Tag Archives: lips

Skin Saviour: Lush

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17

I went through quite the phase a few years back where I was very keen on Lush products. At the time it was mainly bath products, the gorgeous bath bombs and exfoliants (Buffy Body Butter) but for some reason they slipped from my mind and it is some years since I have really used them.

This winter my skin has taken a complete battering and although I don’t understand it, as it hasn’t been all that cold, my skin is like a parched, dry, flaky dessert floor. After trying without success to slather on all my usual moisturisers, layering serums and facial oils and exfoliating I was on the verge of returning to my beloved Eve Lom, when I went in search of something to moisturise my growing bump and rediscovered Lush. I managed to find a solution to all of my dry skin trouble zones so I thought I’d share them here in case any of you find yourselves in need. Best of all, they’re all safe in pregnancy with the exception of one bath bomb

Bump and Body: King of Skin £5.50
My number one find has been this Body butter. I’ve said before that I’m lazy when it comes to skincare and putting something like Bio Oil on my bump daily simply wasn’t going to happen. This however is super fast and easy. I just glide it over my skin top to toe after washing in the shower, rinse and pat dry, with super soft and silky skin all ready for the day.

Lips: Mint Julips Lip Scrub £5.50
My lips have been so dry and with my love for lipsticks, the one thing I don’t need is flaky dry colour. This sugar scrub is brilliantly effective, fresh and minty and so full of goodness you can literally lick your lips clean afterwards.

Face: Ultrabland Cleanser £6.95
This oil packed cleanser melts in to the skin, taking off make up and dirt, then wiped away with toner, (not the way the company recommends but an excellent tip I got from the staff inshore) leaves my skin super soft and with no hint of dryness. With a lot less nasties than some cleansers and at a much better price, (a little goes a long way,) I’m very happy with this new addition to my regime.

Body: Therapy massage bar £6.50
Perfect for the end of the day if I want some additional moisture, this massage bar smooths my skin and with relaxing lavender, neroli and orange oil, it’s incredibly dream inducing.

I should say that I don’t really believe that any cream or potion will prevent stretch marks – its down to skin type, but if I can keep mine as healthy and supple as possible for a head start then I’ll try! And using something that I enjoy is likely to be 100% more effective as at least I will put it on!

So readers, if you are suffering parched skin or flaky lips, these might just solve your problems. I’d love to know if you’re a lush devotee?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Found: BITE Beauty

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7

It’s not infrequent now that I get offered something free to review for Florence Finds. What doesn’t happen often is that I actually say yes. I have quite strict mental criteria for accepting complimentary products or hotel stays for example. It has to be something that I like first and foremost, because I frankly don’t have time to spend somewhere I don’t want to be, in the case of a hotel. And secondly because I don’t have room for mountains of free but not-to-my-taste items. Secondly and of equal importance is that I have to think at least a particular group of my readers will be interested in the review. It has to be something I can see you buying, wearing or enjoying. Lastly I can’t take the ethical guilt of accepting ‘stuff’ I don’t like (and therefore won’t review) which just ends up in the bin.

When I was contacted about Bite Beauty and it was suggested I might like to try out their new range of lipsticks, exclusive to Cocosa (the online luxury discount destination for flash sales,) who have recently introduced beauty products to their range, my attention was seized immediately. (You know I love a great lip colour!) That developed into a curiosity about their claims to be antioxidant, age defying and ‘Good enough to Eat.‘

I don’t know if it has ever crossed your mind, but I once read that the average woman eats, or ingests accidentally by way of lipstick coming off on your teeth, tongue and food, 8 lipsticks per year. I don’t know if that’s true but given the unimaginable amount of chemicals I suspect goes in to the average lipstick, Bite’s claims of ‘food grade’ lipsticks made me think that they may just have something with an idea like that.

Second thought? Surely it’s a bit of a gimmick?

The parcel arrived last week. Sexy packaging? Check. Shaped ‘in four different moulds to reflect how each different Bite woman applies her lipstick’ in case you’re interested. Vibrant colours? Check. Lovely smell? Check again…

I was sent 4 products and got stuck right in with the High Pigment Pencil which I suspected might be a bit dry… it wasn’t, gliding on smoothly and giving a really nice sheen with punchy dense colour. (This is what I’m wearing in the photo’s.) Each product reportedly has the same antioxidant found in red wine and is full of fruit butters, essential oils and jojoba beads for hydration.

Next up was the Lush Lip Tint in Lychee, (the product you can see here with a central moisturising ‘core’ in the shape of a B.) Although I’m quite new to nudes, I loved this shade for work and it was beautifully moisturising.

Lastly, I ventured into the Luminous Creme Lipsticks and found once again a silky texture, great depth of colour and hydrating formulas that last. That is always my main gripe with lipstick, the trade off between lasting formulas and the drying effects that requires. No such problem here.

I loved them, freebie or not and have used them non-stop since unwrapping the package. I’ll definitely be looking to replenish my collection when they run out – no gimmicks, great texture and losing that niggling thought about those 8 lipsticks a year is only a bonus… ;)

Have you heard of Bite Beauty?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Bite Beauty made it’s UK debut online at Cocosa Beauty and is also available in select Sephora stores or at www.sephora.com internationally.

Disclaimer: Rebecca received samples of BITE products to review from Cocosa.com but if she wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, you wouldn’t be hearing about it here. This is not a sponsored post.

Bitten

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22

Winter is slowly approaching and I don’t know about you, but the can’t-make-up-its-mind weather flashing from mild to chilly with winds, the return of central heating and cosy evenings under a blanket are all playing havoc with my lips.

I am a total lip balm addict, and I say that not alluding to the rubbish brands that seem to make you want to re-apply every five minutes, but with reference to the fact that I have enough of them to keep one in every regularly occupied room of the house. I have several on the go in each handbag I’m using and apply religiously day and night. So I don’t mind considering myself something of an expert!

I thought that if I am suffering then now would be a good time to share my favourite balms and a few famous faces, then ask for your recommendations to keep your lips super soft all winter…

1. Original Chapstick. The original and the best, this isn’t just cheap and cheerful but has a slightly medicinal smell guaranteed to transport you back to childhood memories. Ideal for a quick lunchtime purchase on those days you’ve left yours at home.
2. Bobbi Brown’s Lip Balm. The Queen of base also does, in my humble opinion, the absolute best lip balm out there. apply it at bed time and not only will your lips be perfect come morning, but they will still have the balm on them, it’s that good.
3. Eve Lom Kiss Mix. For a bit of posh for your pout, this is minty fresh and another ‘super soft’ balm that I hope to find in each years Christmas stocking.
4. Lush Honey Trap lip balm. Because I love honey, it smells amazing and again, really works.
5. Burt’s Bees Honey balm – Another honey balm, in a stick this time.
6. Philosophy Kiss Me lip balm. Alos available in clear or original, this comes in tinted formulations too, smells good and has the right moisturising but non-sticky consistency.
7. Smiths Minted Rose lip balm. An iconic brand and with a gorgeous range of designs, this one gets extra style points when you have to touch up at the table.
8. Korres Lip Butter. A recent find of mine, these are lovely and moisturising but also quite densely pigmented offering some fast colour for your lips. I’ve got the corally Quince for summer and rose pink Pomegranate for winter.

You might be wondering why I haven’t included the legendary Vaseline tins but I’ve got to just come out and say it… I don’t rate it. Vaseline just slides off my lips and leaves them drier than before after I’ve slid it around all over my face and I think it belongs in the self-perpetuating camp that cause the need for ongoing reapplication. Feel free to object in the comments box though!

In case you haven’t guessed, it’s Bobbi Brown’s Lip Balm that gets Florence’s gold star for being the best I’ve ever found.

So now it’s your turn. Can you recommend any of these or have I missed something you rely on in the winter months. Drop me a comment below and share your favourite :)

Love,
Rebecca
xo