Smell like Summer..... with Roger & Gallet.

I'm pretty new to the Roger & Gallet brand, having recently blogged on my first of their products, the "Lait des bienfaits" which I was pleasantly surprised by. And a small update on the back of that post, poor ol' Mammy McDonnell (aka Bridie) didn't end up getting the body lotion in the end, I just couldn't bring myself to part with it!  So just as well I have more of the brands' scented goodies to share with ye as this means that Bridie will definitely luck out this time 'round!

As I mentioned in the aforementioned post, I rarely wear scents even though I do appreciate a nice smell. It's just that I'm not used to fragranced products, but boy does Mammy McD like her smellies, and yet again she has fallen in love with these newest R&G offerings.

The start off with, I was sent 2 products from their new "Fleur de Figuier" range which is inspired by the fig trees of the Mediterranean area. The range was created by Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and consists of 4 products; A shower cream, perfumed soap, body lotion & a fragrant water spray.

'Eau fraiche parfumée' & 'Perfumed soap.

The fragranced water spray, 'Eau fraiche', which comes in 2 sizes ; 

30 ml for €17.50

 &

100ml for €39.75 RRP,

 contains hints of mandarin flower, musk & fig wood along with the fig pulp.

It's a beautiful scent that truly reminds me of the summer, particularly when I was young and my mam & aunty would douse themselves in perfume when the layers came off due to the finer weather. 

Even though I'm not a perfume wearer and am surely not properly appreciating the scent by doing this, I have been lightly spritzing my clothing with a little of the spray and thoroughly enjoying the light fragrance while it lasts.  Being a fragrant water & not an actual perfume, it's not the longest lasting scent.

Although I find describing smells nigh on impossible, (my nose is not my strong point, ha ha) I'll give it a go. It seems slightly citrus-y to me but also a little musky (not a shocker as it contains musk!) and it's definitely a little sweet. That's about as descriptive as I'm going to get I'm afraid! 

I am glad that it's not at all an over-powering scent which would be a selling point for me personally. Plus it's comfortable to wear and smell indoors or in closed spaces!

The "Round fragranced soap" is similar to the spray but seems stronger to my nose and also muskier. It comes in a handy hard plastic container with 'drainage holes' at the bottom to allow water to escape from the soap after use which will prevent the soap from softening and 'melting'. 

The single 100g 'travel box' retails for €6.75 and it is also available in a 3 pack box for €14.75. RRP.

It is 100% plant based, as would be expected from the higher-end luxury brand, and is packaged beautifully; wrapped in red pleated silk paper. 

It also takes a full week to produce! Phew....

The range is formulated for sensitive skin types and the packaging design is from the talent of French designer Martin Szekely.

Also available;

  200ml Shower cream €9.00 RRP. a plant based formula containing shea butter and is soap-free, sulphate-free & paraben-free.

200ml Body lotion €14.75 RRP. which is formulated for delicate & sensitive skin types. 96% of the ingredients are of natural origin, it moisturises for 24hrs & is paraben-free.

Another of the brands recent releases is their new 'Shower range' . This consists of 2 shower creams & 5 shower gels which are soap-free, paraben-free, colourant-free & sulphate-free. 

They are described as having the "perfect balance between highly sophisticated perfumes & a natural formulation".

I was sent the "Fleur d'Osmanthus" (Osmanthus Flower) which again has a fruity scent which to me smells like citrus (more lemony than orange) and peaches! It also contains Aleo Vera and softening glycerin. 

The 200ml soft squeezey tubes retail for €9.90. RRP.

Again, personally, I'm quite glad that the scent of this gel doesn't linger on the skin after your shower. You can definitely small & enjoy it while applying it in the shower, but once you've rinsed and dried off, there's no residual scent.

The other shower gels available include; 

Citron

Bois d'Orange

Ginger

Jean Marie-Farina

The 2 Gentle shower creams include;

Rose

Fleur fe Fiquier

All of the products mentioned along with the rest of the Roger & Gallet range are available now in Marks & Spencer beauty halls & selected pharmacies nationwide.

http://www.roger-gallet.co.uk/

http://www.roger-gallet.ie

http://www.roger-gallet.com/

That's it for now!

Chat soon,

Shiv.

xx

Used-up Beauty Products.... Empties #2.

Products Mentioned;

MAC Brush Cleanser

MAC #33 lashes

MAC Prep & Prime Lip

Clean & Clear 'Oil-free Morning Energy Skin Brightening' Facial Scrub.

Vichy 'Purete Thermal' Micellar Solution

La Roche-Posay 'Micellar Solutio' for Sensitive Skin

Garnier 'Simply Essentials' 2 in 1 Makeup Remover

MAC 'Mineralize Charged Water' Spray

MAC 'Fix +'Spray

La Roche-Posay 'Thermal Water Spray'

Vichy 'Idéalia' Soothing & Illuminating Cream

Elemis 'Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment'

Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden 'Kuan Jin' Lychee & Pearl Body-wash

Lee Stafford 'Hair Growth Treatment'

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Complex Shampoo & Conditioner

Tresemme 'Colour Fade Correction' Shampoo

Tresemme '24 hr Body & Shine' Conditioner

Herbal Essence 'Dazzling Shine' Shine Reflecting Shampoo for Normal Hair


Blog post on the Hair growth treatment.....
http://www.letzmakeup.com/2013/04/how-i-got-longer-healthy-shiny-hair-in.html

Buy online here....

Blog post on the Elemis Eye Treatment.....
http://www.letzmakeup.com/2013/04/elemis-pro-collagen-advanced-eye.html

Vichy Idealia Moisturiser blog post.....

http://www.letzmakeup.com/2012/10/vichy-idealia-smoothing-illuminating.html

I'd say it'll probably be a while before I accumulate enough for my next 'Empties' post but will be seeing ye all with plenty else in the mean time!!!

Take it easy,

Shiv.
xx

Vichy "Idéalia" BB Cream

'Tis the season to get BB'd, and particularly sun-screened while wearing your BB Cream. Most BB creams have some level of sun protection in them but often not enough for my pale Irish skin (& peace of mind) when it does meet a biteen of sunshine. 

Let me introduce to you Vichys' latest addition to their award winning 'Idéalia' range which comes in the shape of their new 'Idéalia BB Cream'.

What makes Vichys' offering unique is that it utilises the 'World's 1st "Anti-Grey" Technology' which ensures that the finish helps to banish any "dull, tired, grey tones" in the skin. It does this through three main channels;

1. Pure mineral pigments add a glow & radiance to the skin.

2. The ingredient Kombucha, a natural derivative of Ceylon black tea, brightens the skin from beneath the surface.

3. SPF25 & PPD16* (*UVA light protection) helps to protect your skin from the Suns' damaging rays further helping the skin from becoming dulled in the future. 

It is described as having 6 in 1 Skin Perfecting Actions.....

Illuminates instantly

Hydrates over 24 hrs

Smoothes the appearance of wrinkles

Refines the complexion 

Helps to reduce dark spots

Protects from sun damage with SPF25, PPD16

'Light' shade.

It's available in 2 shades Light & Medium, so is exclusionary of people with deeper skin tones which is becoming somewhat less acceptable in todays multi-cultural Ireland.

It is a lovely light and very smooth, hydrating cream formula that 'sets' nicely on the skin meaning it doesn't feel sticky like many sun-protection products can.

The BB cream on without any under-eye concealer around my eye area. 

I received the lightest of the two shades which is the smallest bit darker than my neck/chest area, but not enough that I would have to bronze up to even it out. It's a light neutral/apricot shade that gives a lovely natural warmth & radiance to the skin. 

You can see in the image above that the skin looks healthy, bright and even after applying the cream. I try not to be too sparing when smoothing it on in order to get the maximum possible SPF25 sun-protection out of it. It offers a light coverage, with my freckles still peeking through, but evens out the skin-tone and covers most redness.

With a light, brightening concealer applied around the eye area. 

If I had to pick one flaw it would be that the formula can kind of bunch up on its self & needs careful pressing into the skin to get a nice even blend which might be a hassle if you are in a hurry. It almost seems like the pigment separates a bit from the formula. This isn't the first BB cream I've encountered with this issue and it may be my own particular skin type & texture that causes it to happen.... You can hopefully see what I mean by looking at the picture below on my chin. It's easily remedied by pressing the product in place, melting it into the skin, but definitely don't over-work the product. 

 I have found that I can't apply it over an already moisturised surface, when you apply it over other skin-care products, it seems to 'exfoliate' the lower layer of product off. It 'doesn't play well with others' so to say! 

