Alpha-H Lip Perfector - Nude Blush

Whenever there is a new launch from Alpha-H, it is going to be a good one and new to the family comes the Absolute Lip Perfector in Nude Blush (£19.95).  Right now with the weather coming in with a different storm every week moving from Ciara and Dennis we are awaiting the arrival of both Ellen and Francis before Gerda and Hugh make their appearances!  My skin doesn't cope too well with the everchanging weather and as I suffer from something called Barometric headaches, sometimes all I want to do is lay in bed and sleep the day away. 

The team over at Alpha-H ask:

"Have you ever wondered why our lips are so easily affected by the elements, seemingly drying out, cracking and peeling at the first sign of a breeze or season change? Well the answer lies in the fact that the skin on our lips is quite different to the skin elsewhere on our bodies as it lacks oil and sweat glands, meaning it loses moisture quickly and then struggles to regain it"

So we need to ensure we give our lips extra TLC and nourishment with the right lip care and if we do that, then we are on the way to ensuring our lips can wear that matte lipstick perfectly.  Having tried the original Lip Perfector from Alpha-H as part of a TSV, I was excited to try Nude Blush.

Nude Blush promises to let you say goodbye to dry lips and say hello to soothes, smoothed, hydrated and perfectly kissable lips all year round.  This lip balm is both nourishing and plumping and it works to not just add moisture to the lips, it works to lock that moisture in. As this comes from Alpha-H you can only imagine what an amazing product it is going to be, anyone who loves Liquid Gold and the rest of the skincare range will know how much thought and effort goes into creating each and every product.  With Nude Blush there is a whole host of amazing ingredients which include:

Key ingredients

• Powerful plumping and moisturising ingredient Hirulip™ blends the well-known hydration prowess of Hyaluronic Acid with the collagen-boosting properties of Tripeptide-1. Unlike some Hyaluronic Acids which as we know are molecularly too large to make it past the surface of the skin, Hirulip™ delivers it in tiny microns which are small enough to make it into the deeper layers of skin.
• Honeycomb Extract which helps to lock in all that moisture by forming an occlusive layer on the outside of the skin
• Zinc Oxide - The addition of Zinc means this soothing formula can also aid in the healing process for lips which are already dehydrated or chapped from exposure to the elements.
• Peppermint and Wild Mint - Both of which are refreshing also add their anti-inflammatory properties alongside a super cooling effect to this soft balm.

What I have loved about this Absolute Lip Perfector is how it feels when it has been applied to the lips.  I take issue with balms which leave your lips feeling as though you have just rubbed a block of lard on them, I also don't like sticky or tacky balms.  I want a lip balm or product that sinks into the skin of my lips to add that missing moisture, to help repair and protect from the inside out and where possible just do the job it is meant to do.

With the Absolute Lip Perfector from Alpha-H, you can use it under lipstick as a conditioning, plumping primer or on its own to impart a subtle sheen. You can also use it as an overnight lip plumper and hydrator for the lips which is a great addition to your routine. I always ensure I use a lip balm as the last part of my routine.

Availability

Priced at £19.95 you can find this Alpha-H Absolute Lip Perfector in Nude Blush via Beauty Bay*, 

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

CND Vinylux 2-in-1

I absolutely love CND Vinylux as a nail polish brand and have featured them a few times on my blog now, the last collection being The Crystal Alchemy Collection and today I am sharing something that I think it is a little bit genius and it is the CND Vinylux 2-in-1.

"Save on the suitcase space this year and make your life easier with the brand new CND Vinylux 2in1"

Giving you the ability to create the perfect mani on the go, CND has created an innovative two-step system to make painting your nails on the go, on your holiday or quickly. This portable applicator features a high-shine Vinylux long-wear colour at one end and then a fast-drying topcoat at the other, so you have everything you need in one product, which is no bigger than your average mascara wand.

This long-wear CND polish formula is infused with Vitamin E, Keratin and Jojoba Oil which works to condition and strengthen the nails, therefore, creating a healthy base for smooth colour application. Lasting for up to 7 days, the polish helps to minimise the drying and damaging effects associated with regular nail polish wear.

I was kindly sent three of the five shades available and I love all three of them which are:

• Negligee - A sheer opalescent baby pink
• Field Fox - A beautiful nude
• Lobster Roll - A bright red with a slight hint of orange as it dries down.

I like CND polishes because they are long-lasting and the applicator is really easy to use as it covers my entire nail in one stroke. These polishes I've found need between one and two coats depending on how deep a coat you want to have, for Negligee as an example because it is so sheer, it definitely needs two coats.

I really like having the nail polish and then the topcoat on one applicator, the polish dries within a few minutes, much quicker than I had expected and then applying the topcoat afterwards means you need to have around 3-4 minutes time to apply, let dry and add your topcoat. It doesn't streak or smudge and I have found Field Fox lasts at least 7 days without chips, which for a normal polish is really impressive, Lobster Roll I had for 6 days but impressively Negligee was the longest lasting and I have had 8 days wear from it, all using the topcoat.

This 2in1 from CND is perfect for travelling and it helps with maximising space in your makeup bag. Priced at just £16.95 each and can be found at Lookfantastic*.

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

Cult Beauty The Founders Goody Bag - worth over £270

The Founders Goody Bag from Cult Beauty* is one of the best Gift with Purchases (GWP) that I have seen in quite some time and it features some amazing brands. This 19 piece edit, which features five full-sized products is yours when you spend £160 and that is incredibly easy to do on Cult Beauty from the new releases alone.

Picture taken from Cult Beauty

Has this GWP tempted you in any way?

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

GO2 Inhaler Sticks

Everyday life can be stressful, it can be hard work and there is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting that life has been tough of late.  I have been learning how to use the power of smells and scents to change my mood and there are a few products which I have loved using, the first being these Go2 Inhaler Sticks and if you read my tips on getting a better nights sleep, you have noticed the inclusion of one right there.

Go2 Inhaler sticks are the brainchild of brothers Marc and Benjamin Shipman and are the first UK-based company to launch 100% natural essential oil inhaler sticks to the UK market.  I have always been fascinated by Essential Oils and their properties, wanting to know what they do, why they do it and what works best for which reason as well as knowing how to use them to the best of their ability.

Essential Oils can help you relax, deal with cramps, help with the symptoms of PMT, help with sleep, aches, focus and stress. So finding a product such as an inhaler stick has absolutely fascinated me since I came to have to them to try out and use. They came about when Marc found juggling life too much and what started out as small internal worries soon manifested themselves into stress-related anxiety, which in turn led to poor sleep and a lack of energy.  Having tried different routines and activities, it wasn't until the suggestion of essential oils was mooted to Marc that the idea of Inhaler sticks came about and wanting to ensure it wasn't a placebo effect, he spent over two years researching, trialling and testing. So, with all of that in place Inhaler sticks were born and they are not only affordable but also accessible at £3.99 each.

Why Essential Oils? When inhaled, the olfactory receptors in your nose are activated, once activated they send signals to the higher regions of the brain, the neocortex and the limbic system and it is the limbic system that then sends messages to the hypothalamus which in turn sends messages around the body.   The benefits of essential oils aren't something new, they have been known for 6000 years but thanks to today's use of science, those benefits are now proven. Essential oils come from plants and they create both the flavour and fragrance of that plant and it is how those oils are extracted to create a product which is important - cold-pressed, with water or by using steam distillation will determine the quality and purity.

There is essentially three ways to benefit from essential oil usage - through your skin, internally via your digestive system or aromatically such as Inhaler sticks.  When inhaling one of the GO2 blends, odour molecules are released and the olfactory receptors in our nose are activated and it is these different odour molecules which result in different messages being sent.  The GO2 essential oil blends are uniquely formulated to maximise the response for each described mood and with that, we have B.Calm, Sleep, Energy and Focus.

Each of the GO2 Inhaler sticks is packaged in bright colours so that you can see which one of which and each outer packaging gives details as to what the stick is for, how to use it and what essential oils it uses.

• Helping to boost your performance we have Energy. This stick which is recognisable from its bright red packaging is designed to support performance, be it with work, life, sports or just generally.  Made from 100% natural oils, this blend uses Eucalyptus which is uplifting and help promote clear breathing, Peppermint which helps to stimulate and aid focus before finally Lemongrass which helps to combat feelings of fatigue.
• Helping with focus is the Inhaler stick called Focus.  This stick which is packaged in bright blue is said to help with focus and concentration. Whether you are sitting in front of a computer, studying or just need to be completely focused on your task in hand, this is the stick for you. Using Rosemary which supports memory function, Peppermint which is stimulating and aids focus and then we have Lime which is uplifting for both the body and the mind.
• Helping to promote inner peace we have B.Calm.  With its baby blue packaging, B.Calm is said to help promote inner peace in those times when you are feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed or simply just need a break. The essential oils included within B.Calm are Cardamom which promotes the feeling of calmness and warmth, Lavender which is relaxing and soothing for both the body and mind, Bergamot which helps to promote inner calm and finally Sweet Orange which is deeply relaxing and works to promote well-being.
• The final stick is one I featured within my sleep post and it is called Sleep. Designed to help promote your quality of sleep, assisting to help give you a deeper and better sleep, this inhaler stick uses Lavender which is relaxing to the body and mind, Red Mandarin which helps support a restful sleep before Frankincense, which helps to promote a sense of inner peace and contentment.

Right now, whilst I have tried each and every one of these Inhaler sticks, I have found to be of most use is Focus because it works the best for what I need because I have just been in the middle of a huge work project and needing to just sit there and work my way through an Excel spreadsheet of doom is something I've had to get on with, so knowing that I can use Focus has been a huge help.

These GO2 Inhaler Sticks are priced at £3.99 each and can be found via Amazon or the Go2 website.

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