British Brands

Discovering New Beauty Brands in 2016

- Vicki 3 Comments
Trying New Beauty Brands

For me 2016 was the year of trying out brands and products I’d never used before. I was not only introduced to brands I had never heard of before but also given the chance to test out products that had been on my wish list for a while.

A few didn’t live up to expectations but I’m pleased to say most of them have become firm favourites. I thought I would share some of the ones that stood out to me. I am very much looking forward to trying more new brands this year and have a few on my radar already.

Pureology Haircare

Pureology Haircare

I had wanted to try this brand for the longest time as I’d only heard positive reviews from bloggers whose opinions I really trust. I was thrilled that the FULFYL haircare system that I tried out lived up to my expectations and my Mum even went out and purchased it for herself too. This particular range is formulated for colour treated hair and it protects your colour from fading whilst keeping your hair strong, nourished and looking super glossy. I am obsessed with it and the hair colour I used on my hair this year stayed vibrant for the longest time, I 100% put it down to using this trio.

NIOD Skincare

NIOD

Again I was excited to try this brand and I have to say its one of my favourite skincare discoveries of 2016. NIOD are a relatively new brand to the market but don’t overlook them on that count, they’re a brand that are pushing the envelope of ingredients and producing products that are fuss free, effective and pretty damn cool. Everything from their production & packaging right down to the products themselves are progressive. I have tried out a couple of their offerings this year but this Mud Mask has changed my life – well my skin. It has restored my skins radiance and I’ve certainly had fewer blemishes which pleases me greatly. I will be purchasing a lot more from them in 2017 and also trying a few products from their sister company The Ordinary.

Mac Palette Dupe

W7 Summer Nights Eyeshadow Palette

This is a budget brand that has always intrigued me, they are quite renowned for producing dupes and when I saw this MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette dupe on MissMakeupMagpie blog I knew I had to try it. I love neutral palettes and this 9 pan palette has become a firm favourite. I’ve used it so much these past few months and if you are able to track it down (its like gold dust) then I urge you to snap it up. Its super pigmented, wearable and affordable, what more do you want!?

BRYT Skincare

BRYT Skincare 

This was a new British skincare company that I was introduced to this year but they mainly cater for younger skin and I’m certainly not in that bracket anymore. Nevertheless their skincare is gentle and although rich its not greasy or too heavy. I did enjoy trying out these three products, but I need something that offers more lift, tightening and hydration. BRYT seem to be ticking all the boxes when is comes to delivering affordable, ethical and botanical premium skincare. So if you’re under 25 then make sure you check them out. How cute and bright is their packaging too!

Skin Chemist Snail Serum Skincare

skinChemists Skincare 

This is quite a luxury brand which has a very modern minimal feel to its branding and packaging. I have enjoyed the products I have tried from them, especially the snail eye cream which I thought was very gentle and nourishing. It was very lightweight and felt cooling around my eye area, also my concealer applied so well over this. I have been using a few products from their Caviar range too but It’s still early days, so keep an eye out for a full review soon.

Ooh! Oils Cacay Facial Oil

Ooh! Oils of Heaven 

I adore using facial oils and love how versatile they are, these two from Ooh! have been a pleasure to use. The Cacay Oil was my favourite of the two and I mostly use this as part of my evening skincare routine but I do mix a little with my serum during the day of my skin is looking lacklustre. It helps to keep my skin looking radiant and hydrated and is great at reducing scaring and uneven skint one. This particular Oil has a high content of vitamin A, vitamin E and Linoleic Acid (omega-6) which have effective results in skincare.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette-One-

Blank Canvas Cosmetics

Another brand I had never heard of before trying this palette but I have learnt that they have a huge following, especially in Ireland which is where this brand is from. They produce high quality makeup brushes and also a range of makeup products. The eyeshadow palette didn’t completely WOW me but I did like quite a few of the shades and think they are a brand to keep an eye on. The double ended brush that came with the palette was incredible quality and Its made me want to try a few more from their huge range.

What brands did you try for the first time in 2016, any firm favourites that you would recommend?

Timothy Dunn Arabian Fig Candle

- Vicki 2 Comments
Timothy Dunn Arabian Fig Candle

Timothy Dunn Arabian Fig Candle

Timothy Dunn Arabian Fig Candle* £36.00

This candle oozes sensuality, spice and luxury. Inspired by the largest and wealthiest city of the Middle Ages, Arabian Fig embodies the ancient sophistication and decadence of Constantinople. As your beautiful candle melts, you’ll be intoxicated by the essence of ripe, succulent figs warming in Byzantine courtyards.

Presenting a complex blend of green fig leaf, basil and clove, tenderly enhanced with frankincense; this deliciously aromatic candle has a hint of wild fig and cassis, rose and jasmine, and the rich base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and musk.

Timothy Dunn London is a luxury home fragrance brand based in South London. A career that spans more than 20 years in floristry inspired founder Timothy Dunn to capture the unique scent of his revered floral arrangements. Each of the Timothy Dunn candles is expertly blended for a superior fragrance and burn time. Choose from a selection of evocative scents, housed in the brand’s signature hand-blown glass.

