Nip and Fab Dragons Blood Cleansing Pads

I've been going through a phase of wanting to buy all of the skin care products that I could possibly get my hands on. I have been on a major skincare mission in a bid to get super soft glowy skin in time for my weeding next year, and also to prevent premature ageing.

One thing that I would love to have is fuller looking skin without the need of fillers. I need something which will renew the skin without the need for too much effort because I will admit that I am lazy. This is why my skin care routine has been less than perfect in the past. Enter Nip and Fab Dragons Blood Cleansing Pads.

Thy sound scary I will admit that. I told my mum about them and she just couldn't get her head around it. The Dragons Blood is actually a resin from the Croton Lechleri Tree, more commonly known as the Dragon Tree. It has been used in numerous products over hundreds of years, particularly for its renewing properties.

Each pot of the pads contains 60 circular pads which are ever so slightly textured. They feel a little oily and tacky at the same time which is some thing that I continuously struggle with because it feels so strange. This feeling doesn't last long on the skin but it is something to take into account if you're not a fan of that sort of thing. 

My skin instantly felt a little plumper after using these, and I especially noticed an improvement around my eye and cheekbone area. My fine lines had reduced quite considerably and my skin felt smooth and hydrated. I did have a little hormonal breakout on my chin too and it cleared those pesky little blemishes right up, which was pretty amazing to see them gone after only a few hours. 

I absolutely love these little pads of magic and they are a staple in my routine now. I was worried that they would be like the old pads that were popular when I was a teenager, the Clearasil ones which used to feel like thy were ripping your face off. I will definitely be using these for the forseeable future.

You can purchase these from Superdrug for £9.95 for a pot of 60 pads.

Face B4 : A New Holy Grail

A while back now, I was contacted by the lovely people over at Face B4 who asked me if I would like to take part in their Face B4 Skin Clinic. I jumped at the chance as I'm really tying to a better effort with my skin in preparation for my wedding next year. 

The Face B4 Clinic included using two products, which were the Anti-Bacterial Face Wash and Anti-Bacterial Serum. I used both of these together daily for around 6 weeks and was really impressed with the results, especially from such a simple routine!

The Anti-Bacterial Face Wash features a duo pump system which provides both a cleanser and a toner. Before using this, I removed my makeup with a regular cleanser first and then went in with this. The consistency is a lovely soft foam which feels extremely gentle on the skin. The instructions say to leave this on the skin for a minute or two before rinsing off, but in all honesty I found this a little to do because the foam tickled my face, but I did leave it for around 30 seconds. Once I had done this, I rinsed with warm water and patted my face dry.

My favourite product of the two was by far the Anti-Bacterial Serum. Quite often after cleansing my skin can feel a little tight, but this wasn't the case after using this. I applied one pump of this to my finger tips and then applied to my face in upwards motions. It doesn't feel greasy unlike other serums and sinks into my skin beautifully, rather than sitting on top like some other products I have used in the past. 

 These pictures were taken on the first day of the trial, half way through and after 6 weeks.

After using both of these, I have noticed a hug improvement in my skin. A lot of the redness has gone down, and my blemishes are pretty much non existent, aside from the odd pesky one that everyone has to deal with every now and then. I've found that my skin is much smoother, meaning that my makeup sits much better on my skin and looks much nicer. These really are game changers, and are definitely products that will be in my routine for a long time.

You can buy this product here from their website and from Boots. You can also find them on Twitter.

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*This post features a PR Sample. All opinions are my own*

April Favourites

I don't know about anyone else but I seemed to have loads of products to try in April. I've had plenty of products that could have made it in to my favourites this month but instead I decided to show you what I was using the most and loving at the same time.

Nip and Fab Deep Cleansing Fix.

This has been my saviour this month. I've been using this as both a cleanser and as a face mask and let me tell you it works wonderfully. It's soft and creamy texture makes it gentle yet effective on the skin, but it still removes even the toughest remains of the day. It even melts away my waterproof mascara with ease. I can definitely tell this is going to be a repurchase!

