New In Garnier Shower treats.

giugno 16, 2016


Hello, my name is Beatrice and I'm a self-confessed shower gel hoarder on the mend. For ages I've been guilty of constantly purchasing new ones and shamelessly beginning fresh bottles, leaving behind a trail of sad looking, half-empty left overs. That was until I decided as a New Year resolution to put myself on a bath products ban and work my way through the pitiful, dusty pile and de-clutter my cabinet before it got out of hand. As it turns out, my timing was absolutely perfect and when I heard that Garnier was about to release a new range of heavenly scented shower gels, my freshly de-cluttered shower shelf and I were ready to give them a whirl.

Garnier have just launched a bunch of exciting additions to the Ultimate blends body line, in the form of 6 shower gels and two moisturizers, enriched with natural, cold-pressed ingredients to fulfill different skin needs. They all leave a delicate lingering scent on the skin and leave it silky soft and hydrated in no time, although I can assure you'll be tempted to make your shower last forever with these.

The shower gels have a dreamy, gentle formula that works up a nice lather and lightly cleanses without stripping or leaving the skin feeling tight or itchy. Scent wise, the selection is seriously fabulous and picking up just one favourite is going to be tough business.
Marvelous Oils* is the one I've been constantly reaching for in the morning to kick start the day, as the stunning mix of camellia extract and argan oil feels incredibly energizing and turns your shower into aromatherapy heaven - this one is highly recommended after yoga or a workout.
The one that feels the most unisex of the bunch is Mythic Olive* with its musky notes and lots of olive oil to nourish and repair the skin. This fragrance is truly beautiful and unlike anything I've ever smelt before; it's a walk in an olive groove on a sunny day. I adore it.
If you have a sweet tooth, you'll love the Honey Treasure* number, it's so creamy and delicious, and smells like a jar of peaches soaked in honey. It's unbelievably yummy, trust me on this one.
Finally, my personal favourite is Delicate Oat* - I really can't resist the combination of almond, vanilla and oat milk. This feels wonderful on my sensitive skin and it's perfect in the evening, right before bed.
A lemon and elder flower option that sounds lovely, and one enriched with rose oils complete the lineup.

The oat range is supposed to be the dehydrated skin hero, and the two moisturizing options for sure don't disappoint. The Ultra Blends Delicate Oat Soothing Balm (£5.99)* is a multi-purpose gem that makes quick work of rough patches on elbows, knees and heels. I feel like this will be amazing during the colder months, when my skin gets uber flakey and dry, but it's also a good one to use now before fake tanning, to keep everything streak free. The Soothing Hydrating Lotion (£4.49)* is equally effective but with a slightly lighter texture. This one has been living on my night stand for the past two weeks, as a little goes a long way and sinks in quickly, so it's the perfect last step to keep my limbs soft and moisturized before jumping into bed.

Have you tried the Ultimate Blends range before? What's your favourite scent?
*Press Samples
**Post in collaboration with Garnier Italy


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The Spring base.

giugno 13, 2016


Hello. It's me. Yup, still alive.
I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately and as a result my blogger mojo seems to have disappeared along with my inspiration and will to sit down and tap something on my keyboard. Anyhow, I'm back now and there's nothing better than a little foundation talk to ease back into the swing of things. I do love my base products after all.

The secret is out! Foundations are my weakness - a flawless base gets me excited like nothing else. I try so many on a regular basis, mixing and matching, and creating endless different combinations with primers, concealers and powders all the time, so coming across a mix that finds a permanent place in my routine doesn't happen very often. This combo has been a staple for me for months now and has been the perfect choice to transition into spring and face the fickle weather of the past weeks.

I've never been a massive primer person - foundations tend to last really well on me anyways, and I'd gladly skip the extra layer any day if it means a more natural, skin-like finish; on the other hand though, I'd do pretty much anything for the extra glow and that's where the Becca Backlight Priming Filter (£32) comes in. This primer is expensive skin in a bottle, it gives a beautiful dewy finish without any detectable shimmer or weird metallic glow. Like an instant facial, it makes your skin look tight, plump and incredibly refreshed, and I love how the lit-from-within glow subtly shines through the base. Such a great quick fix for dry and dull skin.

With the L'Oreal True Match Foundation (£9.99) has been love at first use - I was already a huge fan of the original, but the new True Match is even better and works like a dream on my normal to dry complexion, as it's slightly more moisturizing than it used to be. It's the perfect compromise between beautiful coverage and luminous finish, with quite a long lasting formula that always feels comfortable no matter how long you wear it. Also, it's easy to build for a flawless finish or sheer out for relaxed days, so it's very versatile.

A product that definitely deserves the holy grail status is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (£22.50), which might just be my most repurchased makeup item ever. I really can't be without this concealer. This dreamy product covers everything from redness to uneven tone and spots, but it's especially good for dark circles, as it's so creamy and keeps the under-eye area soft and hydrated while giving instant lift and brightness to the skin. I adore it.

Finally, I couldn't leave the house without a quick swipe of blush. I have a few shades on rotation at the minute, but the Milani Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose (£6) is definitely a staple for me. This is a lovely nude pink hue with a natural matte finish that blends like a dream and gives colour and definition to the cheeks without monopolizing the final look. It's a must-have shade, especially if you wear a lot of bold lipsticks or intense smokey looks.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your go-to base picks?

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