Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Light Day Cream and Eye Cream

Hey all

Our Antipodes love continues today. We were recently sent some new bits to try and we've been testing them now for the past month. With skincare like this we like to wait a while to review it as it can take a few weeks for skin to decide if it like it. You can find all our other Antipodes posts here.

As I'm sure you'll all be aware by now at the beginning of the year after getting my two fluffy bunnies I went cruelty free. It meant I had to totally change everything I'd normally buy and left me searching for new brands. Antipodes is now one I throughly recommend. This year we've been lucky enough to try out more of the range and we've loved everything so far.

Today we're sharing our thoughts on the Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Light Day Cream and the Eye Cream (L has previously purchased and loved the Aura Manuka Honey Mask, reviewed here)

The Manuka Honey Eye Cream and Day Cream are both vegetarian society approved products and bee friendly products. I love the brand ethics of Antipodes! Manuka Honey is amazing and something that is everywhere. I decided to do some research on different Manuka Honey after recieving these to see the benefits and the differences. Manuka honey have different UMF ratings (grading systems for the beneficial properties) which is usually reflected in the price. The range from 5+ anything less than 5 has undectable levels, 5-9 have low levels, 10-15 useful levels and 16+ superior high grade levels. The different levels have different benefits too. Both the antipodes products are 20+ so you get great grade Manuka Honey that's really going to benefit the skin.

Manuka honey is know to help fight ageing, promote hydration and help with skin blemishes due to it's antibacterial properties. I couldn't wait to try these products out!

Here's what Antipodes say about the Day Cream.

Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Light Day Cream (60ml) features bee venom, Vinanza® grape and kiwi seed to restore a light and fresh visage. Bee venom and mamaku black fern provide a gentle lifting effect. World-famous manuka honey Active 20+ with natural antibacterial properties helps address any skin blemishes. Revolutionary Vinanza® antioxidants from grape seeds and kiwi work with peony flower for the ultimate skin-bright finish.

You get 60mls of product with this which is 10mls more than standard day creams. I've been so impressed with it. I've been using it at night as well. As my skin tends to be oily combination I tend to worry a bit about trying out a new cream but this is amazing. It absorbs into my skin easily leaving it feeling moisturised and plump. My makeup allows really well over this as well (it's never good when your foundation makes your moisturiser peel off your face!) As I've just come back from holiday my skin has been loving the extra help with hydration this has been giving it and it's not made me break out which is amazing. It doesn't have SPF in which may be a downside for some people but I've taken to using a separate facial SPF lately anyways as I'm crossing my fingers it'll help with ageing!!

Here's what Antipodes say about the Eye Cream

Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Eye Cream (30ml) with Persian silk flower helps hydrate and freshen under-eye tissue. Manuka honey Active 20+ has world-renowned moisturising and anti-inflammatory prowess. This luxury formulation introduces Persian silk flower blended with revolutionary antioxidant Vinanza® grape seed and kiwi skin to brighten delicate skin.

Again this is larger than standard eye creams and actually double most as it's 30mls. When I opened it the size suprised me. You get so much product for your money. This feels amazing on the skin. It feels so refreshing under the eye and sinks in easily leaving the skin feeling hydrated. For me I don't find many products that brightening for the under eye area so I can't comment on those bits. It leaves the skin under my eyes feeling so soft though and has been great for the changes in weather my skin has been subjected to lately.

I've really loved both these products and after using them for about a month I'm really loving them!

Love M

xxx

Hey all!

As Mia said, we're huge fans of Antipodes. Not only because their products are beautiful and actually work but their ingredients and ethos of being cruelty free are something that we believe in.

I have really sensitive eyes so am always a bit nervous trying out new eye creams because I don't want them to become sore. This eye cream however has been amazing, so hydrating and as it's quite a thin consistency doesn't feel heavy at all. I've been using it the last few weeks without any reactions and the skin around my eyes has stayed really hydrated - I would definitely repurchase this especially as the size of the pot is so much bigger than others.

The day cream has also been a treat to use, I've been using some other oils recently in the day to keep my skin hydrated for longer and the combination of the two together has been great.

Just like M I have also been using this in the night as it is so light and my skin just drinks it straight up!

We would both definitely recommend both of these and they are a great addition to the Aura Manuka Honey mask which has been part of their range for a while.

Have you tried Antipodes before? What are your thoughts on ingredients like Manuka Honey?

L xxx

Pitch Cardiff and Wriggle Discount Code

Hey All

A few weeks ago when C and I fancied an impromptu date night he introduced me to wriggle which is an app that shows you deals for local restaurants. I believe at the moment it works in Bristol, Cardiff and Brighton.

We found one for Pitch so decided to go for it. I've been to Pitch before for cocktails and tapas but the menu has since changed so I was excited to try it out.

Pitch is based on Mill Lane and is a small little independent restaurant that has an impressive selection of menus (the roasts sound amazing!!!) 

Wriggle works by you purchasing a deal then use the code. We had a deal that was £7.50 for a pizza and drink. As you can see on the menu above the pizzas vary from £6.50 up £9.50 and drinks were draft beers, small wine and soft drinks.

Here is my tasty pizza. As it's a welsh restaurant they had a lamb and mint pizza on the menu and as a red meat lover I had to try it. This one is on the menu for £8.50 which even without the deal we did is reasonable. It was packed full of an impressive amount of lamb and the lamb was so tender.

If you're in Cardiff I can't recommend Pitch enough and if you're in Bristol London of Cardiff it's worth downloading the wriggle app. If you use this code NYHNFL it gets you money off your first voucher!

Love M

xxx

Kiehls Daily Reviving Concentrate

Good morning all!

A few weeks ago I went to an event for Kiehls in their new store in Cardiff. The post on the event can be found by clicking here, and I've been using everything daily since I purchased it.

My skin has changed a lot over the last few years (thank you ageing!) and with winter in full force now I knew I needed to overhaul my skincare for something more appropriate.

I spoke to Katie in store during the event where she tested my skin and found that it is oily and also dehydrated - this I pretty much knew but it was good to have it confirmed.

I picked up the Daily Reviving Concentrate (DRC from now on) based on her recommendation and have been using it every morning for the last month.

MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Firecracker

Hey all!

The freeeeeeezing weather really makes you start embracing the berry tones doesn't it? I will not deny I love reds and burgundies but I'm not normally one for a lipstick in the darker tones unless it's a balm or stain. I decided it was time to branch out and embrace what everyone else seems to wear all the time.

I recently wrote about the most beautiful Taylor Swift red lip product from MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer range, at the same time I picked up Firecracker which definitely fits the bill of a dark berry colour:

The Lip Lacquer is just like the NYX Lip Lingeries in that it is a liquid lipstick type product, and very pigmented. It's easy to apply and with a bit of practice a good clean line can be created.

I've been wearing it on weekends and as I mentioned in my other review I've been pretty impressed with the pigmentation and staying power. It does crack but for a £3 lip product I really don't see any issue with reapplying this and who doesn't reapply after food/drink anyway?!

I'm definitely coming around to wearing these shades and I'd like to get a lipstick in a more moisturising format so I can wear it without reapplying all the time. 

What do you think about darker lip products like this? Do you feel confident wearing them at all times? I'm definitely a weekend only kind of girl, but hopefully i will get used to them soon as I really like the colour.

Have you tried the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer? What were your thoughts?

L xxx