The final part of my skincare routine are the weekly face masks I use. I will usually have a pamper evening on a Sunday night, so really like to do a face mask to really clear my skin for the week ahead. Here are a couple of my favourite products to use.
The first is the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask from The Body Shop. This is a mask that really draws the impurities from the skin, due to its clay base. I apply a grape sized amount all over the face and leave it to dry for 5-10 minutes. I then rinse it off to leave my skin clean and clear. I find this mask can also help reduce redness and is really good for oily skin like mine.
Another treat for my skin in No7's Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser. I have already done a full in depth review on this product, but in summary, you massage a grape size into on damp skin, before steaming your face under a hot muslin cloth. This will then open the pores to allow the cleanser to really clear out any dirt and grime. I then use the hot cloth to buff the product of the skin. This leaves behind super clean feeling skin which is very spa like. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a quick pampering.
What products do you like to treat your skin with?
As soon as I walk in the door after a long day, one of the first things I do is remove my makeup. My favourite product to use is the hugely hyped Bioderma. This french cult product is excellent at removing all makeup, including mascara, as it is very gentle and so leaves the skin clean and hydrated. Micellar waters have become very popular over the last couple of years and this is such a great one. The ingredients are kind to the skin, so your skin isn't left stripped and dry. I apply Bioderma to a cotton pad and use 3 to remove everything.
Next, as one cleanse doesn't break down everything, I always follow up with a second. I am currently using Soap And Glory's Peaches And Clean, which is a cream cleanser, that turns into a milky consistency once water is added to it. I massage this into my skin first, concentrating on areas such as my eyes and oily spots, such as my chin and forehead. I then rinse off with water and pat my face dry with a clean flannel. My skin is then really clean and very soft.
To close my pores up after the cleansing, I use Simple's Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner. I use a couple of squirts on a cotton pad and lightly wipe this over my face. This is the first toner I have ever used so I'm not too sure if it's really a necessary step.
I then moisturise my skin using Simple's Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. I have used this for a couple of years now as it is hydrating, whilst using gentle ingredients which don't clog the pores. I massage this into the skin and then leave it for a few minutes to sink in.
My final step is to apply eye cream. I am not trying to prevent wrinkles, but am looking to keep the eye area hydrated, as I find my makeup can sometimes settle into the fine lines when the skin is dry. Again, I use another Simple product, called the Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm. I use a seed size amount and pat it into the eye area, starting at the outer corner. This then ensures my face is really hydrated before I sleep.
My next post will focus on masks and treatments I use on my skin.
As I mainly focus on makeup on this blog, I thought I would do two posts relating to my morning and evening skincare routine. As I have suffered with severe acne over the past few years, my routine is very simple and I keep my products to a minimum. This is so that I do not overload my skin with chemicals and ingredients, to try and keep breakouts at bay. I have oily skin so I find these products suit my skin type well.
First thing in the morning I use two pumps of the No7 Soft And Soothed Gentle Cleanser on a cotton pad. I then apply this all over my face, targeting oilier areas such as my forehead, nose and chin. This then removes any oil or dirt that has built up over night. No7 do make a cleanser specifically for oily skin, but I had a reaction to it, so find this product still works well and is quite hydrating, it is also fragrance free and restores the natural ph balance of the skin. The formula of the product is also really light and easily absorbed.
The next step is exfoliator, which I use whilst in the shower. I currently use the Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Daily Scrub. This is a nice scrub which isn't too abraisive so can be used every day. It also really opens up the pores and leaves a tingly sensation on the skin as it works. This is also really easy to rinse away, leaving behind smooth skin.
My final step skin care step in the morning is moisturiser. I am a huge fan of the Simple skincare line as it isn't full of harsh chemicals. In the morning I use the Simple Kind To Skin Light Hydrating Moisturiser. This has a nice texture and sinks into the skin quickly, especially after using an exfoliator. I then find my skin is clean and hydrated, making a perfect foundation for makeup.
