Prima Makeup ‘The Twinkling Twelve’ Collection

I keep telling myself I don't need any more eyeshadow palette, but at this time of year, there are so many new releases that are just too good to miss. Prima Makeup came to being in 2016 when the CEO, Emma Southorn, created the idea of Prima Makeup from her hospital bed. Having been diagnosed with Sepsis, Emma was told she may not survive and she began thinking of all the things she wished she had the chance to do. Glitter and sparkle obsessed, Emma wanted to bring the most beautiful glitters to the market is an easy to wear and relatable format. As she began to recover, Emma decided to turn her dream into a reality and in 2016, Prima Makeup was born. 

The Twinkling Twelve Collection (£27.99 here) is made up of 12 individual pressed glitters all housed in a beautiful glittering case. What makes them slightly different to other pressed glitters is that these ones have a unique formula because they have a built-in adhesive, which I think is really clever and something other brands should look at because with Prima you don't need a separate fixing gel to make the glitter stick.

That said, they are not greasy or tacky and because they contain no oil, they also won't crease!  With some beautiful shades to choose from, my palette features:

• Liquid Gold - Light Gold Metallic
• Grey Skies - Light Grey Metallic 
• Hot Chocolate - Brown Metallic
• The Only Way Is Barbie - Pink Holographic
• Starlight - Silver Holographic 
• Drama at the Disco - Black Holographic
• Pink to make the boys wink - Light Metallic Pink 
• Copper Kettle - Metallic Copper
• Mermaids Tail - Iridescent White
• Ariels Night Out - Holographic Sea Green
• Hot Shot Pink - Metallic Hot Pink
• Out of the Blue - Metallic Cobalt Blue

As well as being used on the eyes, these pressed glitters can also be used on your lips and face and again because they contain aloe vera, the formula doesn't irritate, scratch or mark the skin, In fact, as glitter makeup goes, these are some of the most comfortable that I have used and they are incredibly long lasting, full of pigment and have that wow factor for the upcoming festive season!

Prima Makeup pressed glitters are gluten free, vegan friendly, non-toxic, paraben free and formaldehyde free. All of the other products listed on Prima Makeup are also vegan friendly and contain no animal products of any kind. 

Ideal for your own makeup kit or making the perfect Christmas gift, The Twinkling Twelve Collection has been beautifully packaged in a sparkling magnetic palate. Available at the high-street’s hottest retailers including River Island, Prima Makeup further ships to over 19 countries worldwide.

The Twinkling Twelve Collection Palette, £27.99

www.primamakeup.com

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

Cinch Skin Skincare – Face Cheat, Face Cheat(er) and Face It

This year I think I have discovered more brands than I ever have done before and I have absolutely loved it. The latest brand that I have been introduced to is Cinch Skin. Coming all the way from Australia, Cinch believes that life’s complicated enough without having to worry about using a whole bunch of beauty products to keep that face beautiful and their ethos is all about keeping beauty simple. 

Cinch products have an ingredient referred too as your skins new best friend as it is a bit of a Superhero, it features in all of their products and it is called SUPEROX-C™. It is extracted from Australia’s own Kakadu Plum which has the world’s highest concentration of Vitamin C. True story. And it’s in all of our products!

Their products are quick and easy to use with multiple benefits so that instead of using five products, you can now give amazing face using just one.  So, created by a mother who had limited time to complete her seven stage skincare system, she decided she wanted to create that one product that could be five in one, to save time, whilst at the same time caring for and looking after the skin.

When you live in the fast lane – you need all the help you can get. So here’s your latest, greatest super secret life cheat. It’s like a good night’s sleep in a bottle. Introducing Cinch. Quicker skincare. Longer-lasting hydration. Brighter glow. Less make-up. Smoother skintone. You’re welcome.

I have got the trio of products which I have had for quite a few months now and the one thing for me, when it comes to skincare, is that you need to really give it a try.  You can't use it for a week and make a decision, or at least I can't anyway.

First up is the Cinch Skin face Cheat Moisturiser + Glow (100ml £22.07). Described as being The Swiss Army Knife of skincare, Face Cheat is a 72hour Moisturiser in a spray. I am a huge fan of products that I can spray simply because they save me some time and sometimes those precious few seconds are valuable, especially if you have a train or bus to catch!

Using this product is really easy and depending on your preference, you can use it in two different ways.  For that subtle glow, you need to shake the bottle and hold it roughly 10cm from your face and spray.  You can also spray it into the palms of your hands and pat onto your face.  What I really like about this product is that it does so many different things - it illuminates the skin, it gives you a glow, it cares for your skin and all in all it is an absolute adventure working out which way to use this product for the best.
The next product is the Cinch Skin Face It 5-in-1 Cleanser + Glow (200ml £11.02).  Now this product comes at you with quite the statement: "The product that will change your attitude towards cleansing!". This is a 5-in-1 micellar water and the issue I have is that I am not the biggest fan of them as a whole, I am incredibly picky as to which brands I like micellar waters from and if you read my blog regularly, you will notice it is a product I hardly ever feature.  However, I was so intrigued about the bold statement that I had to give it a try.

So when it comes to a Micellar Water, I want something that will remove makeup and surface dirt but without leaving my skin feeling dry and taut.  Now, I really like the formula of this product, I like that it isn't overly oily, it doesn't feel slimy, it doesn't sting my eyes and thankfully it doesn't dry out my skin.  It features a pump, so it doesn't go everywhere when you use it.

The 5-in-1 part is that this product not only removes makeup, it also tones, balances and gently exfoliates the skin, it also gives immediate hydration and a subtle glow.  I have really enjoyed using this, more than I thought I would and definitely more than I expected too!

