Favourite Summer Products 2016

August 15, 2016October 16, 2016 - Vicki 1 Comment

Roger Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra Nourishing Oil

This is a beautiful body oil and its perfect for keeping your skin soft, and nourished during the warmer months. I like to use it either in the evening after a bath / shower, to lock in moisture and too soothe my legs after shaving. Or alternatively its nice to apply to your skin if you have your legs / arms out, it gives them an added healthy radiance without looking greasy. It is also really good at hydrating those more stubborn areas like elbows / knees. Oh and how could I not mention that it has a gorgeous fresh juicy fig scent – yes we all know fig is my favourite scent and its the perfect sweet Summer scent. This body oil is enriched with fruit oils (grape, pomegranate, blackcurrant, apricot, passionfruit and sweet almond oil)

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

This is one of my favourite makeup bases but I especially like to using it when the weather is warm because it has broad spectrum SPF30, it feels light on the skin whilst giving you just the perfect amount of coverage and it makes my skin look radiant. I also like that it’s not only a great makeup item but it’s also full of skin loving ingredients too, including

Marine botanicals – help refuel thirsty skin and enhance skins appearance
Water loving humectants,Tehalsose and glycerine- which locks in moisture
Heart leaf globe daisy – an antioxidant, defends skin from from environmental aggressors
Calcium and Magnesium – help replenish the skin and promote the skins moisture balance

I really enjoy wearing this and find it easy to apply (I use my RT sponge), it gives a nice, even, & very natural coverage and it lasts well even on warm days. Even my lovely Mum who is in her 50’s bought it and uses it as her everyday foundation.

essence Blush Up Powder Blush in Heat Wave

Everything about this blush screams SUMMER – look at that beautiful peachy / pink / orange ombre colour. I like to use this by swirling my brush through all the pretty shades getting a little of each colour and then applying it to my cheeks, with a very light hand. This is very pigmented and a little product goes a long way so bare that in mind.

Kiko Sunscreen Stick SPF 50

I always wear SPF on a daily basis, no excuses. I like to (where I can) have it in my moisturiser or foundation (like the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue). That being said I like to be prepared when I am out an about and I like to carry a facial SPF in my handbag. This solid Kiko Sunscreen Stick is very convenient and travel friendly. Just twist it up and swipe it across your face where needed. Its fuss free, mess free and super quick. This is quite creamy but blends in well without leaving your skin looking white and its perfect for keeping your nose from getting burnt when out & about. It also helps that the packaging is cute and pink.

eos Lemon Drop Lip Balm

This smells of Lemons which just makes me feels so Summery. I know these spherical lip balms are a little gimmicky but this one has SPF15 in and it does make my lips feel hydrated and soft. Its not the best lip balm out there but its pretty decent and these eos ones are quite readily available in the UK now. If I was going to recommend my all time favourite Summer Lip Balm it would 100% be the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant SPF15 – the stick one though not the pot, its incredible but I don’t currently have one so this eos one is my backup option.

TonyMoly I’m Real Sheet Mask

I have used all of the masks in this I’m Real Collection, there are 11 in total and to be honest they are all pretty good. I like how instantly cooling and nourishing they feel on the skin. They are literally dripping with essence and I try to keep them on as long as I can – well for as long as I can sit still and relax. These fit perfectly on my small face, the eye and mouth holes are in the right place which doesn’t often happen with these sheet masks. This lemon one is targeted at brightening the skin which is a really nice one for the warmer months, when you want most of your days to be makeup free.

These TonyMoly masks are very affordable and I buy mine as a set of 11 masks from Amazon, they arrive quickly and they come in the most adorable bright packaging.

New Gallinee Skincare

August 5, 2016February 23, 2018 - Vicki 2 Comments

Gallinée’s first range, LA CULTURE has grown in popularity since it was first launched earlier this year. This brand was the brainchild of Marie Drago, a French Doctor in Pharmacy and a member of the French Society of Cosmetic Science, with over 15 years’ experience working with successful and innovative skincare brands.

