Verso Skincare - New Products

If you follow me on Instagram and watch my stories regularly, you might have noticed that I have a bit of an obsession with the Verso Lip Balm. Verso, if you have never come across the brand before are a Swedish skincare brand and the name VERSO actually translates in Latin to reverse. Most of their products within the Verso range contains Retinol 8 which is an innovative complex of Vitamin A boosting retinol that works to increase the skin's production of collagen for a plumper and smoother finish.

I originally wrote about Verso on my blog last year (here) and during that time, I have continued to get to know it as a brand as more products have been released.  To add to the products I have been using are these: 

One item that is always in any skincare routine of mine is a serum and this Hydrating Serum (£79) is just beautiful. Verso’s founder, Lars Fredriksson, advocates that keeping your skin really hydrated is the best basis for defying signs of ageing and to prove his point, this serum which has a unique formula made up with a mixture of oat lipids and oils. Derived from the Nordic countries, these ingredients are to because they ward off the development of skin problems and irritation caused by dryness. So you will find Niacinamide included in this serum and it helps to strengthen the skins barrier as well as helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores.  Alongside this, ceramides, vitamin E and skin-identical fatty acids have an efficient antioxidant effect, defending skin from harmful environmental factors.

As well as keeping my skin really hydrated, I love how light the texture of this gel-like serum is, it glides onto the skin, isn't sticky or tacky when massaged in it leaves my skin silky soft to the touch.

One product I couldn't wait to try was the Verso Antioxidant Turmeric Booster (£79). Described as being a powerful facial serum which offers both immediate and long-term antioxidant effects, thanks to the power of turmeric and vitamin E, it intrigued due to the addition of Turmeric, an ingredient some work colleagues swear by for fixing a whole host of ailments. In the case of this serum, Turmeric works to protect the skin against UV radiation and decreases inflammation. Then we have vitamin E which works to block damaging free radicals from the skin’s surface whilst simultaneously improving the skin’s hydration capacity with help from tiny microalgae.  Again the inclusion of Oat lipids and oils from the Nordic countries is found within this Booster to provide further hydration and to help repair the skin.

The texture of this Booster is a light gel serum, it doesn't have a scent to it but on the skin, I have found to be incredibly soothing, particularly with the bitterly cold weather spell we have just had.  As I have combination skin, one issue I am constantly trying to tackle is dryness on my cheeks which often leaves them a little red, so I am hoping this is the product to help with that.

I am a huge hand cream fan, I go through tubes of it and if there is a product to champion right now for me it is the Verso Hand Serum (£50).  Described as being a 'supercharged treatment' it works to correct and protect using a retinol-rich formula and  UV filters to deflect the damage caused by daily sun exposure.

Using Verso's patented Retinol 8 Complex, this hand serum is incredibly rich, nourishing and alongside the Retinol 8 is Vitamin A which is said to have a dramatic impact on texture and tone – reversing signs of ageing by encouraging the creation of collagen and plumping hyaluronic acid. Again, we are told that by encouraging cells to mimic the behaviour of younger skin, Hand Serum works to help diminish the appearance of crêpey-ness and wrinkles, and with sustained use, will prompt a visible reduction in dark spots and scars.  I love how lightweight the serum is and how you literally only need a small amount to ensure your hands are covered and as advised, I use mine at least twice a day, usually first thing in a morning and definitely last thing at night before bedtime.  If my hands feel like they really need something extra, then I will use this more often, the joy of working in an office means I am constantly tapping away on my keyboard, dealing with paper and ink, all of which dry my hands out.

If you hadn't guess by now, I am incredibly impressed with Verso and am really enjoying getting to know it as a brand and finding out what works for me and my skin.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Cult Beauty Brand of the Month

One website that I spend a lot of time searching through for new products, new arrivals and gifts is Cult Beauty. They of course stock some of my favourite brands such as Touch In Sol. What I really like is that every single month they have a ‘Brand of the Month‘ and during that month they will focus and promote that brand. For March, the brand is Anastasia Beverly Hills which happens to be a brand I have never tried a single product from, it is a brand which is always featured across my social media and one which is raved about my some of my favourite bloggers. As well as promoting the brand, Cult Beauty are also offering free worldwide shipping on all Anastasia Beverly Hills products which are stocked on the site and having taken the time to see what is on offer, I have come up with a list of products I really like the look and sound of.

