Conversations through the middle

Life from a (slightly) more mature perspective

Giveaway – Living Nature Skin Essentials

This week’s great giveaway at 40s Chic comes courtesy of New Zealand natural skincare company Living Nature.
One lucky person will win a Skin Essentials gift pack for dry skin, which at this time of year, lets face it, is something we could all do with. The prize, worth £28, includes 50ml size bottles of cleanser, toner and moisturiser, a sample size night cream and award winning Firming Flax Serum, all bundled up in a reusable canvas bag.

For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, Living Nature products are formulated with native New Zealand plant and herb extracts from sustainable sources. Ingredients are 100% natural, there are no artificial fragrances or preservatives, and all products are certified natural by BDIH Germany, an independent auditor of natural skincare and cosmetics.
The company also takes its environmental responsibilities seriously – packaging is fully recyclable, paper and cartons are sourced from managed forests and the factory in New Zealand uses carbon-neutral wind and hydro energy, as well as filtered rainwater.
While the product range does contain beeswax, honey and lactose, the company says these are humanely sourced and no other animal products feature among the ingredients. The range is also cruelty-free, which in my book is a very big deal.
So what are you waiting for? Win our great gift and pamper yourself this Christmas – you know you deserve it.
To enter, simply leave a comment below along with some way of contacting you, such as your Twitter id or blog address, but not your phone number. If you would like to follow 40s Chic through Google Friend Connect it would be great to welcome you as a regular reader – this would also ensure you don’t miss future giveaways – but it’s not a requirement of entry. 
(This competition is open to UK residents only; one entry per person; entrants should be over 18 years old; the giveaway closes on 21 December and the winner will be chosen at random through random.org. Any questions, please let me know.)

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Giveaway – Queen Cosmetics skincare

I have got an absolutely cracking giveaway for you this week, just in time for Christmas. The lovely people at Queen Cosmetics are offereing one lucky reader a festive gift set of some of their bestselling skincare products – Sensiderma Moisture Soothe, Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream, Eye Make-up Remover and Glycerine Soap, worth £45!

For anyone unaware of the brand, Queen Cosmetics have been going since 1927 – that’s 85 years – and was a pioneer in the field of hypo-allergenic cosmetics and skincare. Developed by dermatologists, its products are suitable for sensitive skin and are formulated according to a philosophy that believes in using the fewest ingredients possible to create effective results. There’s no testing on animals and both cosmetics and skincare are free of unnecessary additives and preservatives.

Created in small batches to minimise waste, the products are formulated with ingredients that are sourced mainly from UK suppliers (around 90%), so supporting the UK economy and minimising the company’s carbon footprint; it also takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and encourages customers to return empty containers for recycling.

Now for the products: Sensiderma Moisture Soothe is great for skin that is dry and sensitive, but it will also provide welcome relief to normal skin that feels dried out by the winter weather. I have used this and posted about it here. It really feels cool on the skin when you apply it and is absorbed quickly. Described as a day cream, I prefer to use it at night and it works well in this way for me.

Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream is just that, so it’s ideal for this time of year. Slather it on your hands before bed then put on a pair of cotton gloves to enjoy an intense overnight hand treatment that will leave your skin soft and smooth.

Queen cream eye make-up remover is interesting, especially if like me, you’re more used to the liquid kind. Simply pat the product over the eye area to remove even hard core make-up, then remove with damp cotton wool. As well as being good for sensitive skin, this is also suitable for contact lens wearers.

Finally, this simple glycerine soap can be used as a facial cleansing bar or in the shower instead of shower gel. It’s not that long ago when we all used bars of soap, before liquid cleansers became popular, yet it’s not something you see very often theses days. It won’t dry out your skin, unlike many soaps, and it is even suitable for use by eczema or dermatitis sufferers.

So there you have it! A great Christmas present to treat yourself with, I’m sure you agree. To enter just leave a comment below (and follow 40s Chic if you wish – it’s not a requirement of entry, but it would be great to see you here regularly.)
Good luck!


(One entry per person; please leave a twitter handle or some other way to contact you, but not telephone numbers and preferably not email; UK giveaway only – sorry; entrants should be over 18 years old; the giveaway closes on 14 December and the winner will be chosen at random through random.org).





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Giveaway – Korres skincare

We have a great giveaway this week thanks to the fab guys at Korres. If you haven’t been introduced to these beautiful skincare products then you have been missing out. Think of sunny Greek Islands and you are pretty much on the nose with this brand – it is natural, organic and smells delicious.
As a company Korres has its roots in Athens’ first homeopathic pharmacy; today it blends nature with science to produce an exciting collection of skincare, haircare, suncare and cosmetics. What more do you need?
First up we have the Guava Body Butter, full of vitamin C to help stimulate collagen production, shea butter, almond, sunflower and avocado oils for their softening and hydrating qualities and quince extract to nourish and restructure. 

Next in our Korres giveaway is the highly sought after Lip Butter. The company tells me that one of these hydrating balms is sold every minute, which means it is their biggest selling product across the globe.
A mixture of rice wax and shea butter, this balm just melts on the lips leaving a glossy tint, not only looking good but protecting and hydrating – ideal for this time of year.

Another problem must of us have to deal with during autumn and winter is dry skin, especially on our hands. This is where the Organic Almond Oil & Calendula Moisturising Hand Cream comes into its own.
Almond oil is a highly effective emollient, nourishing skin and preventing moisture loss, as well as containing oleic acid to tackle wrinkles, and A-tocopherol, a natural antioxidant. Calendula is anti-inflammatory, soothing irritation and dryness other ingredients include nourishing shea butter and provitamin B5.

Finally this week we have Wild Rose Moisturising Cream, which will hydrate and care for your skin with its vitamin C rich wild rose oil, grape seed and sunscreen.

To be in with a chance of winning all of these gorgeous goodies simply leave a comment below. One winner will be randomly chosen after the closing date. To find out more about Korres visit www.feelunique.com

(Entrants must be over 18 years old; closing date 7 November 2012; only one entry per person. Any problems please let me know.) 

The Prize Finder


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Beauty review: Pond’s beauty creams

Lovers of the iconic Pond’s Cold Cream may be interested to learn it has been relaunched.
Ponds, which has been in the business of beauty for many years, has revamped the product for a new and – I think – younger audience, presenting it in blush pink packaging designed to appeal to contemporary users.

The cold cream is billed as a cleanser, though I recall women using it as a moisturiser; then again the press release states it can be applied as a face mask or used as hand cream, which fits.
It has a thick, rich texture, which seems to sit on the skin rather than fully absorb, the fragrance is pleasant if not the one I remember and it’s even supposed to remove mascara! I will be giving that a try. It is suitable for all skin types and you can find more information here.
I didn’t realise that as well as Cold Cream, Pond’s also offers moisturisers for different skin types: Triple Action Moisturiser is designed for mature skin and contains vitamins A and E, and glycolic acid, while Nourishing Anti-Wrinkle Cream is formulated for dry skin, with vitamin B3 and white tea extract as well as an SPF of 15.

There’s also Hydronourishing cream for normal to dry skin, which I have a sample of. I haven’t used it on my face yet so I can’t say if it does “increase the skin’s elasticity for a smooth, supple complexion”, as the press release states, but I can say it’s light, sinks into the skin easily and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. I don’t really like the fragrance of this – it is too detergenty for me – but on the plus side it contains nourishing evening primrose oil.

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