The festive season is in full swing, and Christmas parties are all around. Before we know it, New Year will be upon us, but are you party-ready? We’ve tried some products that will give you a festive glow up that brings an all-important confidence boost to face the party season in style and feeling fabulous. You could even treat your Average Joe to a bit of a pamper, too…
Skincycles Bio-Cellulose Mask
From £12.80 per mask
A face mask can be the perfect excuse to stop and unwind, even during a hectic Christmas time. This option from Skincycles will give you an instant glow and leave your skin feeling supple and hydrated in just 20 minutes.
When you take it out of the packet, you peel off the first layer and then apply the mask to your face. It can be a little tricky to peel at first, but once you have it sorted, it goes on to the skin well. Peel off the second layer, gently press the mask into place with your fingertips, sit back, and relax. As the serum is absorbed into the skin, the mask becomes transparent.
Remove the mask after 15-20 minutes and massage any remaining serum into the skin. The result was great, leaving us with fresh, soft-feeling skin.
Verdict: Perfect for a home spa day or a monthly pamper treat, but a little expensive for a weekly routine.
Skincycles Eye Matrix Mask
From £10.40
Reducing those dark, puffy bags under my eyes would be a fabulous Christmas gift, so I had high hopes for these. They were easy to use — just remove the film from each side of the pad and apply it under the eyes to cleansed skin, with the thinner end towards the nose.
The cool sensation was very relaxing, particularly with my cocktail in hand, and after 20 minutes, it was time to remove them. There was a little serum residue on the skin, so I gently massaged that in. The skin under my eyes felt lovely and smooth, but I can’t say that I saw much difference after this one application.
Verdict: Leaves the skin feeling great, but not a winner as a stand-alone product. It would likely come into its own as part of a regular skincare routine, or after a few uses.
Alpha Radiance Mist 100ml
From £40
Alpha Radiance Mist is applied after cleansing the skin as part of a skin care routine, to give a radiant glow. Just spritz it on and allow it to dry for a couple of minutes. It contains both AHA and BHA which help to smooth the skin and cleanse the pores, however, these do make the skin more sensitive, particularly to UV light, so if you choose to make this a part of your skincare routine, be sure to use sunscreen as a matter of course.
Verdict: A nice product, but if you already have sensitive skin, I would probably give this one a miss. AHA and BHA can irritate sensitive skin.
Age Defence Complex 50ml
From £100
This anti-ageing, collagen-boosting formula is a moisturiser that adds hydration along with a glorious sheen to the skin. You need just a single pump from the sleek-looking bottle to cover your whole face, and a smidge more for you neck and clavicle. Just one application left skin feeling fabulous and glowing, absorbing without any greasiness or residue.
Verdict: This was our favourite luxury product to try. It covered so much with such a small amount and felt great on the skin. The downside is that you can’t see how much is left in the tube so if you aren’t buying it on subscription, you don’t know when to re-order.
Exfo Lips 15ml
From £36
Exfo Lips is a menthol-infused exfoliator which removes dry, dead skin cells from your lips, leaving them feeling soft and supple. You only need a tiny amount a couple of times a week, massaging it into the lips and then rinsed off before you apply your favourite moisturising balm.
Verdict: It really does leave your lips feeling super-soft, and as you only need a very small amount, even this small pot should last a while.
Anatome Cleansing Balm
£38
This facial cleansing balm multitasks wonderfully — just take a small amount on massage it into dry skin, add a little warm water and massage a little more before rinsing thoroughly. No need to remove your makeup first, as this does that at the same time.
It lathers really well, and rinses easily, leaving skin feeling fresh and clean. It has a botanical smell in the pot, but once lathered and rinsed it doesn’t leave a strong scent on the skin.
Verdict: This was our absolute favourite product. It works well, leaves the skin bright and glowing, and offers great value for money, with only a relatively small amount needed per cleanse.
Anatome Illuminating Face Tonic 100ml
£34
Illuminating Face Tonic is designed to soothe, brighten and smooth the skin. After cleaning, just rub a couple of drops between your palms to warm the tonic, before gently dabbing it onto the skin. The scent is botanical with a hint of citrus which smells fresh and vibrant, but it only leaves a hint on the skin rather than overwhelming it.
It dries on the skin quickly without any residue, leaving it light and refreshed — a great base for the rest of your skincare routine.
Verdict: Easy to use daily at home, or as a refresher during the day, thanks to the spray top that is included with the bottle.
Rumi Cosmetiques
The Rumi Cosmetiques range has been predominately designed for more mature skin types. As our skin ages it changes, becoming more sensitive over time. This range has been created with that in mind. It is vegan, cruelty-free and specifically formulated for sensitive eyes and skin.
Lashcare+ Serum
From £21.25
With age our lashes naturally become thinner and shorter. Lashcare+ Serum is formulated to give lashes a helping hand, essentially giving them a boost of the right ingredients to encourage them to thrive.
It is easy to apply (less so without my glasses on, of course…), with just a application to the top and bottom lash line with the fine brush. It doesn’t feel sticky or gloopy, absorbing readily. Does it work? Only time will tell, but Rumi suggest that result can be seen within around 8 weeks. Customer reviews are positive, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
VolumeCare+ Mascara
From £26.35
Mascara can be frustrating — you’ve spent time getting the perfect eyes ready to go out and you apply mascara and it clumps and ruins the look. VolumeCare+ is made with a clump-free, water-resistant formula that applies well every time. The brush is excellent, gently separating the lashes and making them look fabulous.
It’s not cheap at £31 for a one-off purchase, but it is very good…
InstantGlow+ Multipurpose Highlighter Stick
From £23.80
The InstantGlow+ highlighter stick comes in two shades, vanilla and cinnamon, and adds a just a hint of sparkle wherever you want it. It is incredibly versatile, and can be used to highlight cheekbones and collarbones, add colour to eyes, or even to lips. It is infused with vitamins and oils to nourish the skin, too, and it’s long lasting. Oh, and it blends like and absolute dream.
BloomBlush+ Multipurpose Colour Stick
From £23.80
Available in three gorgeous colours — nude peach, berry kiss and dusty rose — BloomBlush+ melts effortlessly into the skin, giving beautiful subtle colour. It doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, and at the end of the day it is easy to remove, too.
The colours are soft and blendable, creating a natural look with a subtle glow. They can add a pop of colour to eyes, cheeks and lips, and look fresh for hours — perfect for a night out, and small enough to pop in a bag or pocket if you do feel you might want a touch up. It can be easily blended without having to use a brush, just a dab and massage with the tip of your finger will work well.
Rumi Cosmetiques Verdict: The range is great for more mature skin, with added nourishment and care thrown in. They don’t easily run or smudge, yet can be removed effortlessly at the end of the day. Perfect for a natural, vibrant look.
Lily England Deluxe Hair Dryer Brush
£35
If you’re ever tried to dry and style mid-length or long hair, you’ve probably wished for an extra hand! Lily England’s deluxe hair dryer brush combines the hair brush and the dryer, making styling simple.
It is so easy to use, with the hair flowing through the bristles without tangling or pulling. You can adjust the temperature to suit your needs, while adding volume and curl or straightening in just a few minutes.
Verdict: A brilliant piece of kit for the price!
Lily England The Eye Makeup Brush Set
£10
If you’re looking for a set of makeup brushes for perfect eyes, this could be the one for you. I lovely set of eight brushes, with everything from a luxe crease brush for blending eyeshadow in the creases, to an angled fluffy brush for blending and buffing on the eyelid.
Verdict: A great set with everything you could possible need for your eyes this party season and beyond.
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