NUXE  Merveillance Expert Eye Contour & Bioderma Restorative Lip Balm: REVIEW

NUXE Lifting Eye Cream Merveillance Expert & Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Balm

Eyes and lips always need extra TLC at this time of year and these two tubes came to the rescue for moisture and nourishment; here’s my take on NUXE Merveillance Expert Eye Contour and Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Balm:

NUXE Merveillance Expert Eye Contour

Summer means time spent outdoors enjoying a beach life and staying up later as the evenings are gorgeously warm and sultry; come morning and I can see tell-tale signs of fatigue aka dark rings around my eyes from staying up later than intended. Caffeine does the job in keeping my energy levels going (I know we’re living on the edge, lol), and as it is one of the ingredients found in NUXE Merveillance Expert Eye Contour it must be good right?

NUXE Lifting Eye Cream Merveillance Expert & Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Balm

Ingredients like caffeine reduces dark circles and puffiness, while Oléoactif®, an extract from silk tree bark and day lily, target the proteins in the skin (vimentin, elastin and collagen) which help with visible lines and loss of firmness. So yay, this eye cream gets my stamp of approval in helping with toning and firming and the lightweight consistency sinks in easily and doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.

NUXE Merveillance Expert Eye Contour

ZAR 425 shop here

Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Balm

I’m a huge fan of French brand, Bioderma with Bioderma Sensibio Micellaire H2O my number one makeup remover! The Atoderm range is for dry to very dry skin, so again, as it’s summer my skin needs all the moisture it can get.

Containing avocado and shea butter for moisture Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Balm is also fragrance and paraben free. (Sometimes I think the more I put on my lips the more product I am needing, but we’ll address this at another stage).

Bioderma Atoderm Restorative Lip Balm

ZAR 139,95 shop here

I’m feeling lip savvy and ready for the weekend! What are you guys up to?

Cath

CHANEL N°5 LUST HAVES FOR CHRISTMAS

CHANEL N°5 Fragments D’Or Gold Fragments Limited Edition

CHANEL N°5 Fragments D’Or Gold Fragments Limited Edition is heaven in a bottle and high on my “LUST HAVE -MUST HAVE” luxury spoils!

CHANEL N°5 Fragments D’Or Gold Fragments Limited Edition

Can you believe its nearly the end of another year and Christmas is just two weeks away! CHANEL N°5 Fragments D’Or is the perfect accessory to summer evenings of drinks and social gatherings whilst sporting an off-the-shoulder dress or top. A shimmery body gel infused with May Rose and Jasmine notes which are at the heart of the original Chanel N°5. Dab a little on décolletage, arms, legs and voilà, a dash of summer and sparkle! The bottle is 250ml for R1530 so this should last you summer and beyond!

CHANEL N°5 Fragments D’Or Gold Fragments Limited Edition

Another lovely is CHANEL N°5 L’EAU Twist and Spray perfume 20ml, the perfect purse/travel size complete with two refills, meaning no big bottle to lug around in your bag. If you like me, love a ‘pick-me-up’ spritz throughout the day, you’ll adore the fresh light notes of CHANEL N°5 L’EAU juice. R1835

CHANEL N°5 L’EAU Twist and Spray perfume

CHANEL N°5 L’EAU Twist and Spray perfume

CHANEL N°5 L’EAU 20ml

CHANEL N°5 L’EAU Twist and Spray perfume

three bottles of 20ml each CHANEL N°5 L’EAU

CHANEL N°5 L’EAU

pretty packaging or what!

LOVE LOVE !!

Happy Monday

GELATO CRUSH COLLECTION by ELIZABETH ARDEN

ELIZABETH ARDEN GELATO CRUSH Collection of creamy formulas and pops of colour make every day feel and taste like summer!

I had one of the nicest Sundays last weekend where I spent most of the day listening to music blaring through the speakers and trying out my Elizabeth Arden Plush Up Lip Gelatos again. I’ve had them sitting on various surfaces around the house for a few weeks now, trying out the colours and perfecting a lippie (yes, its time to upload some videos which I’ve been thinking about, but baulk at the thought of having to peer at myself wondering if good enough to look fresh and sparkly like some of my contemporaries); but a new year looms and I have loads of ideas up my sleeve! SO back to Elizabeth Arden Plush Up Lip Gelatos and Lip Iiners!

Elizabeth Arden Plush Up Lip Gelatos comes in ten shades and I chose these three as my perfect summer choice for day & night wear. From left to right: BLACK CHERRY, RED DOOR CRUSH & STRAWBERRY SORBET. Not only are they soft and creamy due to hyaluronic acid, shea butter and peptides, but there’s a faint sweet taste which is always a bonus for me! I’ve had a week of pre productions and meetings and despite drinking copious amounts of cappuccinos, my lipsticks have shown good staying power and not dried out my lips.

