Dr Andrew Weil for Origins

As a big fan of Origins skincare, I was delighted to be able to try the Origins collaboration with Dr Andrew Weil. Dr Weil is a Harvard-trained physician and world-renowned leader in holistic health. I have enjoyed using Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief and Mega Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask.

It is no secret that I like products that are a little out of the ordinary - Bee Venom, Dragons Blood, Snake Venom and Colostrum to name a few. So it won't come as a surprise that something called Mega-Mushroom caught my attention. 

Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Lotion which is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types, is a lightweight lotion which both hydrates and calms the skin to deliver long-lasting comfort. Free from parabens, sulphates and phthalates, this lotion is specially formulated with what are referred to as 'miracle mushrooms' known as Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps which were discovered by Dr. Andrew Weil on his visits to china.  

It is said that the Mega-Mushroom blend helps to restore the skin's resilience for a firmer appearance and prevents damage caused by UV rays, everyday stresses and environmental aggressors to leave skin healthy-looking. It is also enriched with Sea Buckthorn which is healing and acts as an anti-inflammatory to repair the skin. Antioxident ginger and tumeric help with premature ageing and Holy basil helps to relieve the skin by reducing redness and irritation. All of those leave calm, soothed and rejuvenated skin. 

What I love about this lotion is how lightweight it is. The handy dispenser gives you enough from one pump to cover your entire face and it doesn't smell like a mouldy funghi patch either, what you do get is a hint of ginger which is incredibly fresh and as soon as it comes into contact with the skin, it begins to absorb leaving behind soft, smooth and hydrated skin. I have been using this for a good few weeks now and have seen a slight difference to the redness which flares up on my cheeks when I am stressed, it is something only I have noticed at this stage and I am hoping that in a few weeks time, others will also notice.

The Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask is again suitable for all skin types and is a luxurious mask that you wear overnight to boost resilience and radiance whilst you sleep. By using a blend of Vitamin-C rich Rosa roxburghii plus Mulberry, White Peony, Chestnut Seed Extract this mask is said to visibly reverse skin tone damage, revive translucency and fade dark spots. Skin’s awakens radiant, refreshed and Mega-Bright. 

I really like the texture of this mask, it has a creamy consistency that feels like a moisturising cream and it glides onto the skin with minimal effort before being very quickly absorbed. Once this has happened, it feels incredibly lightweight and there is no sign that there is a mask on your face, especially given that you don't have to peel it or wash it off after a few minutes. Once I have completed my double cleanse in an evening, I apply my mask, giving it the best opportunity I can to work its magic on my skin.

The scent is equally divine, it is fruity yet fresh and reminds me of Origins Night-a-Mins which I absolutely adore. My skin is always in need of extra hydration and this is why I love to use overnight masks, giving them a chance to work whilst I sleep. The following morning after using this, my skin does feel incredibly moisturised and hydrated and whilst I don't have any discolouration or dark spots, it does leave my skin looking and feeling refreshed and I do look as though I have had a good nights sleep.

These two products together are just amazing and they work so well on my skin. I love the texture of both, neither are greasy or leave residue on the skin and both are effortless to use.

Have you tried any Dr Andrew Weil for Origins products?

Christmas Beauty Baubles 2014

I mentioned in this post a few days ago about Christmas Tree decorations for beauty lovers and today's post introduces a few more ideas by way of Beauty Baubles. As a stocking filler, I think they are a brilliant idea, something quirky yet useful to hang on or from your tree.

Below you will find some of the ones I like the most, and this year it seems like there is so much more choice!

Boots No.7 - This No7 Nail Polish Christmas Star Bauble makes a lovely stocking filler for No7 fans! The star makes a stylish tree decoration and opens up to reveal a Stay Perfect nail polish. Price £6

Caudalie - Mini Caudalie Divine Oil - A multi-purpose, luxurious dry oil moisturises, nourishes and enhances the skin thanks to its unique formula made with an exceptional blend of oils (grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan) combined with our patented anti-oxidant Polyphenols. It envelops the skin with a subtle, floral and sun-kissed fragrance, with woody notes. Use it on the body, hair, nails, in the bath or as a massage oil. Price £8

This Works Hanging Sleep Balm - Inside you will find This Works’ award-winning Sleep Balm, formulated with a soothing fusion of lavender, vetiver and wild camomile to calm the mind and relax the body, helping induce a rejuvenating night of beauty sleep. Price £10

Molton Brown - Choose from some exceptionally bright and colourful festive baubles in a range of scents from Eucalyptus,Ylang-Ylang, Pink Pepperpod, Templetree, Frankincense & Allspice and Gingerlilly. Priced at just £10 it makes for a very interesting shower as they are filled with a Molton Brown Signature Scent!

Balmi - Available in three different flavours, this Balmi Bauble is filled with a lip balm which is packed full of vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil, it provides moisturisation and protection from harmful UVA rays. Price £5

Champneys - A choice of two baubles from Champneys in red or white. One contains a 50ml Champneys Oriental Opulence Body Cream and the other 50ml Champneys Exotic Retreat Body Cream. Priced at just £4 they are also a great stocking filler.

Eve Lom - The inimitable Eve Lom Kiss Mix lip treatment, presented in a limited edition star-shaped gift box.  Price £16

Purity - Made Simple, the one-step facial cleanser in trial-size 90ml, suitable for all skin types. Price £9

Origins - FThis gift set bauble contains Origins best sellers which are: GinZing™ Refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff (5ml), Make a Difference™ Overnight hydrating repair cream (5ml), Clear Improvement® Active charcoal mask to clear pores (7ml), Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight mask to quench skin's thirst (7ml), Modern Friction™ Nature's gentle dermabrasion (15ml).  A great way to try before you buy and priced at £12.

Soap & Glory - Merry Kiss Much contains A GREAT KISSER™ Lip Balm in Juicy Peach, all wrapped up in a covetable, collectable, giftable bauble.  Price £5

Rodial - An alternative to the traditional baubles for the tree, why not surprise a loved one with a bespoke Rodial tree decoration this Christmas? This decoration contains best-selling glam balm lip that boasts 3D hyaluronic filling spheres for instant plumping. Priced at £19

The final item comes from Aromatherapy Associates in the form of a star. It is one of those products that really stands out with its's teal coloured packaging and it is perfect for hanging on the tree with the little elastic hoop at the top. Once inside the box, you will find a 7.5ml glass bottle of the Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil.  This oil is absolutely amazing, it is just brilliant and was designed to help brin about a sense of calm and inner peace and it uses a combination of frankincense, clary sage and cardamom essential oils which are some of my favourites for this time of year.

The Inner Strength range is particularly special as 10% of all proceeds are donated to the Defence Against Cancer charity, which is such a thoughtful touch, especially as a couple of my family members are currently fighting cancer.

Have you got any beauty baubles for your tree? 

Are there any that you really like the look of?

Karen Millen September Glossybox

As soon as I saw a spoiler for this months Glossybox, I wanted it, just for the box alone.  For me it is the best designed Glossybox that I have ever had, it is simply stunning.

Aside from the fabulous box, there was a few spoilers as to what we might find inside and ive seen a few posts from other Bloggers who all have the one item I hoped for, but didn't get... that said, this is what I got!

ModelCo More Brows fibre Gel -  I got light medium which I might get away with, we will see. This is a full sized item and it does have an RRP £14.95 for 3.5ml.  The enclosed card states that this innovative brush-on gel gives the appearance of fuller, thicker brows instantly.

L'Oreal Professional Mythic Masque - This masque is designed to intensely nourish and replenish the hair, for an effortlessly glossy-looking result.  This masque is to be applied to towel dried hair and left for 3 minutes before rinising.  A full sized 200ml tub has an RRP £15.50, this tub is 75ml.

Nails Inc Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat - This matte effect top coat gives you two very different looks for everyone of your nail polishes.  This is a full sized 10ml bottle and has an RRP £12

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox & Hydrating Care 3ml samples are said to help target adult blemishes, leave your complexion radiant and balance excess sebum.  NOw I am a big fan of Vichy and I am looking forward to trying both samples.

The final product within this box are three sachets.  Skinpep Brightening Enzyme and Acid Peel which uses pineapple and papaya extracts to gently exfoliate, soft and bright skin.  A 3.5ml sachet which I have two of has an RRP £3.05.  Then there is the SkinPep Dark Circle Eraser and boy am I in need of this right now, I look like a walking zombie!  said to use anti-oxident ingredients to boost collagen in the delicate undereye area.  What shocked me is this 2ml sachet has an RRP £6.49 - wow!  I cannot wait to try it.

Also in the box was a gift card to save £25 on any spend of £150 in store during September.  If anyone is and wants my card, please let me know.

Now I like the box this month, I will use every product within the box, which is not something I often say.  That said, I had hoped to get the Origins Plantscription Serum as I have been wanting to try it since I read about it.

What do you think to this box? Anything that grabs your attention?

My Favourite Products of 2013 - Part 3

So far I have brought to you my favourite hair and body and lip products for 2013 and today you get to read about my favourite face products.

Face

I found this one of the easiest categories to put together from all of the ones that I am sharing with you in this little series of posts.

DermaCo Revitalising Toner - I was introduced to DermaCo back in August and reviewed the product I am featuring today which you can see HERE.  This is my second bottle of the Toner which shows how much I really like.  It looks really good alonside my other products which sit on my bedside table and when I use it, it leaves me skin feeling soft, smooth and incredibly clean and there is no horrible chemical scent which used to put me off wanting to use Toners.

HealGel Face and Eye - Two products that would always feature in my favourites because they are just that.  I reviewed the Eye product which you can find HERE and the Face version is coming up on my blog shortly. From the packaging which is superb to the effects this product claims and lives up to, it is brilliant.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil - One of my favourite brands to date, Balance Me introduced me to the world that is facial oil, a product that I never thought I would be able to using having combination/oily skin.  This was the first facial oil I used and I reviewed it HERE and I still love how it makes my skin feel.

La-Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water - a product I bought on the recommendation of other bloggers and one that I have enjoyed using, particularly when we had that hot blast of weather in the summer. I reviewed it HERE and love how it refreshed my skin whilst cooling me down during those hot few weeks.

Simple Kind to Skin Illuminating Radiance Cream - I am a huge huge fan of Simple products because you get exactly what you pay for and they do what they claim to do.  I love this Skin Illuminating Radiance Cream which I reviewed HERE and I love how it made my skin feel once I had applied it and it certainly adds a little something.

Origins High Potency Night A Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream - Which is a bit of a mouthful to say but worth saying.  I got this cream in my goody bag after attending my very first blogger event with Company magazine and I had been looking for a good night cream and having been given this decided to try it out.  A review of it is coming soon but what I can say about it is that the cream itself is a really lovely texture which sinks into your skin as soon as it is applied and in the morning when I wake up, my skin feels lovely and moisturised, so it is especially good when my skin is needing a little TLC.

There you have my favourite skin care products of 2013, seven of them in total and each one of them has been a product I have gone back to time and time again.  

Would or have any of these products feature in your favourite products list?