I think Anastasia Beverly Hills is perhaps most popular for the DipBrow Pomade or the Modern Renaissance palette, both of which feature heavily on my Instagram feed. For me, right now I am quite obsessed with stick foundations and have a growing collection, so naturally I really want to try the Anastasia Beverly Hills Foundation Stick which I haven't read or seen anything about. Impressively there are 30 different shades to choose from and described as being highly pigmented and buildable, the stick can be used all over the face to create the perfect matte base or it can be used as concealer or for on-the-go touch ups. It is also said that when used with moisturiser, it can be made into lighter, sheer coverage product too. It is priced at £25 and can be found here.

Next up we have highlighters, another growing obsession that I have.  The Amrezy Highlighter is on of the most stunning highlighters ive seen in quite some time and I am seeing it more and more on my social feed.  For this product Anastasia Beverly Hills has collaborated with Beauty Influencer Amrezy to create this golden champagne shade of highlighter. Priced at £29 here.  Highlighter number two is quite different to Amrezy in that it is in a plastic tube.  Liquid Glow Highlighter, which is available in four shades (white gold Perla, opal Oyster, amber gold Peach Fizz and copper cocoa Bronzed) is described as being a weightless liquid which can be used on the face and body.  I like the idea of using a highlighter in a squeezy tube and this one can be found here for £26.

When it comes to lipsticks, I love them whether they are Sheen, Sheer, Mini, Matte, Liquid or uber shiny, they are the thing I love the most when it comes to makeup.  When I saw the Mini Matte Lipstick Collection it stood right out to me.  I love that there are four shades within one box and I love that the colours are ones I would use because they are described as being a mixture of classic, flattering and feminine nudes includes bright ‘Soft Pink’, rosy nude ‘Kiss’, dusky pink-mauve ‘Dead Roses’ and golden deep rose ‘Spice’.  The set is priced at just £22 and can be found here.

Finally, whilst everyone is cooing over the beautiful eyeshadow palettes, and they really are just stunning, I like the idea of picking my own shades and creating my own palette.  Anastasia Beverly Hills has an incredible collection of 49 individual eyeshadows which give you the opportunity to create your own palette and shades I adore include Metal, Ballet, Amber, Suede and Warm Taupe.  So whether you want a plush matte, glimmering glitter, hypnotic duo-chrome, metallic, satin or even a shimmer finish then there is something for everyone within this collection. Priced at £12 per eyeshadow, you can see the entire collection right here.

I would love to know which Anastasia Beverly Hills product you cannot recommend enough and whether or not any of these catch your eye!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Makeup Revolution Renaissance Lipliners

One item of makeup I never seem to purchase are lip liners, they just don't do it for me, I have never really felt that I needed to buy any and until now, my entire lip liner collection totalled three, it is now five and as I am reliably informed that lip liners are making a come back, you might see more of them featured on my blog.

The new Renaissance Lipliners from Makeup Revolution is something that is very much talked about on my social media with people raving about how good they are and as they are priced at just £2.50, I thought it was time to give them a try and ordered some as soon as they became available.   Impressively there are 10 shades to choose from and each one is paired perfectly with the Revolution Renaissance Lipsticks, which I also ordered and will feature them in a few days time, the shades you can choose from for the liners are

• Greatest - soft pink
• Chauffer - soft nude pink
• Prime - warm brown pink
• Untouched - warm burnished red
• Classic - classic cool red
• Glory - mid brown
• Vow - warm tan nude
• Exempt - deep plum
• Lifelong - red pink
• Takeover - soft mauve

I decided to purchase Takeover and Chauffeur which are the shades of lipstick I usually opt for and they also work well with the lipsticks I have from Makeup Revolution.

I am really impressed with how these lip liners look, they have an almost rose gold body of the pencil and then the bottom and lid mimic the shade of the liner.  The lip liner itself is really smooth when you apply it and there is no dragging or scratching feeling either. Instead, these liners are really pigmented and work just as well alone as they do with your lipstick, gloss and balms and they do help to stop smudging and feathering and they equally last an incredible amount of time.  The swatch below is unedited and you seem then just as they are.

I admittedly expected these lipliners to be alright, maybe even okay, what I wasn't expecting was for them to be rivalling my high end branded liners and all for just £2.50 and I have since ordered Prime and Exempt to add to my collection.

