Antipodes Hero Products

Coconut oil has been the focus of so many blog posts, magazine articles and newspaper articles last year but has coconut oil had it's day - avocado oil may be the new coconut oil. Avocado oil contains essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins A, E, B1, B2 and D; also it contains high levels of plant compounds called photosterols which reduce inflamation and the look of tired and stressed skin. Avocado oil can deeply moisture the skin and Antipodes have included avocado oil in it's hero products including: the Divine Face Oil, Vanilla Pod Day Cream (which I adore), Avocado Pear Night Cream and the Joyful Hand and Body Cream.

I have kindly been sent two of their hero products to test out and I was so excited to try them as I adore every single products from the brand! My skin is dry, sensitive and prone to eczema around my eyes and cheekbones which makes it really difficult to find products but Antipodes products tick all of the many boxes that I need for a product to work well for my skin.

- *Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (£33.99, 60ml): If you follow me on twitter or if you follow my blog then you will have seen this brand mentioned in quite a few reviews as well as in my favourites posts. I have very temperamental, dry and sensitive skin which is prone to eczema flareups and it is always difficult to find skincare that will not irritate my skin and that will also moisturise - I never thought I'd be able to use so many products from a brand and that my skin would LOVE them but I have found that in Antipodes.

I adore all of the products I've tried from them and I know I can use them when my skin becomes so irritated, dry and itchy and this moisturiser is no exception. The night cream has a sweet but earthy scent, similar to products you would find in Lush. It is quite thick but it applies smoothly and leaves my skin feeling so smooth, moisturised and comfortable - it relieves the look of very dry, flaky and tired skin almost instantly. I have been using this moisturiser as a day and night cream as recently, because of the weather and a minor eczema flareup, it has been very dry. I cannot recommend this night cream enough and if you also have eczema or sensitive skin then you definitely need to check out Antipodes! Overall rating: ★★★★★. 5/5.

- *Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream (£28.99, 120ml): As well as skincare and a small range of makeup, Antipodes also have a small bodycare range - this is the first body product I've tried from Antipodes and as always I have very high hopes. I love the packaging, it is unusual for a body cream to come in a giant metallic pink metal tube but I love it.

The cream itself contains blackcurrant, South Pacific hibiscus flower and avocado oil. To me the cream smells heavenly and quite nostalgic as it reminds me of something from my childhood (maybe sweets of some kind). I've been using it mainly as a hand cream as I've been keeping it on my desk since I received it and I am nearly half way through already as I love it so much.

I love the scent and although the cream isn't the quickest to absorb *it doesn't take ages either*, it is incredibly moisturising. I have a patch of eczema on both hands which can look extremely dry and flaky most of the time as well as feeling so uncomfortable and tight but this cream rectifies that immediately. It's such a nice product simply to use and as with every other product I have used from Antipodes I genuinely cannot recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★. 5/5.

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? 

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July Beauty Favourites

How is it the end of July already, this year is going by so fast! Another month ends which means it is now time for my monthly favourites roundup. This month I have been lucky enough to receive quite a few amazing products, a lot of which I have been loving and using constantly throughout July. 

Makeup

Lets start with my favourite category, makeup! I was very kindly sent a range of products from the Australian company, Eye of Horus and their Dynasty Dual Brow Perfect pencil and gel is my favourite product from the range. The pencil is a perfect shade for me, the gel has amazing hold and it is perfect for travelling - I took it with me on our mini staycation in York earlier this week and it was so handy! Next up, another new addition to my makeup collection, the MeMeMe Correct and Perfect Concealer Kit which is actually a great shade for my super pale skin. I thought the concealer would be quite waxy and cakey on my dry skin but it isn't and it blends so well; the powder is great too. I will have a makeup look featuring a lot of lovely MeMeMe products on my blog soon. Lastly, in the makeup category is the Spectrum Atlantis Flat Top Buffer Brush has been my go to foundation brush; it looks so pretty and it is perfect for blending foundation without those annoying streaks.

Skincare

I've already posted my review of the two new Antipodes additions to my skincare routine and I have been loving both since I received them earlier this month. I use the Antipodes Vanilla Pod Day Cream everyday and I use the Antipodes Worship Serum on days when my skin is extra dry; they work so well and they are all natural. Another product I have been using almost constantly is the Skin and Tonic Steam Clean Cleansing Balm which is a luxe but basic cleansing balm that is perfect for my dry, sensitive skin.

Bodycare

Lastly a couple of products I've been using on my hands, the first is the Sweet Cecily's Soothing Skin Cream which to be honest doesn't look or smell very nice but it great for soothing and moisturising the eczema I have on my hand. Lastly, the hand cream I have been keeping on my desk is one from last Christmas, The Body Shop Glazed Apple Hand Cream; it smells lovely, it absorbs quickly and it doesn't irritate my eczema. 

Just a couple of honorary mentions to a few products that I used over the few days of our mini staycation in York earlier this week which came in so useful. Firstly, the Fancy Witch Brushes (available at Beauty Crowd) are fantastic, very smooth and the foundation brush is a dream. While away from home the DHC Blotting Papers were so useful, I didn't know my t-zoe as that oily but they really helped control shine. Lastly, my favourite foundation/powder combo is the Max Factor Smooth Effect foundation and the Essence Fixing Powder - they look so natural (but have good coverage) and make my skin look so much more even. 