I love the washes of colour that are tres suitable for my taste! From left to right:

BLACK CHERRY

RED DOOR CRUSH

STRAWBERRY SORBET

(These names makes one want to rush out and buy ice cream!) #GELATOCRUSH

Lip liners are the holy grail of keeping lipstick in place and these two compliment the BLACK CHERRY lipstick perfectly. From left to Right: RAISIN & VINTAGE PINK. As I sometimes like to create the illusion of fuller lips, I outline gently and fill in with a gloss only. VINTAGE PINK works beautifully for this! R225 each

Nice packaing hey!

Elizabeth Arden Plush Lip Colours are available at Woolworths , Foschini & Red Square

Fragrances〈REVIEW〉Giorgio Beverly Hills Glam, La Perla La Mia Perla, L’Eau D’Issey Summer 20

HEAVENLY SCENT

It’s safe to say that we have seen the last of winter with spring in the air which means it’s time to adjust our scents by putting our spicy, heady or woody fragrances to one side and introduce some lighter and brighter fragrances to complement our off the shoulder tops and sandals. I’ve rounded up 5 must smell scents of the season – take a peek below:

GIORGIO BEVERLY HILLS GIORGIO GLAM EAU DE PARFUM

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original iconic eighties perfume Giorgio launch, the brand has released Giorgio Glam. Think Californian lifestyle driving a convertible down Rodeo Drive, shopping done and off to drink bubbly with girlfriends. (We could conjure up a local version of a cruise through Camps Bay, rooftop down, heading off for sundowners at Caprice or La Parada del Mar or maybe further along to The Twelve Apostles. Yip, I like that scenario, think Cape Town lifestyle!)

Are you as excited as I am for summer to hit the city? This fresh floral scent reminds me of hot sultry lazy days with top floral notes of magnolia, peony and cyclamen for a heady rush of energy, while lush summer plum, sweet jasmin sambac and violet at the heart adds an extravagant touch, grounded with warm golden labdanum and amber, heliotrope and sandalwood. A sensuous super feminine scent that is long lasting yet lightweight, perfect for the summer season.

50ml EDP R595

100ml EDP R795

Available from selected Edgars, Red Square and Foschini

(love this bottle but bleh to shoot – reflections reflections!!)

LA PERLA LA MIA PERLA EAU DE PARFUM

Italian lingerie brand La Perla launched a new fragrance La Mia Perla, which means pearl and is a tribute to femininity, female power and strength. Master Parfumer, Honorine Blanc, chose a circular composition rather than the standard pyramid structure, meaning you’ll experience all the notes on first spray rather than the conventional layering of notes. Belonging to a fragrance family called Solariental, the combination of sparkling mandarin, white pepper, orris, white peony and jasmin sambac, lends a creamy and luminosity feeling and is balanced with sandalwood and Muscenone. The fragrance makes one feel cocooned in a sophisticated and elegant embrace, awakening the senses and a joy for life!

30ml EDP R950

50ml EDP R1250

100ml EDP R1650

Available from selected Edgars, Red Square and Truworths

L’EAU D’ISSEY SUMMER 2017 BY ISSEY MIYAKE

Every year Issey Miyake launches a limited edition summer fragrance in the same shape bottle, but with different designs and this one is done by topographer, Fabien Baron where the letters are stylized as if dancing on the blue background. The simple design of the bottle reminisce of a drop of water retains a similarity to the original Issey Miyake that launched in 1992. Issey Miyake’s latest edition has zesty pink grapefruit and litchi as the top notes, with passion fruit, fig and aquatic flowers at its heart, trailing down into the base with vanilla and exotic woods. It’s a fresh clean and easy to wear fragrance, great for hot climates as it’s light and just lovely!

100ml Limited Edition EDT R995

Available at Red Square, selected Edgars and Foschini

BRITNEY SPEARS VIP PRIVATE SHOW EAU DE PARFUM

“Inspired by a personal intimate feeling of putting on a show , where it’s just you and the audience” says Britney

You certainly get a lively burst of energy on first spray of juicy blood orange, red apple and mango merging with spring flowers like orange blossom, magnolia and violet, enhanced by a sultry harmony of wood amber and musk.

There’s a predominant smell of mango and raspberry, where one whiff transports me back to childhood days of stained fingers from picking copious amounts of blackberries in the neighbourhood. I guess that’s the beauty of fragrances, evoking memories of easy familiarity with your senses! I’d wear this every summer day to remind me of the small pleasures of yesteryear.

30ml EDP R465

50ml EDP R565

100ml EDP R665

Available from selected Edgars, Red Square, Foschini and Truworths

ELIE SAAB GIRL OF NOW EAU DE PARFUM

Citrusy notes of orange blossom combined with patchouli lies at the heart of Elie Saab’s first best selling perfume, Le Parfum. This distinctive floral Girl of Now EDP has added sparkle from mandarin and pear with added almond and pistachio nuts, inspired by Elie Saab’ hometown Lebanon. Orange blossom and magnolia sit at the heart, while Cashmeran, Tonka bean and Almond milk blend together at the base, while patchouli reveals the perfume’s character. I must admit I thought it would be similar to the original as orange blossom plays across both fragrances, but the nutty ingredients add a twist to the seductive blend! I’d wear it as an evening scent, throughout summer and winter. The bottle, inspired by the collections of Elie Saab accessory, is prettily adorned with enamel blue and gold coloured flowers to resemble a jewel.

50ml EDP R1330

90ml EDP R1795

Available Woolworths, Foschini and selected Edgars

#britneyspearsvipprivateshowedp #eliesaab #Laperlalamiaperlafragrance #LEauDIsseySummer2017byIsseyMiyakeforWom #eliesaabgirlofnowfragrance #perfumes #springsummer2017 #beautyreview #capetownbeautyblogger

African Extracts Rooibos Advantage Range ⎨REVIEW⎬

AFRICAN EXTRACT ROOIBOS ADVANTAGE RANGE

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

“Using green Rooibos extract was found to be effective in limiting cell damage caused by environmental factors, even in precancerous skin cells.”
-Dr Tandeka Mgcwebeba, Researcher Stellenbosch University

The basis of African Extracts products is Bio-active Rooibos from fresh green rooibos plants harvested in the Cedarburg district. Rooibos is high in antioxidants, zinc and ascorbic acid and renowned for anti-inflammatory skin soothing and protective properties. I tend to try out oodles of products mixing and matching as I go along so this was actually an interesting trial for me to use three from one beauty brand at one time. I tried the range during winter when my skin was feeling somewhat dry and dehydrated (heaters and air conditioners aggravate this); besides loving it as a local brand, the price point is also good! Here’s what I thought:

AFRICAN EXTRACT ROOIBOS ADVANTAGE

AFRICAN EXTRACTS ROOIBOS Intensive Day Cream Advantage with SPF15

Active ingredients include advanced anti-aging complexes, Pronalen EAP™ with lady’s thistle, horse chestnut, green tea, germinated wheat which all help with puffiness, firming and tightening and fighting free radicals in the skin. Pronalen BioProtect™, (as the name suggests) protects skin from harmful effects of pollutants and UV radiation thanks to ginseng, apple, peach, wheat and barley! It has a gentle fragrance, is lightweight and easily absorbed.

R160,99

AFRICAN EXTRACTS ROOIBOS Firming Night Cream Advantage

This contains active ingredients like its day cream partner with added Vitamin A, E and C for boosting moisture, firming and tightening properties. It’s a little richer and I found it perfect for winter evenings when one needs an extra boost of moisture and nourishment!

R160,99

AFRICAN EXTRACTS ROOIBOS Gentle Refining Polish

Besides the standard Bio-Active ingredients found throughout the range, added apricot seed, grape seed oil, jojoba, and aloe leaf extracts gives a gentle creamy granular rub-a-dub-scrub! I mixed it with a little water for a creamy scrub and it left my skin feeling super smooth and clean, perfect for dry and mature skins.

R74,99

African Extracts is available from Dischem, Clicks and selected Pick n Pays and Spars countrywide.

HIGH BROW: Three fab eyebrow defining products

sisley bobbi brown

MAKE A STATEMENT

I have really light eyebrows and in summer they go even blonder, so I am a fan of darkening my brows and yip, my other half baulks when I overdo it saying “has Groucho Marx come to town?”. I generally pounce on any brow pencils, gels or mascaras, so was really excited with these newbies from Sisley and Elizabeth Arden. I’ve included a Bobbi Brown as it’s been a firm favourite of mine and well worth a mention too!

SISLEY PARIS Phyto Sourcils Design 3-in-1 Brow Architect Pencil (R725)
A multi-purpose 3-in-1 pencil that shapes, fills in and redefines eyebrows with a built-in highlighter.
I love the angled tip of colour which makes for easy application. This shade is called Brun, which is buildable for a natural to a more intense colour. The other two shades are called Cappuccino and Chatain (lighter than this shade). Acacia wax and Camelia oil are added for softening properties. The other side is a spoolie brush for keeping brows in shape and a twist off to apply the highlighter under the eyebrow to open up the eye area. Smart hey! Check the video below.

Elizabeth Arden Statement Brow Gel

ELIZABETH ARDEN STATEMENT BROW Brow Gel, in Brown (R285) I like mixing this up with my Sisley pencil as it gives a slightly lighter brown making the colour not too solid; if it does look too heavy, you can whip it off and start again! The brow gel grooms, fills, shapes and defines eyebrows, is smudge proof and as I said I like to use this in conjunction with my Sisley pencil as it holds my brows up (they tend to ‘fall down’ if I don’t use a gel). Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested.

Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper & hair Touch Up

BOBBI BROWN Natural Brow Shaper & Hair Touch-up (599)
This has been a staple in my bag forever, in fact it’s probably the fourth if not the fifth time I have bought it, I love it so much! It’s creamy gel formula glides on leaving a great colour; I use Mahogany #3 shade, defining and shaping brows perfectly. I often wonder why they come in such small tubes, but at least there isn’t a chance of them drying out!

Optiphi Classic Facial⎨REVIEW⎬

the life day spa

PUTTING YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD

I’ve long been a fan of local brand OPTIPHI but had yet to try out their facials, so when I was invited earlier this week to pop along to The Life Day Spa, I jumped at the chance.

Situated in the V&A Waterfront, The Life Day Spa feels incredibly sumptuous and inviting; a chilling lounge is done in a palette of turquoise, grays and geometric prints, where I filled in my details on skin concerns; a list that pretty much covers everything from dryness to redness, fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation!

Optiphi products help rehabilitate and rejuvenate skin, so I knew the Classic Facial would do wonders, plus I’m currently using Optiphi Intense Retinol Serum and Optiphi Moisture Control Ultra in my beauty regime so some extra added goodness! I’m doing a blog post on the latter products (pictured below) in a week or two so watch this space!

optiphi retinol serum and moisture control ultra

My therapist Mikaela, wrapped me up in a towel and blanket on a spa bed and proceeded to give me an amazing facial which included a double cleanse, exfoliation and a skin analysis before applying a hydrating mask. She gave me a heavenly neck and shoulder massage (this is always the best part of a facial especially when the pressure is firm!) A hydrating eye and face serum, a peptide cream and lastly an SPF were then applied. I walked out with not only a radiant complexion but feeling relaxed and energised!

Cost of the Optiphi 60 minute Classic Facial is R590

For more info The Life Day Spa

REVIEW: Lanzerac Spa & Wellness Centre

lanerac spa stellenbosch

SPALICIOUS

What could be more awesome than hanging with a girlfriend at a spa for a couple of hours in Wineland country with a glorious massage thrown in? The Lanzerac Spa & Wellness Centre invited us to experience the refurbished spa and it was fab!

The view from the driveway leading up to the 300-year-old manor house is one of elegance; a fire earlier in the year has left an outbuilding blackened, but Lanzerac Hotel looks gloriously pristine and tranquil as we turn right towards the spa. We’re greeted warmly and shown to the changing rooms where we put on fluffy gowns before making a beeline for the outdoor loungers. The view is spectacular and although Liza and I could spend hours catching up whilst admiring the vineyards and mountain range, we decide to utilize the spa facilities. We’re spoilt for choice between two mist rooms, a sauna, jacuzzi and a heated indoor swimming pool, so opt for the latter and manage a few leisurely laps, a session in the steam room and jacuzzi before ordering fresh veggie juices and light salads from the Vitality bar.

lanzerac spa stellenbosch

liza weschta

Liza chilling with a glass of bubbly !

lanzerac spa stellenbosch

The indoor heated swimming pool

cathi trevr & liza weschta at lanzerac spa

Liza and myself eating our greens!

We head up a staircase where mani and pedi stations and treatment rooms are situated in quiet calm surroundings. How pretty is the fabric they’ve used on the pre and post treatment chilling areas (below)

lanzerac spa

lanzerac spa stellenbosch

A treatment room


My treatment is a two-hour Theravine Face and Body Glow done by lovely therapist Bianca. She gives me a full body scrub using Theravine Body Exfoliator containing Grapeseed oil for stimulating micro-circulation and crushed apricot kernels to scrub away dead skin cells. There’s something about a body scrub that feels really invigorating, synonymous to the change of seasons. I shower to remove the scrub before lying down on a spa bed for a genuinely relaxing full body massage. The products are by local brand Theravine, a combination of Grapeseed oil, Cape May, Chamomile, Lavender and Neroli essential oils for relaxing, calming and general well-being benefits. I nodded off to sleep and Bianca kindly didn’t wake or nudge me and if I happened to snore, I’ll never know; a sublime massage indeed!
Liza and I sat in the chilling area before embarking on our drive home; back to reality where Liza is a mama of two sets of twins (for real!) and had an evening of activities to attend to whilst I had dinner plans. Note to self, next time don’t make any evening arrangements except chilling at home as the massage was super relaxing!

Lanzerac Spa

Lanzerac Spa have a few deals on until the end of September as well as a list of the treatments available, so pop over to their website for more info www.lanzeracspa.co.za