Friday 30 November 2012

November Beauty Favourites!

I can't believe we are entering December, this is worrying to me because I still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do! Due to it nearly being Christmas I haven't had the money to treat myself to many beauty products recently but there have been a few stand out favourites this month to share with you.
Firstly I have a few body products; I treated myself to some new Soap & Glory products whilst Boots had a 3 for 2 on and the stand out product has been The Breakfast Scrub. It smells divine like maple syrup and really exfoliates the skin without being too harsh or drying. Next is The Body Shop Hemp Foot Protector, this has saved my dry feet (I did a whole post on foot products here) it's not too thick but really does make a difference. It has become a must have for Winter.
It really does look good enough to eat!
Onto skincare, I recently got a new mask; the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask. This is a hydrating mask so great for dehydrated skin but it also has manuka honey in it which helps with blemishes. It is the perfect Winter mask and works really well after using the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm which is definitely the best cleansing balm i've tried. It is so luxurious and makes my skin feel so lovely and smooth. The two together have really helped my skin feel fresh, soft and not looking dull.
I have two haircare products by the same brand this month. First is the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque which is definitely the nicest mask I have ever used. I bought two of these sachets and one of them lasted me a whole month! It has really helped with my dry ends and I think I will have to purchase the full size tub soon. I also finally tried my first hair oil this month! I decided to try the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment which i'm in love with. My hair is fine and this definitely doesn't weigh it down when applied to damp hair and it makes my hair feel so lovely and healthy. 
 Finally I have a few make-up bits; first is the Revlon Colorstay Quad in Adventurous, these are just really nice everyday shades with a shimmery green which i've really been enjoying. I've been using a new mascara this month which I picked up in America, the Loreal Voluminous Original Mascara.This is a really black mascara which can look very natural or you can build it up without making the lashes look clumpy. My go to lip product for most of the month has been the Miners Matte Factor in Peach; I love matte lips and this is great for adding colour during the day. It also lasts really well on the lips and I don't have to re-apply it a lot during the day.

So those are my favourites for this month, what have been some of your favourites during November?

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Christmas Gift Guide

I wasn't planning on doing a gift guide post since there seems to be lots around at the moment but whilst doing some searching for presents I found some things that I hadn't seen blogged about so I thought it would be useful to share some ideas.
I'm a huge Soap & Glory fan and they always bring out some amazing gift sets, I love the idea of this one for someone who hasn't tried the brand before. It's called the Small Wonders Mini Hat Box and costs £10; I think that's a great price for what you get and it comes in a lovely box which also makes it easy to wrap! I've also included two sets from The Body Shop which is another one of my favourite places for gift sets. The two i've picked are great stocking fillers. The first being the Strawberry Cupcake Gift which include a bath lily, shower gel and a mini heart soap. I think this is a cute little gift and only costs £5. The other set is the Animal Lover Soap Gift which includes animal soaps; a turtle, elephant and rhino as well as a bath lily. This set also only costs £5 and would be great for children. Next is a few skincare sets; Origins have some amazing sets and deals online at the moment. The one i've picked is the Origins Mask Marvels which includes two of my all time favourite masks, Clear Improvements Mask and the Out of Trouble 10 Minute Rescue Mask. As well as those it includes the Drink Up 10 Minute Mask. For £29 you are getting some great masks for a great deal. Finally is a great set from REN Kits for Normal Skin which you can also get for different skin types and is a great way to try out REN skincare and the samples are a good size. For £13 I think this is a really good deal and would be great for any skincare lover. 

Another idea I blogged about a few months ago would be to make a Personalised Beauty Box. I think this is a great way to make a more personal present because it would be filled with things you know the person loves. You could include beauty products as well as a favourite CD or film. 

Something else I have done in the past is to buy gift sets and split them up to give to different people. This is good if you are on a budget or looking for stocking fillings. It is also good if the set includes a product the person may not like and you can give it to someone who would like it.

I hope this post was helpful for anyone who is stuck for ideas on what to buy people for Chirstmas. Feel free to share any of your ideas in the comments. 

Monday 26 November 2012

Nelsons Pure & Clear Purifying Daily Facial Wash - Reviewed!

By now you will have probably guessed i'm a bit of a skincare addict, because of these I tend to change up products a lot when i'm on the hunt for the perfect product. Although I wouldn't say this is the perfect product the fact that i've been using it non stop proves that it most be pretty good. 
Nelsons is a brand that I only recently discovered, they focus on using natural ingredients to help clear up blemish prone skin. The Pure & Clear range includes a face wash, toner, moisturiser and spot treatment. I've also been trying the spot treatment so expect a review soon. 
The ingredients include seaweed which is known for helping to control oil on the skin. It is also paraben and fragrance free. It does have a light tea tree scent, tea tree is known to be a natural way of getting rid of blemishes. 
The product has a gel like consistency which slightly lathers up when applied to the skin. I massage it into the skin and wash away with warm water. It makes my skin feel refreshed which is why I love to use it in the morning because it really wakes the skin up. I big plus for me is that it doesn't dry out the skin at all. I found that it really helps to get rid of blemishes and makes them feel less painful. 

I really do love this face wash, it isn't a fancy product but really does work and the fact that it is full of natural ingredients it really doesn't irritate the skin. I would definitely recommend this product if you are prone to breakouts. 


What is you favourite morning cleanser or face wash?

   

Saturday 24 November 2012

Essie Nail Polish Collection!

I'm a huge nail polish fan, it is the first beauty product I ever started collecting. I have mant favourite brands but one of my most loved brands has to be Essie. My collection of Essie polishes seems to be ever growing but I thought it would be nice to show you my collection so far.
Before I start I will say I forgot to include Essie Fiji which is a beautiful opaque pale pink and actually one of my favourite shades, I had misplaced it when taking pictures!
Essie are well known for their nude/pale shades and I love them! Firstly is Essie Ballet Slippers which is a sheer pink that makes your nails look polished. My favourite nude is Essie Sand Tropez which is the perfect brown toned nude that doesn't make my hands look dead. Next is a lovely baby pink shade, Essie French Affair which again is a great one for making the hands look polished. Finally I have Essie Nice Is Nice which is a lovely lilac shade. 
Onto some brighter shades, firstly I have Essie Tour De Finance which is a lovely fuchsia pink with a slight blue shimmer. Next is Essie Watermelon which is a lovely berry toned pink. Next is Essie Cute As A Button which is a basic coral toned pink which looks great in Summer.  Finally one of my favourite Autumn/Winter shades is Essie Bahama Mama which is the perfect plum shade.  
One of my favourites in Summer was Essie Tart Deco which is a lovely peach shade. Next is Essie Navigate Her which is a pastel green colour. Finally one of the most popular Essie shades is Mint Candy Apple which is a blue toned mint shade.
Ballet Slippers, Sand Tropez, French Affair, Nice Is Nice, Mint Candy Apple, Navigate Her, Tart Deco, Cute As A Button, Tour De Finance, Watermelon and Bahama Mama.

So that's my ever growing Essie collection! 

Essie Nail Polishes retail for £7.99.

Do you love Essie polish, which is your favourite? 
 

Thursday 22 November 2012

REN Clearcalm 3 Anti Blemish Treatment Mask - Reviewed!

As someone who has problematic skin I use and have tried a lot of products to help stop my skin from breaking out all the time. Over the years i've found that one of the best things for my skin is to use face mask, I use lots of different types of mask but Today I thought I would share with you one of the masks I use when my skin is in full on break out.
REN is fast becoming one of my favourite skincare brands, their products aren't the cheapest but they are packed full of natural ingredients which my skin seems to respond really well too. I love that REN masks come with a pump so it's easy to get the right amount of product out when using it.
This is a clay based masks which means it helps to draw out impurities from the pores which causes breakouts and prevent them from happening, it's other ingredients help to combat the blemishes to help leave to skin clear and calmed.
This isn't a really thick mask so it blends easily into the skin, also as it is drying it doesn't feel painfully tight like some clay based masks can do. The scent of this mask isn't my favourite but that doesn't bother me if the product works; which it definitely does.
I tend to leave the mask on for around 15-20 minutes, it is very easy to remove and after using it my skin feels clear and fresh. Any blemishes I have feel a lot less painful and look less red and sore.
I also find the next day my blemishes are a lot smaller and seem to go quicker with using this mask. I've found that it works in a similar way to the Origins Out Of Trouble Mask which I also love.I definitely want to try other products from this range in the future because i've been very impressed with this mask and the results it gives.  


Have you tried this mask? What masks do you use to help stop breakouts?
 

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder - Reviewed!

