Tag: Skin Care

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 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
Astalift Brightening Serum by Fujifilm – Review

My obsession with skincare is forever growing and therefore my want to try new products seems to be never ending. Although I have some of my regular go to face products, I’m always keen to discover more and one product I’ve been trying out recently is Astalift Brightening Serum .

The Astalift packaging is quite simple; it comes boxed and both the product and the box have a pearlescent sheen that catch your eye as it hits the light but other than that it’s rather modest. I’d say it’s a lot less ‘showy off’ than most products and doesn’t boast a load of product claims on the front of the bottle. In a way, I think that this made me more intrigued by the Astalift serum – that and the fact that it’s created by Fujifilm.

On the back of the box it says that the Astalift Brightening Serum ‘restores firmness and radiance’ and ‘reduces the appearance of dark sports and evens out skin tone’ and it instructs to apply to the face morning and night before face cream… When pumped, the serum comes out as an orange translucent liquid. When applied to the face, one pump is enough and it spreads easily onto the face and neck before quickly drying.

After only a few days of using the Astalift serum morning and night, I had already started to notice a difference. I feel that this product has visibly helped to even my completion, stop it from looking sallow and given my skin a more radiant look.

I’ve been really pleased with the Astalift serum since introducing it into my skincare regime as I have noticed the positive effects it has had on my skin. It is slightly pricey but I’d say that if you’re looking to invest in a good facial serum (especially if you have older skin or pigmentation/blemishes) and fancy treating yourself, then this is a good one to go for.

Have you tried any of the Astalift skincare products? If so, what did you think? I’d be keen to try more.

Samio x

Shop Astalift Brightening Serum 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.

July 15, 2015
Makeup Artist’s Wonder Lotion – Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

Every now and again, I’ll come across a skincare product that I know will become a main asset within my skincare regime. It’s not often I find something that I instantly fall in love with but with the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré that is exactly what happened.

If I’m honest, I don’t know why I didn’t get my hands on this product sooner. It’s something I’ve had different makeup artists use on me many times on shoots before and I’ve often said I’d have to get it. Finally I got the Lait-Crème concentré from Beauty Expert a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been loving using it since.

The Creme is a three in one product which is able to be used as a primer, moisturiser and can even be used as a makeup remover. Although I haven’t tried to remove my makeup with it just yet, I can say that it works as an excellent moisturiser and primer. This stuff is thick and creamy, yet when rubbed in it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin as you can instantly feel it start to sink in and add some much needed hydration.

I’ve been enjoying using this cream both morning and night recently and I really feel it helps to plump my skin and keep it feeling soft and looking radiant. I’ve definitely found one of my new skincare must haves here. I’d say for what you get and what this product does, it’s affordable and would recommend it anyone.

Samio x

Shop Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré 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.

July 6, 2015
My Summer Skin Protection – On The Go Essentials

During the summertime, be it abroad or here in England, I like to always be prepared for sunny weather and so here are a few of my favourite summer skin protection essentials, that I like to keep with me when I’m on the go.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Comfort Cream SPF50+

It seemed to take me the longest time to find a high SPF for my face, that didn’t clog my pores and cause me to break out. Wearing no SPF at all was just not an option and so for a while I persevered until finally I decided to try out the La Roche Posay SPF 50+ and I was so glad I did. Not only does it not make me break out but it leaves my skin looking matte too – hurrah, no more shiny spot face for me. I love this sunscreen because it’s lightweight and I can wear it under my makeup without trouble, so I often forget I’m even wearing it. During summer months I barely spend days outdoors without putting this on.

Blistex Lip Brilliance Blushing SPF15

The lips are just as important as the rest of your skin, yet often we forget about them. I love this Blistex lip balm for summer days, as not only does it contain SPF 15 but it has a gorgeous rosy sheen to it too, keeping your lips looking luscious, even at the beach. Of course in true Blistex style, it also keeps your lips feeling moisturised and it contains Vitamin E to help keep them soft and prevent them from drying out in the sun.

Soltan Protect & Moisturise Mini Lotion SPF50+

This is the sunscreen that I like to use for the rest of my body and this particular one is the perfect size for keeping in your handbag. I really like this stuff as it doesn’t leave the skin feeling sticky, so I’m able to wear it on regular (non beach) days too, without fear of it getting on my clothes or making me feel gross. Of course, as with all high factors it’s needs to be rubbed in well, so you do have to be careful when applying it but a little bit really does go a long way and once fully rubbed in it feels lightweight on the skin.

What are your summertime skincare essentials? Do you have any favourites that you carry in your bag?

Samio x

June 24, 2015
The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil Review

I’d been debating with the idea of investing in an overnight serum for a while but when it came to the point of shopping for one, each time I’d be faced with the dilemma of which one to get, how much to spend and being worried of picking the wrong one. Eventually I went with my instinct and opted for The Body Shop, as I know I often find products from there that I can rely on.

I decided to purchase the Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil, as I already had the Vitamin E eye cream (and love it) so I thought I’d try the serum from this range too.

The Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil comes in a study bottle and the top screws off to revel a pipette, which you can use to carefully dispense the serum onto the finger tips before smoothing onto the face.

The serum oil has a very light, fresh scent and only a few drops are needed, as a tiny amount of this goes a long way. It absorbs quickly into the skin and instantly leaves it feeling smoothed and hydrated.

After using this overnight serum for a couple of months now, I can see my skin looking fresher in the mornings and it has left it feeling so soft. I’m glad I purchased this product and finally invested in an overnight serum. I find it’s great for when my skin is feeling thirsty and in need of an added boost of moisture.

What skincare products have you recently tried for the first time and loved?

Samio x

You can shop the Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil here.

June 17, 2015
JOIK Shimmering Raspberry Body Lotion Review

The sun is finally shinning here in England, so it’s finally time to whip out those pretty summer dresses and show some skin (whilst the weather lasts). If you’re like me however, the first stages of going bare legged, after a long winter of being covered up, can be a little daunting. Although I’m not shy about getting my bare legs out on a night out, I feel it’s a completely different story when the sun is shining and everyone can see my pins in all of their glory (or lack of). Luckily however, my new Joik shimmering body lotion arrived just in time and this stuff has given my legs that nice little glow that they were lacking.

The Joik shimmering body lotion comes in raspberry flavour and it actually smells delicious. After first trying it on my skin, I instantly noticed the shimmer and although the lotion isn’t actually a tinted moisturiser, I feel like it adds a very slight bronzed look to the skin.

The shimmering particles are ever so slight but when the light hits your skin it make it look radiant and glowing.

(In all honesty the picture doesn’t really show it justice, as it has lovely shimmering particles that aren’t picked up here on the shot.)

What can I say, I love this stuff. A little bit of this seems to go a long way and I have been using it after applying my regular body moisturiser to add extra hydration to my skin.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who feels like their skin needs a little pick me up and would like a subtle glow without using tanning lotions. This Joik body lotion will give you a nice subtle shimmer and leave your skin looking and smelling fabulous.

Samio x

April 9, 2015
The Wonder Cream – La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo anti-blemish cream Review

Most of the time, before buying a new product I like to do my research (unless of course it happens to be an impulse buy). With this product of course it was no exception and if you are a frequent reader of beauty blogs then I’m sure you’ve probably came across this product before. If however you have not, then let me tell you a bit about my experience with it.

After reading several positive reviews about this product and hearing some go as far as to say they saw results after just one day, I knew I had to finally try it for myself.

I would descibe the cream as more of a serum. You only need to apply around a pea sized amount and a small amout seems to go a long way. It soaks into the skin quickly and doesn’t leave any residue on the skin afterwards. I like to apply my regular morning/night facial moisturiser after applying the Effaclar Duo.

The cream claims to reduce blemishes and marks and I am happy to say that it does live up to those claims. After using the cream morning and night for just a week, I was able to see results. I have since been using the cream for the past couple of months and I am really pleased with the results.

Below are the before and after pictures of both the right and left side of my face after around 3 weeks of uing the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo cream.

On first glance you may not be able to see any major differences between each of the images but if you look closer at each blemish on the above images marked ‘before’ and compare each one on the image below, I think you can tell that each blemish has actually faded.

I feel like the blemish reduction on the left side has been more significant. Lets be honest, everything looks far worse close up as you get to see the skin in so much detail but I can massively see an improvement to the fading of the dark spot under my left eye and also to the scar to the left side of my nose (right side on the image).

I’m really impressed with the Effeclar Duo cream. Since using it, I’ve seen a significant reduce to the blemishes on my skin and overall it has reduced any patches of redness on my face too. It has definitely been a wonder cream for me, which I will continue to use and most likely repurchase, so I give the product a big thumbs up.

Shop La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo anti-blemish cream here.

Samio x

March 15, 2015
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream Review

I recently ran out of my usual eye cream the No7 Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm and as I occasionally like to mix up my skincare products, I thought it was time for a change. During one of my routinely visits to The Body Shop, I decided to try out this eye cream from their Vitamin E range. It’s in a similar price range to the No7 one but at £11 it’s just a pound cheaper.

I’ve been using this Vitamin E eye cream for several weeks now and I’m really pleased with it. It feels so soft and gentle on the skin and after using it daily, both morning and night it’s really helped to keep my under eyes moisturised and hydrated, preventing them from looking dull or tired.

I feel like it has helped reduced puffiness somewhat, although this could be partly due to the fact that I’ve been trying to sleep on my back more instead of face planting into the pillow or the side of my boyfriend.

All in all I’m really pleased with this product and I think it is one I’ll be purchasing again. I’d also be keen to try more of the other products from the Vitamin E range too. Once again, I’ve found another product from The Body Shop that I’m really pleased with and would recommend.

Samio x

March 11, 2015