Introducing / Arbonne

Few weeks ago, I had the chance to try some Arbonne products; a friend of mine is an Arbonne representative and asked for an honest and unbiased opinion about their ranges. 

If you're not too familiar with the brand, Arbonne was born in the USA and they are celebrating 35 years this year.

They were one of the first, back in the eighties, to really look at the science of nature and how to harvest the power of the plants.

The FC5 range is named like that because it encapsulates fresh cells from  5 fruits & vegs: kiwi, strawberry, carrot, mango and pumpkin.

The Arbonne FC5 Moisturizing Night Creme is suitable for every skin type; it has a cooling gel consistency, light on the skin and a fresh scent.

The Arbonne FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub is a creamy face exfoliator that is gentle enough that can be used daily; I was actually amazed how effective it was from the first use: I used it before bed and the morning after my skin was incredibly soft to the touch. It's now become an addiction to use it every evening!

The Arbonne FC5 Ultra-Hydrating Hand Creme is a lovely hand cream with the refreshing signature smell of this line, absorbs quickly and doesn't leave any sticky residue.

Arbonne FC5 Ultra-Hydrating Hand Creme

Arbonne FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub

Arbonne FC5 Moisturising Night Creme

From their make up selection, I tested the Arbonne MakeUp Primer which is a primer (doh) that create a smooth surface to apply your base on. 

It reminds me of the Daniel Sandler Retexturing Face Primer, but with a better INCI; I love these silicony-feeling type of primers - I find they work really well to fill in pores, fine lines and prolong foundation wear.

The Arbonne It's A Long Story Mascara has a plastic, spiky type of wand that is my favourite kind and it's bendy so you can easily grab the small lashes too; it wore well for the whole day, I was just not too keen on the floral scent (but I'm renownedly very sensitive to smells)

Arbonne MakeUp Primer

We also tried their baby products.

First off, the Arbonne Baby Care Hair & Body Wash was my favourite of the lot!

I especially loved it as a shampoo; it rinsed easily and left my baby girl hair super fluffy and soft.

In the bath also, you need the tiniest amount.

Following the routine, the Arbonne Baby Care Body Lotion is light and absorbs quickly - soooooo important with a squirmy baby that doesn't enjoy massages ;)

Then, the Arbonne Baby Care Nappy Cream has a thick consistency to create a protective barrier, but it spread easily and has a lovely 'baby' scent. Definitely a staple of any nursery!

Arbonne Baby Care Nappy Cream

 Arbonne Baby Care Body Lotion

Finally, I couldn't resist to place a cheeky order too.

I got the Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelee - a body cream that contains ocean's natural ingredients and minerals for an extra pampering and beautifying care for the body.

It's super fresh on the skin and ideal after a late night gym session, to hydrate the skin and sooth sore muscles. I find I definitely sleep better too.

I also bought the Arbonne Calm Soothing Eye Gel that comes with a roller ball applicator to help de-puff and it's super quick to apply; as a busy mum, I definitely appreciate that and I like to keep it in the fridge to enhance the cooling effect.

So, have you heard of Arbonne before? Please, feel free to check my friend Gillian Facebook page for more insight and tips about this brand. Happy discovering! :)

Review / Nourish Balance Vita-Boost Body Cream

Nourish have recently relaunched their body creams and I'm pleased to see that they have been repackaged in a pump tub; there are still 4 lines - Balance, Radiance, Protect and Relax - that complement the relevant shower gels. 

I'm a big fan of the Radiance range (you can read more here) but this time I decided to go for the Balance moisturiser because I'm still in full post-partum body crisis and this product promises to smooth and tone the skin.

 Nourish Balance Vita-Boost Body Cream* contains natural apple extracts that boosts elasticity and photo-active marine algin, hyaluronic acid and peptides that stimulate collagen synthesis to improve suppleness and firmness.  

The crisp apple scent and comfortable & refreshing consistency make it perfect for Spring/Summer, especially. It has become a pleasant ritual and - although it's too early to see any difference on the firming front - it is a very good moisturiser so far, thanks to African shea butter.

This product is 81% Organic and remember that Nourish is certified organic by the Soil Association and Cruelty Free - All products available from nourishskinrange.com.

Have you tried this brand before?

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?

The Body Shop / Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet

This summer, The Body Shop brought out a collection of lightweight, cooling treats for the body and face.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet* appealed to me straight away, especially with the untypical warm weather that we have experienced in Scotland... and what sounds better than a sorbet, right?

My skin is middle of road, normal/combination without any particular requirements so I tend to prefer gel/light consistency for comfort, anyway.

What can you expect from a product that is called sorbet? A splash of freshness, injection of hydration... and that’s exactly what you are getting with this skincare! The formula contains Aqua Sphere Technology - microscopic moisture spheres that deliver 24hr feed of moisturisation to the skin.

The freshness also feels soothing on irritated skin and cheeks are left plumped up; it also contains mineral particles that absorb oil and mattify the complexion.

The consistency is a dream, but quite heavily floral scented so be aware if you’re a sensitive to powerful smells.

This has certainly been a summer staple for me and will do me good well into Autumn with these mild temperatures.

There is also a new range of The Body Shop Body Sorbets in mouthwatering scents: Strawberry, Mango, Peach, Satsuma and Moringa.

Have you tried any of these yet?

New In / L'Occitane Ultra Soft Cream in Zesty Lime

L'Occitane is releasing a new generation of body creams. L'Occitane Ultra Soft Body Creams come in 3 teasing scents to awake the senses, whilst waiting for Spring; the bright neon tins complement the fragrances inside and they are sure to brighten any dressing table. 

 You can choose from sophisticated Vanilla Bouquet, romantic Rose Heart and the young & refreshing Zesty Lime*. 

Personally, I'm a fan of citrusy smells, but I know that my mum would love the classic and warm notes of the vanilla version, instead.

Zesty Lime has the perfect harmony between the sharpness of the lime and the deepness of the shea butter. 

These creams contains 10% Shea Butter - hence the ultra soft 'title' - and they are the ideal transition into Spring because they still provide hydration and protection from the harsh weather, but without coating the skin with a thick layer of lotion.

As you can see in the picture below, I made a comparison with L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream that contains 25% Shea Butter; the new product feels more like a (thickish) lotion - melts into the skin, leaving the skin silky to the touch..  

l: ultra rich cream / r: ultra soft cream

L'Occitane Ultra Soft tins launch on the 15th February - which colour will you be picking up?

Review / Laidbare Smooth As A Peach

Laidbare is a brand that puts much consideration into the ingredients used in order to achieve the promised results; their items are free from petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance & colours and free from animal testing. So if you're looking to switch to a more natural skincare and bodycare regime, don't look any further! I can't recommend them highly enough and prices are really affordable too. 

Laidbare Smooth As A Peach* is a body cream targeting cellulite prone areas like thighs, bum and tum.

If like me you go to the gym regularly, you may be able to reach your desired weight - have a toned body, thanks to the body pump classes - but you know that you still need a little help to firm the skin and those wobbly bits.

This cream is ideal to improve the appearance of the skin and it's also gentle enough that can be used on the chin (or double) too.

Main ingredients are Catappa Leaf Extract to firm and tighten skin tissues and Elder Flower Extract to brighten the skin and it's also got antiseptic properties; Caffeine that is a must in cellulite treatment since helps the body eliminate the fat and the dreadful orange peel and Chlorella Vulagaris also reduces the appearance of stretch marks.

The consistency is a bit thicker of what I'm used to, but it makes perfect sense because it requires some high duty massaging action which is all good and recommended to attack these dimples; for this reason it's ideal for winter especially, when the skin may not be as receptive and some extra tlc is needed.

Having said that, it still absorbs completely into the skin without leaving any residue on the surface and it has a comforting, delicate floral scent.

If you're lucky enough to have perfect skin, it's also a great everyday moisturizer and the skin is left soft and smooth.

Have you tried this cream yet?

L'Occitane Shea Butter Limited Edition 2013

It's that time of the year again... Every autumn, L'Occitane releases their Shea Butter Collection with limited edition fragrances. This year, you can chose from Subtle Violet, Passionate Jasmine and Rose Tenderness.
Shea butter is now an emblematic ingredient of this brand and for over 30 years has been sourced fairly in Burkina Faso. In fact, they are the biggest importer of shea butter from this country and L'Occitane is recognized by the U.N. as an exemplary company for its fair trade work.

Every year I need to get few pieces - to show my support for their commitment and then the scents are always gorgeous!

For example, the Hibiscus Hand Cream - from 2 years ago - is something that it's still deep in my thoughts and the Cocoa Flower Lip Balm was just plain lush.

The 2013 collection is no exception and the packaging stunning too - with the cute flower cup. :)

L'Occitane Passionate Jasmine Hand Cream*

In any case, the Shea Butter products are an all year round staples in my beauty cabinet and the hand cream is my all time favourite hand cream. The consistency is thick enough to give a good source of hydration - perfect for winter months especially - but  it absorbs quickly, leaving the skin nourished and soft. I can honesty say  that I have a tube in every room and on my desk at work too.

L'Occitane Rose Tenderness Lip Balm*
I'm gonna predict this product will sold out pretty quickly - rose lip balms are always verrry popular!
It contains a good 10% of shea butter, making it soft to squeeze and adding a beautiful glossiness to the lips.
Differently from petroleum products, Shea butter is truly hydrating, soothing and leaving the lips super soft.
 This generous tube will last me well into spring.

L'Occitane Subtle Violet Ultra Rich Body Cream*
The body cream is a new discovery for me and I was impressed to see that it contains a whopping 25% of shea butter. The scent is floral but not overpowering and surprising refreshing; the consistency also feels fresh on the skin and melts into the skin. It's a proper multi-tasking body treatment that works all over the body and also on extra dry areas too.  The hydration lasts all day an the skin is left supple and smooth.

Launch Date: 10th October nationwide and on www.L'Occitane.co.uk - Mark your calendar!!!

What are you gonna pick up from this collection?

New In / Dr. Ceuticals Bodycare

Interesting new releases from Dr. Ceuticals this month!
Dr. Ceuticals Body Tone & Tan* is a firming body cream with an added gradual tanner. I think this product is genius because of his multitasking benefits! You see, I always use a self-tanner before going on holiday and when I apply it, I need to skip my firming/cellulite product because I don't like layering and mixing creams. It's a shame because I feel I need to make a choice... that I really don't want to make.
So you can imagine my joy when the same product tackles my dimples, whist also adding a beautiful glow to the skin. It has really changed my pre-holiday routine and I can now cater for both on a daily basis.
Of course, on top of the active ingredients that help toning the skin, the natural looking tan also disguises flaws and your skin is left looking healthier and radiant.
It's actually ideal as a post-holiday treatment to prolong your tan and easy your way into winter, too.
It comes out like a transparent gel with a refreshing scent and refreshing on the skin; it also dries very fast and doesn't leave any tacky residue, like some self-tan products.

I was also very excited to try the Dr. Ceuticals Hand De-Age Cream*. We all know that eyes and hands are the first areas that can dramatically age a woman and since I turned 30 few years ago, I have been paying special attention to these areas. Hands, especially, can really suffer from everyday simple tasks and the weather - sun or wind - can really affect the appearance of the skin around your digits.

I love hand creams! They are kind of a weakness of mine, I always have few tubes open at the same time and a stash that could compete with the Boots aisle. 

I'm guessing I apply (and re-apply) my hand cream about 6/7 times per day, but I have never used a age targeting one before. The Dr. Ceuticals product helps brighten dark spots, but also works on preventing new ones, thanks to the SPF15; using an hand cream with SPF is particularly important if you drive to work - for example - because the window glass amplifies the rays and the damage. It also improves hydration levels and elasticity and boosts the  regeneration of the thin skin on the back of your hands.

It's too early to see any difference yet, but I can tell you that I have been enjoying using it a lot, especially as a preventive treatment. It appears quite thick and very white (like an SPF?) and not like anything that I'm used to, but it actually absorbs really quickly and doesn't leave any greasy residue.

Have you tried Dr. Ceuticals before? I love their simple and sleek packaging and prices are really affordable, considering how well these products perform!
[More from Dr. Ceuticals here]