The Christmas Beauty Gift Guide

Christmas BeautyThe Christmas Beauty Gift Guide

If you’re anything like me you’ve probably spent the last few weeks window shopping – both physical and online – for potential Christmas gifts. I don’t like to make it easy for myself though. I enjoy visiting as many shops as possible, so I can make sure I get a good idea of what’s on offer this year. But that’s time consuming and if I can help anyone save time, or recommend something they haven’t thought of, then my blog’s work has been done. So without further ado, here is 2018’s ‘The Christmas Beauty Gift Guide’. And I’ve made sure to pack it full of my favourite products from the year. Enjoy!

The Christmas Beauty Gift Guide

As you can see I’ve focused on brands and products from a range of price points. I’ve included some of my trusted go-tos (Dermalogica & The Ordinary), as well as some new favourites (NIOD & Nails Inc). I’ve also added in a couple of gift sets for good measure. Why? Well I happen to think that they’re perfect for this time of year. Gift sets often feature a variety of complimentary products – sometimes limited edition – that are generally priced lower then they would be when bought separately (e.g. the Gatineau set is worth £276). If we’re being honest, we all know how much we enjoy spoiling our loved ones at Christmas. And if anything can make the gift giving season easier, and cheaper, you may as well make the most of it, right?

If you enjoyed The Christmas Beauty Gift Guide, check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

Christmas Beauty Christmas Beauty

Bonjour Gatineau, Welcome to my Skincare Regime

gatineauBonjour Gatineau,
Welcome to my Skincare Regime

My love affair with French skincare started around five years ago. At the time I was travelling to-and-from France on a regular basis, and I was enthralled by the products that lined pharmacy shelves. They promised quality over quantity,  unlike a lot of British & American beauty brands that churn out product after product. Not only that but most of the brands had reassuringly been around for years. One of these brands was Gatineau, founded back in 1932 by beauty therapist, Madame Jeanne Gatineau.

C’est Gatineau

Over the years Jeanne Gatineau’s pioneering research and development has resulted in cosmetic breakthroughs that have been stepping stones for the entire beauty industry. Par exemple, Gatineau were the first beauty house in the world to develop an exfoliator and alcohol-free cleansers and toners – I bet you didn’t know that.

Back to 2018, and Gatineau very kindly offered to send me a selection of their products to try, which I was happy to accept. After all I had been longingly staring at them for several years now, and I was dying to try out more than the travel size companions (body lotion, and hand cream) I had in my beauty cabinet.

I’m currently using the Perfection Ultime Beauty Cream, and I’m completely in love with the texture and scent of the product. I recently had a bad breakout and this has helped bring back some luminosity to my skin. Alongside this I tried the Collagene Experte Eye Pads in my bi-weekly routine., which have been freshening up my tired eyes. I’ve yet to try the other items I received, but if this experience is anything to go by then I can’t wait. Gatineau’s products look, feel and ooze quality – exactly what I’d expect from a luxury skincare brand.

Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!gatineau gatineau

A Rather Bazaar Beauty Box | Review

Bazaar Beauty BoxBazaar Beauty Box by Latest In Beauty

Remember when beauty boxes were a thing? It’s been a while since it was popular for companies to charge us an arm and a leg for travel size samples; you were one of the lucky few if you found a rare full size product in your box. After the hype died down, I personally took to researching products and buying the full size versions. And I was happy. But then VA went and sent me a link to the latest ‘Latest in Beauty’ box. It included a collaboration with none other than Harper’s Bazaar – a brand that had won me over previously with their Birchbox collaboration. I couldn’t resist finding out more.

So what’s inside?

The limited-edition Spring/Summer beauty edit features high-end favourites from the likes of Laura Mercier, Elemis, Dermalogica, and many more.

  • Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (full size)
  • Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder (full size)
  • MAC Prep + Prime Fix + (full size)
  • Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair  (full size)
  • Benefit They’re Real Mascara (full size)
  • Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Day Cream (15ml travel size)
  • Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Essence (50ml travel size)
  • Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask (15ml travel size)
  • Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (30ml travel size)
  • Alpha H Liquid Gold (50ml travel size)
  • Shavata Complimentary Brow-Shape (gift card)

Bazaar Beauty Box – final thoughts

This box is worth an incredible £224! But is it worth £50 (that’s the RRP) of your hard earned cash? Well quite frankly, yes it is. This box includes some amazing – and expensive – products. I already had plans to repurchase the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, and the MAC Prep + Prime Fix +. So straight off I’d saved myself £18, and that was without counting all the extra products that came in the box.

The amount of full size products is way more than most beauty boxes. And these are popular products, they’re not just cast offs from some company you’ve never heard of. I’ve already started using a few of the items, and I’m excited to try out all of the others (yes, all of them). £50 is a lot of money, but I am so glad I splurged on this.

You can purchase the Bazaar Beauty Box at Latest in Beauty.
Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

Bazaar Beauty Box Bazaar Beauty Box Bazaar Beauty Box

Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste | Beauty Review

Lixirskin Vitamin C PasteLixirskin Vitamin C Paste

2017 was the year that science made it big time in the cosmetics world, and on the high street. Of course beauty aficionados were already aware of the benefits of acids, retinoids and antioxidants in skincare. But the high street wasn’t. Small brands boasting these products soon became bigger brands, and the general public were suddenly encapsulated in a foreign, exciting world.

I myself was a part of this movement; telling everyone and anyone about the amazing products I couldn’t live without. But it got a bit boring seeing the same brands everywhere. I also wasn’t too keen on established companies jumping on the bandwagon, especially when they were known for using a cocktail of chemicals. So I began to look elsewhere, and that’s when Yasumi suggested I try Lixir skin.

Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste

The Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste is a concentrated product designed for quick morning use. It claims to leave you skin ‘vibrant, luminous & smooth…brighter, more even toned and lifted.’

But how exactly does it do this?

  • Scavenges free radicals
  • Helps Collagen production and protects Elastin
  • Provides natural sunscreen against UVA & UVB, and regulates melanin production
  • Neutralises oxidised sebum and proteins to revive greyish, greenish and dull skin undertones.

That’s some in-depth science stuff right there, and some big claims. So does it do what it says on the tin? I mean tube…

Final thoughts

  • Beautifully designed packaging
  • Smooth gel-paste texture
  • Applies and rinses off easily
  • Lightly evened out my skin tone
  • Unappealing scent

It may smell funny, but once you get over the initial scent – which doesn’t last for long by the way – you realise that there’s a lot more to this little tube of goodness. Apart from being a welcome – and easy – addition to my skincare regime, it’s been a lovely product to use. I bought this to try and combat my dull skin tone and the red marks left behind by old spots, and it did not disappoint. At £32 this is quite an expensive tube of paste, but it’s one I would buy again, and I’d like to try more products in the range too.

You can purchase Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste online.
Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste

The Fight for Fresh | NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser

NUORI Vital Foaming CleanserThe Fight for Fresh with NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser *

Ok let’s not go into how long it’s been since my last beauty feature. Maybe I got a little too comfortable in my skincare regime and neglected that side of my blog? Quite possibly. Even so, beauty and skincare products are still a major part of my daily life. In fact I’ve been discovering – and using – so many awesome beauty products recently, that’s it has reignited my love for it.

So today I wanted to share a little secret with you, all the way from Denmark. It’s from a perfectly packaged brand who knows exactly what they’re doing with natural ingredients. Here’s my review of the NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser.

The Fight for Fresh

I was a little confused when I first looked at the albeit gorgeous packaging on my NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser. It said ‘Start using by…’ Wait, I’m sorry what? We’re all so used to expiry dates, and best befores that this threw me off entirely. Luckily it was explained on the packaging as a date that I should be paying a lot of attention to. Why? Because each product is stamped with a date which you should start using it by (at the latest). This means you’ll benefit from optimum freshness and efficacy of the 100% natural ingredients used.

You see, NUORI’s products are freshly blended every 12 weeks into small batches. Effectively making each product it’s own little  celebrity. Whilst the premium packaging minimizes exposure to air, light and bacteria. NUORI’s products are free from parabens, synthetic colour, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, petroleum, PEGs, surfaces, MEA, DEA, TEA, polypropylene glycol, phthalates, and silicones.

