Ole Henriksen Balance It All Skincare Set

Having left the U.K. back in 2017, Ole Henriksen, has the returned to UK and can now be found in places such as Boots, making it much easier to get your hands on.  I was kindly gifted the Ole Henriksen Balance It All Skincare Set, which is is on sale for £32* and it is described as being a fabulous set of oil control skincare essentials which are designed to mattify and reduce the appearance of pores, in one effortless routine to leave the skin feeling comfortable and never stripped.

The Ole Henriksen Balance It All Skincare Set is made up of three different products; the Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner, Ole Henriksen Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator and the Ole Henrisksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser - a skincare routine in one box and better still, the sizes are enough to give you the chance to give them a try and see how much you like or hate them without spending a whole lot of money.

The first product I wanted to try was the Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser which comes in 60ml size. Said to be one of the brands best selling products, it is designed to not only reduce excess surface oil on the skin but to also deeply cleanse the pores. This cleanser is ideal for those smog us who have oily/combination skin and thankfully it doesn’t leave the skin feeling stripped of moisture. 

I’ve used this a lot since it arrived and it does do a great job at helping to minimise excess oil, which for me is usually on my nose and chin with dryness on both cheeks, so whilst this cleanser cleans it also helps loosen that dead skin which leaves your complexion looking dull.

The second product within this trio is the Balancing Force Oil Control Toner (60ml) and it is described as being a concentrated pore minimising toner effectively removes excess oil and refines pores—all without stripping skin

This toner, which has a really refreshing peppermint scent, is formulated with a Green Fusion Complex™ which in this case is described as being 'a proprietary blend of potent active botanicals' which includes green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp) and Irish moss extracts. Those botanicals work alongside a powerful blend of both beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) which you might know better as salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids, plus the inclusion of neem seed oil.  All of those ingredients together create a toner for oily skin has a gentle clarifying action that helps unclog, purify and minimise the appearance of pores.

On my skin, I have found it to be one toner which doesn't leave my skin begging for moisture after using it. I love the freshness of the scent and I love even more that it doesn't leave my skin feeling red after ive used it too.

The third and final product within this trio is the Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator. This is a product that Ole Henriksen wishes he had found for himself during his own oily skin struggles.

With its lightweight formula, this mattifying hydrator is designed to give those with oily and/or combination skin types the essential moisture they crave.  The formula, similarly to the Toner above is powered by a Green Fusion Complex™, again, this is a proprietary blend of potent active botanicals such as green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp) and Irish moss extracts and they work alongside the inclusion of neem seed oil and those powerful alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). What it does, is take those ingredient to help keep pores clear and skin matte all day long while maintaining optimal hydration and a healthy balance.

This is an incredible trio of skincare, definitely one to be looking into if you, like me, have oily/combination skin. It is a really good way to get to know a brand they offer kits such as this and even if you don't have oily/combination skin but want to know more, then over at Boots, Ole Henriksen has other kits available - you can find them right here*.

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

Glossybox - November Edition 2020

After the beautiful box offering from Glossybox for October, this month the theme is Make-up and Magic, a theme which is described as being one which is packed with products designed to create a little shimmer, glitter and glow as the end to 2020 rapidly approaches.

Inside the box there is five products from five brands and they include makeup, skincare, hair care and little something Limited Edition!

First out of the box is from LASplash Cosmetics with their Magic Eye-shadow Palette.  This eyeshadow palette urges you to summon mystical forces with the most magical highlighting palette ever created.

The palette features eight eyeshadow shades, which for someone like me who loves their neutral shades with the option to move from that subtle day eye to the more smoked evening look, this then ticks both of those boxes.  The eight shades are:

• Selenite - A Satin vanilla
• Sunstone - A satin naked peach tone
• Aragonite - An intense toasty orange matte shade 
• Tigers Eye - A Rich chocolate brown matte shade
• Rose Quartz - A silvery rose foil shade
• Citrine - A gold 24k foil shadow. 
• Amber - An intense copper foil shade.
• Onyx - An intense matte black blends easily to create the perfect smokey eye

Each shade featured is 10g and I love that whilst the palette is made from a really strong cardboard, it also features a mirror on the top half too.

The second item out of the box is the Limited Edition B07 Brush from Spectrum Collections and it is described as being a tall pointed blending brush.

Made with the softest of bristles, which are synthetic, this Limited Edition black and gold brush is tapered at the tip to give it that flame shaped brush that effortlessly glides across the lid and into the crease of the eye for seamless blending of pressed and powder pigments.

This months box has the choice of three masks included within the selection - two for the face and one for your hair.

The first one for your face comes from Que Bella with the Recharge and Restore Moonstone Glitter Gel Mask.

Described as being a hydrating mask to help leave your skin looking and feeling radiant, it contains enchanting moonstone extract which helps to rejuvenate the skin as well as conditioning caffeine. Other ingredients include charcoal powder which helps to detoxify the skin of impurities and excess oils, Sodium Hyaluronate which helps to plump and firm the skin, and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Ad for the glitter particles, well they give the mask a whole lot of fun, but don't do anything for your skin.

The second mask comes from Generation Clay with the Ultraviolet Brightening Purple Clay Mask.

This Brightening Purple Clay Mask is described as being "a hard-working beauty hero that works to rejuvenate dull and tired skin while brightening dark circles and pigmentation". It is  infused with witch hazel to extract excess oil, Vitamin E to protect against free radicals and desert lime to boost hydration.

Then finally from Hask we have the Argan Oil Repairing Deep Conditioner, something we could all do with I am sure. I know I could given it has been almost 8 months since a salon has been graced with my hair!

As a deep conditioner, this is a super strengthening, hydrating treatment that works to repair the look of dry, damaged and over-processed hair. It is formulated with organic argan oil, unique to Morocco and its job is to help reduce split-ends and leave the most damaged hair soft and nourished.

So there you have five products to make you feel fabulous and glam, even if for the time being you are moving from Bed to Sofa and perhaps to Tesco to do that food shop. I am a big believer in having a routine, even though I have been working from home since March. This includes face masks, hair masks, self-care Sundays and the application of makeup so I can look human on Zoom or Teams!

As you will all know, Glossybox is a beauty box subscription service and it costs as little as £11 per month here*. 

If you have followed the Glossybox journey over the past year, then you will know that most boxes sell out super quickly, so I expect this one to do just that.

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

CLOUD 10 – 12 DAYS OF SLAY ADVENT CALENDAR 2020

There are still one or two Beauty Advent Calendars for 2020 still to be revealed, but this year there has been quite a lot, all of which you can find here!  Today is the turn of Cloud 10 who offer some amazing products on there site too.

Called the 12 Days Of Slay Vol III, this Advent Calendar has a white and copper snowflake design and being 12 drawers of products, it features some amazing brands and their products which I've listed below. 

If you don't want to see what is inside, then the Advent Calendar is on sale here* for just £71.10 and it is worth almost £400!

CONTENTS

• Alpha-H Liquid Gold 30ml
• Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer MINI
• CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF25 FULL SIZE
• Emma Hardie Purifying Pink Clay Detox Mask DELUXE SIZE
• Illamasqua Antimatter Lipstick Shade Rocket FULL SIZE
• NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi Usage Dry Oil 30ml+ Rêve de Miel Hand & Nail Cream 30ml
• Pestle & Mortar Hydrate Lightweight Moisturiser 30ml
• PIXI Glow Tonic 100ml
• Spotlight Teeth Whitening Strips Set of 10
• Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow DELUXE SIZE
• Tan-Luxe Super Glow SPF30 Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum FULL SIZE
• Zelens Power C High Potency Serum Treatment Drops FULL SIZE

There is quite a mixture of products as you can see with everything from makeup and skincare to body care. This Cloud 10 12 Days of Slay Advent Calendar is on sale here* for just £71.10 and it is worth almost £400!

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

Beauty Expert Advent Calendar 2020 – 12 Days of Christmas worth £495

I think it is fairly obvious that I am a huge fan of Beauty Advent Calendars and they’re something I have covered on my blog back before they became popular, with posts going back to 2014! Today I am sharing the unboxing of the Beauty Expert Advent Calendar* with you and it is incredible.

Featuring 12 days of Christmas, inside there is a mixture of skincare, makeup and hair care and includes brands such as Avant, ESPA and Balance Me.

Take your Christmas countdown to new heights this festive season with a luxurious beauty product waiting for you behind every door…

This Advent Calendar is worth an incredible £495, but it is on sale for just £100, whilst stocks last!  Want to know what is inside? Continue reading below for a complete day by day unboxing.

Day One - Avant Harmonious Rose Quartz Revitalising & Firming Mask - This is a full-sized mask in its 50ml pot and it is worth £65.

It has been formulated to lift away dirt and impurities, this face mask is enriched with Rose Extract and Hyaluronic Acid. The Rose gently buffs your skin’s surface, revealing a smoother finish below, whilst Hyaluronic Acid locks in moisture to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Day Two - From Illamasqua comes an Ultramatter Lipstick, which is full size and worth £20.

In this Calendar, I have the shade Obscene which is a bright and bold Blackberry shade and one which is perfect for winter. In keeping with Illamasqua lipsticks if you have ever used one, they are incredibly pigmented and all without being drying. There is a shade variation within the Advent Calendars.

Day Three - ECooking is a brand I happen to absolutely adore and one I have featured many times on my blog, with more to come.  For day three, the offering is the Neck & Décolletage Cream, which is again a full size 50ml and is worth £43.

Specially developed for use on the neck, chest and décolletage and it is packed full of amazing ingredients such as Hyadisine, a regenerative and protective ingredient, as this cream is designed to address signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation, you can also expect to see the likes of Hyaluronic Acid, Organic Sunflower Oil and Niacinimide alongside Ultra Soft Focus Cellulobeads which help to plump your neck and décolletage. 

Day Four - From ESPA comes the Optimal Skin Promoisturiser which is a full sized pot at 55ml and is worth £48.

This is a non-greasy cream which absorbs itself really quickly. Designed to restore a radiant complexion, it is packed with skin-friendly ingredients such as South African Resurrection Plant, which is a fabulous name, it works to revive dehydrated skin, Navarra Asparagus Extract which is said to target signs of premature ageing and Yeast Bioferment which revitalises, for visibly radiant, beautiful skin.

Day Five - Medik8 is a brand I always see all over my Instagram feed and therefore is one I feel I need to try.  For day 5 we have the Medik8 hydr8 B5 Serum, again a full size at 30ml and priced at £40.

This serum is fortified with Vitamin B5 and Hyaluronic Acid which together work to deliver long-lasting moisture and hydration for a smoother, more refined complexion. It is Cruelty-free, vegan friendly and free from alcohol, paraben and artificial fragrance. 

Day Six - For day 6 we have the Delilah Pure Light Liquid Radiance in shade Lunar. Another full sized product worth £18.

Created to add luminosity to your skin, this lightweight liquid illuminator is absolutely beautiful. It has a really lightweight formula which is enriched with Vitamin E to protect the skin from environmental aggressors. What I love that you can use it as a highlighter or you can mix it in with your foundation or as I have done, my tinted moisturiser to add a bit of a glow.

Day Seven - We now move to haircare for day 7 with Grow Gorgeous and the Volume Root Stimulating Primer, again a full sized product and worth £24 for 200ml.

This Volume Root Stimulating hair primer is packed with some amazing ingredients such as rejuvenating Caffeine, nourishing Red Algae and uplifting Menthol, all of which come together and work to help you achieve enviable body and volume. We then see the inclusion of Rice Protein and Amino Acids and they work to promote a satiny shine and the general health of your hair.

Day Eight - Here we have the Mauli Supreme Skin Cleansing Oil and at 100ml this is another full sized product worth £44.

Described as being a nutrient rich oil which draws on ancient Ayurvedic properties, it is 100% natural and is comprised of 18 botanical ingredients, all with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Those ingredients include the likes of Moringa, Jojoba, Rosehip and Jasmine which work together to effectively remove all traces of makeup, dead skin, dirt and impurities without stripping away your skin’s natural oils. 

Day Nine - From Balance Me comes the Radiance Face Oil and this is another full sized product worth £30.

This facial oil’s quick absorbing formula promises to hydrate, illuminate and target signs of ageing. Fortified with a range of natural oils, including Camellia and Rosehip, to soften your complexion and improve the appearance of scarring and discolouration.

Day Ten - From Doctor's Formula we have the Anti-Ageing Restoring Night Moisturiser which for 50ml is worth a staggering £119!

Described as being a treat when your skin is at its most receptive, this overnight facial moisturiser is blended with Marine Collagen amino acids and Soluble Collagen which provide intense hydration and moisture. There is also the inclusion of antioxidant-rich Coconut Oil to protect against external aggressors and bringing everything together should give you a brighter, firmer, more youthful complexion when you wake up.

Day Eleven - From Bloom & Blossom we have the All Night Long Calming Sleep Spray which is also full sized and worth £15.

Calling itself the pillow mist of dreams, it boasts a formula which is fuelled by natural ingredients such as Frakincense, Linden Blossom and Rose Flower Water, together they help create a calming environment before you sleep and it smells just incredible. This Sleep Spray is 99% natural, vegan and cruelty-free.

Day Twelve - Inside the final Beauty Expert Advent Calendar Drawer we have the Prai Ageless Eye Tight Uplight Serum and it is as you might have guessed, full sized and is worth £30.

Described as being a concentrated treatment which works to target signs of ageing specifically around the delicate eye area. With both IDEALIFT™ and NULASTIC SILK™ which work to rebuild skin structure and boost natural elastin levels for a plumping effect. This serum is also enriched with PRAI’s precious oil to help the eye area feel soft, supple and nourished.

For me, this is an amazing advent calendar, there is a whole host of products I have never tried or come across and I like the that there is a the inclusion of makeup and skincare to hair care and well-being.  Each one of these products is available to purchase on their own via Beauty Expert, though it is such great value for money to purchase the Advent Calendar, even as a gift for someone.  

The Beauty Expert 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar is on sale here* for £100 but it is worth a massive £495!

 

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