First impressions of KOSAS makeup

If, like me, you regularly stalk the 'new in' pages of Cult Beauty, you will have seen that KOSAS has been recently added to their list of brands. This is a U.S. brand whose products are described as makeup meeting skincare. I was unfamiliar with the term 'kosas' but they state that there are five kosas of self, which are five connected layers that communicate with each other. They are: a physical layer, a sensory mental layer, a discerning intellectual layer, a layer of energy and a layer of truthful bliss. KOSAS say that their products honour each layer. Now this may sound like hogwash to you or it may speak to you. Either way, you want to know what the products are like, right?

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First impressions of KOSAS makeup, KOSAS Color & Light Creme, KOSAS Tinted Face Oil Review, KOSAS Weightless Lipstick

Minimum effort, maximum results products

I love nothing more than a nice, long pamper evening but let's face it, not everyone has the time, energy or inclination to spend a few hours on themselves every week. People lead busy lives and have so many other things that occupy their time plus with the weather being as nice as it has, most of us are inclined to get outside and make the most of it, leaving us even less time to do 'extra' things. I don't know about you but I still don't want to neglect myself so when time is scarce I turn to products that take minimum effort on my part but yield great results. I'm going to share these products with you today and would love to hear what products you reach for when time is limited but you still want to look your best.

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maximum results products, Minimum effort

Lookfantastic x NEOM Organics Limited Edition Beauty Box - a saving of £65 to be had!

Lookfantastic are well known for their monthly beauty boxes but did you know that they also do regular brand collaborations? I've posted about the Clinique one here, Molton Brown one here and the Erno Laszlo one here.  These boxes always offer great value and the new Lookfantastic x NEOM Organics Limited Edition Beauty Box is no exception, containing six products with a value of £110 but a price tag of £45. What's more, if you are a Lookfantastic beauty box subscriber, you can save an extra £5. The focus of this box is products that will help to get a good night's sleep and who doesn't need help in that department, especially on these hot summer nights? Lack of sleep affects mood, judgement, productivity, happiness and health in general so anything that helps to improve quality of sleep should be embraced!

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Lookfantastic x NEOM Organics Limited Edition Beauty Box

Battling hyperpigmentation....

Hyperpigentation has a number of causes - sometimes it occurs in pregnancy, other times it's post breakout and, of course, it's as a result of sun damage.  It can be tricky to deal with and can sometimes make people feel less confident but fear not, there are some products out there that can help.  In my case, I first noticed some areas of hyperpigmentation on my face when I was taking medication that made my skin more sensitive to the sun. Despite wearing (and re-applying) a high SPF, I was left with two small areas of pigmentation. It wasn't just a case of me being more aware of the patches than others as my niece asked me what happened to my face! They have faded but I do notice that I have to be very vigilant or they will reappear. Today I want to share some brilliant products for tackling this issue.

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How to get rid of pigmentation

4 treats for 4 budgets

It's that time of the month again (payday!) and if you're in the mood for treating yourself, I have three great products to share with you today! As I always say, you don't need to spend a fortune to treat yourself.

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3 treats for 3 budgets, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Clarins Comfort Scrub, Natasha Denona Tan Palette, Nest Candles

Sweat and humidity-proof makeup!

I'm not going to start this post by complaining about the weather because it's glorious! What is not so glorious however, is trying to beat the humidity in terms of makeup and hair! Hairbands are my best friend this summer because they help to tame the mane but in terms of makeup, I have some products that are working hard to keep my makeup from sliding off my face and looking like a discoball. I personally find that layering works best - thin layers of all products seem to last longer and are less likely to sweat off - sounds gross but that's the reality!

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Clarins Instant Concealer, Cover FX Gripping Primer, Milk Makeup Hydro-Grip Primer, Omorovicza Complexion Perfector, Shiseido UV Protective Liquid Foundation, St Tropez Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

A really nourishing, post-sunny days treat: Antipodes Hand & Body Creams: Joyful, Jubilation and Delight

Earlier this year, I wrote a Brand Focus post on Antipodes and I mentioned how much I loved Joyful Hand & Body Cream.  Because it is so nourishing, it's the perfect product to use in winter when skin is extra dry from the effects of central heating, cold weather etc but it is also perfect to use after a long, hot sunny day (which we're thankfully having quite a few of at the moment!).  There are also two other hand and body creams in the range and I want to tell you about them today as they really do feel like a treat and would make a lovely gift (maybe even to yourself!).

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Antipodes, Antipodes Hand & Body Creams: Joyful, Jubilation and Delight

Recent releases from L'Occitane

Regular readers will know that I am a HUGE fan of L'Occitane.  I've tried their bath and body products, haircare, candles, pillow spray, massage oil and skincare and have yet to find a dud product, which is pretty impressive for a fussy so and so like me! I was instantly intrigued when I heard that they were releasing a line of lipsticks. One of my favourite brands moving into the world of makeup is very exciting. They have added lots of new products to their line up recently and I've been trialling them and want to share my thoughts with you today.

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L'occitane, L'Occitane Delicious Multi-Balm, L'Occitane Fruity Lipstick, L'Occitane Radiance face Scrub, Oil-to-Milk Facial Makeup Remover

Antipodes Moisture Boost Natural Lipsticks - almost edible?

Can you imagine eating 3kg of lipstick?  Apparently that is what woman ingest over the course of a lifetime - horrible thought, right? Thankfully, Antipodes have a new range of lipsticks that you could almost eat because the ingredients are so healthy. These include Avocado Oil, Calendula Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Argan Oil among others. I was kindly sent three to try and although the shades look quite similar in the photo above, the swatches will show the exact shades as they are completely unedited. 

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Antipodes Healthy Lipsticks, Antipodes Moisture Boost Natural Lipsticks

Shiseido UV Protective Liquid Foundation - where have you been all my life?

Ok, I know that the title of this post may seem a little dramatic but I have found a new love/firm favourite in Shiseido UV Protective Liquid Foundation.  I was kindly sent some of their summer essentials products and this is the stand out product for me.  I've been especially impressed by the WetForce Technology™ that they use - the products are so waterproof that if you apply to your hand and then run it under the tap the water droplets will run off your hand, leaving the product in tact and then if you dab a tissue over the area, there is no transfer. This is pretty unique - I've never seen anything like it! While I don't have their sunscreen products, I have some products from the makeup line to share my thoughts on. 

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Shiseido Clear Stick UV Protector, Shiseido Compact Foundation, Shiseido Summer Essentials, Shiseido UV Lip Colour Splash, Shiseido UV Protective Liquid Foundation, Suncare

Some recent purchases and first impressions....

I've been pretty good at not buying many new products this year but over the past few weeks, I've made a few purchases, which I want to share with you today along with some first impressions. Spoiler alert, nothing has disappointed me!

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Becca Glow Drops Review, Hourglass Powder review, Huda Tantour review, Inglot x Terrie McEvoy Eyeshadow Palette Review, Natasha Denona Tan Palette review

A post holiday pamper!

When I came back from holiday a fortnight ago, I was in serious need of a pamper - my hair was frizzy, my face was in need of a whole arsenal of products and the my whole body felt dehydrated (inside and out!). Couple that with then getting strep throat, followed by bronchitis, sinusitis and a lung infection (I don't do anything by halves!), I just felt like a mess and in serious need of some T.L.C.  I want to share some of the products with you that have helped me to tame the frizz and plump my skin - they're not exclusive to a post-holiday pamper but any time that you need a little pick me up and judging by the conversations I had with some ladies around the pool, we all need this from time to time!

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001 London Alpha-Paradise Cleansing Dew - as beautiful as the name suggests!

I was first introduced to the brand 001 London last Autumn when I was kindly sent their CRYOpress and Alpha-Glow Flash Facial, which I reviewed here.  The founder of the brand combines both Asian and Western skincare principles and her products aim to restore balance to the skin. The products don't contain any silicones, mineral oil, parabens or animal testing. I really loved the serum so when I was offered the chance to try their new Alpha-Paradise Cleansing Dew,  I was instantly intrigued. The name really grabbed my attention - paradise and dew - yep, I had to try it!

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001 London Alpha-Paradise Cleansing Dew review, cruelty free, skincare, Vegan

Want super soft limbs and lips? Ameliorate is the brand you need to know about

You know those annoying bumps that can appear on the back of your arms or upper thighs? The ones that are so hard to get rid of? Ameliorate is the answer to those! In fact, the brand was started because the founder had suffered from this all of her life and then her children did too, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and Ameliorate was born! Bumpy or dry skin is something that most people have but it's easier to ignore in winter when we're covered up but now that we're experiencing some sunny days, our limbs are on show. If you want to improve the appearance of your skin without having to get salon treatments or spend a fortune, this is the brand for you. What's even better is that you can get free shipping on all Ameliorate products by using the code LYMIN at checkout. This is valid until the end of July.

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Ameliorate, Ameliorate Intensive Hand Treatment, Ameliorate Intensive Lip Treatment, Ameliorate Softening Bath Milk Oil, Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion

Dermalogica - the brand I've been repurchasing for 16 years!

Dermalogica is a brand that has featured in my skincare routine for longer than any other. I had used some other high end brands prior to first using Dermalogica but had never been hooked enough to buy a number of products from the same brand before. It was (and still is) a very hyped brand and I loved the idea of face mapping and multi-masking, which was innovative as they were the first brand to introduce these methods as the norm.  After my first facial with the brand, I then went on to purchase the products that were recommended and loved the results so much that I decided to exclusively use the brand for 6 months prior to our wedding. I knew that I could depend on the products and facials to have my skin looking its best for our big day! Since then, I have always had some of the products in my routine - the brand will be a forever love of mine! Given the long love affair I have had with the brand, I was thrilled to be invited to be part of their Skinfluencer campaign a few months ago. I was kindly sent some products, most of which I had used a lot in previous years, and I want to share my thoughts on them with you today. Every product from the brand is free from artificial colours and fragrances, alcohol and mineral oil.

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Brand Focus, cruelty free, dermalogica, Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance, Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque, Dermalogica Precleanse, Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser

3 treats for 3 budgets

I'm a bit late with June's 3 treats for 3 budgets post but I was on holiday last week and I always take a break from posting when I go on holiday so that I can really enjoy the break! Hopefully you all still have some money left from your last paycheque and are in the mood for treating yourself. I have some great products to share with you this month!

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3 treats for 3 budgets, Aura Mugler Sensuelle, Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Aloe Vera Hair Mask, Sculpted by Aimee Beauty Base