Oxton Yan: 2014

The fact that the month of October went by so quickly reminds me that no one owns time, we can only manage it.

I find that this type of post not only closes a drastic changing weather month, but it also is a good introduction to a new one that i foresee exciting .

Without further ado, i will share a few things that i had the pleasure meeting.

Blog-wise
I am getting more and more comfortable managing my time and choosing posts i publish. I also had on my french blog great feedback and here, i feel like slowly but surely some of you are getting into it and coming back for more.
So, WELCOME to my family and I really do appreciate you guys! Not only because it is a sign that my English isn't completely awful but also that you find what I write interesting (i hope!).

Skincare and hygiene-wiseYves Rocher has unthinkable treasures and this body lotion is one of them. It is the Repair Lotion for Extra Dry Skin from their Expert Repair range. This travel size was a gift from a purchase. I was planning to use this in winter when my legs will start to be dry and uncomfortable. But, the enchanting smell got me to use it earlier and i did found a better use for it: I use it after exfoliating or shaving.
Even if I don't have dry skin, in those times, my skin need an extra "humpf" and that is exactly what this lotion brings. My skin is hydrated and sooth.
I liked this so much that i finished the beast.

150 mL cost 9€50

From the same brand, their Blackberries Hand Cream was such a nice discovery that I had to write an entire article praising it.

creme mains fruits noirs collection noel 2014 yves rocher

75 mL cost 2€50

When winter comes, it is rather a challenge to live in a big city. To twirl around town without collecting all people's germs, this item is a must-have: a hand sanitizer. Mine is thepurifying gel Mava Clear from the Switzerland brand Mavala.
It didn't leave my bag. Not only was it gentle, but it was also hard with the germs.
I don't think this specific gel is sold anymore, but i am sure you can find an alternative in any drugstore or pharmacy.

50 mL cost 7€

If you are a nail polish lover as I am, you know that a good care is needed to guarantee a perfect manicure. For some reason, my hands and nails needed an extra care.

This cuticles scrub from Biguine with its pink micro-beads helped sooth my cuticles by scrubbing them. Its applicator is similar to a lip lacquer's (if, of course, pachyderms wore lipsticks because it isn't smooth).

13€ in drugstores

Beauty-wise
Even if i own a few, foundations, aren't "my thing". The Matt Touch Foundation from Yves Saint Laurent fought its way to my stash. Even if it is oil-free and has a spf 10, I wasn't very happy with the result.
After applying it many different ways (brush, hand), I did find the perfect way to apply it: I use a Beauty Blender sponge and now I get why this foundation is pricey and why people had so many good things to say about it. It is comfortable, light, mattifying and long-lasting.
I don't think this you can find this in stores anymore but i am sure you can still find it on the internet even if YSL discontinued them.
My shade is 12.

30 mL cost between 35 and 45€

The Flawless bronzing brush from the Terracotta line by Guerlain is a light tinted cream that i use rarely as a bronzer but mainly as a foundation to unify my complexion.
I have the universal shade 00 Natural Bronze.

This bronzer was discontinued and a similar and better alternative is the Terracotta Joli Teint sold almost everywhere for roughly 44€ the 30 mL.

I played a little bit with Rimmel's ScandalEyes eye shadow in shade Bad Girl Bronze. It is greasy and smooth, has a wonderful pigmentation, is long-lasting and very affordable.
For a quick and light makeup, it is ideal. It also can be used as a base for a more intense and festive look.

This is sold between 6 and 8€ in drugstores.

I played around with Lancôme's Hypnôse Drama Eyes Dazzling eye shadow in shade Eternal Emerald.
This color was from their 2013 holiday collection. They brought out some two nice new shades this spring.
These eye shadows come with a mini flat brush (very useful) that can be used to apply the product as a eyeliner or an eye shadow. I feel like it opens my eyes...in a good way!

It cost around 30€ les 5,5g (which is expensive!) but you have for your money.

