Showing posts with label Estee Lauder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Estee Lauder. Show all posts

Sunday, 11 January 2015

My current skin care routine incl. Korres, Superfacialist, Indeed Labs,Estee Lauder, Origins, Clinique and Nip + Fab

Hello! I hope you're all well? It's been a while, hasn't it. Safe to say that a lot has happened since my last post. First of all, it's my 22nd birthday today. It's been a lovely day, except my car has pretty much broke. But it's bittersweet because I'm going to be getting a new one. I'd been planning to get one anyway (because I've been taken on permanently at the Nottingham Post - I'm now a trainee reporter... Told you it'd been an exciting couple of weeks).

Anyway, this is without a doubt my favourite post to write - even though they don't seem to pop up that often. I used to be one of those people who tried absolutely everything PRs sent me. My skin is quite temperamental and I've suffered with spots and scarring for around nine years now, so I should've known better. Over the past three-or-so months, I've stuck to a skin care routine religiously and it's almost hard to believe how much my skin has loved me for it.  

Cleansers
I've tried them all - balms, milks, gels - but I always come back to this cleansing oil. When it comes to make up removal, it's safe to say I'm an oil-person. This one by Superfacialist immediately melts away make up, leaves the skin feeling silky smooth and best of all? It smells like oranges. It's very affordable, and it's almost always on offer.

I'm still on the look out for a perfect face wash and at the moment I'm mixing between these two (And the Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser, which I think is going to make it in my skin care routine full time). The Korres Cleanser is a real treat to use and the exfoliating elements completely banishes any dry patches and leaves my skin feeling exceptionally soft. 

I'm still not sure about this one. It's definitely a treat to use and a proper bargain but I think it might be a bit too heavy for my skin. It's a thick cream that's great for removing any last scraps of make up and eliminating dry patches, but I can only use it a couple of times a week when my skin is feeling extra parched and in need of a bit of love. 

Serums and treatments
As I've mentioned, I have combination skin which means it's oily in places, yet dehydrated and I'm prone to dry patches. I use either this Moisture Jelly or the Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum* - £24.99 in the morning before I apply my moisturiser. I'm undecided on which one I prefer as of yet but they both leave my skin feeling hydrated throughout the day.

I've used this for many years now, but I've never invested in a bottle - it's always been sachets. But my dad bought it me for Christmas and I'm obsessed. This is a miracle in a bottle. It does everything you'd possible want a skin care item to do, and more. It's pricey, but an absolute gem and something I'll continue to repurchase because it works wonders on scarring.

I've been switching between this and the Origins GinZing eye cream for a while but I've finally settled on this one from Superfacialist. Despite its more affordable price tag, it's a lot better. It instantly awakens the eye area, keeps it moisturised and perfectly preps your peepers for eye make up.

Epiduo Gel - prescription only
I used to have severely blemished skin but now my hormones have settled down, it's rare that I get spots. I probably get a couple every month or so, if that. I use this gel whenever I feel a corker coming on and it immediately stops it in its tracks. I must also mention the Yasmin pill because that's helped my skin no end. 

Moisturisers 
Origins Ginzing Moisturizer - £23.00
I bought this on a whim with my first proper wage and I'm very glad I did. First of all, it smells delicious. And yes, that's the reason why I first purchased it. It's a gel consistency that instantly sinks into the skin and leaves it hydrated, balanced and soft. It's been a saviour throughout the winter as it's lightweight enough to use under foundation, yet moisturising enough to eliminate my dry patches.

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer - £36.00
This is quite new to my collection and sadly I've fallen in love with it. I say sadly because it is being discontinued (or reformulated) but I'm sure the new version will be even better. It's a dream to use and I wake up to beautifully radiant skin. I haven't been using it long enough to comment on the affect it's having on my scarring, but I can't fault it at the moment. 

