Cosmetics & Beauty News March 2010

Wipe off that full-of-doubt look, slap on a happy grin...
Even easier this May, National Smile Month, with Lumineers, an appealing new type of tooth veneer. Non-invasive and pain-free, the porcelain veneers take only two dental visits to fit, and are as thin as contact lenses. Sounds good to me - especially as a long-term fluorosis sufferer. More information is available at www.lumineers.com, www.lumineersdentist.co.uk, and http://www.cosmeticdentistryguide.co.uk/lumineers.html .

Make your own soap
Sandy Simmons, of www.supersoapmakingsecrets.com, has just published her first ebook for interested soap makers, and while I find it a little difficult to trust a book that only references one external source (and that's Wikipedia), it certainly speaks candidly and honestly, covering all aspects of making soap whether you're a beginner or a pro. The methods, and the pros and cons of each, are clearly explained, and every possible topic is covered, from health and safety to different essential oils and increasingly complex soap designs. It really does contain everything that a person wanting to make enchanting and unique gifts for family and friends, or wanting to have fun with their kids, could possibly want or need to know. Available for purchase at the link above.

Become a Purity Organic Skincare ambassador
If you want to star in the Purity brand's first advertising campaign in Dare magazine, and win a £250 goody bag to boot, this star search is for you. To enter, buy a Purity skincare product of your choice from Superdrug, scan in your receipt, and send the image to purity[at]riverltd[dot]co[dot]uk, along with two photographs clearly showing your face (one should be natural and makeup free) and a paragraph explaining why you've got the beauty and brains to be an ambassador. The closing date is May 12 2010 and entrants must be 18 or over.

Arbonne makes the UK Beauty Awards shortlist - twice
Arbonne is still a relatively new and emerging brand, but it's already making a big splash, with two of its products having been nominated for UK Beauty Awards this year. The FC5 Moisturising Night Crème, £41, shortlisted for best new mass market skincare product, uses fresh cell technology from five different fruits and vegetables to nurture, soften and hydrate skin overnight. And on the bodycare side, the brand's SeaSource Detox Spa 5-in-1 Essential Massage Oil is an affordable treat at £29.50. Nominated for the best new mass market bodycare product, it contains such exotic elements as bladderwrack, sea kelp and sea fennel. Vote now for your favourite products at www.handbag.com or www.diarydirectory.com until April 12.

Melvita comes to the help of young skin
While Melvita is already famed in France for its anti-ageing products (and these have been the products flogged recently in the UK too), young skin can now breathe a sigh of relief with the release of the brand's range for oily skin. Its Sebum Balancing Fluid, £16 for 50ml, promises to mattify skin and regulate oil production using zinc, yoghurt, rice powder and ginger, and its on-the-spot treatment, their £10 Anti-Blemish Roll-On, contains sage, lavender and propolis to send spots packing. The new range also features a cleansing foaming gel, a skin tonic, a face scrub, a clay mask, and a perfecting cream, with prices starting off at a reasonable £10. As long as these creams absorb better than Melvita's anti-ageing counterparts, there's no reason why they shouldn't be a hit. Available from www.melvita.co.uk .

Going au naturel with Bodyform
The Bodyform website is coming to the end of its campaign to promote natural beauty, where at www.bodyform.co.uk/natural, readers are invited to submit natural beauty tips to win Stella McCartney underwear. Some of the best current tips include bathing in camomile tea, using egg whites as a face mask, and washing your hair in vodka once a month. If you think you can do better (and would like to win some spanking new undies), get yourself to that website prontissimo.

Raise the roof and raise some cash with John Frieda's HAIRraising
John Frieda invites the hairdressing community to join together to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, and while it isn't always easy to give to charity, this should make it as simple as can be. Salons will be running fundraising events, and until September, customers will be asked if they would like to add an extra £1 charity donation to their salon bill. Even non-salon visitors can help by texting in donations (text the word HAIR to 81400, and £1.50, minus text costs, will go to the appeal). A range of fabulous prizes will also be on offer at John Frieda, Andrew Collinge, Mascolo, Daniel Galvin, Daniel Hersheson, Errol Douglas, James Brown, Lee Stafford, Louise Galvin and Vidal Sassoon salons.

Change is in the air at Shu Uemura
Even though Shu Uemura is phasing out its stores and concessions, you will still be able to purchase online at www.shuuemura.com, and new products will continue to be introduced there. Shu Uemura Art of Hair is unaffected by any changes, too, so never fear!

Joyeuses Pâques!
Happy Easter!

Snowberry Day Creme Lite

RRP: £46/15ml

--What does the promo say?--
"The perfect anti-ageing moisturising cream for everyday use on combination skin, the Lite Day Cream contains a rich blend of exotic oils, such as Strawberry seed, Cloudberry, and Pejibaye to provide active moisturisation, nourishment and protection. The natural biopolymer sodium hyaluronate, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, and Mikimoto pearl extract provide a powerful anti-aging and anti-inflammatory formula that work to rejuvenate skin, regenerate damaged tissue, and stimulate the skin's natural collagen production."

--Packaging--
The brand's usual eye-catching and quirky packaging design this time takes on a cool blue, helping to distinguish this moisturiser well from its regular counterpart, Snowberry Day Creme, which has red packaging, and the Night Creme, whose packaging is purple.

--Application--
After cleansing and toning as normal, apply this moisturiser in a thin layer over the entire face, and rub in until absorbed.

--Appearance--
A pale yellow, creamy coloured lotion, which leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Disappointingly unfruity despite all of the berries that it contains.

--Texture--
A wonderfully luxurious cream that fulfils my idea of a near-perfect product (a product which is both useful and divine to use). It absorbs quite quickly and is gentle on the skin, as well as being free of lumps.

--Effects on the skin--
Lamentably, none. Shine was not reduced especially, and while it didn't inflame my acne further, I did not witness any incredible improvements. Softness was the mainly notable factor, but you would expect this from any moisturiser.

--Value for money--
While this product is lovely to use, it just comes in below par. Only tiny amounts are needed each time, so 15ml would go quite a long way, but the 50ml version of this is truly bank-balance-busting, coming in at over £100. This pricing does not compare favourably with the high street, with Estée Lauder and Clarins both offering 50ml of moisturiser for roughly the same price as 15ml by Snowberry, and for a more natural alternative, Kiehl's, This Works and Caudalie all also come in at considerably less than Snowberry's pricing. My recommendation as far as Snowberry products go would be to opt for their cleanser, which is a really zingy, original and effective product (even if it means putting it onto your Christmas/if-only wishlist), and going to other brands for the rest.

Arbonne NutriMinC REgain Illuminating Enzyme Peel

RRP: £24/30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Illuminate your skin with an exotic cocktail of natural fruit enzymes from African papaya and Far East pineapple that gently exfoliate, revealing a more even complexion and noticeably smoother-looking skin. In just 10 minutes the peel purifies and revitalises the look of tired skin for a more youthful, radiant appearance."

--Packaging--
While I cannot comment on usability given the sample nature of my trial, I do love the bright orange colour of this bottle, which is pretty unusual not just for anti-ageing products but in the field of women's skincare generally.

--Application--
There are two ways with this - you can either apply it in a thicker layer to your face and wash it off after 15 minutes, like a face mask, or you can apply it at night using a smaller amount in place of your usual night cream, washing it off with cleanser in the morning. Do whatever suits you.

--Scent--
None in particular, which is slightly incongruous given the presence of papaya and pineapple.

--Appearance--
A pale orange-yellow cream.

--Texture/consistency--
Smooth, luxurious, and easy for skin to absorb and rinse off.

--Effects on the skin--
I'm not much of a fan of anti-ageing products generally, so cannot say I was feeling positive before the initial use of this product. However, my inner cynic was forced to shut up: after the night-time version of the treatment, skin looked visibly retextured, calmer, less red, and more even in tone, which is an effect that easily lasts during the day.