That’s some pretty damn modern skincare right there.

Is NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser worth it?

Quite frankly yes, because it wondrously manages to checks all of my boxes:

  • 100% Natural ingredients
  • Kind to sensitive skin
  • Non-drying
  • Smells great
  • My skin loves it
  • Travel friendly

As for cost, well price is always going to be a big factor when it comes to skincare. However after years of trying out different products I am fully on the side of re-buying those that I love. Yes, even if they do cost a little bit more. And that’s where I stand with the NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser. Taking in to account the utter lack of nasties, and complete joy of usage, I think it’s worth the £25 price tag.

You can purchase the NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser at MOI MÊME.
Read more of my beauty reviews and recommendations here.

NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser NUORI Vital Foaming Cleanser

Japanese Skincare at The Dove Pop-up, Paris

Japanese SkincareJapanese Skincare at The Dove Pop-up, Paris

For as long as I can remember, Dove has been a staple in my family home. My mum swears by it, so I’ve always held the brand in quite high esteem. In recent years Dove has transformed itself into a brand that fights against beauty bias, and promotes real bodies, and real people. Something ‘older me’ can get behind.

Enter the Dove pop-up store in Paris, and their ‘My Beauty is Unique’ theme. Add some some personalised products and Japanese skincare into the mix, and you’ve got my attention.

Personalised Skincare at The Dove Pop-up, Paris

For the first time, Dove has created a physical space to illustrate Real Beauty from Real Care. It is designed to provide guests with the ultimate in personalisation, offering elements that are as unique as the people experiencing it. With classics such as the Dove Beauty Bar, the store offers guests with a one-of-a-kind, hands on experience. It also offers the exclusive opportunity to customise Dove products through the one-of-a-kind mixology process. With multiple base formulas, extracts, exfoliators and fragrances to choose from, every product is personalised. The perfect limited edition gift, maybe?

Japanese Skincare with Dove

Japan is world-renowned for its skincare. Facial cleansing is also one of Japan’s most sophisticated beauty rituals, and for many Japanese women, this is one of the most important steps in their skin care regime. So Dove decided to host their Paris pop-up store, and invite anyone and everyone to discover some of Dove’s newest innovations from Japan.

Luckily for me I was given one of their top products, the Beauty Moisture Facial Wash (ビューティーモイスチャー). The foaming wash creates creamy bubbles that help moisturises the skin as it removes dirt. I’ve recently come round to cleansing facial washes, and as a longtime fan of Japanese skincare, I have a lot of faith in this product already. I really can’t wait to try it out, alongside my own personalised body cream with apricot extract and rose gold shimmer. The products are only available in the Paris pop-up right now, so I feel very lucky to have been gifted these, and given the chance to try them.

The Dove Paris pop-up is open until Monday, and is located at Rue Saint-Lazare (map).

Photos of the Dove pop-up are courtesy of Edelman PR.

dovepopup2Japanese Skincare dovepopup3Japanese SkincareJapanese Skincare

My Travel Skincare Essentials | 2015 Recommendations

travel-skincare-essentials-avene-weledaMy Travel Skincare Essentials

My day-to-day skincare regime includes cleanser, toner, moisturiser, body lotion, lip balm and eye cream. Thanks to these brands and products, I’m able to continue it during my travels. My go-to favourites are there (ehem, Avene Thermal Water Spray), alongside some new friends (Dr Lipp Miracle Balm). Check out the full list of my travel skincare essentials below:

My Travel Skincare Essentials
+ Avene Cleanance Micellar Water*
+ Avene Eau Thermal Spray*
+ Weleda Skin Food
+ Dr Lipp Miracle Balm*
+ Weleda Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion*
+ Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator Eye Cream

Everything I have included is travel-sized. However unfortunately I was unable to find some of the sizes available for purchase online. For these items I have included links to the full size products, as they’re totally worth buying full size anyway. After all you can always just depot them into travel friendly bottles.

Happy travels!

travel-skincare-essentials-avene-dr-lipp travel-skincare-essentials-avene travel-skincare-essentials-weleda-ysl