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

Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil - £10.99

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.

Korres Wild Rose Exfoliating Cleanser* - £18.00

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. 

Nip + Fab Deep Cleansing Fix - £7.95

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

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly* - £24.99

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.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II - £49

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.

Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Dark Circles Eye Cream* - £12.99

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?

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His 'n' Hers kits with Korres

I'm all about cute little travel-sized beauty sets, and you might've seen a few of these products feature in my holiday packing series. Korres is a brand that I've fallen in love with over the past few years. Their products are of such exceptional quality and I haven't found a dud one yet. Currently, four of their kits have 1/3 off of them at Debenhams so whether you're travelling this summer, or just wanting to try out a few products from the brand, now is the time to snap up a kit. At just £12.67 each, they're an absolute bargain.

Men's Kit Gift Set* - currently £12.67

This kit contains the basic grooming essentials all packed up in a compact (and environmentally friendly) travel kit. The Absinthe Shave Cream is non-foaming, doesn't require a brush and has been formulated at a milder pH than standard lathering creams. The Cream is rich in essential oils and flavonoids which work together to sooth the skin, protect it from irritation and leave behind a smooth finish. The Marigold & Ginseng Aftershave Balm is a light-textured balm which improves skin tone and firmness. The antiseptic properties provide effective protection from irritation whilst the Aloe soothes any post-shave rash. The Aloe and Ditanny Shampoo promises to be a gentle shampoo that is ideal for everyday use. The Aloe is rich in proteins and aminoacids which moisturise the hair and increase its elasticity. The Dittany is a mild antiseptic which retains the scalp's balance. The Basil Lemon Showergel and the Guava Showergel first of all both smell incredible. They have a lasting moisturising effect and are rich in many different vitamins which enhances the skin's immune system. The shower gels also claim to stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis to reduce the visible signs of ageing.

Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67

This little kit is a great way to try out some of the brand's best sellers. It also has pretty much everything you'd need for a weekend away. The White Tea Fluid Gel Cleanser uses White Tea to deeply cleanse and refresh the skin, without dehydrating it. The Cleanser is easily rinsed off, but the Oat proteins leave a moisturising film on the skin to leave the skin soft and comfortable throughout the day. I've reviewed the Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturising & Brightening Cream before (which you can find here) and I stand by everything I said in that review. This Moisturising Cream is outstanding. It leaves the skin balanced and hydrated throughout the day. The Wild Rose oil also helps to repair fine lines and hyperpigmentation disorders. The Wild Rose Instant Brightening Mask promises a clear and radiant complexion and is suitable for all skin types. It has an instant brightening effect on the skin and the Wild Rose oil repairs fine lines and skin blemishes. It also promotes cell renewal and leaves the skin brightened and radiant. Both the Basil Lemon Body Milk and the Guava Body Butter, like the showergels, smell incredible and they both leave the skin hydrated and nourished.

What's your favourite Korres product? Will you be buying one of these kits?
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Holiday packing: body care

On Tuesday, I'll be going on my first cruise. I'm incredibly excited as I haven't been on holiday for a while and also there are eight other family members going. For me, the best part about going on holiday is picking up miniature beauty products. They look adorable, and you get the chance to try out new things. So although I have another week before I go away, I have already packed my beauty bits (minus fragrance and make up) so I thought I would show you.

Sunscreen

Soltan Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 and SPF 50 - currently £5 each

For me, sun protection is very important and was the first thing I bought for my holiday. I haven't tried Soltan before but the 5* UVA rating really drew me into the product. I also love that it has protection against insects too as apparently, I'm attractive to insects. Nice.

KIKO After Sun Milk* - currently £11.10

I've never tried this before but I was sent it last year and considering I steered clear of the sun last summer, I had no reason to use it. As a brand, I love KIKO so I have high hopes for this aftersun. KIKO claim that this is fast-absorbing, moisturising and that it prevents peeling and prolongs suntan.

Soltan Baby Hypoallergenic Sunscreen SPF 50 - currently £2

I bought this to pop in my everyday bag for touch-ups throughout the day. In case you didn't know, I'm going on a cruise so I won't be sat around the pool all day, I'll be out and about. Because of this, I don't want to be carrying around the full-size sunscreens.

Mouth

Dentyl Active Plaque Fighter Mouthwash* - £1.20 and Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste - £1.25

Of course, the essentials. I had the Dentyl mouthwash laying around and I'd enjoyed using it in the past. The toothpaste is one that I randomly picked up as I thought it was cute in the tube. I'm hoping that it has a nice taste.

Wisdom Travel Toothbrush - £1.49

I did originally want to take my electric toothbrush with me but it's heavy and bulky and it meant I would also have had to have packed my charger. So instead, I bought a classic travel toothbrush. It's nothing special but it is really cute.

Others

Mitchum Advanced Control Deodorant - £2.99

I have no idea why I bought such a big deodorant. But seeing as Mitchum is a great brand, I decided to stick to it. This deodorant is unscented so it doesn't interfere with any fragrances and it's also the most hardcore deodorant I've ever used. Perfect for the sun.

Gillette Satin Care with Olay Shaving Gel - full size currently £2.74

I don't like showcasing my legs very often, but summer is one time when my pins are constantly out. So because of this, I need to make sure they're fuzz-free. I did want to take my RazorPit Bump Foam with me as I'm prone to ingrown hairs but it's too big so this one will have to do.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps* - full size £45

I haven't tried this body lotion before but I've heard good things about it. In fact, I've never tried anything from Kiehl's before so hopefully this product will set off a love affair. It's supposed to have a dramatic effect on skin texture whilst providing intense hydration.

Butter London Scrubbers* - £6 for ten

I'll be painting my nails the day before I go away but in case of chips, I'll be taking the bottle along with me. I've popped one of these Scrubbers in my case as they're perfect for travelling. It's basically a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover.

Shower Gel

For shower gel, I could either have taken one decent sized shower gel or three minis. And considering I love having a variety of body washes in different fragrances on offer, I decided to take three smaller ones. The first is the Korres Basil Lemon Showergel* - full size £8 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which smells absolutely delicious. I then have two from Weleda. The Citrus Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 and the Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 which once again smell incredible. 

#1 Holiday Packing: Skin Care

#2 Holiday Packing: Body Care

#3 Holiday Packing: Hair Care

Are you going on holiday this year? What beauty products will you be packing?
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Holiday packing: skin care

This time next week, I'll be going on my first cruise. I'm incredibly excited as I haven't been on holiday for a while, and also there are eight other family members going. For me, the best part about going on holiday is picking up miniature beauty products. They look adorable, and you get the chance to try out new things. So although I have another week before I go away, I have already packed my beauty bits (minus fragrance and make up) so I thought I would show you.

Cleansers

Clean & Clear Truly Gentle 3-in-1 Facial Wipes - £3.05

I'm not someone who uses face wipes often as I'm a big believer in the double cleanse, but they are useful and definitely come in handy. These face wipes are my favourite. They remove make up incredibly well and leave the skin feeling hydrated and refreshed.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser* - full size £29 (from the Elemis Summer Set Glow collection* - £49.50)

I haven't tried this cleanser before but I'm incredibly excited to. I've heard wonderful things about it and I'll be using this as my pre-cleanse/make up remover each night. It's to be used like the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - massage it into skin, and remove with a flannel.

Korres White Tea Fluid Gel Cleanser* - full size £15 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67)

I haven't tried this face wash before but I trust Korres as it's a lovely brand. I'll be using this morning and evening to clean my skin and rid it of any impurities. It's also supposed to brighten, moisturise and nourish the skin which is a definite bonus.

Toners

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner* - full size £22 (from the Elemis Summer Set Glow collection* - £49.50)

Once again, another product I haven't tried but this smells delicious. It's quite big for a travel sized toner, but who am I to complain? Elemis claim that this toner soothes the skin to give it a radiant appearance and also say that it's perfect for sensitive, delicate and hormonal skin.

Pur Minerals Miracle Mist Hydrate & Set* - full size $19

For some reason, I can't find this listed anywhere in the UK. I was contemplating whether or not to take this with me but a quick spritz on the face and it was instantly packed in my bag. It's very refreshing and cooling, so it's perfect for the heat.

Treatments/Serums

Soap & Glory Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+ - £15

This is my facial sunscreen of choice as the packaging for it is perfect. It's really small and compact, which makes it a must-have for travelling. The sunscreen itself feels lightweight on the skin, doesn't leave behind a white cast and is SPF50. Perfection.

Freshskin By Elemis Face Mask Duo Pack* - £15 for 6 sachets

I decided to take a face mask for a bit of a mid-week treat. I'm taking the Deep Clean Purifying Mask from this set as it's a great way to draw out impurities, balance the skin and reduce pore size. I also get around four uses from this sachet so I'm sure all the ladies in our party will also be trying it out.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+]* - full size £15.50

I've tried the original Effaclar Duo before but not the new version. This one claims to be a lot stronger on scarring, which is perfect for my skin, especially because the sun is deadly when it comes to hyperpigmentation. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Corrector - £9.50

I really do like this spot treatment as it's gentle and non-drying yet fast working and hard hitting when it comes to blemishes. I'm going to be taking this just in case my skin reacts to any new products, or even to the weather. You can never be too prepared!

Moisturisers

For me, deciding which moisturiser to take proved to be a pain. My skin is combination, which means that sometimes it can be incredibly dry, and other times exceptionally oily. So I decided to take three different moisturisers which will hopefully help with each skin condition. 

The first is the Korres Wild Rose 24-hour Moisturising and Brightening Cream* - full size £20 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which I'll be using if my skin is particularly dry and also at night time. I've used this before and I love it. The next two are for when my skin is more on the oily side. Both the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ - full size £17 and the Clarins Daily Energizer Cream - full size £21 (from the Clarins Daily Energizer Kit - £15) are wonderful lightweight moisturisers. They sink into the skin instantly yet leave it feeling hydrating.

Extras

Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair* - £7.75

I chose this eye cream because my two everyday eye creams are quite bulky. This one is great as it hydrates the eye area and helps diminish dark circles. It also contains SPF 10 which in warm weather is a definite bonus. 

Piz Buin in Sun Lipstick SPF 30 - currently £3

And finally, SPF for the lips. This one tastes and smells incredible but sadly, it doesn't add any moisture or hydration to the lips. It does, however protect them from the damaging sun, without interfering with any make up.

#1 Holiday Packing: Skin Care

#2 Holiday Packing: Body Care

#3 Holiday Packing: Hair Care

Are you going on holiday this year? What beauty products will you be packing?
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Korres Wild Rose Collection

Korres is one of those brands that regardless of your age, you're bound to enjoy their products. And with Mothers Day just around the corner, the Korres Japanese Rose Gift Set* makes a beautiful gift. Including the best selling products; Japanese Rose Body Milk, Japanese Rose Shower Gel and Wild Rose Lip Butter, this trio is the perfect way to celebrate Mothers Day and say "thank you" to your loved one.

The Japanese Rose Shower Gel is extremely moisturising on the skin and leaves it almost glowing. It has an array of goodness inside of the product including Aloe, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and antioxidant enzymes which all work together to enhance the skin's immune system. The scent is very delicate and uplifting and is the perfect way to to kick start the "rose routine." Follow this up with the Japanese Body Milk for extra silky skin and another layer of scent. The body milk is lightweight, sinks into the skin nice and quickly and provides long-lasting hydration. Finally, the best product of the bunch (in my opinion) is the Wild Rose Lip Butter. Packed with moisturising and healing properties and enriched with Shea Butter and Rice Wax, this lip butter hydrates the lips and leaves them feeling soft. Not only that, but it has a beautiful red/fuchsia pigment that really makes the lips "pop." Perfect for no make up, make up days.

You can buy this kit here where it retails for just £20 (a saving of 23% if you were to buy the products separately).

Have you tried any of Korres' Rose products before? What are you doing for Mothers Day?
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Skincare Spotlight #1

I know I said that I wouldn't keep changing my skin care routine now that I've found one that truly works for me however, I'm a beauty blogger and an addict and if I find a new product, I have to play around with it. Although if I'm being honest, these extras are just that. Extras. Most of them don't form the basis of my skin care routine, so I'm allowed to try them. Right? I'll keep telling myself that. Anyway, I was originally going to post about a few of these separately as they're worth their own post. But then I realised that would take weeks so instead, I'm starting a "Skincare Spotlight" series. Like a little round up of skin care products I've been trying recently.

Bannatyne Micro Exfoliation Powder* - £15.99

Many years ago (when I first subscribed to Glamour Magazine) I fell in love with Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant however, I then become a beauty blogger and started trying out hundreds of different exfoliators so sadly, never returned to it. This product is basically the exact same idea (except much cheaper - Dermalogica's offering is a whopping £40.30) and I do believe I'm actually addicted to the stuff. You pour out what quite frankly looks like cocaine into damp hands and then massage into the skin. The water activates the enzymes which accelerate cell renewal. The gentle exfoliator brightens the skin, gets rid of dead skin cells and over time, helps fade scarring. It really is quite the little genius and I have no idea why so little brands do their own version.

