REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA ON THE GLOW BLUSHER TRIO

*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links.

I don't think I've ever liked the formula of cream blushers until trying these Pixi On-the-Glow Blush Sticks. I've tried a few in the past including MAC cream blushers and just felt like they were too hard to work with, especially when it came to blending.

BEAUTY || KIKO MILANO COSMETICS LIPLINERS SHADES & SWATCHES

If you are looking for good quality and affordable lip liners then you've clicked on the right post! Over the years I have spent hundreds of pounds on lip liners (I would be going into thousands if I mentioned lipsticks 😳), and I can confidently say that I've found the best liners out there for a very affordable price of just £2.99. 

I understand that if you're on a tight budget or don't have much disposable income that you will be seeking the cheapest products out there, but you must be aware of the actual ingredients of the products and their performance - hence why I think that Kiko Milano's Smart Fusion Lip Pencils are 100% worth more than what they are!

REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA VITAMIN-C RANGE (AD/GIFTED)

*This post contains gifted items.

Pixi has to be one of my favourite skincare brands, and believe me when I say that I've tried a lot of drugstore brands. The price point isn't too high, the quality is superb and the packaging is cute and not OTT. I'm so pleased to be an ambassador for the brand and very grateful to have received their whole vitamin-C range to try out for myself. 

If you're a Pixi fan then you might already know about their amazing glycolic acid toner which can be a bit harsh on certain skin types, so the vitamin-C range might actually be a better option for you. However, if you're interested you can read my review of the Pixi Glow Tonic here.

REVIEW || GARNIER ULTIMATE BLENDS PLUMPING HAIR FOOD WATERMELON & POMEGRANATE SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER AND MASK

When I first saw that Garnier brought out a watermelon scented range of their Ultimate Blends collection I knew I had to have it because if you know anything about me you will know that I love anything watermelon scented. I'm a huge fan of the Banana hair mask from Garnier and I haven't tried any of the other products, including the shampoos or conditioners. On my recent walk, I decided to go into my local Boots store and pick up the shampoo, conditioner and mask from the watermelon collection and I just couldn't wait to smell them!

REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA GLOW TONIC

*This post contains gifted items.

Everyone and their mum knows about the Pixi Glow Tonic, but maybe feel a bit sceptical about trying it out as it contains glycolic acid that can be a bit too strong for some to use. 

The first time I got to try this tonic was when my dear friend, Sophie, gave me some of her travel-sized bottle to try out. At first, I didn't see any results, but that might have been due to the amount I used and not being consistent enough. Now, I use the glow tonic twice a day after cleansing and have noticed amazing results - keep on reading to find out more

REVIEW || JOLIE BEAUTY SECOND SKIN HIGHLIGHTERS IN SAINTLY AND DREAMING

*This post contains PR items from Jolie Beauty. In this picture I am wearing the shade 'Saintly'.

I recently came across the brand Jolie Beauty on a blogging assignment website where I could apply for a collaboration to review a highlighter from this company. I was pleasantly surprised to receive two of the Jolie Beauty Second Skin Highlighters in shades 'Saintly' and 'Dreaming'.
 
Jolie Beauty is a brand created by experienced makeup artists, wanting to make products that are the highest quality with an affordable price tag. All products are cruelty-free and most are vegan; thus being very ethically-aware when it comes to cosmetics. I don't tend to buy any makeup or skincare items that aren't cruelty-free, and mostly I look for the vegan labels too.

REVIEW || ELF COSMETICS PORELESS PUTTY PRIMER

I feel like this product has been sold out in my local Superdrug stores for absolute ages until I was able to get my hands on it in December 2019. I've been using it for a few months now so I think it's the perfect time to finally review it. Since releasing the Poreless Putty Primer, ELF have also released a selection of primers in this range including Matte Putty Primer, and Luminous Putty Primer (which I haven't tried yet).

CHANGING THE RAZOR GAME WITH ESTRID - VEGAN AND SUSTAINABLE RAZOR FOR ALL WOMEN

*This post contains gifted items.

Now, I don't have to tell you how difficult it is to find the perfect razor for a bump-free and smooth finish. I have tried many different brands, including those specific for men which I find give me a better finish than those that are directed at women, odd right? 

