Frank Body | The Original Coffee Scrub

 Frank Body is one of the first brands I came across when my love of coffee scrubs started to grow. A company which started back in 2013 has grown considerably and with a range of products now boasting everything for the body, face and

Coconut coffee scrub which smells insanely good offers to Turn your shower into a nudie beach with with this nut-free, natural and smells just like a beach holiday scrub which admittedly comes minus the sand in your pants. Packed in a brown bag, this scrub is insane for removing dead and dry skin. The instructions ask that you use two handfuls, but I have only ever used one per session. Now it is messy but if you prepare beforehand it is much easier. 

As it is designed to scrub the skin, I find it works better if the skin is wet before application, so whether you want to hop in and out of the shower, turn your water on or off or not is entirely down to you. I grab my handful of scrub and place it into an old Lush tub and then add a few drops of water to make it into a paste. Then once in the shower, depending on how my skin is, I either apply the scrub to the parts which need it the most, or I cover my entire body with said scrub. 

As a coffee scrub this naturally smells like freshly brewed coffee with a hint of coconut plus there is some grape seed oil and Vitamin E. Priced at £13.95 for a 200g bag, this scrub is worth every last penny.

If a coffee scrub isn't exciting enough then I have been using three other products from the Frank Body range and they are a lip scrub, a body lotion and a creamy face scrub - I am literally almost like a walking talking cup of your finest Americano!

The Creamy face scrub is incredible and it takes the amazing body scrub and gives it a slight twist to create a face scrub. With this scrub you take a small blob and apply it to your face, again, I prefer a slightly damp face so the scrub has something to stick too. Then as you apply it, ensure that you massage in circular motions to help aid the removal of dirt, grime, dead and dry skin. 

However, before washing it off, the advice is to leave it on your skin for three further minutes and then rinse. The scrub is quite gritty and it uses a combination of amazing ingredients such as White clay which has a long history of detoxifying and removing dead skin cells. Rosehip Oil which brightens dull skin and smoothes over your battle scars. There is also coconut, grapeseed and sweet almond oils which moisturise and hydrate the skin plus Vitamins A, E and D hydrate your skin without blocking pores.  This scrub is priced at £15.95.

The Body Cream promises you'll be the icing on the cake and given how lovely, thick and luxurious the cream is, it is hard to not want to smother yourself in it. 

A delicious blend of Shea and Cocoa Butters which are intensely hydrating alongside coffee seed extract which helps to firm and tone, Pomegranate which feeds your skin to make it stronger & healthier, Green Tea which helps flush out toxins from the skin, helps heal blemishes and soothes the complexion.  If you have ever been a fan of Palmers Cocoa Butter from a tub, then this is a slightly smoother version and it leaves your skin feeling just absolutely incredible.  This cream is priced at £17.95.

Finally the lip duo which consists of a scrub and a balm are design to tackle dry, flaky lips and leave behind smooth soft ones in it place.  

Using a combination of Coffee, coconut, macadamia and grapeseed oils alongside ethically sourced beeswax and raw sugar you get two products which work so incredibly well together and not only does the scrub effectively remove any dry skin, it doesn't scratch and is not overly abrasive.  I tend to use my scrub twice a week to ensure that my lips are not dry, chapped or have any dead skin hanging around and I am a lip balm addict in any case, so it is never without question that I use a lot of it.  This little duo is priced at £12.95.

I have found Frank Body products to be an absolute delight to use and if you love the scent of coffee then this is a match made in heaven for you.  You can find all of these products online via sites such as ASOS.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

L’Occitane Pivoine Mask Pods

I love a pod mask, there are quite a few brand who have them and they are great for multi masking, taking on holiday and treating yourself too. So when these two beauties from L'Occitane landed through my door I couldn't wait to give them a try. They come sealed inside a 6ml sized pod which means they are great for travelling with.

From the Pivoine range there are three masks within the range - Purifying Minute Mask, Flash Moisture Mask and the Overnight Perfecting Mask. I have the Flash Moisture Mask and the Overnight Perfecting Mask, or did have because I couldn't wait to give them a try and as a face mask addict, it was too good an opportunity to not try them.

The first mask is the Pivoine Sublime Overnight Perfecting Mask. If there is one product that I adore, it is something that works on your skin whilst you sleep. This mask has is not only non-oily, but it has an incredibly light texture which doesn't make your skin feel clogged.

The gel like texture is a dream to apply and whilst you sleep, your skin is said to be at its most receptive to skincare. The mask, which contains smoothing, refining and hydrating Peony Extract and softening Myristic Acid, helps to reduce the appearance of fatigue soyou wake up to skin that feels fresh and looks radiant as if revitalised. The complexion looks luminous, the face rested. This is also a great mask for using on an overnight flight.

The second mask is the Pivoine Sublime Flash Moisture Mask. This mask has a rich, creamy texture which immediately quenches skin’s thirst and infuses it with moisture. Skin feels nourished, plumped and beautifully supple. The complexion looks velvety and radiant, with a sparkling glow.

This mask contains smoothing, refining and hydrating Peony Extract and Glycerin and is again ideal for travelling or using as an indulgent treat to nourish your skin.

At just £6 per pod, these masks are incredible value for money, a great introduction to an amazing skincare range and above all else, my skin absolutely loves both of them. I am determined to purchase both mask pods and include the one I haven't yet tried to see how the task of multi-masking works.

Are you a fan of Pod Masks?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

FILORGA NCTF-ESSENCE

Inspired by Asian beauty innovation, the new FILORGA NCTF-ESSENCE this is one product I was really looking forward to using. I am obsessed with Asian beauty and the rituals that come with them and this is my first introduction to Filgora.

