The Body Shop Oils of Life

The Body Shop Oils of Life collection is a brand new collection that is designed to give your skin some oomph! They are infused with black cumin seed oil, rosehip seed oil and camellia seed oil all of which are known for their supreme revitalising and repairing properties on the skin. I know packaging isn't the most exciting thing in the world, but sometimes, there is just something that really captures your attention and this collection, for me, does exactly that because it is far removed from the normal bottles and tubs you might see in store.  It is minimalist but looks incredibly luxurious and it most definitely is a treat to use.

I have three of the products from the range which I have been using for the last few weeks and I have to say that I wasn't expecting to like them as much as I do and I am not too sure I can even pick a favourite from the three, but this is how I use them.

The first product I have been using is the Intensely revitalising essence lotion (£15) and the common theme you will see with these three products is the infusion of three precious seed oils from around the world, known for their revitalising and repairing properties on skin as I have mentioned – Black Cumin seed oil from Egypt, Camellia seed oil from China and Rosehip seed oil from Chile.again you will find those three precious seed oils of Black Cumin, Camellia Seed and Rosehip Seed coming together to form what is called 'a unique bi-phase [oil + water] formula'. This is the first stage of using the three products after cleansing to remove any surface dirt and grime from my skin.  To use, simply shake the bottle and applying to a cotton wool pad and wipe around the face. I love the feel of this lotion on my skin, its texture being a mix between water and oil makes it fresh feeling but moisturising at the same time and as it works, it nourishes the skin.

The Intensely revitalising facial oil (£28) again infuses those three precious seed oils from around the world. The bottle and accompanying pipette, which I absolutely love, because it makes this oil so much easier to use is so lightweight you barely notice it on the skin. I have found that by dropping just three drops into the palm of my hands is more than enough to cover my entire face, rub my hands together to warm the oil and as it comes into contact with the skin, it absorbs almost immediately on contact and leaves no trace behind, something I like from facial oils. It is also non-sticky and it leaves my face feeling really hydrated and moisturised. 

The Intensely revitalising Gel Cream (£25) uses the same three precious seed oils as the facial oil to form what is described as being 'a dewy-fresh gel cream with illuminating micro-pearls'. This gel cream is a much lighter texture to any other cream I have tried before and it makes a perfect partner to the oil. Having already applied the oil to my face. I have then been applying the gel cream afterwards and on the skin, it literally melts on contact and just feels so light that again it has a non-greasy finish, it isn't stick either and what it does do is leave my skin looking and feeling amazing. The illuminating micro-pearls for me, brighten up my skin.

What I love about these products is how easy they are to use.  There is nothing complicated about the three step programme I have followed and it doesn't take up lots more of my time, there is, should you wish, a massage roller for the range if you prefer it, I have been using my fingertips to massage my face as I complete each step using little patting motions I was once shown during a facial to increase blood circulation of my neck and face and it is also really relaxing at the same time.

Have you tired the Oil for Life range from The Body Shop yet?

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask

A little disclaimer before this review gets underway - I am not the biggest fan of The Body Shop, many of you will have seen me make that point on many occasions. The reason being is that I once had a very rude assistant in a store who belittled me so much for raising asking a question about a product that I decided that was the end for me and The Body Shop and never again have I set foot in a store or bought a single product - in TEN years! Oh yes, I can hold a grudge and nothing has tempted me back, especially when an apology was never given or offered when I complained about how I was treated.

 When I was offered the chance to try the Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleep Mask**, I did explain my feelings towards the brand, but was assured I was still wanted to try it and who knows, maybe this could be the product to restore my faith in them - a huge task if ever there was one and the mask soon arrived and nervousness set in.

Like most people, I love a good face mask, I use one at least once a week and like to have several in my bathroom so that I can swap and change as I feel the need and on some occasions, I use more than one mask for different issues. This mask however is not one of those, this is designed to be used as you sleep, products like this I absolutely love, especially from Origins and Superdrug. For the time being, they have been put to one side so that I could use this one and this I have been doing for the last 3 weeks.

So okay I confess, I absolutely love this mask, there I said it, I love it (that's twice now). From the little accompanying spatula to the mask itself, it is love. Knowing I had this mask to try, I have read one or two reviews about it to see what other people thought and there are some mixed reviews out there, some people love it and others really don't like it. I love it.