I have seen a lot of adverts for Estrid razor subscription and was really intrigued to see if this was going to be the one for me. So when Estrid got in touch with me about trying out a started kit, I jumped at the occasion as I spent so much money in the past on razors that did not work very well for me. Before I received my Peach razor I made sure to not shave for a few days/weeks to get the full effect from the first use.

2020 || JULY FAVOURITES

Oh boy, it has been a long while since I last shared with you my Monthly Favourites. I know that these are the type of posts that everyone likes to read to see and compare your favourites to others'. This month has been a bit hot and cold, hasn't it? Hence why all of my favourites are skincare related as I am still furloughed and not wearing much makeup!

REVIEW || MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH IN SOFT & GENTLE, MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN LIGHT, AND MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN GIVE ME SUN!

I have been wanting to try all three of these products for many years now, and have finally treated myself to all of them. At a high price tag I've put off trying these products for so long, and now with my spending ban I wasn't really allowed to treat myself either; but when I was given some credit to use on my employee online staff shop I just had to treat myself to these (unnecessary) items.

REVIEW || AVEDA SHAMPURE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER - USED ON FINE AND STRAIGHT BLONDE HAIR

I had absolutely no idea what Aveda was until I started working in the beauty industry back in 2017. I thought that paying £15.50 for a bottle of shampoo was absolutely insane, especially as the matching conditioner cost £17.50 - that's £33 for a couple of essential items I will need to repurchase in 3-4 month's time anyway. We don't really bat an eyelid when we pay £10 for a bottle of wine that'll last around 2 hours, so why deny ourselves a luxurious hair care item that'll last much longer and won't give us a headache the next day?

REVIEW || POP BEAUTY PERMANENT POUT - LIQUID LIPSTICKS IN ALL SHADES

*This post contains gifted items.

I remember receiving this parcel out of the blue. There was no note and no warning that I was going to be receiving a wide range of POP Beauty's Permanent Pout Lipsticks. The excitement came rushing over when I realised that this brand is owned by Pixi Beauty who I work with regularly on a gifted basis and that they wanted to work with me on their new brand.

The Formula:

REVIEW || GARNIER SKINACTIVE ROSE SOOTHING GLOW MIST AND ROSE SOOTHING TONER

I've never really been fond of rose-scented products as I had an allergic reaction to a Lush product before. It was hard for me to get used to the scent of these two products at first as I found them slightly overwhelming, but now that my skin is used to them I have really been enjoying using the products.

REVIEW || THE BODY SHOP WONDERFULLY WONKY BANANA BODY YOGURT

I love The Body Shop body care ranges. I tend to pick a few bits up every now and then, especially when they're on offer. In my last haul, I bought 4 of the body yogurts - a product that I've been wanting to try ever since they came out in 2018. I chose the scents: Pink Grapefruit, Wonderfully Wonky Banana, Almond Milk, and Cactus Blossom. Seeing as I cannot find neither Cactus Blossom nor Wonderfully Wonky Banana online, I'm assuming that these were limited edition last summer.

The scent of this product is just phenomenal. I love bananas and banana flavoured and scented products, so it was no surprise that I fell in love with this product straight away. The packaging is very handy as it is not too wide but deep enough to easily take out the cream. I like the banana details on the top of the lid, it makes a nice addition to the product.

The consistency is very smooth, cooling and lightweight which is perfect for this time of the year. It applies very easily on the skin and instantly absorbs. I have tried it both on wet and dry skin, and I prefer the application on dry skin as I find that it absorbs into the skin quicker; whereas wet application made my skin feel a bit sticky before it dried properly.

The overall verdict is that this product is my new favourite type of body moisturiser. I absolutely love the way it applies to the skin and how quickly it absorbs. This really is a perfect and versatile moisturiser, especially during hotter weather. The only downside of this product is that it is limited edition and you might not be able to get hold of this scent in the future. The Body Shop tends to bring out a few different scents for a limited amount of time, so when you find a scent that you really love make sure that you stock up!

You can buy The Body Shop body yogurts here.

*This post does not contain affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || DECIEM / THE ORDINARY AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION

I was hesitant to try anything from The Ordinary for a while. The low price tag was very appealing but I was worried about trying any form of acid on my sensitive skin. Having decided that 2020 is going to be a year where I'll be on a beauty spending ban, I knew I had to do a mini haul of a few of the Ordinary's bestsellers to try out before my spending ban started.
I ordered the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution among a few other items as I heard many people rave about how good it is. I love the Origins Night-a-Mins cream which has fruit-derived AHA's, so how much different is this product going to be?

BEAUTY || LIP COLOURS YOU WILL LOVE THIS SUMMER

I can't be the only one who saves certain lip colours for specific times of the year, right? Especially when it's a bright orange or pink shade.

MAC Matte Lipstick in The Fashion Flock
This is definitely one of my favourite shades to wear in the Summer. I never go abroad without it as I believe that this is the perfect Peachy shade that goes great with a tan.

If you are after the actual lipstick, I found it on eBay. However, bear in mind that it might have been used/swatched or might be out of date if previously opened.

REVIEW || SANCTUARY SPA WET SKIN RADIANCE JELLY

I'm really bad at looking after the skin on my body. I rarely ever moisturise or fake tan as I find that these things take too much effort when I have to stand around for ages waiting for the product to dry.
I'm trying to be good and moisturise every time I shower now using the Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly.
In general, I love anything watermelon scented, so when I saw this product in Boots a few months ago I knew I'd regret not purchasing it. It was on offer for around £6 so I thought I was getting myself a little bargain! My initial thoughts were a bit all over the place. A jelly moisturiser to use on wet skin? What sort of sorcery is this?! Sounds like a perfect product for lazy people such as myself lol.

The texture threw me off a little bit as I don't particularly like slimy textures but I really wanted to try this product as I have heard many good things about the Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle. I bought this product just before going away to Alicante, so thought it'll be a great opportunity to try the product there as the watermelon scent will be associated with a holiday every time I use it. At first, I thought it was bloody cold to use on the skin straight after a nice warm shower, so I was a bit annoyed 😂. After I applied the product I dried my body as normal which was a bit weird as I felt like I was rubbing the product off my skin.

Once I dried my skin and put my pyjamas on, my skin felt super soft as if I used any other moisturiser but with a lot more lightweight feel to it.
After a few applications every time I showered for a few days, I have noticed that my skin felt softer and smoother than normal (I don't always moisturise my skin).

Overall, I think this is a great product for those who don't like the feel of a heavy body moisturiser and generally don't have much time to get ready after showering. It is great value for the quality of the product and lasts absolute ages as you don't need much to spread it evenly.

Have you tried this moisturising jelly before? What other products would you like for me to review from this brand?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2019 || BEAUTY LOVERS' GIFT GUIDE FOR ALL AGES - WHAT TO GIFT A BEAUTY JUNKIE

*This post contains a PR press sample and affiliate links.

Being such a big fan of anything beauty related, I feel like I could be seen as a trusty source when looking for Christmas presents.

The Ordinary has been a brand that I've been wanting to try for a while but never quite got round to researching the right products for my skin type. Some of the products I have bought are 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalane, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, and High-Adherence Silicone Primer. The first and third products are great for all skin types, especially for those that are looking for a radiant complexion look. The second item is best for acne-prone skin as it helps to unclog pores and clear the skin from bacteria. It is one of my favourite skincare products I've ever tried. 

Eye Majic World's First Instant Eyeshadow (PR Press Sample) is a press on eyeshadow, giving an instant colourful look on the eye. This product is available in 24 shades, so you won't feel limited to just one eye look. I think these are great for those who don't have much time to get ready in the mornings but want to add a bit of colour to their daily makeup look. Eye Majic is also very hygienic (one-use product), cruelty-free, paraben-free and recyclable which makes it the perfect product for everyone! It retails at £5.99 for 5 applicators or £19.99 for 20. You can find Eye Majic Press On Shadows here.

Lancome has to be a mum's favourite brand, doesn't it? My mum was the person that introduced me to the brand, and even though it might be seen as an "older lady's brand" it definitely has some amazing products for all skin types and ages. The best, and probably the priciest, range from Lancome is Absolue Premium. The ones you can see in the picture are the day cream and the night cream, and I have received them as part of Lancome's Gift with Purchase. These make great gifts to those who are looking for anti-ageing products or really like the brand.

Another great choice for gifting a beauty lover is anything from Morphe. I bought the 25B Bronzed Mocha and 25D Oh Boy palettes to give to my sister this year as they were amazing value at only £12 when I bought them! Whether you're shopping for someone who has "too much makeup" or doesn't wear much eyeshadow, I feel like you can't go wrong with a basic neutral eyeshadow palette especially at such an amazing price.

I hope you can take some inspiration from my post next time you look for Christmas presents for a beauty lover in your life!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Review || Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Range

I have always been a very big fan of Boots own brand called 'Essentials'. I have been using their moisturiser and cleansing lotion since I was 16 and they're my holy grail products. Recently I decided to buy the whole collection excluding the face wash and eye makeup remover pads as I don't think they're worth trying due to having something similar in the past (not saying that those ones aren't good). I went for the cucumber collection as have combination skin which can be sensitive, as I know for a fact that cucumber extract helps calm redness. I love the scent of all the products as it is fresh and makes my skin feel energised and clean. Right, let's get onto reviewing the products!

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Wipes £1.00

I don't really like using wipes, I prefer to cleanse my skin with lotion and makeup remover and then wash it off rather than rubbing my makeup into my skin by using wipes. However, these wipes are different from the ones I've tried before as they don't rub my makeup in, but get rid of it instantly. I would say I only need two wipes to take my whole makeup off which is pretty impressive as with other cheap wipes I will probably use up around 5 to just try and take my mascara off! They are very soft and lightly fragranced but the scent doesn't irritate me at all as it is mild and makes me feel like I've been to the spa after as it leaves my skin feeling very soft! These wipes have since been reformulated and are now biodegradable.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Makeup Gel Remover £1.50

I don't use this product too often as I find it too watery and slightly sticky to take my mascara off but I don't mind it for taking my foundation off as it does the same job as micellar water. I must say that I am really disappointed with this product and I don't think it's good at all. It's merely okay, but it won't take any eye makeup off - especially not waterproof or high-end mascara. I much prefer the Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, which is a decent dupe for Clinique's Take The Day Off Liquid Remover.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Lotion £1.50

I love love love this product. It takes all my makeup off within seconds and lasts for ages. It is a good dupe for Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish makeup remover as it melts the makeup off while moisturising and cleansing the face. I do usually tend to wash this off with warm water and I don't use a flannel - I prefer to use cotton pads as I find them more convenient. I do think that a warm flannel might work better with this product as it'll help to slightly exfoliate your skin after a long day of wearing makeup.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Toner £1.50

This is a really good toner, especially for the price. I have repurchased this product many times as it is so affordable and always leaves my skin feeling fresh, soft and well cleansed. It's suitable for all skin types and doesn't irritate the skin. I find that it helps to reduce the redness on my skin and keep my blemishes down. This would make a great first toner for anyone with acne-prone skin, and I wish I used it when I was younger.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Gel £1.50

I was a bit hesitant when it came to purchasing this product as I've read mixed reviews of it and never really liked any eye gels, but I have actually really enjoyed using this product. I find it refreshing on my skin and it does make my under-eyes feel refreshed as well as reduce any swelling I might get from not getting enough sleep. I tend to use this product mostly in my morning routine, as I find it helps to wake me up.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Moisturising Cream £1.50

This is one of the best moisturisers I have ever used. At such an affordable price it not only hydrates and softens the skin but also helps to reduce redness and blemishes (in my case anyway). I really do recommend this product to anyone who's trying to save some money and still expect great results. I always repurchase it and I'm never disappointed with the results! At only £1.50 for 100ml, this should last you at least 6 months!

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Scrub £1.50

I am really fussy when it comes to facial cleansing products such as scrubs. I usually tend to go for Clearasil or Neutrogena, so when I picked this up I was hoping it would be as good as the other products from the collection! I really want to say that I love this because of the texture and scent, but it doesn't do anything for my skin at all :(

It's good for cleansing but I expect more from a scrub - I want it to exfoliate my whole face leaving it feeling right and fresh but it just makes me want to wash it again with a different product. Update - I have since worked in skincare for 3 years and can say that this product is actually pretty good, especially for those who have dry or acne-prone skin. It isn't a rough scrub, but that doesn't mean that it's not doing its job! (I do not use abrasive scrubs anymore and would happily try this one again).

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Clay Face Mask £1.50

I love this face mask! It does wonders for my skin, moisturises it while getting rid of all the toxins and dead skin cells. I find that it cleanses my skin well leaving it feeling fresh and soft. Using this mask twice a week will give you the best results, but don't overuse it or keep it on your skin for longer than the required 3 minutes as it might dry you out.

For 50ml per tube, this is a very affordable product that lasts around 3 months with regular use, so I'd definitely recommend this product! 

Boots Essentials Facial Exfoliating Sponge £1.75

I needed an exfoliating sponge and because Boots had an offer on all the essential products 3 for 2 then I decided to get one to try it out. I am really happy with this as it really gets rid of all excess oils and dirt from my face leaving it feeling baby smooth. The only thing which you might not like about this is that both sides are quite rough and it does hurt a bit if you have sensitive skin, but in that case, you could use it as a body exfoliator instead.

On top of the products already mentioned in this post, I would also recommend the face wash from this range but you should avoid the micellar water as it is absolutely rubbish.

Have you tried any of these products? If so, what did you think of them? 

*This post contains some affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || ESTEÉ LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR MAXIMUM COVER FOUNDATION IN CREAMY VANILLA

Who's still struggling with finding the perfect foundation? Me Me Me!! But not any more. Now that I've found my long lost best friend I am forever happy. This miracle foundation is what everyone with any skin concerns needs. It does its job better than any other foundation I have ever tried - and trust me, there have been many.

I have heard so many good things about Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundations and have decided to try out both of them. I went to my local Estee Lauder counter at Boots and asked for a sample of the normal Double Wear and one of the Maximum Cover. I got given the shades 'Cool Bone' for Double Wear and  'Creamy Vanilla' for Maximum Cover. What I can tell you is that the colours did NOT match my skin tone at all. I am usually NW10 or NC15 in MAC foundations, depending on the type and consistency so I would expect to be similar colours in Estee Lauder but I guess it's just the personal opinion of the staff that work there, as well as the store's lighting.

After long consideration, I decided to purchase the Maximum Cover foundation in the shade 'Creamy Vanilla' as it is the lightest shade in the collection - not very impressed with the shade range, I'm hoping that the brand will consider expanding their shade range for lighter and darker skin tones in the future. And I am very impressed with the coverage it offers. It makes my skin look flawless, slightly orange (yikes) but flawless. Okay, I am exaggerating a little bit, it doesn't make me look orange but it is a lot darker than my natural skin tone so I have to blend it very well which can be time-consuming, or I would apply some fake tan to match this shade. However, you do not need a lot of product for full coverage which I like about this foundation as it is expensive and will probably last me for a year. A little goes a long way!

You can see here how dark it actually is and I only put the smallest amount on the back of my hand! I would say a pea-sized amount would be enough to conceal acne and scarring on my face (not saying that you need to do this). The consistency is very different from all the foundations I have ever tried. It is very velvety and smooth and almost like a cloud?? I cannot explain the texture of this foundation but it doesn't feel like you have any on your face after application so it's very good for people who wear heavy make-up and dislike the feel of it. I forget I'm wearing a full face of make-up when I use this foundation! 

Overall, I am very pleased with this product as it truly is a lightweight and very full coverage. A little goes a long way, meaning that one tube should last around 6-12 months even with daily use. Sadly, the shade range isn't great but hopefully, you'll be able to find the closest match to your skin tone. Sometimes I mix it with my NW10 studio fix foundation as it's too light for me at the moment. A girl can never win... but it's a definite 9/10!! YAY! - Estee Lauder has since updated their colour range and has added a few new undertones too.

If you are looking for a foundation that's similar to this one without breaking the bank, then have a look at the comparison between these two foundations.

Have you tried any of the Estee Lauder foundations? What did you think?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo