TOYL Show Stopper Box - December Edition

Having had the Makeover box for November, the December edition of the TOYL beauty box is titled 'The Show Stopper' and it has been curated by Karen to uplift the spirits and help you look and feel fabulous.  Inside the box you will find five products which includes skincare, hair care and fragrance.

The first product to come out of this box is from one of my favourite fragrance brands, Floral Street and the scent inside this box is Iris Godess.

Sitting within the Chypre family, Iris Godess is a vegan an unisex scent which comes packaged within recyclable packaging. I have always found these boxes to be so good for storage or for planting seeds in to germinate.  The scent, which is described as powdery soft has notes of violets and ripe red fruits. Black vanilla and earthy carrot seed carry an exotic depth, while sparkling lemon zest and red chilli pepper. It is just delightful for every day wear.

The second product out of the box is from Rodial and it is their Neck Mask Freeze and Smooth.

Designed to give you a bit of boost around the neck, the mask uses amino acids and wheat proteins which help to tense and tighten the skin to give that visibly lifted appearance.

The third product in this box comes from Prai Beauty and it is their MenoGlow Hot Flush Cool Fix Serum.

Designed to deliver cooling skincare, this refreshing rollerball gel is said to work double-duty to instantly cool hot, flushed skin whilst at the same time, work to reduce signs of ageing caused by dramatic collagen loss around the time of menopause. Using Hyaluronic Acid to plump the skin, Prai's signature M Complex to maximise collagen and boost hydration and finally cooling menthol provides an ice-cool sensation to relieve hot flushes with help from our cool touch rollerball applicator. I really like the rollerball applicator, it is refreshing on the skin when used, even though I am not menopausal, I do suffer from headaches and having run out of my usual forehead balm, I reached for this and it is just delightful.

From Percy & Reed the next product is the Wonder Balm Hair Primer and this is an award-winning product which is described as being one which elevates at home-styling to salon standard.

This is a smooth, lightweight leave-in primer which works to shield your hair from the damage caused by heat styling and blow-drying which in turn lessens the look of split ends and breakage. The fast-absorbing formula helps to lock in moisture for long-lasting softness and it is said to be ideal for people that are prone to frizz from humidity, as the hair primer offers light hold and control.

The final product within this months box is from Gatineau and it is the Exfoliating Body Polish.

This body polish works to target uneven skin texture on dry, parched skin by helping to gently slough away dead skin cells. It is enriched with AHA's from citric acid, plus there is the inclusion of blackcurrant fruit powder, shea butter, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil and jojoba seed oil, all of which reveal a much smoother, softer skin.

I like the theme of this box, not only does it feature some really handy products that I have already been using, but I am glad to see my Floral Street getting their chance to shine. The contents are worth £108.50 and could be yours for just £30*. If you didn't know, TOYL is a monthly subscription box and it usually costs just £35 a month (£30 using my code below) but, unlike other subscription boxes I’ve tried, you always have the option to pause your subscription and pick it up again when you are ready. So if there is a box you don't feel is right for you, you can hold that subscription and continue when you spot something you love, which in my case has been every month so far!

Find out more about the Time Of your Life and what is on offer right here and remember to use the code BQUK to grab yourself £5 off!

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

Epionce Gift Set

As a brand, Epionce is not one I am too familiar with and one of the things which brings me joy as a blogger is meeting new brands. Described as being a physician-strength skin care line created by clinical dermatologist, Dr. Carl Thornfeldt. Using over 20 years of clinical skin research, Epionce provides the foundation to address your unique skin care needs. From improving the visible appearance of skin ageing to problem skin, Epionce has a regime to solve your specific skin concerns. I have been kindly sent three products from range which feature in today's post.

The first product is the Enriched Firming Mask. Described as being a hydrating mask which is suitable for all skin types. It has been expertly formulated with botanical ingredients specially chosen to help soothe and improve the visible appearance of elasticity and firmness of the skin.

On the skin, this mask, with its blue hue applies like a dream and it uses ingredients such as Shea butter, which as we know is very moisturising and nourishing, then there is White Willow Bark which not only helps to exfoliate the skin to give it that radiant glow but it is also said to also have a high concentration of tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and various minerals, all of which help soothe the skin and aid in cell regeneration. 

There is two ways of using this mask. The first is to evenly apply the mask to clean skin and leave it to work for 5-10 minutes then rinse using warm water. If you feel your skin is in need of some additional hydration, apply the mask and then do not rinse, allow it to soak into the skin.

