SpaceNK: The Essentials Gift Spring 2018.

I'm a sucker for a good GWP and this one that's currently on offer from Space NK is a very good one indeed! 

The Essentials Gift is available on line or in U.S. stores while stocks last. 

Spend $165.00 (pretax, shipping is free) and receive a cosmetic bag stuffed with fourteen deluxe beauty samples from a selection of luxury brands worth over $200.00. (I also included three extra samples that I received with my online order in the photo).

As usual with Space NK GWP's the actual bag is very nice and well made. It is a large make up/small toiletries sized pouch made from a grey faux leather/suede material. Fully lined in grey cotton with a chunky silver zipper, the bag has a subtly embossed Space NK logo on one side. It's a great pouch and I find these shaped bags are great for organising the contents inside my handbag so I will be hanging on to this!

Skincare.

There are seven skincare items inside the bag four of which are masks. 

I used to get annoyed at the inclusion of so many masks in GWP's but I've come to love receiving them as it means that I have a good selection to choose from on 'pamper nights' and it also means that I rarely have to buy any! Two of the masks are deep cleaning masks. Malin + Goetz Detox Face Mask is a newish mask that I have a few samples of but have yet to try while Eve Lom Rescue Mask is an old favourite and something of a cult beauty product. Another old favourite of mine is REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask so I'm pleased to see a generously sized sample of this  gentle exfoliator included. I love Omorovicza products and I'm looking forward to trying out their Ultramoor Mud Mask, a multi tasking mask that gently exfoliates and lifts and brightens. 

I'm thrilled to get a sample of Sunday Riley Good Genes as it is possibly my all time favourite skincare item. It's been a while since I have used Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes but I'm looking forward to revisiting it as it is something that I have actually purchased this in the past. The final skincare item is a mini pot of Dr Dennis Gross Oil Free Moisture Cushion. Dr Dennis Gross is such a great brand and this gel moisturiser will be perfect to use in the upcoming warmer weather.

Haircare.

Salt and texturizing sprays are, like masks, another product that I rarely have to purchase as I have so many from various gift bags! They never go amiss and I'm happy to get to try OUAI Wave Spray out. Oribe Supershine Cream is another winner for me. I have bought this luxurious leave in hair conditioner in the past, I love it, it's a fantastic product but I don't purchase it often as it is expensive. I tend to opt for something that's a bit cheaper hair care wise mostly so I will enjoy using this as a special treat.

Make Up.

I've only tried mascara from Rodial so I'm pleased to get a half sized Instaglam Bronzer to explore their range further. This powder bronzer isn't too dark and is matte rather than shimmery, I'm not overly experimental with make up but this looks very natural and I'm looking forward to using it.

The other make up items are two half sized lip products. Lipstick Queen Morning Sunshine is a coral toned lip wash (it goes on clear and changes colour once on). Kevyn Aucoin Flesh Tone Lip Pencil is the one item that I won't use from the bag unfortunately as it is a dark red/brown shade called Blood Roses. I've had quite a few samples of these pencils over the years and the formula of them is fantastic however so I will pass it on to someone who likes a bold lip. 

Body and Perfume.

I love mini hand creams and always have one in my bag so I'm excited to try out the new ByTerry Baume de Rose Hand Cream. You can never go wrong with a Diptyque perfume sample as far as I'm concerned, I love pretty much all of their scents, and I'm happy to have a sample of Do Son EDT.

Purchases and Samples.         

I bought two cult products to qualify for the gift. 

Sunday Riley Good Genes is my favourite night time serum. I've tried other things but constantly come back to using it. I've bought numerous bottles and it's almost always on my skincare shelf. It's not the cheapest product but my skin looks so much brighter, clearer and simply healthier whenever I use this.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm is so well loved in England but has only recently been stocked in the U.S. Space NK stores. I feel a bit embarrassed that I've never used this before TBH as it's such an iconic cleanser beloved by so many beauty experts. Finally I get to try it for myself!

Standard samples I chose to be added to my order were a duo of OUAI Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, a sachet of Omorovicza Omoressence and because you can never have too many Diptyque samples a vial of Fleur de Peau EDP.

I'm so happy with my purchases and gift, there's just so much good stuff here!

spacenk.com

Seven Days of Us.

For the first time in years the well to do Birch family are all together to celebrate Christmas in their isolated country house. Food critic Andrew, his wife Emma, and daughter Phoebe are undergoing an enforced quarantine in the sprawling family home with their oldest daughter, Olivia who has just returned from Liberia where she has been working for an aid agency as a doctor treating Haag, a contagious and potentially deadly Ebola type virus.

Unused to spending so much time together, tensions rise as the family do their best to enjoy the festive celebrations while each having some sort of secret they are hiding from one another. Add a couple of gate crashing guests and things get even more interesting....

Oh, this book is dying to be made into a feel good holiday Richard Curtis like film! 

It is mostly humourous and lighthearted, although it's not without a few darker moments, and it is very English in feel. It is peopled by likeable characters and of course it goes without saying that Christmas doesn't go quite as planned.

Seven Days of Us is an easy, entertaining, and relaxing read that would be perfect to indulge in whilst sitting around a roaring fire over the Christmas holidays.

Recommended as a light hearted read (especially at Christmas!)

Sephora Sun Safety Kit 2018.

I dislike most sunscreens. Despite them being probably the most necessary part of anyone's beauty routine, I often overlook them and I know I'm not the only one guilty of this. Honestly, on my part it's just plain stupidity, there's little point in spending a small fortune on creams, serums etc if I'm going to negate all the good they do by getting sun damage. 

I tell myself that I'm getting all the protection I need from the SPF 15 in both my primer (Hourglass Veil) and my TM (Chantecaille Just Skin) but I know deep down that I should be using a little more, especially when I'm out and about all day, or when the weather is warmer. Although I actually do prefer the shade to the sun and never sunbathe (I am guilty of baking myself a deep mahogany shade in the distant past - when we knew no better - but there's not much to be done about that now) I know I need to step it up SPF wise and have been doing my best to wear a 30+ on my face, neck and decolletage every day of late. 

The Sun Safety Kit.

Every year Sephora release a Sun Safety Kit. Packed in a straw pouch/make up bag are a selection of samples, mini and full sized sunscreen and sun related beauty products. This year's kit cost $36.00  (which is $3.00 less that the price of the full sized bottle of Lancome BienFait UV you will find inside!) and had a retail value of $161.00. That's pretty amazing, but it's even more so when you take into account the fact that $25.00 from the sale of each kit was donated to skin cancer research and education.

The 2018 bag contains products from Amore Pacific, Clinique, Coola, Dr Dennis Gross, Dr Jart+, Drunk Elephant, Farmacy, Fresh, Lancome, Murad, Peter Thomas Roth, Philosophy, REN, Shiseido, Supergoop, and Tarte. And the bag itself is pretty nice, a fully lined straw bag with a bright pink trim and a tassel. I love it's beachy vibe and it's a good size, roomy enough to be used as a travel toiletry bag or for taking your sunscreens to the beach!

I'm pleased about the full sized bottle of Lancome BienFait UV as it is one of the few sunscreens that I like and readily purchase. I'm also excited about the inclusion of Amore Pacific Resort Collection Sun Protection Mist which is perfect for carrying in my bag and topping up my protection with when I'm out and about.
I love the inclusion of a few SPF related items such as the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads and REN Evercalm Mask and I'm keen to try out all of the sunscreens included. Who knows I may even come to love some of them!

This kit was a Limited Edition, they usually sell out so fast that I'm pretty sure they have all gone but why not take a look at sephora.com and buy some sun products - you may not want them but you need them.

Read on for my sunscreen considerations...  

What do I look for in a sunscreen?

. I want something that offers good protection from both UVA and UVB damage (obviously). 

. My main issue with so many sunscreens is that they simply do not feel nice -they feel thick and heavy or they make me itchy - so they need to be lightweight and comfortable.

. My combination skin tends towards oiliness so I want something that feels moisturising but I don't want anything that feels greasy in any way at all, or causes my skin to look shiny. 

. I don't want anything that clogs my skin and makes it feel congested or cause it to break out.

. I'm pale and although I don't want to tan I want to avoid using anything that leaves an unhealthy looking white or greying cast on my face.

. Finally as I'm not going to be lounging by a pool but rather going about my everyday business, I will be wearing make up on top of my sunscreen so I need something that layers well with other products.
. Bonus points given if it also provides a good base for make up!

Not much to ask right?

The Perfect Nanny.

Myriam and Paul have two small children and live in central Paris. When Myriam is offered the chance to return to work as a lawyer she is determined to do so as long as she and Paul can find a trustworthy and reliable nanny.

Louise comes to them with impeccable references and has a natural rapport with their children. In addition, she's a gourmet cook who loves cleaning and organising their home - Myriam and Paul are thrilled, the children love her, their friends are jealous, and before too long Louise has become an integral part of the family, even holidaying with them.

But as the couple become more and more dependent on The Perfect Nanny, Louise's life is unravelling and she becomes increasingly strange and overbearing. Resentment and suspicions mount on both sides culminating in a nightmare scenario.

This was a short book that I devoured in one sitting. It was well written (and translated) and I loved how it caught the nuances of the French way of life. It brilliantly captured the differing backgrounds of all the characters and touched on issues of race and class. The ending was a little abrupt, which some readers have had issues with, but I liked the book so much that it didn't bother me.

The Perfect Nanny won the Prix Goncourt (a literary award much like the Booker) in France when it was first published. I can totally see why, Leila Slimani has written my favourite thriller/suspense of the year so far.

Highly recommended.

Target Beauty Box: Treat Yourself.

I've had quite a few beauty splurges of late and while I'm not on a self imposed 'No Buy' I'm trying to stick to a 'Low Buy' agenda for a couple of months in order to deplete some of my stash.

Recent exceptions to this have included a few bargain basement priced body lotions from TJ Maxx (which I'm telling myself are totally justifiable as I get through body lotions and creams like nobodies business!) and a $7.00 Beauty Box from Target because it was only $7.00 and was one of four recently released 'special boxes' in addition to the normal monthly box they have. 

I chose the 'Treat Yourself' themed Target Box. I'm not exactly sure how much the contents stick to the theme of treating yourself, sure there are some bath time goodies but as is normal with these boxes some of the other additions seem a little random. What would I have included as well as bath products in a treat yourself box you may wonder? Probably a face mask, a hair mask and some sort of nail treatment probably so you could have a whole pampering spa like experience at home. Anyhow enough of my pondering! let's take a look at what was inside the actual box....

Dr Teal's Pink Himalaya Foaming Bath (3fl oz). Mr C&C is a bath man and his go-to for bubbles is Dr Teal's. This relaxing soak is formulated with Epsom Salts. This version also contains pink Himalayan salt and is scented with Bergamot and Neroli oils, it doesn't smell floral, just fresh and clean (dare I say 'spa-like'?)

ME! Bath Bomb (one bath bomb, 1.58 oz). Another Epsom Salt bath product for Mr C&C! This bath bomb is lavender scented - perfect for a night time bath.

Luxe by Mr Bubble Sweet and Clean Meltaway Soak (x three, .26oz each). These are mini bath bombs but as the directions say to use all three at once I guess this pack is merely the equivalent of one regular bath bomb. These bombs contain skin softening Shea Butter and have an old fashioned slightly sweet bath product smell that reminds me of bath cubes that my Granny might have used.

Bodycology Free & Lovely Coconut and Rose Body Butter (1 fl oz). This body butter is light in feel, even though it contains Shea and Cocoa Butters. The coconut and rose fragrance is a little sweet for me so I will save this for warmer weather and only use it on my lower body where it won't interfere with the perfume I'm wearing.

Honest Beauty Refreshingly Clean Gel Cleanser (1fl oz). Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of the Honest Company and their products for various reasons (mostly to do with their marketing but that's a whole 'nother blog post). I tend to avoid using foamy facial cleansers as they make my dehydrated skin feel tight so I will repurpose this as a body wash.

Olay Regenerist Whips Facial Moisturiser (.5oz).  These 'Whips' are a new launch from Olay. I know some people absolutely rave about Regenerist but I consider it to be quite expensive for a drugstore item so I never purchase it. (I'd rather spend the same or a little more on a department store product as I can usually get a better deal if I shop around a GWP event etc). However, this whipped gel cream does feel very light and hydrating and the .5oz jar has enough product for me to form a better opinion about the product.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm 'Red Dahlia' (Full size .15oz). You can't go wrong with a free lip balm as far as I'm concerned. 'Red Dahlia' is a wearable sheer berry like shade and like all Burt's Bees balms it feels very moist and nourishing.

Coupons. In addition to the products there are $11.00 worth of money off coupons for the featured products. I don't see myself using any of these as I'm on my 'Low Buy' but if you were to, it makes the box even better value.

Overall.

This box has a value of  $30.76 and we will use everything in this box which is great. 

My personal favourites are the lip balm and whipped moisturiser and I know that Mr C&C will enjoy the fizzy bath products. Although not everything here is what I would have personally picked out I think that it's a fun selection of products for $7.00 especially given the real value of the box.

The Wife Between Us.

It's difficult to give a summary of the plot of The Wife Between Us without giving the game away so I'll be brief...
 Vanessa thought that suave, well to do Richard was going to be her savior and the perfect husband. When their marriage dissolves and her lifestyle is drastically changed Vanessa is very far from okay. What will she do when finds out that Richard is about to remarry her replacement?

This is a quick suspense read that's full of very clever twists that keep the plot moving forward rapidly. It's the kind of story that could easily be adapted and made into a film or made for TV drama. 

I read The Wife Between Us quickly (it's not a long book and there's a lot of dialogue) and while it didn't blow my socks off there were moments in it that I thought were very clever.  I'm very much in the middle with how I feel about this book - I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. That I wouldn't rush to read another book by these two collaborating authors is probably the best way to sum it up.

Recommended? Probably not (unless you are a die hard fan of suspense who likes a twisty tale).

The Vanity Fair Diaries.

Tina Brown is a British journalist turned editor who successfully revamped Tatler magazine, reviving its fortunes and turning the ailing publication into a stylish must have read. Following her success at Tatler she was lured to Conde Naste in NYC with a lucrative offer to transform Vanity Fair in much the same way. Recently Tina Brown was researching a novel about the power plays, excess and riches of 1980's Manhattan. When she revisited her diaries and notebooks from that period she realised that she had already written her book right there in the pages of her personal diaries!

Join Tina as she cuts a swathe through the glittering nightlife and parties that defined the era, delight in snippets of gossip about the rich and famous, and be amazed at how she manages to (in the words of that time) 'have it all'. It's not all idle chit chat and dinner parties however. In addition to detailing her life as a working Mother and balancing the responsibilities of work and home Tina provides a fascinating insight into the world of magazines and publishing in the not so distant pre digital era. Meeting deadlines, wooing advertisers, chasing stories, and keeping her staff (and seniors) happy are all part of a normal day at work and are detailed in amusing depth. 

If you are at all interested in magazines, publishing or even just want a glimpse of gaudy excess then The Vanity Fair Diaries is just the book for you. 

Long live Tina Brown, Queen of magazines!

Recommended. 

Empties: March 2018.

Well hello!  

March seemed to simply whizz by and after an exceptionally slow start to the month empties wise I seemed to fly through products in the last few days. Let's take a look at the twelve full sized and twenty two samples that I finished in March.

Skincare.

This month I only managed to use up three full sized skincare items plus a sheet mask!

I dislike wearing most sunscreens so Lancome Bienfait UV 50+ was a pleasant surprise for me as it felt comfortable on my skin and provided enough hydration that I didn't have to use a daytime moisturiser under it. This oil free sunscreen left no white/grey cast on my skin and although there were a few products that made it ball up, it did layer well with most things, and it didn't cause me to break out once.

Vichy V Mineral 89 is so good! This Hyaluronic Acid rich 'booster' (I used it in the place of a serum) made my skin look plump and smooth, the huge 50ml bottle lasted for ages. This is such a good product for the price (it is under $30.00) and I love the fact that I can easily grab some in my local drugstore.

Mabel+Meg Enchanter Hydrating Eye Serum is another Hyaluronic Acid rich product. This clear gel didn't do anything for me besides providing a burst of immediate hydration to my eye area. I think that if you are younger and haven't many concerns about the area around your eyes you may like this, but if you need a little more help then I don't think this is for you. I also found that this had quite a runny consistency that wasn't the best for use around the eyes as it meant that it was quite easy to get it into them by accident.

Nature Republic Aqua Collagen Solution Sheet Mask was saturated with product and a good fit for my face but, honestly, I don't think it did anything in terms of making my skin feel softer or more hydrated. It actually made my face feel a little itchy when I was wearing it... I'm still not convinced by sheet masks I'm afraid!

Although full sized skincare empties were a little thin on the ground this month I did use up eleven skincare samples.

Omorovicza Cleansing Foam had a nice whipped mousse like texture. I quite liked this as a morning face wash, it didn't dry out my skin and was a luxurious start to the day, but I did find that it's strong Neroli/Cologne type scent was an odd pick for a facial product. This falls into the range of 'super expensive facial cleansers' and although it was nice enough I don't think that it is worth it's high price tag.

Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Peel and Sonya Dakar Flash Facial were both quick daily exfoliating products. These two gels both turned watery and then into a white balled up substance when rubbed over dry skin. I thought that both of these were somewhat gimmicky. I didn't notice any difference after I used them and I hated having to wash the balled up product from my face as I found it a somewhat messy procedure. I was disappointed by both of these.

I have used Caudalie VinoPerfect Serum before. I don't find that it does much in terms of brightening my skin but it does do a good job of hydrating it and I like the fresh smell and feel of it. It's a good daytime serum for me.

A good night time serum for me is Sunday Riley Luna. I don't love the smell of this but it is a lovely gentle retinol encapsulated in soothing Blue Tansy Oil, such a clever combination of products that suits my skin well and layers beautifully with my favourite Sunday Riley Good Genes to form a simple and effective night time routine.

3Lab M Serum is an exceptionally good serum. I love how this feels on my skin and how it makes my skin feel. I'm always happy to get 3Lab samples as not only do they produce results they are far too expensive for me to even consider purchasing!

I used three samples of face creams. Vichy Liftactiv Supreme was okay, nothing bad about this one but nothing special either. Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream is a gentle hydrating gel cream that is very lovely to wear as a daytime skin plumper. Kat Burki Bio Correcting Face Cream is rich and luxurious, it makes skin feel instantly softer and appear smoother. It is very good but it is another very expensive product.

I didn't experience any noticeable cooling effect from Lancome Energie de Vie Eye Gel but I did find that it made my whole eye area look a little fresher without irritating my eyes. I'm always on the lookout for the perfect eye cream and although this wasn't 'the one' it did impress me enough that I would buy a full size next time I see an enticing Lancome GWP.

Finally for skincare Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask was a non drying clay type mask that was easy to rinse off. It left my skin looking clear, even, and generally fresher and brighter. I didn't love it's strong menthol and citrus fragrance but I did like the results.

Two make up minis I finished this month were Chantecaile Brilliant Gloss in the shade 'Lucky' and Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector. I love Chantecaille Brilliant Glosses, Lucky is very similar in colour to my favourite shade in the range 'Modern' although Lucky has a little more shimmer. These glosses last a long time on the lips and Lucky is a great colour to layer over lipsticks for a little extra glitz and glamour. They also have a proper brush rather than a doe foot applicator which I much prefer. I didn't finish all of the Becca Primer I'm afraid. I found that although it did have a blurring effect on my skin it made my skin feel tight and dry. It did make my make up last a little longer but it was simply uncomfortable to wear and made me break out a little on my chin. It is a silicon free formula but I found it made quite a lot of my products ball up - so much so that I had to wash my face and start again on more than one occasion which was very very annoying. I really disliked this primer which was disappointing as I had heard such good things about Becca products...

Haircare.

Herbal Essences is one of my favourite drugstore brands so it's no surprise to find two of their empties in my bag this month. I love the light coconut scent of the Hello Hydration Shampoo and have used countless bottles of it over the years. The Hydra-licious Conditioner was okay. It was quite a thick conditioner with a fruity berry scent that I liked but didn't find it outstanding in any way.

I wasn't too keen on Hempz Blushing Grapefruit and Raspberry Cream Shampoo. It's fruity scent was too sweet and sickly and it was very runny in consistency.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm was a 5 minute hair mask that I tried to use every ten days or so after a clarifying shampoo. It was very thick with a faint pineapple scent and rinsed away easily. My hair did feel quite soft whenever I used this and it didn't leave my hair flat or lank. The huge jar that lasted for a long long time and while I liked it well enough I can't see myself repurchasing this. (I use hair masks so sporadically that I can get by on the ones I receive as samples/GWP's etc).

Final haircare empty is a mini OUAI Hair Oil. I love this leave in hair oil, it is one of my favourite leave in conditioners that I find does a fantastic job of detangling hair. It never leaves my hair greasy looking either!

Body care.

Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender Bath and Shower Gel was a lovely formula. It wasn't mega frothy but it certainly produced enough bubbles and it didn't irritate or dry my skin. The fragrance was a straight up Lavender scent so although relaxing it was a little too Granny-ish for me. I'd say that this was more of a long evening bath product rather than one for a quick morning shower.

I used two samples of Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. I thought that this felt very gentle and creamy when I used it and it had a warm nutty fragrance that felt very comforting. When my skin was dry it was a little softer but nothing like as soft as when I have used other scrubs. It also made me feel a little itchy which meant I needed to be a bit heavy handed with my body lotion to relieve it. I'm guessing it contained something that didn't agree with my skin but after initially being so impressed I didn't enjoy this product.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Body Lotion is a very lightly textured body lotion. I actually prefer something a little thicker and richer but I didn't mind it's 'barely there' fresh fragrance.

C Booth body products are some of my favourite and their Lemon Sugar Body Lotion didn't disappoint. It's not marketed as a 'green' beauty product but it does have a fairly clean formula and I like that it contains an exfoliant in the form of Malic Acid. It's a fabulous consistency, rich and easily absorbed without any greasiness, and I love the scent of this. I'm not sure if this intended to be a dupe for Fresh Sugar Lemon or not, but it smells rather similar...

I also used a sachet of Rituals Ritual of Sakura Body Cream (not pictured). This was very rich and thick with a soft sweet cherry fragrance - such a tiny sample though - it barely contained enough for just my arms!

My empties pile wouldn't be complete without a mini hand cream - almost every month I finish one up. This month I had a handbag clear out and finished three(!) all of them by Crabtree & Evelyn. A mini pocket sized 'Rosewater' and two handbag sized ones in 'Himalayan Salt' and 'Florentine Freesia' fragrances all of which were lovely.

I also finished up a big bottle of Molten Brown Hand Lotion in 'Gingerlily'. I loved having this fancy bottle of hand lotion around, it's lighter in formula than the C&E creams but still very soothing and effective.

Perfume.

I used up three perfume vials:

Vera Wang Embrace Periwinkle: Surprisingly I liked this! It had a powdery Iris scent and smelled a lot more expensive than it was.

Diptyque Fleur de Peau: This is a warm musk like fragrance but it's a very subtle musk, so much so that after an initial whiff I couldn't smell it at all. What I could smell of it I liked, it was warm and musky, but I'm not keen on these new style 'no-fragrance' type of perfumes. I like to wear my scents loudly!

Diptyque Benjoin Boheme: I liked this woody warm amber scent. There weren't any vanilla gourmande type notes to it which meant that this unisex scent leant a little more on the masculine side which I don't mind as I quite like to wear a masculine scent.

That's all for March. I'll be back with more empties at the end of April and I'm expecting there to be a lot of skincare ones next time around.