Rollin' in the Creams: L' Occitane, The Body Shop, Carex, Neals Yard

Soooo somehow between magazine freebies, gifts and half price offers I have accumulated a tiny hand cream collection. I know, I know it looks bad but in my defense I like hand creams and these will be used up. I have a little strategy in relation to using them as well, no fear there is a method in the madness. 

Christmas gift 2013

Magazine freebies, yup £58 worth of free handcream

The 30ml L'Occitane Shea Butter  hand creams I keep for carrying around daily/ on nights out. They are the perfect handbag/clutch bag size. I keep one in my Longchamp pouchette 24/7.

 These are good because they are super moisturizing and even the scented ones are not terrible overpowering.

 My sister knows of my "L'Occitane Love" and she bought me the L'Occitane gift box (pictured above) as a part of my Christmas gift. 

The Neal's Yard Hand Cream (Save The Bees guys) I plan to start using this as a hand bag cream when the weather really heats up. I tend to like citrus scents during the warmer months. 

Half priced purchases

The Body Shop Hand creams I picked these up for 2 reasons 1. I had been watching them for a while. From time to time The Body Shop emails would come to my inbox and I would have a gander  to see what products were on offer, these hand creams kept coming up peaking my interest. One day I gave in and purchased them when they were on offer with 50% off discount (these 100ml sizes are usually £10 each, I bought them for £5 each)

2. I toyed with the idea of giving each of my siblings a hand cream and a hand sanitizer as a part of their Christmas presents  (don;t judge one of my sisters gave me socks). Sadly The hand creams did not make it to the Christmas gift boxes but the hand sanitizers did. 

 

I use these during the day if I am at home and in the evenings before bed. I think these are great desk hand creams. 

Cussons Carex Antibacterial Hand Creams first let me say this was a great way for Cussons to diversify their product range. They make so many hand washes, it was just the sensible move for them to start making hand creams. Cussons -----------> WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? I bought these last August when they first launched in Superdrug and were half priced (£1.20). I originally had two of them the Vitamin E (pictured above, now resides on my desk) and the Aloe Vera ( which has been used and now rests with the hand cream gods). These I use at the office. 

There you are my lovelies.

 I told you there was a method to the madness. 

xx

The New Avengers:Skincare

The season has changed,  and some of my skincare products have finished. 

It is time for the changing of the guard, arise the NEW avengers. 

Lierac, Murad, Korres, The Body Shop, Nivea

TK MAXX Avengers  

LIERAC Cleansing Oil £5.99 (replaces Emma Hardie Cleansing balm £34)

KORRES Pomegranate Moisturising Cream/Gel £9.99 (replaces Origin Ginzing £23)

KORRES Wild Rose Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum £9.99 

Murad Perfecting Day Cream SPF30 £14.99 

Body Shop Avengers

Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil £12

Elderflower Unperfumed Eye Gel £7

Nivea Avenger 

Nivea Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream £1.98 (Love this stuff, went through 3 tubes of it at uni)

These are my skincare items for the Spring/ summer months. 

Lovelies have you changed your skincare regimen?

What new products are you using?

Comment and let me know. 

xx

The Skin Project - Moisturiser

                                                 

The first post of the skin project for the New Year is all about moisturising. 

Moisturising is the process of aiding the body's natural hydration of the skin. Moisturising  prevents the upper layer of the epidermis from getting dry through loss of water which occurs naturally through evaporation. When the water in the cells within the epidermis (top layer of skin) is lost,  the skin tries to pull water from the lower layers of skin. This loss of water  will cause the skin to become dry. When moisturiser is applied to the top layer of skin, the skin absorbs it, the hydrating agents  within the moisturiser helps the water already present within the skin cells. Composition of products along with skin type determines the effectiveness of a moisturiser, ie whether or not the skin will absorb all or some of the product. Eg My skin type - Oily will absorb 50 - 90% of a light moisturiser, but only 30 - 45% of a rich moisturiser.

