REAL TECHNIQUES PREP AND PRIME SET

Real Techniques is a brand I am sure you are all aware of and perhaps own a brush or makeup sponge from the brand. The brainchild of Sam and Nic aka Pixiwoo, Real Techniques produces professional quality makeup brushes, sponges, applicators and accessories that are both stylish and functional.

The Real Techniques Prep and Prime Set is described as being a combination of five tools that work harmoniously to deliver everything you need to prep, prime and apply foundation. The limited edition set guarantees a flawless, airbrushed complexion.

Within this limited edition set you will find the following tools:

Beauty Spatula - Make the most of your skincare products with the convenient Beauty Spatula. The double-sided spatula is crafted with a pointed and slanted tip, allowing you to retrieve leftover product from the hard-to-reach areas of jars and tubs.

Use the spatula for moisturisers, creams and any other skincare products that you are struggling to reach the last of the formula.

Under Eye Reviver - Awaken the eye area with the Under Eye Reviver; an aluminium massager that delivers an instant cooling effect to the skin. 

Combine the reviver with your favourite eye cream for added benefits.

Prep Brush - Prepare your skin for makeup application using the Prep Brush; a firm brush that is designed for applying skincare products.

Ideal for applying moisturiser, serums, masks or primers, the Prep Brush ensures an even application, ensuring skin is in optimum condition for makeup application.

Miracle Complexion Sponge - The Miracle Complexion Sponge will allow you to apply liquid and cream foundations flawlessly, giving your skin a poreless, airbrushed appearance. Easy to use, the sponge features rounded sides that allow you to smooth foundation over large areas of your face, whilst the flat edge allows you to blend it into the contours of your eyes and nose. Finished with a precision tip that's perfect for targeting specific blemishes and imperfections, the sponge will produce high definition results so you can create a professional finish.

Sponge Stand - Care for your sponge using the specially designed Sponge Stand. Crafted for the Miracle Complexion Sponge, the stand is ideal for storing the tool whilst not in use, and is perfect for when the sponge needs to dry.

I love that the bright orangeness of this kit means it isn't one you will forget about using and it is intriguing to see Real Techniques evolving to bring out some products that are not specifically brush related but will work to complement the use of the brushes.

You can find the Prep and Prime Set in Lookfantastic, Beauty Expert, Escentual and Boots ranging in price from £16.95 to £19.95.  So if you like the look of this kit and fancy trying it, then Superdrug for less than £10 (here but keep checking as it goes out of stock quick) is too much of a bargain to miss out. 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Confessions by Beauty Boulevard

Beauty Boulevard is a brand you might now have come across until I mention 'Glitter Lips' that came from nowhere and ended up everywhere proving to be such a success in Topshop here in London, that it sold out within a matter of days. Well alongside Glitter Lips comes a whole host of other products and the ones I have tried and tested come in the form of a Tri-Colour Lipstick and a Lip Mask.

The hydra-gel lip mask is designed to plump and smooth dry and damaged lips. A lip mask isn't something new, there are quite a few of them around if you look, but this is the first time I have tried anything like this and I absolutely loved it plus it is a lot of fun. My lips are usually in fairly good condition as I am a lip balm addict but whenever I have a cold, no matter what I use, I always end up with dehydrated feeling lips, so these masks have been a god send.

The lip masks have three main aims - to plump, add moisture and contour. To do this, they use the natural elements from red seaweed plant, exfoliating properties derived from sugar beets and ingredients which occur naturally in green tea. Hyaluronic Acid boosts hydration with Amino Acids helping the skin to stretch and bounce back into place.. Anti-Oxidant rich Red Wine extract and Collagen components help to plump and smooth lips for an overall more youthful appearance.

To use you first need to ensure that your lips are clean and that any makeup and surface dirt and grime is removed and then once you have carefully opened the foil package, gently remove the gel mask and apply it to the lips. Once on the lips there is an instant cooling feeling which is really quite nice. After 10-15 minutes, remove the mask and what I noticed after using them was how soft my lips felt and gone was the dry skin to the side of my mouth. At £7.50 for two masks, an absolute bargain.

Next is the Tri Colour Lip Tints which are designed to add a sheer drop of colour to your lips but to also condition and hydrate. Each Tri Colour Lip Tint contains naturally nourishing Coconut Oil, Jojoba and Beeswax for intense lip hydration and provides a slight touch of colour with a silky smooth, glossy finish. This is shade Envy which brings together three bright and bold shades with orange, purple and pink and far from being as bold on the lips, the shade is really subtle.

On the lips, the tints glide across your lips without the dragging feeling and are really lightweight, moisturising and do leave your lips with that 'just applied lip balm' feel to them. The formula isn't stick or tacky to the touch and once applied you can leave it for a good few hours before you need to re-apply.  Perfect for using on their own or with your lipstick you can find these for £8.50 with three shades to choose from.

Have you ever used any products from Beauty Boulevard?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Project Renegades

The creative duo behind Escentric Molecules, Geza Schoen and Paul White, have teamed up with rebel perfumers Bertrand Duchaufour and Mark Buxton to launch new fragrance brand Project Renegades. They all worked for large fragrance houses contributing to many classic scents for brands which you will be familiar with - Escentric Molecules, Comme des Garçons, Penhaligons and Acqua de Parma to name but a few. 

I was not only lucky enough to be present for the launch of the brand, but I got to sit, listen and ask questions of each of them which was, just the ultimate experience and an absolute honour.  

Deciding to take the fragrance world by storm, give it a kick and have some fun, each perfumer created a fragrance of their own, with no limitations of a tight brief or restrictions on materials. In fact they could come up with what they wanted and that is exactly what they did. The end result was three very unique scents, three crazy avatars and three incredibly eye-catching bottles which are not only distinctive but come with a fridge magnet of each avatar.

Geza Schoen’s Renegades fragrance is constructed around pink pepper, creating a portrait of the whole tree - berries, bark and leaves. I loved this scent immediately which might come as no surprise to those of you who know how much I adore Escentic Molecules. 

So with top notes of pink pepper, lemon, bergamot, cassis and lime; middle notes of osmanthus, iris, fir, juniper, hedione and mate and base notes of the well known iso e super, cedar, sandalwood, labdanum, incense, myrrh, castoreum and ambrette (musk mallow) what you get is the most amazing woody spicy fragrance which is suitable for men and women.

Bertrand Duchaufour’s Renegades fragrance opens with pink pepper and ends with a sea breeze. This time there is top notes of pink pepper, bergamot, cardamom, gin, cassis and galbanum. The middle notes are red berries, olibanum and hinoki wood and the base notes are balsam fir, driftwood and amber. 

This is again a woody spicy scent which is suitable for both men and women and I hadn't expected to like the scent, I'm not usually a fan of perfumes with amber in them, but this one is just beautiful and again is unlike anything else I have ever smelt or come across.

Mark Buxton’s Renegades fragrance is woody and spicy, revolving around a smoky leather rose. This time we have top notes which are basil, lentisque, black pepper, cassis-flower and galbanum; middle notes of leather rose and bay and base notes which are labdanum, guaiac wood, vetiver and amber.  

Again we have a Woody Spicy scent which has the added extra of being a smoky scent owing to the leather rose.  For both men and women, I actually think this one will be much better suited to the mister of my house than it will be to me, but I am prepared to give it a go because once again it is quite striking, it is divine and is like nothing else I have ever come across.

I know most people will be wanting to know whether or not I have a favourite amongst the three fragrances and truth me told they are all amazing in their own way, they all make you think and they are all just totally different to each other and anything else you are likely to find in any department store or on any fragrance counter.  That said, the one which appeals to me the most is from Geza, I love the freshness of the scent, I love how it smells on my skin and I love that it lasts for most of the day once applied.

If these fragrances have managed to capture your attention, then you will find the brand in Harvey Nichols and each one retails at £155.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise