Welcome to Ahoy Beauty – articles about beauty products for people who care about their skin.
Hi! I’m Rachael and the author on this site. I’ve been using skincare beauty products for 20+ years (you do the maths!) so over this time, I’ve found some absolute gems (and some not so much!) I’ve written about my experiences to help you learn new tricks and tips. My thorough reviews are hopefully helpful enough to help you decide if a product is right for you or not.
I’ve tried lots of natural beauty products – from haircare, to deodorant – I wanted to try this because it only contains natural ingredients. I’m trying to move away from supermarket-sold products that contain lots of nasty things that aren’t good for your body, including aluminum.
The 6 sample pots I got – 5g each for £8.49
From coconut oil to Jojoba oil, it’s vegan and cruelty free, and their packaging is made from sustainable glass jar with bamboo lid – so no plastic. Lots of wins here.
Unfortunately I’ve tried this for just under 4 weeks and honestly, I’ve never been so smelly. I bought the full sample set, £8.49 in total (+£1.49 delivery) containing 6x 5g pots of different smells/types, including:
FRESH – Fresh, fruity and flowery with hints of Jasmine, Bergamot, Patchouli, Vanilla, Orange, and Lavender.
FOREST – Black Spruce, Sandalwood, Vanilla and Lemon all combine perfectly to provide that fresh forest scent
FRUIT – Predominately Orange, Mandarin and Lemon with background hints of Pine and Mint.
SEA BREEZE – Scented with a refreshing blend of Lime, Lemon, Lavender and a subtle hint of Spearmint for extra freshness.
SENSITIVE – This is our baking soda free ‘Sensitive’ version which is suitable for all and any skin types. Lemon, Geranium and Vanilla provide a lovely unisex scent that is sure to keep you smelling fresh all day long.
SIMPLE – Our most simple formula with only 6 ingredients perfectly balanced. Unscented.
As instructed, each morning after a shower, I warmed up a small amount before rubbing into my (dry) pits. Straight away, my pits were wet! Gross – honestly, this doesn’t usually happen, even if I go without any deo on (blame lie-in’s at the weekend). I persevered but by lunchtime, I could smell my pits so I washed and re-applied. I had to do the same each evening, though I couldn’t be bothered to re-apply so I just washed instead. I did this for 4 weeks, so can’t be told I didn’t try. I even went back to my Aurelia natural deodorant when I got really fed up.
Even though it didn’t work for me, I’d recommend trying Simple Effective deo at least. The sample pots are a no-brainer to figure out if it works for you and which smell you like, so you can invest in the bigger pots (from £9.99). As mentioned, it costs just under £10 for the 6 samples (including delivery).
I’m disappointed, especially after reading lots of amazing reviews. It just wasn’t for me.
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For the past few years I’ve started getting a lot of spots the week before my period is due – bigger spots around my face and smaller ones across my forehead. Not only that, I also get spots throughout the month – on the sides of my forehead, my cheeks and my chin. After a lot of reading and getting advice from friends, my skin looks more glowy and any spots I do get fade a LOT quicker than what they used to.
Here’s my list of my top 10 things to do, and not do, to help reduce the amount of spots you’re getting:
Don’t pop them!
Review what you’re putting on your face
Use clean towels
Use clean pillow cases
Are you removing all your make up?
Clean your make up brushes
What make up are you using?
What vitamins are you taking?
Get a spot clearing gel
Don’t pop spots
You don’t have to tell me how hard this one is. There’s not much else better than popping a good spot and having the gunk ooze out. But this is doing your face no good at all. The white stuff in a spot is actually magical liquid helping to GET RID of the spot. So guess what? By squeezing the white goodness, you are 1. removing the goodness fighting the spot 2. making the bacteria go further into your skin increasing the size of the spot and increasing the time it takes to go 3. probably going to leave yourself a scar.
Tips for leaving your spots alone
Don’t look in a mirror.
When I get in and take my makeup off, my most popular time of day for a good spot-popping session was after my evening shower, after I’d taken my makeup off. Spots look worse after a shower because the hot water makes your pores open.
After a shower, I don’t even go near my (amazing) magnifying mirror. I put my creams/moisturiser on without looking. I don’t see my face all red and by the time I look in a mirror, my face has cooled and any spots have reduced in size.
Review what you’re putting on your face
Be honest – how many products are you putting on your face in a day? When I did this assessment, I realised I was:
cleaning my face with a product (morning)
putting 2-3 moisturisers on (morning)
putting primer on (morning)
putting make up on (morning)
removing make up with a product (evening)
putting 2 moisturisers on (evening)
putting on night cream moisturiser (evening)
So that’s a minimum of 9 different products I was putting on my face per day. Your skin is only thin – it can’t possibly hold this much. I figured something must be irritating it so I started to slowly reduce:
1. how much of each product I was using (1 drop instead of 2) 2. reduce the total amount of products I was using. 3. not putting products on all over my face – taking care to reduce the products added to my oily bits (forehead) in a morning
Now my routine looks like this:
cleansing my face with a product (morning)
add 1x 2 moisturiser including SPF (morning) I’ve stopped moisturising my oily bits in a morning which has done wonders for stopping my forehead being so oily by the evening. SPF still goes on all over, though.
add primer sparingly (morning) not all the time if I’m not wearing makeup
NEW: cleanse & tone (evening) – cleansing and toning take off every last trace of makeup/dirt from the day
putting 2 moisturisers on (evening)any other products such as Retinol 3x weekly – I use the same products but I use 1 drop instead of 2 and I don’t use harsh products on my dry patches like I used to
add night cream moisturiser (evening) unlike the morning, I put moisturisers on my oily patches which can be washed off in the morning and doesn’t make my oiliness worse during the day
My skin honestly feels like it’s breathing again and my spots have reduced from this routine.
Use clean towels
If when you wash your face, you dry it with the closest towel… stop! Your partner could have just used that to dry their feet. Or bum, urghhhh. The towel could have been sat wet for a time, collecting germs.
I never dry my face with a towel. I usually leave it to dry – it only takes 5 minutes. Or if I need to, I dap it with 2 small pieces if toilet paper. I never use something that’s already out, having been used already.
The same can be said if you use a reusable make up remover cloth. If you leave it out damp or wet, it’ll collect mould so it’s the last thing you want to use on your face.
