REVIEW: Beauty by Nicholas Eye Alchemy...

Been holding back on this review of the Beauty by Nicholas Eye Alchemy that was gifted at the beautyheaven 10th Birthday Bash. At my age, results can take a while to become evident, and even though I saw improvements even in the first week, I wanted to give this baby the greatest opportunity to work its magic. It's been almost three months now, and I'm delighted to report this is a winner ♥...

Packaging is modern and classy - a silver metal tube with lavender trim. Inside is 15ml of a gel-type liquid, quite thin in consistency, which I actually prefer as it doesn't feel gluggy or greasy. The pump is too generous for my taste, but with only the slightest of pressure, I can dispense about a rice grain sized amount for each eye.  My skin absorbs it completely in under a minute so there's no residue, but the eye area feels supple and super soft. It has a very subtle floral/fruit fragrance (which I can't pinpoint, but cucumber and lemon are listed as ingredients), which dissipates in an instant, and being so lightweight, there's no tugging or pulling when I pat it on and massage it around my peepers. The gel is milky white, and in good lighting I can see the inclusion of white particles, which dissolve immediately upon application...

The first sensation is one of cooling, and as the gel is absorbed, there's a very slight tightening feeling. The blurb says that targeted areas are dark circles, crows feet and under-eye bags. Well, my crows feet aren't anywhere near as pronounced, in fact I could honestly say they are only noticeable when I smile, and I don't mind that lol. I don't have dark circles, but I do have pigmented areas both under and above my eyes, and these have lightened - actually the marks on my hoods are almost gone, and that's a bonus as I usually have to cover them with concealer (or hair ha ha) when I take eye closeups. Speaking of which I was phasing EOTD photos out of my beauty repertoire because of my crinkles, but this eye cream just might have extended my fun for a while. Unsure about the de-puffing qualities as I'm using something else on my bags that is gradually dissolving the fat, (which is my only option, more on that in another post)...

Here's what's on the box, and the list of ingredients...

Overall I'm impressed with Eye Alchemy, and it's currently my #1 eye cream. Kicking myself for not taking a "before" picture - you'd think I'd have learned by now! I've also been applying it on the bunny lines between my brows, as well as the vertical creases above my top lip, and both areas are looking smoother, and the wrinkles don't seem as deep...

RRP is $49.99, but I picked up another bottle from the Priceline 40% off sale, and I'm sure there will be more of those. Beauty by Nicholas products are not tested on animals, and they're made in Australia. Their Foundation No More remains a firm favourite (review HERE) and I've also bought their No! No! Needles & Plump It Up serums to try, so there'll be more reviews in the coming months...

Huge thankyous to beautyheaven and Beauty by Nicholas for the opportunity to try this transforming wonder cream!

What's your HG eye cream?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

Bloggiversary Giveaway - Sukin Skincare!...

At the risk of boring everyone with another Bloggiversary Giveaway, here's Number 3! I've been exploring the Sukin Australian Natural Skincare range lately, and am super impressed with what I've tried so far (cleanser, scrub, mask & hydrating mist toner). Their products are vegan, minus the usual bunch of yucky chemicals, they're cruelty-free, and all ingredients are naturally derived - they're also biodegradable and 100% carbon neutral! And so when I recently spotted the range on the supermarket shelves for a fraction of the price, I took the hint from the Universe that one of you gals might enjoy these products too ♥ There's pretty much a whole skincare set in this prize, just waiting for a face to nurture... 

Total prize value is around $100, and up for grabs is...

• Foaming Facial Cleanser (125ml)
• Hydrating Mist Toner (125ml)
• Super Greens Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturiser (125ml)
• Moisture Restoring Night Cream (120ml)
• Antioxidant Eye Serum (30ml)
• Super Greens Detoxifying Facial Scrub (125ml)
• Anti-Pollution Facial Masque (100ml)

Because of the sheet weight of all these goodies, this giveaway is open to
AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page that answers the question inside the Rafflecopter
2. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
3. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed
4. Only one entry per person, please read the T's & C's inside the Rafflecopter

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later to see who won

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Faiza as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Faiza please respond to the email I've sent you by 

Tuesday 3rd October to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Faiza has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

BotanicES Natural Caffeine Skincare Giveaway!...

Nothing like the mid-year sales for stocking up on my favourites at bargain prices, trying out new products that are suddenly enticingly affordable, AND refilling my giveaway coffers! I found some awesome deals this time around, and it's tempting to put them all into one surprise parcel, but I figured why not share the love across a handful of you lovelies instead of one ♥ So here we go with the first of a few in the months ahead - a BotanicES Natural Caffeine Skincare Travel Pack...

My passion for this range has been well documented in rave reviews HERE, HERE and HERE. It's actually the only company I'm affiliated with as I don't believe in hooking up with and/or promoting brands unless they make products that I personally use regularly and love. Mind you I haven't earned a cent from my connection with them, but that doesn't stop me waxing lyrical at any opportunity lol. It's no secret that I'm a skincare junkie, and am constantly trying out heaps of products across a wide range of manufacturers, but the BotanicES creams are the ONLY ones that have had a permanent place on my bench since I discovered them 18 months ago (thanks to the beautiful Angela at A Bella Adventure, and I can't see that changing any time soon...

The giveaway consists of a boxed set of the following:

1 x BotanicES Body Crème - 15ml

1 x BotanicES Eye Crème - 15ml

1 x BotanicES Face Crème - 15ml

The travel pack was purchased by me, is valued at $60, and this giveaway is open...

INTERNATIONALLY!

So all that said, how do you nab this beaut little pack of goodness? Easy peasy. Just choose which of my recent Instagram EOTD's you like the most from the 8 pictured below, leave a comment ON THIS PAGE explaining why, one entry per person, you must be following me one way or another from the various options at the top of the page, and you'll need to complete the required information inside the Rafflecopter.

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Alex P. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Alex please respond to the email I've sent you by 

Wednesday 23rd August to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Alex has claimed her prize

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Best of luck to all who enter! ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - the best of the blogs, starts 6:30am ♥... 

SPOTLIGHT: February Empties!...

Welcome to my February Empties post! Yes I know, I know, it's April already, but that's how things turned out last month with my work commitments. Still have a few critical things going on, but they should be over in the next week or two, and I can get on with my blogging...and my March Empties post lol. Feb wasn't a big month, but the sheet mask discoveries continued, and I'm ECSTATIC that I managed to finish off two of the micellar waters left over from the series. I promised myself I wouldn't try any more till I've cleared at least one more bottle, but that shouldn't take long...

Natural Secrets Goatsmilk Moisturising Hand Cream (80ml, RRP $6.99)
Already reviewed HERE, love this hand cream ♥...
Repurchase?
Yes, will always have a tube on my bedside table, or in my handbag ♥...

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (100ml, RRP $59.95)

This AMAZING stuff has featured in a couple of my empties posts already, but I figured it was worth mentioning again so that you can see that despite my general fickleness with skincare, there are some things which I absolutely keep using over and over again. I reckon this magical liquid keeps my complexion as radiant and youthful as possible via an external product application. I use it every second night, and at least once a week I leave it to work it's magic entirely unaided by anything else...

Repurchase?
This is one product I'll always have on my bench - I buy from Adore Beauty as they regularly have it on special. Back in August last year, I picked up the 200ml supersize for $69.95 ♥...

Avène Micellar Lotion (200ml, RRP $30.95)

Reviewed in Part 7 of my Micellar Magic Series (HERE). This is one of the nicest micellars around, pity it's so expensive...

Repurchase?

Yep I will (once I get through some more of the backlog) - this lotion will be perfect for those cold winter nights when I don't feel like doing the whole face flannel washing thingy. This seems to remove just about all my makeup, and yet it's SO gentle ♥...

Lacura Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Water (250ml, RRP $7.95)

This one starred in Part 6 (HERE) - excellent value, and very effective...

Repurchase?
Would if I could - it's not stocked permanently at Aldi,  but when I see it again, I'll buy several ♥...

Nature's Way Mega B Executive Stress (200 tablets, RRP $21.99) 

I credit these vitamin tabs with keeping me afloat for the last 6 months. Particularly towards the end of last year when I was trying to find a house closer to my workplace, and I needed  extra vitamin support due to accumulated lack of sleep and major job stresses...

Repurchase?

There's already another on the shelf to help me "maintain an even strain" ♥...

Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum (15ml, RRP $49.99)

Well now, I'm going to be very cautious in my remarks here because it took me a while to get the dosage of this product right. I don't want to sound like a goose, but I swear the first 10 times (10!) I used it, I dispensed way too much liquid, and had to do the unthinkable and scoop it back into the bottle. I kept telling myself that one drop was too much, and yet that's what I ended up with each time. Doh! It has the most extraordinary amount of slip, so you really only need what's on the outside of the dropper lol. Anyways, I got it right in the end, and I think this serum is pretty darn good. Other gals have said it's their miracle product, and while I haven't seen anything that makes me want to climb up onto the roof and shout about it, it certainly has potential. I've also been massaging it into the vertical lines between my brows and above my top lip, and they are all less noticeable, crows feet are also diminished. My hoods are a little firmer too, and the fine lines on the fleshy part aren't as obvious. It doesn't do anything for my eye bags, but as I always say, nothing will except surgery ♥...

Repurchase?

Onto my second bottle, will buy another once that's done - for sure ♥...

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patches (3 pairs, 18g, RRP $9.99)

This is the third appearance of these patches in my Empties series - guess what, they're going to be in EVERY MONTH! ♥...

Repurchase?

No need to ask, it's a done deal ♥...

Skin Republic Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Face Mask Sheet (20ml, RRP $7.99)

This was by far the most fun I've had with a face mask EVER. In case you missed it, here's my very scary Instagram piccie of the event...

First up, if  you have pets or small children, then stay in your bathroom until you're done - you will be unrecognisable and may frighten those dear to you. BUT, by the time it's bubbled and tingled to the point pictured above (15 minutes), you will have crystal clear glowing skin when you remove it. The fabric is black and you rub the packet before you open it to activate the bubbles. Then apply the mask like any other, watch the foam start to emerge, and you feel a tickling sensation as it oxygenates your complexion. Awesome! ♥...

Repurchase?

Already have - not all stores stock it (I found it at Chemist Warehouse), but keep looking, it's worth it ♥...

LonVitalite Collagen Crystal Eye Mask (RRP $32 for 6 pairs)

These patches came in my third Marie Claire Ageless parcel just over 12 months ago. No eye-dea why I waited so long to give them a go, but hey it finally happened, and I love them. Unlike the Skin Republic ones, these are very very thin, like matte Glad Wrap, but because they are so thin, they stay on all night. Lots of liquid, perfect shape, super hydrating, and I do believe my under eye area looked firmer and fresher in the morning. Definitely getting more of these ♥...

Repurchase?

Yes ma'am - they come in a pack of 6, and while they work out to be a couple of bucks more each than the SR ones, but I'm keen to see how they compare over time. There's another variety with added 24k gold for the same price, so I reckon they'll be the go ♥...

March Empties post is already in the pipeline, and will be up soon - promise!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party - come join in the fun after 6:30 Monday morning ♥...

SPOTLIGHT: Marie Claire Ageless Parcel - February 2017...

The latest Marie Claire Ageless Parcel arrived last week - as always I couldn't contain myself till I'd opened it, and as always, it was a delight to see what goodies were inside. Some of these boxes are a tad more exciting than others, but all of them are astoundingly good value, and this quarterly offering is an absolute delight. With four full-size products and one generous sample, the RRP of the contents is around $105, and for an outlay of $25, and specifically targeting my particular ageing issues, I expect to be subscribed to these forever ♥...

Revlon UniqOne Hair Treatment (150ml, RRP $29.95)

Only available in salons. this is a leave-in spray treatment that targets 10 problem areas, and having used it today after colouring my hair, I can certainly confirm there are immediate benefits from this potently scented (but dissipates quickly) formula - sure am looking forward to the long term ones. Instructions say to spray over damp hair, but it comes out like a foam, so I just mixed about five squirts in my palms and ran my hands over my hair, paying special attention to the highlighted sections which are the most damaged. After blow drying, my tresses are softer and silkier, with loads of shine ♥..

Just prior to publishing, I noticed that I'd accidentally photographed the Italian language side of the box in the pic above (whoops!), so here's the English translation, plus the list of ingredients...

Jergens Age Defying Multi-Vitamin Moisturiser (250ml, RRP $6.99)

The skin on my bod is pretty much dryish all year round, but during Winter, it becomes twice as moisture-starved. Having used this today after my shower, I reckon I'll have no such issues this cold season - LOVE the fresh flower scent of this body lotion, it absorbs completely after 30 seconds, and leaves my skin feeling supple and completely hydrated. According to the blurb, it triples (whoa!) the moisture content of the skin if you keep using it - yes please, I'm in! ♥...

L'Occitane Precious Cream (50ml, RRP $85, sample 8ml, value $13.60)

LOVE L'Occitane products, so I was super happy to find this bubby jar in the box. If this is anything like the stunning Immortelle range (the ones in the yellow packaging), which I trialled for beautyheaven some years ago, I'll be as happy as a clam. The container is too small for a list of ingredients, but here's what the box insert has to say ♥...

I have a stack of part-finished moisturisers to clear, so I'm saving this for a cold rainy day when I want to give myself a truly luxurious treat ♥...

 Redwin Coconut Balm (25g, RRP $5.99)

At first I thought this was a lip balm, but it turns out to be one of those multi-purpose healers - can be used on insect bites, burns, rashes and cuts. It's a thick clear gel that smells exactly like fresh coconut, and it's made with 100% organic coconut oil. There's also papaya fruit, jojoba, sunflower, marigold and carrot oils in the list of ingredients, plus it's 100% vegan friendly, and not tested on animals. There's a whole stack of horrors that are NOT included as well, like SLS, parabens, mineral oils and petroleum jelly. So far I've only used it on my lips, and they're thanking me for it already ♥...

Elucent Anti-Aging Eye Cream (15ml RRP $49.99)

Chuffed to see this old favourite included in the selection. Used this entire range some years ago and loved it, but you know me and how fickle I am with skin care, I moved on to trying out a whole heap of others from the gazillion available on the market. Still I'm delighted to have the opportunity to revisit this gem. It's fragrance-free and contains 4% glycolic acid, so it packs quite a punch in the battle against fine lines and wrinkles. There's also vitamins B3, C & E in the mix, and I love that there's an expiry date on both the box and the tube. Mine says Aug 2018, so I've plenty of time to get through all the part-used eye creams that are currently on my bench (four lol) ♥...

Another awesome collection from this resourceful and thoughtful panel - you can subscribe to the consistently brilliant Marie Claire Ageless Parcel at their new Beauty Crew home...

What do you think lovelies - are you keen to try any of these products?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's very popular Monday Makeup Madness Link Up - come join me in the fun of discovering some new blogs to follow ♥...

SPOTLIGHT: August Empties!...

This post comes to you from a very happy blogger - the days are finally getting longer, the Antarctic winds are finding someone else's toes to freeze, and I've started poking around in the secondary wardrobe for some of the bargains I scored at the end of last Spring/Summer. I do so love buying at end of season sales, and then stashing things away so that I've something fresh and new to wear on day one. And today I changed my hair colour (yet again!), but enough of the Kats-Has-Got-Spring-Fever ravings, let's get on with last month's empties ♥...