Nivea Original Moisturiser.

This oldie but a goodie is something that I keep returning to. I noticed that every foundation I tired even with a primer underneath, would go patchy and look like it was starting to flake of my face which wasn't a very attractive look. A quick layer of this underneath and I have a lovely smooth base which makes my foundation look a million times better.

VO5 Give Me Texture.

My go to hair style has currently being a case of #bighairdontcare and I've been embracing my ultra thick locks. So that it doesn't just hang by my face I've been giving it a quick spritz of this through the mid lengths which has given me a stylish bed head look. Oh and it works wonders after styling with a curling wand for that undone look.

Nars Blush in Zen.

I'd been after a really neutral blusher for a while and came across Zen whilst I was at work. To be honest I hadn't really put much thought into if it would work for my skin tone, but oh my. This is the most perfect subtle contour shade and it perfect for warming up the face. I thoroughly recommend having a nosey if you're by a Nars counter.

Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2 Palette.

This is the only palette I have been reaching for in the past month. It is perfect for a natural day time look or a deep smokey eye. All bases are covered with this little beauty, and I've especially been loving the olive and navy shades for a twist on a classic smokey eye.

I think that there have been a nice mix of favourites this month, but there could have been so many more products! What have been your favourites this month? 

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Nip and Fab Deep Cleansing Fix

For the past few months I've been determined to really make a difference to my skin and update my skincare routine. So far so good, and one of the products that has been high on my list of favourites is this cleanser from Nip and Fab.

I'm a little bit of a cleanser addict and always think that there is always a need for more than on the go. This particular one is not only my new favourite cleanser but it is a fantastic multi use product. As the name suggests this is a deep cleansing cream,  but it can also be used as an intensive face mask, blemish treatment and overnight mask. All of which I've tried and they all work wonderfully in their own way. 

The texture of this is a thick, yet light on the skin cream which is akin to a body butter. I like to take a tiny bit at a time and apply this in circular motions on my face until it is covered and then rinse of with a muslin cloth. As a face mask, I like to thickly apply this and leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse. This leaves my skin silky smooth and without a trace of the day left behind. 

I've certainly noticed an improvement in my skin since using this and the multi use factor is a huge bonus for me! It's also a bargain too at £7.95 for a 300ml tub, which should last me a while!

You can pick this up from your nearest Superdrug or from their website here.

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Sephora Face Complexion Brush

Back in the summer, on one of my trips to France, I had a mental shopping list of everything that I needed wanted to buy in Sephora. Naturally, I went a little overboard and ended up buying  quite a few thing that definitely were not on my list, but were items that I was adamant I had to have. The Sephora Face Complexion Brush was one of them, and let me tell you that it really is a little gem.

I had been on the look out for a cleansing brush for a long time, but could never quite justify some of the high prices of the ones that were on my wish list. I was also a little wary of spending that much money, just in case it did absolutely nothing at all for my skin. Luckily this was only around the 6 Euro mark, so I just chucked it in my basket. 

To incorporate this into my cleansing routine, I use my regular Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm to remove the main bulk of my makeup. After this, I apply a little of my beloved La Roche Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel to my face and start to work it into the skin with this brush. It is definitely a match made in Sephora heaven. The brush helps to easily distribute the product around my face and get into all those difficult knooks and crannys, like around the nose area. It isn't at all too abrasive on my skin, which is something that I was worried about. Once I've finished, a quick rinse and it's done. I'll deep clean this once a week with my makeup brushes and it cleans like a dream. 

I'm head over heels in love with this brush and it has become a staple in my skin care routine. You can find this on the Sephora website here.

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The Popular in 2014 Post

Well hello there 2015, how quickly you came around. As I wake up this morning with tired eyes and a sore head, I thought it would be nice to reflect on 2014. The past year wasn't my best blogging year, there were some months when I didn't post at all, simply because my heart wasn't in it. However, I'm firmly back in the swing of things and can't wait for this years antics. Without further ado, here are my five most popular posts from 2014...

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel

This was one of my most favourite buys of 2014 and it has been a game changer. I wasn't surprised that this was in my most popular posts, as us beauty bloggers tend to go wild for French pharmacy product.

A Weekend In Amsterdam

Back in April I was lucky enough to go for a weekend in Amsterdam*, thanks to my Fiances job. Amsterdam is one of my most favourite destinations and I know I'll be going back for a third time sometime in the future. Travel is a huge hobby of mine, so I loved writing this post.

Makeup Revolution Make Believe Palette

Every single post about Makeup Revolution has been huge in the past year. They really have taken the beauty world by storm and have quickly become one of my favourite brands. This palette was one of the first products I had from them, and it's still a firm favourite today. If you haven't tried MR yet there are a ton of products for everyone and they're so purse friendly.

Battle of the Base: Foundation Edition

At the beginning of the year, I had a rummage through my stash and found that I had quite a few foundations. I realised that I used these all for different reasons, some being full coverage, some being natural and others being slightly different shades for summer. I decided to put them all to the test and figure out which I used the most. It was quite fun doing this post and I think Ill definitely be doing more.

Makeup Revolution I Heart Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter

My most popular post in 2014 was for this little beauty. I'm really not surprised that this was the one that everyone loved the most. As a highlighter fiend, I added this to my collection with no hesitation and it seems that you all loved it just as much too.

So those were my most popular posts of the last year. I just want to thank you all for your continued support and I look forward to continue being a part of this lovely community.

I hope that you all had a wonderful night last, and wish you all a very Happy New Year!

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Sephora Metamorphosis Exfoliating Powder

A couple of months back, when I took a trip to France, a trip to Sephora was inevitable. Obviously I spent far too much money on items that I didn't need but the feeling of guilt went away after approximately thirty seconds. I have been wanting to update my skincare routine for a while so I was on the look out for new items in their skincare section when this caught my attention.

Sephora Metamorphosis Exfoliating Powder is housed in a plastic pot with a screw top lid. The plastic is quite thick, making it perfect for travel as it is definitely durable. There is also a "shake top" so that you can control how much powder you use. Being in a clear plastic container, it also makes it easy to see exactly how much you have left.

The powder is finely milled but still abrasive enough to make skin silky smooth. Despite being abrasive it doesn't irritate my skin or feel uncomfortable, unlike other facial exfoliators. This can be used daily if mixed with your regular cleanser, but I tend to use it once or twice a week on it's own for a more intense scrub. I shake a little bit into my hand, mi with a tiny bit of water, massage into my face and then wipe with a warm flannel. Soft skin in one easy step. 

Although I bought this in France, it is available on the Sephora website, here.

Monu Firming Moisturiser

Skin care is something that I've slowly being investing more in. I've never had terrible skin, but I have had troublesome skin with the odd breakout here and there. Oh and trying to keep the oil at bay without looking like a cakey mess has proven difficult. I have made a concious effort to start taking better care of my skin, so that it looks the best it possibly can. My main motivation is my wedding, with the hope that my skin will lovely and glowing right throughout the day!

A few weeks ago, I saw on Twitter that Monu (@monushop) were looking for bloggers to try out some of their products. I was lucky enough to receive this Firming Moisturiser* from their range and give it a whirl. The range of products is pretty amazing over on the Monu Shop, so if you're after some new skincare or other products such as Fake Tan, Makeup, Body Care and Gifts.

The Firming Moisturiser* has quickly become a firm favourite of mine. Let's talk about the scent first as this was the thing that I noticed first. It does have quite a strong scent of lavender, but it doesn't over power to product by any means. It is actually quite a pleasant scent which doesn't linger once applied to the skin. This scent comes from the addition of the lavender and neroli oils, both of which I feel give the moisturiser a luxurious kick. The moisturiser itself is quite thick in texture, with a soft creamy finish to it. I apply this after my morning cleanse, and let me tell you, it applies like a dream. I just apply small dots of this around my face and then blend in circular motions. I can instantly feel my skin getting a little tighter but not uncomfortable, and my makeup sits so nicely on top of this. It also makes my skin feel so much smoother, which is an absolute bonus. This product is understandably targeted at those with dry skin, but my oil skin has had no problems with this, so it could be a one size fits all product.

If you are interested in Monu's products then you can find them on their website here. I have my eye on so much from them, including the Replenishing Skin Peel and the Recovery Balm!

*Post contains PR Samples

Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water

I'm sure that I'm not alone when I say that I often go into Boots and look at the same products every time, only to never purchase them? I'm pretty bad at doing this, but this time was different and I cam out feeling pretty pleased with myself. This particular purchase was a little can of wonder from Avene, in the form of their Eau Thermale Spring Water. I've seen this quite a few times mentioned by the lovely Louise from Sprinkleofglitter  and was always pretty intrigued, but now I'm glad I finally purchased it.

At first, I just couldn't get my head around why anyone would by water in a can. Surely it couldn't have been that great? In reality, it is so much more than that. Sure, it is just water, but the way it works is actually quite incredible. Designed to give instant relief whenever the skin feels tight or uncomfortable, this water spray gives a gentle soothing sensation that we sometimes crave. It soothes sunburn, acne, nappy rash, allergic reactions, razor burn, to set or remove makeup, and cool in the heat. I think you'll agree that it really is a multi use product, although I do disagree that it sets makeup. How can a spray of water set makeup?! I also love the way that it sprays, which I know sounds weird but it sprays a gentle mist that isn't too much a shock when you spray it on your face. 

My favourite way to use this has been to spray it lightly on my face just before I apply my night cream. I spray it and then leave it for 30 seconds, then gently pat to dry. It just hydrates my skin a little bit more which I desperately need. Another way that I've been favouring this is to use after work. In my job, I stand for 8 hours on a hard tiled floor which can get pretty uncomfortable after a while. When I get home, a quick spray of this on my legs and feet and they are instantly sooth and no longer ache. 

For me, this has become a bit of a must have item and I wouldn't be without it now! You can purchase it from Boots for £3.20 for 50ml, 150ml for £6.50 and 300ml for £10.00. Have you tried any Avene products?

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Boots Haul

It's been a long time since a haul has featured here on my little blog. Why I hear you ask? Well I have been a little very short on funds. If there has been a product that I've wanted, then it really has had to have been a justified purchase. But this week I thought that I would have a wander round Boots, which lets face it, never ends with any of us leaving empty handed. I picked up a few items, but surprisingly enough there were no makeup bits. I know, I know it's a shocker but here is what I did end up buying....

First up I purchased the Garnier Moisture Match fro combination to oily skin. I've heard pretty good things about this, so I'm excited to try it out. All of the variations of this moisturiser looked pretty good, but I thought this would be better suited to my skin.

Next is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I've been wanting this ever since it's release and really struggled to find. I managed to snap up the last bottle so it must have been fate! I love Bioderma but really didn't get on with the L'Oreal version, so I'm hoping this will live up to the hype.

Then I had a bit of a moment at the VO5 stand! My friend swears by their dry shampoo and I have really fallen out of love with Batiste, so I thought that I would VO5s a go. It was 2 for £5  on the styling products so I also picked up their Dry Texturising spray which I have high hopes for. Finally, I have always used their Heat Defence Spray and I was starting to run low so picked up another one.

Finally, the most boring of all the products and it's the Nivea Invisible Deodorant. I use this for my nights out as there's nothing than putting on your little black dress after applying deodorant and getting white streaks on it. This is an old favourite of mine and will always be a night out essential.

So there we have my haul from Boots. I know it's not the most exciting haul but I thought that I would share it nonetheless. What have you been buying recently?

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Victoria's Secret Moonlight Dream Body Lotion

Last year, I fell in love with Victoria's Secret. After visiting their store in Westfield in Stratford, I knew it was going to be dangerous on my purse. I just love the body products and their body sprays are a guilty little pleasure of mine, so this week when I was in the Trafford Centre and I saw the 75% off sign, I did rejoice a little. A couple of products and bags later, I was leaving with my new items and a big smile on my face. One of those items, was the Moonlight Dream Body Moisturiser. 

First things first the fragrance. It is absolutely stunning. I had high expectations after using the body mists and being blown away by their quality, but this did not disappoint. It has a soft floral fragrance from the inclusion of the aquatic orchid, but with a sweeter edge from the honeysuckle. Growing up my mum and dad used to have a really large honeysuckle in the garden and this just throws me right back to being a child. It's not as strong as the body mists which I would say is a good thing as heavily fragranced lotions are a no no for me, but this is just the right amount. 

The lotion itself is a soft silky texture that provides a lovely soft surface to the skin. It's not a thick as other ones that I've tried, but it does a wonderful job of keeping the skin nice and soft. It also has a very slight shimmer to it which is more illuminating on the skin rather than glittery/shimmery, which really does look lovely. I tend to apply this in the morning and use a thicker one a night, but so far it definitely is love and I'm pretty sure I will be buying more to go with the two that I have already purchased.

What is your favourite body product?

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Botanics Ionic Clay Face Mask

Since getting back from my holidays, my already oily skin has been turning into a mega oil slick. I knew it was time for some new face products, so off I popped into Boots and made a beeline for the Botanics range.

I picked up this face mask as it claims to get rid of excess oil and dirt in the skin. I dropped this straight in my basket and headed home ready to try it out. I initially thought that this was going to be quite a thick mask,

which it is, but I do have a little word of warning. As it stands cap down on the shelves, a lot of the liquid in this mask migrates to the bottom of the tube. This means that when you first apply it, it goes everywhere and looks like you've had a mud fight. This is easily resolved by giving it a good shake before you apply it, so that all the ingredients get mixed up again. To be safe though, it's probably best to apply it over the bathroom sink!

On application, this feels lovely and smooth, and spreads out really evenly across the face. Apply in the regular areas on your face, avoiding eyes, and look your absolute sexiest. It really did transform me into something like the creature from the lagoon. At first it is a deep grey/green shade but it dries to an almost sea foam shade. However, it looks as though there are little wet spots all over the skin. This is the mask extracting all of the excess oil and dirt from your skin, so it does look pretty gross but it feels amazing. After washing this off, my skin did look a little red for a while but that soon went down and I could see the benefits instantly. My makeup also applied better as my pores were reduce and my skin less oily. I also noticed that throughout the day my skin was less shiny and I didn't need to top up my powder as much. Result! 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to everyone who has oily skin as it really is a miracle worker! This is available from Boots and Boots.com

Have you tried this? What is your fave face mask? 

L'Oreal Micellar Water

I'm pretty sure everyone and their mum has heard of or tried Bioderma. When I finally got my hands on some, I declared love and vowed to never use any other micellar water. However, with Bioderma not being a readily available in the UK as we would like, it becomes impossible to not use anything else. I've seen this product mentioned on a few blogs, so when I saw it on offer in Superdrug I thought I would give it a go.

I had high expectations for this due to my love for Bioderma, but I have been left really underwhelmed. I think part of my high expectations came from the brand name too as I've never had a bad product from L'Oreal. I've found that when using this, you need to really use quite a bit as it dries up on the cotton pad so quickly. I've also noticed that when applying this product to the cotton pad there's quite a lot of waste as some of it drips down the side of the bottle due to its square shape. Not cool. 

The first time I applied this, my skin felt lovely and smooth and almost all traces of makeup was gone (I did struggle to remove my mascara and liner with this), and I did notice the toner doing some work. However, after using this a little more, I have broken out so bad! This is the only thing that I have changed in my skin care so I know that it is this that has caused it. This is what has disappointed me the most.

