New Beauty Storage

I have spent the last couple of weeks redecorating my bedroom and reorganizing the products I own. I found that I had to many things in different places, so I wanted a storage system where everything was together in one place. I now own the Ikea Hemnes dressing table (£190) and also bought the matching stool (£20), which means I have a space where I can store everything and get ready with all my makeup at my fingertips. 

Apologies for the not so brilliant photos, I have had to rely on my trusty iPhone as my camera charger has been packed somewhere and I have yet to find it!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review

Double Wear is a foundation I have been meaning to try for ages. It is currently the UK's most popular foundation,  due to an excellent shade range and the buildable coverage the product offers. As I have oily skin and hyper pigmentation from acne scaring, I wanted to see how well this foundation would perform on my skin. The SPF of 10 is also a bonus. 

When I first applied the product, using a Real Techniques stippling brush, it actually made my face look almost white. Now, considering I am using the lightest shade available, called 'shell' this is not the look I wanted! Once I had blended the product in it warmed up and matched my skin tone really well and is seamless. I always struggle to find foundation shades which are light enough for me, but this shade is perfect. It applied really well and gave me a nice even coverage with the equivalent of one pump of product. I then used a tiny bit more to cover my problem areas, before powdering. I then had a perfect base for the rest of my makeup. 

 

The foundation lasted really well and actually stayed matte for about 6 hours before I had to blot. If you don't have really oily skin then this won't be a problem for you, but some foundations make me oily within 3-4 hours! It also didn't smudge or move around, instead it required minimal touch ups and was still in place when I came to remove it 10 hours later. 

I would definitely recommend this foundation, and will be purchasing it as soon as I run out of my current Lancome one. I got a 10 day sample from an Estee Lauder counter which is a really good trial size. The full 30ml size bottle is £28.50, I just wish it came with a pump!

Have you tried this foundation? Apologies for the lack of photos in this post, I currently only have the product in a tiny sample bottle so there's nothing pretty or exciting to photograph!

Empties #4

The first product I finished, was another body butter from The Body Shop, this time in 'Raspberry'. I adore these, their scent, the consistency and their moisturisation. One pot usually lasts me around 3 weeks so they are definitely one of my most used products, hence they keep appearing in these posts! I would repurchase this instantly, although I currently have a stash to work my way through. There are various flavours available for £13 at The Body Shop. 

The next product I used up was a mascara. I always only keep mascaras for 3 months as they harbor bacteria and become dry. This time I tried Maxfactors 'False Lash Effect' mascara, in the 'Clump Defy' purple packaging. This is supposed to be identical to Cover Girls 'Clump Crusher' mascara, which isn't available in the UK. I did like this product, it built up volume well with around 2-3 coats and was intensely black, which I always like. The plastic brush was also nice and didn't tug on the lashes. It is on the pricey side though for a high street product, retailing for £10.99 at Boots (it is currently on offer for £7.99!) I would repurchase it, but only on offer as you can have a high end mascara for £5-8 more. 

My other makeup empty was a Revlon lipgloss in 'Peony.' This is from their Colour Burst line and is a beautiful pink with a golden shimmer. Luckily this isn't overly glittery on the lips. It also isn't sticky, instead it has a nice consistency and really adds a nice shine to the lips. I used to layer this over most of my pink lipsticks. I would 100% repurchase this again and would love to try some of the other shades. They are available at Boots for £7.99, but are currently £5.99 on offer. 

Soap And Glory is an excellent brand and I have just branched out into their hair care range. I have used up a 250ml bottle of their 'Glad Hair Day' shampoo. This is a great shampoo with a lovely fruity scent, it lathers well and really cleans the hair without drying it, plus the shea butter it contains helps to moisturise, so if you skip conditioner, it isn't the end of the world. The packaging, like all Soap And Glory products, is super cute. I would repurchase this again for sure and you can find it in Boots for £5.50, also it is currently on 3 for 2. 

The final empty is a Radox shower gel, which I featured in a recent haul. This is the 'Berry Burst' scent which is lovely and fruity. It lathers well and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. I picked this up for the gym and have already repurchased it. Radox shower gel is currently £1 per bottle at Boots.

NYX at Next

Yesterday I discovered some of the larger Next stores are stocking NYX Cosmetics. Now, I was aware you can order NYX online and get it delivered within the UK, but if you have never tried the products or colours, this can be a bit risky. 

I decided to pick up the Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 'Pink Frost' which is a lovely shimmery pale pink. This gloss smells divine, of a lovely fruity scent. I also like the little bow on the top of the lid, which is a cute little detail. This was £6. 

I also picked up a blush in 'Pinched' which is a lovely pink with golden shimmer, very similar to Coralista by Benefit. The product is highly pigmented and so should last well on the cheeks. This was also £6. 

Top to Bottom: Pink Frost lip gloss and Pinched blush

My last purchase was the 'Matte Finish Setting Spray.' There are now lots of these on the market, from brands like Urban Decay and Elf. I have always wanted to try one as I have very oily skin, so keeping everything matte can be difficult. This comes in a 60ml spray bottle and was £8.

Have you tried any NYX products?

Big Beauty Haul

Every couple of months I do one big toiletries splurge. I do this to avoid running out of essentials and also so that when I pop into Boots in between big shops, I can spend more time looking at the makeup!

Here is what I usually pick up:

• Shampoo (Herbal Essences 'Bee Strong' 400ml)- £1.94
• Shower Gel (Radox 'Berry Burst' 250ml)- £1
• Moisturiser (Simple 'Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser' 125ml) -£3.79
• Cotton Pads (Boots Essentials Cotton Wool pads, 100 pads)-£1.39
• Nail Polish Remover (Boots 'Conditioning Nail Polish Remover' 150ml)-£1.30
• Deodorant (Sure Women 'Cotton Ultra Dry' 250ml)-2 for £4
• Lip Balm (Blistex 'Med Plus Repairing' 7g) £2.59                                                                                              (Boots Essentials Lip Salve) £1

Birthday Beauty Bits

As a beauty mad girl, I LOVE receiving beauty products for my birthday. I always drop enough hints so my friends and family know which products I am coveting!

This year I received two new perfumes, as I have used up a lot of my collection recently. Luckily, I received the Marc Jacobs Daisy EDT Christmas gift set, which included the 50ml fragrance, 100ml shower gel and 100ml body lotion. This is my ultimate favourite fragrance, and I cannot wait to layer the shower gel and lotion underneath. 

The other perfume I received which I use as a day perfume, is Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck. I have also owned this one before and it is just lovely. I received the 30ml bottle, which is great for your handbag if you like to reapply during the day. The bottle is also far nicer than most celebrity fragrances. 

My other beauty gift was Benefit's 'They're Real' mascara. This has to be my favourite high end mascara, as it just does the job so well. It doesn't smudge or move around, instead it stays put until I remove it and is also a really intense black colour. I purchased the small sample size to give it a try and so this is my first full size tube, I can't wait to recommend it to more friends. 

Mini Boots Haul

The first product I got my hands on last week was the Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in 'Coral Reef.' This is a very vibrant coral shade in the pot, but once swatched and blended, it is much more sheer. I have never tried a cream blush before, but I've heard they are more long lasting than powder formulas. I have yet to try this, but when I do, I will build it up gradually on the cheeks, instead of applying to much and looking like a clown! The texture of this product is also really smooth and powder like once blended out. Revlon has 3 shades available, for £7.99 each.

The other sneaky purchase was a glittery nail polish from No 7. I always like a bit of sparkle on my nails in the festive season, so the 'Daisy Darling' pink glitter shade was right up my street. This is a clear polish with chunky pink glitter in. Although after trying it out on one of my nails, you only get a very small amount of glitter with one coat. I think this polish would be great for a feature nail, or as a top coat. You can get your hands on this for £6 each. 

Have you treated yourself to any beauty bits recently?

Empties #3

My first empty is the 'Sure Women Crystal Anti-Perspirant' in the 250ml can. This is a great deodorant as it doesn't leave white marks on your clothing. It also has a subtle scent and isn't overpowering. Although I do prefer Sure's 'Cotton' variety of this deodorant, I would repurchase this again in the future. This retails for £3.19 but is currently on a 2 for £4 promotion at Boots. 

The next product I have used up is the matching body lotion for the 'Viva La Juicy' fragrance by Juicy Couture. This came in the fragrance gift set I received at Christmas and so was not purchased individually. Just like the perfume, it is beautifully scented and lasts well on the skin, for 2-3 hours after application. I also found layering the body lotion and fragrance helped with longevity. Although this was a lovely, luxurious product, I wouldn't repurchase it simply because of the price it is. Feel Unique sell the same 250ml size for £23.80. If you are interested in trying this product, I would recommend getting the gift set. 

My third body product is the 'Mist You Madly' body spray by Soap And Glory. This is a really nice, lightly floral scented product. If you like the 'Clean On Me' shower gel, or 'Hand Food' then you will love this as it is the same scent. Like any body spray, it didn't last for hours, instead it probably lasted around 1 hour. I can't say I'm a huge body spray fan, I actually got this in a Soap And Glory hamper at Christmas, but it was a nice surprise to try a product that I wouldn't usually choose for myself. If I was in the market for a body spray, I would definitely pick this up. The 250ml bottle is available at Boots for £6.50 and is currently on 3 for 2. 

A basic product I used up, was the 'Boots Essentials Nail Polish Remover.' This is great at doing the job and so I have repurchased it to many times, that I've lost count. I don't really see the need to spend lots of money on a nail varnish remover, so I stick to this one which is £1 for a 250ml bottle. 

Another Boots Essentials product that I have finished is the 'Extra Firm Hold Hairspray.' I have had this on the go for years as I very rarely use hairspray and so I am very happy to have used it all up. This is a 250ml can but is no longer made in this size, and is now available only in 450ml. This product does the job well and isn't sticky, which is something I hate. It also brushes out well, helping to keep your hair clean. For £1.65 for the 450ml can, this is a bargain.

My luxury empty, is my beloved YSL 'Parisienne' EDP perfume. I have had this open for around 3 years and was trying to use it up as I didn't want it to turn before I had finished it. This is a sophisticated and very unusual scent and one that I have loved for years. There is a full description and review in my perfume collection post. I would definitely repurchase this in the future as it is such a lovely scent. The bottle I had was 90ml as it was bought in Europe. You can purchase a 30ml EDP for £43.50 at Boots. 

The final empty is a Blistex lip balm. The 'Medplus' formula is supposed to be repairing and help the lips stay in good condition. If you can get passed the menythol scent to this balm, then it is a great product. Not only did it help keep my lips hydrated throughout the day, it helped heal any dry patches. It also was great under lipsticks and glosses, keeping my lips looking and feeling soft. My only fault with this product is the packaging, as pots are really unhygienic when you are dipping your finger into them constantly, so a tube would be much easier. You can pick up a 7g pot for £2.59 at Boots, which is also on 3 for 2.  

My Favourite Products For Dealing With Acne

As everyone knows who has ever suffered with acne, it’s horrible. Luckily, there are a few products out there on the market that do work. Products that claim to fight acne will do nothing for the skin, unless they contain acne fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, so always check the ingredients list, as so many products claim to ‘clear’ the skin, but really don’t.

A discovery I made last year was the Origins ‘Super Spot Remover’ which is a salicylic acid based product which you apply directly onto blemishes when your skin is clean. Once it has been applied it dries quickly and creates a film over the blemish to help reduce the redness and size of the breakout. I also feel a tingling sensation once this is on my skin, which always makes me think it’s actually doing something! I use this at night, as an intensive treatment for my acne and I have definitely seen improvements the next morning. This is the first Origins product I have tried and will definitely try more in the future. This product is available from Boots for £14. I thought this was slightly pricey for the 10ml size, but once I saw the results, it was worth every penny.

My budget choice, is Sudocrem. Yes, not only is this a nappy rash cream, as stated on the front of the pot, it helps treat acne. This is because it heals the skin and so dries spots out and helps them to heal quickly. This is perfect for those of you looking for an inexpensive solution, as acne products can get very expensive. Sudocrem is also loved by Cheryl Cole, which makes it appear more glamorous than it actually is! The huge 125ml tub, which has lasted me a couple of years already and isn’t even half empty, is available from Boots for £2.55. I really can’t recommend this enough.  

As I use a face exfoliator about 3-4 times a week, I always look for one which can help fight my acne.  I have tried so many as I have never really found one that works well, so never repurchase the same product.  The ‘Visibly Clear Pore & Shine Daily Scrub’ from Neutrogena is the best one I have tried. Not only does it exfoliate my skin gently, it helps to mattify my skin and the salicylic acid helps to keep acne at bay. Although I believe the Sudocrem and Super Spot Remover have better results, this is a good product for people with oily skin, as well as those with acne. You can pick this up from Boots for £4.49.

What are your saviour products for acne?