Friday 18 June 2010

oooh shiny


OOOh my two new little loves are these shiny looking beauties. They are from the Boots 17 range and are from the mirror shine collection. I first heard about these on Laura 's blog. I thought these looked like a great high shine lipstick with a subtle wash of colour, I was not wrong.

I chose the colours beehive and peace. Beehive is a great neutral pinky tone that is pretty subtle and looks like a nice gloss. Peace is a light coral colour that looks more red on the lips, (sorry for the lack of swatches but my camera couldnt pick the colour up well) These are great inexpensive high shine lipsticks for just a subtle hint of colour, nice for summer when you dont want a sticky gloss or heavly pigmented lips. The magpies amoungst us will love them, anything shiny has certainly got me.

xxx

Thursday 17 June 2010

Lush Ocean Salt scrub


I like a good old scrub now and again and my choice of exfoliator is usually one that is pretty grainy or has big granules. At the moment I'm loving Lush's Ocean Salt scrub. It can be used on your face and body, but as I have so many other body exfoliators that I prefer (with essential oils in), I only use this on my face. At first it did sting my face, perhaps that was the lime, grapefruit and vodka, but after a couple of uses I had no issue with the stinging (it was only minor in the first place.) The scrub is very rough in texture and the sea salt provides the granules, some fairly chunky, others more finely milled. At first you need to mix the scrub as the salt settles on the top.

Sometimes I like to mix this with another favourite exfoliator of mine, the Liz Earle Gentle face exfoliator to make the consistency more creamy, however I have used it alone for a more intense scrub. The tub is available in two different sizes but I thought I would try the smaller one to see if it agreed with my skin. Overall, I will be repurchasing this when it runs out as I like the grains in the exfoliator. I also like the fresh feeling it leaves my skin.

xxx

A tummy tuck?.........

So its that time of year again that I want to feel as slim as possible, and most of the time this is an impossible task (I'm a lover of all food that is bad for me). So I thought I would give the Rodial Tummy tuck sticks a try in hope that they would streamline me to within an inch of my life, ok, maybe that's an over exaggeration but still, being £48 I was hoping for a near miracle.

So, Rodial claim that one of these sachets mixed with water after your evening meal for two weeks will "help speed up digestion to achieve a slimmer waistline". In my opinion this seems a pretty big claim for one sachet mixed with water for two weeks, but I was willing to try them to see if they worked. The sticks contain ingredients such as pineapple and papaya enzymes, fennel seeds and green clay, which all, in some way, claim to help you achieve a slimmer waist. So after just over a week I can safely say they are not worth £48.

They might have worked yes, but that also might have been down to some fairly healthy eating that I have tried to adopt. I don't really feel any less bloated, not that I particularly was before, and I am not sure I'm that much more "streamline" in the waist area, well not enough for £48 worth of product. The sachets did not taste too bad, they were ok, a pineapple flavour, however I did find it hard to mix in the water as it separated a bit and some of the mixture would float to the top in lumps. Would I repurchase, no, simply because they are expensive and I feel something like green tea would have a similar effect but for much cheaper.

xxx

Sunday 6 June 2010

Clarins Hydraquench serum

I used to work for Clarins when I lived in London and having not used any of their products previous to working for them I now have quite a few in my collection. Most of them I didn't purchase myself as we were allocated a certain amount of products every 2 months therefore I chose them from all of the products available. One of the products I will miss obtaining for free is the Hydraquench serum.

This is used underneath moisturiser to add water content, not oil to the skin, therefore can be used on all dehydrated skins from dry to oily skins. I like to use this in the summer if I have been out in the sun and in the winter to add hydration as the cold air and heaters zap all of my skins hydration. It sinks so easily into my skin and makes it feel more comfortable and less tight. This a product that I would purchase with my own money once I have run out of my little stash, which unfortunately is depleting rapidly - bad times.

xxx

Thursday 3 June 2010

May Favourites

What have I been loving this month........well, a few random bits really. Carmex in the little tube has become my new best friend. I kind of liked the one in the little pot as I like the finish it gives to my lips, they always looked really smooth with it on and i like the sheen it gives. So having spotted this I had to purchase as its cherry flavoured and I prefer lip balms in a tube as its much less messy. So I'm loving that at the mo.

