CREASELESS EYESHADOWS – BENEFIT IS TOTAL LOVE.

 

 

I love using soft finish eyeshadows, so my eyes lit up when I saw these on the website. The packaging alone is gorgeous, very Art Deco and I love them. I did buy two shades, one brown and one a subtle grey, it looks almost brown but on the eye that grey comes through. 

The little glass pots are so pretty and could sit quite happily on your dressing table. 

 

These shadows can be applied with fingers for a subtle hint of colour, a brush gives a stronger finish and they can also be used as eye liner. 

 

 

 

From my first use I loved the texture and the ease of application. I do tend to use Mac paint pot for a primer as eyeshadows do crease. The Benefit Creaseless Eyeshadows, do just what they say on the pretty packaging, it stays put and holds its colour. 

 

Benefit Creaseless Eyeshadow – £15.50 

 

http://www.boots.com

 

 

 

 

Kiss Of Chanel x

Loving red lipstick means you can not say no to another red, no matter how many shades you may have or even repeated shades you may have! and yes, I am talking about me. 

I am not a lipstick snob, I will buy a drugstore brand as easily as high end beauty brand if the red is right and the texture is hydrating.

So, Chanel, they do create a great lipstick, the packaging is perfect and the colours are luxurious, the textures great and hydrating and I can’t resist – damn them. 

In a round about way I’m owning up to doing it again, I bought another red!!!!!!!!! 

This is from the new range which hydrates the lips for several hours with just one application. The packaging for me is old style lipstick presentation and I love it, from the square container to the lovely click as you replace the lid, to the intertwined c’s and the Chanel name etched into the bullet of the lipstick. 

 

I really like the texture and the colour of this lipstick, the colour isn’t a strong red and is perfect for the day time too. 

 

I have my eye on another colour in the range, oh dear!

Chanel Rouge Coco – £24 – http://www.boots.com 

The Benefit of Benefit!

Couldn’t resist the Benefit They’re Real Mascara, after trying a sample and loved it, the spikes at the end of the wand really catch those awkward lashes that other wands don’t cover. Looking forward to trying the creaseless eyeshadows, creamy and beautiful colours.

A couple of freebies to try too, Porefessional primer and Fake Up concealer.

They’re Real Mascara £19.50
Creaseless Eyeshadows £15.50

http://www.boots.com or
http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

NEW COLOUR PRODUCTS – Hourglass and Kevyn Aucoin

I was very excited to receive two rather lovely products recently and could not wait to get the boxes opened and try them out. 

Kevyn Aucoin – The Creamy Glow – Tansoleil – £19

http://www.spacenk.com – available in 8 shades
 

 
 

This is beautiful, not just the colour but the texture too. The shade is a coral but with a strong pink running through it. The colour is perfect for lifting and brightening the face, this is a colour that will suit all. The texture is one of the best I have used, cream blushes can get quite grainy and dry, this means blending is almost impossible and you find the colour sits on the face.

 

This blush glides on, smooth and creamy, it blends easily and works with a brush, sponge or even blended with finger tips. A great product and I am certainly going to look at other colours in the range. Perfect texture for summer.
 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder – £38 – http://www.spacenk.com
Available in six shades.

I bought the Hourglass Ambient Powder, because I had too, seriously I couldn’t read any more on this product without actually owning it. Bloggers love it, its beyond a powder, it gives a natural, yet almost filtered look to the face and on the praise continues. 
It is a nice powder, very soft, almost like snow that has been preserved and packed into a compact, however I can’t say that I have found it that remarkable. I like the soft finish, the subtlety of it but it doesn’t give me a luminosity that makes me serene and ethereal, it just kills the shine on my face for a while. 
I do like the fact that it doesn’t sit on the face and is obvious, as some powders do. It really is subtle, but I’m not sure its worth the £38 or all the fuss, a nice powder and lovely packaging.
 
 
 

 

 

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Aurelia Skincare – pro-biotic, does it work? – OH YES!

 

 

 

AURELIA MIRACLE CLEANSER!

 

Those of you who have read my blogs, facebook page and my general procrastinations on Twitter will know that any cleansing balm or oil gets my interest and as long as its fairly high on the decent ingrediants standard and not bulked with mineral oil, then I’m there with bells on and a hot cloth ready to cleanse away. 

So, for me to step away from what I know and love and to delve into the realms of a cleanser that is neither balm nor oil, but cream, is proof that this REALLY caught my interest. 

 

THE JARGON:

 

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare protects against skin ageing, regenerates cell metabolism, prevents cellular DNA damage, boosts hyaluronic acid tenfold and increases collagen synthesis by 140% leaving you with glowing radiant skin.

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare prides itself on its beautiful mix of science and natural luxury. All products are free from synthetic fragrances, parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulphates, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMO, PEGs, TEA and DEA. We never test on animals.

 

We are passionate about responsible sourcing, seeking to balance factors alongside performance. We partner with not-for-profit organisations who work on the ground to ensure a sustainable supply of the unique botanicals our research and development team desire. The ethics and organic practices are also reviewed to determine the best source for us. We pay a fair trade price to the communities that collect and harvest for us across the world in remote areas. This dramatically improves their quality of life, helping to provide additional income for food, schooling and housing. Wider benefits are also being seen in the increasing biodiversity of these regions; trees previously being cut down are now seen as valuable commodities and are being protected.

 

The sections above are found on the Aurelia Skincare website http://www.aureliaskincare.com 

 

MY FEELINGS AND FINDINGS:

 

I adore this cleanser, it smells divine, I can easily pick out the scent of rosemary, eucalyptus and bergamot, its as though a herb garden is cleaning away the deluge of the day. 

I have found that for me this cleanser works beautifully either as my morning cleanser or my second cleanse in the evening. I would use an oil cleanser first and then follow with this cleanser. It feels so luxurious on the skin and really does revive and clean the skin. It takes away the days makeup with ease and the creamy texture really blends well, I found my skin to be hydrated and in no way dry, which I have found with other cream cleansers. I use a finger scoop of the product, pretty much the same as my other balm cleansers and find this cleanses my whole face easily. 

Can I be tempted away from my love of balms and oils, well, looking at what they DON’T add to their products and the marvellous ingredients they do add, you would have to be mad not to see how good this is, try it and you will feel how wonderful this is on the face, leaving skin glowing and hydrated. I may just be putting my oil cleanser on the back burner for now and stick with this new found pot of joy. 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

There are no parabens, mineral oil, silicones, sulphates, propylene glycol, phthalates, please check the website for more in-depth information about the ingredients they ‘Don’t’ use and why. http://www.aureliaskincare.com 

 

Aqua (purified water), Dicapryly carbonate (coconut-derived cleanser & emollient), Cetearyl alcohol (vegetable based thickener), Glycerin (vegetable glycerine), Cocoglycerides (emollient from coconut oil), Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Glyceryl stearate (natural glycerides & thickener), Cetearyl glucoside (corn sugar emulsifier), Rhus verniciflua peel wax (berry wax), Theobroma cacoa (cocoa butter), Kigelia Africana fruit extract (Botanical Kigelia Africana ), Hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract (Hibiscus flower), Adansonia digitata fruit extract (Botanical Baobab),Lactose (probiotic bifidoculture milk extract), Lactis proteinum – (probiotic protein), Bifida ferment lysate (probiotic culture), Schinziophyton Rautanenii kernel oil (Botanical Ubuntu Mongongo oil), Panthenol ( Pro-vitamin B5), Sodium ascorbyl phosphate (Vitamin C), Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil (Rosemary essential oil), Citrus aurantium bergamia peel oil (Bergamot essential oil), Anthemis nobilis oil (Chamomile essential oil), Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil (Eucalyptus essential oil), Xanthan gum (natural based stabilizer), Sodium stearoyl glutamate (naturally derived emulsifier), Tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), Benzyl alcohol (preservative), Dehydroacetic acid (preservative), Citric acid (fruit derived pH regulator), Limonene*, Linalool*

*naturally occurring in essential oil

 

Please note, the company make it clear they NEVER TEST ON ANIMALS!! makes me happy.

REVITALISE AND GLOW SERUM

 

With my regular bottle of serum looking very low, I thought it was time to maybe try something completely new and since Aurelia cleanser had caught my eye, I decided their serum may be an option too. Again the company philosophy and ingredients stance impressed me, plus their NOT TESTING ON ANIMALS was a huge plus. 

 

THE JARGON: This serum combines Aurelia’s probiotic skincare technology with BioOrganic plant and flower essences and deposits probiotics, peptides and antioxidants where they are needed. 

 

 

MY FINDINGS: My previous serum was an oil and therefore it always takes me a few days to become accustomed to a new texture, this being a fluid, measured easily using the pipette. Although it recommends using two drops, I found I needed four to five for my obviously fat large face. It blended easily, absorbed almost immediately, not leaving any sticky residue at all. My moisturiser sat easily over the top and my skin feels lovely and smooth. 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 Aqua (purified water), Aloe barbadensis extract (Aloe Vera), Bifida ferment lysate (probiotic culture), Cocoglycerides (emollient from coconut oil), Glycerin (vegetable glycerine), Lactose (probiotic bifidoculture milk extract), Lactis proteinum (probiotic protein), Coco-caprylate (coconut based emollient), Cetearyl glucoside (corn sugar emulsifier), Cetearyl alcohol ( vegetable based thickener), Kigelia Africana fruit extract (botanical Kigelia Africana)- gives a firming action, Hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract ( Hibiscus flower)- together with vitamin E fights oxidative stress, Adansonia digitata fruit extract (Botanical Baobab), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus nobilis peel oil (Mandarin essential oil), Helianthus annuus seed oil (Sunflower oil), Jasminum officinale flower extract (Jasmine essential oil), Plumeria acutifolia flower extract (Plumeria essential oil), Polianthes tuberose flower extract (Tuberose essential oil),- help to hydrate and soothe dehydrated and dull skin. Xanthan gum (natural based stabiliser), Sodium stearoyl glutamate (vegetable derived emulsifier), Sodium magnesium fluorosilicate (naturally occurring mineral salts), Sodium phytate (natural origin), Glyceryl caprylate (coconut-derived emulsifier), Benzyl alcohol (preservative), Dehydroacetic acid (preservative) , Citric acid (fruit derived pH regulator), Limonene*, Linalool*, Benzyl benzoate*

PURCHASE & PRICE:

£34 – 120ML – CLEANSER – http://www.aureliaskincare.com

£47 – 30ml – SERUM – as above

 

I have no affiliation with the company and bought the products myself.

