Best Exfoliators for Summer

Current Favourite Exfoliators

I do love a good exfoliator, and I’ve gathered my favourites, so I can tell you all about them. I recently went to a family wedding & so I wanted my skin to look its best – on my face, hands, and body, so I have been exfoliating like a maniac these past few weeks. Not to mention the fact the UK is experiencing a sustained period of gloriously warm weather which means my legs & arms are out a lot more than usual, so having a good exfoliator helps remove all that SPF and keep them looking their best.

Current Favourite Exfoliators

Previse Marine Granules Skin Brightening Botanical Scrub

I reviewed this facial exfoliator recently so I won’t go on about it too much, it is a great Vegan, Green and Cruelty-Free option if that ticks boxes for you! It is also mineral oil, synthetic fragrance-free and contains no parabens or petroleum.

This gentle exfoliator blends fossilised algae with jojoba and botanical extracts to gently buff the skin. This has a gel-like texture with lots of very fine scrubbies which exfoliate away all the dirt and grime your skin clings on to from the day. It works wonders on my blackheads & leaves skin feeling smooth without being abrasive. I love using this in the morning as it leaves my skin so smooth and my makeup sits so well after using this. It also stimulates cell renewal and gives your skin a healthy, fresh glow.

Superdrug vitamin E Gentle Oatmeal Exfoliator

This is one of my absolute favourite affordable skincare ranges, the Vitamin E range from Superdrug is incredible for hydrating, nourishing and preventing premature ageing. I have used up so many bottles of this Oatmeal Exfoliator, and it is so good at keeping skin smooth and looking radiant. It is a great gentle option and oats are renowned for being calming and soothing too, so your skin is in good hands with this product. I always stock up when Superdrug have it on offer. All Superdrug own branded products are Cruelty Free and Leaping Bunny approved!

Merumaya Skin Brightening Exfoliating Peel 

This peel doesn’t have any exfoliating scrubbies instead it smooths, brightens and removes dead skin with glycolic acid and pomegranate enzymes. I apply a generous layer once or twice a week as part of my morning skincare routine and leave it on for 15 minutes to work its magic (or should I say science).

Aloe Vera and humectants help maintain the right moisture balance, Allantoin and a high strength calming complex soothe the skin during and after the peel. This peel is amazing at refreshing and rejuvenating your skin and is a good product to use in the lead up to a special event.

• Reduce blemishes, congestion, and blockages.
• Refine and reduce the appearance of pores.
• Re-texturise all skin types so it is smoother
• Soften signs of skin-ageing.
• Prevent ingrown hairs for men.

best exfoliators for summer

Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish 

Not all exfoliators are created equal and let me just tell you that this Tropic Body Polish is out of this world – it is a pot of utter luxury for your skin. My body has never felt so smooth. I’m in love with this stuff. I use it a couple of times a week and as you can see from the photo I have used over half and I will be repurchasing it without question! Oh, Tropic products are all Vegan, Cruelty-Free & are Leaping Bunny approved so that is amazing, their range is also manufactured right here in the UK in their Surrey Beauty Kitchen.

It’s packaged in this lovely glass jar and comes with the cutest little bamboo spoon so you can scoop just enough product out without having to dip your fingers in (love the attention to detail). The first thing you notice is the uplifting zesty scent, which is incredible and such a lovely Summer fragrance. It has a blend of invigorating, zesty essential oils, mineral-rich sea salts and exotic pure plant extracts. Enriched with vitamin E and lemon myrtlet.

It exfoliates away dead skin with ease and the blend of oils helps nourish skin so it doesn’t dry out, and it leaves it feeling unbelievably soft. If you like to treat yourself to nice skincare then this product has to be top of your list to try! Its ingredient list is short but jam-packed full of wonderful skin beneficial

Mineral Rich Organic Sea Salts, Organic Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Oil, Rosehip Oil, Vitamin E, Essential Oils of Australian Lemon Myrtle, Eucalyptus, Lime, Lemon, Bergamot and Peppermint

Jurlique Exfoliating Hand Treatment

One of my resolutions this year was to take better care of my hands. I mean I do a whole skincare routine for my face and always use body lotions and oils but my hands more often than not get overlooked, and it has been nice really taking the time to look after them. I do an entire hand care routine when I am doing my at home manicure, and this Jurlique Exfoliating Hand Treatment has a creamy texture with tiny exfoliating Jojoba beads which provide just enough scrub without being abrasive.

I like that this is a multi-benefit 2 in 1 treatment mask and scrub. Apply a generous amount to the backs of your hands, fingers and forearms, relax for 5 minutes then with a little warm water massage off making use of the Jojoba beads. It leaves your hands velvety soft, smooth and nourished. It includes,

  • Red & White Clay – to absorb impurities
  • Jojoba Beads – to gently exfoliate
  • Shea Butter – to soften and hydrate
  • Calendula Extract – to nourish and protect

A great product if you find your hands are taking the brunt of this warm weather, it is nice and luxurious to take the time to apply a mask to your hands, and it leaves your hands feeling amazing once you’ve washed it off exfoliating away all the dead skin.

*This post contains PR samples

February 2018 Beauty Favourites

February Beauty Favourites

February Beauty Favourites

INGLOT 10 Pan Freedom System Palette

I have spoken about my love of INGLOT quite a few times and featured this palette a lot on my blog over the past couple of years, I really do use it all the time so it is only right that I keep putting it in my favourites. The shadows are fantastic quality and the range of colours and finishes is almost overwhelming, it took me ages to finally decide on the 10 shadows to put into my palette but the process was a lot of fun.

I love the palette itself, the magnetic lid which does not budge or come off in your makeup bag, and it is also actually quite slim. The pans are a very decent size and I pretty much have all of my favourite shadows with me in one cute palette. Let me know if you have tried INGLOT eyeshadows & if you have built your own palette too.

Essence Fresh & Fit Foundation

I can’t believe I haven’t spoken about this foundation sooner, I bought it whilst in Amsterdam last September (you can get it in the UK) and it has become one of my most used foundations. It’s a nice creamy consistency, it’s easy to blend and buff into your skin. I’d say it gives a nice even medium coverage, it covers imperfections and blemishes but still feels lightweight on my skin. Which is everything I look for in a base – decent coverage but that feeling that my skin can still breath!

This foundation is enriched with a complex of vitamin b3, e, pro-vitamin b5 and cranberry water, it is fantastic to see a budget-friendly foundation with such fantastic skincare benefits added to their formula. These ingredients are going to help your skin glow, look refreshed and awake.

The staying power of this foundation was for sure better when I used a primer but that is true for most foundations on my skin as I tend to get an oily t-zone. I would say this gave my skin a natural radiance and didn’t settle into my pores. It looks fresh, as the name would suggest and it’s just am easy to wear medium coverage base! I love it.

It comes packaged in a lovely glass bottle with a handy pump, the only drawback is the shade range, although I managed to find a good match for my skin tone this foundation only comes in 4 shades which isn’t so great. I hope they add more options in the future. Overall if you’re looking for a new cruelty-free, vegan foundation then I highly recommend checking out this Essence offering and it is only £5!

Essence Cosmetics Fresh and Fit Foundation

NIOD Photography Fluid Opacity 12%*

This is nothing short of liquid magic! It has been dubbed airbrush in a bottle – so what is it I hear you cry? It is a skin perfecting serum which uses refracting prism technology to even out all skin tone and gives you the most amazing natural healthy glow. It is flipping amazing.

This is a highlighter, primer and serum in one, it instantly blurs imperfections and gives a healthy dewy, even-toned radiance. Designed to create a photo-ready finish on all skin types, this complexion perfector creates a lit-from-within glow in seconds with a wide variety of light-refracting prisms, tone and hue correctors, and photo-finishing technologies.

Apply to your skin alone or under foundation to add sheer radiance and correct discolouration. It can also be mixed with other products for subtle radiance. Used under, over, or mixed with liquid foundation if you prefer more coverage.  It’s such an easy product to incorporate into your makeup routine. I haven’t ever used a product quite like this & I just can’t get across to you just how incredible it is, although I am trying.  I should do a whole post on this one product!

It is also vegan, cruelty-free and alcohol-free.

INGLOT Eyeshadow Palette Makeup

Benefit Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlight

If you’re looking for a subtle more natural highlight then this is the one. It is a nude, pink semi-matte liquid highlight that gives your skin a refreshed, healthy radiance. It is easy to apply, I just use the brush to place the product on the tops of my cheeks and down the centre of my nose – it also looks pretty on your brow bones and I blend it is either with my beauty blender or just my finger. It looks pretty when the light hits it and what I really like is the fact there is no glitter or shimmer. It is a great everyday radiance booster and also looks pretty mixed with your foundation. These little Benefit liquid products last forever and are so easy to throw in your handbag, I often like to reapply throughout the day to refresh my makeup.

MUA LUXE Glow Beam Cushion Highlighter

Not quite as subtle as the Benefit highlighter, this MUA Cushion highlight offers more of a peachy – golden, warm-toned glow. The packaging is pretty although a little bulky and the puff is handy, but I just don’t reach for it. I prefer to use my beauty blender to ensure I apply it evenly. It is a liquid cushion product and I am waiting to see just how long it stays moist as I have a feeling it will dry out pretty quickly, that being said I do love using this as an evening highlight and it can look quite subtle or if you want more on an intense look you can build up the colour & effect to be more intense.

It is always nice to see affordable brands releasing on-trend products so we can all try them and Cushion makeup was certainly popular last year. Have you tried any cushion products, if so are you sold on them or think they’re too much faff.

MUA LUXE Glow Beam Liquid Highlighter

Benefit Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlighter

Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner

When it comes to drugstore liquid liner Soap & Glory take the top prize, their Supercat liner ticks all of the boxes. It’s pigmented, sets down the perfect amount of product, doesn’t drag and the fine nib allows you to apply either a neat line or build it up to be more bold and thick.

This is a liner that would allow even the most self-confessed eyeliner novice to create the perfect winged liner. The nib gives you full control and isn’t too firm so you can create smooth lines without having to keep going over the same spot which often leads to the product bleeding into fine lines and getting very messy. This is one product everyone needs in their makeup bag (although I am sure most of you already own it). It’s pigmented, easy to use and long wearing.

Soap & Glory Gloss Stick in Nudist

Lip crayons are my goto lip product of choice, I find them so easy to use and this Soap and Glory one is a stunning everyday shade. It is in the colour Nudist and it enhances your lip colour giving them a pretty glossy finish. It’s a natural, subtle shade which has been living in my handbag – I apply it even when I’m wearing no other makeup, it makes me feel somewhat put together. Not only do they give your lips a subtle wash of colour but the formula is also very moisturising, oh & they smell so good too – I think it is a vanilla scent.

Current Makeup Favourites

Real Techniques PowderBleu Soft Complexion Brush*

I mostly use this brush for applying powder foundation but it also works well for blush too. This Soft Complexion Brush has a small, dense head which makes buffing in the powder so much more effective. I also love the long slim handle which feels nice in your hand makes applying my makeup really easy. This collection is stunning and incredible quality, it looks and feels luxurious and that deep blue colour is gorgeous and makes me want to use them all the time.

Let me know what you have been loving this past month & if you’ve discovered anything new that I need to try. I am on the hunt for a new mascara, I’d love it if you’d leave me suggestions in the comments.