July Favourites: Our 30 Day Update

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One month ago, we picked the best in beauty to review. You heard why we’re excited, but here’s what we ACTUALLY thought after putting them to the test…

Find out why we chose to put these new launches to test…

Our July Beauty Favourites

 

1. Prada Infusion de Vanille

Product Pick: Prada Infusion de Vanille Eau de Parfum

Chelsey: People were asking me what I was wearing. People who were asking were also fans of similar fragrances that I like, so I kind of trust that that was a good testament to the product. I’ve enjoyed layering this most as that’s how Les Infusions do work best, in my opinion. For me, vanilla works with opposite scents – quite dark, masculine, just to add that little more intensity. The bottle, again, I love the detail: the Saffiano leather, the Prada  fashion emblem on the side. So, it’s going to stay in my collection.

Ceryn: I have reserved it for date night because it is quite an intense fragrance. I picture it for a more moody, intimate, romantic, candlelit dinner setting.

Hannah: Vanille has been launched alongside d’Ylang and, I would actually say, they’re very night-time / day-time scents. Vanille is more evening, for me, and d’Ylang is better for the day.

Eleni: Infusions de Vanille is a really lovely fragrance, especially my partner loves it when I wear it. It smells quite intense when you first spray it, but it will calm down later on in the day, and it will last you for the full day.

Prada Infusion de Vanille Eau de Parfum Review

 

2. Giorgio Armani My Way Floral

Product Pick: Giorgio Armani My Way Floral Refillable Eau de Parfum

Eleni: I got My Way Floral just to complete my collection of My Way. I enjoyed it; it is really floral, sweet and summery.

Simona: I would say that the floral top note and main note is orange blossom, which I love. It’s refreshing; it’s fun; it’s exciting, and it’s suitable for summer and spring, so I’ll keep the original My Way for autumn and winter and then, for summer, spraying Floral will be my go-to.

Rosa: I absolutely bloody love it. It still smells the same – champagne flowers – and I spray it every day.

Hannah: My Way Floral has been the first My Way fragrance that I’ve fallen in love with. Previously, I’ve tried the My Way flankers and the original one, and the tuberose was just way too intense. But in Floral, that’s really not the case. The tuberose is balanced out by orange blossom; it’s got some vanilla in there. And yeah, this has just been a beautiful, beautiful fragrance.

Giorgio Armani My Way Floral Eau de Parfum Review

 

3. Diesel D by Diesel

Product Pick: Diesel D by Diesel Refillable Eau de Toilette

Beth: The juice is blue. It doesn’t smell blue. It’s really warm. Upon first spray, it is quite fresh, quite cottony. And then throughout the day, it warms to this vanillary gourmand scent. I just thought it was super, super nice for summer. It gave me the vibe of when you’ve been sitting in the sun all day, and then your skin smells like really warm, or it smells like washing that you’ve just brought in off the line on a hot summer’s day.

Hannah: D by Diesel I can definitely say is a ‘wow’ scent. My partner, since I’ve been working here, has now smelled a lot of fragrances. He actually said that this was his favourite fragrance that he’s smelled so far. We’ve both just loved wearing it. It’s sort of lavendery; it’s super fresh. And another thing which I really love is that your fingers perfectly fit, just like you’ve crushed the bottle – I don’t know, every time I spray that just makes me smile.

Eleni: In the morning it’s a bit citrusy; it’s a bit more light and then later on, it will get a bit more gingery and a bit more spicy. Both me and my partner love it. We will definitely buy the refill when it becomes available.

Diesel D by Diesel Eau de Toilette Review

 

4. Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune

Product Pick: Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune Refillable Eau de Parfum

Hannah: I found myself reaching for this when it was raining or in the evenings when I was at home, just snuggled up with my cats. Yeah, it’s been a really lovely scent.

Kalli: I found it so useful because it’s a refillable bottle. I have small bottles in every bag, and I use it all the time. It lasts up to eight hours on me.

Monika: The stock is just flying out, and I already had to place a couple of more replacement orders so, yeah, it’s a very popular. When I started spraying it at home, my partner likes it on me, so that’s nice.

Eleni: Good Fortune from Viktor & Rolf is the fragrance that looks the best on my dressing table. Every time I look at it, it makes my mood and I feel way better, which I don’t really know why, but I guess it’s the purple colour, is it the bottle or is that the stone, who knows?

Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune Eau de Parfum Review

 

5. Prada Infusion d’Ylang

Product Pick: Prada Infusion d’Ylang Eau de Parfum

Keavy: I didn’t have a solar fragrance that is floral in my collection, so I wanted to add this one to it. I wore this fragrance for day-time; it is quite bright and sunny, so I found it perfect for summer and just spraying every day. It never gets sickly or overpowering because it’s quite light. The longevity is about four hours, which I think is really good for an Eau de Parfum.

