MY TOP 3 BODY SCRUBS #TBT REVIEW

These 3 body scrubs are still amongst my favourites and I still use today, but 

I have since discovered a couple more.

I wrote this post back in August 2019 and to be honest it's due an update, 

which I will do at some point.

In the meantime here is a reminder of My Top 3 Body Scrubs, as of 2019.

~~~~~~

We all know by now, or we should, that exfoliation for the face is a vital

 component of any good anti-ageing skincare regime and its been a weekly

 step in my routine since I was in my early 20's.

The same applies for the body and to be blunt:

 "Who wants to see a relatively youthful face on an aged looking body".

Whilst I'm not so diligent with my body scrubs I do use one every couple of 

weeks and this is an area I want to improve on and make it a weekly inclusion,

 as I just love the way they make your skin feel.

After a good body exfoliation/scrub/polisher your skin feels so clean, soft, 

refreshed, invigorated and above all very smooth.

I thought I would share with you my Top 3 products that I swear by.

My preference has always been a scrub that is quite granular in formula, 

so they slough off those dead cells really effectively and that's why I adore

 using the 3 below and have re-purchased many, many times...

As always I will leave the Pink Links below, so you can read my original thoughts 

and opinions, which I do advise , so you get all the important product info. 

*N.B. Prices may have changed since I wrote the original review*

1.

CLARINS

Tonic 

Body Polisher

I reviewed this product way back and its been in my collection of 

Body scrubs ever since.

After use it leaves you with that feeling that you've just been to a 

wonderful Spa.

Packed with Essential Oils that not only promote a feeling of well being, 

as they smell amazing, but more importantly help to both respect the 

natural hydrolipidic film and nourish our skin post exfoliation.

The granules in this polisher are made up of a mixture of Sugar and 

Salt crystals from the Camargue region in the South of France.

This mixture is what eliminates those dead cells, whilst deep cleansing the 

skin to reveal a smoother, brighter and more toned skin.

Sadly it doesn't fall into every ones beauty budget, as it is on the pricey side, 

but one to consider adding to your "Wish List" for a wonderful Spa 

like experience.

To read my original review

2.

CAUDALIE

Crushed Cabernet Scrub

This product had been on my "Wish List" for a couple of years and finally 

I got my hands on one at the beginning of this year and it was

 well worth the wait.

As I said earlier I want my body scrubs to give a good invigorating exfoliation

 and the brown sugar and crushed grapes seeds do just that, 

however if you prefer the more gentle approach then just mix with 

more water to soften the exfoliation effect.

Enriched with crushed grape-seeds and 6 essential oils, 

this natural body exfoliator leaves the skin smooth, soft and nourished.

In many aspects this Caudalie scrub is very similar to the Clarins, so you can

 see the type of scrub that I gravitate towards, which may not be for everyone.

To read my original review

3.

RAIN

Biologie

Manketti + Starflower

 Body Scrub

This body scrub has been a constant in my beauty life since I first reviewed it 

back in 2013.

The Manketti & Starflower Body Scrub with Wild Harvested Mongogo Nut Oil, 

Jasmine and Cedarwood not only smells divine, but with the exfoliating

 Poppy seeds suspended in the

various beneficial oils makes for a super exfoliating product.

 Again this product is very similar to the previous two, but this one comes with a

 more affordable pricing.

To read my original review

Let me know in the comments below if you also love any of the above.

NARS BLUSH/ BRONZER DUO {REVIEW}

 

Not available in South Africa other than by 3rd party websites

my 1st NARS purchase came via Duty Free and

I decided on their iconic Duo of Orgasm Blush and Laguna Bronzer.

FRANCOIS NARS Make-up Artist, Founder & Creative Director 

started his own brand NARS back in 1994 with iconic 12 Lipsticks

and as they say "The Rest is History".

Having heard so much about this Blush and Bronzer, I waited

patiently for my "cosmetic mule" to return, as I was excited to finally 

experience

 a little bit of the NARS world.

However my initial reaction when I opened the duty free packet was

"How Small" 

Yes, the 2 pans were no larger than an eyeshadow pan and

despite my mule being told they were full sizes it seems this

Duo palette could be a travel size, despite it looking more like a 

sample size or even a free gift sizing.

Ok initial disappointment over I went in with my smallest blusher brush

only to discover it was near impossible to pick up any product as

the pans were so small. 

After several brush changes I managed to pick up some

of the product and apply, by which time all of my enthusiasm had waned.

Yet I still had hope that these iconic NARS products would redeem 

themselves.

Sadly it just went from bad to worse, as I couldn't jump onboard

with all the love shown to these 2 products.

LAGUNA BRONZER

This award winning bronzer claims to offer the 

"Ultimate Healthy Glow"

Diffused brown pigments with a golden sheen create an all over warmth

soft, natural-looking colour for a long wearing sunkissed glow.

Unfortunately I have nothing to rave about re this product, it's just

a nice bronzer.

ORGASM BLUSH

Is a cult-favorite, bestselling NARS Blush and delivers a weightless, 

 natural-looking rush of cheek colour. 

It does offer a natural wash of colour that seems to suit every skin tone

and whilst I found this Peachy Pink blush with a shimmer of gold more

 enjoyable than the bronzer, it's still just another "nice shade".

I also had the NARS CLIMAX MASCARA on my Duty Free shopping list

and it was out of stock, but perhaps I'll give the mascara a miss now...

To be honest 

I was soo disappointed and I'm not sure what all the hype is about

 regarding these 2 products, despite having zillions of cult followers, 

sadly I won't be one of them...

P.S. I have my first product on my "Most Disappointing Products"

list for 2022.

Let me know in the comments below if you are a fan,

 as I would love to hear.

FLORAL STREET ARIZONA BLOOM EDP {REVIEW}

For this past week I have been spritzing some

ARIZONA BLOOM by FLORAL STREET

and it has been my first encounter with this UK brand that

is based in Floral Street, Covent Garden in London, hence the brands name.

In the Founder, Michelle Feeneys own words:

“My mission is to bring fine fragrance to the modern woman, so that she 

might build an entire fragrance wardrobe which can express the many 

facets of who she is. 

I find urban, British women so inspiring: they are strong, confident and 

inquisitive, so I decided that Floral Street would be a collection of incredible fragrances built with them in mind and created by 

one of the best noses in the world. 

And, it was important to me that it should be accessible and affordable, too.

I think of Floral Street as an ‘up-start’ brand. 

Yes, we’re a start-up, but we’re also doing everything differently, from making recyclability and sustainability the core 

of our brand, a first in fragrance.

 I’m also against the use of using sexuality to sell scents, it’s degrading and old fashioned, we want to change the conversation around that.”

At Floral Street, their products are vegan and sustainable. 

Consciously sourced and lovingly made.

 Powered by flowers and inspired by London, they match fragrances

 with our moods so however you’re feeling,

they’ve got a wardrobe of scents for you. 

And with all of their award-winning Eau de Parfums containing a 

20% oil concentration, they’re super long-lasting.

They also offer Discovery Kits, which allow you to discover your

 favourites from a wardrobe of 8 sample sizes.

Floral Street also offer a selection of fragrant candles, reed diffusers

room scents.

Arizona Bloom 

is inspired by the flora and fauna of the desert landscapes, 

with subtle hints of Balinese coconut evoking a nomadic sense of freedom.

Classified as a dry floral amber it has quite a 

mix of very recognisable fragrance ingredients: 

Blackcurrant

 Pink Pepper

Sicilian Lemon

 Pink Berries

 Pink Guava

Violet 

Peony Accord 

Raspberry Flower

 Vanilla Bean

 Pink Candy Floss 

Cedarwood and Vetiver

Despite many of the above ingredients being just up my 

"Floral Street" 

(Excuse the Pun)

I sadly found that this combo didn't float my "Fragrance Boat".

Whilst the fragrance was super long lasting, as claimed, on me

Arizona Bloom was just a "pleasant scent" and nothing more.

However her collection of fragrances have a distinct leaning towards all

things floral and having a dozen or so scent options there must be one

that appeals to me and several have already caught my eye like

Electric Rhubarb and Neon Rose, so onwards and upwards with trying more

scents from Floral Street.

FLORAL STREET

ARIZONA BLOOM

10/50/100ml

R

545/1355/2215

£

25/64/100

$

32/84/130

PIXI ROSE TONIC #TBT REVIEW

I'm pleased and excited to announce that PIXI products are now available in

South Africa via Woolworths online.

I have reviewed several PIXI products over the years and I will re-post them

over the next few weeks as a #TBT REVIEW post.

This post goes back to February 2019 and I have updated the prices.

Enjoy!

~~~~~~

Being a huge fan of the award winning PIXI Glow Tonic

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.

To read my full review

 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

Vegan

Suitable for all skin types 

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

Now available at Woolworths

249/429

£

10/18

14/27

$

15/29

SUNDAY SAMPLE

Considering I received several fragrance samples in my 

recent beauty advent calendars

I thought it was time to choose one for my Sunday Sample post.

So this coming week I will be trying out this generous

 10ml EDP spray size of 

Floral street Arizona Bloom

It's brand that I know absolutely nothing about, so not only will I be

discovering the fragrance, but also the brand.

So check back next Sunday to read what I have to say.

MY TOP 5 MASCARAS {APRIL 2022}

I've been intending to write this post for some time now and today 

I've finally done it!

I have updated my list of " Top 5 Mascaras ".

My last list was posted back in April 2019, so that list was long overdue an update

 and here it is exactly 3 years later.

I have removed 3 mascaras from my previous 2019 "Top 5" and that doesn't

mean that they're not still good, it's just that I've discovered others.

MASCARA

what would we do without it, its a great invention and I wouldn't

 be a happy bunny if mascara disappeared from my life, as I'm sure is the case

 for many of you.

Mascara helps to open up the eye area, as well as give the illusion of length, volume,

 curl and thickness to short, sparse, straight and thin lashes.

We just love our mascaras, hence why we are constantly being bombarded with new 

ones making a mascara purchase even more daunting.

I have chosen my top 5 based on what I personally require from a mascara

 and of course your requirements may well be very different, 

but after many years of

 "trial and error"

 The below 5 form my current "Mascara Wardrobe".

I'm looking for a mascara that has a smallish brush (the brush is key for me) 
feels good in my hand and is easy to wield around my sparse line up of lashes.

It must be black, non waterproof, non flake, non smudge and basically make my

 own lashes look long, voluminous and glamorous, it must literally "do it all".

If I were to recommend only 2 brands that have, in my opinion, cornered the 

mascara market then it has to be L'Oréal and Benefit and you really cannot 

go wrong with any of their mascara offerings.

My list is in no particular order and I hope it helps you navigate the

 "Mascara Maze" and I highly recommend that you click on the Pink Links 

to read my full in-depth original reviews.

Please lease let me know

in the comment section below what your favourite mascaras are,

 as I'm always on the hunt for new ones to review...

1.

L'ORÉAL

UNLIMITED MASCARA

When I originally reviewed this mascara it hadn't been launched in SA, 

which meant I had to have a couple of back-ups at all times,

 when I could get my hands on them overseas.

I'm happy to say that it's now readily available in L'Oréal stockists.

I just adore everything about this mascara and the added bonus is the angled

 brush that makes mascara life so much easier, so if you're looking for

 an affordable good all round black mascara that is easy to apply, 

especially on those sparse awkward to reach lashes then this is 

the one to consider.

This mascara deserves to stay on my Top 5 list, as it's everything I need

 from an everyday mascara.

To read my original review Click here

2.

URBAN DECAY 

PERVERSION MASCARA

This is a new addition to my list.

I find URBAN DECAY to be a make-up brand that I re-purchase

 from often, as it has several of my absolute favourite products. 

Sadly UD ceased its operations in South Africa a couple of years ago

 and I also discovered that UD have ceased its operations in Turkey, as my 

cosmetic mule recently found out when she couldn't find UD anywhere,

which sadly meant that my order of back-ups of my fave URBAN DECAY

 products didn't materialise.

PERVERSION MASCARA

is an intense black, ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara that 

glides on beautifully and is buildable, stroke after stroke.

I liked the twisted trim on the high-tech, volumizing brush that latches 

on to each lash to separate and define..

I would definitely recommend this long lasting mascara for ease of

 application, bolder and more voluminous lashes that don't smudge or flake.

So If you want bigger, blacker, badder lashes then this mascara is 

certainly one to check out.

To read my full original review Click here

3.

FENTY BEAUTY

FULL FRONTAL 

VOLUME LIFT & CURL MASCARA

Full Frontal is a lightweight, ultra black formula with an exclusive 

flat-to-fat brush:  

The FLAT side defines and curls and thanks to the round, pointed tip.

Use the FLAT side to comb through and define, curl, and separate. 

The FAT side holds max product to quickly load and lift lashes. 

Use the FAT side to load and lift, wiggling at the base of your lashes

 to build volume.

Full Frontal does build easily giving you plenty of playtime to layer, 

define, separate and whatever it is you need to do to create the look

 you want without being clumpy or thick on the lashes.

I found it to be long wearing, smudge proof, and water-resistant.

This mascara is without doubt, both prettily packaged and it

 delivers on its claims, however it does come in quite pricey 

However if you are a Rihanna devotee or not on a budget then this

 mascara won't disappoint.

To read my full original review  Click here

4.

BENEFIT

BADGAL BANG

MASCARA

This is one of the 2 mascaras that have remained on my list from 2019 and to be fair

it is my absolute favourite mascara ever and has been so since I reviewed it back in

February 2019.

The mascara comes with a plastic streamlined flexible brush and it ensures that all

 areas of lashes can be reached, which is essentially for those shorter corner lashes

 and it was a breeze to apply.
It's a pitch black wet mascara, which I personally prefer, and one coat does make

 a difference to lashes, but why stop at one when you can easily layer several coats
to create a bolder bigger lash.

So if you love your mascara to be big, bold and dramatic then
BAD gal BANG is the one for you...

 I just love it...

To read my full original review Click here

5.

CLARINS

WONDER PERFECT MASCARA

I have to say, the 4D in its name grabbed my attention and I was curious

 as to what Clarins had to offer with this product.

This really is a do-it-all, all-in-one mascara that curls, defines, lengthens and volumizes for that bold wide-eyed look, hence the 4D name.

The intense carbon-black mineral pigments give a long wearing colour

 whilst the inclusion of filmogenic Rose Wax ensures a long lasting hold. 

The design of the precision sleek brush makes sure that no lash goes uncoated, which is so important for those of us with sparse lashes.

The wand is comfortable (a must for me) and lightweight in the hand.
After the first coat of mascara I was hooked, its buildable, doesn't flake or

 smudge however being a moist/wet kinda mascara and considering the

 curl and length it gives I did need to do a little cleaning up afterwards,

 but it's worth it for the overall look and finish.

To read my full original review Click here