Body Shop Shea/Strawberry Butters

I am definitely a bit of a BodyShopaholic. I can only afford a nice product once in a while from there, but when I do, it is totally worth it. If you are a virgin to Body Shop Body Butter, let me tell you, you are missing out. They have so many, you can't possibly not find one best suited to you and your skin. Body Shop aims to create products using natural sourced ingredients, and fumbles around with fair trading, which is awesome when it comes to contributing your part in making the world a better place.


Pictured above are the 2 butters I currently own, Shea and Strawberry. Both of them smell absolutely gorgeous, and both of them you could eat with a spoon. (Note: Not literally). But especially the Strawberry one. The moment I smelt it, I knew it had to be mine.


The tubs come in sizes of 50ml, 200ml and 400ml. The sizes you see above are both 50 ml, and are perfect if you plan on using them on smaller areas such as hands, elbows, knees and face. I prefer to use them both for hands and face. (That way the smell is closer to my nose! Yay!)


Shea Butter - What it says it is/does:

• It's for very dry skin - It's definitely a thick texture designed for the dryer skin types, but my skin type on my face is oily, and I like to use it as a night cream on my face. Works a treat! In the past I've used Body Shop Mango Body Butter on my face, which is also designed for very dry skin, and this left my face greasy for 2 days! :( Bad times!
• Provides 24 hour hydration - True! Makes my skin lovely and soft all day long.
• Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth - Like I just said above, true!
• Buttery Texture - Also true. See below for a pic of them both on my hand.
• Subtle nutty scent - This is amaaazing. I didn't get the nuttyness straight away, and it tended to remind me of being on holiday as a child for some reason, but it's a really lovely smell.
• Made with Community Trade shea butter - Yay! Team Fairtrade!

Strawberry Butter - What it says it is/does:

• Ideal for normal skin - True. This is brilliant for me as body butters can be very heavy on skin, and this one is sleek and you can barely feel it on your skin once it's blended in.
• Provides 24 hour hydration - Same as the shea butter, yes. Plus, the gorgeous scent stays all day too!
• Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth - This is absolutely beautiful on your skin. I once used it as a moisturiser/primer before applying makeup!
• Buttery Texture - Yes, but not heavy at all like some butters. 
• Sweet strawberry scent - Very true, and yummy. Reminded me of a Barbie lip gloss I had as a child. Very girly and appealing to my inner princess once again.
• Made using strawberry seed oil - It's always refreshing to know a product hasn't been made with artificial scents. 

 Left: Shea Butter. Right: Strawberry Butter. Yom!

My sister is also a huge fan of the Strawberry butter, as seen here in the 2 tubs I found in her room. 

So to summarise these products, if you're looking for something different to a body lotion, and you enjoy products made with care and love and natural ingredients, and have wonderful good-enough-to-lick scents, these are winners. Do have a look in a store, or on their website for the full range of the body butters, and you're definitely certain to find one suited to your skin.

Enjoy!

Savon De Marseille

Or to give it its' full name, La Compagnie de Provence Savon de Marseille. I have been literally niggling to get at this product for AGES. And after browsing the world wide web for what seems like an era, I finally found it here, at Notonthehighstreet.com. I first heard about this brand in a magazine, and I believe it was recommended by Laura Mercier, who I personally adore, saying she uses it on her face and hair and swears by it. And if it's good enough for Laura Mercier, it's most certainly good enough for scum like myself. 


 It costs £3.50 for 100g, with £1.45 p&p, which I think is excellent, after I got quotes for more than double that on sites I don't think were trustworthy. Also, it says delivery is 2-5 days, but it does state elsewhere that it could take longer if there's issues. I think I was very lucky that after ordering it late Wednesday night, it arrived early Friday morning. Anyway, after unwrapping it pass-the-parcel style out of its hundreds of layers of bubble wrap, this is how it looked:

As you may have read, I'm a sucker for attractive packaging, and this is simply dainty and so... English. Just the names 'Gertie and Mabel' make my mind immediately switch to an image of 2 lovely elderly ladies sitting in front of a fire going 'Ooh another soap order, how jolly spiffing Gertie'.

