#boxes that come with skincare and perfumes and old bottles i keep them all

[lostmykeysie]

Uhm, hello. Not necessarily an ask. Read the first two chapters of The Horcrux Hunt and I just have to tell you: you write magnificently. The amount of times I've caught myself giggling maniacally as I scroll down in excitement for MORE -- really, what have you done to me... It's so good. WHY IS IT SO GOOD?? How dare you, honestly.

STOP HELLO THANK YOU HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

first of all i was keeping this like a selfish little hamster gerbil thing that keeps things hidden (i have literally never met a gerbil i have no idea if this is on brand but it feels right so go with it, and i hate hamsters because i am actually lowkey (highkey) afraid of small animals and i once got stung by a wasp and then immediately had to hold someones hamster and it was TERRIBLE and so wriggly and then it pissed on me but that might have been because i was flailing it around a bit my bad but literally the worst thing about that day was the hamster not even the wasp) so i can come and look at it and probs tear up a bit and then giggle and roll around on my bed and then maybe hide under my bed

but then i realised it's probably RUDE because you've come and been so nice to me when you didn't have to so thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

i feel like PERSONALLY we should all be reading and giggling maniacally like this is exactly my aim in life you probably couldn't have given me a better compliment!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i just want us to hold hands a teehee over all these stupid things is that too much to ask!!!!!!

also i hope that the rest of THH and maybe even TML if you're a read as you go person have been up to ur giggling standards xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[talonted]

I decided to combine July and August’s Skincare Shake Up post as my skin has been a bit tricky recently and I wanted to make absolutely sure that my skincare wasn’t contributing to that. It’s been flipping warm in the UK, I did some travelling, and I’ve also had a busy and stressful couple of months with work – a perfect storm for reactive skin. So welcome to a bumper Skincare Shake Up post!

Here’s my standard Skincare Shake Up blurb, just in case you’re new around here: I always split the Skincare Shake Up posts into my evening and morning routines. Sometimes there are products that crossover but typically they will be different. I have a system where I label which products are ‘must haves’ and which are ‘nice to haves’ when building a routine, which products do what, what order to use them in, etc. I use a code: MH for ‘must have’, NTH for ‘nice to have’. The products are listed in the order in which I use them and I’ll try to explain why if there’s a specific reason for that. I try to include as much info on ingredients or extra details as possible (e.g. if it’s vegan, perfume-free, alcohol-free) but please bear in mind that my information isn’t exhaustive and you should still do research to double check this if these things are important to you.

SKINCARE SHAKE UP: EVENING ROUTINE

First cleanse (MH if you wear heavy make up and/or SPF) – We’ve spoken about The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil at length so let’s not do this again. All you need to know is that it makes light work of make up, doesn’t irritate my eyes or skin, and I love it.

Second cleanse (MH even if you don’t wear make up) – I’d never tried anything from Fresh before, but if all their stuff is as nice as the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* then I clearly need to do some investigating. It’s a gentle gel that leaves my skin feeling clean but happy. It contains rosewater and cucumber so it’s very soothing, but FYI the cucumber smell is very strong so if you’re not a fan of that scent (I know you weirdos are out there somewhere) then maybe swerve this one. (By the way, this is limited edited packaging – the usual one is much less exciting!)

Facial spritz (NTH, but very calming and cooling for warm nights/warm faces!) – I had never heard of or used anything from Sanoflore but I am very impressed with the Sanoflore Rose Floral Water Revitalising Toner Mist*. Facial mists really divide people, and I can see why for some they are a pointless step in their skincare, but for me they are invaluable. They soothe and cool the skin instantly, something that I’m always looking for. This one is certified organic and has no added fragrance. If you want to use it as a toner just apply it to a cotton pad and sweep aross the skin, but I’ve been using it just as a facial spray and love it.

Exfoliation (exfoliation is a MH if you have dull or dehydrated skin, and chemical exfoliation is a kinder option if you have sensitive skin) – I’m continuing to use the Medik8 Blemish Control Pads* and they are definitely having an impact on my congested nose and chin.