--Value for money--
A tiny sachet containing just a few millilitres of product will provide at least five treatments, so 30ml should go a long way. Given that the effects of the product are comparable to Crème de La Mer's Refining Facial (which is closer to £60), the price is even more reasonable than it first appears. I would definitely recommend this product for women age 17 and up: even if it doesn't act as an anti-ageing agent (and who really knows?), it is still a wonderful and affordable luxury from an up-and-coming brand that could even replace your trips to the beauty salon.

perfect partners
RETreatment Set, £112.50
REversing Gelée Transforming Lift, £31.00
RElease Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, £25.50
REtaliate Wrinkle Filler, £32.00
REveal Facial Scrub, £23.00

Liz Earle Botanical Essence Eau de Parfum No. 1

RRP: £39.50/50ml

--What does the promo say?--
"For our first ever bespoke fragrance, we’ve used the finest natural botanical ingredients from around the world and the expert skills of a distinguished perfumer from Grasse, France. We gave him the time to indulge in this age-old art, skilfully hand-crafting this complex scent with true passion to create a vibrant, sparkling fragrance translating into warmth and sensuality – and it’s just won its first award, in the Grazia Beauty Awards.

Over 98% directly derived from natural ingredients, this sensuous fragrance can be worn every day. Spritz generously all over any time your spirits need a boost."

--Packaging--
Beautiful in their simplicity, the white box and the clear glass bottle are uncluttered and peaceful-looking, bearing only the most essential information and the gentlest touches of colour and illustration. There is a blue fabric tag with which to pull out the inner box from the outer one, and it is easy enough once you've got the knack to very lightly grasp the top and bottom edges of the inner box and shake the bottle out into your waiting hand. The classic spray top is adorned with a satisfyingly heavy silvery lid.

--Application--
Spray onto pulse points, or spray into the air and then walk into the fragrance so that you are covered in a light mist of it.

--Appearance--
The liquid in the bottle appears dark yellow to light green, but there are no visible traces left on the skin.

--Irritation--
No irritation was experienced during the use of this product.

--Scent--
Possibly slightly off-putting, as the bitter orange combined with bergamot makes for a rather masculine and arresting start. However, it settles into something more subtle, yet complex, as its different flavours come to the fore. I'm no botanist, so could not say which was the most prominent, but can confirm that even once the heart notes are in session, the scent is still on the masculine side, meaning that some die-hard girly scent fans might be eliminated at this stage. Nevertheless, despite the fragrance's unisex nature, don't worry that men will be put off: my fiancé loves this on me and comments on it every time I wear it.

--Longevity--
Most long-lasting scent ever: my fiancé commented on the smell one MORNING and it was the same spritz that I'd applied the previous afternoon. Most impressive.

--Value for money--
Given the high percentage of natural content, the unusual scent and the longevity factor, this scent has a lot going for it. Buying a scent without being able to smell it is always a gamble, though, so like many Liz Earle products, you're relying on word of mouth to help you decide whether or not to buy. If your perfume collection is almost exclusively girly and sweet (like YSL's Parisienne) then you may not like this one; however, if you like musks and peppery scents just as much as the ones that remind you of sweetshops, then give this a go: at just under £40 for 50ml its value for money equals or surpasses many high street fragrances, especially when you consider how long it lasts on the skin. Not least, this multitudinal perfume is an absolute pleasure to unwrap as you try to decipher its scent, and is a sure coup for Liz Earle.

Dead Sea Source Invigorating Coffee Body Scrub

RRP: £8.99/575g
retails at Boots

--What does the promo say?--
"The waters of the Dead Sea are rich with minerals and help benefit almost every skin ailment, from spots to psoriasis. The Dead Sea Source™ Invigorating Coffee Body Scrub contains marine extracts combined with Fairtrade coffee and lemongrass, basil and black pepper. The scrub leaves your skin soft to the touch and revived."

--Packaging--
Comes in an attractive kiln jar (it's kind of heavy, though, so is probably not suitable for travelling) with a warming brown and gold label that proves extraordinarily resistant to shower water (even though the jar itself isn't 100% watertight, with small amounts of water being let in - possibly from steam). Is easy to open and close, and the opening to the jar is quite big, so you can easily get your hand in there and scoop out as much as you like.

