Wishing Wednesday

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to meet with a marketing lady from L'Occitane to learn more about the brand.  I have been a fan of L'Occitane for a long while now and have tried quite a few of the products when they were included in the Glossyboxes I used to get.  After my meeting it really had me thinking about the products of their's that I really liked and I was chatting to Alice from Lipgloss is my Drug and got the idea to do a post on the products I wish I had (Although it isn't easy summarising what I love into one picture so here are a few)

1. L'Occitane Roses et Reines roll-on perfume 2. L'Occitane Rose Heart Ultra Soft Cream 3. L'Occitane The Creme Divine Face Care range 4. L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate 5. L'Occitane Pivoine Flora eau de toilette 6. L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel 7. L'Occitane Hand Creams

I really love the packaging of L'Occitane products - how timeless the bottle and tub designs are.  I really don't know why I haven't been into a store recently because I used to spend quite a bit of time in the stores and have even included some of their products in giveaways I have done in the past.  

The meeting yesterday really reignited my interest in this natural products brand (one which also does no testing on animals) and I just felt like doing a quick post on them to share my love and admiration for the brand. Also, I wanted to share that they currently have a sale on their online store so go check that out if you want to grab a few products - First time customers get a discount based on the total value of your purchase, you can choose 3 free samples and at the moment you also get a free 100ml Lavendar Foam Bath. There is however a R100 delivery charge for orders under R1000. I was fortunate to receive a R193 discount on my order and also got a R200 discount on their Essential's Pack that is usually R400. So all together I really got a great deal and picked up some great gifts for upcoming birthdays (as well as a few treats for myself).

Here are links to a few short product reviews I have done on some of the products: L'Occitane Immortelle Eye Balm; L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate; L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

Hope you are all having a great day!

Big Hugs,

Charlene XXX

PS. In case any of you are wondering if I was asked to do this post, I was not requested to feature the brand or any of the products on my blog. I won't even inform L'Occitane that they were featured here today.  I rediscovered something and I thought I would share it with all of you - especially because there are products on sale and I LOVE sales!

Clinique Cheek Pop | Blush Pop

I received two Clinique Cheek Pops for my Birthday.  I truly love using these beautiful blushes - a good blush is a must have in every makeup stash.

I have been using Ginger Pop quite a bit since the weather has turned colder and the Plum Pop in warmer, sunny weather.  I really love the beautiful design of the blushes.  It really brightens my day whenever I use these.  Luckily the design is imprinted deeply into the product so you can use if for quite a long while before losing the beautiful flower.

The blush is very pigmented and silky smooth in texture.  It transfers well onto the skin and gives my cheeks a natural flushed look.  The colour can easily be built up when you want a brighter cheek.  I can go a whole day with the blush on my cheeks which is incredibly impressive to me.  My trick to making it last is to use a primer under my BB Cream or foundation and then immediately applying the blush while my cheeks are still a bit damp.  You can then seal it in with a bit of translucent powder.  However, if you want to have a more dewy look skip the setting powder as the powder will make your skin matte.

Clinique really hit a home run with these beauties.  Not only does it make a lady's makeup collection more beautiful but it is a wonderful blush.  Definitely one of my favourites to use.  You can purchase this for R300 at any Clinique stand.

Let me know what you think!

Big Hugs,
Charlene XXX

Feel Good Friday

Happy Birthday Diksha! I miss you so very much and wish that I could spend today with you. I hope you have a very special day.

I look forward to having you home at the end of the year!

Love you and Big Hugs,
Charlene XXX

Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil

I really love products that make me feel as though I am at a Spa.  I went to a small Elemis counter event at Canal Edgars where I absolutely fell in love with their Frangipani Monoi Body Oil.

This body oil is a blend of Coconut Coprah oil and scented with frangipani flowers.  This is more than just a body oil, it is a multitasking treatment oil that is perfect for hydrating any dry areas. I use this all over my body.  Hair, nails, face, cuticles, feet...everywhere!  I love that even though this is an oil, it absorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave you with too oily a feeling on your skin.  I really love the fragrance of the oil and whenever I use it I instantly feel relaxed and calm.

