FRIDAY FOLLOW-UP {SEPTEMBER 2019} #TBT POST

A throwback to a Friday Follow-Up post I wrote back in September

2019 regarding products that I managed to take off my

UK Shopping List.

UK travel or any overseas travel ground to a halt, over the 2 years

of the COVID Pandemic and for us here in South Africa the UK is still

out of bounds to us, which is very frustrating.

Not knowing when I can get back to see my family has also meant that

my ongoing UK Shopping List has not been added to, but you can be

assured that when we are allowed to travel, without the 10 days

of quarantine, I will have my list updated and ready.

I have added a couple of new update notes for today 29/09/2021

 in Pink...

~~~~~~ 

27/09/2019

Below is the post I wrote several weeks ago about what was on my 

UK Shopping List, so I thought I would do a follow up post to let you 

know which of the products I did actually purchase and which

 I didn't and why.

I will be writing a detailed review on each of the products that I bought.

~~~~~~

The excitement is mounting, as I'm off to the UK and Dubai later this week 

and as always I have a long beauty shopping list.

I did write a post a couple of weeks ago as to what is on my Repurchase Shopping List

To read that post

but this post will comprise of premium products that are a mix of new launches 
or just products new to me.

Sadly these products are not readily available in South Africa and if they are,

 then you're paying a premium, as its often through a pricey third retailer.

Having either read or heard nothing but good reports about these products I've added

 them to my list.

These are the products that I want to investigate further, which could maybe 

lead to a purchase or two, but I'll have to choose carefully, as they're all 
premium products with premium prices.

1.

BYTERRY

Baume de Rose

29/09/2021

I'm still loving this product and have since bought many more

 BYTERRY

products including the Baume de Rose Crayon.

To read my review

27/09/2019

I finally purchase one and so far I'm really enjoying and a full review 

will be 

up early in October.

to read all my reviews on BYTERRY

This has been on my list, for what seems like ages, and I always put it on the

"back beauty burner" in lieu of other purchases, but on this trip I'm determined

to purchase one and then I can finally strike it off my list once and for all.

BYTERRY is a French Luxury brand and their best seller

Baume de Rose is considered the 'Rolls-Royce' of lip balms and is a cult favourite

 around the world and being a Lip Balm junkie I have to try this at some point.

2.

Summer Fridays

Jet Lag Mask

29/09/2021

Well I can finally report that I managed to buy this product earlier in 2021

here in South Africa and I love it and it certainly didn't disappoint.

To read my review

27/09/2019

This was a difficult product to track down, as so many cosmetic 

departments and stores didn't stock, in fact most hadn't even 

heard of it, but I finally found it in 

Selfridges however it was a hefty £42, so I decided to leave it 

on the shelf and its remained on my UK Shopping List for next time, 

so I didn't get to put it to the test on the return flights, 

as previously hoped...

I love a good mask and this multi-purpose offering from Summer Fridays appeals to me,

 so I want to investigate a little further into this relative unknown brand, 

unknown to me at least.

This mask is perhaps their most famous product, thanks to Kim Kardashian, so I'm 

curious to know what all the hype is about and if I do buy one I will get to put 

it to the test 

on my 2 long haul return flights back to SA.

3.

VITA LIBERATA

Beauty Blur

29/09/2021

Again I finally managed to get my hands on a small size via a 

beauty box some months after writing the update below

and "Oh My Goodness" it's divine and a replacement is on the cards.

To read my review

27/09/2019

Oh my goodness this product was literally sold out everywhere I went and 

trust me I went everywhere Harrods,Selfridges,

Harvey Nichols, SpaceNK, Boots and Marks & Spencer, 

so this remains on my list...

VITA LIBERATA is the "crème de la crème" range when it comes to all things

 "Self Tan" related and following the hugely popular creation of their Body Blur

we now have skin tone optimiser which will enhance and perfect the look of 

your complexion. 

Beauty Blur combines all the skin finishing benefits of best-selling Body Blur 

with a skin tone optimiser, HD primer and effective Advoganic skincare for your 

most radiant glow.

I'm keen to test their 4 shade options and hopefully I will find the correct shade 

and buy one in readiness for our SA summer.

4.

LUMENE

Invisible Illumination Instant Glow 

Fresh Skin Tint

29/09/2021

This products still illusive and remains on my list.

27/09/2019

Another illusive product sadly, so I may have to order 

online and guess my shade, so its another that remains on my list...

This product from the award winning Finnish skincare brand LUMENE may well be 

a slight overlap with the previous product,

so I doubt very much that I will purchase both, but it's for sure one that I want 

to look at, after hearing several goods reports about.

6.

Omorovicza
Queen of Hungary Mist

29/09/2021

I also received a 2nd spray in a Beauty Advent Calendar in 2019 and

whilst I like the product I have used a couple of similar, that I prefer more.

To read my review

 

27/09/2019

I picked up a 30ml size at SpaceNK, so I'm

looking forward to comparing it with other similar

products that I've tried...

Again another rather obscure brand here in South Africa, but this Hungarian brand
has beauty bloggers and beauty editors globally raving about this Hungarian Mist.
Being a sucker for facial sprays and mists this again has been some time on my shopping list,

 but always got pushed back down to the bottom due to its price, so it may
well end up suffering the same fate on this trip, but lets see what happens.

I also want to test 2 new fragrances whilst I'm over in the UK, the one brand 

we don't get in SA and the other we do, but its just not launched yet.

27/09/2019

The packaging is stunning and my first impressions were

great, as it has top notes of fresh citrus, which I love,

but sadly on the dry down it turned quite bitter on me...

Limone Di Sicilia from AERIN is on my list to test as I adore fresh, citrusy florals 

and this sounds like a fragrance I would really enjoy.

The packaging is simply stunning and no doubt its way out of my budget, 

but I'm checking the range out regardless.

27/09/2019

Whilst the packaging is stunning and the bottle is so tactile,

 it disappointingly  

wasn't my type of fragrance.

Another new fragrance launch is IDÔLE by LANCÔME

I'm sure this will be launched very soon into South Africa, but whilst I'm over in the UK

I will be sure a have a sniff.

As always I will post my product reviews once I've put any of these purchases to the test.

Please let me know  in the comments below, if you have tried any of the above and

 what your thoughts were, as I would hate to waste my money.

DIOR ADDICT LIP GLOW LIP BALM {REVIEW}

I am a self confessed Lip Balm addict , as I have said on many occasions

and I ma never too far away from one, however of late I have been 

"pushing the spend boat" 

out a little and my latest purchase has been the new

 DIOR LIP GLOW LIP BALM

Considering the price I was expecting great things from this product and 

on paper it was looking promising, as this is the 1st Dior lip balm formulated

 with 97% natural-origin ingredients that

 subtly revives the natural colour of lips with a custom glow for 6h and 

hydrates the lips for 24h.

Thanks to its colour reviver technology, the Dior Addict Lip Glow lip balm reacts

 with the moisture level of the lips to reveal a custom colour and a subtle shine.

This extremely sensorial balmy balm reveals maximum comfort and care

 for a long time and the lips felt well hydrated for many hours, but personally

 I wouldn't say it extends to 24hrs.

 This unique formula made with natural-origin ingredients is

 infused with the wonders of the main ingredient  cherry oil... 

 

Cherry Oil: 

helps reconstruct and strengthen the natural barrier function of the skin

 of the lips over the course of applications. 

The balm provides a sensation of instant comfort.

An oil with a composition similar to that of the lipids in the skin of the lips contributes to lip comfort, while helping to preserve hydration and 

nourish the lips.

It also contains my favourite...

Shea Butter:

 wraps the skin in a soft cocoon.

Sunflower and Rice Waxes:

 guarantee a stick with greater solidity and fuse with the skin to release

 just the right dose of lip care.

No one can deny the beauty of the new couture case, it feels luxe in the hand

and has the most satisfying click, when you slide the inner tube into the

 chic outer pink case.

Multi-use, Dior Addict Lip Glow can be worn on its own as a lip balm

 or as a primer under lipstick, however I tended to wear it alone.

The range of up to 12 Signature shades (depends on which country) 

is designed to meet the needs of women

 and men, based on their desires and skin tone.

I chose the shade 006 Berry, a crushed blackberry shade,

which offered me a close match to my own lip colour, only better.

Did it turn out to be as promising on the lips as it did on paper?

Yes it did and this product may have ignited a DIOR flame

to try further Lip Addict products and shades.

DIOR

LIP ADDICT

GLOW LIP BALM

R

675

£

10

$

35

ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN INSTA SMOOTH PRIMER {REVIEW}

Occasionally my Sunday Sample review takes longer than the

usual 7 days of trial, as was the case with this 

Elemis Pro-Collagen Insta Smooth Primer

I must disclose from the onset that I am not a huge user of priming

products and it's a product type that you will only find a handful of

reviews on my blog, as I focus both my spend and time on using more

beneficial skin treating products, however this may be most skin care 

focused primer that I've reviewed.

