Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster

Elizabeth Arden skincare is something I am new too, yes shocking I know and I am in the process of rectifying that as I work my way through some amazing skincare. The first item that I am introducing to you is the Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster which I absolutely adore and have been using every day for the past 6 weeks, it is so good, it has become part of my skincare routine without any thought process, I just immediately pick it up to use it after cleansing but before moisturising and before I add any other product to my skin.

Did you know that the condition of your skin's surface layer is directly linked to how healthy, radiant and youthful your skin looks? When the surface layer is damaged, your skin may not be able to retain moisture, lose its natural defenses to protect itself and, ultimately, loses the ability to renew itself. The aim of the booster is to help restore the healthy look of skin's surface layer, known as the stratum corneum, and to boost both the products you use and the skin’s natural functions or as the description goes:

"Achieve a radiant, healthy-looking complexion with the SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster from Elizabeth Arden. With a Probiotics Complex, the serum strengthens the skin's natural ability to repair and renew skin, restoring a brighter, youthful appearance".

The booster is also enriched with sea fennel and flaxseed extracts to maintain the skin's barrier, whilst glasswort extract locks in moisture and reduces water loss in the surface of skin. The versatile booster can be used as a refreshing serum or before moisturiser to increase the effectiveness of skincare products.

What I love about this booster is the texture, it is super light, easily absorbed not to mention intensely hydrating and is almost a gel-to-water like formula which I just adore and it smells incredible too.  Nestled inside the luxurious looking metallic tube, the back features a slide open and close button, so it is never going to leak in your bag or suitcase and one pump is enough to more than cover your entire face and neck.

Since using this booster my skin hasn't been anywhere near as dry as it has been in the past and it is much smoother and softer to the touch.  So if you feel your skin is in need of a boost, then at £45 for 30ml, it is money well spent!

Lookfantastic Beauty Box July Edition #LFSummerlovin

The July Lookfantasic beauty box has landed and it is just beautifully designed and is definitely one you wouldn't miss if it was in a store. With a stunning pink and coral ombre design and gold splatter pattern, this months box is titled #LFSUMMERLOVIN and it is packed full of gorgeous treats for your skin, hair and of course makeup to get you Summer ready and radiant.

The first item from the box comes from Thisworks and it is called 'In Transit Camera Close Up'. A favourite of Victoria Beckham, this product is a mask, moisturiser and a primer all in one and is designed to plump and brighten your skin. It contains a powerful blend of repairing plant oils as well as a boost of caffeine to erase signs of fatigue and make your skin look radiant. On the skin it is really lightweight but it does act as a great base for makeup and I liked it a lot more than I was expecting too.  

Next we have Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil from Benefit and is a product you might recognise from the latest brow launch. Good Proof features a tip which is angled and pointed so you can create any kind of finish you like. You can build colour, add definition, fill and shape your brows all with this one pencil and helpfully the full sized version it has a spoolie at the end for combing through the brows. 

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or Multiuse Golden Shimmer Oil is one of those products you either love or you don't and I am a love it kinda girl. This  multi-usage dry oil that gives a golden shimmer to your face, body and hair and has a unique cocktail of 6 precious plant oils (borage, St Johnswort, sweet almond, camellia, hazelnut, macadamia) with a sweet fragrance for a velvety skin, silky hair and an improved overall aspect of stretch marks. Its iridescent golden particles convey golden reflections to all skin and hair types.

For the hair we have two products within this box.  The first is from Kebelo, a brand that I was introduced to from these boxes and this time we have a Silk Anti-Frizz Cream Serum. Using some amazing ingredients such as quinoa, amaranth and chamomile to smooth each strand weightlessly and revitalise hair, the styling cream also helps to reduce styling time, contributing to keeping hair healthy and stronger by not being overworked. Then there is argan and jojoba oil which leave the hair feeling nourished with a stunning shine and silky feel.

Miti Bobbles is a new product to me but one I am going to enjoy trying. I have shoulder length hair and on lazy days, it goes up in a pony tail. Miti Bobbles are suitable for all hair types and the band leaves no indent in the hair and is said to stay sturdy throughout the whole day. Ideal for wear during sleep, the hair ties are gentle to hair and reduce head stress for long-lasting comfort.

Finally we have a Lip and Cheek Stain from Bellapierre. This product has an oil-free formula which is both blendable and buildable. The stain can be applied sparingly for a subtle look, or layered for more intense finish depending on your preference. It can also be used as a lip balm or on the apples of your cheeks for a sheer veil of colour.

I think this is a fantastic box, I love each product and love that they are handbag ready and easy to use. Again, it costs as little as £11.25 a month for the Beauty Box and has contents worth over £50, so it is an absolute bargain and a great introduction to some lovely brands. As with previous months, the latest copy of Elle magazine is also included.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation is just superb. I have been using it now for the last few months and just adore it. Firstly it is pump action and therefore easy to use. I tend to prime my face and then, apply this foundation onto my brush and gently buff it onto my skin. I have combination skin which leaves me with an oily t-zone and dry cheeks, so I am careful about which foundations I choose because they either cling to the dryness or almost disappear entirely. 

I usually set my liquid foundation with a powder, but with this, I never feel the need too. Infused with a potent combination of Coconut Water to naturally replenish moisture levels; nature's resilient Alpine Rose to brighten the skin's appearance and promote elasticity plus Hyaluronic Acid for a smoother, more youthful appearance, this foundation is just as much skincare as it is make-up

I have shade Porcelain which is the third lightest shade (Snow and Pearl being lighter), there are 18 in total to choose from, and it works so well with my skin tone. As you can see from the swatch above, it does initially look quite dark, but as soon as you buff it onto the skin, the change is quite incredible and both photos are taken without the use of flash but instead with natural sunshine.

It gives what I would call medium coverage and for me is great at covering and concealing the redness on my cheeks, but it is buildable. I haven't found it to oxidise nor is it tacky on the skin. What it does is give me a full days coverage when I am at work and then I always re-apply if I am going out in an evening, more for my own self-consciousness than for need.  

At £29 for 30ml I find it is good value for money, it applies like a dream, it doesn't leave my skin all shiny and I just love it. it does what it promises to do and lives up to its description "Born This Way is an oil-free foundation that masterfully diffuses the line between makeup and skin. For coverage so undetectable, you can’t see the makeup and you can’t see imperfections—all that’s left is naturally radiant skin that looks like you were Born This Way".

Are you a fan of Too Faced makeup?

L’OCCITANE VIOLETTE & ROSE DE MAI EAU DE TOILETTE

L'Occitane is one of my favourite brands, infact you only need to look through my blog to see just how much of a fan I am. To celebrate their 40th year anniversary, L’Occitane have created a stunning limited edition fragrance which is said to capture of the essence of Provence in a single spritz, so let me introduce you to - L’Occitane Violette & Rose de Mai Eau de Toilette. 

Created by world renowned perfumer Violaine Collas; Violette & Rose de Mai is described as being 'a vibrant and elegant unity of two ravishing flowers from Grasse. This exceptional fragrance tells the romance of Violet and May rose with fruity and zesty notes of bergamot and mandarin that melt into tender and creamy base notes of musks and sandalwood' and within the fragrance you have the following notes:

• Top Notes: Bergamote, Rhubarb, Cassis, Mandarin & Orange.
• Heart Notes: Rose de Mai, Mediterranean Geranium & Violette Leaves.
• Base Notes: Santal & Musk.

Now I am a huge fan of rose scented products, always have been. There is just something about the scent that is divine and mixing it with Violette leaves adds that little something extra and if rose scented perfumes aren't for you, then I would urge you to give this a try, it is so light, refreshing yet incredibly fresh scented and the hint of citrus is simply divine and takes just a few minutes on your skin to come to life.

Again, as this is an eau de toilette, they often dont have great longevity on the skin, but with L'Occitane scents they last absolutely ages and no matter which one I wear, I can always detect the scent some 5-6 hours after the first application on my skin and that little bit longer on my clothes which is really impressive.

For me this is the perfect summer scent, it isn't too heavy or overly sweet, it is as I have mentioned; light, crisp and incredibly refreshing and I just absolutely adore it.  Retailing at £52 for 75ml you more than get what you pay for.