The Mid-Week Pamper Routine

I usually save all my pamper sessions for weekends when I have more time on my hands but there comes a time when you just need to whip out all your favourites. I felt a little worse for wear yesterday and I knew a little pamper session was all I needed to get my back to my happy state. I have been testing a few new products so I thought it would be nice to show them to you (more like a first impression post before I have full reviews.  Some of them have been featured on the blog more than a few times because they are firm favourites. After my pamper session, I felt super relaxed and it made me realise that it is always good to listen to your body. If it demands some pamper session and you have time, just do it. Your body will thank you for it.  I felt incredible and I literally fell asleep after a short while which goes to say my body indeed felt relaxed. Right, let me stop babbling and get to what products I used....

Pamper Facial Cleansing Routine
The first thing I do in my skincare routine is to remove my makeup and I use various products but for my pamper session, I chose the Skin D-Luxe Dream Skin Cleansing Melt* from Fake Bake Beauty which I absolutely love. I received this in the goody bag from the Fake Bake Beauty at Home Event I attended and I can't believe how lovely it is. I would have a full review with all details up soon. It removes all my makeup including my eye makeup and I just take it off with warm water or warm water + a flannel. I double cleanse with the La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel* which I love so much and I have to repurchase it asap. I paired it with my Foreo Luna Mini* which I already spoke about on Monday and together they just makes my skin feel incredibly clean and smooth. The Foreo Luna Mini  has made such a massive improvement to my skin and I love it so much. I decided to put on a mask as I was in a pamper mood. I chose the Ark Skin Perfector Hydration Injection Masque* which I have been enjoying these past few weeks. It feels like a balm and it really hugs the skin with a lot of hydration (that's the only way I can describe how it makes my skin feel). I left it on to do its magic while I jumped in the shower. After I showered, I took it off and patted my face dry with my face towel. Next step was using one of my favourite toners- The Pixi Glow Tonic which I have repurchased several times because it just works wonders on my acne-prone skin. It keeps my skin super clear and that marks the end of my cleansing routine.

Pampering Body Care Session
I don't do too much in the shower per say especially when I am tired. I was going to take a bath but I decided a shower would be more invigorating.  I am so obsessed with the amazing Body Shop Spa of the World range which I was kindly sent to try out. I started off with the Body Shop Africa Ximenia Scrub* which smells so divine and works so well on my body. I really like the texture as it's not too rough or too soft; it's just the right mix which is perfect for an indulging pamper session. I used it mainly on my elbows and knees where my skin feels a little dry and a little all over my body. I let it sit for a while before rinsing it off and washing my body with my favourite shower gel (currently on its last legs)- The Molton Brown Delicious Rhubarb and Rose Shower* Gel*. I can't wait to repurchase it when it runs out as I have been too spoiled with its lovely fragrance. The last step in my body care routine is to use the Body Shop Spa of the World French Lavender Massage Oil*  which I apply on my pulse points. I know it is a massage oil but I was really too tired to be massaging myself so I just dabbed this lovely oil on these pulse points including behind my ears. I think this was definitely responsible for making me feel so relaxed.. I used the Dolce Dreams Lemon Meringue Body Whip* which I really like because it feels very light and it does not feel greasy at all. It also smells so delicious and the name really befits it. It's another offering from Fake Bake Beauty (I am really impressed with their Beauty range).


Pamper Face Skincare Routine (night)
Although I have called this my pamper skincare routine, it's not really too different from my current skincare routine. The first thing I always start off with is my eye cream and I am currently loving the L'Oreal Revitalift Eye Cream which I apply with my ring finger. It gets absorbed so easily and I love how it does not unnecessarily sit on top of my skin. Next up is my Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum* which I have raved about several times. I love it for keeping my skin hydrated and it does an amazing job at it. For my night cream, I have really been enjoying the Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep* since this month. I got this in a goody bag when I attended the #Discover Vichy Event at the beginning of the month. It feels like whipped yoghurt (if there is anything like that) but it's so silky and smooth. A full review will be up soon so I can talk about my experience in more details.


Lastly for my face, I sealed in all the lovely hydration and moisture with the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil* which brings everything together. One would think all these products used together may feel heavy on the skin but it's quite the opposite. My skin felt so supple and all the products seem to work well together and got absorbed really fast. For bed time favourites, I just popped some Lanolips Lip Balm* on my lips so they would be super soft in the morning. I recently purchased the Lanolips Antibacterial Hand Cream after I was introduced to the brand and I am also obsessed with it. It also contains Lanolin which helps my hands retain their moisture and it smells so lovely. That's pretty much all I did yesterday night and I felt so relaxed. I wish I could do this every night if I had the time but I think I would aim to do it twice a week. Phew!! Have you tried any of this products? Do you ever have a Mid-Week Pamper session?...xx
*PR Sample + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here

KIKO Eyeshadow Haul + Swatches

I have become obsessed with Kiko Eyeshadows because they have such amazing quality. I have made it a point of duty to always stop by their store in Oxford Circus whenever I am around the area. It is always jam packed but I would pop over in store over and over again compared to ordering online. After my initial eyeshadow haul from KIKO, I was well impressed with the eyeshadows that I decided to pick up more. I went a little bit crazy but I had to reign it in because I do have a lot of eyeshadows and I wanted colours I knew I did not have but  will get a lot of use from. There was a sale on these eyeshadows (I believe they are still on) where they were reduced from £5.90 to £2.80 which is amazing. The sales lady told me that they were discontinuing these eyeshadows and launching a newer eyeshadow range with smaller pans and palettes. I believe they would still be the same eyeshadow (I really hope so) but they would have a more compact size which I look forward to.  More importantly, they are releasing more compact empty palettes that would fit the new eyeshadows. It took a lot of self-control not to buy all the eyeshadows available! Apparently, you get the 24-Clics Eyeshadow palette free when you buy six eyeshadows and I though that was pretty generous of them. The palette retails for £6 (It is on sale too). I ended up picking seven eyeshadows and a free palette.




Kiko Infinity Eyeshadows (Overview)
I have been seeing these eyeshadows everywhere for a long time now but when they went on sales, I knew I could not resist any longer. I only planned to get two but I ended up buying 7 because they all looked amazing and I wanted every single shade available. KIKO describe the Infinity eyeshadows as innovative, high pigment eyeshadoows which are designed for their repositionable CLIC system (their palettes). They provide an instant, intense and even colour release which can last up to 12 hours. There are 96 shades from this range and I am absolutely blown away because not many brands have this number of shades available. They are also available in various finishes including Matte, Satin, Metallic and Ultra-Pearly Finishes. I particularly like that they are opthamologically tested and hypoallergenic because it makes it suitable for contact eyes wearers like myself or people with sensitive eyes. They are also paraben free which is always good to know. I love how easy it is to fit the eyeshadows into the palette and they are also easy to remove. They can be rotated within the palette if you are a crazy girl like me and want the Kiko logo to face one direction for uniformity. I do really like the palette and I so wish it was slightly smaller.





Packaging
I generally love Kiko packaging as they look so sleek, chic and classy. I feel anything with black packaging always looks so much more expensive than it is. I also really like the palette which is beautifully designed and very sturdy. However, I do find it slightly bulky which is why I wanted to buy the smaller palette which was unavailable. I think I may end up buying a Z-Palette so I can store my palettes in a more compact palette. I am sure Makeup Artists would love this palette because it is ideal for a makeup artist kit but for a regular girl like me, it does take up a lot of space. The eyeshadows themselves are called the Kiko Infinity Eeyeshadows. Each of them contain 2g of product which is a lot of eyeshadow in a single pan. It definitely has to be the largest single eyeshadows I own in my collection. I do like that because it means they would last a long time but on the other hand, it makes storing it really cumbersome because of its size. Nevertheless, I  think the quality is incredible but i will get to that later in the post. One thing I really like about the Kiko Infinity Eyeshadows is that they can still be stored on their own even if you don't have a palette. It comes in a nice pan with the name of the eyeshadow at the back and it has a plastic lid which protects the eyeshadows. It looks like it has its own little casing and I find it easier to travel with it this way especially if I want only one eyeshadow.



What shades did I purchase?
I had a long list of shades I wanted to try and I have to say the Kiko website has an amazing description and swatch of the shades. I have been on a few websites to see swatches of eyeshadows or other products and they are far from what they really look like in real life. When I got in store, some of the shades I wanted were unavailable in-store so I had to pick up the ones I could find. I still have a super long list of more shades I want because the beauty crazy girl in me wants to complete my KIKO eyeshadow palette because i cannot deal with empty spaces, That's the danger of having a huge palette- it makes you want to fill them up. Anyway, let me stop waffling and get on to the shades I purchased.



207 Mat Papaya - An amazing coral orange shade which is amazing for adding some warmth to my crease especially on top of a brown crease eyeshadow.
213 Mat Cocoa - This is one of my favourite shades as it is perfect for my crease. it is a warm cocoa brown shade which is not too dark or too light; it's just perfect. It reminds me of MAC's Cork eyeshadow.
230 Satin Carmine - I was instantly drawn to this shade because I love pink eyeshadows that are bordering on purple. It does look like a cool toned pinkish purple eyeshadow but it is incredibly flattering on my lids and even on my crease.
235 Mat Chocolate - I love this shade as it is amazing for defining my outer V of my eyes and sometimes to define my crease even further. It is the perfect dark brown shade which does not look muddy at all but has such a flattering colour in the crease.
261 Pearly Indian Green - I don't have a lot of green eyeshadows so I was instantly drawn to this shade because it had this amazing pearly finish. It is a lovely warm green eyeshadow shade that is not too bright or dull.
277 Pearly Blue Sapphire- I would describe this a lovely blue sapphire shade but on my lids it has such a beautiful deep navy shade which I adore.
405 Magenta- This is part of the Infinity + Sparkle Eyeshadow range which si slightly different to the regular Infinity range. It has some metallic sparkle to it which I totally love although I think it works best with a wet brush or under a primer. It is a true Magenta shade which looks so lovely with the 230 Satin Carmine.
When I purchased them, I did not even pay attention to the finishes because I just picked colours I liked. It was when I got home that I realised that I had selected almost all the finishes which made me really pleased. I don't have any with metallic finish but I guess I will be picking more eyeshadows up this week (Come thru to pay day!!).




Texture/Pigmentation
I was not surprised with the amazing textures these Kiko eyeshadows had because I had already tried their Color Fever Eyeshadow Palette (review here) and I  was impressed. They feel really buttery to touch and very soft as well. I find that the Matte finishes have the softest texture and they feel very buttery. The rest still feel amazing but I have a soft spot for the Matte shades. In terms of pigmentation, they are incredibly pigmented and you only need a light sweep of your eyeshadow brush to get an amazing colour on the lids. Some eyeshadows look lovely when swatched on the hands or fingers but they let you down when they get on the lids. The Kiko eyeshadows do not disappoint at all as they provide incredible pigmentation on the lids. I always use a primer under all my eyeshadows because I want them to last longer on my oily eyelids. However, I do feel these Kiko eyeshadows would perform well even without a primer. The swatches on my hand were all without a primer just to show how well pigmented they are on first swipe.



Coverage and Longevity
I find that they last really well almost as long as my other expensive eyeshadows in my collection. I am not sure they last up to 12 hours per say but I don't generally wear my eyeshadows for that long. The longest I have worn them may be around 8 hours and they looked fine with slight fading towards the corner of my eyes at the end of the day. This may be down to my own fault because sometimes my hand finds its way to my eyes which is not the best at all. Nevertheless, they last so much longer than many of my drug store eyeshadows. I have tried using them on their own  (with a primer) and under a cream eyeshadow base and they still looked amazing. Of course, they lasted so much longer under my cream eyeshadow base compared to on their own but that's the same with many other eyeshadows so it's not a surprise.


Cost// Link
I already mentioned I purchased them on sales at £2.80. They were originally £5.90 so I think it's a really good bargain at £2.80. They are very inexpensive especially for the amount of product you get (2g). I have been contemplating using the Mat Papaya as a blush because it is one of my favourite colours from all the shades I picked up. They can be purchased in-store from Kiko but there are few Kiko stores in the UK so you would be lucky to find one near you. The best bet is to buy it online although you do have to spend £25 in to order online.  I think that's a bit of a malarkey especially if you just wanted to make a small order to see if you liked the brand. Nevertheless, you can get a lot for £25 as there are a lot of products currently on sale. If you also buy 6 eyeshadows, you get a free palette. I am not sure if this offer is still available but I was given the palette free in-store. It is always worth asking to make sure no one forgets. I would have been so happy if it was the smaller palette which is now sold out. If anyone knows any eyeshadow palette that can fit these Kiko eyeshadoes (except a Z-palette), please do let me know.



Overall Thoughts
I am so impressed with these eyeshadows and I highly recommend them to anyone especially at their current sale price of £2.80. The pigmentation and longevity is comparable to some high end brands and much better than many drug store eyeshadows. There is a wide variety of eyeshadow shades and finishes to choose from so you would definitely be spoilt for choice. That's pretty much it!! I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you tried the Kiko Infinity Eyeshadows?

Foreo Luna Mini Review

Skincare is super important to me and I always make sure I devote adequate time to my skin to improve its appearance for now and and for the future. My skin has been in one of its best conditions this past month as a result of some changes I have made to my lifestyle and skincare routine (products). In terms of lifestyle, I have been eating cleaner, drinking more water, working out and sleeping early. I have always done the first three but sleeping early has always been difficult for me because I am such a night owl. However, sleeping early has made such a massive improvement to my skin, eyes and overall health. I am really pleased with these changes and I think it's about time I talked about one of the products that has made the biggest improvement to my skin. The Foreo Luna was launched a few years ago and it quickly became a favourite amongst many ladies because the results speak for themselves. I was kindly sent the Foreo Luna Mini* and I have been completely obsessed with it because my skin has seen such positive results. It always makes me delighted to try products that you can see and feel immediate effects and it encourages me make more effort with my skincare.

Foreo Brand Overview

Foreo is an innovative Swedish brand that is well known for their cleansing devices (Luna) made with T-sonic technology. Before launching in the UK, they had successfully been involved in various beauty trade shows in New York, Dubai, Paris, Milan, etc. They are currently available in 30 global markets which is amazing. I believe Foreo has three main products- The Foreo Luna, The Foreo Luna Mini and the Foreo Issa (which is a sonic system toothbrush and there are several models). These ranges all have different products and they have launched some new Lunas suitable for professionals and men as well. There are different types of sonic system facial cleansing brushes out there in the beauty market but the Foreo Luna stands out because it is not a traditional facial cleansing brush with bristles. Instead, it combines unique silicone brush surfaces with T-sonic pulsations to leave the skin well cleansed and radiant. The Foreo Luna comes in various colours which I really like because it just makes them look more attractive. 

Packaging

You all know me, I love when companies take out their time to create beautiful packaging and Foreo did not disappoint at all. It comes in a clear casing which contains the Luna Mini, a warranty card, a USB charger cable and an instructions manual and guide.There are also instructions on how to register the Luna Mini on the Foreo website to get the 2- year warranty and 10-year Quality Guarantee. I already registered it and it's super easy to do as all you need is a username, password and enterthe unique serial number on the device or the warranty card. A comprehensive user manual can also be downloaded from the website which is handy in case you misplace the one that comes with the device.  The colour I received is Petal Pink and it looks so pretty. When I first saw the colour, I thought it may get dirty after a lot of use but nothing of the sort has happened at all. I have not had a single stain on it and it still looks as brand new as it was when I first received it. The Foreo Mini comes in other colours apart from Petal Pink and they  include Magenta, Turquoise Blue, Purple and Cool Grey. I actually like the clear case it comes with because it acts a protective case for the Luna Mini when travelling. However, I did travel with it in a little pouch when I went to Scotland two weeks ago and it still held up well.

The Specification

The Foreo Luna Mini has a simple design yet it is so effective that I am just in awe as to how such a little device can do so much. It is essentially a facial cleansing device made from silicone brush surfaces which aims to give the skin a deep cleanse. There are three zones to the silicone brush surface and they serve different functions.  There is the General Cleansing Zone  (which has a smaller silicone brush surface and ideal for normal and sensitive skin), Deep Cleansing Zone (which has a slightly larger brush surface and ideal for deep cleansing oily skin) and the Precision Zone (which is ideal for hard to reach areas like the nose, etc). I am really impressed that it has these different zones with varying sizes of the silicone brush surface because they serve various functions especially for my combination oily skin. It also has a centre button which switches the device on and off and also sets it to two speeds. It has a small led light at the bottom of the device which turns on when the device is in action, when it is charging and when the speed changes. You don't have to worry about water getting into it and causing any damage as it is 100% waterproof so it can be used in the shower. I once had  a cleansing brush that used batteries and it got super messy because water still managed to get into the battery compartment. I am super pleased that the Luna Mini is completely waterproof and there is no opening or hole for water to get in except the charging port which is also 100% waterproof.

How does it work?

This is where things get interesting because traditional facial cleansing brushes have bristles so you can see them moving and it's easier to understand. The Foreo Luna Mini is totally different in that it uses the T-sonic pulsations which mean that the device vibrates rather than move in a circular, rotatory motion. According to Foreo, the Luna Mini directs up to 8000 pulses per minute across the skin's surface while the silicone brush surface deeply cleanses the skin gently while getting rid of dirt, grime, impurities and makeup residues. Apparently, the brush surface has more than 1000 soft flexible touch points which is why it can deliver up to 8000 pulses within a minute!! These pulses basically lift off any dirt or impurities that may be sitting on the skin or in the pores to the surface which, aided with your cleanser, would be removed when you rinse your face. The Luna Mini can be used with all cleansers, gels and creams except products that are silicone-based, clay-based or grainy cleansers, exfoliators and scrubs. This is totally understandable because I don't even think it is sensible to use any cleansing device with a manual or grainy exfoliator/scrub/cleanser as that may irritate the skin. The Luna Mini can be charged using the USB Charger Cable and one charge can provide up to 300 uses which is pretty impressive. To be honest, I have only charged with once and that was when I received it. I just connected it to my laptop and gave it a full charge. Since then, there has been no need whatsoever to charge it.

How do I use it?

The first thing I do is to remove my makeup with a micellar water/cleansing balm/ cleansing oil/ hot cloth cleanser or anything that tickles my fancy. Once my makeup is off, I use any cleanser I fancy and I usually go for a gel cleanser because it feels so lovely with the Luna. I switch on the Luna Mini with the first button push and it goes straight into the high intensity speed which I love. I start off with the General Cleansing Zone (smaller silicone brush surface) and use it around each of my cheeks for 15 seconds each. The handy thing about the Luna Mini is that it beeps/momentarily pauses after 15 seconds to indicate that it is time to move to another section of the face so I know when to switch. After the first 30 seconds on both cheeks, I flip the Luna Mini to the Deep Cleansing Zone and work on my T-zones which has more pores and is oily. After 15-seconds, I flip to the the Precision Zone and use it around my nose and surrounding areas. That's pretty much my cleansing routine all under 1 minute. Of course, it can be used for more than one minute but it would automatically switch off after three minutes. I rinse off the Luna Mini with some mild soap and water and let it air dry. I am totally not worried about germs getting on it because it is made from Silicone which prevents bacteria and microbial growth. This quality really makes the Luna Mini (and other Foreo products) stand out amongst other facial cleansing brushes which may support the growth of bacteria even if you cover them in their cases. Another way of using the Luna Mini is with serums and it feeeeeelllls so good like you are having a little spa/massage in the comfort of your own room. It also helps the serums work more effectively because its absorption into the skin is optimised. I love that the Luna Mini is so gentle on my skin that I use it every morning and night and I have not had any issues whatsoever.

Results

The Luna Mini is one product that I saw immediate effects from the first use and I was honestly astonished. I had read various reviews about immediate benefits but I did not really expect any at all because I know everyone's skin is different. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing I want to point out is that it makes every skincare product very effective even if it is mediocre mainly because it improves their uptake on the skin. The first time I used it with my cleanser, my skin felt so soft and smooth like I had been to a spa. I knew immediately that it had to be the Luna Mini and not just the cleanser as I had used the cleanser many times without this super smooth feeling. I have also noticed that the appearance of my pores especially on my nose and on my cheeks have significantly reduced and I feel so delighted about this. The main benefit for me is the texture of my skin and how radiant it looks. I don't think I have used any other device that has delivered the same results at all and I feel so lucky to have had a chance to test this device out. I have not experienced a singe breakout either even when Mother nature came around. This is rare because I always have one or two breakouts during that time of the month and it did not happen at all. My hyper pigmentation and dark blemishes are also gradually fading because the Luna Mini aids in improving circulation which in turn help with skin cell renewal. Seriously, I can go on and on with the benefits my skin has had with this little device but I don't want to bore you (and I am aware that this post is already long....).

Cost

With all these amazing benefits, one would not expect this device to be pocket friendly. The Foreo Luna Mini retails for £99 and it is sold in many online retail stores including Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, Neiman Marcus etc. You can find it in-store in Boots, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, etc. I already mentioned that it was kindly sent to me but it was a purchase I was going to make at the end of the year because I knew it would be ideal for my skin and was on my wishlist for so long. Although it may it look pricey from the outset, it is a good investment for your skincare and you don't need to buy any replacement brushes which makes it cheaper in the long run than many other sonic system facial cleansing brushes. Besides, it is so much more hygienic and it is suitable for people with sensitive skin because it provides a gentle yet effective cleanse. If you have sensitive skin or you are looking to invest in a good cleansing device, I would highly recommend this because the chances of it being abrasive on your skin is very minimal (or even non existent).

Cons

1. It is expensive however it is a good investment in the long run.

2. I believe it can only be used on the face compared to some other cleansing devices that have interchangeable brushes for the body

Overall Thoughts

I cannot emphasise how impressed I am with the Foreo Luna Mini and it ticks all the essential boxes for me when it comes to a good cleansing device. My skin has made such a massive improvement and it always looks so radiant coupled with the other skincare products I have been trying out. I still do a manual exfoliation once a week (without the Luna) just to balance things out and I find that this routine has also helped my skin. I seriously look forward to my skincare routine because it always feels like a little massage/spa session and it really helps me relax. My makeup also goes on much snoother than before I tried the Foreo Luna Mini. I have even skipped primer a few times and my foundation still looked amazing especially as the appearance of my pores has improved. I am so impressed and it is already a firm staple in my skincare routine. Have you tried the Foreo Luna Mini?

*PR Sample + Affiliate links used, read my full disclaimer here