Author: michelleprestige

Triyit x Beauty Kitchen Showcase review

product review

As consumers in the year 2018, we are now more demanding than ever. We would like products on the market that are cruelty free, vegan friendly and ethically sourced. It’s a positive step in the right direction, and it’s gradually changing the way the beauty industry markets their products. As consumers we have refused to accept the status quo, and we are asking industrialists to do better.

When Triyit launched their most recent campaign; which was a showcase for sustainable beauty brand ‘Beauty Kitchen’, I was thrilled. I love natural beauty products, especially when it comes to skincare. Nature is so beautiful, it’s inspiring when we create products utilising it’s organic properties, rather than destroying it in the process.

Since receiving my box of goodies I’ve used some of the products and here are my thoughts;

Abyssinian Oil Night Halo Potent Sleep Mask, £19.99 for 60ml

This product is a must have, this sleep mask is an intoxicating mix of a skin treat and a sleep inducing treatment. Enhanced with essential oils like magnolia, palmarosa and Abyssinian the smell lures you into your best sleep yet. The texture is likeable to Vicks, it’s thick and you can really lather it on your face. You have to be careful not to get it on your hair line – it would definitely make your hair prematurely greasy.

Overall I love using this product. It’s a lovely weekly treat for skin, which also aids a healthy nights sleep. Great for winter hibernation I think.

Mineral Shield Daily Primer, £14.99 for 50ml

I was delighted when I set my eyes on this, I’m a huge advocate for skincare containing SPF. Sun rays cause premature ageing, as well as being a high cancer risk. Even on cloudy days we are at risk of damaging our skin with sun rays, so it’s mandatory to ensure you protect your skin. This primer is fragrance free so it’s suitable for all skin types, even hyper sensitive skin. The consistency is more like a sunscreen than a traditional face cream. This just means you need to apply sparingly. I’ve made this primer part of my daily routine and I love the fact I’m actively protecting against environmental aggressors. I’d recommend a decent SPF primer to everyone.

Karine Jackson The Cleanser Shampoo, £12 for 250ml

I have been researching silicone and paraben free shampoo for a while. A lot of commercial brand shampoos coat your hair in silicone, and this is what gives you that glossy feeling. But in actual fact it is a fake coating on top of the damaged cuticle, rather than penetrating the hair and helping to fix the damage. This shampoo is a great alternative for anyone who would like a natural shampoo. It removes build up and protects against pollutant damage. I really enjoyed using this, the holistic smell was calming and reminded me of meditation. It made my hair as soft as silk too.

Overall I have really enjoyed the products I used from the Beauty Kitchen. Although they are quite pricey, you can’t put a price on morality. They all have an inherently holistic smell too – which may not be to the taste of some. But that is more than likely down to the fact we are indoctrinated to believe false smells are more attractive, it’s what we have become accustomed to. Using these products is like resetting your system. Embracing nature is nothing short of beautiful.

With special thanks to Triyit, for including me in their latest campaign. All Beauty Kitchen products can be purchased here.

Advertisements

NYX Ultimate eyeshadow palette in Warm Neutrals review

product review

Over the last few years of reviewing countless make up and beauty products, I’ve really grown to adore eyeshadow. It’s one of my favourite items of make up to buy and use; fundamentally due to its ability to create many looks.

This hasn’t always been the case, at first it was the enemy. I remember looking at the first eyeshadow palette I was ever asked to review. Staring at it aimlessly, expecting it to perform by itself before my very eyes. Stepping into unknown territories, the thought of applying a bright purple above my eyes filled me with absolute fear. The make up of doom. Now, after carefully learning to blend, and which colours shot my eyes – eyeshadow is my best friend. She’s honestly been there for me through thick and thin (and believe me some of the early blending I did really was thick, in a literal sense). If anyone reading this does struggle with the concept of eyeshadow application, my biggest tip is to keep practicing. Practice makes perfect. And as cliche as it sounds, because every MUA on YouTube has quoted this for the entirety of 2018: ‘Blend, blend and blend some more.’

There is just so many looks you can create with different colours and combinations of eyeshadows. NYX is an impressive brand when it comes to eyeshadow, you can get a professional MUA-style quality for drugstore prices. When I received their ultimate eyeshadow palette in warm neutrals for my birthday – I could not wait to test it out!

How does it perform?

