New In / Weleda Almond Sensitive Skin Body Lotion

The Almond range is a new addition from Weleda for 2015.

I'm always excited to see new releases from them since it's a brand that doesn't disappoint and that I trust - so much so that I use their products also on my baby (more on that on a future post)... and I don't think there's a better testament than that, right?

The Almond line already has a  facial lotion, facial oil and cleansing lotion and now also includes a body lotion, body wash and hand cream to take care of the body.

The mild and gentle formula is particularly suitable for irritation-prone skin and it's been formulated with just a few, selected ingredients to minimise any reaction.

The Weleda Almond Sensitive Skin Body Lotion* is a velvety moisturiser for the body with a milky consistency.
It contains organic almond oil that strengthens the skin own protection abilities against harsh elements, a bit like mimicking the hard shell that protects the almond inside; it is also high in vitamin E and essential fatty acids.
I have sensitive skin and I found it to be soothing and calming, especially now that the wind & central heating are leaving my skin particularly dry. It's not thick or sticky and easy to massage into the skin and provide lasting hydrating for the whole day.
 It also envelops the body with a fabulous almond scent, but not the sweet and sickening marzipan-like - a true grown up and natural version.
I absolutely adore it!

Have you tried this range yet?

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Don't forget to enter the current giveaway here ;)

Introducing / Maple Holistics + #Giveaway

I was recently contacted by an over-the-sea brand - Maple Holistics - to be featured on my blog.

After a tour on their website, I was taken by their unique and committed approach to deliver a range of high quality, effective and natural products.

They kindly sent me their Maple Holistics Ancient Clay Facial Mask* to try; face masks are a paramount step of my beauty routine and I use 2/3 times per week.

My skin tends to be combination, so I make sure that I use a clay/charcoal mask once a week.

Clay is brilliant at drawing out impurities and this product in particular contains only 100% blend of french green clay, bentonite clay and fuller's earth. They all have their own therapeutic benefits and play their part in synergy to deliver impeccable results: french green clay absorbs and removes impurities from the skin; bentonite clay revitalises and softly extracts toxins; fuller's earth helps clearing from white and blackheads whilst hydrating.

The mask comes in powder form and with a measuring cup; you need to mix 1 cup of product with 2 cups of water to create a paste and then you leave it on the skin for around 10 minutes. 

I love the dry composition which means the product will last longer; you also get a very generous amount so you can decide to use it for a body detox session.

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You can also get the chance to try their products, thanks to the generous people at Maple Holistics, join the giveaway below (sponsored by edumuch.com).

The lucky winner will receive :

- Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo for dry & itchy scalp with oil treatment;

- Maple Holistics Silk18 Natural Hair Conditioner with Shea Butter & Jojoba Oil.

Giveaway is running for 1 month and the prize will be sent from Maple Holistics directly. Giveaway open internationally... and Good Luck!!! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 / Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette

The Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette* needs no presentation. Just look at it - it's stunning.

Every time there is a new naked palette coming out is hard to believe that they can come up with a better one... and sure enough they do.

All the palettes are beautiful in their own right but smoky is a different class, in my opinion, and a must have!

It's the most versatile and - although intended for smokey looks - you can also easily create a nude look and the shades work well with any eye colour: purple is great for green eyes, browns for brown eyes and silver for blue eyes.

It comes in a beautiful and sturdy case with smoke twirls on a transparent background and magnet fastenings - the print gives it a certain mysterious je ne said quoi that recalls the sexy looks that you can create wit these shadows. The quality is great, exactly what you would expect from Urban Decay eyeshadows.

l-r: High, Dirtysweet, Radar, Armor

Personally, I have divided the 12 eyeshadows in 3 sections: the highlighters, the greys and the neutrals - there are 9 new colours and 3 exclusive ones.

Most of the shades are shimmery - the first 4 are:

High is a light champagne with a metallic finish; Dirtysweet is a golden bronze with yellow undertones; Radar is a medium brown with warm undertones; Armor is taupe grey with frosted finish.

l-r: Slanter, Dagger, Black Market, Smolder

In the mid-section we have a selection of greys that are perfect to create shadows and smoke the eye look: 

Slanter is a light silvery grey with cool undertones and a pearl finish; Dagger is a medium grey with a blue tint; Black Market is the darkest shade of them all - a near black with a satin finish; Smolder is a blackened purple with silver finish.

l-r: Password, Wiskey, Combust, Thirteen

Finally, the right part contains the only matte shades of the palette and they are the neutral colours: 

Password is a true cool taupe with a matte finish; Whiskey is a warm, reddish brown also with matte finish; Combust is a pinkish nude and I can't detect any glitter here either; Thirteen is a white beige, perfect as a base or to neutralise any eyelid discolouration.

The palette also includes a guide to recreate 4 popular looks and a double-ended brush.

Both sides of the brush have a rounded head - the shorter has a denser consistency whilst the other side is fluffier, perfect for some blending work.

This beauty is a guaranteed success and one to add to your collection! You can get yours here

Review / Nourish Relax Hydrating Peptide Serum #Campaign4Clarity #OrganicBeauty

Continuing with Organic September and the Campaign For Clarity, running this week - Nourish is another brand joining in the cause and deserving to be labelled organic and recognised by the Soil Association.

You can also read more about this initiative here> www.soilassociation.org/campaignforclarity

I've talked about Nourish Skincare several times before - and in particular the Revital-Eyes Kale Biomimetic Anti-Ageing Eye Cream is one of my must have and always on rotation in my routine.

Recently, I've been using the Nourish Relax Hydrating Peptide Serum that is approve by the Soil Association and a skin super hero!

This serum is a fantastic helper to reduce irritation and calm down inflammation; it's particularly recommended if you struggle with problematic and sensitive skin.

The barely-there lavender scent is also calming on the mind and ideal as a last step before bedtime; it feels light and cool on the skin and absorbs in a matter of minutes.

I've been really enjoying using it at nights and most importantly I haven't had any irritation flare up.

In the mornings, it's perfect to create a smooth canvas for my foundation thanks to the hyaluronic acid that plumps up the skin and reduce fine lines.

If you are on the market for a new serum, this is one to try - you can get yours on nourishskinrange.com