Bannatyne Exfoliating Treatment Mask* - £15.99

I'm not quite as in love with this as I am the Exfoliation Powder but it's still a nice product to use (and the packaging is to die for). This uses enzymes of pineapple and papaya which work to naturally remove dead skin cells to reveal luminous, smooth skin. The aloe extract included inside the mask ensures that the skin is kept hydrated and moisturised. It's a nice product, feels cooling on the skin and definitely reveals a brighter complexion however the Good Things mask further down does the same for under a fiver.

purminerals Mineral Mudd Mask* - £25

I do love me a good mud mask and this one is no different. It uses Pascalite which was used by Native Americans for its incredible healing properties and is a popular remedy for insect bites and stings. Inside this mask it unclogs the pores and eliminates impurities while the cucumber extract soothes and calms the skin and the salicylic acid gently exfoliates and renews it. After use, my skin is left feeling soft, looking brighter and my pores have been tightened. This mask doesn't dry the skin out, instead it balances it and leaves it looking and feeling "normal." However, I do find that the majority of mud masks do the same thing and you can find one similar for a much cheaper price.

Filorga Age Peel Treatment* - £56

Now isn't this a little expensive treat?! Yet much cheaper than actual salon chemical peels, so who's complaining. This set comes with a 20ml gel peeling masque and five wipes which work together to deeply cleanse and renew the skin by eliminating dead cells, erasing imperfections and bringing back brightness to the complexion. After just one use, I found that my skin looked much healthier and now I'm nearing the end of the treatment, my scarring has faded significantly - all while being very gentle on the skin. Working out at £11.20 per "session," this certainly isn't cheap. But the results are most definitely effective.

Korres Wild Rose Exfoliating Cleanser* - £18

I have been loving my Super Facialist Cleansing Oil and Clearasil Face Wash combination for a really long time now however this cleanser by Korres has become a welcome addition to my little family. I now use this in the morning (and the Super Facialist/Clearasil routine at night) and I've fallen in love with it. The exfoliating beads aren't harsh in the slightest but do a wonderful job at buffing away the skin and leaving it feeling soft. I find that make up applies much better after I've used this, hence why it's now my morning cleanser.

Korres Wild Rose Moisturiser for Oily/Combination Skin* - £20

First thing's first. The scent. I hate roses and I thought that I'd hate this product as a result of that. However, the Wild Rose scent is beautiful - not at all florally or overpowering. Now that's out of the way, this moisturiser comes with Corn Powder which absorbs oiliness, reduces shine and leaves the skin looking matte. The Wild Rose oil (which is a natural source of vitamin C) repairs fine lines and skin colour disorders. Imperata cylindrica desert plant extract ensures the skin is kept moisturised and hydrated throughout the day, White Willowbark extract promotes cell renewal and Turmeric enhances the formulation's brightening properties. As you can tell, there's a whole host of skin goodness packed inside this moisturiser and from first use, you can tell they work together to do a good job. Originally, I was going to get the Normal/Dry combination as Oily/Combination versions aren't usually great for my combination skin. However, this moisturiser really does keep the skin hydrated, scale-free and matte for the entire day. It's a miracle product. The skin is left feeling beautifully soft to the touch, smelling delicious, moisturised and looking bright and glowing. It's love and at £20, it's pretty affordable too.

Good Things Blemish Control Gel Mask* - £4.99

The majority of products in this selection are quite pricey so I'm going to finish on a nice little bargain for you. Every product I've tried from Good Things has been loved by my skin and this is no exception. This 3-in-1 mask has been specially formulated for problem skin as it targets blemishes, spots and excess oil using superfruits like mango and lychee. The mask is a gel formula that absorbs easily into the skin and doesn't tighten it or leave it feeling uncomfortable.

What skin care products are you loving at the moment?
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VALENTINE'S DAY | Korres Men's Kit

Ahh Valentine's Day. My 21st one single. But oh well, I don't need no man... I'm a strong independent woman! Although, I do want to go and see Endless Love. I've even considered going and watching it alone on Valentine's Day in a cinema full of couples... I'll let you know if that happens. But enough of me, there's no need for me to bitter. If you're after a last minute Valentine's Day gift for that man in your life then I present to you the Korres Men's Kit.*

Priced at £19, this kit is affordable, cute and practical. Not only will it introduce your man to some of Korres best sellers, it's also perfect for stashing into their gym kit, travel bag or keeping round at your house in case he stays over and forgets his products - no way is he borrowing Laura Mercier. The kit contains a 40ml Guava Shower Gel, 40ml Basil Lemon Shower Gel, 40ml Aloe and Dittany Shampoo, 25ml Absinthe Shave Cream and a 25ml Marigold and Ginseng After Shave Moisturiser. Basically everything a man needs.

