Over the past few weeks, I have been trying and testing out all sorts of new beauty treatments, health solutions and beauty products to bring you a whole new - hopefully fun - feature on Mademoiselle Robot: "Beauty Fight".
The idea is very simple, instead of giving you the low down on one product at a time, I will make two products fight against each other (often two different price categories) and will let you know who the winner is.
For the first installment, let me introduce you to the two challengers...
On the right, we have the Golden Touch Facial from Neville Hair & Beauty, priced at £150 for an hour or treatment.
On the left, Soap & Glory's Fab Pore and its sidekick, the hot muslin cloth, available from Boots and Harvey Nichols, retailing at £9.
I know the two products aren't in the same league at all, and darn, they supposedly do two completely different things... Yet, one of them made mamma very, very proud and the other one left her pleased, but slightly unimpressed.
Can you guess which one is which? No? Well let me tell ya.
The Golden Touch facial is a luxury pampering facial already quite popular in France where it was developed by Jean D'Estrées, but it is still fairly new in the UK.
The beautician starts by cleansing your skin and follows up with a light exfoliation before applying a concoction of crushed freshwater pearls to your skin. She then covers your whole face in gauze before adding a layer of gold dust to help the crushed pearls cream penetrate your skin and work its magic.
The first half of the treatment (cleansing and exfoliation) was really lovely, but it is something you can get in any salon. The Golden Touch facial itself was pleasant, but a little underwhelming. First, I would really advise you against it if you are slightly anxious or even claustrophobic in the slightest, as you spend 20mn with your whole face covered and unable to move. I don't know about you, but it is not really the kind of thing that helps me relax (and I am not normally claustrophobic).
Once the mask gets removed, the skin does feel softer and maybe a little smoother, but I couldn't really see the glow I was promised. I have pretty good skin too, so bringing out the glow is normally a fairly easy task.
I left with fresh skin, but without the urge to book my next appointment. The next day, a pimple even appeared on my chin, and I never get pimples...
Are you starting to get an idea of who the winner is going to be? Still not? I shall carry on.
Soap & Glory is a fun brand with fun packaging. I like looking at the products in Boots, but I never buy anything as I am faithful to my usual Laura Mercier
stuff.
However, I was happy to try the stuff when it was sent to me... I was very excited about the make-up, but left Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser to the side for a while. Then one day I was in dire need for some good old home pampering, so I took it out of the box and gave it a try.
The cleanser smells really nice, and is made of 4 essential oils and 3 conditioning ones. You just need to gently massage it onto your face for about a minute (more if you are into it), then leave it for a minute and pat it away with the muslin cloth provided (that you will have previously warmed up under the tap).
The result is really satisfying as your skin immediately feels smoother and super clean... and believe it or not, it brings out the glow. In 2 minutes, and for less than a tenner.
The only downside is that if you use it daily (like I did after that), the tube doesn't last for very long, especially as the quantity to use, described as a "splodge" is quite hard to assess. To me a splodge is bigger than a hazelnut, but smaller than a strawberry, but to others, maybe it is the size of a chickpea? Either way, it still means you get a home facial at around £1 a pop, which is nothing compared to what a salon facial would cost you!
So today's winner is... Hands down: Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser!
Nice! I like using soap & glory stuff, it all smells really good. I'll definitely have to check out this one!
ReplyDeleteDo not like the sound of the facial, but love soap and glory products! I have not used the make-up but the wash stuff is fab! The heel cream is great for hardcore heel wearers!
ReplyDeleteI am a laura mercier girl when it comes to make-up but also love dermalogica!
I'm addicted to Soap & Glory! Everyone at Christmas is instructed to get as many of their gifts sets as possible to last me as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteIf you wanna try something else by them the righteous butter is amazing. Nothing leaves my skin so soft.
xx
I love soap and glory stuff, mainly for the packaging but have recently given Liz Earle a whirl having seen some brillant reviews but I'm not won over...yet!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried either of these but just wanted to comment on the pimple - I rarely get pimples, but they sometimes pop up after a facial. Beauticians have told me this is absolutely normal because the skin is trying to get rid of all the impurities!
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest here and question the validity/logic behind putting crushed pearls and gold on your face as a beauty treatment. What exactly is the scientific reasoning? Are there vitamins in the crushed pearls that can penetrate the skin? I've also heard terrible things about using gold on your skin, based on stories of performs who have used gold powder or leaf. granted there are different circumstances, and I am genuinely open to any research on this subject. But I can't help but think it is another gimmick to sell something. Sorry, crushed pearls prob look great in a lipstick but it sounds like a great way to clog your pores.
ReplyDeleteMay I suggest a wonderful and super cheap exfoliating treatment? add table sugar to your normal face wash. The granules work, but apparently the real magic is from the acids in the sugar/water combo. I do not have good skin and this tip was given to me by a dermatologist.
Melina - I am with you on the whole "Pearl and gold" being gimmicky. Which is why I wasn't exactly convinced by the treatment.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there was research done about the properties of crushed freshwater pearls (not the hard pearls you'd have on a necklace). The calcium in them is supposed to be good for your skin.
Despite this, the treatment is very expensive for mediocre results, so I am happy to stick with my usual at home beauty routine and the occasional regular facial!
Leia - I know that pimples can come out after facials, but I don't normally get them after facials either!
je crois que c est la premiere fois que je lis un post sur des produits de beauté jusqu au bout ! Tack !
ReplyDeleteAh love this idea, it sounds like you've had a lovely pamper time apart from the claustrophobia... Nice to hear the cheaper one won!
ReplyDeleteLove from Tweet
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I have good skin but I'm sensitive and allergic to mostly anything cheap. I've been using soap and glory for weeks and it has proven the results promised, plus I feel like I can show my face to the world. It is amazing stuff.
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