What: Decadent, luxurious, divine smelling face oil.
For: All skin types - particularly skin that needs some love & attention.
Review: Okay, first of all, let’s talk about the price. This is a pretty expensive little bottle of oil, not the kind of thing you pick up on a whim during your lunch break along with a felafel wrap. But with the festive season sneaking up on us, it might be something to pop on to your wish list (highlighted and underlined). Because, true to its name, it really is a luxury face oil - from the moment you open the bottle and get the heady hit of jasmine fragrance, to the first drop of oil melting into your skin, every second with this bottle feels special.
Olio Lusso is made from a blend of 11 essential oils derived from flowers and botanicals - if you don’t like floral scents then you should probably stop reading now, because it smells like someone has punched you in the face with a florist shop. Personally, I absolutely love the fragrance - it smells deliciously summery and sexy thanks to the big hit of jasmine oil.
I only need to use 2 or 3 drops to cover my entire face comfortably, and it imparts instant velvetiness to the skin (my spell check is telling me that ‘velvetiness’ is not a word, but I think it definitely should be). As I’ve mentioned before, my skin can be very reactive and acne prone but this oil has left it balanced with no breakouts in sight. Skin looks luminous and plump upon application, and the overall condition of skin seems to improve with repeated use. As Linda Rodin, the creator, describes it: “When you put it on, in French it’s called ‘bien-être’ which means a sense of well-being. It feels good, it smells good and you feel kind of dewy. Not greasy, not shiny, just kind of alive.” I couldn’t agree more with Ms Rodin, and think she has created a truly beautiful product.
Clean creds: Made from a blend of chemical-free essential oils.
Verdict: Beg, borrow or steal (or just ask Santa really really nicely) to get your hands on this bottle of goodness. Highly recommended.
Buy it here
This product was sent to me as a PR sample
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What: Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil
For: Chapped lips everywhere
Review: Love love love Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm. It tastes delicious (which, let’s face it, is probably the best thing about lip balm), nourishes lips, and leaves a gorgeously subtle berry tint on the lips. In fact, I’ve occasionally swiped the lip balm over my cheeks when leaving the office for that ‘I haven’t done a thing all day’ glow. And it lasts FOREVER. No weird gooey mess that you have to mash the lid into.
Verdict: You’d be balm-y not to like it. 10/10.
Get Karlie Kloss’s sexy smoky eyes using Vapour Organic Beauty Mezmerize Eye Colour in ‘Storm’. Umbrella optional.
Cara Birnbaum swaps her trusty potions for an all-green regimen for two weeks, and learns a few things on the way… Click the title above to read about her journey.
What: Delicious, zingy & creamy bodywash
For: All skin types, use in shower or bath
Review: Every wondered what it was like to shower in freshly squeezed orange juice? I hadn’t either, but after using this divine bodywash I am one step closer to knowing what that would feel like! This bodywash by Weleda is a divine way to start the day - it smells like fresh zesty oranges, and is creamy and moisturising. I’m loving this in winter to get me up & ready for the day, but imagine that it would also be delicious and refreshing to use in summer.
Verdict: It’s the Sunday brunch of bodywashes - 10/10!
Make your own clean version of luxe face oil Rodin Olio Lusso!
sarahnregan:
I’ve been lusting over Rodin Olio Lusso for months now. And I’m not alone, everyone in the beauty industry seems to be obsessed with it. Into The Gloss* did an interview with Linda Rodin (the creator of Rodin Olio Lusso) last year and she talks about how the oil was created in her home. Inspired by Rodin Olio Lusso’s DIY roots, I had some fun yesterday making my own oil. As Ms. Rodin points out in her interview, you really do get what you pay for, there’s a reason a small bottle of the Rodin Olio Lusso costs $140. Rodin uses top of the line oils and I’m sure it smells amazing too. Below is the super easy recipe I came up with and some things I’ll do differently next time.
All these oils should be available at any well-stocked health food store and are readily available online. I purchased the Grapeseed Oil, Vitamin E Oil and Sweet Almond Oil online from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Olive Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Vitamin E Oil
Almond Extract/Essential Oil for scent
Small bottle
Cotton balls
Leaving a small amount of room at the top (about 1/8 of the bottle), fill the bottle with equal parts of Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil. Top the bottle off with a small amount of Vitamin E Oil and add Almond Extract for scent. To use wash your face and spread a small amount over a damp face.
Next time I make this, I probably won’t use the Almond Extract. I love the almond scent, but Almond Extract is alcohol based and made the oil emulsify - kind of like salad dressing. The emulsified oil mixture still works and feels great on my face, but wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I ordered some jasmine essential oil online this week and will probably try that or a lavender essential oil to give it a pleasant scent. Certainly there are many other oils you can use and it’s worth experimenting with what works best for your face and reading up on the effect each oil has on the skin.
What: Luminizer, highlighter, waker-upper, heaven in a pot.
For: Every cheek and browbone out there.
How: I like to pat the Luminizer over my cheekbones and browbones after I apply foundation, and before I apply (cream) blush. It also works over cream eyeshadow to add a nice glowy sheen. I’ve read that some people use it like a lip gloss but it seems a little too dry to work on my lips.
Result: Very natural dewy gloss. This isn’t a shimmery ‘going out’ type highlighter - it works for just an everyday glow & looks super natural.
Buy: from RMS Beauty website - http://www.rmsbeauty.com/
The Verdict: This is probably one of the most pure cosmetics you can buy. Clean, easy to use, and does exactly what is says - 10/10.
