Bee Good - Cleansing Water, Hand-cream and Lip-balm

If you are a regular reader of my blog then you will have seen my recent review of the Bee Good Cream Cleanser. I was impressed! Firstly the packaging of the product was beautiful but, beyond that, the company is so feel good with it's natural ingredients and commitment to work with British bees. I have been using the cleanser daily since and love everything from the scent to the softness of my skin after use. With all that in mind, I jumped at the chance to sample a few more products from the range.

All of these products came in the brown corrugated cardboard packets as before - different sizes depending on the size of the bottle. They all had the bee ribbon and the label as shown above. The label is one of the nicest touches of the packaging and something I instantly fell in love with. The message is printed on special paper which can be ripped up and planted to grow wild flowers which attract bees!

Now on to the products themselves:

Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water £10*

I love cleansing waters and use them every night in my skincare routine. I usually use them to remove my makeup before I properly cleanse my face and not instead of a cleanser. The product claims to remove makeup, cleanse and tone the skin with no need for water. I wear a lot of makeup and I like to complete these steps individually so I don't use this product as a 3-in-1 but it is capable of this and I would perhaps use only this if I was in a rush or had worn little or no makeup that day. I soak 2 cotton pads in this product and sweep it over my face, including my eyes, to remove the bulk of the products from my skin. This cleanser is incredibly sensitive to the eye area and it's honestly like wiping water over my eyes. It's not heavily scented but does have a slight minty smell. This does a lovely job of makeup removal and leaves skin very smooth. I would be tempted to still use eyemakeup remover as it can take a few pads of this to remove stubborn waterproof mascara.

Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair £12*

As I have mentioned before, I am a sucker for a handcream! I don't actually have dry patches on my hands, I just like to keep them soft and hope it will aid me when my skin starts to show signs of aging. I love the packaging of this. It's really compact meaning it would be great for having in a bag, very sturdy and unlikely to leak and has a pump for easy application. Bee Good make a daily hand cream also however the one I have is the intensive hand repair. I keep a hand cream in my bag and one next to my bed and this has become my bedside product. This cream is amazing. On application you can instantly feel this cream working. It's thick but absorbs well and leaves a residue which is waxy but not sticky at all. It has a lovely, light scent which is sweet and floral. I almost wish that I didn't love this so much because it would be a great cream to pass on to my sister. She is a chef and her hands are always suffering from burns and cuts and are looking pretty battered! She is always looking for a decent hand cream and this would definitely be a good one for her!

Vanilla & Honey Lip Balm £4.75*

I love the packaging of this lipbalm and always love a balm that applies in one of these squeezy tubes. It took me a good few days of using this to get it to work for me. The formulae is lovely and this has a nice vanilla scent however I found it absorbed quickly into the lips leaving me feeling like I needed to apply it often. I like my lips to have product on them so that they almost slide together. This product is conditioning and absorbs rather than leaving a residue. To make this work for me I have been applying it as a moisturising base for lipstick or at night time. It works well for both purposes. During the day I use this sparingly, patting it into my lips before applying colour. At night time I apply a thick layer, almost like a mask, and wake up with super soft lips. This is also a great priced product and would make a nice gift.

Having tried a large selection of the range I am completely impressed! These products are high end quality but without the price tags.

For more information or to purchase, visit the webiste:

beegood.co.uk

*PR Samples

 

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Docteur Renaud’s New Mango Hand & Nail Repair Cream - Review

I would consider myself a little obsessed with hand cream. I began using it regularly a few years ago when I read about ageing hands being the first thing to give a woman's age away. I am 26 and this isn't a very relevant problem but, even still, I have been applying it several times a day since. So much so I recently recieved a card from a pupil which read: Keep Calm and Use Handcream ...... they know me well!

Recently I have filled my obsession by using the new Mango Hand and Nail Repair Cream from Dr Renaud*. With impressive ingredients such as mango oil, mango butter and shea butter; this product is guaranteed to nourish the skin. It also contains vitamin B6 and pro vitamin B5 of help strengthen nails. The product is also paraben free and suitable for all skin types.

