July Favourites

July Favourites

Time to talk to you lovely bunch about what I have been loving through out the month of July. 

Face Masks - this month I have definitely been loving having a bit of a pamper and applying a facemask when hopping out of the shower. The ones I have found myself reaching for most regularly are: 

Origins Clear Improvement - Active charcoal mask. I've been reaching for this throughout July when my skin has really been feeling a little urgh. You know just bumpy and blemished, after using this my skin feels calmer and clearer. 

I've also loved The Body Shop Honey and Oat mask. I've been using this most often as I find it balancing for my skin. It cleanses, polishes and moisturises in one. It smells absolutely gorgeous and leaves the skin super soft. It's exfoliating and hydrating, when I use this twice a week it leaves my skin glowing and much more manageable. 

Exfoliating - Through out the month of July I've been a little stricter with myself on my weekly beauty regime. Top of the list remembering to exfoliate. The one I've been using is Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed. This month I've been trying to finish up what's in my bathroom cupboards, I am the typical girl who uses up a quarter of a product and then starts something new. I completely forgot I had this scrub, you apply it to dry skin and then wet your fingertips and in circular movements massage the skin. Two things first the scrub starts to change colour and secondly it becomes pleasently warm. I have been making sure I do this at least once a week. 

Make up favourites: 

Nars Creamy Concealer - I spoke about this concealer in a previous post so I won't go in to too much detail. But amazing coverage, none drying fantastic colour the perfect product. 

MAC Dip Down Gel Eyeliner - I have completely fell back in love with this. It's so easy to apply, highly pigmented and really soft. It stays in place all day and being a rich brown is a little more natural than complete black. 

Moisturising - I am definitely one for moisturising, religiously after showering. This month I've loved Hawaiian tropics Lime Coolada body butter it smells like a dream and sinks into the skin strait away. 

The OC - blast from the past I know, but this has come back into my life and I have completely fallen back in love. I want my very own Seth Cohen :) 

Lindahallbergs

Lindahallberg ... 

if you guys don't already follow her she gives the best make up inspiration and ideas for tutorials from her Instagram. 

I tried out this look the other day for a soft summers day and loved it!! 

Do you guys have any recommendations of people you love, I'd love to see who you guys follow?? xx 

Spring/Summer SkinCare

Spring/Summer SkinCare

I am definitely one of those ladies that notices a difference in my skin depending on the time of year it is. Saying that I thought I'd tell you what products I've been using to battle the change in the weather. 

So firstly to tell you a little about my skin - the condition of my skin is dehydrated yet 'type' I'd say I'm combination. However being combination is the typical signs of having a more dehydrated skin type. So I still get enlarged pores and blackheads with the occasional break out, most commonly around my chin area. 

I follow the rules of cleanse, tone, treat, eye and moisturise. 

I'm going to try and condense this down as much as possible so it's not pages :) 

Cleanse:

AM - Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Cleansing Wash. This product is mild enough to use on a daily basis whilst contains micro beads to gently exfoliate the skin. I find this super refreshing for morning time. 

PM - On an evening I'll repeat this step twice. Once to remove make up and a second to clean the skin. I've just finished up the Origins Clean Energy cleansing oil whilst I would repurchase this but I have so many oils in my cupboard left to try, I simply would pour a small amount into my hands, massage into skin keeping eyes until last. Then remove with a warm flannel. Then repeat! This is my favourite step! (The only down side of this product is the fact it's a pour system instead of a pump, it can become a little messy) I have now moved on to The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil :) so far it's lovely! 

Tone: 

AM/PM - I follow cleansing with a toner I'm currently using Lush's Tea Tree Water facial sprits which is an antibacterial toner. I simply spray this on a cotton pad a swipe this over the skin. 

Treat: 

AM - I always treat my skin with a serum, on a morning I'll use The Body Shops Nutriganics Smoothing Serum. This helps to keep my skin smooth, soft and moisturised through out the day. 

PM - on an evening I'll usually use Elizabeth Arden's Lift and Firm Ceremide Gold Capsules. One capsule with cover the face and neck. It helps to rebuild the natural ceremides in the skin, it strengthens, maintains water and helps increase the cellular turn over. 

Eye: 

AM/PM - Antipodes Kiwi eye cream. Ohmygoodness I love this eye cream so much. I get such dry eyes, so much so that they actually flake. Making applying eyeshadow impossible not a good look. This eye cream is super gentle and really soothing on the eyes. It is also super hydrating and has been super at banishing those pesky dry patches. 

Moisturise: 

AM - When its day time I definitely like a lotion when I'm going to be applying make up on top. Or a cream that at least feels refreshing on the skin and not tacky to touch. Elemis Pro collegen Marine Cream is super hydrating but light in texture. However it is SPF free so I have to add a separate on top ( that's for another post though) or the Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion SPF 15 this is great day time lotion that balances the skin perfectly. 

PM - Again Marine Cream is what I've been reaching for on an evening under my gold capsules definitely feels like luxury when using these two together. 

And that folks is pretty much my skin care routine, I'll be doing another post in regards to masks, exfoliants and blemish control. If you have anything you'd like to request to see on the blog in regards to skin care let me know :) 

Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial In - A - Box

A 30 minute step - by - step pampering treatment to enhance your skin for a radiant glow. 

I was lucky enough to receive this as a pressie from one of my beautiful friendlings a while back, and as it's Sunday and I'm feeling a little delicate from last night I decided to treat myself to a pamper. 

This is basically a step by step guide to complete a sanctuary brightening facial. It includes: Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser. Radiance Exfoliator. Treat With Moisture Boosting Mask. Brightening Eyegel. Illuminating Moisture Lotion. 

So I poddled on into my bathroom and following the guide lines on the box started with Hot Cloth Cleanser. It's similar to other hot cloth cleansers that I've tried, massaged easily into the skin and smelt fresh and 'spa' like, that eucalyptus scent :) 

The Radiance Exfoliator - Is scrub form and is more ibrasive than normal exfolaitors I choose. But left my skin feeling super soft and squeaky clean! 

But oh my goodness the Moisture Boosting Mask - I opened up the little sachet and was impressed with the amount of product for a start. Next the texture I scooped it out and applied it to my skin and definitely made the 'ooooo' of loveliness sound. It just feels so luxurious on the skin, it's super thick in consistancy and really smooth and cooling but immediately feels nourishing. This has definitely been the stand out product in the set that I know I'll be purchasing the full size of!!! :) my skin felt soft, smooth and hydrated once removing with the muslin cloth provided. 

I followed with the Brightening Eye Gel - which was cool and refreshing. I can imagine on puffy or tired eyes it feeling calming and soothing. 

Then finished my routine with a separate night cream as I'll be going to sleeps shortly and wouldn't want the SPF. I definitely would recommend this to any of you wanting to treat someone as I think it makes the perfect gift. Or if you are planning a pamper night for yourself sometime and fancy trying some new products :) x x 

River Island Tube Pants

This is a post for all of you ladies that struggle with jeans!!! 

I have long legs, wide hips and plenty of peachy bumness that finding the perfect pair of jeans is very difficult. 

All eyes focus on tube pants!!! 

These have slowly become my answer to everything!! If you ever struggle with finding the perfect jeans I'd definitely check these out :) 

My Everyday Makeup

Hello my lucky ones :) today I'm going to talk to you about what I've been using makeup wise. As its become warmer recently I've switched up a few of my products. 

The Body Shop - Instablur. A new base product that smooths the appearance of enlarged pores and fine lines. This feels silky smooth on the skin and I do see a difference in the size of my pores, I have found when applying it with my real techniques make up sponge I receive the best results as it lightly smooths the product over the skin. 

Este Lauder - Day Wear Bb Cream in the shade medium. This product I've had a little while and completely forgot about, it got lost in amongst my beauty stash. The shade I have is warmer than my skin tone but when blended looks even and gives a slight warmth to my complexion. It gives a light coverage but definitely is buildable for those areas of more concern. Plush it's smells really fresh like cucumber, lovely for warmer weather. 

NARS - Creamy concealer. Now this product .. Oh there is not enough words! I have never seen so much difference from a concealer. First the consistency it gives a full coverage but its not drying and doesn't crease. The colour match is perfect and it lasts amazingly through out the day. 

Max factor - Pan stick shade 14 

MAC - Cream Colour Base Hush

MAC - shadow in mystery. I spoke about these three products in my recent monthly favourites so I'm not going to go into too much detail as they haven't changed and you can read my opinions of them there. But I'm still loving them and I think they create a perfect look for this time of year. 

The Body Shop - Shimmer Brick Coral. This product accompanies my contour and highlight perfectly. With its coral tone it gives the perfect sweep of peach to the cheeks leaving the skin glowing. 

RIMMEL - Glam eyes liquid eyeliner black. This has become my go to eyeliner. The brush is small an thin making it easy to apply a precise line. And the actual eyeliner is smooth and jet black making it easy to create the perfect cat eye. 

So this is pretty much exactly what I've been wearing on a day to day basis (when not at work of course) and I've been really loving the finished look. 

The Body Shop Perfume Oils

The Body Shop Perfume Oils

The Body Shop perfume oils have been a firm favourite of mine for a couple of years now. 

I've gone through many of these little bottles of loveliness including coconut and vanilla both beautiful, my current obsessions are Atlas Mountain Rose and Indian Midnight Jasmine 15ml. 

The bottle has a small plastic applicator attached to the lid making it easy to apply the oil to the skin. The scents are long lasting through out the day, they give off a subtle fragrance which definitely holds well. Because the product is concentrated the actual bottles although look small will last you ages. 

I wish I was better a describing scents but Atlas Mountain Rose is sweet and floral. It's not overly musky it's more on the fresher side of the rose category. 

Indian Midnight Jasmine is the most incredible fragrance I literally have become obsessed. So much so   I've made comments that friends smell nice when it's actually this I can smell on my skin!! Haha sounds ridiculous but its true!!  :D