Pressed powder is something I use everyday but I rarely seem to talk about it. Having oily skin I wouldn't dream of leaving the house without a bit of powder on my t-zone and my chin, especially if I didn't want my make-up to slide off my face in an hour. I normally buy the cheapest ones, I love the Rimmel Stay Matte and 17 Pressed Powder; however when in Space NK a few months back the lady said I needed to try this Laura Mercier Powder, so I picked it up.
I really am a sucker for nice packaging and Laura Mercier never fail to impress on that front, simple brown plastic with silver lettering. The compact does feel a lot sturdier than cheaper version.
The compact comes with a decent sized mirror as well as a spudge to apply the powder; I do prefer to use a brush but if I was out the spudge would apply the product nicely. It comes in a Translucent formula which I think would work on most skin tones.
When swatched the powder does look very white but when blended into the skin it doesn't look like you are wearing powder at all. The product is so finely milled that is disappears onto the skin whilst still controlling oil throughout the day and keeping my make-up in place. I've found that it definitely helps prolong the longevity of my face make-up and feels so light on the skin like i'm not wearing powder. 

It is not the cheapest of powders out there but i've been so impressed with it I seriously would consider repurchasing it. I've been using it everyday since the start of September I have hit pan on it but there is still lots of product left. 


What is your favourite setting powder?

Sunday 18 November 2012

Clynol Keratin Smooth Treatment

Today I have a a bit of a different post for you all, I was recently giving a chance to try out new range of hair care products which are designed to give sleek glossy locks that last. I will be showing before and after pictures to see if the products actually worked as part of Keratin Smooth Week.

The range includes Keratin Sleek Shampoo, Keratin Sleek Treatment, Keratin Sleek Blow-Drying Balm and Keratin Sleek Oil Potion. Each product ranges around the £10 mark, so not the cheapest but not that bad for a salon brand. 
Before
My hair tends to get greasy at the roots and dry at the ends, it is also colour treated which adds to the dryness. I found that the shampoo left my hair feeling clean and the mask which I left on for 5 minutes on the ends of my hair really did help my hair look a lot healthier and sleek. I don't often blow dry my hair but I found the blow drying balm was easy to use and didn't leave my hair feeling weigh down which can happen since my hair is very fine. Finally I used the oil potion on damp hair and again I found it lightweight and made my hair look glossy on the ends. 
After
All in all i'm very impressed with this range, especially the blow dry balm and the mask. I'm also a huge fan of the packaging since purple is my favourite colour and it is so simple and looks really nice in my bathroom. 

Products Mentioned -

*PR Sample


Saturday 17 November 2012

Wishlist #1

I love reading wishlist post so I thought it was about time I did one myself. These are a few beauty products i've been lusting after for the past few weeks. As you can see half of it is skincare because I love trying out skincare products and there is always something new that I want to try.


I am new to the world of face oils and serums, since i've always had oily skin I thought they wouldn't work for me. This is not the case at all, the main one I want to try is the Antipodes Divine Face Oil since i've heard great things from fellow oily skined girls. The REN AHA Concentrate is meant to work great with the REN Glycolatic Mask (review here) which I love. The Origins Make A Difference Plus + is great for oily skin which can get dehydrated which is what mine gets like, it's not the cheapest but i've heard amazing things about it. i smelt the Christmas range in The Body Shop recently and i'm in love with the Cranberry Joy scent, especially the shower gel and Body Butter and I think they will be perfect for the festive season. Finally I want to try a new scrub since I've finally used up my Soap & Glory Flake Away, I've heard great things about The Breakfast Scrub and it has a lovely sweet scent which I like in bath products. 

So that's the products i'm currently wanting to try, I enjoyed doing this sort of post so if you like them let me know and I will do more. 

What products are you currently wanting to try?

Thursday 15 November 2012

Miners The Matte Factor - Reviewed!

I've always been a fan of matte lips, they just seem to flatter me a lot more than shimmery lip products. A lot of brands seem to be coming out with their own version of these matte lip paints. The only other ones i've tried are the Collection (2000) version which I love and reviewed here. Since I enjoy those so much I thought I would try the Miners version. 
The packaging is pretty much exactly the same as the Collection version. They're like a normal lip gloss tube with each shade having a different coloured tube making it easy to find the shade you want.
As with any time you order online it's hard to tell what the shades will be like. I had heard MissBudgetBeauty rave about the shade Peach so I knew that would be a good one to try. I also thought since I don't really have any red lip products I thought I would try Warm Red too.. 
Both shades are well pigmented and creamy, they apply smoothly onto the lips and lasts really well on the lips. They are matte so can get a little drying but it's easy to apply a lip balm over the top and the colour still shows through. I love both shades I picked, Warm Red is a lovely almost berry toned red which works well with my pale skin and Peach is a lovely peach pink shade which is great for everyday wear. 

I'm in love with with these and I think they are a great addition to my lip product collection. They're pretty much exactly the same as the Collection version but Miners seem to have a wider colour range. I would definitely recommend giving these a try because for the price they really are a great product. 

Miners The Matte Factor retails for £3.99.

Are you a fan of matte lips?
 

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Nutregena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub - Reviewed!

For years i've been someone who suffered from breakouts but recently I was trying out a new product and after a few days I found I had about 5 blackheads around my nose. I never get blackeads so i'm pretty sure the product had caused it. Due to the fact I don't get blackheads I didn't have anything to get rid of them so I went into Body Care and I saw this scrub and I thought I would give it a try since I love the 2 in 1 mask from the same range.
 The packaging is pretty simple, nothing special but for a affordable product this doesn't really bother me. I actually like the orange packaging because it stands out and in the morning when i'm in a sleepy haze this helps!
The scrub claims to help eliminate as well as get rid of blackheads. It is also meant to help unclog pores and remove dirt and excess oil.
The product is a white cream with small beads in it, I like these types of scrubs because they're all lot more gentle on the skin. I find the scrub even though it is gentle it does seem to scrub away dirt and leaves my skin feeling smooth, clean but not tight or dryed out. 
So did it get rid of my pesky blackheads? I'm pretty sure it did! After a few weeks I was blackhead free. I was using other product such as clay mask which also help to remove dirt from pores but I definitely think this made a difference to my skin. I have also remained blackhead free with using this scrub. Even though I don't have blackheads anymore i'm still using this scrub 1-2 times a week and it is my favourite scrub to use.

Even though I don't have very sensitive skin I do find a lot of scrubs to be too harsh and cause me to breakout. This one has definitely not done that and I think it would work well for a lot of skin types and ages. I really do love the Visibly Clear range from Nutregena and I would definitely recommend it if you're on a budget.


Have you tried this scrub? What do you do to get rid of blackheads?

Sunday 11 November 2012

Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliners - Reviewed!

I seem to own a lot of eyeliners, various shades of black and browns but the one thing that i've been wanting for so long is a nude eyeliner. When I have to wake up early my waterline around my eyes can look really red and i've tried to use white eyeliners but for me they just make the problem seem worse. I needed a nude liner and Rimmel have finally solved my problem. 
I've used Rimmel eyeliners for years, their basic black eyeliner was one of he first make-up products I owned. These new ScandalEyes Eyeliners are pretty different from the other liners they do. 
Firstly they're waterproof which is great for me since I tend to get fairly watery eyes, they're also very creamy which means they're really easy to apply, blend and smudge into the lash line. 
They have released a good range of colours including a lovely purple,a navy blue and a classic brown. The two shades that really caught my eye were of course the Nude shade but also Taupe. 
Taupe is a grey colour with a hint of brown, I love smudging this to give definition to my lashes and create a subtle smokey eye. This is a great product if you don't have much time to get ready in the morning. The nude is perfect for getting rid of redness on the waterline and making your eyes seem more awake. I've been using it everyday without fail and both of these liners are now a staple in my make-up bag.

This liners last really well on me, I don't find they move or smudge throughout the day. I would definitely recommend picking some of these liners because they are some of the best that are available on the highstreet. 

Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliners retail for £3.99. 

Have you tried these yet? 

Friday 9 November 2012

Autumn/Winter Nail Polish Picks!

This time of year is one of my favourites for nail polish, I love darker shades against my pale skin so I thought I would show you some of my favourite shades I like to wear this time of year. I've also done a post on my Autumn/Winter Lip Products here if you missed that.
Even though I love wearing darker colours this time of year sometimes I like to wear a nude polish, my favourite is Essie Sand Tropez. It's a basic nude colour but works well for my skin tone. A recent discovery which I am loving so much is Essie Tour De Finance, I got this off Frangrance Direct for £1.99! It's a great fuschia pink with blue shimmers through it.
You can't beat a classic red this time of year, Rimmel Double Decker Red is perfect for this plus it applies beautifully and is really affordable. Next is another new purchase, Revlon Cherries In The Snow, it's a perfect cherry red shade which looks especially great with a bit of glitter over the top. Next is a burgundy red, Orly Ruby, I got this in a Glossybox last year and it's a lovely shade and again looks great with a bit of glitter. Essie Bahama Mama is probably one of my favourite polishes, it's a great pinky purple fall shade. Nails Inc Victoria is a very dark pink shade, almost black colour but makes my hands look so elegant it's also great on the toes. 
Barry M do some of my favourite polishes, Vivid Purple lives up to it's name, it's a lovely deep purple shade with shimmers. I don't often wear navy shades but when I do it's Rimmel Blue My Mind, this perfect bright navy shade that works great with pale skin. Next is China Glaze Short & Sassy which is a deep burgundy shade, I bought this off Amazon last year and it wasn't that expensive. 
I love glitter polishes, especially this time of year. One of my favourites is Revlon Facets of Fuchsia (I think they've changed the name to Scandalous now) which is purple chunky glitter in a black polish, it is a little sheer so works best over darker shades as a top coat. Finally I have Deborah lippmann Razzle Dazzle which is a beautiful fine pink glitter, I will definitely be wearing this one on Christmas day!
 Essie Sand Tropez, Tour De Finance, Rimmel Double Decker Red, Revlon Cherries In The Snow, Orly Ruby, Essie Bahama Mama, Nails Inc Victoria, Barry M Vivid Purple, Rimmel Blue My Mind, China Glaze Short & Sassy, Revlon Facets of Fuchsia, Debroh Lippmann Razzle Dazzle.

So those are some of my favourite nail polishes for this time of year, I hope you like it. What is your favourite nail polish for this time of year?  

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm - Reviewed!

So last month I caved and bought the raved about Nuxe lip balm. The thing that put me off for so long was the price tag. I just couldn't spend almost £10 on a lip balm, but when it was a third off I knew I had to have it. 

As lip balms go this one feels very luxurious. It come in a lovely frosted glass jar and the fact you get 15g of product makes it feel surprisingly heavy. 
The balm itself is thick and almost wax like, it is the thickest lip balm i've ever used but still applies easily. The ingredients include honey and essential oils which means it really does moisturise the lips rather than just coating them and not actually solving the problem of dry lips (vaseline).
The balm has a strong orangey scent to it almost like a Terry's Chocolate Orange! I personally enjoy the scent but I know some people will be put off by this. 

All in all this lip balm has and will be a savior for me during the colder months and is now a staple part of my evening skincare routine. I use it mainly in the evening by massaging a thick layer over my lips and by the time I wake up my lips feel lovely and soft. It also works great under lipsticks to stop them drying your lips out. 

I would highly recommend anyone getting this lip balm because it is truely amazing and as good as everyone says it is. If the price tag is putting you off the amount of product you get compared to other lip balms it actually works out as a pretty reasonable price. 

Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm retails for £9.50.

Have you tied this famous lip balm yet?
 

Monday 5 November 2012

LUSH Haul!

This time of year is my favourite time to go to LUSH because they always bring out so many lovely Christmas bits and I don't know about you but having long warm baths is one of my favourite things about Winter, especially when using a LUSH bath bomb. I was good when I went to LUSH and only picked up a few bits but i'm already writing a shopping list for when I next go!
My favourite things from LUSH are their Bubble Bars, I don't know if it is just me but when i'm having a bath I like lots of bubbles! 
The first thing I had to get was my favourite bubble bar, The Comforter. This has a lovely fruity blackcurrant scent that I just love. The Comforter is one of the biggest bubble bars they do too so I can get between 6 and 8 baths out of it!
The next thing I picked up was the Yuzo and Cocoa Bubbleroon, this has a lovely coconuty scent to it and I found it made my bath water feel really creamy (if that makes sense) and it helped to make my skin feel really smooth and soft. I split mine in half so I could get 2 baths out if it and I will definitely be picking up another one. 
The next thing I got was The Melting Snowman Bath Melt, this came out last year and I never tried it so I thought I would this year. I haven't actually used this yet but it has a lovely spicey cinnamon scent so I look forward to trying it out. 
I also picked up the Cinders bath bomb, I normally don't go for the bath bombs but this one was really nice. It has a fruity warm scent too it and it did make my bath water go yellow which was a little strange but it was really pleasant to use and think I will have to pick another one up soon. 
Finally I was looking for a good clarifying shampoo and I thought I would try the I Love Juicy Shampoo. I've only used this twice so far but I really do like it and it seems to help get rid of any build up really well. It has a really strong fruity scent too it that I really do like but some people might not. I will be reviewing it soon after i've used it a few more times. 

So that's all I picked up from LUSH recently, I will be making another trip to pick up some more things as well as a few Christmas present so I might do another haul soon! 

Do you love shopping at LUSH this time of year?