I was expecting really great things from this and to be honest, I've been left feeling less than pleased. 

Have you tried this? What did you think of it?

*I'm looking for some lovelies to guest post for me whilst I'm away next month. If you're interested, email me at retrolove17@hotmail.co.uk*

Boots Botanics Microdermabrasion Polish

I'm constantly on the lookout for something new for my skin. As a teenager, I really neglected my skin and probably committed some beauty sins in the process. Since becoming a beauty blogger, I have made a concious effort to take more care of my skin. The latest product that I've been swearing by is Botanics Microdermabrasion Polish.

The texture of this facial polish is really strange but I kinda like it. It's a thick, grey cream with sand like granules in which scrub away at the skin on your face. I've found that despite this being extremely thick, it actually applies like a dream and works into the skin really well with very little effort. The rough, sand like feature does tend to feel a little uncomfortable but once you have got used to it, it actually feels quite nice. I like to use this twice a week after my daily cleansing routine and the results are nothing short of amazing. You can literally see the results as soon as you start washing this away. 

This brightens and evens out the skin tone. I have noticed the biggest difference on my cheeks, where I have a very uneven skin tone, and on my under eye circles, which have definitely reduced. My skin has looked more even, felt smoother and generally had a better appearance. 

I would definitely recommend this to all of those who suffer from an uneven skin tone, or just generally want to improve the appearance of their skin. This is available from Boots within their Botanics range for £5.33 (usually £7.99).

What's your favourite Skincare product?

Boots Botanics Cleansing Face Wipes

I'm sure we all know how important it is to take our makeup off at the end of the day. I'm going to hold my hands up and say that n more than one occasion, I've woken up in the morning with a couple of panda eyes. It happens to the best of us, but now that I've set myself an extensive cleansing routine, morning panda eyes are a thing of the past.

Obviously, I have my cleansing products which include the staples like Bioderma and Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, but these little miracle wipes are a lovely little edition which makes removing my makeup just that bit easier. I've been using these after my regular cleanser at the end of the day and then splashing my face with cold water, and they have been working a treat.

The first thing that I noticed about these was that they are more of a cloth than your typical face wipe. Being slightly thicker makes them more durable, whilst still being incredibly gentle on the skin. These remove any left over little bits of makeup that my cleanser didn't get and just overall refreshing my face. I've also noticed that my skin is much clearer and brighter since using these. They are perfect for just putting in my handbag and for everyday use. 

I will most definitely be purchasing these again and recommend them to everyone who is looking for clearer, brighter skin. 

These are available from Boots, although I can't remember the price and Boots website is down at the moment but I will update this post as soon as it is up and running again.

*Don't forget that there is still time to enter my giveaway here :)*

Seventeen On The Spot Foundation

Hi, my names Katie and I'm a foundation hoarder. Seriously, I needed another foundation like a hole in the head. I just can't help myself. Today's offering is the lastest foundation from Seventeen, a brand that most are aware of, and it has some pretty big claims!

The On The Spot Foundation claims to give clearer skin in just 4 weeks. The idea of this confused me. As a child, my Grandma always used to say don't wear too much makeup because it will ruin my skin. As always she was right. So how can it be that wearing makeup can actually clear your skin of blemishes?! Well this particular foundation contains Salicylic Acid, which is a common ingredient in many products which help in clearing problem skin.

When applying this foundation it was soon clear that you have to work extremely quickly to get an even finish. I found that you have to apply this in small areas at first rather that dotting about your face, and working with a buffing brush helped with the quick application. As for it's claims to be full coverage, I thought it was a little short of "full". It's definitely buildable but not full coverage. It does cover blemishes and dark circles but I still had to apply a little concealer for them to be fully covered. It sits well on the face, given a satin finish. However, leaving the house without a powder would be a big mistake. I do have oily skin, but I had to powder after 2 hours of wearing this. 

