Every summer I do a post about some of the beauty products things that I have been testing out, new and exciting products, or things I haven’t tried before and I think you will love. This year, as summer in the UK came quite early with some gorgeous sunshine I have had plenty of time to try (and discount a few duds) lots of things that I wanted to share with you. Either to use over summer, at home or in more tropical climes.
First up a sunscreen for the face. Now I know there is a lot of sunscreen products around, and I’ll have a few I recommend coming later in this blog. However I have become more and more aware of the need to use a sunscreen that has been developed just for the face.
Bare Republic Face SPF 30 RPP£17 / feelgoodmatters.com
Bare Republic’s products are mineral based and contain no active chemicals. Physical (as opposed to chemical) sunscreens are great for those with sensitive skin, as they contain no chemical actives. They don’t leave you with that greasy feeling that a lot of sunscreens do! This is perfect for my nearly 15 year old daughter Nia, as heavy creams are the worse, when you combine a teenager with hormones and getting hot and sweaty. This one has been a great facial SPF 30 sunscreen, she hasn’t had any adverse reaction to it and I’ve used it myself to and found it really effective.
I try to let my hair dry naturally as much as I can in the summer months, and not use straighteners all the time. The sun whether at home or away though, can still be quite harsh and dry out your hair, especially if like me your hair is coloured. There are a couple of things I do, one is have a shower in the evening apply conditioner at the end of the shower, and not rinse it out, I then rinse it just before I go to bed, or if I really need to in the morning. Truth be told it’s a little messy even with a towel, but I do like the results it gives. Well now I’ve got a new little treat that I’ve been using for my hair, and its a lot less messy!
I’ve really been impressed with Color WOW’s Kale Cocktail Bionic Tonic £22 a leave-in treatment that works to reinforce hair’s internal bonds by over 50% in just one use. Definitely one to treat yourself to this summer.
When hair is colour-treated, the natural, internal cysteine bonds that keep strands strong and resilient are broken down, resulting in weakened, vulnerable hair. To help combat this, a cocktail of sulphur-rich Sea Kale, protein-building Amino Acids and B Vitamins work to help reinforce internal bonds and significantly reduce breakage after just one application.
After using it my hair was left smooth, detangled and soft. Its said to boost hair’s strength and resilience, the protective formula also shields from UV damage to keep hair and colour safeguarded, perfect for summer.
Next up are the is a little travel set from Neom that is perfect to take away with you if you are going on a shorter break, like I did to London recently. If you haven’t smelt any of the Neom range, they really are amazing. These smaller travel size versions sell for £8 each on the site. I choose the ‘Make You Happy’ scent, which is specially formulated with natural fragrance which not only smells wonderful but also has an uplifting effect on the mind and body. This therapeutic scent of 8 pure essential oils has been expertly blended to help lift your mood and awaken the body and mind. The prefect pick me up!
The EYE – Mosquito repellent wrist bands £4.99 – £6 This is the only thing I haven’t had chance to fully test out, but I will update this post once we are back from our holiday. We went to the same country a couple of years ago, and I ended up like a sieve I was bitten so much, so this hopefully will help. The bands I’m going to test are adjustable and are effective to use for up to 2 weeks. I’ve seen some great reviews so that’s why I’m including this one untested.
What I have tried out is the multipack of travel sprays that the brand also sell – £10 They are only the size of a credit card, so easy to pop into your bag each day, and completely mess free.
Ok, another new product here, well a duo actually and this time from the brilliant brand that is Green People. To celebrate their 20th anniversary they launched two special edition organic skin care ranges, Damask rose and Orange Blossom. I’ve been using the exfoliator and moisturiser from the Orange Blossom and been really impressed with both. I don’t know about you, but I definitely feel an exfoliator is essential in summer, as pores get clogged with all the extra products you are using.
Orange Blossom Moisturiser – £20
I’ve been testing out lots of sun tan creams and sprays, and wanted to share two brands I have been incredibly impressed by. First up Institut Esthederm, which is available at SpaceNK. Love, love this brand, and I can’t tell how fab the smell is but also how effective it is too. This one has made the grade, and I’ll be bringing it with me on our summer hols, for the Tall Fella and I to use. Here’s a little more detail, as t works a little differently to most sun screens. I opted for the one with 3 stars which is for strong sun.
Bronz Repair Strong Sun – £55 is an anti-wrinkle suncare product with a firming effect. This you apply to face and decollete 20 mins before exposure to the sun, then reapply every 2 hours. This soft, lavish cream stimulates tanning, prevents photo-ageing, corrects wrinkles and firms the skin. The skin turns a deep golden colour. Radiance, softness and tone are restored.
Product for strong sun exposure (mountains, sea, tropics) or extended exposure.
- Maximum protection against UV rays: UVA protection is just as high as UVB protection.
- Prevents photo-ageing and dark spots: protects the skin’s DNA and prevents cell damage thanks to our patented Global Cellular Protection technology.
- Activates the natural pigmentation process for a luminous and long-lasting tan.
- Prevents and corrects wrinkles: the skin stays firm and toned.
Next up Mustela. Now both of my daughters have at some point in their life been effected with rashes during the summer months that we’ve always thought were heat rashes or even an allergy to sunscreen. Since we started using Mustela we haven’t experienced any of these at all.
Mustela’s sun protection range is formulated with an exclusive organo-mineral photoprotective system that combines high protection SPF 50+ UVA/UVB filters with Avocado Perseose®, a patented natural ingredient that reinforces the skin’s barrier and protects its cellular richness from UV rays. Mustela®’s sun range is specifically formulated to protect the skin of babies and children with sun-sensitive, intolerant and atopic-prone skin and is safe to use starting at 3 months of age.
They have lots of products to try, but the ones we like are the after sun spray which is easy to use being in a spray form and extremely soothing. Also the very high sun protection spray – 50+SPF. If you are looking to protect small children, and you think they have sensitive skin, or you worry about using creams on very young children and babies I would definitely recommend this range.
Available in selected pharmacies: www.mustela.co.uk/store-locator
Olverum Bath Oil – Travel Set This is a really interesting product. Not a new product, it feels reassuringly timeless with a rich history from the packaging down to the smell. The name comes from the latin for ‘true oil’ and indeed it does stay true to the ingredients that were used when it was first created in the 1930’s. Made with natural essential oils it smells amazing, filling the house when you have a bath with a beautiful aroma of rosemary, eucalyptus and pine. I always think of a bath as a luxury, I think because I get to have them rarely, and they make me spend time on myself. Couple that with this oil and you really do feel like any tensions will fade away. It leaves your skin soft and smelling amazing, I’m very impressed and will be repurchasing this!
I’ve been reliably informed to bring a small bottle on the flight with me the next I travel, to out on my temples and breath in. Apparently you ease any tensions away, so this is something we will definitely be testing out.
Olverum Bath Oil is highly concentrated and only half a capful (5ml) is needed per bath. Accordingly, virtually all the oil is absorbed by the skin leaving no greasy residue in the bath after use. Different sizes are available.
Finally as a household of long-haired females hair brushes are an important part of all of our morning routines. From me, with over processed blonde hair that I fear is thinning with age, a teen who likes the straighteners just a little too much, and a curly-haired 8-year-old. We all need a hairbrush that is effective but gentle on our hair and that’s why I am recommending the Tangle Angel range. We tested out the Tangle Angel (original design) and Tangle Cherub (children’s detangle brush) and found them both to be brilliant. A striking design and very reasonably priced at around £10.
Now I will have another update of summer holiday products coming up next week, but something a little different.
I’m definitley going to try out the Bare republic face SPF. Did you get the chance to try it under makeup as well? if so did itallow your makeup to hold well too? Great round up!
Hi Nikki. I don’t wear foundation unless I’m going ‘out, out’ so didn’t I’m afraid. It glides on the skin really well though, so I would imagine it would work really well almost like a primer.