Mai Couture Glow-Genius Trio

When you come across a product that you immediately shrug off and then curiosity gets the better of you, you try it and are wowed by it, that is what happened with Mai Couture Glow-Genius Trip, when initially I thought it was a book of blotting papers, but no, it is so much more than that. Designed by professional makeup artist, Mai Tran, Mai Couture Papiers are the mess-free, portable makeup solution for the modern woman. Hailed as the only shatterproof, lightweight and convenient makeup of its kind—the unique cosmetic paper technology is exceptionally formulated to remove excess facial oil while allowing makeup to be applied entirely sans brushes—making on-the-go applications and touch-ups a breeze.

So in a nutshell, designed like blotting papers and whilst they do a great job at blotting, the Glow-Genius Trio is a set of portable makeup papers, which makes makeup on the go an absolute breeze.  Inside the outer gold packaging, which tell you there are 60 sheets of paraben free, talc free papers you will find a:

• Bronzer in shade Sin City which is quite a deep tanned shade and one you need to be careful with if, like me you are pale skinned, 
• Highlighter in shade St Barts which is a light peach shade and is just so pretty and a 
• Blush in shade Prettyful which is a candy pink shade and is also buildable depending upon how pink you like your blush to be.

Also featured at the end of the book, a quick guide on how to use the papers which tells you how to use each sheet and where to put it!

You can find this product right here at BeautyMart and it is priced at £17. If this one isn't quite the shade for you, then there are many other options available.  What I love is the unique genius of the concept and how it is such a brilliant idea, it does work, there is colour payoff and once you get the hang of using them, they are so easy to use not to mention hygienic and just brilliant for on the go.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Note Cosmetics

Until this package arrived in the post I had never heard of or come across Note Cosmetics before. One thing I love about blogging is that you do get to discover some amazing brands and Note Cosmetics is one of those that I am glad to have found, or found me.

With it's headquarters in Germany, Note Cosmetics has quite an extensive range of makeup which covers the face eyes lips, Fragrance and nails. Sold in over 50 Countries their manta is

'Strengthening make-up products with skin-care technologies, never sacrificing on quality, always updating its lines, and developing new lines according to customer needs and expectations, NOTE with its innovative approach and affordable pricing policy, is already the first choice of many stylish women'. 

What's more, is that the products are paraben free, are dermatologically tested and made out of special ingredients (essential oils and vitamins) that benefit the skin, and they do not use hazardous and cancerous ingredients such as DBP, Formaldehyde, Toluene and camphor agents. If that isn't enough, the products are environment-friendly and never been tested on animals.

I was kindly sent some products from the range to try and I am so impressed with the quality that I have a list as long as my arm of products I now want to try.  Starting with the BB Concealer Cream which not only has an SPF15 but also has a special formula containing wheat germ and vitamin E to protect eye contour, citrus skin and grape extract to help diminish dark spots and Sunflower oil to help even out skin tone around the eye contour. 

I have shade 3 which is far too dark for my skin tone, but, what I like about it is how easy it glides onto the skin, it doesn't cake or crease and it doesn't irritate. As this is not my shade, I have only worn it indoors and it has great staying power and lasted the entire day.

Eyeshadow pencils are like a hero product for me and I use them a lot.  This one in shade Blue/Grey and it is really pretty. Smudgeproof and blendable, once applied this is going nowhere, you get just enough time to blend it, which it does really well and then it is set in place all day. 

The formula is soft and silky and it just glides onto the eyes effortlessly, the crayon houses quite a thick nib and it works well on the waterline too.  Available in 7 other shades, these crayons are simply brilliant.

Staying with eyeshadow but in the form of a single shadow this Luminous Silk Mono Eyeshadow, which has an incredible 18 different shades is again surprisingly brilliant. 

I have shade 7 which coppery brown shade and it ticks all the boxes when it comes to application, durability and again it doesn't crease during the day and lasts all day! Impressively Vitamin E is a man ingredient and it protects the delicate skin of eyelids against free radicals.

Smokey Eye Pencils are an item I never think of buying, but this one is not only stunning, it is easy to use and is Ophthalmologist Tested and has a special applicator to create smokey effect. 

I have shade 5 which is called Sky Blue and whilst it is not a shade I will use, I know quite a few people who will just absolutely love its colour. As with the eyeshadow Vitamin E is again used.

Onto the lips with the final two products and I have both a Lipstick and a Lipgloss. The Lipgloss is described as being a Matte Moist gloss and owing to the use of Macadamia Oil and Vitamin E your lips will be moisturised all day long with a matte tone. 