Coralista Blusher by Benefit was a blusher I bought a while ago as was stopped by a Benefit SA when it was first released and got suckered into her sales pitch and ended up walking away with a couple of products I didn't really need, (I'm such a sucker for pretty packaging). Anyway, I dug this out and have been swiping it over my cheeks for a corally glow (made up word I know).

Macs Fix + is another love, I find it really refreshes me and brightens my skin and is a great pick me up for hot days in the sun.

Sudocrem has always been a love of mine and is so multipurpose. I mainly use mine on blemishes and redness on my face. I love how cheap it is and how effective it is at minimising red areas and making spots less angry.

The Mac lipstick is Angel, and although only a recent purchase it is a good all round pink lip colour that says you have not tried too hard but you have made some effort with the lip area.

The pencil is a Gosh eyebrow pencil in grey brown. I have only recently decided that I should fill in the brows on the odd occasion as it makes my look seem more groomed. This baby is only used on nights out for example and is a good match to my eyebrow colour, easy to use and is pretty cheap too.

xxx

Mac Haul

So, I was perusing a Mac counter and obviously had to purchase.


I went for Angel lipstick as I have wanted this subtle pink for a while. I wore it out on Saturday night with a bit of carmex over the top to give a sheen and was very impressed.

As summer is coming up I wanted to add to my collection of bright lipsticks. I went for Impassioned, an amplified creme shade that is a bright fuchsia pink. I will try this baby when I have a tan and whilst on holiday as I feel it won't look so hot on my pale skin at the moment.

I also had to get well dressed blusher as I have heard so many people rave about this. I was surprised that it seems very sheer and the colour pay off is not as much as I expected, but I am pleasantly surprised as I feel it gives a nice hint of colour but can also be layered for more intensity.

Last is the Prep and Prime finishing powder. I wanted to try this as either a primer type base for makeup or as a finishing powder. I had been using MSF natural to set my foundation but I wasn't too keen as I didn't need the extra coverage (all be it very slight) and felt it didn't do much to the longevity of my foundation. I like the idea that the prep and prime is loose as I feel it is a softer finish on the skin. It claims to give a "flawless finish", and as that is what I'm after, I thought I would give it a whirl. We shall see how I get on with that as I haven't played around with it that much.

Does anyone else have any of these products?

xxx

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Eyelash extensions


A while ago when I was living in London I came across the idea of eyelash extensions. Now, as I worked in central London in a store selling makeup and beauty items I always felt the need to look my best. When I first found out of a place to have them done I immediately had to have them done, even with the £100 ish price tag. Yes, expensive I know but they look so pretty! I'm a sucker for long eyelashes and would love to be naturally blessed with them but that is not the case I'm afraid, so alternative measures needed to be found.

I use false eyelashes for a night out and have tried Talkia eyelash growth treatment which you apply to your lashes for a few months and they are supposed to grow slightly and fall out less. Yes, that is what it did and my eyelashes were a bit longer and definitely fell out less. But that was about it, I still use it every now and again when I feel I need it but I still didn't have the effective I was longing for.

So I found a mobile beauty therapist who specialised in Jinnylashes (supposedly the best ones for this kind of thing) and I had them applied to my lashes, lash by lash for around 1 and a half to 2 hours - yes a long long time to lie on a flat beauty couch and let me tell you my bum was very numb by the end of it! So I walked away with lots and lots of lashes applied to my lash line to create a lovely long lash effect. I was so pleased with the results. They lasted in perfect condition for about 4 weeks and slowly one by one fell out with my own eyelashes. Towards the end I did have some randomly long extensions left which did look a bit odd but I managed to soak them off with an oily eye make up remover.

I didn't have to wear mascara, however on nights out I applied a special oil free mascara that would not ruin the lashes, just to give a bit more of a dramatic look. I could not use an oil based remover so used 'simple' eye makeup remover as it contains no oils which would remove the lashes.

I loved them. I really did. I could have had infills when they started to fall out which would be cheaper than the initial payment but I didn't want to keep up with the maintenance and only really wanted them for a special occasion.



