LIPIKAR EMOLLIENT - moisturising emulsion for very dry skin LAROCHE-POSAY

RRP: £11 (200ml as shown. Also available in 400ml pump-action dispenser £16 )

What the promo says:

"This emollient saturates dry skin with lipids immediately. The skin becomes elastic and soft. Light and non-greasy texture absorbs quickly into the skin and does not leave greasy film. Apply once to twice a day, preferably after a bath or shower. Suitable for dry to very dry skin. "

Lipikar contains 10% Shea butter - a nutritive emollient, glycerin to hydrate and thermal spring water as a soothing antioxidant. It penetrates the skin quickly to soothe and restore comfort and suppleness. It replenishes dry skin and compensates for lipid deficiencies, helping to restore the hydrolipidic layer.

Why I bought this product:

Because my mother, who has passed on some positive attributes but also her dry skin to me, told me that the only body lotions worth using on our crepe paper skin were those containing LIPIDS. She's not stupid, my Mum....

Packaging:

La-Roche-Posay products come in simple no-nonsense packaging. As they are usually available from good chemists...they have gone for the 'clinical' sort of image...lots of white, the 'signature' blue rectangle with the name of the product clearly written on the front in black lettering.

Okay.....so it's not glamorous or attractive....but do you want superbly hydrated skin or an ornament for your bathroom? Lipikar can be bought in a white tube which stands easily on your bathroom shelf or in a pump-action dispenser.

Application:

One squirt from the pump action dispenser goes a long way. But if you are going to do your whole body you will need a squirt for each portion! The good thing about the pump action dispenser is that it can be very easily controlled, so you only squeeze out exactly what you need. A small push obtains just a small amount of lotion. You are not obliged to push the pump down all the way each time. I find one application is generally enough in Winter...but in Summer when I am in and out of the pool...another application before going out in the evening is generally required.

Appearance/Texture:

Just as the promo says.....it is a light cream that goes on easily and is quickly absorbed into the skin. It has a silky texture that isn't greasy and leaves skin looking smooth and hydrated.

Scent:

It has a light, fresh scent on application. This lasts for a while but is not obtrusive if you want to wear your favourite perfume over the top.

Longevity:

The effects last a long time and, because so little of the cream is required, so does the tube/dispenser. I find the large dispenser lasts around three months.

Short term/long term effects:

Excellent. One of the best body lotions around.

Value for money:

Excellent. ....especially if you follow the suggestions below!

Sarah's HOT TIP to make it last:

As I have suggested before with similar containers, the flexible tube has the advantage that it can be cut open and covered with cling film...enabling you to gain at least another week of use.

I wasn't going to be defeated by the harder pump action container either....convinced that there was more to be had once the pump no longer worked...I took a sharp knife to the container and sliced it in half. I gained a MONTH's worth of body lotion!

Suppliers:

A good reason for a visit to France! Available from all good chemists.

http://www.garden.co.uk/

http://www.beautefrance.com/

RUSH HOUR -Instant Makeover for lips and cheeks - BENEFIT
£16.50

- What the promo says - "A 10 second makeover...it's a fresh and lively touch up for lips and cheeks...in a silky smooth sunberry shade...it's peppy on all complexions!" This is all that is written on the leaflet inside the box but there are more useful details (full of exclamation marks and very 'American') to be found on Benefit's website as follows: "THE instant makeover for lips & cheeks. It's low maintenance, oil-free & non-comedogenic makeup for the gal on the go. This sunberry color cream is your shade! Apply to cheeks, dot on lips-vroom, vroom...you're ready to go!
Tips and tricks: The twist-up slim-line design makes application mess-free and fast! Starting at the apple of your cheeks, apply rush hour using whisker-like strokes. Blend evenly with fingertips. Then dot on lips and you're gorgeous in a flash!"

- Why I bought this product - I have always felt that the cosmetics industry is a bit of a rip-off, making us buy this product for one part of our body and that product for another. Whilst I am aware that things like nail varnish can only have one use (!) I felt that powders and creams for eyes, face and lips could be used more imaginatively to save having to buy so many products. So, when I saw that Benefit were combining something for cheeks and lips I thought, "Hooray! At last someone is producing a dual purpose product."

