Tried & Tested: Sephora Sheet Masks review

Monday, 11 September 2017

SEPHORA Sheet Masks review
Ask a beauty junkie what their favorite shop is and chances are they'll reply with Sephora. Sadly for us Brits though, the beauty shop of Instagram dreams is unavailable on our home turf, so shopping trips are relegated to risking customs fees by ordering online or hoping that there's a Sephora somewhere on our next holiday trip. Or you could just ask an international friend nicely to pick up some products for you, which is what I tend to do!

Despite Sephora being a total mecca for new beauty finds and brands, I seem to get more excited about trying out their own-brand stuff more than anything else. A year or so ago, I tried one of their Rose Face Masks and instantly fell in love, so I've been dying to try out more of their sheet masks ever since.

Sephora's sheet masks come in a wide variety of different formulas that are targeted at every skin type and concern imaginable, and it's easy to tell them apart by the brightly coloured packaging. Each one has the same 'second skin paper mask' material and gets to work in 15 minutes, it's just the formulas that are different. My friend Ingrid recently came back from France and picked me up a bunch to try which I've been testing out over the past month.

SEPHORA Sheet Masks review
The 'Purple One': Sephora Orchid Face Mask for Anti Aging & Smoothing
Enriched with Orchid Flower Extract, this one is great if you're after a quick fix to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but it's also fantastic as an overall moisturising mask thanks to its hydrating and plumping up properties. 

The 'Pale Pink One': Sephora Pearl Face Mask for Perfecting & Brightening
Out of the six masks that I tried, the Pearl Mask was the most disappointing as I didn't see any visible results from it. It contains White Pearl Extract which is meant to brighten and even out skin tone, but I couldn't see any difference after using it. It did feel nice and moisturising though.

The 'Turquoise One': Sephora Algae Mask for Purifying & Detoxing
I really liked this one which is infused with Algae Extract to purify the skin and helps to get rid of any impurities. It's a good one for unclogging pores, so is ideal to reach for if your skin is feeling congested or looking dull.

SEPHORA Sheet Masks review
The 'Green One': Sephora Green Tea Face Mask for Mattifying & Anti-Blemish
If you have oily skin, this Green Tea Mask will help to absorb excess sebum and it will temporarily re-balance and mattify the skin, keeping it shine-free for a couple of hours after use. I didn't see any difference with its supposed effect on blemishes though.

The 'Pink One': Sephora Rose Face Mask for Ultra Moisturising & Brightening
Although I've enjoyed trying out all of the other masks, the Rose one is still my favourite! It's very similar to the Orchid mask as it thoroughly hydrates and plumps up the skin, but this one also has a noticeable brightening effect to it which I just love!

The 'Light Green One': Sephora Avocado Face Mask for Nourishing & Repairing
My second favourite is the Avocado mask which is brilliant for soothing sensitive skin and calming down any redness or irritation. It feels very gentle and moisturising on, and leaves my skin so smooth and soft afterwards.

Sephora sheet masks retail for €3.95 each which is around £3.59 (yeah, thanks Brexit exchange rate!)

Have you tried any of the Sephora sheet masks?

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UK Back To School Giveaway: Win an Oy! Skincare Set from Green People!

Thursday, 7 September 2017

Oy! Skincare Set from Green People
Award-winning organic skincare brand, Green People, are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and to celebrate, they've given some of their most popular ranges a little makeover. One of the ranges is Oy! and I've got a set to give away to a lucky UK reader!

Green People's Oy! skincare range has been specially formulated for young skin that's going through puberty (the Oy! stands for 'Organic Young'), but it can also be used by anyone who is dealing with acne or has troublesome blemish-prone skin that needs a helping hand. 

It's great to see a range like this available because when I was a teenager, the only options that I had for skincare were way too harsh and left my skin looking worse than it was before! Thankfully, Green People's Oy! line works in harmony with young skin, not against it, and doesn't contain any of the most common irritants such as Alcohol, Petrochemicals, Silicones, Mineral Oil and SLS that are found in most mainstream anti-blemish products.

