La Prairie Anti-ageing Rapid Response Booster Serum

The brand La Prairie is right up in there in luxury category when it comes to skincare, one of those brands you really want to try but need to know whether they are worth their price tag. I was very lucky to be able to try the La Prairie’s Anti-Aging Rapid Response Booster, which is described by La Prairie as the most accelerated wrinkle interceptor yet. Erm oh, wait, really? It can intercept wrinkles? At £195 for 50ml, I don't quite have enough to bathe in, but I am definitely up for putting it to the test.

La Prairie also say "A revolutionary active delivery system targets the cells that make skin look younger with precision and speed and delivers anti-wrinkle ingredients exactly where your skin needs them most. Beautiful, visibly younger-looking skin is only two weeks away".  Add to that it promises to reduce wrinkle depth and volume, help control the evolution of skin aging, recovering hydration and reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles, whilst exfoliating to refine skin and minimize the look of imperfections including wrinkles and enlarged pores - wow!

As you might expect, the packaging is absolutely exquisite, it just screams luxury and expensive at me every time I use it. The product itself is a really lightweight serum which you are told to apply, in one or two drops, to the face and neck after cleansing and toning, but before you apply your moisturiser. So nothing too onerous at least and an easy part of my every day skincare routine.

La Prairie is said to be one of the main pioneers when it comes to anti-ageing products, so it comes as no surprise that their Rapid Response Booster Serum is jam packed full of ingredients to specifically target the signs of ageing. So to fight wrinkles a targeted delivery system transports anti-wrinkle peptides to exactly where they are needed, these peptides are then released to fortify the skin and in turn this reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles and reinforces the skin’s barrier protection.  Next is an ingredient called Plankton extract which is a marine element which improves exfoliation for softer smoother skin. There is also a mixture of jojoba, mimosa, and sunflower waxes all of which help to reduce trans-epidermal water loss.  The final ingredients to mention is sodium hyaluronate which attracts and holds moisture, the herbal brightening complex inhibits excess pigmentation, and the silver vine complex improves skin’s translucency. Phew... there is just so much information within this little product that it is mind blowing and you can read more about it right HERE.

I have now been using this serum for just over 2 weeks now and I have to say it is these most fabulous serum I think I have ever used. On the skin, it feels just beautiful and is so luxurious, it is so lightweight that it immediately disappears into the skin leaving behind incredibly soft feeling skin. I am lucky that I have no wrinkles as yet, but the very few fine lines that I do have on my forehead do seem to be much less prominent with my overall complexion is much definitely brighter and more radiant, so much so that my work colleagues have asked me what it is that I am using because they are wanting some for themselves!  You only need to use one pump of this at any one time to cover your entire face which means it is going to last you a good few months.

Now that I have tried a product from the La Prairie range I really want to try more! I am going to be very very sad when this serum runs out, it is so amazing but totally out of my budget range which makes me feel very said.

The La Prairie Anti-Aging Rapid Response Booster is available now from John Lewis.

Libbie Club - July Edition

Last Month, I introduced to you, The Libbie Club which you can see HERE. Latest in Beauty (LIB) recently launched The Libbie Club which is described as being a community of influential beauty fans who are rewarded for reviewing, sharing and referring beauty products.

Each 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, and some of those offers are just amazing.

This months box is equally fantastic and it includes two facial cleansers, both I adore but for very different reasons and a lip tint which I am still on the fence with.Skin & Tonic Steam Clean Cleansing Balm - As a brand, I know very little about Skin & Tonic, though the name makes me chuckle. Steam Clean comes with its very own cloth and is described as being a versatile balm which has three uses:

• 1) Massage a small quantity into your palms and onto your face/neck. Soak the 100% organic cotton face cloth in warm water and hold against your face for 1 minute to steam and activate the essential oils. Breathe in deep and cleanse away.
• 2) This cleansing method also works well at removing make-up.
• 3) Apply a small amount to dry lips and dry skin patches for a nourishing, soothing boost.

Filled with amazing organic ingredients such as British Thistle, Eucalyptus and Spearmint oils, so no wonder it smells so great and is an absolute joy to use. This balm is said to not only lift the dirt away but help rejuvenate dull, tired skin.

So what’s the great offer on this little delight? Well Skin & Tonic are offering readers a massive discount of 30% off when you buy the Steam Clean Cleansing Balm and the Gentle Scrub Face Scrub, the pair together would normally cost £50, but they are now just £28 while stocks last.

Becca Beach Tint – Watermelon. Now I don't have much knowledge of the brand, so it is always great to find and try something new, but this for me is one of those products that is alright but it doesn't wow me. Described as being "This streak-free, non-greasy lip and cheek stain can be used on its own or with powder blushes, bronzers, lip balms and lip glosses for added intensity" when I use it, I have preferred to use it as a lip product rather than as a blusher as I find the consistency is much better to work with, especially with being so pale skinned.  

The shade is quite nice and is similar to something I would choose and it smells exactly like a watermelon.  For me, the one thing that lets it down is its lastability, as a tint I would expect it to last more than 3-4 hours, but on me it doesn't and I need to re-apply.

So what offer do Libbie Club have for all of you on this product? If it take your fancy and you want to try it, when you buy the Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon for £18 you get a free lip gloss in Palm Breeze worth £18.

The final product in this months Libbie Club box is the product that I was most excited to try and one that I absolutely love. The Bioeffect Volcanic Exfoliator. Again, this is another brand that I have heard of but never used and how cool does it sound 'Volcanic Exfoliator'. Described as being "a clarifying facial exfoliator containing Icelandic micro-crystalline lava, which deep-cleanses and smoothes the skin, leaving it soft and refreshed" and as soon as I read that, I was sold and new I would love it.  

Designed to deep-cleanse the skin, remove dry and dead skin cells and leave it feeling soft and refreshed, it does all of this using Icelandic Micro-Crystalline Lava. The texture of the product is gel like within which you can see orangey flecks which are the lava, totally cool. On the skin you as you massage it in, the see through gel quickly turns a milky white colour and against the skin, whilst you can feel the flecks of lava, they are quite gentle, you know they are there, but they don't scratch the skin. After using, pat the skin dry and your face should feel soft smooth and really refreshed.

If you fancy trying the Bioeffects Volcanic Exfoliator it costs £28 and right now The Libbie Club are offering a EGF serum worth £22 for free when you buy it - total bargain!For me, this box is an absolute treat and a dream. Both of the skin products have each wowed me and are ones I would definitely purchase for myself again. All of the offers will stay available until they are sold out, so if you want them, get them quick.

What do you think of these three products, are you tempted?

Collins Elite Mid-Year Diary

I have a really busy job, well busy life to be honest with you and I tend to store most of it in my iPhone, relying on it to tell me which meetings are when and where, whether that is work life, home life or blog life and do you know what, it isn't the best method, I need a back up plan.

When Collins Diaries got in touch to see if I would like to try out one of their products I jumped at the chance and this little beauty came into my life.

The Collins Elite Planning System is a Mid-Year Pocket Week diary which starts in July 2015 and ends in July 2016.  The diary is fully refillable and wire bound with a removable personal directory within which you store all your important names, address and phone numbers.  I absolutely adore the padded case which protects my diary, it is quite retro in design and as soon as I saw it, I knew it is the one I would choose.

Inside the planner, the actual diary is week to view, which I find really helpful. There is more than enough space to record 4-5 meetings, events or even write reminders in each of the dates provided and it has a handy little cream ribbon to use a book mark so your diary opens on the right week.

Aside from the diary part, there is also a front section which contains all sorts of useful information.  In the front of the diary there is a list of International Holidays, A Conversion Guide, World Standard Times Guide so you always know what time it is somewhere in the world, International Dialing Codes.  Then at the back of the diary, as well as having somewhere to write notes, there is a Financial Summary which allows you to write a brief guide of incoming and outgoing monies, a list of useful numbers such as National Rail Enquiries, a London Tube Map (uber handy) and a Map of the UK.

The diary planner is the perfect size for any handbag and is so lightweight, it makes it much easier to transport around than a Filofax, which can be quite bulky.  For a hectic life in London, this for me is brilliant and it costs just £10.50.

What do you use to keep yourself on track, on time and punctual?

Don’t Step on a Bee Day - Bee Good Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator

Bee Good is one of my favourite brands, I am yet to dislike one of their products and I love the brand ethos. Today is #DontStepOnABeeDay and Bee's are quite precious. Did you know that globally the lives of our bees are still severely under threat. There's the deadly mite called Varroa accidentally imported from Asia, the loss of natural habitat, a lack of forage from declining wildflower meadows and a toxic cocktail of pesticides used widely in crop production. Just as these tiny insects have a vital role to play in the sustainability of humanity, we all have a role to play in their survival and the sustainability of their environment. Below are some top tips to help look after bees!

Aside from not stepping on Bees, Bee Good have just released the latest installment from their beauty range, the Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator and I have been using it for a few weeks now and absolutely love it. 

Why do I like it so much? Well 
it is packed full of amazing ingredients such as:

• British Wild Flower Honey - helps to moisturise the skin
• British Propolis (extract) - Using its antibacterial properties on problematic skin
• British Camelina sativa seed oil - helps to moisturise the skin
• Wheatgerm oil - soothes and helps restore moisture
• Milled Lavender flowers - gently yet effectively exfoliate without irritating

The advice for this exfoliator has been to use it one or twice a week, which I have been doing.  Texture wise it is really creamy and smells absolutely divine, but on the skin, whilst you can feel it working on the skin, it isn't overly abrasive and therefore doesn't scratch, but wow does it make your skin feel not only clean, but soft and smooth after using.  

This is a great product to try, especially if you want an exfoliator that is kind to your skin, is a great one a week treat and is British!  It is a great way to fly the flag and help Bees.

Don’t Step on a Bee Day

Here are our Top 5 Bee Care Tips to give you inspiration for Don’t Step on a Bee Day:

1. Don’t step on a bee! (Of course)
2. Buy British! The majority of our honey here in the UK is imported, but with the wealth of bee keepers on our doorstep there is really no need. Support your local bee keeper by visiting a near-by farm shop or deli and enjoy their precious produce for breakfast on some warm buttered toast - yum!
3. Plant seedballs! We send you these with every Bee Good order placed on beegood.co.uk – it couldn’t be easier! Simply scatter these seed balls containing wildflower seeds, clay, compost & chilli powder in your garden to create hundreds of attractive, bee-friendly blooms.
4. Build a bee hotel! Did you know that bees need somewhere to rest when they venture out on their pollen mission? Get the kids involved and get building! Find out more at: www.foe.co.uk.
5. Adopt a bee! If you want to help the honeybees but don’t have the space or time, you can adopt a colony for as little as £25 per month! This includes a certificate, e-mail updates and you can even get a plaque with your name on the side of the hive. Find out more at: www.barnesandwebb.com.