Libbie Club - August Beauty Box

The August Libbie Club box has arrived and I was quite excited about this months box for one paricular product which you can read about below. The box and its contents have been put together with Summer still in mind. So there is something to protect and perfect your skin whilst adding some subtle colour for the ultimate natural look! Introducing K-beauty superstar brand Mizon and their super hydrating, anti-ageing Placenta Ampoule Cream, made using plant extracts. Follow up with Nanoblur by Indeed Labs for a flawless, camera-ready complexion which can be used with or without make up. Finally we have a fabulous 100% natural, vegetarian lip stick from Nizz Cosmetics! Finish your summer look with one of 3 nude shades from this exciting new UK brand!

Nanoblur by Indeed Labs was originally developed for on-camera talent to smooth out HD-visible imperfections. It is formulated with advanced optical prism technology, so nanoblur’s™ ground-breaking formula changes the way light reflects off skin. As nanoblur describe "Once applied, micro-prisms diffuse light in a multitude of directions, creating a smoothing effect on skin similar to an air-brushed photo. Photo artists use techniques in digital retouching to make subjects’ skin look perfect. nanoblur™ does the same thing, but in real life". 

This isn't a primer and as it is water based, it can be patted on over makeup or under makeup depending upon your preference.

Reader Offer - 15% off Indeed Labs Nanoblur.

Next we have a brand I have never come across until now and that is Nizz Cosmetics. Nizz Cosmetics specialise in creating vegetarian, hypo-allergenic, paraben-free lip colours using a sophisticated blend of trade fair butter, oils and waxes, for a smooth application and the creamiest finish.. The Lustre Lipsticks are enriched with moisturising properties NIZZ Cosmetics lipstick is long-lasting and highly pigmented with an opaque lustre finish.

I have shade Cashmere Nude and I absolutely love it and find that is a great dupe for MAC Velvet Teddy.  It glides onto the lips, doesn't cling to dryness and lasts a good 4 hours before reapplication is needed.

Reader offer -  Nizz Cosmetics Lustre Lipstick.

The final product in the box is the one I was most excited about and that is the Mizon Ampoule Placenta Cream. Yes you did read that right. I love weird and kooky sounding products as you will know by now if you read my blog regularly. However, this does not contain anything human or animal, infact it instead utilises nutrient-rich plant placenta which helps to promote skn regeneration, plump out lines and using some amazing ingredients leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, nourished and moisturised.

Within this cream you will find:

• Placenta contains minerals and amino acids that revitalise the skin and help with cell renewal and protection
• Raspberry extract prevents skin acidification
• The product is certified by the KFDA as a whitening and anti-wrinkle treatment
• The hyaluronic acid works together with the trehalose to provide intense moisturisation
• Plant-based ingredients, such as sagebrush, yarrow and rose extract soothes and calms sensitive skin

Reader Offer: 20% off Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream.

I think this is a super box and it is packed with products that I have already been using, the lipstick is an amazing shade and I adore the placenta cream You can find all of these items in the Libbie Club Shop so that you can treat yourself?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Erborian Liquid BB Creme Cushion Compact

Erborian is one of those brands I just adore, it is exciting, it is new and different, it is a little bit quirky and it does amazing make up - especially the PP Creme which I adore.  So landing on my mat is a new product which is called the cushion BB Creme and if you like original, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't like this, cushion products seem to be all over the show right now, so I am glad to see Erborian on the case. I am a big fan of the original BB Creme, so I was excited to give this a try, more so because it arrives in a small little compact, meaning less room taken up in my handbag.

Erborian say that this BB Cushion creme will help to enhance the complexion and immediately moisturize your skin and the formula provides sheer coverage and helps to:

1. Even out skin tone

2. Conceal the appearance of flaws

3. Soften the visible signs of aging

4. Provide a feeling of freshness and instant moisture

5. Give a baby skin effect

Unsurprisingly this product is packed full of amazing skincare ingredients which are known for their antioxidant and hydrating properties and others which have soothing benefits such as Ginseng, liquorice, yam and kigella africana.  There is also the inclusion of horsetail which is known to help strengthen the skins barrier functions.

I really like the formula of this BB Creme, it isn't sticky or tacky on the skin and once applied my skin feels so smooth the touch and instantly fresh feeling. I have shade Clair which is the lightest of the two shades (the other being Golden) and it is a perfect match for my light skin tone. On the skin, whilst it isn't entirely weightless, it feels no different to having applied a tinted moisturiser or BB Creme but the big difference for me is how it makes my skin feel - moisturised and I find I don't need to use as much as I would do with a foundation because the coverage is pretty darn good.

My only issue with the compact is the sponge applicator, I am yet to get to grips with it properly and currently prefer to use my stippling brush to apply, but I haven't quite given up on the sponge yet and feel that as it is part of the product, it is there for a reason.

