Updated Evening Skincare

So a couple of months ago I wrote about my evening skincare routine, you can find the post here. I wrote that I wasn't really happy with it and was looking into new products and trying some new items well I have now found my perfect evening skincare. 

Now that I am really happy with my evening routine I thought I would share it with you guys. To remove my makeup I use the Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, this along with the L'Oreal Cleansing Oil are my complete favourite ways to remove my makeup. With having dry skin I much prefer oil/cream based products rather than gel or foam so a cleansing oil is a must for me. This Camomile Cleansing Oil is just divine, you only need one pump to suffice for the whole face and it removes your makeup with such ease that there is no need to rub or scrub at your face and then I just remove the remaining product and makeup with a hot flannel. 

I always like to double cleanse so after I have removed my makeup I then cleanse my face with Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse, this stuff is just incredible. It is a balm like texture when pumped out which then turns into an oil when massaged onto the skin. After the face has been fully cleansed you remove with a hot muslin cloth/flannel. This cleanser makes my skin feel so amazing, it is slightly on the more expensive side compared to other cleansers but the bottle is actually a really good size and you only need the tiniest amount of product for each use. 

Next I use these NIP + FAB Exfoliating Pads, I love these little pads. I'm not a massive fan of actual manual exfoliators as I find them too abrasive for my dry skin but these little pads are soaked in glycolic acid which is a chemical exfoliator. These work so much better for my skin, they leave my skin looking and feeling super soft with a healthy glow. 

After cleansing and exfoliating I use a facial oil and this Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial is just like a miracle in a bottle. It is a treatment oil which I apply in the evening and it just completely transforms my skin, every morning I am so impressed by the ever improving condition of my skin after using this oil. 

And lastly I use Sarah Chapman Eye Recovery, can you see a pattern emerging here, which is a cream based eye cream. It is quite heavy in consistency so I don't know as I would like to use it in the morning underneath my makeup but in the evening it is heavenly. It really helps to calm the skin down around my eyes and helps to de puff and reduce dark circles. 

As you can see I am pretty heavy on the Sarah Chapman front but I just absolutely love the brand and every item I have tried I have absolutely loved. The products just seem to match my skin type perfectly and I am a big believer in investing in skincare, you wear your skin every day so it's important to look after it and if you find a product, premium or budget, that matches it and helps to improve it then you just have to stick with it. 

I feel really content with my skincare routine now and feel every item works perfectly together to improve my skin. 

What skincare do you use, do you use any of these items?

My Top 3 Drugstore Foundations

Previously you would have never caught me buying a drugstore foundation, I just used to generally much preferred high end/premium foundations and whilst this is still kinda true I also really love the drugstore options that are available at a much more purse friendly price. So with this in mind I thought I bring you my top 3 all time favourite drugstore foundations. 

Now you all know how much I love a dewy base and the MaxFactor Skin Luminizer foundation is perfect for this. I use shade Beige which is actually a near enough perfect colour match for my skin tone. It has a ribbon of foundation and a ribbon of highlighting liquid running through the bottle, when dispersed both ribbons are swirled and combined together. It is a thick consistency that blends like an absolute dream, I would say it is a medium coverage that's totally buildable. 

Next is the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation, this is the foundation I reach for mainly on a Monday morning when my complexion needs a bit more of a helping hand to reach it's full brightening potential. One of the main ingredients in this foundation is Vitamin C which helps skin to look instantly brighter and awake, funnily enough. I have shade Soft Beige which is only very slightly too light for me but actually this works quite well and just adds to the brightening effect. 

Lastly is the L'Oreal True Match foundation in shade Rose Vanilla. I would describe this foundation as a light/medium coverage but is completely buildable if you want a slightly heavier coverage. It gives a satin finish to the skin and just makes the face look so natural. This is always the foundation I reach for when I want to achieve the 'no makeup' makeup look as it just looks so natural and effortless on the skin, it just gives that your skin but better look. 

The only criticism I have of drugstore foundations is that the shade ranges tend to be slightly limited. One tip that I live by with drugstore foundations is if you struggle to find a good colour match then always go lighter rather than darker. It so much easier to warm the colour up with bronzer/powder if too light whereas if a foundation is too dark it is near in impossible to lift the colour to match the rest of your body/neck! 

Also, it's just worth mentioning that all three of these foundations have pump bottles. I cannot tell you how infuriating it is when I buy a premium foundation and have to pay extra for the pump! Like I'm not spending enough money already. 

So they are my favourite drugstore foundations, have you used these foundations before? Do you love them as much as I do?

Brooke Shields for MAC

Nick bought this palette and lip gloss back from Amsterdam for me a while ago, oh that boy knows me well.

