FILORGA NCTF-ESSENCE

Inspired by Asian beauty innovation, the new FILORGA NCTF-ESSENCE this is one product I was really looking forward to using. I am obsessed with Asian beauty and the rituals that come with them and this is my first introduction to Filgora.

Described as being a lightweight lotion which preps and primes the skin, it offers supreme hydration prior to applying your serum or moisturiser thus ensuring the product absorbs deep into the skin for maximum results. My skincare routine in a morning consists of double cleansing, toning, adding a serum and then a moisturiser which has an SPF, so adding an extra step into my routine, if it gave the results it promised, then it would be a step worth having.

This Filorga Essence smells just incredible. It has a light floral scent which you can immediately detect and to use you can either apply using your fingers or by using a cotton pad. I opt for dropping just a few drops into the palm of my hand and then use my fingers to apply it all over my face and massage it in, much as I do with my serum. The end result is soft, silky skin which feels hydrated and moisturised.

This Essence uses what is called AQUA-MX technology (water sensor + moisturising sage extract) which work to deeply hydrate the skin, add to that, an anti-pollution polysaccharide to detoxify and protect, I can see not only why this is such a luxurious product but just what a difference it makes to my skin when using it.

Price: £50.00, available NOW from feelunqiue.com

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Love Me Beauty #HelloSummer

Love me Beauty’s ‘Hello Summer’ edit and there are a variety of products to spend your credits on to give you a taster of those products you need for the summer. Again, as with previous months, the Love Me Beauty membership which costs just £10 per month is worth 60 credits and with you those credits you chose the items you want to see inside your box/bag from a wide selection of products covering everything from hair, skin, body, makeup, nails and more. From the items that you choose, the majority of them will either be full sized or generous travel sized versions.

This month the products have arrived inside this cute makeup bag which is perfect for travelling with and inside there are 7 products from 4 different brands.

First out is the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser Tint which is described as being a lightweight, deeply-hydrating SPF moisturiser that leaves a warm, luminous tint while nourishing skin with corrective antioxidants. 

It is suitable for all skin types and uses the brands signature anti-ageing cocktail – antioxidant alpha lipoic acid, brightening vitamin C ester and protective, broad spectrum, mineral based SPF 30 which work to correct and deflect harmful UVA/B rays. On the skin, it is lightweight, non-oily and leaves behind a slight dewyness to the skin. This 30ml tub has a value of £29.50.

The next quartet of products come from Caudalie and this for me, is a great introduction to the brand if you have never tried anything before or if you have tried them, then it is a great re-connection to some pretty amazing products.

Starting with Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence which has been inspired by the Asian skincare routine. The Essence is really lightweight and it uses ingredients such as Glycolic Acid which works to eliminate dead skin cells, whilst extracts from White Peony revitalises the skin to reveal a more even, healthy-glow. 

Enriched with Caudalie's signature grape water, the Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence also contains hydrating, soothing and moisturising properties for a beautifully flawless complexion.

Then we have the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting is suitable for all skin types and creates a radiant complexion, corrects dark spots and prevents them from reappearing. 

The complexion is evened out and more radiant. Described as being perfect to use in combination with your sunscreen, this serum will encourage an even, longer lasting tan and is heralded as Caudalie’s summer hero product. This silky serum provides anti-oxidant and anti-ageing action by stimulating collagen and elastin production.

The Caudalie Divine Oil is a product that I absolutely adore. A nourishing multi-purpose miracle oil is rich argan oil which works to recondition and strengthen skin cells whilst extra virgin hibiscus oil prevents moisture loss. 

I like to add a few drops of this to my bath for an extra pampering treat and it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch.

Finally we have the Caudalie Body Lotion is incredibly light on the skin and it contains a blend of grape-seed, sesame and borage oils and plant-derived glycerine which work to moisturise deeply to leave the skin feeling velvety soft and smooth to the touch. 

Once on the skin it absorbs pretty quickly leaving a light fragrance behind.

No beauty box or edit would be the same without a sample product and Love Me Beauty we have Yu Be. Pronounced Yoo-Bee, this is a brand I have seen but never used. Yu Be is Japanese skincare brand and has been around since the 1950's! Within this edit I have two tubes of the Yu-Be moisturising skin cream in a 3ml tube and it is described as being Japans no.1 selling vitamin-enriched skincare cream. With its unique super-moisturising glycerine formula it is perfect for dry areas like lips, elbows, knees and cuticles. It has a non-greasy blend of antioxidants and uses camphor to calm and protect the skin, leaving it soothed, hydrated and beautifully soft. 

The sachet of Yu-Be Moisturising Body Lotion wasn't quite enough for to get an idea as to how good a product it is, but it has made me curious about investing in a full sized bottle. Described as being an effective, intensely hydrating body cream which features a non-greasy texture that dissolves quickly into skin. Packed full of ingredients such as Glycerin, a humectant that attracts & retains moisture in skin and enriched with Vitamin E, Vitamin B2 & Camphor to protect skin & soothe irritations, this is a cream that can be used on all parts of the body from elbows and knees to legs, arms and toes.

Finally from Pixi we have the Nourishing Lip Polish with Apricot and Grapefruit Oils. Described as being a 2-in-1 lip exfoliator and nourisher, this polish helps to repair and protect dry, sensitive lips. Packed with a nutrient-rich formula which smoothes lips with shea butter and a blend of sweet almond, apricot and evening primrose oils. The lip exfoliator features a massaging applicator, which stimulates circulation, providing a healthy, plumped effect to your pout.  

I like that the massaging applicator is rigid but not enough to damage the lips, it does remove dead and dry skin and it does coat your lips in the most amazing scented oils making it perfect for that pre-lipstick application and perfect for keeping your pout in tip top condition.

For me, this has been one of the best Love Me Beauty Edits. It is packed full of amazing products to discover and ones which will keep your looking great from head to toe.

Love Me Beauty Offer:

Sign up today and use my exclusive code beautyqueenuk20 to get 20% off your first box.

www.lovemebeauty.com

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

GlossyBox June 2017

June marks the start of British summer, and with Glastonbury, Wimbledon and with picnic season upon us, the latest edition from Glossybox, aptly titled #Parklife it features the perfect edit of products to get you prepped.  Summer saviours come in the form of skincare, hair care, hand care and makeup. A real mixture of products to have you looking your best and in my box, I have the following:

Louise Pentland, known to many as SprinkelofGlitter, has written her first novel Wilde Like Me and it is included as a nice little extra within the box. Launching at the end of June, Wilde Like Me introduces you to Robin Wilde, a friend you will make for life and a journey you will never forget! Having read the sneak preview, I am actually really looking forward to the book's release.

111Skin’s Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel which reduces the appearance of dark circles, minimise puffiness and softens the appearance of fine lines while keeping the eye area hydrated. 

Formulated with the unique NAC Y2 formula and a combination of copper chlorophyll, caffeine and phytonutrients to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid, whilst regenerating the skin to give you a rejuvenated, younger-looking appearance.

Sleek Makeup Power Plump Lip Crayon. Sleek is one of my favourite high street brands and the Power Plump Lip Crayons are a really great product. 

Using a formula which makes your lip tingle upon application, it encourages blood to rush to your lips giving that fuller lip look. Tingle aside, the pigmentation of these crayons are really quite something and they can be used to line the lips or as a lip colour on the whole lip.

BeautyPro’s Black Diamond PeelOff Mask with Activated Charcoal. This peel-off mask not only cools and soothes the skin,  but the activated charcoal formula works to loosen blackheads and cleanse deep into the pores to remove impurities while clarifying and purifying the skin and rebalancing oily areas. 

Free of mineral oils, lanolin and petroleum paraben, this peel off mask leaves your skin feeling so fresh and smooth to the touch.

Manna Kadar Sheer Glo. This silky liquid illuminator works to give the skin a pretty gleam. It can mixed with your foundation or moisturiser for a subtle glow. 

You can also apply Sheer Glo on its own to cheekbones, browbones, collarbones, and anywhere else you’d like to catch the light. This is the second product from Manna Kadar that I have tried and like the lip gloss from last months Love Me Beauty Edit (here).

Eness Cosmetics Argan Oil Nourishing Hand Cream. You never can have too many tubes of hand cream and this is one I have never come across before. 

This hand cream is enriched with natural Argan Oil, Abyssinian Oil and Ylang Ylang Oil, for intense moisturisation and nourishment. With no harmful ingredients such as parabens, petroleum, mineral oil or sulphates, this cream is luxuriously thick and smells incredible.

The final item in the box comes from Batiste and it is the Stylist Shield My Locks Heat & Shine Spray to protect hair from even the hottest of styling tools. 

Keratin & Inca Inchi infused it is formulated to be used on dry not damp hair so you can heat style and add a sleek mirror shine finish in a hurry.

The June ‘Park Life’ GLOSSYBOX is available for £10 (+P&P) from www.glossybox.co.uk.

New customers can choose their free beauty bundle this month on top of the June GLOSSYBOX when they subscribe. Customers will be presented with an option to select their beauty bundle on the GLOSSYBOX website while stock lasts.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

EcoTools 2017 Collection - The Beauty Blenders

Ecotools is a brand of makeup brushes I have been aware of but until recently never really got to know. Having been invited to the launch of the 2017 collection, I was pretty wowed by what was on offer, this is a brand which literally has everything I could think of and more. Celebrating TEN years of beauty, Ecotools have given their collection a makeover and has been done with today's women in mind and they not only feature a refreshed logo and packaging with clean colours, but you will also notice that the brushes have a tapered lightweight handle but are still made from renewable bamboo, brighter wood colours and gunmetal ferrules as well as really beautiful ombre bristles.

Right now beauty blenders are a thing for me, I cannot get enough of them and have quite a growing collection. New for 2017 from EcoTools there are some pieces you need to try. 

Starting with Contour Perfecting Applicator, this firm tip sponge not only works to deliver natural-looking definition but the handheld wand, which really captured my attention almost gives that feel of holding a brush but is much lighter to use and it gives you much more control and blending is an absolute breeze. Priced at around £5.

Then we have the Colour Correcting Minis which are made from 71% plant based materials and they are patented. Designed with EcoFoam technology to colour correct your complexion and as you can see, each of the four sponges are colour coded to be used with colour correcting concealers which counteract redness (mint), dark circles (pink), dullness (lilac) and dark spots (peach).  

Featuring a unique shape these sponges have a flat side which you use to apply the product to the largest surface areas such as cheeks and forehead, the rounded base is designed for stippling foundation onto the skin for a blended and buildable coverage and finally, the wedged tip is for precision application when it comes to the contours of the nose and around the eyes.  

I am a huge fan of these sponges and I love that they are colour coded, quite a simple idea but so effective, especially as I am forever using green toned products to work with the redness in my cheeks.  Priced at just under £7.

The perfecting Blender Duo, which comes in two different sizes and colours are said to help create that airbrushed camera-ready look.  The dark green blender is soft and flexible which makes the application of foundation a relatively easy task especially if you like to build coverage. The lighter green sponge which is much smaller and more firm is the one you would use for precision application, so perfect for concealer and I have used it for adding highlighter. 

Again they both feature a rounded base for blending and a flat side for covering the larger surface areas.  Available from Superdrug for £9.99 and they are incredibly good.

My introduction to the EcoTools Beauty Blenders has been amazing and I am so glad to have them in my collection.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise