Review- Elemis FreshSkin Range.

I have always wanted to use Elemis products but do not know why, I always presumed they came with a hefty price tag so I steered clear until I received a sample of their Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash in my Glossybox last year and I haven't looked back since. Read on below to find out why.

Just how cute is the Freshskin range? What a great range of products, easy to use, simple to understand and vice versa. You have yourself, two cleansers, two moisturisers, one for day and one for night, a lip cream, an eye cream and a selection of masks each with a different purpose, depending on whether you simply need a deep cleanse or magical moisture quench. 

The lovely people at Elemis kindly sent me the following to try out.

• Skin Glow exfoliating facial wash
• Loving lips lip balm
• Softly Softly Daily moisturiser
• Skin Clear overnight serum.

 

The products arrived in as little as two days beautifully wrapped enclosed with a 'With Compliments' slip on the 23rd of March so to ensure I have given them a fair trial, I have used them all continuously for one month, removing all the products that usually form part of my daily skincare routine just so that I can see the real effects it had on my skin.

Now, a little about the range if I may.

This Freshskin range is targeted towards those aged 16-24, so I am off target by about three years, nevertheless, it still worked wonders for me and I could see the results almost instantly. Each ingredients have been carefully selected to not only just cleanse and moisturise, but to really tackle problem areas and prevent future damage and premature ageing in younger skin. What Elemis say:

"A fresh approach to younger skin from leading British skincare brand Elemis. Each product is formulated with active raw ingredients, such as elderflower, rosehip seed oil, apple, blackcurrant, goji berry, geranium combined with skin kind bases specially chosen for their ability to help cleanse, exfoliate, prevent damage, moisturise and boost skin’s elasticity to keep it youthful for longer."

 

There are a number of things I really love about their products and one of them is the fact that they are Paraben, SLS, Sles dea, artificial colours and silicone free. With active plant extracts and being skin friendly means that the skin will not be harmed in any way or be stripped off their natural oils as the case with other harsh skincare products targeted at teens. The fact that their range does not contain alcohol is also particularly beneficial for young skin with just  all the right ingredients to simply balance and soothe the skin.

 

At the risk of rambling on and this post becoming long winded, I am going to quickly take you through each of the four products I tried out and record my experience. In no particular order, Ill start off with the Loving Lips Lip Balm 10ml £8
 

 

At night, when cleansing my face and applying my night cream, I usually just slather good old Vaseline on my lips simply because I have been using Vaseline for years but also because I can also  apply to areas of dry skin and sometimes my eyelashes if I want to give them a bit of extra TLC. I was very excited to give this a go. It comes in a small tube which you just squeeze out and can apply directly to your lips or squeeze a little on your fingers and apply that way, personally, I prefer the latter.

The smell of this was amazing, you could almost eat it and it glided on well and more than a balm, it had a lip gloss like consistency. The only problem was though it had poor staying power, rubbed off quickly and reminded me of a cheap clear gloss you could apply over your lipstick. I don't see many teens purchasing this simply because you could find a cheaper replica that would do the same thing. Would I purchase? Sadly no. I like creamier, waxier products to use on my lips such as Vasline and Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream.

 

 

Skin Clear overnight serum 30ml £18

This Skin Clear Overnight Serum is a new addition to their FreshSkin range, essentially an anti blemish serum that promises to "to help minimise breakouts whilst you sleep..." First impressions? Thankfully I do not suffer from spots or blemishes, however I did notice it help declog pores.

 

 Upon using this, my skin felt pretty tight and hydrated and I guess it was due to the active salicylic acid and renovhyal in it. I suggest using this if you are a sufferer of spotty, red blotchy skin as I believe it will be quite efficient in calming it down and minimising the look of imperfections. Would I purchase? No, simply because it is not relevant to my skin type and £18 is a little on the pricey side for me.

Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash 100ml £12.00
 

" With a deep pore cleansing action, this exfoliating facial wash contains cherry powder and jojoba beads to gently polish and help refine skin texture. Enriched with mandarin and aniseed to soften and condition, leaving skin clean, brighter and more radiant. "





 

 

I got the opportunity to try this when I received it in my January Glossybox this year so I knew exactly what to expect. This is probably by far my favourite product out of the range simply because I love anything that gently exfoliates my skin, smells good to eat as well as leaving skin brightening results. This product is almost a mixture of a scrub and a wash put together. I love anything that gently exfoliates my skin, smells good to eat as well as leaving skin brightening results. This product is almost a mixture of a scrub and a wash put together. It isn't a harsh exfoliant that dries your skin out and leaves your skin red and irritated, instead the right amount of jojoba beads washes away dirt and grime and leaves your skin smooth and noticeably brighter and is gentle enough to use every day. The fresh and fruity scent is quite noticeable and strong too however it didn't bother me, I love the smell of their products!

Would I purchase? Definitely, even though £12 may seem alot for a face wash, it does contain jojoba beads, cherry powder, mandarin and aniseed without any of the other nasty skin harming stuff often found in other face washes. I love the fact that it doesn't dry my skin out or irritate it and leaves it radiant after every use. Thumbs up!

 

And lastly Softly Softly Daily Moisturiser 50ml £20.

  

My usual moisturiser was coming to an end, just as well as this seemed to work brilliantly on my skin. When I first used it, the first thing that caught my attention was the smell of it, it greatly reminded me of something and I later realised it was the Liz Earle Hot Polish Cleanser I guess it was because of the similar ingredients. I used this religiously every morning for four weeks both underneath makeup and alone and it really did have skin softening and smoothing properties. That's all I found it did however just smoothed and softened my skin. It comes in a convenient pump bottle so you can squeeze out how much you need, smells lovely, is quite light and non greasy and does absorb well into the skin. Would I purchase? Probably not simply because I  am near to the 30 age mark and need something anti ageing which I can find elsewhere for the same price.

 

Overall, you might like this range if:

 

• You prefer to use paraben free, active plant extracts, skin friendly products on your skin.
• You want a simple skincare range that is easy to use, IE no fiddly bits like peel of masks, pore strips, eye roll ons and so on.
• Aged 16-24 and are looking for a touch of luxury and have a good attitude towards skincare. and
• don't mind spending money.
• You are looking for products that give you a spa like feel in your own home.

You may not like it if:

• You find the prices slightly on the steep side particularly if you are a student on a budget.

Elemis Freshskin range can be purchased at major Superdrug Stores and online Timetospa Uk here.

Many thanks again to the lovely people at Elemis PR for sending me these. Be sure to follow them on twitter @elemisfreshskin.

* Disclaimer: Sample for review purposes only. I am not an affiliate neither was I paid for this review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own views.

Hinnah xxx

 

 

 

MAC Fix Plus- Review & How to

When I first started to see makeup fixing sprays or setting sprays come out in the makeup market, I did not comprehend their purpose at first to be honest. I just didn't see the use for them, if you have already created a perfect foundation routine, prepped and primed your skin, highlighted and contoured and then set it with powder, what was the need? Did it not smudge the makeup applied? Did it not ruin the look? Curious to find the answers, I purchased the Mac Fix+ spray and boy was I wrong! You definitely need this in your makeup kit, whether you are a makeup artist by profession or simply a makeup fanatic like myself.

Now I was aware that there were other brands available, I first became intrigued when MUA cosmetics launched their Pro Base Makeup Fixing Mist, truth be told, I wasn't totally convinced that at £5, there was a 'fixing time of up to eight hours' as specified on their website. It was only because I had stopped off at Mac to stock up on a few things that I ran out of that I decided to add this to my shopping. Having said that though, and to prove I am not a complete
brand/price snob, I will definitely be purchasing the fixing mist from MUA next down I pop into my local Superdrug, cannot really go wrong can I?

So, how did I go? To be honest, I did cringe at the price a little at first, £13.50 seemed like a lot for a fix spray, but it was a 100ml bottle and it did contain  "vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energising scent of Sugi" and promised to "add radiance and fix makeup".



