M&S does it again: THE beauty advent calendar to have

Posted in Beauty, Body, hair, Make Up, nails, Skincare by Dani - So Many Lovely Things

Who remembers last year’s furore about the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar? At a very affordable £35, when you spend £35 on non-food items, the 2015 calendar delivered great value.

Now it’s back and if you think last year’s was good, wait until you see this: the 2016 M&S Beauty Advent Calendar comes with 25 amazing surprises; a mix of well know brands classics and plenty to discover.

And the “Christmas tree of love” (ok, I made it up) shape? How amazing will that look in your home in the run up to Christmas?

Now, the deal is the same. You get over £250 worth of beauty products, covering skincare, makeup, hair, body and nails for £35 when you spend £35 in non-food items.

What my favourites are, you ask? Well… I have to say it is hard to pick… My top three are (drumroll)..

Eyeko Skinny liner – a fabulous pen eyeliner that changed my life and ignited my love of pen eyeliner. It’s super black, precise and durable. Enough said.

Alpha H Liquid Gold – a resurfacing “all-in-one” product dubbed the overnight facial is a quick fix for skin. I love Alpha H, so was very happy to see this in the calendar. The miracle product for the party season (I may have put it back on the calendar on day 1, maybe).

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse – a multi-use oil for face, body and hair, it is a blend of six precious oils. Delicious! And fab for winter skin.

I can’t leave out the M&S Autograph nail polish in Cranberry, which is super festive and fabulous, exclusive for the calendar.

On the other 21 expect a fantastic selection to help you get through the party season!

Here are the brands waiting for you: Alpha H, Autograph, Eyeko, Nuxe, Leighton Denny, Look Good Feel Better, Percy & Reed, Philip Kingsley, Shay & Blue, Josh Wood, Ultrasun, Pür, Filorga, Burts Bees, Pixi, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Rodial, Nails Inc, Rosie for Autograph, Rituals, Emma Hardie, Ren, Skyn Iceland, Formula Absolute and Studio 10.

The fantastic M&S Beauty Advent Calendar goes on sale on the 11th November; hurry, even thought this year the calendar is bigger and better (and many more are available), it is bound to sell out!

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

29Dec2015

So Many Lovely Things beauty retrospective 2015: skincare

Posted in Beauty by Dani - So Many Lovely Things

skincare_retrospective_somanylovelythings In 2015 I fell in love with skincare even more. I really drilled onto the nurturing aspect of dealing with my difficult and acneic skin, and the results, overall, are amazing.

Another very tough choice as the options are aplenty and great, but here we go:

Facial oil

Dr Jackson Facial Oil: what an oil, what an amazing brand. The product is rich and nourishing, a delight to use. My skin loves it.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Oil: what a delight. I am a fan of the Eight Hour Cream, and this oil delivers in all areas: face, body and skin. It’s light and locks moisture for the long haul.

Face cream

Day

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: super light, a delight under makeup, steady moisturistion during the day.

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Broad Spectrum anti-wrinkle protect cream: lovely smell and texture, great moisturisation and SPF20.

This works light time skin plumper: super light and efficient, it’s plump-tastic. Plus the smell heps you wake up.

Night

Dermalogica pure night: light, moisturising and directed to pigmentation issues.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Cream: rich with oil goodness and a fab smell.

Serum

Skinceauticals Blemish+Age Defense: the product that has it all for my skin type. It fights blemishes and ageing signs. Very fluid, easily absorbed and works a treat.

Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus: a fluid moisturing serum, quickly absorbed by the skin which smells of roses.

Liz Earle Superskin Face Serum: thicker than your usual, but light on the skin. Full of goodness and perfect for night.

Bee Good Hydrate, Smooth and Prime Serum: having honey as main ingredient, this light serum is quickly absorbed to create a semi-matte finish.

Hydration booster

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster: a little pot of goodness with a fluid, water-like liquid that delivers a boost of lasting hydration to your skincare routine.

Skinceauticals Hydrating B5: also fluid and water-like, works to potentialise the effects of your other mositurisers.

Lip balm

Nivea lip butter: still a favourite, not losing its place in my favourites. This year, the coconut version is the star!

Eye cream

Ole Henriksen ultimate lift eye gel: bright blue and super light, this gel is refreshing and super light, perfect for day.

Dermalogica intensive eye repair: also very light and extra moisturising.

S5 renew eye cream: a brand close to my heart that makes the most amazing products. This eye cream is supple, light and super moisturising.

Facial wash

s5_clarity_cleanser_review - 2 S5 Clarity Cleanser: a star. Ever so gentle, cleans deeply, soothes and helps with blemishes.

a light foam that cleans deep. Skin feels purified and there’s no tightness.

Face scrub

Alpha H Micro Cleanse Exfoliator: with glycolic acid, this granulated product exfoliates and polishes skin, in a gentle manner. Skin feels renewed and radiant after use.

PMD Microdermabrasion: an amazing personal microdermabrasion device. Used weekly, I really felt a difference after a few uses.

Best all rounder

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: no praises spared on this one. Fabulous all-rounder for the face, I use on lips and occasionally on the skin when the wind gets stronger. Amazing regenerative properties, so great for scrapes.

Blemish fighting

Malin + Goetz Sulphur paste: spot zapping at its best. This weird product does work a treat, you do, however, have to put up with white patches on the face. One to use overnight.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I.: a gentle target breakout corrector. Not a killer zapper, but a gentle worker.

Face masks

Trilogy Mineral Radiance Mask: a lovely dark clay mask that is super moisturising. A great treat.

Caudalie Instant Detox Mask: a pink clay mask that purifies and tightens without drying. In fact, all Caudalie masks are ace, I also use the Glycolic Peel and the Moisturizing mask which are fab.

Toners

I love a good toner, and the Pixi Glow Tonic is just that. Slightly exfoliating, it delivers radiance within days of use. And has a great price.

The Clinique Anti-Blemish Clarifying Lotion is great for when skin is not behaving well and is breaking out.

When skin is sensitive (after microdermabrasion or exfoliation), the dermalogica multi-vitamin toner saves the day as it’s very mild and hydrating.

Pre-routine

bodyshop_oils_of_life_review - 1 I wasn’t sure how to call the Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion, but it’s in. It’s fresh, slightly moisturising and a delight to use.

Face mist

Can’t live without a face mist, and in the winter even more so. The Pixi Glow Mist is a firm favourite and delivers in all areas.

The Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist is fresh and an office staple, and the Liz Earle Skin Booster Tonic Spritzer is nourishing and refreshing. Long live the facial mists!

What products couldn’t your skin live without in 2015?

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