Last month’s beauty favourites post went down really well (they’re one of my favourite kinds of posts to read too), so I thought I’d make it tradition and include another for September. This month has been a rather busy month, with lots going on, settling back into University and (begrudgingly) getting back into the swing of things. So it probably comes as no surprise that my favourites this month have a slight ‘pamper’ theme – keeping me sane among a million new things to get used to.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in…
Sabon Butter Cream and Body Scrub | link
Sabon sent me the most beautiful parcel of goodies a month or so ago (you may have seen my adoring Instagram of the pretty in pink box) however I wanted to give the products a proper review before I featured them, as I have ridiculously sensitive skin and it’s rare that I can use pretty stuff without it causing a reaction (an odd statement to make I know). Out of the four products sent to me, I got along really well with two of them – the Lavender Apple Butter Cream (it sounds like something you could eat – and it smells like it too) and the Body Scrub.
Both paraben and mineral oil free, they’re super gentle on your skin but smell incredible too. Usually I’m limited to things with little or no scent, so this felt like a real treat to be able to smother my skin in a product with a delicious fragrance! The Body Scrub is equally as ‘good to eat’ with natural dead sea salt used to gently buff away any old skin cells. Although scrubs tend to be quite drying, this one leaves your skin feeling hydrated, even before moisturising – which is always a bonus!
One thing I have to mention, is the packaging of these products which is simple but so effective. The glass bottles and tubs are teamed with pink, silver and lavender accents. I don’t want to put these away in the cupboard as they’re so pretty – so they now sit permanently on my bath!
Sure Compressed (Cotton Dry) | link
A deodorant is a bit of an odd thing to pop into my ‘beauty favourites’ however you may have seen me collaborating with Sure last month and as part of my work with them, I trialled their new Sure Compressed. I was under no obligation to post anything – nor am I under any obligation to post as part of my favourites, but I’ve been using this religiously since I tried it out last month and so I felt it needed a quick mention.
Deodorants and I haven’t always got along. I generalised all spray on deodorants as not as strong as the roll-on’s, however the downside to the roll-on’s were that they left a horrible sticky mess – which isn’t always the nicest feeling when you’re all clean and ready for the day. The Sure Compressed version gave exactly the same (if not better) coverage (if that’s even the word for it) that lasted all day, and it left me feeling fresh too.
I’ve started training in the gym recently and although I’ve never really been someone that sweats (odd, I know), I always used to leave feeling gross. This somehow waivers this and it’s so easy to fling in your bag and take with you for a quick spritz after the shower. Anyway, I’ll stop waffling on about deodorant (there’s only so much you can say I suppose) but I’d recommend trying this stuff if you’re after an affordable, yet effective daily solution.
milk_shake Sweet Camomile | link
Camomile tea is my absolute favourite (there’s something so calming about it) and I’ve been drinking A LOT of it this month. So, it only seemed fitting to sip it alongside trialling a Camomile based haircare range which was sent for review a couple of weeks back. Formulated by one of my favourite haircare brands – milk_shake – I knew I was in for a treat before I even started the trial, as their products in the past have been absolute saviours for me. With natural ingredients and natural scents (rather than those which smell chemical and artificial), the products are always really gentle (perfect for me, who suffers from a sensitive scalp) and hydrating.
I’ve been using three products from the range – the shampoo, conditioner and leave in – for a couple of weeks and by far my favourite has to be the conditioner. I only have my hair highlighted a few times each year to maintain my dark blonde/honey blonde shade but whenever I do, I feel the difference and dryness in the ends almost immediately. This conditioner has revived and I’d even go as far to say as ‘brightened’ my highlighted hair, locking in any moisture and meaning I can blow-dry it without it looking like badly kept Barbie hair.
The leave-in is super easy to use and doesn’t have that sticky, greasy residue that I find some similar products create. It’s really light weight and can be spritzed on either before styling or after – which is great if you need to tame flyaways. The camomile scent (mixed with honey – which is amazing) comes through the most in the leave-in product and I’ve actually had compliments on how ‘yummy’ my hair smells, which is a first!
Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream | link
This product deserves a special mention for its packaging alone, which is amazing (I’ll let the pictures illustrate this rather than my waffly descriptions). I’ve spoken about the benefits of anti-aging creams before on younger skin, but in case you missed it – if you suffer from dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin, they’re usually the best option for you. Although you’ll need to slather on a thinner layer than you would when treating more mature skin, I have found that the anti-aging formulas have been life changing for me in terms of hydration. Whereas previously, I’d have to reapply moisturiser throughout the day (including taking my make-up – which by that point, was started to flake away – off), using anti-aging skincare has taken away this annoying necessity.
The Time Bomb cream is specifically used for the night time and I’d describe it as a revitalising ‘face mask’ – almost like those life saving hair masques, but obviously for skin. It’s very creamy in consistency but dries almost like a gel, as it’s very cooling and sinks into your skin almost instantly. Although very soothing and hydrating, it doesn’t feel heavy on your skin – even when you’re applying it, which is really handy if you hate the feeling of rich creams.
I’ve used this a few times a week before bed and it’s become part of my routine now which is really nice. Rather than waking up groggy, with dull looking skin – this plumps and hydrates all throughout the night and has this really dewy effect, especially on the cheeks. I am conscious I don’t want to run out of this stuff too soon, so I’ve been using sparingly but the results are definitely there!
This stuff has been on my radar for a long time now, although I first tried it out for myself when I started following Deliciously Ella’s recipes and plant-based diet – as she uses it in her cooking. Although a misconception is that using it will make everything taste like coconut, the oil itself when used with food has a very subtle taste and is amazing with sweet potato fries and a sprinkling of paprika (try it, you’ll never look back). However, it was only in the last few weeks that I used the oil on my hair and skin (how versatile is it?!) and thought I’d feature it within my beauty favourites.
Starting off as a solid lump, you can scoop out a rather generous helping and have both a face moisturiser, body oil and hair reviver all in one. 100% raw, it caters for even the most sensitive of skin and hair types – and I’ve seen a considerable difference after only a few weeks of using. Hair masque wise, I tend to only apply this through the ends of my hair however it’s amazing for the roots if you have a very dry scalp – and I did try this a couple of times. The only downside is that you have to wash your hair about three or four times afterwards to get rid of the oiliness, but it’s worth it for the glossy shine when you finally do get it all out!
When using on my face, this is just as good as a standalone moisturiser for wearing under foundation. I tend to use very small amounts on only the driest patches, which I know dehydrate the quickest – and luckily, the oil has kept them at bay. The reason I do this is because the oil takes awhile to sink in, so it’s best used all over as a face mask or overnight solution if you have REALLY dry skin. Whether you want to eat it or wear it, you need this stuff in your life!
Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser & No Foundation Foundation | link
Perricone has been on my radar for a little while now, but it’s only recently that I’ve had the chance to try it out for myself. Their products are mid-high range price wise but I’ve heard so many people raving about how good they are for your skin – especially if you suffer with dryness or want to achieve that healthy, natural ‘glow’. The Nutritive Cleanser is a face wash which is to be used morning and evening to wash away make-up and dirt, as well as providing much needed hydration and moisture. If I’m honest, my initial reaction wasn’t great – as it smelt a lot like normal, regular soap and so I had my reservations however persistence is key with this product, as I noticed a real difference around the one week mark. No longer did I have pesky dry patches to try and counteract with copious amounts of moisturiser (which usually failed), nor did I have any red breakouts. It’s very gentle on your skin and doesn’t leave it with that horrible ‘squeaky clean’ feeling, however it does a very good job of getting rid of make-up.
The No Foundation Foundation is another supposed ‘holy grail’ product, which I absolutely loved towards the end of summer and on holiday. It has a built in SPF 30, which is always a bonus – and something I never usually consider when buying a foundation but is so important (more on this in another post). It also is the most lightweight foundation I’ve ever worn, more on the scale of a tinted moisturiser but with tonnes more coverage and plenty more hydration. The colour itself is probably the most perfect match to my skin of anything I’ve tried and it perfectly blends into your skin, evening the skin tone, as if you weren’t ever wearing anything at all. Usually I have to top up foundation throughout the day (alongside moisturiser) but when wearing this, I haven’t had to. Yippee!
If you suffer from really dry skin which is lacking in vitality and ‘glow’, these are definitely two products to trial alongside one another. The cleanser adds a bit more moisture, while plumping the skin and keeping it healthy and the foundation covers up any imperfections, without leaving you feeling as though you’re completely caked in make-up. Although I usually bump up my foundation in the Winter for a bit more coverage, I might see how long I can use this for – as I’m loving not feeling bogged down by a heavy base!
Talking of hydration, I have also been testing out the Ark Skincare Hydration Injection Masque, which I hadn’t heard of until late August, but now – absolutely love! Once summer is officially over and the cold, unforgiving winter air starts to take hold – it can play havoc with your skin to say the least. My redness is always worse during these months and I am forever hunting for something to take the edge off and retain some much needed natural hydration and moisture.
The Skin Perfector claims to ‘drench skin with moisture and optimise the circulation of water through all skin layers’ which although sounds a bit ‘too good to be true’, was exactly what I needed and exactly what it did. The masque itself can be left on for a varying amount of time, depending on how much TLC it needs (5 minutes for teens and twenties, 10 minutes for thirties and forties and so on…) however I found that once a week with 10 minutes was the perfection combination for a pick me up after exposing my skin to the elements. Then, you simply remove with a hot cloth, pat dry and apply a light moisturiser on top (as it’s all you need).
Obviously this isn’t going to be the first choice of product if you have oily skin, however I really do think that a moisture boost works well for anyone during the winter months – as you often don’t realise how much of a toll it takes on your skin until something brings it back to normality!
got2b All Star 10-in-1 treatment | link
Introducing a new hair styling treatment into my regime has taken a long time because I’ve always found my current products work really well – and well, why fix something if it’s not broken. However, it’s only when you use something new that you realise how much potential those locks of yours have got! I have a weird theory that hair has its own memory and knows when you’re using the same thing over and over, as it never really changes things up. When you introduce something new into the equation, it’s a whole other ball game. Anyway, this recently happened when I sampled the new got2b 10-in-1 styling treatment, which I have to say – is a pretty incredible product for a largely unassuming bottle.
It applies as a cream (something I usually steer clear of) and works really well when smoothed through damp hair before styling. The product claims to improve the shine, fullness, strength, thickness, smoothness and suppleness of your locks, as well as anti-frizzing it and shaping it to your desired style. I was cynical at first, usually creams make my hair greasy, flat and boring however when I started to blow dry afterwards, I started opening up to the fact that maybe new products weren’t so bad after all.
I did notice a dramatic improvement in the shine of my hair, as well it being far more manageable when blow-drying (usually I have to go over the same bit 20 times with gritted teeth and a look of sheer panic across my face). It doesn’t weigh your hair down, weirdly, and once your hair is dry – you’d never know you had controlled it through several pumps of cream alone! I’ll only really use this once a week because I do think it’s important to shock your hair with different products, but if I had a big occasion to go to – I’d know that this wouldn’t let me down hair wise and it would definitely be my first port of call.
SkinCeuticals AOX Lip Complex | link
Don’t you just hate that feeling when you have super dry lips and not even your average Chapstick will cut the mustard? I’m sure we’ve all been there – whether it’s because we have a cold, because of the awful harsh weather or simply just a random attack of dry lip syndrome, it’s highly annoying and very inconvenient. I’ve been after a solution which ensures you won’t have to keep re-applying every hour – and this month, I’ve found just the thing!
The SkinCeuticals range is renowned for its restorative properties and help with problem skin, however I didn’t realise that they offered a similar product for your lips – as otherwise, I would have invested in this far sooner. Essentially, it’s a cream which comes out of a small pump and melts into your lips (similar to a moisturiser) to provide an immediate layer of softness in addition to penetrating the lower layers and hydrating them for lasting results. I sound like I’m narrating a cheesy American TV advert, but honestly – this stuff works wonders and whatever the science behind it is, I can vouch for the fact that it’s very handy to have if you suffer from dry lips!
Teoxane RHA Prime Solution & Deep Repair Balm | link
Sometimes my skin is so terrible that whenever I see the words ‘Soothing’ or ‘Comfort’ on the box of a face cream, I buy it without a second glance. And that isn’t an exaggeration. I have been known to spend £70 + in a week in Boots desperately trying to sort out my worse-for-wear skin, which is usually red, dry and itchy. Glam!
So when I spotted Teoxane’s products, which also came emblazoned with the words ‘Ultra-Comfort Soothing Balm’, I couldn’t wait to try them out. The Prime Solution is essentially a cleanser for face and eyes, however it’s really effective used in the morning before make-up application to smooth and sooth everything, prepping it for the day ahead. One ingredient which really stood out for me, as it’s something I always look for and know helps with my skin dilemmas, is Rose Water – which is so handy in making sure you don’t end up with irritated dryness towards the end of the day. I’ve used this cleanser every morning for the past two weeks and absolutely love the texture of it (sort of oil – without the grease – and dries matte for a smooth, glowy finish). Teoxane actually specialise in their patented Hyaluronic Acid Technology, which may explain why this is a cut above other similar products.
The Deep Repair Balm again has been an absolute saviour for me in instantly stopping the dryness which I think may be associated to the returning cold weather. Used quite commonly to prep skin for harsh treatments such as peels and laser, it somehow manages to soothe whatever bother your skin is going through, getting it back to its original condition in a flash. A little bit of this goes a long way, so if you’re trying it out – don’t be too overzealous with your portion sizes, however this is a bonus in itself, since it means that each little 30ml tube goes a long way!
Have you tried any products you think are worth shouting about this month? I’d love to hear your recommendations – and I’ll try them out for next month!
**