This is the last instalment of my collaboration with Benton for their Green Bennies December event!
This time I got to try the Aloe BHA Skin Toner, which is designed to moisturise, calm and smooth the skin thanks to Aloe, BHA, Cynanchum Atratum and Hyaluronic Acid.
It is pH balanced and is a very gentle product with a low concentration of Salicylic Acid at 0.5%, meaning it can be used daily, which is great as it has a shorter PAO of 6 months.
It comes packaged in a cardboard box containing a generously sized 200ml of toner in a plastic bottle with a press top cap.
The texture is very lightweight and absorbs easily without leaving any sticky residue on the skin. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and smooth.
I like the soothing and breakout-preventing properties of this toner so will continue to use it and recommend it if you have an oily or acne-prone complexion like me.
A few weeks ago I received the Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum, which is formulated with 0.1% Retinol, plus Retinal and Bakuchiol to help improve texture and regulate oil production.
This serum also contains vitamins B3, B5, and E; plus Centella Asiatica Extracts, Probiotics, Ceramide NP, and Peptides.
It comes in a tinted purple glass bottle which looks and feels really good quality. The bottle is packaged inside a metallic purple box.
This serum has a very light, creamy consistency that feels moisturising when applied. It absorbs easily and features a sweet, slightly fruity scent.
The morning after using it my skin feels very soft and smooth, while feeling less oily. It also seems to have improved some of the texture already.
I will continue to use it as retinol is one of my favourite ingredients in skincare and I wish to keep improving the texture of my skin.
A must have if you are looking to start your retinol journey!
It has a lightly viscous texture that absorbs almost immediately and leaves skin feeling very soft and moisturised.
I love the colour, it's so cute. It also has a mild fruity scent that doesn't linger. It has some of my current favourite skincare ingredients: Probiotics and Ceramides, plus several Vitamins and Amino Acids. I think all skin types could benefit from using this toner.
The bottle is a bit smaller than others, with only 40ml. The texture is very runny and a bit gritty which I didn't love. It also has a white cast as it uses physical UV filters, so may not be suitable for all skin types.
What I did like is that it offers high protection and dries quickly, leaving a matte finish to the skin.
This mildly acidic serum comes in a clear plastic bottle. The dropper felt a bit flimsy but worked fine.
It contains 5 types of Hyaluronic Acid, plus Allantoin, Extracts of Witch Hazel and Centella Asiatica, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan and Cholesterol. It is free from artificial colours and fragrance, and features a cute pastel blue shade due to the Malachite Extract.
I'm not usually a fan of products with hyaluronic acid as my skin can feel tight after using them however, that was not a problem with this serum.
It has a very light texture that absorbs easily, it's not sticky or irritating, layers well with other products and left my skin feeling hydrated and looking smooth.
This pack contains 30 sheet masks infused with Centella Asiatica Extract and 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid, plus Vitamins B3, B5, A, C and E.
It has a strong citrus scent reminiscent of cleaning products, however it did not linger. It has top notes of Grapefruit, Lemon and Lime, Middle notes of Eucalyptus and Pine, and Base notes of Lily of the Valley.
The mask itself is very thin and saturated with essence. It did not drip or slide down my face even when walking around, which is great.
It left my skin feeling very hydrated and glowing. After the 10 minute mark it started to feel very cool on the skin so they would be nice on a hot summer day. What I did not love is that it has a PAO of only 2 months so they need to be used up quickly.
Despite the name, the are not infused with any active ingredients. The pack contains only 22 patches in 2 sizes however, there are more affordable options available.
They stick well and work to reduce the fluid in breakouts, like other patches I have used.
You can get 10-15% off your next StyleVana order with code INF105MSVAN (ends 29/02/24)
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas full of joy and love! I hope you get to spend a lovely time with your nearest and dearest, eat the most delicious food and get spoiled beyond imagination.
Some essentials I always carry with me are my purse, hand sanitiser and keys. This cotton pouch I received as part of the Green Bennies Collaboration with Benton Cosmetics is the perfect size to carry my essentials and then some.
Recently I was kindly sent a couple of items from Skin1004 to test and review.
Madagascar Centella Probio-CICA Intensive Ampoule: comes in a sturdy tinted plastic bottle with a sandblasted texture, which I really like the look of.
This Ampoule features Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Fermented Centella Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Adenosine, Macadamia Seed Oil and Ceramide NP.
It has a milky consistency that feels moisturising on the skin. It absorbs fast and leaves skin feeling soft and supple. It layers well with other products, is unscented and did not cause irritation.
A great option if you are looking for a moisturising ampoule with barrier repairing properties.
Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum: This sunscreen provides SPF 50+ and PA++++ UV protection and contains Niacinamide, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, plus several botanical extracts; as well as 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid at 10, 1 and 0.01 ppm.
The tube has a handy pump to help control the amount of product dispensed and the cap prevents accidental spilling.
It has a lightweight consistency, gently moisturises the skin and is quickly absorbed without leaving a sticky residue or greasy feeling. It uses organic (or chemical) filters so leaves no white cast, making it ideal for all skin tones.
I have used this before and really liked it, so I'm glad it's back in my skincare collection. Recommended if you are looking for a lightweight, high protection sunscreen.
The set came presented in a cardboard box with instructions on how to assemble the product, which was quite easy - just unscrew both bottles, and insert the refill into the aluminium case, replace the top and pump and you're ready to go!
The Wild Mint & Aloe body wash is SLS and paraben free, has a slightly runny gel consistency, produces a moderate lather and it's easy to wash off. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and I enjoy the soft, creamy mint fragrance. It comes in a plastic-free compostable refill bottle made out of bamboo which had a hint of coffee smell to it.
The lightweight aluminium case is good quality and I like the colour too.
What I did not love about the product is that the refill has a short date so if you won't be using it straight away, it will probably start disintegrating before you get to finish it. I also thought I would be able to reuse the case with other products (shampoo, hand wash, etc), however, it is designed to only fit the refill bottles: the pump does not screw into the case, but into the refill bottle itself so the case will not close unless using the refill.
Also the refills are not available to purchase singly, but in packs of 3 only, which at £21 it may be out of some people's budget.
I enjoyed the product and design but I'm not sure if I would purchase the refills.
It comes wrapped in clear plastic for hygiene and is packaged in a soft touch matte plastic bottle which feels good quality.
Designed to be used as a second cleanse and/or morning cleanse, it features very mild surfactants such as Coco-Betaine and SLMI, so does not produce much lather.
With a pH of 5.5 and soothing Centella Asiatica Extract plus Allantoin, this gentle cleanser is suitable for sensitive skin. It also contains antibacterial Tea Tree Oil, so it is also ideal for breakout prone skin as well.
After using it my skin feels clean, very soft and moisturised. It did not cause any irritation, tightness or breakouts.
If you are looking for a new gentle cleanser I would recommend giving the Purito Defence Barrier pH Cleanser a try.
Find the Purito Defence Barrier pH Cleanser at YesStyle and Sephora.
I won a pair of underwear from Merri Intimates, a Skin1004 Sunscreen and Sun Stick from StyleVana, a Glow Recipe minis giveaway and Isntree Onion Newpair products (yet to be received).
Got a handheld tape dispenser from the pound shop and I also received a few free samples of Amika products, Colour Catcher, Colgate Total Mini Toothpaste, Alien Supra Florale perfume, Redken Shampoo & Conditioner, and a Dolce & Gabanna Devotion perfume (not pictured).
I was recently gifted a new bottle of the Seriously Good Styler by StaticJam, a hair serum that helps achieve a smoothing effect by eliminating static, frizz and flyaways. It is designed to create the look and feel of second day texture while keeping the freshness of clean hair.
Some notable ingredients in this hair serum include Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Amino Acids from Wheat and Soy, plus Arginine, Serine and Threonine.
The Seriously Good Styler has a thick, gel consistency and a fresh, crisp apple scent which I like.
I apply around a grape-sized amount, concentrating on lengths and ends, and any residue left on my hands I will apply on the crown and root area. It does not make hair look or feel greasy at all.
The serum does deliver on the claim of reducing frizz. After washing my hair turns very frizzy, but with this serum my hair dries out with virtually no frizz, which is amazing. It also helps my hair feel soft and smooth while keeping its volume.
It makes me feel a lot more confident if I am going out with wet or damp hair because I know that it won't turn into a frizzy mess.
I used a previous bottle I had the day I met The Kills. I washed my hair that day and it looks frizz-free. And a couple of posts later you can find me testing a heatless curling kit, I didn't use any hair product that day and you can see all the frizz, especially around the top of my head..
The only thing is that it does not have heat protection so you will need a separate product for that.
My favourite of the 2 is Cherries & Cheer and I managed to get my hands on the Cherries & Cheer Essential Gift* which is now sold out, however, you can still find all 3 items available separately online, and using the code AFFNAVILLE will get you 20% off!
The Cherries & Cheer range features notes of Cherry, Almond Milk & Vanilla and has a deliciously sweet, juicy and fruity scent.
The texture on both the Body Butter and Hand Balm is a bit thicker and very nourishing but not at all greasy, and the Shower Gel is very lightweight. They all leave my skin feeling super soft and smelling like a cherry lollipop!
Last month I was selected for the Benton Green Bennies campaign. It lasts the whole of December and for the first week I did an unboxing of all the goodies they kindly sent me.
It comes in an octagon shaped cardboard box with embossed star details and copper sides. On the front it features a 3D KAYALI logo and fragrance name, while the back lists the key notes for the fragrance.
The bottle inside the box sits snugly on a padded centre and mimics the shape of the box, with a diamond shaped lid. The pink glass bottle and the packaging feels good quality.
This fragrance is a delectable fruity explosion, with key notes of Blackcurrant, Sparkling Lychee, Rose Damascena, Candied Violet, Sugared Amber and Sandalwood.
Top - Blackcurrant, Sparkling Lychee and Italian Lemon
Heart - Rose Damascena, Candied Violet and Jasmine Sambac
Base notes - Sugared Amber, Cedarwood, Musk, Vanilla Absolute and Sandalwood
Upon first spray the Blackcurrant and Lychee are very noticeable, sweet and sparkly. A few moments later, while sweetness remains, it evolves into a floral accord of Candied Violet and Rose. Finally, it mellows down into a light, musky base.
This perfume has a medium longevity and strength, however, I would not mind reapplying if going out again later in the day as my favourite notes in KAYALI Eden Sparkling Lychee are the top ones.
Overall, a very sweet and fruity fragrance that I would recommend if you are looking for a new daytime eau de parfum.
Last month I was kindly sent the Drybar Buttercup Hair Dryer & Jump Start Serum to test and review.
Drybar Jump Start Serum: It has a lightweight gel texture that melts into wet hair with ease. It helps reduce frizz considerably and leaves my hair feeling soft and looking shiny, however, the fragrance wasn't my favourite and while my hair looks smooth, it feels more textured so my fingers can get stuck when I try to run them through my hair. I would say it is more suited for very thin hair that needs more grip or texture for styling or up-dos. I would rather it had silicones as it would prevent the tangles. Overall it gives good results and provides heat protection up to 232C° so I will continue to use it.
Drybar Buttercup Hair Dryer: This hair dryer has built-in ionic technology to help reduce frizz. It is very powerful (1875-watt motor) but still feels gentle on the hair as it does not feel overdried or brittle after using it, instead leaving my hair feeling super soft and shiny. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes to dry my long hair with it.
This hair dryer has a nice design, comes in a cute yellow shade and has a long cable that allows freedom of movement when using it. It also comes with 2 nozzles which are easy to attach and remove; a spare washable filter, plus a tool to swap it. The only thing I didn't love is that it is a bit heavier compared to my last hair dryer (510gr vs 360gr) but the results are better so even though it is slightly heavier I prefer this one.
A couple of weeks ago I received the Ample:N Ceramide & Peptide Shot Ampoules by Coreana Lab to test and review. These 2 products were actually in my wish list so I was very excited to try them!
The Ample:N Ceramide Shot Ampoule contains Cera Full Complex™ which uses 3 types of ceramides, plus Arcitegenin and Allantoin to moisturise, soften, soothe and improve the skin barrier.
Other notable ingredients include Niacinamide, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Cholesterol and Macadamia Seed Oil.
This serum has a milky, creamy consistency that absorbs well and is very moisturising. It is also unscented.
I like to use it before sunscreen in the morning and before my moisturiser at night. My skin feels super soft and smooth the next morning, even without any exfoliation.
It would be ideal for dry and sensitive skin types, however, I believe all skin types could benefit from this serum!
The Ample:N Peptide Shot Ampoule is formulated with 3 types of peptides to help improve elasticity, firmness and texture. It also contains Niacinamide, Adenosine, Arginine, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Calcium Alginate. plus Lactic and Glycolic Acids.
It has a light, gel-like texture and layers well with other products. I like to apply it before the Ceramide Shot Ampoule and my skin feels smooth and moisturised.
I prefer to use it at night time in case the peptide-like threads in the formula don't fully dissolve, even though I have not had any residue left on the skin so far.
It has both anti-wrinkle and brightening properties so it's a great multi tasking product.
This serum does contain Fragrance and Alcohol, which I don't mind, however, sensitive skin types may not love it.
For the 100ml included in each bottle, they both are very affordable at under $30 each!
December is here already and so is my handy yearly gift guide with everything under £50 in case you need some inspiration! I've used full prices, however, some items are on sale and you can even get extra money off using the codes above.
xo
PS. You can get 20% off The Body Shop non-gift items with code AFFNAVILLE