- Packaging - I love Benefit's packaging. It is colourful and bright and often quite 'retro'. The 'Rush Hour' box has a glamorous gloved hand sporting a ring over the glove... holding the steering wheel of a car. Inside there is a slim gold lipstick style container in gold with black geometric patterns. Easy to keep in your handbag.

- Application - Just a few dots needed on the cheeks, blended in with the fingers...for a glowing effect. A quick dash over the lips and you are ready. Just the sort of thing you can do quickly in your rear view mirror when the traffic lights are red.

- Appearance/ Texture - Goes on well and is pleasant to apply. Lips are nice and glossy on initial application.

- Scent - Not aware of one.

-Short term / Long term effects - Appearance is good after initial application. The colour is good for my cheeks although, being blonde, I do find the lipstick colour a little dark for me. Application lasts well ...all morning at least. ...although being a fan of Lancôme's 'Rouge Absolu' I do not feel that this lipstick has such a good hydrating effect. I find my lips are feeling a little dry by the end of the morning. The colour lasts well...and when it does fade, it seems to cling to the outer edges of your lips which gives the effect of a lip-liner.

- Longevity - This is a product that I would have used much more in my 'former life' when I was dashing around going to conferences and meetings as a Headmistress. I think it is a brilliant idea to have something to touch up your make-up after a long journey when you are looking and feeling a little tired. My present life-style is not so 'rushed' and I have every opportunity to go and replenish make-up throughout the day whenever I want...so I cannot give a good idea of how long this product would last if kept in a handbag and used regularly but I think the general idea is a good one. Well done, Benefit.

- Value for Money - Product does what it says and is not too expensive compared to other quality lipsticks on the market. When you bear in mind that it is a blusher as well....! Good value.

- Suppliers - Sephora, Boots, House of Fraser
http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/

MAVALA - MAVA+ Extreme Care for Hands

RRP: £9.50

- What the promo says -

"Mava + is an intense repairing and moisturising treatment containing Camomile and Vitamin E to reduce redness and soothe, Shea Butter to nourish, smooth and repair, and a botanical complex which acts as a protective sheild to reinforce the skin's barrier defences. From the first application Mava + calms, softens and soothes hands giving immediate and long-lasting benefit. "

- Why I bought this product -

I had old-looking hands at the age of 18! It must be genetic....but my skin looked 'crêpe paper-ish' from a very early age. Looking at my grandmother's and my mother's hands...I knew where mine were headed...destined to look old before their time....so desperate measures have always been required. Finding the right hand cream, though, is not always easy. Mavala' s products have always been renowned for their effectiveness. I was lucky to receive this as part of a pack of beauty products shared with my niece (thank you, Bianca!) ordered from 'Votre Beauté' a French beauty magazine.

- Packaging -

Mavala's products come in the usual distinctive red and white packaging. A no-nonsense style that is easy to recognise. The box is about the size of the tube it contains so not deceptive.

- Application -

As with all Mavala's hand creams, only a small amount is needed. A tiny blob on the back of each hand goes a long way.

- Appearance/Texture -

Thick and creamy but not greasy, this cream goes on well and penetrates the skin's surface. It leaves the hands looking INSTANTLY SMOOTHER AND YOUNGER.

- Scent -

Sorry, Mavala, but why is it I find so many of your hand creams rather 'clinical' when it comes to scent? I have a wonderful French rose petal hand cream that smells divine and I found myself wishing Mava+ smelt the same. However, if one has to sacrifice scent for effectiveness...then Mava+ beats any other hand cream. What little scent it has soon fades, which is an advantage if you would rather not detract from your expensive perfume!

- Longevity -

As stated above, a small amount goes a long way so the tube lasts a long time.

-Short term/long term effects -

10 out of 10! Hands look silky smooth and the effect lasts all day. Hats off to Mavala! This cream will have to be added to my list of essentials.

- Value for Money -

Excellent.

- Sarah's Handy Hint to make it last -

Cut the tube when you can no longer squeeze out any more cream and civer open ends with clingfilm so that contents do not dry out.

-Suppliers -

http://www.mavala.co.uk/ http://www.mavala.com/
You can search for stockists near you on the website but most good chemists stock Mavala products.

The Caudalie Experience

'CAUDALIE EXPERIENCE' DAY!

