Beauty Favorites: August

Summer is minimalist for me when it comes to beauty products. Less is more and with a nice tan, the need for make-up almost disappears. Nevertheless, there are some essentials that are always necessary - a cleanser, a lip balm and a hair styling product.

Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter from Clarins (£19)
This cleanser appeared in my basket without any recommendation or previous research - I just needed a cleanser and wanted to try one from Clarins out for some time now. The reason why I decided on this one, is that the description stated that it is gentle and with shea butter, hence great for dry skin. Its texture is that of a creamy cleansing milk that foams as you apply it, which makes the whole application smooth and pleasing. The smell is truly amazing and skin feels moisturized. I use it in the mornings to help with my dry skin and make my morning a little nicer with the pleasant smell!

 

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector from Clarins (£18)
This has been on my wishlist for quite sometime now, since I've been looking for a neutral lip balm and this one has appeared on nearly every blog or Youtube channel that I follow. I bought shade 02 apricot shimmer. It makes the lips look smooth and shiny, without too much shimmer, and has a nice, sweet smell. This shade is quite light, so I use it just by itself or on top of a peachy or nude lipstick. Perfect for summer. One downside is, however, the price.

 

Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast from Alterna ($25)

My hair has quite a lot of volume as it is thick and wavy, however, since it is so heavy, it is often flat at the roots. This product is used on dry hair, which to me was something new, since most root lifters are used on wet hair and then need to be blow dried. I blow dry my hair and then apply this Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast to my roots near the crown of the head right away. The applicator is excellent, although a cap would come in handy for traveling. No need to spray too much, as that can leave you with sticky hair. The product does exactly what it says it should do: it lifts the roots really well. Since its use is intended for dry hair, you can reapply it throughout the day to add more volume (although so far, this wasn't necessary as it lasts all day). Its smell is quite strong - it is pleasant for me, but I would recommend you try it out before purchasing to make sure that you like it. The brand overall was new to me, but after a little research I was very impressed as it is ecological and sustainable.
Just a warning, from what I've read online, it seems that those who are satisfied with the product have hair similar to mine - on the thicker and heavier side, wavy and curly. Most of the people with fine, brittle and generally flat hair, were not satisfied at all.
Are any of you familiar with Alterna and would you recommend any of their products?

What have you been loving this month?

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector 

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter

Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter

Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter

Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter