Caudalie Divine Scrub

Caudalie is one of my go-to brands when I need something a little special and when it comes to a body scrub, right now I cannot get enough of the Divine Scrub (£22) which is described as being a natural sugar exfoliant for divinely soft skin. 

What I adore about this scrub is how gentle but effective it is when used.  Made up of four exceptional plant oils which include: 

• Grapeseed Oil - Rich in Omega 6 and Vitamin E and not only has Anti-oxidant, properties but it is also incredibly nourishing.
• Hibiscus Oil - Rich in Omega 12 it is the perfect moisturiser for dry skin
• Argan Oil - Rich in anti-oxidants, it softens, hydrates and protects against skin ageing.
• Sesame Oil - Rich in fatty acids Sesame Oil nourishes and protects the skin from external aggressors

All of these oils sit within a brown sugar base and works with them to gently exfoliate the skin. The consistency of the scrub inside the tub is almost solid and as you rub the top to loosen the scrub, it becomes much more pliable. Thankfully, I have a scoop from a face mask which I use.

Applied to damp skin, this scrub should be massaged in circular motions to buff away dead and dry skin cells and as it begins to work, not only do the sugar crystals melt onto the skin, and because it is a sugar-based scrub, the granules are less abrasive than a salt-based scrub. As you work the scrub against the skin, it emulsifies into a milky consistency and the granules melt and release the incredible signature scent of Divine Oil which includes notes of rose, grapefruit, pink peppercorn, cedar, vanilla and white musk comes to life and the scent is just divine, to use a pun.

This scrub is designed to be used twice a week to give the best results and it is such an amazing scrub, especially if you have dry areas of skin that need a little help in budging.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

MAC False Lashes Mascara - Carbon Black

If there was one makeup item from my makeup bag that I never leave the house without, it is mascara. Whilst some people buy lip liners and eyeliners, for me, a good mascara is a definite must. The latest mascara to have made it to the front of my pile comes from MAC and it is the False Lashes Mascara in Carbon Black. I first came by this Mascara here in the Limited Edition Estee Lauder Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box and I managed to lose mine during a weekend away, so bought another because I had really wanted to try it.

I am quite picky when it comes to mascara, I really dislike anything that has an overly wet formula that feels as though you have dipped your lashes in oil, as I have fairly long lashes, I don't want them to be weighted down.  I also don't want a mascara which gives the spider leg lash look after one coat, it is just not a look I can get on board with at all, if I am to give more than one coat, I want my lashes to still look evenly coated but separated rather than all stuck in a clump together.  Not too much to ask for right?

Mac False Lash Mascara is described as having a mousse-like formula that defies gravity for a dramatically exaggerated, false lash effect, with the addition of pure Carbon Black pigment for a deep, intensified colour pay off.   So, what I do love is the formula because it does have a mousse-like texture without being heavy, in fact, it is much more lightweight than I had expected it to be.  It definitely has that intensified colour pay off, so if a black mascara that is deeply pigmented is something you are looking for, then this definitely ticks that box without question.

The False Lash effect is something most mascaras claim to give and it is very rare that this pays off.  As I have said, I have fairly long lashes and for me, this mascara really does excel in delivering those longer lashes and because of the shape of the brush, it was easy to wiggle between the lashes to do the shimmy (technical term for wiggling the wand) to create a natural lift and I mean right from the base of the lash rather than half way up. The only thing I didn't get with this mascara was lashes that look beautifully thick or with some depth to them, but unless you are prepared to coat on any mascara, I suspect that is something you can only dream of having. When it comes to drying, literally 30 seconds maximum and you can apply another coat, for me with this mascara, the limit is two coats any more than that and I fear the spider legs look is on its way. Once the formula had dried, I didn't feel as though my lashes had been caked in a face mask ready to crunch and crumble, infact, as I wear glasses, I was quite surprised to find no transference of the formula onto them and removing my glasses saw my lashes bounce back into place, so the box is being ticked for flake and smudge proof!

The brush is usually a big selling point of any mascara and having a tube that looks quite fancy with its pointed end. The brush is quite large but had quite a tapered point to it, so I find no problems with reaching those corner lashes. I have worn this mascara for up to 8-9 hours and then removed once I got home, what I found was no fallout, no smudging, no flaking and it came off easily with my current eye makeup remover without the need to rub excessively.

I think it is fair to say that I am incredibly impressed with this mascara and am glad I repurchased it to give it a try.  It does come with a £20 price tag (here) which is the average price point for a MAC Mascara and if you keep a look out, it does come in a mini size for half the price too!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.