Beauty Expert Spa Edition Collection Review, Unboxing

Beauty Expert Spa Edition Collection Review, Unboxing

Winter Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, March 28, 2018

International beauty retailer Beauty Expert - part of the same group that owns LookFantastic - comes out with seasonal beauty collections that are always thoughtfully curated, and contain full-sized luxury products.
You can see their Indulgence Collection here, the Radiance Collection here, the inaugural Rose Edition, here, and the Expert Collection, here. 
The latest curation is the new Spa Edition, containing six full-sized products from luxury brands, with a total worth of £229, though the cost price of the set is just £70.
The set comes in a nice gift bag, and contains everything you need to treat your face and body to some luxurious me-time over the Spring season.

Scroll down for the contents, unboxing, and review of the Beauty Expert Spa Edition Collection for Winter 2018.

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LookFantastic Beauty Box February 2018 Unboxing, Review

LookFantastic Beauty Box February 2018 Unboxing, Review

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, March 01, 2018

As expected, February's LookFantastic Beauty Box has a Valentine's Day design, with a pink-red-gold colour scheme, and a product booklet featuring red hearts. The box is themed Beauty Rendezvous, and contains products that you would need for your "rendezvous". Tryst, if you like!
There are six products in the box, and the Elle UK magazine for the month is also included. They've recently taken to popping the mag inside the box itself, having increased the size of the beauty box. This actually makes the products inside seem smaller!

Scroll down for my review of the LookFantastic Beauty Box for February 2018.

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Beauty Products Used Up in December 2017

Beauty Products Used Up in December 2017

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, January 01, 2018

Heigh ho. 2018 is here. It's been a mixed year for me, with the first half being really nice. I got over acne and started scar revision. I got back on YouTube. But then I was laid up with allergies from October, Dad got bitten by a snake, and Gramps's horrible disease (I don't even want to say the c-word) has reared its ugly head again. It makes me weep to think about Gramps.
For 2018, I only wish for good health and happiness for all my loved ones and readers. That's the most important thing.

Scroll down to see the beauty products I used up in December 2017, and for my quick thoughts on each. 

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Beauty Expert 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar 2017 Unboxing, Review

Beauty Expert 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar 2017 Unboxing, Review

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, November 14, 2017

I cannot get enough of Beauty Advent Calendars this year. For one, there are so many new offerings. For another, existing players have upped their game with bigger and better boxes than before.
Today, I have Beauty Expert's Advent Calendar for 2017 to show you. It is titled the "12 Days of Christmas Collection". Everything in here is FULL-sized! And, the brands chosen are brilliant.

Scroll down for the unboxing and review of the Beauty Expert 12 Days of Christmas Collection Advent Calendar for Holiday 2017.

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Beauty Empties: July 2017

Beauty Empties: July 2017

Toner Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 01, 2017

July has been a stressy month for me, with too much to do in my schedule. I'm hoping that August will be a lot more relaxed. It's also my Dad's birthday month; I got him a lovely set of gifts, only to misplace the lot, and I've turned my place upside down and cannot find the slightest peep of the package. Nor can I remember where I put it. So I've just bought a backup gift. The first box will turn up now, of course.
Be that as it may, it's time to show you the empties of the month.

Scroll down for a look at the beauty products I used up in July 2017, and for my mini reviews.

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Beauty Products Emptied in June 2017

Beauty Products Emptied in June 2017

Vitamin C Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, June 26, 2017

I'm going to be travelling from the second week of July, so my mid-year makeup haul will be from Selfridges, Boots, Harvey Nicks, and so on. As I have been on a shopping ban for a while, I'm making a rather large list of makeup to get. Recommendations welcome.
But all that is a good month away. Here's what I used up this month - featuring my favourite Vitamin C.

Scroll down for thoughts on the beauty products I used up in June 2017.

Beauty Products Emptied in May 2017

Beauty Products Emptied in May 2017

Toner Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 31, 2017

I'm due for Microneedling/Infini RF on Thursday and am understandably nervous after reading all about grid marks and months and months of downtime. A sudden onset of three new pimples has not helped. On the other hand, I read horror stories about subcision, and that wasn't a painful procedure, so I'm hoping this one will go as smoothly as well. Stay tuned for updates.
I've been "building up" my skin to withstand the aggressive procedure, with plenty of TLC. Here's what I used up.

Scroll down for a closer look at the beauty products I emptied in May 2017.

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Spring Beauty Haul + GWP Bag From Bath & Unwind

Spring Beauty Haul + GWP Bag From Bath & Unwind

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Bath & Unwind is a hand-curated beauty retailer that ships worldwide. Regardless of the name, they stock all beauty products from makeup to wellness, and not just bath and body products.
They now have a Spring Beauty Bag - a generous 15-piece gift with purchase when you spend £150 on site. I picked just the seven products, and ended up getting another four products free with them, in addition to the Spring Beauty Bag. Scroll down for my haul video.

Here's my Spring beauty haul, and GWP goody bag, from Bath & Unwind. 

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LookFantastic Beauty Box March 2017: The Elle Edit

LookFantastic Beauty Box March 2017: The Elle Edit

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, March 13, 2017

March 2017's LookFantastic Beauty Box is the Elle Edit - for a while now, the beauty box has been accompanied by a copy of the Elle UK magazine each month, something that I've come to love. This month's box has been specially curated to bring us "the most exciting beauty products" around.
Of course, the box comes with the Elle UK magazine, featuring Emma Watson. There's also the Beauty Box magazine - now a glossy number with a few articles, and not just a product card. 

Scroll down for the contents of the LookFantastic Beauty Box March 2017.

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Beauty Products Used Up in December 2016, Link Party

Beauty Products Used Up in December 2016, Link Party

Soap and Glory Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Because of all the Holiday fun, I forgot to show you my December empties. 2016 has been one bittersweet ride. Not as bad as my personal annus horribilus, which was 2012, but still among the top three horrible years of my life. I spent eight months on antibiotics. I spent almost five months in HIDING because of cystic acne. I missed my parents' wedding anniversary dinner for the second time ever. I didn't celebrate a bunch of other joyous events.
The bright spots? I spent more time with my grandparents (even THEY flinched at the sight of my face). I learned about and began adhering to a proper skincare regimen. I began learning two new languages and signed up for two other study courses. 
Hopefully 2017 will be a fresh start.
Before that, however, let me show you the trash of the month.

Scroll down for the beauty products I used up in December 2016 and for my thoughts on each.

Holiday 2016 Gift Guide: 10 Budget Beauty Christmas Baubles (Worldwide Shipping)

Holiday 2016 Gift Guide: 10 Budget Beauty Christmas Baubles (Worldwide Shipping)

Zoella Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, November 29, 2016

This year, in lieu of stocking stuffers for my friends, I am getting nifty beauty products packaged like Christmas ornaments, that I can hang surreptitiously on their trees - hopefully without them noticing.
For someone really special, you could actually get a small Christmas tree - something fancy and blingy - and add a dozen or more of these beauty ornaments. I know I would spend the next one year appreciating such a gift!
All of these ship worldwide, and sell out very quickly!

Scroll down for 10 budget beauty buys that are packaged as Christmas ornaments.

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Beauty Products Emptied in November 2016 + Link-up

Beauty Products Emptied in November 2016 + Link-up

Zymogen Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, November 28, 2016

My Gramps is down with bad knee trouble, to the point where he cannot walk. It has been going on for a month now and he has been stubborn about not investigating it, so I will be dragging him to doctors and tests from tomorrow. I've managed to forget my camera, so you'll have to make do with iPhone photos until Gramps gets a clean bill of health.
Over the last month, I have been diligent about hair care - I underwent a grand chop, donating 19'' of my locks, back in September. My hair is a lot healthier, and easier to manage. And, hair care products take longer to use up. I wish that was true with skincare - my skin seems to guzzle up product.      

Scroll down for more on the beauty products I used up in November 2016.

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Black Friday Sales, Codes: LookFantastic, Beauty Expert, HQHair

Black Friday Sales, Codes: LookFantastic, Beauty Expert, HQHair

Sale Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, November 25, 2016

Here is the third chapter on 2016 Black Friday sales. Stay tuned for more on Cyber Weekend over the next day or so. For Black Friday and Cyber Weekend, beauty retail giant LookFantastic, and sister concerns Beauty Bay and HQHair, are offering a series of massive savings across brands. LookFantastic is also launching a Black Friday-exclusive Bumper Beauty Box, with a whopping 12 products worth £100, for just £20.
All this and more, further below.

Scroll down for sales, codes, and exclusive launches on LookFantastic, Beauty Expert and HQHair for Black Friday 2016.

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Holiday 2016 Gift Guide: 20 Beauty Christmas Crackers That Are Great Budget Stocking Stuffers

Holiday 2016 Gift Guide: 20 Beauty Christmas Crackers That Are Great Budget Stocking Stuffers

This Works Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Christmas Crackers are fun, nifty, inexpensive stocking stuffers than contain novelty items such as paper hats, joke gifts, whistles, and mini-perfumes. These days, they even contain beauty products.
Apart from stocking stuffers, these also make great party favours and hostess gifts, and don't break the bank. You don't even have to worry about wrapping them; they already look cute enough. Most of these are very generous, with multiple products inside. 
All the links ship worldwide.

Scroll down for 20 of the best beauty product Christmas crackers for Holiday 2016.

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Beauty Products Emptied in August 2016 + Link-up

Beauty Products Emptied in August 2016 + Link-up

Vitamin C Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 23, 2016

I may not be able to post later this week, as I'm travelling, so I decided to do the monthly Beauty Empties post a little earlier than usual. This time, I have a bunch of favourite face care products to show you, especially my favourite Vitamin C and Snail products. Keep reading!

Scroll down for a look at the beauty products I used up in August 2016, and my quick impressions of each.

LookFantastic Beauty Box June 2016

LookFantastic Beauty Box June 2016

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, June 17, 2016

June's LookFantastic Beauty Box is themed #LFJetSetter, with products that will see you through a vacay. As usual, the box comes with this month's Elle UK magazine.
LookFantastic is a UK-based, skincare-centric monthly beauty subscription that ships worldwide. The white, yellow and gold design on this month's box features silhouettes of key tourist spots from around the world, including the Colosseum, the London Eye, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, and so on.

Scroll down for the contents of the June 2016 LookFantastic Beauty Box.

Six Caudalie Must-Haves For Your Daily Routine

Six Caudalie Must-Haves For Your Daily Routine

Treatment Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, June 09, 2016

French beauty brand Caudalie was founded by Mathilde Thomas in 1995 - in a vineyard, no less.
Gentle, clean and free from parabens, phenoxyethanol, sulphates, phthalates, mineral oil, artificial colouring and animal-derived raw materials, Caudalie's main ingredient is grape extract - from Bordeaux, Champage and Burgundy in France. Wine country. Think lots of resveratrol.
Caudalie donates a percentage of annual sales to non-profit organisations that work for the environment. The company also works with the WWF to save the rainforests.
Despite being a clean brand with plenty of antioxidant goodies for your skin, Caudalie has quite a few budget options. The difficulty in doing this post was picking out which products to choose.

Here are the six Caudalie must-have products you need in your routine, from cleansing till moisturising.

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Beauty Routine Round-Up And Favourites: May 2016

Beauty Routine Round-Up And Favourites: May 2016

Treatment Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, June 01, 2016

After spending the first quarter of 2016 recovering from a bad staph infection, I now have a full-fledged skincare routine in place, complete with gentle cleansing, acid, hydrating mist, serum, facial oil and moisturiser at night. While the core remains the same, I rotate a couple of products every few days. Over the last month, I have been documenting my nightly routine every few days on my Instagram, and here is what I have been using.

Scroll down for a round-up of my beauty routine in May 2016.

Beauty Products Emptied In May 2016 and Link-up

Beauty Products Emptied In May 2016 and Link-up

Soap and Glory Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, May 30, 2016

That time of the month again - when I show you the trash take stock of the products I finished up. There are fewer products than usual this month, because I have been rotating through several products. Quite a few samples in here, though, mostly from beauty boxes. Take a look, and share your own empties' post in the link-up!

Scroll down for details on the beauty products I used up in May 2016 and for my thoughts on each.

Beauty Products Emptied In April 2016

Beauty Products Emptied In April 2016

Zymogen Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, May 02, 2016

M y new skincare routine includes drinking three litres of water a day - more if I am working out. I work out at least three times a week, even though my derm isn't a huge fan of sweat on my face right now. Also, six hours' sleep. I know, I know; we will get to eight eventually. Baby steps.
Product-wise, I go through non-foaming cleansing, acid toning/pads, hydrating mists, treatment, facial oil and a final coat of moisturiser - in that order - two times a day. Until January 2016, my routine involved a harsh cleanser, some kind of serum OR moisturiser - if I could be bothered - and oodles of benzoyl peroxide. Two - three at the most - glasses of water a day. What sleep? *Hangs head in shame*.

Scroll down to see the beauty products I emptied in April 2016 and for my quick thoughts on each.