May Empties ...!

Bonjour!

So now we're into June and the very last school term ... even my son recently commented that this year is passing by really quickly!  Just a few empties from last month then ...

Liz Earle Hand Repair - all finished up. Although I  do like this hand cream it doesn't stretch as far as I'd like for the price so I'd only repurchase in a kit. Full review here.
Emma Hardie Natural Lift and Sculpt Firming Eye Serum - I've been faffing around with this bottle for months to get the product out! Unfortunately I'll not be repurchasing - my full review is here.
Sanctuary Spa Body Butter - this was included in a three part Christmas set which was half price in the Boots sale so an absolute bargain. Love these body butters, they go on easily and smell great! What more can I say?
Bare Minerals Original SPF 15 Foundation in Medium Beige - my go-to foundation on work days - love it! Have used it for years (obviously not this particular pot!) and can't believe I've not blogged about it properly yet (having said that there are loads of products that fall into the same category!). Have a couple of spare pots in my stash so no need to panic!
Nuxe Reve de Miel and L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Creams - love the pair of em!  I have a little stash of mini L'Occitane hand creams courtesy of my mum and the Nuxe handbag size was part of a cheeky little Nuxe kit last year. They're both soothing and softening and I'd buy again.
Philosophy Summer Grace Eau de Toilette - this was a January sales bargain from the year before last. It's another one of those that makes me want to constantly sniff my wrist - love it. Smells very clean to me and the scent really lingers. Now ... living with my hubby I have to say I am more than familiar with lingering scents but this is definitely one I would not want to leave the room for!! 

I've always been a bit of a Dairy Milk girl (although I am partial to Terry's Choc Orange!) and am obsessed with Fruit & Nut at the moment (I should point out that I did not devour this all in one sitting - it was consumed gradually over a week and I even let the hubby have a couple of blocks - so generous am I!) - I will most definitely be re-purchasing ... !

What products have you used up this month? Are you in the Dairy Milk field or do you sway towards Galaxy?

Jen x

August/Holiday Favourites...

Bonjour!

These are my favourite products from this year's holiday (which was obviously in August!) ... photographed by the side of the pool - she says wistfully...must forget about the pool and the sun for another year!

Clockwise ... (sort of!) ...

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Cream Factor 30 - although the recent bout of eczema has cleared up on my face and neck I needed sun protection which was gentle but effective in case it re-appeared whilst on holiday - this was just the ticket.  I smoothed it on every morning over my face and neck after moisturising - super easy to apply and provided the protection I needed - a lovely product and one I would repurchase.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Grapefruit - you can see it in action in my NOTD post here. Absolutely love this vibrant juicy colour. Don't want to put it away for autumn/winter - not going to just yet!

Wild About Beauty Multi-Purpose Tint -  a super summer and holiday product. Gives a natural flush which you can see in my review here.

Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream (Medium to Dark) - can't believe I reviewed this a whole year ago here , it was also included in last year's August Favourites and here it is again! This is in fact the same tube with plenty left (and in date of course) so I've used it again.  I said it last year - because it's quite pigmented it's a lovely product to use on holiday and keeps that bit of glow on yer kite once you return. Another product I'm not yet ready to retire for the season just yet!

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Duo - I got hold of this from QVC on easy pay instalments during the the last Beauty Day. A leave-in conditioning spray, a leave-in Elasticizer?  It was certainly a lifesaver on holiday and kept the frizzies at bay good style. Full review to follow when I've done a bit more road-testing!

Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder - still loving this bronzer - perfect for holiday evenings - full review here.

Mally Perfect Prep Under Eye Brightener - been using this for a couple of months now and it works really well to lighten up those dark circles - full review to follow.

Oh - and then there was this little beauty ...

Now - I have to say I'm not a big drinker but I did find that this super-cheap vino from our local French supermarket went down very easily indeed and is - unfortunately a distant memory! Stupidly we only bought the one box. Must make room for more next year!

So ... those are the favourites. Still wishing I was beside that pool  ... however with the  kids back to school this week I'm pretty sure I won't have time to think about holidays, pools, sunshine and the like!

What were your August or holiday favourites?

Jen x

Glossybox - January

Bonjour!

January's Glossybox arrived last week - waving the 'Detox' flag. This box is supposed to be all about rejuvenating, replenishing, regenerating and refreshing - don't know about you lot but I could do with some of that right now ...

Quick look at the products...

Lacoste - Eau de Lacoste sample - from £33/30ml - it's meant to evoke the feeling of wearing pure cotton on skin - cotton's not the first thing that springs to mind but I like the fragrance - fresh and clean.

Sanctuary Spa Active Reverse Thermal Transformation Mask 2 sample sachets (serum and mask) Full Size £27.50/Step 1- 50ml Step 2 75ml - this apparently has instant results and after four weeks of use 'visibly firms and refines to reveal smoother, glowing, more even skin'.  I said I wanted to try to use more face masks so will give this a go. Probably two/three uses out of this sample - not sure? (Darcey Bussell is said to like this one - so if it's good enough for Darcey ...)