The first thing that attracted me to this was the smell, it was so invigorating and my skin seemed to take an instant liking to it. I tried to play around with it a little, I first used it BEFORE applying my makeup and it created the perfect hydrated base for applying my foundation and the rest. Thankfully, I had a three day family wedding and thought it was the perfect time to use it, so after applying a full face of makeup on the first day, I held this from a 25cm distance and spritzed and the product worked instantly. It mattifies your makeup and creates this luminous, dewy look. it was so hydrating!

I later discovered other uses for it and I just love a product that has multi use. I spritzed a little product onto my eyeshadow brush to help my eyeshadow glide on and stay in place and it really did! Also, I was thinking for when the days get hotter to just pop it in the fridge for a little while and spritz it onto the bare face as a refresher? What do you think? Good idea right and definitely one for getting your moneys worth. You can also add it to slightly creamier, thicker products like foundations for instance to help thin it out. I also love the fact that the top comes with a lock pump thing for you to lock the pump  so it doesn't leak in your makeup bag!

If I am at all honest, as much as I still find Mac Fix+ a little on the pricey side, I will definitely be repurchasing it as I will make good use of it. I do not use it everyday though simply because I do not wear heavy makeup so will just save it for the occasions for when I do, most likely weddings. The product comes out in a nice mist sort of way and not a full stream of liquid which is nice too.

Would I save lots of money if I was to simply fill the same bottle with water and use that? Most likely yes but then cucumber and green tea have been known to be good for the skin too, besides, there are many ways this can be used so money well spent in my opinion.

Mac Fix Plus can be brought on the official MAC website at http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/ (UK) and at all MAC stores.

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts?

xxx

Lush- The Sacred Truth Face Mask Review.

So, you pop into town one afternoon with a list of errands that urgently need seeing to and you just happen to walk past Lush and cant help but to go in. Wha t is it about that place? For me, it is definately all those beautiful smells, the way the products are all beautifully presented, and lastly the lovely sales assistants with smiles on their faces and bowls of lukewarm water in the hands waiting to give your hands some much needed spa style TLC.

 

Truth be told, I had no intention of buying anything. I already stopped off at Mac before and as usual splashed out a little more than I needed to as you do. In fact, I wanted to see if I could get a few cheeky samples of a few face masks and moisterisers as my skin has been looking a little drab as of late, plus was in desperate need of a detox as I attended a three day family wedding the weekend before with a full face of makeup on all three days so you can imagine just how much my skin needed a breather.

 

What do I like the most? The fact that there is always someone readilly available the minute they see you are having a browse around. I was approached by a lovely young lady who asked me exactly what I was looking for, suggested three suitable face masks and asked me to take a seat near a bowl of warm water whilst she demonstrated all three explaining their benefits. She was professional, friendly and genuine and really talked about all the products passionately. I didnt feel any pressure to make a purchase as the vibe you get in some of the other shops. Needless to say, my hands felt smooth, pampered and supple.

 

Out of the three she talked me through, I particualry liked the look and feel of the Sacred Truth Mask. When the lovely lady described it as 'A five day smoothie detox for your face' I just knew I had to have it. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Its a combination of wheatgrass, ginseng, green tea, fresh papaya, cleansing clays and nutritious butter all natural and handmade that promises to enhance and revive the complexion. The smell does linger on which is what I like most about it to be honest, not too sure if it would be everyones cup of tea though.

 

As with all their face masks, you apply an even layer, avoid the delicate eye area and leave on for 5-10 minutes and wash off with warm water and pat dry. The product is expected to last about threeish weeks as its live and natural and works best chilled so pop it in the fridge. You can feel it work instantly when chilled.

 

The results? On the initial application, my skin felt tight but I guess it meant the product was working. It didnt irritate it in any way and I quite liked the cold feeling on my face so I tend to use it in the mornings whilst putting the kettle on to really give my skin that awake and fresh feeling you often need in the mornings.

