luxury natural skincare | cheriecity.co.uk

Beauty

Ila Spa New Little Body Treats Range

August 29, 2013 by cheriecity

ila spa has been one of my favourite luxury natural skincare brands since I was first introduced to it three years ago. I’m a big fan of the rose-scented Glowing Radiance range and the massage I tried at Grayshott Spa using ila spa body oil sent me off into a heavenly trance like nothing I’ve experienced before.

For a perfect introduction to the brand, ila spa has recently launched Little Body Treats (£40) – a sleek bag featuring deluxe-size samples of its signature products. It includes everything you need for a super soft, relaxed body and is the ideal size for travel.

Body Oil for Vital Energy

This is without a doubt my top beauty discovery this summer. The invigorating oil has a light texture and is so easily absorbed into the skin that it can be worn morning or night. It has a pleasant zesty, aromatic scent that comes from wild-crafted juniper berry, rose geranium and rosehip-seed oil.

Also rich in argan and almond oil, it stimulates circulation, energises the body, removes toxins, restores energy to the cells and reduces cellulite. It’s a great all-round product that suits all skin conditions and really uplifts the senses while softening the body.

Body Balm for Feeding Skin & Senses

This is a rich, nourishing balm that is particularly soothing for dry skin. Rose geranium calms the senses while argan and rosehip-seed oil (rich in fatty acids and anti-oxidants) restore suppleness and help improve the tone of skin. ila spa also suggests that the balm benefits skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and helps condition where there is hormone imbalance.

Body Scrub for Energising and Detoxifying

This luxurious treat polishes the skin and reveals radiance. Himalayan salt crystals gently exfoliate the body and are infused with alpine lavender, geranium, lemongrass and wild organic juniper.

I found that the body scrub leaves an oily film on the skin after using, so it is best to cleanse the body properly before using and allow the oil to sink in while asleep. If you don’t want to feel too slippery during the day, I’d recommend only using the body scrub in the evening.

Bath Salts for Cleansing

I’m looking forward to using these heavenly bath salts during the colder months. The combination of juniper berry, rose geranium, lemongrass alpine lavender are said to help stimulate circulation, detoxify the body, reduce swelling and puffiness and combat fatigue. The bath salts smell divine and the Bath Salts for Inner Peace are already a staple of my winter bathing regime.

To see the full range and to learn more about ila spa and its founder Denise Leicester, visit: www.ila-spa.com

Photos by Cherie City and ila spa

*Sample

Beauty, Competitions

WIN Seascape Island Apothecary Bath & Body Products

March 7, 2013 by cheriecity

Seascape Island Apothecary has quickly become part of my body care routine and I adore its luxurious, natural products.

Inspired by the idyllic beaches of Jersey, Seascape uses local produce and extracts from herbs distilled on the island in its soothing premium bath and body products. Whether it’s an invigorating Uplift Body Wash to wake up in the morning or a relaxing Unwind Body Lotion with lavender and Ylang Ylang to promote good sleep, Seascape has a range for every mood.

Seascape is offering one lucky reader the chance to try a luxury set of its natural bath and body products, worth £54. The prize includes:

– Uplift Body Wash
– Unwind Body Lotion
– Soothe Body Butter

HOW TO ENTER:

Follow Chérie City on Facebook and leave a comment on this page below, sharing your favourite island destination…

The winner will be selected at random and the competition will close at 6pm on 7 April 2013.

Terms & Conditions:

– Closing date: 7 April 2013 at 6pm.
– Entrants must become (or already be) a follower of Chérie City on Facebook.
– Entry is limited to one per household.
– Seascape reserves the right to offer alternative products if unavailable.
– The prize is non-transferable and non-redeemable.
– No cash alternatives will be offered.
– The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours of contact, or a new winner will be selected.

Beauty

Chérie Loves: Sodashi

May 23, 2011 by cheriecity

Natural skincare is quickly becoming more advanced and a real, viable alternative to high end spa products with the results to match.

One of the most luxurious natural body and skincare brands that I’ve been lucky enough to try is Sodashi – an Australian company using high quality chemical-free ingredients and ethically-sourced essential oils.

Founded by Megan Larsen in 1999, Sodashi adopts a holistic approach to well-being and means wholeness, purity and radiance in Sanskrit.

Products are formulated using a a unique combination of biochemistry, aromatherapy and Ayurvedic principles.

The Sodashi range is made for women and men and the sleek black packaging and aromatic scents will surely appeal to both. There is something very sensual and warming about Sodashi products, which is perhaps down to this sharing approach.

I tried the Vanilla Body Butter (€109/250ml) and was surprised to find that it doesn’t have a typical vanilla scent – in fact, it’s distinctly more herbal.

The Vanilla Body Butter comes in a generously-sized black glass pot with a white scoop and is very thick and creamy in texture.

As it is a high quality product, a little goes a long way and it feels rich, smooth and just the right side of oily on the skin.

I used the body butter at night and when I awoke in the morning, the results were impressive! My skin felt smoother, more toned and nourished. The cream absorbs well, so there was very little excess and it even brought relief to a mild patch of eczema.

Another favourite from the range is the Rejuvenating Face Mist (€100/100ml) and it has quickly become my travel beauty staple for rehydrating my face and indeed rebalancing my sanity after a sticky London tube journey.

It has a subtle, invigorating aromatic scent and simultaneously calms and refreshes the skin with natural ingredients such as damask rose, almond oil, atlas cedarwood, lime and grapefruit seed oil.

I also tried the Eye and Lip Smoother (€135/30ml), which has a light, oil-based texture and is a great everyday treatment. It’s more of a nourishing and relaxing cream than those zingy gel-cremes that tighten and pop your eyes in the morning.

It absorbs quickly and leaves the eyes feeling relaxed, hydrated and comfortable.

Sodashi really is at the top end of luxury natural skincare and the prices reflect this, but the superior quality of the ingredients mean that the products last a long time.

The four travel kits (€198) contain six travel size products, including the full-size Eye and Lip Smoother, so they are ‘good value’ and an introduction to the brand, to make sure they really work for you.

To see the full collection and to buy online, visit:www.sodashi.de Get regular beauty tips and spa advice from the Sodashi experts on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

All Sodashi products were given as samples.

Beauty

Chérie Loves: MÁDARA ecocosmetics

December 20, 2010 by cheriecity

A natural skincare and body range made from flowers and herbs sourced from the Baltic meadows sounded so tempting that I just had to try it out.

MÁDARA uses the most powerful and effective natural ingredients to nourish the skin and with the short summer in Latvia, the flowers have to work much harder to preserve their potency.

In truth, I was drawn to MÁDARA’s zingy, cool packaging and the products I tried were equally uplifting…

The Mint Shower Soap (£8.50/200ml) has a light, clear liquid consistency and has a fresh peppermint, herbal scent. It lathers well and feels invigorating without being overly methol-based.

I felt super clean after using the shower soap and the pump dispenser and slim bottle make it a perfectly functional bathside product.

The Nourishing Cream for dry to very dry skin (£15/150ml) instantly soothes skin and has a subtle sweet scent. The texture is in between a light body lotion and a more oily body butter – restorative and oil-based but not too heavy.

I found that the cream sinks into the skin within a few minutes, so you can use it during the day without feeling any residue on your body.

MÁDARA eco products are perfect for those with sensitive skin and with such lovely packaging, they make a great gift. Most of the products are under £20, making it a luxury natural brand that you can invest in.

* Chérie City was sent these products for review.