Primark PS...Insta Girl Collection

Have you ever gone into Primark for a mooch about only to somehow leave with three bags full of items you never quite knew you needed, didn't intend to purchase and don't even remember buying it? For me, that pretty much sums up my time in Primark most of the time, assuming I am not on a Disney mission for one of my nieces.

The Makeup section in Primark is without question the department I find myself spending ages looking at and every so often there are some products that really stand out and you know you just need to give them a try. Described as a selfie-ready cosmetics range the The InstaGirl Collection has around 17 different products within its collection and they are designed to offer quick fixes for all of your prep and prime needs and you will find everything from powders, sticks and balms to finishing powders and they are priced from £1.50 upwards to around £6. Essentially there is nothing that is going to break the bank here. The base products, I was told, have all been specifically designed with what is refereed to as feature enhancing blue pigments that reflect light and brighten the skin tone but perhaps more importantly for some, they also claim  to be ‘flash proof’ and are therefore ideal for those who love to take a selfie and want to avoid the dreaded flashback.

I picked up three products from the PS...Insta Girl Collection and the first is the Insta Girl Perfecting Stick (£2.50). With its white plastic packaging and black lettering, the collection is great for taking photos and it is perfect for just having in your handbag. The Stick itself is a transparent balm and it acts as a pore blurring primer.  

Firstly, I like that this is a stick and not a balm, cream or any form of liquid product, it is easy to use and perfect for being on the go (much like Benefits Porefessional License to Blot).  On the skin, I hadn't expected to find much for my £2.50 but surprisingly, this balm isn't heavy or greasy, it is really lightweight and soft and actually does a pretty okay job and minimising the appearance of my pores, especially on my nose.  I haven't noticed it making my make-up last any longer, but for £2.50 I am pretty impressed.

The second product I picked up was the Insta Girl #SelfieReady Blur Primer (£5).  Again the black and white packaging comes into play with the box, but inside the tube is grey.  I have, in the past used a few products which call themselves a 'Blur Primer' and there are one or two that I absolutely love and one or two that I liked.  Primarks offering is a translucent gel silicone primer which promises to blur fine lines and pores.  

Again, this primer isn't heavy on the skin, it is incredibly lightweight and has a similar feeling to Porefessional from Benefit in terms of sitting on the skin to provide that base.  I have used this on my t-Zone which is quite oily and have found it does help to keep that oil from creeping in mid-afternoon.  At £5, this is again a product which won't break the bank and it is something that is well worth trying before you splash out on other primers, because you just never know.

The third product I grabbed is the Insta Girl Banana Powder (£4).  I have tried quite a few different Banana powders now, the most obvious being Ben Nye followed by Makeup Revolution.  This Banana Powder comes in a pressed compact and is described as being ideal to set make up and even the complexion as well as being suitable for all skin tones.  

I like to use a Banana Powder to set my makeup and I tend to use a big powder brush or powder puff to apply it evenly to my skin to set my foundation and if I am using it to set my concealer, then I will use a much smaller brush. Being pressed into a compact rather than being a loose powder, means I have more control as to how much I am using and is therefore less messy. The Insta Girl Banana Powder has a Beige Hue with a slight yellowing to it and as setting powders go, I expected it to not be any good, infact I thought it would be awful but it wasn't. It actually does a pretty good job where my conceal is concerned and it also works pretty well as a mattifying powder, something I hadn't expected to find. Come mid afternoon when that pesky oil begins to appear, this banana powder helps to absorb it and prevent the need to re-apply makeup and all for £4.

This has been my first using of the Insta Girl Collection and I am quite impressed because it is often not about how much you pay for a product, but what that product does for you which should be important.   Have you managed to try anything from this range yet?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Bath time with Tropic Skincare

Sunday is one of my favourite days. I try to do as little as humanly possible and sometimes that involves not leaving my bed until I absolutely have to.  Sunday also means bath time, that hour and a bit of the week that I get to myself with no one sending me emails, texting me, ringing me, nagging me or simply asking questions. It is time for me to switch off, grab my book, a glass of wine and forget about everyone else.

Tropic Skincare is no stranger to this blog, they have been feature many times (here, here and here) and a brand that has such an inspirational story to tell (here). After appearing on BBC’s The Apprentice in 2011, Susie is given the opportunity to present her passion and vision for natural and cruelty-free skincare to Lord Alan Sugar. Impressed by the products, he spots a unique business opportunity and invests to become a 50/50 partner.  To date, the Tropic Skincare line has grown from just a few products to a huge catalogue of products which span the skincare, body care and Suncare to Makeup.  Today is the turn of bath products and if you like your bath to be something special, then read on.

I have mentioned previously that we are about to have a bathroom overhaul, everything ripped out and a brand spanking new everything, in the meantime, I am still enjoying my weekly bath time. These new and limited edition bath soaks are the perfect for that indulgent Sunday pamper session and depending on your mood and whether you feel hat you need a little uplifting then ‘Awaken Your Senses’ is the best option or if you are in need of a calming bath then ‘Soothe Your Senses’ is the second option, either way, Tropic skincare has something to suit your mood and both are just incredibly indulgent, nourishing and they smell divine.

Awaken The Senses Bath Soak is housed inside a glass bottle it uses aromatherapeutic essential oils to uplift your senses.  Yellow in colour, as soon as the oil comes into contact with the water, that oil turns to a milky liquid.  This soak is described as being the perfect option if you need a little uplifting or are feeling a little low. Using just three capfuls into hot running water, as soon as the essential oils come into contact with the water and steam, the most divine of scents is released and quickly fills the room.  

A scent which is more definitely uplifting and restorative uses oils such as Bergamot, Lime, Lemon, Sweet Orange and Mandarin to give the soak quite an energisizing scent  as well using  restorative neroli and basil essential oils banish fatigue and soothe muscles helping to banish fatigue and soothe muscles.

Then we have the second option which is called Soothe The Senses Bath Soak and it is perfect for those days when you need that calming, soothing bath to soak away the weeks stresses, it is described as being a skin-softening bath soak with aromatherapeutic essential oils to restore the mind.  As with Awaken The Senses, this soak also comes housed inside a glass bottle to give that more luxurious feel and again, as the essential oils come into contact with the hot running water and steam, the vapour carries the scent throughout the home.

This is my favourite of the two products simply because I love how calming it actually is. Using Exotic frangipani flower extract helps to transform your bath into what is described as being a pool of tranquillity and it is blended with both Vitamin E and Macadamia oils which help to condition and soften skin. Added to those comes Cedarwood essential oil which provides a warm sense of grounding and comfort and ensuring that you do manage to soak away those stresses.

If you like a bath filled with bubbles, then these are not the products you want to be trying because they instead turn from an oil to a milky substance which lovingly nourishes the skin and leaves it feeling silky smooth and hydrated. They are also priced at £38 for 260ml (here) each making them quite the luxury, but with that you get an incredible product and which is packed full of amazing essential oils and other ingredients which completely live up to their expectations and promises.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Previse Skincare

Previse is a brand new skincare brand to me and it is one I have really enjoyed getting to know. It has been developed with international dermatologists who specialise in holistic skin care and their clean-beauty, ZeroFragrance regimen is said to deliver effective and worry-free creams, moisturisers, and cleansers. Utilising the power of nature to cleanse, soothe, nourish and hydrate skin to reveal it’s healthy glow, Previse uses Sustainably sourced ingredients the brand features zero artificial fragrance and zero essential oils. It is also perfect for those who have delicate and sensitive skin and is Vegan.

The first product I want to mention is the Previse Bodymist Skin Nourishing Vitamin E Sunflower Infused Light-weight Vegan Body Oil.  Described as being a silky and dry, eco-certified sunflower and botanical oil extracts promote supple, elastic skin for long-lasting non-greasy comfort, what I like about it is how it makes my skin feel after using it.  Designed to be applied to clean and cleansed skin, when sprayed you can feel just how hydrating the oil is and even though it is an oil, it is so lightweight, there is no greasy feel to the skin.  

You can use it on your legs, décolletage, arms and body plus, it dries really quickly too, so there is no need to hang around waiting for it to dry so you can dress.  I tend to use my spray a few times a week after a long hot bath or shower.

Next is the Hydrofoam Rejuvenating Hyaluronic Moisturizer with Antioxidant Vitamin B5 Ceramide Vegan Complex and whilst the name is a bit of a mouthful, it is what it does that really makes the difference because it is pretty amazing.  Described as being a Luxe foam moisturiser it helps plump the skin and smooth fine lines! 

Using potent antioxidants are become activated within the micro-bubble mousse to fight oxidation without clogging pores., you will also find ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin B5 and powerful marine and botanical antioxidants.  I love how light and airy this is, it really does help smooth the skin, it isn't irritating or drying and you can even use it around the eyes too. 