 

And after the third use? it has definately made a difference to the tired, dull skin I had, it has never felt smoother. At £5.95 for 75g it may seem a little pricey, and this may sound like a cliche, but a little really does go a long way, and it is all perservative free so I couldnt really ask for more.

 

I was so tempted to pick up a whole lot of other stuff but resisted the urge! And the bonus is collect five clean, full sized pots, bring back into the store to receive a free face mask! I cant wait to go back into that beauiful, heavenly place. it really is lush.

 

 

Are you using any Lush products?

 

Until next time!

 

Hinnah

 

xxx

 

 

 

Hello Glow Rose Dust Anti Ageing Polish Review.

If you follow my blog closely, you will remember me posting a review of the Hello Glow Whitening Plus facial Polish that I just cannot just enough of lately and reading my review, you ll see why. If you’ve missed it, not to worry, you can read up on it again here.

Well my lovelies, today, I’m going to give you a little insight into the new addition to the Hello Glow family called Rose Dust Anti Ageing Facial Cleansing Polish.  The lovely people at Rose Link sent me the cute little sample to review and Ive been using it for several weeks now and have been meaning to knuckle down and get my review posted so here goes guys, I suppose it’s better late than never eh?

Rose Dust has more of less the same ingredients as the Whitening Plus facial Polish, in fact I believe it is the sister product. The only difference I can see is the addition of crushed rose petals which you can actually smell, its so divine and uplifting. To fit in with the aesthetic of the name it has been given, the product comes in a beautiful pink bottle and packaging with cute little diamante that remind me of a magic fairy dust for little girlys, lets face it,we are never too old for girly packaging!

So, what is the product and what does it do?

Well, Rose Dust is a luxurious blend of crushed rose petals in powder form, rice and milk powder, potato starch, cactus honey powder, coconut milk powder and rose oil all in 100% preservative free, natural form so your skin will not be harmed.

 For years, many generations of women have been known to swear by rose water as part of their skin care regime particularly since it has also been known to have anti inflammatory properties. Rose petals combined with all the other ingredients such as the honey, milk powder and potato starch ensures that the skin is left looking radiant and smooth whilst the high levels of vitamin C in potato starch helps in lightening the complexion as well as the dark circles around the eyes.

What do Rose Link say?

“Roses have been used for centuries in skin care. Rose petals contain carotene, B group vitamins, vitamin C and ascorbic acid. This combination smooths, tones and moisturises skin. Milk contains the exfoliator lactic acid, which gently loosens dead skin. This is combined with rice, which is rich in ceramide to stimulate collagen production and help diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Coconut milk nourishes the skin and honey acts as a natural humectant, attracting moisture to leave skin smooth and glowing. The rich concentration of Vitamin C in potato starch gently lightens pigmentation and dark circles around the eyes.”

 

How to use Rose Dust?

The directions for use given by Rose Link UK remains consistent throughout their whole product range. Simply place the amount equal to the size of a 1p coin in the middle of your wet palms, (although your hands do not necessarily have to be wet before hand, you can always add a little water after, depends on what works for you), rub together and apply all over damp face for thirty seconds, rinse with cool water and pat dry and there you go, it is really as simple as that! In order to get the real benefits of the products and see visible results, I do recommend using this 2-3 times in a week for a period of 1 and a half months.

It really is user friendly, by that I mean no fiddling around with any tops etc, the powder pours out well, feels great to use,however as always, it is best not to let the remainder product in the bottle have too much exposure to air and water, sadly, it will do nothing but contaminate it since it is all natural.

One thing I should mention though is that the target market for Rose Dust are those that suffer from fine lines and wrinkles, in short, mature women since it is anti ageing. Now, being in my late twenties I can see why some of you may be slightly confused by me using it, however, a few months back,whilst having a Dermaologica facial, the therapist had mentioned me having a few very fine lines across my forehead! I have also read that those approaching thirty should begin introducing anti ageing products to their skin care regimen a little prior to hitting 30.




 

So, what’s the verdict?

Unfortunately, I did not get round to taking a picture of my face before using this and my ‘after’ picture a month on so apologies for the lack of these. I can however reveal, that my skin certainly looks and feels smoother,radiant and supple after using it for 4 weeks on a twice weekly period.  If I am honest though, I do not think there has been much of a difference in terms of diminishing fine lines and wrinkles,I just don’t think the product is strong enough to do so, however, who knows,over time it may help prolong the appearance of lines and wrinkles but I guess this can only be achieved if used religiously.

Despite the above, I am still happy to rate it a 4/5 for its effectiveness in giving a youthful glowing complexion and making the skin more supple, it definitely has the right ingredients for doing so. I have had no problems with the packaging or usage and I like that fact that it is at an affordable £4.99 for 30mg,including free delivery and can be purchased here.

 

You might like it if:

·        You like a mild exfoliant

·        You have normal/combination/mature skin

·        You want an instant brightener for the skin.

·        You like the fragrance of rose.

·        You are looking for a 100% natural product.

·        You expect it to even out your skin tone and add a glow

·        You appreciate the smooth and supple after effect it gives.

You may not like it if:

 

·        You are looking to erase deep lines and wrinkles

·        The price for the quantity does not seem affordable.

·        You expect a long lasting glow without continuous use.

Have you tried Rose Dust? What are your thoughts?  

* Disclaimer: Sample for review purposes only. I am not an affiliate neither was I paid for this review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own views.

Hinnah xxx

Crown Brushes- Initial Review.

 
 
If you are often on Twitter, Facebook and Beauty Blogs you will get to know just how much of a hype there has been on Crown Brushes lately and rightly so. Now I only briefly came across Crown Brushes when a makeup artist I booked last year for a wedding used them exclusively, but I started to get a more thorough insight of them when I started following them on Twitter and joined their Facebook page.

For those of you that don’t know, Crown Brushes are one of the largest brush manufacturers and have been doing so for the last 20 years so it is safe to say they are the market leaders when it comes to expertise and price. Their prices thankfully are at the more affordable end of the spectrum with a wide range of brushes, tools, accessories and make up all at quality, affordable prices catering for professional makeup artists as well as for those that DIY their makeup.  

Sadly, like many others, I am not able to fill my make up apron belt with the glorious MAC makeup brushes we all often lust after and also because I just cannot justify paying £20+ for a brush and so Crown have been known to be the best dupe after Sigma. I should mention, I do not own any Sigma brushes too as Ijust cannot handle their shipping charges and all the hoo haa with ordering them from abroad, not to mention all the negative reviews I have read about their customer service lately.

Following Crown Brushes UK closely on Twitter, you will come to find several users praising their brushes, make up and customer service and its hard not to check out their website and take a peek at what they offer. So one afternoon, they had a special Mothers Day 15% off offer and I cheekily took advantage of it and ordered myself a selection of eight beautiful brushes. From left to right, they are:

C224 Oval Camouflage

 

IB107 Deluxe Oval Foundation

C250-0 Mini Liner

 

C104 Angle Blush

C405 Angle Contour Blush

 

M10 Taklon Foundation

 

IB105 Tapered Blush

IB137Lip / Liner Brush

 

It wouldn’t be valid to write a thorough review on each of them as I haven’t actually used them yet with any product and instead, have just tested them alland at first glance, the brushes look and most importantlyfeel professional and of a good quality. Unlike many brushes from other brands, they do not feel scratchy on the skin at all, irritate the skin nor smell all artificial and dyed. I also did not experience any initial shedding of hairs too, although I will only be able to back this up when I actually give them a wash.

Overall, I am pleased with them and have already started making a list of what I’d like to order next! Their website appears to be user friendly, my whole shopping experience went smoothly and my delivery arrived within three working days as promised. I liked the fact that the majority of the brushes had the description on them which really helps as some brushes look completely identical, yet have two different purposes. I did however, wonder why some brushes such as the Oval camouflage (first in the image) didn’t, but I suppose over time, you do become fully accustomed to your brushes and their purpose so the lack of descriptionon some will not really matter much. My total was just under £50 so you can call it a bargain, however they do charge £2.99 for standard delivery, which I suppose is typical really.

As a follower of Crown Brush UK,you’ll always find new and exciting updates on their part, their weekly Twitter #makeupmonday competitions to submit a makeup look to win £20 worth of products, the recent joining of Karla Powell make up artist, their several other generous giveaways as well as the recent launch of their gorgeous Infinity brushes with vegan soft synthetic bristles that I am currently drooling over.

Check out their website here

Follow them on Twitter @crownbrushuk here

Like their Facebook page here

Do you own any Crown Brushes? What are they?

xxx

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My February Favourites.

Hello, lovely ladies,

I just cannot believe how fast February has come and gone, how quickly have the weeks flown by!  On a positive note, the days do seem to be getting a little warmer and that can only mean one thing- Spring is coming! Yay!

This post would have been quite fun to do in a video format if I had a Youtube channel of my own, but one, my current Sony camera does not have a long recording facility and secondly, I just don’t have the confidence to be honest, but maybe in the future, who knows, watch this space!

For once, I will be keeping this post short and sweet and to the point, ill let the pictures do the talking. (Apologies for the poor picture quality :( )I just wanted to share all the products I have been using religiously this past month and what works well for me and what doesn’t, as well as my wish list that I will be mentioning at the end of the blog, yes, I have a wishlist of all the pretty things I currently have my eyes on and I am sure, you have one too!

Here goes:

Gucci Rush Body Lotion



 

I got this as part of a gift set at the Perfume Shop simply because the gift set was cheaper than the perfume alone so it made sense!  Although, I cannot really understand why gift sets are generally cheaper, shouldn’t it cost more surely because you are getting additional products? Oh well, not that I am complaining but I have been loving this. After my shower, I apply this just over my arms and chest mind you and it smells absolutely divine. The light fragrance from it tends to linger onto your skin so you can keep smelling it throughout the day and it is perfect now the days are finally getting warmer.

Mac Lipstick in Satin.



 

Well we all know just how great MAC lipsticks are so I wont bore you with all the details on that but my lipstick shades vary depending on my mood but this month Ive been feeling the Satin shade, it is a nice subtle pinkish shade that compliments my skin tone well and has buildable coverage. I like it because although it is not too bold and in your face, but not so natural that the colour doesn’t show up.

Hello Glow Whitening Plus Facial Polish.

I just cannot praise this enough, I swear by it! Here is my review of it incase you missed it. Along with my Elemis Facial Wash, its the only polish that actually works on my skin. I don’t include it in my skincare regimen daily, it is certainly good enough to be though. I am currently offering it as part of a giveaway on my new facebook page Diva by Hinnah Khalifa, check it out here, Giveaway ends on Monday the 11^th of March.

Kryolan Paint Stick in Shade Oriental.

Although, this is primarily a foundation, I have found it great to be used as a concealer simply because I find its a little bit too much to be worn on a daily basis and for those of you that know me, will know I have ridiculously dark circles around my eyes and this provides great lasting coverage. I wont go too much into detail, although you can read my full review on it here.

F2 Stippling Brush by MUA and Buffing Brush by Real Techniques.

 

 

I have been using these 2 brushes extensively and find they blend my Studio fix liquid foundation from Mac brilliantly. I find I no longer need to use my sponge to blend as this does the job and leaves a flawless finish if I use setting powder on top, again which I apply with these two brushes.

 **My Wishlist (Which just keeps getting longer by the day!)

·         Mac Fix +

·         Mac Mineralize Skin Finish

·         Mac lipliner in Cherry

·         Crown Brush C406 Large Duo Fibre Face Brush

·         Banana powder- Ben Nye.

·         Flawless Face Blender from Crown Brush UK

·         Professional Stainless Steel Mixing Plate from Crownbrush UK.

I could go on, but ill choose not to haha!

What are your monthly fav products? Do you have a wish list?

Hinnah xxx