Skin Doctors Relaxaderm Advance (30ml RRP $59.95)

From memory I bought this at Chemist Warehouse because it came with a free tube of Younger Hands (which is very good).  I've been using this instead of a serum - advertised as a wrinkle relaxer, it claims to reduce expression lines by 66% in 28 days, but I've not noticed much difference in my crevasses. To be honest I think I'm too far gone for anything like this to have an effect, but you don't know till you try! I've had mixed results from SD products in the past - some have been astoundingly good (like their Eyetuck), while others have been nice enough, but not all that (visibly) effective. I reckon this would be excellent for much younger gals who are starting to see some signs of ageing...

Repurchase?

No - my search for the Fountain of Youth will continue elsewhere...

Imperial Leather Japanese Spa - Jasmine & Green Tea Triple Moisturising Bodywash (1 litre RRP $8.99)

Another one of my gigantic bottle purchases, but unlike the Forbidden Fruit one, I'm still loving this fragrance. Surprising as it contains Jasmine, but it's beautifully balanced with the Green Tea, plus a wee bit of citrus, orange blossom and rose - a lovely fresh and slightly exotic scent that hits the spot all year round. I raved about it HERE, in fact I think it's the same bottle lol!...

Repurchase?

Definitely - at least this one is still available at Coles, but I'll wait till I've cleared some of the others in the cupboard ♥...

Garnier Skin Naturals Miracle Sleeping Cream (50ml RRP $19.95)

This came in my third Marie Claire Ageless Parcel, and won me over from the first application. It's just plain gorgeous - the fragrance alone is heavenly enough to put me in the perfect state for a peaceful slumber. The cream has an unusual texture - it's sort of springy to the touch (if that makes any sense). Not a gel nor a cream, but somewhere in between. Magnificently hydrating without being heavy, it absorbs in a flash, and I wake up with plump, refreshed and satin-soft skin, and no oily film. LOVE it! ♥...

Repurchase?

Already have another jar - I have SO many night creams to try, but I'll alternate them with this because it's so special ♥...

Mirenesse Liquid Silk Foundation (35g RRP $59.50)

Well whoopdedoo, I finished some makeup! I have to hand it to Mirenesse - they make fabulous foundation. Pricey (unless you're a VIP member), and their entire range of foundations only comes in 4 shades, but Vienna is the perfect match for me. This baby is matte, oil free and contains SPF15. It's not my HG (their Velvet Maxi Lift Supreme Antiageing Renovage is even better) but it's a close second. Not quite enough coverage to be perfect, but with a tinted cc cream underneath, the finish is superb. Detailed review HERE ♥...

Repurchase?

I'm in a bit of a quandry - I like the Velvet Maxi Lift a tad more but it's an extra $40, and I'm just now trying their new Smooth Nude CC Hydra Makeup Mousse which I'm absolutely loving, so... maybe not ♥...

Maybelline FITme Shine-Free Foundation Stick (9g RRP $15.95)

I always like to have a stick foundation in my kit, but I was disappointed with this. Super easy to apply and blend, but kind of disappears by lunchtime on my combo skin, and even though I didn't wear it every day, I used up the entire stick within a month. I didn't find it to be shine-free either ...

Repurchase?

No - MNY make so many other foundations that are heaps better...

Clairol Nice'nEasy - Natural Lightest Golden Brown (RRP $12.99)

My experimentation with a new hair colour continues - so now I'm moving away from the reds and getting into the golden stream, and this shade is a natural looking dark honeyish blonde (no way is it brown!). As mentioned in previous empties posts, this range suits me to a T because the colour never EVER becomes darker with re-application. I'm actually after something a wee bit deeper as my base, but the next one up is medium brown which I reckon will be too dark, so I might do my usual trick and mix them half and half ♥...

Repurchase?

Oui - there's several boxes under the bathroom sink ♥...

