Saturday 26 July 2014

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 

Tuesday 22 July 2014

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 :) 

Sunday 20 July 2014

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 

Wednesday 16 July 2014

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 :) 


Saturday 12 July 2014

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. 

Sunday 6 July 2014

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  

Wednesday 2 July 2014

June Favourites

June has been a month I feel I blinked and it's just passed on by. So sharing with you all the things I have loved is a nice way to round up! 

Starting with body - Ro's Argan Body Conditioner from Lush. 




I have spoken about this product previously on the bloggy. You apply this all over the body after cleansing the skin as you would normally. I like to apply conditioner to my hair and whilst that does its thing apply this to my body and leave for a few minutes before rinsing. It is nourishing and leaves you feeling super soft, you can either skip moisturising or if like me your skins a little on the dehydrated side follow with a body cream. The best part is definitely the scent, a fresh rosé that is nothing of the 'old lady fragrance' pop into your nearest Lush if you're a fan of things floral. 

Is it odd to comment on a razor type? I'm not sure, but these are definitely a firm favourite of mine. Not just this month but all year round! I've yet to find a razor that leaves my legs as soft and nick free. The Venus and Olay honey edition. The cushioning strips help to hydrate and protect the skin whilst shaving. 

Make up - Mac shadow in mystery. 



I have been using this shade for my eyebrows since purchasing about 3 moths ago and it is the closest match I have found. I'm still using my Mac 266 brush to apply the product (I have done a brow routine post previously) and finishing with a setting gel. Previously many of the powders I have tried for my brows have either been to dark in colour or had a reddish undertone, the depth of this isn't too dark and the colour is more ashy than red! 

Max factor pan stick in the shade 14 and Mac's cream colour base in Hush. 

These two products have been on my face all through out the month of June. Starting with contouring my cheek bones, I've been taking the pan stick on a NARS Kabuki Artisan 21 and gently applying and blending upwards. The colours warm with out looking orangey on the skin and apples beautifully. 



Following with Hush on the tops of my cheek bones to highlight. This is a beautiful pearlescent golden pink, which gives the right amount of shimmer with no glitter. I have been applying this with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush which gives and even application.



 Both products blend into the skin smoothly looking natural and soft. 




And lastly Haircare - The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo 



The Ginger Shampoo, this product has literally changed my hair or more like my scalp. As I suffer with eczema occasionally I can have flare ups on my scalp. Whether it being from trying to hydrate my locks with rich products that are too much for my poor scalp to handle or from stress. This shampoo is gentle, cleansing and not drying in the slightest. It completely gets rid of any build up and flakiness, it is the best anti dandruff shampoo I've tried. 

And that my lovelies is it for this month :) what have your favourites been?