Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion

RRP: from £18 for 250ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Packed with extremely nourishing active ingredients, this product immediately and moisturizes the skin, which regains its softness and elasticity. Grape-seed Polyphenols prevent premature ageing of the skin, gingko biloba activates microcirculation. Protected and revitalized, your skin is firmer and more luminous for all day moisture. Its luxurious texture is quickly absorbed and wraps the skin in a delicately perfumed, velvety veil."

--Packaging--

The opaque plastic allows the white body lotion to be clearly seen, meaning you've always got an idea of how much you have left. The pump-action is easy to control (although offers no extra protective lid for travel) and visually it's clear yet understated, with the grapevine imagery fitting well with the rest of Caudalie's products and philosophy. The white and green colour scheme helps to make this a unisex offering.

--Application--

Massage into clean dry skin in the morning and/or at night and leave to soak in. It's as simple as that!

--Appearance--

The white lotion leaves no visible residue on the skin once the product has been rubbed in.

--Scent--

Clean without being chemical; along the lines of cotton and soap, so it should appeal to all. A shame none of the main ingredients seem to be detectable. A neutral scent that doesn't interfere with perfume.

--Texture and consistency--

Creamy and completely luxurious. Not at all greasy. Sinks into skin extremely well.

--Effects on the skin--

Definitely reduces dry skin on the body and leaves you feeling soft and stroky :)  No comments from the beautician during my waxing sessions at how dry my skin is (which they have commented on in the past). Now, if I could just find something so balancing for my facial skin, all would be well!!

--Value for money--

At £18 for 250ml (and £26 for 400ml) it's certainly not cheap, but it's still an affordable treat for sure, giving your life a little bit of salon luxury every day. L'Occitane is the main competitor in this price bracket and I feel Caudalie have pitched their product well here. The scent may not be that exciting, but it's a simultaneously luxurious and effective product. Wrap yourself in a big white fluffy towel and enjoy!

perfect partners

Fleur de Vigne Shower Gel, £9

Hand and Nail Cream, £12

Clay and Herbs Purifying Acne Masque

RRP: £15.70 for 50ml; £32.50 for 100ml; £29.50 for a 110ml refill

--What does the promo say?--

"A therapeutic blend of highly absorbent and detoxifying clays, zeolite mineral, healing herbs and essential oils to deeply cleanse blemished skin."

--Packaging--

Definitely utilitarian and functional rather than glamorous or glitzy, the white and clear plastic pot is adorned with a simple black and white printed label detailing the ingredients and application instructions. No advertising to be found here, or cheap tricks to lure in buyers; in fact, this proves rather refreshing. You will need a second pot into which to decant your powder and mix it with water, though; it won't last well if the whole lot is mixed at once in the pot the powder comes in.

--Application--

Mix a small amount of the powder with water or toner to create a paste-like consistency. Spread over a clean dry face, leave to dry and then rinse off with a damp flannel. Follow with moisturiser.

--Appearance--

The greyish-brown powder turns greener when mixed with liquid. When wet, it is dark green, but it dries on the face to a paler green. This doesn't leave any visible residue when washed off.

--Scent--

A lemon and seaweed type smell gives the impression of this being a clean, natural, efficient and unisex product.

--Texture and consistency--

The powder is smooth and sandy rather than grainy, although grains become more obvious once the powder is mixed with liquid. On the skin it feels soothing and non-irritating.

--Effects on the skin--

Skin is immediately calmer and less red once the mask has been removed. Blemishes visibly begin to clear up much more quickly and do not recur so easily. Wunderbar!!

