Review: Murad Youth Renewal Starter Kit

After a pretty traumatic first 6 months of 2019 my skin was a mess. I had been caring for my mum who was dying so I had been careless with my gluten intake (I am gluten intolerant), my skin was stressed and dehydrated from the worry and the central heating/air conditioning, my pores were clogged as I didn’t have the time to maintain my exfoliation regime, and as I have mentioned previously I take high levels of fentanyl for a spinal injury and chronic pain so I am susceptible to huge boils and breakouts (fentanyl face).    None of my usual face products were helping so I looked through a few online websites and purchased the  Murad youth renewal starter kit (£30). The kit contains a whole nighttime regime. There is an AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser (30ml), Retinol Youth  Renewal Serum (10ml), Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum (5ml) and Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream (7.5ml). The set of products is designed to exfoliate, boost radiance, rejuvenate the skin and reduce fine lines. 

The AHA/BHA cleanser incorporates  salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids which  improve the skin’s clarity, brightness and skin cell turn over by dissolving dead skin build up. Jojoba beads gently exfoliate, polish and smooth skin whilst also boosting hydration. After using this cleanser nightly for about a week I noticed my skin was, in places, beginning to look cleaner. It took about 5 weeks to notice and feel a real sustainable change in my skin tone and clarity. My forehead was the first area to become clear and bump free whilst my chin took several months.

The Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is an anti ageing facial Serum which contains Retinol Tri-Active Technology which is supposed to minimise the appearance of lines and deep wrinkles whilst also helping to firm up and even the skin tone. I found that the smaller forehead lines disappeared almost immediately whilst the deeper wrinkles have become less obvious. My skin tone, as is made clear in the photos, is much more even and the redness has gone.




The Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum contains the same technology as the face serum. It is a potent eye treatment which targets crow’s feet, the look of wrinkles, firms skin and brightens dark circles. I took the photos which show the improvement made on these targeted areas with my glasses on as I always wear them and for changes to really be great they need to show through them. My skin texture felt less creepy almost immediately. I don’t have particularly noticeable dark circles but by the 4th month the area appeared brighter. The under eye lines have decreased but not to the same extent as my forehead lines.

The Retinol Youth Renewal Night Treatment is a luxurious night cream containing the Retinol tri-active technology, to minimise and smooth fine lines and wrinkles and smooth the skins’s texture. A peptide rich red algae helps to improve youthfulness, elasticity and look of the skin. I found that slowly the clarity, look and feel of my skin improved. It didn’t happen overnight but slowly my pores became unblocked and the skin tone didn’t look or feel as stressed.

I have already bought the full sizes of all these products as they have definitely improved the look and feel of my skin. I used the products in the order they were reviewed but you must wear a high SPF product during the day if you go outside to protect your skin.

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own

#AD Book Review: You Say It First by Susan Mallery

Pallas Saunders has inherited a business, a wedding in a box, which she is struggling to make a go of.  Nick Mitchell is a famous wood sculpture who has no direction in life. They live in Happily Inc. whilst waiting to start a new commission in Dubai he goes to work part time for Pallas as a carpenter. Pallas moved to Happily Inc to get away from his father as he did not have a great childhood whilst Pallas’s mother never thinks her daughter can live up to her high standards and wants her to work in the family’s banking business Both have to deal with these issues before they can have a successful relationship. Neither are looking for love but their HEA seems to have found them! 

They are both likeable characters. The minor characters are interesting as they will be developed throughout the Happily Inc series. The novel and the whole series is not just about love and finding your HEA but also community and friendship which makes for an enjoyable read. 

 received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

#AD Book Review: Honeymooning With Her Brazilian Boss by Jessica Gilmore

Deangelo Santos is a billionaire and owner of Aions. Harriet is, or was,  his trusted PA. She left his firm to set up her own business with two other of his ex-employees. Too late Deangelo realises what he had lost.  He needs her back, and fast, so she can be his fake wife for a vital business meeting with the Caetnos family in Rio. They are to pretend to be loved up honeymooners but will pretence lead to the real deal?

A fun read, slightly different to the usual M&B genre with the amount of humour and stubbornness that shapes the storyline. 

I received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

#AD Book Review: The Cowboy Next Door by Trish Milburn

  Claire Moon moved to a small Montana ranch after being severely burned in a fire. A jeweller by trade she conducts her business mostly on lot and avoids social interaction.  Her solitude is threatened when a young calf escapes from a nearby ranch, jumps her fence and has to be caught by its owner. Cowboy Wes McQueen feels guilty that his cattle has damaged next door’s property, especially as it is his fault. He goes around to apologise and Claire is unable to avoid meeting him. She is reticent and retiring but he is determined  to make amends for the damage and a tentative friendship is formed. Slowly this friendship develops into more but Claire is still unsure about reentering society. Wes, however, is determined to help her rejoin society.

An enjoyable read that explosion how injuries can make people change and sink into themselves as a coping mechanism. Both characters are likeable and the puppy angle is cute. 

I received this novel from Tule Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

#AD Book Review: The Practice Baby by LM Ardor

Set in Australia, General Practitioner Dee Flanary risks her career by investigating the death of her life long patient, Tom, who has both Aspergers and is an asthmatic, despite the police and coroner dismissing her concerns of possible murder. She uncovers several tragic supposedly accidental deaths and a link to her own past.  The BMA are on the verge of taking away her license to practice labelling her psychotic. After the death of Tom’s naive young girl friend, Leah, she is forced to confront the cold blooded killer. 

An interesting thriller with a medical tilt. The premise of the book is great but there a few too many dead ends that draw the reader away from the main focus of her investigation. The killer’s motivation for the needed is a little weak and needed further expansion/development. The final confrontation was rather rushed compared to the rest of the book. 

I received this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

#AD Book Review: What We Find by Robyn Carr

Burnt out neurosurgeon returns to her childhood home in Sullivan Crossing in order to regroup, recharge and find herself.  On the verge of collapse after dealing with the breakdown of a relationship and a medical litigation case she needs to find happiness and love and she feels the best place to do this is there. Once there she doesn’t find the quiet, simple life she envisaged. Forced to take charge as her father is seriously ill,  Quiet and serious Cal Jones, who is camping at the crossing offers to help her. Initially suspicious, they slowly develop a friendship and more. 

A novel that deals with two characters who have to come to terms with their pasts. Edited they can move forward. In places the book is touching and humorous. A few too many characters that were superfluous the storyline. 

I received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

#AD Book Review: His Convenient Highland Wedding by Janice Preston

His Convenient Highland Wedding is published by M&B Historical and written by Janice Preston.   Set mostly in Victorian Scottish highlands and West Country, ,the poverty of Glasgow and Edinburgh are also touched upon. The Scottish Earl’s daughter, Flora McCrieff brought her family name into disrepute by turning down a suitor who is a Duke. A year later she is forced to marry Lachlan McNeil who is rich but no title. He wants to marry her for the status it will bring. She has to marry him as her family need his money. Their’s is a marriage of convenience.  His emotions remain locked away despite their growing attraction.

Although this novel is part of a series it it also a stand alone novel which didn’t appear finished as the sub plot surrounding the brooch was never really tied up. Apart from that it is a great read. The characters are vibrant and realistic. The imagery as the Scottish highlands are where the novel is set sound fantastic and the reader can almost see them. There is a sense of chemistry and friendship developing between the pair and her dog has a cameo role.

I received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review