Gentle Cleansers for Sensitive Skin
Favourite Skincare Beauty Tools Worth the Hype
I am a big fan of beauty tools and I remember popping into Boots to buy the No.7 Cleansing Brush (I sadly don't have it again or can't find it) a while ago because I wanted something more for my cleansing routine. Over the years, I have tried quite a few beauty tools which are mainly skincare and one or two for body care. I also have reviews for majority of them so I will link them where appropriate.
I just wanted to share these tools especially now that I have used them for at least 4 years or more and provide updates. I also filmed a video which I will above. I would greatly appreciate it if you also subscribed to my channel over here.
June 2020 Beauty Favourites
Do people even still do monthly favourites? I absolutely love reading monthly favourites and tend to click on them on YouTube. This is my first favourites for this year and to be fair, I think these products can stand for a half- year favourites.
Biore Agave and Baking Soda Anti-Blemish Cleansing Foam // Link //£5.99: This is a favourite that I would say grew on me. I was out shopping in Sainsbury's just before lock down and I remembered I had run out of my usual Neutrogena Cleansers. I spotted this cleanser and I am not sure what made me pick it up but I did. I usually steer clear from foaming cleansers because they don't agree with my combination-oily skin and tend to leave my sin feeling a bit dry. This Biore Cleanser claims to cleanse the skin and get rid of blemishes without leaving the skin to dry. Its star ingredients are Salicylic Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate. I love that it has a pump which makes it easy and hygienic to use when I am in a hurry. I have to say it does do a great job in leaving my skin blemish free. The few times I have broken out and used it, I have noticed that it really helped my skin get better. My skin still feels dry after using it but not as dry as I have experienced with other foaming cleansers so I guess it is a small price to pay since it does what it promises.
CULT 51 Day Cream//£100 (Link) and Night Cream //£125 (Link): This is a slightly expensive brand but it is such a great one and well worth the price tag in my opinion. I was initially sent products from the brand to trial out and I have gone on to repurchase which is a true testament to how much I enjoy using them. The Day Cream has the right texture for every season of the year and helps my skin adapt to any changes. The Night Cream feels slightly richer but it works so well with my skin. They both keep my skin hydrated and moisturised and I never really have to use other skincare products when I use them (although I still do) because I love skin care. I would say if you are in your 30's and want a great skincare brand that works well for all skin types, I will recommend checking the CULT 51 range out.
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA // Link //£7.00: This serum has been a firm favourite for years and I tend to use it a lot all through the year. I have gone through several bottles and have stopped counting because it will always be a product I reach for. I use it mainly to help with my hyper pigmentation and I have to say I have seen sustained improvements. I know it may not work for everyone and if it has not worked for you, I suggest trying out other The Ordinary Serums or Creams including Niacinamide, Azeliac Acid, Mandelic Acid, etc as they also help with hyper pigmentation. I use this straight after my exfoliating toner (usually a Glyoclic Acid based one) and let it sink in before I go in with my moisturiser. It gets absorbed easily and I use it day and night. It does not feel drying because it also has Hyaluronic Acid in it so it balances out.
LA Pro Girl Matte HD Long Wear Foundation // Link // £9.95: If ever there's an award for the makeup product I have repurchased the most, it will go straight to this foundation. It is one foundation that has not let me down except that it is not easily accessible. I have always purchased it online from JustmyLook and I remember the first time I was purchasing it, I was scared because I had read quite a few not-so-great reviews of the website. Thankfully, I have not experienced any bad service and I hope it remains that way. If you have combination oily skin like me and prefer matte foundations that will last through the working day, I will highly suggest checking this foundation out. It is easy to apply, blends in well and sits matte all through the day. I use a primer before using it and set it with a powder and it gets me through the day. Unless it is a ridiculously hot day and I have been very active, I usually don't need to touch up with a blotting paper or powder. It is affordable at under £10 and the shade range is not the best but they are making an effort.
