LUSH Christmas Hedgehog bubble bar

I am continuing my reviews of Lush Christmas products which are still on 50% sale in Croatia, until stocks last. It is Christmas Hedgehog's turn today.

A small and cute white and light blue hedgehog, with crystals and little stars on its back, and a light pink little nose. In my opinion, a very cute hedgehog... <3

This is a bubble bar although when I first took it into my hands I thought it could be something more like a bath oil because it is very rich and oily in texture. That is because this bubble bar is full of cocoa butter and has lots of essential oils in it. Its smell is divine which in my opinion comes from ylang ylang that it contains. I pretty much love the products with ylang ylang in them, because they always smell beautiful to me. If you are also that way, I think that you can't go wrong with this one, and warning for those who are not crazy about this scent because it fills the room. It is not overpowering but you can definitely smell it. Its scent reminds me the most of Christmas Eve bubble bar that I also reviewed here and couldn't say enough good about it.

You already know the procedure. Take a bubble bar or a piece of it and crumble it under running water. Then let your tub fill with water and enjoy rich foam.

This hedgehog didn't seem as big as Holly Golightly bubble bar, that I already reviewed here, so I took the whole bar for one bath. Also, this hedgehog is so cute that I didn't have the heart to cut it in half. But had the heart to crumble it whole :).

it is white inside

And now a little about its action!

Immediately you can tell that this bubble bath reacts quickly and foams up a lot.

Even while still developing it is very luxurious.

And the end result is a mountain of rich foam which makes your bath experience really something else and almost a spa like. The water is very soft from all the oils in this bubble bar and your skin will not be dry at all after soaking in the tub. Having said that, I think that body milk or lotion is always a good and happy end after spending some time in warm water. Your skin will be ready to soak in much more nourishment and moisture after your pores have opened a lot more.

Ingredients:
Sodium Bicarbonate, Tartaric acid, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Theobroma cacao, Lauryl Betaine, corn flour, organic shea butter- Butyrospermum parkii butter, Perfume, lavender oil-Lavandula angustifolia, Rosa damascena, ylang ylang oil (Cananga odorata), brazilian orange oil, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Laureth 4, *geraniol (*Geraniol), *farnezol (*Farnesol), *benzil-salicilat (*Benzyl Salicylate), *benzil-benzoat (*Benzyl Benzoate), *limonen (*Limonene), *linalol (*Linalool), Colour 42090, polietilentereftalat, blue sparkling pearls, Geopearl crystal glittering rainbow, Sprayfilm, white eatable stars

     natural ingredients      safe synthetic ingredients

And this is how Lush describes it:

If you are feeling that holiday rush, enjoy this softening bubble bath filled with nourishing cocoa butter and calming and soothing volatile oils. Crumble it under running water and stretch yourself in silky water while rose and ylang ylang oils melt away your stress and bad mood.

This 100 g hedgehog bubble bar is still available in Croatian Lush stores and costs 17,50 kunas now (about 2.29 Euros/1.78 GBP/2.70 $), 50% less than its full price before - 35 kunas (about 4.57 Euros/3.56GBP/5.40 $).

Have you tried it? Interested?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

CAUDALIE Polyphenol (C 15) anti-wrinkle eye and lip cream

I love Caudalie as a brand. Ok, as always, there are products that you like more than the others, but I never really had a bad experience with them in a way that their product completely disappointed me. After finishing my eye cream, I had no clue what I want to buy next so I played it safe and bought Caudalie Polyphenol (C15) anti-wrinkle eye and lip cream (Anti-oxidant, smoothes fine lines, corrects dark circles- as they claimed). Mine was bought on HqHair for 30% less, and its full price is 26 GBP. In Croatia it is also available- here, and its full price is actually lower. You can get it for 247 kunas (about 31.80 Euros/24.44 GBP/37.23 $).

I am hearing and reading more and more about this line but when I bought it, it was because it was a Caudalie product that claimed to be anti-age and anti fatigue for eye and lip area. As a woman in her early thirties who sleeps far too little, I am always on a hunt for a product that will help with looking fresh daily, and prolonge my youthful skin in a long run. For now, my mother's good genes are still keeping me looking younger but that lack of sleep could fight them hard, especially without any help of a good cream. This baby comes in a 15 ml green tube.

Caudalie claims that this double-action gel-cream reduces dark circles and smoothes the area around the eyes and lips. The Polyphenol + Vitamin C anti-oxidant, anti-wrinkle formula is enriched with Matrixyl 3000 and fern, horse chestnut, liquorice and witch hazel extracts. Instantly tightening, smoothing and moisturising. (-25% crow feet and 81% dark circles diminished, which numbers are results of clinical trials)
Fragrance-free. Non-photosensitizing. Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested.
Apply morning and evening, to eye contour and lips.  

By my experience, this white gel-cream has a very light texture, but not watery. It applies wonderfully on the skin where it disapperas in a few seconds. Since it is so light, I was afraid that it will not be hydrating and nourishing enough, especially for winter months, but it surprised me and actually became one of my favorites for the year of 2014. It definitely helped with signs of stress and fine lines in my case. Again, I don't have wrinkles, and my crow feet aren't that bad, my skin is oily but eye area can be dry. This winter that didn't happen, although I must say that in Croatia there were just a few really cold, snowy and windy days uptil now. Since it sinks into the skin very quickly, it is a great morning-before makeup product.

I used this cream exclusively in the morning and evening and applied it on my eye area. I wasn't too happy tu put it on my lips because the thought of a cream on them isn't that appealing for me. I was afraid that it will taste or smell wrong but had to try that and was very surprised that that didn't happen. I just got a confirmation of how good this cream is, because it left my lips nourished and velvety smooth. I don't think that this cream has a scent, maybe a tiny, tiny bit but if I wasn't a blogger, I would have never even noticed it.

Ingredients:

Vitamin C Ester, Matrixyl & Concentrated Polyphenols

AQUA (WATER), GLY CERIN*, BUTYLE NE GLY COL, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, CAPRYLI C/CAPRIC TRIGLY CERIDE*, CETEARYL ALCOHOL*, HY DROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL*, PEG-20 STEARATE, CETYL ALCOHOL*, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE*, PALMITOYL GRAPE SEED EXTRACT*, CARBOMER, CYATHEA CUMINGII LEAF EXTRACT*, CAPRYLYL GLY COL, TOCOPHEROL*, ESCIN*, AMMONIUM GLY CYRRHIZATE*, POTASSIUM SORBATE, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) LEAF EXTRACT*, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT*, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM HY DROXIDE, ASCORBYL TETRAISOPALMITATE, SODIUM PHY TATE*, POLYS ORBATE 20, ACRYL ATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYL ATE CROSSPOLY MER, GLY CERYL CAPRYL ATE*, CINNAMIC ACID*, LEVULINIC ACID*, SODIUM LEVULINATE*, PALMITOYL OLIGOPEPTIDE, PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7. (141/020) * Origine végétale - Plant origin.

Caudalie is a brand that tends to go organic and natural, and if you are that way too, you will be glad to hear that this cream is free of parabens, mineral oils, phtalates, sulfates...

There are three more products available from this Polyphenol line: serum, fluid and oil, which I am definitely interested in, and two of them (serum and oil) are already on their way to me. 

I think that my verdict is clear. I love this product and would and will buy it again.

What about you? Interested? Have you tried anything from this line? Do you like Caudalie as a brand? What is your current or favorite eye cream?

Tell me…

Love, beautyandbrains007

AVON Senses Garden of Eden body scrub

Although I bought this scrub from the "until stock lasts" pages of Avon's catalogue, I spotted it in their newest campaign, in a slightly redesigned packaging. My 200 ml tube costed 17 kunas (about 2.21 Euros/1.73 GBP/2.63$), its original price is 33 kunas (about 4.29 Euros/3.37 GBP/5.11$) and it is currently reduced and costs 19 kunas (about 2.47 Euros/1.94 GBP/2.94$). Other Senses body scrubs are also currently on sale.

Its outside and inside is quite tropical. The packaging is hot pink and green with leaves and water, and the scrub itself smells tropical, as a combination of floral and fruity scents.

I think that  as far as its scent is concerned, it is perhaps a product better suited for spring and summer, but since I try to use up products when I open them, I used it up now, although we are in full winter. It leaves my bathroom with a very fresh scent which stays there for a while... Avon says it is exhilarating which it is, it really has some "I'm full of energy" feel to it, and if you are more into soft, warm and vanilla or sugar scented stuff, maybe you should skip this one.

