Saturday 31 August 2013

August Beauty Favourites!

I've tried to slow down on the spending this month and did surprisingly well, i've been rediscovering some old favourites as well as giving some new releases a good testing and some of them I have become a little obsessed with. 
I've rediscovered The Body Shop Rainforest Shampoos this month, the first time I tried these I wasn't blown away but since giving them a go again i've loved using them. This is the Balance Shampoo for Oily Hair, and feels clarifying but not drying. I've been using the Carino Miracle Oil with it which is a cheap hair oil from Aldi which is surprisingly effective at making the ends of my hair soft, it smells lovely too and the ingredients aren't that bad either. 
I've just written a review (here) on my love for the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner, this stuff leaves my skin feeling soft and helps with congestion. It is also gentle enough to use every other night. A sample I have fallen in love with is the Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel, this product is expensive but oh my is it lovely. It exfoliates the skin to leave it feeling fresh and look glowing. Finally for skincare I have the Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, this has really helped with improving the appearance of my skincare and reduced a lot of the acne scarring I have on my face. I have a full review here
Something that i've been meaning to feature in a favourites post for about two months now is the Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream, this is a great handcream to use in the warmer months as it sinks in so quickly and doesn't feel greasy yet is very nourishing. 
Onto makeup, for a lot of the month i've been wearing the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint in Rich Russet (review). This is a liquid shadow which doesn't budge all day and the shade is a lovely bronze colour which can be worn subtly and more dramatic. I've had this Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Androgen for a couple of months but i've loved it especially in August, it's a lovely peachy pink shade which can be worn on the cheeks and lips. On the cheeks it lasts all day and gives the perfect healthy glow to the face. 
The Maybelline Baby Lips have finally been released in the UK, i've dug out the shades I picked up in America and also treated myself to two new ones. These are lovely lips balms which have an SPF 20, my favourite has the be Cherry Me which is perfect for freshening up a red lip on the go. The other lip product i've been loving is the Bourjous Colour Boost Lip Crayons, I have the shades Orange Punch and Red Sunrise and both are pigmented and moisturising. They stay put a good amount of time and offer an SPF 15, perfect. Full review here

So those are this months favourites, i'm excited for September as it is my birthday at the beginning of the month and I go back for my final year at Uni and the end which is a little nervwracking. What have been your favourite products this month?

Thursday 29 August 2013

August Empties!

