I’ve tried some beautiful facial serums recently by two rather enchanting brands which were completely new to me: Miss Polly and Forest Secrets.
Miss Polly Nourishing Serum
Polly is a very lovely lady who makes all of her products using traditional methods and quality ingredients - no harsh chemicals, parabens or SLS in sight! After chatting on twitter for a while, Polly kindly offered me the opportunity to try this little bottle of gorgeousness. I didn’t have any particular expectations, but found it a pleasure to use, noticed a distinct softness in my skin after using it and was told how bright my skin was looking just one week in!
Although described as a serum, to me this product feels like an oil in consistency - I found it very moisturising and didn’t require an additional moisturiser after application, which is unusual for my dry skin. I only used this at night time to allow it to sink into my skin and do its work as I slept… it didn’t leave any greasy residue and the subtle smell is heavenly!
“Containing blended rosehip, raspberry, Japanese rice bran and golden jojoba oils to create a serum which is packed full of anti-oxidants and natural vitamins, helping to even out skin tone, brightening even tired and dull skin. Rosehip is a wonderful oil which is reputed to help repair damage to skin cells and this serum will help relieve the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.”
The bottle is quite small, but a little goes a long way - 1 pump was enough for my entire face and neck. Suitable for normal, dry and sensitive skin types, Miss Polly Nourishing Serum costs £14.95 for 30ml and to me, it feels as if it costs at least 3 times that! Miss Polly’s range of gorgeous products includes soaps, body and lip butters. The Intensive Hand Treatments are next on my must try list!
Forest Secrets Personalised Skincare
Forest Secrets is a genius range of super serums, blended by you, to create a completely personalised product that suits your skincare needs, adding moisture and nutrition where you need it most. Specialising in addressing ageing, blemishes and pigmentation, each 100% natural, organic serum is highly concentrated.
I was sent the ‘Try Me’ set, pictured above, three dainty 2ml bottles of ultra-active precious ingredients. As each is so highly concentrated, only a tiny drop is needed and a little goes a long way as you mix a blend with the Elixir to suit your skin’s needs, based on guidelines provided.
Dr. Barbara Olioso, creator of Forest Secrets explained: “Blending the products within the system together puts you in control of your skin’s ever-changing needs. There are times when skin needs extra protection from the elements and other times when it needs feeding with key nutrients. My Personalised Skincare System provides the tools and guidance to become your own skin expert and unlock its regenerative potential.”
Sophisticated ingredients with clinically proven results include Lupin Seed extract, plant derived Kinetin and Matsutake mushroom help to boost collagen production, improve skin texture and even out pigmentation caused by age and sun damage.
I think the whole concept is incredibly clever and loved being able to mix my own bespoke product using the little pipettes. The serums feel beautiful on the skin and I do think they made its texture feel more refined and velvety - I don’t doubt that with continued use I would see further improvements.
While full sizes range from £35-£70, the ‘Try Me’ set is a very reasonable £15 and enough to help decide if this product is for you. Available from Forest Secrets and Urban Retreat at Harrods.
