LookFantastic Beauty Advent Calendar 2019 Review

It’s pretty obvious to anyone who reads my blog that I am quite obsessed with Beauty Advent Calendars and this year there are some amazing ones that you can still get your hands on - yes some of them have sold out!

The latest Advent to have me swooning is the Look Fantastic 2019 Advent Calendar which is not only beautiful to look at but is great value for money too. Inside the calendar, the value of the products is £420 with a price tag of £79 which is a massive saving of over £341! Better still, I love that this calendar doesn’t have odd products in it - think pencil sharpeners, nail files and sachets, instead it is 25 days of beauty.

This calendar comes housed in a very sturdy cardboard setting which is detailed with beautiful midnight blue and gold colourings. It opens to reveal all the drawers for 2019 and once you have opened everything up, it could very easily be re-used to either store your beauty products or even gift to a loved one the following year as an advent calendar you have created!

Lookfantastic has a huge range of products on their website and if you want to branch out and try new brands, then an advent calendar is a good place to start! If you don’t want to know what is hiding behind the doors of this advent then stop reading now but before you stop, you can grab this calendar right here, but be quick before it sells out!

Even though I am revealing the contents, I’ve decided not to share them day by day to totally ruin the surprise. Instead, they appear in no particular order but will all be found inside:

Contents

• Morphe 9A Palette (Full size)
• Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara (sample size)
• Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist (deluxe sample size)
• Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment (deluxe sample size 30ml)
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (deluxe sample size 30ml)
• Philip Kingsley Elasticizer (deluxe sample size 40ml)
• Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner (deluxe sample size 50ml)
• Luxie 121 and 141 brushes (full size)
• Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel (deluxe sample size 35ml)
• Illamasqua Nude Collection Lip Liner in the shade Raw (full size)
• Rituals The Ritual Of Ayurveda Dry Oil (deluxe sample size 50ml)
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (20)
• Avant Skincare Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment (full size)
• Rodial Dragon's Blood Lip Mask (1 mask)
• Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel (deluxe sample size)
• Prai Throat & Decolletage Crème (sample size 15ml)
• Lord & Berry black eyeliner (full size)
• Mellow Cosmetics Liquid Lip Paint in the shade Tehran (full size)
• Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream (sample size)
• Delilah Cosmetics Brow Pencil (full size)
• Bubble T Limited Edition Bath Bomb (full size)
• Filorga Meso-Mask (sample size)
• Sleek Makeup Highlighting Palette - Solstice (full size)
• Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Hand Cream (full size)
• BioEffect EGF Serum (deluxe sample size)

I love that some of my favourite brands are in this calendar such as Emma Hardie and Omorovicza, whom I constantly rave about on my blog.  This Calendar, has something for absolutely everyone and I would love to know if anything catches your eye?

PRICE

£79 with contents worth over £420

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

Digestive Health & Your Skin

We all know the old adage “you are what you eat”. While some people may swear by it when it comes to having a healthy diet or trying to lose weight, how often do you think about what you’re eating and go “Oh, I know how this will impact my skin”?

To say your digestive system plays a significant role in how your skin looks and feels would be a giant understatement. While a good skin routine on the outside can help you moisturise and exfoliate to your heart’s content, what goes on inside can affect everything from eczema to spots in unwanted areas. Brands such as Nature's Happiness take into account different lifestyles, goals and rely on clinical research for their supplements, backed my science and a board of leading scientists, doctors and experts in nutrition.

 Photo by Imani on Unsplash

In this short post, we’ll be looking at some of the effects digestive health has on your skin and ways in which you can improve it without it seeming like a big deal. Before you know it you could be feeling fantastic on the inside and out. And it all starts with one incredibly simple thing: water.

Your digestive system LOVES water

Ever see those Instagram posts of celebs holding oversized water bottles and wonder to yourself “do you really need to have water ALL the time?” Well, you don’t, but it helps to know the relationship between h2o and how to glow.

As the NHS website points out, water encourages the passage of waste and helps break down nutrients much better. Your skin loves Vitamin D, and there are only certain foods that have a good level of it, like shrimp, tuna, and other seafood. Mushrooms are the best for vegetarians, though a lot of people really don't like the taste or texture of them, wholesale mushroom capsules or vegan supplements can be a good alternative.

 

Think of it like having oil your car to help it run smoothly.

You should know if you have a healthy gut

Pop quiz: how healthy is your digestive system?

Answer: you probably don’t know, but that doesn’t need to become a problem. You can actually go and get it checked out by a GP, consultant or private clinic. In the UK, clinics like OneWelback specialise in digestive health and help anyone know if their guts have underlying medical issues that could go unnoticed.

Examples would include IBS, celiac disease and Chron’s, with the latter supposedly affecting over 150,000 people in the UK.

Your digestive system is unforgiving

If you’re prone to being lazy and having ready meals or snacking on foods with saturated fats, your digestive system is going to process them thinking you need them and send them on their way. You tell your stomach it’s in for a hard time, and it’s going to repay you with spots and oily breakouts.

