Antipodes Moisture-Boost Natural Lipsticks

"Discover lipsticks so healthy you could almost eat them™",  is the statement that arrives with three divine looking lipsticks from Antipodes. Statistics state that over a lifetime, we women ingest up to 7lbs of lipstick, so Antipodes have decided to create a lipstick range that is packed full of ingredients that are not only safe to consume but actually healthy. Forget the Wotsits, pass me the lipstick!

I was sent three lipsticks from a range of 12. Meet 'Westcoast Sunset', 'Dusty Sound Pink' and 'Piha Beach Tangerine.' Each one is presented in a brightly coloured box to match its descriptive name.  

• West Coast Sunset - A smoky red-orange
• Dusty Sound Pink - A Vintage pink
• Piha Beach Tangerine - Vibrant Orange

So first off, here's the brief on what they contain.

• Avocado Oil: packed with essential fats, vitamins and minerals, our ‘Green gold for skin’ helps to increase collagen production and keep your lips beautifully dewy and fresh.
• Calendula Oil: healing oil from the marigold flower has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Evening Primrose Oil: this edible oil is so rich in healthy fats it’s used as a natural dietary supplement.
• Argan Oil: the Moroccan nut oil balances oil production and hydrates lips for a soft, moist finish.

With added antibacterial beeswax, deeply moisturising shea butter and jojoba oil, including extra Vitamin E for extra lip nourishment. All of the lipstick ingredients are from natural origin, with only low levels of FDA-approved colour pigments added for vibrancy.

So, speaking of vibrancy, let's get to the part you all want to know, what are the lipsticks like?

Each of these are super vibrant to look at, so I had high hopes when swatching. Thankfully, they didn't disappoint. These are incredibly pigmented and each boasts a highly vibrant shade that I'm excited to use throughout the upcoming Summer months. 'Dusty Sound Pink' is my favourite of the three shades. It is a classic vibrant true vintage pink. This teamed with a glossy eye will be my go-to summer look.

The lipsticks are moisturising and glide on to the lips without feeling too 'balmy'.  Normally with such a moisturising finish, I'd assume these would need to be reapplied throughout the day but actually, they have quite an impressive wear time.

All in all, I'm impressed with the Antipodes Moisture Boost Natural Lipsticks. I was surprised to read the statistic that over a lifetime, us women ingest up to 7lbs of lipstick, so knowing these lipsticks contain 'safe' ingredients has me excited to try out even more of their shades.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Pixi Glow Getters Skincare Set

I am a huge Pixi fan and I am slowly but surely making my way through the entire catalogue of products. The Glow Getter set features three amazing products which earn high praise from me and today I am sharing them with you.

Earning its stripes as a cult product is Pixi Glow Tonic, a product I am sure you have all heard of, come across and might even have tried. One of the biggest selling points for the Pixi Glow Tonic is how gentle it is and it is a perfect introductory product for the brand. It has an oil and alcohol-free formula making it great for those with sensitive skin and its main job is to not only exfoliate the skin but to also help tone, firm and tighten the skin. In removing those dead skin cells it leaves a much healthier looking skin.

Here's what it boasts:

• Exfoliates and purifies the skin with Glycolic Acid
• Ginseng improves circulation and energizes
• Aloe vera soothes and hydrates
• Refines the appearance of pores
• Gently accelerates cell renewal to reveal a brighter, glowing complexion
• Balances, heals and soothes for radient, healthier looking skin
• Alcohol free
• Suitable for all skin types

I like using this as part of my skincare routine in the morning. I feel energized and good to go with the rest of the day when I've used this, not to mention, how bright my skin looks (and feels!) after use. 

As I mentioned before, I'm a big fan in case you hadn't noticed already! 

PIXI GLOW MUD CLEANSER 135ML £18

The Glow Mud Cleanser is one of the newer additions to the Pixi Glow Getters collection and a product I have been wanting to try for such a long time. 

Here's what it claims to do:

• A deep pore cleansing mud, enriched with 5% glycolic and soothing botanicals
• Formulated to provide effective cleansing, yet is mild enough for all skin 
• Complexion is cleansed and gently exfoliated to reveal radiant and healthy skin
• Deep pore cleansing leaving skin clean and glowing
• Gently exfoliates and revitalizes
• Mud deep cleanses
• Glycolic acid enhances complexion's glow

Its claims are pretty impressive, so I was excited to see if this lived up to it's expectations. For texture, this is quite thick. I like applying it to wet hands and rubbing them together to evenly dispense the product before working it into my skin. I'm not sure about you, but I always feel a little bit strange putting a mud cleanser on, but this actually feels weirdly satisfying.