At the time I had them I didn't really take any pictures of the lashes themselves but I have many pictures of them where I randomly blinked at the wrong time whilst someone took a picture so they are not great but the best I can do.

Has anyone thought about or had eyelash extensions?

xxx

SOS


I like this product a lot. It helps with those pesky spots and with any hormonal or stressed out skin, and sometimes my skin does feel stress yes. This is the Elemis SOS Emergency Cream. It comes in a 50ml pump and I believe is about £48.Yes, it is expensive but a little goes a long way.

It is supposed to be a treatment moisturiser that can be used daily to all or any part of your face. I only really use this at times of need, for example when I get a spot or my skin looks like it needs some extra help, an I use it at night as it seems a little sticky. I like the scent as it is calming and relaxing, which is probably due to the lavender it contains.

I have had this pump for well over 6 months and I still have a fair amount left. I really think it helps my skin restore and balance itself and helps reduce the size and appearance of any blemishes. I got this product after I had an Elemis facial as it was recommended to me for my hormonal skin. I tend to only get spots due to hormones and they are mainly in the chin area. I have also tried many of the other Elemis products in the past but this one is a firm favourite as I have not really found anything else on the market for this purpose and this effecitve.

xxx

Here comes the sun....


Continuing on the theme of sun (can you tell I love the summer!) I thought I'd post about the sun care I shall be using whilst on holiday. I'm going to Turkey for just a week to stay in my parents apartment with one of my friends for just a girly chill out for a week, I can't wait.


Usually I am fairly picky with my facial sun care as I'm fussy about not wanting products to break me out and I like a product that is catered for the face as well and not just the body. For my body I just use Ambre Soliare that my parents use so I just use their products but for my face I use something different. Last year I used Clarins, which I like but this year I thought I'd try something different. This time I have gone for Liz Earle as I like their products for my face and don't have a problem with my face care breaking me out. This product is the mineral sun cream and it can be used for face and body. I found this little 30ml size on Ebay (a new product to the line so was confident it wasn't last years spf which would have expired.) It is SPF 20, which is what I normally use for my face and it seems to be made of many natural ingredients. The consistency however does seem fairly thick - something I'm no too sure about for my face, but I'm going to give it a whirl anyway. Hopefully it wont break me out or cause any excess shine or greasy feeling, something that I do not need when lying on a beach or for anytime really.


For my after sun for the face I'm sticking with my Clarins After sun Replenishing Moisture care for face and decollete - a bit of a mouthful but I love the smell, its really hydrating and I like the thick consistency for over night. I shall also use the Lancaster After sun for my face as well as body as it is designed to use on both. Overall I should be well protected and well hydrated for my holiday, so bring on the sun!

xxx

I'm just about ready for the sun

Every year I try and prepare my skin the best that I can to ensure I get the best tan possible. I looooooove to tan and love sunbathing and often use products to help me achieve the most from the sun as well as an spf of course. Last year for example, I used Declerors Tan accelerator Pre sun Care, a product for face and body that is applied about 5 days before your holiday/prolonged exposure to the sun, and it is supposed to prepare your skin so that it will tan better and burn less. In general I don't really burn, unless I really over do it. The Decleor product was ok and my tan was pretty good, but this year I was on the hunt for something better.


This year I went for the Elemis Tan accelerator (featured in another blog post) as I have heard many good things about it and I'm a bit of a fan of the brand. This one is used for 1-2 weeks before exposure to the sun and is mainly for the body, or so the sales assistant told me. I'm going to try and use it on my face as I don't really want an uneven tan, not a good look, and am going to try and use it for 2 weeks before I go and maybe a couple of days while I'm on holiday too if I have enough product left. I have high hopes for this product as it comes highly recommended in articles I have seen and the sales assistant told me that its always so popular in summer (not that I always believe them, but to be fair there was only one left so it must be quite popular.)

The lotion is fairly light in consistency and is a light brown colour. It contains jojoba oil, shea butter and macadamia nut oil for example, so if nothing else it sounds pretty moisturising and should hydrate my skin. It contains tyrosine which is supposedly the "amino acid naturally present in the body and is used by skin cells to form melanin". This seems to be what will boost the skin to help it tan quicker and better by preparing the skin, all very scientific but I like the sound of it.