It does give you weight and dimension measurements on the website, but here's a pic of it next to my average sized hand:

Spiffing.

Just a bit about this product, it dates back to medieval times in Marseille, and it's ingredients are essential oils/fragrance, vegetable oils, ocean water, coconut oil and sodium chloride. I purchased the original olive scent first as I'm a creature of tradition and originals to begin with, before exploring the more adventurous 15 other scents (Note: I understand that rose and lavender are not that adventurous). As soon as I opened the packaging, you could already smell it's amazing aroma.

Although, my parents were less amused at this, my mum starting coughing and my dad likened it to the smell of the soaps that his nan used to melt together when he was a boy. I enjoyed it though, and I can definitely smell the coconut in it.

Things it says it is/does:

• Non-drying and very moisturising - True. I've used it just once, and my skin smelt and felt great. I only used it on my face, neck, shoulders and arms, but it lathered up really quickly and left my skin, particularly my face, feeling exfoliated and clean. And extremely soft. For Gods sake, just do not get it in your eyes, it is soap at the end of the day. It could be the best soap in the world, but it is still soap, and you know that when soap is in your eyes, it's programmed to kill. Something to do with alkalines sucking the water out of your eye or something but hey, enjoy this soap!! 
• Added essential oils for fragrance and therapeutic properties - In my opinion, it'd have to be quite an amazing scent to have a therapeutic effect on me. I got this effect last from a Vanilla and Strawberry shower gel. I will have to stop there as I'm beginning to drool just thinking about it. But some people I know quite like the scents listed on the Notonthehighstreet page I linked to, and I can imagine it would indeed have the dreamy floaty therapeutic effect on someone.

So anyway, I do think this product has lived up to my expectations, and it's definitely worth the money for such a progressed brand, dating back to the 17th century, and it comes from France. Apparently the french people swear by this soap, and in most rural french houses, this is the only brand of soap you'll find. I've yet to use this product on my hair also, but if it has the milky effect it's had on my skin, I literally can't wait.

Benefit Posie Tint

Ok, so I got this as a free gift from this months Glamour magazine, but I am telling the truth in saying I have always been curious to try this product out! I was quite lucky to have the choice of each 3 of the free gifts, Benefit Benetint, High Beam or this product, and I chose this one. Posie tint is a sister product to Benetint, but if you click here , then compare it to the picture displayed below, you'll see the difference between the two:

Doesn't that colour just reach out to your inner princess?! Whilst you'll probably agree with me that Benetint should be saved for those of you intending to look a bit more sexy and vixen-y. 

I must admit, I've mainly been using this product as a lip tint rather than a cheek tint, although it's meant for both. I've never been a huge fan of the blushed look, but I did try it out twice on my cheeks and it wasn't that bad. Here's a list of skin tones and how I'd recommend using it:

• Pale skin tone - Perfect for a preppy- English Rose look. If you're going to use it on your cheeks however, make sure you slick some on, and blend it in ASAP, because it absorbs really quickly.
• Olive skin tone - Like me, I much prefer it as a lip tint. I slick some on, leave it for 10 seconds to absorb, then blend it over my lips. If you want a stronger pop of pink, add another layer, and another, and another. This is really nice on olive skin if you use minimal eye make up too. I love wearing a jet black liquid eyeliner and creating a catty-egyptian look with this product, as seen one of the photos below.
• Dark skin tone - I personally think this would look fantastic as a lip tint, worn with a bright eyeshadow, such as yellow. (How summery!) But I also think that Benetint would look great as a cheek tint on ladies with darker skin.

Here are some before and after pictures:

Do you see a difference?

You can buy it for £24.50 from Benefits webby, or selected larger boots stores, and several other shops too, including large department stores such as Selfridges.


It's perfect for those of you who want an added oomph of colour to your cheeks/lips, but don't enjoy using lip products like lipstick or lip gloss, or if you do use other lip products and have issues with them lasting a sufficient amount of time. I apply this, and not only does it last hours, you can eat and drink whatever you want and it'll stay put, like an overbearing parent (Please note: my parents are not overbearing). 


