L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Hand Care SPF20

I picked this up a little while ago at a stand alone L'Occitane store as the "brightening" and SPF20 appealed to me. The product has 75ml of hand cream for £19, and is available online and in their stores from what I can see, there is also an SPF15 version available on feelunique.

This contains chemical sunscreens from what I've managed to decipher and the directions for use are to apply 15 minutes before sun exposure to the back of the hands, I find this instruction to be really strange as I'd need the front of my hands to apply it to the backs... Unless I rubbed it in with the backs of my hands facing each other... They also suggest we use their Shea butter hand cream before using this, I didn't want to spend more so I stuck to just this and thought if required I could always use another hand cream I have at home.

The packaging is quite simple but their are hints of luxury visible too, the bottle shape is certainly very different and I really like that it is, the bottom of the cap is also engraved with the brand's logo. The cream itself is a basic white, quite light yet hydrating cream. I use it as I would a normal hand cream, none of this "backs of hands" stuff.

Here are the claims in shorter versions:

- Smoothes hands (Immortelle flower stimulates collagen production)

- Evens skintone, reduces appearance of age spots (includes Bellis perennis - daisy, which regulates melanin production)

- SPF20 broad spectrum protects against sun damage

There are also figures from testing on 34 women over 4 weeks so I decided to test this product for 4 weeks too. I started using it in early April and now it is early May and this is the only hand cream I have used during the day time, at night I've been using whichever one has been closest to me at the time!

It's very light, easily absorbed and doesn't leave white casts on the hands. It doesn't rub off or cause any stickiness or any other issues but does have a noticeable scent. I am yet to notice any brightness or evening of skintone but I will definitely keep using it as it seems like the best hand cream with sun protection I have found to date. I think I would prefer one with UVA protection included too but I do like this one.

Would I recommend?

Yes, it's a lightweight, travel-friendly, easily absorbed, functional hand cream. The price is a bit high but then it is from a higher end brand.

*L'Occitane are cruelty free from what I've understood from this statement although there is confusion online and they are not listed on BUAV's website*

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm

This is Nuxe's cult favourite lip balm and I can confirm that it works brilliantly, I got mine, a 15g pot for £9.50 from Escentual. 

It contains nourishing ingredients like honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit essence, it doesn't contain mineral oil or parabens and 79.5% of the ingredients are of natural origin. I bought this about five months ago and have been using it on and off ever since, it has a light grapefruit scent and a whipped texture, it is easy to pick up with your finger and apply, as you put it on it melts onto your lips adding moisture. It feels very rich and nourishing, even when a smaller amount is applied. Another reason it's great is because a light layer allows lipgloss or lipstick to be placed on top without either of them being ruined, although I would suggest a generous application and it is great as a night time lip balm.

I like the packaging, the only thing I would prefer if a tiny spatula came with it to scoop some product out each time, but then I suppose it wouldn't really be travel-friendly or suited to a handbag. I don't think the stick version would feel as luxurious but I dislike dipping fingers into pots.

Overall I love this lip balm, it works really well and it lasts a long time, the price is a bit high for a lip balm but I would say this would be a treat in your night routine. I do think this has become one of my favourite lip balms.

*Nuxe claim not to test on animals but an article I found here states that they do - on dead animals; they aren't listed on BUAV's website*

Have you found any lip balms worthy of becoming one of your favourites yet?

First Impressions: Ginvera Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel

This is Ginvera's Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel, I was lucky enough to receive two decent sized samples, (enough for 4 uses each) to review and give my opinion on. The full size is 60ml and retails for £22 here. 

This is an exfoliating gel wash designed for use daily, and I think it is gentle enough to be used on a daily basis, it is suitable for all skin types and the usage recommended to see a difference in your complexion is 30 days. It contains green tea essence - which is rich in antioxidants to help protect skin from the sun, soybean extract - with amino acids which have moisturising and illuminating properties, Vitamins C and E - revitilising skin cells, smoothing and clarifying skin and finally biogel - which breaks down skin care products into smaller molecules allowiing deeper penetration and absorption by skin cells. The gel aims to, stimulate skin metabolism resulting in younger skin, refining pores, fading pigmentation and scars, regulating oil secretion, preventing pimples, evening skintone and allowing rapid penetration of skincare products. (Please note the description has been taken from a Ginvera card received with the gel.)

I've used up both of the small samples, I chose to use it in the mornings for the first tube and in the evening for the second tube. The directions are to use this on dry skin with dry hands, it comes out as a light slime green shade and when rubbed on the skin turns into a white thin liquid, after continued rubbing small flakes form, and this Ginvera say is all the dead skin being removed from the top layers of skin.

On occasions when I used it in the evening, twice it just absorbed into my skin, no flaking or anything just absorption, this I believe was because I'd used a moisturiser with sunscreen on my face and it probably just got drawn into it, although I would have thought it would just behave normally and take everything off, it didn't so I just used a regular face wash.

I did enjoy using this product, although I can't say whether it is effective in the long run with regards to all the claims, my skin did feel very clean and the scent is pleasant, it was also interesting to see the bits of skin flaking off.

I think I would purchase a full size but it does concern me that it was drawn in to the moisturisers with sunscreen in them, although I could just use it in the mornings... I did enjoy using the samples, my skin felt much softer and smoother after using the gel and products definitely seemed to absorb better.

