This came free with Glamour Magazine a couple of months ago to coincide with the huge launch of all the new Benefit brow products. I have been saving this mini one so I could take it away on holiday with me. Benefit have extended the shade selection which is fab news and I have the darkest shade – Number 5. Its a tinted brow gel with volumising microfibres which give your brows a fuller look. This is so quick and easy to use, it puts down a good amount of colour and it keeps my brows in place all day. I really like the new packaging too, its fun and very Benefit!
I have repurchased the full size of this so many times, I adore it. Its quite a thick overnight serum and it feels so good on the skin, it instantly hydrates and soothes fatigued skin. This serum makes my skin so happy – that translates to looking radiant, fresher, brighter and all importantly well rested. I have a couple of these very cute mini bottles for travelling, its the perfect skin pick me up after a flight and I swear by it. Have you tried it?
This is a moisturising Primer, it hydrates, smooths and helps skin look radiant. I wore this under my makeup everyday whilst in Amsterdam and I loved how well my makeup applied on top of this, it made a really nice primer. I had quite a few late nights whilst on holiday and I relied on this to keep my skin looking bright, which I have to say it did. This high-performance Superblend features Bio Boost – which is the This Works’ unique blend of anti-oxidant plant oils – to rebuild and protect the skin barrier, along with hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine to rebalance and revitalise. Its a must have for anyone that wants their skin to look well rested and healthy.
This is one of the creamiest, deepest black, long wearing pencil eyeliner I have ever used. I used this to tightline as I like to use a liquid line for my actual eyeliner but this Pixi pencil was so good on my water line and stayed put all night without wearing off. Like I said its extremely pigmented and very black, I hate it when you are expecting your liner to be black and its more on the grey side, this is a fab pencil to have in your makeup stash and I loved using it. These eyeliners are Paraben-free. Mineral oil-free. Preservative-free. Hypoallergenic & contain Vitamin E which nourishes and protects delicate skin around the eye.
This isn’t the kind of lip product I would reach for but I am trying to use up my samples, the only thing that puts me off this is that it has quite the sparkle. I am not a fan of glitter but I do have a few nights out coming up & I am sure I can make it work. The colour is Reckless Bloom and its actually quite a pretty pink, I’m thinking of pairing it with a nice nude lipstick. We will see, I may end up having to pass this on.
Let me know if you hoard samples, I have quite a stash to get through but I have been making a big effort this year to actually use them. I love to empty them all out and pick a selection of new things to try, its a fab way to discover new brands & products and test things out before committing to purchase the full size. I get most of my samples from beauty boxes, gwp or magazines. Samples are perfect for taking away with you on holiday, I need to book more holidays so I can use up more of them, that sounds like a great plan.
‘This month we’re taking you on a journey to become an #LFJetsetter! Your Beauty Box is packed full of treats that will make you gorgeous and beautiful ready for your travels. Their handy travel sizes will also mean you can pack them in your suitcase to stay radiant no matter where you are in the world!
The June Look Fantastic Beauty Box* includes mostly skincare which is OK by me but I feel a lot of people would prefer more of an even mix of makeup and skincare. I do also like that you get a copy of Elle Magazine with this months box, I will be reading my copy on the beach this week.
Cowshed Cow Pat Moisturising Hand Cream
This is a beautiful, rich & hydrating hand cream. It will keep your hands feeling nourished and smooth, especially after being in the sun all day long. This one is made with Chamomile, Grapefruit and Cinnamon so it smells fantastic too. This is a great size to pop in your handbag or take away with you on your holiday.
Korres Basil Lemon Showergel
I am a big fan of these Korres showergels & I recently finished the Water Lily one. They are gentle on the skin and smell grown up which I like as quite a lot of shower products smell overly sweet or artificial. I have the Basil Lemon one & it is infused with Vitamin C, E and also Zinc. Again this bottle is the perfect size for travel.
Caudalie Premier Cru Eye Cream
Caudalie is a brand that knows how to do excellent skincare. I haven’t had any of their products in my routine for a while so I am very excited to try this eye cream. It is infused with Copper and Silver and Iridescent Pearls, which help combat dullness and illuminate the skin. Ideal for those Summer no makeup days! This is a very generous size at 7ml, eye cream always lasts such a long time so this will keep me going for months.
Naobay Oxygenating Cream
This is made with 98% natural ingredients including Rosehip and Sweet Almond Oils, to keep your skin radiant, moisturised and smooth. This will be perfect for getting my legs prepped ready for Summer.
Dead Sea Spa Magik Beauty Balm
I am a big fan of BB Creams and think they make the perefect lightweight Summer base. This promised to give the skin a healthy holiday glow. It is infused with Dead Sea Minerals and Vitamin E so its nourishing and hydrating too.
Tan Organic Self Tan Oil
I have never used a self tan oil – although I am 100% in the fake tan camp. I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. This sounds simple enough to use that even a tanning noob like me will be able to make it work. So you apply a liitle oil to the skin and massage it in, but make sure you have exfoliated well before hand. You don’t need to use a tanning mitt but make sure you wash your hands after application. This tan develops over 6-8 hours & you can apply more depending on how dark you like to tan. I am looking forward to bronzing up my legs & seeing how well this works.
Mr Blanc Teeth Whitening Strips
I’m always so worried to use anything whitening on my teeth, they are so sensitive as it is. These Mr Blanc Strips are peroxide free and promise to be gentle and won’t leave any lasting sensitivity. Have you used these? Would you recommend them?
I am quite pleased with this months box, I will get use out of all the products although I think I will pass on the Teeth Whitening Strips to a friend. I have never tried anything from Cowshed but I have heard nothing but positive reviews of this brand. Caudalie is always a lovely brand to see in beauty boxes & I am always excited to try anything from them.
What do you think of this months box?
These boxes always sell out super quickly so if you want this months #LFHelloBeautiful Box then you best be quick.
To celebrate the Queen’s Official Birthday in June, M&S will be launching their Summer Beauty Box. Spend £40 on M&S Beauty, Clothing or Home and customers can purchase the M&S Summer Beauty Box for just £10!
This box is jam packed full of Summer beauty essentials and is worth over £120. You get 14 incredible products, either full sized or deluxe samples. I’m very impressed with the contents and this there are so many cult brands and products included. This is a beauty box not to be missed so make sure you get hold of one quickly because they are going to sell out fast! So included in this beauty box is,
Swell Ultimate Protect & Renew Serum, 30ml.
Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Tonic, 50ml.
Philip Kingsley Citrus Sunshine Swimcap Cream, 50ml.
Pure Instant Radiance Hot Cloth Cleanser, 50ml.
REN Instant Firming Beauty Shot, 10ml.
Island Escape Eau de Toilette, 25ml.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil, 10ml.
Ultrasun Face SPF30 Sun Protection, 25ml.
PUR Correcting Primer Illuminate & Glow, 10ml.
M&S Sun Smart Sun Lotion SPF30, 50ml.
Leighton Denny Crystal Finish Quick Dry Top Coat, full size.
Stila Lip Glaze Raspberry, full size.
Nails Inc Gel One Coat Nail Polish in Chiltern Park, full size.
Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil, 30ml.
This M&S Beauty Box is worth over £120 and is available from today at M&S Stores Nationwide and at www.marksandspencer.co.ukremember all you need to do is – Spend £40 on M&S Beauty, Clothing or Home and you can purchase this M&S Summer Beauty Box for just £10.
I am most excited to try the Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Tonic, Nails Inc Gel One Coat Nail Polish in Chiltern Park and Stila Lip Glaze Raspberry. Although all 14 products are fab and ideal for taking away with you on your Summer holiday.
Let me know if you manage to get your hands on a box & Happy 90th Birthday Queenie.
I spent last week in my favourite City – Amsterdam. I absolutely love it there & even though it was my 5th visit I fell in love with it all over again. I will be writing a few posts about my time there but I thought i’d share with you my travel skincare and talk you through the products I used the most and also what I could have lived without. I do love how a mini break is the perfect excuse to use up all those samples you’ve been hoarding and I think I packed quite light, do you?
I always take my Dirty Works Hanging Washbag, its a really good size, has one big compartment which zips and two smaller compartments. It rolls up and is easy to pack, also when you get to your destination you can hang it up in your bathroom and have easy access to all your products. I have used it so many times over the past 3 years and its still as good as new.
& Other Stories Sirocco Sands Body Lotion* – This is a new release and I was sent a couple of sachets to try & thought how handy they would be for this trip. I love the bath & body products from & Other Stories they have a lovely selection of scents and this is a new addition to their range. I thought the scent was quite intense and soothing. It smells sophisticated and has notes of rhubarb and gardenia which make it both fruity and floral, its a nice summery body lotion which left my skin soft, hydrated and not at all greasy.
In the second pouch – my razor, vitamins, Kleenex Shine Sheets (which are amazing but sadly discontinued), Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye Masks which are so good for tired dehydrated under eyes, they leave your eyes looking fresh and more awake. I always take eye masks with me because they’re so travel friendly and its always an excuse for a hotel room pamper session.
NUXE Bio Beauté Soothing 24hr Moisturising Mask – a nice calming hydrating face mask. Sanctuary Spa Salt Scrub – I was using a gradual tanner so I thought it best to take a scrub with me & this one came in a handy sachet so again easy to travel with & lastly in this section I took some Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes – I have to say these are not ground breaking but as far as wipes go they were refreshing and didn’t make my skin feel tight or dehydrated.
Batiste Dry Shampoo – This is a travel must have, I only wash my hair a maximum of twice a week so dry shampoo is a staple for me & these mini cans last me a week so they’re the perfect size.
Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash – This is a 2 in 1 cleansing & exfoliator so ideal for travel. I wouldn’t use this on a daily basis but it worked well to keep my skin clean and looking bright. With it being a City break and using SPF daily I found this Bliss face wash helped keep my skin from getting congested and dull. I still have more than half this mini bottle left so will take t way with me next time.
Molton Brown Shower Gel – I have a few of these mini ones left over from a travel kit I received last Christmas, they smell incredible and luxurious and this was so nice to use every morning to get myself going and help me feel uplifted and ready for the day. Not a must have but certainly a little slice of luxury
Garnier Micellar Water 125ml – this is the new travel size which was released a month or so ago, yes its still too big to take on as hand luggage but its nice to have a small version to take away with you. I use this daily and still have almost 3/4 left so I’m keeping that for my next trip. I think a 100ml version would be a better size and it would still last ages.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Moisturiser – This is such a nice soothing lightweight hydrating day cream, it gave just enough hydration without making my skin greasy throughout the day. I really like this and I’m very tempted to purchase the full size.
Garnier Mineral Deodorant – I normally use a natural deodorant but I’ve ran out so picked this up last minute. It was awful, the lid didn’t say on & it felt like it scratched my armpits when I applied it. I left it in the hotel room and won’t be repurchasing it any time soon.
Dove Shampoo – This range leaves my hair feeling silky soft and very manageable. Nothing much to report other than I have repurchased this quite a few times and it never lets me down. Elemis Conditioner – again this is a solid favourite of mine, it doesn’t weigh my hair down and I get very few fly aways or frizz when I use this. I like the Shampoo that goes with this but I have used it all up.
ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser – This is the perfect at home (or in hotel room) spa treatment, It’s a Tri-Phase Cleanser which means it is a gel cleaner, exfoliator and a mask all in one. This is aimed at all ages and all skin types so if you love luxurious skincare then this is the product for you. I like to use this as a second cleanse and I apply a generous amount to my face and leave it on as a mask for about 15 minutes before using a hot cloth to buff it away. There are tiny gentle Jojoba spheres which exfoliate your skin and help remove any dirt and grime. It leaves my skin looking so radiant and feeling smooth. Its such a treat.
Origins Plantscription Serum – I blogged a little more about this in my recent June & July Empties post but it is a good serum and leaves my skin feeling hydrated but I wouldn’t rush out to repurchase it. I prefer the Mega Mushroom or GinZing range from Origins.
ESPA Optimal Pro Serum – I have a few of these mini bottles saved for when I go away, I love this serum so much & I think it is one of the products I recommended the most. I always notice how good it is for my skin when I have ran out. I always miss it in my routine and my skin never looks as good. This serum isn’t targeted at any specific age range or skin type, they have developed it to have so many skin benefits for all ages and skin concerns & it gives my skin alot of nourishment and helps to calm the redness in my cheeks and keep my skin looking healthy and bright. I Just had to take it away with me and I woke up every morning to fresh healthy looking skin (it was that good I only wore makeup one day).
Ponds Institute Contour Eye Cream – This is the first Ponds product I have used in years & I have been really enjoying it. Its hard to find an eye cream that is affordable & that I really like but this seems to fit the bill. Its quite a thin consistency and doesn’t just sit on the skin making it look and feel greasy. I massage the cream in around my eye and after a couple of minutes the area feels soft and looks hydrated, my eye makeup sits well on top and doesn’t sink into my (many) fine lines throughout the day. Its been a great discovery and I want to try more from Ponds now. Let me know if you have any recomendations.
Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25* £26.00 – This is a great daily SPF and I used it for my entire trip everyday without fail & not once did I burn or feel like my face had caught the sun. It applies quite thick and does have a slight white cast to it but don’t worry that doesn’t stay, in fact after a few minutes it looks a ok & although you can feel it on your skin its not too heavy or tacky to the touch. I wrote a full review here if you want to read a little more about it —–> Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25
Bath & Body Works Handi Bac – I know these have alcohol in them but they’re just too cute for words and smell just like cupcakes. Also I need to keep my hands germ free and these do the job.
Kiehl’s Créme de Corps Body Lotion – This is a very good body lotion and I get such dry legs especially when its hot so this had to come with me on my week away. Once my & Other Stories sachets were all gone I used this for the remaining days. Its very hydrating and if you use it after you shave your legs it leaves them so very smooth.
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist – This is the cutest mini spray bottle, I keep it so I can refill it from a larger bottle I have. I enjoy using a face mist & like how multi use they are. Its a nice way to stay hydrated on the plane and keep your skin feeling refreshed. Its also a great way to cool down in the heat & keep your makeup looking dewy. This Jurlique one as many of you will know is my favourite and I have reviewed it here if you’d like to know more about it Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist
Merumaya Overnight Recharge Night Cream*– One of my favourite night creams – this is a little overnight miracle worker. Its helps your skin look bright, firm and also prevents blemishes. Its an all round great cream. My skin was often looking a little dull from a day exploring this city & this recharged my skin overnight and stopped it looking dull and fatigued.