Serum (NTH – I can’t be without serums but if you want to streamline your routine/save money you could skip) – I’m combining the Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion and the Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster Serum* (Boots or Escentual). The former is a watery-essence lotion that I apply before my retinol step below – a great tip to form a buffer on the skin if you’re worried that retinol may irritate your skin. The latter is a new discovery that I’ve wanted to try ever since I heard that Sali Hughes rates it, and if it’s good enough for her…! More than just a hydrating serum (although it does that in spades!) it also works to strengthen the skin barrier, and protects against the effects of pollution. It’s also free from oil, fragrance, silicones, parabens, alcohol and colourants. It’s a delight to use, as you can probably see from the depleted bottle below!

Retinol (if you’re targeting fine lines and texture it’s a MH) – I think I’ve been using the La Roche Posay Redermic R Intensive cream* (Boots or Escentual) for about 9 months now and I have no reason to stop. It has improved the texture, fine lines, and appearance of my skin immeasurably and I love it.

Moisturiser (MH for most people, even if you’re oily) – As I’m totally in love with the Hyalu B5 serum, I knew I needed to try the La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Moisturiser* (Boots or Escentual). Like the serum it helps to plump the skin, keep it hydrated, and looking healthier and smoother. If you have dehydrated skin and/or are worried about signs of ageing, then this is a lovely and easy product to slip into your routine.

Treatment (MH for anyone with sensitive/sunburned/aggravated/dry skin) – I’ve been a fan of the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 (Boots or Escentual) for many years. It’s been the product I slather on when my skin feels tight and dry, although I’ve often mentioned that it’s a little heavy for every day use. So imagine my unbridled joy when I heard that La Roche Posay had released the Cicaplast Gel B5 (Escentual). I’m going to do a blog post with more details but it has all the goodness of the original but in a lighter formula – the dream!

  SKINCARE SHAKE UP: MORNING ROUTINE

Cleansing (MH to remove dirt, oil, sweat, dead skin) – I’m still using the Klorane Floral Water Make Up Remover* but have switched it to my morning cleanse. It works perfectly to refresh my skin, even during that crazy heatwave!

Vitamin C (NTH) – I’m still using the La Roche Posay Redermic C10* (Boots or Escentual) and still loving it. If you would like to target signs of ageing (fine lines, loss of firmness, dull skin) but are worried that it will aggravate your skin, this is a great introductory vitamin C product.

Serum (NTH – I can’t be without serums but if you want to streamline your routine/save money you could skip) – Are you bored of hearing about this serum yet? Because I’m not bored of using it! The La Roche Posay HyaluB5 serum* (Boots or Escentual) is light, has immediate and also long-term effects on my skin (smoother, more supple, plumper, more glowy) and I already have my back up bottle ready for when this one bites the dust.

Moisturiser (MH) – Another product from Sanoflore, the Sanoflore Rosa Angelica Morning Rehydrating Concentrate* is a really lovely lightweight moisturiser that has a fairly strong peach and rose scent (100% natural fragrance apparently). I’m not a huge fan of the smell, but my face felt lovely after using it. As with the facial spray, it’s also certified organic.

SPF (ABSOLUTE MH) – I’ve come crawling back to the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light 50+ SPF* (Boots or Escentual) �� last month I strayed and although I really enjoyed using the Ultrasun SPF, it just wasn’t as perfect for me as this one. What can I say, it ticks all my boxes!

Mask/treatments (NTH if you have specific issues you would like to target) – I’m still using the Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Cream* for my mask. My skin has been very temperamental this month due to stress and the weather, and this thick cream is aimed at skin that is dry, compromised, or in recovery. I’ve been using it 2-3 times a week and it’s really helped calm down my angry skin.

I think this was a classic Skincare Shake Up edition – lots of old favourites alongside some new and exciting brands and products. Do any of these catch your eye? What skincare are you loving right now? Let me know in the comments!

Lex

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==PIN ME FOR LATER!==

Skincare Shake Up: July and August ’18 Edition I decided to combine July and August's Skincare Shake Up post as my skin has been a bit tricky recently and I wanted to make absolutely sure that my skincare wasn't contributing to that.

