April Beauty Favourites 2020

Wednesday, 29 April 2020

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I haven't done a favourites post in quite a while, and seeing as I have been home a lot more recently, I have been trying out and loving lots of new products along with older releases. Here are my April Beauty Favourites 2020.
Starting with haircare, I received the Garnier Ultimate Blends Nourishing Hair Food Banana & Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner (£6.00 each) in the Latest In Beauty x Times Style Awards Beauty Box which I bought. I love anything banana or coconut, and so the two together is a dream for me, and I love the Garnier Ultimate Blends products. Along with my skin, my hair has been really dry lately and so this pairing which is suitable for dry hair, was the perfect duo. It smells incredible and you get 350ml in each bottle, so you are getting plenty of uses from it - I am still using mine now. I have found that this duo has really helped with nourishing my hair and transforming it from a dry, straw-like texture to softer, smoother and healthier hair. The Hair Food products contain 98% natural origin ingredients and has a vegan formula. You can find it online at Boots here.
My other haircare product is the Ouai Dry Texture Foam (£24.00 for 165g), as I haven't been blowdrying my hair as much with me being at home all the time. This Dry Texture Foam helps to create tousled waves without having to use a curling iron. It has a weightless and nourishing formula that is formulated with a strengthening blend of Rice and Wheat Proteins, and the styling foam adds hold to the hair for undone styles that last all day long. This product is suitable for all hair types - I have quite fine hair and have found that this doesn't weigh my hair down, nor does it feel sticky or greasy once applied. You can find it online at retailers such as Look Fantastic here.
I received the Escentric Molecules Escentric 05 Fragrance (£36.00 for 30ml) as a gift with purchase from Harvey Nichols and it has been my go-to fragrance this month. It comes in funky packaging and is a very wearable scent for every day. Escentric 05 contains top notes of Fig, Bergamot, Orange, Laurel, Rosemary, Basil and Juniper, with heart notes of Hedione, Cypress and Deconstructed Florals of Freesia, Iris and Jasmine, with a base of Cashmeran, Cistus, Labdanum, Musc, Ambroxan, Mastic and Iso E Super. I wouldn't say it is a specific seasonal fragrance - but it does kind of remind me of an English beach - not tropical like one abroad, but kind of woody and slightly salty. You can find it online at Escentric Molecules here.
On to skincare, and my holy grail exfoliator ran out in March, so I re-ordered the MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator (£23.00 for 100ml). My first tube lasted me a VERY long time, as you only need the smallest amount as it spreads out quite far, and it is only something I use once a week - although you can use it up to three times a week. The Exfoliator is suitable for all skin types and is a dual-purpose cleansing and exfoliating scrub that blends natural volcanic ash (yes, it is black) with fine sugar crystals. I find this a highly effective exfoliator and the formula refines and unclogs the skin whilst adding instant moisture and my skin feels so soft and super smooth every time I use it. Remember, that it is important to rid the skin of dead skin cells to get the best out of your makeup. You can find it online at MAC here.
Another item I received in my Harvey Nichols gift with purchase is the Lucia Magnani Refreshing Energizing (American spelling) Tonic (£90.00 for 150ml). Yes, £90.00! The packaging is beautiful with a tortoiseshell lid and this Tonic is formulated with antioxidants to preserve the appearance of the skin. It contains CoQ10, Vitamin E, Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C for an exceptional formula which helps fortify, bolster and regulate the natural metabolism of skin cells. I have loved using this Tonic - it has really helped to rejuvenate my skin, however, unless I had quite a bit of money, it isn't something I would be able to afford to repurchase, but as I have loved it so much this month, I had to include it in this post. It really has helped my skin out, which was getting super dry and uneven. You can find it online at Harvey Nichols here.
My sleeping pattern has been horrid these past couple of months, and my eyes are feeling it! I tried the Sarah Chapman Skinesis Platinum Stem Cell Eye Mask (£25.00) last week and it worked wonders for my eye area. At £25.00 a go, it isn't something I could personally afford to use every week, but if you can afford to, or fancy a one-off treat, I would highly recommend giving this a go. The treatment within the mask combines structure with science for a full focus on the eye contour. Each eye mask is infused with potent scientific actives to target concerns throughout the entire eye including furrowed brows, slackening lids and under-eye fatigue. The treatment is to be left on the eye area for 15-20 minutes and I found my eyes felt much more invigorated and rejuvenated. You can find the mask online at Sarah Chapman here.
Just as with my hair and skin, my lips have also been super dry lately, so I have been using the Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss'r Lip-Loving Scrubstick (£15.00). This is a lip scrub which comes in a twist-up stick, like a lipstick and contains apricot seed scrubbers to gently exfoliate and nourish the lips to leave them instantly smooth. The formula is lightweight and non-greasy, and you aren't left with particles after use, which you do get with some lip scrubs, and which I personally don't like, so I have found that this is much better for me. I also love that it is in a stick form so I don't have to put my fingers into a tub and get all messy. You can find it online at Boots here.
Moving on to makeup, and I will start with foundation, so I have been enjoying the Cover FX Power Play Foundation (£38.00 for 35ml). The Foundation comes in a plastic bottle with a small opening to release the product and it is available in 40 shades, so there should be a shade to suit all skin colours. I opted for the shade P20, which is for fair to light skin with pink undertones, which suits my skin perfectly. It is suitable for all skin types, but particularly dry skin, in my opinion, as it is a weightless, full coverage foundation that doesn't dry out the skin, yet still gives it a lovely, matte finish without clinging on to dry spots. If you have oily or combination skin, you will find this also works for you as it controls shine throughout the day and the waterproof formula doesn't budge throughout the day. You can find it online at Beauty Bay here.
I have wanted to try out the Iconic London Sheer Blush (£18.00 for 12.5ml) for ages, but every time I went online it was out of stock, so when I noticed it was in stock in the shade I wanted, I decided to treat myself. The shade I chose was Cheeky Coral, a creamy coral pink, and there are four other shades to choose from. I never used to like cream products, but recently I have been preferring them to powder, as they blend into the skin much more seamlessly. This lightweight gel formula transforms into a liquid, releasing vibrant coated pigments that are a dream to build and blend. You only need a very small amount per application, and so this is going to last you ages. I don't know if it is supposed to be worn on the lips, but it also makes for a pretty lip tint too. You can find it online at Iconic London here.
Another product which is often out of stock in my shade is the Dior Diorskin Mineral Nude Bronze Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in the shade 01 Soft Sunrise. There are six shades available, and this is the lightest as I have fair to light skin during the colder months. The Bronzer arrives in a velvet pouch and has a Dior cushioned metal lid, a mirror on the inside of the lid and then the beautifully patterned bronzer itself. The lettering and the lighter segments have a natural healthy glow to them, whereas the darker sections are matte, so you can swirl them all together to create a beautiful healthy glowy bronzer. This warms up my complexion naturally, and captures the light, enhancing the effects of sun on the skin. It really is a gorgeous product and I think for the brand, Dior, it isn't overpriced. You can find it online at John Lewis here.
My next monthly favourite is another item which isn't a new release, but which I have been loving anyway, and it is the NARS Endless Orgasm Palette (£46.00). This pretty rose gold palette contains six satin cream shades which can be used on the eyes, cheeks and lips. When I first saw this released, I thought it was a powder palette, and with some quite warm shades, I didn't think it would work for me as a highlighter palette, until I discovered it was so much more than that. The shades included are Orgasm Ecstasy - Soft Beige with Gold Pearl, Deep Orgasm - Metallic Mauve, Super Orgasm - Iridescent Pink with Golden Shimmer, Double Orgasm - Iridescent Pink Lilac with Silver Shimmer, Orgasm Fever - Iridescent Copper and Orgasm - Metallic Rose Gold. As much as I love using the lighter shades as soft highlighters, I have loved using the warmer shades for my eyes, and the Orgasm Fever shade works wonders for blue eyes! You can find the Palette online at NARS here.
A lovely mascara I have recently been reaching for a lot is the MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascara (£20.00). The lightweight formula adds dense volume, extends length and creates curl to the lashes, while conditioning for softness and flexibility. It has quite a large brush featuring lots of tiny rubber bristles, which store the optimal amount of mascara that allows maximum application with each stroke, while keeping the lashes from clumping together. I have quite short, fair, straight lashes, and lots of smaller lashes in the corners of my eyes, and I have found that this manages to reach even those lashes so that the overall finish is a much darker, fanned out lash look. I noticed that whilst wearing throughout the day, there was no flakiness or movement from the mascara, which is great for me as I wear contact lenses and sometimes my eyes are quite watery. You can find it online at MAC here.
Whilst exploring my love for cream and liquid products, I have also been trying out and loving the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks (£22.50) in the shade Fresh Melon. There are five other shades available, but this one had my heart - it is a sweet pink peach shade which works great on my fair to light skin, both on my cheeks and lips. There is a little mirror on the inside of the lid, so you can grab it and go for applications throughout the day. The formula is creamy and smooth without being heavy or greasy, and so it blends into the skin beautifully, although if you do have very dry skin, I would recommend using a moisturising primer beforehand. I love that this is a 2-in-1 product, which makes it great for travel - well, when we can actually go anywhere. You can find it online at Bobbi Brown here.
My final product is quite a new one, and it is the Fenty Beauty What It Dew Makeup Refreshing Spray (£24.00 for 100ml). It has similar packaging to the original foundation, except taller and made from plastic rather than glass. This is a super fine hydrating mist that can be used underneath makeup for foundation prep, or over makeup to instantly revitalise and refresh the skin throughout the day. One of the main reasons I love this spray so much is because of the super fine mist it has - I have tried some makeup setting sprays which have sprayed out in large droplets and that sometimes smudges my makeup before I have even left the house. There is a delicate, refreshing scent to it, but not at all overpowering, so it is not going to aggravate sensitive skin whatsoever. I would definitely say this is suitable for all skin types, and popped in the fridge during the Summer months, this will make a superb cooling spray! You can find it online at Boots here.
All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Makeup Obsession So Balm Lip Balms Review

Monday, 27 April 2020

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Before I even get into this post, I am sure we can all address the fact that the new Makeup Obsession So Balm Lip Balms look pretty much like the Glossier Balm Dotcom Lip Balms. However, at just £5.00 and with there often being offers on Makeup Obsession, they are a heck of a lot cheaper. I bought all three for just £10.00, with a 3 for 2 offer, which is the price of just one Glossier Balm Dotcom.
There are six flavours available - Original, Cherry, which has a sheer pink tint, Icing Sugar which has tiny flecks of sparkle, Mango, Mojito and Sherbert. They all come in pretty white and pastel packaging and a 'paint tube' style lid. Each tube contains 15ml of product, so you are getting plenty for your money.

The flavours I opted for are Icing Sugar, Mojito and Sherbert. Icing Sugar literally smells just like icing and it is delicious and makes me want to eat fairy buns. The shimmer is really beautiful and is a lot more shimmery than I expected, but I am definitely not mad about it! 
Mojito comes in mint green and white packaging and comes out of the tube mint green too, but don't worry, it doesn't leave a green cast on the lips once you have smoothed it over them. The Mojito fragrance is lovely and fresh, and again smells just like a mojito.
Finally, Sherbert comes in baby pink and white packaging and is baby pink in colour, but again, this doesn't really show up on the lips. It smells just like rainbow sherbert and takes me back to my childhood! I am super impressed with the scents and the formula.
The formula is infused with castor oil to moisturise and nourish the lips and even the non-tinted and non-shimmery balms leave a lovely healthy sheen to the lips and my lips feel protected and well-nourished whilst wearing them. I haven't tried much from the Makeup Obsession collection, but I would definitely recommend these!

You can find them online at Revolution Beauty here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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Perfect Peachy Products

Friday, 24 April 2020

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When it comes to makeup, anything peach-toned has my heart. I have put together some of my favourite peachy products to share with you all. It is quite blush-heavy, but there are other products in the mix too.
This post is quite Too Faced heavy as well, just because they have such a large peach collection, and so, starting off with Too Faced, we have the Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Face Palette (£34.00). I have actually had this palette before many years ago, and it is such a lovely palette that I decided to re-purchase. It comes in a pretty tin palette with a mirror on the inside of the lid, and then three pans - a highlighter, a peachy blush and a light bronzer. Because the highlighter and bronzer are both fairly light, this works really well for my fair to light skin. There is a peach scent to it, as with all of the Too Faced Peach products so that is always a bonus. The blush itself has a slight glow to it as well, and is slightly sheer so you can achieve a natural look, but with a pop of colour. You can find it online at Debenhams here.
When I heard Benefit were re-releasing their Georgia Blush, I was really happy as I had loved the original back in the day. However, I remember that being matte and the new Benefit Georgia Blush (£27.00) has some shimmer to it - however, it is still a very pretty shade, I just would have preferred the original version. Just like with all Benefit Box o' Powders, this one also comes with a little mirror on the inside of the lid and an application brush. I do think Benefit Box o' Powders are pretty expensive as you don't get that much product, but this fruity-scented golden peach blush is ever so lovely and I have been reaching for it quite a lot. You can find it online at Benefit here.
Going back to Too Faced, we have the Too Faced Sugar Peach Wet and Dry Face & Eye Palette (£34.00). I have never tried this before and it looked beautiful so I went ahead and ordered it. The palette is super pretty with a little golden peach opener, a large mirror on the inside of the lid and four generously-sized pans. The four shades included are Peach Pearl, a shimmering champagne, Sugared Peach, a warm peach shade with golden flecks of glitter, Peach Honey, a shimmering bronze and Peach Pop, a shimmering pink with white reflex. I love how versatile this palette is, as you are getting a couple of blushes, highlighter and bronzer and you can of course use them as eyeshadows too. I do have to go in light with the bronze shade due to how light-skinned I am, but the other shades work perfectly and the peach blush is just stunning with those flecks of gold. You can find it online at Look Fantastic here.
We then have the Clinique Cheek Pop Blush Pop in the shade Melon Pop (£18.00) - there is a shade called Peach Pop, but I just thought Melon Pop was gorgeous. The Clinique Blush Pops come in clear compacts with the prettiest flower shape - they really are beautiful to just look at! The shade is a light peach, which has a slight sheen to it, so that you get a healthy glow on the cheeks and the formula is silky soft, so it sits lovely on the skin and sits there for the whole day long. I think in comparison to the Benefit Blush, this one is much better value as you get quite a lot of product here and the formula is wonderful and lightweight. You can find it online at Clinique here.
For the eyes, I chose the Too Faced Crystal Whips Shimmering Eye Shadow Veil in the shade Pop The Bubbly (£19.00). This isn't a peach colour, but it is infused with Peach and so I wanted to include it as I love these Crystal Whips. Pop The Bubbly is a stunning light champagne shade and the packaging, in true Too Faced style is gorgeous! There are some brighter colours to choose from, but this one has my heart as it is so versatile - you could even use it as a liquid highlighter! The formula is pigmented and not at all thick or gloopy on the lids and dries down nicely without budging throughout the day. You can find it online at Debenhams here.
New from Rodial is the Rodial Instant Filler Primer (£35.00 for 30ml) and I have really been loving Rodial products since first trying them out a couple of months ago. Again, this isn't technically a peach product, but the packaging matched the theme and so I went with it. If you have problems with enlarged pores like myself, or with wrinkles, then this is the primer for you! The Instant Filler Primer visibly fills, smooths and plumps fine lines and imperfections and pores appear much more blurred and diminished to give a rejuvenated complexion. The formula is a cross between a cream, silicone and a gel and glides onto the skin to give you the smoothest, silkiest base. You can find it online at Rodial here.
Back on to Too Faced, except lips this time, we have the Too Faced Peach Puff Long-Wearing Diffused Matte Lip Color* (American spelling) (£17.00) in the shade Stoked. I have one of these in another colour and they are so comfortable to wear! They have a sponge applicator and so you just twist up a little of the product and it comes out through the sponge and you can apply straight to the lips. This is one of the most lightweight lip products I have ever tried, and even though it gives a matte finish, it is by no means drying on the lips and gives you a healthy pop of colour. Stoked is a pretty peach pink shade and the formula is infused with peach and sweet fig milk so it is moisturising on the lips and smells delicious. You can find it online at Debenhams here.
Finally, ending with a Too Faced product, we have the Too Faced Peach Blur Translucent Smoothing Finishing Powder (£25.00). I wanted to try this when it first came out a few years back, but there was so many other products in that first peach collection and so I have only recently bought this. It comes in a gorgeous compact with a mirror on the inside of the lid and then the product itself is shaped into a peach. This is a translucent all-over finishing powder that gives the effect of smoother, more perfect skin. The formula contains optical correcting spheres that reflect light, which helps to create that flawless finish for every skin tone. You can find it online at Debenhams here.
All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*This item was gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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Spring Florals With Yardley Flowerazzi Collection

Wednesday, 22 April 2020

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Cult English brand Yardley London, recently released a brand new collection, and it brings with it all the joys of Spring. The Yardley Flowerazzi collection consists of five bodycare products which feature their brand new Flowerazzi fragrance, which is a combination of magnolia and pink orchid. The packaging is fabulous, floral, fresh and fruity and is definitely something different for the brand. I was very kindly sent two of the five products to try out, so here is a little more about this lovely new collection.
With Spring here, and Summer on its way, we start to show off our skin a little bit more and so what better way to start prepping the skin than with the Yardley Flowerazzi Exfoliating Body Scrub (£6.00)? This is a lightly foaming gel body scrub that contains pumice and walnut shell exfoliating particles to leave the skin feeling soft and smooth. Along with the exfoliating ingredients, the Body Scrub also contains sustainable shea butter and organic camelia oil so that it nourishes the skin and keeps it soft and supple. You get 200ml of the Body Scrub, and a small amount goes a long way, so this is going to last a while. The Flowerazzi scent reminds me of Summer as soon as I apply it and even though this is an exfoliating product, it isn't at all harsh on the skin, so don't be worrying if you have quite sensitive skin, as so do I and I had no problem with irritability whatsoever, just fresh, clean and healthy skin.
One of my favourite bath and body products over the last year or two has been body oils, because you can use them on the skin for extra-dry skin or pour a little in the bath for a sumptuous treat. The Yardley Flowerazzi Moisturising Body Oil (£6.00 for 125ml) comes in a bottle with a push-down applicator, which makes it super easy to use. This is a light moisturising body oil which contains a blend of sunflower and almond oils to moisturise the skin and leave a healthy-looking sheen to it, too. Just like with the Body Scrub, the Body Oil also contains shea butter and camelia oil which work a treat at keeping the skin soft and supple and well nourished. During the colder months I get exceptionally dry skin on my arms and legs, and I have found this works so well at getting rid of the dryness and I have definitely noticed a big difference to how much healthier my skin looks whilst using this. Plus, it of course has that delicious fruity, floral Flowerazzi scent to it so that my skin smells as fabulous as it looks.
You can find the Yardley Flowerazzi collection online at Yardley London here.

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*These items were gifted to me, but all opinions are my own
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