Sample Sachet Sunday - L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Repair 10 BB Cream

I was spending an impromptu  night away from home and in an effort to keep things ultra light AND use up the rather full sachet collection I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and picked up this sample - L'Oreal Revitalift Repair 10 BB Cream. 

L'Oreal Says 

Our NEW anti-ageing multi-tasker with BB perfection. Available in 2 skin perfecting shades. SPF 20.

Multi-perfecting anti-ageing moisturiser. Targets 10 signs of ageing. Apply each morning. Avoid the eye area.

Sample shade - Medium Tinted

My thoughts

Obviously I cannot comment on the effectiveness of this product as an anti ageing cream as I couldn't possibly know after just one use, however sachets give a a fair idea of whether based on the sample you would go out and purchase a full size bottle...

My sample sachet was in shade medium and I was concerned that it was going to be too dark but in the event it was ok. I wasn't keen on the scent at all. I used this as my moisturiser and instead of a foundation.

Texture wise this was quite thick and it felt like I had to drag it around my skin. It absorbed fast into my skin and felt really dry on my skin. I was hoping to have felt more moisturised and hydrated. This BB Cream calmed down the appearance of the slight redness that I suffer from and evened out my skin tone but I would have liked far more coverage than this provided... You can see from the images above that it is barely detectable on my skin.

After an hour I really did not like just how dry my face felt and it started to feel itchy too, what I really wanted to do was remove it and apply a normal moisturiser but as I didn't have one with me I had to settle for some foundation (YSL) that I found in the bottom of my make up bag applied over it instead!

Not for me.

Perfume Sample Saturday - Lady Gaga Fame Eau de Parfum

Launched in September 2012 Lady Gaga Fame (Black Fluid) is the first fragrance from Lady Gaga. Created in collaboration with Coty Inc and Lady Gaga's own perfume brand - Haus Laboratories.

Described as -

Tears of Belladonna 
Crushed heart of Tiger Orchidea with a black veil of Incense 
Pulverised Apricot and the combinative essences of Saffron and Honey Drops

First of its kind, this perfume is an innovation in fluid technology  It's black like the soul of fame, but invisible once airborne.

My thoughts

Loud, ostentatious and brash, a real show stopper. A scent that announces your arrival. That was what I was expecting from the first perfume by Lady Gaga. However, what I actually got was a fragrance that is far more understated than that.

Unusually this doesn't have the top note, heart note and base note that forms the composition of many perfumes but instead features something known as "push-pull technology” in that the ingredients are mixed to highlight different aspects of each fragrant note at the same time, without any hierarchy.

The result is that the scent doesn't develop as time goes on but is pretty much a constant until it fades.

I found the scent to be pleasant - a floral and fruity blend with a gorgeous back drop of sweet honey.

It smells quite familiar, perhaps of something I may have had in the 1990's. Thinking more and more about it I really think that this smells not too dissimilar to Exclamation Original (anyone remember that?)

My husband came into my room after I had applied it and commented that I smelt 'nice'. I suppose that is the issue I have with Fame - it is just nice, not exceptional or anything out of the ordinary and to be honest I was expecting this celebrity fragrance to offer something a little bit more.

Of course there is the gimmick of the black fluid that turns clear, an interesting touch, that may appeal to a younger consumer but for a women in her 30's did nothing to add to the scent experience.

I feel that this scent will appeal to a younger audience, someone more my age may prefer a fragrance with more depth and complexity.

Lady Gaga Fame Eau de Parfum 30ml retails for £25 

New CID Cosmetics i-gloss Trio Collection Gift Set - Nude

Now you all know how much I love lip gloss particularly a fabulous nude shade with a bit of sparkle that imparts the appearance of a full and luscious pout...

All I can say is why I have I not discovered New CID Cosmetics i-glosses earlier!

2 days before Christmas this lovely trio of glosses were delivered to my door and already one or another is in my handbag on any given day.

Three fabulously wearable nude shades

Swatches of i-gloss Trio Collection - Nude

L-R Honey Pot, Tickled Pink and Coconut Ice

Honey Pot - Is a gorgeous sheer nude packed with golden shimmer (no scent)

Tickled Pink - Brings a touch of pink to your lips with added cool shimmer (fruity scent)

Coconut Ice - A lovely creamy nude/peach with a fine shimmer (bubblegum scent)

The packaging is smart, the brush applicator is short for easy application. However..What sets this apart from just another gloss and what I really do love is the clever design. On the side of the tube is a mirror and when you turn the lid to open the gloss it lights up meaning you can literally apply this anywhere on the go. I am all for multipurpose products :-)

New CID Cosmetics i-gloss Trio Collection Gift Set retails for £25.

As each i-gloss normally costs £16.50 this set represents excellent value - more details can be found at www.newcidcosmetics.com

*PR Sample

Liz Earle Perfect Finish Powder Foundation - Review

Regular readers of BeautySwot will know that my preference is firmly on the side of liquid foundations so when it comes to powder foundations they have a long way to go to impress me. However, I am not averse to trying them to see if I can be swayed away from the liquid.. one of the latest ones I have been testing out is this one by Liz Earle.

Perfect Finish Foundation in shade 03 Soft Beige

Liz Earle says

Discover the perfect finish to your skin. Soft and feather-light for a natural-looking, matte, yet luminous finish. Our special micronised pigments help minimise the appearance of minor skin imperfections and ensure colour purity, making it perfect for touch-ups throughout the day. Enriched with our own natural source vitamin E, borage and avocado.

Suitable for all but the driest of skin types.

My thoughts

Sleek navy packaging with a casing that feels pretty sturdy, this powder foundation comes with a mirror inside and a separate compartment to hold the sponge applicator. I couldn't wait to use it.

The sponge is super soft and sufficiently thick, application is smooth, light and even, I was pleasantly surprised at just how velvety smooth this felt and looked on my skin. It covered up my redness brilliantly with just one swipe and left my skin looking soft and perfectly matte but not dull. It lasted well throughout the day with not a hint of shine coming through in the usual places (t zone) that I have grown accustomed to.

03 Soft Beige is described as being fair/medium to suit most caucasian skin tones. It was a touch warmer than my actual skin tone but as the product is ultra fine this was barely detectable once applied fully.

The main issue I have with powder foundations is that they tend to highlight the pores on my nose. I was hoping that as it was so good covering up redness that it would make my nose appear all lovely, smooth and flawless but sadly, even using with a primer, I felt that it didn't cover up the pores as much as I would have liked, but I am very fussy about this! This is the only reservation that I have with this product. However, I have to add, I have since passed this over to my sister who (having no pore problems) thinks this foundation is fantastic and loves it.

If you like compact powder foundations I think that this is definitely worth giving a go, with all the extra little bits, the perfect portable travel companion and ideal for touching up on the go.

Liz Earle Perfect Finish Powder Foundation 03 Soft Beige swatched on my skin

Liz Earle Perfect Finish Foundation is available in 7 shades and costs £21.

*PR Sample

New Valentine’s Day Wraps from Nail Rock

Whilst it may seem that there is ages until Valentine's Day, it will soon creep up on us. If you need some inspiration, and let's face it it is never too early to seek out ideas, on what to do on your nails .. I am loving these super sweet Valentine's Day Nail Wraps from Nail Rock.

Available later this month costing £6.65 from www.nailrock.com

Happy New Year 2013!

Click to see the BBC One footage of the London 2013 New Year fireworks on YouTube

Happy New Year!

By now 2013 is in full swing and with it all our hopes and dreams for the year ahead have been ignited. I trust that you all had a fabulous New Year's Eve.

I spent the night at home with my husband where we enjoyed a wonderful meal of Lamb Shanks with a Blackcurrant and Red Wine Jus and root vegetables, with a small serving of rice. Dessert was a delicious, smooth and creamy Caramel Panna Cotta. At midnight we toasted the New Year in with a glass of Champagne and watched the fireworks.

Last year I said that the London Fireworks were the best ever and this year I am proud to be saying the same. The display far surpassed last year's to give us the BEST EVER firework display that took in the Jubilee and the Olympics in music, sound and vision. It was truly a sight to behold. If you did miss it, you can watch it by clicking on the picture in this post.

Most of us will be making resolutions some will be kept, most will not. This year I will not be making a list of resolutions but instead my mantra will be 'Make Every Day Count' .

Bettina x

The Beauty Box Of Detox - Revitalise Your Body and Mind

The January Issue of iN Magazine is out now. With a New Year comes resolutions, intentions and traditionally out with the old and in with the new..and with beauty the same rules apply. The best advice I can give you is to start a beauty regime of cleanse, tone and moisturise and NEVER go to bed with your make up on.

This month I have sought out some fabulous beauty products that will help to renew and revitalise body and mind ready for the year ahead. I call it the Beauty Box of Detox.. . You can read my beauty page by clicking on this link - http://issuu.com/in-magazine.com/docs/inmagjan2013/27