Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts

Monday, 9 September 2013

Disappointing Products #1




This is my first ever "disappointing products" post. Can you believe I've never wrote one?! Me either. But personally, I don't get disappointed easily and I find myself liking products because most of the time, I do a lot of research before parting with my money. However, a few have managed to slip away and I've been sucked into the hype and needless to say, I've been left disappointed and dissatisfied.

I bought this in the Boots clearance section as it was only £1 a bottle. No, scratch that. I bought three bottles of this in the Boots clearance section and now they're just laying around, unloved and unused. I've never found a dry shampoo that I didn't like - they all tend to do the same job but for different prices. This one however, is shocking. For me, dry shampoo mops up oil and injects a bit of volume and oomph into the hair. Don't get me wrong, this one isn't bad - it doesn't make my hair greasier or anything - it just doesn't do anything. I spray it into my hair and well, it looks the exact same. A complete waste of time.

I was so excited for this foundation when it first came out - I'm a lover of the Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - but I was left extremely disappointed. To say that this foundation is supposed to "fit me" and be a perfect colour match, I struggled to find a colour that wasn't overly orange. The coverage is also not to my taste and I find that it barely covers scarring and can't be built up without looking cakey. Another major thumbs down is the fact that it's very hard to blend and I end up looking like a five year old has applied my foundation.

I hate to say this because I know so many people love this product but I really do hate it. It's sticky, bleeds, tastes disgusting and looks a mess. Is there a special way to use this lip lacquer? Am I missing a trick? If so, please do let me know because I'd love to love it. The colour above is Celestial which many bloggers branded as a colour to suit all but it doesn't suit me. It looks awful.

This isn't a bad product and I know many people love it but £7.99 for 2.5g's worth of product?! Yikes. I believe that the MUA One Direction Cheek Tints are much better and they're just £3 for 4.8g of product. I won't be repurchasing this (and I will be doing a review of the MUA 1D Cheek Tints - sneaky). For reference, the shade above is 02 Healthy Glow which is a gorgeous colour no doubt.

I bought this on holiday a couple of weeks ago because I ran out of my cleansing balm and needless to say, it's a product I actively dislike. It doesn't remove make up easily, it stings my eyes and it dries my skin out. To say that this is "ideal for normal to dry skin" it's a shocker considering I have combination skin. The No7 Melting Gel Cleanser is 1,000 times better (and a lot cheaper with the £5 No7 skincare vouchers).

I'm going to keep this nice and simple: for a minimum of £11 a nail polish these are an absolute rip off and the Sinful Colors nail polishes (that retail for £1.99 each) apply more evenly than the Nails Inc ones do.

When I first tried this, I loved it. I wasn't an oil lover and this converted me. It's a dry oil so it doesn't leave you feeling or looking greasy and it's extremely versatile - you can use it on your body, face or hair - and it smells divine. However, for £27 I don't believe it's worth it and since then, oils that do the same job for a fraction of the price have been released that I've fallen in love with.

So there you have it. I feel a bit mean right now. I'm going to go out and donate to charity to make myself feel better haha. Sorry products. I'd love to love you but I just don't.

Which products have disappointed you? Do you like any of the ones mentioned above?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 10:07 am
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Wednesday, 14 August 2013

LIFESTYLE | The Library

Since I picked up my first Jacqueline Wilson novel many moons ago, I've been an avid reader. You can often find me cosied up in bed, on the sofa or in the bath with a good old book. For me, there's nothing quite like losing yourself in a fantasy world to escape reality. I'm definitely someone who gets "too into" books and I've been known to shed a tear or two once I've finished one as I feel like I know the characters - oh the shame. Anyway, that's enough emotional talk. I've picked a few of my favourite authors and books to share with you in the hope that you'll find a new book love.

This is the book that I've most recently read and surprisingly, I loved it. I got this free with Glamour magazine a long time ago (probably a couple of years ago now) and I threw it aside thinking it'd be rubbish. But when I had no books left to read - and no money to buy any new ones - I delved into this one and fell completely in love. It's lighthearted, witty, hilarious and exactly what every girl needs to read. It's basically about a woman called Angela who catches her fiance cheating and runs away to New York. It's one of those books that'll make you laugh and cry at the same time.

This man is without a doubt the man of my dreams. I've read nearly all of his novels and it's safe to say that he is my favourite author. As a full on romantic, he writes the kind of books that I love reading and getting lost in and I most definitely blame him for my warped view on love. The book pictured is called The Rescue and definitely my favourite of the books I've read. It's beautiful and one that I couldn't predict despite Nicholas Sparks using running themes throughout his novels. I need this book to be made into a film because it's absolutely perfect. If you're new to the world of Nicholas Sparks, I definitely recommend The Rescue to get you into him.