Packaging is fairly important in a handcream because they are so likely to get carried about. Personally I have one in my handbag at all times and it gets tossed about and squashed by other things and the last thing I want is a leakage! This cream is in a lovely peach coloured tube; sturdy and with a tight fitting lid that hasn't shown signs of budging yet.

The tube contains a large 75ml of product which will last a considerable amout of time, even with my regular usuage, because a little goes a long way. The photo above is actually too much for one application and I ended up having to put some on my friend! Go for a pea sized amount with this one.

I have never been a huge fan of sweet fruity smells and I can't say I am overly keen on this one. My friend however thought it was lovely and I do like that of isn't overpowering. When absorbed into the skin it leaves a lovely subtle mango scent which I enjoy.

I don't actually have dry patches on my hands, just tightness after washing, however I can imagine this would be lovely and soothing for dry areas. The cream applies quite thickly and has quite a waxy consistency when being massaged in which means it instantly soothes the skin. It absorbs quickly and isn't sticky at all. After application I can still feel the product on my skin in the form of a light residue but it isn't greasy and doesn't transfer, not even onto my touchscreens.

At £13.50 this is a fairly pricey hand cream but worth it in that it will last a long time and the ingredients are worth boasting about.

For more information or to purchase, see the website:

www.doctor-renaud.co.uk

*PR Sample

 

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Balance Me Summer Competition - Beauty Voyage

A quick post from me today but I really wanted to tell you all about this great compeition that Balance Me are running for summer! The idea is to take a holiday snap with one of your Balance Me products and post it to Twitter or Facebook! Every week throughout July and August there will be 2 winners picked who will recieve a selection of lovely products! How easy is that!

If you are lucky enough to be going abroad then use the hashtag #balancemeaway and if you are having a wee staycation then use #balancemehome

I would love to see your pics so tag me in them too @thepowderednose

In case I haven't explained it well, see the flyer below!

Balance Me have kindly send me this Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm £10* to get me started on the compeition! I went camping at the weekend but forgot to take a snap so I will have to get my entry in on my next trip!

Good luck everyone!

*PR Sample

 

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Male Grooming - The Bluebeards Revenge

As I have explained in my previous male grooming posts, my boyfriend isn't exactly what you would call groomed! Before helping me on the blog he owned one hair wax and a shower gel and that was pretty much his beauty routine taken care of! There are some men who embrace male beauty products and there are others who say it's just all for girls! Looking at the funky packaging of The Bluebeards Revenge I would say this range is aimed at the lads who aren't going to be reaching for a facemask anytime soon, let alone a manscara!

I love the packaging of these products, it's funky but without being childlike and would definitely appeal to young adults. The boxes are dark blue with a silver skull and cross bones; giving a pirate feel like the name suggests. The inside of the box is printed to look like a newspaper which is also a nice touch. The bottles themselves are metal with pumps. I love metal bottles and these would look good in a bathroom but definitely wouldn't be confused with ladies products!

Now onto the products themselves. Lewis doesn't shave very often but when he was going to, he took out the Shaving Solution £9.99* and gave it a go. In the past few male grooming features Lewis has tried shaving oils, creams and foams and this is none of those; it's a shaving solution. This was a bit of a problem for Lewis as he didn't really know what to do with it or what to expect. He applied the product to his face but felt like he had to use a lot of it, which was a mission with a pump applicator, in order to get good coverage for a close shave. When he finally felt he had sufficiently covered his face, he got a good shave but wasn't blown away by the product.

Then he moved on to the moisturiser with which he had a totally different reaction! The Cooling Moisturiser £9.99* advises careful application as a little goes a long way. Lewis was hooked on this instantly and insisted I try some. This has a nice scent but it's definitely a manly smell! As soon as you apply this to your face is seems to melt into the skin and leave a tingling feeling. It's a lovely sensation which I can imagine would be just what skin needs after shaving. Lewis doesn't use this daily, mainly because he is saving it, but uses it after shaving or when his skin needs a little boost.

If your man is a little scared off by beauty products then this is a great brand to phase him in. This is definitely a brand for manly men and lads! The website also offers gift sets which would he a lovely gift for a teenager or young adult.

For more information or to purchase, see the website:

bluebeards-revenge.co.uk

 

*PR Sample

 

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Giveaway Win - Katiemayoxx

Recently I won my first giveaway - hosted by Katiemayoxx on her YouTube channel. I do enter quite a lot of giveaways but will only enter them if they are hosted by someone I already follow. I like to follow for blog content, not for a giveaway entry. I have been subscribed to Katie for ages now and have watched all of her videos. I get really excited when she posts a new one and instantly watch it. If you haven't already then please check out her channel, she has a great welsh accent and she is so funny!

Now on to the prize that I am so grateful to have recieved from Katie.

All of the products came in the clear makeup bag. As you can see, the bag is really full!

Eylure Pre-Glued Lashes I used to wear false lashes a lot but actually haven't worn them in years. I already have these somewhere so I will either start wearing them again or pass these on to a friend.

Impress Press-on Manicure I usually have gel extensions but recently my nail have needed a break from constant manicures. I actually wore these last weekend to a wedding to jazz my nails up for the night while they are having their break. A friend of mine applied these once and they began to fall off after 5 minutes! I actually got on a lot better with my set. I had to glue 2 nails on through the night but other than that they all stayed put.

MeMeMe Beat the Blues I have seen this product a lot and have the cheek tint from the same range. This is supposed to be a dupe for Benefit High Beam. I usually use powder highlighter but I will give this a go and see what I think.

Nivea Lip Butter Raspberry Rose I have never tried one of these lip butters but have always wanted to so I am really chuffed with this item! This smells really nice; like real raspberries rather than an artificial scent.

Maybelline Color Show in Love Lilac and Nebline These nails polishes are the most gorgeous pastel shades that will be lovely with summer dresses! The lilac is particularly gorgeous because it has little flecks of purple and blue glitter through it.

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer I actually already have this and don't use it very often, mainly because I don't wear a lot of face primer. I will probably keep this as a back up for when I finish my other tube.

Collection Sheer Loose Powder I also have this powder already but I love it and would have repurchased so this will save me the need!

Maybelline Feline Fabulous Eye Make-up Kit I have seen this kit before and been tempted so I'm delighted to have won one. This contains the Great Lash mascara and Gel Eyeliner. I don't wear a lot of gel liner but I have always wanted to try this mascara as it is the No1 best selling mascara in the US.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water I have been dying to try this so I'm delighted with it! I have heard amazing things about this and the bottle claims to give 200 uses which is really amazing. Can't wait to get using it to remove my makeup!

 

Huge thanks to Katie for hosting this giveaway. Don't forget to check out her channel!

 

 

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Fresh Therapies Natural Nail Polish Remover

Fresh Therapies Natural Nail Polish £8.99*

I wear gel extensions so I don't often wear nail polish however, with it now being sandal weather, I have been painting my toe nails. I hate nail polish remover. It smells awful and you really have to fumigate your room after using it. When I heard about this natural product I was very keen to give it a go. Could an all natural product really remove nail polish as effectively as the chemicals?

Firstly the packaging. The product is fairly small at 50ml but comes in a gorgeous tall and slim glass bottle within a green box. The box is printed with the cruelty free sign plus suitable for vegans. A lot of the ingredients are unheard of however these are vegetable extracts.

I applied a small amount of the product to a piece of kitchen roll. It suggests a cotton pad but I always like to use kitchen roll as you only need one piece to do all 10 nails. I had intended to use the first amount to remove polish from just one nail but a little of this stuff goes a long way! I ended up using it for 5 nails before dispensing another small amout for the other foot. With this being a natural product, I was expecting to have to scrub a little harder than usual. I was wrong. The colour came away easily and no scrubbing was required.

So the packaging is lovely, the ingredients are natural and it removes polish ...... but how does it smell?! Actually really nice! The product describes itself as lime scented. This does come through but really I would say this smells almost a little menthol and very fresh, not at all chemically. I am really impressed.

At £8.99 this is very pricey for nail varnish remover, which is usually only a couple of pounds. If you are conscious of ingredients and don't want to put chemicals on your skin then this is definitely worth the money. It's also a lovely packaged product which would be lovely added to a gift. I have a few friends who are nail polished obsessed so I intend to make them little hampers and add this for a birthday or Christmas gift.