What products do you use in your skin care routine?
*PR Sample
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Thursday, 25 December 2014

My favourite beauty products in 2014: Bourjois, Paco Rabanne, Estee Lauder



L-R Peach Club, Nude-ist, Happy Nude Year

Hello! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas? I certainly did. I decided to pick out three of my favourite beauty products from this year. In terms of beauty, the past 12 months have been good to me. I've experimented, invested and discovered lots of brands (my favourite being KIKO). The biggest 'thing' for me has to be my skin care routine. I'm comfortable with it and it's doing me a lot of good. I'll be uploading a post on that soon. But for now, enjoy! 

No matter how many foundations I try I always end up going back to this one. It provides buildable medium to full coverage, lasts all day, balances the skin nicely and applies evenly. It's very dreamy and I doubt I'll move on to another foundation any time soon.

My sister bought me this perfume for my graduation and I'm very thankful. It's without a doubt my favourite scent but because it's pricey it's something I've never purchased myself. Now I don't think I'll be able to be without it. Paco Rabanne knows how to do fragrance - they're all delicious. 

These lipsticks have changed the game. I've always found lipsticks tricky because they tend to cling to dry patches and be high maintenance, but these ones are a dream. They're pigmented, long lasting, creamy and the most beautiful finish. I have four in my collection (I didn't photograph the red one, but you can see a swatch here) and I know I'll soon own the entire range.

What products have you loved this year?
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Saturday, 15 November 2014

Current beauty favourites - November 2014


It's been a while since I've published a favourites post. And since we're halfway through November, I thought a monthly favourites wouldn't be very apt. So instead, here's my current favourites. Now I'm working I seem to have got into a routine with my products. So these are used every single day, without fail.

After needing a new powder for a while, I decided to invest in this one by MAC. And needless to say, I'm very glad I did. It's pricey but it's most definitely worth it. It adds extra coverage to the skin without looking cakey and ensures make up lasts well throughout the day. The packaging is also nifty as it comes with a decent sized mirror and a powder puff.

Despite having a large collection of bronzer, I've never been very good when it comes to application. I decided to invest in this one from the Body Shop after reading some many incredible reviews. I bought it in the palest shade (because my skin colour resembles a ghost) and I can't sing its praises enough. It's wonderful for contouring and injecting a healthy glow into the skin.

This past month I've gone a bit blusher crazy. I've bought a lot, but this one has remained a firm favourite. It's nicely pigmented and applies onto the skin beautifully - it almost melts and blends perfectly. The colour itself is stunning and perfect for winter. It isn't extremely pink, but instead has a rose-toned glow that perks up the cheekbones nicely.

One day I just decided it was about time I invested in a decent moisturiser. I'm a skin care addict, so I've tried a lot. But this one by Origins remained prominent in my head, and for good reason too. It's hydrating yet lightweight and wakes the skin up in the morning. The best thing though? The smell. Oh it's delicious. It's like oranges. Seriously, have a whiff.

Estee Lauder's Double Wear was one of my first high-end foundation purchases. I've bought countless bottles of the stuff and despite trying lots of new foundations, I always come back to this one. I work long days so I need something that's long lasting, and this one doesn't budge. It's also medium-full coverage and applies nice and evenly. I can't fault it.

I'm addicted to honey at the moment. Everything I use - shampoo, condition, lip balm, shower gel - is honey-scented. I bought this on a whim while I was in London and I'm so glad I did. It's now used up and ready to be repurchased. It's basically a bubble belt but it's silky soft and smells delicious. I got around six baths out of it, so it makes it affordable.

Once again another product I bought while thinking, 'Jemma you have money, buy a few luxuries you've always wanted'. Woodwinked has been on my must-buy list for a very long time. Ever since I saw Tanya Burr use it a few years ago. It's a stunning golden-shade that blends coppery, meaning there's no need to pop anything in the crease. It also looks gorgeous underneath the lashline. 

I didn't buy into this when it first came out for whatever reason. But when I was sent it, it was love at first use. I have combination skin which means I get really oily in some areas, but very dry and dehydrated in others. It's a nasty balance and can be hard to counteract. This serum is extremely hydrating but doesn't add moisture meaning it's perfect for my skin type.

I received a mini sample of this when I bought the moisturiser and although I've never really been a fan of eye cream, I can't go a morning without using this. Despite getting my nine-hours sleep at night, my eyes still look tired in a morning. I pop this on and it instantly perks them it. It's a miracle worker and I'll definitely be purchasing the full size come pay-day.

