Mixing up your Cult Beauty Box

I've had quite a few comments/questions from people that purchased the current Cult Beauty Box about how to best mix/match the contents so please forgive a quick post addressed primarily to them. 

(Regular service and LOADS of exciting announcements coming. :) EEK)

AM Cleanse:

You can use either Pixi, Tata or MV Organics as your morning cleanse - all skin types, no issues.

If you want to you can exfoliate with OSKIA as well.  I would cleanse first then exfoliate, then acid. (Not with these DG pads - your normal 'acid' toners.)

Then you spritz with May. 

For sensitive/reddened/annoyed skins you will get the most benefit from using MV Organics for the AM cleanse until it subsides a little. Once you notice a difference you can add in Tata if you want to.

PM Cleansing:

This is where you can really go to town and mix it up.

Please note: these are suggestions - if you are using the products in a different way and it's working for you, that's brilliant. As always, do what works for you.

Dry skins:

• 1st Cleanse - Sonya Dakar on eyes if wearing heavy makeup, then Pixi or Tata
• 2nd Cleanse - Tata or MV Organics
• Exfoliate if you want to with OSKIA
• Pads - twice a week - alternate with your normal acids
• Spritz with May

Dehydrated skins:

For three days:

• Use Sonya on eyes if applicable, then double cleanse with Tata
• Pads - twice a week - otherwise alternate with your normal acids
• Spritz liberally - Jasmine Garden is massively hydrating and wonderful under your serums and moisturisers

On day four:

• Sonya if needed, then either Pixi or Tata for makeup/SPF removal
• Exfoliate with OSKIA
• Follow with one of the Dennis Gross pads
• Spritz with May
• Serum etc....

Continue using any of the products after day four.

Sensitive/Rosacea skins:

• 1st Cleanse - Sonya/Tata
• 2nd Cleanse - MV Organics
• Dennis Gross Pads twice a week are fine on sensitive skins. The products aren't heavily acidic, they're anti-ageing.
• Spritz liberally with Jasmine Garden - and keep it close by throughout the day

Once skin feels calmer, introduce Pixi as a 1st Cleanse on a rotating basis with the others.

Oily/Combination Skins:

All of the cleansers can be used in the ways above on oily/combination skins. The only exception is Pixi, if you have open, active acne, it will possibly be aggravated trying to remove with the cloths. You'll knock heads off and cause bleeding if you're too rough, same as with any oilier balm.
If you have spots that haven't come to a head or are past their 'angry' stage, you're good to go.


I hope that helps, but feel free to leave any comments below and I'll try and get back to you in a speedy fashion.


And as an aside, and in answer to your questions, yes Cult Beauty have their Goodie Bag promotion on at the moment and yes the Box is included in the promotion. The Goodie Bag is added automatically into your basket at checkout.

The Cult Beauty Box is available here: www.cultbeauty.co.uk/caroline-hirons 

Sneak peek into the Cult Beauty Box No. 1

MV Organic Skincare 9 Oil Skin Tonic - this beautiful cleansing oil is suitable for all skin types and beautiful on the skin.
And it's in the box.
Full size.

Join the waiting list here: www.cultbeauty.co.uk/cult-beauty-box-caroline-hirons

MV Organics Gentle Cream Cleanser and Rose Smoothing and Protecting Moisturiser - review by London Makeup Girl

Long-time blog readers will remember the lovely Lydia from London Makeup Girl. Blogging as Grace London until last year, LMG was one of the first blogs that I read and Lydia was one of the original crowd of people that encouraged me to start blogging. Her blog was intelligent, eloquent and always very well thought out. In the current world of 'press release cut and pasting', LMG left a big gap. I have been trying to get Lydia to write guest posts for me for a while - her specialty/interest is/was organic/all things natural (genuinely natural) - something that I enjoy, but not a prerequisite for me to use/blog about. I know, however, that a large number of you are completely passionate about that area of skincare so I thought you'd appreciate another opinion and slightly more regular postings from that domain. Below is what I hope to be the first of many posts from Lydia. Who knows - maybe we can persuade her to come back to us. (PS: Just in case it needs saying - you can assume that I endorse Lydia's reviews - I'd happily let her go skincare shopping on my behalf)

I’m Lydia and I used to write a blog called London Makeup Girl. Work and life has gotten in the way of regular blogging for me (I hear you - CH), but Caroline has kindly invited me to guest post on her turf about my favourite natural* skincare products.

Sometimes there seems to be a high-tech v natural skincare divide. I think it’s similar to how you might approach nutrition/diet - you can eat scientifically designed supplements and vitamins or a variety of organic produce. In either case, you’ll likely be healthier than if you lived on nothing but junk food. A combination of the two is often no bad thing.

I like natural skincare because I prefer a gentle, long term approach to healthy skin. My skin also tends to react badly to too many silicones, and they are easier to avoid in natural brands. So, that’s enough about me and my tao of skincare. The products I’m reviewing today are from MV Organic Skincare.

The Gentle Cream Cleanser is a thick cream cleanser - a bit thicker than a cold cream, and definitely more cream than lotion. I use one or two pumps on dry skin, but then I wet my fingertips to massage the cleanser over my skin as per the instructions. This makes it much easier to spread; if you don't use damp fingers you'll either drag the skin or need to use (and waste) a load of cleanser. It has a gentle citrus scent (from the mandarin essential oil). I remove with a wet flannel, and then splash with cold water. This cleanser takes off eye makeup efficiently (I don't wear waterproof mascara, but it can remove a Bobbi Brown Gel eyeliner with no problems).

Ingredients:

Water, Camellia (Camellia Oleifera) Oil*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vegetable Glycerin*, Olive (Olea Europaea) Fruit Oil*, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitamin E non GM (Tocopherol), Xanthan Gum, Honeysuckle (Lonicera Caprifolium & Lonicera Japonica) Extract, With essential oils of: Rose, Chamomile and Mandarin *, Potassium Sorbate, 

* Organically Grown

The Rose Smoothing and Protective Moisturiser is a thick white cream that has a subtle rose fragrance. I use half a pump for my face and the same again for my neck and upper chest. I find it applies best over skin that's slightly damp with toner - I like the MV Organics Rose Hydrating Mist, Live Native Essential Mist MSM Toner or Organic Pharmacy Rose Facial Spritz. It's a good base for makeup and doesn't leave the skin feeling or looking greasy if you use the correct amount. It's also very good mixed with a couple of drops of facial treatment oil for drier skin; the MV Organic Booster oils work well, so does Sunday Riley Juno (review on that coming soon) and the De Mamiel Seasonal Oils.

Ingredients:

Water, Camellia (Camellia Sinensis) Oil*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerin*, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinesis) Seed Oil*, Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Oil, Vitamin E non GM (Tocopherol), Honeysuckle (Lonicera Caprifolium & Lonicera Japonica) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, With essential oil of: Rose Otto and Rose Geranium     

* Organically Grown

These are good, simple products; they are very easy and no-fuss to use, and are particularly good on inherently sensitive skin or skin that has been riled up by a change of climate or harsh skincare. I also like that you can purchase 15ml travel/trial sizes before you invest in full sizes.

I purchased mine from www.beingcontent.com (most of my skincare comes from Content). There's more information on the MV Organic website at www.mvskincare.com.

*I use the term ‘Natural’ as shorthand for skincare based on plant oils/extracts, often organic. I know, not everything that is natural is good for you. 

12 Days of Giveaways. Day Nine. Cult Beauty Top 5 of 2013

Cult Beauty are one of my favourite e-tailers and continue to bring it with brilliant products sourced from all over the world - it's easy to get lost in their site - and hard not to spend your cash.

I asked Alexia Inge, the co-founder of Cult Beauty, for her Top 5 picks of 2013 - and she didn't disappoint.

Cult Beauty's Giveaway includes....

MV Organic Skincare, Rose Plus Booster – The best rose oil in the business. It smells intoxicatingly good, not the cloyingly sweet rose you find with cheaper sources, and has the sort of compatibility with skin that founds a lifetime partnership. If I ever have ‘issues' with my skin from testing too many products MV is the range I reach for. (one of my products of the year - CH) 

Ying Yu, Double Jade Face Roller –  Hand carved from Jade, the stone used in Chinese medicine to dispel toxins, this both exercises your facial muscles and helps drain your facial lymph system. Also when one has over indulged, rolling a fridge-fresh one of these on your temples is one down from dialysis for soothing a hangover.

Therapie, Himalayan Detox Salts – Therapie founder, Michelle Roques O’Neil, used the old tactic of giving me my first pot free, now I’m hooked! I’ll probably have to start a life of crime to fund this growing habit (she’s just released a new one), but at least I’ll come at it with an amazing night’s sleep, a toxin-free body and clear head.

DJV Beautenizer, Fiberwig – My daily mascara, it’s a lovely glossy black formula with nylon fibres that add incredible length. It doesn’t flake or budge because it is a co-polymer (liquid plastic rather than a paint like more mascaras) and to remove you soak your lashes in warm water and it slides off in tubes so there's less lash damage too.

Jouer Cosmetics - In The Red Kit - A true marriage of convenience, Jouer unite make up and skin care in a house built of super-slick, ingenious packaging. I'm addicted to the velvety textures and easy-to-blend formulations and this carefully curated palette is the perfect way to discover the joy of Jouer.

Wowzers. HUGE thank you to Cult Beauty for offering this giveaway.

(non-affiliate links)

To WIN simply:

• Leave a comment below (Because of hideous spam, I approve all comments and will be asleep for the first 6 hours of this giveaway, please don't worry if your comment doesn't show - no need to send it more than once.)
• Giveaway closes at 11.59pm this evening (18th)
• Open Internationally.
• By entering this giveaway you are confirming that you have read the Giveaway T&C's.

My Cult Beauty Top 10, a chance to win some of them and 10% off!

I know from your emails and comments that Cult Beauty is a shopping mecca for some of you - they recently asked me to collate my Top 10 skincare choices from their edited selection of top beauty finds from around the globe.

A sneak preview of some that made the cut...

Cult Beauty are offering one lucky reader the chance to win 5 of my Top 10 - simply email competitions@cultbeauty.co.uk with your chosen 5 and one winner will be chosen at random after the closing date....

Also: upon entering, ALL entries will be sent an email from Cult Beauty with a specific 10% discount code just for them - just for entering.....

You can find my Cult Beauty Top 10 here.

My T&C's/Disclosure:

• Entries are to be emailed to competitions@cultbeauty.co.uk - any comments left below will not be eligible for entry.
• I have received no payment for this competition
• I have no personal affiliation with Cult Beauty
• No affiliate links used
• Sunday Riley is one of my clients - but I don't work with bad product :) and I was not asked to participate in this by Sunday Riley
• I cannot be held responsible for any products being unavailable at the time of sending 

Cult Beauty T&C's:

• By entering the prize draw you agree to these terms and conditions. 
• You will be entered into Cult Beauty’s free prize draw with the chance to win your choice of 5 of Caroline's Top 10 Skin Care products as stated in her blog. 
• Customers may only sign up once. 
• One winner will be drawn at random by an independent person. The winner will be notified in writing no later than one week after the prize draw has closed – Midnight Monday 9th September 2013. 
• Prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and non-negotiable. There is no cash alternative. 
• Plus all entries will be emailed a 10% discount code to spend on their first order from cultbeauty.co.uk after competition has closed. 
• By entering, you agree that your email address will be used to keep you informed about Cult Beauty news, products and promotions, you can easily unsubscribe from this with one click on the unsubscribe buttom at the bottom of any of our communications. 
• Cult Beauty reserves the right to (i) cancel ‘Prize Draw’, (ii) refuse any individual’s entry and (iii) amend the terms and conditions. Promoter: Cult Beauty Limited: Registered office: 38 – 39, St. John’s Lane, London. EC1M 4BJ