GA-DE Cosmetics Skincare

A few days ago, I introduced GA-DE Cosmetics to my blog readers, a brand who hails all the way from Israel, launching here in the UK and a brand who is about to make its debut on QVC. As well as makeup, GA-DE Cosmetics has a whole plethora of skincare, and I have been giving two of the products from the range a try.

Skincare with GA-DE is premium, it is scientifically created, it is researched and developed with chemists and colourists constantly working to explore new materials and techniques, whilst ensuring science and artistry is at the forefront to ensure that the health of the skin is the main priority.

If you read my blog regularly, then you will know how much I love cleansing and it is by far my favourite skincare routine part. From GA-DE we have the Purifying Cleansing Gel for oily to combination skin.

This Cleansing Gel is described as being an ultra fresh, foaming cleansing gel for soft and supple skin and it is formulated with soothing French rose, plumeria, sage, grapefruit and vitamins that help reduce shine and mattify skin.

I am not usually a fan of foaming cleansers as I find them quite drying on my skin, but this one doesn't strip the skin, instead it leaves my skin feeling incredibly clean, soft, smooth and more importantly it is hydrated and moisturised. Has the shine been reduced? I have noticed that there has been a reduction, even on hot and sweaty days.  This cleanser is priced at £16.50.

The second product that I have been using comes from the Aqua Jolt range and it is the Oil-Free Hydration Gel Cream which is described as being a refreshing, replenishing and revitalizing gel cream for healthy-looking skin and a radiant complexion.

As the name might suggest the Aqua Jolt range is all about hydration and this Gel Cream, which is designed for oily to combination skin is just divine on the skin and during the heatwave, we have all enjoyed, applying it to my skin has been such a treat because it feels so cool.

This Gel Cream is infused with Hyaluronic Acid which naturally helps keep the skin soft, smooth and hydrated but alongside that we also have what is referred to as the powerful AQUAXYL™ technology and the exclusive FUCOGEL active, meaning this gel cream rapidly absorbs into skin, instantly relieving dryness and restoring skin's natural barrier against moisture loss. This cream is also enriched with vitamin E and a natural blend of soothing botanical ginger root and witch hazel leaf extracts, as well as vitamin B3 and marine sugar cane which all work together to, helps reduce sebum production, control oil and minimise the appearance of redness, reinforcing firmness and boosting elasticity. Priced at £20.

Using both the Cleanser and the Gel Cream together creates quite the powerful duo for the skin. I love that both are soothing and refreshing without stripping the skin.  What GA-DE has given with its skincare is something that is straightforward, easy to use and you can use these products together or on their own as part of your on-going skincare routine.

If you are yet to have a look at GA-De Cosmetics or have seen some products you like the look of, you can find them all here plus more - I'm talking cleansers, toners, Eye creams, day cream, night cream, overnight oils and serums!   I can also offer you a 20% off discount code which is GADICONBQ20 which you just add at the check out!

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

Tropic Skincare's ALL NEW Sun Protection Range

I am a huge fan of Tropic Skincare and have featured them regularly on my blog for some time and today I am sharing the newly launched suncare collection, which given the weather we have just had and are continuing to enjoy, is amazing timing.

The collection from Tropic is described as being 'Reef-safe' and it offers defence against UVA and UVB rays in formulas which are both silky and hydrating plus, they also protect against daily pollution and blue light damage.

Introducing a groundbreaking range of broad-spectrum, water-resistant sun protection, formulated using certified reef-safe ingredients. Caring for our planet is more important than ever, and we feel modern sun care should not only protect our skin, but also our oceans. 

What I love is that these are the first products in Europe to wear the Protect Land + Sea seal of approval. and it is worth mentioning that proceeds from each purchase will also go towards funding education with Tropic's charity partnership with United World Schools.

Choosing your sunscreen can be quite a difficult choice, for me one of the factors is how it makes my skin feel. I cannot stand creams or lotions which are thick and gloopy and feel as though they are just sitting on the skin's surface. With these products from Tropic, you get incredibly lightweight formulas, so lightweight you don't even know you are wearing them, they're not sticky, there is no white residue, they don't make your skin feel greasy and I have found them to be quite hydrating too. 

The Tropic sun protection range:

Sun Stick  - This is my favourite product of the range and one I always have in my pocket or in my bag when I go for my daily walk. 

The Sun stick is a bit of a multitasking product and it has been designed to be applied frequently to areas that are especially prone to sun exposure, such as the face and shoulders, though it can also be used on the lips, forehead, tops of the ears, elbows and any other area that you might have forgotten about. It offers an SPF50 and is enriched with some nourishing ingredients which include Vitamin E, Marshmallow Root Extract, Tamanu Oil and Green Algae Extract. Priced at £20 17g.

 

Great Barrier Sun Lotion - This lotion has the options of being available as an SPF15, 30 or 50 and is not only water-resistant but also sweat-resistant too. As with the rest of this collection, this mineral sun protection uses reef-safe chemical filters and it has an incredibly silky yet hydrating formula which is enriched with coconut extract, green algae, vitamin E all of which work to shield skin from UV rays and free radical damage as well as to soothe skin exposed to high temperatures helping to repair and rejuvenate skin. 

For me, the scent of coconut really makes this a delight to use, it is almost like pretending you are laid by the pool with a mojito in hand! Priced at £28 200ml or £18 100ml.

Sun Day Facial UV Defence  - I never ever leave the house without SPF and I even wear it in the house too, yes really! Sun Day Facial UV Defence is possibly the most lightweight facial cream I have ever tried on my skin.

As well as being lightweight, it is also transparent and can also be used as a primer, so quite the multi-tasker of a product and being honest, I am happy to use it as it is, without makeup.  It is enriched with Hyaluronic acid which boosts the skins moisture levels, then there is banana flower and hibiscus extracts which together offer unbelievable pollution protection and anti-inflammatory benefits and then Plant Polymers, which are also worth a mention because they work together with prebiotics to prime the skin for flawless makeup application. Available in two sizes it costs £24 for 40ml or £10 for 15ml.

Skin Shade Sun Cream - This is much more of a sun cream than a lotion as the formula is that little bit thicker, though not so thick it doesn't sink in. Despite the formula being that bit heavier, it isn't greasy or tacky on the skin and again no white residue in sight once applied.

it is available in SPF 15, 30 and 50 and is described as being packed full of nourishing oils and antioxidant-rich extracts for all-round protection. So ingredients you will find include Kahai and Rocou oils which are rich in omega fatty acids to keep skin super-soft and nourished, Kakadu and Illawarra Plum extracts to soothe and calm and Cassava and Rapeseed Resin which is said to be naturally derived resins which offer highly effective water resistance. Priced at £28 200ml or £18 100ml.

Skin Shade Tinted Facial Sun Cream- This is a product I have used and enjoyed a whole lot more than I was expecting too if I am honest. I find 'tinted' products really hit and miss usually, but I gave it a try and was surprised. During these hot weather days, there is not a chance I am wearing makeup, other than possibly mascara, but that is a commitment. What I do prefer is something light, subtle and if there is a bit of coverage then I am happy. This ticks a lot of boxes - it offers sheer, dewy coverage and is not only water-resistant but is also SPF50. Add to that, it's packed full of antioxidant-rich, protective ingredients such as Golden Jojoba Oil, Wild Hibiscus Flower, Passion Flower Oil which all work together to shield your skin from free radicals and UV rays.

It's available in either light/medium which is the shade I have, or medium/dark. When applied, you do need to blend it a lot more than your mineral sunscreen to get the perfect base, but I have found it really easy to do. Priced at £24 for 40ml.

The final product within this collection is one everyone should be keeping in their fridge and that is the Sun Soothe Cooling Aftersun Lotion. I have the same issue with a suncream, I want to use something that isn't overly thick.

As with the rest of the collection, the Aftersun Lotion is reef-friendly and it is 100% natural. Using Aloe Vera Juice, Bisabolol and Golden Jojoba Oil which together cool and soothe the skin as well as calming the symptoms of sunburn.

What I do like about this Aftersun Lotion, is how it feels on the skin. Silky smooth and definitely cooling when applied after a day in the sun. Priced at £22 for 200ml and £12 for 100ml.

The Tropic Suncare Collection is available to purchase now via Tropic Skincare

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

From House to Home

(AD) If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I have shared a bit more homelife - the cats, the bathroom, books, flowers and my insanely pretty wax met burner, don't worry I am not about to start sharing Hinch lists or anything like that, but working from home does lead to doing those jobs you have never quite finished or completed.

When we moved into this place well over 10 years ago now, it was nothing like we had agreed when we signed all the legal papers. It took 3 months from exchange and completion to actually move in and boy oh boy was it a nightmare. I had cleverly arranged for all our furniture to arrive on the day we moved in, the broadband people, I was going to sort all the bills out and ensure we had done the Council tax and so on... when I opened the door with the keys, well... someone had been living here that was obvious. In the middle of the bedroom we had furniture that was not mine, there was no skirting boards, light fittings, curtain poles and door handles had been removed - all those annoying things that you need. To put everything right, it takes time, it takes money and of course patience.

The hallway is quite easily the most used part of the house, we all walk through it several times a day and whilst the skirting boards have now been fixed in place and we have finally started to hang pictures on the wall now it has been decorated. The one thing we still haven't done is changed the parquet flooring*, part of which suffered water damage when we had a leak from the flat upstairs. Instead, we have just made do because the bathroom renovation cost a little more than we had budgeted for, but worth every penny.  

Slowly but surely, we have made this house a home, granted as time goes on things need replacing and fixing - again the fridge freezer is being a nightmare, so that is the next purchase, but oddly, I have enjoyed doing little bits here and there, changing one room at a time.

Is there a room in your house that you are working on right now?

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

How Does Beauty Pie work? I’ll explain...

One of the main questions I was asked most after posting my product purchases on my Instagram grid and stories is "how does Beauty Pie work?". Seemingly a few people are confused by the concept which has lead to questions of affordability, is it worth it, how you buy stuff and what do I need.

Admittedly I felt like there had been an explosion of posts across my social media channels of everyone being part of Beauty Pie, pretty much every grid square has bloggers, friends and friends of friends all claiming it was amazing and how much I needed it. However, as with all things popular, I took a step back to see how many of these people remained convinced this was an amazing service, I even asked the same questions you are all asking me, then I decided to just go for it! 

 

This post is not in any way sponsored by Beauty Pie, the opinions are all my own based on my experience and I pay for my own subscription.

Beauty Pie’s mantra is that they offer “luxury skincare and beauty products without the luxury prices” and essentially because they are online only, don’t have celebrity endorsements, don’t rely on product markups by retailers, they can do exactly this.   As well as Makeup and Skincare, Beauty Pie also offer fragrances, candles and a few giftsets too.

What is BeautyPie?

To all intents and purposes, Beauty Pie is a subscription service for which you have to pay a monthly fee to be able to access all the products they have to offer. Much like Netflix or Amazon Prime, by paying a subscription fee, you get benefits that those who are not members do not - case in point is Amazon Prime. So Beauty Pie is essentially the same, but how it works is a little more tricky.  In fact, I paid my fee, got a tad carried away filling my cart and then got confused at that checkout, emptied my cart and possibly repeated the process a few times before I got how it worked.  

For me, the downside of Beauty Pie is how the service works from paying your membership fee to picking your products and then checking out is something that could and should be explained better than it is, but hopefully my own experience will do that for you. They do have their own blog which explains some of the insights, in-depth information about products and a few Q&A offerings too.

How Beauty Pie Works:

As I mentioned, Beauty Pie is a membership service and that membership gives you the chance to buy products at “members prices” and I’m going to write how that works as simply as I can. 

1. Choosing a membership - The first stage of becoming a member is to choose a membership with a monthly fee. The monthly fee is charged whether or not you use your spending limit. Prices per month start as low as £5 and rise upwards to £99 per year. So picking the service which is best for you is important.  

With your membership subscription comes a limit as to how much you can “spend” during that month. If you don’t use all of your spend then it rolls over to the next month and if you find your spend isn’t high enough you can upgrade your subscription level and if you find it too much, you can reduce it. 

Here is a screenshot of what the monthly memberships cost and how much your spending limit is: 

So there are some extra benefits depending on your level of membership and obviously, if you opt to pay £99 for the year, then you have three rewards that the other levels do not, these are shown by the star next to that reward.

2. How the £100 Spend Works - I started with the £10/mo membership which gave me a £100 spend for the first month plus a bonus £100. So during my first month as a member, I had £200 to spend.

However and this is where you need to pay attention to how it works to use that spend. So, £200 might sound like a lot because it is a lot, I was worried as to how much £200 worth of products would look if I was being promised items which cost as low as £4! But it is a little more complicated than that.

Beauty Pie estimates how much a product would be on the high-street which is referred to as a “typical spend”. So again I’ve screenshot an example of the typical price v’s the Beauty Pie price.

As you can see, there is quite a difference in price, in this case, £34.23. This is how Beauty Pie sell their luxury products without the luxury prices. 

3. Happy Shopping - A product I had heard a lot about is the Super Healthy Hair Detox Wash Shampoo which Beauty Pie claim typically costs £25 and as a member it is priced at £6.31. So when you add that to your cart the £25 comes off your £200 monthly spend limit and when you check out you only pay £6.31.  Still with me?

To break it down further, of my £200 spend limit, remember I was given a bonus of £100 in my first month, I bought the following items:

So, instead of spending £140 I actually spent £32.54 which Beautypie estimates saved me £107.46 and then on top of that there is the cost of postage and packaging. I still have money left to roll-over to next month and whilst there are a few more products I want to try, I think the £100 spend is more than enough for me.

Is Beautypie worth it?

Absolutely yes it is. But naturally, you have to work out which products will work best for you. I also think that, as with my own experience, your own will come with some trial and error getting used to the site and then finding the products that work for you, but that really is no different to going to Boots and buying a 3 for 2 deal only to find because your best friend loves it, you hate it. 

You will have to commit to the membership which is for a minimum of 3 months and I believe in that time you will find some absolute must-have products that you can’t be without whilst st the same time, be daring enough to try a product you like the sound of. For me, those are both the reasons I was drawn in. 

So yes I am happy to report that Beauty Pie is not a scam, parts of it could and should be explained in simpler terms to how they currently are,  but if you do have further questions, then please message me here or on social media and I will do my best to answer them.

I am intending to review my purchases on another post but if you have decided to give BeautyPie a try then Every person who uses Beauty Pie can get a referral code and if you use mine, or anyone’s, you can get your first month of membership fees for free and that existing member gets a top-up credit to their account. So if I have convinced you to try it... hopefully that will help!

Have you joined Beauty Pie yet?

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