I bought ages ago these Finnish cosmetic products, and now after using them for a while I guess I'm ready to give my opinion on them. Lily Alexandra is an eco-cosmetic brand established in Finland in 2008. All the products are developed, tested and made in Finland, actually in a small town called Sipoo. They are all paraben-free and without any perfume. The products are for a mature skin, which needs more hydration and lifting. My arsenal includes cleansing gel, serum, 24-hour cream and eye contour cream.

Jo jokin aika sitten ostin näitä suomalaisia kosmetiikkatuotteita ja nyt kun olen niitä jo päässyt käyttämään, ajattelin esitellä ja kertoa niistä vähän tarkemmin. Lily Alexandra on suomalainen eko-kosmetiikkabrändi, joka on perustettu vuonna 2008. Kaikki tuotteet on kehitetty, testattu ja tuotettu Sipoossa. Tuotteet ovat parabeeni vapaita ja ilman hajusteita ja ne on suunnattu kypsemmälle enemmän kosteutta ja liftingiä kaipaavalle iholle. Omaan arsenaaliini kuuluvat sarjan puhdistusgeeli, seerumi, 24-tunnin voide ja silmänympärysvoide.

The eye contour cream

A light, easily absorbed cream to refresh, strengthen and soothe the delicate area around the eye. The active ingredient of green tea contains caffeine, C, B and vitamin E, as well as flavoinoides. Caffeine effectively removes fluid and tightens the skin. Antioxidants protect skin cells from air pollution and aging. If you've been sleeping poorly, or eaten salty food, this long-lasting product effectively removes swelling and dark circles under the eyes.

- it's definitely light and easily absorbing

- it feels slightly tightening the eye area

- unfortunately I did't notice any remarkable changes concerning the dark circles & fluids

Kevyt, helposti imeytyvä voide virkistää, vahvistaa ja rauhoittaa silmää ympäröivää herkkää aluetta. Vaikuttava aine vihreä tee sisältää kofeiinia, C-, B- ja E-vitamiinia sekä Flavoinoideja. Kofeiini poistaa tehokkaasti nestettä ja kiinteyttää ihoa. Antioksidantit suojaavat ihon soluja ilman saasteilta ja vanhenemiselta. Jos olet nukkunut huonosti tai syönyt suolaista, tämä riittoisa tuote poistaa tehokkaasti turvotuksen ja tummentuneet silmänaluset. 

- tuote on todellakin kevyt ja helposti imeytyvä

- tuntuu aavistuksen kiinteyttävän silmänympärysihoa

- valitettavasti en huomannut suuremmin eroa mitä tulee tummiin silmänalusiin ja nestekertymiin

24-hour cream

Luxury, long-lasting moisturizing face cream with vitamin E-containing wheat germ oil and effectively moisturizing and nourishing aloe vera. Vitamin E is one of the most popular anti-oxidants and wheat germ oil is the most abundant source of vitamin E. It helps to protect the skin from free radical damage and atmospheric pollution. This conditioning cream is also suitable under foundation.

- this one is also light and easily absorbing cream

- using it for day & night

- gives a lovely soft feeling

Ylellinen pitkäkestoisesti kosteuttava kasvovoide, jossa on E-vitamiinia sisältävää vehnänalkioöljyä ja tehokkaasti kosteuttavaa ja hoitavaa aloe veraa. E-vitamiini on yksi suosituimpia antioksidantteja ja vehnänalkioöljy on E- vitamiinin runsain lähde. Se auttaa ihoa suojautumaan vapailta radikaaleilta ja ilmansaasteilta. Tämä hoitava voide sopii myös meikkivoiteen alle. 

- tämäkin on kevyt ja helposti imeytyvä voide

sopii päivä ja yövoiteeksi

- antaa ihanan pehmeän tunteen

Tightening serum

Powerful serum for face & neck contains important antioxidants and Plantago lanceolata extract, which is proven to increase the skin's own collagen production. White Water Lily extract treats and moisturizes the skin effectively. Use it in the morning and evening under the 24-hour face cream. Repeat the regimen as needed approximately in 3-month intervals. The power of this firming serum can be seen in a few weeks, your skin is firmer and smoother.

- it really tightens the skin

- give a fresh feeling

Kasvoille ja kaulalle tehokas seerumi, joka sisältää tärkeitä antioksidantteja ja Plantago Lanceolata -lehtiuutetta, joka todistettavasti lisää ihon omaa kollageenin tuotantoa.White Water Lily -uute hoitaa ja kosteuttaa ihoa tehokkaasti. Käytä kuurinomaisesti aamuin ja illoin 24-tunnin kasvovoiteen alla. Toista kuuri tarpeen mukaan noin 3 kk:n välein. Tämä kiinteyttävän seerumin teho näkyy ihollasi jo muutaman viikon sisällä, ihosi on kiinteämpi ja sileämpi.

- todellakin kiinteyttävä vaikutus

- antaa raikkaan tunteen

Have to say I'm a fan of this product line!

Täytyy myöntää, ettei ollenkaan hullumpi tuotesarja!

Happy Feet

Vichy's reconditioning care for dry feet is very creamy and good for night. There's no scent in it so there's no feeling good factor in it. Even though it's not a luxury product it's very effective.

Crabtree & Evelyn's reviving leg and foot mist is easy to spray on at any time during the day for tired legs, especially when the weather is hot and both feet & legs are swollen. The scent is invigorating and fresh. 

Have to admit that the Kiehl's Cross-Terrain "Dry Run' Foot Cream  is not my favorite. That's probably because I used it for wrong purposes. It's a cooling cream that helps to keep feet dry for example while running. I used it to soften the skin, and for that  the texture is tip light.

Mother Nature's Refreshing Foot Cream by Finnish Frantsila Organics is a rich cream for tired feet & legs. The texture is pleasant with a herbal scent. I applied it only for feet but it is good also for varicose veins. That I need to remember as I have frequently serious cramps in my legs.

Body Shop's Peppermint Cooling foot lotion is my all-time favorite. It's refreshing, easily and quickly absorbing lotion, which I like to use in the mornings. After applying it I put soft slippers on for a moment (while having my breakfast) and sock and/or shoes as I step out.

Nite&Day Routines For Face

I've been using Kiehl's lotions & potions lately. The image is clean & fresh pharmacy product type line with simple packages. There are no special day & night products so almost everything can be used at any time. 

In the morning I apply a few drops of serum (Clearly Corrective Dark Spot solution), which has vitamin C. It makes the skin tone more even and - as the name says - protects from dark spots. Then I choose eye cream (Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado) or eye concentrate (Line-Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate) depending on the need - either moisturizing or minimizing dark circles and brightening the eye area. Then finishing with a moisturizer with SPF30 (Ultra Facial Moisturizer) for face and neck - just a size of a pea is enough. It's light-weight and absorbs immediately. 

(Sorry about the cracking nail polish…)

This eye de-puffer stick is perfect in the morning before going out for running or to the gym. It's actually from the men's collection… but who cares while it works.

Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer - cooling formula with hibiscus extract.

For the night I start with serum (Powerful-Strenght Line Reducing Concentrate), which is an anti-wrinkle treatment with vitamin C. Then I choose between 2 different eye creams - either the same avocado cream which I sometimes apply in the mornings or a more powerful cream with anti-wrinkle features (Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Care). For night I apply a thin layer of cream (Ultra Facial Moisturizer)to hydrate or (Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream) to boost and repair my skin.

The vitamin C products are quite strong ones so they are not for everyday use. Also the Powerful line products have ingredients that can cause tingling or even itching.

I like these products - I don't think they make wonders but they do keep the skin moisturized and smooth.