The Body Shop Vanilla Gift Set

This little set has been in my 'to-review' list for such a long time (Since my birthday actually, as it was a present from Beth and Chloe), which has meant for about three months its been all sad and unused in a box under my bed!

Vanilla has to be my all-time favourite scent, so i've been so excited to use all of these products from The Body Shop. This gorgeous tin contains a small soap, body butter, shower gel and body polish all smelling of vanilla with a hint of honey.

Of all the products included, i'm most impressed with the body polish. It smells the most realistic out of the four and leaves my legs feeling stupidly soft and even a little bit brighter! The only annoying thing is that I like it so much that I tend to overindulge when it's not necessary meaning that it didn't last long. The shower gel has been my second most-used, but I have to say i'm slightly disappointed with the scent - it smells slightly like plasticine! However, it's gentle on the skin and lathers really well. The body butter is pretty bulk standard - the formula is the same as the traditional full-sized butters, but with the vanilla scent it makes the whole experience of moisturising a lot more indulgent and enjoyable. I am yet to use the soap if i'm honest as i'm not really a solid soap person, but i'm liking the little flecks of vanilla on the surface - I may keep it in the kitchen to give my hands a bit of TLC after doing the washing up.

Overall this is a really fun little set that's a perfect present for someone who's either really indecisive (Yeah, that's me .. I love everything.) or new to The Body Shop. I'm also really loving the octagonal tin; it's currently storing some of my nailcare :) Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourites? 

Unfortunately this set was limited edition but The Body Shop are always bringing out new versions of the butters and polishes for £5-£6 and they currently have a lovely range of vanilla perfumes.. you can take a look here!

Girligo Body Moisturising Mist by Soap & Glory

Moisturising has always been a bit of a chore for me. I've tried The Body Shop's iconic body butters and about a million dry oils but nothing has stuck with me. I've always found them either to be too thick or I end up sitting awkwardly on my bed waiting for my legs to dry for about an hour before even attempting to put on my jeans. To be honest, i'd prefer to spend more time in bed so I usually jump in the shower as late as I can, which results in me rushing around to get ready on time. So when my housemate Beth suggested I try a moisturising mist that you spray onto your skin so I can just apply and go, I was excited to find out more.

Girligo is from the Soap & Glory 'Original Pink' range, and contains orange leaf, peach, strawberry, rose and jasmine.

I've been completely converted to this product. It's so easy to use and you can even spray it upside-down for easy convenience when applying to your legs. It's designed to use post-shower, but i've started spraying a little bit into the palm of my hand and applying to my elbows and heels when they're needing a bit of TLC. The scent seems a bit purfume-y first off, but you'll be thinking differently when hours after application you smell just as amazing as you did when you applied! The spray pump distributes a lot of product and the formula absorbs instantly, making it perfect for girls on the go - oh, and did I mention its only £6.50 for 250ml? I'm going to stop gushing about this product now, but I have to say it's rare that I stop searching for the next new thing and now I have Girligo I can finally stop wasting my time (and money!) hunting for the perfect body moisturiser. 

You can purchase Girligo from the Soap & Glory section of Boots online or at your nearest branch for £6.50.

The Body Shop's Vanilla Duo Body Butter

If anyone has met me in person (Or follows me on instagram: @sophieelaine), they will tell you that I love vanilla more than anything. My room constantly smells of either vanilla ambi-pur or an assortment of vanilla candles. Along with a body spray, body lotion and solid perfume, it just seemed silly not to have a body butter thrown in for good measure!

This vanilla body butter is just one of the four twin-pot moisturisers that have graced the shelves of The Body Shop, providing two types of moisturisers to target certain areas and enable you to moisturise your entire body without having to purchase another product.

One side is a light cream suitable for all-over moisturising in areas that are only in need of light moisturisation, and on the other is a much thicker cream suitable for areas with particularly dry skin such as knees and elbows. Both enriched with the indulgent scent of vanilla, ingredients include cocoa butter and babassu oil. I applied these products after showering, and found that the lighter cream was actually more hydrating than the thicker one. I found the thicker cream really hard to apply, and even harder to sink in and I found myself applying the lighter cream over the top as I felt it was so thick it was just simply sitting on the skin. However, when I have a spare hour I like to apply the thicker cream onto areas such as knees, elbows and feet and just leave it to sink in for a few hours, but this cream is not for those who are in a hurry.

Overall, for £13 this is a product that covers all the bases when it comes to dry skin. Although I found I still needed to use a tiny bit of the lighter cream to ensure total moisturisation, between the two creams I can safely keep my skin hydrated and leave myself smelling like an old-fashioned sweet shop - what more could anyone want?

You can purchase The Body Shop's Body Butter Duo's for £13 each at your local store.

Lush's Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion

I've never been much of a bath person. Baths are for people that actually have time. I'm most definitely a shower person - get in, get clean, get out. No fuss! This means that I tend to have showers to quickly wake me up in the morning, and I tend to be in a mad rush after i'm finished as I prefer to spend an extra few minutes in bed than a few minutes relaxing after my shower. Therefore, I usually skip the whole moisturising process after my showers. And that is a BIG no-no.

You can use whatever you like in the shower, it could be the most indulgent and moisturing product in the world, but what about after you've scrubbed your skin dry with a towel, pulled on your jeans and gone out in the cold for the day? Your skin is simply not protected, and in my case, dry and malnourished by the end of the day. So I went on the hunt for a body lotion that will easily absorb - so I could simply slap it on and go about my business, not wasting any time waiting for the sticky residue to absorb before I attempt to put on clothes. And this is what I found:

Vanilla Dee-Light is one of Lush's oldest products. I must admit, being an avid Lush follower it took me a while to notice this product as it is a regular it regularly gets outshone by the more 'flashy' of body products. With a combination of real vanilla pod, fruity kiwi and coconut water, this lotion is perfect for giving your skin a quick softness boost. A thick consistency is a key component in slow absorpsion, so it's great that this lotion isn't too thick nor too thin, a perfect balance so that the application is still as luxurious as indulging in a richer, thicker moisturising cream. I could literally smooth it onto my skin and it would be absorbed in next to no time at all.

The scent is definitely the best part. It takes me back from when I first walked past Lush and smelt the mixture of all the products Lush had to offer. It has that generic Lush smell, which I loveeeee. Overall it is the perfect non-greasy, quick-absorbing moisturiser. Easy to distribute in a recycled plastic squeezy bottle, and a little really does go a long way so this generous 250g bottle will last a long time - Amazing value for £11.95. This will definitely not disappoint, but if you're not yet convinced pop into your local Lush store and ask for a sample - you'll be back for the full-sized bottle in no time, though!

You can purchase Vanilla Dee-Lite from your local Lush store or online here from their official website. 

Review: Alison Claire Remarkable: Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion + Lemongrass Shower Gel



I love being introduced to new brands, especially all-natural ones! There was a time where I refused to use anything unless it was all natural, and now I am ashamed to say that I have relaxed that rule as i've became more interested in beauty products. However, I am always on the look out for innovative brands that are able to deliver excellent results with their all-natural products, enabling me to get back to being even more eco-friendly than I already am.

Alison Claire Remarkable is a bio-natural skincare company, that have developed products targetted at sensitive skin using irritant free and hypoallergenic ingredients. There is no reason for having harsh chemicals in beauty products, and Alison Claire have recognised this, creating a brand that prides itself in being all natural.

The Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion* and Lemongrass Shower Gel* are just two of the body essentials that Alison Claire have released. I already have an overflowing drawer of body lotions and gels (Many of which are full of harsh chemicals therefore they sit and gather dust at the bottom!), but these two went straight to the top of my 'To Try' list.

Lavender and chamomile have to be two of my favourite ingredients in skincare products (Bath products especially!) as they have such a soothing fragrance that takes me back to when my younger sister was a baby and I used to sit in the bathroom and go through all of her baby bath products, smelling them and trying them out. I also suffer from extremely senstive skin on my legs, so anything to calm the constant irritation is great for me. I found that the product wasn't quite as thick as other lotions, meaning that it was easy to cover my body and absorbed quickly. It left my skin feeling lovely and soft, but no softer than any other lotion i've tried. However, the scent that went along with it is what makes this product so great in my books, very indulgent as well as the ingredients being rich in antioxidents to protect your skin against irritation. You can purchase the Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion here.

Lemongrass is not an ingredient that has caught my eye in the past, however I always welcome citrus-y products in the morning to give me that much-needed boost. I found that this  product lathered quite well, and left a slight fragrance on my skin that wasnt too overpowering. It also had a quite spicy undertone to it due to the inclusion of witch hazel and white willow bark, which made the product stand out against the other citrus-y shower products I own, as it really compiments the 'all-natural' element to the product.  You can purchase the Lemongrass Shower Gel here.

I had a lot of fun trying out these products, purely because I didn't feel that familiar twinge of guilt when I use soimething that isn't as environmentally friendly as it could be. I'm definitely interested in purchasing more from the Alison Claire range (I have my eye on the Vanilla and Coconut Shampoo next!) as being able to endulge in quality skincare without the guilt is something we should all enjoy doing! The only downside is that practically each product is priced at £12, which could be considered quite steep for a shampoo or hand cream. However, if you don't mind paying that little bit extra for something that's all-natural and most probably better for you than what you're using, i'd definitely recommend it!

You can purchase Alison Claire skincare from their website here.

Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Travel Pamper Pack

Vegetarian, all-natural face-mask and skincare brand Montagne Jeunesse are proud to present their new Travel Pamper Pack. Filled with 6 treatments for all over the body, this pack has been designed to fit nicely in your hand-luggage so you can pamper yourself either before or during you travels. Montagne Jeunesse were kind enough to send me one of their packs to try out, and I couldn't wait to indulge in some gorgeously natural and fruity treatments.

The pack comes in a small cardboard folder, so you can easily flip through the treatment sachets and tear out your chosen one, and use the little tab to keep the pack closed when it's tucked away. Here's what's inside:

Juicy Orange Body Wash

I'm not a great fan of orange scented products, because to me they always seem quite fake and you can almost smell the chemicals through them. However, with this product I couldn't get enough! It lathered really easily, and there was certainly enough to cover my whole body. I've found with many body washes that the scent doesn't stay on the skin for very long after drying, but once i'd finished my shower and went downstairs everyone commented on how fruity I smelt! The fresh fragrance adds to the feeling of cleanliness and relaxation, and the fact that there's two means you get two opportunities to indulge in orang-ey goodness!

Intensive Spa Repairing & Conditioning Hair Masque

Packed with the juices of grapefruit, orange, and lemon, and finished with lime oil, this intense conditioning treatment aims to revive dull, lifeless hair and leave it super smooth and nourished.
The quantity of product in the packet was enough to cover my hair, but I think if my hair was any longer I would have needed two packs. The woman on the front of the packet must of at least had two packets on to be able to have that amount of coverage, because my hair certainly didn't look like that!

The fruity fragrance was a perfect fit with the idea of using the mask after a holiday, and it didn't fade after drying my hair either. It certainly felt softer after usage which makes a change as my hair can get really dry and dull quite quickly. I personally think it's a product I was use for the scent rather than the actual conditioning results, as it works just as well as any other conditioner. It certainly does the job, but I wasn't blown away by the end result.

Pulped Pomegranate Passion Peel Off Mask

I'm always quite hesitant when it comes to peel off masks, just because they're incredibly messy. However, I was instantly enticed by the long list of berries that are packed into this mask that I knew would make it smell so delicious and too good to resist. Crushed raspberries, grapes, and cranberries are high in antioxidents which help to deep cleanse your skin. With added pulped pomegranate and passion flower, I can honestly say that it smells amazing.

It has the consistency of hair gel, and is bubblegum pink! It's quite easy to apply, and has an instant cooling effect on the skin. Do ensure that you apply a thin even layer, avoiding the eye area and hair at all costs (I accidently got some on the baby hair on my temples, and it really hurt trying to get it out without ripping the hair out completely!), as it will make it much easier to set and peel off.
It instructs to cleanse your face before application, and once applied leave for 15-20 minutes. I decided to leave for twenty as I loved how relaxing it felt. However, when it came to peel off the mask, i'd found that only half of it had set so I would suggest leaving it for twenty-five. It's quite fiddly to remove as it doesn't peel off cleanly, but i'm really impressed with the end result. It aims to purify and deep cleanse, and afterwards I felt really fresh and my face felt so smooth and moisturised.

It seems a bit much to have to wait 25 minutes, but it's a great mask if you want to rejuvinate your skin after a hard week or just fancy a pamper!

Skin Smoother

This was by far my favourite product. A seriously fruity scrub that contains large grains to gently massage away at the dead skin, revealing the new silky smooth skin underneath. It advises to use on the areas where hard skin is usually found: The feet, elbows and knees. I paid particular attention to those areas but I used it as an all over body scrub. The front image of the packet shows the scrub being used as a intensive face mask, but I think it's much too thick and harsh to be used on the face. Jam packed with apricot and mango (It smells more of apricot during application, but mango after I dried off!) it smells ah-mazing - it takes me right back to memories of a cocktail on a beach!

Foot Cooler

Foot coolers are something I use quite regularly recently, as i'm on my feet a lot at work and they tend to ache quite easily, and what I found strange about this product is that after application, it claims to dry as a powder so there's no need to wash off. Packed with cooling peppermint, the gel is massaged into towel dried feet until most of it has disappeared. However, I found that it didn't do a lot apart from moisturise them, and I found that the gel wouldn't dry and that I needed a towel to remove it all!
However, once I finally sat down and relaxed I found that my feet hurt considerably less and the cooling sensation made them feel really clean and rejuvenated after a long day at work.

All this for £5! What an absolute bargain. I would definitely purchase some of these products individually, so to get them all in one pack would be such a great indulgent treat after a long day. I would have really liked to have some of these products with me while I was on holiday, as walking around barefoot all day really takes it tole on my feet, and sea water leaves my hair in terrible condition!

I'll be buying this again for sure, as overall I liked the results! Click here to visit the Montagne Jeunesse website, the pack is available to purchase from the site NOW.

Review: The Body Shop Earth Lovers 100% Biodegradeable Shower Gel!

The environment has always been a big concern for me, and now that i'm more interested in beauty than I ever was it has become more important than ever that I am still as committed to doing my bit for the planet.

Therefore, when there is an eco-friendly option...for anything really, I definitely take it! Which is exactly why I decided to try The Body Shop's Earth Lovers 100% Biodegradable Shower Gel.
The Body Shop have always prided themselves in being against animal testing, encouraging and supporting fair trade and protecting the planet, but this product is by far their most eco-friendly yet.

The Earth Lovers body cleansing range comes in six different scents:

• Lemon & Thyme
• Pear & Lemongrass
• Apricot & Basil
• Watermelon & Eucalyptus
• Cucumber & Mint
• Unscented (So it's actually 5 scents!)

 As you can see, even the scents are all natural, including herbs which I found quite strange at first. I've smelt each one in the shop, and they smell gorgeous. Not riddled with chemicals or overpowering, just a fresh subtle scent. I decided to try the Lemon & Thyme, only because I was feeling quite citrus-y that day, but I have also tried the watermelon & Eucalyptus and cucumber & mint.

 I love that there is no colour, it only emphasises the fact that the shower gel isn't harmful and you aren't washing your body with chemicals.
The product doesn't contain sulphates, parabens, colourants and is soap free, but it does contain lots of cleansing agents so your skin does have the same outcome. I found that because of this, it doesn't lather up as well as other shower gels, so you have to be a bit more vigorous with the scrubbing in order to create a lather. However, the gorgeous scent is strong enough to linger on your skin way after drying off, but it certainly isn't overpowering.