The Oy! range instead uses over 90% organic and natural active ingredients and contains anti-blemish actives such as Willow Bark (to fight spot forming bacteria and regulate oil production), Prebiotics (to support good skin bacteria and keep it healthy), Green Tea extract (helps to reduce inflammation and protect the skin from free radical damage) and Tea Tree extract (targets the bad skin bacteria that causes spots). 

Oy! Skincare Set from Green People
Whilst my skin has calmed down considerably over the years, I do still suffer from the odd adult acne flare-up (especially when I'm stressed) and my general skin type is oily/combination, so blemishes still are a common occurrence for me. With that in mind, I was curious to try out the Oy! range for myself and I've found these products to be gentle but effective in the battle against spots. 

The range has a Clear Skin Foaming Wash, Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser, Clear Skin Purifying Serum, Clear Skin Blemish Concealer, and there's even a Deodorant in there to keep you smelling nice and fresh without the pore-clogging aluminum - yay! 

UK GIVEAWAY - WIN A SET!

Fancy trying all of these products out for yourself or want to win a set for your teen? Simply enter your details into the Rafflecopter below and one lucky UK reader will win the whole Green People Oy! range! Giveaway ends next week on 14th September 2017 where one winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter - good luck!




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Budget Beauty: GOSH AW17 Collection - Review & Swatches

Tuesday, 5 September 2017

GOSH AW17 Collection - Review & Swatches
If you're suffering from the Back-To-Life blues this week, why not treat yourself to some new makeup? And don't worry, this new range from GOSH is (mostly) friendly on the purse strings!

GOSH are one of my favourite budget-friendly makeup brands and you can find them easily in your local Superdrug with lots of great offers on throughout the range. As well as being gentle on your bank balance, their products are also cruelty-free and suitable for vegans - win win! I was kindly sent some products from their latest AW17 collection to share with you all and I've been testing them out for the past few weeks. 

Here's what's new from GOSH:-

GOSH Primer Plus Skin Adaptor Anti-Pollution Primer in Chameleon
 GOSH Primer Plus Skin Adaptor Anti-Pollution Primer in Chameleon* (30ml, £14.99, link)

Anti-pollution formulas have been a big thing in many new skincare products, so it's great to see a brand like GOSH developing an affordable makeup primer which has this element in it. This Primer Plus Skin Adaptor features their Cityguard+ complex which is based on marine origin ingredients to help protect the skin from everyday pollution such as car exhausts and cigarette smoke. In addition to these properties, it also has a tint to it to even out your skin tone and gives you a healthy looking glow, plus it creates a lovely smooth surface for applying makeup. If you're in the market for a new multi-benefits primer, this is well worth checking out.

GOSH Mix & Fix Blender Brush
GOSH Mix & Fix Blender Brush* (£9.99, link)

GOSH's makeup brushes are seriously underrated IMO, so if you're new to them, I'd recommend trying out their Mix & Fix Blender Brush if you're after a new base brush to play with. The sleek matte black handle makes this brush easy to hold and control, and the flat kabuki style head has a circular indent which is similar to the bareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush, but smaller, and I think it actually works better as you end up using a lot less product and get a much smoother and even finish! Great for buffing any liquid foundation into the skin and the bristles are nice and soft (synthetic and vegan-friendly too!).  

GOSH My Favourite Mascara
GOSH My Favourite Mascara* (10ml, £9.99, link)

Calling your mascara 'My Favourite Mascara' is a pretty bold claim, and unfortunately, GOSH hasn't won me over with this one. Specially formulated to be the perfect 'everyday mascara' it gives you natural looking lashes without the drama, which is perhaps why I'm not so keen on it as I generally prefer a more volumised lash look. But let's look at the positives; the rubberised bristle brush separates lashes like a dream, it's perfume and paraben free, and it can be removed with just warm water. Personally, though, I like more drama and volume from my mascaras, but it's certainly not a bad choice if you prefer a very natural looking mascara for every day.

