theBalm Cosmetics - Travel Size Classics

Whenever I am going on holiday, weekend away, off to visit the family or on an overnight stop somewhere, I love to make sure I have my essentials but the last thing I want to be doing is lugging around a case full of full-sized skincare and makeup products, especially if it means I can fit in another pair of shoes.  So, I am a huge fan of mini products and am always chuffed when I find mini versions of some of my favourite products because it makes life much less stressful and as much as I try to remember to decant products, I rarely do. I also love trying new products from brands as a mini option too, this way I can decide whether or not I like something before splashing out.

One brand that does some incredible miniature versions of their bestsellers is theBalm Cosmetics and when these little pouches arrived, I did do a little squeal because there are some of my favourite products.  Meet theBalm Travel Size Classics.

As you can see, there are five of theBalm classic products included within this pouch and you might have come and across just some of them, or you might have come across and used all of them.  For me, I had used just two of the five, so it has been amazing to try something new and because I am going to France twice in the next few months for 5 days each time, I definitely need to be thinking about what products I need to be taking with me.

First out of the bag is a product called the timeBalm Face Primer. Enriched with Vitamins A, C and E, timeBalm is a product which can be worn alone for visibly softer skin, or under makeup so your look stays put. It also helps even out skin tone and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and pores.

On the skin, this balm is not at all like one of those primers that is full of silicone and sits on the skin and really feels quite grim, it is instead lightweight, it applies incredibly well and for just a few seconds it is quite tacky but that feeling soon subsides. When applying makeup, it glides on over the top of this primer, doesn't cling to it, no creasing occurs and my skin looks and feels soft and smooth to the touch. I have enjoyed using this primer so much that I have already ordered a full sized tube.

The second product within the bag is the Bahama Mama Bronzer, Shadow and Contour Powder.  I have a full size one of these and I just adore everything about it. With no orange undertones, this is quite a dark bronzer, it applies matte and I tend to use it very lightly on my oh so pale skin. 

What I love about Bahama Mama is that it is one of those multitasking products and definitely one that every makeup bag needs because as well as being a bronzer, it also doubles up to perform the role of a contour powder, a neutral brow-filler and a really pretty neutral eyeshadow shade, the latter being one of my favourite things to use it as, for that natural everyday look.

Hot Mama! comes next and this is a product I have had my eye on for a while now. Another multitasking product which acts as your all-in-one highlighter, blush and eyeshadow.

I am not a big user of blushes admittedly, I have my own inbuilt redness, so any blush tends to not even show up on my skin without making the redness really stand out, but there is something about this shade that I just adore. Rather than being a bright Barbie pink, Hot Mama! is infact has a really pretty pinky-peach hue that gives your cheeks and lids a hint of colour and because it has a shimmering gold tone, it works wonderfully well at as a highlighter too.

The one product I am sure everyone has come across or might even have within their stash is the iconic Mary-Lou Manizer.  This product was one of the very first I tried from theBalm a good few years ago and it is also the first highlighter I ever hit pan on too!

Mary-Lou Manizer is a beautiful Champagne Gold colour with warm undertones and a soft, pearl-like sheen which gives the skin a luminous glow. Mary-Lou Manizer is pigmented, you only needed the smallest amount to get that incredible pop of colour. As you might expect, this product has been included within the Travel Size Classics pouch for a reason and that is because it too is a multitasking product - Mary-Lou Manizer can also be used as a shadow to really make that eye makeup look pop. For me, this product is a must for everyone's stash.

The final product within this pouch is the Mad Lash Mascara and I am an absolute mascara fiend and a huge fan of this product, which you can featured on my blog right here.

I am drawn to most mascaras based on their wand and formula. From theBalm we have a masacara which is not only a richly pigmented black formula but the wand, as you can see, features a slight curve to it and I have found it to be perfectly curved with bristles long enough to reach the smallest of lashes.  The formula is very much a liquid like formula but it is not overly wet, one of my pet peeves with mascara is a formula which is too wet and clumps the lashes!   This is a mascara you can layer numerous times without getting spider lashes and it is one which you can remove with just warm water.

I already have my pouch in my travel case ready for when I go to France in a few weeks time and it is a fabulous way to travel with your favourites or to become acquainted with a brand and the products you have had your eye on for some time.  It retails for $46.50 from theBalm here and each one of these products can be purchased separately online from the likes of Feelunique, Lookfantastic* and of course Superdrug.

