Klorane Desert Date Range Review

Continuing on Monday’s theme of winter restoring treatments, I thought we could talk about haircare today. Having a deeply hydrating routine is super important to maintain the health of your hair, especially during colder months and if you live in a hard water area or if your air is naturally dry. I have been a fan of Klorane products for years now so today I wanted to talk about their Desert Date range.

First of is the Desert Date Shampoo, unlike the ones from many brands this one actually has a thicker and slightly creamy consistency making it more nourishing from the get go. The formula lathers really well and even though it feels richer, it does not leave a residue in the hair. It does contain sodium laureth sulfate but it doesn’t irritate my scalp or dry out my hair. I used to go for products without sulfate but I couldn’t find a line that could combat the really hard water in England and give me soft and shiny hair.

The Conditioning Balm is the conditioner I use after the shampoo, it feels like a super thick cream and that melts to really penetrate the hair and nourish it. Because it is so rich, I found I had to use less than I would a normal conditioner so I would be careful the first time I use it or it can weight your hair down a bit. Like all the products in the line it has a caramel-like scent, it does not linger too much in the hair but I personally don’t like the smell of caramel so for me this was not a plus.

Lastly there is the Desert Date Mask, the most nourishing product of the range which I typically used once a week after using a clarifying shampoo. Those types of shampoos can be very stripping on the lengths of your hair so this mask was great to really restore the moisture balance. I particularly enjoyed applying it to the lengths before shampooing so it would serve as protective shield. The cream texture makes it easy to apply, it doesn’t drip everywhere, and you don’t have to use much so it should last you a while.

I would definitely recommend this range if you have medium to coarse hair that is in need of a lot of moisture. It might be too much if you have fine hair, though you might enjoy the mask as long as you are mindful of how much you use.

The Klorane Desert Date range is available at most drugstores and you can have a look on their website to see where to find it in your country.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir Review

Today I have for you a review on one of the most classic products on the market. It’s something that is always in magazines and it seems like all the makeup artists, skin experts and models love it. I’m talking about the Caudalie Beauty Elixir! You all know I’m a huge Caudalie fan so keep reading for my thoughts on it.

More than the actual product itself, the mist on a facial spray is super important to me. The product inside could be fantastic but if it sprays everywhere, drenches my face or actually sprays everywhere but my face I will not use it. Luckily, the Caudalie Beauty Elixir has a super fine mist that is very light, like a cloud of hydration. So before we even get to the benefits of the elixir, it’s actually a joy to use.

The elixir itself has a really strong herbal and slightly minty scent that is very refreshing and a perfect midday pick-me-up. It contains a mix of botanical extracts and essential oils, with the star ingredients being green grape extract, peppermint and rose essential oils. It provides a nice hydration boost and adds a lovely glow to the face without looking oily. It is also perfect to set your makeup or to bring it back to life if it’s looking a little powdery. Overall this is a product that deserves its stellar reputation and I think most people would enjoy it. It might not be for you if you don’t like heavily scented products, though this one does not smell like perfume (it’s quite natural and authentic). It also comes in a smaller travel size, perfect if you want to try it before committing to the full size.

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is available from a variety of Caudalie retailers including Naturisimo and the Caudalie website.

Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara Review

Well it’s safe to say I have finally found my favorite mascara of all time. This is without a doubt the best mascara I have ever used and I have repurchased it non-stop for the past 2 years which says a lot about it since I really like trying out new mascaras. Say hello to the Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara in Radiant Black.

 

Over the past years, Bourjois has slowly but surely made its way to become my favorite drugstore brand and this mascara is the one product that first stole my heart. This product does everything I want from a mascara: it gives great length, holds a curl, separate the lashes and adds volume. I had never been a fan of wands with spiky plastic bristles (I preferred the traditional fiber ones) but this one gives me maximum definition, with all the added benefits stated above, without ever poking my eyes. The tube also comes with a magnifying mirror on the side which allows you to really apply the mascara evenly and to closely see your eyes from every angle. This is an added bonus in my opinion (I would still love the product without it) but it has truly made applying mascara easier.

The radiant black color is a nice deep black and I like that it’s not a pain to remove. It comes of really easily with a cleansing oil and it doesn’t leave you with raccoon eyes while you’re removing it. I also found it to be super long lasting, it never smudged or flaked on me despite not being waterproof (though Bourjois makes a waterproof version). This is all great because my lashes have never looked better, I love that results last all day and that I don’t have to mentally prep for battle before removing it.

The Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara is a must-have for me and I cannot recommend it enough. The results are amazing and I love that it’s super affordable, plus Bourjois is often on offers like 3 for 2 or has great gift with purchase. You can find it in both Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. as well as on Feelunique and Lookfantastic for international delivery.

Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Review

I’m really happy lip glosses are making a comeback because they have always been one of my favorite makeup items. With so many colors and formulas on the market picking the perfect one can be difficult, which is why I thought it would be a good idea to talk about the perfect classic lip gloss: the Dior Addict LipMaximizer.

I have been fortunate enough to gather many samples of it over the years so I haven’t had to buy the full size one, but I definitely plan on doing so before Christmas. This lip gloss is the perfect staple to keep in your makeup bag, it gives great shine but isn’t gloopy or sticky. The texture is on the thicker side but it just feels cushiony on the lip, making them look plumper. I think this is where the maximizer term comes from because there is no unpleasant tingling sensation upon application. It contains collagen and hyaluronic fillers that will make your lips smoother according to the brand.

The gloss itself has a very light pink tint but it doesn’t alter the color of other lip products you might use under it. I quite like it on its own as well because it enhances my natural lip color, which is always nice. Now I know this technically shouldn’t matter since the actual product is great, but I love the Dior packaging on both the mini and the full size versions. It looks chic and luxurious which is really nice for such a classic item. I think this is the perfect product if you are looking to give lip gloss another chance or simply if you want a good quality product to use daily that will not let you down.

The Dior AddictLip Maximizer is available at all Dior counters as well as online from Dior and websites like Feelunique.  

Caudalie French Kiss Tinted Lip Balm in Séduction Review

My love for Caudalie is well documented and in my eyes Mathilde Thomas can do no wrong. Which is why I was over the moon when Caudalie announced they were releasing tinted lip balms, their lip conditioner is my most repurchased lip balm (try it it’s amazing). The only issue was choosing a color out of the three lovely shades they have released. I settled on Séduction a medium neutral pink that seemed great for every day, keep reading for my full review.

The French Kiss Tinted Lip Balms come in super cute little pots with wooden lids, they look adorable. Now I have seen various opinions on the tinted aspect of these balms, personally I enjoy the level of color they give, it’s a sheer wash but they definitely have pigment. In a way they remind me of the Dior Crème de Rose lip balm because the top layer of the balm is quite hard and you need to go through that layer to get to the more pigmented and creamier part of the balm (it only takes a few uses). Séduction is a medium neutral pink color which looks natural and helps bring color to the face, the berry toned Addiction is next on my list.

As for the formula, it is very different to the lip conditioner which is great to rehydrate the lips and helps deal with chapped lips. The French Kiss balm is quite different, it feels very cushiony on the lips and has a thicker formula which makes it great to seal moisture into your lips. The balm will prevent your lips from drying out and can diminish the appearance of chapped lips, but if your lips are already quite chapped the lip conditioner would be a better option.

I personally love the glossy plump look from the French Kiss Tinted Lip Balm and I think it’s perfect to put on in the morning before heading out. It looks great on its own but it can also be layered over lipstick and stains. At £10 I think it’s a lovely product and a nice little treat.

The Caudalie French Kiss Tinted Lip Balm is available from the Caudalie website and from many retailers including Feelunique and Naturisimo.