Available in 8 different shades, I have shade 405 which is called First Kiss and it a bright vibrant pink shade which comes out of the tube looking wet but once it comes into contact with your skin, it is very Matte and dries with a slight shimmer. The formula is not at all drying. 

The final product is a lipstick and this Note Long Wearing Lipstick gives you a choice of 18 shades to choose from. Designed to protect your lips, again the use of Macadamia Oil and Shea Butter nourish, balance palmitoleic acid level and protect lips from drying and cracking and vitamin E along with A and D also work to moisturises and nourish the lips.  

I have shade 7 which is Indian Rose and whilst it isn't a shade I would wear as it is too pink for me, it is such a beautiful shade and it glides on effortlessly without that dragging feeling across the lips and it has a similar feel to that of a lip balm and it lasts a good 5-6 hours before you need to apply to it again, even with eating and drinking.

Again when swatching, each product has been swiped just once to see what kind of colour payoff there is and with the eyeshadow using my finger. The BB Cream is slightly too dark, though with moisturising cream or mixed with foundation it can be used lightly.

L-R we have the BB Cream, Eye Liner, Eye Crayon, Lipstick, Lip Gloss and Eye Shadow

As you can tell, I am really impressed with Note Cosmetics, it is a really great brand with products that are competitively priced and has formulas which rival some high end brands for durability, blendability and there is an impressive catalogue of products to work your way through!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

You Beauty Box - The Detox Edit January 2017

The January You Beauty Box, aptly titled 'The Detox Edit' after all that is usually what January is all about, had a shortlist of products which were inspired by Winter Beauty quandaries and as such there was a cross-section of beauty and skincare woes, helping you to make peace with yourself and giving you the confidence to get through January in style.

So there are two treats this month and to be honest I am not at all impressed with them, I could find them inside magazines. However, there is a 3 Minute Miracle reconstructor Deep Conditioner Sachet from Aussie and a Hand and Nail Cream from Lavera.

For my three choices I decided not to go for Haircare or Skincare, though I was tempted by the Dr Dennis Goss Universal Daily Peel, instead, I went for body care because three items just jumped right out at me and I haven't used any of them before.

The first is from Dr. Ceuticals and it is a Pumice Foot Scrub. - Described as being enriched with Peppermint and Menthol works in three ways to exfoliate, soften and moisturise rough and dry patches on heels and soles. Delivering effective results, it is further boosted with Cocoa and Shea butter to help leave feet noticeably smoother.  

I was in need of a foot scrub, it is one item that I don't have and it is a delight to use.  Quite abrasive as you massage onto the feet, it definitely removes dead skin and exfoliates the skin which isn't quite ready to come off (grim). This is a full-size scrub and is priced at £6.99 in Boots

The next two products are from Optiat, a brand I have never come across until now. A nature friendly company, they transform used Arabica coffee grounds into scented scrubs that make you look and feel fantastic. Both products smell just absolutely incredible and whether or not you love coffee scrubs or intrigued about them, you need to try these. They are also not tested on animals.

The first scrub is called "Pick Me Up" Lemongrass Lifter which is described as follows: "Scrub up zesty after getting hot and sweaty. A blend of used Arabica coffee grounds and lemongrass essential oils, this Lemongrass Lifter refreshes you after working up a sweat". Now I absolutely love the scent of Lemongrass, I love the zesty tang of it and I love that when it is on my skin, the scent of coffee, Lime and Lemongrass combined drags you awake and definitely makes you feel more alert.

The second scrub which is aptly titled "Feel Great" Mouthwatering Mandarin Coffee Scrub - has the following description "Scrub up deliciously for date night. A blend of used Arabica coffee grounds and mandarin essential oils, Mouthwatering Mandarin keeps you feeling fruity all night long". Unlike Pick Me Up, I actually do prefer this one to be used of an evening rather than a morning, possibly because I find orange scented products quite relaxing rather than invigorating.  On the skin, again it is a delight to use and the orange scent mixed with coffee is just delightful.

This is a brand I am so glad to have been introduced too and one I definitely want to find out more about as well as work my way through the entire range on offer.  If you love coffee scrubs or want to try one then this is such a lovely brand.

So this months box, despite the pretty rubbish treats, has been really good. I am really glad to have discovered Optiat and I love Dr Ceuticals foot scrub, so I think I made a good choice with my products. Subscriptions for You Beauty start at £6.95 rising up to £10.95.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise