Glossybox x Living Proof Limited Edition Box

I absolutely love Living Proof as a hair care brand and have, in the past, shared a few products on my blog.  Living Proof has taken it upon themselves to solve the root causes of everyone’s top hair concerns: frizz, damage, and fullness to name just a few and their team of stylists and scientists analyzed 100s of competitive products that have been on the market the last 30 years and what they found was that the traditional beauty industry relies on heavy silicones that mask hair symptoms but don’t really solve them. 

The next Limited Edition branded box from Glossybox is imminent and they have teamed up with Living Proof to create one incredible box. It goes on sale on 11th June and to be in with a chance of getting your hands on it, trust me it will sell out very quickly, you need to sign up on to the waiting list to be notified of its release HERE*.  It will be on sale to subscribers for just £20 and then to non-subscribers for £25 which is an incredible saving.

Treating you to five incredible products that aim to restore, nourish and revive damaged hair. So what can you find in the box?

• Restore Repair Leave-In / RRP £26 / Full Size - Makes hair up to 15 times stronger after just one use and helps prevent up to 93% of new split ends caused by styling. It even protects your locks against UV ray damage. Work 2 pumps into your damp hair, focusing on the ends, then style as usual.
• Restore Shampoo / RRP worth £5 / Deluxe Mini - If you’re struggling with dry and damaged locks, this gentle, sulphate and silicone-free shampoo is here to save the day! Powered by Living Proof’s patented Healthy Hair Molecule, it moisturises and restores damaged hair, while also working to repel dirt and oil to keep your tresses cleaner for longer.
• Restore Conditioner / RRP worth £5 / Deluxe Mini - Forget hair crises, this moisturise-balancing conditioner protects and strengthens your hair from future damage by making it 20 times more resistant to breakage. Apply it to your tresses, focusing on the mid lengths to the ends, then rinse.
• Restore Hair Mask / RRP £37 / Full Size - Use this restoring hair mask instead of the restore conditioner once a week. Comb a generous amount onto your hair from your roots to your tips, leave it to work its magic for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
• T.B.D Multi-Tasking Styler / RRP worth £5 / Deluxe Mini - This versatile styler is the easiest way to tame, groom and manage your locks. You can either smooth it over dry tresses to control fly-aways, create texture and add volume, or you can comb it through damp hair before blow drying. Not only will it protect your hair from heat damage, but it’ll help to create a smooth and polished blowout. 

What I love about this box is that there is a product for all the issues I can think of with my hair that I want help dealing with from controlling the flyaways to ensuring my hair is protected from the heat of my straighteners.

This box will sell out quickly, so you will need to sign up on to the waiting list to be notified of its release HERE*.

Will you be waiting to get your hands on the Glossybox x Living Proof Limited Edition Box?

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

Emma Hardie- Spring clean your skin

When it comes to Spring skincare, I want products that are not as heavy feeling on my skin but ones that will do as good as job at looking after and caring for my skin.  In the winter I like my thicker balms and creams because the colder weather plays havoc with my skin, it is much dryer and in need of some TLC for sure.  In the Spring, I tend to use a variety of products depending on how my skin feels, but the one absolute must is SPF, all year round, no questions asked.   Emma Hardie has a wonderful arsenal of products, but this particular trio is a great way to look after your skin in the Spring.

Emma Hardie is perhaps best known for the Moringa Cleansing Balm (£47) and for me, it was my introduction to the brand and I haven't looked back since it is a product that is always in my stash and it is something I absolutely love.  When used with the Moringa Light Cleansing Gel, these two products together create the best double cleansing partnership.  

Emma suggests starting your cleanse with the Moringa Light Cleansing Gel (£34) by massaging it onto damp skin which then turns the gel into a lightweight oil that gently breaks down makeup. Adding more water to the skin as you massage then turns the oil into a milky emulsion which you wash away.  If you are a fan of the Cleansing Balm, then you will love this Gel which I have written a full review here on my blog.  As with the Moringa Cleansing Balm, the Light Cleansing Gel has that exact same Citrus scent and I use the Gel in a morning when there is little need to double cleanse and then both in an evening for my double cleanse. 

Once you have finished with that first cleanse, then you use the Moringa Cleansing Balm which cleans the pores as well as hydrates, moisturises and conditions the skin.  The balm is enriched with antioxidant Moringa Seed extract which, like the gel, gives it that incredible Citrus scent, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E which work alongside the Grape Seed and Sweet Almond Oils. On the skin, it performs a deep cleanse, and manages to remove anything in its path, be it your waterproof mascara or your foundation, as it does so, the balm also works to decongest the skin and pores too. 

I am a huge fan of the Emma Hardie Cleansing Cloths too and I use the softer microfibre side to exfoliate and polish my skin and then the softer muslin side to ensure everything has been removed.

The final product within this trio is the Protect and Prime SPF30 (£46). As mentioned, I wear SPF all year round, whether it rains, snows or it is those rare occasions, sunny.  What I dislike about sunscreen is how it feels on the skin, I really dislike that thickness feeling, so when it comes to my face, I don't want something that makes it feel as though I've rubbed a block of lard onto my skin.

Protect and Prime is described as being a crème that safeguards the skin and hides visible imperfections in preparation for the day that lies ahead. What I like about it is that this product is so lightweight you don't even know it is on your skin. It doesn't linger on the surface of the skin, it doesn't turn white if you have oily skin and nor does it irritate.

Designed to offer up to eight hours of protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun, Protect and Prime SPF30 has light-diffusing particles present in the crème which work to even out texture and skin tone while at the same time ensuring that enlarged pores and fine lines are reduced in their appearance.  It uses Oat extract, mongongo oil and vitamin E which come together to form a protective barrier around the skin, helping to repair damaged skin and reducing the appearance of premature ageing signs. 

From Emma Hardie, what we have here is a simple skincare routine to keep your skin in the most amazing condition and protected.  If you have never tried Emma Hardie Skincare*, then right here ou have three amazing products to get started with and I promise you, that Citrus Spa-in-a-jar scent will have you hooked!

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

REN Clean Skincare - Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Cream

REN Clean Skincare is one of those brands I just absolutely love, nothing has, to date disappointed me and I am always excited by their journey. Over the past few months, REN has made an incredible decision to ensure their products are Zero Waste. For this, it means all of their packaging is going through a re-branding to ensure it is as clean as it can possibly be and they aim is to be zero waste by 2021, what this means is 100% recyclable packaging, refillable solutions, bottles with reclaimed ocean plastic and they are on a mission to help clean up our beaches and oceans worldwide.

One of my favourite ranges from REN is the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium range which has featured on my blog here and here. The latest product from the range to be re-packaged is the Anti-Fatigue Body Cream and its bottle has been made from 20% plastic which has been reclaimed from the ocean and 80% plastic which has been recycled from empty plastic bottles.
The Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium range is quite extensive with a body wash, body scrub, body oil, hand lotion, body spray and the incredible booster bath salts.   The body cream is described as being an easily absorbed body cream formulated with Atlantic Kelp Extract to help nourish, smooth and tone by replenishing skin with moisture and essential minerals. Those essential minerals include:

• Atlantic Kelp Extract - Rich in sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, it is said to be excellent at hosting water-binding abilities which help to hydrate the skin and form a protective moisturising barrier on the surface of the skin.
• Magnesium PCA - This mineral helps to boost energy levels of skin cells which contribute to its anti-fatigue abilities.  I was sceptical about these claims until I tried the products over a number of months and I was surprised at just how well they work.  I have detailed below just how I use the products.  Magnesium PCA also hosts anti-inflammatory properties and helps to soothe irritated skin.
• Plankton Extract - This ingredient helps to block stress signals which can cause DNA damage. It also helps with thinning skin, prevents dryness and helps to reduce scaliness too.
• Shea Butter and Algae extract - Helps to protect the skin against free radicals and helps with hydration.
• REN's Anti-Fatigue Essential Oil Blend - Using a blend of aromatherapy oils which include sage, rosemary, geranium and cypress they are chosen because of their de-stressing properties on both the mind and the body.

As I said above, I was sceptical about the claims of magnesium and decided to try the products out to see just how true it was.  I make no secret of the fact that I work full-time, am a wife, blog as a hobby, love to read and have a house to keep and I often need a few more hours in a day to get done what I need to get done.  The past few months have been particularly hard, I'm still struggling with my ankle due to torn ligaments and tendon damage, so the chance to put these products to the test is a good one for me.

I love to have a hot bath, for me, it is one of the best and easiest ways I know to relax, wind down and forget about life for an hour or two.  So, in the bath, I put the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Booster Bath Salts (full review here). Once the bath has a few inches of water run, grab a handful of the flakes and scatter them across the water to work their magic. Then whilst that water is still running, I grab the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Salt scrub which has a balm-like texture, apply it directly on to the skin before getting into the bath and allow to soak off in the bath, allowing for at least 20 to 30 minutes to help soak the tension away, you can also do this for the shower if you prefer.  Together these products make such a relaxing and calming experience that I am totally sold on the claims. I have lost count of the number of times ive got into my bath feeling stressed only to get out and feel much calmer and relaxed.  If bath salts are not a product you enjoy using, then you could always use the Bath Oil in its place, I have mini versions I take on holiday with me and always a spare bottle in my stash for when I need it.

