Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream

RRP: £9.50/10ml

--What does the promo say?--

"This Soothing Eye Contour Cream has been specially formulated to gently protect the most delicate part of the face. Rich in Avene Thermal Spring Water and soothing alpha-bisabolol, this light emulsion calms skin irritation, tightness and redness. Dextran sulfate also acts by relieving hypersensitive eyelids. Thanks to its formula enriched with moisturising and anti-free radical actives, this soothing care promotes hydration and protection of the eye contour area and eyelids. Paraben-free."

--Packaging--

Combines white with coral to create a soothing yet unusual colour scheme. The tube is tiny and the tapered screw-top lid is well designed - not too difficult to undo, but stays on securely when you need it to.

--Application--

On a cleansed, make-up free face, blend a tiny amount around the eye contour area. Nothing difficult about that.

--Appearance--

The pure white cream takes on an opaque appearance as soon as you start to rub and quickly disappears into nothing at all. No visible residue left on skin.

--Scent--

Just a very clean, mineral-water type scent. Nothing soapy or artificial-smelling here and definitely not a strong scent.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, soft and absorbs quickly. Not at all runny.

--Effects on the skin--

I bought this product because I'd had totally unexplained layers of dry skin over one eyelid for more than a week and none of the other eye creams I had in the house were able to shift it. We therefore took a trip to the pharmacy, where the pharmacist recommended this. She said that if the dry skin didn't clear up in a week I was to see a doctor. Sceptical due to the dry skin's apparently bullet-like resistance to every other eye cream under the sun, I used it without hope or agenda, but was amazed to find that a visible difference was apparent in just a day or two days of morning and night use, and that it had cleared up completely well short of the week's usage prescribed. Amazing!

--Value for money--

After my disappointment with Avene's almost completely ineffectual exfoliator, I cannot say I had had much hope in another Avène product. However, my faith in this brand has now been restored, and I would be much more willing now to try another of their products. Now it's much clearer to me why this affordable yet (at times) effective brand is so much beloved by the French.

perfect partners

Eau Thermale Ystheal + Eye Contour Cream, £17
Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, £9.50
Cicalfate Repair Cream, £7.50
Extremely Gentle Cleanser, £8
Soothing Hydrating Serum, £17

I Love...Juiced Up Blackcurrant Shower Gel

RRP: £2.05/500ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Take a whopping big bite out of life! My delicious aroma is bursting with super juicy blackcurrants all ready to explode into action, leaving you with your very own bite size portion of happiness!"

--Packaging--

Rocks the funky look with black and white basics contrasting with the purple gel, which can be seen through the plastic flip-top bottle. The bottle is also extremely sizeable (so not great for travel purposes perhaps) but carries lively and easily understandable text which engages you while telling you all you need to know, making you feel really excited about using it.

--Application--

Just lather up over wet skin while in the shower, then rinse off when ready. Easy peasy lemon squeezy (or should that be blackcurrant squeezy?).

--Appearance--

Exactly the colour of the dark purple throat tablets that you can get, matching up well with the blackcurrant idea. Doesn't leave any visible residue on the skin, frothing up instead into an off-white lather that's easy to rinse. You can also use it as a bubble bath, although not having a bath at home means that opportunities to test the product's credentials on this score have been limited.

--Scent--

While perhaps slightly artificial-smelling, it's definitely intense and not at all unpleasant. Plus, you can tell it's a blackcurrant scent straight away - no second-guessing required here, as is true of all the I Love...products (although unfortunately the packaging doesn't tell us anything about how this rich scent is achieved - just putting 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not helpful!).

--Texture and consistency--

This was definitely my least favourite part of the product. Rather than being creamy and luxurious, it was viscous and gel-like - even to the point of slipping back INSIDE the bottle if you didn't squeeze hard enough. All fine on the skin once you get lathering - the foam generated is fine yet spreads well. But still. EW to the first bit.

--Longevity--

I can't say I experienced long-lasting scent or softness on the skin with this product as compared to the other gel I'm using at present (Caudalie Pêche de Vigne). But at £2 for a massive bottle, what do you expect?

