Five Favourite Products Summer Edit

- Vicki 1 Comment

Five Favourites Products Summer Edit

I think we can all agree that Summer is almost over & I for one am looking forward to Autumn. I thought I would share a few products that I loved this Summer. I did share a few of my Summer Favourites back in August if you’d like to read that.

Origins Gin-Zing Energy Boosting Moisturiser £24.00

I will start with the only downside to this product & that is it doesn’t have SPF in, but I do use a separate facial SPF, however I would prefer it to have at least SPF15 in it. So I tend to use this moisturiser in the morning, it leaves my skin feeling smooth, silky soft and hydrated all day. I like to use this on days when I will be wearing makeup for a long time as makeup sits really well with this underneath as its a gel formula so doesn’t feel heavy or greasy and its hydrating so helps my makeup look fresh throughout the day. I love the fresh citrus scent, it smells like Summer to me & its a fantastic moisturiser for dull tired looking skin. The Gin Zing range is one of my favourites from Origins and I can recommend the Mascara and Face Scrub too.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream £9.99

I love Boujois bases and I have been opting for quite a lightweight coverage over Summer and one of my most used products has been their CC Cream. This does give a good amount of coverage so don’t be thinking its going to be too sheer for you. It is so easy to blend in to the skin and it give a beautiful natural even finish. It does a very good job at covering the redness on my cheeks and a few old blemish scars around my chin I also love that it blurs imperfections and makes your skin look so healthy and fresh. Its not heavy at all and wears beautifully throughout the day, it even stays put on those warner days. I only have positive things to say about this product. So if you like a natural but good coverage that is purse friendly option.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Energising Face Mist* £11.00

This has been my go to refreshing face mist this Summer & it has sat right on my desk for when I need a skin pick me up & boost of hydration. This face mist is an instant pick me up, it smells like oranges which is very pleasant and it feels instantly cool on the skin. This contains Camu Camu which is rich in vitamin C and aloe vera, so its hydrating, calming and helps boost the skins radiance. Its so nice on a warm day & you can spray on top of your makeup throughout the day to keep skin feeling fresh and hydrated. This bottle has been with me all Summer & I still have a good amount left.

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask £18.00

This has been keeping my skin looking radiant and blemish free this Summer, I like to use it in the morning (when I have time) because it leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft. It has a thick creamy consistency with fine exfoliating walnut shells which you smooth over the skin & leave it to work its magic. You then massage it off lightly letting the fine walnut shells exfoliate your skin, to reveal smooth, hydrated & radiant skin. I promise your skin will feel so smooth after using this. Balance Me say you can use this product in two ways – if you’re in a rush then you can use it as a face wash or if you have time on your side you sit back, relax and use it as a treatment mask. I do like a multi purpose product. This product removes dead skin, replenishes lost moisture and soothes & smooths your skin. I love it!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Nude £3.99

This product is such a blogger favourite and I hadn’t used it for ages. This eyeliner is a wonder product. I always have really red eyes and this nude coloured eyeliner helps to brighten them and make them look a less tired and red. I have a few of these Rimmel eyeliners in other colours and I like them all but this is the one I would say I wear the most. They are really creamy and don’t drag when you’re applying them, I highly recommend them if you’ve not already tried them. I do have a full post on these here if you’re interested.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Max Factor Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipstick

- Vicki 8 Comments
Max Factor Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipstick

Max Factor Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipstick

Max Factor Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipsticks* £8.99

Apart from mascaras and blushers, Max Factor is a brand I haven’t tried much from, I think it’s because their products are a little harder to come by, so I was excited to try 6 lipsticks from their Lipfinity range.

There are 12 Lipfinity Long Lasting Lipstick shades to chose from, and I think they have a great selection of wearable shades, from deep plums to the ever-popular nude pinks. I have had a nice selection of shades to try out. Max Factor say they will give you,

  • Intense colour and conditioning moisture that lasts.
  • Up to 8 hours of vibrant, nourished colour that doesn’t dry out lips.
  • Infused with nourishing oils, this long wear lip colour doesn’t crack, crumble or bleed.
  • Your high-impact lipstick that’s long-lasting and effortless to apply.

Max Factor Longwear Lipsticks

I found these lipsticks so easy to apply, and they didn’t drag on the lips or apply patchy. I also found that the darker / deeper shades lasted a little longer on the lips, which I have to say is true for most lip products I’ve tried. All 6 shades are beautifully pigmented, and if you want to have a really bold lip you can build these up to give a pretty intense colour.

Like the name suggests, these lippies have good staying power considering they are quite creamy and nourishing on the lips, I didn’t manage to get 8 hours out of them, but they certainly stay put for at least 3–4 hours. I did have to do a little touch up after eating and drinking, but the colour hadn’t completely worn off, just dulled slightly. Lipstick never seems to last that long on me, so you might find these last longer than 3–4 hours on you.

They apply evenly on the lips and have a nice satin finish, a few of the shades look quite glossy in some lights. The formula feels comfortable on the lips, which is probably down to the fact these lipsticks contain 60% skincare ingredients including shea butter and acetylated lanolin, so your lips are being well looked after.

These come in nice luxurious gold bullets with a clear acrylic lid, so you can immediately see the shade you’re looking for, which is very handy.

Max Factor Longwear Lipstick

Max Factor Lipfinity Longwear Lipstick Swatches

From Left to right

Just Deluxe / Always Chic / Forever Strong / Just Alluring / Evermore Lush / Always Elegant

I absolutely love a couple of shades, in particular, Just Alluring is the perfect everyday lip colour and is a really flattering dusky pink. Also, Evermore Lush has become my go-to evening lipstick of choice and this is more of a plummy pink. But I do like all 6 colours and have been enjoying wearing them all.

What are your favourite shades & let me know if you have any favourite products from Max Factor that I should try?

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Shanghai Tang Gold Lily Eau De Parfum

- Vicki 1 Comment
shanghai tang perfume

Shanghai Tang Perfume

Shanghai Tang Gold Lily Eau De Parfum 60ml

A fragrance is one product that I like to purchase myself as a real treat and I don’t mind spending a little extra on a nice perfume, but I must admit I judge a perfume by its bottle. I don’t think I’m alone in that, I like the bottle to reflect how luxurious the perfume is and look pretty on my dresser. I think I might have discovered a new range of perfumes that ticks all the boxes. Let me introduce you to Shanghai Tang, this is an international clothing brand founded in Hong Kong, and they have recently released their debut fragrance collection called Silk Road which by master parfumier, Carlos Benaim, who has created signature scents for such legendary fashion houses as Armani, Carolina Herrera, Prada and Maison Martin Margiela.

This collection pays tribute to the grandeur of Chinese culture through eight multi-layered unique scents – five for women and three for men, which evoke the romance and history of the ancient caravans that transported Chinese treasures to the Western world along the Silk Road. The Silk Road is known as a network of trade and cultural transmission routes that connects the West and the East, the collection takes inspiration from the intricate decor and rich colours infused with the local flora and cultural mysteries of the ancient Silk Road. It’s a very exciting and beautiful collection.

Shanghai Tang Gold Lily

shanghai Tang Ladies Perfume

The feminine fragrances are Orchid Bloom, Rose Silk, Gold Lily, Oriental Pearl and Spring Jasmine (pictured above) and the masculine scents are Mandarin Tea, Jade Dragon and L’Orient.

I have the Gold Lily Eau De Parfum which has

Top Notes: Lily, Ginger Lily

Heart Notes: Jasmine, Orange flower

Base Notes: Patchouli, Musk

It’s a very feminine scent with touches of the exotic, at first you can really make out the floral notes but then it settles down and the musk and patchouli smell incredibly luxurious and soft with a little sweetness. It’s quite a complex sensual perfume and the scent lasts for hours, I never have to reapply this throughout the day so this 60 ml bottle is going to last me for a while. This perfume truly is a slice of luxury and I have received a number of compliments about it, which is always lovely.

Shanghai Tang Gold Lily Perfume

The perfume itself is beautiful and the bottle is equally as luxurious. The packaging pays tribute to fine Chinese craftsmanship and prominently features the ‘shòu’: the Chinese symbol of longevity that is commonly recognised as one of the Five Blessings (longevity, wealth, health, love and virtue). Each bottle is unique. The shòu symbol is engraved in enamel on the cap and in the gold leaf that decorates the ceramic ball, serving as the centrepiece of the design which forms the pattern of the Chinese lucky number eight. Every detail has been well thought out, even the Its very weighty and looks pretty on your dresser. It’s just beautiful and I think it’s the prettiest perfume I have ever owned.

I so enjoy discovering new brands, and Shanghai Tan has been a brand that surprised me, this debut collection of fragrance is incredibly beautiful.

Products marked with a have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

My Winter Skincare Guide

- Vicki 1 Comment
Winter Skincare Additions

Winter Skincare Additions

As the seasons pass I love switching up my skincare routine to keep giving my skin just what it needs. I have been noticing a change in the temperature this past week and there is a chill in the air (which I am secretly excited about) so I have started to look out a few products that will add into my Winter Skincare routine to help my skin adjust to the dryer air & crisper temperatures.

When the temperature drops and we start to put on the central heating I notice such a change in my skin, it gets more dehydrated, irritated and can look more dull so I like to make sure I keep my skin nourished and hydrated. I don’t switch up all my products, there is no need too but there are a few that I swear by during the colder months.

I use a serum all year round but I do have a one that I keep specifically for Winter and that’s the Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Face Serum. I love the whole Mega Mushroom range and have used it for years, the reason I like it more for the colder months is because its extremely hydrating, great at soothing redness and keeping the skin looking radiant. This serum has quite a few ingredients which are good for protecting the skin from the effects of Winter,

This potent serum is fortified with omega-rich Sea Buckthorn plus skin-repairing Reishi, irritant-soothing Chaga and Cordyceps mushrooms – long used in Chinese medicine to heal, promote longevity and improve health. Used faithfully, skin is transformed from reactive to resilient and from stressed to soothed to reveal a healthier, more radiant appearance..

A key part of any skincare regime is your moisturiser and I will be using the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+* this Winter, its such an Iconic product and I have used it a few times over the years. It has been reformulated recently and this new formula feels even more lightweight than before, which makes it a great lightweight moisturiser and it wears very well under makeup. There is no SPF or specific anti ageing benefits but it is a product that never breaks me out or irritates my skin and it gives a good amount of hydration without being greasy. It is 100% fragrance free, so thats really good if you have sensitive skin. Let me know if you have any Clinique makeup or skincare recommendations, I really want to try a few more products from this brand.

Winter Skincare Guide

One thing I often forget to do in the Winter is use a body scrub, I know we’re not walking about with bare legs during the cold snap but its still important we keep our skin looking and feeling smooth and radiant. Scrubs are also a great way to get the blood flowing on a chilly Winter morning and I’ve fallen in love with the Prismologie Red Hour Foaming Body Scrub*. This has an uplifting Cedarwood scent which is invigorating and the scent  is so luxurious. The scrub isn’t abrasive but it will leave your skin feeling incredibly soft, hydrated and by removing the build up of dead skin cells it helps your skin look radiant and healthy. This is a huge bottle which means it will last months so I’m hoping this will see me through the colder months & I really like the bright red packaging its quite festive looking which is perfect for using over Winter. One thing I know for sure is my legs will be Christmas Party ready after using this Scrub!

Oh & if you have time a body oil is a great way to lock in moisture after a shower and it keeps your skin extra soft.

We all know how bad the cold weather is for our lips, I find my lips really suffer. They always dry out and get chapped over the colder months and over the years I’ve tried so many lip products to combat this but the NUXE Reve de Miel Honey Lip Balm is the best I’ve ever tried. It has quite a unique rich formula, I think of it more of a lip treatment and apply it twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. Its quite thick (but not greasy) so I don’t use it throughout the day but I have to say after applying it in the morning my lips feel nourished and protected for hours so you really don’t need to apply it like a lip balm. Its the perfect treatment to apply at night before you go to bed after a long day exposed to the dry cold Winter elements & it repairs your lips overnight leaving them looking and feeling soft and smooth. This pot has lasted me so long & I have looked it out now the weather is a little colder and it sits on my nightstand to remind me to apply it.

A face mist is an easy way of combating the effects of air conditioning & central heating, I always have one on my desk at work and I’m currently using the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist. This is a very refreshing face mist and I spritz it so often throughout the day. I love how it stops my skin from drying out and the rose scent is very uplifting and calming. A few spritz of this leaves my skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated. You can spritz it on top of your makeup without unsettling it and it just keeps your skin nourished and feeling fresh. I’m spritzing it as I type!

My updated winter skincare routine

I like to use a face oil more often during the Winer and this new Merumaya Everything Everywhere Beauty Oil* is ideal for that and the exciting thing about this oil is that its not exclusively for your face it has a multitude of uses. It can be used on dry hands, heels, face, body hair, scalp lashes and brows. I have heard people say they even mix a few drops in with their moisturiser too. This is going to help in so many ways to nourish your skin and to keep it looking radiant. It will also combat the effects Winter has on your face, hair and body, Its extremely hydrating and nourishing because there are so many incredible ingredients included in this oil,

It contains Kahai Oil which has even more benefits than Argan Oil, 50% more Vitamin E and twice as much Linoleic (Essential Fatty Acids). It also has 3 times more anti-ageing Retinol than rosehip oil (traditionally used to combat scars and healing the skin). It also contains Oat, Grapeseed and Jojoba Oils, this exclusive formula provides moisture, elasticity, a reduction in lines, soothes, brightens and nourishes the skin. Squalane which helps prevent moisture loss whilst restoring skins suppleness. So quite the power house of ingredients. I am excited to see the results of prolonged use and I will be putting its multi functional benefits to good use.

A must for your handbag during the Winter is a good hand cream & for me this nspa Intensive Anti Ageing Hand Cream is ideal. It is a thicker formula which will be perfect for nourishing my hands when they’re cold and keeping them from drying out. I also like that this has SPF15 which means my hands will be protected during those chilly sunny days. I find my hands dry out so badly and I always like to have a hand cream with me in my handbag.

These are just a few products I plan on using as it starts to get colder, let me know what products you like to switch up when Winter comes & what you do different to combat the effects the cold weather has on your skin

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.