... beauty: Project Blade December 2011

Bit belated with this post but here are the product I used up during December......

I'm pretty happy with that. I have also used up various foundation and skincare samples over the last month but forgot to keep the sachets for the end of month pic - duh!

- Dove deodorant - definite repurchase

- Argan oil from ebay - no repurchase. It didn't have the same effect on my skin as the Josie Maran oil.

- Estee Lauder moisturiser sample - it was a free sample, I don't think I would buy it as a full size as it's a bit pricey

- Naked Coco de Mer Shower gel - I have loads of these from when they had a 50% off sale so I would repurchase but I don't need to for about 2 years!!

- Hair Gel - These are 2 for 99p in 99p stores. Definite repurchase to make the curls behave themselves.

- Bare Escentuals Buxom lip Gloss (Dolly) - Would not repurchase as the colour doesn't really show up on my lips and I am just not a fan of the minty tingle, especially in Winter because it makes my lips bizarrely cold!!!

Thanks for reading xx

.... Beauty: A'kin Cellular Radiance serum review......

As much as I adore Josie Maran Argan oil, I cannot purchase it here in the UK (Why Josie, why????) so I needed to find an alternative because, without it, my skin just isn't happy.

Enter the first contender, A'kin Cellular Radiance Serum.

image courtesy of qvcuk.com

I bought this product as part of a duo set from QVC, it contained this and the A'kin Rosehip oil at a very decent price compared to other websites I checked. 

As you can see, the serum, which is actually an oil, comes in a 30ml size dropper bottle which is nice for dispensing just a couple of drops. The oil looks and smells pretty much the same as the standard Rosehip oil which is a sort of dark amber colour and smells a little bit like tea leaves. 

I like that about it, I have tried cheaper oils that have no colour or smell and they haven't done anything for my skin so, for me, these "imperfections" are proof of the quality of the A'kin products.

I use it the way I used the Argan oil but only in the evening:  2-3 drops on my face, 2-3 drops for my neck and decolletage. I emulsify it in my palms first and then gently massage and press it into my skin, including around my eyes and on my eyelashes.

I would totally recommend this serum as it healed my skin during a reaction to another product. The first couple of times I used it my face looked amazingly glowy when I woke up but that hasn't really happened since, which is a shame, but I still love it for the way it keeps me spot free.

You can buy it A'kin from qvcuk.com like I did or from mypure.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Scarlett

xx

..... beauty: Brands that are on QVC USA that should also be on QVC UK - No 1 - Josie Maran

I understand that in terms of global politics this matters not a jot, but this discrepancy of brands (and pricing, actually) has been one of my pet peeves since I found out that QVC customers in the States have been getting incredible value, auto-delivery TSVs for YEARS AND YEARS.
I understand that we are in a different country with a different economy and that sales logistics can be complicated, but surely QVC is QVC?

At this point I would like to throw all my toys out of the pram and have a full on tantrum, but negativity is not the mission of this post, no, this post is dedicated to the wonders of Josie Maran Cosmetics.......

I first came across Josie Maran's brand in August 2008 while studying in San Francisco. My skin was breaking out but, as luck would have it, I remembered a Sephora subscription email I had received not long before singing the praises of JM's Argan oil.

This miracle oil could get rid of wrinkles, heal acne and moisturise skin better than any extortionately priced, overly advertised unguent. Obviously I was intrigued and San Francisco just so happened to have a very well stocked Sephora, so the inevitable occurred and that very same day a little brown bottle of potential sat in my bathroom just waiting to be tested.

I started out tentatively, worried (despite previously seeing results to the contrary) that the application of oil on an already overly oily skin would just make things worse, but you know the answer - of course it didn't. What it did do was live up to the last two of those high expectations - the spots and scars were able to heal and the moisture boost allowed the my skin to balance out the oiliness. I am not saying that it doesn't work on wrinkles but (touch wood) I have none to test it on.

The oil itself is a translucent golden/copper colour and the smell, at first, is weird but I got used to it straight away as it doesn't linger.

My usage routine went as follows:
- 1 drop for my face, 2-3 drops for my neck and decollete, A.M.
- 2-3 drops for my face, 2-3 drops for my neck, etc, P.M.

It completely healed my skin and it is still the best face oil I have ever tried, despite finding others that I did like.

At this point you may be thinking "Well, if it's so great, why aren't you still using it?" and that is a very valid point. The simple answer is this: I cannot buy it in the UK.

That's right, ever since my stockpile ran out I have been Argan-less. I tried another brand that I found on eBay but it was just not the same. It was cheaper but it didn't  do anything for my skin.

Then, to add insult to injury, I find out that I have missed out on a whole host of gorgeous sounding products that have been released during my American absence - none of which I am able to try!

So please, Josie, I beg you QVC, make these products available this side of the Atlantic and make a beauty addict's day.

Thanks for reading
xx