Pietro Simone Dewy Reboot - a Luxury Skincare Gift Idea

(post contains sample) 

Luxury skincare brand/celebrity facialist Pietro Simone has just released a new range and it's definitely got my attention. The FIERCE collection is Simone's third range, with every product created using traceable, sustainable, vegan ingredients.

Combining high-end luxe with environmental consciousness, the FIERCE range is about empowerment and great results, with the collection made up of 18 face and body products.

The product I've got here is the Dewy Reboot and, as well as having a fantastic name, it's designed to 'reboot' the complexion thanks to a host of beneficial ingredients.
Bio-engineered Peptides and 100% stabilized Ascorbic Acid combine with the antioxidant Glutathione and Gold particles to create a radiant, dewy look. The Peptides act in something called Photo-modulation, which is a process that triggers the skin to convert light energy into cell energy, creating that coveted dewy look.

The Ascorbic Acid, Gold and Glutathione target environmental damage and work to even tone.
Dewy Reboot features 4 different types of Hyaluronic Acid, as well as Marrubium Vulgare Extract (a type of mint) which tackles blackheads and improves the texture of the skin.
Rounding things off, a probiotic compound balances, soothes, strengthens and improves moisture retention.
As you've probably gathered, Dewy Reboot is very much a multi-tasking product and I think a great introduction to the FIERCE collection. It would also make a great gift for anyone interested in skincare!
Designed for every skin type, the serum is silky in texture, a slightly thick liquid that absorbs very nicely.
Pietro Simone recommends applying a few drops to the face using fingertips, rather than covering the palms and then applying, to avoid unnecessary absorption into the hands and therefore wasting product.
I love the slight shimmer in Dewy Reboot- it makes the serum seem extra luxe and instantly adds a touch of glow. As with all Pietro Simone products, Dewy Reboot (£85 for 60ml) comes in a glass bottle, which feels satisfyingly weighty and is of course better for the environment than plastics.
You can find Dewy Reboot and other Pietro Simone products at Pietro Simone, in store and online at Harrods and at Oxygen Boutique. 

April Chill at Beauty Works West: My Experience

Beauty Works West is a little bit of luxury just off one of Notting Hill's loveliest streets, offering beauty treatments aplenty as well as an inbuilt boutique featuring niche luxury products. It's also home to Dr Daniel Sister, world-renowned anti ageing and hormone specialist.

Last week I went along to Beauty Works West to try out their  April Chill promotion - a package that includes a Ling Deep Cleansing Facial or Relaxing Massage followed by a Signature Manicure or Pedicure.
I hadn't had a beauty treatment since I left Australia over three years ago so I was beyond excited to go and meet the team at Beauty Works West and indulge my inner (or rather outward) beauty fiend for a couple of hours.

The Experience:

I opted for the facial and pedicure option for my April Chill experience and popped along to the Beauty Works West Medi-Spa in Notting Hill last Wednesday
Once inside I was greeted with a drink of my choice (I chose water because I'm hardcore) and a little bowl of mixed fruit and nuts to pick at while I filled out my consultation form.

Before long I was greeted by my therapist for the day, Beata, and led to the treatment room which was softly lit and smelled gorgeous!

Beata left me to get undressed and get myself tucked in to the heated bed (!) ready for what was about to be one and a half hours of unashamed pampering.

Beata began by gently removing my eye makeup before cleansing my face, neck and décolletage twice with Ling Purifying Facial Cleanser to get rid of any makeup and general London muck.

Next up she covered my eyes with cotton pads and turned on a magnifying lamp to analyse my skin and decide which products would be most beneficial.

That's one of the greatest things about the Ling Facial - it's completely tailored to what your skin requires at that time.

Once she'd established my skin concerns, it was time for some serious exfoliation in the form of the Ling Triple Action Exfoliator followed by the Ling Spotlight Papaya Resurface Peel.
Once these were removed  I had the steam machine directed at my face so a continuous, gentle stream of steam opened my pores and Beata massaged my skin (which felt absolutely incredible), allowing the products to penetrate more deeply and prepare my face for the next phase - extractions!

I have never, ever had a professional extractions experience before but Beata made the whole experience a lot less painful than it could have been and I was far too relaxed to be embarrassed about the amount of blackheads she was tackling!

