Spring Beauty Edit | 5 Products To Take You Into Spring & Beyond

Let's face it, most of us don't need an excuse to have a little splurge and treat ourselves to some shiny new beauty products, but a new season is always a good excuse anyway! Believe it or not, there are practical elements to swapping out and adding in a few different products as well, as we (hopefully) move into the warmer and sunnier months ahead.

Here are five beauty products to take you into Spring and beyond.

Treat Your Skin To A Facial Massage | PMD Gua Sha RQ* (£32, link)

If you haven't tried Gua Sha yet, make Spring the time to give it a go! Gua Sha is the ancient traditional Chinese practice of using a tool, usually a shaped stone, to 'scrape' the skin or body to help stimulate new blood flow to the area, thus boosting cellular repair and collagen production. It may sound a little strange at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll never want to stop doing it, and many people say it helps to lift the contours of the face so it's a good one to try if you want a more naturally sculpted look.

All you need to practice Gua Sha at home is your favourite facial oil and a tool such as the new PMD Gua Sha RQ. Start by adding a few drops of face oil to your skin to provide lubrication and then gently scrape the tool against your face in upward and outward sweeping motions, applying more pressure as you get used to it. There are loads of tutorials on YouTube to help you get started. I particularly like the PMD Gua Sha RQ as it's made from Rose Quartz and has five unique points, edges, and curves to really get a good deep massage into the skin. The rubberised grip in the center is also very well-thought-out to make the tool much easier to use so it's a great choice for beginners.

Swap Your Cleansing Balm For An Oil | Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil* (100ml, £4.99, link)

As the season changes and especially as the weather starts to (slowly) warm-up, you may find that your skin becomes less dry and more oily. This is especially true if you have a combination skin type, and I can usually start to see and feel my complexion begin to change around this time of the year. If you've been using a thick cleansing balm over winter, why not try swapping it for a much lighter cleansing oil? Most skin types will enjoy the change and if you've always been concerned about using an oil-based product because your skin is oily, don't skip this; it's a common misconception and can actually improve your skin instead - win-win!

A fantastic budget-friendly option is Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil which you can pick up on the high street from places such as Boots. This cruelty-free cleanser transforms from an oil into a lightweight milk once you add water, removing all traces of impurities and makeup along the way. The pro-collagen formula contains active Vitamin C to visibly brighten your complexion and the blend of Olive, Grapeseed, and Rosehip Oils ensures that skin is left nourished and not stripped.

Embrace The Relaxing Powers Of CBD Into Your Bathroom | KLORIS CBD Bath Block Melt in Recharge* (140g, £15, link)

These days you'll find CBD in virtually everything from skincare to health drinks, such are its revered natural abilities to help us stressed human beings relax and recover from our busy lives. It's no surprise then to see CBD popping up as a key ingredient in many luxury bath products and these Bath Block Melts from KLORIS are so popular that they frequently sell out as soon as a new fresh batch is released.

Substantially chunky just like a brick, these bad boys are like a supersized bath bomb and are available in a range of different blends such as Recharge, Revive, Relax and Restore. I've had the pleasure of trying all of them and if I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Recharge one. Infused with two of my all-time fave essential oils, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli, each block also contains a whopping 100mg of premium CBD oil and a super luxurious cocktail of Hemp Oil, Coconut Oil, and Cocoa Butter to soften your whole body. Add to a warm bath, watch it fizz, and indulge in some me-time for at least an hour for the full benefits. Pure bliss.

Swap Powder Blush For Cream | Fenty Beauty Freestyle Cheeks Out Cream Blush in Petal Poppin (3g, £21, link)

One of the easiest makeup swaps for Spring is to replace your powder blush with a cream one instead. Why? In bright sunlight, powder blush can look a little too harsh and even glowy ones can start to look a little cakey, whilst cream formulas tend to look much fresher and more youthful. I've always been one to steer mainly clear of cream blushers as most don't tend to last very long on my combination skin, however, after reading a string of positive reviews about the Fenty Beauty Freestyle Cheeks Out Cream Blushers, I felt compelled to pick one up to try out.

I opted for the shade Petal Poppin which is the most gorgeous medium pink shade with a warm undertone that I feel would work really well for a range of skin tones. I love everything about this blush. From the super cute compact to the ultra-lightweight cream formula that blends like a dream, you can't go wrong with the sheer buildable pop of colour that it offers. Non-sticky, non-greasy, and lasts on my skin a good 6-8 hours before a little touchup is required.

Discover A Fresh New Scent | Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist (90ml, £22, link)

My fifth and final top pick for Spring is of course, a fresh new fragrance because who doesn't love changing up their perfume to fit with a new season?! You've no doubt seen this one all over social media so I'll keep this bit relatively short. Since reviewing Sol de Janeiro's Body Washes last month, several people on Instagram recommended their Perfume Mists to me so I obviously had to try one out. 

There are about five or six different fragrances to choose from and the one that I was attracted to the most was the Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist which is popular as it has some strong Baccarat Rouge vibes (and I really don't hate that). It's a sweet and sexy floral fragrance that reminds me of sunny days with notes of Brazillian Jasmine, Hibiscus, Pink Dragonfruit, Lychee, and creamy Vanilla. 

What's on your Spring beauty shopping list?

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Introducing: Adorli - A New Online Shop For Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Organic & Natural Beauty #WomenSupportingWomen

Heads up green beauty fans, there's a new online shopping destination called Adorli, and all the brands that they stock are made by UK female entrepreneurs! #WomanSupportingWomen

Founded by Saidat Giwa-Osagie, Adorli has been set up to promote emerging cruelty-free, vegan, organic and natural beauty brands which have been developed by female entrepreneurs who have created their own cosmetics and skincare lines after they were unable to find suitable products elsewhere. The shop's motto is 'kind beauty, made with love, made for you' which forms the basis for how Adorli came to be.

Saidat says, "When I moved to London, I would go to local beauty shops and struggle to get advice on which products to buy, making the experience time-consuming and costly. It was then I had the idea to create a place where you could find beauty products that are lovingly made with you in mind because the female entrepreneurs behind the brands have gone through similar situations and are therefore equipped with the empathy, support, and mindset to create beauty that's kind and caring.

Beauty isn't just skin deep. When you find something that's been made with you in mind, it's a recognition of your humanity, your uniqueness and a celebration of your beauty."

Adorli is currently working with a small number of independent female-led brands, so if you'd like to support this wonderful business, here are some of their bestselling products to look out for.

Honeypie Minerals Pink Rose Blush* (3g, £7.99, link)

Affordable and effective, Honeypie Minerals is a 100% natural and cruelty-free mineral-based brand which prides itself on producing pure, simple and honest makeup. They are known for their gorgeous blushers which are free from bismuth oxychloride, talc, oils, starch, synthetic harsh chemicals, parabens, nanoparticles, additives, fragrance and preservatives, and come in a range of shades to suit all skin tones.

The colour that I was kindly sent to try is called Pink Rose Blush which is one of those beautiful universally flattering shades of rosy pink and I haven't worn anything else since it arrived. Finely milled, this silky-soft mineral powder is easy to work with, feels lightweight and delivers a matte finish, but still has a lovely 'glow' to it. 

Kathy Sue-Ann's Super Moisturising Organic Body Butter in Au Naturel* (50ml, £8, link)

As I'm prone to dry skin and eczema flare-ups (particularly at this time of the year), I couldn't wait to try Kathy Sue-Ann's Super Moisturising Body Butter which is every bit as deliciously comforting as it sounds. Packed full of nourishing superfood ingredients such as Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera, this Body Butter feels surprisingly light thanks to its luxurious whipped texture, yet it really delivers on the hydrating front and transforms dry and irritated skin into a much happier and healthier version of itself.  Perfect for Winter or beyond, this is the Au Naturel formula which is free from fragrance and essential oils, however, there are also Sweet Orange, Lavender and Grapefruit versions available for those who want something scented.

