Comments Off on Space NK Starter Kits: Skincare & Makeup Review
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The Space NK Edit collection is really expanding and I love these super cute mini sets for skincare and makeup. Here’s the lowdown on the new Space NK Starter Kits. I have all the details here.
What are in the Space NK Starter Kits?
Space NK The Everyday Skincare Edit
Space NK have launched two affordable starter kits; one for skincare and one for makeup.
The Skincare Edit (£30 worth £64.15 plus bag)* contains:
Out of the two Space NK starter kits, I think this is the one to go for because it contains so many of my favourite products in absolutely brilliant sizes. Plus it has the latest launch from Ultra Violette, the new Future Fluid zinc-based SPF 50 in the cutest bottle ever!! Read my Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral Skinscreen Review for more info on that. I love it.
Space NK Skincare Starter Kit Contents
I also really like the Sunday Riley Autocorrect Eyecream and the 3ml is a big enough size for you to test out an eye product to see if you want to invest in the full size.
I am also a big fan of Kate Somerville’s Goat Milk Cleanser and it pairs nicely with the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Plus you get the cutest pot of the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream which is the quickest fix for glowy skin and absolutely gorgeous under makeup (but make sure you don’t use too much if you want your base to last).
All in all, I think this is a brilliant edit. By my calculations it is worth £64.15 so you are getting a really good value saving.
Space NK Makeup Starter Kit
Space NK Starter Kits: Makeup Contents
This one is actually better value for money than the skincare one, as it costs £25 yet has a higher value of £75 and contains all full sizes. I still prefer the skincare one though as I think it is more versatile, and this makeup edit very much depends on whether you like the shades.
Space NK Makeup Starter Kit Contents
The Kosas lip liner is really cool as it’s super long lasting and also has a sharperner and brush on one end, and the brush is actually really good! It is really handy to soften any harsh lines before the product sets down. It’s a full size.
Space NK Makeup Starter Kit swatches
The Glossier Cloud Paint is also a full size and they are really nice blushes although I am not sure that Beam is everyone’s cup of tea. It is a lovely soft peach shade but it’s not always an obvious choice for a blush that suits all skintones.
There’s a mini beautyblender too which I know some will love, but personally I will always be a brush girl and not a sponge girl.
I am excited to try the clear brow gel from Rare, which is also a full size, and I think that one will be a real crowd pleaser.
Comments Off on Estée Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection Offer worth £103 + Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Review
*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these help Ree with running costs of the blog
KIT WORTH £103 ON OFFER FOR £25 WHEN YOU BUY ANY FOUNDATION.
Estée Lauder have the most brilliant offer running right now when you buy any foundation. You get the Estée Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection, worth £103, for just £25 with your foundation purchase. I have everything you need to know here, plus a review of Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation to help you choose.
How to get the Estée Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection worth £103
This is a really brilliant offer. You get this stunning makeup bag absolutely stuffed with an excellent edit of Estee Lauder’s best sellers. It’s fantastic value for money and is worth £103.
It is yours for just £25 when you buy any Estée Lauder foundation!
The Estée Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection contains:
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion 15ml
Advanced Night Repair Serum 15ml
Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme 5ml
Summer Beauty Heroes Collection for just £25 when you buy Estée Lauder foundation, I thought it might be useful to share some shade information and let you know what I use.
Double Wear Features
No 1 prestige foundation in the UK
High-performance, multi-action formula
Cashmere-matte finish
Buildable, medium-to full-coverage for a flawless finish
Provides 24 hour staying power
Waterproof
Sweat and humidity resistant
Evens skin’s appearance
Controls oil
Covers blemishes
Free from synthetic fragrance and oil
Suitable for all skin types
Available in 60 shades
Double Wear Shades
There are an impressive 60 shades available in the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation. Click here to use the shade finder.
Here’s the full shade range:
Estée Lauder Double Wear Shade Range – 60 Shades
Double Wear Swatches
I have two shades to show you, 1N2 Ecru and 1W2 Sand:
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Ecru and Sand Swatches
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation Before & After Photos
I use shade 1N2 Ecru.
Before photo:
Before
After photo with shade Ecru:
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation in Ecru
My Review Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Review
I absolutely love this foundation because it’s super versatile and just so reliable. When I want a base will last all day and not budge even a little bit, it just has to be Double Wear.
The key to achieving a really natural skin finish it to use just one pump and buff it all over the skin. It covers and perfects the skin so quickly and it takes just a few seconds to achieve a really flawless finish.
The formula is hydrating, softly matte yet nicely luminous, and you can always trust Double Wear to last and last.
You can tailor the finish depending on what you use under it. I love this straight over Advanced Night Repair for a slightly more matte finish, and if I want a bit more glow, it is beautiful over the Revitalizing Supreme Cream. You will get both these products in the Estee Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection.