[boxession]

Firstly I’d like to say a massive thank you to guys over at ccbeauty.co.uk for sending me the amazing December edition of the box. CC Beauty is a make up and skincare subscription box that mainly features high-end products. The overall RRP of CC Beauty is always outstanding compared to what you pay for it. It is a luxury beauty box full of decadent high end beauty and makeup products each month. The December 2017 edition is truly a special one including an amazing designer brand, I really felt Christmas had come a week early when I unbowed this box. It a total treat and I felt truly spoilt and pampered. You can see my live unboxing here…

GUCCI EYE, Impact longwear eye pencil with sharpener. RRP £28. The first thing I noticed when I picked out this eye pencil was the luxurious packaging, the long black cardboard box was embossed with the Gucci logo all over it which in itself looked expensive and high-end, it also featured the GUCCI name in gold foil embossing, and the contents of the box also in gold foil. This is the kind of packaging you feel guilty throwing away, so much effort has gone into a piece of packaging you are going to be putting in the bin. I received the eye pencil in the shade cocoa, as you can probably guess from the name it is a rich warm chocolate brown shade. This shade is perfect for me to line my lower lash line just under my eyelids. I prefer a brown liner to a black as I wear a strong black wing on my upper eyelid and feel black on the lower lash line as well is too strong, therefore a brown smudged out subtle smokey line is the perfect balance and frames and defines my eye shape perfectly. The liner itself was soft and glided on beautifully, it was a pleasure to use and smudged out wonderfully. The eyeliner featured a blending sponge on one end that worked really well to give a subtle smokey line and to blend out the harsh initial line the liner gives. The eyeliner was supposed to be long wearing and although I can’t say what it would be like on its own as I did use a setting spray, it did last all day and until I washed it off that evening with only a little bit of wear and tear in the inner corner of my eye where it had faded a little and smudge slightly. Other than this it was still perfect. The eye liner also came with a black pencil sharpener featuring the Gucci logo, very handy as you know what us ladies are like, we tend to own ten pencil sharpeners and can never find the right one if we find one at all. This is definitely an item I will be keeping and not gifting to anyone and I believe will become my go to eyeliner. An absolute winner in my eyes.

GUCCI LIP, luxurious pigment rich lipstick. RRP £23. The packaging containing this lipstick again was stunning, the same black embossed box, with the gold leaf detailing, pure luxury, packaging like this sets high-end miles apart from drugstore brands before you even open the box. The lipstick was in the shade 250 dark romance and was a rich burgundy red colour, the pigment was strong it looked almost black before applying. The name of the shade “dark romance” was fitting too as it looked like expensive red wine, Red velvety roses, dark raspberry chocolate truffles. All things romantic, decadent and luxurious. The lipstick was creamy and applied easily like butter. I loved the colour on me as dark reds are my ultimate favourite colour. It was satin finish with a beautiful subtle and sexy shine. It lasted well and only needed reapplying twice throughout the day. It was not transfer proof but more a classic and traditional formula. Another winner for me, especially around this time of the year when I prefer to wear my deeper red coloured lipsticks.

GUCCI Première, Eau de Toilette, 5ml. RRP £5 (based on £31 per 30ml). I really enjoy miniature perfumes, not sample vials but the actual mini versions of the full size bottles, these look really cute and pretty on your vanity and they are a great value way of trying new fragrances without buying the full size version and not liking it. These handy sizes are perfect for holidays and weekends away or just popping in your handbag. The miniature bottle itself was very sweet and cute looking, a tinted glass bottle with a gold lid with the GUCCI name on the lid in the typical première cursive font. The smell was strong and powerful, definitely a statement perfume, the kind of fragrance strangers are going to comment on. Also used regularly it is one of those perfumes that people will smell on others and instantly think of you. The fragrance is elegant and feminine with powerful and vigorous top notes of wood and musk and the feminine undernotes of floral Bergamot and orange blossom. This perfume was released to celebrate “old Hollywood” and debuted at the 2010 Cannes film festival. I think this is the perfect fragrance tribute to the old iconic Hollywood actresses and to celebrate an era of style and sophistication in the film industry years past.

Cargo Cosmetics, land down under palette. RRP £30. This full size palette as you can probably guess by the name has a colour scheme influenced by all things Australian. Think shades related to sun, Sea, Sand, rocks and lush greenery and bush and you can predict the colours featured in this 12 shade palette. The eye shadows are pigmented and good quality, I experienced more fall out when I used them than I would have liked. They applied easily and blended well. The colours were all quite natural and neutral with the addition of a few blues and greens. It’s definitely a palette you could use alone and not need any additional single eye shadows. Opera is a shade that would work well as an all over base colour, joey is a perfect transition shade and the shades rocks and ferry are great crease colours. You then have a good collection of shimmer colours for the lid. Beach is a beautiful champagne shimmer shade perfect to highlight the brow bone and inner corner of the Eyes. Lastly you have two daring blues for a more adventurous look and a forest green, a lovely colour for a subtle pop of colour in your crease and lower lash line for an alternative different smokey eye look. I would really recommend this palette for beginners experimenting with eyeshadow and makeup too as it has a few picture demos of different looks on the box and also the shades are easy to work with and all go well together. The palette also contains a black eyeliner pencil which is good quality and easy to wear and a good quality double ended fluffy eyeshadow brush.

MAKE UP FOREVER, artist plexiglass gloss lip lacquer. RRP £16. This is the only item in the box I’m not overly fussed on, this is totally personal preference though as I have a disliking to lip gloss. I did try this gloss though and my verdict on it is good even if I would not wear it myself. I received the shade 209 which is an almost neon pink, unfortunately bright pinks are the only colour I cannot for the life in me make look good on me, it is the one colour I really don’t suit. The gloss though was very pigment and ultra glossy, almost looked like coloured, polished glass on my lips. It was long wearing but like all glosses it was sticky and transferred onto anything and everything, the reason I personally do not like lip glosses. The applicator distributed it perfectly and evenly and it only took one swipe on each lip to cover well, I would 100% recommend this product to anyone that does like lip gloss as the coverage, colour and shine were all really great. Overall I loved the December edition of CC Beauty and I am looking forward to seeing if they live up to this boxes standards in the future. Each item was good quality, good wearable shades for the majority of people and popular shades this time of the year. The value of the box was overwhelmingly fantastic and amazing compared to the price of the subscription. I loved this box and even though I could never wear the gloss, this is a personal preference and the quality and shade of the gloss would be popular and well suited to the majority of women, as much as I love pink I just cannot make it work for me.

  Thank you for reading,

Katieemma xoxo

The price of CC Beauty is £29.99 per month, the value of the box is usually triple that. You can sign up for a 3 month subscription and pay monthly or prepay for a 3 month subscription and only pay £75, that’s the equivalent to £25 per month.

Use the code ‘DECEMBEREDITION’ to get £5 off this month’s box!

Price of Box – £29.99

RRP value of box – £102

To order cc beauty or for more info please visit their website or social media accounts.

https://ccbeauty.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/ccbeautyltd/

CC Beauty Box Review by Katie – December 2017 Firstly I'd like to say a massive thank you to guys over at ccbeauty.co.uk for sending me the amazing December edition of the box.

[mypearlssales]

Bio Oil Review - Does It Work For Reducing Stretch Marks & Scars

If like me, the words ‘stretch marks’ send shivers down your spine, then you’ve probably wondered if there’s a way to get rid of them. Nearly every woman alive, whether they are young or old, has likely worried about forming stretch marks at some point in their life. If and when pregnancy becomes part of your life, there’s no avoiding the fact that your skin will stretch and expand in order to accommodate the miracle of life. This can and does result in stretch marks. For the lucky ones this might be barely noticeable, for others it can lead to your skin looking like a zebra’s fur coat. So, when bio-oil made an appearance, it’s not surprising that it took the world by storm. Not only does bio oil promise to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, uneven skin and even rejuvenate skin, it’s also got a growing legion of fans that claim it works. In this bio-oil review, we’ll try to get to the bottom of this craze and determine once and for all if this product actually works.

Check Price on Amazon

Bio-Oil

If you take a look at the back of a bio-oil bottle you’ll find a ton of ingredients listed, some of which might be familiar and some of which might be completely new to you. In terms of skin repair and care, we’re largely interested in the following:

Rosemary oil has been used for a long time for reducing inflamed areas of skin and for assisting in the repair of small wounds. This means it’s ideally suited for repairing and reducing the appearance of scars.

Chamomile oil has claimed benefits related to evening out skin tones and pigmentation.

Lavender oil is known for its antioxidant properties, which works to reduce the damage that everyday life can throw at your skin. 

Calendula oil is a great moisturizer and is therefore especially good at treating dry skin.

Vitamin A and Vitamin E are antioxidants which work to repair damaged cells.

Packaging of Bio Oil

Like most other available skincare products, the Bio-Oil bottle comes in a fairly plain but functional white cardboard box, this box also houses the instruction manual. The instruction manual contains several easy to understand illustrations which make using the product a breeze, it’s a nice touch which saves the consumer from reading a bunch of text.

The bottle itself is a fairly non-descript slightly opaque bottle with a screw on cap. The bottle's opening is covered by a white cap with a small hole which will restrict the flow of oil, this addition is ideal for me, given that I’ve got a gift for spilling expensive perfumes and oils within seconds of opening. Looking at the bottle, the oil has a slight orange tint, thankfully when poured out the oil looks for all intents and purposes, completely transparent. So, you don’t need to worry about dying yourself or your clothes orange. The smaller 60ml version is ideal for travelling, it’ll fit into most handbags easily, and it’s well under the TSA liquids allowance. Given that the packaging is pretty sturdy and as long as the cap is screwed on, there’s unlikely to be any worries about leaking in your bag.

Bio Oil Benefits and Uses

Before we deep dive into the effectiveness of Bio-Oil, we need to make it clear that the company that manufacturers Bio-Oil does not make any claims that it can completely remove scars or make stretch marks disappear entirely. Its goal is simply to reduce the appearance of such marks. With that now out of the way, let’s proceed with the rest of the review and see what this product has to offer:

Bio-Oil For Scars

Never apply Bio-Oil to an open wound, it will not prevent scarring, this needs to be stressed. Applying Bio-Oil to an open wound is just asking for an infection, one which will make the scarring worse when the wound finally heals. If you have an already healed scar, then this is a perfect candidate for Bio-Oil, but remember, it won’t completely remove scars, it’ll just lessen the appearance.

To test the effectiveness of Bio-Oil at reducing the appearance of scars I’ve enlisted the assistance of our office assistant Julie. Julie has a scar on her back from a minor surgery performed a couple of years ago, can Bio-Oil reduce the appearance of this scar with consistent use? The answer is, yes. As you can see in the picture below, the scar has lightened and now more closely matches the tone of the surrounding skin. The scar is still visible, but I would hope with continued use it would become even more indistinguishable from the surrounding skin. For full disclosure, this was with one month of continued use and to the best of our ability, we’ve used the same lighting conditions and camera.

Bio-Oil For Pregnancy Stretch Marks

For many women around the world, stretch marks are part in parcel of being pregnant, but can they be prevented and reduced with the use of Bio-Oil? Many women around the world swear by this treatment, so it must do something right? My mother in law advised me throughout my pregnancy to use Bio-Oil, I just nodded, smiled and filed it under old wives tails. Roll on 9 months and my abdomen looked like it’s gone through several rounds with Wolverine. Keen to restore my skin to its former flawless beauty (ahem), I took the decision to try Bio-Oil for myself. Surprisingly, it worked… sort off. It didn’t restore my stomach to that of a 21-year-old, but it did improve things. I still look like I’ve had a child, which is fine, but at least I don’t look like Freddie Kruger's practice dummy. My biggest regret is that I didn’t pay more attention to my mother in law and started using Bio-Oil at the start of my pregnancy. It was this that prompted me to write this article.

