Review: Blend Collective Truly Natural Bodycare

I recently received an invitation to a press launch of a new bodycare range called BLEND Collective. Sadly I could not attend the launch, but was kindly given a product of theirs to sample.

BLEND is a British natural body care range that combines luxury fragranced blends with high quality skincare ingredients and 100% pure essential oils. A team of aromatherapy and perfume experts from around the UK have come together to develop the BLEND range heavenly scented products.

For more information about the brand, here is a blog post written by one of the blenders, Alec Lawless.

I love uplifting and citrus fragrances so I was sent this hand & body lotion from the Enlivening Range. The range contains Sicilian Lemon, May Chang, Myrtle and Lime to invigorate, energise and uplift.

According to BLEND:

An ENLIVENING blend of SICILIAN LEMON, MAY CHANG, MYRTLE and LIME essential oils used for their particularly invigorating fresh notes with softening Kukui Oil, Grapeseed and Red Clover. Moisturises, Refreshes, Protects.

I love that the brand is silicone, paraben, sulphate, colour and fragrance free.

List of ingredients:

The bottle is a generous size of 200ml and comes with a pump. The design on the bottle is innovative yet fuss-free.

My Thoughts:

The texture is a medium to light creamy lotion. The scent is pretty strong. It's a lovely citrus and herb scent which gives me an overall feeling of well-being, like I have just been to the spa.

I love that 99% of the ingredients are natural and that the product contains 100% pure essential oils. I'm an advocate for natural beauty products - I just can't get enough of them! It's really nice to use a product all over my body without worrying about harmful chemicals I am putting on my skin.

This body lotion feels soft and smooth on my skin. It sinks into the skin beautifully and is quickly absorbed, leaving my skin hydrated. I fell in love with the product when my husband touched my skin and commented on how incredibly soft it felt.

Pros:

Made from 99% natural ingredients

Contains 100% pure essential oils

Does not contain silicons, parabens, sulphates, colouring and fragrances

Leaves skin feeling very hydrated and super soft

Cons:

The scent may be too strong for some

This product was sent to me for review, and my reviews are 100% honest.

Cherry Blossom FOTD III

... Using Nars Gaiety.

To continue my annual tradition of spring Cherry Blossom inspired FOTDs, today's look uses a lot of pinks.

I used pink shades of my cheeks, lips and even a little on my eyes.

Products Used

Face:

RMK Creamy Polished Base in 01

Nars Blush in Gaiety

Nars Gaiety is my latest purchase. I've been trying to resist this blush for the last month, but finally caved and bought it. I'm glad I did as it's a beautiful blue-based light pink. It's matte in the pan, but has a subtle glow once on the cheeks. I love the high quality of Nars blushers.

Eyes:

Shiseido Integrate Gracy Brow Pencil in 963

Lavshuca Eyeshadow PK-1

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Caviar

I used the light beige and pink shades from the Lavshuca palette that the lovely Riya sent me. I really love the shades in this palette, such lovely soft colours.

Lips:

Guerlain Rouge Automatique in 161

Lastly, I used Guerlain's Rouge Automatique in (aptly named) Cherry Blossom on my lips to complete my very pink, spring Cherry Blossom inspired look.

Spa Break at Seaham Hall

A couple of weeks ago, my husband treated me to a few days at a spa hotel. He chose Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa near Newcastle, which turned out to be an incredible choice. It's a lovely hotel and spa situated on a cliff top near the sea.

I forgot to take a picture of the hotel exterior, so here's one from their website.

Our room was huge! It was just a regular room, but looked pretty much like a suite to me, with 4 rooms (including bathroom).

What I liked about this hotel was that you do not have to walk outdoors to get to their spa. We could then just get changed in our rooms and walk to the spa in our bathrobe and slippers.

The walkway from hotel to spa, with an elephant at the end. The whole spa had a South East Asian theme, including a Thai restaurant which overlooked the hotel's vast grounds.

The alternating mood lighting.. Sorry for the slightly squint picture. I took these pics with my husband's iphone and I'm the worst photographer ever.

One more elephant pic for luck. Sadly I couldn't take any pictures of the facilities (for the privacy of other guests and spa users).

The spa was simply amazing. They had a pool, hydropools, outdoor hot tubs, a hamam with jacuzzi, ice pools, saunas and steam rooms. My husband and I also got a massage in a twin room. It's the first time we ever had a massage in the same room, was great!

Hotel Website: http://www.seaham-hall.co.uk/

Look: Natural FOTD using Nars Lhasa, and my Pear and Honey Cake

Here's a look I did recently using natural looking shades of makeup.

I don't normally wear base makeup, but for this look I'm using Liz Earle's tinted moisturiser. I have small sample of it and was giving it a try. I'll write a review on it soon.

Nars Lhasa is a recent purchase. I've seen some beautiful swatches of the eyeshadow in various beauty blogs and just had to purchase it. Lhasa is a smokey lavender brown-grey.

Products Used:

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in 01 (sample-not pictured)

Becca Beach Tint in Fig

Shiseido Integrate Gracy Brow Pencil

Clarins Instant Definition Mascara

Nars Eyeshadow in Lhasa

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black

Mac Patisserie

I love Becca Beach Tints. This shade in Fig is a pretty and subtle nude pink which looks great on both cheeks and lips (for this look I am just using it on my cheeks).

Here's a picture of the Pear & Honey cake that I baked recently. I had some friends over for our weekly mahjong session and thought I would bake them a cake while my husband cooked them Hainanese Chicken Rice. As you can tell from my poor craftsmanship, I made the crystallized decoration myself. The cake consists of 3 layers with cream cheese and honey icing.

Review: Nuxe Baume Prodigieux Lèvres

Nuxe Baume Prodigieux Lèvres in Légendaire Pink

Nourishing Protective Lip Care Gloss effect SPF15

Nuxe is a French brand which combines innovative research and development with natural active ingredients to offer high quality, natural-origin cosmetics. Their most famous product is their Prodigious Oil for face, body and hair (which I have yet to try).

I purchased the shade Légendaire Pink, a coral-peachy-pink. The lipgloss stand about 3.8" tall. The quality of the packaging is good with a cold coloured screw top and a spongy doe foot applicator.

According to Nuxe:

EFFECTIVE BY NATURE

This multi-purpose Protective Lip Balm performs miracles on the lips. In just one step, your lips are nourished, protected and enhanced. Mango taste.

PRECIOUS BENEFITS FOR MY SKIN

Your lips are replumped, smooth and luscious with a transparent gloss effect. This Protective Lip Balm is available in 4 colors: Natural Crystal for ultra-natural radiance, Légendaire® Pink for a subtle rosy shimmer, Shimmering Chocolate for a delicate pearly brown, and Rouge Charismatic® for a delicate glimmering poppy result.

STAR ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Active Ingredients include: This multi-purpose balm nourishes (Mango and Shea Butters, Sunflower and Sweet Almond Oils), protects (Solar Filters SPF 15, Vitamin E) and enhances the lips (iridescent gloss effect). Plant Filling Spheres smooth and replump the lips.No preservatives.

A close up of the applicator. The lip gloss has a thick, creamy consistency and contains some shimmer particles. Pigmentation is fairly good for an item that is both a gloss and a nourishing balm.

Paper Swatch:

Lip Swatch:

The lip gloss looks a fresh light-to-medium peachy-pink on the lips. It it not very long wearing and due to its subtle shade, almost dissapears after eating or drinking. The gloss felt lovely and moustirising on my lips. I did not see a noticeable plumping effect, though the glossiness and shimmer gave the lips a full-look.

