Joik Chocolate Facial Mask

I found Joik on LoveLula the other night and my eyes were immediately drawn to the candles (crème brulee, apple glogg etc) and this little beauty - the Chocolate Facial Mask.

I've not experienced the whole chocolate-on-face thing (intentionally anyway) since Lush introduced their Cupcake facemask and figured it was about time. Besides, I like chocolate and I like putting things on my face, so why not combine the two eh?

The Joik Chocolate Facial Mask is designed to rejuvenate and tighten tired and stressed out skin and contains:
Rhassoul Clay - A natural Moroccan lava clay to absorb oil, sort out impurities, tone and rejuvenate
Milk Powder - To soften and smooth
Honey - A natural antibacterial that soothes and moisturises
Cocoa Powder - Naturally rich in vitamins and contains anti oxidant compounds. According to Joik, the scent fills you with 'happy hormones' that aid in relaxation, relieve tension and ease stress.

And that's it. Four, fairly simple natural ingredients. Well played Joik, well played.
The mask comes packaged in a round, plastic 50g tub and is in loose powder form, meaning you have to mix up the mask yourself, which is kind of fun in itself.
To make the face mask, mix about one teaspoon of the powder with equal amounts of your choice of water, milk or herbal tea. I really like this element of choosing which liquid to use and thought perhaps mixing it up with some chamomile tea might be a winner.
This time though, I used milk. Controversial.

I used way too much milk though, so ended up with a much thinner consistency than I would have liked, but I still put it all over my face.
As this is a clay based mask, it sets and hardens, indicating when it's time to wash it off. I used a warm damp flannel to do this and it came off easily enough and left my skin feeling rather heavenly.

I'm sure you've already guessed what this smells like - pretty much exactly like a steaming cup of hot chocolate - so it's certainly not unpleasant to wait around for it to dry. Unless you don't like chocolate, obviously.

While it's certainly not what I'd call a beauty essential, it is a lovely treat product and would make a great gift for any sweet toothed friends/ family this christmas.
The Joik Chocolate Facial Mask is £11 at LoveLula.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm Review

I'm always interested to try skincare from brands I haven't used before and the Melting Cleansing Balm has been a nice little introduction to Merumaya.

I'm a major fan of balm cleansers but have only ever used ones that come in tubs, so the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm has been a bit of a revelation for me.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm Review

Not only is it packaged in a tube (which some may argue is more hygienic than sticking your finger in a tub countless times) but the balm cleanser is a pretty special formula that actually turns into a milk when water is added. This little trick makes it relatively easy to rinse away and you don't have to put in as much elbow grease as you might with a traditional balm cleanser. 

Designed for use on a dry face, the cleansing balm spreads easily and pretty much annihilates makeup with the help of some gentle massage. You then add a little warm water and continue to massage as the balm turns milky.

I've removed the cleanser using just my hands and found it wasn't quite enough (though this is just a personal preference) so tried again with a damp flannel, which is how I usually remove cleansers anyway and found it more effective. Once removed, you just go in for your second cleanse using the same motions.

The end result is cleansed, comfortable and conditioned skin. Conditioned might sound like an odd word to use in describing a cleanser but it's the best word I can think of- my face felt pillowy soft and 'fed'. It's not a 'squeaky' sort of clean (we don't want that anyway!) but sort of nourished and cleansed all at once. If that makes sense?

This wonderful, hydrated feeling is down to the addition of Sweet Almond Oil and Echium Oil, which is sort of like a vegetarian version of fish oil and is rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9. The cleanser also contains Mangosteen Fruit Extract which is rich in vitamins and anti oxidants, and is nicely rounded off with the signature Merumaya scent- something I've seen many people rave about!

Overall this is an incredibly gentle balm cleanser that is nothing short of a pleasure to use. It's a yes from me!

At £20 Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm has an affordable price point, especially when compared to other balm cleansers. You can find it at Merumaya.com and John Lewis.

Post contains sample

Sunday Riley Artemis

Artemis is a facial oil I reach for daily so I'm a bit surprised with myself that I haven't been bothered to write about it until now. The dropper bottle of yellow tinged oil brings a little bit of joy to my day because I'm just so darn fond of it. I love the slightly lemony smell, the thick texture and above all, the fact that it's positively packed with delicious, skin nurturing oils that leave a gorgeous glow.

Sunday Riles Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil contains an array of plant oils including:

Pomegranate Seed Oil- Improves skin texture, contains high levels of anti oxidants and is rich in Vitamin A, C, E and K. A good all rounder really.
Milk Thistle Seed Oil- Combats redness and is increasingly included in herbal anti-acne products.
Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil- Conditioning and high in Vitamin C to revitalize the skin.

Black Cumin Seed Oil- An anti inflammatory oil that's known for its effectiveness in combating acne. It's also rich in moisturizing fatty acids and allegedly fights infection.
Lemon Ironbark- Part of the Eucalypt family, Lemon Ironbark is soothing, calming and is responsible for the lemony scent of Artemis.
Lemon Myrtle- An Australian medicinal oil widely used for its cleansing and purifying properties. It grows naturally in Queensland (where I'm from) and New South Wales and is a natural antiseptic.

Flax Seed Oil- Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. Anti inflammatory.

One of the most interesting things about Artemis is that it is particularly good for combination skin types, congestion, and those with oily complexions. While the thought of putting oil on an already oily face may seem like a big no no, so long as they are the right oils, it can have a great effect in clarifying and clearing the skin. I suppose this is why Artemis has become a firm favourite among oily/combo skinned folk- if the reviews are anything to go by.

A little bit of this oil really goes a long, long way - I use about a fifth of a pipette/ one drop for my whole face- and the dry oil formula means it absorbs beautifully, leaving you with a slightly dewy glow rather than an oil slick.

You can find Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil at Space NK, Cult Beauty, Net a Porter and Blow Ltd for £60 for 30ml.  

MAC Velvet Teddy Review

My colleagues very kindly gave me a MAC gift voucher for my 30th last month and to be honest I had no idea what goodies to spend it on. I must have spent a good few hours on the MAC website on my phone, just pondering what products to go for. Am I the only person who has a harder time spending gift cards than actual money?! I haven't been in a MAC store for so long and lipsticks are really one of those things I like to try in person before handing over any cash. That said, Velvet Teddy is so raved about online and is a neutral shade that seems to suit pretty much everyone, so I figured it was a safe bet.

Because Velvet Teddy is a matte lipstick, I knew I'd love the finish and the staying power and thankfully I was right. 

I'm not going to pretend I look remotely like Kylie Jenner (12 year age gap aside) but I find it to be a very wearable lipstick that I can almost apply without a mirror. Almost.

The matte formula of Velvet Teddy does feel a little dry but I generally prefer the matte look so it's a price I'm willing to pay. A touch of By Terry Baume de Rose is the perfect primer for use with any of my matte lipsticks and as with pretty much any lipstick, I find that this one looks better and stays put for longer after using the apply, blot, reapply technique. It just goes on smoothly and more evenly when you get blotting!

The dusty rose/nude shade is subtle enough for an understated look and it just makes me feel a little prettier and put together when I've got it on. And that's what it's all about, right?

MAC Velvet Teddy is £15.50 at MAC stores, concessions and online.

[Closed] Win a £30 Space Nk giftcard

Space NK have some amazing Christmas gift sets this year so to celebrate in my own little Space NK obsessed way, I'm giving away a £30 giftcard.

Whether you want to treat yourself to something new or repurchase an old favourite, enter below for the chance to have £30 at your disposal to spend in my favourite beauty destination.

The sweepstakes is running for two weeks and  it's super easy to enter via the rafflecopter below. I will cross my fingers for you, good luck! x

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*One winner will receive a £30 Space NK Giftcard
*Open to UK residents only