New In | Nivea Sun Face Range

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

I am the first to admit that whilst going about my business I don't tend to apply a separate SPF, instead relying on those within my skincare and make up comfortable that I spend most of day inside. Recent months I've been less inclined to follow that rule thanks to the glorious sunshine we were experiencing in the UK and acknowledging I needed to add more protection for those lunches in local beer gardens or weekends spent sitting in my parents garden.

As if hearing my internal monologue the postman answered my prayers and I received products from the new Nivea Sun V Face range. The Nivea 'New UV Face innovation' has been specifically formulated for the face and has a '0% white residue'.

My favourite from Nivea Sun Q10 Anti-Age and Anti-Pigment Face Cream and Sun Moisture Mousse is the former. The Face cream is lightweight as they suggest and if I don't become too carried away and find the right amount to apply it sinks in nicely and the white cast is momentary.

I'm always concerned with SPF Face Creams and experiencing breakouts but even with my sporadic double cleansing and attention to an evening skincare regime there were none to speak of. It felt light to apply but

The Nivea Sun Moisture Mousse had just a little too much stickiness on application for my liking and I've popped aside to share with my male holiday friends in Dubai next month, the Face Cream will be part of my skincare regime and I will definitely be happy to repurchase when I need a new one.

Another summer sun saviour from Nivea is their updated deodorant range. Who new deodorant cans needed ergonomic designs but they do indeed have one. A new feature I didn't expect to love or need so much is the 'twist to lock' feature. Nothing so new there you'd think but I can't tell you the number of products I spend more time twisting and untwisting trying to work out whether it has indeed locked whereas in this case it actually clicks into place so there is no uncertainty.

I usually favour a stick deodorant but in they can leave you feeling a little wet and throw in the recent humidity a spray was more effective and I was pleased to have Nivea Dry Fresh Deodorant to hand. Again I expected to be battling sweat thanks to humidity and the inferno that is the central line but I was rather impressed, and I'm not suggesting it was foolproof because again, that humidity but Nivea Dry Fresh did hold it's own.

Thank you Nivea for helping me battle the recent heatwave

Blemish Busting

You may remember last year there was much hype in the beauty community when NikkieTutorials hailed Nivea Post Shave Balm as an amazing budget make up primer. There followed many rave reviews for this product, typically found in men's bathrooms, which was somewhat baffling as it's price was simply comparative to other high street primers but us beauty bloggers do love a bandwagon.

When I stumbled across a bottle in my friends bathroom I asked if I could pinch it and test out 'for the blog' and put to the test this week. If you saw my Instagram post you will know I found it quite underwhelming and worse, it broke me out, which as someone who can usually throw most things at my skin and not experience any adverse effects the Nivea Post Shave Balm received a thumbs down from me.

Today's post is to share how I managed to tackle and get rid of my outbreak in a matter of days but a few additional comments on the Nivea Post Shave Balm as a primer. If you do not like scented products, especially those of a masculine ilk then you will not like this. I actually like the scent and found it dissipated very quickly although I know others comment it lasts longer than they would like.

I found it made my skin shiny and not in a 'healthy and dewy' manner. I could argue that the time of year was not great to put to the test but interestingly other testers say how much it would dry their skins out, something I wish I'd experienced as it certainly did not create any mattifyed effect on my skin. And oh my, my pores were never so clear for all to see. I even tried with my Lottie London Pore Eraser to see if that worked but I just found it pilled on the skin. And how did my make up fair on top of the Nivea Post Shave Balm? I've never seen my foundation separate to such a degree and so quickly as when I had used this. If it needs saying, this product is a no from me.

Moving onto the side effects and break outs that appeared. As I was currently in the midst of using a regular skincare regime and make up products, with the exception of my primer I could only place the blame at Nivea's door.

Thankfully two products that had been added to my regime were Good Things Stay Clear Purifying Cleanser*, ironically a product I only reviewed last week saying break outs were not something I had to worry about. Thankfully having this in my regime to cleanse my skin in the morning and evening allowed my skin to be treated gently when I was conscious of stripping back products and not overloading an already aggravated area. The second was La Roche Posay Serozinc*, another cult product but in this instance one that I can understand. Serozinc is part of the Effaclar which is designed to target oily, blemish prone skin which I needed to tackle. It's also a wonderful toner for oily skins, even those that are marginally so during the Summer and it works far better to mattify the skin.