--Value for money--

While £15.70 for 50ml seems pricey, very little is needed at once for your whole face (maybe 1-2 teaspoons) and the product is extremely effective. Easily competes with and often exceeds the performance of others in its price category - which includes brands such as Dermalogica and Clinique. Although I was sent the product for free on this occasion, I would definitely spend my own cash on it in future.

perfect partners

Peppermint Pumice Hand and Foot Scrub, from £35

Gentle Facial Scrub, from £26.70

Exfoliating Body Scrub, from £36.70

Purchase from www.greenleavesherbalhealth.co.uk

Broadway Nails Impress Press-on Manicure

RRP: £7.99 

# of designs available: 36

--What does the promo say?--

"Get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds with the revolutionary imPRESS Press-on Manicure by Broadway Nails. Endorsed by the stunning Nicole Scherzinger who was quoted in Look Magazine as saying that her imPRESS nails were one of three things she’d take with her on a desert island, these sass-o-licious instant nail art products require no drying time as no messy glue is involved in application. Not only that but they last up to a week, have a superior and lasting shine and are easy to remove. The funky pack contains 24 Nail Covers in 12 different sizes as well as a Preparation Pad to ensure your nails are in optimal condition for applying the imPRESS Press-On nails. To prepare, remove any nail polish, cleanse and buffer the nails with the Preparation Pad, select the perfect fitting cover for each nail and line them up in finger order. To apply, one-by-one leaving the thumbs until last, simply peel off the clear plastic tab from the back of the nail cover, firmly press into place on the finger and apply pressure. Voila! A gel manicure-look in mere seconds that you can match to any outfit!"

--Packaging--

The nails come in a see-through nail polish style plastic bottle, which is a cute but slightly more wasteful way of displaying them compared to the foils. Still, it's definitely distinctive and I can see why they've done it this way. The nails are not sorted by size.

--Application--

Remove all old nail varnish, make sure your hands are clean and dry, and prep your nails using the cleansing pad provided. Choose the correct nail sizes for your nails (if in between sizes go for the smaller one as 100% adherence to your natural nails is needed) and then lay out your 10 chosen nails in sequence. The rounded ends with the clear plastic tabs on them show where the nail is supposed to meet the cuticle (bottom of the nail). Peel off the clear plastic tab and stick the artificial nails onto your natural ones, pressing down regularly for the first few hours to ensure complete adherence. Apply finger nails first, leaving thumbs until last. While a little fiddly, there is nothing difficult about any of this. It's a darn sight easier than foils and doesn't involve any drying time either, making it more convenient than polish in this regard too.

--Appearance-- 

I didn't really like the colour I was sent (neon pink!) but with 36 shades available this was just the (bad) luck of the draw - I can see many other shades and designs that I would like, as Impress has everything from French manicure to leopard print. The nails are not too thick and easily pass for a professional gel manicure look as promised. At their original length they looked a tad ridiculous on me but once cut and filed down they looked perfect. In addition, it's worth knowing that if you are ever gifted some of these and don't like the colour, you can paint over them with regular nail polish with no problem (which I know goes against the point of the nails, but just saying it is possible). The appearance is easily customisable not just through the range of designs but also in terms of shape and length.

--How well do they stick?--

Very well; I'd give them 9/10 in this regard. Occasionally the bottoms of the nails would 'catch' as I was doing something, but not frequently, and only on one or two nails. I'd put this down to my inexperience at applying such products rather than an inherent fault with the product itself. 

One slight problem with this is that the adhesive goes nearly all the way to the edge of the nail; this means that underneath the artificial nail any sort of dirt, grime, dust etc that you come into contact with gets stuck there and is difficult to remove. Not very sightly or hygienic.

--How long do they last?--

Easily stand up to the "up to one week" claim on the box and perhaps even exceed it; the nails are definitely durable.

--Removal-- 

While not as easy or quick to remove as conventional nail polish they are definitely easier to remove than the foils that are also popular in the current market. Damage to natural nails is also minimal to non-existent.

--Value for money--

At £7.99 these are a bit expensive for everyday wear, but I would definitely buy them again for a night out or special occasion, or to indulge in their more intricate designs - anything that I couldn't possibly recreate at home with regular polish. They're also a lot cheaper than getting the same effect in a salon. A very good product overall :)

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Moisturiser

RRP:  £4.99/50ml 

--What does the promo say?--

"NEUTROGENA VISIBLY CLEAR^® Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Moisturiser is a daily facial moisturiser with a fresh fragrance that leaves skin looking beautifully clear and healthy.
1. Hydrates: the light oil-free formula provides 24hr hydration without clogging the pores. It absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft.
2. Clears: enriched with MicroClear^® technology, used daily, it helps to reduce and prevent spots and blemishes. Skin looks more smooth and even, the complexion is visibly improved.
3. Refreshes: the lightweight formula with its delicate hint of pink grapefruit quenches your skin with hydration and uplifts your senses so you look and feel fresh."

--Packaging--

Sticks with the pink-and-white theme on the tube as with the rest of the range, giving it a clear sense of calmness, grapefruit, and of belonging to a product family. Information on the tube is brief, concise and clear, and the screw-top lid is secure and easy to use.

--Application--

After using the pink grapefruit scrub and/or cleanser, rub the moisturiser over your face and neck. No need to rinse off - just let it sink in.

--Appearance--

A pale pink cream which leaves no visible traces on the skin after application.

--Scent--

Very obviously of pink grapefruit without being overbearing (although it is a synthetic fragrance according to the ingredients rather than being a natural extract). A very pleasant and awakening smell.

--Texture and consistency--

Creamy without being heavy, although it stops just short of luxurious. Sinks into skin easily; is not at all greasy.

--Effects on the skin--

Skin is visibly smoothened, brighter and clearer than before. Funnily enough I found I saw a greater improvement with this product than with the cleanser or the scrub; will need to ask the experts why...!

--Value for money--

Probably one of the most effective high street moisturisers on the market for this money for those suffering with acneic skin. While my skin has already been improving for some time, I think this product has definitely helped. Would purchase again.

perfect partners

Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash, £4.94/200ml

Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Daily Scrub,£4.95/150ml

Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Cream Wash, £4.49/150ml

Spa Review: spa LONDON

Bianca's Beauty Blog was invited to new spa, spa LONDON, ahead of its official launch tomorrow (April 3rd). Blog representative Gillian reports on her experience.

--What does the promo say?--

“spa LONDON provides the perfect escape. Combining the best of traditional, thermal therapies honed over centuries, with leading contemporary treatments, there is nowhere better to indulge yourself and restore harmony to your life. An oasis of calm, where you can leave the stresses and strains of modern life behind you. spa LONDON offers the perfect environment in which to restore both mind and body, lifting your spirits through each experience.”

--The reality--
I arrived at spa LONDON in Marshall Street W1, to a very sunny and as usual busy London town. Situated close to Regent, Oxford & Carnaby Streets it offers the perfect escape and possibly a welcome addition to a perfect girls' day out. The men who work and live in the area will also find that essential pick you up or wind down that is often needed in a busy city life too.

Upon entry, the receptionist on the ground floor telephoned to announce my arrival. This was a nice touch, as despite being early, at the bottom of the stairs (lift also available) I was welcomed by my beauty therapist, the charming Fatima. Knowing that I was there to look around the facility for the first time, I was also introduced to the manageress Lisa, and given the opportunity to look around the thermal spa area and ask questions about the facilities.

I was not disappointed: spa LONDON welcomes its clients to a clean and modern “easy on the eye” environment and a pleasing ambience, with scented candles burning and fresh green apples for the taking. I particularly liked the spacious named treatment rooms, many with showers, and the thoughtful frescos in reception (Peaceful, Energising, Calming, Tranquillity, Serene, Uplifting, and Soothing) and comfortable sofas provided to relax in while awaiting your treatment.

I then embarked upon nearly 2 hours of sheer bliss, which delivered several of the above fresco promises. All the important things were in place: a warm low lit room, enough instruction, privacy and change time to get ready for my treatment. I was also provided with the music of my choice, which could have been my own iPod if I’d liked, and a heated treatment bed; the scene was set.

Firstly I experienced the Spa London Body Massage, £59. Fatima made sure to ask me how I liked my massage - most important for a girl who likes a firm hand and who is prone to bouts of “tickleness”! (If you can’t press hard please don’t touch my neck and feet!) Thankfully what followed was one of the best 50+ minutes ever, with every moment well spent. I have experienced everything from the ex-Army deep muscle massage of a sport physiotherapist to a limp wristed massage which should have been called a body “stroke.” What a joy to experience just what was requested. I’m particularly sure, after my circuit class earlier that morning, my upper back will have really enjoyed this as much as I did. Along with the peppermint aroma of the treatment room I felt relaxed and moisturised all over - heaven. Another bonus following this treatment was that a shoulder joint that I have been experiencing some minor problems with certainly felt better the next day.

Next followed my first Elemis Skin Solutions Modern Skin Facial, £57. I think it’s probably the first facial in which I nearly fell asleep - maybe that was the lavender aroma of one of the products used? Elemis use pure extracts in its products, another being rose, and neither of which was too strong. Whatever this facial delivers it certainly relaxes you, and was extremely enjoyable. In addition your hands, head, arms and neck also get a massage - utter bliss & probably one of the best facials I’ve experienced. Afterwards advice, not sales pressure, was offered. This was welcome and I purchased an Elemis eye mask, which will also be reviewed soon on Bianca's Beauty Blog. The following day, looking in my mega magnifying mirror, the open pores on my nose were most definitely diminished. A few Elemis sachets were also given for trial (some may also be reviewed here at a later date, but only if the samples are big enough to allow this). My one regret was not taking along a hair brush, as this facial included some head massage, so one would have been useful.

Spa LONDON has also decided to offer dedicated male & female times in the Thermal Spa relaxation sauna and steam room areas. What an excellent idea for those of us who still feel that men are from Mars and women from Venus! For those of us who prefer to glow alongside each other, mixed sessions are evening from 4pm to 9pm & and all day at weekends. This ruling does not impact on the private treatment rooms

Spa LONDON W1 has its official launch on the 3rd April between 6 & 9pm. I urge you, be you visitor, worker or resident of W1, to visit; I doubt you will be disappointed. For further infomation, see here.

If you live or work further afield in London, spa LONDON also have venues in York Hall E29, Swiss Cottage NW3, and Wimbledon SW19, as well as in Epsom KT17. If these locations offer therapists with the same skills, I would like to recommend you give them a try also, and see if they offer the same city haven. ENJOY! I did, and although I don’t live in the area I would return, most probably added onto a girls' shopping day.

Prices for treatments can be found here.

The Perfume Lover: A Personal History of Scent (Denyse Beaulieu)

 --The blurb--

"What if the most beautiful night in your life inspired a fragrance? Denyse Beaulieu is a [...] fragrance writer; it is her world, her love, her life. When she was growing up, perfume was forbidden in her house, spurring a childhood curiosity that went on to become a[...] passion. It is this passion she pursued all the way to Paris, where she now lives, and entered the secretive world of the perfume industry. But little did she know that it would lead her to achieve a fragrance lover’s wildest dream …When Denyse tells a famous perfumer of a [...] night spent in Seville under an orange tree in full blossom, wrapped in the arms of a beautiful young man, the story stirs his imagination and together they create a scent that captures the essence of that night. This is the story of that perfume. As the unique creative collaboration unfolds, the perfume-in-progress conjures intimate memories, leading Beaulieu to make sense of her life through scents. Throughout, she weaves the [...] history of perfumery into her personal journey [...]: the masters and the masterpieces; the myths and the myth-busting, down to the molecular mysteries that weld our flesh to flowers…[...]Your world will never smell the same."

--The review-- 

I always enjoy receiving books for review, but I especially enjoy receiving titles that are relevant to the multiple audiences of my very different blogs (and not only so that I can cross-post the review!), as such books quite frequently offer insights "behind the scenes" of the world we often get only limited glimpses of - in this case, the complex world of perfumery. Beaulieu's privileged position as perfume writer and general expert (she teaches courses on perfume in institutes in London and Paris) means that we are allowed access to this world at last, in a candid yet approachable fashion.

But there is more to it than this. This beautifully-presented edition of The Perfume Lover, which came wrapped in black tissue and pink ribbon, and with a sample of the perfume created by Beaulieu in the book, is a truly interdisciplinary adventure. Not only does Beaulieu effortlessly blend the history of perfume with her own selective biography, she also takes us on a rich journey through religion, art, literature, and etymology. By combining this with perfumers' secrets of the industry and the mechanics of making a perfume, we almost feel like she is doing the latter herself in book form as she mixes all of these 'notes' to make a unified whole.

We are certainly not disappointed by the amount or quality of insider information that Beaulieu gives us: we are let into how far celebrities are really involved in creating the scents bearing their names (answer: it varies!), told which perfumes are favoured by luminaries such as Michael Jackson (answer: Bal à Versailles), and told why you'll never find a bad review of a perfume in a magazine or newspaper (answer: you'll have to read The Perfume Lover to find out). All of this sets us up for an intriguing read - but none of it is the main part of the story.

Throughout the book we are given tantalising views not only of the laboriousness of the perfume-making process (hundreds of formulae can be conducted in the creation of just one perfume, in the hope of hitting on the right combination) but also into the perfume that Denyse herself created, leaving us wondering what the perfume (whose sample is given with the book) will finally be like when we sprinkle it on our skins. When I finally did, I can't pretend it was completely as I had expected, and obviously reactions, likes, and dislikes will vary from person to person. But there is certainly a thrill to be had not only in knowing that you're testing a perfume that's not due out for another 6 months (it will be released by L'Artisan Parfumeur in the autumn), but also that you know the entire story and process behind it, in intimate detail.

This brings us to the only negative that I detected in this book. While Beaulieu is a master of beautiful description and detail, this does at time lead to too much information regarding her own sex life and what I perceive to be her personal levels of promiscuity (do readers really need to know that as a young girl she practised fellatio techniques on ice cream cones?!). Indeed, for someone who is clearly intelligent and talented, this promiscuity is disappointing; while perfume clearly has a sensual aspect, and Beaulieu is not wrong to emphasise this in the book, in some aspects of this she does take it too far for my liking.

This also means that despite her literary talents I am unlikely to read any more of the books that Beaulieu has worked on as a translator. I mention this because as a translator myself I wouldn't ever associate my name with anything I would be ashamed of or was contrary to my morals and interests. People see that a translator is associated with a work and it can influence their views on that person, even if they did not write it. With empty-headed chick lit on offer (mostly in French, but also in English) and a book about sex games and the history of sexuality (available in French and in English) among Beaulieu's translation repertoire, I somehow have the feeling that our interests don't coincide much, and it therefore doesn't endear me to her in terms of what she may put out in future. This is a great shame, as The Perfume Lover itself makes for an enjoyable and fascinating read. I'll therefore be very interested to see what Beaulieu has waiting in the wings for us.

This review has been cross-posted to Bianca's Book Blog.

Sure Maximum Protection

RRP: £5.30 for 45ml

available in 3 varieties: Clean Fresh, Confidence, and Sensitive

--What does the promo say?--

"Sure Maximum Protection is an advanced formula specifically designed to provide scientifically proven wetness protection for women who need the very best. It is formulated with TRIsolid, innovative body responsive technology which contains three important components:

1) The maximum wetness protection ever from Sure.
2) Encapsulated odour-fighting technology.
3) Skin moisturising ingredient.

Why apply Sure Maximum Protection at night?
Research shows that body temperature is not constant throughout the day, rising during the day and cooling at night. Under normal conditions body temperature varies from a night-time low of 36.5°C to midday high of 37.2°C. The rate we sweat is affected by these temperature variations. At night while the body is at rest sweat glands are least active and skin is more receptive to Sure Maximum Protection. This gives the formula time to work and build a strong level of protection for the day ahead. The deodorant cream has a clean fresh scent and 48 hour wetness protection.  Anyone who does not want to be held back by perspiration will benefit from Sure Maximum Protection Cream."

--Packaging--

The boxes all have the same design in slightly different colours: razor-like sliver designs cut through the white box in blue, pink and purple respectively, while the info on the box tells you about the product concisely (although a little more information on the TRIsolid complex they are using would be nice). The dispenser itself is ergonomically designed and the click wheel is easy to use and control. The area from which the cream is dispensed consists of holes in a plastic surface, which is fairly standard for cream deodorants. The lid stays on and keeps the surface of the cream dispenser clean.