Gallinée is skincare that’s designed to work in harmony with our skins own microbiome (the name for all good bacteria and microorganisms that live on and in your body), I like to say this brand is where Science Meets Skincare. With their patented complex of prebiotics, probiotics and lactic acid, your skin is in very good hands, (see graphic below).

The La Culture range is bursting with active ingredients at levels where they really make a difference. At the centre of their skincare is their patented Triple Biotec Complex and

TRIPLE BIOTIC COMPLEX: A high concentration of our patented mix of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics helps to support your microbiome in the most gentle and effective way possible.

**Gallinée La Culture Hand Cream* £13**

I have been using two products from the lovely La Culture range the Hand Cream is my favourite out of the two simply because even within 6 weeks I have noticed a real change in how my hands feel and look. This isn’t a cream targeted at making your hands look younger but they will feel nourished, softer, more supple, hydrated and visibly smoother. I apply this morning, noon and night, I always have it close by and like how instantly it’s absorbed but also leaves my hands with that soft nourished feeling.

This cream also protects against external, environmental aggressors and contains these skin loving ingredients

DAISY EXTRACT: A powerful active used for its brightening properties, daisy extract also helps prevent the onset of dark spots.

SHEA BUTTER: A hydrating and protective natural ingredient that can also help with micro-circulation.

It’s a wonderful lightweight hand cream that never feels greasy or that needs reapplying too often. It’s very affordable too, make sure you make a note to check it out if you’re on the lookout for a new hand cream.

**Gallinée La Culture Hydrating Face Cream* £35**

I have also been enjoying using the Hydrating Face Cream which leaves my skin smooth and hydrated. This as with all the products in this collection contains the Triple biotech Complex (see graphic above), as well as these skin-loving ingredients.

YACON EXTRACT: A root hailing from the same family as Jerusalem artichokes, yacon contains one of the largest amounts of prebiotic found in natural plants. In Central America, it is often used as a natural sugar. Gallinée’s yacon is cold-pressed to retain its qualities.

ORGANIC MYRTLE EXTRACT: Sourced from the French Mediterranean region, myrtle is a plant containing a large number of phenolic compounds; well-known for their antioxidant actions, to protect skin from oxidative stress.

It is a lovely cream, especially if you are prone to dry, dehydrated skin. Its gentle and non-greasy formula feels lightweight on the skin and provides a really smooth base for makeup. I noticed especially how soft my skin felt after using this and how throughout the day my skin felt really hydrated.

I’m excited to see what products Gallinee will release next and I am impressed by their first collection. Its innovative and I like that they have harnessed the enormous benefits of helpful bacteria and created a very effective skincare brand with this at its very centre.

Gallinée skincare is available at Harvey Nichols, Beauty Expert, Look Fantastic, Feel Good Matters & Beauty Mart

*PR Sample

New bareMinerals Skinsorials Launch

August 4, 2016October 16, 2016 - Vicki Leave a comment

This is a little heads up,

bareMinerals have teamed up with Organic juice brand Little Miracles to offer a delicious free drink to customers to celebrate the new Skinsorials launch

The offer will run on Friday 5th & Saturday 6th August at their Covent Garden, Canary Wharf, Brighton , St Albans, Glasgow & Windsor boutiques. So head on down there & check out their wonderful new skincare & enjoying a delicious drink courtesy of Little Miracles.

bareMinerals are best known for their quality mineral makeup but this year they extended their offerings and have released a very well received skincare collection. Their Skinsorials skincare collection continues to echo the brands message and focuses on Beautiful Ingredients for Naturally Beautiful Skin.

Its an exciting launch and one to check out if you are near one of the boutiques that are taking part on Fri/Sat or alternatively just pop along to your local bareMinerals counter to learn more about their new releases.

New in My Beauty Stash #2

August 1, 2016October 16, 2016 - Vicki 5 Comments

If you want to see my first New In My Beauty Stash post <—- Just click the link. So this month I have 4 really lovely new products in my beauty stash, I’m excited to tell you all about them.

ESPA Nourishing Lip Treatment*

Lip oils seem to be the product of the moment and quite a few brands are releasing their version, from Clarins to GOSH. This ESPA offering is brand new and it doesn’t disappoint. It has a doe foot applicator which makes it easy and mess free to apply (even on the go). This oil feels extremely comfortable and soft on the lips, not at all sticky or greasy. I love using it throughout the day to keep my lips soft, give them that lovely glossy look and they feel hydrated for hours. This Nourishing Lip Treatment is packed with skin loving ingredients including,

Indian Gentian Leaves – this blurs the appearance of fine lines and visible smooths skin, boosts collagen and elastin production
Konjac Root & Hyluronic Acid Filling Spheres – these plump, smooth and deliver long lasting hydration
Omega rich Raspberry & Pomegranate Seed Oils – Both are deeply nourishing and help keep your lips in a beautiful condition
Pink Grapefruit Essential Oils – This soothes and gives the oil a fresh flavour

HJ Manicure in Tropical Sunset

This came in the July Little Known Box and it is a beautiful juicy looking colour for Summer. This is a boutique brand offering salon quality nail polishes at affordable prices. HJ Manicure have a lovely selection of 20 colours in their core collection and I have 2 colours but this Tropical Sunset is my favourite. Its a beautiful glossy orange, coral that has a super glossy finish. Its opaque in 2 coats and the formula is so easy to apply. Its just a lovely Summer shade and I am going wear it a lot this year. HJ Manicure are proud to be

5-Free Nail Polish
Free from Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP and Camphor
Cruelty Free & Vegan Friendly

Stila Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palette

OK – how beautiful is this palette!? I am totally in love.The packaging is rose gold & the mirror is huge, which makes me very happy. This palette is available in four different shade options, Fair/Light, Light/Medium, Medium/Tan and Tan/Deep, I have the Fair / Light palette and it has everything you need to create a cute neutral look for fair skin (in terms of eye & cheek colours). You get 2 blush shades and 5 eyeshadows and they are all beautifully pigmented and so easy to blend. I like that there is a mix of matte, shimmer and pearl finishes.

In this Fair/ Light Palette you get the these beautiful shades

Eye Shades: Alluring (soft pale pink), Breathtaking (soft neutral white), Passionate (champagne pearl), Dynamic (soft taupe), Glamorous (warm chocolate brown)
Blush Shades: Romantic (soft pale pink), Playful (soft rose pink)

Lancome Grandiose Eyeliner*

Now I really wanted to like this & I even used it for an entire week, trying to make it work for me. Sadly I just can’t seem to apply my liner very neatly with this. I love wearing liquid liner, I like a cat eye or just a simple very close to the lash line look but with this liner I found both of these so hard to achieve.

The actual flexibility of the eyeliner wand is what makes this liner different from most others on the market & I liked the innovation and concept, a lot! You adjust the handle which clicks in to place making it more ergonomic for applying the liner, that does take some getting used to but I can appreciate that it allows you to get a better angle for applying liner. I just don’t think it made it easier (for me).

The formula is a very deep rich matte black, which is great and the colour doesn’t fade throughout the day. The nib is flexible and tappers to a very thin point which is good for achieving that precise line, I just found it quite hard to work with and couldn’t get my liner to look as good as when using my trusty Soap & Glory Liner. I’m not writing this off, I think its more to do with the way I have learn’t to apply my liner over the past 15 years & I’m set in my ways. Change isn’t always good for me, I urge you to pop along to a Lancome counter so you can test the product, it might be just the liner you’re looking for. I am not going to let this beat me & plan on watch a few tutorials so I can attempt to master it.

What is new in your beauty stash & have you tried any of the products I have mentioned?