The Body Shop Skin Defence Essence SPF 50 PA++++

Finding a suitable daily sunscreen/SPF can be pretty tricky, that is why I am still on a hunt for one. For my liking it shouldn't leave a white cast, cause breakouts or feel greasy. On top of that it should provide a sufficient level of protection, have a relatively clean list of ingredients and be cruelty-free. In the past I have enjoyed using Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 but it no longer ticks all the boxes for me. Hence, I decided to branch out and try Body Shop's Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 PA++++.

The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50++++

The product comes in a simple white tube which for some reason reminds me of asian skincare packaging. I quite like it. You get 40ml of product and it has an expiration time of 12 months. The texture is quite runny and lightweight. It absorbs extremely fast into the skin without leaving a white cast. If you are not careful and over apply (which tends to happen since the consistency is watery and it's harder to control how much product comes out) it can make your face look shiny. For me this is not an all-year-round product. I prefer something a bit more nourishing during the winter months.

It doesn't have a typical sunscreen scent, which is a bummer because weirdly enough I do enjoy it. The scent it does have, in my opinion, is quite overpowering with a strong reminiscence of alcohol. It also tends to linger on the skin for a prolonged period of time. 

In terms of ingredients it contains Alcohol Denat at the very top of the list, which explains the borderline alcohol scent. Alcohol can be drying and irritating especially for sensitive skin. Perfume is another irritant that can be found in this product and something to be wary of. Among other ingredients it has Red algae extract and Vitamin C but in rather low amounts as these appear at the bottom of the list. This product hasn't broken me out after continuous use.

Overall, I was not a fan of this product. I was actually looking forward to using it up and trying something else instead. It's overly perfumed, has a too high concentration of alcohol to be used on a daily basis, didn't do much for my skin and frankly speaking is extremely overpriced for what it is (in Finland it retails for 29,50 Euros). As such my search for a perfect SPF continues... 

If you know of any good cruelty-free sunscreen with a clean list of ingredients, do let the girl know!

Until next time,

Muffy

Don't Look At Me Fresh Mask

Lush fresh mask Don't Look At Me

I am always up for trying Lush fresh masks, mainly because it's a nice perk when you return 5 empty black pots. If I recall correctly I have tried almost all of them, but Don't Look At Me is a newer addition to the line. Without any hesitation I decided to pick it up and let's be honest the colour was just too fun to pass. 

As with all Lush fresh masks it comes in a black pot made from recycled material. Since these masks are fresh, they have a much shorter shelf-life compared to your traditional face masks and need to be stored in a fridge. Don't Look At Me is an exfoliating mask which helps to smooth and brighten your complexion. 

Some of the key ingredients are: fresh organic orange juice, murumuru butter, organic silken tofu, rice syrup, grounded white rice, grapefruit oil and neroli oil. It's vegan and cruelty-free.

The texture is that of a scrub, so you can feel the tiny little granules of rice when lathering the mask on your face. It has a fresh invigorating scent, not too intense, which I quite enjoy. You leave it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse it off. I usually never keep track of time so sometimes I end up having it on for 20-25 minutes and it hasn't caused any itching or irritation to the skin.

In terms of results it brightens and smooths out the skin. That being said, it's not that different from other scrubs or exfoliating masks I have tried before. Despite having the murumuru butter, I feel that it leaves my skin feeling a little bit tight, therefore I always follow up with a hydrating mask.

I think Don't Look At Me is an OK mask. It does what is says, but it lacks the WOW factor for me, if you discard the poping aquamarine colour. Do keep in mind that it's a fresh mask and you might not use all of it up prior to its expiration date. Granted you are like me and you prefer to rely on chemical exfoliators and rarely remember to use physical ones. My all-time favourite Lush fresh mask is still the Catastrophe Cosmetic, and I'd highly recommend picking that one up if you can't decide which one to get.

I hope you found this useful and let me know what's your favourite Lush fresh face mask and/or which one would you like to try next!

Until next time,
Muffy

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask

I have been on a hunt for a reasonably priced hydrating mask after I have run out of the Glam Glow one which is extremely pricey and not in my budget at the moment. Having looked around I decided to pick up the Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask and see if it's any good. I have been using it for a good few months and now feel comfortable sharing my thoughts with you. 

As always let's start with the packaging. It comes in a squeeze tube with no outer cardboard packaging. The design is pretty basic and non-offensive. You get 118ml of product which is a good amount and should last for quite some time. It has a shelf life of 12 months after opening. It has no distinct scent. It's cruelty free, non-irritating, fragrance free and made in the USA. It's suitable for normal, dry and very dry skin.

When it comes to ingredients it's packed with various oils such as borage seed oil, evening primrose oil, olive fruit oil and apricot kernel oil. It doesn't contain PEGs which I personally try to avoid in my skincare. 

In terms of consistency it's on a thicker side but non-greasy. It glides over the face easily and absorbs quite quickly without leaving a sticky residue, which I appreciate. You can use this product as a typical mask leaving it for 20 min and rinsing it off or as an overnight mask. I prefer using it as an overnight mask. Occasionally when my skin feels exceptionally dry I use it as a night cream on consecutive days and it has worked well in this way too.

I will continue using this product and think it's a good one if you want a basic straightforward hydrating mask. It won't do miracles but no skincare will, but it will help relieve dry, irritated skin. It doesn't cost a fortune and the squeeze tube packaging helps retain the properties of light and air-sensitive ingredients.

I hope you found this helpful. I'd be happy to hear if you have tried Paula's Choice skincare and what you would recommend!

Until next time,
Muffy

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

I am such a sucker for Lush products. This time around I had an opportunity to try the Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash. Don't get put off by the name, you don't need to have a beard to use this product. As a matter of fact I was positively surprised by how well it works for me. 

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

As with all Lush products it comes in a minimalistic plastic packaging that is recyclable. You can bring 5 empty black pots (or spray bottles, which I was not aware of but since they are made of the same plastic they do count as well) and get a free fresh mask. You can purchase this product in two sizes. I grabbed the smaller one just to see how I get along with it. I do have to say that I am not a fan of dipping my fingers into the pot as opposed to having a pump, but that is just a minor inconvenience. 

When it comes to ingredients it includes: almond oil, apricot kernel oil, organic jojoba oil and fresh pineapple juice just to name a few. It's vegan and cruelty-free. This product does contain perfume and parabens, so keep that in mind if that is something you are wary of. 

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

It has quite a strong but pleasant scent of something citrusy and spa combined. I find it up-lifting especially in the morning. That being said if you don't like strong scents you might not like this. I am pretty picky when it comes to scents and very often prefer un-fragranced skincare products but weirdly enough I don't mind this one.

The product has a creamy texture, like that of a body butter. It's incredibly soft and silky. It doesn't dry my skin out but leaves it feeling super clean and soft. It hasn't broken me out or caused any sort of irritation to my sensitive skin. 

Overall I think it's a good cleanser with no extra bells and whistles. I would recommend using it as a second cleanse, after you have taken off your makeup or spf. I think the small pot (100g) would last a reasonable amount of time, since you don't really need much. As said I am a little bit iffy about the whole pot concept for something that I use on a daily basis. However, I can understand that perhaps the consistency could be troublesome for squeeze tube packaging.  

As always I hope you found this helpful. Do let me know what are your favourite Lush products, if any!

Cheers,
Muffy

Laura Mercier Highlight 01

I have been eyeing this product for over a year, but it hasn't been easy to get it where I live due to shipping restrictions or the product being simply out of stock. However, I was lucky enough to get it as a birthday present from my friend, oh boy was I stoked. The product I am referring to is the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01, also commonly known as the Highlight 01. Spoiler alert - it did not disappoint, but to find out all the nitty-gritty details keep on reading!

Laura Mercier Highlight 01

Let's start with the packaging first. The product comes in a sleek black plastic compact, which in my opinion is unnecessarily bulky. Personally I would have preferred a slimmer packaging but I can understand where the company was coming from. Highlighting powders tend to be extremely fragile so I guess a heftier packaging makes it more secure. If that is the case or not, I am not sure and hopefully wouldn't have to find out.

You get 7,5g of product which is a generous amount, considering how little you need per application.For comparison Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink contains 6g of product. In terms of ingredients it contains vitamin E and jojoba oil, which makes the formula less drying. It does however contain talc, therefore if you are sensitive or simply want to avoid it, this might not be the product for you. On the outer packaging it does say that the product has been dermatologically and allergy tested to minimize the risk of allergy and irritation. It hasn't broken me out, but this is just my experience. This product has a shelf life of 18 months. According to the research I have done I consider Laura Mercier to be cruelty-free. 

Laura Mercier Highlight 01- smooth baked powder formula

The product itself is of a dome-shape and is super silky and smooth to the touch. It doesn't contain any chunks of glitter or shimmer. When I dip my brush into the product, it does kick off a bit of powder. As a result I expect the compact to get messy especially with a prolonged use. That doesn't bother me, as I am pretty real with my makeup, but wanted to throw it out there just in case.

I would describe the highlight colour as a nude. It's not too cool nor too warm. It's extremely brightening on the cheekbones. Due to its finely-milled formulation it doesn't emphasise any texture on the skin and believe me I do have plenty. It provides an ethereal glow without being too obvious. If you want you can build it up for a more intense glow without looking like a disco-ball. It has a very good lasting power, when I come home in the evening I can still see it. It's a perfect highlighter if you work in an office environment or for those days when you don't prefer to be seen from outer space. 

Laura Mercier Highlight 01 swatch in a day light

Overall, I am very pleased with this product and will happily continue using it. If you have been afraid of highlighters because they would emphasise every pore and unevenness on your skin, or you can't decide what colour would work you, I would highly recommend checking this one out. It's not cheap but you get a good amount of product that will last you a long time. If your primary concern is finding a highlighter that doesn't contain talc I would keep my eyes peeled out for the new Makeup Geek highlighters that should be launching sometime in the near future.

Let me know what is your go-to highlighter and whether you prefer a subtle or a popping glow!

Until next time,

Muffy