Lookfantastic x Rosie Connolly August Beauty Box

This months Lookfantastic box for August has arrived and firstly, how is it August already and secondly, this is a really good box!

Unusually for Lookfantastic, this months box doesn’t have a theme, previous themes have included the Wanderlust edition which lay month gave that cute carry case and then Eco Elements back in June. All of these alongside boxes which focus on one brand such as the soon to launch Omorovicza Box, which is incredibly exciting and then we are still awaiting information on the collaboration with Revolution!

So this months box sees Lookfantastic tram up with fashion influencer Rosie Connolly, whose name you might recognise from the Colour Wow box which launched back in February. Another slight change to this months box is the inclusion of a QR code in place of the Lookfantastic Magazine, the QR code instead linking you to everything you need to know about this months box.

The first product out of this months box which caught my attention was the AHC Natural Essential Mask Sheet Mask. This soothing sheet mask, which is crafted from 10% cotton, is described as being once which is powered by a host of nourishing ingredients that work to comfort and replenish the look of tired, angry skin.

This mask, which is gentle enough to use on even sensitive skin types. Using Aqua Ceramide which defends against uncomfortable dryness while locking in a layer of moisture as well as other nurturing properties which help to quench parched skin with an intense surge of hydration, leaving the visage supple and silky to the touch.  Full-Size worth £11.

The second product from the box is from Percy & Reed with their Hold It Right There! Strong Hold Hairspray (50ml). 

Described as being a genius lightweight spray for heat protected, brushable locks. The ultra-fine formula works with expert ingredients to resist humidity and provide a flexible hold, so flyaways stay in place, but your hair maintains its movement.  This 50ml can, which is handy for your handbag or travel bag is worth £7.

The next product is from AHAVA with the Superfood Kale & Turmeric Smoothing Body Lotion.

This incredibly lightweight body lotion from AHAVA’s bodycare collection envelops your skin in a plumping, smoothing cushion of long-lasting hydration. It boasts a soft, milky texture that absorbs rapidly into skin, the lotion plumps the skin with moisture, instantly refining patches of dry, rough skin to restore its silky-smooth texture while at the same time protecting it from environmental aggressors. This 40ml tube is worth £8.

This months box does feature a makeup item alongside all the hair and skincare and it comes from Ciate with their Glow-To Illuminating Blush in the shade Matchmaker.

Described as being a virtually weightless powder that dusts your complexion with a luminous, rosy-hued iridescence. It is said that this product will give up to 12-hours of smudge- and cake-free wear and the finely milled formula contains an ombré blend of matte blusher with ultra-refined highlight pigments which help to create a natural looking flush of colour with a subtle shimmer in one simple sweep.  This 2.5G mini blush is said to be worth £11.60.

The next brand is GLOV Mask Off Mask Remover Cloth. GLOV is a brand I’ve come to know through my love of beauty boxes and this is the first time I’ve had this particular product.

This mitt which is described as being an innovative cleansing mitt fits over your hand and is designed to quickly and effectively remove face masks from the skin. It is made from special polyester fibre, the mask removal tool expertly draws and removes the remains of your face mask without absorbing it. Instead of exfoliating the skin, the fibres slide over the surface, dissolving the mask whether it is a mud or clay and it doesn’t need to be used with anything other than water. Full sized product worth £8.90.

The final product in this months also is also a shaircare product and it is one I can never rave about enough! It is the incredible Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo and I’ve got a full review of it right here.

This Dry Shampoo is powered by the Living Proof patented Healthy Hair Molecule and it has a 'Triple-Action Cleaning Technology' which not only absorbs and removes oil, sweat and odour, it also makes your hair look and feels clean, all with those telltale white drops all over your clothes and no itchy scalp after using. This a 92ml can and it is worth £11.

So that’s the Lookfantastic August Beauty Box 2021 and as I said, it is a brilliant box, full of amazing brands and their products. If you like the look of this edit, it does on sale from August 1st and as Lookfantastic Beauty Box is a monthly subscription service* membership starts at £15 per month, but with the code BBSUN there is £5 off. There is also further membership offers of signing up for a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription to save money.

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

HARRODS The Beauty Box Hair & Beauty Salon Edition

From Harrods we have The Beauty Box Hair & Salon Edition Beauty Box which is described as being packed with skincare goodies and haircare heroes designed to give you that feelgood glow.  This isn’t the first time Harrods have offered a beauty box, they have them fairly frequently, but for me, this is one of their best yet.

The Beauty Box Hair & Beauty Salon Edition has been put together to celebrate the opening of the new Hair & Beauty Salon here at Harrods. If you have ever been to Harrods, it has the most wonderful beauty section that is an absolute delight to walk around and lose yourself in, but having had a slight makeover, I can imagine it is even more incredible. 

This box, which is worth over £200 is on sale right now for just £59 which is a real bargain and it has been filled with a selection of full-size products, travel-friendly miniatures and covetable samples of the salon’s bestselling brands. 

Contents

• Murad Nutrient Water Gel 7.5ml, 
• Olaplex No.3 100ml, 
• Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm 50ml, 
• Temple Spa Trufflesque 7ml, 
• Aromatherapy Associates City Serenity Bath & Shower Oil 3ml, 
• Larry King A Social Life For Your Hair 30ml, 
• Rahua Hydration Shapoo 22ml, 
• Rahua Hydration Conditioner 22ml, 
• Sisley Hair Rituel Precious Hair Oil 10ml, 
• Christophe Robin Purifing Sea Salt Scrub 40ml, 
• Maroc Maroc Caresse de Neroli 40ml, 
• QMS Collagen System Discovery Set 3 x 5.5ml

For a box worth over £200, this is a really good collection of products which fits with the theme “ HARRODS The Beauty Box Hair & Beauty Salon Edition” showing off some of the best Harrods has to offer, though there is a whole lot more!

You can find this box on sale, here, for just £59.

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

Aldi Lacura Cleansing Balm - Emma Hardie Dupe?

Aldi have a bit of a thing for creating dupes - from good and drink to homeware and beauty. The latest edition to their beauty line has created quite the stir because it is claimed to be a £6.99 dupe of this much-loved Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, which just so happens to be my favourite cleansing balm ever, so how does this version compare?

The Aldi description of their Lacura Cleansing Balm. reads: 

"Try an alternative luxury way of taking off your make-up with the Lacura Cleansing Balm. The lightweight formula is enriched with moringa oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. It transforms from a solid balm into a silky smooth oily texture to remove make-up and dirt leaving your skin deeply cleansed. Implement into your daily routine to help your skin feel balanced, refreshed and hydrated."

From the description alone it sounds pretty much like my beloved Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm with its Moringa Oil, the ingredient that gives the balm that most incredible scent. It is also a solid balm, like Emma Hardie and again when it comes into contact with water it transforms into a silky smooth oily texture - but this part is where Emma Hardie wins hands down because the formula is similar but it is not as good. From Aldi you get a texture which is much more oily and the balm isn’t as solid, the Moringa scent which is clearly noticeable when the lid of removed from the pot isn’t as strong but, and this is a big but, the Aldi Lacura version does do a pretty good job at removing that dirt, grime and other detritus from your skin, especially when used as a first cleanse and this includes waterproof mascara - including the most difficult to budge!

The hero ingredient, as you might expect is moringa oil and it is worthy of a mention because lol it is best known for its anti-inflammatory and collagen-building properties as a start and added to that, it is also said to help fight fine lines and wrinkles, it is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive of skin and if that’s not enough it is also a great oil that addresses other skin issues such as pigmentation, soothing sunburned skin, healing scrapes, and burns. Aldi’s version also includes both Shea and Coconut Butter which leaves the skin feeling smooth, hydrated and nourished. 

