What's in my Eco GLOSSY BOX April 2012

It has been a long wait for this months GLOSSYBOX, but definitely worth it!

Celebrating the fact that April is an earth month, 

the special edition box is 100% biodegradable, 

containing all natural, ethical goodies.

I'm usually not that keen on "organic" beauty products, 

so it will be interesting to try them.

 I found with GLOSSYBOX, that the limited edition boxes contain better, more exciting products.

 FIGS & ROUGE lip balm (RRP £3.29)  

The packaging on this one is so cute! Lovely soft, light lip balm. Certified organic by the Soil Association. Petroleum free, beeswax and sunflower oil based with nourishing Shea butter. Unfortunately, it also contains potent skin irritants like peppermint, limonene and linalool. I could feel a slight tingling sensation when applied it. This might be problematic if you use it on broken skin, i.e.: chapped lips, so the idea of having those irritating ingredients in supposedly soothing product defeats the purpose. As for tea tree...great on zits, not much benefit for the lip area. All that said, I will probably still use the product, because I just cant imagine putting that beautiful tin away.

MONUspa hand and nail cream (RRP £25.95)

Another full size product! Good hand cream that absorbs quickly, without leaving greasy residue on the skin, but making it feel soft and hydrated. I found the smell a bit overwhelming, but if you like lavender you might enjoy it. I cannot find an ingredient list for the product, so can't really comment on those.

 CAUDALIE Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum (RRP £29.00 for 30ml)

I think I'm the most excited about trying this one. I got a very generous 10ml sample of this hydrating serum. I went to the GLOSSYBOX VIP evening with Caudalie and I was hoping that I'll get some of their products in my box. The idea of having a cosmetic product made from grapes from french vineyard is very appealing :) It contains grape extracts that have been proven to be very potent antioxidants.

 PHILIP B. Styling gel (RRP £13 for 178ml)

I'm not that keen on this one, as I don't really use much hair styling products. Will let my husband test it :)

 INIKA Certified organic lip liner 

in 03 Sugar Plum (RRP £11.75)

This lip liner is in a lovely rich coppery red colour with plum undertones.

Overall a great selection of products this month. 

What did you get in yours?

Summer nail polishes - AVON nailwear pro - review and swatches

With the weather being so horrible outside recently, I felt like cheering myself up and painted my nails with these two lovely, summery colours from AVON.

The nail polishes are from the AVON Nailwear Pro range.
The Pink - Fuchsia Fun - is a beautiful bright shimmery shade with tiny particles of glitter, which give it slight pearlized look.
The Blue - Aqua Fantasy - a gorgeous light turquoise mat colour.
The polishes have quite big flat brushes, so are very easy to apply. I found that, like with most colour varnishes, you need two coats for the perfect coverage and even colour pay off. I don't know about the staying power, as due to my job, I never wear my nail polish for longer than maximum two days on weekends, so please comment below what you think about it. They are an absolute bargain at £6, and with AVON often doing offers on these, you could get for as low as £3!

I've got my hands ready for summer, now all I need is a bit of sunshine :)

Philip Kingsley ELASTICIZER - best hair treatment ever!

I have a thick, straight hair that doesn't require much maintenance, so I never really cared much about hair care products I used. Not until I had some highlights done for my wedding last year, that was... I loved being blond, but my hair was like straw - dry, damaged with split ends. I was considering going back to my usual dark brown...and then I discovered the Elasticizer!

 

What they say

"Originally created specifically for Audrey Hepburn, this multi award winning pre-shampoo treatment delivers elasticity, bounce and shine to hair. Also provides UV protection even after washing, helping prolong the life of colour treatments. Visible results from one application that improves with continued use. Fragrance free."

My experience 

Well, if it's good enough for Audrey, it's good enough for me! I got a small 40ml tube of Elasticizer in October Glossy Box. I was a bit sceptical before trying it -  how good can a conditioner be? The product has a lot thicker, almost rubbery consistency, very different to your normal hair masques. I followed the packaging instructions - massaged it in sections into damp hair, left under a warm towel, rinsed off - et voilà! Healthy, shiny, smooth hair! I couldn't believe it.

Since then, I've put it to the ultimate test. I used it before going on my honeymoon in Thailand. Because of luggage restrictions I didn't take any of my usual hair products and decided I'll just use whatever there will be available in the hotels. The effects of Elasticizer lasted throughout my holidays! Sunbathing, chlorine, sea water - my hair stayed shiny and soft. 

Bottom line

I could not recommend it enough! Absolutely amazing hair treatment.

You can get it on Philip Kingsley website. They do a very nice 20ml trial size for only £3.70. If you do decide, that you love it as much as I do, Elasticizer comes in various sizes. It is quite pricey, so look out for it on QVC where you can find it cheaper.

Meeting Sam Chapman from Pixiwoo :)

I am a huge fan of Pixiwoo and have been addicted to their make up tutorials for almost three years now. I was really excited, when I found out that Sam will be in London. On Friday I finished work early and made my way to Boots in Oxford street.

Sam was promoting her Real Techniques brushes, that launched into Boots last month. It was amazing to see her in action: doing make up and sharing tips and tricks of the trade.

 

On the day, with purchase of any of Real Techniques brushes, they were giving away a make up brush organiser. I already own most of brushes (and LOVE them!), but I added a fab Blush Brush to my collection.

 A leaflet singed by the lovely Sam :)

CLARISONIC - my skincare gadget hero

    I purchased my Clarisonic Pro at a Professional Beauty Exhibition 2 years ago and never looked back. Among all the beauty gadgets circulating the market at the moment, Clarisonic is definitely (in my humble opinion) worth investing into.

    
How does it work?

The Clarisonics' cleansing action is based on two mechanisms.
1) The first, no-brainer cleansing mechanism, is a scrubbing action of the brushes' bristles against the skins surface.
2) The second cleansing action can reach beyond where the bristles of the brush actually touch. The brush head oscillates at more than 300 times per second, resulting in something called "dynamic fluid activity". The high speed brushing action disturbs the fluids around the brush (hence the need to keep your brush and skin wet) creating waves of pressure and tiny air bubbles that are propelled onto the skins surface giving you a better, more thorough cleanse.  
   The sonic technology of the brush is the same as in the Sonicare toothbrush. In fact, the management team of company that invented Clarisonic, is the same one that invented the Sonicare.
  
 My Experience
 
    This clever brush changed my skin dramatically. Since using it, it's a lot clearer, with nowhere as many breakouts as before. If I do get an odd spot, it heals a lot quicker and doesn't leave a nasty, red or pigmented mark. My pores are also a lot less visible and overall the skin looks more radiant. I should add, that I have not changed any of my skincare products, so it's definitely Clarisonic, that is making the difference. It's really easy to use, with different speed and time settings. I use mine on medium speed for 1 minute in the evenings.  It came with a few products, that I didn't like, so I just use it with my regular cleanser. I also found, that you get a much better results if you make sure that the brush, as well as your skin, are very wet (making the most of the sonic action). Ideally I'd recommend to use it in the shower.

The Confusion

    I have read some confusing research regarding the Sonic cleansing action. There are some confirming that it works (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12834500) and some proving the opposite (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1875-595X.2004.tb00300.x/abstract;jsessionid=486E74695C5A5EA00DC03D67C19C3014.d02t01). Like I said, I feel that Clarisonic improved my skin, regardless whether the sonic part of its cleansing action works or not. I'm a huge fan and I highly recommend it. 






     The Clarisonic Pro (Plus) that I own costs £179 at SpaceNK. You can also get the Classic -  £155, or the new cool and colourful Mia for £120.I know that it may sound pricey, but it's definitely worth investing into. You can look out for sales and promotions on QVC or www.buyapowa.com
   

CLEANSING - the first step to beautiful skin

   I decided to write about the importance of cleansing, because in my job I often come across people that don't cleanse properly or skip the evening cleanse altogether. Shocking! Especially, if you're investing your time and money to have a facial, effects of which will be destroyed within days, simply by skipping this basic step in your home care routine. Many skin problems, i.e.: congestion, spots, irritation, puffiness and dark circles around the eyes, could be avoided by just cleansing properly. I think it is THE most important, basic step to have beautiful, healthy, glowing complexion. Using creams (however good or expensive) and having facials is redundant if you don't cleanse.

Excuses???

I have heard then all:

- ....I don't wear make-up (what about sebum, dust and dirt?)

- ....I am to tired to do it (That's just being lazy. Keep a pack of cleansing wipes by the bed for those late nights.)

- ....I forget (?!)

- ....I don't need it, my skin looks OK without it. (But for how long will it stay like this?)

It is really simple and doesn't take long, but the benefits will be worth those extra 5 minutes of your time!

How to cleanse?

Regardless of skin type, you should always GENTLY cleanse. Look for water-soluble cleansers. Ask for samples at beauty counters. Good products should be able to remove your make-up (even most of eye make-up) without either leaving a greasy residue nor making your skin feel tight and dry. If you wear make-up I recommend milk/cream type cleansers. Always start with applying the product onto a dry skin and massaging gently over the face, eyes and neck to dissolve make-up. Rinse with water and repeat the process. I do think, that you get better results and ensure you get every last bit of make-up and dirt off, when you cleanse twice. I am a big fan of always using water to rinse your skin. The ONLY time I would recommend using cleansing wipes is when you're travelling or get home very late from a night out. I don't believe you need to spend a lot of money on a cleanser. Considering that it is rinsed of the skin pretty quickly, there's no need for it to contain fancy and expensive ingredients.

Cleansing myths

There are some myths and misconceptions about cleansing, i.e.:

- deep cleansing - there's no such thing as being able to deep cleanse your skin. You can't open and get inside the pores to clean them. 

- squeaky clean skin - there is nothing worse than cleansing your skin to the point of being "squeaky clean". The tight feeling that you might get, is due to the product being to aggressive and drying the skin out. It will not reduce the amount of sebum your skin produces.

- sensitive skin can't use water - I come across sensitive skins with lots of blackheads, congestion and uneven texture, purely because of not using water to rinse when cleansing. Massage appropriate cleanser gently using your fingertips, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, than blot the skin dry using soft, clean face towel. The only time when water can be problematic is when it's too hot.

Ingredients and products to avoid

- Bar soaps and bar cleansers. Regardless of manufacturers advice, that they are safe to use on the face. The ingredients in those products, that make them a "bar" form, can clog pores and leave residue that will make your skin look dull.

- Over-stripping and irritating ingredients, i.e.: sodium lauryl sulfate (not be confused with sodium laureth sulfate). Over-stripping is easy to notice, as the product will make your skin feel tight and dry.

- Irritating ingredients. Most of the time they are easy to find, as the products will be advertised to be cooling, refreshing, deep cleansing or having tingling sensation. These are:

* Eucalyptus

* Menthol

* Lavender

* Mint

* Peppermint

 Such a simple thing, but so much to say :) I will write a separate post about my favourite cleansers and cleansing the eye area.