Um where the hell did July go? Seeing July through is always an exciting one for me as birthday is at the beginning of August which mostly means new makeup! Last months empties were mostly the everyday essentials, how often do us beauty junkies actually finish a makeup product?!

Lets begin with a new favourite, Kèrastase Cristalliste Lait Luminous Perfecting Conditioner. This was actually a decent sized sample from My Little Box, I hadn't really heard of this conditioner before so it sat in my bathroom for a while but once I had tried it and saw what it did to my hair I was hooked! This conditioner is designed to be used on the mid lengths and ends of long hair, it helps detangle and leave your hair feeling light yet nourished. I have gone on to purchase the full size product as my hair can't be without it now!

Nivea In Shower Moisturiser is a product that I really love the concept of more than the product itself. I initially bought this moisturiser in the winter to save me having to stand cold and wet in the bathroom applying moisturiser after my shower, it didn't provide enough moisture for my dry skin at that point so I thought I'd put it aside for the warmer weather, alas even though I wear lighter moisturising lotions at this time of the year it still does not provide any decent level of moisture to my skin. This is one I shan't be repurchasing.

Aussie Miracle Shine Shampoo has been my go-to shampoo for the last few years, it leaves my hair glossy and smelling great. I use a couple of different conditioners throughout the week but my hair washing routine will always start with this product and I always have a couple of spare bottle in my bathroom cabinet.

Unfortunately Maybelline Baby Lips  are another product that I love the idea of more than the product. Sure they're affordable and they come in a wide variety of shades and designs but they just don't moisturise my lips! Lip balm is one of those products I rarely like to skimp on as you can really notice the difference to the moisture levels in your lips and you then have to spend a week getting rid of flakiness and rehydrate them. This is another product I won't be repurchasing. 

From a bad lip balm to a great one with Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. This is only a tiny 3ml sample but you need so little of the product it lasted and lasted, I applied before bed and my lips were always soft and smooth by morning meaning I need not worry about prepping for any type of lipstick, even matte shades. This is one i will be purchasing in the near future.

Soap and Glory Scrub Of Your Life was from a Christmas gift set, I have a regular favourite body exfoliator but I thought I'd give this a shot. I haven't used a Soap and Glory exfoliator in a couple of years, I used to love Breakfast scrub, not only did it smell divine but it did an amazing job of leaving your skin glowing, unfortunately Scrub of Your Life doesn't compare, it's more like a shower gel with a few exfoliating beads in it. 

I'm on about my third of fourth jar of Benefit's It's Potent eye cream, I love everything from the cute packaging down to the sparkle it gives back to my eye area. This will be a regular repurchase.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is a product I've heard so many people rave about, I've been using it for a couple of months and have to admit can't really see any visible improvement to my skin. I dispensed the contents of the jar in to a pump bottle (germ phobe!) and I still have a couple of weeks worth yet, I'm on the fence about repurchasing.

Trial-Sized Tuesday's | Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel from £5

A few weeks ago I did a post on Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and I loved it, still do, only now the weather is heating up I found that after a couple of hours of applying my face was left considerably more oily than usual so I decided to purchase a 15ml tube of their DDM Gel which is specifically for oily skin and I have to say it's definitely more suited to my skin type.

Compared to Clinique's DDM Lotion the texture and consistency of the DDM Gel is quite a bit lighter and less tacky on the skin. The gel absorbs into skin quite quickly and has left me noticeably less oily even late in to the day. The only gripe I have about this moisturiser is the fact it has no SPF in it, not a major issue as I've been using Clinique's City Block SPF40 (post to follow) underneath but we all love a multi-tasking product don't we?

I can imagine this will be a moisturiser I will continue to use throughout the summer as it leaves my skin comfortable and shine-free.

Trial-Sized Tuesday's | Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+ £5 15ml

This sample came in the latest British Beauty Blogger and Latest In Beauty collaboration box and was top of my list to try as I have tried and loved many of Clinique's products but this moisturiser was one that I had always forgotten about when searching for a new moisturiser. Although dubbed as a moisturiser for normal/dry skin I find this light lotion works very well with my oily skin when applied sparingly, it's sets into my skin very well and leaves it with a subtle glow.

