Verso Skincare Stockholm Review

Verso is a new, minimalist skincare brand from Sweden (where else?). I use the word ‘minimalist’ to refer to the packaging, product formulations and company ethos.

Verso do few things and they do those few very well; the product range is curated to include just seven products. There’s a day cream, night cream, face wash, serum, oil, eye cream and blemish fix. All of these items are free from nasties, unnecessary chemicals and harsh perfumes and contain high levels of Retinol 8, which is a concentrated Vitamin A derivative. I’m not too sure on the undoubtedly serious science behind this molecule but I do know it’s great for reducing and preventing wrinkles.

Now on to how they actually perform, full disclosure I have only tried the night cream which I received a sample of . On first using I was struck by the herbally, slightly medicinal scent which was really lovely, especially in a night cream. I hop that this is achieved through natural botanicals and not sneakily added perfumes but I’m assured it’s perfume-free. The yellow-ish cream is thin in texture and melted instantly into my skin which felt immediately soothed and hydrated. As someone with highly irritable skin this is great. When I woke up I can honestly say there was a visible difference in my skin after one use. My face was evenly hydrated (I usually have patchy areas of dryness), and looked really dewy.

I love night creams because the idea of being proactive with skincare while I sleep appeals to the multi-tasker in me and this is one of the best I’ve ever tried. I’ve been using it a week and my skin has never looked better. I’ve stopped using any concealer because I don’t need it. I’ll definitely be repurchasing despite the hefty price tag because when you find a perfect fit for your skin, it’s worth the investment.

Oh, and I'll be adding the rest of the range to my wishlist too!

Verso Night Cream £85 

SHOP VERSO SKINCARE

The Selfridges 'Agender' Beauty Box

I'm not usually one for beauty boxes, more often than not they're filled with teeny samples of not-so-good brands but I am a huge Selfridges fan, so I just HAD to check out their new beauty box offering the 'Agender Beauty Box' to celebrate their Agender campaign. 

In true Selfridges style, this is a product with a twist, packaged in a sleek white box with bold yellow interior, the nine products are housed in a cotton branded bag - this gives it such a luxe feel, it would be an ideal gift.

Inside you'll find 9 products by cult brands and classic brands alike, plus a lot of them are full-sized so you don't have any tiny vials to contend with. 

The full products are as follows:

Dermologica conditioning body wash, Kiehl’s ultra-facial cleanser, NARS mini eye liner, Illamasqua black mascara, Verso mini face cream, Konjac sponge, OPI Tickle My Francy nail polish, OCC Lip Tar Hollywood and , Lancaster tan maximiser.

Exclusive to selfridges.com the box costs £30 - the products have a combined value of £108 - so it's a steal and a perfect little treat. Hurry though, this is a super limited edition product! BUY NOW

SHOP IT

28 Beauty Products to Try Now

Whatever your tastes or budget there are new beauty buys to try now. Shop the selection below, your makeup bag is calling...

LUXURY

COOL BRANDS

BARGAIN PRICES

This Week's Beauty Picks

Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream and Pigment Spot Corrector Review

I used both these products until they were empty by the way, and I can honestly say, they made a difference... not a big one, but overall my skin tone does look more even.

The day cream is a lovely light texture but still feels nourishing to the skin, it doesn't leave any residue so it's ideal for morning use. The pen is best to use at night - just dot on to areas that have high areas of pigmentation. 

I had a few dark dots on my cheek from picking spots (sorry) and used the corrector pen on those, and they have faded, but they do tend to fade over time anyway - but I'd hasten to say this speeded up the process slightly.

I think the main thing when battling pigment spots is to massage your face and keep it really well hydrated, this ensures they're a good flow of oxygen to your skin to help it regenerate... oh, and don't pick your spots!

Would I buy again? Yes, but don't expect miracles. 

Brand Focus: Byredo

Stockholm-based fragrance house Byredo are best known for their cult black wax candles and chic, minimal packaging but they also do the most divine perfumes and skincare with names so magical you'll want to display them pride of place on your dressing table. 

I'm planning a Gypsy Water purchase soon, so stay tuned for a review. 

SHOP BYREDO

January Beauty Favourites

1/ Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Around this time of year I get extremely chapped lips... and hands and nose, and sometimes my hairline. It's a mixture of cycling, harsh central heating and fierce winds. Very annoying but this miracle balm works wonders, you can use it for anything and everything (even on your hair) but it's forte is soothing dry and chapped delicate skin. Some people don't like the distinctive scent (I do) but you can now get it fragrance free. Anyway, this product is cult for a reason - get some in your makeup bag.


