February Favourites

Hi fellow nomads,

Another month, another set of favourites. So what have I been loving this month? 

My favourite things in February

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume mascara

This has been the mascara that I have reached for pretty much every day since I received this in my Glamour box earlier on in the month. I love the length and volume it gives my lashes, easy clump free application and long lasting wear. It doesn't transfer to the skin under my eyes, yet it’s easy to remove as well. I'm even getting used to the garish packaging.


Sephora Lemon Verbena Smoothing Body Scrub

I received this for my birthday last year after a trip to a Spanish Sephora (oh how I love that shop). I've been saving this ever since, purely to use in the month of February which I find one of the most dreary of the year. Mission accomplished - this bright, zingy body scrub really wakes me up in the morning and leaves my skin nice and soft.


Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light

I love this mini palette and have done ever since I got it. The bronzer is a great shade for me and doesn't make my skin look muddy or dirty. Also it’s not too warm. But I love my Nyx bronzer just as much – the real differentiator in this palette is the gorgeous highlight. The shimmer is so fine and subtle as to add a pearly glow to your skin; it’s not obvious you’re wearing a highlighter at all, other than your skin looks amazing. I love adding this to my cheekbones, centre of my nose, brow, and cupid’s bow. It does a great job of making me look awake and healthy without actually being either of those. See my review of this palette here.

Miguhara B.P cream

This is my favourite product from my recent Memebox splurge. I ramble on a bit in that review about how fabulous it is, so I'll try and keep it brief here. Basically it's an amazing primer/invisible coverage BB cream, which fills pores and smooths your complexion so it looks exactly like your face, only better. It's an amazing wonder product and I'm already trying to find out how to buy it again once my little sample runs out.


Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Fragile

I loved this nail polish for a long time and waited until it was on sale to buy it, as it was a bit expensive full-price. However, having tried it I would happily pay full price for it again as it’s just such a beautiful polish. It really does look just like birds eggs on your nails! I got so many compliments when I wore it, and its very long lasting- I got nearly a week’s wear out of it. Also, when it does chip it’s not very noticeable due to the patterning. I love this for so many reasons and I'll be wearing this very often from now on.


Heyday app

I downloaded this on a whim and I absolutely love it. It is an automatic journalling app for those of us who are too lazy to do it ourselves (ahem…). Basically it combines all the pictures you take with the locations you visit and shows you exactly where you were and when. Once I’d got over the creepiness of it (but how does it KNOW I was in that particular restaurant?! It even knows the name of the business I’m currently working in! Creepy.) I was able to embrace the genius of it. I particularly love the slideshow at the top of the app with a random selection of photos - that's the lovely big picture at the top of me with my friend Emma. Admittedly, this would be in its element were I on holiday or doing something particularly exciting with my life, but as it is I’m largely going to and from work with a bit of sitting around at home in between. I’m finding that fascinating enough, so who can tell how my mind is going to be blown as soon as I take this anywhere vaguely interesting! It's available for iOS and is coming soon for Android. You can find it here.

That's what I've been particularly loving this month, what about you?

-Rachel

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light || A Nomad's Review

Evening fellow nomads,

First off the blocks in my series of Sleek reviews is the Face Contour Kit. I got mine in the shade Light, because I am as pale as pale can be. 

Sleek Face Contour Kit - second down in the pile

As always, the sleek Sleek packaging makes this a thing of beauty, if a little tricky to open sometimes (and don't even try to do it with drying nails). I love that the simplicity and style of their packaging makes the product seem a lot more high end than it really is, well, in my eyes anyway. I also like that there's not a lot of useless wasted packaging, which has the added benefit of it being great for travel.

Contour kit in normal light - isn't she a beaut?

Inside the compact there are the two shades, one matte bronzer and another pearly highlight. There's also a mirror on the inside of the compact which feels surprisingly big. It's certainly big enough for you to do your contouring without too much difficulty.

The bronzer is the perfect colour for my English Rose (read - deathly pale) skin and applies and blends beautifully. It doesn't make my face look either orange or dirty, which is always good, and it is absolutely matte with no shimmer at all. The highlight is a very fine pearly colour, with shimmer so fine it just looks like a glow, rather than big chunks of glitter on your face - nobody likes the disco ball look when you're trying to appear professional at work. It's so subtle yet effective that you can use it all over your face, in any area you want highlighting, without ending up looking like the aforementioned disco ball. 

The palette in sunshine (apparently it does happen sometimes)

Here's the palette in direct sunlight. Slightly feeble sunlight as this is the UK, but sunlight nonetheless. This shows that the bronzer really is matte, and finish on the highlight which is a sheen rather than glittery.

A weirdo swatch of both shades in the contour kit

I'd say the swatch doesn't really do it justice - it's one you have to see on the face to appreciate.

Overall I'd rate this product extremely highly. It has become a product I use nearly every day, and it's a complete bargain, currently just £4.47 via Amazon. Alternatively, if you prefer the high street or you can't wait for shipping, you can pick it up at Boots or Superdrug for for £6.49. Even with using it every day for probably a month, there's hardly a dent in the surface of the powder so this one will keep me going for quite some time.

I can see why this has become a cult product, I personally will be repurchasing another Face Contour Kit as and when my current product runs out.

Have you tried this, or any other products from Sleek? What did you think?

-Rachel

Sleek product overload and review alert

Hi fellow nomads,

A little while ago I took advantage of a special offer and bought myself some Sleek products. Having never tried any of their products before, I took the plunge (after some online research... of course) and bought myself the Face Contour Kit in Light, the Blush in Rose Gold, the Blush By 3 palette in Lace, and the i-Divine palette in Au Naturel.

What a beautiful looking pile of goodness

Now I know these products are all pretty well reviewed on the Internets at large, but I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring as well. So that you're not all scrolling for days, I thought I'd split the reviews up into individual products and let you know my thoughts on each, as well as how I've used them since I got hold of them - 6 weeks ago, according to my Instagram.

Spolier alert: I love them all. Which you will know if you've been keeping any sort of an eye on my favourites over the last couple of months.

So do keep your eyes peeled for some reviews of these Sleek products coming soon. First on the list: the Face Contour Kit in Light.

Until then, wishing you peace,

-Rachel

Mini Review Mondays: Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum

Hi fellow nomads,

Today I have a quick review of the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum from Caudalie, a complexion correcting product which I have been trying over the past couple of weeks.

Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, Caudalie

I have a 10ml sample which has gone an extremely long way - I've used it every evening for the past 2 weeks and I'm only about a third of the way through. So this is a generous sample, and I got hold of mine via the Latest in Beauty website. 

The Caudalie website explains that the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum is the N°1 anti-dark spot product and Caudalie cult product: This lightweight milky serum corrects and prevents dark spots, evens skin tone and boosts skin's radiance. Highly concentrated with patented Viniferine to counter sunspots, acne marks, scars, and damage, for a brighter, more beautiful complexion.


I am usually sceptical about certain types of skincare, especially those with vague and expansive claims like "boosts skin's radiance", however I thought I'd give this product a fair go. I did use it every night for 2 weeks, after cleansing and before my moisturiser, and waited patiently for any results.

Unfortunately, the only results I noticed were that this product made me break out. I didn't notice any boost in radiance or evening out of my skin tone, and I don't have any dark spots to correct. That said, I stopped using it after 2 weeks as I felt it was breaking me out but the website does advise at 4 weeks use, both morning and night. So, I think I will give my skin a break from this product and then go back and try again. It has rave reviews on their website so perhaps I'm missing something.

If you love this product, you can now buy it in the UK from the Caudalie website for the princely sum of £45 for 30ml. Perhaps I'm subconsciously stopping myself from loving it because I don't want to fall in love with a product which is so pricey!

Have you tried the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum? What did you think?

-Rachel

The Bin Diaries: Products I'm Throwing Away

Hi fellow nomads,

I've been chucking out bottles and tubes left right and centre recently, so here's what products have ended up in my bin this month either because they're empty or I'm just not getting along with them. I'll give you a quick run down of each, and whether I'd repurchase them or not. There's a fair few this month, so let's get cracking!

L-R:  Redken Extreme Anti-Snap leave in treatment | Rituals Sakura Scrub foil packet | Rituals Yogi Flow foaming shower gel | Sure Ultra Dry antiperspirant (hiding at the back) | Philosophy the microdelivery exfoliating facial wash | Garnier Pure Deep pore wash | No7 Extreme Length mascara | Van Cleef & Arpels 'First' | Benefit They're Real! mascara

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap leave in treatment for distressed hair

Thoughts: I've had this bottle for an extraordinarily long length of time - I think it's at least 6 years. And I've finally finished the bottle! This is one of those products that I'd use for a while and enjoy, but then  change my routine, or get bored or move on to another product and this would get forgotten at the bottom of a drawer somewhere. This is just a leave in treatment which you apply after towel drying your hair, and it's very good. It definitely improved the condition of my hair when I used it, the only downside being that it's quite a heavy-duty product so would sometimes tend to weigh down my hair if I wasn't careful.

Would I repurchase? Perhaps, although a hairdresser told me that this is really supposed to be used for seriously damaged hair eg that has been extensively bleached, which isn't me. So I think I'd look for a less full-on product from Redken instead.


Rituals Sakura Scrub - Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Sugar Body Scrub

Thoughts: I got this from a recent trip to Rituals where the lovely assistant gave me heaps of free samples. This packet lasted me two showers worth, and my were they good showers. The scent of this is gorgeous and light, slightly floral but also clean. The scrub itself left my skin in wonderful condition and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from beginning to end.

Would I repurchase? Yes, every day if I could. Sadly, price will be a limiting factor for me as Rituals products aren't super budget-friendly. But if I ever need a treat, this will be at the top of my list.


Rituals Yogi Flow Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil foaming shower gel sensation

Thoughts: I got this on the same trip as above, and tried this shower gel first out of all the samples. I wasn't sure I'd like it as I'm not normally one for sweet fragrances,, however the geniuses at Rituals have done it again and made this an utterly grown up and sophisticated sweet scent which I can totally get on board with. The texture was beautiful; the product comes out as a silky smooth gel which quickly turns into a dense foam upon contact with water. It leaves a very subtle fragrance on the skin and is, as ever, a joy to use.

Would I repurchase? Yes, although I think I may prefer some of their other scents slightly, for example the Zensation Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom which I reviewed here and is, of course, the same scent as the scrub above. Again, price is a consideration but it's perfect for treating myself.


Sure Ultra Dry Anti-Perspirant, Cotton 

Thoughts: I'm throwing this away before it is finished because I'm fed up of trying to use it up. It doesn't stop me perspiring in any way, plus I hate the smell. So for me, there's no point persevering with this and in the bin it goes! If I had to pick one positive thing it would be that it's 0% alcohol so doesn't sting on application. And I'm out.

Would I repurchase? No, I would avoid like the plague.


Philosophy the Microdelivery exfoliating facial wash

Thoughts: I loved this tiny pot of magic. It's only a sample size but it lasted me a number of weeks with me using it every morning in the shower. I loved that this had just the right level of exfoliation for my skin, I loved that it didn't foam up too much (for some reason I find the combo of foaming and exfoliating at the same time just too much to cope with) and it is gentle enough to be used every day.


Garnier Pure Deep pore wash

Thoughts: This one lasted forever, because it's a fair size tube but mostly it's just a bit boring. It foamed a little bit too much for my liking (see above) however it produced decent results. Nothing astonishing, but a generally solid performance.

Would I repurchase? Maybe, but I might rather choose something more exciting.


No7 Extreme Length mascara, black

Thoughts: This is a sample sized product which I got towards the end of last summer. I used it up just before Christmas and at the time, thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a natural looking mascara which goes on easily and looks decent for a fairly long time. It was one of the better mascaras I've tried recently, but I have since found better.

Would I repurchase? Maybe, if I were looking for a natural looking mascara. However, I'd probably rather buy my new favourite mascara, the L'Oreal Miss Manga.


Van Cleef & Arpels Eau de toilette 'Fine'

Thoughts: A very prestigious brand and I'm sure a very fine fragrance, sadly this one is not for me so it's going in the bin.

Would I repurchase? No.


Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Thoughts: Excellent product from beginning to end. I used this sample a lot when I was travelling with work towards the end of last year. It's a fantastic product and I loved having it in my travel make-up bag. It lengthens and separates lashes without clumping or spidering, and the crazy plastic bristly brush gives some serious eyelash drama. But this product has been the darling of the blogosphere for a while now so you've probably already tried it, owned it and loved it.

Would I repurchase? Yes, in fact I already have.


So a few hits, misses and maybes in the Bin Diaries for this month. Have you tried any of these products? Did you rate them or not?

The weekend starts here everyone - enjoy!

-Rachel

Memebox 2nd Edition: Unboxing

Evening fellow nomads,

Recently I made a bit of an impulse purchase in the form of a beauty box, the second edition from a Korean company called Memebox. They've recently started shipping their beauty boxes internationally and they've received pretty good reviews. I personally was intrigued by the prospect of trying out completely different products, and experiencing something that you can't get hold of easily here in the UK. You pay per box and you can buy as many or as few as you like. This works really well for me, as I'm not normally one for subscription boxes because you never know what's going to be in them, therefore you never know whether it will be a complete waste of money or not. Well, having seen the reviews on YouTube (most helpfully from Coffee Break With Dani) I knew that I wanted to try all the products contained within the box, and that the shades and types of products were very likely to suit my skin.

Having waited impatiently for three weeks for my box to arrive, the moment finally came last weekend. I thought I'd give you a brief look inside what came in the box, and any first impressions I have; then over the next few weeks I will review each of the products in depth as and when I've formed an opinion of them.

Unpacking my exciting parcel all the way from Korea

So the box arrived carefully packaged, and contained within the outer packaging was not only the actual Memebox, but some face masks I'd forgotten I'd ordered (oops...) and some extra free bonus samples from Memebox. Thanks, Memebox! 

The box is a thing of beauty in itself

The actual box is a cute shade of pink and it's pretty sizeable. When you open it up, there's a card with each of the products listed on it and a description of what it's for and how to use it. This is essential because a lot of the packaging is in Korean (unsurprisingly) so without this I'd be completely clueless.

Just look at all those products!

Once opened, a real treasure trove is inside - just look at all those products! This is exactly how it arrived; they've taken great care to arrange everything neatly fitting together, not just rammed it in any old how.

There's plenty of excitement in store trying out this little lot!

And here are all the products contained within the box. I'll take you through each one, as you can't see all of them properly in the picture.

L-R

1. Tea Toc Water Clear Tablet, a;t fox // full size product

So this is probably the most intriguing product contained within this box. There are three pyramids in this plastic bag, each of which contains what looks like a pyramid tea bag. Inside the pyramid tea bag is some dried herbs, and something that looks like a large Alka-Seltzer. When I originally saw this, I thought it was actually a tea bag, and there's nothing I find more annoying than a tea bag in a beauty box. What has tea got to do with beauty?! It's just a space filler! But that's a rant for another day. Turns out, this product is not for drinking. You do put the bag in warm water and wait for it to infuse - but then you put the resulting solution on your face. It turns the water to pH 4.9 which is allegedly ideal for your skin, whilst the green tea extracts detox and soothe. Well, I'm not quite sure of the science behind that but it sounds like a fun experience to me, so I'm all in.

2. Tea Tree 90 Essence, LJH  // Deluxe sample

This is completely hidden in the picture above - good job, Rachel - but is a small bottle with a dropper containing a clear liquid essence. It's supposed to be applied after cleansing (and before moisturising, I'm guessing) which soothes and hydrates the skin for up to 24h. It's clinically proven and is designed specially for sensitive and acne-prone skin. I'm not particularly acne-prone but I do have sensitive skin, and I applied this to my face this morning when I had a rogue whitehead which had formed overnight (TMI?). It's now the evening, and the spot has shrunk to almost nothing. I'm not sure whether that's to do with the essence or just because it was going to do that anyway, but I think this deserves further investigation.

3. Total Active Dual BB Cream, Dr G / Gowoonsesang  // full size product

I have an extremely pale face which makes most BB creams just show up as orange, so I was particularly keen to try this BB cream which is not onlly a very light shade but also has a very cool undertone. It's also SPF50 and is one of those swirly products - it's got a swirl of BB cream and a swirl of essence so you're basically doing your entire face in one fell swoop. So far, I'm a little bit in love with it but I do need to wear it a few more times just to make sure the shade does really match my skin as well as I think it does. However in terms of formulation I think it's great, it goes on easily (a little goes a long way) and it lasts all day. Winner.

4. B.P cream, MIGUHARA // 2 small samples

This.... is amazing. I need to get my hands on more of this ASAP. Let me explain. This is a cross between an amazing primer (think Porefessional only better) and the most natural BB cream you've ever tried. The coverage is extremely minimal, but what it does do is even out your skin tone, refine your pores, and give your face that slightly blurred look, whilst being almost undetectable on your skin. My husband describes the result as "it looks exactly like your skin, only.... nicer?!" - and he barely notices when I have a major hair cut. I think this would be perfect for a true no make-up look, especially for places where make-up is frowned upon but you really feel like you need to wear something. Also, it controls oil so if you have an oily face you may find this even more of a godsend than I do. It's just genius, that's all I can say.

5. Raw Sauce, Maycoop // full size

An interesting product here, which is a 100% pure maple sap treatment. It's an essence which is supposed to nourish, hydrate and strengthen the skin. I've only used this twice so I don't think I can make any final judgements yet, but as yet I haven't noticed it doing anything in particular to my skin. Still, it's nice to apply and even though it's a very viscous liquid, it's not sticky at all. Also the packaging is pretty, so there's that.

6. Jayang Yunmo Anti-hairloss Hair Pack, Ryoe // full size product

There's a full size bottle of conditioner from this range, and then 6 sachets, 3 of shampoo and 3 of conditioner. This is a nice touch because it means you can try out the shampoo and conditioner together. The formula contains herbal extracts to keep your scalp and hair healthy and hydrated, and prevent hair loss. Well, I've got extremely thick hair so hair loss isn't something I'm particularly concerned about, however I gave one pack of shampoo and conditioner a whirl anyway. The products were beautifully and subtly scented, and left my hair lovely and clean and soft. I can't comment on the anti hair loss aspect, but a very enjoyable product nonetheless.

7. Skin&Good Cera Super Cream, Holika Holika // sample size product

This is a small pot of night cream which "not only hydrates the skin but also enhances the water holding capacity of the skin, thanks to its powerful hydrating ingredients 'Ceramide'". I've tried this a couple of times and it's a beautifully rich and smooth cream which does hydrate my skin very effectively. I'm not sure whether it really does enhance the water holding capacity of my skin, and I wouldn't say it's a wonder product, but this is a great cream which I'd happily keep using.

So that's my whistlestop tour of the box. What did you think? Are there any products you'd like to see a more in depth review of? Are you tempted to try a Memebox?

Til next time, have a great evening,

-Rachel