You Beauty Box - July

The July Edition of my You Beauty Box has arrived and this month the theme is 'Come Fly With Me' and there was a great list of products to choose from to create your box. The list of products to choose from forms a collection of beauty must-haves, all perfect for holidays!

This month there is one treat within the box and again it is quite disappointing. The reason I love beauty boxes is to try new products and become reacquainted with some I might have forgotten about or absolutely love.  This month there is one sachet - yes just the one and it is OMS - Sublime Enzyme – Exfoliate & Resurface Mask. Admittedly it isn't a brand I have come across before and there is seemingly more information than product and it claims that you only need one application to notice a remarkable difference in your skin.  So the mask is described as being a "unique, natural, enzyme formula dissolves the protein bond between dead and new skin cells, delivering outstanding, immediate results.

OMS uses no harsh acids, abrasives or micro beads, which can burn or scratch the skin surface and may lead to premature ageing". It uses Cacti Enzyme, Wheat Grass Extract, Moringa Oil, Chamomile and concentrated vitamins, all which have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Simple Kind To Skin Micellar Cleansing Water (200ml). I like Simple skincare, it is great when you just want to go back to basics and it is a brand I tend to use in between testing products on my skin. 

This is a unique Triple-Purified Micellar Water formulation and it is enriched with multi-vitamins and skin loving ingredients which are designed to give the most effective cleanse whilst leaving your skin feeling hydrated. It actively works to attract and remove make-up and impurities whilst helping to unclog pores supporting skin to breathe. This product costs less than £5 right HERE.

Physicool Pink Handbag containing Cooling Mist - So admittedly I chose this option because of the packaging, I was intrigued as to what was inside and how it worked. Pretty much as the description states, this is a cooling which, as soon as it hits the skin it begins to evaporate, drawing out the heat immediately and evaporating it away. 

It is claimed that using this mist results in an instant cooling effect and also helps to alleviate redness, heat and night sweats. I have used this a few times and it doesn’t leave any sticky residue on the skin after applying and it does leave you feeling refreshed. On a hot Summers Day, for me a refreshing cooling mist is a must!

Salon Science Aqua Cacteen Hydrasoothe™ Cooling Spray (150ml) - This is a cooling spray with a difference, it isn't for your skin, it is for your scalp. In the hot sunshine, my scalp can become really dehydrated, much like any other part of my body, the difference being that I moisturise my body more than my scalp, so this product appealed to me. 

Described as being "An ultra-hydrating cooling spray to provide instant relief to dehydrated scalps, boosting hair hydration levels" it is really simple to use. You simply section your hair and Spritz the Hydrasoothe™ Cooling Spray from root to tip to rehydrate hair and to soothe the scalp. It contains the ultra-refined elixir of both AquaCacteen Organic Cactus which are said to help shield the hair and scalp against environmental stress and help prevent further irritation. Add to that is the addition of the soothing and moisturising actives such as Aloe and Panthenol to help refresh and provide instant relief to a tight, dehydrated scalp and instant hydration to dry hair.  If you like the sound of this, then you can find it HERE for just £10. 

So despite this months treat being a real let down, I do have three amazing brands with amazing products that I have wanted to try and now am and have.  The You Beauty Box is one of the best around and for just £8.95 which includes P&P.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Verso Skincare

I absolutely love discovering new brands and my current obsession is Verso. If you have never come across Verso before, they are a Swedish skincare brand and VERSO is actually translates in Latin to reverse which I think is quite clever. Most of their products within the Verso range contains Retinol 8 which increases the production of collagen and effectively reverses visible signs of ageing.

So a few weeks ago I went along to an event at which, the fabulous Nikki not only introduced us to the brand and told us all about it and we got to do a master featuring the entire range. Now this idea is quite simple but equally incredible. As much as I love receiving new skincare, on quite a few occasions I am never too sure that I am using it right or am using it to ensure I get the maximum benefits possible.  Now sometimes I will email the company/PR to ask questions just to make sure and other times I will Google to see what comes up. So with the Verso range and with Nikki, we all got some understanding of how it works and in what order to use it and here are my favourite products.

Verso Foaming Cleanser (£32) - We all know that good skincare needs a good cleanser and this one is not only gentle but it is also non-drying. Designed to eradicate makeup, dirt, grime and any other impurities that might be lurking on the surface. You only need a small amount of this cleanser to massage over dampened skin, admittedly getting the cleanser to foam is quite the task and it is slow to lather (I cheat and use my DHC mesh) it does leave your skin feeling incredibly skin, it isn't drying and it doesn't strip the skin.

The Foaming Cleanser is one of the products that does not contain the patented ‘Retinol 8 Complex’ and this is a unique Vitamin A derivative (with eight times the potency of typical Retinol in the same dosage), together with polyphenol extracts – that works to smooth the appearance of wrinkles, strengthen the skin barrier, reduce pigmentation and supply the skin with more much-needed energy and oxygen to refine and illuminate without irritating - in a nutshell.  Retinol 8 Complex does feature in the next few products I am sharing with you.

Next comes the Verso Face Oil and it does have a hefty price tag at £150 but my view is that if it works and you are happy with it, then the money doesn't matter (that is my justification anyway).

Now the oil is an age-reversing dry-oil spray and it is formulated with VERSO’s exclusive Retinol 8 Complex which is eight times more effective than non-prescription vitamin A in the same dosage as mentioned already. What I loved as soon as I tried this oil is not only how incredibly lightweight it is but just how quickly my skin drinks it up and absorbs it into the skin. I am yet to really notice any fine lines or wrinkles so but this oil is said to diminish the visibility of wrinkles, strengthen the skins barrier, reduce pigmentation and supply cells with more, much-needed ‘fuel’ and oxygen to help them behave like younger versions of themselves and that description alone would make me purchase it anyway.

I never go without an eye cream or serum and I am currently using this Verso Super Eye Serum (£75), one of the brands bestsellers. It is said that very few eye products contain such a high concentration of wrinkle and sun-damage-busting retinol because it's usually super irritating, but not so with this product and not at all so far with the products that I have tried from the range.

Again, formulated with that all exclusive Retinol 8 Complex, this eye serum is ideal for firming, smoothing and plumping out creases in the delicate eye area such as crow’s feet, creases as well as dark circles and eye bags. There is also a cocktail of amino acids work to counteract puffiness, which for me is one of my main eye issues. I have a stressful job (blogging is a hobby) and I work long hours, sometimes the days are in a blur because I can be incredibly busy, so sleep is a luxury that I am sometimes not fortunate to get enough of, so I like my eye products and whilst I have only used this for a few weeks, I have noticed how effective it is on the eye bags.

I am also a lip balm addict and I have a new favourite, sorry Dr Lipp but you have been replaced by Verso Lip. Within the Verso’s Lip Serum (£55) you will again find the ‘Retinol 8’ complex and the product is described as being a must for those whose lips are starting to lose youthful plumpness, as well as those with a heavily lined lip contour (this is a must for smokers!).

For me lips are important and are one of the facial features that I look at the most. I would hate to think that mine were dry, crusty and flaking at any given moment, which is why I exfoliate regularly. The Verso Lip Serum is incredibly nourishing and using the supercharged levels of vitamin A are said to have a dramatic impact on skin tone and texture by encouraging the creation of collagen and plumping hyaluronic acid. By encouraging the cells to mimic the behaviour of younger skin, Lip Serum dramatically diminishes the depth of wrinkles – even stubborn, deep-set creases – and with sustained use and lips therefore become smoother, more supple and voluminous. Again, I have no wrinkles or lines around my lips and no deep set creases but I do use a lot of balm to keep my lips supple, soft and smooth.

The final product is the Verso Reviving Eye Mask (£45 per 3 pack) which is described as being "A quick-fix solution for the sleep-deprived". The masks have been developed to help fortify that fragile fabric of the skin around the eyes and doing so without irritation or aggravation.

The Hydrogel patches do contain the signature Retinol 8 Complex alongside hyaluronic acid, brightening grapefruit extract and strengthening ceramide-3. The eye mask is said to kick-start cellular regeneration whilst at the same time enhancing moisture levels which helps to diminish depth of crow’s feet and promote a youthful, well-slept look in minutes.

I also have a set of three (£14) Verso Exfoliating Cloths.  These cloths are super-soft skin-polishing muslins, which are perfect for use with their Foaming Cleanser, to gently refine your skin’s texture and they come packaged inside this handy plastic pouch making them perfect for travelling.

Have you tried anything from the Verso range and does anything capture your attention?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Top Approved Beauty Tips Than Can Improve Your Look

With the invention of makeup and beauty products, women have gone off trial and error with their makeup application techniques. Of course, professional makeup artists have always been around, but it is no secret that they can be rather expensive. Going this routine may even feel almost unnecessary for the common woman. However, in today’s world with the age of the Internet and social media, more and more professionals are willing to share their secrets online. When applied with the appropriate techniques, makeup can truly work wonders. 

Image Credit - Garnier

Whether you are looking to minimise the appearance of wrinkles, mimic your favourite model, or just up your game, you can easily achieve your goals with the beauty secrets that you will discover below.

Learn To Perfect The Face

The face is the foundation of your upper body, and without a perfect face, the rest of your body will not flow. A lot of women have problems with oily skin and constantly spend hundreds of dollars on cleansers and soaps. However, if you truly want to remove the excess oil, while refreshing your makeup, all you have to do is apply a light toner first. After that, simply pat the oily area with a tissue. It will not even hurt to follow up with a dusting of loose powder.

Achieving That Perfect Tan

A tan is a must in today’s fashion world. A healthy, tanned face can give you a foundation to build on. Unfortunately, it can be extremely hard for people with pale and light skin to achieve that to-die-for tan, because of their skin just blisters and burns. However, thanks to the many products, including the one available at lovemelanotan.org, people with any skin type can achieve that perfect tan with ease. In fact, with products like this, you can get a great tan without needing to step out into the sun.

Try Highlighting

Another great professional technique that can make your appearance stand out is to stop shading the hollows of your face. Instead, try highlighting with pale colours. Keep in mind if you want to change your makeup application, the best thing to do is start with the areas you are complimented on the most. For instance, if you are always getting compliments on your cheeks or lips, start there first.

Learning To Maintain The Eyebrow Properly

Eyebrows are another important feature of the face. While poorly tweezed eyebrows can look horrible, overzealous tweezing can also be bad. Too much tweezing leads to bald patches and causes the hair to grow back irregularly. If you are faced with this problem, do not worry because you can take advantage of protein-spiked brow gels. These products can help you easily grow back sexy, luscious eyebrows.

In fact, you might be surprised at all the models that are rocking full eyebrows in today’s fashion world. It seems to be one of the hottest trends right now. If you want to rock this look, try dabbing a light highlighter underneath the eyebrow and follow up by polishing the eyebrow with a clear brown gel. This will give the appearance of eye lift that will make onlookers jealous.

*this post contains a paid for link

Primark's £4 Naked Palette Dupes

I have mentioned a few times now that I don't own a single Naked Palette and whilst that isn't any criticism of the brand, one I absolutely adore, I just haven't felt the need to rush out and buy them and to date I haven't been to swatch them.  To that end whilst on an endless trip to Primark, a friend asked me if I could pick her up one each of the 'Primark Naked Palettes' and I thought I would give them a go myself along with a few other pieces, which will appear on the blog soon.

At £4 each they are not going to break the bank and I wasn't holding out much hope that they would be any good, infact I expected no pigment, no colour pay off and absolutely no staying power.  Well these palettes just go to show that you never should judge and just because it is cheaper, it doesn't mean it will be awful.

So first up we have the Smoky palette and whilst the packaging is made from cardboard and not overly fancy, it does the job it is intended to do. It looks alright and houses ten different shades, all of which are designed to be able to help you create that smokey eye whether you like you nude smoky or your more dramatic one.

 As you can see from left to right, the shades are actually quite nice, nothing too over the top and a mixture of Matte and Shimmer shades, again, I think there will be something for everyone on this palette and I happen to also like the shadow names too.

When it comes to using, ive done some basic swathing below, the end result is of each finger moving up and down in the shadow, nothing to heavy or multiple swiping to get these colour pay-offs. What you see is exactly what you get.

 From left to right there is Conclave which I use as a base powder for the application of my eyeshadow. It isn't worth using for very much else in my opinion.  Then we have Winter Mist, Even Tide and Smoulder.  Smoulder is one of the shades I absolutely adore but am not yet brave enough to wear and for me Winter Mist is the weakest shade on the whole palette and doesn't give the best colour payoff, but as you can see, it does have a grey tone to it.

 Next we have from left to right Leaded Lights which has a slight gold shimmer to it, Midnight Velvet which is the most incredible blue shade and it almost reminds me of the colour my Mum used to wear and then next to that is Fire Pit and Blood Magic.  Blood Magic is one of the most pigmented shades on the palette and Fire Pit I find is an odd shade but I like it a lot, ive just not braved wearing it outside the house.

The final two shades are Grey Wind and Darkness and both really good colour payoff and both work really well for smoking out that dramatic eye.

There is a bit of fall out, but nowhere near as much as I was expecting and when wearing I get around 6 hours wear time, using both a primer and setting spray.

I love my Nude palettes so this was always coming home with me. The packaging is exactly the name as the Smoky palette, only this one represents the nudey neutral shades.

As with the Smoky palette there are again ten shades which again has something for everyone and if like me you love the nudes, there are quite a few that you can use and again there is some fall out when you use the shades, but not as much as I was expecting.

From left to right we have Panacotta which actually works well for the inner eye and isn't a shade I would want all over my lid, but I can't help but like it. Beached Blonde is a really light rosy pink shade and it works so well with the shade next to it which is called Barely Berry and it definitely isn't a berry shade, it is a light shimmery pink. Finally there is Skinny Dipping which has a rose gold tone to it and it is such a pretty shade.

The next lot of swatches feature quite a myriad of shades. Starting with Café Crème which is one of my favourite shades on the palette and it is a gold toned shimmer shade which is just so pretty. Brown Bare is a nice matte shade and perfect for the everyday eye shadow, it gives good colour coverage and is one that can be built up for a night out. Wood Nymph is the first of two shades which surprised me the most on this palette because it is a bold brown shimmer shade and there is next to no fall out, it lasts much longer than everything else. Finally there is Summer Solstice which is quite an odd shade, it is matte but the colour is quite hard to describe as it is neither a brown or gold but is like a murky taupe.

The final two shades on the palette are Under dressed which is a matte black shade with reddish undertones and finally is Caught Red Handed which is a copper brown shade and my second favourite one on this palette. 

So there you have two palettes which at £4 each are not going to leave you penniless and they are proof to me that you shouldn't judge something by its price. 

Have you tried any of the Primark make up collection?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise