glowupbeautyblog: August 2020

August Birchbox UK 2020 Review

By Glow Up Beauty Blog - August 27, 2020

The July's Birchbox was one of the best beauty boxes I have ever received, so August's box had a very thought spot being after such a successful box. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the August box as well even if a few items were a big disappointment.

On August's box I got these 5 products:

Amika - Soulfood Nourishing Mask
Realher - Incredible Bronzer
VO - Pineapple Peeling Gel
Sunny Isle - Jamaican Black Castor Oil Eyelash & Eyebrow Serum 59ml (full size)
Lord & Berry - Line & Shade Glam eye pencil - colour Dore 230 (full size)

Amika - Soulfood Nourishing Mask 20ml

I use hair masks all the time and I loved this little mask, but the 20ml on my long bleached hair didn't really last for long. The mask is nice and nourishing and has a sophisticated fruity scent that I enjoyed. It has some natural ingredients like Jojoba Oil and Seabuckthorn Oil that I really like.

Overall would I purchase this? I'm not too sure, I really enjoyed the hair mask and I used it up quickly but did it wow me? Not really. I will most likely stick to my drugstore hair masks that I currently use.

Score: 3/5

Lord & Berry - Line & Shade Glam eye pencil - colour Dore 230 (full size)

I feel like I have seen Lord & Berry makeup before on a lot of beauty boxes, so I wasn't too excited when I saw this on the box. When applying to the hand I got a bit excited the colour seemed beautiful and I wanted to try this on my lid asap. Unfortunately, this item was a big disappointment for me. It didn't show up on my lid, the pencil was so hard that even pressing hard I felt that no colour came out of the pencil. After that I tried to use it as a liner, same thing happened no colour payoff, no glide, just irritated eyes, in the end I tried to apply it first to my hand and then took my finger to pat it to my lid, while this actually worked the shade that I was able to build up to my lid looked just muddy and not appealing at all.

Would I purchase this? Definitely not, I will throw this item out as I won't use it and I don't think anyone else would enjoy it either.

Score: 0/5

Realher - Incredible Bronzer

I have never heard about this brand before and I was super excited to try out a new bronzer. When I received this I admired the beautiful packaging - marble compact with a mirror. While I wouldn't personally need a mirror on a mini bronzer, I really liked that they had invested money in an item that people would be trying out.

The bronzer itself, I'm not 100% sure if I love it or hated. Complexion products are my favourite and I love bronzers, blushers and powders. There is a lot of good things about this bronzer, it is super smooth and buttery, it applies well and the colour seems to be very blendable and usable for many skin tones including my pale skin.

Then there are things that I wonder about, the bronzer seems to have a bit of a sheen that seems to make my skin look a bit muddy, but I'm not sure if it is just the tone of the bronzer that has a bit of olive undertone to it or the sheen.

Overall I enjoy this bronzer. The packaging is gorgeous the bronzer is buttery and I will definitely use this up.

Score: 4/5

Sunny Isle - Jamaican Black Castor Oil Eyelash & Eyebrow Serum 59ml (full size)

To be honest, I don't really have a lot to say about this product. It had leaked a bit when it arrived, but it was not a big deal, it happens. When seeing it on the box, I knew I didn't really have use for this product other than oil it was as I don't really believe the power of Castor Oil growing you eyelashes and eyebrows and I don't really need a serum for them either.

The serums comes with a mascara wand which was handy and the oil itself is pure Castor oil which has a nice thick texture and it is easy to apply to eyebrows and eyelashes. I will definitely use this up as a normal oil - use it as face oil, hair oil or cuticle oil. So overall this was an ok item to receive,

Score: 2/5 (just wasn't for me)

VO - Pineapple Peeling Gel swatch on arm

VO - Pineapple Peeling Gel 20ml

This was one of the items I was super excited to try. I had been eying their website for a few weeks thinking about making a purchase, so this came perfect time. Overall I'm not a big fan of exfoliators as I have thin and sensitive skin, so there is not a lot of use out of exfoliator for me. Anyways I was really interested what type of peeling gel VO had created.

