Kypris Moonlight catalyst review

I've always had one problem with my skin and that is my uneven texture. When my skin is dried out it can look and feel like sandpaper. I've been a huge fan of acid exfoliation for a long time but I wanted to see if there was something less harsh out there: and that is how I discovered the wonderful Kypris Moonlight Catalyst.

First of all can we talk about the packaging, the beautiful blue bottle with an all most 'hippy' design almost diverts your attention away from the product inside, however the moonlight catalyst has nothing to hide because it is fantastic.

Ingredients list:

Water/Aqua, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate (the answer to all my problems!), Xylitylglucoside (a precursor for hyaluronic acid), Sclerotium Gum, Algae (to help with hydration), Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, sh-Oligopeptide-1 (EGF),  Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract (effective hydrator), Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Flower Extract, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Extract (oil ingredient to nourish skin), Prunus Domestica (Plum) Fruit Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract (calming agent - think aspirin is derived from willow bark), Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water Extract, Hydrolyzed Fucus Vesiculosus Protein, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose,  Sodium Levulinate, Maltodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Citrate


Positioning itself as a herbal retinol alternative, this has a watery gel like consistency and contains fermented pumpkin enzymes (if you do not get on with fermented ingredients then this product is not for you). These enzymes (biological catalysts) are derived naturally from pumpkins and have a greater exfoliating oomph than your AHA's and BHA's but are more gentle on your skin. The enzymes soften the skin and they decrease your skins uneven texture and redness. This is something that I can really see happening on my skin, my skin looks less porous, red and looks like it has been "re-plastered"!

Sea Algae is used to deeply hydrate you skin in a way that shea butter normally would, but the main difference is that sea algae is noncomedogenic and hence will not block your pores in a way that shea butter or coconut oil would.

Excitingly moonlight catalyst also contains Xylitylglucosides these are compounds that help with the production of hyaluronic acid in our skin and as we get older we have less and less of these present in our skin so it is not only important to topically apply hyaluronic acid but to apply the precursors as well. Kypris hasn't listed where these compounds are from but they are normally derived from the sugars in wheat.

What I like

I love a good watery serum, this sinks in reassuring quickly and is not sticky. It is a different type of night time product to a retinol (moonlight catalyst is a good alternative if you are pregnant) and is different to the myriad of oils on the market. It smells wonderfully herbal and fresh (smell shouldn't come into skin care I know). I can really see a difference in my skin since I have started using this product, my skin is plumper, less red and has an ever so slightly even texture - which I'm sure with longer term use will just continue to improve! It is £74 but you get 47ml which is a very generous size in the realm of night time products and this makes it comparatively on par with the rest of it's competitors. Also there are zero filler ingredients (cough mineral oil I'm talking about you) and all the ingredients are highly effective, well sourced and harvested from women own farms (there is a huge long list of there ethical practices on there website). All the ingredients in this product are expensive and effective and  hence are worth paying for.

What I don't like

This may seem unreasonable but it is significantly cheaper in Selfridges than it is to buy from Cult Beauty. I paid £74 and it is for sale from Selfridges for £60.50... silly me just presumed that like all skin care (aside retailer promotions) that the base price of skin care is the same everywhere.

Aside from my minor grumble caused in part by my own stupidity, Kypris is a fantastic brand and the Moonlight Catalyst is a fantastic product. You can get it from Selfridges here! 

I cannot wait to try more from the range

Skin care favourites of 2017 so far

Now firstly I should admit that I am totally procrastinating writing this post as I should be revising but you know you need to take breaks occasionally don't you (I'm currently on the fourth hour of my break).

I'm really not a fan of writing "monthly favourites" posts because being honest how many products do you try to really get 14 new favourites every month (unless you are the Zoella) that are always different. It really annoys when people are talking about skin care and they are like, "omg this cream is so good I got it like yesterday and it totally changed my skin instantly and i now have no wrinkles, a new boyfriend and I've got a promotion. Like you should totally buy this cream #ad". Skin care needs to be tested over a long period of time to see if it makes any differences not a hot minute like some bloggers do...Also while we are talking about transparency, i'll tell you always if I have bought the product or been sent it for me to try and lastly I promise that my bot hasn't done any of this for me.

Might as well talk about what's been going on my face recently:

First off can I say a shoutout to The Ordinary. The products are am.az.ing and cheap as chip (this is dangerous because I have felt the urge to buy them all) but I settled on 8 of them (oops). Rather than write an ode to The Ordinary, I'll just tell you that my favourite product is the Hyaluronic Acid + B5! I've nearly finished this bottle and another is on it's way to me! What can I say it does what it says on the tin! There are three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid so they penetrate at different levels (smallest go furtherest down into the skin etc) and it is a humectant meaning it attracts water. i'm sure you've all read the headline that it can hold it's 1000x its own weight in water and at certain times i feel like you can feel the hydration! I've used this for two months and have told my friends, my family, passers by, cats and dogs about this product - I'll now never be without it because I can visibly see that it has made my skin better! my skin is now more plump and hydrated and I think it is all down to this wonder. It's also like £6 so don't buy that meal deal and buy this instead! 