What skincare products do you use in the morning?
As much as I love a nice lipstick, tinted lip balms are a savior. Not only are they less drying on the lips, they are glossy and keep your lips in better condition for longer. I am a huge fan of Revlon's Lip Butters, but as some shades are more pigmented than others, it can be hard to predict what the colour and pigmentation will be like until you buy it.
No7 have recently launched their version of the Clinique Chubby Stick, as every cosmetics brand have, calling them the High Shine Lip Crayons. The packaging is very similar also, with a twist up bullet, encased in a plastic tube. I'm not a huge fan of No7 makeup, but I was interested to try these. I swatched all of the colours and was really surprised to see just how pigmented and glossy they are. Also, all 5 shades in the line are just as pigmented, with none being less so than the others. A quick swipe across the lips gives a sheer finish, but a couple more result in full opacity, so both looks can be created with this product. As with most tinted lip balms, wear time isn't great, but you can easily touch up without a mirror. I would say you can get a good couple of hours of wear before needing to reapply. I also find that I don't need a lip balm under this product, as it really conditions the lips.
These are great products for anyone who likes a quick and easy pop of colour on their lips. I have the shades Berry, Delicate Pink and Tickle which are all really nice and vibrant. You can get your hands on them for £9 each at Boots. They are also currently on a 3 for 2 offer, plus the £3 No7 vouchers are on quite regularly.
I recently was lucky enough to pop into the #ISpyRimmel bus and have a bit of pampering. The lovely ladies were offering free makeovers and nail painting. Of course, being a nail addict, I couldn't resist. I chose a bright pinky coral colour, which has silver shimmer shot through it. It looks lovely and really adds a nice pop of colour to my hands. The polish was on of Rimmel's Salon Pro nail polishes and has a really nice finish to it. I usually don't get on too well with Rimmel polishes as I have found they start to chip pretty quickly, but so far I am impressed. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask the name of the colour.
On my way out, I was given a goody bag! This was filled with some of Rimmels best products and luckily I haven't tried any of them before, so I am very excited to give them a whirl and report back. The first items in my goody bag were nail polishes. Included were 503 Mind The Gap, Victoria in the 60 Seconds line, which is a cute pastel blue. There was also 006 Moon Walking, from the Space Dust line, which is a purple glitter polish. I cannot wait to get my nails looking lovely with these colours. The bag also contained the Scandal Eyes Rockin' Curves mascara in black which has a wavey brush, which will be interesting to try. Hopefully I won't end up with mascara everywhere! I used to love the Lash Accelerator mascara a good few years back, so I have high hopes for this product. For lips, a Moisture Renew lipstick was included, in the shade 130 Oxford Street Fuschia. This is a really vibrant blue toned pink. I have found some Rimmel lipsticks to be quite drying, but I have already applied this colour and it feels lovely. The texture is smooth and creamy, leaving a really nice look to the lips. The colour is also perfect for spring/summer.I will definately be checking out the rest of the shades in this line, I just hope the wear time is good. The other lip related item was a lipliner, again from the Moisture Renew line. This is a Universal Transparent Liner, which I guess helps to prep your lips for lipstick without adding any colour, which means it can be used with any lip product. It sounds like a brilliant product in theory, so I am eager to give this a go. The final product in my goody bag was the Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint in 001 Pop Of Pink. This could be a great product for carrying in your handbag for touch ups as it doesn't require a brush. I cannot thank Rimmel enough for this treat and am very excited to try lots of new makeup looks out, with my new products!
What are your favourites from Rimmel?
Today on my nails I have a recent purchase from OPI. This hot pink shade is called Hey Baby and is vibrant and bold. I know this will become a staple over the summer as it is really eye catching. I have used my usual Revlon base coat to prevent staining, as well as my Seche Vite top coat to give the nails a glossy finish. Wear time has been around 4 days so far, with minimal chipping. The OPI lady told me to enhance the wear time of their lacquer, to just reapply top coat every other day, which will result in your nails looking great for 5-10 days! OPI polishes are pricey for £11.95 each, but the longevity of them really makes them worth the money.
