an oily feel. So that was a no-no.
Next I tried to make a lather in my hands first - but that didn't work either!
Eventually I found that I achieved the best results by smoothing the gel liberally all over my face, allowing a few seconds for it to dissolve the dirt on my skin and then removing it gently with a flannel/muslin cloth and rinsing with warm water. Using it in this way, I found that it removed make-up and grime really well without me having to scrub at my skin with the cloth.

I must confess that I am terribly fussy about my cleansers. I like something that I can rinse off with water that leaves behind no residue and gives me squeaky clean skin. Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser is very moisturising and leaves a soft film of essential oil on the skin if not removed with a cloth. However, if you prefer to simply rinse off with water, using a toner after cleansing will achieve the same result.
A lot of people with dry skin prefer their cleansers to leave their skin protected and nourished, however, so Burt's bees Orange Essence Cleanser is suitable for both normal AND dry skins - just alter the way you use it to suit your needs.

Ingredients: As with all Burt's Bees products, the cleanser is 100% natural and not tested on animals, however some of their products do contain milk, royal jelly, lanolin and beeswax and so are not suitable for vegans. (Orange Essence Cleanser contains lanolin.)
You will never find any Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates or Petrochemicals in any Burt's Bees products.
glycerin, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, limonene, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, lanolin, citrus aurantium dulcis (sweet orange) peel oil, quillaja saponaria (quillaja) bark extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, avena sativa (oat) kernel oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, beta-carotene, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, tocopherol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, olus (vegetable oil, huile vegetale), canola oil (huile de colza), sodium benzoate

Results: So, having had to work out the best way of using this cleanser to suit my skin, was it worth it? Well, surprisingly yes it was. I have sensitive skin, prone to dry patches and redness and this cleanser is so gentle and soft that it didn't irritate at all. It dissolved make-up better than a lot of cream/lotion cleansers thanks to the high oil content. It made a pretty good job of removing my waterproof eyeliner too - without the need to rub at my eyes.
It leaves skin very soft, very plumped and dewy and it is incredibly good on any dry areas.
I find that it is best for me as a night-time cleanser when there is a lot of dirt to remove. As I'm prone to oily, enlarged pores around my nose, it is just a little too rich to use twice a day. However, in the evening, I get an extra burst of vitamins and moisture into my skin thanks to using this cleanser prior to applying my night cream.

Pros

Great value for money
Leaves skin clean and soft
Smells fantastic!
Brilliant tube, so handy for travel due to its size, shape and flexibility
Will last a long time as you only need to use a small amount and the tube contains 120g

Cons

Wouldn't recommend for oily skin types
Takes time to adjust it to your skin preference
May be too much effort for people who like to "wash and go"

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser (£9.99) and Burt’s Bees Products are available at Naturisimo.com

Trilogy Eye Contour Cream Reviews

Review of Trilogy Eye Contour Cream

By Irene M.

Packaging: Trilogy Eye Contour Cream is presented in a cream coloured tube. The nozzle applicator is hygienically covered by a clear screw cap like most Trilogy products.

Application: The super-fine, light and creamy texture of this Trilogy Eye Contour Cream is a delight to apply and is rapidly absorbed.

Ingredients: Certified organic rosehip oil, aloe vera and avocado fruit oil are the primary ingredients of this moisturizing eye cream. Additional ingredients include oils of sweet almond, evening primrose and jojoba, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, eyebright and vitamins A and E. A perfect combination to renew, repair, revive and refresh the delicate skin around the eyes.

Results: Aimed at restoring and reviving the delicate eye area this ultra hydrating cream has powerful moisturizing properties. My skin felt wonderfully soft and smooth and fine lines appeared minimized. This cream also works well to refresh and revive tired eyes.

Pros:

A gorgeously textured cream with nourishing and ultra hydrating properties.

Fine lines are minimized and skin appears smoother.

Revives and refreshes tired eyes.

I love it!

Trilogy Eye Contour Cream (£22.50) and Trilogy skincare are available at Naturisimo.com

Trevarno Organic Day Cream Reviews

Review of Trevarno Organic Day Cream

By Joanna E.

Packaging: Trevarno packaging is a feast for the eyes! Trevarno Organic Day Cream comes in a deep pink glass jar with silver coloured lid, which is of course recyclable, but who would want to get rid of such a splash of colour! The jar is packaged within a box, again recyclable, with the trademark Trevarno peacock feather in its design.

Application: Trevarno organic Day Cream has a recommended daily use for face and neck but I also used it around my eyes with no problems at all. The cream, which is slightly creamy in colour, has a very smooth and silky texture, very tactile in feel, which glides easily onto the skin and is absorbed extremely well. My skin is slightly dry in places and slightly oily in others and I found that I only needed to use a pea sized amount of the cream for my whole face and neck. My skin did absorb the cream very well, leaving it very soft and with a slight glow, rather than a matt complexion and my skin did stay that way for the whole day, which was impressive. It has a very delicate aroma, which does gently last but is in no way overpowering. Trevarno also say that this cream can be used as a make up base, which I haven’t done.

Ingredients: I am impressed by the fact that the majority of the ingredients in Trevarno products are organic and they have very impressive credentials for the ingredients they use, being certified by the Organic Farmers and Growers. Trevarno Organic Day Cream includes some excellent choices for the skin such as sunflower, jojoba and carrot oils with essential oils of lavender, geranium and Palmerosa, a combination which balances and hydrates the skin. All their products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans and no animal testing is done. As the company don’t use harsh chemicals and preservatives, their Day Cream has a shelf life of around 12 months, which is a decent length as the cream will easily be used within that time.

Results: Using the Trevarno cream daily has left my skin feeling very soft and nourished. I’m impressed with how quickly and easily the cream was absorbed, with no stickiness remaining on my skin. The skin around my eyes can be quite dry, but I have had no problems since using the cream. I still have small lines around my eyes, but they do look softer and my skin feels good, so I am more than pleased with this Trevarno Day Cream. It is a fair price for a product with such good ingredients and the jar will last a good length of time.

Pros:

The cream is easily absorbed, with no stickiness and has left my skin feeling nourished

Small lines around my eyes are softer

The company has excellent credentials and the ingredients list is well thought out

Suitable for all skin types

No animal products are used and no testing done on animals

Cons:

Can’t really think of any, but if I am nit-picking, then to have the list of ingredients on the jar would be handy, rather than just on the box.

Trevarno Organic Day Cream (£10.34) and Trevarno products are available at naturisimo.com

A'kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque Reviews

Review of A'kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque
By Zainab C

Packaging: The A'kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque comes in a pump dispenser, minimising any wastage. The packaging doesn’t state if it is recycled though. The box clearly states the ingredients, instructions and more details about the company which is useful and informative.
Application: The A'kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque comes in a cream consistency and is easy to apply onto the face with your fingers or a mask application brush. The A’kin mask has quite a strong smell which may not be to everyone’s taste. The masque tightens the skin and is easily removed with water or a muslin cloth. I found that sometimes this masque begins to get uncomfortable and is therefore not suitable for sensitive skin. Although I’m not sure if the masque does what it says, skin is left feeling soft and moisturised.

Ingredients: This A'kin Masque has a long list of ingredients with the INCI name and an explanation in brackets. This is helpful as it is easier to understand what it is that you are putting on your skin. All of the ingredients are of natural and botanical origins which is quite impressive.

Results: I was quite disappointed in this as I did not see much difference in my skin after using this masque even though it claims to give ‘more beautiful, healthy looking skin.’ My skin certainly did not look radiant afterwards. However, my skin was left soft and nourished.

Pros:
It is easy to apply and remove
It feels as though it may tighten the skin whilst it is on
Skin was left feeling soft
Cons:
The smell is not very pleasant
There is no visible radiance or healthier looking skin
It isn’t suitable for sensitive skins

A'kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque (£15) and A’kin products are available at naturisimo