Summer always seems to be a quiet time for beauty industry and my wallet certainly was grateful for it since I spent the big £££ on CH +CultBeauty box in May and then I would just pick up a few pieces throughout the summer where and when needed. I was also a bit more into clothing, especially shoe shopping :)
From top to bottom, left to right: 1. Red Funday Print Long Sleeve Jumper, New Look (totally youtube inspired purchase) 2. Denim Shrunken Jacket, Asos. 3. Adina Casual Pocket Skirt, Whistles. 4. Chuck Taylor Leather Polka Dot Shoes, Converse 5. Clarks Colindale Silver Boots (sold out, sorry).
And my top 5 beauty pick this summer were:
1. Zelens Power D. Review coming this month, this will be perfect for upcoming colder months because it's a nourishing protecting strengthening lightweight facial oil/
2. Indie Lee Co Q 10 Lotion. Review here
3. Clinique Super City Block SPF40
4. Mac lipstick in Vegas Volt (discontinued, sorry!)
5. Pur Volume Vixen Mascara (love the travel mini sized one)
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Quite a lot of beauty empties this month and a little bit of everything.
BODY
The Body Shop Body Butter in Jolly Orange - like all of the Body Shop butters it has a nice texture, sinks in quickly, is nourishing and moisturising. Took me AGES to finish it and in that time I went through a love/hate relationship with the smell. It's citrusy and spicy but in a rather artificial way. I will repurchase but not in this smell. It was limited edition anyway.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum - my signature scent. Will definitely repurchase, probably the 100ml because I just have to have it in my collection. I don't care how uncool it is to love something that everyone likes. Everyone likes it for a reason.
HAIR
Co Lab Dry Shampoo in Fresh - good basic dry shampoo. I prefer the smell of Active.
Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil - I liked using this as a pre-shampoo treatment. Gorgeous smell. Amazing.
FACE. SKINCARE
Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse - nice as always. Full review here.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel - this is one of the stronger acids I have tried. Proper tingling action. Visible results after one application, the skin felt much smoother but I broke out a bit too. I'm going to stick to gentler acids during summer, I think. Smells lovely.
Indie Lee CoQ 10 Toner - I miss it. Definitely worth repurchasing if one can afford it. I can't at the moment. I did some damage in the clothing sales. Full review here.
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate sample - Nice. Hydrating. Not sticky. Wouldn't mind a full size.
UltraSun Face SPF30 - oh it's alright. I don't miss it. Comparison with other sunscreens here.
FACE. MAKEUP
Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes - I grew to really like this but it's not repurchase worthy. Do get the sample size if you're ordering from CT website!
No favourites this month. I will probably do summer favourites in a month or so.
Next post if all goes well should be all about The Ordinary advanced 2% retinoid! This week I will be using it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Wish me luck. I will report back.
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Image from indielee.com |
In fact, using this over an acid is perfect, because most acids do irritate and leave the skin reddish and tingling and this toner not only soothes and calms but also hydrates and works against ageing. It's kind of a simpler version of Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (review of that one coming soon).
Indie Lee CoQ 10 is full of goodness: CoQ10 (antioxidant which protects the skin from environmental damage and helps with collagen and elastin production), aloe vera, chamomile and cucumber sooth, calm and stabilise skin's ph levels and hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps the skin. And it smells sooo good!
Negatives? I don't like using a cotton pad with it, I feel like a lot of the product gets wasted. In fact, when we were having a heatwave here in the UK I started just pouring some of the toner into my palm and patting it on my face like you would with an essence. Imagine this toner with a really fine spray? *daydreams*
Will I repurchase? Yes. Eventually. Next, I want to try Darphan Intral Toner and compare it to Indie Lee. I also have Indie Lee's Brightening and Rosehip cleansers on my (ever expanding) wish list...
Overall, I am very happy with this box. I knew I wanted to get it because I was particularly interested in Zelens Power D oil and Tata Harper Regenerating eye cream and I would have probably bought them at some point this year. Just these two items cost £195. The box also includes Indie Lee toner, Dr Dennis Gross peel pads (both brands I have heard of a lot and haven't tried). And Pixi + CH double cleanse, of course, which is a favourite of mine.
The only product that I had my doubts about was the January Labs lotion, purely because they call it a lotion. I, as an owner of a dry-ish and dehydrated skin, don't typically go for lotions. However, I LOVE the consistency and feel of January Labs Moisture Balancing Lotion. It is light, yet really hydrating and will be perfect for warmer summer days.
Another product I know I will love until the end is Tata Harper Regenerating Eye Cream. It's not only a texture that I like (creamy but not too heavy. sinks in fast and moisturises well) or the smell (reminds me of Dr Hauschka eye cream) but also the effect on my skin. I don't know how to describe it, but it just looks and feels better. Instantly. The pump is a bit annoying because it deposits way too much product, I only need like a third of a pump because a little goes a long way (thank God, because this is one pricey eye cream!).
Zelens Power D is a lightweight oil which sinks in fast and leaves the skin comfortable and nourished. Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner also has some calming and soothing properties. Can't say much about anti-ageing but my skin liked it. And it smells good!
The only thing I haven't tried is the Dr Dennis Gross acid pads because I currently have three different forms of acids on rotation (liquid, serum and mask. and not all at the same time!) and I need to finish some of them up.
I wish the box had included some kind of fancy SPF but that's just me being super picky. All in all, money well spent. I am probably sorted for most things skincare until autumn. Except SPF.
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