These are seriously luxurious candles, even before I’d taken the candle out of its box I could smell that amazing earthy fig scent. This candle has a whopping 60 hours burn time which is more than any other candle I have owned, I tend to burn it for about 1 – 2 hours then blow it out because the scent is that strong it will still fill your room for hours after its stopped burning.

Arabian Fig Candle

I adore Fig, I feel like its my signature scent. Its such a rich and complex scent, it reminds me of living in Cyprus and thats why I associate Fig with warm Summer days rather than Winter nights. This Arabain Fig Candle smells incredible and as you would expect from a luxury candle brand the scent is strong and intense it really scents the house not just a room. My husband really likes this candle too, he isn’t a fan of sweet scents or anything overly floral so this is perfect, the musky, woody notes really come through too and make it quite a masculine scent so he likes to burn this at night when we’re watching TV or eating dinner.

The candle arrives in a simple black box with pretty gold details, housed in a sophisticated heavy black glass jar. It looks at home in any room of your house, I’ve been mostly burning it in the living room but have been known to have it on the side of my bath when I feel like having a pamper. The candle burns evenly & cleanly and if you trim the wick before each use there is no sooty deposit which is great. I get so disappointed when candles burn down the middle & you’re left with so much wax around the edge, they’re a waste of money

Timothy Dunn Arabian Fig Candle

I know more expensive luxury candles are not for everyone & I’ve only ever treated myself to two (both were Jo Malone) but each time I have one I say to my husband that the scent is just so much more intense and you really do get what you pay for. So if your budget can stretch or if you are able to ask for one for a special occasion I can’t recommend Timothy Dunn Candles enough, the quality, burn time and wonderfully intense scent is more than worth the price tag. I’m using it sparingly but enjoying every minute of it.

My house smells inviting and the beautiful Fig scent transports me back to a warm summers evening in Cyprus, I know my husband is planning on treating me to another one for my Birthday in October (feeling very lucky). Let me know what candles you like to burn & if you prefer sweet / floral or musky scents. Timothy Dunn has wonderful selection of candles and I’m sure you will find something to suit your taste.

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.

Rediscovered Products

- Vicki 6 Comments

Rediscovered Products

Merumaya Skin Brightening Exfoliating Peel £19.50 – I like to use this in the morning as it really leaves your skin smooth & looking bright. A great way to start the day. It has a combination of Glycolic Acid and Pomegranate Enzymes to help break down dead skin and re texturize it revealing vibrant, healthy smooth skin. It has a thick consistency & I like to apply a generous layer all over my face, leaving it for about 5 minutes. Its gentle but effective & a great weekly treatment to help revive dull lack lustre skin.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector £19.00 – This little product always gets lost in my stash & I forget I have it but after having a clear out & have fewer concealers and so this has found pride of place in my current daily routine. Its a peachy pink corrector that helps counteract dark circles & make the under eye area appear brighter, you layer this under your concealer and it works a treat. This does crease on me after a couple of hours but thats because it is quite thick & creamy but i just pat it back into place and it looks good to go.

Soap & Glory Hocus Focus £11.00 – This gives the skin a lovely pearlescent illuminating glow and it looks beautiful worn under makeup or I have mixed it with my moisturiser / foundation for more of a subtle effect. Its not a primer, more of a glow enhancer & I think it does a great job at helping smooth imperfections. It is quite a runny milky formula, so don’t pump out too much & I find one pump is enough for my whole face. Its a product that just makes your skin look healthier, brighter & more awake. I have had this bottle for a while now & S&G have since changed the packaging. This is a product that will last you so very long & so is worth adding to your stash.

What products have you rediscovered from your stash?

Best of British #1

- Vicki 11 Comments

I’ve been planning this series for a while, I wanted to celebrate the incredible and diverse beauty brands that are home grown and proudly British. There so many British brands that are sold internationally as well as many smaller lesser known brands. I have 50+ brands to share with you, I’m excited to discover some new brands and share with you quite a few brands that I love. I hope you enjoy this series of posts & let me know if you discover any brands that you didn’t know were British.

Best of British Products

The Bathory*

Launched this year by Laura out of her love of a good bath, she wanted to share that love with the world & so The Bathory a cute little British brand was born. With their HQ in London & their small factory in a barn in rural Berkshire they let you invent your own blend of bath soak. This is a luxurious way to enjoy a bath and its such an exciting concept for bath lovers everywhere. Their jars of bath soak are £18 so quite pricey but if you like to relax in the bath then these are perfect for that. From their website to the final product this brand has excellent attention to detail and I really like that.  I’m excited to see whats next from this brand.I have written a full review of them here.

