Murad Intense Recovery Cream

I love a new Dr Murad product and the latest product to arrive on my lap is the Intense Recovery Cream, which sounds like something I need a vat of after a day back in the office! Described as being a clinically proven, comforting cream for face and eyes, Murad's Intense Recovery Cream reduces the visible signs of stress-induced ageing and redness.

Said to be perfect for skin which is in the state of SOS, this cream is your one stop hydration shop in one little tub which is designed to work to unravel all the damage your skin is currently not happy about and to leave it moisturised, plump and soft to the touch.

What I love about Dr Murad's products are the use of ingredients, they have a reason for being there rather than just sounding good with an over-complicated scientific name which sounds as though it is made up of just vowels. So within this cream you will find the following:

• Shea butter for its moisturising properties
• macadamia oil which also helps to deeply moisturise and comfort skin which is severely dehydrated..
• Mirabilis jalapa plant extract, which is proven to soothe irritation and visible redness associated with sensitive skin and rosacea.
• Microalgae extract, which helps calm the visible signs of stress to reduce the look of expression lines, improve under-eye dark circles and restore radiance.

The ingredients above, not only work to deeply moisturise the skin but also to help relieve severe dryness and in doing so reduce the visible redness and signs of sensitivity. As always with Dr Murad there is a study, this one showed that after a month of usage, 88% of people agreed that their over-stressed skin looked much more relax and calm, 92% agree skin feels comforted and more hydrated and more interestingly 100% agree skin felt soothed.

The cream is incredibly rich and luxurious and it can be used both AM and PM or just on one of those, depending on what and how your skin feels. I prefer to use this as a last step of my evening routine, though have used it for both.  On the skin, you need just a small amount because it is a little goes a long way and whilst it is incredibly gentle on the skin, it works wonders on those dry areas, which for me is always one or both cheeks and between my brows.

Priced at £68, this is an expensive cream, but having used it for months, I am nowhere near finishing it and so far, it has ticked every single box of those promises it made!  You can find this cream with Murad*, Lookfantastic*, Cult Beauty* to name a few.

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

Liberty London - Men Who Moisturise Kit

With Father’s Day on the horizon, there will be an abundance of gift ideas creeping up on us all. From Liberty London comes a lovely kit called “Men Who Moisturise”. The last kit for that special man in your life from Liberty was aptly named “The Men’s Kit” and personally, this latest release is even better.

Launching next week, at the end of May, this grooming kit For Men Who Moisturise features nine men's beauty essentials, and it is worth a pretty impressive £241 and it is on sale now for just £65 here.!

Inside the Tropical Prince Liberty Print bag, which is just stunning, you will find a whole host of brands with their products and it has everything from fragrance and skincare to everyday essentials for the face, hair and body, essentially a collection of products designed to reshape his routine.

Contents

• Escentric Molecules Molcule 04 EDT (30ml)
• Votary Super Seed Nutrient Cream (50ml)
• Margaret Dabbs London Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion (75ml)
• QMS Medicosmetics Replenishing Protection Hand Cream (75ml)
• Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel (40ml)
• 111Skin Sun-zero De-Puffing Energy Facial Mask (single)
• Ruffians Marine Salt Spray (100ml)
• Davines Natural Tech Renewing Shampoo (100ml)

As mentioned, it all comes packaged inside that beautiful Liberty Print bag and it is on sale right now*, so if you want a gift for Father's Day, this would be amazing.

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

YSL x Zoë Kravitz London Sky Lipstick

This is a real pinch me moment for sharing my thoughts, for as long as I can remember, YSL lipsticks have been special memories for me, with shades that family members wore, to the very first big girl purchase of my first YSL lipstick.  Today, I am sharing the YSL x Zoe Kravitz collection.

The YSL x Zoe Kravitz limited edition Lipstick collection features shades inspired by the cities across the world that Zoe Kravitz, YSL Beauty Makeup and Fragrance Ambassador, holds close to her heart - when places meet colours, lipstick tells her story. 

I wanted to bring everyone on a journey that would show the key places in my life.

It is said that from her childhood memories of living in LA to movies being filmed in London, or time spent in the beautiful cities of New York and Paris, Zoe has chosen the cities and those landscapes.

This collection features 8 different shades and the luxurious, eye-catching silver case is said to have been inspired by steel city skyscrapers with a glittering iconic YSL cassandre to mirror sparkling city lights and it is every bit of luxurious to hold in your hands, as the description shares.

I have the shade London Sky which is a warm toned, almost medium dark plum shade and as someone who cannot wear a red lip, this is my shade, this is one I can wear that doesn't make me looked washed out and it is one I have not been afraid to wear.  

On the lips, aside from have a very rich colour coverage, its formula is smooth and with its creamy consistency it glides onto the lips where it stayed for a good 5 hours before fading with a need to be re-applied.  Impressively, it doesn't transfer as much as I had expected too.

The swatch above is completely unedited and taken in natural daylight so you can see just how beautiful it is.  As you can see, the description of it being a deep nude with a red undertone is absolutely spot on.

As well as London Sky you will find 7 other shades:

London: Deep nudes with a red undertone for a statement look and an urban feel

• Shoreditch Walk - a rich creamy chestnut red
• London Sky - A dusky mahogany Red

Paris: Orange reds, steeped in intrigue and excitement

• Lost in Marais - a burnt orange red
• Paris Stroll - a soft carmine red

NYC: Pure reds that take your look to the next level

• Brooklyn Baby - a classic chic red
• NYC Jungle - a red-carpet ready cool red

LA: Burgundy red - modern, fun and fresh in true Hollywood style.

• Midnight LA - a bright burgundy red
• Topanga Sunset - a deep magenta red

Every shade within this collection has been chosen by Zoe to work for every skin tone and if there is a shade which works for me, then there should be a shade which will work for you. All of these shades are available right now via YSL Beauty* and Selfridges* and they are priced at just £30 each.

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

The Ordinary Salicylic 2% Acid Masque Review

This much loved and sought after mask, is the first mask from The Ordinary’s much loved range and it goes out of stock just as quickly as those email alerts arrive to tell you that it is in stock, thankfully I was quick enough to grab it before missing out again. Meet the Salicylic 2% Acid Masque.

I love The Ordinary as a range, the Serum Foundation is one I’ve used time and time again and I have also been using the much hyped concealer, a review of which will appear soon. But this mask is one that intrigued me. Not like a mask you will be expecting, instead with its jelly-like texture, it is enriched with Salicylic 2% Acid which you might also recognise as an ingredient referred to as a BHA (beta hydroxy acid). The job of the salicylic acid is to gently exfoliate and slough all away all the detritus and debris such as dead and dry skin cells to help reduce inflammation, therefore, as it claims, making it an excellent companion for congested, blemish-prone skin types. 

The mask has a jet-black hue, which I absolutely wasn’t expecting, but it comes about because of the inclusion of clarifying charcoal and it works alongside Amazonian Clays (think Kaolin) to give you skin a really deep cleanse because they act likes magnets to draw out excess sebum, the end result being skin which is not only smoother, but also clearer and more radiant. Added to the ingredient list is Squalene, which is a great hydration booster.

Ideal for use twice a week, the Ordinary Salicylic Acid Masque must be used on dry skin. I use a spatula to apply my mask to ensure I get an even coverage on my skin and, as the instructions state, I do apply it whilst avoiding the eye area. Once on the skin, it should be left on for no more than 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. As with most products, you should ideally complete a patch testing prior to use to check for reactions. This masque should not be used on sensitive, peeling, or compromised skin and because it contains beta hydroxy acid (BHA) you will need to use sunscreen, which should be part of your daily routine anyway and limit exposure to sun for a week after use.

My skin absolutely loves this mask, I did the patch test as suggested to check before using as my skin often reacts to products which use clays as an ingredient, but thankfully no reaction occurred.  But, having rarely left the house for the past 12 months other than for a daily walk or to shop for food, spending hours working in front of my laptop has left my skin looking lacklustre and much drier than it would usually be. Having combination-oily skin, I am prone to dryness, so exfoliation and hydration are an absolute must part of my routine, a masque, like this one is a perfect once a week treat and it leaves my skin feeling just amazing, even if those on my Zoom meetings are the only one to benefit the most from my complexion.

Cruelty-free, Vegan, free from the likes of oil, alcohol, silicone, gluten and even nuts, it is priced around £10* and is just amazing, I can understand the hype and why finding it is stock can be a nightmare.

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