Saturday Afternoon Post :-)

Don't you just love it when a courier knocks the door with a parcel of goodies on a Saturday Afternoon? I LOVE feelunique.com

Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair 60 Sec Treatment 200ml - I ha vent had my hair cut in a salon for just over a year. As awful as this sounds, I have now finally got the length of hair that it had taken me about 10 years to try and grow. despite this neglect, I wouldn't say my hair is in really bad condition, but it does need a treatment every now and again as the ends are quite dry. I had recently heard a review of this product on Youtube by Ruth of A Model Recommends, and for £8.45 I thought I would give it a go. It has that intense, salon-product scent to it, and promises a visibly enhanced healthy shine and smooth, silky hair in 60 seconds. Sounds great! I cant wait to try this out!

Caudalie Winter Rescue Duo - Admittedly, this was an impulse buy. As I have said before, I am always wanting to try out new hand creams, as my hands become dry and sore through washing them a zillion times a day in work, and the winter weather only adds to this. With ingredients like avocado, Shea butter & grape-seed oil, I have high hopes for this product. I am also suffering the worst dry lips ever at the moments, and am hoping that the vanilla lip conditioner is going to work some magic on them. This set cost £7.20, which was a bargain I thought :-)

Caudalie Peach Shower Gel - This was another impulse buy, especially as I didn't realise that Caudalie produce bath & shower products. I thought it was only facial skincare! This shower gel smells exactly how you would expect, is soap-free and claims to be non-irritating. I have sooo many shower gels, but I don't mind adding this one to my vast collection as I seem to be getting through them all quite quickly. At £8.10 for 200mls, it is quite reasonably priced.

Have you ordered anything from feelunique lately?

Claire

xXx

Mini Urban Decay Haul

A few blog posts ago, I shared my disappointment of the re-vamped Big Fatty Mascara by Urban Decay. This product had been purchased along with a few others, so I thought I would do a mini Urban Decay haul for you.

As a side note, I have to say that I really love the rock-chick-esque packaging that Urban Decay have going on at the moment!

My most favourite ever Urban Decay eyeshadow has to be Sin. I have loved it since forever, and its popularity as part of my make-up collection never dies. It is the only shade in my Naked palette that has a significant 'dent' in it. I think it is such a versatile colour, which I wear alone for daytime/work and vamp it up by blending it with Darkhorse or Hustle for an evening look. So, when I discovered the 24/7 eyeshadow pencil available in Sin, I just had to have one! Crease-proof, waterproof and Ultra Long lasting. The Pigmentation is fantastic, and I cant wait to give this little beauty a whirl :-)

I also purchased the new Karma brush. this was another product that, like the Big Fatty Mascara, was mis-sold to me. I was told that this brush was multi-use and suitable as an applicator for blusher & foundation. Thinking that this was ingenious for travelling, I snapped it up only to discover that it is for foundation only. It feels very soft, and I have read only good things about it so far, so despite my initial disappointment that it is not what I first thought, I am excited to try it out.

I also had two freebies thrown in with these purchases. The Midnight Cowboy lipgloss mini is right up my street. It is almost sheer with a delicate bronze/gold sparkle. It smells delicious, and is the perfect size for taking on a night out.

I also had this eyeshadow & primer tester. Although the darker shade of eyeshadow scares me, I am determined to give it a go all the same. And I have heard many a rave review of the Primer Potion, so this comes as a very welcome tester.

I hope you all like this mini-haul. have you treated yourself to any Urban Decay goodies lately?

Claire

xXx

Florabotanica Balenciaga Paris

To date, I have never purchased, owned or tried any fragrance by Balenciaga. However, whilst out and about shopping today this little beauty caught my eye.

It is the Florabotanica by Balenciaga, and not only is the couture bottle such an amazing, unique design - very 'Alice in Wonderland' I thought - but the scent is simply stunning, and long-lasting. It is described as a fragrance with two architectural notes: a fresh floral facet and a mysterious green facet, and its name is intended to evoke the 18th century botanical gardens in which the most exotic and rarest plant species were displayed.

I feel that this description is well-deserved, as it is a bold floral-based fragrance that at first appears very classic in scent, but has a delicious modern twist. You really need to seek this product out and test it for yourself to appreciate its uniqueness. And who doesn't need that perfume bottle displayed on their dressing table?!

Florabotanica is an eau de parfum available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml sizes, with prices ranging from £40-£75. I am seriously considering purchasing the latter as I really cannot get enough of this, and think it could be my go-to winter fragrance!!

Have you been wowed by this fragrance as much as I am?

Claire

xXx

More free samples!!

In follow-up to my recent post where I told you all about how generous L'Occitane were by sending me a good amount of free samples, I thought I would let you know about a few more free samples that I received about two weeks or so ago from Neal's Yard.

A little while back, I posted my views on the Neal's Yard Rehydrating Rose Moisturiser, which you can read about here. I was less than impressed with this particular product, but had not completely lost faith in the brand as it was only the first Neal's Yard product that I had tried. I relayed the information detailing the problems I had found with this moisturiser in an email to Neal's Yard via their website, and politely requested some samples of other products before I started spending my hard earned cash on more Neal's Yard items that I may also have an adverse reaction to.

They were very obliging, and I have received trial sizes of the Orange Flower Facial Polish, Orange Flower Facial Wash, and the Orange Flower Facial Moisturiser. As you can see from the photos above, one of the products is quite oily (the facial polish), and a little has leaked out during transit, causing the writing to smudge. All of these products smell lovely - more of an aromatherapy-based orange than a fruity/citrussy orange - and I couldn't wait to try them out!!


£14.80 for 100g



I used all three products as a skincare trio. The Orange Flower Facial Polish has micro-particles in it which, although seemingly gentle, make actually quite an abrasive scrub. Out of all three products, this is my favourite. My skin felt so soft and clear immediately after use, and my complexion also looked much brighter. This is definately a product I can see myself purchasing full-size, however I think it is a little too harsh a scrub for everyday use. It also doesn't appear to be available on the website, so maybe I would just have to purchase it in-store?

£15.50 for 100mls



The next product is the Orange Flower Facial Wash, which I have to say I found a little disappointing. This claims to be "A gently foaming lotion with nurturing orange flower and mandarin oils to cleanse without drying the skin". It should be massaged into damp skin and rinsed off with cool water. I much prefer a facial wash that lathers up well, which this one does not (not even a hint of the 'gentle foaming' as described!), and the biggest downside with this product is that it does not remove mascara/eyeliner effectively. I also found it to be quite drying, and my skin felt very taught after use. Unfortunately, this is not a product I would consider purchasing.

£23.75 for 100mls



The Orange Flower Facial Moisturiser again smells very aromatherapy-based, and is not what I would describe as an intense moisturiser. If you have normal skin, with no dry patches, this product would most likely be great for you. On the plus side, it absorbs easily into the skin, leaving it soft and non-greasy. I wasn't overly wowed by this product, and don't think I will be purchasing the full size, simply because it is not moisturising enough for me (but thankfully I suffered none of the red blotchy rash as I had done with the Rehydrating Rose Moisturiser!!).

This post just goes to prove how sending out samples can really help us as a consumer when choosing new beauty products. There is nothing worse than making a big purchase, only to find out that the product you have chosen is not suitable for you. Being able to try-before-you-buy is such a great concept, and it is a shame that many other companies are not so obliging with sending out free samples on request.

Please let me know if you have tried out some great samples lately?

Claire

xXx

Recent Purchases: River Island, Primark, Nars, Laura Mercier & L'Occitane

Lately, I have been shopping on several occasions where I have picked up a few bits and pieces here and there. I have combined these into this little haul for you all to see :-)

I absolutely LOVE my new boots from River Island!! Usually, I would opt for good old brown or black in a boot, but when I saw these I just had to have them!! They are faux fur-lined, making them the most snuggly boots ever. They come in a few different colours, and I have my eye on the grey ones too. I love their versatile style, and at £30.00 they were an absolute bargain. I can't wait to wear them this Autumn :-)

I also treated myself to a new pair of pyjamas from Primark. They are made from a stretchy jersey-type fabric, and as soon as I saw the pretty vintage-style bird print fabric I snapped them up! They are so soft and comfy, and I am sat here in them whilst writing! Ideal for those cold winter nights!! For £8.00 you just can't go wrong - Oh, how I love Primark!!

A little while ago, L'Occitane kindly sent me some free samples. I was so impressed with the products I tried, that I decided to take a trip to their recently-opened store in Queens Arcade, Cardiff. I am always on the hunt for a good hand cream, and with the assistance of the two lovely girls that work there, I decided to splash out on the One Minute Hand Scrub and the Dry Skin Hand Cream (available here as a duo). I got to try both products out in-store and was really impressed. The hand cream is multi-award winning, and the scrub has received excellent reviews online. I am looking forward to putting both products to the test during the upcoming winter months.

The Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Gift Box was a rare find, and an absolute bargain. It contains a full 200ml size Body Wash (RRP £29), a full size 50g Hand Cream (RRP £13) and a 100g Souffle Body Cream (worth £14.50). However, I paid a 'measley' £35.00 for all three products - a saving of over £20!! For those of you who haven't yet sampled the delights of Laura Mercier's bath & body care range, I urge you all to take a look (and a sniff) the next chance you get. I promise you, you will be hooked!! Unfortunately, this gift box was the last in-store of a discontinued line, but I purchased it in House of Fraser, Bristol. I know they are out of stock of these on the website, as the newly packaged gift sets are on their way in time for Christmas, but keep your eyes peeled for the possibility of finding one in your local store!!

And my final purchase, the 'All About Eve' Eyeshadow duo by NARS. I am becoming somewhat addicted to NARS products lately, and it seems that every time I pass a counter I can't leave empty-handed. I have wanted this particular eyeshadow duo for a while now, but I was lucky to also receive three 2ml trial samples of the new NARS Skincare line, namely the gentle cream cleanser, luminous moisture cream, and the optimal brightening concentrate. The full-size versions of these range between £20.00 and £50.00, so I will let you all know what I think as soon as I have tried them out :-)

So thats it peeps, I hope you all like my new purchases as much as I do :-)

Claire

xXx

Empties - July/August 2012

Whilst I realise that I am a little late with this post, I just thought I would share with you the latest 'dent' I have made in my stash of beauty products.

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash (£11.50 for 200mls)

I was really excited to try this product, especially as the reviews I had read stated just how gentle, soothing, and nicely scented it was. However, it pains me to say that I was a little disappointed. It did have a really lovely orange-based aromatherapy scent, and lathered well with the use of a shower pouff. The big downside for me is that it wasn't really moisturising and, if anything, I found it a little drying for my skin. For £11.50 there are much nicer shower gels out there.

Radox Moisturise Shower Gel with Chamomile & Jojoba 

I'm sure that this shower gel cost me just £1, and in stark contrast to the Liz Earle Body Wash mentioned above it is very moisturising, as well as being nicely scented and lathering up well. It is not a ground-breaking product by any means, but for £1 it is a bargain and highly recommended!

Gillette Satin Care with Aloe Vera

Again, not a groundbreaking product, but it is just another item that I have managed to use up in recent weeks. I always purchase Satin Care as I find it to be great value for money as a little product goes a long way. I have sensitive skin, and find regular shaving quite irritable to the skin on my legs. Combined with a good exfoliator and moisturiser, Satin Care prevents any irritation of the skin. Bingo!

Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Conditioner

I always wonder if I am the only girl on the planet who uses up approx half a bottle of conditioner per full bottle of shampoo - providing they are both the same sized bottles?! I tire easily of the same shampoo/conditioner combo and always end up with a fair amount of half-full bottles of conditioner clogging up my bathroom shelves. I am currently persevering with using one particular shampoo per all of my half-empty conditioners to rid my bathroom of these once and for all. Most people would just throw them away, but I don't believe in waste! The first empty conditioner is this one, which I am not overly keen on. It is quite a thin-consistency conditioner, and smells lovely. However, it doesn't seem to completely rinse out of my hair, and leaves it feeling lank, lifeless, and a little on the greasy side. I doubt that I will be repurchasing.

Clarins Hydraquench Moisturiser

I have previously written an in-depth review of this product, which you can read here, and I cannot tell you just how disappointed I am that I am now completely out of it. This is definately my most favourite moisturiser, and one that will be top of my Christmas list for Santa!! In short: Amazing product, a little pricey, but worth every penny. Highly recommended!!

Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer in Moderately Fair

This product just seemed to last forever! It is the type of product that you use alot, switch to a different concealer for a change, rediscover it at the back of your make-up drawer a few weeks later and start using it again, forget about it again, rediscover it again.... and so this pattern continues until it is finally used up.  It works well, but can be somewhat 'chalky' if the skin around your eyes is a little on the dry side, and it settles in the fine lines if not used sparingly. Having said that, I do feel like it does its job well, and is great value for money as it lasted me for ages (hence why there is no print left on the tube as pictured). Would I buy it again? Probably.

Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black

 By far, my most favourite mascara. It volumises, lengthens, and doesn't dry out easily. It can be easily layered without clumping for a variety of different looks. Put simply, I would repurchase it again in a heartbeat :-)

Simple Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash

This is a travel sized product that I took on my trip to Paris back in April, and I am really glad that I didn't purchase the larger size. It is unscented - as most Simple products are - and doesn't lather well. I didn't feel like it gave my skin a good cleanse, it doesn't remove make-up easily, and I also found it quite drying. It didn't do anything amazing for my skin and, unfortunately, I wont be re-purchasing this product.

L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss - Shade 415 Iced Chocolate

I used to religiously have my hair highlighted, but recently I have opted for darker locks. I absolutely love this brand of hair colour as they only last for up to 28 shampoos, and they leave my hair feeling and looking healthy, glossy and conditioned. This particular shade initially proved too dark for my skin tone, but it didn't take long for the colour to fade out a little. If you are a babe on a budget, I would really recommend giving these a whirl!!

Airwick Reed Diffuser

Although obviously not a beauty product, I had to add this in as I am loving these Diffusers. My favourite scent is Crisp Linen & Lilac, which smells exactly like fresh laundry. They last for around 2 months and the scent never fades. Also, they are an absolute bargain, and by far the best value diffusers I have found so far

So, that's it peeps! Phew. I need a cuppa now!!

Please feel free to let me know your opinions on these products too :-)

Claire

xXx

Origins Superstar Giveaway

I feel as though I have been bigging up Origins quite alot in my blog of late, but this is just going to be a small entry to let you all know about a great offer they have on at the moment in the way of their 'Superstar Giveaway'.

With any skincare purchase, you can choose 3 free deluxe samples. There are 10 samples to choose from, and these include the famous VitaZing Moisturiser, Modern Friction Dermabrasion and GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. This offer is available Online and in-store, however, although the Online offer is available now, the offer in-store is not available until 20th September. The offer ends both in-store and Online 4th October 2012.

 

Additionally, with orders of £30 or more, you can receive a free cleanser duo ~ a 30ml A Perfect World Antioxidant Cleanser and a 15ml Mega Mushroom Face Cleanser ~ as well as free delivery! Simply add the code CLOCK at checkout.

I have had my eye on the Night-A-Mins moisturiser for a while and, with all of these deluxe samples up for grabs, now seems like the right time to make a purchase.

Will you also be taking advantage of this offer?

Claire

xXx