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Beauty, Beauty Products, Reviews and Features

Lady Gaga Fame

I recently received a sample of the new Lady Gaga fragrance, Fame, from the Beauty Bulletin, to review. This exciting new fragrance is the first of its kind in fluid technology; the black fluid turns transparent once it is airborne – freaky right! We would expect nothing less than off-the-wall, from the pop Diva!

The technology behind this magic show is called “push-pull technology”, where the ingredients interact together to highlight different olfactory aspects of each note at the same time, resulting in complete harmony. The scent has three main properties being: dark, sensual and light.

The dark component comes from the mysterious Belladonna, the deadly nightshade, which evolves into a sensual combination of dripping honey, saffron and apricot nectar. To round off the scent crushed Tiger Orchid and Jasmine Sambac bring in a lighter more floral note.

When sprayed on the skin you can actually see the fluid change from a black to translucent which, truth be told, is rather amazing! The actual scent is warm and very sensual, pretty much my favourite type of fragrance. It is very sultry and the epitome of sophistication, perfect for wearing out in the evening to compliment your sexy little LBD.

For me the scent is as important as the bottle it comes in and this is one really sexy bottle, I received the tester bottle to review and would love to see the full size bottle in “the flesh”! Fame is definitely going to be appearing on my Christmas or Birthday list!

Thank you to the Beauty Bulletin for the opportunity of trying this amazing new fragrance!

* 30ml of Fame R400 and 50ml R500, available in retail outlets in South Africa.

Beauty, Beauty Products

Kiehl's South Africa

I was very excited to receive a wonderful range of products from Kiehl’s South Africa last week. Kiehl’s recently launched their first store on Africa soil, in Edgars Sandton City in Johannesburg.

Kiehl’s was originally founded as an old-world apothecary in New York’s East Village over 150 years ago, they opened their doors in 1851 as a community pharmacy on New York’s ‘Pear Tree Corner’ . Kiehl’s extensive experience has resulted in a unique blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal and medicinal knowledge developed over generations. The Kiehl’s philosophy believes that ingredients are the single most important component of their products, only formulas with ingredients that are truly beneficial to the skin are selected.

The Mission of Kiehl’s” is a tribute to our belief in giving back; in supporting both the local communities in which we serve and the global community in which we live and thrive. Underlining the Mission, we have developed a number of Fair Trade partnerships, plus lent our support to non-profit, charitable organisations around the world, primarily in three areas: AIDS research, cure and care; environmental conservation and sustainability; and outreach programs to benefit children and/or local communities.

I am really looking forward to trying out the Kiehl’s range, which is rather extensive! They have sent me items from their mens, baby’s, skin care and body range. The one product that I have heard so much about is the Creme de Corps, which is a rich hydrating body moisturizer and has been a firm favourite for over four decades. I have also been on the lookout for a new sunscreen, which does not irritate my rather sensitive skin. I will be trying out all the products, well in exception of the Mens range (I will leave those to Mr) and I will report back on my thought on the products.

To keep up to date with Kiehl’s in South Africa and find out about when a store is opening near you – follow them on Twitter.

Beauty, Beauty Box, Beauty Pick of the Week, Beauty Products, Online Shopping

My September 2012 rubybox

I am a bit delayed with my review of My September rubybox but we have been rather busy over the past few weeks, my hubby’s youngest brother got married on Saturday! Needless to say it has been a little bit chaotic around here lately! I also prefer to try out the products for more than a week, before I report back about them. Without further a do here is my review:

September is the first birthday of rubybox and the also saw the joining of forces between rubybox and GlamBox, so this months box is all about celebrating!

Camilla Nail Polish – a full-size bottle of a pretty magenta nail polish perfect for the new season! I loved the colour but did find that the polish chipped fairly easliy but with it only costing R25.99 a bottle it great value for money.

Very Irresistiblle L’Intense by Givenchy – a very sensual, feminine fragrance. The fragrance is rather heady with notes of white musk, Turkish rose and patchouli – perfect for wearing in the long summer evenings ahead! A 50ml bottle will cost you R945.

Jean d’Aveze White Lotus Cream – I have adored using this cream and it will definitely be one that I will but again. I have been struggling with pigmentation for the past few years and tried a host of different treatments and creams, with most making the pigmentation worse. This cream on the other hand was soothing and calming on my skin. It is packed with soothing white lotus and plumping hyaluronic acid and I saw a dramatic difference in my skin after only a week of using it! At R560 for 50ml this cream is certainly not cheap but if you use it sparingly it should last a few months.

Palmolive Thermal Spa Turkish Bath – I am not really a shower gel gal, I much prefer a good old cake of soap but I am always willing to try something different! I must admit the gel has a wonderfully invigorating smell and does the job, leaving you feeling refreshed and pampered. This full-size product will cost you R34.99.

Piz Buin Tan & Protect SPF15 Lotion – I have to be really honest I have not tried the Piz Buin Tan Lotion yet, partly because the weather has been so hit and miss and with the wedding coming up I did not want to experiment with any new sun products, on my delicate winter-skin! So this is one I will have to get back to you on but it promises to deliver non-sticky, sweat and water-resistant SPF protection. A 150ml tube of the Piz-Buin Tan Lotion will cost you R190, which is on par with most other sun protection.

To find out more about rubybox and how to order your own click here

For more beauty reviews and product news click here.

Be Inspired, Beauty, Beauty Products, My Top

My Top 4 Body Creams

Today I am sharing My Top 4 Body Creams with you, in no particular order. There are certain things a like about each one and tend to use them for different things.

Woolworths Vanilla & Brown Sugar body butter – those that know me know that I LOVE vanilla! I enjoy using body butter, especially in winter when my skin is very dry. This body butter not only smells heavenly but it is very nourishing and does not leave your skin feeling sticky. It is particularly good to use after you have shaved your legs – very soothing!
Beautiful Earth Ylang-Ylang & Rosewood body butter – this is really an amazing product which I reviewed a few months back. It is a wonderfully pure body butter made from only natural ingredients and essential oils, it has a soft subtle fragrance, which matches its pretty pink colour. My tub is just about empty, so it is definitely time to order more.
Busby Liquid Gold Intensive Moisturiser – this is not solely a body cream but I am using it as one. It is extremely moisturising for dry skin and also good for sensitive skin as it contains natural oils and beeswax. I would even go so far as to say it would be great for baby’s skin. It has a fairly thick consistency but is non-greasy and does not have much of a fragrance.
Innoxa Balance Body Lotion with green tea extracts – this is one of the products that I received in my July rubybox and instantly feel in love with it. It is light and non-greasy and smells absolutely amazing, good enough to eat really!!

What is your favourite body cream or body butter? Please share them with us and what you love about them!

For more Beauty Product reviews click here.

Be Inspired, Beauty, Beauty Products, Fashion, Online Shopping, Reviews and Features

My August 2012 rubybox

I am loving my August 2012 rubybox, as it contains two products that I have been wanting to try for a while now and a new fragrance to add to my travel, fragrance collection! We went away this weekend and I found it is so much easier taking the tester size fragrances in my toiletry bag, rather than the full size breakable-glass bottle!!!

Esse Gel Cleanser – this locally produced, organic, deep-cleansing gel cleanser combines the natural oils of peppermint and spearmint, which help improve mirco-circulation, in the skin. It gives your skin a bit of a wake-up call and leaves it feeling well cleansed and refreshed. Esse is a range I have heard so much about and I was super excited to discover it in this months box! It is recommended to use this cleanser on normal, combination skins and oily skin in the morning and the evening but only in the evening on dry skin.

Maybelline Great Lash “lots of lashes” – This iconic mascara is loved by make-up artists and beauty editors the world over but is one of those products that I have always seen at the store and heard so much about, but not actually tried! Well now I have the chance. I am a Maybelline girl anyway so I do not need any convincing, I usually use the Define-A-Lash Mascara but I must stay I am now a convert. As part of Great Lash’s 40th Birthday Maybelline have added the new “Great Little Grabber” brush, which amazingly gets to every lash, giving your lashes awesome definition and a wonderful curl. This is definitely a must for your make-up bag!

Paco Rabanne Lady Million – This fragrance is described as being “sparkling yet sensual”! I love bold fragrances and Lady Million certainly packs a punch, it has distinctly fruity undertones, with one of favourites, neroli oil taking the lead. The wonderful fragrance is further enhanced by the wonderful scent of jasmine, gardenia and the spicy warmth of amber. Can you tell I LOVE it!

rubybox professional Classic Angled Blush Brush – One can never have too many make-up brushes! This brush aims to define your cheekbones to the max. The angled bristles allow you to create a dramatically defined cheek with great precision, giving you a truly sculpted finish.

To find out more about rubybox and how to order your own click here

For more beauty reviews and product news click here.