Finally was Dermalogica Charcoal Masque* a product that was in the forefront of my mind as I am making it my mission to apply face masks more often, if only due to the ridiculous collection I have at my disposal.

Dermalogica Charcoal Masque, as with all masks of this nature, is to draw our excess oil and impurities and calm redness, all things my skin was in need of after experiencing the 'beauty blogger side effects' of testing out new products. Charcoal and clay masks can be found very cheaply and the Dermalogica offering is certainly not budget friendly but compared to other masks of it's nature it is a little more sophisticated and is one of the least messy masks of it's type I've used.

I'm pleased to say having these products in my routine during this break out changed my skins appearance in 24 hours and in 48 hours there was little evidence of any trouble.

What do you use when you have an unexpected break out?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Airline Approved Beauty

When a trip to Edinburgh was discussed I was naturally enthusiastic. Flights and accommodation were booked and then it came to packing and I realised that I was only allowed hand luggage and that meant a limited selection of make up and beauty products - cue panic!

All the products shown above fitted in this airline approved travel bag from Sephora as well as a few samples of moisturisers and serums to use from Kiehls. These products are also those I generally know work well and with better planning and more time (packing was somewhat last minute) I might have put more thought into double duty products.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me link
You can't go wrong with a Soap & Glory shower gel. The right size for travel, wonderfully scented what more can you ask for? Soap & Glory are great for offering many of their product in travel sizes and often on 3 for 2 offers.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush link
My biggest worry was hair products. I'm so used to reaching for various products depending on whim but none were available to my in mini size nor suitable for decanting. I have since investigated and know that my favoured Bumble & Bumble Dryspun finish is available in travel size and have been testing Collab which I am loving and is also available in a handy travel size for forthcoming trips.

That aside I had a small can of Batiste in Blush available. As you will know I prefer the Brunette version which is only available in full size but the floral and fruity scented version did what I needed to give enough oomph to my hair.

Jo Malone Vitamin E Cream link
Adding this to the travel bag was something of a faux pas as I'd somehow read it was an eye cream, which it is not. I even used it as such and thought 'hmmm this is a bit greasy/oily/weird for an eye cream'. It was only the following day (when less cocktails had been consumed) I realised my error.

It's a shame I hadn't taken this along and used as intended it would've been just the thing. An oil-based moisturiser to treat dry, dehydrated or weathered skin would have been perfect after spending the day walking the cold windy streets of Edinburgh and battling snow storms. Likewise you can use on elbows, feet which I didn't benefit from during my stay. At least I'm informed for next time.

Avene Thermal Spring Water* link
The Avene Thermal Spring Water is fast becoming a travel essential for me having popped up in my beach bag and sightseeing essentials posts of last year. It was a no brainer to throw this handy can into my hand luggage. It's probably more suited to trips to sunnier climes but as a refresher from the biting wind we experienced this was perfect and suited my toner step in the regime.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish link
An oldie but a goodie. The cleanser of choice for me whenever I travel. I've little to say but a handy travel size cleansed that works in the am and pm and tackles make up as needed.

Nivea Men Aqua Cool Deodorant link
I don't know why I have this travel sized mens deodorant but I did and took it away with me. I don't mind using mens deodorants as I find they often have quite a pleasing scent and work a little harder than female equivalents.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil link
Whilst I had Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser by day (in sample form) due to my drier skin over Winter I still wanted to enjoy the indulgent evening step of an oil. It came to Tarte and their Pure Maracuja Oil to do the job. I love this oil (as you will know if you read this post) and as I type this post I'm wanting to dig it back out and start using day to day again.

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner link
As I said products that travelled to Edinburgh were those that I rely on and enjoy using. Bumble & Bumble's Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner is a range that I repurchased almost immediately after sampling travel sizes (these are decanted as I kept the bottles for this purpose). You can read that post here. This duo was needed more than ever as I was travelling without my usual styling products and it gives me enough volume to get by.

I'd love to know how you manage to travel light when working with limited liquid allowances.

*PR Sample