Biossance Unstoppable Glow Christmas Gift Sample Review RRP £45

 

I do like these Christmas gift sets whereby you can sample the products before buying full sizes. Firstly, the value is always very good and often much better than if you buy individually, and secondly you get a decent amount (more than 'travel size') to see how your skin reacts to the products. This gift set not only is amazing value for money as has a full sized Omega Repair Cream, but also has 2 decent sized products.

The gift set itself contains 3 of Biossance best selling products, each aimed at giving a more youthful and plump glow, but especially good for those who suffer with sensitive breakouts.  The key ingredient in all the products is 'Squalane'. 

Squalene (with an e) acts as a barrier to the skin, keeping moisture locked in and so an excellent ingredient for dehydrated, lined and mature skin types. It is often derived from sharks liver oil, although it can be present from some fruits and plants too (such as olive). It's a lipid that is naturally produced by our own skin cells however, before it can be used in skincare it has to be combined with hydrogen, this then is turned into Squalane (with an a).

 Not only does it work as a barrier cream but it's anti-inflammatory and so excellent for skin types that suffer with redness, be it hormonal acne or more sensitive skin. 

Other ingredients in this set include:-

• Rose Damascena Flower Extract - used in skincare to prevent infection and is anti-bacterial, ideal for acne proned skin types.
• Pistacia Lentiscus - a nut used for it's resin 'mastic', often used to treat oily skin.
• Lespedeza Capitata Leaf - known as 'Bush Clover' and used to help detoxify skin and hydrate.

The set is ideal for teenagers especially if they are suffering from hormonal breakouts, it's also excellent for anyone who suffers from oilier skin types. It can be purchased online at www.lookfantastic.com or www.harrods.com

Odile Paris Skincare Range Sample Review

 

I was sent this skincare brand to review a month or so ago and had told the PR that I would be putting it up in January, or to fit in with winter skin care features. I have a back log of samples waiting to be tested and have been slowly sifting through them, categorising into various dates of Christmas etc. I've decided to put this out now, as quite simply, it's absolutely gorgeous and if you want to treat someone to the ultimate skin care set then this would be it. The lucky recipient would know that they have been truly and utterly spoilt!

Odile Paris is a brand founded by Odile Lecoin, a Parisian facialist well known in the beauty industry as one of the top facialists in Europe.  The brand was created to give her clients a range of products to be used at home, and to be able to experience the same kind of luxury that was given in the salon. The OR range (meaning gold in French), embodies the natural glow we all would like to maintain as we get older. The whole range from the packaging to the ingredients is 5 star. So lets look at the products and the ingredients that make this brand stand out amongst others.

 Purify and Glow Cleansing Balm £45 50ml

This beautiful, delicate cleanser is the perfect way to start any beauty ritual. Just a tiny amount warmed into the palms of the hands, then pressed into the face, followed by massaging in circular motions is ideal for draining sinuses, ridding of under eye bags and simply starting and finishing the day, with what is a joy to use. Makeup, including waterproof dissolves instantly and once added with a little warm water turns into a milky consistency that can then be either rinsed off or taken off with a warm cloth. The fragrance is light and not overpowering, subtle but refreshing.

Ingredients include nourishing Shea Butter, moisturising Sweet Almond Oil, toning Rosemary Extract and Algae Extract known for it's antibacterial qualities and high concentration of Omega 3 fatty acids. Ideal for dry skin and those prone to eczema and inflamed skin too.

 The Flash Eye Lift £45 15ml

This light weight gel is instantly cooling when pressed around the eyes. It sinks in immediately and, with what I would expect with this price, gives instant results by making the eyes look and feel more refreshed. Whilst I haven't used this for a whole month yet (something I like to do before I give reviews), I can say that upon application it did make my crows feet look more hydrated and gave a slight tightening effect.

Key ingredients include Caffiene, a wonder ingredient and used in many eye products for it's immediate effect in reducing inflammation. Yeast Extract and Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, ingredients that helps reduce puffy eyes and those that suffer with sinus pockets (bags). An essential product especially now we are hitting party season and sadly flu/virus season. A little goes a long way so you only need a very tiny amount. 

The Ultimate Care Gel Cream £125 50ml

Luxury skincare comes with luxury prices. Often what goes into the price is the marketing, the packaging etc before the ingredients. The Care Gel Cream is all about the quality of ingredients, and it is the ideal light gel for sensitive skin types, whether sensitive through weather elements, central heating, hormones, shaving or allergies.

It works by protecting the skin from harsh elements and pollutants that we are exposed to every day. It's USP is Abyssine657 - 'a molecule that provides stimulation of the skin's natural defences'. This ingredient strengthens the skin and gives it armour to protect against such environmental aggressors mentioned above. Inclusive of this is Alteromonas Ferment Extract that has water-binding properties for the skin and helps soothe sensitive skin.

The packaging is, as you can see 'must put on show on the bathroom shelf', but most importantly, it comes with a small spatula for application, thus avoiding dipping fingers and spreading germs!

