Clinique Bonus Time - Debenhams

Noticed in the Metro this morning that Debenhams have a Clinique bonus time running from 9 - 25 February, yours with the purchase of two or more items, one to be skincare.

Included is trial sizes of -

Rinse off foaming cleanser - Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief - All about Eyes - Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion - High Impact Mascara in Black - Lip Palette Quad with brush - High Impact Lip Colour in Extreme Pink and Rosette, Buttershine Lipstick in Pinkaboo and Different Lipstick in a Different Grape also included is a cute make up bag.

I'm tempted...

L'Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub 200ml

This product retails at £12.50 for 100ml.  I bought this in a special pack with 150ml Shea Butter Hand Cream for £25.

  

My hands are so dry at the moment I need all the help I can get!  The scrub has been formulated to give you soft and moisturised hands in one minute.  The scrub contains brown sugar, 10% shea butter, sweet almond and grapeseed oils.

Stir before use to thoroughly mix the oil and sugar and then use a small blob on dry hands and rub in as if you were washing your hands. Rinse and pat dry.  Nicely scented and definitely makes hands feel less dry.  

No.7 also do a similar product (Revitalising Hand Saviour) which is just as nice and retails at £11 for 75ml (although I tend to buy when Boots are doing their £5 off vouchers).

Amarya - February

I received my Amarya box today - its fab!

Included is:

Happiness Travel Candle by NEOM 75g (burn time 20 hours).  This particular scent hasn't even launched yet!  It is gorgeous - scented with white neroli, mimosa and lemon and retails at £13.

A full size Zoya nail polish in Kendal worth £10.  Really pretty shade.

15ml tube Essential Care Organic Avocado Replenishing Cream for dry/mature skin.  Full size 50ml retails at £18 and a 1.5ml sachet of Essential Care Organic Rose Moisturiser for all skin types (and you can use as an eye cream).

I am pleased with the box this month - great value for a tenner.  What are your thoughts?

Latest in Beauty - Little Beauty Box

I got my Latest in Beauty Little Beauty Box the other day.

It contains:

Elemental Herbology - 4 x 3ml sachets

Cool & Clear Facial Cleanser x 2 - scented with Green tea, olive extract and lavender flower, a very effective cleanser which smells really good.  I'm going to get three uses from an individual sachet.  Massage into damp skin and remove with warm water, safe to use around the eyes.  Love it.

Facial Glow Radiance Peel x 1 - with Vitamin C, Papaya and Manuka Honey.  This gave me one use - a fab product - will definitely purchase at some point.  Slightly grainy texture and amazing scent.  Apply mask to clean, dry skin and leave for 4 minutes.  Remove with warm flannel.  Its expensive though.  It retails at £39 for 50ml.  You can buy it in a travel set also which you can see here.  You can also buy at SpaceNK.

Soothing Oil Free Facial Hydrator SPF 12 x 1 - with retinol, biodynamic algae and pearl extract.  A light texture, melts into the skin and gently scented.

I am so in love with this range!  I love the scents and textures and how the products feel on my skin.

My second item is 2 x 0.5ml sachets of SUPER Bright Eyed Flawless Eye Cream.  It is a lovely light gel cream but with such small sachets it's hard to decide if I want to buy full size.  Retails at £29.50 for 15ml.  It also says online that you can use it as a primer for a radiant finish.  I am all for multi-purpose products!

My third item is Ginvera Marvel Gel 2g sachet - good for removing dry skin and blackheads.  I occasionally get blackheads on my chin so was keen to try this out.  You apply to cleansed dry skin and massage gently until the gel is dry and then rinse with water - not tried this product yet.

Really pleased with my box this month as I've found a range I definitely want to buy at some point.  Do you get this box?  Have you tried any of these products?

Feel Unique - February

I received my Feel Unique Beauty Box yesterday morning.  I am pleased with the contents this month.

Elemis Lime & Ginger Hand & Body Wash 100ml - Have used this before and love the scent and quality of the product.  A luxe treat.  Feel Unique say "this fresh & exotic wash has a beautiful rejuvenating fragrance with a deep cleansing formula that lathers into a super-rich, delicious formula for all over the body".

