Beauty Empties | Products I've Used Up

Ready for another empties post? I know I am! Here's everything beauty-wise that I have used up over the past month or so with lots of skincare favourites.

Emma Hardie Protect & Prime SPF 30 (travel size)

A great primer and sunscreen all in one, this goes on smoothly and makes applying foundation a breeze. I find it quite hydrating so feel free to skip the moisturiser with this one. Repurchase? Yes.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti Wrinkle Booster Serum (travel size)

I've gone through a fair few of these over the years and it's still one of my favourite anti ageing serums where you can actually see a noticeable difference to fine lines from using it. Repurchase? Yes.

17 Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara (reviewed here)

Cheap as chips, this no-frills mascara is less than a fiver and cruelty-free. If you're looking for an easy everyday option that adds length to your lashes, give this a go. Repurchase? Maybe.

NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep Magnesium Body Butter*

I love the heady lavender-based relaxing scent of NEOM's Perfect Night's Sleep range, so naturally, I was a big fan of this body butter which is infused with magnesium to help relax you further. Thick non-greasy texture and very hydrating. Repurchase? Yes as a luxury treat. 

PHYTO Apraisant Soothing Treatment Shampoo* 

If you have a sensitive scalp, you need to try this. It does feel quite clarifying so I'd recommend following it up with a good hair mask/moisturising conditioner if you have dry hair. Repurchase? Yes.

Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Renewing Cleansing Oil* (reviewed here)

I think this is the third or fourth bottle that I've gone through. It's a brilliant cleansing oil that's affordable and gets the job done, plus it lasts ages as a little goes a long way. Repurchase? Yes.

Neals Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream* (reviewed here)

I don't think I'll ever tire of the gorgeous fresh citrusy scent of this hand cream - it's one of my all-time favourites and I've been using it for years. Repurchase? Yes.

Creightons BAMbeautiful Thickening Conditioning Masque (travel size)

Discovered this gem in a beauty box and I'll definitely be checking out the brand further. I have very fine hair and this hair mask adds noticeable bounce and volume without weighing it down. Repurchase? Yes.

Green People Age Defy+ Collagen Boost Vitamin C Serum*

I loved using this serum in the morning as I felt it injected some brightness and life back into my skin, especially if I hadn't been sleeping well that night! Gorgeous texture and works well underneath makeup and moisturiser. Repurchase? Yes.

Balance Me Tri-Molecular Hyaluronic Serum*

With three different types of hyaluronic acid in the formula, this serum is one of the best hyaluronic acid-based ones that I've tried. Plumps up the skin beautifully and keeps essential moisture locked in. Repurchase? Yes.

Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser (travel size)

From a GWP goody bag, I enjoyed using this dual-action primer moisturiser for when I felt that my skin needed a bit of extra glow factor. Delivers a juicy dewy finish so is something that I would probably use more often in the cooler months. Repurchase? Maybe.

Hugens Hyaluronic Concentrate Serum (travel size)

This was lovely and I really liked the light texture, however, the Balance Me serum above performs better in my opinion. Was nice to try though. Repurchase? Probably not.

The Beauty Crop Fill & Tame Brow Gel* 

Another beauty box discovery that I loved! The shade was perfect for me and it helped to fill in the gaps in my brows, whilst still keeping them looking natural. Repurchase? Yes.

Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Defence Moisture Mist* (reviewed here)

Finishing this post off with a much-loved skincare favourite of mine - if you're looking for a high-end hydrating mist with clean ingredients, you absolutely can't go wrong with this! I also use it as a makeup setting spray over mineral powder foundation to keep my skin looking fresh. Repurchase? Yes.

What have you used up recently?

Read more

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?

Read more

Winter Skincare: Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten - Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, Dark Circles Eye Cream & Booster review

Looking for an affordable way to give your Winter Skincare routine a boost? Check out these Vitamin C infused helpers from Super Facialist and banish dull complexions for good!

I don't need to tell any fellow Brits this, but the lack of light that the Northern Hemisphere gets during the winter months can give everything a greyish tinge, including your skin, so you're certainly not alone if you've been feeling that your complexion looks a bit more lacklustre than usual recently.

The good news though is that there's an abundance of Vitamin C infused skincare on the market which can help to brighten and rejuvenate your skin, and when you see the affordable prices from Super Facialist below, these products will brighten your bank balance as well!

I've been testing out the following from Super Facialist's incredibly popular Vitamin C+ Brighten range over the past month, to see what all the hype is about.

Side note: Super Facialist is a cruelty-free brand and although the formulas aren't as natural as some other brands that I feature on here, everything is free from parabens, mineral oils, petrolatum and synthetic colours. 

 Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil* (100ml, £5.50, link)

I love using cleansing oils for removing daily grime and make-up after the end of a long day, so when I saw this award-winning one, I knew I had to try it! Featuring nourishing ingredients such as Sunflower Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil and that all-important brightening Vitamin C, Super Facialist's Skin Renew Cleansing Oil has a gorgeous silky texture which transforms into a milky cleanser when water is added to it.

This SLS and alcohol-free Cleansing Oil did an excellent job of removing all traces of impurities and make-up, including long-lasting liquid foundation, though it's important to note that this shouldn't be used to remove eye makeup such as mascara (I'd recommend using a separate micellar water for that job and then going in with this afterwards to use over the rest of your face). My skin felt soft, hydrated and thoroughly clean after rinsing with a flannel and I love the fresh citrusy scent. Available in two sizes, the handy 100ml bottle pictured above is great for travelling with and a good way to try it before purchasing the larger 200ml bottle.

Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Dark Circles Eye Cream* (15ml, £14, link)

As someone who has hereditary dark circles, there's little that you can do to change them as it's all down to winning the genetics lottery, unfortunately, but some targeted brightening eye creams can make them look a little less severe which is how I would describe Super Facialist's offering. 

This fragrance-free Eye Cream has Vitamin C, Caffeine, a Peptide complex and 'light diffusers' to help brighten up the undereye area, but after using it morning and night for four weeks, I can only say that I've noticed a slight difference. That said, it's great for smoothing out fine lines and provides a good base for applying concealer, so if you're looking for an affordable eye cream that does those, definitely try it. Just don't expect any miracles on the dark circles front.

Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Booster* (15ml, £18, link)

One of the newest releases from Super Facialist is their Vitamin C+ Brighten Booster, a supercharged serum that combines 1% Vitamin C, a naturally derived pro-collagen Vitamin C active and Allantoin, which all work together to deliver some serious glow to dull skin.

The fragrance-free and vegan-friendly formula has been designed to 'boost' your day or night moisturiser (from any brand), by simply adding 2-3 drops directly to the cream and then applying it as usual. This is a particularly useful product for any skincare fan who is on a budget, or for anyone to use during the darker Winter months to give their complexion a brightening helping hand.

I've really enjoyed using this and have tested it out with a couple of different moisturisers, all of which the Booster has worked and blended well with. A little goes a long way and you should see a noticeable difference within a fortnight of applying it on a daily basis.

Shop the full Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten range at your nearest Boots store or online at superfacialist.co.uk

Have you tried anything from Super Facialist?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more