Christmas 2014 / Le Couvent Des Minimes

Today’s post is a Christmas gift recommendation as well as Brand introduction. 

Le Couvent Des Minimes is a French brand of authentic, natural products that are using recipes created by Botanist Monks and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary that lived in the Couvent of the Minims since the 1600s.

Nowadays they still use these original blend of herbs and flowers that have been proven to have curative properties. 

I have to admit that I haven’t been that excited about a new brand for a while!

I find the packaging really charming with a rustic/french appeal and I absolutely loved reading about the apothecary knowledge behind the formulations.

At the heart of every line there is a Cologne - Eau Miraculeuse - and the same scent also comes in a wide selection of products; for example, I’m been testing out The Recipe of Love* and in this scent you can get a Cologne, Exfoliating Shower Pulp, Beneficial Massage Oil, Body Butter, Hand Cream and a Soap.  

The Recipe of Love has fruity and floral notes of Orange Blossom which is also renewed for its softening and soothing properties; the other main ingredients is Petitgrain which is source of harmony.

The brand is also committed to its charitable work, by donating 1% of all annual sales back to Franciscan Missionaries of Mary – and with these profits they have already funded a day nursery and school for nurses in Southern India. 

…and even more good news: you will be pleased to find out that they are endorsed by L'Occitane (!!!) and the products are extremely affordable; single items like Hiker's Foot Healer starting from under £5 or The Best of le Couvent des Minimes Set with 4 products for only 10 quid.

This is THE brand to try today and, although it’s new to the UK market, the products are already easily available in Boots nationwide.

Have you heard about this brand yet?

Christmas 2014 / L'Occitane Arlesienne Collection

The new fragrance from L’Occitane is called Arlesienne. The inspiration comes from the lands of the south of France with a strong, tenacious, mysterious woman.

It’s a floral scent that  includes notes of rose, saffron and violet - with violet, especially, coming through and enveloping the senses. 

Personally, I love it! I don’t usually go for floral scents and prefer more powdery perfumes but the wintery twist makes it quite delicate, not sickening and euphoric.

The design of the whole collection is beautiful too and inspired by the lively dance of the Arlesiennes. 

The crafted glass bottles and the rose gold metal accents gives a romantic turn of the century appeal; furthermore, the labels are embellished with a feminine and elegant floral print, same as the colourful skirts of these dancers.

Arlesienne is becoming part of the permanent line of L’Occitane with an Eau de Toilette, Shower Cream, Beauty Milk, Velvet Hand Cream, Perfumed Soap and Body Oil that are going to be available all year round, but there are also some Limited Edition items that you can pick up now and are going to make fab presents to give someone for Christmas - Hair Mist, Beautifying Powder, Gorgeous Lips,  Solid Perfume and Perfumed Candle.

The collection is available nationwide and online now, starting from only £8... go on, treat yourself - you know yout want to! ;)

Christmas 2014 / Urban Decay Ideas

I always ask something from Urban Decay for Christmas. Last year, I got the Naked 3 and I still get pretty excited everytime I used it.

My picks from the Festive Collection 2014 are 3 gorgeous palettes that are guaranteed to please anyone: Full Frontal Lipstick Stash, Naked On The Run and Shadow Box.

The  Urban Decay Full Frontal Lipstick Stash includes 6 Revolution Lipstick – with 3 new shades  - and 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil - a clear lipliner that will work with every colour; this is most certainly going on my Santa’s list this year! I’ve been meaning to try these lipsticks for a while but I can never make up my mind on which colour to pick… problem solved! And the mini sizes are super cute too!

The Urban Decay Naked On The Run – appropriately called so – because it contains everything you may need when out of the house; you’ll find a  Perversion Mascara, 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, Naked Lipgloss, a blush, a bronzer, an highlighter and 5 eyeshadows.

Finally for the eyeshadows obsessed - Urban Decay Shadow Box* is a collection of 12 shadows encased in a compact box.

The packaging is made of glossy cardboard and a magnetic UD to keep the lid closed.

I've to admit that I read mixed reviews about this palette and some unfair criticism, in my opinion.

I find the quality of these powders to be pretty good and the colour selection is very clever too; I have few Urban Decay palettes myself and the only double I have is Freelove. 

Luckly enough, I have one here and some swatches to share with you today - as you can see there's a good mix of neutrals and colours; the brighter shades are still wearable and can easily be teamed with  the nudes, if you feel a bit shy.

Sin is a peachy champagne - perfect as an highlighter, Indo is a gorgeous emerald, Bordello - a best seller - is a mauve with gold  sparkle and Tornado is a deep purple with warm undertones.

l-r: sin, indo, bordello, tornado

Smog is a stunning bronze with reddish/copper tones, Blackout is a matte black that can be used as eyeliner but it's not deep enough and my least favourite from the palette; Flash is a vibrant lavender with an iridescent cool finish - very pretty - and Mushroom is a warm grey with a touch of taupe.

l-r: smog, blackout, flash, mushroom

Lost is a metallic warm brown, an everyday shade that will work with every eye colour; Freelove - an all time favourite of mine - is a warm coral with gold shimmer, Moonshadow is a bright navy blue and a new shade and Baked Cowboy - another new shade and a true bright gold.

So, what do you think of these palettes? Which one caught your eye?

Christmas 2014 / The Body Shop Glazed Apple Collection

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Collection is a HUGE range that includes a Eau De Toilette, Body Polish, Body Butter, Shimmer Lotion, Shower Gel, Bath Sprinkles, Bath Jelly, Soap, Lip Gloss, Lip Tint, Hand Cream, Sparkler and Home Fragrance Oil.

There is also a super adorable apple shaped gift set - The Body Shop Glazed Apple Tin of Treasures - that includes a selection from the line, in travel size format. 

This new fragrance just came out ideally before Christmas; it’s not your typically Christmas scent (like spiced apple or frozen berries) but still festive & delicious and sure to make an impression when gifting.

The products and the packaging with their bright green colour and frosted sparkles are also perfect for this time of the year.

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter* has got a creamy, rich texture and comes in the traditional 200ml tub.

It contains shea butter and leaves the skin conditioned and softly sweetly scented; it is not a sickening smell tho, but more of crisp, fresh fragrance - thanks to the fruity notes of the fresh apple - and warm vanilla.

I love the slightly green tint of the product itself too :)

I'm sure you're already familiar with the moisturising and fast absorbing qualities of The Body Shop hand creams and the Glazed Apple Hand Cream* is no exception. Same fantastic formulation with shea butter and apple seed oil to give relief to dry skin, without leaving any greasy residue.

Furthermore, for example the soap or the shimmer lotion make great stocking fillers or you can pick up the gift set for that tricky secret santa at work. 

The range is truly versatile and you’re bound to find a product to please everyone, for every budget and to make an impression for originality!

Have you seen this line in store yet? What do you think?

Christmas 2014 / Botanicals Offer!

Dear Beauty Addicts,

I'm happy to share that Botanicals is running a fantastic offer until the 19th of December!

First of all, they are providing free delivery on all orders AND - when you order any 2 Botanicals Gift Collections - you will receive a complimentary Botanicals Daily Essentials Facial Collection - worth £25.

The gift set contains a cleansing milk, an hydrating mist, a moisturiser and six organic cotton pads and you can choose from Rose & Camellia for dry and mature skin or Mandarin and Chamomile for normal, combination and sensitive skin.

...and you're spoilt for choice with 6 gift sets for face and body to choose from; my personal favourites are: 

Luxury Handcare Essentials Collection that includes everything you need to pamper your digits, nails and cuticles and the particularly impressive Botanicals Hand Serum and Botanicals Hand Soak.

The other set that I'd recommend is the Balance My Skin Facial Trio, perfect for sensitive and problematic skin. It contains a gentle facial polish, cleansing melt and radiance serum.

I've been personally testing the Botanicals Mandarin & Chamomile Cleansing Melt* in the past week and I was so impressed on how gentle yet effective it is at removing make up and grime at the end of the day.

It comes in the form of a solid balm that melts in contact with your body heat; it penetrates deep into lower layers of the skin and doesn't strip it of its natural oil.

Finally, you simply remove the product with a hot, damp cloth (a muslin cloth is also included in the set).

Let's not forget that Botanicals is an award-winning brand that still makes its natural products by hand; they are free from artificial colours, fragrances and petrochemicals, including parabens.

They are also Soil Association approved  and, with their charming packaging, they are guaranteed to make an impression on your loved ones!

You can browse the collections and take advantage of this offer at www.botanicals.co.uk 

Have you tried this brand before?

New In / Glo & Ray

Today I’m going to talk about Glo & Ray – a new British make up brand, founded in London in 2012.

Their goal is to create a cosmetic line that enables women to express themselves, complimenting their feminine beauty and with professional quality.

The range includes products for the eyes, face and lips and - although pretty essential - it is only bound to grow with time.

First off, I love the satin black packaging!

The Glo & Ray Mirage Mousse Eye Shadow comes in a minimal, sleek and sexy matte black pot – there are 8 shades available in the collection, all extremely wearable - from burgundy to copper to brown.

Caramel Candy* is a slightly warm brown with gold shimmer that looks stunning on its own or can be used as a base/primer for your favorite eyeshadow.

This neutral colour will suit any skintone, it’s extremely versatile; it's really beautifying and effortless to use: the creamy texture  transforms into powder and blends easily. It lets you add layers that play with the light, adding luminosity with every move.

I have to say I was chuffed to try this brand that I hadn't heard much about before - the Nuage Solo Blush and La Amo Creamy Matte Lip Colour sound fab too - head over here to check out the range and you'll find some gift sets too for your Christmas treats!