Decleor Phytopeel Natural Exfoliating Cream 15ml - another product I've used in the past but not for ages.  Apply to the skin, leave to dry and then rub off using circular movements, rinse face with water and then apply toner.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 40ml - I received this in Glossybox and still got loads left.  Great product but swapping for the Maximiser which was in the alternative box.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Useage Dry Oil 10ml - can be used all over the body - face, hair and over the body.  Feel Unique also suggest mixing a drop with your foundation for a dewy look.  They also say "pour a small amount in the palm of your hand and gently ruffle you hair for a natural sheen".  Really pleased to try this product.

Leighton Denny High Performance Nail Polish mini - Diamond Ivory - a pretty light shimmery shade.

Extra is a Jean Paul Gaultier mini EDT - Kokorico - a men's fragrance...it's not very nice  but as it was an extra I don't mind too much.


What are your thoughts?

Palmers For Men & InStyle/Marie Claire Magazines

I was excitedly awaiting the arrival of Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula for Men!  Popped into Boots today to see if the Soap & Glory lip tint was in and came across this.

Hubby is always pinching mine so now he's  got his own for face and body.  Only negative it has a fresh smell as opposed to creamy chocolatey cocoa butter of the original.  Nice texture and melts onto the skin.  Recommended for dry areas on face and body or after shaving.  Its on offer at the moment retailing at £2.65 for 250ml.

Instyle Magazine (March) has a great booklet included "Best Beauty Buys 2012".  I want everything it contains.  There is a competition featured to win over £2,500 worth of beauty product - I want to win!  Enter here by 7 March. (also included are two 10ml sachets of Panetene Shampoo/Conditioner for Normal/Thick hair)

Leigh over on Beauty Box Swap pages posted about a great freebie with Marie Claire Magazine out 1st March - Neal's Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture worth £12.  Thanks for the head's up Leigh!

Feel the love this Valentines Day with Just Be Loved - Guest Post

Gail, the founder of Just Be Oils has agreed to do a guest post for me to coincide with Valentines Day.  Here are her suggestions of ways to feel special this Valentines Day.

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." Moulin Rouge

1. Stop and smell the flowers

As it's been proven that floral scents can lift our moods, treat yourself to a bunch of your favourite flowers and place them somewhere that you can see and smell them.


2. Breathe

Sit comfortably without any distractions and take at lease 30 deep slow breathes and you'll be amazed at how much calmer your feel.


3. Have a soak

Run a bath, add some essential oils (why not try Just Be Loved body & bath oil), light some candles, switch the lights and your mind off as you close your eyes and relax.


And as a special treat, place an order online before the 14th of February will receive a FREE Just Be Loved Rollerball (RRP £9.95) click here to go to the website.  If you decide to order please email hello@justbeoils.co.uk and let Gail know you are one of my followers to receive your free Just Be Loved Rollerball with your order or alternatively leave a message when you pay by Paypal.  UK only.

Check out Just Be facebook page here.


I also have a post coming up reviewing the Just Be Anti-Ageing Facial - which was amazing!

Giveaway Winner - Me!

I won Honey Go-Beauty's 50 Followers Giveaway!  Thank you Sam, I am totally made up!  I've never tried any MUA products before.  The colours are absolutely gorgeous.

Here's what I won:

MUA Eyeshadow Palette - Glitter Ball "a spectacular collection of eyeshadows that will add sparkle to your eyes for the ultimate impact".  Really gorgeous colours which I can't wait to try out.

MUA Blusher - such a great colour, I was just needing a new blusher so the timing is perfect.

MUA Eyeshadow in a gorgeous purple shade - one of my favourite colours.

MUA Lipstick - I am so in love with this shade!  I'd never have chosen this colour but I really love it.

MUA Nail Varnish - really pretty colour (I'm a bit of a nail nibbler so my goal is to be wearing this by summer!)

Thanks so much Sam.

p.s. I'll try and get my useless camera to work and I'll post some swatches as all the colours are gorgeous x

BareMinerals Make Under - Top Sante offer

I went yesterday for my make under - a freebie with Top Sante magazine.  

My make up artist used primer and then my foundation of choice Original SPF 15 Foundation - Light, he then used warm radiance and then mineral veil.  On my eyes - Vanilla Sugar and Renew & mascara.  On my lips he used Berry Glace.

I got my foundation sample with mini brush and cleanser and moisturiser sachet samples (the freebie offer with the magazine)  I also got a sample of the night serum.