I think there's nothing more interesting and exciting than the beauty products we all stash away. I love seeing what people have bought, as you know they'll then be featured in hauls, reviews and possibly favourites. Most of the products in my current stash have already been hauled and are all skincare/body related with the exception of a new mascara I recently picked up. I mainly stash multiples of the products I get through very quickly, such as shower gels, body lotions/butters, nail varnish remover and miniatures for travelling. Here's what is currently residing in my beauty drawer.
What is in your beauty stash?
In the post Christmas sales I hauled the James Brown Photo Fabulous Volumising Kit. This set consists of the shampoo, conditioner and intensive treatment and is supposed to inject volume and moisture into dry, flat hair. The eye catching, sleek packaging drew me to this range, as like most women, I'm a sucker for a nice bottle/pot/tube.
I am always sceptical about pricier hair products, as my general rule of thumb is to buy whatever shampoo and conditioner is on offer, as I feel like they all do the same job, so what's the point in spending a fortune? Yes cheaper products can contain a few nasties, such as silicones, but I have short hair so I don't worry about this too much. The more expensive products that I have tried have never really given any spectacular results.
I have now been using the shampoo from this set for a couple of weeks and I can honestly say that my hair has never felt softer, or looked shinier. My hair looks like it is in top condition as it is so glossy. The shampoo also adds volume, but I find this doesn't really last all day, but I have yet to see if a hairspray could help this. The natural ingredients that this shampoo includes is obviously doing wonders for my hair and looks great even on the second day.
I have also been using the intensive treatment twice a week. I usually use this on days when I have been swimming, to help restore my hair after it has been submerged in chlorine. This product again is excellent. My hair is not only glossy, but really moisturised from root to tip. It also doesn't make my hair greasy if I go a little overboard with the amount I use, a little goes a long way.
I have yet to try the conditioner as I am still using up a herbal essences one. I really wish conditioners came in smaller bottles than shampoo, as I always finish a shampoo so much quicker! I also have the dry shampoo to try, which I am very excited about now I know how good the line is.
Overall I am so impressed with these products. Even though they are more expensive than what I usually purchase, I will definately go back to them. The shampoo and conditioner retail for £6.99 each and the intensive treatment is £8.49 at Boots. They are also currently on offer for 2 for £8. Go and snap them up!
Today on my nails I have a recent purchase from Essie. This shade is called 'Sunday Funday' and is pinky coral colour with silver shimmer running through it. The colour really suits my pale skin tone and warms up my hands. The shimmer also isn't too noticeable. I have had this colour on since Friday and there are currently no signs of chipping. Yet another shade by Essie I am in love with!
Firstly, I have used up quite a few products that I have already reviewed on this blog, so i'll just give them a quick mention, to avoid these posts getting too repetitive. I used up another Sure Cotton Ultra Dry deodorant, a Cuticura Hand Hygiene Gel, Herbal Essences Seductively Straight Shampoo, Simple's Replenishing Rich Moisturiser, Taylor Swift Wonderstruck perfume (30ml EDP), Soap And Glory's Sugar Crush Body Scrub and also a Shea Body Butter from The Body Shop. Most of these empties are basic, daily products which I have already repurchased. My favourite product of the bunch was the Taylor Swift perfume, as I only had this bottle in October and have already used it up. The hand gel was an impulse buy, but luckily didn't have an offensive scent like some can. I would happily continue to use all of these products.
A product I really enjoyed using was Benefit's They're Real Mascara. This is the UK's No 1 selling mascara and I can see why, it's incredible. Not only is the formula ultra black, it also gives volume and length to the lashes. I also like that the formula is quite wet, which makes it last 3 good months. I always find the results are better with this product once I have been using it a couple of weeks, then I get long, fluttery lashes with every application. The plastic brush is also really easy to use and coats the lashes well from root to tip. It also has a small ball on the end to help with small inner corner lashes and of course, those pesky bottom lashes. I cannot say enough good things about this mascara and it is definately worth the £19.50 it costs. I will continue to go back to this product as I have never found anything that gives better results.
