Tuesday, April 01, 2014

March Favourites 2014 ft Aveda, Garnier, Clinique, Guerlain, Physician's Formula, Bourjois, Bare Minerals, Blank Canvas Cosmetics & REN

Aveda Stress Fix - Garnier Beauty Oil Nourishing Lotion - Ginger Pop - BCC F20 - Bare Minerals happy Place - Bourjois Hands and Feet - Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips - Guerlain Cils Denfer - Ren hot Cloth cleanser

It's April, APRIL but you'd be FAR from an April Fool were you to pick up one and/or all of these favourites. March has been a great month, beauty wise and I honestly think some of these will be reaching Holy Grail status for me in the months to come. While I've found some incredible bargains, I've an inkling you'll want 'em all... read on if your Visa dares....



1. Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme: 
€44.29 Here (for 5-10% off - Insert Code: SECRET)

I'm all about catching the zeds of late what with a busy work schedule, this site and working my tush off for Groupon too, it can be hard to relax. Having added This Works Sleep Spray to my slumber arsenal last month, a meeting with the beautiful Aveda PRs this month has blown me away with the introduction of Stress Fix Body Creme. 

Containing organic sunflower oil, organic shea butter, lavender and sage, you can't help but feel sleepy with the first inhalation of this unctuous beaut but your silken soft skin the following morning will mean you reach for this bedtime treat more than any other. I guarantee it. 

2. Garnier Body Beauty Oil Nourishing Lotion: €6.49 Here

Garnier Beauty Oil-Infused Nourishing Lotion is infused with 4 oils - Argan, Macademia, Almond & Rose. If the scent alone isn't enough to entice you (it WILL be!), the nourishing, healing properties of this lotion will be a revelation. 

Having brought this to try out this weekend, the lotion saved my Sis' skin, literally. She has a tendency to shave with a machete, not literally, but let's just say the razor burn is never pretty. Just one rub of Garnier on Friday and the stinging instantly eased, within 30 minutes the red, angry colour had abated and the following morning her legs were brand new. 

Of course I have been alleviated of my sample of this Nourishing Lotion but I've already ordered a new one. It's that nice. 

3. Clinique Cheek Pop - Ginger Pop: €20 Here

I can't mention Clinique's Cheek Pops and not mention the incredible price. Twenty squidoos for the nicest blush I've tried since Hourglass' Mood Exposure. Probably the prettiest design there's been for quite a long time, there's not a pair of súiles that wouldn't light up at one of these babies. You can see +Lorraine Haigney's full guest post here but, hand on heart Ginger Pop is my favourite, so far. 

You'll see Ginger Pop in all its Insta Glory here but for €20? I'll be picking up the other 3, guaranteed. 

4. Guerlain Cils D`Enfer Maxi Lash Violet Mascara: £23 Here

I can't count the amount of times regular reader Felicity (Hi Felicity) has recommended this lash wonder in The Chattery Chats. Having a sheckle or two in PayPal, I knew it was time to invest. 

They say a picture speaks a thousand words so look at Cils D'Enfer LOOK AT IT. You can't even decipher the violet tones but this is, hands down, the most flattering mascara I've ever owned AND the one that's been complimented the most. A true beauty and worth every cent. Thanks, Felicity!

5. Physician's Formula Eye Enhancing Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Trio: €8.34 Here (Code RLL469 for discount)

These Espresso, Purple and Black Shimmer Strips are waterproof, paraben free, hypoallergenic and feckin' amazing. Marketed toward brown eyes, do not believe that tosh and get these kajals in your life, regardless of eye colour, pronto. 

Application is a dream as the wide pencils sweep across the lid, waterline AND tight line with ease. Once set, in a mo or so, they're going nowhere until removed. There's a slight shimmer that wears more as luminosity than glitter and you will love them. I love them. 

6. Bourjois Nail Polish Remover Hands & Feet: €6.79 Available April

One of the most exciting reveals for Bourjois' Spring Summer line up HAS TO BE the addition of the Magic Nail Polish Remover for Hands AND Feet. An ancestor of the much loved Magic Nail Polish Remover Pot, I've often whinged about not being able to stick my tootsies in. 

There's a very real chance Bourjois have my house bugged as they've answered my bandy backed prayers with this new addition. As well as the standard sponge in a tub, the lid has a scrubbier sponge attached and it makes toe nail polish removal a cinch. Summer tootsies are going to need this. I'll be buying 'em as gifts. 

7. Bare Minerals - The Happy Place: €18.51 Here

It's been a very long time since I've been so enamored so quickly with a shadow palette. This video from Emily Noel (Beauty Broadcast) meant I knew I NEEDED the muted apricot/rose gold/smoky taupe/eggplant quad in my stash but I wan't prepared to love it as quite as much as I do. 

My first foray into Bare Minerals territory, I can safely say it won't be my last. Blending is a dream come true with these soft, malleable shadows. No parabens, binders or harsh chemicals make Bare Minerals a sensitive eyed lass' dream come true. The fact that they last an entire day without creasing or dulling even slightly make them mine. The Happy Place is still £36 on the Bare Minerals site but make like me and eBay this beauty, you won't regret it. 

8. Blank canvas F20 Flat Buffer Brush: €13.99 Here

 When the very lovely Anita, Owner & Editor over at DolledUp.ie heard that I hadn't tried Blank Canvas brushes yet, the dote that she is, she brought this hot pink pretty to our next catch up. 

I haven't ventured into BCC offerings before but this short, densely packed synthetic brush is not only a Sigma F80 dupe but it's also a bloody marvel for foundation. My Beauty Blender and Real Techniques have been cast aside in favour of this buffing beauty and I haven't looked back. I find I'm using less product and buffing it in with little or no effort. Thanks BCC and THANKS Anita! Check 'em out, quick smart. 

9. Ren Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser: €19.69 Here
(10% off First Order Using LFNEW)

Another PR sample brought on our weekend jollies, Ren's Hot Cloth Cleanser did for my visage what Garnier (above) did for my Sis' gams. This velvety soft, rose scented lotion is applied to dry skin in a circular motion and the hot cotton cloth laid on your face to cleanse, tone and rejuvenate skin. We spent a weekend of pampering in both the Radisson Blu and the g Hotel, Galway and I can honestly say, a soak in the bath with this hot cloth cleanser was as relaxed as I was all weekend. 

All make up was removed with ease, though I didn't use it in my eye area, my skin was bright and nourished and sparkly clean without the squeak. The biggest surprise though was how soft and fresh my skin felt the following morning and right through the next day. I genuinely can't believe this cleanser is less than €20. Again, I'll be buying this as gifts for loved ones. If you tell them it cost me next to nowt, I will hurt you. 


Phewee, that's them. Tell me, have you tried any of the above as yet? Planning on it? 

If you've compiled a March Favourites post or video, do please leave a link in the comments - I love to have a nose. It's an illness you know? 


3 comments:

Felicity said...

Whoo hoo, look at me with mah name in print and all.

I think I might have to invest in a few of those eyeliners. Maybe the palette. Or the oil. Or the cleanser. Ah, feck it, Sue, you enabler you (congrats on the BOPs nod, BTW)!

Unknown said...

I really want to get my hands on one of those blushes, just too cute x

Eleanorjane said...

Ooh, pretty bits! I'm devoted to Garnier moisturisers - so cheap I can slather them on with abandon and they are brilliantly moisturising.

I've got a Clinque blush with the brush in the tube (can't remember the name, Quick Blush or something like that?). A couple of sweeps of that and I look human again of a morning.