Katherine Daniels - Skincare Review*

I love skincare, and who doesn't? and this latest brand I have come across is going to be added to my list of favourites.

Katherine Daniels Cosmetics is a brand that is new to 2014. Developed by two skincare experts, who have worked for many years with salons and therapist. They realised there was a gap in the British salon market with treating the most common skin types and conditions, whilst taking into consideration client lifestyle, environment and our climate.

With active ingredients are from plant, marine, Collagen and biotechnology sources ( I love active ingredients from marine as you know ), they provide result driven treatments for the salon and a retail line for the face and body for clients to use at home.

Their mission is simple - Giving salons the tools to truly treat skin in the UK effectively and to de-mystify skincare for everyone ( you can expect outstanding results without complicated products and confusing regimes).

I was kindly given a trial size pack for sensitive skin ( I was given the option either for dry or sensitive ), I chose the sensitive as my skin isn't particularly dry . I would say normal with a slight ( and very slight ) oily t-zone and sometimes it can be a little sensitive to products.

I thought the packaging of the products is very chic and stylish, yet beautifully simple, fitting well in a spa, or even in premium department stores beauty halls. 

The trial pack contained:
Essential Cleansing Milk
Essential Toning Lotion
Sensitive Skin Cream

Now I am not one for using a cleansing milk, as prefer to wash whilst in the shower every morning. I was pleasantly surprised how luxurious this milk felt but yet it wasn't as thick as most cleansing milks are. It was very gentle and light, making the skin feel incredibly soft , smooth and hydrated. It didn't make my skin feel tight or dry as i have found a lot of milks do. I still however, preferred to use this as a night cleanser due to my preference of my morning cleansing of my face. I would love for that reason to try the gel cleanser which would probably suit me more for in the shower.

I fall in love with the toning lotion. The smell is divine and even better it felt great on the skin. This is one of the toners that doesn't contain alcohol ( which dries the skin out ). It contains red seaweed extract, which helps soothes the skin and this toner certainly does. I felt I could bathe my skin in this as it felt so lovely on the skin. It also a toner that you may need to pat off slightly, but I normally just wipe over with the back of the cotton pad and let the skin drink the rest before applying a serum. You don't need a lot of the toner either on the pad for it to be soaked, so goes a long way.

The sensitive skin cream is much like the cleansing milk in the sense that it even though it is so simple, it feels so luxurious. You need a small amount to do both your face and neck as a little definitely goes a long way. The cream feels more like a gel, soothing your face like water, it instantly hydrates and makes your face feel so soft. I keep this one in my gym bag now too.

I managed to get a good 3 weeks out of the toner and still have some of the milk and cream left ( now 4 weeks ) and my skin looks and feels great. Its smooth, plump and glowing.

Prices for the products are competitively priced, sitting in the range of premium high street/ luxury department store with their essentials starting at £19, their creams at £34.50.

For more information on Katherine Daniels or to find a salon near you please visit :
www.katherinedanielscosmetics.com

Winter Skin Survival

Skincare in the colder months is just important as in the summer months. Being exposed to extreme weather conditions and central heating can play havoc to your skin's condition.

So as we enter the Autumn and Winter months and the colder weather lets have a look at your skincare products.

A good moisturiser is a must to keep skin in its top condition and protect it from the harsh conditions of the cold and central heating, which can still dehydrate your skin, and dry it out. In turn this can premature the skin making it look older than it is.

As I have mentioned before in a post, drinking plenty of water doesn't actually help your skin, the water you drink always goes to your organs first, than skin last. Having a moisturiser that contains ingredients like shea butter or oils can help replenish and protect the skin. If your unsure on what to go for, either visit a beauty counter who can give you a skincare consultation or look for products that say they hydrate, quench your skin ( obviously check it is right for your skin type i.e dry, oily, sensitive, mature )

It isn't just your face though that will battle with the winter months. Your body and hair can also suffer with the extreme conditions. If your not already giving your hair a good deep conditioning once in a while, it worth doing so in the winter months, and using a oil like argon oil before blowing drying can help with keeping it in top condition.

Your body had to battle with extra layers, wool, central heating, and a lot of people forget about moisturising this part. There are plenty of lovely body moisturisers out there to keep it hydrated and again look for products that contain shea butter or even aloe vera.

Another part of the body often forgotten and suffers a lot in the winter is the hands. Not only is it drying out everytime you wash your hands, but now it has to battle with the weather, central heating and  of course gloves. Treat your hands to a good moisturiser that you can keep in your bag, and depending on how dry your hands are, a deep treatment overnight would be beneficial too ( cover your hand with a good moisturiser and put gloves on and leave overnight ).

Below are some of the products, I recommend - some are off high street, some are premium, just remember to check it for your skin type first i.e some products are for all skin types, others may have two verison - one for very dry/dry and one for normal/oily/combi