Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches

Ten To Try (February) #5:
Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches

Described as
"a high-tech treatment for the eyes which targets the main signs of ageing"

At the start of the month, Meg says...
Institut Esthederm has, in 2018, become one of my favourite skincare brands - I can't tell you how impressed I am with their Intensive Hyaluronic Serum and I've also been loving the matching Intensive Hyaluronic Mask. These eye patches just arrived and I thought they'd be perfect for this new blog series, because as a beauty lover myself I'm always keen to know whether high-end pricier products are actually worth the dough!

Packaging
You get 10 sets of patches in each box, these are individually sealed in foil packets which you peel open to find the patches in a little plastic case.

Texture/consistency
Eye patches are something I use on a weekly basis without fail and, for lack of a better word or phrase, these are some of the least moist ones I've tried. I find that sheet masks and eye patches are usually dripping in product (too much product, sometimes!) and whilst these aren't dry, they aren't drenched in their thin gel-like serum formula.

Application
Super easy, you just take each out of the plastic case and position them underneath your eyes, then you're free to relax for five minutes before removing. I really like to get my money's worth out of products so I usually leave items like this on for as long as possible - e.g. a sheet mask will stay on for at least one episode of Riverdale! - but these really do last for the five minutes that the instructions state, and there isn't much excess to pat in.

Results
One of the ways that Institut Esthederm suggest to use these eye patches is as a 'six week cure' where you use them 2-3 times a week, which is what I did throughout the month of February and I can definitely see a difference - my undereyes look visibly plumped and smooth, and they feel physically toned and tight with no puffiness in sight.

Price
£47.50

The bottom line
As I'm in my early 20s and don't yet have any wrinkles, eye patches are something I use as more of a 'treat yoself, pamper yoself' thing as opposed to actually having crow's feet etc that I'm wanting to combat. If you have mature skin, the spare money to hand and you're wanting to remove the appearance of discolouration and undereye-bags however then I can totally vouch for Institut Esthederm and think you'd really love them! For me, they're nice to have on my bedside table (and even though I know that prevention is better than cure) they aren't a necessity and at this point in my life I think I'd rather find a cheaper alternative (or a couple of slices of cucumber!) and have the fifty quid to spend on ASOS.

Crabtree & Evelyn Goatmilk & Oat Bath Milk

Ten To Try (February) #4:
Crabtree & Evelyn Goatmilk & Oat Bath Milk

Described as
"Specially developed for reactive and sensitive skin types, it transforms the water into a silken emulsion"

At the start of the month, Meg says...
This is rather the generic statement, I realise, but I just love a good bath. There's an art to creating the best blissful bath (maybe there's a blog post in there?) and although I opt for a shower whenever possible to save water, having a chronic illness and insomnia means that a nice soak can ease painful joints and help quieten my mind. I've really gotten into Crabtree & Evelyn as of late and have fallen in love with the scents this brand offers, so today I wanted to review their bath milk as its been a highlight of my February and it's always a pleasure to share products I love with you all.

Packaging
Even though there's a hefty 500ml of product in here, the bottle manages not to take up a ton of space on the edge of the bath and it's a pleasure to have it on display rather than hiding it away in the bathroom cupboard. I adore the label, everything from the pretty light blue colour to the sweet little sketch to how it's very neat and delicate in appearance - I actually find it very relaxing to look at!

Scent/fragrance
I know I've had a little swoon over how nice Crabtree & Evelyn's fragrances are in this post already, but I need to have another as this smells heavenly. It's the kind of product you open and sniff constantly every time you pass it, the perfect clean scent that's fresh in a really soft way - like brushed cotton sheets or fluffy spa towels.

Results
This doesn't offer much in the way of bubbles (but then again it's a bath milk, not bubble bath!) and instead presents a tub full of warm, silky water for you to dip yourself into. There's a reason why the word 'soothing' is printed across the bottle as this is definitely that, I almost feel like it's a comforting hug and as an eczema sufferer I'm reassured by it being developed for sensitive skin. When I was younger someone recommended that I switch from cow's milk to goat's milk as it'd helpful my eczema - I can't actually remember whether it worked or not, but it means that this containing goat's milk makes perfect sense in my head! Stepping out of the bath and feeling like the product I used has made my skin feel all soft and supple to the point where I don't need moisturiser is glorious, and I definitely get that feeling with this.

Price
£28

The bottom line
Relaxation is really important to me and using this bath milk has felt like I'm treating myself to a proper pamper and truly taking care of myself. Sometimes I want a 'fun bath' with deep purple water and mountains of bubbles but other times I'm looking for something more grown-up, and for that this is absolutely the one.

Soap & Glory Bright + Pearly Vitamin C Radiance Boosting Cocktail

Ten To Try (February) #3:
Soap & Glory Bright + Pearly Vitamin C Radiance Boosting Cocktail

Described as
"a fruit-filled, vitamin-stuffed, super-nourishing serum formulated to boost tired, dull or stressed-out skin"

At the start of the month, Meg says...
As a chronically ill person, I always (surprise, surprise) look ill. Insomnia means dark circles galore, not always being able to eat makes the skin dull and basically, having a body that can't function properly doesn't leave you looking sparkling with vitality. I'm always on the lookout for products that are going to give back the glow - the Tanya Burr Face Illuminator is something I've reached for on a daily basis for ages! - and as I usually go to Soap & Glory for body and bath items, I'm really looking forward to giving this a whirl.

Packaging
Can't fault it - it's travel-friendly plastic, doesn't take up a lot of space in your makeup bag and, as you'll probably come to realise throughout this whole 'Ten To Try' series, I'm a big fan of a pump (steady on) and a beauty item always gets a few extra brownie points if it has one. This pump in particular is especially good as you get a ton of control over how much product actually comes out, and I find it so satisfying to watch the little pink beads burst from bubble-like form to liquid form - simple things, hey!

Texture/consistency
It's basically a clear liquid-gel formula (seriously reminds me of the Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Jelly, just way thinner) that has these little pink shimmery beads (which S&G call 'light-reflecting spheres') suspended in it. Once you pump, they mix together to create a sheeny gel that sinks into the skin super quickly.

Application
I tried three ways of applying this (don't say I don't give products a truly good go for reviewing purposes!) and found that my favourite way was using my fingers to put it on after I've done my morning skincare and before I start my makeup. It glides on so beautifully and sinks in like a dream, leaving a really smooth and healthy-looking canvas. I also tried applying it with a brush or beauty sponge before makeup, but found that those just kind of sucked up a lot of product which felt like a waste! The final way I tried applying it was in conjunction with my foundation, and I'm pleased to report that it's an amazing trick - whether you're in a rush or your current foundation is too matte or thick for your liking, the Radiance Boosting Cocktail easily speeds things up and sheers things out without interfering with the longevity of the finish.

Scent/fragrance
One of the best things about this product is the scent, it's gorgeous! Think the sweet zing of freshly cut pink grapefruit combined with cool, invigorating mint and that's pretty much it - it really starts your day off on a happy, uplifting foot and isn't overpowering in the slightest.

Shade/colour
When you first pump the product out it's a very light baby pink, but once you start smoothing the product over your skin it immediately becomes totally transparent.

Results
A radiant complexion with a 'just left the gym' sheen. I thought this might be glittery, but even after applying a generous amount of this under broad daylight whilst looking into a scarily up-close bathroom mirror there wasn't a speck of glitter to be seen. Nor much shimmer actually which I found surprising - this product definitely works more on making your skin look intensely moisturised rather than making your cheekbones look highlighted.

Price
£14

The bottom line
If you're like me and you're partial to adding extra steps to your routine, I can't think of many people who wouldn't like this. Especially if you have dehydrated skin (which most of us do!) as in my opinion this is 75% skincare and 25% makeup - it's like another product in your skincare regime that acts as a moisture-booster to quench thirsty skin and also as a primer before your start 'proper' makeup. If it had SPF it'd be the most perfect product, but even without sun protection it's still something I'll definitely be picking up again in future!

This Works Stress Check Face Oil

Ten To Try (February) #2:
This Works Stress Check Face Oil

Described as

"a wellness skin product that rebalances the skin and leaves it feeling silky and soothed... calms irritated, dry and sensitive skin"

At the start of the month, Meg says...

When my friend gave this to me for Christmas (thanks Hannah, you babe!) I was over the moon as a) This Works is a brand I constantly want to explore, and b) face oils are my jam. It has become such a firm and regular part of my skincare routine, and my boyfriend Will happily lets me put it on him too!

Packaging

The pipet is ideal for adding however many drops you choose to apply, and the opening of the bottle has a handy sieve-like function that means there's a slight bit of pressure when you pull the dropper out - I'm not sure if this helps with leaking at all, but I've travelled with this oil loose in my suitcase on various occasions and have never had any problems. I personally love the look of the solid white packaging, but it's not ideal if you like seeing how much product you've got left!

Texture/consistency

Out of all the face oils I own, this has the most serum-like consistency of all and feels considerably thicker. That's not to say it feels heavy on the skin however as it still manages to be lightweight, but there's definitely more of a moisturising quality - it almost feels halfway between an oil and a gel which is really interesting.

Scent/fragrance

One of the only other products I've tried from This Works is their Deep Sleep Pillow Spray which I love for its calming fragrance, and the scent of this has a similar soothing effect on me. With a natural blend of patchouli, camomile, lavender and neroli (literally all of my faves, well done This Works) I find it so relaxing to use in the evening once I've cleansed and toned and genuinely think it helps me sleep.

Results

I've noticed a considerable difference in how nourished my skin feels and it's definitely the product I reach for when I'm feeling extra dry. Between the winter weather and central heating it seems like my skin did Dry January, and I've been noticing that it's absolutely crying out for some moisture following cleansing (even if I use a cleanser that I really trust, which is when you know it's a dire situation!) and applying this oil feels heavenly. It's like a comfort blanket for my poor skin and leaves it soothed without feeling greasy, and the fact that I often put it on before I apply my makeup is testament to that!

Price
£40

The bottom line

I love This Work's holistic approach and how this oil is designed to calm and restore. I really do feel like my skin is often out-of-sync, so to find something that rebalances everything when I'm on the red, sore and angry side is very much welcome. If you're looking for something intensive (but gentle) to combat dryness and irritation, this could well be it!

Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector

Ten To Try (February) #1:
Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector

Described as
"a daily face exfoliator [which] gently sloughs dead cells away with chemical exfoliation - expect a reduction in the appearance of redness, blemishes and pore size"

At the start of the month, Meg says...
If there's a #1 hyped brand, it's Glossier and if there's a #1 hyped launch, it's Solution. Hype isn't always groundless however, I personally love Glossier and view many of their products as having holy grail status - so when they brought out Solution and everyone and their mum was talking about it, I bought two (one for me, one to give away to a viewer on Instagram) straightaway. They claim it "transforms skin in four weeks" which is a claim I was more than willing to put to the test! There seemed to be a lot of negative press surrounding Solution after its release, but I tried to look past those reviews (as well as Glossier's bold declarations) so I could test it fairly.

Packaging
Let's not beat around the bush here. The packaging is very, very cute. Glossier pink with the prettiest iridescent sparkles all over? They know us millennials so well. It's also extremely practical too, I love the travel-friendly plastic and I'm a huge fan of the built-in pump - I actually have a big love for products that have this design, and the fact that you don't have to unscrew a separate lid is another win. Make sure you press down gently on the pump with your cotton round however, the first time I used it I was a bit forceful (the excitement to try it must've gotten the better of me!) and instead of the Solution soaking nicely into the pad it just spurted out the side onto my new week-old MacBook, so easy does it!

Solution is packaged in a foil ziplock bag which is pretty redundant in my opinion - it has the instructions etc on which I guess you need to include, but you can find all of the product info on the website anyway and considering the foil wrap also comes in a classic Glossier pink pouch, it seems a little wasteful/extra.

Texture/consistency
As you might imagine this is your regular liquid exfoliant consistency, with 'liquid' being the operative word - it could be water if it didn't have all the, y'know... skincare stuff in it.

Application
I got totally suckered in by the fact that Glossier now make their own cotton rounds (which fit perfectly in a used Diptyque candle by the way, if that isn't the biggest beauty blogger cliché you've ever heard then I don't know what is) and bought three packs, naturally. These are pretty basic but nice (chemical and fragrance free, 100% cotton etc) and I won't lie - I love using them with Solution as it makes me feel all matchy-matchy and cute.

I've found that three pumps is the perfect amount, then I sweep the cotton round all over my face and leave Solution to absorb for a minute or so. The first time I used it I was slightly surprised by 'the sting' - I regular use the likes of Alpha H Liquid Gold when it comes to liquid exfoliants so I'm no stranger to 'the sting', but I think Glossier's insistence that this is "extra gentle" and use of words like "soothing" and "ultra-calming" made me expect something less tingly. It's part and parcel of using acids, but just bear 'the sting' in mind if you're a newbie.

Scent/fragrance
This contains fragrance but in all honesty it doesn't smell of much except strong, clean alcohol/soap - you can tell it's an acid and that's about it! It's neither a pleasant or an unpleasant smell, really.

Results
The proof is in the pudding and the first time I tried Solution the pudding was a melt-in-the-middle chocolate one from M&S, aka fabulous. I wasn't expecting practically instant results but my skin did look considerably better (brighter, smoother and clearer) than the night before. My immediate reaction was akin to the claims on the website - "3 out of 4 people said this was the solution they were looking for!" - but as I continued using the product I was less certain that it was making a difference. Blackheads and pore size appear reduced, however the formula feels quite drying on my skin and it gives me that 'cannot wait to slap some seriously intense moisturiser on' feeling, which other acids don't (like the Trish McEvoy Beta Hydroxy Pads, for example). In terms of clarity, I haven't noticed a huge change and it hasn't meant that I no longer want to wear concealer as some reviews have suggested, so whilst I like it as a product I haven't been blown away.

Price
£19

The bottom line
I'd put Solution firmly in the 'worth a try' category whether you're a liquid exfoliant user or not. If you are, then it's always nice to branch out to see if it's better than your usual, and if you're not then it might be a gamechanger and a step that you keep in your routine. For me, I think it's great for travelling and I'll happily finish the bottle or try it again in summer to see whether it's the cold weather causing the extra dryness that I've been experiencing, but it's not a product that's at the top of my 'must repurchase before I've even run out as life would be unbearable without it' list. I genuinely feel like I haven't quite made my mind up about it, which in a roundabout way means I have as its been a month of daily use and I'm feeling decidedly 'meh' - I could take it or leave it!

March Goals

Not gonna lie, typing the title of this post roughly five seconds ago made me chuckle due to the new connotations the word 'goals' has obtained - kinda sounds like I'm having a humble-brag about how fab my month was... March goals everyone, absolute MARCH GOALS!

Who knows, maybe March 2018 will indeed be #totesmarchgoalz, but right now it's the beginning of the month and I'm in that classic 'January was definitely non-existent and did February even happen?' stage of the year where I need to get organised and productive.

I thought I'd share three goals for March with you because 1. I always find inspiration in seeing others make their dreams a reality and I hope it'll do the same for some of you, and 2. let's be honest - once you've told people you're aiming to do something there's more chance that you'll actually do it, so thanks for being a lovely and supportive reader!

Eat

A few years ago when I was only a couple of months into my degree, I discovered fitness bloggers on Instagram and became so motivated by them. I'd never exercised more than having to endure freezing cold hockey practice during PE lessons at school and although I liked eating healthily, being in a university flat environment meant that I'd often reach for a microwave lasagne over anything else. Inspired by the accounts I'd started following, I created my own which I called Meg Says Eat - let me know if you remember it! - and I really loved that time in my life when it came to food as I was constantly cooking and trying new recipes, and every meal I ate was full of colour and flavour and goodness.

Food is still one of my greatest joys in life but I've recognised that I don't cook from scratch as much as I used to and I'd really love to get back to wholesome homemade meals again. At present, I'm a vegetarian who eats vegan most of the time and in the spirit of becoming more adventurous with my meals, I've purchased a few new cookbooks: Keep It Vegan by Aine Carlin, Feed Me Vegan by Lucy Watson and Vegetarian Cooking Without by Barbara Cousins. I bought the latter for 1p (no exaggeration, secondhand in perfect condition for ONE SINGLE PENNY!) and think it might be really helpful for cutting out various things like gluten or dairy to see if they help with my chronic fatigue at all. I did the Whole 30 a couple of years ago, but in all honesty I don't think I tracked my symptoms or progress anywhere and without a diary of how I felt I can't really remember that far back!

Perhaps something like The Whole 30 would be worth giving a go again in April, but for March I'm going to be focusing on eating as much fresh, healthy food as possible, trying out more exciting veggie recipes and getting into good habits like cooking in bulk and meal-prepping to conserve energy and minimise waste.

Save

My boyfriend Will and I have just booked the absolute trip of a lifetime and we couldn't be more excited for our big adventure! We're pretty much going on a world tour and it's going to be a) exhilarating, b) romantic and c) EXPENSIVE. The saving has begun with what we coined Frugal Feb (catchy) and now Frugal March (less catchy): we've set ourselves weekly spending limits and monthly saving targets, and we wanted to make sure we started saving early to ensure we're all set when the time comes for us to pack up and jet off.

Going back to the Meg Says Eat portion of this post, little things like meal-prepping so I can take a homemade lunch with me on the train rather than buying a meal deal at the station like I usually do will tick off two of my March goals... and I've totally just realised (thanks to my notebook next to me) that the third and final goal is 'organise' and that would be such an organised thing to do, so little old me trotting along the train platform with a cute lunchbox in my bag is all three goals in one! No, YOU'RE easily pleased.

So, if ASOS hauls seem to be lacking on my YouTube channel and there isn't a new date night restaurant on my Instagram story every weekend, you'll understand why. Instead, I'll be adding Topshop dresses that are still brand new and unworn with the label on to my Depop page and Will and I can be found on a Saturday night catching up on First Dates Hotel in our pyjamas. Actually sounds pretty blissful, bring on Frugal March!

Organise

I'm naturally not a very organised person. Sometimes I think I shouldn't say that as perhaps I'm perpetuating the notion too much and if I constantly vocalise how unorganised I am then things won't change, but when I look at my track record of 24 years... it's pretty obvious! I'm definitely not a born Monica Geller and that's totally fine, but it can also lead to me becoming a giant ball of stress because things have been left until the last minute or I'm not on top of deadlines or something important has gone missing... you get the picture.

I've got to be kind to myself as I often overlook the fact that I have a disability and that plays a big part in how much I can physically get done each day, but it wouldn't hurt to set myself little achievable tasks that will contribute towards getting a big job done. One big job that has desperately needed doing for literally years now is clearing out my wardrobe, so in March I'm really determined to break it down into smaller chunks and finally do it. It'll be such a sweet feeling, I can't wait!

There are other 'big jobs' on the horizon but that's exactly where I'm going to leave them, on the horizon - taking on too much at once is just setting myself up for failure and these monthly goals are hopefully going to help me overcome that. Those jobs can be for May or July or October, right now is all about March and making it #totesmarchgoalz!

Jacket | Hat | Jumper | Lipstick
Photos by Megan Duffield Photography