Beauty reviews – The Review Studio

Sure Whole Body Deodorant

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Sure recently sent me a few products from their Whole Body Deodorant range to try. Now, as a woman of a certain age, I’m no stranger to the dreaded hot flushes – and when you add in a daily cycle commute, it’s fair to say I get through a lot of deodorant, especially in the summer. So, I was interested to see how these products would cope on a hot day full of pedalling, meetings and general running around.

I tried the fresh citrus stick deodorant first and, just in case, popped it into my bag for a lunchtime top-up. But to my pleasant surprise, lunchtime came and went – and I was still as fresh as when I left the house.

Now, I’ve never used a cream deodorant before and wasn’t sure what to expect but was it was a surprise hit! It has a creamy texture and feels more like a body lotion than deodorant and even on a hot day I didn’t need to reapply it. The scent is fresh without being overpowering, and it didn’t irritate my skin at all, even straight after shaving. It’s also really versatile, you can use it on your feet, chest, or anywhere you tend to sweat more.

Then there’s the Wild Rose aerosol, with its light, floral fragrance that felt delightfully summery. It’s brilliant for a quick all-over refresh after cycling to the office and it doesn’t just mask odour, it helps prevent it from forming in the first place.

Dermatologically tested and approved by the British Skin Foundation, the range contains 0% aluminium and are designed to neutralise odour before it even begins. I’ve found that all three styles keep me feeling fresh all day long and easily fit in my handbag so I can freshen up whenever I feel the need.

The Sure Whole Body Deodorant products are available in four different scents – Ocean Rush, Active Fresh, Fresh Citrus and Wild Rose.

If you’re looking for something reliable to get you through the summer, whether it’s cycling to work, running errands, or just trying to stay fresh this range is definitely worth a try. Practical, portable and, most importantly, it works.

All the products have a RRP of £5.25 and are available from Boots

REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic

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Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Sun exposure, sand, and salty water tends to leave my skin very dehydrated, so toner is an essential stage in my skincare routine, especially when I am on holiday. I love REN skincare products so was really pleased to receive a bottle of their Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic which not only gives my skin a healthy glow but also gives it the hydration boost it craves.

Delivering multiple benefits in just one step, this refreshing toner not only helps to eliminate dead skin cells, but it exfoliates it too, leaving skin looking brighter. The toner is gentle enough to use every day and the energising formula helps to smooth skin, even out skin tone and visibly tighten pores as well as minimising the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation.

I have been sweeping it across my face with a bamboo pad after cleansing and as well as removing the last traces of make up from my skin it adds a layer of weightless moisture, giving my skin the hydration boost it craves. The toner not only smells divine but is gentle on my skin leaving it feeling refreshed and revitalised. It has really improved the condition of my skin; it now feels more hydrated and the pores on my forehead are definitely a lot less noticeable. The toner also helps prime my skin meaning my serum and moisturiser absorb better and I am finding I need less moisturiser as my skin is a lot more hydrated. After a couple of weeks used my skin not only looks more radiant but healthier too.

As well as using it as part of my skincare routine I think it will be perfect for freshening up my skin after a day at the beach and I will be packing it in my suitcase when I go on holiday this summer.

Highly recommended!

250ml RRP £30

Steamcream – Japanese Citrus

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Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I love citrus scented products so was really pleased to receive a tin of Japanese Citrus moisturiser from Steamcream. Founded in Japan over 15 years ago Steamcream offer a “straightforward yet effective approach to skincare.”

Handmade in small batches the cream is made using their unique Pure STEAM process, a unique steam emulsification technique which not only makes the cream lovely and light but means it absorbed into your skin easily too.

When you open the tin, you can’t fail to notice the beautiful citrus fragrance and it feels quite indulgent massaging it into my skin. It feels a lot thinner than my normal moisturiser, so I was quite surprised at just how much moisture it gave to my dry skin, leaving it soft and hydrated all day long. I am really impressed with this cream and started to see an improvement in my skin after about a week, it looks fresher and there is a radiance that I didn’t have before.

With key ingredients Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Sugar Squalane, Citrus Sudachi Peel Extract and essential oils Yuzu, Iyokan, Citrus Nobilis & Kabosu this is a lovely fresh, light cream and perfect for the summer months. It’s great for travelling as it can also be used as a hand cream and body moisturiser too, not only saving space in your suitcase but leaving your skin hydrated and delicately fragranced too.

All the Steamcream moisturisers come in beautiful little tins that are perfect to keep in your bag and are great for storing small bits and pieces in once empty.

RRP: £22.00

Available from Steamcream here

Love Vicci 3 in 1 Multi-Functional Make Up Brush

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Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Whilst I have a large collection of cosmetics and make up brushes at home, when I’m travelling, I try to only take the essentials, with the aim of fitting everything into one small make up bag! It’s relatively easy to choose a small selection of cosmetics but I find it’s not quite as easy to reduce the amount of brushes I take so I was really pleased to discover the Love Vicci Multi-Functional Make Up Brush, a cleverly designed 3 in one professional brush which is not only great for travelling but it’s perfect for keeping in my handbag for a quick touch up during the day.

At first glance the Love Vicci brush looks just like any powder brush but on closer inspection you can see that it cleverly incorporates a foundation/concealer sponge and an eye make up brush in the handle of the main brush. To get the brushes out you simply unscrew the handle – it’s such a simple idea and a great way of saving space and keeping all your brushes together.

The brush has been designed by beauty industry experts and the chunky power brush feels nice and sturdy in my hand. The dense bristles in the fluffy soft brush pick up the powder easily making application a dream.

I always use a sponge to apply my foundation as I find they help blend the colour and give a more natural-looking finish, so I was really pleased to discover that this brush set contains a foundation sponge. The sponge is smaller than the one I currently use but it worked really well with my foundation, transferring most of it onto the skin rather than absorbing it. The domed shape was good for blending in the foundation around my nose and eyes and the side was ideal for the larger area of my face like my cheeks and forehead. As the sponge is stored in the handle it also keeps my make up bag nice and clean which is an added bonus.

The bristles on the eye brush are quite firm which is perfect for applying eyeliner or for cream brow products. The brush is angled which helps give a precise line and if you’re really trying to travel light it can also double up as an eyeshadow brush.

If you’re looking for an affordable makeup brush set that is not only compact but performs well then this is the one to get. Love Vicci also have a 3 in 1 eye make up brush which looks just as impressive so I’ll be buying one of those before my next trip!!

£19.95

Valuxxo Skin Revive (AHA) Face Scrub Bio

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Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

The key to radiant, glowing skin is regular exfoliation and I find using a face scrub twice a week is the best way to remove all the dead skin cells, leaving my face not only smoother and clearer but more radiant too. I’m currently using the Skin Revive (AHA) Face Scrub Bio from Valuxxo which blends Alpha Hydroxy Acids with nourishing botanical oils to refine, brighten, and renew your complexion.

Enriched with Lactic and Salicylic acids, the face scrub encourages natural skin renewal, unclogs pores and helps keep skin clear and free from blemishes. The face scrub also contains mango butter which helps to keep skin hydrated too.

The scrub is applied to wet skin, you only need a small amount and massage it onto your face for between 30 to 60 seconds before rinsing off with warm water. The face scrub is in a handy 70ml tube and it is really easy to squeeze it out of the tube. The fine grains feel a little gritty when you’re massaging them into your skin, but they don’t feel too harsh or leave my skin feeling irritated afterwards.

After the first use I was quite surprised to see the difference in my skin, there was a definite glow and my face felt incredibly smooth – just like it feels after you have been for a facial – but at a fraction of the cost! After using it twice a week for a month my skin is not only more radiant but it’s softer too and my pores are a lot less noticeable.

This is the first time I’ve tried a Valuxxo product and I’m really impressed, I can’t wait to try some of their other products now.

RRP £24 available from Valuxxo here

Rumi Cosmetics

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Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

As I’ve got older I’ve changed skincare products to suit my ageing skin but I’ve never thought about changing my make up, that is until Rumi Cosmetiques got in touch and offered to send me a couple of their products to try. The family run company was founded back in 2020 and they “strongly believe in creating beauty products for mature women that highlight their natural beauty instead of trying to cover it”

Mascara is the one item in my make up bag that I can’t live without, I love how it darkens and defines my lashes, making my eyes stand out and now I’m getting older I actually feel quite naked without it. The VolumeCare + Mascara is a 2-in-1 mascara that not only colours your eyelashes but it also conditions and nourishes them to give the appearance of longer, thicker & healthier eyelashes that are less likely to fall out or break. I have incredibly sensitive eyes and generally can only use a couple of brands, so I was really pleased to discover this mascara didn’t irritate my eyes at all and I could wear it all day without any signs of irritation.

When applying the mascara, I noticed an instant boost in length and volume with my lashes separating really well, it was easy to apply and build the colour and it didn’t clump at all. I was really impressed with the staying power of this mascara, it stayed put all day and looked just as fresh after 14 hours as it did when I first applied it. At the end of the day it was easily removed with a cotton pad soaked in my usual eye make-up remover.

RRP £31 available in Natural Black and Dark Brown

I don’t often wear eyeliner as I struggle to get a neat line, but following the handy tips on the website I actually found the LushLine+ waterproof eye liner really easy to apply, it was soft enough to give a smooth line without dragging my skin and it gave a strong defined line to my eye make up. I especially liked the built in sharpener meaning you never have a blunt eyeliner which makes it much easier to apply. The eyeliner is smudge proof and waterproof and like the mascara lasts all day.

RRP £24 available in Natural Black, Natural Grey and Dark Brown

The PowerBrow+ Tinted Eyebrow gel comes in three different coffee themed colours, Espresso, Mocha and Latte which will suit most colourings. I’ve noticed that as I’ve got older my brows have become a little thinner but I’ve not used make up on them before so after watching a couple of YouTube videos for guidance I had a go at applying the product on my brows. The brush is very easy to use and glided easily over my brows. It was quite easy to fill in the sparse areas and define the shape of my brows. The brush evenly distributed the colour and I was amazed at the difference it made to my brows.