Your gut biome does a lot of juggling, and it’s believed that giving it a bad time can affect overall health. So while a packet of crisps might not be so bad, a diet that’s not in balance will put the gut under strain that can equate to bad skin.

In much the same way that I mentioned how someone might want to get their digestive health check out, if you’re someone who is prone to spots of outbreaks at random times, you might wish to play about with your current diet to see if a particular food acts as a trigger.

Now it isn’t fatty foods that cause problems. You might be surprised to know that some of these foods can trigger the growth of spots:

• Milk
• Bread
• Sugary drinks
• White Rice

All of the above are categorised as high glycaemic foods that when eaten, can cause elevated hormones. This, in turn, will send the signals that your body should increase oil activity on the skin and hey presto you have a whitehead popping up on your face.

It’s crazy how it all links together, but when you can home in on foods that might be giving your skin a hard time, you quickly be able to adapt and see changes.

Looking for some healthy skin inspiration in the lead up to Christmas?

Take a look at this updated guide to this year’s best beauty advent calendars, featuring brands like Your Beauty, Grazia, Debenhams and Cult Beauty.

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

The GLOSSYBOX x Bella Beauty Box 2019

Glossybox has teamed up with Bella Magazine to bring you an exclusive Limited Edition box and not only is it bright pink and looks amazing but it worth over £55, you can grab your box for only £15!

Described as being 'Perfect for fast-moving, busy women', the collaborative box is filled with quick-fix, multi-purpose products that will have you looking flawless in minutes. 

Inside you will find skin goodies, full-sized makeup treats and hair essentials all of which are suitable for everyone and are great for anyone who is constantly on the go, running late or simply just never finds the time.

I was really surprised to find such a lovely mixture of products within this box if I am honest, for just £15 I wasn't expecting to find the likes of Pixi Beauty or This Works.

The first product to catch my eye was Air Dry Cream Lite by Lee Stafford.  Not a product I have come across or used before but it is said to be perfect for busy women who want a blow-dried look without the time-consuming hassle of actually blowing-dry their locks, well that definitely ticks a box for me. This lightweight moisturising hair cream adds texture and lift to your tresses without requiring any heat. After washing and towel-drying your hair, dispense a brazil nut-sized amount into the palm of your hands and apply it from mid-lengths to ends. Then, style your hair as desired and leave it to dry naturally. You’ll be left with soft, moisturised and salon-worthy tresses!

Keeping with hair products and next is Batiste.  Now I have a love-hate relationship with this brand, it does such a good job at removing oils, especially for someone like me who has greasy roots, but I do find that it does irritate my scalp.  This particular product is the Batiste Dry Shampoo & De-Frizz, so not only is it ideal for what is referred too as second-day hair that needs a quick spruce, but this dry shampoo also smooths out frizz and tames fly-away. It has a blend of soothing coconut, green apple, melon and grapefruit makes your tresses feel soft and smell luscious.

The third item in the box is the NIP+FAB Glycolic Scrub Fix. Described as being a face exfoliator with 3% Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acids and fine-grains which work to refine, brighten and renew skin. NIP+FAB Glycolic Scrub Fix is said to work deep into your pores to cleanse, purify and tighten whilst preventing blemishes. With a fresh grapefruit scent, it does smell lovely and is one of those morning products to kick you awake.

A brand I got to know through beauty boxes and magazine freebies is Eyeko, more for the mascara than the product included within this box, the Eyeko FAT Liquid Liner.  Described as being an easy-to-handle chubby pen, it delivers big, bold lines with long-lasting carbon-black colour. Our blackest black glides on and stays on for a smudge-proof finish with conditioning algae extract.

Another brand that I got to know through Glossybox is This Works and in particular, the product included within this box which is the In Transit Camera Close-Up.  Described as being a handbag-sized gem that evens, plumps and brightens your skin, this product is a mask, moisturiser and a primer all in one and contains a powerful blend of repairing plant oils as well as a boost of caffeine to erase signs of fatigue and make your skin look radiant.

Finally, we have one of my absolute favourites from Pixi by Petra and that is the Fresh Face Blush in shade Beach Rose.  I am more of a bronzer fan than a blush fan but there is something about this shade that I adore. The powder is silky soft on the skin and it has a  natural mineral formula is infused with vitamin E and mica, so skin is treated as you wear it. It is also hydrating, long-wearing and light-diffusing and the colour on my skin is really natural.

This is a great box for just £15 and it would make a great stocking filler present for a loved one, Secret Santa, friend or even a treat for yourself.  There is a really nice mixture of contents from brands and it can be snapped up here.

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

Bath and Bodyworks Stress-Relief Collection

Stress is part of life, it is something we all have to deal with at some point in time and for some, it is a daily occurrence, for others it is an every now and again. People have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else.  For me, stress heads right to my shoulders and sits there like really painfully and if it is on-going my sleep pattern is disrupted more than it currently is and I am known to suffer from stress-eczema, so I try and do absolutely anything and everything I can.

I love hot baths, bubbles, essential oils, candles, masks for everything and of course a gin & tonic whilst shutting myself away from the world for at least an hour a week. That means no phone bleeping every two seconds, no-one ringing me... the occasional meow at the door because the kitty wants to see what I am doing and where I am, but we will forgive that for now.  What I have absolutely loved trying for a few months now comes from Bath and Body Works, a brand we don't have a store for in the UK right now, though we did use to have them many moons ago, from the Stress Relief Collection.

I have the Stress Relief Candles, Body Wash & Bath form as well as the Body Lotion. The whole range also comprises of a body scrub, a pillow mist, a bath soak, a bath bomb and so much more. They come as part of the aromatherapy range which has 4-5 different collections such as  - Relax, Focus, Comfort and Sleep but it was Stress Relief which stood out to me with its Eucalyptus and Spearmint fragrance.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil clears the mind. Spearmint Essential Oil soothes & uplifts.

For me, when I am stressed, I want products that are soothing, that help me relax and wind down and often that isn't something citrusy and uplifting if anything it can make me feel worse, so I opt for soothing scents and oils and this is partly why I am so interested in ingredients and essentials, I want to know what they do, why they do it and then work out which works best for me.

I am a huge fan of candles and as soon as I saw there was a Stress Relief Candle, I stocked up and now have four of them.  Bath and Body Works state that this is the Perfect 3-Wick Candle! It is made using the highest concentration of fragrance oils, an exclusive blend of soy-based wax and wicks that won't burn out.  What I love about BBW candles is that the wax melts evenly and as it does so, it allows the fragrance to travel the entirety of my flat and fill every room.  

All BBW candles come with a decorative lid, which because they are made of metal, double up as a coaster to ensure your worktop or sideboards are not burnt. This candle burns for approximately 25 - 45 hours, depending on how often you use it.

The second product within my collection is the Stress Relief Body Wash and Bath Foam.  I love that this doubles up to be used in a bath or a shower.  Described as being a fast-foaming body wash it is infused with soothing skin conditioners aloe & bamboo extract as well as an aromatherapy blend of essential oils & natural ingredients.  When it is used as a body wash the scent comes to life whilst you are under the shower and if like me you prefer the water to be on the warmer side of things, it literally helps clear any cobwebs from the mind.  In the bath, you only need one or two pumps and you have bubbles a-plenty and the same incredible scent. 

One product I rarely use is a body lotion, I am lazy if it comes with a spray I use it, if I have to stick my hands in it, the chances are I won't.  However, I really wanted to try the Stress Relief Body Lotion which is described as being an ultra-creamy, fast-absorbing body lotion with nourishing shea butter & Vitamin E. It is formulated to give your skin long-lasting moisture.  As with the Body Wash and Bath Foam, this too uses an aromatherapy blend of natural ingredients and essential oils which benefits body, mind and most definitely your mood.

Sleep for me comes and goes, if you follow me on Instagram or every watch my stories, you will probably notice that I am awake in the dead of the night, so anything I can do to aid sleep, I am doing it.

The Stress Relief Pillow Mist is a product I absolutely love, it not only makes your bed linen smell absolutely amazing but it is a wonderful product for bringing about calmness, especially if you are agitated or as my Nan would say "got ants in your pants" and you just cannot relax. 

A fairly new product for me to try is the Pocketbac Hand Sanitiser, but as it is the season of colds, flu and general illnesses, I thought now would be a good time to give it a try and as luck would have it, they had one within the Stress Relief range.

Said to kill 99% of germs, this hand sanitiser is incredibly pocket-friendly and again, the scent is exactly the same as every other product mentioned so far, but for me, the spearmint is just slightly more potent within this gel than it has been in anything else and it is really refreshing to use.  Whether or not it protects against germs remains to be seen, but I am using it!

I go through tube upon tube of hand cream and until now, I had never tried one from Bath and Body Works, so I have the Stress Relief Hand Cream sitting on my desk.

Alongside the Eucalyptus and Spearmint Essential Oils, this hand cream also uses shea butter and vitamin E which not only absorb quickly into the skin, but they also leave your hands feeling soft, smooth and nourished plus that minty scent is again quite noticeable and really uplifting. 

The final item within my little Stress Relief collection is the Bath Salts.  Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know that I am a huge fan of bath salts and think they are totally underrated and people should use more of them.

From Bath and Body Works these slats are said to help relieve stress after a long day and honestly, they do just that. I am yet to find a bath salt that does absolutely nothing for me and I have tried a lot. With these salts, the advice is to lie back and soak in the healing properties of these therapeutic bath salts which use purifying sea salt and a blend of essential oils, those oils being Eucalyptus Essential Oil which helps to clear the mind and Spearmint Essential Oil which soothes and uplifts.

Where can you get Bath and Body Works Products in the UK?

As you can see, this is quite an incredible aromatherapy range from Bath and Body Works and it is one I am just absolutely loving. Having tried quite a lot of the range, I really do want to try the Sugar Scrub, Bath Milk and the Bath Fizzer to pretty much complete the collection!

A few people have already asked where I get my Bath and Body Works products from and the answer is Facebook groups.  There are two groups that I use to be on the lookout for products from Bath and Body Works and the people within them are amazing and so helpful.  If you want to know the name of the groups, please do ask me and I will share them with you.

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