I'm getting pretty good at using things up at the moment and I think I did especially well this month. I've managed to use a good amount of skincare products which i'm proud of since i'm definitely a skincare hoarder. 
As always i've finished a can of my favourite Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo, I don't think i've been without a can of this stuff for at least 2 years now. I'm trying to use up all my shampoo's at the moment since I have so many half used. The first one i've used up is The Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Shampoo for Coloured Hair, this first time I tried it I wasn't the biggest fan but since going back to it i've loved it. It makes my hair feel lovely and clean and is sulphate, silicone, paraben and colourant free. I will definitely be picking this up again. The other shampoo I finished is the LUSH Daddy-O Shampoo, this is a purple shampoo that smells of parma violets and stops my blonde hair going brassy and is also very clarifying. I will repurchase this in the future. Finally for hair i've finished the L'oreal Elnett Supreme Hold Hairspray, I always love using Elnett hairspray because you can't feel it in your hair, I would repurchase this in the future although I have a few hairsprays to use up.
I've finished another Soap & Glory Pulp Friction, I think this is my third one of these. It is a great scrub to use in the shower and has a lovely scent to it. It is my favourite scrub but as I said it is perfect for using in the shower. I would get this again but I won't be rushing out to get it. I've also used up the Nspa Jojoba and White Vanilla Foaming Bath Milk, this smells and feels so much more expensive than it is. It is perfect for when you want one of those at home spa evenings. I will be definitely be picking up another one these next time I go to Asda.
Onto body products, i've used up the Palmers Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner, this is great for using if you're looking ghostly pale and want to look sunkissed. The scent can be a little overpowering, it smells of cocoa butter with a hint of chocolate. I won't be repurchasing until next Summer since I don't have the need to use it as much in the colder months. I've finished another body butter from The Body Shop, this one being the strawberry scent, which is one of my favourites. It isn't the most moisturising in their range but it smells lovely and I would definitely repurchase in the future. Another product I finished from The Body Shop is the Dreams Unlimited perfume, I liked this, it had a nice fruity musky scent. I'm not sure that they still do this scent anymore, but I will probably pick up one of their new scents soon since they're great for everyday use. 
Onto skincare, I've finished two eye cream samples. The first being the Burts Bees Radiance Eye Creme, this was okay but I really don't like the royal jelly scent so I wouldn't get the full size. The other being the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream, this again was very nice but for the price I don't think it's worth it for me so again I wouldn't purchase the full size. I've finished another Bioderma, this is hands down my favourite makeup remover and I will always have some in my stash. Next is the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, I love this product in Summer because it is so refreshing and doesn't leave my face feeling wet. I will probably pick up another bottle next Summer. Finally I have the Origins Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Treatment, this is an amazing moisturiser, it's perfect for oily skin that is dehydrated. This is my second tub and even though it is expensive it works so well for my skin I will definitely be repurchasing soon. 
Only two makeup bits this month, first being a sample of the Dr Jart Premium BB Cream, this looked so natural on my skin and even out my skin tone. It wasn't the best for oily skin however I can see this being perfect for more mature skin. I wouldn't buy the full size but I do love Dr Jart BB Creams. Finally I finished the Collection Brow Definer in Blonde, this is the best affordable brow pencil i've found. It is ashy and waxy which means you can make your brows look defined. I've already repurchased this. 

So that is this months empties, I can't believe how much i've used up this month and it feels good to be seeing that I have more space in my cupboards now! Have you used up any of your favourite products this month?
 

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - Reviewed!

For a while i've known that rosehip oil is great for getting rid of and improving the appearance of scarring. As someone who has suffered from acne scarring for a good few years now it was something I wanted to try, after doing some research this Trilogy offering seemed to have good reviews so in my basket it went whilst Escentual had a 20% off sale.
The Trilogy Rosehip Oil comes in two different sizes, 20ml and 45ml, I decided to go for the 20ml size because I wanted to make sure I liked it before getting a bigger bottle of the stuff.
The product itself seems similar to other oils i've tried on it's consistency, I will say though the smell isn't over pleasant for me however I can definitely see past this since it is a very good product. The smell doesn't linger on the skin either. 
I've been applying this every night for about a month now and I have definitely seen a change in my skin. It has reduced the redness and size of some blemish scarring I have, especially on my cheeks. It has also evened out my skin tone a lot. I've even had comments on how my skin is looking good and i'm sure it is down to this product. My skin on a whole has felt smoother since using this oil. 

I would definitely recommend this product if you have any sort of scarring or discolouration on your skin because I have seen a definite improvement in my skin. I've used nearly half of this bottle and I am definitely interested in trying other rosehip oils and I can see myself definitely picking up another bottle of this stuff. 

Triolgy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil retails for £11.75 for 20ml or £21.85 for 45ml.

Have you tried rosehip oils, if so which ones?

Saturday 24 August 2013

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner - Reviewed!

Exfoliating toners seem to be the new must try skincare product at the moment. The most talked about one has to be the Pixi Glow Tonic, however it is a pain to get hold of and since i've been loving Clarins lately I thought I would give their offering a good testing. 
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner
The packaging is simple and matches other Clarins products. The product itself contains Tamarind and White Nettle. The tamarind claims to eliminates impurities and dead cells and the white nettle claims to refine pores and smooth skin texture. It also claims to improve the effectiveness of any skincare products applied afterwards. 
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner
The product is a thick liquid which you apply onto a cotton pad a wipe all over the face. Afterwards you can apply the rest of your skincare products such as serum, oil and moisturiser on top. You can you these products everyday however I prefer to use it ever other night or twice a week if i'm using another AHA product as well. 
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner
You won't see such drastic results as when you use a product like the Alpha H Liquid Gold because it is a lot milder. However the morning after using this my skin does feel smoother and on a whole my skin feels less congested. I also think the appearance of my skin has improved as well. I would recommend this if something like Liquid Gold is too harsh for your skin or if your skin can get congested easily. As with any AHA based product you do need to use a SPF is the morning after using this.

All in all I would definitely recommend this product, i've really enjoyed this being a part of my evening skincare routine. I've also been using this product for about two months and i've used less than a quarter so I can see this lasting a good amount of time.


Have you tried this product? What is your favourite exfoliating toner?

Thursday 22 August 2013

Makeup Collection

Ever since re-decorating my bedroom and getting some decent storage i've been wanting to do a makeup collection post. Now that it's been a few months and i'm happy with everything I thought it was about time I did it. Warning this one is going to be picture heavy! 
 I did a post recently on my Dressing Table so I don't want to go into too much detail on that here. I do keep my muji drawers which I keep products that i'm currently testing or using a lot in my everyday routine. I also keep all my eye bases such as my MAC Paint Pots in these drawers since I use those most days. I also keep some bits in a makeup bag because I often travel between my parent's houses.
I also have a drawer in my dressing table which is wear I keep things that i'm currently using, I tend to swap out products in here ever so often. 
On my shelf I keep my eyeshadow palettes in letter holders because they're too big to store anywhere else, it is also easy to grab them when i'm in a rush. The letter holders are from WH Smith a few years ago, i'm sure they still do similar ones. 
The bulk of my makeup I keep in my Ikea Alex unit, I would definitely recommend this unit as you can fit so much in it and it doesn't take up a lot of space. The top thin drawers I keep makeup in, the best is skincare, bodycare and haircare. I can do a separate post on that if anybody what's to see it. I also have an acrylic nail polish rack which I keep my most used polishes in. 
The top draw I keep foundations, bb creams, tinted moisturisers, primers, powders and concealers. To separate everything i've used old beauty boxes. I like that I can open the draw and see everything I have clearly.
I've organised each draw in the same way. I've got all cheek products together, then eye products and finally lip products. I like the fact that I still have space to add things whilst still being able to see everything.
The last draw I have the rest of my nail polishes in, as you can see i've been collecting (hoarding) nail polishes for a long time! 

So that's my makeup collection, i've tried to keep this short as possible, if you would like to see more in depth look at certain things like a blush collection, let me know in the comments and I will do that soon.  

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Sample Testing

I really do enjoy trying out new samples, it's a great way to try out a brand or a certain product without spending all your pennies at once. I thought it would be good to introduce on new feature on my blog where I review the samples i'm currently testing and tell you whether or not I would buy the full size. 
SKINCARE -
  • Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator - full size £20.00. - This product is a yellow gel with the tinniest of beads in it which means it exfoliates the skin without causing any irritation. It has a lovely lemon scent to it. I've gotten 3 uses out of this little pot so far and my skin has been loving a gentle manual scrub once a week. Would I buy the full size? Yes! I've actually put it on my birthday list I love it so much. 
  • Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel - full size £40.00. - Oh my is this one a beauty. I love a good AHA based product, but what makes this one a little different from other masks i've tried, it has very small grains in it which gives you that scrubby feeling. You only leave this on for 4 minutes and after my skin feels and looks so lovely. Would I buy the full size? Yes, if it wasn't so freaking expensive! I'm tempted to treat myself though. (Sorry bank account!).
  • Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Mask - full size £28.00. - I do have a thing for clay masks, especially with having oily/combination skin. This reminds me a lot of the REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask in that it doesn't strip the skin and is easy to remove. Yet it really helps to get rid of any congestion in the skin. Would I buy the full size? No, because I own the REN mask which is similar but I would recommend it.
BODYCARE - 
  •  Rodial Brazilian Tan Light - full size £35.00. - I'm a big fan of gradual tanners and I was excited to give this one a go. I like the fact that this is a gel and it is also tinted so you can see where you've applied the product. With it also being a gel it also dries quickly, it also smells like coconuts which I love. The thing I don't like about this is it is hard to get any even tan, it looks streaky so easily. Would I buy the full size? No, it's expensive and is hard to apply.
  • Weleda Skin Food - full size £8.50. - This product is one which you can use anywhere on the body that has dry skin. So face, hands, feet, body. The thing I love about this is that it is so moisturising but doesn't feel heavy or greasy at all. I think this will be the perfect product to use in the colder months. Would I buy the full size? Yes! 

