Skin Chemists Caviar skin range

Over the last 6 weeks I have been trying out a new luxury range from fantastic skincare experts Skin Chemists.  I have tried quite a few products from this brand over the years and am always impressed with the results.  As a brand their products are priced in line with many high end beauty ranges but with Skin Chemists you also get a mix of unconventional ideas developed via the company’s research centres in the UK and US that go beyond ordinary skincare to combat and control skin ageing.

This range is all based around one of the most luxurious things you can think of…caviar!  Now, like many of the Skin Chemist ranges Caviar isn’t the first thing I think of when you say ‘great skin’ but over the years I have tried their snail serum and bee venom ranges so Caviar feels positively normal to put on my skin!

The Caviar skincare range is made of a large range of different items all working together.  I used the anti-aging day moisturiser, facial serum and eye serum together as a trio morning and night as part of my normal routine.  I used the facial serum, day moisturiser and eye serum in the morning and facial and eye serum before bed each day.

As always the range is presented in a set of lovely stylish packaging, both the boxes (so great to give as a gift) and the product containers – I do like them to look nice on my bathroom shelf!  These three items are currently on offer for £19.99 each making them really affordable too.

Caviar extract is a highly nutritious marine extract, which aims to improve the appearance of the firmness of the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines when mixed with other key ingredients this creates a range that aims to plump up the skin to smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles and to make it look brighter, healthier and more radiant. BUT the real question is – does it actually work?

First up is the Anti-Ageing Caviar Facial Serum which aims to hydrate, balance and improve overall skin’s complexion. Because Caviar contains a large mix of vitamins and minerals it is an exceptional moisturiser – you massage it onto the skin twice a day after cleansing and toning and then finish off with a moisturiser (I used the Caviar day moisturiser) .  Like many Skin Chemists products the serum has a slightly medicinal smell to it but goes on very smoothly and a little goes a long way.  I noticed quite quickly my skin looked healthier and more radiant and after about a month plumper too.  Some fine lines around my eyes appeared to fade slightly and its velvety texture left a very nice feeling on my skin.

Next I used the Anti-Ageing Caviar Day Moisturiser which aims to mattify, smooth and brighten your skin and also protects from free radical damage (when Oxygen atoms in the body try and pair causing damage to cells, protein and DNA causing premature aging).  A lightweight day moisturiser, I liked it didn’t make my skin feel sticky and after two weeks or so I saw a definite balancing of my uneven skin tone on my cheeks. I would then add my foundation on top to create a slightly dewy finish.

The final step to my routine was a small dab of the Anti-Ageing Caviar Eye Serum under my eyes concentrating in the small feathery lines at my eye edge.  A great little product, this felt really hydrating and after 6 weeks of use I felt it had lifted and brightened the skin around my eyes.  Its consistency is jelly-like and it absorbs into your skin without any residue – it really works and is a great finisher to this three step routine.

The ranges key active ingredients are –
1) Caviar Extract: A highly nutritious marine extract, its aim to improve the appearance of the firmness of the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
2) Aloe Vera: which works to soothe and moisturise the skin.
3) Seaweed Extract: which aims to deeply hydrate the skin as well as having anti-oxidising properties.

Obviously this is something to bear in mind for any allergies but there were no issues of any kind for me.  I really liked these products and they definitely made a difference to my skin over a 6 week period.  They felt luxurious but still effective and at 46 I need products that are more than just pretty packaging – that is one of the things I really love about Skin Chemists.  I will definitely continue to use them as part of my skincare routine.

Creating globally celebrated formulations that go beyond ordinary skincare to combat and control skin ageing at its source is key to Skin Chemists success.  These products work, make you feel good and last a long time – all key for me as a consumer.

Want to try them yourself?  All three items featured in this blog as currently on offer for just £19.99 each.  Find the full caviar range here.

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

Dinner Date: The Pearsons Arms, Whitstable, Kent

Last Friday I was very lucky to be asked to try the Pearsons Arms in Whitstable for dinner.

Located just off the beach in beautiful Whitstable in Kent, this cosy pub serves wholesome food with a seafood bias using locally sourced ingredients (the oysters are literally caught 100m away!), speciality ales and seasonal specials. They also have a great vegetarian and vegan menu.

We chose to visit on a sunny evening in late June for a rare parental event…a date night! Whitstable is always lovely to visit and the Pearsons Arms is perfectly located for a romantic evening meal…

So the important bit – what did we eat and how did it taste?

The Starters

To start we picked a selection of ‘small plate’ starters to share. The Pearsons Arms recommend two plates per person so we went for the mini chorizo sausages with a Worcestershire glaze, Baked Camembert and toasted baguette, Minted lamb meatballs in tomato sauce and mini fishcakes with Gribiche sauce. They all came out together on wooden platters and were utterly delicious! The servings were generous and we adored it all. If you are visiting and fancy just a drink and a snack I would definitely recommend these – there’s lots more to choose from including ribs, olives, squid, scotch eggs, oysters and prawns.

The Mains

Being so close to the sea, and seafood clearly being a speciality, we both decided to go for a seafood main course. I went for the half Lobster (my first time eating Lobster – exciting!) and Russ went for the Dover Sole.

Both were delicious – the Lobster was served either in a garlic or chilli butter (I went for garlic) and Russ’ Dover sole was served with new potatoes and buttered Kentish greens. Both arrived piping hot and tasted great.

And finally (of course) dessert!

For once we both went for the same option – Eton Mess. One of my all time favourites it was served with Chantilly cream, vanilla ice cream and a generous sprinkling of fresh mint – I ate mine so fast I forget to take a decent photo of it!!!

The inside of the Pearsons Arms is just as good as the food….think shabby chic, with a slightly nautical vibe and a cosy atmosphere.

And the view as the sun goes down is just perfect…

The Pearsons Arms also has some great live music on Tuesdays and Sundays, a Fish & Chip night on Tuesdays and a Steak Night on Thursdays so its worth checking the website to see whats on.

We loved our visit and will definitely be returning soon – I think it would be a great place to bring our boys too as the children’s menu looked great so maybe our next visit will be as a group of five!

*This meal was provided at no charge in return for this review but all views are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section