Thanks to BH and John Plunkett for allowing me to trial SuperBright Exfoliating Skin Brightener. Of all the Best in Beauty review products, this is the one I was most excited to try. I’ve considered trying a fade or brightening type serum, as my poor skin had a lot of pigmentation since having my two children, and since I moved to sunny Queensland, melasma. The serum comes neatly boxed and the pump bottle dispenses the recommended amount without any measuring required. The instructions are very clear that the product is to be used only once it or twice a week, to avoid other exfoliators or retinols, and to make sure you use sunscreen. I followed the instructions to the letter, especially as I’ve never used a salon strength chemical peel type product before. The instructions also advise those with sensitive skin to rinse the product off after one minute. My skin seems fairly resilient so I didn’t do that. I did find the mildest tingling on application but no redness, and the tingling didn’t last long at all. During the trial period I was only able to use the serum four times given the instructions say to use twice a week, but I’m pleased to report that I noticed some mild skin brightening. I don’t think I’ve used it long enough to see dramatic results, but I can see a small difference and the product, on the skin, feels like it’s doing something good. I’ll keep using this one, and if early results continue, will be repurchasing when I run out.

Thanks BH and Glow Lab for the opportunity to trial Glow Lab Facial Moisturiser. Glow Lab Facial Moisturiser comes in a large sized flip top tube, and is full of goodies like macadamia oil and rosehip oil. Being a fan of rosehip oil on my skin, I was hoping the moisturiser would offer that same “nourished” feeling. It delivers! The texture is quite thin and fluid, and despite containing oils there is no greasy after-feel. This lotion melted into my skin in an instant, leaving a great base for applying makeup. Just don’t forget the SPF, as this product doesn’t contain any. It smells just delightful - sort of botanical, and reminds me of the scent of products used at my local day spa. But it’s not overpowering at all, and within a few minutes I didn’t notice it. I will admit my skin drank it up so fast after my evening facial routine that I applied again just before bed, but it may well be that at 44 my skin need that little bit more. A lovely product.

I have enjoyed this product since it was first introduced, but haven’t bought them in quite some time. Now that I’m reacquainted, I think they will be a regular feature in my routine. First of all, the packaging is recyclable which is great, and the instructions are clear and easy to understand. Both oil free and dermatologist tested, you can be confident buying these that they shouldn’t aggravate acne at all. The strips are easy to use. Each one is hygenically sealed, and all you need to do is open it up, peel off the backing and apply to a wet nose. They stick quite well, so whether you choose to relax while the strip does it’s thing, or get on with your (at home) day, they don’t fall off. I find it takes a good 15-20 minutes for the strip to dry to that really stiff, paper mache feel. Peeling off the strip feels awesome - you feel terribly satisfied that you’ve cleaned out your pores without scratching at your face! Win! I think I will use these weekly as I exercise outdoors a lot and I feel my skin gets congested with sunscreen. These strips help me feel I’m clearing that back out.

I’ve become addicted to body lotion since moving to Queensland, as the great weather up here tends to mean I cover up less and am out in the elements more. Dermal Therapy Sensitive Skin body moisturizer works beautifully. The packaging is no-nonsense, and is a great sized pump pack at 250ml. I found that one pump’s worth of lotion for each leg, and one extra pump to cover both arms was plenty. The lotion itself seemed on the thicker side, but absorbed into my skin very quickly and left no greasy feel at all. There was no wait time between application and dressing, which was great. It’s got no fragrance doesn’t clash with other products, and it caused no irritation at all. I used the lotion once s day straight after a shower, and it left my skin comfortable, with no need to reapply during the day. All in all, a great body lotion that I’d be happy to buy again. As would hubby - he used it too :)

I was really excited to receive the Lady Jayne Pro Scalp brush to review - thank you! The brush arrived securely packaged. When I opened it up, I found a sturdy wood brush with a flexible cushioned head and soft metal pins. The brush is designed to help stimulate blood flow in the scalp, which in turn means more blood flow to the follicles, and (hopefully), stronger, healthier hair. I have to say, it feels great. The little pins are cushioned so well that it was the only brush in my collection that actually penetrated through my hair all the way to my scalp. Given I’ve got thin, fine hair you’d think this wasn’t feat, but it’s the only brush I’ve owned that does this. The brush doesn’t pull on my hair and glides through easily to banish any tangles, and it really gives a nice feeling on my scalp that makes me think it is delivering on that massage promise. I tried the small circular motions that the packaging mentions, but I think on my hair it would lead to knots, so I was happy to just brush through. I’m ditching my old brushes in favour of this one - I’m hoping that over time the scalp stimulation might translate through to new growth.

