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.

Colgate ProClinical A1500 Electric Toothbrush - £169.99
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.

KIKO City Filter Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Primer* - £12.90
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 Citrus Purifying Mist* - £21.50
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.

Beetox Manuka Honey & Bee Venom Serum* - £45.00
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.

Lip Smacker's Disney Princess in Snow White* - £3.00
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!

Estee Lauder Double Wear - £28.50
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.

Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector - £14.50
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.

Cargo Cosmetics Texas Lash* - £14.00
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.

Nars Blush in Outlaw* - £21.50
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.

Along Came Betty Brow Kit Br-wow* - £3.99
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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Written By Unknown at 10:51 am
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Tuesday 30 July 2013

Monthly Round Up #2

Is it seriously that time of the month again? Although I love sitting down and writing about my favourite posts and products, it doesn't half scare me. I mean, it's nearly August for goodness sake! I will be entering my third year of university soon and a few months after that, I'll (hopefully) be graduating. This is madness! Although I'm 20 and soon to be 21, I definitely still feel like a child. This is crazy! Anyway. Onto my top ten blog posts this month. I hope you enjoy them.
Remember how I was taking part in the Escentual Micellar Blind Trial? Well this month (after the winners were released) I decided to publish my two cents about the waters. Some I loved, others I hated, a few I was shocked at. You can read my thoughts and find out which one really is the "best" here. 
I loved a lot of products in June. I'd been trying out a few newbies and all of them gained a special place in my heart. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few but I managed to in the end. My June Favourites post was one of my favourites to write and although the products weren't photogenic, it didn't bother me one bit.
The Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer is without a doubt a cult blogger favourite. It lasts all day, blends easily and provides our flaws with good coverage that makes us feel like a model. However, SEVENTEEN have released a concealer to rival it - do I think it's better? Find out here.
It's no secret that I'm a lip crayon addict so when I discovered that SEVENTEEN had released their own collection, I trotted along to Boots and picked up this beautiful coral orange. It's a lot cheaper than its cousins and I believe it's just as good. I swatched and reviewed the lip crayon here.
I love me a good face oil. Anything with the words "brighten," "renew" and "Super Facialist" in them has me sold. I'm a big believer in double cleansing and this face oil by Super Facialist is without a doubt my favourite. Ever. Did I mention it's exceptionally good value for money too? Read my thoughts here.
There's nothing better than putting your feet up, slathering on a face mask and watching YouTube. I've recently discovered three incredible face masks that brighten, balance and exfoliate your skin beautifully. Find out more about my face mask loves here.
If I'm bored, what do I do? Whack out the eyeshadow palettes and have a good play of course. This eye make up look was created using the wonderful and oh-so-practical Naked palette and I loved how it turned out. Find out which shadows, liner and mascara I used here.
Yes, I finally did it. I ventured out and posted my first "real" outfit of the day post. I actually really enjoyed taking these photos and I've captured my next batch already. I'm hoping to make WIWT posts a weekly feature on this blog but you can see my first attempt here.
I can hold my hands up and say that I spend the majority of my money on food and shower gels. I just adore the smells of these delicious beauties and I managed to narrow it down to my top five in one of my posts this month. Oh and did I mention they're all under £6.50?! Find out my favourites here.


And finally. A post not by me but by Superdrug. I was featured on Superdrug's Bloggers We Love series this month and yes, I nearly crashed my car in excitement when I saw - sorry Perry. You can find the link to my mini interview here. I'm still overly excited about it now!

What's been your favourite posts to write/publish this month? Leave me links in the comments below.
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Written By Unknown at 11:22 am
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Monday 29 July 2013

SKINCARE | Bioderma Sebium H20























After taking part in the Escentual Micellar Blind Trial and changing my opinion on the ever-so famous micellar waters, I decided to dip my toes further into the water and try out this variation from the blogger favourite brand - Bioderma. The Bioderma Sebium H20* is part of the new Sebium range which has been designed for acne-prone and combination skin. If you didn't already know, my skin is combination and gets oilier throughout the day. I am prone to spots as well so I desperately need products that balance my skin and soothes it without breaking me out.

Fortunately, this micellar water has been formulated to target combination or oily skin. It contains a unique patented sebo-correcting complex which regulates the quality of sebum. The formula is enriched with purifying active ingredients that gently cleanse the skin without drying it out and regulating the production of oil. Sounds very scientific doesn't it? I've been using this a lot - so much that I'm almost out so I'm cutting down my usage. It's like an addiction. Especially the smell as it's nice, clean and fresh. It quickly dissolves make up (even waterproof) without drying the skin out or making it oily. It's very gentle to use and isn't even painful when you accidently get it in your eye - I'm guilty of being so careless. Although I don't use this as my only cleanse, it makes the perfect first step for a double cleanse routine to remove make up and prepare it for further cleansing.

I've fallen head over heels in love with this product and I most certainly prefer it to the original Bioderma as it suits my skin type more. The water is refreshing, soothing and does the job perfectly. Nowadays, Bioderma is readily available in the UK and you can buy it here where it retails for £4.50 and £9.99 - not a bad price at all.

Have you tried the cult favourite Bioderma? What are your thoughts on the product? Have you tried this oily skin version?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 1:22 pm
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Saturday 27 July 2013

BODY | The superior shower gels


A girl can never have too many shower gels. I absolutely adore these little bundles of joy. The smell of them, enveloping my skin in yummy deliciousness. If I'm ever out and about shopping, one product that will always come home with me is a shower gel. There are so many different varieties out there that it would be rude to stick to the same one. However, there are a few bottles of these divine beauties that continue to make a cheeky regular appearance in my shower.

I've tried many of the Treacle Moon shower gels before and none of them have let me down. The scents are delicious and the quality and amount of product you get for £2.99 is outstanding. I'd highly recommend picking up a few of these next time you're in Tesco. The limited edition Cool Melon Fresca contains cool melon notes and delicious strawberry's which transport you to a hot summers day by the pool. The scent is sweet, refreshing and lingers on the skin perfectly. Melon margaritas anyone?

I'll never forget the moment when I first sniffed this beauty. I was at work, it was quiet and I found myself admiring the beautiful Soap & Glory display. This product was new back then and I was intrigued by it. I unscrewed the lid and after a whiff of this found its way up my nose, I was in love. This body wash smells like citrus and it's just what you need to wake you up in the morning. The Soap & Glory shower gels on the whole are wonderful products - nicely priced and good quality.

Sanex Dermo Repair Dry Skin Shower Cream* - £2.99
A lot of daily routines can damage the skin and leave it dehydrated. Luckily for us, these new shower creams from Sanex help to repair the damage to leave us with healthy, silky-smooth skin. This shower cream is my "go-to product" when my skin is feeling a little bit irritated - particularly after shaving and prolonged sun exposure. It doesn't have a noticeable scent but it smells fresh and clean. It's also wonderful at adding moisture to the skin so perfect pre-fake tanning. 

Just looking at this shower gel makes me happy. It smells absolutely beautiful. With extracts of strawberry and apricot, this shower gel wraps your skin in an enchanting fragrance. The fragrance is very rich and prominent and it lingers on your skin after you've washed it off. The formula is nice and softening and adds moisture to the skin. Palmolive claim that this shower gel encourages a brighter complexion too which is something that I definitely can't complain about.

When it comes to LUSH, there aren't many products that are marketed for the shower. And being a university student living in halls, I only have a shower (although next year, I'll be stocking up on Bath Ballistics as I finally have a bath - woohooo!). So one day I popped into LUSH with my darling sister and spotted the Shower Jellies. When my sister first moved to university, I treated her to one of these and she loved it. As soon as I sniffed the one in Sweetie Pie, I was sold. It smells good enough to eat and has beautiful glitter inside of it - I feel like a princess.

So these are my "top five shower gels." The prestigious ones. The best of the best. And they're all nicely priced. When I look for a shower gel, I look for one that smells delicious, is great value for money and doesn't dry the skin out or strip it of its natural moisture. All of these fit that bill and that's why they're without a doubt my favourite.

What's your favourite shower gel? Have you tried any of the ones above?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 11:10 am
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Friday 26 July 2013

NAILS | Dielle Nail Colour in Restored Treasure





The thing that separates Dielle nail colours from other polishes is that they don't contain any toxic ingredients that are found in many other nail polishes. For those of you interested, these polishes are free of Toluene, Formaldehyde, DBP, Camphor and Phthalic Acid and Parabens. My nails aren't in the best condition and although I look after them pretty well, excessive use of nail polish and polish remover has damaged them quite badly. And for this reason, I'm glad to see a nail polish that isn't actually bad for your nails. All Dielle nail colours are entirely cruelty-free as the brand don't test on animals.

