SmoothSkin Muse IPL Intelligent Hair Removal Device

At the beginning of this year, I was introduced to the SmoothSkin bare UltraFast IPL Hair Removal Device which I used for a good few months before writing a review about it (here). Right now, I have the newer version, the SmoothSkin Muse Intelligent IPL Hair Removal Device and whilst I have tried it out, it isn't made for my skin tone or hair colour, so I have had a friend of mine using it for a similar amount of time as I used the Muse for.

When it comes to using a device like this, it has to be good enough to keep my attention. I don't want to have to spend an hour zapping my legs when to use a razor every few days is less than a ten-minute job. Equally, I want to see results and not just accept what the tests have to say, we all know that our own hair is different to that of our friends and therefore, we will all get differing results. But, because I was so impressed with SmoothSkin Bare and had continued to use it, I was keen to see what the Muse had to offer.

SmoothSkin Muse is a smart, yet powerful IPL system. Providing a personalised IPL treatment, SmoothSkin Muse delivers treatment that lasts so long you'll never again worry about stubbly legs or prickly underarms!

Firstly, it differs in design completely. The Bare is much smaller and compact and fits into the palm of my hand to use, the Muse is a lot bigger but no heavier. For best results, SmoothSkin Muse should be used every week for 12 weeks to ensure all hair follicles are treated. After the initial 12 treatments, to maintain results and stay silky smooth, you’ll just need to top-up as required, usually once every 4 to 8 weeks. This is exactly what I have done.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and it refers to the flashes used to deliver hits of intense pulses of light that specifically targets hair and it’s growth and it is suitable for use on the arms, legs, bikini line and face. SmoothSkin Muse IPL Hair Removal device is designed to help break the hair cycle and prevent regrowth, giving permanent hair reduction and it is the word reduction which is important because some people assume that it gets rid of your hair for good and that doesn't always happen, over time, if you continue to use the device regularly, then you do notice the difference in hair reduction and how long it does take to grow back.

There are two different modes of the programme to choose from - Glide and Stamp or you can opt for the dual treatment mode depending upon your preference. The dual treatment mode is ideal for the larger areas you want to treat, then glide mode is perfect for the legs and stamp mode is best used on the underarms or bikini area, but again, it is all about personal preferences.

What I really like about the SmoothSkin Muse is that it scans your skin before each flash and automatically selects the light intensity best suited to your unique skin tone – maximising your results, safely. So, you don't need to guess which one might work the best for you, it does it all for you. But, before it comes to switching your gadget on for the first time, as with most beauty related products, you need to ensure you have prepped in advance and with this, it means doing a patch test (full details are given in the guide) and if there are no adverse reactions, make sure the area is completely hair-free. For best results we recommend shaving, but if you prefer you can also wax or epilate - just be sure to wait 24 hours after waxing or epilating before using your SmoothSkin device.  It doesn't hurt or sting to use, it doesn't burn the skin and the heat that you feel from the pulses of light is minimal in comparison to other IPL devices ive used.

This device is designed for people with naturally Brown or Black Hair rather than those with White, Grey, Blonde or Red hair (You need the Bare), but I have Dark Blonde hair and gave it a try and haven't suffered any reaction to it at all. That said, a friend of mine has dark brown, almost black hair and she used it for 3 months and her first words to me were "You ain't getting it back, it is amazing" well I have got it back as I needed to take photos, but her issue with hair removal was how quickly, whether she waxed or shaved, the hair grew back and when shaving on a daily basis has to become part of your routine, you need an alternative treatment, or so she said.  So, having used the Muse for 3 months and 2 days it has slowed down the time in which her hair grows back dramatically and if she was to go back to shaving, then it would be everything 3-4 days and not every day, so a worthwhile investment.

This device is available from both Boots and John Lewis for £399 and if you want a deal, Amazon currently has it on offer for £299 here.

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

Feral Cosmetics x Arpi Limited Edition Collection

Feral Cosmetics is a brand I have loved getting to know and have featured them on my blog a few times now here, here and most recently here. Feral Cosmetics hail all the way from Los Angeles and are a cruelty-free and vegan beauty brand. Available here in the UK Feral Cosmetics can be found on Beauty Chamber. 

The latest launch from Feral Cosmetics is the two new products as part of their Feral Cosmetics x Arpi limited edition collection which are both priced at £14.95.  Admittedly until this collection arrived I had no idea who Arpi was, but Arpi Gabrielyan is a famous Armenian Actress, Singer and TV Host and she has amassed 325k followers on Instagram. Named R.P and R.P2 these lip products are incredibly pretty and I love the picture on the boxes.

The Feral Cosmetics x Arpi collection includes R.P which is Liquid Matte Lipstick and R.P2 which is a Lip Gloss Lip Topper. The packaging for both R.P and R.P2 is so sleek, keeping in design with the rest of the Feral Cosmetics packaging. 

Both of these products are absolutely stunning and I love the idea that you can have your liquid lipstick and then have something to accompany it to make it look even more fabulous as R.P2 does for R.P.  The swatch shown above is unedited and just as I took it so you can see both shades, the hardest part trying to not get the glitter particles to be captured in the flash, but annoyingly they did.

R.P. is a Beautiful Nude Liquid Matte Lipstick. It applies creamy smooth and is fully opaque with a matte finish and long-lasting formula.  For me, this shade has a slight peach undertone which becomes more noticeable as it starts to dry down.  On the lips, it does go a little darker in shade than that you see inside the tube, but it is a beautiful shade.

R.P.2 is a Beautiful Golden Shimmer Lip Gloss/ Lip Topper.  What I like about this gloss is that it isn't sticky or tacky when applied, one of my biggest bug bears with a gloss is having that feeling of having run a Prit Stick across your lips.  I have worn this Lip Topper on its own for my work night out and I love how it looked, the flecks of shimmer which are gold and silver just sparkle in the light and at no point was it uncomfortable, scratchy or hard to wear. 

I am really impressed with both of these products and I hope there is a lot more to come within the range, especially with the Lip Topper because of the two it is my favourite product and I would love to see others with more flecks of colour within them, especially for the Summer.

You can purchase both of the new Feral Cosmetics x Arpi lip colours from Beauty Chamber now.

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

Revlon Volumazing Mascara

As a mascara fiend, I love discovering new potential favourites to have within my stash. I am quite picky about the kind of mascara I like though, it can't be an overly wet formula, the wand can't be one which holds excess formula, it cant give me spider leg lashes if I need to apply more than one coat and if it is hard to remove, it is an instant no. New from Revlon comes Lash Loudly, a Volumising Mascara which claims to give Eye catching lashes with visible volume that won’t smudge or flake for 24 hours.

Now, I would never wear mascara for 24 hours straight, so whether or not that particular claim is true I don't know, but I do on average wear mascara for at least 12 hours a day and it does last that long without dropping, flaking or smudging but it isn't waterproof.

With a creamy formula which isn't too wet, this mascara is infused with nourishing ingredients such as Olive Oil and Carnauba Wax which help to condition your lashes.  I didn't like the look of the wand to start with, it looked as though it would be too thick, hold too much formula, but it is actually really clever. The brand's Volumazing Brush™ features these unique wavy fibres that act as mini reservoirs to coat and separate even the tiniest of eyelashes. As the brush allows for the application of 2-3 coatings of the formula to get that amplified look.

This mascara is said to be available in the shades Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown and I have the shade Blackest Black which really is quite dark, but it works with my lashes.  As easy to remove as it is to apply, at £8.99 you can find it on the highstreet in stores such as Boots and Superdrug and whilst it isn't my favourite mascara, it is great as a back up to have in your stash.

