Hey guys,

It has been absolutely ages since I last did a favourites post so I thought it was about time as I have been using a few new products recently. The products are a mixture of skincare and make-up and are all amazing so that's why they made the post. 

First up we have a few make-up products I picked up from Pat McGrath Labs when I was in London a few week ago. Selfridges London currently have a pop-up which I'm hoping will become permanent across Selfridges stores as the make-up is beautiful. I have been waiting quite a while since PML was released online in the UK as I wanted to go and swatch products in store. If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen my arm full of swatches and I spent a good hour in the store going through all the products and picking what I wanted carefully. 

I purchased the Fetish Eyes Mascara (£26), which is amazing and building length, volumizing and curling lashes. It literally does all three. You can also achieve different looks with it depending on how many coats you put on so I'm currently obsessed. I also purchased the Lust Gloss in Future Femme (£25) which is a lovely pink shade and highly moisturising. It has little flecks of glitter and I'm partial to a bit of glitter so it was definitely coming home with me. My favourite purchase has to be the Highlighter & Balm duo in Golden (£37). On one side you are given a transparent balm which is packed full of aloe, argan oil and hyaluronic acid. This gives such a natural healthy glow to the skin. I love wearing it on those no make-up days where I just want my skin to look extra dewy. The fact it has so much skincare packed in too make me love it even more. I apply to my lips and they are instantly hydrated. Similarly the gold side is also a balmy texture which makes it perfect for blending into the skin seamlessly. It literally melts into the skin to leave a glow from within. I am so happy with my purchases and love the branding on the packaging too. Pat has nailed it when it comes to her makeup collection.

Next up we have a make-up item I have been using regularly which is the Eye Majic Eyeshadow pads ** (£19.99). These are fantastic little sponge pads which have eyeshadow already applied. You simply apply directly to the lid and drag and the eyeshadow is then transferred to your eyes. Once applied I then run over with a eyeshadow blending blush just to soften some of the lines and it's as simple as that. It saves me so much time and the finished look is really effective. I have a whole tutorial over on my Instagram highlights so feel free to pop over and have a look! You get four different colours in a pack and there are 20 pairs so a great way to try a range of products.

With my skincare I have found my skin becoming more and more sensitive recently and I have even been breaking out in spots. Some are so painful I have never had spots like it before. Overall my skin has been lacking lustre and I tend to blame it on my hormones and they are a bit all over the place at the moment. Whenever my skin is feeling really bad I know I can rely on the Image Skincare Biomolecular Hydrating Recovery Mask ** (£41.95, 5 pack). This is the one sheet mask I know works and have mentioned it on the blog before. It contains volcanic water, red algae, amino acids and gives you brighter skin in one application. I was also recently sent the Image skincare Ormedic Balancing Gel Masque* (£28) which has been really helping with my sensitivity. I can see the redness in my spots calm down and it is very cooling on the skin so perfect for aggravated skin or even skin that may have been treated for example with laser or waxing. The combination of both of these products is great.

Now could I have a favourites post without including a Pixi product? the answer is no. One of my favourite skincare brands which your probably already know! I was so happy to recently find out the Glow range had been extended to include a cleanser, moisturising gel, and serum to name a few. I have spoken about the Glow Tonic many times on my blog and raved about how it is my favourite toner. So when I was sent the rest of the range I was ecstatic. I have been loving the Glow Tonic Serum* (£26) as it literally just continues to add that radiance and glow in a more potent formula. It is full of Glycolic acid which is the holy grail for exfoliating skin and regenerating new skin cells. It has particularly been good for my scarring that I have been getting from these dreadful hormonal spots.

Finally what I can't live without is my Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 Moisturiser* (£58, 50ml) I actually have been using this every day come rain or shine however especially now with summer coming up SPF is so important! The prism protect is perfect because it is mixed in with a moisturiser so need for separate products. And I don't know about you but I am struggling for shelf space in my beauty cabinet so that's a bonus right there. It leaves no sticky residue and absorbs straight into the skin. A great product.

So this completes my recent favourites. I hope you enjoy and please let me know some of your favourites in the comments below.

Amina xx

*PR Gift. Al opinions are my own.

** PR gift with affiliate link.

Hi guys,

This week I am bringing to you a review of some fabulous Pixi beauty products. I have been using Pixi skincare for a while now and my love affair first started with the Glow Tonic which I spoke about on my blog 2 years ago (click here) . So the fact that I still use this product is testament to it's amazingness! Over Christmas Pixi always do fabulous gift sets and I was lucky enough to get one from my sister. This particular one was £35 and contains the Glow Tonic, Polish and Peel, Glow Mud Cleanser and Make-up Cleansing Cloths. I have been using the products for month now so thought I would give your my verdict on my whole collection.

First up we have the Glow Tonic itself (£18). I use this as a toner once a day on a cotton pad. I swipe this across my skin and it literally energises my  skin. It contains 5% glycolic acid which is great for removing those dead skin cells and helping the skin to regenerate. It also contains things like Ginseng and Witch Hazel which is where I believe it's spicy smell comes from. With continued use this literally helps the skin restore itself and glow. It's a firm favourite in my routine and I don't see it going anywhere soon! It is usually £18 on it's own so when I saw it included in the gift set I was thrilled.

