La Collection de Grasse Figuier & Osmanthus

I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes, I either like them or I don't and it is rare I come across one that I am on the fence about. When I was introduced to Figuier & Osmanthus which is L’Occitane’s newest addition to their La Collection De Grasse fragrance range, I immediately loved it. Inspired by and named after the famous town of Grasse in the South of France 'the world capital of perfumery'. 

Designed exclusively to celebrate L’Occitane’s 2015 Chelsea Flower Show Garden – ‘A Perfumer’s Garden in Grasse’ with the help of garden designer James Basson, for which they won the gold medal!
A unique and exclusive scent is described as being "a delicious mouth-watering fragrance that captures the essence of Provençal summertime, it unites the sun-warmed fig tree from Provence and the sparkling osmanthus from the Far East" and it is one I loved as soon as I was introduced to it earlier this month.

The fragrance opens with top notes of bergamot and blackcurrant and unsurprisingly there is also a ripe, fruity fig. The heart notes of fig leaves and the Osmanthus flower. Finally there is a warm base of cedar and musk.

As soon as I tried this in the Covent Garden L'Occitane store, I liked the scent. As soon as it is spritzed the warm fruity floral tones of the blackcurrant and fig are immediately noticeable with the cedar and musk also there lingering in the background. Once it has settled on the skin, it is those warm fruity floral tones which remain noticable and for me it is the perfect summery scent which on my skin lasts pretty much all day, I felt only a need to re-apply when leaving work to go on to a meeting, function or out to dinner just to top it up. 

Launched this month, Figuier & Osmanthus retails at £28 for 30ml which is great value for money and definitely a scent I would recommend.

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June Birchbox with French Sole

So June has arrived much quicker than I thought it would and that means I am only one month away from getting another year older (sobs).  To put a smile on my face though the June Birchbox has arrived and it is just so pretty.

This month Birchbox have collaborated with French Sole for this box which features the most stunning Bassett Allsorts kind of design which really jumps out at you and it is one of the brightest boxes I have seen from Birchbox so far.  French Sole is the flat show of choice for celebrities such as Poppy Delevigne and Olivia Palermo and are described as being comfy and chic!  If you want to get your hands on them, the check out the Birchbox flash sale on June 16th!

Inside this months box are products that are designed to help you make feel fresh faced, cool and down with it!

Firstly is the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave In Conditioner which is described as being a 'wonder spray detangler' which minimises frizz, safeguards colour and add shine.  The first thing I did was spritz it and it reminds me of Lee Stafford Poker Straight in scent, which I actually quite like, so I am looking forward to giving this a try.

The fabulous brand Cowshed are next with their Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion.  I love Cowshed because whilst their product names a little bit tongue in cheek, everyone I have tried, I have loved.  Knackered Cow contains a lovely mix of essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus which are not only incredibly relaxing but also beautifully scented too, so your skin is left soft, smooth and smelling amazing.

I was really happy to see a Penhaligon's pefume sample in this box, anyone who knows me will know I love a good perfume sample because it is nice to try a perfume on your skin away from department stores and boutiques to get a really feel as to how it smells. Iris Prima Eau De Parfum is described as being "an elegant fragrance which mingles fresh bergamot top notes with musky Sandalwood and sweet Vanilla". Once it settles on the skin, it smells absolutely divine and is a scent I could happily wear on a night out, or for a special occasion.

The next product is the Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar. I did have a different shade in my October Birchbox, but as I am a fan I am more than happy to add another to my growing list. Described as being super nourishing with ingredients like Shea Butter and Vitamin E, the lip balm adds a pop of colour to your lips as well as leaving them feeling soft, smooth and supple.

I was delighted to see a product from REN in my box too and it is one I was lucky enough to sample a few months ago. The Instant Firming Beauty Shot is a liquid matrix of hyaluronans and phycocolloids which instantly life and firm leaving your skin looking dramatically smoother, lighter and more youthful.

The serum is gel like, only it is a little runnier than your average gel, so you only need a small amount on the top of your finger to cover your entire face. When I used it for the first time, I was quite surprised to find that within half an hour of applying it, my face felt slightly tight and much firmer than usual and these effects lasted all day, 7 hours.

The final product inside the box is a packet of the STYL London Temporary Tattoos.   Whilst they are not really my thing, it isn't going to stop me from trying them out because they are little bit cool. 

If all of that isn't enough, then hidden at the bottom of my box was a drawstring shoe bag in matching print to my box and whilst it is perfect for carrying around a pair of flat shoes in your bag.  Anyone who lives in London will know how heavenly it is to carry a pair of flats around with you in times of need and this bag is perfect for the job, I love it.  If you don't use it for your shoes, it would also double up quite nicely as something to store in your make up, your make up brushes and so on.  

I think this is a fantastic box from Birchbox, it has a nice mixture of products to try and they are all really good sizes too.  There is not a single product in the box that I dislike and I cannot wait to give them all a try properly.  If you like the look of this box and want to get your hands on it then as you know

Birchbox is a monthly beauty box subscription which costs £12.95 a month.

What do you think to this box? 

Welcome to The Libbie Club

Today I want to tell you all about a brand new beauty box called The Libbie Club. Latest in Beauty (LIB) have recently launched The Libbie Club – described as being a community of influential beauty fans who are rewarded for reviewing, sharing and referring beauty products.

So, every month members of The Libbie Club are sent a free of charge box of full sized beauty products to try out, you then write your honest reviews about each product on their site and if anyone makes a purchase via any of your recommendations, you will then be sent another box the next month to review again. However, with each product comes an offer, more of which you can read about below with what was in my box.

I was kindly sent the June box which had some amazing products:

Vintage Cosmetic Company Essential Face Brush Set (£33)

I am a big fan of Vintage Cosmetic Company, I love the whole vintage theme to the packaging and love how the products are packaged.  This set of three face brushes consists of a Powder Brush, Blusher Brush and a Foundation Brush.

Each brush was really soft natural bristles and is lightweight when holding.  My favourite brush of the three is the powder brush which I use for both fluid and powder foundation as well as for my setting powder because I love the finish it gives.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 75ml (£16)

This product was said to have been originally created by Philip Kingsley specifically for Audrey Hepburn, who wanted a super-moisturising treatment that would repair her hair and keep it in great condition throughout the frequent colouring and styling done to her hair on movie sets. So if that isn't a reason to give it a try, then I don't know what is. 

As a pre-shampoo intensive moisturising treatment I love how soft and smooth this makes me hair feel and it is  product I use on occasions when I feel my hair needs a little treat and some TLC.

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan: Medium 125ml (£41)

I am on the fence with this product.  Whilst the tan in my box was medium making it too dark for my own super pale skin, I have tried the fair tan in the past and liked it, but didn't love it.  It does claim to be easy to apply, which it is and naturally you do need to use a tanning mitt.  The whole process in fact was incredibly stress free and easy, I just wasn't a fan of the after colour. 

So, I gave this product to a friend of mine who has incredibly lovely olive toned skin and it suits her perfectly and she loves it.

What do you think to the Libbie Club?  Are you a member?