Bio-Oil For Uneven Skin Tone

This was a difficult scenario to test. As far as I know, variations in skin tone can be caused by a huge variety of factors, for example, the sun, location on the body, exposure to chaffing, dirt? So, how do we test? I thought screw it, I’ll rub it everywhere and see what happens. Surprisingly, the bags under my eyes looked less pronounces, but that could also be a side effect of my wee one starting to sleep through the night. I welcome anyone else’s feedback on this one, if you’ve tried Bio-Oil to even out skin tones, please let me know, good or bad.

Bio-Oil For Aging Skin

Seeing as I’m already a vision of youthful invigoration, I palmed this one off to my Mum. According to the blurb, Bio-Oil restores ageing skin to its former glory by improving the collagen and elastin content in your skin. So, what did my Mum think? She loves it and continues to use it today. Did it make her look younger? Seeing as my Mum will be reading this, of course, it did, but not that she needed it. In all seriousness, she likes it and tells me it’s working, which is what really matters.

Bio-Oil For Dry Skin

I’m already aware that many of the essential oils contained within Bio-Oil are excellent for moisturizing the skin, so you would expect Bio-Oil to be a good moisturizer, and it is. I would happily keep using it for its moisturizing ability alone. It’s definitely a thumb’s up from me.

Bio-Oil Pros

Sturdy bottle that can be easily transported without fear of leakage.

The oil is easily absorbed and doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy. 

It has a very light aroma which is by no means overpowering. After a minute you’ll barely notice its presence.

Most importantly, it seems to deliver on what it promises.

A little bit goes a long way, which means a bottle literally lasts for ages.

Bio-Oil Cons

The cost per bottle is a little bit expensive.

It might not be the best choice for people that already have oily skin.

Availability in the shops can sometimes be limited.

Bio Oil Review

Bio-Oil came into my life not long after I had given birth. I was tired, stressed and overwhelmed by the new responsibility in my life. I barely had time to eat properly, let alone adhere to a beauty routine. My opinion of my body was at an all-time low, I had stretch marks, I looked exhausted and my pregnancy weight seemed to be stubbornly sticking around. Needless to say, my self-esteem was very low.

Something needed to change! Thankfully my husband was a massive help and did more than his fair share of baby duty. I set aside a couple of nights a week to attend trampoline fitness classes and did what I could to eat well, sleep well and try to enjoy my new life. But what could I do about stretch marks? I did some research, tried various home remedies and creams and was just about to give up when my mother in law again reminded me about Bio-Oil. At this point, I was ready to give anything a go.

Simply put, Bio-Oil is brilliant. I’m not a fan of greasy skin care products, I was very much pleasantly surprised when I found out that it was not greasy at all, and would be absorbed into my skin in a matter of seconds. The oil is so light that it barely feels like I’ve applied anything at all, which really is a testament to how spot on the formulation is.

I had feared using an oil-based product would end up blocking my pores and causing a breakout of spots, but thankfully, this did not happen. If anything, my skin actually felt much cleaner and fresh. My stretch marks have faded significantly over 3 months of consistent usage. My skin is healthy, hydrated and feels better than it has in years. Bio-Oil is seriously worth every single penny. I don’t think I’ll ever stop using it.

How To Use Bio Oil in 4 Easy Steps

Rub a few drops of Bio-Oil between your fingers.

Using your fingertips massage the oil into the affected area.

Massage in a circular motion to ensure even coverage.

Repeat this twice daily to for at least three months to see effects.

Rating 4.7/5

Do I Recommend Bio-Oil?

Yes, two thumbs up. Treat your skin to something extraordinary. Bio-Oil has a legion of followers and it’s easy to see why. It’s a great product that actually works. But don’t take my word for it, grab yourself a bottle and see for yourself.

  from My Pearls - Blog https://www.mypearls.co.uk/blogs/news/bio-oil-review-does-it-work-for-reducing-stretch-marks-scards