Banishing Dry Skin with Yves Rocher | Bourbon Vanilla Sensual Sugar Body Scrub & 3 in 1 Nourishing Cream Lotion Review

Spring will soon be upon us, which means warmer weather, which in turn means more skin will be exposed. The effects of cold temperatures are manifested in a number of ways on our skin but mostly, they all result in dry, flaky skin which I think we can all agree is not a beautiful sight. Moreover, we tend to drink less water in winter which can lead to skin dehydration.

I am not immune to altered moisture levels in my skin but since the people behind botanical beauty brand Yves Rocher (Malta) reached out to me to try their Bourbon Vanilla Sensual Sugar Body Scrub and the 3 in 1 Nourishing Cream Lotion with Oat Extract I agreed to try the products and see how they work in restoring glowing and moisturized skin all over.

I couldn't wait to start using the products, thus I did so right away but more on the results later. Here are a few words about the packaging and products' texture first.

Bourbon Vanilla Sensual Sugar Body Scrub - €9.95 for 150ml 

This sugar based body scrub comes in a 150ml transparent plastic jar with a green lid bearing the Yves Rocher logo. The scrub is sealed with a protective foil. The commitment of the Yves Rocher brand towards the environment is truly visible with minimal packaging that can be reused or recycled. Back to the scrub, it is yellow in colour and has a thick, buttery texture with exfoliating granules. As soon as you open the jar, the smell of Bourbon Vanilla immediately takes over your senses and vanilla being my favourite scent, I found this scrub very appealing. 

It is very easy to employ this scrub to slough away dead skin despite it's thick texture as it spreads very easily over your skin without the granules being too harsh.

3 in 1 Nourishing Cream Lotion with Oat Extract for Very Dry Skin - €9.16 for 150ml

The next product I was offered to try is this nourishing body lotion. Again the packaging is environment friendly as the tube contains 25% less plastic than the previous one for this same lotion. This cream features a white, rich formulation that is easily absorbed into the skin to quickly hydrate the skin. It has a subtle fragrance and the oat extract contributes towards softer feeling skin. The lotion's formula contains more than 94% ingredients of natural origin, is mineral oil free, colorant free and paraben free.

Now for the results. I have used both of these products religiously for the past 10 days or so and have applied the lotion everyday after I shower and I have used the scrub twice a week. I have nothing but words of praise for both of these products as they do exactly what it says on their respective packaging, and I now have smooth, supple skin ready to face shorter skirts and sleeves!

Yves Rocher has outlets in Paola, Valletta and Sliema and they also house a Botanical Spa at their Paola outlet.

PR Samples

Review | Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Extreme Comfort Mask

Lately, my skin was misbehaving and I had a minor breakout. Time isn't really a luxury I have these days, but luckily, Yves Rocher have the perfect mask to treat my skin in just 5 minutes flat and I can go on with my day.

The Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Face Mask comes in a 75ml tube and is meant to be applied to clean skin, let it act for 5 minutes and wipe the excess off with a tissue as opposed to rinsing it off.

It has a very creamy texture which is very soothing and the skin feels well hydrated after using this mask. There is no scent to the mask as it is specifically tailored for sensitive skins. I can immediately see my skin calming down and redness fading away after I use this mask and I like how soft my skin feels afterwards. I try to use it at least once a week.

Like all other Yves Rocher products, the mask contains botanical based ingredients such as Anta Bean and olive extracts which are very beneficial to sensitive skin types as they calm down the skin and help avoid flare-ups.

Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Extreme Comfort Mask can be found at all three outlets in Sliema, Valletta and Paola and retails for €14.50.

Monthly Favourites | November

This post is going to be a little lengthy as I have quite a good number of products to share with you so let's get right into it.

First up are some new makeup tools from Makeup Revolution which I have been using practically everyday. They are the Advanced Complexion Expert Sponges (Soft & Hard) and the Ultra Metals Contour Brush. I haven't reviewed the sponges yet so I won't be saying much about them except that they are some of the best sponges I have ever used to apply my foundation with. As for the brush, I like how steady it is and I like that it applies bronzer only where you need it. You can read the full review here.

Moving on, I have the eye products which will make up most of my favourites this month. I have already shown the Essence Gel Eye Pencils in previous posts but I really wanted to show you the latest two I got - 01 Black Blaze and 05 Gunmetal. After I have tried these, I am a little reluctant to try any other eye pencil because these last practically all day on my waterline and they only cost €2.40 a pop! I have another three of them too but my favourite is the shade 06 Cocoa Bean.

Another Essence favourite for this month is the All About Greys Eyeshadow palette in which all 8 shades are extremely pigmented and I shall be reviewing this palette along with another two from the same range soon so stay tuned for that! I like how you can create both dramatic and more subtle looks with just palette that costs just around €4 I believe.

More eyeshadows come from Pupa Milano's Soft & Wild Limited Edition collection which I really do urge you to go out and get while it lasts. Here I have the shades 004 and 005 out of which the former is my absolute favourite and I really like how well they go with the Essence All About Greys palette above.

The last thing I have to show you for eye make up is the Sleek i-Divine in Enchanted Forest. I really like all the colours in this palette and I think it is a really good value for money palette that will make a nice secret santa gift or a pretty little stocking filler. Pigmentation is awesome for all shades and it last really long too.

Next up I have lip products which include my favourite colour combination - MAC Soar Lip Pencil and MAC Brave Lipstick which has a Satin finish. If I want a glossy look, I would just add Essence Liquid Lipstick in 02 Beauty Secret on top of them and I have a lip colour that will last for hours on end.

Another favourite is this limited edition lipstick from Essence Merry Berry collection which is selling out super fast. My favourite shade out of the three is 01 Let The Berry-Tales Begin which looks really dark but in reality translates to the most gorgeous plum shade on the lips that lasts for a very long time.

As for face products, this month was all about giving my complexion some warmth so my favourite blush has been this Milani Rose Powder Blush in the shade 03 Warm Petals which has just the slightest shimmer and a good pigmentation to it. The Makeup Revolution Ultra Cream Contour Palette has been God-sent to help with perfecting my contouring skills so definitely another favourite for this month.

To keep my skin in check, I have been treating it to a weekly mask with the Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Extreme Comfort Mask to calm down redness and soothe it. If you have sensitive skin, definitely go get this one!

Lastly, I have the two perfumes that I have used most this month - the classic Chanel No.5 which is my favourite scent of all time and the La Prairie Silver Rain which I got in sample size in a goodie bag from an event. The latter is very fresh and I like wearing it during the day while I like to reserve the Chanel No.5 for night time as it is much stronger.

And that rounds up my favourites for November! Let's hope for even more favourites in December :)

September Collective Haul

With the weather getting a little colder, for me that means summer is over thus this month I couldn't resist not buying new clothes and accessories for autumn. As much as I hate winter and the colder days, I have to admit that I much prefer the warm colour palette of autumn hues such as burgundy, dark greens, rust, mustard etc along with the more tailored and sophisticated garments that keep us cosy all throughout so I always enjoy shopping at this time of year.

Luckily, some stores still had sales going on and I managed to grab a few bargains as well to complement this smallish haul. This month has also been good to me in terms of gifts for I got some cool accessories as gifts from events and people in my life. Read on to see what I got!

First up, Orsay! The brand has opened another flagship store at The Point in Sliema earlier this month and since I was invited to the event, I had to go and pick up some pieces ;) I have 352689741 Breton tops in my wardrobe yet I couldn't pass this half-sleeve one up. It was only €15.99 and the stripes are narrower than any other one I have (this is the main excuse I use whenever I buy a new top of the sort - the stripes are different). It features an off-the-shoulder fit and it is very comfy and obviously, goes with a lot of bottoms! I also picked up this embellished pink jumper for €29.99 and I look forward to wearing it once the weather gets colder. The tassel bracelet has been a favourite this month and it was only €5.99.

With my trip to London coming up, I decided to invest in a good pair of gloves and this gorgeous pair with faux leather quilted details and buckle caught my eyes at just €15.99 as did this reversible poncho or scarf coat, call it what you want. This feels so cosy that I could live all winter in it and it only cost €25.99. On the day of the event, a 20% discount was being given on all purchases and us bloggers were gifted with a scarf, a bag, a VIP card and the official Orsay look-book for this season. I really love the bag and scarf that were given to me and I have already been planning outfits to wear them with!

Aldo Shoes at Arkadia Gozo had an extra 20% on sale shoes so I bought the following pair for just €20 instead of €69!

Next I bought this pair of shorts from the newly opened Pimkie at Main Street Paola and this burgundy faux leather pencil skirt from Mango after having my eyes on them for a few weeks. I paid €25.99 for the shorts and €29.99 for the skirt.

While browsing the Asos sale, I came across this Vero Moda parka jacket which was I believe somewhere around €20. I think it is always good to invest in a good jacket and this is my first such investment this year ;)

Lastly, these are some gifts I got during this month: an Yves Rocher consolation prize for taking part in one of their Facebook competitons, a clutch bag and shoes set from Nilara, a Liu Jo nappa leather bucket bag which my boyfriend got me from his holiday in Spain and an & Other Stories candle that my brother got me from his trip to Holland.

Monthly Favourites | August

Last month I skipped the favourites post because there were really no new products to show you but this month has definitely made up for it for I have quite a lot of new things to share with you!

For starters, I have two new summer favourites courtesy of Lierac Paris and Kiko Cosmetics. Let me start with the Kiko Summer Wipes first. These wipes are meant to dissolve salt from the skin after swimming so that you can refresh yourself and they have proven to be God-send when we went to the beach in the afternoon and stayed there late for a bar-be-que as well on days by the pool to refresh my skin. They are quite handy in that regard and I like the tight closure the packet comes with as that way the wipes don't dry up.

Next is the Lierac Paris Sunific Solaire 2 Iridescent Milk Mist with SPF15. This came at the right time when I already had a tan and just want to preserve it and still protect my skin. It goes on as a light white mist that just melts into the skin as an iridescent sheen with a very nice scent.

Next up are some skin care products starting with this Micellar Water Gel Makeup Remover and Ultrafine Scrub from La Roche Posay. Both products have intrigued me from the first time and they have now become part of my skin care routine. After trying other varieties of the Yves Rocher Exfoliating Shower Gel, I decided to give this summer limited edition version a try. It is in Apple Star Anise and I immediately took a fancy to the fresh, invogorating smell. It does a good job at gently exfoliating the skin, is gentle enough for everyday use and perfect when you're in a hurry!

Also shown in the photo is the Kiko Cosmetics XL Travel Pochette. I got it in my most recent order and it is practically the only one use now! It holds all my toiletries and makeup in just one place and feels very nice and sturdy.

Next, I have some nail product favourites. I have bought this Kiko Cosmetics glass nail file and I also picked up another one while visiting Dubrovnik and they do a better job at preventing the nails from splitting than any other nail file! I have also been liking the Essence Nail Caring Oil for my cuticles which despite being very cheap, it works just as well as the more expensive ones I have.

Moving on to makeup, I have some new MAC favourites, namely Prep+Prime Fix+ Refreshing Mist, Lipstiks in Velvet Teddy and Hot Gossip and Powder Blush in Dame. I could finally see what all the hype about Fix+ is because it is such a versatile product and essentially, you don't need any other primer or fixer after you try this!

The lipsticks are both new shades to me and come in my favourite finishes from MAC, Matte and Cremesheen. They glide smoothly with amazing pigmentation and last very long. Lastly, the blush is a very lovely colour that suits every complexion giving you a nice, healthy glow. It is quite sheer but buildable and stays on all day.

Next is another Kiko Cosmetics (I promise it's the last one in this post!) - the CC Cream Cushion System in the shade 30 Warm Beige. I got two shades of this, one for summer and one for winter. 30 Warm Beige, is the darker colour and it turned out to be a good match for my tanned skin. This CC Cream has quite an unusual packaging as opposed to similar products from other brands. The product itself is very light and blends really well into the skin covering all imperfections and just giving you an overall uniform complexion.

Of course sometime, we still need help in some areas and for my under-eyes, this Max Factor CC Colour Corrector in yellow does the trick! I shall be reviewing this in a separate post so I am not going to go into any details about it other than saying I love it!!

If on the other hand I needed something more for other areas of my face, my new favourite product for those instances, is the Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Contour Palette. This has everything I need in one place and even has a darker concealer that is perfect for me to use when I am more tanned!

I have also been liking the Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Palette which has everything if you're still into contouring as well as good highlighters to try your hand at strobing.

Lastly, I have really been enjoying using the Naked Smoky palette from Urban Decay. It has everything you need to achieve the perfect smoky eye and I really like the quality of the eyeshadows! 

Review | Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief

Today I have a little skin care gem to share with you all - Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief. I was introduced to this product when I was invited to the Yves Rocher Botanical Spa a few months back and after trying out the samples that were given to me, I decided to buy the full-sized product.

Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief comes in a 50ml glass jar and in very clean packaging which I like. The only downside to the packaging is that I find the mouth of the jar to be a little small and since I have long nails, I always get the product under them and I don't really like that.

The cream has a rich consistency which makes it the perfect treat for the skin in winter and even more so, the product is claimed to help reinforce the skin against cold weather. Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief is part of the Active Sensitive skin care range which is targeted towards the needs of sensitive skin and contains Botanical Sophorine and Anta Bean extract which help the skin become more tolerant. I personally cannot detect any smell to the product.

It is recommended to apply the cream morning or evening after perfectly cleansing the skin and personally, I like to use this as my night cream. My skin looks even toned by morning and all signs of redness just disappear. Despite the cream consistency, my skin doesn't get oilier and I like that the product does what it says effectively. I have not experienced any adverse reactions when using this product. 

Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief can be bought from any of the three Yves Rocher shops in Malta for €16.50. Check out their Facebook page for store locations and weekly offers!

Monthly Favourites | October

Excuse me for being a teeny weeny bit late on my October favourites but so much has been going on in my life right now. Nonetheless, I still got to enjoy some new beauty related products and some oldies but goodies. Here's what tickled my fancy this month!

Starting with past loves, I have rediscovered the joys of using a BB Cream on days when I don't have much time to do full makeup. My favourite for this purpose is the All-In-One BB Cream from The Body Shop. I love how it instantly wakes up my skin and I can skip the concealer!

Another two products which help perk up my skin from within with instant results to show, are the Lierac Mesolift Serum and Polaar Icy Magic roll on. These are life saviours after busy night duties at work and the hard-but-much-more-enjoyable party nights out.

In the nail department, I have been enjoying a handful of new products, namely, Zoya Pixie Dust Lux (my first Pixie Dust from the brand), Picture Polish Grace (a full review on this Aussie brand will be up soon), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat and Mavala Scientifique Penetrating Nail Hardener. 

The latter has been in my stash for a long time and for some stupid reason, I have never included it in a favourites post when in reality I should have included it in every single one of them! Yes, it's that good! It fortifies nails in just a fortnight and it is my go-to nail rescuer. As for the others, I have really enjoyed incorporating them all in the Sugar Skull Halloween themed manicure below.

The Bottega Verde Black Vanilla Protective Hand Cream is a divine treat for the hands and I really enjoy applying it. Not only does it smell deliciously good, it is absorbed rapidly into the skin without any greasy feeling. For now I only have a sample size but I know what my next hand cream will be ;)

Lastly, I have been enjoying the benefits of a cherry smelling moisturising lipstick to the full all throughout October courtesy of Yves Rocher Botanical Lipstick with 100% Cherry Oil. The shade I have, 41 Iris Mauve is a nice pink which complements my skin tone really well and it is subtle enough to be worn everyday.

What were your favourite products in October ladies?

Review | Yves Rocher Yellow Peach Exfoliating Shower Gel

Showering is one of the most pleasant experiences and I try the make the most out of it with the products I treat my skin to and I like to have an array of shower gels, body scrubs and body lotions to suit my mood.

The latest shower gel to join my stash is Yves Rocher Yellow Peach Exfoliating Shower Gel and it is the one I am reaching for the most these days. The shower gel is a little on the watery side and it contains actual crushed peach kernels as the exfoliating agents.

I appreciate that the exfoliating particles are not too harsh, making the product is fit for everyday use since it will not feel too abrasive on the skin. The delicate yellow peach scent lingers on the skin for a long time yet it is not overpowering.

After using this shower gel, my skin feels really soft, just like when I use a scrub before I shower but in less time and with less abrasiveness!

Yves Rocher Yellow Peach Exfoliating Shower Gel can be bought for €5.80 for 200ml of product from any of the three stores in Malta located at:

11, Bisazza street, SLIEMA (Next to Sorbino and Ice watch)

219, Merchants street, VALLETTA (Next to Pumpkins Patch and in front of Caruana or the Electro store)

76, Antoine de Paule square, PAOLA (Next to Gauda)

PR Sample

Review | Yves Rocher Volumizing Shampoo & Texturising Styling Spray

Fine hair can be a nightmare to style, especially when the problem is even more aggravated with the hair being oily. Luckily for people like me, there's the Yves Rocher Volumizing Shampoo and Texturising Styling Spray to save the day!

I was suggested to try this shampoo and styling spray duo on my visit to the Yves Rocher Paola shop earlier last month specifically because they contains organic mallow which gives the hair a volume boost. I was also told to apply the shampoo to dry hair first to remove as much oil as possible then proceed as usual and apply the spray to the roots before blow-drying. And let me tell you, it did make a huge difference!

