Happy Holidays from Biotherm and Mission Blue

If you read even half as many beauty magazines and blogs as I do, you’ll know that beauty products that multi-task are the must-have for 2012 (and 2013, provided those kooky Mayans were wrong). BB creams, toning moisturizers, hair colour that you can also draw on the pavement with… The list goes on. But I think I’ve found the best bipolar beauty buy yet – a Christmas gift, summer skin savior and environmental protector, all in one!

That’s right: Biotherm – the French luxury skincare house – has concocted limited charity editions of its iconic products, just in time for the holiday season. With re-imagined designs by talented Swedish illustrator Ingela Peterson Arrhenius, the products will raise money to support Mission Blue, the global ocean charity founded by renowned oceanographer, Dr Sylvia Earle.

As the first endeavor of the newly-created charity platform, Biotherm Water Lovers, the brand has committed to donating a minimum of 250,000 Euros to help fund Mission Blue’s efforts to create a large-scale marine reserve for the Ross Sea; one of the most pristine marine environments left on Earth. Once an undisturbed hotspot of biodiversity home to 40 species found nowhere else in the world, the Ross Sea is now under threat from industrial fishing and climate change.

So you know the benefits for everyone and everything else – but what’s in it for you (or your lucky giftee)? There are 13 different varieties of the Biotherm Christmas Sets for women and men, each one tailored to meet your varied skin needs, and every one boxed up with Ingela’s adorable underwater illustrations (seriously, the box is so cute I’ll be keeping it as a makeshift jewellery box).

I was lucky enough to receive the Aquasource Normal Skin Christmas Set in the post to take for a spin, containing:

– Aquasource Normal Skin Moisturiser 50ml
– Biosource Normal Skin Cleanser 50ml
– Biosource Normal Skin Toner 125ml

After arriving home from a long and humid day at the office, the Biosource Cleanser proved to be an absolute dream come true. The creamy lather it develops into means that a 5c piece-size dollop is more than enough, and I kid you not – my skin actually squeaked with cleanliness as I was washing it off. The delicate floral notes were also a welcome variation on those awful, fake ocean scents you often find attached to sea-themed beauty products.

Next up was the Normal Skin Toner. I don’t often use toners, as my skin is prone to dry spells and most of the ones I’ve tried over the years have proven to be too harsh. Biotherm’s offering pleasantly surprised me, leaving my skin feeling a touch firmer, yet still supple and full of moisture. I’ll definitely be adding this product to my regimen over the coming oily summer months.

Finally, there was the moisturiser, or should I say, “24h* deep hydration replenishing gel with thermal plankton cellular water”. A light, aqueous product, it felt as smooth as angel kisses on my skin. I can’t gush enough how wonderful this would feel on hot, or god forbid, sunburned skin.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for someone else, or simply something to treat yourself with, these Biotherm gift sets should be top of your wish-list. And at as little as $49, they’re proof that saving the environment (not to mention your skin) doesn’t have to break the bank.

Still not convinced? Download this voucher and pop into your nearest MYER store to receive a complementary skin consultation and FREE deluxe sample, especially suited to your skin type. Merry Christmas!