Space NK Black Friday Event!

My love for Space NK is currently going strong -have you seen their latest drops?- and today for Black Friday they've got an amazing deal, which I don't think they've actually done before! From today until Monday, you will receive a free full sized product when you spend £50, £100 or £150. 

Each spending threshold features a selection of different products to choose from- in other words, if you spend £50, you can choose a free product from a selection, spend £100 and you choose from a different selection, spend £150 and choose a free full sized product from yet another selection.
The free full sized products are from covetable brands including Sunday Riley, Herbivore, Omorovicza and REN and I imagine that the higher the spend, the more luxurious the item! A great chance to do a bit of Christmas shopping and nab a freebie for yourself really! 

You can take advantage of the offer by clicking over now to Space NK

Zelens Z-22 Absolute Face Oil

I've been enjoying trying out a few bits and pieces from the Zelens skincare range recently. It's founder, Dr Marko Lens comes across as very passionate and also very matter-of-fact so I feel like it's a real 'all killer, no filler' beauty brand which can be very refreshing and definitely piqued my interest as a skincare lover. I actually first discovered the brand around 10 years ago when I was working for a magazine on the Gold Coast - I remember going to the launch at Mecca Cosmetica and we got to play with all the products which seemed very ahead of the game and full of promise at the time. Of course this was before I was obsessed with cleansers and serums so in hindsight I wish I'd asked a lot more questions!

I pretty much want to get everything from Zelens on my face at some point but I'm being sensible(ish) and pacing myself (sort of) by sticking to a couple of products. I'll start here with one I've had on the go for the last couple of months - the Z-22 Absolute Facial Oil.
Since I had a baby, and I often wake up with a tight feeling, dry face, facial oils have been my number one, must have beauty product. I use one at least once a day, and while I appreciate the simplicity of a great quality rosehip or argan oil, Z-22 got my attention because it's a blend of A LOT of oils - in fact it contains 22, hence the name.

Incredibly light and multi-purpose, Z-22 was designed to replenish and plump up the skin, restore elasticity and even out tone and texture and leave skin looking and feeling more youthful and radiant. Like every other product, this oil is not in fact the fountain of youth, but it is a pleasure to use and I'm sure it's helping to make me and my skin look and feel more hydrated and comfortable than before, which is always a plus.
As mentioned, Zelens Z-22 is a blend of 22 precious oils including:

• Perilla (Shiso) Oil - omega-rich and antioxidant. The richest plant-source on omega 3 available
• Rice Bran Oil - soothes and hydrates
• Squalene - derived from Mediterranean olives, not sharks
• Camellia Oil -  rich in omega 9 
• Rosehip Oil - contains a vast range of vitamins including A, C and E
• Grapeseed Oil - rich in omega 6
• Bergamot Orange Oil - antiseptic, cooling refreshing
• Lemon Oil - toning, tightening and antibacterial
• Petitgrain Oil - antiseptic and great for blemishes
• Litsea Cubeba Oil (May Chang) - antibacterial, antiseptic and calming
• Orange Oil - refreshing, antiseptic and contains powerful antioxidants
• Lemongrass Oil - antiseptic, antibacterial and toning
• Cardamom Oil - refreshing and toning
• Lavender Oil - antiseptic, antibacterial and toning
• Rosemary Oil - antiseptic, antibacterial and stimulates circulation
• Maritime Pine Oil - antioxidant, antibacterial and antiseptic
• Geranium Oil - balancing, antioxidant and antiseptic
• Rose Oil - calming, soothing and antibacterial
• Green Tea Oil - rich in polyphenols, green tea oil is antioxidant and has shown to inhibit collagen break-down
• Jasmine Oil - moisturing and soothing with antioxidant and antiseptic properties
• Labdanum Oil (Rock Rose) - toning and tightening
• Basil Oil - refreshing with antibacterial, toning and antiseptic properties

It's safe to say that if you are sensitive to essential oils, this will not suit you but if like me you can tolerate them, you'll probably appreciate the blend. Interestingly, for a product that contains such a plethora of different oils, it doesn't actually smell of much. To me, it smells a little bit citrusy with a hint of the Shiso (which I really like) which is the signature scent of most Zelens products. Overall, it certainly doesn't have an overpowering nor offensive smell so would suit you if you're not a fan of heavily fragranced skincare.

Z-22 is designed to be applied to cleansed skin - I mainly use it like a serum before moisturiser - and can be mixed with serums/ moisturisers to boost the effects. I can't find information on the kind of skin type that this oil is aimed at, so I'd say it's suitable for virtually anyone, whether that's dry and dehydrated or combination or oily.

Zelens is a high-end brand so the Z-22 Absolute Face Oil doesn't come cheap at £70 for 30ml but I think it's a great introduction to the range. I'm now itching to try the Power-D Treatment Drops because I can't seem to find anything similar and it seems to be quite a unique product! You can find Zelens at Look Fantastic, Feel Unique, Beauty Bay, John Lewis, Selfridges and Zelens.

Nourish London Vegan and Organic Christmas Gifts

I love browsing skincare Christmas gift sets - they're often really good value so it's the perfect time of year to grab a little gift for yourself as an introduction to a brand you've had your eye on, or stock up on some favourites. I've been acquainted with Nourish London for a few years now and their 2018 Christmas sets are particularly lovely. If you're new to Nourish, they are a London based vegan and organic brand that produce results-driven skincare products to protect, support and stimulate the skin's natural processes. Nourish focus on high quality, plant based and superfood ingredients and their products are fragranced with pure essential oils, making them as raw and natural as possible. They really are a lovely brand, and I've enjoyed every product of theirs that I've tried so far, so I'm loving their release of Christmas sets this year. The brand has released four Christmas sets ranging in price from £15 to £60, so you can experience a taste of the brand yourself or buy for someone special, no matter what your budget.

Nourish London Radiance Duet £15

Featuring 5ml each of the Firming Radiance Facial Oil and the Illuminating Face Shimmer, the Radiance Duo is an ideal stocking filler or secret santa gift for the beauty lover in your life. I've tried both products before and particularly like the face shimmer which is a beautiful, bedazzling liquid perfect for adding some festive cheer to your complexion at Christmas and all year round. The duo is presented in a kitsch little reusable tin, which is a very nice touch.

Nourish London Essential Travel Collection £25

An affordable introduction to the brand, this little selection of products is presented in a handy washbag, and as the name suggests, is great for travel as the four included products are under 100ml. The kit includes the Kale 3D Cleanse, which is a luxurious anti-pollution cleanser that changes colour as it works, the Protect Replenishing Peptide Serum which is rich in hydrating ingredients to keep the skin plumped and moisturised, the Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask to nourish and repair the skin and the Radiance Facial Oil.

Nourish London Radiance Beauty Collection £30

This little set is a great compilation of products with a strong focus on hydration; perfect for Christmas time really. The collection features the Anti-Ageing Peptide Serum 15ml which includes hyaluronic acid, tripeptides,argan and kale, Argan Skin Renew Moisturiser 15ml which boosts hydration and collagen production, Radiance Firming Facial Oil 5ml and the Illuminating Face Shimmer 5ml to round things off nicely.

Nourish London Luxury Argan Beauty Collection £60

The luxury collection features a mixture of full sized and travel sized products and includes everything you need for a full routine so you (or the lucky gift recipient) can fully immerse themselves in the Nourish brand. The generous selection includes the omega-rich Skin Renew Cleanser 30ml which lists argan, jojoba, borage and the brand's own unique kale extract in the ingredients to help replenish the skin's natural oils and fight the effects of pollution. The Argan Anti-Ageing Peptide Serum 30ml and Argan Skin Renew Moisturiser 50ml complete the routine while the Radiance Facial Oil 5ml and Illuminating Face Shimmer 15ml add a little something extra.

The sets and the rest of the Nourish London range (which is well worth a look) are all available online at nourishskinrange.com

Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial

The Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial has been on my wish list for some time now for two reasons;
(1.) I really enjoy putting oily serums on my face
(2.) I'm a sucker for a cleverly named beauty product

Prior to Overnight Facial, the only Sarah Chapman product I had any experience with was the Skin Insurance tinted SPF which is a product that I basically wore daily this Summer. I loved the effect and the finish of Skin Insurance, so it only made me more keen to try more from the brand. So now I've got Overnight Facial on the go and I've been using it most nights since I got it for my birthday two weeks ago. Thanks mum.

The name is a bit of a giveaway, but this serum is designed for use at night. You just massage it in and let it do its thing while you sleep.

An oil-serum formula, Overnight Facial was developed by Sarah Chapman to allow users to recreate the 'glow' of her famous Skinesis facials in the comfort of their own home. Pretty much nothing can compare to a really good facial but after trying this product for a couple of weeks, I can confirm that it comes pretty close - if only it came complete with an Indian head massage and ambient rainforest sounds.

Since I've just turned 33, which we all know is very, very old, I have started venturing out into the world of Vitamin A. It's good timing then that Overnight Facial came into my life when it did, because it's a main feature of this serum.

On top of Vitamin A, Overnight Facial is rich in anti-inflammatory omegas, antioxidants, a cocktail of vitamins including a stabilised version of Vitamin C and a brightening complex. The formula also features something called Renovage which claims to prolong the life span of cells and Dermaxyl which boosts collagen production via an advanced peptide technology.

As well as all of these super ingredients, Overnight Facial contains a blend of jasmine, tuberose, rose and frangipani essential oils for a soothing scent. On the topic of scents, I read a few reviews of Overnight Facial that raved about the amazing way it smells but I'll admit that the first few times I tried it I didn't really even notice much of a scent. It wasn't until just the other night when I took the time to purposefully breathe in the scent after swiping it across my palms and holding my hands in front of my face that I actually understood what these people were talking about. I totally get it now. This stuff smells gorgeous.

Pretty smells aside, the reason I wanted to write this review is because I'm thus far pretty impressed with Overnight Facial. I am convinced that in the short amount of time I've been using it, it has made a definite improvement on the overall texture and plumpness of the skin on my face. My crows feet (ugh I hate that term) next to my eyes are looking a lot smoother and sort of plumped out, which is quite remarkable because I have spent a large portion of the last few months squinting, thanks to that weirdly hot and sunny summer we've just had.

The packaging has its good and not-so-good points. It looks sleek and modern and lovely,, and the airless pump means the integrity of the active ingredients isn't compromised. However, you also can't see the product at all until you pump it into your hand so you therefore can't tell when you're about to run out. Overnight Facial is £49 for 15ml, which does seem a lot for such a small amount of product but I've found that one pump is the perfect amount for my face.

If you want to try it for yourself, Overnight Facial is available at Space NK, Look Fantastic, John Lewis, Feel Unique and Sarah Chapman.

Another Review of Glossier You

I know that Glossier's cult fragrance debuted around a year ago now, but I received it for my birthday a few weeks ago so it's new to me! Truth be told I've been a little bit in love with this fragrance since my sister got it for Christmas and I'm so pleased to have a little red capped pink bottle of my own.

You is quite a departure from my usual favourite scents. The majority of my perfumes are gourmands or are at least quite heavy on the sweet notes, whereas You doesn't really have any dessert-like qualities at all. In fact, to me it's almost got a savoury edge, probably thanks to the pink pepper top notes.

The really cool thing about this scent is that it's described as a personal fragrance - in other words, it was created for the wearer to enjoy rather than to be spritzed to impress anyone else. I personally really like this sentiment and think it's a much savvier way of marketing the fragrance rather than simply saying that You is quite a subtle scent. It also makes me feel marginally better about the fact that I'll often just sit there absentmindedly sniffing my own wrist.

Officially, Glossier You consists of the following notes (notes and descriptions borrowed from Glossier):
Base
-Ambrette (comfy, warm)
-Ambrox (smooth, salty, animalistic)
-Musk (long-lasting, addictive)

Top
-Iris Root (earthy, green, woody)
-Pink Pepper (spice, sparkling)

And then the final (or first) ingredient is you and the way your skin reacts with the fragrance.

Both the concept and scent remind me of Escentric Molecules 03 which I had the pleasure of sampling back in 2015 as it was one of the goodies in the Liberty Advent Calendar. 

I have read that others compare You to Molecule 01(the original), which I haven't actually smelled but can imagine that there would be definite similarities going by what I've read about that one.
The longevity of this scent seems to have mixed reviews; some people claim it lasts and lasts whereas for others it disappears within hours. I think i'm somewhere in the middle when it comes to how long it keeps my skin scented though I do stop noticing the fragrance quite quickly. Nothing a quick wrist-whiff can't solve though.

Right, onto the packaging;

I LOVE this bottle. From the thick frosted pink glass to the contrasting red cap, it's almost like they created this bottle with Instagram in mind. It's even ergonomic too, with an indent to place your thumb whilst you spritz away. Handy.

The 50ml fragrance bottle is perfectly handbag friendly and I've thus far had no leaking incidents whilst transporting it which is always a bonus. After all, I want You on me and not on my stuff.

If you've not already tried You, it can be ordered online at Glossier for £45 where it qualifies for free delivery as it's over the £25 threshold. There is also a kitsh solid perfume compact version which is £19.

In terms of other Glossier products I've tried, I like the Cloud Paint and Generation G matte lipstick (I have shade Cake and it's a very wearable and sheer your-lips-but-better nude) and don't mind my Coconut Balm Dot Com. I regularly use Boy Brow too, that's a fantastic, super quick and convenient brow product. I've also tried the Milky Jelly Cleanser (meh) and really didn't get on with the Body Hero products, though I think I'm in the minority there!

I think I'll be a long term fan of Glossier You though and am definitely keen to see what the brand will do next.