GOSH Prime 'N' Set Primer & Mattifying Banana Setting Powder
GOSH Prime 'N' Set Primer & Mattifying Banana Setting Powder* (7g, £9.99, link

Banana powders have moved from the hands of makeup artists to the experimental beauty consumer, so I wasn't surprised to see GOSH bringing out their own version of this now-cult classic. If you haven't used a banana powder before, it's basically a yellow-toned setting powder which helps to colour correct any redness and also helps to neutralise and banish dark under eye circles. The best thing about them is that they're easy to use - just swap your regular setting powder for a banana powder and say hello to brighter skin! I like using this mainly underneath my eyes to set my concealer with as it definitely helps to brighten things up under there, but it's also great as an all over setting powder when I want a more matte finish; just use less of it than you might think.

GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette in To Party In London
GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette in To Party In London
GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette - To Party In London* (£11.99, link)

I love a new eyeshadow palette (who doesn't?!) and this one is such a beauty! The new 'To Party In London' palette contains nine gorgeous shimmery metallic eye shadows, ranging from softer neutral pinks and browns, to more intense darker bronzes, midnight blues and coppers. Each shade is buttery soft, easy to blend and work with, and highly pigmented to boot. The packaging is glossy black, nice and compact, and features a large mirror which makes this palette great for travelling with. I really love the mix of shades and I think it's fantastic value for money!

GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette in To Party In London review
GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette - To Party In London swatches!

GOSH Eye Shadow Primer, GOSH Growth Serum Brows
GOSH Eye Shadow Primer* (1.4g, £8.99, link), GOSH Growth Serum Brows (6ml, £16.99, link) and GOSH Brow Shape & Fill* (0.5g, £8.99, link)

I was excited to try the new GOSH Eye Shadow Primer as I've been on the hunt for a budget-friendly alternative to replace my beloved Urban Decay Primer Potion. This one comes packaged in a chunky stick format and features a sponge tip applicator at the other end. The sponge tip is much too hard and stiff to work with, but the primer stick itself is really not bad at all and it's easy to blend it over the lids with just the warmth of your finger. It's great for creating a base for eyeshadow and helps to even out any discolouration, but I found that my eyeshadow began to crease after 5-6 hours, so it's OK for a night out, but not ideal for all day wear if you have oily lids like I do.

For brows, GOSH has a new Growth Serum which aims to give you thicker and fuller brows with daily use. It's not the kind of product that I need for my own brows, but if want yours to be thicker, this might be worth a try.

What I have been impressed with though is GOSH's Brow Shape & Fill which is an incredibly useful 2-in-1 pencil and powder product. One end has a brilliant skinny brow pencil for defining and drawing in tiny hairs, and the other end has a soft powder for filling in any gaps. I have the shade Grey Brown which is a perfect match for my brows and it gives a really natural looking finish. Love it!

GOSH Brow Shape & Fill greybrown
GOSH Brow Shape & Fill in Grey Brown 002

GOSH Lumi Drops in 012 Rosegold
GOSH Lumi Drops in 012 Rosegold* (15ml, £7.99, link

I've sung the praises of GOSH's Lumi Drops in the past, so I was pleased to see that they've released two brand new shades in this popular range. Lumi Drops are basically liquid highlighters, blushers and bronzers, depending on what shade you pick up. I have one of the new ones in Rosegold which is a beautiful peachy-rose liquid blusher with a gold shimmer which is very pretty and glowy on the cheeks - a drop or two is all you need to use!

https://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Eye-Makeup/Eyeliner/Gosh-Lift-%26-Highlight-Nude-001/p/739070
GOSH Lift & Highlight in 001 Nude* (2.9g, £9.99, link)

This clever Lift & Highlight duo-pencil is a makeup bag must-have and can be used in various ways to lift, define and highlight different areas of the face. It features a matte nude coloured pencil on one end, and a shimmery light-reflective pencil on the other. Use the matte end under the brow bones to lift, or if it matches your skin-tone, it can also double up as a concealer. The shimmery end can then be used to highlight and brighten the inner eye corner and the cupid's bow for a quick and easy finishing touch.