I've had a sniff of these products and they smell delicious. I'd definitely want my non-existent man (or Zac Efron) smelling like this after a quick shower. The Korres Men's Kit is available to buy here where it retails for £19.

Will you be single on Valentine's Day? If not, what have you bought your lover?
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Favourite sun protectants

When it comes to sun protection, I use it religiously. I'm one of those people that will always - without fail - use SPF on my face. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or if the sun is blaring through the sky, it's something that I always use. You see, my theory is that there's no point in me spending money and time on all of these wonderful skin care products if I'm not going to protect myself from the biggest anti-ager of all time: the sun. The sun is deadly and I'm someone who has pretty fair skin - I basically burn and then go white again - so protecting myself is very important. I also use a lot of acids and brightening products in my skin care routine which makes protecting my skin from the sun even more important.

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Invisible Nutritive Oil SPF 50+* - £17.50

This is the SPF that I use all over my body. I used to be one of those children who hated having sun cream applied to them. It was sticky, heavy and it just didn't feel nice on the skin at all. Luckily for us, technology has advanced meaning that applying SPF is no longer a chore and wearing it on the skin feels as beautiful as wearing your favourite moisturiser. This sun protectant is waterproof and it has an innovative nourishing oil texture. It glides easily onto the skin, moisturises it, sinks into the skin easily and quickly and leaves behind a subtle and pleasant fragrance. I also love the fact that this is SPF 50+ as it means you're going to get the highest protection available. One question I get a lot working at Boots is; "will I still tan if I use SPF 50?" The answer is yes, you just won't burn and it might take a little bit longer.

Korres Sunscreen Face Cream SPF30* - £16.50

I think finding the perfect facial suncream can take some time. I don't have sensitive skin but I am prone to breakouts and sometimes that one extra SPF step can really take its toll on my skin. I do have sun protection in my daily moisturiser but for me, that's not enough and I like applying more protection "just in case." This face cream by Korres is a real pleasure to use. It contains organic yoghurt, proteins, minerals and vitamins which means not only is it good and soothing for your skin, it's also going to protect you pretty well. The texture of this is very light - lighter than my moisturiser and so far, I've seen no signs of breakouts. It smells absolutely delicious which is always a bonus and it's water and sweat resistant. When it comes to facial SPFs, I always look for water/sweat resistant because facial SPF isn't something that you want to be reapply daily - especially in England - as the chances are, you're going to have make up on. This is a real pleasure to use and my skin laps it up. I would recommend using no less than SPF30 on your face - especially if you're using acid exfoliants.

Vichy Capital Soleil Beautifying Sun Protection Compact SPF30* - £11.33

This is a product that I was a little bit apprehensive about. As I say in most of my blog posts - sorry if it annoys you! - I do have badly scarred skin so I'm not one of those people who can apply SPF on holiday, no make up and be good to go. I like having the extra bit of coverage to give me confidence. This product is genius for us blemished skin beauties. Essentially, this is a make up product but it protects the skin in the exact same way as a suncream does. I didn't think that this would have a lot of coverage in it - if any - but it does. I'd say it's medium coverage and it covers up any spots and some of my scarring. Although it's a cream foundation, it mattifies the skin like a powder so you don't have to worry about shiny skin. For me - whilst I'm in England - this is the perfect primer when the sun is scorching hot. I don't have to add any unneccesary steps to my skin care routine and I can cut my usual foundation out completely as with concealer, this provides enough coverage for me. When I'm abroad, this is going to become my best friend as it's something that I can wear around the pool to protect my skin while still feeling confident knowing that my scarring has virtually disappeared. An absolute genius of a product and I can't believe it hasn't been thought of sooner.

So these are my sun care summer picks - or just my all year round SPF favourites. What are yours? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned above? Are you like me when it comes to sun protection - do you wear it all year round?

xxx

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What I wore on my face

I don't think I've done a "what I wore on my face" post in a really long time. Either that or I've never done one. So on Saturday before heading off out, I decided to photograph the products that I'd used on my face and posted it on Instagram. I received an incredible amount of "likes" so I thought I'd do a little write up about which products I used, how I used them and why I love them.

Face

On my face I started off by using Seventeen's Photo Flawless skin primer. I really like this primer and I've gone through two bottles of it since first trying it. It prolongs my make up a little bit and it really smooths out the skin and preps it for foundation. I then went onto use Vichy's Dermablend foundation* which is one of my all time favourites. It gives perfect coverage, looks invisible and is really easy to blend and use. It also lasts all day long on the skin too which was perfect for me as I was out in the raining photographing a Zombie Run. For concealer, I've been using Rimmel's Wake Me Up underneath my eyes. I used to love this concealer but it got thrown aside a while back so I'm glad to have it back in my life. And of course on blemishes I used the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer which is my all-time favourite. I then powdered the skin with Purminerals Pressed Mineral Make Up.* I love this powder as it's a foundation so it adds extra coverage to the skin whilst mattifying it down and ensuring make up stays put all day long. As I've been fake tanning recently, I used the Liz Earle Natural Glow Bronzer* to warm up my complexion and add a little bit of a glow and then followed using the Nars Deepthroat Blush which really perks the skin up.

Eyes

To fill in and shape my eyebrows, I used the KIKO Eyebrow Expert Styling Kit.* I really love this kit as it comes with two different shades of powder, a wax, some tweezers and a brush. It's a really handy kit and sorts out the mess of a job a beautician did to my eyebrows. For my eyes, I went back to my trusty Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. I used Suspect all over the lid, Snakebite on the outer corner, Tease through the crease, Bootycall as a highlight and Half Baked underneath my lashes. I really like this combination as it looks natural but also emphasises my eyes. Half Baked underneath my lashes is my little trick as it makes my eyes look wider, brighter and finishes the look off perfectly. I then finished off with Seventeen's Liquid Liner close to my lash line for definition and used lashings of both Seventeen's Doll'd Up mascara and Barry M's Lash Vegas mascara* which are two of my favourites. Seventeen's Doll'd Up mascara is great for defining and curling the lashes whilst Barry M's Lash Vegas mascara is perfect for both length and volume. Both of them work wonderfully together to give me full but defined dramatic lashes.

Lips

Finally, on my lips I used MAC's Please Me followed by the Korres Lip Butter* to moisturise and add a little tint and gloss to the lips. Please Me is a matte colour which means that it can sometimes be a little bit drying so pairing the Korres Lip Butter over the top really helps to moisturise the lips. I also adore the combination of the two colours together. Please Me is a muted down dusky pink whereas the Korres Mango Lip Butter is a coral colour. Both of them work together to create the most adorable pink on the lips which I love.

So there we have it. The products that I used on my face on Saturday. These are also the products that I tend to wear on a day to day basis however, I usually switch up my eyeshadow a little bit. I always go for the highlight in the corner, light shade on the lid, darker shade on the outer corner, matte brown through the crease and Half Baked underneath the lashes though for some reason. I guess it's just routine. What have you been using on your face recently? Have you tried any of the products that I mentioned above?

xxx
*PR Sample

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REVIEW: Korres Mango Lip Butter

The Korres Lip Butters are such a cult item and it seems that everyone - except for me - has owned one previously or currently owns one. The packaging to start off with is beautiful. Simple, understated and somehow, it works. It's very classy and shows the brand in a positive and professional light. The lip butter itself is rich and melts into the lips while offering a tinted, shiny finish. I chose the Korres Mango Lip Butter* because at the moment, I'm obsessed with the smell of mangoes and this one doesn't let me down. It smells and tastes gorgeous and leaves a very pretty and subtle coral tint on the lips. Not only does mango smell, taste and look wonderful, it's also known for easily absorbing into the skin and its moisturising and healing properties so if you have chapped lips or dry lips, this formula would be perfect for you. My lips have become very dry recently - probably due to university stress - and I've been working this into my lips on a daily basis. It provides a lot of hydration but it doesn't sit on top of the lips, it sinks into them and leaves your lips feeling nourished all day long. I also love the colour of the tint as it means that I don't have to apply any lipstick throughout the day as this provides a beautiful colour that's perfect for day-to-day wear. I can definitely see why these lip butters are a cult and sought after item and I need to try out more of the flavours. You can buy the Mango Lip Butter for £8 here and view more Korres products (including the other lip butters) here.

 xxx
*PR Sample

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