Lancôme Trésor in Love Eau de Parfum (30ml/50ml/75ml RRP $81/$114/$138)

SO sad when I finished this - it was only a miniature, but I sure fell under its spell, and I made it last for 4 years! I wrote a rave review about it on beautyheaven, and called it 100% romance. The original Trésor smells like rotting fruit on me, but this fruity-floral on a cedar base is nothing short of divine ♥...

Repurchase?

I'm putting all my gold coins in a jar so I can buy the big bottle - it's taking a while, but I'll get there ♥...

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector (10ml RRP $50)

I'm embarrassed to say that this eye cream was part of my beautyheaven Blogstar prize that arrived in January 2014, and it's been languishing in my drawer for two years! Mind you I don't have dark circles under my eyes (I have huge bags instead), which is why I wasn't in a hurry to try it. Nor can I report that it does in fact work. All I can say is that the cream is a fleshy colour, has a lovely texture, a groovy little dispenser nozzle, hydrates well, and leaves my skin baby soft...

Repurchase?

Negative - does nothing for my eye bags, and my squinty crows feet are the same depth...

CROP Gentle Cleansing Gel - Essential Oil Blend (125ml RRP $12)

Finishing this was probably my greatest achievement last month. I'm a huge fan of CROP products, but this cleanser would have to be the weirdest one I've ever tried. In its favour, it smells fantastic because of its essential oil content (eucalyptus, rosemary, lemongrass, cajeput & peppermint), and once I rinse out my face cloth, the water is decidedly murky and the colour of my foundation, so it's amazingly effective, but it feels way too peculiar on my skin. I'll try to explain. It's an oil. The directions say to work it into a light lather, but it's ridiculously sticky, and the only way I can get any kind of lather up is to wet my hands a little. So then it lathers a teeny bit and spreads a little more easily, but only for a few seconds, and then my hands get stuck to my skin again, and I have to add more water, and on it goes. By this stage, I'm dripping all over the sink, and well, it's all just too awkward...

Repurchase?

Shakes head from left to right - life's too short for tacky cleansers...

CROP Natural Mineral Pressed Bronzer - Solaire (10g RRP $24)

My HG bronzer - it's a quad with four shades ranging from light to dark, the lightest shade is a terrific highlighter with a slight shimmer. I've hit pan on the two deeper pigments, and halfway to the bottom on the other two, but I'm treating myself to a brand new one that doesn't look so cruddy. EXACTLY the right tone for my skin, riddled with goodness, minus all the bad stuff, and no animal testing ♥...

Repurchase?

Absolutely - it was 40% off at Coles this morning. Yay! ♥...

Did you get through many products last month?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. It's a done deal that I'm linking this to the always awesome Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party ♥

SPOTLIGHT: BotanicES Natural Caffeine Skincare...

Back in November last year, my gorgeous blogger pal at A Bella Adventure gifted me with a sample pack of botanicES skin care ♥ I was thrilled to say the least as she is my main source of natural and organic (and Aussie-made) product information, and if she loved this stuff, then I was bound to. Well that's sure how it turned out - I wrote a RAVE review, and I'm now using these refreshingly different and highly effective creams in my daily routine...

A couple of weeks ago, the lovelies at botanicES sent me this adorable travel pack - not only are the 15ml pump bottles the perfect size (and weight) for away-from-home adventures (actually the Eye Creme is full-size), the box is a "starter kit" for discovering how magical the formulations are, and beginning the journey to fresher and firmer looking skin. The whole range is based on CAFFEINE which is known to reduce puffiness, redness and the symptoms of dry skin, as well as having anti-cellulite properties. The Arabica beans are sourced locally from plantations in Byron Bay NSW, in fact every component of this range is developed and made Downunder - yay! According to their press release, their unique method of extracting the caffeine results in a product that has six times more efficacy than other caffeine formulations available in the market...

Clinical testing by the Institute for Personal Care Science showed improvements in skin hydration (up to 59%) within 3 hours and elasticity (up to 50%).