How to use it? Massage a small amount into the palm of your hands and apply directly onto dry skin before rinsing off with water and removing the excess product using the cleansing cloth. Speaking of cloths, this one also comes with a dual sided microfibre muslin cloth which is designed to remove the Lacura Cleansing Balm and gently exfoliate and polish the skin - again, the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm also comes with one of the best cloths I have ever used and I seem to buy them a lot, but this cloth, well I didn’t hate it, given the price tag, but it isn’t as good, the texture of the cloth from Aldi isn’t as good on the skin, but it is a great back up to have if you should ever need a cloth and you’ve run out of your favourites.

Aldi beauty dupes have been some of my favourite discoveries - from Laneige and Elizabeth Arden to Nip + Fab and Pixi Aldi has offered similar products of the much loved iconic and cult brands and their products at a fraction of the cost and they sell out super quick, this Cleansing Balm sold out as quickly online as it went live and even finding it store has become quite tricky.

The Lacura Cleansing Balm is priced at £6.99 is definitely not something to sniff at, it does an alright job, you would absolutely love it without question if you haven’t tried Emma Hardie, but I’m an Emma Hardie fan and for me that cleansing balm cannot be duped or replaced, it is a firm favourite from the scent and the feel of the balm to being something I just want to bathe in from head to toe.

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

Temple Spa - Most Revealing Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel

Temple Spa Most Revealing alpha hydroxy acid peel is one of the most exciting products to come out of the brand in recent months and I couldn’t wait to give it a try.

I am a huge fan of Temple Spa, Drift Way and Repose are my two favourite products that I turn to when I am feeling stressed and need to find a way to relax and unwind. Most Revealing is described as being a Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel which is perfect for dull, lacklustre and uneven skin.

Treat your skin to the powerful formula of Temple Spa’s Most Revealing Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel. An oxygenating bubble peel that promises to leave your visage positively glowing, it is powered by a cocktail of vitamin C, glycolic, malic, lactic, citric and hydroxy acids. You simply need to apply the mask to damp skin and watch it foam and fizz, lifting away dead skin cells and debris.

Now if that doesn't sound and read like fun skincare then I don't know what will.  

As this is a Temple Spa product, there is a whole host of ingredients within this Oxygen Peel you will find a cocktail of glycolic, malic, mandelic, lactic, citric and hydroxy acids and together they work to slough away dead skin cells and then working deep within the surface of the skin to remove debris and decongestion from the pores, reduce inflammation, improve the skins moisture and smooth the skins texture to name just some of the benefits of these acids. Added to that you will not be surprised to find a fruity twist and with this we have the inclusion of extracts of apple, kiwi, chamomile and sweet orange and bergamot oils, all to work together for smooth, bright and radiant skin. Then there is the addition of Retinyl Palmitate, which is also known as a vitamin a, which is an antioxidant. We need antioxidants for our skin as they help protect the skin from free radicals, which in turn can damage the skin and speed up the skin ageing process. From this ingredient we get a whole lot of goodness which includes the evening out of the skin tone and one which is also smoother and feeling softer. The final key ingredient to mention is Sodium hyaluronate which hydrates and cushions the skin.

As a reminder, the Temple Spa Most Revealing Chemical Peel Benefits:

• Deeply purifies to reveal healthier looking skin
• Helps to re-texturise and correct uneven skin tone
• Instant facial for radiant skin
• Smooths and refines the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Temple Spa's chemical peel for home use is suitable for all skin types except super sensitive, whenever you use a product such as this, it is always best to test it in your skin before using it just in case. To use, you need just two pumps of Most Revealing into the hand and then you apply to directly to clean damp skin, avoiding the eye area. Once it has been smoothed into the skin, you need to give it a massage and then give it a few seconds as it starts to fizz and bubble. As soon as those bubbles and the fizzing starts to subside, remove thoroughly with a warm cloth and then splash your face with water. Pat skin dry and follow with a serum and ideally an SPF moisturiser. Ideal for weekly use to keep that radiant glow. 

As this product contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s) that may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn, you must use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for at least a week afterwards and naturally it is a product you should use in an evening rather than a morning.

You can find this Temple Spa Most Revealing Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel priced at £40 for 50ml, it is available from both Temple Spa and Harrods.

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