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned? What products have you been loving through the month of July?

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Antipodes Worship Serum + Vanilla Day Cream

Antipodes is a certified organic, certified vegetarian skincare, bodycare and makeup brand that I have reviewed on my blog before - I reviewed the amazing Antipodes Hosanna Serum which has been in a monthly favourites post. So when the opportunity arose to review more from the brand, I jumped at the chance! It's a gorgeous brand, I love their ethos and my skin (which is dry and sensitive, prone to eczema on occasion) gets on well with Antipodes products. 

Antipodes have released a new serum, the *Antipodes Worship Superfruit Antioxidant Serum (£34, 30ml) which is 100% natural and claims to fortify the skin against the early signs of ageing and free radical damage as well as hydrate and plump the skin. The serum contains kiwi fruit extract, raspberry water, coffee berry extract, vitamin E, blackcurrant extract and more - the ingredients list is a dream, no nasty chemicals, colourants or parabens in sight! 

The serum comes with a dropper, it is red and smells like berries which to me makes it more enjoyable to use! The serum is very runny so the dropper makes it easier and far less messy to use. It feels very gentle and hydrating on the skin but it does absorb quickly. I've been using both products consistently for just over two weeks and I love them; when I use this serum it leaves my skin feeling hydrated, plumped to an extent and it doesn't irritate my eczema or cause any other negative effect. 

As the serum is water based, it feels light on the skin and it just adds a much need moisture boost to my dry skin as well as protecting it. Since I opened the bottle, which is glass and very luxe, I have noticed that the scent has changed slightly from a very strong and sweet berry scent to a more subtle scent which I imagine is to be expected with a product that is all natural. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

I have wanted to try the *Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream (£27.99) for so long so I was really happy to receive it! Firstly, I have to say that this cream is one of the nicest smelling skincare products I own - it has a heavenly creamy vanilla scent. As with the serum, the cream is natural and vegetarian society approved. The cream contains avocado oil, rosehip oil. grapeseed extract, shea butter and manuka honey, among other natural ingredients. The cream is very thick but applies and absorbs into the skin easily. It leaves my skin so moisturised, radiant and comfortable; it doesn't irritate my eczema. I find that during the hotter days we have had then it can be a little too heavy on my skin so I've been using it as a night cream on those days but this cream in the autumn and winter will be a lifesaver! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Overall, I'm so happy with both products on my dry, sensitive skin! I love the packaging, natural organic ingredients and the effectiveness. The only reason the serum has one less star is because on the whole I prefer the Hosanna serum for my skin personally but all three products are fantastic for those with dry and or sensitive skin types, although keep in mind that everyones skin is different. Antipodes have such a great range of products, from their almost cult status Manuka Honey mask to cleansers, hand creams, foundation and setting powders. 

Have you tried any products from Antipodes?

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Antipodes Hosanna Intensive Serum

I have wanted to try Antipodes skincare for so long and I finally have my hands on one of their products! I chose this serum as I do have dry/dehydrated skin especially at this time of the year so I couldn't wait to start using this serum however as stated on the box, I did a patch test to check that it didn't irritate my skin. 

The *Antipodes Hosanna H20 Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum (£28.99, 30ml) which is a Harpers Bazaar Beauty Award Winner and it contains so many natural ingredients that are also 100% organic. Some of the ingredients are as follows: Mamaku Black Fern, Lavender, Grapeseed Extract and more! Also Antipodes products are scientifically proven to stimulate collagen in the skin cells by up to 72% which is fantastic for skin plumping and anti-aging as far as I am aware. 

Since the path test didn't irritate my skin, I carried on using it daily. I love the packaging, it looks so luxe and it comes with a pipette which I love as I can control the amount of product I use very easily. The serum is a reddish cloudy colour - to me it looks like strawberry yoghurt! The serum is to be used after cleansing and before your moisturiser, I have been using it instead of my facial oils. It absorbs really quickly, even while I am massaging it into the skin so it feels like it is actually doing something to deeply hydrate my skin rather than just sitting on top of the skin. 

I have been using this serum every evening and sometimes in the morning for about two weeks now and I love this serum! From the first use, I liked it but I wasn't sure if it was as good as it claims but I was wrong. My dry/dehydrated, sensitive skin has NEVER looked and felt as smooth as it has since using this product (I have also been drinking herbal tea and oil pulling which has been helping too) and I cannot get enough of this serum. It deeply hydrates my skin, almost completely banishing dry, flaky patches while also thoroughly smoothing and plumping my skin! 

Overall, I am so impressed with this product and even though it is expensive, I will be buying another bottle when this one runs out. I love it more than my beloved facial oils! I would definitely recommend this serum. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. This product was supplied by the Nutrition Centre.

Here are the Antipodes products on my wish list ft. the Gentle Rich Toner, Vanilla Pod Day Cream, Skin Brightening Finishing Powder and the Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser. 

Have you tried this product or anything from Antipodes? 

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