Skincare Routine - AM

Bonjour!

It's been a while since I 'did' my skincare routine so without further ado here's the morning bunch I've been using over the last few months  ...

The products go from right to left ... because I didn't think and just photographed them that way ...!

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash - reviewed here. An old favourite that I've been using on and off for a few years now. Described as being suitable for normal/combination skin - I tend to turn to it in Summer as it's so refreshing and is ideal for a morning wash but doesn't dry my skin out.  I took a travel size on holiday this year and it was perfect for both myself and my daughter!

Alpha H Balancing Cleanser - another one I've used before and I've alternated it with the Balance Me Face Wash over the last few months.  This supersize came with a TSV from QVC so was excellent value for money - it gives a good cleanse and can be used am or pm but I've mainly been using it in the morning.   This particular tube is coming to an end now but it's one I'd definitely go for again as it's not thick or heavy but is more like a lotion in texture, it just slips over the skin as you massage in - I love the fact that it contains aloe vera and we all know how good for skin that is!

Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex - I reviewed this a good couple of years ago and always try to get hold of it in a kit or when it's on offer. I don't use it every morning but alternate with the Idealia Eyes below - it's great for pepping up extra-tired eyes as it feels so cooling and revitalising.  It contains ingredients to temporarily lift and tighten, detoxify and gently resurface and you can apply all over the eye area, top and bottom lid right up to the lash line.

Vichy Idealia Eyes - this was reviewed fairly recently here. Great product for helping with dark circles and dullness and certainly brightens up the eye area on a morning. I especially reach for it when I have my contacts in and my eyes are exposed in all their 'non-glory' to the whole world! We don't want to scare anyone do we!

Liz Earle Instant Boots Skin Tonic- needs no introduction or explanation even! One of my all time favourite toners for refreshing and moisturising that's actually nearly finished.  I do dip into other brands but I'm sure this will be a constant repurchase on and off for years to come!

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - I received this sample in a beauty box ages ago. I only use it every few days (as I use other types of exfoliants at different stages in the week) but I love it as it's so gentle and just gives a little bit of a polish without scratching or irritating the skin.

Nuxe Nuxellence Jeunesse Youth and Radiance Revealing Fluid - this was included in a Nuxe travel kit a while ago and I didn't really know what to expect - after all I'm slightly addicted to my Vichy Aqualia Thermal below!  It can be used am and/or pm but I stick to the morning as I'm addicted to facial oils of a night-time! It has a light but velvety texture, glides on and sinks in easily and does seem to deliver as my skin seems smoothed and brightened - I'm impressed. I tend to save it for when my skin is feeling a bit lacklustre and dull and then use for a few days on the go. It's a bit expensive at £47/50ml so I'll wait until there is a decent offer on to repurchase the full size. I'd be interested to see how it compares to the Vichy Idealia Life Serum which I've yet to try - so that could be a little experiment in the making!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - I really don't feel the need to harp on about this one - I've done so many times before and reviewed it what seems like a lifetime ago - it's such a great product for a hit of cooling hydration over the summer months!  I've repurchased many times and already have another put away for a rainy day or should I say rainy summertime!

Olay Essentials Complete Care SPF30 Day Lotion - this was an impulse buy a few months ago - I don't always use a separate SPF (as I can't stand too many 'layers of stuff' on my face at times) so  this seemed like a good all rounder.  Have to say I'm really surprised - it's a good consistency, goes on and absorbs easily and keeps my skin feeling comfortable all day and doesn't break me out - of course I am using a couple of good serum based products up above and that obviously makes a difference!   I'm really not into spending a fortune on face cream and this does the job perfectly and was a complete bargain as it was something like under a fiver on offer. I have a feeling it may no longer be available now as I can't find it online but I have another stashed away for now!

So that's been my morning skincare routine over the Summer months. Have you used any of these products ...which is your favourite? 

Jen x

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

Skincare Routine of the Morning Variety!

Bonjour!

Been a while since I did a Skincare Routine post so here goes with the current morning line-up.  In an ideal world I would have snapped this pic together with rays of early morning sunshine streaming in but I took it in the evening and was losing the light ... as you can see ... the realities of blogging ...!

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash - still a firm favourite for my morning cleanse. The zingy aroma is a real treat on bleary-eyed mornings (I have a lot of those!) - the face wash cleans and softens skin gently with no tight-kite feeling! Full review here.

Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash - this is a product I dip in and out of from time to time whenever I feel my skin needs 'that little bit of extra' - it can be used on it's own as a morning face wash or in addition to your existing cleanser - full review to follow.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - a super-fine exfoliating powder.  It can be used daily but I use every couple of days to gently polish away dead skin cells on the old kite without any of that scratchy stuff going on - love it!

Organic Surge Orange Flower Toner - I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway held by my lovely young blogging buddy Sasha from Ramblings of a Beauty Bird. I didn't think anything would drag me away from my beloved Liz Earle Instant Boost and granted - you don't get the hit of the aroma that you do with Instant Boost but ... what a lovely hydrating product! It has a gentle orange flower scent - is suitable for sensitive skin, includes aloe vera (I love aloe vera), is free from the usual nasties and is a fantastic value for money at just £7.50/200ml - full details from Organic Surge here.

Gatineau DefiLift 3D Eye Contour Lift Cream - loving this in the morning. Gives a much welcome 'tightening effect' to my saggy/baggy eye area. Full review to follow.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - hooked on this one for hydration - think this is my third bottle. Full review here.

Olay Sensitive Day Fluid - something I picked up by chance in Boots as a 'back-up' moisturiser - it was literally a few pounds for this big bottle and works absolutely fine! I can slap on as much as I need over my serum, it absorbs easily, is light with no greasiness yet moisturises effectively. Bargain!

So that's my current routine ...evening to follow shortly.  Do you use any of these products?

Jen x

Balance Me Beauty Voyage!

Bonjour!

I've gotten through a few Balance Me products in my time ... I think my absolute favourite so far has to be the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash which I've used for my morning cleanse since last year.  It's perfect for a zingy pick me up when you're all bleary eyed first thing - whatever the season! You can see my full review here. I have a few other Balance me products yet to try from my stash so next up will be probably be the Facial Expression Filler and Radiance Face Oil ...

This summertime Balance Me are running a campaign aptly named 'Beauty Voyage'.  We're all invited to take pics of our favourite Balance Me products whether holidaying at home or abroad and share over on their Twitter or Facebook page - don't forget to tag your pic with #BalanceMeHome or #BalanceMeAway according to destination! The competition will run over July and August and the best images will be picked each week to win Balance Me prizes!  You can head directly over to Balance Me for further details.

Will you be entering the competition this summertime? What's your favourite Balance Me product?

Jen x

Shopping That Stash #1

Bonjour!

Don't know about you but one thing I have a lot of is 'stash'! My problem is, more often than not, apart from maybe skincare - I'm easily distracted and move onto the next thing ...and then the next!  Thought it was high time I tackled the situation so here are a few stashed products I've been trying to make a dent in ...!

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment - pretty sure this is a repurchase from ages ago.  It got shoved to the back of the cupboard maybe because it's used in-between shampoo and conditioner as an extra 'middle' step. I decided to make time to add this in a couple of weeks ago and I'm glad I did! It left my hair noticeably softer after going through a dry phase.  Now I remember why I repurchased - maybe I'll repurchase again and test out the 'hair growth' aspect properly!

Nivea Creme - I have a couple of pots of this age old classic (knowing me they will have been on offer!). I dug one out a few months ago when my poor feet were suffering from the effects of wintertime! Been slathering it on most nights after a bath/shower and shoving on a pair of socks.  It's worked absolute wonders on my dry, cracked, painful heels (don't worry I'm not going to show you a before and after!) and rendered my feet fit to be seen in public! The pot is still going strong, it's cheap and cheerful, lasts for ages and does the job -  I think this will be a repurchase!

Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector in Invisible Deep - again, can't remember when I bought this, easily a couple of years ago.  It's matte golden-beige in colour and can be used under/over foundation or on it's own to conceal those open pores etc. It works well on my nose (probably as it's a bit oily - nice!) but tends to roll off and accentuate any drier areas so I use in moderation here and there, under a BB or light foundation - probably why it's lasted so long!

Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve - most will be aware of the super strong taste of this lip balm? It's actually a bit too strong a flavour for my liking - which is why I let it lie for a while. However I recently decided to just 'get over it' and it's actually an amazing lip hydrator. It sticks around to keep the lips hydrated even after eating and drinking (and blotting!). Just need to ignore the intense turkish delight taste!

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock -  my hair product collection is verging on the ridiculous so let's make a start with the Shine Shock! I have to use sparingly - only a tiny blob, blob-ette even through mid lengths and ends. It's clear and has a jelly-like texture and does a good job of smoothing frizzy hair down, adding shine and a bit of definition. So yep - no idea why I left it so long to use up but the main thing I'm enjoying using it now!

Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Nail Polish in Pink - this is also a couple of years old and a great hot pink for summertime! Surprisingly it hasn't gone at all gloopy after all this time. It has a standard size brush, goes on very easily and dries quickly with really good coverage. Lasts pretty well too - I actually don't know why I don't own more of these polishes at £3.50, will definitely be looking at some other colours next time I'm in M&S!

So that's the start of my stash series ... yes I fear this will have to be a series! Have you been shopping your stash recently? Please tell me you have a lot of stash too?!

Jen x

March Empties ... & Misses!

Bonjour!

To put it mildly it's been a bit hectic round these parts so a bit late with my March empties but never mind eh?  ...

Noble Isle Summer Rising Bath and Shower Gel - from a beauty box ages ago. What a gorgeous product, really does smell of summertime, flowers and sunshine. It's expensive but would love the hubby to buy this as a pressie for me sometime as a little treat!

Mandara Spa Tropical Blooms Softening Body Cream - lovely - heady and floral. Not the quickest to rub in (so I tend to save it for weekends) but it does leave skin soft and the fragrance lingers for ages.   Definitely will repurchase (again) and Mandara Spa are on offer frequently in Sainsburys so even better!

Maybelline Colossal Volum'Express Mascara in Black - I haven't had much success with Maybelline mascaras in the past. This one is ok but not brilliant - it doesn't make my lashes colossal or anything. I don't know - I've used big brushes before but the bristles in this one don't overly get on with my lashes and the formula seems a bit thin - just not feeling the colossal love unfortunately - shame!

Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream - this is described as a blend of skin conditioners, butters and oil meant to help out even the driest of hands? I think I can safely say that my hands fall into this category! I prefer to apply last thing at night as it's quite rich but lovely and moisturising on my sore dry hands.

Liz Earle Nourishing Botanical Body Cream - a regular repurchase - love this as it's so gentle but soothing. Wish I could afford to use it all the time but I can't so tend to save it for days when my eczema is playing up or my skin feels extra irritated and it works wonders!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Topcoat - this really does get your nails touch dry in a jiffy with a lovely glossy finish. Unfortunately my nail polish didn't last much longer than a couple of days (that would be nothing short of a miracle!) and now it's gone all gloopy and sticky with still a third left in the bottle so I'll have to chuck it!

L'Oreal Revitalift 10 Repair Daily Moisturiser - I've used (and liked) the BB from the same range so thought this would be a good choice of day moisturiser but it's not worked for me.  I don't feel that it moisturises enough and every time I take it onto my neck it brings my eczema out so going to have to give up on it.  There's still a little left so will have to use it on my elbows or feet or something!

What have you used up last month? Have you had any 'misses'?

Jen x

October Empties...

Bonjour!

October come and gone, Bonfire Night is upon us and the Christmas countdown has well and truly begun....! Anyway the products I've finished up during the last month or so ...

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - my second bottle finished. I've waffled on many times about how much I like this serum for hydration so won't harp on too much but my full review is here.

L'Oreal Paris Vitalift Rejuvenating Cleansing Smoothing Toner - bought this on impulse from a local Boots store ages ago - I'd run out of Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic and needed something to tide me over - plus it was on offer at around £3 or something silly. It lasted a few months as I only used it in the mornings - not sure I noticed any 'rejuvenation' or 'smoothing' going on - it felt a bit drying at times when my excema had flared up - I'll not repurchase as I'm after the REN Clarifying Toner next.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - loved this cleansing oil and will be repurchasing the full size as soon as I finish my current Emma Hardie Moringa Balm. If you read my full review here you'll see that I have another small size unopened - saving that for holiday next year - forward planning or what?

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash - another lovely product which I took on holiday and have just about finished - it's lasted ages. There will definitely be some customary 'tube-cutting' going on to get every last drop of product out! I'll probably use the money off voucher from my recent Balance Me Beauty Box here - to repurchase this. Full review of the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash is here.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - I didn't get round to doing a full review on this. I took the sample size on holiday and have been using it up recently at night.  It's meant to be soothing, brightening and lifting - I do find it soothing but can't say I noticed a huge amount of lifting - maybe I need something more potent at my age?  All in all though quite a nice little sample - I'd be happy to use this size again to take away - good job I have one in the above mentioned Balance Me Beauty Box?

Gatineau Melatogenine Advanced Anti-Ageing Eye Concentrate - I finished this back towards the end of August/start of September but kept forgetting to include it in my empties posts so thought I'd stick it in this one.  If you happened to read my evening skincare routine here you'll see that it's lasted me over a year and is aimed at the more mature eye to target wrinkles and fine lines. Loved using this - it felt like silk and I do think it helped with the old wrinkles. I'd re-purchase if/when it's on offer on QVC!

Emma Hardie AM/PM Moisturiser - another which I included in my nightly routine.  Although this is meant to combine the benefits of a serum and moisturiser in one, I had to use it over a serum to get the correct amount of hydration.  I was beginning to wonder if this would ever finish as it went on for absolutely ages!  I kept using the one pump at night for months and months and never seemed to get to the bottom of the container. Finally it finished a couple of weeks ago and already (sadly) my skin does not feel quite as nourished.  I wasn't sure whether I would repurchase this as it's quite expensive, around £38/50ml - however, it seems to be another of those premium products whereby, although the initial outlay is large - it pays for itself by it's performance and longevity so I'll be looking out for any offers!

So that's another lot of empties - can't believe it's Novembers'  next - scary! What products have you used up this month? Would you shell out for an expensive item if you knew it would last you ages?

Jen x

Balance Me Beauty Box!

Bonjour!

You may or may not have heard about the Balance Me Beauty Box from You Beauty which is knocking around at the moment!  I became a bit disillusioned with my previous beauty box subscriptions after a while and ended up cancelling them. This, however, is a totally different kettle of fish - a limited edition box containing over £100 worth of Balance Me products for just £19.95 including postage.

The products include...

Rose Otto Body Wash 100ml
Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm 40ml
Moisture Rich Face Cream 20ml
Wonder Eye Cream 10ml
Super Moisturising Hand Cream 50ml
Facial Expression Filler 15ml
Radiance Face Oil 10ml

As well as all of the above there is a £10 voucher to redeem against a full size Balance Me product.  This will definitely be put to good use!  I've been loving the Balance Me products I'm currently using - am still finishing off my Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash - full review here - and also the Wonder Eye Cream which I took on holiday so am delighted to be able to try some of the other products at such a reasonable price!

I was a bit late to purchase my box so not sure how much longer it will be available for but feel free to check out full details on the You Beauty website here.

Are you a Balance Me fan? Have you treated yourself to this beauty box?

Jen x

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash - Review

Bonjour!

The Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash was (yet another!) magazine freebie a while ago.  I took it on holiday to use in the mornings and have been using it since then.  It is paraben and sulphate free as well as carrying the full 'Balance Me Promise' which you can read here.

It contains grapefruit, petitgrain and frankincense essential oils to soothe and balance, spruce knot extract to help with congestion and moringa and rice bran oils for brightening and polishing - seems quite an impressive line-up to my untrained eye! I understand that it is suitable for make-up removal but have only used it as a morning face wash.

It has quite a creamy/gel-like consistency straight out of the tube.  I only use a small blob as a little seems to go a long way - mix with a little water and smooth over my face and neck (it is non-foaming) and rinse or wipe off with a damp muslin cloth.  A few eczema patches seem to have returned to my face this week (must be stress) but this wash doesn't sting or feel uncomfortable and cleanses gently without stripping or drying, leaving skin soft and smooth.  The aroma which hits me the most is the grapefruit and frankincense - very citrussy and zingy which is a great wake-up call in the morning!

I intend on re-purchasing at some stage as I'm really liking the gentle but effective formulation - this is probably my favourite Balance Me product so far.  The 50ml tube is still going after 2 months worth of morning washes so the full 125ml size at £16.00 should last a good while.

Have you tried the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash? What's your favourite product from the Balance Me range?

Jen x

Holiday Skincare ...!

Bonjour!

As I may have mentioned we're 'Eurotunneling' into France this year so I can pack more goodies than usual - hurray for big car boots!  However ... when I'm on holiday I just want to faff about as little as possible so the simpler the routine the better...! Quite a few of this lot are magazine freebies or sample sizes from past beauty boxes which I need to use up...

1  Gatineau Floracil Eye Make-Up Remover - part of a recent QVC kit. Removes even the most stubborn of eye make-up so thought it would come in useful as I'm always mascara'd up - even on holiday!

2  Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash - a magazine freebie from yonks ago - got a real zesty and refreshing smell so good to use in the mornings.

3  DHC  Deep Cleansing Oil - I have a couple of these sample sizes from past beauty boxes. I reckon an oil cleanser will be pretty soothing and effective at getting shut of all the grime after a day in the sun.

4  Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - decanted into this travel size from my larger version.

5  Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - I wouldn't normally take a full size glass bottle but I know this will deliver on the hydration front am/pm. Full review here.

6  Neals Yard Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture - from one of my very first Beauty Boxes last year and still not got stuck into it! I have used this a few times recently and it's light and hydrating and also doesn't upset any eczema which may crop up - so perfect for holiday.

7  Gatineau Defi-Lift Revolumising Lip Care - still a nightly favourite for lip plumping so it's in the bag! Full review here.

8  Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - just taking the one for morning and evening use. This is another from a beauty box that need using - meant to be soothing, brightening and lifting.

So those are my holiday skincare picks this year.  Have you used any of the above products at home or abroad? Which are your favourites?

Jen x

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm - Review

Bonjour!

I was recently contacted on behalf of Skin Nutrition - sister company of the Nutrition Centre.  Both companies are based in Cheltenham and are beauty and health retailers offering - between them - a range of natural/organic skin and body care together with vitamins, minerals, supplements and remedies. In fact the Nutrition Centre is actually celebrating "40 years in the nutritional supplement world" and have launched a new website which you can check out (and give feedback on) right here!

Here's one of the products I received - Balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm...

I think most of us are familiar with Balance Me products one way or another - their philosophy is "beauty that works naturally" and the company aim "to address and resolve every day skin conditions and concerns (without causing new issues in the process) and bring skin back into balance."    

(source)

Now I realise it resembles a pot of solid candle wax but don't be fooled my friends...!

Initially, I must say I wasn't sure this would be totally suitable for everyday use. In the main - pampering 'after-shower' time for me is a treat (Mums will know where I'm coming from).  I rarely have time to hang around rubbing stuff in - it  has to be a quick fix!  However - I was surprised at how easily the balm melts once warmed in the palms of your hands and then literally glides on in no time at all. The trick is to use just the right amount - you don't need loads - too much and it gets a little greasy (but too little and you end up dragging on your skin).  Used in the correct quantity it leaves skin soothed and silky with a veil of subtle scented rose and it makes me want to touch my arm all evening as it's so soft! (erm ... that would get me some weird looks I imagine!)

I've also used the balm as a concentrated overnight hand treatment. Having had a heavy cold recently -incurring all the necessary 'extra' hand-washing - my hands have been going through one of their extra-dry phases.  At times like this my hands can be quite sensitive to products which are overly-perfumed or cosmetic as such - natural products suit best and don't irritate them further. This has therefore been ideal to slather on last thing and let sink in overnight.  It seems to have done the job as my hands haven't started cracking and bleeding this time round!

The Rose-Otto Body Balm is priced at £20 per 170ml pot - which is more than I would usually pay for an 'everyday' body moisturiser. However - given that you only need a small amount at a time it should last for quite a while so will be something I'll probably put on a Christmas/Birthday list!

You can check out Balance Me products and other organic/natural ranges together with current offers on the Skin Nutrition website here and for vitamins, minerals, supplements etc visit the Nutrition Centre on their new website here.

Have you tried any Balance Me products - which is your favourite?

Jen x

Glossybox - September

Bonjour!

