Tag: Lookfantastic

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
LookFantastic #LFLOVES Edition Beauty Box

Hello February and hello February Lookfantastic box! This month love is (supposedly) in the air with Valentine’s Day just around the corner and so this month’s Beauty Box has been appropriately themed with the box itself coming in a fabulous hot pink – I love it! This month’s box included an added surprise for me, as when I opened the box I found my face staring back at me on a money off voucher for Cloud Nine. This campaign has been out for several months now but I still keep finding advertisements from it popping up in the most random places. Anyway, on with the contents of this month’s box…

Monuspa Relaxing Bali Massage & Body Oil

I really like body oils and massage oils and this Monuspa one is great. It smells really good and has that relaxing aromatherapy oil scent that instantly makes you want a good massage just from one whiff. It’s a great product if you want to treat your other half to a massage or even be treated yourself for that matter, or you can even had a few drops of it to your bath and enjoy a nice relaxing soak.

Bliss Pink Grapefruit And Aloe Body Butter

This body butter smells so delicious and it contains Vitamin E, so it’s super nourishing for your skin. I like how this body butter doesn’t feel too heavy yet it leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft, not forgetting smelling great!

KMS California Color Vitality Conditioner
and Denman Mini Keyring Brush

Although these are two completely separate products, I decided to group them together just for the fact of them both being hair products and two things that I won’t use. For obvious reasons the KMS Color Vitality isn’t appropriate for me because I don’t have colour treated hair and the mini keyring brush (although super cute), is more likely to get lost in my afro than do any sort of job of detangling it. However I’m sure I’ll find a friend to give these to, who will love them both.

Hi Impact Brows Eyes And Brow Perfector Palette (coming soon)

It’s funny because there have been plenty of times in the past when I’ve used eyeshadows for my eyebrows and eyebrow products as eyeshadows, so it’s finally great to own a product that is actually intended for both. I’m certainly loving this palette. The constancy of the powders is great and they really stay on well.

I used the last three shades in the pallet for my eye makeup below; Shade 2 for my eyelids which I quickly blended with my finger, shade 3 for my brows and shade 4 to do my liner. The brush that comes in the palette is really good too and perfect for shading in the brows, or doing eye liner with. This one will definitely come in handy when taking trips away.

Lord And Berry Matte Lipstick in Intimacy

Before I even tried out this lip colour, I knew I was going to love it. Subtle dusky pinks are some of my favourite lip shades to wear and I can already tell that this one is probably going to become a new favourite. It glides on like a dream and stays on well yet feels comfortable on the lips. I just love, love, love this lipstick pencil! What do you think?

That’s the full round up of the #LFLOVES Beauty Box. Although there are two products in here that I won’t get use out of, that hasn’t put any damper on February’s Beauty Box for me because I actually love two of the products (the brow/eyeshadow palette & lip pencil) and have discovered two others that I really like as well. So I’m very happy with this month’s Beaut Box indeed!

Have you tried any of these products?

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.

February 1, 2016
Lookfantastic Beauty Box – Christmas Edition

Christmas time is here and so is the Lookfantastic Christmas Edition Beauty Box…

Eylure Lashes

Fist up in this month’s Beauty Box are these super glam Dramatic Eylure false eyelashes. I have really started to love using this brand recently. Although I don’t wear false eyelashes often, if I’ve got a special occasion or big night out planned, I do like to feel extra fabulous by putting on a pair of Eylure lashes to complete my look. These are probably the most dramatic style I am yet to own but as it is the festive season and all, it could be the perfect time to rock them.

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser

I mentioned this product in my Black Friday blog post and I am actually so happy that I now have a second one because I have been loving this stuff! I never thought I’d be so impressed by a morning time cleanser (to be honest I originally thought – what even is that!?) but I have to say this stuff feels amazing on my skin. I apply it when I first wake up and leave it on whilst I brush my teeth, then when I get in the shower I rinse it off and it instantly helps to wake up my skin and leaves it feeling smooth, soft and refreshed.

CODAGE Serum N.03 Radiance and Energy

I recently discovered this brand earlier this year, after trying out one of their face scrubs, which I have been loving. I’m still quite new to this serum but after having used it a few times I can say that it feels really nice on my skin and leaves it feeling really smooth and moisturised.

Wet Brush Squirts

I probably wont attempt to use this brush as I’ve tried something similar before and I doubt this will be appropriate for my hair. However if you have looser curls or wavy to straight hair, then this brush would probably be more suited to you. It has super flexible soft tips which claim to detangle hair with ease and can be used on wet or dry hair.

Molton Brown Japanese Orange Body Wash

I love Molton Brown bath products, they always remind me of fancy hotels and their scents are always delicious. This one is no exception and I absolutely love the Japanese Orange body wash scent.

Lord & Berry Pailettes Eye Pencil Sparkle Black

I have wanted to try this makeup brand for so long but I often find it hard to take the plunge and buy makeup products I’m not familiar with, especially when I already have so many favourites. I do really like this eye pencil though; It glides on with ease and comes out bold. It’s a black liner but this one is ‘sparkle black’ and so it has sparkles in it! It’s certainly ideal for the party season and I can’t wait to create a smoky eye look with this liner.

This month’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box has been a good one and it’s certainly got me in the mood for the festive season. In fact I’ve been really impressed with all of the Beauty Boxes which I’ve received so far, as I’ve discoed so many different beauty brands which I now love. I’d definitely recommend the Lookfantastic Beauty Box. It’s an affordable way to try out a great selection of high end products each month and it could even make an excellent Christmas gift for someone who likes this sort of thing too!

You can subscribe to the Lookfantastic 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.

December 9, 2015
LookFantastic Black Friday & Cyber Weekend Offers

Black Friday is typically the occasion where large hoards of people rush to the shops to fight over some of the best deals of the year. If you’re like me, then the thought of elbowing your way to the front of the queue will probably not be very appealing. Instead it’s probably best to enjoy shopping online from the comfort of your own desk/sofa/bed -wherever you may be.

Many people think of Black Friday and the (online shopping) Cyber Weekend, as a great time to find the best clothing deals but it can also be the perfect time to stock up on amazing beauty and skincare products too. This could be the perfect opportunity for you to buy a few Christmas presents or even treat yourself to a pre Christmas pamper.

One of my favourite online beauty stores, Lookfantastic.com is also joining in on Black Friday & the Cyber Weekend and here are some of the awesome products that are on offer…

La Roche-Posay, EFFACLAR K (+)

French skincare brand La Roche-Posay is famed for its amazing result on skin imperfections. After having used La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo for quite some time and becoming a big fan, I’ve now began to use the Effaclar K which is a moisturiser. It works as a great counterpart to my Effaclar Duo, which is a serum. I love how Effaclar K sits perfectly under my makup, whilst helping to reduce shine. I certainly think I’m onto another winner with the Effaclar K, as once again La Roche-Posay does not disappoint.

GLAMGLOW Youth Mud Face Mask

This Glam Glow Youthmud masks claims to be ‘tingle-tastic’ and I don’t think I could put it better myself. If it hadn’t have come with that description I probably would have washed it off sooner than instructed, as it immediately starts to give the skin a tingling tightening sensation. Luckily that’s just the product doing its thing and not me having an allergic reaction (which had been my first thoughts). After the first use it left my skin feeling firmer, whilst adding radiance and it also helped dry up a couple of pimples too – leaving my skin looking clear and glowing.

Tangle Teezer Original

I’m sure you’ve heard the Tangle Teezer hype before now but if you’re a fellow curly girl (or guy), you may not have realised that they actually work wonders on curly hair! I only ever comb through my hair whilst it’s wet, which makes the Tangle Teezer great because it is perfect for just that. My trick is that I like to brush through my hair (starting from the ends working up) whilst it is full of conditioner so that it is easy to detangle and work the brush through. I find that the Tangle Teezer works through my hair far easier than a normal brush and minimises breakage!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

My favourite thing for applying my foundation right now is a makeup sponge. I personally feel it helps blend your foundation to give a natural yet flawless finish which I love, so I am obsessing over these right now.

Eve Lom Cleanser

If you haven’t tried Eve Lom before, I seriously suggest you change that. I first dicovered this brand a few months ago and since then this Eve Lom cleanser has become one of my favourites for removing my making and leaving me with gorgeously soft and cleansed skin.

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser

The Eve Lom morning time cleaner, similar to the regular cleaner, glides onto my skin and after washing it off leaves it feeling smooth and refreshed. With the morning cleanser you leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing and it really helps to hydrate your skin and wake it up, which I feel is ideal for these autumn/winter mornings.

A Little Amazing Concealer

Although this product is called ‘Amazing’, I didn’t actually think it would be. I don’t often come across new concealers which I love and I really did surprise myself with this one. Without sounding completely predictable, I actually do think this concealer is amazing. I like the fact that it isn’t drying under the eyes and it also feels really light weight. I’m using the shade medium beige and it seems to be the perfect shade for me, to conceal and slightly brighten up my under eyes. My Urban Decay favourite may have found a new contender for the top spot!

Here I am wearing the Amazing Concealer in shade medium beige. This photo hasn’t been edited and was taken in front of a window using natural light.

You can shop all of the Lookfantastic Black Friday offers here and don’t forget to enter the code LFblack at the checkout.

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 27, 2015
LookFantastic November Beauty Box Review

This month’s Lookfantastic beauty box includes another great selection of products and here’s a full review of what is inside…

Bellapierre Cosmetics Mineral Lipstick
I have to admit, I am yet to use this lipstick but that’s only due to the fact that I currently have several red lipsticks on the go. However I have been tempted to give this one a go as it smells delicious (I’m always drawn in by sweet scented lipsticks), and the Ruby shade in bright red look gorgeous.

Korres Guava Showergel
For the full size bottle (250ml) at £8, this showergel is quite a bit pricier than what I would usually spend. It’s funny though because I easily spend large amounts on what I put on my face but never really consider it when it comes to the rest of my body… First off this stuff smells amazing. The Guava scent of the showergel has a really unique tropical smell, which I love. And why is it the price it is? Well, it claims to help maintain the skin’s moisture whilst protecting it, along with helping to reduce the visible signs of ageing. Maybe I should start investing more on my body lotions and potions after all.

Ole Henriksen’s Empower Cleanser
I’ve only used this a couple of times (my cleanser collection appears to be building up rabidly). The couple of times I have used it though, it has left my skin feeling lovely and soft. It also contains salicylic acid which is great for helping to shed dead skin cells.

Dr. PAWPAW Ultimate Red Balm
Makeup artists often have this to hand on shoots and it’s something I’ve said I’m going to buy for ages. Now I finally have my own PAWPAW in this convenient miniature size, which currently lives in my handbag. This PAWPAW Red Balm, unlike the original, is slightly tinted. It is a very subtle tint however and just adds the slightest hint of colour when applied to the lips. It can also be used on your cheeks and can be used as a skin protector or for irritable, dry skin. For me personally this has currently been my lip saviour.

REN V-Cense Youth Vitality Day Cream
I really like this day cream. It really helps hydrate and add moisture to my skin without leaving me looking shiny. It smooths on easily and it leaves my skin looking matte. It has a sort of herbal scent, which reminds me of herbal tea but I rather like it. I’m enjoying the results of this day cream as it leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated.

Kebelo Enriching Masque
I’ve used this hair masque once and I have to say, it’s not for me. It is designed for naturally dry hair, which is certainly my hair, however It’s probably not intended for my hair texture and that’s apparent with the fact that it did not do much. It’s probably much more suitable for European hair I would imagine.

November’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box has been another hit with me and there’s only been one product that I have felt is not something for me, which was of course the hair masque. I fell I get slightly repetitive in my round up of these Beauty Boxes, but I am genuinely impressed with the selection of products that I find in them each month. It may be the fact that each box I’ve received so far has had a great selection of skincare and I am a self confessed skincare addict after all.

Have you tried the Lookfantastic Beauty Box or any of the products in November’s box?

You can subscribe to the Lookfantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

You may also want to check out some of my past Beauty Box reviews:
October’s Beauty Box
September’s Beauty Box
August’s Beauty Box

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 13, 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