Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Bourjois, the Parisian cosmetic brand has returned to the UK and it is now available at Superdrug. They have kindly sent me the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation to test and review. 

I have actually used this foundation before and it is the one I wore on my wedding day. 

It used to come in an airless pump plastic bottle, and now comes in a heavy glass bottle which gives it a luxurious feel. 

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation has a semi matte finish and prevents my skin from getting shiny throughout the day, which I like. This can be attributed to the addition of Corn Starch, Bentonite and Silica. 

It also contains hydrating Glycerin; plus vitamins C, B5 and E, as well as Melon, Apricot and Apple extracts, however, these are only included in very small amounts (fragrance being higher on the ingredient's list) so I am unsure if they would provide much of a benefit overall. 

The foundation has a mild fruity scent and an easy-to-blend texture that offers light to medium coverage with a natural-looking finish.

It diminishes the look of redness and evens out skin tone without any sensation of heaviness or stickiness. 

The only thing I didn't love is that it can cling a bit to any dry patches or texture but if the skin is well moisturised and exfoliated, any of these problems can be prevented. 

The product comes sealed for hygiene with a sticker that connects the plastic lid to the bottle and the foundation has a PAO of 24 months. 

I would definitely recommend this foundation if you are looking for medium coverage and a natural, semi matte finish.

Find the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation at Superdrug.

xo

Knitwear & Leather Boots

Garnier Pineapple & Amla Haircare Collection

A couple of months ago Garnier sent me some products to try from their new Ultimate Blends Pineapple & Amla Haircare range:

Pineapple & Amla Hair Mask: it has a delicious pineapple scent and a non greasy consistency. When used as a leave-in conditioner it leaves hair soft and reduced frizz considerably and the fragrance lasted until the next day. However, it does have kaolin which absorbs moisture and made my hair feel a bit dry and lacklustre, so I will not be using it as a leave in conditioner again. 

I also used it as a wash-off hair mask and it made hair soft and shiny. However on both instances I felt like my hair would get a bit tangled because of the dryness caused by the kaolin. I would only recommend if you are looking for a hair mask that helps increase volume and your hair is not easily tangled. 

Pineapple & Amla Shampoo: It has a delicious juicy, sweet pineapple scent. This shampoo has a lightweight gel-like consistency that gently lathers but cleanses scalp well without any irritation or dryness. It rinses off easily and leaves hair smelling nice and feeling soft. My hair also seems to be shinier, which I like. 

Pineapple & Amla Conditioner: like the other products in the range, it has a delicious pineapple scent. It is easy to apply and rinse off, though I would recommend storing the bottle upside down to help dispense the product. This conditioner makes my hair feel soft and shiny. I believe the inclusion of Kaolin in the formula can make hair feel dry and become tangled easily, however, it also makes the hair appear more voluminous so I would recommend this conditioner for thin or flat hair that does not become tangled easily. 

The whole range smells amazing and helped increase shine and add volume to my hair, however, the mask and the conditioner left my hair feeling somewhat dry and a bit rough because of the lack of silicones. Out of the 3 products the only one I would have again is the shampoo.

Find the Ultimate Blends Pineapple & Amla Haircare at Look Fantastic and Superdrug. 

xo

Caring for Dry Skin with Australian Bodycare

For my latest collaboration with Australian Bodycare, they have kindly sent me 3 products to try out and review! This time I received their Hand Cream, Shave Oil and Foot Cream, all in the original scent. 

The Hand Cream is designed for extremely dry hands, and is recommended to be applied 1-2 times daily or as needed. It has a subtle earthy fragrance provided by the natural Australian Tea Tree Oil, and leaves hands feeling soft and supple thanks to amazing ingredients like Shea Butter, Glycerin, Rice Wax, Castor Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Almond Oil, Rhus Peel & Fruit Wax, Soybean Sterols, Panthenol, Lactic and Linoleic Acids, Saccharide Isomerate, Lactic Acid, plus Vitamins E and C. Only a small amount is needed each time for a soft and moisturised effect that can easily last after washing hands. 

The Shave Oil is formulated to help reduce red spots and ingrown hairs, while providing a close and comfortable shave. This product is also scented with Tea Tree Oil, however it features a sweeter fragrance thanks to the nourishing Almond, Sunflower, Coconut and Crambe Oils. It also contains moisturising Shea Butter derivatives and Vitamin E. This Shave Oil is easy to use and you only need a few drops each time. It is very moisturising and leaves skin feeling soft. The only thing I didn't love about it is that my razor was getting clogged because of the oil so I need to find a way to prevent this. If you have any tips let me know!

Last but not least, is the Foot Cream, which provides intensive care for dry feet. It can be applied daily or as required and is ideally used after bathing. Enriched with 10% Urea to effectively exfoliate skin and reduce dryness and roughness, it also contains Shea Butter, Glycerin, Castor Oil, Vitamin E, Allantoin and Lactic Acid. Featuring the classic Tea Tree Oil scent that Australian Bodycare products are known for, this lightweight foot cream has a nice almost-whipped consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin and left my feet feeling baby soft. I would have loved to try the Mint version however, that is now discontinued and this version also felt cooling on the feet throughout the day. 

If you are looking to nourish dry skin on your body this season I would definitely recommend taking a look at the products mentioned above!

xo

Vinny The Pug's First Book is Out Now

*This is a sponsored post

The first volume in the series that will share the details of Vinny's adventures in the Sonoran Desert, titled Vinny the Pug; The Life & Times of A Canine Rock Star: How a little pugs quest to set a Guinness World Record helped him to become a 'rock star' is available to buy now. 

This book details how the little pug adapted to the move from Florida to Arizona, and after learning to appreciate his new rocky surroundings, he discovered climbing and set out to establish a new Guinness World Record. 

As a limited offer, the first 100 buyers will receive a free ceramic pin with every book purchased through March 1st. The pin is part of Vinny the Pug's collectors series for 2023.

Don't miss out on the chance to learn more about this amazing canine companion with this interactive book!

Find Vinny the Pug; The Life & Times of A Canine Rock Star on Amazon UK and USA.

xo

Valentines Gift Ideas Under £50

Valentino Donna Born in Roma Hair Mist £38 // Valeria Coupe Glass £16 
Charbonnel et Walker Truffle Heart Box £30
Korres Greek Yoghurt Discovery Kit £24 // Birthstone Hoop Earrings £35

Korres Oceanic Amber £38 // Lion Bolo Tie £12

Le Labo Hinoki Hand Lotion £29

Accidentally Wes Anderson £25 // Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace Candle £48

Valentine's Day is just over a month away so here are my gift ideas, all under £50 to treat your sweetie (or yourself, I won't tell!).

xo

Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner

A few days ago I received the Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner to try out and review. 

This versatile product is designed to cleanse and tone the skin, while also moisturising thanks to Vitamin E. 

It claims to deeply cleanse the skin by removing daily impurities and makeup, leaving it refreshed and toned. 

The Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner can be applied with fingers or cotton wool, and after massaging it must be removed, again with cotton wool or just water. 

Some notable ingredients in this product include Glycerin, Lotus Flower Extract and Vitamin E. 

It features a creamy but lightweight consistency and the classic Nivea cream scent. 

I found the Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner easy to apply and remove, and it definitely left my skin feeling clean, soft and refreshed, so will be using it as a first step in my nightly double-cleanse. 

The only downside to this product is that it cannot be used on the eyes, so the need for an extra product just for that area isn't ideal. It also contains alcohol and perfume so sensitive skin types may not love this product. 

Find the Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner at Superdrug and Tesco.

xo

New In: November & December 2022

Garnier Vitamin C Micellar Water

A few months ago I received the Garnier Micellar Vitamin C Cleansing Water, which is designed to remove makeup and cleanse the face, eyes and lips without the need to rinse it off. 

Ideal for dull and uneven skin, this Micellar Water is enriched with Vitamin Cg to help brighten the skin. 

The simple formulation contains only 10 ingredients; with some notable ones including Glycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil and Ascorbyl Glucoside. 

This Micellar Water does effectively remove makeup easily, has a mild soapy scent which I like and it also leaves skin feeling very soft. 

While I'm not sure it has provided any brightening to my skin given that I always rinse off the product, it might be worth a try if you are looking to incorporate vitamin C into your skincare routine. 

Given it is effective and affordable, I would have it again and would recommend it for gentle makeup removal.

Find the Garnier Micellar Vitamin C Cleansing Water at Superdrug, Savers and Sephora. 

xo

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, full of prosperity, happiness and love! I hope you are able to accomplish all the new goals you set yourself for this new year that begins, that all your projects are fruitful and any new friendships become lasting. For a New Year full of amazing and meaningful experiences!

xo