Mono Micro Exfoliant - 30ml/Full Size £14.50/100ml - love the smell of this - 'delivers instant radiant skin, refining the skin's texture, reducing the appearance of pores and fine lines.' The product contains papaya enzymes which is supposed to help stimulate cell renewal - looking forward to using.
.,
Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for eyes - 3.5ml/Full Size £57/15ml  - provides 'immediate hydration that firms and awakens the delicate eye area' - sounds good. I'll use the sample but probably wouldn't spend so much on a full size. It would have to be an absolute miracle worker.

BM Beauty Dewy Perfection Finishing Powder - 1g sample/Full Size £8/4g - this can apparently be used under or over foundation, to diminish fine lines, create an airbrushed finish or as a highlighter. It has a bit of a sheen so can use this to 'help me look alive' in the morning.

Glossy dreams sleep mask (bonus product) - a nice idea but I don't use them personally - have given it to my little girl!

So that's it. Quite like the theme of this box - maybe would have been nice to have had one full size product  (is that just me?). All in all though a decent box. Looking forward to using the Mono Micro Exfoliant.

You can check out the Glossybox experience here.

What did you get in this month's Glossybox?

Jen x

August Favourites!

Bonjour!

I didn't do my July favourites because I was on holiday so here a few of my fave products during July/August and a couple I've managed to (almost) use up!

Original Source Daily Scrub Cranberry and Honey - there's something about Original Source products that's truly mouthwatering and this is no exception! Smells like something you could spread on your toast/crumpet/pikelet/bagel! It's moisturising and provides a gentle yet effective exfoliation experience!

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Spray (sorry I seem to have lost the cover!)- this is described as 'a leave-in finishing treatment that performs like a hairspray'. I love this product, I only use it when my hair is pretty frazzled on the ends, it's like a conditioning treatment in a can with a bit of hold. I find the trick is to use sparingly on fine hair (which is probably why this can has lasted me ages), as with all Ojon products I've used it's pretty concentrated and a little goes a long way. Think it's been re-named though as 'Ojon Damage Reverse Finishing Spray'.

John Frieda Full Repair (Full Body) Shampoo and Conditioner - took these on holiday and then brought them home to finish off (have done so now).  This was a great duo for holiday as I felt it gave my hair a bit of extra protection and moisture in a hot and humid climate.  Not the best volume I've experienced but good on the conditioning front.

Dove Summer Glow Moisturiser (normal to dark) - I've used this moisturiser for a couple of years now, it's great for a bit of extra colour and also for topping up the old tan once you return from holiday. Doesn't give off that obvious self-tan aroma and I've not found it to be too orange in tone but you do have to remember to rub in well around any dry bits!

Chanel Bronze/Revlon Balm Stain/Glossybox Lipstick

Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream - my ultimate summer BB, been loving this for a while now (that could be the start of a song title!).  It's still my morning 'pick-me-up' complexion wise, seems to keep that bit of holiday colour going. There's loads left in the tube for next spring once I need to 'warm up' my face. I'll definitely be repurchasing this one. You can see my full review here should you with to do so!

Olay Essentials Complete Care Plus Multiradiance Moisturising Lotion (Normal/Oily) - this is a regular re-purchase, especially for the summer months. Absorbs very easily, keeps my skin hydrated, contains SPF 15 and also light reflecting particles which help to give skin a bit of a lift. It's also a bargain in my opinion at £7.99/75ml and has lasted for ages.

Chanel Bronze Universel Sun Illuminator - gorgeous bronzer, a sort of gel/cream texture that gives a natural glow without any shimmer.  This pot has lasted for ages and is nearly finished as you can see. I was once told I looked 'really well' by a friend I bumped into at the supermarket, I can remember being gobsmacked  because I was feeling pretty run-down (as all mums do from time to time) and so put it down to having worn this bronzer on that day!  I told my friend as much! I've not blended the bronzer in (on above swatch) but just smeared a bit on my hand, I think the colour works well on most skintones (it was my 'English Rose' friend who recommended it to me!), hence the 'Universel' vibe!

Revlon 'Just Bitten Kissable' Balm Stain (Rendezvous) - wasn't sure what to expect from this (it looks a bit like a wax crayon from my kids' younger days!),  I fancied something with an orange tone for summer but not too 'full on'.  This provides a wash of translucent colour with a slight sheen but can be built up if you want the colour to be more intense.  Tastes minty and makes my lips tingle! The only thing I would say is I've needed to use a lip balm beforehand because it does tend to cling to any dry areas on the lips (well it does on mine anyway!). Having said that, it is pretty long lasting and does live up to it's name in that it does 'stain' the lips!

Glossybox Lipstick (Glossy Pink) - absolutely love this lipstick, not had one in this tone for a good while and it's been perfect once I had a bit of a tan on my face! It's creamy and moisturising and lasts ok too. I've been a bit lipstick shy for a few years but this has made me want to experiment a bit more on the 'lippy front'!

Erm ... don't know how that got there!  Anyway, this is a childhood favourite of mine. We used to spread it thickly on a slice of bread and have for supper as a treat - very sticky and sweet! Something I like to indulge in now and again.  You'll probably know it's also fantastic when used in cake recipes ...will have to get onto that ...!

So what have been your favourites over the past month? Any childhood treats you'd like to share?

Jen x

Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream - Review

Bonjour!

I've been continuing on the great BB exploration trail ... I've tried a couple more since my last review and this is one of them - Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream in Medium to Dark.

Some information directly from 'Sanctuary Spa ' -

Key Ingredients:
Silica – Evens skin tone and helps to control oils within the skin. Naturally derived spherical powders diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles 
Hyaluronic Acid & Glycerin – Ensures skin remains moisturised and protected for 24 hours
Hydroviton 24 – Rejuvinates and protects the skin
UV Filters – Provide long lasting sun protection
Oils rich in antioxidants to combat free radicals

 So - I've used it as it says 'on the tin', in place of my usual moisturiser but also after moisturising, ie as you would a foundation. The latter is my preferred method, I leave my moisturiser to sink in a little and then apply where needed. I find I use less of the BB this way, although it's a good creamy consistency it's quite deep in tone and is easier to blend. It doesn't clog pores or break me out/upset my oily t-zone, seems to keep the hydration thing up and smells great - refreshing and natural.

I'm always on the lookout for products that take the 'yellowness' out of my olive skin and thankfully this has proved to be one of them! Creates a lovely golden hue and warms up my skin nicely without any 'orange stuff' going on! You only need a small amount for a healthy glow but it's also buildable if you want more coverage.  Took this on holiday this year for a bit of 'enhancement' and have also used it on office days with a bit of my Bare Minerals Tinted Mineral Veil over the top.

Good Creamy Thing!

Ready to Blend

Blended In!

The Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream is available in two options, Light to Medium and Medium to Dark.  You can check out full details from Sanctuary Spa here.

I can honestly say this has been my ultimate 'go to' product this summertime, I really like it and will re-purchase.  Priced at £14.99/50ml, it's a lovely product and a real 'pick me up' for my skin!

What's been your favourite BB this summertime?

Jen x

Holiday Skincare Bag! (What's In It?)

Bonjour!

With summer holidays looming I'm having to think about what I need to take away with me for (hopefully) a couple of weeks of sun!

I always pack too many products which don't always get used so I'm going to make an effort to 'pare down' this year and only take (what I consider to be) essentials! I've bought a few travel minis but also have several products which are half used so need take as many of these as I can to finish off!

So here are my holiday skincare products -

From left to right (sort of) -

Sanctuary Spa Fresh-Faced Purifying Wash - this remains one of my favourite face washes/cleansers, so I've bought the travel size again for hols.  Refreshing in the morning and removes make-up (including eye make-up) at night with my Liz Earle muslin cloth. Full write-up here.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer - my favourite toner, refreshing, hydrating, soothing - the works! The spritzer is perfect for hols.


Liz Earle Skin Repair Light - I've used this on and off (just over a third of a tube left), it's light and easily absorbed and should be ideal under my sunscreen which I'm hoping to have to wear every day!

Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum - again I've used this on and off for years now, great for smoothing round the eye area at night. Tiny tube so very travel friendly!


Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Roll-On - one of my favourite eye products so hydrating and cooling, another holiday must have.  Again you can see my full write up here. 


Avon Sun SPF 30 Anti-Ageing Face Cream - Last year's tube but plenty left so should be able to finish off. It provides good sun protection and is suitable for sensitive skin.   


Liz Earle Superbalm - the famous balm, ideal for night-time lips and nails/cuticles, and smoothing onto dry, split ends!  


Boots Essentials Lipsalve SPF 15 - daytime everyday lip salve but with essential SPF.


A few sample sachets to throw in - these were given to me by the lovely assistant at the Biotherm counter in Boots last year as my skin was showing as de-hydrated on their 'skin test monitor'.  

Biotherm Aquasource Gel -  I've not found this to be a great base for make up as it does seem to form a sort of 'hydrating shield' over the skin but it will be perfect for night-time usage as it's soothing, cooling and hydrating, just what your skin needs after a day in the sun!

Biotherm Source Therapie 7 Skin Perfecting Serum - I used this a year or so ago when my skin was de-hydrated. A lovely product and ideal for use under my moisturiser at night.  It has '7 benefits concentrated in one serum' - you can check out the full details here.

I'll also decant some of my Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator into a little pot for a gentle holiday scrub!

So there you have it, my holiday skincare regime. I don't think I've done too bad this year!  Plenty of room in the travel bag to shove my make up bag in as well!

Holiday haircare to follow shortly, now there's a challenge!

What's in your holiday skincare bag this year?

Jen x