CND Vinylux for Halloween

I make no secret of the fact my favourite nail polish brand is CND Vinylux and it is the one I always opt for when having a manicure locally.  I find it lasts the longest without chipping, it doesn't send my nails that horrible yellow colour (though yes I do use a base coat), it is easy to remove and it applies like a dream, even if like, you are not the most adept at painting the nails on both hands.

For Halloween, I was kindly sent two shades which I think fit the bill really well. The first shade is Decadence, a beautiful shade of red which is incredibly bold and bright and perfect for this time of year.  

On the swatch shown below, I found I only needed one coat to get really good coverage and this was obviously without using a base coat.

The Second shade is called Serene Green. I am not usually a fan of greens or browns when it comes to nail polish, in fact, it is rare I will stray away from Berry shades as I just feel most comfortable with them, but this is a beautiful shade of green that I can't help but like.

Unlike Decadence above, this swatch has two coats on the nail wheel, but what I like about it is there is a slight, and it is very slight sparkle where the light catches the shade.

With over 70, yes 70 different shades to choose from, the CND Vinylux polishes last around 7 days, slightly longer if you use the CND Vinylux Weekly Top Coat. 

CND Vinylux shades are uniquely formulated to be activated when exposed to natural light to create an enduring and long-lasting finish and they all dry naturally which helps to give that flawless finish and I am told also helps to strengthen its resistance to chips over time.

Do you have a favourite nail polish brand?

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

Phase Zero Blushers

I have absolutely loved getting to know Phase Zero Makeup. If you have never come across them before, they are exclusively available to Love Me Beauty and over the past few months, I have been lucky enough to review the Lipstick Collection, Liquid Eyeshadows (here), Eyeshadow Palette, Metallic Foils and today it is the turn of the blusher family and one bronzer.

What I absolutely love about these products, aside from the shades, is just how handy the packaging is.  Small enough to slip into your makeup bag and each one has a mirror in the lid, making them even more handy.

I am not usually a fan of blusher, I have flushed cheeks and often don't find blushers work for me and I instead opt for a bronzer, but within this little lot there are at least two blushers that I have used more than I had expected too.

First up is Hidden Agenda, the only blusher within the pack. I like my bronzers to be fairly matte with as little orange undertone as possible and this is exactly what I have right here. This matte bronzing powder doesn't leave that muddy mucky mark on the skin, instead it does what a bronzer should do and that is to brighten and warm up the complexion and it is such an amazing shade, it will work for all skin tones. Priced at £7.50.

When it comes to the bronzers there are six to choose from and each one is totally different to the next which I really like:

• Straight Flush - a beautiful bright, almost Barbie shade
• Heart Throb - Is a beautiful bright vibrant pink and 
• Sweet Peach - Leans towards the soft coral side of pink
• Cotton Candy - Is a soft candy pink
• Making Moves - Reminds me of Rockateur a little with the shimmer from Benefit, but it is slightly more pigmented and not as sparkly when applied.
• Gold Rush - Is a sparkly gold toned blusher with a slight golden sparkle.

Again, each one of these blushes comes packed inside its own compact with a mirror and the two shades I have been using more than expected is Gold Rush and Making Moves which are just stunning.

The swatches shown above are not edited, you see them as I did when I did them one by one. The only difference between the two is the top swatch is shown as daylight as the sun came out and the bottom is without a flash.  

The formula on each of these blushers is just amazing and whilst the powders are finely milled, they feel velvety when applied on to the skin. The shades are, as I've mentioned, very pigmented so you really do get an impressive colour pay-off and they are all blendable, buildable and long-lasting. Like Hidden Agenda, each one of these blushes is priced at £7.50 and I am hoping there might be more shades added to both.

If you have never tried anything from Phase Zero, then you can grab yourself £5 off your first order if you use code Rachel5 at checkout on Love Me Beauty for every qualifying order of £10 or more.

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

ESPA-The Sleep Experience Collection

Sleep - such a luxury and something we should all be getting enough of, but seldom few do, myself included.  I am a huge fan of products which help you wind down, relax and de-stress in order to drift off and let my body rest.  

ESPA's Sleep Experience Kit (here) is one I was delighted to receive.

Wind down and calm your senses with ESPA’s Sleep Experience; the secret to a good night’s sleep. This collection of sleep-enhancing skincare and body products will help ease you into a restful slumber so you awake to well-rested, beautiful, healthy-looking skin.

If that description isn't enough to draw you in, then I don't know what will be, but to me, it sounds just incredible.

Packaged inside the most delightful travel case are four products which are designed to help you soothe and relax ready for the night ahead.  If you are familiar with ESPA products, the one thing you will note is just how wonderful they are and whenever I use anything from this brand, I am immediately transported back to a Spa where I want had a massage using ESPA products and it was incredibly relaxing. 

The first product out of the bad is the Overnight Hydration Therapy. Described as being an intensely hydrating overnight treatment mask. Packed full of incredible ingredients such as Chicory Root Extract which helps to reinforce the skin's natural barrier function, Konjac Root and Hyaluronic Acid help to hydrate and smooth. Then there is a pure blend of ingredients which include Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang and Lavandin Essential Oils and together they help calm a busy mind whilst finally Lavender which gently releases its soothing and restful properties as your head hits the pillow.

Secondly is one of my favourites from this collection and it is the Soothing Bath Oil. One of my favourite ways to wind down and relax is in a hot bath where I can forget the days stress and have some me time.  Described as being an aromatic bath oil to help relax a busy mind, again there is the inclusion of some amazing ingredients such as Sandalwood, Rose Geranium and Frankincense all of which come together to help unwind with their soothing and restful properties. Then we have Myrrh, which I adore as and it also helps to ease the mind, while finally, Sweet Almond Oil deeply nourishes for beautifully supple skin.

Thirdly is the Tri-Active™ Advanced Night Booster and this is a product I have never tried until now. Described as being a potent beauty supplement to help boost overnight skin recovery, transforming your day cream or serum into an intensive, age-defying night product, for skin that is revitalised and visibly radiant. To use, all you need is a few drops mixed in with your moisturiser and then apply to your skin as you would normally do.  The scent of this oil is quite strong, but in a good Spa like way, using ingredients such as powerful plant cells from the ‘Four O’clock Flower’ are combined with Caffeine and Bidens Pilosa, a natural source of bio-retinol to improve skin texture and tone. Whilst Canola Oil and Winged Kelp soothe and protect.

Finally, we have the Soothing Body Oil. Described as being an aromatic body oil to help relax a busy mind and for me, when matched with the soothing bath oil, you have one incredible dream team. Using a soothing blend of Sandalwood, Rose Geranium, Frankincense and Myrrh with nourishing Sweet Almond Oil, not only does it leave my skin feeling soft, smooth and supple, but the scent itself is absolutely incredible.

Putting everything together from this Sleep Experience Collection, there is no doubt that each item fits perfectly within the relaxation category and it really does do wonders to soothe and de-stress.  For me, the Overnight Hydration Therapy Mask and the Soothing Bath Oil are the stands out products and I would happily purchase full sized of both.

ESPA Sleep Experience RRP £30 (Worth £40) Launches September 2018

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

theBalm Cult Classics - Mascara and Eyeliner

I am absolutely loving getting myself acquainted with theBalm Cosmetics, there are so many products that I had just never tried until now.  When the Cult Classics box arrived instructing me to 'Treat Myself' I was gobsmacked at just what was included.

As you can see, this is one amazing PR package and I had no idea where to start with even trying the products, but I was drawn to the bottom right-hand corner when I saw two mascaras and an eyeliner trying to catch my attention.  There will be further blog posts in coming weeks featuring everything within this box, so if there is something you really want to know about, then please do let me know.

Founded by Marissa Shipman in 2004, she wanted to wake up and love what she did every day. and like many of us, Marissa is obsessed with beauty. So, she quit her job, made a plan and started mixing ingredients and it is from here that theBalm was born. All of theBalm products are talc-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free too.

The first item out of the box is Mad Lash Black Mascara and this was the first mascara I have ever used from theBalm but it was the wand which drew me. Described as being a mascara that will 

Lengthen your lashes with the Mad Lash Mascara - Black from theBalm. Creating an ‘out of this world’ look, the mascara is able to capture each lash to deliver extreme length and volume.

You can't fail to notice the bright packaging that is presented before you and inside, the tube is an exact replica, print wise, of the box.

With a richly pigmented black formula, the wand, as you can see is slightly curved which theBalm refer to as being 'Injection moulded'. What I have found is that the wand is perfectly curved with bristles long enough to read the smallest of lashes.  

The formula is liquid like but not overly-wet which I am thankful for because this is one of my pet peeves when it comes to mascaras.  I have fairly long lashes, so a formula that is too wet weights them down.  I like how this mascara fans out my lashes without giving that spidery effect and depending on your preference, you can layer the mascara and add one or two coats without it clumpy or flaking off.  I also found it incredibly easy to remove with my usual eye makeup remover and cotton wool pad.

The second Mascara is called Scuba and this one is quite cleverly named because it happens to be waterproof or as the description states:

If we could have one thing on a desert island, we’d want SCUBA. Avoid smudges, drips or runs with this incredibly water-resistant black mascara. The lengthening, “pool”-proof formula makes sure your look stays flawless, above and below the waves.

Again, the packaging is really eye-catching with the glamorous looking diver kitted out in all her accessories.

The wand for this mascara couldn't be more different to Mad Lash if it tried.  Straight as a die, the bristles are much shorter and more condensed but it is incredibly pigmented and it doesn't clump whether you add one coat or two coats, which I find really impressive.  Unlike Mad Lash, this is a slightly thicker formula but it is just as easy to remove with eye makeup remover.

Finally, we come to Schwing and it is a matte black tapered felt-tip liquid eyeliner that describes itself as follows:

This liquid liner is a home run! Built with a uniquely thin and tapered felt-tip applicator, Schwing gives you careful control over subtle strokes and bold lines. Create winning looks with this rich, matte-black finish that won’t smudge, flake or take forever to dry. Plus, Schwing comes in a compact and pocket-friendly package — score!

I am not a regular user of eyeliner, but on special occasions, I do make the effort and apply a small amount and I tend to favour liquid liner over pencil, I find it easier to work with.

What I like about this eyeliner is the not the nib, which is easy to control, but the actual pen itself. Quite large in shape, it is easy to grasp and control as you apply the liner.  It dries to a non-smudging matte finish which doesn't budge through rain or tears but thankfully with a little eye makeup remover, disappears very quickly.  It is buildable without becoming cakey and it is also not in the slightest bit irritating.

I am incredibly impressed with all three of these products. I adore the mascaras, though I am a bit of a mascara-fiend and love trying new ones. If you are a fan of theBalm Cosmetics or have seen something that grabs your attention, then you can find the products on Lookfantastic (here), BeautyBay (here), Superdrug (here), Feelunique (here).

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