Hannah: Prada d’Ylang has really surprised me this month. I was expecting it to be a layering scent; I thought I was gonna wear it with other perfumes, but I just loved how it smelled by itself.

Eleni: Infusion d’Ylang will always have a very special place in my heart because it was the fragrance that I wore on my graduation and everyone was commenting on how amazing it smelled and how sunny it was.

Eniola: Some of my friends commented about the fragrance and asked where did you get it from, and that was really nice.

Prada Infusion d’Ylang Eau de Parfum Review

 

6. Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic Moment Woman

Product Pick: Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic Moment Woman Eau de Parfum

Hannah: The projection on this is absolutely crazy. I spray it in one room, and I walk out somewhere else, and I can still smell it.

Monika: It reminds me of my childhood in our garden. Me and my partner wore them together, so I have the women’s version, and he’s got the male version, and I think they just complimented each other really nicely.

Cath: Over the hot weather, I’ve found the smell of this perfume is really refreshing and really light. The amount of spraying I was doing, I’d be knocking people out with the strength of the smell. It was long-lasting, so that’s actually a bonus. But it’s really fresh, really refreshing, really enjoyable to wear. Just wish it lasted a bit longer!

Beth: No surprises on this one. The dry down smelled very, very similar to the initial spray to me. Friends and family were still complimenting me on it later in the day after I thought it disappeared, so clearly they could still smell it, which is a bonus.

Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic Moment Woman Eau de Parfum Review

 

7. Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic Moment Man

Product Pick: Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic Moment Man Eau de Toilette

Hannah: It’s sort of woody; it’s very green, as you can tell by the colour. It really smells like you’ve bought the outdoors in. The only thing I will say with the colour – although it looks amazing in the bottle, you have got to be a bit careful when you spray on your clothing. If you’re wearing a white t-shirt, just spray it on your skin because, if you spray it lots, it does have slight transfer. But yeah, it feels really premium, really luxe.

Michael: I like it – nice and fresh, cool. I don’t think it’s too overpowering so it’s not too strong, which is a good balance because you don’t have to put too much on and it does last quite a while.

Eniola: It’s always an authentic moment with Abercrombie & Fitch.

Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic Moment Man Eau de Toilette Review

 

8. Salvatore Ferragamo Bright Leather

Product Pick: Salvatore Ferragamo Bright Leather Eau de Toilette

Hannah: It’s really light and fresh with a hint of leather that gives it a slightly warm richness. It really transforms your skin. I find when I first spritzed it, it was really fresh and light and then, after a few hours, I get this waft of almost woodiness, and I realised it was this. I’ve been really enjoying wearing this, particularly in the evenings.

Eniola: Most of my friends prefer the smell on me, and I really recommended it and they asked me the name of it.

Jade: I got this fragrance just for me – but myself and my partner, we’ve been using it between us. It is a male fragrance but that is my go-to and I absolutely love it. I love the citrus side to it.

Joel: It was fresh, fruity, bit of spice to it as well. Massive thumbs up from me. I would say it’s between three to five hours for myself.

Salvatore Ferragamo FERRAGAMO Bright Leather Eau de Toilette Review

 

9. Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant

Product Pick: Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant

Chelsey: I’m 31; ageing is a concern of mine and my skin loves a daily exfoliate as well, and this has been perfect for that. As you can see, when I rub it in, it’s really soft, really gentle. The texture of my skin improved literally after using it one night. My makeup sits better; my skin looks more even and clearer. I’ve really enjoyed using this and I shall continue.

Keavy: I’ve been using it almost every day or every other day. It’s like the perfect texture for an exfoliant; it’s really gentle. I have sensitive skin and it’s quite dry, and this has a really gentle exfoliating texture that goes from physical to chemical. My skin feels so smooth and hydrated after I was using it and I will be using this and I’ll be really sad when it runs out.

Ceryn: I think I’m going to say it: this is my favourite exfoliator of all time. I’ve really enjoyed using it. I thought, because it was a powder that you mix with water, that it was going to be quite abrasive, but it’s not at all. It’s the perfect balance. Because I’ve got quite sensitive skin, I just feel like it works perfectly for my skin.

Louisha: I’ve absolutely loved it. I found it really easy to integrate into my current routine, so I’m using it mainly in the evening. After I do my double cleanse, I’ve been using that and I just instantly felt like my face looked brighter. The texture of my skin – everything was just a lot smoother. I felt like my skin looked really polished after I’ve used it; it was a lovely feeling – it looked as nice as it felt.

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Review

 

10. Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Cleanser

Product Pick: Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser

Darcey: Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser, there’s parts that I really enjoyed so I love the scent and I really liked that it created quite a thick foam which meant you could kind of work it into your face, so if I had heavy makeup. I thought this was great. I have dry skin so I tend to use milk cleansers and I think that the foam was just slightly too drying my skin so if you do suffer with a combination oily skin, I think this is a great cleanser and it’s really luxurious. But it just wasn’t right for my skin type. Next time I would love to try grace!

Cath: Really like it, I love the smell of it. It’s such a good wake up call in the morning with the fresh fruity smell. It is a little bit drying on my skin, so I find alternating it, I’m just using it at night, better than using it twice today. I’ve been alternating it with the Antipodes Grace cleanser, which is very smooth and soft and moisturising it’s lovely. But I think it would suit somebody with a more oiler complexion than mind. So maybe a younger person?

Beth: Since I had this, I’ve been using this mostly in the shower probably every other time I wash my face. It smells amazing and lathers up really nicely and I’ve very much enjoyed using it. It definitely gave me a glow. However after using it for a long period of time, I’ve realised that what my skin needs is actually more hydration, so I’ll be swapping to Antipodes Grace instead.

Eleni: I really enjoy the scent of Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Cleanser. It’s really light, and you have a lovely texture as well as a lovely colour which is very Instagrammable, however, I wouldn’t recommend using it as a first cleanser or recommend you to go fast with the cleanser milk and then is this one as a second. A small tip for this one is to not try to close the lid, and not to try to take it away on a holiday I had to actually waste a little bit of a product when I was trying to close the lid back, so just recommend for you to leave it on your bathroom or your dressing table.

Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser Review

 

11. Parfums de Marly Layton Shower Gel

Product Pick: Parfums de Marly Layton Shower Gel

Joel: Hands down, the best shower gel I’ve ever used. It’s very long-lasting in regards to other shower gels that you use once and then the scent has gone within an hour or two. But with this, you do find yourself sort of getting smells of it throughout the day – it’s very long-lasting. It’s a very distinctive smell as well. You know it’s an expensive fragrance and made me feel a little bit sophisticated as well. It’s on my Christmas list already. So, thank you for this one. I really enjoyed it.

Chelsey: I was gonna see if this made me feel handsome. And the answer is: yes, it did. When I was showering, just think that I was showering in absolute luxury. The lather is really lathery and foamy. It smells exactly like the fragrance. Before a night out, this was great. And then when I was feeling a little bit more special for work to put myself in a good mood, I used it. I tried it as a bubble bath and it worked. There’s so much left as well – it’s a huge, huge amount. So I’m so glad that it’s not empty just yet and I guess to keep it just that little bit longer.

Eleni: Originally, I chose Parfums de Marly Layton to give to my grandpa; I adore him and he’s in love with niche fragrances – he’s a big fan of GIVENCHY as well – and I thought it will be the perfect gift for him. However, my sister’s best friend and the person who I consider a younger brother, smelled it and he fell so in love with it, so I had to give it to him. He told me he couldn’t stop using it and now he will be buying the fragrance as well.

Eniola: I was like, ‘ohh why has it gone so quick!’ I loved it the smell. I was like, ‘is this a shower gel or fragrance? I would recommend it to people!

Parfums de Marly Layton Eau de Parfum Review

 

12. Parfums de Marly Delina Body Oil

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Product Pick: Parfums de Marly Delina Dry Body Oil

Eleni: The new Delina Dry Body Oil is an absolute favourite of mine; it’s another product that I wore to my graduation and, in combination with a floral fragrance, it just smells divine. In particular, I used the Prada d’Ylang and it was the perfect combination.

Zainab: I really love it; it’s really lightweight and it’s not greasy. I’ve been trying it with loads of different perfumes and it just adds a fruity-floral touch to them. If you have Delina and you didn’t think it could last any longer. you should try layering it with this.

Keavy: I really enjoyed using the Delina body oil. I already own the fragrance, so I’ve been using it as a two-step fragrance routine and I’ve really enjoyed it. I honestly think that the oil is actually stronger than the fragrance, which is a bold statement, I know! I went to the card shop – it’s a true story – and I sprayed Delina with the body oil and a woman asked me what I was wearing and she said, ‘is that you, is that your perfume?’ So I think it has good projection – I love it.

