Friday, 24 May 2013

May 2013: Used, Abused & Reviewed.

Another month is almost over which can only mean one thang: Monthly Empties! I don't know about anyone else but Empties posts are one of my favourite posts to read. I love seeing what products people work their way through and if you're anything like me, you have a weird sense of achievement everytime another bottle/jar/tub bites the dust. Here's what I've worked my way through this month and my thoughts on each product..

 
Philosophy Pure Grace Hand Wash: It's no secret that I'm obsessed with all the Grace scents from Philosophy. They smell so clean and fresh and never bring on one of my dreaded migraines. I've had this for ages now, think it came as part of a QVC TSV last year. It foams up nicely and I think I'm right in saying it contains SLS but for some reason I didn't have any problems with it drying my hands out. If anything it felt quite moisturising and the scent lingers on your hands for hours after. It's a really lovely hand wash but expensive for what it is.
Repurchase? Not at full price but definitely if it was on offer or included in another TSV.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish: This product needs no introduction. For many years it was my Holy Grail cleanser and even though I prefer balm cleansers now I ALWAYS make sure I have atleast 2 of these in my cupboard. It cleanses the skin brilliantly without ever leaving my face feeling tight or dry and it's fab at removing eye make up.
Repurchase? Yes, always.

Yves Rocher 3 Detoxifying Teas Micellar Water: I think everyone knows my thoughts on micellar water by now so I'll leave my rant for today. If you want to know more about this product check out my post here. The reason I use micellars is to remove the bulk of my eye make up before cleansing as my flannels and muslin cloths were starting to look very grubby no matter how often I replaced them. It removes makeup well but not in one swipe of a cotton pad, no micellar water does. If you have sensitive skin, give this a wide berth as it really stings any dehydrated areas.
Repurchase? No.

Cath Kidston Bluebell Hand Cream: I wasn't a fan of this at all. The scent is horrendous (to me) - extremely floral and overpowering. It just felt like a budget hand cream, not a patch on my beloved L'Occitane.
Repurchase? No.

SBC 3in1 Complete Cleansing & Toning Gel: This is one of those cleansers that claim you don't need to use water to remove it. The texture is a runny gel and it does leave the skin feeling refreshed but only if you rinse it off with water and a flannel. I tried to tissue it off as directed just out of curiosity but I could feel residue on my skin and had to wash my face again to feel clean.
Repurchase? No.

Frederic Fekkai Glossing Conditioner: I had wanted to try the Glossing range from Fekkai for ages but it's on the pricey side so I always talked myself out of it but in a swap with Lina she included the Glossing Conditioner. It's not at all what I was expecting! It's lightweight and rinses easily yet does a great job of smoothing the hair and adding a glossy look once styled.
Repurchase? I would but it contains parabens. Booo!

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash*: I posted about the mini Weleda products at the start of the month (link) and have been more than impressed with all of them. This body wash moisturises the skin without leaving any residue behind.
Repurchase? I still have a lot of body washes to get through but I'm sure I'll order a tube at some point.

Dove Colour Radiance Express Treatment Conditioner: This is a lot better than I was expecting. It's a great budget conditioning treatment and smells lovely but it made my roots really greasy after a day. My roots are on the oily side anyway but this conditioner just sped up the process even though I only applied it to my midlengths/ends.
Repurchase? I've still got a couple of tubes left but once they're gone I don't think I'll be in any rush to repurchase.

Lavera All-Round Cream: Love this stuff! The texture is similar to a body butter but unlike a lot of butters it sinks into my skin immediately. It can be used all over the body, even the face and the scent is lovely! It's a creamy, lemon scent but not sharp at all.
Repurchase? Yes.

Yankee Candle 'Christmas Cookie': This is one of those scents I could quite easily eat! It's sugary sweet but not sickening over overpowering. Think walking into a bakery and smelling all the freshly baked goodness.
Repurchase? Definitely but I've got enough candles to keep me going for a while.

Rodial Life & Style Candle 'Rehab': I raved about Rodial Candles here and they're still a firm favourite. The only thing I don't like about them is the price - £45! I managed to find them in the Debenhams sale for a tenner last year and stocked up. I think there's 3 different scents in total but I only own Rehab (roasted almond & honey milk) & Lounge (honeycomb & vanilla) they smell divine and make pretty brush holders once they're finished (link)
Repurchase? Not at full price. I still have 2 left but will stock up if I ever find them on sale again.

AUSSIE Dual Personality Curl Defining + Shine Mousse: I'm not the biggest fan of Aussie haircare. Yes the products smell nice and the 3 minute miracle conditioner leaves the hair incredibly smooth (because it's packed full of silicone) but the products always leave my hair looking flat and feeling like I need to give it another good scrub. This mousse is the exception though, it's actually quite good but as with most if not all mousse products, it makes the hair look wet and crispy. Once my hair is fully dry I re-scrunch my waves with clean, dry hands to get rid of that look. It still defines my waves without looking like I have product in my hair.
Repurchase? I prefer the TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi-Def Curl Spray.

Apivita Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Eye Patches With Rose: Apivita aren't winning me over when it comes to their eye products. These patches were a lot better than the overnight eye cream/mask but didn't do anything worth shouting about.
Repurchase? No.

100% Pure Coconut Nourishing Body Cream*: From the same brand I was raving about on Wednesday and guess what, I love the body cream too! It smells good enough to eat and the scent lingers on the skin for hours after. It absorbs into the skin straight away so there's no waiting around doing the naked dance before you can get dressed after a shower.
Repurchase? I have the same lotion in a few different scents that I haven't tried yet. Once I've used them up and know which one I prefer I'll be placing an order.

Fresh Skin Pina Colada Fragrance Oil: I adore anything pina colada scented so of course I had to choose it when I was making room sprays and fragrance sachets. You can read more on that here.

I used up a deodorant too and even though I mainly use my Weleda Citrus Deodorant now I still have a lot of deodorant to get through thanks to my bulk buying habit. The Nivea Double Effect Violet Senses has been in my empties posts a few times before but I still don't like it.

Did you finish many products this month?

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Wednesday, 22 May 2013

100% Pure: Pink Champagne Luminescent Powder, Peppermint Candy Blush & Peach Bellini Lip Glaze


I've always said it's easier to find skincare which is free from nasty ingredients than it is to find makeup. There are a lot of natural cosmetics brands out there but finding one that actually delivers everything you want from a product is a complete nightmare. It's even harder as most organic/natural brands aren't available on the highstreet and more often than not we have to blind buy online which usually ends with me feeling disappointed. If I'm going to make the switch from conventional to natural then the products need to perform equally as good or that switch just isn't going to happen.

100% Pure is as the name suggests, 100% pure. 100% Natural, 100% Vegan, & Gluten Free. The colour of the makeup comes from antioxidant rich fruit and vegetable pigments rather than synthetic dyes.

Fruit Pigmented Pink Champagne Luminescent Face Powder - 9g, £21*: The description states that this powder will make you sparkle & shine which instantly made me think it was going to be a glitter bomb but thankfully there's no glitter in sight. It's a soft, silky powder that make's the skin appear lifted, healthy and glowy. The light reflective pigments add life to the skin and from what I gather from the website, it can be used all over the face to cancel out sallow looking skin. I've been using the Luminescent Powder in the same way I use any highlighter and it feels no different to any conventional powder highlighter I own. Result! Pigmentation is fantastic, you barely need to touch your brush to the pan. The finish is very natural thanks to the lack of glitter and I have no compliants when it comes to staying power.

Fruit Pigmented Peppermint Candy Blush - 9g, £21*: The formula of this blush feels exactly like the Luminescent Powder. It's silky soft and illuminating but again it's glitter free. There's the tiniest flecks of shimmer that just help make the skin look more awake and pigmentation is great. The packaging is insanely gorgeous! The blushers & Luminescent Powder come in adorable pale pink reflective pots with engraved designs. Instead of being just a normal compact, the lids lifts off completely and inside the lid there's a great quality mirror. Peppermint Candy Blush smells like peppermint but I can't detect any scent from the Luminescent Powder.

Peach Bellini Lip Glaze - 2.5g, £15*: Again, the packaging is stunning! Like the rest of the products, the Lip Glaze colours come from fruit pigments. The base is made from avocado and cocoa butters so feels extremely moisturising and comfortable on the lips. If you're a fan of products like the Revlon Lip Butter's or any type of tinted balm then the Lip Glazes would be a good product to go for. As with most lip products that add a sheer wash of colour, staying power isn't all that great but even when the shine has faded you're still left with a slight tint. There's a faint fruity scent but no taste.

I know it shouldn't be but packaging is really important to me. I like my products to look nice and if I'm spending a lot of money on make up I want it to be worth every penny. All 3 product I've had the pleasure of trying have more than impressed me and I'm sure it won't be too long before I'm placing an order for more beauties from the brand! If makeup isn't you're thing but you like the sound of the brand, don't worry. They also sell skincare, bath & body care, hair care, hand care and products for kids.
Have you heard of this brand before?
Do you struggle to find natural makeup that works as well as you would like it to?

All mentioned products are available from www.100percentpure.co.uk

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Friday, 17 May 2013

My Summer Saviour: Ultrasun Face 30 Anti-Ageing Formula


Ultrasun Face 30 Anti-Ageing Formula

I struggled for years to find an SPF that suited my skin. I don't care if what I'm using on my body is a bit greasy and slippy but I don't want my face to look like a big sweaty mess. I've been using Ultrasun for over a year now and recommend it to anyone who will listen. I love how fuss free it is, I can apply it in the morning and know my face is protected throughout the day. If I was on holiday and out in the blistering hot sun for hours I would probably reapply it once more just to be on the safe side but here in the UK you really don't need to.

Ultrasun Face 30 Anti-Ageing Formula is a once a day SPF with UVA & UVB protection. The formula is oil free and binds to the skin in a matter of seconds leaving no trace of residue behind on my dehydrated/combination skin. The reason I love it so much is that it doubles up as my daily moisturiser. I don't need to layer a separate moisturiser on top which saves me time, money and a whole lot of blotting. It make's a great primer too! I've mentioned before about my lack of love for primers. They work for some people but for me they're just an extra step that I can't be arsed with and in all honesty I've never found one that makes enough difference to make me want to use it everyday. This without a doubt beats every primer I've ever tried! There's no roll off when you layer foundation on top and because I'm using just one product as my SPF, moisturiser and primer, my make up lasts a whole lot longer.

It's free from perfume and emilsifiers so shouldn't irritate sensitive skin. My skin is very easily irritated but not once has it caused any problems for me which is why I have no problem recommending it.

Sun damage ages the skin like nothing else. If you're worried about wrinkles, pigmentation etc then the best thing you can do is use SPF. We're all going to end up with wrinkles at some point in our lives, we can't stop it happening but we can prevent it to some extent. Spending mega bucks on fancy lotions and potions is a waste of money if you aren't protecting your skin but the main reason I use it is to hopefully avoid skin cancer. I use Ultrasun Face 30 on days where I'm not wearing a foundation containing SPF. I only recently found out that layering products containing SPF alters their effectiveness so now I make sure to only use one SPF product at a time. I also use it on the backs of my hands (when I remember)

As I'm sure you can tell, I bloody love this product! It's my SPF, moisturiser, primer and hand cream. :) If you're new to Ultrasun you can see all the different variations on QVC which is usually where you'll find the best deals/try me kits but I bought mine from Amazon last year.

What SPF do you use?
Have you tried Ultrasun before?

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Thursday, 16 May 2013

Worth The Hype: Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush 'Cherub'


Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush 'Cherub'*

I first became aware of Daniel Sandler and his products through my obsession with QVC but up untill last year I'd never tried anything. On QVC he come's across as such a lovely man and really explains how to get the best results from his products, and if you follow him on Twitter (link) you'll know how hilarious he is.

I'm sure the famous Watercolour Blush is on everyone's radar, you'll either own and love it or have it on your wishlist. The only hard part is deciding which shade to go for as they all look stunning and really wearable. I decided to go for 'Cherub' as it's the one I've heard/read about the most.

I need to talk about the texture first! For some reason I was expecting the texture to be the same or atleast similar to Benefit Posie Tint which I'm not the biggest fan of. I know a lot of people love it but whether I use my fingers or a brush to apply it, I always feel like it's removing my foundation. The Watercolour texture is very thin, it has a silicone feel to it but it's almost watery and doesn't remove my foundation at all! You can't feel it on your skin, it's really lightweight and it lasts all day. You can buy the Watercolour Brush from Daniel Sandler but I've just been using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush or MAC 187 and it works perfectly fine. I dab it on with the brush then blend out any edges if I need to. You can go for a subtle look or layer it up for a more intense finish which makes it great for most skintones.

