March/April Empties

Pangea Organics Lip Balm in Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange - I love the mildly scented and ultra-hydrating properties of this organic-based lip balm as it softens and soothes dry and chapped lips.

Dermalogica PreCleanse - Is a must-have in my skin care regime as cleansing the skin twice thoroughly removes residues which adhere strongly to the skin and inside pores.

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes - Smudge-proof and lasting eyeliner for the eyes, Clinique Quickliner enhances the eyes without any fuss.

Grown Facial Exfoliant with Peppermint, Jojoba Micro Bead and Juniper Berry - Grown skin care products are one of my favourite skin care brands! Grown Facial Exfoliant gently polishes my skin leaving it feel smooth and soft.

Pantene Pro-V All Day Smooth Leave in Crème - This hair care product  reminds me of hair treatment masks, however, you massage the creme through your hair and leave it in so hair stays hydrated and nourished through the day.

 

L'Occitane Lavande Body and Massage Gel - The scents of lavender helps to make me feel relaxed and revitalised. This body and massage gel is the perfect product for pampering the body.

L'Occitane Delice Des Fleurs EDT - A soft musk rose scent which is light and feminine, perfect for those who love soft floral scents.

Natural Secrets Goat Milk Hand and Body Cream - Goats Milk is ultra gentle for sensitive, dry and eczema-prone skin. This hand and body cream feels lovely on my skin and leaves my skin feeling soothed, soft and smooth.

Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk - I'm not sure how I've accumulated so many travel sized bottles of Klorane Dry Shampoo, but anyhow, this product is gentle to my scalp and is effective in keeping my hair in good and clean condition.

Which products have you used up recently?

xx Rose

December/January Empties

TONI&GUY Dry Shampoo (reviewed here) -  The only dry shampoo I've tried that does not leave any white residues!  

Nutrimetics Nutri-Rich Foaming Bath Oil with Apricot Kernel Oil (reviewed here) - I love the nourishing benefits of Apricot Kernel Oil! Makes my skin feel smooth and moisturised and it has such an amazing invigorating scent! 

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 (reviewed here) - I love the high SPF and light/medium finish Bobbi Brown's new BB cream has to offer. Bobbi Brown BB Cream conceals small imperfections and is perfect to use for a natural everyday look. Definitely going to repurchase this little beauty!

Nivea Sensitive Protect Roll-on Deodorant (reviewed here) - Nivea's range of sensitive protect deodorants are absolutely gentle and non-irritating. 

Kiko Cosmetics Mat Base Corrector Primer (reviewed here) - For a quick drying face base, Kiko's  Primer is the one that leaves my skin prepped and ready for foundation and makeup application. If only Kiko products were sold in Australia. You will know where I will be heading if I travel back to Europe!

Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Intensive Moisture Mask (reviewed here) - This Organix hair mask is infused with macadamia oil, sugar cane extract and bamboo extract to nourish and hydrate my hair. I only need to use this mask once a week to keep my hair well hydrated and moisturised.

L'Occitane Hand Cream (reviewed here) - These purse-sized L'Occitane hand creams always come in handy when I'm on the go! 

Sally Hansen Healthy Cuticles - Housed in a neat little jar, Sally Hansen's cuticle cream is full of nourishing ingredients such as vitamins and soy proteins which leave my cuticles looking soft, supple and healthy.

Have you used up any beauty products during the summer holiday?

xx Rose

October/November Empties

Sukin Sensitive Cleansing Gel (reviewed here) - Sukin's new Sensitive skincare range launched recently and I adore the calming and soothing properties of this cleansing gel due to the concoction of Chamomile, Cucumber and Aloe Vera within the formula.

Sukin Facial Moisturiser (reviewed here) - I love organic-based skincare products as they are so gentle to my skin. Sukin Facial Moisturiser is a lightweight cream moisturier, however, my combination/oily skin type actually prefers gel-like moisturisers. So, I've been using this moisturiser to hydrate my neck and decolletage as the moisturiser contains nourishing ingredients such as Rosehip, Jojoba and Avocado oils.

