August + September Favourites

Tuesday, October 22, 2019
I have been so busy recently with visiting Glasgow, exploring my city (for an upcoming post), starting Christmas gift guides and getting new tattoos...but I have finally got round to posting my long over due summer favourites wrap-up! I have found so many new products over the past three or so months that I love and I cannot recommend enough.

Before I get into the specific individual product reviews, there are quite a lot of products that I have already mentioned on my blog, www.allsubscriptionboxes.co.uk or my social media that I wanted to mention again. Firstly, the amazing GHD Platinum+ Styler which I have been using constantly since I was very kindly sent it last month. I have used a few of their stylers, including buying one myself and I cannot recommend them enough.

Next up, a few beauty items from various subscription boxes including the ever wonderful LookFantastic box (I particularly loved their birthday box) and the equally as fantastic Latest In Beauty boxes. My Favourite Latest In Beauty box had to be my picks from the September selection which included the Nars Toledo Lipstick and Kat Von D Go Big Or Go Home Mascara, both of which I adore. I'm also loving the contents of the beautiful 2019 LookFantastic advent calendar which I reviewed over on All Subscription Boxes.

Lastly for my 'honourable' mentions are two beautifully scented products! The shampoo I've been using the most recently and the shampoo that happens to be the most heavenly scented is the Lush Soak and Float Bar (which I need to buy another of). I also love the fragrances I was very kindly scent from Celeste de Provence, especially the Soleil perfume - I can't recommend them enough!
Now onto a few product reviews for a range of beauty and lifestyle items that I was very kindly sent over the past couple of months. The first is a trio of adorably packaged shower gels from the lovely people over at Bubble T. I've loved Bubble T products for a while so I was excited when this surprise package arrived, especially as the packaging is so cute! I have all three of their new ice tea shower gels, including the peach, raspberry and mango options. The shower gels are reasonably priced, in my opinion, but you can also buy the trio as a bundle for £9.99 on the Bubble T website, where you'll also find a selection of adorable products and great gift ideas. 
I love all three scents but my favourite from the range is probably the raspberry ice tea option (which is super fruity and refreshing) but the peach scent isn't far behind! The shower gels are cruelty free and contains aloe vera to cleanse, soothe and moisturise the skin. As well as being lovely scented shower gels, they are also gentle on the skin, effective and the packaging is made of sugarcane so that it is recyclable which is amazing and something that I think more companies should consider! If you're looking for a new fresh and fruity shower gel then check out Bubble T. Also don't forget to have a look through their fantastic gift selection - I have my eye on their gift sets and advent calendar. 
*Ark Skincare Skin Perfector Triple Action Exfoliator (£35)
Next up, sticking with the theme of effective and cruelty free products! I've been lucky enough to try a few products from Ark Skincare with my favourite product so far being their amazing replenishing moisturiser from their 'age defend' range which I cannot recommend enough as my skin adores it. I also love their *Skin Essentials Skin Protector SPF 30 Primer (£36, 30ml) which is such a lovely primer as not only does it help prep my skin for makeup by providing a smooth base but it also contains great skincare ingredients and SPF30 - what more could you want in a primer!

Enough raving on about another product, one of my current favourites from Ark Skincare is their exfoliator which contains fruit acids as well as physical bamboo microbeads to exfoliate and smooth the skin. I've only used it a three times so far as I don't want to potentially over exfoliate but each use has left my skin feeling so much smoother. It doesn't feel too harsh or abrasive on my skin and I think it could be suitable for many skin types, unless you have broken or extremely sensitive skin. 

*Ark Skincare Hydration Masque (£35)
I have been following up my use of the exfoliator the next day with the hydration masque which contains lovely ingredients including vitamin A, vitamin B5 and vitamin C. I've used the masque a few times now and while I'm not a huge fan of the tube packaging for both of these products, I do love the masque itself. It has a thick gel like texture which feels nourishing on the skin and it always leaves my skin feeling smoother, softer and moisturised. The masque, as well as all of their other products is cruelty free and suitable for vegans so if you're looking to give the gift of wonderful and effective skincare this year, you can't go wrong with Ark Skincare and their ethos. 
*Green People Sun & Travel Collection (£37.95)
I'm a little late with this product recommendation as summer has now passed but I hope this review and recommendation will be useful for those looking for some autumn sunshine or if you have a winter holiday coming up. I have been lucky enough to try a range of products from Green People over the years and while I love their sensitive skincare and their SPF, my current favourite item is probably the *Green People Velvet Matte Lipstick in Berry Nude which is the lipstick I've been wearing in most of my instagram photos, along with Nars Toledo.
I also cannot recommend their SPF and kits enough as not only are the products cruelty free, effective and gentle on the skin but this kit is also ocean friendly, suitable for those with eczema and it is hand luggage friendly too (what more could you want!). The kit comes with the SPF 30 sun lotion (100ml), SPF 15 sun lotion with tan accelerator (100ml) and the hydrating after sun (100ml). I think they are all great products and I used the SPF 30 lotion almost everyday in the summer when we had a very unusual heatwave across the UK.

I think the sizes are ideal for a weekend away in the sun and if you are going to be spending time in the sunshine, you do need to use SPF and keep re-applying throughout the day too. If you're looking for an easy, travel friendly SPF kit then check out this great value option from Green People. Also have a look at their offers page as you could get a free gift with your order or a 10% discount.
*Haute Florist Coral Carnations Hatbox (from £42)
Last but definitely not least is a beautiful floral hatbox that I've been meaning to review and rave about for the past few weeks! I've been lucky to receive a range of beautiful bouquets from the generous people over at Haute Florist within 2019 so I was very excited to receive one of their more unusual items, their floral hatboxes. I have reviewed a few of their bouquets, if you want to read my previous reviews as I think they'd make lovely gifts.

I've been looking at their gorgeous floral hatboxes for a while as they are all so unusual! I had to choose the 'coral carnations' option as to me, it was the most autumnal looking hatbox on offer and we all know by now that autumn is my favourite season. Although there's such a wide range of not only bouquets and hatboxes to choose from but also plants!
The 'coral carnations' hatbox contains a selection of carnations along with decorative copper sprayed leaves and twisted willow (at least I think it is, if I'm wrong, let me know in the comments below). The soft peachy toned carnations along with the copper sprayed leaves look so beautiful together and instantly made me think of the changing leaves of autumn so I had to choose it but it was a close call between the coral carnations, sweet sophistication and the serene beauty hatboxes, all of which look incredible!

The flowers lasted for much longer than I thought they would and the arrangement look beautiful in our home! I think that bouquets of any kind would make a lovely gift for all occasions but the hatboxes make an even more stunning and unexpected gift idea. They look unique and eye catching so I think they'd make a perfect and 'safe' christmas gift. I know that my aunties and my mum would love to receive one as a Christmas gift!

Make sure you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand) to see my blogger mail unboxings, favourites and sneak peeks of upcoming posts!

Have you tried any of these products? Which products did you love during the summer? 

*Gifted

15 comments

  1. Ahh so many gorgeous products. Love the look of those Bubble T shower gels xx

    Tiffany x www.foodandotherloves.co.uk

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  2. That Nars lipstick is just my sort of colour for autumn!

    Jasmine xx



    Jasmine Talks Beauty

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  3. Some absolutely lovely products there!

    Love, Amie ❤

    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  4. The bubble t show gel sound amazing! Never heard of the brand before. Wish more UK brands would launch in SA




    Candice

    natalyaamour.com

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  5. Those flowers look so beautiful!!

    http://www.theemeralddove.co.uk

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  6. Those carnations are beautiful, they are my mam’s favourite flower so she would love that x

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  7. Love those flowers - so pretty x

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

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  8. I'm really hoping the platinum styler helps me curl my hair easier when it arrives. I'm so useless at doing it and I've been told this is a really good tool to use xx

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  9. I love the idea of that raspberry shower gel! It smells devine! I've not had the best experiences of Bubble T but never tried their shower gels!

    https://www.lucyjadewrites.com/

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  10. Those flowers are absolutely gorgeous! I love the look of the mini wet brush too x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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  11. Oh that shower gel looks so nice! I bet it smells incredible!

    Erin || MakeErinOver

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  12. ARK’s Triple Action Exfoliator is a new favourite of mine! Doesn't it leave your skin ridiculously soft x

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  13. The ark skincare sounds lovely. I must explore this brand more.

    https://littlemissmelanie.com/

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  14. Some great picks here - I have been loving my new GHD's too x

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