Chaaboo Citrus and Lavender Tea Mini Soaps* (42g, £2.50 each, link)

An unusual and unique plastic-free gift idea for anyone who loves tea and green beauty, Chaaboo's one-of-a-kind Mini Tea Soaps are handmade in Hertfordshire to a vegan-friendly, palm oil-free and PETA approved natural formula. Key plant-based ingredients include Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Rice Bran Oil and Shea Butter, whilst Tea Leaves and Tea Water add a quirky twist! I've been enjoying using both of these in my home recently (the Citrus soap is by the kitchen sink, whilst the Lavender one is in the bathroom), and I'm already keen to try out some of their other tea-themed flavours in the near future.

Find all of these products and more at adorli.com

Are you shopping with independent brands this Christmas?

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Green Beauty: Lavera Limited Edition Natural Pastels Collection 2019 - Review & Swatches

Not ready to say goodbye to Summer just yet? Me either! To keep those sunny vibes flowing for longer, just add these beauties from Lavera's Limited Edition Natural Pastels Collection to your makeup bag ASAP.

Lavera is one of the most well-known organic and natural beauty brands in the business and I always get excited when I see a new collection drop from them. Their latest, Natural Pastels, is inspired by the floral shades and colours of Summer, but it's definitely a collection that you can wear all year round thanks to its flattering neutral tones. 

Everything in the collection is just like Lavera's existing products as they are all cruelty-free, certified organic and natural by NaTrue, and are free from parabens, artificial colourings and preservatives.

When I opened up the package from them, I was pleased to see that all of the products are housed in eco-friendly, durable cardboard packaging which fits in perfectly with Lavera's ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability. Once you've used up the products, all of the packaging is recyclable and the mirrors in the palettes can be taken out and re-used. Another thing that I love about these palettes is that there are no unnecessary brushes/applicators, as I always prefer to use my own brushes anyway, and find that most people throw away the ones that are included.

To complement the collection's theme, the pastel pink packaging is adorned around the edges with an intricate silver floral motif, which I think is really pretty!

Lavera's new Limited Edition Natural Pastels Collection features two Mineral Eyeshadow Palettes, two Mineral Blush Palettes and three Lipsticks, of which I have a selection below to show you.

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Lavera Limited Edition Natural Pastels Mineral Eyeshadow Palette in Blooming Nude* (£24.95, link)

Starting with the Mineral Eyeshadows, this beautiful Blooming Nude palette features six large pans and a mirror. There's a matte pale cream, a gorgeous warm rose, a matte chocolate brown, a shimmering copper brown, a shimmering brown with cool undertones and a deep graphite purple/taupe shade. All of the shades are easy to blend and work with and have a silky consistency that has surprisingly little fallout. As you can see in the swatches below, these eyeshadows have a gorgeous sheen to them which is much more pronounced on the second row of colours, so it's a really versatile palette that you can use for both day and night. 

They aren't as crazy pigmented as some mainstream eyeshadows are, but as far as natural/organic alternatives go, they are brilliant! I'm a huge fan of bronzey and taupey neutrals like these, and you can even wear the first shade as a highlighter and the second shade as a blusher - super easy to travel with!

Lavera Limited Edition Natural Pastels Mineral Eyeshadow Palette in Blooming Nude

Lavera Limited Edition Natural Pastels Mineral Blush Palette in Coral Bloom* (£24.95, link)

This Mineral Blush palette is a fantastic selection for makeup beginners, those who travel a lot or anyone who is simply craving some gorgeous blushers! This trio is called Coral Bloom and these shades are so flattering for a wide range of skin tones - there's a shimmering pearlescent highlighter, a stunning peach blush and a rosy pink blush.

As you may expect, the pans are bigger than the eyeshadows above, and there's a handy mirror included. The quality is the same as the eyeshadows and they are easy to build up when you apply them - from sheer to a bolder flush depending on what look you're going for. I am so smitten with this palette and have been getting a lot of use out of it since it arrived!

Lavera Limited Edition Natural Lipstick in Rosy Pastel* (4.5g, £13.90, link)

The last product that I have from the collection is one of the three new Lipsticks. Formulated with a range of natural pigments and moisturising plant-based ingredients such as Organic Blossom Butter, Coconut Oil, Candelilla Wax, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Argan Oil and Jojoba Seed Oil, they glide on easily and feel very hydrating on the lips. 

This ultra-buttery texture does make them prone to melting if left in a warm place though (the top of mine melted a bit when I left it in the car), so keep it somewhere nice and cool to get the most out of it. The shade I have is called Rosy Pastel - a pretty neutral-toned nude pink with a glossy finish that's perfect for everyday wear. 

Swatches: Lavera Limited Edition Natural Pastels Mineral Blush Palette in Coral Bloom & Natural Lipstick in Rosy Pastel

Lavera Limited Edition Natural Pastels Collection is available from selected health stores nationwide and online from laverauk.co.uk

Have you tried any makeup from Lavera?

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New In Beauty: Benecos S/S19 Makeup - Natural Face Primer, Foundation Stick, Eyebrow Gel & Refillable Makeup Palette review

Need some affordable natural and organic makeup for your Summer holiday bag this year? Check out these shiny new releases from the budget-friendly brand Benecos.

It's been a busy Spring and Summer so far for Benecos with several new products being added to their ever-expanding cosmetics line, and below are some of the latest newbies that you can now pick up, just in time for your Summer holiday! For those who are new to the brand, they are cruelty-free, vegan and use natural and organic ingredients which are certified by BDIH and COSMOS Organic.

Benecos Natural Face Primer* (25ml, £6.95, link)

Let's start things off by taking a look at some base products. This new Natural Face Primer has a gorgeous lightweight texture that glides onto the skin to create a smooth base for makeup. Featuring key ingredients such as Organic Aloe Vera Juice and Squalene, it helps to not only keep makeup looking fresh and intact for longer, but also hydrates and plumps up the skin. It's 73% organic and an absolute steal at less than £7!

Benecos Natural Foundation Stick* (6g, £9.45, link)

Benecos' Natural Foundation Stick is nice and compact, and comes presented in sturdy cardboard tube packaging to help reduce the usage of unnecessary plastic (the inner core that holds the foundation stick itself is still plastic but at least it's been minimised). Twisting it up, the Foundation Stick is super easy to apply as you can just swipe it directly onto the face and blend with your fingertips or a makeup sponge/brush if desired. It has a creamy formula that melts into the skin for buildable coverage - it's easy to go from light-medium coverage without it looking cakey or mask-like. You'll still need a separate concealer for any dark circles/blemishes as I found that it struggled to cover these, however, it wore well throughout the day with just a touch of mattifying powder needed to keep my oily T-Zone in check. 

I'd say it's definitely better suited for young, oily and combination skin types as I noticed that it clung a little to some drier parts of my face, especially around my nose which required more primer/moisturiser underneath, so drier or more mature skins may not find it suitable for them. It's available in only three shades which is very disappointing in 2019, but still, it's certainly worth a try if you happen to find a match (for reference I have light olive skin and opted for Sand which is good match when I'm wearing fake tan - I would probably try Ivory for the Winter months).

Benecos Natural Eyebrow Gel* (3ml, £5.65, link)

Coloured eyebrow gels are a great product to use in the Summer months when it's hot outside and you don't want to run the risk of using pencils that may smudge or melt off in the heat. I also like using them for a more natural look which again, I personally think looks better in Summer for a fresher and more youthful finish. This Natural Eyebrow Gel comes in two shades, Ash Brow and Brunette, the latter of which I've been testing out. It has a small brush which makes it easy to apply, adding definition and subtle colour whilst keeping unruly brows in their place.

Benecos IT Pieces Refillable Makeup Palette in Pretty Cold* (£26.45, link)

One of my most popular blogposts last month was a review of Tropic's new customizable makeup palette (check it out here if you missed it), so if you've been looking for a more affordable and organic alternative, Benecos has the answer. Their brand new IT Pieces Collection offers a range of makeup refills (from £3.95 for eyeshadow, £5.65 for the palette itself) so that customers can build their own bespoke palette, plus there's the option of purchasing a ready-made palette as you can see above.

The Pretty Cold Refillable Makeup Palette comes complete with a highlighter, blusher, and four shades of eyeshadow. I found the Highlighter to be a little on the chalky side, however, the blusher and eyeshadows blend much better and feel smoother too. I'm absolutely smitten with the three metallic eyeshadow shades, Blue Galaxy, Muddy Olive and Lilac Light  - they are so beautiful!

 Swatches- Benecos Pretty Cold Refillable Makeup Palette - From Top-Bottom: Refill Eyeshadow in Blue Galaxy, Muddy Olive, Lilac Light and Ballerina Glam, Refill Blush in Rose Please and Refill Highlighter in Shooting Star

What do you think of the new makeup releases from Benecos?

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New In Beauty: Creating My Perfect Colour Palette with Tropic

Hands up if you love the convenience of makeup palettes, but find that there's always at least one or two shades that you just never reach for? Say farewell to those unloved pans of product and build your own perfect makeup palette with the latest launch from Tropic.

There's no point denying it; there's a massive amount of waste in the beauty industry and as consumers, much of the problem lies directly with us and the frightening number of products that we throw away unused every year. Not only is this terrible for our bank balances, but it's not good for the Environment either, with many of our plastic toiletries and makeup bottles ending up in the oceans or adding to the landfill problem if they're not properly recycled. 

Customisable makeup palettes are nothing new, many brands have been offering them for years, but I think what has changed is the consumer mindset towards products that are more eco-friendly, sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free. For these reasons, there couldn't be a better time to streamline your makeup collection, and this is why Tropic's new Colour Palette has attracted so much attention recently.

With 50 product options and a mind-boggling 734 million combinations, Tropic has launched a refillable makeup system that allows you to create your bespoke dream palette - the one that you'll use every day and take everywhere with you. When you've used up a certain shade, you can simply recycle the aluminium pan and purchase a refill, or try a completely new product in its place. All of Tropic's makeup is proudly made in Britain, certified vegan and cruelty-free, and they are a carbon neutral and Good Shopping Guide Ethical Company to boot.

Where To Start?

First, pick your Tropic Colour Palette* (£16 or free if you purchase your makeup products at the same time). There are four different configurations of the palettes available, so have a good think about the products that you'll use the most often. I chose Combination C which features two small trays, two medium trays and one large tray, and this is perfect for me.

The palette itself is smaller than most smartphones these days (for reference, it's slightly smaller than an iPhone 7 and about the same width) which makes it compact for travelling, but still large enough to use on a daily basis. It's made from smooth white plastic with recyclable aluminium trays and a large mirror in the reverse of the lid. I think it's very chic!

Building My Perfect Colour Palette

Now comes the fun part! Once you've decided which combination of palette to go for, you can then choose all of the products to fill it with. For the small pans, there are two types of brow products (a pomade and a powder), and two eye products (pressed shadows and wax liners). The medium pan has a wider choice with a mix of creams and powders (concealers, blushers, bronzers, contours and highlighters), and finally, the large pan can hold cream blush or concealer, powder blush or bronzer, or a setting powder.

For my palette, I chose the following:-

[Small pan] Brow Boss Defining Powder in Carob* (1.5g, £8): Available in three shades, this pigmented powder makes it easy to define your brows and contains Coconut Oil to condition them. Also doubles up as an eyeliner and eyeshadow.

[Small pan] Eyes On You Pressed Shadow in Pebble* (1.5g, £8): With thirteen shade of eyeshadow to choose from, I ended up picking Pebble which is a beautiful light shimmery taupe with brown and purple undertones. 

[Medium pan] Way To Glow Pressed Highlighter in Rose Gold* (3g, £16): I knew that I wanted a blush shade in the palette, but when I saw Rose Gold from the Pressed Highlighters range, I decided to opt for the best of both worlds as this colour can be used to create such a pretty pinky, shimmery glow to the cheeks. I love it!

[Medium pan] Jet Set Pressed Bronzer in Bali Bronze* (3g, £16): No palette could be complete for me without a bronzer and there are three shades that Tropic offers. I picked Bali Bronze which looks like the lightest colour and it delivers a stunning sunkissed finish.

[Large pan] Make It Matte Setting Powder* (5g, £20): As I have a notoriously oily T-Zone, a matte setting powder was a must and I've been enjoying using this translucent finely milled pressed powder to keep my makeup looking its best for longer.

My Perfect Tropic Colour Palette

I'm absolutely smitten with my Tropic Colour Palette and love everything about it, from the high-performance results and colour payoff of the products themselves, to the beautiful design of the palette and how easy it fits into my handbag, it's just perfect! The magnetic pans make it super easy to mix and match products so that you can swap them in and out as often as you please. It's incredibly versatile and I know that I'll be still using this palette for many years to come!

I was also treated to some of Tropic's new makeup brushes which I highly recommend picking up:-

Tropic Eco Artist Precision Face Brush* (£18)

Dual-ended makeup brushes are fantastic for travelling with and they make the ideal accompaniments to a palette like this. The Eco Artist Precision Face Brush features a pointed head which can be used to apply contour and highlighter, and a rounded, domed head to blend foundation and base products. Both ends are made from silky soft, synthetic fibres that are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly, and they can be used with any kind of cream, liquid and powder makeup.

Tropic Eco Artist 3-in-1 Eye Brush* (£16)

Staying with the overall theme of streamlining and travelling, Tropic also has a clever 3-in-1 Eye Brush up its sleeve! Made from the same soft synthetic fibres as the Precision Face Brush above, this multi-use brush boasts an angled end for applying eyeliner, a small and fluffy head for blending eyeshadow which you can them slip off to reveal a hidden inner spoolie for tidying up your brows. How neat is that?!

Would you like to make your own makeup palette like this?

Special thanks to Tropic for letting me create my perfect Colour Palette* with them! Create your own perfect makeup palette at tropicskincare.com

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Introducing: Code8 - Blush Mood-Reflecting Cheek Palette in Pink Beach & Iconoclast Eyeshadow Palette in Lustrous Corduroy - Review & Swatches

Chic and compact, palettes are an easy throw-in-your-bag option when it comes to packing for holidays and long weekends away. These two beauties from British cosmetics brand Code8, will save you space and ensure that you have all of your favourite shades to hand, regardless of whether you're enjoying a staycation or travelling further afield this Summer.

With a stunning pop-up shop located in Burlington Arcade in the wealthy Mayfair district of London, Code8 has received much positive fanfare from the press, which is highly impressive for such a young brand. Launched only late last year, Code8 is founded by two successful businesswomen who wanted to create an inclusive luxury makeup range that's simple and effective to use, for all ages and skin colours. You can read more about their 8 Point Beauty Manifesto here.

Intrigued by their overall vision and concept, I was kindly sent two of Code8's bestselling palettes to try out; the Blush Mood-Reflecting Cheek Palette in Pink Beach and the Iconoclast Eyeshadow Palette in Lustrous Corduroy. 

 Code8 Blush Mood-Reflecting Cheek Palette in Pink Beach* (£32, link)

First impressions definitely count when it comes to luxury, higher-end makeup and I wasn't disappointed when I unpacked the Blush Mood-Reflecting Cheek Palette. Housed in a circular metallic gold coloured compact with elegant brand logo engraving on the lid and a satisfying magnetic closing clasp, this palette has a pleasant weight to it and fits neatly into my hand. Opening it up, there's a decent sized mirror and a delightful trio of blush powders, each with a sizeable pan for dipping your brush into. Featuring a 'revolutionary Knead Technology', these blushers have a silky smooth consistency and can be used individually, or you can swirl all the shades together for a pretty punch of pink.

