How to: Keep Skin in tip-top Shape During Winter

The extreme winter weather currently experienced by many parts of the Australia can be very harsh – your health starts to falter with the gripping flu, your energy sapped with the weather and you just feel like hibernating till Spring comes around. Worse yet, your skin suffers from a lack of vitamin D, dry and scaly skin and chapped lips.

And hydration is key to combat these conditions in these cold and chilly season so make sure to drink up on water and for your skin, keep them hydrated these products. They will be a saviour for the remainder of this winter.

Khiel’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regeneration Cream - 50ml 

A rich moisturiser that creates a thin veil of protection on the skin to lock in the moisture – it has a faint chocolate scent thanks to the cocoa butter and contain plant based squalene (olive source) to moisturise, vitamin E for anti-oxidising properties and the extract of rosa arctica the resurrection flower Haberlea Rhodopensis to help increase cell vitality for skin renewal. I had a small sample that I used for a week and it helped to keep my skin bouncy, moist and looking fresh. I personally love this in extra the mornings before the applying the SPF for its smooth matte texture or on top of a treatment serum at night.

RRP A$84 online or at Kiehl's counters at selected department stores

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturise - 50ml 

For skin that need an extra helping hand, this is the one of the champion of night creams – slap this non-greasy but easily absorbed moisturising treatment all over the face before going to bed and this to help increase cell turnover and brighten dull winter skin. While is a great hydrating moisturiser, it’s name to fame is the time release salicylic acid that gently exfoliates to re-texturises skin, help fade blemish marks and smooth unevenness so your skin feel brand new in the morning again. With a week of use, you get velvetly soft skin with a healthy radiance that keeps your looking fresh. It seriously is that good that I’d say it’s made its way into my HG list of treatment products! 

50ml RRP A$90 online or at Clinique counters in department stores.


Uriage Thermal Water for Sensitive Skin 

Sourced from the thermal spring capital of France in Uriage-les-Basin, the name-sake water spray has highest percentage of trace mineral in any thermal water spray on the market. This thermal water not only hydrates and refreshes but has therapeutic properties and in France, patients with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis go in droves to the French Thermal Centre to soak and bath in its mineral rich water.

Uriage thermal water is so soothing on irritated skin, even the most sensitive skin type will benefit from its calming and healing effects and the fine mist is just perfect to set your makeup – what a multi tasker! 

RRP A$10.95 / A$26.95  for 50ml / 300ml. Available at selected Melbourne or Sydney Stocklists or contact the company to order online.


Now lets not forget the body during the winter months, even if you cover it up under layers of clothing

L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream - 200ml

This lightly fresh scented whipped texture body cream with 25% shea butter is a dry and dehydrated skin sufferer’s dream come true as the emollient cream is readily absorb by the body without leaving a greasy residue and keeps skin moist all day long. Along with linseed, marshmallow extract and apricot oil, you get all day hydration and within 3 days, any scaly parts of skin is transformed into the soft smooth skin, without any dry patches in sight. 

RRP $59.95 at  L'Occitane counters in selected departments, L'Occitane concept stores or online.                                                                              

Soap and Glory: The Breakfast Scrub - 300ml 

Exfoliation is another key factor to banish dull dry skin so this Soap and Body salt body scrub is the perfect aide for the job. This is my favourite because it smells like crème caramel thanks to its sugar and cupuacu scrubs particles to polish and buff while the almond and milk extract softens and nourish skin. Best of all, there is no hint of film or residue on skin after washing off unlike other salt body scrubs I’ve used before (I’m looking at you Body Shop body scrubs!)

RRP A$18.95 at Kit Cosmetics counters and online.

Uriage Bariederm Soothing Repair Barrier Lip Balm - 15ml 

Chapped lips are a common occurrence in winter and there is no better way to sooth and repair it than with an intensive lip balm. Bariederm barrier lip balm is a paraffin based product that forms a film over lips to lock moisture in and cold air out and prevent further dryness whilst provide relief from any cracked lips or chapness. The best thing is that an application last through light eating and drinking so meaning that you don’t have to re-apply frequently to the appearance of flakies at bay.

RRP A$19.95. Available at selected Melbourne or Sydney Stocklists or contact the company to order directly with them online.  

Refresh PLUS Everyday Dry Eye Drops - 30x0.4ml applicators

And finally, if you suffer from dry eyes because you are a frequent flyer, have been staring at a computer screen for way too long like I have or have foreign matter get stuck into your eyes, you will welcome this refreshing eye drops to relieve irritated or dry eyes. The innovative packaging resolves the problem with normal eye drops bottles where they can become contaminated very quickly and need to be thrown out after 6 weeks. You’ll appreciate these Refresh PLUS eye drops which come in single applicator so that you always have a fresh and sterile dose of eye drops every time. 

RRP A$15.70 at selected pharmacies and optometrists.

How have you been keeping your skin hydrated this winter?

Products features in this post were provided for consideration.

Skincare Series: Hydration Booster for Winter

Are you one to change skincare with the season? Skin being exposed to different environmental conditions need different protections and with the dry, cold weather in Melbourne, I like switching to slightly richer and more hydrating facial and body creams.

Here are my favourites for this winter season:

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream 50ml – RRP A$82

This cream sinks straight in, provides all day hydrating and works a treat as a rich yet non-greasy day cream over treatment serums (I even use it as a night cream sometimes because it’s rich enough) and suits all skin types particularly those with extremely dry skin. It smells of a bouquet of fresh field flowers and leaves a lovely silky finish on skin.

It contains the Immortelle essential oil (called the immortal flower because the petals doesn't lose colour even when it is dried or dies) to stimulate micro-circulation, increase collagen production and and has good anti-aging properties.

This facial cream is now in its 10th anniversary with a new improved formulation and continues to be one of L’Occitane’s best sellers that will give smoother, firmer skin.

Tip: remember to use on the neck and décolletage for silky soothe skin there too

Available at David Jones, selected Myer stores and L'Occitane online.

We all know by now our skin recharges overnight whilst we sleep so it’s worthwhile investing in products that give it a boosting hand. 

Clinique Turnaround overnight radiance moisturizer 50ml - RRP A$90

This multi-tasker does exactly that by gently exfoliating the skin and increasing cell-turnover (salicylic acid in a time release system and chestnut seed extract) to reveal clearer tone and complexion.

Emollient and rich but not greasy, Clinique Turnover Overnight Radiance Moisturizer works to give intense hydration and facial-like results while you sleep. Not only does it provide that extra hydration boost (hyaluronic acid, hydroxyethyl urea and trehalose) at night without the grease to make skin is brighter and more even in tone after a week’s use, and within a month, I’m seeing smooth velvetly skin that is all plumped up, clear and radiant.

Avaliable at Clinique counters in Myer and David Jones store and Clinique online.  I wasn't provided the product packaging so don't have the ingredients listing for this moisturiser.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 30ml - RRP A$59

On alternating nights I use this elixir of pure botanicals and essential oils (rosehip, evening primrose, jojoba and rosemary leaf oil). With a light lavender (from the essential oil) and faint squalene (plant-based from olives) scent, it is lightweight and readily absorbs into the skin to leave only a light sheen on the skin and fixes any dry patches, plumps up skin and helps to replenish lost lipids in skin.

Skin is soft, supple and hydrated after two uses and after a month of continued use, I notice faster he I use it in place of my night time moisturiser after applying treatment serums and within a week notice plump, supple and brighter skin.

Available at Kiehl's counters in selected Myer and David Jones stores and Kiehl's online.

Grown Rosa Damascena Acai & Pomegranate Intense Body Cream 120ml - RRP A$29

One of my favourite body moisturiser, it is intensely hydrating but non-tacky and leaves a silky dry finish on skin once absorbed. The cream forms a light shield on skin to help improve the skin's barrier function to increase skin hydration.

It also has a light pleasant orange vanilla scent and enriched with rose oil, pomegranate and acai extract to help improve skin firmness and replenish lost essential fatty acids back into skin. I love rubbing this cream into rough areas like elbows and knees as well as all over the arms and legs for immediately soft, smooth skin.

Available in selected Myer and pharmacies - check here for stocklist and Grown online.

So whether you live in freezing southern states or warmer northern regions, the winter months brings on dryer weather and your skin will need a hydration boost. Be sure to look at your current skincare regime to see what you can introduce to give it that extra level of moisture.


Products featured were provided for consideration.

Skin Physics Liposculpt: Body Sculpting Gel

Now that I'm well and truly getting into my 30s, I’m noticing quite a few changes to my body; scars are taking longer to heal, bruises take 2 weeks to fade instead of days, and my skin is not as taut or firm as it was in my early and mid 20s.

It seems my cells are just not renewing as quickly as they use to anymore and in a bid to get toner skin, I’ve taken up low impact weight bearing exercise to try and tone the muscles and tighten up the skin. 
But you guys know me, I’m always on the look out for products that can help me get the job done, quicker, easier, better.

So when a product was introduce to me last year that promised to sculpt and lift skin on the body, I naturally jumped at the opportunity to give it a try. At the same time, being a beauty blogger, I ‘ve become hardened to alot of the claims of skin tightening and sculpting products that don't do more than moisturise the skin. So did my latest product trial deliver on its claims?

Skin PhyscisLiposculpt Body Sculpting Gel

Description:
Skin Physics Body Sculpting Gel is a potent cosmeceutical that has been specially formulated with natural exfoliating agents, potent fat burning liposomes, ivy extracts to boost circulation, bupleurum falcatun root extract to enhance fat burning process, retinol to contribute to collagen building and cellular repair.

Other than the ingredients mentioned in its description, the gel also contains active ingredients salicylic acid to better exfoliate for a smoother skin and caffeine for its anti-inflammatory properties and vessel constriction to reduced water retention in skin.

The product itself is a lightweight vicious gel that is tinted an orange shade with a faint herbaceous scent . It feels slightly sticky when rubbed into skin but the stickiness disappears when dry.