An added bonus is that because it's quite difficult to lather and 100% biodegradable, the suds disappear quickly from the bottom of the shower, making it easier to clean up at the end - it's also good to know that the suds aren't poisoning the ocean by being riddled with harmful chemicals that cannot be broken down and essentially ruins the sealife.
The lack of chemicals means it doesn't irritate the skin, and can be used on anyone with even the most sensitive skin. I suffer from bad rashes on my legs, and when I used the cooling cucumber & mint, I found that it reduced the redness and soothed my sore skin. You can even use it on babies and small children, because it's so gentle on skin.
After use, you can pop the bottle into the recycling knowing that it will be re-used again and again which is excellent, as many beauty products are simply thrown into a landfill.

It's amazing that you can be contributing so greatly to the protection of the natural environment just by switching to another shower gel, costing just £5 for 250ml.
It is a perfect product for anyone who is concerned for what they use on their skin, and for anyone who simply cares about the future of our environment. Either way, this is a top-quality product without the nasty chemicals.

Review: My first Glossybox! The Harrods Edition - March 2012

I've been so excited to write this post. Ever since I started blogging i've wanted to start receiving a monthly Glossybox - a selection of luxury miniature products for a bargain price of £12.95 a month (Including P&P) delivered right to your door for you to sample and adore. To be honest, although it isn't an insane amount of money for what you receive, it took a lot to convince me to sign up. After reading lots of reviews on February's box, I saw that they were bringing out a limited edition Harrods box. They had me at 'limited edition', I could not wait to see what products I would receive.

First of all, let me apologise for the quality of the photos. I didn't have a lot of time to take them and only had my iPhone with me.

I love the gorgeous packaging, the chic white box definetely adds to the exclusivity of the limited edition box. 

Here's what I received in my first box:

Vanitas Versace Eau de Parfum

What a gorgeous little sample of one of Versace's newest fragrances that's perfect for spring. It's floral but not too overpowering, with hints of cedar wood to create a balance of innocence and seduction. The little bottle is so cute, it's great for my handbag. 

Clarins' Extra-Firming Body Cream

 I was so excited to see something from Clarins in my box, as I'm such a big fan. It aims to create firmer skin and a more 'youthful' body - Well, i'm only 20 so I'm unsure whether this applies to me. However, a full size version of this product costs £39.50 in Boots, so I'm happy with the tester to see if it tones and smooths my skin. As it is for the whole body, I don't know how far this product will go.. I can only see myself getting three or four uses. 

Bliss Blood Orange + White Pepper Body Butter

I don't quite know what to think about this product. I've never been too fond of the use of orange as a scent, I find it too tart and makes my face scrunch up like i've just bitten into a lemon. The back of the bottle describes the product as 'vibrantly-scented' - you could call it that! There's no need for perfume with this body butter! When I tested it, I found that my skin clearly felt softer, but I found the mixture quite thick and heavy on my skin and required a lot of rubbing in so my skin wasn't sticky. This will be a good travel product as the blood orange does give it a tropical feel and it's a good size, and luckily you can't smell any of the white pepper! 

Revive Intensite Creme Lustre SPF30 

 

This is the smallest sample of moisturiser I have ever seen! I didn't know quite to do with it. Much like the Clarins product, this moisturiser promises to produce firmer skin and reduce wrinkles (I suppose it's never too early to start trying to stop wrinkles - i'm sure to have visible laughter lines by the time i'm 25!).  I don't think this will do for more than two or three applications, however this is a generous size seeing as the full price product retails at £235! I haven't tested the product yet, but i'm unsure as to whether I will bother writing a review - £235 for a moisturiser is just plain ridiculous.

Lancome Juicy Tubes in Toffee

This was the product that immediately caught my attention, and what I was the most excited about! I've always wanted to purchase one of these legendary lipglosses, but never got round to it. It smells absolutely delicious, so much so that I will probably need to buy another tube as I keep licking it off my lips! The perfect end to the Glossybox, i'm so happy to have one of these gorgeously scented glosses to carry around with me at all times! 

Overall, I have extremely satisfied with these products. I read disappointed reviews on various other blogs about the limited edition box, but I can safely say that I will be continuing my subscription with Glossybox, and can't wait to show you all what I get next month! 

Review: n-spa's indulgent 'hot butter fudge' sugar body polish

Happy Monday everyone!

