Caudalie Beauty Elixir

July 2014 Empties

- Vicki 10 Comments

What I used up in July 2014

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser* – I really like to use this in the evening as my first cleanse because Its great at removing every trace of makeup, decongesting your skin and it was gentle enough to take around my eyes. Its creamy and hydrating and left my skin very soft. Full review of this here

dr Organic Vitamin E Deodorant – This has been my go to deodorant for about a year now. It does a good job, its gentle and leaves my underarms soft. Its also free of any harsh chemicals which I like. I have many backups – a girl can’t be without deodorant.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser – This is my favourite budget friendly hot cloth cleanser. I always stock up on this when Boots do their No7 vouchers. Its a bargain but it is also gentle and you get a lot of product for your money 200ml last me a good couple of months. If you haven’t tried this yet give it a go, I highly recommend it.

Organix Teatree Mint Shampoo* – I finished the conditioner in this range last month. My husband really liked this shampoo & conditioner duo. I thought it was hydrating and left my hair manageable but not flyaway & it smells so minty & invigorating. Perfect for the mornings. When I can get to a Waitrose I will be replacing them & they last for ages as you get 385ml of product.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir – I have a love hate relationship with this face mist. I really dislike the scent but I like how refreshing it feels on my skin. I like using this when I fly (which isn’t that often) as it a really nice way of keeping hydrated on a flight. Im always torn about buying it & tend to purchase it when its on sale.

No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner – This was my morning toner & it felt like it took forever to use up – this 200ml bottle lasted for about a year. It is a gentle toner that helps hydrate and sooth the skin. I did really like it & would repurchase it again.

REN Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel  – I loved using this eye gel and really liked it for my overnight eye treatment. It helped tighten (but not dry out) the skin around my eye and left the area looking bright and well rested. It was so gentle and felt cooling too. It lasted me about 3 months so thats a big plus.

Bioderma – This was my first bottle of Bioderma & I always wondered what the fuss was all about. Now I know. This Micellar Water is SO good at removing makeup and leaving my skin very soft. It was gentle and you didn’t need to tug or rub to remove eye makeup, it didn’t sting my eyes at all. This bottle lasted me for 2 months & that was using it almost daily. I will 100% repurchase this.

Bee Good 2in1 Cream Cleanser* – This was so lovely and really good for my skin. Its creamy texture was soothing and left my skin feeling clean and fresh. Its kind on the skin, good to bees & a British skincare brand so it ticks all the boxes. This has been a lovely brand discovery & I have a few more products from them in my skincare routine. I’m really enjoying them all.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Face Masks – If you’re skin needs a boost of moisture then these are the masks for you. They’re sheet masks and look funny & a little scary when on but they work like little miracles. These leave my skin feeling plump, radiant and my makeup sits so much better after using them. After using the mask make sure you pat the excess product in to your skin. Shame to waste all that Hyluronic Acid goodness as they’re are quite expensive but if your have dehydrated skin they will be worth every penny.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets – These have sadly been discontinued but Home Bargains were selling them for 29p a pack (50 sheets in a pack) so you better believe I bought a butt load of them. I will never run out. These have been a staple in my handbag, on my desk & in my car during this crazy heat wave. They keep me looking shine free & don’t interfere with my makeup.

MUA Undress Your Skin Radiant Under Eye Concealer – This was a little meh & didn’t really do a lot of concealing. This would be better used as a highlighter in my opinion. Oh and this has a shimmer to it, not what I want in a concealer.

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.

Summer Beauty Favourites 2014

- Vicki 12 Comments

Great Summer Products

These are eight of my favourite Summer beauty products, my most reached for and the things I just can’t live without as the weather gets warmer.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Facial SPF 50 £16.50 for 50ml – I have poured out my love for this SPF on my blog quite a few times now & I won’t apologise for it. I have convinced all my family to purchase the one thats best for their skin type (there are 3 options). I have the Anti Shine one & that dries to a Matte velvet finish. I have worn it for the entire month of May & June – in all weathers, rain or shine. Its a fantastic broad spectrum SPF, giving you the highest protection from both UVA & UVB rays. It wears very very well under makeup & doesn’t have that fishy SPF smell that quite a few sun care products have. I love the protection this gives my skin & also the fact that it won’t leave my skin looking greasy or feeling sticky. Its part of my daily skincare routine.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir £9.95 for 30ml – I have a love / hate relationship with this product as I have had a few bottles of this now & I do like it when I have it, although some days the minty scent is a little much for me especially in the morning. I like spritzing this when I feel hot, Its a nice and refreshing, but I think I have come to the conclusion & decision that I just like facial sprays / toners and won’t go out of my way to repurchase this one. So this Caudalie one I do like (its a little pricey) but this product is more included in this Summer Products roundup as more of broader I love facial sprays in the Summer to cool down & keep my makeup / skin feeling refreshed.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets – I love these & I was sad to hear Kleenex have discontinued them (cries). If you like them too & have a Home Bargain shop near you, they are selling them in there for 29p a pack & you best believe I have stocked up on many many packs. I get very oily in the warm weather & no one likes that look so I carry a pack of these in my bag just to blot away that excess oil throughout the day. These ones are very good & don’t lift off my makeup and I find them to be really absorbent. Each pack has 50 sheets so they’ll last me a good couple of weeks. So handy to have in your bag for those very hot days. I also got some Essence ones at a recent launch event. So I am excited to try those.

By Terry Baume De Rose Lip Balm £38.00 for 10g – This is a mini sample pot & is sadly almost all but gone. This leaves my lips so soft, smooth & hydrated. Its been my day time go to lip treat. My lips have been spoilt & now have a taste of the high life. I’m going to have to do some saving in order to be able to afford the full size of this. It’s worth every penny though, my lips are in such great condition even matte lipsticks have been applying like a dream, thats got to mean its worth the hefty price tag.

Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream £6.00 for 30ml – No one wants dry nasty feet in the Summer. I am all about the sandals & flip flops when its warm, keeping it casual and I have to have my feet looking their best. So I have been using this Elemis Foot Cream from my British Beauty Blogger: The Dream Box & Its been working a treat on moisturising and keeping my feet looking smooth & feeling soft. Its very nourishing and not greasy. I put it on before bed & sleep in some small cotton socks & I have sandal ready feet by morning. This is a Summer must have for sure!

Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose £8.00 for 6g- I don’t like to wear too much makeup during the day when it is really warm as I always end up feeling like a hot sweaty mess, but I do like to wear something on my lips just to give them a little colour & its helps it to look like I have made more of an effort. These Korres Lip Butters are fantastic, not only are they hydrating but the colour pay off is pretty damn good too. These won’t hang around for hours & hours on your lips but still they will give you a pretty flush of colour & keep your lips moisturised too. There are quite a few colours but this Wild Rose one is a pretty red and is so easy too apply and looks great on. My go to summer lip product, it is always in my handbag.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Colour in Blue Me Away – This is my most used polish for my toes, in the Summer this just looks so pretty and lasts a very very long time. I have got 3 weeks wear from it on my toes without it chipping or needing touched up. It reminds me of swimming pools, just a fantastic vibrant bright blue shade. I always get compliments on the colour & I love it.

dr.Organic Virgin Olive Oil Body Scrub £6.69 for 200ml* – I use scrubs all year round but in the Summer I get my (very white) legs & arms out a little more than usual & I like them to look as smooth & healthy as possible & this Olive Oil Scrub is so nice. It leaves my skin feeling soft & moisturised. Its a nice gentle but effective scrub and I use it daily as it helps to wake me up, get rid off all those dead skin cells and keeps my skin feeling very very smooth.

Let me know if you have been loving any of the products I’ve mentioned & also what your favourite Summer must have products are.

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.

Feeling Lucky : French Skincare Win

- Vicki 15 Comments

I am an avid reader of Claire & Nic’s blog Agent Smyth & was thrilled to discover I’d won their 500 Followers Giveaway, I thought you might be interested to see what goodies came in my prize. I was so thrilled as it was a French Skincare giveaway and I must be the only beauty blogger on the planet who has yet to really try much French Skincare. The only thing I’d tried was the Caudalie Beauty Elixir and the scent of that reminds me of San Francisco as I took it on the plane with me & sprayed it every half an hour like a crazy lady trying to keep hydrated.

A selection of French Skincare

Bioderma – I have wanted to try this for the longest time but I really don’t like shopping online. I’m more of an in store put your hands on it kind of shopper and I’ve never been in a shop that sells this. So to say I am excited to use this is an understatement. Im currently using the Garnier Micellar Water & it will be great to see how they compare. I think I already know the answer to that.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ This is another cult blogger favourite and I could really use some of it’s pore unclogging abilities right about now! Let me know if you have used this & how it worked best for you.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir – As I said I have had a couple bottles of this over the past 2 years and sometimes I love it & other times the scent of it is overpowering. Depending on what mood I’m in the minty scent is too much for me. I do think its a nice facial spritz and its refreshing. I like to take it traveling as its a handy in flight pick me up.

NUXE Reve de Miel Honey Lip Balm – This is quite possibly the most talked about lip product in the blogging community & I was too excited to wait to photograph this before I stuck my finger in it & smeared it all over my lips. It smells lovely and sweet and is quite thick in texture. I liked how it felt on my lips, not greasy but you can feel a layer of balm on there. My lips are currently smooth & very happy. I’m converted to the NUXE way of life now.

So thats my French stash of prizes and I’m treasuring each one & I’m delighted to have won – they’ve certainly come to a good home that will use them all up. So thank you ladies (Claire & Nic)  for the amazing prize & congrats on the 500 Followers. If you’re not already following them pop over & show them a little love.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

- Vicki Leave a comment

I have no words for how much i love this product. Yes i read all the reviews about this and thought blah – how good can a beauty spritz be? Well the answer is REALLY REALLY good i made this purchase from Space NK in Covent Garden – where i was served by a lovely young lady (name i forget) but i was recommended this as i have had such sensitive skin lately and this extra long crappy wintery weather we have had is drying out my skin and making my face dull and sensitive. I was so fed up with it and i did not feel like myself, dull skin is horrid.

I also bought the Jurlique Cleanser at the same time (also recommended by the lady in Space NK). I have only been using this a week and so can’t say too much on it, apart from it seems to be working, but we will see. I like to use things like this for a good month before giving my opinion.

But back to the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, I bought the 100ml bottle for £32, i started using it right away whilst i was in London for the weekend, London can be hard on your skin all that pollution and travelling also dries out your skin. I used it on the plane to stop my skin drying out, it felt really nice. I have to say this product feels so luxurious and the peppermint scent really wakes you up and leaves your skin looking fresh and vibrant. I have noticed my skin being less dry & dull not to mention it has helped reduce the redness on my cheeks. Although this might be in combination with the Jurlique Cleanser i am trying.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Caudalie Beauty Elixir Directions
Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Do not be put off by the price, yes its a little bit on the pricey side but you really only need to use a little bit and it can be used in so many ways – under makeup as a wakeup spritz or to freshen up your makeup, its great for travelling to stop your skin drying out or breaking out. A bottle of this will really last you as i’d say 2-3 sprays is all you need. You can purchase a smaller bottle from feel unique for £9.90 with FREE delivery. I highly recommend it and plan on purchasing it for all my girlfriends birthdays this year. So all in all I think its going to be a staple in  my makeup bag from now on.