GOSH Strobe 'N' Glow Kit in 001 Highlight
GOSH Strobe 'N' Glow Kit in 001 Highlight* (20g, £12.99, link)

As far as highlighting palettes go, this newbie from GOSH is one of the best budget makeup buys that I've come across all year. In the Strobe 'N' Glow Kit you get four huge pans of different highlighter shades (a whopping 20g of product in total!), and the quality is amazing. Featuring three gorgeous golden light-to-bronze shades, the kit also has an interesting pink based holographic highlighter colour for something different to play with. Each shade feels silky soft with a light creamy texture, and they all blend beautifully. This kit is a fantastic way to try out a bunch of new highlighters, all in one handy palette, and these really do pop on the skin!

GOSH Strobe 'N' Glow Kit in 001 Highlight swatches
GOSH Strobe 'N' Glow Kit in 001 Highlight and GOSH Lift & Highlight in 001 Nude - swatches!

GOSH AW17 Collection now available exclusively at Superdrug, in stores nationwide and online at superdrug.com.

Have you tried any of the new GOSH A/W Collection?

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Foodie Friday: Cacao, Hazelnut & Goji Berries Granola (Vegan / Dairy Free recipe)

Friday, 1 September 2017

Cacao, Hazelnut & Goji Berries Granola (Vegan / Dairy Free recipe)
Granola is one of my favourite things to have for breakfast, but I mostly make my own as many of the boxes of granola that you find in the supermarket aren't as healthy as they look with hidden sugars and artificial preservatives.

Thankfully, making your own granola from scratch is ridiculously easy and you can rest assured knowing exactly what's in it!  Below, I've shared my current favourite granola mix which includes Cacao, Cacao Nibs, Hazelnuts, and Goji Berries, but you can, of course, add or take out whatever you like to incorporate your own favourite nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and you can choose to sweeten it however you want to. What I would suggest though, is using the best quality oats that you can find, (preferably organic ones) because the granola base really makes all the difference. 

Ingredients:- (makes roughly a medium sized Kilner jar of granola) 
  • 250g Organic Jumbo Rolled Oats
  • 50g Hazelnuts (chopped or whole, whichever you prefer)
  • 50g Raw Cacao Nibs
  • 50g Goji Berries
  • 25g Desiccated Coconut
  • 2 tbsp of Raw Cacao Powder
  • 2 tbsp of Coconut Oil (liquid)
  • 2-3 tbsp of Agave or Maple Syrup
  • Pinch of Sea Salt

Cacao, Hazelnut & Goji Berries Granola (Vegan / Dairy Free recipe)
Method:-
  1. Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas Mark 4 and line a large baking tray with greaseproof baking paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the Jumbo Oats, Hazelnuts, Cacao Powder, Desiccated Coconut, Coconut Oil, Agave Syrup and Sea Salt, mixing everything together until it's thoroughly combined.
  3. Transfer the mixture to the baking tray and spread it out so that it's an even layer. Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until lightly toasted. Make sure that you give everything a stir through to turn over the oats half-way through so that it cooks evenly.
  4. Take the tray out of the oven, sprinkle over the Cacao Nibs and Goji Berries and allow to cool.
  5. Once it's properly cooled down, transfer it to an airtight container such as a Kilner jar. 
Cacao, Hazelnut & Goji Berries Granola (Vegan / Dairy Free recipe)
Cacao, Hazelnut & Goji Berries Granola (Vegan / Dairy Free recipe)
Storage & serving: Your homemade granola will keep in an airtight jar for around 2-3 weeks, giving you plenty of time to enjoy it for your daily breakfast. I usually measure out a few tablespoons (it depends on how hungry I am!) per serving, splash over some Almond Milk and add some fresh fruits like Strawberries or Blueberries. If you find the granola isn't sweet enough for your tastebuds, just add a little swirl of Maple or Agave Syrup and enjoy! 

Cacao, Hazelnut & Goji Berries Granola (Vegan / Dairy Free recipe)
Have you ever made your own granola?

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