L'OOCITANE ALMOND SHOWER OIL #TBT REVIEW

I thought today in honour of the super healthy Almond I would share 

this post again with you.

Yesterday February 16th was World Almond Day, yes the humble almond

 has its own special day...

The review below was written in 2012 and in my opinion nothing has changed

 and it still remains on my "must have" list, so if you haven't yet tried this or 

any of the Almond products from L'Occitane, then you really are missing out.

~~~~~~

 I love Almonds not only to eat, but also to apply to my face and body.

Almond is well-know for its ability to nourish the skin and in my opinion

 L'OCCITANE 

have best harnessed the exceptional beautifying power of almond from 

the south of France and integrated it in body treatments and toiletries 

that are both deliciously tempting and wonderfully effective. 

Made with Almonds sourced from Haute Provence, the Almond range, 

includes delicious shower oil, mouth watering body creams, soaps

 and hand creams.

The Almond Shower Oil is L'Occitane's second "Best Selling"  

product worldwide after their wonderful Award Winning Shea Hand Cream.

This Oil is unique and has to be experienced in order

 to appreciate and understand fully the pleasure and the benefits derived

 from using this cleansing and soothing oil.

Don't be put off by the fact it's an oil, as I know, it conjures up visions 

of an oily residue being left on the skin after your daily shower...

Well it doesn't!

Even the application of the product is special in so many ways. 

Firstly the aroma of Almonds is great, then once you massage the oil onto a wet skin the oil magically turns into a white creamy texture! 

You then cleanse the body and rinse under the shower as normal and your

 skin is left beautifully cleansed, 

(whilst respecting the Hydrolipidic film), 

moisturised and softened,

 (thanks to all the magical powers of the Almond oils)

 and yet leaves no oily residue behind on the skin.

Can it get any better? 

Well yes it can & it does, as they also recommend that you shave your legs 

in the shower using the Shower Oil..

How easy is that, its a great multi- tasking product. 

Oh! I nearly forgot the product is unisex, so you can share it with your man.

This product comes in a plastic container, which is safer in the shower and it

 comes in a variety of sizes!

L'OCCITANE

ALMOND SHOWER OIL

75ml / 500ml

                           

R

135/595

Prices updated 17/2/2022

INSTITUT ESTHEDERM OSMOCLEAN HYDRA CLEANSING MILK {REVIEW}

Sometime back I spotted the Institut Esthederm range of skincare

 products in my local Dischem and whilst I haven't 

previously used any of their products this brand is quite prevalent 

in French pharmacies and that's where I've seen it before.

As always when I review a product from a brand for the first time

I like to give you some of their backstory and this one is slightly

different, as Institut Esthederm is a NAOS brand.

What is a NAOS brand you may well ask, well simply put 

NAOS is a purpose-driven company with a mission.

NAOS sees the skin as a living ecosystem that constantly interacts with 

its environment and that changes over time. 

Ecobiology was born from this dynamic vision: radically different to 

traditional cosmetics, this scientific approach is based on respect for the 

skin and knowledge of its biology.

Rather than over-treating the skin, you have to teach it to live...

The brands Bioderma, Esthederm and Etat Pur

were all born from this idea.

Bringing together health, beauty and well-being, 

Institut Esthederm Paris 

presents a range of luxurious skincare products with research 

and innovation at its core.

In treating skin as a unique eco-system, Institute Esthederm respects 

and re-educates your skin, with products and treatments that protect 

it from the environment while maintaining the skin’s optimal state 

as it evolves.

I recently purchased the 

Institut Esthederm Osmoclean 

Hydra Cleansing Milk, 

which is a soft, moisturising cleansing milk that comforts the skin

 as it cleanses.

A cleansing milk has always been my first choice in cleansers

and this particular cleanser is my type of product.

This high-tolerance cleansing base cleanses thoroughly 

while protecting the hydrolipid surface film and you can feel that

 immediately, as it provides both immediate and lasting comfort.

Enriched with Coconut, Palm and Almond Plant oils work to

 moisturise and soften the skin.

Suitable for all skin types, especially dry, mature skin and fragile skins

that suffer from discomfort associated with cleansing.

You can apply either with a cotton wool pad or with your fingers and if 

you like to remove with water, its water soluble, but my preference

 is to apply with a cotton wool and remove with a toner.

 Esthederm is dye, fragrance and paraben-free.

In a blindfold test I would have picked out this cleanser as being one 

from a French brand.

This product is exactly what you'd expect from a traditional French

 type of cleansing milk, as this gentle creamy milk worked its magic in 

one swift move whether it be on bare skin or on a full face of make-up.

It respected my skins barrier and left it feeling comforted and soft 

and all in an easy "fuss free" manner leaving your skin fully prepared to 

absorb the benefits of your remaining skincare

and I thoroughly loved it...

 

ESTHEDERM

OSMOCLEAN

HYDRA CLEANSING MILK

200ml

R

317

£

18

$

29

Available from selected 

Dischem

NUXE VERY ROSE 3-IN-1 SOOTHING MICELLAR WATER {REVIEW}

This Micellar Water from NUXE has been in my beauty sights for

a little while and my only hesitation re buying was down

to me loving my BIODERMA Micellar Water so much.

I recently got my hands on a 40ml travel size and it was the perfect 

amount to try without purchasing the full size, especially as I'm a 

newly BIODERMA Micellar Water convert, as it really is a great product

To read my full review

Laboratoire NUXE 

has developed the VERY ROSE range of make-up removers and cleansers with Rose Floral Water which is known for its ability to soothe and soften

 the skin. They have a wide range of formulas and textures to meet

 every cleansing wish.

I have previously reviewed the Rose Soothing Cleanser & Toner

Click Here

 

The

NUXE 

Very Rose 3in1 Soothing Micellar Water

 has been formulated to remove

 make-up and cleanse the skin on the face and eyes, removing make-up

 and impurities.

Whilst it removed my foundation etc. swiftly and easily, it didn't cope 

just as well with my eye make-up and mascara.

 It certainly leaves the skin feeling soothed, fresh and soft and even

 the delicate rose scent was delightful.

The product contains:

 Rose Floral Water: 

recognised for its soothing and softening properties on all skin types, 

including sensitive skin.

 100% botanical-origin Skin-Respect Complex: 

consisting of Moisturising Sugars, it hydrates and strengthens skin’s

protective barrier.

Micellar cleansing agents:

 to effectively remove impurities and make-up while ensuring good skin tolerance.

*Formula containing no ingredients or derivatives of animal origin

97 % of the total ingredients are from natural origin

Formula tested under dermatological supervision.

How to use:

In the morning and evening, gently wipe a cotton pad soaked in 

micellar water over your face and eyes.

Repeat the process until the cotton pad remains clear. 

No need to rinse.

(I used as a first cleanse in a double cleanse and also as a 

morning cleanser)

 

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this Micellar Water as much as I did.

I suspect I was misled, as to the efficiency of this product, by the 

delicate pink packaging and soft rose scent, but don't be fooled as

 this Micellar Water is up there with the best and it will be one I will

re-visit in the beauty future...

To read all my NUXE reviews Click here

NUXE 

VERY ROSE

3-IN-1 SOOTHING 

MICELLAR WATER

200ml

R

295

$

22

£

15.50

Nuxe 

is available in South Africa

at Woolworths,Truworths and online

L'OCCITANE IMMORTELLE DIVINE FOAMING CLEANSING CREAM #TBT REVIEW

Today's Throwback Thursday Review goes back to August 2018

and since then I have become a huge fan of a variety of face

cleansing products including the foaming type cleansers.

However my concern regarding the price hasn't changed as I still

 prefer to invest more in my treatment/active/serum

 products rather than my cleansing.

~~~~~~

Cleansing is the first important step in your twice daily beauty routine. 

It's vital to start with a clean canvas before applying any treatment creams.

Even though I'm more of a Cleansing milk/lotion kinda a girl and always

 have been I don't mind slotting a cleansing cream or balm, as my second 

cleanse into my skincare routine every now and then.

L'Occitane

 Immortelle Divine 

Foaming Cleansing Cream

I've been using the twice a day (am & pm) for this past week and whilst

 this is not a full long term review, I felt it was enough time for me

 to form an opinion and straight off its like no other

cleansing product that I've ever tried, as it's a cream in foam texture.

This Foaming Cleansing Cream has been formulated for all skin types,

to be used following the Divine Cleansing Balm, as the second cleanse 

in the Divine routine.

(I used this product in 2 ways, as a second cleanse post using another 

cleanser as a first cleanse and several times on its own)

 This rich luxurious cream transforms into a dense, generous foam on 

contact with water to cleanse the face without drying the skin, 

it gently rids the skin of impurities, traces of make-up and pollution, 

which it does with relative ease.

After a minute or so of massaging it's easy to rinse or you can remove 

with a wet face cloth and yes it does leaves the skin looking

 and feeling both clean, fresh and above all soft and Divine...

Being a lover of the all of the products in the 

L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Range, 

this foaming cleansing cream contains the same anti-ageing 

immortelle essential oil, as the other products in the range 

along with Vitamin E and all of its antioxidant benefits, whilst

 95% of its ingredients are from natural origins.

This cleanser doesn't come cheap and whilst it forms an important part of 

the Divine regime and when it comes to high end brands and let's face it, 

the Divine range is high end, I always advocate that you buy and use 

the prescribed products in the range to ensure the best results.

I really enjoyed my weeks trial with the Divine Foaming Cleansing Cream 

and even though the product is DIVINE sadly it hasn't converted me.

I'm just not a huge fan of these types of cleansing products, so personally 

I can't justify the price.

L'Occitane 

Immortelle Divine 

Foaming Cleansing Cream

125ml

*Prices correct as of May 2021*

R

560

660

£

28

32

$

39

44

CAUDALIE MOISTURISING MASK #TBT REVIEW

Todays Throwback Thursday post dates back to January 2019 and it

was at the time where I was loving all things Caudalie

and without question I still do adore this French skincare brand and I have written

 many reviews over the paste 4 years or so and if you would like to read my 

previous Caudalie product reviews click here

The Moisturising Mask was a SKIN SAVER for my skin, as I had two overseas winter trips

 that took my skin from the weather highs in South Africa to the weather lows in

Europe and the UK.

By the way I have since purchased the full size.

~~~~~~

After buying several Caudalie products whilst overseas in November I was given 

several samples to try and the Moisturising Mask was amongst them.

 I purposely left this sample to take back over to the UK with me, as I knew that two

 trips back to back could potentially throw my skin into a bit of "skincare spin".

Fortunately my "skincare spin" didn't happen and that was partially due to

other Caudalie products that I'm trying out 

(but more about those in the future).

Originating in vineyards in Bordeaux, Caudalie recycles the grape seed oil usually thrown 

away during harvesting to produce pioneering natural formula's that create an effective

 and luxurious beauty range.

Having used a couple of Caudalie products previously I now

have several more to try out and I can already see that this French Skincare brand

is going to be a firm favourite of mine.

After 3 weeks in the cold winter of Europe and then home to South Africa 

for just 3 weeks and back again to the UK for 3 weeks you can imagine my skin 

was feeling parched, and somewhat stressed.

This surprisingly lightweight Moisturising Mask is the ultimate treatment and 

certainly packs a beauty punch for dehydration. 

Enriched with powerful, antioxidant-rich grape extracts – vinolevure to soothe and strengthen, grape seed oil to nourish and hyaluronic acid to attract and retain much-needed moisture – this revitalising mask infuses skin with precious nutrient to restore radiance and leave skin looking plump and dewy. 

The sachet sample allowed for two generous applications and is applied in 

the normal way.

Apply a thick layer twice a week on face, neck, and around the eye area. 

Leave on for 15 minutes, then massage in the excess. 

Follow with serum and/or moisturiser.

My skin felt super moisturised, comforted & soothed.

This mask just bathes your skin in everything it requires on the hydration and

moisture front and after just two applications 

there were no visible signs any of the climatic damage that had taken place

 over the past 9 weeks.

I also enjoy that this mask can be used around the eye contour.

Hopefully I will have purchased the full size before I head back to SA, as this is

a must have mask....

CAUDALIE

MOISTURISING MASK

75ml

R

495

565

(Available at SkinsCosmetics)

£
22

$

39

€

20

                                               

PATYKA DOUBLE ACTION SMOOTHING SCRUB {REVIEW}

I love to try new skincare brands and this is my first product

I'm trying from the French skincare brand PATYKA.

This product came via the Skins Cosmetics Holiday Box 2020, who

are the exclusive stockists of PATYKA.

As is standard now with new brand reviews you will find a brief overview 

of the PATYKA brand below.

PATYKA is a Parisian House of Organic Cosmetic whose origins date 

back to the 1920s.

They create high quality products, with unique fragrances, full of elegance and sophistication.

 Patyka's cosmetics have created a revolutionary vision of beauty, with the environment and health as the highest priority.

In 2002, PATYKA became one of the first cosmetic brands in the world to be certified organic (ECOCERT label).

All the products are pesticide, silicone, paraben, polymer, phtalate, 

fatty alcohol, solvent or mineral wax free. 

There are no synthetic additive, preservative or synthetic dye, and it is 

cruelty free.  

The Double Action Smoothing Scrub 

is a multi-purpose care product that can be used either as an enzyme mask to gently exfoliate the skin thanks to its fruit acids or as a mechanical scrub to be massaged onto the skin.

It stimulates cell renewal and allows the skin to regain radiance and suppleness, 

Its creamy texture brings the comfort of a mask and the gentle exfoliation of a scrub to refine the skin grain, illuminate the complexion, blur the pigment 

defects and visibly smooth wrinkles and lines.

Main active ingredients:

Jojoba Wax Microspheres: 

Exfoliate and get rid of dead cells 

while strengthening skin.

Natural Complex of 5 Fruit Acids (AHAs):

 Provides a gentle peeling effect 

which stimulates cellular renewal and refines skin texture.

Bamboo Stalk Powder:

 Erases the imperfections and perfects the smoothing 

of the skin.

Jojoba Oil: 

Creates a non-greasy protective film which regenerates and revitalises skin. 

100% of the total ingredients are of natural origin.

50,6%  of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming.

Application:

In the evening, apply a thin layer of Double Action Smoothing Scrub

 on your face . 

For a more intense brightening and anti-ageing effect, leave the mask

 on for two minutes. 

Then carefully remove using circular fingertip motions and rinse your 

face with warm water. 

Use once or twice a week on all skin types, preferably in the evening.

From the delicate pink colour, the texture, application and ultimately the 

results of this scrub reminded me very much of the 

LA PRAIRIE CELLULAR MINERAL

FACE EXFOLIATOR

I reviewed this product several years ago and fell in love with it,

but sadly not the very hefty price.

read that review here

The PATYKA Double Action Smoothing Scrub is one of those large granular

type of exfoliators, which personally I prefer, as it leaves your skin feeling 

super clean and incredibly soft, smooth and bright, it also preps the skin 

to receive whatever face mask or cream you chose to then apply.

If you are looking for a cheaper option to the LA PRAIRIE or

just looking for an exceptionally good dual purpose exfoliator, that also 

happens to be Organically Certified then look no further, as this is

seriously impressive...

I would go as far as to say that I prefer it, just a tad more, to my much loved 

EXUVIANCE TRIPLE MICRODERMABRASION FACE POLISH

read that review here

(Unfortunately my review, even though it was only written during mid 2020,

 is now out of date, as I believe they have launched their newly re-packaged,

 re-named and slightly tweaked version of the 

Exuviance Triple Microdermabrasion Face Polish)

PATYKA

DOUBLE ACTION 

SMOOTHING SCRUB

50ml

R

845

£

37.70

PATYKA 

is available in South Africa exclusively at

Skins Cosmetics