Bath Time With The Beauty Vine #3 | The Luxe Edit | Laura Mercier

Today's "Bath Time with The Beauty Vine" post is without a doubt, luxurious and decadent. Laura Mercier is quickly becoming one of my favourite high end beauty brands. I don't have a huge collection of her cosmetics, but a carefully thought out and selected edit of beautiful products that I enjoy using, and reach for on a regular basis. Of course, there are many more of her products that are on my ever growing wish list, including her liquid foundations, stunning lipsticks, and of course the recently released rose infused facial oil and moisturiser...just to name a few.

I happened to be in the right place at the right time whilst scrolling on Instagram late last year, and entered a competition to win this set of Almond Coconut Milk Bath and Body products. I believe the set was a Christmas promotion, and low and behold... I won! Be still my beating beauty heart!

These gorgeous products deliver not only in their beautiful quality and sensorial delight, they just make you feel special. At the risk of repeating myself, taking some time to do something just for me is really important as a busy mum of four boisterous children. I have learnt over the years to let go of a little bit of that mother guilt, and have come to realise that if I don't have a little bit of time for me, time to fill up my tank, then I have less reserves to deal with meeting the needs of my family,  the demands of part time work as a midwife, and just life in general.

So allow me to set the "Bath Time" scene for you once again. Steam is wafting around my bathroom as the bath fills...fresh, clean pyjamas, fresh clean fluffy towel, candle glowing,
and glass of wine at the ready..

Let's go Laura!

Before we begin, I thought I would share this description of the Almond Coconut Milk Fragrance that I found on the Laura Mercier website...

" Inspired by the aroma of a French Patisserie, this scent captures the essence of almond, coconut milk, jasmine, rosewood, ylang yang, vanilla, tonka, heliotrope and musk".

Now try and tell me that doesn't sound completely delicious!

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Honey Bath is about as luxurious as a bubble bath could possibly be. Swirl the honey dipper into the pot, and place the luxurious honey bath under the running water. It creates a load of lovely bubbles with a warm, sweet, comforting scent.
Enriched with sweet almond oil, macadamia oil, honey and vanilla extracts, your skin will feel so beautifully clean and soft. A sip of wine, and a little bit of time soaking...heavenly.

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Sugar Scrub is creamy and thick, oozing with coconut oil, Tahitian Gardenia extract, Sweet Almond Oil, Honey, good sized chunks of sugar, and finely ground coconut and almond shell. This scrub does not beat around the bush, it gives a really good exfoliation with an extremely nourishing, decadent base. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I like to take my time, and really focus on scrubing all the neglected areas of my skin, which really is everywhere lets face it! I will typically do the top half of my body whilst sitting in the bath, and then stand up to buff the lower half until it's glowing, including my poor neglected feet. A good scrub is typically followed by some time focusing on quieting my mind. A little more time soaking is in order...

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme is next on the beauty menu. Out of the bath, I wrap myself up in my fluffy towel, pat my skin dry, and smooth on this completely delicious whipped body cream. Enriched with protective and skin nourishing oils of Grape Seed, Macadamia, Sweet Almond, and Rice Bran oil, with an added kick of Shea Butter, Honey, Aloe, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Cacao extracts, this body cream is pure and utter luxury. A little goes a long way, and my skin just glows. I could seriously give JLo a run for her money in the glow department... and I bet she doesn't smell like a french patisserie...

How could there possibly be anything else to add this bathing ritual worthy of a princess, I hear you implore? Well, there is. Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Shimmer Body Mist. Now I have tried to locate this product for you, however I cannot find it anywhere. As I mentioned earlier in the post, I believe this gift pack was a promotion for Christmas, so the Shimmer Body Mist was likely limited edition. Certainly not an essential, you would do just as well without it, but gosh it is pretty. Spritz anywhere you wish your skin to shimmer and glisten, I can imagine this product to be lovely as an extra layer of the divine fragrance, perhaps before a special occasion or date night. You could also mix a little of it into the Body Souffle for a more subtle shimmer. Do keep your eyes peeled for this in limited edition gift sets.

The full size of the Almond Coconut Milk Honey Bath is a 300ml tub and retails for $50.00 AUD.
The Almond Coconut Milk Sugar Scrub full size is 340gm and retails for $55.00 AUD.
The Almond Coconut Milk Soufflé Body Cream full size is 340gm and retails for $65.00 AUD.

The size of my products are 110gm, which is just under a third of the full size. Each pot comes absolutely full to the brim with product, and I have had plenty of baths with these. I have no doubt the full size products would last a very long time! These are luxury products that come with a luxury price tag, but I can't help but warmly and wholeheartedly recommend them.

 Laura Mercier Bath and Body products are also available in a number of different scents... I have my eye on the Ambre Vanille.  I really don't think you could go wrong with any of the scents. These products are certainly not inexpensive, and perhaps something that you could pop on the wishlist for a birthday or special occasion gift.
However, if it is within your budget, absolutely go for it!



Have you tried any of these completely delicious products? Are you sick of hearing the word delicious? Do leave a comment below! I would love to hear your favourite Laura Mercier products!



Thanks so much for stopping by!


Blessings,


Lou xo

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Bath time With The Beauty Vine #2 | The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea

Hello Beauty Friends!

It's time for part two of my Bath Time with The Beauty Vine series!

If you missed the first post in the series, where I chat a little bit more about my personal love of baths and encouraging you all to have some very important 'me-time', I shall link it down below for you.

Essentially, bath time for me is a chance to wind down and relax. I make an effort to use products that will not only treat and pamper my skin, but assist in allowing my bustling, noisy brain to slow and be still... even if my thoughts can be stilled for a short time, I find it so beneficial.

As I mentioned in my previous post, my baths are often accompanied by a glass of velvety Merlot, fresh fluffy towels, and fresh PJ's. Clean linen and PJ's make me smile, and help to make my bath a little more like a ceremony, and less like just another task.

Today's gorgeous, soak-away-your-stress bath time is brought to you by The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea bath products. Three delightful products to have you soft, smooth, clean and relaxed. These products were kindly and generously provided for me to review and chat about here on my blog, and as always, I consider this a privilege.

Known for its health benefits and skin conditioning properties, The Body Shop's Fuji Green Tea products are infused with green tea leaves, harvested from Japan's Mount Fuji region. The scent to me, is very fresh and zingy, with a touch of floral and a clean, soap-like fragrance.

So get that bath filling up, and light a candle... it's bath time...

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea - Bath Tea RRP $24.95 AUD   Bath Infuser RRP $8.95 AUD.

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea - Bath Tea RRP $24.95 AUD

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea - Bath Infuser RRP $8.95 AUD

A fresh, fragrant cocktail of Aloe Vera juice, Green Tea, Basil and Camelia extracts, the Bath Tea  softens the bath water, and your skin beautifully. I scoop the salts into the Bath Infuser, and swish the infuser through the bath water before I hop in. It doesn't take long for the salts to dissolve, and the nifty infuser keeps the all of the leaves housed safely within its confines, and not floating through the bath water. If you don't mind bits and pieces wafting through your bath ( not a fan personally ), then the infuser is not essential, but I think it's absolute genius. You can hang the infuser by the chain whilst you are soaking, or sit it out of the water once dissolved, it is completely up to you.

My bathroom is quickly filled with the Day-Spa like fragrance, and my skin feels so lovely and soft. After a time spent soaking and switching off, it's time for a good ol' scrub...

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea - Body Scrub  RRP $29.95 AUD.

This is a really lovely, gel like, moisturising body scrub. The glycerin, castor oil and honey base conditions and softens your skin without leaving an oily residue, whilst still giving a really good manual exfoliation. As you massage the scrub into your skin, it melts into a hydrating gel, and rinses cleanly. Soft smooth skin with not a barnacle to be seen... Love. Following the scrub, I like to soak for a little longer, and try to spend some time focusing on my breathing. Often, my mind will have had a little relapse, and be back to its' incessant and endless to-do lists. Don't you hate that?

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea - Body Butter RRP $23.95 AUD.

I can't imagine that there would be many people who would not be familiar with The Body Shop Body Butters. I remember my very first one, which I purchased around 20 years ago now...I believe it was Mango...oh yes...it was delicious. A truly decadent, oil rich balm. The Mango Body Butter and White Musk perfume oil were two beauty staples for me in my early 20's.

The Fuji Green Tea Body Butter has a creamy, slightly lighter weight consistency that does a brilliant job of locking in all that lovely moisture from the Bath Tea and Body Scrub. It absorbs quite quickly for a body butter, and having now layered all three of the products, I am indeed smelling quite heavenly, and ready for bed.

You can find The Body Shop Australian website Here. If you prefer to order online, they offer flat rate shipping of $8.95 AUD.

So what's on my Body Shop wishlist I hear you ask? Products from the Spa Wisdom Polynesia range, and the White Musk Smokey Rose range. Not that I need anymore products...ever!!

If you would like to read my previous Bath Time with The Beauty Vine post you can click the link here.

What are your favourite Body Shop products? Have you tried the Fuji Green Tea range?

I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Blessings,



Lou xo

Disclaimer: As mentioned in the body of the post, these products were provided for editorial consideration, for which I am so grateful. This post is not sponsored, I have no affiliation with companies/brands mentioned. Cheers xo

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Bath Time with The Beauty Vine | Sanctuary Spa

There is nothing I enjoy more as the weather turns cold than a good ol' soak in the bath. I have very clear memories of loving baths as a child, and as a teenager I can distinctly recall my family's frustration at my lengthly soaking soirées...

I do all my thinking in the shower, but the bath is where I do my 'switching off' . On most occasions it will be in the evening, after my children are in bed, and my husband is firmly attached to the lounge cradling the remote control. I try for at least once a week, twice if I can.

This is a little bit of time for me...

I will always have a bath by candlelight, because the low light helps me to relax. I also make sure I have clean, fresh pyjamas and a fresh towel. I know that might sound a little retentive, but these small things all contribute to making it more of an occasion. You would always have a clean robe and soft, clean towels at a day spa would you not? You deserve them at home too.

Now, I must confess to having rather an extensive variety of bath products, and I have decided to make this a little series, aptly named "Bath Time with The Beauty Vine". Each post will aim to bring  thoughts and reviews of the plethora of bathing products in my possession, with a 'one-brand' focus.

Today, it is all about some lovely products from Sanctuary Spa, a well known brand from the UK that has been available for quite some time in Priceline Pharmacies in Australia. I have been using two of these products for around 18 months, and have repurchased both of them in that time. The other is a more recent purchase, one of their newly released products. I adore the scent of these Sanctuary Spa products. They smell clean and soapy, warm and sweet, with a hint of spice and musk, somewhat reminiscent of men's cologne. Love.

The range is affordable, and they offer a nice variety of products. I have also noticed some newly released scents and formulas on the shelves of my local Priceline... so far I have resisted!

So, grab your PJ's and your fluffy towel, light your candle, and start running the bath...

Bath Time with The Beauty Vine - Sanctuary Spa

Sanctuary Spa Foaming Bath Soak

As the bath is filling I add a generous squeeze or two of the Foaming Bath Soak. The signature Sanctuary Spa scent fills my bathroom. As the name suggest, it produces a nice amount of bubbles, softens the water, and feels moisturising on the skin. As I write this, I am unable to find this specific product on the Priceline website. I am not sure if it has been discontinued, however I can warmly recommend the 2 Day Moisture Shower Oil as an alternative. I have gone through a bottle of it already, and find it works equally well in both the shower and the bath. There are a few less bubbles when used in the bath, however the formula of the shower oil is slightly more moisturising. They are both lovely products.

Sanctuary Spa 4 Day Moisture Oil Scrub RRP $17.99 AUD

The 4 Day Moisture Oil Scrub is my most recent purchase, and is part of the Long-Lasting Moisture line of products that have been released in the last few months. This is a very fine salt scrub in a  thick oil/balm base. A little goes a long way with this product. After soaking for about 5-10 minutes, I warm a good dollop of the scrub in my palms first, just to help soften and melt the oils a little. There is a good amount of finely milled salt, so you definitely get a really effective scrub without feeling like you are scratching your skin. Be gone those barnacles on my bottom! 

Being a thick balm, it definitely leaves an oily residue on the skin. I am a fan of oil based scrubs, and love the feeling of the oils on my skin. If you do not, this may not be the scrub for you. Whilst I cannot be sure of the claim of 4 days of moisture, I certainly find that it helps to keep my skin feeling moisturised and soft until I have my shower the next evening. Winter brings with it extremely dry, and often itchy skin for me, so a daily slathering of lotion/oils/butters is a must. This scrub leaves my skin soft, smooth and plump. Love.

Sanctuary Spa Body Butter  RRP $14.99 AUD

After a little more time soaking, ( my bath time is often accompanied by a glass of red wine ), I'll hop out,  dry off, and slather on some  Body Butter. Whilst my skin already feels soft and lovely after the soak and the scrub, I like to add another layer of moisture to lock it all in. 

Rich in Cocoa and Shea butters, Sweet Almond oil and Macadamia oil, this award winning body butter has a surprisingly lightweight formula, and smooths over the skin quickly and easily. When I'm having my 'bath night', I make sure to moisturise my whole body. No being lazy now... you are normally nice and warm from the bath, and it only takes a couple of minutes to massage in some cream/lotion, no excuses! I try not to rush too much, because I have to rush so many things in my life! The whole idea of this time, is to actually not be aware of the time for once, and just slow down. 

Ok...fresh, clean pyjamas on, I ceremoniously throw back any remaining vino, and head downstairs to make myself a cup of tea. Without a doubt, I always feel so much better after a bath ( and shower too! ). There is something about feeling clean, being warm, smelling delightful, and mentally giving yourself that little bit of time out. Self care is very important, and putting aside time to do something for yourself to help to fill up your tank is invaluable.  It is something that I have  learnt  to  prioritise, particularly after the birth of my children and suffering post-natal depression and anxiety.  

It is something I warmly encourage all of you to do too, regardless of your own personal circumstances. 

Do share with me what you like to do to help you to relax and de-stress! Do you have any favourite bath products that I might need to know about? Do leave a comment below, or feel free to email me with any questions, or if you feel like a chat.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Lou xo

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