The ultimate palette comes in four shade variations and I have the warm neutrals version (perfect for autumnal feels, which I am radiating all over this blog post). It features 16 neutral / nude and warm shades, with 4 shimmery shades and the remaining 12 shades being matte textured.

As expected the colours are pigmented, as I swatched four shades I was amazed at how little fall out there is. Without being deliberately offensive or slanderous, I’ve heard brands which charge triple the amount for their palettes have a huge amount of fall out. I would not be pleased with that.

I like this palette because there is such an array of neutral colours, you don’t need to be an expert to play with these colours. There are also bolder colours, in warm shades for the more daring of us. The combination of shimmer and matte allows so many looks to be created. I would recommend to anyone wanting to expand their nude eyeshadow collection, especially with an autumnal feel 🍁.

NYX Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette is available here, for £16

Moroccanoil Colour Complete Protect & Prevent Spray review

product review

Isn’t it the most frustrating thing ever when your fresh hair colour fades out of existence? For me, my non brassy blonde generally will last around one week before the colour would start to dull. Cue the massive exodus of dry shampoo (as its white) and purple toners to try and desperately revive my former colour.

This dullness is caused by external environmental factors, such as UV rays and pollutant damage. Taking this into consideration, I knew on my recent trip to Croatia that my hair was going to suffer. Lots of sun, lots of drying chlorine.

A couple of weeks prior to flying out to Croatia I was at LFW at the Aadnevik show; on the back of this the PR’s had sent me some Moroccanoil hair products to try. These were used throughout the show, and I know the products are used in salons.

This is where the Colour Complete Protect & Prevent spray comes in. It is designed to shield against environmental aggressors, this prevents oxidation and it also protects against thermal damage. The spray uses ArganID micro-encapsulated technology to repair and seal hair cuticles to lock in colour. It’s almost like this spray was designed for me to take on holiday!

How did it perform?

Across the entire range of Moroccanoil products I have been testing there is a real salon, professional feel. They all smell magnificent, and leave your hair feeling not only soft – but healthy.

The Colour Complete spray really did help to maintain my hair colour. And I knew it would be a challenge, years of peroxide has altered my hair to become very porous; and colour fade is something I have learnt to accept over the years. However armed with this spray, I managed to minimise damage and enhance my colour. I love the fact you just spray it through your hair, as you would with any heat protection spray.

My hair colour below after a few days in the sun:

I’d highly recommend this to anyone. It’s not just for those with coloured hair, external damage occurs mainly from environmental factors. Living in London with a huge amount of pollution affects not only our health, but our skin and hair too. I think it’s important to raise awareness of products that protect against this damage. Just because you can’t physically see the damage, doesn’t mean it isn’t occurring all the time!

You can purchase the Moroccanoil Colour Complete Protect & Prevent Spray here, £22.65 for 160ml

Why you should visit Croatia in October

reviews, travel

It may seem like a pretty random time to jet off to a beach holiday, but October in Croatia is literal perfection. It’s the end of their holiday season, which means you can have free reign of the pool, sun loungers and all associated excursions. The temperature at this time of year is comfortable, ranging from 24-26 degrees on average.

My friend Elizabeth and I have just returned from spending one week in Makarska, Croatia. Makarska is a town located around an hour and a half drive from Split airport, it is on the Adriatic coast line and very scenic. You get the ultimate combination of mountains, forestry, plus a Mediterranean style coastline.

I have visited many countries all over Europe, but I must say Croatia really impressed me. Here are the main reasons why you should visit (any time of year really, but October is exceptionally good):

1. Weather

Although the official average for October is between 24 – 26 degrees, it feels much warmer than this. I sunbathed on a day where the temperature was 26 degrees, and developed a bronze tan in under two hours! The sun is intense and there is almost no humidity (nothing like the UK summer sun). The October sun is great as it isn’t too over bearing, don’t get me wrong you can still burn (I have the itches to prove this). But it’s comfortable, especially when sleeping at night.

2. Culture

There are thousands of Croatian islands and I would recommend visiting even a handful when you visit. We did a boat tour to the islands of Brač and Hvar, and each island has unique qualities to offer. Hvar was rural, and it was fantastic to see the locals selling a myriad of Lavender produces (grown naturally on the island), plus many herbs and chillies grown there. The architecture is beautiful, as much of the island contains limestone, buildings and houses are pale which provides a lovely contrast to the deep blue of the sea, and the palm trees.

The island of Brač is the longest Croatian island and has an amazingly beautiful coastline; the length makes it a paradise for divers and water sports fanatics.

(Below – View of the Adriatic Coastline from the Island of Brač)

And here are some from Hvar island:

Not only does Croatia have fantastic produce to offer, there is an array of wildlife on each island too. When travelling between islands we spotted many dolphins, and our tour guide informed us that there are also whales and sharks in the Adriatic Sea. Many of the islands have lizards, snakes and wild cats!

3. End of season

Despite October being the most perfect heat in Croatia, it’s also grand to visit in October as it’s not too busy. There are still plenty of excursions you can experience, but it’s not heaving with tourists. I think that this enhances your experience and allows you to really take in the views and culture (and of course the all important sun bathing!).

If you have ever considered visiting Croatia, and you were on the fence about your decision. Let me make it for you. Go to Croatia, you will have your breath taken away. It is rich in culture, hospitable, and stunning to look at. I may have just found paradise on Earth…

I’d like to give a special thanks to TUI and the TUI Sensimar Adriatic Beach Resort. The TUI representatives and the hotel staff were more than accommodating, they went above and beyond. They each made this trip one in a lifetime.

My Anti-Ageing Skincare Routine At 25

product review, skincare

You may be thinking it is a little premature for me to start thinking about my skin ageing. Why am I worrying about wrinkles before I even get old? But the truth is, would you wait to clean your car after 6 months? Would you let leaves, pollution, dirty rain water (plus more additionally disgusting things) build up to the point your car is unrecognisable? The answer is no. When we can visually see something depreciating and decaying, we often step in to stop the process. Why should our skin be any different?

In fact we should be even more stringent with our skin because it has to endure a lot. So I’ve decided to actively start to maintain my skin and do everything I can, yes at age 25, to eradicate the chances of premature ageing. Of course, having a good skincare routine isn’t going to roll back decades for us. There are many other external factors which can age skin. Stress, smoking, sun damage and even genetics can make us predisposed to ageing. That is why it is mandatory to replenish the skin where you can.

As a blogger / reviewer / social media influencer / I don’t even know what to refer to myself as anymore, I have reviewed a plethora of skincare products. What works for me personally is keeping to a routine, consistency is key. Decent products that work together.

I’ve recently been using the Drops of Youth collection by The Body Shop, combined with the Oils of Life intensely revitalising cream. These products are from two of The Body Shops Premium skincare ranges, thus, they are a little pricier but well worth it. Here is a breakdown of each product and the order in which I use them;

– Drops of Youth, Youth essence lotion, £15 for 160ml

A gel to water toner which is to be used straight after cleansing. It is extremely hydrating, infused with a blend of three plant stem cells. This sits well with my skin in particular as it’s more of an oily toner, as opposed to conventionally stringent toners.

– Drops of Youth, Youth Concentrate, £33 for 50ml

This is essentially a serum concentrate designed to target the first signs of ageing. It smells magnificent, and leave your skin with a moisturising glow.

– Drops of Youth, Youth Bouncy Eye Mask, £18 for 20ml

An absolute wonder of a product. The eye mask can be applied directly under eyes to refresh them, or used as an overnight sleeping mask. I personally suffer terribly with dark circles and this is the only product that has ever visibly improved them. Enriched with cucumber extract, the non sticky formula helps to address the first signs of ageing.

– Oils of Life, Intensely Revitalising Cream, £26 for 50ml

This cream infuses three well known seed oils from around the world, with perfecting micro pearls that replenish skin. I have been using this as the last step in my routine, both day and night. It is light enough for use in the day, but is excellent as an overnight treatment cream. Designed to fight the signs of ageing and provide intense replenishment to skin. Love it, and how silky it makes my skin feel.

The Drops of Youth and Oils of Life collections are available on The Body Shop website, and in store. You can also order through a consultant like myself; send me a message for further information.

Aadnevik SS19 London Fashion Week collection

Events & launches

Aadnevik is a name in fashion synonymous with femininity; a London based atelier that dresses celebrities alike. The brand was created by Kristian Aadnevik, and is now a design partnership between himself and wife, Hila Aadnevik. Basing their entire brand on values such as family tradition, passion and hard work. With made to measure bespoke pieces available, attention to detail and accentuating the female form have become key characteristics to Aadnevik pieces.

You can imagine my sheer excitement when I was asked last week to attend Aadnevik’s SS19 show for LFW. On behalf of The Beauty Guild Gazette I had been granted backstage access, and a ticket to the main fashion show. I tried to act all coy about it, but truth be told this was my very first fashion show in the flesh! Within my mind I had been attending them since I was a little girl. Aimlessly sitting for hours watching Versace runway shows, fingering my way through Vogue magazines and designing my own stylistic dresses (that were basically huge squares with bows on). This was a huge tick off of my life bucket list.

How was my first fashion show at LFW?

As mentioned I had backstage access, I managed to gather some half decent pictures on my iPhone. Moroccan oil were doing the hair styles on the models, and the look was very natural. The idea was to juxtapose innocent, natural waves with the sensuality of the dresses and fierce eye make up. Think of a grown up sexy version of Alice in Wonderland.

You can see all the models had their hair plaited, with heat applied to help the waves have extra staying power. Then, products were ran through the hair as the plaits were let out. Revealing loose waves that anyone could obtain.

The eye make up was a bold blue, reminiscent of mermaid eye make up. Ethereal feels all round. The entire collection was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and this theme flowed throughout.

The dresses were nothing short of absolutely beautiful. Lace, leather, sheer, silk. The epitome of luxurious, with a hint of enchantment.

All of the dresses together;

Overall I loved the excitement of the runway. Watching the stunning models seamlessly saunter up and down in these opulent pieces, I was in fashion heaven. Yes fashion shows are hectic. Yes they usually run late and have crowds squeezed into one tiny room with sweat dripping your back. Is the actual show worth all of this? Yes. It certainly was. And this will not be my last visit to London Fashion Week.

The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin for Fall Review

product review

With The Body Shop launching their Pumpkin for Fall range, we are all well aware that the end of summer has arrived.

For many of us, the colder months are our favourite time of the year. Cosy nights in, hibernating whilst divulging comfort food and slapping on a face mask. Absolute bliss.

What better way to announce the arrival of the Winter months than treating yourself to deliciously spicy, yet sweetly scented treats? I could not resist and I have ordered myself the Vanilla Pumpkin shower gel and hand cream.

Before I review the range I wanted to let you into a little secret (perhaps not so much of a secret now as I am sharing this post publicly!).

I have recently signed up as an independent consultant for The Body Shop. It is the best decision I have made in a long while, and that means a lot coming from a sceptically minded person such as myself. I’ve always been irritated by the thought of network marketing, and I’ve constantly rejected the idea. I watched others promoting network marketing on social media from afar and felt uneasy about it all.

I had been contemplating joining some kind of network marketing company online for some time. I always seemed to be plagued with thoughts of how people would judge me. Would I even be any good? Would I manage to sell anything? Or even thinking about how representing another beauty brand could jeopardise the accountability of my own blog?

One day I took the plunge and just decided to do it. I have always loved The Body Shop and their products. I don’t have to push people in a way that becomes nagging, as the reputation of the company and their products supersedes this. We are a cruelty free brand that uses ethically sourced ingredients. Offering amazing skincare, make up and even home fragrances! It also doesn’t have to ruin my accountability as a freelance writer. My reviews will continue to stay as honest and blunt as my personality.

I am loving this opportunity as I love beauty products. The chance to earn a little money on the side is also motivating. After all my BMW M3 isn’t going to buy itself. (I knew I couldn’t write an entire post on beauty products without making at least one car reference). The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin Range reviewI absolutely adore the branding on this range. The candy skull and pumpkin are kitsch, without being tacky. It’s a great design to introduce autumnal feels into your beauty routine. There is one thing that makes this range really exceptional. The smell. Who would think to combine vanilla with pumpkin?! But they work ridiculously well together. The sugary smell of the vanilla is complimented by a spicy pumpkin undertone; the result is an autumnal smell that makes you want to eat it. The first day I received my shower gel and hand cream, I kept reaching for them to inhale the scent continuously. Addictive is the word I’m looking for. As usual the expected standard from The Body Shop hand cream. Hydrating with a wonderful smell. My only qualm with these hand creams is that they don’t seem to quite last long enough for me! The shower gel is amazing. It is a 250ml bottle so will probably see me through until Christmas. The consistency is smooth, and the addictive smell makes you want to lather it all over you multiple times. I would really recommend this range for anyone who adores autumn, winter, Halloween – or just simply wants to smell divine! Happy end of summer 🎃 The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin Range for Fall is available in stores or you can order directly through myself. Add me on Facebook if you’d like to order; Michelle Whitney.