So those are the current samples i've been putting to the test, what samples are you currently using and would you buy the full size version?

Saturday 17 August 2013

In The Bronze

I love to rock a bronze toned smokey eye but especially in Summer. There's something that I love about have matching bronzed cheeks and eyes with a bright lip. Today I thought I would share some of my favourite products to use to create a bronzed smokey eye. 

 THE ALL IN ONE
The first few products I have are the all in ones, you can pop this on and is less then 10 seconds you're good to go. The first is an old favourite, MAC Groundwork Paint Pot, the perfect base for shadows. It's a lovely brown shade that has a sheen to it and looks stunning on the eyes. Next up I have two offerings by Rimmel. The first being the Eye Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze, this can be used as a liner and looks great smudged all over the lid. The next is the Eye Shadow Paint in Rich Russet, the more taupe and cool toned out of the bunch, this one you have to work fast with but looks amazing applied subtly or more intense. All of these can also be used as bases for shadows as they won't budge all day. 

THE SHADOWS
Some of my favourite shadows to use to create a smokey are MAC Soba which is a yellow toned brown with a slight shimmer too it, and Patina which is a duo chromed brown with green and gold tones through it. Both of these look lovely applied over Groundwork paint pot or worn alone, they also look create paired together. Something I though I would include is a dupe for MAC Club eyeshaodw, MUA Shade 12. This is a duo chromed brown with lovely green tones in it. Applied lightly it is a lovely red toned brown with a sheen too it or applied more intense to achieve the colour in the pan. 

THE MULTITASKER 
I've rediscovered my love for the ELF Golden Bronzer recently, not only does it look amazing on the cheeks as a highlighter but it also looks great on the eyes. The lightest shade applied all over the lid with a mix the darker shades applied in the crease creates a lovely more toned down bronzed look to the eyes. 

So those are some of my favourite bronze eye products. I would love to hear what some of your favourite bronzed eye products are for creating a lovely smokey eye.
 

Thursday 15 August 2013

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint in Rich Russet - Reviewed!

Today I have another new Rimmel offering from their Scandaleyes range. I can remember trying eye shadow paints when I first got into makeup about 7 years ago, from memory the lasting power of them were pretty rubbish. After hearing the amazing claims these new Rimmel version last all day without creasing I was definitely interested in giving them a try. 
Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint
Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint
The packaging is simple, it reminds me a lot of some of the older Rimmel packaging. It comes in a lipgloss style tube with a sponge applicator. The applicator is long but thin making it easy to apply a small amount of product, or you can use it on it's side to pack on more product for a more intense look. When you apply the product to the eye it feels surprisingly cooling. I will say the product sets quickly so I tend to apply straight to the lid and then blend out with my ring finger or a blending brush. 
Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Paint Rich Russet
As I said you can achieve a subtle look or something more intense and smokey depending on the amount of product you apply. I am very happy to say that the wear time is also very good, I only tend to find the slight bit of creasing after around 10 hours wear without a primer or shadows applied on top.

The shade Rich Russet is a lovely taupey, bronze shade which I think would flatter a lot of complexions and eye colours. All in all this is yet another Rimmel Scandaleyes product that i've been impressed with. However like I said with the Eye Shadow Stick the shade range is pretty poor, and for me personally this is the only wearable everyday shade. 