--Application--
While in the shower, scrub on to wet skin. Use on shoulders, bust, stomach, thighs and bottom. Rinse off. This is relatively easy, though if any water gets into the jar you also get a second product in the form of a sort of shower oil, which can also be rubbed onto the skin but doesn't rinse off as easily as the scrub.

--Scent--
Overwhelmingly of coffee. Basil, lemongrass, black pepper - you would never guess that all that stuff was in there. If anything, there's more of a chocolate undertone once you've got past the coffee. Yum. Definitely not for people who don't like coffee though.

--Texture/consistency--
Pleasantly scrubby; not abrasive. Don't use on your face, though.

--Appearance--
Dark, chocolatey, coffee brown; granules are quite large and visible.

--Effects on the skin--
Skin appears smoother and less cellulitey; however, around the chest area I can't say that I saw any improvement in my acne as a result. Shame.

--Value for money--
At nearly £10 this might seem initially a bit steep; however, the pot is huge and will last you literally for months. While the therapeutic value of the product is perhaps disputable, as a luxury it is simply delightful. Would definitely buy this or any other Dead Sea Source product again.

perfect partners
Invigorating Coffee Body Butter, £6.99/350ml
Invigorating Coffee Body Wash, £5.49/300ml

Cosmetics & Beauty News February 2010

Keeping beauty safe
Even despite the various medical advances that abound in our world today, you could argue that we are unhealthier as people are either too fat or too thin, consuming more of the wrong things, and interacting in increasingly polluted environments. The Safe Beauty Association takes this to another level, wanting consumers to be more aware of health issues in beauty, whether at the makeup counter or in professional salons, and encouraging a desire to decrease cross-contamination and diseases such as conjunctivitis. Launched in December, the programme is already gathering momentum and offers both individual and corporate membership as well as training and accreditation, bringing this issue deservedly into the spotlight. Find it at www.safebeautyassociation.com

Going your own Wei
With the arrival of Wei Beauty at SpaceNK, your skincare regime can truly be allowed to go its own way through the use of traditional Chinese skincare methods, there being four categories of product so that you're sure to find something to suit your skin. Choose the Chi range to purify with Chinese rose cleanser and pomegranate buffing beads; elect to energise with the Yang range, which contains jujube and goji berries to revitalise; replenish with Yin, which uses mulberry, safflower and lotus to nourish; and, for those of you with acneic skin, bring a sense of Zen to your bathroom with the range that uses lychee and chrysanthemum to correct, balance and restore congested skin. Available from Space NK now, starting at £15.

Incanto the Sixth
Salvatore Ferragamo is launching the latest addition to the Incanto perfume series this month, entitled Incanto Bloom. With so many floral undertones - freesia, champaca, grapefruit flowers, and tea roses - it's bound to attract the girly girls, but the added cashmere wood and musk make it more unusual and intriguing. And, starting at £29.50 for 30ml of EDT at Escentual.com, it's affordable too.

Scorsese's scorching Chanel project
Start thinking ahead Christmas, or perhaps get this one for your boyfriend or fiancé "just because": Chanel's new fragrance for men is sure to provide an edge to the world of aftershave, with its adverts being directed by Martin Scorsese and starring the suave French actor, Gaspard Ulliel. The only disadvantage is that it doesn't break until August 2010, just missing Fathers' Day. No further details about the fragrance are available yet, but with these two involved, it's likely to be simultaneously classic and on trend.

Stella's solid scent soars into stores
Following Jean-Paul Gaultier's solid perfume-cum-necklace last January, you can now team it with (or compensate for, if you didn't buy it) Stella McCartney's effort, the solid version of Stella, which is now available for $49 in the US, and is true to the original Stella, retaining its notes of mandarin, rose, peony and amber. In the UK, it's yours for free in Debenhams when you purchase any 50ml fragrance from the designer. I'd say that sounds like a bargain of the first order. A stylish and classic addition to any outfit!

