New! Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase and Hydraquench Creams

Paris B 14 Comments

New? I just just hear some of you squeak. This isn’t new! Clarins has had the Hydraquench range for years!

clarins hydraquench range 2011 new

2 years to be exact. I still use the Hydraquench Cream Mask and it still never ceases to amaze me how it just disappears into my skin when its feeling dry and sits on top of my skin when it isn’t. It does a pretty good job of hydrating skin and I like using it after a purifying mask. I also complained previously that the rather popular Hydraquench Smoothing Gel did not quite do it for me. So there’s now a product called Cream-Melt that is a lightweight cream that melts on the skin. Something heavier for picky people like me 😛

So yes… they still look the same as the “old” Hydraquench but its been improved so it performs better 🙂

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The L’Occitane Angelica Face Toner Also Doubles Up As A Hydrating Face Mask

Paris B 16 Comments

So, earlier today, I told you that whilst the L’Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream was a pretty decent moisturizer, it didn’t quite tick all my boxes. I’m not quite sure why myself. I’m usually a lot more forgiving 😛

But there is one product in the Angelica range that did tick all the right boxes – the L’Occitane Angelica Face Toner.

l'occitane angelica face toner review

This is an alcohol free face toner infused with the Angelica water and Angelica essential oil which as we learnt earlier this morning, has hydrating and skin repairing qualities. Like the Hydration Cream, this toner smells green. I swear its like a cucumber-parsley mix which isn’t unpleasant but is very green. To me, the scent isn’t as strong as that in the cream and does not linger on the skin.

Part of the reason I like this toner after trying the tester size that was provided to me, is because it does not dry the skin. I wet a cotton pad and wipe it over my skin and it feels refreshed, and clean and not drying at all. The other reason I like this is because I can also use it as a mask! 😀

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L’Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream Ticks All The Right Boxes… But…

Paris B 11 Comments

Ah I’m a tardy one, it would appear. Better late than never I guess 🙂 Thanks to the reminder from reader Coraline and Yukaeshi on Twitter, I got a swift kick up my @$$ to buck up and deliver my thoughts on the L’Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream.

L’Occitane for me has always been more about bath and body products. Lovely smelling body washes and shampoos grab my nose everytime but skincare? I don’t quite associate L’Occitane with skincare. I know they have some, but they just fly under my radar. Their DIY Ma Creme cream last year was absolutely fascinating, but nothing that prompted me to sit up and say “Oh I think I shall head to L’Occitane to check out some facial skincare”

Well, the new Angelica range of skincare might just do that for me. I have already purchased the full sized toner (which I will tell you about later today – it deserves a post of its own 🙂 ) and if my wandering eye doesn’t … erm… wander, then I might repurchase that in time to come.

l'occitane angelica skincare range

Just quickly, the Angelica skincare range from L’Occitane isn’t named after a lovely lady. Its named after a plant – Angelica. Among the Chinese, you might be familiar with angelica root already, commonly known as “dong kwai” and used in herbal soups to promote blood circulation 🙂 The Angelica plant has an ability to draw water from deep in the ground and grow up to 2 meters in a few days. It was discovered that the Angelica water and Angelica essential oil was effective for skin hydration and to improve skin elasticity so you get hydrated and stronger skin in one.

So, very nice, you’re thinking. But what about the Angelica Hydration Cream? Is it all that?

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Tip: Double Mask! Use a moisturising face mask after a clay mask for clean radiant skin

Paris B 52 Comments

two is better than one

This probably isn’t a very new tip, but I think its worth giving a go.

I sometimes use a clay mask off and on for dealing with spots and the like and I like the super clean feel of my skin after my clay or deep purifying mask sessions. I regularly use the Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask or Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Mask and they both make my skin feel lovely and clean… but also a little dry.

I would usually then follow up quite quickly with my usual skincare – moisturizer and toner. But I experimented recently with following up my clay or purifying mask with a hydrating mask and I loved how my skin felt and looked after that!

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