Another bag of empty stuff!!

I have already written a post on my empty bottles of stuff and as my mission is continuing I thought that I would make the chuck out posts an on-going thing, almost like a diary of how well I am doing and how much more stuff I can buy. (LOL)

So this weeks bag of empties are:

I've been big on gentle products as my skin has been so sensitive due to all my tablets.

At the beginning of the week I was searching for the most gentle things I had and as you can see from the photo I have used every drop.

I like using bubble bath on a morning so although I was saving my 'Soap & Glory Calm One Calm All' travel size I knew I could trust it to smell nice yet be gentle. It did not disappoint, I could relax yet still smell nice.

Dove Body Wash - my normal every day body wash tends to be ones that smell like soap, so generally Dove or Johnson's.  Now although this is a soapy product they have recently changed the formula so it has extra moisturiser, which I need in bucket loads.

I've been using two different body moisturisers this week. Sanctuary's Kyphi Body Butter for all over day moisture. This body butter is super moisturising which is not surprising as in contains beeswax and lotus and argan oil, infact I used a 150ml tub in just over a week. The smell is very faint but pleasant, vanilla and sandalwood makes it smell gentle. I am beginning to really love Sanctuary products.

The other moisturiser in my bag is one of my all time favourite products,  Elemis Skin Nourishing Hand and Body lotion.

First of all the smell is AMAZING! I use it at night not just because of the nourishment it brings to my skin but the smell also helps me relax. I can't really describe it, I'm not going to list the ingredients on the back as they do not reflect just how fabulous this product is. I've already brought out my second bottle and I won't actually throw the empty bottle away as I am going to cut it open to decant as much of it as I can in to a little pot. 

Soap & Glory Bubble bath £5.10 @ Boots

Get Dove body was for approx £2.49 as cost varies

Sanctuary Kyphi body butter @ Boots

Elemis Nourishing Hand and Body lotion 200ml £22.50 @ www.timetospa.co.uk

Sam xx

I dare to bare!

No not in that way ladies!!  How rude lol
I have read a lot of blogs on here, like mine on which they review make up and skin care, but I have not seen a lot of photo's showing the writers natural- make up free face, so we know exactly the canvas that they are working with. For all we know they could have model perfect skin with out a shadow or spot in sight... I am not saying this is true for all bloggers but you never know do you?
Well today I am being brave and I have taken a photo of my face totally bare and totally unflattering so you can all see my flaws so when I write about how a product has worked for me you can see the evidence.
So here it goes...gulp....

 As you can see I have shiny skin, not too many spots at the moment , the only wrinkles that I have are on my forehead, I must frown too much lol As you can see my biggest thing to contend with complexion wise are the big black circles that I have, not just under my eyes but my entire eye lid! Panda eyes take on a new meaning for me.
Now I have gotten that out of the way I can move forward. Do I feel better for it hmmm maybe I hope I can get a reputation on being honest.

Now hoping that you are thinking...hey her skin ain't all bad I experimented with my camera(I'm still learning) and took a photo of my skin care of choice at the moment. I have bought all of them apart from a small eye cream sample.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
Elemis Tri-enzyme facial wash
Liz Earle gentle Exfoliator
Elemis Gentle toner
Bliss Deep clean mask
and Elemis Pro collagen Marine cream and Creme de la mer eye cream


What products are you loving at the moment? Would you publish a photo of yourself make up free?

What ever your thoughts let me know!

Get Liz Earle at http://uk.lizearle.com/
Elemis @www.timetospa.co.uk
Bliss www.blissworld.co.uk


Sam x

Skin Blast booster

I have been looking for a 'miracle' skincare product for ages! In the past year I have made quite a few discoveries that I will not be letting go of . I discovered the brand Elemis, yes I knew of it before but I had never used one of the products. I have fallen in love with the Frangapani Monoi moisture melt and the Pro-radiance cream cleanser among many, but the product that has made the most differance to my skin in the shortest space of time has to be the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss capsules .

In all the press releases and magazine articles I have read these are billed as Anti-aging but I did not use them for this reason. I once saw a demonstration of these by a Elemis therapist and as she was explaining the science behind these(I could not repeat even if I wanted to lol) and how they make your skin attack toxins and allow fresh and healthy skin cells make it to the skins surface. I wondered as well as working for anti-aging whether they would actually help with my on going and getting worse case of acne that had been making me ever more self concious.

They are meant to be a boost to skincare and not you buy them in a course for a month. In the two weeks I have been using them boy have they made a difference!!!

The overall appearance of my skin has a clarity that I have not seen in such a long time and the real deal breaker is that for me my spots have all but gone. I am left with a small blemish but hey that can be covered with a small dot of make up.

You use a pink cap in the morning, this to me smells like turkish delight oil and on a night you use a green lavender scented one.

I have found I do not need extra moisturiser but feel free to depend on your own skin type.

I feel nervous that my course is up but I will buy again

get yours from

www.timetospa.co.uk

Price for 30days worth is £ 59.30

Results are based on my experience only

Image supplied by Elemis

Frustration is setting in!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

I have started the New year with an increased level of frustration... no not of that kind you dirty lot!

I made the mistake of ordering some new skincare right in the middle of the Christmas/New year holiday and it feels like it is taking it's good ol time getting here.

After getting an Elemis gift set for Christmas my addiction to Elemis was confirmed so I went on the search to add more to my collection.

Sticking to my bottom of the jar post I ordered some more of the fabulous Pro-Radiance cleanser along with a brand new pair of mitts, My skin has just not been the same without it and restocking became a craving. I then went a bit mad!! My defence was that I have not actually over indulged on party food over the festive period so I overindulged in Elemis!

So now I am awaiting my cleanser along with a toner, Skin bliss capsules a exfoliator and a mask! 

It was a bargin I tells you lol

I will keep you updated!

Bottom of the Jar!

I thought that I would start writing updates on how I am getting on with stuff that I review on here.
We all have cupboards filled with lotions and potions that we have bought, used half of and then went on to the next thing that has caught our eye...if you don't do this than more power to you but I am notoriously bad for it!
There is a rare occasion however that I buy a product , love it and then buy it again. Yes I may not stay faithful to it but I will always dip back into it time to time.

So I am going to try and keep on top of these ' bottom of the jar updates' for the sake of blogging and space too :-)

Today I ran out of my Elemis Pro Radiance cream cleanser... sigh. I didn't think the day was going to come but alas it crept up on me like a Westlife Christmas song!
I have been using this cream cleanser religiously since I first got it along with the mitt.
To be totally honest I am still suffering from spots, I would even go as far to say Acne, but even so with this cleanser my skin does not get angry,red and irritated after I have used it. The rest of my face is clearer too. Whilst using it I have also found that I need to ex-foliate less. The mitt makes you feel like you have given your skin such a good cleanse that I don't feel the need and my skin is looking better for it.

I would recommend keeping it out of the way of the men as it seems too much of a temptation for them.
Better still if you manage to get your mitts(sorry) on a double set let him have one. Less ingrown hairs and a smoother face to snuggle...if you are in to that sort of thing.

Would I buy again?  Without a shadow of a doubt!
Unfortunately I am going to have to wait until after Christmas unless any of Santa's helpers are reading this.
Until then hmmmm


Pro Radiance cleanser is available within Christmas gift sets(hint...hint)
or @  www.qvcuk.com



image credited to sas Lockey

My wish list for Santa

Dear Santa,

This year I have been a very good girl, I am in need of a bit of pampering so pretty please I would be really happy to find something off my wish list under the tree on Christmas morning.

Sam x

Ps, I will leave extra whiskey for you lol

1, Elemis have some really gorgeous gift sets this year that I would love to open. So if you can find Elemis Exotic Spa secrets I would be really happy.
It is a fabulous set with the iconic Milk bath, Frangipani Monoi moisture melt and the matching shower gel... and all for under £50!

2. Liz Earle Face and body essentials. A great set with three full size core range products and two generous sized body products.
Cleanse and polish with the muslin cloths speak for themselves as a staple of a cleansing routine. Skin boost skin tonic to add some sparkle to post Christmas skin and then a moisturiser in your skin type.
Orange flower Botanical body wash for every day use and the body cream to keep me smelling sweet...£40.25




3, Soap and Glory (I kneel down before you) Spa rush! shower!
      You get a gorgeous bag with scrub mitts and 3 fab products
      Sweets, fruity I foam shower gel, Butter up body butter in a
       tube and Sugar crush body scrub.All my favourites...£25







Buy yours at

uk.lizearle.com

www.Elemis.com

and www.boots.com  and Soap and Glory is on 3 for 2



                                            

A bath product with a double life!!

After watching endless hours of demonstrations of this milk bath I could not wait to try it as all of the reviews I had read and seen were top scores.
After I received the bottle of the milk bath I hid it away from my other half as he always uses my bath products and does not know the meaning of  a cap full and uses the whole bottle lol.
One morning after he went to work I broke out the bottle and ran myself a lovely hot bath. This milk bath turns the water exactly that... milky. So if you're looking for bubbles I wouldn't look here.
As you step into the bath you feel like Cleopatra immersing yourself into a bath of milk, except this smells nice and you don't smell like a dairy farm.
As you have read in my previous posts I do love my shower gels, but this time I was inspired by the moisturising milk theme and used a milk based soap to wash with.
After I got out of the bath and got dried I didn't feel the need to reach for the body oil as my skin was soft and smooth.
This product is well renowned for being excellent for people with dry skin conditions including eczema, as the ingredients include both milk proteins and oat extracts.
The unusual thing about this bath product is that you can use it as a body lotion on those dry patches. So to fully test the milk out I rubbed it in to the usual rough suspects, knees, feet and elbows. I must say that they were as moisturised as everywhere else for the rest of the day.
Researching it a bit further you can also rub this gorgeous milk on your bump if you are expecting, so you keep those stretch marks at bay - a little bit of luxury when your body is working it's hardest. I would definitely put this on my wish list if I was pregnant!
I'd definately recommend that if using it neat you use it over alternate days, as the amount of  hydration it gives lasts 48 hours.
A last little tip after finding multiple uses for this is, if you are going away overnight or indeed you break out in rough stress patches on your face you can use this as a cleanser. I'd wipe it off with a mitt or cotton pad then rinse thoroughly with warm water followed by a gentle toner.
Ideal if you are going on a short trip as you have so many uses but within a high class brand rather than those you find in the showers of hotels.Use this after a flight to get your glow back after one bath.

Find it online @ http://www.elemis.com/ or at www.timetospa.co.uk or in Elemis stockists from £39 for 400ml.

Tri-Enzyme Facial Wash

Elemis Tri-enzyme facial wash is where all the action starts in terms of a skin care when you are looking for a smoother and brighter complexion.
It is a daily face wash that stimulates the skins natural cell renewal system. Without using harsh grains or chemicals this wash gets rid of the dull, dead skin that sits on top of your face making it look dull and gray.
This wash is perfect if when you put your make up on you are seeing areas where foundation is not blending in and going patchy, not a good look.
The other great thing is that when your skin is rid of all the dead cells your serums, oils and moisturisers work better and you can see results faster!
If your skin is really sensitive I would possibly advise against using this product as it may be too strong for your skin( try with a patch test) but as for every one else listen to your skin. It can be used every day for almost all skin types or if you just want to see how your skin copes you can always use it every other day and increase it when you see your results.
After a month or so you will be using less foundation because your skin will have a glow that you want to show off not cover up.
Great when used with Pro collagen marine cream.

Get yours from
www.timetospa.co.uk
http://www.elemis.com/

prices from £27

Pro-Collagen marine cream

Stop Press!!!

I am in love with this cream.

It is a Anti-aging cream but I love the feeling of this on my skin and it has settled my problem skin down.
The science bit is that it reduces the depth of wrinkles by up to 78% and increases skin hydration by 45%.
It is down as a powerful Anti aging cream but it is not harsh or stripping to the skin but what else do you expect from Elemis? Their products are with out a doubt powerful but you can place the care of your skin in the hands of Elemis with out having to worry that your are rubbing synthetic chemicals on your face and doing more damage deep down that you will come up against in the future.

After boasting to a friend that I was in possession of this cream she tested a small amount (under my beady eye) and said that it smelled and felt like a cult face cream that costs over £150, safe to say that I did not leave the pot in her care for too long lol

I smooth this cream on to my clean face in the morning and it sinks in within seconds and makes a great make up base and to be honest I have been able to ease up on the amount of make up that I have been using since treating my skin to this cream most days I go with out!
It is more expensive than the creams that you pick up in the supermarket but lasts longer and is a pleasure to use rather than just some thing you rub on your face because you have to.

I would recommend this to any one with out a second thought in fact I feel like a should convert people in to using this as I can't think of one thing that would put some one off!

Available from
www.timetospa.co.uk
http://www.elemis.com/

30 ml £48
50 ml £73.50
100 ml £97.52

prices from QVC

A massage please, pretty please!

Exotic Frangipani Monoi moisture melt


I have been intrigued by this oil for a while. When you get this bottle of gorgeousness you are still able to smell the tropical yet relaxing fragrance but the oil is solid in the bottle and it needs to be melted in warm to hand hot water for a few minutes before you are able to use it........good things come to those who wait I guess. It does make it a perfect travel companion though, no spills just envy when people see what you are using!
This oil is super hydrating so perfect for every one with dry skin or rough elbows and knees but the smell is so beautiful and results so perfect I would not hesitate recommending it for everyone.
After having a back injury for almost a year I adore a back rub unfortunately they do not happen very often, however when my other half caught a wiff of this oil he agreed to treat me, on the condition that I return the favour. I think it was the case of a trade off to cover up his love for this oil too lol
This oil sank in well and did not leave a synthetic oil slick behind like a lot of other body oils do and it the words of my boyfriend it did not turn 'bitty',
The smell including notes of  coconut coprah oil and sweet Frangipani flowers stayed around for a long while but it is not over powering at all in fact I wish I could get it in perfume form.
After treating my boyfriend to his massage which for some reason lasted longer than mine did???lol I rubbed my still oily hands through the ends of my hair for a over night moisture treatment. The next morning my hair looked and felt really soft and my split ends seemed fewer than normal.
Safe to say that I will be buying this oil when I run out as there are so many uses for it I think it would be rude not to and I may just be able to keep bagging those massages lol


Buy it from
www.elemis.com
www.timetospa.co.uk

Price £29 per 100ml

Elemis Cleanser and toner duo

Hi Everyone! as promised I am back with another delicious dip into Elemis.
Yesterday I was looking at the Pro-radiance cleanser which is excellent, today I am concentrating on a lotion cleanser and a toner.
My skin is on the oily side so I have been using the Lime Blossom cleanser along with the Lavender Toner.
 This cleanser is perfect for people who like to clean their face with cotton wool rather than bending over the sink.It can be used in the morning or at night.
This lotion smells divine and whilst massaging it on I can just feeling it doing my skin good in a nice and gentle way. Where you might feel like using the harshest products out there when you have oily skin it actually does more harm than good, this cleanser has just the right balance, which is why it is called balancing cleanser I guess lol .You can feel it cleaning your skin and you can see the dirt on your cotton pad but your skin does not feel like it is screaming out for help when you are finished.
I am not going to go on about how nice this cleanser smells because to be honest it is a given! lol
It has extracts of Lime Blossom in it so unlike a lot of brands that just smell of something this does not just smell of it but it is an active ingredient, it is there to help calm the skin down and so it can repair it's self when suffering from breakouts.
BTW there is nothing wrong with splashing your face with water after removing this cleanser if you feel the need which I do on hot days.

If you have never used a toner before after cleansing this is the time to start. It is an important step when cleansing, the old school reason used to be that it closes the pores after cleansing but toners would be way to harsh if that were the case. The good reason for using them is that they remove every last bit of cleanser/face wash from your skin and allow your moisturiser to work to it's full potential, so as you can see they are really important.
So to accompany my Lime Blossom cleanser I moved on to the Balancing Lavender toner. Elemis use high Alpine Lavender to maintain the skins natural PH balance and help clarify the skin without the use of harsh skin stripping chemicals.
You can either spray this toner directly on your face and wipe off with a cotton pad or spray on the pad and wipe. I also use it as a spritz when the weather is hot just to rehydrate the skin with a light mist and the Lavender is calming which always is a bonus.

In the range there are cleansers and toner duos for the following skin types

• Rehydrating rose petal cleanser/ Ginseng Toner for normal to dry
• Soothing chamomile cleanser/Soothing Apricot toner for sensitive
• and of course Balancing Lime Blossom cleanser/Balancing Lavender toner for normal to oily

They are available @

www.timetospa.co.uk

www.elemis.com

Price Varies