I also used up a nail polish this month. I have had Essie's Bahama Mama in my collection for about 2 years and I have loved it for winter. The shade is just the right tone of plummy purple and it has a lovely glossy finish. The wear time is also great, at about 5 days before chips appear. Unforntunately, after a lot of use the formula has now gone gloopy, so I am disposing of this as we are now coming to the end of winter. As I love it so much, I will be repurchasing it again in the autumn. You can pick up this shade for £7.99 in Boots.
Of course I had to feature a Soap And Glory product, it's tradition! Their Heel Genius Foot Cream is a saviour in winter. Not only does it nourish the feet leaving them soft and crack free, it also helps keep them healthy. I apply a pea sized amount after each bath or shower, so that my heels do not get really dry. I also use this throughout the summer, so that my feet look nice when I am wearing sandals and flip flops. The smell of the product is quite unique but not offensive and it is a mint green colour, which is a little strange. But if this doesn't put you off, the product is great and well worth the £5.50. I will continue to repurchase this as I have never found anything as good.
My final empties are body lotions. I have use two up that have come in fragrance gift sets, so are both luxury products. The first is the Daisy by Marc Jacobs lotion. As much as I adore the fragrance, this body lotion wasn't for me. Firstly, the scent wasn't an exact match to the perfume, so I didn't really feel that it enhanced the perfume wear time. It was also full of shimmer, which I HATE in a body lotion. This is because I feel that glitter is really drying on the skin, plus nobody over the age of 11 wants their limbs to resemble a disco ball. The lotion also took quite a while to fully absorb into the skin, which is really annoying when you are waiting to get dressed. I used this product up as I didn't want to waste it, but I would not pay the £21+ to purchase a full size.
In comparison, I also used up a Euphoria Skin Lotion. Again I love the perfume and I really enjoyed this lotion. The scent match was exact so I felt the fragrance lasting on my skin for longer, winner. The texture was also really nice and it dried very quickly. You can pick up the full size bottle online for around £13, which isn't too extortionate for such a luxury product and I would definitely pick this up as a special treat.
What have you used up recently?
My first favourite of January is a lip combination. During the winter I love bold lips, such as reds and berry purples, but I also think a nude lip is a classic. To achieve this, I have been using, almost daily, MAC's Creme Cup lipstick, with Benefit's Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Fauxmance over the top. This combo gives a neutral look, perfect for a basic makeup day. The formulas of both products are great and don't dry the lips, plus the gloss gives the lips a nice finish, which prolongs the lipstick wear time.
As I have been using a minimal amount of products on my skin, I have been loving Bioderma for removing my makeup. Micellar waters have been one of the latest crazes of the beauty community as they remove even waterproof makeup. Some cleansers can really strip the skin but Bioderma is gentle and leaves the skin feeling soft. You also do not need a separate eye makeup remover when using Bidoerma as it removes everything so well. Next time I go to France, I will be stock piling Bioderma!
For fragrance I have fallen back in love with Euphoria by Calvin Klein. I used to wear this when I was around 18 as it a very sultry, sexy and feminine fragrance. The heart notes of black orchid and top notes of pomegranate create very unique scent that is irresistible. Now that I have this perfume back in my collection, I will continue to repurchase it.
My final favourite is a highlighting concealer. I adore Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation as it creates a healthy glow whenever your skin is looking dull and lackluster. I have recently been using its sister product, the Wake Me Up Concealer. Originally I didn't get on well with this product as I found it to be slightly cakey. But a little goes a long way and just using a small dab of product on my dark circles, blended out with my finger or a sponge works wonders. Not only is the darkness concealed, the eye area is significantly brightened. I am now using this on a daily basis and am really pleased with the results, as it is such an inexpensive product. I seriously misjudged this product. I can't say enough good things about the Wake Me Up line from Rimmel.
