REN Clean Skincare - Beauty Pioneers of Infinity Recycling

I feel I have been on quite the journey with REN Clean Skincare over the past few years with their formulas and their packaging.  Living in an era when recycling, recyclable and being plastic-free is of such huge importance, the beauty industry is really having to pick up its pace and be as accountable for their waste as supermarkets are.  I have become so much more aware of how much waste I produced and how many changes I have made - no plastic bags, I try and shop with the least amount of plastic that I can and if a product I use and love is refillable, then you can bet I am using it.  For REN it started back in 2018 when their cleansers became carton free and the moisturisers started to use an airless system, both in an effort to cut waste whilst at the same time, protecting that all-important formula.

Having then moved through using 100% recycled plastic, introducing recycled beauty bags (still one of my favourite finds ever) and then signing up with Terracycle to continue the efforts to become zero waste by 2021, REN has now done an industry first and they have done it whilst celebrating their 20th anniversary and that is by debuting their new pack including Infinity Recycling material and what better way to do it than with the iconic moisturiser EverCalm Global Protection Day Cream.

In partnering with SABIC and Aptar, REN has become the first luxury beauty brand to use Infinity Recycling tech in the beauty industry, but, what exactly is Infinity Recycling? Essentially, by using groundbreaking technology to recycle that mixed plastic waste which would have been on its way to an incinerator or landfill and instead fully regenerate it to deliver certified recycled plastic that is identical to virgin plastic. By doing this, it opens up the possibility of indefinite plastic recycling without losing its quality or physical properties hence the name 'Infinity Recycling'. 

Not one to do things by half, REN has debuted their new Infinity Recycling material in their iconic EverCalm Global Protection Day Cream, which you can see pictured above. The tube within which the cream sits feels no different to any other skincare product I use that is in plastic packaging, other than feeling slightly lighter and naturally knowing it has been recycled does make you feel much better. 

This Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream is REN Clean Skincare's best selling moisturiser. Described as using a synergetic blend of powerful antioxidant and free radical scavengers, together with soothing and nourishing seed oils, this cream helps to protect the skin against dehydration and oxidation damage from modern life pollution, a known contributing factor to visible premature ageing. Key ingredients within this cream include:

• Blackcurrant Seed Oil which is rich in Omega 3 - helps nourish and soothe skin.
• Seabuckthorn Oil which is rich in Omega 7 - softens skin.
• Camellia Oil which replenishes the skin.

The formula is incredibly moisturising without being greasy on the skin and because it has a lightweight texture, it sinks and absorbs into the skin effortlessly. I adore the clean scent of this cream which does have a slight hint of blackcurrant, but not one which is too overpowering.  If you have sensitive or sensitised skin, then this day cream is the one you absolutely need to have within your routine and it is the one from REN Clean Skincare which is most recommended and sold.

As well as being an incredible day cream and one I absolutely love having in my stash, I am blown away by just how much though REN Clean Skincare put into their journey to being zero waste by 2021 and they have done so without passing on the higher costs to you and I the consumer and they do this in the hope more companies join them on this very same journey, using the same technology thus making it less expensive in the future.  You can read more about this journey with REN Clean Skincare* via their website.

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

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.