Skincare

Give Origins This Christmas

- Vicki 6 Comments

Give Origins Origins Christmas Gifts

This Festive Season Origins are proud to be stepping up their commitment to the environment and during this period of high waste they have decreased their use of paper and cartons in all of their Christmas packaging and have created more sustainable Christmas packaging. Its nice to see a global brand reaffirming their commitment to the environment & making it a priority.  As always their beautiful gift boxes can be reused & repurposed, so if you’re crafty I’m sure you can think of many uses for them.

Origins are a brand I really like and have used their products for many years, I thought I would do a round up of my favourite Origins Christmas Stocking Fillers & Gift Sets. These eight gifts are the ones that caught my eye.

Origins Christmas Selection

1. Go Ginger £22. – This is the perfect Winter Scented Gift Set, you get 3 ginger treats including, Ginger Souffle Whipped body cream 50m, Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger body scrub 50m, Ginger Burst Savory body wash 50ml. This is a great affordable set & would be ideal for an indulgent treat for any loved one.

2. Let Us Glow £30 – This set comes in a pretty makeup bag & contains everything you’d need to keep your skin glowing and energised this Christmas. You get 4 products including, – GinZing Brightening mascara 14ml, GinZing Energy-boosting moisturizer 30ml, GinZing Refreshing eye cream 5ml, Drink Up Hydrating lip balm and Berry Splash 7ml.

3. Masks To Go £8 – This set of four travel sized Clear Improvements Charcoal Masks. What a fab stocking filler or if you’re travelling this Christmas perfect for taking with you & keeping your skin looking clear & party ready.

4. Souffle Trio £30 – This set of three pampering body souflees will keep your skin super soft during the colder Winter months. This set contains Ginger Souffle Whipped body cream 125m, Gloomaway Grapefruit body souffle 125m and Calm To Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla body souffle 125ml. This set is an online exclusive.

5. Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Set £60 – This is my favourite range from Origins, its calming and hydrating and its an absolute skin saviour. This is an excellent value set and it contains 4 products & a lovely makeup bag. Full size Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum 50ml, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Face Cleanser 50ml, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion 50ml, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream 30ml.

6. Christmas Bauble £12 – Every year Origins bring out their popular Festive Bauble & it sells out so quickly This is a Selfridges Exclusive & it contains 5 mini best selling products.

7. Super Star Minis £35 – A great mini indulgent set that contains 7 of Origins best selling skincare products. Including GinZing Energy-boosting moisturizer 30ml, Make A Difference Rejuvenating hand treatment 15ml and Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask to clear pores 15ml.

8. Moisture and Be Merry £40.00 – This Make a Difference Set is such great value & its a very popular range at Origins. This set comes with a makeup bag and 4 Make a Difference products including, Make A Difference Plus+ Skin Rejuvenating treatment 50ml, Make A Difference Plus+ Skin Rejuvenating serum 15ml, Make A Difference Rejuvenating cleansing milk 50ml and Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating treatment lotion 50ml.

These are just eight of my picks from the Origins Christmas selection, they have many more available and they’re all great value. Quite a few are limited edition so if you want to buy them as gifts, or even as a gift for yourself make sure you’re quick.

Beauty Christmas Crackers 2014

- Vicki 5 Comments

A slightly different take on the traditional Christmas Crackers. It seems each year more beauty companies are releasing Beauty Christmas Crackers and I am all for them, if I had the cash I would be purchasing Jo Malone Crackers for all my nearest & dearest.

Budget Friendly Beauty Crackers

1. Montagne Jeunesse Christmas Cracker £4.99 – You get a selection of 6 Montagne Face Masks, I have tried quite a few masks from this brand & never been disappointed.

2. Cowshed Christmas Cracker £10.00 – This cracker has a 50ml Cow Herb hand cream & 12ml Lippy Cow lip balm. The perfect Winter duo.

3. Anatomicals Smacker in a Cracker £4.50 – You get a Minty tingling lip balm and Breath freshener so its ideal if you’re hoping to kiss someone under the mistletoe this Christmas.

4. Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Christmas Cracker  £20.00 – This cracker is full of  body pampering products including Pink Pepperpod Replenishing Hand Cream, 40m, Pink Pepperpod Body Wash, 50m and Pink Pepperpod Nourishing Body Lotion, 50ml. So this is a little slice of luxury for only £20.

5. N07 Christmas Cracker Selection £14.00 – You get 6 crackers and inside them are a selection of mini N07 products, including nail polish and skincare. So these are great value for money at £14 for 6 crackers.

6. Philip Kingsley Body & Volume Cracker £10.00 – This is a great one for hair care fanatics. You get 3 minis and they include the very popular Elasticizer, 40m, Body Building Shampoo, 20ml and Body Building Conditioner, 20ml.

7. This Works Miracle Cracker £10.00 – This has a mini bottle of their best selling Deep Sleep Body Therapy Spray 10ml. Ideal for getting a good nights sleep post Christmas party.

 

High end Beauty Crackers

1. Harvey Nichol’s Christmas Cracker Set £50.00 – This is a set of 6 luxurious crackers, they contain an assortment of extravagant beauty treats. Including, ESPA Pro Serum 8ml, Bliss Energizing Mask 10ml, bareMinerals ‘Inspiration’ Ready Eyeshadow Duo 1g, Prada Candy Florale Eau de Toilette 7ml, Laura Mercier Lip Glacé 6ml and Deborah Lippmann Nail Varnish 8ml. So these really are the ultimate beauty addicts dream crackers.

2. OPI 6 Piece Christmas Cracker Collection £22.00 – One for the nail polish fans & OPI is such a well loved brand that it would make the perfect stocking filler for any beauty lover. This cracker includes, Avoplex Lotion, Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Oil, Unfrost My Heart Nail Lacquer in silver foil. Love is Hot and Coal Nail Lacquer in brown shimmer, Cinnamon Sweet Nail Lacquer in red crème and a mini crystal file. This is one big cracker packed full of nail treats.

3. Lancome Christmas Crackers £54.00 – You get a box of 6 Lancome Crackers which contains premium Lancome including Hypnose Volume Mascara, Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner, Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, Lip Lover, L’absolue lipstick and Bi-Facil Eye Make Up Remover. So a great mixture of products & many of their best sellers.

4. Clarins Christmas Crackers £39.00 – This is a set of 6 crackers and they contain a lovely selection of luxury Clarins skincare and makeup including their Wonder Perfect Mascara 3ml, Gentle Refiner 30ml, Beauty Flash Balm 30m and Hand and Nail Treatment Cream 30ml.

5. The Best of Space NK Crackers £48 – A luxe spin on traditional crackers, our box of six, each contain a hidden beauty treasure. Which includes a Rococo Nail Polish, Oribe Supershine Hair Cream, Life NK Body Wash, Laura Mercier Primer, Caudalíe Beauty Elixir or Lipstick Queen Gloss.

6. Festive Favourites Cracker £25.00 – This cracker contains a trio Christmas party essentials. Including, Lipstick Queen’s Nude Metal Lipstick, Rococo’s Pro Glass Nail File and a Molten Metallic Rococo Nail Polish.

7. Jo Malone Christmas Cracker – This contains 3 mini but luxurious best selling products from Jo Malone including Lime Basil and Mandarin cologne 9ml, Blackberry and Bay body and hand wash 15ml and a Nectarine Blossom and Honey body créme 15ml.

So there you have it, some of the best value & most luxurious Beauty Christmas Crackers for 2014. I have to say I like the sound of the Jo Malone one, it looks so pretty & I adore all three of the scents included. I also really like the No7 ones & think they are such good value.

Have you bought any Beauty Crackers this year, I don’t have the budget for luxury but I might treat the ladies in my life to the No7 ones & pop one cracker in their stockings.