When my local pharmacie in Saint Ambroix, Languedoc-Roussillon, offered me the chance to participate in a 'CAUDALIE DAY', offering me a free facial, I jumped at the chance.

Yesterday was the day...and I was treated to half an hour of cossetting in a small back room which had been beautifully decorated with Caudalie spa pictures on the walls, flowers and plants strategically placed and small candles flickering. There were sofas, a treatment chair, a table with the products all displayed and soft, relaxing music playing. I was even given a Caudalie grape herbal tea...which was delicious (and no need for sugar). I was ready to be spoilt!

Obviously, the young lady offering the treatment used as many products as she could on my face in the time available...all of them vital to the preservation of my dry skin....but what the hell? It was nevertheless a most enjoyable experience, even if the aim was ultimately to sell me as many of them as she could to me afterwards.

She gave good advice, was quick to analyse my skin's needs and knew what she was talking about...the chemistry of essential oils etc., so I was impressed.

I came away with a complete personalised beauty programme. Reviews of the items I bought to follow shortly...but here is a brief run-down of the products used on me during the half hour session.

CLEANSING STAGE..............

GENTLE CLEANSER for eyes and face.

My beautician added a small quantity of the facial scrub to this product to gently exfoliate my skin. The mixture smelt very pleasant and slid easily over my face. Whilst exfoliating, it did not feel too gritty or rough. It was removed gently with soft sponges. When I read the box afterwards I realise why it smelt so good and why it is such a thorough cleanser. It contains: grape-seed polyphenols, cornflower water, oat milk, sweet almond and jojoba oils, shea butter, coriander, sweet lime, memon, guaic wood, sweet prange, vetiver, sandalwood and a hybrid lavender. OUF! How do they cram so much in?!!

TONING STAGE........

GRAPE WATER

This was spritzed over my face and left it it feeling fresh and clean and the smell was delicious.

BEAUTY ELIXIR (EAU DE BEAUTE)

Not quite sure what the difference between these two toners was...but both were equally pleasant and this latter comes in a handy handbag size bottle for daily spritzing and feel-good factor. It contains extracts of grape and essential oils of rosemary, orange blossom and rose extracts, benzoin, myrrh, organic balm mint and mint. Mmmmm!

HYDRATING STAGE........

VINOSOURCE MOISTURING CREAM MASK

Now this is my idea of a beauty mask! None of your revolting pink concoctions to spread across your face and hide from your husband/hope no one rings the doorbell! This is a wonderful rich treatment that can just be left to penetrate deeply into the skin and does not require removal. Once again, it is full of all those wonderful CAUDALIE scents that are their trademark. It contains grapeseed polyphenols, grapeseed oil glycerin, cornflower, essential oils of lime, lemon, orange, hybrid lavender, corainder, vetiver, wild guaic wood and sandalwood. WOW! My skin is so dry it happily absorbed the lot in a very short time. My beautician recommended that I use it twice a week instead of my usual night cream treatment. She added to this a few drops of PULPE VITAMINEE REGENERATING CONCENTRATE... a magic little bottle containing a wonderful blend of essential oils: grapeseed oil, sweet almond and musk rose oil, neroli, petitgrain, carrot, sadal and lavender . This latter can also be added to your day cream to transform it into a more penetrating night cream.

FINISHING TOUCHES....

Finally, she applied VINOSOURCE RICH ANTI-WRINKLE ULTRA-NOURISHING CREAM, which smells totally wonderful - the final 'cocktail' of ingredients being grapeseed and linseed oils, omega 3s and 6s, borage oils, chestnut extracts, olive squalane, shea butter, camomile, violet leaves, cedar and beeswax. She added TINTED MOISTURISER to this....a nice touch so that I didn't have to emerge into the world with a face scrubbed of all make-up. Eye make-up was left in tact.

My beautician's final tip was that I should take a 3 month course of CAUDALIE VINOCAPS nutritional supplement capsules to penetrate my skin from within. As I really do believe that beauty comes from within...I shall definitely give them a go once my bank balance has recovered from this month's expenditures and a recent holiday to Italy!

Take my word for it....
CAUDALIE PRODUCTS ARE AROMATHERAPY FOR YOUR FACE!

The whole experience had me luxuriating in wonderful scents which lasted well beyond the treatment itself.