At risk of sounding like a Deciem (the umbrella brand that owns The Ordinary, Hylamide, Niod and many others) fan boy but my next favourite is the Hylamide Hydra Density Mist. Now if you are starting out in skin care a mist is really not essential at all but this a great one. It has seed oils so unlike a load of facial sprays it actually hydrates because you know plain old water can be very dehydrating on the skin. I prefer to use this as my toner in the morning and give a few quick spritzes across my face before I go in with serum. This will also be refreshing for a hot day just to cool you down and would be good if you want to lightly hydrate your skin if you are having problems with breakouts. It's also alcohol free because no toner that has alcohol in it is going anywhere near my face. (Although certain serums have an alcohol concentration in order for them to penetrate more deeply). You can buy Hylamide from Deciem directly or the Hylamide range is a 1/3 off in boots at the moment! 

Now I use a lot of acid (not the LSD kind) but of the glycolic and AHA and BHA kind. These are great chemical exfoliants but this new skin that they "unearth" is delicate and prone to sun damage so you need a good SPF to whack on during the day in order to protect this new skin. I got sent some of the Herbalife Skin Range and the Protective Moisturiser SPF 30 was amongst them. Admittedly I don't just use this as my moisturiser because I find it not hydrating enough for my dry skin but it absorbs so quickly and is not greasy like a lot of spf's are! I wear this everyday under my moisturiser and love it!

Now to take the spf off at night time I use my favourite cleanser I have ever tried - the Yes to coconuts ultra hydrating creme cleanser. First off no foaming cleansers are ever going near my face (if I see a foaming cleanser I run for the hills and you should too!) they strip the hydration out of your skin and leave it squeaky clean (your face should be clean but the paint work on your car should be squeaky clean). The creme cleanser if ultra hydrating (there are many many plant oils in this), it doesn't foam but applies like a thick moisturiser to your dry skin and you should massage it in and then flannel off with hot water after using this my face is clean and still hydrated! I'm onto tube number three! It's also like £4 @ Superdrug right now so...

My last skin care favourite goes to my night cream of choice which is the Korres Black Pine Night Cream. I bought this on a whim off ASOS when it was on sale and I am pleasantly surprised that this came out as a winner. I'd never heard of Korres before but with some research discovered that they are a greek brand. I will say that it is very heavy so if that is not your thing this isn;t for you but my dull and dehydrated skin loves it! My skin feels more plump by morning and it has a noticable glow as well! It has a very natural plant like smell which I just love! (creams that smell like roses go straight in the pin i'm not 105 thanks). The cream is so rich and luxurious to use and I actually look forward to slathering it on at night! This product does not contain petrolatum, mineral oil, silicones, propylene glycol, sulfates, phospates, parabens and ethanolamines. It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans, is not tested on animals, and is recommended for all skin types. A total winner. 

I'm a fan of the dry shave especially now I have the wonderful Braun Series 3 which I won from Charlie's (manabouttown) blog at Christmas (his blog is ace go and check it out). But when I do wet shave I use Clarins Men Smooth Shave. When I use it I don't get any cuts, it's very very hydrating and I don't get any irritation from it.... what more do you want from a shaving cream (no, it won't do your house work).

I know this is Skin care but Knight and Wilson sent across the wonderful Hair Detox kit to me and not only am I hooked but my whole family is as well! This is my third set of them. Basically in the box you get two tubes one "purifier" and one "revitaliser". They do not contain the dreaded SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) which you should never use a product that contains it! After following the 2 step process (much easier than putting together those IKEA shelves I promise) your hair is so soft, manageable and not tangly... my mum loves the stuff and uses it all the time (hence why I am onto my third set). You can buy it from Superdrug and it is super cheap! (and it works so it is a massive win!)

Thanks very much for reading my current favourites (awfully formal)
I've procrastinated for another 2 hours writing this.

Secret Scent Box Review + Discount

First off I'll have to start off with an apology; i'm a little bit shit at this blogging game aren't I? I've had loads going on at university and have my critical exams coming up and have found little time for anything apart from studying. So deeply sorry that this is late!

So when the wonderful Anil - the founder and creator of Secret Scent Box - got in touch and asked whether I would be interested in trying out this service, the short answer is yes! I've seen a few recent reviews mainly focussing on the scents that where in their particular box but I'm going to only briefly mention that and instead primarily write about the service as a whole.

Secret Scent Box has a very easy to follow website (here) that easily breaks down the information, shows you a sample of what to expect in your box and shows you the date that you should expect your box - all in all it is very easy to place an order. It is auto-renewing but this is incredibly easy to suspend or amend (everything is very transparent).

Not in for deliveries? No problem! The box is sent in letterbox friendly packaging and the scents inside are very well protected. The boxes themselves are packaged like a jewellery box, the box is very sturdy and good quality and it unveils your three fragrances that have been chosen for you for that month.

You receive three 3ml samples (9ml in total) which is enough to last you for the month (and yes it does last you, I'm a person whom liberally douses himself in fragrance and it did last me). For example, the three fragrances I got in my box are: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Privé, Lacoste L.12.12 Noir and Ted Baker M. Now I have never smelt any of these before and I have to say that the three where a good mix! The Paco Rabanne was a good spicy evening fragrance, the Ted Baker was very fresh and subsequently great for the day time and the Lacoste was great for night time and going out because of it's dark chocolate notes. The sample sizes come with their own spray and are Secret Scent Box branded - these are not just random sample from the company thrown in a box and sent (or scent pardon the pun) to you. They come with cards explaining the notes and showing a picture of the product should you want to purchase it after wearing it.

I have to say that I was throughly impressed with this service as a whole! I was worried that it would be three of those free samples you get when you beg the sales assistant at a shop but it is not. The service is sleek and sophisticated and is a great way of trying out new fragrances and you can see how they wear over the day as you wear them (something you can't really see when you go into a shop and spritz some on). I love trying out new fragrances and this is a fantastic way of discovering new ones 9especially as I've never ever picked any of these up in a shop or smelt them ever). Also if you are travelling you can take your months box away with you and three little vials take up zero space in your wash bag.

So if you are into discovering new fragrances what are you waiting for! Check out Secret Scent Box here!

Also if you use the code HAPHAZARD15 you get 15% off your first order!

*I was sent this for review but it is 100% my opinions 
* The Link is also an affiliate link and I earn a small percentage of the sale, you don't pay anymore but it helps a poor student out xo 

Change up your skin care with Herbalife Skin

A good while ago I got contacted and asked if I would like to try any skin care from Herbalife Skin and of course, I leapt at the chance!

All of Herbalife's skin care is dermatologically tested, contains a unique blend of vitamins B3, C,  and E, is sulfate free, contains no parabens and the unique five step system promises results in 7 days, but does it? I've tested all of these products for over a month now and feel ready to give you my results.

Soothing Aloe Vera Cleanser

My first product of the four that I got kindly gifted was the Aloe Cleanser. It comes in a very generous 150ml tube and the white packaging with hints of silver is very classy and it sits nicely in my bathroom. The cleanser is a gel so i presume would be very good at getting rid of makeup but that's something that I can only hypothesise. The cleanser goes on to damp skin skin very easily and foams up nicely, the smell (Aloe Vera, Duh!) is very gentle and is wonderful to smell day and night! The cleanser is very easy to rinse off with a hot cloth and does not leave the skin dry afterwards (my pet hate with a lot of cleansers). Overall I really like this product! It cleans my skin throughly, smells lovely, and doesn't dry my face out so what's wrong? Nothing! The Soothing Aloe Vera Cleanser gets a big thumbs up from me!

I can imagine the cleanser being excellent of holiday if you have had a bit too much sun to the face. It would soothe the skin and it is definitely going in my travel wash bag.

Energising Herbal Toner 

I've tried to be artsy here 

This toner is very small (50ml) and comes in a spray bottle. Another note is that it is VERY strongly scented, so if you have sensitive skin I would steer clear of this. I love to use this in the morning as the strong smell really opens your eyes and makes you feel more awake. I spritz this over after I cleansed my face with the aloe cleanser and I feel like my moisturiser and serum go on more effectively after i've used it. The smell is very floral and grassy and you can smell it on your face a good while after you've sprayed it on so if you don't like strong smells then this is not for you. Again I think its best use is if you are on holiday and your face is hot then you can spritz it on to cool you down and make you smell a little more fresh. For me though, I must prefer a glycolic acid toner as I feel they do more for my skin but it is a good little spritz so I will enjoy using this especially in the warmer months.


Daily Glow Moisturiser 

The first thing you notice is that the packaging feels very luxury, the bottle is heavy and has an airless pump (this keeps the product from oxidising and is more sanitary than a pot). I'm a big fan of pumps because you can figure out how much product your skins needs rather than scooping out a different amount each time which is the situation you find yourself in when you have a pot. This product is again scented so if you have a problem with that then this is not for you, but I love the scent personally as it is a less over powering version of the toner, the smell is very relaxing at night! In terms of glow you won't strobe but you will dimly glow... you won't look like an oil slick but it does give you a healthy looking glow! The product itself is very creamy and a little goes a long way. I massage mine into the skin and it absorbs in  quickly and leaves the skin wonderfully moisturised. In my opinion my skin goes slightly dry and toughens up after about 4 hours after usage and because of this it doesn't quite reach the level that my Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream does!

Protective Moisturiser SPF 30

YES I FOUND AN SPF PRODUCT THAT I LIKE! If you've read my blog before you know about my hatred of my old spf and I'm happy to say that this one is everything is everything that the Clinique is not! It is moisturising, not streaky and doesn't ooze out of the bottle! Right now I am trying out a lot of acid containing products recently and sun protection is essential as your skin is delicate and I have been loving using this! I'm over halfway through it and I'm trying to purchase it again so that I will never be without! It has a slightly looser texture than the other moisturiser and is more matte but apart from that it has a similar smell and goes on just as nicely. It has by far been my favourite product out of the lot and is one that I can see myself repurchasing over and over.


If you would like to learn more about the full range then click here to view the full website!

*I was sent these products but the review is 100% me and nothing else. I really enjoyed these products so I thought that you guys would to know!