Darphin Intral Collection New Launches

If like me you suffer with or are prone to experience bouts of sensitive skin then this post is for you.

Allow me to introduce you to two new products from Darphin’s Intral collection.

Created with sensitive skin in mind that is prone to redness the new launches feature a Toner with Camomile (£30) and a Redness Relief Recovery Balm (£48).

These gentle and soothing products soothe even the most sensitive of skins and contain a cocktail of plants and aromas, helping to tackle sensitivity and leave skin feeling calmed, comfortable and radiant.

I’ve fallen in love with this pretty, pink Toner and believe it or not, it actually allows me to begin to feel soothed just by inhaling its soft, delicate aroma!

This stunning lotion has been infused with Chamomile, renowned for its decongesting and anti-redness properties which has been blended with the Darphin Calm Complex.

Designed to be used after your cleanser, it helps to calm and soothe skin troubled by redness, irritation and intolerance. 

Gentle on your skin and non-drying, it features a soft, subtle scent which further adds to the calming experience and leaves your skin feeling soft and fresh without a hint of tightness.

When your skin really hits rock bottom and is screaming out for relief then the new Redness Relief Recovery Balm will sort you right out.

Created with dry to very dry skin in mind, this soothing and super nourishing balm features an  exclusive Calm Complex of 3 flowers (Hawthorn, Peony and Chamomile) along with Bran extract, Glycosaminoglycanes, Vitamin E and Mango Butter to soften and nourish your skin while helping to reduce redness.

These potent ingredients don’t just nourish, they also work to soothe and strengthen your skin’s natural barrier to better protect it against irritants, pollution and environmental stressors which can age your skin.

I expected a very thick, slightly greasy product as this product has been called a ‘balm’, but I was very surprised that it was not in the slightest bit greasy.

Rich, thick and extremely nourishing it is completely non greasy and despite its richness it was absorbed quickly, leaving behind no trace other than wonderfully moisturised and calmed skin.

My dry patches felt instantly refreshed and the tightness and discomfort eased almost immediately.

A little goes a long way with this product so you don’t need to pile it on to achieve softer, soothed skin which is a great reflection of just how fabulously it works.

This duo are not cheap I know, but if your skin can be troublesome you’ll know that you’d pay anything to restore balance and calm and these two products really do help.

Darphin’s Intral Toner and Redness Relief Recovery Balm are both available now along with the rest of the Intral Collection here.

Limited Edition Angel Eau Croisiere

The first fragrance I ever loved and claimed as my own was Angel by Tierry Mugler.

I adore, sweet scents the gourmand notes contained with the iconic blue star has been my go to fragrance of choice since I was 17 years old. 

Timeless, elegant and delectable it is instantly recognisable and always comforts me with its sweet, powdery and soft notes, enveloping me like a warm hug from a familiar friend.

This summer Mugler has launched a stunning Limited Edition take on my favourite scent with the launch of Angel Eau Croisiere.

Croisiere translates as ‘cruise’ and the concept behind this scent is reinventing the cruise spirit for the iconic Angel scent.

It’s been a while since there was a limited edition Angel scent so I couldn’t wait to get my mitts on this lush badboy.

Created to mirror the freshness of the Mugler Fashion Cruise Collection, Angel Eau Croisier captures a sense of exotic and refined glamour within its multifaced bottle.

The blue star has been transformed into the summer colours of the season with a beautiful gradient of a summer sky, descending from a pretty link to a warm and luminous yellow.

Sunny, summery and exotic, it has been designed to reflect a long summer drink that is fruity, energising and refreshing with flecks of exotic sun ripened fruit hanging under the heat of island sun.

I wasn’t entirely sure how a fruity element would work with the traditional notes of Angel being bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, honey, caramel and praline but do you know what, Angel eau Crosiere is absolutely gorgeous!

Described as a ‘fruity oriental’, it manages to retain the same addictive experience that I so love about the original Angel scent while bringing a pop of summer to the table.

While it features top, mid and base notes it really presents itself as having two main elements to this delicious scent, the first being an Energising Cocktail facet.

Notes of juicy mango and luminous, sparkling grapefruit blend with decadent and sweet blackcurrant sorbet to create a scent reminiscent of a fruit cocktail.

Meanwhile the other element, the Voluptuous facet features familiar notes of soft, sweet, addictive praline and patchouli, echoing Angel’s gourmand signature scent.

