THE ANTI-AGEING HEALTH & BEAUTY SHOW

Hey lovelies and happy Sunday. I had a great day yesterday experiencing my first time at The Anti-Ageing Health & Beauty Show. There was so much to see and experience so I want to share some of it with you. I truly believe there is something for everyone at the show. It's a perfect day out to discover new products and brands as well as health and beauty experiences you never knew existed.

BEAUTY DRINK

Containing water with vitamins, fruit extracts, minerals and collagen in 8 different flavours: 

Bright (pear, green tea and coconut water)

Ready for the day (raspberry, blueberry and acai)

Strong fortify hair and nails (lychee and white tea)

Young and free (hibiscus, acai and grape)

Renewed (cucumber, lemon and aloe vera)

Focused (tangerine, acerola, guarana and orange)

Happy (nectarine and red tea)

Balanced (mulberry, passion fruit, lemon and lemongrass)

I sampled one of these which I believe to be 'Young and free'. It tasted amazing. Sweet, but refreshing. I'm not kidding when I say that it felt like I had a natural buzz from just a sample. I think the packaging of these looks very appealing. I really like the concept of drinking my beauty in. I love the variety within this range too.

BEAUTY BAR

Organic cereal cubes with added vitamins, collagen and golden linseed in 4 flavours:

Balanced (apple, raisins, cashews and honey)

Young and free (red berries and acai and honey)

Strong fortify hair and nails (banana, apple, cinnamon and honey)

Ready for the day (coconut, almonds and honey)

Being the official sponsor of London Fashion Week I was able to sample the 'Young and free' beauty bar from my London Fashion Weekend goodie bag. It was okay, but it had a glaze which doesn't really appeal to me. I prefer my cereal bars crunchy and dry if you know what I mean.

BEAUTY TEA

Traditional teas with added collagen and vitamins in 4 flavours:

Bright (white tea and pear)

Balanced (red tea, apple and honey)

Young and free (yellow tea and peach)

Renewed (green tea and green grape)

I love trying out new teas. I usually prefer herbal rather than fruit teas as fruit teas are never sweet like I want them to be.

BEAUTY CANDY

Delicious candies with added collagen and vitamins in 4 flavours:

Ready for the day (lemon)

Strong fortify hair and nails (raspberry)

Young and free (vitamin E, folic acid, pantothenic acid and collagen)

Bright (orange)

These are easy to carry around with you or leave in your car and who doesn't like sweets :)

BeautyIn products are made with no added sugar, preservatives or trans fats. In a self-assessment survey 100% of volunteers confirmed their skin became firmer and less wrinkled from consuming the beauty drinks and candies.

I am very intrigued by the BeautyIn brand. I feel like I need another shot of Beauty Drink ;)

I did try other beauty drinks at the show from brands such as BioCorrex who have a very interesting beauty range.

I was recommended this Forever Aloe Vera Gel to aid me with my IBS and digestion troubles. You actually drink it. It seems weird to call it a gel, but I am advised that it just tastes like orange juice.

Check out the Forever range in this link!

This is the first ever BB Cream I tried and you can read my full review here. This is a beautiful product that I would call a beauty/make-up essential. For good coverage and a healthy glow I would certainly recommend.

I have been very kindly gifted with samples of the Exfoliating Marvel Gel so I will be reviewing that for you.

To view the full Ginvera range see this link!

We can cleanse our faces and our bodies from within, but what about our teeth? Well now there is a new product to refresh your mouth in flavours such as Sicilian Lemon, Garden Mint, English Peppermint and Brazilian Lime. So if you are keen to try something new for your teeth and move on from your usual toothpaste then this Dawood & Tanner range could be right up your street. Find out more in this link!

This type of product I have seen spoken about a little, but not too much. This 540 needles version has non-sharp needles. I was informed that it does not feel painful and you won't end up with blood running from your pores. Apparently it's good for stretch marks and to open up the skin so that any skincare products you apply will be absorbed deeply. Find out more about the vast Skin Pep range in this link!

Arbonne cover lots of healthy and beauty needs. With a range including skincare, haircare, sun protection, bath & body, make-up, fragrance and nutrition. I know I will be looking through their website to find out more.

Tropic Skincare were there too. I loved their Face Smooth Brightening Polish which you can see my review of here. I swatched some make-up from their collection and fell in love with the high pigmentation of their mineral eye shadows, especially Blue Steel.

Green People have a massive range of products including some great make-up which looked amazing on the girl I spoke with. The city grey anti-age pencil eyeliner was swatched for me. It looked so smooth on application. Perfect for lining, shading and as a shadow base. The powders and shadows looked great too. I really like how particular products are suggested for certain skin tones and eye colours.

Studio 10 Beauty had make-up artist Chrissie Huntley demonstrate the contour, blush and highlight palette on me. The visible lift definer kit has a cream blush and the one used on me was a powder so I guess it may have been updated. The contour really sculpted my cheeks. The blush gave me that healthy, youthful glow and the highlight accentuated where needed.

I was so lucky to meet with Studio 10 founder Grace Fodor who told me exactly what Studio 10 make-up was there to accomplish. Grace explained that the make-up is produced to sculpt and define the face. Contouring, highlighting and emphasising areas for a healthy, more youthful looking appearance. The age reverse perfecting liner was one of the products we spoke about which was meant to be in my goodie bag, but sadly was not :(

Airbase Make-Up have the airbrush kits within their collection which can be used at home for real make-up enthusiasts. I thought the concealer palette looked appealing with it's smooth formula. The eye shadow palettes also excited me a lot with one of satin and one of pearl shades. Both with bright and more smokey tones.

I spoke with Lynne Sanders about the a la carte london make-up collection. There were so many products to see that made my eyes light up.

Su-Man is the leading celebrity facialist turned skincare pioneer. With fans such as Kylie and Sienna who wouldn't want to know more about Su-Man's expertise and product range. With a mixture Asian and Western influence along with that Su-Man touch for a facial experience in your own home. The natural and scientific blend of Su-Man formulations sounds amazing to send you on a skincare journey to look and feel re-born.

I tried the Teapigs match tea served cold with apple juice. It was lovely and refreshing and my first experience of this brand.

The Chris James Cleanse was also being promoted at the show along with some stand alone products. I had a great chat with Chris who teaches yoga and meditation as well as assisting others in better health and well being for a better body and mind.

So what is the 12 day cleanse? More than just your average detox this programme consists of dietary guidance, mouth-watering recipes and high quality cleansers to leave you noticeably more toned, radiantly alive and glowing with confidence. There are also new products such as 'Hello Aloe' for dry and damaged skin as well as 'Super Absorb' for removing waste matter from your digestive system to return your body to a balanced state. The cleanse comes with a 12 day menu guide that is gluten free.

I love discovering new beauty and health products, but I think there is definitely something in the fact that when you truly look after your body and mind they will thank you for it and it shows. Like when someone loses excess weight or returns from a relaxed holiday. You can see their skin glowing and eyes sparkling and they seem to be smiling more.

I have always had problems with bloating and a sluggish digestive system since I was born so a cleanse is something I have been thinking about doing for a while. There are so many shake diets, juice detoxes and goodness knows what else on the market these days that it's hard to know which ones are the best value and right for your needs. Chris James' 12 day cleanse seems to me to be one that aims to show you a way of living and maintaining well being not just a quick fix or a DIET (urgh hate that word).

This cleanse really has me thinking that it could be right up my street as like with most of us a little guidance is all that is needed to put us on the right track. The cleanse is £120, but as it's for 12 days that's just £10 a day that I know I could easily spend on other rubbish.

There were lots of great people that I got to speak with yesterday, but I fear this post may never end so instead I will link the exhibitors list here for you :)

If you attended The Anti-Ageing Health & Beauty Show this weekend how was it for you? Did you discover any great products, treatments or brands? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

Tropic Face Smooth Brightening Polish

Hi there my little Easter bunnies. How has your Saturday been so far? I have had such a bad head since last night that it's making me feel sickly so I thought what better way to distract myself than blogging :)

Today I have a skincare product to review for you. This product was sent to me for free to try out and let you know my thoughts.

This is the Tropic Face Smooth Brightening Polish. This is Tropic's best selling face product with 100% natural ingredients which include:

Acai Berry ~  The strongest known antioxidant containing vitamins, omegas and minerals to visibly boost skin vitality.

Organic Rice Flower ~ Helps in reducing skin redness and pore size as well as treating blemishes, wrinkles and pigmentation.

Sugar Cane ~ Contains natural alpha hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin promoting a brighter complexion.

Sweet Almond ~ Contains powerful monounsaturated acids that promote skin elasticity. Softens and soothes the skin without clogging pores.

Vitamin E ~ A powerful antioxidant essential in maintaining youthful, nourished & healthy skin.

Camomile ~ Effective on sensitive skins as it contains skin healing & anti-inflammatory properties as well as reducing skin puffiness.

Golden Jojoba ~ A soft, liquid wax that cleans clogged pores & restores the skin's natural pH balance.

Sweet Orange ~ Sweet, fresh and tangy. Also an antiseptic.

Lemon ~ Refreshing, bright and uplifting.

Application:

Scoop out the product with a spatula and use wet hands to gently massage onto dry skin in circular and upward motions for 1 minute, focusing on areas around the nose, chin and forehead. Avoid the eye area. Rinse off with warm water and splash your face with cold water to close pores. Pat dry and follow with Tropic Skin Revive if needed. Use 2-3 times a week. Sensitive skins should wet the face first before application and work the product in as above.

The lid for this pot unscrews easily, but the seal on the actual pot itself is quite tough to break through. I managed to pierce my nail through it which went into the product so an easy peel tab may be a good idea on this as some people may have difficulty. I would also suggest opening it on a flat surface.  

I didn't bother using a spatula to scoop this out of it's container as quite simply I didn't have one. Instead I  scooped it out with my hands. It did leave a mess down the side of my bath due to it's runny mixture, but it's easily washed away. It might be nice to have a spatula provided with the product as it is suggested for use. Even a squeezy tube I think would be better.

I wanted to try this without wetting my face for the first use so I began massaging it in as directed, but found it a bit uncomfortable so thought I might be better wetting my face on my next use. The granules in it are not large, but there are lots of them to provide that exfoliation and polish.

Wetting my face first worked much better for me and I really enjoyed the product much more. The scent is so fresh and uplifting. I have the product sitting next to me now while I blog away. I really like the combination of the orange and lemon. It reminds me that summer is coming. 

When I massaged this in it felt like it was removing all the dirt and uneven texture on my face and neck. When washing the product off I felt like I had a new layer of skin, no kidding. It leaves a kind of smooth veil that is not greasy, but more like a balm.

Because my skin is obviously on the more sensitive side when it comes to using this product I will only use this twice a week.     

I can seriously see why this is a best seller for Tropic and at the moment this is reduced in price from £15.00 down to £12.00 for 100ml, Link. A little goes a long way with this product so for skin care lovers this is great value. Well done to Tropic's founder and Apprentice finalist Susan Ma as well as investor Lord Alan Sugar.

As well as the website in the link above you can also find out more about Tropic and it's products on Twitter @TropicSkinCare and on Facebook. 

Have you tried any Tropic Skin Care products? Which ones do you like/dislike and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all  

 

April 2012 JolieBox

Hey Everyone. I hope you are all having a glorious weekend. Today I want to show you the contents of my April JolieBox and my initial thoughts of the products. This month's box is named 'The Changing Of The Seasons'.

Left To Right:

Balance Me Daily Essentials Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm ~ £20.00 For 125ml/£4.00 For 15ml

Link :)

The Information:

Cleanse and smooth face balm is a daily must-have for its dual cleansing and smoothing action to enhance your skin’s natural radiance. Anti-oxidant rich Arctic cloudberry, gentle Roman chamomile and skin-brightening red mandarin smooth away daily grime and make-up leaving skin soft, radiant and calmly clean. Gently polishing oatmeal sloughs away dead skin cells and encourages cell renewal. Shea and cocoa butter, softening rosehip, camellia, kukui nut and virgin coconut oils, rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and lipids provide a layer of skin-boosting goodness which benefits both young and more mature skins. This balm is recommended for normal to dry/sensitive skins but it also works very effectively on all skin types.

Application:

Warm a small amount of balm in clean hands. Smooth over face and neck, gently massaging the balm with your finger tips in circular movements, allowing the oats to polish the skin for at least 30 seconds. Apply warm water and continue massaging for a further 30 seconds. Close eyes and wipe carefully over lids and eye lashes, avoiding direct contact with eyes. Wet a muslin cloth with warm water and remove balm residue from your skin. Pat skin dry then apply moisture-rich face cream or radiance face oil.

Ingredients:

Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Colloidal oatmeal, Cera alba (unrefined beeswax), Mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter***, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, Polyglyceryl-4 caprate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic polyglycerides, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic polyglycerides, Rubus chamaemorus (cloudberry) seed extract, Cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil***, Aleurites moluccana (kukui) oil, Rosa canina (rosehip) fruit oil, Camellia oleifera (camellia) oil, Citrus reticulata (mandarin red)*, Litsea cubeba (litsea may chang)*, Citrus aurantium amara (petitgrain)*, Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile)*, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang)*, Coriandrum sativum (coriander)*, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, Limonene**, Linalool**, Citral *natural pure essential oil **naturally occurring in essential oils ***certified organic ingredient.

My Thoughts:

This product feels smooth on swatching. This is a liquid-gel formula with a citrus scent. I think this will be quite refreshing to use. I haven't used this type of liquid/gel wash off cleanser/make-up remover before so I am looking forward to seeing if I like it. The information for this product is not on the JolieBox website yet.

Tropic Skincare Skin Revive ~ £15.95

Link :) 

The Information:

It’s suitable for all skin types and contains gorgeous and organic ingredients. Bursting with vitamins and pure plant actives that help to visibly firm and intensely nourish the skin. The Shea Butter softens and hydrates the skin whilst blueberry is used to revitalise and rejuvenated. The Echinacea and Sea Kelp improve elasticity and help smooth fine lines.

Application:

Warm a small amount in the palms of your hands and massage into your face and neck in a circular and upwards motion. Before applying makeup, allow at least 1 minute for the rich ingredients to be absorbed into the skin. For best results apply after cleansing twice a day.

Ingredients:

Organic Aloe Vera Juice (aloe barbadensis leaf juice), Golden Jojoba Oil (simmondsia chinensis oil), Macadamia Oil (macadamiaternifolia oil), Rosehip Oil (rosa canina fruit oil), Avocado Oil (persea gratissima oil), Shea Butter (butyrospermum parkii), Vegetable Glycerin (glycerin), Coconut & Cassava emulsifier (cetearyl alcohol,cetearyl glucoside), Candelilla Wax (euphorbia cerifera wax), Soy Lecithin (lecithin), Organic Citrus extract (citrus extract), Vitamin E (tocopherol), Corn sugar gum (xanthan gum), Corn extract (sodium levulinate), Basil extract (sodium anisate), Sea Kelp extract (algae), Echinacea extract (echinacea purpurea leaf), Blueberry extract (vaccinium angustifolium fruit), Raspberry extract (rubus idaeus fruit), Camomile extract (anthemis nobilis flower), Organic Grapefruit Seed extract (citrus grandis seed), Calendula extract (calendula officinalis flower), Frankincense extract (boswellia carterii oil), Sweet Orange (citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil), Rose Geranium (pelargonium graveolens oil), Lavender (lavandula angustifolia oil), Honeysuckle extract (lonicera japonica) ternifolia oil,rosa canina fruit oil,persea gratissima oil,butyrospermum parkii,glycerin, cetearyl alcohol,cetearyl glucoside,euphorbia cerifera wax,lecithin,citrus*,tocopherol, xanthan gum,sodium.

My Thoughts:

I am not sure about the smell of this, but it does smooth into the skin very easily. I wasn't too sure if this was for my face or body before looking up the information on the JolieBox website as it wasn't clear on the information card. I will give this a try.

Pure Fiji Exotic Bath and Body Oil ~ £24.50 For 235ml/8oz

Link :) 

The Information:

For centuries Pacific islanders have used a blend of virgin coconut oil and exotic nut extracts to moisturize, nourish and protect both skin and hair. This nourishing blend absorbs quickly and will rejuvenate, replenish, hydrate, nourish and firm your skin. 

Application:

Use as a massage oil, bath oil or daily moisturizing treatment.

My Thoughts:

Another multi-tasker which I love the idea of. This product can be used on the body, hair and scalp. Coconut fans will absolutely love this scent. It smells gorgeous, just like an exotic holiday in a bottle. It sinks into the skin instantly and is not at all greasy like some oils can be. The product information for this is not yet on the JolieBox website.

BellaPierre Black Mascara ~ £19.99

Link :) 

The Information:

Bellapierre long lasting black mascara was formulated to help create thicker and fuller lashes. 

Application:

Apply the mascara to the upper lashes first. Take the brush and hold it underneath the top lashes close to the roots and sweep brush upwards from roots to tips. Apply a few coats to build your lashes to the desired volume. For bottom lashes, use the tip of the brush to apply a thin coat of mascara in delicate strokes.

Ingredients:

Water, Iron Oxides CI 77489, 77491, 77492, 77499, Polyisobutene, Acrylates/ Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Peg-100 Stearate, Copernica Cerfera (Carnauba) Wax, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cholesterol C12-13, Iso-Alkylate and Olea (Olive) Europaea Oil Unsaponisiables Silk Powder.

My Thoughts:

 

A mascara is always handy. It's nice that it's a full size product. I love finding a great mascara so lets hope it is for £19.99. I do like the packaging. It's simple and chic. This was not on the JolieBox website either.

KMS California ~ £Various

Link :)

The Information:

Flexible shaping and elastic hold. Unlimited, protective heat styling without the damage. Styles last until the next wash. Humidity resistance. Restyleability. Anti-breakage.

Application:

Spray into towel-dried hair, blow dry and shape with hot tools. For maximum shaping, spray section by section.

My Thoughts:

I could not find this on the JolieBox website and when I looked on the KMS California website there was product information, but I could not find a price so I have added a Google search link above. I guess this product is meant to work for people that wash their hair every other day, but may style it with hot tools every day. It's good if it works, but I'm not the best tester for this as I only blow dry my hair.

So now onto the 2nd issue of the JOLIEMAG.

There is a variety of goodness in this month's magazine including interviews, April Pastels, Contour and Highlighting Tips, Spring Trends and Flawless Face Tips. There is also a discount code for boticca.com. 

I will use all of the products in this month's box, but the ones I am most looking forward to trying are the Balance Me Daily Essentials Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm, the Pure Fiji Exotic Bath and Body Oil and the BellaPierre Black Mascara.

For more information on JolieBox please see this link here.

Which products did you receive in your JolieBox this month? Do you think you will enjoy using them? 

Love to you all

October Empties

Hello Darlings. I have been saving my products that I have used up in October so that I can give you a brief outline of my thoughts on them. 

Face

 

Left to Right: Simple Kind To Skin Pore Minimising Toning Cleanser, Link :), Gatineau Floracil Lotion, Link :), Kimia Rejuvenating Facial System, Link :), Colbert M.D. Nourish Eye Cream, Link :), Vaseline Lip Therapy, Link :)

Simple Kind To Skin Pore Minimising Toning Cleanser

A very gentle cleanser which removes make-up quite effectively. I have not noticed minimised pores though. This feels fresh and has a smooth formula.

Gatineau Floracil Lotion

This does a pretty good job at removing make-up without stinging or irritation.

Kimia Rejuvenating Facial System

This felt nice to use. When I first used this I did not realise that I also had to put on my own moisturiser as well so I had a little dry skin appear. Once I did this it was fine. I had to use a lot more than is recommended with this kit. I used up the spray before the oil so that may be something to note for those thinking of buying it as a kit. That may be because of the amount I was using, but I actually think that I applied the oil more liberally.

Colbert M.D. Nourish Eye Cream

This has a very pasty scent to it. It's okay, but doesn't blow me away.

Vaseline Lip Therapy

I have spent loads on trying to find a descent lip balm and although I still suffer with very dry, chapped and peeling lips this has been the best product that I have used so far.

Body

Left to Right: Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant 48h, Link :), Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish, Link :), Soap & Glory Girligo Spray-On Body Moisturising Mist, Link :), Juicy Couture Body Sorbet, Link :)

Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant 48h

On me this does not stop me perspiring for up to 48 hours. I really sound like a sweaty betty now, but I'm not that bad, ha ha. I haven't noticed any white patches on my clothes though, although I am always careful putting them on as I hate those dreaded white marks.

Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish

I love the sherbet scent of this. This felt comfortable to use on my skin, but didn't feel like I had really exfoliated as the granules are quite fine. 

Soap & Glory Girligo Spray-On Body Moisturising Mist

This has a medium strength scent which I like. I think it's quite sexy. The spray bottle is okay, but it's hard to moisturise your whole body as the bottle gets slippy, making the pump hard to use as you apply it. Also it is quite a milky, runny cream so you need to bear that in mind when spraying it on. Please excuse the missing lid in the photo as I lost it.

Juicy Couture Body Sorbet

This is such a sexy scent. I got this a few years ago in a set with the perfume that I still have and the shower gel which I have used up already. I would say this scent is my most favourite perfume scent so far. I used this whenever I applied the perfume. I always have compliments when wearing this range. I LOVE IT!!

Left to Right: Superdrug Shower Gel Strawberry And Raspberry, Link :), Di Palomo White Grape With Aloe Moisturising Bath & Shower Cream, Link :), I Love ... Strawberries & Milkshake Bubble Bath & Shower Creme, Link :)

Superdrug Shower Gel Strawberry And Raspberry

This is a gorgeous, sweet and girly scent. So fruity.

Di Palomo White Grape With Aloe Moisturising Bath & Shower Cream

I WAS SENT THIS PRODUCT FOR REVIEW PURPOSES! This has such a fresh and clean scent and is very creamy too.

I Love ... Strawberries & Milkshake Bubble Bath & Shower Creme

This does not have as strong a scent as the Superdrug Shower Gel Strawberry And Raspberry, but they are in the same family of scents. Lovely.

Hand, Nail & Body

Left to Right: Di Palomo Wild Fig & Grape Enriching Hand & Nail Cream, Link :), Di Palomo Orange Blossom With Wild Honey & Olive Hand & Body Lotion, Link :), Di Palomo White Grape With Aloe Hand & Body Lotion, Link :)

Di Palomo Wild Fig & Grape Enriching Hand & Nail Cream

This has an autumnal, warm smell.

Di Palomo Orange Blossom With Wild Honey & Olive Hand & Body Lotion

I WAS SENT THIS PRODUCT FOR REVIEW PURPOSES! This scent is what I would call a day to night smell. I love the packaging of this.

Di Palomo White Grape With Aloe Hand & Body Lotion

I WAS SENT THIS PRODUCT FOR REVIEW PURPOSES! This has a very fresh and pure scent.

All of these creams are lovely. They sink in straight away and all have lovely scents. My first impressions and opinions have not changed of these products. Please see my post on that here :)

Perfume

Left to Right: DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom, Link :), Plum By Mary Greenwell, Link :), Agent Provocateur L'Agent, Link :), Christian Lacroix NUIT Pour Femme EDP, Link :)

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

This has a rose type scent. I would say it's a definite day smell. It's quite romantic and pretty. It's quite subtle, yet noticeable.

Plum By Mary Greenwell

It's an okay scent, but nothing special.

Agent Provocateur L'Agent

This is quite nice, better than most samples at least. I did receive a compliment when wearing this.

Christian Lacroix NUIT Pour Femme EDP

This is another okay scent.

The products that I would purchase in the future are: 

• Simple Kind To Skin Pore Minimising Toning Cleanser
• Vaseline Lip Therapy
• Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant 48h
• Juicy Couture Body Sorbet
• Superdrug Shower Gel Strawberry And Raspberry
• Di Palomo White Grape With Aloe Moisturising Bath & Shower Cream
• I Love ... Strawberries & Milkshake Bubble Bath & Shower Creme
• Di Palomo Wild Fig & Grape Enriching Hand & Nail Cream
• Di Palomo Orange Blossom With Wild Honey & Olive Hand & Body Lotion
• Di Palomo White Grape With Aloe Hand & Body Lotion

What products have you been loving and loathing in October? 

Love to you all

Boudoir Privé September Box

Hey Sweethearts. I hope you have had a good day? In today's post I want to show you the products that I received in my September Boudoir Privé box which is named 'Les Indispensables'. 

First up is the Tropic Skincare Body Smooth. This is said to be 100% natural, enriched with nourishing Sea Minerals, Jojoba and Macadamia oil to smooth, polish, energise and hydrate the skin. It claims to buff away dead skin cells leaving your skin feeling smooth and soft. With top notes of Lemon Myrtle, mid notes of Bergamot & base notes of White Patchouli to invigorate & refresh your senses. On the website tropicskincare.com it says that you can use this on any skin that is rough or dry, but that it is highly recommended for feet. On the leaflet that came with the box this month it says that you are meant to rub this onto dry hands for 20 seconds, rinse with warm water and pat dry. I presumed that it was a hand scrub only before checking the website. This retails at £11.95 for 80ml or £19.95 for 200ml.

This reminds me of being a kid as it smells of sherbert. This is quite a small sample so I think I will try it on perhaps my hands and feet.

Secondly is Agent Provocateur L'Agent. The information on the leaflet says that this is a seductive scent that will turn you into the centre of attention making you feel sexy, mysterious and captivating. It instructs you to apply this perfume to bare skin, focusing on your pressure points. This retails at £50.00 for 50ml or £70.00 for 100ml. Here is a link to agentprovocateur.com. The website describes this perfume as a provocative potion, dark and mysterious, that captures your senses in a flight of florals, intoxicationg amber and erotic musk.

When I smelt this perfume I didn't think sexy, dark or mysterious I'm afraid. I will take this to work to give it a chance, but it doesn't blow me away.

Third up is the Macadamia Hair Repair Healing Oil Treatment. Supposedly suitable for all hair types. This should make your hair visibly smooth, frizz-free and shiny. It is meant to repair hair that is damaged over the summer. You can apply this to either wet or dry hair, focusing on the ends. You can also use it overnight. This retails at £5.75 for 10ml or £29.95 for 125ml. Here is a link to macadamiahair.com. The website also says that it has natural UV protection which extends the life of color treatments and that it also reduces drying time by an amazing 40-50%.

I really am not sure how it can help to reduce drying time? If anyone knows the answer to this please tell me. It probably will smooth out the hair as most oil treatments do?

The fourth product is the Colbert MD Nourish: Eye Cream. HRH Kate Middleton and Sienna Miller use Colbert MD skincare daily apparently. This eye cream is said to rehydrate the skin around your eyes, reducing puffiness and dark circles. It instructs to apply it around and under the eyes, morning and night. This retails at £90.00 for 15ml. I almost said the word OUCH! Here is a link to colbertmd.com. The website makes these claims:

Key Ingredients

Ascorbyl Glucoside A potent Vitamin C derivative, lightens dark circles and reverses aging dyspigmentation.

Aescin  Improves microcirculation and reduces puffiness, while fighting inflammation.

Alpha Bisabalol  Accelerates cell healing and controls redness.

I was a little disappointed by the amount in this sample. The little pot is not even half full. You may not be able to see that in this photo. For this price though I am not too surprised. I would not pay this amount for this product and I haven't even tried it yet. Real world people! I would also describe this as having a quite pasty smell.

The fifth item is this Zoya Nail Polish in Marina. This is from Zoya's new 'Smoke & Mirrors Collection' for Autumn/Winter 2011. It guides you to use a base coat, 1 or 2 coats of this shimmering polish and a top coat. This retails at £9.98 per bottle. I'm sorry I couldn't add a link for zoya.com as I couldn't get onto the website :(

I do not have a nail polish in a shade like this and I have never tried a Zoya polish before so I am happy to try this. I really like the way they have added added samples of other colours and an information leaflet. This would encourage me to look at other shades. I am also thinking of using the packaging of these samples to put in a couple of pictures for my desk at work :)

The sixth product in my box is the Boogie Nights Eye Pencil from Cargo Cosmetics. The leaflet says this stunningly wild eye pencil will make your eyes pop. A perfect shimmery pencil for day and night wear. It says to draw along upper eyelids or for extra impact apply to lower lids also. These retail at £13.00 for a set of five. So that works out to the value of £2.60 each. I could not find these on the website so I'm not sure if this is old stock? Here is a link to cargocosmetics.com

I will use this pencil. I do not own any Cargo Cosmetics products so I look forward to trying this. The shimmer seems quite good in this pencil.

The seventh and last item in this month's box is this postcard from Mai Couture with a 2-1 Blotting/Bronzing Papier attached in Light-Medium. Light-Medium is recommended for all skin colours. This blotting paper is meant to eliminate oil and add a bronzing shimmer to your skin. You are meant to press the paper firmly on your face, neck and décolleté. It can be worn over moisturizer or foundation as a setting powder for a more glowing complexion or simply as a touch up throughout the day. It's also paraben and talc free. You can also purchase a wallet to keep your blotting papers in. This retails at $24 for 100 sheets or $36 with the wallet. Here is a link to maicouture.com

I personally do not usually suffer from oily skin so I have never used blotting paper. I am not sure if I did how I would feel about the bronzing shimmer at the same time as I like to control where I am applying my bronzer. I will try it though. I am not sure why the details for this are not included in the information leaflet. Perhaps because there is a wee bit of information on the postcard?

All in all I don't think it's a bad box. I think the top products at first glance for me are the nail polish and the eye pencil, but I am sure I will get my use out of the other products.

Did you get different products to me? Did you like them? I look forward to seeing what I get next month.

Love to you all