My sister bought me this as a graduation present. It's a fragrance that I've wanted for around four years so when I unwrapped it, I shed a little tear. It's the most delightful fragrance you'll ever smell in your life. It's long lasting on the skin and I think I've made it my 'signature scent'. Or at least I hope. I know I won't be able to be without it now. 

What products are you loving at the minute?
*PR Sample
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Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Current Favourites




I haven't posted a favourites post in an extremely long time and considering we're pretty much halfway through May, I thought my current favourites would suffice. I've been trying out a few different products recently, investing in quite a few (my last ever student loan, it'd be rude not to) and also rediscovering some gems. Hopefully, monthly favourites is something I'll be able to keep on top of, we'll see...

Schwarzkopf got2b 2 Sexy Volumizing Hairspray - £3.00
I'd say that this is my most repurchased hairspray. It's the one that I always reach for, mainly due to its delicious smell. It does everything that the name suggests; adds volume and keeps it in place for the majority of the day. I don't really 'style' my hair as such, instead I tend to keep it straight so this holds the straight, volumised style nicely. It's also affordable - I just wish they offered a travel sized version.

Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan + BB Perfector Medium Matte - £6.99 (currently £3.49)
I work in the photo/sun shop area at Boots and when I saw that this was half price, I quickly snapped it up. Last year, I was an avid fake tanner however this year, it's taken a backseat. I tried this out for the first time the other night and was amazed. It added a lovely colour and glow, covered all the scars and marks on my legs and was easy to apply; think of it as a foundation for your body.

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil - £10.00
My favourite eyebrow powders have recently been running low and considering they're in the Naked Basics palette, I wanted to find an alternative to allow the other shadows in the palette to hit pan too. I picked this up after recommendations from bloggers and although I don't like the tint end, the pencil is lovely. It's more of a wax and makes filling in the brows a complete doddle.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent - £47.00 (currently £37.60)
After sniffing this last summer, I knew I couldn't be without it this year. As well as this, my dupe was running low and is becoming increasingly harder to get a hold of. With Bergamot, Amber, Tiare Flower, Vanilla and Coconut, this fragrance is summer in a bottle. It smells like suntan lotion, but a whole lot sexier and warmer. The only issue I have with this fragrance is that it doesn't seem to last long on my skin, at least I can't smell it on myself after an hour or so.

Green People Volumising Mascara* - £14.75
I mentioned this product a few days ago in my what's in my make up bag post and it's still a mascara that I'm loving. I am a massive mascara whore, and I can't remain loyal to one but this one might be my new favourite. It does everything a mascara should do; lengthens, separates and adds a hell of a lot of volume. The brush capturers every single lash and leaves them looking fluttery. 

Nars Cosmetics Blush in Outlaw* - £22.50
Sadly, I don't think you can buy this blush any more as it was released in the Autumn 2012 collection (which I wrote - a very bad post about - here). The blush looks very intimidating in the pan but it transfers to a soft rose toned blush with a golden shimmer on the cheeks. It instantly perks up my collection and leaves me looking glowing. It's a fail safe blush.

3 pack of face razors - £1.69
Following this post from Makeup Savvy, I knew I had to try shaving my face. The razors arrived quickly and I instantly got to work, shaving my face. It sounds strange but my face now feels incredibly soft and smooth and my make up has started applying much better. So far, I haven't had any regrowth and hopefully I won't end up looking like an ogre. I'll keep you updated.

What products are you currently loving?
*PR sample
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Saturday, 25 January 2014

Collective Haul












Recently, I've been a woman on a mission. Since Christmas I've been spending and spending and spending. Which is pretty bad. But with a new year comes new collections and I just can't stop myself. Plus I've been on work experience for the past two weeks. 6:30am everyday?! I surely deserve a few treats. Like I said, this is a collective haul so I've purchased everything over the past month or so. I normally don't buy much for myself. Usually I get my money and it goes on car insurance, phone bill, braces and then food. So I most definitely have enjoyed buying myself some wonderful products.

Hair:
Most purchases were haircare items mainly because I've recently had it cut. Since getting my skin under control, I've been loving looking after my hair. The L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo - £3.99 is all over the blogosphere at the minute and after reading some incredible reviews, I couldn't not buy it. I haven't tried it yet but I'm extremely excited to, so I'll report back. My Moroccanoil ran out the other month which left me heartbroken. I couldn't bring myself to part with the hefty £31.85 price tag so instead, I bought the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil UV Filter for All Hair Types - £9.99 which I've been loving. It does the exact same job as the Moroccanoil and comes in a prettier bottle. What's not to love?!

I bought the Bumble and bumble Surf Travel Set which was on offer for £4.50 (an absolute bargain considering it retails for £18). It comes with a mini shampoo, conditioner and Surf Spray - and when I say mini, I mean mini. I adore the Surf range and I'm going on a cruise in July so this will be perfect for it. Apparently, we're not allowed to take straighteners so I thought this little set will help leave my hair looking lovely and windswept. It's currently packed away in the bottom of my drawers - so tempting to use it. The Remington Keratin Therapy Round Brush - £9.99 was something I bought the day after I had my hair cut. It does a good job at getting volume into the hair but it does feels cheap to hold.

I also went a little bit crazy with Charles Worthington products. The Volume & Bounce Shampoo, Volume & Bounce Conditioner, Volume & Bounce Texturising Powder and Backcomb Brush came in a Christmas set that was reduced in the sale. It was down from £16 to £8 which is a wonderful price as the products alone would set you back £18 individually. I was going to buy the shampoo and conditioner on their own until I spotted this set - bargain. I then purchased the Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray - £6.99 using a voucher from the set. It's raved about a lot but I just can't seem to love it. It's okay but it's nothing mind blowing.

Skin and body:
I made a few repurchases because a few of my favourite skin care items had ran out. I've found a wonderful skin care routine that I'm now sticking too because it's working perfectly - no trying other products (except face masks etc) unless I really think they're going to benefit my skin. The Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil - £10.99 is something that I've raved about many times before on my blog. I absolutely love it, it removes all of my make up and brightens my complexion. It's also very good value for money. I then repurchased my favourite cleanser which is the Clearasil Ultra Blemish + Marks Wash and Mask - £5.79. I won't go into too much detail because I am planning on doing a full skin care routine soon. I also bought the Dove Original Beauty Cream Bar - £0.70 and Boots Frosted Travel Soap Box - £1.69 because although I love my shower gels, I do believe there's nothing better than a good old bar of soap for the more "intimate areas." 

Make up:
I've tried a few Benefit products in the past but at this current moment, I don't own anything by the brand. I bought the Benefit World Famous Neutrals Most Glamorous Nudes Ever Kit - £23.50 earlier today and I'm so excited by it. I'm going to be doing a review on UNiDAYS so I won't say too much but it's so pretty! I also repurchased one of my favourite foundations, ever (the other being VICHY's Dermablend) Estee Lauder's Double Wear - £27.50. I realised that I haven't done a proper review of this foundation on Bamboozle Beauty before so I will be getting round to it soon. I bought the Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation - £8.99 after reading some wonderful reviews on it. I haven't had the chance to try this yet but I will say the colour range was very strange.

Phew, I thought that was never going to end! What have you been buying recently?
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Saturday, 4 January 2014

BEST OF 2013 | Make up




Following on from this post which showcased my favourite hair, body, face and fragrance products of 2013 is this one; my favourite make up products of last year.

Eyes
Primer has always been a big must-have for me. Not only does it make eyeshadow appear more vibrant but it also helps a lot with lasting power. For the past few years, I've been addicted to Urban Decay's Primer Potion, however in the last few months of 2013, Too Faced's Shadow Insurance* - £17.00 has knocked the others out of the water. Although more expensive than Urban Decay's offering, Shadow Insurance can't be beaten when it comes to longevity. The Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara* - £6.99 (review) has been the mascara I've been reaching for the most since I first tried it. It's lightweight on the lashes, adds volume, length and stays put throughout the day. And finally, the NYX The Curve Eyeliner* - £14.00 (review) is probably one of my favourite discoveries of 2013. It's made applying eyeliner a complete doddle and I couldn't be without it. The Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - £20.00 (review) has remained a staple in my collection all year round. Not only is it fabulous for creating a simple eye, "Faint" is also perfect for my brows.

Nails
This was the year that I fully discovered Models Own nail polishes* (reviews). If you searched through my collection, you'd see that the majority of my polishes are by this brand. Not only have they released some outstanding collections the past year, but their polishes are also high quality and affordable. Lasting a good few days before chipping, applying opaque in one coat, these are a must-have for your talons.

Face
2013 was the year I got back into foundation. I've been a lover of Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation - £27.50 (review) for five years now and it will forever remain a staple in my collection. After abandoning it for a year, I came back to it in 2013 and I'm glad I did. High coverage and exceptional lasting power, I adore this foundation. In January of 2013 I bought the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - £33.00 (review) after reading many rave reviews. The foundation is extremely pigmented which means that you only require a tiny bit for full coverage. It leaves the skin looking glowing and natural despite its high coverage. And finally, last year was the year I discovered my favourite foundation; VICHY Dermablend Corrective Foundation - £15.50 (review). As you can see from my review, this is as full coverage as coverage can get. It covers absolutely everything and I don't even end up needing concealer. It's also extremely lightweight on the skin and doesn't mask it in anyway. I'm addicted.

The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - £9.99 (review) is my go-to base brush and I use it apply both foundation and concealer. It ensures maximum coverage from base products and can be used to stipple or buff product into the skin. My foundation's best friend has been the NYX Shine Killer Primer* - £12.50 (review). I'm prone to an oily t-zone - especially at work - and this primer ensures that shine is banished throughout the day.

Lips
When it came to lips, I fell in love with lip crayons. They add a nice hint of colour and moisture to the lips. My favourite has be the Pur Minerals Lip Gloss Sticks* - £16.00 (review) as they glide over the lips beautifully leaving behind an intense wash of colour and lots of hydration. At £16 they're definitely not the cheapest on the market but they're so easy to use that the price tag is worth it. 

Favourite Brand
If you've been reading Bamboozle Beauty for a while then you'll already know that I've been addicted to the brand, KIKO all year. Every product of theirs that I've tried is one that I've fallen head over heels in love with. High quality, great prices and an extensive product range, this brand is the first brand I go to if I'm looking for something new. You can find my reviews here.

What have been your favourite products this year?
*PR Sample
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Thursday, 12 December 2013

Save vs. Splurge | Long wearing foundations


Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation is a classic and certainly one of the best. It's full coverage at its finest and once it's been applied and buffed into the skin, it isn't budging. It also feels lightweight on the skin. SEVENTEEN'S new offering is extremely similar to Double Wear (except £21 cheaper). Stay Time is a fabulous bargain foundation that, like Double Wear, isn't going anywhere once set on the face. With it being full coverage it also hides a multitude of sins.

Aside from the price, the biggest difference is the packaging. Estee Lauder's version is extremely luxurious - the glass bottle looks beautiful on a dressing table - but it isn't very practical. You have to pour the foundation out which means that you end up with a lot of wasted product. SEVENTEEN's on the other hand isn't the best looking but it's very practical as it comes with a pump.

The only issue with both of these foundations is that they come with SPF inside of them. Useful in the summer but a nightmare for flash photography. I personally haven't had any issues with the dreaded "white-cast-face" but it's something to take note of. Another problem is how fast you have to work. As they're long wearing, they set quickly on the skin so it's better to apply section by section.

If you're after a long wearing foundation and you are on a budget then SEVENTEEN's Stay Time is definitly worth picking up. It's basically Double Wear in more practical packaging. However, if you love luxury and a good ol' classic, Estee Lauder's offering is most definitely for you. You can buy Estee Lauder's Double Wear here where it retails for £27.50. And you can buy SEVENTEEN's Stay Time here where it retails for £6.49.

I wrote this article for The Linc where I'm the deputy style editor however, as I'm a bit behind on blogging at the moment because of deadlines, I thought I'd publish it here too. Hope you don't mind!

