Beauty: A'kin Rosehip oil

So a couple of days ago I wrote a review for the A'kin Cellular Radiance Serum which I bought in a set with A'kin Rosehip Oil, so today I feel it's only fair to review that too.

image courtesy of qvcuk.com

The oil comes in exactly the same packaging as the serum ( which is also an oil - confused yet?!!? ) and is the same 30ml size which, I believe, is the only size you can get.

It is the same colour; dark amber, and has the same smell; tea leaves, so if you are ok with one you will probably like the other one too.

Is there a difference in performance that justifies the difference in price? I am actually not sure, I use the pair as instructed: this one in the morning (1 drop for my face, 2-3 drops for my neck and decolletage) and the other at night so I don't know whether or not one is better because I haven't tried them separately.

However, if the price is really as issue I would definitely suggest giving the "standard" oil a try because it helps keep m skin hydrated all day long without causing my oily skin to overproduce further.

I will update this review once I have tried the rosehip oil on it's own. In the meantime, you can purchase it from qvcuk.com like I did or mypure.co.uk

Thanks for reading.

Scarlett

xx

.... Beauty: A'kin Cellular Radiance serum review......

As much as I adore Josie Maran Argan oil, I cannot purchase it here in the UK (Why Josie, why????) so I needed to find an alternative because, without it, my skin just isn't happy.

Enter the first contender, A'kin Cellular Radiance Serum.

image courtesy of qvcuk.com

I bought this product as part of a duo set from QVC, it contained this and the A'kin Rosehip oil at a very decent price compared to other websites I checked. 

As you can see, the serum, which is actually an oil, comes in a 30ml size dropper bottle which is nice for dispensing just a couple of drops. The oil looks and smells pretty much the same as the standard Rosehip oil which is a sort of dark amber colour and smells a little bit like tea leaves. 

I like that about it, I have tried cheaper oils that have no colour or smell and they haven't done anything for my skin so, for me, these "imperfections" are proof of the quality of the A'kin products.

I use it the way I used the Argan oil but only in the evening:  2-3 drops on my face, 2-3 drops for my neck and decolletage. I emulsify it in my palms first and then gently massage and press it into my skin, including around my eyes and on my eyelashes.

I would totally recommend this serum as it healed my skin during a reaction to another product. The first couple of times I used it my face looked amazingly glowy when I woke up but that hasn't really happened since, which is a shame, but I still love it for the way it keeps me spot free.

You can buy it A'kin from qvcuk.com like I did or from mypure.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Scarlett

xx

..... beauty: Brands that are on QVC USA that should also be on QVC UK - No 1 - Josie Maran

I understand that in terms of global politics this matters not a jot, but this discrepancy of brands (and pricing, actually) has been one of my pet peeves since I found out that QVC customers in the States have been getting incredible value, auto-delivery TSVs for YEARS AND YEARS.
I understand that we are in a different country with a different economy and that sales logistics can be complicated, but surely QVC is QVC?

At this point I would like to throw all my toys out of the pram and have a full on tantrum, but negativity is not the mission of this post, no, this post is dedicated to the wonders of Josie Maran Cosmetics.......

I first came across Josie Maran's brand in August 2008 while studying in San Francisco. My skin was breaking out but, as luck would have it, I remembered a Sephora subscription email I had received not long before singing the praises of JM's Argan oil.

This miracle oil could get rid of wrinkles, heal acne and moisturise skin better than any extortionately priced, overly advertised unguent. Obviously I was intrigued and San Francisco just so happened to have a very well stocked Sephora, so the inevitable occurred and that very same day a little brown bottle of potential sat in my bathroom just waiting to be tested.

I started out tentatively, worried (despite previously seeing results to the contrary) that the application of oil on an already overly oily skin would just make things worse, but you know the answer - of course it didn't. What it did do was live up to the last two of those high expectations - the spots and scars were able to heal and the moisture boost allowed the my skin to balance out the oiliness. I am not saying that it doesn't work on wrinkles but (touch wood) I have none to test it on.

The oil itself is a translucent golden/copper colour and the smell, at first, is weird but I got used to it straight away as it doesn't linger.

My usage routine went as follows:
- 1 drop for my face, 2-3 drops for my neck and decollete, A.M.
- 2-3 drops for my face, 2-3 drops for my neck, etc, P.M.

It completely healed my skin and it is still the best face oil I have ever tried, despite finding others that I did like.

At this point you may be thinking "Well, if it's so great, why aren't you still using it?" and that is a very valid point. The simple answer is this: I cannot buy it in the UK.

That's right, ever since my stockpile ran out I have been Argan-less. I tried another brand that I found on eBay but it was just not the same. It was cheaper but it didn't  do anything for my skin.

Then, to add insult to injury, I find out that I have missed out on a whole host of gorgeous sounding products that have been released during my American absence - none of which I am able to try!

So please, Josie, I beg you QVC, make these products available this side of the Atlantic and make a beauty addict's day.

Thanks for reading
xx