Have you tried these Lip liners from Makeup Revolution?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

March Glossybox

The month of March means Spring is on the horizon and hoping we have seen the last of the snow, wind and rain and in its place will be that yellow ball of loveliness in its place.  Whilst we all wait for our dose of Vitamin D, the lovely people over at Glossybox have curated a box of products which are designed to refresh and revive with five products.

The featured product of the month comes from Mudmasky, a brand I have never come across until now but it is one which hails from one of my favourite cities - Amsterdam. The Sleep Repair Renewal Mask is described as being something which repairs, protects and nourishes skin while keeping your skin perfectly balanced at night. Using only fresh, raw, all natural ingredients this mask is scented with natural rose water which has been imported from a small village in Persia and this also helps to induce a more restful sleep after a long day.  

When it comes to using this product, it is a gel-like textured cream which isn't too thick, you simply apply a thin layer to your skin after cleansing and then leave it on overnight and wash off with warm water. This is a 20ml sample size but has a value of around £20 (a full 60ml size retails for £61).

Next, we have Laura Geller, a brand I am sure most of you will be familiar with. The product is an Illuminating stick in shade Ballerina.  For me, one thing I like about the Laura Geller brand is the highlighters, but I had no idea there was a stick version. Ballerina is described as being rose gold toned, so it is quite on trend with other brands right now and I like how creamy this feels on the skin and the fact you can apply it directly to your cheekbones, brows or even collarbone and then blend with your fingers to get the look you want.  

If Ballerina doesn't sound like it is the shade for you, then there is also Gilded Honey which is a warm, pale honey-toned gold and Ethereal which is described as being the perfect pearl-pink blush-meets-highlight. This is a full sized product and it has an RRP £21.

The third product within my box comes from Figs & Rouge, again a brand I know very little about. Soft Focus Pore Perfect HD+ is described as being a weightless, matte Serum which helps minimise the appearance of pores and create a sheer complexion. It features which is referred to as being a duo-Action Anti-Blemish formulation and this not only helps to reduce skin impurities but it also to combat breakouts. The HD+ Complex helps to diminish shine as well as helping to fade imperfections and promote a clearer balanced complexion. 

At £34.99 for 30ml it is quite pricey and it promised quite a lot, so I decided to give it a try on one of my busiest working days which saw me do a 12-hour shift and then go on to an event afterwards which meant a 15 hour day of wearing this product.  Having a slight hint of pink to the serum, it applies like an absolute dream, you only need a small amount and I was quite taken with just how much it helps to not only diminish that shine but also keep the shine at bay, it does help to minimise the look of pores but obviously it doesn't get rid of them because we all know that isn't ever going to happen.  My liquid foundation also applied like a dream and having tried this product just a few times, I am debating buying a back up because I like it this much.

Next is Oryza, another brand I have never come across and in my box, I have shade Velvet Ribbon which is described as being a warm nude which has a weightless, semi-matte yet satin finish. 

I wasn't too sure I would like this lipstick from the description but because it has peachy pink undertones it isn't too orange or brown, it is a nice nude shade, the swatch you can see above is unedited.  Hydrating because it contains natural ingredients which include rice germ oil, shea butter, papaya fruit extract and vitamin E hydrating complex.  This is a full sized product with an RRP £15.95.

The final item in my box is Lue by Jean Seo and another brand I have never come across until now. An American based brand, Jean Seo has created a capsule style skincare regime which has just three steps and Step 1 is called Erase and it is the product in my box. 

Described as being a cleansing, exfoliating & brightening powder. This pH balanced gommage works to clear the complexion, balance the skin and leave it not only feeling radiant but smooth too. It is made with non-fat milk powder, finely milled whole grain oats, and a touch of magnesium carbonate and to use it you need to mix a tablespoon of Erase with half a tablespoon of water to form a paste and then you apply that paste to your face and leave it on for around a minute to let it almost dry and then gently massage the product off your face and as it peels away, it should bring with it any bit of detritus which is hanging around on the skin - even blackheads!  This is a full sized product and it has an RRP £11.

Incredibly this box has a value of over £100 and for me, it is one of the best Glossyboxes I have ever had.  I love that I know pretty much nothing about the contents or the brands included and this is why I love beauty boxes.  I love being introduced to new things, there is always a chance I might not like something but equally, there is always a chance that I will love something - Figs & Rouge from this box being the prime example.   I would love to know what you think to this box?

If you do like the sound of this box then you can enter code: GLOSSY at checkout to get 20% off your one-month subscription. Expires: 31/03

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here