The Dielle nail colour I have is Restored Treasure* which I happen to believe is the cutest name ever. This colour is a gorgeous metallic gold that is perfect in the summer. The formula is stunning and the polish was opaque in two coats and has remained chip-free for four days so far. Another great thing about this polish is that it's fast drying. I'm someone who paints my nails and then needs the toilet (guilty!) so this is a massive bonus for me. The finish of Restored Treasure is metallic, sparkling and glossy and in the picture above, there's no top coat - it's just glistening away in the sun in all its glory.

At £12.00 a pop, these day polishes don't come cheap. But as mentioned in this review, the formula and finish cannot be argued with. You can view the entire range of Dielle nail colours here. A quick one as well - this is the last day to enter my giveaway so if you haven't done so yet, you can do so here.

Have you tried Dielle nail colours before?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 10:48 am
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Thursday 25 July 2013

EYES | My lips are saying goodbye, my eyes are finally dry



Highlight: Sin
All over the lid: Toasted
In the crease: Hustle
Under the lash line: Half Baked
Eyeliner: NYX The Curve*
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose Drama

It was late Tuesday night (or early Wednesday morning, whichever way you want to look at it) and I was extremely bored alone in my apartment. So what did I decide to do? Whip out the eyeshadows and get creative of course! I absolutely adore make up. I love experimenting with it. And I love applying it. One of my favourite eyeshadow palettes is without a doubt the Urban Decay Naked palette. I'll never forget the moment this was released - it was instant love and it's the palette that first got me into eyeshadow.

I've recently received a new fancy eyeliner - it's a fancy contraption, I'll tell ya. And I wanted to play around with it to see what it was like so this also contributed to my need to play around with make up. As you can see from the picture, it's beautiful and I'll say right now, it's easy to use. I'm not the best at creating flicks but I did it with ease and quickly in the look above. I do have a "top 3 eyeliner post" coming very soon with a more indepth review on said eyeliner so keep an eye out for that if you're interested.

I can see this being a look that I'll wear a lot in freshers week. On nights out though, I do like intense eyes so I'd add pencil liner on my waterline and a little bit of black in the crease to darken the look up. Oh and some falsies of course - can't go wrong with those! The Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara does a pretty good job when it comes to full and fluttery lashes though. I bought it in a Christmas gift set in the Boots Boxing Day sale and I'll definitely be stocking up this boxing day.

Do you experiment with make up when you're bored? What's your favourite "intense" eye make up look?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 11:18 am
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Wednesday 24 July 2013

WIWT | Cool breeze kissing the sea




Sunglasses: Boots
Blouse: Oasis*
Shorts: Primark
Bracelets: Primark & a gift from my mum

Props to you if you know the song from the title of this post - it's a '99 classic, I'll tell ya! Ahh, outfit of the day posts. They're always something that I shy away from but with the sun out in full force today, the lighting in my apartment was too good for me to miss the opportunity. I also wanted to show you these shorts. I bought them two summers ago so I doubt you'll be able to get your mitts on them now unfortunately but I can't stop wearing them at the minute. They cost me a measly £3 which is something you definitely can't complain about - it's no wonder Primark is my favourite store, is it? They're a little bit big and I am insecure about my flabby legs but you know what, it's summer, it's boiling and I'd be stupid to cover up any more. You might recognise this top from a post I did a few weeks ago and although at first I wasn't sure about the high/low hem, I'm now a big fan. It covers everything I want it to at the back and floats around all prettily in the sun. So yes, there you have it. An outfit of the day post. I apologise for the dodgy posing, the awkward mess in my room and my "definitely-needs-redoing" ombre.

What's your current summer wardrobe staple? Would you like to see more outfit posts from me? I promise I'll get better!
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 2:51 pm
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Tuesday 23 July 2013

MAKE UP | KIKO Eyetech Look Eyeshadow




L-R 106, 112, 117

117
Before I started blogging, I never understood the joy of eyeshadow. A quick flick of mascara and I was good to go. But over the past three years, I've experimented with them a lot. More often than not, I tend to stick to my trusty Urban Decay Naked palettes as I know what works for me when it comes to those. But every now and then, I discover a new gem that I just can't seem to stop wearing. This little beauty is from what I can only describe as my favourite make up brand: KIKO. I haven't come across a product of theirs that I don't like and I swear on oath that one day, I will own the entire collection from the brand.

The KIKO Eyetech Look Eyeshadows* are not only stunning but they're easy to use. And when it comes to everyday wear, there's nothing I love more than an easy beauty product. They come with their own applicator which means that you can easily sweep them over your lids and blend them out to your desired needs. As well as this, these look lovely as eyeliners - particularly colours 106 and 112 which look gorgeous underneath the lash line in summer as the colours are so incredibly vibrant. 106 is a beautiful deep purple and 112 is a stunning turquoise that reminds me of the ocean. I've been wearing the colour 117 every single day as it's natural looking and gives a beautiful wash of colour over the eyelids. It's like a "my lips but better shade" except it's for your eyes.

The one thing that worried me about these eyeshadows is the size. They are small and there is only 0.8g of product in them however, KIKO claim that there is enough product inside the cap for over 150 applications - a pretty bold claim. And although I haven't used my trusty 117 150 times yet, I have been wearing it almost everyday for over a month now so it's definitely put my worries to rest. The packaging is also wonderful and extremely practical. If you're travelling somewhere, these are small enough to chuck into your beauty bag and if you're using them to give a wash of colour or as an eyeliner, you don't even need to take a brush with you.

KIKO claim that these come in 18 different shades however on the website, I can only see five unfortunately. You can buy these practical little beauties here where they're currently on offer for £2.90 each.

Have you tried these eyeshadows before?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 11:42 am
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Monday 22 July 2013

REVIEW: KIKO Kiss Balm in Strawberry




When it comes to my everyday make up, I love nothing more than a moisturised, glossy lip with a hint of colour and there's one product in particular that has filled this need for me over these past couple of weeks. The KIKO Kiss Balm has a velvety soft texture that moisturises the lips and protects them against the damaging effects of the sun with SPF 15. Instantly, this balm sinks into the lips adding a hint of colour and gloss and a delicious taste that comforts the lips. 

The Kiss Balm is available in 7 gorgeous combinations so you're guaranteed to find a colour, taste and scent to suit your needs. I have the KIKO Kiss Balm in Strawberry* which as the name suggests, tastes and smells of strawberries - so yummy. The colour is a beautiful pink-red that looks intimidating in the bullet but beautiful and sophisticated on the lips. You can view the entire shade and aroma combinations here and I without a doubt have my eye on both the Apricot and Coconut versions - they look delicious!

I've fallen head over heels in love with this product and it's quickly become a summer staple of mine. It does everything that a lip balm should do - a wash of colour, instant moisture, beautiful gloss that isn't sticky and of course, SPF 15. This isn't the longest lasting product that you'll find for your lips as it is very moisturising but it means that you'll just have to apply it more - and when a product tastes this good, I'm not complaining! You can buy the Kiss Balms here where they retail for £5.90.

What's your favourite lip balm? Do you like a hint of colour to yours lips?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 8:49 am
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Sunday 21 July 2013

SKINCARE | Good Things Deep Pore Anti Blemish Lotion

I'm a big believer in "you get what you pay for" when it comes to skincare however, every now and then you can come across some bargainous beauties that blow the claim out of the window. That's what happened with me when I first started using the Good Things Deep Pore Anti Blemish Lotion.* I love a deep double cleanse but sometimes I just can't be bothered - especially in mornings. This product makes cleansing my morning skin much easier as it's a lotion that you pour onto a cotton pad and sweep across your face. It uses wild strawberry and fig which not only smell delicious but also increase smoothness and radiance. 

The thing that I love about this lotion is the fact that is removes excess oil and unclogs the pores without stripping your skin of its natural oils. I've used many blemish products in the past and nearly all of them have left my skin feeling dry and looking dull but this one doesn't at all. It balances the skin out - moisturises the drier patches and mattifies the oily patches - and leaves the skin looking radiant and ready to face the day. The packaging of this product is also something that I believe is worthy of comment. It's cute and practical - I love how it's clear so you can see how much product you have left. 

Overall this product is cheap as chips and does a wonderful job. I've been using this pretty much every morning when I'm too lazy for a deep cleanse. A quick sweep over the skin is all you need to look and feel refreshed for the day.

Have you tried this product before? Or anything from Good Things?
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Written By Unknown at 9:32 am
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Saturday 20 July 2013

I'm featured on Superdrug's Bloggers We Love!

Hello lovelies! Just a quick post today letting you know that I'm featured on Superdrug's "Bloggers We Love." When the lovely Sarah tweeted me a link, I happened to be driving and it's safe to say, I probably nearly caused a crash as I was so excited. I love Superdrug (although I work at Boots - oops) so to be featured on their website is such a big deal and achievement for me. I'm also extremely happy that bloggers are getting so much recognition these days and many of my favourite bloggers have featured on the site too. So if you're interested in finding out what I'm reading, what I'm listening to and which products I'm currently loving, then you can see my mini feature and interview here.

I hope you all have a lovely day and I love you all lots!
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Written By Unknown at 12:31 pm
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Thursday 18 July 2013

MAKE UP | SEVENTEEN Lip Crayon in Bold

























If there's one product that I'm addicted to, it's lip crayons. They're everything I've ever wanted in a lipstick and more. They're nicely pigmented, glossy, non-sticky, easy to use and they moisturise and glide over the lips. SEVENTEEN is a brand that I've experimented a lot with over the years and although it's cheap as chips, the quality of their products is outstanding and they definitely don't reflect the price.

So when I heard that SEVENTEEN were bringing out their very own versions of my newest craze, I had to get my hands on them. Armed with my double discount and Boots "buy one get one half price offer" I decided on the colour "Bold." Bold is essentially an orange coral colour that is totally wearable and as you can see from the lip swatch, it perfect for everyday use. The SEVENTEEN Lip Crayons aren't the most pigmented lip products in the world but the formula is so beautiful, it's hard not to love them.

As mentioned earlier, these glide over the lips creating a beautiful glossy look that lasts for a good two hours before having to reapply. I'm definitely gutted that I only bought one shade as these are only going to set you back £4.99 per lip crayon. So far there are only five colours in the collection and I'd definitely love to see SEVENTEEN expand this as the formula of these lip crayons is good enough to rival the more expensive competitors.

You can buy the SEVENTEEN Lip Crayon's here where they retail for £4.99 each.

Have you tried the SEVENTEEN Lip Crayons before? Which brand does your favourite lip crayon?
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Written By Unknown at 10:57 am
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Tuesday 16 July 2013

SKINCARE | Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil



There's no doubt about it - I'm a Super Facialist by Una Brennan fan. There isn't one of their products that I've tried that I dislike so when I found out that they were bringing out a new brightening range you could say that I was a little bit excited. I've read through the press release hundreds of times - sad, I know - and I definitely squeaked when their new Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil* found its way into my postbox.

It was only the other day that I was asking on Twitter about high street cleansing oils. I've tried both the Rose and Neroli Super Facialist cleansing oils and I love them dearly - in fact, it was those two that introduced me to the world of double cleansing. However the price (£14.99 for 30ml of product) didn't agree with my student budget and I ended up going through the bottles incredibly quickly. So I definitely jumped for joy when I saw the new Cleansing Oil. First of all, you get a whopping 200ml of product for just £10.99 - cheaper AND more product? I can't complain. And secondly, I'm a big fan of brightening products and anything with vitamin C inside it make my little heart beat much faster. So it's safe to say that before I'd even tried this, I had very high expectations.

And it has definitely matched and exceeded those expectations. The Vitamin C+ Brighten collection has been specially formulated to boost radiance promoting a glowing, fresher complexion. All of the products in the range feature an advanced Vitamin C+ based anti-ageing and skin lightening complex that aims to protect, replenish, brighten and strengthen skin. 

The Skin Renew Cleansing Oil has been infused with Vitamin C, cucumber oil, rosemary oil and olive, grapeseed and rosehip essential oils to ensure that skin is left feeling beautifully soft. It quickly dissolves make up and on contact with water, the oils turns into a light milky texture so that it washes away nice and easily without leaving an residue behind. It's wonderful on waterproof make up and it makes cleansing and removing make up so much easier. After I've used this, my skin feels fresher and invigorated. Oh and I did I mention that it smells beautifully like oranges? I actually can't recommend this product enough.

The only problem with it is the packaging. As you can tell from the images before, it's a pour bottle which can end up being messy - it also means that you end up using more product than you need. But I quickly sorted this out by buying a cheap pump bottle to decant the product into - fuss free and easy. 

Also in the range is the Dark Circles Eye Cream, Gentle Daily Micro Polish Wash, Glow Boost Skin Serum, Overnight Repair Radiance Capsules and the Skin Defence Daily Moisturiser all of which I need to try out. You can view the entire Super Facialist collection here and I guarantee that there will be a range suitable for your skin's needs.

Have you tried anything from the new Vitamin C+ Brighten range? Or even Super Facialist itself?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 9:08 am
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Monday 15 July 2013

The Face Masks | Yon-Ka, Clayspray and Sanctuary


Smothered in chocolate! Left, Clayspray's Mattifying Red Clay Masque once applied and right, once it's dried
A different background today - how fancy! These are the drawers in my bathroom because you know, that's where I keep my face masks. Well, my most loved ones anyway. The ones I don't use very often are stored with the majority of my skincare. Ever since I went to my first sleepover I've been a lover of face masks. I can remember buying the little sachets (we still do this now at university) and slathering them all over our faces to be left with beautifully soft skin. Soft skin is all well and good and it's nice to pamper yourself every now and then but ideally, I like it when I can see a visible difference immediately after I've removed a face mask from my skin. Face masks are so potent meaning that they're wonderful for a quick fix and I've been loving three in particular these past couple of months. Oh and for reference, I have combination skin that is blemish-prone with scarring. My skin tends to be more oily than dry but I do sometimes get dry patches around blemishes.

Yon-Ka GOMMAGE 303* - £32.00
At the moment, I'm very big on exfoliation and I'm someone who prefers chemical exfoliants over the standard manual ones. Yon-Ka is a luxury French skincare brand and their GOMMAGE 303 is marketed as a non-abrasive, botanical scrub. The reason I've included this in a face mask post is because although it does everything a chemical exfoliant does, it feels and acts more like a face mask. To me anyway. I'm probably going to be blacklisted by all skincare addicts now - oops. This product gently removes dead cells to provide clarity for dull complexions. Rich in citrus essential oils, this "mask" has an astringent effect and it's so gentle that you can even use it on your eyelids for a smoothing and toning effect. Once I've washed this off my skin feels soft and hydrated and my complexion looks radiant and glowing.

Clayspray Mattifying Red Clay Masque* - £41.71
As I have combination skin, I've tried a lot of clay masks in my time however, I'm not a big fan of them. I find them drying and they never seem to do anything for the appearance of my skin. This masque has completely changed my mind. Enriched in minerals, the Red Clay Masque regulates oil, combats blemishes and purifies the skin. The deep cleansing properties of this masque are outstanding and once this has dried and been rinsed off of my skin, my pores have been reduced so much that they're practically invisible. It leaves the skin looking matt but glowing and unlike other clay masks, it doesn't dry my skin out at all. Although this is an expensive face mask, I definitely believe that it's worth the price. You only need a small amount and the pore reducing effect lasted me for three days - what a little wonder.

Sanctuary 30 Day Youth Revolution Glycolic Peel-Off Mask - £22.50
This face mask actually comes in a 30 Day Youth Revolution treatment plan that has been professionally developed to allow you to achieve a spa facial at home. Including in the kit is the Glycolic Peel-Off mask, a brush to apply it with and a serum. I don't use the serum as I have many that I already love but this face mask is incredible. The kit itself helps to combat the signs of ageing by removing a layer of dead skin cells to improve firmness and tone the skin. Essentially, this is a peel off mask which is satisfying in itself but it also contains the wonder ingredient Glycolic Acid. Glycolic Acid is an AHA and it does a fantastic job at exfoliating the skin and revealing a brighter complexion. I use this once a week and after I've peeled the mask off, my skin looks brighter and more radiant. I also believe that this is helping with my acne scarring so you know, can't complain about that one.

I'm most definitely a skincare addict and face masks give me a lot of joy. Because of this, I'd love to know your favourites. I've heard a lot of good things about the amie face masks recently so I definitely think I'm going to have a little look at them on my next beauty shop.

What's your favourite face mask?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 10:27 am
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