Kohl Kreatives Feast Your Eyes Makeup Brushes

Kohl Kreatives is not only a luxury makeup brush brand, but a force for social change. Founded by Trishna Daswaney, who fell in love with makeup after being bullied as a teenager, Kohl Kreatives and then established the brand’s global workshops to support transgender and cancer care communities. I’ve featured some of the Kohl Kreatives brushes on my blog before but this time it is the turn of the Feast Your Eyes Collection.

These brushes are certified vegan and cruelty-free by PETA and are made out of recycled plastic with incredibly super soft synthetic fibres.

Let your imagination run wild with this set of 6 eye brushes, helping you to create your favourite looks.

The brushes in the Feast Your Eyes (RRP £48) collection also have been developed in a cuboid shape, so what this means, is that they do not roll when placed on a flat surface such as a table, enabling ease of use for people with motor disabilities or visual impairment.  Again, such a simple yet clever idea and again, not something I’ve really come across being promoted before.  Something else which makes these brushes more inclusive, different and yet clever all at the same time is that they also have braille stickers and, for people who do not read the tactile writing system, a raised numerical system connected to an audio guide which can be accessed via the QR code on the box. I’m sure no other brush brand has done or thought of this, but I think it is such an amazing idea!

When the idea for these brushes was being developed, Kohl Kreatives teamed up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to work to ensure that these  brushes were not only fit for purpose but used feedback and advice to ensure they are 'ease of use' products.

They are a fantastic set of brushes and I love that you can use them with any kind of product whether it's powder, cream, liquid or gel, and because the handle has been designed so that it is easy to hold, it makes the actual application of your makeup comfortable, easy and definitely makes you realise just how much of a help these brushes could be to someone. You can also add a contact lens to complete your eye makeup, check it here contactlensesplus.com .

Proceeds from all sales go towards our charity Kohl Kares providing free workshops for a variety communities ranging from transgender and, cancer care support, as well as those with motor and visual disabilities. Find out more from Kohl Kreatives right here.

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

Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub Review

Ole Henriksen is a brand I started to get to know, then they left the UK and now they are back again. Having tried the Ole Henriksen Balance It All Skincare Set, I couldn't wait to try more from the brand.  The Lemonade Smoothing Scrub, which launched back in 2020, landed on my desk a good few weeks ago and I do love a good face scrub!

Having combination/oily skin, I try to ensure I use a scrub at least twice a week and I love that it is said to have been inspired by a fresh glass of lemonade on a hot Summer's day!  I am a fan of both manual and chemical scrubs and my skin seems not to mind which one I use. But those who prefer a gentle scrub, you will find it hard not to love this one from Ole Henriksen.

It is described as being a dual-action scrub, so not only does it have exfoliating particles, it also includes AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) so it works double time to physically and chemically exfoliate your complexion as the AHAs work to loosen and lift dead skin cells, while lemon peel powder and ultra-fine sugar exfoliants gently sweep away rough skin. Plus, there is the inclusion of both Holy Basil and Chamomile which work to soothe and your skin.

During Lockdown, ive been lucky that my skin hasn't reacted too much to wearing a mask and nor have I suffered any other issues that are new.  The combination oily is still my main problem with just a tiny bit of dryness on my cheeks, that said, it is much less than normal. So this scrub is a delight to use, it comes out of the tube and is quick a thick bright yellow formula and as the description states, that freshly squeezed lemonade scent is most definitely there, it is absolutely divine.  As the scrub is worked onto the skin, the incredibly refined sugar particles work to remove all of that dead and dry skin which sits on the surface.

On the skin, whilst the sugar particles are clearly evident as you massage your skin, this scrub isn't overly abrasive or uncomfortable, but it most definitely does do the job it is intended to do and it does it very well.  After using, not only is my skin soft and smooth to the touch and it is so much brighter.  

As this is a scrub which contains 10% AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids) which gives you the benefits you get from using a chemical exfoliator, I decided to put it the scrub to the test on my lower left foot. Why you might ask - well because of an ongoing ankle injury, I have to sleep in a moonboot every single night, so you can imagine how dry and flakey my skin has become, so I tried using this scrub, just see what might happen and impressively, it really does remove that dead skin, so now I am hoping that this line will be extended to body products and even a scalp scrub!

You can find the Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub right here* at Boots

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

REN Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream

When it comes to using an eye cream, I like to use something that isn't thick, overly fragranced or irritates my eyes - call me picky but over the years, I have used a lot of eye creams and there has been very few I have re-purchased or have wanted to finish.  Ren, a brand I am incredibly fond of and one which gets a lot of praise on this blog. They have rather excitingly released their Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream*, which I was kindly sent a few months ago and I have been using it ever since - it is divine!

The REN Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream has an irritation-free formula which is suitable for all eyes, an absolute must for any eye-cream. Designed to reduce the appearance of dark circles after just 7 days of use, it uses what are referred to as bioactives that work to brighten, hydrate and plump the look of the entire eye area, which in turn leaves you looking wide awake and pretty much human in my opinion.  As someone who has an disrupted sleep pattern, dark circles, puffiness and looking half dead have been part of my look for as long as I can remember and concealer has very much been my best friend, but now I havis eye cream.

As with all Ren products, this one also contains some amazing sounding ingredients. The first one is Elderberry Flower Extract, which is packed with antioxidants that help to protect your skin against environmental aggressors., then in turn it works to reduce those dark circles by minimising puffiness. The second ingredient is Glycogen and its job is to lock in essential moisture which results in boosted hydration for smoother, firmer, plumper-looking skin.

If you want an eye cream that is easy to use, isn't too thick or too runny, brightens, de-puffs and hydrates, then this one ticks every single box, described as being a luxuriously smooth water-in-oil cream that can be used on the entire eye area, to brighten the under eye, eyelid and brow bone.   Whenever I have had my skin scanned by fancy machines to look for issues, the feedback is usually that my undereye is dehydrated, even though I apply an eye cream every single day and drink my 2 litres of water. So, when we are able to do things like that again, I will be intrigued to see what result I get having used this Eye cream.

Once on the skin, this cream doesn't react or interact with other products you might choose to apply - I am thinking of concealer, something I naturally apply to disguise my dark circles. With one other brand, I find the eye cream reacts slightly with my chosen concealer and it is never a good look.

In keeping with REN's commitments, this Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream is:

• Suitable for all skin types.
• Made with 95% natural-origin ingredients.
• Suitable for vegans. 
• Cruelty-free
• Made from recycled plastic
• Infinity recycling

This is one of those products I have nothing to complain about or have a reason to stop using, if anything I need a vat of it to sit in and brighten, de-puff and soothe other body parts!  It is priced at £42 here* and it is very much worth every penny!

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

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Reusable Eco Pads

When it comes to making my beauty routine more sustainable, as well as ensuring the products I use are recyclable or made from recycled materials, cutting out the likes of ear buds and cotton wool pads, brands such as Garnier have released some reusable products and the latest addition to my stash is the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Reusable Eco Pads.

In a bid to reduce daily wastage, Garnier has created its first eco-friendly micro-fibre pads which are made from 100% polyester. These pads are suitable for use on the face, eyes and lips and are ultra soft to the touch.

The idea of these pads is that they can be used to wipe the day away from your face using just water, though the brand highly recommends pairing it up with your favourite micellar water to break down make-up and every day dirt.  With one side that is white and fluffy and the other which is pink and less fluffy, but soft on the skin.

To use these Eco Pads, it is recommended that you thoroughly wash them with soap and water before using them for the first time and then allow them to air dry.  When using, if you need to use more than one, then you can, especially as there is three in each box.  I use the pink side to remove the majority of what is left on my skin.

These Eco Pads have been designed to be used for up to 1000 uses and as mentioned, as with the first wash, you should ideally hand wash them with soap and water after every use and then for a deeper cleaning action put it in the washing machine with your laundry once a week, laying them flat to dry.

A pack of three of these Garnier SkinActive Micellar Reusable Eco Pads can be found priced around £8 from Boots* and Lookfantastic*, but if you are an Amazon shopper, they are currently on offer for just £4.50*

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