L'Occitane Verveine Agrumes Fresh Granita Body Gel £27 150ml / Body & Hair Refreshing Mist £15.50 50ml Sample Review

 

I've been reviewing a lot of L'Occitane of late, and therefore it should come as no surprise it's one of my favourite brands. As I've mentioned regularly, the Verbena range is probably my favourite and so I was intrigued to review the latest 'Verveine Agrumes' range, which translates to ' Citrus Verbena'.  

I was lucky enough to be sent the new Fresh Granita Body Gel and the Body and Hair Refreshing Mist, and with this heat the timing was rightly so. 

First of all taking a look at the Fresh Granita Body Gel. As you can imagine from the packaging this range is a lively, bursting with vitality, zesty and sparkling fragrance. It is absolutely ideal for the hot weather and summer holidays. The Fresh Granita Body Gel upon application reminds me of lemon curd however, apart from the zesty smell this is where the similarity ends. It bursts into a tingly, cooling sensation and melts instantly into the skin leaving not a trace of sticky residue. It's fragrance is undeniably lemon mint/menthol (ideal for men and women), and it is instantly cooling. For even more of a wake-up call you can actually keep this in the fridge. 

As always with L'Occitane the products are not just 'cosmetic, superficial, and make the skin feel nice', the ingredients included are used to actually treat skin issues. Such ingredients include:-

• Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract - a very rare plant that is often used in skincare for it's astringent and toning properties. It also acts as a mild exfoliant so ensures skin is kept smooth. 
• Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil - used for a number of conditions, especially acne, blackheads and is used in skincare to clarify the skin and keep skin clear of bacteria build up.
• Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil - anti-bacterial and anti-microbial make this the perfect ingredient to unclog blocked pores and soak up excess oil. 
• Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil - helps give radiance to the skin.
• Menthol - helps cool overheated skin, has an instant cooling effect and can also help with swollen legs. Ideal to use if you've been on your feet all day or on an aeroplane. 

The Refreshing Hair and Body Mist does just that, it refreshes instantly. With similar ingredients to the Fresh Granita Body Gel, this is an ideal companion to take with you on your flight, pop in your handbag to freshen up during the day, and most definitely one to use for the 'morning after the night before'. A spritz or 2 over your body and in your hair will most certainly leave you bright eyed and bushy tailed and set up for the day. 

Another great addition to the L'Occitane range - it's not only ideal for holidays but for nurses, after pregnancy, sport and just anyone who is feeling the heat, has water retention or feeling sticky in this hot weather!

Check out the range here at www.uk.loccitane.com

Soap & Glory Summer Bundles RRP £20 Sample Review

 

I will start this review by letting you know what a top skin care scientist once told me. This scientist whom I'd met when he was promoting his newly launched product at Fortnum & Mason, was behind many of the top formulations found in high end skin care brands today. He told me 'Soap & Glory actually use excellent active ingredients, similar to the ones you find in many salon brands'. His words had an obvious effect on me, as it was the first thing I mentioned to the PR when I was asked to review this bundle.

My next thing I would like to say is that when I opened the box, I actually thought they'd been a mistake made. Revealing an abundance of skin, hair and make-up products, for the price of £20 I thought they'd actually made a mistake and sent me 2 lots of bundles. I emailed the PR and no, there was no mistake!

What you are getting here is actually the value of almost £60 and there are 3 types of bundles to choose from (I think the one pictured here differs slightly from the Boots website but still the same quantity of products).  So impressed with the price that I have included the individual prices so you can see for yourself the savings made.  Here's what was in mine....

Smart Foam Mouldable Shower Mousse 200ml £4.95

This puts all the fun into showering with it's mouldable texture. It's a lightweight foam that spreads easily over the body (without the need for lathering up with a body puff), makes shaving a doddle and leaves skin feeling silky soft due to the addition of Argan Oil.  It has a lively, coconut, fruity flavour, a little bit like those fruit salad chews. The fragrance lingers on the skin without being over-whelming. 

Get A Smooth On Smooth Shampoo 300ml RRP £4

Okay they've actually sold out of this on the website, so at a hazard guess it's around the £4 price compared to some of the other shampoos. This is ideal if you suffer with frizzy hair, static hair and hair that seems to have it's own personality during the hot weather.  The key ingredients are:-

• Marula Oil - nourishing, ideal for dry, brittle, chemically damaged, heat damaged and sun damaged hair. It contains amino and fatty acids as well as anti-oxidants so protects the hair from UV rays. It also is anti-inflammatory making it ideal for those who suffer with itchy scalps and conditions such as eczema. 
• Shea Butter - hydrating, smoothing and repairing. Excellent at preventing split ends and adds shine to damaged hair. 

It has a beautiful, clean and fruity fragrance that makes you want to swish your hair!

Kick Ass Instant Retouch Pressed Powder 7.5g £12.99

This has rave reviews on the website and it's easy to see why. Firstly the compact is a decent 'click shut' compact, that has a proper mirror. Secondly, the powder is universally suited to all skin types and thirdly, it does exactly what it says, it keeps shine at bay and is completely transparent. A must have in this hot weather. The technology involved is Superblur™ and Camouflawge™, that guarantees the weightless delivery and invisible powder formula. 

One Heck Of A Blot Instant Perfecting Power Primer 30ml £12.99

My daughter is going to love me when she gets in from work. This is her all time favourite, and as you may imagine, she has had her fair share of primers from me. Her skin suffers from hormonal breakouts, is oily and her makeup (before using this), tended to slide and gather in little beads. Not only is it a 'cosmetic' for blurring pores, hiding imperfections and helping makeup stay on all day, but it also treats the skin with Vitamin E, known for it's healing properties and anti-inflammatory properties so helps reduce redness.  The primer contains 'Shine-Bloc™, tiny 12 hour matte spheres' that work their magic to allow a perfect base for makeup.

Treat My Lips Smoothing Lip Oil 10ml £9.99 / Peach Pout £9

I'm putting both of these into my handbag as I'm a huge lover of the natural lip look and especially was they treat the lips. I've been blessed with a fuller pout however, in the summer it is not a blessing if I don't constantly put some kind of balm or treatment on them. They easily crack and can flake in the dry, hot weather. Both of these solve the issue and both of them are perfect for all skin tones. Pictured here is the Peach Pout in Freedom Of Peach on top followed by the Lip Oil in Sheer Red.

The Peach Pout is a lightweight balm that gives a light, satin sheen to the lips. Suitable for all skin tones especially fair to medium, this coral shade (it looks more nude in the photo) tastes almost edible with it's peachy fragrance. Lips are left feeling soft, kissable and with just a hint of peach colour.

The Ultra Smoothing Lip Oil is a must for anyone with flaky lips. The gloss again, is very sheer and gives that hint of 'just bitten into a strawberry' look. The oil is not sticky and glides on the lips without the worry of hair getting stuck on the lips. It includes Rosehip Oil, that's incredibly nourishing to dry lips.

So as you can see you're getting a huge bargain for the price. I expect these to sell out incredibly fast! Not only do they make wonderful gifts for birthdays, and yes Christmas but you can buy the bundles and keep some of the products for yourself and gift the others. All the products are universally friendly, meaning they're suitable for most skin and hair types. You can choose from a choice of several bundles with huge savings here at www.boots.com

L'Occitane En Provence Lavande Blanche Range

I would be hard pressed to say which of my favourite fragrances are from the L'Occitane range, as quite simply I think they are all amazing, and they all have their place upon wearing. Verbena has probably been my one to' re-order' however, dilemma has just been thrown in, as I've now been introduced to the Lavande Blanche - 'White Lavender' range.

L'Occitane uses the most purest form of lavender essential oil (known as blue-gold), that is sourced from farmers in Haute-Provence. Whilst there is undeniably notes of Lavender running through the range, it's fresher, almost citrusy in scent and is quite simply reminiscent of warm summer, blue skies, wildflower meadows, clean cotton and, as the brand describes 'freshly washed linen'. It doesn't have that overtly sweet scent often found in lavender products., but is a lighter, classier and most certainly has that French chic air to the fragrance. 

Lavande Blanche Body Milk 250ml RRP £25

This divine body milk is a lightweight body lotion that simply sinks into the skin without leaving any greasy residue. The bottle is one that is worthy of bathroom display for guests (as is the whole range), albeit I think I would be very possessive over this one! 

One of the reasons why I love the L'Occitane brand is that the products themselves are not 'superficial', i.e. not just for making the skin feel or smell nice. The products use ingredients that actually treat skin conditions, such as:-

• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - filled with essential fatty acids, helps nourish the skin, fight inflammation, aids in cell renewal, keeps skin supple.
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) - moisturising, nourishing, wards off wrinkles and fine lines, healing, helps calm acne and sensitive/irritated skin. 
• Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil -  an excellent anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and ideal for calming stressed out skin. 
• Polyglycerl-3 Beeswax - a gentle emulsifier derived from fatty acids and that is safe to use on all skin types 
• Jojoba Esters - often used in skincare to help prevent signs of aging, smooth the skin and help reduce dry skin types.

Lavande Blanche Eau De Toilette 50ml RRP £54

A simply stunning fragrance, that is unique and most certainly stands out from the more 'designer' brands. Top notes are, as I thought above, citrus owing to bergamot and cedrat, middle notes are floral and light with lavender, white rose and fruity blackcurrant. Finally the base notes are slightly woody and nurturing from the inclusion of sandalwood and white musk. The perfume is light, ideal for summer days, fresh but leaves a wonderfully soft base note that makes me feel rather broody! The light spray can also be used to spritz through the hair, especially after a night out to give hair that freshly washed scent. 

Lavande Blanche Perfume in Gel 10ml RRP £13.50

It's also available in 'hand-bag/travel' size of 10ml which is ideal to pop in your hand luggage for holidays, work, gym bag or simply to introduce you to the range before committing to the larger bottle. The perfume is delivered by a precise nozzle where upon a small squeeze will excrete a tiny amount of perfumed gel, making it easier to concentrate on the warm points of your body (this is where we should spray our perfume).  

Lavande Blanche Soothing Hand Cream 30ml RRP £8

This handy travel sized hand cream is a must for anyone who has dry, dehydrated hands. Enriched with nourishing Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, ensures that hands are left feeling soft, supple and completely moisturised. An excellent conditioner for nails, especially if you have gel nails, this is a must to keep nails in tip top condition. This handy size is easily transportable to take with you on holiday, for work or like I do, and keep one in my glove compartment. Alone or coupled with the Perfume In Gel this makes an ideal teachers present, gift for a new mum or just to say thank you. The hand cream is vegan friendly. 

, The range can be viewed here at www.uk.loccitane.com

Oblepikha Siberica Professional Scalp Scrub 200ml RRP £6.50 / Conditioning Spray 125ml RRP £7.50

 

I've been a little quiet of late due to many reasons but mainly that I caught Covid and it's taken me a while to catch up from 3 days being bedridden. Thankfully now I'm back on my feet and thankfully I've got some much needed TLC samples to test. Starting with Oblepikha Siberica - one of my favourite ranges from Natura Siberica.  

Starting off with the Oblepikha Siberica Scalp Scrub. You may wonder if you need this alongside your usual shampoo and conditioner, and so I would say that if you suffer with itchy scalp, flaky scalp, like swimming, use products in your hair, suffer with fine hair, hair loss then yes, this is a good addition to add alongside your usual hair routine. 

The Scalp Scrub doesn't just feed your hair with much needed ingredients to give hair some 'oomph', but also helps stimulate hair growth thanks to the fine micro beads that gently exfoliate your scalp. Not only does it stimulate hair growth, but the beads help smooth a flaky scalp so ideal if you suffer with dandruff. Here's a breakdown of some of the ingredients:-

• Pinus Sibirica Shell Powder - Pine Oil is anti-inflammatory, strengthening and soothing so helps calm a sensitive scalp.
• Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Water - otherwise known as Sea Buckthorn often used in skincare and hair care to help with eczema, psoriasis and itchy scalps. 
• Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract - cooling and revitalizing, helps stimulate hair cell growth. 
• Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract - a healing ingredient, helps promote stronger hair.
• Achillea Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract - nourishing and conditioning. 
• Argania Spinosa Seed Oil - moisturizing and promote thicker, healthier hair. Is idea for preventing breakage and keeping the scalp healthy.

The cooling lightweight gel was a pleasure to use in the shower. It smells refreshing and is the perfect antidote to use not only after a bout of ill health, but also as I have gotten back into swimming the last few months, my hair has definitely suffered. My hair does look and feel much better and I do notice a difference when I don't use it! Win-Win!

From the same range is the Conditioning Spray. Again before I go into the ingredients list, I will say that it's a lightweight spray and an absolute must-have if you are going away on holiday. Simply spray on to towel dried hair, or even throughout the day if you are dipping in and out of the water to help prevent sun damage. It's also good to use before applying hot appliances to the hair to give a little heat protection. If you hair is curly, wavy or you find it gets knotty, then just a few sprays makes hair much easier to comb through. Anyway onto the ingredients!

Whilst some of the ingredients are similar to the Scalp Scrub, there are also additional ingredients to help condition the hair, some of these include:-

• Avena Sativa Kernal Extract - otherwise known as oats! Rich in nutrients especially B vitamins, to help soothe a damaged scalp and ideal if you've had to much sun!
• Althaea Officinalis Root Extract - this natural emollient helps detangle the knottiest of hair types. Ideal if you have curly, wavy or long hair. Gives hair that shiny bounce.
• Picea Obovata Needle Extract - makes hair look shiny, feel soft and gives volume. 
• Pantothenic Acid - known as Vitamin B5, which is incredibly strengthening and nourishing to wake hair. Helps promote a healthy scalp which in turn prevents hair loss.
• Biotin - Vitamin B7 helps restore damaged, weak and brittle hair types. Ideal if you hair is coloured or chemically altered. 
• Folic Acid - helps promote hair growth, this synthetic B vitamin is ideal if you've gone through illness, pregnancy, menopause or suffering with weak, thinning hair.

As always I am blown away by the quality of ingredients in Natura Siberica products. I don't get paid for these reviews, something I feel I need to always mention however, the testimony is my time spent writing up on them. The products are vegan, cruelty free and use 'Wild Harvested Siberian Herbs'. 

The packaging is so beautiful that whilst it looks good on the bathroom shelf, it also makes a wonderful gift. As for the cost - well don't get me started on the reasonable prices! As always I would invite you to do a Google of customer reviews, many of which are 5 star. You can check out the rest of the range here at www.naturasiberica.co.uk

Gold Collagen® Hydrogel Mask Sample Review RRP £20 4 x 30g

 

Firstly before I begin this review, I must apologise to the PR as I had been kindly sent this back in May, but due to ill-health alongside other personal issues I've had a small back-log of reviews.  Today I was very pleased to start this review as my skin has suffered from a bad bout of Covid not to mention recent stress. My skin has been very dry and dehydrated and whilst I have spent some time in the sun and have a slight tan, it's only inevitable is now looks a little sun damaged. I have been preaching about SPFs since I began writing over 25 years ago, but don't always take my own advice.  Anyway my skin has been crying out for these sheet masks and I'm happy to say that by just testing one today, I have noticed a remarkable difference.

Gold Collagen® paved the way for collagen liquid drinks over 10 years ago and was the brainchild of Tony Sanguinetti, whom on a trip to Japan learnt that the Japanese ladies owed much of their flawless complexion to drinking collagen. I personally found this fascinating as I am half Japanese but never knew this. From his trip, he created the liquid beauty supplement, adding in other anti-oxidant ingredients and from there the drinks became a best-selling brand in the UK.  Now the brand stock other beauty skincare lines such as supplements and the Hydrogel Masks.

The Hydrogel Masks contain ingredients that feed the skin to eliminate a whole host of skin conditions from dryness, inflammation, acne and aging skin types. Some of these ingredients include:-

• 1,2 Hexanediol - an emollient often used to help boost anti-microbial activity and deeply hydrates dry, parched skin types. Ideal if your skin is dehydrated from the sun or illness. It's also a humectant so pulls humidity from the air to help hydrate the skin. 
• Chondrus Crispus Extract - this red algae is full of anti-oxidants and beta-carotene, so helps protect the skin from environmental pollutions and helps eliminate damage from UV rays. 
• Lactobacillus Ferment - helps increase collagen production and heals damaged skin. 
• Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract - aka Mugwort, known to help sensitive skin and contains Vitamin A so ideal for healing acne and breakouts. 
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract - anti-inflammatory, good for acne prone skin and also has astringent and toning properties, so ideal if you suffer with oilier skin types. 
• Castor Seed Oil - rich in ricinoleic acid and often used for helping reduce wrinkles, puffiness and redness from sensitive skin, it's also incredibly moisturising and nourishing. Thirsty skin loves Castor Seed Oil as it leaves it feeling very supple and hydrated.

The mask itself comes in two parts, one covers the forehead down to the cheeks, whilst the other half covers the lower jaw line. The Hydrogel Mask is easy to apply and literally melts into the contours of the face. As it is like a 'second skin', it is very fine to apply however, once on it is easy to smooth into every contour and crevice of the face, ensuring that all your skin gets the benefits of the ingredients.

Upon testing I found that I was able to walk around and get on with my work without the need to lie down - this mask doesn't budge! I also loved the fact that there was excess product so I was able to use the mask, rolled up and soak it into my décolletage as this area is very dehydrated.

After leaving for about 10 minutes I simply massaged in any excess. It has left my skin feeling supple, glowing and smooth. My dehydrated, fine lines have simply vanished - and whilst this immediate effect is often temporary with regular use and looking at the quality of ingredients, I can see it will make a long-term difference. 

The sheets are ideally packaged individually so make them great for popping into your suitcase for holidays, used before a night out or as part of your weekly regime. As always I love to look at the reviews from other customers, and I'm pleased to report they're all glowing! You can check out more on the brand and this product here at www.gold-collagen.com

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