Balance Me Radiance Face Oil Review

Facial Oils are skincare products people either love or hate because they are scared it would leave their face all greasy and shiny. However, not all facial oils are created the same or equally. I am a fan of Facial oils but I always choose super carefully because I have combination oily skin. I've had pleasant experiences using facial oils and they have brought the best benefits to my skin. When it comes to oil, I always go for oils that are at least 90% natural because I don't want anything clogging up my pores. I find that the few times I have used dodgy oils, my skin has just gone berserk with breakouts because it could not handle it at all. I was delighted to receive the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil* about a month ago and it has been amazing testing it out. To be fair, it is not completely new to me because I got a mini roller ball version in a Latest in Beauty Box- get the Gloss Edition (reviewed here) so I knew I would love the big bottle.  Balance Me in itself is not a new brand to me because I have tested quite a few of their products and I love majority of them. They are very generous in including deluxe samples in magazines especially during Summer. I have tried various Balance Me Samples in magazines including the Balance Me Cleansing Balm, Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash, Balance Me Radiance Face Mask, etc. I love this brand because they use very natural ingredients and I think that's really commendable. I won't say all the products I use are natural and organic but I always choose anything natural when and where possible because it is best for my skin.




Packaging
You all know I had to talk about the packaging. I love that the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil is housed in this beautiful glass packaging complete with a pipette. It takes me back to when I was in university studying for my Pharmacy degree. We had so many lab experiments where I always hoped to get the right titre value because failing to get this meant starting the experiment all over again. Those days were so much fun and I actually miss them!!. Anyway, let's not digress from the topic at hand. In this bottle there is 30 ml of oil which may sound small but trust me a little goes a long way. I have used it for almost a month now and I still have a lot left. The pipette dispenser ensures that only the amount you need is dispensed thereby minimising waste. I just love everything about the packaging because it is pretty and practical.


Formulation
The first thing I do when I get a new product, especially an oil, is to check out what the ingredients are. You see our skin is biggest organ in the body and any and every thing can get through really easily. One has to be super careful with what you put on the skin because it is quite permeable and things just go straight into the body. I was delighted to see that all the ingredients in this lovely facial oil are 100% natural and they are oils I have tried separately at some point. The Balance Me Radiance Face Oil has an excellent mix of hand picked oils including Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Oil, Buriti Oil, Moringa Seed Oil and Camellia Oil. It is also enhanced with ancient skin conditioners including Yarrow and Benzoin. You can't get more natural than this, trust me. I am not a skincare expert by any means but I do know that Rosehip oil is amazing for blemishes and scarring. Sweet Almond oil and Jojoba oil are all amazing for improving the skin's natural lustre and they add some radiance to the complexion. One thing I am impressed with is the texture of the oil. Let me explain, you know how some oils sit on top of your skin leaving you with a greasy feeling. Well, this is not one of them. It feels moisturising when you use it and it absorbs really quickly. You can see an evident lustre to the face but there is no greasy feeling whatsoever and I am really impressed with it.



Application
It is straight forward to use because the pipette makes it super easy. It can be used in the morning and at night but I mainly use it at night during Summer. I know I would be reaching for it both day and night once the season changes so I can still maintain my plump radiant skin and complexion. At the moment, I just dispense two drops in my palm and warm it up a bit by rubbing my palms together. Next, I massage my face and neck (don't forget your neck, people) with it and I just love the glow I get. The good thing is my skin still feels so plump with a glow the next morning and this always amazes me. When I just had the roller ball, I just applied it directly onto cleansed face and it was still super easy to use. If you have specific blemishes you want to target, you can just apply it directly to the spot and massage it in. It is recommended that you use this on its own or under a moisturiser and I have tried both methods and enjoyed the results I got. However, I prefer using it just on its own at night without any moisturiser because I feel it does a good job by itself. One thing I would say is I am not a huge fan of the way it smells. I am a fan of lovely fragrances but this smells very organic which I am sure many people would like. I am used to the smell now and I don't think it bothers me as much as when I first tried it. However, I appreciate the fact that no added preservative or fragrance was used in this product which is why it maintains its natural fragrance.



Results
I have read quite a few reviews on this lovely Balance Me Radiance Face Oil and every body agrees that there is an evident glow the next day. It is not called Radiance oil for nothing because it really lives up to its name. Once I massage my face with it, I see an immediate radiance and I don't mean shine by any means. It is not uncommon to get a shine when you use any oil but radiance/glow is totally different from a shine. A shine feels reflective and greasy while a glow/radiance feels like you are lit from within and you just look very healthy. Another benefit I have noticed is fading of some of my blemishes. I had a really dark blemish from a naughty  spot a few days before I received this facial oil. Upon using it regularly, I have noticed an improvement in its appearance but I would not say it has completely faded. I find that natural oils and ingredients fade blemishes slower but in an even way that leaves your skin supple and not stripped. I actually prefer it this way. I am looking forward to still using it continuously because I know it is effective and I am keen to see good results. If you suffer from dull skin or dry skin, I really recommend using this to add some oomph to your complexion. I also find that it is really useful to layer it on top of hydrating moisturiser or serum to lock in the moisture all day.


Cost//Link
I am sure you already guessed right; it is not a particularly cheap oil at £30 for 30 ml. However, I already mentioned that you need so little for your face. I have used this for a month now and I have hardly made a dent (well, not a dent but you know what I mean). The pipette really helps you manage the amount you use so there is little chance of waste. I see this bottle lasting me for at least 6 months even if I use it every morning and night. I think it is really amazing value for money. However, if you want to give it a test-drive before investing in it, I suggest trying out the 15 ml Roller Ball for £15. It is smaller and easier to carry around but I think it may dispense the product a little more than the pipette does. I also recommend checking out beauty boxes to see if there are any samples included because you would pay way less to get the 15 ml version. I already mentioned I got mine from the Latest in Beauty Glamour Power Box (now sold out). I also saw they have a 15% discount on the Balance Me website if you sign up to their newsletter. 


Overall Thoughts
I am so pleased I had a chance to try the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil. I take the 15 ml sample with me when I travel because it is so travel friendly and I have not had an issues with leakage from it. It is well secured and I think the roller ball allows you apply it to areas that may be difficult to get to. I love the results I get and it really helps balance out the production of oil in my skin. I know many people with combination or oily skin shy away from using any extra oil but this oil helps balance out the oil levels. I have thoroughly enjoyed using it through this season and it is an essential staple in my skin care routine for all seasons. Have you tried the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil?
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*PR Sample + Affiliate Links used above and below, read my full disclaimer here

Free Balance Me Products with Glamour Magazine

I love Spring/Summer season because this is the time when Magazines give out some lovely freebies. One of my favourite magazines is Glamour UK Magazine because it is affordable (it's only £2) and they usually include really lovely useful freebies. In the April Issue which is out now, there are four lovely products all from Balance Me. I am not sure what all the products are called because I was only interested in two products but I think they include: Balance Me Body Wash, Balance Me Lip Salve, Balance Me Face Wash and Balance Me Radiance Face Mask.

I picked up two magazines as you do. If I liked all the other products included in the freebies, I won't mind picking up all four magazines because I think spending £8 on these deluxe samples is not too atrocious. I previously tried the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash and I really liked it but I have no idea why I never repurchased it. I only picked these products up a few days ago so this is not a full review but mainly to inform you (in case you missed it) that they are on offer. So, this will be a first impression/mini review of these products.



Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash
I already mentioned I previously tried this face wash and I really liked it. Balance Me pride themselves in creating products which are usually made from 98% natural ingredients and I think that's impressive. The Pure Skin Face Wash is designed to cleanse, balance and refresh the skin. It is a water based cleanser and it is does not contain Sulfate, Parabens, Petroleum, Mineral Oils, Artificial Fragrance, etc. It is also enriched with Anti-oxidants and Spruce Knot Extract which gently balances the skin's PH. I use this after I have taken off my makeup with a wipe/micellar water. It feels like a slightly creamy lotion which goes on easily on the face and forms a little lather once you massage it. I use the word lather very loosely and I am not sure that's the right word but it feels slightly creamy. I massage this for a minute or so and wash it off with warm water. It makes my skin feel really soft and it has a spa-like fragrance which I can't quite pinpoint but I like it. This Pure Skin Face Wash is designed for normal to combination skin. I really like that it does not make my skin feel tight rather it makes my skin feel clean and soft.



Balance Me Radiance Face Mask
This is a new one to me and I don't think I have even read any review on this Face Mask. Just like the Pure Skin Face Wash, it is also made from 98% natural ingredients. Balance Me claims that the Radiance Face Mask polishes, hydrates and smoothes the skin and it is suitable for all skin types. Of course, I was very curious about this claim which is why I picked it up. It is designed to be a triple action face mask made with Kaolin Clay, Walnut Shells and Fruit Acids which work together to cleanse, exfoliate and brighten the skin. When I first used it, I was surprised that it felt like a scrub and I was a little confused on how to use it. Should I use it as a scrub or smooth it over my skin as a mask? I guess the little granules which made it feel like a scrub was due to the walnut shells in the formula. Don't get me wrong; they really felt like micro beads so it is not abrasive but they were just a little unexpected. Anyway, I went ahead and smoothed it over my face and left it for a few minutes (5 minutes or so). It was pretty easy to wash off. I know it's too soon to say but I really liked the results I got after a couple of uses. It left my skin feeling really soft and quite smooth. I would report back on this when I have tested it out for longer.



Overall Thoughts
I am pretty impressed with these two products from Balance Me. As mentioned, there are other generous samples which are lovely. If you wanted to pick only one, I would recommend the Pure Skin Face Wash because it is really easy to use and I don't think it will be unsuitable for any skin type. I know it says suitable for Normal to Combination Skin but I think it would be good for other skin types. The Radiant Face Mask is designed for all skin types but I think it would be suitable if you have acne/blemish prone skin because it contains Kaolin Clay which is really good for keeping the skin clear. Would you be picking up Glamour Magazine to try one of these Balance Me samples? See you in my next post...xx

Top Beauty Sample Freebies (The Magazine Edition)

Hi Lovelies,
I don't want to jinx this but I want to see if I can put up a blog post everyday this week. I think I can do it and I know you'd like that, so why not? If you have not already read my previous post on How to get Beauty Freebies, I suggest you trot along and have a good read through. It's no hidden secret that I love beauty samples/freebies because it allows you try out beauty products without splurging or burning a hole in your bank account. I am yet to see anyone who does not like free stuff. If you know anyone like that, point them my way for some brainwashing :-)

 Anyway, I have been loving some recent freebies from many beauty magazines here in the UK such as  Glamour, Instyle, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. When I walk into WHSmith, my eyes fleet over to the magazine sections scanning for any juicy freebies and these magazines have not failed me at all. This post would review some of my top and favourite beauty samples. Not all of them are still available but a few still are. Can you believe I actually buy more than one of the same magazine because I want all the variants of the samples it has? I have 2 Glamour magazine July Issue and same for Cosmopolitan; it's ridiculous but the freebies are more than worth the price of the magazine so it is a lil justified, I convince myself. Let's get started

                                                       Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash

I love this lil' product because it is almost 100%natural- it is actually 98.8% natural origin and I think it makes the cut. If you have been following my skin care posts, you'd know I have been trying to stick to natural or almost natural products for my skin like Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar which has made visible difference to my skin. I decided to take a little break (one week) from my Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar to try this cleanser. All I can say is I think it is an excellent cleanser. It has a distinct fresh and organic smell which is kind of hard to describe. It gives my face a good cleanse and it is not very drying as I feared it may be. 

The good thing about it is how it balances out the PH of the skin rather than stripping it out of all its natural oils and altering the PH of the skin. I would definitely buy the full version when this runs out as I think it is perfect for the summer which is when my skin does not do well with the heat and humidity. You can find the Balance Me Cleanser in Glamour Magazine August Issue which is only £2. They have also kindly included three other Balance Me products such as the Balance Me Body Wash, Raspberry Lip Tint and Face Moisturiser- Talk about good value for money..right there in Glamour Magazine.