Hope you all had a relaxing weekend, as I certainly didn't! I'm definitely finding it harder to do posts nowadays because of uni and stuff, and being forced to photograph the products used at night makes it a lot harder to produce actual quality photographs.

N-spa is a moderately priced cosmetic range from the experts at Nirvana Spa. From skin-care to bubble bath, N-spa has a product for everyone.

I was browsing the cosmetic aisle in my local Asda whilst waiting for a coach, when I finally plucked up the courage to buy the 'hot butter fudge' sugar body polish. I'd been back and forth with this for a while, as it was priced at £6 and didn't really want to spend that much on a scrub that I could get cheaper in a normal body wash. However, after not being able to resist the mouth-watering scent I decided to try it out for myself.

'Hot butter fudge' is part of N-spas' 'indulgent' range that features a selection of body washes, shower syrups and bath melts in delicious flavours such as 'Angel Cake' and 'Gingerbread latte'. I get hungry just reading the names of the products, so as you can imagine I couldn't wait to use my new scrub.

I love the labels on N-spa products, as they always have really quirky stories with thoughtful quotes. The label says:

"Decadence" said the wise man "is like a sumptuous caramel with a slow-burn creamy sweetness. Soft brown sugar and toffee, like clotted cream ice cream in the summer melting to hot butter fudge.

 I don't know who this wise man is, but he's featured on every n-spa label, and he comes out with some great stuff!

 As you can see, the scrub is more of a sludge. The sugar particles are scarce and it's quite watery but it smells lush. You need quite a lot of the product (I can see now why it instructs to use a 'generous helping'!) as it slides around everywhere, and it sort of feels your just rubbing a body wash over your skin. Don't get me wrong, it smells so much like hot fudge it is unreal, but it did practically nothing for my skin.

The packaging is gorgeous and you get 350ml for £6 (Or £6.50 if you buy from their online store), however if you're looking for a scrub then this is not for you. You'll smell amazing, but with the hassle it is to scoop it out of the jar and rub it all over your body, you'll wonder whether it's worth it.

Review: Garnier Body Intensive 7 days Soothing Lotion

I bought this product from my local Superdrug, after growing tired of waiting for what felt like forever for my Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Fomula to dry on my legs so I could put my jeans on! I was instantly drawn to the fact that it said: 'fast-absorbing' and was 'non-greasy'.



What first drew me to the product on the shelf was the shape of the bottle. It curves in in the middle so it makes it easier to grip when you're applying the product onto your skin. The mint green colouring also stood out for me on the shelf, and I spent a while looking through all of the different lotions that had infused different ingredients that varied for your skin type:

• Cocoa Butter - Dry and Rough Skin

• Shea Butter - Dry or Extra Dry Skin

• Mango - Dry Skin

• Aloe Vera - For extra soft skin

• Honey - Sensitive Skin

I went for the honey lotion, as it was described as a 'soothing lotion' (and for as long as I can remember i've had sensitive and itchy legs!). It also came in two sizes, 250ml and 400ml, but to be on the safe side I bought the smaller one just to try it out.

The one thing I would say about this product is that a little goes a long way! I made the mistake of squeezing the bottle too hard and having to try and find other places to rub in the lotion as I had far too much on my legs! I used it just after i'd had a bath, and within minutes I was able to put on my pyjamas without them sticking to my legs or leaving them feeling oily. I was literally amazed by how smooth my legs felt (I even called in my sister and my mum to feel my legs, as I could not believe how smooth they were!).




What makes this product different is that it claims to be so hydrated that it leaves your skin feeling moisturised seven days after your last application. However, the small print on the bottom of the bottle says that it is only after twice daily application for four weeks that this is apparant. Slightly misleading I must say, but the results were so good the first time round I have continued to use it day and night, and my skin feels smooth and healthy-looking. After about a week, I then realized that my legs were no longer itching and they were no longer red from scratching :) I have now finished the 250ml bottle and have moved on to the 400ml.

I bought the 250ml bottle for £2.99 from Superdrug, and the 400ml for £3.50 (RRP £4.50) from Boots. I think this is a reasonable price for the product, as it has definately soothed my legs and left them feeling so smooth I can't stop touching them!