Bad gal Plum from Benefit and The Rocket Volum'Express from Maybelline were my go-to mascaras for an intense and colorful look.

mascara maybelline rocket volume express

Benefit mascara 23€ les 8,5g
Maybelline mascara around 8€

The nail polish that I wore most of the time and which was perfect for the grey weather is Rimmel's 60 seconds #605 Grey Matter.

It costs around 5€ the 8mL

I played around with some lipsticks from Rimmel's new line Hydra Renew. I will review these soon.
#470 Glam Plum Fulham and #380 Dark Night Waterl-Oops! were the ones I wore the most with Rimmel's Apocalips lip lacquer in shade #304 Eclipse which has an amazing pigmentation, is comfortable for a small price, and finally YSL's Rouge Pur Couture The Mats in shade #205 Prune which has an amazing quality.
All those colors are perfect for fall/winter or all year long if you are more adventurous like me.
From left to right #380, #470, #304.

Hydra renew around 9€ the 4g in drugstores
Rimmel's Apocalips around 9€ the 5,5 mL in durgstores
YSL around 30€ the 3,8 g

I also discovered Bourjois's 24H liner in Ultra Black and Rimmel's Exaggerate eyeliner in #001 100% Black which both are really good.
For the ratio quality/price I prefer Rimmel's and for how comfortable it is to use, i choose Bourjois's.

Bourjois's cost around 8€ and Rimmel's 6€ in drugstore

Sometimes I wear blush and the past month was a "blushy month"(what? you didn't know that people with dark skin blush? Just kidding!!!).
I brought out my Elizabeth Arden's ceramide cream blush in shade #4 Plum.
It is longlasting and you just need a sweep. The color is buildable and the finish is rather soft and natural.

The 2,67g cost around 30€.

Miam-miam-wise
I like to cook and bake but to this day, I haven't learned how to make/grow my own cereals. While I wait for that time to come, I bought these cereals from Kelloggs.
The reason I talk about these is mainly because they are now in a different packaging which preserves the flavor but it also minimal (they got rid of the box).

I hope they will make these in other sizes because 500g is too small.It is 4€ a box.

Culture-wise
I like music (it is an understatement!) and I wanted to close this monthly favorites in music because only music can make you relax, cry, dance, but, also reflect.

I never was into the craziness around Taylor Swift's music. Even if her ballads that I enjoy were scarce, i couldn't stop moving my toes when Shake it off came on radio or TV!
She definitely is no lyricist but, the hook is catchy and It is a real "go f*** off" to the haters.

I couldn't stop listening to the musical "brews" of the talented Kina Grannis. She is on tour now so if you want her live maybe she is jamming somewhere nearby.

This next stop isn't a discovery but I wanted to share it anyway because this band has great potential, great energy on stage and they make good music. Mr Crock is a small Parisian indie pop folk band with some rock accents.

I took great pleasure discovering and really listening to Benjamin Clementine. His talent, his message, his voice, and allure took me to places and also made me think about my brother (long story!!! but bro' if you stop by, you know what i mean!).

Two TV shows with great potential were my clear favorites: How To Get Away With Murder because of the performance of Viola Davis and the intrigue and, Bad Judge for the humor, the unconventional script and Kate Walsh's legs ;).

I encountered a singing show called Rising Star. I don't know if it's the format that is weak or if i just don't get it. Anyway, it wasn't for me!

I hope your month was as eventful as mine was.

Take care.
yO

french version

Oils and I have a great, long and slippery relationship.

I was introduced to them at a very early age by my mom. She transformed to a wizard of a certain sort while she was making those mixtures for hair/skincare. Even if back then it was a struggle (all you curly/afro hair carriers know what I mean!) to manage my hair and get on the oil wagon, now, to me, it feels quite natural to use them. So thanks mum!

I will share my thoughts on some of the oils I use on my hair.

Nowadays, oils on the market are hi-tech and they don't have too much in common with the ones from way back when...

Not only textures are much more pleasant and practical but innovations in this domain are hitting new highs.

I will briefly talk about them now, and in another post I will get up close and personal with some of them.

Achtung! It is going to be slippery!

These last 4 to 6 years, we have been literally flooded, and spoiled with innovations and discoveries of exotic oils, each more efficient than the other.
Obviously, they are not all the same, and they don't have the same purpose.

Gliss Kur's Every Day Oil Elixir from Schwarzkopf

Some of you may not know but, this Every Day Oil Elixir was on of the first (if not the first) oil of its kind on the market.
It is the first one that I bought when I was in Germany, when all the craziness around oil wasn't.
Obviously, they made changes and the formula is different now. And I still love it.
It is made with argan and sunflower oils, which are known to be nourishing, repairing, protective and anti-breakage
This one is more dense than the others, just two pumps are enough for the entire hair from top to bottom.
I use it for every day styling or before blow-drying. It helps a lot with the breakage, leaves my hair, not only nourish, soft, smooth, shiny, and all that without feeling greasy or heavy.

It costs between 7 and 9€ the 75mL

The repairing oil from L'Occitane en Provence

This one is from their really good Aromachologie line for dry and damaged hair.
This oil replaced the serum which i liked very much. At first, because I was so found of the serum i was a little bit skeptic about the efficiency of this oil version.
However, after a while, i started comparing it to other oils and now i am completely all for it.
Its patented formula is made with five essential oils (Ylang-Ylang, Sweet Orange, Lavender, Geranium, Angelica) renowned to help with breakage.

I pour a 3 to 4 pumps into the palm of my hand, warm it a little bit and work it through my hair from the ends to the roots (i have really dry hair but, if you have greasy roots i don't think you should do that tho').
I use it on humid hair but also on a every day basis for a deep care. That's why it became my go to oil for the winter time.
I've seen tremendous changes on my hair. Not only it helps detangle my hair, it reduced the breakage for about 90% (it is the only one that had that effect on my afro), and protect against sun and heat damage.
I also enjoy its nice and relaxing aromatic scent.
L'Occitane has really good products and this one is no exception. I will recommend this in a heartbeat.

L'Occitane sells this 20€ the 100 mL.

L'huile extraordinaire de la gamme Elseve par L'Oréal

I think this one is called Oleo Therapy Perfecting Oil Essence in the US and Elvive Extraordinary Oil in the UK.

With all the brouhaha around this one, i was expecting a lot, and maybe too much. After using it for more than a year, i can say that my disappointment is as huge as my excitement was!

It can be used before shampoo, blow-drying, and as a on a day-to day basis to smooth ends.

I use it before the blow-drying, when my hair isn't completely dry. It helps a lot and makes my hair more manageable. My hair is both smooth and shiny.

Sometimes, I use it for a final touch to give some shine to my "do".

The best way that i can use this is before the shampoo. It brings smoothness to my hair.

I don't think that I will take the risk twice and buy this oil again not only because i cannot stand the smell, it is not nourishing, and very messy; after using it I cannot help to have it all over the place and this even if I am extremely careful. I wouldn't categorized this as been a dry oil, it is a little bit greasy.

For how much this costs, I much prefer Schwarzkopf's one (from above) which has, in my opinion, the best value for its price.

It costs between 10 and 12€ the 100mL.

The Rare Blend Total Hair Therapy from Ojon

This one is the latest addition to what can be called my oily shrine.
Even if I have, in the past, used one product from Ojon; it was the pre-cleansing treatment which i really loved, I battle for a while whether or not I should splurge and try another product from the brand. With the help of Rachel Martino, I settled on this oil.

It is a total hair therapy made with rare exotic oils, which is supposed to nourish and repair, boost moisture, prevent heat damage, tame frizz and reveal shine.

It hasn't been that long that i started using this, so, I haven't seen all the greatness escape from the bottle to be trapped in my hair. The only thing that I can say for sure is that it really helps to detangle my hair and brings a subtle shine.
I like the light scent and the fact that it doesn't leave any residue on my hands or my hair.
It is a very pricey one but, you just need a little bit for each use.

The 45 mL cost 34€.

Gliss Kur's Colour Shine Tonic by Schwarzkopf

This one is in a spray form and that I do appreciate. It is really good to protect from the UV, preserve the color, and add shine.
I use it as a final touch after styling for a diamond-like shine!
Even if I find this practical, and a cheaper version of the Extraordinary Oil from L'Oreal , this oil is just not for me. I want more from an oil; not just the shine, nor the UV filter. I want it to be nourishing and repairing.
The 100 mL cost between 5 and 7€.

Castor Oil from the french brand Natessance by Lea Nature

I chose this oil because its formula is SLS-, paraben-, preservatives-, and paraffin-free.
Castor oil is known to bring strength. It is also a very dense oil, so, i don't need that much product. A little goes a long way. Plus, it can also be use on nails.
I use it alone or with jojoba and coconut oil for a pre-shampoo deep care.
This oil is also quite cheap: between 3 and 6€ the 100 mL.

I hope this oily post was helpful.
Have a great week. Take care!

version française

Getting rid of my acne scars is a goal of mine as I already spoken about it when I reviewed products like the Even Better Clinical Dark Spots Corrector from Clinique, or the Dark Spots minimizing Serum from Sephora on my French blog.

Even if i want to regulate my production of sebum, I am not safe from getting some pimples here and there.
Guess what? That happened again and this time when things went sour, i decided to give the Serum Magnifica from Sanoflore (a brand specialized in organic beauty products from L'Oreal Paris) a try.
It is a high precision rescue corrector which has an action on shine, pores and imperfections.

Usually, i try to adapt my routine: I eat more healthy and change my skincare routine to suit my needs.But this time it was an emergency.

So is It good, bad, or ugly?

Packaging and texture

The product comes in a tiny textured, and opaque plastic tube. The tip reminds me of eyes products. Even if the tip is tiny and rigid, that doesn't affect the distribution at all. I even like it because I can easily control what amount comes out.

The gel-like texture makes it really easy to use. However, you must not be lazy and take your time applying it because when it dries, it leaves a film on the skin which makes it a little harder to work with.

Ingredients

Aqua/Water•Mentha Piperita Leaf Water/Peppermint Leaf Water*•Alcohol Denat**•Glycerin•Zea Mays Starch/Corn Starch•Perlite•Dehydroxanthan Gum•Arginine•Salicylic Acid•Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil*•Citral•Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil/Rosemary Leaf Oil*•Menthol•Geraniol•Limonene•Satureia Montana Oil*•Eugenol•Cymbopogon Nardus Oil/Citronella Oil*•Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Oil/Clove Flower Oil*•Nepeta Cataria Oil*•Origanum Heracleoticum Flower Oil*•Thymus Vulgaris Oil*•Thyme Flower/ Leaf Oil*•Mentha Piperita Oil/Peppermint Oil*•Linallol•Citronellol•Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil*•Isoeugenol•Citric Acid

*ingredient from organic farming

**ingredient transformed from an ingredient issue from organic farming

Sanoflore is an organic brand so it's not a shock to see that some of his ingredients are from organic farming.
The norms in Europe are far more strict than the ones in the US so this makes this product even better.

This formula is paraben-, SLS-, silicone-,mineral oil-free.
The plants from which the ingredients are from, are grown without pesticide which seems pretty straightforward for organic ingredients but isn't very easy to achieve because as you may know, pesticides are volatile, so nothing can really guarantee that the plants aren't corrupt unless all the farm nearby are also organic farms. That's why Sanoflore grew their plants in a region in South East of France (Vercors) with very little pollution.

This serum contains patented essence of organic lamiaceae and mentha piperita in high concentration, as well as salicylic acid.

They act upon bacterial proliferation, sebum oxidation, shine and the inflammatory state.

My experience

The first thing that I like with this product, before even getting into the grit of its purpose, is the versatility. It can be used in the morning, at night, or whenever you want over the course of the day.

It is a icy gel that gives a nice refreshing and calming feeling. It is very clever for those of us with sensitive skin.
It has the great smell of essential oil which is relaxing and wears off rapidly.
Even if it doesn't dry the skin, it doesn't hydrate either. So you have to make sure that your skin stays hydrated.
I applied it day and night and i saw tremendous changes in a week. My T-zone was about 60% less shiny that it was and my comedos dried very fast.
However, even if this serum is supposed to tighten pores, i didn't see much a difference on my pores.

I bought this serum because i wanted a quick fix and that is exactly what it did do.
Don't be fooled by its tiny waist; a little goes a long way.

If I compare this gel to La Roche-Posay's Effaclar K, I find that Sanoflore's corrector works faster. However, I wonder if that effect lasts.

With my sensitive skin it is almost always a double ended sword situation because I can have products that work but are too harsh for my skin or are suitable to my skin but are not that good. I am very content with this gel from Sanoflore because not only it is very gentle with my skin, but it is also very good.

The 15mL cost around 15 and 19€.

Overall, I am very satisfied with this high precision corrector. Sanoflore's Magnifica line is very complete and i am eager to test out more products.

I also wanted to thank my readers. You guys are awesome!
I didn't expect to have that many people taking the time to stop by. Your support gave me more confidence and made me want to go even further. You will definitely read more from me.

Cheers
yO

version française

I am all for products which intend to simplify my life. That's why when, a few months ago, drugstores were flooded with Palmolive's new line of foaming hand washer, I was very excited.

I was very intrigued by the name "Magic Softness",and i was wondering if this was a marketing test-run to see if they could sell it for Christmas. I don't know what you guys think but, to me Magic Softness sounds more dreamy, holidays, ...etc.

Since then, they changed the name and are selling them as a permanent edition.

To Palmolive, this foam is revolutionary. I get that there isn't a great deal of products with the same technology, but Palmolive won't be the first, nor the last to use it. Brands like Bath & Body Works, Salt City or Attirance were already selling similar products centuries ago.

Last year I bought online from the Latvian brand Attirance a few products. The cherry blossom hand foam was one of them.
So when Palmolive dropped this foam on the market, I had few reasons to be excited. The first one being that I don't have to buy this kind of products online anymore, the second one was that the foam guarantees magic moments.

Packaging and texture
First of all, the bottle comes with a pump. That alone makes my life easier since you just need one hand to use it. You just need to push the top to have a cloud of foam. As you can see both products use the same technique.

In fact, the liquid moves up and comes in contact with the air contained in the receptacle (the air within the receptacle is from when the pump relaxes itself otherwise it cannot move). This mixture also has surfactants agents that help the foaming process.

The foam is dense and lightweight. A pump delivers the amount of product necessary to wash hands.

Ingredients
Aqua•Sodium Laureth Sulfate•Glycerin•Cocamidopropyl Betaine•Sodium Benzoate•Castoryl Maleate•Sodium Salicylate•Parfum•PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate•PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate•Citric Acid•Tetrasodium EDTA•Benzophenone-4•Hexyl Cinnamal•Limonene•Linalool•CI 14700•CI 42090•CI 17200

Ingredients are expected for this type of product. The composition (SLS, dye, etc...) is very far from clean. However, this formula is less aggressive than others.

My experience
I was expecting the smell to be yummy and addictive; that wasn't the case at all. The smell is very light, not so fruity and not long-lasting. I was so disappointing and I felt lied to. I also would have appreciate if the formula was anti-bacterial.
I like the fact that it is easy to use. You just have to push and be served. No need to hold the bottle.
The technology behind is innovative and efficient but the formula itself has to be improved otherwise those magic moments would be anything but.

