Skincare

You Beauty Discovery Advent Calendar

- Vicki 8 Comments
you beauty advent calendar

Oh, hello beautiful! (talking to my calendar). I can’t tell you how excited I am to have this. The You Beauty Advent Calendar* is a beauty addicts dream come true with fantastic premium skincare / makeup product hidden behind each of the 24 doors. It’s going to make December a very exciting month. For £49.95 you will be treated to products that have a combined total of over £240 pounds, so that is a great deal!

The packaging is so luxurious and the box is very festive, tied up with a white ribbon and opening like a book to reveal all the doors, it’s massive and quite heavy. I’m SO excited to open those doors. But I’m going to be very good and wait until December 1st before I open them. Along with the calendar you get a booklet which gives you the low down on a few products in the calendar and there are a number of discount codes and offers from quite a few brands, so you can make a cheeky purchase if you feel inclined (I will be taking advantage of these).

You Beauty Advent

You Beauty Advent 2013

I won’t spill the beans too much on what is inside, what I will tell you is you should expect an amazing treat each day and that these leading brands (along with many more) all have a product hidden behind a door – ESPA, Caudalie, Stila, Sisley, Dermalogica and Balance Me. I have never tried anything from Sisley or Dermalogica, so I’m excited to try their offerings.

This calendar has everything from hand cream and face masks to luxurious bath treats and kissable lip gloss. It sure is a treat a day!

If you’re thinking of purchasing a Beauty Calendar this year, then this You Beauty offering is great value and is very luxurious. You won’t be disappointed. These are limited edition so If you want to know more pop over to You Beauty Discovery. Let me know if you have already bought one or if you intend to buy one. If so, are you as excited as I am to open those doors?

You Beauty Advent Calendar

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.

Greenland

- Vicki 11 Comments

Greenland Products

Greenland is a company that was started in 1990 by a Dutchman with a passion for nature and all things organic and natural. Greenland was a labour of love and is now sold in over 35 countries worldwide. I’ve been putting these two shower products from their milky line to the test and have to say they exceeded my expectations. Greenland isn’t a brand I’d heard of before but I like to try new products & being a blogger I’m always excited at the opportunity to try a new brand.

Coconut Milk and Lime Shower Cream*  250ml – £7.95

I have to tell you that this Coconut and Lime range are my favourite scents combined. I’m obsessed with coconut products (lotions, body sprays, hair masks) and citrus scents are my favourite too so combined into one product is just heaven for me. Don’t be worried that the scent will be over powering as it isn’t, these are perfectly balanced and provide an uplifting combination of the two. The milky range which comes in 4 scent options are targeted at people who suffer from dry / sensitive skin. This shower cream leaves my skin very smooth and hydrated, I really like using it as a shaving cream and think it leaves my legs extra silky smooth.

Coconut Milk & Lime Body Scrub* 200ml – £7.95

Again the scent is lovely and energising, perfect for these cold dark winter mornings. This a really good scrub and is good at scrubbing away the dead skin and leaving your body feeling smooth and soft. I like quite an abrasive body scrub and this is perfect. It has a good mix of scrub and hydration. Great for keeping your skin in tip top condition over the winter.

If you’re looking for a soothing product for dry and sensitive skin then I highly recommend this milky range from Greenland. If you’re not a fan of this Coconut & Lime scent then they also have Almond Milk & Lotus, Yoghurt & Cucumber and Rice Milk & Vanilla. Have you tried anything from Greenland? I have my eye on their lip balms they sound and look lovely.

All of Greenlands product range are Cruelty Free, Paraben Free and contain no Artificial Colourings.

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.

Merumaya Luxury Facial Wash

- Vicki 6 Comments
luxuryfacialwash1

 

Merumaya Luxury Facial Wash

I’ve found an evening skincare routine that is working wonders for me and is what I’m going to continue using for the winter months. This Merumaya Luxury Face Wash* £14.50 for 100ml is the newest step in my routine. I have been using it as a second cleanse after the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm* these paired together to remove every trace of dirt and makeup as well as hydrating and keeping my skin balanced.

The Face Wash looks like honey and is quite thick but once it comes into contact with your skin it’s easy to massage and gives you a really good cleanse. Merumaya also says that this can be used as a mask for a mini treatment. You just massage it into your skin and leave it for 2 – 3 minutes then wash it off and it gives you an even deeper clean, a mild exfoliation and removes those surface dead skin cells. I like to do this twice a week.

This face wash is great for,

  • Exfoliation
  • Giving your skin a boost of moisture
  • Blemish prone skin & Anti Ageing
  • Great for people who suffer from oily skin
  • Unclogs pores and helps keep skin radiant

Luxury Facial Wash

It has a mild formula and has been developed for Adults blemish prone skin (that’s me in a nutshell) so it isn’t going to aggravate more sensitive skin, but don’t get it in your eyes as it does sting. That’s why I like to use the Melting Cleanser first, I use that to remove my eye makeup & foundation before giving my face a second cleanse with this to ensure all the dirt and bacteria is gone & this helps keep my blemishes at bay.

Merumaya Facial Wash

I use a clean cloth to wash the product away and my skin is left clean but not tight or squeaky. Merumaya is an affordable brand focused on great skincare. I can’t recommend them enough. I ‘m seeing great results from both of these products and will happily repurchase once they’ve run out. I’m excited to have found two cleansers that are a dream team!

Let me know if you already use either of these Cleansers or if you have any other recommendations of Merumaya products I should try.

You can find Merumaya in their online shop here or alternatively in some larger John Lewis and Debenhams stores.

Products that are marked with a * 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

Mini Enjoyment

- Vicki 13 Comments

Like most product obsessed people I have quite a few miniature / samples sized products that are tucked away in drawers and that get forgotten about. I have been making a real effort after reading Katie’s Project Sample Use Up posts – so have been using up as many as I can.

These are a few samples, GWP and a few products I have been using this past month.

Products Samples

The Kiehl’s Creme de Corps* this is a lovely hydrating none greasy body lotion. It absorbs well into my skin and I really like it. This is the perfect body lotion to apply in the morning as it doesn’t make your clothes stick to you and the scent is very light.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter – I have a massive tub of this too but I take this little one away with me to Scotland at the weekends. It smells so good. I apply this at night as it is a little heavy for day time & takes a while to absorb. It is a great body butter for the colder months as it will give you silky smooth skin and it is very hydrating.

Sample

davines Authentic Nourishing Oil* – for Face / Hair / Body – I use this as a body oil on my legs after shaving, you apply it to wet skin. It is rich in Organic Oils and Safflower Oil which is good for softening dryness & smoothing roughness. It also acts as a barrier to help stop water leaving your skin and keeping it hydrated. It feels like a very luxurious product & I want to purchase the full size. Oh and how Beautiful is their packaging.

Murad Wipes

Murad Clarifying Wipes* – I’m a big fan of the Clarifying Range from Murad and swear it keeps my blemishes to a minimum and also clears them up swiftly. So I jumped at the chance to try these new wipes. I am in no way a makeup wipe advocate & cleanse my face morning  night without fail (Caroline Hirons would be very proud), but these wipes are aimed at people who have blemish prone skin & are only recommended for when you can’t cleanse properly. So that would be after a flight, gym session or if you need a quick refresh.

These wipes have Witch Hazel – which is great at controlling Oil and some of the other ingredients include:-

Algae Extract regulates excess sebum production

Grape Seed Extract and Vitamin E protect from free radical damage so there are some skin benefits.

They are moist and do a good job at cleansing on the go. I was impressed by these.

Samples

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex – I got this sample when I purchased my beloved ANR Serum and I was hoping this wasn’t going to be amazing at is costs £38. I was so wrong, I love it and now I have to buy the full size. It is a gell like concistancy and it hydrates my undereyes like no ones business. I just wake up in the morning looking like I’ve had enough sleep and my make up skinks in to my fine lines less. Between this and the ANR Serum I am going to be bankrupt, but looking younger. So thats worth it right!

Bath & Body Works Pocket Bac – I have a few scents and I love using them. I like to use hand sanitiser before applying my makeup just to keep that bacteria away & these are great way of doing that. They are so handy. I know they’re not sold in the UK & I brought mine back from holiday, but if you’re desperate to get your hands one some you can find them on eBay.

Samples

Ginvera Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel* This is very popular in Asia and I have heard it is one of their most popular blackhead treatments. This is used as a mask, massaged on to clean skin you leave it until it has dried (about 3 minutes, then you wash off with warm water. I use this on my nose and chin as this is where I get blackheads, this gel is great for congested skin and people who suffer from breakouts.

It is non abrasive and even works for people with sensitive skin, it removes dead skin leaving your face looking radiant and blemish free. Another one to add to the skincare routine, its wonderful. Asia know how to make effective skincare.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief – This is a gel like consistency which is oil free, it provides good hydration and is soothing on the skin. I find it cooling too so it calms my skin. It works well as a base for makeup and I find no need to use a separate primer as this cream leaves my face smooth. It is very light and absorbs well but takes a few minutes to fully sink in. If you’re looking for a hydrating day cream that is good for oily skin then I recommend trying this one.

Anna Sui Roller Ball

Anna Sui Flight of Fancy Roller Ball – This was one of my Sephora purchases from my holiday to San Francisco. I knew I wanted a roller ball & was overwhelmed by the choice Americans have (UK needs to stock more). Once I’d smelt this one from Anna Sui I knew it was the one! These are the notes of Lychee, Java Lemon, Yuzu, Rose Blossom, Star Magnolia, Purple Rain Freesia, Amber Crystals, Skin Musk, White Woods.

It smells so fresh, quite fruity and so pretty, it’s a light fragrance that lasts all day. The rollerball is so easy to pop in my handbag and I find the rollerball means I don’t waste any product. This is a beautiful perfume.

So they’re a few sample sized products I have been loving. Its nice discovering something you want to buy full size. Samples are a great idea and have a stash I have been using up (hoarding).

Have you tried any of the products I have mentioned?

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.