A few summer's ago I also purchased Pixi Glow Mist (£16). As if I wasn't already glowing enough I knew when it launched I needed it. The Glow Mist is an oil based spray which can be used to hydrate the skin and set make up. This was not part of the gift set and I mainly use this in the summer to give my skin a dewy shine. Once I have applied make-up I give the bottle a quick shake and spray over the fact to give a luminescence to the skin. In winter month's I tend to just spray over my dehydrated skin after I have removed my make-up. I have also been known to spray over my body and hair. Just saying. It contains 13 natural oils and is a concoction of goodness and I definitely recommend.

Now for the rest of the gift set. These are all products I have been using over the past 4 weeks. Firstly the Make-up Melting Cleansing Cloths (£10). No these are not 'wet wipes' they are 'cleansing cloths'. They are packed with camomile and grapeseed oil so literally feel as though you are conditioning your skin while you remove your makeup. When I have used wet wipes in the past my skin always feels so dry afterwards that I immediately wash and moisturise. But with these I literally feel as though I can leave my skin to it as they have removed my make-up as well as repaired my skin.

Within the gift set I also received the Glow Mud Cleanser (£18). Another glow product,  Ok yes we are seeing a pattern here. My skin after Christmas was really bad. I had a lot of break outs and redness due to the amount of rich foods I was consuming. So I was hoping by using this it would calm my skin down and I was right. I have been using this 3 to 4 times weekly and the aloe and lavender within has calmed down my breakouts and redness. You can also apply and leave on as a mask which is an added benefit. 

The final product in the gift set is the Peel and Polish (£26). I have wanted to try this for ages. The peel and polish is an enzyme mask which is applied to dry skin. You then leave it for two minutes to allow the enzymes to activate and finally rub into the skin like you would an exfoliator and rinse off.  The  product is intended to act like a peel and resurface the skin. This is just what I needed, as like I said before my breakouts had left my skin quite bumpy. I have been using this twice a week for the past four weeks and literally feel as though my skin is back to normal. I love the fact it tingles a bit when applied as it also makes me feel like it is doing something.

So that's it folks. As you can see I am so impressed with Pixi skincare. My collection is only going to grow further. These are genuinely products I have added to my skincare routine and can't see them going anywhere for a long time. One thing I definitely want to try next is Pixi Make-up. So if you have any suggestions please fell free to let know what in the comments below!

Amina xx

Hey Guys!

This week I am bringing to you a review of October's Cohorted Beauty Box. If you are a fan of subscription boxes then you would have definitely heard of this box. It contains luxury, high end products, which are sent to your door every month. This is one of the most sought after subscriptions boxes on the market. At £35 it doesn't come cheap, so I thought I would share whether or not I thought it was actually worth it!

First up we have a gorgeous eyeshadow palette by Doucce, not a brand I had heard of until now. This stole my attention straightaway, a beautiful eyeshadow palette with 12 shades. 6 matte and 6 shimmers. The colours in this palette are lovely for everyday and the shimmers have little particles of glitter in, so it's the perfect palette to go from day to night. I love the fact that the pans are all removable and the casing is magnetic, so you can personalise your palette or just use the shades you need. When swatching the shades, the shimmers are what stood out to me, but that may be because I'm a bit obsessed with anything sparkly. Think like a moth to a flame. (Ew.) The matte shades were lovely colours, but not particularly pigmented. An added bonus was the large mirror in the casing. You make your £35 back on this palette alone as it is worth £50.

2. Clarins Gloss Prodige - RRP £16

This is a clear gloss that can be worn on its own or over another lipstick to make it glossy. A smooth, gel like formula, that is really comfortable to wear. Having never tried Clarins before I am actually quite impressed with this product and can definitely see myself using it over other lipsticks.

3. Pixi by Petra Brow Tamer - RRP £12

Another clear gel formula, but this time for those bushy brows. I really liked the formula of this product and am so glad I was introduced to it. It is something I probably would have never tried it, as I swear by my Benefit Clear Brow Gel. The formula somehow manages to keep your eyebrows set in place without them going hard. It contains aloe vera so actually conditions your hairs while it sets. A hit for me.

4. Lancome Advanced Genefique (5ml X 2) - RRP £10

This is one of Lancome's most popular serums for all skin types. It claims to 'reduce fine lines' and 'improve skin's radiance and clarity'. For me, this was probably the biggest let down in the box, as I feel like I can go into store and ask for a sample of this. It doesn't give me that excitement or interest that I usually get when I see the contents of a beauty box. This may have been because I have received samples of this before, when browsing in store or purchasing a mascara, for example. One good thing is at least there are two samples. So in total, you have 10ml worth of product to help you decide whether it's the serum for you.

5. The Innate Life Rose Hair Elixir - £12

The last product in the box is this lovely hair oil. Let me tell you, the smell of it is just so divine, I want to smother it all over my body. It is quite a small bottle and comes with a dropper, however this stuff is strong, so don't worry about the size. A little goes a long way, just a few drops of this leaves your hair looking shiny and less frizzy. If you read my post on my Curly Hair Saviours, you will know how much I struggle, but this gives my hair that nourishment it needs. It contains over 15 plant oils and can be used pre-styling for heat protection or rubbed into the scalp to condition the roots. I have really enjoyed using it and the fact it leaves my hair smelling of roses is a bonus!

My overall thoughts on the box is that it is definitely worth it! You are getting high end products at a great price. The value of the box is £100, even though I'm not sure I would put a price on the samples. Even considering those, 4 out of 5 great products isn't bad. I would definitely recommend!

Have you purchased the Cohorted Beauty Box before? Are you tempted to subscribe?

Amina xx

*PR Gift. All opinions are my own.