Makeup Revolution Pro Hygiene Sanitising Solid Brush Cleaner

When the Makeup Revolution Pro Hygiene Sanitising Solid Brush Cleaner popped through my letterbox I was intrigued to find whether or not something that cost £5 would be any good, remember I have mentioned on many occasions that this is not a brand to be judged by its prices.

Described as being the perfect on-the-go solution to instantly sanitise, cleanse and condition your make up brushes with no mess, little effort and something that is easy to use, I gave it a whirl.  Now I hate cleaning my make up brushes, it is boring, laborious and I always chastise myself for leaving it until I have barely none left, before having to clean them all.

In order to give this a try, I found one of my dirtiest brushes (yes I know, minging) and followed the instructions.  You simple wet the brush and gently place into the solid brush cleanser until it starts to foam, which it does after a few seconds, this then works to remove the residue, the swirl the brush into the palm of your (clean) hand and when you do this, all the gunk that has accumulated literally dissolves, running away into the sink.  Once this has been completed and you are happy, simply rinse with the brush and leave to dry.  Having used the solid balm, there is a little dirt left on the top from where I wiped by brush around it, but to remove that, you simply run it under water to keep the balm clean.

As you can see, this solid cleanser does an exceptional job at dissolving the make up from this brush and leaves it looking like new, the once white bristles that had turned orange are now white again and it works for every kind of brush you have from lip brushes to eyebrow brushes. 

For just £5 this is brilliant value for money and it is perfect for cleaning any brush and is the perfect on the go cleaning essential.

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Ole Henriksen Three Little Wonders Mini Gift Set

Ole Henriksen products are something I feel I should know more about than I do, until now having only ever used Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser and a sample of Truth Serum Collagen Booster from a beauty box, I was delighted to give the Ole Henriksen Three Little Wonders Mini Gift Set a try.

The Three Little Wonders Mini Gift Set contains three deluxe samples of products; a 9.76ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster, a 7ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment and a 7ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation and all for just £18. What I love about this set is that the sizes are perfect for giving you a weeks worth of usage and in that time you can make your own mind up as to whether or not you wish to purchase a full sized version.

The Ole Henriksen – Truth Serum Collagen Booster contains five potent forms of vitamin C which work within the serum to correct dark spots, uneven skin tone and dullness to lighten and tighten the skin. It is also packed with powerful antioxidants and the serum is like a daily vitamin for your skin, boosting collagen production and keeping your skin nourished and protected. Add to that the Grapefruit and orange extracts purify the skin, green tea helps to protect, whilst rosehip extract strengthens and finally sodium hyaluronate binds moisture to the skin.

Packaged inside this tiny bottle, with a pump (yay) you only need to press it once for enough serum to cover the entirety of your face and neck.  It smells just absolutely delightful, quite citrusy with a hint of Rosehip and on the skin, it absorbs almost immediately.

The Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment is described as being an overnight nourishing cream which works to balance and brighten your skin while you sleep. It is infused with youth- enhancing ingredients to smooth the texture of your skin whilst fortifying the skin’s natural barrier. So with Alpha Hydroxy Complex being at the heart of the formula, they are enriched with what is described as being potent glycolic, lactic and fruit acids and they work to deeply penetrate your epidermis to encourage cell renewal and in doing so, they reveal much smoother skin. If that isn't enough, the Fruit Acid Complex, which is a concentrated cocktail of bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange and lemon all work to lightly exfoliate your skin’s surface, breaking down the bonds of dead skill cells and boosts the elasticity of the skin’s surface - all whilst you sleep!

The texture is quite a watery gel so you only need a small amount as it is a case of a little going a long way. One the skin there is no scent that really stands out but as it settles and then absorbs, I did feel a slight tingly sensation which quickly subsided leaving my skin feeling really hydrated and smooth to the touch.

The final item in this trio is The Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation and it is described as being a lightweight moisturiser that helps combat the effects of sun damage. The forumla is oil-free and is designed to help fade dark spots, freckles and other sun damage concerns as the cream instantly nourishes and evens the skin’s tone and texture. It uses what is referred to as an advanced blend of Actiwhite™ and liquorice which work to correct discolouration and also provide intense free radical protection to prevent further damage. Finally there is the inclusion of Fruit acids which work within the formula to re-texturise the skin, vitamin C to stimulate collagen production for additional anti-ageing benefits and finally, a dose of antioxidant vitamin E which ensures your skin is well nourished.

This is quite a rich moisturiser though incredibly lightweight on the skin. It works really well with my skin and I add it after using the Truth Serum. It does refresh the skin and instantly leaves the really hydrated and nourishing feeling.

So there you have a little trio of lotions and potions which work together to restore the youthful glow back to your complexion and it is currently on offer with Escentual for just £15.30!

Benefit Cosmetics #boldisbeautiful

On Sunday 8th May 2016 Benefit Cosmetics be taking to the streets of London to raise funds for the Bold is Beautiful project, while having a whole heap of fun! But there is a serious side to having fun of course. Throughout the whole of May Benefit will be raising funds for two great charities, Look Good Feel Better and Refuge and there are a few ways within which you can get involved.

Firstly, you can donate directly to either or both charities which are Look Good Feel Better and Refuge:

Look Good Feel Better is dedicated to improving the confidence and wellbeing of people undergoing treatment for any sort of cancer. They improve self-image and appearance through free skincare and make-up workshops and masterclasses along with online support to help regain a sense of control and improved self-esteem.

Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence is not tolerated and where women and children can live in safety. They aim to empower women and children to rebuild their lives, free from violence and fear. They provide a range of life-saving and life-changing services and a voice for the voiceless.

Secondly, there is the March which I have mentioned and this is the route:

Start & End Point: Cavendish Square

Registration opens at 10am

March starts in two waves at 11am and 11.45am

The route is 4.5 miles long, so depending on your walking speed, it should take you between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. There will be checkpoints along the route, featuring goodies, activities and photo opportunities galore.

Thirdly you can book a Brow Wax and 100% of the Brow Wax profits will go to these charities.  Or you can be on your look out for a High Brow Tea Event! Throughout May and June, the Bold is Beautiful Project will tour the UK with a pop-up 'High Brow Tea' (on wheels) in collaboration with Tea Pigs.  Guests are able to attend the event in pairs to experience a Tea for Two, with on board brow services to get those brows perfected!  Look out for further details from the Benebabes!

Are you going to join in?

How I De-Stress

As April is Stress Awareness Month, so I thought I would share a post on how I relax and kick back. According to the NHS, stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope. Many of life’s demands can cause stress, whether that is work, money and relationships to name the most common causes. As individuals, we all have different ways of reacting to stress, whether that is going for a walk, meditating, using stress relief products such as stress relief gummies, learning the benefits and uses of essential oils, apps such as Mindfulness or Headspace are incredible resources as is  just talking to a friend, someone who will listen without judgement.

We just have to remember that every situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else.

Now I have an exceptionally demanding job, I also blog regularly, I am a Wife, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, Cousin, Niece, Friend, In-law all of which make demands on my time of course. I have a flat and three cats to look after.  All of this comes with stresses and strains, some more manageable than others and often being under pressure brings out the best in me BUT... learning how to switch off, wind down, take time for me and just relax is something I find hard to do and to coin a phrase 'I have ants in my pants', I am often fidgety.  So how do I calm down, take a breath and not let it all get on top of me?

Lists.  I am an avid list writer.  On my desk at work I have a weekly planner from Busy B Stationery and a to-do list and this helps keep me motivated, on top of things and focused.  This list never ever gets completed but I do get some satisfaction from crossing out things I have done, things that have been finished or finalised and by adding extra items, no matter how important (like ordering more envelopes) keeps me grounded.  I find writing my lists by hand quite therapeutic and whilst I am adding that list or crossing out, I am focused on what needs to be done.

Reading.  I am a bookworm and read a lot.  I travel too and from work via bus and get around London via Tube, during that time I read. If you follow me on Goodreads, then you will know that every year I set myself a target of how many books I should read.  Again, this is a list system of sorts because it organises my books in order of date read and there is a comprehensive list of books I want to read and a list of books that people recommend to me.  I am by heart a Crime Thriller girl, though am known to read the odd Chick Lit novel if the story grabs me.

Bath time.  At least once a week, I have an hour to an hour and a half in a hot bubble filled bath.  In that bath I will have on a facemask and perhaps even a hair mask and I will lay back on my bath pillow and just forget about anything existing outside that door, other than Hector my kitten who will sing to me in the hope I will let him in the bathroom to practice his balancing act along the bath. Otherwise I am in that bubble filled bath with my book/Kindle and I am forgetting about you all.

Box Set Marathon.  It is rare I sit down to watch the television.  I don't watch the soaps and I don't have the TV for the sake of it.  I am a huge football fan and I do love a good documentary.  So instead I like to find a series and watch it - Grey's Anatomy, Nashville, Devious Maids, Wentworth, Criminal Minds, CSI, Bluebloods, Quantico, Black List and so on.  Those are some of the programmes I am making my way through and in doing so, once again, I forget about anything else.

Colouring.  I love to colour things in. I have about three or four art therapy books in my collection currently and any excuse to buy pretty coloured pens I am there.  Colouring is actually really therapeutic, my mind is totally focused on not going out of the lines (seriously) and I can lose hours just colouring pieces of paper in, in a book.

I now just need to learn to leave my phone and social media apps alone for a few hours!

How do you relax, sit back and forget about the stresses and strains of everyday life?