Let's have a look at the shampoo first. You get 300ml of product in a completely recyclable bottle and the product itself is biodegradable too! I like the shape of the bottle as it is more travel friendly than the usual round ones and being transparent, I can tell when I need to repurchase.

The consistency is on the watery side so a little goes a long way and lathers up nicely to give the hair a feeling of cleanliness. Moreover, the shampoo carries a light, herbal scent and is free from silicone, parabens and colourants so you know you are treating your hair to something good!

The complementing product is the Texturising Styling Spray which I prefer to use on wet hair before blow-drying. I flip my head upside down and spray some product to the roots of my hair before massaging it in and style my hair. 

Again the bottle is fully recyclable and the spray nozzle delivers an even mist. The spray also carries the same herbal scent as the shampoo and is also free from silicone, parabens and colourants. This time, you get 200ml of product and with the bottle being transparent, you can easily tell when you need to buy a back-up.

I have noticed a huge difference in the way my hair looks after I started using these products in sync and my hair looks more volumised and since both porducts are silicone free, my hair is not weighed down. Moreover, both products feel mild enough for everyday use.

I would recommend you visit one of the three Yves Rocher shops we have in Malta to find the ideal range for your hair type. And with the extensive variety they offer, you are sure to find a line that suits your hair's needs!

Yves Rocher Volumizing Shampoo retails for €6.90 and the Yves Rocher Texturising Styling Spray retails for €10.80. 

Yves Rocher are located in:

11, Bisazza street, SLIEMA (Next to Sorbino and Ice watch)

219, Merchants street, VALLETTA (Next to Pumpkins Patch and in front of Caruana or the Electro store)

76, Antoine de Paule square, PAOLA (Next to Gauda)

You can also check out their Facebook page to stay updated on their products and special offers they have from time to time!

PR Samples

Monthly Favourites | September

September is gone too and that brings my birthday month closer :D Let's have a look back over the past month through my favourite products, most of which are new to me.

I will start off with hair and body care first and all three products featured are from Yves Rocher. If you are new to the brand, I suggest you read my Brand Spotlight post here to get to know the brand a little better. Back to the products, I have this exfoliating shower gel which smells divinely of yellow peaches and has the actual peach kernels ax exfoliating agents. I like that is has a gel texture as it lathers up nicely and the exfoliating particles are not too harsh, hence the shower gel is mild enough for everyday use. 

Also pictured are the Volume Shampoo and Texturising Spray which are specifically tailored for fine hair and contain Mauve Mellow to enhance volume in your locks and they both smell heavenly! My hair has never looked this good and the spray also keeps fizz at bay! Highly recommended!

From Yves Rocher, I have also been loving the Active Sensitive Redness Relief cream of which I was given some samples. I liked it so much I went ahead and bought the full-sized version! It is quite rich, so it will double up as a moisturizer suitable for the colder months.

My favourite eye looks this month were all courtesy of this limited edition Queen of Hearts eyeshadow quad from KIKO which is versatile enough to be used for day or night looks. Apart from the nice selection of neutrals, I am really fond of the packaging which makes the palette one to covet. The variation I have is 03 Elegant Ebony and is one of the three available combinations.

On my nails, I have been loving the look of Orly GelFX Plum Noir. It is a nice dark plum colour which complements all skin tones and since it is a gel polish, it lasts for two weeks with high gloss shine and stays chip free! Right now I have a thing for dark purple polishes...guess it must be the change of seasons and this one fits the bill!

More from Italian brand KIKO, I have their Brush Cleanser and the Eyes 207 brush. The Brush Cleanser is seriously one to look out for! It cleanses brushes thoroughly and they are ready to be used again within seconds. The brush is something I had been on the look out for for ages and this is seriously the best brush to create cut-crease eye looks with! The tapered end proves to be very precise and is also good for blending colours together.

Lastly, I have lip products. I have been switching between neutral and bolder colours to go with the KIKO quad above. My favourites have been Pupa Milano Fluid Lip Colour 001 Princess Nude, E.L.F. Studio Glossy Gloss Ballet Slippers, Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstick 41 Iris Mauve, KIKO Lipsticks 916 and 911 and finally, my favourite out of the bunch, Max Factor Lipfinity 370 Always Extravagant.

Which products have made it to your favourites this month ladies?