The gel also contains active ingredients that nourish and thicken your brows with every stroke so I’m hoping with continued use I will see an improvement in them.

RRP £26 available in Espresso, Mocha and Latte

I’m really impressed with these products, I would never have considered switching my make up now I am older, but these products are fantastic and really lift my eyes, they are kind to my sensitive skin and are now an essential part of my make up bag.

Grace & Stella Mother’s Day Pamper Gifts

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Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day as it is more commonly known, falls on the 4^th Sunday of Lent, meaning the date varies each year and if you’re not careful it creeps up on you without you realising! With the increasingly busy lives that we all seem to lead now, and with many people watching the pennies, it’s good to know that there are plenty of affordable and easily accessible gift ideas that mum will love this Mother’s Day. Amazon is my go-to place for last minute gift ideas and I know my Mum will love this selection of pampering treats from beauty brand Grace & Stella.

Rainbow Bath Bomb £19.99

The rainbow clouds are the ultimate bath time treat, scented with lavender extract and packed with nourishing oils to help you relax and unwind. The simple white clouds aren’t very exciting at first glance but when dropped in a bath full of warm water they quickly explode into a riot of vibrant colours, creating a swirling rainbow that is quite mesmerizing to watch. The beautiful lavender fragrance is lovely and relaxing and when you get out of the bath your skin feels lovely and soft.

Lavender Foot Peel Mask (2 pairs) £20

Winner of the “Best Footcare Product” in the 2023 Marie Claire Sin Awards these foot masks are the ultimate treat for tired feet. After soaking your feet in warm water for 10 minutes put the foot booties on, securing with the supplied tape and then put on a pair of socks, which helps speed up the peeling process. They need to be left on for an hour – so the perfect opportunity to grab yourself a cup of tea and a good book and relax whilst the magical ingredients do their stuff. After an hour you remove the bootie and then wash your feet with soap and water. My feet felt incredibly soft afterwards and I found the lavender scent was very relaxing. The peeling starts in 5-7 days and it is recommended that you soak your feet for 10 minutes everyday to help loosed the skin. I found it quite satisfying peeling the dead skin off and I was really impressed with how soft it has left my feet. While the peeling process might not be for everyone, I would say that the end result is definitely worth it.

Eye Mask (24 pairs) £17.50

Eye masks are a popular choice to help reduce under eye puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. These eye masks are simple to use, adhere nicely to the skin and stay put for the 15-20 minutes recommended use. The unscented eye masks are ideal for a boost when you haven’t had enough sleep and need to look bright and alert or you can incorporate them into a pamper session and sit back whilst they do their magic. I found they have really reduced puffiness, especially after a late night and after using them I look a lot fresher.

Face Mask £20.95

The Dead Sea Mud Mask is infused with Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera Juice and draws impurities like dirt and oil out of your clogged pores to give a clearer complexion. Applying the mask was nice and simple as the mud spreads easily and then you then leave it to dry for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. It took a few minutes to remove but my skin felt lovely afterwards and I was I was really impressed with how fresh and clear my complexion looked.

Lavender Body Lotion £14.95

Containing a whopping 470ml this body lotion contains Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera and Rosehip Oil that moisturizes, nourishes and soothes skin. This body lotion smells amazing, the lavender fragrance is calming and relaxing, yet not overpowering and it lingers nicely on your skin, creating a relaxing spa-like atmosphere long after it has been applied. The lotion is smooth and creamy and absorbs easily without leaving a greasy residue. My skin felt instantly hydrated and is a great choice for everyday use.

I’m really impressed with the Grace & Stella products and I am sure lots of mums would be delighted to receive a selection of pampering products this Mothers Day.

Available from Amazon

Avon Hydramatic Iconic Red Lip Giftset

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

A cheery red lipstick is just we need to bring a flash of colour to these dreary January days and Avon have come up trumps with the Hydramatic Iconic Red Lip Giftset. The set contains a lovely creamy lipstick and a matching lipliner in a vibrant red that can’t fail to set your day off on the right foot. Beautifully packaged in a striking red fabric drawstring bag this set contains everything you need to add a spot of glamour to your working day.

The Hydramatic Matte Lipstick in Siren red glides on nicely with no bleeding or feathering, leaving my lips plumped and hydrated. The colour remains vibrant, even after eating and drinking and stays fresh and bright for about 5-6 hours.

The Glimmerstick Lip Liner in Ruby Shock complements the lipstick perfectly and the creamy texture is a dream to apply, outlining lips effortlessly. The twist up style means there’s no need for a sharpener and the fine tip allows you to line lips with total precision.

The drawstring bag is ideal for keeping the products together in your handbag or you can use it for for storing small items like hairclips or bobbles.

At £12.50 it is excellent value for money and a great way to blow away those winter blues!