The final product in this trip is the Cinch Skin face Cheat(er) (50ml £22.07).   Again, this is another product which not only has 5 amazing benefits in the one cream, it also claims to be a 72hr moisturising cream.  I am always very dubious of such claims because I will never know whether a product lasts that long or benefits my skin for that length of time because I double cleanse every single day and I shower.  That aside, I still wanted to find out how good this cream was.

The pump dispenser gives you just enough product needed for the face and the formula of the cream is one that is quite thick but thankfully when it is applied to the face, it melts on contact with the skin and is really easy to massage in.  There is no visible evidence that the cream was there once it has been massaged in and it does feel incredibly hydrating.

I have combination skin which is oily on my t-zone but I also have patches of dry skin and this cream is absolutely incredible at moisturising those areas.  It doesn't solve the problem but I have noticed a difference in how my skin feels, especially on my cheeks, which is my biggest dry area.  As well as being a moisturiser, this cream also makes for a pretty good primer and to have a primer which hydrates is always a bonus.

If I was to pick my favourite product from this trio then for me it would be Cinch Skin face Cheat Moisturiser + Glow because I like how it feels on my skin, it has a pump making it easy to use, it is a bit of a multi-tasker and it works so incredibly well with my skin. Cinch products are not tested on animals and are all Vegan-friendly. The range also excludes ingredients such as Parabens, Mineral Oil, Urea, Sulphate Detergents and Soap and you can find it right here.

Have you tried anything from Cinch Skin Skincare?

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

Autograph Luminosity Luxe Multi Bronzer

One brand, for me which is underrated and not talked about enough, is the Autograph range from Marks and Spencer.  I have said many times that one of my favourite beauty halls belongs to Marks and Spencer and I have spent many an hour in the store, usually at Marble Arch or on Oxford Street, looking at what new brands have appeared and looking at what M&S own brands have.

One product I have absolutely loved this Summer is the Autograph Luminosity Luxe Multi Bronzer and it comes packaged inside a really sturdy plastic case which has a mirror within the lid, so it is really handy for on the go and holidays and mine has been with me on quite a few journeys and is still in one piece. Described as follows:

This multi-shade bronzer features a range of soft, shimmering tones to create a gorgeous bronze glow on your skin. Select one shade and sweep across cheekbones or blend them all together for a look that’s uniquely you. Whether you want to create some more definition in your features or simply want to give your skin a sun-kissed glow, this bronzer will be a great new addition to your makeup collection.

What I really love is the option to use each of the three shades individually or use them together for a much more intense highlight.

To the left of the highlight, there is a stunning champagne colour which is my favourite of the three, it can be as light or as bright as you want it to be depending on your choice.  In the middle we have a more pinky toned highlighter and for me, this one is perfect for those special night outs when you want your highlight to pop before finally moving onto the peach toned highlight to the right, again, I really like this shade and it has worked so well during the summer months when I have had a bit of a suntanned face.  Putting them all together, what you get with this highlighter is a stunning mix of all three shades in one and again, if you want your highlight to pop, the formula is soft enough to be buildable as well as blendable and if you want it to be slightly less popped, the option to do that is also there.

Priced at £12.50 (here) this is one beautiful product that deserves not to be ignored or left out if you are searching for something new.

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

Benefit Cosmetics Brow Contour Pro

I think most of us will accept that Benefit Cosmetics know their Brows.  If it hadn't been for Benefit and the lovely Benebabes at Brow Time, I would have given up all hope of ever having brows I could do something with, I am the result of over-tweezed teen brows that never grew back.  Now, I can whip out my brow products and attempt a half-decent looking brow rather than a barely there one and feel much more confident.

My absolute favourite brow product is Gimme Brow, it is the one I have re-purchased time and time again, it is the one product I find the easiest to use, closely followed by Goof Proof.  Then in comes the Brow Contour Pro, a four-in-one brow product that looks remarkably like those multicoloured Biros we used in school driving teachers mad by constantly clicking them to switch colours between red and green.

I was presented with this beautiful package quite some time ago and although it featured on my Instastories, I wanted to make sure I had used the product enough to be able to share my thoughts about it because admittedly, I was happy enough with Gimme Brow and this is a whole new ball game.

For anyone who is obsessed with their brows, I have no doubt that your arsenal of products is not limited to just one, I am sure you have 3-4 maybe even 5 products that you use at any one time. A makeup artist friend of mine uses no less than 5 different products on her own brows every single morning and thinks this offering from Benefit is simply the best thing she has ever seen. 

The multi-tasking brow pencil features a lighter brown shade, deeper brow shade, an edge definer and an arch highlighter which together create clean, shaped brows which have depth and dimension.  

It comes in five different shade options.  The lightest is 01 which is Blonde/ Light, 02 is Brown/Light, 03 is Brown/Medium, 04 is Brown-Black/Light and 05 is Brown-Black Deep.  I have Shade 02 and it works really well with my brow colouring and I could at a push use 03 when I have a brow tint.

What surprised me the most about this product is just how easy it was to use and it does helpfully come with some instructions too:

Press down lighter shade tab and twist until you see product.

• Fill in brow with Lighter shade from start to the arch.
• To switch shades, just press down tab of selected shade until it clicks in place & twist for product.
• Next, fill in brow with Deeper Shade from arch to the end,
• Then, stroke Definer below brow from start to end and above brow from arch to end.
• Blend gently.
• The last step is to apply the Highlighter beneath your arch and then blend outward.

The nib on each of the shades is really soft and even if you apply pressure it doesn't break, it just glides across the skin.

What I like about the shades is that they are not similar or even the same, they are all different.  There is a clear difference between the lighter and darker brown shades and then a stark difference between the definer and the highlighter.  

On sale for £28.50 you can find it at any Benefit store or stand.  Are you a fan of Benefit Brow products?

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