The first of its kind for an ELEMIS product, this anti-aging primer 

bridges the gap between skincare and make-up. 

Here are the key ingredients that swing this product over to the

 skin care side.

It is formulated with their unique 

Cryo-Firming Complex, a cooling blend 

of cryo-extracted 

Brown Algae combined with Italian Glacial Water that 

helps promote the appearance of firmer skin. 

Mediterranean algae, Padina Pavonica

 helps to support the skin’s 

moisture barrier leaving skin feeling quenched with hydration. 

Natural Marine Extracts 

create immediate and long-lasting tightening

 effects for a smooth, flawless look.

How to Use:

Use every morning over your daily moisturiser or as a makeup primer.

Pump a pea-sized amount into the palms and smooth over the face and neck.

This lightweight yet super hydrating primer actually shocked me with its

cooling and ultra-firming feel upon application as

 it was not what I was expecting.

I personally experienced a visible smoothness in the appearance of fine lines,

especially those across my forehead and whilst it claims to refine the pores

I can't really comment, as I don't have enlarged pores.

What I can comment on, is how great my skin felt and it certainly

 left my skin perfectly prepped for makeup and (dare I say it at my age)

 'flawless".

This is another winning product from ELEMIS...

 

ELEMIS

PRO-COLLAGEN

INSTA SMOOTH PRIMER

50ml

R

1380

£

58

$

65

To read my previous ELEMIS product reviews

Click Here

QUICKIE PRODUCT REVIEW {QPRS} SEPTEMBER 2021

 

I was aware that I hadn't uploaded a QPR post in sometime,

but when I checked back it was exactly a year ago September 2020.

I'm not 100% sure why that is and I can only imagine that I have

purchased or been sent far less products that require a 

"quickie" review.

Here are 2 products that I want "quickly" to let you know about.

1.

Brand : Moyoko

Product : Hair Brush

Price : R199

I have been a fan of the WET Brush and have bought several over 

the years, but I'm now finding that the pins on the ends of the bristles come

off way to quickly, which results in my scalp being scratched and I've

also had the handle snap on my one, so I've been looking to find a hairbrush

that is gently on my hair whether it be wet or dry and my hairdresser 

recently introduced me to the Moyoko Brush.

They come in an assortment of colours and I chose the orange colour.

The Moyoko brush has a rounded shape to comfortably fit the shape of 

your head, which I really like, making it easier and more efficient way to

 brush your hair. 

The hair bristles and pins are made from nylon and to date they're all

still in place and do not scratch my scalp.

Now whilst I prefer the WET Brush on wet hair, personall, I prefer the

Moyoko for use on dry hair and styling and is a great brush to use whilst

ironing my hair and general brushing through the hair.

The brush pins contain Argan oil to add softness and shine to your hair

which initially I found to leave an oily coating on my hair, which after

several brushings seemed to diminish.

The small silicone pins claim to help detangle the hair and reduces frizz

unfortunately I found the brush to make "hard work" of the initial

post wash detangling exercise.

I'm going to stick with both my Moyoko brush and my WET Brush 

and work between the two, as they both bring some benefits and ease

 to the brushing/detangling/styling process.

