Enduring Glow by Jennifer Lopez / Glow by JLo sample review

 

I’ve always been a bit of a snob when it comes to ‘celebrity’ fragrances. I often think of them as just a ‘money spinner’, not sophisticated or without the ‘skill’ of a perfumer. However, when it comes to Jennifer Lopez and her perfume brand, nothing could be further from the truth. Like the perfectionist she is, and the success that she has in her singing and acting career, it’s without surprise that her perfume range is also such a huge success. Today I’ve been testing 2 of her fragrances. 

Enduring Glow Eau de Parfum by Jennifer Lopez 100ml £43

Enduring Glow is sophistication in a bottle. It’s invigorating, light and fruity. It’s enticing and one of those fragrances where you just want to keep smelling your wrist. A little sprayed on the neck, gives just the right amount of seduction, it’s not heavy and so you feel drawn towards the wearer. Notes include:-

• Top Notes - Italian Bergamot, Pear and Lychee - fruity, light and edgy.
• Middle Notes - Magnolia, Pink Peony and Violet - lightly sweet, nurturing and powdery. 
• Base Notes - Sheer Musk, White Amber and Sandalwood - sensual, warm and woody.

The sleek chrome bottle oozes glamour and sophistication. The refined, minimalist shape would look as good on a dressing table, as it would as a piece of minimalist art on a shelf. It’s a feminine fragrance that has a little mystery to it, making it very appealing. 

Glow Eau de Toilette by JLo 100ml £42

Glow by JLo is the best selling fragrance of her fragrance wardrobe. This is the Eau de Toilette and it’s her iconic fragrance that is the signature scent for the Glow range. I think there’s a clue to the edgier vibe this has over the Enduring Glow, simply as she signs it off JLo rather than Jennifer Lopez. It’s more of a classical scent, which is mirrored by the notes that pair well together, see below:-

• Top Notes - Neroli, Orange Blossom and Pink Grapefruit - fruity, citrusy and vibrant.
• Middle Notes - Rose, Sandalwood and Amber - delicate, woody and seductive. 
• Base Notes - Musk, Jasmine, Orris and Vanilla - comforting, velvety and musky. 

The bottle is glamourous, eye catching and sparkles with the ‘JLo Diamanté chain’ that elegantly drapes over the bottle. It is a bottle to show off, it’s not one to be hidden, much like the fragrance itself. 

Both scents are ideal for day and night and, quite easy to gift for Christmas as neither are overtly heady. The mixture of the accords, make this a versatile scent and suitable for anyone from young adult to mature.  You can purchase from Superdrug or The Perfume Shop or by clicking the link HERE

Boots No7 Lift & Luminate Advent Calendar RRP £54.95

 

Picture the scene, I’m sitting here in my Primark dressing gown, having not even had a coffee but I just couldn’t wait to do the review on the Boots No7 Advent Calendar. They never disappoint, every gift is well chosen out and with a value of £224 so costing just a fraction of the price (you actually save £172.05) and so it’s easy to see why I’m excited. I even added a reel and put to my Instagram story (something I rarely do). 

This year, I am going to keep this for myself. I write unpaid and often the gifts help a single mum gift her family and friends, this one I’m gifting for myself. I’ve taken photos of what is included however, I have only opened a couple of drawers, as I want to be surprised! 

The advent itself is a sturdy box that opens up like a wardrobe - revealing that ultimate element of discovery. Enticing you inside are 25 neatly packaged boxes each and every one filled with a best selling product from the Lift and Luminate Range. There are 14 full sized products - yes 14 so you’ve already made your money back without looking at all the other products.

Without glancing too much (I really don’t want to spoil this for myself), I can tell you that the skincare is aimed at those who suffer with dull, dehydrated and dry skin types. If you need a little radiance, that inner glow then this is the set for you. Ideal for those who are tired, working too hard, had illness, suffering from stress, depression this is the perfect skincare regime to give you that lift. 

