Jurlique Radiance Renewal 28 Day Programme

Over the last few weeks, I have had a few bloggers and colleagues ask me what I have changed about myself because my skin is glowing. The first answer is no, I am not pregnant but I am about to tell you what I have been up to and it involves Jurlique.

I have completed the Radiance Renewal 28 Day Programme with Jurlique which is described as follows: Supercharge your ritual to reveal your most radiant skin yet. Our NEW Radiance Renewal 28 Day Programme is a powerful two-step treatment that works with your skin’s natural renewal cycle to deeply replenish and restore radiance. Its specially formulated botanical concentrates are designed to help revitalise your skin, and leave it looking luminous. It’s perfect for rejuvenating tired or dull skin, preparing your skin for a special event, or whenever your skin needs an intensive radiance boost.

So inside this bright red box, there are two tubes which are known as Step 1 and Step 2 to keep it simple. It is worth noting before you start the trail that your skin's natural renewal cycle takes around 28 days.  Our skin has three layers which are the epidermis which is the skins protective outer layer, the one we see the most of and the one which constantly renews itself. During those 28 days of a natural cycle, dead skin cells are pushed to the surface of the skin so they can flake or wash off and be replaced by new skin cells, the ones which leave our skin feeling softer and smoother and give us that glow!  There are of course factors which slow down the natural process - the sun, hormones, pollution and other external aggressors and they leave the skin feeling dry and looking dull and tired.

The 28-day Radiance Renewal programme works with your skin's natural renewal cycle over two steps.

Radiance Renewal Step 1 - This step is to be used during the first 14 days of your programme. The cream is really lightweight and antioxidant-rich lotion gently exfoliates to help even skin tone and texture, and assist with the renewal of your skin. To do this effectively there are three key ingredients:

• Spilanthes: Grown, harvested and extracted at our Jurlique Farm in the pure Adelaide Hills, this helps tone and purify the skin.
• Kakadu Plum: As the world’s richest natural source of Vitamin C, this powerful Australian super-fruit extract helps improve skin tone and radiance, and helps reduce the appearance of discolouration.
• Willow Bark: The natural exfoliating properties of this concentrated botanical extract help improve the skin’s tone, texture and appearance.

Having had no reaction to the cream during my 2 weeks of using it daily and I would apply the cream after cleansing and toning my skin every morning and then the same of an evening, keeping my skincare routine simple.  All you need to use a small pearl-sized amount which I warmed between my fingers and then gently pressed onto my skin, down my neck and onto my decolletage.

Radiance Renewal Step 2 - Having used Step 1 for two weeks, you then switch to the cream for next two weeks.  The first thing I noticed was the difference in the cream, this one is much more luxurious and has a much thicker texture than the first one. Jurlique state that this cream is designed to smooth, protect and deeply replenish your skin to bring it back to optimum vitality during the final 14 days of your programme.  As with Step 1, this cream also has three key ingredients

• Echinacea: This pure botanical extract from our Jurlique Farm in the Adelaide Hills helps soothe and restore your skin, and protect it from environmental aggressors.
• Kakadu Plum: Just like in Step 1, this Vitamin C-rich extract of the powerful Australian super-fruit helps renew skin luminosity and restore radiance.
• Peach Leaf: This concentrated botanical extract helps revitalise and soften skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and discolouration, and restore radiance.

I prefer the cream from Step 2 to Step 1 as I felt it did a lot more for my skin and I loved how luxurious it gelt when applying.  Again, you copy the same routine as with Step 1 in that you use Step 2 twice a day for two weeks after cleansing.

Having completed the 28 day trial, I think for me the results showed when a work colleague asked me why my skin was glowing and had I been taking supplements and then a few blogger friends also asked what I had done differently and until now shrugged it off, but girls this is what I have been using for the last month and this is probably the answer to your question!

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

Olverum Bath Oil

If any of you know me at all, you will know that a nice long bath is my idea of bliss, so when the lovely PR at Olverum offered to send me out a luxurious Bath Oil, I was already planning what I could read while I soaked in the bath. For me, bath time is my chance to relax and escape the world for an hour or so, granted one of the kitties will want to be in the bathroom at the same time as me, but it is as close as I am going to get to me time.

Olverum is a unique and highly concentrated, therapeutic bath oil which contains 10 pure essential oils, carefully blended to work synergistically and they include:

• Siberian Fir Essence - 
• Lavendin
• Eucalyptus
• Lemon
• Rosemary
• Exotic Verbena
• True Lavender
• Lime
• Juniper
• Geranium

Putting all of these together you can probably see why an Olverum bath is a very effective way to naturally relieve stress and help you achieve a great nights' sleep. It is also a great way to ease aching or sore muscles and is the perfect soothing antidote to a cold or flu. All with a gorgeously aromatic, unisex scent. 

For many years Olverum survived by word of mouth - a cult product known in the UK to only a small number of passionate devotees. Now beautifully re-packaged, yet still retaining the same formulation loved for over eight decades, Olverum recently relaunched under new British ownership.

So how did I get on with it? A few drops of this will have your bathroom smelling like a relaxing spa without being overpowering, In fact, even when I was in my lounge grabbing my kindle whilst the bath was running, I could smell it.

The fact that this is an oil would make you think this might feel a tad greasy on the skin, but actually, it's not in the slightest. It leaves your skin feeling soft yet supple, without any grease whatsoever. My feet were aching from being on them all day and head was a tad sore from a busy journey home (Londoners, you will feel my pain!) but this made me wind down instantly and soothed my feet too. It's a bit like a massage in a bottle!

Because this is a unisex fragrance, my hubby even likes it (note to hubby - I know where it is and I will be able to tell if you've used it!) so this would even be a great Christmas gift for both Women and Men.

Olverum is a relatively affordable luxury. The 125ml size is £29.00 and will be enough for 25 baths, the 250ml size is £53 and enough for 50 baths. The travel set is £19 and enough for 9 baths. Their main stockists are Liberty, Conran, Harvey Nichols and Fenwick.

If you're like me and live for a long bath at the end of the day, this will be right up your street!

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

Best Beauty crackers 2017

Beauty Advent Calendars are huge this year, my post has over 70 listed in it (here) and if you can't decide which one is best for you there are a few alternative options which are just exciting - Beauty Crackers.  Beauty Crackers is one of my most requested posts in the last few weeks and it has taken some doing getting bits of information from people but here are the ones that I feel fit within the 'Best Beauty Cracker' category.

image credit

Marc Jacobs is offering up two Beauty Crackers for 2017. The first one is called 'The Sex Kitten' Cracker Makeup Gift Set - This Cracker contains two travel-size products which are Le Marc Lip Crème, Mini and Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, Mini. Retails for just £13 here. The second cracker is called The Night Owl and features a three piece eye collection made up of Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, Petite Highliner Gel Eye Crayon and the Petite Magic Marc'er Precision Pen Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner and it retails for £24,

Lime Crime Diamond Crushers Cracker Box (£21 here) features three of Lime Crime’s mini Diamond Crushers encased in a beautiful bright red cracker. Uniting three mini editions in each, there are three cracker colour options to choose from: ‘Golds’ unites rose golden champagne shades ‘Lit’, ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Dope’; ‘Glinda’ features sparkling pinks ‘Choke’, ‘Acid Fairy’ and ‘Pink Pearl’; ‘Unicorn’ contains ethereal, vibrant shades ‘Unicorn’, ‘Black Unicorn’ and ‘Unicorn Queen’.

Gatineau - The Gatineau Christmas Cracker Set combines a miniature duo of best-selling products for targeted care. Housed in limited edition packaging, the luxurious gift set is the perfect stocking filler or tree decoration, helping to keep your complexion looking youthful and fresh. The Set Contains: DefiLift 3D Revolumising Lip Care (10ml) and Collagen Expert Wrinkle Corrector (10ml) £32.

Jo Malone - Now Christmas isn't Christmas without an amazing array of gifts from Jo Malone and having been the lucky recipient of many a Jo Malone cracker, this is one that I love the look of.  Inside you will find three Jo Malone Minis by way of Blackberry & Bay cologne, a body wash in the fresh Basil & Neroli scent and a English Pear & Freesia body cream. Priced at £34 it will soon be available.

Sarah Chapman - This Skincare cracker from Sarah Chapman is another one which has caught my eye. Inside there are two products - a 5ml Overnight facial and a 5ml morning facial product, both of which I've read rave reviews of and neither have yet crossed my path. priced at £29.

Omorovicza - I have said this a few times now, but Omorovicza is an incredible brand and this cracker made me whoop with glee. Inside you will find the purifying Moor Cream Cleanser and the Refining Facial Polisher which are both 30ml. A great introduction to the brand if you have never come across and tried anything before and at just £25.

The White Company - Seychelles Christmas cracker gift set from The White Company contains three products which includes the Seychelles Hand & Body Crème (50ml), Seychelles Mini Shower Gel (50ml) and Lip Balm (10ml) and all for just £25.

Eve Lom - If a beautiful Cracker is what you want, then Eve Lom has a wow factor with their Kiss Mix one.  Priced at £25 inside you will find Kiss Mix Original which is an incredible lip treatment and Kiss Mix Colour - Demure which is described as being an ultra-hydrating formula that can be applied under lipstick, over lip colour, or worn alone for a soft, pearlised sheen.

Yardley - Featuring a 50ml tube of their English Rose hand cream, at £4, this is an absolute bargain and it looks just so pretty.

Elemis - This is one cracker that I can imagine being really popular. The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Cracker contains a cleansing cloth, a 20g Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and the offer of a FREE 15 minute Pro-Collagen Treatment and all for just £19.

La Roche-Posay - An increible skincare brand with a cracker to boot. The La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Cracker is described as being a perfect stocking filler or Christmas gift and contains a replenishing lip balm and a nourishing hand balm that work in tandem to protect and hydrate. Priced at just £12.

L'Oreal - This year L'Oreal are offering up three different Beauty Crackers with Read my Lips Nude, Pink and Red and inside each one of these crackers you will find a Colour Riche Lipstick and Lipliner in matching shades and they cost just £7.99 each.

Philip Kingsley - The Polished Perfection Gift Set contains the well-loved and cult beauty product which is the Elasticizer and a PK Prep Polishing Balm.  Wrapped inside this festive-looking cracker you can grab this one for just £10.

Sanctuary Pamper Cracker - This cracker aims to have you pampered from top to toe with seven little treats. Including a Hand Cream 30ml, a Thermal Detox Sachet 15g, 75ml Luxury Bath Float and more, you can grab it for just £12.50.

This Works - The Big Bang from This Works is really lovely in that it contains a Deep Sleep™ Pillow Spray, which if you have not tried you should as it is amazing and a luxurious eye mask housed in cracker-shaped packaging. Priced at £12.

Invisibobble - I adore these little hair bands and have totally switched from using any other type of hair band in my hair.  For Christmas, if you are as big a fan as me, this cracker contains a trip pack of bobbles, or 9 of them in total for just £12.

Molton Brown - Again for 2017, Molton Brown have two offerings to tempt you with.  The first is The Pink Pepperpod Cracker which contains three products from the Pink Pepperpod range all generously sized is priced at £20.  The second option is the Distinguished Treats Cracker and this one contains four 50ml products including the Bushukan Body Wash which smells just incredible and again it costs just £20.

Nuxe - The Nuxe Holiday Skincare Cracker is an absolute beauty and a must for Nuxe fans. Inside you will find three of Nuxe most well known and loved products which includes the incredible Huile Prodigieuse Gold and all for just £10.

label.m - This Diamond Dust Body Lotion is housed in a limited-edition sparkling cracker gift box and looks very snazzy. Priced at £14.95.

Timebomb - Bright green and super cute, it contains two mini versions of the Time Bomb Hand-to-Hand Combat Hand Cream (30ml) and costs just £10 from QVC.

Caudalie - Again this year there are two offerings of Beauty Cracker from Caudalie.  Starting with Hydration Essentials which has three must have products inside which includes Micellar Cleansing Water, Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet and Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum for just £10.  The second option called Body Essentials contains Thé Des Vignes Fragrance, Thé Des Vignes Shower Gel and Thé Des Vignes Body Lotion and again it costs just £10.

Decléor - Inside this cracker from Decléor is a 50ml Intense Nutrition Hand Cream which is described as being a light hand cream with delicate floral notes is ideal for use throughout the day to leave skin beautifully scented and provide essential care for hands and nails. Priced at £12.

Cowshed - This year there are three offerings and there is a choice of Bullocks which contains a Body Wash and Soothing Moisturiser or the Hand and lip Cracker within which you will find a Lip Balm and Hand Cream. Alternatively and quite cleverly, if you are a fan of Cowshed or have been waiting for a reason to try some of their products there is this trio of crackers which can be used as gifts or kept for yourself and it is priced at £30and is an absolute bargain.

There will as we get closer to Christmas be a lot more crackers being announced and as with my Advent Calendar post, this one will too be updated and I have some further crackers to share.

Are you a Beauty Cracker fan?

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

The Pixi Glow Tonic Challenge

Pixi by Petra is without a doubt a brand that I am a huge fan of.  Their cult beauty product Glow Tonic is one that I use regularly and one that I recommend to so many people who complain about their skin.  To that end, this little box of treats arrived through my door a few days ago with the question - Do You Want Brighter Skin?  Well yes, don't we all is my answer.  So, Pixi have set a challenge using the hashtag #GlowTonicChallenge to help you get the Pixi Glow and you can win a years supply of Glow Tonic and this is how.

Pixi Glow Tonic is a best selling cult favourite, I am sure everyone who reads my blog will have heard of it and the majority of you tried it.  The toner accelerates cell renewal to reveal radiant, healthier looking skin.  It is alcohol-free and contains a few key ingredients such as Glycolic Acid, Ginseng, Aloe Vera and both Fructose and Sucrose and in turn, they exfoliate, improve circulation, soothe, hydrate and brighten the skin.

To take part in the #GlowTonicChallenge there are three steps:

• Step 1 - Saturate a cotton wool pad with Glow Tonic or use the pre-saturated pads and sweep across the face and neck.
• Step 2 - Once complete, take a look at the makeup, dirt, grime, dead skin cells and other detritus on that pad - this is what causes skin dullness - rank!
• Step 3 - Post a selfie of you taking the challenge using the hashtag #GlowTonicChallenge and by tagging @pixibeauty on Instagram.  One winner will be picked each week.

That is all there is to it.  You can read more about the competition on the Pixi website and good luck to everyone who enters!

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