Xmas 2015 / Dermalogica Our Favorites Set

Give the gift of healthy, clear skin this Christmas with Dermalogica. They have 6 Limited Edition sets to choose from, targeting different needs: from intense hydration, to problematic skin, to a selection of top sellers. 

... and Dermalogica Our Favorites* is - indeed - my favourite! ;)

It contains 4 super-taskers, suitable for all skin conditions. The minis meet travelling standards and are perfect for trying out these products, if this is your first approach to the brand. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a well known raved about product in the blogosphere. It is a dry scrub, in the form of a rice-based powder; you just mix it with some water and massage on the face to reveal a smoother texture. It's pretty amazing and you can really custom the exfoliating action, best suited for you.
Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner comes in a pump bottle and it's ideal to prep the skin, before moisturization; it contains arnica and cucumber extracts to hydrate and refresh - especially after air travel.
Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque is an high performing treatment to inject much needed moisture to dry or stressed skin; it has a unique cross-linked hyaluronic acid that delivers hydration over time for, lasting results.
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm is one of my all time favourite eye product! It has a silicone/balm feeling that smoothes lines, protects against further damage and improves elasticity; it is really a cream & primer & treatment all together in one. Highly recommended!

Have you tried Dermalogica before? Which are your favourite products?

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! :)

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?

Review / Docteur Renaud 7-in-1 Apricot BB Eye Cream

As a new mummy, my dark circles have gone from bad to worst; apart from the chronic tiredness, I'm also super busy with my new bundle of joy and I have limited time to dedicate to my beauty regime or make up application.

Consequently, I've also developed quite dry skin in the eye area and my old long lasting concealer is just highlighting these problems, making things worst.

So I was looking for a new product that would act both as skincare and make up and I came across the Docteur Renaud 7-in-1 Apricot BB Eyes* which sounded just the perfect multitasking product for my hectic routine.

The pencil is super practical but I prefer to take and apply the product with my finger (for hygienic purposes); the creamy and soft formula is very easy to blend, doesn't drag on the skin and doesn't settle in fine lines.

The Universal Beige shade is suitable for most skintones and it perfectly camouflages dark circles; admittedly, this is not a full coverage concealer but it really brightens the eye area and adds radiance. The final result is a dramatic improvement with a natural finish.

The shea butter helps deliver moisturization and maintain elasticity to further reduce signs of ageing and tiredness; apricot butter is comforting and has restorative properties, it's rich in essential fatty acids to aid repair, nourish and protect the skin.  

Docteur Renaud is renowned for using organic flower, fruit and vegetable extracts to deliver both health and nutrition to the skin. Have you tried their products yet?  

New In / Doctuer Renaud's Discovery Travel Bag

Looking for new brands to try in 2015? Doctuer Renaud has a fantastic Discovery Travel Bag packed with 5 of the best skincare products to sample from the different ranges: Raspberry Cleansing Water, Raspberry Soft Cream, Raspberry Soft Mask, Carrot Scrub Detox and Apple Eye Cream.

Doctuer Renaud is a French brand which uses organic flower, fruit and vegetable extracts to create high performing products that deliver nutrition to the skin and, consequently, the skin is left looking glorious & healthy. 

Raspberry is rich in water and therefore the active ingredient of choice for skin in need of hydration.

The Raspberry Cleansing Water is a micellar water that removes make-up, cleanses and tones in a single step; it’s very gentle and alcohol-free.

The Raspberry Soft Cream adds comfort to dehydrated skin and - for an extra injection of moisture - you can  use the Raspberry Soft Mask once/twice a week.

The Carrots Scrub Detox is rich of Beta-Carotene – extracted from Carrots - which have detoxing properties to restore radiance to dull, stressed complexions;  in this creamy exfoliant you will also find  bamboo powder and jojoba beads that help refine the complexion.

Finally, the Doctuer Renaud Apple Eye Cream* which I have been using for last couple of weeks. It contains 4 apple extracts to target wrinkles and leaving the skin smooth and luminous; it also contains soft orange to combat puffiness and micro algae for dark circles.

The skin definitely feels softer and it’s a real pleasure and treat to apply it to this tired and delicate area, thanks to its fresh texture. 

I'm definitely looking forward to discover more products from this brand - I'm impressed with the ingredients and luxurious packaging! Have you tried this brand yet?

Boots Haul

I finally picked up the Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush; I’ve been wanting to try it for a while but it was always sold-out in store. It is the same great quality as the rest of the line, it’s also convenient for travelling but still remaining a full size brush. I like to use it both for blusher and setting powder.

L’Oreal Nails a Porter in 002 Killer Nude – I picked these up to try out. I have never use fake nails before – they just seem so uncomfortable to wear – but I loved the design of these. 

Essie Nail Polish in Aruba Blue – this was a long overdue purchase. I adore this colour and blue polishes are my favourites! Not much to say in words, it’s simply stunning and the pictures are speaking for themselves, me think.

Yes To is a brand that I’m been testing lately; I tried the Yes To Cucumber Soothing Facial Wipes before and loved them so I picked up another full pack. I also wanted to try the new brightening Grapefruit line and I  bought the Yes To Grapefruit Uneven Skin Tone Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream, which sounds fab to help lighten my dark circles… will see how it fairs.

Review / Nourish Revital-Eyes Kale Biomimetic Anti-Ageing Eye Cream

Eye creams are one of those beauty products that – growing older – I get really excited to try out.

Personally, I need a good source of hydration since I noticed in recent years that the skin in this area tends to become dehydrated faster; at the same time, dark circles are my weakness and - although I know I will never eradicate them - any improvement is certainly welcome!

Currently, I’ve been using the Nourish Revital-Eyes Kale Biomimetic Anti-Ageing Eye Cream* which is suitable for all skin types, 79% organic and vegan.

I was immediately intrigued in this product because it contains kale extract which we all know it's a superfood and should be a part of our diet. I find it amazing how they have harvested this vitamin-rich green and we can now benefit from it in a cream form too. 

It also contains pomegranate enzymes to help brighten dark circles and reduce puffiness, biomimetic peptides to firm the skin and it's supercharged with B vitamins & amino acids to fight the signs of ageing.

I don't detect any strong scent and it has a light yellow consistency which is important to prevent the formation of undereye bags; it absorbs quickly into the skin which makes it  an excellent base for your concealer, in the mornings.

It is a bit of a multi-tasker and it’s going to suit a wide range of ages; I find it especially ideal for my age group, when you want to upgrade to a more targeting product  but still feel the need to address many different concerns. I’m not too stressed in fighting wrinkles (just yet) but I feel good in taking care of the inevitable fine lines.

It comes in an attractive white sleek & slim pump bottle with a green kale leaf drawning that perfectly embody the marriage between technology and nature which is at the heart of this product.

Have you tried this cream yet? You can get yours on www.nourishskinrange.com 

Empties / July

Body:

Clarins High Definition Body Lift: a favourite of mine, I have gone through a couple of these already. It absorbs fast and doesn't feel sticky on the skin. It's pricey but it's one of the few creams where I can actually see some improvement. It smells lovely and floraly too and comes with a booklet with massaging tips.

Repurchase: probably, like a treat due to the price.

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Cuticle & Nail Refiner: I've been using it once every fortnight; it's pretty gritty and an high duty exfoliant and a little goes a long way but I can't say it made any significant difference to the appearance of my cuticles.

Repurchase: probably not.

Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask: Definitely in my Top5 of favourite hair masks; I got it for free in a magazine... added bonus. I love how soft it leaves my hair and it's pretty fast acting in 10 minutes; I'm just not too crazy about the 'manly' scent.

Repurchase: yes.

The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub: I'm not a huge fan of The Body Shop, if I'm honest and I can't say to shop there regularly but their body scrubs are my absolute favourites. They are good value for money, they are just the right consistency for my liking and come in so many beautiful scents; Talked about the pink grapefruit one here.

Repurchase: Hell Yeah!

Face:

L'Oreal Perfect Clean Foaming Cream Wash - Soothing: this is actually not finished but I have had it for ages and when I tried to use it again it stung my face... I think it may have gone off, better safe than sorry!
I remember I quite liked this and the wee brush too - there are a couple of different ones and the blue, I liked it even better, very refreshing on the skin. I can recommend this but I'm not sure if I would repurchase, simply because I tend to spend a bit more money on face cleansers nowadays.
Repurchase: see above.
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream: nope - Balance Me just doesn't blow me away; I have tried few different products now but I'm once again underwhelmed. It's an ok cream but not moisturizing enough, for my needs. I was pretty glad to finish it off, actually.
Repurchase: no.
Ren Keep Young And Beautiful SH2C Serum: same as above - Underwhelmed! There are maybe 2 products from this brand that I like but the rest just disappointed me. This serum also broke me out so definitely thumbs down in this case.
Repurchase: no.
Yes to Cucumber Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towellets: I use face wipes to remove most of my make up before the gym and then I do a deep cleanse before bed. These served me pretty well: they are a handy travel size and stayed moist until the end (hate when wipes dry out mid-pack!). Scent is not annoying and not harsh on the skin.
Repurchase: yes.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub Invigorating: LoveLoveLove! Who doesn't like the St. Ives scrub, let's be honest?!
I love everything - from the apricot scent to the exfoliating particles to the price! It does the job and it does it well, it's easily available on the high street and convenient.
Repurchase: yep!

Have you tried any of these products?