So what is Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion + (apart from a bit of a mouthful)? It's a lotion type moisturiser that helps form a barrier on the skin sealing the moisture in leaving it soft and healthy looking. One thing I have noticed is that they weren't lying when they said a little goes a long way, seriously a pea sized amount is more than enough for my face and neck! First thing I noticed when reading some reviews on Clinique's website was a lot of people saying 'bring back the old version', never using this moisturiser I wasn't to know this was a reformulated product and I can't make a comparison to the old one, I can however say that after a few days of use I'm really enjoying it. I have been using Benefit's Triple Performing Moisturising Lotion for the last couple of months and I'd say the texture of Clinique's DDML (lets just shorten the name as it's a little long!) is similar to that only I find Clinique's DDML leaves me looking less oily later in the day.

Have you tried this moisturiser or the old formula, what are your thoughts?

*update - now we have got into the 30's heat wise and my oily skin is working overtime this moisturiser was causing my skin to become more oily than usual so this one has been put away until Autumn/Winter.

B. Rescued Energising Balm

I don't know why I haven't done a post on this little miracle worker before as I have been using it daily for a few months now and I honestly couldn't be without it!

After the horrible results of using Clarins Beauty Flash Balm I was a bit apprehensive of using a similar product again but after falling in love with the B Micellar Water I thought I'd give it a shot and boy am I glad I did!

B. Rescued Energising Balm rrp £10.99 is designed to prep tired skin for the day with an energy boost. You can use it morning/evening after cleansing and it can even be used as a mask 2 or 3 times a week. What I absolutely love about this product is the finish it gives my skin when worn beneath foundation. With having oily/combination skin some of the products I use to treat it can leave my skin looking a little dull and lacklustre but this gives my skin a dewy finish and a healthy sheen.

I've tried a lot of the B range and I really should get some posts up on my favourites as Superdrug's own brand B has some seriously impressive offerings.

Have you tried any of the B range? What are your favourites?

Benefit b.right! Radiant Skincare 6 Piece Intro Kit

I purchased a couple of these adorable sets just after Christmas in the sales, as a huge Benefit cosmetics fan I had been intrigued to delve into their skincare range for a while and what better way than with an adorable little kit like this?

For an intro kit that only costs £14.50 the set has an incredibly great quality feel to it with four of the samples housed in kitsch glass packaging. I'm a massive fan of my regular eye cream, Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream and I have to say that everything else that I have been trying is pretty impressive.

The set includes samples of Benefit's-

Foamingly Clean Facial Wash 8.9g

Refined Finish Facial Polish 8.9g

Moisture Prep Toning Lotion 8.9ml

Triple Performing Facial Lotion 8.9ml

Total Moisture Facial Cream 3g

It's Potent! Eye Cream 3g

If you, like I was, are intrigued to try Benefit's skincare range then I couldn't recommend this set more. Even if you don't enjoy the products just think how cute they will look on your dressing table!

Trial-sized Tuesday's - Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse

I've had a couple of bottles of Huile Prodigieuse by Nuxe laying around in my miniatures drawer (yes I have a drawer dedicated to miniatures and samples!) for a while now and after my shower yesterday I decided to indulge in a little bit of Frances leading beauty oil.

What I love firstly about this dry oil is it's a multi-purpose product. You can not only use this oil on your body, but also your face and hair too, making it the perfect travel companion.

This oil absorbs quickly and left no greasy residue and the smell is just divine! I can't quite put my finger on the scent, it's probably the combination of six precious plant oils including Macadamia, Hazelnut, Borrage, Almond, Camellia and St Johns Wort. I applied a small amount to my palms and smoothed over my fly-aways after doing my hair and every time I moved my head yesterday I could smell that divine smell again!

I love this oil and considering how little you need to use to get the desired effect £28 for 100ml is a bargain in my opinion!

June's Birchbox Review

A bit of a late review of Birchbox this month due to the fact that for some unbeknown reason I only received my box on Saturday (after 2 weeks of emailing them seeing what the hell was going on). Anyways, this month's birch box was a Brazil theme in celebration of (I'm sure you're aware unless you've been locked in a bunker!) the World Cup kicking off this month. Lets take a look at what I received in my box...

Beauty Blender 

I was very happy to see that my box contained the Beauty Blender that everyone was desperate to get their hands on! I've been using it everyday since I received it and I can honestly say I'm converted from my my regular foundation brush (Real Techniques Expert Face Brush)! Used properly it does give a beautifully even finish, not streaks or uneven patches, just skin-looking...only better! The only thing I do find is that if you don't squeeze the excess water out properly it can drink up your foundation. I also love the fact that it came with the cleanser to clean it after every use.

Caudalie Vinoperfect 

Another product that was gratefully received was Caudalie's Vinoperfect Day Fluid. I think most subscribers were hoping to get their hands on one product by this luxurious French brands this month. Vinoperfect Day fluid promises to smooth lines, minimise pores and reduce dark spots. I'm looking forward to giving this day cream a go on one of my Trial-Sized Tuesdays.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion

This fresh lemon fragranced lotion by Naobay was another welcome product in my Birchbox. I have a real affinity for moisturizers, especially those that promise to promote radiance and hydration. This light lotion is infused with ingredients such as avocado oil and shea butter.

O.P.I Brazil Collection

I was quite excited to see O.P.I featured in this month's box as I saw some gorgeous colors featured in some boxes. I however received You're So Flippy Floppy, a bright shimmery yellow...not my colour at all I'm afraid so I wont be testing this product out.

 

Silk + Honey Shea Butter Hair Mask

I am a bit of a sucker for hair treatments and was glad to see this in my box. I did try Silk + Honey on my hair on Saturday night and I must say it left my hair rather soft. Initially when I opened the tub for a smell I was not impressed, I was expecting the mask to smell primarily of Shea Butter, I would however compare the scent to Nivea Moisturizer. Despite the smell it was a pleasant little mask to use and it left my hair soft and shiny.

 

As a little 'lifestyle extra' there was a small flip-flop keyring in the Brazilian colors.

I have mixed emotions about this month's box, I think I would have been more excited about it if I received it when every body else had received there's and not 2 weeks later. Contents wise not a bad box, service wise however not so good.

Jodie

xoxo

Fabulous Foot-Care Find

My feet are one part of me that I like to take extra care of so I'm always a little excited to see whats new in the foot-care aisle when I'm stocking up on essentials in Boots or Superdrug. There's nothing better after a long day at work than coming home, kicking those shoes off and giving your tootsies some attention.
My usual foot cream had nearly come to an end, at this time of the year I like to go for foot creams with Mint or Tea-tree in them as they are refreshing yet soothing, queue this lovely little cream...
I picked up Freeman's Bare Foot Lavender & Mint for £4.49 from Superdrug, although I found a few items from this brand instore strangely I can't actually find this product available on their website. 
This aroma-therapeutic foot cream smells of gorgeous Lavender and cooling Mint with an ever so subtle hint of Tea-Tree, rub into feet and smooth over legs for a relaxing massage to relieve aching muscles. I found it moisturizing but not overly oily and it absorbs into the skin like a dream. I'm enjoying using this in place of my normal foot-cream and I'm hoping it becomes available on a UK based website soon.
Jodie xoxo 

May Premae Donna Box Selection

Making my Premae Donna box selection is something I really look forward to. Not only I am kept stocked up with my favourite regular products but it gives me the opportunity to try new products at a fraction if the retail price. I made my selection at the beginning of the month but I wanted to give it a couples of weeks before giving my opinion on the products...although if you know me and you know Premae you know I'll love everything of theirs I try!

Balance Rescue Cleansing Face Wash rrp £22.50

If you've read any of my posts on my skincare routine and products you'll know that Premae's Balance Rescue face wash is a staple product for me. I use this cleanser morning and night, a gentle yet very thorough foaming cleanser that unclogs pores and removes all traces of make-up and other impurities. This cleanser is ideal for blemish prone skin and gives illuminating results.

Pharma 100 Conditioning Creme rrp £19.50  

Pharma 100 was a completely new product for me this month. I've really been looking forward to trying it and after using it for two weeks I feel I can give it a fair enough review. Although I have oily/combination skin on my face I seem to suffer from the complete opposite on my body. Don't get me wrong I'm not covered in dry, flaky patches but I do suffer from quite dry, tight skin on the tops of my arms and shoulders, or should I say did? This creme has been an absolute dream to use, it's very rich, I apply straight out of the shower and my skin drinks it up and I'm left feeling moisturised well into the day. This award-winning creme is great for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis sufferers alike, leaving skin nourished and fortified.

Lab Definitive Eye Creme rrp £17.50

I briefly touched on Premae's Lab Definitive Eye Creme in my April's favourite's blog post. I've been using it for around a month now and can confidently say that it's fabulous! This eye creme is nourishing yet light and makes for a great eye make-up base. Enriched with Vitamin C and K it refreshes and comfortably tightens delicate skin around the eye area. Although moisturising it's not at all greasy so it keeps eye make-up in place, keeping eye's looking fresh and bright.

I'm looking forward to my June selection, if you're yet to try Premae's products don't hesitate...you won't be disappointed!

April's Birchbox

Ok, so I'm sure most subscribers have already received their boxes and non-subscribers have definitely seen a million photos but here's what I received in my April Birchbox....

Yes To Cucumbers Facial Wipes

Not the most exciting thing to sample from a beauty box but definitely a refreshing, essential one! These rejuvenating wipes are packed with vitamins and yep, you guessed it...organic cucumbers! They claim to have an anti-inflammatory green tea extract in them that will improve the general health of skin and protect from free-radiacals. The sample size was a decent 10 wipes and price at only £4.99 for a full-size pack of 30 they are very purse-friendly.

Campos de Ibiza Almond Body Milk

A fast-absorbing formula with rosewater to calm sensitive skin and anti-oxidants offer long lasting hydration and protection from environmental aggressors- such as sun damage. This also was an ample sized sample, it was pleasant but body milk's aren't really my thing so I doubt I'll purchase the full size product (£16.55 for 200ml).

theBalm How 'Bout Them Apples

By far the favourite product in my box this month! When I started to see other subscribers boxes I was praying this would be in mine! I received a sample of the shade 'Pie' which is an easy to blend shade cream formula which can be used on either cheeks or lips. The full size version is priced at £26 which is a total bargain as it comes with six multi-tasking shades.

Color Club Gala's Gems Collection

Now I was a bit annoyed when I opened my box as prior to despatch Birchbox emailed me and said I could pick which shade of polish I would like in my box, I responded straight away and picked Breakfast At... which is the gorgeous green colour. I however received Heirloom Pearls which is the shimmery off-white...not really my colour! The bottles are quite cute and a decent 7ml size, the collection of 4 polishes is priced at £15.

Propercorn Sweet Coconut & Vanilla Popcorn

As a little extra sweet treat there was a bag of Propercorn coconut and vanilla popcorn, I really thought wouldn't be my thing but they are actually really tasty! Priced at 90p for a 20g bag they a purse and hips friendly!

Last but not least...Lord & Berry Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil

Now I don't usually reach for a kohl eyeliner as my general day-to-day make-up look includes a winged eyeliner so I use something a lot less smudge-proof but an eyeliner is always a welcome addition to my make-up arsenal. Luckily I received the shade black, which I think most did. This eyeliner smudges very easily so would be ideal for the odd occasion when I go for the smokey-eyed look.