The first thing about this mask is its texture, it is weird. You open the tub and inside is what I can only compare to a Panna Cotta, it wibbles and it wobbles and if you poke it and press on it, it bounced back into shape.

To use, you need the enclosed spatula to scoop a spatula-end sized amount out and then putting it onto the palms of your hands, let it melt before massaging it into your face, just as you would do any other cream that you apply before going to sleep, the difference with this cream is that it is cooling on the skin and feels absolutely delightful. Once on the skin it doesn't absorb straightaway, something that really confused me to begin with because that is what I had half expected it to do, what it does do is leave a thin film on your face which to start with feels quite tacky to the touch. It does eventually absorb itself into the skin and my advice would be to apply it around half an hour before going to bed to sleep and by that time, it should have almost disappeared. The tacky feeling that I mentioned isn't unpleasant in the slightest and you do get used to it after using the product a few times.

The following morning you wash your face as you would usually do and I was really surprised to see how soft and smooth my skin was, even though I use and have used a lot of other products before, never has my skin felt like this, it looks so healthy, there are no dry patched and most of all my skin just feels so hydrated.

The secret behind this mask is Edelweiss plant stem cells. Edelweiss is said to thrive in the harshest of conditions high in the Alps. The Edelweiss stem cells are then carefully extracted to deliver potent skin cell renewing properties, which will help your skin feel plumper and smoother in the morning. 

I honestly cannot rave about this mask enough, it is just so good and if you like the sound of it then Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask is sold in a 90g tub and costs £22 and is available from The Body Shop and is worth every single penny.

You Beauty Discovery Box - March

Last month I had introduced by way of subscription to the You Beauty Discovery Box which you can see here with its contents.  This month my second box has arrived and I have said I am equally impressed.

This months box is themed "Best of British" and when I got my email to let me know my options for selection was now ready, I really struggled to decide what to choose, but in the end managed it.

What I love is how the box fits through my letterbox, it is packed really delicately and the box really study:

Within the magazine which comes with the box we are told that the March shortlist (of products) is dedicated to home-grown beauty and skincare brands flying the flag for Great Britain on the worldwide stage.  I think this is a brilliant concept and the choices between the products was quite difficult as I have said, options included Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil, Crabtree and Evelyn Rosewater Ultra moisturising hand therapy, Camomile Cleansing butter and muslin cloth from The Body Shop, Beautylab Glyco Face Wash, Orico Marine Radiance Serum, Paul Mitchell Dry Wash, John Freida Frizz Ease, Rimmel Matte BB Cream and Dr Lipp Nipple Balm.

Here are my choices:

As always with this subscription you get some extra treats and mine came in the form of some re-usable eyelashes from The Vintage Cosmetic Company called Gracie which cost £6.  The second treat is some Organic Tea from Dragonfly Tea, a British family company who are dedicated to bringing delicious artisan teas from around the world, so I am really looking forward to trying and I have been sent Moonlight Jasmine Organic Green Tea and Swirling Mist Organic White Tea. 

Then comes my actual selections.  As soon as I saw one of them there was no doubt it was going to go in my box - Dr Lipp Nipple Balm which I have blogged about HERE and it is just amazing and I use it every night before going to bed, this tube is 15ml which has an RRP of £11.  

The second product I chose was the BeautyLab GlycoWash which is suitable for the following skin types:

• Dull and Congested Skin
• Enlarged Pores
• Ageing Skin
• Uneven Pigmentation
• Sun Damaged Skin
• Acne Prone Skin

It is described as follows:

"A skin refining oil free 5% glycolic foaming gel with triggered release technology that works longer and deeper to remove impurities, unclogging pores refining and cleansing whilst helping to prevent future break-outs. Contains pomegranates enzymes, glycolic and salicylic acid infused microspheres, soothing willow bark and lavender"

A 200ml bottle of this product has an RRP of £32, my bottle is 100ml and therefore has a value of around £18.

So for a £6.95 subscription, my box has a value of around £36 which is amazing!

What do you think to do this? Do you subscribe to these boxes?

Next month the attention will be turned to all things Organic & Natural with no nasties, no nonsense, so I am really looking forward to seeing already.