GATINEAU GENTLE SILK TONER {REVIEW}

If you haven't read my review on the Gatineau Gentle Silk Cleanser that I posted yesterday, then here's the link Gentle Silk Cleanser Review

As promised today I'm reviewing its partner the
Gatineau Gentle Silk Toner 

An alcohol-free toner designed to remove all traces of cleanser whilst respecting the skin’s pH and moisture levels. Formulated with soothing extracts of Silk and Cotton, pores are refined and the skin is left feeling refreshed and radiant.

Suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive.

The Gentle Silk Toner contains the same 3 core ingredients as the 

Gentle Silk Cleanser:

Silk Extracts – promote cell regeneration and improve elasticity

Cotton Extracts – leave the skin soft and comfortable

Sweet Almond Oil – nourishes and softens the skin

Having now tried and reviewed 3 cleansing products from Gatineau it's just as I remember,

 a good quality French skincare brand and if you are looking to introduce some luxury cleansing into your life then I can highly recommended my old friend Gatineau.

The Gentle Silk Cleanser and Toner make a perfect duo

and I must say it's a duo that, after all these years, I've fallen back in love with.

GATINEAU

GENTLE SILK TONER

200ml

R

310

£

22.00

To read my review on the Gatineau Floracil Eye Make-up Remover


Gatineau products are available from selected
Woolworths/Dischem/Truworths counrtywide.

GATINEAU GENTLE SILK CLEANSER {REVIEW}

I can't deny that I have a soft spot for Gatineau products it was a French skincare brand that I worked for over 30 years ago and back then Jeanne Gatineau,

as it was known, was held in high regard amongst skincare boffs and nothing has changed.

I recently opted to revisit three of their products and so far I haven't been disappointed.

Last month I reviewed the Floracil Eye Make-up Remover

today it will be their Gentle Silk Cleanser and tomorrows post will be on the

corresponding Gentle Silk Toner, so if you have ever been tempted to try Gatineau products these 3 products maybe a good place to start your 

Gatineau skincare encounter. 

Founded in 1932 by acclaimed Parisian skincare expert Jeanne Gatineau, they are celebrating 85 years as leading specialists in anti-aging skincare.

  Gatineau combine natural ingredients with cutting edge bio-technology to create

 highly effective skincare that delivers visible and lasting results.

The Gentle Silk Cleanser is enriched with delicate Silk and Cotton Extracts, this luxurious milky cleanser gently dissolves all traces of make-up and impurities whilst conditioning the skin. This salon-grade formulation is the most important step in the skincare routine to allow maximum absorption of other products and is suitable for all skin types, 

even the most sensitive.

Can be used both AM & PM and can be rinsed off with water or removed with cotton wool which is my preferred way.

The ingredients include:

Silk Extracts – promote cell regeneration and improve elasticity

Cotton Extracts – leave the skin soft and comfortable

Sweet Almond Oil – nourishes and softens the skin

After using this cleanser all those memories of my time with Gatineau came flooding

back and it's easy to see why this cleanser is one of their Best Selling products and 

if unlike me, you have a sensitive skin, then I highly recommend this soothing cleanser, 

as it left my skin feeling wonderfully soft, comforted and cocooned.

GATINEAU

GENTLE SILK CLEANSER

200ml

R

310

£

22.00

L'ORÉAL UNLIMITED MASCARA REVIEW (TBT DEC 2018)

This TBT post dates back to December 2018 when I reviewed the

L'ORÉAL UNLIMITED MASCARA

Having purchased overseas 18 months ago it's finally available in South Africa.

I spotted it today in Dischem along with a Waterproof version, so it's the
ideal review for todays TBT Post.