I bought the Radiant & Refreshed Set which retails at £39 and contains -

30ml Prime Time Foundation Primer

1.5g Tinted Hydrating Mineral Veil

0.57g Renew Eyecolour

10ml Flawless Definition Curl & Lengthen Mascara

4ml Pretty Amazing Lipgloss in Sass

Mini Hydrate & Brighten Brush

I also got Vanilla Sugar Eyecolour

No obligation to buy - I just loved the eye colours used.  Do you think you will get a "make under"?

Sanctuary Offer at Boots

If you spend £10 on Sanctuary products in Boots you receive a free mini gift worth £10. (not sure how long this offer is on for I picked it up yesterday)

I bought the new Softening Thermal Sugar Polish 200ml (£8.25).  I have heard great things about this product and a review will follow (but it sounds like the perfect warm up on these chilly mornings).

To make it up to the tenner I got Body Moisture Spray 50ml (£2.40).  A product I've used many times before and one which I love.  It's a light oil spray (great for these days when you can't be bothered with body lotion) and it absorbs quickly and is scented with the original Sanctuary scent.

My free Spa Escape set contains:

75ml Luxury Bath Float

50ml Body Scrub

50ml Body Butter

50ml Moisture Rich Foot Butter

I also picked up two mini Organix Nourishing Coconut Shampoo/Conditioner (both 88.7ml).  I love the scent of coconut so had to try these.  Both retail at £1.99 each although Boots are doing a deal at the moment of the full size products at 2 for £8.  A review will follow once I’ve tried them out.  They smell gorgeous!

Valentine Giveaway - Closed

I've decided to do a Valentine's Day Giveaway featuring a few of my favourite things.

The giveaway will end on Friday 10th February at 4.00pm (this should give me enough time to get it posted to arrive on the 14th February)

As usual, if you are under 18 please get your parents permission to enter.

I really appreciate all my followers and love writing my blog.  All you need to do is follow me on GFC (and leave a comment below that you want to enter) and I'll pick a winner using random.org 

Good luck!

Here's what you can win:

A beautiful heart charm bracelet on a silver chain from Lily Loves Lola.  A perfect Valentine's day gift.  Also check out Victoria's fantastic blog here.

My favourite lip balm of the moment - Palmers Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Lip Butter as mentioned here.

My all time favourite eyeliner - it lasts and lasts and give such a precise line - Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Black.

A 15ml sample of cult product Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - really awakens the skin especially the morning after a night out!

And a 7ml mini Lancome Juicy Tube.

Good luck! x

Top Sante Magazine - BareMinerals freebie

March's Top Sante magazine (cut out coupon) is offering a complimentary make-under. You also get two free samples - a 10 day foundation sample (with mini brush) and a sample of the lightweight moisturiser.  Phone your nearest counter to book. x

Carmine - January

My Carmine box has arrived (and it was addressed correctly! yah!).  I am liking the box this month.

I've never used false eyelashes - they look a bit scary but going to try them out.  I received B159 and I am quite pleased with the ones I received.

I am also happy to see Korres Wild Rose Moisturising & Brightening Cream (this was in Boudoir Prive) as I loved it.  A good size for travel/try me.

I am also pleased to see the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil in the box (5ml), its got an fruity spicy scent and I'm looking forward to trying it out - its a decent sized sample (you wear it under your moisturiser/night cream).

I love baths so the Himalayan Pink Salt will be nice to use (single use mini bag).  It's apparently good for detoxing.

Finally, an Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Petrol Blue - I quite like the colour.  I'm going to keep this subscription for another month (at least).

Did you get Carmine?  What did you think of the box?

Glossybox - January

My Glossybox finally arrived! (I had peeked at the spoilers though).  I loved the deep pink box and little heart sticker (and the tiny glossybox rock sweetie).

And onto the contents -

My favourite item is the Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer for a dewy finish (5ml).  I'm looking forward to trying this out. It's got a really nice texture and is slightly tinted.  It states you can wear it under foundation or on its own.

I received the Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Plum and I'm happy with this shade - its a full size item.

A 56.7g FAB Body Moisturiser - this is unscented.  I prefer scented products.  Seems a nice enough product though and leaves skin soft and smooth.

Clarins Extra Firming Day & Night Creams - 15ml each - the most disappointing item for me in the box - I've used these before several times.  What I've liked most about the boxes is trying products I've never heard of before. 

I needed to cancel a box(es) and this is the first one to go (although it took about 5 minutes to go through all the stages to cancel - they kept asking are you sure you want to un-subscribe..)


p.s. I think I may be getting a teeny bit bored with beauty boxes!  Although I am looking forward to She Said Beauty, (March) Joliebox and Feel Unique this month.