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist - I love how the nozzle of this bottle provides a large mist to coat most of my hair in one spritz, however, the formula had a very strong chemical-like scent which I did not really enjoy.

L'Occitane's Ultra Rich Body Cream in Hibiscus Flower (reviewed here) - I LOVE how nourishing, moisturising and rich L'Occitane Shea Butter creams are! Ultra Rich Body Cream contains 25% of Shea Butter and the scent Hibiscus Flower was a limited edition scent from the Shea Africa Collection.

Savoir Faire Concealer Pack in Light (reviewed here) - I received this concealer in my December Bella Box (2011) and it was the first time I have used products from Savoir Faire. I loved the creamy concealer formula, however, the mattifying  powder in the bottom compartment of this nifty concealer kit did not set well after applying liquid foundation.

Burt's Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry - Burt's Bees lip products always enthralls me! The Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry had a very pleasant and sweet scent and kept my lips hydrated during the day.

Bloom Mango Tango Natural Flavour Lip Balm (reviewed here) - I've been in a lip balm crazy these last few months and that's probably due to the dryness I've suffered during the winter season. Mango Tango, the Bloom lip balm, smells lovely just like the Boost Juice Mango Tango flavour smoothie!

Alpha-H Clear Skin Blemish Control Gel with Wild Oregano and Tea Tree (reviewed here) -  This blemish gel has lasted me for ages! I love the fresh Tea Tree scent of this blemish balm and especially love how effective this gel helped to heal and sooth minor pimples and blemishes popping up on my skin.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (reviewed here) - Facial Treatment Essence is one of my favourite SK-II products! It is a lovely addition to my daily skincare regime where I apply a few drops onto my skin my gentle patting motions. My skin seems to appear clear and healthy after using this for a couple of weeks. This trial sized sample lasted my about 4 weeks!

Have you finished any holy grail beauty products last month?

xx Rose  

 

2012 Christmas Beauty Buys (part 1)

Christmas is near and there have been many exciting limited edition Christmas gift packs which have/will launch in the month of October. Christmas is all about spending quality time with family and friends and getting into the Christmas spirit of gift-giving to the people you love. To get you prepared for gift giving, I thought I'd share with you some wonderful beauty buys for Christmas 2012.

Glasshouse Fragrances Christmas 2012 candles.
L-R: Christmas Party, White Christmas and Night Before Christmas.

Glasshouse Fragrances have introduced three exquisite and indulgent limited edition scents for the Christmas holiday season: Christmas Party (sweet orange and nutmeg), White Christmas (cedar leaf and fruity clove) and Night Before Christmas (dancing sugar plums). These Glasshouse candles make the perfect gift as well as great decorations for the home to get into the festive season!

Glasshouse Fragrance Christmas candles are on counter now at David Jones, Peter Alexander, Adorne and selected gift stores nationally.

Cost: A$42.95 / 350g

L'Occitane Marvelous Flowers (left) and Magical Leaves (right) collection.

L'Occitane has launched two limited edition spell bounding Christmas collections: the Marvelous Flowers and Magical Leaves collection. The Marvelous Flowers collection is infused with rose absolute and peony extracts. Products in the Marvelous Flowers collection include the Body Cream (A$59/250ml), Hand Cream (A$12/30ml), Eau de Toilette in a stunning faceted glass bottle (A$60/75ml), Intense Eau de Toilette Roll-On Perfume (A$30/10ml), Shimmering Oil (A$39/75ml), Shower Gel (A$28/250ml) and Perfumed Soap (A$5/50g). With spell bounding fragrances and bath and body products to enjoy during the Christmas atmosphere. The Magical Leaves collection features extracts of verbena and hazel leaves. Products in the Magical Leaves collection include the Hand Cream (A$12/30ml), Eau de Toilette (A$2510ml), Exfoliating Shower Gel (A$28/200ml), Body Milk (A$39/250ml) and Perfumed Soap (A$5/50g).

L'Occitane Marvelous Flowers and Magical Leaves collection will be available 31st October 2012 at Myer, David Jones and L'Occitane boutiques.

Jurlique presents you their luxurious facial skincare and body products in a variety of value added packs. My favourites are: the Herbal Recovery Essentials (A$189, valued at A$271: full size Herbal Recovery Gel 100ml, Herbal Recovery Night Cream 50ml and Herbal Recovery Eye Cream 15ml) which features a concoction of botanical ingredients and antioxidants to smooth fine lines, even skin tone and provide glowing skin; Rose Moisture Plus Essentials (A$79, valued at A$114: full size Rosewater Balancing Mist 50ml, Moisturising Cleanser 100ml and Moisturising Cream 40ml) which contains high performance antioxidants to hydrate and protect the skin for a radiant complexion; and the Body Cream Trio consisting of three divine scents (A$39, valued at A$54: Rose, Jasmine and Body Enriching Body Cream) to give you beautiful soft and smooth skin.

Jurlique Christmas gift packs are on counter now at Myer, David Jones,  Jurlique boutiques and selected pharmacies nationally.

Which beauty gifts would you love to receive?

xx Rose

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Hand Cream

My all-time favourite and best-selling L’Occitane hand cream is part of the limited edition Pivoine Délicate collection and enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin E and scented with peony extracts. The packaging of the Pivoine Délicate Hand Cream (A$28/75ml) is completely different to the original shea butter hand cream line as the hand cream is housed in a pearlescent pink silicone-feel plastic tube with a large silver cap. To dispense the hand cream you just rotate the cap to squeeze it out onto the skin. The lightweight hand cream feels very moisturising and nourishing with the core ingredient of Shea Butter and the scent lingers on the skin during the whole day – lasting longer than the EDT perfume. The scent is just beautiful and divine!

Which hand cream is your all-time favourite?

xx Rose

Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with L'Occitane and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Shimmering Powder

The star product of the Pivoine Délicate collection has got to be the Shimmering Powder (A$38/8g)! The glass bottle adorned with a vintage style atomiser pump looks very luxe with the shimmery powder inside reflecting iridescent particles through the bottle. Just gently tap the base of the bottle on the table to loosen the powder and then squeeze the pump to apply a mist of miniscule pink and silver shimmers to the hair and skin (remember to remove the little white plug from where the shimmers are dispensed!). The shimmering powder is delicately scented and is an instant beautifier to leave a silky, satin finish on the skin. 

Are you a fan of shimmers on your skin or hair?

xx Rose 

Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with L'Occitane and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Lipstick and EDT and Gloss Duo

Pivoine Délicate Lipstick (Pivoine Délicate Shade #2, A$29/3.5g) is housed in cardboard pink packaging with the peony design embossed on the exterior. The gorgeous cardboard packaging and design has me completely sold! The lipstick is lightly fragrant with the signature Peony extract scent. The texture of the lipstick is creamy, smooth and applies on lightly to moisturise the lips just like a lip balm. The finish is sheer with a hint of colour, providing with me with a ‘my lips but better’ look. The lipstick is great for those who don’t like fully pigmented lipstick and want to achieve the look of naturally fuller, soft and plump lips. There are subtle shimmers, however, these shimmers do not reflect on the lips at all. Only upon close inspection you could notice these shimmers, so from a distance the lips look naturally luscious and hydrated. 

This nifty Eau de Toilette and Gloss Duo (A$26/2x5.5ml) is utterly genius - just two essentials, perfume roller-ball and gloss, in one conveniently sized tube! This product is THE perfect handbag companion and great for touch-ups during the day when you are out and about. Pivoine Délicate EDT features a blend of the silky softness of Peony and the green scents of Rose petals and Lily of the Valley with a soft powdery and delicate scent. The scent is beautiful and subtle which makes it compatible with those who love soft delicate floral scents. The gloss provides an iridescent sheen to the lips and freshens up the face with a hint of coral. The lip gloss formula is also non-sticky, which is a great thing, however, I do find that I need to re-apply during the day to keep my lips looking glossy. 