Cosmetics Contemplations: Perfect By Nature

A rising phenomenon in the makeup world is the notion of natural cosmetics (which also encompasses mineral cosmetics, perhaps the most famous ambassador of this sector), which doesn't primarily mean a natural look or style, but which refers more to the ingredients used. The fact that search engines bring nearly 6 million results for 'natural cosmetics' is perhaps testament to how much this sector has grown and how popular it is today. Arising from concerns about the chemicals used in more mass-production cosmetics, natural cosmetics seek to use fewer chemicals and preservatives, hoping to more closely resemble something that you could knock up in your own kitchen.

Some of these natural treatments are as old as time itself, such as the use of honey masks on hair and skin. But the idea of natural cosmetics did not come to the mass market until the 1960s, where products began to emerge that were based on botanical ingredients such as watermelon extract and carrot juice. This is exploited to its fullest today by brands such as Lush and Yes To Carrots. But how do natural brands compare with non-natural brands? Natural cosmetics companies like the two aforementioned do not often have the advertising and distribution budgets to match, meaning that they operate very quietly and rely on word of mouth in order to sell their products. Sometimes this is successful and sometimes it is not, and a lack of advertising, or poor management of an advertising budget that does exist, is certainly not limited to the more modest brands: Estée Lauder brand Prescriptives was forced to close this January due to diminishing revenues (but if you never advertise and insist on sticking with rather dated branding, what do you expect?).

There is not really a great deal of comparison to make in terms of packaging; the natural makeup brands often have packaging that is just as effective and innovative as that of their higher-profile rivals. Occasionally it looks a bit less professional, but that is all. Price of the products is variable, but many natural cosmetics companies tend to offer extremely generous deals in terms of samples and shipping, which is not always something that is forthcoming from bigger names.

Ingredients are a trickier area of analysis: some brands that try to give a natural impression - such as Kiehl's, Liz Earle and Lush - often also contain ingredients that are considered no-go by purists, such as parabens, phenoxyethanol and sodium hydroxide. In some cases this is due to misinformation on the part of the consumer (read: people thinking ingredients are more dangerous than they are due to overhyped media portrayals) while others are perhaps more serious. Several consumers also report bad reactions from mineral makeup as a result of two commonly-used ingredients therein (mica, and bismuth oxychloride). However, the battery of offences is more serious on the artificial side, with many companies using phthalates, SLS, and (allegedly) animal testing in the making of their products.

There is certainly no problem in terms of the variety of natural products available: if you can buy it off the shelf from one of the big cosmetics giants, you can almost certainly find it in natural form too if you search hard enough (this is where natural brands can sometimes fall down - availability). Mineral primer? Vegan lipstick? No problem. However, is the efficacy the same? When it comes down to it, many natural products (in terms of skincare or makeup) don't always pass the test, but then again, several artificial products don't either. It all comes down to how dedicated you are to shopping around, and potentially being disappointed a few times (regardless of whether you go for natural or non-natural products) before you can find a combination that works for you.

Top 10 Natural Cosmetics Companies*
1. Afterglow Cosmetics
2. Lush
3. Jason Natural
4. Bare Escentuals
5. J Lynne Cosmetics
6. Ecco Bella
7. Lavera
8. Zia Natural Skincare
9. Besso De Natura
10. Carol's Daughter

Top 10 Mineral Cosmetics Companies*
1. Iredale Mineral Cosmetics
2. Monavé
3. Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics
4. Meow Cosmetics
5. Sheer Miracle
6. Dead Sea Mineral
7. Erth Minerals
8. Alima Pure
9. Lily Lolo
10. Elemental Beauty

Top 10 Cosmetics Companies*
1. Maybelline
2. Avon
3. L'Oreal Paris
4. Lancôme
5. Clinique
6. Revlon
7. Estée Lauder
8. Max Factor
9. Cover Girl
10. Shiseido

*first ten out of Google, more or less, with a little bit of help from Forbes.com

Liz Earle Superbalm

RRP: £15 for 30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Our ‘emergency’ skin salve rescues and soothes skin. Made from pure plant oils and natural waxes plus shea butter, it gently softens and calms dry skin on hands, heels, elbows, lips and helps condition nails and cuticles."