Coming Up Roses

- Vicki 7 Comments

As you know Jurlique are a brand that I love to use & recommend to anyone that will listen. I wrote a post all about the history of the company & their ethos of making great products but also giving back to many causes and organisations, click here if you’d like to read that.

Jurlique have quite a few collections targeting specific skin concerns but I have to say my favourite and one that can be used by all ages most skin types is the Rose Moisture Plus. This range includes 5 products which cover all bases, including a serum, face mist, hand cream, moisturiser and a gel lotion.

Jurlique Rose Selection

The Rosewater Balancing Mist* comes in a frosted white glass bottle, it feels weighty and luxurious. It’s always within reach on my desk as I like to spray it throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated, soothed and feeling fresh.

The 100ml bottle lasts me a couple of months & I use it all the time, so its well worth investing in. The product comes out in a light mist that gently covers your skin & doesn’t spray out like a jet soaking you & giving you the fright of your life (that has happened to me before with quite a few facial toners). I love how it stops my skin from drying out and the rose scent is very uplifting and calming. A few spritz of this throughout the day leaves my skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated. When I feel like my skin needs a pick me up throughout the day this face mist is my quick and easy solution. No mess no fuss & my skin loves it (so does my mum).

Its the perfect product for both the Summer & Winter as its lovely to cool you down when its warm & also to give your skin a boost of hydration during the colder months. It has a long list of beneficial ingredients including

  • Marshmallow and glycerin help prevent moisture loss and intensely hydrate and soften skin.
  • Rose and aloe vera soften, sooth and calm the skin.
  • Grapefruit seed extract provides antioxidant protection.

The Rose Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel Lotion* also comes in a lovely frosted glass jar which looks pretty on my vanity. The product is lightly rose scented not over powering once I have applied it after a couple of minutes the scent has gone. This has a very light consistency, its a silky water – gel emulsion and once you have massaged it into your skin it sinks in almost instantly leaving your skin so very smooth and plump. I really like using this in the morning because its cooling and soothing and my makeup sits really well on top of it. After a month of using this face cream my skin looked plump and healthy.

If like me you don’t like the feeling of heavy face creams that throughout the day make your skin greasy then this lightweight gel will be perfect for you. Its targeted at people who need a cream that will replenish, protect and smooth as well as lock in moisture. It covers all bases. It has a long list of beneficial ingredients including

  • Rose Hip Fruit Oil for skin restorative, hydrating and balancing properties.
  • Green Tea Extract helps maintain a smooth, balanced and radiant complexion by protecting the skin from environmental damage.
  • White Mushroom Extract, nature’s hyaluronic acid, holds up to 500 times its own weight in water to create a natural, flexible film that restores dry skin to its optimal hydrated state.

Daily Moisture Balancing Serum* this is such a lovely addition to my skincare routine, its a lightweight serum that I apply before my moisturiser and it leaves my skin smooth and soft. This like the other products in the Rose Moisture Plus range it protects your skin against environmental irritants, locks in moisture and addresses the signs of dehydration. With a potent blend of botanical extracts, including

  • Rosehip fruit oil and evening primrose (rich in essential fatty acids), it restores and tackles dry and undernourished skin.
  • Green tea extract to protect the skin’s barrier and provide extended moisture to keep skin cushioned, fresh and looking radiant

So this trio of Rose products will be protecting, rebalancing and soothing my skin this winter as well as locking in moisture and giving it a boost of hydration. Its all lovely and lightweight so no heavy greasy feeling creams or serums here. If I was to recommend you just one out of the three although its a tough call I would have to say the Rose Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel Lotion would be a great addition to anyones skincare routine. 

I know that for many people rose products make them think of old fashioned products aimed at more mature women but that is so not the case with the Jurlique Rose range. It does smell floral but in a fresh and relaxing way not in an overpowering stuffy way. So don’t let yourself overlook this range just because it is Rose based, because it is a very light and perfect for skin that needs soothing.

Let me know if you have tried any Jurlique products or what skincare you are loving at the moment.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Delving In To My Sample Stash #3

- Vicki 8 Comments

Makeup Samples

ESPA ProSerum – I have been spending quite a few weeks in Scotland since Summer & I always like to have my favourite serum with me, this ESPA one ticks all the boxes. Its hydrating, calming and helps even skin tone. I love the scent too, it smells like a high end spa. This is ideal for this time of year when my skin gets dry & looks a little dull. Its a staple in my travel makeup bag.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream* This is a popular Asian skincare brand & I’ve read so many great reviews of this BB Cream. I’ve always wanted to try it. I’ve been using this over the past couple of weeks & really like it. I like my base to give a light coverage and provide a touch of colour so my complexion looks bright & even. This BB Cream gives me exactly that, its a lovely creamy consistency which I found very easy to blend, I did lightly powder it but I don’t think thats 100% necessary. This BB Cream covers all bases it provides a SPF30, protects against free radicals, conceals imperfections & contains hyluronic acid for all day hydration. So you’re getting a lovely BB Cream with the added skincare benefits which Asian brands are renowned for.

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray – This is a dual action eye primer so not only will it keep your eyeshadow in place but you can use it under the eye to keep your concealer put all day long and it works a treat! I love it that much I will be purchasing the full size & can’t believe I have never heard of this until now. It gives my eyelids an even colour & is the perfect base on which to apply eyeshadow. Its love.

Burt’s Bees Hand Salve – Not a massive fan of this I have to say, I did initially like it but the more I use it the less I like it & that pains me to write because Burt’s Bees is normally very reliable. I much prefer a hand cream & find the easier to use when I’m on the go. I will use it up & have been using it on my cuticles at night to stop them drying out in the cold weather. Let me know if you like this hand salve & how you make it work for you.

Makeup & Skincare Samples

Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer – I’ve not used this an awful lot & struggle to find a primer which doesn’t make my skin greasy after a couple hours of use. I like the cute spotty packaging, I will use this a few more times & then let you know if it worked well for me. 15 hours is a bold claim & I doubt very much that my makeup would stay looking flawless for 15 hours. Have you tried this? let me know if your makeup looked fresh & flawless for 15 hours.

REN BB Cream – This featured in my last Sample Stash post, I’m still using it & loving it. It gives me a healthy dewy finish and it wears well without oxidising. Its not my favourite BB Cream but I do like the finish and although I wouldn’t purchase the full size I have enjoyed trying it out.

Origins Super Spot Remover – This isn’t a sample size but it fits so well on my dish & its so dinky. I really rate this as a spot treatment, it starts working right away. Its so quick and easy to apply to your blemishes. It’s instantly cooling, and can sting a little but that only lasts a few seconds, this is a targeted treatment so you only need to put it on the area where you feel a blemish coming or if you have a blemish thats already erupted. It stops blemishes from becoming too sore & angry and helps them clear up much faster too. Its a wonder gel in a tiny bottle. If you haven’t already you need to add this to your skincare arsenal.

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream – OMG this is the BB Cream of my dreams, It gives my skin an even coverage and It gives you Broad Spectrum SPF50 protection which makes me very happy. If you like a light to medium coverage that looks natural and radiant with excellent sun protection then you will love this BB Cream. Its simple but its all I need in a base and I am a massive fan.

Lancome Rouge In Love Lipstick – This is a gorgeous mini lipstick, I haven’t tried many Lancome products but this lipstick feels comfortable and hydrating on the lips & its the softest peachy pink. Not the most Autumnal colour but I have been enjoying wearing it.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser – This is another product that was in a previous Sample Stash post, I’ve used it a couple of times & I’m not 100% in love, I’m not exactly sure what I don’t like about it. It might be that its quite thick compared to other tinted moisturisers & BB Creams. It looks really nice just after I apply it but I don’t think it wears well on my oily skin. I much prefer the Ginvera & the Kiehl’s BB Creams.

Sample Stash

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.