Beauty Round up July 2020
I love trying out new beauty products but with the current pandemic
restrictions I haven't been out shopping for anything other than food so was very excited when I was asked by Whats Good to Do to review a selection of
beauty products. I received a wide variety of different products from a number
of different brands and was able to have a couple of pampering nights trying
them all out. There are some amazing products and hopefully you will be
inspired to try some of them too!
Seams Silk Touch Hand & Nail Oil RRP £22
The Seams Silk Touch hand and nail oil is a fast absorbing oil rich
in essential fatty acids and natural actives helping to soften, nourish and
restore dry skin and nails. My hands are generally quite dry and with increased
hand washing they had become quite chapped and sore. This is the first time I
had used an oil on my hands and I have to say I was really impressed with it.
The 28ml bottle has a pipette to dispense the oil, meaning you don’t waste any
and you only need a few drops to moisturise both hands, meaning the bottle will
last a long time. The oil feels silky on
your hands and seemed to just melt into my skin. Surprisingly my hands didn’t
feel greasy at all after application and after 2 days I could see a huge
improvement in the chapped skin between my fingers. I have been using this oil
morning and night and can highly recommend it.
Alteya sent a couple of different products to try.
Alteya Pure Facial Cleanser & Wash – Rose
& Jasmine RRP £7.20
This is the first time I have come across Alteya Organics and they are definitely a brand I will be purchasing from again. I had
a look at their website and they are a family
firm who grow a lot of their ingredients and employ local people when
harvesting.
Made from organically grown and ethically harvested
plants the Alteya Pure rose and jasmine facial cleanser & wash is lovely
face wash. Enriched with pure essential oils to gently cleanse, rejuvenate and
improve your skins natural glow it felt like a real treat using it. The 150ml
bottle has a flip lip and is really easy to dispense and the handy sized bottle
is perfect for travelling. The cleanser is a nice consistency and the
instructions were easy to follow; just apply a small amount to wet hands and
massage gently over face and neck before rinsing. I used a muslin cloth to
remove the facial cleanser but you can just rinse it away too. I thought the
cleanser was gentle on my skin but also very effective at removing make up and
daily impurities. It left my skin feeling lovely and soft and I can highly
recommend the product. There are a few different fragrances in the Pure range
and I already have my eye on the grapefruit & zdravetz facial cleanser
& wash.
I am a huge fan of rose scented products and the Bio
Damascena Rose Otto face wash smells simply amazing. It is the perfect way to
awaken my senses in the morning and left my face feeling cleansed and soft
afterwards. This certified organic face wash is the perfect product to gently
remove all traces of make up and every day impurities from your face. The face
wash is the perfect consistency, lathering well in my hands and doesn’t slip
through my fingers in the shower. The 250ml bottle is a good size and the pump
dispenser makes it easy to dispense just the right amount. The organic
Bulgarian rose oil helps improve complexion, rejuvenates and balances skin and
is suitable for daily use for all skin types. Alteya Organics grow their own
roses so you can guarantee that they are only using the best ingredients for
their skincare products.
Alteya Organics Lavender & Mint Lipbalm RRP
£3.60
I am a keen hiker and cyclist and spend a huge
amount of time outdoors throughout the year, regardless of the weather. Because
of this I do suffer badly from chapped lips so a good lip balm is an essential product
for me. I have found that using lip balm every night before I go to sleep helps
keep my lips moisturised and keeps my lips in tip top condition. Alteya
Organics Lavender & Mint lipbalm comes nicely packaged in a carboard box
with plenty of information about the product, the company and a list of
ingredients. The lipbalm is in a traditional “twist up” tube and is the perfect
size to fit in a handbag or pocket, making it perfect to take out when cycling
or walking. I can smell the lavender slightly more than the mint and it feels
pleasant on the lips, not too sticky and a little tingly which is quite
pleasant. On the Alteya website it says that the lipbalm moisturises the lips
and protects from harsh weather, I haven’t had chance to test in the winter yet
but judging by how my lips feel I am convinced it will become a staple part of
my winter walking and cycling kit.
Shea Moisture African Water Mint & Ginger
Detox Body Wash RRP £10.99
I have used Shea Moisture hair products before but
this is the first time I had tried any of their body products so I was keen to
see if they are as good as the hair products are. The African Water Mint &
Ginger Detox body wash comes in a 384ml flip top bottle which is easy to use. The
body wash is quite runny so I found it easier to put it on a flannel first
rather than in my hand so that I didn’t waste any. The minty fragrance hits you
as soon as the body wash is out of the bottle, it is fresh and minty and a great
way to wake you up in a morning. The body wash lathered well and left my skin
feeling cleansed and refreshed, sometimes shower gels can leave my skin a
little dry but this wasn’t the case with this one. My skin felt lovely and soft
and I found I didn’t need to use quite as much body lotion which was an added
bonus! I especially liked using it as a bubble bath, it created plenty of
bubbles and the invigorating scent was perfect for clearing my head after a
particularly stressful day at work. It is available to buy from the Look Fantastic website here
If you are a keen traveller then Moxi are the brand for you. The Moxi Bare Faced Cleanser Infused
make up removal pads are cotton squares infused with a gentle cleansing formula.
To activate the cleanser you just add water and use a circular motion to wipe
the cleansing pad over your face. The cleansing pads are suitable for all types
of skin, even sensitive skin and a pack contains 30 pads. When travelling
abroad with only hand luggage they are the perfect option as they weigh next to
nothing and don’t contain any liquid so don’t eat into your precious liquid
allowance. The pads were very effective at removing make up, I wear a full face
of make up for work, foundation, eye shadow, mascara etc and one pad was
sufficient to remove it all. My face felt lovely and fresh afterwards and I
will certainly be buying these again as they are a great product and perfect
for when we start travelling again.
Moxi Powder Pod Cleanser RRP £7.50
Moxi have certainly put a lot of thought into their
cleansing products and come up with liquid free products that are perfect for
travelling. The powder pod cleansers are tiny hexagonal pods filled with a
powder cleanser that you simply add water to. They are perfect to put in your
washbag and take up very little space and again don’t eat into your liquid
allowance or weight allowance when taking hand luggage on a plane. The pods are
not much more than 1cm square and contain enough powder to effectively cleanse
your face. They have a foil lid that is easy to remove and you pour the powder
into your hand and add a little water and work the powder into a lather. Once
you have the desired consistency you simply massage over your face and then
rinse. By adding varying amounts of water, you can adjust the exfoliation so it
is perfect for everyone. I found it was easier to use a muslin cloth to make
sure all traces of the product were removed. It was very efficient at removing
all traces of make up and left my skin feeling fresh and clean.
Batiste Love is Love Dry Shampoo RRP £2.99
If you are in a rush and don’t have the time to
wash and dry your hair then dry shampoo can be a lifesaver, making greasy dull
hair fresh and bouncy again in a matter of minutes. It is also the perfect
piece of beauty kit to take to a festival to keep your hair looking good
without needing to wash it. Batiste have been around for over 40 years, using
their expertise to help women (and men) achieve fabulous hair in an instant,
they have been the UK’s number 1 dry shampoo brand for over 30 years so they
really know their stuff when it comes to haircare. Batiste dry shampoo is a
starch based product that comes in an aerosol can. You hold it 12cm away from
your head and spray it directly on to your roots and then massage it in. The new Batiste Love is Love dry shampoo is a
limited edition with a fruity and bright fragrance and left my hair smelling
fantastic. I love this new fragrance and it was great at perking up my hair
between washes.
Tropic Skincare was founded by Susie Ma, she grew
up in Cairns, Australia surrounded by an abundance of natural ingredients and
this upbringing has had a huge effect on the products that Tropic create. The
Tropic Great Barrier sun lotion is beautifully packaged in a brightly coloured
paper sleeve. Typically since I received the sun cream it has done nothing but
rain but luckily today the sun has finally made an appearance and I have been
able to try it out. I spend a lot of time outdoors, walking and cycling and
always wear a sun cream to protect my skin. The Tropic Great Barrier sun lotion
has a lovely fragrance with a hint of coconut and is really easy to apply. It
absorbs easily and doesn’t leave my skin greasy or sticky. It is water
resistant so perfect for beach holidays. I tried a small amount on my son and
he liked the fragrance, normally he complains that they smell too girly so that
is a bonus point from me! It isn’t the cheapest sun cream around but as I do
spend a lot of time outdoors and use it over the summer months when I am
walking and cycling I do think it is worth it as I prefer to use
sun cream with natural ingredients rather than one
that is full of chemicals and Tropic skincare products are derived from 100%
pure plant extracts.
Tropic Sun Day SPF50 RRP £24
We all know the dangers of the sun on our skin and
whilst most people religiously apply suncream whilst on holiday they don’t tend
to apply it as much when at home. The sun releases UV rays which are harmful to
our skin so it is very important to always wear a moisturiser with SPF or a
facial sun cream under your moisturiser daily. Sun cream not only protects your
skin from the UV rays but it also helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles. The
Tropic Sun Day SPF50 is a facial sun cream which is designed to be worn under
make up, priming the skin for a flawless make up application. I found it easy
to apply, the cream has a silky feel and melted into my skin. It didn’t feel
greasy and my make up sat nicely on it. I do a lot of cycling and find some sun
creams irritate my face once they mix with sweat however, I was really
impressed with it as it feels really light and protects my face as well as
smelling lovely. The tube is the perfect size to fit in my pocket so I can
reapply it throughout the day. Again, it isn’t cheap but as you only need a pea
sized amount then a tube should last a good few months.
Even though I have dark hair my skin is very pale
so I tend to use a tinted moisturiser to give me a little colour. The Dr
Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint is a great product, you just add a small
amount to your normal moisturiser to give you a radiant, sun kissed complexion.
With tinted mineral pigments, olive oil and extracts of medicinal plants such
as Anthyllis and witch hazel, the formula does not cover the skin but blends
with your skin tone to create a natural sun kissed and fresh complexion. It
looks quite dark in the bottle so I was quite wary about using too much and
looking too fake so I started with a tiny amount and over a couple of days
worked out the right amount to use. The bottle has a pump dispenser so it was
quite easy to dispense a small amount and gradually build up the colour. It is
really light and it was easy to blend it with my moisturiser. I can see myself
using this a lot, especially over the winter months, as it gave me a lovely
natural colour.
R&R Luxury Shea Body Oil – Revive Lemongrass
RRP £15.00
The skin on my arms and legs does tend to be quite
dry so I do like a nice body oil as they lock moisture into your skin for
hours, soaking deeply into your skin leaving it moisturised for longer. The
non greasy oil is rich in fatty acids and can be used on your face, body and
hair. The pump action bottle makes it easy to dispense the oil and once the oil
is your skin the fragrance really hits your senses giving a spa-like experience
in the comfort of your own home. The zingy fragrance was the perfect way to
wake up in the morning and lasted surprisingly well, I kept getting bursts of
it all day and it really did brighten my day. Once applied to my skin it left
it beautifully moisturised and it didn’t feel in the slightest bit sticky. I
really love this oil and think it would make a lovely gift for any friends who are
in need of a little pampering.
Sugar Coated Full Body Hair Removal Kit RRP
£12.99
Many years ago I used to wax my legs but I gave up
as it was always very messy and at 6’ tall have a lot of leg to wax and I
invariably used to run out! I was very interested to see if waxing kits had
improved over the years as with the current restrictions on beauty salons I can
see that home waxing kits will be quite popular. The Sugar Coated company
started in a port town in Tanzania, they are experts in ethical, easy and
effective hair removal in the comfort of your own home. Sugar Coated is a 100%
natural vegan sugar wax and does not contain citric acid, resins or additives
which means that you get a smooth application and gentle results. I would never
have called waxing gentle but was prepared to have another go. The kit was simple
to use, I removed the lid and popped it in the microwave for 40 seconds, so far
so good. The wax was surprisingly easy to apply, I started with my lower leg
and applied a thin layer before using the washable strips to remove the wax.
The strips can be used a couple of times and it wasn’t as painful as I
remembered. The residue was easily removed with warm water and a flannel. I
wasn’t brave enough to try it on my underarms but it was a great way of
removing hair from my legs and at £12.99 a much cheaper option than the salon.
The Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrate moisturiser
is a very reasonably priced facial moisturiser for all skin types. A favourite
among dermatologists for decades and lauded by beauty professionals and make up
artists to the stars, this all round product is their secret to beautiful skin.
Personally, I haven’t come across this brand before so was keen to see what it
was like. The Lait Crème Concentrate is a rich creamy lotion that is a real
multi purpose product. It can be used as a primer, moisturiser, makeup remover
as well as a product to reduce irritation after shaving. Another great product
to put in your washbag when travelling. The cream is a nice consistency, not
too runny and is really easy to apply. It has a gentle fragrance and you don’t
need to use a lot. It gives a good base for make up and keeps my skin hydrated
all day. I have also been using it on the eczema on the top of my feet which
was looking quite red and unsightly, it has made a huge difference and reduced
the redness in only a couple of days. A great reasonably priced product and one
I would certainly recommend.
Funderm Was Bad is a 4 in 1 invisible treatment for
the gentle care of pimple prone skin. The delicate oil free gel combines
clinically proven active ingredients to unclog pores, exfoliate dead skin cells
and control oil. The packaging is bright and funky and certainly appealed to my
teenage son. Like a lot of teenagers, he struggles with spots and we have tried
lots of different products with varying results. His spots are particularly bad
at the minute so I was quite pleased to receive the Funderm Was Bad gel. The
30ml tube has a pump action dispenser making it easy to use, the gel is applied
to clean, dry skin and is easily applied with your finger. It absorbs quickly and
didn’t leave his skin sticky or greasy. It has a very light fragrance so
perfect for teenage boys. He has been using it for 2 weeks and I can see an
improvement in his skin already. The only downside side is the cost, at £29 I
do think it is quite pricey but I will see how long the tube lasts and then
decide whether to purchase it again.
Rubis scissors - Duck RRP £24.50
Rubis scissors are made in Switzerland and the Duck
scissors come in a little plastic zip top pouch which is perfect for keeping
them clean and separate from the rest of your wash kit. I have to confess I was
a little unsure as to what the Rubis scissors were specifically for when they
arrived, they have a tiny head so obviously weren’t for fingernails so a quick
look on their website was needed to find out more. They are actually scissors for nose and ear
hair and as I don’t have a problem with either of those I had to rope in a
willing volunteer to try them out for me. The scissors are very well made and
open and close very smoothly. Cutting your own ear and nose hair isn’t the
easiest thing to do so they have rounded ends to protect your nose and ears
from being cut when you are using them. My friend said they were really easy to
use and snipped unwanted hairs easily.
Finishing Touch Flawless Brows RRP £19.99
I am lucky because I have nice dark eyebrows that
have a lovely shape. Other than plucking a few stray hairs to keep their shape I
don’t really need to do a lot with them which has saved me a huge amount of
money over the years. The Finishing Touch Flawless Brows is a precision
engineered tool to help you achieve the perfect brows and would be perfect for
helping you keep your brows in check, especially at the moment whilst current
restrictions mean beauty parlours can’t do any procedures on your face. The pen
style gadget has a precision tip to remove hair around your eyebrows and help
maintain the desired shape. To help you see even the tiniest hairs there is a
build in light. You do need a AAA battery which isn’t included in the box but
luckily we always keep a stock of batteries so was able to try it out straight
away. It took a couple of goes to get the hang of it but the tool is quite easy
to use and will be invaluable for people who aren’t able to have their brows
done professionally.
I received all these products free for the purpose of this review and all words, opinions and images are my own.
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