Use clean pillow cases
I sleep for 7+ hours so that’s a lot of time my face is lay on something. If you have spots, the bacteria will rub off on to your pillow and stay there, so the next night, that bacteria will make its way back to your face.
I make sure to never sleep on the same side twice. I have spares so I don’t need to wash my pillow case and dry it before re-using.
The Body Shop Camomile butter – for removing make up
I therefore changed my routine a little. I still use the camomile butter on all my face including my eyes/face, but I also use a toner & cleanser afterwards to remove any last trace of makeup.
Clean your make up brushes
Easily forgotten! If you’re constantly hiding spots, you need to constantly be cleaning your brushes.
I use ISOClean to clean mine which takes literally minutes and they’re as clean as new.
Clean your make up brushes weekly or even daily
What make up are you using?
Do you have new spots appear during the day? If so, that could be a sign your make up is irritating your skin.
Your best bet is to try and see what works for you. Read online reviews and use https://www.skincarisma.com/ingredient-analyzer to check out the ingredients before you buy. It shows you any ingredients that could irritate your skin, in particular if you have spots, dry skin or oily skin.
What vitamins are you taking?
I’ve been taking biotin for hair growth. It works! But at the same time, too much, you guessed it, can bring on spots. I found this to be true. Since I’ve stopped taking a daily biotin vitamin, my spots have reduced. I now take only 2 per week.
Get a spot clearing gel
I’ve used Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster for putting on angry spots to help them disappear. I’ve also used Benzoyl Peroxide which kills the bacteria in spots, but it’s very strong and dries out skin, so use sparingly and be careful.
Update: March 2021
I’ve just started using polyester pillowcases which are soft enough to help improve your skin. They don’t soak in the lotions and potions you put on before sleeping, unlike cotton. I’m using them instead of silk, which isn’t cruelty-free. Have a read of my article where I discuss my new polyester pillowcases & show how my hair looks after sleeping. I was happily surprised!
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I was targeted for this on Instagram (damn you!!) and decided to purchase it. It cost £6 from their website + £1.50 delivery. Quite expensive for what’s essentially a soap, but I wanted to try after reading lots of positive reviews from adults experiencing acne, which I suffer from (at the grand age of 33).
Okay, I say it’s “essentially a soap” but it’s much more than that. Not only is it vegan and cruelty-free, it includes lots of fancy inflammatory products to clean your face and it actively reduces spots from looking big and red. I can honestly say from just a week of using it, my skin feels extremely clean and spot free (which considering it’s the week before my period, that’s really saying something).
I use it in a morning and before bed. It states on their website to “ditch the cleanser and face wash and use the Carbon Theory Cleansing Soap twice daily to experience The Theory of Every Skin“ which I’ve been doing. As I’m working from home, I’m not wearing makeup which to be honest, hasn’t really helped my skin as much as I thought it would. I get acne at the sides of my face (next to my eyes and across my forehead & chin) and I have oily skin. I also can’t resist a good popping session, which is obviously the worst thing to do.
This bar isn’t meant to take makeup off – you are advised to keep it away from your eyes too. If I’ve worn mascara during the day, I remove it first using Body Shop Camomile Cleansing oil with a Face Halo, and then use this bar to gently scrub away any remaining rubbish I’ve collected on my face from the day.
This is the size after a few days of using it – pretty standard
The instructions say to gently rub it into your skin for 30 seconds – exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ve stopped using the toner and cleanser that I was using (both Body Shop) mainly because I love reducing the amount of things I use on my skin, plus the Carbon Theory message above suggests ditching them. After the 30 seconds is up, I rinse with warm water (hot water inflames skin and makes spots appear worse & therefore encourages me to mess with them – which only worsens the problem) and leave my skin to dry. I don’t use a towel because they’re normally covered in dirt resulting in making acne worse (part of my other blog on 9 tips to help reduce acne).
Packaging
It comes in a resealable packet, making it perfect for storing away, out of sight when I’m not using it, and for traveling (what’s that? Cheers COVID-19).
Where’s my acne gone? Would I recommend? YES.
I can honestly say that for the week I’ve been using it, my skin has never felt so clean – extremely surprising considering this is the week before my period, which is normally when my skin is at its worst – acne all over, large red spots in groups and very oily skin. Even my skin feels less oily, unlike on a normal day, when by 3pm my skin feels like I’ve lathered myself in oil. In the afternoon my skin feels and looks the same as it did in the morning – no shine or feeling greasy! I’m very impressed.
I’m trying to stop popping spots too so the combination of that and using this bar has obviously done my skin wonders. I don’t look at my skin in the mirror after a shower which I realised is my most likely time to want to pop. #MotivationIndeed
The same pre-period (normally spotty) week in August vs September. Absolutely NO filters used, just taken at a different time of day hence the difference in lighting
Where can you buy it?
I bought it from the official Carbon Theory website but you can also get it from Boots. I didn’t manage to snag any discounts but if I find any, I’ll add them here.
UPDATE: use code dropgame for 10% off. You’re welcome 😉
What’s next?
I’ll give the soap bar another 3 weeks which will be a full month – plenty of time to see if this week has been a fluke or not.
Afterwards, I’ll probably get their moisturiser (such amazing reviews). And when my Soap and Glory face mask runs out, probably their facial scrub too.
From their website – this is a box set costs £44
Update: 3rd Jan 2021
Okay so I’ve just bought my 2nd soap – it’s absolutely amazing. I use it in a morning & before bed. If I have spots, in the morning they’re GONE! Even my usual big sore period spots have disappeared. I still get a few small spots on my forehead, but it’s nothing compared to before.
I’ve bought the Facial Scrub too that I use when I want a deep clean. I leave it on for 5 minutes, after using the soap, no more than twice a week. It’s got tiny little sand-type bits in it for extra exfoliation, so I give my nose & chin (blackheads) an extra rub, which gets everything out! Very pleased.
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Chāmpo Vegan and Cruelty Free Hair Care - My honest review
I’m far too influenced by Made In Chelsea ladies on Instagram that I keep buying beauty products I really don’t need! I’ve tried Function of Beauty hair care so figured I’d give Champo a go.
Personalised goals for your hair care – Champo
Champo have lots of different shampoo and conditioner types dependent on your hair. Types such as:
Volumising
Balancing
Thick hair
Thinning care
etc…
You can choose to complete a short quiz where they ask what your hair is like and what your goals are.
for fine hair that may be experiencing thinning or loss and yearns for instant and long-lasting fullness and body. Thickens every strand, transforming strength and protecting from breakage while restoring weightless volume and beautiful manageability.
I didn’t 100% agree with this when I got the results as my hair isn’t fine but it is thinning slightly. It could do with help with breakages and needs strengthening so I thought I’d give it a go.
What’s the price?
Conditioner is £20 and shampoo is £18. Delivery is free over £30. I paid £34.20 in total for 1x shampoo and 1x conditioner because I used a discount code (see the end of the article).
They’re both 260ml / 9.2 fl. oz. which being honest, were smaller than what I expected. I thought Function of Beauty is expensive at £31 but those bottles are nearly double at 474ml.
Shampoo & Conditioner by Champo – 260ml – I got the type Pitta
What are you paying for?
They are the most expensive hair care I have ever purchased so I wanted the ingredients to be natural, ethically sourced, vegan and cruelty-free.
Good news.. they are vegan and cruelty-free. Hurrah!!
– Precisely formulated to instantly leave fine or thinning hair looking and feeling fuller, thicker and stronger from roots to ends – Over time, helps reduce hair loss by protecting from breakage while also promoting healthy hair growth – 98% naturally derived ingredients – Vegan and Cruelty free – Made in the UK – Suitable for coloured and treated hair – Free from: SLS, Parabens, Silicones, Synthetic fragrance, DEAs, MEAs, TEAs, GMOs and artificial colour
It’s only natural… You may be surprised at the tone of our Pitta volumising shampoo; it’s grey. This is due to the haritaki fruit extract in the formula, which we choose not to mask with artificial colour.
Shampoo and conditioner by Champo – 260ml – I got the type Pitta
There are loads of reviews from customers on their website, but they aren’t populated from an external reviews company (TrustPilot for example) so I’m never too trusting of them. That being said, they definitely helped to sway me to make my purchase.
My honest Champo review
On arrival I was very disappointed. They arrived in a cardboard cutout which didn’t scream “high-end” at all, which I was expecting considering the price. They were also smaller bottles than what I expected.
Champo – I was initially disappointed with the simple cardboard packaging
I’ve had an email recently which goes into detail why they use cardboard which made me feel guilty… see the dedicated page for their transparent explanation here.
Progress and positivity | Our approach to sustainable beauty. Synthetic-free formulas, 80% recycled cardboard packaging, recyclable bottles and discreet distribution… Learn how our low waste model is positive, progressive and beneficial for both our planet and your pocket.
The bottles are as you’d expect – easy to use to pump out the product. I use a 50p size amount in the middle of my hand and gently rub it in my scalp.
It doesn’t bubble as much as store-bought shampoos but that’s probably because of the higher quality. I initially didn’t like this, as I’m used to bubbly, frothy shampoo which really lathers up!
My hair after using Champo
It’s been smoother and a lot less frizzy. I’m really pleased with Champo and I would recommend it.
I probably wouldn’t purchase again though, mainly down to the price – it’s a little too expensive for me. Although, that being said, as I’ve only been using a few weeks, I’m yet to find out how long it lasts for. I wash my hair 2-4 times a week so hopefully it won’t run out too soon. As I have long hair, I have to pump the conditioner about 10 times (at least!) to get a sizeable amount out, and even then, I try to ration it. I only condition the middle-to-ends too.
The underneath of my hair is normally pretty frizzy but was tamed after using both Champo shampoo, conditioner and blow-drying my hair
I’ll update this blog when I run out of either.
This is my hair after using Champo shampoo and conditioner. It’s after a blow-dry too.
The shampoo has just run out. The conditioner is still going – I’ll update again when it’s finished.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m washing my hair less (due to COVID-19 lockdown) or if it’s Champo, but I’ve started getting dandruff on the sides of my head! I’m only washing it a day or so later than usual (at least twice a week) so surely this can’t be why I’m getting dandruff. I’m going to use Function of Beauty next (I’ve got new bottles since the blog) to see if it gets rid. Argh.
Update: 2nd June (6.5 weeks later)
The conditioner has just run out. It’s lasted a while to be fair – I wash 2-4 times a week and use this on my ends.
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Beauty Pie sells luxury beauty products at a fraction of the price of high-end products on the market. I first saw them on Facebook as I was targeted with one of their ads. I didn’t buy straight away but kept a note of their brand and decided to try them once I’d run out of my current products.
All products are cruelty-free and some are vegan. Check out the individual ingredients listed on every product page.
At BEAUTY PIE, we do not believe in or authorize animal testing for our products or the ingredients that go into our products. This means we do not do animal testing, our suppliers do not do animal testing, nor do we pay people to do animal testing for us. Each of our product information files contains a declaration from the supplier that their products are not tested on animals, and that the ingredients comply with the European Ban on Animal Testing.
From Beautypie.com / April 2020
Beauty Pie Membership explained
A membership gives you access to buy products at a discounted price but you still have to pay for products on top of the membership fee, and the amount of products you can buy is capped depending on your membership.
If you buy a £10 per month membership, that gives you a £100 “spending limit” to buy products based on their full “typical price”, rather than the discounted member price.
If a moisturiser is normally £40 but with a membership it is £20, you will pay £20 plus a monthly membership fee, and the £40 will come off your £100 “spending limit” balance, leaving £60 left to “spend”. You can make as many orders as you like as long as you stay under the spending money amount.
If this doesn’t make sense, go on their website and add a few things to your basket. Hopefully it will become clear. They give you access to products at a cheaper price with a membership, but stop you from buying too much because they want to keep you paying monthly for a membership. Memberships start at £10 (or £99 annual).
I started with a £10 monthly membership for a minimum of 3 months. As I signed up as a new customer, I got extra spending limits (instead of the normal £100 per month) with this membership plan. I had to sign up for 3 months minimum, then I cancelled the membership because I’d bought all the products I wanted. Unlike other subscription services, cancelling was easy. I just emailed them and they replied to confirm my account was cancelled. I didn’t get any sales tactics which I appreciated.
The membership will roll over, so if you don’t use all of your “spending limits” in a month, it will roll over to the next. So if you buy a membership in January costing £10, you will get £100 “spending limit”. If you don’t buy anything in January or February you will have spent £20 on membership fees but will have 2 months worth of spending money saved.
If you buy a £10 membership to get a £100 “spending limit” a month but you want a product that has a full price of £120, you’ll need to save your “spending limit” up, unless you buy a more expensive membership plan.
To help you understand the pricing and membership, here is the receipt for my first order.
My ‘typical price’ came to £191 (£70 + £75 + £28 + £18) which was under the £200 I had to spend. I made my first purchase in December 2019.
For making my first-ever purchase and for signing up, I got a free £50 boost to my spending limit on top of my £100, making £150, which isn’t shown on the receipt, and free Plantastic Micropeeling Super Drops. I also bought a £50 extra spending limit of £5 (shown on the receipt), so I had enough spending limit to buy everything I wanted. As mentioned I took out a 3-month membership at £10 per month which is shown as STANDARD PIE MONTHLY.
In total, I purchased £191 worth of products but because I am a member, I got them all at the members’ price which ended up being £40.61 including delivery. My spending limit for my first order was £200, so £9 rolled over into my next month.
I have purchased from Beauty Pie:
Super Retinol (+ Vitamin C) Night Renewal Moisturizer
Super Healthy Skin™ Sheer Tinted Oil-Free SPF20 (Medium)
Smart Powder Blush (Shade : Go Rouge (A Pink-Orange))
Plantastic™ Micropeeling Super Drops
Jeju Daily AM/PM Moisture Superinfusion™
I’ve been impressed with the products. They’re lasting ages and I feel like they’re good quality. Even the bottles feel high-end & luxurious but the prices aren’t high at all.
All of their products are cruelty-free.
Products review
Jeju Daily AM/PM Moisture Superinfusion™
Jeju Daily AM/PM Moisture Superinfusion™
Typical price – £70 / Members price – £11.94 (Members price has gone up since I bought it for £8.87 in December 2019
Hydration junkies – strap on your beauty helmets, because our JEJU DAILY AM/PM MOISTURE SUPERINFUSION™ might be the most mind-blowing face cream ever. Jeju Volcanic Sand gently blots shine from your oily spots, while a multi-active Hyaluronic-Acid hydrating complex transforms dull, dry skin to be positively dewy.
From Beautypie.com / April 2020
I put a small amount on in the morning under makeup and before bed (with the Super Retinol). It’s thick but soaks in skin quickly and isn’t greasy. I absolutely love it. The texture is gorgeous and it smells lovely. I don’t normally like smells in things (I think it makes the product seem cheap) but I don’t mind this one at all as the smell isn’t strong and doesn’t linger. The pot for this is huge, so I doubt you’d use more than 1 a year! Really good value for money.
Super Retinol (+ Vitamin C) Night Renewal Moisturizer
Super Retinol (+ Vitamin C) Night Renewal Moisturizer
Typical price – £75 / Members price – £11.46 (Members price has gone up since I bought it for £8.82 in December 2019)
This superstar Swiss overnight formula has everything anti-aging in it _encapsulated retinol (resurfacing), ficucell vita (antioxidant), shea butter (nourishing) , vitamins E and C (elasticity+), ferulic and hyaluronic acid (plumping, hydrating), it’s super-smoothing, fine-line and wrinkle tackling, brightening, and we think this is possibly THE best retinol night moisturizer ever.
From Beautypie.com / April 2020
I use this 2 or 3 times a week. Retinol dries my skin but this doesn’t as long as I don’t use it daily. I use it before bed so my skin can have a good rest. I use 2 pumps. It isn’t oily or greasy, it soaks in quickly. My skin is brighter after using this. I would buy it again.
Super Healthy Skin™ Sheer Tinted Oil-Free SPF20
Super Healthy Skin™ Sheer Tinted Oil-Free SPF20
Typical price – £25 / Members price £6.77 (Members price has gone up since I bought it for £5.50 in December 2019)
Imported from Italy, our Super Healthy Skin™ Tinted SPF20 delivers beautiful, natural, sheer coverage, sun protection, and a radiant all-day gorgeous soft-focus glow. Oil-free, fragrance-free, with a velvety skin finish, it’s probably the best multi-action BB Cream you can buy.
From Beautypie.com / April 2020
I bought this in Medium but what a mistake! I re-ordered in Light after seeing myself in a mirror at work. Holy moly, it was too dark even for my olive skin. I use it usually instead of foundation if it’s a nice day or my skin is nice so I feel I can go without make-up. I’ve also worn it under make-up and I haven’t noticed any problems. I put it on with a brush and it blends well into my skin. I have an oily forehead which didn’t get worse (or better) by using this product. You only need a tiny amount.
The SPF is a great plus for this product (I’m 32 so taking more care of my skin these days!).
Smart Powder Blush, Shade : Go Rouge (A Pink-Orange)
Smart Powder Blush, Shade : Go Rouge (A Pink-Orange)
Typical price – £18 / Members price – £5.23 (Members price has gone up since I bought it for £4.06 in December 2019)
In just a sweep of a blush brush this unbeatable superlight formula lays down delicate, soft, second-skin colour that effortlessly mimics mother nature! It’s got a smart, silky, slightly blurring, skin perfecting powder finish, infused with UV protective red-algae and biosaccharides.
From Beautypie.com / April 2020
I love this blush. It stays on all day, blends in well and is a gorgeous colour. I would buy this again.
Plantastic™ Micropeeling Super Drops
Plantastic™ Micropeeling Super Drops
Typical price – £50 / Members price £9.42 (Members price has gone up since I bought it for £7.62 in December 2019)
Well, a couple of drops of this every day, and you might be in awe of your own. The best thing for keeping breakouts at bay, skin looking bright, pores-refined and tight, our Plantastic Micropeeling Super Drops are an easy, everyday addition to your skincare routine. Use once or twice a week for maintenance, or daily if you’re battling breakouts. With fruit-acids, micro-purifying biosurfactants, natural brighteners. It’s a 24/7 glow-giving one-serum wonder.
From Beautypie.com / April 2020
I can’t say for sure my skin has reduced in acne due to this particular product (as I’ve been using others) but I’ve had no new breakouts for a whole month, even before my period which is usually when I get a lot. This liquid is super thin so absorbs extremely quickly. I put a few drops on before bed, along with the Jeju and retinol. The bottle is huge so I can’t see myself going through more than 1 a year! Really good value for money.
I’ve always used Vitamin E and Vitamin C products such as The Body Shop’s BB Cream and Skin Reviver because they help moisturise and keep skin from drying out. Another great primer I’ve used in the past is Mabel + Meg’s Lumilixir Serum which is amazing for under makeup. It targets acne too.
What are Pie Days?
Pie Days are days when you can order products that won’t be taken off your monthly spending limit. You get access to Pie Days a few times a year, but only if you’ve bought the annual membership (starting at £99 for £100 per month spending limit).
Overall review
Even though all of the products have increased in price (some by a whopping 28%) since I made my order in December 2019, the prices are low enough that Beauty Pie is worth trialling, even for a minimum of 3 months.
The products are so good you don’t need much, and with the size of the bottles/pots, you won’t need to purchase another for (I expect based on my experience) a year. I’ll update this blog when I run out of anything.
The wrapping is lovely – it makes me happy when I open a parcel that a company has gone to the trouble of wrapping. I’ve noticed in the Facebook comments a lot of customers are asking them to remove the brand logo from the paper so they can reuse, it to save on rubbish – what a great idea.
I will use Beauty Pie again to either buy the same or new products. I have my eyes on the Uber Boost Mascara, Vitamin C Moisturiser and Hair Volume Booster so watch this space – I probably won’t be able to resist.
Discount codes
Use my recommend a friend link below to get your first month for free (new customers only). I will also get an extra £50 boost – hurrah!
I’d never heard of Aurelia before, until I saw Emma Watson in a live Insta video showing the contents of her bag (don’t judge me). She said how much she loved the deodorant so I decided to look myself.
I hadn’t been looking for a new deodorant but getting pretty tired of having to wait for the better ones (in my opinion) to dry before putting clothes on.
Over the last few weeks I’ve tried these 4 products:
Aurelia Botanical Cream Deodorant
Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser
Aurelia Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser
Aurelia Refine and Polish Miracle Balm
They are all cruelty-free.
From the Aurelia website 8.2.2010
Aurelia Botanical Cream Deodorant
I Googled & read reviews on multiple sites – Aurelia, Cult Beauty, Google, Amazon and Look Fantastic to name a few. I was blown away from the positivity. After composing myself from seeing the price (£18) I decided to purchase the 50g tub from the Aurelia Skincare website. I got a 10% discount (use discount code WELCOME10) and free sample tub of Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser 20ml. All-in, I spent £16.20 (free delivery when you spend £15+).
I really like how the deodorant includes lots of gorgeous natural goodies, to name a few:
Shea butter (gently hydrates)
Essential oils: Tea tree, Eucalyptus and Peppermint (antiseptic and antibacterial)
A slight whiff of Lavender and Bergamot (bergamot is a plant that produces oil that’s used in medicine)
The Botanical Cream Deodorant is a multi award-winning, natural, aluminium free, uniquely powerful wellbeing revelation that really works.
Aurelia Probiotic Skincare’s Botanical Cream Deodorant offers a highly effective gentle and natural alternative for all those concerned about the effects of aluminium and who may want to avoid this questionable ingredient. Aluminium-based antiperspirants work by using aluminium salts to block and alter sweat ducts. This interferes with our body’s natural response. It has been clinically proven that aluminium is absorbed through the skin but currently there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between aluminium exposure and the augmented risk of developing breast cancer.
My first day of trying the deodorant was my first day in a new job. Not ideal. I was more anxious, nervous (+ sweaty) than usual. By lunchtime I could smell my pits, and not in a good way. Luckily I’d taken wipes and the deodorant (it’s a great size to fit in your bag and doesn’t look like deodorant if anybody spots it) so I cleaned up and re-applied. This seemed to do the trick, I was fresh all afternoon.
The second day was the same; I had to clean up and reapply around lunchtime. The third day however; was the game changer. No smells apart from gorgeous minty freshness. I figured my body needed time to get familiar. Since then, I’ve not noticed any smelly pits and it lasts a full day – 7am until bedtime, around 10pm.
It comes in 2 sizes. I have the smaller size (50g) but they do a larger one – 110g for £30. The size I have (50g) would probably be handier in your bag whereas the larger would be more beneficial to use at home.
When you apply it, you use your fingers and smooth it over your underarm. It goes on as cream but as you rub it in, it feels more like a powder. It dries instantly. I haven’t noticed any issues with the deodorant discolouring my clothes. You don’t have to wait for it to dry; I have put the deodorant on under my clothes and gone about my day!
I am very happy with the Aurelia deodorant. Knowing I’m not putting rubbish on my skin is a huge plus. Also not having to wait for it to dry, but knowing it will keep me dry and smell-free all day is a winner.
I will update this post when it eventually runs out. I’m guessing it’ll last 3 months. The price-y upfront cost does seem steep but considering £16.20 is £5.40 a month (£1.35 pw), I’m more than happy with that.
Update 22.4.2020
I’ve had to stop using the deodorant as it stopped working. It made my pits smell within a few hours even though I’m at home working (lock-down!) without doing anything strenuous!
Update 4.2.2021
Yep! Nearly a year later, I’ve been using this in-between my current hobby of trialing natural deos. It still works! It still takes at least a day to stop smelly pits but it works well once my skin gets used to it. I’m going to try a few, but to be honest, I wouldn’t have much hesitation about buying this again.
Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser
As mentioned above, I received a free 20ml pot when I bought the deodorant. The normal price is £58 for 60ml. This is pricey for me. Especially for a night cream. I usually spend ~£10 on The Ordinary and The Body Shop for a moisturiser.
The Aurelia website states:
This multi award-winning ultra-rich hydrating night cream fuses probiotic ingredients with plant and flower botanicals to hydrate and soothe, transforming the skin’s luminosity. Aurelia’s signature probiotic ingredients continuously protect, restore and balance the skin from within. Probiotics expertly calm the natural immune triggers in your skin which can be overstimulated by pollution and stress and they reduce the damage these immune triggers cause to collagen, elastin and healthy cells.
Supercharged, targeted BioOrganic botanicals include Baobab, which is rich in precious Omegas to revitalise the skin, firming Kigelia Africana, Rosehip and antioxidant-rich Hibiscus to fight oxidative stress. Borage, Mongongo and Avocado oils offer abundant levels of natural fatty acids offering long-lasting hydration and a youthful glow. Deeply nourishing Shea butter and cooling Aloe vera enable this cream to melt delightfully into the skin.
A delicate, relaxing sleep-time essential oil blend of Neroli, Lavender, Rose and Mandarin helps you wind down and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.
Overall I’m very impressed with the night moisturiser. In the morning my skin feels less clogged with oil and is definitely smoother. From using other moisturisers I often have clogged pores full of (the only way to describe) small hard yellow spots (usually on my forehead).
It does have a perfume smell but it’s not overpowering. The pot is lasting quite long actually so I’m impressed. I’ll more than likely buy this when it runs out (check out the discount codes I’ve found at the end of this article).
Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser
After buying the deodorant where I got the free night moisturiser which I was very impressed with, I decided to fork out for the day moisturiser. I have acne-prone skin which is very oily. I emailed the Aurelia team to ask what product they would suggest I try. They suggested this, so I looked around for the best price.
I found it on Look Fantastic – 20ml is £22. I saved money on this price though using discounts – see my hacks below.
I use this moisturiser before makeup. Although it isn’t a primer, it keeps my makeup on all day. It smells gorgeous (although some reviewers aren’t keen).
Inspiring a radiant, dewy complexion, the intelligent moisturiser combines concentrated BioOrganic 100% pure botanicals with probiotic and peptide technologies to soothe, hydrate and revitalise the skin’s surface. Its dose of fatty acid-rich Borage oil locks in moisture; Kigelia Africana and Hibiscus botanicals deliver a firming and soothing effect and help combat oxidative stress; and Baobab expertly revitalises with its rich source of omega 3, 6 and 9.
Infused with a fragrant essential oil blend of Jasmine, Plumeria, Tuberose and Mandarin, the antioxidant-packed moisturiser will leave skin soft, hydrated and radiant. Doubles as a perfect makeup primer due to its potent peptides that hydrate the skin’s surface for a smooth, flawless finish.
Free from synthetic fragrances, colourants, parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulphates, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMO, PEGs, TEA, DEA, MI, formaldehyde, urea, mercury, lead and bee venom.
Refine & Polish Miracle Balm
This is my favourite out of all of them and I believe it’s what has made the best difference to my skin (although the moisturisers are also likely to be making a difference!) The miracle balm can be used daily as an exfoliator or 3ish times a week for 5 mins as a face mask. I do both. I love it so much.
Suitable for all skin types, the Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Refine and Polish Miracle Balm works to combat dull, rough and congested complexions.
Fortified with the brand’s unique Probiotic and Peptide complexes, the innovative treatment rebalances and revitalises skin, whilst natural Rice Bran beads deliver a mild exfoliating action to gently buff away dead, dry skin cells for a brighter, smoother and more refined appearance.
Transforming into a milky fluid upon contact with water, the balm boosts circulation when massaged into skin to leave it clear, purified and glowing with a luxurious fragrance of Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Bergamot Essential Oils. Can be used as a five-minute mask or instant exfoliator.
I use a thumbnail-sized amount, first rubbing it together using my fingers then gently all over my face. It goes from being gooey to a milky texture when you add water to it.
I’ve used it every day and my skin has never been as bright. I haven’t had dry skin around my nose since using this either.
Discount deals to cut the costs
On the Aurelia website, you can complete their Skincare tool questionnaire to get £10 off your next purchase. I got the discount code after I’d finished it. The tool itself is pretty handy for suggesting products based on your answers.
Like I’ve mentioned above, I bought:
Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser 20ml
Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Refine and Polish Miracle Balm 75ml
… from Look Fantastic. They had a 20% off code available so I used that, plus free next day delivery as I spent over £55. I spent £22 on the moisturiser and £57 on the balm, totalling £63.20 with the 20% off. Use my referral link where we both get discounts (I don’t know how much) but just remember to look around their site for any available codes. LF20 (on LookFantastic) is a popular one.
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I’ve made changes to my routine lately, due to previous lotions and potions running out. I like to try different things when I see lots of good reviews about them.
Here are my latest beauty favourites….
Sand and Sky Pink Clay
I got this last year as a pack which included the pink clay mask, exfoliating treatment and a free bag. It’s expensive in my opinion, but so worth it. I use both once a week. I use the mask on day 1, then the exfoliating treatment on day 2.
The mask comes with a little brush you use to apply all over your face. You leave on for 10 minutes, then remove. The mask changes from pink to white, and dries quite hard. It’s really easy to take off though. I use warm water and my Face Halo pad.
The mask: “… deeply cleanses the skin. It purifies and tightens pores right before your eyes.”
It leaves my skin feeling smooth and fresh. It makes my pores smaller and any spots are reduced in redness and size. I follow by moisturising.
The exfoliating treatment:
… is a powerful magnet, removing toxins, pollution and impurities from deep within the skin. The BFF of spot-prone complexions, it eliminates annoying shine and helps regulate oil production.*
It works by removing dead skin cells from your face, leaving a glow. It really does do this – after using my skin looks like I’ve got primer on. Really smooth and glowy.
You massage gently into your skin for 30 seconds, leave for 5 minutes (unless you have sensitive skin) then rinse off.
My advice if you are planning to buy this is go on their website, look around but leave without buying, then go to YouTube and look at anything. They will retarget you with advertisements, usually giving you money-off voucher codes. My husband did this and got 25% off from seeing an ad on Youtube.
Face Halo face wipes
I wrote about these when I used The Body Shop’s Camomile cleansing butter which I’ve stopped using on my face and just use on my eyes (it’s an oily formula which does nothing for my oily skin).
I wear waterproof mascara and these wipes get rid of every last smudge of makeup.
function of beauty - shampoo and conditioner review
Personalised shampoo & conditioner tailored to you and your hair care needs, delivered right to your door – what’s not to like?
They are called Function of Beauty and they are based in New York. Since I’ve bought off them back in 2019, they’ve expanded the range to include serums, masks, purple shampoo and more. I’ve used them on and off for years now – only stopping to give my hair a ‘break’ every few months, to stop my hair getting familiar with the ingredients and therefore the formula stopping working so well.
What I like is how the products are personalised and tailored to me. The bottles even have my name written on the side. I was able to choose the colours and smells I want. This is the first time I’ve ever tried personalised hair care, especially for this price (which is 100% worth it).
How does it work? It’s pretty simple. You put in your hair care concerns, and they ship your personalised products to you. You get a subscription, so you’re able to choose whether you receive new products in 3 months, 4, 5 etc but they remind you closer to the time, so you don’t get any surprise charges. You’re able to bring forward your delivery date, or push it back.
I personally choose different colours each time, to change things up a bit! I buy 3 sets a year, so 3x shampoo and 3x conditioner – you’ll see from my below photos that they both last months and months. It’s pretty pricey at first glance, but don’t let that put you off – once you divide down to how much it costs per use, it’s similar to what the cheap drugstore shampoos cost (but with tons better quality ingredients used in Function of Beauty!).
I wanted to give my hair some love and attention (and to get rid of the frizz underneath) I’m also having a lot of hair fall out, especially during and after a shower, so I thought giving my hair a boost would help. I’ve never bothered with buying expensive hair products before but I spend a lot on products for my face so I thought why not?
2. Personalise your bottles
You can choose your bottle colours, and choose what they smell like!
I chose blue for my shampoo and purple for my conditioner. I chose ‘peach’ as the smell and I can confirm they smell amazing – fresh but not overwhelming. The smell lasts the next day following a clean.
function of beauty – you can choose the fragrance strength
My bottles personalised with my name ‘rach’ on the outside. I also got that cute little mirror as a welcome gift
Choose your shampoo and conditioner colours
Lots of fragrances to choose from – I usually go with peach
The final (but cutest) last bit of personalisation is your name. They ask for it in the account and print this on the sides of each bottle. I love this!
See my bottle photo where you can see my name!
Where do they stand ethically?
I’ll let Function of Beauty do the explaining. They are vegan and cruelty-free.
Taken from the FoB homepage. Don’t let the “Made in America” put you off – I wasn’t charged any import fees/taxes
How much are they?
I purchased both bottles, 1x shampoo + 1x conditioner, at 473mL/16oz each for£31.20 £28 each (shampoo & conditioner totals £56) including delivery providing you’re taking out the subscription.
Initially I thought “no way am I spending over 30 quid for shampoo”. Then I thought about it. £30 (just over) for 3 months…. £10 a month…. £2.50 a week to have my hair looking and feeling its best. Hmmm. I would happily spend £30 on a face moisturiser which would last about the same time. I’d also buy a pair of leggings for that price without much thought. Why wouldn’t I spend that on my hair?
My hair deserves some love, like the rest of my body. #fistpump
I can honestly say I’ve never had so many compliments.
It’s embarrassing how shiny my hair is.
Me
These 2 pictures are after blow drying (no straightening). It’s normally a frizzy mess underneath but has been tamed by the Function of Beauty shampoo and conditioner.
My hair is quicker to dry and style. When I wave my hair, the waves stay in longer and are bouncier.
Still a little frizzy but massively reduced
couldn’t find this pic on my phone so a screenshot of my Insta will have to do – look at that shine after curling!!
How long do the bottles last?
The bottles in total lasted me between 3-4 months! I received my order on 8 June 2019. When they arrived, I thought I’d smash through them within a few weeks. I wash my hair 3-6 times a week.
Here are the bottles exactly 1 month after arriving. I’ve used a third of the shampoo and slightly less conditioner.
8 July 2019: I’ve used just under 1/3 in just over 1 month (I’m on a 3-month subscription)
I use 3-4 pumps of the shampoo and 4 of the conditioner in every shower. I use the shampoo on my roots and the conditioner on my hair ends only. I have long hair, so I do use quite a lot of conditioner.
Hopefully by the time I finish the bottles, after 3 months, my new ones should arrive.
UPDATE: 1st Sept 2019 – after 3 months
I’ve used quite a bit more shampoo than conditioner. You can see they are far from finished – even though I’ve been using them both for 3 months.
3 months later – my 3-month subscription has covered me since June and there’s still plenty left!
UPDATE: 2nd Oct 2019 – 4 months later
I’ve just finished the shampoo. It has lasted me since 8 June, so in total just under 4 months. I never thought it would last this long. The expensive up-front cost is definitely worth it, considering how often I’ve washed my hair.
2 Oct’19: the shampoo has lasted just under 4 months!! I did NOT expect that
UPDATE: 18th Oct 2019– 4.5 months later
I lasted as long as I could, but the conditioner has finally come to an end. Chuffed it has lasted over 4 months!
18 Oct’19 – the conditioner has finally come to an end – just over 4 months after being received!
Final thoughts after my first 3-month subscription has ended
I can’t believe how long they’ve lasted. The shampoo lasted just shy of 4 months; the conditioner lasted 4 months + 1 week. I never thought from using both 4-6 times per week they’d last this long.
I received my second subscription at the start of September which includes the same as above. I was given the choice via email a few weeks prior to change anything about my order – colours, smells, hair goals.
Due to not using up either within the 3 months, I’ve now set my subscription to be a little longer – 4 monthly to be exact. I’ve done this so I haven’t got bottles sat waiting for me at home; I can give my hair a break from Function (I don’t want my hair getting “used to” the formula so it stops working so well) and use other brands in-between.
Function of Beauty Benefits
I have a “friends and family” code where we both get £5 off. Feel free to use mine here. Remember to check out their website and social media before ordering because they often have freebies/discounts. I’ve used it with a work colleague and it works (she loves it).
UPDATE: 12 March 2021
I’ve just re-ordered. I like to switch what I use on my hair up every once in a while, so it doesn’t stop being effective.
UPDATE: 23 Jan 2022
Just re-ordered again! This time blue shampoo and light blue conditioner. Love to try the different colours.
UPDATE: 14 June 2023
Just reordered again! 🙂 I’ve noticed they’ve increased the price so I’ve updated that section above.