It is very cooling when massaged into the body and a pleasure to use during the warm summer months. When using, you're meant to massage the body are in upward motions and I think this helps to kick start the blood circulation improvements and help the active ingredients penetrate into the skin more evenly.

Immediate results after using this gel is the feeling of skin tightness and you get the impression it's working straighten away to firm up the skin but that sensation is temporary and disappears within 30 minutes.

After 1 week, I noticed that the skin on my thighs where I've been slathering the product feels much smoother and  not just softer.The little skin bumps I have around the inner thighs have also diminished.

After 2 weeks, skin was firmer. After 4 weeks, I continued to experience firmer skin, most noticeable on the inner thigh area than on my upper arms. I know this is from the effects of the product rather than exercise because during the Christmas period, I’ve stopped doing my weights and I still continue to see improvement in firmness of skin as opposed improvements to muscle tone.

In the 4-week timeframe, I didn't notice any improvements (and didn't expect) any stretchmarks appearances and I'm not sure if it would also improve cellulite appearance either. However, given it does firm skin, I expect it to give some visual improvements from cellulite after a few months' use. Stretchmarks improvements may be pushing it if they are very old ones like the owns I have.

Overall, I’m mighty impressed by this sculpting gel from Skin Physics because I was sure it wasn't going to work. I'm pleasantly surprised and am delighted by the results it's providing. Now I’m very curious about whether using the sculpting gel with the Skin Physics Liposculpt ultra sonic hand held device (which this gel was made to complement) would give more significant results. If only my beauty budget wasn't so drained and I wasn’t already committed to picking up the POSE device, I'd be pick up the device to try it with the gel all in the name of 'research'!

But I will definitely be refilling this tube when it runs out because it’s an effective product that is reasonably priced for a 200ml tube and would last a couple of months' worth of daily use on legs and arms (less if your using on more body parts like stomach, butt etc).

Have you tried any body sculpting products? Are there any that you like?

200ml  RRP A$69 at selected Myer, Shaver Shop, Harrisons and Terry White Chemist stores or
online.
This product was provided for consideration.

Botanics of Australia: Ingvigorating Body wash with Desert Lime

Whether they be soap bars or body washes, I love my scents and my rich lathers. My latest bath buddy is exactly that and really enlivens and gives me the squeakiest clean feel.

Botanics of Australia Invigorating Body wash with Desert Lime 200ml

With wild lime fruit juice, the citrusy smell is so divine it instantly awakens my senses very time I step into the shower. The lime juice contains vitamin c that is supposed to give anti-oxidising properties but in honesty, given it’s used under running water, it would barely have any time to penetrate skin and have any anti-oxidising effects before it’s all washed off. 

That aside, it always manages to soothe my tired aching muscles after a long hard day, especially after a jog or sports. The soft foaming action washes away the day’s oils, dirt and grime and leaves my skin so soft and clean afterwards without being too dry or stripped of skin’s natural moisture and make me look forward to the next shower time. 

I love this so much I’ve completely used up my tube last month and need to re-stock. Yup, it’s that good, it's made it to my staples list. 

Do you have a favourite shower time buddy? What are they?
RRP A$12.95 but get it for A$7.95 online at Fashion Addict.
This product was sent for review.

SOS For Winter Skin

Winter is notorious for cold conditions that dries out the skin. Add to that mix the sudden changes in temperatures as you head from heated indoors environments to plunging outdoors temperatures and you're bound to have a recipe for dry flaky patches and wind burnt chapped lips, all of which are symptoms I'm experiencing lately.

I've been using the following products to combat the windburn and drying effects of constant extreme weather changes in an attempt to restore moisture back into my skin and lips.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster 30ml*

• Packed full of hyaluronic acid (which is able to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water) and glycerin (a humectant), this gem binds moisture on  skin to keep you hydrated for hours on end.
• Restores moisture balance and revitalises skin and helps reduce and soothe the dry patches on cheeks and those sore runny noses. 
• A clear slightly viscous liquid, it is scented with lavender essential oils that also helps to calm skin from irritations and quickly absorbs to give baby soft skin - no joke!
• Also contains panthenol for tissue repair and algae extracts to restore the moisture balance. 
• You don't have to have parched skin to use this, if you're your skin is feeling tight or dry,  it's enough reason to pick this up and apply before your other normal skincare products to bind in the moisture content and relieve you from dry patches and lines, especially under the eye area. 
• Best used after washing on slightly damp clean skin to lock in all that glorious moisture content and you only need a few drops to get instantly softened skin.

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$100 at selected salons or cheaper online at the Facial Company.

This is a FITE product and its sale will help fund a female entrepreneur in a developing country. To find out more, visit www.joinFITE.org


Clinique Comfort On Call 50ml 

• This heavy duty cream is used to relieve seriously dry skin, and by serious I mean the wind-burnt dry cracked skin type of serious. 
• Given its its richness (a rich body cream texture), I recommend using this creamy balm at night as it's probably too heavy to use during the day, especially if you intend to apply makeup over your skincare products and take a bit of time to fully absorb into skin. If you're outdoors in the extreme weather during the day, then use it during the day as well - just make sure you top it with sun protection. 
• Contains olive fruit oil, shea butter to deeply moisturise, citrus jabara fruit extract to calm and trace amounts of hyaluronic acid to keep the moisture in. 
• Creates a barrier after application to prevent further damage and help to keep skin's moisturised whilst it soothes redness and irritations from extreme weather and reduce flaky skin. 
• Like all other Clinique skincare products, it is fragrance free and relatively scentless, which helps for those who are easily senstised by fragrance in their products (I'm usually not but when skin is irritated, anything can happen). 
• I don't use this every night, only when I find my skin very dry and would use for a few days during that period before converting back to my normal lighter moisturisers. 

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$83 at Clinique counters.

Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment 4.5g

• This little lip balm is a godsend for my perennially dry lips which just cracks during winters. Seriously no amount of  daily exfoliating has stopped my chapping, it has only minimised it. With this lip treatment, I have only minimal exfoliating work to do at night - hallelujah!
• Contains Anti-Ozonate Complex to heal cracked, chapped lips and leaves a protective waxy film that prevents moisture from leaving and harsh extreme conditions from further drying up lips and gives hours of protections before any re-application is needed.
• Although fragrance free and goes on clear, there is a light but distinctive medicinal taste (most likely due to the Alkyl benzonate) to this balm which reminds me of zinc stick. It's not a deal breaker for me and honestly you shouldn't be licking your lips anyway as it dries them out even more so the taste should act as a deterrent for you lip-smacking people out there.
• Also good for bits of rough skin like finger and sore red noses or anywhere that needs soothing and protecting. 

Ingredients listing:

Helianthus Annuus (Hybrid Sunflower) Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ozokerite, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Lecithin, Oils Of: Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange), Geranium Maculatum, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed, Superoxide Dismutase, Bisabolol, Extracts Of: Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon), Fumaria Officinalis, Fumaric Acid, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender), Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower, Echinacea Purpurea, Symphytum Officinale, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit, Boron Nitride, Titanium Dioxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Butylene Glycol

RRP A$19 at selected salons or cheaper online at the Facial Company.

Botanics of Australia (BOA) Intense Moisturiser with Lilly Pilly 225g*

BOA is an Aussie skincare and haircare brand that I've recently been introduced to. Interestingly, although the products are made in Australia with local signature ingredients, it is only marketed to and sold to international overseas consumers (weird how they think locals wouldn't love to use these local products too!). The good news is it's available online for purchase locally, is well priced with a good product range and from the products I've tried so far, are fabulous and value for money.

• This moisturiser is a whipped cream texture and is between the richness of body butter being lighter and softer but richer than body lotions. It has a delightful warm sandalwood fragrance and feels luxurious when it melts upon touching the skin. 
• My favourite part is that it's non-greasy and fast absorbing - it has a similar texture and feel to the L'Occitane Rich Renewal Cream that I love and comes in a nice big jar that is easy to scoop out the product to apply copious amounts of all over the body.
• Contains grape seed oil, Cocoa butter and Shea butter for intense moisturisation with lilly pilly, an Australia native fruit  that is packed full of vitamin C and fruit acids to assist with skin firming.  

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$17.95 or  cheaper online at FashionAddict.

Do you change your skincare regime for the seasons? 
What products are you currently using?

Products marked * were provided for consideration. All other products were purchased by myself.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Bath & Body Collection

I’ve always heard good things about Tom Ford Private Blend Fragrances but with so many available scents in the line up, I wasn’t sure where to start.

Thankfully the decision was made easy with the recent launch of the Neroli Portofino Bath and Body Collection, an addition to the existing Fragrance line and as a result , I was able to get my hands on a sample body cream and a bar soap from the collection. 

The inspiration for Neroli Portofino is drawn from the Mediterranean landscape the Italian beach side Riviera with its old-world glamour and tradition. Adorn in deep aqua packaging and the transformation of the fragrance bottle from its apothecary brown glass bottle to a translucent turquoise one could only mean it’s getting serious with representing the Mediterranean warm waters. 

The product range in the Neroli Portofino Collection includes

• Private Blend EDP Spray 50ml/100ml - RRP A$290/A$395 
• Private Blend EDP Decanter 250ml – RRP A$790 
• Body Moisturiser 150ml - RRP A$100 
• Shower Gel 150ml - RRP A$100 
• Body Oil 100ml - RRP A$100 
• Bath bar soap 50g - RRP A$50* 

Now when I hear Neroli, I instantly think of warm citrusy scents that sits comfortably in the fruit family scent. Not so with Neroli Portofino – it is more a floral fresh infused with tangy and vibrant citrus oils and warm amber undertones – truly a unique and individual scent that I’ve ever come across. 

It takes me to back to heady summer evenings where one can easily be intoxicated by the crisp yet bitter scent of neroli citrus, before being softly wrapped with sweet orange blossoms and lingering musky amber.

