Summer skincare can leave us all a little rough around the edges. Hours of sun exposure mean a little extra TLC is essential. Heaven Skincare, created by beauty therapist-turned-entrepreneur Deborah Mitchell, has been in the hands of A-listers and royals alike for nearly 30 years. With claims of anti-ageing miracles wrapped in organic luxury, I had to see if it lived up to the hype.
Heaven Skincare Summer Travel Kit
£80
There is a stunning range of products available from Heaven, each with different purposes, but with some late-summer getaways still to come, the travel set, full of compact, carry-on-sized creams and lotions, is the perfect option for skincare on the go.
What’s in the set?
The set comprises five different products that will keep your skin hydrated and lustrous in tropical climes while you soak up the sun (and on a rainy day in the UK…).
Hydro Cleansing Milk
Delicately scented with rosemary and lavender, Hydro Cleansing Milk left my skin feeling soft even after the first use. It’s named milk, but it’s more of a lotion — a couple of pumps was enough to give good coverage. Once massaged into the skin, it can be left for a few minutes to be absorbed or rinsed with warm water, depending on your preference.
The combination of massaging the cream into the skin and the hints of lavender and rosemary makes it a very calming and relaxing process, which is perfect for a holiday, or, once you’re home, after a long day at work.
Perfect for: deep cleansing pores and moisturising the skin, while helping to balance natural oils.
Cleanse and Foam Wash
This foamy wash acts as a non-abrasive exfoliator, helping to remove impurities and smooth and repair the skin. It contains organic mandarin essential oils, which account for most of the foam’s fabulous scent, alongside carrot oil and vitamin C.
The combination of these essential oils and the massaging of the foam into the skin is said to boost collagen production — which should help reduce fine lines and wrinkles — but that’s not going to be an instant result, so we’ll have to take Heaven’s word for it at the moment.
Perfect for: cleansing, restoring, and repairing the skin, especially after exposure to the sun.
Peppermint Clarifying Hydrogel
With my skin fully cleansed, it was time for a little toning. Peppermint Clarifying Hydrogel has an incredibly fresh menthol when first applied, but doesn’t linger, so it isn’t overpowering. The gel contains peppermint and spearmint, which are said to minimise the amount of oil that the skin secretes, balancing everything nicely and reducing shine in problematic t-zones.
The gel should be applied to cotton wool pads and smoothed across the skin to act as a toner or a base for makeup. It can also be used as an under-eye gel to help reduce puffiness.
As I applied it to my skin, it felt cooling and very soothing, which, after a few days in the sun, is a very welcome feeling. While the other products I’d tried up to this point had made my skin feel soft, this one made it feel much smoother than I had expected, which was an unexpected result, given the fairly small amount I used each time.
Perfect for: Balancing and firming the skin, and reducing inflammation under the eyes. Cooling skin after a day in the sun.
Divine Cream
Naming a face cream “Divine” might sound like it’s trying to oversell it, but I can assure you that this isn’t the case here. This one was hands down my favourite of the set.
Organic mandarin makes another appearance, with a deeper orange scent to back it up. It really does smell like a citrus-laden summer in a pot. The cream is so light and silky that you can hardly feel it on the skin, and it is fully absorbed within seconds, leaving it silky to the touch. I absolutely loved it.
The brand claims that the infusion of vitamin C is great for increasing collagen production, helping the skin to retain and regain elasticity, as well as brightening the complexion. I’m no scientist, but I can tell you that I felt fabulous once I’d completed the facial routine.
Perfect for: softening and brightening the skin, and increasing elasticity.
Body Firming Moisturiser
Enriched with sandalwood, this firming moisturiser has a more earthy scent than the other products in the travel kit. It has the same light, silky feel to the Divine face cream on application, absorbing quickly into the skin and leaving no trace.
Designed to firm the skin while nourishing and hydrating, I choose to concentrate on my arms, the back of my hands, and my upper chest. It left my skin feeling great, but it might take a few more applications to firm it up to a noticeable degree, but I have high hopes.
Perfect for: moisturising arms, legs and chest.
If you are heading out for some late summer sun, you’ll be in need of a good moisturiser that also gives a good dose of SPF. The latest product from Heaven Skincare will do just that.
Prism Protection
£73 for 50ml
After three years of development, Prism Protection has joined the skincare line-up. As with any SPF cream, Prism Protect should be applied before you head outside for maximum effectiveness.
What I loved about this cream was that it’s not only lightweight but also non-greasy, so you can apply it and feel fresh and comfortable straight away, and if you’re using it under makeup, you don’t have to wait for it to absorb. With no particular scent, it’s great for Average Janes everywhere, and, if you’re in the mood to share, your Average Joe would be happy to use it, too.
Heaven Skincare boasts that it packs a punch with protection, too. Vitamin E and B5, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and niacinamide (vitamin B3) brighten and balance the skin, while SPF 50+ protects it from broad-spectrum UVA and UVB rays, as well as pollution.
“I’ve always strived to develop and provide products that combat real skin issues and fit into daily routines, seamlessly,” said Heaven founder Deborah Mitchell. “Years in the making, I’m so excited to share Prism Protection, it’s truly a miracle SPF moisturiser that will not only target and work on common skincare problems we all face, but protect too.”
Prism Protection felt really good on my skin, needing only a small amount with each application. I’ve not had many opportunities to try it out in strong sunshine, but with daily SFP application more important than ever, I’ve been happily using it as a part of my daily routine.
Heaven Skincare: The verdict
Heaven Summer Travel Kit and Prism Protection are premium skincare products, but don’t let that put you off if you’re on a budget. Each product stretches impressively far, making the initial outlay more justifiable.
The downside is that three of the five types of packaging are designed in such a way that you can’t see how much is left, making planning for your next purchase problematic. For premium skincare, where precise usage and reordering matter, not being able to see how much product is left can be a hassle — particularly if you’re relying on the travel set for a trip
That minor gripe aside, Heaven Skincare products are a delight. Those with a scent smell amazing and leave skin feeling refreshed, soft, and well-hydrated.
For those who are curious but cautious, the Summer Travel Kit is a smart entry point into the brand’s range. It includes enough of each product for, in my experience at least, more than a month of use, giving plenty of time to decide which products work for you.
Tested: Heaven Skincare
How much: from £9
Average Janes rating: ★★★★☆