L'Oreal Infallible 24hr Matte Cover Foundation// Link //£9.99: I had run out of my LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation and was going away so had to pick this up from Boots and I am glad I did. I was drawn to this foundation because it reminded me of on old favourite L'Oreal Foundation (Pro Matte) as well which was amazing but not sold in the UK (my husband usually purchased them for me whenever he went to the US). This foundation is probably very similar to the US version but I don't think the shade range is as great or maybe Boots chose to stock only the shades they wanted. I purchased the shade 330 Hazelnut/Noisette and it is a good match for my complexion (could be better but it works well). It is a good matte formula and lasts all day. I particularly like the slim packaging and tiny tip which prevents wastage. I now alternate between the LA Girl Pro Mate Foundation and this one and they both have worked well. I use a primer underneath this foundation and a powder to set it. I have to say it may be slightly more matte than the LA Girl one however the LA Girl is a better match to my complexion.
L'Oreal Skinny Definer Brow Artist // Link // £7.99: I had finally ran out of my entire stash of the Soap and Glory Brow Filling Pencil in Dark Chocolate and I had no idea they had changed the formulation. I don't even know exactly what they have done but it is not longer the same and it still remains difficult to find in the drug store. I decided it was time to try something new and I was in such a fix so I checked out the L'Oreal stand and picked up the Skinny Definer Brow Artist. I got the shade Ebony 109 and it has been perfect for my brows. True to its name, it is really skinny so it gets into the little corners of my brows and it allows me customize my brows. I tend to use it to outline my brows and fill in with a powder product but it can be used to outline and fill in if you prefer. It has a really good spoolie at the end and I am so glad that it does not break easily. I have enjoyed using it and I am hoping it is here to stay.
Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Refill (Round Pans Discontinued): I purchased these Makeup Geek Powder Eyeshadows a little while ago and I tend to use them every now and again. Recently I popped them into an empty MAC Quad Palette and they have been so handy. I think I have used the eyeshadows in this quad for such a long time and I now need to repurchase more MUG eyeshadows. I believe they may have changed these eyeshadow refills to square pans and have discontinued the round pans (I am heartbroken but I may try out the square pans soon). It's a shame Beauty Bay no longer carry this brand as I am finding it difficult repurchasing it. Anyway, the eyeshadows in my quad include Vanilla Bean, Cocoa Bear, Morocco and Glamourous. I have other shades but I will talk about them later. I love how pigmented they are and they last all day (I use an eyeshadow primer though but I feel they would work well without a primer). I use them almost everyday even when I use other eyeshadow palettes, I still find myself reaching out for at least one or two eyeshadows from my MUG stash. If anyone knows where I can still buy the round pans in the UK at a sensible price, please leave a link or comment below.
L'Oreal Skinny Definer Brow Artist // Link // £7.99: I had finally ran out of my entire stash of the Soap and Glory Brow Filling Pencil in Dark Chocolate and I had no idea they had changed the formulation. I don't even know exactly what they have done but it is not longer the same and it still remains difficult to find in the drug store. I decided it was time to try something new and I was in such a fix so I checked out the L'Oreal stand and picked up the Skinny Definer Brow Artist. I got the shade Ebony 109 and it has been perfect for my brows. True to its name, it is really skinny so it gets into the little corners of my brows and it allows me customize my brows. I tend to use it to outline my brows and fill in with a powder product but it can be used to outline and fill in if you prefer. It has a really good spoolie at the end and I am so glad that it does not break easily. I have enjoyed using it and I am hoping it is here to stay.
Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Refill (Round Pans Discontinued): I purchased these Makeup Geek Powder Eyeshadows a little while ago and I tend to use them every now and again. Recently I popped them into an empty MAC Quad Palette and they have been so handy. I think I have used the eyeshadows in this quad for such a long time and I now need to repurchase more MUG eyeshadows. I believe they may have changed these eyeshadow refills to square pans and have discontinued the round pans (I am heartbroken but I may try out the square pans soon). It's a shame Beauty Bay no longer carry this brand as I am finding it difficult repurchasing it. Anyway, the eyeshadows in my quad include Vanilla Bean, Cocoa Bear, Morocco and Glamourous. I have other shades but I will talk about them later. I love how pigmented they are and they last all day (I use an eyeshadow primer though but I feel they would work well without a primer). I use them almost everyday even when I use other eyeshadow palettes, I still find myself reaching out for at least one or two eyeshadows from my MUG stash. If anyone knows where I can still buy the round pans in the UK at a sensible price, please leave a link or comment below.
I have to say June was a very minimalist month but I absolutely enjoyed using the above products and to be fair, these products have been favourites for quite a few months. I hope everyone is keeping well in the current pandemic that we are facing. Have you used any of the products in this post?
*Gifted PR Sample, read my full disclaimer here.
Best in Beauty 2018 (Skincare)
Makeup Removers
In 2018, I stuck to my tried and trusted makeup removers - Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water//£4.99 and Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water//£10.80. I actually prefer the original Garnier Micellar Water (pink bottle) to the other versions. I have run out of my pink one so I could not get a photo of it but the Garnier Micellar Water for Combination Skin//£3.32 (green bottle) is also good. My ultimate favourite Micellar Water will always remain the Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water and I don't think it will be changing anytime soon unless some outstanding product is made to replace it. Both micellar waters were pretty much all I used throughout the year and they were amazing at removing my makeup (first cleanse) including my eye makeup. I actually did not really use a separate eye makeup remover for majority of the year because my micellar waters did a great a job.
Cleansers
I tried quite a few cleansers in 2018 and my favourite for the year was the Neutrogena range. I loved the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gelee Milk Cleanser*//£7.99 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser *//£7.99 which were both amazing because they don't dry out my skin and my face feels/looks clean. Towards the end of the year, I decided to try out another range and purchased the Neutrogena Pore & Shine Daily Wash//£4.99 and I absolutely love it too. It has the same texture as the Hydroboost one but it is not as hydrating nevertheless it smells so delicious and does not strip my skin. I am so surprised it took me so long to try this cleanser and now I know I will be repurchasing several backups.
Eye Creams/Serum
I did not try too many eye creams/serums in 2018 rather I tried to use up all my well loved ones. Top on my list still remains the Lancome Advanced Genifique Yeux //£40 which has been a favourite for many moons. It just works so well for my under eyes and it does last a good while so it is worth its expensive price tag. Two other favorites were the Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Patch*//£47 (on sale) and the Botanics All Bright Eye Roll-On*//£6.75 which were perfect for my very short nights especially when I was on-call from work. I am looking to try more eye care products to see if I will find new favourites. I have already purchased the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Patches and will be sharing my thoughts soon.
Toner/Astringents/Chemical Exfoliators
I did not try any new ones in 2018 but I fell deeply in love with my usual favourites because I stuck with them for longer times. The first is the Pixi Glow Tonic//£18 which is my perfect everyday glycolic acid solution which works wonders for my skin. I also tried out The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Solution//£6.80 which I used for many months and enjoyed how clear it kept my skin. It contains 7% glycolic acid which is slightly more than what the Pixi Glow Tonic contains (5%) so I did find slightly better outcomes initially with it. I have repurchased several backups so I don't run out. My all time favourite remains the Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion// £56 because it is just perfect for my skin. It is still very expensive and quite difficult to get online so I whip it out when my skin is seriously playing up. I also purchased the Pixi Rose Tonic//£10 and Pixi Retinol Tonic//£10 which I am currently trying out and will share my thoughts soon.
Serums
I tried quite a few new serums last year and I feel like I need to do a separate post talking about each of them. For my 2018 favourites, I think it has to go to The Ordinary Serums because I used them consistently for the most part of 2018 and I saw amazing results. My all time favourite serum is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin//£7 which has been instrumental in helping me clear my hyperpigmentation. I used it along with the The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5%//£5.50 initially and then moved onto The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% //£5.99. I was so delighted when Deciem launched The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid + Alpha Arbutin //£10 because I had heard how effective using both ingredients were. It is such an amazing product and I tend to use it mainly at night because it has more of an oily texture. I will highly recommend checking them out if your skin is playing up. I also loved my Biologique Recherche Placenta Serum//£63 which really helps with hyperpigmentation. It is very expensive and you do have to buy it in-store but it is totally worth and works so well with my skin.
