Cindy Joseph BOOM COTTON

RRP: from $27 (get 10% off now by entering BOOM10 at the online checkout)

-- What does the promo say?—
“BOOM COTTON is a unique shine control moisturiser. Your skin will drink it up, leaving no trace of oil or shine, only a healthy glow. Protective, nourishing and healing moisture for your entire face and body. BOOM COTTON is organic and pure. We use no emulsifiers, binders, parabens, phthalates, colours or perfumes of any kind. Cruelty, gluten and GMO free. Boom Cotton, as all of our skin care products, is handmade in small batches by our bee keepers in Hawaii. Stimulates collagen; attracts and retains moisture; suitable for sensitive skin; protects from environmental toxins; and is naturally healing.”

-- Packaging--
BOOM COTTON pots are simple white plastic pots with the colourful pink and red BOOM logo printed on the side. hey look quite elegant and pure in the bathroom. On first opening the pot has a seal which is easily removed.

-- Application--
A little really does go a long way. I have been using this for over a month and am still only halfway through the pot. BOOM COTTON can be applied on the delicate area around your eyes, over your entire face and neck and even your lips. (Really excellent lip balm!) Just take a small quantity on your fingertips and apply it wherever you want to moisturise. There are tiny micro-capsules in BOOM COTTON which need to be blended in. You can either do this in your hand before applying or apply directly and massage them in gently using circular movements, which is what I tend to do.

-- Appearance--
A yellow, creamy looking mixture which looks quite ‘solid’ in the pot and does not move if the pot is turned on its side. We are told on the website that the colour may vary because the bees are collecting pollen from different flowers through each season, so your BOOM COTTON may be more yellow, or more green, depending on when the pollen was collected for your particular pot.

-- Scent—
As with all the other BOOM products, there is no scent. Perhaps a faint sweet smell, but that is all.

-- Texture and consistency--
Thick, creamy and slightly grainy, it is a substantial moisturiser. You are not paying for water! I love the fact that it is thick and that you only need a tiny amount to do your whole face.

-- Effects on the skin—
When I wrote my review for BOOMSTICK GLO I said that I did not feel that it was a suitable night cream for my skin, which is dry and needs lots of moisture. BOOMSILK fulfilled that need for a while as I trialled it for this blog. However, BOOMSILK does leave your skin looking quite shiny after application, which is fine on your body but not everyone wants that effect on their face. Cindy Joseph responded to customer comments about this and invented BOOM COTTON for those who do not wish to have a shiny effect. Having used BOOM COTTON for over a month now, I love the way it makes the skin on my face feel and it has now taken over from BOOM SILK for my face. I prefer BOOM SILK on my body (it seems easier to apply across larger areas, being more fluid) and I use BOOM COTTON purely for my face, lips and neck. 

-- Value for money--
I am definitely a BOOM COTTON convert. No other moisturiser for me from now on! These BOOM products have really hit the spot as far as I am concerned and I shall definitely be ordering more. The price compares well with other good quality moisturisers on the market, even though the international flat rate shipping charge costs 13.95$ (tracked) needs to be added to this. Remember that at the time of writing you are also eligible for a 10% discount by typing in BOOM10 at the checkout. If you are too late, by signing up to their newsletter or following on social media you will be the first to hear about any future discounts.

perfect partners
BOOMSTICK GLO, $27 (see below)
BOOMSTICK COLOR, $27 (see below)
BOOMSTICK GLIMMER, $27 (see below)
BOOMSTICK TRIO, $76 (a saving of $5)
BOOM SILK, from $27
BOOM MASK, from $42 
BOOM NECTAR, $54
BOOM CLEAN, $32
BOOM SCRUB, $45
BOOM CALM, $44

by Sarah Cross

Bomb Cosmetics Countdown To Christmas Advent Calendar Gift Pack

RRP: £19.99 (and in case you feel like buying now and opening all the doors at once...or just keeping it for next year...currently reduced to £9.99)

--What does the promo say?--
“Bomb Cosmetics uses only the finest natural ingredients in an indulgent range of
handmade bath treats, body scrubs, essential oils and gift packs. The Power of Essential Oils – These little gifts from Mother Nature are found in each and every one of our products and are extracted from plants, flowers and fruit. They have to power to soothe the soul and are chock full of magic to heighten, change or enhance your mood. We use natural ingredients wherever possible. That’s right, we are changing all our glitters to a bio-degradable version made from plants and we don’t use microbeads either. We believe that neither animals, humans or the environment should suffer for our luxuries. We pride ourselves on making products that not only smell and feel wonderful on your skin, but also look beautiful too and made completely by hand thanks to our team of over 250 Bomb-er Lomb-ers! Moulded, mixed, rolled and piped entirely by hand, our gorgeous crafters ensure that each and every product is unique, but ultimately perfect in its own little way. (Just like you, you cheeky little Bombshell!). We even hand draw the designs on the gift wrap and the decorations on the blasters! We NEVER have and NEVER will test any of our finished products or ingredients on animals, nor do we employ a third party to do so on our behalf. As much as we’d love to extend our Bomb family past the 72 countries we already supply to, we simply refuse to add any country to this list that requires animal testing to be done by law. All of our soaps, candles and potted and bottled products are suitable for vegans, as well as a load of Blasters, Creamers and Mallows. Look out for the vegan symbol on our website.”

-- Packaging —
I treated myself to this Advent calendar on December 1st and, so far, I have not been disappointed. The packaging is fun – I chose the blue reindeer version rather than the pink one as I wanted to share it with my man. I know men can ‘do’ pink, but my husband prefers blue and it looks better in my green bathroom. The calendar is quite ‘thick’, meaning that you get a decent sized sample of a different product each time. Most of them virtually fill the space provided (3.5cms x 4cms – products around 1.5cms thick).

--Appearance--
The blasters in the calendar are small hearts and dense rectangles which fizz away (some into glitter) in the bath water (which sadly does not always remain on the skin). All products are lovely colours, with beautiful swirls in the soaps. Some mallows and creamers are embellished with small flowers, stars, or glitter. All in all, the presentation is colourful and fun.

--Scent--
The calendar creates wonderful fragrances in the bathroom as a different door is opened each day. The bath bombs it contains are full of Christmassy scents that smell authentic, natural, and in some cases, fabulously fruity. The tags on Blogger are limited to 200 characters (and a maximum of 20 tags!), so I couldn't put them all in, but they also include clary, citrus fruits, coconut, geranium, safflower, marjoram, carrageenan, and others. As good as the market leader easily.

--Texture and consistency--
Bath blasters leave no foam or bubbles, so if you want that, you will be disappointed.

--Effects on the skin--
The creamer from the calendar was magnificently smooth.

--Value for money--
Excellent value; would buy again.

perfect partners
Mistletoe Kiss Candle, £7.99
My Favourite Things Bath Blaster, £2.99
Holly Soaks Gift Pack, £17.99

by Sarah Cross

Beuti Pomegranate Glow Enzyme Cleanser

RRP: £35 for 50ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Improve skin tone and texture with the Pomegranate Glow Enzyme Cleanser from Beuti Skincare. Infused with fermented Pomegranate, an ingredient that delivers the benefits of Glycolic Acid without causing irritation, the gel balm hybrid transforms into a milk upon contact with water to effectively exfoliate and buff away impurities. A blend of Rose Clay and Copaiba Balsam work in tandem to smoothen and refine skin, whilst soothing and protecting against inflammation for long-lasting comfort. Featuring a 3 flower essence (Iris, Laurel and Myrtle), the luxurious cleanser gently clarifies your complexion to leave it looking radiant, youthful and revitalised. Can also be used as a mask for a more intense treatment."

--Packaging--

The red and white packaging gives a refreshing and fruity impression that clearly evokes the pomegranate on which the product is based, in a modern and minimalist way. Sadly the bottle seems cheaply made (lettering etc rubs off quickly) and the pump-action was tough to use as well (you had to press down quite hard to get the product to come out).

--Application--

Simply rub over wet skin before rinsing off.

--Appearance--

A gorgeous rosy brown colour that transforms into a milky substance on contact with water. No visible residue is left on the skin.

--Scent--

The rose clay and florals are detectable without being overwhelming; they combine to create a delicate scent that clearly comes from high-quality, authentic materials.

--Texture and consistency--

The product upon initial emission from the pump-action bottle is a smooth paste. It doesn't lather up like traditional cleansers, which can take some getting used to. It thins out significantly on contact with water to make a milky substance, which I unfortunately felt led to some wastage as it seems that no matter how little water you add, a good deal of the product runs down your wrists while you are trying to apply it to your face.

--Effects on the skin--

My acneic skin was definitely calmed down thanks to using this product; it's non-irritating and calms redness while reducing dryness. 

--Value for money--

This product is effective thanks to its high-quality ingredients, and quite luxurious to use as well. However, I would need to see improvement in the packaging and texture before repurchasing. Nevertheless, I feel this product has real promise, and as I love the brand's Sleep Elixir too, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for any expansion to the range.

perfect partner

Beauty Sleep Elixir, £42