Tag: sarah fynn

Morning routine with Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot Collection

Hi everyone,

Today’s post will be my current morning routine with the new Nivea Luminous 630 products. Check out my previous post for introduction to the new collection.

This has been my routine for the last week and half, and the products were super easy to add to my existing routine.

My AM routine is super quick and easy to do. After cleansing with – Roc Skincare Vitamin c cleanser (gifted ), I go in with the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark circle Eye cream,  I then pat gently pat on my serums in: Inkey List Q10, Ole Henriksen Banana Bright and the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot Serum, I have listed these in order of application. The Nivea serum has a powdery smell and feels great on the skin. It doesn’t pill (my full review will come after 4 weeks of use)

Next is the most important part- sunscreen! I work from home however I sit close to a window so I make sure to apply (and reapply) sunscreen daily. I switch between the Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Dark Spot SPF50 OR Supergoop SPF50. The Nivea SPF has a matte finish, at the moment my skin needs more moisture hence why I reach for the Supergoop sunscreen which I absolutely adore.

That’s it! After this I just go about my day until it’s time to take it all off (current evening routine coming soon)

My quick and easy routine feature the brand new Nivea Luminous 630 Anti Spot collection. My full review on the collection will be after 4 weeks when I have had enough time to test it

See you soon.

Some Affiliate links used

Beautylish Lucky Bag Unboxing

Hello everyone, I’m really excited to write this post because I finally got a Beautylish lucky bag!! Beautylish do these every year and for the longest time I wanted one. I decided to finally get one last year and it’ s arrived (although very delayed). So in this post we will go through the box and whether it was worth it

Beautylish Lucky Bags are once a year (26th Dec) and they are filled with random products. You choose your skintone range (I went for Dark to Deep) and pay for an original box $75, or an XL box $150. Your box is guaranteed to be worth double of what you paid. I actually wanted the XL box but due to the pandemic, they were only shipping original boxes to the UK

My box was due to be shipped on 17th Jan 22 but this was delayed and was shipped a week later.

See my Insta Reels unboxing

 I got

DANESSA MYRICKS BEAUTY ColorFix 24-Hour Cream Color Foil (Venus) – $18 USD

GOOD MOLECULES Gentle Retinol Cream- $8 USD

UNITS Orange Series Eye Set -$32 USD

UOMA BEAUTY Boss Gloss Liquid Marble (Cray Cray)-$22 USD

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Instant Eye Palette – Smokey Eyes Are Forever -$75 USD

WAYNE GOSS THE RADIANCE BOOSTING FACE PALETTE (Deep Cover)- $45 USD

Total- $200

Thoughts/Verdict

So the box is definitely worth more than double than what I paid for. In terms of the selection of products, I do not have any of these so that’s good. I am slightly disappointed with the Wayne Goss palette because of the shades. I think I can just about get away with this for bronzing/contouring but anyone darker than me wont. I personally don’t like dark purple lip glosses so I won’t be using UOMA beauty gloss.

The rest of the products are ok. I have a love/hate relationship with Charlotte Tilbury but I do like this palette. I’ve used Danessa Myricks Colorfix before and loved it. Good Molecules is a brand I love and always happy to get more brushes

Verdict

I think I would have preferred the XL box. Hopefully the XL box ships to UK this year otherwise I don’t think I would get another original bag. I definitely went into it with an open mind, I did want a Natasha Denona eyeshadow palette but I really like the CT one I got.

The Solution Vitamin C Brightening Body Lotion

I was randomly browsing Superdrug one day when I came across the Solution brand. It is a bodycare range with active ingredients that target a range of skincare concerns. The major issue I have is hyperpigmentation so naturally I was very interested in the Vitamin C Brightening Body Lotion & the Retinol Smoothing lotion

The Vitamin C body lotion is made with Vitamin C, A, E and Licorice for instant radiance and glow. They say its 1.76% active ingredients

