Author: Rachael

Hi, I'm Rachael, the owner of this site! I hope you're finding my articles useful. Let me know by email at rachael@ahoybeauty.co.uk.

I'm a normal 35yo makeup-obsessed gal just trying to find the right products for my oily and acne-prone skin. I'm always on the look-out for new products - I've recently succumb to several from tiktok.

See my articles below!

Skincare

Facetheory Skincare to the rescue after painful acne – my honest review

My full morning staple routine

Facetheory is a UK-based skincare brand; Leaping Bunny & PETA approved. I’ve been using them for years, as being a bit lazy, I love it when a website makes it super easy to choose products right for you. I go for products to support with oily skin, acne and hyperpigmentation.

They have a ‘routine builder’ on their website which asks you a few questions and at the end, suggests several products. I did this, but I used it more of a guide. Once I knew the key products (moisturiser, vitamin c etc) I then looked and found my own favourites.

I’ve been using the Supergel moisturiser since 2019 but recently purchased more products, including some for my husband who has the opposite skin to me. Mine is oily, acne-prone and not very sensitive. His is very sensitive, dry and he has redness.

Get 20% off your first purchase with my friends and fam link >

My new routine with Facetheory after painful fungal acne

photo of my cheek with painful acne — Photo of my skin after holiday – painful bumps so I stopped all products and began with FaceTheory which has transformed my skin

After coming home from holiday, I had really sore skin. I haven’t been properly diagnosed, but I think I had fungal acne, caused by all the oils in the Elemis cleansing balm I was using to remove makeup 🙁

It caused such a big, painful flare up, I stopped using all products and investigated until I was 99% sure what my next steps were to be.

I cleaned out all products that contain anything that would aggravate the fungal acne (basically 90% of products) and purchased new products – the majority being from Facetheory.

Facetheory benefits – from their website facetheory.com. The products are super clean.

Get 20% off your first purchase with my friends and fam link >

My favourite things about buying from Facetheory are:

most products don’t contain anything that’ll trigger fungal acne
all products are vegan and cruelty-free
prices are affordable (although there’s been a recent 2023 price increase – more on that below)
setting up subscriptions for my favourite products so I never run out, plus get a small discount
you get offers and discounts often in your inbox and accrue points for each order (4 points = £1, but they have tiers depending on how much you spend – the lowest is 2 points per £1)

my favourite Facetheory skincare products

My favourite Facetheory products to use on my oily, acne-prone skin

Vitamin C

Regena C30 Pro Vitamin C Serum with 30% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (£34 although I pay less with subscription)

I use a small blob of this every morning before moisturiser. It contains 30% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, to target dull and uneven skin, signs of ageing, inflammation and acne bacteria. 30% is quite high, so Facetheory also make a 20% version.

It’s reduced my hyperpigmentation especially on my forehead, and made my skin look more awake.

Facetheory regena vitamin c serum - skincare review — Regena Vitamin C serum – I use 2 drops in a morning

Moisturiser

Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser M3 for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin with Aloe Vera and Niacinamide (£16)

I absolutely love this moisturiser. It’s made for people with oily and acne-prone skin, but my husband uses it and he has very sensitive skin. He loves it as it’s “really thin, easily absorbed and doesn’t dry out my skin”. He’s bought his own tube now so I get mine back!

It contains Niacinamide which helps to reduce pore size. Salicylic acid helps congested skin without causing irritation or any redness. I use this moisturiser under SPF.

Facetheory supergel moisturiser skincare oily skin review — Facetheory Supergel moisturiser I use every morning. It’s super light-weight and slides into skin – no stickiness

Toner

Cera-C Pore Reducing Toner T1 with Niacinamide, Ceramides and Vitamin C (£15)

Next up is the toner, which has tons of goodies, including Niacinamide to balance oily skin and reduce pore size. It also contains Ceramides to help your skin retain moisture, Panthenol to absorb moisture, and Vitamin C to help fight breakouts and brightens skin.

I use this toner with a cotton pad. I use one side on half my face, then turn the cotton pad over and clean the other side of my face. I tip the bottle top vertically over the cotton pad, giving me about a pea-sized amount to work with. This is so I don’t go back over clean skin with the dirt from another area.

Facetheory cera c pore refining toner skincare review oily skin — Facetheory cera c pore refining toner – this bottle was a free sample but I now buy the 200ml beast size

… plus I use the Freshening Face Wash C4 (£11) for a cleanser and Hylafecta 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum S14 (£22), which aren’t on my subscription list, yet.

Face Wash

Freshening Face Wash C4, £11

I use this both in the morning and at night. It contains Green Tea Extract to detox and remove impurities, and Aloe Vera to soothe and clarify. It’s £11 and comes in a chunky 140ml glass bottle with an easy-to-use pump.

Facetheory skincare review moisturiser vitamin c hyaluronic acid — My full morning staple routine from L-R: face wash, toner, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, moisturiser

So basically my skincare is 90% covered with Facetheory. And my skin has never looked better for it.

What are the products like?

As mentioned above, I have 3 products on subscription I get every few months. I love them all as they’ve completely changed my skin.

My husband uses the same moisturiser as me (Supergel) and swears by it even though we’ve got completely different skin. His skin is very sensitive so he usually doesn’t use any skincare because they make his skin worse, but he’s been using Supergel for months now and has even branched out to use the Amil-C Whip M5 SPF 30 and another moisturiser, Aventhra Moisturiser M2.

Supergel moisturiser is very light so a pea-sized amount is able to glide over and cover your whole face.

My discount code

Through my account I get a friends and fam code. Use this link to get 20% off your first purchase (I also get points if you do this!)

Facetheory.com with 20% off link >

Recent price increases

I have several products on subscription so I was able to lock in the prices before the increase in early 2023. Some increases are a few pounds, but others have increased quite considerably.

Regena C30 Pro Vitamin C Serum with 30% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, 30ml, was £26.99 in Dec 2022. I purchased it again a month later (Jan 2023) for £22.94 then again at the end of March for £28. It’s now £34 on the website. I get it for £22.94 as I locked-in this price as a subscription.

The Supergel moisturiser was £12.74 in Jan 2023, and is now £16. It doesn’t seem much but it’s still an increase of 25%.

If you’re looking to purchase from them, I’d suggest signing up for an account and signing up to their newsletter. They have offers going all the time, so you’ll be sure to bag a bargain if you keep an eye out.

Or use my code to get 20% off your first order (I also get points if you do this!)

Get 20% off your first purchase with my friends and fam link >

• • •

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Tags acne, advice, Beauty, cruelty-free, Moisturiser, review

Health and Wellbeing

London Nootropics discount voucher codes to get money off coffee

london nootropics mushroom coffee review - zen cbd ashwaganda

Calling all coffee enthusiasts and brain-boosting aficionados! If you’re on the lookout for a unique and invigorating coffee experience, London Nootropics has got you covered.

Imagine sipping on a cup of coffee that not only tantalizes your taste buds but also enhances your cognitive abilities, focus, and mental clarity. With their cutting-edge blend of nootropics, this innovative brand has revolutionised the way I approach my daily dose of caffeine. And guess what? I’ve got a discount code for you to get 10% off everything!

My experience with London Nootropics (and discount code)

I’ve been using London Nootropics adaptogenic coffee since the start of 2022 when I saw the owners on Dragons Den. I immediately liked the duo and brand, so decided to give their coffee a go – I love it! I wrote a full article about my experience here, but you’re not here for that, are you? 😀

Check out my discount code below you can use to get 10% off:

Get 10% off with the coupon code ahoy10 (add on basket page) – referral code: https://londonnootropics.com

Instead of £15 each, get these boxes for £13.50 with my discount code!

London Nootropics mushroom coffee review – what you can get for £15 each

Big Box subscription

I get the 60 sachet box every 2 months including 3 flavours (20 of each). It costs £48 because I have it on subscription, or normally £60. This works out at less than £1 per day for 2 coffees.

London nootropics coffee close up of the box - I buy the big box and get 60 sachets split into 3 flavours — London nootropics coffee close up of the box – I buy the big box and get 60 sachets split into 3 flavours

London Nootropics mushroom coffee - 'big box' scubscription — London Nootropics mushroom coffee – ‘big box’ scubscription

• • •

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Health and Wellbeing

Best nootropic natural coffee | Brain focus, anxiety & calm with CBD, Ashwaganda – my review of London Nootropics Zen

london nootropics mushroom coffee review - zen cbd ashwaganda

After trying London Nooptropics earlier this year after seeing the 2 owners on Dragons Den, I’ve decided to review one of their coffees, ‘Zen’, which is described as:

Adaptogenic coffee with CBD & Ashwagandha for balancing effects, peace and feelings of calm.

Following on from a stressful time, I decided to focus on my health. One of the things I wanted to change was my coffee intake. I’ve started to feel more anxious after my morning coffee, even though I find the process of it the best part of my day and one I look forward to. I’ve started to feel it isn’t setting me up in the best way, as straight away it gets my heart pumping before I’ve even started work. I already feel stressed and on edge. So I decided to give London Nootropics ‘zen’ a go, as it’s meant to deliver a slight buzz but without the horrible tired feelings afterwards.

My usual coffee of choice is either nespresso pods, or Taylors ‘rich Italian’ ground coffee, so I’m pretty familiar with good quality (I don’t do instant!).

I bought London Nootropics sample box of 12, including 3 flavours, but for this article I’ll focus on the one that contains CBD, ashwaganda and is best for helping with anxiety, and helping with feelings of calm – called ‘Zen’.

london nootropics mushroom coffee review – zen cbd ashwaganda

See my other article here, where I review all 3 flavours, including Zen. If you decide to buy, get 10% off using my discount code at the bottom of this blog.

London Nootropics mushroom coffee zen – you get quite a lot in 1 sachet

What does Zen coffee do?

This balancing and calming blend is designed to promote a sense of peace, combatting the effects of stress, tension and irritability. Feel alert, calm, focused and adapt to physical & mental stressors.
from London Nooptropics website

Unwind, chill and add some Zen to your day.Free from preservatives & artificial sweeteners. Just pure natural ingredients.
from London Nooptropics website

It comes in a single-use paper sachet, the perfect size for a large cuppa. I’ve had it with soya milk, full-fat ‘blue’ milk and currently oat – none of which have curdled or had any problems with mixing.

using oat milk with ‘zen’ – as part of my London Nootropics mushroom coffee review

Zen coffee contains Ashwaganda and CBD

Zen coffee contains both properties to help you with so many different things:

Ashwaganda – alleviate anxiety, enhance memory & cognition and help the body adapt to physical & mental stressors.

CBD – It’s high bioavailability means rapid absorption of its soothing nutrients, which are known for alleviating stress, anxiety and inflammation. Helping you feel alert, calm & focused.

Neither cause you to have a high buzz, then come down like normal coffee.

London Nootropics mushroom coffee zen with oat milk

How much is the coffee?

You can buy a box for £15 (free delivery over £30). You can choose either a box of 12 ‘zen’ sachets or a mixed box of 12 (3 flavours, 4 sachets of each).

Get 10% off with the coupon code ahoy10 (add on basket page): https://londonnootropics.com

If you’re after calming effects, I’d personally get a box of 12 zen. Otherwise, I’d suggest trying the mixed box to see if you prefer one of the other flavours (grind/mojo – more info in my full review here).

My honest review after using for 6months+

My normal coffee has been completely replaced with London Nootropics coffee – even my first coffee in a morning, which is really important to me. The taste is lovely and isn’t too different from my usual coffee – nespresso pods or ground coffee (call me a snob, but I don’t do instant). It mixes well with soya or oat milk which is a major plus, as not all coffees do.

What I love most about it is how convenient it is – when I go to work, or visit friends/family, as I’m picky with drinks, I simply just take a sachet!

I now get the ‘big box’ that contains 60 sachets. It does me for a month, as I have 2 a day – it costs £60 but use my code below to get 15% off.

London nootropics coffee close up of the box – I buy the big box and get 60 sachets split into 3 flavours

Discount codes!

Use my friends and fam code below to get 10% off (I get money off too, if you do this btw! 🙂 )

Get 10% off with the coupon code ahoy10 (add on basket page): https://londonnootropics.com

• • •

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Skincare

Il Makiage Exfoliating Power Polish | My honest review

il makiage power polish exfoliator review

I’m always nervous at trying a new exfoliator. They either break me out in spots because they’re too harsh, or make my oily skin worse. What I like about this Il Makiage exfoliator is that you can be as soft or as hard as you like with the scrubbing, depending on your skin. The tiny balls help clean your skin, but aren’t harsh, and are made of jojoba oil which is good for acne scars.

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - a photo of the outer bottle which has a fancy floral lid — The bottle is a good size and has a funky flower pattern on the lid

Table of contents:

What’s the Il Makiage exfoliator good for? What are the benefits?
What’s the texture like?
Where can I buy it and how much is it?

What’s the Il Makiage exfoliator good for? What are the benefits?

According to Il Makiage website, the powder polish exfoliator:

gets rid of excess dead skin cells to…
…show new skin underneath which makes you look glowy
reduces uneven skin tone
frees up congestion

The same as any old exfoliator, right? The difference I found to this exfoliator was that afterwards, my face wasn’t a sore, hot mess. The tiny balls dissolve easily and quickly, so the rubbing isn’t harsh on your skin. Sometimes my skin is red raw when I’ve used exfoliators, especially to the sides of my nose where it’s sensitive. See the below pics straight away after using the Il Makiage exfoliator, where my skin looks its normal colour.

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - a photo of the list of benefits including unclogging pores, prep skin by removing dead skill cells, reduces uneven skin tone to name a few — From the IlMakiage.com website at the time of writing

By removing the dead skin cells your skin (unsurprisingly) gets smoother. When you exfoliate, make-up (including foundation) stays on better as it’s got a smoother base to work with.

I exfoliate once every 4 days as part of my skin cycling routine. It’s a very important step to do in skincare, but don’t overdo it as it can irritate. I normally use Paula’s Choice on my skin as part of skin cycling day 2 ‘exfoliate’, but used this Il Makiage instead which got the job done.

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - photo of me applying the product — This is probably a bit too much! I usually use a pea-sized amount

The Il Makiage Exfoliator contains Shea butter and Jojoba Oil which have good properties for use on your skin. They include:

Shea butter – boosts skin moisture – is anti-inflammatory which helps soothe skin problems, and has antioxidants to fight ageing.
Jojoba oil is great for acne/scaring/psoriasis/sunburn because of all the antioxidants. It also contains copper and zinc which can treat hair loss

Have a look at the rest of the benefits on Ilmakiage.com.

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - photo of me applying and smoothing it into my skin

What’s the texture like?

It’s creamy and has small jojoba balls that break up once you rub it into your skin – this helps with the exfoliation but isn’t too harsh unless you really go for it with scrubbing (I wouldn’t recommend if you have sensitive skin). You can see after using, my skin isn’t red or irritated which I sometimes get, so I’m really happy with this.

I rubbed it in for a minute, left it for a minute, then removed with a warm flannel.

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - this is a close up of the product where you can see the small balls which break up when you're smoothing into your skin — It has small yellow balls which are great for exfoliating – they break up when smoothing on skin

Il Makiage powder polish exfoliator - removing the product with a warm flannel — Removing the powder polish gently with a warm flannel

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - whilst using and removing the product with a damp warm flannel — Even straight away after removing, there’s no redness – it’s not harsh at all, sometimes exfoliators leave me red

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating review - the final look of my skin after using — straight away afterwards – super fresh & clean skin without no irritation. I leave it for at least 20 mins, remove, and apply moisturiser.

Where can I buy it and how much is it?

Buy it from Ilmakiage.com – remember to use discount code welcome10 for 10% off!

It’s £58 for 80ml, or £52.20 (10% off) when you subscribe.

It sounds pretty expensive, but it’ll probably last you a while. It lasted me 3 months, of using a small pea size twice a week.

You get UK free delivery on orders over £50, otherwise it’s £3.95.

Is Il Makiage good for ageing skin?

Yes! I’m 35 (nearly 36 shhhh) and I love using the foundation and concealer with the brushes. The brushes are soft so they don’t pull on my skin. The foundation and concealer aren’t too thick, so they’re easy to apply and they don’t settle in my fine lines, even when I go for a heavier look!

Foundation – the ‘woke up like this’ foundation contains ingredients: Vitamin E for anti-ageing benefits and hyaluronic acid for hydration, protection and filling wrinkles
Concealer – the ‘f*ck I’m flawless’ concealer is Oil-free, paraben-free & phthalate-free, enriched with hydrating & moisturising ingredients

See my thorough blogs on the Woke Up Like This foundation and F*ck I’m Flawless concealer. I have the primer also, but I don’t tend to use it as I’ve never liked primer. It always feels clogging, no matter what brand I use. That being said, I have nothing against the Il Makiage one, as it sets my make-up better – see my blog on the primer here.

Available from Ilmakiage.com – remember to use discount code welcome10 for 10% off!

Is Il Makiage a trustworthy brand?

They’re rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot with over 66K reviews which is a pretty big plus.

They’ve got a huge following – 486K on Facebook, 16K Youtube subscribers, and 1.2M followers on Instagram. If you don’t believe all that because let’s be honest, they could have paid for them, it’s worthwhile searching on social media for trustworthy reviews. I’ve been using the brand for over a year, and have tried several of their products, all of which I like and most still use to this day. I first tried the foundation back in 2021 and still use it now after repurchasing myself, along with the concealer & brushes regularly.

Is Il Makiage exfoliator vegan and cruelty-free?

It’s cruelty-free – even featured on Peta:

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating - it isn't vegan as it contains lactose but it IS cruelty-free — https://crueltyfree.peta.org/company/il-makiage/

It’s unfortunately not vegan – it’s possibly due to the ingredient ‘lactose’ which is from milk.

Il Makiage power polish exfoliating - it isn't vegan as it contains lactose — The ingredients – it’s cruelty-free but not vegan

I hope you liked this review. The powder polish exfoliator is available on the Il Makiage website. Buy it from Ilmakiage.com – remember to use discount code welcome10 for 10% off!

Is the exfoliator fungal acne safe?

No, it isn’t – this is why I wouldn’t purchase the exfoliator.

If you’ve read my other blogs you’ll know I suffer from fungal acne (although it’s not been diagnosed by a professional) It was caused by too much oil in products I was using, mainly Elemis Cleansing Balm to remove makeup. Since then I’ve been obsessed with checking ingredients over at https://folliculitisscout.com. You copy in the ingredients, and it spits out a huge list of results.

The results for this exfoliator indicate 7 ingredients contain triggers for fungal acne (mainly oil which blocks pores):

according to https://folliculitisscout.com/, it contains 7 ingredients that can trigger fungal acne

If you don’t suffer, then the Il Makiage exfoliator is great. I didn’t notice it triggered my fungal acne as I was using it, and I used it for a few months (twice per week) until I’d used the whole bottle but I won’t re-buy just because I don’t want my skin to be unhappy again. Check out my Elemis blog if you want to see how my skin worsened from using it.

• • •

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Tags cruelty-free, review

Health and Wellbeing

Replacing my morning coffee review with London Nootropics adaptogenic coffee

London nootropics adaptogenic coffee - 'grind' without any milk

I saw these guys on Dragon’s Den in Feb 2022 and as they got backing from 2 dragons, I was keen to follow their nootropics coffee journey. I liked them as well – very passionate and knowledgable about the product. I also love coffee which got my attention.

London Nootropics sell coffee that comes in 3 flavours – each with a different taste and different benefits, ranging from ginseng, lion’s main, ashwagandha and more. They offer coffee made from pure natural ingredients, to stop that high-then-low spike you get with normal coffee.

These are the flavours – I have a mixture in the big box but you can buy them separate

I started with the starter box (£15) but now have their large monthly subscription box (£60) that includes 20 sachets of each flavour.

Get 10% off using my coupon code ahoy10: https://londonnootropics.com/

London Nootropics coffee – this is the box

Adaptogenic coffee – what?