The eye shadow palette contains 5 different colours, all of which go lovely together. The shades are so incredibly buttery soft and blend just beautifully. All 5 shades are a shimmer finish with 1 light pink, 1 champagne, 1 rich pink, 1 gold/bronze and 1 purple/berry.  I can't express my love for this little palette enough, the shadows are just so nice to work with. There is minimal fall out and you can create so many different looks with this perfect little palette. 

The lip gloss is a lovely dusky pink colour which honestly you wouldn't know from looking at the bottle, it looks completely different on to when in the bottle. It is quite sticky which isn't my favourite but you can't really get away from this with lip gloss. 

The only criticism I would have is the packaging, the plastic casing feels quite cheap and flimsy but no criticisms whatsoever about the product itself. 

I'm not quite sure if you can get this in the UK, hopefully you can or they will bring it over soon as I would love to get some more items from the range.

This Works Perfect Look Skin Miracle

Spring has now officially sprung which means warmer weather, lighter bases and lots of bronze and warmth to the face. For the past couple of weeks I have changed one step in my whole makeup routine and have really been loving the effect. Instead of using illuminating primers such as L'Oreal Lumi Magique, Soap & Glory Hocus Focus and Dior Glow Maximiser  just to name a few, I have been turning to primers that give a warmth to the skin to help achieve the bronzed goddess look, which lets face it I am never going to be able to achieve without a whole heap of makeup help. 

After spotting the This Works Perfect Look Skin Miracle whilst roaming the online aisles of the web I just knew it was the exact thing I had been looking for. It is a tinted moisturiser with a whole host of skin friendly ingredients helping to achieve the bright and perfected finish in which it promises. Ingredients include Vitamin E which is an anti-inflammatory, Vitamin C to brighten and Hyaluronic Acid. 

This can be used alone for those lucky enough to have perfect skin as it does give very slight coverage. I have been using it almost as a primer base to apply my foundation on top of. When pumped out the colour of the product is quite a rich caramel shade but don't let this put you off, once blended into the skin, and blend it does, seamlessly, it just leaves a healthy warm tint to the skin. Not an orange overly tanned tint. 

This has just been an absolute game changer for me and it was this product alone that has converted me over to the bronze/warm tinted primers for this time of year rather than the highlighting/illuminating primers that I am so used to. Don't get me wrong I still love my highlighting primers but this has just opened my mind to a whole lot of new possibilities that I had never even thought of. 

Have you tried this product? What do you think of it?

#17 Sunday Sounds - This Months Empties

For the past couple of months I have really tried to use up loads of my products, it was one of my New Year resolutions to not by any new products unless I have used a product up first and this month I think I have done pretty well.

I absolutely love L'Oreal nail varnishes and this red shade is just the perfect red for me. It stays put on my nails for a good couple of weeks without chipping and let me just say I have never used up a bottle of nail varnish, they have always got chucked for being too old or I went off the shade. This must be one good nail varnish to be used up totally.

I absolutely love this Max Factor primer, it makes such a massive difference to the longevity of my makeup. Sadly when this ran out I didn't have a back up so I had about a week or so without using it and I could really tell a difference, my makeup had started looking shiny at the end of the day and had started to look patchy where bits had worn off throughout the day. I also ended up having to top my makeup up throughout the day as opposed to when I do use it, my makeup stays put all day and evening without any need to top up. Needless to say I have now re purchased and will continue to do so for the rest of my makeup days.

I like to use a cleansing oil at the end of the day to remove my makeup and this L'Oreal version has really impressed me. The scent is really subtle and it doesn't feel too greasy on your skin. It makes light work of removing your makeup and turns into a milky type liquid upon contact with water so you know it has all been removed. I have been using the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil since this one ran out and even though I do really like it I much prefer this L'Oreal one.

I always use a serum, especially in the mornings, to offer another layer of moisture to my skin. I picked this Soap & Glory version up in the Boots 3 for 2 offer just on a whim, honestly this serum is ok. There's nothing wrong with it at all but it didn't benefit my skin or make any difference to the appearance of my skin. 

I have always used this V05 hairspray, it never makes my hair go crunchy and always keeps my style in place. I have always bought this hairspray, I haven't ever really tried any others but I don't see the point, I'm happy with it and it does it's job...don't fix what ain't broke. 

I am a big fake tan fan and have tried my fair share of products and brands in the past but I have always come back to St Moritz, it's such a great dupe for the St Tropez Bronzing Mousse. It doesn't streak and gives such a lovely natural looking tan. Plus you can pick it up for less than £5.00. Bargain! 

Lastly is this REN Daily Supplement Moisturiser, this is my every day moisturiser and I absolutely love it. It's non greasy and offers the perfect base to apply my makeup on top of, it also gives just the right amount of moisture to my skin. The only criticism I have of this cream is that it doesn't contain an SPF, I tend to wear foundations that contain an SPF so it's not a massive problem but it would just make this cream perfect. But regardless I still love this cream and am now on my second bottle. 

So they are my March empties, have you tried of these items? What are your thoughts on them?

Sanctuary Salt Scrub

Well honestly, I'm not always one for a scrub. I much prefer a foaming scrub like Soap & Glory Pulp Friction as it's more of a shower gel and scrub in one but this Sanctuary Salt Scrub may have just converted me.

I bought this Sanctuary Salt Scrub quite a few months ago and it ended up getting pushed to the back of my cupboard. I was re organising the other month and came across this scrub so decided to give it a go and see what I think. After the first use I was hooked.

With ingredients like Jojoba, Almond, Coconut and Sea Salt who wouldn't like this scrub. I literally just scoop out a small amount with my hand and just start scrubbing over my body, it is quite sticky so holds well against the skin. It leaves the skin feeling silky soft and also extremely moisturised by the essential oils. It does leave a slight film in the bath/shower so be careful when stepping out as I have slipped once already and dinted my shin!

I really love the packaging, it is a kiln style jar with an air tight seal around the lid which is perfect at not letting any moisture into the product. Overall, I absolutely love this scrub and it is now a permanent fixture on my dressing table.

Have you tried this scrub? What do you think of it?

Clarins Travel Exclusive Bronzing Compact

I picked this bronzer up in duty free when I was going on holiday and it was an absolute bargain! I think I only paid something ridiculous like £12.00 for it as it was on offer.

The bronzer is made up of 3 different shades all complimenting each other perfectly. I absolutely adore this bronzer, the powder is so buttery soft and picks up super well onto the brush. It also applies evenly onto the skin not looking cakey or more built up in the place where your brush first rests. 

There is a large interior mirror which is fantastic for travelling and the design of this bronzer is just beautiful, the embossing is so intricate and delicate that you almost don't want to use it as you don't want to spoil the prettiness. 

With the powder not being too shimmery it is also great to create a natural contoured look or even just brushed all over to give subtle summer glow. I don't always use bronzer as I feels sometimes it just doesn't suit me, but I have been reaching for this pretty much every day throughout this month just to give a nice colour to my face without it looking orange like some bronzers do. 

All in all, I just love it and can't recommend highly enough. 

Have you tried this product? What do you think of it?

This Works Clean Skin Gentle Cleanser

I picked this cleanser up when I was scrolling through Feel Unique with my discount code to spend. I was after a creamy cleanser to use in the mornings that would be gentle on my skin and won't leave it feeling tight or stripped. After reading a couple of reviews on it I decided it might work well for me. 

The liquid itself is quite light and thin in consistency but feels rich and creamy on the skin. It also has a very subtle rose scent which is really quite lovely and not over powering at all. Ingredients include Rosehip Oil, Frankincense and Eucalyptus so you can tell from the ingredients that the cleanser is set to be gentle on the skin and also help to purify and balance. 

I have been applying in the morning and removing with a muslin cloth/flannel, I have found that once massaged into the skin the cleanser almost sets and gives skin a tightening feel. When I say tightening I don't mean the kind of tight dry sensation, it's more of a tight setting sensation but then when the product has been rinsed away this sensation disappears and you're left with lovely soft and cleansed skin ready for the day ahead. 

I really love this cleanser, I just absolutely love everything about it. It's really helped to calm my skin down and offers such a great base to follow your morning skincare with afterwards. Anyone with dry/dehydrated/sensitive skin I would really recommend this to. 

#16 Sunday Sounds - The Spring Lip

Is it just me or does everyone else just love Spring. I find it such a pretty time of year when all the trees are going green again, the little lambs are running through the fields and everywhere just looks really cheerful and fresh. Which is exactly what I want to try and achieve with my makeup at this time of year. 

I like my makeup to look fresh and cheerful throughout the Spring months and the way I do this is by focusing mainly on my lips. I like to keep my eyes looking almost natural with a slight bit of colour or liner but I don't go smokey at all so with natural eyes a good pink/nude lip always looks pretty. 

So if I'm focusing on my lips then I like to keep them exfoliated and moisturised and my power duo for this is the Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum and the Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia which is by far my most favourite lip balm. 

I tend to go for more peachy/pink tones throughout Spring and these are my top choices for this season. MAC Sunny Seoul which is part of the Cremesheen range so is nice and moisturising on the lips. This is a lovely pink with a slight peachy tone so doesn't look too pink, it has a lovely shine and just goes perfectly when paired with a natural fresh faced look. 

I love the Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush Balms, they are really moisturising on the lips and super long lasting. My favourite shade is Give Me A Cuddle which is a really lovely nude/peach tone. It's a great alternative when you don't want anything too bright. 

Glosses are a great alternative to lip sticks when you want something slightly more sheer but still with a nice hint of colour and one of my choices for this is the Maxfactor Colour Elixir Gloss in shade Enchanting Coral. This is a vibrant pink/coral shade that is surprisingly well pigmented for a gloss. My other choice is this No7 lip gloss and to be completely honest I don't know what name this shade has but it is a lovely clear gloss with tiny specks of gold/rose gold and peach. I always think every girl needs a nude lip gloss in their makeup bag, they look pretty over a lipstick to brighten it up or even just worn on it's own to give a little shine to the lips. 

So these are the items I will be heading for throughout Spring to give a nice fresh look to my makeup. What will you be using?

Chanel Radiance Revealing Serum

This is another beauty found in my mums secret stash that she thinks I don't know about! Ha.

The Chanel Radiance Revealing Serum is one of the nicest serums I have ever used, it has an extremely light textured liquid containing teeny tiny light reflecting particles. Once massaged and blended in the skin looks radiant and free of imperfections. It is a serum so should be applied before your moisturiser, you know how I love my serums and this isn't quite up there with my beloved Elemis and Bobbi Brown ones but it is still pretty nice. It leaves skin feeling instantly smoothed out and offers a great base to apply moisturiser onto. Honestly, I didn't see a massive benefit to my skin after using this but it does make a noticeable instant difference when first applied to the look of your skin.  

At £54.00 this is a little pricey. I'm glad I got to try my mums first as if I saw it in store with the pretty packaging and well of course being a serum I would have probably splurged out but after using my mums, yes it is lovely and gives a beautiful finish to the skin, I wouldn't pay £54.00 for it. It didn't give any noticeable benefit to my actual skin, it just acted as more of a primer to give my skin that instant glow which in all honesty can be achieved with my £11.00 Soap & Glory Hocus Focus primer. 

Have you tried this product? What do you think of it?

If You Buy One Thing This Month...

If you don't have this Clarins Blue Orchid Facial Treatment Oil then you need it in your life right now. Containing 100% plant extracts, patchouli, rosewood and blue orchid it is just a cocktail of goodness for your skin.

To use: just drop around 3-4 drops of the oil into the palm of your hands and warm within your hands for a second or so then gently massage into cleansed dry skin. The smell is just heavenly and helps to send me off into such a peaceful nights sleep. I would recommend using this oil in the evening before bed rather than the morning as it then has hours of undisturbed time to sink into your skin and work it's magic. 

The result this oil gives my skin upon awakening in the morning is little short of a miracle. Skin looks plump, glowing, healthy and smooth. I just adore this product and it is great my dry and dehydrated skin, it soaks this oil up in no time and it really helps to keep the flakiness and tightness at bay. I tend to use this oil around 2-3 times a week which is just about right for me but you could easily use this every night. If you have oily skin then the lotus oil is more aimed towards your skin type which I have heard is just as lovely. 

I can't praise this product enough, it is my absolute life line for keeping my complexion smooth and flake free. 

Have you tried this oil, what do you think of it?

The Spring Base

Spring for me is all about a light and dewy base. It has been quite warm this past week in the UK with the warmest day of the year so far on Friday just gone, so having a fresh and light base of makeup is a must for me. My preferred choice of base this time of year tends to head more towards the likes of tinted moisturisers and bb creams, I find they still give good coverage when used with a concealer but are light enough to allow your skin to breathe and give a more natural finish. 

To primer my face before applying my base I use this Clinique Liquid Illuminator, it has a slight bronze tint which adds the perfect amount of colour to the face without looking orange and leaves the perfect base to apply your makeup onto. It spreads really evenly and just looks so pretty once applied.

I'm currently using both the REN Satin Perfection BB Cream and the Lancome Hydra Zen Tinted Moisturiser, both products contain an SPF which is a must for me and give a light to medium coverage. When applying these products I veer more towards application with my hands/fingers, I just think it allows to work the product into your skin a lot easier than using a brush. I also don't apply my base to my whole face, I apply just to the centre of the face and then buff outwards. Both products leave a lovely dewy finish to the skin that gives that signature Spring like finish to the face. 

To conceal dark circles and any blemishes I use the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, this concealer has a fantastic brightening effect to it which works perfectly towards the look that I want to achieve. 