Things it said it is/does:

• Brightens lips and cheeks - True! Not a strong colour, and you can add as much or as little as you like.
• Lasts for hours - As I said, this stuff would last in the Sahara Desert on your lips. 
• Smudge-proof protection - Also true. You can't feel this on your lips as it's not really on the surface of your lips like a lipstick would be, it's designed to absorb into your lips and literally stain them. Ever used fake blood on Halloween? Seen how annoying that crap is to get off your skin? A bit like that, but you want this.

So to summarise this product, I really like it. I wouldn't go far as to say I love it as a lip product, but if ever I was to use a lip/cheek tint again, I'd buy the proper sized version of this. It's a delightful colour as you've seen, it really dipped into my childhood too, as it reminded me of the Barbie nail polishes you used to get. (Awesome). The packaging is also hugely appealing to me, both the box it comes in and the product itself are pink, with a few pretty flowers on them, and Benefits signature writing font, which I personally love.

Here is the picture I talked about before, using this product the way I like:

Enjoy!

No7 Colour Calming Primer

Firstly, can I apologise for the bad photographs in this review this morning? It's early in Sophie time, and not a fantastic sunny morning :( Ok, this product is one that I am fiercely loyal to. I must emphasize the word 'fiercely' as I've used this product now 5 times consecutively, and each tube lasts me about 5/6 months, so I've been re-purchasing this product for at least 2 years. My skin is an annoying plateau between pale and olive, so when I wake up I'm a horrendous victim to redness and uneven skin tone.


It claims to be a primer, but in all honestly, I've never really used it as a main primer. As this product has been a main contender in my make up regime for years, it's seen a lot of changes. Nowadays, I will use a proper primer (see Witch Anti Blemish Primer below) then apply this, then apply my foundation. Seem a lot to you? It honestly depends on what products you must,must,must use in your make up application. For a less heavy feel, try mixing it in with your moisturiser/primer, or mixing it with your foundation. It's really a case of trial and error.


It's currently £11 in Boots, but I always buy it with the £5 off No7 voucher, which appears several times a year. No7 is exclusive to Boots, so you won't find it anywhere else. (If you do, do not hesitate to contact me) .
Here are some before and after shots, as modelled by my face:

I'll give you a couple of minutes to make jokes about my face, then ask if you see a difference?


Thing it says it is/does:

• Beautifully soft to apply - True. It's very slick and creamy. Not too thick, but not runny either. You don't need a lot though remember, just a little bit at a time, then apply more if you need to. Otherwise you will end up looking like Shrek.
• Easily blendable - Like I said, yes, but if you're mixing it with other products, you need to just have a go with it and see what happens. Some moisturisers are a pain in the neck to blend with this, so stick to a moisturiser with the same consistency for optimal results. I recommend Philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion.
• Neutralises/conceals redness - Well I can definitely agree with this, but you'll have to judge from the photos/try it yourself!
• Soothing and non-drying - True. Doesn't harm your skin at all.
• Contains Vitamins A and E to condition and revitalise skin - Yay!
• Contains Liquorice Extract to help soothe skin - Ok, a bit weird, but it works!
• Non-pore blocking - I can't actually say I know if this is true, as I use a pore-reducing face mask regularly anyway, but after 2 years of using, I don't think my pores have ever looked bad!
• Hypo-allergenic - Just when you thought it couldn't get better! Isn't this product just your best friend?! Most No7 products are hypo-allergenic anyway, so you can rely on them if you have skin that can't deal with anything less than super-sensitive products.

So to summarise, this is an utterly fabulous product. I simply can't big it up enough, it's by far my most favourite facial beauty product ever! But I will point out that it really is ideal for pale/olive skin tones that are prone to redness, but it has a sister product that is aimed at giving your skin a boost if you're prone to yellow/dull skin, you'll find it here.


Enjoy!!

Burts Bees Honey Lip Balm

As I admitted in my 'welcome' post, I'm a diagnosed lip balm monster. I'm so in love with them, I have ones for different needs for my lips. I have anything from tinted, to SPF care, to medicated to gorgeously scented. However, this may be one of the only (maybe THE only) lip balms that I have ever used up, then re-purchased.


