The CH Blog

Caroline Hirons' expert advice, reviews and recommendations, all in one archive.

The function of the blog is to help you find what you do and don’t need in your skincare routine. From the core basics through to the spectrum of retinoid strengths and everything in between, the blog is an archive to breakdown jargon and present you with both my opinion and simple scientific facts.

Caroline Hirons, Founder and Qualified Skincare Expert

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

What is it? 'Sun damage that won't go away? Wrinkles keeping you up at night? Don't get mad, get powerful.' or in other words - an overnight retinol anti-ageing treatment....

11/03/2015

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray

  What is it? 'Water your skin. Take along a refreshing face spray for showers of thirsty skin relief.' It's a hydrating, moisturising spritz with a major kick. Who is...

10/03/2015

Beauty Myths No.12 - Cellulite Creams

Beauty Myths No.12 - Cellulite Creams

Not one of these women look tortured by having cellulite. Fact: Cellulite is not caused by trapped 'toxins'. Is anyone else sick of that word? If we were as 'toxic'...

09/03/2015

International Women's Day

International Women's Day

For all the women in my life. And the ones I will never know. Celebrate International Women's Day with me. Because stories like this send me into a rage: More...

08/03/2015

Brands you won't see reviewed on here.

Brands you won't see reviewed on here.

There are a few brands that I am asked about frequently either in comments or on my social media channels. This is happening more and more so I thought a...

07/03/2015

SUGAR. The Devil tempting you in a red velvet dress.

SUGAR. The Devil tempting you in a red velvet dress.

One of my creations, earlier today, whilst intact. 'Oh I don't have a sweet tooth. I'm a savoury girl.' Yeah right. I mean, I am a savoury girl, given the...

06/03/2015

fresh Sugar Face Polish

fresh Sugar Face Polish

What is it? 'A nourishing exfoliant made with pure brown sugar and strawberry seeds that refines and hydrates for a more radiant complexion.' aka A face scrub. Albeit a lovely...

05/03/2015

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser

It would be easy to say that I couldn't love this cleanser any more if it sang for Duran Duran or the Chili Peppers but let's play fair and give...

04/03/2015

Beauty Myths No.11 - You have to use everything from the same brand

Beauty Myths No.11 - You have to use everything from the same brand

Ever since I started putting pictures of my daily routine on Instagram I have been asked these two questions: 'Do you use different products every DAY?' and 'Don't you have...

03/03/2015

Skincare consultation winner and this month's entry...

Skincare consultation winner and this month's entry...

The winner of this month's Skype consultation is... Derin Gur from Turkey Congratulations. You have email! For this month's entry, I am asking you to follow me on Pinterest to...

03/03/2015

Jo Malone Rock the Ages

Jo Malone Rock the Ages

It's hard to think of a fragrance house that churns out newness as much as Jo Malone. Whether permanent additions to the core range or Limited Editions, as in this...

02/03/2015

Cheat Sheet - Double Cleansing

Cheat Sheet - Double Cleansing

Shop the full Skin Rocks Range Shop now   Over the last few months I have been asked a lot about double cleansing. I think it peaked this month because...

01/03/2015

The Month in Skincare - February

The Month in Skincare - February

WHERE IS THE TIME GOING? Although I don't mind winter getting a move on - I NEED some warmth! This was a varied month for me skincare-wise. I tried a...

28/02/2015

The Giorgio Armani Beauty Eye Tint Winner is....

The Giorgio Armani Beauty Eye Tint Winner is....

Thank you to everyone that entered! The winner chosen randomly by Rafflecopter is: DANIELLE EDWARDS-POWELL Congrats Danielle. you have email. :) If you missed out, the Eye Tints are now...

27/02/2015

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Dr Sam on Female Hormonal Acne

Hi All! So back for Round 2 with the very popular Dr Sam. Here we talk about female hormonal acne - next up is topical retinoids, hyperpigmentation and rosacea. We're...

