The Magic Potato

I wrote too much on Wednesday about my beauty products while over in the UK (husband asked if I was writing an autobiography) so I've decided to post in two parts. 

Continuing on, I did take make-up away with me (my little sister will be pleased) and I took Ken Boylan’s fab Play HD Foundation and his equally fab concealer for under the eyes (both in shade C25).  Very important to bring anywhere with me is my Urban Decay Original Eye Primer (my oily eyelids be gone).  For eyes, shadows consisted of a Clarins mineral quartet in Graphite (greys and pink), Maybelline Big Eyes Eyeliner to glam up the eyes of an evening, Max Factor Glamourous Extensions Mascara.  I also took Catrice Colour Corrector Powder Compact and their Concealer Stick for pigmentation, Sleek Face Form in Light for contouring and blush and Rimmel’s Kate Moss Nude Lipstick in 03 (I hope they never ever discontinue that!) with complementing lip pencil.  Oh and I also took a MAC lipstick (Viva Glam 1) and liner in Brick.  When it comes to the make-up blogging, I will be going through these in detail - next week, I am starting with make-up bases.

I love the high street store, Superdrug so after checking out their products online, I knew what I was looking for and I made three purchases.  One of which has been highly recommended by Sali Hughes, resident beauty columnist for the Guardian Weekend magazine.  Sali has highly rated their Simply Pure Hydrating Serum (and as you know, I LOVE a serum) for dehydrated skin on many occasions.  It was a steal at £2.69 (50ml) and I shall be taking it away on my summer holiday and using it before bedtime underneath my moisturiser to quench my skin from all the (safe) sunbathing I hope to do.

Another product that I bought was their Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel (£5.99 for 30 ml).  Sounds scary but its formulated with kiwi and mulberry extracts to revive skin radiance and even out skin tone and then the AHA and fruit acid blend will help to refine and re-texture the surface of my skin.  I am planning on using this once the summer is over. 

Don’t know if you guys are aware of the Konjac Sponge phenomenon that has surreptitiously crept in on the beauty market recently?   I tried to get the original Konjac Sponge from a health store in Dublin but they had sold out and didn’t know when they would get some more in so I was delighted to get my hands on one in Superdrug.  Konjac is a potato native to Asia, found at high altitudes and people have been using its cleansing and healing properties for over 1500 years. It’s rich in minerals and antioxidants and is pH balanced therefore gentle on the skin.  These little beauties are meant to gently exfoliate, deeply cleanse and refine the pores even without the use of a cleanser.  They are 100% natural and free from colourings and additives.

I’ve been home a week from my jaunt to the UK but it was only the other day when I thought I would use the Konjac, seeing as my skin still felt polished from using that Shiseido scrub. On opening the packaging, I saw that it is dome-shaped and resembled a chocolate coated marshmellow cake.  Apparently you can use the sponge without a cleanser but using one will be more effective.  Some Konjacs are infused with different clays depending on your skin type/condition.  For more information visit www.superdrug.com and www.konjacspongecompany.com

The sponge is a bit soft so I was wondering if I was going to be tickled rather than scrubbed (if I’m going to be exfoliated, then I like to feel I am) and I started to buff it across my face and the experience was quite pleasant.  One morning, I used it with my facial wash as I just couldn’t get my head around to not using one.  This morning I decided to be bold and use it without cleanser.  Everything was fine until I had finished my little routine and was about to jump out of the shower and then I thought, eeek, I can’t do it, I don’t feel clean and so I washed my face.  By the way, I am only using this sponge in the mornings as I'm removing my make-up with different cleansers.

The aftercare of the sponge is to rinse it out well, let it dry in an airy place or a towel rail and pop it in the fridge (which will extend its life – they should last 2-3 months). 

I like the principle of the sponge, its eco-friendly, 100% natural and cruelty-free and I like the fact that you are exfoliating the skin without the use of mircobeads (I’ve heard they are causing a problem for the environment as they are not filtering out in sewage treatment systems and therefore filling up lakes) as some can be quite coarse and damage the skin.  I also like those masks that you can buy that dry on the face and then you ‘stroke’ the product off the face to exfoliate.  Kiko do one and Clarins used to do one when I worked for them years ago, in fact, I’ve just checked their website and they still do the Gentle Peeling Cream. 

I have been using this Konjac sponge for three days now (with cleanser) and my skin is very very smooth and, honestly, my pores don't look HUGE today.  Whether its a fad or not, I like it this little potato.  It’s cute.