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

Temple Spa Do Not Disturb - Peace and Relaxation Collection

At this time of year when everyone is wound up like a coiled spring waiting to explode, taking time out to relax and unwind is definitely a must.  Temple Spa have this amazing Do Not Disturb Peace and Relaxation Collection and whilst we are busy buying gifts for everyone else, this one is a definite must buy for yourself kind of present.  Something to indulge in for sure.

Temple Spa believe in that! Taking some “DO NOT DISTURB” time shouldn't be just a luxury, but an essential part of a life of wellness. 

Open the door to total relaxation. As far back as ancient Roman times, spa and bathing rituals have been an essential part of relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation. Temple Spa believe in that! Taking some “DO NOT DISTURB” time shouldn’t be just a luxury, but an essential part of a life of wellness. This all-over collection of Temple Spa favourites is the perfect way to treat your skin, body and soul. Use the products whenever you want, or follow the enclosed spa ritual to help create your own spa any time, any place, anywhere!

Packaged inside the most beautifully designed green box, which makes it rather festive, is a collection of 6 products all of which can be used in one incredible pampering session, for travelling with or even on their own one by one.  The first one that I was drawn too is the Do Not Disturb Lavender Pillow.

Obviously, this pillow isn't big enough to lay your head on, but what it is great for is hanging on the bathroom door to let someone know you are in there and do not want disturbing.  The downside for me is that I have three cats, it dangles and they think it is a game!  It does smell just incredible though as it is scented with lavender.

As that bath is running there is one product you should use as you add your bath oil and that is a spritz into the bathroom air with Quietude, a calming mist for me and my space. 

Described as being a spa in a bottle with the aroma of lavender, vetiver, orange, patchouli and chamomile transports you to a place of peacefulness.

Next we have Drift Away, a relaxing bath and massage oil. Described as being the one for a total wind down.

I love that this oil has more than one use and it smells absolutely divine. It can be applied straight to the body if being used as a massage oil and it is non-greasy, so it doesn't go absolutely everywhere nor does it feel slimy. To use in the bath, you need just one capful and as the oils come into contact with the steam from the hot running water, the scent is just absolute bliss. Using a soothing blend of Mediterranean essential oils including patchouli, lavender, geranium, frankincense, chamomile, sweet almond, myrrh, dill seed and orange, suspended in a lush base of sesame, jojoba and avocado oils, plus anti-ageing vitamin E.

Whilst laying the bath breathing in some of the most relaxing scents and fragrances, it is time to apply BeCalm. Described as being a skin rescue mask that’s like a comfort blanket for sensitive, stressed and delicate skin.

BeCalm is designed to deliver a boost of vitamins to the skin, helping to firm the delicate tissue. Packed full of natural ingredients such as Vitamin E, Cucumber water, Liquorice Root Extract, Olive Oil, Chamomile all of which are known to calm, hydrate, settle, and soothe it’s the perfect antidote to sensitive skin; gentle enough not to irritate yet effective in reviving healthy looking skin.

Once out of the bath, there is no reason why your pampering ritual should not continue. Duvet is one of the most luxurious feeling creams I have ever used. It is lightweight to the touch and absorbs immediately on contact with your warm skin and is just divine.

It is rich in omega oils, olive, guarana, fig, pomegranate, liquorice, vitamin E and relaxing Mediterranean essential oils of lavender, frankincense, myrrh, chamomile and patchouli which all come together to make one amazing relaxing fragrance too. 

Finally, we have Repose, the aromatherapy resting night cream which is rich in natural plant extracts, anti-oxidants and a fusion of relaxing essential oils to leave your complexion ultra-smooth, moisturised and settled whilst working to calm and aid relaxation.

Using a blend of hops valerian, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, patchouli, geranium, bitter orange and clary essential oils are all renowned to aid deep relaxation and bring a sense of calm.  On the skin, the silky soft texture of the cream glides onto the skin and absorbs, as it does so, the scents of the essential oils come to life and it is just so incredibly hydrating.

This kit has come at an amazing time of the year to use and try out. I love that the entire collection comes together to create one amazing pampering session, complimenting each other so well and all for just £42!

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