Clean Reserve Avant Garden - An Enchanting Fragrance Collection

When it comes to fragrances, I know what it is I like but every now and again, I want something that pushes my boundaries and comfort zone.  Clean Reserve is a new collection of fragrances from the creators of Clean, a brand I have featured on my blog a few times with Blond Rose and Warm Cotton. The culmination of a unique, creative collaboration with three of the world's top fragrance houses chosen because of their commitment to sustainability and philanthropy and it has been created with responsibly sourced ingredients and eco-conscious manufacturing and packaging.

When it comes to fragrances, most of us will like either floral, sweet, woody, citrus, fruity or something that sits in the middle. I pick a fragrance depending on my mood and sometimes depending on the weather outside, if it is hot and sunny then something light and fresh whereas as it is dark, gloomy something a little heavier.

The latest fragrance collection from the CLEAN Reserve is described as 'merging the structure of a traditional clean linear Eau de parfum with a luxurious niche approach, designed to transport you on a fantastical journey'.  CLEAN Reserve’s Avant Garden collection uses the finest ingredients grown and harvested responsibly from a farm in the South of France—with an added playful twist, 

“Our new CLEAN Reserve Avant Garden collection incorporates our foundation of eco-friendly ingredients into a luxurious olfactory experience. The result is undeniably unique and positions CLEAN for yet another year of strong consecutive global growth in the category,” said Gregory Black, president of Clean Beauty Collective.

So when White Amber & Warm Cotton was kindly gifted to me, I couldn't wait to give it a try.

A fragrance which encapsulates the essence of Warm Cotton, which for me is a clean scented fragrance - think fresh bed sheets, your washing drying on the line, kind of clean and then with it comes a punchier floral note to give it a bit of a kick.  The two coming together to create a fragrance that is an unlikely match.  For me, the notes of a fragrance are important, you want to know what is in there and how it is going to work, for this one we have the top notes of Aldehydes, Cassis buds and Green Accords and the Cassis works to give it that fruity blackcurrant scent and alos hidden is a hint of Begamot that you really get after a few seconds.  The heart notes of Jasmine, Lillies and Peonies are an incredible inclusion for me, I adore anything which has Jasmine as a note and quite of my favourite fragrance includes it as a heart note.  Working with the heart notes are the base notes of White Musk, Amber and Clean Woods which come together to bring together a fragrance that is a warm floral with a spicy mix and I absolutely love it.  You need just the smallest spritz because it is so powerful a fragrance, but it is one which lasts the entire day, slowing drying down to a light powdery scent.

If this isn't a fragrance that you like the sound of, then the CLEAN Reserve Avant Garden collection also features 7 other fragrances which includes: 

• Galbanum & Rain: This fresh and woody fragrance is crafted with eco-conscious and sustainable notes of galbanum, Sichuan pepper, clearwood, cedarwood, patchouli and vetiver. 
• Hemp & Ginger: Blends cardamom, Sichuan pepper and elemi for a multi-faceted earthy scent. 
• Muget & Skin: Cardomom, jasmine, clearwood and patchouli bring a feeling of warmth in this sophisticated scent. 
• Saguaro Blossom & Sand: Mimosa, jasmine, lavender flower, and rose create a unique scent that is inviting and intriguing. 
• Sweetbriar & Moss: This non-traditional floral scent contains rose, Sichuan pepper and lychee rose for an unexpected elegant finish. 
• Nude Santal & Heliotrope: a fragrance for those who appreciate the beauty in the hidden details of the world around them. It is sophisticatedly soft, comforting and effortless. 
• White Fig & Bourbon (NEW July 2019): Luminous fruits and White Fig cast a breathtaking radiance over a heart of aromatic spices, while luxurious Bourbon vetiver and warm woods wrap the fragrance in a smooth, full-bodied richness. 

Each fragrance within the Clean Reserve collection is cruelty-free, free of phthalates, preservatives, gluten and artificial dyes, plus they are infused with safe molecular naturals and sustainable notes such as mandarin, cardamom, and sandalwood. All fragrances are manufactured in a facility that uses 100% solar energy; the alcohol in CLEAN Reserve fragrances is derived from corn and in a gentle aloe blend allowing for a highly refined and pure juice. Above all, the mindful harvesting processes, in partnership with the top three fragrances houses: Firmenich, Mane and Takasago, of all CLEAN Reserve fragrances supports and improves the lives and livelihoods of farmers and their families.

CLEAN RESERVE Avant Garden Eau de Parfum's are priced at £125.00 [100mL] and can be found at SpaceNK.

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

Evolve Organic Beauty Satin Body Gloss

I am a huge fan of Evolve Beauty and just a featured their Christmas Collection which not only introduced me to the brand but also led to the finding of the most amazing face mask. Evolve Organic Beauty products are lovingly handmade in small batches at their studio in Hertfordshire, England to ensure the freshness of the precious antioxidants in the natural oils, butter and extracts. The products are vegan, cruelty-free and eco-friendly.

Today it is the turn of Evolve Satin Body Gloss, a product that was sent to me as part of this PR Package and it is described as being a beautifully fragranced lightweight multi-purpose silicone-free dry oil for body, face and hair is designed to lovingly nourish the skin and deliver a satin-like finish in a convenient easy to apply spray mist.  Now I am a huge fan of anything lightweight and anything that is a mist because it means easy to use, not a lot of faffing about and usually, it means less mess.

This lightweight multi-purpose silicone-free dry oil is designed to nourish and deliver a satin-like finish and it can be used on the body, face and hair and thankfully, it comes packaged inside a brown glass bottle.  To use, you need to shake the bottle quite vigorously for a good minute to ensure you have mixed everything within the bottle together, otherwise, not a lot happens and the spritz pipe becomes blocked with the most beautiful yellowy gold shimmer oil product.  However, once it has been mixed, you get the lightest of mists on your skin which creates an incredible gloss look so that you shimmer in the natural light.

I like to use this Satin Body Gloss on my arms, chest, decollete and my legs on the odd occasion they see daylight and I love how my skin looks with a healthy-looking glow without looking for feeling greasy.  It washes off just as easy in the shower as any other product you might wear too.

As with all of the products I have used from Evolve Beauty so far, this one is packed full of amazing ingredients which include:

• Camellia Oil - This is known for its high moisture properties and is absorbed quickly by the skin to leave it feeling supple and hydrated. Camellia oil also contains vitamins, A, B, and E which help to protect and nourish the skin.
• Tahitian Monoi - said to have been a Polynesian beauty secret for centuries, it is made by maceration of Tahitian Gardenia blossoms into Coconut Oil and not only is it packed with vitamin E, Monoi oil can be used to help moisturise the skin and soothe sunburn, reduce inflammation, relieve dry and itchy skin, soothe eczema and rashes and can help the skin to appear more supple and soft.
• Mineral mica and titanium add a hint of gold sparkle and shimmer

This Satin Body Gloss is then fragranced with a 100% natural Rose, Lavandin, Jasmine, Orange blossom fragrance with a heart of delicious vanilla and woody notes, so as you can imagine it smells just absolutely wonderful and is very much the Tropical Scent.

This is literally holiday in a bottle and it can be used for just about any occasion that you need to use it for, even just for a bit of a treat.  Priced at £22 here, it is a great little find.

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

L’Occitane Soothing Mask

There are so many incredible launches from L'Occitane right now and I will be honest, I absolutely love it, I have an entire list of products I want to seek out and try.  The one product I couldn't wait to try when it arrived was the Soothing Mask, one of three new masks currently available.

It is described as being a blackcurrant, yoghurt-like texture mask that instantly calms and brings comfort to the skin and it comes with quite a few claims:

After the 1st application: 

100% The mask provides a feeling of softness to the skin *

94% Brings an immediate sensation of freshness *

100% Skin feels silky*

After one month: 

90% Skin is soothed *

97% Skin soft *

94% Complexion is radiant*

As soon as you remove the lid from this pot, the first thing to hit is the fruity scent of the blackcurrant and one which is a fresh scent rather than manufactured.  The mask is every bit as it is described and rather than being something you add your Granola too in a morning, it feels incredible on the skin.

I use a spatula to apply the mask to ensure I get equal coverage across my face.  As directed, applying a generous layer to a freshly cleansed face and then leave it for anywhere between 3 to 5 minutes and then using a cloth, gently remove and rinse thoroughly with warm water.  On a really hot day, like the few we have had recently, having kept this mask in the fridge for a few hours before using it was a lovely little treat because it was incredibly refreshing and soothing too.

My skin after using was silky soft to the touch, the feeling of refreshment and hydration was a delight and whilst it is not edible, the scent is just insanely good and again, adds to that freshness feeling.  

Priced at £29 (75ml) it is available right now.

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

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - Summer Solstice

Whenever I am asked which makeup setting spray I use, there is always one that is recognised - Urban Decay All Night Setting Spray.  It is one product I have bought time and time again and I even have the travel size for when I am on holiday. However, with the incredible weather we have been having here in the UK, I have found myself reaching for my spray on more than one occasion.  

If you are a die-hard Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, then you might just be a tad excited to learn that there is a Limited Edition Version that you need to get your hands on and it is called Summer Solstice.

With its groundbreaking formula which features the patented Temperature Control Technology, which essentially means it helps lower the temperature of your makeup to keep foundation, blusher, bronzer, concealer and eyeshadow in its place, even in hot, humid and windy condition.  I absolutely love that this Makeup Setting Spray not only ensures that my makeup lasts for hours but I love just how lightweight it feels on the skin. I don't want to feel as though I have just covered my skin on a thick set spray or something that does the opposite of what it is designed to do - make my makeup run.  

Summer Solstice does differ from the original All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray because it has a fragrance which is a tropical mix with its notes of crushed pineapple, coconut and ‘a sea salt breeze.’ Despite the fragrance, Summer Solstice does have the same formula that we all know and love of the original, nothing has been changed there. it doesn't affect your makeup in any way at all, other than to ensure it stays where you have put it and that is on your face.

As for the scent? Well give me anything coconut scented and you can guarantee I am going to absolutely love it but if you don't like that scent then you don't have to let it put you off because it doesn't smell of coconut or pineapple, not a chance you will smell like a Malibu cocktail as you walk down the street, there is the very slightest tropical scent but the dominating note for me is the sea salt breeze which, I actually really like.  It is a fresh scent rather than something that feel chemically produced and it is quite cooling when spritzed on the skin.

I am a huge fan of this Setting Spray already and have purchased the 100ml edition as a back up ready for when this one runs out.  A 30ml bottle costs just £10 and the 118ml is £24 right here, but you will have to be quick to get your hands on it because it goes out of stock just as quickly as it comes back into stock.

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