--Application--

With two clicks of the wheel you're ready to roll: before you go to sleep, run the dispenser over clean dry underarms. Rub with the end of the dispenser until fully absorbed. When you wake in the morning, shower as normal; there's no need to reapply the deodorant. While this entails a slight change in routine, it's not too tricky to get used to.

--Appearance--

A white cream that leaves no visible residue on clothes in the way that roll-ons and sprays can.

--Scent--
A very clean, fresh smell that's not too overpowering.

--Texture and consistency--

Creamy without being greasy or sticky; absorbs quickly into the skin.

--Efficacy--

Works well in a number of different situations and environments, including hotter as well as cooler temperatures (which is great for this heatwave that we've been having lately) and situations in which you feel stressed or nervous (it certainly didn't let me down during an interview I had yesterday). The only claim that doesn't stand up is the 48-hour one: after I'd passed the 24-hour mark I felt distinctly wetter under the arms (although happily no smellier! Every cloud...!).

--Value for money--

I haven't had to buy deodorant for some time as a bottle of my usual choice, Mitchum, lasts aeons. So when the price of £5.30 popped up, it initially seemed expensive, but then I wondered if I was just out of touch. To be honest, a quick perusal of Google Shopping seems to confirm my first instinct: the only other high street deodorants in this price range all seem to be boosting the RRP on the basis of a 48-hour claim (Dove is doing this, for example, and so is Nivea). Other deodorants at this price point seem to be higher-end brands or even organic brands (such as Vichy, Weleda and Dr Organic). I would therefore suggest that Sure are being a bit risky with their pricing and may wish to lower it a little to attract a few more customers. It is an excellent product nonetheless, however, and I will certainly continue to use it.

--Other comments--

The lovely people at Sure sent me the Confidence version and the Sensitive version of the deodorant. All of the comments above apply to both variants.

Have you tried the cure for overworked hair?

SPONSORED CONTENT

Being a natural blonde, I've always fallen back on my tried and tested faithful on the rare occasions that I've actually been allowed to choose my own shampoo and conditioner: John Frieda Sheer Blonde. It gives smoothness and bounce like virtually no other shampoo and conditioner, without weighing my hair down with any lingering greasiness or heaviness. En plus, it gives great luminosity to already naturally great colour. Brilliant Brunette, the accompanying shampoo in the range along with Radiant Red, also does wonders for the brown-haired beauties in my family. It can really be said that there are John Frieda hair treatments for everyone, whether you're looking to colour your hair or reduce frizz. 

This is even more true with the arrival of their new kid on the block, the family of John Frieda Full Repair hair products. Touted as 'the cure for overworked hair', it not only includes traditional shampoo and conditioner but also has one treatment that's just for the ends of your hair (where damage is often most visible - remember those split ends?), and a heat-activated styling spray, which ensures you don't undo all of your good work during blow-drying or straightening.

Claiming to help strengthen and detangle hair, the shampoo is available not only in the form of a 250ml stand-alone tube, but also in a travel-friendly 50ml format. The conditioner is only available in a halfway house of 150ml, but bolsters the work of the shampoo through one of the product family's main ingredients, Inca Peanut Oil. When used in the Perfect Ends Deep Infusion in conjunction with crambe oil (which contains omega-9 and is a relative of rapeseed oil), it promises to "[absorb] into worn-torn strands instead of just coating the surface" and to "leave hair smooth, shiny and full of body". There's a Sheer Mist too for the ends of hair, for those who aren't fans of infusions and just like to spray and go.

The styling spray uses similar ingredients and assures us that manageability will be improved and hair will be protected from heat to create natural movement and long-lasting hold, which certainly sounds like something I could use (to keep a style in place in my hair often seems to involve the use of products with similar strength to cement). I also often forget to use a heat protection spray, but with this coming in a 100ml bottle that can come everywhere with me, there should be no excuses.

But there's more to the Full Repair range than this: also on offer are a Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer (to combat frizz all day - oh John, is there nothing you don't know about my hair?!) and a Protecting Root Lift Foam, which adds extra volume right from the roots of your hair, as well as providing heat protection and preventing breakage. It just needs to be worked through your hair before the use of heat styling products such as curlers.

While I haven't been sent any of this product range to test (yet!!) it definitely sounds like an excellent complement to my hair routine and one I can add to my arsenal of friendly, reliable products to fall back on when the deluge of free press samples subsides. (While I know other bloggers sometimes just throw products away, even if unfinished, or pass them on to friends and family, I always try to use up the vast majority of products I'm sent, leaving the opportunities for free choice few and far between.) It definitely sounds like it could be a 'cure' for me and that, as is often proved to be the case, John Frieda's products meet almost every conceivable haircare need.

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30

RRP: £25 for 40ml

# of shades available: 3 (with the third being an online exclusive)

--What does the promo say?--

"NEW Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30 is a medium to full coverage cream that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helps conceal imperfections and enhances skin's complexion. The formula calms skin and helps protect against UV and environmental damage while working to help balance the skin, and provides oil and shine control to extend the life of the foundation all day."

--Packaging--

The pale green and silver ensemble is so far, so Clinique. Nothing outstanding here. Metal lid feels luxurious yet secure. Squeezing out of product from bottle is very easy to control.

--Application--

The product insert gives a range of possible uses, so you need to apply it as you see fit. Either way, you start by applying it all over your face. This way it serves as a sunscreen (and therefore an anti-ageing product), concealer and moisturiser, which also claims to soothe, protect against environmental aggressors such as pollution, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and play the role of a foundation. So you can just stop there. OR, after you've applied it, you can use it as a primer - so you can continue applying the rest of your makeup as normal.

--Appearance--

I find that shade 01 matches my skin tone very well, although if I had one teeny tiny criticism it would be that there is a slight off-white effect, which comes from the sunscreen element. This can be remedied through the artful application of powder - I'm currently using Benefit Dandelion and Arbonne pressed powder. Skins that are even paler could potentially just leave it at that, though.

--Coverage--

Coverage is excellent. For me, the use of powder, while necessary to regulate the colour slightly, is not needed for extra coverage, while the use of concealer need only be minimal (and maybe even not needed at all on good days).

--Texture and consistency--

Is similar to a light foundation in its consistency; it's not creamy enough to match a tinted moisturiser, and yet doesn't feel at all sticky. I'm guessing the lack of total creaminess is due to the sun-protection properties.

--Scent--

Slightly chalky perhaps, but ultimately smells clean. Nothing from the ingredients list jumps out as being dominant.

--Effects on the skin--

Wow-factor effect comes mainly from the coverage provided as well as the longevity of the product (see below). Face feels moisturised and oiliness feels controlled, but no more than with the use of my regular ensemble of products. Skin is not irritated by the use of the product. Longer-term use and testing would be required to see if it really protected against environmental aggressors or provided an anti-ageing benefit. Sun protection is excellent.

--Longevity--

Once applied, this doesn't need to be touched up. For this reason, it works well as a concealer, primer, foundation and sunblock.

--Value for money--

While I was initially a little shocked at the price, this comes into the same price range as foundations by Stila and Dermalogica. For tinted moisturisers the brand comparison is even better, falling into the same bracket as tinted moisturisers by Laura Mercier and Yves Saint Laurent. The appeal also comes from the fact that this BB cream, unlike a lot of Western offerings, actually seems to be a real contender to the multi-function products found in Asia rather than just being a tinted moisturiser under a different name. To recap, the Clinique BB Cream offers 9 separate functions (1. Concealer; 2. Anti-ageing over the long term; 3. Reduce the appearance of lines in the short term; 4. Defends against environmental aggressors;  5. Soothes; 6. Moisturises; 7. Controls oil; 8. Foundation; 9. Makeup primer). On the downside, though, this is expensive for a BB cream and you do have the feeling that Clinique are capitalising on the brand's image just a tiny bit: the only BB creams falling into this price bracket are the most premium lines from genuine Asian brands Missha and Skin79 (their normal products cost less than this). However, I would probably still buy it with my own money (I was sent a PR sample this time) due to its fabulous coverage, good colour match, ability to stay on the skin without turning my face into an oil slick, the fact that a little goes a long way, and the idea that while it is in the same price bracket as the brands mentioned above, it does so much more.

