Dr. Dulcamara Orange Flower: Victorian Inspired Beauty | Review

We get sent a lot of stuff to review but this Victorian inspired Orange Flower collection from Dr. Dulcamara really caught our eye. It is both original and stunning. It looks so beautiful on the bathroom shelf you almost don’t want to use it. But use it you must. It smells divine and just looking at it creates happiness.

We reviewed the hand cream, which leaves the hands silky soft and smelling great. It is a really good cream, rubs in well and works. The bath essence looks like a magic potion and sitting in the bath just sniffing it is a potential hazard to look out for. It makes bathing even more enjoyable and is good to the skin.

We really loved the Orange Flower collection from Dr. Dulcamara and already have a few people in mind who will be getting these as a Christmas present. Frost loves….

Dr Dulcamare, lotions and potions, beauty, beauty review

Orange flowers are the source of neroli, an essential oil distilled from the freshly picked blossoms of the bitter orange tree. Neroli is named after the Italian city of Neroli, where it was used to ward off a plague in the 17th Century. Today, the oil is mostly produced in the South of France and in Italy.

The rich flower-scented aroma has long been regarded as a symbol of purity and eternal love, and was a great favourite of Marie Antoinette.The oil is also used frequently in Middle Eastern recipes to add fragrance to food, water and tea.

Neroli oil has a reputation for its calming, relaxing properties, and is regarded as a mild sedative.

www.potsandpotions.com

Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream Review

vichy idealia reviewIt is not common for me to be upset when a moisturiser runs out. There is always something else to try. But when my Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream ran out I felt forlorn. It is just that good.

It smells delicious, which is probably the Kombucha tea extract, the packaging is stylish and the texture of the pink cream is light and not too heavy, but, importantly, it really works. I used this religiously twice a day, except for once or twice when I went to bed late. When I did not use it I could see the difference in my skin. I just looked less fresh, less ‘illuminated’. The overall tone of my skin is greatly improved. It evens skin tone and smooths out wrinkles.

I have sensitive skin and this hypoallergenic cream was gentle with it. It did not irritate it at all. It is also paraben-free. I really love this moisturiser and so did my skin.

Vichy say,

– Enriched with Kombucha 3%, AHAs, Vitamins, Probiotics and Polyphenols
– Skin feels more even, smoother, supple and refined
– The complexion is more radiant
– Skin is replumped with moisture
– Skin looks more youthful, fresher and healthier

The ingredients

vichy ingredients

It is quite pricey at £22 but I think it is definitely worth the money and a little goes a long way. It is like youth in a pot.

Available from Superdrug or Selfridges.

 

Amy Childs’ Lashes | Beauty Review

I received a pair of Amy Childs’ Heartbreaker lashes to review. They look great in the packaging, very glamorous.

I have never put fake lashes on before and wasn’t sure if it would be hard or not. To be honest, I did find it very tricky. Until I got the hang of it that is. It is like applying eyeliner, hard at first but after a while you can do it quickly and with precision. The lashes are really long and dramatic. You could either wear them for a big night out or cut them down. They are also wide but you can easily cut them down. They come with adhesive and can be used again and again.

As you can see in the pic below they are very big. I got mixed reactions, some people loved them, and others thought they were too big and should be cut slightly. Whatever you decide they are good quality and value for money. £8 including P &P. A cheap and great glamour hit.

Catherine Balavage reviewing Amy Childs' lashes

Get A ‘Lash In A Flash’ With Amy Childs’ Lashes
Need a quick beauty pick me up or if you are heading from the office floor to the dance floor and want to change your
look dramatically, then look no further than Amy Childs’ Lashes for a ‘lash in a flash’! A fabulous collection of lashes with
eight different designs to suit every girl and every occasion, Amy’ strip lashes are perfect to change your look instantly.
Durable and long-lasting Amy Childs’ Lashes are designed to be worn over and over again. Wanting to make the modern
girl feel and look beautiful, these lashes are exactly what Amy stands for, whether you want to look glam or natural.
Available in Flirt 2, Temptress 1, Heartbreaker 2 & Tease 1
From elaborate, sexy and seductive styles to subtle, pretty and elegant designs, the real question is will you be a Flirt,
Tease, Temptress or Heartbreaker tonight

www.amychildsofficial.co.uk

 

