Le Fluff et Le Puff ... Lotions and Potions at Space NK

On Wednesday 17th September Space NK is doing one of their regular 'gift with purchase' events; if you spend £ 150, you receive this set of samples (full details here - and it tends also to be available online, which is where I buy). Yes it's a lot to spend in one go, but I tend to wait for these 'events' to stock up on my regular products so that I can try new products - the full list of next week's samples is here - and Christmas is coming up, so it's never to early to start Christmas shopping ...

These are products I use regularly and love. Yes, most of them are classic French Pharmacy products, because I spent a good chunk of my life in France.





I don't 'get' the buzz about the Eve Lom balm cleanser, but I do like her cleansing mask - again, it is mild, and perfect for dry sensitive skin ... whilst most other masks make my psoriasis flare up, this one is gentle. Rescue Mask by EVE LOM


Another Eve Lom product I use regularly is her moisture mask - I slap it on at night and wipe it off in the morning. It is very strong and leave a kind of 'greasy' look so I'm not sure I'd recommend it for most people, but I love it. Moisture Mask by EVE LOM

One of the samples is of this mask, which I prefer, but I can't quite bring myself to justify the price: Black Rose Cream Mask by SISLEY

I also like this mask, but it is not as hydrating, and I find it tends to 'tighten' my skin - a feature which some people might however like: Rose de Vie Hydrating Mask by DR SEBAGH


The only Seche Vite product worth using is the top coat - it dries varnish faster, makes even the eco-brand polishes look good, and slightly 'shrinks' the polish, pulling it away from the skin, and making it somehow look more like a professional manicure than an amateur attempt by an art historian that failed her practical art exam in school: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat by SECHE VITE

I have very thick but very fine hair, which has a natural tendency towards looking like a haystack without a blow-dry ... and this is the only product I have ever found that works on the dry vaguely frizzy bits (I won't use those silicone-heavy products). I spritz a bit on towel-dried hair, and sometimes on dry hair, and suddenly am transformed into Princess Shiny Locks. Leave In Conditioner by SACHAJUAN


I'm slowly working my way through the other products from the range. Don't like their shine serum. Quite like their scalp shampoo - the anti-dandruff shampoos are the worst thing for psoriasis, but this one isn't bad. Scalp Shampoo by SACHAJUAN


Again with creams, I'm a sucker for a pretty tub, but generally stay away from anything fancy or anything that says anti-X (anti-ageing, anti-oxidant) and stick to getting lots of moisture. This one works well on dry skin. Lait-Crème Concentré by EMBRYOLISSE



Other items I recommend at Space NK are the Lipstick Queen lipsticks, although these are classic colours, colour can be subjective: Medieval is a great everyday lipstick, and Sinner in Wine is a classic deep burgundy.

I've tried this root cover-up and ... honestly I'd rather go to the hairdresser, but I can see how it's the best of those on the market.

The Space NK own-brand body scrub is good.

If I'm traveling, I know I tend to get a bit run-down, so I pop a few sachets of these Perricone vitamin supplements.




I love Diptyque's Philosykos eau de toilette, so I'm thinking of getting the little travel spray holder and the little Philosykos refills for it ...

I also love the smell of Ambre as it reminds me of Morocco, and I'm worried that if I spray the Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan scent on my wrist one more time ... I'm going to end up going home with it.