Tag Archives: skin

So Many Lovely Things beauty retrospective 2015: skincare

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skincare_retrospective_somanylovelythingsIn 2015 I fell in love with skincare even more. I really drilled onto the nurturing aspect of dealing with my difficult and acneic skin, and the results, overall, are amazing.

Another very tough choice as the options are aplenty and great, but here we go:

Facial oil

dr_jacksons_face_oil_review - 1Dr Jackson Facial Oil: what an oil, what an amazing brand. The product is rich and nourishing, a delight to use. My skin loves it.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Oil: what a delight. I am a fan of the Eight Hour Cream, and this oil delivers in all areas: face, body and skin. It’s light and locks moisture for the long haul.

Face cream

Day

kiehls_ultra_facial_cream_review - 3Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: super light, a delight under makeup, steady moisturistion during the day.

IMG_2530Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Broad Spectrum anti-wrinkle protect cream: lovely smell and texture, great moisturisation and SPF20.

thisworks_lightime_skin_plumper_review - 1This works light time skin plumper: super light and efficient, it’s plump-tastic. Plus the smell heps you wake up.

Night

Dermalogica pure night: light, moisturising and directed to pigmentation issues.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Cream: rich with oil goodness and a fab smell.

Serum

Skinceauticals Blemish+Age Defense: the product that has it all for my skin type. It fights blemishes and ageing signs. Very fluid, easily absorbed and works a treat.

jurlique rose serumJurlique Rose Moisture Plus: a fluid moisturing serum, quickly absorbed by the skin which smells of roses.

liz_earle_serum - 1Liz Earle Superskin Face Serum: thicker than your usual, but light on the skin. Full of goodness and perfect for night.

bee_god_serum_review - 1Bee Good Hydrate, Smooth and Prime Serum: having honey as main ingredient, this light serum is quickly absorbed to create a semi-matte finish.

Hydration booster

dermalogica skin hydrating boosterDermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster: a little pot of goodness with a fluid, water-like liquid that delivers a boost of lasting hydration to your skincare routine.

Skinceauticals Hydrating B5: also fluid and water-like, works to potentialise the effects of your other mositurisers.

Lip balm

Nivea lip butterNivea lip butter: still a favourite, not losing its place in my favourites. This year, the coconut version is the star!

Eye cream

Ole Henriksen ultimate lift eye gel: bright blue and super light, this gel is refreshing and super light, perfect for day.

dermalogica wonder eye creamDermalogica intensive eye repair: also very light and extra moisturising.

S5 RENEW EYE CREAMS5 renew eye cream: a brand close to my heart that makes the most amazing products. This eye cream is supple, light and super moisturising.

Facial wash

s5_clarity_cleanser_review - 2S5 Clarity Cleanser: a star. Ever so gentle, cleans deeply, soothes and helps with blemishes.

a light foam that cleans deep. Skin feels purified and there’s no tightness.

Face scrub

Alpha H Micro Cleanse Exfoliator: with glycolic acid, this granulated product exfoliates and polishes skin, in a gentle manner. Skin feels renewed and radiant after use.

PMD Microdermabrasion: an amazing personal microdermabrasion device. Used weekly, I really felt a difference after a few uses.

Best all rounder

elizabeth arden eight hour creamElizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: no praises spared on this one. Fabulous all-rounder for the face, I use on lips and occasionally on the skin when the wind gets stronger. Amazing regenerative properties, so great for scrapes.

Blemish fighting

Malin + Goetz Sulphur paste: spot zapping at its best. This weird product does work a treat, you do, however, have to put up with white patches on the face. One to use overnight.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I.: a gentle target breakout corrector. Not a killer zapper, but a gentle worker.

Face masks

Trilogy Mineral Radiance Mask: a lovely dark clay mask that is super moisturising. A great treat.

caudalie glycolic peel maskCaudalie Instant Detox Mask: a pink clay mask that purifies and tightens without drying. In fact, all Caudalie masks are ace, I also use the Glycolic Peel and the Moisturizing mask which are fab.

Toners

pixi glow tonicI love a good toner, and the Pixi Glow Tonic is just that. Slightly exfoliating, it delivers radiance within days of use. And has a great price.

The Clinique Anti-Blemish Clarifying Lotion is great for when skin is not behaving well and is breaking out.

When skin is sensitive (after microdermabrasion or exfoliation), the dermalogica multi-vitamin toner saves the day as it’s very mild and hydrating.

Pre-routine

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 1I wasn’t sure how to call the Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion, but it’s in. It’s fresh, slightly moisturising and a delight to use.

Face mist

pixi glow mistCan’t live without a face mist, and in the winter even more so. The Pixi Glow Mist is a firm favourite and delivers in all areas.

The Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist is fresh and an office staple, and the Liz Earle Skin Booster Tonic Spritzer is nourishing and refreshing. Long live the facial mists!

What products couldn’t your skin live without in 2015?

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This post mentions some press samples.

Honey goodness for your face: Bee Good Youth Enhancing Hydrate, Smooth & Prime Serum

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bee_god_serum_review - 1Aside of coconut, honey is my other obsession in life. I love the taste, the smell and even the texture of honey so was delighted to try the lovely .

A honey serum, is for me, a marriage made in heaven as serums are another obsession of mine.

This one has a thicker consistency than your average serum, but is quite light in texture. Once applied is quickly absorbed by the skin.

bee_god_serum_review - 3It has a very fresh smell and feels great on the skin – not sticky or heavy.

Applied at night, skin feels nourished and happy in the morning, although alone I don’t think is enough; I combine with an oil or lighter cream in my arsenal.

For day, it is pretty good; because it is quite light it behaves well under makeup, living up to its “primer” name, although I don’t feel it enhances durability.

It contains peptides, which stimulate collagen production, hydrating British honey, antioxidant-rich propolis and firming blackcurrant seed oil and larch extract, which all combine aim to smooth the skin and help with ageing signs.

It is suitable for vegetarians.

bee_god_serum_review - 2Bee Good is one of those companies you can’t help but fall in love with; they use British honey and botanicals, have an eco conscience, are free from synthetic colours, mineral oil, silicone, SLS and SLES or parabens, don’t test on animals and look after their bees, support the countryside and bee keeping initiatives. They are good ones; overall a lovely company brimming with amazing products.

The Bee Good Serum costs £25 and is available from Waitrose, which has a great beauty range including Bee Good.

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

A step into mindfulness: Aromatherapy Associates for Liberty Clear Mind Bath & Shower Oil

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aromatherapy_associates_for_liberty_clear_mind_oil_review - 1Mindfulness. Something that is so talked about nowadays but still not exercised enough by most of us.

Aromatherapy Associates and Liberty are here to give us a little helping hand with the gorgeous Clear Mind Bath & Shower Oil, which was born to help us “find peace in a frantic world”.

This fabulously thick and aromatic oil contains chamomile, frankincense, palmarosa and bergamot.

They went through 12 blends before perfecting this gem which aims to help free our thoughts, achieve stillness of mind, live the present moment, which are principles of mindfulness, as well as revitalising the mind and body.

aromatherapy_associates_for_liberty_clear_mind_oil_review - 1The smell is powerful, its texture silky. What I really like is that they teach you how to use it in the shower, which for me is perfect (my low blood pressure makes baths an unpleasant business).

Just drop a 50p size amount on you hand, rub and inhale twice or thrice, before rubbing it onto your torso and tummy.

It may sound weird, but just the first pat of the routine made me clear my mind completely and focus on the aromas. I felt revitalised, and happy. When showering, the aromas are still release, and sink deep into our tissue.

I really enjoy the whole ritual. It does make you step out and take time not to think about anything, and be present.

aromatherapy_associates_for_liberty_clear_mind_oil_review - 4Mindfulness is something really close to my heart, as an anxiety sufferer. I did struggle a lot to find it, and after a lot of hard work, it became easier. And this oils is a great nudge towards it; it gives you that daily dose, even if for a short period of time, of stillness. And this is great.

The oil comes in a handcrafted bottle; mine has my initials – nice touch, Liberty!

It sits in a beautiful box designed especially for the collaboration, using one of Liberty’s iconic floral prints, Genevieve, from AW03, which colours marry the ingredients quite well.

aromatherapy_associates_for_liberty_clear_mind_oil_review - 2Aromatherapy Associates has a personal connection to Liberty. Its founder, Geraldine Howard, bought her wedding in the store, which I thought I was quite a cute story to add to this collaboration.

At the launch, in one of Liberty’s amazing private rooms, all carved in beautiful wood, in line with the iconic store stunning interior, we were treated to a fantastic hand massage. I chose calming, and the soothing it brought me (added to a glass of bubbly) was quite overwhelming.

The Aromatherapy Associates for Liberty Clear Mind Bath & Shower Oil costs £48 for 55ml and has at least 20 uses, and it available exclusively at Liberty, in-store, I recommend a trip over any time, I just love the place, and online.

And if you want to read more about my obsession with oils, it’s all here!

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This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

One for the gym bag: this works body makeover body oil

Posted in Beauty, Body, Skincare by

thisworks_energy_bank body makeover

Oil has been my beauty obsession for the past couple of years, so obviously I am always open to new products on my routine.

The this works body makeover is a glowing, super charging body oil, blended from 16 essential oils. If oil is what you want, oil you shall receive!

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Nominate So Many Lovely Things for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2015

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Those who know me will know I really blog for myself. It’s something I love. But I suppose getting an award wouldn’t be so bad…

I would be forever grateful if you could nominate So Many Lovely Things for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2015 under the Best Beauty Blog (ambitious, I know).1441186218-cosmoblogawards-2015-nominatemebadge

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the followers, the comments, the interaction with people who share the same love as me, the fabulous brands that believe in me and in what I do.

 

And oh, the unique ability to inspire, even if one person out there, and to perhaps give them a little nudge to enhance their amazing selves… it is truly priceless.

But my blogging has a more selfish reason to be: me. My passion for beauty, style, fashion – and shoes – that is so huge that leaks out from my small person into these virtual pages.

Most importantly, it has given me comfort when I needed the most.

I never thought that, in claiming my little corner of the internet, I would be exposed to so many amazing things.

It has given me the chance to work with amazing brands, it has exposed me to a wealth of knowledge which is ever growing, backing up my love for the subjects.  And the people… I met amazing people.

I feel extremely lucky, privileged and humbled. Oh, and eternally grateful.

However, I take an award wouldn’t go amiss, right? So please (I say again, just in case) nominate me for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2015 in the Best for Beauty category. It’s super quick, and you can do it by filling the form on their page.

You never know, I might even get shortlisted! Should I be, there will be a little post asking you (yes, I always ask too much) to vote for me.

And thank you. Not just for this, but for being here. There’s a lot of love going round.

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Smoothing my skin with Fake Bake Beauty

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fake_bake_coconut_macaroon_scrub - 1Body scrubs are among my favourite body products. The feeling of that smooth to the touch skin is just too fab.

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Need a quick tan job? HeShi to the rescue!

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heshi_express - 1A week ago, I woke up stupidly early on a Saturday and noticed some Twitter movement on the Big Blogger Conference, organised by the lovely ladies from LDN MeetUp.

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Looking after my hands with a 60 second fix from Crabtree & Evelyn

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crabtree_evelyn_handMy hands suffer. Not only they perform all mundane tasks but they are also battered by my aerial antics. Add an Italian heritage (someone who talks with their hands) and the poor thing pretty much work around the clock.

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Primed and prepped: a guide to primers

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which_primer - 2 of 6 (1)Many a times I went on about how primers changed my life and how important they are in the makeup routine. I will give you a brief round-up not to bore you.

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Re-visiting a classic: the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Posted in Beauty, Skincare by

elizabeth arden eight hour creamIf memory hasn’t betrayed me, I believe Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant was the very first skincare I had access to when I got to London more than a decade ago.

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