27/02/2015

Cheat Sheet - When to do your routine when you're exercising

Cheat Sheet - When to do your routine when you're exercising

 Shop the full Skin Rocks Range Shop now    I am frequently asked by readers that exercise in all manner of ways for the best time to add their skincare...

26/02/2015

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Patricia Arquette nails it

I am often asked how I got ahead in the beauty industry. And the truth is, I hit the glass ceiling pretty early on. I was 'opinionated' (aka 'had an...

23/02/2015

Budget Week - Day 4

Budget Week - Day 4

So I'm thinking this could maybe become a regular fixture - mini-reviews of the products I show in Instagram - thoughts? It won't take the place of anything else -...

22/02/2015

Budget Week - Day 3

Budget Week - Day 3

Bit of a hotch-potch today, contains good and disappointing ones... Bio-Essence Miracle Bio Water - £16.00 - weird one this. I personally found it wasn't great for waterproof mascara -...

21/02/2015

Budget Week - Day 2

Budget Week - Day 2

Ooh, I'm a couple of days behind so you'll have to excuse me. Busy with work and I'm skin prepping behind the scenes for London Fashion Week as well so...

20/02/2015

Physiological Cleansing Gel, eagle-eyed readers and some good news from Champneys

Physiological Cleansing Gel, eagle-eyed readers and some good news from Champneys

So a couple of days ago I posted this picture... which had a few commenters excited: Anonymous18 February 2015 at 22:40 Doesn't the La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel have...

19/02/2015

Giorgio Armani Beauty Eye Tints Launch and Giveaway

Giorgio Armani Beauty Eye Tints Launch and Giveaway

One for all of you eye-makeup obsessive, Giorgio Armani-loving readers out there. On the 25th of this month, Armani Beauty release a unique 12-part collection of fluid eye shadows. The...

18/02/2015

Budget Week - Day 1 - and an extension...

Budget Week - Day 1 - and an extension...

So here's the thing. I fully understand that the word 'budget' is different for everyone. I do. What's budget to some, may be unattainable to others. What's 'affordable' to XX...

17/02/2015

Budget Week

Budget Week

(I know these aren't all budget - it's just an example!) Ah the time is upon us. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned on Instagram that I would be...

16/02/2015

Emma Hardie launches in M&S AND a little giveaway to celebrate...

Emma Hardie launches in M&S AND a little giveaway to celebrate...

NEWSFLASH. Those of you that mention how hard it is to get some of my recommendations... one of my desert island products is about to launch in Marks & Bloody...

16/02/2015

Choice Books - Food. Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food

Choice Books - Food. Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food

Well it IS Sunday. I meant to put this up before Christmas but the book was always in the kitchen (being used) and it went out of my head...so without...

15/02/2015

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Questions for the Doc?

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS THANK YOU EVERYONE!! A quick one. I'm filming tomorrow with one of the top dermatologists in the UK. If you have any questions that you...

15/02/2015

Essence of Beauty Citrus Coconut

Essence of Beauty Citrus Coconut

  Oh you lucky, lucky dwellers of the US of A. This one is for you. What is it? One of the best smelling, cheap-as-chips, actually-works-brilliantly body lotions out there....

14/02/2015

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

What is it? 'A luscious butter cleanser to leave your complexion feeling divinely fresh and deeply cleansed.' What's in it? Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil)*, Butyrospermum Parkii *(Shea Butter), Beeswax*,...

13/02/2015

Bio-essence Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask

Bio-essence Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask

What is it? 'An overnight sleeping mask designed to rehydrate and firm.' or: an absolute must-have for anyone with dehydration i.e. most of us. What's in it? Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for...

12/02/2015

New Monthly INTERNATIONAL Competition

New Monthly INTERNATIONAL Competition

Well, it's not exactly a 'competition', more an opportunity. Due to lack of time and space I have been unable to offer skin consultations since last summer. I miss them!...