Do you have a favourite product from theBalm?

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

John Masters Organics - New Advanced Collection for Damaged Hair

Hailing from New York, John Masters, a leading hair stylist came up with a simple, yet radical idea back in 1994 with regards to nature being the best possible source the clean beauty.  Fast forward to today and John's singular vision has become a global brand that continues to transform the organic and natural beauty industry, with all of the products being composed of at least 70% organic content. John Masters Organics believes that beauty products should encourage well-being, not compromise it.  This belief if the foundation of the brand today and nature is and always will be the greatest resource for helping you look and feel your very best.  I was kindly sent a set of hair care products from the John Masters Organics range.

The new advanced collection for damaged hair with honey and hibiscus and it consists of three products - repair shampoo, repair conditioner and a repair hair mask. The collection is described as being an organic silicone-free alternative that delivers healthy, sleek, nourished, strong hair.  For my hair, I have what is called combination hair, so I get greasy roots and dry mid-length to ends, so when it comes to finding a shampoo, it needs to be one which doesn't irritate my scalp or exacerbate the greasy roots, something I often find quite hard to combat. I do the best I can do to look after my hair, I don't roughly towel dry, I try not to over use heat when possible and I use an array of products to look after my hair and scalp. I have been using these products now for the last 9 weeks and they have made quite the impression.

The Repair Shampoo (£29) for Damaged Hair with Honey and Hibiscus is described as being a strengthening, sulfate-free shampoo which helps to build up the hair’s resilience at the root to protect from future damage, breakage and split ends.

This gentle shampoo has a really, lovely scented rich lather which comes from a coconut-derived foaming agent and its job is to help remove buildup while at the same time balancing sebum levels without drying the scalp. Organic Honey, which is a humectant works by attracting and locking in moisture, Lysolecithin, which is a form of Lecithin, is a naturally occurring fatty substance found in several foods, such as soybeans and whole grains. In this shampoo, it helps to strengthen hair follicles whilst acting like a second skin by infusing moisture into hair, preserving the scalp's natural lipid structure. Then finally we have Organic Hibiscus Water and flower extract which work gently to discard skin and dart, whilst at the same time balancing the scalp's natural oil production.

On my hair, because I do use heat to style, be it a hairdryer or my straighteners, I am mindful that this is not good for my hair and whilst I do use heat protection sprays, I know this isn't enough to protect my hair.  What I have found with this shampoo is that my hair instantly feels moisturised, as in those mid-lengths which are often dry, are not and that is quite the difference for me, I also have much less static than I have had with other shampoos, so it means the flyaways and new hair strands don't leave my hair looking as though I've had my fingers in a socket, so I've been using much less serum and finishing spray, which in turn means less build up and fewer scalp irritations.

The Repair Conditioner (£29) for Damaged Hair with Honey and Hibiscus is described as being an intensive, silicone-free conditioner that repairs damaged, brittle hair.  I am really picky when it comes to using a conditioner on my hair.  I am not a fan of overly thick conditioners which I find are too heavy for my hair and leave it feeling weighed down.

 As with the shampoo, this conditioner uses Organic honey which coats the hair in essential nutrients and draws in moisture, acting as that humectant to ensure the hair feels nourished and moisturised. In addition to the honey, this conditioner also uses Organic Hibiscus Flower Extract which is rich in amino acids which are known to add strength and elasticity to dry and brittle hair strands.  Sunflower seed is also used and not only is it rich in fatty acids which help to retain moisture over time and together these ingredients help to make the hair much less prone to breakage and damage, including damage from split ends. 

Once a week, I like to ensure I use a hair mask and from John Masters Organics Repair Hair Mask (£39). This weekly rescue mask is described as being a rich, luxurious silicone-free hair mask and it is again enriched with Honey and Hibiscus.

Using a fusion of organic honey and organic hibiscus, they work together to restore shine and moisture whilst ensuring the hair is much more manageable. Bacuri butter and mongogo oil not only nourish and soften the hair but also helps to unblock pores on the scalp. Mineral-rich Horsetail Butter is used to rejuvenate the hair, adds sheen to the appearance and strength to the hair shafts. This mask also contains selenium and cysteine, which are known to promote healthy hair growth.

When I use the mask, I do so after washing my hair with the shampoo and then pump a generous amount onto my hands before massaging into my hair with the main focus being on the lengths and ends and then leave it on the hair for 3-5minutes before rinising out with warm, not hot, water.   Immediately after using, my hair feels incredibly smooth to the touch and I can't help but love that fresh smell of honey and hibiscus which lasts for a day or two after using.

This has been my first venture into the John Masters Organics range and I have really been liking how my hair feels after using them and it has made me want to try more products from the John Masters range, which is far bigger than I realised with everything you can think of from scalp treatments and hair masks, to skincare which includes toners, lip balms and much more.

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

Floral Street Electric Rhubarb Fragrance

Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden is a street that houses a brand of the same name - Floral Street. Described as being a brand built on the streets of London and one which is about breaking with tradition. It’s about peeling back the curtain of the secret world of fragrance. It’s about ease, modernity and joy.

With 8 key fragrances within the Floral Street Collection, the newest addition has been created in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the latest creation from Floral Street is a fragrance which has packaging that features the Floral Street and RHS logos against what can best be described as the background of a colourful flower mural which has been created exclusively for Floral Street by leading London photographer Matthew Donaldson and it is so beautifully packaged that you will not miss it. It is worth noting that the tray within which the fragrance is displayed can be used as a seed tray for your seedlings and flowers!

Described as being for the sparkling, luminous, charming and fun-loving, electric Rhubarb is everything it is described as being as it combines beautiful white florals and soft powdery sandalwood which are then further combined with the scent of English rhubarb and an unexpected blast of salty sea air to make this an instant mood lifter. 

If you like your fruity florals and admittedly I absolutely do, then what you have here is an incredible fragrance which is perfect for the Summer.   

On the very first spritz the vibrant notes come to life to grab your attention, you get a hit of absolutely everything as it starts off with the fresh scent of Rhubarb which is bold and as it begins to settle on the skin the notes of Island Gardenia, Frangipani, Jasmine Sambac come into their own and take on that fragrant Rhubarb and as it settles on the skin and the Australian Sandalwood comes to life and for me, this is when the fragrance has the wow factor because you can smell each and every note.  It is long lasting on the skin and I just absolutely love it.

Priced at £22 for £10ml and £58 for 50ml here.

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

Murad Skincare Nutrient Charged Water Gel

When you hit the bottom of a skincare product, you know it must be good and that you like it a lot! This is exactly what happened with Murad Skincare Nutrient Charged Water Gel. I have been using it for months now when it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't yet reviewed it here on Beautyqueenuk.

When it comes to the warmer months, the last thing I want to be putting on my skin is overly thick moisturising creams which leave my skin feeling like a sweaty mess in the heat.  So something that using the word water and gel immediately grabs my attention and before I had even read about it, I had used it.  Described as being an intensely hydrating, oil-free, water-based gel and it is said to be beneficial for oily, dry and combination skin types.  I have combination skin which leans to the oily side, so I was looking forward to seeing how my skin would work with this.

Using a powerful blend of 5 peptides, 5 vitamins and 5 minerals which claims to lock in hydration for up to five days, the only issue I had with this claim is that I can't qualify that it is true because I was using it every single day and whilst using, my skin did feel incredibly hydrated. Those five peptides Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Polypeptide-1, Polypeptide-9 and Polypeptide-11 all come together to help visibly restore damaged skin so it looks and feels more youthful. The five vitamins come together to help alleviate dryness, soothe sensitive and irritated skin as well as provide anti-wrinkle benefits.  Starting with Vitamin E, a super antioxidant and nutrient which helps to fight off free radicals that induce premature ageing as it softens and nourishes. Alongside Vitamin E we have Vitamins B3, B5, B6, B9.  Finally the minerals of Silicon, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Magnesium which come together to help improve skin tone and skin texture.

On the skin, I love how soothing this gel feels, coming from the pot, I find it literally glides onto the skin and absorbs within a few seconds, but if my skin is feeling particularly parched, it almost drinks it immediately on contact.  As it sinks in, there is an immediate change in how my skin feels, the nourished and moisturised feeling is left behind without being tacky or greasy to the touch.

I always apply to my skin in the morning after cleansing, ensuring I leave enough time for it to sink into my skin before applying my makeup.  As mentioned, I got to the bottom of this pot before realising I hadn't reviewed it for my blog, so that is quite the testament that I really enjoyed using it.  Priced at £50 here*, this is a great treat for the skin.

Are you a fan of Murad products?

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