Summer Makeup: Bellapierre Glowing Palette - Review & Swatches

The popularity of highlighters continues to grow, and more and more brands are bringing out whole palettes devoted to getting that instantly enviable glow. The green beauty world are often a little late to the party when it comes to makeup trends, but Bellapierre have absolutely nailed it with their beautiful Glowing Palette!

It was truly love at first sight when I spotted Bellapierre's Glowing Palette on LoveLula last month, and I'm pleased to say that it's even more stunning in real life.

Packaged in a sleek, gold coloured case that feels reassuringly weighty (despite being made from a thick but sturdy type of cardboard), the Glowing Palette is a nice and compact A6 size and features a mirror in the reverse lid. When you open it up, you're greeted by six large pans of mineral-based, pressed powder highlighters in an assortment of shades to suit a wide range of skin tones. The highlighters are held in place by a strong magnetic board, but can be easily removed and refilled if desired. 

The formula of these highlighters has really impressed me as they're incredibly buttery soft to the touch and are super easy to work with. The pigmentation and colour payoff isn't as immediately intense as mainstream brands like Becca or MAC, but these highlighters can be easily layered up to achieve a much stronger look if wanted (I've swatched them quite heavily below so you can see them at their most vibrant!) and I think they look so pretty when applied lightly for a more subtle finish.

That said, the Glowing Palette really lives up to its name as each of these highlighters offers a gorgeous glowy sheen to the skin, without being chunky or glittery, and I love the range of colours that Bellapierre have included.

The top row features Moonshine (a cool toned, almost icy looking pink with pale gold shimmer), Stellar (similar to Moonshine but it's got more of a rosy toned baby pink to it with cool metallic shimmer), Glimmer (a light bronze with gold shimmer), and the bottom row has Beam (a pale yellow with white and gold shimmer), Amorous (a peachy pink with much less shimmer than the other highlighters), and Glint (a warm toned coppery bronze with gold shimmer).

I've mostly been wearing the bronzey shades Glint and especially Glimmer recently, as they really suit my skin at the moment now that it's more tanned for Summer, and I also love Amorous as a glowy blusher shade too. The other three do look amazing though, especially for nights out when you want to feel more glam and dressed up.

I think this is a great cruelty-free palette and it's an excellent dupe for the popular Sun Dipped Glow Kit from Anastasia Beverly Hills (plus you get two extra pans of highlighter with this one, so it's better value for money!). If you're a glow-getter or a highlighter fiend, you need this in your life! 

Bellapierre Glowing Palette* retails for £40 and is available from LoveLula.com who offer free worldwide shipping.

What do you think of this palette?

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Introducing: Juwles Botanics & Skincare Oilixirs - Review & UK Giveaway!

Being a serious lover of all things skincare related means that I'm always on the lookout for new products to try out, and my latest discovery comes from a small, independent British company called Juwles Botanics & Skincare.

Juwles are an all-natural, cruelty-free, 100% vegan brand whose products are handmade in small batches in Birmingham, by founder Asma Juwles and her aromatherapy team. Asma's passion clearly lies in her work as she is a professional aromatherapist, massage and skin therapist, and her brand certainly reflects this. She puts a strong emphasis on 'less is more' when it comes to formulating her products, choosing to use only unrefined and pure natural ingredients, so everything is free from preservatives, fillers, parabens and synthetic ingredients.

The first product launch from Juwles comes in the form of a trio of Oilixirs; highly concentrated facial oils which contain vitamins, minerals and botanicals to transform your skin naturally. I've had the pleasure of testing these out over the past month, so here are my thoughts!

Juwles Balancing Oilixir - Oily & Combination Skin Types* (30ml, £35, link)

Formulated especially for oily and combination skin types, this is my favourite Oilixir out of the three as it suits my skin perfectly. It features a base of several natural oils such as Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil and Rosehip Oil to nourish and brighten the skin, whilst essential oils of Clary Sage, Geranium and Lemon help to balance sebum levels, reduce inflammation and keep blemishes at bay. It smells strongly of Geranium which I love and the oil absorbs easily into the skin leaving it softer and looking clearer, plus you only need to use a few drops each time. 

Juwles Restorative Oilixir - All Skin Types* (sample size)

For an evening face oil that all skin types can use, try the Restorative Oilixir. This one contains Evening Primrose Oil, Rosehip Oil, Pomegranate Oil, Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Frankincense, Bergamot and Lavender to deeply nourish and hydrate the skin, making the complexion brighter and more glowy. I've been enjoying alternating this with the Balancing Oilixir in the evenings when my skin has been looking a little dull or feeling dehydrated, and it's been working wonders!

Juwles Smoothing Oilixir - Dry & Mature Skin Types* (sample size)

If you have very dry or more mature skin, the Smoothing Oilixir will be the perfect choice for you. It features similar ingredients to the others, such as Avocado Oil, Pomegranate Oil, Vitamin E, Evening Primrose Oil and Rosehip Oil, but it also includes Frankincense, Peach Kernel Oil, Lavender and Ylang Ylang essential oils which really help to deeply moisturise dry skin, even out the skin's overall texture, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin's elasticity. Your skin will feel considerably softer, thoroughly hydrated and more plumped up after just the first use.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Fancy winning one of these Juwles Oilixirs to try out for yourself? Simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below! Two winners will each win an Oilixir of their choice - good luck! Giveaway open to UK readers only and ends next week - 16/08/2017.

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New In Luxury Beauty: Clinique x Jonathan Adler Collection

If there's one thing that I love about new beauty releases, it's when brands team up with designers for a gorgeous Limited Edition collection. Clinique's latest collaboration with Jonathan Adler is a beauty!

Jonathan Adler is perhaps more well-known state-side, but his style is influential on a worldwide level. I first came across some of his designs in a glossy magazine a few years ago, and I instantly fell in love with his modern homewares with their bold geometric prints, so I was thrilled to hear that he'd recently teamed up with Clinique to bring out a special collection for Summer.

This new Limited Edition collection is inspired by some of Jonathan's favourite holiday destinations and has been designed "for women who want to crank up their glamour factor to eleven". His iconic geometric designs adorn the packaging for a luxe contemporary feel, and there's a Summery element of youthfulness running throughout the collection which I love. It's a decent sized collaboration with several new shades and includes Lip Colours, Lid Pops, Cheek Pops, a Luxe Brush Collection, a Chic Colour Kit and a special Limited Edition design for the Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush. 

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few of the new pieces to share with you all today, and they will definitely brighten up your holiday bag!

Clinique x Jonathan Adler Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush* (£79, link)

I must admit that I'm not the biggest fan of electric facial cleansing brushes, but my sister loves them and she was over the moon when I gave this one to her! I was sad to see it go as I really love Adler's classic geometric design on this, which he has also featured on the accompanying travel case. It's beautifully bold, contemporary and absolutely perfect for Summer.

The Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush is one of Clinique's best sellers and it's the brand's answer to the ever-popular Clarisonic. This brush has been developed by dermatologists and uses sonic movement to gently, but deeply cleanse the skin. The head is composed of two different types of bristles, with the green bristles at the top of the head being used for tackling the troublesome T-zone area. You can use any cleanser with this, but there is a tube of Clinique's Foaming Sonic Facial Soap included in the set to start you off.

My sister has been using this every day for about a month now and she says it's better than her regular Clarisonic because it feels softer and gentler on her skin. I was very pleased to see that you can buy this new Limited Edition design for the same price as the regular plain white Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush, so if you're in the market to buy a new electric facial cleansing brush, why not pick up this one and jazz up your skincare routine?

 Clinique x Jonathan Adler Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Beige Pop* (£16.50, link)

I own a handful of Clinique lip products and I'm a big fan of their fragrance-free formulas. Their Lip Colour + Primers have been given a beautiful Jonathan Adler make-over, which has been inspired by his Globo collection that features colourful domes of acrylic and brass. On top of each of the lipstick caps is a bright jewel-like cabochon and wrapped around the tube you'll find Adler's signature geometric pattern, for a serious touch of luxury chic. 

There are 12 shades available in this collection of Lip Colour + Primers including three Limited Edition bright shades, but neutral fans will love the shade that I have which is called Beige Pop; a gorgeous, everyday nude-pink that's super easy to wear. The 2-in-1 formula feels wonderfully moisturising on the lips, and the colour stays put for a good 4-5 hours (without eating/drinking) before a touch up is required. 

Clinique x Jonathan Adler Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Beige Pop

 Clinique x Jonathan Adler Lid Pop in 05 Willow Pop* (£15.50, link)

There's something incredibly decadent about splashing out on a single eyeshadow, but when I saw these Lid Pops, I knew that people were going to covet them! The packaging is utterly stunning with Adler's geometric design being showcased on both the outer packaging lid and imprinted onto the eyeshadow itself - talk about attention to detail! The imprint on the eyeshadow looks like a captivating maze that you could get lost in and the design has been inspired by French gardens.

There are 4 Limited Edition Lid Pops available and this shade Willow Pop is my favourite as it's a colour that I could happily wear every day, especially throughout Summer and on holiday. Willow Pop is an eye-catching bronze with a touch of olive-green undertones, and there's some fine gold shimmer running through it too. It's nicely pigmented and can be built up or used wet for a more intense look if desired. If you love Limited Edition makeup pieces, this one will be perfect for your collection! 

Clinique x Jonathan Adler Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Beige Pop & Clinique x Jonathan Adler Lid Pop in 05 Willow Pop

What do you think of this new collection?

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Currently Loving: Weleda Tinted Lip Balms review

If you've been following my blog for a while now, you'll know that I'm obsessed with lip balms and I have them in every available handbag, desk drawer and coat pocket - they are everywhere! If you ever feel your lips getting dry and I'm around, just give me a nudge and I'll be happy to hand one over.

Due to this obsession, I've tried a crazy amount of lip balms over the years from various brands, yet I've never tried one from Weleda until now. This cute trio of tinted lip balms launched earlier this year, and they are really lovely. The packaging is very sleek with an eco-friendly, natural vibe, and the squeezy tubes allow you to apply them on the go in an easy, sanitary manner.

The base formulas of these balms come from a blend of Castor Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sunflower Seed Wax and Shea Butter which results in a seriously moisturising lip treatment that will keep even the driest lips hydrated and happy, and the absence of lanolin and beeswax makes them suitable for vegans to use.

Each lip balm features a different tint (derived from nature identical mineral pigments), and these give a beautiful hint of colour to the lips. Nude is a barely-there light tone with the tiniest hint showing up on my lips, whilst Rose offers a little more colour for a pretty, everyday pop of pink, and Berry Red gives the strongest wash of berry for a slightly more dramatic 'just-bitten' look. They feel super comfortable on the lips and offer a subtle amount of shine for a fuss-free and understated finish, making them the best low-maintenance tinted lip balms I've come across. A handbag must-have!

Weleda Tinted Lip Balms* (10ml each) are available separately (priced at £6.95 each) or you can pick up all three shades in a gift set for £15. Available from weleda.co.uk

Do you love tinted lip balms?

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