I have a love/hate relationship with this series. I love it because well, it's wonderful but I hate it because of the films. I read these books five years ago when my best friend at school was obsessed with them and immediately, I fell in love with Edward Cullen. The books are true fantasy love stories that keep you turning the page. However the films aren't very good at all in my opinion. I'm not a fan of the way the characters are portrayed by the actors and the films don't do the books justice. At all. And now, I can't re-read these books because when I do, all I see is the awkwardness of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Sigh. But good books nonetheless.

Madeleine Wickham is Sophie Kinsella's real name and she writes under both the names - pretty confusing, uh?! I first discovered Sophie Kinsella when I read Confessions of a Shopaholic. As a lover of the film, I bought myself the book and loved her witty style of writing. Since then, I've read all of the books by her as they're great lighthearted "poolside" reads. The one pictured is Twenties Girl which is about a woman called Lara who keeps receiving visits from her late great aunt Sadie. Sounds a bit spooky but it's definitely not. The other book pictures is Madeleine Wickham's Swimming Pool Sunday which I randomly bought after deciding to give Sophie Kinsella's other books a chance. I wasn't expecting much as I assumed that these books were for "older" people but I really enjoyed it. Basically, an accident happens and lots of twists and turns occur. I couldn't put this book down and read it in one day - the joys of being poolside in the sun with a good book in one hand and a glass of Pepsi in the other.

I bought these last year whilst on holiday and hearing Joey Graceffa rave about them constantly. I loved them so much that I read the entire trilogy in one week and have since read every book again. They're not the kind of books that I usually go for but oh my, they're extremely gripping. The trilogy is set in future America where it has been divided into districts and the Capitol. Each year, an awful reality show happens whereby two children from each district are forced to fight to the death - there can only be one winner. There's also a nice little love story running alongside the main storyline which of course, I loved.

I read this on recommendation from my sister who rarely ever reads so when I found out that she'd actually finished a book, I knew I had to read it. I'm not the biggest fan of the way that it's written - I like shorter chapters - but it is an incredible book that's set out in a very strange way. The book is set out over twenty years and each chapter represents a different year. It's a heartbreaking love story and the ending didn't end how I wanted it to at all. It's a book that teaches you how short life really is. I also fell in love with Dexter while reading this - he's a beauty.

Okay I admit it... I'm cheating a little bit with this one as I'm yet to read Bridget Jones's Diary. However two weeks ago I watched the film for the first time - I know, I know, twenty years old and only just watching the film is a crime in itself - but I loved it so much that I decided to buy the book. Although I'm not impressed with the front cover (never judge a book by its cover is a complete lie) I am definitely excited to read this book. If it's anything like the film, it's going to wonderful to bury my head in.

I love reading biographies about those that I love and if you don't already know (first of all, where have you been?!) I'm literally the biggest Britney Spears fan you'll ever meet. If you don't happen to love old Britterz quite as much as I do (you must be mental!) then I can still guarantee you that her life is one you'll enjoy reading about. It's so fascinating and the best part of it all is that these biographies are just speculation. Despite being one of the most photographed women ever, since her breakdown she's been extremely reserved and we don't actually know a lot about her. Britney: Inside the Dream is incredible and although it's a bit outdated now, it still explores a lot of her breakdown. I'd also recommend reading Lynne Spears' Through The Storm which is about as close to the truth as we'll ever get (unless Ms. Spears releases her autobiography). Through The Storm is an autobiography by Britney's mother and although it explores a lot about her life and past, it touches on a lot of Britney issues and also Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. A truly gripping and heartbreaking book.

Phew. What a long post. I hope you enjoyed it and I've given you a few reading suggestions. Please do let me know any books that you recommend as I'm always on the lookout for new reads. I'm considering reading Me Before You as I've seen a lot of bloggers talking about it and it sounds like my kind of book. I just need that little push to get me to buy it so if you've read it and enjoyed it, let me know in the comments.

What are your favourite books? Have you read any of the ones mentioned above? Leave me your recommendations below.
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Written By Unknown at 11:29 am
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Tuesday, 13 August 2013

SKIN CARE | REN Radiance skin care

REN is a brand that bloggers love and a brand that loves bloggers. So when this little beauty found its way into my postbox, I was extremely excited. I'm all about radiance when it comes to skincare and anything that promises to renew my skin is an instant winner with me. This little gift bag contained three of REN's best selling products from their Radiance line and I've been extremely excited trying them all out.

Micro Polish Cleanser* - £20.00 full sized
Gone are the days when I used to manually exfoliate my skin. Since discovering glycolic acid, it's rare that I come into contact with an exfoliator with beads in it but this one is pleasantly surprising. It claims to deeply cleanse and exfoliate the skin to leave it looking purified, renewed and radiant. REN recommend using this 2-3 times a week, applying it to damp skin and gently massaging in circular motions. Like I mentioned, I do like this. It leaves my skin feeling beautifully soft and it definitely refines my pores. However, I don't love it. If I hadn't have discovered the wonder that is acid exfoliation then maybe this would have been a firm favourite of mine. But sadly, I won't be buying the full size any time soon.

Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask* - £30.00 full sized
This little beauty is a firm blogger favourite. It promises to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improve skin tone. I'm all for anything with glycolic acid on the ingredients list and anything that claims to improve my nasty scars so when I saw that this product was included in the gift box, I eeeeked in excitement. I couldn't wait to try it out and at first, I didn't like it. It irritated my eyes and once washed off, I didn't notice much difference to my skin - other than the way that it felt. It felt beautifully soft but that was it. No visible difference. It wasn't until the next morning that I realised why it was a blogger favourite. My skin looked brighter, healthier and more radiant as soon as I woke up. My blemishes and blackheads had been reduced and although I didn't see a difference in my skin tone, the brightening effect made me fall in love. Despite the fact that it does make my eyes water, I need the full sized version in my life.

Satin Perfection BB Cream* - £26.00 full sized
I'm not a big BB Cream fan and I've only ever come across a couple that I like so needless to say, I wasn't excited about this product at all. This BB Cream is silicone free and has colour adaptive technology which means that it blends seamlessly into your skin tone. Whilst this doesn't provide enough coverage for me (I'd say light but buildable) it does leave the skin looking even toned and luminous. The finish isn't dead-matte, it's more of a satin finish that makes the skin look radiant and healthy. If you're someone who doesn't require a lot of coverage then I'd definitely recommend having a little look at this as the finish is beautiful.

Overall, I'm impressed with this range. The Radiance Renewal Mask is perfect and I'll definitely be purchasing the full size. The Micro Polish Cleanser is a lovely addition that my skin has loved using however because I'm more of a chemical exfoliant gal, I won't be repurchasing. The same goes for the BB Cream. If my skin ever improves dramatically then I'll definitely look further into this as the finish is stunning.

Have you tried out anything from the REN Radiance range? What's your favourite REN product?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 11:27 am
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Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Night time skin care routine























So here it is ladies and gentlemen, my night time skin care routine. Yesterday I posted my day time skin routine and so I could write bigger mini reviews, I decided to split them up into two separate parts. I do use quite a lot of products in my skin care routine but all of them work really well with my skin type. I did mention yesterday the kind of skin that I have but here it is again for reference: I have combination skin that is pretty oily in the t-zone but can get quite dry around any blemishes. I am prone to blemishes and I get the odd spot every now and then. I used to have really bad skin which has left me with awful scarring and hyperpigmentation on my skin (which you can see here). I also sometimes get blackheads on my nose and my pores are quite large.

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm - £9.00
This is my night time make up remover. It's really kind and gentle on the skin and removes make up quickly and efficiently. I apply the product to my palms and massage it into dry skin until all of my make up has been dissolved. After this, I remove with water and flannel and my skin is left looking very clean. I find that it's great to use on waterproof make up and lifts any dirt and grim from the skin leaving the it feeling soft and supple. I've done a full review of this product here.

FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam - £14.95
You can quite easily use the Cleansing Balm alone but I'm a big believer in double cleansing so I use this Cleansing Foam afterwards. I mentioned this yesterday but before "discovering" this, I hated cleansing foams; I thought that they were useless and a waste of time. But this is absolutely incredible. I haven't had a breakout since using it and my skin feels beautifully soft after I've washed it away. It's quick and easy to use and it smells clean too. I can't find a fault in this at all and it's perfect at washing away any left over Cleansing Balm.

I've done a full review of this product here and I also mentioned them in my day time skin care routine. I use these twice a day because in the mornings, they instantly brighten my complexion and at night, they get to work on my scarring. When I wake up, my skin feels beautifully soft. As I mentioned yesterday, these are safe enough for every day use and they don't dry the skin out or make it any oilier. I definitely want to try out other forms of acid exfoliation but for now, these are perfect.


Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector - £14.50
I use this twice a day - in the mornings and at night - to help fade my spots quicker. It feels light on the skin and despite its chemical smell, it's a pleasure to use. I can't emphasise enough how important it is to use extra SPF on your face when you're using brightening products (I have an SPF post coming tomorrow) so make sure you do. Like I've said before, I've not seen any major reduction in my scarring as my scars are pretty deep but I can definitely notice a minor difference.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo* - £13.00
Like I mentioned yesterday, I love this product because it clears out my pores and helps stop breakouts. It's lovely to use in the day as it's very light but it's also great at night time as it's refreshing. I use this twice a day to ensure that spots don't reappear and to keep them at bay. It's a great all round product and does exactly what it claims to do. I've done a full review of this product here.

 b.liv shrink and tighten+ large pores diminishing night complex* - $49.00
This isn't something that will completely eliminate my pores for good but it does help to tighten them overnight. I apply this all over my skin before going to sleep and when I wake up, my pores look visibly reduced and more refined. This has been formulated with L-ascorbic acid and it stimulates collagen production at night which helps to tighten pores. I've been enjoying using this product and I definitely think I will repurchase however unfortunately it's quite hard to get a hold of in the UK. It's a must have if you dislike the appearance of your pores.

