Introducing BLAQ

BLAQ is an Australian skincare brand whose packaging is minimal, not in the slighest bit fancy and tells you all you need to know about the product you are using. Blaq is built on the basis of one core ingredient - Activated Charcoal. 

Over the past year or so I have read about, seen and tried many products which contain activated charcoal, it has appeared in shampoo, conditioners, masks, eye masks, hair masks, conditoners, toothpaste and even foot creams. My skin either likes it or hates it. I have tried some masks which have really irritated my skin and others which have been simply amazing. My hair loves activated charcoal products and it doesnt dry out or irritate my scalp, which can sometimes be a bit sensitive. All said, I was intrigued to see what Blaq had to offer and this is what they have to say:

our products are formulated to solve your first world skin problems and erase the evidence of late nights, city-living and one too many wines (if there is such a thing), by detoxifying and nurturing your skin back to a healthy state.

The brand started with the Blaq Mask (£14), a face mask which is designed to target toxins and draw out impurities. The downside to living in London is the pollution, smog and everyday use of public transport literally plays havoc with your skin. Some days I come home and just want to scrub my skin raw to just rid it of pollution because I can pretty much feel it sitting there. 

When using this mask, you are advised to do a patch test first to ensure it will not irritate your skin.  I have had no problems using it at all but it isn't the mask you want to be using a day before an important event/meeting because it can lead to a few break outs. That said my skin has been absolutely fine using it.  After cleansing, you are advised to open your pores using a warm water and a towel/flannel and then apply an even layer to your t-zone areas but avoid the lips, hairline, and brows. Leave the mask to dry which takes between 15 and 20 minutes and then starting at bottom outer edge, slowly peel off the mask in an upward direction. It does have quite an odd sensation as begin to remove it, but it doesn't hurt at any point.  Afterwards my skin feel clean, smooth and soft to the touch.

Also coming from Blaq are the Hydrogel Eye Masks (£22 for a pack of 5) which are very much in keeping with the mask, are designed to to de-puff, detox and make those eye bags no longer visible. I have mentioned before that I suffer with insomnia and it can leave me looking like an absolute wreck with deep dark bags under my eyes. 

What I love about these eye masks is how they feel. They are rubbery but so incredibly refreshing, the perfect solution for tired, stressed and dark circle looking eyes. The Blaq Hydrogel Eye Masks use activated charcoal to reduce puffiness and detox the delicate, sensitive skin under the eyes. They should be used after cleansing your face and you then apply the eye masks to about 1cm below each eye, then leave on for about 10-15 minutes, during this time, they don't dry or go hard, they simply soothe and refresh and give to chance to have what I call a disco nap, do some pinning on Pinterest or go and like some photos on Instagram. After your time is up, the masks simply peel away from the skin without pulling or tugging and what you will see is that those pesky bags have all bit diminished and you have soft, smooth skin. I like how hydrating these are on my under eye and also that they don't irritate what so ever.

I am looking forward to seeing what else Blaq has to offering in the coming months and they launch here in the UK on April 1st, so look out for further announcements.

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

Lipstick Queen Transformative Trio

When I saw this Lipstick Queen Transformative Trio on offer from SpaceNK for just £11 I knew I had to snap it up. Lipstick Queen is a cult Australian brand which was born out of one woman's quest, Poppy King, to find the perfect lipstick. Now some 20 years later the range has grown quite extensively and contains so many beautiful lipsticks in every possible shade, look and finish you can imagine.  Poppy is said to have created the brand Lipstick Queen to fill the void in the market for unusual yet glamorous fun and stylish lip products. She believes that lipstick makes you feel able to take on anything and that is reflected in her fun yet glamorous range of products.

Lipstick Queen's 'Mini Transformative Trio' features three of the brand's best-selling hues which are Mornin' Sunshine, Frog Prince and Hello Sailor and they are the kind of shade that you can wear no matter the season. They are enriched with Shea and Mango Seed Butters which makes then incredibly hydrating and moisturising, but for me, the reason I bought them is because of the colour-adapting formula that adjusts to individual body temperature and this means that no two shades look alike.

The first shade out of the box is Mornin' Sunshine and it is described as being a happy and sunny lipstick which works with your pH to create a unique shade of a peachy coral but some people have reported that they had a slightly lighter shade. It is packed with Anti-oxidant Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil and is incredibly hydrating when applied.

Next, we have Frog Prince which is an emerald green coloured lipstick that transforms into a magical rosebud pink as soon as it touches your lips. By reacting and adapting to the natural pH of your lips, Frog Prince becomes your own custom shade of rosebud pink and it is said to work perfectly in harmony with your complexion. This lipstick uses Mango Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Vitamin E and Shea Butter to keeps your lips hydrated.

Finally, we have Hello Sailor, the Lipstick I knew the least about and looks are most definitely deceiving with this one. It is a navy lipstick, in the bullet but when applied a really lovely sheer plum shade. It is described as 'the no lipstick lipstick' as it works as a nude lipstick and draws out pink tones to enhance natural lip colour; suiting all skin tones. Using Mango Seed and Sunflower oils as well as Shea Butter this is the most hydrating lipstick of the trio and I think my favourite too.

For £11 I think this was one of my best bargains to date. Three lipsticks I have been wanting to try but instead of paying out £20 for a full-size version, I've got three mini instead. Of course every swatch on each person will be totally different, some shades don't show up at all and others go much darker than the ones I am showing, the same can be said as to whether something is swatched on your arm, wrist or whether you are wearing it on your lips.  For me, I decided to show an unedited swatch on my wrist.

As well as lipsticks, within the Lipstick Queen collection, you can also find blushes which again take on quite a unique formula, Lip Liners, Liquid Lipsticks and Glosses. You can find Lipstick at John Lewis and LookFantastic as well as SpaceNK.  

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

Balmkind Lip Balm

As far as I am concerned you can never have too many lip balms in your handbag, on your desk or on your bedside table and it is a product that I use all year round whatever the weather, it is also a product I use every single day, multiple times a day.

Balmkind is a lip balm which is formulated without parabens, mineral oils, petrolatum, lanolin, palm oil or phthalates and instead in their place, you will find rich skin loving ingredients which leave your lips feeling soft, hydrated, nourished and soothed. An interesting story behind the company rings true for me, I am under 50 and I do suffer from pesky cold sores which seem to appear when I am feeling run down or have been poorly. Balmkind state:

A life-long battle with chapped, parched and troubled lips was the inspiration behind balmkind. We aren’t alone in that battle – according to the World Health Organisation*, two-thirds of the world’s population under 50 has the virus that causes cold sores, resulting in misery for lips.

Taking two years to get the formulation right, Balmkind uses antioxidant-rich Alpine Rose and this gives the balm a beautiful delicate floral scent which I really really like. The balm itself is luxuriously rich and whilst it isn't sticky or tacky on the lips, it does have a fairly thick texture which melts onto the lips as you apply it. Making use of a slanted applicator for precise application, I have found that using this balm does help with keeping my lips hydrated and nourished.

Other ingredients within this balm include soothing liquorice root, lipid-rich pomegranate sterols, vitamin E, oat lipids and Lysine (an essential amino acid) work to soothe and protect your lips.  It is also worth noting that Antioxidant-rich Alpine Rose, Lysine (an essential Amino Acid) and soothing Licorice Root contain properties which studies have shown may reduce the occurrence of cold sores, something I am always wanted to avoid the occurrence of.

This balm can be purchased for £12 from the Balmkind website and if you are in need of a new lip balm or simply want something that does nourish your lips, then this one is worthy of trying.

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