Votary Face Cloths

Not all face cloths or flannels are created the same. The face cloth which comes with the Votary Cleansing Oil is one of the most luxurious I have ever used.

So for £22 with free p+p one can purchase five cotton face cloths housed in a sturdy white box.

I have a bit of an obsession with face cloths/flannels/muslins and when I am feeling strong I will post something on the number of different ones I have used, from microfibre to bamboo, but not now.

It is difficult to photograph the nap of this cloth but it is deep and I suppose bouncy for want of a better word, and they are larger in size than most.

Now I can and have gone to IKEA or Asda and bought a load of cheap flannels but as my skin has got older, I find that it needs a bit of gentleness and comfort and cheaper cotton flannels tend to increase my redness and thread veins.

Currently there is an offer on the Votary website for the full size Votary Oil (£45) and a box of the five Votary Face Cloths (£22) for a total of £62. I am currently two thirds of the way through my Votary Oil and I may well take advantage of this offer before the month is up.

My post on the Votary Oil can be found here

Omorovicza Omoressence

So I knew about essences from about the time that I knew about Japanese skin care regimes circa 1980s and SKII in particular, but being poor and rather intimidated by beauty counters, and online not existing then, I didn't explore further other than a cursory glance at ingredients.

I have used it for about four and a half weeks, am and pm, post cleanse and spritz/tone/exfoliate pad things; as per instructed I drip about four drops into my palm and apply to my face.

Now that is easier said than done, for this is a slim and heavy glass bottle, no squeezing allowed, and there is no means of getting at this fortified water other than upending this heavy bottle and dripping out the nectar. And then one has to get the bloody stuff onto one's face, with the texture of water that seems less than easy.

But easy it is for this does have a whisper of texture, a hint of solidity which allows for transference from palm to face and suprisingly a bit of slip to press and slide into the plains of ones face with little fuss.

Now to say that I am blown away by this product would be an exaggeration, but given that this is the only product that I have added to my routine, I have found that my skin looks better, and feels better - and by "looks better" I mean less visible pores, less visible thread veins, and by "feels better" I mean more hydrated - and I do scrutinise my face with a 10x mag mirror daily.

The scent is lightly herbal, and the texture is one up from water. 

Ingredients below taken from packaging

In four and a half weeks of continuous 2x daily use, I have got to the top of the start of the Omoressence wording, so I have I reckon most of year's worth of use.

I don't really know why I bought this, I didn't feel the need for an extra step in my skin care, but I love a "new" and I took a punt on a trusted brand and for me it has worked very well.

£75 for 100mls

Show and tell

I have recently made a few skincare purchases and rather than frightening the horses by posting a video, this seemed the best way to show them.

And here they are sans packaging. A couple of Omorovicza, an Oskia and a Sunday Riley.

Omorovicza Omoressence -  I have been using this for about a month now and will afford it a post all of its own for I am more than delighted with this fortified water I suppose I would call it, very hydrating.

Oskia Renaissance 360 Cream -  I bought this in the hopes of addressing the age spots which run rampant across the perimeters of my face, and with the more clement weather approaching, one's thoughts turn to lighter textures in skin care and on a first couple of goes this seems to be ideal for me, but again a fuller post when I have been using it.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Cream - I almost feel as if Sunday Riley could package up scrapings from the floor and I would buy unseen and untried, for that is exactly what I did with this new moisturiser. I have to finish another moisturiser before I can start this and on a first trial I feel that this will be a pm moisturiser for it has a hint of oiliness about it which I fear may not sit well under makeup, however I need a more consistent, regular use before I can comment fully.

Omorovicza Hydra Melting Cleanser - I had my eye on this for sometime, and really need a new cleanser like a hole in the head but then Ruth AMR posted this and I was sold. I have used it but once because I have a few to use up first.

Lipstick Queen Belle Epoque Tinted Lip Balm

There is something rather dangerous in "passing through" Space NK, for it invariably leads to a purchase. 

I made the mistake of passing through as shelter from inclement weather and chapped lips, I swatched, I tried, I purchased.

And it is without regret for the packaging for one is rather lovely.

This is quite a thick, waxy balm with no discernible scent that I can smell.

It comes in three barely there shades Belle Nude, Belle Pink and Belle Wine. I have Belle Pink which is on the peachier side of pink.

And I love it, it immediately soothed my parched lips and gave me enough pigment to stop me looking as if I all my makeup had been washed off by the weather.

I am in the mood to purchase Belle Wine which is, a deeper berry, but again a wash.

£18 for a pot

Something old

I purchased my Foreo Luna about three and a half maybe four years ago and it has been a constant ever since.

Mine is the original, for normal/sensitive skin - I think that the newer model has the dimples taking up more of the total surface. 
It is made of silicone, and is waterproof and the idea is a bit like a sonic toothbrush really in that one applies a water soluable cleanser, massages in, and uses the Foreo Luna to "deep cleanse" the skin.

It is very gentle, one can ramp up or ease down the intensity of the vibrations by using the plus and minus buttons, and the whole sequence lasts around a minute.

Now I also have a Clarisonic, but this is not a Clarisonic. For me it is multifunctional, it wakes me up in the mornings and gives my cream cleanse a bit of an extra depth, without causing sensitivity and redness.

It does have a extra massage function which frankly I can't be bothered with but I do think that one needs to take heed of the instructions and massage in the contours and direction of the facial muscles rather than wondering aimlessly around the face in mindless circles.

It is not cheap at around £125 for the original model, but it is a one off purchase and the charge lasts forever - do not throw the charger out like I did, but replacing it was very straightforward.

I have tried it with all cleansers from Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser to MV Organic Skincare Gentle Cream Cleanser, to Tata Harper Rejuvinating Cleanser, infact with any cleanser other than one which is oil based because I have a feeling that may cause the silicone to wear more quickly.