New In: Antipodes Manuka Honey Skincare

When it comes to sincere, I'm always looking for better and more effective products which isn't an easy task as I have eczema prone skin so it can be extremely dry, tight, sensitive, irritated (stinging, itchy, burning) and generally just awful when I have a bad flareup - yeah, finding skincare isn't the easiest task for me. In comes Antipodes *angels singing* as I've tried maybe eight products from them and I LOVE every single product and my skin couldn't be happier!

I was sent a couple of new products the lovely, natural New Zealand based brand. The two new products are inspired by one of their best selling products, the Manuka Honey Mask which I have and it's wonderful! All three products contain Manuka Honey which is one of 'natures most powerful healers' as it's antibacterial and it is hydrating. 

The *Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Day Cream (£39.99, 60ml) contains bee venom, Vinanza grape (which is scientifically proven to brighten the skin), kiwi and Manuka Honey. It's approved by the vegetarian society and you cannot use it if you are allergic to bee stings. The cream is designed for those with normal to oily skin - I have an oily t-zone and dry everywhere else and I find this moisturiser works well for me. I apply a generous amount morning and night, with a little extra on the drier areas of my skin. 

One of the main things I love about both of these products is the scent, they both smell incredible (two of the best smelling skincare products I've ever tried). The scent to me is creamy, almost chocolatey/food like and when I've applied it, I can still smell it for the next couple of hours - I LOVE it! The moisturiser is rich and it leaves my skin baby soft, incredibly smooth and moisturised. It also creates a great base for makeup. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

The second product is the *Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Eye Cream (£35.99, 30ml) which also contains Persian silk flowers, jojoba oil, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil and many more fantastic, natural ingredients. The eye cream comes in a heavy, luxe feeling glass jar as most Antipodes products do and it's a really rich, thick eye cream but it is very silky smooth and applies quickly and easily. It's designed for normal to oily or blemish prone skin and while I don't ever really get blemishes, this eye cream still works very well. It's perfect to use before foundation/concealer as it eliminates dryness and provides a smooth base for makeup. The price may be a little high but the 30ml jar will last forever as you only need a tiny amount.  Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Overall, I cannot recommend these products enough! They both work so well for my annoying, temperamental and sensitive skin. They smell heavenly and the packaging is fantastic as always. I know skincare isn't a typical christmas gift but I really don't think you could go wrong with Antipodes and they have great bodycare products too - if you want more information on Antipodes products then check out my reviews.

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? What skincare products are you loving recently? 

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Organic September: Antipodes Skincare

Today is the start of Organic Beauty Week and the whole of the month is Organic September. Today I have a post all about a fantastic organic brand that I cannot recommend enough - Antipodes. I have tried quite a few Antipodes products over the past year or two, all of which have been amazing for my temperamental, dry and eczema prone skin.

I was very kindly sent the *Antipodes Divine Face Oil (£19.99, 30ml) which is perfect for the upcoming colder months (if the English weather ever gets the memo that it is now Autumn!). The facial oil contains avocado oil, rosehip, jojoba oil, vitamin E and many more natural ingredients - numerous ingredients are certified organic as well as vegetarian society approved.

When the colder months come around I always change my skincare, I add in more hydrating and richer products such as facial oils to my routine. The oil has an unusual scent, as most Antipodes products do; it's very earthy and musky scent which I personally like but it may not be for everyone. The facial oil is quite rich and leaves my skin very moisturised, smooth and comfortable although I don't use it under makeup as it is a bit too rich. It doesn't irritate my skin at all and it's perfect as part of my evening skincare routine! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Next up, this product was such a cult classic a year or two ago with so many youtubers raving about it - the *Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask (£22.99, 75ml). I have wanted to try this mask for ages and I'm so glad that I now have it as it's such a lovely mask, especially for my dry and sensitive skin. The mask is creamy, it doesn't dry down and it doesn't strip my skin. It leaves my skin smooth, so, moisturised and comfortable - it's well worth trying especially if you do have sensitive skin. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? Do you change your skincare during the colder months?

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Antipodes Mineral Foundation + Kabuki Brush

If you have been following my blog this year then you will have seen me raving about the brand Antipodes over and over again. I have tried a few of their products and I LOVE all of them (especially the amazing vanilla pod day cream which I definitely need to purchase!) and I cannot recommend their skincare enough so when this foundation arrived I was so excited to give it a go.

I received the *Antipodes Performance Plus Mineral Foundation (£27.99, 01 Pale Pink) which is a loose mineral powder foundation that contains SPF 15, vinanza grape and kiwi. It is dermatologically tested, suitable for normal and sensitive skin and it is scientifically proven to help improve skin health which is amazing so as well as being a foundation, it actually benefits the skin too!

I didn't know whether to choose the 01 Pale Pink shade or the 02 Light Yellow shade because I do have pink undertones and redness but I chose the first and presumably lightest shade and I'm glad I did as it matches me well. It doesn't emphasise the pink tones in my skin thankfully - so if you have a similar skintone to me then it might match you well. The only downside to this foundation, in my opinion, is the very limited shade range.

The foundation packaging is gorgeous and luxe and it does have a sifter dispenser so it isn't very messy; as you can see from the photographs above, I dispense some into the lid and then I use the *Antipodes Kabuki Brush (£16.99) which is so cute to buff it into the skin. Although it isn't the softest brush ever, it is fantastic for applying this mineral foundation as it buffs in the product well. I'm surprised at how easy, quick and fuss free it is to use and I'm also surprised by the finish as it doesn't really look powdery, flat or heavy on the skin; it leaves my skin looking more even and radiant. However if you have very oily, very dry skin or flaky skin then this might not be for you. The coverage is light to buildable as you can apply more and it almost reaches medium coverage in my opinion. It covers pores, redness and very minor blemishes really well as it almost airbrushes my skin so it looks much better although if you are looking for full coverage then this might not be the foundation for you.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised and impressed with this foundation and cute kabuki brush. I love the packaging, ingredients and cruelty free and natural ethos of the brand. The foundation is easy to use, it has a fairly good amount of coverage (for me anyway) and it leaves the skin looking radiant and even although as mentioned previously if you have very dry skin or very oily skin or if you want full coverage then this isn't for you. I have been using this foundation over my regular liquid foundation to set it and to add more coverage and I love it but I also adore it on its own as it looks so natural on the skin and it personally doesn't highlight dryness on me. It is one of the best foundations I've tried for a while! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? 

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Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

When it comes to skincare, I have to be a little bit cautious as I do have dry and sensitive skin which is prone to eczema. Thankfully I've found a few brands over the past couple of years of blogging that work so well with my skin such as Nivea, Bioderma, Lush skincare and Antipodes. I've reviewed a couple of Antipodes products on my blog already including the Antipodes Hosanna Serum which I adore, the Antipodes Vanilla Pod Day Cream which I use every single day and the lovely Worship serum which is one of their latest releases - all three products have featured in my monthly favourites posts. 

I have been testing the *Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser (£22.49, 75g) over the past few weeks which contains 100% natural ingredients such as Vinanza Grape, Harekeke Flax and Hibiscus Bloom. The cleansing balm/butter is suitable for all skin types but I would really only recommend this cleanser if you have combination, dry or very dry skin. 

The cleanser looks a little unusual, I don't know if you can see from the photo above but the yellow balm has small white bits in it that looks like miniature clouds - I think it's the Hibiscus Bloom. The cleanser scent is also a little unusual, it is floral and sweet but also quite earthy and natural; it might not be for some but I personally love it. 

I've tried a few cleansing balms and I love them especially at this time of the year when my skin is even drier and needs a nourishing protective layer. I use the cleansing balm on dry skin or if I have worn makeup that day then I will remove it with a micellar water first, then cleanse with this balm. The cleanser is very thick but when massaged into dry skin it almost instantly turns into a silky oil with the white particles acting as mini exfoliators - they do actually feel like they exfoliate the skin fairly well. 

It leaves my skin feeling clean but very moisturised, smooth and nourished, if that makes sense as it is like a comforting rich layer over the skin which is why I wouldn't recommend it unless you have dry skin or dry patches. The cleansing balm doesn't irritate my skin, even if I have an eczema flareup and it also doesn't make my skin feel greasy. 

Overall, I love this cleanser, as I love all of the other Antipodes products I have tried which is fantastic as I do sometimes struggle to find products that work for my temperamental skin. I love the use of all natural ingredients as well as certified organic ingredients (it is still #OrganicSeptember after all). Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Have you tried any products from Antipodes? What are your favourite organic products/brands?

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