ELEMIS REHYDRATING ROSEPETAL CLEANSER REVIEW

So I am gonna keep this post short and sweet because I already have a very detailed post about my skincare routine (you can read that here). You all remember in this post here, I mentioned I was dealing with breakouts on my face because I'd used an expired makeup product and had scaled back a whole lot on the number of skincare products I used daily.

Well, I'd been using this ELEMIS Rosepetal Cleanser for a while and it was fantastic. Then the breakout started and it was one of the products I took off my top-shelf. A few weeks back I decided to pick it up again and was reminded of how much I LOVE it and kicking myself over the fact I hadn't shared it earlier! It has actually helped in calming my skin down, the areas not affected by the breakout feel soft and smooth, no word of a lie!

The directions on the back say to massage into dry skin and remove excess cleanser with a damp cotton wool. Ok, so I do not completely agree with that, I say 'not completely' because... I do actually apply this to my dry face, but I do not 'remove the excess cleanser with a cotton wool pad'.... *skkkrrrrrrrr*. So, I am sure you must've read my skincare routine post by now and can already tell how I get cleansers off my face. I always double-cleanse at night (If you don't know what double-cleanse is, read my skincare routine post please), and I use the ELEMIS Rosepetal cleanser as my second cleanse. It gets rid of all the makeup on your face, but not so much eye-makeup. You will need to use an eye makeup remover during the first cleanse, but that isn't really an issue for me as I always do that anyway.

The consistency is milky but very light, and the scent reminds me of cleansers used during a professional facial at a spa. I always feel like I am at a spa whenever I use this. It goes on smoothly, not thick at all, and melts right into the skin.

I will definitely recommend this cleanser, but please be sure to do a patch test first.

Details
Where to buy: Beauty Emporium
Price: N15,300*

Anyone else tried this cleanser, what are your thoughts?

Ez xxX

MERSEA DEAD SEA SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Ever heard of the Dead Sea? The Dead Sea is a unique body of water, referred to as the largest 'Natural Spa' in the world. It is the lowest point on earth at 417meters (1,373 feet) below sea level and is located in Israel. It's actually referred to as it's own mini-universe because it's got a unique micro-climate with an average of 330 full days of sunshine per year. It's the saltiest and most mineral laden body of water in the world and is most famous for it's mineral black mud.

Why the history lesson you ask? Well because this brand which I am about to share with you is a product line created using elements from the Dead Sea! MERSEA DEAD SEA aims at being the first major Dead Sea extensive product line in Nigeria. Their products are manufactured, packaged and distributed from Israel. Unlike lots of other dead sea companies which acquire their ingredients from Israel but manufacture elsewhere, like Europe, Australia, etc.  I got my hands on a few of their products which I am about to share in this post!

I haven't been able to try out most of these products yet because I have been dealing with some skin issues. I mistakenly used an expired makeup product early last month and my skin is STILL trying to recover from that. So, I've had to scale back on a lot of the skincare products I use in an effort to just allow my skin heal itself. Sometimes "doing too much" may just aggravate the issue. Nevertheless, the fact I am not able to use some of these products doesn't mean I can't share them with you guys.

 

Mersea Hand Cream and Nails - N1,600

Mersea Aromatic Body Peeling (Body Scrub) - N3, 600

Mersea Facial Cleansing Soap pH5.5 - N1, 900

Mersea Dead Sea Mineral Acne Soap - N1,000

Mersea Dead Sea Mineral Black Mud with Aloe Vera - N1,600

One thing that stood out for me the most with these products were their prices, this is affordable skincare at its best!

Mersea products all contain minerals derived from the Dead Sea as well as essential vitamins and oils formulated to provide a vast array of benefits including:

-         Restore the skin’s elasticity

-         Decrease wrinkles and fine lines

-         Exfoliate and remove dead skin cells

-         Prevention of stretch marks

-         Relieve  itching, burns, insect bites, scratch and redness

-         Close cracks caused by skin dehydration

-         Drying of acne blemishes

-         Rejuvenate and restore hair vitality

-         Cleanse, soothe and help prevent itchy flaky scalp

-         Relief of muscle and joint pain

-         Treatment of eczema, psoriasis, scaly skin, skin rashes 

STOCKISTS
You can purchase Mersea products from the following retailers:

Game (The Palms Mall, Lekki)
Spar Supermarket (Lekki & V/I)
Banana Island Pharmacy (Biporal Shopping Complex)
Shoppers Delight (Lekki & V/I)

Online Retailers: Konga & Jumia

What product have you got your eye on? Let me know in the comments

Ez xxX

SKINCARE HAUL | YOUTOPIA BEAUTY

The last time I went out on a deliberate skincare haul was about two years ago,  a few weeks after I discovered Caroline Hirons' blog. When I say 'deliberate' I mean I was in search of performance skincare products I could use to target/treat particular areas of my skin. Setting out to the Youtopia Beauty store in search of products reminded me of that time two years ago, only difference was I was doing this in Lagos. I love how much the Nigerian beauty industry has grown since I started out blogging, so many knowledgeable beauty stores out there now! A few months ago I shared all about Youtopia Beauty in this Out and About post here, so you already know how I feel about this store and its owner. With this haul I was after an exfoliator, something to treat spots and an eye cream. So after chatting it up with the owner whilst browsing the shelves, I left with the products pictures above all from her recommendation.

Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum - 10,500*

Like I mentioned in the Out and About post, the owner of Youtopia Beauty swears by Vitamin C for the skin. The anti-ageing and brightening benefits speak for themselves really. She advised that I use this every morning right after I get out the shower and before I apply anything to my face. So I use this, then my SPF50 face cream and then a primer before I apply my makeup. Sunscreen is a MUST with this. I absolutely love this serum, it is currently at Holy Grail (HG) status for me! I really believe this, along with a couple other products I will mention in this post, has literally transformed the texture of my skin. It is advised that you store this in a cool place, so I keep mine in the fridge just to be safe. Why in the fridge you ask? Well because Vitamin C oxidizes in the heat and with our weather (especially the last few months, good Lord it's felt like an oven 'round here), to ensure it remains effective and prevent it from oxidizing, it needs to be stored in a refrigerator.

ZO by Zain Obagi Exfoliating Polish - N13,000

This exfoliator, I LOVE! I can literally feel the difference on my skin right after I use it. I apply it to my face using my finger tips and work it in gently, using circular motions. It gives off a lovely warm sensation when you first work it in and it's got micro beads that aren't harsh on my skin. I only have good things to say about this product, my skin feels noticeably smoother right after. It was recommended I use it once a week, but I currently use it twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays). I will probably scale back to once a week, after a couple more months. But this stuff combined with the Radha VitC serum are the star products for me. I also use the Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic once a day, at night. And I think all three (ZO Exfoliator, Radha VitC Serum & Pixi Glow) have made a remarkable difference to my skin. I used to get little, barely noticeable, rashes down my forehead just between my lashes. But since I switched up my skincare routine and stayed consistent, they've disappeared and my skin overall feels really smooth. I may need to type up an updated skincare routine, but I really believe consistency is the secret here. No matter how amazing a product is, if you do not use it consistently it won't work for you. The Pixi Glow (not pictured) I got last year while on holiday, but only used it off and on, mainly because I wasn't noticing a visible difference, but now that I am back on it and using it consistently, I have seen it work. Pixi Glow is also available at Youtopia Beauty.

Clinicians Complex Retinol Eye Cream - N12,000

I had read and heard all about the benefits of incorporating an eye-cream in your nightime routine. The owner asked if I suffered from dark circles around my eyes and I said no, so she recommended I get this one. Now I feel as though I should have got the one that had retinol as well as brightening properties, just so I have a well-rounded eye cream... Perhaps I'll go back and get that.

Katialis Antibacterial/Antifungal Ointment - N3,000

Funny story about this spot cream, the owner's kids' nanny suffered from terrible acne, like big ones. She noticed that she always applied some white thing on them and later realised the acne started drying up quickly. So, one day, she broke out in spots and asked the nanny if she could use her spot cream. She used it, and in two days everything dried up. So she asked her nanny on her next trip home to buy quite a few so she could stock it in the store. How I find this effective is if you use it right when you feel the pimple starting to 'form'. You know when it's barely a pimple but the area hurts and is elevated? Yup, that's when this spot treatment works best.  This spot treatment takes literally 2-3 days to dry up the spot before it forms and then the area doesn't hurt. From my experience, I'd strongly advice you stop using the treatment after 2-3 days and switch to something that heals scabs/wound like tea-tree oil, to prevent scarring. In a case where the spot has fully formed, wash your face at night, apply Katialis and you will notice a visible difference the next day.

You know what's weird, when I was looking for a spot treatment, the owner recommended this and another one. This one she said worked faster but has the tendency to leave a scar, the other one worked slower but will also reduce the appearance of scarring. So she wasn't far from the truth about Katialis.

Discount Code

I got a discount for you guys! Youtopia Beauty have graciously agreed to offer all BiL Readers 10% off all Radha beauty products, including the VitaminC Serum! The offer lasts for one week, so it will end 14th of June, 2016. This offer is valid in-store or telephone orders.

The code to use is: RADHA10

Whilst typing up this review post, it occurred to me that I don't review products as much as I used to. So it made me reflect a little and my reason for that would be because not much has 'wowed' me in a while. I always want to be 100% honest and if something doesn't impress me, I'm not just going to type up a review for the sake of it. But I will continue to share products I purchase, my first impressions and definitely review products I like.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

What new skincare products have you purchased recently?

Ez xxX

EZ SKINCARE TIPS | HOW I EXFOLIATE MY SKIN

The last time I talked about exfoliation on my blog was 3-4years ago, here & here! Can you imagine, have I really been blogging that long??!! Anyways, not much has changed since then, I still exfoliate my body twice a week, but I feel like a bit of an 'expert' at it now and thought to update you on my routine. I now use 3 different scrubs to exfoliate different parts of my body, because if I don't complicate things who will?? lol... No, but seriously keep reading and you will find out why.

I am loving these scrubs by Nectar at the moment,  all-natural and hand-made. How I use my scrubs is, I wet my entire body from the shoulders down and then I work the scrub in sections on my body. Starting from the legs, thighs and working my way up. When using scrubs, you'd need to be patient so you make the most out of it and avoid waste. So work in sections, using a little hand-full at a time to reduce waste, and take your time, this is supposed to be a pamper session, so I suggest you indulge on the weekend or something.

Nectar Scrub 'Coco For Tara' - N3,000*

This scrub is 'wet', it comes soaked in essential oils. I love how this feels on my skin, I work this into my skin in circular motions until it dissolves then I move on to another section.

Nectar Scrub 'Lolly Lavender' - N3,000*

This scrub isn't soaked in essential oils but it's nice and smooth on the skin. When this is worked into the skin it dissolves into a cream-like texture which I found very interesting. I love the scent and it is very soothing and calming to the skin. 

This final step in my routine may seem a bit 'extra', but it's a necessity for me. Once I am done exfoliating with either of the scrubs, I rinse off and then go over my entire body using regular soap and exfoliating mitts. I do this to get rid of that 'film' that's leftover after rinsing the scrub off. Most of these scrubs have been created to leave your skin feeling moisturised right after, this is what I described as the 'film', and personally I prefer not to have this. So going over my skin very gently with the mitts, helps get this off.

Blushed By Cocoa Coconut Scrub (sample size) & Ajali Vanilla & Lime Lip Scrub

I got the sample-sized body scrub in a goodie bag from an event and I thought the size would be perfect to use as a Hand scrub. Yes, you read that right I exfoliate my hands separately and I do this every other day. I just incorporated it into my face cleansing routine, once I'm done cleansing my face at night, I apply the scrub to my hands, work it in and then rinse off. There are scrubs created specifically to exfoliate your hands, but I find body scrubs work just as good. Then I also exfoliate my lips using the Ajali lip scrub, and I do that twice a week.


Exfoliation is commonly known as one of the most important techniques to achieve healthy and glowing skin. You are basically getting rid of dead skin cells, which your body naturally sheds but think of this as aiding the process. I am a firm believer in exfoliating the skin and can vouch that you will start to notice a difference after doing this regularly over a period of time.

In my next post I will share what I do after I exfoliate, so look out for that!

Stockists Instagram/Directory Listing
Nectar Studio: @thenectarstudio
Blushed By Cocoa: @blushedbycocoa
Ajali Handmade Naturals: The BiL Directory

How do you exfoliate? Please share with me in the comments section!

Ez xxX

LAGOS DISCOVERIES | BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE

Hi Everyone,

This post is about my second discovery from Beauty Africa Exhibition

Remember this post? If you read the comments you will see EXACTLY why I had never typed up a post like that, despite the constant emails and comments to do one. Apart from the fact that skincare is a topic I'd rather leave to the experts, nearly all the products I use are not available to buy in Nigeria. And I don't understand the point of sharing products and then not being able to tell you where you can get them in Lagos, my blog is called Beauty In Lagos for a reason. But I had to cave and just lookatit, LOOK! Don't you feel like I dangled a cherry in your face?.. Sigh

Anyway, this post isn't about me beating myself up it's actually good news, one of the products I use is available in Nigeria. Biologique Recherche (BR) is a french professional skincare brand that is raved about by a lot of prominent experts in the skincare industry. You know what they say about the French, when it comes to skincare right? As Eat Drink Lagos will say, "They sabi the work" lol!

BR is a professional skincare line used for treatments in spas, but they do have a retail aftercare line as well, the most popular product being the 'P50 Lotion' range. I actually purchased my bottle from Barazahi Spa in Lekki Phase 1, but I assumed they had it because they used BR products for all their facial treatments, little did I know the actual brand was in the country.

I asked the ladies at the stand and was informed that Apples & Oranges Salon & Spa are official distributors of Biologique Recherche in Nigeria.

Details
Apples & Oranges Salon
10 Balarabe Musa Crescent, off Samuel Manuwa (Opposite 1004 Estate), VI, Lagos
Mon-Sat: 9am - 7pm
Sun: 1pm - 7pm
Telephone: +234 (0) 817 109 9966 - 9968
Email: info@applesandorangesng.com
Website: www.applesandorangesng.com


Sidenote: I honestly can't wait for The BiL Directory to grow and list all these businesses, won't it be so much easier and convenient if I could direct everyone to find contact details on the directory. We are growing and it WILL happen soon. Please spread the word about The BiL Directory wherever you can, lets get more businesses listed!

Wow Nails have got a Ladies Night Special from 5pm today, 30% off ALL Nail Services and they're open until 10pm today. Just what you need to get weekend ready right?

Have  great weekend everyone!

Ez xxX

BRAND INTRODUCTION | EMMAUS SKINCARE

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all well! I should've apologised in advance for the fact that things would've slowed down on the blog for a few weeks while I'm away. But I did plan to keep the Manicure Mondays posts coming, just so it's not just pure 'radio silence' on here. So yeah, letting you all know there won't be as many new posts this month. Also working on a new project launching this month which I'll be sure to share on here. I am updating a lot on Instagram & Snapchat so you can keep up with all I'm doing via those channels :). Anyway, lets get into today's post....

One of the exciting things about the Nigerian beauty industry right now is that there appears to be a rise in the number of indigenous brands. Yes, it may seem like everyone is now 'jumping on the bandwagon', so to speak, but trust me there are quite a few that know their stuff. One of which happens to be the skincare brand I am introducing on the blog today.

Earlier in the year I was invited down to the launch event for a new indigenous skincare brand called Emmaus. I was curious to know a little more about the brand, so had a quick chat with the owner, Mrs. Aminah Sagoe. She suffers from a skin condition called Keratosis Pilaris (KP) or 'Chicken Skin' as its popularly known. KP is a common skin condition that causes small white or red bumps to form on the skin, mostly the arms, cheeks, thighs or bottom. They are absolutely painless, non-contagious or life threatening, but rather make the sufferer very self-conscious, as they are quite noticeable. KP is caused by keratin build-up in the skin which ends up clogging the hair follicles and the only way to treat this is by exfoliating using chemicals. Manual exfoliation, i.e. using exfoliating mitts/brush, will only aggravate the skin and worsen the condition. Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant and is said to be highly effective at treating KP, as it has the ability to get right into the pores and help unclog the keratin build-up. Mrs. Sagoe had spent a long time using a concoction of ointments and solutions that had been recommended to her by various skin-doctors and specialists that she then decided to come up with her own brand of skincare that included all the key ingredients from the numerous products she had been using... And that is how Emmaus was born. She personally now has smooth, clear skin and swears by Emmaus.

There are currently 3 products in the Emmaus range. A Body Lotion, Body Wash and Pre-Moistened towels. Every single product contains Salicylic & Glycolic Acids, along with a blend of four active plant stem cells, each selected for its unique and complimentary benefits.

Clarify

Emmaus Softness Bliss Body Lotion - $65*

Cleanse

Emmaus Smiling Beads Body Wash - $60

Rejuvenate

Emmaus Touch of Love Mini Towels $75*

These products can be used by EVERYONE, whether you suffer from KP or not. It can also be used to treat other skin conditions such as eczema, body acne, ingrown hairs, scaly skin, psoriasis, uneven complexions, dark spots and discolouration. But please ensure you use sunscreen from head to toe every time you use any of these products. You are basically exfoliating your skin which makes it more susceptible to sun-damage. So load-up on that SPF.

I apologize for listing the prices of these items in US Dollars, but with the current rise and fluctuation of the exchange rate, it may be safer this way. Doing the conversion yourself will give a more realistic estimate of the price range :)

Stockists
Emmaus can be purchased at BNatural Spa and MedPlus Pharmacy
If you live in America you can order online from www.EmmausBeauty.com.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Laters,
Ez xxX


Instagram Username: @BeautyInLagos | Snapchat: BeautyInLagos

BRAND INTRODUCTION | GEMOLOGY COSMETICS

Hi Everyone,

It seems majority of you guys are very interested in skincare! My posts about skincare products, routines or recommendations always have the highest number of views. I'm actually not shocked by this at all, just gives me some insight on the sort of posts you guys like to see on BiL. You'll be happy to know that today I'm talking about a skincare product :)

Last month, myself along with a couple other bloggers/editors were invited down to BNatural Spa in Victoria Island to discover a new skincare brand, Gemology Cosmetics Paris.

 Gemology is the first mineral cosmetic skincare line founded by Chrystelle Lanoy, who was responsible for the implementation and development of the spa market in France (You know what they say about French skincare brands... Apparently they are the best!). After working with large laboratories and skin specialists for 3years, Chrystelle selected 20 precious gems whose virtues had never been used and developed the skincare brand known today as Gemology Cosmetics.

Every product in the Gemology line is infused with precious or semi-precious stones, with each stone tackling specific skin needs such as Hydration, Anti-Aging, Acne & Sensitive Skin, to mention a few.

Gemology is for professional use, but also includes a retail line for aftercare. During the course of the presentation, one of us bloggers was selected to enjoy a relaxing Gemology facial whilst the rest watched and were talked through the entire process. There are 20 professional treatments created under the Gemology brand; 10 face and 10 body treatments.

There are 40 retail products in their aftercare range and we were kindly sent home with two products to try out.  In order to see visible results one would have to use these consistently for a duration of 6weeks. Ladies and Gents, you see that word 'consistently', Yours Truly struggles with, especially when it comes to skincare. I do try my best, but some evenings I'm just so knackered all I want to do is the bare minimum which is double cleanse and call it a night. This happens like 1-2 nights a week (I know, how terrible am I. I ALWAYS double-cleanse though.... Give me a cookie!). Anyway, it's been 4weeks now, and I think I can give a first impression review at this point. I was given a Serum and a Purifying cream

Gemology Cosmetics 'Brightening Face Serum'

The Brightening Face Serum contains Malachite which is a sacred stone from Ancient Egypt. Malachite thoroughly protects the epidermis while re-establishing its brightness. In my skincare routine I applied the Serum straight after I toned with Rosewater.

 The product is contained in a plastic bottle that's got a dropper applicator, I use 3-4 drops and this covers my entire face and neck. It smells amazing, a really nice calming, sweet-fresh scent that's not at all overpowering. You feel quite 'luxurious' using this product and it's got a gel-like watery consistency, not sticky at all and cooling. It absorbs very easily into the skin.

Gemology Cosmetics 'Purifying Cream'

 The Purifying Cream contains Moonstone, rich in Potassium, which regulates the skin water content for better hydration.

In my skincare routine, I applied this after the Brightening Face Serum. I wait about a minute, then apply it all over my face and neck as well. This products smells just as good as the serum. It's not heavy at all, and applies like a dream.

I am always very reluctant to try out new skincare products because I am worried about my skin reacting badly and then having to deal with getting it back to normal. Especially when it had been thriving prior to the reaction. But I always do a patch test for a few days, before I go the whole hog. The morning after using these products, I noticed a visible glow in my skin. And the glow remained even after I cleansed.

I quite like these products and will continue to use them in rotation with my other (similar) skincare products until they run out.

BNatural will now be including the Gemology facial as one of their treatments at the spa. I think it will be better to get a facial first, before you purchase anything from the retail line. Just so you can get your skin analyzed first by a specialist at the spa, who can then in-turn recommend what products to get.

I have been signed up to get a Gemology facial at BNatural Spa, so I will be sure to share my experience with you all.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Laters,
Ez xxX