It is super comfortable on the skin and because you only need a small amount it’s virtually weightless. The thinnest layer delivers a beautifully perfected and natural looking flawlessness.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation Hack
Top tip: if you want something a little sheerer with amped up glow, try mixing some Advanced Night Repair Serum in to your shade before applying. This adds a boost of hydration and radiance without affecting the foundation’s staying power. You get the Advanced Night Repair Serum in the Estee Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection (worth £103) available for £25 when you buy the foundation, so this is the perfect time to try this hack.
Shop Estée Lauder Summer Beauty Heroes Collection for £25
You can get this kit worth £103 for just £25 when you buy any Estée Lauder foundation.
If you’re looking for a foundation or skin tint product with sun protection built in, read MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 50 Review & Swatches – ALL SHADES.
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I have really been enjoying all the recent launches from Kosas so I was very happy to try out their brand new mist. Here’s the lowdown on the Kosas Cloud Set Mist.
What is Kosas Cloud Set Mist?
What is Kosas Cloud Set Mist?
Refreshing, skin-caring setting mist
Works to hydrate, smooth, and lock makeup in place for 12 hours
Alcohol free and non-comedogenic
Ultra-fine, airy spray
Promises to improve the look of your makeup
Designed to keep the skin looking fresh all day
Contains 99.5% naturally derived ingredients
Oil-free and fragrance-free formula
Designed to never be sticky or tight feeling
Clinically proven to hydrate, improve skin texture and reduce appearance of pores over time
Suitable for all skin types including sensitive
Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic
Get 20% off at Sephora* with code REALLYREESPH
Key Ingredients
Agave Tequilana Leaf + Fruit Extracts – to reduce the appearance of lines and texture with a second skin filter effect
Saccharide Isomerate – works to reduce shine while boosting moisture
Trehalose – supports hydration
How to use it
You use this as you would any setting mist. Be sure to shake well before use, and after you have finished applying your makeup, hold 8-10 inches from face and mist over entire face. Kosas suggest no more than 3 times, as a little goes a long way.
You can reapply throughout the day, as desired.
My Review
My Review of Kosas Cloud Set Mist
The Kosas Cloud Set Mist is a setting spray that’s been getting its fair share of attention lately. I’ve been testing it out and I think it’s really good. What I most like is that it’s not one of those typical makeup-locking, ultra-mattifying formula. And that, I think, is part of its quiet charm.
First Impressions
First things first, the packaging is beautifully minimal. The mister is wonderfully fine, with a smooth, even spray that settles on the skin. There are no heavy droplets and no sudden spritzes. Cloud is a good way to describe the delivery of this mist. You get the kind of application that makes you feel like you’re treating your skin rather than attacking it.
How it looks
Kosas Cloud Set Mist skin finish
Now, the effect. This isn’t a mist that transforms your makeup and honestly, I appreciate that. It doesn’t mattify. It doesn’t add a glass-skin sheen. It doesn’t blur or change the texture you’ve so carefully built. What it does do is take the edge off powder, bring a little life back into the skin, and make everything feel more cohesive and comfortable. If you’ve taken the time to get your base looking just how you like it, Kosas Cloud Set Mist won’t interfere. It lets your finish shine through.
Skincare benefits
There’s also a genuinely refreshing quality to it, thanks to the inclusion of lots of skincare ingredients. I think this helps to lightly hydrate the skin. Also, it’s important to note that, unlike most setting sprays, it is alcohol free, which will be great if you have sensitive skin.
How does it perform?
It melds everything together. It’s great at removing that telltale powdery edge. It adds a little something back into the skin, a lived-in softness, without messing with the overall finish.
I think it does really help to lock my makeup in place, although I tend to opt for more longwearing formulas anyway, so it’s hard to measure exactly how effective it is.
What I like is that it leaves your makeup exactly as you intended it. If you’ve spent time perfecting a soft matte base, carefully buffed in your bronzer, and placed your highlight just so, you don’t want a mist that suddenly turns you into a disco ball. Nor do you want something that drags your foundation toward flat, cakey territory. Cloud Set doesn’t do either. I think it enhances by not interfering.
Final Thoughts
If what you want is a mist that keeps your makeup feeling fresh without changing the look you’ve worked hard to achieve, Kosas Cloud Set Mist hits the mark
I find it especially good later on in the day when my skin’s feeling a little fatigued or when I want to tone down a slightly too matte situation that sometimes happens after powdering. It gives your face a reset without undoing your work.
If you are looking for a mist with more of a dewy finish PLUS SPF50, you need to read, Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Setting Mist Sunscreen SPF 50 Review.
Where to buy it
The Kosas Cloud Set Mist is £32 and available now via the links below, use REALLYREESPH for 20% off at Sephora:
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Comments Off on Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara Review – Just launched in the UK
Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara Review – Just launched in the UK
*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these help Ree with running costs of the blog
Just launched in the UK
I was very excited to pick up the Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara in shade Drift while I was in New York last year and I absolutely love it. The brand just launched in the UK, so now you can shop it too. Here’s a full review with before and after photos.
What is Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara?
Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara
Mascara designed to visibly volumise, lengthen and define
Long-wearing and water resistant formula
Triple-wave wand has three flexible, suspended bands that visibly lengthen and define each lash
Super lightweight buildable formula
Finish doesn’t get crunchy
Easy to remove
Vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free
Ophthalmologist tested, contact lens safe, allergy tested, and 100 percent safe for sensitive eyes
Just launched in the UK HERE*
The Wand
Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara Wand (shade Drift)
This wand is great at catching every lash, and coating each one without loading on too much product at once. It extends and separates the lashes really nicely.
Key Ingredients
Aquaflex® Technology – conventionally used in haircare styling, this ingredient actively works to define curl using memory hold (it memorises the wave of your lash) and keeps them soft. Also helps keep lashes humidity-proof
This mascara is really easy to use. Simply use the inner curve of the brush to build up visible volume and the longer bristles to lengthen and define. You can apply additional coats while lashes are still wet for more volume.
Before and After Photos
Here are the before and afters for you, with one light coat, two light coats, and then three generous coats on both eyes.
Tower 28 just launched in the UK. Shop via the link below:
My Review of Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara shade Drift
Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara shade Drift
It is so exciting to find a really good brown mascara! I think most people tend to choose a black mascara, (and I did actually pick up the Black version of this too), but I went straight for the brown one to start testing.
I am absolutely loving this mascara. Drift is the perfect shade of brown. Not too deep that you lose the softness, and not too warm that you end up looking like your eyes are a bit sore. It is just the perfect shade of brown.
The brush is great at picking up and stretching out every lash, and the formula has a lovely volumising effect that still keeps things looking fairly natural.
It feels really light on the lashes, isn’t at all irritating and I haven’t noticed any flaking or smudging. It’s great. I will try the black shade, Jet, soon but for now, Drift is just perfect.
Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara shade Drift
If you’re looking for a new mascara that simply enhances the lashes, adds length and volume, and also keeps a curl, the Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara is definitely one to look at.
Although this isn’t a tubing mascara, it does resemble one as it is lightweight, non-irritating and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lenses.
If you are looking for a tubing formula, I really like Zoeva’s one. Read: Ooh La Lash Tubing Mascara Review
When does Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara launch in the UK?
The MakeWaves Masacara just launched in the UK HERE.
Is Tower 28 MakeWaves a tubing mascara?
No. This isn’t technically a tubing mascara and can be removed with regular eye makeup remover. It is however very light feeling and long-wearing like a tubing mascara. Check out Best Eye Makeup Removers on a Budget.
What makes MakeWaves Mascara unique?
This is a fairly unique mascara because, although it is not technically a tubing mascara, it really does act like one because it never flakes or smudges, and also holds a curl exceptionally well. It is also suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes.
Is the mascara environmentally friendly?
Tower 28 have their Earth Sensitive Pledge and the MakeWaves packaging is made from 78% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plasti as part of their commitment to sustainable packaging.
What are the available shades and sizes?
There are two shades available in the Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara – Drift which is a new shade, and a gorgeous brown, and also Jet, which is black. The mascaras comes in a full size which is 8.5ml and also a mini size.
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Comments Off on MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 50 Review & Swatches
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2 years in the making with over 50 rounds of formulation, MERIT’s first-ever SPF and second-ever complexion product is here! I have everything you need to know about MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 50. Enjoy!
What is MERIT The Uniform?
What is MERIT The Uniform?
This is a brand new tinted mineral sunscreen with SPF 50 protection against both UVA and UVB rays:
Skin tint designed to be used as a daily sunscreen
Light to medium buildable coverage formula
Natural, skin-like finish – neither matte or glowy
Uses an ultra-fine zinc oxide that allows for uniform protection against both UVA and UVB rays
Includes a plant-derived emollient that is a natural alternative to silicone
Designed to have a silky, velvety texture with no sticky feeling on the skin
Also includes a plant-based mineral SPF booster in a powder format that helps to soften skin, and ensure the zinc oxide diffuses evenly for a blurred look
Available in 15 shades
Offers
Sisley Paris Discount – 20% Off with Exclusive Code
Get 20% off every full priced Sisley Paris product for a limited time only
Key Ingredients
MERIT The Uniform formula uses an ultra-fine zinc oxide that allows for uniform protection against both UVA and UVB rays, and this also ensure that the product feels very lightweight on the skin.