Lastly I always like to highlight my face to add even more to the dewy effect. I apply highlighter to my cheek bones, between my brows on my forehead, on my brow bone, down the centre of my nose and on the cupids bow of my lips. This No7 highlighting stick is a pretty recent addition to my collection but I absolutely love it. It's super travel friendly and compact and gives just enough shimmer to the face without making you look like a disco ball. 

Once my base is finished I then just tend to add a little cream blusher to the apples of my cheeks, a layer of mascara and a peach or pink lipstick to finish the look of. 

What makeup do you wear throughout Spring?

#15 Sunday Sounds - 5 Totally Underrated Products

Within the blogging community certain products get so completely hyped and raved about that they sometimes lose their attractiveness and we often buy these items based purely on the fact that you have to have it because everyone else does. But within all of this hype we often overlook a number of products and don't give them the fame that they deserve, so this post is all about the five products that I think are completely underrated and maybe overlooked sometimes within the blogging community. 

First up is the Soap & Glory Heel Genius, this stuff is just incredible. It has a lovely minty scent leaving your feet feeling super fresh especially after a long hard day of being on them all day. I apply this cream in the evening and leave to soak in overnight, I sometimes put socks on after applying the cream to give a more intense treatment. Upon awakening in the morning feet are left feeling super soft and soothed. I absolutely love this cream and am yet to find an alternative that is just as good or better.

I absolutely adore hair oils, I just swear by them and I am convinced that it is down to this product alone why my hair stays in such great condition. I have tried so many different hair oils in the past, some budget ones and some premium ones and none have ever compared to this Garnier Oil. First of all the smell is just...it makes me want to eat it and second of all it is just ah-mazing, no matter how much of this oil I pump into my hair it never looks greasy, it never feels heavy and it always holds my style so well. It also gives the most beautiful shine to my hair. I have had this bottle for a good year now and I'm not even half way through to the bottle yet. If you're a fan of hair oils then you need this in your life. And if you're not a fan of hair oils then you still need to buy this, I am willing to put money on the fact that you will love it from the second you start using it. 

Every woman I know uses a lip balm, I have never met a woman that doesn't use one. So why don't we shout about them more often, because lets face it they're really quite boring and mundane but they are an essential so surely we need something that is going to do it's job and do it well. Enter Nivea Lip Butter, I think this comes in maybe 3 or 4 different flavours/scents and they are cream based so no horrid petroleum jelly. I find whenever I use Vaseline lip balms they bizarely make my lips even drier which surely just defeats the whole point of a lip balm. This Nivea beauty is yet to fail me, I have been using it now for a year or so and have been through a good 4 or 5 tubs in that time because I love it so much. It doesn't leave any greasy residue and just gives the lips a hit of moisture, the creamy formula feels super soothing and moisturising on the lips and the scent is just to die for. I use this lip balm in the evenings and apply a great thick layer to give an overnight treatment, I use under lip sticks to create a layer of moisture and I just use in general from day to day. If you don't own this lip balm then you need to buy it. Now. 

The  Body Shop is one of those brands that we all know and love, it's against animal cruelty and uses all natural ingredients in their products. It's trustworthy. And there are a number of products that have come out of The Body Shop which have earned cult status, the body butters, the honey bronzing powder, the camomile cleansing balm, I could go on. But I have never heard a great deal about this Honey & Oat Face Mask. And honestly I don't know why because it is just amazing, especially for ladies with skin that's more on the dry side like myself. It exfoliates, cleanses and moisturises all in one go. It doesn't leave the skin feeling tight or exposed, and skin is left feeling super soft, smoothe and moisturised. It also helps to brighten the complexion. I absolutely swear by this mask, it leaves my skin feeling so incredibly good and healthy that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. 

And lastly is this Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder, I feel this powders sister the Healthy Balance Foundation got such an amazing response that the powder was just left in the background. But this should receive just the same amount, if not more, attention. It gives a mattifying finish helping to reduce shine but doesn't leave the skin feeling dull. It is breathable and the scent is just, well the scent alone sells this product for me. It is perfect for setting foundation and is completely buildable but never looks cakey. I have used my fair share of powders and this one just comes out on top every time. 

So they are my 5 totally underrated products, what are yours?

Getting My Pink On

With having green eyes, I have always found that pinks, especially warm toned pinks, tend to suit my eyes and skin colouring more so than any other colour. So over the years I seem to have accumulated rather a large amount of pink makeup products, actually a lot more than what I realised before sorting through my stash for this post!

So I was having a little look through my collection of items and picked out the products which my fingers tend to go for on a regular basis.

Eyes 

For my eyes, I have never really strayed far from the pinky, browny, taupey shades as these are just what suits me and I feel comfortable working with them. I know they will always look good and I always feel confident when wearing them. I picked up the Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Palette, which FYI is a great dupe for the Naked Palette, it's just full of rosey warm toned shadows that are great for us green eyed gals. I would definitely recommend picking up one of these palettes if you don't already own it, at £4.00 it's a no brainer!

Another favourite is this Bourjois Colorband Crayon in shade Mauve Baroque. This is a lovely dusky mauve shade with a slight lilac shimmer. Normally I wouldn't go for anything even slightly lilacy/silvery as it is too cool for my skin tone and green eyes but this one seems to work really well and just looks really pretty and subtle all over the lids.

The last favourite for my eyes is this Mabelline Color Tattoo in shade Metallic Pomegranate. This is a lovely vibrant pink, great for creating for a smokey/plum eye. The colour is quite deep and intense which suits me right down to the ground. I have tried a few of these Color Tattoos and have been so impressed by the quality of the product, they are definitely the best from the drugstore and also even rival some of the more premium brands. 

Face

Onto face, I have three blushes which I just can't put down right now. First is the Stila Convertible Colour Dual Lip and Cheek Cream - what a mouthful, in shade Petunia. When dabbed and blended onto the apples of the cheeks this blush gives a really natural flush of colour. I also really like this product for my lips, it is quite sheer but gives a great shine and just a subtle hint of colour. Great for those 'no makeup' makeup days. 

The ELF Blush in shade Berry Merry is the perfect evening blush for me. It is quite rich in colour so best for the more Winter/Autumn months, it is a lovely rich pinky shade and is very similar to the Benefit Rockateur, this is pretty much just a deeper shade version of Mellow Mauve and is perfect for an evening round the pub next to a roaring fire and a glass of red wine. At £3.95 you need this blush in your life.

Benefit Rockateur blusher has a lovely warm tone to it with a slight shimmer to illuminate. It is slightly more pinky than the Elf Berry Merry so a bit better for the Summer months as it is more subtle and lighter in colour. 

Lips

My favourite nude/pink lip stick ever is the MAC Peach Blossom lip stick which is part of the creme sheen range. I much prefer the creme sheen lipsticks because I find them more moisturising on the lips. This lipstick is the perfect medium between pink and nude. It is slightly mauvey toned and just suits me perfectly, it's the lipstick I go for every time I want a more natural lip. It also works really well when you have a dramatic or smokey eye. 

The Bourjois Rouge Edition lip stick in shade Nude is another favourite. This is a very dusky mauve toned liquid lipstick with a matte finish. I do find it slightly drying on the lips but to combat this I just apply a little lip balm before hand. This shade, I find, is perfect for more Winter months when you want a nude lip but not a pale pink nude, more of a natural mauve nude. 

And lastly the Max Factor Colour Elixir Glosses are some of my favourite lip glosses, they aren't sticky at all and are really well pigmented. One of my favourite pinks of the range is the Enchanting Coral. It's a really lovely pink toned coral shade and is perfect for Summer/Spring when you want a bit of colour but not full on lipstick colour. 

So these are my favourite pink toned makeup bits, do you use any of these items or have any recommendations?

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm

With it now being Spring and a little milder I wanted to get a lighter moisturiser but one that would still be moisturising enough for my dry skin. I of course went straight for the Elemis counter to get the lovely Elemis ladies opinions and their recommendations. After telling them everything about my skin and what I wanted out of a product they directed me towards to this flash balm, I have to say I was a little skeptical at first as I tried the Clarins Flash Balm a little while ago and couldn't get on with it so I didn't really see what would be any different with this one but I purchased nontheless and went on my merry way to try it out at home.

You can use this flash balm as a moisturiser and primer in one or can be used on top of moisturiser as a primer. I have tried both ways and I've found that it's not moisturising enough to be used on it's own as a moisturiser/primer for me personally so I have been using it on top of my REN Moisturising Cream.

It aims to boost radiance giving a more luminous look to the skin, moisturise and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and prime to give a more even and brighter skin tone. After using this balm for just over 2 weeks I agree with all three points. The consistency of the product is quite thick but blends and smoothes onto the skin so effortlessly and is absorbed almost immediately making it perfect as a primer as well as a moisturiser. 

As a primer this does not help to colour correct or reduce the appearance of pores but it was not designed for this purpose and nor is it sold on this basis so if you are looking for a product with these qualities this isn't for you. What it does do is give a lovely subtle and natural glow to the skin without any shimmer or glitter. It is has a lovely floral scent which I love but it's not too strong to be overpowering. 

The only criticism I would have with this product is that it doesn't contain an SPF however the foundation that I use does, so isn't necessarily a problem for me but for those of you that like a moisturiser to contain an SPF then this maybe isn't for you. 

All in all I absolutely adore this product and will be using it for the next few months and into Summer. It is a great alternative for a light moisturiser and works just as well as a primer to give a smooth flawless base to apply makeup onto. I can see this now being a staple part of my skincare routine for a very long time to come. Elemis you have done it again.

Have any of you tried this product? What are your thoughts on it?

#1 Forever Re Purchasing

As a self confessed beauty addict I quite often don't re purchase products as I like to try out new brands and different types of product so it takes something pretty special for me to purchase it again once the first one has ran out. I also often don't use products up, I find myself really loving a product and getting half way down the bottle and end up finding something new to try or decide I don't like it so it just gets pushed to the back of the cupboard which means I don't re purchase it because I still have some left.

But when I was actually looking through my beauty cupboard and drawers I actually realised there are a lot of products which I re purchase without even thinking about it so instead of trying to cram everything into one post I am going to do a short series over the next couple of months.

For today I am concentrating more on the face, so skincare and base products. First up is the Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, containing vitamin E & F and also rose extracts, this is so lovely and gentle on the skin and perfect for my dehydrated and dry skin. I tend to use this cleanser more in the mornings than in the evenings as I don't find that it's heavy enough to remove all traces of makeup. It is quite a light cleanser which makes it perfect for the mornings. It doesn't leave any greasiness behind and just generally helps to make the face look that little bit brighter and youthful. I also just love the smell of this, anything rose scented is just onto a winner with me.

The REN Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream is one of my favourite day creams. The thing I love most about REN as a brand is their clean philosophy. With having sensitive skin I like to know the products that I am buying are free from all the normal rubbish like parabens, sulphates, silicones and synthetics. The cream itself is really thick and luxurious which I love, I know some people prefer lighter fluid moisturisers but this is just perfect for me. Even though it is thick it isn't greasy in the slightest. Throughout Winter I have been turning more towards a thicker more hydrating cream but this is just lovely for the Spring/Summer months. The only negative with this cream is that it doesn't contain an SPF which isn't really a problem for me as I use a foundation that contains an SPF but I know that this would bother some people.

When it comes to my base I just cannot fault this Clarins Everlasting Foundation. I can't actually tell you how many bottles I've gone through of this foundation but it is my all time favourite. The coverage is medium to full and is super buildable. It just gives the nicest finish to the skin and lasts for absolutely ages. The colour match is just perfect for me as well which is a massive bonus, I often really struggle to find a foundation which is just the right shade but this is right on point. It contains an SPF which I know some of you snap happy people dislike but for me I prefer to have an SPF in my foundation than in my cream. And honestly even though this foundation contains an SPF I never really look white on any photos. No other foundation has ever lived up to this one. Carrying on with the base theme, the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer is just my all time favourite. It totally disguises dark circles and doesn't go cakey at all. I think I'm now on something like my fourth pen.

Of course I had to give a little shout out to my favourite primer, the Dior Glow Maximiser. You guys know how much I love primers so I'm not gonna whittle on about it but this is just the ultimate for me. It's a primer and highlighter in one and it's just so versatile. It is a little on the pricey side but one tube tends to last me a good 6 months and that's applying 2 or 3 times a week and also using as a highlighter so I think that's pretty good value.

And lastly, Revlon Color Burst Lip Lacquer in Demure 105 - Oh my god, I love, love, love this lip product! I'm not one for big bright or red lips, I would rather have more statement eyes than lips so a nice subtle pink or peach is right up my street. This lip crayon is just my absolute go to at the moment, I use it for day time and night time and it seems to match my natural lip colour perfectly. I love how there is also a slight shimmer to this lip crayon giving a more glam look. I honestly cannot put into words how much I love this lip crayon but seeing as I am now on my fourth one I think that probably tells you how much I love it.

So there we have it, the first series of my forever re purchasing products. What products do you re purchase, do you use any of the products that I have mentioned above?

#14 Sunday Sounds - Direct Cosmetics

Morning all. It's Monday tomorrow and guess what...I'm not at work and probably majority of you lot are off aswell, isn't that just the best feeling in the world! 

Being a self confessed beauty addict I have pretty much roamed the online aisles of beauty websites ten times over so I am always really excited when another one comes up on my radar. Today I am talking Direct Cosmetics. They are an online discounted beauty store offering over 300 brands including Clarins, Bourjois, Ciate and Babylis to name just a few. They stock an extensive range of products from haircare to makeup to perfume, I honestly can't believe I haven't come across them before. 

I was lucky enough to be sent some items from Direct Cosmetics and here they are:

I firstly picked out the Clinique Chubby Stick in shade 16 Voluptuous Violet, I have a couple of these chubby sticks but never seen this shade. It's a lovely sheer berry shade, these sticks are super moisturising. Not so great for long wear but that's not the purpose of them. 

Then I spotted these Hard Candy Split Personality Eye Shadows, I got shades 030 Headcase and 033 Confused. They are dual ended eye shadow pens, Headcase has a lovely silver toned pink and a shimmery silver shade, Confused has a champagne and a chocolate brown. These are surprisingly well pigmented and have a pointed sponge applicator making application a breeze. 

They had a great range of O.P.I nail varnishes, I got this forest green shade which I was a little unsure about at first but actually it looks really quite pretty on the nails, also it dries super quickly. I also got the nail brightener as my nails have been really dull and stained recently from wearing dark coloured nail varnish. The brightener dries so quickly and also dries completely clear so you can't even tell it's on the nails. 

Then lastly I got this L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara, I don't massively like this mascara for my top lashes as it doesn't give the volume that I like to achieve with my mascaras but I do really love it for my bottom lashes as it can get right into the corners with the small ball shaped brush. 

The items arrived super quickly and were packaged well so nothing got damaged in transit. 

I would highly recommend checking out their website on the below link:

http://www.directcosmetics.com/

So if you're wondering what to do with your Bank Holiday weekend then go have a browse on their website, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

March Favourites

March for me has been all about the natural look, I have been trying to wear less makeup to work purely because wearing a full face every single day really isn't doing anything for my dry skin and I just think I need to give it a break for a while and what better time to go more natural than Spring.

So as I'm trying to wear less makeup I have really been concentrating on my skin to give a great healthy looking base and this Elemis Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm has just been my life savior. I have been applying it on top of my daily moisturiser and it gives the most lovely 'lit from within' look to the skin. It can be used alone as a moisturiser but it isn't hydrating enough for my skin personally to just be used on it's own. It gives a flawless base to then start applying concealer onto. I can see myself using this constantly throughout Spring and Summer.

My skin has been so dry for the past couple of months and I am starting to think that it might be down to using more gel based shower products rather than cream based ones. So I have been using this Palmolive Shower Milk which is just lovely. It is super cheap at only a couple of pounds but feels incredibly luxurious on the skin. The scent is very subtle and delicate and the consistency is really silky smooth. It feels really moisturising when applied onto the skin. After using this along with my Soap & Glory Shower Butter from last months favourites my skin has really improved. I think this will now be a permanent fixture in my bathroom cabinet.

In keeping with the natural makeup look I have been opting more for a natural lip and I am just completely smitten with this MAC lipstick in shade Peach Blossom. It's just a lovely warm pink tone and suits my skin tone and eye colour just perfectly. It is also part of the Creme Sheen range so isn't at all drying on the lips. I have definitely found my perfect pink nude lippie with this one. And then on my eyes I have been using the Bourjois Colorband Crayon in shade Rose Fauviste, it's such a lovely peachy gold shade and looks so pretty all over the lid for a natural daytime look. Also these crayons last all day and when I say all day I mean all day, they don't crease at all and look just as fresh at the end of the day than what they did when first applied in the morning. 

Lastly I have really been loving these KIKO eye pencils, I picked these up on the website in shades 02 - Extraordinary Sapphire and 06 - Powerful Burgundy. They are a great alternative to black or brown eye liners which I always wear. The pencils are really soft so don't drag the skin and they are super pigmented. They just look really pretty on the eyes and are just a great alternative to the usual black or brown shades. 

So they are my March favourites. Have you tried any of these items? Do you love them as much as I do?

Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash

I often used to think that with having dry skin I shouldn't exfoliate it as I didn't want to wash away those natural oils but actually it is really important to exfoliate to remove the dead skin cells which helps to make skin look more youthful and bright. This Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash is described as and can be used daily. Personally I don't like to exfoliate every day as it makes my skin really sensitive, I tend to exfoliate around 3-4 times a week.

The wash is a gel like consistency containing small exfoliating beads. The nice thing about this wash is that it foams slightly so your face feels like it is getting a wash and an exfoliation in one. The smell of this product is a little difficult to explain, there isn't really a strong smell to it it just smells quite chemically. This isn't the nicest of smells but I can overlook that from how nice the wash actually is.

To use, you literally just take a small amount, I use around the same size as a 20p piece and massage into the face and then rinse off. Skin feels noticeably smoother after use and doesn't feel tight like it often does with some exfoliating products. The only thing that really irritates me about the product is the flick cap, it easily gets clogged with product which means I am forever trying to clean it out. I would much prefer a squeezable tube.

Have you tried this product? What do you think of it?