Wedding Guest Beauty Essentials From Very

February 28, 2026March 2, 2026 - Vicki Leave a comment

I’m here to share how I keep special occasion prep simple and as stress-free as possible. I have a system, glowing, well-prepped skin, effortless hairstyling, and a vibrant pop of colour that pulls everything together. Whether it’s a wedding, summer party, special event or an evening celebration, I love a look that that make me feel fresh, polished, and confident without ever feeling overdone.

Honestly, skincare prep changes everything when you’re doing your makeup, especially for a special occasion & it takes the stress out of your makeup not looking good by the end of the night. If your base is smooth, hydrated, and primed, everything on top just applies easier and sits better. Taking the time to do your skincare prep means your foundation & concealer goes on evenly without settling into fine lines or looking patchy, and your healthy radiant skin will help you look fresh & put together. As a bonus your makeup will last longer too.

Lately, I’ve been using a trio of products from Korean brand Beauty of Joseon, who do skincare so well. Their Ginseng Essence Water deeply hydrates, calms and refreshes your skin, the Snail Serum fades blemishes, hydrates and smooths texture, and the Dynasty Cream locks in moisture which gives you that healthy, plump, fresh-skin glow even before makeup. If I skip prepping my skin, I notice my makeup settling into fine lines or looking flat by the end of the night. Taking the time to do your skincare properly means your complexion stays dewy and polished, and I find I barely need to touch up.

I’ve found the ghd rise volumising hot brush surprisingly good at creating gentle waves & the 32mm heated barrel is a great size for natural effortless waves. It’s like a cross between a heated brush and a curling wand, so you get that relaxed, beachy wave rather than stiff ringlets, which makes my shorter hair look more textured and fun. So with a couple of passes in the direction, I get that slight curve / wave effect that looks polished but not overly done.

The softer waves add body and dimension without looking overly styled, which I think really suits a shorter cut. Creating this style doesn’t take long or feel fussy, it is my go to when I’m short on time and don’t want to spend ages in front of the mirror. I also have to say the 32mm barrel works brilliantly on my short fringe, adding shape and volume.

The styler is lightweight and very easy to use, you don’t just have to do loose waves you can, add bounce and volume or create a smooth sleek look. It is a great tool to have if, like me, you do not like to overcomplicate your hair routine.

Not only do I love how light and easy the ghd hot brush is to use, but it also gets top marks from me because the brush temperature is controlled to 185°C. It’s hot enough to create beautiful volume, bounce and body, yet gentle enough to help minimise excessive heat damage. You never feel like you’re scorching your hair, but you still achieve salon-worthy lift, soft curls and long-lasting shape with a glossy, healthy-looking finish.

I always feel like a pop of colour instantly lifts my mood – it’s like a little dose of dopamine! This gorgeous floor length pink dress does exactly that. The silhouette is beautifully flattering, skimming in all the right places you could throw on a light blazer, cardigan, or scarf if it’s a bit chilly. It’s honestly the perfect dress for a spring or summer wedding – easy, effortless, but still stylish and put together. Very have a great selection of occasion wear dresses to pick from.

All set and ready to go! What truly makes me feel confident is knowing my skin prep has paid off. My complexion looks radiant, fresh and prepped, which means I can keep my makeup minimal while still feeling polished, and I know it will stay put and look good throughout the entire evening, with just a few lipstick touch ups!

Styling my hair was just as effortless, the ghd hot brush completely took the stress out of the process, adding smooth volume and shape to my fringe and cute natural bouncy waves to my hair. So I have a sleek, put-together finish without the usual fuss.

For every step of your routine from statement occasion dresses to beauty essentials and hair tools, Very.co.uk is my go-to destination.

*Sponsored post with gifted product, but the review is 100% my own.

Masque Bar Peel Off Modeling Masks

September 25, 2017 - Vicki 3 Comments

I haven’t used a peel off mask in years and I think it felt like they fell out of favour in the beauty world, but it seems that they’ve made a come back in a big way. Although they are now slightly thicker, rubbery and peel off in one go!

As with so many recent beauty trends it seems this Modeling Mask craze is another that originated in the Korean Beauty Market and is gaining in popularity over here. Masque Bar who are available in Beauty Mart have created these handy face mask pots which are single use.

These rubberised masks are very easy and fuss free to use, you just add water to the powder and mix to create a paste which you smooth all over your face (I always use a clean foundation brush to apply) once on the skin the formula hardens to a rubber like finish, which makes it easy to peel off leaving you with glowy, refreshed skin.

I have the Lavender version which is great for calming and soothing,

How to use

1) Add 7 spoonfuls of water and stir

2) Apply a thick, opaque, even layer to clean, dry skin

3) Avoid eye area, eyebrows, hairline, and lips

4) Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes or until completely dry

5) Gently peel off mask in a downward motion from outer edges and rinse off any residue with warm water.

I liked how cool it felt on my skin & it wasn’t uncomfortable whilst it hardened. I left the mask on for the recommended 20 minutes & then slowly peeled it off, it was easy enough to peel off & it didn’t tug at my skin. I rinsed the residue off my face with a damp flannel & my skin felt very smooth and refreshed.

I think these single use pots are great for travel and handy to have in your skincare stash as they keep for a really long time in their pots so you always have a mask on hand when you need a skin pick me up. If you enjoy a pamper & like to relax with a face mask then you need to try this new rubberised mask trend & let me know what you think.

These peel off Modeling Masks from Masque Bar are available in four options and all are aimed at specific skin concerns including, Collagen, Charcoal, Tea Tree and Lavender. They’re £4.99 each and available at Beauty Mart and Boots

*This Post Contains PR Samples

Elizabeth Grant Skincare

October 20, 2014August 24, 2025 - Vicki Leave a comment

I have been trying out a few products from the brand Elizabeth Grant. This is a brand that is sold on Ideal World & I call myself a skincare addict, but I had never heard of them before. I quickly learnt that Elizabeth Grant was founded in London, England in 1958 and has a rich history, it’s a brand focused on quality and customer satisfaction and is now sold worldwide.

I’ve been trying a selection of products from the Elizabeth Grant Collagen Collection over the past two months, and there are one or two products that have really stood out to me that I wanted to tell you about. I do have to say the packaging for the products in this collection is gorgeous, they feel luxurious and are very good quality. They look pretty out on my vanity and all the pots of creams come with little spatulas, which is so good for hygiene and just a great extra touch.

The 7 piece Collagen Collection included the following products,

Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Day Cream 50ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Night Cream 50ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Platinum 24hr Firming Eye Cream 30ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Body Firming Cream 200ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Silk Edition Extreme Wrinkle Serum 30ml
Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Gel Eye Pads 6 packs

I really enjoy using Eye Pads / Masks & think they really help revive tired eyes & give your skin a boost of hydration, especially when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends. I’ve been enjoying these Elizabeth Grant* ones & found they’re great for puffy tired eyes, they hydrate and nourish your skin and help temporarily smooth the fine lines. They fit perfectly under my eyes & are very comfortable to wear, I leave them on as long as I can & once I take them off I pat the remaining products in around my orbital bone. I like to travel with these as they’re a great way of combating tired dark under eyes. They are great to incorporate into your pamper routine, too. I get quite dehydrated under my eyes & for me, it’s showing the first signs of ageing & those pesky fine lines are appearing, so eye pads are a nice way of giving that area a little TLC.

Another stand out product from this range was the Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Silk Edition Extreme Wrinkle Serum*, Serum is a step I never miss out from my morning & evening routine, but often it can be hard to see or feel the actual effects. From about the 3rd day of using this Elizabeth Grant Serum, my skin felt so smooth and looked plumper. It feels lovely and silky and once applied it’s absorbed quickly in to my skin, I like to massage two pumps into my skin in the evening and I then apply my night cream on top. I don’t use this during the day as I find it a little too rich and think it works better for me as a night serum.

The Elizabeth Grant Collagen Reinforce Platinum 24hr Firming Eye Cream* is working wonders for me too, it looks like a cream in the jar but once you apply it to your skin it feels like a gel. It absorbs very quickly and is instantly smoothing, which is why I like to use it in the morning, as I find it wears very well under makeup & provides a smooth base for concealer. The gel like consistency means it’s not greasy on your skin. You get a whopping 30ml of product & that’s quite a lot for an eye cream, this is going to keep me going for a while. I wouldn’t say it diminishes fine lines or firms the skin, but it does feel hydrating it makes a nice primer for my concealer.

The other 3 products I am still trying out, so expect reviews on those in the coming months. Let me know if you have tried this brand & if any of the range works for you. If you want to see more of the range, you can here. Also, Ideal world do lots of great offers (make sure you keep your eyes peeled for those) as this 7 piece collection was £39.99 instead of £183.94.

These products have been sent to me for my consideration. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Skincare Edit

September 2, 2013August 30, 2025 - Vicki 8 Comments

I adore skincare, I love discovering new products, and I’m trying to find a routine that works for me. I’ve been stressed for a good 18 months now, and it’s taken its toll on my skin, so I’ve been trying to use products that look after my skin and that give it nourishment and help it to combat this stress. The products I’m talking about today are just a cross-section of what I have been enjoying lately and what I use on a regular basis.

Sanctuary Spa Intensive Heel Balm – I’m someone who gets really dry heels and I like to have soft sandal ready feet. Not that we get much opportunity to wear summer footwear in the UK, but we all want to have nice feet, right! This heel balm is lovely, if you spend a little time to massage it in at night you will wake up with soft smooth feet. It isn’t greasy and is extremely hydrating. I like it a lot more than the Soap & Glory Heel Genius, as I find that too greasy.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner – This is so nice to put on when travelling as it’s very moisturising. I used it on a long haul flight and my lips didn’t dry out at all. It doesn’t have SPF, so I wouldn’t recommend using it during the day, but as a pampering lip conditioner it’s fantastic.

balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash* – I’ve been using this for about 6 weeks and I love it. It’s good at removing every last trace of makeup at the end of the day. I use it with warm face cloth and I find it calming and soothing for my skin. It is very gentle.

Pixi Glow Tonic – I bought this bottle in April after reading a review from Caroline Hirons, and I’ve used it every day since I bought it. It leaves my skin feeling so clean, and I swear it’s helping with my acne scaring. It’s alcohol-free and doesn’t try out the skin or leave it feeling tight. My skin is very sensitive and on the slightly older side, and this works well for me. I highly recommend it if your skin is looking a little dull.

Aesop Parsley Seed Serum – Anyone that has read my blog for a while will know that I would sell my soul for a bottle of this. It is my number one go to serum. I use it at night when my skin is feeling sensitive. It is so soothing and hydrating. This bottle (which I adore) has lasted me well over a year. It’s an investment you won’t be disappointed you made. It is Aloe Vera based and has a great range of botanical extracts which are perfect for sensitive skin and skin that’s in need of nourishment. This serum doesn’t sit on top of the skin, it is absorbed so fast and feels amazing. I think I’m its number 1 fan.

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti Oxidant Eye Serum – After falling in love with the face serum, I just had to try the eye serum from the Parsley Seed range. I have this sat on my desk and I use it when my eyes are feeling tired or when I’ve been sat at the computer for a long time. It contains a high concentration of anti oxidants that are easily absorbed. The under eye area is so sensitive and gets dehydrated very quickly, this serum combats that and is silicon free. I do like it, but my heart belongs to the face serum.

NEOM Moroccan Blush Rose Hand Cream – This is on my bedside table at the moment and I use it each night before bed. I’m trying to get better at using hand cream and if I have one by my bed I remember to use it. This NEOM one came free with a magazine a while ago, and I just love the scent, it reminds me of summer.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream* – How amazing and versatile is this stuff! I use it on my lips before I go to bed, and I also massage it in to my cuticles. It’s very hydrating and works wonders. I need to buy a tube for my handbag, so I have one on the go too.

Origins Dr Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Treatment Lotion – I am a huge fan of all the products in the Mega Mushroom range, and they worked wonders at helping with my red skin. That has cleared up now, but I have still been using the lotion on occasion. I put some on to a cotton pad when I get out of the shower, and it is very calming in my skin. I love the smell of the Mega Mushroom Range, it smells so botanical, grown up.

So that’s a quick run down of a few skin care products I have been using these past few months. Have you tried any of the products I have mentioned? Or do you have a product to recommend that you have been loving?

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

Let's talk beauty

Unbiased beauty product reviews & tips

Korean Skincare

Wedding Guest Beauty Essentials From Very

Masque Bar Peel Off Modeling Masks

How to use

Elizabeth Grant Skincare

Skincare Edit