Verdict : 7/10

~~~~~~ 

2.

Brand : The White Company

Product : Winter Signature Candle

Price : £20

Size : 140g

Created over 21 years ago, Winter is now loved all over the world and often described by their customers as ‘the scent of Christmas’ and I agree 200%,

 as it's a magical combination of spicy cinnamon, rich warming clove 

and fresh zesty orange, it just never fails to please.

This single wick candle has been so loved and treasured by me, because

 I don't know when I'll be able to replace, and sadly it's nearly at the end.

The fragrance pay off has been great, the candle has burnt very evenly 

and I'm really going to miss my "Christmas" in a candle.

Verdict : 10/10

BYTERRY BRIGHTENING CC PALETTE BEACH BOMB {REVIEW}

 Despite admiring this palette from afar, it wasn't on my wish list 

or even available in South Africa at the time when I first laid eyes on this

 beautiful product. 

BYTERRY 

BRIGHTENING CC PALETTE 

BEACH BOMB

That was until recently when the exclusive retailer of BYTERRY products

in South Africa Metropolitain Cosmetics

sent me an e.mail to announce that this palette was

"Coming Soon", which was then closely followed by another announcement

 that they would be offering a 20% discount site wide and as you can imagine

 this prompted my order along with their newly launched 

BYTERRY HYALURONIC-HYDRA CONCEALER

To read my concealer review

If you've been around here for a while you will already know that

I'm a huge fan of BYTERRY products and my collection is growing very nicely

and if you would like to read my previous product reviews Click Here

To be absolutely honest I did not need anymore face palettes, but I found this 

one hard to resist, as its beauty extends to the box, the palette and the 

contents making it a "must have" for me.

I very much doubt I will regret this purchase...

This Limited edition ‘Beach Bomb’ Brightening CC Palette will help

you achieve a sunny and glowy complexion in time for summer.

Simply put...

 it's a brightening powder, glowy blush, cheek highlighter 

and bronzer all in one! 

As with many of the BYTERRY make-up products it has a skincare infused

 formula and is enriched with rose extracts.

 

Presented in a rose-gold embossed palette, which just oozes luxury, feels

so comfortable in the hand and has a great large magnifying mirror in the lid,

 which I do use, as many I don't.

The beautiful highlighting textures have been created to give your skin

 its glow back, especially after winter when our skin generally looks lacklustre.

 Its bronzed finish will correcting any dullness and the 

‘Optical Glow’ technology and skincare benefits of rose-hip oil 

minimise imperfections, intensify skin radiance, neutralise redness

 and create a flawless finish.

This palette is all about the

Special ‘Optical Glow’ technology which feature soft-focus micro-spheres

 and colour correcting pigments that result in a flawless, bronzed finish, 

while light-reflecting prisms lift the complexion and is suitable for all

skin tones.

All of the 4 shades are just exquisite and I did anticipate that 1 or 2

of the shades would be favoured more than the others, but I'm happy

 to report back that all the colours have been used equally either on the 

cheeks, face and I often apply as eyeshadow.

The colour pay off is good and true and they're easy to apply and blend.

The inclusion of the Rose-Hip oil can be felt in the formulation as these

powders do not feel dry, they feel slightly buttery.

The palette also has that delicate signature BYTERRY rose scent, but

it's nothing intrusive and didn't worry me at all, even on my eyelids.

As always BYTERRY has created another product that I adore and my 

love for this brand just keeps on growing with every product I review.

Do I regret buying, definitely NOT!

BYTERRY 

BRIGHTENING CC PALETTE 

BEACH BOMB

9g

R

1030

(CURRENTLY O/S)

£‌

42.00

$

56.00

CLARINS WONDER PERFECT MASCARA 4D #TBT REVIEW

I thought I would revisit the Clarins Wonder Perfect 4D Mascara today in my 

#TBT review. I first reviewed this product back into August 2019 and whilst I 

enjoyed it back then I haven't re-purchased, only due t the fact that I have been so 

busy trying out other brands of mascara.

Clarins have since launched a Waterproof version.

*I have updated the prices*

~~~~~~

My first job, when I landed here in South Africa back in 1983, was with the relatively 

then unknown French brand Clarins, and having worked for them for several years I can't help 

but have a beauty soft spot for this brand, but Oh My! how its changed since then.

Back in the day they didn't have a make-up collection, they were very salon focused

and let me tell you as permanent travelling Promotional Consultant it was hard work 

convincing customers of the virtues of this wonderful brand.

After many years of personal use I now enjoy reviewing many of their products in order to 

let you know whether they're worth a purchase or not and to be honest I don't think I've 

ever given a Clarins product a bad review.

The latest mascara addition to their make-up line up is their 

WONDER PERFECT MASCARA 4D

I have to say, the 4D in its name grabbed my attention and I was curious 

as to what Clarins had to offer with this product.

This really is a do-it-all, all-in-one mascara that curls, defines, lengthens 

and volumizes for that bold wide-eyed look, hence the 4D name.

The intense carbon-black mineral pigments give a long wearing colour whilst 

the inclusion of filmogenic Rose Wax ensures a long lasting hold. 

Clarins exclusive Lash Boosting Complex protects and promotes visibly thicker, 

longer-looking lashes even after you remove your mascara, however I can't comment 

on this, as it will only be noticeable over time.

The design of the precision sleek brush makes sure that no lash goes uncoated, 

which is so important for those of us with sparse lashes.

The wand is comfortable (a must for me) and lightweight in the hand.

After the first coat of mascara I was hooked, its buildable, doesn't flake 

or smudge however being a moist/wet kinda mascara and considering 

the curl and length it gives I did need to do a little cleaning up afterwards

 but it's worth it for the overall look and finish.

CLARINS

WONDER PERFECT

MASCARA 4D 

8ml

Available in Shades:

01 Perfect Black

02 Perfect Brown

R

360

395

£

22

23

€

29

$

28

29