L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Skin Care

Anyone who reads my blog will know what a huge fan I am of L’Occitane and when the latest launch L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Skin Perfecting Collection dropped through my door, I was pretty excited to give it a try, especially as it has amazing pink packaging! The range itself consists of eight different products and the main focus is on the star patented ingredient - peony extract. The new Paeonia Lactiflora, to use the official name, is an extract which is not only rich in natural plant sugars which target cells to correct irregularities in the skin’s texture it works to reveal a fresher and more radiant, natural complexion.

I have three products from the new L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Skin Perfecting Collection which I’ve been using and they are the L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Makeup Remover, the L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting 2 in 1 Scrub and the L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Toner.  All of which come together to create a lovely little skincare routine.

The Perfecting Make-up Remover is always the bottle I reach for first after coming home from work. Described as being a refreshing gel which effectively removes impurities and make-up, including waterproof make-up, from the face, eyes and lips. It is enhanced with active ingredients that help to transform the quality of the skins surface, it gently cleanses, leaving the complexion fresher and more luminous. First things first, can we high five L'Occitane for making a bottle which has a pump! I am a lazy product user, I want them to be easy and require little effort, essentially pump action and this does make for easy use because I don't have to unscrew a lid and so and so forth. That said, I find two pumps onto a clean cotton wool pad/muslin cloth more than enough to remove the daily gunk from my face and this has currently replaced my make-up remover because I actually feel it does a much better job. Priced at £19 for 200ml it is an absolute bargain.

The second product is a 2in1 perfecting scrub which is a little bit different to what I had expected. Again it does contain peony extract, delicate micro-granules, and micro-exfoliant active ingredients and it is described as an innovative gel which not only has a unique texture but has a dual usage. So on the skin it transforms into an oil to cleanse and exfoliate, so technically it is an exfoliating oil (how clever). For those of you who like a product which isn't too abrasive, then this is one to look out for because it is really gentle on the skin, but it does exfoliate incredibly well. So not only have you got an exfoliating oil but it can also double up as a mask, so once you have massaged it into the skin, leave it for up to 5 minutes to work its magic and then massage the skin as you remove the remainder. This is a scrub I have been using once a week during my pamper time and my skin does absolutely love it. A 100ml tube retails for £19.

The final product within my trio is a Perfecting Toner.  I have admitted on many occasions that I never have been bothered about using a toner, much the same as a Micellar Water, I don't quite see the point.  However, I am always willing to try something before knocking it and with this product I was left pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy using it. So having removed the majority of 'gunk' off my face with the Perfecting Make-up Remover, I then use the Toner to mop up what is left or has come to the surface of my skin.  Described as being a gentle toner which completes he make-up removal routine and revives the complexion with natural balancing actives. Enriched with perfecting Peony extract, it leaves the skin hydrated and smoother. So dispensing the toner onto a cotton wool pad, I wipe it across my skin and it is quite refreshing and cooling I find but it also leaves my skin so soft, smooth and hydrated. It costs just £15 for 200ml so is an absolute bargain.

This is such a beautiful range of products and one that is well worth looking into if you have never tried anything from L'Occitane before. 

Too Faced Melted Lipsticks

I am a huge fan of the brand Too Faced and I am a little bit obsessed with these Too Faced Melted Lipsticks. Did you know that the Too Faced Co-Founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandinowas inspired by lipstick in its melted form when he saw it is a cosmetic lab? Jerrod said he had never seen lipstick more beautiful, intense, rich and glossy than when it’s in its melted form and it was this which inspired Melted.

I have four shades within my collection, two of those are called Melted Metal and you will see from the swatches below how beautiful they are. With the staying power of a stain, the intense color of a liquid lipstick and the high shine of a gloss all in one product, they are more than worth their price tag of £19 in my opinion.

The lipsticks come with a Precision tip applicator which allows for a clean, effortless application each time, one swipe is enough to coat your lips and a lip brush isn't required for these which is also a bonus.

The four shades I have are Melted Metallic Debutante, Melted Ruby, Melted Metallic Peony, Melted Peony and that is the order they follow for the swatches in the last photograph.

Melted Metallic Debutante is a really vibrant pop of coral-pink and as you can see from the swatch it has a golden-orange micro-shimmer to it. I found this one a little harder to wear than the other three on the basis that I cannot really pull off the golden-orange coral, but it is a stunning lipstick and I tend to wear it under other lipsticks so I can use it to its advantage.

Melted Ruby is best described as blood red and really makes an impact when worn. Slightly glossy in finish it looks medium to dark cherry red once applied and it has cool, pinky undertones. Again the lastability on this lipstick is phenomenal, it lasts all day. The consistency for this lipstick is much thinner than the other three that I have.

Melted Metallic Peony is a light-medium pink and as you can see from the swatch, it has a mix of pink and gold micro-shimmer for what is described as being a frosted, metallic sheen. Once applied it lasts for a good 5-6 hours before you need to re-apply and it is just a stunning shade.

Melted Peony is described as being a dusty rose shade. When swatched and then worn, it is a really light-medium, perhaps muted pink shade which has subtle warm undertones and has a satin finish. Once applied, it has amazing staying power and I find it only needs to be re-applied once throughout the day.

As I have said, I adore these lipsticks and have ordered a few other shades to try. I love that they are long lasting, they don't cling to dry parts on my lips and are easy to apply. Have you tried them?

Purrfect Box for Cats - April Edition

Once again, the big pink cat box has arrived and as soon as it is opened my boys are clambering in before I even get a look in.  The cat bo in question is the April Purrfect box**. I have featured a few of these boxes now, but if you haven't seen the posts, the Purrfect box is a UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog (Pawsome Box).  Each month you will receive a box of treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on Instagram will know what a big part my three cats play in my life, Hector even has his own Instagram!

Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

As you can see, there is a whole lot of stuff in this box from toys and treats to food and again, my boys are more than spoilt for choice.

Now we have left winter behind and have moved in to Spring, my boys are malting and getting their summer coat.  They all like to go outside and explore and Dexter is quite nifty at rat catching, only a few weeks ago there was a live one in the flat which I found in the bath the following morning (yes still alive). With that, comes fleas, horrible little parasites which are just horrid, a cat version of head-lice if you please.  So I was pleased to see Biospotix in the box because ive used it in the past and it is brilliant.

Biospotix acts as a preventive solution by blocking the respiratory system of the parasites by using Geraniol. It also helps to dehydrate the laid eggs so they never hatch too. 

Like most cats, my boys love their food and they love treats and in this box there is a lovely selection.  Starting with Thrive Complete tinned food with Chicken Breast and Tuna Fillet.  What I like about Thrive is that it is cooked with added vitamins and minerals and with no gluten and no wheat.

Karlie Salmon Creme is something Hector just loves.  It is a salmon paste which I give to him direct from the tube, it never gets near his food bowl because as soon as the lid is off he is meowing for the paste.

The treats within this box come in the form of Tuna Cubes by Les Filous which, all three cats absolutely love. Like any other treat I give to them, I always ensure fresh drinking water is available and I stick to the guidelines of how many a day I give to them

When it comes to playing with toys, again all three, despite their age difference (12, 6 and 7 months) love to play.  Again there are three toys which you might assume would mean one each, but no, they always all want the same one.

Trixie is a brand I have come to know since my introduction to the Purrfect Boxes and the toys they create are really good quality. This time we have a spider which is scented with catnip and was the first toy they all fought over. 

Next is a Camon Ball which is made from a material called sisal. Hector loves this ball because it allows him to grip it and fling it around. The act of scratching also allows your cat to eliminate dead nails.

The final toy is a perfumed Dragonfly and its body is infused with a long lasting scent, that strongly appeals to cats and it is a smell can acutely pick up on. The crinkly spotted wings make a noise which entertains Dexter for hours as he pounces on it around the room as though he is hunting.

Finally in the box is some Jolly Moggie Cat Nip. Catnip, for those of you who are not aware of it, is categorised as being a member of the mint family. It is a part of a family of 200+ other mint species and it contains Nepetalactone, the essential oil found inside catnip.For cats who are sensitive to it, Nepetalactone has a very strong effect on cats and can turn even the laziest of cats into an ecstatic ball of energy and intrigue.  All three of mine are sensitive to it, so I only use it in small doses.

This box has proven to be a huge hit with my three boys and the contents are just brilliant. Again, as I have said before, The Purrfect Box is a real treat for my boys to get and as soon as they see the box they know exactly what it is and cannot wait for me to rip it open. If you have a friend who has cats, then this would make a fantastic present!  If you want to try it for yourself, I have a discount code for £5 off and it is ukbdlwba.

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Make-Up Primer

Laura Geller Make up is just amazing and in a short space of time, I have become a huge fan. One item that I absolutely adore is the Spackle Tinted Make-Up Primer (£25) and I have this in shade Champagne.

I am a huge fan of primers and this one is has been infused to give your skin a champagne glow which works to create a soft, candlelit look. For me, Spackle can be used in three different ways. You can apply it to a clean face as you would your normal primer and then complete your look. You can mix it in with your moisturiser, BB Cream or foundation or you can apply it over the top of your make up where it works well as a highlighter too. 

I find the Spackle Primer really easy to apply, it glides onto my skin and does leave a slight glow, again it isn't so dramatic that I look like an oil slick. If I am adding it after my foundation, I find using the tip of my fourth finger to pat it onto my skin works better than using a brush. If I mix it with another product or use on its own, then I apply using my foundation brush.

Using subtle peach undertones to`neutralize` skin imperfections: uneven complexion, dullness, veins and freckles. It is also both Oil-free and paraben-free, and uses the  soothing botanicals of Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Mallow Flower and Marigold Extracts, plus antioxidants Centella Asiatica and White Tea Extracts which help to protect skin from environmental damage. It smells absolutely divine due to the use of Witch Hazel and as primers go, this one is fantastic, it is like skincare and makeup all in one and it helps my make up last all day.

This is such a fantastic product, it is so versatile and works well with my skin tone and you only need to use such a small amount, that the tube lasts for months.