Like many women these days, I generally try to take care of my skin and hair by adopting a good routine and purchasing the correct products.

And like many people, I have often found myself falling down the beauty rabbit hole that is TikTok. One moment you are looking for a new cleanser for your skin, the next you are several videos deep in discovering new must-have brands.

With millions of views and countless different products pretty much going viral daily, it can be hard to know which ones are worth the hype. Luckily, I was recently sent some of the video-sharing app’s popular brands, including I am Proud and Lottie London.

I came across quite a few different haircare, makeup and skincare products that a few beauty buffs on TikTok have praised. Not to mention that the Insta-worthy packaging seriously impressed me. What can I say, my skincare needs good packaging?

So, armed with some brand new products for my beauty routine, I immediately decided to test them out. Here is how I faired.

Haircare

I received two products that are perfect for anyone looking to take care of their hair and protect it from further damage. Which is great for me, considering I have spent the last decade off my life bleaching my locks.

First up was the Hair Revival – Leave-in Scalp and Hair Moisturiser. Designed for dry, damaged hair, this treatment has been infused with a moisturising oil complex & scalp soothing prebiotic to help leave your hair smoother and healthier.

The instructions told me to apply to damp hair after washing and comb through, which is exactly what I did. One thing I did find, was that the texture is quite thick, so if you have thin hair like me, only apply it to the mid-lengths to ends. When not applied on the scalp, it definitely left my hair feeling a lot softer, shinier and frizz-free. It also had a little bit of bounce to it, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Another hair product I tried on a different wash day was the All Inclusive 5-in-1 Protection Milk. Similar to the leave-in treatment, its texture was a little thick and I found I had to spray it onto my palms first, just so I didn’t go overboard. However, as it is a multi-tasker that can provide heat protection and hydration, it is definitely a product that will come in handy for my often over-treated hair.

Skincare

One product that I was really excited to try out was the Skin Proud Face Melt Cleansing Balm, because what good skincare routine is complete without a decent cleansing balm?

Like many balms, all you need to do is massage into dry skin and then add a splash of water to emulsify. As soon as started massaging this balm into my skin, I could literally see the makeup melting away. Not to mention that it left my skin instantly feeling soft and supple, not like I had been scrubbing at it, so I was instantly impressed.

To help make sure my skin was completely free of any makeup or impurities, I followed up the Melting Cleansing Balm with the brand’s Glow Dust Exfoliating Powder Cleanser. As a sensitive skin sufferer, I can only use exfoliants every now and then, or I risk the wrath of the skin gods.

Containing Vitamin C and E to help boost your skins natural glow, I did find that, while my skin wasn’t immediately brighter, it did feel an awful lot softer and it didn’t leave my skin feeling very red or raw like some exfoliants. I do like the cleanser’s powder formula, as all you have to do is mix it with water, which I think helps you from adding too much product onto your skin

Bodycare

So, out of all the products in the package, that two that really surprised me the most were the ones for your body. This was the Smooth Talk Exfoliating Serum and the Sleep Hero Overnight Recovery Body Mask, which I used after my evening shower.

Starting up with the Exfoliating Serum, which has been infused with AHA, niacinamide and caffeine for a refreshed apearance. While I did find that the thick texture occasionally got stuck in the application dropper, this serum glided onto my skin and didn’t leave any sticky residue. After using it for a couple of times in one week, I did find that a few small red bumps had disappeared along my shoulders and that my skin did have a healthier glow.

But the undeniable hero of the entire packaging was the Overnight Recovery Body Mask. I am not usually a fan of sleeping with body cream on overnight, as they all tend to be way too thick and never seem to sink into the skin as much as they say they do.

First up, I’ll admit the texture almost put me off, as it looked very slimy and gloopy looking, but boy was I susprised when this literally melted into my skin and left my body feeling velvety smooth. As a gel-texture, it instantly left my skin feeling rejuvinated after a hot shower, not to mention that the Midnight Garden & Musk scent was incredibly relaxing. Honestly, if you struggle with dry, sore skin during the winter, this is an absolute winner for you.

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Makeup

Lastly, I decided to try out some popular products from Lottie London, which included a setting spray, under-eye colour corrector and bubble tea primer.

Naturally, I started out with the Bubble Tea Primer, which I was instantly curious about, thanks to the funky pink bursting gel formula. I may not be a fan of bubble tea in any shape or form, but I am nothing if not a good sport.

Unlike many makeup primers, I found that the lighter texture of this product to be a little nicer on the skin and the inclusion of Green Tea, Aloe Vera and Vitamin B5 definitely left my face with a matte smooth finish that was the perfect base for applying makeup. This one is ideal for us girlies who can find that some primers leave our skin feeling a little to greasy.

One particular beauty product that did surprise me was the Bright Bounce Under-Eye Colour Corrector, as I hate to admit that I do suffer from dark circles that look like I don’t get any sleep. All you need to do is pat a little bit under your eye before you pop on any concealer, which is handy.

While, I’ll be honest in saying that it didn’t immediately remove my dark circles – that would be a miracle – it did actually make them look a little more reduced and the darkness at the corners was not immediately visible. I particularly liked the cream formula, as it made it handy for using your blender to apply the cream into the delicate eye corners without getting into your actual eye.

However, if there is one product you really need to try, it is the Stay Matte AF Setting Spray. If, like me, you find your makeup sometimes begins to fade after carefully applying it earlier on in the day, then this is the companion you need.

I have never really been a fan of setting sprays, as many of them leave my skin a little too oily and never seem to work. However, this simple spray gave my overall look that highly desired matte finish that didn’t smudge, streak or fade. Just to test its worth, I actually wore makeup to the gym and, after using this setting spray, found that it left my makeup was still fairly in tact.

Overall impressions

With pretty much of all these products having quite a few videos dedicated to them on TikTok, I was definitely hoping they lived up to the hype. Luckily, I am glad to say that many of them did.

However, if I have to take a couple of standouts, then for my hair it would have to be the hair revival – leave-in scalp and hair moisturiser. When not applied on my scalp, it instantly left my locks with that smooth glass-hair effect, even after styling with my hot air brush.

As for skincare, the Hydrating Cleansing Balm was the undeniable winner. Its silky smooth balm glided onto the skin, visibly melting away any traces off makeup and without leaving any residue you had to scrub at. As for my undeniable hero, I have to say that it was the Sleep Hero Overnight Recovery Body Mask, which left my skin velvety smooth and hydrated all night long.

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