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As usual there are some amazing products in this months box; only some cruelty-free/vegan which I list below. I got this box as part of a 6-monthly package I bought with Look Fantastic. I pay £13.75 per month and the box is delivered at the start of each month.
Rituals of Sakura hand balm, 70ml
A great size, it smells absolutely gorgeous. It’s a big size which will keep me going for months! Can’t quite believe I got this from Look Fantastic just because I only paid £13.75 for the whole box & this alone is worth £9.50.
I can’t find anything regarding if the brand is cruelty-free or vegan on their website, and they don’t come up on Peta’s cruelty-free list so unfortunately I can only presume they are NOT cruelty-free.
Omorovicza Cleansing Foam
This foam has great reviews – it’s good for removing makeup and impurities. It’s vegan! They aren’t on either Peta or Leaping Bunny for being cruelty-free though.
Morphe High Impact Highlighter
Feels expensive, even the case feels solid! I’ll definitely be using this. It glides on my skin. I might even see how it is as an eye shadow. Watch this space.
Unable to find out anything on their website regarding their cruelty-free/vegan stance, but Crueltyfreekitty.com [https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/is-morphe-cruelty-free/] asked them to confirm which they did – they are cruelty-free! Hey guys, add this to your website. It’ll probably increase sales.
EOS Lip Balm
I’m not keen on this! I hate being negative but I really don’t like the smell or the packaging. Not practical for carrying with me in particular on a night out when my bag space is limited. I haven’t found anything online about them being either cruelty-free or vegan.
The Ordinary – Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
For the quality of the product I still can’t get over products from The Ordinary are. To buy, this is £5.90. I can’t quite find out exactly what it does for skin – something about surface hydration? Either way, the reviews speak for themselves.
Vegan and cruelty-free (confirmed on their website) hurrah!! [https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml]
Madara Smart Anti-Pollution Charcoal and Mud
After using this my skin felt itchy but I think I left it on a few minutes too long. That night, my skin glowed!
The company IS cruelty-free! Some of their products are vegan including (from what I can tell in their FAQs) this one. [https://www.madaracosmetics.com/en/faq]
I’ve followed Chloe Morello for a while and noticed her promotions for Face Halo makeup remover that you can use only with water. They are kind on skin as they are made of white fibre strands,
“100 times finer than human hair to remove and trap makeup”.
Around the edge they have a black rim made of satin which is soft to touch.
Pricing
At $22 for a pack of 3, initially I thought they were expensive. But then I thought about it and considering makeup remover wipes are £2-3 for 20/30, is it really?
Considering you get “200 washes” out of each pad, not only is it better for the environment, it’s actually a cost-saving. It cost me £15.60 in total, so each one cost £5.20. You only need buy 3 packs of wipes and you’ve already gone over the price of 1 Face Halo. (That’s £0.26p per wash)
The Body Shop cleansing butter is £10. They nearly always have discounts on their website. I got my latest batch with 25% off + free delivery.
My skin has improved
When I use this on my face, it feels lavish and like I’m actually treating my face each time. It doesn’t feel like it’s pulling on my skin and I never get any redness afterwards, proving how soft it is on my skin. Considering the skin around the eye is so delicate, this was really important to me. Especially as I’m moving into my 30’s, I need to take even more care of those soon-to-be wrinkles.
My skin has genuinely improved since using Face Halo. It’s so much smoother and looks fresher.
After-care
I don’t know what I expected, but considering I’ve been using them since the start of August, they are now looking – if being honest – quite gross. Every 2nd use I put them in the wash with my clothes then in the tumble dryer. I’ve never let the makeup sit on the Halo; I’ve always rinsed it after use. They are now stained which really puts me off using them. The Face Halo website says:
If you give it a very quick hand wash right after using with warm water and soap the makeup will release easily. If you leave it for a couple of days before washing it will take a little bit more time to release all the makeup. In this case we like to rub two Face Halo’s together under warm water with some good soap (even a natural dish soap for heavier makeup), then throw into the washing machine!
I have been doing this but they have still stained so I mustn’t have been doing it thoroughly enough. Maybe this is why they’ve bought out completely black Face Halos?
Overall
This will be my routine for a while. I absolutely love it. They go so well together. My face feels so clean I’ve actually stopped using moisturisers because my face doesn’t look like it needs it!
Update: 28 April 2019
I read up online how other fellow people are cleaning their Face Halos. From this advice I now:
clean after EVERY use – making sure it’s wet, I rub soap into the Face Halo. I rub the sides together to make a lather then after 30 seconds, I rinse. You’d be surprised at how much rubbish comes out.
I leave them on the radiator to dry in-between uses throughout the week
clean thoroughly in the main wash every week – I throw all 3 into my clothes wash each week.
I still use The Body Shop’s camomile on all my face but use a biodegradable wet wipe on my face and Face Halo on my eyes.
After a few months of getting a LOT of spots, I’ve stopped using Face Halo’s on my face. I just use them on my eyes, to remove mascara. After washing them with soap, I leave them on the radiator to dry. As it’s been warm, they haven’t been on, so they’ve been sitting there damp for a few days. This isn’t good, as bacteria loves damp conditions which could have been irritating my skin.
I’m not blaming these causing my spots, but since I’ve stopped using them on my face, I’ve noticed a small improvement. I still clean them as above, but I clean them much more thoroughly now.
I’m still using (and loving) Face Halo – I got new ones for Christmas as I stopped using my previous ones due to their state! I’m being more rigorous now with my cleaning, making sure after each daily use I’m getting as much mascara out with soap as possible.
I was using The Body Shop’s Camomile cleansing butter with my Face Halo, due to reducing down the number of products I’m currently using on my skin, in an attempt to calm down my spots/acne. If you’d like to read more about other tips I’m doing to calm my skin, I’ve made a blog about it here. Face Halo gets rid of all my makeup without the need for the Camomile so it was an easy decision. I don’t have anything against the Camomile; it’s a great product, just not needed.
Update: 12 March 2021
Still using the same as above – using the pad on my whole face and the Body Shop camomile on my eyes only. I wash & re-use each pad once with soap (leaving on a radiator to dry in-between), then throw in the washing machine along with clothes. I clean my face with the pad first, then use it to get off mascara. I don’t use it on my eyes first as I don’t want to rub mascara all over my face!
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