Soap & Glory

This is a brand that almost all of us know and love, it was founded by the creator of Bliss Spa, Marcia Kilgore back in 2006, its eye catching packaging and tongue in cheek names are what most people notice first. Soap & Glory are a fun, fresh affordable British brand that have gone from strength to strength. They now have a product range including skincare, haircare makeup, bath & body care. We all have our favourites and mine include The Righteous Butter, Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Hocus Focus Highlighter. This is a brand that is now sold internationally and they always seem to be releasing something new and exciting. I’m secretly hoping they do a line of nail polish. Let me know what your favourite S&G product is. I want to try their new Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+as I am all about the facial SPF. 

Best of British Beauty Brands

Rimmel

Was founded in 1843 by Eugene Rimmel and was originally a perfumery on London’s famous Regent Street. They’ve always been well known for their Mascara & Rimmel actually means Mascara in many languages. Rimmel is such an iconic British Brand that is sold in more than 40 countries and is Britain’s best selling cosmetic brand. They have a great range of affordable products and are still to this day most well known for their mascaras, although I think they have added more to their range. I personally like their Wake Me Up range and their Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal are a great budget friendly eyeliner – these come in 7 shades & 5 of these shades are a staple in my makeup bag. What are your favourite Rimmel products?

Jo Malone

Was founded in 1994 by Jo Malone, ‘who began her career as a facialist, soon becoming one of London’s most sought-after skin care therapists. To thank her original 20 clients, she hand-mixed her own Nutmeg & Ginger Bath Oil. One client ordered 100 bottles as table favours for a prestigious dinner. Instantly, 86 guests wanted more. The Jo Malone London brand was born.‘

It’s now seen as a quintessentially British brand, their stores are a pleasure to shop in and its so hard to leave empty handed. They’re best known for their selection of fragrances  but they also have candles, skincare and body products. They package them up beautifully with a cream box and a silky black bow so if you needed a gift these are the ultimate & look luxurious. I had a candle as a leaving gift from a job & I treasured it for months. Let me know what your favourite Jo Malone scent is, mine has to be the classic Lime Basil and Mandarin and their Amber & Patchouli. I could spend hours in their stores testing them all out.

Best of British Beauty Brands

Nails Inc

Was founded in 1999 by then fashion editor Thea Green MBE (Services to Beauty Industry) she loved how easy it was in America to get a Manicure and felt there was a huge gap in the market for aUK based fashion forward nail bar, her first salon was started in London. It was famous for the 15 minute mani & demand was high. Nails iNc grew very quickly and can now be found in department stores nationwide. Nails Inc is known for their affordable, luxurious nail care, that’s catwalk inspired and gives you professional quality. True to its British roots the shades are named after London destinations like Spitalfields and Notting Hill Gate. Nails Inc has grown to be Britain’s most successful and popular nail bar chain and they employ 400 people throughout UK & Ireland.

Their products are sold internationally and you can now find Nails Inc nail bars in Sephora in the USA and Canada. I adore Nails Inc polishes & think their formula is so good, the colour range is stunning, They are always at the forefront of new effects and finishes and it is exciting every season to see what new textures and shades they come up with. Among my favourite shades are Basil Street (gorgeous subtle nude) and St James Park (pretty pink). They have an extensive selection & I need to add a few more shades to mine. Let me know what you recommend. Nails Inc not only sell nail polish but also hand-care, foot-care and false lashes.

STEAMCREAM*

Is an Anglo – Japanese brand but the product is produced in the UK. STEAMCREAM is an all in one natural moisturiser that is light and gentle enough to be used on your face, body and hands. STEAMCREAM is produced using a STEAM process, The force of the STEAM fuses the ingredients instantly – holding them together in a very gentle and loose emulsion. When it touches your skin, the naturally moisturising ingredients and pure, calming essential oils are released from the light emulsion so they can sink past the surface reaching the areas they are needed fast. Your skin will feel intensively moisturised and softer for longer’.

STEAMCREAM is also a very ethical brand with focus upon its packaging being environmentally friendly and recyclable.  It’s also Vegan Friendly, freshly handmade everyday and STEAMCREAM use a minimum amount of preservatives so that the skin’s natural balance of flora can be protected. Low preservative levels also help STEAM CREAM to biodegrade easily. I love using this multi purpose product & have a collection of their cute tins on my vanity. I have written a full review on this here.

Illamasqua

Is a British makeup brand launched in 2008, it is a brand which encourages individuality and freedom of expression. Drawing much of its inspiration from the 1920’s Berlin theatre scene and the many alternative scenes that we have seen since. It is a brand thats popular with makeup artists and beauty lovers alike, not conforming to the norm Illamasqua has a flair for the vivid, pigmented and adventurous they never shy away from pushing the boundaries of makeup. I like that it feels quite dark and edgy and that your part of a movement and not just a brand. Its quite exciting. Illamasqua are known for using colour and being bold. I have only tried a few products from them but I was pleased with the quality and their customer service, if you get chance to visit one of their shops or counters you must, their staff are very friendly, helpful and passionate about the brand. So nice to see. Please let me know what products you use & love from them.

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.