Category: Beauty

New Skincare Favourites – Bio-Essence Review

When I discover new products and brands that I love, I get so excited to share them here on my blog. And I’m really excited to share these products with you as I am loving these at the moment.

You may or may not of heard of skincare brand Bio-Essence, I personally cannot believe I hadn’t heard of it sooner. I recently got the Bio-Essence Miracle Bio Water Jelly Make Up Remover and the Bio-Essence Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask, from Cult Beauty. As a newby to the brand I was eager to try these products out.

Miracle Bio Water Jelly Make Up Remover

It may sound slightly sad but I am actually amazed with how much I love this makeup remover. I’m usually a fan of micellar water and regularly use a few different cleansers/makeup removers which I feel work wonders on my skin, but this is the first product I’ve used that has removed the entirety of my makeup so effortlessly and without any harsh rubbing or tugging to my skin (even my eyes). Pumping the makeup remover onto your finger tips, you then apply it to your face and it feels very light weight as you rub it onto the skin – I find softly rubbing in circular motions a few times really helps to lift the makeup. It quickly begins to break down and dissolve your makeup. You then rinse it off, like you would a face wash and Voilà, makeup removed. It leaves my skin feeling clean and soft without any irritation. This makeup remover is certainly my new favourite and I’ll definitely get it again!

Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask

The overnight mask is not like any other hydration mask I’ve used before. As opposed to being thick and creamy, like many other hydrating masks, this one is actually extremely lightweight and feels almost like water droplets on the skin before it quickly devolves into the face and neck. I was a little sceptical at first, as it did instantly hydrate my skin but I wasn’t sure how well it would work over night (as it doesn’t feel like you have product on your skin). I actually found that overnight the lightweight formula works it’s magic really well on my skin and leaves it feeling extremely hydrated and refreshed the next morning. This product has been a life saver for my skin right now. I’ve been using it to rehydrate my skin as it becomes a little more dry during these Autumn months.

I’m a new fan of Bio-Essence skincar and I can’t wait to try out more of their products.

Have you tried any of the Bio-Essence skincare?

You can shop the full Bio-Essence range here.

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

November 4, 2015
LookFantastic October Beauty Box Review

It’s the end of October already but better late than never I guess. So here is a review of this month’s LookFantastic Beauty Box.

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask

I’ve used this face mask before and you can read my full review of it here. As it is a product that I’ve previously used and liked, I was quite happy to find it in this month’s box.

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumizing No Oil Oil

As someone with ‘big hair’, who uses copious amount of ‘actual oil’ to add moisture, this isn’t exactly a product targeted at me. I will be quite honest in saying that I haven’t tried this product, nor do I intend to (for obvious reasons) but I’m sure I’ll be able to give it to a friend who will find it useful.

Look Good Feel Better Eye Shading Brush

I currently use a few of the Look Good Feel Better makeup tools and so I was happy when I saw this eye shading brush in this month’s box. Like the other LGFB brushes, it’s super soft and it works perfectly for applying and blending eyeshadow.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

I’m always happy to find new skincare in a beauty box. I’ve not tried any Murad products before and although I’m still yet to try this exfoliating cleaner (due to the fact that I currently have a few on the go), I’m sure it will come in handy for when I’m next travelling and need to take a miniature.

Monu Firming Moisturiser

I had never previously heard of Monu skincare but I must say that I am pleased with this moisturiser. It does what it says and helps to firm the skin and you can feel it working instantly. It’s not greasy and it sits well under makeup, which I particularly like.

Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream

I really like this day cream. It’s been ideal for my skin whilst being on holiday, as after coming in from the sun it was nice to refresh and apply this day cream to restore moisture and hydration to my skin. It really does help to hydrate the skin and you can instantly feel it soak in. – I’d probably buy this product in full size in the future!

Nuxe Paris Hand and Nail Cream

I’m surprised I haven’t finished this hand cream already. I’ve been carrying this around in my handbag on a daily basis and using it on the go. It doesn’t feel too oily and keeps my hands moisturised for a good amount of time. This miniature size has actually really come in handy when my handbag has been stuffed to the brim.

Overall that’s another LookFantastic Beauty Box that I’ve been pleased with. I’ve received a good selection of products, some of which have really come in handy and others which I would purchase in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

You can subscribe to The Limited Edition LookFantastic Beauty Boxes here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

October 30, 2015
Creating A Flawless Future With Elizabeth Arden

My skincare routine has changed a lot recently. I turned another year older in June and although I may still look young (I hope), I know that I mustn’t take it for granted and it’s important that I take the steps now to look after my skin for the future. Now that I’m officially in my mid twenties I want to invest in skincare that can hopefully help maintain the youthful look of my skin a while longer…

A problem I often have is finding products that are exactly right for my age. I’m often drawn in by skincare products to then find that they are either for much younger or much older skin than my own, so I was excited when I discovered the Elizabeth Arden Flaweless Future range.

I don’t know about you but I usually think of Elizabeth Arden as a brand that caters for an older age range. Although I have tried a couple of their products in the past, I had never ventured into trying out their facial skincare/moisturisers, until now.

Flawless Future Caplet Serum
First of all let’s talk about the packaging. Okay, so the look of the packaging isn’t going to make the product work any better but I have to say I instantly loved the look of this, as I just think it looks so pretty. It’s the type of product you’d want to keep out on your dressing table…

Anyway, onto the important stuff. When you pump out the serum the tiny caplets inside burst as the serum is released. It has a gorgeous shimmer to it that instantly makes your skin look glowing and more radiant.

This is a serum that can be used both morning and night. However, I tend to use it just in the morning, as I love the look it gives my skin (with the ever so slight shimmer) so I personally almost feel it’s a waste wearing it for bed.

The serum has quite a runny consistency but it dries quickly once applied to the skin. Once it’s on, I can’t even feel that it’s there.

For the instant effects it certainly helps to give me a brighter looking complexion as I feel the shimmering particles within the serum help reflect the light and add a glow to my skin. For long term effects, it claims to ‘intercept early aging signs’ and ‘reduce the appearance of early signs of wrinkles’.

Flawless Future Night Cream

The night cream is luxuriously creamy. When I’ve applied it to my skin it feels instantly hydrated as it starts to sink in and work its magic.

This cream is very thick and so a little bit goes a long way. I especially feel it works great after I’ve had a hectic day and my skin requires a little extra care.

The morning after having applied this cream I can see that it has worked its magic, as it leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and plumped.

I’ve currently been using these two Flawless Future products for about three months now and I’m really pleased with them both as the two products combined have been working fabulously on my skin. I think that they are the type of products that you can easily work into your current skincare routine (as I have done). The night cream has worked a dream on my skin when it’s looking a little fatigued and the serum has fit perfectly into my routine each morning.

I’ll be keen to invest in both of these products again. More so the night cream than the serum, as I have to say that the night cream has been my favourite out of the two. They are quite pricey but I feel that for the results I have found them to have on my skin, they are worth it if you can alternate them between your other skincare products and make them last. I personally think that these are great ones to add to the Christmas wish list.

Have you tried any products from the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future range?

Samio x

You can shop the full Flawless Future range here.

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

October 8, 2015
Glossybox – The Style Edition Review

After having received my first ever Glossybox last month, I was eagerly awaiting this month’s arrival, in hope that this time the contents would be slightly more appealing.

I opened this month’s box with optimism but I have to say, I wasn’t overcome with excitement over the products that I saw at first glance…

The Nails Inc polish may have stirred a more positive emotion, if it didn’t look like the drabbest shade of khaki I’d ever seen. It only added to my disappointment when I checked the information card and saw that the other shade that some people received, was a pretty blush pink, a shade I would have actually worn – *sighs*.

Okay, so aside for the nail polish, what else was in the box… Unfortunately the next product I spotted wasn’t much better. It was a Maria Nila Luminous Colour Hair Masque and seeing as it was the biggest item in the box, it was a bit disappointing considering I don’t have dyed hair. A colour hair masque is a bit wasted on me.

