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This was a lovely simple accompaniment to the No7 1% retinol treatment. It kept me hydrated throughout the night and kept my skin feeling comfortable even when using very strong retinol. I also used it as a moisturiser during the day and found it sat very nicely under makeup and kept my dry skin feeling comfortable and hydrated all day long. There is nothing special about this. The packaging is basic and the product is simple. But it really does do what it says on the tube and it is sensational value for money.

This has got to be one of the best value retinols on the market. At 1%, it is not for the faint of heart or those new to retinol. This bad boy is strong. Even as a very experienced retinol user, I did find I had to be wary of how often I used it. The texture is nice and quite comparable to products twice the price. It’s a thick serum - light cream texture which is absorbed easily into the skin. There is no offensive scent to note. I will definitely cycle this into my routine when I’m looking to change up my products. And if I can time it right and snag it when it’s on sale, my skin and my bank account will be thrilled with me. Just don’t forget to take some nights off to protect your moisture barrier, use sunscreen religiously, and use a rich cream or oil alongside this serum to ensure your skin doesn’t dry out too much.

I must admit, I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to my skincare. I like it simple, active and effective. For that reason, I really was not a fan of this moisturiser. I found the semi-solid pearls floating in a light gel base quite disconcerting and bit food-like. Once I started rubbing the moisturiser in, the pearls did break down and the cream got quite thick and luxurious, but I think I would have greatly preferred it if it just came that way. The pearls may it feel a bit cheap and gimmicky. If that texture does something to make the product more effective, tell me that clearly. But otherwise, just stick with a regular cream. It is also quite expensive at $75 for 30ml. At that price point, I can find other products I’d much prefer to buy.

This cleanser did a lovely job at dissolving and removing makeup - even liquid lipstick. Having said that, I will not purchase again as I found the scent very over powering. I enjoy a scented product, but this was sickly sweet, fruit and felt a little fake. I prefer something more subtle and a bit fancier. If it weren’t for the scent I would have probably have given this a 5 as the texture was lovely and it is a great value cleanser, especially if you are lucky enough to get it in the bundle with the l-lactic foaming cleanser.

I’ve been using this as my in shower cleanser for a few months now and I quite enjoy it. It has a subtle fruity scent and a nice gel texture. It emulsifies well with water, rinses clean and doesn’t leave my dry skin feeling tight and stripped. I’m very picky when it comes to cleansers. I usually use a balm, gel or oil, but sometimes I want something quick and easy that I can use effectively in the shower without it emulsifying to nothing with a single drop of water. Add to that, my dry skin and general intolerance of harsh foaming cleansers and the task is almost impossible. But this ticks all the boxes. I use so many other actives in my skincare regime that I can’t really say that the addition of the lactic acid makes any difference to my skin. But it is a solid cleanser nonetheless

This was an absolutely lovely product to use. I enjoyed the heavy and traditional packaging. I know such pots are not really in vogue any more, but there is just something so comforting about a rich and expensive cream from Elizabeth Arden coming in a rich and expensive pot - it reminds me of my beautiful grandmother and her skincare regime (and she looks great!). I found the texture lovely too. It was hydrating but also rich. It kept my skin comfortable all night. I even swear I would wake up to skin that looked and felt tighter and fine lines that looked less obvious. There was no discernible scent at all to this product and I enjoyed that (as opposed to the day cream which had a strong and off-putting scent). I will certainly consider purchasing this again as it was a real winner in my books.

When it comes to packaging - A+. I really enjoyed the luxurious, heavy, and old-fashioned glass pot that the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream came in. It gave me serious Mrs Maisel vibes and I felt like my glamourous grandmother applying her cream for the day. The texture was also an absolute winner for me. Luxe, plump, water-based and light. But it really worked. It soaked my skin in hydration, was quickly absorbed and left my skin feeling comfortable and plump all day without feel greasy. It also sat beautifully under make-up. I have quite dry and dehydrated skin, so I'm usually a slave to a hydration + oil combination. But this product was so lovely that I could forego the face oil some days. I also swear that my skin felt smoother and tighter. Now that I've sung its praises though I have to be honest and say that I probably would not buy it again. My reason is the smell. I wanted this to have a really lush and rich scent like a beautiful cream from the past. Instead, what I got was what I can only assume is an unscented product which smelled of chemicals. It was quite unpleasant. A little bit of natural fragrance would have gone a long way in increasing my enjoyment of this product.

I really enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of using a single-dose ampule for my serum. It made me feel like the contents of each Elizabeth Arden Visible Brightening Spot correct night capsule were perfectly fresh, clean and effective. I also felt like I was getting the perfect amount of product - not too much, not too skimpy. It did take a few days for me to get used to opening the capsules without squirting contents everywhere though, but once I did, it was easy to get all of the content out without a mess. These would also be great for travelling as they are perfectly measured, don't leak and are not at all bulky. The downside though is the waste - i had to keep a little bin in my bathroom drawer to place the empty capsule every night. When it comes to the serum inside the capsules, the biggest response I saw in my skin was in its level of hydration. I would wake to wonderfully plump and smoothed skin and my fine lines seemed tighter and less obvious. This is likely due to the silicone content which provides a layer on my skin and seals in the goodness. Having said that, I'm not a fan of that 'heaviness' that you get from silicone based products. I prefer something lighter that feels like it is really sinking into the skin and getting where it needs to go.

I tried the Habitual Beauty Advanced Skin + Gut Health Collagen Elixir in both the Dutch Chocolate and Sicilian Orange flavours. I really enjoyed the taste of both.I tended to have the Sicialian Orange as a cold drink during the day. To ensure it dissolved fully, I would dissolve the powder in some boiling water, then mix it with cold water and ice or put it in the fridge to chill. This was smooth in texture, a beautiful watermelon colour and a refreshing citrus flavour. The Dutch Chocolate on the other hand, made a really lovely hot chocolate when mixed with boiling water. It had a pleasant chocolate and coconut falvour that I really enjoyed. All whilst doing good things for my skin, body and gut. What's not to love. The packaging is also really nice. A strong sturdy box and individual satchets. But, to be honest, given the price point, the packaging needs to be special. As an added bonus, there is about 10g protein in each serving - Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner.

By far, the Habitual Beauty Hydrating Sleep Mask was my favourite product in the range. Putting aside my pet hate of beauty products in pots (argh - why do they keep doing this!?), let me talk you through all the amazing things about the little pot of perfection. Firstly, the colour. It is the perfect shade of subtle violet. So soothing and relaxing. I assume the colour comes from the grape skin extract and not anything artificial. Simply beautiful. Next, the scent. It is soft, slightly sweet and soothing. It reminds me of hot pancakes with honey. Natural, pleasant and like a hug from Mum. Finally, the product. It is thick, nourishing and unctuous. It spreads beautifully. It dries on the skin, but I can still feel it on my skin after a night sleeping. Then, when I wash it off, my skin just feels plump and luscious. The only downside is if I exercise before washing it off - because it doesn't entirely absorb, I do tend to sweat it off. But, if I either wash my face before the gym or don't use it the night before my early-morning spin classes, there is noting at all to complain about. This is my new go-to sleep mask.