Christian Breton Skincare

A brand I have really enjoyed getting to know is Christian Breton and I have enjoyed using both the Delicious Face Oil (review here) and some products from the Eye Priority Range (review here) I have since added two further products from the skincare range to my stash.

The Christian Breton Exfoliating Lotion Eclat Jeunesse Lotion is described as being a gentle yet effective exfoliating toner that revives a dull complexion. Suitable for all skin types, it contains very gentle fruit acids and is gentle enough to be used as part of both your morning and evening skincare regime.  

What I love about this lotion is just how kind it is to the skin rather than being harsh and this is because of the ingredients used:

• Glycolic acid: helps to eliminate dead cells, tone and firm the skin
• Fruit Acid: Thanks to its "peeling" effect and its action on cell renewal, it helps to smooth wrinkles, to blur the pigmentary spots and irregularities of the skin

Perfect for use both in the morning and in the evening, I love how soft and smooth my skin feels after using this. 

When it comes to Face Masks, I absolutely love a good sheet mask and these Charcoal Face Masks are described as being a multi-benefit mask which is described as being to visibly reduces the appearance of pores and deeply purify and detoxify the skin.

Its biggest advantage? For me it is how incredibly hydrating the masks are and how hydrated my skin feels after using them.  

There are four main ingredients which are worthy of a mention with these masks and one of them came as a bit of a surprise to me:

• Charcoal: used for centuries, charcoal has many purifying and detoxifying properties. It removes excess sebum, traces of pollution and impurities.
• Volcanic ash: this helps the skin to eliminate toxins. Pores are less visible and the skin is revitalized.
• Caviar: rich in vitamins, it slows down the skin’s ageing process. The skin is left smoother and firmer.  This was the surprise ingredient for me!
• Algae: deeply hydrates your skin whilst protecting it thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

As with all masks, your skin needs to be thoroughly cleansed before using and where possible exfoliated.  Then all you need to do is apply the mask and in doing so, smooth out any air pockets which appear and  then leave it on for around 25 minutes.  This gives the mask time to work its magic and I always find there is very little serum left on my skin once I do remove everything, but for anything which is left, you simply pat it gently into the skin until it is absorbed.

These masks are designed to be used at leave once or twice a week and each box contains three masks.  A tip I read online when using these masks is to refrigerate the unopened sachet for 10 minutes before use to enhance the cooling effect, so this is something I am going to try as it sounds heavenly.

If I have tempted you to give Christian Breton a try, then both of these products can be found via Lookfantastic (here) and if you are quick, use the code LF15 at the checkout to get 15% off your order but as always read the small print first and all offers are subject to availability.

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

Newly Released Wishlist

I love procrastinating, I am either doing it on Pinterest or reading the 'New In' beauty pages of websites such as Selfridges, SpaceNK, Escentual, LookFantastic and even Superdrug to name a few. Not all of these products will be brand new as in straight off the production line, it could be that they are a new brand to the company and it might just be possible that I have missed the launch. From there, you can pretty much guarantee that there is a whole host of products which capture my attention. 

I am also a massive advocate for saving money where possible with beauty purchases, so I’d also recommend bookmarking dealsqueen and checking for promo codes before using any retailer to see if they have any live Dealsplanet.

Herbivore Calm Bath Salts (£16) - If ever there was a brand to be constantly tempting me on my Instagram feed, it is Herbivore.  New to SpaceNK (here) there is an incredible list of products I just want to try The Coconut Milk Bath Soak and these Salts being just a few.  One that really stands out is the Calm Bath Salts. Described as being a truly soothing and calming blend including floral Ylang Ylang, and natural Vanilla, to relax the mind and body; these salts also include lightly detoxifying and beautiful Himalayan Pink Salt crystals. I absolutely love washing the week away with a long hot bath and I very much like my bath salts.  These salts use some amazing ingredients such as Pacific Sea Salts, Ylang Ylang Essential Oil and Vanilla Oil all of which are said to come together to soothe the body in innumerable ways. 

Jo Malone Jasmine Sambac & Marigold Cologne Intense (£75 here)- This fragrance is one I haven't seen much about on my social feed, but I am drawn to it because I absolutely love the scent of Jasmine and it works well with my skin and I am intrigued as to how it will work with the Marigold.  I have one Jo Malone scent which is Rose Oud and Velvet (review here) and I get a lot of compliments when I wear it.  You can find this fragrance from all Jo Malone stores and my favourite place to visit John Lewis.

Damselfly Can't Adult Today Candle (£50) - I love my candles and this one made me cackle because it is a phrase I find myself saying pretty much every single day.  The brand was founded by Melbourne native Christianna Heideman and if you love a good tongue-in-cheek slogan, the Damselfly Collective is a must see. Described as being a scented Candle which is fresh, crisp inhales of apple, clove bud and anjou pear with a hint of white musk, vanilla bean and sweet citrus florals. Like a sunny afternoon for your senses.  Available, with quite a few more within the range from SpaceNK (here).

This Works Evening Detox Spray On Exfoliant (£23.80 here) - I love overnight products for the skin and having attended many press days with skincare brands who tell you that as your skin repairs itself overnight, a product which works well for you is worth its weight in gold.  This Works Evening Detox Spray on Exfoliant is described as being An overnight skin brightening tonic to detoxify and defend skin from pollutants, city grime and environmental irritants. Wake to skin that looks and feels totally revitalised, rejuvenated and fortified. I have never tried an overnight exfoliant, but I live in London and my skin does often feel just vile, even after a double clease.  This product uses Salicylic Acid which works to resurface congested skin for a more even skintone while the antioxidants in witch hazel defend against free radicals from pollution particles and calm inflammation.

Fresh Beauty is a brand that I always see in John Lewis but I am always in such a rush ive never quite made it to the stand.  That said, the Besties Skincare Gift Set (£20) sounds like a perfect introduction to two products I see a lot of on my social media feed. Described as being a duo of complexion classics from Fresh includes the citrus-based Vitamin Nectar mask and Soy face cleanser to restore radiance and clarity to skin for a healthy complexion. The Soy Face Cleanser. which is suitable for all skin types is described as being an extra-gentle gel cleanser that instantly whisks away everyday impurities and makeup-even mascara-without stripping the skin of essential moisture. The Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask with a vitamin fruit complex features a concentrated citrus fruit blend of crushed oranges, lemons, and clementines that helps gently refine the appearance of the skin to soften, smooth, and improve clarity. Then we have the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner (£34) - Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner softens the skin and refines the appearance of pores for a healthy-looking complexion. Infused with real rose petals, the gentle formula cleanses the skin, helping to clear it of surface debris, pollution particles, and residual impurities, while leaving it feeling refreshed and prepped to receive the full benefits of the skincare ritual to follow.  Fresh Skincare can be found online and from John Lewis (here).

Kiehls Instant Renewal Concentrate Mask (£44 here) - I love Kiehls as a brand and their night time range and travel sizes are amongst my favourites.  This Mask is described as being An advanced oil-infused hydrating sheet mask, formulated with cold-pressed Amazonian Oils, for skin that looks glowing and dewy.  What draws me to it is the fact it is an oil-infused sheet mask which is said to be incredibly hydrating, formulated with cold-pressed Amazonian Oils and is a 2-piece hydrogel mask.  Slightly on the expensive side, but it is Kiehls and I have never had any issue with using Kiehls products on my skin.

Aside from all of this I do of course have my eyes on a lot of other new products which ive seen on social media feeds but most of them are not even in any UK stores, so that will probably be another list to come!

I would love to know what products you have your eyes on right now!

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

REN Skincare - AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum

When REN Skincare announce they have a new launch, you know it is going to be an amazing product. One of the newest launches is the AHA-rich body serum and I have been lucky enough to have been using it for a good few weeks now and it is quite unlike anything else I have used.  With Spring having finally arrived and that yellow ball of delight becoming visible in the sky, for me it is time to ensure I am buffed and scrubbed anywhere that there is to be skin on show - those FitFlops will be coming out soon so my feet need to look as nice as feet possibly can and my legs probably need a good descaling, much like the kettle in the kitchen at work.

