L'action Paris Beauty

L'action Paris offer beauty products that are aimed at treating beauty and skin problems. The packaging and products themselves are small and easily accessible . I was kindly sent some of their products to try, and I have been loving using them. 

Charcoal Sebum Patch - This is amazing, I have never used one of these before, and the stuff it pulls out is is slightly gross but also so fascinating. It ex-foliates the pores on your nose and after 15 minutes it cleanses and ex-foliates your skin. Whilst I found that it did it's desired effect, it hurt a little to peel off my nose, and left some black from the strip behind too.  You only need to use these 1-2 times a month and you get 5 strips in the packet. 

Pearl Radiant Glow Mask - This is a do it yourself mask, that is designed to give a lifting feel to the skin. You mix the powder inside the packet with 2-3 tablespoons of water in a bowl, and then after applying to your face and leaving for 10 minutes, you should find your skin feeling and looking glowy and healthy. This is made from real cultured pearls, which really intrigued me, and I was really impressed with this one, it did not leave my skin feeling too tight afterwards, but left a lovely soft feeling to my skin. 

Rice Oil Face Mask - This is another product that when arrived, I was really intrigued by. It is anti-ageing and tonifying face mask, that I have not gotten round to using yet. This is used to soothe your skin and give the perfect complexion. 

Pore Reducing Cream -  This unclogs and tightens pores, and left my skin feeling smooth after use. It is recommended for those with oily and combination skin as it absorbs oil with a matifying effect, and so not ideal for my dry skin, however it does work and underneath my make up it acts as a great primer. This is composed of pineapple, passion fruit and raisin extracts which I love and smells incredible.

Soft Lip Scrub - I have been needing another one of these for a while. I have really dry lips and regularly moisturise them, but they still need ex-foliating often which I admittedly don't do as often as I should. This compact pen like design, makes it easy to apply to product to the lips, and works quick to eliminate dead skin. This is a part of L'action Paris' 1 minute solution line. After use I wipe the scrub off with a tissue and it leaves my lips feeling moisturised and smooth. 

Lip Enhancer - I am always doubtful of these type of products, as the ones I have tried out before have only left my lips feeling tingly but I have never seen any of the desired results. Whilst this did not leave my lips feeling tingly it did give my lips a fuller appearance. There was not a massive difference, but this claims to shape the lips within four weeks of use so I have a bit longer to wait to see if this is true. This gives a clear, lovely shine to the lips and looks great over lipstick. 

I have really enjoyed using these products, and highly recommend you check L'action Paris out - they have so many more great products to choose from! 

Website: https://www.lactionparis.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LActionParisUK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lactionparisuk

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AA Skincare Review - Peony, Bay and Brahmi Shampoo

I have been using and trying out AA Skincare products for a while now, and I am always pleased when a new opportunity comes round. I have long, temperamental hair and enjoy trying out different products to use on it and I was excited to test this shampoo. 

First of all, if you dislike floral, flowery scents then this is not for you. The smell is very strong, and whilst it is not as noticeable on your hair after your shower it still smells flowery. 

This was a really nice shampoo to use, it did not foam up or create a lather as much as popular shampoo makes but I actually prefer less foam when it comes to shampooing my hair. This did a nice job of leaving my hair feeling clean and smooth however it did not tame any frizz or fly aways like my regular shampoo, but as this is a product that is suitable for all hair types I did not expect it to cater to and control my frizz. 

This shampoo is one of five from the new plant inspired natural range from AA Skincare and they aim to boost hair's health by cleansing and protecting. The herb 'Brahmi' is known as a remedy for hair problems and can prevent split ends and accelerate hair growth, so I am looking forward to how this will improve my hair over time, but I am already with the way it leaves my hair after a wash. 

Peony, Bay and Brahmi Nourishing Shampoo - £5.94 - 'A calming and balancing shampoo with natural Peony extract acting as an anti-inflammatory to help maintain scalp health and boost hair growth.  Contains antioxidants to help nourish and repair damaged hair and soothe irritated skin or dandruff.'

I love the packaging and design of these shampoos, each is appropriately and distinguishably designed and they are fully recyclable. 

Make sure to follow AA Skincare on their social media sites: 

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Clinique Free Gift with House of Fraser

Until the 21st May House of Fraser are exclusively giving away the perfect Clinique summer chic gift bag with purchases of any 2 or more Clinique items, one being skincare or foundation. 

I have not had one bad experience with any Clinique products I have tried, however for some reason the amount I have tried is a rather low number, and so I was very excited to receive this adorable bag of minis to review for you! You can receive the bag with any purchase online or in store and each bag contains six mini version of full sized products for you to try out. 

Follow the link for more information: here 

All About Eyes 7ml: This is a multi tasking cream that is designed to reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines. This is a fragrance free hydrating cream that feels a bit like a gel, and I have been applying this twice daily, with my routine in the morning before applying my make up, and during my skin care routine at night. I have no noticed a reduction in lines as of yet, however this has definitely improved the texture and skin around my eyes, and when I awake in the morning my eyes are not puffy and my dark circles are a lot brighter. This also helps to keep my concealer on throughout the day and overall improves the way my concealer sits on my skin. 

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion 30ml: I was so glad to see that this was a product included in this bag as I have been wanting to dry out this product for so long now after reading great things about it. This has been perfect on my dry skin and has helped it to appear much brighter and fresher, particularly when I wake up in the morning after applying it the night before. It states that it delivers all day hydration and improve barrier strength as it contains skin strengthening ingredients. I find that when applying make up afterwards it allows for a smooth application and my make up doesn't budge all day, and when I have used it on no make up days, my skin hasn't dried out but it also doesn't leave your skin feeling sticky afterwards, so it sinks into the skin nicely. 

Superdefense SPF20 Daily Defense Moisturizer 15ml: This includes antioxidants along with an SPF to protect your skin throughout the day. I found that this one left more of a sticky feeling to my skin after I had applied it in comparison to the dramatically different lotion, however after putting on make up I can no longer feel it and it helps to keep my make up in place as well as providing me with sun care throughout the day, plus it doesn't smell like suncare creams at all.

Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Matte Magenta 4g: This claims to be a long lasting lipstick with a creamy matte formula. After applying it in the early morning, it was still in place by lunchtime however throughout my meal it did suffer a little and I found that I had to reapply it afterwards. As it is a matte lipstick I was interested to see how it would feel on the lips and after making sure mine were well moisturised it did not make them feel dry at all despite the matte formula. The lipstick is pigmented and I would recommend lining your lips when wearing a bright shade like this. Unfortunately the colour is not one I would wear on a daily basis, it is a bright pink shade, but it is perfect for Spring and Summer and the packaging is super pretty. 

High Impact Mascara in Black 3.5ml: I enjoy trying out new mascaras but very often I am left disappointed as not many work well with my uncooperative eyelashes despite curling them beforehand. I have always struggled to get on with many mascaras and so I only stick with the few that I know work well for me. Despite this, I do like trying out new mascaras to see if they will get on with my troublesome lashes. Unfortunately this mascara does nothing for lashes and I did not find that it was black enough to make a 'high impact'. I do not think however that this mascara is a bad product, many mascaras that work well for people do not work for me, which sucks! This did make my lashes appear long and I like the brush, but apart from that, unfortunately this mascara didn't do much for my lashes. If you like natural looking lashes then this is perfect for you. 

Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer 6ml: This is also a two in one product, which unfortunately I cannot give a true review for as the neutral shade 09 is way too dark for my skin tone and so I had to mix this with a lighter foundation to be able to wear it. This is fragrance free and left my skin looking natural but with a flawless finish and it did not feel heavy on my skin either. This contains a rich pigment level, and so when first applied to the skin it appears a lot darker when first applied but once it has settled for a bit it adapts to your skin tone. With this in mind I used it on it's own on my skin but still found the neutral shade way too dark for me, the good thing though is that there are many shades to choose from if you were to buy the full version of this foundation. When my skin was primed well, and set with a finishing spray, this lasted all day on my skin and did not show any lines or move throughout the day. 

Overall this is an amazing gift bag to receive with orders, the make up bag is spacious and has a cute summer design with a beach scene and sun umbrellas. The skin care I will definitely be repurchasing in full sizes and the lipstick and foundation are going to be products I will hopefully try out in different shades in the future. Remember the deal ends 21st May so click this link to make your purchases! LINK

Oil Pulling with Minty Coco

Coconut oil and it's health benefits have been hard to escape from recently and oil pulling has become increasingly popular. Oil pulling is a technique used with coconut oil to draw out toxins from the body and improve your health overall by swishing the oil around your mouth for 5 to 15 minutes on an empty stomach. I have tried many teeth whitening products and whilst I have seen varied results, I am a frequent tea and coffee drinker so the results don't tend to last long. 

Minty Coco is an oil pulling treatment, and whilst I had heard of this before, I have never used an oil pulling treatment, nor was I aware of what exactly it was. I received a 14 day box from Minty Coco which is packaged so compactly it fits perfectly through the letterbox. This treatment is peppermint flavoured and comes in small sachets that you tear open and empty the contents into your mouth after warming up the sachet with your hands. 

I was really unsure of this at first, having not been that aware of oil pulling before, and I have to admit during the first use I was unsure as to how I was going to use all the sachets as method of oil pulling is a bit unusual at first, however I soon got used to the feeling. The mint in this counteracts the flavour of the coconut oil and so the taste is much more bearable than I have read other oil pulling treatments can be. After 5-15 minutes (I tried to use each sachet for a full 15 minutes) I spat the oil into the bin as it can clog up the pipes if you empty the contents into the sink. 

As this treatment is peppermint flavoured it also gives a fresh breath and clean feeling afterwards which is an added bonus. I have noticed a whiter and brighter colour to my teeth after using this product and would love to offer you free shipping on any orders;mintycoco.refr.cc/WRPB4P7.

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Gerard Cosmetics Lipsticks and Swatches

 Mystic Moon and Underground

My Gerard Cosmetics collection is slowly but surely growing, and I find myself browsing the section on the Beauty Bay website very frequently to see what I can buy next. I recently purchased two of their lipsticks in the shade 'Mystic Moon' and 'Underground' and wanted to share my views with you. 

Both are similar shades but Mystic Moon is a more browny purple colour whereas Underground is more of a mauve shade. These lipsticks are pigmented, non drying and creamy even though they feel matte on the lips. I find that they don't budge for hours and so in my experience they are long lasting on the lips. 

I adore the packaging and love storing these on my vanity as they look super pretty and chic. I highly recommend Gerard cosmetics and particularly their lipsticks!

Make Up Wishlist

Once again I am lusting after more make up, and not particularly affordable make up either, which means my bank balance is in trouble. 

Mac - Mineralize Skinfinish - These contain four shades in one pan designed to give a healthy glow. The design is so pretty and reminds me of a batten-berg cake! 

Hourglass - Ambient Lighting Blush - I have heard lovely things about this product. There are loads of shades to choose from.

Burberry - Complete Eye Palette - This contains four shades of brown which is my favourite shade to wear on my eyes.  I love the Burberry fabric design and this pan looks so versatile. 

Charlotte Tilbury - Magic Foundation - Another product I am desperate to try. I always like trying out new foundations and any that claim to be long lasting, high coverage but feel lightweight on the skin are ones that I get really excited about trying. 

Urban Decay - Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Highlighter - This one is leaning more at the top of this make up wish list, I have read raving reviews about all three shades and a little goes a long way. These are meant to give a strong highlight and is described as being a very luxurious product. 

Nyx - Angel Veil Primer - I am always interested in finding and trying out new primers. Again, I have read great things about this product, it has a matte finish with a moisturising texture. 

Nars - Illuminator - I am getting more into using liquid highlighters, either on their own or mixed in with my foundation, and the Nars ones are a huge favourite in the beauty world. It is designed to give a radiance to your complexion. 

Nars - Audacious Lipstick - This looks like a gorgeous shade for spring and summer. Applies like satin with a strong pigment to it. 

Laura Mercier - Invisible Loose Setting Powder - I rarely stray from my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte powder, however this loose powder is at the top of my list of loose powders to try out. Again, only great reviews found of this product. 

What products are you loving right now? 

Current Favourite Base

Nivea Men - Post Shaving Balm

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

This is my current every day base make up that gives me a medium coverage, and lasts pretty much all day on my skin. The Nivea Post Shave balm has been well known now for a while in the beauty world of working as a great primer and base for your foundation. Whilst it doesn't hold qualities like actual primers for make up do, such as covering up pores etc, it does keep foundation in place for hours and helps to blend foundation for a smooth finish. 

The Revlon Colorstay foundation is great as it has two formulas to choose from, one for normal/dry skin and one for combination/oily skin. I cannot speak for the combination/oily skin formula, but I have heard from friends and read great reviews on both versions of this foundation. I have dry skin and this foundation works wonder for my skin, it does not cling to dry patches and leaves a dewy finish on my skin that creates a natural and healthy looking glow. When used with a primer and either set with a powder or not, I find this lasts all day without budging. 

I definitely recommend both these products and they also don't break the bank either!