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?

Empties / February

This post is a bit late this month, I can't believe it's nearly mid-march o.O

Anyway, here are the products that I finished in February.

Nivea Firming Good-bye Cellulite Gel-Cream: I have used this body cream before; the texture is really smooth and light and absorbs quickly. Ideal to apply in the morning and the scent is also really fresh.

Repurchase: yes

Evolve Skin Cocoon Body Wash: another lovely body product that I highly recommend! Evolve is a quality organic brand with a great ethos and that performs well, too; definitely looking into try more from them.  I prefer to use this body wash in shower because it doesnt' foam up a lot so it's not the best for a bubble bath. Smells like candies... yum

Repurchase: yes

Ysl Forever Youth Liberator Serum: I can't say I was particularly impressed with this sample. Maybe I was expecting too much but It didn't perform better than my favourite serum: Estee Lauder Night Repair Serum. I would probably score 6 out of 10 because I still didn't have any bad reaction and moisturized well but it definitely didn't wow me. Also, it smells kinda of alcohol-y.
Repurchase: no
StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles: this has become one of my favourite eye cream. It seems to target wrinkles but I actually saw a huge improvement in my dark circles and chuffed to bits about that. It also absorbs nicely and allows a good application of make up afterwards.
Repurchase: yes
Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance Day Fluid: another great product from Caudalie! The consistency is kinda of a runny cream and a little goes a long way. It gave me perfect hydration for the whole day and didn't break me out (always a plus!). I should just mention that I love the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet-Creme better but lovely lovely cream. The scent also is so comforting, reminds me of relaxing days by the sea. :)
Repurchase: yes
Renu Radiant Skin Peel: I can't believe how impressed I've been with this tiny sample; I managed to squeeze 2 uses out of it but I already saw great results after the first use too. You just keep it in pose for 10 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. Afterwards my skin looked and felt purified, my pores visibly clean and smaller... I couldn't believe my eyes!
Repurchase: yes

All in all, a great month - I discovered some lovely products and my stash is starting to get smaller, too... hehe... I was running out of space! ;)
xxx

Liz Earle Advent Calendar / 3

3rd of December - Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser normal/combination skin.

I normal use the combination/oily version of this day cream but I reckon I can make this work in the winter months... looking forward to try it out tomorrow morning! :)

Introducing / Astalift

Astalift is a Japanese brand - developed by Fujifilm - and they successfully applied the same technology used to protect photographic films... well, to preserve skin!

I was super excited to receive these samples since I'm a photography fanatic and I, actually, studied photography at university; whilst I appreciate the comfort of digital, I'm most definitely an analog lover and my natural habit is the darkroom.

Anyway, even if you don't know anything about films you must be aware that you need to protect them from the light and it's just as much important to barrier your skin from harmful UV rays.

Key ingredient of the whole line is Astaxanthin, a high powerful antioxidant found in micro-algae; this micro-particle, combined with collagen and ceramide, is an high effective anti-aging combination that shields the skin from environmental aggressors and promote firmness and elasticity.

At the centre of the range is the Astalift Aquarysta*. This brigh red jelly is an high concentration of this anti-oxidant which is apparently 1000 times greater than CoQ10 in fighting free radicals.

You would use this product as a serum, before day and/or night moisturizer; you scoop a little bit and work it in the palm of your hands, before apply to the face.

I read people complaining that it felt sticky but you just need to read properly as the directions clearly state to stop rubbing when this happens.

I enjoyed using this product very much - love the science behind it and my skin felt smooth and plumped on application.

I found the Astalift Replenishing Day Cream* and Astalift Regenerating Night Cream* being very similar in consistency.

They are a light salmon colour - pink tone coming from Astaxanthin.

The Day cream helps to retain moisture and it's ideal both for dry skin and dehydrated skin; at the same time, Royal Jelly helps improving the appearence of fine line.

The Night cream is slightly richer and aims to encourage cell renewal during your sleep.

night cream

day cream

 Unfortunately, these samples were too small to really notice any difference but at least I had the chance to have a feel of the products and decide if I like them or not.

The verdict is that I really like this brand, especially Jelly Aquarysta; all products felt comfortable and they didn't upset my skin, most importantly.

The price is not bad, too - a small jar of Jelly Aquarysta is £26 and let's not forget that this is high tech anti-aging skincare with years of research behind it... I think it's pretty affordable.

Also, I jut noticed that Debenhams is running a promotion where you can get a free full size 15gr Jelly Aquarysta jar with any 2 Astalift purchases... if you wanna try it, this is your chance! :)

Introducing / Philosophy

Few months ago, I placed an order on the Philosophy website; I had never tried anything from Philosophy before and I decided to order directly from them (instead of using points on Boots) as they were offering a nice sizable sample bag.

Purity Made Simple

Main reason to place the order as everybody's been raving about this cleanser - apparently, the best match for the Clarisonic.

To be perfectly honest, I was disappointed... I suppose I was expecting more.

3-in-1 cleanser for face and eye - although I have never used it on my eyes - removes make up, tones and hydrates the skin.

It's a perfectly fine remover but I wasn't blown away - consistency is good to use with the Clarisonic, I agree on that but I was, also, left disappointed by the fragrance-free formula (well, I would say borderline chemical for my fine sense of smell - my husband calls me 'bloodhound' for a reason ;)).

Glad I only bought the small bottle!

Hope in a Jar

ummm, I don't like this... it feels really weird! :(

The consistency is really odd: it's kinda of waxy (look at the picture below... the product takes that shape and then doesn't move!) but it's also buttery, at the same time.

It's a bit too heavy and I can feel it on my skin... I'll give it another go in the winter and hopefully it will perform better. Maybe, I should have gone with the oil-free version, but to be fair, the jar is indicated for 'all skin types' and I don't need to buy products for oily skin, normally.

Plus, I really dislike the smell - lavander... bleugh!

Warm and Toasty 3pc Gift Set

I wanted to take advantage of the free delivery so I, also, picked up this bath set from the clearance.

Love the circular and glittery box and the visual is beautiful; these are 3 bottles of shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath, all in one: Hazelnut Espresso, Double Rich Hot Cocoa, Hot Buttered Rum.

Again, this is becoming a theme but I was left disappointed: these smell delicious and with a strong resemblance to the actual hot drinks in the bottle... but then the scent disappears when poured in the bath! :(

Also, they don't foam up much which is a shame if you're looking forward to a warming winter bubble bath but it's definitely an advantage when used as shampoo.

Finally, in the goodie bag I got:

Purity Made Simple: as I say, I don't love it but I will use it; good size for travelling.

Eye Hope: lovely eye cream! It claims to reduce puffiness, dark circles and fine lines... unfortunately, the sample is too small to really see any difference but I enjoyed using it and I'll consider buy it in the future. Very hydrating and fast absorbing.

Miracle Worker: I liked this moisturizer - again, I can't vouch for the anti-aging benefits because the sample was too small but the formula agreed with my skin better.

The Microdelivery Peel: OMG - This stuff is amazing!

 It's a 2-step, at home peel that delivers its promise BIG TIME: my skin felt so smooth and brighter after use... I manage to squeeze 2 applications - Yay ;)

I will, definitely, purchase this kit!

The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash: Another beautiful product that I will buy, for sure!

Extremely fine face scrub that buff gently into the skin... yet effectively.

This will become my exfoliant of chose for now on.

So... apparently, I ordered the wrong items! 

I seriously loved the samples... and I'm glad I had the chance to try more products, otherwise I would have - completely - written off Philosophy from my shopping list... 

Have you used Philosophy before? What's your experience? 

xxx

Delivery / Debenhams

I took advantage of the gift with purchase for Elemis and placed a cheeky order on the Debenhams website, last week.

At the moment, there's this Limited Editon: Papaya Daily Facial Essentials Kit available; I had both the Papaya Enzyme Peel and Soothing Apricot Toner on my wishlist for some time, so it made perfect sense to buy this set. In the bag, you also get the Melting Cleansing Gel - which is a bonus - and Maximum Moisture Day Cream - which I read so many raves about.

The print of the washbag is gorgeous, too - the design is from Laura Oakes for the celebration of the papaya enzyme peel 10th Anniversary; for the occasion, Elemis have teamed up with charity SOCO to provide founding for over 50.000 vaccinations for children in Africa.

I have another one of these washbag and I, actually, use it to store jewellery more than toiletry.

love the details on the plaque too :)

 For the second purchase, I got the Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser: I'm running out of the Liz Earle cleanser so I thought I try this one as It's supposed to be very similar... this one, also, comes with muslin glove.

Finally, the gift set. 

