Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

The All Nighter Setting Spray from Urban Decay was the very first product of its kind that I ever used. I have used quite a few others since and they are just not as good as this one.

If you're not familiar with the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, then basically it's designed to 'fix' your makeup, making it last much longer than it would without using it. This is deemed a bit of a lifesaver, especially for people who have oily or combination skin. Speaking personally,I have combination skin which gives me an oily t-zone and some afternoons I find my makeup can slide off my face if my make up isn't set, this is a life saver.

The setting sprays from Urban Decay have been developed in an exclusive partnership with Skindinavia and are suitable for all skin types while being free from oil and parabens. They also feature patented Temperature Control Technology so no matter the weather conditions, All Nighter has you covered - Thank goodness with the mini heatwave we're having in London right now!

The packaging is a really sleek re-design which I love. All Nighter is available in 30ml and 18ml - the 30ml retailing for £10 which is an absolute bargain and quite frankly is warmly welcomed considering the amount of times I repurchase these! I've long been a fan of the Urban Decay Setting sprays and this one is my new go-to.

Why do I love it so much? well, my makeup normally lasts 5-6 hours without sliding down my face a bit without use, but when I do use this, I can get as much as 12-14 hours. Doesn't melt, cling to or settle onto dry skin or into fine lines (of which I don't have... obvs.). The mist on this is great as it doesn't soak the face as it sprays a fine mist onto the skin. I really enjoy using this with my foundation, it just gives the nicest finish at the same time as packing a huge punch with it's lasting power.

I even like using this as a primer spray as well as to dampen brushes to intensify powders such as highlighters and metallic eyeshadows.

The Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is available from John Lewis - HERE and on offer for £9

Can you tell I'm a fan? Have you tried it?

*this post contains PR samples/Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise

Elizabeth Arden introduces Eight Hour® Miracle Hydrating Mist

At the minute I am a bit of a desk warrior with my eyes glued to a keyboard for quite a few hours today and it can, if I let it, play havoc with my skin. One product I am absolutely loving right now is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist. 

The Elizabeth Arden 'Eight Hour' range is iconic in the beauty biz. I've long been a fan of the eight hour cream, so when the Miracle Hydrating Mist arrived one cold & wet morning, I was instantly excited to try it out.

I had a read of the blurb on the product which claims the spray is 'an instantly invigorating facial spray that hydrates, soothes and refreshes skin'. I'm already impressed and the ingredients just confirm that I'm right to be. 

This Eight Hour® Miracle Hydrating Mist contains:

• Superfruit Blend - A blend of acai, goji, mangosteen, noni, pomegranate and coffee seed extracts that collectively deliver antioxidant protection for a more healthy-looking skin.
• Aloe Juice - Provides soothing and moisturising benefits.
• Apple Leaf Extract - Soothes and comforts irritated skin, reducing the appearance of redness and blotchiness.
• Glycerin - A powerful humectant that draws moisture to the skin.
• Sodium PCA - A naturally occurring humectant that helps attract and bind moisture.
• Skin Identical Carbohydrate Complex - Helps to improve skin’s overall softness and smoothness.
• Uplifting in every way, the formula is delicately fragranced with a blend of Lemon Water, Rose and Bergamot for a light and energising aromatic experience.

The product is suitable for all skin types too which is great for times where my skin is more agitated than usual.

I have been using this a lot in the mornings where I really don't want to adult and am struggling to feel 'awake'. This is instantly refreshing and wakening so is the perfect start to the day. I've also been using it in the evenings when my foundation is starting to look a tad dull. I spritz this over the top of my foundation and blend it in with a foundation brush to give a nice dewy finish. 

The product itself is light and airy when spritzed which thankfully doesn't leave my face overly 'wet'. I've been using this pretty much everyday and can already tell this will be getting 'hinted' to my husband for my birthday, anniversary, Christmas and 'National my wife is a beauty addict' day. If only such a day existed!

Packaged in a portable, airline approved travel size, this ultra‑fine face mist is perfect for on-the-go use. At £21 for 100ml this is an amazing product and you can find it available online and instore from stores such as Boots.

Have you been giving this a try? I'd be interested to see if you prefer it to the eight hour cream.

*this post contains PR samples/Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise

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?