 SPF is your skin saviour product and its not just for us beauty junkies… It would be easy to think that living in the changeable UK climes, wearing sunscreen seems like a ridiculous suggestion. Let’s face it, we get 2 consecutive days of mildly warm weather and we gratefully accept this as our summer time, hoorah! The bbq is on, the drinks are chilled and our strappy vests and shorts are pulled from the deepest depths of our wardrobes. We sit in the garden enjoying the warmth on our skin, trying to get a sun-kissed glow. Surely we don’t need sun screen though? It’s not like we are on holiday abroad? *Insert your own frustrated face slap emoji* The sun is the sun, regardless of where you are and simply put, any kind of change in your skin (tan, redness or worse - a burn) is skin damage. That’s right, that gorgeous brown summery skin you are sporting is actually damaged skin. Whether you sunbathe every day on holiday, or sit in your garden for 10 minutes on a hot day, you can burn. Infact, you can burn through clouds! Crazy, isn’t it? Apparently 80% of UV rays can still cause skin damage through clouds! Lets just be blunt, burnt skin is a step closer to an unwanted cancer. So this is why you must wear SPF - and not just on the sunny days. You need to wear it every single day; for protection and yes, even for vanity if you are wanting to keep those wrinkles at bay. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is vital for EVERYONE. Whether you have gorgeous olive skin than tans easily or pretty porcelain skin that cries as soon as you open the curtains on a sunny day, you need to protect it. SPF helps to protect against skin damage, skin cancers and premature wrinkles. The factor number is a guide to how much protection the products offer against the sun. The higher the factor, the longer you are protected without needing to reapply. You might have seen on some beauty products that it states they offer “broad spectrum” sunscreen. UVA and UVB are 2 different types of UV lights that are harmful to your skin. A broad spectrum sunscreen will protect you from both types. There are lots of fabulous beauty products on the market that add an SPF in to the ingredients for extra protection against harmful rays and I have selected my top 10 beauty products that contain an SPF protection. Douvall’s Daily Argan Moisturiser with SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection  Douvall’s nourishing Argan Oil moisturiser is beautiful and light weight on the skin and drenches the skin with hydration, Vitamin E, fatty acids and anti-oxidants which help protect the skin from premature ageing. It is non-greasy and quickly absorbed in to the skin, this is the perfect primer for underneath your makeup and can be worn all over the body and face. It is beautiful on the skin for your no-makeup days. Suitable for all skin types and super gentle for use on babies. 120ml - £46.00 - Available from Douvalls Burts Bees All Weather SPF 15 Moisturising Lip Balm  Burt's Bees All Weather lip balm provides broad spectrum protection with SPF 15 due to the zinc oxide ingredients. This handy compact lip balm feels very nourishing and non-greasy and should be applied liberally 15 minutes before exposure to the sun. It is long lasting and protects against the damaging effects of exposure to the sun. A huge benefit is that it's waterproof for around 40 minutes, which is ideal for swimming or outdoor exercise. 4.25g - £4.99 - Available from BurtsBees Filorga UV - Bronze Mist SPF 50+  Filorga’s Bronze mist is an exciting advanced technology product providing high level protection against all of the sun's spectrum of harmful rays (UVA, UVB and IR). Activated by heat from the sun, the photo technology detoxifies the skin from free radicals and oxidative stress which stem from UVA, UVB and IR (infrared rays). This water resistant mist cools and nourishes the skin and contains highly effective anti ageing ingredients such as Vitamin H, Hyaluronic Acid and the Micro-Encapsulated Glacier Water that tones the skin. 60ml - £30.00 - Available from Debenhams Marks & Spencer Feel Unique and Look Fantastic Soleil Toujours Extreme UV Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45  Soleil Toujoirs Extreme UV Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 is a deliciously luxurious cream created with broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays and is ideal for using on the face. It is jam packed with anti ageing properties and antioxidants to deeply nourish and hydrate the skin. This cream will apply with a white layer initially which is a benefit as you can see where it has been applied (or