Category Archives: beauty

Haruharu Dark Spot Go Away Serum Review

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Hey hey everyone!

I hope all is good! Spring is in the air in the UK and Im so glad brighter days are coming back

I’ve used up the dark spot serum from Haru Haru so it’s time for a full review and some progress pictures!

The Centella 4% TXA Dark Spot Go Away Serum has 5 main ingredients that promise to work together to fade dark spots & hyperpigmentation, soothe the skin and leave it hydrated. These are Vit C, niacinamide, tranexamic acid(4%), squalene and centella complex

Experience

I started using this product on the 1st of feb alongside other Haru Haru products for my 30 day skincare challenge. See my full post here.

I was using this once a day for the 1st 3 weeks then went to 2x a day in the last week and a half. I finished this product on the 6th of March, it lasted 4 weeks and 5 days. It probably would have last a bit longer if I used 2ish pumps lol but Im a bit heavy handed with my products, so with most serums I use 3ish pumps.

The texture is like gel – its very lightweight and soothing on the skin. It feels great and layers very well with other serums. I’ve experienced no irritation or pilling with this. It doesn’t have a strong scent either- I think its also unscented like the rest of the products from Haru Haru Wonder.

How do I feel about this serum? Is it effective? Well, I’m 50-50 on this

I was using the Niod repigment serum which was working very well in Jan but I stopped using it on 28Jan to allow my skin to ‘normalise’ before starting the Haru Haru serum. I started the dark spot serum on the 1st of feb. As with all new active/treatment serums, I use it 2-3 times in the 1st week to minimise any irritation. I was using this serum to treat the 2 dark spots on my chin that resulted from plucking but now that I’m doing laser the hair hasn’t been coming back and I’m able to fade them! I was using the serum all over my face btw lol, but those 2 were my target spots to gauge effectiveness.

Anyway, I noticed by the 4th of feb- the pigmentation was coming back after I stopped using the Niod serum. Something I wasn’t expecting to be honest. It took at least 2 weeks for me to see a noticeable difference with the Haru Haru serum. You can see by 18feb, the intensity of the dark spot was reduced! I was really happy with it, but I don’t think I got any more reduction after this. Looking at the pics from the 21st of feb and 6th of march- I don’t see any more reduction especially in the large dark spot on the right but this may be down to my laser session on the 21st. (the pic was taken before the laser session). As laser can cause pigmentation it makes sense that from the 21st to the 6th I didn’t really see any reductions, infact I even think its slightly(just a tad bit) darker.

I also had a reaction to the laser on the 21st! I totally forgot and was playing with my face later that evening and doing this causes me to have a breakout! This time was bad and it left some dark spots- on my cheeks. It’s like I took several steps back. Sigh!

So why am I 50/50 on the serum?

Well I think I did hit a plateau after the 18th because I still don’t see any huge reductions in the dark spots. Even with the mini breakout I had the serum hasn’t been able to fade those marks and I feel like those are mainly superficial.

Verdict

Hyperpigmentation is extremely hard to treat and for me who is prone to getting it, it makes my serums work even harder! I really like this serum on paper- it has a blend of 3 ingredients known to combat dark spots and other ingredients to soothe and hydrate the skin. I really like the texture of the serum, the gel like texture is very soothing on the skin and I love that it layers so well other products. I used it with retinols & acids with no issues

It works, after 2 weeks I started to see results, but I feel like once I got there, there wasn’t any further progression. I know the dark spots in that area are deep and therefore harder to treat so perhaps I was expecting too much from the serum?

Will I recommend the dark spot serum? Yes and no- I think for deep, hard to treat hyperpigmentation it may be best to go for more potent treatments and a chemical peel( having my 1st one this year after I finish my laser!) if you are doing any sort of treatments that leave you prone to pigmentation e.g. lasers I think this might not be able to keep it at bay and you need something else

For superficial pigmentation or if you are someone who doesn’t really suffer from pigmentation then this serum is more suitable for you. It has the blend of actives to fight the pigmentation and added ingredients to soothe and hydrate the skin.

I wish it also mentioned the concentration of vit c and niacinamide alongside the TXA

I’m really glad I got to try this product and was gifted it- it was on my Stylevana wish list! of course SPF is non negotiable when treating hyperpigmentation!

This serum is available from Superdrug or Stylevana if you’re interested!

catch you laterrrr

HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner Review

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hey hey! I hope all is well. I’ve been getting on with my HaruHaru wonder skin challenge and I have my first review up today! Today I will be talking about the very popular black rice toner.

The toner comes in 2 versions: a alcohol & fragrance free version & the standard version. I’ve been using the free from version. This toner promises to hydrate and prep the skin for absorption and other ingredients to help maintain healthy skin.

Experience

I was using this toner in both AM & PM routines after cleansing and it lasted a little over 3 weeks last month. As I have been using the free from version, there is no noticeable scent and I have experienced no irritation from it. This would actually be my 2nd bottle of this toner! I first discovered it last year when I rediscovered K-beauty and Stylevana. I also used the free from version last year.

I get why the toner is very popular. It really is a fuss free gentle toner that works well with all actives. its hydrating & sinks into the skin with ease. One of the reasons why I switched to k beauty toners last year was because their toners are always packed with lots of beneficial ingredients and the black rice toner isn’t any different! In addition to their star ingredient, black rice( helps to brighten & soothe skin), it also has other ingredients like ginseng root extract for brightening properties, beta-glucan for soothing & hydration and sodium gluconate which helps the skin retain water

Verdict

A simple yet effective fuss free toner that lends itself beautifully to any skincare routine. Whilst I don’t have sensitive skin, I’ve really enjoyed this toner and I actually have a backup in my stash and will repurchase again! I’m sure the scented version is just as great. I have normal to combo oily skin and the sensitive skin version worked really well with it. Highly recommended!

HaruHaru Black Rice toner is available at Boots, Stylevana and Amazon

This is a gifted product.

I will be sharing my thoughts on the rest of the Haru Haru products as I finish them up but my overall brand review will be up next week with my top 3 fav products from the range! Stay tuned

catch you later

HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Cleansing Oil Review

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Another haru haru review! find out my thoughts on the deep cleansing oil and if you should try it!

Haru Haru Wonder 30 days Skincare Challenge

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hey hey everyone, happy new month! I hope this new month brings you joy! I’m so happy longer brighter days are coming!

This new month signals the end of my 30 day skincare challenge with Haru Haru Wonder! As you know, I started my challenge on 1st Feb, using mostly HaruHaru wonders in my skincare routine! I have so many thoughts on the products so lets get started!

a bit about my skin – i have normal to combo skin which is slightly drier in the winter. My main concern is hyperpigmentation. My goals for this challenge were increased radiance, fading of dark spots and maintaining barrier function. I was also looking for hydrated and smoother skin and overall health improvement.

What are my top 3 products

Coming to the end of my challenge, my favorite 3 products from the range are

  • Black rice deep cleansing oil- this product is 10/10 for its gentle but effective cleansing power! Its affordable and works really well against waterproof mascara and makeup! I have a full in-depth review next week!
  • Black Rice Moisture Airyfit SPF50- you know I love a good sunscreen! This chemical based one feels velvety on the skin and its lightweight! best of all 0 cast on dark skin- my demo & full review is be posted later this week
  • Finally I have to give it to the soft gel cleanser! I loved this since first use. it feels soft on the skin, and I really appreciated the unscented product. Im currently doing laser on my face and my therapist was happy when i mentioned this as my current cleanser as it would be very gentle on my sensitized skin! It doesn’t dry out my skin!
  • I have to give a shout out to the black rice toner too! its not listed in my top 3 only because I wanted to pick items from the new products I was using and the toner isn’t new to me. my full review will be posted next week.

Did I achieve my goal?

I think I achieved some of my goals. My skin has remained hydrated and healthy throughout the month. In terms of radiance, I switched to a new vit c serum at the beginning of feb and i hated it the texture so much but i don’t see a huge difference. In terms of fading hyperpigmentation the dark spot serum was ok i don’t think it made a huge difference but I want to reserve my full thoughts in my review when I finish the product. here’s the before and after pictures( after taken 3 weeks into the challenge)

Overall thoughts

I think the products are very gentle and suitable for all skintypes. I think that their products are good for skin care beginners because they do not contain high concentrations of active ingredients, they focus on barrier repair and hydration. Everything I used was very easy to incorporate in my routine. One thing I have to comment on was how well the products layered on top of each other! I had ZERO pilling during the last month and I really enjoyed that.

As a more experienced skincare user, I found some of the products didn’t quite hit the mark for me and its because my skin is used to higher concentrations of active ingredients. This isn’t a negative thing and Haru Haru’s more gentle approach is great for skincare beginners or sensitive skin. For instance the new retinol serum is mainly for retinol beginners as the conc is very low- great for beginners. As someone who has used tret & is on Medik8’s CR 20, the retinol serum is a step back for me. I did really like the texture & hydration the serum offered but I wont purchase it because Im on a higher retinal product but i will happily recommend for retinol beginners.

Overall I’m very happy with the brand and I want to thank HaruHaru for partnering with me for this challenge. I’m still using the products and will bring full detailed reviews as I finish them! I have a few reviews coming up next week-be sure to check those out! The only product I’m going to stop using ASAP is the eye cream because my eye area is a huge concern of mine and their eye cream isn’t doing much for me, everything else Im using up ????

Speak later!

Happy new month!

2024 Skincare Favorites

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hello hello everyone, you good? I hope all is well.

A new year is usually the time people take a look at their skincare routines and plan for a change! If you are taking stock or have a new year’s resolution to take better care of your skin, then this post is for you!

Today, I will be taking about some of my favorite skincare products from last year. Some are new products I tried and fell in love with and others are my holy grail loyal products I have been using for a while.

Let’s goooooooooooooooo (in no particular order)

Day Mallow Aquaron Watery Emulsion- this is a new product I tried last year from Stylevana & I loved it so much! its super lightweight and watery and deeply hydrates the skin. It was cheap too and the large 300ml lasted about 5-6 months! Its on Yesstyle here as its sold out on Stylevana

Naturie HATOMUGI Skin Conditioning Milk – This is my current emulsion/lotion after I finished my day mallow one. It’s so lovely, a nice lotion that also deeply hydrates my skin. full review coming soon. Another large size that will last ages. if you have dehydrated or oily skin and you prefer a lighter textured moisturizing product try this one. It’s available on Stylevana.

Haruharu Black Rice Toner- have you noticed a trend? I got back into k beauty big time last year! This product is so hyped in the skincare community and its worth it! I got the fragance free option and I love it. Its gentle and hydrating and just pleasant and easy to use. Highly recommended.

I have 2 items from Tatcha! The Tatcha Camellia oil cleanser and the rice cleanser. My full thoughts are here. Ive purchased the Tatcha Mini favorites gift set as it’s so worth the money and the sizes last a while as well! plus you get a free makeup/skincare bag

Estee lauder advanced night repair- ahhh my loyal serum! Ive been using this serum for years and Im never going to stop. It’s hydrating, brightening, leaves the skin looking so rested and healthy. I hope Estee Lauder brings back the buy 1 get 1 offer because its my way of stocking up lool and they havent done that for ages!

Ramsou bfida- another k beauty product? Yes! Last year I spent 6 months looking for a k beauty dupe for my beloved night repair serum (can’t blame a girl for trying to save some coins!) and this was the 1st one I used. whilst its not a 100% dupe, I did like it. Review here

No7 Future Renew SPF50- This is such a beautiful and lightweight SPF that leaves 0 cast on the skin! My full review is here

The Ordinary Buffet- for the last 2 years, I’ve been using peptide serums in my AM routine! This one from the ordinary has been a staple and the only one I have repurchased several times. Its hydrating and leaves the skin plumped

Farmacy Honey Potion- if you are looking for a hydrating mask that leaves the skin looking smoother and healthier then this is what you want. It just leaves my skin radiant and well rested. A staple in my routine.

What are some of your standout products of 2024? Wishing everyone a happy skin year!

This year I’m focusing on clinic treatments to deal with some long standing issues and I’m hoping to document most of these on here! Last year I tried looking for some dupes for my well loved products and whilst I found some nice ones, most of them were so disappointing. I decided then to stop looking for cheaper alternatives for these products. I was wasting more money trying to find cheaper alternatives that didn’t do anything than if I just saved and purchased the expensive product I loved and worked well for my skin! I don’t need to find a dupe for every product!

Anyways I hope you found this post helpful, if you have any questions, drop me a mail!

catch you laterrrr