I hope you all enjoyed the first instalment of my May Beauty Must-Haves series, if you missed it – you can take a look here. Unfortunately I’m a bit bogged down with exam revision at the moment, but writing about all things beauty is definitely a cheery bit of escapism! This week’s gorgeous selection have been no different – all innovative and ‘must-have’ in their own different way.
First up, I’m introducing the Barbara Daly Make-Up Brushes kit, which I was actually sent a few months back, but haven’t yet reviewed. Make-Up brushes are a weakness of mine, since they are a handy and essential piece of kit – but ones I forever seem to be losing and misplacing. I do own several Real Techniques brushes, which are amazing – but as I can appreciate (me included) they aren’t always affordable if you’re on a budget. So, on the search for similar quality brushes, I came across Tesco’s very own Barbara Daly selection.
Included in the pack is a foundation brush, powder brush, eye shadow brush, detail brush and eye-brow tidy/comb – all nicely presented in a compact canvas case. Upon first glance, they don’t look overly exciting – with plain black (but very chic nonetheless) packaging however once you upon the packet to reveal the softness and quality of the hairs, there’s definitely something to get excited about. The foundation brush in this kit is excellent, as the bristles are soft but also firm – ensuring the coverage you can achieve is flawless and ‘brush stroke’ free. The powder brush calls for a little more patience, as you have to really swirl it in your face powder/bronzer to achieve the desired result. However all in all, these are easy to wash, perfect for flawless finishing and a very affordable £9.99.
You may have heard of the BB Cream, but I bet you haven’t heard of the CC Cream yet? You soon will, I’m sure. Created by FaceD 3-Luronics, the ‘CC Cream’ stands for colour correction, providing the same hydration and firmness a BB Cream promises, but with more coverage and much more even, warm skin tone. Perfect if you’re looking for a light summery foundation without the cakey feel but will all the same coverage a foundation offers, this is ideal to sweep on quickly (the hydration on this is amazing so if you forget your moisturiser, you can get away with it) and go. It smells amazingly fresh and leaves you feeling ready for the day – or night.
Very popular on the European market, FaceD is a relatively new brand to hit the UK and I’m sure it’s going to go down a treat. The packaging is the only thing I’d criticise if I was being picky, as it feels a little clinical and complicated, but once you get past this – the product itself is utterly amazing and the luminous, back lit glow it creates is in my opinion unrivalled in the BB Cream market. A little added bonus is that it includes SPF 20 ingredients, so if you wanted coverage for around the pool and in the daytime, this works too.
Practicing my fake tan application for the Spring/Summer launch has been a bit of a disastrous process so far (if you read last week’s post, you’ll know why) so I’m trying out all of the scrubs and exfoliators I’ve got in preparation. Dead Sea’s Frankincense oil Body Scrub is one that I’ve heard lots of positive feedback about (with it’s very natural and organic properties) but similarly, one that isn’t as well documented on blogs, so I wanted to give it a bit of much deserved airtime.
Frankensense is a very pungent scent and some say, an ‘acquired taste’ but I personally love it’s fresh, soapy and natural air about it, which leaves you feeling very clean and smelling lovely. The scrub itself is reminiscent of a sugar scrub, made up of lots of different particles, rather than a liquid with exfoliating beads within it. At £7.79 for a 300ml tub, this is a very affordable product that is certainly worth a try – and can be purchased from Boots stores nationwide.
Argan Oil, although now highly regarded in the beauty industry, isn’t anything ‘new’ per se, however Agadir’s new Spray Treatment makes it far easier and more time efficient to incorporate it into our daily routines. I have experimented with various different oils and serums over the past few years, but get a little frustrated by how sticky and mucky your hands get (and usually the rest of you too) when trying to adequately apply it. Plus you never know quite how much you’ve used, because by the time you screw the cap back on, half of it has dripped onto the floor. It’s a bit of a manic process, especially when you’re limited by time constraints.
So the new Leave In Spray Treatment was much needed, and I’m pleased to say – works a treat. The spray formula means its not as thick and gloomy as other Argan Oil based products and it only takes a few quick spritzes – and a brush through – to achieve your desired look. It doesn’t have an overpowering or overbearing scent and it works to instantly repair hair, add elasticity and rejuvenate dry, damaged and frizzy locks. It has got to the point with me that I can’t not put anything in my hair after conditioning, however with little patience and little time, this is the perfect solution. The main Argan Oil Spray is £24, available here, however a more affordable finishing spray (£6.60) is also available here.
As someone who suffers from dry skin regularly, I am always on the lookout for a new hydrating moisturiser – or at least, one that is going to last for more than a few hours (when my skin starts drying out), so when the opportunity came up to try Comfort Zone’s Hydramemory 24 Cream, I practically jumped at the chance. Suitable for sensitive skin types and with lots of science behind its hydration (I won’t explain it all but you can read more here) it is recommended for dehydrated skin particularly those exposed to harsh cold climates, and has a deep moisturising effect. It is rather thin with regards to consistency, but this enables it to easily sink into your skin quickly and effectively, making it the perfect base before foundation. Priced at around £42.50 for 50ml (dependent on the retailer), it is a high end cream however as the consistency allows for easy spreading, you needn’t use a lot per day to cover your face.
Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter has taken the UK by storm in recent months, with beauty bloggers and journalists galore talking about it’s lasting, natural tanning effects. I reviewed the best selling tan over here – however their latest range includes a Lovely Legs medium bronze spray, which provides an instant, water resistant glow in one quick spritz, in addition to their Tough Stuff No Nonsense 3 in 1 body scrub, which prepares skin for tan, removes old tan and exfoliates.
I’m not a huge fan of instant tan, as I prefer the ‘build upon’ variety since it allows you to build up a more natural, stable and long lasting tan – reducing the need for regular reapplying however if you’ve forgotten to self-tan and realise you’ll be wearing a short dress on a night out – this is the perfect quick fix. The spray is very easy to use, since you can instantly see the colour (and won’t spray over bits you’ve already done) in addition to being very natural and non-streaky. Even if you’re caught out in the rain, you can be rest assured that the tan won’t run since there are water resistant ingredients involved, however it does unfortunately rub off a little on light clothing, so this is only really ideal if you’re wearing dark reds, pinks or blacks. The Tough Stuff exfoliator is great for removing both dead skin cells and old fake tan alike, and smells incredible (oh and it’s a very girlie shade of pink).
Long term readers of my blog will know that Simple skincare is an all-time favourite of mine, stemming from my teenage years, which were spent with very fraught, red and unhealthy looking skin – which I later found out was due to the harsh products advertised for ‘teens’ that I was using. Simple’s products are nasty chemical and paraben free, and never react – which mean I quite often turn to them when I’m looking for new products. One of their brand new ranges is the Kind To Skin Sunkissed, featuring Radiance Brightening wipes (ideal for taking off your make-up without dulling your skin – or for freshening up at a festival) and the Sun-Kissed Moisture Cream with a light gradual tan ingredient.
I am normally vary wary when using gradual tanners on my face, however the Sun-Kissed moisture cream is very light and subtle, so subtle in fact you barely notice it’s there at all (until somebody comments that you look glowing), which is definitely better than a dramatic change. The Vitamin E ingredients refresh and awaken your skin, making it the perfect under foundation moisturiser – in addition to an ideal holiday face cream – building up a natural looking tan alongside your own. At £4.99 for 50ml, it’s affordable and travel sized.
