You Beauty Box - July

The July Edition of my You Beauty Box has arrived and this month the theme is 'Come Fly With Me' and there was a great list of products to choose from to create your box. The list of products to choose from forms a collection of beauty must-haves, all perfect for holidays!

This month there is one treat within the box and again it is quite disappointing. The reason I love beauty boxes is to try new products and become reacquainted with some I might have forgotten about or absolutely love.  This month there is one sachet - yes just the one and it is OMS - Sublime Enzyme – Exfoliate & Resurface Mask. Admittedly it isn't a brand I have come across before and there is seemingly more information than product and it claims that you only need one application to notice a remarkable difference in your skin.  So the mask is described as being a "unique, natural, enzyme formula dissolves the protein bond between dead and new skin cells, delivering outstanding, immediate results.

OMS uses no harsh acids, abrasives or micro beads, which can burn or scratch the skin surface and may lead to premature ageing". It uses Cacti Enzyme, Wheat Grass Extract, Moringa Oil, Chamomile and concentrated vitamins, all which have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Simple Kind To Skin Micellar Cleansing Water (200ml). I like Simple skincare, it is great when you just want to go back to basics and it is a brand I tend to use in between testing products on my skin. 

This is a unique Triple-Purified Micellar Water formulation and it is enriched with multi-vitamins and skin loving ingredients which are designed to give the most effective cleanse whilst leaving your skin feeling hydrated. It actively works to attract and remove make-up and impurities whilst helping to unclog pores supporting skin to breathe. This product costs less than £5 right HERE.

Physicool Pink Handbag containing Cooling Mist - So admittedly I chose this option because of the packaging, I was intrigued as to what was inside and how it worked. Pretty much as the description states, this is a cooling which, as soon as it hits the skin it begins to evaporate, drawing out the heat immediately and evaporating it away. 

It is claimed that using this mist results in an instant cooling effect and also helps to alleviate redness, heat and night sweats. I have used this a few times and it doesn’t leave any sticky residue on the skin after applying and it does leave you feeling refreshed. On a hot Summers Day, for me a refreshing cooling mist is a must!

Salon Science Aqua Cacteen Hydrasoothe™ Cooling Spray (150ml) - This is a cooling spray with a difference, it isn't for your skin, it is for your scalp. In the hot sunshine, my scalp can become really dehydrated, much like any other part of my body, the difference being that I moisturise my body more than my scalp, so this product appealed to me. 

Described as being "An ultra-hydrating cooling spray to provide instant relief to dehydrated scalps, boosting hair hydration levels" it is really simple to use. You simply section your hair and Spritz the Hydrasoothe™ Cooling Spray from root to tip to rehydrate hair and to soothe the scalp. It contains the ultra-refined elixir of both AquaCacteen Organic Cactus which are said to help shield the hair and scalp against environmental stress and help prevent further irritation. Add to that is the addition of the soothing and moisturising actives such as Aloe and Panthenol to help refresh and provide instant relief to a tight, dehydrated scalp and instant hydration to dry hair.  If you like the sound of this, then you can find it HERE for just £10. 

So despite this months treat being a real let down, I do have three amazing brands with amazing products that I have wanted to try and now am and have.  The You Beauty Box is one of the best around and for just £8.95 which includes P&P.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Verso Skincare

I absolutely love discovering new brands and my current obsession is Verso. If you have never come across Verso before, they are a Swedish skincare brand and VERSO is actually translates in Latin to reverse which I think is quite clever. Most of their products within the Verso range contains Retinol 8 which increases the production of collagen and effectively reverses visible signs of ageing.

So a few weeks ago I went along to an event at which, the fabulous Nikki not only introduced us to the brand and told us all about it and we got to do a master featuring the entire range. Now this idea is quite simple but equally incredible. As much as I love receiving new skincare, on quite a few occasions I am never too sure that I am using it right or am using it to ensure I get the maximum benefits possible.  Now sometimes I will email the company/PR to ask questions just to make sure and other times I will Google to see what comes up. So with the Verso range and with Nikki, we all got some understanding of how it works and in what order to use it and here are my favourite products.

Verso Foaming Cleanser (£32) - We all know that good skincare needs a good cleanser and this one is not only gentle but it is also non-drying. Designed to eradicate makeup, dirt, grime and any other impurities that might be lurking on the surface. You only need a small amount of this cleanser to massage over dampened skin, admittedly getting the cleanser to foam is quite the task and it is slow to lather (I cheat and use my DHC mesh) it does leave your skin feeling incredibly skin, it isn't drying and it doesn't strip the skin.

The Foaming Cleanser is one of the products that does not contain the patented ‘Retinol 8 Complex’ and this is a unique Vitamin A derivative (with eight times the potency of typical Retinol in the same dosage), together with polyphenol extracts – that works to smooth the appearance of wrinkles, strengthen the skin barrier, reduce pigmentation and supply the skin with more much-needed energy and oxygen to refine and illuminate without irritating - in a nutshell.  Retinol 8 Complex does feature in the next few products I am sharing with you.

Next comes the Verso Face Oil and it does have a hefty price tag at £150 but my view is that if it works and you are happy with it, then the money doesn't matter (that is my justification anyway).

Now the oil is an age-reversing dry-oil spray and it is formulated with VERSO’s exclusive Retinol 8 Complex which is eight times more effective than non-prescription vitamin A in the same dosage as mentioned already. What I loved as soon as I tried this oil is not only how incredibly lightweight it is but just how quickly my skin drinks it up and absorbs it into the skin. I am yet to really notice any fine lines or wrinkles so but this oil is said to diminish the visibility of wrinkles, strengthen the skins barrier, reduce pigmentation and supply cells with more, much-needed ‘fuel’ and oxygen to help them behave like younger versions of themselves and that description alone would make me purchase it anyway.

I never go without an eye cream or serum and I am currently using this Verso Super Eye Serum (£75), one of the brands bestsellers. It is said that very few eye products contain such a high concentration of wrinkle and sun-damage-busting retinol because it's usually super irritating, but not so with this product and not at all so far with the products that I have tried from the range.

Again, formulated with that all exclusive Retinol 8 Complex, this eye serum is ideal for firming, smoothing and plumping out creases in the delicate eye area such as crow’s feet, creases as well as dark circles and eye bags. There is also a cocktail of amino acids work to counteract puffiness, which for me is one of my main eye issues. I have a stressful job (blogging is a hobby) and I work long hours, sometimes the days are in a blur because I can be incredibly busy, so sleep is a luxury that I am sometimes not fortunate to get enough of, so I like my eye products and whilst I have only used this for a few weeks, I have noticed how effective it is on the eye bags.

I am also a lip balm addict and I have a new favourite, sorry Dr Lipp but you have been replaced by Verso Lip. Within the Verso’s Lip Serum (£55) you will again find the ‘Retinol 8’ complex and the product is described as being a must for those whose lips are starting to lose youthful plumpness, as well as those with a heavily lined lip contour (this is a must for smokers!).

For me lips are important and are one of the facial features that I look at the most. I would hate to think that mine were dry, crusty and flaking at any given moment, which is why I exfoliate regularly. The Verso Lip Serum is incredibly nourishing and using the supercharged levels of vitamin A are said to have a dramatic impact on skin tone and texture by encouraging the creation of collagen and plumping hyaluronic acid. By encouraging the cells to mimic the behaviour of younger skin, Lip Serum dramatically diminishes the depth of wrinkles – even stubborn, deep-set creases – and with sustained use and lips therefore become smoother, more supple and voluminous. Again, I have no wrinkles or lines around my lips and no deep set creases but I do use a lot of balm to keep my lips supple, soft and smooth.

The final product is the Verso Reviving Eye Mask (£45 per 3 pack) which is described as being "A quick-fix solution for the sleep-deprived". The masks have been developed to help fortify that fragile fabric of the skin around the eyes and doing so without irritation or aggravation.

The Hydrogel patches do contain the signature Retinol 8 Complex alongside hyaluronic acid, brightening grapefruit extract and strengthening ceramide-3. The eye mask is said to kick-start cellular regeneration whilst at the same time enhancing moisture levels which helps to diminish depth of crow’s feet and promote a youthful, well-slept look in minutes.

I also have a set of three (£14) Verso Exfoliating Cloths.  These cloths are super-soft skin-polishing muslins, which are perfect for use with their Foaming Cleanser, to gently refine your skin’s texture and they come packaged inside this handy plastic pouch making them perfect for travelling.

Have you tried anything from the Verso range and does anything capture your attention?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise