B.Liv by Cellnique Skin Care Review and Giveaway

Picture by B.Liv by Cellnique

Ok, so I am going to warn you straight up, be prepared to see my nose up close and personal - and if you make fun of my bung nostril....well, I'm probably not going to do anything to you but I might curl up in the foetal position and cry.

Yesterday I posted about blackheads - what they are, how we get them and all that stuff. Today I am talking about how you can get rid of them. I was sent the following B.Liv by Cellnique products to review, and if I am being 100% honest, I was more then a little sceptical when I got the email.

You see, I have tried product after product that promises wonderful results, but each time I am left sad, a little bit poorer and most definitely not blackhead free.

I am not going to claim that this product is magic. It's not. It takes constant use and while you will notice differences quickly, any blackhead problem you might have is going to take a while to clear up. However, I will happily say that it is the ONLY product where the reduction in the amount of blackheads has been so noticeable that I actually wanted to keep using the products. Normally, after a few weeks if I am not seeing the promised results I tend to give up. This one was noticeable after three days usage. Yep, you read that right - three days.

I have had problems with major blackheads around my nose and chin for years and I had pretty much given up on any sort of treatment because either (a) there was no noticeable difference or (b) they left my skin in even worse condition. I admit that other then these problem areas, I have never had bad skin or even ok skin - I have great skin. I know that and most people who know me know that. I am really bad at cleansing, toning and moisturising (although I am getting better) and I am sure that is why I have these stubborn black heads. I cleanse when I remember and usually follow it up with exfoliation, never use a toner and only apply moisturiser before I apply my makeup in the morning.

So I think one of the things that has helped me most is getting into a routine while testing these products. In the morning - I cleanse my face and then apply Off With Those Heads then after allowing that to sink in, I apply Shrink and Tighten before applying my moisturiser and then my makeup for the day. At night, I follow a similar routine - Cleanse, Off With Those Heads, Shrink and Tighten+ (night complex) and moisturise.

So, you want to know more about each product I was sent right? Ok, well here we go...

Off With Those Heads (Blackheads Sebum Gel)

Picture by B.Liv by Cellnique

This is a thick gel product that comes in a pump bottle. You use about a pea sized amount and I like to use a dabbing/ patting motion to apply to the problem areas after cleansing. It has a very strong sent to it that is largely peppermint and also a little hint of tea tree. I will tell you now, if you exfoliate before applying this, or if you have had a cold and you nose is a little raw from blowing it - this will sting really badly. It dies down after about thirty seconds, but just keep that in mind. Otherwise, it has a really refreshing, cooling sensation which is quite pleasant. If you apply it around your nose area, the smell can initially be a little overwhelming but it's nothing major. It absorbs really quickly, which is another plus, because if you are anything like me, in the morning you leave getting out of bed until you have the bare minimum of time left to get ready.
The active ingredients in this gel include

• Tea Tree Oil which helps with acne and comedone control, is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.
• Aloe Vera Extract which is good for skin soothing and hydrating, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and reportedly helps with acne scar fading.
• Witch Hazel Extract for acne and comedone control, oil control, the tightening of pores, skin soothing and hydrating and is also anti-inflammatory. 
• Peppermint Oil which is great for oil control, blackhead and whitehead removal as well as deep cleansing.

 Shrink and Tighten (Large Pore Reducing Serum)

Picture by B.Liv by Cellnique

This is another gel like substance, however it is a quite a bit more runny then Off With Those Heads. The very faint smell associated with this product is slightly more chemical like but not at all unpleasant like other cleaners I have used in the past. This product is massaged into the whole face and decolletage area. It has an slightly thicker then oil like texture and takes about a minute for the skin to fully absorb. I have no issues to report on this one.
The active ingredients include -

• Niacinamide (a water soluble vitamin which is largely vitamin B3, also known as Niacin) for pore diminishing and reduction as well as oil control.
• Multivitamins (Vitamin C + Vitamin A + Vitamin E) for prevention of large pores and sagging skin, oil control, antioxidants and skin cell repair.
• Salicylic Acid for unclogging pores, skin lightening and whitening, oil control, acne and comedone control, acne scar fading as well as exfoliation.

Shrink and Tighten+ (Large Pore Diminishing Night Complex)

Picture by B.Liv by Cellnique

This one has no real scent. It has a texture similar to oil and is applied after cleansing, OWTH and before a thick moisturiser at night before you go to bed. In direct contract to OWTH, it creates a warming and tingling feeling when massaged into the face and is quite pleasant. This one, much like the day time version is applied to the whole face and decolletage area.
The active ingredients include -

• 10% L-Ascorbic Acid for pore refining, skin firming, skin lightening and whitening and antioxidants
• Witch Hazel Extract for acne and comedone control, oil control, pores tightening, skin soothing and hydrating as well as being anti-inflammatory.
• Geranium Oil for oil control, the unclogging of pores as well as for its antiseptic properties
• Vitamin B5 for cell regeneration and repair as well as soothing and hydration.

 Now for the results. I have to admit that when I first started using this product that I didn't have a camera of high enough quality to take pictures of my blackheads so you will have to use your imagination a little, but it was pretty bad. They were quite large, especially around the centre of my chin and on the tips and edges of my nose.

Here's what they look like now after using the product continuously for four weeks. 



Pretty good hey? This area was once a place where you could play connect the dots - blackhead edition.



This area was really, really bad. The pores and the blackheads are about a third of what they were and I am sure with continued use, they will keep on shrinking!

 

As you can see, my chin is nearly cleared of all the obvious glaring blackheads, which I could not be happier about!

Like I said, this product is not magic, but it does work and with continued use I think it will clear the problem areas right up.

Ok, so now onto where you can get them and how much they cost.

You can buy them online right here - B.Liv Skin

Off With Those Heads - 30ml/ $49US  45ml/ $63US

Shrink and Tighten -       30ml/ $49US

Shrink and Tighten+ -     15ml/ $49US

So is it worth the money? I know these products are a lot more expensive then off the shelf products, but I am absolutely convinced 100% yes. I mean, if you take into consideration how much you've spent over the years on products, facials, extractions, pore strips - it all adds up. And to be honest, is there really a price you can place on truly blemish free, healthy skin?

Still not convinced? Well, lucky for you guys, they good people over at B.Liv Skin have given me a bottle of

Shrink and Tighten+ to give away to one fabulous reader.

So how can you win? It's super duper easy.

1. **MANDATORY** You must be a follower of my blog. Leave a comment below with your follower name, your email address (so I can contact you if you win).(1 Entry)
2. **MANDATORY**Mosey on over to Facebook and "Like" the B.Liv by Cellnique page. As an added bonus, for every person who "Likes" this page on Facebook until May 9, B.Liv by Cellnique are donating $1 to charity - how cool is that! So make sure you tell all off your friends!
3. Do a post about the giveaway on your blog or add it to the sidebar (3 entries), use a picture - take your pick of them! Or make your own. ( 2 entries). Please leave a link to your blog in the comments section.
4. Follow me on Twitter. (2 entries)
5. Tweet about this giveaway (2 entries). Make sure you include my twitter name @becsbeautybuzz in the tweet!
6. Add me to your blogroll, or let me know if I am already on it. Please leave a link. (2 entries)
7. In appreciation for all my long time commenter's, they will get an extra entry. Hooray!

This giveaway closes at midnight in the last time zone on Thursday June 30.

 Ok, that's it from me today.

Be awesome to each other.