L'Occitane En Provence Christmas Gifting 2022 Sample Review

 

I wasn't going to begin my Christmas reviews until the first week in November however, having frequented a few shopping centres recently, I've noticed that many of the shops including L'Occitane have their Christmas windows displayed already. Secretly this thrills me, as quite simply I love Christmas and can't wait to crack on with reviews.

It's understandable why L'Occitane have their windows decked out in their festive products earlier than some, as they put on such a good display, and often many of the goodies are snapped up as they showcase incredibly savings. This year, the packaging has surpassed previous years with gold gilt boxing and a slight Scandinavian contemporary look. The great thing about the packaging is that you don't really need to wrap it up, and the gilt makes it look rather luxurious.

The Seasons Workshop Advent Calendar RRP £55 worth £101

The pièce de résistance this year is of course their stand-out 'The Seasons Workshop' Advent Calendar. With an eye catching design giving hints to the environment and nature, this delightful calendar has 24 doors each one begging to be pressed and opened, as they reveal miniatures of the best selling products L'Occitane offer. I always have a dilemma when reviewing calendars as I don't want to ruin the element of surprise. However, they do show on the back of the box just what you will be getting, so look away now if you don't want to see!

Included are a selection of shower gels, hand creams, shampoo, conditioners, skin treatments and I can also tell you that the sizes are quite decent too. I visited a hotel in Turkey this year, that stocked L'Occitane miniatures, the same size as in the calendar and they lasted me a whole week.  Many are perfect for travelling and ideal if you are going away for a long weekend. I would be quick, as I can't see this one staying in stock for long! You get over £101 worth of products for just £55, and whilst I can't see anyone wanting to part with any of the pampering miniatures, you can actually gift them on and pop into your own crackers!

My Softening Essentials Bauble RRP £12

This year their baubles come in a variety of ranges, grouping together their most popular scents such as Verbena, Cherry Blossom, Men Essential etc. The Almond Bauble pictured above (the packaging does slightly differ from the website), contains a trio of:-

• Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil - contains Bergamot Fruit Oil, known for it's anti-bacterial qualities and helps treat skin conditions such as acne. It also contains Rosemary Leaf Extract that helps tone the skin. 
• Milk Concentrate with Almond - made with Sweet Almond Seed Extract, this is incredibly nourishing and ideal for dry skin types.
• Almond Hand Care - featuring an abundance of skin softening ingredients such as Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil and Coconut Oil to help really nourish dry hands, prevent flaking nails and encouraging healthy nail growth.

These sample sizes are ideal to get several pamper treats. The boxes themselves hang nicely from the tree, as quite light so don't pull down the branches. There's a bauble to suit everyone, and for the price these make wonderful 'Secret Santa' gifts and tree gifts.

Surprise Firecrackers Collection x 4 RRP £22.50

These 'Festive Crackers' make a wonderful alternative to table crackers. Filled with blissful delights that you will actually use (unlike the plastic toys in traditional crackers)! They also make wonderful crackers to place on the Christmas tree, as again are quite light so will fit snuggly in between branches.

You get 4 in a box each one containing 2 mini products of both Shower Gel and Hand Cream, in their best selling fragrances. This makes for amazing value for money at just a little over £5 each for 2 products! Of course you can gift someone with all 4 or, like I intend to split the box and place amongst the Christmas Tree. 

Each Cracker houses one of:-

• Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel 35ml/Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 10ml
• Verbena Shower Gel 35ml/Cooling Hand Cream Gel 10ml
• Shea Body Shower Oil 35ml/Shea Dry Skin Hand Cream 10ml
• Almond Shower Oil 35ml/Almond Hand Care 10ml

As with all the L'Occitane products the ingredients are nourishing and actively work to aid better skin health, and of course smelling utterly delicious!

Shea Golden Latte Light Hand Cream 150ml RRP £22

This limited edition 'whipped' hand cream is lighter than the other versions. It has a luscious milkshake, fluffy consistency and this reflects in the scent that has an underlying nurturing base, with a little kick of spice. Ingredients include:-

• Shea Butter - nourishing and anti-inflammatory, it contains high doses of both vitamin A and E so helps protect hands from environmental aggressors such as cold weather, smoke etc. 
• Castor Seed Oil - rich in ricinoleic acid a natural moisturiser for the skin. Castor Oil has many benefits including being anti-microbial so helps prevents fungal infections in cuticles and nails. 
• Turmeric Root Extract - anti-inflammatory and has many anti-oxidants that help protect hands from bacteria. It also contains curcumin which can help brighten hands and reduce pigmentation.
• Sunflower Seed Oil - ideal for sensitive skin and helps keeps hands hydrated.

The L'Occitane Hand Creams have a huge fan base, there is a scent for everyone and they make perfect gifts for those who are hard to buy for. The reviews on their website and other stockists are always glowing with many comments citing 'leaves hands feeling soft', 'not greasy', 'smells delicious', 'soaks into the skin fast' -the positive reviews just keep coming.

Verveine Mandarine Eau de Toilette 100ml RRP £54

Buying fragrance for someone is usually very hard, as you may not know how that person wears it, different skin textures suit different notes etc. Well if I tell you that I have tested this today and had the approval of my 14 year old son, my 19 year old daughter who wanted to take it, and my boyfriend who said 'is that the Jo Malone one I got you last year'.... It is, without a doubt one of the best combination fragrances I've smelt in a long time. If you love the unusual combinations of Tom Ford and Jo Malone then you will love this. It's woody, spicy notes give it an initial warming scent however, there is a burst of citrus orange that is sharp, crisp and sparkling. 

Indeed L'Occitane was inspired to create this fragrance from winter nights, crackling open fires and the fresh oranges often found in Christmas stockings. It's epitomises all of this, and the cosy Christmas evenings, without reverting to the usual pine and berry scents we see on the shelves. The scent lasted most of the day and so I didn't need to reapply. The glass bottle is simple, classy and whilst you should store your perfumes in a dark cupboard away from sunlight, this actually looks rather nice displayed on my bathroom shelf!

L'Occitane have a huge range of Christmas goodies and I would urge you to check out their website, as there is most certainly something for everyone. Visit here at  www.uk.loccitane.com

The Body Shop Peppermint Foot Range Sample Review

 

At the end of January this year, I had the misfortune of breaking my ankle and tearing all my ligaments. In honesty, I had gone out for my first drink since my father passed away a couple of months before, drank too much and face planted myself walking back from the pub. Aside from the pain, it was a horrendous few months as I am a single mother of 2 with special needs, and I help care for my mother...and have a dog (who cares for me)! Thankfully as I set up a volunteer group in lockdown, this time around they helped with dog walks, and my eldest helped with the school runs! 

That saying wind forward 10 months later, my ankle is still very swollen and painful - probably as I never had a chance to rest it. So it was with a little pleading email, that I asked the wonderful PRs at The Body Shop to see if they could send me over their Peppermint Foot range, and they did!

The Cooling Foot Lotion 250ml RRP £9 is a godsend to anyone with tired, aching legs and feet, as is the Peppermint Cooling & Reviving Foot Spray 100ml £7. It does exactly what it says on the bottle, it revives and cools down tired feet.  I've kept both next to the sofa, so that at the of the day, if and when I get 5 minutes, I spend those minutes massaging the products into my very grateful ankle.

The range contains cooling Peppermint Essential Oil to help reduce swelling and revive aching, tired muscles. The Spray is ideal for keeping in your handbag, as it is discreet and easy to use. One squirt on your ankles at your desk, will set you up for your work journey home, or take you from desk to gym. You can also decant into a smaller bottle and take with you on your travels.  The Lotion has some amazing ingredients such as:-

• Vitis Vinefera Seed Oil - aka Grape Seed Oil, rich in Vitamin E and very skin softening. 
• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil - Sweet Almond Oil, nourishing and hydrating.
• Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - Sunflower Seed Oil, a natural emollient that traps and binds water. Excellent for dehydrated, flaking and rough skin. 
• Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter - creates a barrier to help prevent moisture loss. Cocoa Seed Butter is also anti-inflammatory and helps soothe swollen feet.
• Mentha Piperita Oil - the key ingredient in the range, Peppermint Oil not only helps soothe and revive tired feet, but is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial so helps prevent breakouts and keeps fungal infections at bay.

Combined together the range makes a wonderful gift for anyone on their feet all day, hospital workers, pregnancy, hot weather or for those that do stupid things and break their ankles. I would go as far to say that this isn't a 'beauty product' per se, but my advice would to stock some in your medical supplies!  You can check out the rest of the range here at www.thebodyshop.com and read the amazing reviews from loyal customers.

The Body Shop Spiced Orange Sugar Scrub & Hand Balm Sample Review

 

Whenever I review scrubs I'm often disappointed as they never seem to be 'gritty' enough. I recently tested one that was so 'insipid' I ended up throwing it away. Thankfully The Body Shop's Spiced Orange Sugar Scrub is just 'flipping amazing'. Yes, those were the exact words when I rang my friend, whilst on the school run this afternoon! Having spent all afternoon testing, writing and reviewing I have to say it's hands down the best one I've tested in a long while.

For starters the fragrance is incredibly warming, it's a heady mixture of cinnamon spice and rejuvenating orange. It has the base of vanilla which gives it that homely, nurturing scent but ultimately it's reminiscent of the German markets at Christmas, with all those lovely fruity and aromatic spices. So before I'd even tested it, I had fallen in love with the scent as it has gotten me excited for Christmas.

Spiced Orange Sugar Scrub 250ml £18

Next up is the texture, a thick balm that encapsulates the sugar particles that really get to work on dry, dehydrated and flaky skin. The balm is rich in Mango Seed Oil and Orange Peel Extract, both that work to nourish, hydrate and moisturise dry skin. Mango Seed Oil is known to be anti-bacterial and so helps ward off infections and is ideal for breakouts and oilier skin types. It also helps reduce inflammation so aids those who suffer with breakouts or eczema.  

Orange Peel Extract helps tone uneven skin, gives skin radiance as it contains skin brightening properties. It's ideal for those with dull, dehydrated skin and is a must before baring legs and arms in those party dresses! 

The scrub itself is not abrasive but really gets to work on rough patches and once mixed with water turns into a light milky consistency that simply washes away, revealing soft skin. You can use it as part of your pedicure ritual, after gardening to soften hands and also to help prep the skin before fake tanning. It leaves skin with a residue of nourishing oils, in fact I didn't even need to put moisturiser on after!

Spiced Orange Hand Balm 30ml £6

You only need a tiny amount of the Hand Balm to nourish dry hands and heal cracked cuticles and nail ridges. As we come into the colder months our hands take a real pummelling (pardon the pun), with the harsh winter elements. Cold air, air conditioning, party gel nails etc all provide the perfect combination for our hands to look and feel malnourished. 

This handy size balm not only smells good enough to eat (it has the same scent as the scrub), but contains all the essential ingredients such as Shea Butter, Sesame Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Cocoa Seed Oil to restore and protect your hands. Most importantly, hands are not left feeling greasy, a pet hate of mine just incredibly soft.  It's also worth mentioning that the packaging is now 100% recycled aluminium!

A wonderful addition to The Body Shop's Christmas line! As always the products are cruelty free, vegan and ethically sourced.  You can check out the rest of the range here at www.thebodyshop.com

The Body Shop Wild Pine Sample Review

 

Every year The Body Shop surpasses itself by bringing out a range of festive, fragrant body products that are the epitome of Christmas. This year they've most certainly nailed it once again with their Wild Pine range - it simply is 'Christmas in a Bottle'. Whilst many brands bring out 'pine fragrances' nearer winter, they're often synthetic and either smell too sweet or too harsh. The Body Shop has taken a forest of pine trees and captured it into every product of the range.

So excited was I to test these, that they jumped to the front of my rather large queue of samples to review. When my lovely PR wrote on the compliments slip 'I know it's a little early for Christmas but wanted to share these with you' - I understood her excitement! 

Wild Pine Shower Gel 250ml £7

As soon as I opened the bottle my hunched up, tight shoulders immediately relaxed. It's an instant tension relief and completely awakens the senses. The fragrance is the same throughout the line, with pine, mint and sandalwood, so a really refreshing mix of essential oils to uplift, revive and restore the mind. Just a small amount on your body puff is all you need for your body to be spoilt with luxurious bubbles, whilst giving your sinuses a much needed clear out!  Ingredients include:-

• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder - helps soothe and calm sensitive skin types, ideal for inflamed and itchy skin. Hydrating and nourishing for dry skin types.
• Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract - anti-bacterial ideal for those who suffer with acne prone skin types. Helps reduce itching and redness and also contains anti-oxidants that are anti-aging.

Wild Pine Bath Bomb 50g £5

Poured under running, warm water disperses this Bath Bomb into a fizzy, indulgent and head clearing bath. Again containing ingredients such as mint to clear the head, pine to refresh and sandalwood to give warmth and help relax tired and aching muscles.  It makes a great diverse stocking filler for kids and adults alike!

Wild Pine Body Butter 200ml £18

This utterly delectable, creamy, rich Body Butter turns the thirstiest of parched skins into the softest skin and literally rescues skin that has been exposed to the sun. Flaky skin, dry elbows, dry knees, hard skin, dry nails - it's the problem solver for anyone who has neglected their skin. 

Gently fragranced again with pine and mint, you only need a small amount to instantly restore dehydrated skin.  A little applied onto the legs will give that nourished, healthy glow so you can bare your legs confidently. It produces a whopping 96 hours of moisturising so you can be assured that your skin will feel soft for days.  Ingredients include:-

• Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter) - Shea Butter that has been sourced from Ghana. Highly nourishing, rich in fatty acids - Shea Butter helps repair and tone the skin.
• Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter - contains high levels of anti-inflammatories, helps soothe redness and skin conditions such as eczema.
• Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - creates a barrier to protect the skin from moisture loss. Gives protection to all skin types especially oily skin.
• Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil - a natural source of omega 6 fatty acids and amino acids, sesame seeds help protect the skin from environmental aggressors such as pollution and smoke. 

The range is cruelty free, vegan and is a scent that is universal to both men and women. Whilst it's part of their Christmas range, it's one that can be used all year round, especially winter time when coughs and colds are rife. Perfect for early morning starts to make you bright eyed and bushy tailed for the day - or for when you just want to simply relax. 

I'm excited to see what else The Body Shop has coming up for Christmas, in the meantime you can check out this range here at www.thebodyshop.com

NATURA SIBERICA SUPER SIBERICA FLUID-FILLER RRP £8.49

 

I chose to review this as I liked the name of it 'Fluid-Filler' - sounds like an aesthetic skin plumper but it's actually for the hair. My hair is incredibly fine, lots of it but gradually post menopause and it's most certainly getting less of it. So I'm all for testing anything that gives my hair 'plumpness, volume and thickness'. 

I also like this brand (evidently - as I have written lots of reviews), for their natural ingredients at such good value. The Fluid-Filler contains an abundance of natural ingredients such as:-

• Rose Davurica Leaf ExtractWH - hair smoothing, leaves hair feeling soft to the touch.
• Hydrolyzed Rice Protein - adds volume and thickness to fine, thin hair. Also binds moisture to the hair making it more resilient to styling.
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein - a natural protein that helps strengthen the hair, and prevents hair from breaking by increasing elasticity.
• Juniperus Communis Branch/Fruit/Leaf/ExtractWH - helps prevent dandruff and reduces signs of inflammation that may cause eczema or scalp psoriasis.
• Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract - protects the hair from environmental pollutions and aggressors such as wind, UV rays. Helps prevent frizz keeping hair feeling soft and smooth.
• Abies Sibirica Needle Oil - helps decrease inflammation, soothing itchy scalps and is calming.
• Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil - prevents dandruff, again decreases inflammation and promotes good hair health.

It is a fine liquid and a little goes a long way, so I only needed a small amount and applied it to my towel dried hair. You leave it in and then can style as usual, whether using heat or naturally drying your hair.  I usually place a few drops of Argan Oil to the ends of my hair however, I'm preferring this as it has so many natural, active ingredients. It also left my hair shiny without weighing it down - something that often happens with fine hair and serums! As always with Natura Siberica the ingredients are cruelty free and vegan!

You can check out the range here at www.naturasiberica.co.uk

THE HAIR BOSS by LISA SHEPHERD THE HEAT PROTECTION SPRAY RRP £8.99

 

There are so many products on the market for heat styling, that it can be a little overwhelming when facing the vast choice on the shelves. Do you choose one to protect your hair from heat damage? Do you go for a hairspray? What if you want protection on dry rather than wet hair? Thankfully this product whittles away the need for various bottles as it does the whole lot in one go! Gives hold whilst protecting the hair from hot appliances.

The very fine mist is actually a hair spray that gives a light flexible hold, whilst also containing heat protection up to 230°C so you can be sure that your hair isn't being damaged by your straighteners/tongs etc.

Simply mist finely over your finished look for volume and hold, or spray onto dry hair before you start styling. As we draw into the windier, colder months it's most definitely worth investing in a heat protection spray. It has a very light scent making it a suitable for anyone to use. 

I recently put it to the test, when I had a head full of spiral curls for my 50th birthday! Having bleached hair and usually one to shy away from hair sprays, I'm pleased to say my curls lasted all night and there was no 'sticky or heavy feeling' to them! 

You can check out the link here for other Lisa Shepherd products at www.thehairboss.co.uk or purchase at www.superdrug.com / www.amazon.co.uk

LEIGHTON DENNY HYDRA-FLEX SERUM SAMPLE REVIEW RRP £14 12ML & AUTUMN/WINTER 22 NAIL SHADES RRP £12.50 12ML

 

My nails are a disgrace, there is no coating (pardon the pun) over the fact, that they are brittle, dry, ridged and don't just break horizontally but rather alarmingly, most recently vertically! I know the reason why. I'm a super busy mum who had her gel nails done once for her birthday and decided to tear them off, the minute they showed a flake. I wash up without gloves and I spend more time rubbing detergent on my hands than hand cream. 

So when I was asked if I would like to review some Leighton Denny nail colours, my answer was 'yes please however, could you also ping in a life saviour for nails', and thankfully they have.

I've always had time for Leighton Denny as a nail brand, often putting them in the press as I like their ethos, that they're not just a colour but 'skincare for nails'. 

As you can see from the above my nails are in need of a lot of 'skincare'! The Hydra-Flex Serum is for anyone who suffers with:-

• Brittle nails
• Dry nails
• Ridges horizontal and vertical
• Flaky nails
• Dry, dull nails
• Nails that are stiff and don't flex.

Easy to apply, you simply massage into the nail and cuticle daily. Upon opening I'll be keeping this next to the TV to remind myself every evening to massage in. It's not a messy formula so fine to keep next to your bed, car etc. 

It soaks in quickly, more so with my nails as they're so dehydrated. Whilst it instantly makes nails look smoother etc, I have a little while to go before I start seeing real results. Active ingredients include:-

• Biotin - helps strengthen the nails, leading to less breakages.
• Rosehip Oil - rich in Omega 3, helps prevent peeling nails and nourishes dry, dehydrated nails.
• Zingiber Officinalis - aka Ginger Root, known to contain magnesium, zinc and chromium which help nourish dry, brittle nails. 
• Coriandrum Sativum - full of anti-oxidants that help repair nails and contains Vitamin K to strengthen. 
• Eugenia Caryophyllata - aka Clove Bud, antiseptic and anti-bacterial, helps prevents infections in nails.

I was also sent 2 'Autumn/Winter' colours, the gold 'Crazy For You' being part of their SS22 Affection Collection. 'Vamp' is the traditional dark berry, ideal now we are coming into the colder months (although I like it all year round). It's a timeless shade and always looks classy. I only needed 2 coats to get full coverage, and as you can see it leaves an incredibly glossy finish.

'Crazy For You' (incidentally my karaoke go to song), is a wash of shimmering gold. Incredibly versatile as one swipe not only gives a glistening sheen of gold, but you can also transform any nail colour into a more metallic shade (see below).

I tend to be drawn to shades that are easy to apply and the 'Crazy For You' is incredibly forgiving, especially if you are in a rush. It dries almost instantly so an ideal colour to have in an emergency, if you are just leaving the door for an event and need a quick camouflage to conceal unsightly nails such as mine.

All the nail varnishes are low in chemicals, skin friendly, nail friendly and vegan! They have a great brush, so you can apply the colour in just one swipe. Ingredients are 75% plant based and they use eco-friendly glitter!

You can check out the rest of the range here at www.leightondenny.com - I'm looking forward to seeing what they have out for Christmas as they often bring out great gifts! Watch this space!