Thursday 31 January 2013

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - Reviewed!

This seems to be one of the most talked about moisturisers at the moment, with people claiming it has changed and saved their skin. Has someone who was already a fan of La Roche Posay I knew I had to try it and after having it for a couple of months I think i'm ready to share my thoughts.
I've always been a fan of the La Roche Posay packaging, it's simple and straight to the point with all the products matching with each other. 
The idea behind the Effaclar Duo is that it helps to unclog pores and reduce the appearance of imperfections. I don't tend to suffer from clogged pores so I can't report on that much but I do have my fair few imperfections.
The bottle has a precise tip making it easy to dispense, the product itself is a little on the runny side so I find you have to work quickly with it. Although saying that a bonus for it being a runny formula is that it feels incredible light on the skin making it perfect for oily skin.
So does it work? I think so. My skin has not drastically improved since using this but I have noticed that I get less white heads when using it. Something I love about it is that it is the great moisturiser to use under make-up and the fact it seems to help any blemishes I may be suffering from is an added bonus. 

It definitely isn't the most moisturising product so I make up for that during my evening routine. I will say i've heard sometime have not reacted well to this product so if you have very sensitive skin I would be careful with this one.

All in all if you suffer from blemishes and your skin is more on the oily to combination side I would definitely recommend giving this a go and La Roche Posay products in general.

La Roche Posay Effacular Duo retails for £11.05.

Have you tried this product?

*PR Sample
 

Tuesday 29 January 2013

January Beauty Favourites!

Another month has gone by and have a load of beauty products to show you that i've been loving this month. With getting some beauty products for Christmas and treating myself to a few bits in the sales, I have a good amount of things to share with you so lets get into it!
The first favourite I have is a haircare product; the Tangle Teezer. I have put off getting this for so long because I felt I didn't need it. Well I was wrong, my hair is so knotty after washing it and this just glides through my hair easily and without breaking my hair. For that reason I definitely won't be without it again. Next is the Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Milk (review) I love everything about this product. It smells lovely and leaves my skin feeling very moisturised.
I only have two skincare favourites this month but these two are firm favourites for sure. First the Antipodes Divine Face Oil (feat in my Evening Skincare Routine), this is my first face oil i've tried and i'm in love with it. It isn't too oily at all yet it moisturises my skin and seems to be helping with my acne scars. Next is the Origins VitaZing SPF 15 (feat in my Morning Skincare Routine), this is the perfect light day moisturises and leaves a slight tint to the skin to help cancel out redness and make my skin look glowing. Perfect.
I rediscovered my love for the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation (review) this month, it's a great Winter foundation because it really makes my skin look glowing and covers any blemishes nicely whilst feeling light on the skin. The foundation that i've been pairing with the Origins VitaZing SPF15 (review) to create the perfect base is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. The two together make the perfect light base for when i'm having more of a good skin day.
The blush i've been a little obsessed with is NARS Douceur (review), for me this is the perfect contouring blush for pale skin. It's the right amount of pink and brown to give you model like cheek bones. For eyeshadows there's been two stand out ones. First NARS Ondine (review) has been my go to one shadow taupe smokey eye. Can be suitable enough for everyday but then smoked up for the evening. The other is MAC Jaunty eyeshadow from the Hey Sailor! collection. I got this at a CCO and love it so much, it's the perfect champagne with a little something extra that looks amazing on it's own or with a matte brown in the crease. 
MAC Jaunty, NARS Ondine
This month (and December) has been all about the berry lip. i'm becoming a lot braver with my lip colours recently and these are my favourites. First up Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipsick in 107, when I first tried this I didn't think it suited me but this month i've rediscovered it and have worn it pretty much everyday. The other is the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, this is a stain that can be applied suitable or more intense and lasts ages on the lips.
Rimmel Kate Moss 107, Revlon Balm Stain in Crush.
 
So those have been my favourite products for this month, I feel like i've discovered some gems this month for sure. What have been some of your favourite for January?

Sunday 27 January 2013

January Empties!

Last month I forgot/didn't use up enough products to justify doing an empties post, however this month i'm back with a good amount of product to share with you all including a surprising amount of skincare so lets crack on! 
So lets start with the skincare products, first up is the Superdrug Tea Tree Nose Stripes, I got these when I had some blackheads a few months ago and they seemed to help and weren't too expensive so I would repurchase these. Next is a sample of the Nivea Express Hydration Primer, I really liked this product so much that I went on to buy the full size. It makes a great base for make-up and seems to help my foundation last longer. Next is the Johnsons Baby Skincare Wipes, I got this to use on the plane to America and they were nice and I would repurchase them but I don't tend to use make-up wipes that often.
Onto more skincare starting with the Caudalie Cleansing Water, I really liked this product and i've already repurchased it because it removes all my make-up and is very refreshing on my skin. The other make-up remover I have is Bioderma (review here) I really like this product and I think next time I will get the normal version instead of the one for oily skin but apart from that I will be repurchasing it. Finally there is Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean (review here) this is my favourite morning cleanser and it is something I will always have in stock because it really does work well with my skin.
I only have one shower product this month which is the Soap & Glory Clean On Me shower gel, I like this product but it isn't my favourite shower gel Soap & Glory do so I wouldn't repurchase it but I did get another full size bottle in a gift set at christmas so looks like I will be using it for a bit longer! 
Onto haircare, first I have the Loreal Elnett Extra Hold Natural Finish Hairspray, I like this hairspray because you really can't feel it in your hair however it isn't the cheapest so when i've finished up the other cans I have of this (lots of half empty ones for some reason!) I don't think I would repurchase it unless it was on offer. Next is my all time favourite shampoo the Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo, this shampoo doesn't irritate my scalp and helps with volume and protects my coloured hair. I will always repurchase this. Next is the Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Paisley scent, I liked the scent of this however I still prefer the tropical version so will continue to get that one instead. Finally is a small bottle of the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment, I loved this hair oil and i'm very tempted to get the full size bottle.
Lastly I have a few make-up products, first being the 17 Pressed Powder, this is one of the nicest powders I have used and it lasted a really long time. It is something I would definitely repurchase in the future. Next is the Loreal Voluminous Original Mascara, I picked this up in America and it was a really nice mascara however it did seem to go a little gloopy quickly and for that reason I would not repurchase it which is a shame because I liked the way it made my lashes look.

So that's my empties for this month, I hope you liked it. Have you tried any of these products before?
 
 

Friday 25 January 2013

NARS Douceur Blush - Reviewed!

I am having a slight love affair with NARS at the moment, I just can't get enough of their products. Douceur is my second NARS blush (Deep Throat was my first, post here) and they are fast becoming my favourites and are always in my make-up bag.
I'm not going to spend ages taking about the packaging but I will say I personally love it, yes it does get dirty but a quick wipe can soon solve this.
Douceur is described as a 'soft, pink brown' which is pretty spot on. This makes it the perfect shade for pale skin and for contouring. I featured it in a post about contouring for pale skin here
The colour isn't the most impressive thing in the pan but on the cheeks it looks so amazing. It's a great lazy/everday blush because you can contour and use it as a blush all in one.
As with all NARS blushes it lasts all day without fading and the quality of the blush is top notch. The powder is so fine that it looks so natural on the skin.I would definitely recommend getting this blush especially if you have a fair skintone because it looks amazing and almost gives you the cheekbones you never had! 

NARS Douceur Blush retails for £21.00.

Have you tried this blush? 



 

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Top 5 Face Masks

The finally part of my skincare routines is face masks. They are probably my favourite part too and they have definitely made and continue to make a big difference to my skin. These are my current 5 favourites to use but as always i'm always on the look out to try more!
The first set of masks I use to help with blemishes and the clear the pores. The first one is the Origins Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask (full review here) which is amazing for taking the pain out of blemishes and getting rid of the redness. I love this mask so much and wouldn't be without it. Next is the Origins Clear Improvement Mask which is a charcoal based which is amazing for clearing the cores and leaves the skin feeling super clean, again this is great for blemishes. The next mask is an old favourite, the Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2 in 1 Wash and Mask. Another clay based mask which I love using in the shower. Again it helps clearing out the pores and leaves the skin refreshed and clean.
Next is the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (full review here), this smells lovely and uses fruit acids to help speed up skin turn over. This means it gets rid of dead skin cells making the skin look glowing and helps with any scarring or discolouration to the skin. I love this mask and try to use it once a week.
The last mask I have is the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, this is a great one for dehydrated skin and really nourishes the skin. As well as this the manuka honey in the mask is great for helping with any pesky blemishes. This is such a lovely mask especially for Winter skin.

So those are my favourite mask, feel free to tell me what your favourite face masks are.

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Evening Skincare Routine

Following on from Yesterday's post on my morning skincare routine (here) i'm posting about my evening routine today. During the day I want to control the oil on my skin but when it comes to the evening it's all about hydrating my some what dehydrated skin and these are the products I use to do this. 
First to remove my make-up I use the Caudalie Cleansing Water which removes any dirt and make-up on the skin as well as being refreshing. Next I use the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm (full review here), I love this product so much, it removes any excess make-up on the skin whilst making my skin feel nourished. Next I use the same toner as I do in the morning which is the Vichy Normaderm Micellar Solution to remove any last bits of cleanser. 
Next it's time to moisturise my skin starting with the REN Replenishing Clearcalm 3 Night Serum. this is great for blemishes as it helps to get rid of them and feels light on the skin. Next is a new product which i'm very much in love with; the Antipodes Divine Face Oil. This is the first oil i've tried and it doesn't feel heavy on the skin but really helps to moisturies the skin and seems to be helping with my acne scarring. The moisturiser I use is the Origins Make A Difference (now Make A Difference Plus+) which again isn't heavy on the skin yet really does smooth the skin. The eye cream I love using is the Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream which again is light but gets rid of any dryness around the eyes. My night time lip balm is the Nuxe Rev De Miel (full review here) which is a thick lip balm but definitely helps get rid of any dry patches.I forgot to include the spot treatment I use which is the Murad Blemish Spot Treatment which is very good for blemishes and acne.

So that's my evening skincare routine, I love all these products and would definitely recommend them all.

What's your stand out product in your evening skincare routine?

Monday 21 January 2013

Morning Skincare Routine

It's taken me a while but I think i'm finally happy with my skincare routine! I've been wanting to do posts on my skincare routine and it's something that is always requested but i've finally found products I love and would recommend to you all. This will be my morning routine but i'm also doing my evening routine and favourite face masks in separate posts. 
Starting with my all time favourite morning cleanser Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean (full review here), this always leaves my clean feeling really cleaned, refreshed but not dry. It's a cream texture so doesn't feel drying on the skin. Next is a new purchase and is the Vichy Normaderma Micellar Solution which is a lovely gentle, alcohol free toner great for removing any little bits of cleanser. 
Next onto moisturising the skin; first I use Hydraluron which is a serum which contains hyaluronic acid which is great for added moisture to the skin. It's a must of dehydrated skin and makes the perfect smooth base for make-up. Next onto eye cream which is currently a sample of Origins Gin Zing. This has a slight glow to it making it perfect for waking up the eyes but also smooths any dryness. Next the moisturiser i'm loving is the Origins Vita Zing SPF 15 (full review here), is light enough for wearing under make-up but also adds a sheer tint to the skin and helps even out my skintone. Finally the lip balm i'm loving is the Palmers Lip Butter which moisturises the lips and smells of chocolate! 

So that's my morning skincare routine, I hope you liked it and I would definitely recommend all of these products. 

What are your current favourite morning skincare products?
 

Saturday 19 January 2013

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Lotion - Reviewed!

For Christmas I got the big Soap & Glory set, this is definitely one of the products in it that I was really excited to try because I had never used it before. I've tried their body butters which I love but never until now have I tried one of the body lotions. Oh my am I glad I have tried this product!
As with all Soap & Glory the packaging is lovely, I also like the fact that this 500ml bottle comes with a pump which makes applying it easy but for some reason it also seems to make me use it more.
As I said you get 500ml in this bottle which means it is going to last a long time, I've been using it for around a month straight and i've only used around 1/10th of it. 
The ingredients include almond, cocoa, yogurt, oats and honey which means it has a lovely scent to it that is almost nutty but very pleasant. This is classed as a body milk so it's not a really thick moisturiser but is still very moisturising to the skin. It almost feels slightly oily when applied the skin but sinks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling so lovely.
I would definitely recommend this product to anyone because it is really lovely and for the amount of product you get well worth the money. I can see myself definitely repurchasing this when I run out although I doubt that will be anytime soon!


Have you tried this product? What is your favourite body lotion?


 

Thursday 17 January 2013

Top 5 Foundations

This is a post i've been planning for a while but didn't want to do it until I had 5 foundations I really loved and definitely would want to recommend to you all. I think i've got a good mix of drugstore and high-end here as well as different finishes and coverages. So hopefully this will be helpful if you're on the look out for a good foundation.
Drugstore - 
The first one of my foundation favourites is one I love to wear during the Summer; Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (full review here) with an SPF 15. I have the lightest shade which is Ivory, this foundation gives a good coverage that is very buildable but yet it feel light on the skin. It also lasts all day and makes my skin look glowing but not shimmery. The only downside is the colour range is a bit rubbish but if you can find a shade that works for you it's a great foundation. Next is probably my all time favourite foundation the Bourjous Healthy Mix Foundation (full review here). This is my second bottle and like the Wake Me Up this gives this gives a medium coverage but this one feels even lighter on the skin. The coverage is very buildable and again lasts all day on my oily skin; I also like the Healthy Mix Serum for Winter time because it gives a dewy finish but the original is definitely my favourite. Again the colour range isn't amazing but it has no SPF so good for nights out. Finally I have the Nutregena Healthy Skin Liquid Make-Up with an SPF 20 which is hard to get in the UK but is a lovely foundation. It again gives a light to medium coverage but I would say if you apply too much it can get a little cakey but if you apply the right amount it looks lovely and lasts pretty well too. From what I can remember this has a fairly good colour range too.

High-End -
My first favourite high-end foundation is the Clinique Even Better Make-Up which has an SPF 15 (full review here). This is another medium coverage one which if you apply too much like the Nutregena Healthy Skin can look a little cakey but the right amount looks lovely. It lasts well on the skin too and looks almost glowing. Clinique also have a good colour range so you should find a shade that works for you. Finally probably my second favourite foundation is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua SPF 15. At first I didn't get on with this one but now I love it, I think my skin has change recently and is less oily. The coverage is light to medium but can be built up without looking cakey; it makes my skin look really healthy and doesn't feel heavy or like you are wearing foundation. It lasts well on my skin now but not so great when my skin is very oily. The colour range is also very good.

Rimmel Wake Me Up - Coverage 4/5 Longevity 4/5 Colour Range 3/5 = 11/15
Bourjous Healthy Mix - Coverage 4/5 Longevity 5/5 Colour Range 4/5 = 13/15
Nutregena Healthy Skin Liquid Make-Up - Coverage 4/5 Longevity 3/5 Colour Range 5/5 = 12/15
Clinique Even Better Make-Up - Coverage 4/5 Longevity 4/5 Colour Range 4/5 = 12/15
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation Coverage 3/5 longevity 3.5/5 Colour Range 3.5/5 = 10/15

So those are my favourite foundations, what are some of yours?

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Clynol Wonder 10 - Reviewed!

I've never been hugely into haircare as much as say skincare or make-up. However I do like to keep on eye out for any good products. My hair is pretty fine so I try to avoid using too many products on it because it just weighs it down. This product however does not do that at all.
Wonder 10 claims to do the job of 10 products in 1 treatment. These include repair and nourishment, improved detangling, instant shine and smoothness, UV and colour protection, banishes static and frizz, reduces split ends, renewed bounce and vitality, easier blow drying, restores moisture balance and pure feather-light formula. Wow, that's a lot of claims for one product, so does it actually work?
I would say Yes it does! After reading all those claims I didn't have huge high hopes but it has really surprised me. The thing I love about it is that it really helps to detangle my hair after washing it, especially if i'm using my tangle teezer. I find it leaves my hair feeling in good quality after washing without weighing it down.

To use this product as wash my hair as normally then towel dry it that spray a few squirts on then brush my hair. If need I will use a hair oil as well but I do find this treats my hair enough on it's own.

If you're a bit lazy when it comes to haircare like myself then i would definitely recommend trying this product because it really is an all in one product.

Clynol Wonder 10 retails for £9.95.

Have you tried this?

 *

Sunday 13 January 2013

VO5 Refresh Me Quick Dry Shampoo - Reviewed!

It safe to say that i'm a huge dry shampoo lover and i'm never without a can of Batiste Tropical. Even though I love Batiste i'm always curious to see if there are any other good dry shampoo which is when I came across this VO5 version.

There are two different types of dry shampoo VO5 have to offer, I decide to go for the one for normal to oily hair. The product comes in a bright pink tin so definitely will stand out on your dressing table.
VO5 claim that this will 'give a fresh look & feel between washes' and I would definitely agree with this. It is great for adding a bit of volume and boost to the hair but doesn't feel like you have a load of product in your hair.
The best thing about this dry shampoo is that it has a lovely strawberry scent to it which helps with making your hair feel fresh again. 

I love using this is my hair is just looking a bit flat and in need of a boost. If it is feeling more on the greasy side I still reach for my trusty Batiste because that really helps my hair to feel clean. However if dry shampoo normally leaves white marks in your roots I would definitely recommend this dry shampoo because it doesn't do that at all.


Have you tried this? What is your favourite dry shampoo?

Friday 11 January 2013

How To - Contouring For Pale Skin

As a pale skinned girl I only recently started using bronzers and contouring products. For a long time I just thought it would not work for my pale skintone and just make me look like I had mud on my face. Over the last year or so i've discovered some products and ways of contouring for my pale skin and after asking on twitter I thought it would be helpful for me to share them with you. 
First lets talk bronzers, it has taken me a long time to find bronzers that aren't too orangey and not overly shimmery. One I haven't included that I do like is the Bourjous 'chocolate bonzer' which I like bit I prefer these ones now.
Starting with the best matte bronzer I have found is NYC Sunny Bronzer, (full post here) this is the right amount of a light brown with no orange tones to it. This is great for applying in the hollows of the cheeks (this is where you make the strange duck face). With bronzers my main tip is definitely less is more, this bronzer is great for this because it is buildable and never looks over the top. The other is my Summer option; NARS Laguna. This is a well loved bronzer which I was happy to see works surprisingly well on pale skin. This has a slight shimmer I don't use this to contour but instead apply it where the sun would hit the face. This is the temples, along the nose, hollows of cheeks and under the jaw line. Here's a picture of the pan of Laguna to show that it really isn't that orangey.
Next i'll mention tools, having the right tools definitely helps when applying contouring products. My favourite brush for actually contouring is the Real Techniques Contour Brush, this brush is soft and and is good at blending out any harsh lines. Another favourite is the Sigma Large Angled Contour F40 for the same reasons. For applying a product like Laguna all over the face I love the Real Techniques Blush Brush and the Sigma Duo Fibre F50 because again they blend the product nicely and makes it look very natural.
Left to Right - Sigma F40, Sigma F50, Real Techniques Blush Brush, Real Techniques Contour Brush.
Some of my favourite ways to contour is purple toned blushes. These are perfect for pale skins because they look so natural and no orange tones in sight! Some cheap option are NYX Taupe Blush which I apply into the hollows of the cheeks using the Sigma F40 because this is matte it looks natural and gives a defined cheek bones look. Some blushes that look great applied to the hollows of the cheeks instead of the apples are ELF's Mellow Mauve Blush and Rimmel 3 in 1 Powder Blush in Autumn Catwalk.
Some higher end options are NARS Douceur Blush which should be a must for everyone with pale skin because it is models cheek bones in a blush, amazing. The other is MAC Desert Rose Blush which is completely matte and again looks best applied into the hollows of the cheeks. 
As a round up I thought I would mention out of all blushes that if you still are a bit unsure of bronzers the ones that are best for contouring. These are definitely NYX Taupe which may look a little scary in the pan but looks amazing on the cheeks. It definitely doesn't look the best on the apples of the cheeks but in the hollows going up to the ears it looks great. NARS Douceur is my current favourite blush because it is a little bit more pinked toned that NYX Taupe so looks great as a blush and contour in one. 
So I hope this post was helpful if you are a bit stuck for contouring. My main tips would be apply to the hollows of the cheeks instead of on the apples. Less is definitely more and use a fluffy brush to get rid of any harsh lines because it will look a lot more natural. The next top to apply bronzer where the sun hits the face to achieve that sun kissed look!

What are you contouring tips?