Described as being a lightweight lotion which preps and primes the skin, it offers supreme hydration prior to applying your serum or moisturiser thus ensuring the product absorbs deep into the skin for maximum results. My skincare routine in a morning consists of double cleansing, toning, adding a serum and then a moisturiser which has an SPF, so adding an extra step into my routine, if it gave the results it promised, then it would be a step worth having.

This Filorga Essence smells just incredible. It has a light floral scent which you can immediately detect and to use you can either apply using your fingers or by using a cotton pad. I opt for dropping just a few drops into the palm of my hand and then use my fingers to apply it all over my face and massage it in, much as I do with my serum. The end result is soft, silky skin which feels hydrated and moisturised.

This Essence uses what is called AQUA-MX technology (water sensor + moisturising sage extract) which work to deeply hydrate the skin, add to that, an anti-pollution polysaccharide to detoxify and protect, I can see not only why this is such a luxurious product but just what a difference it makes to my skin when using it.

Price: £50.00, available NOW from feelunqiue.com

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Love Me Beauty #HelloSummer

Love me Beauty’s ‘Hello Summer’ edit and there are a variety of products to spend your credits on to give you a taster of those products you need for the summer. Again, as with previous months, the Love Me Beauty membership which costs just £10 per month is worth 60 credits and with you those credits you chose the items you want to see inside your box/bag from a wide selection of products covering everything from hair, skin, body, makeup, nails and more. From the items that you choose, the majority of them will either be full sized or generous travel sized versions.

This month the products have arrived inside this cute makeup bag which is perfect for travelling with and inside there are 7 products from 4 different brands.

First out is the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser Tint which is described as being a lightweight, deeply-hydrating SPF moisturiser that leaves a warm, luminous tint while nourishing skin with corrective antioxidants. 

It is suitable for all skin types and uses the brands signature anti-ageing cocktail – antioxidant alpha lipoic acid, brightening vitamin C ester and protective, broad spectrum, mineral based SPF 30 which work to correct and deflect harmful UVA/B rays. On the skin, it is lightweight, non-oily and leaves behind a slight dewyness to the skin. This 30ml tub has a value of £29.50.

The next quartet of products come from Caudalie and this for me, is a great introduction to the brand if you have never tried anything before or if you have tried them, then it is a great re-connection to some pretty amazing products.

Starting with Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence which has been inspired by the Asian skincare routine. The Essence is really lightweight and it uses ingredients such as Glycolic Acid which works to eliminate dead skin cells, whilst extracts from White Peony revitalises the skin to reveal a more even, healthy-glow. 

Enriched with Caudalie's signature grape water, the Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence also contains hydrating, soothing and moisturising properties for a beautifully flawless complexion.

Then we have the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting is suitable for all skin types and creates a radiant complexion, corrects dark spots and prevents them from reappearing. 

The complexion is evened out and more radiant. Described as being perfect to use in combination with your sunscreen, this serum will encourage an even, longer lasting tan and is heralded as Caudalie’s summer hero product. This silky serum provides anti-oxidant and anti-ageing action by stimulating collagen and elastin production.

The Caudalie Divine Oil is a product that I absolutely adore. A nourishing multi-purpose miracle oil is rich argan oil which works to recondition and strengthen skin cells whilst extra virgin hibiscus oil prevents moisture loss. 

I like to add a few drops of this to my bath for an extra pampering treat and it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch.

Finally we have the Caudalie Body Lotion is incredibly light on the skin and it contains a blend of grape-seed, sesame and borage oils and plant-derived glycerine which work to moisturise deeply to leave the skin feeling velvety soft and smooth to the touch. 

Once on the skin it absorbs pretty quickly leaving a light fragrance behind.

No beauty box or edit would be the same without a sample product and Love Me Beauty we have Yu Be. Pronounced Yoo-Bee, this is a brand I have seen but never used. Yu Be is Japanese skincare brand and has been around since the 1950's! Within this edit I have two tubes of the Yu-Be moisturising skin cream in a 3ml tube and it is described as being Japans no.1 selling vitamin-enriched skincare cream. With its unique super-moisturising glycerine formula it is perfect for dry areas like lips, elbows, knees and cuticles. It has a non-greasy blend of antioxidants and uses camphor to calm and protect the skin, leaving it soothed, hydrated and beautifully soft. 

The sachet of Yu-Be Moisturising Body Lotion wasn't quite enough for to get an idea as to how good a product it is, but it has made me curious about investing in a full sized bottle. Described as being an effective, intensely hydrating body cream which features a non-greasy texture that dissolves quickly into skin. Packed full of ingredients such as Glycerin, a humectant that attracts & retains moisture in skin and enriched with Vitamin E, Vitamin B2 & Camphor to protect skin & soothe irritations, this is a cream that can be used on all parts of the body from elbows and knees to legs, arms and toes.

Finally from Pixi we have the Nourishing Lip Polish with Apricot and Grapefruit Oils. Described as being a 2-in-1 lip exfoliator and nourisher, this polish helps to repair and protect dry, sensitive lips. Packed with a nutrient-rich formula which smoothes lips with shea butter and a blend of sweet almond, apricot and evening primrose oils. The lip exfoliator features a massaging applicator, which stimulates circulation, providing a healthy, plumped effect to your pout.  

I like that the massaging applicator is rigid but not enough to damage the lips, it does remove dead and dry skin and it does coat your lips in the most amazing scented oils making it perfect for that pre-lipstick application and perfect for keeping your pout in tip top condition.

For me, this has been one of the best Love Me Beauty Edits. It is packed full of amazing products to discover and ones which will keep your looking great from head to toe.

Love Me Beauty Offer:

Sign up today and use my exclusive code beautyqueenuk20 to get 20% off your first box.

www.lovemebeauty.com

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise