The Latest Product Reviews

These have been the latest things I've been trying, and overall it is a massive POSITIVE booty wiggle from me!

1. A'kin Orange Blossom & Chamomile Refreshing & Soothing Toner - I just wanted something to swipe over the skin after cleansing to refresh. This is a beauty. Great ingredients and lovely orange blossom scent; only downside is that I think this formulation better suits a pump-bottle packaging so that the product can be spritzed onto the face and patted in with the hands. This is designed to be used with a cotton pad, but I think product gets wasted this way. Ingredients: aqua (purified Australian water*) *BP 2007 standard glycerin (botanical source) sodium gluconate (from GMO free corn) panthenol (pro Vit B5) sorbitol (from GMO free maize) ethylhexylglycerin citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) flower water phenoxyethanol chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract mannitol (and) ammonium glycyrrhizate (and) caffeine (and) zinc gluconate (and) aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract rosa centifolia flower extract

2. Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil - I'm not such an avid believer in the 'detox' claims of this, just because I think that the whole 'detox' bandwagon we're all on at the moment is a load of bollocks. Don't put ten tonnes of sugar and caffeine and alcohol and nicotine into your body then expect a face oil to solve your problems, entiendas? However, this has some lovely ingredients in it, and I find leaves me with lovely, glowing skin in the morning, so I'm happy. Ingredients: CAPRYL IC/CAPRIC TRIGLY CERIDE, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL*, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL*, CITRUS AURANTIUM AMARA (BITTER ORANGE) LEAF/TWIG OIL*, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) SEED OIL, SANTALUM ALBUM (SANDALWOOD) OIL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM AMARA (BITTER ORANGE) FLOWER OIL*, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL*, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, LINALOOL, GERANIOL, LIMONENE, FARNESOL. (07-49-5) * Origine biologique - Organic origin.

3. Green People Firming Eye Gel - I'm only 24 so I'm not in need of a miracle worker at the moment, but this gel is lovely and light with a water-base. I use it at night, though it would be perfect for the morning as well. It absorbs quickly, leaves no residue and wouldn't interfere with eye-makeup or concealer. The gel formula is great at relieving puffiness too. I can't speak on the anti-aging properties, but the ingredients are solid and it will definitely help you along the way at de-puffing (chicory root, algae and tara extracts), soothing (aloe), hydrating (marshmallow) and gently exfoliating (salicylic acid) the eye area, all of which make the skin appear aged. Ingredients: AQUA, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE DERIVED), CICHORIUM INTYBUS (CHICORY) ROOT OLIGOSACCHARIDES, CAESALPINIA SPINOSA (TARA BUSH) GUM, ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA (SEAWEED) EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE POWDER*, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL*, PERILLA FRUTESCENS (PERILLA) SEED OIL*, ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS (MARSHMALLOW) ROOT EXTRACT*, AROMA [ANTHEMIS NOBILIS (CHAMOMILE) FLOWER OIL*^, SANTALUM AUSTROCALEDONICUM (SANDALWOOD) WOOD OIL*], XANTHAN GUM (CORN STARCH GUM), CHONDRUS CRISPUS (IRISH MOSS) POWDER, BENZYL ALCOHOL, SALICYLIC ACID, SORBIC ACID, LIMONENE*. *86.7% ORGANIC, ^FAIRLY TRADED

4. Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Hair Spray - I'm a bit fan of pump hair sprays as opposed to the traditional kind in a can. I'm not a fan of adding CFC's to the atmosphere and generally don't like inhaling all that product! My old favourite hairspray was the TIGI Love, Peace & The Planet Cherry Almond Hair Spray, but sadly that's been discontinued and I had to go on the search for another. There are definitely cheaper ones than this, but I've never given anything from Aveda a go and thought I'd throw my dollars to the wind and take a chance. This product features acacia extract to add mega volume to hair as well as strong hold. I'm a big fan! The big test for me is how well a spray holds my faux-hawk for 12 hours of partying and this surpassed all my expectations! The smell isn't the greatest, but then again I don't think anything will compare to the sweet scent of cherry marzipan from TIGI in the past *sheds tear*. If you want to spend the money, it's a great product. 

5. Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - Ohhh sweet Moses. I'd heard every beauty blogger and their dog talk about this but I was very hesitant to part with £30+ for it. I think it retails for about £36, but Feel Unique have currently got it in their sale for 15% off here and I took the plunge. It is incredible; it really does deserve all the praise it has received. I take my makeup off with a cleansing oil, pat dry, then massage a bit of this into dry skin before removing with a flannel/muslin cloth. It is perfect for facial massage, cleansing and softening the skin, but equally removes make-up if you are happy to use it for that. I honestly don't think I can ever be without this from hence forth. Favourite. Cleanser. Ever. Ingredients: Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Beeswax, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitic/Stearic Triglycerides, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Silica, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Aqua (Water), Lecithin, Linalool, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl PCA, Menthyl PCA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Citronellol, Citric Acid, Geraniol, Citral.

Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub

Firstly, let me start out by saying that I absolutely adore French brand Caudalie. I think they are forward-thinking with their products and have fantastic ethics (have a little read here). You can tell that a great deal of care and consideration is taken in the product formulation and presentation.

I am always buying the odd facial item (or few) and on occasion a nice little sample is thrown in. The Crushed Cabernet Scrub was one of these items. Upon arrival I was so excited to try this. The gorgeous jar-style container is both practical and aesthetically pleasing and the 60g size is rather generous for a complementary sample!

The product itself is um, interesting. I have used it three times (you can see in the picture above that you get a lot of use out of this sample!) and come to the conclusion that the texture is PERFECTION; more of a paste than a gloopy liquid(so really easy to use without wasting half of it as it plops to the shower floor once you've scooped it out!). But the scent is just, wow... not my taste. The name 'cabernet scrub' really does give a pretty good hint that it smells of wine. Occasionally, if I open it outside of the shower and just have a little sniff (like I'm doing now) I think, 'eh, It's not too bad..only slightly likely bad wine...' but once you get in the shower - holy jeez! Once the scrub mixes with water there is an overwhelming scent of mould/dust/bad wine. I'm sure there are some great skincare benefits to this, and my skin always feels lovely and smooth and moisturised, but the scent just ruins the whole experience for me I'm afraid! I'm really not picky when it comes to scents usually; even if a product smells a bit meh I will carry on using it for its benefits, but this is just too much.

Did I get a dodgy one? Has anyone else tried this? You may love the scent. With 99% natural ingredients and supposedly thigh-slimming effects, this definitely sounds like perfection, so maybe perseverence is key...Have a read about the product on the Caudalie website and come to your own conclusion.

Review: Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I thought I would add my two cents to the plethora of reviews regarding this wonderful little beautifying gem.

I am a big fan of Caudalie, and have a firm belief that their products are of high quality. So far, I have never been let down. So, when their Eau de Beaute (Beauty Elixir) came charging in and stealing the limelight, I was dying to get my hands on one and had an expectation of high standards I was hoping would be met.

The product is sold in two sizes: a handbag-friendly 30ml and more industrial-sized 100ml. I thought I would try the smaller of the two (purchased here) to have a little play with. This glorious stuff comes in a luxurious glass bottle with a misting spray for application and is marketed to be used as a toner/refresher/mood-enhancer/glow-enhancer all in one sort of thing and I absolutely adore it. In case you haven't seen it, the wonderful Lisa Eldridge mentioned this product (amongst many others) in her long-haul flight beauty regime video so be sure to go and have a watch for some more info.

I already use my precious Neal's Yard Rehydrating Rose Toner (review here) in the morning and evening and didn't want to use this as a substitute. However, on particularly hot days I do love this in the morning after cleansing, or throughout the day for a cool, tingling, refreshing sensation on the skin. It works well misted over a full face of make-up as the mist is so fine that only the smallest necessary quantity is dispensed. Remember to close your eyes whilst you mist as it can make them feel a little irritated if it gets in. It smells very strongly of a herbal-peppermint medley and this wont suit everyone, however I personally adore the scent and would recommend it to anyone for its refreshing, mood-enhancing properties.

Let me know if you have given this a try and what you think! I will definitely be repurchasing and fully support all the hype that it has been given.

Mega Love x

Review: Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum

Hello my lovelies :-)! Today I bring you my honest opinion on an incredible product: Caudalie's Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum.

I don't know if it is the rubbish English weather, stress, not drinking enough water, or whatever else, but for the past couple months I have had a problem with my skin looking dehydrated. As a baseline standard, I have normal, clear, healthy skin that swings slightly towards the dry side at times. However, due to dehydration, my skin had been producing excess oil to make up for the water loss. This was resulting in a few break-outs and a tight feeling in my skin throughout the day.

My Oilatum moisturiser had been doing a great job, but I just felt I needed something to give me an extra boost. I had heard great things about this serum and had just run out of the Sonoma Naturals Avocado one I had been using, so decided to give the Caudalie SOS a try. I kid you not, within a day I noticed a huge difference! I apply it in the morning before moisturiser and instantly my skin looks plump and dewy and really glows. I have had several compliments lately on how great and healthy my skin looks and I really see the difference.

This product ranges from £26-30 depending on where you shop, but I had a 20% off voucher for HQHair which allowed me to get it for about £23 - bargain! I recommend signing up to this site as they send you 20% off vouchers quite often AND they offer free shipping.

Honestly, amazing stuff. I would recommend to anyone with dehydrated skin.

BRAND RAVE: CAUDALIE

I have been thoroughly impressed by two fantastic products recently and just had to share my thoughts!

I was running low on my Organic Surge Daily Cleanser, so had a little look on Feel Unique
and decided I would purchase the Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser to wash my face with in the morning, and the Cleansing Water to cleanse and remove makeup on 'can't be bothered' nights. (To clarify: 'can't be bothered' either means I am really ill and don't want cold water near my face, or it's been a big night out, and I want something I can use whilst I'm lying in bed - haha! In general I'll use a cleansing wipe and then my LUSH Angels on Bare Skin Exfoliator.)

Firstly, the Instant Foaming Cleanser:

This baby leaves my skin feeling wonderfully clean, moisturised and calm for the day. I use it in the shower in the mornings, and find it works perfectly to remove any oily grime that may have accummulated whilst I was asleep, and leaves my face refreshed.

Secondly, the Cleansing Water:

This is a micellar cleansing water, working in the same way as the famous Bioderma waters; the product contains micelles which act to eat up all the make-up and dirt on your face, leaving it perfectly clean. You do not have to use an additional cleanser after this, although if you were wearing very heavy make-up or had an intense workout at the gym, of course there is no harm in doing so if you want to be extra certain :).


After trying out the Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Creme in a previous Carmine Box and being incredibly impressed, I thought Caudalie might be a brand worth exploring, and boy was I right! They contain no artificial nasties, are wonderful quality and do exactly what they say, leaving skin looking dreamy. I thoroughly recommend both of the above products, as well as the face cream I have just mentioned - all beauties!

Let me know how you feel about Caudalie products!

Mega Love xx

Carmine Beauty Box!

After FleurDeForce's great review of her first Carmine Box, and a subsequent '£5 off your first box' offer she had for her viewers, I decided to give it a try. What better way of finding out about new beauty products out there than signing up to a box that hand-picks a great selection of luxury samples and full-sized products for you?! I was AMAZED by the contents of this box. Definitely, DEFINITELY worth (much) more than the £10 (+ £2.75 delivery) it retails for!

The box is beautiful quality and incredibly luxurious. The packaging is very stiff so it is a bit tricky to open, but the top lifts off to reveal a gorgeous green inside, filled with lots of goodies!

                                                                (L-R: Fratboy, Peach)

1. TRIND Nail Repair Natural. This is a full-sized polish bottle that aims to strengthen nails. My nails are always breaking and peeling, particularly in the Winter, so I'm excited about trying this out.

2. CAUDALIE Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Creme for dehydrated skin. This looks like it is going to be a big help this Winter, with my dry, sensitive skin. It contains no parabens or phenoxyethanol, is hypoallergentic and especially made for sensitive skin. Luxury sample of 10ml.

3. DANIEL SANDLER Eye Delight in 'Peach'. This loose powder eyeshadow is a gorgeous shimmery peachy/gold that is definitely the shadow you need for days when you just want a pretty wash of colour across the lid. The perfect shade to take you through Spring and Summer..though I'll be rocking it this Autumn too :)! Full size product of 3g.

4. BALANCE ME Super moisturising hand cream. Definitely on the greasy side, but the trick to this is apply some from the tube onto the back of one hand, then rub the other back of your hand onto it (this way avoiding the product getting onto your palms!). 98.8% natural, contains no parabens, sulphates, petroleum, mineral oils, silicons, dea, pegs, propylene glycol, artificial fragrances and colours - WOW! A great handbag size at 30ml.

5. THE BALM Fratboy Shadow/Blush. I saved the best for last! A full sized gorgeous blush (not too sure I'd use it as a shadow...) at 8.5g. Very cute retro packaging with a flip top and a handy mirror inside. The colour is a rosy pink with a slight peach tone to it. Very pigmented and incredibly smooth in texture. I'm still so amazed that they put this in the box! Amazed and over the moon :)!

All in all, I don't think I could have asked for a better box of goodies! I am so pleased and would highly recommend Carmine; just hoping all boxes to follow are of the same beautifully high standard.

Mega Love xx