Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops Review

 
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Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops Review

As a glow and SPF obsessive, I was very interested to try the new Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops. I have been testing out this product this week, here’s what you need to know.

What is Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops?

What is Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops?
What is Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops?

This is a new mineral sunscreen that zinc oxide as it primary filter:

  • Clinical-grade 24.5% Non-Nano Zinc Oxide formula
  • Offers high protection
  • Infused with Sheer Mineral Pigments
  • Designed to blends seamlessly blends into the skin
  • Provides an illuminating finish
  • Helps to diffuse imperfections and even out skin tone
  • Includes Ectoin to soothe, hydrate and protect the skin barrier
  • Currently 20% off at LOOKFANTASTIC* and at Sephora* with code REALLYREESPH

Key Ingredients

24.5% Non-Nano Zinc Oxide – one of the highest Non-Nano Zinc Oxide levels on the market. Forms a physical barrier on skin to reflect harmful UV rays

Ectoin – soothes and protects skin from damage caused by environmental stressors and adds a boost of hydration

Sheer Mineral Pigments – universal tint that adds radiance and helps to even out skin tone.

How to use it

You need to give this a good shake before applying. The brand suggests using two finger-lengths of product to cover the face and neck. Allow it to absorb into the skin for 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours for full SPF50 protection.

Before and After Photos

before photo - Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops
Before
Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops applied to skin
After photo

My Review

Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops Packaging
Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops Packaging

I have been testing this for a few days now and have been getting on really well with it.

It has a gel serum texture that I find really pleasing and comfortable on the skin. As you first apply it, it shows a hint of that white cast that many zinc based sunscreens show, however, this quickly blends away and leaves a radiant and very subtly perfected finish on the skin.

Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops texture
Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops texture

The texture feels really comfortable on my skin as I blend it in. It has a skincare feel rather than feeling like sun lotion which I really like. It does feel fairly wet and very slightly oily on the skin straight after application, but I find it sinks in really nicely after about 10 minutes and leaves my skin feeling calm and hydrated.

If I am wearing makeup over it, my foundation sits nicely on top of it which is always important because I like to wear makeup most days. The glowy finish of the the Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ is subtly visible under my base products and really helps to amp up the radiance without making things look greasy.

Without makeup, this is a really great option because it does give a good amount of blurring and helps to make my complexion look more perfected. If you want to strip back a bit but still want to wear a bit of makeup, you could get away with a touch of concealer and some bronzer, and still look polished. If you’re oily you may like a touch of powder in the t-zone or any areas that you tend to shine.

I find that the product adheres to the skin really well and this means I like to use an oil cleanser to remove it at the end of the day. My current favourite is the Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil* which makes fast work of all makeup and SPF. I just finished the Black Cherry Cleansing Balm from Elemis (read the review here) which is also a great option for SPF removal.

If you want to check out some alternatives, have a read of Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral Skinscreen Review, which is more a water-like liquidy product, and Kosas DreamBeam Comfy Smooth Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Review & Swatches which is an SPF30 with a slightly more matte finish.

Where to buy it

The Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops is £39 for 50ml and it’s available now via the links below:

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Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick (Naughty Talk) Review & Swatches

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Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick (Naughty Talk) Review & Swatches

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Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick (Naughty Talk) Review & Swatches

Brand new and limited edition lipstick shades have been added to the Pillow Talk collection and I think Naughty Talk is going to be a big hit. Here’s everything you need to know about the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipsticks with photos and swatches of Dream Talk, Love Talk, Naughty Talk and Kiss Talk.

What shades are in the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick collection?

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Collection
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Collection

There are four new lipstick shades in the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk word and they are split across two of the brand’s best-selling formulas – Matte Revolution and K.I.S.S.I.N.G:

  • Dream Talk – muted deep mauve (Matte Revolution)
  • Love Talk – strawberry red (Matte Revolution)
  • Naughty Talk –  neutral nude glow (K.I.S.S.I.N.G)
  • Kiss Talk – fresh, dewy pink (K.I.S.S.I.N.G)

See the swatches below.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Shades & Swatches

I have all four new shades to show you.

This is Dream Talk, Love Talk, Naughty Talk and Kiss Talk:

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Shades
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Shades

Here are the swatches:

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Swatches
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick Swatches

My Review

Charlotte Tilbury Naughty Talk Lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Naughty Talk Lipstick

I really like the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick formulations. Both the Matte Revolution and the K.I.S.S.I.N.G textures are lovely and both are easy to apply and wear.

The Matte Revolution is a creamy matte that doesn’t dry out on your lips, and the K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula is soft and juicy and leaves a very pretty glow.

Dream Talk, when I first saw it, really reminded me of the CT Shade The Queen (swatches here) but it’s a lot less pink than The Queen and more of a deep wine shade. It’s really nice. It also reminds me of Opium Noir (see that here), but it’s softer and less deep.

Love Talk is quite a unique red I think. It is described as a Strawberry red and it’s one I’m excited to try when I am ready to commit to a red lip!

The sheeny K.I.S.S.I.N.G shades are obviously the easier ones to wear because the formula and finish is all about that totally effortless feel. I am a big fan of Naughty Talk (see above), although I hate the cringy name! It’s a very pretty neutral nude and just gives the lips a lovely glow.

Kiss Talk is another pretty shade. A soft yet fresh pink that will be great for really enlivening the complexion.

This is a really lovely collection but I think that Naughty Talk will be the big hit out of them all.

Where to buy it

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Love Effect Lipstick is £29 and available now via the links below:

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Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub Review

 
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Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub Review

I love a dual action exfoliation product so I was very happy to test out the limited edition Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub. Here’s the lowdown.

What is Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub?

Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub
Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub

This is a limited edition version of the Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub:

  • Instantly polishes and retexturises skin
  • Sweet strawberry lemonade slush texture
  • Refreshing formula
  • Works to reduce the look of pores
  • Dual-action scrub physically and chemically exfoliates
  • High-potency AHAs help loosen and lift dead skin cells
  • Lemon peel powder and sugar exfoliants gently sweep away rough skin
  • Holy basil and chamomile help calm and soothe your skin
  • Suitable for all skin types.
  • Vegan and cruelty free

Key Ingredients

10% AHAs (glycolic & lactic acids) – chemically exfoliates and helps even out texture

Ultra-fine sugar exfoliants & lemon peel extract – physically exfoliate and help to polish skin

Holy basil & chamomile extracts – help soothe and calm skin

How to use it

Apply to wet skin and gently massage in. Leave on for up to 2 minutes before rinsing, or rinse right away. You can use this 2 or 3 times a week, although if you have sensitive skin, or are using other exfoliants or a retinoid product, you may want to use it less.

Also, as it contains AHAs make sure you wear an SPF daily.

My Review

Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub texture
Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub texture

If you like a dual action exfoliator, I think you will like this. It’s fun yet effective and a great quick treatment if you want to make sure your skin is smooth and free from any flaky skin.

If you like fun smells, this does like a real strawberry lemonade. It’s sweet and fresh and the texture is a sugary, softly gritty gel. It offers AHA exfoliation alongside the physical exfoliation which I really like. The acids gently loosen up the dead skin cells, and then the scrubby bits sweep them away.

Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub texture
Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub texture

In my opinion, it’s quite an intense blend of chemical and physical exfoliants, and while that can be amazing for smoothing and brightening, it’s not one to go crazy with.

I use it really gently and don’t leave it on my skin, and it makes my skin soft and smooth immediately. It’s particularly good if your skin is looking a bit dull or feeling congested. I like to concentrate it on the sides of my chin which can get a bit bumpy with congestion from time to time.

I think what’s important to note is I don’t think this should be your everyday scrub. Personally, I think it is quite strong and I’d advise avoiding pairing it with other active ingredients unless you want to risk over-exfoliating. If you’re using things like retinol, vitamin C, or other acids in your routine, just make sure you’re spacing everything out.

Also, make sure you’re super gentle when applying. You don’t need to scrub hard. Let the acids do the work, and just lightly massage it in before rinsing.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is a great scrub if you want to prep your skin and make it smoother. It’s a fab option if you’re prepping for a night out or just need that skin pick-me-up. But as I said, don’t go wild with it.

This is a nice formula, it’s smells great and it’s really fun to use but I’d start slow, be mindful of what else you’re using, and always use SPF.

Where to buy it

The Ole Henriksen Strawberry Lemonade Smoothing Scrub is £29 and available via the link below. Use code REALLYREESPH for 20% off:

If you’re still looking for a product to add in to your skincare routine, read: Best Skincare Products – Complete Guide.

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