Beauty Bay Skincare

I had no idea that Beauty Bay had their own skincare line, so I bought a few things to try out. It is very affordable and although the packaging is quite basic and no frills, the products themselves are very good. It reminds me of brands like The Ordinary with their focus on delivering great products but not wasting money on overpriced packaging, and I like that! Simple packaging but good quality products.

I bought two of their serums, I am always looking for products that help brighten or hydrate skin, so these two were perfect for me to try. They are different consistencies, the brightening serum is a little thicker and has a cloudy appearance to the liquid, whilst the hydrating serum is thinner and is clear in texture. Both serums feel lovely on the skin and wear well under the rest of my skincare.

The Hydrating Serum contains, Hyaluronic Acid and Glycogen (skin hero ingredients) which draws and retains moisture into the skin, minimising the appearance of fine lines and a tight, dehydrated complexion. Giving you that fresh, plump, healthy look. This serum, supports a stronger skin barrier, helping to protect against environmental aggressors. I love products with Hyaluronic Acid in, especially in the colder, dryer months it just gives your skin that extra boost to look really hydrated and my makeup looks so much smoother after I use a product like this.

The Brightening Serum is equally good, I have been using the hydrating serum in the morning and the brightening serum in my evening skincare routine and that is really working well for me. The brightening serum with vitamin C which is an antioxidant that promotes collagen production, that helps to support healthy skin, whilst a brightening peptide works to increase luminosity by boosting skin cell turnover and targeting dullness. So with consistent use, this serum helps brighten, diminish pigmentation and even out skin tone.

This serum has been a welcomed addition to my skincare routine and I like that it leaves my skin feeling smooth and non-tacky and that the product is so affordable, as it all the beauty bay own brand products.

Now on to maybe my favourite of the three products, the Beauty Bay Chamomile and Oat Lipid Cleansing Balm which is a lovely classic balm to oil cleanser that makes light work of removing makeup and the dirt from the day. It has become an absolute staple in my routine, it makes a very good first cleanse as it melts away stubborn makeup. It is effective on makeup but still gentle, no need to rub or scrub just massage into your skin and the product will easily break down your makeup and leave your skin feeling so smooth and soft.

This balm boasts a formula made up of 86% naturally derived ingredients which include, Oat Lipids which are rich in ceramides, which are essential for maintaining the skin’s barrier and retaining moisture. They help to replenish the skin, leaving it nourished and smooth, whilst gently removing impurities and makeup without stripping the skin. It also contains, Chamomile which is well known for its anti-inflammatory and calming properties, making it ideal for soothing irritated or inflamed skin.

Do not let the minimal and no frills packaging put you off trying beauty bay skincare, because the products themselves really are very good. Beauty Bay make it easy to find the right product for you, as they break their products down by skin concern, as use very easy language so you do not get overwhelmed or confused. The quality of ingredients and the focus on affordability is where these products shine, I highly recommend checking them out & adding some products to your routine, specific to your skincare needs.

These products are both vegan and cruelty-free and the packaging is easily recyclable.

Beauty Bay has a great selection of own brand skincare on their website.

 

Autumn Skincare At Very.co.uk

Best Autumn Skincare

AD – sponsored by Very.co.uk

The transition from Summer to Autumn is always tough on my skin thanks to the cold weather, turning on the central heating and the lack of sunshine, which tends to make my skin look dull, feel dry and have less bounce. I seek out products to help give my complexion the things it lacks during these cooler months, like moisture and radiance. I also like to use soothing and products that won’t irritate or be abrasive, Autumn is for me a time to adapt my routine to nourish my skin and with the help of these products from Very.co.uk I am well on my way to a glowing, healthy complexion. Let me know if I have added any of your favourite products to my Autumn skincare regime, or if you have any suggestions of products I need to try.

Garnier Organic Rejuvenating Lavandin Smooth & Glow Face Oil*

This is such an affordable face oil which you must try, so please don’t be scared of using an oil on your skin. Even if you have an oily complexion, oils can really boost hydration and nourish skin. This Garnier one is a great overnight oil, the consistency is much like a serum and that’s how I like to use it, after toning but before my evening moisturiser. It is enriched with Organic Lavandin & Argan Oil and Antioxidant Vitamin E, so it is soothing, smoothing and very hydrating. I really like this overnight sleep range from Garnier.

Garnier Lavender Sleep Skincare
Garnier Rejuvinating Lavender Skincare

Garnier Organic Anti Age Sleeping Cream*

This cream, much like the Lavandin face oil, targets dry sensitive skin and helps calm, smooth and hydrate. This cream is nice and rich it feels lovely on the skin, very cooling and instantly hydrating. It is enriched with organic Lavandin essential oil, argan and jojoba oils for night time nourishment. I highly recommend this alongside the face oil, they’re a great overnight duo for Autumn.

Autumn Skincare at Very.co.uk

Trilogy Clarifying Cleansing Gel*

Now, this cleanser has been wonderful in helping combat my dry skin. It’s non drying, rebalancing gel formula is gentle on the skin and is a must for the colder months. Formulated with mildly astringent witch hazel to tone and refresh, salicylic acid from willow bark to lightly exfoliate dull and tired skin, and omega-rich rosehip, jojoba and grape seed oils to nourish and soften. It also has such an energising scent of mint and melon, a combination that really works well together, (surprisingly). If you hate that tight, dry feeling after you cleanse, this is a great product to add to your routine.

Elemis Superfood Cleansing Butter
Autumn Skincare Update

Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter*

Well, this is a game changer for me, one of those products that you instantly fall in love with and wonder how you managed without it. It is bright orange, which I thought was quite fun, and the thick buttery texture makes it so nice to cleanse with. A unique blend of a fermented Pumpkin enzymes and Acerola Cherry, naturally rich in AHAs helps to brighten skin, while Mango Butter and Chia Seed Oil, rich in omega fatty acids, nourish and hydrate the skin. If like me, your top skin concern is dull, tired-looking complexion then you need to try this cleansing butter. It will make your skin look so radiant, and I mean really healthy! It’s like a pot of gold, and I have fallen head over heals for it. You can use it morning and night, but I like to use it in the am, as it gives my skin such a smooth finish and that lovely glow.

Autumn Skincare Routine

Nip & Fab Salicylic Fix Serum 2%*

Nip and Fab have such a great range of skincare and their Salicylic Fix products are some of my favourites. We all get blemishes and uneven skin and this salicylic acid serum helps unclog pores & gently exfoliate skin which promotes cell turnover and treats/prevents blemishes. It is also enriched with Soothing Aloe Vera helps to hydrate and calm the complexion to keep the skin feeling smooth. The concentrated serum helps to regulate sebum production to banish excess oiliness with Purple Ginseng Extract.

Favourite Skincare Products

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream SPF30*

Not every luxury moisturiser is truly worth the price tag. With moisturisers, you are often left wondering what you are paying for but not with this Elemis Po Collagen Marine Cream, this is the real deal. It is fantastic quality and very effective. I’m 43 and when my skin is dry/dehydrated my fine lines look so much more defined and my skin is less plump. It is easy to see why this moisturiser is a beauty icon and has won countless awards. This rich but lightweight cream is designed to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and increase hydration, leaving your skin feeling smoother and firmer, with the added benefit of broad-spectrum SPF 30 sun protection. Blended with a cocktail of three seaweeds – padina pavonica, porphyridium and chlorella, plus ginkgo biloba, rose and mimosa a powerful combination which tones, improves hydration and elasticity to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I love it, and it wears so well under makeup.

REN Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream*

This smells like fresh oranges and is so zesty, the cream is perfect if you have some sun spots after the summer or uneven skin tone. This cream specifically targets those sun spots whilst you sleep. It also helps skin to be plumper and radiant a rich, hydrating sleeping cream – almost like an overnight mask
These key ingredients help with pigmentation and dark spots, Encapsulated algae – to target the appearance of excessive pigmentation. A bend of Encapsulated Algae Complex – targets the appearance of excessive pigmentation and PhytoGlycogen helps recharge skin for a smoother, more radiant complexion, So if you suffer from hyperpigmentation this is a wonderful addition to our Autumn skincare routine.

These are some of reasons we experience pigmentation. ‘Hormonal changes, ageing, pollution and UV damage can leave skin looking uneven, tired and cause or worsen dark spots, and these are mainly down to melanocytes. Classed as part of the immune cells, they’re known to react to and protect us from sun damage, but also react to pollution, inflammation and spots, causing areas of skin to darken over time’.

PIXI ROSE Travel Kit*

How sweet is this skincare set from PIXI, it includes 4 deluxe travel size products in the most beautiful pink packaging. You get Makeup Melting Cleansing Cloths, Rose Cream Cleanser, Rose Tonic and Rose Ceramide Cream. It’s 4 steps to nourish, gently cleanse, sooth your skin. Great for sensitive skin, the Rose Tonic is my favourite product in this kit, it is so gentle and helps boost radiance.

Switch up your skincare for Autumn

Very.co.uk offers a wide range of skincare brands to suit every budget and skin concern. From Garnier to Elemis and Emma Hardie to REN. Pop over and browse their Beauty section. Whether you want to update your skincare regime for Autumn, have an important occasion coming up or just want to target a specific concern, Very.co.uk have you covered.

*Products marked with an * have been provided as PR samples

Tropic Skincare Facial Serums

Tropic Glow Berry Brightening Serum

Tropic Skincare Serums

*Gifted. Tropic Skincare seems to be one of the best kept secrets in the beauty world, they’re a cruelty-free all natural, British beauty brand that produce products of incredible quality and that actually give effective results. I have tried a few of their skincare, body care and makeup releases, and they always exceed expectations. I find myself recommending them to friends and family of all ages, it is skincare that you can really rely on.

So I have been trying out two of their serums, Glow Berry & Rainforest Dew. They’ve been helping hydrate and give my skin back it’s natural healthy glow.

Tropic Skincare Glow Berry Brightening Serum*

I’d say my number one skin concern is dull skin, not all year round, but certainly over the darker, colder months. So having this brightening serum in my skincare routine these past few weeks has been wonderful for combating dark spots, uneven skin tone and giving my skin back its natural glow. This serum has a very fluid consistency, I apply it as part of my evening skincare routine and I keep it in the fridge as instructed by tropic as it keeps the active ingredients at their best.

Vitamin C – Which we all know is a fantastic ingredient in brightening skincare, it helps with pigmentation, boosts collagen production, protects against free radical damage and helps give your skin a natural radiant glow.

Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract – This plant is endemic to Australia and is incredible at nourishing the skin, tightens and firms skin (which helps to minimise your fine lines) as well as targets the visible signs of ageing. So your skin will look and feel smooth and lifted.

Super berries – A powerful blend of antioxidant-rich strawberry, muntries, riberry (endemic to Australia) and Tasmanian pepperberry extracts give complexions a boost of radiance, help reduce hyperpigmentation and UV related sun damage. Boosting your skin’s radiance and healthy glow.

Tropic Rainforest Dew Hydrating Serum

This is a really lovely nourishing, hydrating and soothing serum, I have found applying this as part of my morning skincare routine works well for me. It helps my skin retain moisture so it stays hydrated and soft throughout the day. I love the dewy effect it gives, it is great under makeup and the dewiness makes my makeup sit so well and look healthy all day long.  Again it is very lightweight, similar in consistency to the Berry Glow serum, 3 drops are usually enough for my face. As with all Tropic products, it is packed full of incredible natural skin loving ingredients,

Plant Peptides – encourage cell renewal, encourage collagen production and improve skin’s elasticity and plumpness.

Evergreen Fern Extract – This is a soothing ingredient, great for calming and reducing redness.

Hyaluronic Acid – This has become such a popular ingredient in skincare over the past few years, it helps skin retain moisture which keeps it plump, hydrated and replenishes tired looking skin.

Matcha Tea Extract -Wonderful at protecting and reducing the effects of free radicals on your skin. As well as being soothing and anti-inflammatory, so this combined with the evergreen fern extract really help calm and sooth.

So if your skin is in need of a serious moisture boost, especially over the Winter months, then I highly recommend this Rainforest Dew Serum.

Tropic Glow Berry Brightening Serum

If you’re looking to include or add a new serum to your skincare routine, these two options are pretty amazing. Glow Berry is ideal if you want to target more dull, fatigued skin and even out skin tone, and the Rainforest Dew is for anyone that is suffering with dry skin or just loves that fresh, glowing look.

*Products in this post were gifted as PR samples, but the review is 100% my own

Beauty Product Empties July 2018

Superdrug Vitamin E Face Mist

You can tell from my empties that July was a HOT month. I used up so many hydrating products – mostly for my face. I was trying so hard to stay cool and keep my skin hydrated. So there are quite a few products to talk about, let’s jump right into it.

July 2018 Beauty Product Empties

Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion

LOVED this. It is a very affordable body lotion, not heavy or greasy and sinks right into the skin. The lightweight lotion has a thin almost serum-like consistency which was really good especially in the Summer heat. It meant my skin didn’t feel sticky or like the lotion was too thick under my clothes. I would repurchase this 100%.

VICHY Idéalia Peeling 

This toner is incredible for radiant skin – it is as if it just wipes away all the dullness and you wake up with a fresh, glowing complexion. I used this at least 2-3 times a week and this bottle lasted me months! This formula has a combination of 4% glycolic acid and 5% hepes, to provide an exfoliating effect whilst boosting cell turnover. So it is a great product if you find your skin is looking a little flat. This Idéalia is great and I really want to try more from it.

Superdrug Vitamin E Hydrating Face Mist

This is another warm weather must have skincare product! I have been misting it over my skin throughout the day in a bid to keep cool. You can mist on to cleansed skin before you apply makeup or you can spritz it on your skin to refresh your makeup and keep skin hydrated and refreshed. This Vitamin E Range from Superdrug is incredible value for money and I can’t recommend it enough. I love the Hot Cloth Cleanser, Oat Exfoliator and the Eye Cream – you can’t go wrong! This hydrating face mist contains soothing Aloe Vera as well as a skin conditioning multivitamin complex, comprising vitamins A, B, F and H, which, combined with horse chestnut extract, helps to care for dry skin.

Superdrug Vitamin E Face Mist

Faith In Nature Deodorant

I have been using this Natural Deodorant for about 2 years now. It doesn’t stop me sweating but it neutralises the smell and contains no nasty ingredients. I hate the thought of applying a deoderant that is full of chemicals and metals right on my armpits where they’re easily absorbed into my body. This deodorant doesn’t block the sweat ducts but fights the odour & leaves my armpits feeling fresh & comfortable.

  • 100% Natural Fragrance
  • With Essential Oils
  • Free from Parabens and SLS

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

How adorable is this mini bottle, I am gutted that it has run out. Over the past few (very warm) weeks I have been keeping this in my fridge so it is cool and refreshing on my skin, I have been using it in the evenings after I’ve cleansed just to refresh and calm my skin. This is the perfect refreshing Summer toner & I am going to have to purchase the full size – especially if this crazy heatwave continues.

Naturally, active ingredients include aloe vera to hydrate, calendula, chamomile and cucumber to soothe and refresh, plus antioxidant vitamin E. This revitalising toner is fragranced with an uplifting blend of pure essential oils, including rose-scented geranium, lavender and sweet orange.

Products Ive Used Up July 2018

Miller Harris Rose Silence (travel size) and Lumière Dorée 

Over the past 3 years, Miller Harris has become my favourite luxury fragrance brand, their scents are simply stunning. no matter which of their fragrances I am wearing I always get compliments. In terms of staying power, they’re second to none – I very rarely have to spritz again throughout the day because the scent doesn’t fade. My absolute fave is Rose Silence and I have gone through so many bottles – including this travel size. I love this small size for my handbag or weekend breaks. The Lumière Dorée is a great unisex fragrance and I think it has a zesty, quite sweet scent but the musk makes it a little sensual and warm. If you are ever near a counter you must test out their range.

  • TOP NOTES: BERGAMOT, PETITGRAIN BIGARADIER EO, ORANGE BIGARADE
  • HEART NOTES: NEROLI BIGARADE MOROCCO EO, SAMBAC JASMINE, ORANGE BLOSSOM WATER
  • BASE NOTES: CASHMERE WOOD, VETIVER, CRISP AMBER, WHITE MUSK

Jurlique Activating Water Essence

This is that product you think you don’t need or think you don’t want to add another step to your skincare routine. Well, let me just say, you really do need it & it has become an essential step in my routine. So an Essence is not a toner, nope its used after both cleansing and toning, it can replenish moisture, balance skins PH levels and help skin look glowing. For me, it has 3 main benefits & I love to use it all year round. It is refreshing in the Summer & very hydrating in the Winter.

  • Hydrates – Delivers continuous hydration and lasting moisture
  • Conditions – Smooths skin to provide a soft, supple complexion
  • Revitalise – Revitalises and re-energises for healthy-looking skin

Skincare Empty Products July 2018

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara

This is a forever repurchase for me, it’s very affordable and I love the way it gives volume and makes my lashes look thick. You can either apply one coat for a more everyday look or really build it up, giving you more intense, bold lashes and the mascara doesn’t flake throughout the day which is epic! So many mascaras give me panda eyes.

*This post contains PR Samples