I must start by saying I’m not really a big user of self-tanning products. The last time I tried one was about twenty years ago, in my early twenties. I recall that being an absolute feral disaster - my legs looked like Donald Trump’s skin, and the stuff smelled awful for days. Gross. So when I saw the Best in Beauty box contained a self tan lotion, I was a little apprehensive. I am very happy to report that the self tan experience has changed a lot since last time! First things. The tube is really generously sized and easy to use with its flip cap. I think a tougher bottle would be less accident-prone for travel though. I did enjoy that the product was a nice light moisturizer going on. It also smelled nice, and the scent faded unlike other self tans. As a moisturizer I think it performed quite well, although it didn’t notice any kind of reduction in the appearance of my cellulite. Admittedly that would be a tall order though! I didn’t notice any colour for perhaps three days, but after that a light golden glow appeared, and seemed buildable day by day. It wasn’t too orange at all on my skin, and not streaky at all. I’d certainly use it again if I was looking for a bit of colour, perhaps in winter.

I normally buy any old lip balm for my handbag without too much thought, however I really enjoyed this product and may actually now have a go-to lip product for the first time. My lips aren’t generally overly-dry, but I do spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, wind, and at the beach. I found this lip balm to be nice and moist, and seemed to make my lips feel conditioned for quite a long time, without feeling like I needed to constantly reapply. I also didn’t find it sticky, which is something I was especially happy about, as my long hair getting dragged through lip balm isn’t a great look. I did wonder if this balm would be a thicker texture, like paw paw ointment, but it was actually a much lighter feel despite feeling very moisturising on the lips. Another thing I liked was that it was packaged in a cardboard box rather than a plastic bubble. Nice and sustainable :) Would definitely buy again.

When I received this product, I wondered what kind of review I could provide that might differentiate this product from the many other similar products available. Like other roll on sunscreens, it’s easy to use, small enough to be tucked away in a handbag or school bag, and mess-free. It’s a fairly standard size, a fairly even, medium consistency, doesn’t have a strong smell, and certainly prevented me getting sunburn. No breakouts or bumps on my skin. The big differentiator for me was that this product didn’t irritate my eyes when washing my face after my exercise. Normally, I find when I cleanse, I end up with remnants of sunscreen stinging my eyes on and off for the rest of the day. This product is the first sunscreen I’ve used that hasn’t irritated my eyes at all. Winning! I will be buying this product again, as I exercise outdoors most days and have sensitive eyes.

I don’t normally buy night creams that aren’t loaded with anti-aging ingredients, so I was expecting a fairly basic moisturiser for people without many skin concerns. This cream reads to me as fairly basic and inexpensive, yet the feeling on my skin was better than expected. The cream is a fairly thick, rich cream, yet it didn’t leave a greasy after-feel. I found that on application it felt more like a lotion - it melted into my skin which felt like it had had a good drink! No shiny face either. The scent is pleasant but mild, so my husband was also happy to use it. On waking my skin was nicely moisturised, not begging for another drink and not over greasy, which was nice. All in all a nice basic moisturizer. I like to see more anti-aging ingredients in the products I buy, but I’d be happy to pick this up and add it to a bag for travel - I’m pretty sure I could use it for day as well as it didn’t leave my skin shiny. Another thing I like is that Nivea doesn’t use a lot of excess packaging like other brands that are a bit overkill on the plastics.

Thank you for the opportunity to trial QV Lotion. This is the first product I’ve ever tried from QV. I must admit I’ve passed over these before as the large size bottle with very plain packaging led me to assume the product was almost medicinal. I was pleasantly surprised by the moisturising power despite the thin texture. This light lotion sinks in very quickly and is not at all greasy, so I could dress straight away. I used it twice daily, and have found that it kept the dry elbows at bay. I also used it on my heels and have found them crack-free even though I’ve been walking in either sandals or bare feet for months. I don’t have particularly sensitive skin, but I can see that the fragrance free formulation would be unlikely to irritate. The bigger fan in my household was actually my husband. We’ve recently moved to Queensland and are getting a lot of sun... he’s finding it’s helping his skin, and because it neither looks nor smells girly, I think he’s likely to ask me to buy a new bottle once this one runs out.