At first, they launched two scents: raspberry and mandarin. Since then, they added one more scent: jasmine.
I have no preference between those three since they are very lightly scented.
This foaming soap is suppose to be gentle on the hands, to leave them incredibly soft and hydrated. The creamy cloud of foam is dense and cleans properly. But, I find them drying, even if the formula contains hydrating compounds.
The brand says that 250mL last 200 washes. I didn't count how many times I used it but it did last me about a month. They costs around 2€40. The price is high for what it is. Maybe they justify it by the fact it is a foam.

Even if this foam is not it for me, I kept the bottle and I fill it with a mixture of water and a soap suitable to my sensitive skin. That makes it even cheaper.

? A few interrogations ?:I haven't detected which ingredient was responsible for that raspberry/mandarin scent. This whole thing made me doubtful of Palmolive's ways(maybe this secret ingredient is stuck within what they labelled as perfume).The product is made in Thaïland. I didn''t understand why. I am use to those kind of product being made in Europe. Apparently, the group Colgate-Palmolive manufactures some of its products like toothpaste, this foam soap, in China, Thaïland, ...etc. Anyway, it doesn't affect in any way, shape or form the quality of the product and i don't mind at all but i was just curious.

That’s all folks…Cheers!!!

version française

After using very drying clay masks for a while, I decided to go around the block and see if the grass was greener elsewhere.

In my second home a.k.a the pharmacy, after wondering around for a few hours, i finally stumbled upon the Matidiane oxygen facial mask for adults with oily skin from Noreva lab'. Here is the monster:

Noreva-LED lab' present us this product as a dermatological and galenic (more efficiency with less amount of product) world patented (i hear coins!) innovation (another one!), which deeply detoxifies, ensures an intense double flux oxygenation (oxygen within the outside air heat itself when it comes in contact with the skin and allows the skin to be oxygenated) of the skin, hydrates and brings glow.

It is also made with Chrono Regul HD complex which helps rebalance the sebum flux, and enriched with:

exfoliating enzyme for micro-peeling
kaolin doped with oligo-elements and minerals to absorb the excess of sebum and with trapped oxygen molecules which when in contact with the skin diffuse to ensure a glowy and deeply oxygenated skin.

Its high tolerant formula is non-comedogenic and non-acneigenic. In the downside, it contains a few alcohol derivatives. Even if it has no paraben, it contains other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol.

Composition :

Water •Kaolin • Glycerin • Tridecyl Salicylate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Pentaerythrityl Distearate • Octyldodecanol •Butylene Glycol • C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate • C20-22 Alcohols • Sorbitol • Magnesium Aluminium Silicate • Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract • Glycosphingolipids • Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Extract •Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract • PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides • Perfluorodecalin • Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil • Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil • Fragrance • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate •Lactic Acid • Xantham Gum • Sodium Hydroxide • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Dehydroacetic Acid •Benzoic Acid • Ethylhexylglycerin • Polyaminopropyl Biguanide

Packaging:

I like the fact that the bottle has a pump with a piston. With this system, when we push the pump, the product comes out but at the same time, the inner plastic reservoir is also pushed up (without ever going back down) to avoid the air to ease its way into the bottle.
Since this system is air-proofed, the product has less chances to rapidly deteriorate.

Not only this system is more hygienic, it also makes sure that no drop of product is lost in distribution.

Still with me? Wonderful! Now, let's have some more fun with the more interesting and exciting part. Let's get cracking guys!

Personal experience:

This mask has a gel-cream like texture, easy to apply.

Went the mask is on my face, it feels like a cold wind just blew in my face. It is a very nice sensation since the mask tickles. That tickling sensation is due to the fact that the mask goes deeply under the skin to track impurities, the more you have impurities, the more this will be uncomfortable for you at first. If you have sensitive skin like me, it will be intense but nothing too dramatic that can keep you from using this mask.

