Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat in Mango

I love blusher it has to be said, when out shopping I am always pulled towards the blushers so when I attended an afternoon with Sisley to learn all about how to create the perfect red lip look, it was no surprise that my attention was drawn to the range of Phyto-Blushes.

Funky zebra outer packaging and a mirror the size of the length of the casing, two tones of blush and a handy brush included.. I fell in love.

Although it is available in 5 shades I chose to review the Phyto-Blush Eclat in Mango shade.

The Sisley Cosmetic brand prides itself on using natural plant extracts in their beauty products, the idea being that they have skincare benefits when used as well as being beautiful products.

Sisley say 

Radiance revealed, in a single sweep. Its high-tech texture reveals and beautifies the complexion while leaving the skin soft and comfortable.

Ultra-fine, unctuous and silky, for a light, astonishing translucent and long lasting make-up result.

Multiple make-up effects thanks to the Phyto-Blush Eclat duos, which adapt to all skin tones and looks, from the most natural to the most sophisticated.

An original compact design: a feminine, elegant and modern accessory.

The soft focus effect minimizes surface imperfections and fine lines. The skin looks smoothed. The light powder finish can be modulated to the desired intensity. 

Active Ingredients:

Woodmallow extract: moisturizes and softens
Linden extract: softens, soothes
Corn: nourishes, increases hydration
Gardenia extract: softens, moisturizes
Ginkgo biloba extract: boosts surface microcirculation, fights free radicals 

Rosehip extract: tones

My thoughts 

I am going to have to do a face of the day wearing the blush as I had a really hard time trying to capture the blush blended to do it justice. Above are the two shades separately, the creamy peach colour is just about visible on my skin.

Super soft and silky smooth powder texture with buildable colour. There are two shades - a lighter creamy colour (like the fleshy inside of a Mango) and a darker pinky/peachy colour (like the outer skin of a Mango)

This is a really beautiful and subtle peachy blush that when blended gives a pretty hint of colour but is so fine and natural in appearance that it just looks like you have a wonderful luminous and radiant glow. It looks great when paired with corals and peaches but equally is perfect teamed with red lipstick.

Gorgeous packaging, gorgeous blush. I highly recommend.

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat costs £48.50

*PR Sample

New CID I-Prime Foundation Primer - Review

I am not sure if it is an age thing but I never used primers until a few years ago and now I mostly prefer wearing them.. I suspect I like the way they fill the pores in (the pores are more noticeable as I am getting older..unfortunately) to give a lovely smooth appearance to my skin before applying my foundation.

New CID i-prime Foundation Primer is one of my favourites for smoothing the skin, leaving it silky soft and is a fantastic prep base for my foundation.

New CID claims 

i - prime helps to blur imperfections, giving the skin a smoother and more radiant appearance. i - prime contains ATP (andenison tri-peptide) a skin care ingredient that helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function and also adds the bounce and radiance back to the skin that we lose as we age.

This lightweight serum gives a gorgeous, smooth texture and appearance to the skin. It allows foundation to glide on easily and create a a long lasting flawless finish.

My thoughts 

I like the smart packaging and the pump action bottle. 2 pumps provides enough product to use. The actual product is a lightweight gel/cream texture which I absolutely love and feels lovely applied to the skin. If you don't like the strong silicon textures and feel of other primers I think you will love this.

I-prime does exactly what it sets out to to do - smooths and preps skin and does a good job of keeping foundation in place. It smells good too!

New CID i-prime Foundation Primer costs £28 for 30ml

*PR Sample

KIKO Make Up Milano Fierce Spirit Colour Shock Eyeshadow Swatches

Gorgeous cream eye shadows from Kiko Cosmetics, these are part of the Limited Edition Fierce Spirit Collection (more posts coming soon).

Colour Shock Longlasting Eyeshadow is available in 8 shades. I have two here - Decisive Stone and Fresh Mojito.

They can be used as an all over shadow or as an eye liner and they are waterproof.

I can testify to their lasting power, these do not budge. It took a lot of goes and plenty of remover! Texture wise they are buttery soft and very smooth to apply. Did I mention they are rather stunning and vibrant?

Swatches 

Kiko Fierce Spirit Colour Shock Long Lasting Eyeshadow cost £6.90 

*PR Samples

Models Own Hed Kandi - Bora Bora Nail Polish

Love this gold shimmer nail polish from Models Own. Bora Bora from the Hed Kandi range is like pure liquid gold. Like dipping your toes into glistening sands. Gorgeous.

Take me to Ibiza now!

Models Own Hed Kandi Bora Bora nail polish costs £5 

*PR Sample

* I applied 2 coats

Perfume Sample Saturday - Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.100 Review

The newest Liz Earle Eau de Parfum has just been released - Botanical Essence No.100 has been created in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society to celebrate the centenary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013.

Liz Earle says

A fresh floral fragrance capturing the sublime, uplifting joy of entering a British florist's shop.

Over 90% derived from natural ingredients.

Containing the following

Mandarin
Clove Leaf
Bergamot
Damask Rose
Indian Jasmine
Orange Flower
Ylang Ylang
Vetiver
Cypress
Sandalwood
Rose Scented Geranium
Bourbon Vanilla

My thoughts

As you would expect this fragrance is a strong and heady floral and if you love floral perfumes then you will adore this one.  There is no denying this a gorgeous blend packed full of blooms, on initial spray the beautiful rose scents burst through but this soon dissipates to bring forward the jasmine and neroli. I cannot detect the more woody notes or the vanilla at all.

Personally this leans too heavily on the florals for my taste and more particularly my delicate and sensitive hay fever ravaged nose but I know my mum will LOVE it as it harks back and reminds me of the days of the popular power scents and is similar to those that she loved and still appeal.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.100 EDP costs £47 for 50ml.

The Micellar Cleansing Water Blind Trial With Escentual.com

When I heard that Escentual.com were looking for people to take part in a blind trial of Micellar waters I promptly headed over to the site to register my interest. I haven't really given cleansing waters a go  (apart from Melvita Fresh Cleansing Water) and sometimes feel like I am the only person that hasn't tried the iconic French Pharmacy favourite Biorderma so when this opportunity arose I felt I HAD to take it.

Luckily I was one of the 100 chosen to take part and this morning my 7 anonymous droppers arrived labelled A-G.

14 days - 7 products 

Each product is to be rated on

Cleansing power
Pleasure of use
Reactivity
Moisture balance
Bottom line 
Overall favourite

The waters on trial are:

- Dior Instant Cleansing Water
- Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals
- Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleanser Water
- Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-Up Remover
- La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution
- Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution
- Vichy Purete Thermale Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution

 I cannot wait to log my thoughts and then see the results of this trial. Exciting don't you think!

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Eau De Toilette Review

I admit to being rather shallow when it comes to choosing scents for my husband ..I tend to get drawn to the advertising (usually the man advertising it) and if it appeals to me then I go and have a spray of it. One of my all time favourite male fragrances is Boss Bottled - the advertising had me at hello ;-)

An example of this happened when we were walking through House of Fraser one day, right in front of me I was greeted with the poster for Viktor & Rolf's Spicebomb. If you are not familiar with it, it is of a topless muscular man with a very attractive smouldering face who has the tag in the above photo in his mouth. Well who could refuse to try the fragrance presented with that? Not me.

It worked, I had a spray, loved it and called my husband back to have a squirt and he liked it too. Win.

Viktor & Rolf say

The perfect balance between strength & elegance, intensity & subtlety. Powerful, daring, sensual...
Spicebomb reveals masculinity from every angle

Top notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Pink Pepper and Elemi

Heart notes: Saffron, Cinnamon and Paprika

Base notes: Tobacco, Vetiver and Leather 

My thoughts 

From the unusual grenade designed bottled that triggers to spray, to the explosion of Spice this is an all masculine scent. Spicy and sexy this smells incredible on my husband. A marriage of opposites the spice is set nicely against the subtle sweetness of the fruit.

Although I do think this is one that is going to split opinion. I know that a few members of our family were surprised it appealed as it really wasn't for them.

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT 50ml costs £47