Have you tried this or will you be trying it?

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon - Reviewed!

I think some people are starting to get tired of all these lip crayons being released, but personally I love the concept so I definitely get excited when a brand releases their own version. Of course when the Bourjois version came out I had to give them a try.
Bourjous Colour Boost Lip Crayon
Bourjous Colour Boost Lip Crayon
The packaging isn't anything different from the other versions of lip crayons available. Although I will say I have found the the writing has started to rub off a little, this maybe down to them being in my handbag but I thought it would be good to mention. 

Bourjous Colour Boost Lip Crayon
The crayons twist up which means no sharpening needed so no wasted product. Bourjous claim that these will last 10 hours and add colour and moisture to the lips. The 10 hour I wouldn't fully agree with, they do last a long time, more like 5-6 hours for me. The darker shade I have definitely lasts the longest leaving a stain to the lips without being drying. 
Bourjous Colour Boost Lip Crayon
The shade Red Sunrise is a lovely red shade which looks lovely on the lips. The other shade I have is Orange Punch which is a peachy coral shade. Both apply nicely and don't cling to dry patches, they feel moisturising on the lips and as I said above dry to a stain after a few hours. 

All in all these are yet another lip crayon that i've fallen in love with. They don't last as long as the Revlon ones but for me I find them a little bit more moisturising and glossy on the lips. At the moment there are only four shade to chose from, each shade is lovely and I hope to see Bourjois add a few more colours in the future. 

                              Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon retails for £7.99.

                                  Have you tried this or will you be trying them?

Saturday 10 August 2013

Haul | No Spending August?

I definitely think i've been good on slowing down the spending recently but I think i'm going to attempt a spending ban throughout August. It is my birthday on the 4th of September and for the day i'm going to London with my Mum. I want to be able to treat myself to a few bits whilst i'm there. Also I have a good backlash of products I want to blog about which is another reason for going on a spending ban. So today I thought I would share the few bits I picked up at the end of July and the bits my Dad treated me too last week since it will be the last haul for a bit! 
First up there is an awesome freebie in this months Elle magazine which I had to get my hands on. The Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, this is actually the first Bumble and Bumble product i've gotten and i'm excited to try it. 
I've tried Naked hair products before so I got a bit excited when I spotted some of their body products on a random shelf in my local boots. Both of these were 1/3 off so I picked up the Coco De Mer Body Wash and Bath Foam. I'm looking forward to trying these since they smell lovely. 
The Maybelline Baby Lips have finally come out in the UK! I already had 2 which I picked up in America but I got the Mint Fresh one last time I went to Boots and it smells lovely. I picked up a replacement of the Collection Brow Definer in Blonde which is my favourite brow pencil and I thought I would give Maybelline's new brow pencil a go as well. So far I still prefer the Collection one. The other things I picked up was the RImmel Eye Shadow Paint in Rich Russet which is a lovely bronze, taupe colour and it stays put all day. I just wish they did more wearable colours.
I caved and picked up the new Bourjous Colour Boost, I got the shades Orange Punch and Red Sunrise. I love both of these colours and the formula of these are so lovely. Expect a full review very soon.
I picked up a few skincare samples and a new lip balm from Naturismo, I would definitely recommend this website for lots of great skincare brands and they do great samples. The lip balm is a Yes To Carrots one in Berry and I love using the under lipsticks that can be a little drying. The samples I got were the Caudalie Moisture Sorbet and SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, I haven't tried these yet but i've been interested in both of these products for a while. I also picked up the Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator which is amazing and i'm definitely putting the full size on my birthday list. I was so excited to see they had some Elemental Herbology samples because I've been wanting to try this brand for a while. I got the Facial Detox Purrifying Mask and the Facial Glow Radiance Peel, I like both of these, especially the Radiance Peel which left my skin feeling amazing.

So that's the few bits I picked up recently, I have plenty to go at for while so hopefully this no spending August won't be too hard to do! What beauty purchase have you made recently?