It's not the cheapest of lip balms, but not the most expensive either. You can get it in Boots, or Holland and Barrett where I got it, for £3.60ish. (I'm a loyal customer to Boots, and Heaven knows I wanted dem loyalty pointz, but I wanted the honey variety first and Boots had just one...opened). 


However, if ever you were going to spend this amount of money on a lip balm, it is totally worth its salt. For those of you who like the smell of honey, you will adore this. It's very easy to apply, it's got just the right amount of thickness, it goes on clear, and it's not sticky! Also, in my opinion, the packaging is very appealing to me. It's always nice to take out a lip balm when you're with people, and for them to go 'Oooh what's that?'. It's (ironically) a hearty shade of honey, with little teeny bumblebees, just for that little extra 'buy me' factor. (Totally worked on me).


Things it says it is/does:

• Moisturises/hydrates/nourishes - Definitely. Particularly in harsh weather conditions. I suffer badly in cold/windy weather, and this has served me well in recent nastiness. 

That's pretty much its promises to you, what more could you expect from a lipbalm?? (It could make you lose 10lbs from your legs, but that's irrelevant)

In short, this lip balm is brilliant. It lasts ages on your lips, smells and looks good enough to eat, and afterwards, your lips literally are asking to be kissed. No wonder Burts Bees is such a popular, trusted brand if even it's smallest products are producing miracles....

Witch Anti Blemish Skin Clearing Primer

Firstly, I have to say that I seriously have loved using this product over the past sort of 4 weeks. I saw an advert in a magazine a few weeks beforehand that Witch were bringing out this new range of cosmestic-y goodies for the likes of me to relish in. The range includes tinted moisturisers and a matte face powder, but the primer was the first thing my heart longed for.

Cost me about £6ish in boots, and you only need about a pea sized amount to cover your face, so it's well worth your hard earned pennies. The consistency is luscious. Really soft, and like most good primers, just glides on your face and leaves it feeling airbrushed (if there is such a feeling). The amazing twist to this product, is the fact, not only has it done what it said on the tin by clearing up my recent cluster of ugly spots on my chin, but it also has reduced the redness I get on my cheeks in the morning.

It also honestly does help your make-up stay in pristine condition all the live long day. The smells a bit odd, but that is most likely the nourishing witch hazel that zaps your zits. 

Things it says it is/does:

• Fragrance free - this is true, it's not over-powered by medical/tangy scents that ruin a lot of products, but as I said, it does have it's own distinguished smell, but that's good! *thumbs up*
• Oil free - Yay! 
• Dermatologically tested - Double yay!
• Prepares skin for foundation - Triple yay? I think so! Definitely helped my make-up glide on, and stay on. Usually I'd slap on some moisturiser to act as a primer (I still do, but I now don't need to use a spatula) but by about 2/3pm, the oil would be breaking through, like Houdini in a box. You could almost hear the oil cheering for freedom.
• Protect your skin from the aggravation that make-up can cause, and create spots - Also true, as I said, my skin is so much more eye-friendly now. 

Definitely would recommend this to someone with oily skin that's affecting the life of make-up on their face throughout the day, and double recommend it to those who need a boost to rid of annoying spots.

Enjoy!

Hello!

...and welcome to my new blog! I know that there isn't a high demand for online updates about beauty and hair products, but I use so many, new and existing, that it would literally be criminal to not put them to use! I'm guilty for being a bit of a product-aholic, and admit that I'm not an extremely loyal user to a lot of the products I buy.


Most people liken me to a walking-chemist. And admit to owning over 20 unfinished lip balms. There's just so many lovely things to try out there, and it's a constant battle to find the perfect product for your skin and hair type (and so little time!). My skin/hair type is posted on my profile information, as you may wish to know what product ranges I usually aim at.


I'll write a new post for the first product I'll have a good bash at talking about, so I don't spoil the serenity of the gorgeous welcoming message :) Here's to hoping I stick to this blog better than I do with products!


Sophie x