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

Empties November 2014

Empties November 2014

Videos are back! Thank you for waiting. Been a tad busy but hopefully back on some sort of pattern now. This is an empties video and the products featured are:...

30/11/2014

Clarins Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream VS Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream

Clarins Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream VS Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream

Just over a year ago I wrote this post about the genius idea that Clarins had to discontinue my beloved Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream and replace it with update it with...

19/11/2014

Cheat Sheet - Perioral Dermatitis or 'those red annoying spots that won't go away'

Cheat Sheet - Perioral Dermatitis or 'those red annoying spots that won't go away'

Shop the full Skin Rocks Range Shop now   So. A really quick and simple one: You've had spots/redness/flakiness/looks like eczema/you thought it was acne but it isn't - for...

18/11/2014

It's that time of year again....Give and Makeup Shoebox Appeal

It's that time of year again....Give and Makeup Shoebox Appeal

As with the last 4 years, we are running a Christmas Shoebox Campaign for the children and young people living in domestic violence shelters across London. They are sadly busier...

17/11/2014

Instagram catch-up and I promise I haven't fallen off of the face of the planet...

Instagram catch-up and I promise I haven't fallen off of the face of the planet...

Hi Everyone. I don’t know where the last few weeks have gone but I do know that I’ve hardly been around either here or on YouTube. I can only apologise...

17/11/2014

An Evening or Two with blow LTD.

An Evening or Two with blow LTD.

If you live in or near London please do come and see me next week if you can. I'm talking about all things skin (and Liverpool's current pathetic form given...

10/11/2014

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Interview with Elizabeth Hurley for #BCAcampaign 2014

At the beginning of the month I sat down with Elizabeth Hurley to talk about this year's Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. The campaign was founded in 1992...

31/10/2014

New appearance date with IOMA

New appearance date with IOMA

A couple of weeks ago I had a skin consultation that was the best I've ever had. And it was done with a machine. Please excuse the rather Dr Who...

28/10/2014

WIN 'ONE WOMAN 100 FACES' by Francesca Tolot

WIN 'ONE WOMAN 100 FACES' by Francesca Tolot

'Francesca Tolot is the most extraordinary makeup artist of our time.' So opens the foreword written by Beyonce in this beautiful new book. A must-have for anyone working in makeup,...

28/10/2014

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As requested - Louise Westra's 'Kick-a-germ' juice

A few of you indicated you would like the recipe for ‘Kick-a-germ juice’ so here it is along with some bonus winter tips. 1. Don’t underestimate the importance of wrapping...

27/10/2014

Effaclar Anti-Blemish System - Trial Results

Effaclar Anti-Blemish System - Trial Results

Exactly three months ago I asked two people to test the new 2 step kit from Effaclar that included the cleanser, new toner and the original Effaclar Duo cream. The...

21/10/2014

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox - review

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox - review

Following on from the last post, I also gave my female tester in her late 20's the Vichy Normaderm Night Detox to trial. What is it? The blurb: 'Those with...

21/10/2014

Delilah Cosmetics

Delilah Cosmetics

Even after all my years in the industry I still love it when I see something new and think 'PHWOARRR'. That's exactly what I did with Delilah. The brainchild of...

21/10/2014

Lucy Annabella Organics

Lucy Annabella Organics

One of the nicest parts of blogging is being made aware of brands early on that you might not otherwise come across quite so soon. My mind has turned to...

20/10/2014

White Rabbit Comfort Cleansing Balm

White Rabbit Comfort Cleansing Balm

The best selling high-end cleanser in the UK is Eve Lom - the 200ml size outsells everything else in it's category and it is £84.00. I know. I've always said...

19/10/2014

Instagram Friday Catch-up

Instagram Friday Catch-up

Trialing Loving this Brilliant Out next month. *is beyond excited* The awesomeness that is Mary Greenwell and Georgie Dawson The Orangery at Kensington Palace going pink for October and BCA....

17/10/2014

Erm. WHERE have you BEEN/where have you GONE?

Erm. WHERE have you BEEN/where have you GONE?

That, dear readers, is the question I have been asked a lot in the last few weeks. As most of you will know, I suffer from a dodgy back (broken...

13/10/2014

Lush Christmas

Lush Christmas

When I visited the Lush Head Office/Factories this summer I was given a preview of Christmas and Halloween - and obviously asked to keep it under wraps. The Lush Christmas...

13/10/2014

MV Organics Gentle Cream Cleanser and Rose Smoothing and Protecting Moisturiser - review by London Makeup Girl

MV Organics Gentle Cream Cleanser and Rose Smoothing and Protecting Moisturiser - review by London Makeup Girl

Long-time blog readers will remember the lovely Lydia from London Makeup Girl. Blogging as Grace London until last year, LMG was one of the first blogs that I read and...

13/10/2014

Ooh DUBLIN!

Ooh DUBLIN!

Just a quick one. I'm in Dublin next week with the brilliant Cloud10 Beauty. It's a private event BUT there is the chance to win tickets to the evening event...

10/10/2014

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Backstage at Stella McCartney with Sunday Riley

This post was updated 13.10.14: see below I promise I'm not strangling that poor girl. I was lucky enough to work the Stella McCartney shows again this season, both the...

07/10/2014

Zelens Active Colour

Zelens Active Colour

  From one of the best brands in the industry comes an extension of the line into makeup that makes perfect sense. I asked Dr Marko Lens - creator of...

06/10/2014

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Mask Boost

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Mask Boost

I tend to use face masks much more in autumn/winter and this new mask coming from Estee Lauder in December is a welcome addition if you have a slightly older...

06/10/2014

Ole Henriksen Winners

Ole Henriksen Winners

Apologies for the delay in announcing the winners. They have now been chosen via Rafflecopter and are listed here: Ole Winners. If you are listed please email here with your...

06/10/2014

YOUTH and 'Your Hormone Doctor' winner

YOUTH and 'Your Hormone Doctor' winner

The winner of the 3 month supply of YOUTH and Your Hormone Doctor book is Mia B from Sweden. Mia you have email! :) Thank you to everyone who entered!

06/10/2014

David Kirsch's Perfect Shopping List

David Kirsch's Perfect Shopping List

Regular readers will know that the brilliant David Kirsch is one of my clients. Next Monday David starts a new programme for Women's Health called 'Tone Every Zone'. 28 days...

03/10/2014

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Clarins and #FEED10 Gift with Purpose

  Ah the good old GWP. The cornerstone of every 'mainstream' brand's budget. Gift with Purchase is as old as the hills. Gift with Purpose however, is something new. Clarins...

02/10/2014

Sunday Instagram Catch-up

Sunday Instagram Catch-up

I know a lot of you don't use Instagram so I thought a catch-up would be good. I spend more time over on Instagram than I do any other form...

28/09/2014

Beauty Myths No.9 - Waiting lists

Beauty Myths No.9 - Waiting lists

Waiting lists. You know the things. Those long lists of ‘literally thousands’ of people ‘eagerly awaiting!’. See the Daily Mail most days for the latest one. Here’s the thing. They...

26/09/2014

An Evening with The Body Shop - See Life through younger-looking eyes

An Evening with The Body Shop - See Life through younger-looking eyes

On Thursday October 9th I will be holding an evening event at The Body Shop dedicated to all things eyes. Come down to Oxford Street between 6.30 and 8.30pm for...

26/09/2014

Choice Books - Beauty: Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes

Choice Books - Beauty: Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes

  OK I'll make this quick. If you are female and have skin you need this book. Sali Hughes (to the very few uninitiated) is a brilliant, straight-forward-talking, no-nonsense beauty...

25/09/2014

The Experts. Louise Westra from ESPA Life in Gleneagles.

The Experts. Louise Westra from ESPA Life in Gleneagles.

So I may have mentioned how I fell in love with Gleneagles in my last post. I was there to experience the ESPA Life well-being spa. Whilst there, I met...

