bubu Skincare

I love a good mask - hair mask, face mask, body mask, hand mask, foot mask or even lip mask and new to my collection came bubu.

Bubu which stands for “be u, be unique” with the love heart above the U is the brand symbol of self-love. 

bubu is a lifestyle statement, about self-love and confidence. bubu was born with the purpose of promoting there is nothing better than just being yourself and loving the skin you are in. In a fast paced world of pressure, or perceived pressure on how we should look, bubu is about being or trying to be nothing other than yourself.

With five masks in the collection, I have been kindly sent three of them to share with you, two of which are face masks and one is a lip mask.

#SoakingMeWet Hydrating Sheet Mask

The name did make me cackle is described as being a glittering infusion of natural antioxidants and vitamins, combined with Hyaluronic Acid which is renowned for its plumping and moisture-retaining qualities and Liquorice Root which helps reduce inflammation and pigmentation, it is said to be a great way to deliver a powerful shot of hydration with environmentally friendly sparkle.

On the skin, despite the name, this mask is not soaking wet when applied to the skin, it actually feels incredibly cooling. Using what bubu refer too as their 'unique sparkling hydrogel base' which has been created using a globally patented, thermo-sensitive water-soluble hydrogel. This solid gel reacts to skin/body temperature to release key actives encapsulated within the structure to maximise penetration.

To use, you need to remove the mask and then because it is in two parts, it makes it much easier to apply than some sheets masks, but once on the skin, it should be left to work its magic for up to 15 minutes.

#feelingdirty Pollution Busting Sheet Mask

Living in London I am all too aware of pollution and the effect it has on my skin and as much as I do to take extra care and precaution of my skin, you can always do more.  This sheet mask from bubu uses what is called an Advanced Biotech Complex which it claims helps to protect against environmental toxins from city environments as well as Sage leaf extract which contains high levels of antioxidants to help combat free radicals.

As with the mask above, this one is also made using the bubu unique sparkling hydrogel base and again to use, this mask comes in two sections for the top half and lower half of your face. Once applied, the last should be left on your skin for up to 15 minutes before being removed.

#YouPucker Lip Plumping Mask

I am a huge fan of ensuring your lips are as looked after as your hair, scalp and the rest of your body. You lips are responsible for a whole lot of activities and no one really wants to be looking at dry flaking skin as they come in for a kiss! Using two main ingredients of Botox, which at first worried me, but I am assured it is a cosmetic grade approved ingredient which is currently unique to bubu; safe to apply topically – even during pregnancy; tingles slightly on application and it then works alongside Hyaluronic acid which nourishes and hydrates the lip area; particularly effective on dry skin.

This mask tingles very slightly on the application and unlike the other two masks above, this one is a solid mask which is shaped like a pair of lips. Once applied, which is incredibly easy to do, the mask needs to be left on your lips for around 15 minutes and once it is on your lips you can't move too much because it will become dislodged, so if you need an excuse to lay down and not do a lot... mask up!

These masks retail for around £7 each for the face masks and £5 for the lip mask and they can all be found here along with the rest of the collection.

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

Essence Crystal Power Collection

I am a big fan of the high street makeup brand Essence, usually found in your local Wilkinson or Wilko store and online via Feelunique*. The last collection I was kindly sent was the Crystal Power collection, one that I had put away in a box during my bathroom renovations to prevent it from getting damaged. Having now rediscovered it, I have been able to take photos to share within this blog post.

The entire Crystal Power Collection is really pretty and with crystals very much being the theme of this collection with their ability to shine and shimmer, the shades and colours are quite something.  I have four products from the range which includes two palettes, a lipstick and some nail polish.

The first item is the Crystal Power Blush and Highlighter Palette (£5.99) - With a pretty geometric design on the front, a handy mirror on the inside of the lid alongside four blushers and highlighters. 

The first highlighter is the shade Glowing Energy which is a really pretty champagne gold shimmer which is quite pigmented.  The second highlighter is called Shine Bright and this is a white glittery highlighter which has a slight silver tone to it in the light. The two blush shades are also quite shimmery, the first is called Superpower which is a warm berry shade, it looks darker in the pan than it does on the skin which is a bonus. The final blush is called Inner Happiness and it is more of an apricot/peachy shade despite looking quite rosy pink in the pan. I don't tend to wear a lot of blush, but I do really love how pigmented both of these shades are and the highlighters are the products I have used the most. 

The Crystal Power Eyeshadow Palette is next and again, inside cardboard packaging which is fairly study, it too features a mirror which covers the entirety of the top part of the palette. It consists of eight shimmering and matte shades which range in colour from rose gold to green-blue hues and shimmering whites - for eyelids that shimmer like crystals. 

The powder texture is super soft and easy to blend. It can be applied with a brush or fingertips depending on your preference.  I really love the difference in shades on this palette as there is something for everyone, the shades are from right to left:

• Never Give Up - Bronze Shimmer
• Sparkle All Day - Light Gold Shimmer
• Good Vibes Only - Khaki Green Shimmer
• Reach For The Stars - Mermaid Blue Shimmer
• Make It Happen - Warm Terracotta Matte
• Love Yourself - Rose Gold Shimmer
• Chase Your Dreams - Lilac Shimmer
• I've Got The Power - Purple Shimmer
• Believe In Miracles - Snow White Shimmer

It is a lot of shimmer and impressively the colour payoff really shows, especially with Good Vibes only being a Khaki Green and my favourite shades which are Make It Happen and Love Yourself.

Next in the collection is the Crystal Power Lipstick in 01 Be Happy - Described as being an innovative lipstick, it is one which changes colour depending on the pH of your lips, so with this one it could be anything from a subtle pink to a really bright fuschia. 

I have used other branded versions of lipsticks like this one and have had mixed feelings as to whether or not they work. However with this one thankfully I don't get a bright pink, but there is definitely a hint of colour and because it was formulated using Vitamin E to nourish and hydrate the lips, it feels more like a lipbalm than a lipstick and I have found myself using it more than I thought I would. 

Finally within this collection is the Essence Crystal Power Nail Polish in the shade 02 Be Strong.  There are 6 shades in the collection altogether and this one is stunning.

The Essence Crystal Power Nail Polish in 02 Be Strong is best described as being a super glittery pink-hued champagne shade and it is one of those shades which is perfect for wearing all year round.  It isn't gloopy or runny and whilst Essence state you only need one coat, I find it looks a lot more intense with two and then I use a Gel Top Coat over the top to make it last much longer, being a non-gel polish, it does chip.

I really like this collection, it is a lot of fun and I love that there is something for everyone. All of Essence makeup is cruelty-free and around 70% of it is now Vegan too.

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

#MyAbelini - Abelini Jewellery

I have always been of the view that like a fragrance, Jewellery is also a personal choice and with it come a whole range of emotions.  On a day to day basis, my jewellery wear is at its absolute minimum with just my wedding and engagement rings being worn and sometimes earrings if I remember, other than that, nothing else. 

When Abelini Jewellery got in contact to ask if I would like to work with them I jumped at the chance, they pride themselves on being proud and able to offer so many incredibly beautiful pieces of jewellery and as well as being based in Hatton Garden, the well known Beauty Street of London, the jewellery in question is made here in the UK by in-house skilled craftsmen and perhaps as important Abelini invest great care in ensuring that they use only ethically sourced materials when they craft their jewellery.

I was lucky enough to choose a piece of jewellery to try from an incredible selection of pieces and honestly it was one of the hardest selections I have ever had to make, but I did eventually make it.  I set my sights on the 4 prong Set round Diamond Halo Ring with side stones and you will find it within the engagement ring section online.  Like any ring, checking your ring size is incredibly important and Abelini offer to send to you, free of a charge a ring sizer so that you can check, or if you have access to a printer, then you can print off a ring sizer and check it too.  I printed off a ring sizer and found my correct size and duly made my selection and sent it over to Abelini.  Surprisingly within a week, my chosen ring had arrived and it was nestled inside a box which had the look of being quite antique. Pure black in colour, inside the box, was my chosen ring and honestly, it was quite a wow moment as it glistened in all its natural glory.

The Abelini Prong Setting Round Diamond Halo Engagement Ring is available in a range of options including Yellow Gold, White Gold or Platinum and it sizes from H to S and this includes half sizes. Added to these options you can also choose the size of the carat, the clarity and the colour grade, all of which are not options you ordinarily find in some of the high street jewellers.

Whenever I think of engagement rings and long before I was engaged, my one worry was how a biggish stone would look on my small hands and it was definitely not something I should have worried about because this ring looks and feels just amazing on my finger and as you can see below, it looks so beautiful in the natural light.

What I absolutely love about this ring is how it sits, it is incredibly lightweight so you don't know it is there and it definitely does attract attention from other people, but the glittering halo of round brilliant diamonds really make this ring for me and not only do they accentuate the centre diamond, as do the smaller diamonds which sit on the band of the ring either side.

There is a choice of over 600 engagement rings to choose from with Abelini, so whatever your style, budget or material, there is something for absolutely everyone and right now there is the most incredible sale, so finding that perfect ring might just the right timing!

I would love to know what you think to this ring and whether there is anything from Abelini which captures your attention!

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

BetterYou Magnesium Skincare

Ever on the quest to better my health and wellbeing, I wrote a blog post dedicated to products which help you relax and wind down and in some cases aid better and much deeper sleep.   One ingredient that is often overlooked, yet it's a vital nutrient is Magnesium.

Magnesium is responsible for 325 chemical reactions inside the body and helps support calcium absorption, maintenance of normal bones and teeth, normal psychological function, and healthy functioning of the nervous system. Magnesium also helps improve rest and recovery by contributing to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue, electrolyte balance and supports normal energy-yielding metabolism.

Over the last few weeks, I have been using some products from the BetterYou Magnesium range. Transdermal, or through the skin, is the ultimate way to replenish magnesium levels when compared to a tablet or capsule consumption. Applied directly to the skin, magnesium is very quickly absorbed into the epidermis, through blood vessels and then to the muscles beneath. In doing this, the digestive system is completely bypassed and the absorption much better.

The first product to catch my attention from my package was the BetterYou Magnesium Flakes. I talk a lot about how much I enjoy bathing and I absolutely love bath salts, so these flakes intrigued me immensely. These flakes are designed to be added to your bath and in doing so they help soothe tired and aching muscles. Magnesium bath flakes, which are sometimes referred to as magnesium bath salts, are a highly concentrated form of magnesium supplementation.

It is said that soaking in a magnesium-rich bath not only helps promote relaxation but it also helps to soothe tired and aching muscles. I find being in water soothing, whether I am feeling tired, anxious, stressed or run down, one of the places I want to escape to is the bath so I can close out the world and just spend some time thinking about myself.  When I am stressed, I notice it across my shoulders which become tight and painful and whilst I should make more time for a massage, these flakes do work wonders for aches and pains especially menstrual pains, move over hot water bottle!

For reference, the magnesium used within Magnesium Flakes has been naturally purified over 250 million years to guarantee it is free from man-made pollutants and heavy metals.

The second product within my package is the BetterYou Magnesium Gel and it provides a regulated release of magnesium for sustained delivery, making it ideal for use during exercise and after exercise.

I have become quite a fan of this gel for backache, something I've suffered from for years. I am not someone who reaches for pain meds unless I feel like I am at death's door, I would rather let my body do what it is designed to do without intervention, but sometimes this backache is just too much to handle. So instead of reaching for painkillers, I opted to rub a pea-sized amount of this gel onto my lower back as advised and it does help to relieve that muscular tension which twinges. Just 1ml of gel delivers a minimum of 100mg of optimally absorbable elemental magnesium.

If a gel isn't your thing, then BetterYou also has a Magnesium Oil Body Spray which as the name denotes, comes packaged inside a handy pump spray bottle. 

This Magnesium Oil Body Spray is described as being a saturated solution of ancient seabed magnesium chloride, one of the most soluble of all magnesium compounds. Formulated for topical use, BetterYou Zechstein Magnesium commences absorption immediately when massaged into the skin helping to promote overall wellbeing and natural relaxation.  Depending on where you have muscular aches, you only need a few sprays of this oil to massage onto the skin and whilst it isn't greasy it also doesn't leave a film on the skin either. I find this really useful for cramps, the ones which wake you up in the middle of the night in agony!

The BetterYou Magnesium Body Lotion is a lightweight body lotion which uses magnesium oil and other skin ingredients which are designed to revive and replenish skin as well as improve elasticity and overall skin health.

Formulated using 100% natural coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E, this body lotion is perfect for using after a hot bath or shower as your pores are open, so it aids absorption. What I like about this lotion is how it leaves my skin feeling after I have used it, very much hydrated and smooth to the touch.

The final product in my package is the BetterYou Magnesium Body Butter and this is simply divine to use and a great alternative to the body lotion if you have a preference.

As with the body lotion, this butter is a nourishing blend of BetterYou MagnesiumOil with shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and vitamin E, which again helps revive and replenish skin as well as improve elasticity and overall skin health.  Again, it is perfect for using after a hot bath or shower as your pores are open, so it aids absorption and is ideal to be used on joints, muscles and other areas of concern.

I am really glad I was able to use this collection and the stand out for me are the Magnesium flakes which I just adore using and they are the one product I feel does the best for me and then the body butter which I have been applying after showering or bathing.  Prices for this range, which you can find in Holland and Barrett from £2.99 upwards to around £12.

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