Sister & Co. Skin Food

Sister & Co. Skin Food is a company that has been on a personal journey. One which started with constant skin break outs which drove the owner Sophie insane, but when given some advice from a local lady who told her to wash her face once daily in the raw coconut oil her family produced at home and was simply blown away by how quickly my skin cleared up.  With that advice in mind, just a few months later Sister & Co. Skin Food launched with Sister & Co. Coconut Oil, the original product.

I have four products from the range to share with you today and honestly, they are all just incredible. Starting with the Raw Cacoa and Coffee Sugar Scrub which smells just amazing and if like me you adore Coffee Scrubs, I have no doubt you will love this one. Using ground robusta coffee beans with a particularly high caffeine content alongside antioxidant-packed raw cacao butter, cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil, sweet almond oil and Sister & Co. Coconut Oil which makes this scrub not only nourishing and softening for the skin, but it also uses Raw organic coconut sugar and pink Himalayan salt which work to remove away dead skin cells before finally using both Sweet orange and peppermint which help to uplift and energise the senses.  

On the skin, I was surprised, given the ingredients, how soft this was on my skin, it does an incredible job at removing dead and dry skin-cells and the scent is just that perfect tonic for a pick me up with both the orange and peppermint. 

Soap is a product likely to not excite many people, but just sometimes it is a little more special. This Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleanse Detoxifying Soap Bar is perfect for those, like me who have combination or oily skin or have blemish-prone skin and it can also be used on both the face and the body. 

This soap is formulated with porous activated bamboo charcoal which works to lift toxins and impurities from your pores which then encourages smooth, clear skin. It is also blended with shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and olive oil which really hydrates the skin and doesn't dry it out. this soap adds softness and hydration to skin rather than drying it out.

When it comes to lipbalms, I am a bit of an obsessive and this Raw Coconut Lip Tonic with Rose Otto and Cardamom.  This lipbalm is incredibly nourishing and hydrating on the lips. Using a combination of Sister & Co. Coconut Oil and virgin avocado and almond oils with raw shea butter and pure beeswax. 

Then there is the infusion of delicate and soothing Bulgarian rose and sweet cardamom. It is a non-greasy formula which I really like and it smells just amazing.

The final product I have been using comes from the Mother & Baby range, before anyone gets excited I am still only a mum to three kitties!  This Dream Cream is a 100% natural balm which is made using certified organic ingredients. 

Described as being a gentle and nourishing multi-purpose balm it uses a blend of raw shea butter and cold-pressed apricot and sweet almond oils alongside lavender and chamomile. You can literally use it as a lip balm, nipple balm, hand cream and on stretchmarks as well as your baby's nappy rash, cradle cap and any dry, flaky skin patches.

There are so many products from this brand that I really want to try an with over fifteen products now sold at stores such as Liberty, Fenwicks, Space NK it is also sold online via ASOS, Feelunique, BeautyBay I would really recommend giving them a try!

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

Love Me Beauty - August

The August Edition of Love Me Beauty has arrived packed full of some pretty amazing brands and from them, some incredible products that I have been really excited about trying. As with previous months, the items are packaged inside a cute little cosmetic bag. 

Inside my "I didn't choose the glam life, the glam life chose me" bag is a collection of five products from Kat Von D and Buxom, two brands I have not yet tried despite the hype but two brands I have on my list to go and search out.

The first item out of the bag is the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick and I have shade Cathedral. Encased inside this black studded bullet with the KVD Monogram, which I absolutely love, the shade Cathedral is described as a being a ‘matte coco rose’ shade and one that I wanted to search for from the entire range, so I am very chuffed right now.

The KVD lipsticks are infused with an antioxidant complex that leaves lips feeling soft, and it has a Crème Brûlée scent to the formula which is a subtle sweet scent. One swipe across the lips, even though this is a mini 1.2g version, is enough to add a pop of colour and true to its description, it is soft and creamy and is also a Coco Rose shade which is very wearable.

Next we have the Kat Von D Setting Powder and again it features the monogrammed KVD initials on the lid which really captures your attention. The powder is describe as being a silky, non-drying setting powder and it is formulated with Micro-Blurring Technology™ to softly diffuse pores for a velvety-matte, selfie-ready finish. 

Translucent in shade it is undetectable on all skin tones, so everyone can lock down and mattify their makeup. The setting powder is incredibly finely milled and is fast becoming my favourite setting powder, easy to use and apply there is no white powder left on the skin once applied and if like me you have combination/oily skin, it really does help with that matte effect.

The final Kat Von D item in this months bag is a sample 4.5ml vial of the new Saint perfume. I hadn't expected to like this scent at all but it has grown on me and I now absolutely love it. 

Sitting within the Floriental family, Saint features top notes of clary sage and mirabelle; middle notes of jasmine, almond blossom and lily-of-the-valley and the base notes are vanilla, cedar, peach and musk.  It is a really sweet scent but not so sweet it gives you a headache after a few hours of applying.  Once it has dried down on the skin, for me the scent of Mirabelle (plum) is the most dominant and I actually like it a lot.

When Buxom launched into Debenhams a few months a go there was a lot of hype and promotion about the brand which was described as being the fastest selling makeup brand in America. Having already been in the UK before, this was quite the re-launch and until now, it had not crossed my path.  Within my bag this month I have two products.

The first item from Buxom Cosmetics Full is a best seller in America and it is the Lip Polish in shade Dolly has been recently launched in the UK. Described as being a Shimmering Mauve and it uses a unique peptide and hyaluronic acid booster which helps to support natural collagen and give lips a volumised look all without irritation. 

The added inclusion of vitamins A and E also work to keep the lips soft, supple and hydrated. I am always unsure of products like this which can give that tacky and sticky feel to the lips, something I find really off-putting but thankfully Dolly did not disappoint. This is the kind of shade you can wear on its own or over your favourite lipstick for that added shine.

The second item from Buxom Cosmetics is also a U.S. best-selling item and it is a volumising mascara which claims you will get big, outrageously full lashes with curves to spare. This mascara has a vitamin enriched, clump resistant formula which deepens, darkens and thickens lashes. 

It has an plastic hourglass shaped brush I really like. The brush works to evenly coat the lashes from root to tip and I like how it works to separate the lashes which adds definition. Vitamin enriched and both smudge and clump resistant, I found this mascara to be incredible long-lasting once applied and this is a product I would definitely purchase full sized.

So there you have the August Edition of Love Me Beauty which has been my favourite edition yet and if this is something you need in your life (you do) then here is an offer for you:

Love Me Beauty Offer:

Sign up today and use my exclusive code beautyqueenuk20 to get a 20% discount off your first order

www.lovemebeauty.com

Last month I mentioned that there had been some changes at LMB HQ and just to re-cap - Whilst you will still get 60 credits for your £10, there will no longer be any limited edition edits, which means products will remain available to purchase for as long as they are in stock. I personally think this is a really clever move as it means there will be more choice on products and you can continue to keep buying that one product you really like, without paying the full whack!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Influenster UK Max Factor VoxBox

Influenster concept you have seen springing up across social media sites and blogs lately and having been a US based online community it is now here in the UK. The concept is quite simply those people who have signed up to become members can post reviews of products they’ve tried, as well as being able to try products that they have been sent and you can sign up too.

To take part you simply need to sign up, and fill in some mini questionnaires as well as linking all of your social media profiles which will then give you a ‘social score’ and obviously the more you have, the better your score will be. Once you have completed all of the questionnaires, Influenster UK will then choose those members who qualify for their campaigns and my first campaign is the Influenster UK Max Factor VoxBox.

My first box arrived within a matter of days of singing up and one of the first things you have to do is be willing to share a photo of the products within the box on your social media channels with specific hashtags, fully disclosing that the products were sent free of charge by Influenster to ensure there’s 100% transparency on the origin of the products. All of this is detailed on the Influenster homepage and upon the accompanying leaflet within your box.

Within my first box there are two Max Factor lip products; the Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick, the Max Factor Honey Lacquer and some boxes also got the Max Factor Colour Elixir Universal Lip Liner, but this didn't feature in my box.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick  – Chilli £7.99

I haven't tried a lipstick from Max factor is quite some time, so it was nice to see a lipstick within my box. I have shade Chilli which is a crimson shade and it has gold flecks within the formula. Max Factor state that the Elixir Formula contains a 60% blend of skin emollients, conditioners and antioxidants including vitamin E, Shea, Avocado and Aloe Butters as well as antioxidant White Tea. The Colour Elixir lipstick works to actively moisturise and smooth the lips.

I didn't think I would like this shade as at a first glance it looks too red for me to wear, however. upon application, it is more of a deep berry red which I can just about get away with wearing and the gold flecks within the formula add lovely light particles to the lips. It glides onto the lips with no fuss and once on the lips, which it coats incredibly well, the pop of colour is really quite something. If Chilli isn't the shade for you, then there are another 16 shades for you to choose from. These lipsticks come packaged within a gold plastic rectangular case which has a clear base so you can see the shade of the lipstick. Priced at £7.99, I think the Colour Elixir formula is really impressive and worth trying if you like your lipstick to be pigment rich, smooth and creamy.

Max Factor Honey Lacquer - Floral Ruby 9.99

I loved the sound of this product before I had tried it. Max Factor claimed it was 3-in-1 Lip Lacquer which has 3 lip benefits in 1 product. The first is the intense colour of a lipstick, followed by the shine of a gloss and then finally the feel of a soft balm. 

Within my box I have the shade Floral Ruby, which is not a shade I am comfortable wearing but do appreciate just how stunning it is. Packaged inside an elongated tube with a gold lid and inside the long but narrow doe foot applicator which is perfect. Floral Ruby is the brightest red shade and it is incredibly pigmented, you need no more than a swipe across the lips for a pop of colour. What I like is that the gloss isn't too thick and nor is it sticky or tacky on the lips and the glossy shine is so pretty and perfect for those who are not a fan of the matte trend.

I have loved being able to rediscover Max Factor with these two products and I have since purchased another Lipstick and Honey Lacquer in different shades, so watch this space!

To find out more information on the community, head over to their website and get signed up (here) so you could perhaps be considered for their monthly campaigns, and be able to try free beauty products.

I would love to know if you’ve tried any of these Max Factor lip products?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise

Oud Milano comes to the UK

A few weeks ago I was invited to a press event with Oud Milano. Oud Milano, if the name doesn't give it away, is an Italian brand who have opened a brand new flagship store in the heart of the West End here in London and you won't miss it on Oxford Street if you are walking by.

Whether you like lipsticks, eyeshadow, foundation, bronzer, nail polish, mascara, creams, applicator tools and scents, there is literally everything right there to play with to find your perfect shades, products and new look. I was given a selection of products to play with after the event and I thought they would be perfect for sharing on my blog. The first thing is the incredible packaging - sleek, chic and mirrors the decor of the store, a clever idea!

The first product is the Oud Milano Primer - Flawless Beauty. On the skin, this is one of the most lightweight primers I have used, there is no heavy silicone-like feel to it and it is almost as though there is nothing really there.

It has a light peachy tone to it but applies to the face like a dream and has no scent to it, which makes it all the more appealing to me. Oud Milano state that it is thanks to the presence of precious elastomers which minimises skin imperfections, on my skin, it doesn't work to conceal the redness, but it does help deal with any excess sebum thanks to my combination skin. Flawless Beauty retails for £35.

Then I have a Eye Shadow Compact in shade 321. Oddly none of the 30 shades have names, but are instead referred to as a selection of numbers and are available in either matte or pearled versions.

Shade 321 is a warm chocolate brown shade which is infused with gold flecks and it is sheer but buildable, which I like in an eyeshadow. Easy to use and with little fall out, this is a great everyday shade and it fits well within my 'I am a neutral eye' kind of girl, but if it is bright and bold that you want and prefer, trust me, the neons are incredible! Priced at around £20.

If lipstick is your thing then again Oud Milano has an abundance of types to try - a gloss, a liner, a balm, a stick or what is referred to, and the one I have, a Lip Colour.

Essentially a Lip Crayon and again with no name just a number, which in this case is 302, it is a bright, almost Barbie pink, not my kind of shade but the texture is something to talk about. Incredibly creamy and smooth, it glides onto the lips and delivers a pop of colour, it has a sheen to it and makes your lips feel as though you have actually applied a balm and not a lipstick. There are ten shades available and they are priced at £19.05.

The final makeup item that I have is a Kohol pencil in shade 201. Eyeliner isn't my most sought after product and it is something that I use occasionally, so I always have a pencil to hand. Shade 201 is a dark brown eyeliner shade rather than black, so it immediately appeals to me much more than usual.

It applies with ease and is quite a smooth creamy textured pencil, so it doesn't feel as though you are dragging it across your waterline or lash line. There is a black shade available alongside two beautifully stunning blues and each one retails for £9.53.

Saving the best product until last, well for me anyway comes something that is a first - The Crazy After Shower Raspberry Powder. In short it is a sparkling loose powder for the body. I have never tried anything like this before and I was literally like a Child in Toys 'R' Us at Christmas because it is such a fun product.

When you spray it, out comes a plume of white powder and within that power is a lot of glitter and it gives your skin a really lovely glow, now I am not talking covered from head to toe, but there is enough so that you can see a bit of a twinkle. A perfect product for the summer when the sun is out in my opinion. The scent of Strawberries and Cream is also pretty lovely, sweet and scents the skin really nicely. Priced at £20.11 it comes in two other scents which are Vanilla and Raspberry.

There are many many more products to be sought out form Oud Milano and the store is just beautifully laid out and worthy of the visit. The staff are lovely, knowledgeable about the brand and there are just one or two products which might surprise you!

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