The bottle is teeny and only holds 15ml of product but you need such a small amount for each use that it's bound to last a long, long time. I've lost count of how many rave reviews I've read on this product but for me it's definitely worth the hype.

Is there a Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush Appreciation Society? There should be.

Are you a Watercolour Blush lover?
What shades do you own?

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush £14.49 available from www.hairtrade.com

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Tuesday, 14 May 2013

On A Budget: Dirty Works Power Berry Detox Mask


Dirty Works Power Berry Detox Mask*

I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to skincare. I often dismiss budget beauty products without actually trying them for myself but over the last 2 years or so I've been a bit more open minded and am willing to give products from all price points a go as long as the ingredient lists aren't too bad. Dirty Works is a brand I've spotted numerous times in Sainsburys but my inner skincare snob always stopped me investigating any further than a quick look at the packaging. I was recently asked if I would like to try the Power Berry Detox Mask which I've used a good few times now and thought I would share my thoughts.

The Power Berry Detox Mask is a bargain at only £4.99 for 100ml! It's designed to deep clean and replenish the skin, leaving it glowing, clear and fresh. With clay masks I tend to only use them on my forehead, nose and chin as my cheeks are very sensitive and dehydrated plus my t-zone is the main area I need a good detox. It's very fragranced, reminds me a lot of the Good Things Cream Cleanser. I really love the scent, smells like a berry smoothie but unfortunately it did cause a few hives to pop up around my chin about an hour after use. I did find the mask really effective at adding a glow to my skin on days when I was feeling really tired and my skin looked dull. It also left my skin feeling really clean without being dry as I only used it on my t-zone.

I would say the Power Berry Mask would be great for anyone in their teens - early 20's as long as they don't have sensitive skin. It's a very effective mask at a great price.

Have you tried this mask or any other products from Dirty Works?
Any you think I should try?

Dirty Works Power Berry Detox Mask £4.99 available from Sainsburys

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Monday, 13 May 2013

Swatched: The Pinks


I've downsized my nail polish collection quite a lot over the last few months. I sold loads in my blog sale, gave some to friends/family and some were gloopy beyond repair so into the bin they went. Pink is my favourite colour to wear on my nails - sheer pinks, bright pinks, white pinks, peachy pinks, baby pinks. Any type of pink really so it's no surprise that the majority of my collection is made up of pink.

I've swatched all the ones I've kept so this is going to be a very pic heavy post. All swatches are 2 coats with no base/top coat.

Milani '513 Digital'

O.P.I 'Feelin' Hot-Hot-Hot'

Virgin Vie 'Shocking Pink'

Nails Inc 'Oxford Circus'

Essie 'Van D'Go'

BarryM '279 Bright Pink'

Nails Inc 'Brook Street'

Orly 'Lola'

Filthy Gorgeous 'Rosy Posy'*

Nails Inc 'Shoreditch'

BarryM '119 Baby Pink'

Nails Inc 'Picadilly Circus'

Rimmel 'Pop Rose'

Nails Inc There's no name but I think it's 'Peach Sorbet'

Chanel 'Rose Insolent'

BarryM '309 Strawberry'

Leighton Denny 'Talk Of The Town'

L'Oreal 'Opera Ballerina'

Nails Inc 'Belgrave Square'

O.P.I 'I'm All Ears'

O.P.I 'If You Moust You Moust'

Nails Inc 'Elizabeth Street'

Essie 'We're In It Together'

Nails Inc 'Brompton Place'

Essie 'Cascade Cool'

Dior 'Rosy Bow'

BarryM 'Pomegranate'

Essie 'Fiji'

My all time favourite and most used pink polish (apart from Opera Ballerina) is Nails Inc Brompton Place but lately my favourite has been Dior Rosy Bow, it looks lovely on pale skin and after slapping on some tan, coral tones start to appear. It doesn't look like anything special in the bottle but it's a gorgeous colour! The formula is brilliant, lasts around 4 days on my nails. The brush is great too, reminds me a lot of the Rimmel pro brushes but shorter and thicker.

Do you own any of these shades?
What colour is the majority of your collection made up from?

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