For more information see freshtherapies.com

*PR Sample

 

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Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream - Review

I am not a fan of BB creams and I have never been entirely sold on CC creams. I like the coverage of a foundation and have never felt the need to use anything lighter. When I heard about this one though, I decided to pick it up given it's excellent reviews. Colour Correcting creams claim to even out skin tone to give a smooth skin look, meaning you may not need a full face of foundation. I have no problem with wearing foundation everyday but it may save me a little money if I were able to have days without it.

The packaging is fairly standard, a tube with a thin nozzle for precise application. I was quite surprised at how thin the consistency was, like a liquid foundation. I prepped my face with a little moisturiser and applied a thin layer of this product using only my finger tips. The cream applies well, blends easily and feels nice on the skin.

As you can see, one thin coat really did even out my complexion. I have a pretty serious breakout on my chin just now and the product did a lot to remove some of the redness from it.

Although I was impressed, I do prefer a higher coverage so I took a tiny amount of my regular foundation and blended it into problem areas like my chin. This added the coverage I needed without using a full face of foundation.

I set my makeup with a little powder and it stayed in place all day.

At £9.99 this is a reasonably priced product. It would be fantastic for good skin days or for those who don't want or need to wear foundation. How much I will use it remains to be seen but I am happy to have it in my collection, especially for these summer months.

 

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The Glamour Beauty Edit Box - Latest in Beauty

I like beauty boxes and have subscribed to a fair few over the last 2 years. These have always been subscriptions though and I haven't ever ordered a one off special box, like the ones from Latest in Beauty. When I saw this Glamour box and how packed with products it was, I knew I had to have it.

The box itself is lovely! A cute bright pink lips design, which was also on the sticker inside. When you open the box you have two cards; the product information and some beauty offers.

This box was £16.95 delivered. That's just £3 more than Glossybox and yet look how full it is! Now on to the products.

This is a summer box so it's nice to see some summery products. First up, Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan BB Skin Perfector £6.99. I am not a huge fan of the Rimmel instant tan but this is a new formula that is supposed to have more benefits for your skin. I will definitely give this a go at some point and it's a great full sized item.

Next up, a very handy item - Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion SPF30 £5.99. I am very careful when it comes to suncream and this is a handy size for the handbag. SPF30 is also really decent and perfect for the sun we get in Scotland! Very happy with this one and I will likely be using it very soon.

Next up, an item that would have sold this box to a lot of people, Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick £18.50. Mine is in the shade Naked which is a very brown toned nude. I wasn't sure if this was going to be too dark for me but I tried it out, bumped into a friend and was instantly complemented on it! It also lasted a really long time on my lips.

I have always meant to pick up a Bourjois Cream Blush £7.99 but have never got round to it. This one is in shade 02 and is a lovely natural colour for summer. I look forward to seeing if they are worth the hype.

This next item was so interesting that I couldn't wait to try it and instantly used it! Magnifibres Brush-On False Lashes £21. The idea of this is that it lengthens your lashes, making them appear as though you are wearing falsies. It's very easy to use and I got on well with the application. You apply a coat of your regular mascara, quickly followed by a coat of the fibres which you allow 60 seconds to dry. When these are set you apply another coat of mascara. The steps can be repeated to add more length and volume but I find it begins to become very clumpy. The results, although nothing like the pictures, are good and my lashes definitely looked more striking than usual. It also stayed in place for a whole day which is impressive.

I am not really a wearer of nail polish but this Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Laquer £6 is a lovely pale shade and nice for everyday use. I actually didn't know that this brand made nail varnishes!

I have never had much luck with oil cleansers but I'm always willing to try again. This DHC Deep Cleansing Oil £4.50 is sample size at 30ml but will still provide a lot of uses.

Lastly, a hair product. I don't actually use many hair products but maybe that is something I should be changing! Toni&Guy Volume Plumping Whip £7.19 sounds interesting and I will experiment with it at some point!

At the bottom of the box was this Velvotan Tan Mitt £2.99. I tan all the time and always use a mitt so this is a welcome extra as I go through a lot of them!

As you can see, an amazing box packed full of great products!

If you got this box, let me know what you thought!

 

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