it Cosmetics CC+ Oil-free Matte with SPF 40 Cream

 I simply adore brands that combine the staying, beautifying power of make up with all the benefits of skincare and it Cosmetics is a brand that has absolutely nailed this combination.

A current favourite of mine that works in just this way is their CC+ Oil-free Matte with SPF40 Cream.

An oil free version of their hero product, this decadent CC cream (which stands for complexion correction in case you were wondering) offers a full-coverage, matte finish, contains an impressive SPF 40 PLUS has been infused with a host of anti-ageing, skin loving ingredients to improve your skins health.

 

 

Winner.

This multitasking must-have works to reduce the appearance of pores and imperfections, reduces redness and creates a flawless matte finish without creasing, cracking or fading.

Oh, and if that wasn’t enough it also helps to reduce shine and control oil production.

 

 

 The rich, creamy formula features hydrolzed collagen to support elasticity and encourage a youthful, smooth appearance, Peptides to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and Charcoal plus colloidal and Moroccan lava clay which absorbs excess oils and impurities thus reducing the look of pores.

Skin will feel nourished and refreshed plus look radiant thanks to tea tree extract and skincare saviour hyaluronic acid plus an age-defying serum which seek to perfect and improve your overall complexion.

The fluid itself if wonderfully thick, creamy and highly pigmented which offers fantastic coverage.

 

 

It glides onto your skin and seemingly effortlessly helps to blur the appearance of imperfections while evening out your skin tone.

Available in a range of 12 different shades it’s easy to get colour matched and the pigments are true to life without a hint of orange.

Once applied it is easy to blend and build coverage as needed or desired and it creates a beautiful, natural matte look free from shine.

 

This ability to control shine is long lasting too as I found myself needing to powder my t-zone far less frequently that I would need to with a traditional foundation.

It feels light and breathable on your skin and while it offers great coverage it doesn’t feel heavy or clogging. It also doesn’t feel or look cakey and stays put for hours after application.

I love using this knowing that it hasn’t just breathed life back in to my face, but that it is also working to actively look after, protect and support my skin too.

 

 

Despite its matte appearance and oil-free formula, it is actually really hydrating and I feel that this quality is what helps it to not flake or look cakey over time.

My skin feels soft and looks brighter and healthier as soon as I’ve used it.

I’m not sure I could ask for much more in a CC Cream!

It Cosmetics CC+ Oil Free Matte Cream is available now and costs £32.

Aura Kits

I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a tough year on everyone.

The overwhelming weight of a global pandemic hanging over your head paired with the daily stresses and strains of everyday work and life can take its toll on both your physical and mental wellbeing.

Taking time for yourself has never been more important as without a healthy body and calm mind, it can feel impossible to face the challenges that face us every day.

If you are looking to inject a little balance and wellness into your life then I think I’ve found the brand for you.

 

 

Aura Kits are a British brand that offer a luxury monthly subscription box for self-care, wellbeing and mindfulness.

Treat yourself or someone you love a new self-care routine that is designed to instil peace, relaxation and positive energy in the form of an Aura Healing Kit.

Each kit contains an array of natural materials including, Sage smudge sticks, natural incense, natural candles, Himalayan pink bath salts, healing crystals, relaxation tracks and quick easy to follow information and guidance in meditation, salt baths, positive visualisation, and affirmations for just £25 per month.

The collection has been carefully curated to help you unwind, cleanse your energy and encourages you to integrate more self-care rituals into your daily routine.

 

 

Aura Kits seek to aid you to quieten your mind, find peace and clear negative energy from your home, body and soul.

Beautifully packaged in recyclable, sustainable packaging it’s just the pick-me up you may need at this difficult time.

I received my first box and was thrilled by the collection of products which when used together, help to calm, de-stress and relax a busy mind.

Each month you receive a crystal which possesses different healing qualities and this month was the Tigers Eye.

 

 

When held close, a Tigers Eye can help with an array of different issues. It promotes abundance, increases self-esteem, promotes courage, increases vitality, brings good luck and help you turn your negative thoughts into more optimistic ones.

Nestled within the presentation box you’ll also find a Solar Plexus Chakra Candle.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is linked to the upper part of the body and embodies will power and self-esteem.

Restore your inner peace and wellbeing by taking a few moments for a short meditation prior to lighting the candle. 

 

 

The light of the candle is dedicated to yourself and to all sentient beings and allows you to quieten and focus your mind.

Continue this calming experience with the inclusion of a Lemongrass Bath Fizzer.

This bright white heart shaped bath bomb contains lemongrass oil to help to soothe a busy mind and unwind in the comforting hug of a warm bath.

 

 

Amplify the experience by using the Juniper Berry essential Oil.

This purification plant can be used to cleanse ritual spaces and in medication can help you to concentrate and focus more effectively.

Revitalising and restorative, it can help with exhaustion, mental fatigue and stress.

Last but by no means least is the neatly presented bundle of White Sage.

 

 

Burning the plant is said to clear away negative energy from yourself and your home while allegedly clearing up to 94% of airborne bacteria.

You can also use the smoke from white sage to cleanse and recharge your crystals.

Cleansing your space may allow you to feel more energised and content which lets be honest, most of us could really do with right now.

Finally, your kit contains a set of positive affirmations, as the things we think and the words we speak can often become our belief systems so saying positive affirmations can be good for both the body and soul.

 

 

Speaking and thinking positively about yourself is so important with regards to your personal sense of wellbeing and confidence and if possible, you should set a few minutes aside a day to remind yourself of them.

This month’s affirmations are ‘I am Strong’, ‘I am Wealthy’, ‘I am positive energy’, ‘I am optimistic’, ‘I am joyful’, ‘I am grateful’ and ‘I am healing’.

Whatever your personal beliefs, taking time to positively focus on yourself, your wellbeing and your mental space can really make a difference to your outlook on life and situations.

You cant pour from an empty cup after all.

 

 

Aura Kits provide the tools you can use to help get you to a better place when you feel overwhelmed and I think that’s simply magical.

If you feel like you could do with some positivity and time to focus on yourself then their kits are an inspired idea.

To receive your monthly kit, you have the option of selecting from one of three different subscriptions and each box will be posted out between the 24^th-26^th of each month.

​They are currently running an offer where you can receive 15% off your first month’s subscription to by using the code SELFCARE15 at the checkout, otherwise each box costs £25 monthly.

You can sign up for your own Aura Kit on their website now.

 

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Intensément

 La Vie Est Belle Intensément is the vivacious, bright and elegant new scent from Lancôme.

This passionate scent captures the fire that blazes and glows in those who live by the mantra, ‘my happiness is here and now’.

 

 

Positive and intense, it encourages you to live life to the fullest and feel the happiness and urgency in every moment

Sensual and warm-hearted, the iconic bottle of La Vie Est Belle contains an intense fuchsia-hued juice which glows from within.

 

 

The fragrance represents a passionate, beating heart whose embers spread its flames, wrapping themselves around the neck of the opulent glass vessel with a vibrant, deep pink-red ribbon.

Elegant, chic and fierce it is a bold visual representation of the powerful, captivating, irresistible scent ready to burst onto the scene.

 

 

La Vie est Belle Intensément is described as a floriental scent and offers an olfactive story composed around its vivid and sensual heart.

Remaining faithful to the characteristics of the original, Intensément opens with burst of bergamot oil, fiery pink pepper oil and juicy raspberry accord.

 

 

At its heart is a romantic, velvety bouquet of warming sambac jasmine, orange flower and heliotrope before base notes of soft, sensual patchouli, iris, benzoin resinoid and creamy vanilla bean wrap the notes in an opulent, decadent veil of power and beauty.

The result is a bold, feminine, positive and addictive scent which can’t help but enchant the wearer.

 

 

It has beautifully strong elements which create a powerful opening before drying down to reveal a softer, creamier experience, reflecting perhaps the many facets of a woman’s personality.

Elegant and timeless, it is a truly stunning fragrance.

 

 

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Intensément is available now and costs £82 for 50ml.

Benefit Talk Beauty to Me gift set

 Treat yourself or a loved one to the gift of beauty this Christmas with Benefit’s Talk Beauty to Me gift set.

This stunning, limited edition collection contains 4 full sized hero products to help you create a beautiful look with lashes that pack a  punch, brows which look effortlessly defined and a complexion that radiates health and beauty.

 

 

Exquisitely cocooned within vibrant pink tissue and nestled within a reusable hot pink tin featuring images of lips, looking glasses and eyes, this set contains everything you could wish for, for a truly dazzling Christmas.

 Included within this exquisite set you’ll find Benefit’s The POREfessional Hydrate Primer.

This skin quenching primer helps to reduce the appearance of pores, deeply nourish your skin and create a flawless base for your makeup.

 

 

Enriched with hyaluronic acid, it helps to attract and retain moisture within the skin, ensuring long lasting hydration while shea butter gets to work to smooth and moisturise.

Lightweight and oil free, it possesses a soft, natural hue and glides effortlessly across your skin.

 

 

Skin instantly feels refreshed and plumped, helping to reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles while offering a natural, demi-matte finish.

You are left with a complexion that is silky soft and perfectly primed.

 

Looking to make your eyes pop with long, fluttery lashes that have people questioning if they’re all yours?

Look no further than BADgal BANG!

This high impact, pitch black volumising mascara creates seriously thick, big lashes that are lifted, lengthened and instantly fanned.

 

 

Containing aero-particles derived from space technology, this is a silky, light, cutting edge mascara that stands the test of time.

Its smudge, flake, water-proof formula is enriched with ProVitamin B5 to strengthen your lashes and encourage thickness while its intense black shade defines and draws attention to each and every lash.

The wand itself features a custom big Slimpact! Brush, which is sleek and streamlined allowing it to reach right from the root to the very tip of your lashes, imparting even and precise coverage.

 

 

The mascara hugs your lashes with its silky formula, creating both volume and length which you can build on depending on your desired look.

Now you’re rocking some seriously impressive lashes it’s time to turn to your brows.

Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil is the No.1 selling prestige eyebrow product in the UK and it’s not at all hard to see why.

 

 

This ultra-fine pencil allows you to easily create natural-looking hair-like strokes while the waterproof, long-lasting formula ensures no fading or smudging for a beautiful look that lasts all day long.

Housed within a contemporary sleek, chic silver wand, it features a twist up, non-sharpen tip and built-in spoolie-brush to allow to create as defined or soft a look as you wish.

Rich in texture and bold in colour, you can effortlessly define and blend the pencil, insantly transforming your brows into a work of art.

 

 

Your brows help to shape your face and with the help of Precicely My Brow Pencil, you can have insta worth brows in an instant.

Last but by no means least you’ll find my personal hero Benefit product, their trusty Dandelion Brightening Finishing Powder.

Hidden within a soft jade box you’ll find a wonderfully soft ballerina-pink powder that helps to create a natural, radiant complexion at the sweep of a brush.

 

 

This pretty pink contains a subtle hint of shimmer while its silky, buildable formula allows you to create a host of different looks depending on your mood.

Perfect for use as a natural-looking blusher, it can also be used as an all-over complexion booster to lift tired looking skin and create skin that glows with health.

 

 

Ideal for all skin types, it is my go-to product for when my skin is in need of a lift or for finishing off a look with a subtle glow.

This stunning collection is unsurprisingly worth £101 however you’ll be paying a fraction of this price as it is available for a bargainous £46.50, which is staggering considering the mascara alone would normally set you back £22.50.

 

 

Benefit’s Talk Beauty To Me gift set is available now from their website and in stores.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir

 Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir (£60) really is a little bit of skincare magic captured within an elegant glass vessel.

This supercharged serum has been clinically proven to offer superior hydration and anti-ageing properties for younger-looking skin which radiates health.

Created in conjunction with expert scientists, the ground breaking serum contains a magic matrix of ingredients expertly blended within a high-performance elixir to give your skin a magic boost instantly. 

 

 

Suitable for all skin types and designed to be used before your moisturiser it contains 20% potent ingredient concentration suspended in a water-based formula.

Featuring an impressive list of potent ingredients that your skin will love, one hero element is Polyglutamic Acid.

This skincare gem is over four times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid, ensuring moisture is locked in, plumping and refreshing your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

 

Formulate with Sepitonic M3, an active mineral complex encourages soother skin while a Replexium Peptide blend targets wrinkles.

Golden Vitamin C brightens your complexion while Squizandryl, an antioxidant berry gets to work to improve overall skin vitality.

Plant Adaptogen Extracts help to retain moisture and Niacinamide and vitamin B3 improves skin tone and reduces the appearance of pores.

 

 

As the serum is called a crystal elixir, it’ll come as no surprise to you that it also contains a 5 crystal complex.

Inspired by holistic wellbeing and the healing frequency of light and energy, it offers an intense boost of radiance and imparts a healthy glow to dull, tired complexions.

Impressive right?

 

 

The serum itself is a soft, milky colour and possesses an almost water-light texture.

Exceptionally lightweight and silky, it glides across your skin and is almost instantly absorbed as your skin drinks in all the goodness.

Its feather-light texture is perfect for my combination/oily complexion as it doesn’t feel heavy or weigh my skin down, and its soft, subtle aromatic aroma is simply divine.

 

 

Instantly, my skin feels softer, firmer and deeply hydrated while appearing brighter and ‘more awake’.

After using it daily for a week my skin feels more toned, more balanced and wonderfully soft.

Even when using a mattifying foundation which can be drying, my skin feels comfortable, hydrated and healthy.

 

 

I’m not alone in feeling this as results of clinical trials report that 93% of people agreed that their skin looked younger, 91% felt that their fine lines and wrinkles appeared reduced and 94% felt that their skin felt firmer.

I’d quite happily agree with these results.

Is there anything that Charlotte Tilbury’s products can’t do?

Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir is available now and costs £60.