As I mentioned in my last haul, No7 have recently had their £3/£5 vouchers on, meaning bargain skincare and makeup treats. Using the makeup voucher I decided to pick up one of their High Shine Lip Crayons in Tickle. This is a lovely shimmery peachy orange colour, which can be applied very sheerly for a your lips but better colour, or can be built up for a more vibrant pop of colour. This is really moisturising and is also glossy. I know this will be perfect for spring/summer.
As I am running low on my Revlon base coat, I decided to pick up the No 7 Stay Perfect Base Coat. I have used this before and it does the job well. Again I used a voucher to make this purchase even cheaper.As I paint my nails about twice a week, I get through base and top coat very quickly.
I also decided to pick up some new makeup brushes as I have a few trips coming up and I hate travelling with full length brushes, as I find the hairs get bent and they end up getting damaged. I chose a set of 5 Models Own brushes, all with mini handles, perfect for your makeup bag and travelling. The set includes a powder brush, angled brush, blending brush, shading brush and a lip brush. They all seem really soft and have bright orange handles so are easy to spot within a makeup bag. I have already raved about the angled brush on my Winged Eyeliner Wonders post, so am hoping the others will be just as good.
As I am addicted to nail polish, I couldn't leave the Essie stand empty handed. I selected Sunday Funday, which as well as having an amazing name, is a beautiful bright peachy coral with silver shimmer running through it. This is a very spring/summer colour and can really add a pop of colour to your hands during this last period of winter. I painted my nails with this colour as soon as I got home and received so many compliments. Wear time was also around 4 days with minimal chipping. I can't rave enough about Essie!
Another repurchase was the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer. I was really impressed with this product when I had a sample size recently, so took the plunge and £15 later I have it in my collection. I find it primes my eyes like no other and really helps the eye makeup to last all day. I also really like the doe foot applicator as it is clean and hassle free.
My last purchase was a treat from Lush. I was given the Candy Mountain bubble bar for Christmas and absolutly loved the scent, it was fruity and sweet and filled my whole bathroom with such a lovely fragrance. So I decided to pop into my local Lush store and ask if there was anything they stocked all year round that had a similar scent. I was pointed in the direction of the Creamy Candy bubble bar, which is a blend of almonds and cocoa butter, to keep the skin super soft. I got two baths out of this bar, so each bath was £1.25 which I didn't think was too bad for a treat. I rarely pop into Lush as I find you have to be ready to use their products as soon as you buy them, with the limited dates on them. But this scent will keep me returning to Lush in the future.
What have you treated yourself too recently?
The latest collection to be released by OPI is by Gwen Stefani. The collection includes 7 polishes, including bold brights, glitters and metallics. I picked up my favourite two from the collection and received a free file and paint at the salon.
The polish I was most drawn too is called In True Stefani Fashion. This is a silver holographic glitter polish. I am always sceptical about glitter polishes as some can disperse very little glitter onto the nails. But this one only took 3 coats and my nails are super sparkly. The texture also isn't as rough as some glitter polishes can be. I had this polish applied yesterday and so far there are no signs of chipping, but the nail technician did advise me to reapply top coat every other day, to get between 5-10 days wear from the product. I have had so many compliments on my nails already, so this is rapidly becoming one of my favourites.
I also selected Hey Baby which is a vibrant hot pink shade. I thought this would be perfect for the summer as its very bold and bright. I love OPI brushes and formulas, so I'm hoping this polish will become a staple within my collection.
You can have a browse of Gwen's collection on Feel Unique, where the polishes are priced at £11.95 each.
I also managed to get a sneak peak at the next collection, which will be Rio inspired, for the World Cup this summer. As you can imagine, the shades are really fun and bright, with the coral and peach shades being my favourite. The was also a bright yellow and deeper green. If these sound up your street then keep your eyes peeled.
