Products For Getting That Glow

January 28, 2016April 28, 2018 - Vicki 4 Comments

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

This comes out a really vibrant green shade which is cool and odd in equal measure! The product itself is so good and I have been through a few tubes of this over the past 2 years. Its amazing if you are pushed for time and want your skin to look fresh and bright as you only need to leave it on for 1 minute (so fast). You massage a small amount of warm water to activate the Vitamin C and let it get to work brightening your complexion. You leave the product on your skin for 1 minute then you rinse with warm water and that’s when the tiny exfoliating beads get to work by buffing and removing dead skin and help fight the signs of fatigue, boost skins radiance levels and reduce imperfections.

Soap & Glory Wonderbronze

This is a very pretty bronzing highlighter, it’s a great way of giving your skin that sun-kissed look without having been in the sunshine. I just swirl my brush round all the colours and apply it with my duo fibre brush, using this type of brush I find I don’t pick up too much product on my brush. I am all about a subtle glow. I really like Soap & Glory face powders and I also like the Solar Powder too for days I want an even more low-key look but still a nice subtle glow.

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion

This is such a lovely part of my morning skincare routine, it’s so soothing and cooling. I keep it in the fridge so its nice and cold, I put a little liquid on each cotton pad then I hold them on my tired eyes for about a minute and it feels amazing. It contains naturally active ingredients including eyebright, witch hazel, aloe vera and cornflower to help tone, cool and refresh tired, puffy eyes. Nothing feels more soothing in the morning & I apply this whilst I’m waiting on the kettle to boil every morning. Does that count as multi tasking?!

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in Bountiful Beige

This is quite a new discovery for me but I like how bright and pretty this cream shadow is. It’s a champagne colour and helps make your eyes look bright and awake. It’s a really nice everyday colour and I have been wearing it alone all over the lid. These apply really smoothly and are easy to blend, they contain vitamin E for soothing and smoothing the delicate eye area. So it’s an eyeshadow with a little extra skincare benefit too.

Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel

This mask came in a beauty box a while ago and I rediscovered it when I moved house last year and Its become my go to mask this Winter. The Facial Glow peel contains natural actives derived from apples, papayas, and orange peels to gently exfoliate dead skin cells; there’s also Kombuchka and Lumiskin to help refine the skin and boost radiance. It’s a great product for getting rid of dead skin leaving your face looking bright and glowing. I only have a small travel size but I will be purchasing the larger tub because I can’t be without this in my routine.

Apply peel to clean, damp skin from neck to forehead. Do not scrub.
Leave for 4 minutes.
Remove with a face cloth soaked in warm water.

Estée Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator

I have been mixing this with my foundation to give my skin that extra radiance. It’s not glittery or shimmery it just reflects the light and adds a luminous glow to your skin & mixed in with my foundation it looks natural and really healthy. Its oil free so it’s not going to make your skin look greasy its a really great product for brightening tried looking skin and I have been using it daily over the Winter months.

What are your favourite products for achieving that fresh-faced glow?

Updated Lip Balm Collection 2016

January 25, 2016February 3, 2018 - Vicki 7 Comments

Soap & Glory Great Kisser in Juicy Peach

I got this in my stocking and I can’t wait to use it, it smells so good, quite sweet but omg so fruity. If you like peach scented products then this is for you. I have no idea what its like on the lips but I am going to put it in my car so I get a little use out of it. The tin is cute too.

Dr Paw Paw Original Balm

This is a multi-purpose balm with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, the main ingredient is fermented Pawpaw. The Pawpaw has been found to have many soothing properties for our skin and hair, making it a real ‘go to’ product. I swear by this product for preventing and healing chapped lips. I also like to apply it over lipsticks to give them a glossy look! I carry my tube with me everywhere & always recommended it to family and friends. If you suffer from chapped lips you need to invest in this Balm, It really works.

Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment

This is a really good lip treatment and leaves my lips very soft, its much like the Dr PawPaw in texture. It is fragrance-free and colourless which I like. It protects your lips against moisture loss and is a good one to apply before bed because it’s not at all sticky and doesn’t leave your lips greasy. I like the squeeze tube it makes it hygienic and easy to apply. This is also a great price too, especially for more of a luxurious brand £13.

eos Strawberry Sorbet

Over the years I’ve tried almost all the flavours but the berry ones are by far my favourite. I like that they’re both quite sweet but fruity. So pleased that Boots sell them now, which means they’re a lot easier to get your hands on. There is something cute about a lip balm that’s a sphere, am I right? Which is your favourite scent?

Vaseline Sugar Coated

Vaseline have started doing these limited edition tins more frequently and I am a sucker for anything like that. The tin is cute and the product isn’t too bad either, I wouldn’t say this is the most moisturising but it adds a pretty sheen to your lips and is nice to wear with minimal makeup. It also smells lovely and sweet.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour

I love that this is in stick form, I used to have the pot but I much prefer it like this. I use this all the time and have repurchased it over and over again it just works and that’s all there is to it. It keeps the moisture locked in and my lips feeling really healthy. Oh, and it has SPF 15 which I really like so I know my lips are protected from the sun.

Blistex Cherry Intensive Moisturiser

You can’t go wrong with a Blistex lip product, so inexpensive and their range is always growing. There isn’t a Blistex product I have tried and not liked. This Cherry one smells authentic and not too sickly sweet. It has Shea butter & beeswax so it will protect your lips and also it has SPF15. It ticks all the boxes.

The Body Shop Born Lippy in Watermelon

This looks so pretty and glossy on the lips and watermelon is quite a different scent for me but I like it. It smells like Summer. Nothing groundbreaking about this, it’s just a nice hydrating lip balm with a lovely scent.

Olive & Pomegranate Lip Care

My mum bought me this from Greece & its quite soft and almost melts on to your lips. The scent is subtle and a little fruity. It’s a nice chap stick style lip balm to have in your handbag. It keeps my lips soft and hydrated for hours.

Sleek Pout Polish in The Show

I have had this for a while and I have no idea why I overlooked it for so long. It adds a very subtle pink gloss to your lips & looks pretty. It contains Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E so it looks after your lips and it has SPF 15. I think the darker shades would be a little more pigmented but this a great everyday gloss.

Jurlique Love Balm

This is a great all-rounder, so it’s not only for your lips but works to soothe dry or chapped skin. I like to use it on my cuticles and find it works to soften them before I give myself a manicure. It’s a natural salve that’s infused with the natural scent of roses and the scent it subtle but pretty. I like to carry this with me when I travel and find it a great multi purpose product.

NUXE Réve de Miel Lip Balm

For me the NUXE lip balm is more of a treatment because it is quite thick and not the kind of lip product I would wear during the day. I like to put it on last thing at night, so I wake up with soft hydrated lips. I don’t think its great at helping soothe chapped lips but it is good at keeping your lips feeling soft and moisturised. A pot lasts forever & don’t be put off by the fact it says honey because it really doesn’t smell of honey.

Three Pamper Products

January 19, 2016February 9, 2018 - Vicki 2 Comments

I’m trying to ignore the fact the weather is awful, the nights are dark and January is historically a month I eat my weight in chocolate & I have been forcing myself to be more positive, active and have regular pamper sessions. I always neglect my body in the winter months and this year I didn’t want it to be that way so these three products have been regular features of my Sunday night pamper sessions for the past 6 weeks and I love them so much!

MONU Warming Ginger Body Oil

This is a gorgeously indulgent product and its all about creating that Spa experience at home. This Oil can be used in three ways, as a body oil, in shower oil or put a few drops in your warm bath. It smells incredible, leaves your skin so soft and nourished and is a lovely indulgent treat. I like that it’s not at all greasy and is the perfect pampering treat for your body. It includes,

An uplifting mixture of aromatic Ginger, Lemongrass and Orange essential oils is sure to awaken the senses and provide an energising kick to tired muscles.
Added active ingredients such as Calendula, Jojoba Seed Oil and Vitamins A and E deliver all you need to gently restore natural softness to the skin.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Taking the day off is what I like to do every evening, cleanse off all the dirt and makeup at the end of a busy day. I don’t just save this for the weekend but it still feels like a treat because it’s so gentle on my skin and it really does take off every stitch of makeup. I scoop a little product out and massage it into my skin for a good few minutes (the balm turns into an oil), taking the time to work the product in and help it dissolve my makeup. Then with a damp face cloth I wipe it all off – my makeup comes off very easily no vigorous rubbing needed, it even removes my mascara.

ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud Mask*

My hair has looked and felt so dry and frizzy these past few weeks & this mask has really helped to bring some shine back and also smooth the frizz. This mask is pink and it smells so rich and luxurious. You massage a generous amount into your scalp and through damp hair, sit back and relax for 20 minutes then rinse thoroughly. I thought because this is a mud mask it would be a little tricky to rinse out but it wasn’t difficult at all. ESPA also recommend you use this overnight for more of an intense treatment, I haven’t tried that yet but I will soon. The mask contains,

Red Clay stimulates circulation to the scalp improving hair growth
Apricot, Bergamot and Orange Oils nourish and aid manageability and gloss
Vitamin C rich Watercress helps to soothe your scalp

I like that its designed to be nourishing and beneficial for not only your hair but also your scalp too, it leaves my hair smelling lovely whilst feeling so soft and glossy. Its a treat for sure and I love using it when I am having a pamper evening. All ESPA products come beautifully packaged, they make the whole experience luxurious from the scent of the product to the luxurious packaging. You really feel like you’re having an at home Spa experience.

•PR Sample

December 2015 Empties

January 14, 2016April 27, 2018 - Vicki 2 Comments

Ponds Contour Eye Cream

This was a really great eye cream & I wasn’t expecting it to be at all. It was very gentle and hydrating not too heavy or greasy. It was easy to massage in without leaving the area feeling like I had piled on the product. I have been using it morning and night and It worked a treat to keep my skin hydrated and smooth. It contains some great ingredients,

Vitamin E: helps improve the skins hydration.
Pro-Vitamin B5: helps restore and soften the eye contour skin.
Essential Nutrients: Jojoba Oil and She Butter help protect, nourish and calm the skin.

I wear an eye cream daily and I was very sad when this ran out (although it seemed to last forever) I can’t seem to find it in Superdrug and I am hoping it hasn’t been discontinued. If I can find it I will 100% repurchase. It’s a great affordable eye cream

MUA Eye Define Lengthening Mascara

This £3 mascara is so good if you like your lashes to look fluttery and long. I seriously love it, plus it lasts ALL day without flaking or transferring. This is a very intense black so if you like your mascara to be jet black this is a great option. I do like many products from the MUA range but this mascara is one of the best products I have tried from then and its well worth adding to your makeup stash. When I next need a mascara I will be repurchasing this one.

Bee Good Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water

This is a lovely cleanser for removing your eye makeup or for doing a pre cleanse. Its gentle and great at dissolving makeup. It feels soothing and instantly cooling on the skin so if you use this in the morning its a nice way to sooth tired eyes. It contains some really good natural ingredients.

Moisturising British wild flower honey
Brightening red algae
Refreshing wild water mint and propolis.

I have tried a couple of products from this British brand & I have only good things to say about them. Bee Good skincare is bursting with the finest blend of ethically sourced bee based ingredients, naturally active botanicals and plant oils. They harness the very best from nature to create hard working, luxurious and dependable skincare. Their whole range is free from parabens, synthetic colour, mineral oil, silicone, SLS/SLES – so no nasties here. They are also the only British premium skincare brand to exclusively use British honey, propolis and beeswax in all of their products.

Its skincare that is getting back to nature & I am totally on board.

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

This mascara is good at preventing clumping and I liked that it was jet black that said it wasn’t the best at staying put and quite often it ended up on my upper lids or under my eyes. Not a cute look! I’m not in a rush to repurchase. With this being an American release it’s not easy to get hold of so I am quite glad I didn’t love it, also the MUA Mascara I mentioned above is so much better and more affordable.

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25

I really liked this moisturiser and the fact that is was an effective SPF ticked all the boxes for me. I even wore it to a wedding that was outside on one of the hottest days of the year & my face didn’t burn at all. I was very impressed,

Balance Me say ‘Our rich yet easily absorbed SPF 25 face cream is specially designed to care and protect skin in everyday life. To support your skin’s own defence system, our SPF 25 moisturiser contains an innovative natural titanium dioxide-based sun filter to block out both UVA and UVB rays. A blend of super hydrating hyaluronic acid and powerful anti-oxidant blackberry leaf extract with essential fatty acid-rich rosehip, camellia, kukui nut and jojoba oils work gently yet effectively to soothe, firm and shield your precious skin as well as enhancing the activity of the sun filter.

It didn’t leave a white cast on my skin or break me out, I thought this was a great way of protecting my skin from the harmful UVA & UVB rays. Although it is slightly heavier on the skin than your average daily moisturiser you’re getting so many more benefits and after a week or so I really didn’t notice it. I made sure to massage it into my skin thoroughly before applying my foundation and it never left me feeling greasy or shiny. I would 100% repurchase this.

Vichy Purete Thermale Beautifying Cleansing Micellar Oil

I think I used this almost daily since I got it & these past few days I have really missed not having it in my skincare routine. I massaged two pumps in to dry skin to dissolve makeup and the dirt from the day, using a warm face cloth I wipe it all away. The fact that it is an oil really made it easy to massage in to the skin and it doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry or tight. People that enjoy doing a double cleanse will find this so good as the first step. At the heart of the formula are,

micelles (Micelles are attracted to dirt, grime, and oil, and they draw out impurities without drying out your skin), which gently remove waterproof make-up, impurities, sebum excess and dead cells with no need for rubbing. Also it contains Vitamin E which provides antioxidant protection and Camellia Oil which moisturises and soothes the skin. This can be used on even sensitive skin and the formula contains no parabens.

I will be repurchasing this ASAP, I loved using it.

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