I leave the mask on up to 10 minutes, that is 5 minutes more than the max indicated by the brand, just to enjoy the pleasant experience.Then, i remove the excess of the product before rinsing thoroughly with cold water. I end my routine by cleaning my face with a toner and spraying Bioderma water. That's it, I'm done!

My face feels amazingly deeply cleaned and freed afterwards. My skin breathes, is softer, smoother, and hydrated.

After applying a mask (this goes more for clay masks), it is imperative to really hydrate the skin. However, with this one, no need to go overboard.

I really like this mask and i enjoyed using it. It is easy to use, doesn't dry the skin, has a nice fresh and delicate scent.

The only thing that I can see being a problem is the price (the price of innovation maybe?!); it is between 15,5 and 21€ the 30mL. It worked so well on me that i don't regret buying it.

Insert:

This mask is exactly what I need for the winter. I used it twice a week and it lasted me 6 weeks. It gave a good boost to my skin.

I am still looking for happiness mask-wise so i won't be sticking to this one even if it is a really nice mask.

Be smart, act stupid!

version française

Nature has provided us generously with everything we need to remain in good health

This motto has been the root of Sebastian Kneipp's philosophy. This german priest founded the label Kneipp in 1891.

I came across Kneipp (which sounds more like knife with a p) in Germany more than five years ago. It is a well-known brand in Germany which has contributed to build that german approach to life, health and well-being. Its good reputation comes from not only the quality of their products, but also the fact that they are eco-friendly and are protecting environmental resources.

From haircare to skincare, I tried almost everything. This lemongrass and olive body lotion is one of the products that I'd tested.

On paper, I almost feel like I won the jackpot with this one. Am I mistaken?

Packaging and texture
This lotion lives in an soft semi-opaque plastic tube. The tube is certified skincare products friendly.

Since Kneipp's philosophy is to preserve natural resources, it is not a shocker that they use recyclable packaging.

I like the texture. Not only, it goes really smoothly on the skin, it doesn't feel greasy at all. It is both very refreshing but not too refreshing, and a pleasure to apply. However, keep in mind that it takes a lil'bit of time to soak in. I just put a small drop in my hand and massage a few seconds into my skin.

Ingrédients
Aqua (Water)♥Glycerin♥Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)♥Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil♥Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil♥Cetearyl Alcohol♥Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides♥Glyceryl Stearate♥Microcrystalline Cellulose♥Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein♥Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil♥Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil♥Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil♥Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil♥Canarium Luzonicum Gum Non-volatiles♥Limonene♥Citral♥Linalool♥Geraniol♥Citronellol♥Parfum (Fragrance)♥Glyceryl Caprylate♥Dehydroxanthan Gum♥Calcium Alginate♥Tocopherol

Lemongrass essential oil is known to re-energize and refresh. It also stimulates mind and body to benefit concentration and motivation.

Olive oil hydrates and protects from dehydratation. Shea butter and sweet almond oil hydrate and soften the skin.
This body lotion, like other products from the brand, has no preservatives, mineral oils, paraffines, silicones, harsh ingredients, and is not tested on animals.

My experience
Like I said, this body lotion is refreshing. The feeling is similar to other energizing body lotions or shower gels with ginseng, guarana or ginger, but softer.
I usually take time in the evening to enjoy its natural and delicate lemongrass scent. I literally have to restrain myself from layering and layering,...and layering.
It leaves my skin hydrated, smooth, and nicely scented. I find this to be perfect for summer and fall, but not so much for winter simply beacause in winter my normal skin needs a little more hydratation.
Since its composition is uber-clean, the products are due only 3 months after the first use.
I really like this body lotion! But, like all natural cosmetics, they have a certain price. This body lotion costs between 8 and 14€ the 200 mL.

This brand not only is eco-friendly, but it also does tremendous efforts to inform without confusing their customers on the ingredients they use. They've even gone further and manage to add some products specifically dedicated for those who, like me, have sensitive skin. Recently, they did add some young blood to the family, they have a new anti-aging range and foaming bodywashes that i am longing to try.

Be smart, act stupid!

version française

We all have, at least once, heard about l'huile prodigieuse from Nuxe Paris but have you ever heard about l'huile voluptueuse from Roger et Gallet?

Humm... I know I know you are thinking cabaret, Dita Von Teese and tu-tus.You almost have it right,...almost!

A few years ago, I discovered the brand Roger et Gallet. My first purchase was their Blue Lotus fresh fragrant water which is, until this day, one of the scents that I do enjoy wearing in winter.
That meeting was so stimulating and beautiful, that I wanted to dig a little bit more in this renowned parisian brand. I tested several products from the brand and l'huile voluptueuse à l'amande persane a.k.a perfumed dry oil with persian almond is the latest addition in my collection.

First of all, they won me over with that sexy name, I mean "voluptuous oil", who resist? It sounds like wearing it would give me an amazing sensual body and even sexier aura. I can even see myself walking those streets like my s*** don't stink...literally. Just kidding!!!...kinda.
So hit or miss?

Packaging and texture
The oil comes in a clear glas bottle with a spray very much like a perfume. Nothing that exciting nor revolutionary. However, the bottle has a story, the goldy detailed decorations have a subtle inspiration of the middle eastern/persian architecture. C'est dans une bouteille en verre dotée d'un atomiseur que se présente cette insolence olfactive.
Since it is a dry oil, the texture is very much liquid, with a nice feel to it, quite easy to apply and not greasy.

Ingredients
Isopropyl palmitate♦paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil)♦isododecane♦parfum (fragrance)♦ sesamum indicum oil♦ linalool♦ prunus amygdalus dulcis oil (sweet almond oil)♦ cetearyl ethylhexanoate♦ isopropyl myristate♦ macadamia ternifolia seed oil♦ tocopheryl acetate♦ argania spinosa oil (argania spinosa kernel oil)♦ isononyl isononanoate♦ oenothera biennis oil (evening primerose oil)♦ camellia oleifera seed oil♦ ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate♦ butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane♦ coumarin♦ hexyl cinnamal♦ limonene♦ citral

It contains both mineral (paraffinum liquidum), and vegetable (sesam, sweet almond, macadamia, argan, primerose and camellia) oils which hydrate, soften, nourish and protect the skin.

For those who have sensitive skin and are allergic to cinnamon (like I am), be aware that this perfumed dry oil has some cinnamon derivatives.
However, since i have never, until this day, encountered any allergic reactions, it seems like the proportions of those derivatives are really small.

It has no preservatives, no paraben, or silicone.

My experience

This oil is both for body and hair. However, the place where I can't get enough of it is without a doubt my hair. It softens, brings shine onto my hair without feeling heavy.

I just spray it in a circular motion onto my hair and I can wipe my hair back and forth just to enjoy the scent for up to 36 hours.
I am not really fan of almond or its scent but I am totally addicted to this dry oil's odor. It took me back when I use to fantasize about that great Persia era where men weren't afraid to wear makeup and women with tons of bold gold jewelry and their statuesque figure were living art.

Since, I chose not to use this on my hair everyday, my body is very pleased to take the hit.

Not only it gives luminescence to my skin, it also leaves my skin nourished and smelling very nicely all day long,

It costs between 16 et 25€ the 100 mL.

I am very pleased with this oil, the scent is divine and If you are always in a hurry, if you don't like oils or the smell of almond, I don't think this is for you but if those things don't bother you, you may just fall in love with this "huile voluptueuse" like I did.

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Feeling romantic? here is the french version

I am Oxton, call me Yan

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