The scrub itself has a pink gel like texture with small pink particles in it, which aren't bad. Let me explain. When I first opened this product I tried it out on my dry hands and I could really feel those particles working, so much that it surprised me. But when used as described under the shower, on wet skin, it loses that quite abrasive feel and becomes much "softer" and lighter. It rinses off very easy with water. I prefer  "harder", more abrasive body scrubs which also contain oils in them, because then you remove dead skin cells and instantly nourish that young skin underneath. So, Garden Of Eden is not my type, at least in Avon's body scrub way.

The other thing that you saw in the first picture is a loofah sponge, also from Avon, from their breast cancer awarness permanent line. I love it!!! The way it looks (baby pink awww...), the way it feels (also cleans your skin kind of like a scrub) and the way it performs (foams up any body cleanser in a second). I will buy it again for sure. It costs 10 kunas (about 1.30 Euros/1 GBP/1.55$).

ingredients: aqua, sodium laureth sulfate, glycerin, polyethylene, polysorbate 20, acrylates copolymer, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamide mea, sodium chloride, parfum, tetrasodium EDTA, benzophenone-3, sodium hydroxide, tocopheryl acetate, alcohol denat, methylchloroisothiazolinone, acetate, alcohol denat., methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, Cl 17200, linalool, limonene

That is it for this topic from me. What about you? Have you tried this or any other Senses body scrubs? Did you like them? Interested?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007

I bought this product with my own money and I am not affiliated with Avon in any way. Not even an Avon lady :)

LUSH HOLLY GOLIGHTLY bubble bar

I am well aware of the fact that Holidays are almost gone. December just flew by me and I was sooo busy that I never got a chance to try out those few products that I bought from Lush's Christmas line. But, when I browsed through the internet, I noticed that there are so many sales and deals on those products that I've figured that I'll write this post, just in case... In Croatia, the Christmas/Holiday line is reduced by 50%.

I'll start with a bubble bar that made me enter the shop when I saw it on the table. Holly Golightly bubble bar. It was sparkly, smelled nice and oh, so festive!

Here is what Lush has to say about it:
"Baby, it’s cold outside but we’ve got the cure for what…well…makes you cold! Crumble Holly Golightly under warm running water and you’ll start to warm up the moment the spicy clove, cinnamon and patchouli oil fragrance hits your nose. Breathe deep and luxuriate in the soothing, festive scent. Hop in the tub, sink deep into those warming waters and let the cold (and your troubles) melt away like a snowman in summer. See? Now don’t you feel warmer already?"

This is a very large 200 g bubble bar that would be enough for four uses, by my experience. It costed 49.00 kunas before but now we can buy it for 24.50 kunas (about 3.83$/3.16 Euros/2.46 GBP), and you can find it in Lush stores or online, of course if it is in stock, and since it is so beautiful and nice, hurry!

It has a bit strong and spicy scent, but also soft at moments, thanks to the yellow part on top, which smells like the moon on Christmas Eve bubble bar (review here). I smell cinnamon the most. It is covered in silver and blue glitter, but only on surface, the inside is green as Hudson river on St. Patrick's day. When I first tried it, it reminded me of Grinch (but from the part when he became good) and the movie "Elf".

I suppose that you already know the drill with Lush bubble bars, but in case you are new to them, here's a little help. You take your bubble bar, or, in this case, a piece of it, and crumble it under running water. Then just leave it and let it do its magic.The foam it creates is insane! Pure luxury, and it stays foamy until the end of your bath.

When this bubble bar comes in contact with water, its scent becomes more intensive and spicy. I almost smelled pine, which could be just in my head since everything was so green. After a few minutes there is that subtle smell again and I must say that my family members commented on it as wonderful.

in the beginning

I must also mention that it seemed to me that it has some nourishing oils in it, because the water was very soft and left my skin even softer. No, I don't think that it is a substitute for body lotions, I applied body cream after my bath, but it surely didn't dry my skin out.

the back of my bath tub was quite green

Here is the list of ingredients which help it to do its magic:
Sodium Bicarbonate , Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate) , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Lauryl Betaine , Cornflour (Zea mays) , Clove Leaf Oil (Eugenia caryophyllus) , Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin) , Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia) , Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax tonkinensis pierre) , Cinnamon Leaf Oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) , Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis) , *Cinnamal , *Eugenol , *Limonene , *Linalool , *Benzyl Benzoate , *Benzyl Cinnamate , Coumarin , Hexyl Cinnamal , Fragrance , Green 8 , Blue 1 , Yellow 8 , Red 27 , Red 4 , Blue 4 , Silver Glimmer Lustre (Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Potassium aluminium silicate.

enjoy your bath time wit luxurious foam (I used a half of my bar)

 

and a touch of green

To be honest, I loved it and although Christmas is gone, winter is still upon us and this bar can make it cozier and warmer when needed, and of course, it is reduced now.

Have you tried it? Any other Holiday products?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

REVLON JUST BITTEN KISSABLE Balm Stains- crush/darling/honey

These stains have been around for a while, and they pretty much got their 15 minutes of glory in beauty world, but since they are still not available in Croatia and some other parts of Europe, I decided to write this post anyway. Mine were bought in Poland last winter in their Douglas for 50 polish Zloty (about 90 kunas/11.74 Euros/14.26$/9 GBP each), but they reached their full potential (in my book) this autumn and winter because I basically wore them exclusively.

I played it safe and chose three colours that are very wearable in their colour families- a darker red, rosy purple and nude. They aren't cheap but I had to try them.

The 005 shade- CRUSH is a velvety and rich deep red tone, with a bit of a cold, purple undertone.

It is a beautiful and perfect autumn and winter shade, which is dark enough and defies cold winds and snow, but still not so dark that you have to think twice before you put it on. It is very wearable and in my opinion suits a lot of skin tones. I have quite light, almost pale skin tone and it is great for me, but darker complexions would get along with it very well, as well.

Its pencil packaging makes it easy to handle and you shouldn't have many problems while applying it, but it can apply a bit uneven so you must go over your lips a couple of times with it in order to reach a nice and even colour. The thing I am not crazy about is the fact that it lasts only for 2 hours before it starts to fade (of course if you are not eating and/or drinking) and then the colour changes into a lighter, warmer red shade that is almost a bit orangey. Depending on lip pencils underneath and lip glosses on top of it, it can change a lot, like a chameleon, but for me it always looks great. With a good lip pencil it lasts longer. I love it and wore it all the time this past December.

Second one is a rosey purple shade- 010 DARLING. In the packaging it looks more purple and cool toned, when swatched on hands more like a pink, and on the lips it is cool and a bit purple again, with an almost metallic shine. Honestly, it is a very wearable all year around shade.

I like it a lot, and out of these three shades that I have, this changes the least on the lips by wear. It is a no brainer shade that is safe enough and could almost be called a nude. Almost.

And my last choice was a super wearable shade that anyone could go for. Excellent for both day and night, every season, a compliment catcher- 001 HONEY. This nude/flesh tone shade is probably in everyone's comfort zone, and although it seems predictable in the packaging, it is actually very pigmented and more dark and out there than it seems. My lips but better shade. It goes well with so many lip pencils and lip glosses, and if you put a plain lip balm underneath it will be shinier and less pigmented in colour, but still very nice on the lips. Great for young girls or more mature women who want to look youthful, cared for and subtle.

All of these come in a plastic 2.7g/0.095 oz  pencil like packaging. The pencil turns and that is how you control the amount of product you want to have out.
They all have minty feeling and scent, and remind me of plumping lip products, although they don't claim to do that, and they really aren't, but they do have a cooling effect.
They aren't marketed as pigmented lipsticks, more like sheer balms but they offer more than a decent pigmentation for those of us who like wearing all kinds of colours on our lips, but in a safe zone. They are also quite soft.

All three shades have this balmy, a bit shiny finish but not like you have a gloss on top. I can't say that they nourish the lips but they don't dry them out, either. It seems to me that they are very friendly to slight imperfections. My lips aren't really dry or chapped thanks to my Lush bubble gum lip scrub (review here) and Korres Jasmine lip butter (review here), but if they become a bit dry, these help.

So...to conclude. I like these a lot and I am sorry that we don't have them here.These are from their permanent Colorburst line. They also come in a shiny and matte variation which I would love to try...and if I ever come accross them, I'll definitely try them out.

What about you? Have you tried them? Any other recommendation for these "pencil like" products?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007