Experience

I have been using this lotion at night intermittently for a month now and I simply do not LIKE it which is why it’s taking me so long to finish. The main reason why I don’t like this lotion is because it’s full of mica. Mica is that ingredient in products that gives it shimmer so this lotion leaves a shimmery mess on my skin. What makes this worst is that I have to layer the lotion on because it’s not hydrating enough so with every layer, I’m adding more shimmer to my skin. This then leaves a shimmery silver mess that makes my skin look ashy! I’ve tried to take pics but its difficult to capture

Now I love body illuminators and body makeup and I will always use something shimmery  on my body when its out BUT I don’t LIKE shimmer in my skincare especially if its promising to brighten because brands think adding mica will make the consumer think it’s working ( after all your skin is shiny!). Mica aside I also haven’t seen any improvements in my skin tone and its just not hydrating enough. These aside, it has a fresh citrusy scent and its very lightweight

Verdict

I really liked the retinol body lotion and saw improvements in my skin tone but the Vitamin C lotion is a huge miss for me. I don’t have dry skin but I do like to feel my skin is hydrated and moisturised and this doesn’t do that for me. I also don’t like the shimmery silver mess it leaves on my skin

I won’t repurchase.

More info on Solution here

Glow Recipe Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream review

I tried Glow recipe for the first time this year. I picked up the Glow Vanity set with came with a deluxe size of the Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream. This brand has been on my radar for a while now so I was really excited to try them

What the brand says:

Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream is a soothing, lightweight moisturizer that resets, replenishes, and seals in a boost of lasting hydration without clogging pores, for all skin types, even acne-prone skin. It is non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic, making it especially good for sensitive skin. Blended with banana, chia seed, magnesium, turmeric, and cica, this sweet soufflé is your recipe for calmer, hydrated healthy-looking skin.

Experience

I’ve been using this in both my morning and evening routines over serums. its lasted about 3 weeks and I haven’t experienced any irritation from it.

What I liked: this lightweight moisturiser has beauty gel-souffle texture and sinks into the skin easily. It smells amazing. I really like how soothing and hydrating it feels on the skin. I use it over serums and I have not found it pilling on me. I use a fair amount. It provides a good amount of hydration which I find long lasting. It leaves no oily residue and leaves a glowing finish to the skin. I have normal to combo oily skin and it works really well with it. It doesn’t clog pores. It’s full of antioxidants and soothing ingredients.

What I didn’t like: nothing

Verdict

This moisturiser is amazing and joins my list of favourite moisturisers. It is suitable for all skin types because of its lightweight texture. No oily residue and heavy feeling it left on the skin. It layers really well over serums and suitable for day and night.

I will definitely recommend and look to repurchase

Glow Recipe Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream is £36 for the full size

Murad Essential C Day Moisturiser SPF 30 review

Murad skincare is quickly becoming one of my favourite luxury brands. I especially love them because they have a lot of value sets which allows me to test the product before deciding to invest in the full size. Today’s post will be a full review of their moisturiser I got in one of their sets.

Murad SPF review

Murad Essential C Day Moisturiser SPF 30 PA+++ is part of their Environmental Shield range which promises to protect skin from the environment, sun and improve dull skin. The star ingredient across products in this range is Vitamin C. Regarding the moisturizer the brand says:

Recommended: For Improving skin’s radiance and firmness, Protecting skin from UVA/UVB rays and sun damage, Preserving hydration all day

A moisturiser that shields skin from damaging and ageing UV rays and free radical damage. It also improves skin’s radiance and firmness. The refreshing citrus formula makes skin look more radiant, youthful and supple whilst offering broad spectrum sun protection, which screens skin from harmful and ageing UV rays.

Experience

Murad Essential C Day Moisturiser SPF 30 is a super lightweight lotion that leaves the skin dewy and glowing. I’ve been using it as the last step in my AM and it layers well over serums without piling. It also layers well when I reapply my SPF during the day.  This doesn’t smell like the usual SPF cream, it does have a pleasant smell, it’s almost citrusy but mixed with chemicals lol. The scent lingers on but it’s not overpowering

Ingredients

In addition to Vitamin C, it also has a few other beneficial ingredients, there is a lot of moisturising and antioxidant ingredients in it. This is a chemical-based sunscreen and a PA rating of 3 means it provides a good amount of protection from UVA rays.

Is it invisible on dark skin? YES. The moisturizer sinks into the skin quickly and leaves it glowing. It’s 100% invisible on dark skin

Verdict

I really really like this moisturiser. This is a chemical-based SPF moisturiser that leaves the skin moisturised and protected from the sun. The PA rating also tells you that you are getting a good amount of protection from UVA rays (causes the skin to turn brown hence hyperpigmentation to darken). It does leave the skin very dewy so if you have oily skin you may not like this. It also has fragrance so I’m not sure how sensitive skin will react. It doesn’t pill when layered but there have been a few times when I noticed some pilling when I have used too much of it. In terms of actually moisturising the skin, it does a good job.

I will recommend this. The full size of this is £65 but I recommend getting it in the kit which allows you to try it before spending £65! The kit I got also contains the cleanser, sample serum, samples of their glycolic pads and detox moisturiser. This kit is no longer available but you can get a similar one, like the one below

The Start Bright Set is £35 on LookFantastic

Other Murad reviews:

AHA BHA Cleanser

Hydrodynamic Moisturiser

Some links are affiliate

Are you picking this up?

 

Birthday Spring Summer Skincare Haul

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEE

After finishing 79 products in the last 3 months (3 months Empties), my collection has taken a huge hit! I decided to head to LookFanastic and get some new products! I needed to top up my cleansers especially as I am left with 3 travel sizes ones and I wanted some new face masks. Since it was my birthday, I treated myself to a serum I have had my eyes on for a while and some other stuff!

Haul

Nip Fab Dragon’s Blood Fix Jelly Mask– this is a repurchase for me. I find this mask pluming and hydrating and easy to incorporate in my routine. The only downside is if you use too much (which I always do) it’s slightly difficult to rinse off.

Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask– this is a new product in my collection. I’m really loving the Moisture Surge range from Clinique. I think I have used about 3 products in total and I am interested in trying more. I got the travel size mask to test out.

Dermalogica Skin Kit – Normal/Oily– Dermalogica is one of my favourite brands. This kit has 5 travel-sized products and the kit is for normal/oily skintypes. They have a few kits for different skin types. I have tried the Special Cleansing gel and I really love it. I’m looking forward to trying the other products in the kit. I will be bringing you reviews!

Dermalogica PowerBright TRx Treatment Kit– I was really excited to see this kit because I really love the PowerBright collection. I have already used the day and night cream and I really liked them, the serum in the kit will be new to me. I don’t think this set is worth the money. For £37(I got it with a discount code so it was £34), you only get 10ml sizes. The sizes were not stated on the website or the Dermalogica website, otherwise, I wouldn’t have got it. Also, the picture on LookFantastic is incorrect, it shows you will get two serums and the night cream but the set contains 1 day cream, 1 night cream and 1 serum.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting– I’ve seen a lot of good reviews on this product so I finally decided to go for it! I’m really excited to try this and will be adding it my routine soon. The serum promises to lighten dark spots in just 4 weeks which is a huge claim. I will be putting this to the test

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser (50ml) – I’m just about to run out of cleansers so I needed to stock up on them. Am I the only one who doesn’t mind foaming cleansers? I’m looking forward to using this!

I also got a free gift with purchase from Caudalie! I got a cleansing trio which contains the foaming cleanser, detox mask and a face scrub!

Fresh Mini Masks Gift Set– my brother got me this gift set for my birthday! This contains 6 mini sizes of their bestselling masks! As soon as I saw this gift set I knew I wanted it, it has 2 of the masks I have been wanting to try: Rose and Vitamin Nectar. The rest of them sound very good as well I can’t wait!

Dermatica– I picked this up because they had an offer for NHS workers. This is an online dermatology service that provides subscription strength products and expert advice.  This is yet to arrive. I ordered this on 6th April, I’m still waiting for them to send me my approved prescription with ingredient breakdown and ship my item to me. I have a full post on them coming in the next few days but I may delay it till I receive the product.

I will do an updated skincare routine soon. Check out my previous one here. My evening routine is quite difficult to put together as I am constantly rotating items but I will be working on it soon!

Catch you later, I better come out of this lockdown with the best skin ever!