Anyhow, with that minor gripe out of the way, back to my fondness for the product. It's very comfortable on the skin and wears extremely well, even without setting with powder. I do not need any prior hydration before applying it and even though it illuminates and brightens the skin immediately, my skin doesn't get any shinier throughout the day which I find unusual (and very welcome) with products that give a 'glow'.

After 5 hours wear!!

In regards to ingredients, it definitely keeps in line with Vichy never overloading their products with unnecessary 'fillers'.

The Top 3 ingredients;

1. Water

2. Isononyl Isononanoate; A very skin-safe skin-conditioning agent.

3. Glycerin; Hydrating humectant

The next 2 ingredients in the list are highly effective sun-protection ingredients, and following those is Dimethicone, a silicone based polymer that smooths the skin and Diisopropyl Sebacate which is also a conditioning agent.

Full list of ingredients.

In summary, it is a lovely skin-perfecting BB cream that is ideal ('Idéalia' :P) for lighter skin-tones which absolutely require the higher skin-protection factors. I have been wearing it in place of my usual foundations most days over the past couple of weeks and have been getting loads of compliments on my skin since... yes please!! 

It's available from all the usual Vichy stockists & retails for RRP €23.50 for the 40ml tube.

Now all we need is a bit of sun to pair up with this baby >_<

That's it for now,

Shiv.

xx

Gold/Bronze Smokey Eye with Nude Lips Makeup Tutorial.

Multi-taskin' with La Roche-Posay "Cicaplast Baume B5"

Who wouldn't want a does-it-all balm that soothes & treats everything skin-related from sunburn to chapped lips to eczema??..... Take from the fact that La Roche-Posays 'Cicaplast Balme B5' sold out within weeks of it's initial Irish launch and is the companys top selling product in Ireland, I think most people would and do! Think of it as a more sophisticated cousin of good ol' reliable 'Sudocream', it can be used anywhere on the body, including the face, and treats a multitude of irritations including;

Olay Regenerist "Advanced Age-Defying EYE Roller" Treatment

As ye probably all know by now if you follow my blog or videos, I am a sucker for anything to do with skincare for the eye area. Getting wrinkles around my eyes is one of my biggest nightmares. Now while I know the inevitable will happen, I will try my damnedest to fight off the dreaded crows-feet & creased lower-lid skin for as long as humanly possible!

One of the products I have been trying out over the past few months is this Olay Roller ball treatment.

It's a treatment for the eye area designed "to deliver younger looking eyes" with immediate results as well as "long term wrinkle reduction benefits". It reminds me of some eye serums that I've used recently, but there's no need for a further eye cream over top. The pen-like tube applicator contains 3 metal rollers in the head to massage the skin while applying the anti-aging ingredients. This rolling over the skin also helps to "increase lymphatic drainage" and as the little balls are metal, they cool the skins surface which will helps to reduce any puffiness by temporarily constricting capillaries beneath the skin.

Sleek Makeup Lip Palettes; Lip4...... (That's supposed to read Lip*squared*) Fantastic!

Sleek Makeup have just yesterday launched their new lipstick palettes called Lip4 ..... (Lip.to.the.power.of.four).

I'm pretty impressed due to my being quite fond of palettes in general, especially when it comes to my professional kit, but these are much more affordable than most similar palettes. (usually by professional brands). They are retailing for £8.99 and the shade range seems to cover most of what any gal should need to prettify her lips!

Makeup & Beauty Favourites March/April '13.

Products Mentioned;

Max Factor 'Miracle Touch' Liquid Illusion Foundation #40 Creamy Ivory

Illamasqua 'Light Liquid Foundation

Clinique 'Invisible Blend Powder' #20

NEW! Cream Blushes by Bourjois.

The new cream to powder blushes by Bourjois;
01 'Nude Velvet', 02 'Healthy Glow', 03 'Rose Tender' & 04 'Sweet Cherry'

One of my all time favoutite 'drug store' or pharmacy (or chemist as we Irish mostly call it) brands is Bourjois. They produce two of my holy grail foundations in the guise of the Healthy Mix duo, along with their Intense shadows & my beloved "Ombre a Paupiere 08".... my all time favourite shadow highlighter.

"Sunshine in a bottle".... or three :P Aussie "Miracle Shine" Hair Range.

"There's more to life than hair, but it's a good place to start" 

Love this quote which is the Aussie companies' philosophy, and says a lot about the brand which, for as long as I've know about them, markets itself as 'fun' & lighthearted. Aussie always writes descriptions of what their products do in lay-mans terms and often in a comical or slightly silly way. For this alone I like the brand.

I've been using their products on and off for years because they are some of the best products available in their price range! 

I was sent this trio, below in the picture, a couple of months ago and have been thoroughly enjoying the results since...

The Hair Treatment, Shampoo & Conditioner.

The new "Miracle Shine" range from the brand is designed to bring a look of "radiance" to your locks, leaving them glossy & shiny. The products contain Pearl Powder & Australian Ginseng Extract to make the shine-a-thon possible!

How to rock a Green Lip!! ft. Illamasqua 'Apocalips' plus first thoughts on 'Skin Base' foundation.

Fruity!! New Roger & Gallet "Lait des bienfaits" Body Lotion.

 As I've mentioned before on a few occasions, I don't often get particularly excited over body lotions & potions but this new offering from French brand Roger & Gallet has won me over despite a rocky beginning to our relationship!

 The "Lait des bienfaits" (which literally translates to "Milk of benefits") is a body lotion containing "5 antioxidant Fruits" that promises to hydrate, nourish & invigorate for up to 24 hours, and is suitable for dry & sensitive skins.
 The first thing that struck me about this was the scent, Blood Orange with Violet leaves & Cederwood, but it mainly smells very very orangey with the tang of blood orange. It's strong!! The strength of this scent is what almost put me off the lotion at the start.
 The smell is really lovely, but I don't wear/use perfumes, body sprays, deodrants or even a body moisturiser unless I shave my legs or underarms! I'm just not used to having anything smelly on my skin at all. My mom had a sniff of it and immediately asked if she could take it off my hands! I promised I'd give it to her eventually but am now a little regretful of that promise.

New Products! Illamasqua, MAC, Bobbi Brown & Smashbox....(Makeup for my kit..... mostly!)

Products Mentioned;

MAC....

Mineralize Charged Water Spray

Lashes #33 & #36

Prep & Prime 'Radiant Rose' Highlighter

Foundations for Bridal Makeup & Photography.

Products Mentioned;

MAC Foundations….

'Studio Fix Fluid SPF15'

'MatchMaster SPF15' 

'Face & Body' 

'Studio Sculpt' SPF15

Brown/Pink Smokey Eye with Pink Lip Makeup Tutorial.

Products used;

Maybelline 'Fit Me' Concealer #15

Catrice 'Made to Stay' Highlighter Pen

Bourjois Black Contour Kohl Pencil 

Tweezerman Eyelash curlers

Kiko 'Colour Sphere Eye Duo' #108

M.U.D (Makeup Designory) EyeShadows;

'Taupe' & 'Espresso'

LetzMakeup Fashion Videos & Posts!!

Hey Guys,

So after a somewhat failed attempt at doing fashion videos on my Shiv In The Box youtube channel a couple of years ago, I have decided to give it another go.
I am quite obsessed with clothes and fashion, styling etc (maybe not quite as much as with makeup but close!!) and have wanted to get back into the fashion side of things.

I have a lookbook account now where ye can follow any looks I upload from now on, with one look on their so far....

How I got longer, healthy, shiny hair in 3 months!!..... (Lee Stafford hair growth treatment)

I bought mine from Boots pharmacy and it can be bought online from boots.com also. For anyone who shops on amazon, here's the link.

xx

New Products; March/April '13.

Free Gift with 2 Vichy purchases..... (1 to be a moisturiser, within Ireland)

Hello people of Ireland :)

For the month of April, Vichy are giving away a free gift containing;

* Sample Purete Thermal Cleanser

* Sample Thermal Water Spray

*Sample Idealia Moisturiser (one of my favourites!!!)

&

 *sample Aera Teint Cream Foundation in #35 Sand 

..... as well as one of 3 pouches, 2 are in the image above!

Sleek Online Exclusive!! "Showstoppers" limited edition eyeshadow palette.... featuring some old favourites :)

Sleek Makeup are releasing this 'Showstoppers' palette, as an online exclusive, featuring some old favourites chosen from various past palettes, all listed in the swatch image below...

They chose a nice variety of different colours and finishes with 5 mattes, 6 shimmers and one sparkle texture!