Bodycare | Lipglossiping

Category: Bodycare

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Hei Poa – Monoi Beauty Oil

Back when February was still so new I was calling it January, I blogged about this:

Hei Poa Pur Monoi Beauty Oil, my skin was bone dry at the time and as a fan of most body oils anyway, I was keen to try another.

I ordered from Zuneta and it arrived within two days with a couple of posh samples enclosed as a bonus!

It’s not particularly attractive in it’s solid state, infact… it’s not at all appetising until you unscrew the lid and give it a sniff. The unmistakable scent of Frangipani fills your nostrils, a beautiful tropical aroma.

So how do you turn it from that solid, waxy-looking state into a warm oily texture ready for use on your skin or your hair?

I fill a jug with hot tap water and simply sit the bottle in the water whilst I’m in the shower. It takes about 4-5 minutes to melt completely, but you don’t need to melt the whole bottle. If you only wanted a little, you could be done in 30-40 seconds.

Not a huge thing… but a point of note is that the labelling on the bottle is waterproof and has so far remained intact despite being submerged countless times! I hate paper labels on bath products that disintegrate as soon as they get a splash of water on them!

After about a minute in the hot water, I pulled the bottle out and although you can see it’s not completely melted, there’s enough there for one application.

I find the Hei Poa to be a particularly dry body oil, it’s not massively ‘glidey’ and once I’ve started to spread, it drags a touch on my skin. The flip-side to that is that I’m not left feeling at all greasy. It’s a trade off that I’m happy with. The oil leaves my skin feeling noticeably smoother with a beautiful sheen and delicate scent.

I’m a very happy Hei Poa convert!

What to try next? The ‘golden glow’ version or the shower/bath oil? – decisions, decisions!

Posted in Bodycare, Hei Poa, Skincare | 5 Comments »

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Get Glitterized with Jinny Rainbow!

I’ve never been fully sold on tattoos, I love looking at the designs and I appreciate the work that goes into creating a successful piece of permanent body art.

But truly? I can barely decide which socks to put on in the morning. Choosing something as permanent as a tattoo would send me into some kind of mental turmoil treatable only by electroshock therapy. It is with pure joy then, that I discovered Jinny Rainbow.

Recently launched in Selfridges, Jinny Rainbow offers beautiful glitter body illustrations that last up to 7 days. The glitters and powders used are hypo-allergenic promising skin-friendly artwork for all.

You can choose between selecting an on the spot design undertaken by a body artist or if you would prefer attempting a bit of DIY designage (is that a word?) you can purchse handy kits to create personalised designs at home.

Spoiled for choice, Jinny Rainbow carries a selection of over 100 vibrant glitter pigments and shimmers plus 200 exclusive stencil designs.

How beautiful is that? My inner 4yr old is climbing the walls with excitement and trying to work out if I’ve got time to swing by Selfridges this afternoon for a nosey!

So how much would this kind of frivolity set you back? With prices starting from £5 for on-the-spot designs and from £30 for starter kits it’s not exactly gonna break the bank is it?

Do you need a bit of glitter in your life? I’m thinking a sparkly bluebird on my shoulder.. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah and all that.

Posted in Bodycare, Fashion | 19 Comments »

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Deep Skincare – Splendid Smooth Legs

Deep Skincare are a fairly new Dutch brand that I hadn’t heard of until they contacted me in December to ask if I’d like some products for review consideration. Taking a look at their ‘about’ page… they seem quite hippy in a love each other, love yourself kinda way. Which is nice! Not enough people love me and I could do with some more harmony in my life.

Anyway, enough of all that! Looky looky leg balm!

Splendid Smooth Legs. What a rubbish name. It’s like one of those bad Japanese translations isn’t it? I think they should have added a “silky” in their somewhere to really tip it over the edge.

Housed in a heavy dark glass jar with a fairly plain label, the product has a nice simple look. Understated. I like it.

The first thing you notice when you unscrew the lid is the smell. Immediately recognisable… Taking a look at the ingredients confirms the source of the scent: Camphor and Menthol. Vaporub anyone? I love the smell of Vicks, but I know some people hate it, so beware! Once on the skin, it takes about 15 minutes for the scent to fade completely.

The cream is thick but lightweight, a beautiful texture, it feels instantly cooling as it makes contact with the skin, fantastic for weary legs.

Looking more closely at the ingredients, the cream contains Arnica which is widely believed to help reduce inflammation, bruising and encourage the dilation of blood vessels and capillaries under the skin. Witch Hazel also puts in an appearance on the ingredient list, a natural astringent often put to use as a treatment for varicose veins.

Exactly the ingredients I want to revive and massage into my legs after a full day on my feet.

They say:

Deep: Splendid Smooth Legs sports an invigorating and active formula. A delicious treat to pamper weary or swollen legs. Due to the purely natural ingredients, this balm has a very wholesome effect.

Rather than every-day use as suggested on the jar, I’ve been using this a few times a week. A small amount goes a long way and leaves my legs feeling refreshed, cooled and less ‘heavy’ than before. In the Summer, I do a lot of walking and I can’t wait to put it to good daily use as part of a post-bath routine!

While I remember, I also applied this in the middle of the night a few days ago after waking up with cramp in my calf, it really relaxed the tightness in the muscle and for once I didn’t get that limping you get the next morning when you don’t catch cramp in time. I’d really recommend this as a hugely useful gift for mamas-to-be. I suffered horrendous leg cramps in my 3rd trimester and would have loved a pot of this.

Do you neglect your legs? I’m ashamed to admit that mine don’t generally get much attention other than a nice shaving gel. I don’t know why I’m so lax, varicose veins ain’t pretty!

You can purchase Deep Skincare online from their website. Splendid Smooth Legs is priced at £14.21 for 250ml.

If you want to learn more about taking good care of your pins, check out The Leg Room. What Kate doesn’t know about legs, isn’t worth knowing.

Posted in Bodycare, Deep Skincare, Reviews, Skincare | 5 Comments »

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Xen-Tan Transform Luxe Self-Tan

I was sent a tube of this to try after I couldn’t fit in a proper salon tan job on my last London visit. I’ve bored you all senseless MANY times moaning about my uber paleness. I know that pale is kinda ‘in’, but that’s porcelain pale… smooth creamy ivory skin. Which, I don’t have.

I have blue pale. Blue pale with red blotches. Combine that with bingo wings and you have some sexy upper arms right there.

Having said that, I’m scared of anything that darkens my skin. Bronzer, fake tan, eating chocolate biscuits without a plate… soooo I’ve kinda put off using this. Every time I went to crack it open, I’d remember some important thing I had to do in the next few days and screwed the lid back on terrified of appearing in public looking like a satsuma.

Well, I couldn’t put it off any longer. ‘Cos I have nothing to do for about a week. Enough time for any hideosity to fade if something went wrong.

Xen Tan is widely regarded as one of the best faux tanners on the market (don’t you prefer the word ‘faux’ to ‘fake’?), The manufacturer’s say:

Transform has been developed especially for today’s growing gradual tan market, giving the same delicious daily dose of moisture you’ve come to expect from Xen-Tan but with an extra boost of tanning ingredient to deliver a silky smooth olive glow. With a wonderful fresh vanilla scent, its advanced formula means fewer applications are needed. Apply just like an everyday moisturiser for sun-kissed skin that’s streak-free, sumptuously soft and never ever orange.

Can’t go wrong then can I?….

I did it. I grabbed the bull by the horns, or the um bottle by the lid and just. did. it. I’d bought a tanning mitt in preparation and used that to apply.

The cream goes on smoothly and does feel quite moisturising. The scent is heavenly! True vanilla with no biscuits in sight!

I finished in less than 10 minutes and washed my hands like I was supposed to. Unfortunately, I then forgot to apply he stuff to the back of my hands after washing them (what a n00b). It’s ok though, it just means you guys get to see how natural and un-orange the colour is on me.

I went to bed slightly sticky, but still smelling full on like a tasty vanilla pod. I woke up, bronzed, gorgeous healthy looking and stinking of a 1 year old hob nob. I jumped in the shower and emerged all clean-smelling again!

I love the tan. It’s a beautiful golden olive tone with no hint of orange. I keep catching sight of myself in the mirror (oh ok, *looking* at myself) and it seems very strange not to see a big pasty face looking back at me. I really look about a 100% healthier.

I need to get this application malarky down. For a first attempt, I’m happy. I exfoliated and moisturised the day before tanning and that seemed to work well to avoid dirty looking knees and elbows (Thanks to Saskia for the tanning tips!).

I think I’ve shamed myself enough this week with my dodgy hair… but… here, have a pic of a bad tan line.

I dunno what’s with the perfect v… but anyway, the photo is more to demonstrate the lovely shade of tan I am rather than my inability to remember simple bloody instructions. And incase you were wondering, I’ve worn foundation on my hand today to minimize my mark of stupidity.

See, S.M.U.G

I was nervous putting it on my face, really nervous! I waited till the mitt had a small even covering of cream and I don’t think I used very much at all. Infact, for the most part I think I over applied.. considering how little product I applied to my face and how even it’s come out, I probably need to use about 1/2 of the product that I initially applied to achieve a good result.

I’m so happy with Xen-Tan and I’ve shocked myself by how good a job I’ve made of it (forgetting the hands for a moment) there are no streaks, blobs or any other tell tale signs of tanning fakery. I may well become a bit of a tan addict, although I’m intrinsically LAZY, and self-tanning takes dedication. Regardless, I’ll be buying a bottle of this for the summer!

Xen-Tan Transform LUXE is £23.95 for 236ml.

Xen-Tan is available from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser stores or visit www.xen-tan.co.uk

Posted in Bodycare, Skincare, Xen-Tan | 9 Comments »

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub

Baahhhh!

Like the sheep I am, I knew I had to have this after reading about it on the fabulous LionLovingTiger’s blog.

LUSH Mint Julips is a sugar-rich scrub for your lips, housed in a fully unsanitary little black glass pot. It’s possibly the most travel unfriendly item I own, and yet I tote it around with me everywhere, sneaking it out of my handbag whenever I’m in a semi-private place to give my lips a quick rub. I did tell you they were mega dry! Mint Julips works well, it scours them giving my lips a smoother surface for applying lipstick whilst leaving a little oil behind to moisturise. I do find myself applying some balm ontop for extra hydration though.

It’s not a clever product, as many bloggers before me have poined out, you could easily make it yourself at home. But I’m as lazy as I am flakey-lipped.

The new LUSH Lip Scrubs come in three flavours: Mint Julips (After Eights!), Bubblegum (Bubblegum durr) and Sweet Lips (Chocolate). They taste far too nice for cosmetic products and it’s a struggle to keep them on your lips and off your tongue. Or is that just me?

I love the product and hate the packaging, alhough I’m not sure how they could have improved it. Have you tried these?

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub – £4.50 available online and instore.

Posted in Bargains, Bodycare, High Street Brands, LUSH, Reviews, Skincare | 10 Comments »

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Superdrug Lula Bloom Body Butter

For someone who can’t be bothered to find the time to moisturise… I’m doing an awful lot of moisturising recently.

My skin is DRY DRY DRY… and nothing is making it better. Not even tried and tested solutions that have kept my skin in good condition over the years. Infact, not even my trusty body oils are providing long-term relief.

I re-discovered this Lula Bloom Body Butter in the parcel that housed the GOSH smoky eyes palette I was sent by Superdrug PR. I was in two minds about it, remember? I hope this fares better. I have a bit of a backlog I need to work through…

I wasn’t gonna crack it open, ‘cos it looks like one of those all style-no substance products doesn’t it? Plus I wasn’t sure if it was aimed at teenage skin… it just has that look… I was gonna give it to a younger family member, except I forgot.

After having a quick look at the ingredients and noticing that one of my favourite moisturising bases (Cocoa Butter) is right up there near the top of the list, I decided that I’d give it a go.

Lula Bloom Body Butter (stupid name) is housed in a satisfyingly heavy glass jar. This won’t appeal to half of you, but I’m not wanting to carry it about anywhere other than to and from my bathroom shelf so I’m not bothered. I like it. I’ve already mentioned that the artwork on the packaging gives me the impression that this is aimed at a younger audience, but the price tag doesn’t really match those impressions.

£6.99 for 250ml. That’s quite pricey. I know as a teenager I wouldn’t have been able to afford something like this. I had more important things like 20 Lambert & Butler and 3 litres of White Lightning to spend my pocket money on.

Ignoring my misspent youth for a moment, I was truly surprised by how creamy and smooth the texture proved to be. The consistency is very thick and a small amount spreads a long way. I can see a pot of this easily lasting me at least a month of daily use. Yet, despite being thick, it feels quite light once it’s on the skin. A winning combination.

The scent is overpowering… it’s nice, but it’s too “in your face” for me. Again, it makes me think that the product is aimed at a younger audience. It’s fruity, tropical… everything that a 14yr old girl would want to saturate herself with. It reminds me of my younger self stood at The BodyShop’s perfume oil carousel display. God, I’d come out of that store with a dewberry/fuzzy peach induced headache.

Overall, I really like the product… but it suffers from some kind of Body Butter schizophrenia. It’s a top quality moisturisier, leaving my skin soft and conditioned for many hours… but it’s as if some prat in the development team (probably a bloke) has come along and ruined the delicate balance by chucking half a ton of tropical pot pourri in the mixing vat. What gives Lula Bloom?

It needs to either ditch the overpowering smell and horrible artwork…. or shave about £3 off the price. Have you tried this? Am I too harsh?

I’ll tell you what though… if you happen to know a 12-17yr old you fancy treating… *points at the body butter* you wouldn’t go wrong with this.

Superdrug has a whole Lula Bloom range going (the body scrub is decent too! Lurid pink packaging though…). Check out the range on the website here

Posted in Bodycare, High Street Brands, Reviews, Skincare, Superdrug | 11 Comments »