Have you heard of this brand yet?

Review / Bee Good Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser

Bee Good is an independent British brand, based in Hampshire, that gained deserved recognition in the last couple of years. It combines the goodness of the beehives with the finest botanicals to create reliable beauty products for the face and body.

They are also the only British brand to exclusively use British bee ingredients and to promote and  support British beekeepers, re-investing locally.

Some of the by-products that you will find in their products are: propolis – great for its antibacterial and  antioxidant properties – beeswax - conditioning and calming –  and wildflower honey - which is the perfect nourishing and soothing moisturiser.

Lately, I’ve been using the Bee Good Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser* which has a soft and rich consistency and it's easy to work into the skin.

I love to use a creamy cleanser in the evenings because I find that they are the best at removing every trace of make up, yet they are gentle enough to be used daily.

You simply massage it well into dry skin and then remove the product with the included muslin cloth, that also perform a gentle massaging exfoliation; I found it suitable to remove eye make up too and it didn’t sting the eyes. The cloth is also really good quality, soft and doesn’t scratch the skin.

The formulation has a delicate and natural scent and the packaging too – with its pastel colours – has a fresh appeal.

I'm definitely converted to this cleanser now and can appreciate and feel the good impact of these quality ingredients on my skin.

Have you tried anything from Bee Good yet?

New In / Kiko Luxurious Collection

I feel I’m starting to sound like a broken record when talking about Kiko Milano – but they can do no wrong, it appears… every collection is more beautiful than the one before! The latest collection – Luxurious – is another winner!

The golden tone packaging perfectly encapsulates the Luxurious theme and consists of a bronzer, highlighters, eyeshadows, kajals, mascara and a face brush.

The Kiko Milano Precious Illuminating Bronzer* feels velvety and blends uniformly on the cheeks; it has a multi colour heart made of precious stones to smooth and give luminosity to the complexion: amber preserves skin tone, pearls have hydrating properties, tourmaline exudes energy, ruby, amethyst, nephrite and coral create a smoothing and brightening effect.

The 4 shades create a perfect tanned colour, just a tad darker than my normal skintone - that gives a natural sunkissed look to cheekbones and temples. 

The case - as well as the product itself inside - has the multifaceted characteristic of a gem and looks gorgeous in the sun light. It's a real treat to use it everyday and I love it!

Have you seen this one yet? Intrigued?

Review / The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Radiance Powder Mix

It’s nearly Party Season and as we carefully chose outfits and accessories, we should certainly pay extra attention to our completion too, especially in this harsh weather.

My skin gets extremely demanding in winter – demand for hydration, demand for radiance and oil control.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Radiance Powder Mix* is an intensive treatment and a magic potion in a bottle.

Because of its purity and concentration – once mixed - the product needs to be use within 10 days.

To prepare the product, you simply press the button to release the Vitamin C powder into the serum and shake well; it also comes with a handy droplet to avoid any waste.

The mixture is to be used as a regular serum, mornings & nights, and layered with a moisturizer on top.

It contains Amazonian camu - which is rich in Vitamin C - and Community Fair Trade aloe vera – which sooths and hydrate the skin.

It slightly tingles on the skin and absorbs immediately. It seems to enhance the skincare benefits you get for your daily routine, improving the texture and awakening blood flow. It’s really impressive! The results are nearly instant and from the first morning, I could notice my cheeks being rosier and my skin smoother.

This is an effective treatment to add seasonally to your routine, especially when you are in need to renew the skin or give it an extra boost!  

Have you tried this product yet?

New In / L'Occitane Whipped Shea Butter Collection

This year, L’Occitane is celebrating 25 years of partnership with the women’s co-operative in Burkina Faso and supporting Fair Trade Shea Butter.

2014 Limited Edition Collection is the Whipped Shea Butter range that includes a body cream, hand cream and shower foam.

The innovative formulation takes inspiration from the technique used by the co-operative in Burkina Faso, where the women whip the butter to obtain a mousse consistency.

This way you still get the same nourishing benefits that you’re used to from shea butter products but in a lightweight and extra comfortable texture.

L’Occitane Whipped Shower Foam* is probably my favourite item of the collection; I’m pretty partial to a shower foam – they are fun to use and they last ages too, in my experience.

The product feels velvety and creamy on the skin and doesn’t strip the skin. The typical Shea Butter scent envelops the senses and is the perfect combo for a warm and comforting shower to start the day.

The consistency of L’Occitane Whipped Body Cream* looks a bit odd admittedly, but is a dream to apply and it’s such a soothing and pleasant experience; it melts in the skin (making the application super-fast) and - with 10% shea butter - locks in hydration and soften the skin.

I'm definitely picking up L'Occitane Shea Whipped Hand Cream, which comes with a fun, star-shaped nozzle too.
What have you tried from this collection?