What's your favourite long wearing foundation? Leave me recommendations below!
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Tuesday, 6 August 2013

The bright lipsticks








I'm a little bit sad. The sun has well and truly disappeared but regardless of that, I wanted to get this post up. Every now and then, I love a bright lippy. Normally, bright lips don't suit me but when I start getting a tan, there's no better way to emphasise it than with neutral eyes and slick of bright and beautiful lipstick. I don't have too many but I managed to narrow down my bright lips to five favourites that range from high end to drugstore.

I'm a big lover of the formula of these lipsticks. They glide onto the lips beautifully and stay put throughout the day without drying the lips out. This colour is particular is a deep, bright pink that is a real showstopper on its own. Lipstick wear time due to sipping on too many cocktails is no issue here due to the lovely thin tube which is perfect for taking out with you on nights out as it takes up minimal room. As you can probably tell though, the packaging hates being photographed.

Before discovering this lipstick, I couldn't wear a red lip as I could never find a colour that suited me. But this one is beautiful. First of all, the formula is to die for and the creamy lipstick smooths onto the lips perfectly. adding moisture and a deep glossy pigment. The colour itself is a bright orange red that suits my pale skin tone nicely. It also looks beautiful with a tan so I do believe it'd suit a variety of skin tones. I hope to god Barbara Daly never discontinue this lipstick however, I can't find it online anywhere - I need to get myself down to Tesco to double check ASAP.

The packaging of this is beautiful. So beautiful that it should definitely be on display at all times. When I first got this, I loved everything about it apart from the colour. At first I found it pretty hard to wear as it has shimmer running throughout it but with this weather that we've been having, I've been popping into my bag more and more. Although in the swatch it's verging on purple, I'd say it's more definitely a bright deep pink that looks absolutely perfect with a simple flick of eyeliner.

The Revlon Lip Butters have been a bit of a hit and miss with me. At first, I couldn't get on with them but after the hype had died down, I found myself loving them more and more. They're moisturising and sweep over the lips beautifully giving them a nice wash of colour. Sweet Tart is a real Barbie pink that when donned with sunnies steals the spotlight away from the rest of my make up. Oh and isn't the name just the cutest thing in the world?!

£15?! I remember when I bought this lipstick it was around £11-£12. Inflation, yikes. I'm going to put it out there and say that I'm not the biggest MAC fan in the world - I find a few of their lippies hard to work with. However, Costa Chic is delicious. It's full on pigment despite it being a Frost finish but when dabbed onto the lips this gives off the most gorgeous coral colour that complements a tan beautifully.

I hope you like my top five bright lipsticks. If you haven't tried any of them before then I definitely recommend doing a little bit of swatching. Like I've mentioned before, I'm not the biggest bright lipstick fan as a lot of colours don't suit me but when I find a colour I like, I will wear that lipstick to death. And I'm on always on the lookout for a new obsession so leave me your favourites/suggestions below - especially if you're a fellow paley.

What's your favourite bright lipstick? Have you tried any of my favourites?
*PR Sample
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Wednesday, 31 July 2013

July Favourites


This year is going by way too quickly! Before I know it, I'll be old and wrinkly. Another different background for you all today. One of the joys of being back home is finding somewhere to take pictures and seeing as July has been very hot, I thought taking photos outside would be extremely fitting. So here we are, on my grandparents back garden. It's been a wonderful month for photo taking, I'll tell ya. The lighting has been perfect all day every day - a blogger's dream. I've been loving a select few products this month so choosing came easily. I've rediscovered some oldies and added a few gems to my collection.

I won this in a blog giveaway and when I found out, I was ecstatic. If you didn't already know, I have braces and I've wanted an electric toothbrush for yonks. Now I don't just have an electric toothbrush, I have the electric toothbrush. This little wonder is damn expensive and I can hold my hands up and say that no, I wouldn't spend over £100 on a toothbrush. But it's been welcomed into my routine and I definitely do love it. It does the job perfectly and my teeth are sparkling clean afterwards.