I'm, mostly, looking forward to try the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash - which was also on my wishlist; the Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Serum sounds, also, exciting... and for the bath, you get a Tranquil Touch Creamy Body Wash and a Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir. I will save these for the winter months: perfect to unwind in a relaxing, warm bath!

Have you tried any of these products?

Any like/dislike?

Introducing / JASON

I got to admit that - until few weeks ago - I had never heard of this brand.

In fact I was surprise to discover that JASON has, actually, been around since 1959 - and that is quite a legacy, especially in a competitive industry as the natural beauty niche is.

Jason - which means 'healer' in Greek - is an American brand and one of the first to offer natural products without harsh chemicals; their products don't contain petrolatum, sodium, lauryl or laureth sulfrates, parabens or phthalates. - and of course, they are not tested on animals.

JASON C-Effects Super-C Cleanser*

 I was so excited to start using this product!

The consistency is kinda of a runny gel that you massage over dampened skin and turns into a foam; I've been using it at night and I find it very effective in removing make-up (only mascara seems to be pretty stubborn and I finish off the eyes with some Bioderma).

The winning formula is the unique, multi-antioxidant complex of Ester-C, Vitamin C and Vitamin E which fighst free radicals and also targets uneven skintone.

I was expecting a citrusy smell but instead, it smells really delicate - I'm not complaining - in fact, it helps to unwind before bedtime.

Also, because it foams up, a little goes a long way: I have been using it constantly for the past 3 weeks and the bottle is still pretty much full!

Just the feeling it leaves, is unbelievable - my skin feels sooo clean and bright without being dried out by nasty chemicals.

I'm very very pleased with this cleanser and I will re-purchase then i run out, definitely!

JASON Soothing 98% Aloe Vera Pure Natural Moisturizing Gel*

I remember, when I was little, my parents had this 'amazing aloe vera cream' that was used in emergency situations (see burns, insect bites) and brought out only in the event of these accidents. 

So, I grew up worshipping Aloe Vera and I have used creams and oilments with it inside but never something as pure as the Jason 98% one.

This is such a multitasking wee soldier: as mentioned before, it can also be used after shaving - for example - or after sunbathing.

In this majestic Scottish weather (NOT!!!), I don't risk any sun damaging exposure so I have been testing it in conjunction with the cleanser as a face cream; this will be - particularly - ideal for dry skin but being a gel, I can use it to!

It feels so fresh on the face and it dries instantly - it, also, creates this protection film which I found perfect as a base to apply my foundation on.

On top of the Aloe Vera, you'll also find Allantoin to nourish and Vitamin B5 to replenish and recondition the skin.

Used regularly, it will help to balance and calm the skin - personally, It has been a total saver to calm down my hay fever induced rashes and itchiness.

For the Uk, you can buy JASON products from www.jasonnaturalcare.co.uk or also http://www.feelunique.com

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

Liz Earle - step 2

I'm a devotee to the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Cleanser - you can read my review here.

Recently, I have started using the next 2 steps of the daily essentials range: the toner & the moisturiser... and once again I've been blown away by how good these products perform!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

I've the spritzer version of the toner which is incredibly versatile: some mornings, I spray it on my face and let it dry naturally but other mornings - that I'm in a hurry - I can simply spray it on a cotton wool pad and sweep it over my face.

 It's so convenient that I took this with me in Italy and used it in the day to freshen up my make up, during warm afternoons.

The scent is very refreshing and revitalising and it's perfect to wake me up in the morning.

It contains aloe vera, cucumber extract, geranium, calendula - all plants ideal to sooth, calming and toning every type of skin, also the most sensitives.

Also, it's alcohol free and if the spray is not for you - there's a 'normal' bottle version on the market, too.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser

Finally, I've been finishing off my morning routine with the light moisturiser.

The cream is very lightly wiped and absorbs instantly into my skin; I've been using it for nearly 2 months and thanks to the balanced blend of ingredients, I never had any problem or break outs. It's beautifully scented but not too overpowering.

The main ingredients are avocado oil, echinacea, beta-carotene which are antioxidant, replenish moist and help protect the skin.

The packaging is, also, a winner: the cream comes out of of the pump is the best I have ever tried; it dispense the product in small amounts so you don't risk to use too much or waste it.

Then, the slimline bottle is perfect for when I travel back home.

I just spotted a glorious Liz Earle blusher on a magazine... next on the list!!!

Which are your favourite Liz Earle products?

*pr samples*