You Beauty Box - CEW Shortlist September 2017

I feel quite sad writing this post because You Beauty Box has been one of my favourite boxes for years and now it is to be no more.  The Powers that be over at Latest in Beauty have bought the box and it is now all change from here on in.

That aside, the September edition of You Beauty Box has arrived and it is a CEW Awards Edit and the products that make up the shortlist for choosing are all either finalists or winners of the prestigious 2017 CEW Beauty Award.

This months treats features two samples from Weleda and Aussie Haircare. I adore the scent of Aussie Haircare but my hair really does not get on well with it, infact it leaves me scalp all itchy and my hair greasier than before I washed it.  That aside, this 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Treatment Sachet is formulated with Australian Balm Mint extract, smoothes rough cuticles and helps restore manageability and adds shine.  Jardin de Vie Grenade from Weleda smells just incredible. If you like a fragrance which is both fruity and sweet fthen this is one for you. Weleda use only the finest essential oils for this fragrance and it is said to have been inspired by their pomegranate-based skincare range. Opening up with the exotic notes of Orange and Davana fruit, there is also a slight floral hint from Neroli. Using Vanilla as a base note, gives the sweetness, but it isn't too heavy.

Again this month I was to choose three products from a really long list of options within Makeup, Skincare, Bodycare and Haircare, from which there was brands such as Benefit, St Tropez, Bioderma, Dr Organic, This Works and Yes Too. 

Beauty Kitchen Seahorse Plankton 5 Minute Miracle Mask - This mask is a 100% natural multi-action miracle mask. 

Using Kaolin Clay which gives an instant detox, while Beauty Kitchen’s secret ingredient, Seahorse Plankton, a biologically proven microalgae gives an instant skin detox that cleanses, stimulates, firms and plumps face, neck and décolletage.

Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm - Described as being a cult favourite as well as a best selling beauty balm nurtures all skin types for a glowing, radiant complexion.

Using a combination of Vitamin and antioxidant-rich wild rosehip seed oil, this multi-purpose beauty has many uses and some of them include being an Exfoliating Cleanser, Intense Moisture Boost, Balancing facial Mask, A nurturing lip balm and as a nourishing nail balm. I love how it smells and I love how it feels on the skin.

Max Factor False Lash Epic Mascara - You can guarantee that if I have an option for a mascara in a beauty box, I am ticking that option.  For this box, the Max Factor Lash Epic Mascara is the product.

Described as having a zoom-action tip, this mascara is said to capture and magnify every detail of every lash for an Epic Lash Fan.  I love that this brush has been designed to capture every lash and coat them, without having to work extra hard to capture the lashes in the far corner of each eye.

I absolutely love this box and am delighted with the choices that I made. I got a nice variety of products and until now, I have never tried any of them.  For £8.95 I got a box worth around £35 which is great value for money.

Whilst I am sad to see the end of this box as I have enjoyed it for the last few years, the latest box from Latest In Beauty has been given a rave review over on Allurelavie and if this is a taste of things to come, then I am quite excited as there are some amazing brands.

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

Stemm Haircare | A Deciem Brand

Stemm is part of the Deciem family and it was a brand I really did not like when I started to use it. You see my hair is used to SLS, Silicone and all things it shouldn't like, a bit like me with Chocolate or Banoffee Pie - especially Banoffee Pie!  But, I didn't give up, I perservered with a shampoo and conditioner from Stemm and some 6 weeks later, I am kind of glad I did.

Stemm is described as follows: 

STEMM is a range of daily care and treatments to support the health of follicles, scalp and, in turn, hair. Traditional haircare focuses on the only part of hair that is not living, the hair fibre itself. Stemm recognizes that the beauty of hair, its visible thickness, density and fullness, begins at the root and the range focuses on supporting hair health from the root up, while concurrently its formulations respect the integrity of the hair fibre itself and protect it from environmental, cleaning, over-conditioning, colouring and styling damage.

Also describing itself as skincare for the hair, Stemm uses a combination of traditional nutrients such as black fulvic acid, burdock root, clove and a comprehensive array of amino acids and minerals with highly-advanced forms of high-strength caffeine, creatine, high-stability sulphur and plant peptide isolates, Stemm creates an optimal environment for hair health, from follicle to fibre.

The High Amino Shampoo my hair hated for a good few weeks and I almost gave up using it. Instead of having tangfle free, clean feeling locks, I instead got hair that felt lank and greasy and whilst I didn't find myself washing it anymore frequently than I had before, it just felt awful and I don't usually have knotty hair. 

Described as being an effective shampoo concentrate to promote visible hair density for thicker-looking hair, with gentle cleaning technologies that respect hair fibre. I did find that there was no lather at all with this shampoo and naturally the lather is something I am used too.  As this is concentrated, I also didn't need to use as much as I usually would, instead I mixed it with warm water to make it cover my entire head of hair.  We all know that some shampoos use a lot of ingredients that can strip the hait of healthy natural oils and Stemm want to put a stop to that with this formula.  Using a combination of Amino Acids, Burdock Root and Coffee-Derived Caffeine, which thoroughly clean hair whilst delivering essential moisture and mild conditioning.

I stuck with using this shampoo for a good few weeks before deciding whether or not to continue with using it. Once my hair did get used to it, the change was incredible. My suddenly knotty hair was now soft and smooth, but without feeling like there was a film on it. My scalp, which doesn't usually deal with change too well, never once flared up whilst using this shampoo, which is a tell-tale sign it is a good one.  Now I have finished the shampoo and am glad I stuck with it, because since finishing it, ive not gone back to a shampoo which has SLS, I have instead repurchased this.

Gold Fluvic Conditioner (for blonde hair) is described as being a rinse-off treatment that promotes thicker-looking hair whilst specifically targeting damaged parts of hair to avoid the apparent loss of density associated with the build-up that occurs with traditional conditioning agents. Traditional conditioners almost always cause an immediate thinning of hair fibre and also result in buildup of conditioning agents over time. This formula combines a targeted conditioning system that does not coat the entire hair and focuses only on damaged areas that require support, while supplementing hair and scalp with nutrients to help hair look its healthiest, densest and fullest now and with continued use.

Oddly I had no problem with using this conditioner from start to finish.  As a rule, I don't tend to use a conditoner after every shampoo and instead limit it to once or twice a week depending on how my hair is at that time.  As with any conditoner, this one is best used with attention being paid to the scalp and the roots and it is formulated with a potent blend of reparative Amino Acids, Biotin & Gold Fulvic Acid alongside 2% Caffeine, bringing these ingredients together stimulates the hair follicles aiding in thicker, more dense hair.

I had fully expected to be writing a review saying I had found the first Deciem product I disliked, but infact I should have had more patience to begin with because I absolutely did love using it after those first few weeks.

You can find out more about Stemm and the rest of the brands under the Deciem Umbrella right HERE.

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

Tropic Cream Highlighter - Limited Edition

Tropic Skincare is a brand I have mentioned on my blog before (here) and as well as skincare, there are other products which are not to be missed.  If you love highlighters then this is definitely a post you need to keep reading because I have two to share with you and they are both just stunning.

Packaged in their respective pots, we have Spotlight and Sunlight, two cream highlighters which really pack a punch. Both highlighters use 100% naturally dervived extracts of bayberry fruit wax and vitamin E which not only ensure your highlight is long-lasting but also smoothing and protecting for your skin and also the use of both Coconut oil and jojoba esters which provide a healthy, natural glow.

The two shades transfer incredibly well onto the skin with ‘Spotlight’ offering a soft iridescent pink for fair to medium skin tones, whilst ‘Sunlight’ creates a golden bronze for medium to dark complexions, or layer both shades together and flaunt a show-stopping shimmer.  I have really pale skin and am usually the lightest shade in every brand of foundation that I use, but I have used Sunlight as much as Spotlight and love both of them.

Tropic Skin Care are certified Cruelty Free, Vegan Society Approved and their mission has always been to create natural, cruelty free products that will genuinely benefit the skin. With no toxic chemicals and instead just using nutritious ingredients you re treated to luxurious, pampering products that always stay true to their ethos. Priced at £18 each here they really are beautiful products.

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

Caudalie French Kiss Balms

Caudalie is one of those brands that if you haven't tried it or come across it, then you need too.  I haven't disliked a single product that I have ever used and from an extensive catalogue of products, it is quite impressive.

The new realease from Caudalie is called French Kiss and it is a trio of lip balms which come packaged inside brightly coloured boxes to reflect the balm they represent.

So, as you can see, there are three different shades to choose from and the only thing I will point out is that they are not pigmented enough to add full colour to your lips but they should give you a light tint.

The three shades from left to right are Innocence, which is best described as being pretty clear in shade when applied but it smells divine as it is lightly infused with the scent of vanilla and orange peel, next comes Seduction which has a pale pink tint and also the scent of Vanilla with Addiction being on the right, it has a lovely berry tint to it and a red berry scent too. Again, with products like these, it will depend on the shade of your lips to begin with as to how little or how much they will show up. I can get a smattering of colour from both Addition and Seducation whereas Addiction shows up as a clear like balm.

On the lips, all three of these balms are incredibly moisturising anf hydrating thanks to the use of rich in anti-oxidant grape Polyphenols and they do have a creme brulee like texture as hinted at by Caudalie. You use, you simply press your finger slightly into the balm to activate the smooth and creamy texture. Priced at £10 each (here) they are a definite need for my handbag for these colder months.

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