Products the bd team tested (and loved) this week.
It’s no secret in the beautydirectory office that I love summer – the more the temperature soars, the happier I become. However, not everyone in the office feels the way I do, and inevitably the air conditioning is switched on first thing in the morning and pumps out its chill breeze throughout the day to keep us all cool, calm and collected. To avoid my skin drying out in our temperature-controlled office, I have been trialing Body Line Dry Oil Body Moisturiser from Pevonia Botania. Even though I moisturise my bare arms and legs after my morning shower, by mid-morning they are starting to feel a little itchy - so a quick spritz and massage with this deliciously scented Dry Oil Body Moisturiser offers an instant, smoothing effect and will carry me though to mid-afternoon. The pump delivers just the right amount of oil so it’s easy to use at my desk – and it also doubles as a light, summer fragrance (with added skin benefits!). - Janet
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow in Tender Caramel
This is an intense, highly pigmented eyeshadow that packs a punch with little effort. The formula is perfect to wear from day to night as it promises to stay put for 24 hours, plus it won't crease and is waterproof – perfect for hot summer weather when your make-up tends to get the runs! I like the Tender Caramel colour because it's a dressier shade that's easy to wear and by simply layering the powder to make it darker in places, I don't even need to use a second colour. And finally, the eyeshadow has a slightly heavier texture that fixes to the eyelid easily and doesn't drop loose powder on the cheek, making application foolproof. - Michelle
Billie Goat Soap Peppermint Foot Soak
After a long hot day at work in a pair of new heels my feet were aching, so I decided to treat myself to a DIY pedi to unwind and rejuvenate. I filled my pedi spa with lukewarm water and sprinkled in some of The Billie Goat Soap Peppermint Foot Soak. Within seconds of soaking my feet, the Epsom Salts were easing the ache and the peppermint aroma was re-energising my senses. I left my feet in the pedi spa for 15 glorious minutes, and due to the combination of warm water, the exfoliating properties of the goat’s milk and the moisturising effects of cocoa butter, the skin on the soles of my feet felt soft and were incredibly easy to buff. - Bree
This product is pretty much everything you could want in summer, in one little bottle. Combining an effective moisturiser with light blend bronzing agents, it's a multi-tasking product that will extend my summer colour, even now that I'm back at my desk. Anyone who knows me knows that I won't go near a fake tan without a great deal of caution, but this one is light enough that I don't have to worry about streaks or orange colour. And rather than a fake tan smell, it is lightly scented with that delicious coconut fragrance Reef is known for. - Lucy
There are so many hair straighteners available on the market now that it's exciting when you see one that offers more than the traditional straighteners. New to market, the VS Sassoon Pro Styler Ionic includes combs (removable) and an enclosed rotating barrel making styling easy to perform. The tool can be used to create curls, waves and straight styles. When styling, it will smooth the hair, remove static and straighten. The tool won't straighten the hair so it's completely flat, rather it gives a blow-dried look that’s smooth and straight but with volume. - Liz
Yes to™ Carrots Cream Cleanser
I was first attracted to this Yes To cleanser as it promised to nourish dry skin, using aloe vera to help with hydration. It also uses organic carrots to deliver anti-oxidant benefits. I love a multi-functional product, so the thought that it would cleanse as well as hydrate held great appeal. The smooth, creamy formula is 96 per cent natural and leaves your face feeling squeaky clean and nourished. - Yelena
