VINOSOURCE RICHE
Moisturising Cream Mask - 50ml
RRP : £21

What the promo says:

"A true moisture bath for the skin! This mask, which can be used to replace your cream, deeply rehydrates the thirstiest skin and allows it to defend itself more effectively against harsh environmental conditions. For all dry and very dry skin in need of an ultra-moisturizing, regenerating and soothing skincare product."

Why I bought this product: I bought this following my ‘Caudalie Experience Day’, held at my local pharmacie in France.

Packaging: As this product is part of the VINOSOURCE range, it comes in a white box with the signature silver grape logo, mauve lid and mauve band around the base. The tube containing the Vinosource cream mask resembles that of the Vinosource Riche cream and is a pretty light pink colour embossed with the silver grape logo with CAUDALIE written in green and 'Vinosource in mauve.

Application: The cream should be applied to a perfectly clean face and neck 2 to 3 times a week. The instructions say that you should allow it to penetrate and rinse away any excess product after 15 minutes. However, my 'Vinotherapist' told me that my skin would probably soak it all up in that time and she was right. I much prefer the idea of a cream that slowly blends in to the alternative of applying something whereby you have to hide in the bathroom in the fear that someone might spot you looking like a ghoul, with some ghastly concoction smeared over your face, counting the seconds to when you can rinse it off! I tend to do my face treatment first at night and, by the time I am ready to emerge into the bedroom the cream has disappeared. My husband likes the smell. Always a bonus....

In case of very dehydrated skin or extreme climates, this cream can be applied in a fine layer to replace your day cream creating a protective shield against the elements.

Appearance/Texture: Smooth and silky, it goes on well and rapidly penetrates the skin.

Scent: The cream contains grape-seed oil, essential oils of sweet lime, lemon, orange, hybrid lavender, coriander, vetiver, wild guaiac wood and sandalwood. No wonder it smells so good!

Short term/long term effects: Skin looks smoother instantly. I think the most stunning thing I have to say about this treatment combined with Vinosource Riche cream is that MY HUSBAND COMMENTED ON MY SMOOTH SKIN about a week or so after I had been following the beauty programme. Such a thing is rare, I am sure all women would agree. He asked me at breakfast one day how I felt after my 'Caudalie day' and whether I was pleased with the products....and when I asked why he had asked the question, he replied that he had noticed a difference in the quality of my skin tone. NEED I SAY MORE?!

Value for Money: Used just twice a week, the 50ml tube lasts a long time because only a small amount of the product is needed to cover the face and neck. A small amount seems to go a long way and I have the impression that I apply quite a thick layer. I have been using my tube for a month now and it is nowhere near finishing yet.

Perfect partners:
As part of the dry skin beauty programme the following CAUDALIE products can be used:-
Gentle Cleanser
Grape Water Cleanser
Beauty Elixir*
Vinosource Moisturisng Concentrate*
Vinosource Anti-wrinkle ultra-nourishing cream (Reviewed)
Tinted Face cream*
* REVIEWS FOLLOWING SHORTLY....

Suppliers:
www.caudalie.co.uk
The website lists stockists in your area.

www.beautyexpert.co.uk

VINOSOURCE RICHE
Anti-wrinkle Ultra-Nourishing Cream
RRP : £26.50

This cream belongs to Caudalie’s ‘Dry Skin range’ with grape-seed polyphenols and vinolevure*.

What the promo says :
« This rich, silky cream provides remarkable anti-oxidant action, deeply nourishes even the driest skin and reactivates the skin’s internal moisture mechanism.

Some CAUDALIE chemistry.....
“Dry skin has a smooth surface with fine, taut pores but is also subject to tightness and the appearance of dehydration lines. It suffers from a lack of lipids, which leads to damage of the skin barrier. This barrier becomes permeable to water and harsh external factors. As a result, water evaporates and the skin is weakened. Caudalie ensures your skin is comfortable, radiant and youthful with the Nourishing range for dry skin, featuring grape-seed polyphenols and Vinolevure*. “
What is Vinolevure*?
Vinolevure is a molecule extracted from the surface of wine yeast used during the wine-making process. It has unique moisturising and protective properties because it has the ability to retain up to 100 times its volume in water. It therefore helps to prevent dehydration of the skin and naturally reinforces the immune defences of the epidermis by protecting the skin from drying and irritating factors.
Following use of ‘Vinosource Riche’.....”skin is strengthened and softened. It regains its suppleness, softness and maximum moisture level.”

Why I bought this product:
I bought this following my ‘Caudalie Experience Day’, held at my local pharmacie in France.
What I liked about this cream was that it could serve as both a day and night cream. No need for two tubes. To make it extra nourishing, my beauty therapist recommended mixing a few drops of Vinosource Moisturising Concentrate in with it at night.

Packaging:
CAUDALIE’s packaging is pretty and eye-catching. White boxes with CAUDALIE written in green with a silver grape logo. Depending which range you buy, there is either the boxes have a light green or purple lid and band around the base. No attempt is made to deceive the purchaser with the size of the box, which closely fits the product contained inside. The tube containing the Vinosource Riche cream is a pretty light mauve colour. What I like about Caudalie’s tubes is that they are slim, elegant and light. Great for travelling!

Application:
Morning and evening on face and neck...a moment of ‘pur bonheur’ for your face! Only a small amount of cream is needed and it slides on beautifully, penetrating the skin’s surface.

Appearance/Texture:
I cannot rate Caudalie’s products highly enough....the smell divine and, as I said in my ‘Caudalie Experience’ ..provide aromatherapy for your face. I am now addicted to the scent and application of this cream both starts and ends my day with a smile....

Scent:
WONDERFUL! This cream contains grape-seed and borage oils, shea butter, chestnut extracts, camomile, violet leaves, cedar, beeswax....Need I say more?Buy some and see!!!

Longevity:
The tube is fairly small (40ml)...but who cares? At least it means I don’t have to buy a different product when I go on my travels. So far I have been using it since my beauty treatment day, which is a month. I have a feeling the tube will come to an end fairly soon (but I shall cut it open and eke out the very last droplet..) ...I estimate it may last me six weeks, applying both morning and night.

Short term/long term effects:
Immediate effect is very good...skin looks hydrated and feels wonderfully smooth. After a month I still feel my skin is looking good. Does this mean I may cast aside my ‘Lancôme NUTRIX’ after all? I definitely prefer the scent of Caudalie’s creams and, for the moment, feel converted.

Value for Money:
Compared to other products on the market I feel that Caudalie’s products are reasonably priced. I feel they are worth the money for all the reasons listed in the ‘personal commitments’ of the manufacturers.

Perfect partners:
As part of the dry skin beauty programme the following CAUDALIE products can be used:-
Gentle Cleanser
Grape Water Cleanser
Beauty Elixir*
Vinosource Moisturising Concentrate*
Vinosource Moisturising Cream Mask*
Tinted Face cream*
* REVIEWS FOLLOWING SHORTLY....

Suppliers:
http://www.caudalie.co.uk/
The website lists stockists in your area.

http://www.beautyexpert.co.uk/

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.

LANCOME NUTRIX

Replenishing Treatment for very Dry Skin

RRP: £46

- What the promo says -
"A luxurious cream for dry, sensitive or irritated skins. Enriched with repairing lipids to help the skin restore balance. Absolutely nourishes and softens skin."

-Why I bought this product -
My French beautician told me it was the only way to 'restore' my neck! (See Lancôme review of 'Absolue Teint') When someone tells you that, you know it is time to ACT! I have always had very dry skin and need something more powerful than the normal, rather watery day creams generally available on the market.

-Packaging -
A no-nonsense, elegant white tube with Lancôme's logo. Stands easily on the bathroom shelf.

- Application -
Only a small amount is needed....a few 'dobs' on face and neck and blend in.

- Appearance/Texture/Consistency -
The cream has a smooth texture and a thick consistency. In fact, if you are used to 'normal' day creams that have a high water content, it is surprisingly thick. My initial reaction was, of course, to think it too thick as it was totally different to anything I had used before. I was also worried that my skin would feel 'greasy' and suffocated by it in the heat of summer. Not so. It certainly feels 'heavy duty' on application compared to other moisturisers....but here lies all the difference! Once I had got over my surprise, I realised that my skin adored it and soaked it up like a sponge. It is thicker than other creams, which does take a bit of getting used to. My husband made a few comments when I came to bed with a slightly slippery face!

- Scent -
Very pleasant but subtle.

-Short term/long term effects -
It left my face looking and feeling instantly smoother, with fine lines reduced and did wonders for my neck! It blends in well and leaves the complexion glowing. After continued use over more than a year now, I can honestly say that it has 'preserved' the skin on my neck and I am addicted. Thank you, Lydia!

- Longevity -
Once you realise how good this cream is you will want to use it both day and night. As stated above, its effects last all day and postive long term results are achieved.
***SARAH'S HANDY TIP TO MAKE IT LAST***
When a product is as good as this you don't want to leave masses in the tube. Inevitably, this is the case with this sort of container, where there is a tiny hole at the top and the tube is more rigid at the bottom end. No matter how much you squeeze...there will always be some left inside. I decided to cut the tube open to see just how much was left was was able to 'eek' the cream out for another couple of weeks. Despite the fact that the tube was 'open' to the elements, the cream did not go hard inside (only round the edges) but I put some cling film over the end nevertheless to prevent too much drying out.

- Value for Money -
Worth every penny. It is so good that I do not need to bother with other creams...it serves as both a day and night cream.
Although the RRP is £46, if you browse on the net you can find it at £44 or even £37.95

- Suppliers -
http://www.lancome.co.uk/
http://www.garden.co.uk/
http://www.feelunique.co.uk/
Boots
Debenhams
Sephora

LANCOME - ABSOLUE TEINT Revitalising Nourishing liquid foundation

RRP : £44.95

- What the promo says -
"The light, creamy texture of this skin-caring foundation blends in evenly to brighten your complexion, while giving an instant sensation of comfort that leaves your skin feeling velvety soft. It provides hydration and nourishment to help your skin regain the suppleness of its youth. Your complexion looks natural and even. It glows with absolute beauty!"

- Why I bought this product -
I have always had dry skin and, as the years go by this is not something that improves with age. My beautician took one look at my complexion and muttered something like, 'Well, Sarah, if you want to rescue your neck there is only one solution!' She is French....and honest! And, no, I do not want 'tortoise neck' quite yet, so I listened to her. Her remedy for this latter was Lancôme's NUTRIX, and, for my face, she recommended ABSOLUE TEINT. She told me that this foundation was 'magic', that it really did hydrate and nourish and, what is more, she said, 'It goes on like a dream!' At £44.95 (cheaper in France where I live) it had to be good, as this is far more than I would normally spend on a foundation.

- Packaging -
The foundation comes in a clear frosted glass pot that allows the colour to show through and it has an attractive gold lid with the Lancôme rose. It is quite heavy for travellers. The pot opens and closes easily and there is no danger of the lid deteriorating with time and frequent use. The product also comes with a small plastic disk containing a miniature spatula for application. My only critcism would be that I wish this was square as I have difficulty propping it on my bathroom shelf.

- Application -
My beautician was right...it goes on like a dream. Whilst it might seem 'a bit of a fag' to have to use the mini spatula each time, it is well worth doing so as, not only does it help to keep the product germ-free, it also serves to limit the amount of foundation used each time. You really do only need enough to cover the spatula to make up your whole face. Once you have applied small spots of the foundation on forehead, nose, cheeks and chin, you simply blend in with your fingertips.

- Texture/Consistency/Scent -
The texture is perfect. Not too watery and not too thick. It provides good coverage and is smooth and easy to blend. Good results in only minutes. It has virtually no scent, so does not interfere with your perfume.

- Longevity -
One application lasts all day and all evening. If you use the product as sparingly as suggested then a pot really does last a long time. I use a different colour foundation in the summer and I generally find that a pot of Lancôme lasts me the 'winter season' here in the South of France, which means around 4 - 5 months.

- Short term/Long-term effects -
Lancôme's claims for this product are fulfilled. My skin feels instantly smoother after application and the overall effect is a homogenous, glowing complexion. Long term I feel sure that my skin benefits from the moisturing effects all day long and, having once started to use this product, I am hooked. The combination of this and Lancôme's NUTRIX has made a visible difference to my skin and.....thank goodness....my neck! Thank you, Lydia, for recommending them to me.

-Value for money -
Despite being costly, I feel this product is worth it. It does what it claims to do and the pot lasts a long time. I like the fact that it is in an ordinary glass pot and not a pump action dispenser because I am able to get every last smidgeon of foundation out and none is wasted.

- Suppliers -
http://www.lancome.co.uk/
Boots
Debenhams

VINOTHERAPIE by CAUDALIE

VINOTHERAPIE by CAUDALIE

CONTOURING CONCENTRATE thighs - hips - buttocks

Anti-cellulite - Draining

Targeted slimming and firming regimens

Inspired by the treatments of the Vinothérapie Spa

RRP: £24

- Product claims - helps to refine the silhouette and reduce the appearance of dimpled skin. It provides an immediate sensation of lightness. Your skin retains elasticity, tone and texture.

- Packaging -
Comes in an elegant green box that is much larger than the actual product within (as is so often the case!) and includes an instruction leaflet for application. The product itself is in a slim, clear cylinder that allows the golden liquid to show through and looks attractive on your bathroom shelf. It has a silver pump-action top under a clear lid. Travels well and, being slim, doesn't take up too much space in your washbag.

- Application -
Easy-to follow instructions...you pour a small amount of the liquid into your palm to warm it, then apply in upward, vertical strokes with a closed fist to stimulate circulation.
A practical touch: doses are marked on the side of the product so that you know how much to use.

- Scent -
I bought this product for how delicious it smells on my body and the 'feel-good' factor it gives me in the morning! Fresh and lemony. I could eat it! Contains the following essential oils: juniper, geranium, rosemary, lemon, lemongrass and cypress.

-Appearance and texture -
Product is an inviting gold liquid that warms quickly and feels smooth but not too oily. It feels good when applying and is quickly absorbed into the skin. Circulation is stimulated but the slight redness caused by efficient massaging soon goes away.

- Longevity -
One of the rare products where they actually encourage you to use only a small amount. The cylinder has marks for thirty doses, so provides a month of treatment if used daily. I find that I sometimes use even less than the marked dose...it depends how much of your body you are treating.

- Effectiveness -
The skin feels instantly smoother following application and the concentrate definitely has a moisturising and toning effect long-term.

-Value for money -
Compared to other similar products on the market I feel that this provides good value for money....especially as, in my case, it lasts me longer than a month.

-Other complementary products in the range -
Crushed Cabernet Scrub
Draining Organic Herbal Teas

- Suppliers -
http://www.caudalie.com/
Chemists all over the UK (see website for details)
SPACE NK
Debenhams