Since my skin is Oily I tend to go for light and oil free formulas. Price is not a determining factor for me in relation to buying a facial moisturiser. I usually test the products first and if I like how it feels on my skin after it has been absorbed then I will buy it. Sometimes I like it a product after trying it once, other times it might be after 3 or 4 tries the love comes. One thing I wont do is force a product, if it leaves my skin greasy, oily or with any sort of film/coating it is a no no for me. 

My current moisturiser for the daytime is the Origins GinZing moisturiser, which is a light hydrating formula. It has a semi gel like feel, spreads very easily and absorbs very quickly into my skin. After application my skin feels plump and supple without looking greasy. The Origins Ginzing moisturiser layers up easily under my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural and the MAC Studio Fix finish. 

                                         

Review

In the evenings I apply the Boots Botanics Hydrating Night Cream All Bright (pictured above) as my night cream. This product is another face cream with a gel like consistency. It has a bit more body to it than the Origins GinZing, but it goes on light and absorbs quickly. I have been using  these creams for almost 7 months and I am still happy with both of them. 

Happy New Year to you all, for more about #TheSkinProject read posts by the other participants and the creator Lianne @ www.thebrunettesays.co.uk.

Be Re-newed

xx

Winter Skincare Series - Body Butters

       It is here the frostier months of which I spoke last week have arrived full force. customers are now including de-icer in their week grocery purchases. The first snow fell can you believe that!!!!!! Christmas decorations, gifts, foods, and various other paraphernalia are on sale stacked high in every possible space. During winter I prefer to use a thicker moisturiser on my body, the other lotions and body creams just do't seem to cut it when battling lower level of hydration, central heating, layered clothing and the overall winter climate. Below are some of the body butters which are currently in my winter skincare arsenal

      My body butters of choice used to be from the Body Shop however regular everyday brands such as Vaseline, Palmers and Jergens have all stepped up and included the heavier moisturiser as a part of their product ranges. These everyday brands of course are accompanied with pocket friendly price tags. However do not be fooled The Jergens body butter is truly one to be reckoned with followed by the Vaseline Cocoa Butter body butter, the Palmers body butters come up third but they are still in the running. The thicker formulas of body butters keep my skin well moisturised and feeling supple all day during the winter months.  

Texture is an important factor for some when choosing a body butter. The Body Shop Body butters are   the thickest out of all of these, followed closely by the Vaseline body butter, next in line is the Jergens, then the L'Occitane and last the Palmers body butters. 

       The Palmers body butters come in three varieties Shea, Cocoa and Olive butters, The body Shop body butters are available in over 12 different scents, including, Strawberry, Orange, Blueberry, Moringa, Lemon. Scent is another factor to consider when choosing a body butter. I quite like to use the fruity scents on the weekends and the neutral scents such as Shea, Cocoa Butter, Jergens oatmeal during the week. Some persons are sensitive to strong scents and the body shop body butters are definite strongly scented. Other maybe like my friend Darren, who banned me from wearing fruity scented Body Butters to lectures because they made him hungry. lol (uni memories)

Price 
Palmers Body Butters - £4.99 per 200ml
Vaseline Body Butter - £5.06 per 200ml
Jergens Body Butters - £4.99 per 200ml
Body Shop Body Butter - £13 per 200ml (Shea and Satsuma both gifts)
L'occitane Ultra rich body Cream - £16 per 100ml (Apricot & Vineyard rose purchased in the summer sale for £4.80 each)

Both the Vaseline and the Jergens body butters are currently on offer at Superdrug.

Miss Mai
xx

Part 1 of my Winter skincare series - Shower Creams post Click 

Review - Nivea Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream spf 8

Moisturises and regulates shine for a fresh skin feeling 

What Nivea  says:

Nivea visage daily essentials oil free moisturising day cream enriched with Natural Lemon grass and Rice extract, supports the natural balance of your skin:

• Regulates your skin:s oil balance to leave your skin shine free
• The light formulation hydrates your skin without clogging pores
• With spf8 and extra uva filters it helps to protect your skin from environmental influences and premature aging. 

