Thursday 30 October 2014

Face masks Halloween special



As it is Halloween I thought it would be appropriate to discuss how creepy some face masks can look. I mean seriously if I was having a pamper session and opened a door wearing one of those masks to an innocent trick-or-treater, they are bound to have a fright of their life.

The masks in the video are Our Tiny Bees detox mask, Stark Green Tea mask, Gressa Skin pumpkin peel (only available as gift with purchase while stock lasts) and S.W. Basics hibiscus mask. Please vote for your favourite Scare Factor contestant, who wins is up to you.


Monday 27 October 2014

Trip to Marseille



It all seems like a distant memory, but at the end of September Mr RF and I took a short break in Marseille. As I was doing a Vlog of the trip there aren't many photos, but the city left a long lasting impression on both of us.

This was not our typical holiday, as in there was no research done, no planned out places to visit, all we had was our flights and hotel reservation. It worked out beautifully. Armed with a French phrase book and good old charades skills we set out to explore Marseille. I'm not sure if we were just lucky but everyone we had a reason to speak to was exceptionally friendly. Food incredibly delicious, and the sights breathtakingly beautiful.

We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel Dieu, which previously was a hospital and is one of the iconic buildings of La Panier district. It was a really great place to stay, we manged to get a late check-out at no extra cost, and even though we arrived almost 3 hours before the check-in they still gave us a room straight away. The hotel itself was absolutely beautiful and the restaurant well worth checking out.





As the hotel was situated right in the thick of things we mainly walked, but I here public transport in Marseille is inexpensive and well organised. Right across the road from Hotel Dieu there was a wonderful place The cup of Tea, with the biggest selection of teas I've come across and if you are early enough, you might be able to snag yourself a pain au chocolate. About a minute walk from here there is another place Cafe des Epices, open from lunchtime and serves the most delicious food. The menu is written in Chalk on a black board and is changed daily. You can choose a set menu of 2 or 3 courses, and I can honestly say that deserts are well worth having.

Down in Vieux Port there is a free ferry boat that can take you to the other side of the port, saving you a bit of energy (however it does run only between certain times). On this side of the port there is a wonderful restaurant La Passarelle. It is a sort of two parter, with a little cafe and a vegetable shop on one side, and the main garden restaurant across a narrow road.



The menu is changed every single day depending on what produce is available. They grow a lot of their own vegetables and source most of the other ingredients locally. The gentleman serving us went to great lengths to explain to us what everything was, and even though it seemed more of a place for the locals, we were made very welcome. Food was sublime, I wish I could go back there now.

And Here is the Vlog of the trip.


Thursday 16 October 2014

Fall diaries: body and spirit



While I could probably write a novel about everything I dislike about the season, I am trying out this new thing... positivity. Yet it turns out I am the sort of person that needs props and treats to stay positive during autumn, so here is a little selection of things that have been (and hopefully will continue) making this fall an absolute joy for me.

As I rarely drink coffee and really like my sleep, a good energy supplement is something that I very much appreciate when weather isn't all that fab and the duvet is just so inviting. I have found Inner Me supplements to be of really good quality and I can actually feel the difference when I take them. The Energise Me capsules are a blend of vitamins and minerals that give you a little boost and support your overall health.

Autumn is the beginning of proper bath season. Nothing is more relaxing and soothing to me than a hot bath, well actually there is... A bath with Bohdi & Birch Rosemary Chi Himalayan salt detox scrub. Once you scrub up, instead of washing it all off, just dunk in a bath and stay there for an out of this world pamper experience. I can feel my skin tingling in the most wonderful way, somehow this scrub manages to make me feel both very alive and awake yet completely soothed and relaxed. If there was a scent to describe tranquillity this salt scrub is it. I can close my eyes and go to my happy place.

With the autumn rain and wind, I find that my hair needs a little extra TLC and Tabitha James Kraan scented hair oil looks after my mane and lifts up my spirit with the subtle sensual rose aroma. You can use a couple of drops of this amber liquid on the ends of your locks as the need arises, or as a bi-weekly hair oil treatment. Either way the results would make Rapunzel jealous. The reason no doubt is that this blend has some rather fantastic ingredients: sea buckthorn oil, argan oil, rosehip and goji berry.

It is no secret that I love a good toner, it can really take your skincare routine to the next level. As luck would have it I managed to get myself an OLO by Elizabeth Dhen vitamin D mist as a gift with purchase. I feel it has the potential to be a perfect solution to the dreaded seasonal finicky skin ( I am yet to test it, so will reserve further judgement until then).

Even though my skin is not nearly as oily as it is in the summer, it still is a little early for super hydrating products. Odacite Peach Cypress serum is a perfect solution for combo skin. I was so chuffed to win this little bottle of skincare magic. It has been keeping my skin perfectly balanced and providing just enough moisture in the slightly changeable weather.

When things have been getting tough for my skin (sudden sensitivities, stress and weather related), Lyonsleaf healing calendula cream has been not only a perfect shoulder to cry on, but also someone who makes the problems go away. While I am not quiet ready for a full review just yet, I have discovered that this whipped buttery balm makes a rather wonderful face moisturiser for the transitional seasons (oh the things that you discover by accident!).

Every time my inner duvet-hugger needs a kick up the butt Inspired Action is here for me (previous review here). I guess it all starts with the decision to use this transformative flower remedy perfume, but I do feel much more ready to get on with things after inhaling the wonderful aroma of the Lotus Wei blend.

And if the days problem is the gloomy sky that makes me want to stay inside eating marshmallows, I reach for the Badger Balm Cheerful mind. First of all just looking at the cutesy tin already makes me more cheery, the wonderful blend of citrus and peppermint makes me feel like I have been dipped into summer, at this point I even feel like maybe Autumn is not so bad, maybe I even like it. After all it is the season that brings me pumpkins.




Tuesday 7 October 2014

Yuli Elixirs review




For whatever reason, despite being aware of Yuli for quiet sometime I only took the plunge to try my first product from the line earlier this spring. However once I started there was no stopping, and in the true fashion of a beauty addict I made it my mission to sample most everything that was on offer from the Yuli range. Although my task is far from being complete I feel that that Yuli elixirs are a true heart of the collection. They are the foundation, the first step that will make the rest of your skin care ritual sing.

While I have always been a big fan of toners, these Elixirs are in the league of their own, yes they are liquid, yes they are based on hydrolats, yet somehow it is not just a toner, it is more than sum of its parts, it is an Elixir, a potion that promises and delivers healthier looking skin.

My journey started with Metamorphic elixir that is designed for anti-ageing/dry skin, while neither of these apply to me, I always find seasonal transitions from winter into spring a little difficult in terms of skincare and the fact that this elixir in particular is supposed to help prevent and reverse sun damage made it seem like an excellent choice for the season. Shortly after receiving my first Yuli bottle, I not only caught a nasty cold but also managed to twist my ankle so badly that I couldn't walk for a couple of days (and then was resting it as much as possible). Due to those unfortunate events my skincare routine was practically non existent, I couldn't face standing up to wash my face properly, so I was mainly using some wipe of cleansers and spraying my face with Metamorphic 3-4 times a day for moisture. Of course I would not recommend anyone follow my regimen (unless you find yourself in similar circumstances), and I was fully prepared for rather awful skin days, however my skin looked absolutely fabulous all glowy and healthy, unlike the rest of me. This was the first time that I was really ill but my skin did not reflect it. I give full props to Metamorphic elixir for that. The scent was rather unusual, reminded me of cooked carrots and something else savoury, I came to associate it with good skin. I think it takes a little while to notice the difference that it makes in terms of skin tone and general look and feel, maybe about 2-3 weeks. I did really enjoy using it and I think that for me it is a good product to use with the change of seasons (between cold to hot and hot to cold weather), however it is not my favourite of the three.

Before I even ran out of Metamorphic I already purchased the Cocoon Elixir, I also got Panacea as a birthday present. Panacea is what I was using most through the summer and it only just ran out. It is designed for normal/combination skin and is a really good option for those prone to blemishes. The smell reminds me of field flowers and dry herbal teas, it is a little sweeter than metamorphic. I think the effects on my skin were similar as with the other elixir, however since blemishes have not really been a concern for the past year I again feel that this was not the best option for me all year round, but a really great choice for summer when my skin tends to be on the oily side.

Cocoon Elixir is my absolute favourite of the lot. It has the most delicious, light floral aroma. As well as having the wonderful effects on the appearance of my skin (similar to the other to elixirs), it also makes my skin feel calm. Occasionally my skin can get sensitive during weather changes, it starts to feel itchy or appear a bit blotchy for no apparent reason and this elixir sorts those things out within minutes. With sudden temperature changes this elixir has become my best friend, it just works with my skin no matter what the elements are like.

Over all I feel that the elixirs have certain similarities in terms of how they make your skin look, however certain ingredients are more beneficial depending on what your concerns are, and while I originally anticipated that Panacea would be my elixir of choice, it turned out that Cocoon was the winner. Perhaps this is not surprising as Yuli products are adaptogenic, meaning they interact and work in synergy with individual skin needs, making them hard to go wrong with, but getting the product with the right characteristics will yield most results.

All of the elixirs come in three sizes 10ml, 50ml and 100ml. Once you open the bottle it has a shelf life of 6 months, I find that a 50ml bottle lasts me about 4 months so a 100ml bottle would not be a sensible choice for me, as it would expire before I had a chance to use it up. I use it mostly once a day in the evenings, but if I am at home I find myself spraying more often 2-3 times, so it is a little difficult to predict how many sprays you get, my suggestion would be to start with a 50ml bottle to see if a bigger bottle makes sense for you.

Even though I don't think that Yuli elixirs are the only things responsible for my skin looking its best, I can not deny that they made a significant difference. I have been using them non stop with only a short break while I was in Marseille, and I have to say my skin did not look all that fabulous during the holiday. My cocoon bottle has a good few months in it but I am curious to see what happens if I change to a different toner once I run out (yet a part of me is scared to do that as Yuli has become a very good friend, and I don't want to let it go).

In Europe you can get Yuli from Amazingy a German online retailer, and they have always been great with providing samples whith orders.

Thursday 2 October 2014

Fall diaries: it's all about Pumpkin



As I grow older I realise that I am not a big fan of seasons, I like summer and the others are just a long period of waiting until I get reunited with summer. Don't get me wrong Autumn in theory is amazing, beautiful soft colours of fallen leaves, slight crisp to the air yet sun still has warmth. It is a reminder that nothing stays the same, time of contemplation and reflection. However the reality of fall is that it is unpredictable, one day it feels like summer and the next day you are met with grey skies and arctic winds, your priority becomes running from one building to another in order not to get wet (and let's face it umbrellas are not much help 90% of the time), and the quiet beauty of autumn seems like a distant memory. One of the redeeming qualities of the season for me are the late berries that are still growing at the beginning of autumn, mushrooms and squashes that come in to their own during fall. In particular I associate autumn with Pumpkins.

Pumpkin is the true belle of the ball, it's flesh is incredibly nutritious, a great source of fibre and vitamin A. Seeds are a fantastic source of zinc, and I personally think that pumpkins are delicious. Eating pumpkins is not the only way to reap the beauty benefits, there are a few products that incorporate oil from the seeds and even pumpkin flesh to make your skin extra soft and beautiful.

While trying to make a list of everything pumpkin out there, I realised that most of of the products are from over the Pond, in the end I decided to feature a small selection of the products that I found to be most exciting.

Osmia Zucca Spice: This is a seasonal soap and as well as the beautiful pumpkin it contains rosehip powder that gently exfoliates your skin. This is the only product on the list that I actually tried and love. Clearly I am not the only one as the first batch of this wonder soap has already sold out (despite becoming available only about a week ago), but don't worry the second batch should become available soon. I did a mini review on this soap as part of my Spotlight on Osmia if you fancy having a read.

Gaia creams Veggie Cocktail: I am a big fan of Gaia, the raw creams have a delightful buttery texture and are super concentrated, so despite the size, a 30ml jar could last you a long time. It can be used both as a face or a body cream. While I have not tried this particular version I have very high hopes for it based on the ingredients. In addition to the Pumpkin seed oil, this blend has unrefined and not macerated carrot tissue oil, cold pressed from the whole carrot. This cream doesn't have any essential oils and a list of just five ingredients, it is full of antioxidants and omegas making it a good choice for your skin before and after the exposure to the elements.

Wild honey apothecary pumpkin cocoa mask: I have yet to try anything from the brand but I am drawn to their ethos and interesting labels. The product selection changes with seasons and everything is made by hand in small batches. This mask has both organic pumpkin and pumpkin seed oil, as well as raw organic cocoa and raw honey. The mask is supposed to help with repairing and protecting from free radical damage, boost collagen, combat inflammation, hydration. Sounds like a perfect concoction for post summer skin, but it looks like something I should be spreading on toast...

Ambre botanical pumpkin seed and kokum face cream: I have tried a few things from Ambre but yet to get my hands on this cream. This cream has no water so expect it to be more like balm rather than an actual cream texture. It contains not only pumpkin seed oil, but also pumpkin seed butter, out of all the other wonderful oils and butters sea buckthorn oil catches my eye, I find the products that I have tried so far with sea buckthorn have always made my skin look its best. I expect this cream to be quiet rich, and I think it would be fantastic once the autumn turns from the mild weather to the other, less pleasant side of the season.

So where do you guys stand on the pumpkins? Please share any of your pumpkin faves in the comments.