We have all probably used AHA's in facial skincare, but now having something for the body is a whole new ball game and here is the REN Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum.

Your NEW silky, AHA-rich body serum. What to expect? Improved skin texture by boosting the natural exfoliating process, deeply hydrated skin and a more perfected skin tone. Now you can get that insta-glow all over.

The texture of this serum is really light, much lighter than I had expected for a serum and for me, it is more like a cream but the texture is just so lovely to use.  The first thing I noticed when massaging into the skin is that it absorbs pretty much on contact, so you don't have to stand around for what feels like hours waiting for everything to disappear into the skin before you can get dressed. It also smells heavenly of a citrus scent and leaves your skin feeling so soft and smooth to the touch as well as looking rather fabulous too.

This moisturising body serum will gently resurface and re-energise your skin's natural radiance and it does so thanks to the inclusion of Lactic Acid which gently exfoliates, aiding skin's natural cell renewal process and helps to even out pigmentation and skin tone. It is also enriched with Pro-biotic Extract to help strengthen skin's barrier and prevent water loss and Xylitol which optimises water flow and boosts skin hydration.

The Benefits of using this serum? Well there are four which immediately spring to mind and they are that it: 

• Smoothens and softens the skin surface 
• Improves skin barrier 
• Deeply hydrates the skin 
• Improves skin healthy glow 

What I really love about this product is the fact I don't have to use anything overly abrasive to remove dead and dry skin cells because this one is doing it all for me whilst at the same time smelling delightful and hydrating my skin.

Priced at £35 for a 200ml tube you can find it via the REN skincare website (here) and also John Lewis (here).

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

Cleansing with Caudalie

Caudalie is a brand that if you haven't tried, then you should.  Their story starts back in a French Vineyard in 1995 with Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas, a husband and wife. They believe the grapevine and grapes contain exceptional powers for the skin and they use the best ingredients to develop beauty products that are not only effective but also natural and luxurious. Over time I have used a lot of Caudalie products and absolutely adore the Divine Oil, a product most people seem familiar with because it is a great multi-use oil.

Over the past few weeks, I have been using some incredible products which you can mix and change to create your own tailored

Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water - Described as being a bit of a cult product for Caudalie, this Cleansing Water is amazing at breaking down and removing the most stubborn of waterproof mascara (Benefit They're Real for example) without the need to over rub the eyes. Having been specially formulated with sensitive skin in mind, I love how incredibly well this micellar water effectively removes all traces of make-up and grime and it does so without leaving your skin feeling dry and taut after using. 

It does contain the signature grape extracts that you will find present in all of Caudalies products and it so it smells lovely when using. I have absolutely no complaints about using this Micellar Cleansing Water and as someone who in general hasn't been a fan of such products until very recently, this one definitely gets the thumbs up from me and it costs just £14 for 200ml.

Caudalie Cleansing Milk - If a Micellar Water isn't for you, then Caudalie have a cleansing milk too and whilst it naturally doesn't contain any milk, this has been a delight to use.  Perfect for using every day, the texture of this cleansing milk is just so soothing as it is applied to the skin.  An almost velvety soft texture which has been designed to again remove make up, dirt, oil and impurities from your pores and because it is formulated for those with normal to dry skin, it is enriched with grape extracts, cornflower and oat extract, all of which work to not only decongest the skin to leave it looking bright but it also works at protecting against free radical damage. 

For me, I use this as a morning cleanser because I didn't feel it was enough to remove all my makeup if I have a full face. If I am just wearing a non-waterproof mascara and a BB Cream, then I use it in an evening too. I love how my skin feels after using this cleanser and I love how gentle it is on my skin. Priced at £15 for 200ml.

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser - I know a lot of people don't like foaming cleansers, but this one is just divine to use.  With a handy pump action spray, when used it does transform into a light and airy foam.  I have used a few foaming cleansers in the past and have quite liked how they work, this one is designed to gently yet effectively removes make up, dirt and oil from your skin, for a deep cleansing experience.

It is ideal for all skin types, even for those with the most sensitive skin.  Enriched with extracts of grape and chamomile which calms and soothes redness, there is also the use of Sage which as an astringent helps to combat oiliness as well as ward off free-radicals. I really like that this cleanser doesn't aggravate my skin and it works perfectly well alongside the Micellar Cleanser water if you are a fan, like me, of double cleansing. Priced at £15 for a 150ml bottle.

Makeup Removing Cleanser Oil - I am quite picky with cleansing oils, I really like using them as long as they are not too greasy and don't leave a tacky feeling on the skin.  Caudalie formulate their Cleansing oil using 100% natural ingredients which includes both Sunflower and Castor Oil, they come together to dissolve every little bit of makeup on your face as well as any surface dirt and grime.

If you love the scent of almonds then you will love this oil.  You only need at most 3 drops onto the palm of your hand to gently massage onto your skin and when needed, a few drops of water to emulsify and wipe anyway the excess when you have finished.  As expected there is no greasy film on the skin after using and it does remove absolutely everything in its path, even waterproof mascara.  Priced at £18 for 150ml.

So once the cleansing products have been used, there is a whole host of skincare to discover and again, I am sharing three of the products I was kindly sent.

Caudalie Moisturising Toner - Using a toner is something I have done on and off for years. I go through a routine of liking them or hating them. Caudalie's moisturising toner is designed to improve the condition of your skin as well as brighten and boost the effectiveness of your skincare routine.

Enriched with Vinolevure, Caudalie's exclusive ingredient which is extracted from wine yeast, it is said to not only brighten the skin but also leave you with a more radiant complexion, as well as deeply hydrating your skin. I absolutely love the scent of this with its 

scent of citrus flower, orange tree leaves as well as that of watermelon and crushed mint. Coming together, I find the toner is as soothing as it is moisturising and it completes the cleansing routine you follow really nicely too. At £15 for 200ml, this is a toner I will gladly purchase when I run out.

Caudalie Glycolic Peel Mask (£22) - Described as being a gentle resurfacing treatment, this is a mask which exfoliates and refines the skins texture and as you might have guessed, it uses glycolic acid and papaya enzymes to dissolve the bonds which bind dulling dead cells to skin’s surface.  The non-irritating formula also uses viniferine, which is packed with antioxidants, to reduce dark spots and improve pigmentation.

You only need to use this mask twice a week at the most and in doing so, a thick layer should be applied after cleansing and then left for up to ten minutes before rinsing with warm water, this isn't a mask which dries hard on your skin and because you only need to leave it on for just 10 minutes, it also means it is great for on the go. What I really like about this mask, is that it deals so effectively with the dryness I get on my cheeks thanks to having combination skin.  I have found no redness, no irritation and no reaction having used this mask.  Priced at £22 for a 75ml tube.

The final product in my Caudalie package is the VineActiv Overnight Detox Oil . Described as being a rich all-natural oil, it is packed full of hydrating and anti-ageing ingredients.  I love how lightweight the formula is especially given that it is an oil and it is designed to deeply absorb itself into your skin to enhance what is referred to as your cells’ repair processes so that it can ‘reverse’ the day’s damage. 

it is not only rich in Omega 6 and Vitamin E but you will also find the essential oils of lavender, neroli, carrot and white sandalwood which come together to regenerate, detoxify, hydrate and soothe the skin as well as to eliminate toxins and speed up cell renewal so you’ll wake up with a glowing, renewed complexion.  I love products which can be applied to the skin and left to work their magic overnight, it is almost like having a lazy skincare routine.  All you need is between 4 and 6 drops of this oil warmed between the palms of your hands and then massaged onto clean skin.  Priced at £30 for 30ml.

So, there you have an arsenal of products to Pick n Mix your very own cleansing routine.  Whether you have sensitive, dry, combination or even normal skin, there is something for everyone.  As for me, I adore the Cleansing Milk and the Oil as well as the Toner and overnight Oil but equally and depending on my mood, I like the Micellar Water used alongside the Instant Foaming Cleanser too.

All of these products from Caudalie are available instore and online at places such as Lookfantastic, John Lewis, Feelunique, SpaceNK and Cult Beauty.  

Have you seen any products you like the look of?

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