 

EXFOLIATE AWAY – be gone dead skin cells!

My love of cleansing, buying and researching cleansers, can only be matched by my obsession with exfoliating and finding products stacked up to the brim with Glycolic, Salicylic and Tartaric Acid. If they shed my dead skin cells in the same way my grandma shed dirt from her paths by swilling them every week (maybe this was just a Yorkshire thing?!) then I’m in and my card is waving about ready to buy.

 

 

 

My adoration of my first product is well known and had been blogged about, it knocked my adult acne into submission and just a glimpse of the bottle sends it back in to hiding. Biologique Recherche P50w (for sensitive skin) is truly one of the best products I have ever tried, although it has a slight sting to it and could smell better, this sorted my skin in two days and I have never looked back. Not only does this product shed those pesky dead skin cells it also re-balances the ph levels of the skin. Great product, worth every penny, buy two, just do it.

 

http://www.liberty.co.uk / £49 – 150ml

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While browising dangerously at a Clarins counter and ahhhing at the Lotus Oil (another love of mine) I spotted the words exfoliator and brightener – oh dear – cue lots of bag searching for purse and hey presto!, one card and “I’ll have two please!”. Clarins Gentle Exfoliating and Brightening Toner, works very like the P50, though not as strong and this lotion does contain alcohol, though the Glycerin is a good dilutant.

Its purpose is to lift impurities from the skin that make the face dull, thereby leaving skin brighter and smoother.

 

 

 

MY FEELINGS: This certainly helps to keep my skin clear and bright, it has no sting and smells ok, as long as it does its job I’m not fussed about packaging or smell (well, within reason). It’s certainly not as strong as P50 and when my skin occasionally is very bad I have to fall back on the P50 or Pixi Glow, but this Clarins product has generally kept my skin stable, clear and brighter.

I use this lotion every other day, though it does recommend only 1 – 2 times a week, I would advise going by your instinct, you know how your skin feels and reacts, I can see my skin needs something regularly to keep it clear and balanced.

 

 

INGREDIANTS: Tamarind helps the exfoliation process and White Nettle works as an instrigent to tighten pores. Also contained is an alpha hydroxy acid, which can make the skin sensitive to sun, I always use a separate spf product but you can use products with spf contained but protection may not be as high.

 

 

PURCHASE & PRICE: from a Clarins counter where great advice is always given or http://www.boots.com

 

£25.00 / 125ml

 

 

 

 

 

Next please, oh yes, there’s more! Onwards in my search for exfolation wonderment I read the blog of the marvellous Caroline Hiron’s, check out http://www.beautymouth.com, a marvellous expert in the industry who seriously knows her stuff and seems to be as obsessive as the rest of us. Her love of P50 and finding dupes led me to Pixi Glow Tonic, they of gorgeous pretty palettes and packaging who also do a marvellous skin care range though sadly not available online!!!!!! and often out of stock, so buy two or even three.

The Pixi skintreats Glow Tonic is on the same level as the P50 just about, without alcohol or oil, this is packed full of everything needed to loosen and rid the face of those pesky skin cells that hang on for dear life the older you get.

 

MY FEELINGS: Firstly the price makes my feelings very strong about this, it is £16 for 250ml, for those at the back can the rest of you shout that to them please? It does and works in almost the same way as P50 which is £49 for 150ml, you see where i’m going with this???? I bought two and still it didn’t cost what one of the P50 did. So the price is excellent, the packaging simple and I like the pump dispenser it came with, though it had leaked slightly during its journey to me.

This works and boy does it work, it smells lovely, and says “boo” in the face of my naughty adult acne should it dare to appear. Of course being so good, this stuff is hard to get hold of, I emailed the store and it was about three weeks before stock came in, order two at a time, you’ll be sorry if you don’t.

 

INGREDIENTS: The important Glycolic acid which though the smallest in the AHA family is the only one that can cause the skin to be sensitive to the sun, so remember your spf, It also aids with reducing pigmentation. Ginseng is a natural ingredient to supply oxygen to the skins cells and horse chestnut a natural stimulant for the skin.

 

PURCHASE & PRICE: Not available online, sadly, the store are super helpful and always tell you of great offers available when you are mail ordering, ring 020 7287 7211, http://www.pixibeauty.com

 

£16 – 250ml

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All products purchased by me, no affiliation with the companies mentioned.

Tuesday, face and products