--Value for money--

It's possible that they would need to sort out the texture of this before I would purchase again - even though the smell is great, I didn't have *as* positive an experience with this product as I did with I Love...'s Lemons & Limes lip gloss and body cream. But that definitely hasn't put me off the range completely: it's a vibrant budget option without a doubt, and with scents in the range such as Strawberries & Milkshake, Vanilla & Ice Cream, and Raspberry & Blackberry still left to try, who could resist?!

*set to be exclusive to Superdrug, you'll have to keep your eyes peeled; no sign in store or online of it yet...*

Andrex Washlets

RRP: from £1 for 42 wipes

--What does the promo say?--

"These moist toilet tissues can be used for all manner of tasks from removing make-up to changing nappies and may even substitute normal toilet tissue. Each pack contains cotton fresh 42 sheets, which are skin pH neutral and dermatologically tested. Also, since they re biodegradable tese washlets can be flushed away after use."

--Packaging--

The blue and white colour scheme is appropriate for bathroom use and fits in well with the Andrex brand in general. While I don't really see the point of the display tub (as surely the plastic shield constantly being open on the main pack would cause the wipes to dry out more quickly?), I think the lightweight basic pack is great for bathroom display or for travel purposes.

--Usage instructions--

Just lift up the plastic shield and remove a wipe, closing the pack afterwards to prevent wipes from drying out. As the promotional material states, you can use it for all manner of purposes including makeup removal, general face and body cleaning, and as a substitute for normal toilet tissue. Use the wipe as you deem fit and then throw it away - either in a bin or by flushing it. All very simple, practical and hygienic.

--Appearance--

The wipes are white, and while a slight 'sheen' can be detected, they certainly don't leave any visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--

Clean and fresh-smelling without seeming artificial, although annoyingly I can't work out what the scent is due to ('Parfum' in the ingredients list tells us nothing, Andrex!).

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, soft and non-irritating to use, even when you're substituting them for regular toilet paper. Even though they are wet wipes, I didn't find the idea of using the wipes in this way as some of the users in the Dawn Porter/Andrex promotional videos, as I have used similar products before (such as these Avon ones, which are similarly priced). The wipes leave a fresh and clean feeling during and after use.

--Effects on the body--

I found these to be great especially during my period - at the time when you're feeling at your messiest and gunkiest, they're excellent in helping you to feel normal! However, I can see how they could help people freshen up in a variety of other situations, from camping to long aeroplane flights, and sleepovers to working days. Equally, while I haven't yet used them as a makeup remover or for general cleanup (even though I am possibly the world champion of hand-to-mouth coordination failure when it comes to eating food), I would consider using them for this.

--Value for money--

There are lots of promotional offers on at the moment, with some retailers selling them for £1, and others selling them at the full price of £1.95 but on a buy-one-get-one-free scheme. You get a lot more wipes for your money than many Andrex competitors, the wipes are definitely effective, and I love that they're multi-purpose. While they're perhaps a little pricey to make a permanent substitute for toilet tissue (not to mention that my husband refused to use them; I reckon they're definitely more of a girl thing), I'll definitely be taking them on our trip to New York later this month (because aeroplane toilets are generally disgusting) and keeping them on standby for the time of the month. A fantastic buy that should be in every girl's handbag and on display in every bathroom. In fact, I reckon they could even bring out shower washes (as Avon has done) to extend even further into the beauty market, tallying perfectly with this reach into everyday hygiene.

perfect partners

On The Go Coreless Roll (55 sheets), £1.05

On The Go Antibacterial Spray, £1.99

Vani-T Mineral Lip Colour

RRP: £23.25

Purchase online from www.nuusuite.com or www.sotanned.co.uk

UK stockists: Gemini Beauty Supplies (0774 3879 336), Beauty Revolution (07731950627)

# of shades available: 12 (Babydoll, Bare, Bombshell, Earth Angel, French Kiss, Frisky Business, Glamarazzi, Goddess, Negligée, Screen Siren, Sugar Sugar, Viva La Glam)

--What does the promo say?--

"Infused with Vitamin E, Coconut Oil and Aloe Extract for hydration, Vani-T's diamanté-encrusted lipsticks are the ultimate in creamy, long lasting, colour-rich mineral lip colour. The latest in organic and natural beauty, these luscious lipsticks don't contain any nasty chemicals! Available in an array of 12 colours, you can choose from nudes to apricots, to dusty roses, pinks and reds. A shade for every dance floor, desk, and dinner date!"