Kate: A lot of people have put this to the test with the fragrance, but I don’t actually own it, so I was just using this. I wouldn’t say it lasted a really long time without the fragrance, admittedly, but it did last a really long time for a body oil. I was actually a little bit dubious about whether the texture would feel greasy or heavy at all. I know it’s a dry oil, but sometimes they can still feel a little bit greasy, but this one was absolutely beautiful. It’s so silky, melts into your skin really easily and leaves behind that beautiful Delina scent, so I think if you find the fragrance a little bit heavy, this one is a great one to go to instead.

Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum Review

 

13. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Product Pick: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Kate: I really enjoyed using the balm in the ways that they suggest. The way that I like to use it the most was more as a day treatment. I did try using it as a mask, but I preferred using it as a thinner layer as a treatment. I also did start to use it as a sort of skincare highlighter, so just applying a little bit there, which gave a nice little glow and a bit of a sheen as well.

Kalli: Yeah, that’s my favourite skincare product. I can call it an energy drink for my face; it gives me moisturisation and hydration and is full of glow. I can use it as a primer or, if I want an instant glow, I can use it as an instant mask for 10 minutes as well.

Jade: I’ve been using the Beauty Flash Balm for a month now. I’ve heard all about it but I’ve never actually used it and I really love it. It makes my skin feel so soft afterwards. You can use it as a moisturiser, but I’ve also been using it as an overnight mask as well. That’s also recommended.

Simona: For the last month, I’ve been using Clarins Beauty Flash Balm and I’ve used quite a lot of it. It was the first time I’ve tried it, but I’ve always heard only good things about it. And yes, I must say it’s an amazing product from Clarins. It was exactly what I needed after long shifts when fatigue settles in, and this is just an amazing boost. It’s  renewed my skin, and it makes you look a lot fresher and firmer as well. It smooths fine lines, which I was really happy with – and around my eyes as well. I think, the night after a hard week in work, this is the go-to. It does the job and it’s amazing.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Review

 

14. Clarins Beauty Flash Peel

Product Pick: Clarins Beauty Flash Peel

Jade: This is amazing, this peel! I used this once and it was great. I will definitely keep using it. The applicator is my favourite bit; it goes so easy on the skin and has such a cooling effect. It is like an at-home spa experience.

Kalli: It’s a professional exfoliator because it’s so different from other exfoliators I had. That brush is so easy to apply on your face, but you have to be careful – I mean, to keep it around 5 to 10 minutes. If you have sensitive skin, when I used it for the first time for more than 10 minutes, I felt my skin was a little bit itchy, but the second time I used it just five to seven minutes. After I used Beauty Flash, my skin was full of glow.

Kate: I really enjoyed putting the Beauty Flash Peel to the test. I was a little bit concerned that it might cause potential sensitivity, as I know peels sometimes can, but it didn’t personally for me, so I was pretty happy with that. It definitely left my skin looking really glowy the next day, which I really liked. But on the whole, I did actually prefer using the balm.

Simona: I really enjoyed using Beauty Flash Peel and I’ve combined it with Beauty Flash Balm, as well – I’ve used them both at the same time. I enjoyed that it has this incorporated brush. It just makes it a lot easier and fun to use. Everything is in place and clean. It just feels like a professional peel but you don’t have to go anywhere – it’s in your house and you do it in your own place. I was quite impressed with the results. I didn’t know that something so small can make such a big difference and it will definitely be part of my daily skincare routine. I was very impressed.

Clarins Beauty Flash Peel Review

 

15. Protein Formula For Nails

Product Pick: Protein Formula For Nails

Keavy: I’m really impressed with these nail products. I’ve never actually used a growing formula that strengthens your nails, so I was really surprised at how it actually worked. Anyone who knows me, knows I’ve got literally an extra centimetre on my nails and I’m really proud of that. I was using number 2 because my nails peel, but that’s not happening anymore. Now I’m moving on to number 1, which is Maintain.

Jade: I’ve been topping this up for a month. I haven’t seen any effects right now but I will keep using it just because, at the moment, I am pregnant, so my hormones are all over the place. They do feel a lot stronger than they were before but they’re not growing in length. I’ll keep using it to see if that changes.

 

16. Lierac Sebologie Scrub Mask

Product Pick: Lierac Sebologie Deep Cleansing Scrub Mask

Simona: I was really impressed my it. I used it once a week and, I must say, that my skin looked a lot more clear, mattified, poreless after I’ve been using it.  Makeup seemed to stay on a lot longer after using the scrub.

Kalli: After it was used, my skin felt so clean, so smooth. My skin was matte and clean – it was easier to apply my foundation.

Kate: The main way that this mask helped was the way it treated my pores. It definitely helped clear them and shrink them, which I was really impressed with.

 

17. Topicrem AC Mattifying Care

Product Pick: Topicrem AC Mattifying Care Fresh Gel-Cream

Hannah: The Topicrem Mattifying Care does exactly what it says on the bottle. It is extremely mattifying. It feels between a gel and a cream, and it just glides over your skin. I will say it’s been a bit of a trial and error using this. I’ve actually really enjoyed using this at night, especially when it’s been a bit of warmer. I put it on in the evening as soon as I get home from work and it’s very relaxing and really, really moisturising.

 

18. Lierac Body-Hydra+ Plumping Milk

Product Pick: Lierac Body-Hydra+ Double Hydration – Plumping Milk

Kate: The texture is beautiful; it melts in so easily. The scent is lovely as well, so that makes you want to use it more. It actually left my skin feeling so hydrated but also looking really hydrated.

Kalli: When I use it, my skin is so hydrated and moisturised and plump because it has hyaluronic acid in it. When I had sunburn, it helped my skin so much. The texture is so lightweight, and I love the smell. It’s so mild.

Simona: The results have been amazing. It works like a body gel for tightening and firming, but it gives you such smooth skin after. It’s not sticky or anything like that. I think it’s a win-win; you get the best out of two products mixed together.

 

19. Lierac Sebologie Double Concentrate

Product Pick: Lierac Sebologie Persistent Imperfections Resurfacing Double Concentrate

Simona: After using it quite regularly, I can say I was impressed that they both seem to work in different areas. The night serum worked very well on the redness around my cheeks and then the day serum just gave me amazing hydration and moisturising throughout the day.

Kate: I really enjoyed using this. Again, I was a little bit worried that perhaps it might cause some sensitivity because I do find that some spot treatments can with my skin but actually it was really gentle; it didn’t irritate my skin at all.

Kalli: The packaging – it’s so handy because I can have it with me for holidays when I want to moisturise my face. And the smell is nice.

 

20. Aveda Nutriplenish Hair Care

Product Picks:
Aveda Nutriplenish Shampoo Light Moisture
Aveda Nutriplenish Conditioner Light Moisture
Aveda Nutriplenish Styling Treatment Foam
Aveda Nutriplenish Treatment Masque Light Moisture
Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner

Rosa: I went into using this range wanting to get hydrated hair and softness – and that’s exactly what it gave me. It did absolutely hydrate my hair; it did make it very soft.

Jade: My favourite product is probably the styling foam. It says to use it when your hair is damp, but I also use it when I have my hair up, so if I have any flyaways, I tuck them in with this foam.

Hannah: Aveda Nutriplenish has been a very fun addition this month. I’ve never used such an in-depth hair routine because I’m – quite frankly – very lazy when it comes to my hair.

Chelsey: I wash my hair once a week. So, I’ve probably got about four washes out of it. I did still need to intertwine my blonde shampoo in there, but I found the condition softer. When I blow-dried my hair, it was less stringy. I’ve got less static.

 

21. bareMinerals Gen Nude Blonzer

Product Picks: bareMinerals Gen Nude Blonzer in Kiss Of Pink, Kiss Of Copper, Kiss Of Rose

Beth: It’s a creamy powder, but it’s not cream. However, I thought the shade was really nice. I don’t use it every day, but it was nice to add a bit of sparkle to my makeup routine for date nights or anything special when I want you to just feel a little bit sparkly.

Rosa: It’s giving me that lovely sunshine glow – that very, very slight kind of hint of a tan, hint of a sunny glow, but also a nice rosiness to my cheeks.

Eleni: bareMinerals Kiss Of Copper is the tool of the lazy person who loves makeup. You can use it as a blush; you can use it as a highlighter; you can use it as an eyeshadow

Chelsey: I normally use the bareMinerals Bounce and Blur, so it’s really good to test the differences and see what I preferred. The Blonzer isn’t a ”powder powder”, sort of a creamy texture. However, if you love creams, then Bounce and Blur is definitely the one for you.

Zainab: I tried the shades Kiss of Copper and Kiss of Rose in the Blonzers this month. I had tried Kiss of Pink before but that was more of a blush on me. These ones are a bit warmer on my skin, and I found that I could use them everywhere.

Jade: I absolutely love this blusher. I’ve been wearing it pretty much every single day as part of my new makeup routine because I got a bit of a tan as well. I wasn’t sure about the colour pink. I didn’t know whether that would blend away and be quite hidden, but it stands out with a tan or without a tan, so it’s a such a great product. And the texture feels so soft as well.

 

Discover More:

Our July Beauty Favourites

June Favourites: Our 30-Day Update