New In Beauty: B. Face Mask Pods review

Looking for a new face mask to try out? These cute mini Face Mask Pods from B. are cruelty-free and suitable for all skin types, and they're vegan-friendly as well!

I've been a long time fan of B. who are an exclusive brand to Superdrug. They have a fantastic range of affordable makeup and skincare, so I was excited to see them branch out further into the world of face masks with the launch of these adorable Face Mask Pods. There are four newbies in this line and each one serves a different purpose, making them easy to mix and match to suit your personal skin care needs.

Individually packaged into single-use sealed pods makes them perfect travelling companions, especially as each one is 10ml. I've tried out all four over the past few weeks and found that each pod provided a generous amount to fully cover my face for one mask, so you could easily use half and transfer the rest to a little plastic pot if you wanted to keep the mask to just a specific area like the T-Zone. You can even multi-mask with different pods and get additional uses out of them if preferred!

B. Glowing Clay Face Mask*

Designed to brighten, exfoliate and refine the skin's texture, the Glowing Clay Face Mask contains a base blend of three natural clays and uses Red Seaweed extract to help get rid of impurities. This mask also has tiny ground Apricot granules that buff and polish the skin to remove dull dead skin cells, leaving the complexion visibly brighter. I found it did a good job at giving my face a much softer feel and it delivered a noticeably brighter result, even if it was just temporary until the next day.

B. Purified Clay Face Mask* 

If your skin is more on the oily side, this Purified Clay Face Mask is the one that I would recommend to try the most. It refreshes, deeply purifies and cleanses thanks to a Kaolin clay blend and Eucalyptus Extract, and it also helps to minimise excess sebum and shine. I was worried that it might be a little too drying for my skin, so I was really happy when my skin felt more refreshed and balanced afterwards instead.

B. Detoxed Clay Face Mask* 

For blemishes, blackheads and stubborn clogged pores, the Detoxed Clay Face Mask will definitely come to your rescue! It has a rich clay formula that's blended with plenty of Charcoal powder (hence it's natural grey colour), which does an excellent job of drawing out dirt and impurities from the skin. This one was a bit drying afterwards as it has quite a powerful detoxifying formula, so I'd suggest following it up with a good moisturiser afterwards.

B. Hydrated Leave On Face Mask*

The only one out of the four to not feature a clay base is the Hydrated Leave On Face Mask. This creamy treatment feels like a rich moisturiser and uses key ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Squalene and Babassu Oil, to give all skin types a good boost of moisture when it needs it the most. It's perfect for this time of the year when most people's skin is suffering from the cold weather, and it's also ideal as a follow-up mask after using the Detoxed Clay Face Mask above, to replenish and restore moisture levels.

B. Face Mask Pods* are £2.49 each, or you can purchase larger 50ml pots for £7.49 each. Available exclusively at Superdrug, both in stores and online at superdrug.com

Have you tried these yet?

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

Read more

Weekend Style: Cosy Up on Valentine's Day with Bolsius Candles

The big loved-up V-Day is just around the corner and if you're on the lookout for some home products to create a cosy evening in, why not pick up some of these beautiful candles from Bolsius?

Candles are one of the easiest ways to create a welcoming and warm environment in your home, and there's something mesmerizing about flickering candlelight- it's almost magical isn't it? I have candles dotted all over my house, and I like to use them to not only offer an inviting fragrance, but to add a pop of colour or style to a room.

I usually opt for scented candles, but when I saw these mid-sized, chunky ones with a pretty metallic detailing from Bolsius, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to feature them in a Weekend Style post.

Part of Bolsius' Rustic range, these un-fragranced Faded Metallic block candles are available in several different colours to suit a range of home decors and you can pick up different ones to suit the change in seasons. They feel very substantial and good quality, with a graduated metallic finish towards the bottom of the candle that looks very contemporary and stylish.

I was kindly sent a pair in cream and a pair in pink, and I love them! I have a lot of neutral themes throughout my home so the cream ones work in any room as they go with everything, whilst the pale pink pair makes a nice central feature for a subtle hint of colour on a table or windowsill - perfect for Valentine's Day.

Shop the full range of Bolsius Rustic Candles* online here.

Do you have a lot of candles in your home?

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

Read more

Foodie Friday: Sea Salt & Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Bites recipe (Dairy-Free/Vegan/Gluten-Free)

If you're a fan of the salted chocolate trend and you love Nutella, you'll want to try these seriously moreish Sea Salt & Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Bites, which are made from just 4 ingredients!

Whoever decided to first sprinkle a teeny amount of salt onto chocolate is a flavour-genius, and I'd like to buy this person a drink (honestly, DM me!). It's one of my favourite flavour combinations when it comes to experimenting with chocolate, but you know what else I also love? Nutella. That classic chocolate hazelnut spread was a childhood favourite of mine, and I always still have a jar of it in the cupboard for those moments when you just need to get a spoonful of it into your mouth. 

I was browsing Pinterest the other day and came across lots of variations of these Chocolate Hazelnut Bites which combine chocolate, salt and hazelnut butter, all together in tempting bite-sized pieces of heaven. Best of all, they're made from only 4 ingredients and help to satisfy a Nutella craving in a much healthier way - just skip the salt if you want! 