--Packaging--

Large chunks of diamanté-style plastic (it is hardly fair to call them actual diamanté) adorn these lipstick canisters to give a bling effect that differentiates entirely from products that are currently available. You'd definitely have no trouble picking these out on the shelf, especially thanks to the metallic peach cardboard boxes they arrive in too. The box has a handy cutout circle on the base so you can see the shade of lipstick clearly, and there's a vintage look to the thing overall thanks to the swirly black script on the box. It's very different, too, to other mineral beauty brands, which tend to go for pale pastels and often shy from anything bolder. The tube twists up normally like a regular lipstick.

--Application--

Slap it on straight from the tube or use a lip brush for extra contouring.

--Appearance--

Quality-wise, the strength of colour competes well with major commercial brands. Unfortunately, though, I didn't especially like either of the two shades I was sent for testing: the bright red Screen Siren proved too brash against my pale skin, while Frisky Business, a pale beige, blended almost too well, making my entire face seem almost the same colour all over. Clever use of bolder cheek and eye colours is needed to compete with it. However, as these are just two out of 12 available shades, it proves that there's almost surely a shade for everyone (I'd be surprised if none of the remaining 10 fit my needs).

--Scent--

Just a very light hint of beeswax: no overwhelming wax crayon or Playdoh-type smells here.

--Texture and consistency--

Super-smooth and soft both to apply and to wear; not at all slippery, greasy or drying. In short: perfect! The coconut oil is probably responsible for that along with the beeswax.

--Longevity--

Sadly I didn't find that the colour lasted any longer than a conventional lipstick. Still, you can't have it all I suppose.

--Value for money--

For some people the mineral concept is extremely valuable, and avoiding putting parabens, mineral oils, preservatives, petrochemicals, artificial colours and so on into their bodies is very important to them. Sometimes this can be achieved cheaply (Green People's organic lipsticks go for around £11, with other mineral brands like Bellapierre and Inika also pitching their prices here), but it seems from a quick sweep of Google Shopping that the £20-£25 price bracket is about standard for mineral lipsticks, so Vani-T certainly aren't out to fleece the concerned consumer. Garden Pharmacy and Tender Loving Skincare's lipsticks go for this price, too. But all depends on people's budgets, and the point is that proper mineral makeup (unlike the highly dubious 'mineral' makeup peddled by brands like L'Oreal and Maybelline) is widely accessible to all from about £10 per lipstick. So even if you can't afford Vani-T, it can at least serve as an impetus for you to support the mineral makeup industry, whose products can be just as good, rather than running to the big brands every time. I know it's changed my attitude.

perfect partners

Pure White Tooth Whitening Gloss, £22.05

Mineral Lip Glaze, £14.85

Mineral Lip Crayon, £16

Mineral Lip Definer, £13.75

Lip Brush, £17.15

Spend Vouchers, Get Beauty Rewards!

Sponsored Post

Tesco is probably the UK's most popular supermarket, or at least the country's most talked-about. Whether you find their Florence and Fred range is to die for, love their Tesco Finest cheese crackers, or just enjoy spending your Clubcard points, it certainly has something for everyone. 

While there are Clubcard rewards for just about everything from dining out one evening to a few weeks away on holiday, even beginning beauty fanatics can benefit from the scheme. By collecting points on almost everything you can buy in store or online from Tesco (as well as by spending on your Clubcard credit card), you can convert 150 points for Clubcard vouchers worth £1.50, which are sent out to you automatically and can be spent on all kinds of treats, including major beauty brands stocked by Tesco, such as Barbara Daly and All For Eve.

Furthermore, Clubcard vouchers can be exchanged for even more extravagant Clubcard rewards for die-hard cosmetics aficionados - including special limited edition Clubcard Deals, such as the offer for Brandalley gift tokens that's available at present (if you order by March 19th, you can exchange £10-£20 of Clubcard vouchers for double their value in Brandalley tokens). Tokens are also available on a more permanent basis for beauty-based retailers such as sk:n (the UK's #1 skin clinic), ManKind.co.uk (for beauty and skincare gifts the man in your life will love) and FloatWorks (for flotation experiences in a spa environment). So whether you want to pimp up your lipstick collection, encourage your bloke to start taking care of his skin, or just get a break from the kids, you can be sure you'll find something to suit.

Getting a Tesco clubcard also couldn't be easier: you just have to go to the Clubcard section of Tesco's website and fill out the online form. The BeautyExpert tokens really stand out for me (sadly, Florence and Fred don't currently have a makeup range of their own!), and I'm sure there's something there that you'll love too. You can soon be saving on food shopping, fashion accessories, flotation treatments and foundation in no time at all.

Caudalie Vinotherapie Vine Peach Shower Gel

RRP: £7.65/200ml from www.feelunique.com

--What does the promo say?--

"Caudalie Vinotherapie Vine Peach Shower Gel is for those who want to transform their shower into a moment of total relaxation. Its intoxicating fragrance blends the sweetness of vine peach and almond milk with the invigorating freshness of mint leaves. Soap and sodium laureth sulfate free, with a plant-derived base, this shower gel respects skin’s natural pH balance."*

 --Packaging--

 We are promised what the name suggests in a pink-orange plastic tube, which stands alone in the shower. Complemented by dark green script, it fulfils the image we expect of the product and fits in well with the rest of the Caudalie catalogue.

--Application--

Simply lather up in the shower and spread over wet skin before rinsing off.

--Appearance--

A pale pink gel that doesn't appear lurid or unnatural in any way (despite the apparent lack of actual peach in the product). Works up beautifully into a white lather that doesn't leave any visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--

Beautiful, rich and natural-smelling; completely conforms with what we expect, in the most positive of ways (although all we're told about it in the ingredients list is "Parfum (Fragrance)". Grrr.).

--Texture and consistency--

A smooth, creamy and totally luxurious lather; nothing thin or cheap about this. Truly adds to the idea of a spa experience at home.

--Effects on the skin--

With aloe vera and coconut oil I'd be surprised if it had no effect at all; it certainly made my skin feel baby-soft for hours when used in conjunction with the Nourishing Body Lotion.

--Value for money--

This product is a delight to use and it definitely restored my faith in the Caudalie empire, as hitherto I had not been terribly impressed with their offerings (particularly for skincare). Fits well within its category for the price (in this bracket you can find products by Korres, Roger and Gallet, and Neal's Yard, to name but a few) and definitely gives you a touch of luxury at home.

perfect partners

Caudalie Vine Body Butter, £16.95 (FeelUnique.com)

Caudalie Bath Trio Set, £20.50 (Debenhams)

Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa in a Bag, £33.15 (FeelUnique.com)

Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion, £21.50 (FeelUnique.com)

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream (Normal/Oily)

RRP: £12.95/40ml
# of shades available: 2 (Fair/Medium)
Other variants: Normal/Dry, Dry/Very Dry

--What does the promo say?--
"Take off those winter layers and reveal your outer beauty this spring with new No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream. Its unique 3-in-1 formula evens and enhances skin tone and disguises imperfections, while the nutrient-enriched formula helps to banish blemishes. And with the added protective power of SPF 15 and 5 * UVA technology to help skin stay youthful, BB is the only way to wear this season’s must-have essential - perfectly-pared back, beautiful skin."

--Packaging--
The black and white squeezy tube adds to the arsenal of colour schemes permeating the BB cream market: I've already seen BB cream packages that are peach and hot pink before this one, so it's always good to differentiate. I'm not such a fan of the shape, though: not for any practical reason, but only because it doesn't look like the rest of its No7 brothers and sisters (primers, foundations etc). This tube is squatter than the other similar products made by No7.


--Application--
Apply to clean dry skin, over primer if required. Nothing tricky about that.