Once out of the bath, the body cream is the perfect addition to your routine.  In its pump action bottle, it makes the application an absolute dream and again, it worth taking the time to enjoy the fragrance and continue with that relaxing routine.  The cream absorbs itself rapidly into the skin and leaves behind the fresh fragrance of those specially selected essential oils on the skin.

I love how much effort REN is going to when it comes to repackaging their products to make them better for the environment and ultimately better for you, the consumer.

Do you have a favourite REN product/Collection?

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

theBalm Alternative Rock Face Palette Boxset

When it comes to eyeshadow palettes, I am forever going to the one who wants the nudey-neutral shades, it is my comfort zone and let's be honest, you can never have too many palettes.  New to my stash is the Alternative Rock Face Palette Boxsets from theBalm and it is a brand I am on a road to discovery with, one I am absolutely loving and one that forever surprises me with products I have somehow missed.

Featuring two volumes, these palettes are best described as being a bit of a multitasker because not only do you get 6 eyeshadows which are triple milled, you also get a bronzer, a blush and a highlighter. So with Volume.1 you have a palette which is the more cool toned palette while Volume. 2 is the one which is a little more neutral/warm.  I have favourite shades on both palettes and given the theme of both palettes is 'Alternative' Rock the name of the shades are quite clever and kooky.

On Volume 1 you have a mixture of matte and glitter shades, so depending on your preference, you get a really nice choice of the two.

The formula seems to vary from shade to shade and as you can see, the variation between matte and a more glitter formula really stands out between the shades.  So on Volume.1 we have the following:

• Naughty Or Gneiss which is one of the matte shades and it is a light peachy beige and this is one I use as a primer or base shade on my lids
• Lead Astray is a light pink with a glittery finish and not a shade I expected to like, but it is just stunning.
• Take It For Granite is a medium silver with a shimmery, almost metallic finish. It isn't on par with Copper Attitude or Lead Astray for glitter. but this is one of my favourites on the palette.
• Copper Attitude is a coppery rose shade which also has a glittery finish and this is one of the shades I have used the most.
• Nice Ash is perfect if you like something a little different. This is a deep plum with a luminous, shimmery finish.
• All Ore Nothing is a more of an ash brown shade than a deep brown and it has a matte finish
• Iron More Than You is a warm brown shade with a matte finish.
• Of Quartz You Did is a mauve pink and it has a satin finish.
• Basalt And Pepper is a stunning frosty white but it also has a light pink sheen.

Shown below and completely unedited, are the glittery shades from the eyeshadows followed by the bronzer, blusher and highlighter.

What I really like about Volume.1 is just how easy it is to work with. Each one of the shadows is an absolute breeze to work with and with the matte shades, they work just as well dry as they do if you choose to wet them.

When it comes to Volume.2, most people won't be surprised to read that this is my favourite palette of the two, those warm nude and neutral shades just call my name. As with the first palette, Volume.2 features 6 eyeshadows, a bronzer, blusher and a highlighter and it is set out in exactly the same way.

Immediately with this palette, you can see there are some simply stunning shades, this has been one palette that has been constantly used since it arrived and the pigmentation on this palette is superb. As for the shades, well we have:

• Let Me Zinc About It is a light peachy beige with a matte finish and again, it works as a really nice bade shade for your eyelids.
• Don't Give A Schist which does make me chuckle as a name, is quite a pale gold shade with a sparkly metallic finish.
• Sodium Fine is a stunning neutral brown with a sparkly matte finish and this is the kind of brown shade I want to see without the sparkly finish too.
• Amirite? is a beautiful caramel brown with a matte finish.
• As Xenon TV is a coppery bronze shade and it too has a sparkly metallic finish.
• The Parents Argon is the one shade which scares me the most because it is a charcoal black with a satin finish and I'm not used to using such a deep dark shade on my lids
• None Of Your Bismuth which is the bronzer is a warm golden brown with a matte finish.
• Bare Minimum is a pinky peach shade with a satin finish.
• Nickel Buy You Dinner is really light golden ivory with a frosty finish.

Again, all of the swatches are completely unedited, I prefer to see how something looks straight off the palette without the need to add any highlight or contrast to the shades, these ones simply don't need it as you can see.

What I love about these palettes, other than that they are compact and fit in your handbag, you pretty much have everything you need on one palette and you can mix and match the shades as and how you feel.  The shades that I have used the most are - Nice Ash, Take it for Granite, Let me Zinc about it and All Ore Nothing from the eyeshadows.  Of the Bronzers I really like them both, so they have had a similar amount of uses but for the highlighters and blushers, I like to mix and match depending on how I am feeling.

Online these palettes retail for around £20 though I can't seem to find them for sale on many websites currently, so I do hope that changes because they are absolutely worth investing in.

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