Are you happy with your box?

January Books

One of my New Year Resolutions was to read more.  Here are my January books. (I've always found Evelyn at We Were Raised By Wolves a great inspiration - she reads loads of interesting books.  You can read her January Books List post here.)

I'd really enjoyed Chevy Steven's first book Still Missing so was pleased to see she had a new book out - Never knowing.

The book is based on the story of Sara who was adopted as a baby.  She has a daughter, Ally and is due to marry her boyfriend.  She decides to trace her birth parents, partly from curiosity but also for her medical history.  She finds out her father is a serial killer.  The book is written from Sara's perspective and read like sessions with her psychiatrist.  the book has a lot twists, turns and tension.  I quite enjoyed this book.  I give it 6/10.

My second book is, The Thread by Victoria Hislop.

The story starts in Thessalonika, Greece in 1917.  On the same night a fire rages through the City, leaving many people homeless, Dimitri Komnionos is born.  Five years later Katerina Sarafoglou's home in Asia Minor is destroyed by the Turkish Army and she and her mother and sister have to flee.  In the chaos to leave she get separated from her mother and she goes across the sea alone to Greece. The book is the story of Dimitri and Katerina's lives, the city in which they live, their work, the war, persecution and fears.  

In 2007 their Anglo-Greek grandson comes to visit and hears their life story and has to decide if he wants to make Greece his home.  A great read, would highly recommend. A 10/10 book.  I also loved The Island, the author's first book.

My third book is A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore.  I am a massive Rachel Hore fan and I can highly recommend her other books (The Dream House, The Memory Garden, The Glass Painter's Daughter and A Place of Secrets).

When we meet Beatrice at the start of the book and you are left wondering what her connection is to the story.  Lucy Cardwell's father Tom dies and she finds papers in his belongings of researches into an Uncle Rafe she didn't know he had.

Lucy decides to go to Cornwall to visit the family home, Carlyon Manor which is now a ruin.  She meets a local lady, Beatrice who knew the family well and Beatrice tells Lucy her story...

Fascinating characters, romance, history, war, family, feuds, action, tension and drama, a real page turner.  I loved this book and I also give this a 10/10.


My fourth book, (yes I really am on a roll!) is Londoners by Craig Taylor.  A book I cannot recommend highly enough.  Totally fascinating.  London through the eyes of those who live there.  It makes you laugh, is sad, interesting and thought provoking.  I'd really recommend this book. 10/10

Have you read any of these, if so what are your thoughts?  Have you any suggestions for me of books to read?  

Magazine Freebies

This month’s Elle magazine has a free Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara attached to the front cover worth £10.  There is also a coupon in the magazine for £2 off any Soap & Glory make up.

Dior invite you to attend a counter to receive a complimentary eye make over and a personalised beauty sample upon presentation of the card attached to a Dior ad inside the magazine.  There is also a free sachet (1.5ml) of Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation.  I do so love magazine freebies.


In Red Magazine (March) you can pick up Dior Capture samples for free at the counter – Capture R60/80 First Wrinkles Smoothing Eye Cream (2ml), Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Serum (5ml) and Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Crème (3ml).


House of Fraser (until 4^th February) has a GWP deal on at the Clarins counter, buy two items and pick four luxury samples from a selection of eight.  There is an add on offer if you buy a third item.

Sleep-Over

On Saturday we had a sleep-over at my mum and dads (as it was my niece's birthday on Saturday and my mum's on Sunday).  We went for lunch to House for an Art Lover which has an amazing cafe!  The house is really interesting to look around too.  It was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and is well worth a visit if you are ever in Glasgow.

It also has a nice wee shop and I bought these - 

I just love the cute little heart cushion!  I also picked up Scottish Fine Soaps Au Lait Hand Lotion 300ml (they have this in the toilets with the hand wash and its gorgeous - I'll get the hand wash next time!)

Here are the products I took with me for my night away (very restrained I thought - even if I did take two eye creams!) x

Lancome Hydra Intense Gel Mask

I received this very generous full sized face mask (worth £32 - 100ml) as a Gift With Purchase at the Lancome counter in John Lewis before Christmas.

Suitable for normal/combination skin the mask is pale blue in colour (although clear on the skin) and has a fresh floral scent.

"Infused with active ingredients to intensely hydrate the skin leaving it relaxed, refreshed and deeply moisturised" (from Lancome website).

It contains imperata cylindrica extract to moisturise (a subtropical plant which resists the worst droughts).

Apply to cheeks and t-zone avoiding eye area, leave 5 minutes and remove excess with cotton pad.  Use once or twice a week.

My verdict?  A brilliant mask, very moisturising and leaves skin soft and smooth.  It also feels very comfortable on the skin (I sometimes find masks  irritate my skin).  Definitely one I'd re-purchase (or look for in GWP deals!)

Get a Healthy Glow - Guest Post

I am excited to say this is my first guest post and it comes from Tracy Griffen,  a Personal Trainer and Author who lives here in Edinburgh.  I'd highly recommend her book - its full of great tips, food and exercise ideas month by month (you can buy this book yourself, see Tracy's links at the bottom for details).

Want to look younger? Get outdoors, get some exercise and get your blood pumping.

As a Personal Trainer I am accustomed to tailoring fitness programmes to fit in with my clients busy lifestyles. Once they are exercising regularly (often outdoors), they notice all sorts of changes. One of the most immediate changes is that their skin becomes clearer. There are a number of reasons for this.

Increased cardiovascular (pulse raising) exercise gets the blood pumping around the body. More blood and oxygen pumping to the skin as well. This helps nourish the skin, and also assists in removing waste products, including free radicals. Aim for at least three sessions of 30 minutes or more weekly. Work at a pace where you feel slightly breathless, and yes, even a bit pink in the face!

I always ask clients to drink around 2 Litres of water a day. Get in the habit of sipping water (or herbal tea) throughout the day and your skin will thank you. Simply drinking more water helps to flush toxins from the body. Combined with exercise this process is speeded up. Drinking more water also helps speed up the metabolism, which is how fast calories are burnt. Good hydration is essential for plump-looking healthy skin.

Eat fresh! Eat the freshest food possible. Even better grow your own. Even if you only have a wee patch of communal garden, see if you can grow some herbs and salad leaves. Fresh green leaves are full of nutrients, and offer numerous health benefits. Gardening is good exercise and you can use your herbs in home made beauty preparations or herbal teas. Foodwise try to eat fresh fruit and vegetables or nuts and seeds (full of lovely oils, great for strong shiny hair and nails) as snacks instead of processed rubbish.

Exercising outdoors can be harsh on the skin, so remember to wear sunscreen. If anyone has a suggestion for a good non-greasy sunscreen that can be worn every day, please do let me know. I’m terrible for remembering to put on sunscreen and I’m outdoors for a few hours every day. Despite my negligence in the sunscreen department, people regularly guess my age to be at least 5 years less than it is. I’m 37, and the more I do my job (and the older I get), the more I realise that regular exercise can help keep us all feeling and looking younger. Your skin is a reflection of your internal health. Look after your internal wellbeing and your skin will reflect this. Become more energetic and you can develop radiant skin.

Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen runs Griffen Fitness, 3 Balfour Street, just off Leith Walk. She is the author of the newly published Healthy Living Yearbook, 192 colourful pages of seasonal fitness ideas and easy healthy recipes.

www.getfitandenjoyit.com

www.healthylivingyearbook.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tracygriffen

Facebook: www.facebook.com/griffenfitness

Latest in Beauty - YOU 20 Years of Beauty Greats Discovery Box

Guess what arrived this morning?  My YOU Latest in Beauty Box.  It's fabulous! It comes in a pink and white cardboard box.

It's so worth the £5.95 plus £2.95 P&P.

It contains:

30ml Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (with cloth) which retails at £5.25.

5ml Sisley Sisleya Global Anti-Age Day & Night Cream (50ml of this retails at £243.00!)  Would never be able to afford this cream so looking forward to trying the sample pot.

mini pot and brush BareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation - they have given us a tiny amount which will probably last about twice!  Still, I suppose its enough to try the product out - I already love this product.

Bamford Geranium Trio - the bath oil is my favourite! 30ml bath oil, 50ml body wash and 50ml body lotion.  I've had this trio before as Latest in Beauty luxury samples - gorgeous!

Dr Nick Lowe Oil Control Day Cream 20ml - a good size sample - will look forward to trying this.  I already love the cooling menthol face mask in the range which you can read about here.

Finally, a sachet of Lanolips 101 Ointment - keep reading about this so keen to try!

What are your thoughts?  Did you manage to get a box?