The second product is the Ultra Shield SPF50 and it has been designed to protect the skin against the sun's harmful UV rays. We all know the importance of protecting our skin from these rays and that doesn't just start and stop when the Sun makes an appearance, it should be as much a part of your skincare routine as applying any other product.

Thankfully, there is now an abundance of brands who make sun care easy, long gone are those overly thick creams which never ever seem to sink into the skin. From Epionce we have a cream that is really lightweight and sinks into the skin really quickly and in doing so, there is no greasy film or white cast left on the skin, two of the issues I have always had sunscreen for the face.  This one is great as a base for makeup, it is also long-lasting and is said to use a blend of chemical filters and antioxidants which provide complete protection against UVA/UVB rays and free radicals while a blend of natural oils keep the skin feeling soft and smooth.

The final product within this trio of goodness is the Restorative Hand Cream. I am sure like so many others, over the past 18 months we have used more hand cream than ever before and this is one I have been using since it arrived.

This hand cream has been designed to soften and hydrate dry damaged skin and it is perfect for this colder weather when your hands tend to feel much drier than at any other time of the year. Infused with antioxidant Raspberry Seed Oil which works to repair the skin's epidermal barrier alongside Meadowfoam and Safflower Seed Oils which work to prevent dryness throughout the day.  As a hand cream, this one is rich and helps to heal dry, cracked skin and in doing so, not only it is really nourishing and hydrating but also without being greasy on application.

This is a really lovely gift set for anyone who loves their skincare, it has everything you need from a mask to a face cream and with the hand cream, you have an incredible trio.

This Epionce Gift Set is on sale right now with SkinExperts

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

Waken Mouthcare Gift Sets

This Christmas, there seems to be a bit of a social media campaign about buying people what they need rather than what you think they want, part of me gets this, it makes so much sense and hopefully this post will tick that box for so many of you.

I love getting 'smellies' as we used to call them for Christmas, not having to scan the aisles of my local supermarket for a razor or some shower gel because I am lucky enough to have been given some by a relative is a blessing to be honest.  This Christmas, if you’re looking for something different to the regular beauty-based offerings such as shower gels, deodorants, hand soaps or minis, then Waken might just have what you are looking for. 

To provide everyone with some new options, Waken Mouthcare have created three beautiful and sustainable gift sets that are guaranteed to freshen up smiles and bathrooms and I am sharing two of them in this post.

The first gift set is the Waken Gift 2 Beautiful When You Smile - Peppermint (£12). This gift set contains three Waken Mouthcare essentials that have been designed to help you maintain a gleaming smile and fresh breath.

Set Contents:

• Peppermint Mouthwash 500ml - An award-winning fluoride mouthwash with the cooling sensation of natural peppermint extract to refresh.
• Peppermint Toothpaste 75ml - Blended with natural peppermint, this formula protects your teeth and gums against cavities and plaque build-up.
• Peppermint Lip Balm 12.5g - A small, round tin containing a buttery blend of shea, cocoa and mango seed butters to leave your lips soft and supple.

In line with Waken’s eco-friendly blueprint, the products within this gift set come housed in recycled, sustainable and certified carbon neutral packaging.

The second gift set is the Waken Gift 1 - Luscious Lips (£15) and it is described as being a trio of deeply nourishing lip balms that work to condition and comfort your lips.

The lip balms are which are made from a blend of three brilliant vegan butters - shea, cocoa and mango seed and they help to protect and condition your lips. Each one of these balms also happens to have a petroleum jelly-free formula and instead boasts the inclusion of antioxidant Vitamin E, which helps to protect delicate the lips from free radical damage that is linked to premature skin ageing.

Set Contents:

• Lemon and Mint Lip Balm 12.5g - Fresh and invigorating, this zesty scent offers a burst of citrus that caressing your lips in long-lasting softness with an uplifting fragrance.
• Peppermint Lip Balm 12.5g - This refreshing lip balm offers a supple softness to your pout. The minty fresh scent leaves a sweet-smelling aroma and long-lasting moisture.
• Strawberry and Mint Lip Balm 12.5g - A sweet cocktail of strawberry and mint creates a fruity fresh scent that provides hydration and softness to your pout.

I really love the lemon and mint balm which surprised me as it isn't a combination I would ordinarily choose.  That said, the texture of each one of these balms is incredibly silky-smooth without being greasy or slimy. Again, each balm as you might expect is housed in pastel-coloured sustainable packaging and not only is it Vegan but they also have 100% natural flavours and that same sustainable packaging I have already mentioned.

