Review: Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Hi everyone,

I have decided to review a product from Caudalie that I used to use when I first getting into skincare around seven or eight years ago. This was my first introduction into the Caudalie brand all those years ago.

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir can be used for a number of different purposes such as a setting spray, make up refresher or a facial spray that can be used to calm your nerves when your feeling a little stressed or anxious. It has a lovely calming fragrance of lavender and peppermint, which will help you to relax once it has been sprayed.

Claims

- A multi tasking face mist that sets make up, tones and tightens pores, and it also gives the skin an instant boost of radiance.

- The Beauty Elixir has a unique and invigorating formula that has been inspired by the Youth Elixir of the Queen of Hungary back in the 16th Century.

- Made of 100% natural origin ingredients, as well as powerful plant extracts. The complexion receives an instant radiance boost, while also tightening the pores, and smoothing fine lines and make up creases.

- The aromatic fragrance is both uplifting and calming for the mind and senses

Green Grape - Helps to boost radiance and adds moisture to the skin

Peppermint Essential Oil - Helps to tone and awaken the skin

Rose Essential Oil - Anti shine and helps to add glow to the complexion

Rosemary Essential Oil - Is both anti inflammatory and antibacterial

Myrrhe Oil - Helps to tone the skin

This is lovely facial spray to use whether it is just for a little pick-me-up, to help you relax or another thing I have used it for is before I go to bed to help me to sleep a little better. I also like that it contains essential oils within the formula to help aid the relaxation. It's a lovely facial spray with a fine mist.

Review: Pixi Overnight Glow Serum

Hi everyone,

I have been using the Pixi Overnight Glow Serum for around six months, and I really enjoy using it as part of my Sunday facial routine. But, I do only use this once a week, as its an intense glycolic serum.

Claims
- Exfoliates and soothes the skin overnight
- Reveals a brighter complexion
- Helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and fades sun spots over time
- It helps to calm the skin, as its enriched with cucumber and aloe vera
- To nourish the skin it has vitamins A, C and E

The Pixi Overnight Glow Serum is a serum, but with a gel formula, and its also a concentrated serum because it contains 10% glycolic acid and arginine; so it might not be suitable for people with sensitive skin.

The aim of the Pixi Overnight Glow serum is to even out the skin's complexion, as well as making the skin itself look more radiant, and it does all this while you sleep.

This is a lovely, but intensive glycolic serum and this is why I only use it once a week. Also, a little bit goes a long way - no more than two drops of this at the most. The Overnight Glow Serum gets to work straight away, as you feel it tingling once it has been applied. The tingling sensation might feel a bit strange and intense when you first use it, but your skin will slowly get used to it. In the morning when you wake up you still may feel some tingling - nothing to worry about, just make sure that you cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin as normal, and then apply SPF.

The first time I used this the tingling was fairly intense, and I actually ended using a drop or two too much. Because of overdoing it the first time I actually ended up with plumper lips than usual, but this only lasted for around a day at the most. Over the past few months my skin has adapted to using this product, and its also slowly benefiting as well because when I wake up thr following morning my redness seems to have calmed down quite a bit. I've also noticed that my skin seems brighter than what it was before I started the Pixi Glow Serum.

The Real Thing Review

Cast

Gerald Kyd - Henry
Sarah Ball - Charlotte
Marianne Oldham - Annie
Simon Scardifield - Max
Adam O'Brian - Billy
Georgina Leonidas - Debbie
Sandy Bachelor - Brodie

I went to see 'The Real Thing' at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds on the 24th May 2012, and I went to the 1.30pm performance.

Overview

Henry is a brilliant playwright. With his wife Charlotte in the starring role, his new play examines the complexity of love and infidelity.
      Henry's reality and fiction blur when passions ignite and his own marriage becomes entwined with that of Charlotte's co-star Max and his wife Annie. As Henry struggles to write a new work, the players in this game of deceit and lust are all searching. But can any of them find The Real Thing?

Act One of 'The Real Thing' is very fast paced, very funny with a few dramatic elements thrown in. The dramatic elements take place within the  opening scene between Max and Charlotte; as he accuses Charlotte of having an affair and he is proven right. But the opening scene is in fact a scene from Henry's new play 'House of Cards'.
      The second scene is a mix of both comical and dramatic elements. The comedy elements take place between Annie and Henry; as she asks him for "A quick one on the carpet", even though Henry is married to Charlotte and this takes place in Henry and Charlotte's home. Another comedy element occurs when the discussion takes place about Charlotte's and Henry's daughter, Debbie.
     My favourite scene from Act One was when Henry describes how difficult it is to write about love, as he's more used to writing comedy. So, instead he helps Annie to rehearse her upcoming play, which is in Glasgow. I also really enjoyed how Act One finished; as it ended with the Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 BWV 1007.

In Act Two I really enjoyed watching the cricket bat scene; as Annie thought Henry was going a bit mad. But, Henry used the cricket bat to describe the difference between good and bad writing. Another scene that I enjoyed watching was when Henry was helping Annie to rehearse Brodie's play. Also, during this scene I enjoyed listening to Gerald's Scottish accent, as he was impersonating Brodie.
    I found two scenes hard to watch; the first scene was between Henry and his daughter Debbie, as it brought back loads of memories. The second scene was when Henry found out about Billy.
   Later in the second act we find out that both Henry and Billy think the same about Brodie's play, which is that he can't write. Also, when you come to meet Brodie in the final scenes, he isn't the nicest of people to meet.

I really enjoyed my first visit to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, as everyone made me feel very welcome. The whole day was an enjoyable experience and I'm hoping to go back to the Playhouse again in the future.