Murad Vita-C Brightening Duo

I am a bit of a fan when it comes to Dr Murad and his skincare range. I absolutely adore the Prebiotic 4-in-1 Multicleanser which I showcased just a few weeks ago. Today is the turn of the Vita-C Brightening Duo, which seem to be absolutely everywhere on my social media right now!

The Vita-C Brightening Duo features two products - Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector and the Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum and honestly, there two are such an amazing team and quite possibly the best skincare that I have used in a very very long time!

As someone who more than suffers with their lack of sleep, something, that if you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen a lot of. I often have no problems falling asleep, it is staying asleep which is often the issue and that of course leads to dark circles, puffiness and looking like absolute rubbish! Murad claims that  this Gold-stabilised vitamin C eye serum (£52 here) fights the look of dark circles in as little as 2 weeks.

The Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector uses light-reflecting micro-minerals instantly brighten the eye area and is said to use a one-of-a-kind Vita-C Complex which enhances L-ascorbic acid stability and potency. The skin around the eye is pretty thin compared to the rest of your face and is one of the first places to show discolouration and signs of ageing. So Vitamin C is an important ingredient because it delivers enhanced antioxidant defense for brighter, healthier-looking skin.

This product uses ingredients such as Red and Brown Algea Extracts which work to visibly de-puff and soothe under-eye area skin. Cucumber Extract which hydrates to visibly smooth wrinkles and Gold Stabilized Vitamin C which delivers higher antioxidant defense, is highly bioavailable for increased absorption, and ensures the stability and potency of vitamin C in skin.

What I love about this serum is that it is lightweight and incredibly hydrating, but what I wasn't expecting was to find it is a nude shade when dispensed, this is where that brightening look comes in. I learnt a long time a go that I need a lot of concealer to look relatively awake most days, but using the Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector means I have been using a lot less and over time, I have noticed quite the difference in how my eyes look, anyone would think I was getting a full 8 hours a night sleep!

The second product within this due is the Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum (£72 here) which is described as being a potent antioxidant to shield against the damage wrought by everyday aggressors as it works to lessen dark spots and recover luminosity, vitamin C both protects and perfects your complexion.

This serum is housed inside a protective dual-chambered bottle which brings together the formula, which has a pearlescent hue.  Using three main ingredients, the first is Gold-stabilized Vitamin C which delivers higher antioxidant defense and is highly bioavailable for increased absorption, but more importantly it ensures the stability and potency of vitamin C in skin. Then we have Glycolic Acid which removes the dulling surface cells to enhance vitamin C delivery before finally Phyto-Luminescent Extract transforms UV into a source of light that radiates directly from the skin.

On the skin, this formula absorbs into the skin incredibly quickly and in doing so gets to work to improve the look of pigmentation and uneven skin tone making it a great product for those who want to deal with sun damage and even post-blemish scarring.

There is no doubt that this is an incredibly effective duo, which make quite the team when used alongside each other. Perfect for all skin types and tones, I am yet to find a duo that works half as good as these two!

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

Glossybox 9th Birthday Edition

Can you believe that Glossybox is 9 years old! To celebrate, this incredible box has been released to mark the occasion and I absolutely love everything about it, especially the amazing bow which sits on the front of the box.

Inside the box there is five products which completes a mixture of makeup, skincare and bodycare and of the five products, four of them are full size!

First out of the box is a sneak peak into the world of the newly launched Glossybox Skincare range, something you will have seen on my blog earlier this week here in all its glory and as you might expect, everything about it is pink!.  

This cream is described as being the ultimate treatment. Using Elderflower Extract, Eyebright Plant Extract and Red Seaweed and together they work to reduce bags, dark circles and refresh tired looking eyes all without irritation.

The second item within the box comes from Huda Beauty with the Demi Matte Cream Lipstick and there will be a choice of 10 different shades in boxes, so you might not get the same one as your friend, but I love that there are different shades.

I have shade Sheikha which is a deep rose shade and I happen to really like it. On the lips it dries to a satin finish which creates a nice sheen without being overly tacky or sticky to the touch. The doe foot applicator picks up the right about of product and helps with the application, without needing to constantly swipe back and forth for coverage.

The next item in the box comes from Molton Brown and it is the deluxe mini of the beautifully scented Delicious Rhubarb and Rose Bath and Shower Gel.

Using Notes of Tart Rhubarb and Rose are balanced by zesty Yuzu Fruit and sparkling Grapefruit, this gel makes for quite the refreshing and rejuvenating scent that I absolutely love. To date, this is my favourite scent from the range.

Keeping with the pink theme, which I am sure by now you will have noticed, we have the HD Wonder Sponge from Brushworks which I have used before and actually quite like to have as a back up for my other sponges.

Described as being  a latex-free, three-in-one design for professional makeup results. With three sides to use, the advice is to use the large, rounded sides to apply foundation, the flat side for expert contouring, and the pointed tip for precision tasks around the eyes and nose.

Finally from Steve Laurant we have the Vogue Lip Liner which is a great pinky nude shade which works well with most of the lipsticks I own and wear regularly.

Described as being completely waterproof, so no transferring or bleeding all day long, it glides onto the lips without dragging.

I think this is a great box and I love that there is a theme to it - birthday and pink! Glossybox is, as I am sure you are aware is a membership subscription service and it costs as little as £8.50 per month. Again, this particular box has sold out, but the September box is ready to be snapped up.