Do you love scented lip products? What do you think of the L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Collection lip products?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with L'Occitane and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day (Sunday 2nd September) is only a few days away and choosing the perfect gift isn't easy at all! Whether it's a gift for your father, grandfather, husband or even someone who has been there for you, saying thank you and thinking about the men who are in our lives is a great way to show how much you love and appreciation them.

To help us all out in search of that perfect gift, here is a list of gift ideas that I thought may be of interest.

Dermalogica Shave System Kit (A$68/set)*

Suited for the man who loves a clean and smooth shave, the Shave System Kit by Dermalogica contains all the essentials to ensure your man starts his day with a refreshing start. The Shave System Kit contains travel size versions of the Daily Clean Scrub, Pre-shave Guard, Soothing Shave Cream, Post-shave Balm and Daily Defense Block. 

My partner has tried the products from the Shave System Kit and he absolutely loves the citrus clean scent from these products. He also loves how his face feels moisturised and smooth after using the scrub - I think he is beginning to understand the benefit of using skincare products! He recommends using a thin layer of the Soothing Shave Cream to allow a quick and easy shave within seconds.

Aramis Classic Father's Day Fragrance Gift Set (A$105/set)

Suited for the masculine and classic man, Aramis Classic EDT Fragrance has top notes of bergamot, gardenia, cumin and artemisia. Middles notes include patchouli, vetiver and sandalwood and the base notes include amber and oak moss. If he loves the Classic scent by Aramis, he will definitely love this gift set which includes an EDT Spray, After Shave Balm and Deodorant Stick.

Z Zegna EDT Fragrance by Ermenegildo Zegna (A$110/100ml)

Suited for a contemporary and stylish man in your life, Z Zegna EDT fragrance is a woody watery-aromatic blend with notes of white pepper, bergamot with rosemary and the enigmatic fruit of the casoar. The base notes include a delicate scent of powdery iris, nutmeg, sweet cashmere wood, patchouli and earthy notes of oak moss.

With your purchase of the Z Zegna Fragrance at Myer and David Jones you will also receive a stylish weekend getaway bag as a bonus!

L'Occitane Verdon Star Gift Set (A$95/set)

Suited for a laid-back and relaxed man who would enjoy the delightful scents of the exhilarating fresh waters of the Verdon Valley Gorges of Provence. The fresh scents of Verdon include a blend of lemon, pepermint and aquatic notes. This grooming kit contains the Verdon EDT Spray, Verdon Fresh Deodorant, Verdon Fresh Shower Gel and Verdon Invogorating Shaving Gel.

Have you bought something for Father's Day this Sunday yet? 

xx Rose 

*Product was provided for consideration only. The review is 100% based on my partners' thoughts and opinions. We are not affiliated with Dermalogica and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.  

Images were provided by PR.

Sneak Peak: L'Occitane Fraiche Cologne and Shower Gel Collection

L'Occitane Australia will be launching the new L'Occitane Cologne Fraiche Collection on 29th August 2012 which includes three delightful and fresh cologne scents inspired by the citrus aromas of Provence: Eau Ravissante (floral scent), Eau Captivante (woody scent) and Eau Universelle (citrusy scent). Each of the three scents are suitable for both men and women, though some people may find Eau Ravissante, Eau Captivante and Eau Universelle are likey to interest women, men and both sexes, respectively. The beautiful pointed stripe embossed on the glass bottle and the name L'Occitane embossed on the side of the Cologne Fraiche and Shower Gel bottles looks so simple, sleek and very sophisticated! 

 L'Occitane - 'Across the land of Provence, people will tell you that 'l'aigo es d'or', meaning 'water is gold'. Our Eau de Cologne collection is inspired by the freshness of the fountains present throughout the region. Each with citrusy notes of Bergamot, our collection of scents includes zesty, floral and stimulating aromas meant for both women and men.'

Eau Ravissante Cologne: Floral aroma from Rose and Freesia Petals with notes of Bergamot, Musk and Amber.

Eau Captivante Cologne: Woody and Lavender aromas with notes of Lime, Bergamot, Mint and Basil.

Eau Universelle Cologne: Citrus aroma with notes of Bergamot, Grapefruit and Geranium.

A cologne (or Eau de Cologne) is a relatively light fragrance which has a concentration of 3-8% essential oils, so the intensity and longevity of the scent is not at all overpowering or stronger than Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum fragrances. Cologne is typically applied liberally to get the most out of the light scent - each scent is available in a generous 300ml splash bottle (which comes with an additional spray nozzle) and a travel friendly 50ml bottle. The large Cologne bottle is really heavy, but that's because it holds 300ml and makes it the largest perfume bottle in my collection. The scents are great to spritz onto the body after a shower or splash some cologne onto the hands and rub onto the neck and behind the ears. Another great way to indulge in these scents is to add two caps full of the cologne into a bath. If you like light scents of perfume, then these colognes would be great for you. 

The L'Occitane Cologne Fraiche Collection includes Cologne Fraiche Splash Bottle ($70/300ml), Cologne Fraiche Travel Size Bottle (A$40/50ml) and Shower Gel (A$28/250ml) in each of the three delightful fresh scents.

Have you tried L'Occitane Cologne or fragrances before?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with L'Occitane and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.  

Sneak Peak: L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Collection

L’Occitane Pivoine Délicate Collection

The brand new L’Occitane Pivoine Délicate (Fragrance and Make-up) limited edition collection will be released in Australia on 28th August 2012. Within a heartbeat of hearing about the Pivoine Délicate Collection, I fell completely IN LOVE! The delicate scent of peony flowers, luxurious quality, charming packaging, and the story behind Pivoine Délicate is absolutely captivating and alluring! Each product in the L’Occitane Pivoine Délicate Collection embraces the beautiful scent of Pivoine Délicate which was inspired by the Peony flowers in the Drôme region in the south of France.

The Pivoine Délicate Fragrance Collection includes a lovely selection of Eau de Toilette perfume (A$60/75ml), Hand Cream (A$28/75ml), Fresh Mist (A$18/50ml) and an eye-catching Shimmery Powder atomiser with a vintage styled atomiser pump (A$38/8g).  

In addition, the Pivoine Délicate Make-up Collection includes the Lip Balm (Peche Subtile, Pourpre Emouvant and Rose Pivoine, A$12/9g),  Lip Shine (Rose Pastel, Rose Frémissant and Beige Gracieux, A$25/8ml), Lipstick (Brun Discret, Pivoine Délicate and Charmant Corail, A$29/3.5g) and EDT and Gloss Duo (A$26/2x5.5ml). 

The combination of Peony extract scents and the body and lip products are just inspiring and beautiful that I am feeling head-over-heels! The packaging and scent are probably the first two factors which have led to my attraction with this collection. The stunning ballerina pink peony flower print design is absolutely beautiful and I love how girly and feminine the collection evokes! The boudoir design is so pretty that each of the products from the collection stands out on any dressing table.

Stay tuned, as I will be reviewing these lovely L’Occitane Pivoine Délicate products in upcoming posts!

 Which product/s in the new L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate collection are you lusting over?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration.

L'Occitane Opens New Doors at Chermside (QLD)

Exciting news from L'Occitane Australia: L'Occitane Australia has launched its 9th boutique in Westfield Chermside (level 1, adjacent to Woolworths), Queensland, and the opening of the boutique was celebrated with the cutting of the red ribbon and fabulous store offers and giveaways last week on Thursday 9th August. If you are shopping in Wesfield Chermside, be sure to step inside L'Occitane's new boutique and experience the luxurious aromas of Provence, France. Talking about celebrating, L'Occitane are also celebrating their top ten L'Occitane favourites and currently have on offer a L'Occitane Provencal Essentials Collection pack which you can purchase for $15 with a spend of $50 or more, see my post about this offer in detail here.

Have you been to the new L'Occitane boutique in Chermside?

xx Rose 

Images were provided by PR.

July Empties

BeneFit b.Right! Radiant Skincare Trio: Total Moisture Facial Cream, It's Potent Eye Cream and Foamingly Clean Facial Wash - The miniature version of BeneFit b.Right! skincare trio are cute as! The moisturiser is most suited to dry skin types, however, it did work well for my combo skin during winter. The eye cream is my favourite as it is a lightweight cream which thoroughly hydrates my under-eyes and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. The cleanser is also another favourite as it doesn't dry out my skin and does a great job in removing residual makeup/impurities.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji - NARS Sheer Glow is suited for normal to dry skin types. I decided to get the Sheeer Glow rather than the Sheer Matte Foundation as I have heard that the latter results in dry patchy finishes and does not provide any oil-control. Sheer Glow applies on really smooth and gives a lovely dewy glow to my skin, however, towards the end of the day my skin did appear slightly oily along the T-zone and the longevity was substandard. What I liked about this foundation is how well it blended onto my skin and the colour match was almost perfect. 

Dior Diorskin Forever Compact in 020 - This Diorskin powder contains SPF25 PA++ which is a great quality of this powder. The powder mattifies my skin very well after applying foundation, however I do feel that sometimes my skin looks a little heavy. So, the key thing to remember is to apply minimal powder to achieve naturally matte-looking skin.

Nivea Invisible Black & White Pure Aerosol - This 'invisible' antiperspirant deodorant did keep me feeling fresh, however, it did leave some white residue if I spray it too close to my clothing. For some odd reason, I tend to always breathe-in the mist unintentionally when spraying. It must be that the mist gives off a lot more product than my usual Dove deodorant.

L'Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath* (reviewed here) - Lavender is one of my absolute favourite scents! The aroma keeps my calm, relaxed and peaceful. Just a couple of cap-fulls or more to a full bath tub is all I need to indulge myself!

L'Occitane Luminous Body Cream with olive tree extracts - This body cream smells okay, the scent of products containing olive extracts aren't really my type of scent. Despite this, the texture is really smooth and rich and also very hydrating! It doesn't look obvious when you look at the cream in the jar, however, after application, I noticed hundreds and thousands of miniscule sparkles on my hand and skin. So, this product was great to wear on a night out.

ULittleBeauty Dinki-di Day Moisture Replenishing Cream and Happy Clappers Nourishing Hand Cream - I really enjoyed using Dinki-di on my legs and the hand cream because the creams had that typical botanical ULittleBeauty scent which smells invigorating. The cream doesn't absorb immediately considering that these are natural based products, so it does take a few minutes to gentle massage the product into the skin.

Sheercover Nourishing Moisture with SPF15 - This oil-free and fragrance-free moisturiser with SPF is a sample I received in my Glossybox a few months back. I've been applying this on my chest and the back of my hands as it has SPF.

Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Serum - I love using this transparent serum after styling my hair. Heat styling my hair just dries out my ends, so applying this serum helps to soften and moisten my dry hair.

ULittleBeauty Natural Shine Hair Serum (reviewed here) - This light weight serum smells very botanical and the serum has a lightweight consistency, making it so easy to evenly apply to the ends of my hair. I've been using this serum every night and it maintains the moisture of my hair very well.

Which products have you used up last month?

xx Rose

*Product was received for consideration

L'Occitane Provencal Essentials Collection Pack

L'Occitane currently has a special offer for a limited time only to recognise ten L'Occitane favourites. When you spend A$50 or more (including one of the ten favourite products*) you can purchase the Provencal Essentials Collection pack for A$15 or you could purchase the pack alone for A$30.

*The ten L'Occitane favourites are as follows: Shea Butter Hand Cream 150ml, Divine Cream 50ml, Almond Shower Oil 250ml, Shea Ultra Rich Body Cream 200ml, Lavender Foaming Bath 500ml, Verbena Eau de Toilette 100ml, Immortelle Precious Cream 50ml, Almond Firming Milk Concentrate 200ml, Pivoine Eau de Toilette 75ml and the Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo.

Offer is available while stocks last.

Enjoy!

xx Rose

Products were provided as a gift from L'Occitane. I am not affiliated with L'Occitane and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.