Paris Hilton launches a skincare range

I recently saw on Beauty Directory that Paris Hilton was developing a skincare range. Before you double check which blog you are reading - yes, you are still reading The Science of Beauty. I know, Paris Hilton and science don't go hand in hand. Indeed, I imagine that the extent of her scientific input into the range would be the directive 'Umm scientist dudes, you know how I am like so beautiful, well can you discover a cure for ugliness so that other people can be beautiful like me?' Perhaps I am being a tad harsh but Ms Hilton didn't exactly project the most intelligent image on The Simple Life. Anyway, I was a bit intrigued by what this range may contain so thought that I would look into it further.

After having a bit of a Google, the only information I could get on the range was the following quote: “We’re developing a skincare line. It’s a new product that we’re working on but it’s the top-of-the line technology,” says Paris. “I have been taking really good care of my skin so I will have products that are amazing for yours.”. So, at this stage I can't really find out too much. With the finances available to Paris I imagine that the line probably with have some serious science behind it, though I do hope that Paris isn't the spokesman for it as I don't see her being able to portray just what this 'top-of-the line technology' is. I guess we will just have to wait to find out exactly what, if anything, is so good about this range.

I am also intrigued to know just who would purchase a skincare line with Paris Hilton's name on it. If you wanted skincare with cutting edge technology, wouldn't you just turn to one of the big cosmetic houses that already have a good reputation? I do have to confess, though, I am guilty of owning one of her perfumes. I sniffed it on a whim at Myers one day, ready to scoff at how bad it was, only to accidentally fall in love. I console myself with the thought that Paris would have had very little involvement in the perfumes development, other that to put her name on it. So it is likely the skincare range will be the same. Perhaps I will sample this range at a department store, ready to poo poo it, only to find out that it is in fact amazing.

So, would you be keen to try Paris Hilton's skincare line?

Liebster Blog Awards

I was really excited to see last night that Su, from My Perfume Diaries, had nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award. It is really nice to know that there are people out there who are as interested in science as I am...well maybe not to the obsessive extent that I am, but at least there are people who find it interesting! If you love perfume, like I do, then I really suggest you check out Su's blog as she reviews everything from perfumes to oils to imps - well worth checking out.

If you haven't heard of it before, the Liebster is a award for those who have less than 300 Google followers but deserves more recognition and following than this. It is a way of getting the fantastic little blogs out there the publicity that they deserve.

If you receive the award you link back to the blogger that nominated you and nominate 3 more blogs. Below are 3 blogs that I love seeing new posts from and that I would would like to pass on the Liebster Blog Award to. They also deserve your following and support so have a look!

All the pretty faces - Magda does some of the most amazing makeup creations that I have ever seen. I love really out there make up but don't have the skills, or the imagination, to do it myself. Magda provides step by step tutorials showing you exactly how to create these out there looks!

The Plastic Diaries - Kimmi provides reviews on everything from beauty products to explanations of plastic surgery procedures. Hers is another blog I love to keep up to date with.

Indulgent Beauty Reviews - I have to admit that I have a certain fondness for indulgent beauty products though no longer have the disposable income to purchase them anymore. Instead, I live vicariously through Nadia, who reviews some of the more beautiful beauty products on the market.

I hope you enjoy checking out these blogs as much as I do!

Are there any other blogs out there that you think deserve more recognition that I should check out?

Product review: Burt’s Bees Radiance Exfoliating Body Wash

I was recently invited by Burt's Bees to trial the entire Radiance range of products for their Facebook page trial team. I am now going to provide more detailed reviews for each of the products in the Burt’s Bees Radiance range. The hero ingredient of this range is royal jelly, which, according to Burt's Bees is very nourishing, made of nectar, pollen, flower parts, vitamins, minerals, bee hormones and other natural ingredients. It is a very precious, mysterious substance that honeybees produce and feed to only select.