11/02/2015

Space NK's Spring Gift Bag

Space NK's Spring Gift Bag

Excuse the rather rushed off snap but this has literally just fallen into my lap, so to speak. On Thursday 12th February, Space NK are offering all of the above...

10/02/2015

Facial Hair.

Facial Hair.

  Source I am descended from darker skinned people – we think Greek and we know Native American. I’ve had a moustache for as long as I can remember. When...

09/02/2015

L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil

L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil

What is it? 'With its silky texture, it efficiently removes impurities and make-up (including waterproof) in a single step.' An emulsifying cleansing oil. What's in it? Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some...

07/02/2015

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My BIGGEST EVER GIVEAWAY.

Coming this weekend. Check in this Sunday for details of how to enter the biggest giveaway ever hosted on the blog. We're talking HOOGE. MAHOOSIVE. Helpful hints: What do a...

07/02/2015

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream

And now on to the cream that raised the most interest last week on my Instagram feed. What is it? 'A unique moisturizer formulated with 70% starfish extract to actively...

06/02/2015

herbfarmacy Mallow Beauty Balm

herbfarmacy Mallow Beauty Balm

I've been asked a lot about rosacea this week. The weather is clearly taking its toll. A lot of questions centered around red cheeks and broken capillaries. We can't control...

05/02/2015

FAQs - Explanation/Apologies

FAQs - Explanation/Apologies

This is a strange one but I need to put it all somewhere and the blog is my Home Ground so figured it was the best way to reach everyone....

04/02/2015

Proof that my family do not read my blog.

Proof that my family do not read my blog.

One for regular readers: Ava has been getting stress eczema around her eye and possible perioral dermatitis around her nose. I was baffled. I had parental AND supposed-skincare-knowing guilt. WHY...

03/02/2015

Mizon Egg White Bubble Cleanser

Mizon Egg White Bubble Cleanser

What is it? 'The ultimate purifying and rebalancing daily face wash for all skin types.' What's in it? Water, Methylglucamine, Butylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pvp, Olive Oil Peg-7...

03/02/2015

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Please take 10 seconds and answer my poll ---->

Hi All! As I try and spend much more time on the blog (you may have noticed I was around a lot more in January) it would be really helpful...

02/02/2015

Merumaya trial - Exclusive for CarolineHirons.com readers

Merumaya trial - Exclusive for CarolineHirons.com readers

Right! Lovely opportunity for the exfoliating toner lovers out there. Last month a few eagle-eyed readers noticed that I was using a non-descript bottle with no label - to be...

02/02/2015

Cheat Sheet - Where should I spend most of my money in my routine?

Cheat Sheet - Where should I spend most of my money in my routine?

 Shop the full Skin Rocks Range Shop now   The answer is always, always serums. The rise of serums has definitely, in my opinion, bumped moisturisers off of the top...

01/02/2015

The Month in Skincare - January

The Month in Skincare - January

I can't believe January is at an end already! Those of you that aren't on Instagram will be unaware that I've been keeping a daily record of the products I'm...

31/01/2015

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FAQs - Alcohol

After yesterday's post, alcohol was the most-requested topic in the comments... As you would expect, there are mixed views throughout the industry (and it may well be clear as mud...

30/01/2015

FAQs - Parabens

FAQs - Parabens

source I am asked almost on a daily basis for my views on parabens. I am met with outrage by some commenters who are mortified that I am recommending something...

29/01/2015

Sunday Riley Good Genes

Sunday Riley Good Genes

*This review refers to the Good Genes Lactic Acid, not the Glycolic. What is it? 'A brightening, multitasking, radiance treatment and mask.' 'Naturally brightens and improves radiance, texture and circulation.'...

28/01/2015

First Aid Beauty Milk Oil Conditioning Cleanser

First Aid Beauty Milk Oil Conditioning Cleanser

What is it? 'A complete facial cleanser that removes makeup and impurities as it nourishes and conditions skin, lashes, and brows.' Ergo: a milky/emulsifying cleanser for everything. What's in it?...

27/01/2015