Kiko Skincare

I love Kiko makeup (see here and here) but had never tried any of their skincare range. So the next time I went into their shop I decided to try some out. I went for three things – the limited edition Face Skin Glow (was £13 I got it for £5), the Energy Mask (£5.90) and the Anti-Age Peeling Mask (£5.90). First of all their skincare is very reasonably priced, secondly I think they look really nice too (its important for your bathroom aesthetics!).

So firstly the Skin Glow (see below) – this has a peachy tone with brightening particles which helps to even out the complexion and give skin a glow! The ingredients are meant to stimulate cellular renewal and contribute to an increase in collagen production, lending moisture and elasticity to the skin. Overall I like this as a daily moisturiser. It’s not too heavy and not too light, although it wouldnt be enough on its own for my skin in the drier winter months. I like the glowy properties and I definitely look healthier after application.

Next is the Energy Mask – this is one of their bestselling skincare products. It has a gel like texture and as you can see in the picture below and its black! It is detoxifying and purifying but what I really like about this is that it is not stripping or drying on the skin. I have used this quite a lot and especially when my skin is feelin congested and I do like it.

Finally its the Anti-Age Peeling Mask. This is an enzyme based facial exfoliating mask. I love these types of masks. This one does have a very subtle grainy texture which is not at all harsh on the skin. I really like using this when I have old blemish scars or uneven skin.

So I have to say that I am pretty impressed with Kiko skincare and would be keen to try more of their products.

L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew

L’Oreal  Paris new Revitalift Laser Renew range is designed for 40+ skin. That’s now me..hmm. Anyway I LOVE anything that has dark spot correcting properties and Glycolic Acid and this is exactly what is in the day cream and peeling lotion respectively.

Starting with the Global Care Day Cream SPF25 (£19.99), this has a satisfying creamy consistency that hydrates without leaving a greasy residue. I find this absorbs quickly and my skin definitely feels moisturised and my makeup stays on better.

Then we have the Peeling Lotion Night (£24.99) which has a sort of gel-like consistency and can be applied directly on to the face using your fingertips or from a cotton pad. I have done both. This does tingle slightly especially if you have some old/new blemishes. I mostly use this on its own but sometimes if my skin is feeling very dry I will add a night cream/serum/oil on top.

So after only a few days of using both together I started to notice a difference in my scars and dark spots. I do think this is more the peeling lotion effects as I have seen a difference just overnight in some cases!

I am definitely impressed with this range, it is pricey for high-street skincare but I have found it so effective that I am willing to pay and will very likely be repurchasing the Peeling Lotion. Look out for offers on this in Boots if you live in the UK its definitely worth a try!

Nail Saviour

Whenever my nails are having a meltdown I reach for this – the L’Oreal La Manicure Miracle Repair 7 (£5.99)

So this stuff is meant to provide your nails with seven improvements which are :

Stronger, Reinforced, Resurfaced, Less split, Less brittle, Less peeled, Less rigid.

I love this and the more layers you add the better as not only do your nails feel stronger they also take on a more opaque colour which makes them look tres chic!

I don’t know if you can tell the difference but the picture above has one coat while the picture below has three. Very nice product and have repurchased this a few times already!

& Other Stories Beauty

I popped into & Other Stories mainly to have a quick browse at their body care section but fist got taken by this beautiful eyeshadow called Lockram Cactus (£9)! Its a metallic eyeshadow with what can only be described as a peacock colour combination. It looks lovely on as you can see below.

So this is the main reason I dashed in – I wanted to get a body mist (£12) and lotion (£7) to layer together and I knew that & Other Stories did some interesting scents. There were loads to choose from including Rose, Lemon, Fig, Moroccan tea..the list goes on! I settled for Fleur de Mimosa which is floral but with hints of cedarwood and musk. I find layering the two works really well and the body mist scent does last most of day. The body lotion is lovely and light but really moisturising. I would definitely consider getting more combinations of these.

Magazine Inspiration Board – October

So November magazines are of course well into the winter clothes, skincare and makeup. For me this month was all about the cape. Of course the monogrammed Burberry cape has been seen everywhere but for mere mortals I was really taken with this one from Jigsaw. For an alternative to the cape I loved this gently draping coat from Asos too.

On to dresses – I still love a good printed dress, but in winter the appeal of a knitted dress is up there!

Finally for clothing I love this look from Wallis – simple, elegant and warm!

I spotted this necklace from Dower & Hall and just loved the simplicity of the two stones.

Onto skincare which by now is changing to suit the colder, drier weather and this Peeling Night Lotion from L’Oreal has been featured in a few magazines. I have to admit to already be using it – post coming soon!!

I love Una Brennan’s products and am keen to try this Rose night cream – anything rose at night is a winner for me!

Finally for skincare – love these multi-tasking tips – genius!!

For makeup two things caught my eye – lipstick of course from Charlotte Tilbury – her new Modern-Matte lipsticks are meant to be amazing.. And then this little blusher from Burberry just looked so easy and fresh.

For the love of COS!

I don’t normally do posts that are just images from a website of clothes I am lusting after, but after visiting a COS store recently and trying on all of the clothes below, I was blown away by how amazing everything was! If I could afford to I would have bought it all but I was good and only got one dress – the yellow one as it was simply stunning (you can see what that looks like on me below)!

So here is my COS wish list…

SIDE POCKET WOOL JUMPER £59

SHEER PANEL JUMPER £45

SHORT-SLEEVED PLEATED TOP £59

FLARED PANEL SKIRT £69

ASYMMETRIC DRESS £89

DOUBLE-LAYER CREPE DRESS £79

DRESS WITH FADE-OUT PLEATS £89

A-LINE CREPE DRESS £69

And on me..

FABRIC COVERED NECKLACE £25

SQUARE BEAD NECKLACE £25

SOFT LEATHER BACKPACK £115

RUBBER SLINGBACK SHOES £135

 

 

Aromatherapy Associates Diffusion range – Aroma Actives

You know what its like when you hear that one of your favourite high end brands has a diffusion range – well you rush out to get your hands on it of course! I did exactly that with the Aromatherapy Associates diffusion range Aroma Actives. Its is available in Sainsbury’s supermarkets in the UK.

I browsed the available products for quite a long time before I settled on just one – the exfoliating cleanser (£7.50). This was a very strange choice for me as I dont ever use “scrubby” exfoliators on my skin, instead I like using acid exfoliators (see here). Well I should have stuck to that rule and picked something else to try! As you can see from the image below the scrubby bits are very very large and to be honest they feel very rough against the skin. I have used this twice to make sure that I dont like it and I am sure I will never put this on my face again!

Well next time I will probably try the Omega Rich Facial Oil or the Rejuvenating Anti-Age Mask! There are some quite lovely looking products so I wouldnt write off the range just yet but unless you like the really scrubby exfolitaors dont get this cleanser!!

Accidentally falling for Chloe

You know what its like, you are at the airport all excited about going on holiday and you just want to get started with the holiday purchases straight away and what better place than duty free?! Well thats exactly what happened to me.

I was browsing the duty free, as you do, hoping to find something new and exciting, but somehow my eye kept going to the the classic  Chloe Eau De Perfume.

I have to admit that the gorgeous glass bottle complete with cute bow was what initially drew me in. Then I took a sniff (no I have never smelt a Chloe perfume before) and I was unintentionally, accidentally hooked!

It just smelt different to what I expected. I guess I was expecting the usual floral scent that just does nothing for me, but this is unique and strange (in a good way).

I really struggle to describe this scent. Its not overly floral but definitely has some floral notes. This one official description:

“The top notes are a combination of floral powdery notes, with hints of peony, lychee and springtime freesia. The airy, flirtatious head notes drift away to reveal the richer and more sensual side of the rose. This is accompanied by heady magnolia and lily of the valley, as well as subtle intimations of warm amber and elegant cedarwood.”

I find it is quite a sophisticated smell and I have grown to love even more as I wear it. The staying power is extremely good and lasts all day.

I am really glad that I got this even though it was definitely an accidental purchase!

I think this was about £52 for 50ml.

Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara

I LOVE Japanese cosmetics they are just so cute or Kawai as they say! So this is the now cult/famous Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara. This was created by a Japanese TV celebrity who basically cut her own mascara wand until it did what she needed to make her eyelashes pop!!

I got the Glossy Black Water Resistant (£18.50) and there is also a waterproof version available from Beauty Mart.

As you can see the packaging is gorgeous and the brush below is really strange! The “Fairydrops’ patented brush is unique in having three bristle ‘bobbles’, curved to deposit mascara and lift lashes in all the right places for maximum volume: the inner corner, the middle and the outer corner”

BUT is it good enough to not need an eyelash curler?!

Yes – it is amazing – I didn’t curl my lashes and only applied two coats and I think the results were really impressive. So definitely worth its cult status!

Sarah Chapman Skinesis – Overnight Treatments

I got this treatment gift set as a present  – its the Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Treatments (£85). The pack includes a full size of Overnight Facial (15ml) and a full size of the Overnight Hand and Nail Treatment (15ml) and cotton gloves all in a beautiful leather pouch.

Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial is described as a “potent cocktail of antioxidants, vitamins, anti-inflammatory omega oils, firming Dermaxyl peptide, our skin-brightening complex, and jasmine and rose”.

This facial oil is lovely. There is no other way to describe it. I have been using it at least once a week for almost 5 months now and my skin loves it.

I also have to say that although it is lovely I don’t find that it is better than my Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil (£17.50) by Sanctuary Spa.

So even though I love it I wouldn’t repurchase it due to how expensive it is.

Next is the Sarah Chapman Overnight Hand and Nail Treatment. This is described as  a “cocktail of 8 powerful oils rich in antioxidants, vitamins and omegas combine with skin plumping, moisture boosting and pigment perfecting concentrated actives such as Collageneer®, Volufiline™ and Renovage™ to strengthen nails and restore the skin’s barrier for younger looking hands.”

Again I absolutely adore applying this oil last thing at night to my hands. It leaves them soft and nourished and smelling amazing.

I haven’t found a good alternative to this yet but even so I am not sure I could be persuaded to repurchase this again because of the price! I would however put it on my present wish list again!