Steamcream - The Perfect Partnership

I was reacquainted with Steamcream just before Christmas, delighted to see it back in the UK, now, in time for Valentines Day, I am introducing you the Perfect Partnership of the Cleansing Balm and Rose Absolute Moisturiser.

My favourite part of skincare is cleansing and I love a cleansing balm. From Steamcream you have a Cleansing Balm which is described as being highly moisturised and it comes packaged inside a wonderfully branded Steamcream tin, which those who have come across the brand before, will immediately spot.

This cleansing balm has been blended with highly moisturising sugar squalene, antioxidant Grapeseed Oil, Almond Oil and Oak Kernal Oil which together creates a 3-phase balm to gently and effectively remove dirt, grime, makeup and other impurities which lurk on the surface of the skin.  Anyone who lives here in London will be all too aware as to what a day wandering around the city does to the skin when it comes to 'taking the day off'.   

The 3-phase balm which I mentioned above works as follows: Phase 1: The Balm Phase. Inside the time is a solid balm, white in colour, you need a small amount, and the advice is a grape sized amount which you gentle apply to your skin. As this point Phase 2, known as the Oil Phase comes into action because as your skin warms the balm, it gently turns from a solid to an oil and it is this stage that gently works it way into your skin to cleanse and remove those impurities. The final stage, Phase 3, which is the Milk Phase occurs when you start to rinse your skin with warm water and that oil turns to a milky liquid and with it, everything it has removed from your skin as you have massaged the solid balm, which then turned into an oil across your skin.

Once you have completed your cleanse, the team at Steamcream then introduce you to the second step of The Perfect Partnership with the most wonderful Rose Absolute moisturiser.  This is one of Steamcream's seasonal products which has been developed for the Winter months. 

Anyone who has used Steamcream before will know that it is a lovely rich cream, which is not only lightweight in texture, but incredibly moisturising for the skin. The Rose Absolute version, which is packaged in the most beautiful rose designed tin and is perfect for Valentines Day.

As its name suggests, this cream is blended with four key ingredients which include:

• Shea Butter - A deeply-nourishing emollient which absorbs easily into the skin and it also helps to prevent moisture from evaporating from the skin, which in these colder months, we all need.
• Damask Rose Flower Extract which not only promotes skin firmness, smoothness and lustre, but it also helps to restore the skin’s natural balance as well as to provide hydration.
• Damask Rose Flower Wax has highly moisturising properties, supporting the skin’s natural barrier function to prevent further water evaporation, leading to firmer, more lustrous skin.
• Damask Rose Flower Water is extracted from steam distillation and known for its skin purifying and youth-boosting properties.

Putting all of these together, not only does this cream have the most amazing fresh rose scent, which is not too over-powering.

Together the Steamcream Cleansing Balm and Rose Absolute Moisturising Cream make the most delightful duo, or as it has been said - The Perfect Partnership.  They can both be purchased individually or as a bundle.

Find out more about Steamcream and their skin care via the website.

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

Good Girl Carolina Herrera

When a fragrance has the wow factor, it has the wow factor and Caroline Herrera has definitely got that covered with Good Girl.  The outer packaging giving no clues away as what it is you will find inside, I was stunned to see just how the fragrance is packaged.

If ever there has been a way to give a fragrance the wow factor, whether or not stiletto heels are for you, then this has absolutely it, just stunning and the attention to detail is insane. As it happens, there is a reason for the Stiletto Heel design and it said that heels are the ultimate symbol of power, igniting passions with their extreme sensuality and that description works with that of the fragrance:

Be the most confident, powerful version of you with Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum; a sensual, charismatic fragrance that blends light and dark elements to capture the complexity of the modern woman.

When it comes to choosing a fragrance, for me it really is quite a person choice as to what works for you.  For me, I choose a fragrance to suit my mood, I am no more a fan of floral than I am fruit or oriental scents when it comes to an offering from a brand. In the same way, I also have a list of fragrances I cannot stand, despite their popularity and anyone who knows or has met me, will be able to name at least one of those.

Good Girl as a fragrance, which does sit in the Oriental family, is one that has captured my attention and I wasn't sure what I was going to make of it, though the notes are quite something and there is a lot going on with them.

• Top Notes: Almond
• Heart Notes: Tuberose & Jasmine Sambac
• Bottom Notes: Tonka Bean & Cocoa

With the opening spritz, which for fun is done with the heel of the Stiletto shaped bottle, there is a surprising burst of something fruity, which I had not expected at all, but alongside the fruity note you also get a contrast of those earthy greens and I loved it.  As the fragrance begins to dry down the heart notes really come through, not as delicate as you might think as Jasmine storms in to make a claim on this scent and for me, fragrances with Jasmine as a heart note are ones I tend to head towards, but the Tuberose adds some sweetness before the base notes bring about a wonderful richness which does have a slight bitterness until Tonka Bean comes into its own to add a very slight vanilla hint which I am delighted to say is not too over the top.

I have worn Good Girl a lot since it arrived just before Christmas and it has a really impressive longevity on the skin, it is one of those fragrances which I can spritz in a morning and still catch a sniff in the evening.  If you are a fan of scents such as YSL Black Opium then Good Girl is one to try.

Available in 30ml, 50ml and 80ml it is priced between £52 and £88 with The Perfume Shop currently. 

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

Emolyne Lip Kit

New to my makeup bag is the British Brand Emolyne, who is empowered by the belief that beauty is for everyone, we create makeup that celebrates every ethnicity, gender, age, and lifestyle.  They are also vegan friendly, cruelty free and paraben free with a range that is quite extensive.

What I love is that there is a choice of 30 different shades of lipsticks, lip liners and nail lacquers all available in the same 30 matching colours. So when you find that perfect nude nail polish, you will also find the exact shade in a matching lipstick, which I think is really clever. Whether you like your naked nude shades, the bright reds or even those in between, trying to choose one is really quite difficult, though there is some help to be had with the Lipstick Shade Finder page which will match you to the photograph you select as being most like you.

I was kindly sent a lipstick and lip-liner in the shade Cairo which is described as being a soft peach shade.  Whenever I choose a lipstick shade, I always tend to look for a muted rose, mauve type which I feel comfortable wearing. I am absolutely not a bright red or what I refer to as being foundation skin shades of lipstick. The only time my choice of shade changes is in the darker months when I do like the berry shades.

The Emolyne Metamorphosis Semi Matte Lipstick (£23) is described as being a weightless, hydrating creamy formula that glides on smoothly providing an intense, full coverage and lasting colour in one sweep.  With it comes a velvety, semi-matte, highly pigmented and long-lasting lip colour, which admittedly it absolutely does tick those boxes. What I have found with this particular lipstick is that if you want a lighter smattering of coverage then one swipe across the lips is enough, but if you want that more bold look, then you can actually, with the help of the lip-liner, do just that.

The packaging on these lipsticks is, as you can see, just absolutely stunning. With its gold metal casing and the glittery gold and pink ombre finish, I love the luxurious look it has. The lipstick casing which is in fact the lid, is easily removed by clicking the “E” button on the top of the lipstick to reveal your shade.

The Emolyne Metamorphosis Lip Definer (£15), which is one of those products I can count on one hand, the number I own, is equally stunning. 

Described as being a smooth, creamy, velvety formula for ultimate definition and sculpting, what I love is how easily it does glide across the lips without dragging the skin and as with the lipstick, it is really quite pigmented and would work just as well on its own with a clear gloss over the top.

As you can see from the unedited swatches, the top one of with the flash and the bottom one is without, the Lip Definer at the top and the lipstick below, the pigmentation is stunning and whilst it is described as being a soft peach, I think they are much richer than that and together they compliment each other really well, especially as the liner doesn't have the brown undertones I was expecting to find.

You can find the whole Emolyne collection right here and you will find the lipsticks and lip definers as well as nail polish to choose from.  So if you like everything to match, this brand will be the one you need!

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

LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box Valentine’s Scent Edit For Her

The Lookfantastic Beauty Box Valentine’s Scent Edit For Her has been launched and if, like me you are a fan of fragrances then this is quite the box.

The Scent Edit Limited Edition boxes appeared on Lookfantastic last year and there has, to date been three different ones, all of which I have shared on my blog. This edition, being perfectly timed for Valentines Day features four fragrances from some incredibly well known brands and also a Liquid Lip Velvet.

Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Your fragrance love note from Beauty Box has arrived. Indulge in a luxurious collection of some of the hottest fragrances of the season.

This box is on sale for £55 which might sound expensive but alongside these fragrances, which I’ve shared below, you will receive £55 OFF the full size fragrance of your choice from the box on Lookfantastic! Want to know what the fragrances are?

Contents 

• Marc Jacobs Perfect Eau de Parfum Mini
• Marc Jacobs Perfect Intense Eau de Parfum Mini
• Chloé Eau de Parfum Naturelle Mini
• Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum Mini
• Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet - Oxblood 53

I am lucky enough to own all four of these fragrances already and if I had to choose one of them to spend my voucher on, I would absolutely struggle to choose.

Each one of these fragrances comes packaged as you see them shown above and alongside the Liquid Lip Velvet it is quite the treat, whether you’re treating yourself or someone special for Valentine’s Day or just because you deserve it.

You can find The LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box Valentine’s Scent Edit For Her on sale here and if that isn’t enough, there is also a version for him, which you can find here.

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