What the heck is adaptogenic coffee?

Nootropics are brain-boosters: they are known to enhance cognitive performance & improve brain health. They work in many ways to produce a wide range of benefits across memory, focus, motivation, verbal fluency & more. Many nootropics have adaptogenic properties – helping your mind & body adapt to physical, mental & emotional stressors and find balance. We have sourced the highest quality natural nootropics from around the world. Our Rhodiola is wildcrafted in the pristine Siberian Altai region and our award-winning Ashwagandha is the highest concentration, most bioavailable full-spectrum root extract on the market today.
https://londonnootropics.com/nootropics/

London Nootropics is mushroom coffee which has lots of benefits, including antioxidant properties, helps to reduce reduce stress, boosts your immune system and medicinal mushrooms are also anti-inflammatory.

The coffee still contains caffeine (I think around 80-110mg), but after drinking it for a few months now, I can 100% say there isn’t a spike in energy or low point after an hour or 2 – I feel nice and awake for hours afterwards but without the quick high and tired crash.

What’s the nootropics coffee like?

Although their coffee is mushroom coffee, it doesn’t taste like mushrooms (it really doesn’t; my husband loves the sachets & has a deep-rooted hatred of mushrooms). It’s a different taste to my normal morning coffee; anything from Costa or Taylors ground coffee in my cafetière or Nespresso pods, but I prefer it. My morning coffee is very important to me, so it shows just how nice it is that I’ve replaced it from Nespresso!

London nootropics coffee close up – this is how much is in one sachet

I wanted to try this coffee because although I don’t have anything to say this is true, I tend to feel worse in myself (and mood) when I’ve had a normal coffee. I love the taste, but I don’t think they do anything positive for my mental well-being, and I’m always up for trying new things.

Soya and cream work well with the coffee – there’s no weird mixing or anything like that. My husband who has sneakily nicked a few of my sachets has the coffee with blue full fat milk and says it’s delicious – no weird mixing or separating.

UPDATE: Oct’ 22 – I now have oat milk which works perfectly with these coffees.

UPDATE: Feb’23 – I now have the coffee without any milk.

Can you use it with milk?

Yes – I’ve tried normal milk, soya and oat without any problems. I now have it without any milk and it’s perfect.

Morning coffee 'mojo' with soya milk — Morning coffee ‘mojo’ with soya milk

How much coffee do you get in a sachet?

The sachets are a ‘normal size’, 3.5g, but I feel I need a big mug when I have these coffees, and I like a strong coffee! It’s dark before adding milk, so you can see they don’t scrimp at all in the amount you get per serving.

London nootropics coffee close up – this is how much is in one sachet

What are the flavours?

I personally couldn’t tell you what the specific differences are – they’re very similar, but mojo is my favourite. I tend to have 2 a day – either grind or mojo in a morning, then zen for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Flow (my morning coffee) – ‘find mental clarity’, organic dual-extracted lions mane mushroom extract, rhodiola rosea extract, natural flavouring. Lions mane contains lots of amazing properties, and has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-boosting abilities. I tend to have this in a morning as my first coffee of the day.

Mojo (my morning or early-afternoon coffee)- ‘power up’, organic dual-extracted cordyceps mushroom extract, siberian ginseng, natural flavouring. Cordyceps is a fungus that helps immunity & the nervous system. I tend to drink Mojo after lunchtime for that post-lunch energy.

Zen (my early afternoon or late afternoon coffee) – ‘feel calm and alert’, organic ashwagandha root extract, broad spectrum water-soluble CBD (0% THC), natural flavouring. Ashwaganda is a shrub that calms the brain, and can reduce stress. I usually have Zen as my last coffee of the day, in the afternoon. It stops me from finishing work at 5.30 and slumping – I still have energy to workout, take the dogs for a walk, but it doesn’t effect my sleep and has actually improved it.

I already take ashwaganda and CBD pills to reduce anxiety and stress throughout my day. I love having this extra boost in my coffee.

Coffee nootropics & caffeine

I wanted to try this coffee because although I love the taste of normal coffee, I can sense negative changes in my mood throughout the day, not to mention the speed in which I get energy and I loose it from the hit and then crash and feel terrible (and wanting another coffee). I like feeling awake but not for small bursts – I want it to be consistent, without the crash.

I like this coffee because that’s exactly what I get. I don’t feel a sudden urge to be productive – it comes on gradually and I’m not jittery or crazed. I feel relaxed and focussed during my day. It really does help – I wouldn’t be without this coffee now (& I love coffee – so much so that my morning coffee is literally THE best part of my day).

What do you get in the box?

The coffee comes in sachets no matter what size box you buy. That’s one of the huge positives for me – it allows me to have a lovely coffee when I commute as I can easily take it in my bag to work, at a small fraction of the cost if I went to the local coffee shop. I also take a sachet with me when I visit family, as they have horrible instant coffee crap (soz!).

London nootropics coffee close up of the box – I buy the big box and get 60 sachets split into 3 flavours

How much is it and what do you get?

Starter boxes with 12 sachets – are £15; perfect if you want to try them before buying a big box. There are a few options – you can buy boxes of individual flavours or a box which has 4 sachets of each of the 3 flavours. I’d recommend going with the ‘starter’ box that contains 4 of each flavour, to see which you like.

Get 10% off with the coupon code ahoy10 (add on basket page) – referral code: https://londonnootropics.com

I bought the ‘starter box’ first, to see if I liked it. I did and now have a monthly subscription box called the ‘Big Box’ which is £60 per month (or £48 if you subscribe!). I get 20 sachets of each flavour. This lasts me a full month, of 2 sachets a day.

UPDATE April 2023: I now have one sachet a day, so I buy one box (of 60 sachets) every two months. This works out to be £48 per box, so £24 per month – less than £1 per day for a gorgeous coffee.

This is my subscription – £48 for a box of 60 sachets every 2 months. 1 sachet a day – perfect!

As I’ve got it as a subscription, it’s automatic so I don’t have to do anything (apart from eagerly wait for the postman). My husband (who is a Nespresso snob) has already started nicking a sachet here and there so I can see my subscription box isn’t going to last me a month soon! His favourite is Zen.

They also sell t-shirts and a flask that I’ve got my eye on.

Get 10% off with the coupon code ahoy10 (add on basket page) – referral code: https://londonnootropics.com

Discount codes!

Use my friends and fam code below to get 15% off (I get money off too if you do this btw! 🙂 )

Get 10% off with the coupon code ahoy10 (add on basket page) – referral code: https://londonnootropics.com

Re-using the box

I doubt London Nootropics thought about this whilst designing it, but I reuse the boxes for things around the house. A few examples below! It’s a great size, stays shut and is sturdy.

The boxes are great and sturdy – perfect for other random bits around the house.