The Erborian Cushion BB is a QVC exclusive and it will be priced at £26.50 when it launches. Designed for all skin types, this is a product well worth waiting for and is like skincare and makeup all rolled into one, perfect for the Erborian brand and if you are yet to discover them, do so, it is amazing.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

8 Fresh Ideas for a Romantic Date

If both of you are bored with going to the cinema, cafes, and picnics, it’s time to try something new and rekindle your relationship. Run out of ideas? A bit of brainstorming for you has been done the following ideas came up that you can use for the next date with your sweetheart.

Image Credit

Dine at home. Eating out is no longer fun? Cook dinner yourself and spend a romantic evening at home. It’s much more pleasant to eat the dishes prepared with love in a home environment. Perhaps, you have your signature dish but if not, ask your girlfriend or wife to cook and offer your help. If both of you can’t boast outstanding cooking skills, prepare something together strictly following the guidelines you’ll find on the Internet. The main idea is to do everything together from A to Z. Choose the dish, make up the list of all the necessary ingredients, go to the supermarket (don’t forget to buy a bottle of wine), and cook. The whole process will bring you closer together and help you get to know each other from a different angle.

Go for a bike ride. If you and your partner are fond of active leisure, consider taking your girlfriend for a bike ride. If you don’t have bicycles, you can always rent them. Take some food and a blanket and have a snack in some picturesque place where your ride will take you.

Take a stroll in the old part of your city. There is always a special romantic atmosphere in the old town of a city. Leave your car in the garage, wear comfortable shoes, and set off to explore your city. Don’t plan your route in advance – just choose the starting point and wander aimlessly. Walk down the unknown streets, drink latte sitting on the bench, take pictures, and enjoy each other’s company.

Go to the library. Yes, you read that right – library. Although it may seem not a very good date idea at first, you should go there together at least once, especially if your girlfriend is keen on reading. Choose the biggest library in your area and spend several hours in the “temple of learning”. Enjoy the silence and that special smell of old books walking along the rows, staring at the shelves. Take your favorite hardbacks or something from periodicals and sit for a while on a sofa and read.

Go to the place she always wanted to visit. Ask your partner where she wants to go but never finds the time to do it. It may turn out that you have one and the same place on your mind and now you can get there together. In case you think about different places, break them into two dates.

Fly a kite. Make her childhood dream come true. Pack a picnic basket, get two kites, and go to the windy open terrain. You’ll have a great romantic date and both of you will remember it forever.

Watch the sunrise. Although dates are usually associated with the evening time, why don’t you break the rules and go out when the world is still asleep. Isn’t it romantic to see the first sun rays appear over the horizon? Your city sleeps and it’s only you two standing on the roof of a high building (or in any other place that provides a clear sight of the horizon) watching how the sky changes its color and how a new day starts. Yet, the best sunrises can be contemplated at the sea. This is the case when a picture is worth a thousand words.

Write a love letter. Have you ever written a real letter, not an email or message, but a real paper people send via snail mail? If not, it’s time to. Offer your sweetheart to drop a line to each other in an old-fashioned way. Organize a romantic evening at home, drink some wine, sit back-to-back, and write the letters. After that put them into the envelopes and drop them into the nearest mailbox.

*this post is a guest post

Sarah Jessica Parker NYC

When NYC, the new fragrance from Sarah Jessica Parker landed on my desk I was immediately drawn to the bright, multi-pattern funky box and bottle which is said to be a tribute to her famous alter ego Carrie Bradshaw. Now I personally am not a fan of Sex and The City and have seen half an episode, so have no idea what Carrie is like, but the description states she has a unique sense of style, passionate attitude and love for New York which echoes the design.

From the very first spritz I adored this scent and if you love a fruity floral then you will to and it has a beautiful mixture of notes:

• Top notes: Mandarin from Italy, White Osmanthus and Wild Strawberries.
• Heart notes: Gardenia, Honeysuckle, Mimosa and Red Damascena Rose.
• Base notes: Vanilla Absolute, Sandalwood, Rum and Creamy Musk.

The scent opens up with a sweet floral mix before settling on the skin whereupon which the Rose and Gardenia scents come to life and finally the sandalwood scent, which is quite earthy and thankfully drowns down the vanilla scent which lasts for just a few seconds. Once it has settled onto the skin, the wild strawberry sits alongside the florals to create an amazing summer scent which is long lasting and lasts on my skin for hours after application. 

This is a real fun fragrance from start to finish, not at all like the celebrity fragrance I was expecting but one I have grown to love and wear a lot more than expected. It is available nationwide at stores such as Superdrug, Boots, Debenhams and The Fragrance Shop and has an RRP £48 for 100ml.  

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise