Priori Tetra fx250 SPF 45 Review

*This post contains affiliate links.

I was lucky enough to win this SPF in a giveaway hosted by @the.wrinkle.phobic - I was so pleased as I'd had my eye on it for a while! Priori are an innovative brand that have created a range of products the can be tailored to suit each individuals needs. They recognise that we all have different skincare requirements so their products are designed to adapt to what we need.

What makes this sunscreen special is that it provides four levels of protection -

• Broad spectrum UV filters to prevent sun damage,
• DNA Enzyme complex which reduces pollution damage,
• High Intensity Radiation Complex which protects against Infared and blue light damage,
• Antioxidant Complex which helps reduce damage caused by free radicals. 

Priori calls this combination of protection GPF, which stands for Genetic Protection Factor. 

Tetra fx250 is a mineral or physical SPF, containing titanium dioxide zinc oxide. It also contains a number of ingredients that protect against free radical damage, like Sepia Melanin, Carnosine and Soliberine.

Consistency wise, it's what I'd described as a lotion. It's extremely light. It absorbs into your skin beautifully. One thing I love is that it has a colour guide - it's a grey / white colour so you can see where you've applied it. This ensures that you don't miss a spot. Despite it's colour, it doesn't leave a white / ashy cast at all. The only thing I'm not particularly keen on is the scent. I can't quite put my finger on what it smells like but it's not particularly pleasant. However, the scent dissipates instantly as the SPF is absorbed, so it's not an issue. I particularly like that is doesn't feel heavy or like it's smothering my skin. A lot of mineral sunscreens feel heavy when first applied - this just feels like a moisturiser! I've not had any issues of pilling either, which is often a problem with mineral SPF's. It's perfect to wear under makeup. One other downside is the price - it's pretty steep at £75. However, when it comes to skincare budgets, it's subjective. This is a really great SPF that gives you superior protection - which makes it a winner in my book!

Priori Tetra fx250 SPF 45 is available from Priori Skincare HERE and Skin City HERE. 

Filorga NCEF-Reverse Eyes Review

*Post contains gifted items & affiliate links.

 

Filorga have brought out a new eye cream called NCEF-Reverse Eyes, which I've been testing for a number of weeks. 

Laboratoires Filorga are a leading French cosmeceutical brand founded by Michael Tordjman, who is a skin aesthetic doctor. They develop their products using state of the art scientific technologies and high quality ingredients. Their innovative formulas have that chic French pharmacy feel and fragrance.

NCEF-Reverse Eyes is a high tech formulation including NCEF which is a unique encapsulated complex containing Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Vitamin C, Caffeine and Escin. Escin is derived from horse chestnuts and is a brilliant anti-inflammatory.  This complex is designed to hydrate and firm, whist also tackling wrinkles, dark circles and bags. Basically it does it all! All these amazing ingredients are delivered deep into your skin thanks to Genius-Vector Technology. This ensures your delicate eye area stays plumped and hydrated for longer.

The cream itself is actually a gel / cream consistency which I love. It's light but still rich. It has that gorgeous super silky silicone feel to it. It just glides on, leaving your skin smooth and soft. It reminds me of Clinique Moisture Surge in that respect, just thicker. 

As it's more of a gel texture, it's cooling which is always great to de-puff the eye are. I've found it visibly hydrates my eye area instantly, which helps plump out my fine lines. It smells fresh and light, like a summer perfume. This won't be to everyone's taste as it's added fragrance but personally I love it! It's not overly strong or overpowering. I've been loving this as my AM eye cream as it creates a perfect base for makeup. You only need the smallest amount too, so this pot will last ages!

Filorga NCEF-Reverse Eyes costs £55 for 15ml and is available from a number of retailers including Look Fantastic UK and USA.  

Talika Genius Light Mask Review

 

I'm a huge fan of LED light therapy after having great results with it during professional facials and with my Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpotLite Blemish Reducer (full review HERE) and my LAB Lip and Eye Focus Photon (review HERE). So when I saw that QVC UK had the Talika Genius Light Mask on special offer - I knew I had to have it! 

So what makes it so special? The Genius Light Mask uses two high-tech technologies - LED light therapy and electrostimulation. 

It has 4 colours of LED lights - 

• Blue which is anti-bacterial so is great to help prevent acne / spots. It also helps control sebum production.
• Red which helps heal and regenerate skin, reduce inflammation and redness.
• Pulsing Orange which reduces fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Green which reduces the appearance of dark spots and evens out skin tone. 

Electrostimulation is a gentle current of electrical impulses that has a number of effects on the skin -

• Lifts skin to reduce lines.
• Firms and smooths.
• Tones.
• Boosts radiance.
• Calms redness and inflammation.
• Ionotherapy - which means it helps your skin absorb products more effectively. 

The mask itself only covers part of your face but actually works on all of it due to the directions the LED's are pointed (as you can see in the below photos). It has built in rubber goggles to protect your eyes. The electrostimulation pads are two metal circles - one on each side of the mask. These sit on the top of your cheekbones / temple area when the mask is worn. You have to wet these with water prior to putting the mask on to ensure conduction of the electrical current. The strength of the electrostimulation is fully adjustable or you can turn it off if you like. Personally I have it turned up fairly high. I like to know it's working! It's an odd feeling - not painful or unpleasant though. It just puts you on edge a bit. 

Now you're meant to be able to go about your usual business whilst wearing the mask but I've found this pretty difficult to be honest. It's like wearing very dark sunglasses indoors as the visor is tinted. Plus it's made even more difficult for me as I can't wear my glasses under it, so I'm as blind as a bat! I don't find this an issue though - it's a good excuse to sit and relax for a few minutes. I do think it you don't wear glasses, you would be able to read or watch TV without too much trouble. 

The mask has 8 different programmes which are all tailored to work on different issues. These are easily selected using the buttons on the side of the mask. The programmes are -

• First wrinkles - this lasts 1 min, 45 secs. This is to smooth, firm and help prevent first fine lines, stimulate cell renewal and boosts the effectiveness of beauty products.
• Global Anti-Aging - this lasts 3 mins, 45 secs. This targets established wrinkles, stimulates cell renewal, gives skin a healthy glow and boosts product effectiveness.
• Anti Dark Spots - 3 mins. This brightens and evens skin tone whilst calming inflammation and preventing dark spots.
• Anti-Blemishes - 6 mins. This regulates sebum, regenerates skin and helps reduce the effects of pollution on your skin.
• Anti-stress - 3 mins. This counteracts redness and soothes skin.
• Radiance Boost - 3 mins. Gives skin a lovely glow and has an anti-fatigue effect.
• Detox - 2 mins. This brightens your complexion and reduces the effects of pollution.
• After Sun - 4 mins. This calms and soothes redness whilst preventing dark spots. 

I've been using the mask pretty much daily since buying it. I've stuck to using the same 2 programmes for continuity - Global Anti-Aging and Anti-Blemishes. I've not taken any before or after photos as I was having a course of professional peels when I started using this but I can confirm that the mask has had a great effect on my skin. As you can see in the photos - I recently had a break out due to a Vitamin C serum. The blemishes cleared up more quickly than they would normally and left behind less pigmentation. My lines on my forehead have also been visibly reduced. 

The only downside to this device is that it doesn't help the eye area, as the built in goggles cover that area. So I've been using this in conjunction with my LAB Lip and Eye Focus Photon to compensate for this. I've also still used my Dr Dennis Gross SpotLite on individual stubborn spots when they've appeared as it really does give them a concentrated blast of light! When I first bought the Talika mask - it was intended to replace my other LED devices but I've found that all three have an important place in my skincare routine. I'm not saying that anyone needs all three devices but for me that's what works well for my skincare needs. I think if you're looking for an LED device that does it all, then this is it! If it's purely the odd blemish you suffer from, then I'd go for the SpotLite. If you're on a budget and are looking to target stubborn lines - then the LAB device is a great option. I certainly won't be without LED lights in my routine now!

LAB Lip + Eye Focus Photon Review

You know how much I love LED light therapy. I've had great results during professional facials with Dermalux and Light Fusion and at home with the Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpotLite Blemish Reducer (read my full review HERE). So when I saw the LAB Lip + Eye Focus Photon tool on offer on QVC UK, I didn't think twice and bought it straight away.

So what is it and what does it do? It's a beauty tool that utilises 6 scientifically proven technologies to reduce lines and wrinkles as well as helping clear up blemishes. The 6 technologies are:

• Galvanic current - this helps get products into your skin and boosts their effectiveness. 
• Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) - this reduces deep set wrinkles and improves muscle tone and firmness.
• Gentle warming - this increases circulation whilst soothing and stimulating skin.
• Micro current - often used in clinics, this reduces the appearance of wrinkles whilst lifting and firming skin.
• Massage - this helps you to relax, reduces dark circles and puffiness by improving lymphatic drainage. It also helps give a more radiant complexion.
• Photon Light ring - red and blue LED lights, which improve skins elasticity and clarifies your complexion.

The wand itself has two functions - Red which is for anti-aging and Blue which is for purifying. The wand has the LED light ring at one end along with a metal circle. When you switch the wand on the LED lights up red and you can feel it gently vibrating. The metal circle also gently warms up too. You can switch to the blue light easily by pressing the button on the side. The wand is designed to be used when applying products to aid absorption and to give slip on your skin, so it doesn't tug or drag. I prefer to use it with a mist as I can spritz as much as I want then. When using the red function you touch the LED end of the wand to your skin and sweep a number of times until your product is absorbed. You do this under and above your eyes, gently lifting up your brow arch, and over your crows feet. You can then focus on your frown 11 lines in between your eyebrows by sweeping upwards. I also run the wand across my expression lines on my forehead. You then do the same for your nasolabial folds, marionette lines and around your lips. When using the blue LED function, you can either hold it over individual spots or slowly sweep it over areas of congestion. I always focus on my chin, jaw and mouth area and a bit on my forehead, where my acne is. The only downside I've found is that is can be uncomfortable on some blemishes because of it vibrating. 

I've been using this device pretty much nightly since getting it a couple of months ago. What I love about it is how easy it is to use. I can sit watching TV whilst using it. Plus you can use it for as long or as little as you like. It does have a timer function where it pulses to let you know when 3 minutes has gone by, which can be useful to prompt you to move onto another area. The wand runs off AAA batteries - it definitely doesn't use up batteries as quickly as the Dr Dennis Gross one. Since using the device, I've definitely seen improvement on my frown 11 lines - they're barely visible now whereas they were quite prominent before! I also think that my eye area is smoother and that the fine lines I had are pretty much non-existent now. Obviously I'm using skincare as well so that will contribute but I've not used anything new active-wise that would be responsible for the improvement so it's definitely from the device. All in all, I'm incredibly impressed with it and highly recommend it. I do prefer the Dr Dennis Gross SpotLite for blemishes though - purely because it's more comfortable to use as it doesn't vibrate and because it's both red and blue LED at the same time. But if you're looking for a reasonably priced device that covers both anti-aging and the odd blemish - this is a brilliant option. 

From looking on the LAB website it does appear that they have changed the design of the wand since I purchased it (that's probably why it was cheaper when I bought it). I can only assume that they've made improvements to it. The device is available HERE on LAB's site for £65 or from QVC UK HERE for £49.98.

June Empties 2019

*This post contains affiliate links and PR products. 

  

I say this every month, but how quickly has this month gone by?! Seriously, it's nearly Christmas! Well, almost. Here's June's empties.

Philip Kingsly Elasticizer (Bought myself, available from Cult Beauty & Look Fantastic, costs £19-£92) - This is a cult pre-shampoo hair treatment designed to deeply condition hair. You have to apply it to damp hair which always annoys me, it's such a faff. The product itself works, it leaves hair nice and soft. It's nothing amazing though. I much prefer Olaplex.

Marks out of 10? 6/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? I think I've got another tube in my stash but after that, no.

Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel (PR, available HERE for £18 for 135ml) - This is part of the Glow Tonic range. It's a light gel that gently exfoliates skin leaving it bright and soft. I wasn't too keen on it to be honest. It wasn't bad, it performed fine but it didn't wow me either. You all know that cleansing is my favourite step in my routine so it's important that I enjoy using a cleanser. So this is getting passed onto a family member or friend.

Marks out of 10: 5/10 - purely down to personal taste, not performance.

Do I recommend it? Yes, it does what it's meant to.

Will I buy it? No.

Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream (bought myself, costs £98 for 50ml available from numerous retailers including Space NK and Cult Beauty) - You can read my full review of this HERE but to re-cap - it's a gorgeous cream that really helps brighten skin tone. I love it.

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I re-purchase it? Definitely! Just not at the moment.

Elemis Japanese Camellia Body Oil (bought myself, costs £38.50 available from numerous retailers including Look Fantastic) - This was a TK Maxx bargain. It was about half price if I remember correctly. I removed the red label as it stained my windowsill in the bathroom. It's a lovely body oil. Smells nice and hydrates skin brilliantly.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I re-purchase? No because I prefer the Frangipani version instead.

Evy Daily UV Face Mousse SPF 30 (PR, costs £25, available from Evy Technology and Space NK) - You all know how much I adore this SPF (if you don't read my review HERE). Just to re-cap this is the lightest SPF I've ever used. It's hydrating, non-greasy and doesn't sting eyes or block pores. For me, it's the perfect SPF. It works brilliantly under makeup too.

Marks out of 10: 10/10

Do I recommend it? Yes to everyone! You can save 15% off this SPF on the Evy Technology website linked above, using my affiliate code TORIA15 - thank me later!

Will I re-purchase? Always. This is one that I always have a back up in my stash as I refuse to run out of it.

Wow You Beauty Slay Cleanser (bought myself, costs £16, available HERE) - This cream cleanser is designed for oily / acne prone skin like mine and promises to keep pores clear and skin soft and clean. It's a thick light cream that smells heavenly! It's sweet and floral at the same time. It's a lovely cleanser but I've gone off cream cleansers like this. I'm not sure why but I just don't really enjoy them anymore. So I'm passing on to friends / family for them to enjoy instead!

Marks out of 10: 6/10 purely on personal preference, not performance.

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I re-purchase? No.

b.liv Kick Spots Out sheet masks (PR, available from b.liv for $19 for a pack of 10) - You can read my full review of this mask HERE. To re-cap, these are a gentle exfoliating sheet mask that's designed for acne prone skin. I'm passing these onto friends / family as I'm not the biggest fan of sheet masks. They're nice masks though as do as promised, it's just personal preference for me. I prefer a traditional mask.

Marks out of 10: 6/10 purely personal preference, not performance.

Do I recommend them? Yes

Will I use again? No.

Sun Daily The Base Line Gummies (PR, available HERE for $39 or $31.20 using my affiliate code TORIA20 saving 20%) - My second tub of these yummy orange gummies. These are great to give you that added protection from environmental stressors.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend them? Yes

Will I purchase them? Not at the moment, they're a nice to have not a need to have and I've got a holiday to pay for!

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream (Bought myself, costs £34, available from numerous retailers including REN, Cult Beauty, Space NK, Look Fantastic UK and USA) - You can read my full review of the Evercalm range HERE but to re-cap this is a gorgeous, rich cream that's super gentle. I've actually preferred it for PM use because of this.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase it? Yes definitely in the future.

Instytutum Truly Transforming Brightening Eye Cream (won in a giveaway from Instytutum, available from Skin City HERE for £65) - I'm really fussy when it comes to eye products. I've got two holy grail ones - Drunk Elephant C-Tango for day and Verso Super Eye Serum for night. Anything I try is compared to them as they tick all the boxes for me - hydration, helping get rid of dark circles and lines. You can read my full review of them HERE. Anyway back to the Insytutum cream - it's a nice, light cream that hydrates really well. I did find it a little bit sticky but it was never an issue. Sadly I didn't see any brightening effects at all - in fact my dark circles returned. So I've gone back to C-Tango and they've gone again. So this is being passed on to a friend to try - hopefully it'll work better for them.

Marks out of 10: 4/10

Do I recommend it? If you're after hydration, yes. If you're after brightening, probably not.

Will I buy it? No.

Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion (GWP from Space NK, available HERE for £9-22.50 depending on size. This one is only £9) - This cream is a favourite of Nadine Baggott and for good reason. It's a super light, thin, hydrating lotion that contains AHA's to exfoliate your skin. It absorbs so easily, it's not sticky or greasy and it has the lightest scent which I can only describe as a traditional cream smell. Hopefully you get what I mean lol. It leaves skin really soft and smooth. It gets rid of any texture too. Plus it's really cheap! Win win.

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Yes

Christophe Robin Detangling Gelee with Sea Minerals (sample from Space NK, available HERE for £30) - This is basically a conditioner that's designed to purify your scalp and soften your hair. It has a nice fresh scent. I left my hair soft but nothing that really wowed me. Definitely doesn't beat my favourite Function of Beauty products (review HERE).

Marks out of 10? 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I buy it? No

Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in shade Werk (bought myself, available HERE for £20.50) I've started to become really ruthless with my beauty products - if they don't work for me, I pass them on. I used to have a regular clear out every now and again but not I'm being much more organised with it so someone else can enjoy the product instead! This is a gorgeous multi-use cream stick that is designed for lips and cheeks. Werk is a fairly deep red shade. It's quite a glossy cream and gives a lovely sheer finish. It doesn't last particularly well because of this. As much as I liked this, I never ended up reaching for is because I prefer my Trinny London Lip2Cheek products (reviewed HERE) instead as they're much more longer lasting.

Marks out of 10: 6/10

Do I recommend it? Yes but I think it would suit dry skin types rather than oily like me, purely because of it's staying power.

Will I repurchase? No.

Milk Flex Concealer (bought myself, available HERE for £23.75) - Another product that I'm passing on. This is a nice, light concealer with fairly decent overage. It's almost mousse like, it's that light. It dries down well and doesn't really need setting. It's fairly long wearing but did fade and crease towards the end of the day. Sadly this shade it a bit too pale for me. I can use it under my eyes but I prefer my Trinny London BFF concealer (review HERE) instead so it's just not getting used.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? No.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick (bought myself, available HERE for £32) - This foundation is a best-seller for good reason. It's a gorgeous, creamy consistency, with buildable coverage. It gives such a lovely natural finish. Plus it's available in a large range of shades (I'm still the palest shade though - 00 Alabaster). I love this foundation but sadly it's not long wearing enough for me. I get about 3-4 hours wear out of it before it breaks up and disappears. I do have very oil skin though so it's not surprising.

Marks out of 10: 6/10

Do I recommend it? Definitely but not if you've got oily skin like me.

Will I repurchase? No.

Glossier Play Niteshine highlighter in shade Platinum Rose (bought myself, available HERE for £17)- This is a gorgeous highlighter but sadly it's too dark for me. It's quite a deep golden pink shade. It blends well and last well too. This will be passed onto a friend.

Marks out of 10: 6/10

Do I recommend it? Yes but probably not if you're as pale as me.

Will I repurchase? No.

Rosie for Autograph Radiance Highlighter (PR / gifted, available HERE for £12.50) - Another

gorgeous highlighter that's sadly too dark for me. This is a beautiful bronzed shade that perfect for summer. It blends well and lasts well too.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I purchase? Yes in the paler shade though.

Kate Somerville Eradikate Blemish Treatment (available from Kate Somerville, Space NK and Cult Beauty for £22) - This is my holy grail acne treatment. It's been my go-to to help clear spots up quicker, for a long time now. It's a brilliant combination of salicylic acid and sulphur which help shrink spots super quickly. Then it has an added layer of pink camomile lotion to cover and protect your spot whilst it heals. It visibly reduces spot size overnight, like nothing else! There my full review of it HERE.

Marks out of 10: 10/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase it? Always! I've got one in my stash that's already been opened. That will be my 3rd bottle now.

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser (bought myself, available from Kate Somerville and Space NK for £32) - Oh boy this cleanser is everything and more! It really lives up to the hype. It's a thick, luxurious cream that has the most delicious vanilla scent. It's so intensely nourishing, it leaves skin feeling incredible. It's the perfect second cleanse for me. Love it.

Marks out of 10: 10/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase it? I already have! It's definitely one I won't be without.

Pixi On-The-Glow Moisturiser (PR, available HERE for £18) - This is a solid moisturiser which makes it perfect for travelling. You can read my full review HERE.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I re-buy it? I don't think so, my skin needs something more hydrating.

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial (bought myself, available HERE for £54) - This is a stunning oil that's packed full of amazing ingredients. You really do wake up with glowing skin the following day. It smells heavenly too! Love it.

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? I'm not sure. I've really gone off oils - I don't find my skin needs them. So probably not. But if I was to buy an oil - this would be it!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum (bought myself, available HERE in the UK and HERE in USA for £22 for this mini size, bigger sizes are available) - You can read my full review of this serum HERE but to re-cap - this is a gorgeous, light Vitamin C serum that brightens skin and hydrates. Unfortunately for me, it breaks me out. When I first reviewed it - my acne was constant so I didn't realise it was doing it. Now my acne is mostly under control, I noticed straight away that I was getting spots when I used this. I know a lot of people have this issue with Vitamin C products. Such a shame as it's a lovely serum.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes but if you're sensitive to Vitamin C maybe get a tester first.

Will I repurchase? No.

Herbivore Orchid oil (bought myself, available HERE for £22) - This is a lovely, light hydrating oil. It smells of Jasmine which I love. As I've said above - I'm just not using oils anymore so I'm passing this on to a friend.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? No

Allies of Skin Fresh Slate Brightening Cleanser and Masque (bought myself, available HERE for £38) - This is a lovely light cream cleanser that doubles as a flash mask. I liked it for a morning cleanse - I'd apply it on to try skin and massage in until it would almost disappear. It would brighten skin pretty well.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? No. It was nice but nothing amazing.

Beauty Pie Superactive Capsules (bought myself, available HERE for £8.88 if you're a Beauty Pie member) - If you've not heard of Beauty Pie, read my brand overview HERE. These are individual Vitamin C capsules. Sadly they broke me out. I'm not having much look with Vitamin C serums at the moment! The serum itself was gorgeous. You get a generous amount in each capsule. It's very siliconey - I personally like the feel of it but know others don't. I didn't use these long enough to form an opinion in their effectiveness.

Marks out of 10: On initial impressions only - 7/10

Do I recommend them? Yes

Will I repurchase? No

And that's it for this month! Thanks for reading.