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Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm, £16

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On a Quorn-style quest for a higher-quality life

We're always being told that we are what we eat. On the one hand I am naturally sceptical of this: having suffered with acne for nigh on 15 years, and having found that no change in diet seems to have helped the spots at all, I have no real reason to believe in it. On the other hand, I spent a little over a year as a vegetarian, giving up only when I got myself a French boyfriend (now husband) and realised a move to France (the land of the carnivore) was a real possibility. During that time, not only did my food bill go down, but I was also slimmer and had more energy. Even now that I eat meat again, I am still a vegetarian sympathiser and don't see the need to eat meat or fish every day at all.

There are plenty of beauty-related reasons to go veggie - as stated above, even without any meat substitute, my energy levels were through the roof and I enjoyed a slim yet pear-shaped figure (just "slim-ish" these days!). But what about those days when you just really, really miss sausages? Meat replacement products like Quorn can be helpful in this situation (although not in France, where I now live: even though the situation is improving, I have in the past picked up "meat replacement" products here to find chicken in the ingredients list). For those of you who aren't aware, products like Quorn are made up of mycoprotein, which is a protein that chiefly comes from a fungus named fusatium venenatum. And this protein/fungus has a lot of beauty benefits - basically, it is a superfood.

• It's got all 9 essential amino acids, which are classed as 'essential' because the body doesn't make them - so we have to put them in. These not only contain anti-oxidants but also help to keep your hair, bones and nails in good condition. 
• It's low in fat, which can be good for slimming if you're trying to achieve beauty through thinness. 
• It's an alkaline product (other alkaline products include herbal teas, carob, and whole grains). This is good for your overall health: our diets should be 70% alkaline as our bodies find it harder to digest acids.
• It contains minerals, including selenium (which protects cells from damage), zinc (helps keep hair and nail cells healthy, and helps with detox), iron (which is important for collagen synthesis, and thus anti-ageing), magnesium (for healthy bones and teeth), and calcium (which is good for strong bones, hair, teeth and nails - which is great news if, like me, you don't consume much dairy).
• Quorn also contains plenty of B vitamins, which help with eye health, are anti-oxidants, help treat skin complaints such as acne, are anti-ageing and anti-stress, help with wound healing, and help to regulate mood.

Shepherd's pie - made with Quorn. Yes, really.

All of this (especially the bit about it helping with acne) made me wonder why I hadn't tried it (or at the very least, hadn't tried it for a very long time; I genuinely cannot remember if I ever sampled it during my vegetarian days, as I cooked a lot from scratch). I therefore set about trying to find some in France, which is as good as impossible. A shame, as I had (in a funny sort of way) been quite looking forward to sampling it. But it's certainly affordable (£2.09 for 2 quarter pounders, for instance), and could be a good, healthy way of satisfying a meat craving without actually eating meat. All other ingredients in your recipe stay the same, so it's hassle-free too. And if it helps your skin, your mood, your weight, your energy levels, your hair or your nails, so much the better, surely!

To set off on the road to a more beautiful and varied life couldn't be easier; there are plenty of recipes to get you going on the Quorn website and elsewhere. And let others know how you get on, be it here (should you have any beauty-related benefits to share) or on my other site, Ferret Food and Wines: make dishes! Upload pictures and recipes! Share your tips and experiences! You can also do the same on Quorn's Facebook page.

It looks as if I'll need to try Quorn in England if I'm ever going to (somehow I don't think I'll be able to convince my carnivorous French husband to become some sort of elaborate Quorn rustler on his trips to Belgium - where it is sold). But hopefully with the majority of my readers being in the US and UK you'll find it easier to come by - and will be able to report back on its effects on your skin, your health, your mood, and your life.