The 2016 Resolutions edition: #BUDGETIZE (somewhat) with Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme Mask

Resolutions often have something to do with #budgetizing or spending less on luxury goods. 

 Oh, and so we like love the little me time when you can pamper with gorgeously scented products that make you glow like nothing else? I mean, there is often the new diet or that epic new workout schedule: can't we get some pampering as a reward?

I found this little new hairgem that not only peforms at that ridiculously Philip B Russian Amber Conditioning cream; it even smells like it!

Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme has been an upgrade or a version on speed from their already well-performing Phytokeratine line. And lets add the wonderful golden packaging...

 -the outside-

 

When opening the can, there is a pastlike substance that looks like a golden yellow. This is similar as the Philip B. one.

The formula of the mask is quite past-like. Thicker masks are often more concentrated, and they are handy for handluggage air travel.

-the inside-

 I have been so generous to highlight the ingredients that I find beneficial to hair-care.

Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme Mask ingredients:

Formule INCI:  paeonia officinalis flower extract (Peony flower), cetearyl alcohol (derived from coconut oil), isodecyl neopentanoate, dicetyldimonium chloride (dérivé de colza), stearyl alcohol (dérivé d'huile de coco), isodecyl, neopentanoate, dicetyldimonium chloride, aqua, pouteria sapota seed butter (beurre de sapotier), sipalmitoylhetyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate, mauritia flexuosa fruit ouil (buriti oil), isopropyl alcohol, ceteareth-33 (dérivé d'huile de coco), glyceryl stearate, parfum, ceteareth-20 (dérivé d'huile de coco), polyquaternium-10 (dérivé de celullose de bois), ricinomidopropyltrimonium methosulfate, adansonia digitata seed oil (baobab oil), panthenol (provitamine B5), hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein (proteines from corn, soja, wheat), tocopherol, phenoxyethanol, citric acid, caprylyl glycol, tetrasodium edta, maltodextrine (pomme de terre), CI 75470/carmine, methylchloroisothiazoline, methylisothiazolinone.

Peony flower extract is also a prime ingredient in Klorane Peony Shampoo and is claimed to have anti-irritant, soothing and anti-radical properties. It is also often used in Chinese medicine. 

Sapote Butter has high lipid replenishing power and is infused with 2 times more omega 6 extract than shea butter.

I really like the pure version of buriti and baobab oil and I have used them for hair.

The hydrolized wheat proteins (glutenfree people beware) is claimed to "biomimetic properties that replicate natural keratin" so "it works very precisely to fill in the gaps and rebuild the initial architecture of hair".

Philip B. Russian Amber Conditioning Creme Ingredients: 

 Water/Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Benzyl Benzoate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Stearalkonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Lactate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Glycine, Alanine, Myristic Acid, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Phytantriol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polysorbate 20, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract/Chamomilla Recutita, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract/Rosmarinus Officinalis, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract/Salvia Officinalis, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract/Urtica Dioica, Styrax Benzoin Resin Oil, Benzaldehyde, Cinnamic Acid, Coniferyl Benzoate, Vanillin, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil/Vitis Vinifera, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Citronellol, Caramel, Bismuth Oxychloride/CI 77163, Yellow 5 /CI 19140

Philip B has a concoction of more expensive ingredients. Funnily, I could not find amber oil in this list, but that might be my lack of latin plantnames.

I find that Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme has more natural ingredients and the chemicals are limited to the ones that can be derived from plants. I also love the addition of soothing Peony flower extract. True, you will seldom use a conditioning mask close to the scalp as it weights down hair too much, but I really loved it in the shampoo version of Phytokeratine Extreme. 

-price-

Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme mask retails for €35.90 for 200ml over here. Philip B Russian Amber conditioning cream retails for a whopping $150 for 178 ml.

-results-

 I have been using the sample mask recently, but it really is a heavy duty performer. I love it on my dryer strands and it does feel silky, smooth, shiny and well-conditioned afterwards. For healthy stands I find it a bit too heavy: the hairs around my face felt limp for being oversaturised.
*
I cannot tell too much about the long-term results but I am happy to have found a rather natural alternative on adding keratine to my hair. I still depend on my pricey Alterna Fill & Fix mask for my protein fix, but that is an additional step in restoring my hair. Overal,  Phytokeratine Extreme Mask is a well-scented alternative and feels a lot like Philip B Creme conditioner.

Hence, for budgetizing on beauty there are a variety of options to find a good alternative for your (over)pricey treat.

January Clean & Calm

My apologies for the lack of updates. My skin gotten in some kind of January strike which made me question every calming solution I had in my skin-robe. Right now I am still struggling for a bit of skin-peace but I found myself going for a cleaner regime.

I'm trying out this pure water from AS.AP in the calming distilation of lavender, and my skin seems to tolerate it. I have to use it a couple of days to see a positive effect but I'm already glad with the neutral (not making things worse) effect.

However, I'm not completely convinced by everything organic 'miracle' and sometimes the addition of essential oils are not the best match. So I'm still reaching for some calming solutions from French Pharmacies:

 Homeoplasmine is actually a whole bunch of vaseline with a hint of calendula & some other ingredients. Like anything homeopathic the key in into quantity and not quality of the healing aspect (calendula). Avène Cicalfate is another cleam suited for post-operation (dermatologic) skin and it is as innoffensive as anything.

So this explains my lack of posts for the time being. I have not been feeling the makeup-vibe for a while (except concealing) because I felt like eliminating everything that could give me a reaction. But I miss the fun of makeup so I hope to be actively blogging about it soon :-)

The Affordable Jasmine: May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden vs Taaj Paris Rasayana Rose & Jasmine

Lately I noticed that everyone slightly beautyblogger is venturing organic. That includes an intense stream of hypes around certain products, reading claims about products being "best thing ever". It's kinda fun when you search for the tag reading such a post, and check if the reviewer has been giving out such 'lifechanging' claims before. Or everything is "best thing ever" until the "next thing ever"?

Yeh, I'm taking my reviews with a pinch of salt but I had been quite curious about May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden. Instead I bought myself The Parisian Taaj Rasayana Rose & Jasmine Face mist first. I mean, I like spending on beauty, but a €60 on a facial mist is just way too much for me. When Cultbeauty had this gorgeous GWP deal, zeeee May Lindstrom Jasmine Garden, I caved.

 *

Best Price: Taaj

Taaj is € 9 online whereas May Lindstrom is € 60. 

Also, price per value: Taaj is 200 ml & May Lindstrom 100 ml

*

Best Ingredients: depends

Ingedients are a personal matter and what works for some, might not work for others. Both brands have certified organic ingredients: Taaj mentions it is 99% and May Lindstrom gave its certified ingredients a *: but did you notice the Theobroma Cacao did not get a * for being a Certified Organic Ingredient?

In that case, Taaj is slightly more transparent:

Then there is the debate of using Jasmine extract (May Lindstrom) or Jasmine Oil (Taaj). May Lindstrom included silver (Argentum Metallic) quite high in the ingredient list, which is claimed to be the next best thing. On the other team, Taaj included Rosa Damascena oil which has already been proven variously to be a potent anti-ageing ingredient.

Personally, I like that Taaj kept its ingredients simple: less ingredients, less chance of irritations. Also, I really like Rose as an ingredient: it smells so nice & soothing. Initially, I liked the cacao note in May Lindstrom but I noticed it won't agree with me on sensitive [skin]days.

*

Packaging: May Lindstrom (but Taaj for convenience)

May Lindstrom has a beautiful but heavier glass bottle that is recycable.  Taaj comes in a plastic, blue bottle: perhaps not the most environmentally friendly option but honestly, it does travel slightly lighter.

*

The Story: May Lindstrom (but Taaj if you don't like exaggerating)

For that bit of escapism, we do like a good story with our skincare.

Taaj offer us Himalaya water and has also been one of the first with Ayuveda skincare:

May Lindstrom has gone the extra mile by giving us such gorgeous descriptions and rituals that it will be like getting even closer to heaven than Himalaya water:

Then you'd pay for those wordly ticklings as well.

*
Overal:

I still think skincare is a personal experience. Even more when you bring scent, essential oils and face sprays into the game: those steps are more ritual than actual skin-improving methods (though they still have an effect on skin). 

I would not have paid full price for May Lindstrom the Jasmine Garden. Something in that spray does not agree with my skin when it has a sensitive moment. I think it is the cacao. My skin does agree with Taaj Rasayana Rose & Jasmine and I love the mixture of Jasmine & Rose. 

Availability:

Taaj Rose & Jasmine is available at easyparapharmacie.fr (checking out is quite easy) & May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden is available at cultbeauty.com, naturisimo.com and various other etailers.

SÉROZINC for everyone

I've been reading a lot about La Roche Posay Serozinc: how good it works, but mostly how hard-to-get it is...

I'll probably rejoice the ones that haven't got it yet (but want) and dissapoint the ones that got it by all kind of difficult ways: It's relatively easy to get by easyparapharmacie.com (here).

This used to be a complicated, French only site: Nowadays they are fully in English with various ways of payment, shipping & other uncomplicated webshop-la-la-la thingies.

Ofcourse, I added something more. The Phytokeratine travel set has been a mere €4.50 for a 50 ml shampoo &  mask. And here is that Lierac Bodyslim stuff again: I'm gonna try the nightime version.

DHL shipping is €10 for my region & it took only 2 days. It might be a lot but most of their products are slightly cheaper: eg. The Serozinc is €4.94 whereas on Dutch sites it's like €9. 

Ps: not promoting or affiliated with anything, just ask my creditcard company ; )

A Wakeup-call from Team Boys with Skeen Intensive Reviving Gel

Girls, we have all the good stuff, right? 

Ehm, lately I've been borrowing a little something from Team Boys. At least, it's from Equipe l' Homme or the French range that focuses on men's skincare: Skeen+

Skeen+ Gel Intense Defatiant Correcteur is a gel-like product with a nice boost of caffeine and a sprinkle of vitamine c (0.1%). It feels like someone's been lifting up your face when you wake up either rather crinkly or somewhat puffy. It's like a real strong expresso for your skin.

Targeted for men's less sensitive skins, it might be a dose too much for lots of women. I love it around my eyes when they feel slightly puffy, and over my whole face when I need a bit of tightening.

The texture is of a milky gel: it hydrates but dryer skins would like to layer up afterwards. Also, I think it is best to use this one after the serum and before your normal daycream. The fragance reminds me of a diluted Tigerbalm.

I would not recommend this for people with Rosacea, sensitive skin or people prone to allergies. I can tolerate this one quite well even though I have sensitive skin. Or it might be wise to thin down the formula with another neutral moisturizer to build up tolerance.

Ps: did you know the French called the brand 'Skeen' because that's the way they would pronounce 'skin' in French? I was already like "I'm so skeen on you" (-keen on you).

Makeup Forever Artist Shadow in Crystalline Gray Beige ( D552)

*Makeup Forever's new color-shadows popped up at Sephora's website -> curiosity triggered*

There are so many new ones [210], and the Makeupartist in the video were raving about aalllll colours.

I picked one that looked rather like a neutral taupe online: Crystalline Gray Beige:

It's a shade with the promise of a Diamond lustre: Diamond people! I had Rihanna chanting in the back of my mind...'Shine bright lika a diamond...'

There are also eyeshadows in satin, matte, idirescent & Metallic. However, I thought it would be nice to see MUFE's translation of a diamond lustre.

The eyeshadows are sold in separate pans. You can either muster up your own palette, or buy the MUFE version of 2, 3 or more. There was a good deal for the palette version so I chose that option:

 The case is plastic, but the sturdy type in MUFE's signature sleekness. The pallets have magnet adherence so you can take out your pan whenever you want. This is handy for travellers and makeupartists or aspiring colourists who like to vary their colours on daily/weekly basis.

 Talking about the size of the pan: it's the same as Le Metier de Beaute eyeshadow pans:

 

That got me into comparing mode again. Hence, I also picked up my cheaper brand Makeup Artist palette in Undress Me too.

Ofcourse, those are baby pans compared to big-sized MUFE & LMDB, but the colour-family of one of them is quite similar: a mauve-ish silver Taupe.

This swatch is made in daylight/indirect sun, foundation base but no specific eye primer. The Le Metier de Beaute palette is Bauhaus in colour Graphite (review here). 

• MUFE is the warmest of the 3: a reddish mauve base
• Le Metier de Beaute has the best opacity
• The diamond aspect of MUFE is slightly dissapointing: all 3 have similar lustre on skin

Verdict:

I have not been as enthousiastic about the eyeshadow as the makeupartists in the video. Honestly, I'm spoiled with Le Metier de Beaute and others, but I think that a budget eyeshadow like Makeup Artist wears just as well.
However, I think it's a wonderful neutral, office-appropriate sparkle that will cooperate well with Edward Bess eyeprimer. And I will add another shadow of MUFE's Artist collection in a different finish to complete the duo-palette.

Conclusion:
Usefully pretty, but not a musthave if you have similar hues.

Cell-ing Out! How did my Vichy Cellu Destox Expert preform?

Another one from my Resolutions '14 list has been rolling around, or cell-ing out the fat-cells of my legs and other feminine curves. (see here)

 I'm sporadically on anti-cellulite potions: not because they work the wonders they claim to do, but just to get it a bit tighter and to speed up your post-workout circulation and it's detoxing flow.

Well, I just finished it after 3 months so I haven't been too consistent in using it. 

For honest reasons:

1. no boycrush: call me a hypocrite but somehow the prospect of getting toned for someone else is a bit more motivating than for yer-own-mirror-reflexion. And other girls? Ack, we all know we have lumps-n-bumps so that's about it.
2. No bikini-opportunity: Ok, that's the time I DO work out for other women as well, because there's always that bit of competition on the beach and I do not want to be the flabbiest one around in my teeny. As for men, they are often happy to see woman under a certain age in a bikini: so for the random guy being the voyeur, neither the effort worthy ;)
3. For the blog/research: oh heck, you guys prefer to read about more exiting eyeshadows than yer-old-boring-cellulite-lotion, right?

Then again, I've been using it consistently for 2 weeks and I did have some results into getting bits a bit more toned.

Reasons:

1. the Roller-ball thingy

Yes, you can have your vigorous roller-action when you cannot be bothered working your hands around too much. Ehm, that sounds somewhat like another device too?

 

2. Effective Caffeine 5%

Perhaps not as potent as my previous 10% Llerac (here), but strong enough to get those fat-cells celling out a bit easier...aka detox a bit faster.

3. Extraterrestal Blobs:

Read the full story why...[ok, just kidding]

Conclusion:

 

I really liked this anti-cellulite lotion: The rollerball effect helps to get a more effective massage that aids the formula, and feels kinda nice after you've been working out. I'm gonna repurchase if I'm not too curious for other anti-cellulite creams.

Resolution '14: Improving my French (read: using more French Products)

The "learning a new language" is often one of the more fun and advantageous resolutions a person can have. I mean, you only might meet one person in your life that speaks the language, but you'd always have the opportunity to really eavesdrop upon them, or *shock* reply them.

I'll take it easy and will try to improve my French:

L-R: La Roche Posay mineral water spray - Rene Furtherer Naturalia dry shampoo - Nuxe Lipgloss -Phyto Secret de Nuit - Rene Furtherer Laque Vegetale (hairspray)

I'd like to focus on Rene Furtherer's Naturalia Dry Shampoo. It has been Belgian Blogger Mostly Sunny who gave it major heads up. The Belgians are as lucky to get full access to most French cosmetics, the Dutch only partly. So she has the opportunity to try out the multitudes of French skincare and compare them to other brands.See her review here.

I really like it and I agree on it's grease-mopping cum volumising strenghts without leaving white residue:

Selfies with products are soooo 2014!

I also have the Nuxe lipgloss 02 Rose Legendaire. Nuxe is mostly famous for its buttery lipbalm; the lipgloss is the smoother & coloured sister:

It optionally plumps out lips and feels like a treat instead of lipgloss.

And something more common; my road-size La Roche Posay thermal water:

A nighttime hairbalm: Phyto Secret the Nuit (fr= Night secret)

I really didn't like this one first because it smelled like lavendel-on-a-chemical-trip and made my hair greasy and unglossy. Then I just added it in the dryer ends, SPARINGLY, which made a difference.  It couples up as a stylingcream if you opt for a braid -> waves on straight hair that last...

Are your 2014 resolutions as intellectually challenging as mine?

Resolution '14: a New Caffeine Habit with Vichy Cellu-Destock Expert

In the range of good intentions there is always room for some more 'gotta tone the thighs' and the usual 'gotta drink tea instead of coffee'.
 So let me introduce my new Caffeine habit:

I already had one during autumn '13 in preparation for a bikini-infused holiday (see here). Lierac had a whopping dose of 10 % Caffeine that was as last-minute to speed up metabolism as doubling up on any bootcamp and other muscle-teasing fitness classes. 

I can take it a bit easier this time and I will stick with Vichy Cellu-Destock's 5% Caffeine.

I'm on a roll

massage instructions in box

For the lazy bunch, and who isn't in the prime of January...those turkeys & doses of champagne gotten into the system, there is a rollerball system on the knob that will massage your cream into the thighs. 

various languages of how to...