I can also tell you that it has make up in it. Not just any make up but limited edition products, that you won’t be able to get anywhere else, including The Full 360 Mascara in black. Designed to give you thick lashes but also to naturally curve the lashes upwards, giving the eye a more open appearance, due to the brush shape.

It also has No7 Beautiful Skin Softening Foot Scrub, filled with finely ground Walnut Shell to get rid of flaky, dry skin. This amazing scrub has Grape Seed Oil that naturally brightens, nourishing Shea Butter and hydrating Sweet Almond Oil, so your feet will be left feeling soft and renewed. 

I’m filled with anticipation to see what the make up range brings. Last year I gifted this to my daughter, and it contained the most beautiful iridescent, gold shimmer lipstick. I can tell you that the advent has beauty products to get you party ready, from beautiful, radiant skin to a glam make up look. OK spoiler alert for myself, I did see it has the iconic No7 Skin Illuminator! 

Finally, as I really can’t believe the value - not only do you get this advent for a quarter of the price however, if you purchase now online you also get a fabulous free gift is you spend over £40 on selected products. The No7 Hydrate & Glow Collection with purchase has 4 skincare products and as mentioned is available online only, whilst stocks last. Boots you really are spoiling us this year! To get in with this deal visit Boots online or click the link HERE

Boots No7 The Indulgent Bathing Gift Set RRP £22

It’s a day of reviewing one of my favourite brands today Boots No7 (I’m very particular, and I’ve tried to find the upper ‘o’ on my keyboard…). Anyway, I have written this before but I love the Christmas drop of No7, as the value for money is fantastic. As with a lot of brands sold in Boots, many hold the ‘Green Present’ label which means you can get 3 gifts for 2. Often these sell out quickly as the gifts are decent quality - there are no ‘fillers’ so to speak (the odd product you would never use).

I’m probably rushing this review a little as I’m so excited to get on to the ‘Advent’ Calendar (my next review). However, what I love about this gift is that it’s the epitome of ‘Christmas beauty’. The plush, red velvet makeup bag, is a gift on its own with its gold zip trimmings. In fact regardless of the products the quality of the bag gives you return of money.

The products inside are wrapped neatly in Christmas tissue paper, so the receiver gets the gift of unwrapping twice, (there’s something about tissue paper that makes gifting extra special). Inside are three products to give you a bath time spa. 

🎄No7 Skin Blissful Body Wash 50ml - contains Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, aka Argan Oil so it’s incredibly nourishing to dry skin. You only need a small amount to get a lightly scented creamy lather.

🎄No7 Beautiful Skin Completely Quenched Body Milk 50ml - contains Coconut and Grape Seed Oil, both hydrating and also anti-inflammatory so ideal for sensitive, red skin.

🎄No7 Instant Results Nourishing Hydrating Mask 100ml - this is for dry/very dry skin types. It contains an abundance of ingredients such as Cocoa Seed Butter and Magnesium PCA that help hydrate, smooth and soothe dry, red skin types.

The set is perfect for sensitive skin and is not tested on animals. It’s a gift for an exhausted mum 👍(actually aren’t all mums exhausted)…someone who needs a little pampering 👍, someone who is waiting surgery or has been unwell 👍 a sister, friend, teacher etc. As I mentioned above at the moment online there are several offers, so check them out by clicking the link HERE

Dr. PAWPAW® Glowing Beauty Gift RRP £13.99

 

I was looking forward to reviewing these as I’ve long been a fan of the Dr. PAWPAW® lip balms. As expected these hold the same standard that made the lip balms iconic. Included in this pack are 3 masks that cover every skin condition from dry, dehydrated to sensitive and dull.

Packed full of active ingredients each mask holds its own unique properties to help aid optimum skin health. Simply apply the sheet to your cleansed face and let its magic work for 15 minutes. After the time is up simply massage in any of the excess, into your face and neck. 

The ‘Glowing’ sheet mask is ideal for anyone with dull, lacklustre and problematic skin. Ingredients include:-

• Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil - ideal for skin conditions such as eczema and acne. It’s soothing and calming as holds anti-inflammatory properties. 
• Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract - gives natural exfoliation so resurfaces the skin and gives skin radiance. 
• Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract - nourishes the skin and helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines.

The ‘Hydrating’ sheet mask is ideal for those who suffer with dry, mature skin types and dehydrated skin conditions. Ingredients that help aid dry skin are:-

• Sodium Hyaluronate - helps prevent moisture loss from the skin, so aids in hydration. 
• Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate - as above, all the ‘Hyaluronates’ function is to keep moisture locked into the skin. 
• Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil - aka Prickly Pear, often used in skincare as it’s full of fatty acids that help nourish the skin, as well as Vitamin K and Zinc that help protect the skin from free radicals (chemicals, UV damage) etc. 

Lastly, is the ‘Soothing’ sheet mask, ideal for those who suffer with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and hormonal acne. Ingredients that are cooling and soothing include:-

• Cucumber Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract - soothing, cooling and toning.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract - helps reduce redness, ideal if you’ve spent too much time in the sun, helps cool the skin. 
• Hyaluronic Acid - nourishing and as above, helps maintain the skin from losing moisture.

This pack makes a great Christmas gift or you could split the pack and gift individually for stocking/‘Secret Santa’ presents. Available to purchase at Dr. PAWPAW® online or by clicking the link HERE

Gold Collagen® Night Renewal Serum RRP £36 Sample Review

I don’t often look at buying single skin care items for Christmas gifts. When purchasing as a gift, it’s hard to know what to choose, especially as the recipient may have sensitive skin etc. Often brands will promote their own value gifts for Christmas which is different if you know the person likes that brand. However, the Gold Collagen® Night Renewal Serum has a luxurious sound to it, and it’s a serum that treats all skin types. So I don’t really see how you can go wrong with gifting this. 

Designed to use, as the name suggests in the evening when the skin is repairing itself. I always recommend splashing out on serums, as they often contain the most active ingredients and especially a night time serum, as when we are at rest our cells are renewing and our body is magically repairing itself. 

One of the main ingredients in this formula is Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract - aka Bakuchiol. Recently this plant has featured a lot in my inbox. It’s an ingredient that has been known to give amazing resurfacing and renewing effects, similar to Retinol, but in natures format. It’s native is Eastern Asia and has long been used for it’s medicinal properties and now topically for skincare. It not only renews the skin but prevents fine lines from setting in and thus makes it one of the hottest ingredients for preserving youth. 

Other ingredients that work together to formulate this age defying serum are:-

• Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Water - helps the skin retain moisture, and so prevents fine lines from forming. 
• Hydrogenated Farnesene- conditions the skin, leaves skin feeling very soft to the touch. 
• Hydrogenated Lecithin - full of fatty acids that help moisturiser the skin, and aids in fighting off environmental pollution such as smoke, smog etc. 
• Vagus Sylvatica Seed Extract - a natural antiseptic but also anti-aging and helps resurface dry, flaky skin types. Skin smoothing and complexion clearing. 
• Sodium Hyaluronate - an excellent emollient, prevents moisture loss so aids in hydration. 
• Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil - strengthens the skin’s barrier and so helps the skin protect itself from free radicals (chemicals), environmental aggressors (pollution, strong weather elements etc).

Delivery to the skin is by way of a pipette. You only need 1 pipette pressed into the face and neck. There are instructions on how to apply as below. However, I do like to press outwards from the centre of my nose along my cheekbone, and above my brow bone as I find it helps drain sinuses.

The Gold Collagen® Night Renewal Serum can be used before your night time moisturiser or alone. It makes a great gift for anyone menopausal, someone who loves their skincare and who is often stressed and tired. I would suggest you know your recipient well (to avoid any awkward ‘you look in need of a lift)! Available to purchase at Gold Collagen by clicking the link HERE