Beauty products i’ve been loving throughout the month of January…
Body: When I opened a particular Christmas present last month, I found myself unscrewing the lid and inhaling it’s scent before you could even say ‘Needles and pins’. Anything from Lush is a real treat for me and whilst i’ve tried pretty much everything else from their catalogue, i’ve never tried a shower jelly. Needles and pins is an absolute delight in the shower, described by Lush as a ‘song of ice and fire’ put it in the freezer then retrieve under a hot shower to stimulate circulation and get clean through a herbal infusion of Siberian pine nut oil and cypress leaves. Not only is it super moisturising, but it makes shower time extremely invigorating and smells just like that moment you put up a real Christmas tree.
Lips + Tips: I have been brightening my January blues this year with pops of colour on my lips and nails. My personal favourites have included the MUA ‘Sweet Sheen Balm’ in red and coral – a totally wearable formula that is comfortable and easy to wear when devouring several cups of tea throughout the day. And not forgetting ‘Revlon ‘Cherries in the snow’ which has adorned my nails all month, love the colour and the nostalgia, but the chipping is pretty terrible!
Hair: In 2016 I vowed that not a single box of permanent hair dye would cross my tresses in January 2017, and they haven’t though I have been meddling with some colour. Having had platinum blonde hair which I then dyed brown, my hair is prone to going a little murky coloured and needs some warmth injected into it to counteract the conflicting colour. I have always enjoyed the Schwarzkopf Live Colour Refreshers and this variant for warm browns is no exception. I apply the foam formula to damp hair for 30 mins every 2 weeks, just to keep any green tones as bay and refresh my hair colour to a mid-tone auburn/mahogany.
Skincare: I keep my skincare very simple but I recently have been experimenting with a new serum. It is probably no surprise that I am using the ‘Simply Pure’ – Hydrating serum from Superdrug which you can pick up for under £4. Recommended by the legend that is, Sali Hughes I wanted to try it. The gel formula is extremely hydrating and leaves my normal skin plump and perky. I’ve heard that it’s particularly good for dehydrated skin. It contains a number of ingredients which are outlined in this very informative post. It’s definitely staying on my skincare shelf for now.
This month I have also been trying out an extremely special skincare mask from Jivesse the anti-ageing, marine collagen brand who develop Jivesse beauty – an online registered UK pharmacy with a number of years of medical experience behind it.
The ‘Collagen and gold youth defining mask’* is in one word, majestic! Before we begin though, here is exactly what the formula on the mask is made up of…
24 Karat Gold Leaf – Possesses anti-ageing properties – lifts, tightens and firms the face – reflecting light and penetrating the skin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice – Moisturises skin + reduces discomfort
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 – Anti-ageing properties and hydrates skin
Collagen – For smoother, firmer skin
Hyaluronic Acid – Firms and moisturises skin
Acetyl Octapeptide-3 – clinically proven to reduce the depth of wrinkles on the face caused by the contraction of the muscles of facial expression.
Top: Working the mask baby! Bottom: The results, dewy, bright, soft and seemingly blurred skin
Okay, so I need to say first and foremost that this sheet mask is £125 to buy and I would never dream of spending that kind of money on a mask, but the results really speak for themselves. Below, you can see me very sassily and dare I say, quite scarily wearing the mask which I applied after a shower.
So I guess the selling point is that the mask itself is infused with 24 karat gold which is why it is so indulgent. It is suitable for all skin types and claims to stimulate the skin’s regenerative capacity to improve texture and radiance as well as evening out skin tone and improving elasticity. It also claims to soften the look of fine lines and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles (Remember I said my skin looks pretty blurred) and hydrate, helping the skin to retain moisture.
I stayed make-up free for the whole day after wearing the mask (Which I might add is reusable) and two people commented on how ‘glowy’ and ‘bright’ my skin appeared. This is a really high end skincare product and I am of the opinion that the results can be achieved with a really good facial for a fraction of the price however, for a super treaty product I recommend giving it a go if you need hydrating, glowy and nourishing results fast.
Life. TV. Music and more…
Life: January started well, with a work promotion! I managed to climb from content executive to content marketing manager in under 2 years and I couldn’t be prouder. This month I also made a conscious effort to absorb more, whether that’s through articles, podcasts, TV, Youtube – whatever and here are a few bits and pieces I have enjoyed…
TV: Z – The beginning of everything. My favourite piece of literature is ‘The Great Gatsby’ and I have long since been fascinated by Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s mark on the jazz age. Z, which is now available on Amazon Originals tells the story of Zelda’s life in short 20 minute episodes. I am only at episode 5 of the season but it’s brilliant, the acting, the costumes and the storyline make it well worth a watch. The first episode is available free on Amazon, if you want to give it a go.
Listening: I have really enjoyed Emma Gunavardhan’s ‘The beauty podcast’ – especially the episodes with Sali Hughes and Fleur De Force – perfect for beauty lovers and anybody who likes reading The Pool, I think you’d enjoy them.
I’ve also loved revisiting the ASOS podcast, ‘My big idea’ – particularly the interview with Missy Flynn of the now defunct Rita’s bar/resataurant in Hackney. I had the pleasure of meeting Missy and eating the best fried chicken of my life at Ritas, so it was nice to hear more from Missy and her entrepreneurial story.
Music: This months playlist is a total mash up, it includes a-load of 70s cheese, dance and new wave on there and my stand out tracks this month are: ‘In The Midst’ by Sir Was, ‘Good Beat’ by Deelite and ‘Flame’ by Sundara Karma.
I also LOVED Gemma Cairney’s ‘Lost Clubs’ show talking about iconic clubs of their time including Blitz and the Hacienda. Davina McCalls ‘Desert Island Discs’ is also pretty good, hearing and learning more about her younger years as a drug addict and how she turned her life around to become one of the most well known TV presenters of our time.
What have you been loving in the month of January?