The Ultimate Day Cream £70 50ml

Finally I have been testing The Ultimate Day Cream. It's ideal for all skin types but especially dry and mature like mine. It's the holy grail for anti-aging and contains a huge abundance of moisturising and nourishing ingredients. The pump dispenser is always my preferred method of application as it prevents bacteria from finger tips (one of the reasons I never test from pots in Duty Free). 

The first ingredient that helps your skin retain moisture is the very commonly used 'hyaluronic acid', that comes in a sodium form, and one that can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin (often unheard of in skincare ingredients). Sodium hyaluronate is the 'wonder' ingredient in preventing wrinkles and the must have ingredient in most anti-ageing skincare. Also included is Crambe abyssinica seed oil - an oil that comes from the mustard seed plant. It has a huge concentration of fatty acids and used in skin care is an excellent ingredient for smoothing and nourishing dry skin. 

All these products can be brought online at www.odile.co.uk and I do urge you to look not only at their website but also have a look at the ingredients listed in the products. Whilst we all love a classy 'dressing table' bottle, at the end of the day it's results that we pay for!

The Body Shop Clean & Comfort Hemp Gift Set £22 Sample Review

 

This universal gift set is ideal for both men and women who are suffering with dry skin. Packaged into a 100% jute woven bag (reusable and ideal for travel or gym), are 3 products that will comfort and soothe flaky, dry skin.

Included is Softening Hemp Shower Oil 250ml, Hemp Nourishing & Protecting Body Oil 125ml and Hemp hand cream 30ml.

Hemp seed oil is used in many things and due to it's amazing ability to soothe and hydrate the skin, is often a key ingredient in skincare. Whilst it is incredibly hydrating, it doesn't clog the pores and so is ideal for all skin types covering the spectrum of oily to dry. It's amazing for men who may suffer with back acne as it doesn't irritate the skin. Containing an abundance of Omega acids 3,6 and 9 it locks in moisture and is a gold standard emollient. This kit has all you need to restore your dry skin and will last ages. The great thing is, you can gift it as one or even separate the gifts and give everyone the chance to see it's benefits. Check out the whole range at www.thebodyshop.com

The Body Shop Shake & Swish Ginger Hair Care Set £30 Sample Review

Give your man, son, teen the gift of clean hair this Christmas with this amazing gift set from The Body Shop. A little while ago I was on a forum on Facebook, for the 'over 50 beauty obsessed'. Whilst I have over 25 years experience in testing products, I love to read other peoples tips and recommendations. Someone had posted that their son was suffering with bad dandruff and, as you would expect with these forums, there were over 100 replies. Every other recommendation was for The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo! 

My son gets dandruff, as does my daughter and so I'm going to gift myself with them fighting for this over Christmas!  The set itself contains Ginger Shampoo 250ml, Ginger Conditioner 250ml, Ginger Scalp Serum 50ml and a scalp prong massager (which if you've never tried, believe me it's worth the price for this alone - it sends tingles down the spine)! Ingredients include:-

Ginger Essential Oil - known for it's purifying and cleansing properties and also acts as a stimulant so ideal for head massage (my friend uses it in her Indian Head Massage treatment). 

Betula Alba Bark Extract - rich in Vitamin C and helps to thicken and boost fine, limp hair. It also reduces inflammation so ideal if you suffer with scalp psoriasis.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder - commonly known as Aloe Vera, a plant that helps soothe the scalp, prevents itching and conditions.

An amazing set, one that I will probably regret giving my kids as guess who will be giving the scalp massages Christmas Day evening! Check out The Body Shop website here www.thebodyshop.com

Stila Holiday Bounty Stay All Day Eye & Brow Set Sample Review

Stila Holiday Bounty Stay All Day Eye & Brow Set RRP £42

Stockist info www.stila.co.uk

Sometimes it's very hard to buy beauty gifts as presents, simply as every person is unique in their skin tone, eye colour etc. This kit takes away all the guessing as the universal colours suit every eye colour and contains the basics you need for an every day eye look, and will take you into the evening. It's a kit where you can't go wrong. My only um and ah would be on the Waterproof Brow Colour but I'll talk about that in a moment.

The kit contains full sizes of:-

• Stay All Day Intense Black Mascara - a multi-purpose mascara where one coat will give a natural look, or a few coats can transform the eyes into a glamourous evening look.
• Stay All Day Intense Black Waterproof Liquid Liner - ideal to create that perfect flick for evening glamour, or simply dot it in between lashes, close to the water line for a natural lash thickening effect.
• Stay All Day Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray - the softest black, foul proof application to give a light smokey eye. Apply and I like to smudge upwards and out with my little finger.
• Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour Medium - a soft, ash suitable for blondes, redheads and light/medium brunettes. You can apply heavier strokes however, it is for light-medium brow hair.

I've been using Stila for many years and once again I've been left very impressed. This time it's not just the quality of the products but the makeup bag itself. In soft, buttery faux leather the bag has individual compartments to store the products upright (as one should do with liquid liners), and is large enough to hold a complete makeup set. It's a huge thumbs up from me and I can't wait to start reviewing their other products for my 'party glamour' feature! Stila is cruelty free.