I did include this mascara in my Top 5 Mascaras post to read that post 

I'm so happy to see it on the SA beauty shelves, as it's a great mascara.

~~~~~~

Last years launch overseas of the L'ORÉAL Paradise Exactic Mascara

To read my full review 

was a huge success and finally it's now available here in South Africa. 
It's only taken a year for it to arrive on our shelves, but as they say 
"better late than never"

This rose gold beauty made it onto my Top 5 Make-Up Products of 2017 

as I loved it, so much that I had organised several UK back-ups,
 so I wouldn't be without.

(so thankfully I don't need to do that anymore)

It seems as though I'm experiencing Dèja Vu as the same has happened 
again with another new mascara launch from L'Oréal. 

Unlimited Mascara

was recently launched in the UK and I managed to get my beauty hands

on one and yes I can announce already that it will be appearing on my 

Top make-up list for 2018.

So L'Oréal seem to be on top of their lash game and this mascara is a game changer.

and it's all thanks to the innovative brush, which was inspired by a make-up artist

hack, it bends at 2 different angles, allowing for precise application.

The Unlimited Mascara ensures that every lash is volumised,lengthened and

perfectly separated. 

The brush coats the lashes with a creamy, non-clumpy formula which glides on perfectly to volumise, lengthen and define every last lash. Top, bottom, inner, outer, long, short… no lash is left uncovered.

It makes applying mascara so much easier and I

can't believe just what a difference applying with a bendable wand has made.

I wish we had more brands adopting this wand technology

Possibly we don't see more bendable wands due to the cost factor and the only other similar mascara is the Lancôme Grandiose,which also have a bendable 

Grandiose Eyeliner.

(which happens to fall under the L'Oréal umbrella)

Initially I thought the bendable wand was a little gimmicky,

but I was so wrong as for me its revolutionised the way 

we apply mascara.

The bendable mascara wand makes for precise application

and reaches every lash from corner to corner.

It lengthens, volumises, defines and separates lashes

and the intense black finish is great for achieving 

high impact lashes.

The formula is long wearing and does need a little more

time on the removal front.

I have done an "about turn" on this mascara and I
highly recommend and I just hope it arrives in
South Africa soon...

Let me know in the comments below if you know of any
other mascaras that have a bendable wand.

L'Oréal
Unlimited Mascara


R
Not available in SA

NOW AVAILABLE

R158.95

£
10.99

QUICKIE PRODUCT REVIEWS {QPR'S} MARCH 2020

This months QPR post contains 3 products that were inclusions in my Beauty Advent Calendar 2019, the one being a brow pencil from a brand I'd never heard of and

the other is a lip pencil from a brand that I'd only heard good things about and

an exciting hair styling treatment product. 

1.

Brand : ILLAMASQUA

Product : Colouring Lip Pencil

Price :£16

A relatively new British brand that has built up quite a following since its launch in November 2008. Illamasqua (a combination of 'Illusion' and 'Masquerade') is the brainchild of 

Yorkshire marketing guru Julian Kynaston and I was excited to put my

Lip pencil, in the shade Raw, to the BSB Test.

Use as a lip liner to prevent colour bleed, or blend across the entire lip to 

create a colour-intense finish.

Despite the claims that you can create long-lasting definition with this versatile, 

highly-pigmented Lip Colouring Pencil, that's easily-blendable with a creamy texture 

that glides over skin, I found the pencil to be quite hard on the lips and not that pigmented or creamy.

For me this pencil was a disappointment, so much so, that I won't be using it again

 and has sadly left me not wanting to try anything else from this brand.

 

Verdict :  2/10

~~~~~~

2.

Brand : DELILAH

Product : Brow Groom

Price : £20

Having previously never heard of this British cosmetic brand DELILAH, 

I wasn't expecting anything great.How wrong I was, as I love this brow pencil.

Perfect your arches with the Retractable Eye Brow Pencil with Brush from delilah. Featuring a dual-end design, the eyebrow pencil has a narrow nib at the one end with a creamy formula and natural-looking colour coverage, allowing you to create precise,hair-like strokes to fill sparse gaps and enhance depth. 

The built-in spoolie brush to the opposite end helps tame stray hairs and keep brows looking flawlessly groomed.

Verdict :  8/10

~~~~~~

3.

Brand : LIVING PROOF

Product : Perfect Hair Day

5in1 Styling Treatment

Price : £24

This hair styling product from Living proof. is fast becoming a firm favourite of mine,

 as it really is what it says on the packaging, a 5in1 Styling Treatment. 

This delightfully fragranced lightweight gel adds volume, it conditions, strengthens,

creates a smooth shiny finish to the hair and most importantly for me

it provides heat protection up to 450F/230C.

I love the softness and bounce this multi purpose styling product gives to my hair. 

It's easy to use, just apply on damp hair, evenly distribute from roots to ends.

 Comb through. 

For best results, blow dry.

Verdict :  8/10

HAND CREAM RECOMMENDATIONS {MARCH 2020}

I'm sure like me you're washing your hands and using some form of hand sanitiser more often, as a precautionary measure against the spread of the Coronovirus.
Being a huge fan of hand sanitisers, I've used for many years, I actually keep one in my car and one in my handbag at all times and they're an absolute must when travelling.
With this slight obsession I have with keeping my hands clean and germ free, as you can imagine my level of concern, again like many people, has risen to a whole new level.

However one negative side effect of all this hand washing and using a 60%+ alcohol hand sanitising product, it's causing my skin to become far more dry than normal.
Luckily I don't usually suffer from very dry skin on my hands, but for those that do
 this added cleansing can be both be uncomfortable, irritating and in some cases 
quite painful.
I have put together some of my recommendations for Hand Creams that will help
to not only counteract any dryness caused, but will help to protect, soothe 
and calm sensitive skin.
I hope you find this helpful and I highly recommend that you start incorporating
 a hand cream into your hand cleansing ritual...

~~~~~~


1.

Brand : RITUALS

Product : Ayurveda Smoothing Hand Balm

Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil

Price : £9

Size : 70mls

In Europe RITUALS has a strong brand presence, but sadly it's not available here in SA. 

Can you believe that this full size Hand Balm was actually a free gift with a one of the U.K. magazines that I picked up on my last visit. It's the first product that I've tried from RITUALS and I couldn't have picked a better introduction to this brand.

The fragrance of Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil immediately won me over, as its divine. 

I love the fragrance so much that more of this collection is in my UK Beauty Shopping List.

It's a beautiful balmy moisturiser that absorbs perfectly and definitely doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy instead they're left feeling soft, comfortable and divinely fragranced and I have to rate this product as my favourite hand balm ever!

~~~~~~

2.

Brand : Mineraline

Product : Orange & Pomegranate 

Rich Moisturising Hand Cream

Price : R99

Size : 100mls

This rich hand cream combines the therapeutic benefits of Dead Sea Minerals with the amazing benefits of Pomegranate and Orange Oils. It also contains some of my favourite nourishing ingredients - Shea Butter, Vitamin E and B5, so this hand cream can nourish the driest of hands, whilst retaining the ability to absorb quickly. and the fresh citrusy fragrance is positively delicious.

Available exclusively at Dischem's Nationwide

~~~~~~

3.

Brand : Bionike

Product : PROXERA 

Nourishing Hand Cream 

Price : R99

Size : 75mls

If you suffer from very dry or even cracked skin on your hands, then this is the hand cream for you, as it's been formulated to moisturise, protect and restore the hydrolipid mantle, and it also softens and soothes the discomfort that cracked skin typically gives.

This fragrance free hand cream, whilst taking longer to absorb, works extremely well on chapped hands as my mum can vouch,unfortunately she suffers terribly, all year round, with dry and cracked skin. 

So this gets a huge thumbs up or should that be a hands up from her.

Available exclusively at Dischem's Nationwide

~~~~~~

4.

Brand : Dove

Product : DermaSpa Cashmere Comfort Hand Cream

75ml

Price : R59.95

On the more affordable side and one thats easily available in most supermarkets
and drugstores the Dove Derma Spa Cashmere 
Comfort Rich Hand Treatment gives your hands a luxurious treatment with a 
concentrated blend of oil and cell moisturisers that is fast absorbent 
and deeply penetrating.
 Ideal for very dry and rough skin.

~~~~~~

5.

Brand : NUXE

Product : rêve de miel Hand & Nail Cream

50ml

Price : R195

This paraben free non greasy, melting, velvety cream envelopes your hands like a comforting soft glove.

Tested in extremely cold climates the Honey, Sunflower, 7 Precious Oils and Vitamin E

all work their magic to ensure that the hands are soothed and nourished.

If your hands need lots of TLC or even if they don't,then you can't go wrong with this 

repairing and protecting hand and nail cream.

Available at WOOLWORTHS

To read my full review

~~~~~~

6.

Brand : CLARINS

Product : Hand & Nail Treatment Cream

100ml

Price : R420

I have used this Hand Cream on and off for 30+ years and you can't go wrong

with any product from Clarins.

This pro-quality emollient hand cream is formulated with extracts of soothing

 sesame oil and strengthening myrrh.

 The cream works like a protective invisible glove on the hands, protecting them from climate damage while minimising signs of ageing. 

The silky, non-greasy texture imparts a delicious sensation of comfort. 

This hand cream brings softness and comfort to dry, dehydrated, chapped or damaged skin. It also strengthens the nails and nourishes the cuticles.

Available at WOOLWORTHS

~~~~~~

7.

Brand : L'OCCITANE

Product : Shea Hand Cream

150ml

Price : R420

It wouldn't be a very good list of Hand Cream recommendations if I didn't

include one of my favourite hand creams from the ultimate hand cream brand

L'Occitane.

An international cult product, 1 Shea Butter Hand Cream is sold every 3 seconds.

The Shea Hand Cream is highly concentrated in organic shea butter (20%), penetrates quickly and helps to nourish, protect and soften the hands. 

The formula includes honey, almond extracts and coconut oil are blended with organic shea butter to create this effective care. 
The creamy texture is rapidly absorbed to leave the hands soft and comfortable, 

without any greasy film.

Available at L'Occitane Boutiques Nationwide

Let me know in the comments below if you are experiencing the same issues