The amount of beauty samples I’ve tried and tested this month is slightly ridiculous, especially considering I only have one face and one body. However, as I do every four weeks – I’ve decided to round up my favourites in another rather lengthy post, just in case you fancy trialling any of them for yourselves. As a bit of background, I do suffer from very dry, sensitive and redness prone skin – so have to be quite careful about what I use. Everything below has been tried by me personally and so if you find you have this skin type also, be rest assured that it’s suitable (although obviously everyone has different reactions to different things). So, without further ado, here are the products I’ve been loving this November…
Gorgeous Bronze Golden Perfection | Link
I’m very fussy when it comes to self tanning, because there’s so much I HATE about the process that I tend to opt for products that make it all a bit easier. No biscuity smell (please), no staining your sheets (please, please) and definitely no complete wash off once the ‘base’ has set, resulting in a complete waste of time. Luckily, the above product does neither of my self tan pet hates and is actually a really fantastic product. I’ve been using the medium to dark, which I find produces a really natural, olive glow rather than any orange undertones. It develops in two hours and apparently, is formulated to reduce the appearance of cellulite. I’m not sure I can vouch for the latter, as rather luckily – since I’ve changed up my diet (post here), most of mine seems to have disappeared (although there’s still the remaining bit on my bum which I don’t think will ever go away) however it certainly leaves your skin feeling really soft and smooth, which is a bonus!
Probably the BEST thing about this self tan is that it applies as a mist, with an included Salon Spray Head. Essentially, it claims to be able to offer the spray tan experience of a beauty salon – at home. I have used this kind of thing before and had complete disasters (apologies to my parents, who I claimed had split tea on my carpet when I now confess actually it was spray tan – oops) so I was dreading this process slightly. Oddly though, if you do it in the shower – it creates hardly any mess at all and is surprisingly easy – and the glove also included means that you can quickly rub it in to ensure an even finish. It was slightly stressful at first (as with trialling any new self tanning product) however now I’ve got the hang of it, I can see it becoming a weekly thing – especially as I’ve turned the most ghostly shade of white having not seen the sun in months! Oh, Winter!
Spa London Gold Collection | Link
Connotations of the word ‘gold’ involve luxury, elegance and class – so when they’re associated with a beauty range, you tend to expect the same kind of standard. And that’s exactly what happened when I began trialling the new Spa London range, which includes a dry body oil, bathing nectar and body polish. Dedicating last Sunday as a ‘pamper day’, I got stuck into giving these a go and was pleasantly surprised at just how fab they were. Although the packaging isn’t anything special (I am a sucker for pretty packaging, I’ll admit), the actual products themselves are really great. They don’t have a sickly sweet or overpowering scent (it’s far more subtle, a sort of woody smell) and in keeping with the theme, they’re all gold!
The Body Polish was probably my favourite – gentle on my skin type, but with enough particles to buff away any dryness. It leaves you with a gold shimmer and subtle glow which I loved – especially if you scrub before applying tan (see above). The 425g tub is a really generous helping and when teamed with the dry body oil, it leaves you skin feeling so silky soft and hydrated. The bathing nectar felt very luxurious, especially when it turned the shimmering bath water a glittering gold, however it’s probably going to last awhile since I’m more of a shower girl! Still, it’s lovely for a pamper evening – and I can’t wait to use them all in conjunction with one another again.
I don’t very often purchase make-up items (I tend to stick to the same ones) so when I do have some new bits, it feels like a real treat. Even more so when they look as beautiful and as sleek as Lord & Berry’s do! I’ve seen lots about this brand in the last couple of weeks on social media and so I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself. They have a very similar feel (and quality) to Bobbi Brown but they’re about a fraction of the price, which is a-okay with me! Starting off as a boutique Italian fashion house, the brand developed to create make-up as the ‘ultimate accessory’, establishing itself backstage at Paris and Milan fashion weeks. They’ve only recently hit the UK beauty market, which probably explains why they’re causing so much of a storm.
I’ve been wearing three staple products from their range for the last three weeks, the crayon lipstick, the high performance deep black mascara and the extreme long lasting liner. The latter of which is an insane liquid liner that essentially looks like a chunky marker pen, creating the sleekest of flicks humanly possible. I’ve really got into wearing liquid liner on my lids, however as always, one always ends up thicker or swirlier than the other (which can send me into meltdown if I’m already having a bad morning). This seems to do the trick with no questions asked, I think it’s something to do with the shape and the lightness, as it’s so easy to manoeuvre. I also love the black mascara, which is very classic in its result – but perfect for everyday wear (you can see the effect of it in my recent outfit posts). If you’re looking for a new luxurious (but affordable) make-up brand to treat yourself to, this is definitely one to look into.
