#Beauty

With long sunny days just around the corner and a gentle reminder this week that we are in fact living during global warming, we thought this is the perfect time to remind you to use SPF and not forget to reapply it throughout the day. In this article, we will explore our favourite SPF creams to keep you protected and hydrated, as well as, some budget friendly options. Avene La Roche Possay Pai's British Summer Time Glow Some budget friendly alternatives The ones that do an amazing job, and make you look absolutely amazing: Pai's British Summer Time Glow

Pai Skincare are launching their new British Summer Time Glow SPF 30 and after trying it out we feel like shouting it of the rooftops. The brand calls it the ''cocktail for safely kissed skin''; it is a mineral-based sun screen, heaven for those with sensitive skin. It's vegan, fragrance and cruelty-free, and the incredible glow you get upon applying it is what sold it to me, and the best part - that glow comes from the natural reflective pigments within the cream. Link to the SPF cream here. As someone with outrageously sensitive skin, I can say that there are just a handful of brands that don't cause me breakouts, redness, or dry patches, but Pai definitely hit the right spot - their products actually make a difference, and are yet to cause me an irritation. I met Sarah, the founder of Pai skincare, in the heart of Westfield Shepherd's Bush on a hot late Spring day, and had the opportunity to ask her a few questions and dive into a lovely conversation. Excited over the launch of her new illuminating SPF serum just in time for the Summer, she tells me about the inspiration behind her brand and what helped her get started - the eagerness to create a product which was meant for people with sensitive skin. She deeply cared about the products that she was launching, ensuring they undergo rigorous testing before they are available, as well as, ensuring that the brand remained vegan and cruelty-free (not to mention that most of their packaging is fully recyclable). People with sensitive skin (myself included) often find themselves in situations where big, well-known brands actually either don't work or cause huge irritation and the frustrations Sarah felt, is what led her to establishing Pai Skincare back in 2007. We talked about the importance of wearing SPF creams as well as reapplying them throughout the day especially for prolonged sun-exposure, as well as, the importance of having a focused skincare routine without using hundreds of products. What I found really interesting was that, Pai manufacture all their products in a lab in West London, unlike many other brands which allows them to stay hands on and ensure the quality and consistency. Some products that I have personally tried and absolutely loved include:

On the hunt for the perfect mascara? It's no easy task. With a plethora of choices out there, precision is key in determining your preferences. Consider factors like color, formula, brush shape, brush size, and, most crucially, the desired effect. Are you aiming for thicker, fuller, longer, or curled lashes? Do you prefer an artfully clumpy look or something lightweight and feathered? Are you going for a natural enhancement or full-on drama? Is long-lasting or waterproof a priority? How to choose the best mascara? The top-performing mascaras excel in their components: a superb formula, vibrant pigment, and an efficient wand, whether curved or multi-pronged. It's essential to seek a product that boasts longevity, easy buildability for customizable drama, and a lash-friendly nature—ideally, one that nourishes and conditions. Crucially, opt for a formula that resists flaking and avoids transferring onto the surrounding eye area. Consider the color palette as well. Choose black for striking lashes, brown for a subtler effect, clear for a natural look, or purple, a surprisingly universal choice. Feeling daring? Embrace the boldness of blue! 10. e.l.f. Lash N Roll Mascara Black 9. Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Volumising Mascara 8. Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara 7. L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara 6. Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara 5. Fenty Beauty fam, Hella Thicc Mascara 4. Chanel Noir Allure Mascara 3. Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara 2. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Too Faced - Better Than Sex stands as a premium mascara, ranking among the top sellers in America. Its distinctive hourglass-shaped brush unlocks a formula designed to coat each lash, delivering a romantic, flirty, and fluttery full layer of long-lasting lashes. Frequently compared to Benefit's They're Real! mascara, it's a go-to choice for those seeking prestige and impactful lash enhancement. Link here - £28.00 1. Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara This mascara is great for elongating lashes. It creates little "tubes" around each lash, giving separation, definition, and noticeable length. While it adds a bit of volume and curl, its main strength lies in its impressive lengthening effect. The slim, plastic wand makes it easy to apply, especially in hard-to-reach spots like the inner corners. We like the lasting length it provides, its smudge-free performance all day, and how easy it is to take off. It's a solid choice for natural-looking, enhanced lashes. Link here - £28.00

It’s that time of the year again with Christmas just around the corner, beauty enthusiasts gather online to share their top picks of beauty advent calendars, focused on product diversity and value for money. Beauty advent calendars aren’t just great as a personal treat to kick off the festive season, but they can also be a fantastic way of showing appreciation for a loved one. It’s time to get excited as we dive into the list of our favourite picks for the season. 1. Harvey Nichols Beauty Advent Calendar This Advent Calendar makes the top of our lists as it boasts some of the most sought after skincare and makeup brands, and features over 45 products (24 of which are full sized). Expect to find Dr Barbara Sturm, Sisley, Dermalogica, Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty Beauty. Plus one in every fifty calendars have a hidden £100 Harvey Nichols gift card. Retailing at £250, this advent calendar is worth over £1300 in product value. Link here 2. Charlotte's Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets 2023 This advent calendar is a beautiful combination of skincare and makeup staples from the iconic Charlotte Tilbury brand. Retailing at £160, this is a perfect more budget friendly option to gift friends and family during the festive season. Inside you will discover 2 full-size lipsticks and 10 travel sized items. Link here 3. Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 Allegedly boasting a better than ever before line-up of 29 beauty products, worth just over £1043, the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar is the holy grail for the beauty enthusiast who feels like a festive treat but also loves a bargain. It features an edit of select pieces from across the Liberty range - jewellery and accessories, alongside skincare from Votary, parfum from Le Labo, and makeup from Surratt. One lucky winner will also find a Golden Ticket hidden for £1000 to spend at Liberty. This calendar retails at £250. Link here 3.1 Liberty Men's Advent Calendar 2023 Men targeted Advent Calendars are so rare that this one must be featured in addition to the Liberty beauty advent calendar. It features products from REN, Otto, Votary and Acqua Di Parma, and retails at £230. Link here 4. The Selfridges Beauty calendar 2023 Since this calendar features a wide range of products in the wellness and skincare range, we could not help but rank it high, with product value of over £1050 and retailing at just £220, it makes for the perfect Christmas gift. From shampoo, conditioner, makeup products, bath salts and candles, and a Selfridges Beauty Concierge gift card of £45, there is a gift for everyone, Link here 5. VOGUE Festive Calendar 2023 This advent calendar features 25 drawers decorated with covers from early Vogue archives, which makes it a stunning gift. With retail combined value of over £1100 you are definitely in for a treat, it features brands such as REN, Murad, Hourglass, Aspinal of London, and others. Each calendar comes with a year-long digital Vogue subscription. Shipping is free within the UK, or £30 to the US, and the calendar itself retails for £350. And even more - £75,000 of the proceeds will go towards shelter charities. Link here 6. Fortnum's Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 This advent calendar contains over 30 items, 22 of which are full-sized products, worth over £1020. It includes nourishing skincare, haircare, fragrance, bath, body and wellness treats from brands such as Aromatherapy Associates, Cult51, ESPA, Acqua Di Parma, Oto and many others making it a truly special gift. It retails at £260. Link here 7. Jo Malone Limited Edition Advent Calendar 2023 This limited edition gingerbread inspired advent calendar from Jo Malone is the ultimate Christmas pamper for yourself or your loved ones; 25 items in total - with classics to festive fragrances, including colognes, bath & body miniatures, a full-sized scent and two Travel Candles. It retails at £350. Link here 8. John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar This advent calendar features 31 full and deluxe-size beauty products from Neom, Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique and many others. Upgrade your skincare routine, or experiment with a makeup look with products included in this calendar. Retailing at £175.50 Link here 9. Premium Advent Calendar from Rituals Cosmetics Rituals has released multiple advent calendars this year and our eyes are set on the premium version due to the inclusion of full-sized products which we discovered are in lack across the board. This calendar features 24 gifts hidden within beautifully designed shacks and houses and make for the perfect gift no matter their age. Link here