Xmas 2015 / Kiehl's Holiday Gifts

A beautiful wrapped present certainly makes an impact on the eye of the receiver, it shows that you care and an eye-catching packaging makes the gift even more appreciated!

Proof of that, Kiehl's has teamed up with Pop Art artist Peter Max to redesign their Holiday 2015 Collection, making their iconic products extra special and festive.

The inspiration comes from his masterpiece 'The Cosmic Runner' and the colourful drawings represent vibrant Holiday Flyer characters with an aura of magic. The all concept embodies values important at heart for the artist and the brand: love, joy, solidarity and respect for the environment.

There are several holiday edition bundles of products to choose from and my top pick goes to Kiehl's Essentially Yours Gift Set*.

This set contains a complete selection of skincare best sellers, from cleansing to moisturising.

In the roomy and chicly branded beauty bag, you'll find a full size Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser and a full size Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.

The cleanser is very mild and suitable for all skin types; it's ph-balanced so it doesn't dry out the skin and also dissolves make up.

The night serum - well, who doesn't know this product?! - is a true skincare hero! It comes with a dropper and you only need to use a couple of drops, on its own or under moisturiser; it's paraben free and 99.8% natural and it promotes skin recovery during the night for a more radiant appearance in the morning - A miracle worker!!!

Finally, you also receive a sample of the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer that works in unison with the cleanser; this lotion is very light in consistency but still provide 24-hr hydration.

The Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate is an 100% natural and paraben free face oil which is full of antioxidants and provides protection against daily environmental aggressors. I haven to used this one before and it sounds pretty amazing - looking forward to try it out!

Peter Max has also rebranded several single items for the Holiday 2015 Limited Edition Collection. The Kiehl's Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter* is one of them.

I love the airy consistency of this moisturizer! It melts into the skin and leaves my skin soft for up to 24 hours.

The special soy milk & honey formulation also gives it its particular indulgent scent and I dare you not to smell your arm all day long. ;)

Again, the illustrations are cheery and Christmasy and just put you in a good mood at the end of a hard day.

Have you seen this Collection in store? Head over to http://www.kiehls.co.uk for your Christmas shopping.

Xmas 2015 / Frosted Plum Collection from The Body Shop

Like every year, we're spoiled for choice when it comes to The Body Shop Christmas selection; established lines include the Frosted Cranberry and the Glazed Apple (you can read more here btw) that come beautifully packaged in fruit shaped tins, or the fragrances gift sets - like White Musk or Italian Summer Fig.

The new scent for 2015 is the Frosted Plum which smells delicious and features a tantalising, purple packaging.

The trademark scent is sweet but not too sweet - with plum extracts from orchards in Turkey, mixed with elegant notes of peony and magnolia.

The range has an healthy selection of items to envelope the body with this inviting fragrance from tip to toe, from morning to night.

One of my favourite products is The Body Shop Frosted Plum Shimmer Mist* which is a perfume with silver shimmery particles in it; it's a real decadent addition to any collection and it comes in a glass bottle, making it a very special gift for anyone.

If you're a glitter lover, The Body Shop Frosted Plum Shimmer Lotion* is the one for you; whilst the mist is subtler and you can use it on focused points, the lotion covers the body with a veil of sparkle. The Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana leaves the skin velvety to the touch and  Perfect for the party season!

The Body Shop Frosted Plum Lip Balm* comes in a classic tin and it contains Community Fair Trade beeswax; it's the prettiest shade of purple in the tin, but it applies clear and glossy on the lips.

The Body Shop Frosted Plum Body Butter* has been keeping me company every evening after a shower, in the last couple of weeks; I love a good The Body Shop body butter and this new fragrance is putting me in the right festive mood.  It also contains Community Fair Trade organic Babassu oil from Brazil which leaves the skin moisturised and conditioned.

The Body Shop Frosted Plum Bath Fizzers* are any bath-lover dream; they will fill the bathroom with this juicy scent and the bathtub with an indulgent milky water. A real treat!

There is also a festive selection of cute bath sponges like the cute fellow bear below to complete any gift bundle.

The Body Shop Frosted Plum Collection also includes: Shower Gel, Hand Cream, Soap, Sugar Scrub, Candle and Home Fragrance Oil.
Have you tried this range from The Body Shop yet? What is on your wishlist?

New In / Spring 2015 from The Body Shop

The new exciting collection, signed by The Body Shop is the Fuji Green Tea.

I had great expectantions for these products and they certainly exceeded my hopes - This collection is beautiful! 

 The scent in particular was a lovely surprise, since I was apprehensive that it would be too leafy, like the drink can be; instead, it is crispy fresh and calming on the mind. 

This line is infused with real green tea leaves, picked from the Mount Fuji area in Japan so you also benefit from the antioxidant  and detoxing properties of this plant.

 This is instantly become my favourite range from The Body Shop... and it comes in my favourite colour, too - Mint Green! :)

It includes: Exfoliating Soap, Body Scrub, Body Butter, Body Sorbet, Body Lotion, Shower Gel, Eau de Cologne, Bath Tea & Bath Infuser - to recreate a perfect Tea Ceremony for the body!

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Butter* has a light, air-whipped consistency that doesn't feel sticky and absorbs easily. It also provides 24-hour hydration and adds a velvety touch to the skin.

Lovely to use in the morning and leaves your skin softly scented for the whole day.

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Scrub* comes in a 250ml transparent jar.

It has a jelly consistency with green beads to gently exfoliate the skin; it's like a splash of water on the skin and the ideal to get rid of dead skin cells at the end of a hard week. I also find that the gel doesn't strip moisture or leave my skin feeling tight.

The Body Shop Vitamin E range has been a best seller for over three decades and to celebrate this achievement and icon status, the products have received an all British makeover. The packaging has been redesigned, incorporating the Union Jack and with a pink, feminine touch. You can pick up the Vitamin E Moisture Cream, Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet, Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil in store now.

The latest addition to the line - The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube* is an anti-fatigue stick that revitalise and refresh the eye area; the stick helps massaging this area and to attenuate puffiness and dark circles. 

I usually apply the product from the tube and then tap it in with my ring finger; I also keep it in the fridge, to enhance the cooling effect.

It is a best way to wake me up and start a new day, paired with the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet which has become my Springtime moisturiser of choice. You can read the review I wrote last year here.

Have you tried any of these products before?

Which are your The Body Shop staples?

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?

Xmas Ideas / The Body Shop

It's exactly 1 month to Christmas and what better way than starting with some gift ideas from The Body Shop?!

The Body Shop has a wide range of pre-packed presents for every budget. You can pick up a cute manicure duo for as little as £6 that it also comes in festive wrapping and limited edition scents.

The Shea Scrub & Soften Gift Set* is one of my favourite from the Holidays 2013; it comes in a pretty tin - to keep and store your bits & bobs - and it contains a full size 200ml Shea Body Butter and 50ml tub of Shea Sugar Body Scrub.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter is a best seller, super-rich moisturiser that will leave your skin soft and hydrated for up to 24 hrs.

Shea Butter is also an universal scent that will please many: it's naturally neutral, delicate with an hint of  nuttiness. I bet you have smelled it many times in products and never realised what it actually was. :)

It's perfect for people with dry skin but I works very well on my normal skin too; I tend to scoop out a little bit and massage it whilst my body is still damp, after the shower.

It also naturally scents my skin and it stays with me all day long.

The Body Shop scrubs are my absolute favourites and The Shea Sugar Body Scrub is no exception. 

It does contain the best ingredients: the sugar is a natural exfoliant - without being too aggressive - and the shea butter takes care of replenishing the moisture, leaving the skin extra smooth!

I love that it comes in a mini tub which is handy to save for when travelling, I think. 

If you're looking for the perfect present to impress your mother-in-law or stuck for ideas for that last minute Secret Santa in the office, The Body Shop is the ideal destination to get your shopping list sorted.

Also, £200.000 from sales from all The Body Shop gifts will go towards building 5 new schools with Community Fair Trade partners around the world!

New In / The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter

The Body Shop is a brand that doesn't need any introduction! It's internationally loved and I still remember buying my first white musk body mist, soon to be teenager, in my hometown in Italy.

I like that you can fall in love with a scent and get a whole line of products that complement each other.

All the fragrances are gorgeous and I haven't come across one that I don't like yet - from the classic & fruity Strawberry, to the zesty Sweet Lemon and to the more unusual like Olive or Hemp.

Also, there's always a promotion or offer you can take advantage of and stock up on your favourite items.