So there is a brief introduction to Waken, their products can now be found over on Lookfantastic and given they are so reasonably priced and they look so pretty in their packaging, they are beautiful to gift.

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

Nude by Nature - Now in Superdrug!

Nude by Nature is back in the UK and is on sale with Superdrug and I have been lucky enough to try out some of their products, perfect timing for a few upcoming Christmas Parties I have coming up. Created in Australia back in 2008, the brand started with a capsule collection of just three mineral foundations, a bronzer, finishing veil and a make-up brush. Now they have expanded massively and are known for their cruelty-free stance as well as the fact they are made with 100% natural ingredients.

Superdrug has unveiled Nude by Nature in 50 of its stores and it is also available online with priced starting as low as £10.49 which is an absolute steal for a brand of this quality.  I have five products from the 73 which are available and they include the following:

• Perfecting Primer
• Perfecting concealer - Porcelain Beige 02
• Moisture Shine lipstick Pale Coral 05
• Flawless Pressed Foundation C2 Pearl
• Natural Illusion Eyeshadow Trio Nude

The Perfecting Primer (£16) is described as being a smoothing, silicone-free primer that creates an even base for make-up application, while helping to extend wear. 

It has an un-tinted formula which is packed full of amazing ingredients such as Vitamin A for its anti-oxidant and anti-ageing properties, Vitamin E which also has anti-oxidant properties but is also moisturising. Then we have Kakadu Plum which I have come across in so many products of late and it is hailed as being the worlds richest source of Vitamin C and then finally we have Green Tea which again is full of anti-oxidants, is anti-ageing and also anti-inflammatory.

The Perfecting Concealer (£16) which is available in 8 different shades in total, is delightful to use and is so far, my most used product from this collection.

I have shade 02 Porcelain Beige and it is a pretty good match for my skin tone, though I could get away with wearing the lighter shade too.  Again, this concealer, which is a creamy liquid, easy to apply and doesn't cake (hurrah) after application is designed to cover dark circles, disguise puffiness, hyper-pigmentation and of course blemishes. As with the Primer above, this Concealer also features Vitamin E and Kakadu Plum and with them we have Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter and Floraesters and from this trio of goodness you get ingredients which soothe, nourish, protect and help to reduce fine lines, dryness and improve skin firmness!

With the base of your makeup complete, in comes the Flawless Pressed Foundation and I have the shade C2 Pearl (£20) and it is said to help even out complexion, cover imperfections and control oil and shine.

The powder is another product packed with incredible ingredients and you will again find Kakadu Plum, Vitamin E and then Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter which have been mentioned already. Added into this pressed foundation is Cehami Extract which works to hydrate and nourish the skin, Avocado Oil which has Vitamin A, B and D plus Kaolin Clay which helps to absorb excess oil and help smooth the skin.  Quite the powerhouse and it is also fragrance free.  The foundation, in its compact is really lightweight, I used a brush to apply to my skin and it does apply like a dream.

The next product is the Moisture Shine Lipstick (£12.99) which is described as being a colour-rich lipstick that delivers an effortless sweep of colour and luminous shine finish.

I have the shade Pale Coral 05 and when I saw the name I wasn't expecting to like the shade, however... it is absolutely stunning and so easy to wear, definitely perfect for day time wear and at any time of the year. With its really smooth, creamy texture, the ingredients within this lipstick include Vitamin E and the native Australian Kakadu Plum which help to provide antioxidant defences. Then there is the inclusion of nourishing Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and then an ingredient called Ha Microspheres which are moisturising repairing and have plumping properties, coming together this lipstick is comfortable to wear, it is lightweight in texture and has an impressive colour payoff.

The final product to share with you is the Natural Illusion Eyeshadow Trio (£17.49) in Nude and it is absolutely beautiful and perfect for me as I love my nudes.

Nestled inside a gold palette with mirror and a double-ended brush, the trio of nudes are perfect for taking that natural daytime look to a smokey evening eye. The three shades which I would describe as being light brown, a medium toned brown and a then a champagne shade are enriched with those same active natural ingredients that have been mentioned already - Kakadu Plum and with it we have Sweet Almond Oil for its moisturising and conditioning properties, Quandong which has brightening and anti-oxidant properties, Desert Lime for its anti-oxidant properties but also because it supports skin hydration and then Sandalwood Kernal Oil which is rich in Omega 3,6 and 9 as well as being incredibly nourishing.  

All of these products and so many more can be found online and in some stores with Superdrug and if you are looking for makeup which is cruelty-free, made from natural ingredients and cares and protects your skin as well as making you feel and look more fabulous, this is one to check out.

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