Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation - Worth The Hype?

There has been a lot of fuss about the reformulation of Dior Forever Foundation - there is now a Glow version and a Matte Version. I personally didn't try the original formula but I'm a sucker for a glowy base so I had to pick it up and see what the fuss was about.

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Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation Review

Brand Focus: Antipodes

After the excesses of the festive season, lots of people choose to go vegan in the month of January and extend it further than what they eat, to the products they use. I must admit that I haven't participated on the food front but I have increased my meat-free days this month, which is something I will continue to do. Thankfully, choosing products to use is an easy way to begin a vegan lifestyle and there are so many brands striving to be vegan these days that it is no longer restrictive. One such brand is Antipodes (18 products within the brand are vegan) and I want to share my thoughts on some products with you today. You will have seen this organic brand on my blog numerous times previously but if you aren't familiar with it, Antipodes hails from New Zealand and the founder has a scientific background, which she combines with her love of high quality natural ingredients to create effective, organic products. 

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Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, Antipodes Divine Face Oil, Antipodes Hosanna Serum, Antipodes Joyous, Apostle Serum, Brand Focus, Halo Skin Brightening Mud Mask, Joyful Hand & Body Cream, skincare

REVIEW: Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette

When the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette was first released, I really wanted it and almost bought it a number of times but the shipping and customs fees were high so I always clicked out of the site. There was also the fact that I hadn't tried any Morphe eyeshadows so it was risky to order a large palette given that I was unsure of the quality. That changed back in September last year when Morphe launched on Cult Beauty and I was kindly sent the Dare To Create Artistry Eyeshadow Palette. I was really impressed with the texture, pigmentation and longevity of the eyeshadows so I decided that I should finally go ahead and buy the Jaclyn palette and, of course, it was sold out as so many others had the same idea! This, obviously, made me want it more and I eventually ordered it and then was gifted it at the same time. One for me, one for you! You can enter my giveaway here. I've been using this palette for around 7 weeks now and want to share my thoughts on it with you today. Was it worth the wait? Is it worth the hype?

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Morphe, Morphe Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette Review

3 treats for 3 budgets

If you're paid monthly, it probably seems like a long, long time since your last payday. Now that it has finally arrived, you might want to treat yourself - even if you're on a low-buy for 2019! I'm definitely being more mindful with my spending this year but there's no way I could do a no-buy and I'm not doing a set 'low-buy' budget - just waiting until something really catches my eye! Today, I have three great products for three budgets, which will hopefully serve as some inspiration if you do plan on buying something this payday.

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3 treats for 3 budgets, Ainsel lipsticks, Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream, YSL Touche Éclat All In One Glow Foundation

Tonic 15 - the new site for K-Beauty

Korean Beauty is most definitely not a trend or a fad, it is here to stay! Here in the western world, many of us are fascinated with the 12 (and sometimes more!) step routines and want to emulate it for ourselves. I have tried some Korean Beauty brands but generally, they will come with customs fees, which I'm not happy to pay and it defeats the point of buying less expensive products. Thankfully, Tonic 15 means that fees and charges are now a distant memory and with free UK shipping on orders over £15, there is even more reason to explore Korean Beauty Brands.

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Huxley, K-Beauty, Klairs, Tonic 15, Wishtrend

Sunday Riley Good Genes: Lactic Acid Vs Glycolic Acid

I've mentioned several times on the blog over the last 3-ish years, that I am a huge fan of Sunday Riley Good Genes. I repurchased the original Lactic Acid version numerous times but, as I mentioned in my recent Sunday Riley post, Good Genes has been reformulated and is now a Glycolic Acid Treatment. This is because the original formula had concentration and pH levels, which were higher than the EU will allow (the original formula had a lactic acid concentration of 7% and pH of 3), however it is still available to purchase in the U.S. so I bought a backup from Sephora - I knew that my skin would miss it and the new version (with a glycolic acid concentation of 7% with a lactic acid salt of 3% and a pH of 3.5%) wasn't released until October in the UK. I have been using both and want to share my thoughts with you today.

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skincare, Sunday Riley, Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Vs Glycolic Acid

Cream products to make skin look fresh in winter

I have mentioned many times before that I find cream products work really well with my dry skin to make it look fresh. The added bonus is that they are very quick to use too! Today I want to share some of my favourites that I reach for regularly.

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Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise, Huda Beauty 3D Highlight Palette, Natasha Denona, Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow, Stila Convertible Colour

Testing MV Organic Skincare Award Winning Products

MV Organic Skincare was founded by Sharon McGlinchey 21 years ago when she wanted to create  toxin-free, organic, but luxury, skincare products.  Based in Sydney, MV Organic uses only the highest quality, ethically sourced ingredients. For some reason, this is a brand that I had never tried any products from until recently (I perhaps had some sample sachets previously but not enough to form an opinion) when Cult Beauty kindly sent me a set of deluxe samples of their award winning products. I really like the clean aesthetic of the brand - simple white with silver writing - pretty and functional. These products were winners in the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2018.

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cruelty free, Gentle Cream Cleanser, Instant Revival Booster, MV Organics, Pure Jojoba Oil, Rose Soothing Protecting Moisturiser, skincare

GIVEAWAY! Win a Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Palette

In December, I was kindly gifted a Morphe Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette and I had also ordered one before it arrived. I was going to return the one that I had bought but I then I thought that it would be a fab giveaway prize for one of my lovely readers so if you'd like to win, keep reading!

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Giveaway, Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette, Morphe, Win a Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Palette

The A-Z of my favourite beauty products

Two years ago, I wrote The A-Z of my favourite beauty products - post here. I thought it would be fun to revisit it and see if I could manage to find to find a product for each letter of the alphabet again! I also wanted to try not to have any duplicates and apart from maybe 3 letters, they are all new products.  I would love you to tag me if any of you decide to do this post!

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A-Z of beauty favourites, Tag

The Hype Is Real #3: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Following on from parts 1 and 2 of my The Hype Is Real series, I'm back with another installment. This time I'm talking Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, which is a product that I've been using for around 19 years at this stage! For a beauty lover to repurchase a product repeatedly for that long, then you know it must be good!

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Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, skincare, The hype is real

Cult Beauty exclusive Morphe palettes: 9A Always Golden, 9B Bronzed Babe, 9C Jewel Crew

If you read my Morphe post last month, you will have seen that I received three eyeshadows palettes, all of which are exclusive to Cult Beauty.  I already had a large Morphe eyeshadow palette and wondered how these smaller palettes would fare in comparison. I was very pleasantly surprised by the size of the palettes as I thought they would be similar in size to MAC 9 pan palettes, which are tiny but these are a very decent size with 13.5 of product. The packaging is slimline but sturdy and inside the lid is a mirror. For £12, that is a real bonus. 

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Moprhe 9C Jewel Crew Review, Morphe, Morphe 9A Always Golden Review, Morphe 9B Bronzed Babe Review

The best Sunday Riley products for dry and sensitive skin. Cult Beauty Brand Of The Month

As most of you will know, every month Cult Beauty have a brand of the month and in January it's Sunday Riley, which means that there is free worldwide shipping on all products. In addition to that, while stocks last, if you spend £75 or more on the brand, you will receive a free deluxe sized Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment. Sunday Riley is not just a brand, it's the also the name of the founder of this cruelty-free brand. I have tried quite a few products from the brand and am a big fan because I find that everything I have tried is effective and gives quick results - what I like in my skincare! I love that most of the products are available in full and half sizes because it isn't the cheapest brand and this makes it more feasible for people to try the products. Today I want to share my top picks from the brand for dry and sensitive skin, although most of these products will work for all skin types. 

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CEO Rapid Flash Brightening Serum, Cult Beauty Brand of The Month, Good Genes, Juno Oil, Luna Oil, skincare, Sunday Riley, Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream

The best discoveries I made in my Advent Calendars

I was lucky enough to have four beauty advent calendars in December (and the all important chocolate one!) and although I had tried some of the products they contained previously (so was happy to find backups or minis for holidays), I also made some new discoveries. These are products that I will repurchase when I finish them. I think that's the best thing about advent calendars and beauty boxes - it gives opportunity to try products that you might not otherwise or that have been on your radar for a while.

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Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel, Erno Laszlo Eye Serum Mask, Illamasqua Beyond Powder Highlighter Deity, Illamasqua Hydra Veil, Living, Molton Brown Jasmine & Rose, Proof Restore Mask Treatment

Five overnight masks to clarify, brighten, hydrate and repair the skin

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! I really enjoyed the break catching up with family and friends and spending lots of quality time with my husband. I don't know about you but my skin is kinda hating me a little after the Christmas holidays - pretty much two weeks of eating and drinking more than I usually would, not making the best food choices and less sleep than normal means that my skin is crying out for some T.L.C. Masks are always the most effective way to treat my skin and overnight masks take it one step further as they have nothing else to compete with (makeup, SPF etc). Luckily, I have a number of masks in my stash that I can depend on to clarify, brighten, repair and hydrate my skin. It's not necessary to own so many masks but what can I say? I'm a bit extra when it comes to my skincare!

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Belif First Aid Overnight Brightening Mask, Emma Hardie Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask, Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask, Huxley Sleep Mask, Omorovicza Midnight Radiance Mask