All-in-all not a bad box at all this month, apart from the mix-up with the nail polish shade and my box taking what seemed like forever to be despatched...I'm happy.

Jodie

xoxo

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Gradual Tan

I love gradual tanners. Who doesn't want that subtle all-year-round glow that's fool proof to even the most novice of self-tanners?

For a while I have been using Xen-Tan's Tranform Luxe, I've got it in Light/Medium and it comes out very dark...which is fine if you exfoliate and apply it well, but with no colour guide it's sometimes hard to judge where it's going. Although the colour is great (when applied properly!) and it goes onto your skin with a lovely vanilla scent it soon fades to that yucky biscuity mushroom smell. At last I have found a gradual tanner with NO mushroom smell!

I picked up the Light version of L'Oreal Sublime Bronze in Boots last week as it was on offer for only £4.66, cheap enough to bin if it was naff. I've been using it for a week now so feel I can give it a fair enough review...

I absolutely love it! In fact I popped into town this morning and picked up another bottle whilst it was still on offer! I really feel that the results supersede that of Xen-Tan's Transforme Luxe...and that stuff is like 4 times the price! It goes onto your skin really smoothly and absorbs quickly. There is not a hint of that tanning smell that I have had with all other tanners I've tried, it has a light floral fragrance to it. I have quite dry skin on the tops of my arms and shoulders and this kept them moisturised and didn't cause any weird patchy bits. Even though it's a gradual tanner I still apply with a tanning mitt, I just find you get smoother, less patchy results. After 2 days of use the colour is a lovely, natural olive brown, not at all orange like some other brands I have tried.

I'm actually won over from a high-end product to a drugstore brand!

Jodie

xoxo

My First Birchbox...

I'm sure Birchbox isn't new to many of you but after a few disappointing boxes from Glossybox I decided to give Birchbox a go...especially when I saw they were collaborating with one of my favorite handbag designers...Lulu Guinness! If you read one of my latest posts about Glossybox you will know I have cancelled my subscription, for me a beauty box should be more about the quality of the contents than the quantity. As I live in a rural part of Somerset and the nearest department store for high end products is 50 odd miles away I want to be able to try products out before I commit to buying and they end up in my ever expanding drawer of once-used products! My first Birchbox didn't dissapoint. The box felt it was put together with care, the products were good quality and the sample sizes were very generous. Lets take a look into my box...

Benefit Stay Don't Stray

I absolutely love this primer! So much so I went on to purchase the full size version. It can be used under eye-shadow or under-eye concealer. I was sent light/medium which compliments my skintone perfectly. I have found it gives me a lovely smooth base and keeps my concealer in place all day. A huge thumbs up from me!

Dr Brandt Pores No More

I'm a sucker for anything that claims to erase my huge pores and give me flawless results, other than the fact this box was a Lulu collaboration, this primer was one of the reasons I subscribed. I hate to say it does nothing for my pores, but it does give me lovely base for my foundation. When you squeeze it out of the tube it's a quite intimidating red/brown colour, but this is not at all apparent when your foundation is applied over it. I also want to mention it has quite a strong fragrance, a nice spicy, floral fragrance. I have enjoyed using the sample but probably wouldn't purchase the full size for £39.

Molton Brown Hand Cream

I love hand creams! The sample only lasted me day as I apply hand cream every time I'm done washing my hands. It had a lovely scent, Rhubarb and Rose and instantly absorbed into my skin (just as they claim). It was a pleasure to use but I don't think I'm swayed from my usual go-to hand cream.

English Laundry Signature EDP

I usually am not too phased when I receive a perfume sample...I have a drawer full of them but this perfume is going onto my birthday wishlist! Its a gorgeous sweet floral smell with a faint hint of toffee. It smells quite alike to Katy Perry's Killer Queen or Britney Spears' Fantasy. I was gutted when the sample ran out! Big thumbs up from me!

Korres Citrus Body Milk

I'm not usually too enthralled my citrus smells, they remind me of cheap air-fresheners for some reason?! This moisturizer is an exception. It has a very fresh, light citrus smell. Although it's a body milk, which in my experience are quite light, this is very moisturizing. Another thumbs up from me!



Also included in the box was a white and black striped stick of rock, very in-keeping with the theme of the box...I munched this on one of my lazy pj days! I'm really please with my first ever Birchbox...I'm wondering why I didn't cancel my Glossybox and sign up earlier! I also must say that their customer service is great, I had a query (being a new customer I wasn't familiar with some of the order processes) and their response was friendly and relatively fast. A huge new fan...

Jodie 

xoxo

March Glossybox Review

Another month...another beauty box. Lets take a look into the box (always highly anticipated!) and contents I received this month...

Mitchell and Peach Body Cream £36 for 180ml

Ok, so I didn't receive the glamorous jar and cute little box pictured, I received and descent sample size tube, which is fine...I would be in awe if I was sent otherwise. So the product description card says "With English honey, organic cocoa, vitamin B5 and shea butter, this Mitchell and Peach body cream is perfect to leave you feeling as though you've taken a walk in the English countryside."

Although it smells very nice, a fresh floral scent, it does nothing for hydration on my skin. I've never really been wowed by Mitchell and Peach products, they always come in sleek packaging but the contents of said packaging do very little for my skin, although they smell luxurious when using them. Retailing at £36 for the full sized product, this won't be on my wish list anytime soon.

Sleek Pout Polish in Bonaire Full size £4.49

When I saw on Facebook that Sleek's Pout Polish would be featured in this months Glossybox I was a little excited...I have an obsession with anything that can be adorned on my lips, especially tinted balms for a quick and easy colour fix. I received the colour "Bonaire" which is a bright orange. It isn't the first colour I would pick from the range but the colour is very sheer and wearable. On the product description card it is described as "Full of nourishment with SPF15, almond oil, shea butter and vitamin E it will leave your pout looking perfect." Now it is a nice product, does what it says on the tin...I probably wouldn't repurchase as there are versions from other brands I prefer and I'm a little disappointed to receive a drugstore product in a beauty box that claims to send you "High-end beauty samples".

Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Coral Reef Full Size £12.99

I'm not really a fan of shimmery eyeshadows, I mainly own more neutral shades which I use to dab in the corners of my eyes when I'm in need of a little pick-me-up. The products description card claims that this product is "a 100% pure Mica shimmering eye shadow that will provide you with a long lasting vibrant colour without smearing, creasing or fading." The colour is not for me and I really don't enjoy using loose products in packaging like this, I find they are messy and lead to product loss. The website has some lovely looking items to offer but this product is unfortunately a thumbs down from me...

       

       
          Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion £37.50 for 150ml

           I feel I can't give this product the review it may deserve as I was only sent 2 small sachets...what were they expecting me to tan? My ankles? The product description card claims "Cheat with pHenomenal 2-3 week tan lotion which promises a longer lasting and hydrating tan." This will go into my little draw of samples....


Dove Hair Therapy Intensive Repair 60 Second Treatment Shot £1.49 for 15ml

Yawn, another drugstore brand...
I haven't tried this treatment shot yet as I'm pretty fussy about what I put on my hair so I will save this for a rainy day when I'm feeling more experimental. The product card claims "You don't have to chose between beauty and hair care with this intensive treatment! It's the perfect pick-me-up for haircare in a hurry and you can even take it on holiday to revive damaged hair from the sun."
Available from Superdrug.


All-in-all another disappointing box for me from Glossybox. I feel that if they spent more effort in sourcing high-end samples then the design and quality of the boxes containing them then the boxes would be more exciting to receive. I have redeemed my Glossydots and next month will be my last Glossybox...maybe not ever...but I've just signed up to Birchbox and I'm really looking forward to actually trying some high-end samples.

Jodie

xoxo

MAC Strobe Cream Review

MAC Strobe Cream

Now I know MAC Strobe Cream isn't new on the market but it's a new-ish part of my make-up bag and I love reviving a product that has been on the scene for a while with some fresh reviews. 

I have been using this under my foundation for the last couple of weeks, I thought it only fair to give it a good trial before reviewing it...and I must say I love it! Retailing at £23.50 for 50ml I think it's excellent value for money as a little bit of the product goes far and it should be a multitasking staple of any girls make-up bag!

Described as "The ultimate quick fix for skin, super-powedred with potent botanicals, de-snoozes, de-stresses, moistens, freshens and boosts the look of dull, flat or tired looking skin with a fully loaded vitamin zap and a mega dose of green tea." I couldn't say they were wrong at all with this description! Its absorbs into your skin quickly, leaving it feeling fresh and looking glowy.  You can wear alone as 

a moisturiser or under foundation for that lit-up effect in any lighting condition.

Unfortunately I do not have perfect skin, I make no attempt at denying this, so I haven't tried it without foundation but I love the lit-up effect it gives me...even through a couple of layers of foundation! I have quite oily skin, this doesn't leave me feeling oily initially...however after about 4/5 hours my face does start to look a little on the glassy side. This hasn't put me off at all though!

I can't comment on how it applies over foundation, I know some ladies use it to highlight their cheek bones etc but as I do have to layer up my foundation I tend to only apply powder highlighters so not to remove the foundation underneath. 

I absolutely love it, as all other MAC products I've tried...if it doesn't make me break-out then that usually sways me even more!

Jodie

xoxo

Xen-Tan Transform Luxe Gradual Tanner Review

So I thought I'd share with you my first ever experience with Xen-Tan Gradual Tanner in Light/Medium. Now I am a fake tan virgin, I do however use a gradual tanner all year round which is Dove's purse-friendly Summer Glow. Whilst the scent of Dove's Summer Glow isn't the best, just the usual biscuity mushroom smell that you get with all the others, it does give a lovely, even and subtle glow. Back to my experience with Xen-Tan...

I was really excited to try Xen-Tan, before purchasing I had read many glowing reviews from people that were dedicated to this brand for excellent salon quality results. I probably wouldn't have purchased it at it's full retail of £39.95 but as it was in the ASOS sale for £18.50 I thought this was a reasonable price as the gift set included an exfoliator and tanning mitt.

 The products came in very luxurious and informative gold and cream boxes enclosed in a transparent re-usable cosmetic bag. The gradual tanner and exfoliator themselves were very generous sized 236ml bottles with the gradual tanner having a screw top and the exfoliator having a nice and easy flip top.

So that evening I showered, shaved and exfoliated in preparation for applying the gradual tanner. Just touching on the exfoliator, it was a very refreshing and non-abrasive scrub...some scrubs can leave my skin feeling dry and taught but this didn't. Straight after my shower I slathered on E45 cream...I do this every night regardless of applying my usual gradual tanner or not. Now onto my experience with the tanner itself...

Firstly, the scent is delicious! Its got a fresh vanilla scent to it which only slightly changed to that biscuity fake tan smell around 3 hours later and even then it wasn't as over-powering as some other brands I have tried. The lotion itself made my skin feel moisturised and was easy to apply. Now the set came with a tanner mitt...as this is labelled as a daily gradual tan I threw caution to the wind and applied it with my hands...big mistake! Although the rest of my body tanned evenly and streak free the colour was anything but a subtle light/medium. I love the colour, it was a deep olive, I have an olive tone to my skin anyway so the tanner only enhanced this. Although I had washed my hands thoroughly after applying to my body and rubbed a small amount to the backs of my hands using my wrists and the back of the opposite hand to rub in I ended up with a disaster on my hands that I don't usually get!

As you can see from this photo the colour difference is so dramatic! I love the colour it's very natural but I know now why it came with a tanning mitt and will definitely be using it on my next application! My disappointment of this not being as easy to use as my usual drug-store brand gradual tanner has been overshadowed by the luxurious colour and feel of Xen-Tan.

I may be converted....

Jodie
xoxo