--Appearance--
This product promises light coverage, and that is exactly what you get. If you have blemishes and were hoping that this product alone would cover them up completely before you went outside, you can forget it - you WILL need to use a concealer with this. Another thing you may wish to use, depending on your skin, is face powder: I found that this product did not deliver a mattifying effect (skin began to look shiny within an hour), so I needed to apply face powder to compensate. The colour match, however, was perfect for me (I was sent Fair), so I would definitely be happy to use it on days when I wasn't too concerned about covering up blemishes.


--Scent--
While I have heard other complaints about the scent of this product, I have not personally found this. I would in fact go as far as saying that the No7 BB Cream is scentless. Perhaps others just got a bad batch.


--Texture and consistency--
This BB cream has the nicest texture of any I have tried. It's creamy without being too thick, blends beautifully, and is definitely not sticky. Nice one!


--Effects on the skin--
In terms of what this BB cream offers I have difficulty in seeing how it will clear up my blemishes or offer any other benefit beyond sun protection (which in its turn is a form of anti-ageing benefit), given that the SPF seems to be the cream's main selling point. I don't doubt that it does protect skin from the sun, but BB creams are surely supposed to be more than a tinted moisturiser or glorified sun cream. I haven't been able to use the product for long enough yet to say if this does help my acne, though, so the jury's still out on that one.


--Value for money--
I have to admit that £12.95 is about the most I would pay for this cream, given that I would expect a genuine BB cream to offer more than mere sun protection and light coverage. That, to me, is what a tinted moisturiser does. BB creams have historically (read: in Asia, where they originated) offered whitening properties, which is clearly never going to fly in the UK, so I wouldn't expect them to offer that, but I would expect No7 to offer something extra in their product, such as an active blemish-fighting ingredient (BB does stand for "blemish balm", after all!) or something to reduce scars. Admittedly, Garnier's version does not do much in this regard either, but it is still early days for BB creams in Europe and theirs at least has "inspired by BB creams" in its promotional material, which helps to distance their products from the genuine article. Still, BB cream or no, I'll be continuing to use this product as we get closer to summer (my least favourite season - boo hiss).


perfect partner
Airbrush Away Primer, £19.50/30ml

Give your lips the red hot look with the one million lipsticks giveaway

So while Special K's initial 'surprise' for me (which I later found out from other beauty bloggers to be a red nail varnish) never arrived courtesy of the combined crappiness of La Poste and the Royal Fail, their next promotion did: this time a red lipstick created in association with Max Factor. They're giving away one million Colour Elixir lipsticks in this classic shade (named Ruby Tuesday, which I like thanks to the perhaps unintentional allusion to the Jane Yardley book entitled Painting Ruby Tuesday) via their website. All you have to do is buy a box of Special K cereal, hotfoot it to the link, fill in your details (along with the unique code found inside your pack of cereal), and cross your fingers in hope that you'll be one of the lucky million winners. If my experience of the quality of other Max Factor products is anything to go by, you'll be getting a great value product that's long-lasting, and refined in its concept and ingredients.

JML Pedi Pro Deluxe

RRP: £19.99

--What does the promo say?--

"Pedi Pro Deluxe is a professional pedicure treatment that fits in the palm of your hand. This electronic personal bodycare system has a high-speed rotating head, with hundreds of ultra fine micro-crystals. The head quickly, but gently, removes dead and hard calloused skin, while exfoliating and rejuvenating your feet. The result? Silky smooth, soft soles that feel like they've just stepped out of the salon. Pedi Pro Deluxe has 2 different speed settings, and comes with buffing pads that will give your feet the perfect finishing touch. Skin shavings collect in the in-built storage tray, so there's absolutely no mess. Safe and easy to use, Pedi Pro Deluxe is the perfect at home salon solution to dry cracked skin on your feet, toes and heels."

--Packaging--

The ergonomic design of the appliance means it sits very well in your hand, and while large (probably the size of your hand!) it's easy to hold. The hot pink plastic means it seems to be very much aimed at women, so even though it's superficial, bringing it out in other colours, such as black, could help it reach a wider market. While it's not always easy to fit all the parts together initially, the appliance is easy to operate thanks to a switch with three settings (full blast, half strength, and off). All of the blades and accessories can be stored with the appliance in its accompanying hot pink drawstring bag.