Amazingly long-lasting, the body cream gave many hours of subtle fragrance that had me drifting to warm Italian seas whilst the bar soap gently perfumed skin whilst lathering up for a creamy silky wash. Enriched with Olive fruit oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil and date seed extract in both products, it leaves skin soothed richly hydrated and product. Honestly, it couldn’t possibly be any more luxurious when you layer the products together.

I’m not surprised Tom Ford delivered yet again with the Neroli Portifino bath and Body collection. Tom Ford is not something you make a blind purchase on so I urge you to head down to David Jones to sample and acquaint yourself with the scent but be warned, go prepared to part with some serious cash because you will be walking home with a Neroli Portofino product.

Tom Ford is available exclusively at David Jones.

Product marked * were sent for consideration. I received a sample of the body moisturiser through my rewards membership from David Jones 

Review: Orly Rich Renewal Creme

The winter weather's causing havoc on my skin this month. Scaly legs and dehydrated arms are starting to show up. Add to that, my hands are getting very dry and the cuticles are looking ragged and chapped. It was time to take some action and hit myself up on some intense hydration.

Orly Rich Renewal Ultra Hydrating Creme

• The purse size 60ml tube of goodness is handy to carry arounnd and comes in 3 amazing fragrances - Passion, Peace and Paradise. I had the Peace one which is a light vanilla and white tea scent - yummy and heavenly at the some time. 
• Indeed very rich but not at all greasy - in fact is has this silken feel and is very much similar to L'Occitane's ultra Rich Cream in texture. It is absorbed quickly and starts to hydrate skin immediately.
•  Love the fact this multi-tasker can be used on the all parts of the body and works well on hands to soothe culitcles
• Leaves skin soft and silky by quenching it with moisture whilst subtly scenting it. Within 3 days my scaly arms were starting to look very normal again. 

Ingredients listing:

I just can't get enough of this stuff and could slather it on all day long. I love it for the scent alone but this beauty is a winner in the all important hydration and softening department as well - what's there not to love?

60ml RRP A$10.95 or 240ml A$29.95 at selected Pharmacies or Orly Online.

P.S. use the discount code 'beautyheaven' to get 15% of all your purchases when you checkout online. This code was provided to all members of beautyheaven, which I'm part of.

This product sample was provided for consideration.

L'Occitane Perfumed Shea Butter Collection

My love affair with French brand L'Occitane started years ago when I got my hand on their perfumed hand creams (the cherry blossom and rose are my all time favourites) and this love has deepened recently with my trialling of their latest Shea Butter offerings.

L'Occitane hails back to 1976 for its humble beginnings in the hills of the Haute-Provence. Today, all their products are still developed and produced in same southern town of Manosque, as it has for the past 35 years. It still follows traditional production methods to bring effective and pleasurable products to the market by being a socially responsible company with the use of natural ingredients, essential oils, and sustainably sourced ingredients as core ingredients in all their offerings.

This year, the latest  L'Occitane launch is the limited edition Perfumed Shea Butter Collection.

• Available in Vineyard Rose, Apricot Flowers, and Orange Honey - scents reminiscent of the orchards of Provence. The collection extends the pleasurable experience of shea butter and bring it up to a new indulgent level with these delicate fragrances.
• The collection line up includes a perfumed shea butter, perfumed ultra rich body cream, perfumed shea butter soap and converts best selling organic shea butter to fair trade status. 

Perfumed Shea Butter 30ml* - RRP A$24.95

• Comes in a cute 1/2 circle tin and is a handy size to throw into the handbag so it can travel with you anywhere you go. 
• With 95% certified organic and fair trade Shea Butter combined with organic botanical oils and beeswax for a deliciously smooth texture, it provides skin deep nourishment and protects against harsh environments. 
• My little tin of Apricot FLower is a fruity burst of summer with the light apricot scent and contains organic apricot oil to sooth and protect. 
• An emollient balm, I use this on my cuticles, my elbows, knees and rough patches for super soft smooth skin. 
• Love it as a conditioner or balm for lips. It smells delicious but is actually tasteless which is what I prefer and has now replaced all my other lip balms.
• Don't under estimate this little 30ml tin of rich goodness - a little goes a long way. I think it will easily last me a 6-9 months of use. 

Perfumed Ultra Rich Body Cream 100ml* - RRP A$36.95 

• With 25% shea butter, this is an ultra luxurious tub of crème that richly moisturise with linseed oil extra, marsh mallow, sweet almond oil, honey and softening apricot oil, providing complete care for dry or very dry skin.
• It helps restore the skin’s hydrolipidic film and provides deep nourishment and long lasting hydrating to protect it from further harsh environmental conditions. 
• I received this in Vineyard Rose and love the delicate scent of cottage roses that leaves skin just lightly scented after use. 
• Feels like Hazeline Snow that I grew up with as a kid as has the same smooth silken texture. Enriched with rose-hip oil, it is easily absorbed and although rich, it is non-greasy and just leaves skin feeling like velvet. 
• Helps damaged skin heals faster. I burnt the back of my hand during cooking over the weekend and after using this cream for 4 days, the burn mark looked like it never existed. 
• Great as a post-shave cream to sooth irritated legs and calm down bumps on legs
• Within 1 week of use, my scaly legs are smooth with almost no dry flakiness left. The dry rough heels on my feet have never felt so soft and although they are still dry looking, they are no longer cracked looking and are actually starting to smooth up - no cream has managed to do this yet so I'm mighty impressed. 