2/ Molton Brown Pink Pepperpot Bodywash
I've recently taken a liking to baths when a few years ago I probably didn't have a bath from one year to the next - maybe it's getting older but I need something to soothe these old bones and a luxurious soak always hits the spot. Molton Brown, hands down, do the best bath products, they're really gentle on skin and smell fab. This Pink Pepperpot fragrance is just the best - a mix between spicy and fresh - plus you can use it as a showergel too.


3/ Diptyque Epice Candle 
Diptyque candles have become essentials rather than luxuries to me in the last few years - I stress out if I have less than two on the go (ironic really as the purpose of scented candles is to destress, no?). They make any room feel like a palace and are crucial to my afore-mentioned relaxing baths. This limited edition Epice scent is a delight - I get warm, spicy cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and amber - basically all the good stuff you want on a winter's night.

December Beauty Favourites

1/ B.PURE MICELLAR WATER
This micellar water is amazing, gently removing eye makeup with ease which is great for delicate skin. The price tag is nice too.
Superdrug £4.99

2/ NV COLOUR COSMETICS LIPSTICK
This is a flattering everyday red with a long-lasting moisturising formula and nifty magnetic lid so you don't lose it, natch.
Nv Colour Cosmetics £6 

3/ BOBBI BROWN GEL LINER
I've worn this for 10 years and although I've flirted with other eyeliners none come close to the long-lasting jet black goodness of this. A cult classic.
John Lewis £16

4/ SEPHORA SOFTENING FACIAL MIST
The air con in my office managed to dry out even my super-oily skin so a moisturising facial mist is a must for hydrating halfway through the day.
Sephora £12

5/ CHARLOTTE TILSBURY FULL FAT LASHES
This mascara by Kate Moss's makeup artist is the most natural one I've tried - it still lengthens and thickens but you could just get away with pretending those were the lashes you were born with.
Selfridges £22

6/ ILLAMASQUA SKIN BASE
A lovely light base which I mix with moisturiser for a bit of a winter tan - I wear shade 13.
ASOS £27

7/ RIMMEL EYEBROW PENCIL
My desert island item - I could not live without this brow pencil (shade brown/black), it's cheap as chips and the prefect formula and application.
Superdrug £2.99

8/  BOURJOIS ROSE DOR BLUSH
This smells fab and gives your cheeks a rosy glow with a subtle shimmer - it looks beautiful on mixed-race or asian skin.
ASOS £7.99

Acne & Me...

 Me, today. Acne free. I actually have NO pictures of me with spots as I refused to have my photo taken for a year!

Until you have bad skin, you don’t realise how important having good skin is. I’ve had fat days, (really) bad hair days and countless fashion mishaps over the years but until I developed adult acne nothing really bothered me about my appearance.

The odd spot is horrible but can be dealt with, but having spots and boils on my face every day knocked my confidence like nothing else. To make matters worse I found out (through having the allergic reaction of allergic reactions) that I am allergic to the active ingredient in all spot creams. Typical.

Something had to be done, and I urge anyone who suffers with bad skin not to beat yourself up about it but to go and see your GP as soon as possible. I had tried cutting out sugar, dairy, exercising more, exercising less but nothing helped – when I told my GP about this he busted a common myth. Acne has little or no relation to your diet; it’s often to do with bacterial or hormonal imbalances that can only be treated with medicines.

I was put on a course of antibiotics for a few months which, thankfully, cleared up my skin a treat! Sadly, because of my dark skin I was left with scarring which can be as bad as the spots themselves so my doctor recommended having a Salicylic peel or Microdermabrasion.

I went to a clinic called Sk;n where they offer lots of different Acne treatments. After a really thorough consultation I was recommended laser treatment for acne, which scared me at first but the process is really gentle on skin; and as it uses no chemicals, it’s brilliant for people with sensitive skin or allergies (like me). After a couple of treatments my scarring was almost invisible; I would definitely recommend seeing a skin specialist and not suffering alone – people need to see their skin as not a cosmetic thing, but as a health factor and seek professional help for any problems.

Has anyone else suffered with Acne? What kind of treatments have you used?

**SPONSORED POST**

#bbloggers Review: Illamasqua Illumine Oil

Illumine Oil- Illamasqua

This was a gift from my best friend Ash who knows that come summer, I love to shimmer. In my head I have that J.Lo 'glow' and look just like I'm in a music video. In reality, I probably just look like me but shinier.

This oil goes on really easily and absorbs almost instantly leaving a subtle shimmer. It's not a glittery oil, which can be a bit tacky, but it gives your skin a luminescence which is very sexy.

I use on my legs and shoulders. It smells great too- a bit like Hawaiian Tropic, one of my fave smells ever.

They have it in a few colours including a bronzy gold which would warm up any skin tone. Surprisingly, even though I'm dark skinned- I love this shade on me.

Has anyone tried any other shimmer body oils?