Maria Nila Head and Hair Heal Masque

Maria Nila is a brand I have come to know through Beauty Boxes and one of the reasons I am still a fan of them is exactly for this reason. Without them, many brands within my arsenal would have more than likely never crossed my path. Maria Nila is one of those brands. 100% Vegan and cruelty hair care, the brands features shampoos, conditioners, masks and styling products but also has them specifically designed for everyday problems, so if you have colour treated hair there will be something for you, if you have blonde hair then there is the Silver Collection for you and so on.

The product I have been using is the Maria Nila Head and Hair Heal Masque which came to be via the Vegan Limited Edition Glossybox (here) and I have become quite the fan. Described as being a multifunctional mask to promote a healthy scalp and stronger, shinier hair, it is also said to prevent dandruff and itchy scalps!  It comes as part of an entire Head and Heal range of hair care featuring a shampoo and conditioner too.

My hair is shoulder length and I am forever undecided as to whether or not this is my perfect length, whether I should grow it or go slightly shorter. To that end, I have really fine hair but a lot of it and it best described as being combination hair - much like my skin. With Oily roots and dry ends, I always try and find a product that doesn't strip my scalp but is moisturising enough for the rest of my hair and this sometimes means using two different products!  

This Head and Hair Heal Masque is anti-inflammatory and it uses Piroctone Olamine and natural Aloe Vera extract to treat and prevent dandruff and scalp problems, for me this is important because when I am stressed, feeling run down or have been poorly, it is usually my scalp that gives those telltale signs of being dry and itchy. Also included we have Vitamin E, Apigenin and peptides which together work to stimulate hair follicles for increased hair growth. Finally, there is Oleanolic acid which helps to prevent hair loss. 

To use this mask, you need just a small amount, it has quite a thick texture and a little goes a long way.  Ideally, it should be applied to freshly washed hair and left to work its magic for up to 10 minutes before rinsing using warm water and then finishing by using a conditioner.  What I love about this mask is just how smooth it makes my hair feel from root to tip and how it doesn't irritate my scalp, infact, it is so soothing and calming that I've got a back up ready for when this one runs out.

Have you ever tried any products from Maria Nila?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

ASOS Bobbi Brown Beauty Box

Bobbi Brown is a brand I always feel I should know more about and own more products from, in reality, I have one lipstick which I absolutely adore and that is it until I saw this beauty on ASOS that is and all for just £15!

Featuring six products from across the skincare and makeup range, for me, this box gives a real insight as to what the brand has to offer and allows me to make a choice when deciding whether or not there is a full sized product I really want to try.

The first product out of the box is the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base is described as being part moisturiser, part primer and it is one of those products I have been looking for quite some time.  

It is rich in texture without being greasy and is enriched with Shea butter, it not only instantly hydrates but also moisturises and softens too.

The second product is the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow and it is in the shade Beach Bronze.  I adore nude/neutral eyeshadows, it is totally my comfort zone and this shade is just absolutely stunning.

This is a full-size product and has a price tag of £22 which is such an amazing inclusion. It is described as being a cream eyeshadow that stays on, stays true and doesn't crease. Goes on comfortably with a soft, velvety finish and gives up to 12 hours of water, sweat, humidity and transfer-resistant wear.  Beach Bronze is a stunning bronze shade with a shimmer and it applies like an absolute dream.

The Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara is a creamy kohl-black mascara and it is designed to lengthen, thicken and fan out your eyelashes. 

What I really like is that this mascara is buildable without clumping and it doesn't smudge either, which as far as I am concerned is two ticks of the boxes.  Removing is also a breeze with my normal eye makeup remover, so having to rub your eyes and your lashes to get it off.

The Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm is a product I haven't come across until now and gosh is it amazing. It is really hydrating and because it has a pearlesque finish, it gives a wonderful glow to the skin.

This balm can be worn as a moisturiser, you can mix it with foundation or you can even use it as a highlighter, whichever way you choose to use it, it does its job so well.  I tend to mix it with my moisturiser on no makeup days and with my foundation on other occasions.

The next product in the box is the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream and if you like creams which are lightweight in texture then this is one you will love.

Harnessing what is referred to as the Triple Emulsion Technology, the formula is enriched with omega-rich Sunflower Oil, Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate which all come together to visibly plump and smooth the skin plus there is also the inclusion of Shea Butter too.

The final item in the box is the Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Colour Lipstick and it is shade Babe. Described as being a lipstick which meets a lip balm. The term 'crush' is used because it is loaded with crushed pigments which give it an amazing formula.

The shade Babe is described as being a mid-tone Pink shade and it has a lovely subtle rosy tint to it and it is a shade I absolutely love.  Rich in both Vitamin E and C it glides onto the lips to leave a satin matte finish. 

For £15, this box for me has been amazing value for money. It has given to the chance to explore and try six incredible products and now as well as wanting to buy the full sizes of lipstick, Illuminating Balm and Mascara to start with, I also want to explore more of the skincare range too!

Did you manage to pick up this box?  It is always worth keeping an eye on ASOS to see which boxes they have next. 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

The 5 Winter Lip Balms You Need

With the colder weather having arrived, I am more aware that I need to be ensuring I take extra care of my lips, especially as I am prone to cold sores, which oddly seem to attack me more in the second half of the year than the first. For me, a lip balm, lip conditioner or a lip serum, whichever you prefer is an absolute must and they are a handbag item that you can never ever have too many of.  

The choice when choosing your lip product now extends to more than running into Boots or Superdrug to buy a tin of Vaseline (shudders), instead we now have balms and serums which protect, nourish, scent and tint and if you simply Google Lip Balm, it is mind-boggling just how much of a choice there is.  For me, it comes down to these:

Dr Lipp The Original Nipple Balm - Now this balm for me is an absolute must and it is one I always have on my bedside table because it is just genius.  When my lips are chapped, it is always the first balm I turn too to soothe and calm irritated skin. It uses protective medical grade Lanolin which gives it a 100% natural formula, so it is free from fragrance, preservatives.  

As well as your lips, this product is also ideal for dry cuticles, dry skin patches, burns and abrasions, severely chapped lips, sore nipples, split ends, eczema, babies’ bottoms, and it is also used behind the scenes for extra long-lasting lip gloss, eyelids, cheekbones, neatening eyebrows, quickly treating rough skin and priming before make-up.  Priced at £12 (here) if you have never tried Dr Lipp, then you need too.

Verso Lip Serum - I make no secret of the fact I adore Verso skincare and the Lip Serum is a product that is also an absolute must for my handbag and bedside table. Using the brands signature ingredients Retinol 8 (a derivative of Vitamin A) and you will also find Hyaluronic Acid and Peptides for increased hydration and plumping. 

This serum, when applied using the clever applicator, isn't runny, it isn't greasy and most importantly for me is that it isn't tacky, what I absolutely love is how it absorbs into my lips and moisturises, plus it makes an incredible base for matte lipsticks. I always have a tube of this in my handbag and one on my bedside table and I use it every night as part of my skincare routine and it is always the last product I apply.  Priced at £55 (here) it is the most luxurious lip product I have ever used.

Balm Kind - I am really enjoying getting to know this brand and have already been through 2 of the original Balm Kind lip balms this year (review here). Balmkind lip balms are formulated without parabens, mineral oils, petrolatum, lanolin, palm oil or phthalates and instead in their place, you will find rich skin loving ingredients which leave your lips feeling soft, hydrated, nourished and soothed. New to the team comes Alpine Rose & Lysine in two different varieties of one with an SPF20 and one without. What I really love about these balms is how they feel when you use them, non-sticky or tacky on the lips and I love that they are mineral oil and paraffin free. Ingredients include essential amino acids, hydrating oat lipids and soothing liquorice root which together just care for and look after your lips and the formula contains properties which studies have shown may reduce the occurrence of cold sores - ticking all those boxes for me. 

I use these balms when I am feeling run down, have the start of a cold or am around people who have a cold because for cold sores to break out, all I have to do is begin to feel run down and the tingle on my lips appears. That said since I started using these balms, touch wood and anything else for good luck, I haven't had a single one. Priced at £13, you can find these balms here.

Tropic Lip Fugde - Described as being a deliciously creamy, minty balm it hosts 26 lip-loving plant extracts which include Sea fern and omegas 6 and 9 help to plump and smooth fine lines, Mango wax and vitamins C and E contain repairing and protective properties and Açaí sterols and wheat cerasomes are super-softening and conditioning on lips. 

I have shade Rosewood which does give the lips a slight tint of rose colour and what I really love is just how cooling this feels on the lips without being greasy or tacky despite the balm being quite a thick creamy texture. Because this is a minty balm, the tingle is quite nice, not too much.  These Lip Fudges are hydrating, moisturising and are a fantastic alternative for anyone who wants a product that is cruelty-free, 100% naturally derived and vegan-friendly lip conditioner. Priced at £12 here.

The final product that I am absolutely loving is the Burt's Bees Overnight Lip Conditioning Treatment. I am an avid user of overnight balms and creams for my face and I do, every night, apply a lip balm or serum as part of my routine. Using Ceramides which help to support your skin’s barrier and retain moisture for soft, smooth and healthy looking lips, this overnight treatment works to soothe and condition while you sleep and it is the perfect partner to the lip scrub. There is also the use of Jojoba and Sunflower Oils and it is lightly scented using Peppermint Oil. 

To use, you simply apply liberally before going to bed and leave it to work its magic overnight. The formula is non-greasy and it does absorb itself slowly into the skin. What I have found since using it, is that my lips have become less dry and whilst I will always use a lip balm, I love that I have a product that can give that extra bit of TLC when I need it and one that is 100% natural.  Priced at £6.99 here.

So there you have my top 5 currently favourite lip balms, serums and conditioners for the winter months.  I would love to know what your favourite lip balm is.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here