Summer Beauty | Caroline Hirons Skin Rocks Festival Box 2023 review

British weather may be temperamental at the best of times but that rarely stops us from making the most of the great outdoors, and festivals are a big part of the summertime experience. Make sure you don't get caught out when the next heatwave hits with Caroline Hirons' amazing Skin Rocks Festival Box!

Worth nearly a hundred quid (well £94.96 to be exact!), this specially curated edit of summer skincare must-haves offers consumers a whopping saving of over 48%. The legendary skincare guru has put together this box for all the festival-goers out there, so whether you're camping, raving, or just getting out in the sun to have a catch up with your besties, Mrs Hirons has got you covered. 

All of the products included are suitable for all skin types and skin tones, and of course, there's a key focus on sun protection with not one, not two, but three different types of SPF. 

The Skin Rocks Festival Box retails for just £45 whilst stocks last so here's a rundown of the contents.

Step One | Sculpted By Aimee Fresh Faced Makeup Remover

One of the best things that you can possibly do for your skin (other than wear your sunscreen every day) is to make sure that you remove said sunscreen and makeup at the end of the day. This Fresh Faced Makeup Remover from Sculpted By Aimee is a super gentle water-based cleanser infused with Centella Asiatica, Niacinamide, and Vitamin E to calm, brighten and remove all traces of daily dirt, pollution, SPF, and makeup. Simply pour a small amount onto a reusable pad and sweep across the face as your first cleanse.

Step Two | BYOMA Moisturizing Gel-Cream

Next up, there's a fantastic moisturiser from BYOMA. Formulated with a clever Tri-Ceramide Complex to hydrate and protect the delicate skin barrier, this deeply hydrating, oil-free gel-cream moisturiser is super lightweight and can be used AM and PM - just what you need in a festival travel bag. Smooth on 1-2 pumps and you know your skin is being properly cared for.

Step Three | COOLA Sun Silk Drops SPF 30

COOLA are definitely the 'cool' skincare brand of the summer and I've been really impressed with several of their products so far so this is perhaps the one I'm most excited to try out from the box. These Sun Silk Drops SPF 30 are ideal for anyone who hates sticky and heavy-feeling sunscreens because they feel the exact opposite and are much more like a light serum in texture and application. Quick to absorb into the skin without any greasiness, these innovative drops protect against UVA and UVB free radical damage, plus they help to mitigate the effects of HEV light (AKA Blue Light). Clever stuff indeed!

Steps Four & Five | Bondi Sands Lip Balm SPF 50+ & SPF 50+ Fragrance-Free Sunscreen Lotion

Bondi Sands is one of my favourite sunscreen brands (check out my previous review here), mainly for two reasons. Firstly, Australians have much higher standards when it comes to making sure that their sunscreen does what it's supposed to do. Secondly, they are affordable, available readily on the high street and online, and they're cruelty-free. Needless to say, I was delighted to find two of their products in this box.

For body, there's the SPF 50+ Fragrance-Free Sunscreen Lotion. With Vitamin E, this water-resistant lotion is great for sensitive skin and offers 72-hour hydration. Shake the tube well before applying and it applies easily just like a body lotion without any stickiness. And don't forget your lips with the Lip Balm SPF 50+ which comes in a delicious juicy watermelon flavour - yum!

Bonus | Starface Party Pack Pimple Patches

Don't let a blemish or two ruin your festival selfies! These Starface Party Pack Pimple Patches are not only super cute as they're star-shaped and brightly coloured, but they really do work wonders on your spots thanks to a specially formulated hydrocolloid dressing. Hydrocolloid is clinically proven to help absorb fluid and reduce inflammation so that your blemishes basically shrink overnight - magical!

The Caroline Hirons Skin Rocks Festival Box retails for £45 and is available whilst stocks last from skinrocks.com

Will you be picking up this box?

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Summer Holidays Edit: Practical Essentials for Festivals & Weekend Trips

With the Summer holidays officially off to a roaring start, make sure to pack some of these practical essentials before you head off on your next weekend away. Let the good times roll!

Always Pack Sunscreen First

I'm sure you don't need another beauty blogger to tell you to slap on the sunscreen before you go outside, but judging by the amount of painfully sunburnt people that I've seen recently, the message is still not getting through to some members of the public (sigh). So don't be an idiot - protect yourself and your family with a good quality sunscreen and reapply it every two hours. One of my faves is Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF 30* (200ml, £22, link) which protects against both UVA and UVB rays, is fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

Samples Save Loads Of Space

If you're a skincare or beauty fan, chances are you'll already have a stash of samples hiding away at the back of a drawer somewhere. You know the ones - they pop up in beauty boxes, GWPs and are often added to your online orders, but are easily forgotten about. Dig them out and take them with you! You'll save loads of space in your travel bag and have more room for the important stuff like duty-free bottles of booze ;) Don't have any samples? Check out LoveLula's sample selection here. 

The Multi-Purpose Antibacterial Saviour

One holiday essential that I always pack is a multi-purpose wound gel which is basically like a natural first aid assistant in a tube. Comvita Antibacterial Wound Gel* (25g, £9.98, link) can be used on minor burns, cuts, grazes, insect bites and ulcers, as it contains sterilised medical grade Manuka Honey which promotes wound healing and reduces the risk of infection. You can also use it on eczema and scratch wounds to prevent them from getting worse.

Say Farewell To B.O

Keep yourself smelling sweet and fresh all Summer long with a natural deodorant like Native Unearthed Coconut & Vanilla Natural Deodorant Balm* (60ml, £6.99, link). This concentrated formula has a blend of Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Arrowroot and Vanilla to neutralize underarm odour, without blocking your pores with nasty chemicals.

Don't Forget Toothpaste!

It might just be me, but I've lost count of the number of times that I've remembered to pack my toothbrush but forgotten the toothpaste, so take this as your reminder to pack a tube. I'm enjoying using Lavera Basis Sensitiv Toothpaste* (75ml, £4.95, link) which has been specially developed for sensitive teeth and is ultra-gentle, plus it's minty fresh!

Tell Insects To Buzz Off

A lot of mainstream insect repellents contain deet which is an ingredient that some people, especially children and babies, can have allergic reactions to, as well as other undesirable side effects. Eco By Sonya Organic Personal Outdoor Spray* (100ml, £14.04, link) is 100% deet-free and instead is made with only organic and natural ingredients. It utilises the properties of several essential oils such as Citronella, Basil, Lemon and Eucalyptus that have all been proven to repel biting insects, and it smells lovely and fresh which is a pleasant added bonus.

Keep The Conversation Going

Holidays and festivals are often the best times to catch up with friends and family that you haven't seen in a while, so make sure that you keep those conversations going long into the night by packing some soothing throat sweets. These ones from Grether's Pastilles* (110g, £7.49, link) are made to an original recipe that's over 150 years old and features a unique formula which coats your throat with a protective layer, keeping your voice strong and preventing a dry mouth. They're available in a range of flavours, and I can vouch that the Blackcurrant ones pictured above are particularly yummy.

What are your practical travel essentials?

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Bank Holiday Fun Makeup: Glitter & Gems with Urban Decay & Lottie London

Hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend! Today's post is all about fun makeup to make the most of those late Summer nights when the heat is still on - Summer's not over yet!

 Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow Palette* (£36, link)

Are you missing a badass colourful glitter eyeshadow palette in your makeup collection? If you are, Urban Decay's Moondust Eyeshadow Palette will keep your lids looking awesome for every single festival you're planning to go to for at least the next ten years! The packaging is seriously amazing for this palette, with a sparkly and textured granite-esque casing. Open it up and you'll find a large mirror in the reverse lid and eight pans of glitter eyeshadow heaven.

These eyeshadows are insanely glittery and pigmented, and you can use them dry for a sheerer look or wet for a proper intense, full-on festival-ready finish. I've swatched with just two dry swipes below to give you an idea of what these beauties can do and I love the range of colours. They wear well with minimal fallout and look even more mesmerizing on the lids. If you enjoy experimenting with your makeup - this is a must-have!

Swatches! Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Razor Sharp Long-Wear Liquid Eyeliner in Goldrush* (2.3ml, £17, link)

To amplify your makeup further, a colourful liquid eyeliner can really pull the whole eye look together and I've been having fun trying out one of Urban Decay's Razor Sharp Long-Wear Liquid Eyeliners. These have a super fine tip which makes applying the liner much easier as you can get a really precise skinny line and they stay put all day, with incredible pigmentation. You do have to shake the tube a couple of times to ensure that the formula is thoroughly mixed, but when you get it right, the colour and payoff is worth is the wait! These liners come in a range of shades and I have Goldrush which is a killer metallic gold colour.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Spandex* (7.5ml, £15, link)

If you only want a smidge of glitter on your eyes, try one of Urban Decay's hugely popular Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners. The wand tip is very fine so you can easily achieve a skinny sliver of glitter or build it up for a thicker line which I've done in the swatches below. As you can see, the glitter is in a clear base, so these can be worn on their own or you can layer them over a black liner or shadow to really make them pop. They stay on all day and night (basically until you want to take them off), so you can see why they are such a coveted product in many a makeup artist's festival beauty bag. Available in a number of shades, I have Spandex which is an explosive mix of iridescent glitter with blue, black, silver, green and fuschia particles.

Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Top Coat in Reverb* (4.7ml, £15.50, link)

Glitter lips continue to be a big trend, especially during the Summer months and holiday/festival season. Urban Decay have these cool Vice Special Effects Lip Top Coats which you can layer over your favourite lipstick for a completely different and unique look. You can also wear them on their own, but I find that they look much better layered over a lip colour, especially a darker one for an intense and vampy lip. They feel a little drying on, so make sure that you use a lip balm underneath. I have the shade Reverb which is a black, purple and silver glitter mix.

Swatches! Urban Decay Razor Sharp Long-Wear Liquid Eyeliner in Goldrush, Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Spandex and Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Top Coat in Reverb. 

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray* (30ml, £10, link)

For makeup that is going to stand up to the heat and last all day/night long, a high-quality setting spray is an absolute must. I've been using Urban Decay's All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray for years and I've yet to find anything that works as well as this bad boy does. A quick spritz done twice all over the face will ensure that your makeup is put on lock down until you want to take it off. This 30ml travel size bottle is also perfect for holidays and handbags.

Lottie London Gems in Unicorn Tales, Off Duty Mermaid and Queen Of Hearts* (£3.99 each, link)

To finish everything off, why not pick up a pack of these new Gems from Lottie London? These self-adhesive jewels will add some instant bling and festival fun to your look, plus they'll stay on all day and are reusable for your next festival adventure (just add a dot of lash glue to the back of them when re-using and you'll be good to go!). There are lots of different designs available, but I think Unicorn Tales may have to be my favourite!

Have you tried any of these?

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Summer Beauty: The Festival Edit

Festival season is in full swing and with one happening almost every weekend across the UK until September, it's time to take advantage and make the most out of the great British Summer. So if you're ready to step up your beauty game for all those Instagram pics with your mates, read on! 

Go Bright or Pastel?

Summer Festivals are the perfect opportunity to try out a brand new hair colour, so indulge your Pinterest hair-inspiration fantasies, and grab your best friend for some cheap and cheerful hair-dying at home. These 2-in-1 packs from Schwarzkopf Live* (£5.49 each, from Superdrug) let you choose whether you want an ultra bright shade or a more subtle pastel colour. They work best on blonde or pre-lightened hair, are semi-permanent, easy to use and come in a wide range of colours including 095 Electric Blue and 096 Turquoise Temptation. What are you waiting for?!

Remember To Use Sunscreen!   

If you're going to be outside standing in a field for most of the day, you're going to need some sunscreen. Make sure you pop a bottle into your backpack - something like EVY Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30* (150ml, £16.95 from HelloSkin) will ensure that you're fully protected thanks to its unique Swedish technology that allows this sunscreen to absorb into the top layer of the skin, rather than sitting on the surface. This makes it incredibly water-resistant, and the mousse formula is non-sticky, hypoallergenic and doesn't leave you with a white cast. Win win!

Your BFF - The Humble Dry Shampoo

After sunscreen, dry shampoo is probably the second most 'essential' beauty item to take, especially if you're going for a full weekend and camping on site. Schwarzkopf Fresh It Up Dry Shampoo in Extra Fresh* (£2 from Primark) will banish dirt, absorb excess oil and keep your hair smelling fresher for longer with its uplifting citrusy fragrance. 

The Hairstyle Saviours

For those who have more high-maintenance hair, these two style saviours from Kerasilk will stop you from looking like Monica in that now meme-famous episode of Friends. The Control Humidity Barrier Spray* (150ml, £21.50) will defend your tresses against heat and high humidity and keep your hair looking sleek all day with just a few spritzes of its clever invisible barrier spray. For the ultimate frizz protection, apply a little Control De-Frizz Primer* (75ml, £21.50) before blow-drying for the smoothest possible results. Both are available from your nearest Goldwell Salon.

Keep Cool in the Heat

Us Brits are notorious for not handling the heat well when we finally do get some sun, so if you get easily hot and bothered, make sure you stock up on a can or two of Superdrug Instant Cooling Spray for Body & Face* (200ml, £3.99, link). This product does exactly what it says it'll do - just spray onto face and body and it'll provide an instantly refreshing and cooling sensation in seconds. Suitable for the whole family to use so a great one to have if you're taking kids with you! 

Brighten Up Your Makeup

Neutral palettes have no place at a summer festival - it's all about digging out those unused bright shades and experimenting with some bold new looks! If you don't have any festival-friendly colours in your everyday makeup stash, why not invest in Urban Decay's Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette* (£39.50, link). This palette contains ten pans of beautiful metallic jewel tones and there are some stunning shape-shifting duotones that change colour when the light hits them. As always with Urban Decay, these eyeshadows are incredibly pigmented and the colours are really rich and vibrant as a result. They'll stick around all day too - perfect for festivals and girls nights out.

If you're on more of a budget, you could try Lottie London Shadow Swatch Eyeshadow Palette in The Rainbows* (£9.95, link) which has 12 brilliantly colourful matte and shimmer shades with lovely blendable textures, to suit all your bright and pastel cravings. I'm really impressed with the quality of this one - it's excellent value for money so go outside of your comfort zone and have some fun with your makeup! 

Are you heading to any Summer Festivals this year?

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Festival Beauty Essentials: The Practical and The Fun!

Whether you're heading down to Glastonbury this weekend or planning what to take for Reading & Leeds later this Summer, these are some of my recommended festival beauty essentials.

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The Fashion Post: KITSCH Dreamcatcher Headbands and Wonderland Hair Ties review

If you're stuck in Blighty like me and not enjoying the sun and music at this weekend's Coachella festival across the pond, well don't worry.  You can still channel your inner hipster with these so-cool-it-hurts accessories from KITSCH.

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Summer Staple: Purepotions Rescue Salves Set - Review

 Purepotions Rescue Salves Set* (4 x 15mls, £16.99, link)

Whilst I love Summer in all of its glory, it does have a habit of throwing up a few problems such as having to deal with pesky insect bites, sunburn, and sore feet from walking in sandals all day.  But before you rush off to your local chemist, why not turn straight to Mother Nature instead?  Or more specifically, Purepotions and their wonderful Rescue Salves Set.

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Outdoors Beauty: My Essentials for Camping & Festival Trips

As part of my last uni module for this year, I'm undertaking a mini camping trip later today near the beautiful Lake District which involves an overnight stay.  And as the weather is slowly (but surely), starting to brighten up, I thought I'd do a quick post on the 'outdoor beauty essentials' I'm taking with me.  All of these would be perfect to pack for any camping and upcoming festival trips that you may have, so I hope it's helpful!

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