MONTHLY FAVOURITES {JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2019}

Did I review some good products during January and February

Yes I did

and it's been a great start to 2019.
I highly recommend that you click on the Pink Links
to read my full reviews for all the product details.

1.

The EVE LOM Cleansing Balm has been somewhat of a surprise love 
for me as I'm generally not one to favour a balm over a cleansing milk, 
but this one has totally converted me and I'm loving it.
Having been given a sample from SpaceNK in the U.K. I reviewed this product
as a "Sunday Sample" post and I have since bought the full size on my 2nd trip
to the UK in January.

To read my full review

2.

My favourite mascara of all time has been the benefit Roller Lash Mascara

but it now has some serious competition from its own creation

in the form of benefit BAD Gal BANG! Mascara.

It was launched over a year ago, so I was a little late to discover this absolute lash gem.

To read my full review

3.

I hold my hands up as I have fallen "head over heels" in love with the 
French skincare brand Caudalie and especially this 
Caudalie Beauty Elixir.
This product can be used by everyone and whilst its
not a "must-have" item its certainly a "nice to have".

To read my full review

4.

Despite the colour of this product, in the bottle, not looking too promising
I have thoroughly enjoyed using these affordable and effective
L'Oréal GLOW MON AMOUR Highlighting Drops
I have been using them daily to add some extra glow to my skin and make-up

To read my full review

Let me know in the comments below if you used any of "my faves" and what you thought...

SUNDAY SAMPLE

Yet another delight that came from my Marks & Spencer beauty advent calendar 

was this generous 28ml size of 

Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment.

Living Proof isn't a haircare brand that I've tried anything from before and its also a

brand that we don't get in South Africa.

Living Proof hails from the USA and has a string of award winning hair products and this Restore Mask Treatment sounds perfect for my hair, as it's

"A deep conditioning mask treatment that repairs dry, damaged hair by nourishing strands, leaving hair visibly healthier, 20 times stronger, and shinier."

Due to its generous size I'm only going to post my review in a few weeks

as I really want to use several times before I give you my thoughts.

So pop back in the future to read whether it made my hair 

visibly healthier and 20 times stronger...

QUICKIE PRODUCT REVIEWS FEBRUARY 2019 {QPR'S}

This is why I love a good Beauty Advent Calendar at Christmas time, as it provides

me with so many products to try and review for many months,

 some good and some not so good.

Todays reviews are all on products that came from Marks & Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar 2018 and the one is a bronzer and the other two are eye products.

(Unfortunately non of these brands are available in South Africa)

1.

Brand : Autograph (M&S own in house brand)

Product : Luxe Multi Bronzer

Price : £12.50

When I opened the beauty advent calendar box that revealed this bronzer

I wasn't ecstatic like I was about some of the other reveals, but how wrong I was to
have doubted this absolute gem of a bronzer,

This multi-shade bronzer features a range of soft, shimmering tones to create 
a gorgeous bronze glow on your skin. 
Select one shade and sweep across cheekbones or blend them all together.
I found this bronzer to be easy to use and so flattering with my skin tone, that Ive been 
reaching for it everyday.

Verdict : 8/10

~~~~~~

2.

Brand : EYEKO

Product : Lash Alert Mascara (Black)

Price : £19/£10

Size : 8ml/4ml

2017's M&S Beauty Advent Calendar also contained an EyeKo Mascara

Black Magic Drama & Curl 

To read my full review

which I thoroughly enjoyed and this year they have one of their other offerings

Lash Alert!

The curve brush separates, yet covers the lashes with product and it's buildable layer 
after layer with the added bonus of not a clump in sight.
It gives a very natural, lashes separated kinda look  and if that's what you like from your mascara then I can highly recommend the 

Lash Alert!

Verdict : 8/10

~~~~~~

3.

Brand : Diego Della Palma

Product : Eye Pencil (Black)

Price : £14.50

I was introduced to this Italian brand for the first time through the  

2017 M&S Beauty Advent Calendar with their 

Lash Booster Mascara

To read my full review 

This year they have included one of their full size Eye Pencils in black.
Unfortunately I found this pencil to be quite hard and hence it dragged the skin around 
the eye, so I'm not a fan.
All I can really say 
"There are far better, softer eye pencils out there in the market".

Verdict : 5/10

L'ORÉAL GLOW MON AMOUR HIGHLIGHTING DROPS {REVIEW}

Finally I've got my hands on the

L'Oréal Glow Mon Amour Highlighting Drops 

as these have been on my "Highlight" radar since last year March.

My London "Kiddiewink" failed on his mission to bring me a bottle over on his last trip, but granted he did try several Boots and Superdrug only to encounter the the same 

"out of stock" situation everywhere.

I do love trying highlighting and radiance enhancing products as with age, your natural glow and radiance slowly gives way to a more dull and tired looking skin.

Light reflective particles in products do a great job of helping to restore that radiant glowy complexion, so make them your best friend...

There are 2 shade options available

1.

Champagne

2.

Bellini

Let me put it out there that this formula is highly pigmented, yet it's natural looking lightweight and blends super easily.

The dropper pipette allows for easy control of the drops and only a couple are needed to turn your normal foundation into a flattering glowy product.

 It only took me a couple of attempts to soon realise how many drops to add. 

Now having opted for the peachy shade Bellini, which does lean towards

 "dare I say it?"

an orange tone if too much is added,

 I found it to be ideal for me now during summer, but I'm not too sure

about Bellini with my skin tone for winter.

I found the Mon Amour drops to darken my shade of your foundation slightly, 

which I didn't mind as it allowed me to wear some of my lighter shade foundations in summer.

Overall I appreciated the amount of highlight it offered and it wasn't too shimmery, but my skin did appear more radiant and positively healthy.

This product multi tasks well as it can be can be worn alone, under foundation, 

or mixed with moisturiser all of which I have tried and liked.

It can also be applied to the cheekbones, brow bones and bridge of the nose for added depth and dimension.

If you enjoy a little or a lot of "Illumination" "Highlight" or "Radiance"

then don't hesitate to get your Glow on with the L'Oréal Mon Amour Highlighting Drops.

L'Oréal 

Glow Mon Amour 

Highlighting Drops

15ml

R

Again this is another L'Oreal product not available in South Africa

£

9.99

$

14.99

CAUDALIE BEAUTY ELIXIR {REVIEW}

I cannot tell you how long this cult facial product from the French brand Caudalie

 has been on my wish list.

Not being the easiest of brands to obtain here in South Africa, in fact the only official stockist is 

Skins Cosmectics in Sandton Shopping Centre Johannesburg.

At the end of last year, on a trip overseas I went a little overboard to say the least, 

with my purchases from Caudalie.

I purchased my products from various outlets including, Feelunique - an online beauty store, SpaceNK,

 a Caudalie boutique in Belgium and SkinsCosmetics in Amsterdam.

In total, I now have around twelve products to try and review, so expect lots of Caudalie content this year. In fact my March "Currently Under Review" post will comprise totally of Caudalie products, so you could say that March is going to be my Caudalie Month.

This pioneering French brand, from the wine region Bordeaux, harnesses the

 power of grapes, vines, leaves and seeds to create anti-ageing skincare 

that's natural, ethical and ultra-effective.

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is much loved by beauty editors and beauty bloggers 

around the world  and I have to say that I join them wholeheartedly in 

their praise for this product.

This multi-tasking mist sets make-up, tones and tightens pores, smooths fine lines

 and gives the skin an instant boost of radiance. 

Can be used as a priming mist either under or over your completed make-up, 

enhancing its longevity and reviving tired and dull-looking skin.

Containing  extracts of grape, rosemary, orange blossom, rose, myrrh 

and organic balm mint this revitalising mist gives you an immediate radiance boost. 

Thankfully it was my skins absolute saviour on four long haul flights recently 

and truly makes a great travel companion.

The aromatic fragrance, which smells divine is both uplifting and calming for the mind and the senses.

My daily routine consists of setting my make-up in the morning and then

 just spritzing my skin several times during the hot summer days.

It would be a great "skin wake up" during those long days in the office.

Having gone through one of my two 30ml sizes already and I now wished that I had

purchased the 100ml for my dresser and a 30ml for travel.

Ideal for all skin types and loved by men also, this 100% Natural product turns out to

be one of  those items that you didn't realise you and your skin needed until you try it.

It's now a firm favourite in my beauty regime and as you can tell its a product that I can truthfully 
rave about, so if you have the chance to

get your hands on one... 

BUY IT...

Caudalie Elixir

30/100mls

R
Unfortunately the Skins Cosmetics website was down
so I'm unable to give you accurate prices.
However the online 3rd Retailer MUSE Beauty have the 100ml
listed at R850 which is a ridiculous price.

£

12/32

$
18/49

BVLGARI EAU PARFUMÉE AU THÉ VERT {REVIEW}

If you are looking for a statement "smell me when I walk into the room" kinda fragrance well this isn't the one for you. Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert is the exact opposite, as it's a understated soft, subtle fragrance.

 Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert created in 1992 was also Bvlgari’s very first fragrance for men and women.

On paper some of my favourite fragrance ingredients form part of

this creation.

• Top notes: 
• Bergamot, green pepper
• 
  
• Middle notes:
•  Green tea accord, cardamom
• 
  
• Base notes:
•  Beeswax, tonka bean

I personally enjoyed the initial top notes, as I do enjoy Bergamot inclusions, but sadly for me the dry down of the Green Tea and finally the Tonka Bean was all too soft and feint.

I found that it soon faded into insignificance despite being a fan of all of the notes, but perhaps just not in this format or concentration.

It is one to consider though if soft, fresh scents are your "fragrance thing"

BVLGARI

Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert

Eau de Cologne

R
I don't think this fragrance is available in SA

£

99
(150ml)

$
162
 (150ml)

SUNDAY SAMPLE

This coming week I'm trying out a unisex fragrance in the form of

an Eau de Cologne from the luxury house of 

Bvlgari 

Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert 

is the chosen brand that's included in the in-flight amenities kit that you are given

 when flying business class on Emirates.

It's a deluxe 5ml sample and knowing that I enjoy a lighter more citrusy, green tea type

of fragrance I'm sure that I'm going to enjoy this one.

So pop back on Sunday to read my full review and find out if this 

Thé Vert (Green Tea) fragrance disappointed or not...

PIXI ROSE TONIC {REVIEW}

Being a huge fan of the award winning PIXI Glow Tonic

To read my full review

 and having always been an avid user of toners, I was excited to find a 

50ml size of the PIXI Rose Tonic inside 2018 M&S Beauty Advent Calendar.

This PIXI Rose Tonic is a fairly new addition to the PIXI range and offers a gentle option for those that can't tolerate or don't require anything too active in a toner. 

You'll find the Rose Tonic to be naturally soothing and rich in nutrients and helps to tone, balance pH, minimize redness and calm skin. Rehydrates, replenishes and refreshes.

•Not tested on animals 
•Paraben free 

Now I'm not going to go into raptures about this pretty pink rose fragranced toner

 simply due to the fact that whilst it's a nice toner, it didn't wow me, but then toners generally don't do that unless it contains something extra like a Glycolic Acid, as in the Glow Tonic.

This toner does all that you require from a toner, but given the mid range pricing 

is the same for both the Glow Tonic and the Rose Tonic I would rather opt for the added benefits found in the Glow Tonic, but if you're skin needs some "Rosy" calm then the 

PIXI Rose Tonic could be for you.

PIXI

Rose Tonic

100/250ml

R

Not available in SA

£

10 / 18

$

15 / 29