Pros:

Contains SPF 15
Moisturising
Results in glossy, full-looking lips
Lovely peachy-pink colour
Made with natural active ingredients

Cons:

Not long wearing/lasting

My Obsession With Lip Balms

Ever since as long as I can remember, I've been addicted to lip balms. Before I developed an interest in skincare and makeup, lip balms were no.1 in my life!

I've compiled a list of my all time favourite lip balms. Each one is loved for entirely different reasons than the next.

Best For : Luxurious Feeling Lips

Eve Lom Kiss Mix

Contains: Natural sunscreen and cooling menthol.

This lip balm has a minimalist white packaging and is compact enough to fit easily into your pocket.

The product itself is a thick creamy white balm. It has one of the thickest textures of lip balm i have come acress. It is super smooth and feels luxurious on the lips.

It has a gorgeous mint scent and leaved the lips with a slight tingly feeling. It keeps lips feeling super hydrated and soft. The tingly sensation and scent leaves me feeling uplifted and fresh.

Best For: Beautiful Looking Lips

Tokyo Milk Bon Bon Lip Balm in Candied Violette

Contains: Sunflower seed oil. Vitamin E, Aloe Vera & Shea Butter.

This lip balm is beautifully packaged and available in a variety of fun flavours including; 'Let Them Eat Cake', 'Petit Fours Glace' and 'Iced Green Tea'.

Candied Violette has a sugar floral scent and tastes sweet. It's super smooth and slightly glossy. It provides nice hydration without feeling too greasy.

I love it because it leaves lips looking so plump, lusciously kissable and healthy looking.

Best: Packaging

Figs & Rouge 100% Organic Balm

My favourite out of the Figs & Rouge balms is the Pomegranate. It has a lovely fruity scent and taste.

It's a little grainy at first touch but melts into a smooth balm. I love the beautiful vintage inspired packaging and gorgeous scent. It's a true joy to look at and carry around. I love the fact that it's 100 organic, and it's multi-purpose use is a bonus.

Best For: Very Dry Chapped Lips

eos Lip Balm in Sweet Mint

95% organic, 100% natural. Contains: Shea Butter, Vitamin E & Jojoba oil.

This lip balm has a fun egg shape that applies straight onto the lips (so no finger dipping and worries about germs!)

It has an amazing fresh minty scent and taste (my husband is a big fan). Sometimes in extreme changes of weather, my skin becomes super sensitive and my lips feel extra dry and prickly. I'm not sure which ingredient exactly makes this lip balm so good, but it immediately soothes and hydrates my lips when no other lip balm can. As a fan of natural cosmetics, I also love that this lip balm is 100% natural.

Look: Using Naked 2 Palette and Topshop Magical Lip Tint

Hi everyone. Today's look included using the amazing Naked 2 palette that the lovely Riya sent me. This palette is a true joy to use as I'm truly spoilt for choices of shades!

I also used my new Topshop Magical Lip Tint to complete this look.

Group photo of the products used:

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black
Shiseido Integrate Gracy Eyebrown Pencil in 963
Clarins Instant Definition Mascara (not pictured)
Edward Bess Blush Imperiale in Soft Orchid
Topshop Magical Lip Tint in Crystal

The shades I chose for today's look are Bootycall (one of my faves, a gorgeous creamy pale beige)...

...and YDK, a stunning brown bronze with metallic shimmer.

I used Bootycall all over my upper eyelids, and YDK near the lashline.

I chose pink shades (as usual) for my cheeks and lips.

The Topshop Magical Lip Tint is from their new Sisters of the New Moon collection. The tint reacts with the skin to create a unique shade. Too fun to resist.

The product itself looks like something a child would enjoy looking at. All pink and sparkly.

Thankfully only a couple of the sparkles transferred onto the lips. On my lips the tint turned a fairly bright pink (slightly darker and brighter in real life than in this pic).

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead! Mine is not terribly exciting. Am on some sort of diet to try and lose the extra pounds that have crept up on me this winter!