UPDATE: April 2023 – Still drinking (and loving) this coffee daily. Husband continues to steal. I’ve been reducing my coffee (which has been hard) but now I get a big box every 2 months, which is 1 sachet per day (a box includes 60 sachets).

• • •

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Skincare

I started a new Skin Cycling Routine with new Products to help my oily, sore skin to improve acne

my favourite Facetheory skincare products

I’ve incorporated skin cycling as my routine for a few months now. I decided to do a big skincare reset after getting home from my holiday in December where I experienced painful acne, caused (I’m 99% sure) by Elemis cleansing balm which triggered fungal-acne (although I haven’t been properly diagnosed).

My skin was red raw and covered in spots; some had white heads, others were just tiny painful bumps all over my forehead. Since I stopped using Elemis and reduced the number of products I use, my skin has completely changed, even before, after, and during my period when I’d normally get worse acne.

What is skin cycling?

It’s a night time routine where you use different products over 4 days. The goal with skin cycling is to improve your skin by:

reducing the number of products you are putting on your face
stopping overusing products that might be causing irritation
giving your skin time to breath after using harsh products, like retinol

Skin Cycling Routine – before and after

This was my skin after stopping using the Elemis, and just starting the Malezia with Skin Cycling

This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months - pic 3/4 — This is my skin in April after using skin cycling routine for 4 months

What is an example of a skin cycling routine?

Skin cycling is a 4-day routine. If you start on a Monday, you will reset on Friday and start again.

Night 1 – exfoliate.

Night 2 – retinol

Nights 3 and 4 – moisturise.

I go into detail below what I do on each night, and also what my morning skincare routine looks like.

I use Malezia moisturiser after both nights following Exfoliating and Retinol

Night 1 – Exfoliate

Your first night is to exfoliate, which gets rid of all old and dead skin cells allowing products to get deeper into your skin and therefore work better.

This is the exfoliator I use – Paula’s Choice. It’s fantastic

My routine looks like this:

Remove make up.
Cleanse and tone skin. I use both Face Theory Freshening Face Wash C4 followed by Cera-C Pore Reducing Toner T1.
Exfoliate using only a few drops. I use Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, which I find perfect on my oily and acne-prone skin. The day after using this product, my skin is GLOWING and spots are gone. I really love this product.
After 10 minutes, I finish with a moisturiser

Night 2 – Retinol

Retinols can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, by restoring plumpness. They can be harsh, so go easy with it – only 1 or 2 drops of a low concentration to start with. I use Pixi Botanical Collagen & Retinol Serum.

This is the retinol I use on Night 2 – Pixi Botanical Collagen Retinol Serum

My routine looks like this (the same as Night 1 apart from number 3)

Remove make up.
Cleanse and tone skin. I use both Face Theory Freshening Face Wash C4 followed by Cera-C Pore Reducing Toner T1.
Add a few Retinol drops, nabbing on gently. I use Pixi Botanical Collagen & Retinol Serum.
After 10 minutes, I finish with a moisturiser if my skin is feeling dry – I don’t always do this though.

Night 3 and 4 – Moisturise and recovery

After nights 1 and 2, your skin needs a break from the harsh chemicals, so nights 3 and 4 are for deep moisturising.

My routine looks like this:

Remove make up.
Cleanse and tone skin. I use both Face Theory Freshening Face Wash C4 followed by Cera-C Pore Reducing Toner T1.
Moisturise. I use Face Theory Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser M3 followed by a thicker moisturiser to keep everything in my skin – Malezia 5% Urea moisturiser.

Following day – start again, back to night 1 (unless you’re new to exfoliating/retinol, in which case I’d add on another recovery day to reduce any skin irritation).

How many products do you use in total during night skin cycling routine?

I use a total of 8 across the morning and evening but not using them all every day.

Every morning I use:

1x Cleanser. I use Face Theory Freshening Face Wash C4
1x Toner. I use Face Theory Cera-C Pore Reducing Toner T1.
1x Vitamin C. I use Face Theory Regena C30 Pro Vitamin C Serum with 30% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
1x Hyaluronic Acid. I use Face Theory Hylafecta 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum S14
1x Moisturiser. I use Face Theory Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser M3
1x SPF. I use La Roche-Posay Anthelios 400 SPF50.

Night routine over the 4 nights includes:

1x Retinol. I use Pixi Botanical Collagen & Retinol Serum.
1x Exfoliator. I use Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
1x Moisturiser. I use Malezia 5% Urea moisturiser plus sometimes the other one by Face Theory mentioned above if I feel my skin is needing even more moisture.

Do you moisturise every night with skin cycling?

I do personally, yes. After nights 1 and 2 of exfoliating and using retinol, I wait at least 10 minutes for the product to settle before moisturising.

I’m using 5% Urea moisturiser from Malezia as part of my routine. It’s one of my favourite skincare products. See my full review here.

How do you apply moisturiser when skin cycling?

If I’m using more than one moisturiser, I use the lightest/thinnest first followed by the thickest. This helps keep all products in your skin.

I use a pea-sized amount, and warm up for a few seconds between my clean fingers. Then I gently rub across my skin, patting the sensitive and thin skin around my eyes.

Does it change your morning routine?

No, skin cycling is for night time only. I don’t tend to change my morning routine no matter what day it is or what my skin is like.

My morning routine looks like this:

Cleanse skin. I use Face Theory Freshening Face Wash C4.
I then go in with a few drops of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. I’m using both Face Theory Hylafecta 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum S14 and Regena C30 Pro Vitamin C Serum with 30% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid.
Moisturise and bronzer – I use Face Theory Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser M3 mixed together with a bronzer. The bronzer I’m using is Indeed Labs Nanobronze Bronzing Drops. A tiny amount is all you’ll need.
I finish with SPF. I’m currently using La Roche-Posay Anthelios 400 SPF50.

Does skin cycling routine actually work?

Yes. I will NEVER not use this routine to simplify my skincare. Not only has it massively improved my skin, it’s stopped me over-using products which has made it easier on my bank balance as I’m buying less!

Can you use face masks when skin cycling?

Yes of course! But if they are exfoliating, use them on night one instead of your normal exfoliator so you don’t over-exfoliate your skin. I personally use Sand and Sky pink clay (and Aldi’s £3 version!).

• • •

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Tags acne, Moisturiser, review, Tips

Skincare

Malezia Moisturiser Fungal Acne Safe | My full honest review

When I was on holiday towards the end of 2022, I had painful, sore acne. Acne I’ve never had before. It was very sore, all over my face, with painful small-to-large bumps that didn’t have a head.

photo of my forehead with painful acne — this was my forehead after returning from holiday

I haven’t been diagnosed properly by a doctor, but I’m pretty sure I had fungal acne caused by the ingredients in the Elemis cleansing balm I was using on holiday to remove my make up. The ingredients contains 13 ‘triggers’ causing inflammation to my skin, including several types of oil.