                                         Eyeko London Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner

Although, I am a religious fan of L'Oreal Liquid and Felt Tip Eyeliners, I could not resist picking up the August Issue of Marie Claire Magazine because of this amazing little eyeliner. Eyeko London has been around since 1999 and have the most amazing eye liners which have very good precision on application. 

They are a little more pricey than the L'Oreal eye liners but I think they are very good value for money. I love this skinny eyeliner because it applies precisely in a smooth thin line which is a look I try to go for when I am off to work or in a more formal setting.




 The best thing about this eye liner is how fast it drys and doesn't budge even if you are a frequent eye rubber like me (that sounded a bit weird?). I literally applied it on my hand to test , within seconds, I tried to rub it off and it didn't budge. 



I was super impressed and it is extremely easy to control for beginners because it is in a pen form. It is easy to take off with the right eye makeup remover or any good overall makeup remover. The skinny mini version fits perfectly into my makeup bag and it has since become a staple partner in there. 

                                 
                                      
                                              Neal's Yard Remedies Power Berry Daily Moisture

This is one of the freebies I have developed a bittersweet Love-Hate relationship. I am not a fan of its fragrance; I find it overbearing and unpleasant. Although it may not be unpleasant to everyone, it is not one of the favourite fragrances on my radar. On the other hand, it is extremely moisturising and it contains most sought after antioxidants obtained from Acai Berry, Bilberry and Goji Berry. You can say it is a medley of berries which are very rich in antioxidants that help fight the effects of free radicals that our skin constantly faces in the environment. 

You can see why I try to ignore the unpleasant smell and smother my skin with this little goodness in a tube. On top of that, it is a true organic product that does not contain any Parabens, Mineral oils, Silicones, Synthetic fragrances (Aha, no wonder) or Colours and Phthalates. It also promises to deliver a brighter dewy-looking skin although I can't say I have noticed that partly because I have not been using it consistently. What I have noticed is how moisturised and hydrated my skin feels especially in this scorching sun and heatwave. I got this freebie from the July Issue of Instyle Magazine and I think it may still be available in a few newsagents.

                 

                                         Model Co Fibre Lashxtend Mascara

I have already briefly introduced this mascara in my post on What's in my Makeup Bag?.  As you may or may not know, I am not a huge fan of mascaras because they mess with my contact lens. If I must wear it, I always go for lengthening mascaras as opposed to volumising ones. For me, the Model Co Lashxtend is perfect for lengthening.

                   

I love how the wand distributes the product evenly and I have experienced very minimal clumping which means no messing with the contact lens. This is now a staple in my makeup bag and we have slowly developed a little love affair. I got this from the July Issue of Glamour which I think I have spied in a couple of newsagent stores. 

Go grab one if you have a chance because it cost only £2 and you get both a nice read of Glamour Magazine and a free Model Co lengthening mascara. This was one of the magazines I actually bought two issues because I wanted a spare mascara:-)

                                                         
                                                              Mirror Mirror Make Me Blush

This is one of the best blushes I have ever used and the sad thing is, I don't think it is an actual brand that can be bought. I think it was made specially for the magazine. I got this from Shout Magazine which is one magazine I actually never read or buy. 

I only bought it because this blush had a very attractive packaging which I absolutely adore. It reminds me of Benefit Blush packaging. At first, I thought I had wasted my money because it didn't look very good when I opened it; it felt cheap to touch. 



On application, it was a different story altogether. Firstly, it was well pigmented against my skin and was very flattering against my overall makeup. I used this blush almost everyday and I feel so sad that one day it would run out and I would have no means of repurchasing it.



 I wish I actually bought two magazines at the time. Either ways, I still have the cute packaging to help me haunt it down and as a memento for good blushing moments.

                                                         Sunnies from Cosmpolitan

I decided go throw in a few random freebies I got from Cosmopolitan Magazines July Issue. I love these Sunnies because they actually protect your eyes from the UV rays. I love the different designs and shapes because I find it hard to get the right shape of sunnies to flatter my face. Oh well, when the sun is out, all I can do is try to protect my eyes regardless of fit :-)

I hope you enjoyed this post and feel free to let me know what freebies you have picked up this summer especially from beauty magazines who have been very generous. See you in my next post...toodles...xxx