It also helps you to remind that massage is a bit more effective than simple application. That's also handy after the holidays, a reminder?

So why do cellulite creams often look like Ghostbuster's Slimer's ectoplasma?

This film is so old that Americans are still allowed to smoke in films!! 

My last Cellulite-challenging Lierac was the odd one with a red gel instead of the green ones often used.

However, my voluntary 'sliming' will hopefully result into some extra-humane thinner thighs,

or maintain previous firm[er] results.

Balmain Silk Perfume for Hair: a silky luxury

I gotten myself drawn into another luxury/hair hybrid product...

I was not too tempted into buying anything hair & serum-like. However, the salesgirl had the cutest fringe, a fierce ombre bleach at the ends and all her hair looked like really voluminous, healthy and cute. That's often a good sales-perspective and I was curious about [another] story about how this product would change my life hair and make everything better 1 (1 sarcasm embedded in the sidenote).

Her professional eye guided me to this product that is labeled as a 'Hair Perfume' but it functions as a fraganced serum. The normal serum would be "too heavy for my finer hair" and this one has the added bonus of a gorgeous fragance.

Ofcourse, preference in fragance is really subjective so I will describe it as a perfume that reminds me of Balenciaga perfume with the florally notes of Romea D`Ameor Princesses de Venice, quite haute and not your standard Guess perfume notes.

The mister is an added feature that will bring in that extra bit of luxury (and the delightful *pfffshhh* pffshhh* that you will hear later in my Vine).

The clean bottle of the Balmain (we know them from hair-extensions and fashion high-shoulder jackets) seems reminiscent of Marie-Antoinette's laundry chambers...Ofcourse I have never been in Marie-Antoinette's laundry room, but if I would it would probably reminded me of it...

Ingredients are simple which two sorts of silicones. Also, the hyped hair-ingredient Argan oil (no 3), one of my fave hair products Almond Oil (Prunus Dulcis) and a dash of jojoba.

But most importantly, it is a superthin mist that is suitable for fine hair. Check the micro-ness of the spray in the video:

Ok, seeing a Vine like 4 times in a row is making anyone really simple or slightly *psssst*spssst* in the brain.  So stop or turn of the sound after 3 times, ok?

(Nails: I'm wearing day 24 Ciate Serendipity on a layer of Chanel Red Dream, btw) 

Conclusion: A useful piece of luxury for finer locks that can benefit from a bit of extra gloss and a gorgeous fragance

Face Tonic edition *roundup*

Sometimes I get into a certain hype of something, then I buy some (and some more), and then I think "do I have enough?". Answer: "I might have too much".

 Within this edition I bring you floral waters...I gotten into them during the summer, re-introduced by Tammy Fender and her blissfully calming Roman Chamomile Tonic that was a part of her sensitive set. After that I ventured on more types of facial waters within a cheaper range and more variety in the properties of the embedded flower/plant etc. 

Here's a roundup of the ones I have:

1. Erica Rosewater:

 Erica is a Dutch brand that basically brings out simple organic products. It is made of a 100% Bulgarian Rosewater and it costs me under €2. Perhaps there are more bio-dynamical brands out there but for the purity it is simply a wonderful water that calms and is quite rejuvenating for the skin. I mix mine with OrangeBlossom water for a more diverse blend and sometimes I add some MSM powder to get an even effect in calming redness etc.

2. Erica Orange BlossomWater (Neroli)

Similar as the Rosewater only orangeblossom water has different properties and you can read several of the raves/benefits on MUA (here). I adore the scent as it is flowery-citrusy positive scent and it has adstringent qualities which works on the acne-prone parts of my face. It is still mild enough for the dryer parts. 

3.  Sana Hadanomy Mist

I have this one for more than a year and it has been a repurchase. It is supposed to have collagen inside and it is not as natural/organic as my other blends. However, I love the fact it is slightly 'tacky' or better say moisturizing and without scent at all. 

4.   Suti Peppermint Water

I got this one based on rave reviews and the fact that peppermint is known as the ultimate calming plant. Then again, I googled 100% peppermint water later and got cheaper options. I still love Suti and this blend is really refreshing on holidays or as a perk up during flying. I prefer to use the pure blend and not mix it with other waters.

5.  Melvita Eau Fraiche Micellair

Finally a more productive water: a micellair that removes makeup as well. This has also been a repurchase and I prefer it over Nuxe Micellair/Bioderma as it is natural, and effective cleanser and feels really soothing on the skin.

6.   Saniflore Aqua Magnifiqua

My original review is over here. I haven't been using it that much yet because I'm quite attached to my rosewater/neroli/MSM mixture but I still like its effectiveness on pores and congested skin. 

7. Saniflore Noble Chamomile

Original review here.  I decanted this in a tinier bottle on my lastest journey, but the passenger next to me was not so enchanted by the calming chamomile than I was. I still like it, but sometimes I prefer peppermint water for a less plant/dirt-like scent.

8. Kora by Miranda Kerr Energising Mist

I bought this one based on curiosity and the fact the model herself looks basically flawless. I am not too fond of the blend: somehow the citrusy note has too much of a herbal essence that I neither find soothing or energising. Also, the mister isn't really distributing the water evenly over the face.

 

So this is the collection of face tonics that I have right now. So do you like them and what types do you reach for?

Lierac Body-Slim firming Serum *for my potion-ality?*

Hello Lierac! Nice to meet up with your caffeine-infused (super?)powers:

There used to be a time when nobody could get a bikini during autumn or winter. Or 'nobody' is that part of the "ladies-who-cruise" that could happily hop to the designer stores or the likes of Michael Kors & others to pick up their ensemble: ofcourse, not the one people had seen them in during the summer season, quelle horreur!

 These days the 'cruise collections' & 'pre-summer-collections' (in freezing January!) and other alluring frilly clothes are around the corner for most of us. Similar to warm & sunny holiday destinations. It might be a positive thing but the thighs declare an official "sight of tediousness' for they cannot rest under oversized coats and boyfriend jeans yet (or ever): workouts, squads-'n-lunges and the anti-cellulite creams are in the game, again! 

My thighs too: I booked a last-minute flight for about 2 weeks in advance and noticed that mine could use some serious toning again. I am an afficionado of anti-cellulite creams during summer and Vichy had been my fave. However, for those two weeks I needed a higher dose of caffeine to kick-start those lazy legs into action/shape. Lierac has a whopping 10% Caffeine embedded, so I tried that one.

Lierac Body-Slim (Caffeine= the 2nd ingredient so quite potent!)

And the promise: Result after just 14 days!

There goes the question: did it help? 

*drumroll*

But first...A swatch of the orangy jelly *potion-ality*: 

 

The zingy feeling of the caffeine is noticable after application and massaging it in. It does take some massage, though.

I combined this jelly with some strenuous workout. I joined a bootcamp workout which has nothing to do with pleasure at all. (like Zumba can be)

The good thing is that my trainer looked like this

 Sometimes it is a positive thing to have a really cute trainer because you want to impress...Then again, I really did not want to do some squads because I know I would look "fat in that position"/"my makeup's gonna smudge!" bladibla...Then again, I told him I wanted similar abs as he does, which might need about 15 years of extra training...hehehe.

After two weeks I had lost about 0.75mm to 1 cm. It is not that much but at least my jeans felt a bit more comfortable.

As for the thighs:

thighs: "darn, that was too much squatting, want coconut water!"

I normally wouldn't do a photo like this but since whole twitter and every celebrity does this, thank you Rihanna & Nicky M. I wouldn't be like a real virtual human anyway: pun & oxymoronish  idea intended. Or the modern version of cogito ergo sum is Instagram corpus meum, ergo sum ="I instagram my body, therefore I am!".

Now my thighs will have some rest until I have to worry about the Christmas LBD again! It is either that or I have to spend on a new LBD.

Pros:

• high(est) amount of scientifically proved effective Caffeine (10%)
• smells fresh & zesty
• thighs look firmer & booty appears less bumpy after 2 weeks
• almost 1 cm loss of hips and each thigh about 0.75 cm
• not that time-consuming: takes 3 minutes massage each time.

Cons:

• expensive: I went through a whole tube in just 2 weeks (150 ml/2.7 fl.oz is not that much)
• Results are similar as the cheaper Vichy Destock
• more difficult to get than Vichy/Clarins etc.
• Not that much result for all that massaging/training and juices/superfood: I expected 1.5 cm at least.

Conclusion:

Wonderful to kickstart yourself into a slightly slimmer you in a short amount of time. However, it will probably not do that much on itself so keep your diet/training in synch for results.

Availability:

Sasa has a rather good price on it for $33.60 (here)