Ingredients: (makes 8-10)

• 1 tsp of Coconut Oil
• 3 tbsp of Hazelnut Butter (I used Meridian)
• 50g of Dark Chocolate
• Tiny sprinkle of Sea Salt Flakes (optional)

Method:

• Melt the Coconut Oil and allow to cool slightly. In a small bowl, mix together the Coconut Oil with the Hazelnut Butter and pop into the freezer for a few hours to set.
• Next, break up the Dark Chocolate into small chunks and slowly melt in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering hot water. Set aside to cool.
• Remove the set Hazelnut mixture from the freezer, and using two teaspoons, mould small chunks into balls until you have around 8-10 balls.
• Dip the balls into the melted Dark Chocolate, getting a good even coating all over, and place on a small plate baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Sprinkle over a tiny amount of Sea Salt Flakes. Return to the freezer to set for another 2-3 hours.
• Take them out of the freezer 5 minutes before you want to eat them and enjoy! 

Storage: They can be kept in the freezer for up to a month and may start to go soft at room temperature depending on which brand of Hazelnut Butter you have used, so it's best to keep them frozen until you want to eat them.

Are you a fan of Salted Nutty Chocolate?

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

Read more

Currently Loving: 4 Vegan-Friendly Skincare Favourites from Antipodes

Antipodes are one of my favourite natural and organic skincare brands, but did you know that many of their products are also suitable for vegans to use? Here are my top 4 vegan-friendly picks from the popular luxury New Zealand brand. 

Best for Sensitive Skin: Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser* (120ml, £24.99, link) 

One of the most annoying things about the mainstream skincare industry is the prevalence of products that are targeted at sensitive skin, which are anything but gentle. The mind truly boggles! Luckily though, sensitive skin types can enjoy this Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser from Antipodes which is fragrance-free and dermatologically approved for sensitive and irritated skin. The ultra-soothing formula uses a natural but powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient called Vinanza Oxifend, which is extracted from sustainably grown Pinot Noir Grapes. It also contains Avocado Oil and Marigold Bloom to nourish and soften, making this cleanser suitable for both morning and evening use. You can use Grace as a makeup remover too, but I prefer it more as a second cleanser in the evening, as it struggles with waterproof and stubborn liquid foundation formulas. However, if you wear light or mineral based makeup though, this will work a treat!

Best for All Skin Types: Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator* (75ml, £21.99, link)

If you're looking for an extremely gentle manual exfoliator to add to your skincare routine, Reincarnation is a must-try. Key ingredients include Avocado Oil, Kaolin, Apricot Oil, Calendula Oil and Marigold Flower Oil, which results in a thick and creamy formula that's studded with tiny, natural Jojoba beads. These minute scrubby particles expertly lift away dull, dead skin cells, leaving your complexion looking much clearer and brighter in a matter of minutes. The beauty of this exfoliator is that it's so gentle and feels very nourishing, so if you suffer from blackheads or clogged pores, you can use this on a more regular basis than most other manual face polishes, without worrying about it being too harsh or abrasive for your skin. 

Best for Oily, Sensitive & Combination Skin: Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream* (60ml, £25.99, link)

I've used this moisturiser on and off for many years now and it's one of the best light day creams that I've found for oily skin. In fact, it's one that I use the most during the Summer months when my combination skin is at its oiliest because it does such a fantastic job of helping to balance those excess sebum levels. I think Rejoice works so well for me because of this awesome balancing formula - it doesn't strip the skin and it doesn't mattify, which is the most common downfall of most moisturisers that are aimed at oily skin types (stripping and mattifying only leads the skin to produce even more sebum as it tries to compensate for this moisture loss, so you end up getting stuck in a vicious cycle!).  Alongside Avocado, Macadamia and Jojoba Oils, you'll find Organic Manuka Flower Oil which is revered for its natural healing properties and I feel like this plays a part in helping to keep blemishes at bay. If all that doesn't sound good enough, this moisturiser is also clinically proven to boost the skin's natural production of Type l and lll collagen and elastin by up to 59%, so it's great for anti-ageing too.

Best for Everyone: Antipodes Immortal SPF 15 Face & Body Moisturiser* (60ml, £28.99, link)

Although Summer is a long way off, if you're starting to think about SPF protection for the coming Spring months, swapping your moisturiser for one that contains SPF 15 like Immortal can be a very beneficial skincare step to take. Formulated with a hero plant-based Hyaluronic Acid that locks in moisture, it also has the likes of Vinanza Grape, Kiwi Extract and Reishi, the latter of which encourages healthy cell growth, so this moisturiser is ideal for those looking for anti-ageing and firming benefits. Suitable for both face and body, Immortal has a slightly thicker than I was expecting consistency and feels a bit greasy when first applied, however after a few minutes or so, it absorbs and creates a nice smooth canvas for applying makeup afterwards. A hidden gem in Antipodes' skincare range!

Have you tried any of these?

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

Read more