New Year Skincare Additions from Fragrance Direct


Well, I can safely say that January wasn't the best of months! Along with it being generally dark and gloomy I had a washing machine breakdown crisis, bills coming out of my ears and the overall feeling that I wanted to dive under my duvet cover and hibernate until spring (January blues have anyone else feeling like this?!) I'm all about a new year and a new start, but it's a shame it has to start in such a miserable kinda month. However one of the good things that came out of January is that I'm feeling really quite organised right now and have revamped lots of different areas in my life. One thing that I've been enjoying is my new skincare routine; towards the end of 2014 I was using quite a mish mash of products, I was focused on using up what I could of my 'half used products' stash and saving some of the nicer things for the start of this year. On top of the bits and pieces I put away I also received this amazing goodie box* from Fragrance Direct to take part in their new year skincare campaign. Fragrance Direct is just the place to go when you're looking to update your beauty products, with their huge discounts you get much more for your money (which is always a good thing when it comes to skincare- we all know how quickly it can add up!)

 "Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask restores the glow to dulled complexions"
I love a good face mask, they're a staple all year round but especially for this time of year when keeping a bit of moisture in your skin is a daily battle. This is the type of product that you can feel a dramatic difference after just one use, Elemis describes it as a 'powerful rejuvinating mask' and I can honestly say they're spot on with that. Containing active extracts of strawberry and kiwi it not only restores a glowing complexion but deep cleanses and improves the tone of your skin. You definitely know you've used a high end mask after washing this off!

"Contains natural plant collagens to feed the skin whilst keeping it soft and supple"
Containing milk proteins, vitamins, amino acids, collagen and minerals, this is a creamy lotion that you pour into a running bath every other day. Perfect for hot winter evening baths to hydrate dry skin, plus it has a lovely salon/ high end kind of luxury scent.

Elemis Cellutox Active Body Oil: £24.99 (RRP £32.50)
"This powerful synergy of essential oils is the perfect body detox."
This is a moisturising body oil that you apply after the bath. It works to hydrate the skin and improve the appearance of cellulite, the directions state to rub in gently over problem areas (not an issue, I have plenty of those!) It's a beautifully light oil that absorbs quickly and doesn't leave you feeling greasy or sticky, plus it smells incredible too- very citrusy and fresh. A great 'new year skincare' kind of product as I think most of us are trying to target problem areas at the moment.

"Clarins Energy Kick Start Travel Set, small travel sizes, to give you an Energy Kick Start."
 This little kit is such a bargain, down from £30 to just £9.99! If you have a holiday booked and are thinking about products to take with you this is a good one to consider: you get a cleanser, a toner and a moisturiser so a mini skincare routine just within this set. While they're only mini bottles you still get a generous amount inside so would easily last you for a couple of weeks while you were away.

Elemis Lime and Ginger Salt Glow: £29.99 (RRP 36.50)
"Invigorating sea salt infused with stimulating oils exfoliates & tones the body, boosting metabolism"
This is definitely the thing that caught my eye when I opened the box, it's beautifully packaged and not to mention huge for a high end product. And it didn't disappoint once I tried it out either, in fact this is my new favourite bath time product- the salts are bound with oils which means it's not simply falling off your skin and sticks well so you can really get in there and give your skin a good scrub. Way better than any other body exfoliator I've ever tried, it comes at a hefty price but if you feel like treating yourself I cant recommend it enough. My skin feels smoother than it's felt in years, I'm going to keep this for once a month pamper nights!

Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm £3.99 (RRP £4.99)
"A hydrating lip balm with Vitamin E and Aloe. Slant tip for easy application, and SPF15"
A good lip balm is a winter skincare necessity; give it a miss and you'll end up with cracked, chapped and painful lips pretttty quickly! Both of the lip balms in this box are some of the best I've ever tried, I'm usually not a fan of stick formats as I find they can be quite hard and waxy but these are soft and amazingly moisturising. Both of these leave a slight pink tint on the lips, which I've got to admit I'm not the biggest fan of with lip balms. But they're quite subtle and for the hydration they give I can overlook it. I'm not able to find the Burts Bees one on the site at the moment but I suppose that's the thing with Fragrance Direct, when the prices are so low things don't stick around forever and so if you like the look of something it's well worth taking the plunge and grabbing it while you can! If you're suffering with dry lips and nothing seems to be working, both of these are well worth a try if you can get hold of them.

Have you tried any of these products? Hows your new year skincare routine going?