It’s been a while since I’ve put together a round up style post of beauty or cosmetic products I genuinely swear by. However, I’ve been lucky to try out some newbies this Winter, and a few of them I’m thinking of re-buying to give as Christmas stocking filler type gifts for some of my nearest and dearest.
With that in mind, I’ve decided to round-up 4 key products I have only just started using over the past two months, that have left a lasting impression on me. You know the drill – when you start using something new and after a week or so you think, this is actually a really bloomin’ good product.
There’s a combination of skincare (my favourite things to talk about), and makeup, and believe me when I say it was super hard to whittle the list down to just 4. I have about 20 reserve items all waiting for a review, but as they don’t quite scrape the top 4, they’ll just have to wait!
So, let’s see what the top 4 are…
My by Mahina Makeup Lipgloss
The reason this lipgloss makes it into my list is because ironically, I’m not a lipgloss girl and never have been. Always been a firm fan of the matte lipstick, and always one to refuse a lipgloss if ever gifted one. The reason? The fact I always wear my hair down and lipglosses just feel too wet and sticky. Having hair get caught in them. Having them fade quickly due to constantly having drinks or just licking lips. Other than that, I’ve always just opted for lipstick everytime.
Then, I tried My by Mahina Makeup, the DOLLARS High Shine Lip Gloss, and I have to say, I eat my words. It was the beautiful glossy peachy light pinky shade that drew me in, but I still expected it to sit with me funny. But there’s something about this one that I just truly adore. It has a super silky smooth, pinky nude gloss that glides on without sitting in any cracks funny, and provides full coverage in one sweep. I don’t feel the need to re-apply immediately after or go over it with a few coats.
It’s been designed to give a sultry, fuller pout, and I don’t know if it’s the formula or the colour or both together, but I truly do feel like I have a killer pout when I apply this on. My lips just stand out and look all dreamy and glossy and full. It contains Vitamin E & Shea butter which explains why it feels so good and cares for my lips too, plus, the brand is animal and cruelty free. The best bit? It’s £8.99 and you only need a tiny slick of this to feel incredible, so it’s gonna last me ages! You can explore more here.
Douvalls Organic Argan Oil
I’m a huge fan of multi-tasking products, so when Douvalls Organic Argan Oil landed on my desk, I kinda knew I was going to love this before even getting started with it. I have Douvall’s candles in my home, and the brand is truly lovely, so I did feel a little biased before I tried this as I’ve been a big fan of this brand since earlier this year.
Nethertheless, I only tried this Douvall’s cold pressed Multi tasking 100% Pure Eco-Certified Organic Argan oil moisturiser properly this winter, and I feel like those who suffer with dry skin and dull complexions are going to adore it.
As the brand share on their website, Argan Oil is known as liquid gold in Morocco due to being fast absorbing, light weight and extremely high in vitamin E, essential fatty acids and antioxidants. When I applied this to my skin for the first time, it absorbed quickly but left this glowing, health sheen to my skin. It’s like you can feel it deeply hydrating, nourishing and repairing the skin as soon as you apply. I always rub the remains on my hands and lower arms to spread it out after use, and it doubles up as a great moisturiser for dry pacthes on the body too (elbows, ankles, knees etc!).
Argan oil can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkle with regular use, so it’s an ideal anti-aging product for those who may want to avoid retinol or anything a little stronger for the skin. It’s lightweight enough to use as a day and night cream without feeling greasy, and I use it under my eyes too as it’s non-clogging and gentle. Plus, it’s natural, chemical free and contains no nasties or preservatives. A great one for those who appreciate natural skincare that works wonders. I have heard people say you can lightly rub any remains onto frizz prone hair, but as my hair is naturally flat and oily, I can’t say I’ve tried this myself…
You can find out more here.
SOS Rescue No One
If you’ve followed my pregnancy story on Instagram, you’ll know I’ve raved about the SOS Stretch Mark Defense mist, which I’ve been lightly spraying onto my growing bump, thighs and chest since falling pregnant earlier this year.
After a few months of using it, I then found out about this award winning intensive care product for stressed and spot troubled skin, which was quite incredible to hear about because it’s been scientifically proven to reduce soothe, redness and scarring – everything I suffer from!
This cream formula product has been created to tackle spot, blemish and acne scarring and redness caused by spot breakouts. Now I’ve had acne and breakouts since being 15, and I’m now 34! So although they are under control now (just about!), I have been left with scars and marks that always make me look like I still have an uneven skin tone, and sometimes they even look like I still suffer from spots.
I trusted this product immediately from the awards it has won and the results from their other hero product for stretch marks, and thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a unique, scientifically proven cream containing a breakthrough, naturally active green tea extract (EGCG), formulated to help combat redness and scarring produced by acne, spots and blemishes. I was using this for around 3-4 weeks before I realised that some of the harshest and newest red marks I had seemed to have faded, first to a light brownish shade, and then very very faint I could hardly see them.
It’s obviously going to take longer to work on my older scars, but I feel confident that with daily use of this product, I’m in safe hands. It isn;t scented either, and is non-pore clogging and gentle to my skin, so I have no problem using it even when I do get the occasional breakouts, or have slightly drier or oilier skin than normal.
Here’s why it’s raved about:
- You can use daily to help reduce the appearance of redness and scarring caused by troubled skin
- It soothes and calms stressed skin that may be effected by weather and prolonged face mask use.
- Rescue can be used in place of your moisturiser or as a primer under your make-up.
- Suitable for sensitive skin.
- Rescue is effective and packed full of clever ingredients and natural plant extracts, Rescue is vegan, not tested on animals, fragrance free and contains no alcohol or parabens.
I tend to use it in the mornings, and the only small complaint I would have is that the bottle is fairly small so I do get through it quite quick! That’s a sign of how often I use it and adore it. I genuinely like this product has been designed for me, so if you know someone struggling with acne marks, spots, scars and blemish marks (or even just uneven skin tone), I highly recommend pointing them in the direction of this.
PIXI Vitamin C Serum
I continuously rave about the PIXI Glow Tonic, however I’m ashamed to say that aside from some of the brands makeup products, I’ve been a little alien to other products from the PIXI skincare range. Strange isn’t it how you can become so attached to one hero product from a brand, and then realise they offer so many other brilliant products too.
The PIXI Vitamin C Serum is one of them! It’s been designed to supercharge the skin’s natural luminosity; packing the serum with brightening and boosting Vitamin C which acts as a protective and powerful concentrated serum. If you want your complexion to be visibly brightened with a glowing radiance, without breaking the bank, then you need this little hero serum in your life!
Not only does the packaging look super adorable and it only retails at £26 (which is an ideal price for a Vit C loaded serum), it gives that lit-from0-within glow quite quickly and works in tandem with any other moisturiser to give that healthy complexion boost. It’s combined with Ferulic acid, which helps boost the working powers of Vitamin C, so that the serum helps to fight the effects of sun damage, correcting dark spots for an evened skin tone and refining the texture.
Alongside this, the serum works to preserve the complexion from damage caused by external stressors, so the skin can continue to look luminous, plump, lustrous and rested while using this.
I used it for the first time last month, and usually apply it under my moisturiser. You can explore the PIXI site or shop at LOOKFANTASTIC – and but be warned – you’ll come across a large array of other brightening and boosting products too in gorgeous packaging and great prices!
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