I will admit, when these popped through my letterbox, they didn’t exactly fill me with joy and excitement. The packaging is a bit boring and they look a bit like feminine hygiene products (the name doesn’t help with this). However, in the name of blogging, I’ll give everything a go – and so I set about trialling them on a daily basis, not really expecting much. Claiming to naturally hydrate and smooth, for a an ‘incomparable skin sensation’, I popped them into my shower and used the shower mouse, oil and lotion in conjunction with one another.
After a day or so, oddly – I did start to notice a difference. I suffer from KP on my arms occasionally, especially as we enter the colder, winter months – and usually nothing really clears this up, I just have to ride it out. I also have to be religious in my application of in shower moisturiser, exfoliant and lotion, however a few days of this seemed to reduce the KP’s appearance and really encourage the silkier skin (that I knew was there all along) come out. The products each have a very refreshing, awakening scent – which I actually loved in the mornings when you’re sleepy (slightly grumpy) and need a boost, and once I’d witnessed what a fab result they had, I looked forward to using them as a pampering pick-me-up! Available from Boots, they’re so affordable (around the £3 mark) and considering that they really work – I’m impressed! I won’t claim that they’re luxury products by any means, because they’re not – but they do the trick and serve as a great daily solution! My only complaint is that the lotion takes five or so minutes to dry rather than sinking in straight away, but the end results are worth it!
Exuviance CoverBlend Skin Caring Foundation | Link
Since my summer Clinique foundation ran out a few weeks ago, I’ve been on the lookout for something a bit thicker to get me through the winter months. As my skin is very dry and dehydrated (regardless of how much moisturiser I use, seemingly), I have to opt for ones that hydrate as well as cover – which can limit me a little. I am also really fussy about the SPF as I forget to put it on underneath, so having an inbuilt one to save time is definitely a must-have. My search wasn’t going too well – until I received an email from Exuviance, who showcased at my #BloggersFestival back in September (and were absolutely SWAMPED with visitors). They had brought out a new Cover Blend foundation, with SPF 20 (perfect!) and anti-aging benefits (which is usually beauty speak for being very hydrating).
The colour was a little light on my skin (although I’m sure as my tan fades even more so – it will suit perfectly) however the texture was amazing, providing a slightly matte finish with a healthy glow and zero dryness. It lasted all day long, without the need for reapplication. It’s very easy to blend (even with a bit of added moisturiser if your skin is having an extra tough day) and it applies very naturally, rather than sitting on top of your pores and giving a ‘cakey’ look. I’d definitely recommend if you’re on the lookout for a fab new foundation. It’s my new favourite!
Better You Magnesium Body Butter | Link
As I said previously, hydrating your skin is even more so important (for me) in the winter months as the cold weather can really dry it out. Although I try to use lotion on a daily basis, a thicker body butter is sometimes the only thing that can cure the dryness – and I’ve been searching for one that really does the trick, no matter how bad the starting point is.
Containing Magnesium Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E (basically a mammoth combination of everything that’s good for your skin), the Better You Body Butter has been formulated for sensitive skin and immediately soothes any redness, providing instant hydration. I suppose there isn’t a better compliment for a body butter other than it does the job, very well and smells incredible – all of which describes this one! Well worth the investment if you have dry, sensitive skin and need a boost during the horrible weather!
WunderExtensions Lash Extension Mascara | Link
I’m sure you’ve heard of volumising, lengthening mascara and I’m sure you’ve heard of those instant added lash mascaras (with the filaments that can leave your eyes a bit itchy). But have you heard of an instant extension mascara? Probably not. The Wunder2 mascara is the first of it’s kind and involves two separate formulas in one. I was a little startled at first to see a bright blue shade on the wand, however it’s all been sorted – as it’s this formula that coats each lash with a thickening solution to provide length and (of course) thickness. It also is super hydrating and moisturising for your lashes, so even if you wear mascara every day (and rub it off with a wipe at the end of the day), you’ll be doing far less damage.
The black solution then coats each lash with lash extension fibers (which are fine for my sensitive eyes, luckily) and varied in length and thickness to achieve a very natural finish. Overall, it takes a bit of getting used to (I like to just coat the ends of my lashes rather than the whole lot, as it gives a better result) however once you’ve got it figured, you won’t need to bother with your falsies anymore! It’s a quick fix, without the struggle of eyelash glue or painstaking application – well worth it for a night out! Christmas party purchase anyone?
Do you have any favourites you’ve been trialling throughout November that you now simply can’t live without? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