There are currently three different colourways to choose from and Pink Beach is the lightest and brightest of the bunch which makes it perfect for the Summer months. The top two shades are my favourites; on the left is a more intense NARS Orgasm-esque rosy-gold, and next to that is a medium rose pink with a subtle silver shimmer. Both of these are very wearable and can be applied lightly for a softer finish, or layered up for a bolder look - both have such a gorgeous glow to them! 

By contrast, the bottom blush shade is a very pale, mostly matte pink that's sadly too cool-toned for my skin colour. It comes across as quite chalky at first, but once blended in properly it adds a cute hint of baby pink to the cheeks. If you're an avid collector of blush palettes or simply want some new shades for your holiday, you'll love these.

Code8 Blush Mood-Reflecting Cheek Palette in Pink Beach 

 Code8 - Iconoclast Eyeshadow Palette in Lustrous Corduroy* (£45, link)

With the Blush Mood-Reflecting Cheek Palette setting a good standard for the brand, I was curious to test out the Iconoclast Eyeshadow Palette, but I must admit that the cheaper looking black plastic packaging didn't feel anywhere near as luxurious as the gold metallic compact that the blush trio came in. Although perfectly functional, there was no immediate 'wow' factor for such a pricey palette. However, the product inside looked promising so let's continue by focusing on the eyeshadows themselves.

Available in three colourways, this one is named Lustrous Cordoury and it will instantly appeal to neutral lovers like myself who can't get enough of these versatile and easy to wear shades. A mix of matte and metallic/shimmer colours allow you to create everyday natural looks, as well as more dramatic smokey-eyed evening looks, plus there's a mini diagram on the back of the palette to help consumers to achieve three different finishes by showing you exactly where to place each shade.

Like the blushers above, the Iconoclast Eyeshadow Palette is also formulated with Code8's patent-pending Knead Tech which blends pre-baked pigments with Sweet Almond and Jojoba Oil, for a silky smooth texture and enhanced longevity and they certainly have these traits. Performance wise, this palette is kinda comparable to similar offerings from NARS and Urban Decay, but a few of the matte shades let it down a little as the colour payoff isn't as strong as I was hoping, though they work better when applied wet. That said, I can see myself getting a fair amount of usage out of this palette for the sheer convenience and portability factors alone. 

Code8 - Eyeshadow Palette in Lustrous Corduroy

Overall Thoughts

Pros

• Innovative and promising British brand
• Inclusive colours - all skin tones catered for
• Products are vegan-friendly and free from parabens and paraffin
• Palettes are super convenient and travel-friendly
• Nice selection of colourways available
• Guidance on the back of the eyeshadow palette for extra usability & makeup beginners
• Metallic/shimmer shades for blushers and eyeshadows are highly pigmented

Cons

• Not as luxurious as other brands of a similar price point
• Eyeshadow palette packaging looks and feels a bit cheap
• Matte eyeshadow shades are a little weak and chalky in terms of colour payoff

Code8 Beauty - shop the full range online at codeeight.com

Have you come across Code8 before?

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Budget Beauty: Trying Out Perfect Shade Disco Makeup - Review & Swatches

Every now and then, there's a makeup range that I come across which literally grabs my attention because the packaging is so awesome, and Perfect Shade is that current brand. I mean how cool does this new Disco line look?!

Perfect Shade is an online-only makeup brand, and if you're a savvy beauty shopper, you may have heard of them before as they're the same people who are behind the comparison website, myperfectshade.com. Having a wealth of experience in the beauty industry, they've decided to launch their own makeup range named Disco which features a core collection of 8 products and over 75 different colours, so there are shades to suit and flatter everyone's skin tone.

This inclusive brand has such a fun vibe to it and I was immediately drawn in by the colourful disco-themed packaging, as well as the fact that everything from Perfect Shade is cruelty-free and suitable for vegans. Best of all though, their makeup is super affordable with prices starting from just £6!

I was kindly sent some products from Perfect Shade to have a play with, and I'm thrilled to say that the performance of this makeup is just as good as the packaging. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Perfect Shade Disco Solo Of Sugarcoat Blusher in Hollywood* (10g, £7, link)

The Solo Of Sugarcoat Blusher in Hollywood is a bit of a strange product because, on first inspection, all of those glimmering metallic hues bring to mind a glow-tastic highlighter, but if you blend all of the waves of colours together and miss out the silver part at the top, you'll actually get a very pretty, albeit very shimmery, peachy blush tone as you can see in the swatch below. Clever huh? The powder compact formula is very soft and blends nicely for a quick and easy way to add a warm glow to your complexion. Very pretty!

Perfect Shade Disco Ice Cream Tide Pressed Powder in Cover Page* (12g, £6, link)

As far as Pressed Powders go, this Ice Cream version looks the most interesting in my whole makeup collection. With a cute Ice Cream imprint in the pan, this silky soft powder has a little shimmer to it, but once blended into the skin, it provides the perfect finishing touch to your look. It absorbs excess oil and helps to keep your makeup in place for longer, as well as making sure your T-zone looks shine-free for the rest of the day or night. I was quite surprised by this as I usually have to reach into my bag for a cheeky touch up after a few hours, but this lasted considerably longer than some other much more expensive brands and it didn't dry my skin out either.

 Perfect Shade Disco Playful Musician Liquid Lipstick in Plum* (8ml, £9, link)

Liquid Lipsticks are often best when they're richly pigmented and have a matte or semi-matte finish and the Playful Musician range from Perfect Shade ticks all the right boxes. There are currently 24 shades to choose from and it's a particularly good one to look into if you're looking for a vampy red or darker colour for Autumn and Winter. The shade above Plum is a stunning deep red-berry that dries down to a matte finish, and it looks amazing paired with a simple clean eye and perhaps a little flick of black eyeliner, to allow the lips to do all the talking. These liquid lipsticks are seriously long-lasting too and remind me of the Kat Von D and Bite Beauty formulas.

Perfect Shade Disco Swinging Lipstick in Psychopath* (4.5g, £9, link)

Ensuring that those who prefer traditional lipstick formats aren't left out, the Swinging Lipstick range boasts 24 shades and they have everything from nudes, darks, everyday pinks and even some interesting vivid purples. Like the rest of the Perfect Shade Disco range, the lipsticks have really cool packaging that stands out in your makeup bag - I've had so many questions and compliments from friends who have seen this recently! The semi-matte formula is also brilliant with a smooth and creamy application that makes it easy to get an opaque block of colour in just one or two swipes. I was expecting this shade Psychopath to be more of a brick red shade from what it looks like in the bullet, but on my lips and in the swatch it definitely leans a lot pinker, but it's still a gorgeous lippie nonetheless.

 Perfect Shade Disco Rocking Eyelashes Mascara in Pitch Black* (8ml, £9, link)

The last product that I tried out from this range is the Rocking Eyelashes Mascara which comes in both brown and black options. It features an interesting curved bristle brush wand which grabs onto the lashes easily and coats them evenly, without any clumping issues. I'd say that this mascara is better for volumising than it is for lengthening, so if you already have long lashes but just want a fuller look, it's certainly one that I'd recommend trying. It provides a smudge-proof formula that doesn't flake, and is nice and inky black for extra definition. 

Swatches! From top to bottom: Perfect Shade Disco Playful Musician Liquid Lipstick in Plum, Swinging Lipstick in Psychopatch, Solo Of Sugarcoat Blusher in Hollywood and Perfect Shade Disco Ice Cream Tide Pressed Powder in Cover Page.

Discover the full range at perfectshadebeauty.co.uk

Have you tried anything from Perfect Shade before?

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