What I say:

      This cream I have been using since February I purchased it since I had in spf and you guys know if you follow me on twitter (@Rebelle01) that I am very big on spf, I wear it daily. This was my first venture into the spf/suncreen moisturiser arena. As a face cream it does what it says on the packaging, it does keep my skin moisturised, and hydrated. It sinks in quite quickly,  spreads easily which I love, and there is no greasy after feel, to my skin. It lasts a really long time, which is def a plus point in my book. (yes it is STILL going strong, since I mostly wear it if I am staying inside the house these days, or if I need a moisturiser before I go out at night under my makeup)  
      The price point is very very very affordable, I paid less than £4 for this and it was 1/3 off the full price, though I am no budget fashionista, I do want to be as financially savvy as possible. As a girl with Oily skin this cream is a peach, I absolutely love it. The only downside is the spf factor, now that I have done thorough and in-depth research regarding spf, I am disappointed in regards to the amount of spf that is in this cream, it contains spf 8 where as the other two creams in this range contain spf15, so I feel we oily girls are getting jipped.

Nivea visage cream in the middle, current skincare routine.

Would I repurchase? - yes I would repurchase this cream for during the winter months dec/jan/feb

Would I recommend? - yes i would,  really like this cream, my only disappointment is the spf factor.

Would I buy full priced? - no probably not, it is always on offer somewhere.

Stay savvy my lovelies

Review - Avene Cleanance K Exfoliating Hydrating Treatment

What Avene says:

    Daily treatment helps to eliminate clogged pores, blackheads, blemishes to reveal a brighter, clearer complexion. Non - irritating formulations clinically proven to change the pattern of cycle causing acne breakouts, reduce excess sebum and restore skin's balance. 

How to use:

    Apply PM after thoroughly cleansing with Avene Cleanance soap free gel cleanser. If bothersome tingling occurs, reduce frequency of applications accordingly.

What I say:

     This is what is classified as a chemical exfoliant. Due to the content of glycolic acid, it gently eats away at the glue that holds the top layer of skin cells together, thus causing them to flake away over night, encouraging faster skin cell turnover. The Cleanance K gel really helped to clear away my scarring left from previous breakouts, it wasn't harsh, or stripping on my skin. While using this at night I made sure to cover my skin during the day with a moisturiser containing spf or just a sunblock. I have been using this as a night cream for over 4 months and I have def seen an improvement not only in my acne scaring but my skin as a whole seems alot brighter. If you are suffering from blemishes and would like to try chemical exfoliants or you are just tired of the pulling and tugging on your skin from manual exfoliants why not give this a try? You can use it on its own or in conjunction with the rest of the regimen from Avene. 

Would I repurchase? - yes

Would I reccomend? -  yes

Would I buy full price? -  yes 

Miss Mai 

My 11 most reached for Beauty products.........

    This is a tag that has been around in the online beauty community for a while with beauty bloggers and vloggers. I find that with beauty being such a huge area we are constantly trying to find ways to set ourselves apart, however there is nothing wrong with conforming at times. Beauty tags in my opinion are a great way to find out what products, persons with similar interest are using. Other bloggers may be using a product you are using but in multiple ways, where as you may be only using it one way. These tags are a quick and easy way to share information. 

My 11 most reached for Beauty products

Victoria Jackson face palette (£20 with 3 other products) - 16 eye shadows, 6 lipsticks, a translucent powder, a bronzer and a blush.  -------> do not buy

L'oreal Made for Me Naturals, Brow and Eye Duo, Dark Skin Tones (£7) - 2 eye shadows and a brow powder.

Mascara - at the moment I am using the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara (£10)

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural  Deep Dark  (£18.50)one of my girl friends aka the pageant junkie put me onto this a few years ago and I have loved it ever since. It gives me life!!!!! 

Estee Lauder  Bronzing brush  (£23) - a kabuki brush (but you know everybody is trying to be fancy)  when I bought this brush I though damn this is expensive, but its been 3 years and it works just as amazing now as it did the first day I bought it. 

Avene Rich hydrating creme spf 20 (£10.50) - this is what I am currently using as sunblock/spf protection. (trying to be as well preserved as possible for as long as possible, lol. 

L'Occitane Shea Butter hand cream (£7.50) - This hand cream is rich, but absorbs into skin very very easy. There is none of that greasy feeling after application. I absolutely love it. I am going to admit I have 3 of these as backups, no I am not shamed. They are always giving these away in magazines and I cop the freebies. Ain't NO shame in this L'Occitane game. 

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil 004 Black Brown (£2.99) - if you do not have one of these -----> you need to get your life. 

Black eyeliner - at the moment I am using Maybelline Khol express water proof eyeliner glam black (4£4.99) - a blatant copy of the Urban decay 24/7 eyeliner, it does the job.

Coloured Eyeliner - I do not discriminate, in ratation i have from Urban decay -> Lucky, Lust, Electric, and Covet, H & M eyepens -> Bronze, Dark Grey, Maybelline Khol Express waterproof Eyeliner pencils -> Metallic Blue, Metallic Green, Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definers -> Pink impact, Aqua sparkle, MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil -> Navy Stain, Barry M Khol pencil -> 19, Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye liner pencil -> Azure Shimmer. 

Lip Balm - At the moment I am using Blistex lip massage, Nivea Pure and Natural milk and honey, Blistex Daily lip conditioner.

miss mai

xx

Comment below and let me know what products you reach for most often (even if its your grandmas face cream, wink wink)

New Stuff - Doo Gro, L'Occitane, L'Oreal, Palmolive

Yea I know usually I would say this is a haul or something of the like, but everybody is hauling something or another these days. So I thought New Stuff, plus I like to plan my hauls. I save up my money make a list of things that I need to purchase, search different websites and blogs for deals that are going on and then buy I buy products. These are just products I have accrued over the last week. 

£2.43 this was on half price offer and I  am getting bored of my Infisium 23 (been using it religiously for over a year/ 12 months) so I thought I would give this one a try.

£1.01 this was on half priced offer as well, I bought it to suppliment my REN Morrocan Rose Otto body wash (£16  for 200ml that ish is not cheap). It smells exactly the same as the REN for wayyyyyyy less

£5.10 the most expensive purchase this week. I bought his to replace my beloved Aphogee Green tea and Keratin Reconstrustor, after nearly 2 solid years of service it is finished.

£4.80 I picked this up in the L'occitane summer sale. it was 70% off  So I thought I would treat myself. Also I have a few rose scented washes, so a lotion would be a good way to layer the fragrance. Did I mention it was 70% OFF. original price £16 for 100ml 

£4.80 same reason as above, I wanted to treat myself and it was 70% off.





what lotions and potions have you treated yourself to lately?
write in the comments and let me know.

L'occitane the summer sale

The L'occitane summer sale has started, (whoo, hoo). I wrote about L'occitane previously on this blog when I did a review of their Shea butter han cream,. I still have my tube of hand cream and it is still going strong though I must admit I have two backups. So today when I saw the email advertising the sale I decided to treat myself to a few things. My nose and my pocket lead my purchase  I wont lie I bought the two most recessionista friendly products on the website. (I am not afraid to live within my means)

These body creams were originally £16 each (I remember when I used to think Body shop body butters were pricey). However at £4.80 the sale price was not bad at all and they were both limited edition items. Check out the L'occitane sale online or instore if you can, you just might find something you like. 

£4.80

£4.80

Review: Organic Root Stimulator Olive oil, Oil moisturizing Hair Lotion (hair fave)

Wheew well that was a mouthful and yes that is actually the name of a single product, lol Here is a photograph. 