Some links are affiliate

Stay home, stay safe!

 

 

 

My current Morning Routine

It’s now officially a month into my skin 2020 challenge and so far I have noticed HUGE improvements: my skin is almost texture free ( this is an ongoing issue but this is the longest I have been without any textural issues) and radiant, I still have hyperpigmentation( although the darkest spot is slightly lighter now)

One month in and I did do a skincare haul to get some more products in addition to my power serums. Check out what I got in my haul here and my star serums here.

Onto my morning routine

I like my morning routine to be fast and efficient so I like to concentrate on hydration and protection.  It’s a relatively simple routine and quick too to get me out of the door!

Cleanse: I start with a cleanse in the shower to remove the dirt/excess oils and products from the night before. Some people prefer to wash with just water ( I don’t understand) but I use a face wash. I have just run out of the L’Oréal Fine Flowers Wash. My review is here. I am now using the Murad Essential C Cleanser.

Tone: shower done I move to my toner. I like to use hydrating toners in the morning and the one I’m currently using is the Garnier Rose Toner which is an exact dupe of Pixi Rose Tonic which I love! This toner is very easy to use, soothes and hydrates the skin and preps it for the next step.

Antioxidant Serum: next I like to use an antioxidant serum to help protect my skin from environmental aggressors and pollution and free radicals. I like to use a mixture of the Inkey List Vitamin C serum, the Ordinary Ferulic Acid 3% and Resveratrol 3% serum and Superdrug Hydrating Serum. Why? The vitamin C is in a water less silicone base which gives it a very gritty silicone texture and doesn’t feel great on the skin. By mixing the Ferulic & resveratrol serum which has an oil like texture, the overall texture is more pleasant to use PLUS Ferulic  Acid & resveratrol are also antioxidants so I have getting a lot more protection( the more antioxidants you can use the better). The hydrating serum adds a touch of hydration to the mixture. The overall mixture feels like a lightweight lotion/serum and sinks into my skin well. It doesn’t PILL!

I’m actually taking a break from this mixture and using the Drunk Elephant C Firma day serum mixed with the B Hydra Hydration serum. I only have sample sizes of this, I got this as a late Christmas present so testing it out. DE is a brand that I have been interested in but their ridiculous prices and nasty attitude put me off them.  So far I am not impressed by them but even if I was I won’t be purchasing( I have noticed some texture but whether it’s due to this or something else, time will tell. I usually get a spot or two after a facial and I just had one so it could be the facial, these serums or Mother Nature, time will tell).

 

Moisturiser/SPF– I usually prefer to use a moisturiser and a dedicated SPF product (because we don’t use enough SPF anyway so if have a SPF moisturiser you use less and may not be getting the full SPF stated on the product) but I had this SPF moisturiser I wanted to use and since it’s the winter period it was ok. The one I am currently using is the Kiehl’s SPF 30 moisturiser which I love. See the full review here and how it looks on dark skin. I SLAUGTHER this on and works well without any piling. Again I have finished this product, I have gone back to using Nivea SPF 50 spray layered on top of Beauty Pie Moisturiser (review here). Again no pilling

After this I wait around a bit to get ready before I move to makeup

Ignore the bags lol, this is my skin makeup free

 

Primer: I am currently mixing two primers only because I have had both of them of a while and I really need to get rid of them. Surprisingly they work extremely well together. I use the Emani Perfect 10 Primer Serum mixed with Makeup Forever Radiant Primer. These two deliver hydration, radiance (almost too radiant) and a little bit of colour correcting ( the MUFE primer is peach)

Foundation: my quick and easy go to for mornings is powder foundation. Literally I don’t have to spend minutes blending. I am currently using the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (and holding on to the last bits of it). This has a buildable coverage, covers my pigmentation and helps to even out the skin and doesn’t look dry or cakey.

Spray Setting: sometimes I set the powder and sometimes I don’t. I rotate these two setting sprays: Glamglow Glow setter (review here) and Obsession Dewy Fix- I have just run out of this in act this morning lol.

After this it’s a quick swipe of Carmex lip balm then I’m out of the door.

On the weekends or on days I have some time, I will throw in a mask, and it ranges from anything from a sheet mask to a cream mask: whatever my skin is feeling that day

The whole routine is probably 30 mins or less broken up into parts.

It’s so hard for me to write about my current skincare routine because I rotate my products frequently and I like to use the same routine for at least a month before I blog about it. I wrote this post a week and a half prior and in that time I have run out of stuff and switched things around lol.

I am working on my evening routine which will take a while so stay tuned. My evening routine is more time consuming (compared to the morning one but it’s no 20 step routine lol), that should come soon.

With spring around the corner, I will be testing out more sunscreens suitable for dark skin, in the meantime check out all the previous reviews I have done on my blog.

 

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm Review

It’s been about 2 years since I fell in love with double cleansing and using balms as a first cleanse. I’ve been through quite a few (my top 7 will come soon) and the more I discover the deeper I fall

Good Molecules is still a fairly new brand to me, available in the UK via Beautylish, the brand have effective products at budget-friendly prices. I have tried a few of their items and I am yet to find something I strongly dislike. So with my love of cleansing balms and a good bargain in mind, I purchased the Instant Cleansing Balm when it first came out.

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm is formulated with sea buckthorn & camellia oils as well as shea butter. It promises to instantly melt makeup and impurity and rinse away clean.

Experience

I’ve been using this for a few weeks now, every night as a first cleanse to remove makeup and the day’s grime. I always pair this with my trusty Primark makeup removing cloth. I have just over half of the balm, I think it will finish by the end of the month.

The balm is more of a solidified oil and instantly melts into an oil when massaged in my hands. I massage this over my skin and instantly begins to break down makeup. I use a fair amount and massage this all over my face giving myself a mini facial massage.  I emulsify with warm water, sometimes but most times I remove with the damp makeup remover cloth.  The scent of the balm reminds me of frankincense even though there is no mention of it in the ingredients. I personally don’t like the scent, it’s not unpleasant I just don’t like frankincense.

The balm does a good job removing makeup and very well at removing eye makeup and mascara. It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, the oil is extremely lightweight and there is no oily residue left. It also rinses away easily and clean. I have experienced any irritation or clogged pores with the balm

Verdict: an excellent cleansing balm which is effective at removing makeup and budget-friendly. I personally don’t like the scent of this because it reminds me of frankincense which I also don’t like and for this reason alone I won’t repurchase. I will recommend it though because for the price its really good and if scent (something similar to frankincense) don’t bother you then definitely worth trying.

The scent is not unpleasant this is just a personal preference, it doesn’t linger but obviously, with massaging the balm all over your face you can’t really escape it lol. It comes with a spatula

It’s a very good balm and it’s effective at removing every bit of makeup. I have also used it for triple cleansing (twice with the balm and once with a face wash) and I did not experience any issues with that.

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm is $15 on Beautylish

 

Organix Quenching Coconut Curls Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Let’s take break from skincare reviews and focus on hair care. Today’s post will be a full review on the Organix Quenching Coconut Curls Shampoo & conditioner. I was gifted this product a very long time ago and I have only gotten round to using it.

Organix Quenching Coconut Curls has coconut and citrus oil as well as sweet honey to help enhance natural curls and boost shine. It promises to soften hair whilst gently cleansing and conditioning it

Experience

Shampoo

The shampoo has a very thick consistency and smells great (tropical coconut obviously), it produces a lot of lather even with a fair amount and surprisingly I can finger detangle, even comb through (slowly, gently and in smaller sections) with the foam.  I always do a double rinse and this shampoo leaves my hair and scalp well cleansed but not stripped.  The shampoo rinses clean and easily

Conditioner

Following with the Quenching conditioner, this product has the same pleasant scent as the shampoo and a thick creamy consistency. Again the conditioner offers a good amount of slip for detangling using a good amount. Whilst I like the shape of the bottle, because of the thick consistency of the conditioner, the shape made it slightly difficult to squeeze out especial when I was trying to get the last bits of it lol.  I usually leave it on for 10-15 mins, and it rinses well and leaves my hair soft.

Did it enhance my curls? No, but most shampoos that claim to do this never do on my kinky hair anyway. Did I see some kinky curl definition? In some parts yes (a few strands clumped together) which just means my hair is well hydrated and moisturised but it wasn’t a wash and go defined curls. I wasn’t expecting curl definition anyway.

Verdict

It’s worth using definitely, it leaves my hair which tends to be dry well conditioned and moisturised. I like the slip from both the shampoo and conditioner so it means I can detangle as I go along. The shampoo does well to cleanse excess product build up and dirt and the conditioner provides enough slip to detangle and helps to soften the hair. They both smell great but don’t linger too much. Will you get curl definition no, at least not for 4c hair anyway.

These are available on Boots for £6.99 each

 

Luxe Beauty Beckenham Review

This year, I promised myself I would do more  professional treatments. For my first clinic visit of 2020, I went to Luxe Beauty based in Beckenham for a facial. I found the salon on Treatwell (I have downloaded the app) and with a £10 discount code I chose the Dermalogica facial (45 mins) and paid £25( usually £35)

Luxe Beauty is based in Beckenham and offers a range of beauty services like facials, spray tanning and nails. I have never heard of the place so I did some research first before booking. The reviews on Treatwell were very good but I also checked google reviews, everything checked out so I booked my facial.

The salon is based on the high street but parking was free on a nearby road. It looks small and unassuming from the outside but inside it was super clean and modern. I arrived a little bit before my appointment but I was welcomed by the reception and asked to sit. My therapist Leanne soon came and took me to the treatment room. The treatment room was a bit small but it was super clean and smelled great. I took a quick snap of the products she had lined up for me.

 

I’ve been trying to find a description of the Dermalogica facial I did but I can’t find any. My treatment included double cleansing, exfoliation (I think she did this about 2 or 3 times from what I could feel on my facial) face mask, facial massage, steam, extraction, toning and moisturiser. She also did a shoulder massage. The whole facial lasted about 50 mins

Did I like it? YES, I love Dermalogica as a brand so even though this treatment is new to me, I had faith in it because their products are good quality. I would describe the facial as a deep cleansing/exfoliation facial. My skin was left so smooth and soft to touch. I have never had steam as part of a facial but it was nice, I could only feel it on one side of my face though lol. The pressure of her facial massage and shoulder massage was just right and it reminded me I need to book a body massage because my last one was in October lol

Would I recommend Luxe Beauty? YES, everyone I came in contact with, was friendly and professional. My therapist asked me a few questions regarding my skin before getting started. I would have loved for her to tell me what she was doing because there was no description of the facial online or on the app but I also didn’t ask. Tbh I dislike people talking to me during a facial because I like my peace and quiet so I didn’t mind. The salon is small but it’s very clean and modern inside.

Any cons? The only issue I had was the soothing music was a bit too loud. It wasn’t extremely loud but people that know me know I don’t like high volumes especially if I am in the same room as the music, but this wasn’t a bit deal.  At the end the moisturiser she used did not have SPF (I made sure to ask) BUT this isn’t the only place that has done this. I’ve been t at least 3 different places over the last year where they simply don’t use SPF after the facial and I wonder why (there’s only 1 place that used an SPF 35 moisturiser and that was Skin Laundry). I carry my own now to use after a facial so I don’t really treat this as a con

Verdict

The facial was worth the money and the salon was great. I will recommend and book again. Most of the Dermalogica products she used I recognise with the exception of the professional grade products. This is more of a deep cleansing/ exfoliation facial and I will definitely recommend for oily/blemish prone skin.

First facial for 2020 done with more to come. I realised I haven’t reviewed my go to place The Boutique Spa so I will make sure to do a full review after my next visit.

Post facial– its 2 days since the facial and my skin looks and feels so smooth. I have two spots forming which always happens to me after a facial so I am not surprised. I really wish I took pics, I have pics but they are not suitable lool.

I also recommend Treatwell. I was scared to download the app last year but after speaking to a few people I decide to go with it. So far I have booked two treatments and I have had no issues with the actual app in terms of pre paying and turning up to the places. They also give you a £5 off code when your review a place (temptation lol).

 

Find LuxeBeauty on Treatwell

What’s your fav place to go for a facial? Let me know