missed!) and then blends in beautifully. It can be applied underneath your makeup. It is 100% coral reef safe and should be applied liberally 15 minutes before exposure to the sun. 40ml - £45.00 - Available from Space NK Net A Porter Cult Beauty Harrods Selfridges and BeautyBay Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35  Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream is a dreamy light coverage foundation which contains SPF 35 protecting against UVA and UBV rays. It can also be worn as a primer underneath your favourite foundation if you prefer to have more coverage. It is hydrating and provides a radiance to the skin as well as helping to minimising shine. Available in 5 shades. 30ml - £27.00 - Available from Smashbox Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation SPF 15  Charlotte Tilbury is an absolute staple in my personal makeup bag and my professional kit so it will come as no surprise that one of her products has made into my top 10. The Magic Foundation is a semi matte coverage which is a long-lasting formula promising to stay in place for 13 hours. As well as providing an SPF 15 protection, it also improves the appearance of those pesky wrinkles and fine lines. 30 ml - £34.00 - Available from Charlotte Tilbury Sienna X Priming Day Cream SPF 30  Sienna X Priming Day Cream has an SPF 30 and is formulated to brighten the complexion and fight against the damaging effects of blue light and Infrared Type A due to the Marine Bamboo ingredient. This is a great cream for those with a dry skin type and can be used as a primer underneath a makeup application. It is very mild on the skin and therefore suitable for sensitive skin. Vegan Friendly. 50 ml - £39.00 - Available from Sienna-X Kerastase Creme UV Sublime  Kerastase UV Sublime cream is a luxurious nourishing leave-in conditioner. Containing lashings of Vitamin E, it helps to prevent dry hair and can tame frizzy locks for up to 24 hours, leaving hair silky smooth and glossy. 150ml - £24.80 - Available from kerastase Jane Iredale Hand Drink SPF 15  Our hands have taken quite a punishment over lockdown with all of the extra hand washing so replacing moisture back into the hands is even more crucial right now. The Jane Iredale Hand Drink is a super hydrating formula which also includes SPF 15 broad spectrum sunscreen and smells deliciously fresh with a hint of lemongrass. This non-greasy cream absorbs quickly into the skin and really protects and heals dry, cracked skin. The White and Green Tea together with Liposomal encapsulated Apple Extract fights against antioxidants and improves the appearance of skin tone. The hands are one of the first places to show signs of ageing and this is a great addition to keep in your hand bag. 60 ml - £19.95 - Available from Jane Iredale MAC Cosmetics Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer  Mac Cosmetics Studio Finish concealer is a high performance longwear concealer and offers a broad spectrum of UVA/UVB SPF 35 protection. This is a really creamy consistency perfect for concealing blemishes and skin imperfections as well as offering water resistant coverage up to 12 hours. It contains antioxidants together with Vitamin A and E to nourish the skin.
7g - £17.50 - Available from Mac Cosmetics  Starting a skin care routine might seem like high maintenance, especially if you already lead a busy life. Surely washing your face and applying a moisturiser is enough? Well yes, this is better than zero routine (I have spoken to many women in particular who don’t even apply a moisturiser after cleansing) but the more we look after our skin, the more it will most certainly reward us in the future. If you are a makeup junkie, you will already be aware that your application will be more flawless on well maintained skin.  The older I get the more obsessed I become with my own skin care routine. I am now at the top end of my 30s so my skin is showing signs of maturing and requires more TLC these days. However it is never too late to start a skin care routine. I have previously dabbled with drinking beauty powders as part of my daily routine and to be honest I did notice an improvement in the quality of my skin but the taste of the drinks were really REALLY awful. It was just one cup of water mixed with the powder per day (and the powder used to clump so it didn’t even full dissolve) but I dreaded it so much that I couldn’t bear to carry on with the powders once they ran out. Recently I was introduced to Truvivity by Nutrilite. This is a supplement programme which nourishes the skin from the inside, promising to add radiance to the skin as well as boosting collagen and helping to reduce fatigue. As a person who has suffered with a severely under-active thyroid for 17 years I am always open to trying new products that will boost my energy levels. Every day for the last few weeks I have drank a Truvivity powder beauty drink and had 2 supplement tablets. I start each day with the powder drink - and I should clarify this is a very pleasant fruity drink and dissolves fully in to the water, creating a refreshing juice. It contains Vitamin C, Zinc and the patented PhytoCeramide Complex which boosts collagen and the normal function of skin.  The tablet supplements are taken twice per day (they are quite large but are swallowed very easily with water) and they contain Vitamins A, C and zinc, the patented PhytoInfuse Complex and PhytoCeramide Complex. These supplements provide relief and protection for the skin against environmental stressors and help to maintain the skin.  There are many options of nutritional supplements and skin care products available in the range and I have seen some amazing results when used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
I am often sceptical about using beauty supplements and powders. Maybe I am old fashioned in thinking good skin care comes from a healthy diet, genetics and a product routine however there is no denying that I have seen a really significant improvement in my skin since adding Truvivity to my daily routine. I have some deep lines in my forehead as a result of old sun damage and these have definitively reduced - infact the overall appearance of my fine lines has improved which delights me… Maybe I can stave off the botox for a little while longer? If you are a bride looking to step up your skincare or simply looking to boost your health and wellbeing I can personally recommend Truvivity. You can contact brand representative Elena here for more details. Amway  Beauty subscription boxes are becoming increasingly popular with cosmetics junkies across the globe and it is not difficult to see why. They are the perfect way to experiment and try new products, especially if you feel stuck in a routine with your beauty routine. These boxes are curated by industry experts to inspire subscribers and I have spent the last few weeks sampling so many boxes on the market and I was amazed at the diversity of box types available. I am often asked by readers and clients if I can recommend a particular beauty box and to be honest, I only knew of the more well known boxes and I have never had personal experience with any of them. As a Beauty Editor, I sample beauty products week in week out, so I haven’t ever had a need to subscribe but I was so excited to see what was available and how they all differed to each other. Whether you are looking for something budget friendly, cruelty free products, a slice of luscious luxury or something more niche such as a health/wellbeing version, there is a plethora of options available. There is also something really exciting about receiving a gorgeously packaged delivery full of self indulgent goodies - a present to you, from you! Some of the boxes have been so beautifully gift wrapped I have been reluctant to even open them. With many of the boxes, there is also an option to purchase gift subscriptions so if you are looking for a present for a loved one (and there are mens boxes available) this can be a really great idea. Here are some of my favourite boxes - all with their own unique selling points; Roccabox The “Selfie Ready” Edit The “Selfie Ready” box is a fabulous mix of beauty products which will help you achieve everything from a fabulous feline eyeliner, nourished skin, refreshed eyes, the glossiest hair and a pout definitely worthy of a insta-selfie. The June edition contained 5 products worth over £65.  Eyeko - Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner (full size) RRP - £16.00 Eyeko Avant - Supreme Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Oxidising DUO Moisturiser (deluxe travel size) RRP - £20.00 Avant-Skincare BeautyPro - Eye Therapy Under Eye Mask RRP - £1.95 BeautyPro MAYY - Velvet Hydro Matte Lipstick RRP - £25.00 Mayy Beauty Charles Worthington - Diamond Shine Shampoo and Conditioner RRP - £4.00 Boots  This box is a cute and budget-friendly beauty subscription box with a no-commitment sign-up. Roccabox is a really affordable way of being able to try a great range of cosmetics. The monthly subscription cost is £10.00 per month (plus £3.95 p&p) but the price reduces if you choose to pay for a 6 monthly plan (£57.00 equivalent to £9.50 per month) or 12 monthly plan (£108.00 equivalent to £9.00 per month) upfront. This is seriously good value given the brands which are included. Previous featured brands also include HUDA Beauty, St Tropez, Smash Box and Nip & Fab. There is also an option for Gift box subscriptions. What is my favourite selling point? Thoughtfully curated and affordable. Available from Roccabox The Pip Box The “Sun Kissed Edit” The June box was filled with 5 beauty products - perfect for seeing you through the summer days ahead. The combination of a bronzed lip gloss for puckering up at sunset, soothing skincare to hydrate and replenish moisture and a spritz of the delicious coconut fragranced hair texture spray will leave you longing for a dreamy beach holiday. You can enjoy 5 products every month with an average combined total of £55.00 + in each box - all of which are cruelty free and vegan friendly.  Umberto Giannini - Catch a Wave Coconut Beach Texture Spray RRP - £7.00 - Umberto Giannini Vitamasques - Black Gold Sheet Mask RRP - £5.99 - Vitamasques Organii - After Sun Lotion RRP - £4.50 (full size £11.95) - Organii MEMI - Lip Gloss in shade After Hours RRP - £10.00 - Memi Makeup Oolution - Feet Good Organic Foot Cream RRP - £15.99 - Oolution Subscriptions are non-contractual so you can cancel at anytime and you can subscribe month-to-month for £20.00 (plus £1.50 EU or £3.50 rest of the world). There are other options available to pre pay upfront and save more pennies. Save £5 for a 3 month subscription, £10 for a 6 month subscription and get a free box for a 12 month subscription - all upfront payments. Gift boxes are available as a one-off purchase. Sign up to their newsletter and receive 50% off your first Pip Box - bonus! What is my favourite selling point? This box is always entirely cruelty free and vegan friendly - and they donate 10% of profits made from beauty boxes to animal friendly charities. Available from ThePipBox Latest in Beauty The “Hot Right Now” Edit I was super excited to get my Latest in Beauty box delivery - mainly because I picked the products myself! This beauty box is different to many others on the market because you create your own profile and choose your own selection of beauty products from an amazing menu of hair, skincare, makeup and body treats. The fact I could choose my own products was really appealing and I was delighted to see some little gems on the list I have been meaning to try for ages. There are various options for to choose from in terms of how many products you will receive. I sampled the Beauty Enthusiast box which includes 6 products for £15.00 per month. The other difference with this box was that most of the products in my delivery were travel-sized. When I checked through some of the other products in the menu, there were larger volumes of products to choose from but for my own selection it was difficult to work out the value of the contents based on the sizes but they were all quality brands (and the Floral Street eau de parfum set of 5 fragrances smell are absolutely divine - particularly Arizona Bloom which has a very unique, punchy fragrance - I love it!) The lipstick was full size with an RRP of £9.00 so the rest of the products combined were definitely much worth more than £6.00 which was the remaining value of the subscription price.  Weleda - Skin Food Cream - 10ml Embryolisse - Lait-Crème Concentré - 5ml Green People - Age Defy + Soft Buff Skin Exfoliator - 10ml Glamglow - Super Toner Exfoliating Acid Solution - 7ml Floral Street - Eau de Parfum 5 x 1.5ml Top Shop - cream lipstick in shade “Ooh La La” (full size)  Other subscriptions available are the Beauty Novice box which includes 3 products for £9.00 per month or Beauty Guru which includes 9 products for £18.00. There is free delivery for all subscription boxes. You can unsubscribe at any time. A one-off box can be purchased for £25.00 (plus p&p) What is my favourite selling point? I love the concept of choosing your own selection and the huge choice of brands and products available. Available from Latest In Beauty Cohorted The “Show Beauty” Edit Cohorted is currently the number 1 premium beauty box brand and is ideal for serious beauty lovers who want to immerse themselves in delicious luxury. This is the most expensive beauty subscription that I have personally tried - and I have been knee high in so many beauty boxes during lockdown working my way through lots of different brand boxes available on the market. As much as I am a fan of a bargain, I obviously love the other end of the scale too - who doesn’t love a luxury version of anything? The “Show Beauty” box arrived and it was soooo heavy! The box itself is very sexy and the products were wrapped in some delicate tissue paper. Infact, the packaging was so pretty I was reluctant to open it! This edit included all products by Tamara Ecclestone’s “Show Beauty” luxury hair care brand. The 5 products had a value of over £200 which is amazing value at £39.99 for a monthly subscription. Cohorted aim to deliver a beauty experience for premium beauty brand fans and this definitely comes across in the quality of the packaging, the product features and the overall value.  Show Beauty - Lux Volume Lotion Show Beauty - Sublime Repair Treatment Mask Show Beauty - Divine Thickening Mist Show Beauty - Decadence Hair Fragrance Show Beauty - Body Shimmer Oil Total RRP price - £205.00 There is also a Classic beauty box option which is a one-off purchase for £50.00. If you have missed a previous subscription box or simply wanting to try before subscribing, this is for you. Also, if you simply fancy an indulgent pamper then try the Mystery beauty box. This is £59.99 with a box value of over £100.00 and filled with at least 13 premium brand products - ranging from skincare, makeup and fragrances and more. What is my favourite selling point? It has to be the luxury factor. The beautiful packaging and the generously sized premium products. Available from Cohorted Glossybox The “World of Beauty” Edit The beautiful iconic pink Glossybox tied with a cute black ribbon does not disappoint when it comes to that feeling of luxurious self care. Glossybox are one of the most well-known beauty subscription boxes on the market and include some of the world’s premium beauty brands as well as sourcing amazing niche beauty products. Each edition contains 5 products worth over £50. The “World of Beauty” June edit featured products from across the globe and were all full size - yay!  Huda Beauty - Life Liner (Very Vanta) RRP - £18.00 - Huda Beauty The Vintage Cosmetic Company - Makeup Removing Cloths RRP - £7.99 - The Vintage Cosmetic Company LASplash Cosmetics - Brush Set (x2 brushes) RRP - £15.00 - Lasplash Cosmetics ModelCo - Liquid Metal Eyeshadow RRP - £15.00 - ModelCo Beautaniq Beauty - Guardian Angel Eye Mask £5.00 - Beautaniq Beauty Due to phenomenal demand, June and July boxes both sold out and pre-orders are now taking place for the August box - so if you want to give it a try you need to act quick! For the real beauty junkies, you can join the Glossy Community where you will receive exclusive offers, hacks and tutorials. Subscriptions start from just £8.50 per month (plus £3.25 p&p) based on paying monthly over 12 months. You can purchase a one-off Glossybox for £10.00 (plus £3.25 p&p).  Glossybox eGift vouchers are available for a 1, 3, 6 or 12 month subscription. What is my favourite selling point? The packaging is super pretty and feminine and all of the products in the box were full size. Available from Glossy Box The Perfume Society The “Launches We Love Discovery Box” Edit This beauty box is entirely unique in that it is filled, literally filled with fragrances. For those of you who enjoy experimenting with new fragrances this is a fabulous way to do it. Personally, I have 2 fragrances that I wear - one for work and one for occasions. I don’t really deviate however I have fallen in love with this concept and have found some new intriguing fragrances that might tempt me away from my usual. The “Launches We Love” box contains 8 sample fragrances to try including 2 large samples of the seriously seductive Escentric Molecules 05 AND a 25ml Skin Sense Anti-Aging Highly Active Day Cream (which is worth £17.00 alone).  Escentric Molecules 05 (x2)
Lalique - Les Compositions Parfumées Blue Rise Molton Brown - Milk Musk Abercrombie & Fitch - Authentic Woman Kenzo - Poppy Bouquet Olfactive O - Woody Eight & Bob - Annicke The Discovery Box Is £19.00 (plus p&p) unless you are a VIP Club Member and then it’s £15.00 (plus p&p). There are other boxes available and I was lucky enough to also sample the Luxury Layering box. This box is designed to layer up using different notes to create your own personalised fragrance. I absolutely adore this idea and would be perfect for brides who want to create a special unique long-lasting fragrance for the big day. The Luxury Layering box has now unfortunately sold out but I have been told that the new Niche Collection IV Discovery Box is also fabulous. I have no doubt in that - I absolutely love what the 2 boxes I have tried so far. What is my favourite selling point? The unique concept of a dedicated fragrance box (with a cheeky bonus skin care product thrown in) and very reasonable priced. It is simply fabulous! Available from Perfume Society |
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