Once I stopped using it and included other products into my routine, the fungal acne went away. I started using Malezia’s moisturiser and FaceTheory products together, and stopped using anything that contained triggers including the Elemis balm. The acne started to go, slowly.

Malezia moisturiser for fungal acne

When I got back from my holiday, I did a lot of research. That’s how I found out about fungal acne and what it looks/feels like, and why I think I had it. Malezia 5% Urea Moisturizer is 100% fungal acne safe so it doesn’t contain any triggers that sooo many products do (such as Elemis, mentioned above). It’s main (key) ingredient is urea.

What is urea and why is it so important?

Urea is a molecule found in your skin and improves the barrier function.

Urea is one of those magical unicorn ingredients with the ability to both hydrate AND mildly exfoliate. It’s so effective as a hydrator, in fact, that it outperforms vaseline in some studies.
https://malezia.com/en-gb/products/urea-moisturizer

What else is in the ingredients?

The moisturiser also contains these amazing ingredients to support skincare:

Glycerin – hydration/smoothing
Dimethicone – creates a protective barrier and locks in moisture
Hyaluronic acid – hydration
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride – softens skin
Full list: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Urea, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin

It’s obviously fungal-acne safe, proven by the website tool I always use when checking out ingredients:

fungal acne results of malezia urea moisturiser on folliculitisscout.com – all safe!

Is Malezia vegan and cruelty-free?

Our products are vegan and we don’t test on animal (or have a desire to). Additionally, none of our suppliers have tested on animals in the past 5 years. We are in the process of getting leaping bunny certified.
https://malezia.com/en-gb/pages/faq

See malezia.com for their FAQs.

What’s my review? Has it improved your acne?

My skin is SO much better now I’ve stopped using any products containing fungal-acne triggers. I use this moisturiser at night before bed. It’s the nicest, thickest moisturiser I’ve ever used. It doesn’t smell strong, and glides on my skin like a dream. I’m absolutely loving it, but I’d have to for the price it takes to be delivered from the US (more on that below).

This was my skin after stopping using the Elemis, and just starting the Malezia back in January’23:

My skin after using for a few months (a few angles)

I bought my first Malezia at the start of January and these were taken last week – so around 2.5 months PLUS the week before my period which is usually when I breakout:

This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months – pic 1/4 – still have hyperpigmentation on my forehead but massively reduced

This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months - pic 1/4 — This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months – pic 2/4

This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months including makeup – pic 3/4

This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months - pic 4/4 — This was my skin after using Malezia for a few months – pic 4/4 including makeup

So as you can see, from a few months of using it, my skin has changed massively. I no longer have larger red sore spots, or smaller bumps across my forehead.

I use a pea-sized amount 4-5 times a week, before bed.

Malezia tube key

It cost £3 and well worth it – this little gadget helps you get every last drop of liquid out of the tube. It’s made of aluminum and feels high quality – never thought I’d say that about a tube key. It’s heavy and gets the job done. I’ve also used it on toothpaste.

Malezia tube key to get out every last drop

How much is it and where can I buy it?

Malezia 5% Urea Moisturiser is £20 + delivery, which if you’re in the UK, is unfortunately more expensive than the product.

I ordered back in January and it cost me a total of $42.82 ($18.46 was delivery) then my last order (end of March) cost me £62.70, made up of £24 in delivery charges which was probably due to the weight as I ordered 2x bottles plus the tube key (total £43).

After using it for a few months and being really happy with the results, I reached out to become an affiliate of Malezia. I have a discount code you can use, ‘Rachael’ which gets you 20% off everything. Buy it from their website, https://malezia.com/

Malezia urea moisturiser review - open box with bottles and key tool — This order cost me £62.70 including delivery – 2 bottles, tube key and delivery

Delivery from ordering to receiving in the UK took 11 days. It was posted the day after I ordered.

Delivery charges are expensive, but it’s worth it in my opinion for the product, as the quality is amazing & it lasts months. I’ve used products much more expensive than this so when I look at it from that angle, it doesn’t bother me so much to spend £62.30 on 2x bottles (plus a tube key I won’t need to buy again).

The code really works:

malezia discount code rachael for 20% off — malezia discount code Rachael for 20% off but you have to go through my aff link

Any negatives?

Yeah – they haven’t put me off buying, as I’ve just reordered 2x more but YES there were a few things I didn’t like:

1) The tube looked half full. The bottle came full and intact, but when I squeezed it, the size reduced massively! It made me think they hadn’t filled it enough. I emailed them about this, and #2.

2) The top rim is yellow, which doesn’t look pleasant and it didn’t come with a silver/foil-type cover. It made me think of gone-off moisturiser you’ve had in your draw for 2 years.

I emailed Malezia about these 2 issues:

My email:

Hi there, I’ve just received so thank you! I wanted to check, should the bottle be open or have a seal? It’s come without a seal, yellow around the rim & when I’ve taken out a pea-sized amount, the packaging has massively gone in so it looks like it’s already half used

Malezia replied within an impressive 5 hours. They explain all points below which I’ve copied in, however, a summary is that yes there is air in the bottle but the weight of product is correct; it doesn’t need a seal as the bottle is airtight, and the yellow staining isn’t rust but epoxy which is harmless.

I love how they replied straight away, but these points are also in their FAQs on the website meaning they are popular (negative) questions. When I opened the product, I was initially disappointed – not 1 but 2 things I wanted to question. Both ‘problems’ have been sorted with context, but it ruined the experience for me. That being said, it didn’t stop me from re-ordering, although the next time I did, I ordered 2x bottles due to the cost of delivery, which takes me to problem #3.

3) Delivery charges to the UK is more than the product!

My last order cost £62.70 where delivery cost was £24 of that. Hence why I bought 2 at £20 each which should last me at least 4-5 months.

I don’t like to moan but these things really effected my experience in a negative way. I was excited at getting the delivery but felt deflated as I had to email and ask about the problems I found. Having those questions as FAQs tells me they’re popular questions from customers, so if I felt a little disappointed, there are others that did too – so it’s something Malezia could look into at fixing properly. That being said, they’re a small business doing right in the world, so if they don’t fix these problems then that’s fine by me – I’ll keep buying anyway!

• • •

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Tags Beauty, cruelty-free, Moisturiser, review

Health and Wellbeing

Rheal Superfoods review – my morning routine to take more vitamins

Rheal are a wellness company who sell superfoods as powder. They provide you with a quick and convenient way to get extra goodness with no nasties into your body, to help improve your health.

Rheal are a wellness company who make blends (powder) and protein bars, to help to improve your health. It was founded by Charlotte & Sean – both having health problems including Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Coeliac Disease. I first saw this company on Dragons Den a few years ago – they got offers from all 5 dragons so I was instantly intrigued as I love finding ways to be more healthy (especially when it’s as easy as blending powder with water! Yeah I’m pretty lazy).

@ahoybeauty
how I incorporate @Rheal Balance Tonic into my daily morning routine especially around my period for cramps #grwm #morningroutine #rhealsuperfoods #rheal #vitaminboost #femalehealth #periods #ashwaganda
♬ ALMOST HOME – Mad Adix, Marc Steinmeier

Here’s my morning Rheal routine (via Tiktok!)

I have a subscription to both Balance Tonic and Clean Greens which help me throughout the month with a range of hormonal moods. I tend to take Balance Tonic the week before & during my period, as it helps my mood, reduces bloating. I take Clean Greens on the other 2 weeks, just to switch it up a little. It makes me feel healthier – like I’ve got a spring in my step.

What are the benefits of Rheal superfoods?

I’ve tried and take regularly Clean Greens and Balance Tonic. The benefits to me have been:

increased energy
less bloating from foods I have intolerances to
a general feeling of ‘feeling better’
less cramps during my period

It allows you to get the nutrients of healthy food without having to eat it, if for some reason you don’t like the taste/texture or find healthy foods boring (a bit like me).

Healthy foods can be expensive, especially if you’re making juices which I have in the past. Making with fresh fruit is a pain as the food goes off so quickly, so I changed to frozen fruit, but then found I wasn’t feeling any different & it was a faff every morning having to blend everything.

Get £10 off your first £40+ order using my friends and family code here >.

What super foods are included in Rheal?

Rheal superfoods – Clean Greens benefits

Clean Greens include these super greens that support ‘wellness’: Wheatgrass, Barley Grass, Spirulina, Moringa & Chlorella. Also, Baobab, Pineapple & Camu Camu for a more balanced taste.

Rheal supergreens – Balance Tonic benefits

Balance Tonic includes: Ashwagandha, Wild Blueberry, Hibiscus & Baobab.

They’re organic, 100% plant-based, gluten-free. Check out each one for specifics.

Rheal supergreens – benefits include organic, plant based and gluten free

I personally use Clean Greens for extra energy (it’s not instant like coffee and there’s no crash) and Balance Tonic for before/during my period as they help reduce cramps and take me from PMS to a happier person!

How often should I take Rheal? Is it okay to have every day?

I use both Clean Greens and Balance Tonic but I don’t have both on the same day. I usually take Clean Greens when I need a bit of extra energy – a few times a week at most. I usually take Balance Tonic the week before and during my period, to help with cramps and PMS, then Clean Greens the other 2 weeks in the month to switch it up.

You get 30 servings per tub but I tend to restock every 2 months as I don’t have one every day.

Get £10 off your first £40+ order using my friends and family code here >.

What are the flavours like?

I have Clean Greens with a few inches water, heated to warm in the microwave then mixed with a frother (as shown below). I also add half a lemon juice to it, as it helps improve the taste. Sometimes I use oat milk instead of water and don’t include the lemon. The taste is kinda similar to matcha.

I like Balance Tonic with cold water and half a lemon juice mixed with a frother. I usually add chia seeds to it too, as they’re great for extra magnesium (great before your period to reduce cramps). The taste is better than Clean Greens, as it’s more fruity and tangy.

How long do they take to make you feel better?

I’ve been taking for a few months now and can tell overall, I feel healthier and have more energy. I haven’t been taking them daily as the instructions say to, so I probably aren’t getting the full benefits.

It’s a nice morning routine to take before my coffee. Almost makes me think I deserve my coffee for first having something so healthy first!

I have LOADS of intolerances to foods but I still eat them. They make me bloated and grumpy, but I just can’t give up chocolate. I’m pretty sure the Clean Greens help me with digestion too and has helped to reduce bloat.

As mentioned I also add lemon juice with each Rheal superfoods. Lemon juice helps your body so much:

detox the body
reduces cravings
lowers stress

There are just the things I’ve noticed by taking lemon juice – there are loads more if you google them. Remember to clean your teeth though as lemons are acidic and bad for teeth.

How much are they?

Clean Greens and Balance Tonic are both £25 for a 30-daily serving. Or £21.25 if you sign up to a re-ocurring subscription, which is what I do and set the subscription to every 2 months.

This is my account – the user interface is lovely and it’s so easy to change the subscription to either push back or bring forward a delivery.

Rheal supergreens - online account visual — The online account is really user-friendly, it’s easy to change your subscription

Where/how do I buy?

Buy from their website. I have a friends and family code where you can get £10 off your first order of £40+. I get a reward if you buy, but I’m not actually sure what it is – let me know if you can figure it out

https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ct3cz-rachael-robinson

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Tags gut health, healthy, superfoods, well-being

Fitness

BEIS Sport Sling Crossbody Bag in Beige – my full review

Beis sports sling bag review in beige

After buying the expandable backpack in September 2022, I’d been keeping my eye out for the sling to be available, as it’s currently out of stock everywhere.

Little did I know my eagle-eyed husband signed up to receive stock updates on Revolve.com, and managed to snag one in the days it was in stock.

It’s due to be £58 on the UK BEIS website. He bought it from Revolve.com for £58 but got a 10% discount code by signing up to the newsletter (£52). Fedex cost £7 so all in all, he paid £59.20.

What are the key selling points?

I’m listing below the gadgets on the bag that make it such a dream to use, but my favourites have to be the key loop (I can never find my keys in bags no matter the size) and the expandable hidden pocket to the side perfect for a water bottle of flask.

The key loop – always find your keys easily!

The key loop on other bags is hard and difficult to use. I always end up breaking a nail or hurting my finger, and being so frustrated I end up not even using the loop. The key loop on the BEIS is incredibly easy to use – it’s big, and a little soft making it bendy and really easy to hook/unhook your keys. It’s also in the main compartment too, ensuring there’s enough space for them as well as anything else you decide to add (such as a purse, phone).

Use my friends and fam link for money off – BEIS.com

Beis sports sling bag review in beige - key chain — The key chain is big and easy to use, as are the zips!

Big zips – easy to grab!

It sounds obvious, but I struggle with my other cross-body bags because the zips are so small – it takes more effort than it should to actually get into the bag. With the BEIS, the zips are big making getting in and out of the bag a breeze because you can find them easily!

Hidden expandable pocket – great for flasks/water bottles

The hidden water bottle pocket fits my flask in, but it’d also fit a taller bottle too. I personally have a flask that’s 345ml and a water bottle that’s 530ml and can use either in the pocket – the weight isn’t too much for my shoulder. As the strap is quite wide, it distributes the weight.