Manuka Doctor ApiClear Blemish Cream Review

Mille Mackintosh

Everyone has the occasional break out no matter how good their skin is. I am no exception. The last spot cream I used seemed to take the occasional spot I got and multiply it so my usually clear skin had a bit of a freak out. Enter Manuka Doctor ApiClear Blemish Cream. I had high hopes for this as I have previously reviewed their face mask. It also has Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh as a fan.

Millie Says, I won’t be going to anywhere this year without Manuka Doctor’s ApiClear Blemish Cream. Breakouts often occur during festivals and holidays and so having this to instantly soothe my skin is a lifesaver! It is so easy to use – I just pop it in my bag and know that my skin will stay blemish free.

The cream has UMF 18+ Manuka Honey, witch hazel, vitamin E and Propolis. It is calm and cooling and non greasy. It doesn’t have any nasty parabens or SLS.

I use it on the occasional pimple and it does speed up the healing process. My skin looks a lot better. Considering how inexpensive it is (£5.99 from Holland & Barrett) I will be buying this when it runs out. A great little cream that helps clear up spots quickly.

Top marks.

Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick Review

Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick in Cosmopolitan.

IMG_3470I must confess that the colour of this lipstick was a bit challenging. I see women wearing bright lipstick all the time and feel a tug of envy. It just looks so fabulous on them. I usually wear nude lipstick. My problem with bright lipstick is that I have a big mouth – no jokes please. At school I was made fun of because of my big lips. Of course now I see them as a plus. I get compliments on them a lot. But I always thought that wearing bright lipstick made them look too big and was just too much of a hassle. Which just goes to show how much I don’t know.

The lipstick looks amazing on. Although my boyfriend has reservations, ‘Jeez, that’s bright. It really doesn’t suit you.” he says. Thanks for that! I persevere anyway.

IMG_3453

I like how the lipstick brightens up my face. I like the colour, it is beautiful. The lipstick is good quality, as you would expect from Calvin Klein. It stays on my face all day and it does not dry my lips out. I get a lot of compliments and even my boyfriend comes around to it.

So am I converted? Completely. I will be brightening up my make up look, and as for the Calvin Klein lipstick, it is a piece of luxury at a completely reasonable price, and an excellent lipstick to boot.

Available from Fragrance Direct and Debenhams.

 

 

 

 

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream | Beauty Review

31IEYvjSZiL._SY300_This multitasking cream is big in Japan and has been around for 50 years. Yu-Be is one of the most trusted skincare brands in Japan. The cream is a bit like the Japanese Eight Hour Cream, it can be used on lips, face, hands, calluses, cuticles, dry skin, nappy rash and cracked heels. It is especially good on very dry skin. The crazy weather has been really drying my skin out and this amazing cream sorts it out.

This concentrated glycerin-based formula is enriched with vitamin E, B2, and camphor to soothe even the driest and irritated of skin types. A little goes a long way which makes it economical as well as brilliant. It also reduces scarring and fine lines.

It is a thick, yellow cream but it absorbs well and quickly. It smells medicinal to begin with but it does not linger. I love this Yu-Be moisturising cream. It gets the Frost magazine stamp of approval. It really works.

 

JAPAN’S FAVOURITE SKINCARE SECRET IS OUT THE BAG
Vitamin-enriched skincare cream, Yu-Be, launches in UK following demand from cult fan base in the UK Soft Skin Secret
The number one selling skincare product in Japan has hit the UK.
Yu-Be has long been a must-have for generations of Japanese families thanks to its multitasking properties: from soothing severe dry skin and razor burn to reducing scarring and fine lines.
The iconic orange and white pot has also lined make-up bags of beauty experts across the world
for over 50 years, as its ultra-smoothing properties and non-greasy formula make for an all-natural makeup primer, with no artificial colours or fragrances.
Yu-Be for all
The secret behind this ultra-moisturising cream lies in its uniquely high glycerin
content which treats a multitude of skin issues head-to-toe: from split cuticles,
windburn and frostbite in the winter, to sunburn and chapped lips in the summer.
Yu-Be is a staple for most Japanese families as it has been proven to relieve nappy
rash, eczema and dermatitis as well as reducing stretch marks and scarring. Dancers
and explorers also rely on the cream to restore cracked heels and calluses.

.

The Yu-Be Story
Yu-Be was invented in 1957 by a young pharmacist, Yoshikiyo Nowatari, determined
to cure his patient of chronic dry skin. He combined glycerin – known for its
moisture-retaining properties – with camphor, a natural product found in ancient
Asian remedies to relieve irritation and smooth skin, as well as Vitamins B2, C and E.
Yu-Be is one of the iconic brands that has helped Japan rise to become one of the
leading regions for skincare innovation in the 21st Century.Available from Boots:

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream Original Japanese Formula is available from Boots.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream | Beauty Review

elizabethardeneighthourcreamElizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream is constantly on the major magazines best of beauty lists. It is the little tub of cream that has a million uses and is a favourite of celebrities. My family and friends also love it. Here is my review.

Elizabeth Arden says their Eight Hour Cream soothes minor skin irritation and is also for the symptoms of chapping, peeling and flaking due to minor burns, sunburn, windburn, scrapes, abrasions and cracked lips. Phew. That is quite a list. Created in 1930, it is Elizabeth Arden’s bestseller, with a tube of the stuff selling somewhere in the world every 30 seconds.

I use the cream on my lips and it is a great lip balm. I also use it on my hands which are really drying out because of the weather and it really sorts them out. It is great on dry skin, you can really feel it healing the skin. I end up using it on my feet too. It makes them really smooth. I also put it along my cheekbones to highlight them when I am going out. It is good on rashes and burns. In fact it solves pretty much any skin based problem.

I quite like the smell but it is not to everyone’s taste. I know Elizabeth Arden recently brought out a version that is scent free. I think Eight Hour Cream is a great all-purpose balm. An essential for every make up bag. I am addicted now.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant 50ml

 

 

Seascape Beauty Review. Eco Friendly Beauty.

Seascape is a British brand. The ingredients come from local producers in Jersey in the Channel Islands. They smell amazing and are Eco-friendly. As Seascape say:

cs18_1

“All Seascape products are paraben, silicone, petroleum and SLS free and are suitable for vegetarians. They’re also free from artificial colours and synthetic fragrances”.

The carton is even produced by a carbon neutral company. It is completely guilt free beauty. I met Seascape at the Handpicked Media lounge at the Aldwych Hotel during London Fashion Week and I also got an amazing hand and arm massage from them.

There are six ranges, Uplift, Revive, Unwind, Soothe, Homme and Les Petits. I reviewed three of their products.

Peppermint Lip Balm
Has 100% natural peppermint essential oil. I love this lip balm. It is not too peppermint but soothes lips and stops them drying out. Works beautifully and leaves my lips looking luscious. Even in cold weather. You can see the ingredients below.

photo(10)

Refresh Hand & Nail Cream
This weather makes my hands dry out horribly. They get really dry and cracked. This hand and nail cream has lemongrass and Geranium. Like all of the products, it smells amazing and it saves my hands. A personal favourite.

photo(13)

Unwind Body Lotion.
This body lotion has Lavender to soothe and Ylang Ylang to ease tension. It is also enriched with Jersey Beeswax and Shea Butter. A little goes a long way and it is not too thick. You can get dressed quickly after using. I love how soft and moisturised it makes my skin.

photo(9)

I would definitely buy Seascape products. They are eco-friendly, well made and they really work.

http://www.seascapeuk.com/ From £10.