Christmas Reviews and Sales

Now that Christmas is over and the subsequent sales are under way, I thought I would share a few of my favourite beauty treats that are currently available for great prices.

Emma Hardie's 'The Midas Touch Tutorial Box' is a product design marvel. It comes with video screen, which shows tutorials. Yes, of course it's unique and eye catching, especially as there are buttons to press to select the tutorials, but the tutorials are really interesting and show the different ways to use the products, even down to the way to use the muslin cloth with the lines of the face. By doing it in the suggested way, the face immediately looks more toned and tight. It reminds me of the way the face looks after a facial. Actually, the music and soft spoken instructions make the whole experience very spa like! 

The products are gorgeous and include Moringa Cleansing Balm (see review), which is the best cleansing product that I have used to date. Dry skin is transformed and makeup is quickly removed.

I am yet to try the Midas Touch Serum and Age Support Face Cream but the Serum tutorial made it look like some kind of skin medication, where it is strategically placed on specific points of the face, so I'm excited to work that one out!  

The Midas Touch Box is £99 and an online exclusive. However, in the sale, Feel Unique are offering the Morninga Cleansing Balm for £32.30 and the Midas Touch Box for £69.30 

www.feelunique.com 

Space NK is one of my favourite shops and their gift boxes are a lovely present. However, in the 50% off sale, the products are even better! REN, Aromatherapy Associates, By Terry, Diptyque and others are included. Hurrah! 

www.uk.spacenk.com 

Debenhams are also doing some amazing perfume deals, especially perfume gift sets. Soft, floral scents, such as Marc Jacobs Daisy collections, Thierry Mugler, Jimmy Choo and Gucci are all down in price. It is also doing some amazing makeup deals, including Urban Decay and YSL. 

www.debenhams.com 

Amazon are doing deals left right and centre. This Christmas seemed to be the year of the watches in our house and I am particularly fond of the Daniel Wellington collection. I like the masculine, no nonsense design, which doesn't look overly manly for women, with a classic design. 

The watches have gone down from £159 to approximately £78, so it's an amazing time to nab a good deal. 

www.amazon.co.uk 

Happy shopping everyone! 

Space NK Apothecary

Having said in a previous post that I wanted a Sephora near to my front door, I realised how lucky us Brits are to have Space NK. Even if we are nowhere near a store, their website is thoroughly stocked and even though there are many expensive products listed, there are some great deals and products. Brands such as Emma Hardie – that you assume would cost the earth – are actually pretty reasonably priced.

Now, in times of tightening our financial belts, I love the fact that I can pop to Boots and buy a makeup remover for £2.99 but it is nice to have a fancier option, without the feeling that you are being pressurised to buy the whole shop.

The employees are very knowledgeable about the products and seem to have a genuine interest in skincare and beauty. I don't know how, but I almost feel like it's a calming experience! Maybe it's the decor and the presentation of the products, and, as I tend to go in at non peak times, the lack of people helps too.

My favourite store is the Covent Garden one, which is located in Shelton Street. The lady that tends to help me never pushes any of the products but instead, really listens to the type of product that I am after. She also gives out really good samples, which I nearly always return to buy. Smart move Space NK! 

My favourite Space NK products/brands include: 

1. Colbert MD Ilłumino Facial Oil (I reviewed this last week and having recommended it to friends and family, they have echoed my praise for this product)

2. Kevyn Aucoin makeup range/ Nars range

3. Ren 

4. Eve Lom/Emma Hardie (see review) 

5. By Terry 

6. Caudalie 

7. Glam Glow (see review) 

8. Beauty Blender

9. Diptyque candles (to me, they are just the kings of candles)
10. Algenist

I could go on but the point is, when you are in the mood to buy something that is a bit more than the basic product, you get lovely service whilst being given specific information about the product, that up until now has never been wrong. I have never regretted purchase from here and, shamefully, I shop here more than I go food shopping! Cooking just isn't my forte.... Luckily, for Space NK, skincare and beauty are!

uk.spacenk.com 

Kay's Skincare Routine – September 2015

For the last few months, I have been looking for products that do not have parabens or ingredients that the skin doesn't need and that actually work! Jen and I have always said that balance is the key. We are certainly not the ingredients police, it's just a preference and, equally, sometimes you can't have it all! So, after some searching, I have a new skin care routine that I am very happy with:

CLEANSER
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm – It hydrates the skin, removes waterproof makeup, lasts a long old time and leaves skin feeling clean but not dry.
£38 for 100ml

TONER
I'm not using anything at the moment but I am about to try Naobay Calming Face Toner as good old Glossybox sent a full sized through. Talking of Naobay.... 

£10.50 for 200ml

EXFOLIATOR
Naobay Moisturizing Peeling exfoliator is natural and organic, with fine particles that gently exfoliate the skin. I use this every morning.
£13.50 for 100ml

SERUM
Instead of serum, I have been using two face oils. The first, Colbert MD Illumino Face Oil, is super expensive but it really works. Massage a drop of the oil into damp skin. It gets five stars on the Space NK website and rightly so. My wrinkles appeared reduced with one use! Safe to say that I love this product.
$140 for 30ml 

The second oil is the Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil. This is hydrating and although it's an oil, I can wear it underneath makeup and it doesn't make my skin oily and the makeup slip off! This is also my day moisturiser.
$79 for 30ml

EYE CREAM
Aveda Botanicals Kinetics – This has helped to smooth fine lines and is easily absorbed.
£28 for 15ml

NIGHT MOISTURISER
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Oil Balm – This is incredibly hydrating, not greasy, and easily absorbed.
$35 for 1.4oz

MASK
GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment – This was my first time using a GlamGlow product and I am totally sold. The mask leaves the skin looking luminous and with an equal skin tone. It has birch leaf in it, which confused me on my first try! However, the leaf releases a natural acid, which balances the skin. What I love most are the exfoliating particles. As you apply the mask to the skin, you start with an exfoliation, then spend 20 minutes or so with a citrus smelling mask on your chops and you are left with radiant looking skin! Marvellous.
$69 for 1.7oz

To read my 2014 skincare routine click here
To read Jen's 2014 skincare routine click here

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

I popped into Space NK to pick up a Nars primer and whilst I was there, I had a gander at the skin care section (always dangerous!) and, actually, to be honest, the Diptyque candles....yes, I bought one. I was only meant to buy a primer! 

Any who, wanting something moisturising that would remove makeup, the lovely sales assistant introduced me to Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm. I have heard great things about Emma Hardie products, but had never actually tried anything from the range.

I tested the product and was immediately impressed by the consistency. It was light, despite the density and although it was a balm, it didn't feel greasy. The sales assistant informed me that Hardie created this product after being ill and wanted something that would nourish her skin. According to the website, emmahardie.com, the 'Moringa Cleansing Balm is a balanced daily cleanser that thoroughly cleanse deep in the pores, moisturises and calms all skin types'.

I have used this product several times and my face looks considerably smoother, especially considering that I wasn't using a harsh cleanser prior to this. I was using an excellent one from REN. However, now, my skin does look healthier. Having had a gander at the ingredients, so far, it does what it claims to do: 

Grape Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil rich in essential fatty acids help to plump and soften

Moringa seed extract, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E balance, purify and help to minimise the appearance of open pores

Essential oils of Orange, Neroli and Mandarin rejuvenate and revitalise the skin whilst calming the senses

Jasmine and Rose help to recondition dull, dry, dehydrated and mature skins

Removes all traces of face and eye make-up and is so pure it doubles as a soothing and hydrating mask if left on the skin for ten minutes

The lady at Space NK said that the product can also be left on, as a mask, over night. It can even be used as a hair mask. 

So, how much is it? I was expecting £50 +, mainly because of the size. You get a 100ml, plus cloth. However, I was pleasantly surprised, it is £38.00. This is especially impressive when you consider that a little product goes a long way and, apparently, if you use too much, it can congest the pores. 

Moving onto the cloth. It has a muslin side for breaking down the makeup and dirt and a microfibre side that is used to gently remove the product in a sweeping motion. I'm not a huge fan of these types of cloth. It looks like a bacteria's paradise, even if you do rinse it properly. I prefer to rinse with warm water or use a flannel and chuck it in the wash. 

Other than this, the only thing that I am not too keen on is the fact that it's not a pump dispenser, which means your fingers go into the product to use it. I don't hate this but I'm not a huge fan of it either. 

However, would I repurchase? Yes, yes, yes. And probably buy a few more candles and numerous products whilst I'm there! 

www.uk.spacenk.com 

www.emmahardie.com