The bottles are sturdy and recyclable, and I love the fact that I can control the quantity of product that's dispensed by the pump, plus it's airless, which means that the contents are protected from contamination. Trust me, the eye creme is so concentrated and has so much "slip" you only need a half a pea-sized amount. The 5ml sample lasted me just over two months, so I'm expecting this full-size to keep me going for at least six...

I listed all the individual ingredients in my previous post, but didn't include what's NOT in this range - just as important (if not more so), so here we go...

The Face Creme is an infinite pleasure to use - I can't get enough of the natural smelling fragrance, the consistency is light and effortless to apply, absorption is lickety split, and not only does my skin feel beautifully hydrated and toned, I feel as energised as my face. The whole moisturising experience is a pick-me-up, and that has me grinning from ear to ear ♥...

As for the Body Creme, I'm hopelessly time poor on weekdays, but with the inevitably drying cold season fast approaching, I'm making a supreme effort to apply this delish cream whenever and wherever possible - it's already made a huge difference to the suppleness and softness of the skin on my legs (see ya later flaky bits) and another major benefit is it sinks into the skin in seconds, so there's no delay getting dressed...

I've already taken advantage of the free shipping for orders over $50, and bought the Face & Eye Care Package, but I'm kicking myself for not choosing the Full Skin Care Package, which includes their hand creme. I'm positively BUSTING to try this next, although at present it's not available as a single item - hope that changes soon ♥...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about this range, and if you've been following me for a while, you'll be aware of how fickle I am with skincare. Sure I'm bound to keep trying other products (hey it's my duty as a blogger right?), but this is now officially the staple set in my kit. My face and bod thank you again A Bella Adventure for introducing me to these beautiful products, and I so appreciate Team botanicES sending me this cute-as pack of natural goodness to review ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. If you haven't checked out Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party, you're missing some brilliant blog posts - starts 6:30am tomorrow ♥

REVIEW: botanicES Natural Caffeine Skincare..

That sweetheart gal at A Bella Adventure recently did me the BIGGEST favour - she sent me this awesome sample pack of botanicES face and body products, and I've been blissing out ever since. The natural skincare market is expanding in leaps and bounds, but not every company has got it right - from the effectiveness of the formulas, to the absence of the usual chemical ingredients, and then all the way down to environmentally sustainable (and recyclable) packaging, I reckon botanicES has the leading edge. Add in no animal testing, and you have a superb range of skin goodies that are made in Australia, and from my albeit brief experience, has the makings of living up to its claims...

They've even got their sample packs spot on - easy to dispense tubes instead of the usual sachets (which drive me nuts), and there's sufficient product inside to allow a true experience, not just one or two applications, which tell me very little at all. While I haven't used any of the creams long enough to notice any improvement in my wrinkles, my skin LOOKS and FEELS firmer, beautifully soft and hydrated, and not a dry flaky spot in sight ♥

Just for the record, my hesitation with using "natural" or organic skin care has always been for two simple reasons:

1) I've not seen any noticeable improvements in a short period of time. I understand that changes in texture and elasticity can take a while, but I need to observe at least some sort of short-term benefit to lure me into purchasing or repurchasing a product...

2) Often natural products smell awful - fishy(?), or like stale oil, yucko! Hey - I'm a scentophile, and if I don't enjoy the application experience, then forget it...

Delighted to report that these botanicES products don't fit into either of these categories. In fact I'm in love with the fragrance - while it's very delicate and it doesn't smell at all like coffee, there's something earthy and nature-scentric about it. Difficult to describe, and there's that old cliche of "just like a walk through a spring garden after the rain", but in this case it's true! 

Face Creme

Spreads effortlessly so you don't need to use very much at all - absorbs very quickly, and there's an almost instantaneous firming effect, although by that I don't mean the skin feels at all tight. Suits my combination skin perfectly - seems to adjust automatically to my oily T and drier cheeks. Very soothing, and the perfect makeup base ♥...

Ingredients listed on their website: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate [and] Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic [and] Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Stearic Acid, Kakadu Plum Extract, Xantham Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Licorice Liquid Extract, Phenoxyethanol [and] Ethylhexylglycerin.

Eye Creme

I have huge bags under my eyes, and I've noticed a reduction in the bulges since I've been using it - yay! It's super concentrated, and dispensing via the tube, it's a challenge to not express too much. In fact I hold my finger over the hole, and then gently squeeze, and the smidgin that ends up on my finger tip is more than enough for the entire eye area (I expect this not to be a problem with the full size as it has a pump). I still have some of this left! ♥

Ingredients listed on their website: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Cetearyl Olivate [and] Sorbitan Olivate, Coco-Caprylate, Xantham Gum, Kakadu Plum Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Licorice Liquid Extract, Phenoxyethanol [and] Ethylhexylglycerin.

Body Creme

If you have problems hauling on your skinny jeans after moisturising your legs, then this is the body cream for you. Absorbs in seconds, and I mean completely. There's nothing left except soft, gently fragranced skin ♥ There was only enough in the sample for a couple of applications, but thankfully I can see that standard bottle is a generous 100ml...

Iingredients listed on their website: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Glucoside [and] Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Caprylic [and] Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xantham Gum, Phenoxyethanol [and] Ethylhexylglycerin.

In summary I'm very VERY impressed, and ever so grateful to both botanicES and A Bella Adventure for the opportunity to try out this fabulous range ♥ You can count on me to do an update once I've placed an order, and used the products for a longer period of time...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate...

Eye creams - can't live without them! How many have I repurchased over the years because they were so effective? Very few, but I'm on my second bottle of this Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate. Don't be put off by the long name, although if it does impress you, you'll be equally impressed by the product...

As with SO many other brilliant skin care and makeup discoveries, I have beautyheaven to thank ♥. I trialled this for them back in March (review about half way down the page), and while I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars at the time, that was because I'd only be using it for a week! It's now 3 months down the track, and I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Initial results were mainly a freshening and subtle firming up of the eye area, but I've seen quite a bit more than that now...

The fine lines at the outer corners of my eyes have reduced in depth, and the skin on my lids and hoods is nowhere near as crinkled as it used to be - this is a MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT for a gal my age! Sagging and creased skin is the bane of my life, and taking close-up photos of my eyes almost every day means I have a limited career in the EOTD world. But I honestly believe this cream has extended the time that I'll be able to continue with my passion for eye makeup, and sharing what I do here on my blog and on Instagram...

But let's get on with the product itself! Stunning packaging and as you can see from the below pic, if you hold it up to the light, you can even see how much is left - score! (Left pic is empty, right is my new one). The pump is one of the best - you can control the amount dispensed precisely, so no waste or over-application. I use a quantity of about the size of a grain of rice to each eye, gently patting it onto the entire lid area, underneath as well, and it's so silky there's enough slip to take it right out to the temples and the deep creases between my brows. The finer wrinkles on the outside corners are now barely visible, and as mentioned before, the texture of the hooded area and actual lids is most definitely smoother. I can see the difference in the photos I take - overall my eyes look firmer and more youthful. The cream is white but instantly becomes invisible on the skin, and has a very faint floral fragrance. There's also a feeling of coolness as it's absorbed (almost completely) which is a welcome relief after a long day staring at a computer screen. The bottle is made of high quality plastic and barely weighs anything, which is a bonus for travellers...

I think this is "the" eye cream for me. Only time will tell if the improvements continue, but for now, I'm reworking my budget to ensure I have $90 available every 3 months to repurchase this beautiful product - my eyes are too precious to even blink about spending $30 a month to keep them looking fresh and vital ♥

What's  your Holy Grail eye cream?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. I've just added this Review to Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness #11 Link Up Party - there's some brilliant contributions from other bloggers, do take a look ♥