22/09/2014

Type 1 Diabetes, Mr Hirons and a bridge too far (for Mrs Hirons)

Type 1 Diabetes, Mr Hirons and a bridge too far (for Mrs Hirons)

Yeah yeah, laugh away. It WAS the 80's you know. Yes that's a perm (on me, his is natural. The swine.) Regular readers of the blog will have seen a...

22/09/2014

ESPA Life at Gleneagles

ESPA Life at Gleneagles

This is literally the most overdue blog post that ever was. The reason being that I was at Gleneagles when my Grandmother died back in January. So, even though it...

22/09/2014

Your Hormone Doctor and a 3 month supply of YOUTH

Your Hormone Doctor and a 3 month supply of YOUTH

Listen up. If you are a lady of a certain age. I.E. over 40 (and 'king fabulous) - the ever-gorgeous and always glam Susie Rogers (also my ex office landlady...

19/09/2014

Selfridges Beauty Workshop Birmingham

Selfridges Beauty Workshop Birmingham

This weekend I visited the brand new Beauty Workshop in Selfridges, Birmingham to meet some readers and generally indulge in a day of beauty. Thank you to everyone who came...

15/09/2014

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel and a crazy Giveaway.

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel and a crazy Giveaway.

Regular readers will know that a few of us have been trialing overnight treatments - especially for acne/combination skins. The reviews of the La Roche Posay kit and Vichy's Dermatox...

15/09/2014

Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt

Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt

Jo Malone continues to go from strength to strength. The latest offering, Wood Sage and Sea Salt is perfect for this time of year. Think 'blankets on a windy beach'...

15/09/2014

Limited Edition Space NK In Peace EDP and the huge Beauty Anthology event

Limited Edition Space NK In Peace EDP and the huge Beauty Anthology event

As the collaboration between SpaceNK and Women for Women International enters its second year, a Limited Edition has been commissioned that celebrates the colours, arts and patterns from the countries...

15/09/2014

Pixi Glow Tonic available in Liberty and GWP

Pixi Glow Tonic available in Liberty and GWP

Good news Londiniums! The now infamous Glow Tonic from Pixi is available instore at Liberty from today. And even better, it coincides with the as-per-usual brilliant GWP from Liberty shown...

12/09/2014

OCC Lip Tar Winners

OCC Lip Tar Winners

Thank you to everyone that entered the OCC giveaway. The winners as chosen randomly by Rafflecopter are: Cat Wilson and Charlotte Axson Congratulations Ladies! - an email is on its...

12/09/2014

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Exfoliating Cleansers and another (slightly ranty) video

Following on from yesterday's skin cleansers video, these products are better suited if you just want a little more 'oomph' from your daily cleansing routine. Equally good if you can't...

09/09/2014

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Skin Cleansers - and a video!

Finally! *insert Arnie voice* I’m baaaaaack. 🙂 Erm yes so I’ve been a little absent on the YouTube front. Soz. Work is really busy, kids were on summer holidays, you...

08/09/2014

New posting address for Give and Makeup.

New posting address for Give and Makeup.

Long time readers of this blog will know that I started Give and Makeup as a vessel to direct the excess of product that I had to good causes. Notably...

05/09/2014

Selfridges Birmingham Beauty Workshop launch - see you there!

Selfridges Birmingham Beauty Workshop launch - see you there!

OI! Brummies! My friends at Selfridges Birmingham are launching their Beauty Workshop this month and I am joining them on Saturday 13th September to basically cause skincare chaos host the...

05/09/2014

Massive OCC Lip Tar Giveaway

Massive OCC Lip Tar Giveaway

If you haven't used/heard of OCC Lip Tars, they may well just blow your mind. They are extremely pigmented lip glosses/matts/stains/metallics and come in a ridiculous amount of brilliant colours....

05/09/2014

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Friday Lunchtime Clinic - Topic - Acne - CLOSED

The Clinic is live. CLOSED!!! Please leave your question in the comments. The comments are moderated so there is no need to repeat your question if it hasn't shown up....

29/08/2014

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Clinic update

Hi Everyone. I've answered as many as I can in the last couple of hours. Have to get back to my long work to-do list now so I have published...

29/08/2014