--Packaging--
The silver and transparent combination is a successful one, conveying something special without being too glitzy. It's simple, unisex and sophisticated, and the screw-top lid makes it easy to open it when you need it and to close it when you don't. The plastic packaging also means it's light, but the downside of this is that the fact of it not being made of glass and metal means you don't feel that you're holding something luxurious in your hand that carries the weight of every penny paid.

--Application--
Smear onto any area of dry skin that needs attention, from your feet to your lips. The opening to the balm is also of just the right size that you can roll your heels and elbows in it quite comfortably, but for hygiene reasons I wouldn't recommend this unless you're really only going to use the balm on one part of your body (and you're not going to share the Superbalm with others). The only difficulty comes from the fact that the balm is very hard, rather than being softer like Vaseline or like your standard lip balm: it can mean that on larger areas of the body (e.g. feet) you have to be patient as it's not especially spreadable and you have to keep dipping back into the pot.

--Appearance--
A pale, creamy, slightly yellow balm that leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Texture--
A very hard balm, but it rubs into the skin very easily.

--Scent--
Divine - a bit like tea, though it's difficult to tell where this comes from due to the cornucopia of oils and waxes used in this product (specifically hazelnut, rosehip, avocado, neroli, lavender and camomile oils, and candelilla and carnauba waxes, as well as shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, and echinacea). The citrusy scent of the neroli is also predominantly detectable.

--Effects on the skin--
Persistently hard and tough skin is made to feel baby-soft and like new. This effect is felt wherever the Superbalm is used on the body, making skin caressable and comfortable, and with irritation being greatly reduced. Wonderful stuff!

--Value for money--
Clearly palpable effects, both short and long term, coupled with highly reasonable pricing, make this not only a perfect personal treat but also a wonderful gift and an indispensable travel essential (anything multi-use is always good). It's also available in tiny 5g jars for under £5 should you want it for sample or travel purposes. Top marks.

perfect partners
Superskin Eye and Lip Treatment, £25/15ml
Superskin Moisturiser, from £11.50/15ml
Superskin Concentrate, from £17.75/10ml
Superskin Body Cream, from £12/50ml

Snowberry Deep Cleanser

RRP: from £25.50 for 15ml
retails at Harvey Nichols

--What does the promo say?--
"Perhaps the world's only cleanser formulated entirely from natural herbal oils, such as precious Neem, Inca Inchi and Passion fruit oils. An extraordinary, deep cleansing lotion, uniquely designed to remove stubborn makeup while maintaining ideal skin pH."

--Packaging--
The boxes and pump-action plastic bottles in which the Snowberry products come are instantly attractive, featuring kitschy cartoon people holding banners that bear simply expressed but eloquent slogans about life. The brightly coloured drawings on a white background offset the calm that is created by the sophisticated opacity of the bottles, meaning that these products should appeal to a wide-ranging audience. The plastic bottles are recyclable but hard-wearing, simply designed but easy to use.

--Application--
Snowberry advises that you can just smear this cleanser straight onto your face, but it's just as effective if you add a few drops of water and allows you to spread it over your face more easily (but don't expect any lather). Rinse off and follow with toner and moisturiser as normal.

--Appearance--
The gel is bright orange and reminds me of a tangerine Body Shop shower gel that I had when I was younger. This doesn't leave any residue on your face after rinsing, but do expect it to turn your face cloth a bit orange, and don't be surprised if when you use toner there is also a trace of orange on the cotton pad too.

--Scent--
The most gorgeous of all of the Snowberry products that I have tried; a rich, natural, tangy tangerine that really wakes you up in the morning.

--Texture/consistency--
Very strange; not viscous like your usual gel, and not oily either. More velvety, while still remaining distinct from moisturisers. This is nice :)

--Effects on the skin--
Skin appears smoother, calmer and retextured with tone seeming more refined. For a couple of days I was also under the illusion that my acne was improved too. However, this latter effect certainly dissipated after a few days, when my skin returned to its usual sorry state. However, I was certainly very impressed in the beginning.
Snowberry's range, though, is also supposed to be anti-ageing, and seeing as I'm still under 25 I was in a fairly fortunate position to begin with, but I can't say I saw any miracles happen in this area.

--Value for money--
This is very tricky; the 50ml version of this breaks the bank at nearly £50, and £25.50 for just 15ml is pretty steep as well, especially since the initially promising effects on the skin don't seem to stretch into the long-term. While Snowberry is certainly different and appealing in its approach and ingredients, it still needs to consider how it compares. For £25.50 at Boots, for instance, you can have a whopping 400ml of an Estée Lauder cleanser, and brands such as Clinique and Dermalogica offer 200-400ml of cleanser for less.
To put this into perspective, 1.5ml of the Snowberry product lasts approximately fourteen days, meaning that 15ml would last about four and a half months, at a cost of around 18p a day. If the effects lasted, I would be more than happy to pay this. However, their ephemerality calls this into question. Shame, as the product itself is just lovely.

perfect partners

Snowberry Exfoliator, £21.50 for 15ml
Snowberry Toner, £24.00 for 30ml
Snowberry Day Creme Lite, £46.00 for 15ml
Snowberry Night Creme, £56.00 for 15ml
Snowberry Face Serum, £99.00 for 15ml

Arbonne Eye Shadow

RRP: £8.50

--What does the promo say?--
"The eyes have it with these 14 moisturising formulas that enhance lids with gorgeous colour that won’t flake or smudge."

--Packaging--
I can't comment on this in a great deal of detail given the sample nature of my test, but I do hope that the eyeshadow trays are fixed into the real compact much more securely than they are in the samples - mine were constantly falling out (though not to any damage, thank goodness). As a plus point, though, the application sponges appear to be sturdy.

--Application--
Idiot-proof; even the most inexperienced of beginners will be able to get a good all-purpose look with these complementary eyeshadows. Just stroke across the eyelids, blend a little bit if needed, and voilà.

--Appearance--
The choice of shades is, I think, about right: there are enough different colours to provide choice and variety but not so many that you're overwhelmed. They are all wonderfully flattering and natural-looking, and, as previously mentioned, a classy yet subtle look is easy to achieve. This result is not only suitable for work or for a low-key daytime look, but when layered can also be shimmery and special enough for night-time. On the website, the colours are divided into three groups according to complexion - Warm (6 shades), Neutral (6 shades), and Cool (2 shades) - so that you are able to pick the colours that best suit you. And, in case you don't already know which complexion category (popularised by MAC and the now-defunct Prescriptives) applies to you, there are also brief, readable notes on the website to help explain. The two colours I was sent - Dusk, and Tulle - are very classic and wearable. They make you look like you have put in so much more effort than you actually have (which is always nice!) and they go well with anything.

--Texture/consistency--
A very gentle powder that flakes easily in the tray and blends easily on the eyelid.

--Longevity--
This is a tricky one. As the promotional materials state, the colours do indeed stay resistant to flaking, smudging and creasing. However, I did find that they faded, and that consequently at least one reapplication was required during the day.

--Value for money--
While the colours are certainly beautiful, you can have L'Oréal trios, which are of quite high quality, for less, but they may not be as natural as Arbonne's monos (which contain cucumber extract and aloe, making them suitable for those with even the most sensitive eyes, which the L'Oréal ones may not be). Revlon's ColourStay Quads also offer more colours in one compact for roughly the same money, so it's about choosing according to your needs: if the high street shadows irritate your eyes and/or you don't want to be one of the crowd, then Arbonne's eyeshadows may well be for you.

perfect partners
Virtual Illusion Dual Volume Mascara, £19
Virtual Illusion Liquid Eyeliner, £10
Wipe Out Eye Makeup Remover, £11.50