July Beauty Empties

A Much Needed Beauty Pamper

I've had a seriously relaxing bank holiday weekend and it's left me feeling incredibly refreshed - and also really motivated to make the most of the week ahead. One thing that I really enjoyed about this weekend is that I took the time to really look after myself, and I mean this in so many different ways. One of them was by indulging in some old, and some new, beauty favourites, reaching for a few seriously luxe skin treats as well as continuing the mission to nourish my ever-parched hands. If you're looking to try some new beauty products then I can seriously recommend everything mentioned in this blog post. Read on to discover why exactly these are the beauty bits that I think are worth investing in.

Nourish Kale Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser* | rrp £16.50

I've only been using this cleanser for approximately a week - so this isn't a "proper" review - but it was, absolutely and completely, love at first application. The cleanser is entirely cruelty free, 81% certified organic and contains pomegranate enzymes that gently exfoliate your skin to leave it looking smoother and healthier, whilst kale extracts help to increase the suppleness of your skin. I often find that chemical exfoliating cleansers or masks can be a bit harsh on my skin but Nourish have struck the perfect balance. Although it's called a cleanser the product can actually be applied in three different ways - as a cleanser, an exfoliating mask or a revitalizing weekly facial. If you use it as a cleanser then you apply the product onto wet skin, whereas if you want to use it as a mask or facial then you apply it onto dry skin and leave it on for longer. I find that this makes the cleanser much more suitable for a range of skin-types, and it allows me to tailor my use of the product to my exact needs. This is all wonderful, but the best part is the fact that it gives instant results. Honestly, my skin hasn't been this smooth and glow-y in so, so long and I really do think that this cleanser is the reason why. I reached for this at the very beginning of my pamper routine to get rid of all my dead skin and to set the scene so my other skincare products can really get to work. 

Caudalie Purifying Mask* | rrp £22.00

 Caudalie's Purifying Mask is another relatively new addition to my skincare arsenal, and it's another winner. I've become so used to cleansing masks being very heavily clay based, difficult to remove and harsh on the skin, but Caudalie's Purifying Mask is a whole different ball game. Although it contains  white clays (bentonin and kaolin) it's a very smooth and creamy mask with a 94% natural formula that works to balance the skin - clarifying and deeply cleansing without drying it out. I find that it's so much more gentle than my other masks, and it's really easy to remove too, so I've been reaching for it over pretty much every other mask I own. Another reason why I like reaching for it is because it's specifically designed for blemish prone skin and it's definitely made a difference to my complexion. It's been a great introduction to Caudalie's skincare range and I just know that I'll be reaching for this mask a lot from now on.

Organic Surge Replenishing Facial Oil* | rrp £23.50

Organic Surge consistently impress me - and this facial oil is no exception. It's cruelty free, certified natural and organic (55% of the ingredients come from organic farming) and it's made up of a mixture of argan oil, yarrow oil and essential oils. Together, they form a really luxurious facial oil that's very hydrating but also has a very light consistency that absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin. Organic Surge's Replenishing Facial Oil is designed for dry or mature skin, but I think that it would suit many skin types as you can easily adjust how much oil you apply each time - either applying it straight onto your skin (which is what I prefer) or mixing it with your moisturiser. I particularly like applying this facial oil after I've used face masks as I find that it instantly works to restore and hydrate my skin, leaving it looking really fresh and supple.

Botanicals Lemongrass & Ginger Body Polish* | rrp £19.95 for 175g

When it comes to looking after my hands I really do swear by exfoliation. If you struggle with dry skin then exfoliating before you apply your mosituriser can make a wolrd of difference! I've tried my fair share of exfoliaters and although I've only tried a sample size of Botanicals' Lemongrass and Ginger Body Polish it's finally replaced & Other Stories' Body Scrubs as my new favourite body exfoliater. The body polish has a gorgeous consistency, and it certainly doesn't hurt that it's also 100% natural and 82% organic It's essentially a very high quality sugar scrub made up of raw cane sugar, shea butter, lemongrass (for toning), mandarin (for balancing) and ginger (for detoxifying) essential oils. You mix a small amount of the scrub with warm water before using it to exfoliate your skin. A little goes a very long way and you can alter the ratio of water to body polish to create your perfect level of exfoliation. Although this works really well on the body, I've particulalry enjoyed using it to gently exfoliate my hands before applying my moisturiser. I find that this helps my mosituriser really get to work which gives me longer lasting results. I'd absolutely, without any question, like to purchase the full-size body polish now that I've had the chance to try this sample size out for myself. It's been a superb introduction to the brand and I'm now really keen to try out more of their extensive beauty range.

 Bee Good Honey & Crambe Daily Hand Cream* | rrp £9.00

I've heard a lot of good things about Bee Good's British bodycare but this hand cream was my first foray into their range. Packed full of beeswax, honey, crambe oil and borage oil, this hand cream is quite nourishing whilst still being very easily absorbed into the skin. It has a light floral scent (reminiscent of lily of the valley) with just an undertone of honey, and all-in-all I'm rather enamoured with it! The cream itself doesn't have the thickest or richest consistency - especially for incredibly dry hands - but I love the formula. It absorbs so quickly and leaves behind a very pleasant matte coating on your hands that I'm convinced keeps them feeling softer for longer. I think that it would be a great product to use on-the-go, but you'll still find me using this at home as I just can't get enough. 

Essie Nail Lacquer in Geranium and Orly Nail Lacquer in Clear | rrp £7.99 and rrp £10.90

While I was getting my hands looking their best I thought I would do a quick switch-a-roo on the nail polish front. I opted for one of my new Essie polishes in the shade Geranium, a simply gorgeous orange toned red. It took two to three coats to get an even opaque finish and then I topped it off with a  coat of Orly's Nail Lacquer in the shade Clear which has a wonderfully glossy finish. It's not a typical spring nail polish shade but it's a very pretty shade that's bright enough to make a statement but still easy to wear. 

 La Montana First Light Candle* | rrp £35.00

If you're anything like me then when you go to have a bit of a pamper you'll love to set the mood. I like to do that with a good playlist and an even better candle. La Montaña recently sent me one of their candles in the fragrance 'First Light' which has a gorgeous floral/herbal scent that does as good a job as it possibly could to mentally transport you away from home and out into a hillside meadow. I think that the aroma of this candle is incredibly well balanced and sophisticated, and the scent is strong even when the candle isn't lit. Personally, I love that it has a strong aroma as it means that even when the candle isn't lit it can help scent a room, and when it is lit the aroma can quickly fill up the entire room. If you're tired of scented candles that smell fake, or that don't actually fragrance your home, then you'd really appreciate the quality of this candle. Plus, because these candles are made with high quality wax they supposedly offer a forty hour burn time - which is enough to fragrance your home for many, many happy days. This is my first time trying La Montaña's candles but it's been such a positive experience and I now associate them with very high quality fragrances. They're the perfect backdrop for some quality me-time.

All in all, this line-up of beauty products worked perfectly to give me the perfect mix of pampering and relaxation that I wanted from a chilled bank holiday night-in. Have you indulged in a bit of a beauty pamper this weekend? What products or brands do you usually reach for when you want to spoil yourself?

Beauty Products for Oily and Combination Skin

I have combination skin - dry cheeks and an oily t-zone - and I'm always looking for beauty products that help keep my skin looking healthy, whilst also keeping shine at bay. Today I'll be sharing some of the skincare and makeup products that I think are really effective, and I hope they help anyone with a similar skintype who's looking recommendations on what to try next.

Organic Surge's Ultra Light Oil Control Lotion* is a really gorgeous moisturiser that works to regulate the skin's naturally produced oils. The bottle pumps out just the right amount and although the product initially feels quite thin and fluid, once you start rubbing it into your skin it starts to emulsify and transforms into a richer, thicker consistency that my skin just drinks up. It's packed full of rose damask, geranium and sweet orange oil that make it really hydrating as well as giving it a delicate rose and geranium scent. I find that it's a really lovely product to use and I think that it would be great for anyone who's looking for a moisturiser to help balance combination skin issues as its nourishing and softening without overloading your skin. I'd also like to state how lovely the packaging is which gives the whole experience of moisturising an added luxurious feel. Overall, I think it's a great option - suitable for vegetarians, vegans and sensitive skinned folks - and even at £21.50 it still feels like great value for money.

If you have oily skin then you might be a little bit afraid of using a facial oil. However, in my experience they're really good for all skin types as they do a great job of rehydrating your skin which can really help regulate the natural oils it produces throughout the day. Kadria's Balancing Face Oil* is designed with hormonal skin imbalances in mind - for instance, the hormonal imbalances that occur in women during pregnancy or throughout their monthly mentrual cycle. My skin definitely changes before and during my "time of the month", becoming oiler and more spot-prone. I definitely think that Kadria's Balance Face Oil helps to regulate the imbalance in my oil production, keeping all my skin looking hydrated and more even. Despite being packed full of high quality oils, it has a light texture and absorbs quickly. I use one pump a night and I've gotten through around one fifth of this bottle in the course of a month. I think that this does help justify the cost of the facial oil, which at £36 a bottle feels expensive but I do think that it does a lot for my skin that other facial oils don't do and it's a particularly good choice for combination skin types - you can find it online here.

If you're looking for an instant solution to oily skin then let me recommend some products that I think are all really effective. Origins' Zero Oil is a fluid that you apply onto your oily skin with your fingers, after moisturising but before applying makeup. It sets down to an incredibly matte finish, giving you a smooth base to apply your makeup and helping keep your skin matte for longer throughout the day. I especially like to use this during the summer when I'm more oily as it is very effective. However, it doesn't work so well over the top of makeup. If you want something to use throughou the day then I'd point you in the direction of Makeup Revolution's Pro Fix Oil Control Fixing Spray* or Vichy's Dermablend Powder*. Both of them really extend the wear time of my makeup and help keep my face looking less shiny for much, much longer. The Vichy Dermablend Powder is one of the best I've ever tried but it does contain talc so I don't like to use it everday. If you want something for regular use that's also really affordable then I would recommend Makeup Revolution's Oil Control Spray as it makes a marked difference. Although I would say that it's better for those with oily rather than combination skin as it is very effective and can feel overly drying on already dry, or non-oily, skin.

Do you have any other products that you'd recommend for those with oily or combination skin?

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