There’s also a plant-derived emollient that is a natural alternative to silicone that helps give the formula a really pleasant silky, velvety texture with zero stickiness. and ensures no sticky feeling on the skin.
Finally, there’s also a plant-based mineral SPF booster in a powder format that promises to help to soften skin, and also ensure the zinc oxide diffuses evenly throughout the product to deliver a soft, blurred look on the skin.
Pigment Dispersion Technology
MERIT have pushed boundaries with this formula with a standout innovation in technology which optimises how zinc oxide and titanium dioxide blend within the formula.
The technology means that a lower mix of titanium dioxide (which is usually responsible for the white cast) can be used which allows for greater shade flexibility.
MERIT The Uniform Shades & Swatches
There are 15 shades in the collection that promise to cater for a wide range of skintones.
Do the MERIT Uniform shades correlate with The Minimalist shades?
The shades correlate to The Minimalist shades shown below:
I think this guide is fairly flexible. For example, I am using 24 in The Uniform, and my favourite shade of The Minimalist is Linen.
MERIT The Uniform Shade Matching Chart
MERIT The Uniform Shade Matching Chart
Right now I only have shade 24 Ecru to show you, but I hope to have the full range of swatches for you soon.
MERIT The Uniform Swatch shade 24MERIT The Uniform Swatch shade 24
Before and After Photos
BeforeMERIT The Uniform shade 24 applied
My Review of MERIT
My Review of MERIT The Uniform
I was super excited to test out The Uniform, because I absolutely love the MERIT brand and The Minimalist* is such an easy to use complexion product that I often chuck in my bag if I am in a rush and need to do my makeup on the go.
The Uniform promises to layer easily over moisturiser and under foundation, so I had high hopes.
First Impressions
MERIT The Uniform packaging
The packaging is really nice, as you would expect from a super chic brand like MERIT. It’s a squeezy tube with an elegant pump which makes dispensing the product really easy. It’s quite a big tube – and it contains 50ml of product which is great – but it might be slightly chunky for your makeup bag. It looks great though.
MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 50
Texture and Application
MERIT The Uniform has a lovely silky and smooth texture. It is liquidy but not overly runny and it feels very creamy on the skin. I really like it. It has a lightweight feel on the skin that’s super comfortable, and it’s easy to apply and blend. I have been using REESON No. 1 Brush which works very well to place and buff the product into the skin.
I tend to start with a light layer and then add another to ensure I am getting adequate sun protection from the SPF 50 mineral sunscreen. I have been testing it alone, and also with the Minimalist on top when I want more coverage and I like it both ways.
Application Video
Finish and Coverage
The finish is a natural skin finish and it sits nicely in between matte and glowy. It looks skin-like yet subtly perfects and blurs flaws. If you like no makeup makeup, you will really enjoy this.
The coverage is light and buildable. You can still see skin through it, but it gives a very enhanced and perfected look to the skin without looking like you have any makeup on. I haven’t felt the need to powder it as it doesn’t get overly shiny.
Wear Test
I have tested this over a few days and I have been impressed by the way it wears. Although it’s a light formula, it lasts very well on the skin, and doesn’t slip and slide off in any way. The staying power is really good and it adheres to the skin well. If you are relying on this alone for sun protection, and need to ensure you are protected, you will need to top up every couple of hours. It’s probably easier to use an over makeup SPF mist for this, and I have been loving the Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Setting Mist Sunscreen SPF 50.
Final Thoughts
I am really impressed with MERIT The Uniform and feel it performs very well as a tinted SPF product. If you like light coverage, it works brilliantly alone, as it’s nice and buildable, and it also layers very nicely under foundation if you need more coverage.
It looks and feels great on the skin, and considering that it’s a high protection suncare product, it’s super lightweight and really easy to wear.
The other thing to note is that I think it’s really good value for money, which I have to say I wasn’t expecting. It is £34 for 50ml which is excellent considering that most foundation type products come in 30ml bottles. I think this is a thoughtful nod to the fact that the correct dose is critical to achieving the level of sun protection that a product is designed to deliver, and you should be using a fairly generous amount of product if you are relying on it for your sun protection.
All in all I love it. If you want to check out a similar product that has recently launched (with more skincare, a smaller bottle, and a higher price tag) take a look at Naked Sundays BeautyScreen SPF50 Peptide Foundation Tint Review & Swatches.
When does MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 50 launch?
The product is set to launch in the second half of May 2025. Sign up for an email alert.
Where to buy it
MERIT The Uniform is £34 and is set to launch later this month at MERIT and Sephora.
Keep me informed on this and all MERIT products
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