Find out what Glossybox has in store for their Advent Calendar right here.

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

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Firming & Hydrating Collection

Launching on QVC at 9pm on August 15th, Alpha-H have a very special collection launching as a TSV (today’s special value) to celebrate their 15th anniversary of being in the UK and it is one you don't want to miss, whether you are a fan of Alpha-H or are yet to discover them.

Alpha-H, if you are not aware of them, are a brand which has a great story to tell, one from the personal perspective of Michelle Doherty, the incredible lady who evolved this brand into what has become quite the phenomenon. Sadly, Michelle passed away a few weeks ago, so this celebration feels all the more poignant right now.

To celebrate the brand's 15th Anniversary in the UK, Alpha-H has partnered with QVC to offer a very unique limited-edition collection which features three of the brands most iconic and innovative formulations and dare I suggest, products too! 

The Liquid Gold Firming & Hydration Collection for me, is very much about showing the best Alpha-H has along with how it has evolved and changed over time. 

The Three Products:

Alpha-H Liquid Gold - If ever a brand had a cult product, it is this one for Alpha-H, where it all began, got noticed, took off, became a bit famous and is possibly the one product everyone will think of.  I have featured Liquid Gold in its many forms on my blog quite a few times now.

Described as being a powerful nighttime resurfacing treatment, Liquid Gold works to tighten and revitalise tired, ageing skin as well as helping to radically improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, open pores and acne-prone skin conditions. It is packed full of amazing ingredients such as Liquorice which helps combat acne and hyper-pigmentation and Glycolic Acid (derived from sugar cane) to jump-start the skin's metabolism - refining its texture by dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, so they're sloughed away.

Liquid Gold Firming Eye Cream - Aside from Liquid Gold and the Perfecting Skin Moisturiser which I adore, this Eye Cream ticks a lot of boxes too. Said to be the ultimate topical dermal corrector for the eye area with quadruple peptide technology. 

It uses a complex of seven skin brighteners, illuminating Diamond Powder and Lime Pearl Extract which is a new natural source of gentle fruit acids derived from Caviar Lime found in the rainforests on the Australian East Coast. Abundant in citric acid and bioflavonoids, Lime Pearl accelerates cell turnover to soften and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a delight to use with its metallic applicator, even better if it has been in the fridge!

The final item within this trio is the Essential Hydration Cream.  This cream is described as being one which soothes, repairs and revitalises lacklustre complexions and it is suitable for even delicate skin types.

Lightweight in texture, this cream suspends sea minerals, fatty acids and youth-restoring peptides in the finest essential oils and its key ingredients include things like Evening Primrose Oil and Linoleic Acid which nourish and improve the skin's elasticity, Rose Geranium Oil which helps to stimulate healing and balance sebum production and then antioxidant Vitamin E which hydrates and repairs cell damage from environmental aggression's.  Designed to be applied liberally every morning and evening after cleansing, it is incredibly lightweight on the skin and it smells as heavenly as it feels when applied!

Together this trio make quite the team, a reminder of just how amazing Michelle was and whose legacy will continue to wow audiences, a great introduction to the brand if you are yet to board the Alphaholic bandwagon (affectionate term given to Alpha-H fans) and a great way to stock up if you need more Alpha-H in your stash!

A reminder that it launches at 9pm on QVC with Tom Ogden on August 15th (so right about no) until August 16th - so if you want it, snap it up quick! As ever it will be an amazing price!

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

L'Occitane Green Day 2020

The L'Occitane Green Day will take place from 14th -16th August 2020 and as they celebrate for every eco-refill purchased over this period, £5 will go to supporting our local partnership with Surfers Against Sewage! Refilling has been part of the brands ethos since L’OCCITANE’s conception, when founder Olivier Baussan sold his products at markets around Provence. He encouraged customers to bring back glass bottles to be refilled or recycled at a glass factory in Nice.

Since then, L’OCCITANE has maintained this ethos; we launched TerraCycle beauty recycling points in all UK boutiques, we have only ever used paper bags, we work with Loop Industries TM in order to achieve the goal of using 100% sustainable PET in 100% of L’OCCITANE product packaging meaning that products are encased in recycled and recyclable plastic, and we have designed eco-refills for 25 product lines across skincare, body care and hair care.

This August, as L'Occitane focus on reducing waste, and what better way to do so than by refilling your most loved L’OCCITANE products consciously, for me that is the Almond Shower Oil.  The current L’OCCITANE refill pouches launched in 2008, are available across 15 different product lines, in both skincare, and body care! I am a huge fan of the L'Occitane refill process, before the Lockdown, I used to take my empties to be re-filled as often as I could, removing the need to use plastic bottles more than necessary.  Each of the eco-refills use up to 90% less plastic, reducing L’OCCITANE’s plastic consumption by 10%. The aim for 2020 is to save at least 170 tons of plastic.

Surfers Against Sewage have a 30 year history of protecting our oceans and beaches. One of their many achievements is having contributed to 98.5% of England’s bathing waters passing the Bathing Water Directive’s minimum standards in 2016, compared to what would have been only 27% in 1990 when they started campaigning on the sewage issue.  Their Mission: Surfers Against Sewage believe in thriving oceans and thriving people. Connecting everyone to the ocean and creating communities of people who want to make real change happen.

 

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