NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

This evening's post is actually a cheeky self promo of my Youtube channel. I decided to film me swatching my collection of the Soft Matte Lip Creams (SMLCs) by NYX Cosmetics. I also added on a few shades of their Lip Lingerie products too. The SMLCs are one of my favourite lip products as they aren't too drying but still pack a punch with the pigment. Check out my opinions and my collection of colours here.

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Super Facialist

This week I thought I'd share one of my favourite skincare products. The Superfacialist by Una Brennan range is available in Boots stores and online. The entire brand is mid range for prices on the high street, the most expensive item being £19.99. I particularly like their Vitamin C Skin Renew Cleansing Oil for taking off heavier makeup and anything waterproof.

The Superfacialist range offers up a clay mud mask that's affordable in comparison to the likes of Origins but still packs a punch just as strong as high end brands. Clay is reknowned for it's detoxing and cleansing properties, as a skincare product it draws out any impurities in the skin such as blackheads. This mask also contains salicylic acid which is a fantastic ingredient for acne prone skin as it aids in unblocking congested pores.

I'm usually quite sceptical about products with big claims. This one doesn't boast, but my goodness it ought to! I have never used a face mask that has given me immediate results. After removing this my skin looks as if it is glowing, and returns the youthful qualities of my skin that insomia frequently robs me of. The anti blemish face mask is available for £9.99 linked here.

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Sweet Patisserie: Zoella Beauty

 I recently picked up a few products from the third range from Zoella Beauty. Following the original collection and her second tutti fruiti range, this time around is the 'Sweet Inspirations' collection with a macaron fragrance. If you're not familiar with the French fancies, macarons have a sweet vanilla and almond scent. Each range she develops gets better and better. I particularly love the packaging of this range, it's very sophisticated with art nouveau inspired patterns and is remenicsent of all things from the roaring twenties and 2013's film adapation of 'The Great Gatsby'. My favourite product from the range so far is the body mist. I've purchased all three that she has released so far and this is by far my favourite! The fragrance is incredibly sophisticated and yet it retails for only £8.00.

A few of the products have returned again but have been infused with the 'Sweet Inspirations' fragrance. This time around the effervescent bath fizzers are a bit larger but still retail for £5.00 and the formula still packs a punch when you pop them in the bath. The body cream has returned after it's successful debut in the first collection. I didn't manage to try the original formula but I already love the Double Créme body lotion, please don't dollop this on top of your strawberries! It's super moisturising and has a subtle sweet scent which isn't too overpowering and won't conflict with any perfume you spritz on during the day. A brand new product is the Body Fondant (£10.00). It looks like it should be on a classy vanity table with it's luxury powder puff, the packaging looks like it belongs in a French boutique! This is essentially a solid, creamy bronzer. This can be used on the body for a subtle shimmer, particularly good for the upcoming Summer months to give legs a bronzed glow. The packaging is super lightweight which makes it an ideal product to take with you on a Summer getaway!

Zoe's products are available in Superdrug stores, on the Superdrug website and on Feel Unique.

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Baking In The Bathroom

I occasionally pick up a US magazine from the racks in WHSmiths or from the Newsstand online. I recently purchased a copy of Seventeen magazine and inside there was a sample of a new product from Biore. I was excited but also frustrated as I had a feeling that either a) we would never see it in stores over here or b) we'd have a long wait for it to grace our shops. How wrong I was! On the off chance that it was available I searched Boots and Superdrug online, and HUZZAH it's in the UK.

One of the Pinterest beauty hacks that I've tried and tested is the baking soda exfoliating scrub/mask. It's a super easy and affordable way to exfoliate or something to use if you've run out of you favourite exfoliating product. It can get a bit messy and frustrating for any bakers in the house when the baking soda has disappeared into a bathroom cupboard (oops). Enter the Biore Baking Soda Liquid Cleanser (rrp £7.99) and the Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub (rrp £4.99). These products have become staples in my every day cleansing routine. I use the liquid cleanser daily and the scrub every other day.

I'm a fan of the liquid cleanser because it doesn't have any microbeads in it. Microbeads became a really popular component in cleansing products as they were used to deliver a burst of a specialist product/ingredient when they are rubbed into the skin. Microbeads have since become a concern in the world of beauty and an environmental concern as it's been discovered that microbeads don't get broken down by water, which results in lots of plastic beads ending up with marine-life. They were/are frequently used in exfoliating products, but not in the Biore scrub! You simply flick up the lid, pour out some baking soda into your hand, add a small amount of water and buff into the skin. You can feel it buffing away but it isn't too abrasive as the particles are SO small. I have fairly sensitive skin and this doesn't cause a reaction. Those with sensitive skin should stick to using this product a few times a week or every other day in your cleansing routine. The scrub doesn't smell like your average baking ingredient, it has a slightly menthol scent and actually reminds me of the old citrus Polos (showing my age?). The Biore baking soda range is available on the Boots and Superdrug websites and in stores.

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