I'm also going to use Lancaster's Tan maximiser whilst on holiday as my after sun at night. This comes recommended by my friends and my mum, and I'm not too sure why I'm yet to try it, as it seems like something I would have used before now. Anyway, this product contains "heliosome", an exclusive Lancaster complex that helps stimulate the melanin in the skin. It claims to create "a more intense, longer lasting tan, soft, supple, radiant skin that is better prepared for subsequent sun exposure" (taken from the packaging) Sounds pretty good to me.

Boy is my melanin going to be stimulated with all of these products, I expect a lovely deep golden glow! I will comment again on the results after my holiday in a few weeks time, during which time I'm also going to try out the Rodial Tummy Tuck sticks in an attempt to appear more streamlined in the stomach area, well I can live in hope on that one....

xxx

Friday 21 May 2010

Ins and Outs

In

The sunshine, wooooo we finally have some.

Going on holiday in a month, not too long now!

Clarins Moisute replenishing lip balm, really hydrating.

My new Sigma brushes, love them!

Topshop 'Flush' cream blusher, great on its own or layered underneath a powder product to help blusher last longer.

Nars 'Chihuahua' lip gloss, a great "my lips but better" lipgloss shade.


Out

Not being able to enjoy the sun as I have to work

Feeling like I don't have enough holiday clothes

Hair Mousse, it seems to leave my hair greasy and does'nt help with the volume


xxx

Thursday 20 May 2010

Controversial but i'm not sure that I like it.....

I only have one Mac Mineralize Skinfinish and that is is By Candlelight. Now I know many people love MSFs and By Candlelight seems to be a fairly popular one but I'm not so sure I like it. Maybe I'm applying in wrong or I'm applying too much but I find it fairly bold and it seems to make my foundation wear off quicker. I apply it to the top of my cheekbones and I feel that my skin is far from a candlelight glow. I'm not too sure on the colour, maybe its too peachy toned for me but I'm not a lover.


I know I prefer liquid or cream highlighters such as highbeam/moonbeam by benefit and my Jemma Kidd dewy glow but I do have other powder highlighters that I prefer more than this. I love the idea of MSFs (and love the natural one) but this one put me off them and have yet to purchase any more. Maybe it will look better in summer when my skin is a few shades darker, but for now, I'm not a fan.

xxx

If its good enough for Cheryl Cole its good enough for me....

Sudocrem, yep its most common usage is as a nappy rash cream for babies, but not for me. This multi purpose antiseptic healing cream can be used for soooooo many different things such as rashes, eczema (which I do have a bit on my arms), sunburn, minor burns and skin irritations. I however, use this on my face as an on the spot treatment and on any red areas of my skin, for example around my nostrils. I read ages ago that Cheryl Cole uses it on her skin for spots so I thought I'd give it a try.



It has antibacterial properties and contains zinc oxide which is meant to help with those pesky spots. It is also meant to reduce redness in your skin, which it does. This is why I like it so much as I seem to get red patches around my nostrils and on my chin. This is also where I might get spots so I just rub in a bit of the thick cream, go to sleep and therefore we go, in the morning less red patches and smoother slightly less spotty skin, great!

xxx

Pink Flamingo

As I want the weather to be more like summer and less like winter I thought I'd get into the summer spirit with my nail varnish.


My colour of choice at the moment is Barry M's Pink Flamingo. Its a lovely summer shade that on me looks pretty pink but on other people can have a more coral tinge. I'm loving this colour right now, I only wish the weather was just as bright :o)

xxx

To prime or not to prime.....

So, I don't normally use a primer underneath my foundation as I felt it was just too many layers, and some primers also state not to use with moisturiser as well, and as I like to use my moisturiser everyday I was put off the idea for a while. Some time ago on a random whim I bought the Laura Mercier primer in oil free. I love the oil free tinted moisturiser and the concealer so I thought maybe I should give this a try. I bought it and went off the idea quickly so it sat in my drawer unused and lonely.