The final product of my trio is the SOS Skin Rescue Healing Salve with Vitamin E Chamomile Vegan Treatment is quite a versatile little product. Described as being a salve which soothes and heals chapping and soreness associated with dryness it can be used on your hands, feet, nipples, elbows, knees and of course the lips. It is a non-petroleum salve which used Vitamin E and German Chamomile to help lock that moisture in giving the skin a chance to repair itself.

What I like about this Salve is that firstly it is non-sticky and neither is it greasy on the skin. Not too thick in texture it absorbs relatively quickly onto and then into the skin.  I use it on my lips a lot, especially before applying lipstick as it helps make it sit better, I've used it on my feet a lot too, especially because I wear thick tights and boots a lot in the winter and my feet need some TLC.

You can find Previse Skincare in Harvey Nichols and if you like to use products with no fragrance, sustainably sourced and vegan, then this is a brand worth looking at.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Verso Skincare - New Products

If you follow me on Instagram and watch my stories regularly, you might have noticed that I have a bit of an obsession with the Verso Lip Balm. Verso, if you have never come across the brand before are a Swedish skincare brand and the name VERSO actually translates in Latin to reverse. Most of their products within the Verso range contains Retinol 8 which is an innovative complex of Vitamin A boosting retinol that works to increase the skin's production of collagen for a plumper and smoother finish.

I originally wrote about Verso on my blog last year (here) and during that time, I have continued to get to know it as a brand as more products have been released.  To add to the products I have been using are these: 

One item that is always in any skincare routine of mine is a serum and this Hydrating Serum (£79) is just beautiful. Verso’s founder, Lars Fredriksson, advocates that keeping your skin really hydrated is the best basis for defying signs of ageing and to prove his point, this serum which has a unique formula made up with a mixture of oat lipids and oils. Derived from the Nordic countries, these ingredients are to because they ward off the development of skin problems and irritation caused by dryness. So you will find Niacinamide included in this serum and it helps to strengthen the skins barrier as well as helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores.  Alongside this, ceramides, vitamin E and skin-identical fatty acids have an efficient antioxidant effect, defending skin from harmful environmental factors.

As well as keeping my skin really hydrated, I love how light the texture of this gel-like serum is, it glides onto the skin, isn't sticky or tacky when massaged in it leaves my skin silky soft to the touch.

One product I couldn't wait to try was the Verso Antioxidant Turmeric Booster (£79). Described as being a powerful facial serum which offers both immediate and long-term antioxidant effects, thanks to the power of turmeric and vitamin E, it intrigued due to the addition of Turmeric, an ingredient some work colleagues swear by for fixing a whole host of ailments. In the case of this serum, Turmeric works to protect the skin against UV radiation and decreases inflammation. Then we have vitamin E which works to block damaging free radicals from the skin’s surface whilst simultaneously improving the skin’s hydration capacity with help from tiny microalgae.  Again the inclusion of Oat lipids and oils from the Nordic countries is found within this Booster to provide further hydration and to help repair the skin.

The texture of this Booster is a light gel serum, it doesn't have a scent to it but on the skin, I have found to be incredibly soothing, particularly with the bitterly cold weather spell we have just had.  As I have combination skin, one issue I am constantly trying to tackle is dryness on my cheeks which often leaves them a little red, so I am hoping this is the product to help with that.

I am a huge hand cream fan, I go through tubes of it and if there is a product to champion right now for me it is the Verso Hand Serum (£50).  Described as being a 'supercharged treatment' it works to correct and protect using a retinol-rich formula and  UV filters to deflect the damage caused by daily sun exposure.

Using Verso's patented Retinol 8 Complex, this hand serum is incredibly rich, nourishing and alongside the Retinol 8 is Vitamin A which is said to have a dramatic impact on texture and tone – reversing signs of ageing by encouraging the creation of collagen and plumping hyaluronic acid. Again, we are told that by encouraging cells to mimic the behaviour of younger skin, Hand Serum works to help diminish the appearance of crêpey-ness and wrinkles, and with sustained use, will prompt a visible reduction in dark spots and scars.  I love how lightweight the serum is and how you literally only need a small amount to ensure your hands are covered and as advised, I use mine at least twice a day, usually first thing in a morning and definitely last thing at night before bedtime.  If my hands feel like they really need something extra, then I will use this more often, the joy of working in an office means I am constantly tapping away on my keyboard, dealing with paper and ink, all of which dry my hands out.

If you hadn't guess by now, I am incredibly impressed with Verso and am really enjoying getting to know it as a brand and finding out what works for me and my skin.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here