Superdrug Optimum PhytoSurvive Multi-Protect Serum Review

Optimum skincare is one of Superdrug's own brands and is marketed as more cutting edge than their B range. The brand "harnesses the power of technology" to provide "high-tech skincare to women of all ages."  Products from Optimum skincare are "infused with natural ingredients." The brand uses "the highest quality ingredients to create indulgent, luxurious and effective formulas." Optimum products are cruelty free and suitable for vegetarians and most products are vegan.

Optimum PhytoSurvive Multi-Protective Serum is part of the PhytoSurvive range which concentrates on reducing environmentally stressed skin such as wind chapped skin and pollution. It is also designed for those over 40. Although I'm not yet in my 40's I chose it anyway as I had read good reviews. My skin can get a little dry and tight across my cheeks during the colder months so I picked up this "Anti-Stress 24-hour Hydrating Serum."  It contains PhytoSnow-Algae and Vitamin E to increase the skin’s resilience and adaptability to everyday environmental stress factors. It is also infused with MoistBoost, a slow-release hydrating complex, which has been clinically proven to soften and improve skin’s suppleness throughout the day providing a brighter and smoother complexion. Optimum describes this serum as having a "silky lightweight texture, which absorbs quickly on application to provide immediate and long lasting hydration." They claim that this serum prolongs skin hydration up to 5 days after application.

Onto the packaging, the grey/silver bottle is very sleek and scientific looking and matches the brand's image. It has a pump which works well and one pump is enough for the whole face. The only down side is that you can't see how much is left in the bottle so you have to judge by the weight.

Optimum PhytoSurvive Multi Protect Serum is a pale white, gel consistency and smells like a nice shampoo. I've been using it morning and evening under moisturiser for the last two months. It's a lightweight serum but it does take awhile to absorb into the skin. After I've applied it I often go and do something else and then come back a few minutes later to apply my moisturiser on top. This is a decent hydrating serum and has kept dry skin at bay. It has made my skin softer but I haven't really noticed any brightening effects. When I occasionally skipped using this I did notice my skin felt a little tight so it does keep you hydrated but not so much that it "prolongs skin hydration up to 5 days after application," but 24 hours I'd agree with. Serums can be very expensive but this is a steal at the regular price £12.99! At the moment it's on offer for £6.35! However it is very heavily scented and while it hasn't broken me out or set my asthma off it probably won't be a repeat purchase for this reason. If you love scented products then I can see that this ticks the boxes for an affordable, effective serum with a luxury spa scent. 

Optimum Optimum PhytoSurvive Multi-Protective Serum 30ml is available at Superdrug now £6.35 (normally £12.99)

Sleek idivine Showstoppers Palette celebrating 50 years of Superdrug

Superdrug have re-leased the Sleek idivine Showstoppers Palette to celebrate Superdrug's 50th birthday along with limited edition packaging. This palette was limited edition and came out in 2013 so if you missed out here's your chance to get your hands on it. The 12 eye shadow shades are named after popular i-divine palettes.

             (L-R Paraguaya, Sunset, Me Myself & I, Bad Girl, Noir, Ultra Mattes V2)

              (L-R Oh so Special, Bohemian, Storm, Sparkle, Au Naturale and Graphite)

In this palette Sleek have included satin, matte and a glitter finish with varying degrees of success.
The satin shades offer the best quality and there are 6 in total. Sunset is a burgandy-pink, Me Myself and Eye is silver with a blue tinge to it, Bad Girl is olive green and Noir is dirty petrol blue. The satins on the bottom row are Sparkle which is champagne and Graphite a dark brown. Sparkle and Me Myself and I are perfect for an inner corner highlight, while Graphite would be good for a smokey eye. I love Noir it's the shade I've been looking for years to create a rock chick look.

The mattes are not so good, the darker ones being better for their pigmentation. Paraguaya a light peach would be a useful light neutral colour if it wasn't so chalky. Paraguaya hardly showed up against my skin tone (despite having no problems with similar shades in the past) and was very difficult to swatch and work with. Ultra Matte V2 black is better, more richly pigmented but still very matte and while this shade is included in many of Sleek's palettes it's still useful to have. Oh So Special is a cool toned grey which wasn't easy to swatch as it's a little chalky and patchy. Bohemian is a bright salmon colour, it was a little chalky but with excellent pigmentation. Storm is a dark blue and richly pigmented.

The Single glitter shade Au Naturale is a deep purple colour it is extremely pigmented but I didn't find that the glitter showed up much when swatched.

As far as packaging goes apart from the limited edition cardboard packaging the palette is matte black with Sleek's logo as usual and contains a good sized mirror. The palette contains 12 shadows (13.2g) and costs £7.99 from Superdrug.

Out of the twelve, three shadows were disappointing (Paraguya, Au Naturale and Oh So Special) but on the whole it's a reasonably good palette with a eclectic mix of colours that aren't often seen together. This palette is versatile offering neutral, bright and dark looks suitable for work, relaxing or a night out.
Sleek idivine Showstoppers Palette is not a must have but it's worth it for the price if you're building up your eye shadow collection or have fallen in love with one of the shades belonging to a previous palette that is no longer available.
                                                   

Rock Chick Look

I used Noir (petrol blue) for the lid. I mixed Oh so special (Grey) and Ultra Matte V2 (Black) for the crease.

I lined my upper lash line and added a wing with L'oreal superliner pen in black then lined the lower lash line and tight lined the upper lash line with Rimmel Exaggerate black liner. I used Avon Mega Effects Mascara in black.

Burgundy Brown Autumn Leaves look

Sunset applied to lid, then Graphite applied to the crease and outer corner.
Then I used Bourjois liner Pinceau in brown and Avon Mega Effects Mascara in Black.