My LIB Beauty Awards Shortlist – July 2015

  


  
  

So when Latest in Beauty launched their beauty Awards for the very first time this month I thought it was a genius idea and really lovely of them to let us beauty addicts to get in on the action too. It’s been a huge success and no surprise that products are flying off the shelf.  As well as being able to curate your very own winners box there is also an opportunity to vote for your favourites and once all of the votes are in the all-star line up will be featured inside a limited edition winners box so your votes really do count.

With 30 solid finalist products from an incredible wealth of quality brands split into 8 beauty categories it’s been extremely tough making my shortlist but after much deliberation this review rounds up *my winners who are definitely worthy of a mention and include some of my long standing favourites as well as some new discoveries.

1.   Best Newcomer – Skin & Tonic London Steam Clean

Make up removal + late nights + tiredness = laziness! This pretty much sums up my evenings on a weekend so when you can condense your cleansing routine down to one product it definitely gets my vote.

Skin and Tonic are committed to creating beautiful, sustainable beauty products that are good for both our skin and the planet. This cleansing balm is organic and made from a blend of nourishing and invigorating oils that leaves the skin feeling so refreshed, clean and full of life. It does a great job removing all of my make up and due to the oils I can even get away with not applying a moisturiser. The eucalyptus and spearmint essential oils really awaken the senses which is something I really love about this balm.

This balm really makes taking make-up off a pleasure, it’s so easy, lovely to use and such a treat when your skin needs a pick me up.

2.   Skincare Saviour – Heaven Skincare Hydrogels

I’ve raved about the Heaven Skincare Hydrogels on my blog so it really was a no-brainer to include this beauty hero within my shortlist.

With prestigious clientele like the royals , it’s no wonder that Deborah Mitchell is causing quite a stir in the beauty world. Her Heaven skincare collection is famously made with innovation whilst also benefiting from the goodness of natural and organic ingredients,  all of which are tailored to meet the needs of different skin types and concerns.

The hydrogels clean, prime, hydrate, firm and also claim to do everything a toner does and much more. Out of the three different hydrogels my favourite is the Peppermint Clarifying Hydrogel as it works wonders on my oily skin.

This hard-working gel moisturises, clarifies and conditions with it’s unique all-in-one formulation and it’s light weight texture absorbs quickly without any greasiness making it ideal for the summer. The novelty of the product is the infusion of peppermint in the mix which gives the gel a subtle mint fragrance and a refreshing, cooling effect upon contact with the skin. It feels incredible on my oily skin and since I’ve been using the hydrogel I’ve seen a noticeable improvement with less breakouts and much more happier looking skin.

3.   Must-have Makeup – Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon

I really like the Burt’s Bees classic lip balm but I’ve never tried any of their tinted crayons but just like all of their products this is no exception.

This creamy and semi-matte crayon with rich opaque pigment gives a gorgeous pop of  colour and feels incredibly soothing and comfortable on the lips. It’s just the kind of finish I want from a lip crayon and has the added bonus of also caring for your lips too. I’m really impressed with my first introduction to the Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon and will be definitely be looking into more of their other shade options.

4.   Hottest Haircare – COLAB Sheer & Invisible Dry Shampoo in Monaco

On the days where I find my hair just needs a bit of a refresh and a little volume in between washes, Colab is my go-to and saviour when it comes to dry shampoos.

The COLAB dry shampoo definitely has a slight white cast when sprayed but once it’s brushed out, the colour pretty much disappears. What I love about this dry shampoo is that it doesn’t give hair a gritty feeling as it’s virtually weightless and at the same time is still able to absorb excess oil in my hair which means that I can use it for couple days in a row without heavy buildup on my scalp. One of the things that makes COLAB dry shampoos stand out is the scent, there’s so many to chose from you’ll be spoilt for choice! Not to be an enabler, but you kind of need more than just the one scent!

5.   Green Award – Melvita L’Or Bio© Extraordinary Oil

For me summer means bye-bye rich moisturisers and hello weightless body oils and this one by Melvita is a true gem which also boasts being 100% natural. With an impressive blend of 5 rare and precious oils gathered from all over the world this provide a subtle, non-oily, deeply nourishing protective film for both the skin and hair.
 
The light-weight, fast-absorbing oil doesn’t sit on the skin but transforms into velvety dry finish and smells absolutely AH-mazing! It also comes with a spray applicator which distributes the oil in even bursts which I really love as there’s no fear of the oil going everywhere.

Without a doubt everything about this oil just screams luxury and really injects my skin with moisture. I must admit I would use this for the soft, enticing scent alone.

6.   Best Eye Makeup – Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes

I was actually introduced to Magnifibres via a previous beauty box by Latest in Beauty and ever since it’s been a staple within my make-up bag.

With so many brands of mascara, false lashes, various options of extensions, lotions and potions to promote growth the Magnifibres Lash Brush-on False Lashes is great for days when you feel the need to cheat!

Magnifibres is a product that you apply between coats of your own mascara to give you supreme length and volume and consists of tiny fluffy fibres. The results are really impressive, my lashes look longer, more fluttery and much thicker. It’s buildable to some extent too so if you want add some vavavoom to your lashes I highly recommend this.

7.   Body Beautiful – The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Miracle Solid Oil For Body & Hair

I’ve always been a fan of Body Shop products namely their shea butter collection so when I saw this miracle oil I knew my skin needed a taste of it.  Let’s just say, I’ve been slathering my dry feet with this ever since it arrived on my doorstep.

This multitasking product works exceptionally well for those extra dry areas, dull hair, or flyaways.  A little bit goes a long way and the compact tin makes it great for keeping in the handbag or when travelling.

The formula is in a solid form which you simply warm up with your fingers in order for it to turn into a oil. I have particularly dry feet at the moment but this leaves my skin super soft, absorbs quickly, and smells lovely. If you’re looking for something more hydrating for dry skin this is ideal for that.

8.   Cult Classic – Carmex Lip Balm

Carmex is a cult favorite not forgetting a true classic when it comes to lip balms.  It’s affordable, and most importantly, it works! It’s a lip balm that I can truly rely on when my lips are really dry and need some TLC especially when I have cold and due to it’s lightweight formula it can also be worn underneath lipsticks too or as a gloss on top.

If you’ve already spotted some of your favourites, or like discovering the latest and greatest on the beauty market you can curate your very own winners box (ranging from £8.00 – £16.99) and the opportunity to vote for your favourites via:

www.latestinbeauty.com

When you order a box, you will automatically be entered into a prize draw for your chance to WIN every single full size finalist product – that’s £875 worth of products!

Who did you vote for? I’d love to hear from you.

*PR Sample