My Glossybox for this month has finally arrived.  I very nearly emailed Glossybox the other morning to let them know I hadn't received it but decided to wash my hair first, after which it turned up! This is apparently a limited edition box which has been 'exclusively designed by up and coming illustrator Maggi Li.' The contents are meant to be an introduction to 'some of the most exiting rising stars across fashion, design and beauty.'

The box.

What's in the box?

Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play 50ml - Full Size £8.60/300ml

I've been wanting to try this brand for a while but hadn't got round to it. Used it the other day and I do like it, I found it added volume, hold and also texture - used sparingly. If you don't like the feel of 'product' in your hair though this may not be suitable but that doesn't bother me.

Balance Me Wonder Eye-Cream 7ml - Full Size £20/50ml

This seems to ticks all the boxes 'eye-cream wise' (I do like their lip balm and have yet to try out the face wash which I got when the Glamour freebies were on).  I'm happy with my current eye-care at the moment (which - yes - I have still yet to blog about!) but may well give this a go ...

Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex 7ml - Full Size £29.99/50ml

Apparently helps smooth the look of fine lines and over time helps reduce the appearance of  wrinkles. Going to try this out on the old neck as I'm noticing deepening of necklace lines and a bit of sagging (oh joy) so need to start paying more attention to this area pronto (now that I'm an older bird and all that).

Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum and 5 Minute Facial 2 Sachets each
Full Size - Snake Serum £29.00/10 x 1ml - 5 Minute Facial £10.95/10 x 1ml

The Snake Serum is meant to help 'reduce the appearance of frown lines and wrinkles'. Think this is one of those products that 'freezes' them temporarily, never really fancied anything like this to be honest but I'll either try it out on my forehead or get a fuller fringe cut! I do have a friend who loves stuff like this though so she may end up with these.

The 5 Minute Facial is 'a triple action resurfacing gommage clay mask'.  I've read that this is a highly effective way of exfoliation as it sort of  'rolls off' the skin and hopefully takes the dead skin cells with it when you remove the mask. Will be trying this out shortly.

Lady Gaga Fame Fragrance 1.2 ml - Full Size from £25.00/30ml

Not really sure about this, it reminds me of  Dior's 'Poison', sort of sweet, dark and potent - not my kind of fragrance.  It's definitely one for winter nights out. This will go to a friend.

So that's September's box - the Sexy Hairspray and Wonder Eye-Cream seem about the best products in theory - not a fantastic box considering some of the products in past months but hey - ho!

What did you think of this month's Glossybox?

Jen x

She Said Beauty Box - August!

Bonjour!

A belated She Said box post this month as I was on holiday when it arrived so sorry about that!  Just a quick gander of the August box then!

White Glo Professional Choice 24g - Full Size £4.07/150g

Apparently this is 'Australia's No.1 whitening toothpaste' which 'gently lifts stains and discolouration from teeth.' Had my teeth whitened a few years ago but you need to keep it up every so often (which I haven't recently) so will be interested to try this out.

Nails Inc Polish 4ml - Full Size £11.00/10ml               

Love Nail Inc Polishes. This one is Bruton Street, a lovely soft lilac colour. Good little sample.

Redken Color Extend 30ml - Full size £19.99/170ml (Introductory Offer)

What a shame I didn't have this to take on holiday, have a feeling it would have been ideal! This apparently 'combines the richness of a nourishing lotion with the lightness of a spray to provide 10 essential benefits...'. Looking forward to using this.

Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve Full Size £12.00

I very nearly went for this when it was offered as one of the recent Glamour freebies but opted for the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash instead (which I've yet to try). Lovely product, leaves lips soft and nourished and smells like Turkish delight!

Papier Poudre Rachel Powdered Paper 20 Sheets 
6 Booklets -20 leaf/£7.95

I do suffer from an oily t-zone, this is meant to 'freshen and cleanse'. I'll take these into work with me as the air-conditioning in our office usually sets the old oil-production off (don't get me started on our air-conditioning system)!

4711 Eau De Cologne 3ml - Full Size £17.00/100ml 

Seriously...how long has this cologne been around for? I can remember my friend buying this years and years ago!  Still the same fresh, crisp (almost aftershave-like) scent, my hubby will probably nick this!


Not a bad box then? The Balance Me Lip Salve and Redken Color Extend have grabbed me initially!

Anyone interested in subscribing to She Said Beauty can check out the details here.

What did you think of this month's box?

Jen x