I have long been obsessed with shower gels. I don't know what it is, but I can't get enough of them. I have 4 different gels in my shower to cater to every mood and in my bathroom cabinet there is about 3 1/2 litres of various gels, waiting patiently to make it into the starting lineup. So I was very excited to welcome a new gel into the family, especially an exfoliating one as this would set it aside from the other shower gels in my collection. RRP $19.95 (350ml, 99.2% natural).

The claims (from the Burt's Bees website): Bring your radiance to the surface. This creamy body wash infuses Royal Jelly, one of nature's most nutritious substances, with jojoba beads and a fruit acid complex to gently exfoliate, smooth and help even skin tone. Safflower seed olesomes intensely moisturise and condition, leaving skin with a naturally healthy, radiant glow. Go ahead, reveal your radiance. Apply to a sponge, loofah, washcloth or your hands and lather generously all over your body for clean, smooth skin. Rinse, towel dry and follow up with your favourite Burt's Bees body lotion.

Ingredients: water (aqua, eau), decyl glucoside, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oleosomes, sodium cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein, glycerine, royal jelly, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, hydrogenated jojoba oil, vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract, saccharum officinarum (sugar cane, extrait de canne à sucre) extract, acer saccharinum (sugar maple) extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) fruit extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) extract, fragrance (parfum), glucose, xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium chloride, lactoperoxidase, glucose oxidase, butylphenyl methylpropional, hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, linalool

My review: I didn’t mind this body wash, it was quite nice. But I did have issues with the fragrance. This also has the fruity fragrance that runs through the whole range, which is nice, but then there is something else that I can detect, one of the underling ingredients I am guessing, that I didn’t like. I love my shower gels to be really strongly fragranced to really invigorate me when I use them. This didn’t have one of those fragrances – it was pleasant enough but not amazing.

The body wash is the consistency of custard. It is quite slippery so i had to rub it through my hands before using it otherwise it would slide straight off my body. It contained jojoba beads for exfoliation (which you can see as the white dots in the second picture) but these melted almost instantly on contact with my skin. It also contains fruit acid complex for exfoliation, so I am guessing this would have had more an exfoliating effect than the jojoba beads. I didn’t really notice any exfoliating effects.

The body wash was non-drying. My skin felt lovely and soft after using it and not at all tight. Some days I didn’t use the lotion and my skin still didn’t feel tight or dry. It did everything a shower gel should - it was a very gentle, effective body cleanser. Really, my only criticism of the body wash is the smell - so if the scent of a body wash is not an issue for you, I am sure you would be quite impressed by this.

It comes in a 350ml plastic bottle with a flip top lid. The lid is very convenient as it can be opened with one hand and is spill proof if you drop the bottle.

I am not sure whether I would repurchase this body wash. I don’t have sensitive skin so love to use highly fragranced shower gels. This wasn’t as pleasantly fragranced as the other ones I use. I do think that if I ever did develop sensitive skin then I may revisit this body wash as it seemed really gentle and nourishing on my skin. The body wash is $19.95 for 350ml which is an okay price for a shower gel.

Stockists In Australia, Burt's Bees is available from David Jones, Myer, Priceline, pharmacies and health food stores. Or you can buy the Radiance Exfoliating Body Wash from Amazon.

If you would like some more detailed information on royal jelly, you may be interested in my blog article- The use of royal jelly in skincare

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with any company discussed in this blog and received no remuneration for my comments. These products were provided for consideration by Burt's Bees for their Facebook Trial Team.

Product review: Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion

I was recently invited by Burt's Bees to trial the entire Radiance range of products for their Facebook page trial team. I am now going to provide more detailed reviews for each of the products in the Burt’s Bees Radiance range. The hero ingredient of this range is royal jelly, which, according to Burt's Bees is very nourishing, made of nectar, pollen, flower parts, vitamins, minerals, bee hormones and other natural ingredients. It is a very precious, mysterious substance that honeybees produce and feed to only select.

Perfume is very important to me and so I also love highly fragranced beauty products - especially body lotions. I was really looking forwarded trialling the Radiance Body Lotion as the description of it (below) makes it sound amazing. RRP $24.95 (177ml, 99.02% natural).

The claims (from the Burt's Bees website): Bring your radiance to the surface. This natural body lotion is specially created to enhance your skin's natural glow. It's formulated with Royal Jelly, one of nature’s most nourishing substances, packed with 134 nutrients, including 17 amino acids, and vitamins A, C, D and K, as well as multiple B-vitamins. Sunflower oil moisturises and mica, a light reflecting mineral, enhances your skin's natural glow. The result is soft, shimmering skin you'll love.

Ingredients: aqua (water, eau), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, stearic acid, cera alba (beeswax, cire d'abeille), parfum (fragrance), royal jelly, mica, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) extract, salvia officinalis (sage) leaf extract, urtica dioica (nettle) extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (sweet orange) peel wax, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, tocopherol, sucrose stearate, xanthan gum, glucose, titanium dioxide, sodium borate, canola oil (huile de colza), glycine soja (soybean) oil, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase, butylphenyl methylpropional, hexyl cinnamal, hydroxycitonellal, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexane carboxaldehyde, limonene, linalool.  

My review Unfortunately, I wasn’t too keen on the smell of this product. It has a fruity fragrance (that the whole Radiance range is fragranced with), which I quite like, but for some reason on my skin this fruity fragrance vanished really quickly leaving a harsh, stale perfume kind of scent. I am not sure whether it was the fragrance reacting with my skin chemistry or the scent of one of the underlying ingredients coming through, but either way I wasn’t overly keen on it.

Smell aside, this was a fantastic body lotion. It contains mica which gave my skin a gorgeous sparkly sheen (which you can see on my arm in the second picture) – I loved the effect. It was very sexy and flattering. It was beautifully moisturising, yet non greasy. It left my skin hydrated and silky smooth. It really did leave my skin looking, and feeling, quite amazing and I can honestly say that it did leave my skin glowing.

It comes in a 177ml squeeze tube. The nozzle you squeeze the product through is actually quite narrow, so not a heap of product comes out at once. I loved this feature. I tend to be a bit over enthusiastic in squeezing tubes often resulting in way too much product coming out. I never once had this problem with the Radiance body lotion.

Would I purchase this again? Quite possibly. I loved the way it made my skin look. I loved the mica particles and the sheen it gave me – it was very flattering. But I didn’t like the smell. If my perfume can cover the scent of this, then I will probably get it again. If not, then I will use it as a going out moisturiser for my legs – they will look amazing but will be too far away for me to smell them. The body lotion is $24.95 which is in the mid range for a body lotion.

Stockists In Australia, Burt's Bees is available from David Jones, Myer, Priceline, pharmacies and health food stores. Or you can buy the Radiance Body Lotion from Amazon.

If you would like some more detailed information on royal jelly, you may be interested in my blog article- The use of royal jelly in skincare

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with any company discussed in this blog and received no remuneration for my comments. These products were provided for consideration by Burt's Bees for their Facebook Trial Team.

Burt's Bees Radiance Range

I was recently invited by Burt's Bees to trial the entire Radiance range of products for their Facebook page trial team. I have never used all the same products from the one range before (I'm a bit of a skincare tart - I like to spread my love around!), so it was a real treat to trial the Burt’s Bees Radiance range. The hero ingredient of this range is royal jelly, which Burt's Bees claims boosts your natural glow.

The claims According to Burt’s Bees, when used in skincare, Royal Jelly can help enhance skin texture and smoothness, whilst reducing the appearance of fine lines. It has antioxidant properties and is beneficial to overall health and anti-aging programs.

The range The Burt's Bees Radiance range is comprised of 9 different products, outlined below

 Burt’s Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser RRP $24.95 (175ml, 99.2% natural) Reveal your skin's radiance. I found this to be a very gentle, non drying cleanser that effectively cleansed my face.  It is of the consistency of custard - it looks creamy but is actually quite foaming. It contained jojoba beads for exfoliation but I found that these melted on contact with my skin so did not really offer much exfoliation. I was quite happy with this cleanser but wasn't overly impressed with the fragrance. It has a fruity fragrance - which was okay - but I think the scent of some of the underlying ingredients overpowered this and made it smell quite strange. Scent aside, I probably would buy this again as it really did do its job.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Toner RRP $24.95 (175ml, 100% natural) Cleanse skin, leaving it feeling fresh and nourished! I loved this toner! I am not really much of a toner user - I don't see the point in them - but this one was lovely. It smelt delightful - both fruity and floral. It was non drying. It whisked the remnants of the cleanser off and removed the cleanser scent which lingered slightly. One evening I was too lazy to cleanse so just used this and found it was very effective as a light cleanser (I wasn't wearing makeup at the time). It was perfect for use just before the serum as it helped the serum spread easily. I can definitely see myself buying this toner again.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Serum RRP $34.95 (13ml, 99.86% natural) Bring out skin's natural radiance by next month. This is another product in the radiance range that I absolutely loved - actually it is my favourite product in the range. This is a gorgeous serum, with next to no fragrance, that absorbs really well into the skin. I used it both morning and night and found that it was not at all greasy. I found that it really seemed to plump out my fine lines and left my skin looking so smooth. I can definitely see myself buying this serum again in the future.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Eye Creme RRP $34.95 (14g, 99% natural) Radiance in the blink of an eye. This was quite a light eye cream that absorbed really well into the skin and left the eye area feeling slightly tightened. I was very impressed with the feel of the cream but I had serious issues with the smell of the eye cream and because of this I really don’t see myself using it again. Other than the smell, it is a fantastic eye cream, but i just couldn’t get passed the scent. It had the same fruity fragrance as the rest of the range but one of the underlying ingredients must have been contributing to the smell that I didn't like - it reminded me of barn yard smells. I have seen reviews of this by other people and they haven't complained about the smell so it is possible that it was a reaction to my skin's chemistry that was causing the smell...whatever it was, I didn't like it.

Burt’s Bees Radiance SPF 15 Day Lotion RRP $39.95 (55g, 98.22% natural) The royal treatment for your face, plus protection from the sun. I really liked this moisturiser. It was very lightweight, absorbed easily into my skin, was not at all greasy. It has a bit of a fruity fragrance but it is not offensive. It contains SPF15. I would have preferred SPF30, but SPF15 is sufficient for incidental exposure (ie if I am walking to my car, hanging out the washing). If I know there is a chance I will be getting more sun exposure I will always wear sunscreen, anyway, so the SPF15 is sufficient. I can definitely see myself purchasing this again in the future.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Night Creme RRP $39.95 (55g, 99% natural) Wake up to renewed radiance. I really liked the night creme as well. It was lightweight and absorbed quickly and easily which was great as it meant that it didn't end up on the pillow. In the morning my skin looked so hydrated and refreshed, with the fine lines filled out. It had a slight fruity fragrance - almost bubblegum like, but nothing too strong or offensive. I would definitely purchase this again.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Exfoliating Body Wash RRP $19.95 (350ml, 99.2% natural) Wash away dull, reveal radiance. This was a gentle body wash that was non drying. It contained jojoba beads for exfoliation but I found they melted instantly on contact so offered no exfoliation. It also contains fruit acids for exfoliation, and these may have worked but I didn't notice and difference whilst using the body wash. fragranced shower gels. If I ever develop sensitive skin i would definitely consider this again in the future.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion RRP $24.95 (177ml, 99.02% natural) A healthy radiance fit for a queen. I absolutely loved how my body looked when I used the body lotion, it gave it such a sexy, flattering sheen. The body lotion contains mica, which is what gives the sheen. It absorbed easily and left my skin silky to touch but I didn’t really like the smell. On my skin it smelt a bit like stale perfume or deodorant and this smell lingered for a while. If I can cover the smell with perfume then I would keep using this as it will be worth it due to how gorgeous it makes my skin look. 

The range also contains a Day Creme; however, I did not trial this.

Overall impressions I loved how natural this range is. Each product has listed on its packaging what percentage of natural ingredients it contains, and the percentages range from 98.2-100% natural. I was very impressed with the range and found that all of the products did exactly what they were described to do. The only disappointment with the range has been the smell of some of the products – I am not sure whether it was the product itself, or a reaction to my skin chemistry but some of the products did not smell nice on me at all, which was a shame, because other than that they were so lovely to use.

So, did the range live up to its claims (Royal Jelly can help enhance skin texture and smoothness, whilst reducing the appearance of fine lines. It has antioxidant properties and is beneficial to overall health and anti-aging programs)? I definitely think that it improved my skins texture and smoothness – it really did seem to soften my skin and give it an overall glowing sheen. I guess it really did look quite radiant. My fine lines definitely seemed reduced – especially on the forehead – they just seemed to be really plumped out. Two weeks of use is too soon to say whether the range has had much effect on anti-ageing, but so far the range really does seem to be improving the appearance of my skin. I really recommend this to anyone who needs a boost to their complexion, who has fine lines that need ironing out, and who prefers to use natural products as this is a nearly completely natural range that lives up to its claims!

I will be putting up more detailed reviews of each product shorty, so check back here for the links.

Stockists In Australia, Burt's Bees is available from David Jones, Myer, Priceline, pharmacies and health food stores. Or you can buy the range from Amazon.

If you would like some more detailed information on royal jelly, you may be interested in my blog article- The use of royal jelly in skincare

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with any company discussed in this blog and received no remuneration for my comments. These products were provided for consideration by Burt's Bees for their Facebook Trial Team.

The use of royal jelly in skincare

I recently described in my blog how honey is being used in skincare. Similarly, royal jelly is another popular additive to skincare. Both honey and royal jelly have been used in skincare for thousands of years. Indeed, eHow explains how the Egyptians, famous for their beauty secrets, historically have been known to use royal jelly as part of a skin care regimen to keep their faces moisturised and protected, even in the most harsh desert conditions.

Image from Wiki

So what exactly is royal jelly? Royal jelly is a substance made by worker bees to feed the queen in her first days of life to ensure her growth and fertility. It's considered to be one of the world's most nutrient-rich substances, packed with 134 nutrients, including essential amino acids, minerals and Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, C, E along with Biotin, Niacin and Folic Acid which helps the queen grow to 40 times the size of worker bees and live 50 times longer.

The amino acids in royal jelly are also a basic ingredient in collagen, which is essential in maintaining the skin's firmness by supporting the skin's connective tissue. Royal jelly  can also help to reverse the effects of ageing in the skin by eliminating pigmentation as well as wrinkles. Royal jelly is widely used around the world, where it is known for its ability to enhance skin texture and smoothness. According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) royal jelly (and honey) has been shown to be effective as a softener for dry skin and the toning lotion for firming relaxed, stretched or stressed skin and may be useful as:

• anti-wrinkle treatment
• anti-stretchmarks
• elastifier
• nutrifier
• firmer
• revitaliser
• hair conditioner
• tonic
• sebum equaliser

Burt's Bees claim to use royal jelly in their natural skin care products because it is known to help enhance skin's texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Royal jelly has also been found to have antioxidant properties and be beneficial to over-all health and anti-aging programs. In addition to the skin smoothing properties, royal jelly has also been shown to be a good antibacterial agent. Whilst not as potent an antibacterial as honey, it has still been shown to be effective at killing various bacteria and some fungi.

One limitation of royal jelly is that it deteriorates very quickly after harvest. To prolong it's shelf life it can be mixed with honey, frozen or freeze dried. If added to cosmetics in a preserved format, it's efficacy should remain; however, it would be difficult to know in what format the royal jelly was in when it was added to your skincare, so there is a chance that royal jelly in your skincare may have already deteriorated and thus be ineffective. For example, if fresh royal jelly was added to your skincare preparation it most likely would have deteriorated well before your have even had a chance to use it. A reputable supplier should have taken this into consideration.

While there is not nearly the volume of scientific research available for royal jelly as there is for honey, it still seems to be a valuable addition to skincare. In the coming weeks I will be reviewing the Burt's Bees Radiance range, which contains both honey and royal jelly. Hopefully, these products live up to the standards set by the high tech, expensive ingredients in the other products I use as it would be nice to be using natural ingredients in my skincare.

Do you think that honey or royal jelly add any benefits to your skincare products or are they just fad ingredients?

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with any company discussed in this blog and received no remuneration for my comments.

The use of honey in skincare

I have long thought that I need high tech, expensive ingredients in my skincare for it to actually work, but recently I have been hearing a lot about the use of honey and royal jelly in skincare. According to HoneyO, honey has been known for its healing properties for thousands of years - the Ancient Greeks used it, and so have many other peoples through the ages. Even up to the second world war, honey was being used for its antibacterial properties in treating wounds. But what is it that makes honey so good for the skin?

Image from Qld Saffron

We all know what honey is - its the delicious spread we put on our toast in the mornings. So how can it also be beneficial to our skin? According to the Burt's Bees website, besides being a strong humectant, honey has a very high content of minerals, amino acids and vitamins, which aid in keeping skin healthy. A humectant is a substances that attracts water, so having a strong humectant, like honey, in your skincare will keep your skin well moisturised, as the moisturiser will continue to attract water to your skin throughout the day. In addition, the Burt's Bees website goes on to say that honey contains numerous phenolic and non-phenolic antioxidants, which guard against free radical damage and encourage healthy cell turnover in the skin.


Honey also has excellent antibacterial properties. This is due to the fact that it is so high in sugar and low in water, most bacteria are unable to grow in it. However, if honey is diluted with water it loses its antibacterial property as there is then sufficient water to allow bacteria to grow. The pH of honey is between 3.2 and 4.5 making it quite acidic, and thus preventing the growth of many bacteria and, according to Professor Peter Molan, the thickness of honey also provides a protective barrier, preventing wounds from becoming infected. Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is released slowly when it comes into contact with fluid in the skin and this kills the bacteria in the wound. Some as-yet-unknown ingredients in honey reduce inflammation, while others, perhaps amino acids and vitamin C, speed the growth of healthy tissue.

Another use for honey is in the treatment of pimples - if you google 'natural pimple treatments' you will get thousands of websites all suggesting to use honey as a spot treatment. So how does it work? In addition to the antibacterial properties discussed above, honey also has really strong drawing properties, says the Bastyr Center. The high sugar content in honey draws infection and fluid in a pimple to the surface of the skin, allowing it to be removed and, therefore, the pimple can heal more quickly.

There is substantial scientific research into the use of honey in skincare. The majority of the research is in the field of wound healing, with Manuka honey being the key medicinal honey. This research has shown very positive results in healing wounds that have previously been untreatable. The success of these results indicate that honey is not some fad ingredient being promoted by marketers but a genuinely effective addition to your skincare.


So it seems that for such a simple ingredient, honey really does have some pretty impressive credentials. The fact that it is such a strong humectant makes it an excellent addition to a moisturiser, it is full of ingredients that speed the growth of healthy tissue and it is an potent antibacterial agent. However, if you want to use it as a pimple spot treatment or on a wound, it is best used neat as once water is added to it, it loses its antibacterial properties.

So, even though honey is not one of the high tech, expensive ingredients I have come to expect in my skincare, it is still very impressive. Many cosmetic companies are starting to use honey as a key ingredient in their products and these include Lush, L'Occitane, Laura Mercier, Mor and Comvita to name a few. Hopefully, these products live up to the standards set by the high tech, expensive ingredients in the other products I use as it would be nice to be using natural ingredients in my skincare.

What do you prefer in your skincare - high tech, expensive ingredients or natural ingredients?

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with any company discussed in this blog and received no remuneration for my comments.