Moisturisers
In 2018, I was not too precious about my moisturisers because I feel like my serums were doing all the hard work. Two moisturisers I loved were the Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturiser*//£65 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturisers* (Gel-Cream//£12.99 and Water Gel//£12.99). They both helped my skin stay hydrated and protected it against environmental factors. I tend to use the Water Gel during the day as it has a lighter texture and save the Gel-Cream for nights because it is creamier. I love how easy they both are to apply on the skin and they absorb quickly without feeling greasy or interfering with my makeup.
Sunscreen
I am not going to lie, I don't think I was very good at using sunscreen everyday in 2018. I currently live in Scotland and the weather is pretty cold with minimal sunshine for the most part. I know it does not matter whether the sun is shining as sunscreen is essential but it is easier to remember to use sunscreen when you look out of your window and the sun is shining. I am much better now in 2019 and using my sunscreens like I should. During summer in 2018, I enjoyed whipping out my favourite sunscreens which happen to be the Institut Esthederm Bronze Repair*//£56 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Lotion SPF 25*//£6.49. My all time favourite has to be the Bronze Repair though because it ticks all the boxes for me and it is a pleasure to use. The Neutrogena sunscreen is a close contender because it is easy to work into my skin and feels like a regular face lotion. I still love my La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50 which has featured in almost all my yearly favourites.
Masks/Peels
The funny thing is I did not use many masks in 2018 because I was just so busy but for the few times I could squeeze in some time, I had one absolute favourite. The Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel*//£55 was my go-to mask whenever my skin looks dull. I love that you can see an immediate radiance to the skin and my skin loves it. It has a slight sting when you initially use it but over time, it does get better. Would you believe I still have not tried out The Ordinary AHA/BHA Peel? It is still sat in my skincare drawer. I am going to try it out tonight as I am on annual leave so there is no excuse. I will share my thoughts on Instagram.
Exfoliators/Scrubs
I am more of a chemical exfoliator kind of girl but every now and again I love using a good old scrub. Many scrubs can be very abrasive and yet they never do a good job but I am so glad I have found three that are my absolute favourites that work so well- The Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser*//£35, Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant*//£55 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliator Smoothing Gel*//£7.99. These three have worked both as scrubs and cleansers for me. They all have their merits but the main thing they do is gently exfoliating my skin without being too abrasive but nevertheless doing the job. I will highly recommend trying them especially if you prefer physical exfoliators.
Beauty Tools
I am sure everyone must be bored of hearing me by now but FOREO skincare devices are the absolute best. I have used different versions of the FOREO Luna Mini*//£119 over the past few years and I still feel so positive about them. I use my FOREO Luna Mini at least once a day and this has been consistent through the years. I will highly recommend purchasing one because they are so worth it and the battery life lasts forever. I think I only need to recharge mine twice or maybe thrice a year which is more than impressive. I also have my cute Luna Play*//£29 which I take with me whenever I am travelling for very short trips. It does not have a rechargeable battery but it last for about 100 uses or so and it is a great way to try out FOREO Luna products. That's all my skincare favourites from 2018. What was your Holy Grail 2018 Beauty Product? Let me know in the comment box below.
*PR/Gifted + Affiliate links all used in this post, read my full disclaimer here.
Roze Mountain Skincare, Bath and Body Products Review
I love trying out new and smaller brands especially indigenous ones because I know they put in a lot of love into their products. I was very kindly contacted by Roze Mountain asking me try to out some products from their range. I had not heard about the brand before but I checked out the website and I loved what I saw. I was sent a variety of products from their range. I've had these lovely products for a pretty long time and this review should have been up ages ago so I am very glad I can finally talk about them now.
Brief Overview of the Brand
Roze Mountain is a botanical Indie Beauty brand which focuses on formulating and developing skincare products that deliver real value. The Founder (Morgane Rozenberg) believes that formulating is both a science and an art and it requires scientific knowledge, research skills as well as creativity to bring to life your dream product ! The great thing is that all their products are cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, halal-friendly, eco-friendly. kosher-friendly; just name it, they have it covered. Roze Mountain is constantly rebranding the products and I love seeing the progress the brand is making. You should follow their page on Instagram and Facebook to see new launches. They also offer custom formulation consultation so if you were ever thinking of creating your own skincare brand, Roze Mountain could help you with that because the founder is also a Certified Organic Cosmetic Formulator. You can find out more about it over here.
Packaging
I love the packaging as it is simple and functional. I love the amber bottles which protect the products from degradation and I particularly love the candle packaging as it is cute and easy to travel with if you love travelling with candles. The brand has now switched up their packaging which looks even better and I love it. You can check out their Instagram page if you want to see what the new packaging looks like.
Roze Mountain Plum Rose & Patchouli Soy Scented Candle* // Link // £18
The Plum Rose & Patchouli Candle is one of my favourites from all the products I've tried and it just smells divine. It is made with non-GMO Soy wax infused with fruity and floral notes. The great thing about this candle is that it is hand poured and burns evenly. It has really lasted me for a long while considering how often I have burnt it. It has a really soft pleasant fragrance which you can smell in a room but it is not very strong. I think it is great that it does not smell too strong as it is meant to be a relaxing scent. Now that it is Winter, I have been burning it more often. It does not tunnel which is a great plus for me because I can't deal with candles that tunnel. I particularly love the size because I can travel easily with it and the tub/jar is so pretty so it will definitely be used on my dresser.
Roze Mountain Soothing Face Serum Oil for Oily Skin*
I was very skeptical about trying another oil for my skin as I do prefer regular serums as opposed to serum oils. My skin is combination oily so I tend to avoid using too much oils because they sometimes break me out. However, I was quite keen to try this oil out because it is called a Serum Oil for Oily Skin. I know that using the right oil even with oily skin can help balance out the oil levels in the skin. First off, I love the packaging as it is quite dainty but very easy to use through the pump. It completely reminds me of a spa and it's such a pleasure to use. In terms of texture, it is a proper oily oil in the sense that you can definitely feel that you are using an oil on your face. I won't classify it as greasy but you can definitely feel it on your skin however it does sink in after a while. I opt for it more at night because I think it will interfere with my foundation. Using it at night means I wake up to really radiant skin and my skin also feels super soft which I did not expect. I did not break out from using this serum oil which is a big plus considering the slightly heavy texture. I have been reaching more for it now that the weather has changed and it has helped my skin a lot to retain its radiance. If you have dry skin, you will absolutely love this oil. If you do have combination oily skin or straight up oily skin, I will recommend it probably starting with a small amount and building up depending on how much your skin loves it.
Roze Mountain Bath Salts*
When we moved to our new house, we were delighted that there was a lovely Jacuzzi bath tub in one of the bathrooms and I told myself I will take a nice relaxing bath every week. Did that happen? Not a chance but I do make an effort every now and again. I tend to take showers more often than baths. However the few times I have run a bath, I have used the Roze Mountain Bath Salts and they totally made my bath even more relaxing. I am so obsessed with bath salts/crystals because they look so beautiful with their various shapes. I love the blue colour of these bath salts because they add a slight blue shade to my bath water and reminds me of the ocean/sea. The only thing that bothers my OCD self is the tiny black herbs which I am not a fan of although they give the bath salts their unique fragrance. I am so naughty and I take them out after a while because I just prefer the blue shade. The great thing is the bath salts retain their gorgeous fragrance and dissolve so well in the bath water. No blockages at all and I will highly recommend trying them out.
Roze Mountain Regenerating Chapped Lip Balm* // Link // £5
This is also one of my favourite products from the lot I was lucky to try out. I don't own many balms because sometimes they are so greasy and feel heavy on my lips. I prefer light lip balms that just sit right on my lips, moisturise my lips and keep it plump and I am delighted to say that the Roze Mountain Regenerating Chapped Lip Balm ticks all the boxes for me. I like that it comes in a bullet form so I don't have to dip my hands into a pot. It is very handy and it has to be my most used lip balm in 2018 and even till now in 20189. I barely notice it on my lips although I can see its full effect on keeping my lips from cracking/being chapped/dry. It has a slight pleasant fragrance and although it is a light pink shade, it does not add any colour to the lips. I tend to use it on its own (when I am going to work) or as a base for other lipsticks especially matte lipsticks and lip stains. It is one of those products I will repurchase when I run out and I will highly recommend trying it out. If you suffer from chapped/dry/cracked lips, say hello to your new lip best friend especially this A/W season.
Roze Mountain Romantic Massage Oil*
I am such a huge fan of anything massage and relaxation and I was intrigued about this massage oil. It comes in a spray bottle which allows for a great application of the oil with minimal mess. I particularly like that it sinks in without feeling greasy on my skin for too long. It smells absolutely gorgeous and very relaxing. Some of the ingredients include: Macadamia Oil, Jasmine, Patchouli to name a few. I love using this oil as a body oil especially now that it is Winter because it just leaves my skin feeling glossy and smells so glorious. I know it is meant to be a romantic massage oil but I have converted it to a general body elixir. It also works great with regular body lotions as it helps the skin retain moisture and infuses a great fragrance to any lotion I mix it with. I will highly recommend checking it out.
Roze Mountain Bath Oil*
I already mentioned I am more of a shower girl but the few times I take a relaxing bath, I have used the Roze Mountain Bath Oil and I love it. You only need a few drops and its beautiful scent really calms me down and just changes up my bath time. It comes in such a cute bottle which makes it really easy to travel with. While the bottle does not have a stopper or pipette, I have not experienced any mess when travelling with it because the lid is very secure and can be used to measure the perfect amount of oil needed for your bath.
Overall Thoughts
I have to say I have been really impressed with these products and they honestly surpassed my expectations. If I had to pick my absolute favourites from all the products I have tried, I will definitely recommend the Regenerated Chapped Lip Balm, the Romantic Massage Oil and the Plum Rose & Patchouli Candle. I am so grateful I was able to try such a lovely brand. Will you be trying any products from the brand? Let me know in the comments section.
*PR Sample, read my full disclaimer here.
Glossier UK Review
Packaging
If there is one thing that instantly caught my attention, it has to be the packaging. I am not usually a crazy pink lover but I love the shade of pink used in the brand. It is a soft pink that feels feminine without being too girly. I love the pink and white theme of the entire brand and how minimal the packaging is. I am not going to lie; I was looking forward to ordering so I could get the pink ziploc pouches and stickers (super big baby me!!). It's so silly but I think it is a unique touch and really stands out. The pink ziplock-like pouch is very handy for travelling. I actually want to place more orders just so I can have more pouches. My order came really well packaged in a white box with all the products in the pouch, stickers and some samples. The box is really sturdy and can be used to store makeup or any bits you fancy. I love the minimalist theme of all the products and they look so pretty in my bathroom, dresser and makeup drawer. They just look very aesthetic and photograph well.
Milk Jelly Cleanser // Link //£15
This definitely has to be one product I really wanted to try because I have read several reviews and watched countless videos on it. I was really glad I could finally see what the hype was all about. I love the bottle as it is very handy although it contains 177ml of product. It is quite travel friendly and I love that it has a safety pump lock to prevent any accidents. Glossier describe the Milky Jelly Cleanser as the ultimate daily face wash that dissolves makeup and grime. It can be used on dry skin or wet skin but I prefer it on wet skin. It contains Glycerin, Rosewater, Pro-Vitamin B5 among other ingredients so it does feel quite moisturising. I feel like people with dry skin will adore it. I don't think it is great at removing my makeup (I do full coverage whenever I wear makeup) and I almost feel like I want to go back with another cleanser whenever I use it. However, it is amazing as a morning cleanser as it feels gentle and non-stripping. It gives my skin a clean feel in the morning but a gentle one which is one I prefer for mornings. Sometimes, I feel like I still have some product on my face but I actually don't; it's just the texture of the Milky Jelly Cleanser. I have mixed feelings about it because I wished it could work well as a cleanser and makeup remover (so I could use it in the evening). Still, I think I will repurchase it at some point. If you are looking for a similar texture, I will highly recommend the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gelee Cleanser which has a very similar texture.
Priming Moisturiser // Link //£18
I love trying out new primers although my absolute favourite will always remain the Wilko Silky Mattifying Primer and the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Primer. Anyway, I was excited to see how this product lived up to the hype surrounding it. Glossier describes it as a base that visibly plumps the skin up with moisture to create a cushiony bounce and even texture to the skin. Basically, it is a hydrating moisturiser with priming abilities. Now, people go for primers for different qualities but I look out for a primer which will act as a great canvas for my makeup and one that gives me shine-free makeup for a good while through the day. I love primers that are non-greasy and matte and most of the primers with these qualities are not usually hydrating but I am okay with that because I use a different moisturiser.
Naturally, I was keen to see if this primer will be one that does all I want while being hydrating. It has a great hydrating texture and I will say it is almost watery so you have to be careful when you dispense/pump it out of the tube. It feels really moisturising on the skin, non-greasy and absorbs well. If you have dry skin, you will adore this primer/moisturiser hybrid. As a primer, I have to say it has not worked well for me. For some bizarre reason, it makes my makeup get shiny and dewy way quicker than if I don't use any moisturiser or primer. It totally baffled me and I tried different methods to tweak it but I always ended up looking shiny even with matte foundations. I just think it works best as a moisturiser for my skin and if ever I wanted a dewy look, I know what primer to choose. If you have dry skin or combination skin and you are looking for a primer which is hydrating while giving you a dewy look, this may be one to try.
Balm Dotcom // Link //£10
This was another product I was so excited to try because I'd heard so many good things about it. I almost made an international order just to try it especially when I heard it was a non-greasy lip balm. I am not a huge lip balm girl at all because many of the ones I have tried tend to feel heavy on my lips. A few of my favourite lip balms include the By Terry Baume de Rose and the ILIA Lip Balms/Tinted Lip Conditioners because they work well on my lips. I was really glad that this was included in the Phase 1 set and I could choose the flavour I wanted. I went for the Cherry Flavour because I felt it will look the most flattering against my complexion. Glossier describes the Balm Dotcom as a hydrating, long lasting, multi-purpose lip balm and skin salve designed to nourish and repair dry/chapped skin. I have to say I absolutely agree with this description as it captures what the Balm Dotcom does to a T. It can be used on the lips, cuticles, hands or anywhere that has dry skin. I tend to use it mainly on my lips and I love it.
Some of the ingredients include Beeswax, Lanolin, Petrolatum, Castor Seed Oil, etc. I did raise my eyebrow when I saw it contains Petrolatum as its first ingredient but I have actually enjoyed using this balm so I don't mind too much. It feels like a matte lip balm with all the moisture retention abilities of other regular lip balms. It does not sit heavy or greasy on my lips and that's why I really enjoy it. My lips are quite pigmented but the Cherry flavour still manages to give a very slight hint of colour which I love. I am glad I chose this flavour and it smells so lovely too!! It's definitely a handbag staple especially with the current weather.
Is the Phase 1 Set Worth Buying?
I will definitely recommend the Phase 1 Set especially if you just want to test out the brand. The price is a great one because you save at least £8 if you buy the set as opposed to buying the products individually. It's almost like you get a free Balm Dotcom for purchasing the Milky Jelly Cleanser and the Priming Moisturiser. I will definitely say it is worth the price. . They also have the Phase 2 Set which consists of some of their essential makeup products (the Boy Brow, Stretch Concealer and Generation G Lipstick) and you can customise the products too. I am totally for that idea and I am considering getting it at some point.
Where to Buy
Glossier is currently only sold on the Glossier website in the US and UK. I believe the US website ships to a number of countries which you can check out here. I am not sure they will stock them elsewhere but it will be great to see the brand stocked on maybe ASOS so more people can get the brand. It will even be more amazing if they are stocked in Beauty Mart, Urban Outfitters or any other retailers which are more accessible other than the Glossier head offices. I am sure they may be planning something soon for the UK (I know they had pop up shops in the UK last year).
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I am really pleased with my purchase even though I was not over the moon by all the products. I still use these products often except the Priming Moisturiser which I use as a night moisturiser when my skin needs that extra moisture. I am keen to hear what your thoughts are if you have tried Glossier. Do you have any other recommendations?
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