For example, the new The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter* is the most authentic nectarine scent and you get truly transported to a summery orchard with every application.

This body butter is buttery (doh) in the sense that literally melts into the skin and also replenishes the ideal level of hydration, leaving the skin suitably moisturized but not greasy.

Personally, I'm also a fan of their jars: they are practical, you can stack them up (I always have a stash in my bathroom cabinet anyway) and you can scoop every last bit of product.

The Vineyard Peach items are perfect to prolong that warm summer feeling, juicy and incredibly mouth-watering - unfortunately, unfit for consumption! ;)

*I just noticed you can get yours on sale here... be quick, before I buy them all!!!*

Introducing / Nourish Skin & Body Care

Nourish understands that different skin types have different needs so has created a range for everyone. Every system solution delivers the optimal ingredients in order to keep an healthy and nourished skin. 

My skin has been looking a bit dull lately so I've started using some Nourish products from the Radiance line. I've been reaching out for natural and soothing products more, lately and I was pleased to find out that every product is 90+% organic.

 Nourish Radiance Purifying Cleanser* contains rose absolute which is cooling and soothing and gives it its lovely fragrance; all you rose-addicts out there will love this product and its unique twist on the rose scent. Another main ingredients is alpine foxberry which is known for its brightening properties and helps reduce the appearance of pore, leaving the skin looking luminous and refined.

The consistency is like a cleansing milk and comes with a pump; directions say to apply a small amount on a cotton wool and gently sweep over the face. I have been using it this way when I don't wear make up and I think it's perfect to get rid of the day grim and pollution on its own - It leaves my skin clean without being too aggressive. On other nights, I mix it with a drop of water and helps to remove the first layer of make up.

The Nourish Radiance Refreshing Toning Mist* has the same quality ingredients and it's the perfect compliment to finish my daily routine, after the cleanser. In the mornings, I like to spray it on a cotton wool pad, whist at night I spray it liberally all over my face, neck & chest and then pat dry. 

It's extremely cooling, helps balancing the skin pH and apparently, the fragrance has mood enhancing qualities and boosts inner confidence... a treat for body and mind!

Nourish also takes care of your body wellbeing with shower gels, body butters and hand lotions.
Nourish Radiance Phyto-Active Body Butter* has the same rose scent as the skincare line; it's deeply nourishing and hydrating thanks to moroccan argan oil and shea butter, without being heavy; it also contains phyto-active marine algin, hyaluronic acid and peptides that stimulate collagen synthesis and improve firmness. I'm currently using a self-tan cream a couple of times a week but it can dry my skin slightly; I found that this body butter is ideal to use between self-tanning sessions because it leaves my skin super soft.
It also comes in a gorgeous and colourful glass jar, making it a great present too.

Go and have a look on the website - nourishskinrange.com - the range is vast and they also do handy gift packs so you can try the all range at once.
Have you used Nourish before?

GlossyBox - Harrods Edition

Bliss Blood Orange + White Pepper Body Butter: first things first - love that it is paraben free.

This is a beautiful body butter - the consistency means you need to work it in the skin a wee bit but once absorbed, it disappears.

It's, also, very refreshing and smells divine.

A definite pampering body product - shame it hasn't added benefits as anti-cellulite or firming.

ReVive Intensite' Creme Lustre SPF30: unfortunately, this is too thick for me; so thick that I found it even hard to get it out of the jar. I tried few times, at night, and it just doesn't suit my skin type but I read nice reviews from other users. 

I will pass it over to my mum, I think, as she has dry skin.

Versace Vanitas Eau de Parfum: I'm not a fan of perfume samples as they are so personal - and I'm so fussy - that I rarely liked the ones that I was sent before.

Exception to the rule, I suppose, as Im really liking this scent; also, it's a deluxe sample - the bottle is quite big and very pretty - love the engravings on the cap.

Clarins Entra-Firming Body Cream: this cream is just right up my alley - exactly what I look for in a body cream. The tube is too small to really see any improvement in the toning department but I have faith in Clarins and I might give a full size bottle a go.

Leighton Denny nail polish in Honey Trap: I was sent another Leighton Denny varnish before but I didn't like it very much as it took ages to dry.

This looks better: love the colour, it has a very glossy finish and it's not streaky at all... liking the mini bottle, too.

Everything's available to purchase from Harrods

Which box did you receive? Happy with the content?

xxx