October Empties!

Bonjour!

How can it be Bonfire Night already?  I happened to casually point out to the girls at work that 'this time in a couple of months Christmas/New Year will be all over and done with' ... and was told to shut up!  Anyway ... on with last month's empties ...

L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Everstrong No Sulphates Shampoo and Nourishing Intense Mask - I really like this range - I reviewed it back in March here and have used it on and off since then, in between other products. I still have some of the standard conditioner (always the case with conditioner!) but have finished up the shampoo and mask.  I like the way this makes my hair feel and will repurchase at some stage to dip in and out of whenever I feel the need to replenish and revitalise!

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash  - love this as a morning face wash - it's so zingy and refreshing! Leaves my skin soft with no dry or tight feeling, Full review here and I've already repurchased!

Gatineau Defilift 3D Eye Contour Cream - I do like this cream for a.m. use. Firming and tightening is important when you get to my age and I do feel like it does the job quite nicely, however, this bottle must have been a 'dud'! I've used quite a few Gatineau products and although quite pricey, they usually last for ages making them worthwhile.  This, however, has already run out after not long at all and it's not as if I've used loads as you only need a small amount - I think it must have been half full - big disappointment! 

Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel - another favourite cleanser that's had it's tube cut to scrape every last bit out!  Works well as a morning face wash but was also very effective as a refreshing and purifying evening cleanser.  I do switch to cleansing oil for winter nights but will repurchase to use come Spring/Summer.

Organic Surge Orange Flower Toner - I won this in a giveaway held by my young blogging buddy Sasha at Ramblings of a Beauty Bird.  A lovely hydrating toner suitable for sensitive skin with a subtle orange flower scent at a brilliant price of only £7.50/200ml.  I'm currently finishing off a travel size of the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic but will be repurchasing this one I'm sure!

Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster - technically used up in September so should have been included in last month's empties - whoops! I really like this for use  during the warmer months as it's cooling and refreshing and revitalises the skin.  Review here.

Clarins Blue Orchid Oil Face Treatment Oil and Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate - a couple of little gems! Been using up these sample sizes under moisturiser at night.  Love my facial oils once the weather turns.  Full reviews are here and here. 

Mandara Spa Island Paradise Moisturising Shower Gel - trying to make a dent in my huge shower gel stash. This one is so refreshing with all those grapefruits and lemons!  I can see me repurchasing at some stage - I have soft spot for Mandara Spa!


Have you tried any of these products? What have you used up last month?

Jen x

Evening Skincare Routine ...

Bonjour!

So ... I recently did a morning skincare post the other week (which you can cast your eye over here) - following on with evening products ...

Gatineau Floracil Eye Make-Up Remover - great at removing stubborn (and waterproof) eye make-up but also very gentle and refreshing on the eye area. I've repurchased this supersize at £17 a couple of times. It may seem expensive but works out the same as you'd pay for a high street brand when you take it down to price per 100ml and lasts for months.

Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel - I decided to use this up for my evening make-up removal when I ran out of cleansing oil (have previously only used in the morning - review here).  Am happy to report that it has performed superbly! Lovely purifying cleanser - really good choice for the summer when you may want something a bit lighter but also effective and has kept my skin clear!  I've cut it open to scoop out every last drop - will repurchase for use on Summer evenings.

Organic Surge Orange Flower Toner - I use this toner morning and evening and am getting hooked. A great alternative to my usual Liz Earle Instant Boost (and cheaper too!). Will repurchase and also try out some other Organic Surge goodies whilst I'm at it!

Gatineau Melatogenine AOX Advanced Anti-Ageing Eye Concentrate -  I'm using a lifting formula from Gatineau in the morning but have decided to target the old wrinkles at night-time so have turned once again to this eye cream from Gatineau.  (Thanks to my mum for providing me with both as presents!) The Melatogenine range is aimed at those concerned with fine (and not so fine!) lines and is enriched with antioxidants and probiotics. I love the refined, silky texture, you need the tiniest amount and it does seem to help smooth those pesky wrinkly bits!

Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster - this is a product I reviewed last year - see here.  I did replace it with a facial oil during the cold winter months but all things considered it's lasted for months! I tend to use several times a week now - really cooling and soothing and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and 'juicy'! One I'd repurchase for the Summertime.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil - a recent discovery - full review here. Took this tiny bottle away on holiday this year and used every night under moisturiser to combat de-hydration. Will re-purchase the full size.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light - still a firm favourite. One I tend to favour more so in the Summer because of the light texture -works really well over a serum or facial oil. Shame it only comes in the pot as I'd have loved to have taken this on holiday! Full review here.

Gatineau Firming Throat Gel - this is my second tube.  Up until 'not so long ago' all I did in respect of my neck/decolletage was to extend my usual moisturiser over the area. My mum reminded me that I needed to 'up the ante' on this area and provided me with a couple of tubes of this throat gel! Having not used anything specific before I can't compare ... but this definitely seems to firm up on those wrinkly/slackening bits - you can actually feel it tightening up around your throat - in a totally comfortable way!  I still continue with moisturising at night-time but apply a little of this (you need the size of a pea) over the neck/decolletage every morning.  I noticed a difference when I stopped using so will either repurchase - (it's a bit pricey but can be bought in a more affordable duo from QVC which works out at around £20 per tube) or be on the look out for something similar. Any suggestions for this area welcome!


So that's the current evening line-up. Are you using any of these products? What's you current routine?

Jen x

Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster - Review

Bonjour!

The Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster was a bit of an impulse buy a few months ago whilst browsing round Boots (as you do!).  My skin had been feeling grey and dull with random patches of eczema cropping up.  I hadn't really heard or read anything about this particular product but was attracted to the whole 'turnover' aspect - plus it had a third off at the time so I threw caution to the wind ...!

On the Boots website the product is described as 'a regenerative blend of 7 essential vitamins' as follows:-

Key ingredients

• Vita 3 Complex – Helps to reduce the appearance of pigmentation caused by acne, sun damage and delivers high levels of anti-oxidants

• Vitamin B3 Niacinamide - Improves skins resilience, improves cell renewal

• Vitamin B5 Panthenol - Aids wrinkle prevention

• Vitamin C Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate – Helps to protects the skin from UV damage, helps maintain skin resilience with anti-oxidizing agents

• Vitamin E Tocopheryl Acetate - Anti-oxidant agents help prevent skin ageing and improves elasticity of dry skin (source) 

I waited until my eczema had more or less cleared up and then started to apply one pump (which is all I need so the bottle should last for a while) every night after toner and before moisturiser continuing with my hydrating Vichy serum just in the mornings.  It starts off as an extremely light, clear gel which turns to liquid as you apply to skin.  I've struggled with thinking of how to describe this so here goes...! It reminds me of the sensation of applying ultra-light aloe vera to your skin - water retentive and hydrating.  It doesn't take long to sink in but has a very slight, almost viscous sensation as it does so but not in an unpleasant way. I've never stroked a little green frog when it's just got out of a pond but this is what I'd expect it to feel like - juicy and plump (it's a plump frog!).

I did hesitate over using the Dr Jart Turnover Booster at first as I didn't know what to expect or whether it would upset my eczema and set me back to square one. Whilst I don't profess be any kind of expert on the science behind the product I think as far as my own skin is concerned it's living up to the 'turnover' and 'booster' part of the deal.  After having used it for a couple of months now my skin feels in much better condition - it seems to keep things ticking over nicely and help with hydration and plumping. My overall skin-tone has improved and I'm not using as much make-up to cover up stuff, which, at the end of the day is what we all want - especially in summer?

The Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster retails at around £32/50ml but there is a third off at the moment at Boots as you can see here.  I've been looking at some of the other products from the range - must control myself for now!

Have you tried out the Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster by any chance? What's your favourite Dr Jart product?

Jen x

Skincare Routine - PM

Guess this should read 'Bonsoir' rather than 'Bonjour'?

I recently wrote about my current morning routine ... here's the evening lot...!

Emma Hardie Moringa Balm - needs no into - I reviewed it way back when (actually just here).  I only use it in the evening for a darn good cleanse.  It effectively removes makeup, eye make-up and daily grime etc but I do perform a bit of an extra/double cleanse if I've had heavier slap on - say for work or an evening out - just to be sure!  I've repurchased a couple of times and am slightly panic stricken that I've started on my last pot! Although I love this product there are a couple of other cleansers  waiting in the wings so will probably wait to re-purchase with (hopefully) a QVC TSV.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - again an old favourite.  I do intend introducing an exfoliating toner into the equation shortly but this is one I know I can rely on for it's soothing and re-hydrating properties.

Gatineau Melatogenine Advanced Anti-Ageing Eye Concentrate - been using this for over a year now around the eye contour every night. It's extremely concentrated so has lasted forever! The Gatineau Melatogenine range is aimed at the over 30's (yes- well that definitely includes me then!) and is all about tackling fine lines, wrinkles/expression lines etc. I am lucky I guess in that I don't have a huge amount of deep wrinkles so far but they'll all be lurking around just waiting to make an appearance. The cream has a refined/luxurious but not heavy texture, feels like 'whipped silk' and I do think it's helped on the wrinkle prevention front but how do you know for sure until you stop using something - I'll be finding out shortly.  To buy alone this would have cost over £40 but it was part of a QVC kit so was excellent VFM!

Dr Jart V7 Turnover Booster - I picked this serum up quite by chance from Boots a while ago and have been using it every night for well over a month now. There's a full review coming up so I'll not waffle on at this point but suffice to say that I'm impressed!

Emma Hardie AM/PM Moisturiser - another product  from a QVC kit.  It works fine in conjunction with a serum (not hydrating enough for me on it's own) and seems to be lasting forever! Has the signature Emma Hardie scent which I love. I'd be happy to use again but would only buy as part of a kit as it's expensive.

So that's my current nightly regime.  Have you used any of these products? If you've done a similar post leave me your link - love to have a gander!

Jen x

Glossybox - October

Bonjour!

I received my October Glossybox a couple of days ago - can't believe we're more than half way through the month already. This month's box is based on DIY Beauty and apparently contain products for 'an indulgent and cosy night in.'  As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - something most of us are aware of and a subject which has probably touched us all in one way or another - Glossybox are also 'supporting this worthy cause by donating to Breast Cancer Care.'

Anatomicals Don't Just Clean It Woman, Scrub It Body Scrub
75ml - Orig Product £3.49/200ml 

I like the sound of the Anatomicals range - this smells of pink grapefruit - lovely and refreshing.  A good sample size at 75ml, you can't beat a good scrub can you?

Skinetica Anti-Blemish sample size - Original Product £6.99/100ml

Apparently this helps to clear skin blemishes in 2-3 days - will be a useful little sample for most of the family to try I imagine especially as it's meant to be 'kind to skin' with 'no side effects'.

Dr.Jart  Premium Beauty Balm 15ml Original Product £24/40ml

This is described as 'Asia's wonder beauty product' - the BB fever continues. This is a good size sample and a great opportunity to try out one of the premium BBs originating in Asia (the home of BBs) - so it should be a good one. I have a friend at work who has received this in her Glossybox and has a typical 'English Rose' complexion, she loves it and it looked great on her when she wore it to work. The lovely Claire over at Another New Day blog has also raved about this BB in her recent Top 5 post which you can check out here. She has a full review coming out next week so looking forward to checking it out.

Olay Regenerist 3-Point Treatment Cream 7ml - Original product £29.99/50ml

This is a sample of Olay's 'award winning, best selling moisturiser' - I've not really thought about trying this range from Olay so good to have a sample to try out.

I've recently re-discovered the wonderful world of lippie so really pleased to have another to add to my growing collection.  This is a lovely moisturising formula - a deep berry autumnal shade - it's a bit dark for daytime use for me (maybe because I've just got out of the habit of wearing loads of colour on my lips) but I may mix it with another colour for day, or apply for a bit of night-time drama!

So that's October's box - quite a good one in my opinion.  The stand-out products are the Dr Jart BB - looking forward to using this to see how it compares to others I've tried - and the Yves Rocher lipstick. Glossybox subscription details can be found here for anyone wanting to share the experience!

What did you think of this month's Glossybox?


Jen x