XMAS GIFT IDEA: SANCTUARY SPA LUXURY MOISTURE COLLECTION

Today it’s time to share with you another great Xmas gift idea, and this one the Sanctuary Spa Luxury Moisture Collection*, which contains absolutely everything for the ultimate body pamper session;

 What They Say:

Experience ultimate indulgence with the power of oils in this luxury body pamper collection. Each product is enriched with gold of pleasure oil and clinically proven to lock in moisture for up to 5 days. RRP: $25.00 – Available from Priceline


What I Say:

This gift set truly contains absolutely everything you need for to give that tired body some TLC and help you relax, revive and rejuvenate and get into a more festive mood.


The gift set contains:

• 2 Day Moisture Shower Oil, 250ml
• 4 Day moisture Oil Scrub, 100g
• 4 Day Moisture Body Oil Spray, 125ml
• 5 Day Moisture Creamy Body Oil, 250ml
• Loofa

 

 

Common for all the products is that they are containing olive oil and gold of pleasure oil, the ladder which I have never heard about before.

 

  

The 2 Day Moisture Shower Oil, has in spite of being called an oil, more of a standard shower gel texture and is hence slightly thicker than your standard oil. It claims to moisture the skin for two days with its oil formula, and while I am not quite sure if that is true, I do like that is certainly feels more hydrating on the skin. And what I like too is that it can also double as the perfect moisturising shaving cream in the shower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Day moisture Oil Scrub is a an oil-based scrub made with fine salt crystals to exfoliate and infused with shea butter and facial oils to leave the skin soft and smooth and hydrated for up to four days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 4 Day Moisture Body Oil Spray is a two-phased spray with water and oils and added vitamin E to keep the skin soft and deeply moisturised, even after the very first use. The oil is quickly absorbed into the skin without leaving it feeling greasy or sticky.

 

 

 

 

  

 

5 Day Moisture Creamy Body Oil is in spite of the name actually a body lotion, although it has been infused with oils. And even though it contains the oils, it is absorbed quickly into the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth and with a nice sheen. The Body Oil claims to keep the skin moisturised for 5 days, even after taking another shower, but I am not quite sure about that claim, but do find that it is certainly sufficiently moisturised to keep my skin hydrated all day long with no need to reapply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the pack also contains a Loofa, which is perfect to use in the shower with especially the shower oil or with any other shower gel, as it helps develop a nice soft foam, as well as it helps gently exfoliate the skin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the products have a nice warm scent from the oil that you can only love as it is still so subtle that it won’t clash with your perfume.

  

 

At just $25.00 this is a fantastic Xmas gift set for anyone that deserves to be pampered, and the products are all in a decent size so it makes it a great and decent priced buy too!

  

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

  

What do you think of this gift set from Sanctuary Spa? Tried any of their products?

 

 

 

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

Xmas 2013 Giveaway – #4

Santa is so kind this year, and keeps visiting the Beauty and Lifestyle Hunter blog. 

I hope you’ve already checked Xmas giveaway  #1 and #2 and #3 … But remember that you can only win one of these Xmas giveaways, so make sure you select carefully which one(s) you’d like to enter.

 

Today, for the fourth Xmas Giveaway Sanctuary Spa has kindly sponsored a skincare pack which includes Sanctuary Spa Foaming Bath Soak, Body Moisture Spray and 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask – all with a combined RRP of $49.85

Entry is very easy, simply follow the prompts in the Raffle copter widget below.

Before you enter, keep in mind that there will be a few giveaways coming up in the next few days, and you can only win ONE of them, so if you happen to be the winner of this first giveaway, and your name is drawn again for subsequent Xmas giveaway, a new winner will automatically be drawn!

This giveaway is open to AUSTRALIA ONLY (so sorry to my international friends, I promise that I will do another international giveaway very soon.)

The giveaway begins today, the 6^th December 2013, and ends on the 20^th December 2013.

It is REQUIRED to follow The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter by either GFC or Bloglovin' (you’ll get extra entries if you follow me on both!), as well as it is REQUIRED that you post a comment below (and make sure that you include your GFC/Bloglovin' name with your blog comment, failure to follow these steps, and you will be disqualified.

You will be banned from future giveaways if you're only following my blog on GFC, Facebook, Bloglovin, or SheSaidBeauty, because of the giveaways on my blog and un-follow straight after.

Also remember that you can get extra entries as well by selecting more options in the Rafflecopter widget.

From contacted, the winner has 48 hours to respond with their address details. Failure to respond within this timeframe will result in a new winner being drawn.

Also note that Sanctuary Spa will send the prize directly to the lucky winner. I will do my best to ensure the winner will receive the prize in time for Christmas, but I cannot guarantee this.  Also note that I take no responsibility for lost, misdirected or damaged mail.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Xmas Gift Ideas – Part One

Christmas is almost upon us, in fact it is less than a month away – and well, if you are like me and celebrate Xmas on Christmas Eve, you'll have a day less… and I don’t know about you, but I always struggle finding presents for my family and friends, so I thought that I’d do a couple of posts on gift ideas.. So here are my first picks..

 

Endota Spa Body Brilliant Pack

 

I only just recently discovered the products from Endota Spa, including the Avocado & Grass Lilly Skin Drink and the Gel Cleanser Orange & Cehami, which are both amazing, and the new Body Brilliant pack from is truly brilliant way of discovering several products from the brand. It contains a full sized 170ml of lilly pilly body moisturiser, which is a vitamin rich body lotion with organic herbs including lavender to regenerate the skin, lilly pilly to tone and nourish, and an organic vanilla bean scent – and it not only smells fantastic, in an instant it also makes my dry skin especially on my legs feel soft and so thoroughly moisturised, without feeling greasy or sticky.
It also contains a generous sample size with 20ml of river salt & desert lime shower gel, which has the most gorgeous refreshing citrus scent to give you a nice stimulating boost in the morning.

Finally, it also contains a generous sixe of 20ml of mimosa and ginseng body polish, which helps rid the skin of dead skin cells revealing a soft and glowing skin, without being too harsh or drying out the skin.

Everything comes nicely presented in a canvas drawstring back which is perfect to use for packing your hair straightener, hair dryer, or even your ballet flats when you are going away.

RRP: $45 (valued at $65) – Available from Endota Spas, and Endota Spa Online

 

bhave Travel Pack

 

Those of you who read my blog regularly will know that I love love love the products from bhave. They are so amazing, and after just the first wash I can immediately tell the difference in the look and feel of my hair. It not only feels nicer and is easier to manage and style, it also looks healthier and shinier.

And just in time for Xmas, bhave has released a selection of travel packs, which includes shampoo (60ml), conditioner (60ml), Riot Control Oil (15ml), a bhave headband all presented in a clear travel case. As bhave so nicely puts it, "The Professional Hair Care System that ensures your hair behaves even when you don’t". There is an option for normal to dry hair with the Hydrator Shampoo & Conditioner duo, an option for fine hair with the Magnify Shampoo & Conditioner Duo and for very dry and damaged hair, my personal favourite, the Rescue Intense Repair Shampoo & Conditioner Duo. This travel pack is truly amazing for keeping your tresses in top condition for summertime getaways.

RRP: Hydrator or Magnify packs $29.95 each, Rescue pack $34.95 – Available from select salons

Sanctuary Spa Little Luxuries

I have only just recently discovered the Sanctuary Spa products, including the Youth Boosting Facial Warming Micro-Brasion Polish, Essentials Salt Scrub, and Crème Soufflé, and these products are absolutely amazing, so I am loving this gift pack as it is a fantastic way to trial some more of the products from the brand. The pack includes Body Wash (75ml), Body Scrub (50ml), Foaming Bath Soap (75ml), Body Lotion (75ml) and a Luxury Bath Float (75ml) – in other words, everything you’ll need for a pampering session at home. Oh, and did I mention that the products smell absolutely divine!

The products are nicely presented in a gift box, and come at a cheap price that makes this the perfect stocking filler or Kris Kringle/Secret Santa pressie.

RRP: $12.95- Available from Priceline

 

Urban Rituelle Shine So Bright Soy Wax Candle

 

This Christmas is going to be extra special for my little family. This is our baby boys first Christmas, although he will only be 6 months at the time, so too young to really make any sense of it all.

But on top of that, my parents are planning on coming from Europe to visit us, and it is the first time in over ten years that we’ve spent Christmas together, so it truly will be a special time. I will do whatever I can to make sure it will be an exceptional time, and that will include bringing the festive season into our house by burning a Shine So Bright Soy Wax Candle from the Urban Rituelle, which is a soy wax candle highly fragrant with scents of fresh fig and sun-ripened plum.

The candle comes in glass jar in a stunning red and gold gift box, so you don’t even have to wrap it, and as it burns for up to 40 hours, there will be plenty of time to enjoy the amazing scent. As well as a body care products, Urban Rituelle also makes the most amazing home products including scented candles and diffusers.

RRP: $25.95 – Available from Urban Rituelle and select stockists


So there you have it, my first Xmas gift suggestions that I’d personally would be so happy to receive.

As always, if you would like in depth reviews of any of these products, please do let me know in the comments below.

*These products were kindly provided for consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Would do you think of these products? Tried any of them? Would you consider gifting any of these to friend or family member, or maybe yourself?

 

Product Review: Sanctuary Spa Firming Youth Serum

I am at the age where anti-ageing products are a must, and my skin is benefitting greatly from using serums as well. Here are my thoughts on the *Sanctuary Spa Firming Youth Serum;

 

What They Say:

"This firming serum is a crucial stage in the Youth Boosting Facial and delivers a specialised wrinkle-reducing complex that helps strengthen and promote collagen synthesis. Over time the skin looks visibly firmer and lifted, whilst an active shown to lessen muscle contractions reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A blend of antioxidant vitamins and green tea help protect the skin, leaving it feeling hydrated, supple and looking youthful."

 

RRP: $29.99 (30g) – Available from Priceline

What I Say:

I have recently tried a few other products from Sanctuary Spa, including the Crème Soufflé, Essentials Salt Scrub, and Youth Boosting Facial Warming Micro-Brasion Polish, and as all have been amazing products, I was looking forward to testing the Firming Youth Serum as well.

Sanctuary Spa is from the UK, and realised that the brand has been around for over 35 years through a Spa in London’s Covent Garden, although the actual Sanctuary Spa Range wasn’t actually launched until 1998…. And I was in fact living in London in 1998 and did spend a fair bit of time in Covent Garden, so that is possibly why the brand did initially sound somewhat familiar to me.

I also love the fact that Sanctuary Spa is against animal testing and the products are free from parabens.

The Firming Youth Serum comes in a white pump bottle with silver writing, which is simply yet stylish too, although the white bottle means that you cannot see how much serum you have left in the bottle. And as always, I love that it comes with a pump, although that is simple and easy to use, dispensing just the amount of serum you need without wastage.

The serum has a slight floral scent, which is gentle and quickly fades once the serum has absorbed into the skin.

The actual serum is white in colour, and unlike other serums it has a consistency like a very light moisturiser. It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving if feeling soft and smooth, and without leaving the skin feeling greasy. It is quite moisturising, but I still feel the need to use a moisturiser on top. But in saying that, having combination skin, I can imagine that the serum would be sufficient for my skin during the warmer summer months where my skin tends to a bit greasier.

 

Some serums tend to be too greasy on my skin, especially during the day, and consequently mean that my makeup won’t stay put for very long. With the Firming Youth Serum that is not the case making no difference to the longevity of my makeup.

