This week we feature a gorgeous retinol serum from Dermalogica, a super-hydrating body moisturiser from Bondi Sands, a lip mask from Nars, and an interesting range of tinned mead from Buzz Club.
Every two weeks we give feedback on some of the products we have received at focus magazine HQ. With skincare products, we usually trial a product for several weeks before we give our honest feedback… and if we aren’t keen on the item, it doesn’t get featured here.
And, as no-one on our team drinks, we happily invite colleagues and friends to sample the alcoholic beverages we’re sent so they can give us feedback. We now have a wait-list of people who would like to join us! Funny that!
Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum, Dermalogica
This lightweight, high-dose retinoid serum with squalene helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, evens out the skin tone and texture, and minimises the appearance of pores. It’s suitable for all skin types and the serum is gentle enough for nightly use. Clinical tests have shown a proven reduction in the four signs of skin ageing… within two weeks!
Dee: “Dermalogica products really suit my skin so I was delighted to try this serum. I’ve been using it for a week now and I’m very pleased with how soft, nourished and smooth my skin feels.”
After cleansing your face at the end of the day, apply a thin layer over your face. Remember, as it is a retinol product, it’s important to wear an SPF during the day.
RRP $185
Body Moisturiser Enriched with Vitamin E & Jojoba, Bondi Sands
We love all things Bondi Sands and this body moisturiser which leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth is no exception.
Enriched with vitamin E and jojoba, this hydrating body moisturiser actually helps prolong a tan so we’re all for that.
Apply after your shower for a boost of plumping hydration that lasts all day.
RRP $11.99
Buzz Club Mead
The popularity of craft beer has been on the rise for some time now but there’s a new contender for tasting rooms with the surge in demand for mead.
The drink of ancient kings and royalty, mead was considered by Grecians of the Golden Age to be ‘ambrosia’ or ‘Nectar of the Gods.’
So, what exactly is mead? Quite simply, grapes make wine, apples make cider, grains make beer, and fermented honey makes mead.
The founders of Buzz Club Mead, Edward Eaton and his beekeeping friend, Wilbur Morrison, wanted to create a market for honeys other than mānuka and chose lesser known ones to help fellow beekeepers. Kāmahi, rātā, and pōhutukawa are the chosen honeys and are the core ingredient for the mead. The only other ingredients are water and fruit.
To get unbiased feedback on the Buzz Club meads we were sent, we invited colleagues from neighbouring offices to come over and have a chinwag whilst sampling the tins of mead.
The five meads they’ve sampled were:
- Simply Mead – native kāmahi mead 5.0%ABV
- Hopped Buzz – native honey and hops 5.0%ABV
- Kāmahi Blossom and Lemon – honey paired with zesty citrus 5.5%ABV
- Rātā Blossom and Feijoa – honey with a fruity feijoa buzz 5.2%ABV
- Pōhutukawa Blossom and Strawberry – honey, strawberries, apple and lime 4.8%ABV
The Kamahi Blossom and Lemon was given first place by our samplers with two of our five guests saying they would purchase it again and two saying they might purchase it again. Our samplers all agreed that the meads have a very mild taste and are quite thirst quenching but with most of them having an ABV (alcohol by volume) of around 5% – much the same as beer – over consumption of these would be very easy to do.
A few of our guests also created a Buzz Spritz using white wine, Pōhutukawa Blossom and Strawberry Mead, and ice, which provided a mead sangria-like cocktail and was given a big thumbs up by the ladies.
Buzz Club Mead can be purchased from their website, Farro Fresh stores, select supermarkets and exclusive bars and restaurants across New Zealand. If you’re in Christchurch, you can visit their pop-up bar at the Riverside Market pop-up bar.
Prices start from NZD$4.49/tin
Orgasm Lip Mask by Nars
The limited edition Orgasm Lip Mask gives a slight glossy look to the lip but applies quite clear which is great if you don’t want to lose the colour from your favourite lippie and still want heaps of hydration. Oils rich in fatty acids work together to give this gorgeous lip mask real oomph so your lips will feel divinely hydrated!
This lip mask can be worn on its own or under lippie to keep lips hydrated or, our favourite thing to do… wear overnight as a deep treatment and wake up next morning with lovely soft, nourished lips.
RRP $52