Primer is a big must-have in my routine and I find it weird whenever I don't use one. Not just because my make up tends to slide down my face but because make up is so much easier when it's being applied on top of a primer. This one comes with SPF 50 so it's been perfect for this scorching weather we've had this past month. It's also helped my foundation stay where it's supposed to be and created a beautiful make up base - my foundation literally glides over the top. It smells incredible too which is a big plus in my books.

Jurlique has become a blogger favourite these past couple of months so I decided to whip this old favourite of mine back out. Although the bottle isn't very practical (it's beautiful though), the product inside it is wonderful. This clarifying mist perks my skin up and balances my combination skin out like a dream. Sometimes I spritz this on top of make up to revive my complexion and other times I soak a cotton pad and wipe over my skin with it to wake me up. It's a great multi-tasker and the perfect pick me up for my skin.
I won't go into too much detail about this product as I am trialling it and will be doing a full blog post with before/after comparison pictures. But since using this I have seen a dramatic improvement in my skin tone. Some of my scars have even completely disappeared which is a godsend for me. It's hydrating, smells beautiful and although it contains bee venom inside it, it's not the slightest bit scary and uncomfortable. I most definitely look forward to sharing my full thoughts with you.

I'm a lip balm addict and these pretty little things from Lip Smacker have been a welcome addition to my collection. I have two of them - Snow White and Ariel - and I'm constantly changing between the two. Snow White smells and tastes of cherries and leaves a beautiful sheen on the lips. They're moisturising without being too heavy and I'm constantly smothering my lips in them. Delicious!

This was the second high end foundation I ever tried way back when I was 15 and it's one that I will always repurchase. For the last few months, it'd been feeling a little bit unloved as I'm a pale girl and I buy this a couple of shades darker for when I've been fake tanning (it's the perfect "night-out" foundation you see). But with the sun comes a tan and I've been whipping this out every morning and it's served me well. In this heat, it lasts all day long, provides full but lightweight coverage and stays put. It doesn't move. At all.

Aswell as my Beetox I do believe that the Eucerin Even Brighter range has been contributing to my "new skin." The moisturisers are wonderful and if I had it my way, I'd have included the entire range in my July favourites. But that's a little bit obsessive so I narrowed it down to this. It's small, practical, quick and easy to use and does a fine job at fading scars. At first, I was worried about how small it is but you only need a tiny amount and I'm far from running out any time soon - even with my badly scarred skin.

Since Cargo launched in Debenhams, I've been loving the brand and this mascara is no different. The brush is absolutely huge and it leaves me with gorgeously thick and fluttering lashes. Although the brush is massive, I find it easy to use and only need one coat to be left with high volume lashes. Another wonderful thing about this mascara is that once it has set, it doesn't smudge which in this weather has been a life saver. Despite this, I find that it's easy to remove with warm water - no red and itchy panda eyes at night time over here.

I definitely love me some Nars. I only have two products in my collection from the lovely brand - this blush and Deepthroat. And in these warm summer months the only blush I've been wearing is Outlaw. Although it looks intimidating in the pan, when blended into the skin it gives off the most beautiful flush of colour that looks incredibly natural. It does have a teeny amount of shimmer running throughout it that looks divine when it catches the sun. Nars blushers are pigmented but without being too soft so they last all day long.

I absolutely adore filling in my eyebrows and I've only been going to one kit this month. I'd been using my HD Brow palette for a good few years and when this one came into my life, it quickly replaced it. It retails for £3.99 which is an absolute bargain and comes with two brow powders, a wax and a HD setting powder which softens and sets the brows. I cannot find a fault in this product - even the packaging is adorable - and the powders match my eyebrows perfectly.

I didn't realise how many products I'd chosen until I sat down and started writing about them. So I apologise for the length of this post. But when I love a product, I love a product and I need to share it with the world. If you have published a July favourites post then please leave the link in the comments as I love discovering new products and monthly favourites post showcase the best of the best.

What products have you been loving this month?
*PR Sample
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Sunday, 16 June 2013

The £8.94 Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess dupe


My first dupe - eeek! Just the other week, I stupidly walked into Debenhams to have a little sniff of the much loved Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess. Instantly, I fell in love. It was pretty much summer in a bottle and the strong smell of coconut blew me away. Since that day, I haven't stopped thinking about the fragrance - and its £45 price tag which sadly, I could never afford.

Luckily for me, I didn't bring any perfume back home with me from university. So when I went out the other night, I was searching through old drawers in my bedroom and when I spotted the beautiful looking Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers G sitting there. I can remember my mum buying this for my sister because it smelt of coconuts. So I decided to have a little spritz and instantly it reminded me of the Bronze Goddess fragrance. In fact, it smells exactly the same for a teeny tiny fraction of the price.

Now, the only problem is this fragrance has now been discontinued so you won't be able to find it in most stores. However, I've managed to find it on Amazon - and there are many on eBay too - for just £8.94 which is a complete and utter steal. Luckily, my sister's hardly used any of this perfume so for now, this will do me. I will be however, stocking up for the future as it smells incredible and whenever I get a whiff of it, I think I'm lying on the Caribbean beaches sipping away at a Pina Colada - yum! The fragrance features notes such as coconut, mandarin, freesia and sandlewood which all blend together to create sunny perfection.

You can buy this fragrance from Amazon here where it retails for £8.94. You can buy Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess here where it retails for £45 (and is sold out). Have you ever smelt this perfume before? What do you think? Will you be trying it out to see how it compares to Bronze Goddess?
xxx
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Saturday, 13 October 2012

FOTN: Pumped Up Kicks

On Wednesday night I went out and I really liked my make up so I thought I'd show you what I did. I've done this Face of the Night different to what I'd usually do. This is because I haven't just listed the products I've sort of explained where/how I used them and why. So if you like this, let me know! 
SKIN: When I'm going out I do use a lot of products on my skin because I don't like the way it looks. I do have scarring and I do sometimes have active breakouts. Luckily, my skin has improved a lot recently but I still love having flaw-free skin when I go out. I start off by priming my skin and for this look I used the L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer - £14.29 which I've been loving so much recently. I then went on to use my Skin 79 Super BB Cream - £16.00 as an extra layer of 'foundation' really helps to give a flawless look. For foundation I used my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation - £27.50 as it's one of my favourites and one that I'll always have in my collection. It provides full coverage and it doesn't budge once it's dried onto the skin. For concealer I used my No7 Trio Concealer - £9.50. I'll be doing a review of this product soon but basically I used the pink toned concealer under my eyes and the yellow toned concealer on any redness. I then concealed my scars and blemishes with Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection concealer - £4.19. After this, I powdered my skin with 17's Miracle Matte Pressed Powder - £3.99 and contoured my cheekbones, forehead and nose with Liz Earle's Natural Glow Bronzer* - £19.50. For blusher I used Nars Deepthroat - £21.00 and as it's really glowy I didn't use a highlighter.
EYES: I primed my eyes using Urban Decay's Primer Potion - £14.50 and then used Maybelline's Color 24 HR Tattoo in On and On Bronze - £4.99 as a base to intensify the shadow. I then used Urban Decay's Smog over my lid and Urban Decay's Hustle in the crease. After this I used Urban Decay's Blackout lightly on the outer corners of my eyes to make the eyes a bit darker and smokier. For a highlight I used Urban Decay's Sin. All of these can be found in the Urban Decay Naked palette - £36.00 except for Blackout which is in the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - £36.00. For eyeliner I used Collection 2000's Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner - £2.99 which is my favourite at the moment as it's so easy to use and nicely pigmented. I then used Lancome's Hypnose Drama Mascara - £20.50 on my lashes which is amazing! I need to buy the full sized version of this as I only have a sample. For my eyebrows I lightly used Liz Earle's Eyebrow Pencil in 02* and then made them stronger with my HD Brow Palette* - £19.96. To set my brows I used the my Collection 2000 Clear Mascara - £2.99.
LIPS: I didn't use a lot on my lips but I did scrub them with Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub - £5.25 and I used my EOS Lemon Drop SPF 15 Lip Balm* - £4.95 to make sure they were soft. I then used No7's Lipstick in Starshell - £9.00 which is a lovely nude colour as my eyes were quite intense.
xxx
*PR Sample