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.

Hey guys,

Recently I have been loving my base and thought I would share with you what I have been using to create it. (Cue "All about that base" by Meghan Trainor). I am all about the flawless finish to my skin when applying make-up and love for it to look it's best all of the time. I think that might be where my  skin care obsession comes from and, needless to say flawless skin leads to flawless make-up application. I was recently sent a few products by Image Skincare, a brand that was new to me, but I am so glad to have been introduced to them, as their products have upped my skin game. More about them in a little while.

So, to start with, I would recommend a good skincare routine prior to foundation application (see my post here for details).  I cleanse my skin with DHC Cleansing Oil, apply Pixi Glow Tonic as my toner, and have then been using a trio of Bio-essence products. I start with their 24k Gold Water, followed by the 24K moisturiser and then finish off with the 24k Miracle Finisher, I have a whole blog post about this miracle primer here.

If you are looking for that extra glow to your skin I recommend using a sheet mask either the night before or a few hours before make-up application. If you watch my Instagram stories (@aminaali_mua) you will have seen I was blown away by the Image Skincare Bio-molecular Anti-ageing Radiance Mask (£9). It rejuvenated my skin. It contains volcanic water, red algae and anti-oxidants, all of which help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and also work to brighten the skin. I felt like it had literally reset my skin and left it feeling brighter, plumper and even.

Image skincare are the 'fastest growing skincare company in the world'. From what I can see so far this is totally understandable, as I saw results after one use of their mask. I was also sent their foundation, which is another stand out product. The I-conceal Flawless Foundation SPF 30 (£50) is a medium-to-high coverage foundation with a dewy finish. Perfect for the likes of me, who likes to glow! If you have oily skin I would recommend a matte primer. The smoothness of the foundation is lovely and leaves your skin looking silky - almost like a second skin, and the texture is just how I like it. It is more than just a foundation and has a whole host of skincare inside which continues to work on your skin all day. The only down side to the foundation is the lack of shade range. It comes in six colours, however I found the shade I'm wearing (Beige) slightly too light on me and the next shade up would have been too dark. I would love to see some more added to the range, as it grows in popularity, as I could see it as a staple in my kit. The great thing is, I feel like I've finally found that medium-to-high coverage foundation that doesn't leave my face looking cakey. 

I applied it using the Image Skincare 101 Flawless Foundation Brush (£38). This was a brush I knew I would like a soon as I set eyes on it. The perfect density, softness and fantastic shape makes it ideal for foundation application. The brush is angled so meets the skin at exactly the right angle and is so comfortable to hold. I started off by dabbing the product evenly across the skin and smoothing it out and then finally used a patting motion to really set it into the skin. I didn't use powder, as I wanted to demonstrate the true effect of the foundation (see below), however I would usually set with MAC Mineralise Skin Finish and then a fix spray like MAC Prep & Prime.






So that's it guys. I am totally obsessed with my base at the moment and this is how I achieve the perfect one. You can purchase the Bio-essence products  from Superdrug and they currently have 1/3 off! Image Skincare is a professional skincare brand, so you can only buy from stockists. To find your nearest stockist call 0345 504 0461 or email info_uk@imageskincare.com. What are your base must haves?

Amina xx


*PR gifts. All opinions are my own.