I worked this into my skin for a good 30 seconds before rinsing off. It was lightly exfoliating but certainly not rough on my skin. With many mud masks, I often find them a little tough to rinse off, but this actually came off easily. Once I patted my face dry, my skin felt really smooth and I didn't experience any tingling which you often find with other mud based products and nor did my skin feel as though it had been stripped, another issue I face with mud cleansers.

The verdict? My skin feels silky smooth and squeaky clean. Using this at the end of the day after a hard day's work in the city really makes my face feel de-clogged and properly cleansed. I'm impressed.

PIXI GLOW TONIC TO GO EXFOLIATING TONER PADS £24

I first came across these a few months ago and thought it was an ingenious idea. After using the Nip + Fab version, which I like, these ones appealed to me much more because they come from Pixi. 

The pot contains 60 pads which I like, it makes them quite affordable knowing there are a lot there, but not so many that they're likely to dry out quickly. According to it's packaging, These pre-soaked pads "tone, brighten, hydrate, and gently exfoliate." It also claims that the results will leave you with clearer and smoother skin, is formulated with 5% Glycolic Acid, is alcohol free, cruelty free and is Hypoallergenic.

They sound pretty impressive, so I was excited to give them a try. Knowing how much I liked the Nip + Fab version, these would need to be incredible to make me replace them.

To use, I apply these to my face/neck and leave on for a good 2-3 minutes before rinsing off with cool water (apparently you should use cool water to neutralize peel). I didn't experience any tingling but apparently it's perfectly normal if you do.

Do they live up to their claims? Absolutely. I really love these and dare I say it, I prefer them to the nip + fab ones. They definitely hold their moisture and are quite 'wet' which I really like. These exfoliate the skin and make me feel like I've had a really deep clean. It's the skincare equivalent of taking your bra off at the end of the day – absolute bliss!

So there's my thoughts on The Glow Getter set. All in all, I'm really impressed and look forward to trying more from the Pixi range, if there's anything I haven't yet tried!

What are your thoughts on the Pixi range?

6 Completely Natural Ways to Rejuvenate Your Skin

Flawless and radiant skin not only makes you look young, but it also boosts your confidence by making you fall in love with yourself everytime you look in the mirror. It also adds to your social appeal and charm.

Image Credit - Here

Age is not the only cause of dull and wrinkled skin. Harmful chemicals that you consume in food, trillions of pollutants released into the environment every year and dangerous chemicals used for manufacturing cosmetic products age your skin considerably. Discolouration, pigmentation, fine lines and pre-mature dullness or saggy skin has become more common, especially in cities where people are exposed to more pollutants. 

While it may require years to cover up the loss done to the environment, there are natural ways to rejuvenate your skin and keep it youthful.

1. Anti-Ageing Treatments

Natural skincare treatments manufactured with advance formulae repair your skin and keep it young and fresh. Anti-ageing treatments include products such as cleansers, moisturisers, serums and natural oils which rejuvenate your skin – just like a trip to the spa town of your choice would. These anti-ageing products remove signs of stress, clear up your skin and keep it hydrated. However, always check the ingredients of anti-ageing products you are planning to invest in. Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid based products are perfect for keeping your skin young and fresh. If you focus on buying natural skincare products from trusted suppliers, you’ll be safe. 

2. Natural Oil Cleansing

A popular myth about oil is that it can make your skin oily and clog the pores. The oil that is released from your skin is naturally produced by skin enzymes when the cells are clogged by dirt or toxins. Natural essential oils clear up the clogged skin cells and repair damaged cells by supplying necessary nutrients to your skin. 

A daily routine of cleansing with the essential oil of your choice can keep your skin hydrated and moisturised. It adds to the skin’s natural glow and improves collagen production for reduced wrinkles and fine lines. Argan oil, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil are suitable to cleanse your skin; the choice of which oil to use depends on your skin type.

3. Moisturising

The water you drink passes through the thin walls of your skin cells, washing away toxins and free radicals trapped in the cells. Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised is necessary to keep your skin clean and healthy. Skin hydration includes drinking at least eight glasses of water a day and applying moisturiser at least twice a day. Lotion-based moisturisers are suitable for oily skin, as they absorb and react with your skin cells easily. You can also apply moisturising masks on your skin; the choice depends on your skin type. Moisturisers with Vitamin A and C also add to your skin’s natural glow and repair any damaged skin cells.

4. Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is a combination of nutrient rich diet, active routine, enough sleep, and avoiding activities which can harm your body, such as overconsumption of alcohol or fizzy drinks. You need eight hours of sleep, coupled with intake of healthy food such as fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and meats. Additionally, you need to exercise at least 30-minutes each day. Stress-relieving exercises like meditation and yoga have also been known to improve your blood circulation and give you a positive approach towards life. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol or eating fatty foods for a healthy lifestyle.

We are all advised to take vitamins and supplements and ensure we are not lacking in an deficiencies, but It might be worth trying and taking a nutritional test to rule out anything that could tampers with your health and well-being to get your life back on track. If this sounds like something you need, you can get yourself 15% off your own vitamin testing just by using this link.

A healthy lifestyle is a combination of healthy mind and healthy body, because whether you are looking at how to get rid of cellulite or iron out certain problems with your skin, it all stems from a healthy approach to life. Vitamins and supplements in conjunction with a healthy mindset is the best approach. 

5. Antioxidant Booze

Antioxidants remove free radicals from your skin, help repair damaged cells, improve water retention in skin cells and improve blood circulation for efficient distribution of nutrients in all cells. Antioxidants activate semi-dead cells in your body and help in shedding dead cells. Mother Nature has gifted us with a wide variety of natural antioxidants including berries, avocados, mushrooms, lentils, dark chocolate and more. Consume food rich in antioxidants or apply them in the form of rejuvenating masks.

6. Stress-Free Routine

Stress is one of the worst enemies of your skin as it can make you look exhausted and older than your age. It not only affects your natural beauty but also impacts your cardiovascular health. A stress-free routine is necessary for rejuvenating your skin and improving your health. Here are a few tips to keep you free from stress:

• Surround yourself with positive people.
• Smile more often.
• Spend at least 30-minutes alone every day.
• Hug people more often and learn to forgive them. 
• More importantly, learn to forgive yourself.
• Take a break; go on a vacation or just pause to read a good book or watch an interesting movie. Relax! Your skin loves it when you are stress-free.

If you take good care of your skin, you can minimise skin damage and maximise your beauty. With rejuvenated skin, you will also get an extra dose of confidence that will affect your social, personal and professional life positively. 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Urban Decay Blackmail Vice Lipstick Palette

Urban Decay is a brand I just absolutely love, especially for their lipsticks. So my excitement levels went through the roof when this limited edition Blackmail Vice Lipstick palette arrived through my door, it is just stunning.

What I love about the entire Vice collection is that there is something for everyone right across the colour spectrum. Whether you like your muted nudes and neutrals, your brights and crazy bold or even something in the middle, there will be something for you.

This palette contains 12-pans of lipstick and all of the shades are from the brand’s permanent range of colours. It is ideal for travelling too as it comes with a retractable lip brush, which, as you might expect is really good, infact much better than the two I own from other brands. The palette, which is a beautiful metallised gunmetal case with gold accents. It is super-sleek, has a decent sized mirror and as you can see, is just absolutely stunning.

So on this palette, you will find the following shades across the top from left to right is: 

• Sheer Shame - A berry shade which has a sheer finish.
• Firebird - A deep fuchsia with a cream finish
• Big Bang - A bright pink sparkle with a metallised finish
• Disobedient - A medium pink with cream finish
• EZ - A bright red-orange with a cream finish
• 714 - This is your classic bright red with a mega matte finish

Then running along the bottom from leaf to right we move to the more natural/nude shades with:

• Vanished - A pale neutral nude with a sheer finish
• 1993 - A medium brown with comfort matte finish
• Ex-Girlfriend - A nude-rose with a pink shimmer with a sheer shimmer finish
• Amulet - A metallic brick rose with a metallised finish
• Conspiracy - A plum-bronze shimmer with a metallised finish
• Blackmail - A deep berry wine with a comfort matte finish

What I love is that with these lip colours you get all six of Urban Decays finishes on this one palette and this is them with a brief description:

• Mega Matte - super-intense matte
• Comfort Matte - the creamiest matte
• Cream the original - creamy, badass luxury
• Metallized - cream with a high level of pearl
• Sheer - a punch of colour with a sheer, shiny finish
• Sheer Shimmer - a slightly transparent finish with floating pearl and a smooth texture

So with those textures, as you can see there is not only a lot of beautiful shades, but they are also incredibly pigmented and in just one swipe, you have an amazing swatch. This is the Vice Lipstick formula that you know and love and it uses Urban Decays proprietary Pigment Infusion System™ which gives each shade its super-creamy texture, rich payout and superior colour dispersion. Yummy Butter Blend comforts, hydrates and enhances, leaving lips soft and conditioned, never dry. 

This palette is priced at £31.50 and is available from Urban Decay. I love that there is so many colour choices on this palette and I love how pigmented each and everyone of them is.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise