Secret Garden Week 3: Luxurious, Fragrant Lavender Has It All!

By now I know you have been doing your detective work around the COSME-DE website, looking for your secret codes that unlock a treasure garden of cash discounts and free gifts! And if you haven’t, do not despair, as Week 3 of our Secret Garden promotion has arrived. We know you love beautiful things, because you are a COSME-DE girl, and we are always the beautiful ones. Which is why we want you to have more of the exquisite products you love, for less!

All you need to do is put your most stylish detective hat on, and search the secret garden on COSME-DE.COM for our secret codes. Once you spot one, you enter it into the search box, and as if by magic, a cash discount on products or free gift is yours! So we have given the transcendent rose and the beautiful tulip each a week to bask in your attention, and now it is the turn of our exquisite new flower, lavender, to have its aromatic week in the sun!

Lavender really has it all – it’s beautiful, bright and extremely fragrant! Lavender has been used for centuries as a calming and soothing balm, one whiff and you feel restored, serene, fresh and calm. So, get your purple glow on and take a look at some of the pick of products that give you the beauty advantage.

What better way to get all the benefits of lavender in Jurlique’s Lavender Hydrating Mist. It’s the perfect pick-me-up if your skin is feeling a bit tight and dry, and if you need that boost to restore your senses and calm your mind. All you need to do is close your eyes and gently give your face a rejuvenating, moisturising, toning spritz.

Jurlique’s Lavender Hydrating Mist

When it comes to aromatics, Clarins just does it so well with their finest quality botanical ingredients. You can give oily and combination skin a fragrant boost with the Lotus Face Treatment Oil. Pure plant extracts of Rosewood, Geranium and Lotus tighten pores and refine skin texture, while Hazelnut Oil softens, soothes and seals in moisture for a perfect facial treat, in only a few drops.

Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil

And what self-respecting bathroom does not have at least one beautifully scented lavender soap in it? For a wash that smells so heavenly you will never want to leave the bathroom, try John Masters Lavender, Rose, Geranium and Ylang Ylang soap for an aromatic experience. It is also highly moisturising so will not dry your skin, but leave it soft, luminous and deliciously fragrant. This indulgent treat also makes a great gift – who can resist?

John Masters Lavender, Rose, Geranium and Ylang Ylang soap

And while we are basking in the glow of fragrant aromatics, you can make sure your environment smells as lovely as you do by adding a couple of drops of Aromatherapy Associates Relax Room Fragrance to an aromatherapy burner. Rich scents of geranium, myrrh and West Indian Bay will waft around your home or office, transporting you and all those around you to a happy place.

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Room Fragrance

Fragrance is the most evocative of our senses, we have all experienced that moment when a smell transports you to a place from the past. So, make memories in the present by using the calming, delightful aromas of nature to keep you deliciously happy!

Secret Garden Week 2: The Tulip – Symbol of “Perfect Love”

So last week we let you in on Week 1 of our magical Secret Garden promotion for August, a chance for you to add the enchantment of a perfect flower garden into your life. If you missed it, don’t worry, we are all set and ready to delight your senses a little more for Week 2! Every week in August we will be hiding secret codes on the COSME-DE.COM website, for you to search for, find and unlock cash value discounts and gifts!

Because we know how much you love beautiful products at beautiful prices, we have hidden secret codes on various COSME-DE.COM web pages, for you to hunt in the garden of amazing products to find! Once you have spotted these hidden gems, all you need to do is enter the code in the search box, which is easy to spot! And then, as if by magic, you will be the recipient of a cash discount or a free gift on your purchases! So hunt away secret gardeners, and make sure you get your share of the treasure!

Tulips in the garden

So, last week we concentrated on the magnificent rose, and this week we present to you her equally exquisite sister bloom, the tulip! Yes, the divine cup-shaped blossom, that blasts your beauty receptors with its rainbow of deep, true colours. The tulip is the symbol of “perfect love”, and that is what we want for you, to have a life filled with perfect love! The tulip also symbolizes “most admired and beloved”, so let’s bring it on week 2 of the Secret Garden promotion!

Your most youthful bloom

So, let’s get a little loving on ourselves, and start by loving our skin with Christian Dior Capture Totale Dream Skin Global Age-Defying Skincare Perfect Skin Creator. How does a soft-focus veil that instantly, visibly transforms the texture of your skin sound? How does tightened pores, spots, redness and wrinkle reduction, increased firmness and a glowy radiance sound? Grab yourself this luxurious treat from the Dior garden to find out!

Christian Dior Capture Totale Dream Skin Global Age-Defying Skincare Perfect Skin Creator

And speaking of youthful radiance, around the eyes is where we often get the first signs of aging. However, you can protect yourself from this by enjoying La Prairie Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex. Only the best for our beloved tulips! One drop of this essence is like a mini facelift that firms, nourishes and re-energizes the eye zone, fading lines and wrinkles away to give your skin its perfect bloom! If you have been working a little too hard recently, give your precious skin a boost and melt those under-eye signs of stress and fatigue far, far away.

La Prairie Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex

The sought-after blush of youthful skin is due to the fact that youthful skin retains moisture and always looks perfectly hydrated. You can help to put back what the sun, pollution and stress take out. Try SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel to replenish nutrients. Vitamin B5 helps with tissue repair, giving skin exactly what it needs to feel smoother and appear younger. The gel contains hyaluronic acid, the body’s efficient natural hydrator. You need a few drops on face, neck and chest. This pre-treatment will also help increase the benefits of your daily moisturiser.

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel

And, last, but by no means least, let’s moisturize that body to perfection and improve appearance of any scars, uneven skin tone or stretch marks with the award-winning specialist skin care product – Bio-Oil. No smooth, peachy-skinned gal should be without it! Improve elasticity, pigmentation marks, scars, aging skin and dryness with just a few drops every day over the body or in the bath. It can even be used on the face.

Bio-Oil Nature Skincare Oil

So, the ultimate recipe for skin that glows and shines with youthful bloom! Happy hunting, and happy gardening this week!

Summer Makeup Tutorial Video featuring Chelsea

Check this makeup tutorial out for the ultimate summer make up look, demonstrated by Chelsea. She used Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow to create a gorgeous summer eye makeup look with beautiful colours (especially the pink) that blend together perfectly. She also demonstrates the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in a summery pink / coral shade for a look you will love and want to get straight away for summer!

Products Mentioned:

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm 01 Curviest Caramel

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow 204 Tisse Vendome

Your Secret Garden Of Enchanted Treasure

Do you ever feel that life needs a little bit more enchantment, a little bit more magic and a little bit more mystery? We do, which is why we have created a magical, mysterious and enchanted treasure hunt for you for the whole of August! Yes, every week in August we will be hiding secret codes in the COSME-DE website, for you to search for, find and unlock cash value discounts and gifts!

What’s that Watson?

Now, we know for sure that this appeals to the beauty sleuth in you, so this is how it works! Secret codes will be hidden on various web pages, and once you have spotted them with your eagle eyes, all you need to do is enter the code into the search box. Ok, so the search box is easy to find, it’s just the secret code that requires a little of your Sherlock-like detective work! And then? Well then, Voila! You will be on the receiving end of a cash discount on purchases, OR a free gift? How blooming cool is that?

Now, we move on to the theme of the Secret Garden. I want you to close your eyes (yes, go on) and imagine the enchantment of a secret garden, full of flowers, everywhere you look there is the discovery of something fresh and new and delightful, bursts of colour and a profusion of heady fragrance.

Get your rose-tinted glasses on

Each week we will focus on one of the exquisite flowers from this secret garden, so you may take part in the magic every day at home with beautiful, fragrant products. So, week 1 is, drum roll………. the most celebrated of blooms, the ROSE. The rose – revered by poets and artists, with petals of velvet and silk, and fragrance delicate and sweet.

So, how do you get some of this loveliness for yourself? You can start by infusing your beautiful face of a flower with the intensely soothing and hydrating rose face mask, a gel mask infused with real rose petals and pure rose water to restore a rosy radiance and suppleness to all skin types. Beside the regal rose, the cooling gel contains cucumber, aloe vera, algae and green tea to deliver a host of brightening, beautifying benefits. Apply this loveliness in a jar to cleansed skin, avoiding the eye area, for 5 – 10 minutes to let that rose sink in and then rinse. You can mask up every day if you so wish, and I think you just might!

Fresh Rose Face Mask (For All Skin Types)

Treat yourself to the ultimate skin care luxury, Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil. This silky-smooth dry oil with Black Rose extract at the heart of the formula is perfect for dry skin, restoring vitality and youthfulness and erasing fine lines with every precious drop. Combined with active botanical ingredients, as well as Bulgarian Rose and Magnolia, this potent oil gives a delicious boost to all the senses. Just apply 3 – 7 drops in the morning or evening on face and neck for powerful benefits.

Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil

Next, let’s focus on getting the texture of your body skin as plush and smooth as the most delicate rose. Use Jurlique Rose Body Lotion every day for a lightweight moisturiser infused with rose, calendula and daisy to hydrate, balance and firm the skin to the texture of a supple, perfect petal.

Jurlique Rose Body Lotion

And finally, for the ultimate in irresistible lips, give yourself a slick of Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl Extreme Shine lipstick illicit colour. Go for extreme shine, impactful shades and a major plump up effect – and go for it all in rose! Choose 03 Rose Mutin, 05 Rose Transgressif, 10 Rouge Provocant or 11 Rouge Rebelle for the unfair beauty advantage. Rare black rose oil is part of the formula that delivers extreme moisture, with a silicone resin for that vinyl-like, mesmerizing shine. I dare you!

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl Extreme Shine Lipstick Illicit Color

So there you have it fellow garden lovers, get your rose on, get your sharp eyes out and get those discounts and gifts that will make August the most magical month of the year! Watch this space for next week’s featured garden flower!

Summer Grooming From Tips to Toes – Taking Care Of Your Hands And Feet

Part of being super-groomed extends to being cared for from the tips of your fingers to the tops of your toes! And in summer, our feet do not want to be closed in tight, restrictive shoes. Firstly, it’s just too hot, and secondly it is our chance to show off lovely summer nail colours in beautiful sandals and strappy high heels for the club at night. To do this, you need to make sure your feet are in tip-top shape. As for your hands, well, more of us are on display in summer, so we need to make sure our hands are as beautiful and groomed as the rest of us!

Cute Cuticles

To start with, you need to make sure your cuticles are cared for, on all ten of your fingers and your toes! Cuticles are actually part of your skin that sit atop your nail and provide a barrier of protection for your nail bed. It is never advisable to cut the cuticles, as this could open you up to a painful infection. If you want to push them back, you can soak your hands in warm water and then very gently push them back with an orange stick. As with all skin, your cuticles need moisture, and an ideal product to do just this is Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. You can give your fingers and toes a natural, moisturising treat that softens the cuticles and fortifies the nails with sweet almond oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter, with the beeswax sealing in the goodness. The best bit is the lemon oil, which makes your nails appear and smell just delightful! All you need to do is massage into your cuticles once a day, or for an intensive overnight treatment, add a little extra before going to bed.

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Wrap Your Hands In Fragrant Moisture

Keeping your hands soft and moisturised all the time is vital, and it’s wonderful to have a tube of something that works a treat and smells delicious in your handbag. If you have sensitive skin on your hands (and let’s be honest – the poor hands are always busy and out in the elements), you can repair and care with the heavenly NUXE Rêve de Miel Hand And Nail Cream. Wrap your hands in the non-greasy softness of rose, avocado and sweet almond oils, with acacia honey working hard to repair any damage to your skin, as well as providing elasticity – your hands will thank you for it!

NUXE Rêve de Miel Hand And Nail Cream

Foot Fetish

And then there are our poor dear feet, trussed up in socks and closed shoes all winter, punished with high heels and stood on all day long! Summer is the time to give these hard workers some love and attention, and slip them into some gorgeous sandals with a lovely nail colour. If your feet have hard skin and calluses, it’s easy to reverse this with a moisturising foot balm that softens and smooths the hardened skin to make feet pretty and camera-ready again! Koelf Foot Care Peeling Balm is the product to the rescue, and is especially great for pampering feet after prolonged wearing of high heels. We know it looks fantastic, but your feet can take a real beating! After cleansing and drying your feet, just massage the peeling balm into your feet until it is fully absorbed. If it’s a major rescue operation, use morning and night until your feet are as smooth and soft as a baby’s bottom!

Koelf Foot Care Peeling Balm

It is a great idea to alternate your high heels with flat shoes and a medium heel. This gives your feet a break, and your calf muscles get a bit of a workout too with the different activation depending on what type of shoe you are wearing.

Get your colour on!

Now that you have given your nails, hands and feet some tender, loving care, it’s time to choose some colour. And the choice is so vast and endless, how do you know which one to choose? Luckily, you don’t have to stick to one colour, you can keep changing with your moods and looks! So, either just choose a shade that looks great to you, or choose shades that complement your skin tone.

If you have a light skin, you will rock pastels and brights – steer toward nudes that have a pink undertone, cool (blue-toned) reds, all the pinks can work and navy is a great hue for you! For medium olive toned skin, you can plump for orangey reds, peachy pinks, intense blue and deep (grape) purple. For darker skins, go for the brightest pinks (fuchsia), a berry purple, bright cobalt blue and deep reds.

Try Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colours, in a range of gorgeous shades for a glossy, high shine colour that nourishes, hardens and protects your nails.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

Keep your hard working hands and fighting fit feet looking fabulous this summer, to be the one who is truly well-groomed, from tips to toes!