Tag: Face Mask

My Look Fantastic Black Friday Must Haves & Gift Guide

You’re probably sick of hearing about Black Friday already and if I’m honest, I couldn’t think of anything worse than heading to the high street and getting caught up in the manic bustle that is Black Friday…However I have come to realise that this can actually be the perfect time to pick up a few of those Christmas gifts that you may be after and on the beauty side of things, there are lots of great offers to be had. That being said, regardless of the occasion, you know I like any shopping I do to be well thought out and so I have put together a little bit of Christmas gift guide, featuring a round up of 5 Lookfantastic Black Friday offers, that could make great gifts for some of the special ladies in your life this Christmas…

For Mum

Eve Lom has got to be one of my top luxury skincare brands. I’ve already gushed over their cleanser here on my blog in the past and now I’m excited to introduce these new masks into my routine. I say ‘into my routine’, more like ‘into my special occasion skincare routine’, because I must admit these are on the higher end of the price spectrum. However, if you’re someone/or know someone who loves to indulge in luxury skincare, then this could be just the perfect time to nab the Eve Lom White Brightening Mask on a Black Friday offer. I used my first one in preparation for a shoot the night before, and aide from finding the look of the sheet mask hilarious on first application (just google it if you don’t know what I mean), I actually loved how soft, supple and fresh it left my skin. I see this one being a great gift for the Mother or any special lady in your life who deserves an extra special pamper.

For Sis

You should already know/have guessed by now that I love skincare products and anything that can aid with helping/maintaining good skin, I’m all for. So it’s no surprise that I’m super excited about this little gadget, the Foreo Luna Mini. It works as a great bacteria free way to cleanse the skin, whilst the tiny pulsating rubber touch points help to remove dirt and oil and keep pores clean. There are no batteries required as it comes with a wire to charge it up and it has a long life span due to the fact that it’s all rubber and it requires no replacements bristles or anything like that. If you have a sister who is into her skincare, or maybe just needs a convenient way to simplify her routine, then this could be a great one for her!

For the Bestie

Two brands that I love for makeup brushes and tools are Real Techniques and Look Good Feel Better. I think two of my most used makeup tools are probably a beauty sponge and a contour brush. I’ve used a LGFB Sculpting Sponge for quite some time and it’s so convenient because not only does the sponge itself help effortlessly blend foundation onto the skin, leaving it looking even and natural, but the shape is also great for using on different parts of the face. And this sponge isn’t a one trick pony because once my foundation is applied, I like to use the curved tip for applying concealer under my eyes and then the pointed end for applying liquid highlighter. It’s also super easy to clean and once it’s dry it simply bounces back to it’s usual shape…And then there’s the contour brush and this isn’t just any contour brush, because just look how beautiful it is! Not only the perfect gift because Real Techniques are actually renowned for their great quality brushes (I’ve owned several) but also because this may be the prettiest brush I’ve seen…and who doesn’t like practical and pretty!

For You

Let’s face it, after shopping for all the main ladies in your life, it would be rude to not treat yourself to a little something too!…Illamasqua has long been one of my favourite makeup brands. There’s not a single night out when at least one Illamasqua product doesn’t make it onto my face. They know how to do strong pigments and fierce colours…speaking of fierce colours, can we please take a moment of appreciation for the gorgeous red shade in this eyeshadow palette! I’ve actually been on the look out for a shade like this for some time and I should have known that Illamasqua would be the brand to do it. These eyeshadows are perfect for creating smokey eye looks and whether it’s for a friend, or just for yourself, it’s certainly a perfect party palette.

So there you have it, a round up of some of my favourite Black Friday Lookfantastic Christmas Gift ideas! And one last thing, you can get a huge 20% off some of the Black Friday promotions over on Lookfantastic, using the code: LFBLACK.

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.

November 25, 2016
Skin Refreshments

Two of my newest skincare additions are the Turbliss Bioactive Firming and Toning Face Mask and Bioactive Peat Toner. I’ve been using these two products for nearly two months now and I’m really pleased with them both.

I was a little wary of the face mask at first. I’d been warned that it could cause redding to the skin and as someone who does not tend to suffer from sensitive skin, I was surprised to find that it left my skin a little tingly and red after my first time using it. This did quickly subside however and it wasn’t until my second time using it that I discovered my first time discomfort was due to the fact that I’d left the mask on too long and let it start to dry on my skin – Which I’d been warned, not to do! So, silly me learnt the hard way, but since then when using the mask, I’ve applied it to damp skin and kept it moist by spiritzing it with a little bit of the Peat Toner.

This mask really does leave my skin feeling firmer and looking refreshed. It still tingles a little but in a good way, almost like the blood is circulating through my face (if that makes any sense). Afterwards I’m left with a more radiant complextion and plumper looking skin.

Aside from being a great counterpart to when I’m using the face mask, the Peat Toner is also great at refreshing my skin and helps to close up pores after washing and cleansing the face. I also like spraying this on my skin just before applying makeup to add moisture and help my foundation glide on.

I love that this toner comes in a spray bottle because it makes it super quick and easy to use, without having to worry about using cotton pads.

I’m currently loving how both of these products are helping to refresh my skin. Have you tried anything from the Turbliss range?

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.

March 11, 2016
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
Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask Review

Sometimes my skin is in need of some extra rehydration, especially after a heavy weekend. I’ve found that at times when my skin is feeling really dehydrated, moisturiser alone just doesn’t seem to be enough and my skin really needs something a little more intense.

I first used the Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask around a year ago and since then it’s became a go to product that I use when my skin is feeling extra thirsty. The mask comes out like a thick cream and you leave it on for five to ten minutes before cleansing. I often leave it on for longer depending on if I feel my skin needs it.

This stuff really does work wonders at helping rehydrate my skin and it is certainly a product that lives up to its title. I’d definitely recommend this cream-mask as it’s now become an essential product in my skincare routine which I can’t imagine going without in the future.

Have you tried any Clarins products? Or do you know any products that work wonders at hydrating the skin?

Samio x

Shop Clarins HydraQuench here.

My Skincare Routine

My Skincare Routine Video

April 12, 2015
Balance Me Radiance Face Mask Review

I love trying out new skin care products, so when I saw that Glamour magazine were giving away one of four Balance me products with this months issue, it gave me a great excuse to purchase and try out something new.

I went for the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask. I always like trying out different face masks and I like to use different ones for different times, depending on my skin. I’d came across Balance Me products before but never given any a go until now.

The face mask comes out of the tube as a cream like consistency and as you rub it onto the skin you can feel the tiny bits of ground walnut shells very gently exfoliating the skin. It feels rather like a very thick cream once applied all over the face and doesn’t set hard or tighten on the skin but instead firms slightly and remains a little tacky. It feels really kind and gentle on the skin and I experienced no tingling or discomfort, as I can with some face masks.

The Balance Me face mask is 98% natural, so maybe the fact it contains less chemicals explains why it feels so gentle on the skin. It has a really fresh, almost plant like smell which I think think smells rather pleasant too.

After washing off the face mask, my skin is left felling so soft and hydrated. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and and looking refreshed.

I’m really pleased with this face mask (not bad for a freebie). I actually think I’d be tempted to purchase this now in the future as I love how nice and soft it leaves my skin feeling. I think I’ll also be tempted to purchase more Balance Me products after trying this one. Maybe I’ll have to pick up a few more of this months Glamour mag to try out a few more Balance Me freebies!

Samio x

March 8, 2015
The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3-in-1 a Scrub Mask Review

My obsession with The Body Shop seems to be ever growing with each new product that I buy and love. So now I seem to find myself in this store on almost a weekly basis, buying yet more beauty and skin products as my eagerness to try them gets the better of me. One of my recent purchases from The Body Shop was this Honey & Oat Scrub Mask which claims to cleanse, polish and moisturise in one. I was doing an online shop of my regular purchases when I decided to add this item to the basket and give it a go.

When the Honey & Oat Scrub Mask arrived I had to try it right away. It instructs to apply the mask to clean skin and leave on for five to ten minutes before rinsing. The mask (as expected) has an oat consistency and smell. It actually smells almost as if you could eat it (but please don’t do that). I really like the honey and oat smell and the feel of this mask on the skin. It goes on the skin feeling wet and although once left on the skin it doesn’t set completely dry (like many face masks), it still slightly solidifies on the skin.

After rinsing off the mask my skin was instantly left feeling refreshed and moisturised. I have been really pleased with the results from this product and am glad I made the purchase. I would recommend this product, however it isn’t the cheapest price on the market for a 100ml pot. But what I will say is that you don’t need to use a huge a amount for each mask and as a product you’ll only use once to twice a week, the tub should last you a while. Also it’s nice to treat yourself every once in a while and one of these pots would even make a great little stocking filler for someone who loves their skincare products.

I give the Honey & Oat Scrub Mask a big thumbs up.

Samio x

November 12, 2014
Clearasil Blemish + Marks – Face Wash and Mask

I’ve used plenty of Clearasil face masks in the past so when I was shopping for skin care essentials I thought I’d try this new Clearasil Blemish + Marks wash and mask. I’ve had this product just over a week, so have only used it a couple of times as a mask so far and a few times as a face wash. To be honest I wouldn’t usually bother using it as a face wash as I’ve had two in ones in the past and usually just like to use them as a mask. Normally I have a separate face product for washing my face but as I wanted to do a proper review I wanted to try it out as both.

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August 19, 2014