Please be aware this is only a first impressions post and not an entire review as I have not used the product for long enough!

Have you tried this gel? What did you think?

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes

These are No7's face wipes, you get 30 wipes for £7, resulting in each wipe costing around 23pence, however there are always No7 £5 off vouchers floating around (which is how I buy and stock up on these wipes) making a pack cost £2!

They are available on Boots' website here and in stores. No7 claim these are suitable for all skin types, hypoallergenic and remove waterproof mascara, I've found them to be suitable for my skin type, normal/combination, and they also remove some waterproof mascara but not all, although I tend to avoid waterproof mascara because it is so difficult to remove in general and there aren't many instances during which I'd need its services.

They are very soft and gentle, and adequately soaked with moisture making them easy to use. I use them a lot, and I really like them a lot. I prefer them to a lot of other brands that I've tried. These wipes aren't textured at all though, which is something I quite like on the Nivea wipes.

They remove all of my makeup when I'm wearing only a little and most if I'm wearing a full face of it, I don't think there's much more I can say!

*No7 claim to be cruelty free however aren't listed on BUAV, but the EU ban of being able to sell cosmetics tested on animals is now in effect, so they must be...*

Have you tried these wipes before? What did you think?

Montagne Jeunesse Skin Heroes Dry Skin Mask Review

This is the mask created for dry skin in the Skin Heroes range by Montagne Jeunesse. Sorry for the late review! It is available online at MontagneJeunesse.com and also in various pharmacies and supermarkets for £1.49.

You get 15g of mask and 3g of "serum", I would definitely define the serum as a moisturiser though. It contains raspberries, blueberries and red grapes.

The packaging is simple and appealing, I dislike how I have to leave the sachet open for a while until my second use of the mask and the moisturisers tend to last for 3-4 uses. The mask itself is a white colour which goes on smoothly and smells amazing, fresh and just lovely and summery. (Not the best at describing scents...) I also really liked the moisturiser, it was a perfect balance of not too rich and not too light, went on well and was the only one that didn't leave a tight feeling on the edge of my face (where skin with and without the moisturiser meets) after application.

Has this mask reduced dry skin? Yes. I found it really helped with the dryness thanks to the awful weather and the entire treatment made my skin smooth and soft. I generally have normal/combination skin so this wouldn't be a staple in my skincare routine but on the off chance my skin is feeling very dry I would definitely consider picking this up again.

*Montagne Jeunesse are BUAV approved and completely cruelty free*

Have you tried any of the Skin Heroes range? What did you think?

Spending Ban Update #1 and End

Source

Hi!

I haven't posted about how my spending ban is/was going so I thought I'd write a post today. It went well for the first month, I only bought some nose strips and a shower gel, and went well for February and most of March, then I saw GWP offers and other products I just couldn't resist... Which is ridiculous I know.

I bought Lancome's Teint Idole foundation, (in a shade or two dark for me thanks to the lady at the counter), and 2 of their mascaras. I got a lot of free products so was happy with that but the cost of the three products I actually bought was painful to see rung up on the till... After that I was good but then I wandered into a Rituals shop... The lady was so lovely and helpful, and their products smell so good I ended up buying a scrub and a shower paste. I also picked up OPI's drip dry, L'Occitane's SPF20 hand cream and Jurlique's blemish cream.

This should have been a haul post really... So I've decided to end my spending ban for now, and maybe start going through the products I already have and try another spending ban later on in the year... I'm really looking forward to reviewing all the new products I bought though!

How are your spending bans going?

Dead Sea Spa Magik Hair Magic Serum Review

Source

This is a conditioner/hair mask type product by Dead Sea Spa Magik, sorry for the stock image, I've left my battered, almost empty bottle in my uni bathroom, but as it's practically finished I thought I'd better review it quickly before I forget! This was generously sent to me absolutely ages ago so I'm also sorry for the late review. But enough now and onto the review!

It costs £17.25 for 150ml and is available at Holland & Barrett, I've also spotted it in department stores like John Lewis. It's a thick cream that you apply onto shampooed hair and leave on for a few minutes before washing it off. The very first thing I noticed was the smell, it's not pleasant at all. Well I didn't think it was, I'm sure someone would like it. You can also use it dry as a serum, I didn't use it this way because I don't like having product in my hair generally after it's been washed and conditioned, but even if I wanted to use some, it just looks too much like conditioner for me to want to put it on dry hair.

I've nearly used the entire thing, it's essentially finished and ready for the bin but I want to try and squeeze out  as much as I can for one more use. I didn't like the smell, but I love how it works. It didn't take long for it to soften and detangle my hair, and it also stops any frizziness. That's pretty much all I'd want from a conditioning product - and a nice scent. I don't want to fixate on it, because I think it comes from all the good stuff, minerals etc in the product that actually make it work.

Overall, I definitely think this is worth trying if you have damaged, dry or even normal hair to rehydrate it and give it a boost, making it feel stronger too, personally I don't think I would repurchase because even though it lasted me about two months I think £17.25 is a lot for a product I would use very frequently and I dislike the scent, even though I know it's probably just from all the good stuff in the conditioner! I also found it difficult to get all the product out of the bottle, a squeezy bottle or one with a pump may be more useful I think.

Would you be interested in trying it? Have you given it a go - what did you think?