The combination of the light, sweet fruity notes paired with the soft, gourmand signature notes is not one I thought would work but it really, really does.

Once the original hit of fruitiness dies down you’re left with a wonderfully soft and sweet scent which is lighter in some ways than the original Angel and is perfect for warm summers days.

Upon spritzing it you could close your eyes and easily imagine that you’ve somehow been instantly transported to warmer, tropical climes. 

Like Angel it smells good enough to eat and leaves you craving the feeling of warm sun on your skin and a tropical breeze in your hair. 

Angel Eau Croisiere is available now from Escentual where it is currently on offer for £40.80 down from £48 for 50ml.

Bobbi Brown Foundations

Not too long ago I decided that I needed to invest in a really decent foundation.

I rarely have the opportunity to get all dolled up these days (I am the proud owner of a 5 year old and 3 year old) so life is busy and the occasion to wear a full face of make-up has all but gone, but on the rare occasion that I do get glammed up I wanted to find the most perfect foundation.

I’m a huge fan of Bobbi Brown and trust their formulas and products so booked an appointment to get colour matched and check out their two key foundations.

These foundations are the Skin Long Wear Weightless Foundation (£32) and their Skin Foundation Stick (£32).

Both products are available in an astounding 43 shades, so you are guaranteed to find the correct shade to match your individual skin tone.

(For the record I’m shade 0.5 Warm Porcelain)

Firstly I tried the Foundation Stick which offers medium to full coverage.

Suitable for all skin types, their iconic stick features a transparent base with skin tone correcting pigments, creating a natural, glowing look.

Deliciously rich and creamy yet weightless in texture, the foundation glides onto your skin effortlessly and blends seamlessly, mimicking the look of healthy, radiant skin.

I’ve always been a little wary of creamy, stick foundations in the past on account of my oily skin.

Past experiences have taught me that stick foundations can be a little too heavy for my greasy skin, resulting in shiny patches and slippage throughout the day.

Not so with Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick.

You can see three differing shades of the stick foundation on the photo taken during my colour match. 

I then kept the foundation on all day and I can reveal that it did not budge and in fact I was no more greasy or shiny than I would be with any other foundation that I usually used, which really impressed me.

Reading into the foundation I discovered that it contains an innovative blend of emollients including olive extracts and shea butter to moisturise your skin while light diffusing powders and oil-controlling minerals perfect the appearance of skin and reduce shine.

Impressive stuff!

I must admit that despite being proved wrong by the foundation stick, what I really wanted to try was their Skin Long Wear Weightless Foundation. Liquid foundations are within my comfort zone; I know how to apply, blend and wear liquid foundations!

Plus, this foundation is marketed as a 16 hour, full coverage, matte foundation and god known I need all the help I can get with keeping a matte look matte.

This fluid is created by a high speed cold fusion process resulting in an ultra-silky emulsion that features a perfectly balanced blend of skin-loving ingredients, oil controlling actives and skin-true pigments.

Beautifully smooth and lightweight in texture despite its full coverage promise, it glides across your skin like silk leaving behind a second skin feel.

Unlike many matte foundations that can leave your skin looking artificially dull, this foundation contains a multidimensional matte finish, creating the illusion of healthy, radiant and flawless skin while maintaining a shine free look.

The pigments within the fluid are precisely balanced to skin's top tones and undertones and are suspended in an emollient gel base which floats on the skin, reflecting light to deliver the most natural-looking appearance while instantly concealing dark circles, redness and discolouration.

I LOVE this foundation!

Despite being tested during the heat of summer it doesn’t crease, streak, fade or disappear throughout the day.

It is super easy to blend and doesn’t leave your skin feeling heavy or clogged, probably in part thanks to its non-acnegenic formula with marine sugar cane and natural mineral powders to help control excess oil and shine.

Don’t worry though if you don’t suffer with oily skin because it also contains moisture-binding glycerin to deliver long lasting, refreshing hydration so your skin feels balanced and comfortable throughout the day.

Both foundations are brilliant, quality products and depending on what you’re looking for from a foundation, between the two you’ll unquestionably find what you’re looking for.

Bobbi Brown’s Skin Stick Foundation and Skin Long Wear Weightless Foundation are both available now in store and online, are available in 43 shades and cost £32 each.