Monu Little Beauty Bag Dry Skin

Hey everyone!
As I mentioned before, I've been invited to be part of the Monu Blogger preview panel which means I get to try out some of their products and review them. One of the things I've been trying out for around a month now is the Monu Little Beauty Bag for Dry Skin (£29.95)*. I really enjoy it as a way to try out some of the core products from the brand without shelling out for the full sizes - that way  you can make decisions about what works for you and doesn't. I've also found it super handy now that I'm often carting things between my house and my boyfriend's - everything fits in the zip up bag with room for cotton pads.
I got the dry skin bag, but you also get versions for normal skin, oily skin and ageing skin. You also get one full of body products.

So, what do you get for your money? Six sample sized products: the Gentle Cleanser (50ml), Gentle Toner (50ml), Moisture Rich Collagen Cream (30ml), Extra Rich Night Cream (30ml), Micro Exfoliant (30ml) and Hydrating Mask (30ml). You also get a full size Collagen Eye Cream (15ml).
All Monu's products are not tested on animals.
I have tried out all these products and there are some I love and some I am less keen on, so here's my list.

The Gentle Cleanser has lots of natural ingredients like aloe vera and wheat germ oil inside of it. I am always a little wary of 'natural' products because they often contain essential oils that really irritate my skin or flare up redness. This did neither. I followed the directions and used my fingers to apply and a cotton pad to remove. Whilst my skin did feel clean an refreshed after this, I found it difficult to remove with the cotton pad as it had already sunk in a little - perhaps water would be better in this case.

The Gentle Toner is made of essential oils so I was very concerned- but it didn't feel too astringent on me. Some toners really feel like they have stripped my skin - this was less the case here. I looked at the cotton pad after use and was surprised by how much extra dirt it had removed from my face. Toner had not been an essential in my book (if only because I fear scented products like this) but it works!

The Moisture Rich Collagen Cream is what I have been using as my day moisturiser and I like it with one caveat - I really wish people would tone down the rose oils in products for sensitive skin! I'm not a massive fan of rose scents anyway, but heavy rose base products tend to irritate my skin. Whilst this did not irritate my skin, it did not feel as moisturising and hydrating as the night cream or the brightening boost which I reviewed earlier in the week. If you like rose though, this might be for you!

The Extra Rich Night Cream was perhaps my favourite from the bunch - a very hydrating moisturiser of which a little goes a long way. It contains things like Royal Jelly and Vitamin E which I have heard are great for the skin - although it makes it a no-go if you are vegan. I wasn't surprised to see it was scented with jasmine, one of my favourite scents. No wonder I like it. I apply this before bed (with my hair tied back, it's a thick cream!) an massage it into my face and neck. It stays tacky for a while by my dry skin sucks it in and in the morning my skin feels soft and hydrated.

The Micro Exfoliant is designed for occasional use - once or twice a week. I only used it once a week because my skin is sensitive, but I found it great! It had tiny, non-scratchy beads inside that washed off well without leaving an oily layer on my face. After use I felt my skin looked brighter and less dull. This, in combination with other products has really led to a reduction in my forehead dry patch, and my dull, tight skin in general.

The Hydrating Mask is something I cannot find full-size on the Monu website, which is ok by me. It's designed to be left on for 15 minutes then wiped off with a damp cotton pad. I felt the texture of this mask was stiff and difficult to work with, and then I was unsure whether I had removed it all. I did not feel any significant changes to my skin after use - I did not feel particularly hydrated. Any recommendations for hydrating face masks?

The Collagen Eye Cream was another of my favourites - I know 15ml might not seem like much but believe me a little goes a long way. I only use a half-pump of this on both eyes and it is a light, fluid texture that has plumped up my under eye skin and evened it out prior to concealer application. I really like this!

So, overall I've seen an improvement in my skin! My dry skin patches and dullness have really decreased. I like how portable this set is, and the fact that it allows you to try everything out before committing to any one large purchase. Items I'd recommend are the Gentle Cleanser, Gentle Toner, Extra Rich Night Cream, Micro Exfoliant and Collagen Eye Cream. I personally would not repurchase the Moisture Rich Collagen Cream or the Hydrating Mask.

So, have you tried any Monu skincare? Does this kind of kit appeal to you?