     I love love love this stuff. I definitely recommend it to all my girlies both relaxed and natural. The first two ingredients are water and coconut oil so this is a product which is def up there in the moisturizer category. It is very thick and rich which is especially good for cold/freezing climates when thicker conditioners and moisturizers are needed. This is also great for persons who live in hot or humid climates, all you have to do is use it in small amounts ---> a little goes a long way. 

     Also you could thin out the formula by squeezing approximately 1/2 the bottle into a container and adding 2  large tablespoons (the big one) of olive oil yes that same olive oil you have in your kitchen cooking with. Store in a cool space out of direct sunlight) This thinned out formula works great in the summer time for my relaxed hair, when I want my hair moisturized but not clumped down with products. This hair lotion is fairly CHEAP so this is what I call a recession proof product. Unless your hair absolutely HATES this there is no way you can go wrong. 

Review: Garnier Body Intensive 7 days Nourishing lotion

What Garnier says:
Is this the right lotion for me?
 if you feel that your skin becomes dehydrated over the course of the day, losing its softness and moisture even when you have used a body moisturiser in the morning.

How does it work?
Intensive 7 days Nourishing lotion is enriched with natural based Cocoa butter and L-Bifidus (Lysate of Bifidus)inspired by probiotics , which have been selected to meet the needs of dry rough skin.

L-Bifidus : A Garnier innovation that helps to prevent moisture loss from the skin surface. Inspired by probiotics, L-Bifidus helps the skin to reinforce its natural protective barrier , locking in moisture. This results in exceptionally long lasting hydration.
Softening Cocoa Butter sourced form the tropically grown Cacao Tree (I never understand why its cocoa butter and not Cacao butter but bear with me), it contains a high concentration of skin conditioning natural oils known to contain antioxidants and smooths skin texture.
- Satiny nourishing texture
-Fast absorbing
-Non greasy

Now onto my review I started to use this by chance actually, I am at home at the moment and I don't have my regular body moisturiser. The other lotion I was using was leaving my skin with a white film on top of it added to the fact it was taking forever and a day to rub it into my skin nil poi. I saw this in my cousins kit where he keeps all his stuff, deodorant, facewash etc. I took it up and saw the title and went steups 7 days my backfoot, anyway I used it, its Garnier and Cocoa Butter how can they screw that up? Used it used it for a few days morning, night and now I am thinking hmmmm this is good stuff. so I read what they had on the back and checked the ingredients.

     In terms of "nourishing" the skin I must say it works really really well in terms the texture, how quickly it absorbs into the skin and it is not greasy, which most of us will know can be the problem with some Cocoa Butter body moisturisers. The weather is changing and my skin is going through a phase right now where it just sucks up everything I put on it and in less than no time it is dry again. It doesn't know if it wants to be dry or not and exams are coming up so that equates to my skin is driving me up the wall.  I haven't had this problem. while using this body lotion. In terms of what it says on the packaging it does that one thing I must say this lotion makes your skin feel lovely and smooth.
     The thing that detracts from this lotion are the ingredients. In most cosmetics, products ingredients are listed by quantity in the product. In this lotion three products jumped out to me palm oil is listed as product number 7, shea butter is product number 10, and Cocoa butter is product number 19. So really this is a Palm Oil lotion with Shea butter and a dash of Cocoa Butter NOT COOL GARNIER. My regular moisturiser is the Palmers Shea Butter Lotion or the body butter and it works really well (could be why this lotion worked so well on my skin). This particular range from Garnier has a Shea Butter lotion as well. I think Garnier deserves a slap on the wrist for trying to dupe us the consumers, it is a good product but what the label says and what we receive are two completely different things.

3* out of a possible 5*

Sidenote:  The Vaseline intensive care Cocoa body lotion and body butter contains more Shea butter than Cocoa butter. Check the ingredients list and you will see for yourself, Shea Butter is listed  higher than Cocoa butter.