Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream!

Vichy is not a company whose products I had used many of, infact until I got my hands on this Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream it is fair to say they were not a brand on my radar, since then I've been been to a Blogger Event which introduced me to Dermablend, but that's a whole new post.

The Idealia cream came into my life via the BBBBox which I was lucky enough to get my hands on and then I have had quite a few samples from a Glossybox which you can see HERE.  What I love about this particular product is the cuteness of the tub, it is so small and dinky, yet perfect for travelling and having in your bag should you want too.

What Vichy say: "Vichy Idealia Smoothing & Illuminating Cream visibly smoothes the appearance of wrinkles, and leaves skin's texture refined, and softer. It re-awakens the skin's natural radiance for a fresh, and even complexion".

First things first, this cream smells amazing, infact it is more like a soufflé than a cream because it is just so soft to the touch not mention that it is pink, is there anything else you want from a cream? As soon as you apply it to your skin it most definitely does leave your skin feeling so much smoother and it does instantly brighten the skin, giving that a fresh faced glow look. It also illuminates the skin and I tend to apply it underneath my foundation because it not only makes for a much easier and smoother application, but you can also the glow comes through giving an instant sheen in the skin.

This is my second 15ml pot and it really does last a good 4-6 weeks of using it everyday and it is most definitely one that I would consider purchasing once I have used up my current cream and I would quite happily make my way through the rest of the range, knowing how good this cream is.

Vichy Idealia is available for dry skin and normal/combination skin, it contains fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water. It is Paraben-free and suitable for sensitive skin and it costs between £14-£22 online.

Have you tried anything from this range? Is there anything you would really recommend?

Bodhi and Birch Neroli Lucé Revitalising Face Oil

Facial oils have become something if a fascination to me, ever since I was first introduced to them by balance me a good few months ago.  As something with combination skin leading towards the oily side, I never would have imagined that I could use a face oil, always believing that it would leave my skin looking more like an oil slick than ever before, turns out I was very wrong about that and infact my skin reacts really well to all of the oils I have tried so far.

Bodhi is a company I am slowly learning about as I make my way through some of their products. Having fallen for their Mint The Refreshing Bath and Shower Therapy which I've shared HERE, I have equally become quite fond of the product I am sharing with you today and that is the Neroli Lucé Revitalising Face Oil.

Described as follows:

Revitalise and rebalance with skin-toning Tunisian Neroli, rejuvenating Frankincense and restorative Sea Buckthorn oil.

Instantly absorbed to nourish and hydrate skin leaving it toned and radiant without feeling greasy. Vital vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids help revive a lacklustre complexion, increase elasticity, boost resilience and rebalance the skin’s natural hydration system.

So as an oil it is quite surprising that it doesn't leave your skin feeling oily, that was always my fear, instead what it does is immediately absorb itself into your skin, almost on contact.  Bodhi say this oil will do many things and these are just some them:

• Combat oily zones and eradicate dry patches - well yes it does, much more than I hoped it world and my dry cheeks have been banished and at the end of a working day my nose and the rest if my tone no longer have a shine to them.
• Help to tone, tighten and refine pores - I don't have this problem anyway (I don't thin) so I can't really comment on whether it does or not
• Rebalance the skins natural hydration system - I have to say that when I do use this, my skin feels wonderfully soft and smooth all day long

The most important thing for me about this oil is the scent, no matter how good something is, if I don't like the scent of it, chances are I won't use it.  This however I do really really like the scent of, it is one of those uplifting scents that makes you go "aaahhh" as you smell it and it uses a whole range if ingredients. 

Starting with Neroli which is sourced in Tunisia, Neroli is sourced from bitter orange tees and more importantly their fragrant blossoms.  Add to that:

• Frankincense which you can most definitely smell and as an oil it helps with the general skin tone and condition while reducing oily skin, rejuvenating the more mature skin.
• Sea Buckthorn oil is used to help boost the healing of skin and help combat wrinkles
• Grapeseed Oil is a lightweight oil which absorbs super quick into the skin and it helps encourage the production of elastin and hyaluronic acid.  It is also said to help the skin retain firmness and you fullness for longer
• Apricot Kernel Oil is known for its abilities to soothe and nourish the skin wilts helping it to retain elasticity and suppleness, not to mention the fact it is rich in 6 Vitamins including A, and E
• Jojoba which helps to balance your sebum production, unclog pores and is anti-inflammatory to boot.
• Finally there is Evening Primrose Oil which helps to restore brighteness to the skin without clogging your pores.

Naturally there is more information to be had about each and every one of those ingredients which can be found online.

The oil itself is exactly that, it is an oil and it has a similar constituency to Olive oil and on your skin, which is likely to be quite warm it can become quite runny, so with that in mind, one squirt of the pump is more than enough to cover your entire face.  The instructions for using this oil are that you should use it both morning and evening after cleansing and toning and massage one to two pumps over the face, blending from your décolletage up to your forehead. You can also use this oil under make-up to help even out your skin tone and reduce the mid-day shine.

Again it has this quite striking orange colour to the oil and as I've said, I am a huge fan of its scent, it is quite powerful when you first release some, but as you massage into the skin a the scent settles down and is really quite lovely, it is one of those scents that would make the most amazing distressing candle to burn when you need some time out to relax and forget about whatever it was.

If like me you were and still are sceptical as to whether it not facial oils would work for you, I can only urge you to reach out and try one, I am so glad I did because it gives me a whole new field of products to use and this one in particular is especially wonderful and is one I wouldn't hesitate to purchase for myself (after making my way through the rest of the range).

If I have managed to convince you to try this product then you can find this amazing oil for £32 (for 15 ml) on the Bodhi website.

Have you tried Bodhi? What did you think?

Protection from the sun!

With all the gorgeous weather we have had recently, I decided to try out a new SPF I’ve been waiting to review – MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield Unscented SPF 28**.  The product arrived packaged inside a lovely green and white cardboard box and everything you need to know about the product is clearly visible on the box.  Inside there is a 68ml plastic squeezy tube which is perfect for carrying in your handbag ready to top up during the day.

Described as "MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield SPF 28 is an unscented, environmentally-safe, full spectrum UVA/UVB sun defense that offers powerfully effective protection, yet is gentle enough for infants* and non-irritating near the eyes. Translucent Zinc and Titanium Dioxides provide a safe alternative to harsh chemical sunscreens".

Us Brits love nothing more than moaning about the four wonderful seasons that we have, I personally am a huge lover of all the seasons and I am never one to complain once the sunshine comes out, that said I am always conscious about sunscreen and am the kind of person to always be wearing it and carrying some in my handbag.  

I applied it in a morning before going outside, as instructed to do and then every few hours during the day.  The Cream itself is quite thick and luxurious but absorbs itself quickly into the skin and the best part is that it has no 'sunscreen' smell that you associate with suncream, something I have to admit I am not a fan of.  Once applied onto the skin there is no stickiness or tacky feel left behind, another pet hate of mine when it comes to sunscreen and it also left my skin feeling moisturised.

As I have mentioned, this product is completely unscented and uncoloured and because it is made entirely from natural ingredients there are no harsh chemicals. Infact this product is also:

• Cruelty Free
• Vegan Friendly
• Gluten Free
• Recyclable 

Add to that it also contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to help reduce signs of sun-induced irritations.

I have quite fair skin and tend to wear a factor of between 25-30 depending on where I am, some people might think that is a tad high for the UK but having once burnt rather badly on my shoulders, it is not a pain I intend to go through again.  Whilst wearing this suncream, even by the sea, I did not burn, so for me it definitely offered the relevant sun protection, especially on my shoulders and face.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield SPF 28 retails for £19.50 and is available to buy here.

Do you wear a high factor SPF? 

This post also appeared on Futures by Bex you can see HERE

Sculptresse by Panache

There's no denying it, I have big boobs, always have had, always will have. Over time I've learnt to live with them and accept they are part of me, something I have, in the past struggled with.  That said buying bras is something I find more difficult, infact out of all the clothes I do buy, it is buying bras I find most painful and most stressful.  Why is it that because I have big boobs I should have to pay a lot more for my bras? I often dream of being able to wear those cute little sets in Ann Summers, which is never going to happen.

I have a few must haves when it comes to buying a new bra 

• It must fit, now that might sound obvious but there are so many women out there who clearly wear the wrong size and it's annoying, so to ensure I am buying the right size once a year at the very least, I go and get myself measured to make sure I do buy the right size.
• I must like the bra. Well it might fit but if I don't like the style or the colour not to mention the pattern, then I'm not wearing it.
• Matching knickers.  Yes they must match, I cannot wear a black bra and pink knickers unless those knickers are in some way related to that bra, it's like wearing odd socks, it just feels wrong.

A few weeks ago, the lovely people at Panache sent me this beautiful package and as soon as I opened it I knew I was going to love it:

It is from the Sculptresse Range and it is called Bellise which you can find HERE.  It is described as follows:

"Feel beautiful with Bellise. In an on-trend feathered animal print with subtle feminine detailing this balconnet bra provides an uplifted and supportive shape from a 36-46" back D-J cup. The back straps sit closer together to ensure they stay in position and sit comfortably on the body without slipping. The soft padded straps are fully adjustable, ensuring maximum comfort and adjustability for your perfect fit".

Wearing it, fear not I am not sharing those photos with you, it is really comfortable, particularly under my boobs where it sits flat against my chest and then on the top of my shoulders where the straps sit so comfortably without digging into my skin.  Across my back again the clasp sits flat against the middle of my back and again doesn't dig into my skin.  The cups are also the perfect size, they don't pinch, squash or hang loose, they literally give me the support that I crave and I feel confident when wearing it, those girls with the same problem I have will know what I mean by that, but there is nothing worse than buying a bra and it doesn't give you any kind of support and instead allows too much movement which becomes painful.

For me, this is an absolutely perfect bra and it is accompanied by a pair of knickers which not only match the bra but are also just as comfortable to wear, they fit nicely and don't feel tight anywhere. I just love them and I love the bra.

To purchase a bra from this range it will cost around £36 which is the amount I would usually be paying from places such as Debenhams anyway and you can find a local stockist on the Panache website by clicking here.

                                                         Where do you go to for your lingerie? 

                          I you have a large chest like me, where do you buy your underwear from?