Next was a Bellapierre shimmer pot in shade Whesek. I recently discovered Bellapierre cosmetics in last month’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box. Luckily enough, this shimmer pot came in a different shade to my last one and although not a colour I would have chosen myself, I’m sure I’ll find use for it at some point.

As someone with big curly afro hair, these Invisibobbles really did not excite me. Bobbles routinely get lost in my hair anyway and when your hair is as curly as mine, there’s not much point in a bobble that isn’t suppose to leave kinks.

Finally the last item in the box was this Marsk eyeshadow brush. This for me was the one item I was happy with, as I often want more makeup brushes and I see myself actually using this eventually.

Needless to say I wasn’t overly thrilled with September’s Glossybox. I feel that a couple of the products certainly weren’t tailored to me at all, which is a shame considering I filled out a online profile so that the products in my subscription could be geared towards me somewhat. I’m sure that for many other people, this box may have been great but for me I just didn’t feel like the majority of the products were ones that I would like to try or buy in the future.

I still don’t want to completely write off Glossybox just yet though. I still have one box left out of my three month subscription and I’m hoping that the next one can end my experience with Glossybox on a high… We shall see.

Samio x

Check out my September LookFantastic Beauty Box review here.

You can also read my first Glossybox review here.

September 28, 2015
LookFantastic Beauty Box 1st Birthday Product Review

This month the LookFantastic Beauty Box celebrates its 1st Birthday. It’s only my second ever LookFantastic box but so far I have to say I’m rather impressed by this monthly subscription box. I think I’ve previously mentioned that I’m quite picky when it comes to trying new products in my hair but although this box contained three hair products, I actually wasn’t disappointed as the five skincare products included, more than made up for it!

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum and Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

Although these two samples are quite mini, I was still more than excited to see them in this box. I’ve currently been using the Caudalie Polyphenol C15 and loving it so I couldn’t wait to try these new samples.

The serum has a runny yet slightly creamy consistency. I love how it feels slightly hydrating on the skin and spreads easily. You only need a small amount which means it should last a decent amount of time too.

The sorbet comes out looking quite thick but as you apply it to your face and neck, it instantly melts into the skin. Straight away you can feel the moisture and hydration it gives to your skin which I particularly like.

I feel that the two products combined will be great for autumn/winter as the weather starts to get colder and the skin is in need of extra hydration to prevent it from getting dry. I’d be rather tempted to purchase these in full size once the samples run out, as I’m already starting to really like them.

Codage Scrubbing Cream

I love exfoliating creams/face washes at the moment. I think maybe it’s because recently I’ve discovered some really good ones and so I am enjoying the results on my skin. This one is no exception, as I feel that the tiny rice particles inside it are perfect for scrubbing away dead skin and it leaves my skin feeling really smooth. I’ve actually only used this a couple of times, as I want to save it to take away with me on holiday next month. This 25ml tube will be the perfect size for taking on my travels.

Tanworx Tan Maintainer

I’m not entirely sure if this product is meant to add colour to your skin but it does say it is meant to prolong your tan. I am going to use this after my sunny holiday away in October and see how I find it then. If it helps me maintain a bit of my holiday glow into the winter I will be very happy.

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

I have to admit I wasn’t super excited when I first tried this product, as it is just a face wash after all but now after using it a few times, I’m rather starting to like it. It has been leaving my skin feeling clean and fresh. Again this will be the perfect size for me to take away on holiday, so I best stop myself from using it too much before I go!

Sebastian Professional Penetraitt Shampoo and Penetraitt Conditioner

Like I said, I do like to stick to the same products when it comes to what I put in my hair but as this stuff smelt really nice, after a bit of research I decided to give it a go. It actually worked through my hair great and although I won’t be converting to the full size just yet, these miniatures will come in handy for when I’m going to the gym or travelling.

Phytokeratine Extreme Cream Conditioner

I don’t think that this one will be a regular go to product for me. I did try it out once, just to give it a go but although it is meant for damaged, dry hair, I feel it’s probably not best for my hair type. It smells good though and it will probably be great for European hair types.

Overall I have loved this month’s LookFantasitc Beauty Box. With only one product out of eight that I don’t think I’d use again, I think I’ve done rather well. I’ve discovered a few new gems that I think I’ll be purchasing in the future too. So I have to say that for me, September’s Beauty Box has been a success.

…I almost forgot to mention that this month’s Beauty Box also includes £40 worth of vouchers with £10 off when shopping online in stores including Allsole, My Bag and Coggles.

Do you have a LookFantastic Beauty Box subscription? What do you think of it?

Samio x

You can sign up for the Look Fantastic Beauty Box subscription here.

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

September 23, 2015
My Three Favourite Foundations

For many years I struggled to find the perfect foundation. From too pale, to too dark, to not the right consistency, I’ve tried so many foundations in the past. Luckily now, since my knowledge of makeup has widened and finally many more brands now cater for a wider range of skin tones, I’ve been able to find not just one but several foundations that I actually find work great for me and these are my three personal favorites.

M.A.C Face and Body Foundation in shade C4:
It has a lightweight dewy consistency that’s great for when you want a light coverage. It’s also easy to build up or mix with other shades.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in shade 12:
It has an excellent coverage, ideal for when you want to cover blemishes and it’s my personal favourite for special occasions/nights out.

Bobbi Brown BB Crème SPF 35 in shade Natural:
It’s great for when you’re spending your day outdoors as it contains SPF 35 to help protect your skin from the sun. It has a matte consistency, so it won’t leave you feeling or looking too shiny.

Watch my short video to find out more about why I like each foundation and when I use them.

What’s your favourite foundation or coverage for your skin?

Samio x

Check out my previous posts:
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
Bobbi Brown BB Cream and Corrector for Dark Circles

September 15, 2015
My First Ever Glossybox – First Impressions

This month I’ve been able to try out another beauty box and this time it’s the famous Glossybox.

I’d been toying with the idea of subscribing to Glossybox on numerous occasions but luckily enough my best friend beat me to it and on my Birthday this year she treated me to a three month Glossybox subscription gift card and finally I began my subscription this month.

First Impressions

Although I’m still slightly new to beauty boxes, I must say that the Glossybox is beautifully packaged and I like how it is protected by a cardboard box packaging (a box in a box basically) for in the post. I love pink and so the box that the products come in really appeals to me and it’s probably something that I will keep to store bits in afterwards.

I’ll be completely honest, I didn’t get overly excited at the products I saw when I first unwrapped the contents. However, after closer inspection and a read of the details card that comes with it, I discovered that four of the products in this months box are actually full sized. So I guess that’s why it didn’t seem to be bulked out with smaller samples.

The Products

MeMeMe Lipglide in Playful Peach

Manna Kadar Lash Primer

Emite Artist Colour Powder Blush

Naobay Calming Face Toner

Sass Intimate Purifying Cleanser

The products I was most excited about were the Emite powder blush and the MeMeMe lipglide. The Emite blush comes in a shade that I really like so I’m pretty pleased with that one. The MeMeMe lipglide comes in a shade I wouldn’t usually wear but I guess that’s the point of the box, to try new things and I do like it. I’m yet to try the Manna Kadar lash primer but as soon as I do I’ll share my verdict on social media.

I wansn’t too excited by the Sass intimate cleanser, as I’d personally prefer to just receive skincare and makeup products but I guess it’s always going to be a mixed bag with these types of boxes, so that there’s something for everyone. As for the Naobay calming face toner, I have used it a few times and although I have found it okay, I’m yet to decide if it will take a place in part of my regular skincare routine.

Overall Thoughts

I’ve definitely discovered one product that I really like and will use regularly and that’s the Emite powder blush, with that alone, I guess you could say that this box has been worth it, as it costs £10 per month (plus P+P) and the Emite powder blush alone is £20.59 – and I’ve received the full sized product. However, in terms of discovering new products/brands that I love and will return to, in this months box I don’t think that’s really happened (although like I say, I’m yet to try the lash primer). I’m keen to see what comes in next months Glossybox and after my three months is up it should give me a good idea if this is box I’d like to continue a subscription with or not.

Do you subscribe to Glossybox? Or are there any other beauty box subscriptions that you like or have tried in the past?

Samio x

Check out my Look Fantastic Beauty Box review here.

August 19, 2015
My New & Improved Skincare Routine – Brands From Abroad

I have been introduced to so many new skincare products recently and my entire skincare routine has been given a total revamp! It’s something that I’d been wanting to do for a while as I knew that due to my skin changing (age wise) and the seasons changing, I wasn’t getting the best results from my previous routine and so it was time to switch things up.

I always like to try products for a couple of weeks before giving my verdict but after a couple of months I can say that these products have become firm favorites as part of my new skincare routine.

Gatineau Peeling Expert Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream

First up is the Gatineau Peeling Expert Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream (or as I like to call it, face scrub). I wasn’t sure about this product when I first used it, as the ‘micro-beads’ felt quite soft and didn’t feel like they were really scrubbing and exfoliating the skin like some face scrubs do – This is probably where I’d previously been going wrong using rougher face scrubs – as after a couple of time of using this product, I realized that it didn’t need to feel like it was ‘scrubbing’ my skin at all. The Peeling Expert’s gentle exfoliation was all I needed to help exfoliate, smooth and brighten my skin.

For the past two months I’ve been using the Gatineau Peeling Expert two times per week and it’s helped to keep my skin feeling smooth and looking bright without being harsh on my skin.

Astalift Brightening Serum

The Astalift brightening serum is one of my favorites. I mentioned it in a previous post here, so I won’t go into too much detail but I’ve been using this morning and night now for the past couple of months and my complexion has never looked more even. My blemishes have been massively reduced and overall I feel this product gives my skin a fabulous radiance.

Caudalie Polyphenols C15 Broad Spectrum Spf 20 Anti-Wrinkle Protect Fluid

Other than winning the award for longest title – The Caudalie Polyphenols C15 also contains SPF 20, so it’s a great for daily application to help protect the skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid which helps to plump the skin and smooth out any fine lines. It’s super light weight, smells amazing and smooths on easily to the face and neck making my skin feel super fresh in the mornings.

It is meant to be used as moisturizer alone but on days when my skin feels dry, I like to add a creamier moisturizer on top. I love that this one protects my skin against UVA and UVB radiation though, so I currently like to use this every morning.

Embryolisse lait-crème concentré

Finally the embryolisse lait-crème concentré is another skincare product that I recently reviewed here on my blog. This stuff is amazing for when I need to add instant hydration to my skin. It’s great to use as an everyday moisturizer and for me it’s been the perfect combination to apply it after the Caudalie Polyphenols C15, to help prep my skin ready for makeup.

I’ve been loving my new skincare routine, so much so that I’ve been enjoying plenty more makeup free days as my skin has been looking far more radiant.

Do you like to update your skincare routine occasionally? Which skincare products have you been loving recently?

Samio x

To shop any of these products click the titles highlighted in pink.

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

August 12, 2015
Look Fantastic August Beauty Box | Beauty Product Reviews

This month I received my first ever beauty box. I’ve always been intrigued by these and seeing people blog about their monthly treats has always made me eager to try one but with so many to choose from I’ve often not known which one to go for.

Lookfantastic were ever so kind to send me their August beauty box and after excitedly unwrapping my nicely packaged gift, I was able to see what all the hype was about.

The products inside…

Rimmel London Wonder’Full Wake Me Up Mascara

I don’t like to change my brand of mascara much and usually I’m slightly pessimistic when it comes to trying new ones. At first when I tried this one, I wasn’t sure about it as I found the consistency a lot more runnier than I’m used to. However, I found that because of this, I’m able to lengthen my lashes a lot more with it before it dries on my lashes. Strangely enough this mascara smells great and so far I am loving using it, as it’s making my lashes look super long when I’ve applied it.

Eve Lom Cleanser

This cleanser is actually amazing. It melts into the skin and gently helps remove makeup and even stubborn mascara. You then wet the cloth with warm water and place it onto your face to open the pores and fully cleanse the skin. After repeating this a few times my skin is left feeling so clean and soft, it doesn’t even sting my eyes when I use it to remove eye makeup. It also smells so fresh and after using the Eve Lom cleanser for the past week, I’ve really become a fan.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream

I have to admin, this is the one product in the beauty box that I haven’t tried, however it does appear to have great reviews. I’m not sure if I’ll use it on my hair yet as I’m trying to be quite selective with what I put on it. I’ll need to do a little bit of research on it first before I decide if it’s appropriate for my curly/afro hair.

Beauty Works Ten-in-One Miracle Spray

Again, with this hair product I’m not totally sure how it will work on my hair. I have used it once and it smells great! However that was before my hair had been trimmed and so with my split ends my hair still felt dry and looked extra frizzy anyway, so I’ll have to try it again now my hair has been freshly trimmed to see how it works on curly hair.

Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist

This face mist is so refreshing. It’s the perfect product to keep in your handbag, as you can spritz your face on the go and give your skin an instant pick me up. It can also be used to tone after cleansing and I love the scent of this mist as it has a refreshing lightly floral scent. I’m not sure if I’d buy this one but it’s been nice to try out.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder

This shimmer powder creates an awesome highlight! I’ve been applying it to my cheek bones and just below the brows and the smallest amount gives the most amazing highlight. I’m used to using liquid highlighter but this is now so easy to dust on with a small brush. I love it and I can see it will actually last for quite a while.

Overall I’m really pleased with the products I recieved in this month’s Look Fantastic Beauty Box. A few of the products I even think I will purchase in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

You can subscribe to the Look Fantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

August 10, 2015
Look Good Feel Better Makeup Tools

With all my makeup and what not, I feel one thing that I seriously lack is a wide range of appropriate tools/brushes for applying it. I think my problem is that I spend too much time looking for and purchasing fancy makeup and not enough time focusing on which tools to buy to apply it. Don’t get me wrong, I always have a foundation brush and that sort of thing but I have to say I’m not the most adventurous when it comes to purchasing new ones and their are so many out there, it’s often hard to choose.

A brand that is new to me is Look Good Feel Better. After recently being introduced to it and trying out some of their makeup tools I’m pleased to say that not only are their makeup brushes great but they also support a great cause too as the LGFB charity supports women struggling with the visible side effects from their cancer treatment.

Flawless Complexion Sponge

At first I wasn’t so sure about this sponge. I’ve had them used on me in the past by makeup artists and they have always done a great job but for me I just wasn’t getting the same results… Until I got used to the technique. I had to remind myself that this isn’t a foundation brush, it’s a sponge and so rubbing it around my face was just dragging my foundation around and not really blending it. I’ve found that dabbing works best to blend the product when using this sponge and using the tip actually works perfectly for when you’re trying to conceal spots or blemishes.

Angled Contour Brush

One thing I was serioulsy in need of was a new contour brush. This one works like a dream, as the rounded angle of the brush works perfectly to lightly contour my cheeks without making my bronzer come out looking too harsh. The brush is so soft and it’s probably my favourite one out of the three.

Powder Brush

This brush (like the contour bush) is so soft and it perfectly and lightly helps me to apply just the right amount of powder to my face so that I can decrease shine without looking too powdery. It’s been ages since I found a powder brush that I liked as much as this one and I’m really pleased with it.

Overall I’m really happy with these Look Good Feel Better makeup tools and I’d definitly recommend them. I’d now really like to try out more of the brushes from their range too.

Have you tried anything from the Look Good Feel Better range? What’s your favourite brand of makeup tools and brushes?

You can shop the Look Good Feel Better range here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

July 27, 2015