So as I'm now back to toying with the idea of a primer I thought I'd bring it back out to play and have a go. I've been using it for the past couple of days with my Nars Sheer Glow and I think I like. I think I can see some difference in the lasting power of my foundation and I'm sure it hydrates my skin a bit more than just my moisturiser (I use both as it says you can). It's fairly lightweight and seems to smooth over any open pores. We shall have to see how I get along over the next few weeks and I'm also slightly worried I will break out, but for now, I say prime.

xxx

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Products I'm loving right now

So heres what I've been reaching for recently..........


Obviously my md skincare Alpha Beta daily peel pads, (see post below) as they are slowly retexturising my skin and getting rid of those pesky milia underneath my skin that I can't get to and they just make my skin so much softer and brighter.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. I've been a lover of this for a while, as I have a soft spot for dewy skin. I like how versatile this product is as it can be worn many ways. My personal preference is to apply it to highlight my face and add a dewy glow after I've finished doing my make up. I apply a small amount to my fingertips and pat it on places I want to look more dewy, for example, my cheekbones and pat the rest evenly around my face to get rid of the matt look that my powder or foundation may have left.

Benefit bluff dust. I love adding a bit after I have put on my concealer, (which I put on before my foundation) and this hides any redness I have from marks or blemishes or my slightly red cheeks. I find it also sets my concealer and evens out my skin tone and means I have to use less foundation.

Mac Fix +. I was a bit late on this bandwagon as like a lot of people just felt that it was overpriced water and didn't have much of a purpose other than to use with pigments, which I don't use. However, after finally deciding to give it a whirl, I love it. I love to set my makeup with it and to add a dewy look. I also like to randomly spray it throughout the day as it keeps my skin hydrated and looking fresher. I think its going to be a summer favourite.

YSL faux cils mascara. My favourite mascara of all time, enough said.

xxx

Md skincare Alpha Beta Daily peel pads


On my hunt for flawless skin I found this product. It's by Md skincare and its the Alpha Beta Daily Peel pads. They are an at home facial peel with a two step system, designed to improve the texture, firmness and appearance of your skin tone. They are recommended for reducing breakouts, fading skin discolouration and minor marks on your skin. They help to retexturise the skin and I also read that they reduce the under the skin spots (milia), and this is the main reason for my purchase. They are recommended for all skin types and seem pretty gentle,(for a daily facial peel that is).They contain antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E, green tea extract and are oil free, so sound pretty good. I got the body ones as I heard they are the same as the face ones only bigger, therefore more for your money. And yes, these are expensive and retail for around £55, but I found mine on eBay and therefore were quite a bit cheaper.

The tub came with two containers inside, step one, the alpha beta refining peel, and step two, the neutralising system. You apply the step one pad to your skin and leave for 2-3 minutes. Then apply the step two and your done. pretty simple and they feel refreshing as the consistency is like a very moist face wipe. There are 30 pads in each container and it can be used daily for 30 days. I'm going to use them daily (at night after removing my makeup) for at least 20 days or until I'm happy with the results and try and save a few for special occasions when I feel my skin needs a little extra help.

I have been using them for 5 days now and can already see results. My skin is very even in texture and most of the milia underneath my eye area has gone, wooo! There is also an improvement of the milia on my chin too, which is my main area of concern. My skin looks brighter and my pores look a little more refined. I am very happy with the initial results and can't wait to see what will happen in the next few days. The peel doesn't really sting (it says it might do a little bit), there is a slight tingle, which I actually like as I feel its doing something, but once you add the neutralising pad it goes away.

Overall, yes they are pretty expensive, but in my mind, worth it. I've always wanted to tackle those under the skin spots that I cant seem to get to, and with these pads, I feel I am getting there. My skin looks brighter and more even and for the coming summer months I'm looking forward to not having to wear as much makeup (some still needed/wanted of course :o)

xxx

Sunday 9 May 2010

Sigma brushes

I finally got my mitts on some Sigma brushes from www.love-makeup.co.uk and I love them. I got the SS150 for powder, SS187 for foundation, SS168 for contouring and blusher and the SS194 for concealer.

I've had a few Mac brushes in the past and some other random ones but they are very old and are not so effective any more. I love my new face brushes and they make the application of my makeup so smooth and easy to apply. I'm very happy with my purchase and thats one thing down on my wish list, however I'm sure I can find a few more things to add :o)

xxx

I went shopping and I bought.....

As I'm going on holiday next month I thought I'd stock up on a few holiday bits and bobs. I picked up my favourite after sun from Marks and Spencer, and I love it purely because of the smell. I've used it on most of my holidays and the smell reminds me of good times on holiday, so its become a favourite body moisturiser of mine. It also helps to prolong my tan and is really hydrating. It was also buy one get one free on all sun care and after sun so it was a bit of a bargain really.

As a bit of an impulse purchase I bought some mini haircare products for when in the sun. As my hair is highlighted with bleach, I'm paranoid that the sun will strip the colour and the chlorine in the pool will tint it green, not a good look on holiday really. So raiding the shelves in Boots, I came across the Mark Hill Holiday Hair range. I got the shampoo and conditioner that claim to remove any salt and chlorine from the hair, moisturise and protect from UV rays. I also grabbed a Charles Worthington UV protection styling spray for more protection. As they were a bit of an impulse purchase I may still research on the Internet for a different alternative that has been highly rated but I'm sure they will probably do the trick.

I also picked up the Elemis Tan Accelerator to use a couple of weeks before I go away, as it claims to prepare your skin for the sun and promote a richer longer lasting tan. I used a Decleor one last year so we will have to see how this compares.


I also went to see what the Topshop makeup range was all about and picked up the cream blusher in the colour flush. I like it, its not amazing but I think it will be nice in summer with a tan. I got some more face wipes from the Garnier range, the dry sensitive ones for my holiday as they will be more moisturising than the ones for combination skin, they were but two for £4. I got two lots of eyelashes for those eyelash emergencies, some cotton wool pads, that I go through like crazy and a small bottle of the body shop honey conditioner to try before buying the larger size if I like it. I love the smell, its so sweet, so its already a bit of a winner with me!

xxx

Saturday 8 May 2010

Skincare and Makeup tag

SKINCARE
How many times do you wash your face daily? Twice, once in morning and once when I get in from work and have removed my makeup.

What skin type do you have? Normalish with a sensitive/hormonal chin.

What is your current facial wash? Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

Do you exfoliate? Yes, more often recently as I have quite a few blocked pores.
What brand do you use?
Liz Earle and sometimes Lush’s Ocean salt as I like the big granules.
What moisturiser do you use?
Elemis Pro Collagen Marine cream in day, Liz Earle at night as its thicker.
Do you have freckles?
no
Do you use eye cream?
Yes, Clarins gel or balm.
Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
yes
Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
no

MAKE UP

What foundation do you use? Nars Sheer Glow or Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser.
How about concealer? Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage shade 3.
Do you know your undertone colour? Pink.
What do you think of fake eyelashes? love them for a night out.
Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months? Yes.
What brand of mascara do you use? YSL Faux cils
Sephora or MAC? Love Sephora.
Do you have a MAC Pro-card? no
What makeup tools do you use in makeup application? Brushes and eyelash curlers
Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? No.
For the face? no
What is your favourite eye shadow (colour or shade)? Like neutral eyes but prob carbon by Mac.
Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? pencil
How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? I don’t really.
What do you think of pigment eye shadows? I don't use them
Do you use mineral makeup? no
What is your favourite lipstick? Mac Lady gaga at the mo.
How about lip gloss? Nars Chihuahua
What is your favourite blush to use? At the moment it’s a Stila one called dance.
Do you buy your makeup on ebay? Not really though I do look
Do you like drugstore makeup? Yes some great stuff out there
Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) there are not really any near me.
Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? no
Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? no
Name a makeup crime that you hate? Bold drawn on eyebrows
Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick, eye shadow) or neutral ones? neutrals for eyes and face, and both on the lips.
Which celebrity always has great make up? Cheryl Cole
If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use? concealer
Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? yes
Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? Not my best nope :o)
In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? Different lines do different things well, prob Nars just beats Mac.
What do you think of Makeup? love it :o)