Beauty Banks: How To Help Fight Hygiene Poverty

Access to the most basic hygiene products such a soap and sanitary towels is a right that for some is still out of reach to the many here in the UK, a fact which might shock most of you, perhaps it is something many of you haven't ever thought about or given thought too. Well two people who have are Jo Jones and Sali Hughes with their new organisation and guess what - You can get involved too.

Beauty Banks aims to encourage the beauty community to donate toiletries to people living in serious need and give the hoard of unused products many of us accumulate over time a much more worthwhile purpose. As a beauty blogger and beauty lover, I am fortunate enough to be gifted a lot of items and like many I do love a good 3 for 2 offer and take full advantage of them whenever I need too. 

My own local supermarket has a basket for the local pet charity, the food bank and my local church has somewhere for products to be taken for local domestic shelters. It isn't too much of a hardship to shop clever which is how I see it. You need toothpaste? Well look for an offer and donate the other, you need shower gel - same rules apply and so on an so forth. If you look in your cupboards you will have tins of food, still in date, that you don't need want or need... you might even have unopened PR samples that you won't use, isn't your shade, scent or even 'thing' so donate it, clear the clutter.

As Sali Hughes so rightly and poignantly puts it:

Clean hair, skin and teeth are a right, not a privilege. Personal hygiene – while not a matter of life and death – is crucial for our dignity, self-respect, personal pride and mental health.

This isn't just an organisation only some people can get involved in, everyone can do their bit. So how can you get involved? Thankfully it is really simple and very easy. Beauty Banks need items such as:

• Shampoo
• Body Wash
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Shaving Products
• Tampons
• Sanitary Towels
• Wipes
• Hand Sanitiser
• Toothpaste

Literally everything you probably have in your bathroom collecting dust, your hotel miniatures, toothbrushes, combs, hand cream, body cream, hair masks and even toilet roll for some places. There are also some rules to follow and they are quite important - Products need to be unopened, to comply with health and safety rules. Also nail polish, nail polish remover and perfume are restricted solvents, so please don't send these either. Please also don't send money as this is a non-profit organisation and isn't a registered charity but if you really feel you want to send items the you can shop directly from their Amazon wish list and have it sent directly to them.

Where to send your stash

Once you've gathered a decent stash of products, put them in a box and write "Beauty Banks" on each side, addressing the package to the following address:

Beauty Banks

c/o Jo Jones

The Communications Store

2 Kensington Square

London

W8 5EP

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

Beauty Expert - The Spa Edition

In the latest edition of The Beauty Expert Collection which is called ‘The Spa Edit’ it comes packaged inside a handy cosmetics bag and is packed full of relaxing products covering skin, hair and bodycare brands and they have been chosen with one thing in mind and that is to help you sit back, relax and rejuvenate your skin and mind and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.  Having seen off January, which never seemed to want to end, February has brought more rubbish weather and as I don't want to be outdoors and want to stay indoors and have a weekend of pampering.

The Spa edition is packed with six full sized products from brands you will all know and love and it has a combined worth of over £220 but can be yours for just £70 (here) and it is just amazing value for money.

First out of the bag is Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask (50ml). Omorovicza is one of my favourite brands, if you haven't tried The Queen of Hungry Mist you need too. This Mud Mask is rich in nourishing Hungarian moor mud, alongside calcium and magnesium compounds – proven to accelerate healing. 

Natural acids and Hectorite Clay draw out impurities then detoxify and cleanse to leave your complexion clear, bright, hydrated and visibly lifted. There is also the use of essential oils which include sage, chamomile, rosemary and rose geranium which have a cooling and antiseptic effect on the skin.  

Next is Caudalie Divine Oil (50ml). This oil was the very first product I used from Caudalie and I still absolutely love it. A nourishing, multi-purpose oil which can be used on dry skin, hair and nails. Encased inside a beautiful glass bottle, this oil smells just absolutely incredible thanks to the Moroccan and Bulgarian roses. 

As well as roses, there is also the inclusion of Shea Butter, pink grapefruit, spicy pink pepper, hibiscus, sesame and argan oils.  I love a good multi-purpose product and this is quite something because not only can you use it on dry skin, flaky skin, split ends and on your cuticles but it also works perfectly well as a bath oil and not only does it smell incredible, it leaves your skin feeling so well nourished and hydrated.

Also included within this Spa Edition is the ESPA Optimal Skin ProSerum (30ml). Described as being an intensely nourishing serum which works to strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier and help even skin tone, while enhancing elasticity to help minimise the early signs of ageing. 

What I love about this serum is how incredible it smells, it reminds me of being in a spa. Using Echium Oil and Sunflower Concentrate which replenish ceramides and omega oils, White Lupin which helps to smooth and firm while Turmeric brightens for beautifully radiant skin.  I haven't used many products from ESPA but this ProSerum is absolutely lovely, not at all greasy and has the kind of aroma which just makes you instantly relax.

Next is the Nourish, Breathe & Energise Hand Balm from Neom and as a brand, I know very little about it. This hand cream comes from Neom's Scent To Boost Your Energy™ collection and is described as being a cream to hydrate fatigued hands, the nourishing balm leaves skin ultra-soft, whilst boasting a rejuvenating scent. 

Enriched with a blend of grapefruit, lemon & rosemary which help to refresh and energise they work alongside both Shea and Cocoa Butter to hydrate and protect your hands.  On the skin, this hand cream which doesn't have too thick a texture, absorbs really quickly and leaves behind a really lovely aroma.

Another brand I feel I should know more about than I do is Elemis and within the Spa Edition from Beauty Expert is the Pro-Collagen Marine Oil (15ml). Described as being a rich and replenishing anti-ageing treatment and it is derived from ocean-based botanicals and marine-biological actives, the facial oil balances a trio of seaweeds – Padina Pavonica, Golden Seaweed and Roaring Water Kelp and they all come together and work in tandem to support skin’s natural moisture barrier, maximising hydration levels while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

There is also the use of White Poppy Seed which is said to create a visible plumping effect, improve the skin’s overall texture and tone for a truly lifted and radiant visage.   Again, the scent of this oil is just heavenly and has that spa aroma to it, it is non-greasy and absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin.

The final item within this Spa Edition is the NUXE Micellar Cleansing Oil (150ml). Described as being the perfect first step of your double cleanse, this cleansing oil makes light work of removing makeup, dirt, grime and impurities from the skin without leaving it feeling dry and taut. 

It is infused with rosewater micelles which lifts away the most stubborn waterproof mascara. I have never been the biggest fan of Micellar Water, I have never quite found something that I liked using and would repurchase, even those which are most loved, but this Cleansing Oil for me is in a totally different league and ive already ordered a back up, I am that impressed with it.

The idea of having a bag of products which have been put together to help you relax, de-stress and take some time out is such a great idea, especially when there is a lot of stress around January. ‘The Spa Edit’ is still available and if you need an excuse for a bit of a pampering, Beauty Expert have you covered, grab it quick!

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

Priming with Touch In Sol

'You wouldn't apply paint to a wall without priming it' was my very first introduction as to why you should apply a base to your face before applying makeup.  Since those many moons ago, without question, I will always use a primer and if you find a good one, one which works for you and does the job you want it to do, then it is a huge plus.

I have for the past few months had a lot of fun playing with these three primers from Touch In Sol.  If you haven't read my blog recently, then I am a huge K-Beauty Fan and my current obsession is with Touch In Sol (featured here and here). The brand was created and founded in Seoul and is designed to embrace the spirit of Korean innovation. Touch In Sol is fun, innovative and uses some of the most advanced technologies and everything I have tried so far I have just absolutely loved.

Primers can do many things for your skin and makeup, it depends what it is you want them to do.  This is where Touch In Sol has something for everything.  Starting with the one most of you might have heard of, No Poreblem (£15).

If you have combination/oily skin and want to control that excess sebum, then this ticks the boxes. If you want to minimise the look of those pesky pores, again this ticks that box. For me, I have combination oily skin and there are certain days of the month when I need all the help I can get to defeat that mid-afternoon shine and when that happens, No Poreblem is the primer for me. Enriched with Green tea extract which provides soothing antioxidant benefits, building an invisible barrier to the elements and Collagen which protects skin as well as helping it to look firm, smooth and healthy.  Using a pump action bottle, you only need a few pumps to ensure you cover the parts of your face that need it the most and once it has settled, it creates a really lovely velvety finish.  This is one of my favourite discoveries to date.

Feel Like Honeymoon (£19.50) is up next and this should not be as amazing to use as it is, but I absolutely love everything about it.  Unlike anything I have ever come across or used before, it smells good enough to eat and makes my skin feel just incredible.

Honeymoon is a primer which looks after your skin and it is perfect for those of us who have dry skin that often looks and feels dehydrated or lacklustre. Enriched with eight botanicals which include rose, jasmine, lavender, lotus, chamomile and hibiscus there is also hydrolysed collagen, tiny suspended gold flakes and honey extract and they all come together to moisturise, firm and illuminate your complexion. Honeymoon is quite versatile because you can use it on it before you apply makeup or you can mix it in with your foundation or even your moisturising cream, depending on your preference and which make up products you will be using.  Unlike No Poreblem, Honeymoon has a spatula for applying and it is really easy to use and manages to hold just enough product.  It smells just like honey and has a texture which is quite similar to runny honey, but on the skin, it transforms into a none-sticky texture.  As it is ideal for dry skin, if like me you have dry patches of skin on your face, you will find that where products once glued themselves to the dry skin, they no longer do.

The Primer that intrigued me the most is Toc TocToning Capsule Base (£16). Beautiful to look at and I was drawn to the spots held within the formula.

Held inside an incredible moisturising gel which is non-stick or tacky are multi-pearl capsules which work to hydrate and illuminate skin and help to create that flawless canvas upon which to apply your makeup. The multi-pearl capsules which pop when applied help to add definition to the contours of your face and like other products within the range from Touch In Sol, this primer also cares for your skin. Using smoothing natural botanicals which includes jasmine, lavender, rose and hibiscus extracts they come together to soothe and moisturise, while also diminishing the appearance of fine lines.

The final primer I have been lucky enough to play with is 'I'm Very Useful' Make Up Boomer (£16) and this pearlescent cream primer is designed to add radiance, make your make up last longer and it can also be used as a highlighter over makeup.

I'm Very Useful is enriched with argan oil, jojoba oil, lotus, jasmine, lavender, chamomile, rose and lily which nourish and moisturise the skin. On the skin, it adds a subtle glow and I have found that it works just as well on its own as it does with your moisturiser, especially if you are having a no-makeup day and just want to look fabulous. As a highlighter, I love the glow it gives and it can be used on your cheekbones, bridge of the nose and brow bones and this is where the spatula applicator comes in really useful because it is easy to pat the product onto the skin, it doesn't use too much or too little, you can control just how much of a glow you want. If I am mixing with a moisturising cream or even BB cream, then I only add a few drops from the end of the spatula.

As you can see there are four very different primers which do very different things but all have something in common - they look after your skin as well as ensure your make up stays in place for longer.  There is a whole host of Touch In Sol makeup and skin to be discovered over at Cult Beauty, ASOS and recently launched at Feelunique and honestly, it is a brand which continues to surprise me.

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