Perfumed Shea Butter Soap 100g - RRP A$8.95

Delicately scented, these soaps produce a creamy lather to gently cleanses the skin and helps maintain its natural moisture balance.

Fair Trade Shea Butter 150ml - RRP A$49.95

Encased in a metal tin, this stuff is 99.8% pure shea butter, certified organic and fair trade by Ecocert (EFT label); the remaining  0.2% is antioxidant Vitamin E - there is nothing more simple and pure than this product. It provides intense repair and hydration properties to help soften, protect and is suited for very dry and sensitive skin. This would be ideal for cracked heels, rough knees elbows and anyone with eczema or other skin irritations.


My favourite pick would have to be the ultra rich body cream. It has healing properties and is able to smooth my rough heels. If you were to only pick up one thing, you can't go past this jar of magic cream.

This very limited edition Perfumed Shea Butter range is available from 9th May at selected L'Occitane Boutiques, Myer, David Jones, and selected pharmacies.

Products marked * were sent for consideration.

La Dolce Vita with MOR

Last year MOR released the MOR Essentials line that captivated me with its traditional apothecary inspirations and luxuriously perfumed body products and amazingly affordable price points.

This year, MOR has followed it up with a diffusion line, the Dolce range that will be a Target exclusive. This no doubt makes MOR's beautiful products even more accessible to buyers with prices starting from A$10.

Now if you didn't know, dolce is actually Italian for 'sweet' and I can see why it would be called that with the latest 3 delicious scent lines in the range that will sweeten your everyday pampering experience.

SORBET: a blend of lemon, lime and coconut scents infused in a fresh vanilla base, it is adorned in baby blue packaging
POMEGRANATE: notes of violet and jasmine with burst of pomegranate and raspberry and black currant over a sweet musk base and is wrapped in pink packaging.
HONEY: honey infused may bell with base notes of warm vanilla, amber and the sweetness of cotton candy it comes comes in chic creamy packaging.

The Dolce line comes in practical and streamlined packagings that doesn't lose its luxurious appeals with the emblematic art deco embossed imprints and pretty designs - I actually prefer this packaging to that of the Essentials range. Each line features 5 sweetened body care products

• hand cream 80ml - RRP A$10
• hand and body lotion 350ml - RRP A$15
• soap cake 150g - RRP A$10
• hand and body wash 350ml - RRP A$15
• fragrant candle 170g - RRP A$15

I had the privilege of sampling the HONEY range and let me tell you, it was love at first scent.

I'm not a huge sweet scent person and when I read honey, I wasn't sure if I would find it too sticky sweet. Amazingly the warm amber notes diffuses the sweetness and the vanilla just added extra dimension to the light sweetness that comes through the products in this range.  My picks are from this range are the fragrant candle, body & hand wash and the hand cream.

Honey Hand & Body Wash

In a large pump bottle, it is warm and sweet and adds an extra level of pleasure by transporting the senses to beautiful place. It is soap free and is non-lathering but gives a skin a great wash and leaves is silky and soft with a lingering sweet scent.

Honey Hand Cream

This stuff smells so good I almost want to eat it. I keep a tube at my desk and apply some throughout the day to get lovely hydrated hands. Suited for normal to dry skin, it softens rough hands and helps give supple smooth skin that is fragrant for hours. If you have very dry skin, you will need some other heavy duty moisturisers which I'll review later next week.

Honey Soap Cake

Gives a smooth silky lather and envelops skin in a heady sweet fragrance  that makes showers a pleasurable and enjoyable experience. This leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and silky without causing skin irritations. 

Honey Hand & Body Lotion

This is a light textured and beautifully sweet scented lotion that absorbs into skin easily. It gives average hydration but with my scaly dry legs, I need a more richer body cream on that area and only use this on my hands, arms and rest of the body.

Honey Fragrant Candle

I don't even need to burn this and can already smell the sweet warm amber scent. when lit, it scents the room up with a sweet cotton candy and vanilla the wafts gently and warms up any room's environment. I like to burn this in evenings when I'm going through my readings on the laptop. Packaged in a clever tin with lid, it burns safely and when you are ready to snuff it out, just close the lid and you're done. This boast burn times of up to 35 hours and is made from natural soy and has a cotton wick.

Tip: I learnt this tip from an Asian magazine the other day - sprinkle some salt around the wick before lighting up to pro-long the burn time and give a brighter candle flame. I tried it and really think it works!

At such a magical price, everyone can now have a pampering experience everyday with MOR and not break their budget. Get your little dolce sweetness at your nearest Target store next week and live the sweet life!

How else do you add some sweetness in your everyday life - I do mine via fun size chocolates :)

Officially  launched on Monday 18th April 2011 at Target stores.
Update: I did manage to popped by Target this weekend and picked up the Pomergranate scented candle. Had a whiff of the Sorbet range and can't say I'm in love with the lemon and coconut scent combination. Honey is still my fave and Pomergranate is full of beautiful sweet tangy goodness :)

This products was provided for consideration.

Bring MOR Into Your Life

I recently mentioned that the clever guys at MOR have outdone themselves with their latest release of 5 beautiful scents in their Everyday Essentials range. These new scents are Basil & Grape Neroli Clementine; Honey Nectar; Black Currant Iris; and Sugar Rose Tiger Lily

Each scent range covers 5 essential body care products and includes the following:

• hand and body wash 350ml - RRP A$19.95
• soap bar 170g - RRP A$12.95
• body butter 250ml - RRP A$14.95
• hand cream 80ml - RRP A$14.95
• hand and body lotion 350ml - RRP A$19.95
• scented candle 170g - RRP A$19.95

The first thing you'll notice is the incredible pricing of these products, they were designed to allow you to bring MOR into your everyday life with its affordability whilst still delivering quality products beautifully finished with that elegant MOR touch.

This range may have less decadent packaging than it's original MOR cousins, but let me tell you it has definitely not compromised its formula, quality or addictive perfumery scents.

I had the pleasures of trying out a few of these new products from the Neroli Clementine range and they are every bit as good as good as MOR's main counterparts.

Neroli Clementine Body Butter
Rich and silky texture this stuff melts straight into skin. No greasy feeling here - instead, its leaves skin feeling velvety and the other day when I was having the smudge panda eye look, I actually used dabbed a bit of this onto a tissue and used it as a cream makeup remover under my eye at my work. It work like such a charm and I smelt so good afterwards as well.

Now I'm no connoisseur of scent names and initially didn't know what Neroli or Clementine were but I loved the slightly sweet mandarin citrus fragrance this body butter imparts.

When I found out that Neroli was actually bitter orange essential oil and Clementine another mandarin scent, and this body butter also contains Yuzu, a Japanese mandarin and sweetened candy orange, I realised this technique of complementary subtle layering is why I want to keep slathering this stuff on my legs and arms.

Neroli Clementine Hand cream
Lighter than the body butter so even more quickly absorbed, it bestows the same wonderful fragrance as the body butter. It spreads easily and with shea butter, conconut oil, glycerin and aloe formula, this rich yet fluid cream soothes hands to keep them soft, supple and fragrant for many hours.

Neroli Clemintine Fragrant Candle
Oh how l love lightly scenting the house with sweet fragrances to remove any cooking odours and pet smells  (my dog can be a wee bit smelly during summer).
Made of soy oil and natural cotton wick, this candle is encased in its own pretty tin jar and burns for hours on end. The best part is the lid acts as a snuffler when you're done so there is no smoky smell when the candle outs out - nifty!

The MOR Essentials range is now available at David Jones, Myer and selected pharmacies nationwide.
These products were sent for review.

Review: Kora Organic Rich Body Lotion

Most times, when I hear of celebrities launching a skincare or cosmetics line, I take a skeptical view of its launch and move on without giving it much thought. This is due to past experience of well marketed campaigns with sadly not so substantive products and the general impression that most celebrities only have a passing interest in their latest venture given it's not their normal area of expertise.

I'm sure I'm not the only cynic thinking that it's just another marketing avenue for them to flog their name given the number of celebrities clamouring to put out a product with their name on it. Whilst this experience have been fairly consistent, I think I have to re-assess my blanket view after trying the latest celebrity product from Victoria Secrets Angel, Miranda Kerr.

KORA Organics

• Kora is an organic line recently released by Ms Kerr the expectant Mrs. Bloom that features only organic ingredients in its product lines.
• The Kora line is a result of 3 years of product development and trails by Miranda and a team of formulation experts as well as a slew of product trialers over the years.
• All Kora products feature star ingredients: antioxidant noni berry juice, vitamin C, E and roship oils, known for the healing, and regenerative properties.

KORA Organic Rich Body Lotion

• Suitable for all skin types, this is a rich yet light cream that is pale lemon in colour; it's quickly absorbed into skin without feeling the slightest bit greasy afterwards. In fact I'm really impressed by the silky texture it leaves skin immediately after application which is something associated with silicone based products and there is certainly none of that here. 
• Contains moisturising jojoba, cocoa butter and macademia oil to add essential fatty acids back into skin and helps to soften and protect and hyaluronic acid keeps skin hydrated. 
• Citrusy tangerine and warm sandalwood scent that exemplifies its earthly and organic origins of its ingredients.
• I love the fact that its hydrates and softens equally well on my dry legs or arms and hands and cuticles. 
• The big 200ml tube packaging is easy to use and means it will last a long time, which is great since it isn't the cheapest body product out there so am glad that you get alot of the price you pay. 

Pale yellow, light in texture, non-greasy and not much sheen when rubbed in as seen on the right side of hand

This is my favourite body cream to date and is getting all my love this month. I'd be repurchasing another tube when this big baby runs out and am keen to try the other Kora products Miranda has put out to see if the entire line is as good as this. If it is, I may have to kill that default celebrity product skepticism for good. 

Rating: 10/10. RRP A$44.95 at David Jones stores or Kora Online.
This product was received at the MBBE event.
Click more for ingredients listings. 

Review: MOR Marshmallow Body Oil

You all know by now how much I love my body oils and moisturisers. Like a parched desert, my skin just laps up all the moisture and sometimes needs top ups during the day so I'm always on the look out for new oils and lotions to try.

This is my latest addiction.

MOR Marshallow Body Oil

Ingredients listing

• Part of their signature Marshmallow range of products, this light oil contains the deliciously sweet scent of White Carnation and marshmallow for top notes while notes of Jasmine, Rose and Althaea flower peek through as mid way and finally finishes up with an earthy white musk and sweet vanilla base. This almost feels like you are spraying on a perfume with the changing scents and thankfully the scent is light enough so you can spray all over the body and it not be too overpowering.
• The spray bottle gives the light mist of oil over skin which when gently massaged was quickly absorbed and did not leave skin feeling greasy or sticky at all.
• Full of nourishing macadamia oil, wheat germ oil, avocado oil, grape seed oil and sunflower oil to keep skin soft and supple and marshmallow, peach and mango extract to delicately scent the skin, I found it kept my skin hydrated for the entire day.
• As always, the packaging from MOR is just too cute with the box adorned with pretty pink English roses and the bottle is simple yet elegantly shaped to be full of style and class.

Rating: 10/10. The perfect indulging body oil that not only keeps skin from becoming reptilian but also keeps you smelling as sweet as roses and marshmallows :)
RRP A$44.95 at MOR Online and selected Myer, David Jones stores.


BONUS OFFER: Buy this Marshallow oil at MOR online and receive a free Little Luxuries Body butter (valued at A$16.95) free with coupon code "MOR15" for all Australian and New Zealand purchases. Offer expires 30th October.

I won this from a recent BeautyHeaven competition.

Review: Lux Shea Exfoliating Scrub & Tropical Sunset Body Wash

These scrummy smelling bottles were in my MBBE bag and I took them out to try last week.

These body washes are the latest addition to Lux's body wash range and are soap free and pH balanced. Usually I provide ingredients listings of the prorducts but these shower washes come in clear bottles and I can't photograph the ingredients writing clearly without the product inside obscuring it. If I find a way, I'll come back later and update this post. 

Lux Shea Exfoliating Scrub Body Wash

• Smells delicious, almost like chocolate caramel syrup. I was worried that it would smell like washing myself with candy syrup but surprisingly the scent is more watered down with a nutty hint during use - I actually really liked it :) 
• Contains micro-beads to gently exfoliate and reveal more poslished skin while shea butter and sunflower oil sooth and hydrates to keep skin soft. 
• Gave a good creamy lather like any good shower gel would. 
• I left the shower feeling refreshed, clean and well moisturised. This is fast becoming my new favourite shower wash.

Lux Tropical Sunset Body wash

• Pina colada anyone? Definitely sent me into tropical island fantasy overdrive. The scent is very refreshing during use with the citrus overtones coming through. 
• Contains mango and grapefruit oils to moisturise skin and condition
• Mr. Yoyo loves this to wake him up in morning showers with its fruity scent and rich lathering formula that left his skin nice and smooth.

Rating: 9/10. Affordable everyday luxuries that gives a 'scentual' experience during shower times. 

RRP A$5.99 for 400ml. Available in supermarkets, pharmacies and Priceline now.

These products were sent for review.

Review: MOR Emporium Soap Bar

Hope everyone's weekend went well. Mine flew by too quickly again and now it's the start to another new week. I've got taxes to do, but taking priority over it are product reviews :)

Don't you love it when brands combine great packaging and star ingredients to come up with quality products that indulges one's sensory organs?

Aussie brand MOR pulls off this magical blending to perfection, wrapping their holistic and lovely products with soft romantic designs of the Renaissance era that hints of the luxuries of year gone-by. Their range predominantly covers body products ranging from decadent bar soaps to delectable body butters and lip delights and deliciously scented candles.

Today I'm doing a review of their soaps.

MOR Emporium Soap Bar - Royal Mulberry

 

Ingredients listing

• Oh-so pretty packaging with the gold embossed designs wrapped with a ribbon and MOR's logo seal. It was almost too heart-breaking to unwrap it for use and could easily be a feature item in any bathroom if left at the side of the basin unwrapped and for display only. 
• Has a light heady berry scent that for some reason reminds me of summer afternoons teas with scones and jam, I look forward to getting a whiff of summer sweetness whenever it's shower time :)
• Triple milled bar soap to give smooth silky lather that is also very long lasting. I've been using it for over a week, and barely made a dent to it.
• Made dead-skin scrubbing easy-as in showers and left skin hydrated and soft to touch and did not aggravate my scaly legs.

This high-end soap is just divine to use and made the cleansing experience all so much enjoyable. It is definitely is a small little luxury one could pamper themselves with.

Rating: 9/10. RRP A$19.95 at MOR Online and selected Myer, David Jones stores.

This product was sent for review.