Apivita

My Holiday Skincare – Amsterdam Edit

- Vicki 8 Comments

At the end of August I spent a week in Amsterdam, its a city I have visited a couple of times before & I just love it there. Its such a beautiful and vibrant city. I thought I would share with you my travel skincare. I must say I was very pleased with myself as I normally over pack & this time I was determined to pack light & take samples and sachets which I had been hoarding for a while now.

First up is my blue and white polka dot Dirty Works wash bag, this was so handy as I was able to hang it up in my hotel bathroom & have easy access to all of my toiletries. It has two small compartments & a much larger one at the bottom with a zip.
Travel Skincare

Skincare for Amsterdam

My Amsterdam Skincare

Travel Skincare

In the top compartment I had:-

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser in Vanilla Berry Sorbet. I never leave home without one of these bottles & once in Amsterdam I transferred it to my handbag.

Essence Makeup Wipes* – I used these as hand wipes & found them very useful. I used all 15 wipes throughout the week

Razor / Tweezers / Hair Bobble & Earbuds – All necessities.

Amsterdam Skincare sample s

In the middle compartment are my sachets & I had been hoarding so many. They’re perfect for holiday.

I took 7 Kleenex Face Cloths instead of my normal muslin cloths as they took up less space and I didn’t have to bring them back in my suitcase. These Kleenex Face Cloths have been discontinued

Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask – I love using eye masks & these ones are so hydrating and calming. I also took a set of the DHC Revitalising Moisture Strips Eyes – Another pack of eye masks. I like to sleep in these ones, so when I wake up my under eyes look fresh and my concealer doesn’t sink into my fine lines.

Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Sheet Mask – These are so nice after a long day sight seeing and just keep your skin looking plump and hydrated. It’s cooling on the skin and once you take the mask off you can pat in the remaining Hydraluron (don’t want to waste that).

Bio Beaute NUXE – I didn’t need to use this Moisturiser so I have it saved for my next trip

Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream – This was a very lightweight moisturiser and it had a velvet finish. It wore very well under my foundation. I’m tempted to purchase the full size of this.

Garnier Ultra Lift Moisturiser – I like how smoothing and hydrating this Garnier cream is. It always makes my skin feel instantly soft.

Amsterdam Skincare Essentials

Garnier Mineral Invisible Deodorant – I normally use a natural deodorant which is in a glass bottle & didn’t want to take that away so bought this Garnier one. It was good but I do prefer to use a natural one & didn’t bring this back home with me.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner – LOVE the sun kissed glow this gives. It looks so even and natural. Its one of my favourite discoveries of 2014. I couldn’t go away without it. It helps my legs look 100% better than they usually do.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion – This smells lovely & grown up. It was the perfect size for 7 days & I used it all up in that time.

Skincare Samples

Batiste Dry Shampoo – No one wants greasy hair! I always have a mini can for when I travel. It’s not my favourite dry shampoo but it does a good job.

Tresemme Heat Defence – Just a good lightweight heat protector. Since having my haircut short I do use heat a more often than I used to so I had to bring this with me to stop my hair drying out & I will purchase the full size.

Elemis Revitalise Me Shampoo & Conditioner – These were really nice and hydrating and left my hair feeling nourished and glossy.

Moroccanoil Treatment Oil – This is very nourishing and helps keep frizz at bay. I like how smooth and silky my hair feels after using this.

Travel Skincare

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth  Face Balm – This is a lovely gentle balm cleanser with tiny granules in so it exfoliates away all the dead skin and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. It also removes every last scrap of makeup so you’re skin feels very clean and fresh. I loved using this each night and will purchase the full size.

Radical Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum* – I love this serum & it keeps my skin looking glowing and healthy. I save it for special occasions & holiday.

Bioderma – Can we just have a moment for how cute this mini bottle is. I like using this to remove my eye makeup as its gentle and you don’t have to rub at your eye.

Merumaya Treatment Toner* – After a long day sight seeing and being in the elements this helped to keep my skin hydrated, bright and feeling soft. It feels very fresh on the skin and has that recognisable Merumaya scent (which I love).

ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Serum – The only product I used on my face over night & I LOVE this serum so much. If you need to wake up with skin that looks well rested and very healthy then this is the serum for that job. It is like great skin in a bottle. I don’t think I have used a serum / oil that is this nourishing. I only have good things to say about it & could go on all day. I have spoke about it many times on my blog.

Murad Essential C Eye Cream – This wasn’t very gentle & stung my eyes. I have used a couple of other products from this range & really liked them but this eye cream wasn’t a hit for me & after 2 days I stopped using it.

Apivita Face Cream SPF50 – This didn’t break me out & wasn’t too greasy. It was quite thick when I first applied it but after It was massaged in it felt nice on my skin & I like to wear SPF50 on my face. Even though we had mostly rain you can never be too careful.

Let me know if you think I managed to pack light for a weeks holiday. Also let me know what you take away with you.

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

4 Of My Current Face Masks

- Vicki 7 Comments

Skincare Face Masks I love using a mask a few times a week & depending on what my skin needs I try to use the right mask to help it out. My skin is generally a little dull and dehydrated and these are a few of the Masks I have been reaching for during June.

ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask £28.00 – This is a lovely soothing Mask, when I use this I put a few drops of my ESPA Pro Serum underneath just so my skin doesn’t dry out & too add a little boost of something extra. This dries like a standard clay mask and leaves my skin feeling very clean, but not stripped at all. I use this at night so when I wake in the morning my skin is looking calm & radiant. This mask is very good at helping with decongested skin too & I find that my skin gets quite decongested in the summer with all the facial SPF so its nice to use a cleansing face mask. The packaging of ESPA products is as luxurious as the skincare inside, this is a lovely glass jar & the lid is so pretty it looks like marble. This pot has lasted me months & I’m nowhere near finished.

SISLEY Black Cream Mask sample size – This is very hydrating and helps combat the signs of fatigue, if you like a mask you can put on & see results quickly then this is the one. After 10 minutes it leaves you skin looking plump and very radiant. If my skin is looking particularly flat & dehydrated I will wear this mask all day (in the house) as it applies clear and feels nice on the skin. Its a great way of giving my skin an intensive hydrating boost. My skin is left looking like the younger me after using this mask & as I said in a previous post even though the price tag of the full size is frightening I will be treating my self at Duty Free next time I fly as this mask it THAT good!

APIVITA Face Mask With Green Clay* £13.00 – This is a lovely mask that is perfect if you have Oily / Combination skin, as it cleanses deep down helping remove excess sebum and preventing breakouts & blackheads. I leave this on for 10 minutes & wash it off with warm water before it dries too hard. I like to use this if my skin is feeling a little more oily than normal or if I feel like my skin is getting a few blemishes. This mask is such great value for money & I think this leaves my skin feeling smooth & balances out my excess oils.

PURE Natural Beauty Moisture Plus Treatment Mask £6.00 – This is my least favourite mask out of this line up, it is a nice moisture mask, and does leave my skin looking glowing and healthy but it leaves a greasy residue behind even after washing it off. I will use up the rest of the bottle but I prefer the Origins Drink Up Mask & have one of those in my drawer.

What treatment masks do you like to use, let me know your recomendations & if you like any of the ones I’ve 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. 

Apivita Propoline Shampoo Review

- Vicki 4 Comments

Apivita Shampoo

Apivita is a Greek brand known for their skincare but I never knew their range incorporated hair care. I have been testing out an Almond and Honey Shampoo from their Propoline range since Christmas.

Propoline Shampoo For Dry-Dehydrated Hair 

This shampoo is 90% natural and this formula is aimed at nourishing and hydrating  dry – dehydrated hair. It contains honey, aloe vera, almond & olive oil and wheat protein it also contains Rosemary infusion to offer antioxidant, toning, antiseptic and anti-irritant action. These ingredients also give hydration, prevent split ends and shield against environmental damage. Since using this I have noticed my hair has a lovely glossy sheen to it and it feels soft to the touch. It is easy to wash out but does contain SLS so foams up to a lather, It has a sweet smell  (which is very nice) and the formula is quite thin in consistency.

Apivita Shampoo

The only gripe I have is the packaging it looks pretty but when you get down to the last few uses it is so hard to get out when you’re in the shower, hands are wet and you have to turn it upside down and hit it like a ketchup bottle. It’s a bit of a pain. If they added a pump the packaging would be perfect. The shampoo itself is good quality and I think it actually works, I haven’t noticed if it helps with split ends but it certainly hydrates and quite often I don’t use a conditioner when I use this as I feel like it gives my hair enough moisture that I can miss that step out (and that makes me quicker in the shower = more time in bed).

This 250ml has only just ran out & it lasted me over 3 months using it at least twice a week. So that is pretty good in my book.

Free of: silicones, mineral oil, propylene glycol, ethanolamines, colorants, phthalates, polycyclic musks and nitromusks

Let me know if you have tried any Apivita shampoos, I have liked using this one & would recommend it to anyone that has dry, dehydrated or even dull hair.

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.

Keeping it Simple

- Vicki 25 Comments

Lip Options

I love makeup but the one area I seem to shy away from is lipsticks, I don’t know why I just never seem to wear them & have a total of 4 in my current collection. I do however like to keep my lip products quite simple and I have got quite the collection of lipbalms and glosses. So here is a run down of the 7 I have been using the most.

EOS Organic Summer Fruit Lip Balm Sphere £5.95 – These lip balms seem to have quite a mixed reaction from people. I know many that think they don’t do much for your lips but I like them. They are easy to use & the packaging is quite fun. They come in a variety of flavours and keep my lips feeling hydrated. They’re handy to throw in your bag. They last for ages & never seem to go down. Great value for money.

Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter  £8 – This gives your lips a good wash of colour as well as being hydrating. These pots from Korres are delightful & I think they’re my most loved lip product. This Wild Rose shade gives your lips a lovely deep Berry colour. Its been my go to Autumn/Winter lip. These are quick and easy to apply no mirror needed, perfect for on the go. I have nothing at all bad to say about these.

Apivita Pomegranate Lip Care* £5.00 – This is so nice to use, its smooth and hydrating on the lips. It has a slight sweet scent and gives your lips just a hint of glossy colour. It feels like it is caring for your lips (if that makes any sense). It contains pomegranate oil and vitamins E, F and C and is 98% Natural. Apivita is sold in select Marks & Spencer shops now so keep your eyes peeled. These Lip balms come in 6 varieties.

Lip products I love

No7 BB Lips in Blink Pink £8.50 – I’ve spoke about this before & my tube is almost empty but this is one of my favourite lip products as it’s so easy to wear, the colour is pretty and flattering on my lips and the formula is hydrating and not sticky at all. They’re well worth picking up & they have 6 shades in total. I might have to buy Berry Rose next time. Do you have any of these?

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub £5.50 – I use this a couple of times a week just to keep my lips smooth and it takes off all the dry skin. Some days I really like the scent of this & other days I find it too sweet, I think I will try the Mint one next time. These pots last ages & mine hasn’t dried out, it is definitely a product I would recommend to a friend.

Smith’s Rosebud Salve £8.50 – I guess this is just like Vaseline in a cuter & bigger tin. I bought this from American Apparel & I like to use it in the morning when I am doing my skincare routine just to hydrate my lips. This tin is still looking good even though for the most part it lives at the bottom of a handbag. Just another great lip balm.

Lip products I love

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 20*   This is my heavy duty lip balm, the big guns & it is what I reach for if my lips are dry or when I need something with a little more healing quality. This is a pot of very hydrating peach coloured lip balm (its colourless on the lips). I put this on last thing at night and wake up with what I would describe as soft kissable lips. I like that it has SPF 20 in as that means my lips are also protected against the sun, it can be easy to forget to apply an SPF to your lips. If you suffer from very dry lips or tend to get chapped lips during the winter this could be a great product for you.

Tell me what lip products yo have been using a lot over the winter.

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.