Once the extractions were done, the Ling Rescue Peel was applied, preventing any infections and soothing my skin. While the peel was working its magic I was treated to an arm and hand massage before my hands were slipped into gloves filled with paraffin - a bizarre sensation at first that ultimately felt totally comforting and luxurious once I got used to it!

Ling Skincare

After the paraffin solidified and the peel had done it's thing, the gloves were removed and my face cleansed again before the Ling Ginseng Herbal Masque was mixed with Ling Oxygen Plasma Potion and applied over my face, neck and décolletage.
The next step in the facial was a real treat and something I'd not experienced before. Beata used an ultrasound machine to gently massage the masque in, explaining that the ultrasound helped my skin to absorb the masque. The ultrasound machine provided a sort of cooling sensation, which was welcome after the steam and extractions, and gave off a slight buzzing sound that wasn't unpleasant.

Once the masque was removed a moisturiser was applied (I was matched with Ling Squalane Hydra Boost) as well as eye and lip cream.

Like all good things, my facial came to an end and it was time to get ready for the next phase of my April Chill experience - the Signature Pedicure.

Once I'd gotten dressed and slipped on the flip flops provided by Beauty Works West, I made my way across the room to the manicure and pedicure room.

A sizable, airy space, the room included a couple of state of the art pedicure chairs complete with built in massage option. The room also featured televisions suspended from the ceiling and a Sex and the City boxset should you fancy a bit of Carrie action while your tootsies are tended to.

Beata soaked, clipped and scrubbed my feet while we chatted and I scoffed an almond croissant and drank a latte before she slipped paraffin filled booties onto my feet and left me to relax (!) for a few minutes.

Once she returned and the booties were removed and my feet cleaned again, it was polish time!
Beata expertly separated my toes and applied my chosen shade - Geranium by Essie and helped me slip on my flip flops.

After two and a half hours of shameless indulgence my experience was over and it was back out into the streets of Notting Hill. To be honest can hardly remember the tube ride home because I was virtually levitating.

The Results:
My skin felt incredible and looked refreshed, glowing and even-toned. I basically looked like I was wearing really, really good foundation when in reality I was bare faced. My skin was the cleanest it's been in what I imagine is a really long time and there wasn't a blackhead in sight on that nose of mine. I kid you not, there was not one!
This super-clean, plumped up and refreshed feeling lasted a couple of days but even now, one week on I am blackhead and congestion free with a stupidly soft face.

As for my feet? Well, they've never looked this good. I promise I'm not just saying that.
 I had never indulged in a pedicur before my experience at Beauty Works West and Beata managed to make my hobbit-like feet look feminine and, dare I say it, sexy?
One week on, the nail colour is still going strong and there's not a chip nor tear in sight - Beata I applaud you!

You can find out more about Ling Skincare products and all the beauty treats on offer at Beauty Works West here.

April Chill at Beauty Works West is running until April 30th
Facial + Manicure or Pedicure £155
Massage + Manicure or Pedicure £145

To book in for this exclusive treatment call Beauty Works West on 020 7221 2248 and quote 'April Chill'.

Thanks for reading and be sure to let me know if you try out any of the services or products from Beauty Works West!

*I was given the April Chill experience for consideration to feature on my blog

A Little Bit Luxe: Rodin Olio Lusso Oils

For the past week or so I've been trying out the Luxury Face Oil, Body Oil and Recine Luxury Hair Oil by Rodin.
Olio Lusso is Italian for 'Luxury Oil' - a collection of gorgeous elixirs created by stylist Linda Rodin on the basis that beauty should be simple. Now in her sixties, Rodin is a walking testament to her own product - an uber fashionable older woman indeed!

Linda Rodin for Karen Walker Eyewear c/o oystermag.com

Luxury Face Oil

This very luxe face oil is a beautiful, aromatic combination of Jasmine, Rose Hip Seed, Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Evening Primrose, Apricot Seed, Arnica, Calendula, Neroli, Sunflower and Argan oils (phew). Each oil is benficial in its own way ( for example Neroli fights aging, Arnica reduces swelling), so it makes perfect sense to put all of these super oils together to create one brilliant formula!

Olio Lusso claims to be suitable for all skin types from dry to oily. I've been trying it on my combination/ dry skin and I'm pretty impressed so far!
I've been applying the Luxury Face Oil religiously since last Friday both in the morning and last thing at night
After exfoliating, I pat a few drops of the luxury oil onto my (slightly damp) face and it sinks in beautifully, leaving a subtle healthy sheen without any greasiness.
*The face oil is great to apply a few minutes before your foundation - it acts as a lovely primer to smooth out your skin ready for makeup application.

Luxury Body Oil

A 'rearrangement/ of the oils found in the face oil, the Luxury Body Oil is once again super-moisturising, gorgeously scented and totally wearable thanks to it's no-grease factor!
I rub a few drops of this into my arms and legs (paying special attention to elbows and ankles) after my evening shower when skin is still a bit damp, before jumping into bed and letting the oils work their magic.

Rodin by Recine Luxury Hair Oil

The Luxury Hair Oil formulated by Hairdresser Bob Recine combines apricot kernel, calendula, sunflower seed, sweet almond, neroli and jojoba oils with rosemary and juniper to create a multi-tasking hair product that leaves your locks looking and smelling fiiiiine.
This oil can be added straight to damp or dry hair or added to your conditioner for extra oomph. The oil can also be used as a styling aid and a nourishing scalp treatment.

Presented in a gorgeous glass dropper bottle, the Luxury Face Oil costs £92 for 30ml while the Luxury Body Oil has an rrp of £68 for 120ml and the Recine Luxury Hair Oil is £60 for 30ml. Available here at Beauty Works West.

*Please note that the bottles shown are sample size which I received for review. Have you tried anything from the Olio Lusso range?

Thanks for reading :)

Super Indulgent Sjal Face Masks

I've recently had the pleasure of trying out two beautiful, ultra indulgent face masques from Sjal Skincare.
Sjal - a Swedish word meaning spirit, mind, heart and soul- is the brainchild of mother/ daughter duo Karen and Kristin Petrovich and is renowned for merging Eastern and Western beauty concepts and technologies.
Sjal products utilise the latest in scientific advances whilst maintaining a holistic approach to skincare using a unique combination of Ayurvedic, Chinese, Tibetan, Homeopathic and Vibrational medicinal elements that come together to create some truly luxurious products!

Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask

I'm not joking (for once), this product is incredible. It's actually probably the only mask I've used recently where I've literally thought 'wow, that's actually done something' after I've wiped it off!

This mask contains two types of pearl - a 'micro pearl extract' for brightening and evening out skin tone and crushed pearl to gently polish the skin.

Fruit and vegetable enzymes including mushroom, pomegranate, pumpkin and papain (a component of papaya) provide a thorough yet gentle acidic exfoliation while royal jelly and fennel extracts go to work softening and nourishing the skin.

This is already a heck of a lot to get excited about but the really gorgeous thing about this mask is the fact that it contains derivatives of DIAMONDS, SAPHIRE, RUBY, AMETHYST, CITRINE and SMITHSONITE.

Sorry about the caps, but I think they're warranted in this case.

Now, what on Earth could diamonds and rubies have to do with skincare?

Well this is where the Vibrational Medicine aspect of Sjal comes into play - these gemstones are added to promote clarity and balance and bring vibrational energy to the skin!

That's a lot to fit into one pot but all of the components I've mentioned come together to create one surprisingly gentle but ultra effective face mask -  there was no tingling or discomfort while the mask was on and once I'd rinsed it away my face felt like I'd just had micro dermabrasion minus that stinging feeling.

Sjal Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask retails at £110 for 60ml at Space NK.

Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask

This little pot of luxury was developed to calm and firm the skin as well as aid in minimising pores.

A variety of Chinese herbs, silk proteins and Blue Lotus extract combine to protect, soften and calm your face while a Copper peptide and 'DNA Booster' containing GOLD, SILVER and PLATINUM (there we go with the caps again) contribute to a firming and lifting effect.

Blue Sapphire, which is believed to stimulate the pituitary gland (which in turn increases melatonin production to combat aging) is the vibrational energy component of the Kashmir Saphir mask and is included to promote clarity and purity!

This mask also incorporates bio-chemical tissue salts into the mix which aid skin recovery after exposure to harsh elements including cold wind and sun.

The mask can be used after the Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating mask to leave skin soothed and smoothed with improved elasticity.

I found that the Kashmir mask is rather tingly when on the skin but afterwards my face felt refreshed and energized with zero discomfort/ reaction.

Sjal Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask is available at Look Fantastic for £112 for a 60ml jar.

This dynamic duo may be jaw-droppingly pricey but truth be told, a little bit of product goes an awful long way. I received small sample pots of each, used both twice and have barely made a dent.

Much like Creme de la Mer and La Prairie, Sjal face masks are investment pieces indeed but good ones at that!

A Beautiful Brand: Beauty Works West

If you've been visiting Lippy in London for a while, you may have noticed that I've featured a few products from Notting Hill based Medispa and Online Boutique Beauty Works West. What you may not know however, is that Beauty Works West is also a brand in itself, offering a range of scrumptious body, hair and bath products as well as beautiful candles.

The luxurious concoctions were all developed by world renowned anti-ageing expert, Dr. Daniel Sister, so you know you're in very capable hands with these gorgeous products!

I've been trialing the Anti-Ageing Body Cream and the Cleanse Organic Facial Cloths and I'm so pleased with the performance and all round gorgeousness of these products that I wanted to share my thoughts.

Beauty Works West Anti-Ageing Body Cream

This fresh, thick and decadent body cream is pure luxury in every way.

Made with super nourishing Cocoa Seed and Shea Butter, this cream is very rich yet quickly absorbed, leaving the skin incredibly soft and smooth without the grease factor.

The scent is a gorgeous, long lasting citrus heavy, slightly spicy concoction that keeps the skin smelling lovely and fresh - even during perilous Tube journeys in June.

The Anti-Ageing Body Cream is £41.50 for a generous 225ml tub of luxury. Have a closer look at the body cream at www.beautyworkswest.com or click here.

Beauty Works West Cleanse Organic Facial Cloths

I get home from work close to midnight some evenings, so I'm a huge fan of using facial wipes to remove make up and impurities quickly and easily. I do however have trouble finding wipes that don't irritate my skin to the point where I have to get out of bed and wash of the residue and this is why I love these.

These organic cleansing wipes are infused with soothing Aloe Vera and anti-ageing Pomegranate extracts, so they comfort my face rather than infuriate it and they're so gentle I can even use them to remove mascara and eyeliner. When I find a facial wipe that doesn't irritate my eyes, I'm not going to forget about it anytime soon and I think these are just perfect.

The wipes retail at £7.95 for a box of 25 and you can find them by clicking here.

Along with the Beauty Works West branded products, you can also find a range of beautiful products from other brands by visiting the company's online boutique. They stock all kinds of gorgeous goodies including La Bella Donna mineral make up and the iconic Egyptian Magic all purpose skin cream.

To find out more about Beauty Works West visit beautyworkswest.com

Thanks for reading!

*These were kindly sent to me for consideration but remember, I'm an honest kinda gal ;)

A little bit of luxury: Soleil Tan de Chanel

I'm not going to lie, I've been googling the heck out of this product for months now just out of sheer admiration and intrigue and as of three days ago,I can finally call it mine.

At first I couldn't quite work out exactly what this gigantic pot of shimmering brown luxury was all about.

 Is it a base? A primer? A bronzer?

Turns out it's all of these things rolled in to one. Multitasking and Chanel? Don't mind if I do...

I've been wearing this over my make up for the past few days and I'm pretty impressed with its performance. I may be slightly brainwashed into thinking it's amazing by the fact that it's got the word CHANEL in giant letters across it, but either way, I love.

To apply I patted it on with a stippling brush across my forehead, cheekbones, top of my nose and anywhere else the sun hits naturally.

with & without flash

a closer look

I think my application technique needs a little improvement but hopefully you can get an idea of how it warms up the complexion.

At the moment I'm not brave enough to use it as a face base but maybe when I've got a bronzed body I won't be quite so meek. 

the ever so decadent Chanel packaging

 The formula is housed in a generous 30ml pot with the Chanel logo displayed boldly on the side

excuse the brush bristles :0

The formula is a cream/gel hybrid that makes for a smooth application that feels barely there on the skin.

To be honest, I've never tried a cream bronzer or anything along those lines before so I don't have a lot to compare it to, but the Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel gets a big tick in my book for what it is and the huge 30ml pot means I can bronze up through summer and beyond!

You can find Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel at Chanel counters around the country for £30, though I go mine a little cheaper on ebay.

Have you tried this product? Are you loving it as much as me?

Thanks for reading :)