Sanctuary Spa claims that over time the skin looks visibly firmer and lifted, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkle will be reduced.

So how did the serum fare after using it morning and night for about a month?

One of those things that always worry me when using new moisturisers and serums, is that it will make my skin breakout, but I am happy to say that has not been the case.

 

 

As for making my skin looking firmer and lifted, and my wrinkles and lines reduced, I must admit that I do not feel I have seen any major results. I however do feel that my skin is more moisturised, which in itself makes the skin look more firm and less lined as nothing makes lines and wrinkles stand out more than dry skin.

What I Like:

• That it is lightweight and absorbs quickly into my skin
• It doesn’t make my skin break out
• Suitable for use both morning and night, and works perfectly under makeup
• Nice gentle floral scent
• Sanctuary Spa is against animal testing and the products are free from parabens

What I Don’t Like:

• It is reasonably priced for a serum
• While the white bottle is simple and stylish, it is impossible to see how much serum is left in the bottle

Overall, while I did not see any major results in the appearance of my lines, wrinkles and expression lines, it is a lovely serum, and my skin has thoroughly enjoyed getting a moisture boost, without my skin feeling drowned or congested. This serum perfect for those with combination or oilier skin types while those with drier skin probably won’t find it sufficiently moisturising.  

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever heard of the Sanctuary Spa products? Do you ever use serums? What is your favourite serum?

 

Product Review: Sanctuary Spa Youth Boosting Facial Warming Micro-Brasion Polish

Like I’m sure most others do as well, I rarely go to the beauty salon, but tend to do all my beauty treatments at home myself. So I love exploring new products and treatments. Here are my thoughts on the *Sanctuary Spa Youth Boosting Facial Warming Micro-Brasion Polish;

 

What They Say:

"Intense thermal polish to refine and smooth the skin. It combines intense warming to help stimulate circulation, with an ultrafine polish of marine earth and natural kaolin to help leave skin feeling deeply cleansed and refreshed.
Rich beeswax, jojoba and wheat germ help to hydrate and protect, leaving the skin feeling refined, smooth and looking more youthful."

 

RRP: $19.99 (100ml) – Available from Priceline

What I Say:

I have recently tried both the Sanctuary Spa Essentials Salt Scrub, and the Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Crème Soufflé, and really loved both, so I was looking forward to also trying the Warming Micro-Brasion Polish. 

The polish claims to be an Intense thermal polish to dramatically refine and soothe the skin. The heat is to help open pores and stimulate circulation while the polish is to detoxify the skin leaving it feeling cleansed and refreshed.

The Warming Micro-Brasion Polish comes in a very girly pink box with silver edging and black writing, and inside you find the simple white tube with silver writing. The tube has a flip lid, making it easy to get just the amount of polish needed, and I also love that it has been designed to stand on its lid so that the product drops down as you use it, making it easier to completely empty the tube.

It has been fragranced with plant extracts and essential pols and smells nice and pleasant, yet without being too overpowering. The polish is also free from parabens, as well as it has not been tested on animals, which instantly makes me give it a few bonus points!

The actual polish is a white is cream containing the tiny beads, and because of the cream containing natural koalin clay, it is at first glance somewhat similar to a mud mask.

As recommended  I start massaging a small amount of the polish into my damp face in circular motions concentrating on the t-zone area, including the forehead, nose and chin, and I can instantly feel the heat developing. The polish has just the right amount of scrubbing beads, enough to make you feel that it is buffing away the dead skin cells, but not too much making if feel harsh.

Once done massaging my face with the polish, I leave it on my face – the instructions on the tube and box recommends to relax and leave it on the face to let the heat draw out impurities, but it doesn’t actually say for how long to leave it – so I decide to leave it on my face for 5-10 minutes.

The heat continues to develop for a bit, but still the warmth feels comfortable, and never at any stage do I feel that it is uncomfortable – actually I find it rather relaxing. You can really feel all the pores opening up, and the clay drawing out all the impurities.

Afterwards the polish is easy to wash off the face with lukewarm water, and once I’ve dried off my face, I notice that it is a little red – not from the polish being too harsh, but from the heat that developed. But at the same time my skin feels so baby soft and smooth. And after adding moisturiser – which by the way just absorbs instantly, my face quickly calms down, and now has a healthy glow.

After having used the polish several times, I feel that my skin is clearer and less oily, especially in the t-zone area, and my skin simply looks glowing and healthy – almost as if I have just had a professional facial, and at just $19.99 for a large 100ml tube, which will give you countless treatments, how good value is that!!!

The instructions recommend using it three times per week, but not on consecutive days, and then reduce to twice a week as the complexion improves. However I have to say that, even though I do not have sensitive skin, I do I find using it three times per week is a little over the top, twice per week is more than sufficient, so if you do have sensitive skin, I could imagine that once per week would be sufficient for you.

All in all this is a great mask, and I love that it is a multi-tasking product being both an exfoliator and a deep cleansing mask at the same time. I will enjoy using the rest of the tube, and certainly repurchase again.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the products from Sanctuary Spa? Have you tried using an at-home micro-brasion polish?

 

Product Review: Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Crème Soufflé

I don’t normally have dry skin on my body, but being almost 36 weeks pregnant, I have noticed my skin being a bit drier than usual. And of course it doesn’t help that autumn has really set in now (last night it was a mere 4 degrees here in Melbourne, brrrrrrr!). But even when I don’t feel I have dry skin, I never ever skip using a body moisturiser when I’ve showered. Here are my thoughts on The *Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Crème Soufflé;

What They Say:
"Sanctuary Spa’s Spa Essentials Crème Soufflé instantly softens the skin. It has a whipped texture with mango, jojoba and red seaweed for silky skin. With a nourishing balance of jojoba and mango extract, the soufflé will protect and restore with red seaweed and vitamin E for a soft, smooth finish."

RRP: $19.99 (475ml) – Available from Priceline

What I Say:

I recently reviewed the Sanctuary Spa Salt Scrub, and absolutely loved it, so I also had very high hopes for the Crème Soufflé.

The Crème Soufflé is a light a fluffy cream that contains among others a nourishing balance of jojoba and mango extract with the protective and restorative powers of red seaweed and vitamin E to soak in fast for a smooth, soft finish.

The Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Crème Soufflé comes in a large cream coloured plastic tub with a bright orange screw lid, which makes it look great in the bathroom too. The tub makes it easy to scoop out the cream, as well as it make it possible to completely use every last bit of cream. Unfortunately the cream had not been sealed with a foil lid, which would nice so you know that it has not been opened and contaminated prior to you purchasing it.

The Crème Soufflé, has a lovely light fluffy consistency that is easy to apply to the body, and spreads easily, instantly absorbs into the skin, making it feel thoroughly hydrated and soft, and without leaving behind any greasy feeling or residue. And the skin stays hydrated for the day, looking and feeling great. It is very concentrated so you only need to use a little too.

It smells absolutely divine of mango, one of my favourite fruits, yet it is still quite subtle, although it does linger on the skin for quite a while afterwards. But as I’m really loving this scent, I do love that it continues to make my skin smell incredible – although does mean that I cannot stop smelling my skin, LOL! In saying that, the scent on the skin, is still so subtle that it doesn’t clash with my perfume.

After using the Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Crème Soufflé for a few weeks, I am so in love with the cream. My skin feels so soft, smooth and moisturised, and I am still loving the gorgeous scent.

At just $19.95 this is an absolute bargain buy, considering the large tub of cream you get – as well as it is of such a great quality. I will most definitely be buying another tub when I run out. I am seriously in love!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever used any of the products from Sanctuary Spa? What is your preferred body cream? And do you prefer neutral or scented ones?

 

Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Essentials Salt Scrub

Nothing beats using a good body scrub. It not only gets rid of all the dead skin cells, making the skin softer and more glowing, it also helps prevent ingrown hairs, and is perfect for use before self-tanners. Here are my thoughts on the *Sanctuary Spa Essentials Salt Scrub;

What They Say:

"Sanctuary Spa Essentials Salt Scrub is enriched with sea salt that polishes the skin and leaves it feeling moisturised. The sea salt is sourced from the famous Dead Sea - the salt is blended with oils of jojoba, coconut and almond to make up the scrub. The oils soak into the skin to leave it fragranced, while the salt gently exfoliates dead cells to stimulate and promote cell renewal."

RRP: $19.99 (650g) – Available from Priceline

What I Say:

This is the first time I’ve ever tried any products from Sanctuary Spa so I was quite excited. And as I knew very little about the brand, I decided to look into it a little, and I discovered that the brand is from the UK, and realised that the brand has been around for over 35 years through a Spa in London’s Covent Garden, although the actual Sanctuary Spa Range wasn’t actually launched until 1998…. And I was in fact living in London in 1998 and did spend a fair bit of time in Covent Garden, so that is possibly why the brand did initially sound somewhat familiar to me.

I love the packaging of the Sanctuary Spa Essentials Salt Scrub. It comes in a simple but stylish looking clear preservative style plastic jar, which looks like it is made from glass. It has a flip lid with a metal hinge, and the opening is large enough for you to dip your hand into it and take out a scoop. And the design of the jar makes it easy to use up every last bit of scrub, so that is always a positive.

The actual scrub is creamy in colour and feels nice and gritty, and is a mixture of oils including sweet almond, wheat germ, evening primrose,  coconut, and jojoba, which combined help soften and soothe the skin, while moisturise and protecting it mimicking the action of sebum, which is the skins own lubricant. It also contains sea salt from the Dead Sea, which removes dead cells to improve cell turn over to leave the skin feeling smooth and soft and more radiant.

I do find that the salt settles at the bottom, so you need to mix it around a little with your hand before use.  The scrub is very concentrated so just a small handful of the scrub is more than enough to use on my whole body, and as you massage it over your body, you can instantly feel the scrub doing its magic. It is exfoliating, but without being too harsh on the skin. It just feels so amazing and luxurious while the gorgeous scent spreads through the shower and bathroom. It’s like creating a spa in your very own bathroom!

After rinsing, the skin feels so soft and smooth, and thoroughly hydrated. In fact, it actually feels a little oily, even after drying off with a towel, so it may be possible to skip using a body lotion afterwards, but for me that is simply a habit.

Using the scrub once or twice a week for a few weeks has left my skin feeling and looking so much softer and more glowing. Gone are the dry shins.

As it doesn’t feel harsh on the skin, and as it is so moisturising, I can only imagine that it would be suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive and dry skin – although keep in mind that as this is a salt scrub, if you have any cuts or scratches on your skin, it will naturally sting a little.

Although the Salt Scrub does contain perfume, it still has a lovely and gently natural invigorating orangey scent, which is far from overpowering. And once out of the shower, and dried off, there is still a lovely subtle scent on my skin.

My only negative about this scrub is that it does leave a little bit of a mess in the shower with remaining salt at the bottom of the shower, and not to mention that the shower does feel a little slippery from the oil, so just a word of caution of being extra careful of not slipping in the shower when using it, and also making sure to carefully rinse the shower after use too so your partner doesn’t slip either!

At just $19.99 for a large tub of salt scrub, this makes fantastic value for such a high quality product.  I will thoroughly enjoy using the rest of the Salt Scrub, and I will definitely consider buying it again.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever heard of the Sanctuary Spa products? Do you ever use a salt body scrub? What is your favourite body scrub?