Guest Post: Best of the Brits

Sascha is the beauty junkie behind the blog and YouTube channel Sascha Sophia Beauty. Though a newbie blogger, she is a long time cosmetics lover, going back to the days of sneaking her mother’s MaryKay lipsticks. She lives in San Francisco with her kitty cat, Sophia.

I recently returned from a glorious two-week vacation in London and Paris. Lucky for me, my boyfriend went to school and lived in the UK for twelve years, and therefore travels back yearly. This year I joined him, excited to meet his friends that I’ve heard so much about, but also for another reason - to test and purchase a bevy of British beauty brands (say that five times fast!).

I’ve picked out a sampling of my favorites, ranging from nail polish to makeup to skincare, and the best part is, you can find these brands in the US or online!

Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Scrub

This body scrub smells scrumptiously of almond and vanilla. When I opened the jar in Boots to get a whiff, even the BF stopped being annoyed by my beauty shopping to say, “Wow, that smells good!” The scrub is made from sea salt, grape seed and almond oil. It’s a typical scrub in that it has a thick, granular consistency but does not leave an oily residue on your skin. Rather, it leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated, and smelling deliciously. You can pick it up in Sephora stores.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

I had heard so many British beauty bloggers and YouTubers rave about this facial cleanser that I had to try it for myself. I purchased the starter kit, which comes with the cleanser and a muslin cloth in a beautiful aqua colored pouch. The bottle’s pump delivers the perfect amount of the thick, cream cleanser, which you then massage into your face.  It faintly reminds me of Noxzema, though the consistency is creamier and smoother, and scent isn’t nearly as overwhelming. You’re supposed to use a hot, damp muslin cloth to wipe the cleanser from your face, though a normal washcloth works just fine. This cleanser is amazing at removing makeup, dirt, oil, grime and whatever else may have made its way onto your face throughout the course of the day. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish can be found on their US website.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

This pot of lemon-balmy goodness is just the thing to prep your skin for a new day. Smelling very lightly of lemons with the color (and nearly the texture) of a lemon bar dessert, you’re meant to mix the balm with water to create a cream, massaging it into the skin before wiping it away. It leaves your skin feeling incredibly smooth and moisturized. It’s definitely a luxury item, priced at around $55, but you don’t need much to reap the benefits. You can find Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm here.

Pixi

I journeyed to the Pixi flagship store on London’s Carnaby Street to see the full Pixi collection. I was not disappointed! The darling boutique walls bore the same green as the product packaging and smelled fresh and floral-y like their perfumes. I picked out two makeup pieces that I was eager to try. The first is the Endless Silky Eye Pen in DeepPlum. This gel eyeliner pencil is toted to be a liquid liner in pencil form – easier to apply but with the pigmentation and staying power of liquid (and you can blend and smudge for a smoky eye effect!). It’s also paraben, mineral oil, and preservative-free! 

The other is the Lid Last Shadow Pen in GraphiteGlint. Again, the product is smooth and easily blendable but won’t move once it has set on your eyes. The graphite color is the perfect dark grey with a slight shimmer that is supposed to deflect light away from fine lines. For my fellow Americans, you can find Pixi at Target.

Nails, Inc.

Peach: Kensington palace gardens

Mint: Royal botanical gardens

Fuschia: Primrose Hill gardens

Orange: Hampton Court Palace Gardens

Pale blue: Chelsea physic garden

Taupe: Belgravia gardens

Nails, Inc. is one of the best new imports to the US. One look at their website and it’s clear they know exactly what they’re doing! You can test out shades on digital hands in four different skin tones or make a custom gift that includes your own bottle design, color, and personal message. They offer a huge shade range, texturized lacquers, and limited edition collections. I picked up the Spring Summer Collection for the pretty pastels and mini size – six colors for the price of 3 regular sized bottles was a good option for a nail polish junkie like me! Sephora carries Nails, Inc. in the United States.

So what do you think, will you be trying any of these British beauty products soon?