If you don’t need/want to use the pocket, it doubles as a hidden pocket at the side you can use to store flat things, such as credit cards or even a small phone. I use it for my flask, especially on walks and it’s comfy – the weight doesn’t move the bag around on my body; I don’t have to keep readjusting (something that gets on my nerves with other bags that have smaller straps).

Beis sports sling bag review in beige — The hidden pocket perfect for bringing on the outside for drinks

As you can see above, the hidden pocket can be used to hold a drink. In this picture, I’m using my husband’s Nespresso flask which holds 345ml.

Left or right side? You can have either!

I really like how it fits to my body. It almost curves around my side, hugging me making it easy to dip in and out of pockets. If you want to change the side it’s hanging on, it’s easy to do so by moving which side the strap is attached to.

Card holder – instead of taking a purse!

The card holder (3x slips) makes it so you don’t need to carry a purse. I personally use them to hold coffee sachets and cards when I go for a walk and need my debit card for a coffee! They aren’t difficult to use either, there’s space so you won’t need nails to prise the cards out.

Use my friends and fam link for money off – BEIS.com

I’m a bit lazy and never shut things properly – whether that’s cupboard doors, regular doors or my sock drawer. When the bag is hanging on my side because of the inner lining attaching to the sides, I don’t need to shut the pockets completely, making getting in and out SO MUCH quicker without the worry anything will fall out.

Pockets, pockets, pockets – I love pockets

The pockets, in particular the large pocket, opens all the way down both sides. Unlike other bags that only open an inch or two from the top, this makes it very easy to put items in but manoeuvre them around if you’ve got a lot to fit in.

The large inner pocket has a fabric feel, so you can put your sunglasses or your phone in the pocket without any worry it’ll get scratched. Such a simple but amazing idea – who wants to carry a big sunglasses case? I certainly don’t.

@ahoybeauty
things about my new @Beis Travel sports sling crossbody bag that just make sense. for me it’s all about the water bottle pocket and key leash
♬ original sound – Genius – Genius

Here’s my Tiktok video explaining my favourite bits of the BEIS Sport Sling bag

When will you use it?

I’ve used it so far for:

dog walks
after-work food shop
nipping into town to sort errands
seeing friends

I’ll use it when I go on holiday, especially in the airport, as well as my BEIS expandable backpack, so I can easily grab my phone or cards instead of having to go into the big bag.

Use my friends and fam link for money off – BEIS.com

Got anything you DON’T like?

Hate to say it, but yeah – the colour! I like the colour, but when it’s next to the ‘beige’ BEIS expandable backpack, it’s a different colour. Not ideal if you want to wear them together and get the whole set (the suitcase is on my list!)

Where can I buy the sports sling?

My husband got the sports sling from Revolve.com and had it delivered to the UK, but there’s also a UK BEIS website version.

Use my friends and fam link for money off – BEIS.com

What’s your honest review?

I’ve been using it for a month now. I use it every time I go out, whether that’s to see friends, family, dog walks or downtown.

If I’m going shopping I take a tiny fold-up bag within the sling and use that if I buy anything. I know this seems a bit ridiculous but it saves carrying a larger bag if I then don’t buy anything to go in it. I also really love having stuff close to me, and I know where each thing is now inside the bags, so it’s easy to find anything. If I have a larger bag, it takes me ages to find anything!

• • •

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Tags advice, review

Make up

Il Makiage Concealer Shade 2.5 and Blending Brush 140 Review

Using Il Makiage's concealer with 140 blender brush

I’ve been using Il Makiage for nearly 2 years now and still keep going back to it. I’ve tried a few other concealers, including Estee Lauder ‘stay in place’ and Mac ‘Pro longwear’, but I still go back to Il Makiage.

On the Il Makiage website, the ‘F**K I’m Flawless concealer‘ is described as:

long-wear, lightweight concealer that instantly covers under-eye circles, blemishes, dark spots & hyperpigmentation with an advanced vegan, cruelty-free, oil-free & paraben-free formula.
Il Makiage website at time of writing

I have to agree – I use it for dark circles under eye bags, hyperpigmentation on my forehead and sides of my face, and of course – spots! It’s very light, which sinks into my skin really well and it’s buildable on those days when I’ve had a crap sleep and need extra under my eyes.

Il Makiage FCUK I'm Flawless concealer - my review with blender brush 140 — Using Il Makiage’s concealer with 140 blender brush

Table of contents:

Prepping your skin
What are the benefits?
How long does it last?
How much are the concealer & brushes?

Prepping your skin

The lotions, potions and make up only stay on your skin as well as you look after your skin! To make sure my skin is prepped for makeup, I do the following:

I dermaplane every 2 weeks (basically shaving your face, but it takes off the top layer revealing soft skin underneath. Don’t do over spots though)
Cleanse, tone and moisturise, giving at least 10 minutes time before applying make up to allow the lotions to sink in
Use a primer after moisturiser – I use the Il Makiage primer, but sometimes the Embryolisse “lait-crème concentré” if my skin is in need of a good hydration

What are the benefits?

The biggest pluses for me are that it comes in over 30 shades, giving us a big choice. This can sometimes be tricky if you are unsure – I actually emailed them my picture when deciding on the foundation, so I’m sure you could do this too.

Here’s a link to the concealer on Il Makiage’s website.

Il Makiage FCUK I'm Flawless concealer - shades — My shade 2.5 is LIGHT and ORANGE although I didn’t pick this as I’m clueless. They have over 30 shades to choose from.

Otherwise they have a 100-day returns policy so you can literally, return for your money back.

My shade is 2.5 which is skin-tone ‘light’ and undertone ‘orange’.

It’s cruelty-free, vegan, oil-free and paraben-free – so no nasties and no nasty treatment to animals – winner!

It’s buildable, but also light enough to wear with just one layer. I tend to use more layers on spots, and only one on my under eye area as it’s quite thin and make up can sit in my fine lines (I am mid-30’s you know).

How long does it last?

It lasts all day, over 12 hours at least.

Il Makiage 100 Foundation Blending brush review — This is me after a 17 hour day – including sweating and walking in the rain! The spots on my chin are more noticeable but after a long day, it’s understandable, plus they’re not too badly showing

How much are the concealer & brushes?

The concealer is £27 for 7ml which is pretty standard. You can buy it from Il Makiage’s website here. You have to spend over £50 to get free delivery, otherwise it’s £3.95. Use the voucher code ‘welcome10’ to get 10% off 🙂 you’re welcome!

If you’re going for the concealer, I would personally try the ‘woke up like this’ foundation. I’ve been using both for nearly 2 years, and they go really well together. I often use both if I’m out for several hours – neither fades much by the end of a long day.

If you’re unsure on your foundation shade, use powermatch to help you find your shade – I used it and it was perfect (I’m 035). If you buy both, you’ll get free delivery.

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Tags cruelty-free, Make up, review, vegan