Nanshy Bare Necessities Collection

When it comes to makeup brushes, you can never have too many in my opinion and my very first introduction to Nanshy is with this brand new Bare Necessities collection which landed on my doorstep a few days ago and I've become a tad obsessed with it. Nanshy is a vegan friendly brush brand which launched back in 2012 by Paula. 

Paula was fed up with struggling to find good quality and affordable brushes for everyday use and after trying brushes that were either too scratchy or caused a skin reaction, she decided enough was enough and created her very own brand! Having completed hours of research and sampling various brushes from many different suppliers, Paula launched her very first set of Nanshy brushes and the rest is history. The Bare Necessities Collection is the next chapter to her story and I am here to share them in all their glory!

The Bare Necessities Collection, which is unlike anything Nanshy has ever released before, is a nine-piece set. Luxurious to look at, the brushes feature beautiful natural beechwood handles and they look and feel just incredible. The bristles themselves are just so soft and are created with soft taklon in a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly manner. The bristles are held in place with a nickel-plated, brass ferrule.

To add to the luxurious feel, the brushes come housed inside this beautiful brown faux leather chocolate brown pouch, which not only keeps your brushes safe, but is really handy for travelling with. Within the collection you will find a Powder Brush, a Tapered Powder Brush, an All-Over Face Brush, a Flat Contour Brush, a Tapered Blending Brush, a Large Eyeshadow Brush, a Crease Brush, an Eyebrow Brush and a Spoolie Brush. What I really like about these brushes is the design, each brush has a flat edge which stops them from rolling around when placed on any surface and as well as having the Nanshy logo engraved into each one, there is also roman numerals which indicates the number of the brush.

The collection launches this month but the waiting list is available to join now! If you join the waiting you will be in with a chance to win a full set of these brushes because three lucky people will each win a set for being patient and waiting! Everyone who joins the waiting list will also get free worldwide shipping and a FREE Brush & Sponge Cleaner with your order! The Bare Necessities Collection will be priced at £69.95 – you can join the waiting list here.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Lash Perfect Lash Lift

Last week I was given the opportunity to try the Lash Perfect Lash Lift, a treatment I have never had but have heard about and seen the effects off. Keen to give it a try, a testing kit was dispatched so that I could check to any reaction to the products used prior to the treatment. With no irritation or reaction, I went off to The Lash Bar in SoHo. Whenever I go somewhere new for a treatment, I am sometimes a little nervous of the unknown, but upon stepping inside, not only did the Lash Perfect Lash Bar smell incredible, everyone working there was just so lovely, chatty and within minutes I was made to feel like a long lost friend. Set up over two floors and with 6 treatment areas, you can have a choice of treatments for both your lashes and your brows.

I was present for the Lash Perfect Lash Lift which is described as being a natural lash enhancement that will give the appearance of thicker, longer lashes that can last up to 8 weeks. I have fairly long lashes but there isn't much of a curl to them and whilst I do sometimes have my false lashes, I have always dreamed of having fanned fluttery lashes which didn't involve eyelash glue!

Making myself comfortable on the treatment table, I was taken through the routine of what is to happen, the products that will be used and ultimately how long the treatment would take. So with all eye makeup removed, firstly my lower lashes are covered with an eye mask, incredibly soothing and almost had be fast asleep. Then my lashes were combed, quite a strange feeling to have someone sitting over you to comb your lashes, but the reason this is done is to ensure that there is as much separation of the lashes as possible. Over time, we all have eyelashes which become crossed over and to give your lash lift the best possible result, combing them is a really effective part of the treatment. The lashes are lifted onto a silicone bar which is placed onto the eyelid and once my lashes had been combed in to place, a lifting cream was applied and it is left on for around 13 minutes. Once that time is up, the lifting cream is removed and the setting cream is then added, again following the first process, it is left for 13 minutes. At no point is the treatment uncomfortable and nor does it hurt. The only thing you cannot do is open your eyes or blink for around an hour, the only challenge is not falling asleep because I was so relaxed.

Once all of the cream has been removed for that final time and then my eyelashes given a brush through a few more times, this helps ensure the cream has worked and that there is none left clinging to any lash, I was given the mirror to look at the effect and I was immediately wowed. I could see that they had lifted from the root and now instead of my lashes clashing when I blinked, they don't. Instead, my lashes have the effect I always try to created with eyelash curlers, for which I have tried both manual and heated versions and without much success.  Now my eyes look open, I look more alert and wide awake and it is such a great treatment.

The lifting effect naturally enhances the natural thickness of the lashes giving a more defined overall appearance. This treatment is ideal for anyone with straight natural lashes or those looking for a natural curl without the need for extensions and all in just one hour - perfect for a lunchtime treat!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

You Beauty Box - August 2017

The August You Beauty Box has arrived and this month the theme is 'The Sumptuous Spa Edit' and there was a great list of products to choose from to create your box. Right now, I would love nothing more than a few Spa Treatments and some time to wind down and relax, but having not got that option to hand, I chose some products from an extensive list that can help me to wind down at home.

The freebie this month is a sachet from Philosophy and it comes in the form of the well known Purity 3-in-1 Cleanser for face and eyes. This is an award-winning, one-step daily facial cleanser that removes makeup, cleanses, tones and lightly hydrates the skin. Working rapidly to dissolve dirt, oil and makeup it also deep clean pores while maintaining the skin's proper moisture levels.

Gentle enough for the eye area and even for the most sensitive skin. For me a sachet of this size (6ml) is never really enough to get a real feel as to whether or not it is a good product, but thankfully from Boots, you can buy a 90ml version (here) for just £8.50 and for me, this would have been a better inclusion.

When choosing three products, I actually struggled to decide whether to have brands that I am well acquainted with or opt for those I know of and have used, but haven't done so for quite some time.  The latter was the winner.

The first product comes from SenSpa and it is a 50ml tube of the Sleep Therapy Bath Soak. Described as being the ultimate bath tool for a deep sleep, it is pack full of natural ingredients which are kind to skin and help to soothe the mind. 

Using a combination of organic lavender with an exotic blend of bergamot, patchouli and geranium essential oils this is moisturising bath soak which nourishes and hydrates the skin and leaves you feeling ready for bed and a good nights sleep.

The second product in my box is the Comfort Zone Sublime Skin Essence. This is a new brand and new product that I hadn't tried until now and as I really am liking essences right now, I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to try something know.

Described as being an intensive and concentrated solution that stimulates skin regeneration and youthful appearance to the skin. 

Finally we have the Ultimate Salt Scrub from Sanctuary. Containing sea salt from the renowned Dead Sea and a rich mix of moisturising jojoba, coconut and almond oils, this is referred to as being an 'iconic salt scrub' which leaves your skin perfectly polished and gorgeously moisturised.

The use of salt works to gently exfoliate dead cells and to stimulate and promote renewal, the oils soak into skin leaving it gleaming and exquisitely scented.

So despite this months freebie not being too impressive, I do have three amazing brands with amazing products to try and they do all fit within the Spa theme of the box, now I just need a proper Spa experience. The You Beauty Box is one of the best around and for just £8.95 which includes P&P you get to make a choice as to which products you want each month and that way you won't be disappointed. More information can be found here.

Makeup Revolution Baking Powder Ghost Finish

I don't know about you but keeping up with all of the new releases from Makeup Revolution and their sister brands is quite exhausting and whilst I do have my eye on one or two products, this product dropped through my letterbox.

Following on from the success of their version of the Luxury Banana powder, the clever people behind the brand have developed something for those of us with much paler skin, whom might find the Banana Powder a little too yellow - meet Ghost Finish, a baking powder with a light finish for users with a paler skin complexion. 

The term 'Baking' is one that is banded about all over the place currently and in simple terms it refers to letting translucent powder sit on your face for five to 10 minutes, which allows the heat from your face to set your base foundation and concealer, and then dusting it off your face, leaving you with a creaseless, flawless finish - something Kim K is a huge fan of and I am told the drag community have been doing it forever!

Ghost Finish is a finely milled white mattifying powder which is designed to set the areas you generally place concealer, for me this means under the eyes, the centre of your forehead, the bridge of your nose and the chin. You can also use it over the entire face to set your foundation and to give that overall highlighted look.

With a name like Ghost Finish, I was expecting to find my face looking as though it had been covered in Talcum Powder, thankfully however this is not and has not been the case.  Whenever I apply my makeup, I admit I am a faffer (technical term!) and I am easily distracted, so applying my base products and then this, gives me that chance to faff whilst my face 'bakes'. Packaged inside this plastic tub, the powder is tipped out through holes, similar to those you find on a talcum powder bottle and I pour it either into the lid or onto the top of my hand and then use my setting brush to ensure it goes onto my face in the places I want it to go. It doesn't clump and it doesn't show up or give you a 'talc face' instead, it does lock your makeup in place and it does help to enhance the wear ability and last ability, the latter I found quite surprising.

If you have never tried Baking before and want to give it a try, then Ghost Finish comes in a plastic tub which contains 42g of powder and it retails for just £5 this is well worthy of grabbing it quickly whilst you can and giving it a try.

*this post contains PR samples/Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - see my Disclaimer page for more detail.