The packaging itself is a super cute yellow tube. The formula is a thick gel, but when applied on the skin and massaged in it pills up to small crumbles that exfoliate the skin gently. This was a pleasure to use and the crumbles very gentle enough for my skin. Also 20ml is a good size for this to try.

Why I really enjoyed using this, it didn't wow me. It was nice, didn't irritate my skin, but overall I couldn't see any big difference on my skin. Most likely on someone else's skincare routine, this could be a great addition but for me, my skin doesn't really need it.

Score: 4/5

You can purchase Birchbox UK here: https://www.birchbox.co.uk/

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Loreal

Loreal Paradise Summer Review

By Glow Up Beauty Blog - August 23, 2020

I did a Loreal summer makeup haul in Superdrug a few months ago and I want to share with you some gems from the haul. For summer I really enjoy wearing more dewy lightweight foundations and my first summer purchase was Loreal's Skin Paradise Tinted Water Cream.

Loreal' Skin Paradise Tinter Water Cream SPF20

First I just want to mention that I love lightweight skin-perfecting glowy bb creams/foundations and I have been on a hunt for a next holy grail especially as my habit of using Lumene's Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Fresh Skin Tint is quite an expensive one it being £32.80 for 30ml.

What is promises:

24H hydration & natural radiant finish
Quenches the skin with moisture and tones up complexion for a perfect healthy glow
With water, aloe vera, ginger and witch hazel

When I saw this item advertised I knew I wanted to try it. The Loreal's Tinted Water Cream really made an impression on me - it is super lightweight, applies without streaks but still gives some smoothness and coverage to the skin. It leaves healthy dewy look to the skin. I use this before going to the gym, morning dog walks and my non-makeup days as it is quick, easy and hydrating. Nevertheless, the range has some issues, first, it is the shade range. I got the highest shade called Light 01 and the shade is orange, while it does apply thinly to the skin so the colour diffuses to your skin tone a bit - it still makes my skin a bit darker and more orange than I would like. While using self-tanner this is fine to use, but if I let my skin go back to my pale self this would be way too orange for me.

Score: 4/5

L'oreal True concealer and Tinted Water Cream in Light

Loreal True Match Eye-Cream in a Concealer 0.5% Hyaluronic acid

I picked this up from Superdrug at the same time as the Loreal Skin Paradise tinted water cream as I was looking for a dewy brightening concealer that would be hydrating my under eyes.

What is promises:

Care of an eye cream and the radiance of a concealer
Skincare infused makeup powered by 0.5% hyaluronic acid
Skin looks immediately radiant, brightened and less puffy
Dark circles and fine lines appear reduced
Eye puffiness reduced
Natural, bare skin effect finish
Youthful, brightened and awakened looking eyes

Unfortunately, I was really let down with this item, while the formula feels extremely nourishing as a concealer it is not opaque enough to get rid of any darkness under the eyes. I don't have an issue with undereye puffiness, so I can't really comment on that but I felt that it didn't really do much for brightening the under-eye area nor covering the dark circles that I have.

While I don't mind the pen applicator with a click I felt that the amount of product you are getting is not worth the money. Maybe this would be great for someone who doesn't have any issues with dark circles but wants to add some coverage and nourishment under the eyes. Overall for me, I wouldn't purchase this again.

Score: 1/5

Loreal paradise mascara

What is promises:

Intense volume
Spectacular long lashes
Pleasure to apply

My favourite mascara of the last few years had definitely been Loreal's Paradise Mascara. First tried it out because youtube Tati Westbrook kept recommending it and after that, I haven't looked back as it has really treated my lashes well. I have long but very fine and straight lashes that need volume in order to be seen and this Paradise mascara definitely does it when layered up, especially after few weeks of use the mascara formula dries out or thickens a bit making it even better thickening the lashes and adding volume.

The only negative that I can find it that you can't really layer it up the end of the day if you would like to add a few more coats the lashes become very spidery,

The brush is hourglass-shaped, fluffy with short bristles that make the application very easy. Overall this is one of the best mascara's I have tried.

Score: 5/5