Beauty's Healing Discovery!

Trust me! If you walked passed this papery packaging you'd immediately stop, ponder and take a closer look!  We are often pulled in by packaging and elaborate detailing but I'm sure, like me you'd be intrigued by the simplicity of the black/white screen print artwork, inspirational quotes and alluring 'sterling' silver and glass vessels.  In addition, you too would be captured by the name Gazelli with Azerbaijan written beneath it.  You don't often see Azerbaijan as a beauty destination for that 'secret' ingredient but why not?   From what I've seen in the National Geographic, media and otherwise women have even skin tones and are often naturally flawless.

We then welcome Gazelli skincare with open arms and rightly so!

Gazelli Discovery Set: Triple Youth Ultimate Firming Serum & Ultra Nourishing Saviour Mask.

Gazelli's story unfolds from a holistic place of nature and nurture, a high level of knowledge of unique local ingredients and with a name that derives from an Eastern form of lyrical poetry 'ghazel', hence the quotes,  which praises 'beauty, youth and love', plus it offers us that special discovery, the trademarked White Healing Oil, a powerful antioxidant of organic compounds sourced from the earth far, far away which is active, oxygenating and nourishing.

I recently popped the Discovery set into my hand luggage on a recent trip to Asia as I thought that would be a sure fire way to test out how nourishing the serum and mask would be on a 13 hour flight. I must be brutally honest, they delivered ten fold so began to use the mask as an After Sun treatment just before I would go out for dinner in the evenings and wore the serum at night for hydration and repair.  My skin loved them and I'm lucky to have a Skin Balancing Cleanser and Reviving Eye Cream to try next.

Have you tried Gazelli?  What are your thoughts?

Gazelli is also available at Urban Retreat at Harrods

2013 Beauty Alert: Merumaya Manual Cleansing Brush

There are many facial cleansing systems on the market these days, some of which appear a bit gimmicky but I must say there are a lot of good ones out there and here's another one,  Merumaya Manual Cleansing Brush that takes us back to basics; there are no speed settings or batteries to bother with, just good old fashioned manual work!
Ideal to use daily as its small kabuki brush of super soft hairs to circulate around your face to lather up with a face wash or to apply your cleanser more evenly. The cleansing brush also works exceptionally well with the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm to achieve the melting action once water is added to remove daily grime.  Get familiar with this brand now if you haven't already, its another step in the right direction for the beauty industry!

Get kitted out with Carolyn K!

You just have to take a wee glimpse at Carolyn K's beauty books to know you want one NOW!

I have 3 kits, one for eyes called 'define your eyes' and these two below 'make me blush' for cheeks and 'raise your brows', which are my favourites and have been supreme additions to my work bag.  I think we all have a love for neat palettes as they look pretty sharp and playful, though I specifically adore them for their consideration to our purse strings! 

Make me Blush, clearly marked out instructions on how to contour , highlight and add a pop of colour!

Raise your brows, again with instructions and technique of application to achieve the perfect arch to your brows.

Check out more of Carolyn K's UK manufactured products at 

The Powder Rooms 

Wash the holiday blues away...

There are companies you just really like because they offer 'no nonsense' skin and bodycare and get to the point; The Konjac Sponge Company is one of those even though I did struggle with the concept at first (read here).

I was happy to purchase the Konjac French Red Clay Sponge for facial cleansing recently from Guru Emporium, as it makes for speedy cleansing in the shower but I hadn't had the pleasure of the NEW Konjac Body Sponge  from Cocktail Cosmetics until recently which I found to be a lovely alternative to body brushing and my vigorous body scrubs therefore leaving my skin super soft and cleansed.

At just under a tenner its money well spent to wash those holiday blues away and start afresh!

Konjac Sponges and more available from Cocktail Cosmetics.

Get Streetwise in 2013!!

New Year, new you! Isn't that what they say?
And time to rethink your hopes and dreams for 2013 including your skincare routine.
By now you know I quite like a brand with a conscience and a method in application (see Emma Hardie for a reminder) which is why I am bowled over, leaping with joy about Orico London, an organic skincare brand to suit us city types who demand 'kind' ingredients which deliver speedy results at affordable prices!  We're asking for more for our money these days, even when it comes to organic produce and Orico have delivered with a range starting from £11 up to £29, remarkable pricing!
I'm yet to try every product in the range, which incidentally covers Baby care and Gift packages too, though I was immediately drawn to the Hydrating Make Up Remover, why?
Its has a balm-like texture so I knew it would leave my skin feeling supple but would it remove all the grime from my daily urban grime?
It did so, effortlessly cleansing away my eye make up, blush and lip colour (a hard to budge bright red) and the method was clear, 'Gently massage a small amount over the face and eyelids with upward, circular strokes...and remove with a damp face cloth.'  And the message I appreciated the most, 'Inhale the relaxing aromatherapy blend...'  The aroma is calming which puts you into a 'zen' state of mind, an ideal message for those of us with busy, active lives.
If you want to start the new year on a 'be good to yourself' path then step into 2013 with Orico London!