Barefoot Botanicals: Rosa Fina Secret Essence Face & Decolletage Oil

Barefoot Boticals is a brand which really appeals to me, its 100% natural and offers products to care for the face, hair and body. I havent been using the Rosa Fina Oil for long but I'm already thrilled with the results.

'This lighter-than-light, easily absorbed face & decolletage oil contains the highest concentration of nature’s miracle rejuvenating oil, rosa mosqueta, a natural source of tretinoin and omega 3 & 6; which makes this face & decolletage oil perfect for blemished, tired and prematurely aged skin. A natural skincare classic!'

Rosa Fina Secret Essence Face & Decolletage Oil has been designed for not only one skin type, it covers a lot of skin concerns such as sensitive, mature, rosacea, fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, combination and oily. It helps to restore healthy plumpness to tired saggy skin, Repair blemished or scarred skin (even old chicken pox or acne scars; or post-surgery), smooth away wrinkles and fine lines, heal signs of UV induced ageing and rosacea and balance t-zone oiliness.

I cleanse and tone as normal then add a few drops of the oil to my hands and rub them together to warm the oil, press the oil onto my face, neck and decolletage (avoiding the eye area). I use my ring fingers to gently lift the skin between my eyebrows/forehead, I do this for around a minute and it helps to soften any forehead lines then I finish off with moisturiser. I've been using this everynight for around a week now and cant believe how much healthier my skin looks when I wake up the next morning. Its not an oily oil but its not a dry oil either, it can leave the skin looking a bit oily but its no big deal, I'm only going to bed.

I didnt need to change my skin care routine to fit around the oil, it just slots in nicely and gives an added boost to the products I'm already using. My face has been seriously dehydrated this winter and this oil sorted that problem from the first use. I hate to overly gush about any product but Rosa Fina Oil could really benefit anyone who suffers with extremely dry skin and I'm glad Barefoot Botanicals offer a money back guarantee, it shows how much confidence they have in the products.Have any of you tried this before, or any other products from the range?

Rosa Fina Secret Essence Face & Decolletage oil is £27.95 and can be purchased from here.

PR sample

Feb: Used, Abused And Reviewed.

Another month is almost over, this year is flying by already! Heres what I've used up this month though I did bin a few empties without thinking and now cant remember what they were.

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash. 200ml £11.25: I bought this as a trio last year and still have a full bottle left. This body wash just seems to go on and on and on..... It's SLS/SLES free but foams up brilliantly when used with a scrunchie. Theres not really all that much to say about a body wash really.. It does the job but is expensive.

Would I repurchase? Probably not but only because I dont want to spend over £11 for a shower gel.

Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat. £12: I think you all know how much I love this top coat by now. You can read my review here.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Betty Hula Body Moisturiser samples in Champagne & Spice and Rum & Blackcurrant*: My full review is here.

Would I repurchase? Yes, Rum & Blackcurrant.

Phytobaume Eclat Couleur conditioner: This was a sample from one of the Feelunique beauty boxes. My hair is really long and thick so I only got three uses from it. It seemed to do a good job, conditioned my hair well but by the next day my hair felt a bit heavy and needed washed again.

Would I Repurchase? No

Dior Show Brow: Again, you can read more about it here.

Would I repurchase? Yes but its been discontinued. Booo!

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Blam. Full Size 100ml, £34: I love cleansing balms and this didnt disappoint, smells gorgeous, cleanses without stripping the skin and once you add water it turns milky and is easily removed. The muslin/microfiber cloth that came with it is brilliant aswell.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Jennifer Aniston Perfume (price varies): I'm not going to say too much about this except that its a cheap dupe for one of my fave perfumes.

Would I repurchase? Already have.

Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex. Around £16: You can read my review here.

Would I repurchase? Yes but I wouldnt pay the full price.

Items marked with * are PR samples

Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection.

I'm afraid I've developed a slightly expensive addiction.

A couple of weeks ago I received this bath oil set, I wasnt familiar with all the different oils so was sent the complete bath & shower oil collection. Theres nine different oils in total, each glass bottle contains 3ml of oil, enough for one bath or shower, (though I'm sure you could get two baths from one bottle if you really wanted to make it stretch.)

Contents:

Deep Relax

Light Relax

De-Stress Mind

De-Stress Muscle

 Revive Morning

Revive Evening

 Support Lavender & Peppermint

Support Equilibrium

Support Breathe

I've never really paid much attention to anything with 'aromatherapy' in the name before, I didnt believe that certain scents could have any real benefits but I now know I was wrong. Each 3ml bottle is seriously potent, sniffing the oil straight from the bottle made me think it was going to be really overpowering but once it hits the warm water it fills the room with the most relaxing/reviving scents. The fragrance doesnt fade, no matter how long you decide to stay in the bath.. I spent valentines day in the bath for a good hour with Support Equilibrium and even a few hours later the smell was still floating around.

I suffer from really bad back pain and these bath oils have helped a huge amount. They dont take away the pain but they do help me relax and really chill out which seems to lessen the pain quite a bit.

Directions:

Add to a full bath or massage over torso before showering. Each 3ml bottle contains one unique bath or showering experience.

If anyones interested in bath oils but doesnt know which to go for I would really recommend this collection. The miniatures are great if you travel alot but still like to have your pamper time and they allow you find out which ones you like best before to commiting to full sizes.

The Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection is £28.50 and can be purchased from here.

PR Sample

Scented Sundays #3

This should really be week 4 but I forgot last week, oops!

This weeks perfume is also one I fell in love with through a sample, its not one that I would of purchased or even tried in a shop. I always think of celeb perfumes as naff and the majority of them are but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

Beyonce Pulse 30ml, RRP: £23.50 but can almost always be found on offer.

'Sparkling top notes of Pear Blossom, effervescent Blue Curacao accord and frosted Bergamot give way to Bluebird Orchid, delicate Peony and fragrant Midnight Blooming Jasmine. Finally, Pulse is anchored by powerfully sexy, irresistible base notes: warm, opulent Madagascar Vanilla, seductive Musk and sensual precious Woods.'

I love Pulse so much that I ordered a back-up in the Christmas sales. I would say its more of a summery scent but if you're like me then you'll just wear what you want when you want. The scent is sweet but not sickening in anyway, theres almost a creamy smoothness to it. The staying power isnt great but the price isnt going to break the bank and I love it so much that I dont mind having to top up more than I normally would.

I dont really get whats going on with the bottle? Its hideous and not practical for carrying around in your bag. What were you thinking Beyonce??

Pulse is a nice everyday fragrance and I'm sure I'll be repurchasing untill the sad day that its discontinued.

Girlz Nailz Nail Wraps.

I've never really dabbled in the world of nail wraps, I always imagined it'd be a fiddly job and the thought of having to use heat then apply the wrap then heat again was just too much for my lazy self.

I was sent three different designs from Girlz Nailz Nail Wraps, picked out my fave design, armed myself with my hairdryer and set to work.

It was incredibly easy to do, it wasnt a fiddle-fest like I imagined it would be and for my first attempt I thought they turned out pretty good. Note that these pics are after 3 days of wear, after 3 days I just coated the wrap with top-coat to freshen it up and to also make them last a bit longer.

The camera flash kept making the wrap on my index finger look crinkled but its not. I only used the wraps on every other nail as I didnt want it to look OTT. Applying the wraps, filing the ends off, painting my other nails and finishing off with top-coat took 10 mins so not exactly time consuming.

The three designs I was sent: Cheetah Print, Gold Fishnets & Random Hearts.

Whats your experiences with nail wraps?

Product sent for review

Whats In My [everyday, no-brainer] Makeup Bag..

Make up bag from River Island a few years ago. Theres a plastic coating over the fabric so its easy to wipe off any grubby finger prints.

I dont use everything in this pic everyday, some I never use at all (Collection2000 concealer) but all these products require almost no thought or effort which is why they're in my everyday bag.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer (this stuff is hardcore)

Murad Skin Perfecting Primer, Dewy Finish

Technic Natural Lashes (a cheapy clear mascara that I use on my brows, its rubbish and has almost no hold at all)

Virgin Vie Straight & Narrow Liquid Liner (black)

Virgin Vie Black Velvet Liner

MAC MSF Soft & Gentle

Laura Geller Balance -N- Brighten

Laura Geller Blush -N- Brighten in Roseberry

Benefit Brow Zings (dark)

Collection2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (I know I'm the minority but I hate this with a passion)

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

YSL Touche Eclat

Max Factor Bewitching Coral (how orange does it look in this pic. On my lips it shows up really pinky, I love it)

Mac Creme Cup

Bellapiere Eyeshadow in Gold & Brown

MAC 187

Clarins Instant Light, Natural Lip Perfector 01

Maybelline Gloss in Cosmic Pink

L'Oreal Brush

I've lost my Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint, Have no clue where I've left it! So I'm having to use up the rest of the samples I had. Bet it shows up in the fridge or some other random place. Anyone else have a habit of putting things in stupid places? Is it just me who puts the kettle in the fridge and milk in the sink?

Today I bought.. | Rimmel Peppermint Swatch

Two posts in one today, lazy?

Boots still have some perfume sets reduced and a few weeks back I was sent a sample of Diesel Loverdose, didnt expect to love it as I'm not a fan of the usual Diesel type scents but it was love at first sniff! It kinda reminds me of Armani Code but sweeter, I have no idea if the two contain similar ingredients but to me they smell really similar.

I think this was around £25. I wont use the shower gel or body lotion but I couldnt wait to get my hands on it, hunting around online then waiting for it to be delivered just seemed like a scary thought, I needed it now!

I've been trying out the Sally Hansen Insta-Dry and really like it so thought I would try out the Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener aswell. I think this was just under £9. Is it only me who thinks this is pricey for a highstreet type brand?

Rimmel Peppermint has been in my collection for around 2years (I think), well over a year anyway but its only lately that I've fallen in love with it. I find a lot of minty shades usually make the hands appear a lovely shade of lobster but I dont have that problem with this beauty.

I cant get enough of this colour at the mo. I find it lasts a good 4/5 days before chipping, not bad for a few quid. Fully opaque with two coats and its so easy to apply.

Products Used:

O.P.I Ridge Filler

Rimmel Peppermint (2 coats)

Sally Hansen Insta-Dry

Beyond Organic Replenishing Hand Cream.



As most of you will know by now, I have a slight obsession with hand-cream. I apply a lot throughout the day then before bed I go a bit OTT and pile it on.

I know some people arent too bothered about whats in their skincare but over half of what we put on our bodies is absorbed and for that reason I always try to go organic, especially with products I use all day, like hand cream.

Replenishing hand cream, 50ml, £19.02  has to be used within 3 months of being open as theres no nasty preservatives added. Some people might hate having to use up a product in such a short space of time but it gives me peace of mind and its something I wish more companies would do.

Anyway, onto the hand-cream.. I've never had any cream with the same texture as this, at first I thought it was going to be really heavy and not absorb but this wasnt the case. I dont even know how to describe the texture, its like an opaque, yellow, solid cream/balm that needs to be scraped out of the pot.

Theres a certain amount of 'slip' which allows you to really massage it into the cuticles or any overly dry patches you might have. This hand cream is 100% natural and has picked up 6 awards. I havent tried any other products from Beyond Organic Skincare but its definately worth taking a look. As expected, the scent is the usually 'organic-y' type smell but its definately not an assault on the senses. The Shea Butter leaves your hands really soft and theres even Lecithin to help reduce any redness.

Ingredients:

(certified organic at source).

Maceration in Gold of Pleasure Oil of Mallow ,Lady’s Mantle & Comfrey, Shea Butter, Cornflower hydrosol, Apricot Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Sesame Oil, Olive Emulsifier, Beeswax, Wheatgerm Oil, Sea Buckthorn Fruit & Seed concentrates, Lecithin, Preservative, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Lavender essential oil, Geranium essential oil. Nothing else

Product sent for review.



Lately I've Been Lovin'..

I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of products I've been lovin' lately. It's not a monthly faves post so obviously wont be every month but whenever I have a few products that I'm absolutely in love with then expect to see the Love List.

Quite a lot of these products are from beauty boxes so I know a lot of you will have had the chance to try them out. I'd love to know your thoughts on them.

The Love List:

Nuxe Huile Prodigleuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil: I've been using this dry oil on my hair, backs of hands, elbows and any random dry patches I get. The scent is very similar to Moroccan Oil but better. The bottle is small (10ml) but a little goes a long way so I can see it lasting a long time.

Davines Authentic Moisturising Balm for hair/face/body: Yet another multi-use product. This balm can be used on the face, body and hair but I've only been using it on my hair as conditioner. I dont get why its called a balm, its not at all. Once on the hair it feels so similar to Joico K-Pak but without all the Parabens and silicone. This bad boy doesnt leave the hair looking dull or overloaded with silicone build- up. I've been hairdressing for around 10years and would go as far as saying its one of the best, if not the best conditioner I've ever used and the fact that its not full of crap which actually causes more damage to your hair and health makes it even better.

Figs & Rouge 100% Organic Balm: First of all - this stinks! I'm not a fan of geranium at all but the balm itself is brilliant for lips. Again, this balm can be used almost anywhere, it can even be used as a cleanser but I've only been using it on my lips before bed. I apply quite a lot and by morning it has fully sank in and my lips feel brand new! I love the packaging and the other flavours that are available so I'll definately be picking up some more.

Rimmel - Peppermint: The Rimmel pro brushes are brilliant and make application really easy. I've been wearing peppermint a lot lately, its such a gorgeous shade and lasts really well.

F.A.B Cleanser: The cleanser has a pearlescent look which made me think it would be really foamy and strip the skin but its not at all. It lathers up slightly but without the usual foam, leaves the face feeling squeeky clean but without any tightness. No matter what cleanser I use, I'll often get hives but I havent had any whilst using this. It is free from parabens, harsh chemicals and colourants and safe for sensitive skin. I always use a mit or muslin cloth to rinse it off.

MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle: This has to be the best makeup purchase I've made in a long, long time. I dont know how I ever done my makeup without it, it makes such a big difference and leaves the skin looking really glowy and healthy.

Melvita Rose Extraordinary Water: I cant say I've noticed any big changes from using this but I just love how it makes my face feel so smooth and it seems to help with redness or if I've got any heat coming from parts of my face.

Swarovski Glass Nail Files By Mont Bleu.



Mont Bleu glass nail files are made from high quality tempered Czech glass decorated with Swarovski crystals.

As any nail freak will know, emery boards are a thing of the past. They cause so much damage to the nail and often leave the free edge anything but smooth. I was sent some Mont Bleu files to try out, they're so pretty I almost didnt want to use them in fear of getting nail dust all over them.

I've seen glass files with crystals on them before, they looked horrendous, often with glue all over the crystals or the crystals were just too large and made holding the file an absolute nightmare. These files are so well made, the Swarovski crystals are the perfect size and actually help you get a better grip while filing the nails.

Mont Bleu files come in so many different colours, styles, sizes and designs. Filing the nails is effortless and takes hardly any time at all. I keep the smaller file in my bag for nail emergencies and feel quite smug when I catch people are staring at it. I've gave the Swarovski Crystals a good poke and prod but they dont budge, not even slightly.

My pics do these files absolutely no justice at all, they're the most gorgeous, well made files I've ever laid eyes/hands on. All Mont Bleu files can be purchased from here or here for wholesalers. Mont Bleu were kind enough to include a voucher code for my readers.. If you see anything you like on the website then just enter ''BLOG'' for your discount.

PR sample

NOTD | Essie - Smooth Sailing.

Smooth Sailing is described as a breezy lavender blue with a reflection of pearl and is from the Braziliant Collection from Summer 11.

I almost never wear blue polish so I really dont know how or why I ended up buying this, maybe it was the 'reflection of pearl' that won me over.

The pearl effect softens the blue and makes it really wearable, though for some reason its a few shades darker once on the nail than it looks in the bottle.

Products Used:

Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base Coat

Essie Smooth Sailing (2 coats)

Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat

The formulation was perfect and if you take your time with the application you could get away with only one coat. I used two coats, I always do, if I dont then I feel like somethings missing/wrong, because I'm a freak you see.

I also bought some Urban Decay crystals which can be used on the face, body and nails. I think they're too big on the nail, I still havent found any that are the perfect size and its so hard to judge sizes online. If anyone knows of any tiny crystals that are ok for nails then let me know.



I got 2 mini bottles Smooth Sailing and 2 packs of  Urban Decay Rocks, I'll be adding one of each to my giveaway.