 Eucerin Even Brighter Night Cream - £23.50
Unlike the Day Cream from this range, this is very light on the skin and feels like a hybrid of a cream and a gel. But don't be fooled by its texture - it's very nourishing and moisturising and replenishes your skin overnight. I love the light texture of this cream as it's refreshing on the skin and a pleasure to apply. As I've mentioned before with this range, I haven't seen a massive difference in my scarring - wow I'm like a broken record with that one - but I've noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin, the way it feels and hopefully in time, my scarring will fade dramatically.

And there you have it! My night time skin care routine. As I also mentioned in this post, tomorrow's blog post will be about my favourite SPF's for the body and the face and for me, SPF is the most important skin care product that I use. There's no point in using all of these products to help fade my scarring if I don't help prevent further hyperpigmentation from forming. Do you use any of the same night time products as me? What are your favourite night time products to use on your skin?
xxx
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 10:47 am
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Monday, 17 June 2013

Daytime skin care routine




I've been asked a few times whether or not I'll do a post on my skin care routine and considering I know a lot of you suffer with the same skin problems I do, I thought I would. My skin care routine is something that I change up quite a lot - I blame being a beauty addict for that - but this is one that I've stuck with for quite a while. I've noticed a reduction in blemishes, oilyness, blackheads and even my scarring so it's something that is definitely working for me. I've decided to split my skin care routine up into two separate posts - day and night so that I could go into further detail about the products so tomorrow's post will be my night time skin routine. For reference, here is a little bit of background information about my skin: I have combination skin that is pretty oily in the t-zone but can get quite dry around any blemishes. I am prone to blemishes and I get the odd spot every now and then. I used to have really bad skin which has left me with awful scarring and hyperpigmentation on my skin (which you can see here). I also sometimes get blackheads on my nose and my pores are quite large.

FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam - £14.95
Before finding this Cleansing Foam, I hated any kind of foaming face wash. I thought that they were absolutely useless and just stripped the skin of its natural moisture. But this Cleansing Foam is face wash perfection. Granted it's not the best at removing make up but I don't use it as a make up remover - just a face wash. It removes dirt and grime from the skin and once washed off, leaves the skin feeling beautifully soft and looking clearer and brighter. I haven't had a break out since using this Cleansing Foam and it does a wonderful job at keeping my oil at bay throughout the day. Overall, it's a wonderful face wash that I can see being in my routine for an awfully long time. I've seen a lot of people complaining about its price but £14.95 for clear skin - and two products in one - isn't a lot for me at all. It's definitely worth the money.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads - £12.99
After cleansing my skin, I use these Exfoliating Facial Pads all over my skin to exfoliate and tone it. I've done a full review of this product here and since then, I've repurchased them. They're quick and easy to use and also gentle enough to use daily. After I've sweeped one of these over my skin, it looks brighter, clearer and it's almost perfectly prepped for make up. These haven't dried my skin out nor have they made it oiler but they balance my skin nicely and since using them, I've noticed a minor improvement on my scarring.

Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector - £14.50
I've been using this product for a little while now and it's something that I think I'll always repurchase. I haven't noticed a major difference in my scarring but it definitely has settled down any redness. I apply this twice a day to my most prominent scars and leave it for a couple of seconds to sink into my skin. The smell of this is pretty chemical but it feels light on the skin and it's something that you don't notice is there. When using this you do have to use a high sun protectant and be careful where you apply it because essentially it is bleaching the skin.

b.liv off with those heads* - $49.00
When it comes to blackheads, I'm not something who is willing to squeeze them out of my skin. It doesn't look pretty and it sounds painful so instead, I tend to use a face scrub in the hope that they'll eventually disappear. However, this gel makes it much easier. It's very light and cooling on the skin and I've been applying it once a day in the morning on my t-zone where I'm prone to blackheads. The product claims to remove blackheads and whiteheads in 14 days of daily application however I found that after five days, mine had completely disappeared. I've also noticed that my t-zone hasn't been as oily since I've been using this which means I no longer have to powder throughout the day.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo* - £13.00
This has to be one of the most loved products in the blogosphere. I do believe that literally everyone has tried this product and I can definitely see why. If you haven't heard of the Effaclar Duo then basically it's a complete skin care solution that aims to purify pores and reduce the appearance of imperfections. The thing that I love the most about this product is how light it is - if you're someone who suffers with breakouts then you'll know that spot treatments tend to be drying and quite heavy but this one isn't at all. I use it like a serum and it leaves my skin feeling soft to the teach. It's definitely cleared out my pores and it's rare that I get a breakout these days. I've done a full review of this product here.

Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream - £22.50
This day cream is lovely. It sinks into the skin beautifully and preps the skin for make up very well. I've really enjoyed using this and so far, I've barely made a dint in my tub as you only need a tiny amount. It smells really pleasant and since using Eucerin in my skin care routine, my skin tone has definitely improved and make up is starting to apply better. I will be continuing to use the Eucerin Even Brighter range and hopefully, I'll report back to you my thoughts as scarring reduction definitely takes time.

So there you have it! My daytime skin care routine. Tomorrow's post will be my nighttime skin care routine and I'll just give you a little warning now - a few of the products will be the same. What's your everyday skin care routine? Do you use any of the products I've mentioned? Or do you want to try any? Let me know!
xxx
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 11:21 am
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Monday, 22 April 2013

FAVOURITE: Eye Brow Kits from KIKO and Along Came Betty


KIKO Eyebrow Expert Styling Kit, L-R: wax, light-coloured powder, dark-coloured powder

Along Came Betty Br-Wow Kit, L-R: light-coloured powder, dark-coloured powder, wax, HD powder

If there's one part of my make up routine that I love doing the most, it's my eyebrows. I didn't start doing anything to my eyebrows until I turned 16 which is really weird and strange. And I think that because of that, I embrace it a lot these days. Your eyebrows frame your entire face and changing the way they look can completely change the way you look. For a while now I've been using two eyebrow kits and you know what? I love them both so much that I can't decide which one is better. I have used pencils in the past but like I've said, I enjoy doing my eyebrows so the whole "brush, powder, wax" makes me prefer kits over pencils. 




























The KIKO Eyebrow Styling Kit* comes in two different colours; one for deep brunettes and black haired people and the other for brunettes, redheads and blondes.It contains a wax, a light-coloured powder, a dark-coloured powder, some tweezers, an angled brush and a mini spoolie brush. First of all the brushes are great quality. I normally throw away mini brushes that come with kits but these ones stand on their own very well. The tweezers are also amazing and I love the addition of them in this kit - it makes it perfect for travelling. As well as the tweezers the mirror is a great little extra as it means you can do your brows on-the-go. The powders are spot on in pigmentation - they're not so pigmented that the brows look ridiculous or too obvious but the powder is soft enough to create a natural looking brow. The wax then keeps the brows in place for the rest of the day. You can buy the KIKO Eyebrow Styling Kit* here and it retails for £13.90.




























The Along Came Betty Br-Wow Kit* comes in just one colour but it contains a light-brown powder, a dark-brown powder, a wax, an HD powder to soften the brows and a double-sided angled brush and spoolie brush. They Along Came Betty range is one that gives Soap & Glory a run for my money and if money was no object, I'd own all of their products. The ones I've tried so far are really great in quality for the price of them. This is no different. The powders are soft and pigmented enough to fill in the brows without giving you a "Scouse-brow" and the wax is wonderful at deepening the appearance of the brows and holding them in place. What I really love about this kit is the HD powder which is included. The HD powder really does soften the look and I don't know, I can't explain it, it just makes the brows look "done" and better. It's a lovely addition and I don't think I've ever seen it in any other brow kit. You can buy the Along Came Betty Br-Wow Kit* here and it retails for £5.99.
What do you use on your eyebrows? Have you tried any of these kits before?
xxx
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 12:08 pm
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Saturday, 17 November 2012

REVIEW: Liz Earle Signature Foundation

Foundations are my obsession. I'm always shopping around for that perfect foundation because I just hate my skin. I must've tried over 50 foundations in the four years that I've been wearing it and the latest edition to my collection is Liz Earle's Signature Foundation* - £21.
 Liz Earle have spent years perfecting this foundation and they believe that it delivers "a flawless yet beautifully natural-looking complexion with a lightweight, blendable and buildable formula that is suitable for all skin types and always comfortable on your skin." If you buy this foundation and you don't love it, you can return it back to Liz Earle for free by post or instore. No questions asked. "Our mission is to make shopping online for the perfect foundation as fuss-free and enjoyable as possible for our customers." The foundation comes in 9 shades and Liz Earle even have a shade selector to help you find your perfect shade.
 Packaging is very important for me when it comes to foundation and this one doesn't disappoint. It is a glass bottle which isn't great for travelling with but if it's something that you're worried about, you can always decant it into another container. It comes with a pump which means that there's little wastage and it's easy to dispense the product. And it fits in with the rest of the Liz Earle make up line. The packaging is simple, beautiful and effective. 
 I've tried out their Sheer Skin Tint before and while I like it because of the finish and the formula, I can't love it because I need coverage on my skin and the Sheer Skin Tint provided more than your typical tinted moisturiser but not enough for me. So I was pretty excited when I heard about this release. As I expected, the formula is beautiful and you can tell a lot of work has gone into this foundation. It blends like a dream and glides over the skin filling in pores and covering up your imperfections. But it doesn't feel that way then it's on the skin. It's virtually undetectable and it doesn't feel heavy and my skin doesn't feel or look caked in make up. It also doesn't cling to any dry patches and it doesn't make my skin look like an oil slick.
As you can see from the picture above, it provides medium coverage but I believe it can be built up and I'd be happy to wear this foundation alone without concealer if I was in a rush. But on nights out, I do use this with concealer because I like my skin to be completely covered and some of my scars do still peek through. My overall opinion on this foundation? I love it. I think it's suitable for everyone because of how good the coverage and formula is. It's not hard to work with and while it covers things up, it doesn't do it in a nasty way. I find myself reaching for this foundation for day and nighttime and it will last me all night and a full work day which is pretty damn good on my combination skin.
Have you tried this foundation before? What's your favourite foundation?
xxx
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 2:14 pm
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Saturday, 3 November 2012

REVIEW: Etat Pur & their Pure Actives

This is a post that I've been working on for a while now. I think that this brand and the products that they sell are really special and I wanted to make sure that the post was 100% right before I actually posted it. I've tried out a few things from the range before and you can find these posts here. But today I'm talking more specifically about their Pure Actives. The brand I'm talking about is Etat Pur.
Onto the 'boring,' science facts... Etat Pur's Pure Actives are given to you in their optimal dosage (which is always indicated). These are with pharmaceutical precision which means that the origin, traceability and purity of each Pure Active are strictly tested for optimal safety. Because these Pure Active's aren't diluted it means that it allows the product to act where the skin needs it. This guarantees maximum efficacy of the active within the skin. These are also developed to provide long-lasting actions and targeted solution to precise skin disorders. Etat Pur also have the largest actives library and these are grouped into 8 families to cover major face and body skin concerns. These 8 families are; Ageing Concerns, Extreme Dryness, Hypersensitivity and Redness, Imperfections and Blemishes, Complexion Concerns, Dark Spots and Hyper-Pigmentation, Sun-Related Concerns and Slimness and Firmness Body. So as you can see, there's a solution for everyone. These Pure Actives come in a dropper bottle and are applied first directly onto the skin.
The two Pure Active's that I've tried out so far are the Ellagic Acid [70 mg]* (£12.40) and the Green tea [440 mg]* (£9.40). The Ellagic Acid is aimed at those with fragile and dull smoker's skin. I don't smoke but I do definitely have dull skin. The Green Tea Pure Active is aimed at those with early wrinkles caused by environmental factors such as pollution, excess sun exposure etc. I'm only 19 so I don't really have early wrinkles but I do suffer from hyper-pigmentation which is a sign of early ageing. If you click on a Pure Active, for example click here, you can see the amount of instructions that come with them and the amount of information. This is the same for every single Pure Active and it gives a great insight as to how these are going to help out your skin. 
I think these Pure Active's are a great idea. They're not expensive at all and as you only need a tiny amount, they are guaranteed to last you quite a long time. I think it's wonderful to add something extra to your skin care routine that is aimed at your skin problem and that isn't in diluted form so that you can see a difference almost instantly. You can view the entire range of Pure Active's here. 
I'm also hoping to try out these in the near future; Salicylic Acid 70 [70 mg], Propolis [35 mg], Citric Acid - AHA [3000 mg] and Glabridin [2.5 mg].
What do you think of this idea? Have you tried any of the Pure Active's before?
xxx
*PR Sample

Written By Unknown at 10:33 am
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Saturday, 29 September 2012

COLLECTION: YSL Perfumes

Perfumes aren't something that I know much about. I tend to just stick with my Britney fragrances and be done with it. But since working at Boots, they're something that I find myself falling in love with. I think scent can define a person and it can bring a lot of memories back to you.
A few weeks ago at Boots we had a little incentive. I won't go too much into it but I ended up beating the incentive and for that reason, I got to choose a perfume tester. I chose the YSL Elle Eau de Parfum - £79.50 as YSL fragrances are ones that I think are beautiful. I've mentioned before that I can't describes smells very well but I'd say this one is on the musky side. But not a powerful musky scent. A nice one that can be worn in the day as well as the night. The bottle does look different to the original because it is a tester version but the smell is the exact same. I also love the YSL Parisienne Eau de Parfum - £40.00 and you can see my original post on this fragrance here.
What's your favourite fragrance? Do you like the YSL ones?
xxx
Written By Unknown at 9:59 am
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Friday, 14 September 2012

REVIEW: Belvia Shapewear

I've spoken about the Belvia Bra before and even now, I still find myself reaching for it daily as it's so comfortable. And new to their range is the Belvia Shapewear. I've been trying this out for a while now and I've tried it out in many different 'conditions' and finally, I'm ready to tell you my thoughts!
 There are three different products available in the Belvia Shapewear range. The Belvia Shapewear Top (£14.99),* the Belvia Shapewear Slimming Briefs (£14.99)* and the Belvia Shapewear Bodysuit (£19.99). The bodysuit targets your waist, hips, stomachs, sides, bottom, back and under your bust. It cuts out around the breast area so you can wear your bra as normal without any bumps at the back. I haven't personally tried this out but I keep looking at it and it's something that I'm definitely thinking about getting. Especially seeing as the other products in the range are so wonderful...
These briefs target your waist, stomach, bottom, hips and hides and they hide and a conceal bumps and bulges to ensure that you have beautiful, contoured curves. The thing that I love the most about these briefs is that the fabric doesn't roll down like a lot of shapewear products do. Once these are on, they aren't moving until you take them off. Despite this, the material is very breathable and it doesn't grasp your skin so tightly that it's uncomfortable. In fact, I find these very comfortable and for the most part, I don't even notice that I'm wearing them. They're completely discreet underneath clothing and they don't leave any nasty VPL!
The top targets your waist, stomach, hips, back and sides. Once again, like the briefs, this top stays down and doesn't roll up throughout the day. I've tested this top (and the briefs) during exercise, at work, sitting around the house, running everyday errands and still, they do not move. This is also very comfortable and the fabric is breathable. The straps don't dig into the skin and like the briefs, this top goes unnoticeable underneath clothing. I was worried about this top because originally I thought that it would sort of, 'mask down' my chest area and make it look flat and quite bulgy but it didn't at it. It skimmed over it and it also helped to make my chest look 'more pert' which is always a plus!
If I had to choose between the two, I don't think I'd be able to. Mainly because it depends on what type of clothing you wear. In my recent Freshers Week post I was wearing one of these products in every outfit. And as you can see, I wouldn't be able to wear the shapewear top with this outfit as you'd be able to see it over the top of the playsuit. So it does completely depend on what type of clothing you wear.
The items come in sizes Small (UK 10-12), Medium (UK 14-16) and Large (UK 18-20) and mine are in the size small. Each item comes in either black, white or beige. I've found myself wearing these pretty much every single day since receiving them and now, they're just like extra pieces of clothing. They slim you down and they really do create the perfect silhouette whilst still being comfortable. And I can't wait to wear them in Freshers Week! Have you tried this shapewear out before? Will you be doing so?
xxx
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 2:16 pm
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Sunday, 15 July 2012

REVIEW: John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo/Conditioner

When I went on holiday I decided to take the travel sized versions of the John Frieda Full Repair shampoo and conditioner and whilst I was there, I loved it so much that I decided that I needed to buy the full sized versions. Fate must have been on my side on the last day of the holiday as I walked into Boots and there on the clearance section I saw the shampoo and conditioner on off for just £3.00 each instead of the usual £5.89. It was an offer that I couldn't resist so I picked them up. I'm kinda regretting not picking up some of the other products in the range as there were a few on the clearance stand too but oh well.
I've really grown to love this range after just a few days. If you know me or you read my blog posts often enough then you'll know that when it comes to hair care, I mix and match a lot and I can never seem to stick to the same shampoo and conditioner. I used to think it was because I liked trying new products out or because it was what my hair wanted but after using this range I've realised that it was because I just had never found the right products to be using. I know it's only been a few days but I really cannot see myself changing my shampoo and conditioner again (unless it's for reviewing purposes). This range together is wonderful. It smells nice, it lathers well, it prevents build up, it's great for every day use, it repairs the damage that's been done to the hair. It does pretty much everything I want a shampoo and a conditioner to use. The shampoo and conditioner aren't heavy so they don't weigh your hair down and surprisingly enough I've found that I don't even need to use mousse in my hair to add extra volume as this does it well enough alone.
You can view the full range here. And I'd also like to add that currently in Boots the entire John Frieda collection is on offer for 3 for £10.
Have you tried these products before? What other products would you recommend from the range?
xxx
Written By Unknown at 7:02 pm
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Wednesday, 6 June 2012

FAVOURITE... Miniature Products

I love miniature products. So much so that when my sister went on holiday earlier this year I bought her a few sample sized products to take with her - even though some of the full sized products were cheaper. They're so cute and sometimes a great way to decide whether or a not a product is perfect for you. Here's some of my favourites...
 Charles Worthington Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Styling Spray - £1.99
I absolutely love this and whenever the sun is shining I'll throw it into my handbag to keep my hair nice and protected from the sun throughout the say.
Xen-Tan Dark Lotion* - £28.99
Oh my god I need the full size version of this. It's the most perfect fake tan out there. It's moisturising, last's up to 7 days, smells gorgeous (almond is my favourite scent) and doesn't streak. It really is perfect.
Lancome Bi-Facil - £20.00
I received this as a GWP and it's served me well. It's definitely one of the best eye make up removers out there as it melts make up instead of spreading it around the skin.
Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil* - £19.95
It's summer soon and I need Kim Kardashian's bikini body. Ok, maybe I'm being a bit ambitious there. But I need a niceish one. So I'm trying this out. So far I really like it. It smells lovely and absorbs quickly. Word of advice though - don't use it after applying fake tan like I stupidly did.
Good Things Miracle Mattifier Lotion* - £7.99
I have the full sized version of this and I love it. You can see my full review of this here. 
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist* - £16.50
This mist is wonderful for balancing the skin and keeping it hydrated throughout the day. I've also blogged about this a few times and you read the posts here.
Benefit POREfessional Primer - £23.50
Of course, I received this free with this months Glamour magazine and I absolutely love it. I'm definitely contemplating whether to not to buy the full sized version. It slides over pores and completely fills them in.
Etat Pur Oil-Free Quenching Fluid* - £7.80
I blogged about receiving these free samples a while ago and I'll definitely be doing a full review of them and the brand as a whole. But I really love both this moisturiser and the other moisturiser (down below). They're great value for money and work really well with my skin.
Orla Kiely Eau De Parfum* - £55.00
I'm really bad when it comes to perfume and normally I just wear Britney ones. I love Britney of course and when it comes to perfume there's just too many out there for me to choose from. This one though is lovely and I think I might have to purchase it in full. It's a very nice fresh scent that's great for summer.
Etat Pur Light Moisturizing Emulsion* - £7.80
I blogged about receiving these free samples a while ago and I'll definitely be doing a full review of them and the brand as a whole. But I really love both this moisturiser and the other moisturiser (down below). They're great value for money and work really well with my skin.
Glam Glow Mud* - £49.99
I will definitely do a full review of this product. It's a mask and a scrub in one and once you've used it once you will instantly see a difference in your skin. A tiny bit goes a long way and it's marketed at all skin types - from very dry to acne prone. I used this as a mask for 15 minutes then scrubbed my skin and washed it away and immediately my skin looked clearer and my face looked glowing. It's so expensive but I know that when I get my student loan I'll be buying this. Now, I just have to wait until September..
What are your favourite miniature products? Do you like buying the sample sizes first?
xxx
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 5:03 pm
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Thursday, 24 May 2012

SKINCARE: Syrinx Za Dermatological

Today and tomorrow I have skin care posts for you. I've been loving testing out new skin care recently and even though I have exams next week and I'm very stressed out, my skin is possibly in the best condition it's been in for a long time now. Syrinx Za is a natural skin care brand that has been specially formulated to help combat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and dry skin. Usually, these skin care conditions are only treatable by steroid or chemical based products which we all know isn't necessarily the best ingredients to be plastering your skin with. So for people who suffer from these conditions, it's definitely a big plus that this brand is completely natural. 
Each product is enriched with natural ingredients and these are 100% natural and are key ingredients to aid skin healing and also anti-ageing benefits. Zander removes toxins and allows natural oils to penetrate the skin which leaves it deeply moisturised. It's also full of natural vitamins and minerals which help boost the body's immune system and fights warts, skin tags and other irritable sensitive dry skin issues. Argan Oil helps to heal many skin ailments and it also protects the skin from premature ageing, heals scars and works as a sun-protective and disinfectant. Tumeric is well known as a cooking ingredient but don't be fooled; it's also a key beauty component. It helps to heal skin conditions such as acne and it also speeds up wound healing and re-models damaged skin. And finally, Tea Tree Oil is wonderful for healing the skin and treating various diseases and conditions. 
I was sent the following products:
This therapy cream is deeply moisturising but not in a way that is greasy and it definitely doesn't leave nasty residue on the skin. I've been using this on my legs before fake tanning and after shaving and it's done wonders. My skin bruises very easily and the skin on my legs does suffer with pigmentation problems. But since I've used this, my skin has become a lot more even and my legs have felt ultra soft. I've had absolutely no irritation since using this and I really love it. I think it's very well priced as well. You don't need a lot product and I can see it lasting a long time.
I started off by using this on my face and I liked it but I didn't think it was anything ground breaking. I don't suffer with dry skin or any of the above skin conditions so I'm guessing that's why. It does though remove make up very well and leave the skin feeling smooth. I then looked online and saw that this could be used to combat shaving rash. I do get shaving rash quite a bit. When I'm in a rush, I will dry shave my legs and if you've ever done this you will know how painful this is. This cleansing bar worked wonders and it sped the healing up and also didn't irritate the shaving rash any further. I'm not too sure if I'd repurchase it. But I do think that once this runs out it's something that I'm going to miss.
Since coming to university the skin on my feet has suffered so badly. Wearing heels once or twice a week is not good and although I do try, my skin has never been able to return to its former glory. Until now. I've been using this balm on my heels and I can't recommend it enough. It's soothing, moisturising and its helped leave my heels feeling beautifully soft and smooth. I also love the smell. I can definitely smell the tea tree oil in there which I love. Although this is mainly for use on the feet, it's also safe for using on the face and body. Once again, I love the price and this is definitely something that I'll be repurchasing.
Have you tried any of these products before? Will you be doing so? 
xxx 
*PR Sample 


Written By Unknown at 11:55 am
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