--Usage instructions--

Push the switch to half strength initially until you get more of a feel for how the appliance works. While the whirring and buzzing does sound terrifying at first, when you put the spinning blade to the soles of your feet it really is as promised: just a gentle buffing away of dead skin akin to the procedures and equipment used by professional podiatrists. Use on dry feet only (i.e. not when you've just stepped out of the shower!) and you may also find it helpful to use it while standing in the shower: while the appliance itself will catch most of the dead skin, some excess does fall outside of this area.

--Effects on the feet--

Just as it says on the tin, dead skin (even really thick layers of it) is gently but quickly buffed away.

--Recommendations for improvement--

This appliance runs on batteries, and I prefer mains-powered appliances, so would prefer a version of the product that plugs into the wall to recharge, even if this makes the product more expensive. I'd also recommend that a version of the product is released that is more like a pen shape (or, alternatively, that an attachment for the current product is trialled), as this is also what's used by podiatrists to get to the sides of the toes and in between toes more easily.

--Value for money--

A great value electrical appliance that does exactly what it promises, is near-equivalent to equipment used by professional podiatrists, is affordable, and is an excellent step up from JML's previous product on this theme, the Ped Egg. Brava!

perfect partner

Pedi Pro Deluxe Replacement Pads, £2.99

Aura-Soma AEOS Cleansing Oil Dé-Maq

RRP: £39.98 for 75ml

--What does the promo say?--
"An oil-based cleanser containing a blend of organic and biodynamic essential oils, plant extracts, for skin that tends towards dehydration. Rich in Vitamin E and extracts from avocado oil help keep the skin hydrated. Natural oils from sesame seeds soften the skin and help in the removal of make-up for a deep down cleanse. Can also be used for removing eye make up."

--Packaging--
An opaque plastic bottle with a pump-action top that is so easy to control (unlike Dr Hauschka's products, whose pump action mechanisms are useless). Text on the bottle is also minimal, making the product look luxurious and uncluttered.

--Application--
One of Aura-Soma's retailers, Dolphins and Angels, recommends "[m]oisten[ing] cotton wool pads with water, add[ing] a few drops of the Dé-Maq cleanser and apply[ing] using upward sweeping movements over the face and neck. Repeat as necessary to remove all traces of dirt and make up. Use separate pads for each eye area when removing eye make up." However, I find it doesn't need to be this labour-intensive if you're in a rush: you can just use the pump action to drop five drops of oil into your palm, rubbing together over your palms to create a filmy layer, and then rubbing over your face before sweeping a dry cotton wool pad over.

--Appearance--
The oil is a golden yellow, non-shimmery colour that leaves no visible residues on the skin.

--Scent--
Sophisticated and not without finesse, the scent is luxurious without being too heavy. It's difficult to tell where this comes from, though - perhaps the rosewood, as I wouldn't say that the avocado or sesame oils are at all detectable. Certainly very pleasant and elegant at any rate.

--Texture and consistency--
Despite being an oil, I found that this was completely non-greasy and easy to wipe off with cotton wool.

--Effects on the skin--
It removes makeup effortlessly, but does not cleanse and remove makeup in one go - if you want to cleanse with it you'll need to repeat the process after removing makeup. However, it does cleanse well too and I may have even noticed a slight improvement in my acneic skin during the use of this product.

--Value for money--
At nearly £40 it is expensive (the brand is possibly punching above its weight a little - to put it into perspective, La Prairie, Sisley and Gatineau makeup removers cost this much) and I would arguably expect a product like that to cleanse and remove makeup in just one step. However, of the Aura-Soma products I've tried it is probably the one I'd be most likely to repurchase thanks to its luxuriousness and its efficacy and removing makeup, even though I don't normally spend anything like this much on makeup remover. Plus, we have to remember that all of these organic and biodynamic ingredients can't come cheap and we have to accept that you need to pay what something costs to make, first and foremost. Truly a spa experience at home, this bottle is likely to last a long time and not disappoint.

perfect partners
Gentle Exfoliant Yellow, £36
Enriching Moisturiser Blue, £59
Refreshing Hydrating Mist, £55
Dew Facial Wash, £40