Boots No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter

A few months ago I went into my local Boots store for foundation matching which you can read about HERE and as part of that service I was also matched with a lipstick and as it was a 3 for 2 offer on at the same time, I was to choose something for free! Well we all know how good a Boots 3 for 2 offer is and it took some time swatching everything I liked the look of and in the end I opted for the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter. This Highlighter was something I had had my eye on for some time after seeing another blog post on it and it was the last one in stock (fate) so it was mine.

We all love a good highlighter and this is one brilliant. The highlighter comes in a stick or crayon as some people call them and is quite rotund. To use you simply twist the silver part at the bottom it to show the nib which you then use as the highlighter. When I decided this was the product for me, luckily the lady at the counter decided to give me a crash course into how to use it properly. As with any other highlighter you might have, I was told to begin by sweeping the stick gently onto cheek/brow bones, down the centre of your nose and then onto your cupid's bow to create that illusion of younger, dewy skin.

When you look at the highlighter it is not a wet formula as you might expect it to be, instead it is a dry formula and if you have used similar blush or bronzer sticks you will know what I mean.  It glides onto the skin so you need to pretend you are colouring in with your Crayola crayons, one glide along the skin is enough for you to dab and blend with your finger tips, I tend to simply pat my skin where I have applied the highlighter to get the best effect for me.  I was surprised to find it so easy to use and it really does give a nice subtle glow, perfect for when you are going out or for everyday use. 

I have become really impressed with No.7 of late and have a wish-list as long as my arm, starting with the concealer match service which I intend to take advantage of as soon as I have some time to do it. This Highlighters costs just £9.95 and is such great value for money.

Have you tried anything by No7 recently?

Models Own New Releases

I am a big fan of Models Own nail polishes and when it comes to the brand, that is as far as my knowledge with the brand started and ended, until now!  Today I have some new releases to share with you and I am sure you will be as impressed as I am!

The first item is this pocket sized Nude Palette which is just so so cute and the perfect size for my make-up bag which I take with me in my handbag everyday! The Palette itself has six shades, some of which are matte and some of which are shimmery and they can be used alone or mixed and matched giving you the perfect eye make up for daytime and a night out.

Also within the palette is a mirror which I am alwas impressed with, this mirror is the length and width of the palette and also in there is a double ended sponge/brush applicator giving you everything you need to create your look.

 

 

This palette is available right now along with a Smokey Eye version and they are priced at £8 each which is an absolute bargain.

Coming next is a Gel Eyeliner which is available in either dark brown or black.  The eyeliner comes inside a little pot with a cute little lid and an accompanying applicator brush, which is a bright pink colour and very very cute.  The eyeliner is enriched with Beeswax for a soft, conditioning effect.  The eyeliner is a no transfer liner, it dries almost immediately for a smudge free look.

This gel eyeliner retails at just £5 - what an absolute bargain!

The final item I want to share with you is called HyperEyes Mascara and it has the most fantastic brush called the 'Mohican' which volumises top lashes and defines lower lashes because it is designed to capture every lash, coating them expertly to give that defined, volumised look.  Housed inside this slick silver coloured tube, this mascara is a jet black colour with a really smooth formula which is not overly wet and dries really quickly.  The formula is also enhanced with protein to condition and build strong lashes.

There are two types of bristles on the brush, one side is raised and the other much smaller. The raised bristles which are quite long, help with the definition and evenly coating of each lash for precise coverage.  The smaller bristles on the opposite side are designed perfectly for those lower lashes, again helping to capture every lash. 

Costing just £8, it is not only a bargain but a great mascara.

All three of these products are brilliant and I am enjoying getting to know them and see how they work, but my first impressions of them are that not only are these affordable but great value for money and are more than worth looking at.

What do you think to these new releases?

Burt's Bees Therapeutic Bath Crystals

I am a huge fan of Burt's Bee's products and I love everything from the Lip Gloss, Lip Balms, Hand Creams, Body Creams, Bath oils, Cuticle creams and pretty much everything I have tried to date.  Infact Burt's Bees are no stranger to my blog because I have mentioned quite a few of their products to date.  One product that I have been glad to be reunited with is then Burt's Bees Therapeutic Bath Crystals.  

For those people who haven't heard of Burt's Bee's before, as a company they were born back in 1984 when they began selling beeswax candles fast-forward to 1989 when the company has grown and taken off as a brand, they stepped into the cosmetic industry and began to make cosmetics, starting with soaps and perfumes. Today they sell over 150 plus products around the world and like many companies within this market they use as many natural ingredients as they possibly can and they go one step further by ensuring that most of the packaging of their products is created from recycled materials as far as possible. You can now find products from Burt's Bee's for your lips, face, body, hair, hands and feet, for men and for babies to name but a few, so there is definitely something for everyone.
 
These bath salts used to be sold in a tin, similar in size to a tin of baked beans.  Fast forward a few years and now we have them sold inside this plastic tub instead.

 
These Therapeutic Bath Crystals are to be used in your bath, now for my regular readers you will all know that I love baths, not only do I love them but I like them to be nice and hot because I an intending to spend more than an hour in one with my book, a chilled glass of wine and a facemask if I have one around. For me a bath is a luxury I look forward to. I have a stressful job and a stressful lifestyle and I do like to kick back and treat myself at least once a week to a self-indulgent bath.

Once the water in your bath has been running for a few minutes and there are several inches of water in the bottom, you only need to use 1-2 tablespoons, depending on how generous you want to be, I always use 2 and then let your bath finishing running and allow the salt crystals to dissolve into the water for a few minutes afterwards. The instructions with this product is that you need to spend approximately 15minutes in your bath to allow the salt crystals to work on your skin and body to "help release the lactic acid that builds up during physical activity causing muscle ache. The penetrating action of essential oils helps stimulate the elimination of waste products, helping muscles feel as good as new".

Once in the bath there are two aromas which work together, the first is Eucalyptus oil which helps to revive and relieve for tension-free muscles and the second is lemon oil many benefits particularly for the skin because it helps to decongest the skin and is especially useful for people who have greasy skin. It also helps clear the mind and relieve headaches.  Naturally this is not all the ingredients, added to those two are Soybean oil, which is used because it is a natural moisturiser which has a nourishing, softening and moisturizing effect on skin. Finally the most important ingredient is Sea Salt and it is one of those ingredients that is becoming more and more popular within bath products because it helps draw the toxins out of your skin thus leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed as well as soft and supple because it acts as an exfoliator which helps remove dirt and grime from your skin alongside dead skin cells and hard bits of skin which need to be removed. So adding off of these ingredients together, you have quite a product here. 

 How did I feel after my bath? Well my skin was most definitely soft and smooth to the touch and well moisturised and in myself I did feel much more relaxed and stress free and the fact I liked the fragrant aroma of this product is an added bonus because it isn't too over the top it is just right and it does also linger on your skin and throughout your home. As I said before to purchase this at full price, it is likely to set you back £10.99 for 450g but you only need to use a maximum of 2 tablespoons of it per bath and depending on how often you use it depends on how long it will last. I have had mine for just over two months and have used less than a third of the tub and there are two of us who use it. I store it on my bathroom shelf but ensure the lid is secured after using to ensure that it remains as fresh as possible and I suspect I have at least another 6 months use out of it. 

For me this product is a lovely treat for my skin and something I recommend as an alternative to a body scrub or a sea salt treatment because it works just as well.  If you would like further information, you can click HERE

Aromatherapy Associates Limited Edition Renewing Rose Body Velvet

I am going to confess that I have a bit of a love thing going on with Aromatherapy Associates, to date there hasn't been a product I have disliked, only the opposite. Now as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary this year, a product has been created to celebrate and mark that occasion. That product is the Aromatherapy Associates Limited Edition Renewing Rose Body Velvet and the name alone screams luxury to me, so when it arrived, I couldn't wait to open it and loved it from the first time I smelt it.

 The body velvet combines the highest quality essential oils and plant extracts, to help rejuvenate the skin, for a noticeably firmer appearance and feel. Ingredients such as velvet flower extract which is rich in minerals ate designed to help your skin retain moisture levels for a younger, smoother looking skin. Add to that the inclusion of special peptides and gotu kola which on its own has some of the most amazing skin rejuvenating properties and assist a host of skin complaints and ailments such as cellulite, eczema, scarring as well as hosting the most amazing skin rejuvenating properties. Putting these together, not only is your left looking revitalised with improved tone and feeling softer for longer, you will see an improvement in your skins suppleness.  I have to say, it really does leave your skin velvety soft and smooth after using and is the perfect treat.

This cream as I said screams luxury and it really is a lovely thick and as soon as you apply it to your skin, it wants to absorb it as soon as it can, which it does realty well. Once it has been absorbed there is no greasy film or residue left behind, instead you get the lovely scent of rose, geranium and sandalwood, which makes it quite floral with a bit of a kick, that aroma you get when you walk into a spa is what it reminds me, something fresh and clean.

The tub costs £50 is huge at 200ml and for me, this is not a cream you would apply every day morning and night, it is something you would use as a treat, for a special occasion, a big night and so on, something to add a bit of luxury to your pamper session.