Elemis really thought about the design of the bottle so well.  The metal lid unscrews and only allows out a little bit of oil at a time so you can easily control the amount that you use.  Because this contains Coconut Coprah oil it does solidify inside the glass bottle, but you can easily melt it by simply holding the bottle in your hands for a while.  What I do is a few minutes before I get out of the bath I place the bottle in the bath with me to warm up the bottle.  By the time I am out the bath and slightly dry a good amount of the product is ready for me to use on my body. I don't think you'd want to melt the entire content every time you use it.  

All in all, I am so very happy with this product and I definitely think I will purchase another bottle - but I will need to save up for another bottle as this is rather pricey.  Elemis is a high end spa brand and because of that you pay for the quality of ingredients used.  This 100ml bottle costs R675...Yes, you read right....R675.  I had some Edgars thank you points accumulated so I was able to save a lot on this product. I definitely do think this is worth it, if simply only because of how it makes me feel when I use it. 

Big Hugs,
Charlene XXX

Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser

I have so many new products and products I have had for ages that I just haven't gotten around to reviewing yet.  I feel as though I am drowning under reviews that need to be written.  With me being so busy with work it has been tough to find time (and energy) to write reviews but I am trying to get through them and hope to have more consistent reviews up.  A few weeks ago I attended a Dermalogica event and we received two products.  One of these was a Ultracalming Cleanser.

Those of you who read my blog regularly know how I am when it comes to my skincare.  I love spending time pampering my skin and making sure I give my skin what it needs.  Dermalogica is one of the skin care brand I am sure most women wish they could have a full range of in their bathrooms.  So I was absolutely thrilled to start using this cleanser.

The cleanser is a gel/cream that does not foam.  This took a bit of getting used to for me because mentally I always need to see foam in order to feel that my skin is clean.  This cleanser cleans skin beautifully and because it is pH balanced it helps to calm and cool redness associated with sensitive or reactive skin - this range is specifically formulated to treat reactive, sensitised or overprocessed skin.  It contains no artificial fragrances or colourants.  More than that though it can be used by anyone who is exposed to harsh climates, irritation and pollution.

I have sensitive skin that is incredibly dehydrated, I have really loved using this cleanser and my skin has definitely felt less dry and tight.  I am definitely considering purchasing myself a bottle after I finish this one.

Big Hugs,
Charlene

PS.  A big thank you to Dermalogica for this wonderful cleanser.  It definitely has benefited my skin. Follow Dermalogica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Here are some photos from the Dermalogica Biosurface Peel event I attended.  It was a morning packed full of information and a demonstration of the peel.  I was really impressed with the fact that the lady had absolutely no redness on your skin after the treatment and how radiant her face looked.  I actually secretly wished I was in the demo chair, but as with everyone else I will need to wait until September to try this salon treatment out for myself. 

  

It is important to note though that not everyone will be a viable candidate for this treatment.  A therapist will first assess the condition of your skin beforehand to make sure that your skin is suitable for the treatment.  Because they apply acids to your skin, if the layers of your skin are too thin the acids will penetrate too deeply which is not the intention of Dermalogica's peel.  So don't feel offended if you are turned down for the peel - you can always have another one of their wonderful treatments.

Dermalogica Press Release:
Professional skin care therapists now have a new level of service to offer clients in the form of BioSurface™ Peel, Dermalogica’s first-ever chemical peel, exclusively formulated for use in skin care centres and spas around the world.

This revolutionary four-step exfoliant system is the first range of products to be introduced within Professional Expert Strength, a new line of professional products only available to licensed skin care therapists. BioSurface™ Peel addresses a diverse array of conditions that include reducing skin roughness and the appearance of fine lines as well as helping to treat hyperpigmentation, pseudofolliculitis (razor bumps), and acneic inflammation. This new procedure offers the many benefits of traditional chemical peels, but with little to no post-peel redness or downtime—a huge advantage for consumers.  The application process for BioSurfaceTM Peel consists of an initial Prep Step followed by layers of Enzyme and Acid Active peel solutions, which are neutralised in the fourth and final neutraliser step.  Because of the intensity of the powerful active ingredients, special training and certification are required to use BioSurfaceTM Peel.