Lookfantastic Restoration Edit January 2021

Restoration is the theme for the January LookFantastic Beauty Box and their focus for 2021 is to spread self-love. The hope is that from this months box, right through to December you will feel confident, uplifted and take those much-needed moments of escape and stress of daily life.

This months box, which is a beautiful purple colour, features 6 products across skincare and makeup, some are brands you will recognise and some will be ones you might not be too familiar with.

First out of my box from Starskin is the Hollywood Hand Model Hand Mask Gloves. Described as being a hand mask design to hydrate dry hands and cuticles, this product draws on an innovative double layer technology that produces a sauna affect to help repair condition and suffering even the roughest of hands. 

The gloves are infused with softening Shea Butter alongside a blend of 16 Botanical Extracts and Oils which coat the hands with a powerful serum l, helping to increase hydration and visible suppleness. There is also a unique blend of Goji Berry, Macadamia Nut and Olive Oil which work together to deeply nourish whilst Liquorice and Peony Roots are included to visibly heal and brighten the hands. 

The second product comes from SVR with the Intense Moisturising Cream and it has been designed specifically for dry and sensitive skin.

Fortified with Physiological Sugars and 60% Physio-Adapted Water, the formula, which is really lightweight, absorbs quickly to lock in moisture to deliver an immediate, intense and continuous blast of hydration.all of this without being overly greasy ticks a lot of boxes.

Up next is Grow Gorgeous with their Balance Shine enhancing overnight mask which is designed to nourish the hair from root to top.

Designed to work overnight, this mask deeply conditions, enhancing your hair’s natural shine, leaving your hair soft and frizz-free, but that’s not all! Thanks to an impressive list of ingredients, as well as working your hair, it also targets the scalp. You’ll find the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid which smooths and moisturises the hair to give it a shiny finish, Tung Wood which works to fight frizz whilst also targeting heat damage and then we have blended Green Tea Extract and Fruit Acid whose job is to nourish hair from the inside out, smoothing the cuticles which in turn works to enhance your hair’s natural gloss and shine. 

Moving onto makeup and the first product within this box comes from So Eco with their Complexion Sponge.

Designed to give that flawless makeup up, this sponge is said to be suitable for use with cream and liquid products. Crafted from latex-based foam, this sponge has a specially shaped design for seamless blending plus a pointed tip for hard-to-reach crevices.

From Sleek we have the Matte Me Liquid Lipstick which is described as being an Ultra Smooth Matte Lip Cream and within the box will be one of four shades. I have the shade French Fancy.

French Fancy is a beautiful shade of pink, it isn't bright Barbie Pink, but is most definitely a pink. Lightweight on the lips, it has an intense pigment which as well as giving a matte finish, is a comfortable finish and doesn’t leave your lips feeling as though they might crack if you move them.

Finally within this months box is the dr Botanicals with the Avocado and Cucumber Cleansing Bar (some boxes have the Verso eye cream as an alternative product).

This is the product that you catch a whiff of as soon as you remove the lid from the box and it’s delightful. Described as being a gentle, antibacterial cleansing soap, it’s job is to cleanse and purify both the face and body. It is infused with calming ingredients such as avocado and cucumber, hence the name to soften and nourish the skin and it foams into a lather pretty well when it comes into contact with warm water.

This months box is quite the mix, not one I feel quite fits with the theme. Restoration for me, within the beauty term means to strip it back and start again - masks for the face, hands, hair and body as well as products to help you relax, unwind and just take time to be yourself. That said, the products are absolutely lovely.

Lookfantastic is, as I am sure you will know a monthly beauty box subscription service which costs as little as £15 per month here* and every month the claim is that you are guaranteed to receive a box of products worth at least £50. 

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

ASOS Vegan Box January 2021

With January being Veganuary month, the time of year when we are all meant to sign up to and commit to trying the Vegan way of life for one month. So, it is unsurprising to see a brand finally put together a box of products which are entirely Vegan - ASOS have done just that, with this box.

The ASOS Vegan Beauty Box features five products and, in keeping with the rest of the boxes ASOS have to offer, it is just £12* and at this price, is said to give a saving of 75%.

Contents 

• 1 x Miss Patisserie Matcha Bath Ball
• 1 x Love Beauty And Planet Shea Velvet Body Lotion
• 1 x Aveda Shampure Hand And Body Wash: 50ml
• 1 x We Are Paradoxx Hangover Hair Elixir: 15ml
• 1 x bareMinerals Mineral Veil

Within this box you get a really good mixture of brands and their products with everything from hair and body care to makeup and all for just £12.

As with all ASOS boxes, they tend to sell out really quickly and it is very rare that they boxes come back into stock once they are sold out.

You can find the ASOS Vegan box right here*.

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

Feelunique Lunar New Year Box

A new box has arrived from Feelunique! The Feelunique Lunar New Year Box is worth almost £173 but is on sale right now for just £50*!

A lot of brands are celebrating the new Lunar Year with beauty products and this is quite an amazing box, packed full of brands and their products. 

Here is what is inside:

Contents

• Huda Beauty Coral Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette 10g: Featuring two duo-chrome shimmers and seven creamy matte shadows, this palette features shades of burnt orange and dusty pinks.
• Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate 10ml: Said to include the exclusive ImuGeneration technology, this serum works from within to repair, strengthen and reinforce your skin’s natural immunity. 
• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream 5ml: This cream’s soothing combination of Petrolatum, Beta-Hydroxy and Vitamin E will moisturise and protect against all of your dry skin needs.
• Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Glossy Black 1.7ml Falsies? This 5-in-1 mascara is said to deliver the perfect curl, separation, volume, length and drama.
• John Freida Frizz Ease Secret Agent Touch Up Crème 30ml: This touch-up crème seals in moisture to eliminate flyaways between styling. 
• Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Clarify + Clear Mask 7ml: Infused with soothing Zinc Oxide, Sulfur and Camphor to cleanse blemish-prone skin, this detox mask means business. Suitable for use on the entire face or can be used as a spot treatment. 
• Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil 30ml: this is one of my favourite skincare oils.  It is infused with rare Camelina 'Gold of Pleasure' Oil to combat harmful free radicals. 
• Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Serum 7ml: Enriched with an age-defying cocktail of Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10 and Vitamin C, Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Serum is perfect for tackling those dark spots and discolouration. 
• Rodial Soft Focus Glow Drops 10ml: Said to be a skincare-makeup hybrid, these glow drops double up as an illuminating primer and a complexion-saving serum. Can be worn underneath makeup, or alone. 
• Noble Isle Fireside Bath & Shower Gel 50ml: This Bath and Shower Gel is infused with Cinnamon and Cyprus Oil and is said to help conjure up aromas of a weekend in the country with its gentle, woody tones.
• Sarah Chapman Platinum Stem Cell Eye Mask: Using cutting-edge stem cell technology with actives like Effipulp® peptide, this bespoke eye mask targets eye-based issues and the precise design means crow’s feet and frown muscles aren’t forgotten. 
• Philip Kingsley PK Prep Perfecting Spray 50ml: Described as being a frizz-fighting, lightweight primer spray, it is the secret to an immaculate blow-dry.

This box is offering everything from makeup and skincare to body and hair care. I love the great range of products within this box and can’t believe it costs just £50!

You can find this box on sale, here* on FeelUnique!

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

NeuroSkinFeeds - The MicroOil

Discovering new brands is definitely a perk of blogging. I have met so many new brands during 2020, despite the Pandemic doing its best to bring the world to a standstill.  One of those brands is NeuroSkinFeeds with their product called The MicroOil.

Whenever I am sent products to try, such as this one, I really like to ensure I have given it a good few weeks of use before sharing my thoughts, something I am proud of doing. I have had this oil for a few months now and having never come across the brand or the product, I am impressed with what I have tried.

Suitable for all skin types, this oil is described as being an oil that takes care of your skin, your mind and your mood. As a formula, it is also a  lightweight super skin serum, packed with omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. I have combination oily skin, so whilst I can have a shiny face come mid-afternoon, my skin is also quite dry, especially around my t-zone, so I do find that oils are my friend.

Packaged in a 50ml bottle, this oil is dispensed using a pipette, which I love to use when it comes to products such as those one and, as well as being vegan, 100% natural and cruelty-free, this oil is packaged full of amazing ingredients, which, as mentioned, are chosen to look after your skin and balance your mood and your mind. You will find,

• Camelina Sativa oil - This is a strong antioxidant due to high vitamin E content; acts as an anti-inflammatory, it also calms sensitised skin, whilst adding moisture; boosts the immune system and because it is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, it is suitable for all skin conditions.
• Plukentia volubilis seed oil - This one protects against the damaging effects of sun exposure; helps to regulate oil production; maintains elasticity; soothes and prevents inflammation; promotes softness, smoothness, and suppleness; hydrates the skin without clogging the pores and it also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines
• Sweet almond oil - Described as being a skin-conditioner, ot only does it help to soften, nourish and hydrate, it also adds nutrients including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and vitamin E which together help to replenish and reduce dryness in the upper layers of the skin; it also adds moisture and relieve itching; helps to minimise signs of premature ageing and it also creates a natural glow.
• Squalene oil - An ingredient I love to see in products because of how good it is for the skin, it helps to fight off skin-damaging free radicals which as well know, contribute to the signs of ageing. It also helps to balance oil production; it has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with skin conditions such as acne and eczema. It also helps to boost blood circulation, promoting the formation of collagen for firmer, plumper skin.

These oils have been selected not just because of the benefits they have for the skin but also for the benefit they have when it comes to creating a positive effect on mental wellbeing. This is because they contain ingredients such as tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin and serotonin is the key hormone that stabilises our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness, to many it is known as the feel-good hormone. Omega 3 also reduces inflammation in the brain, which can cause mood shifts, headaches and more. 

Knowing it does all of this, the advice when it comes to use is to press 2- 4 drops into the palm of your hands and then press onto a freshly cleansed face and neck morning and night after toning, but before the application of your moisturiser or sunscreen.  The oil does have a really clean scent, not one you would immediately pick up on straight away as there isn't an ingredient which dominates, but is subtle.

As for my skin, applying it twice a day after cleansing, especially when my skin is feeling quite dry has been a delight, being non-greasy it doesn't leave a film on the skin, what it does is absorb into the skin and with it comes a hydrated feeling, not forgetting that my skin feels soft and smooth to the touch.

Priced at £49 here, this is an absolute luxury but divine.

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