Category: Skincare

Welcome to Ahoy Beauty – articles about beauty products for people who care about their skin.

Hi! I’m Rachael and the author on this site. I’ve been using skincare beauty products for 20+ years (you do the maths!) so over this time, I’ve found some absolute gems (and some not so much!) I’ve written about my experiences to help you learn new tricks and tips. My thorough reviews are hopefully helpful enough to help you decide if a product is right for you or not.

Skincare

Murad Age-Balancing Moisturiser SPF 30 – honest review on acne-prone oily skin

Murad Age-Balancing Moisture SPF 30 50ml - £66 - my honest review of it

I purchased Age-Balancing Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++ on Murad.com back in September 2021 and have been using it daily ever since. I wanted to wait before reviewing, to give me time to really understand how it’s changed my skin and what I think of it.

It was £65 back in September. It’s now £66 (+1.5%). You get 50ml for this price on Murad.com

I purchased Murad as I wanted a really good moisturiser that also has SPF protection for my 30+yo skin. Honestly, I’ve never been bothered or had SPF in my moisturiser. I only (previously!) wore sun protection on holiday – usually abroad – never in the UK. It’s only now I’ve started to protect my skin daily – I hope it isn’t too late!

So far I’ve tried a few moisturisers claiming to act like moisturiser but have sun protection – unfortunately they’ve either been a horrible consistency that leaves white residue on my skin, or too thick and blocked my pores so bad I’d sweat within 2 minutes of putting it on my face, even if I wasn’t doing anything that caused me to sweat.

The SPF is 30.

I decided to try Murad as they’ve got a lot of credible reviews, everywhere – on Cult Beauty (who only stock brands they believe in), Marks and Spencer, Selfridges – you name it – all the top places sell it. I read a ton of reviews, and they all were excellent, so I decided to give it a go.

£65 was a little hard for me to part with for a moisturiser, but I figured I wear my face every day – it deserves a proper looking after for the first time in my life.

I also got these 3 small samples when buying from Murad.com:

AHA / BHA Exfoliating Cleanser Sample
Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector Sample
Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum Sample

Significantly improves hydration for youthful suppleness. Leaves skin hydrated, plump and smooth

Murad Age-Balancing Moisture SPF 30 50ml - £66 - my honest review of it — I’ve used it daily in a morning for over 8 months and absolutely love it – it balances out my oily forehead, is a great makeup base and smells nice

What’s the consistency like?

It’s like any other moisturiser – thick, but not as thick or oily like normal sun protection lotions. It isn’t so thick you can’t smooth it across your face easily, and it sinks in very quickly which is great for me as I like to do my makeup not long afterwards.

I use a pea-sized amount and this does my whole face plus neck, ears and hands. It feels very smooth and a high-quality product.

It smoothes my fine lines and crows feet, and makes my face look glowy – I look healthy.

There is a very faint smell – not too perfumed though which I really don’t like in products. It’s a ‘clean’ smell – not as in cleaning products (gross!) but a clean smell as in I love the feeling I get after moisturising – I know I’m clean and ready to start my day.

Which skin type is it good for?

According to their website, it’s good for combination, dry and balanced. I’m not too sure what ‘balanced’ means to be honest.

good for combination, dry and balanced skin types

I have an oily T zone, dry patches either side of my nose/upper lip (random I know), and normal everywhere else. I’m happy to say it’s worked a treat on all places – it hasn’t even made my oily forehead worse, which some moisturisers have done.

Rich Yet Fast-Absorbing SPF Moisturiser Replenishes with Long-Lasting Hydration. This moisturiser deeply nourishes dull, dry skin while improving elasticity to renew a youthful glow. Broad spectrum SPF shields skin against UVA and UVB light. Absorbs fast for a non-greasy finish that wears comfortably under makeup.
Murad.com

What’s my verdict?

I’m chuffed with it – not only has it smoothed my fine lines/crows feet, it’s helped reduce the sun spots I had at the top of my forehead. I didn’t unfortunately take before pics so I can’t show you the difference. Previously I used to apply concealer to the top of my forehead, but I don’t now as I don’t feel like I need it.

I feel like I’m really looking after my skin by wearing it. Even though I only use a pea-sized amount, my skin feels smooth and glowy. Having SPF protecting me as well as it feeling so good on my skin is win-win.

Buying it for £65 back in September and still using it now in April is well worth the money. It’s pretty empty now, but I think I can get a few more weeks out of it.

Using as a primer?

I don’t use this moisturiser as a primer, but I do put it on last in a morning before my makeup. You (apparently) should put SPF on last, so that’s what I do. I add other lotions (usually vitamin c) first, then this Murad Age Balancing moisturiser, then my makeup. I always leave at least 10 minutes after putting it on before applying makeup, to allow time for it to sink in. Don’t forget to take any moisturiser off your lashes before applying mascara – I realised this is why I always get really bad panda eyes!

See my quick tutorial on how I apply it each morning: https://youtube.com/shorts/9-exc8i9K1c?feature=share

What’s the price?

It’s £66 for 50ml. I bought it in September and have used it once daily – there’s still a few weeks left.

Even if it lasted a few months, it’s well worth the money in my opinion. I’d spend this much money on clothes or bags without a second thought – why would I think about not spending this on my face – something that I see everyday!

Delivery is £3.95 or free over £30 on Murad.com

Discount codes

Looking at their website (murad.com) they’ve got loads of offers on – 10% (sometimes 20%) for signing up to their newsletter; free gifts when you spend over £120; 25% off gift sets. Well worth checking these out. I’d also have a nosy at their social media accounts to see if they’re promoting anything else.

UPDATE June’22

I haven’t been using it this past week due to the heatwave, and my skin has gone pretty bad with acne – whether it’s from being hot and clammy, or from not using this, I can tell ya I’m 100% happier now I’m back using it.

UPDATE Sept’22

Ordered a new bottle using a £10 off voucher that’s currently running on Murad.com – £56 total with a few samples! Still loving this moisturiser – it’s so thick but soaks in so well. I love it.

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Tags Moisturiser, murad, oily skin, SPF

Skincare

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin – my honest review on oily skin

I’ve never used a cleanser – previously before bed, I’d splash water over my face to ‘clean’ it, or if I’d worn make up during the day, I’d use my Face Halo with Body Shop camomile cleansing butter to get rid of all the crap that had built up. I never realised that dirt built up on my face during the day that would take more than water to remove.

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin - photo of bottle

Developed with dermatologists, this non-drying face wash for normal to oily skin deeply cleanses, removes excess oil, and refreshes your skin without disrupting the skin barrier. This gel-based facial cleanser is an effective, yet gentle way to cleanse and care for your normal to oily skin.
From cerave.com

I started seeing ads for CeraVe foaming cleanser and decided to do some research. I have sensitive skin on my face – acne prone, oily T zone, normal and sensitive bits, so I’m always careful what I put on it. I’ve tried lotions including moisturisers for oily skin have completely dried out my skin – or made the oiliness worse.

It’s gel-based that foams when you run it under water.

It’s non-comedogenic so it won’t clog pores and contains niacinamide that’s great for skin – it calms it down (by being the most potent anti-inflammatories in skincare)
Me

How much is it?

I bought the 236ml size for £9.50 from boots.com. It’s a medium size bottle and so far has lasted me since mid-December 2021 (3.5 months) and there’s plenty left too, even after using it at least once a day.

Buy the larger version, 473ml from Amazon for just over £12, here.

When do you use it?

I tend to use it in at night once I’ve washed my face and taken any make up off. I use it as a last defence to make sure I’ve taken off every last bit of dirt. I use it in a morning maybe once or twice a week, when I want an extra clean. I prefer to use it when in the shower, as the constant stream of water helps the increase the amount of foam – using it in the sink, sometimes I really struggle to get a good foam going if I don’t add enough water at the right time (it’s a bit fiddly but it’s probably just me).

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin - photo of bottle and liquid from nozzle — it’s pretty runny as you’d expect – it turns into silky foam when you rub with water

Are they an ethical brand?

No – they test on animals as they sell in China where animal testing is required by law. However on their website, they say they don’t test on animals:

No, CeraVe products are not tested on animals and they are cruelty free.
This is in their FAQs but unfortunately they do test when required to by law – e.g. in China

Some of their products are vegan, so they don’t include animal products – but it’s not clear from cerave.com which products are and which aren’t vegan.

I will recommend this cleanser as soon as they become a cruelty-free brand. Unfortunately, testing on animals is against everything I stand for, so I won’t be buying this or another CeraVe product until they change this status. In future, I won’t rely simply on the brand’s FAQs and will do thorough research before buying again 🙁

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Tags cerave, cleanser, oily skin

Skincare

Tear Trough Dermal Fillers for under eye bag area puffiness- my experience and honest review

This is my 3rd time getting dermal fillers for my puffy under eye bag area. Since my late 20s (I’m mid 30s) I’ve tried SO MANY products to help reduce the puffiness – absolutely nothing worked, and it’s since visiting my consultant that I know why.

She pressed her finger on my eyelid, which bulged out the fat from my under eye – this shows I have fat rather than water causing my puffy bag, which unlike fat, water can sometimes be helped with the use of gua sha (using a flat tool to massage your face).

Dermal fillers and botox – what’s the difference?

Botox is usually used for fine lines and wrinkles – dermal fillers are for the deeper set folds around the eyes/mouth. Other than this, I have no more information but Google is your friend to find out more – or speak to whoever you’re thinking of booking in with for advice. I haven’t had botox, yet – only dermal fillers for my under eye area.

my before photo – sorry, almost forgot to take a pic – taken just before my appointment in my car

What’s the process?

The lady who does my tear troughs is a qualified nurse, so I have absolute trust she knows what she’s doing. She can also dissolve the liquid if things don’t go well (not always the case – check who you book with).

She first disinfects my skin, then injects 1 entry point per side (so total of 2), which numbs my skin. This is the part that hurts. It’s a painful prick that lasts about 5 seconds. She then inserts a cannula under my skin to the area she wants to put the dermal filler, and slowly starts to release the liquid whilst moving the tip to distribute the liquid evenly. This doesn’t hurt; it’s just uncomfortable and feels strange.

Once finished, he took another look at my tear troughs to make sure they’re even. My right side must have needed some more, so she injected my actual under eye area with a needle this time round, to inject more, which was unpleasant but didn’t hurt. It didn’t bruise either. She didn’t use a cannula for this (it didn’t even bruise).

Cannulas are generally used instead of lots of small injections to reduce brusing/swelling. I’ve never had either; only small spots where she injected me.

The whole process takes around 20 minutes.

If in a few weeks I’d like a top up, I simply get in touch with her and she’ll do this for free.

Pic taken as soon as I got home. At the bottom you can see the injection site which looks like a slight bump with a spot inside

Pic taken as soon as I got home. You can see she’s filled this side more – you can actually see the liquid in my bag area, and the injection site further down

Does it hurt?

Yes as mentioned above, it hurt when she injected me to numb the entry points. Each side was painful and lasted around 5 seconds, each. After this, there was no pain – just uncomfortable during the rest of the process.

How much does it cost?

In total it cost £350 for both eyes. I’m not sure how much ML she puts in each side.

How long does it last?

It lasts anywhere from 6 months to a year. Before covid, I got mine done each year but even when I had my annual appointment, I wasn’t feeling desperate to get it done. This time round, I haven’t had it done for 2 years so they are deeper than ever.

the left has been slightly less filled than the right

Post-care

It breaks down over time, so it makes sense to leave the fillers alone as much as possible. This means being extra careful when touching your under eye area – putting on makeup, removing makeup, applying products etc. I’m extremely careful, for no other reason than wanting the filler to last as long as possible!

a few days after without any make up – huge improvement – no bag at all, just slight darkness

Why do you get it done?

My under eye bags have always upset me. I always look tired even if I’m not. I’ve always been conscious of them, even though other people I mention them to say, ‘oh I’d have never noticed if you hadn’t said anything’.

The money I’ve spent, and time I’ve wasted trying out new products, from coffee to eye masks, cold spoons in the freezer to expensive makeup – nothing has worked effectively at making me feel better than this treatment.

I would whole-heartedly recommend it. I’ll continue with it, probably forever.

Update: top up, 3 weeks later

I asked for a top up a few weeks after, as my left eye wasn’t quite as full as my right. She did this for me free of charge.

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Tags cosmetic, tear trough

Skincare

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter – my honest review

The Body Shop camomile cleansing butter - my honest review

I’ve been using this for years to remove stubborn waterproof mascara easily, and pre-lockdown, when I actually left the house wearing foundation/concealer & blush.

For £11, you get 90ml – a flat inch about the size of your hand. It’s big and it lasts months and months – even years.

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter — They sell out fast so I usually buy in bulk

The Body Shop – who are they?

I absolutely love The Body Shop. From when I was younger loving White Musk sneaking into the local shop, having a spray then leaving thinking I was cool, to being obsessed with the body butters, to now, it’s where I go to buy makeup brushes, the occasional hair mask/shampoo and conditioner, plus this beauty – camomile cleansing butter.

The body shop camomile cleansing butter - It's vegan and cruelty-free! — The body shop camomile cleansing butter – It’s vegan and cruelty-free!

The Body Shop are are cruelty-free sustainable beauty brand, who focus on selling ethical, quality beauty products. They have a refill programme for hair products; they have Body Shop at home where people can work for them to host parties where they sell products as a self-employed employee; and half of the products are vegan.

I truly believe they are a wonderful company and will continue to support them by buying their products. Even visiting a shop, they have the most wonderful, friendly staff (big up to the Macclesfield branch).

Camomile cleansing butter – what is it and what does it do?

It’s for removing makeup and impurities from the skin. I use it to remove waterproof mascara each evening before bed, but it gets off everything – foundation, lipstick, blusher, eyebrow pencil – the lot. I personally use it with my Face Halo pad but you could use your fingers and a towel, or a flannel.

It’s thick and creamy so won’t drip initially, but it changes texture when you smooth it between your fingers and goes quite wet and oily so it’s easier to apply and rub in gently to your face. I’d almost say it melts into your skin and afterwards, it feels extremely clean and fresh.

This purifying cleanser also helps to stop those hidden nasties from clogging up your pores, and used on the reg will keep skin feeling refreshed and nourished. A lover for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. Camomile extract from Norfolk, England. Cleanses your skin for that fresh-faced feeling. Gets rid of all that stubborn makeup and grime
From The Body Shop Camomile product page, at time of writing

I have sensitive / oily skin – will it be okay for me?

I have a very oily T zone and use it to take makeup off but sparingly – I wouldn’t use anything bigger than a pea-sized amount for my skin, excluding my eyes, to get makeup off. This amount would take off a medium layer of foundation, concealer and blush, then I’d use a bit more for my eye makeup.

It doesn’t cause any problems at all for my sensitive skin on either side of my nose.

They sell it in a 20ml so I’d try this size first to make sure you like it.

I have acne – will it be okay for me?

I’d go for the smaller pot first – 20ml for £5, until you decide if you like it or not. I have acne on my oily forehead around my period but I haven’t noticed this making any difference or making it worse. I tend to use tiny amounts anyway so you’d probably need to do the same and build up slowly.

How do you use it?

The Body Shop camomile cleansing butter with Face halo — I use The Body Shop camomile cleansing butter with Face Halo to take off my makeup at night

I use it with my Face Halo, which is a very soft reusable pad. When I take off my makeup, I rub the camomile into my skin, then eyes, then starting with my face, I rub in circles very softly to remove my foundation etc, then I use the other side of my Face Halo to take off my eye make up. Again, I do this very softly as the skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive.

Following this I use cleanser to ensure every last bit of makeup is off my skin (I use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser – blog coming soon).

Body Shop Camomile Cleansing butter - pea size — I use slightly less than this amount on my whole face including my eyes when I’ve got mascara on

Body Shop Camomile Cleansing butter - when rubbed in — The texture changes when you rub it in – it’s oily and smooth – it smells lovely

Body Shop Camomile Cleansing butter - when rubbed in my face — Not a great pic I know, I was shattered – when rubbed into your skin, the camomile looks oily and starts to stir even the hardest of waterproof mascaras

Where can I buy it?

Buy it from thebodyshop.com where you can get 90ml for £11 or 20ml for £5. It’s free delivery over £25.

Discount codes

They normally run lots of discount codes throughout the year. Before buying, I’d suggest looking at their social medias or signing up to the newsletter to see what codes are live. Here are a couple I’ve used in the past:

11859
21393 for £10 off £45+ spend

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Tags Camomile, The Body Shop

Skincare

Estrid – The Best Razor Subscription You Didn’t Know You Needed

Estrid Razor review - monthly subscription - my honest review

Sick of buying disposable razors which are horrendous for the environment? I set out to find a good brand that offer a good-priced quality razor that I can trust… with my bits. Hurrah! I found them. They are Estrid:

Estrid.com

A couple of points worth mentioning about Estrid that sets them apart from your usual razor brand:

they include vegan coating on the soothing strips
for every purchase, they donate to Women for Women charity
membership – first, you get the razor & some replacement blades. Then you choose how often you need replacement blades.
choose out of 5 (random) colours

My first order was £7.95 which included the razor + 2 blades + suction wall mount. This is literally HALF the price from Boots for a standard razor & spares (looking at you, Venus).

Estrid Starter Kit – in colour Bloom

My first order was £7.95 which included the razor + 2 blades and a wall mount.

so I always open parcels on my carpet when I’m excited

The packaging – it’s recyclable as it’s made from paper, which I like. You get a leaflet which tells you the benefits.

Estrid razor packaging – easily fits through letterbox

Why did I choose Estrid?

I’ve been targeted with a few razors on Instagram lately but decided on Estrid due to:

the price – is pretty low and then future orders (just the razors) are a reasonable price and delivered at a time that suits me (every 3 months for example)
cruelty-free and vegan – some razors use animal products to make the strips smooth (did you know that? I didn’t) – not Estrid
I can easily manage my online subscription – I can cancel orders easily, request razors at different times if I need them sooner or want to push back a delivery
a nice-looking razor with a suction wall mount

I wasn’t massively excited by their choice of colours:

The colours are all a nice pastel shade and very girly. I went for baby pink, called Bloom. They’ve recently released blue which I’d have definitely gone for if it was out at the time.

UPDATE 12 July’23 – this is now the latest section of colours:

Estrid Razor review - close up — Estrid Razor review – close up in its wall mount

The razor itself – what’s it like?

The body is steel – it feels extremely well-made and expensive. I’m used to disposable razors which weigh next to nothing so holding this was a bit of a shock – it’s not light.

It has 5 blades and it has a smoothing strip above and below the blades. The light blue part feels very smooth; it reminds me of the floor in a swimming pool – slippery. It helps the razors glide smoothly over your skin. After using it a few times, I can definitely agree with this – it feels very smooth on my skin, there’s no pulling or tugging of hairs and even over my knees (where I usually get cuts) I haven’t cut myself once.

Estrid Razor review - close up of the blades — Estrid Razor review – close up of the individual blades

The wall mount

It’s pretty simple but I like it. It’s in the same colour as the razor and feels like its made of the same material – solid steel. It isn’t anything fancy – you wet the plastic part and push it against the wall which helps it grip. It has a small flap so if you need to move it, you can use the flap to bring it off the wall.

Want to try it for £7.95? Get the starter kit here >

Is it any good?

I’d say so, yeah – I like it a lot. Considering it cost £7.95 for the razor + 2 blades, then subsequent months it’s £9.99 for 4 blades (I’ve set mine at every 3 months) it’s a lot cheaper than razors such as Venus you can buy from supermarkets. Venus razors on Boots.com range from £7 – £13, and a blade pack of 3 is around £8 – £10.

It’s smooth – as I’ve mentioned, it hasn’t cut my knees which usually happens, no matter how careful I am. It’s also great for getting into smaller, ahem, delicate areas. I trust it unlike the disclosable where I’d draw breath to brace myself before using.

It also looks cool, hanging on the wall, and doesn’t take up any bath-rim space.

Want to try it for £7.95? Get the starter kit here >

UPDATE: 29 Dec 2023

I’ve been using it for nearly 2 months now and can honestly say, I really like it. It glides over skin; doesn’t leave me with red bumps and is easy to clean (I take the head off and clean it whilst showering). It isn’t easy to take off the wall holder whilst in the shower – the handle gets slippy when wet so it’s hard to pick it off the holder without the holder also coming off – this is the only negative so far.

UPDATE: 7 June 2023

Still using and loving! I replace the blade every so often but it lasts AGES. I’ve pushed back delivery a few times too, as I don’t need new blades. It’s easy enough to do on their website and they send a reminder email so I don’t feel they’ve been sneaky by not reminding me like so many brands do.

Want to try it for £7.95? Get the starter kit here >

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Tags estrid, razor, Subscription

Skincare

Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream – my honest review

Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream - this is my review after using for a few weeks

After finding out Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez uses Acure Radically Rejuvenating whipped night cream, I went to quite lengthy er, lengths to find it. I finally found a random website who posts to the UK, called iHerb.

I used this for a few weeks but unfortunately it didn’t agree with my skin. I now use it on my neck each night which is doing wonders.

I love it when celebrities and the rich use affordable products, especially ones like AOC who seem genuine – it means I can afford to buy it. Her skin is always glowing and plump, which is what I want.

It’s cruelty-free and vegan – hurrah! Leaping Bunny Certified too!

Amazing ingredients

The amount of ‘free-from’ list is almost endless which is utterly fantastic…

100% Vegan
0% Questionable
Paraben Free
Sulfate Free
Phthalate Free
Mineral Oil Free
Petrolatum Free
Silicone Free
Cruelty Free

If that isn’t reason enough to try it, maybe the price is (see below).

Did you like it? Would you recommend it?

I tried it for a few weeks, using a small amount at night. Unfortunately it’s not for me. It made my forehead come out in small red spots which aren’t pop-able, that I get often around my period and if something doesn’t agree with me. It’s called fungal acne and it’s due to the ingredients Cetearyl Olivate, Linoleic acid and Linolenic acid.

I use SkinCarisma.com to check the ingredients. I usually do this before purchasing anything but I didn’t in this instance and it come back to bite me on the bum.

What’s the price?

Acure Whipped Night Cream cost me £8.53 plus postage, coming to £11.79. In my opinion, it’s an absolute steal for what it is – not a bad size.

I bought Acure from iHerb for a grand total of just under £12 – bargain!

Would you recommend it?

Yes I would 100% recommend it. Even though it didn’t work for me, the ingredients is amazing and it’s free of so many nasties including being vegan and cruelty-free. The price alone is cheap enough for you to try and I don’t regret it. I use it on my neck now before bed, so I’m getting the benefit and my forehead continues to be happy.

Have a look at uk.iHerb.com to buy – it’s actually risen in price to £11.40!

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Tags acure, Moisturiser

Skincare

Beauty Pie Fruitizyme 5-min Facial – my honest review

This 5-min facial is to be used once or twice a week and is supposed to smooth, purify and resurface your skin. It helps to:

prevent and reduce clogged pores
leaves skin clear, smooth and clean
dissolves the top skin layer to remove surface impurities

It’s vegan and cruelty-free!

Beauty Pie Fruitizyme 5-min Facial - close up of bottle — 75ml tube which is made from 55% recycled plastic & is fully recyclable

Beauty Pie Fruitizyme 5-min Facial - photo of the actual product — it’s a thick paste that feels high quality and has a slight perfume

How much is it? and how much do you get?

It’s £60 without being a Beauty Pie member or £10.82 if you are. Not sure how the Beauty Pie membership works? Read my article where I explain.

You get 75ml in the tube which is a good amount for the quality and compared to other brands.

Tube made from 55% recycled plastic and fully recyclable
https://www.beautypie.com/treatment/fruitizyme-five-minute-facial

What does it feel and look like?

It is a thick paste that’s a little oily and goes on to look greasy.

Beauty Pie Fruitizyme 5-min Facial - photo of the product on my skin — already starting to get breakouts when I decided to use it – this is what the product looks like when on your face

After using Fruitizyme, my skin felt amazingly smooth. Creams glided over my face which was a lovely feeling. With breakouts starting, I thought it would be a good time to refresh my skin – but unfortunately it’s made my skin worse.

I’ve got big red spots at the sides of my face and on my forehead which weren’t there prior to using. I’m not sure if this is because the product is oily which has made my already-oily forehead worse, or the product is working by taking off the top layer of skin therefore making my skin worse before it gets better.

The spots haven’t put me off – I’m going to use again in future as the rest of my skin is soft and smooth.

I’ll update again when I re-use the product to see if it again causes acne.

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Tags beauty pie, facial

Skincare

Cheap Alternative to Sand & Sky Clay Mask – T-Zone Pink Clay Mask- my honest review

Sand and Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask is around £36 for 60g, so when I heard there is a much more affordable alternative, I jumped at the chance to buy.

T-Zone 125ml Pink Clay Mask is around £6. I got mine from Superdrug.

It’s also vegan and cruelty-free! Hurrah!

Cheap Alternative to Sand & Sky Clay Mask - T-Zone Pink Clay Mask - the product — Cheap Alternative to Sand & Sky Clay Mask – T-Zone Pink Clay Mask | £6 gets you 125ml from Superdrug

What does it do for skin?

T-Zone Australian Pink Clay Mask with Kakadu Plum is enriched with brightening Kakadu Plum Extract and Vitamin C, hydrating Aloe, soothing Witch Hazel, skin clearing Rosemary, and nourishing Vitamins A & E, to…
from the Superdrug website

Pretty much the same as Sand and Sky, it’s meant to be used a few times a week to detoxify and brighten the skin. It goes on like a paste and you leave it on for 15 minutes whilst it turns white.

T Zone Pink Clay review - this is my face and it shows how it dries — T Zone Pink Clay review – I don’t put it on my dry areas. You can see it’s started to dry here, shown with the whiter patches (ends of nose; bottom part of chin)

How is it different to Sand and Sky?

Apart from the price of course mentioned above.

Personally I’d say you can feel the difference when you put it on your skin. T-Zone’s version doesn’t come with a brush so you need to use your fingers, which gets messy. Even after shaking the tub, the texture of the paste isn’t anywhere as thick as Sand and Sky and doesn’t have the same feel in luxury. It stayed on my face fine though and didn’t run.

T Zone Pink Clay review - this shows how runny it is — T Zone Pink Clay review – it’s pretty runny especially in comparison with its comparison, Sand and Sky

Sand and Sky Pink Clay Mask comparison review — This is Sand & Sky which I’ve also tried – you can see just how much thicker the product is here. It feels more luxurious than T Zone. And it’s £36 for 60g, so a lot dearer.

Results

I have combi-skin. I have an oily forehead and T zone, normal skin over my cheeks, and dry/sensitive skin to the sides of my nose. As you can see, I didn’t put the product on my sensitive bits.

Yes I’d buy it again. It clears my pores and they visibility look cleaned out, and my face looks smooth. My oily forehead is calmed for a few days.

Would I buy this cheaper option from T-Zone if money wasn’t an issue? Naaaah, I’d stick to Sand & Sky.

Check out my Sand and Sky blog here.

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Tags clay mask, sand and sky, t-zone

Skincare

Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Face Mask on my acne-prone oily skin- my honest review

Sand and Sky Pink Clay Mask comparison review

I wanted to share my thoughts around this clay because it’s one of my staple products I’ve consistently used for years (although I only use a couple of times a month due to the price).

What does sand and sky pink clay mask do?

I bought it because I wanted something to help with my oily skin and to clear out all the rubbish accumulated throughout the day. I also wanted a mask to help (or at least not worsen) my acne.

Detoxifies and brightens the skin
Cruelty-free
Great for clearing oiliness, congestion or pigmentation
Good for acne

This is exactly what S&S does. It detoxes skin by removing dead skin cells, leaving newer skin underneath which makes your skin look brighter. It also helps with acne by reducing inflammation.

A photo the benefits of Sand and Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask, including no sulfates, no silicones, no parabens, no phthalates, no PEGS, no gluten and cruelty-free — from their website at the time of writing – confirmation on what the clay doesn’t include, plus the PETA stamp of approval

from their website at the time of writing – lots of goodies included in the clay

Analysis screenshot from SkinCarisma.com showing a list of the ingredients and what they're good for (& not good for) — I use https://www.skincarisma.com/ to checkout ingredients in products – it lists everything that might not be suitable (dry/oily skin)

I add ingredients from products into https://www.skincarisma.com which then tells me what that product is good for, and what it’s bad for. As you can see, Sand & Sky Clay ticks lots of boxes, especially the ‘fungal acne’ one which is what I look out for because I suffer with this on my forehead. You’d be surprised at how many acne-fighting products include an ingredient which makes this worse.

How do you use the Sand and Sky clay mask?

You use it like a mask – spreading it thoroughly all over your face with the small brush that comes with it. This is the 60g tub – you’d need to check if it comes with the travel size (I’m not sure it does). Using your fingers is easy too, just a bit messy.

A photo Sand and Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask with brush — You get the small brush tool in with the price

A photo of my face whilst using Sand and Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask — it goes on shiny pink but within seconds it starts to dry a white colour

Within seconds of it being put on, it starts to dry. It feels really smooth and it’s thick too, so it feels very expensive and you feel hopeful it’s going to do wonders for your face.

Excuse the happy face followed by the sad face. I usually clean the bathroom whilst it’s drying hence looking fed-up!

As the pink clay dries, it turns white and tight on your skin. Not too tight it’s unpleasant though. I leave it on for 10-15 minutes then rinse off with cool water. I usually rinse it off in the shower to reduce any mess made but in the sink is easy enough too.

A photo of my face after using Sand and Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask — meh bad angle and not the clearest of pics, but as you can see, I’m happy with the result – pores have been completely cleaned out, and reduced in size

What does the clay mask do for skin?

I feel it cleans out the rubbish I’ve accumulated which my other products haven’t picked up.

My pores are clean
blackheads are gone
my skin feels fresh and smooth
any spots are reduced in size/redness
any oiliness is completely removed for a few days (yep, a few days).

I feel 1x or 2x a week is enough for this product, mainly due to the price but as it’s quite a deep clean, my skin might not like it – it’s not good to remove oils from your skin so often because oil is actually healthy for your skin (just not too much of it).

I’d thoroughly recommend this Sand and Sky pink clay mask. It’s a product I’ve used for years, even though it’s expensive (more on that below). I feel like it cleans my skin better than almost anything else.

Should you moisturise after pink clay mask?

Yes! Always after using masks, you need to moisturise afterwards to stop your skin becoming too dry.

Can I leave pink clay mask on overnight?

I personally wouldn’t – the Sand and Sky website says to leave it on for 10 minutes, so this is what I do. It might dry out or irritate skin if left on for too long.

How much does it cost?

It’s around £36.50 depending on where you look for a 60g pot. Several of the usuals have it: Cult Beauty, Beauty Bay. Personally I would visit the Sand & Sky website to see if they’ve got any sales on – at the time of writing this, they’ve got 25% off everything using the code ‘celebrate’.

Failing that, have a nosy around their website then visit YouTube, and a bunch of social media accounts – they might retarget you with an offer.

It’s expensive at ~~£36~~ now £34 for 60g but worth it – make it last

Unlike the pics above to show what it looks like, I make it last by only putting it sparingly on the bits of my face that need it, such as my oily patches and not putting it on my dry bits (side of nose).

Using it once a week and you’ll get a good 4-6 months out of it. Pretty good going as an average if you ask me!

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Tags clay mask, cruelty-free, oily skin, review, sand and sky, vegan

Skincare

Why you shouldn’t buy silk pillowcases plus comfy alternatives

I don’t know about you but recently I’ve been bamboozled with silk pillowcase ads on Insta. I actually nearly bought one because of the “amazing effects they have on your hair and skin”. They’re promoted at leaving your hair tangle-free after sleeping and skin super-soft because silk doesn’t soak up all your lotions and potions you put on your face before bed.

HOWEVER. I looked into it. Silk is NOT cruelty-free. Here is a quote from PETA, part of which I’ve blanked out because I don’t want to display upsetting info:

Silk is the fibre that silkworms weave to make their cocoons – outer casings that protect them during the pupal stage. But most of the insects used by the silk industry don’t live past this stage, because they [REMOVED] inside their cocoons, which causes the cocoons to begin unravelling so that workers can obtain the silk threads. Some 6,600 silkworms are killed to make just 1 kilogram of silk.
Quote from PETA – I have blanked some out of the text

Read the PETA article here.

What are the alternatives?

I did some research and found LOADS of alternatives. I ended up buying 2x white 100% polyester pillow cases from eBay for… £5.15. Yep, I was skeptical; here I was willing to buy a silk pillowcase at £20 and now settling for 2 at £5.15? I was willing to admit defeat if they were crap and handing over a fiver didn’t seem so bad.

Here is the item on eBay – nearly 10K sold!

A close-up – doesn’t look like a cheapo pillow case

Are 100% polyester pillowcases any good?

Yes! They’re absolutely brilliant. They’ve been washed multiple times now and no signs of coming apart/ threading or anything else.

My hair is always really tangly after sleeping so I decided to test it. I’m not sure if the tangles are made during sleep or the fact I don’t brush my hair in the day (apart from the morning, if its lucky).

My hair in the morning – shiny & tangle-free – very surprised but happy!

I brushed my hair before bed (something I never do – who does?) and left it loose. In the morning, I brushed it again with my tangle tweezer and there were NO TANGLES – absolutely none! My hair was so soft and shiny. I’ve since tested it again and gone to bed with waves; I’ve woken up and they look the pretty similar as the night before – only a few minutes were needed to style instead of 15. It’s saving me time getting ready in a morning which I’m very thankful for.

I can’t comment on my skin yet; I’ve not had any acne since using these new pillowcases but I’d need to test them for at least a month before commenting (I’m just about to hit ‘acne’ stage of the month ughhh) Updates to follow!

Environmental issues with polyester

Although polyester is cruelty-free, it’s not without issues. It isn’t recyclable which in this day and age, we should all be making the effort to buy more sustainable clothing.

Hopefully these pillows will last a long time but when they’re ready to be upgraded, I’ll repurpose them and make something out of them:

Dog bedding – my dogs live in luxury clearly!
Use to keep documents in – they’re bigger than A4 so pretty handy for bulky bundles of documents
Keep paintbrushes in
Keep kitchen cloths in – stitch in a toggle which you can then hang
Keep pegs in – stitch in a toggle which you can then hang

These are my ideas – a quick Google search and there’s so many more! See this helpful blog on 7 ways to reuse and recycle old pillows.

I found this interesting article if you want to read more about the specifics on polyester fibres. Most went over my head but I got the gist!

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Tags silk, Tips

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