As for clearing my skin, I have seen some improvement but only with tiny blemishes. If you suffer from anything more than the odd pimple, I don't think this would be of any benefit but it is always worth a try.

Overall, I do like this but I'm not in love with it. With that being said, it is a drugstore/highstreet foundation and when you take that into consideration, I think it's a good product. For £6.99 you really can't grumble. I would also, definitely suggest going into store and finding a shade rather than shopping online, as the shade range is very limited.

Have you tried this foundation? What is your favourite drug store foundation?

Giving my skin a break

After the busy few months that we have all had with Christmas New Year and getting back to normality it can be havoc on your skin. I for one have noticed a difference in my skin and no matter how much I increase my skin care routine, nothing seems to be working.

I've had breakout after breakout, pimple after pimple and discolouration like no-ones business. I've tried new foundations, concealers, powders, moisturisers, you name it and I've tried it! I had a rather long night out last night, and whilst my base on my face was fine, I couldn't help but feel that it could have looked better. When I took my makeup off, I was a little horrified about the way my skin looked. So I've come up with a plan....

I've decided to not wear foundation for one month. No matter how bad my skin looks and no matter how much I want to cover blemishes up, I will not use foundation.

The only thing that I am planning on using is my regular moisturiser and a little bit of concealer on my blemishes and under eye circles. I've been wearing this combination for a few days now and have come to really like it. I have noticed a difference in my skin so I will report back after 1 month and let you know how I've got on.

Fingers Crossed it will help :)



The Best of 2012

2013 is just around the corner and I'm sure every beauty blogger is getting really excited about what new beauty products we will be lusting over for the next 12 months. This year has been an amazing year for everything beauty related, with some amazing products hitting the shelves, and some even better collections being launched. 

There have been many, many products that I have loved this year, some of them were not launched this year but they have been my favourites. so without further ado, here are my favourites of 2012... (Click on each product name to find out more)

Best Foundation:

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation. Full coverage, perfect match, long lasting. What more could you want in a foundation? I've gone through so many tubes of this, and it goes perfectly with the Mineralize Skinfinishes.

Best Lip Product:

This was a really hard category for me because I love lip products. My favourite has to be the Revlon Lip Butters. They're pigmented, creamy and moisturising, perfect for everyday wear. There is a great range of shades which can carry you all through the year.

Best Eyeliner:

Rimmel Glam Eyes liquid liner. I bought this on the way to a friends as I had forgotten my usual one. How pleased am I that this came into my life? Extremely long lasting, super pigmented, and the brush is amazing!

Best Eyelashes:

I love falsies and have so many The ones that Are my favourites are Eylure Hed Kandi: Twisted Disco lashes. They're lovely and full without looking too over the top. Perfect for a smokey eye.

Best Mascara: 

This year I've loved Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara mascara. I've tried tons of mascaras this year but this is the only one that has done what I wanted it too. Thickening, Lengthening, non-drying, just all round beautiful.

Best Eyeshadows:

There was no doubt about this one. It has to be the Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. I've used this everyday since purchase, and although it has seen better days (it's definitely well loved), it's still a staple in my everyday makeup.

Best Hair Products:

I couldn't decide between my Aussie colour protect serum, or the Aussie Heat protection spray so I'm awarding this to Aussie in General as I have so many of their products. My thick, unruly hair takes some serious taming, and Aussie products do this so well.

Best Bath Product:

My bath time would not be complete without a lather of Calm One Calm All from Soap and Glory. I love how soft and luxurious this feels, and how lovely my skin feels after a long soak with this. Oh and it smells divine!

Best Moisturiser:

This has to be Palmer's Cocoa Butter. The smell, the feel, the texture, everything. I have so much love for this product, I've used it all year round, gone through so many bottles but will always return to this. 

So 2012 has been a great year for beauty and all such related products. I just hope 2013 is just as good,but I'm sure it will be just as fabulous. What have been your favourite products?

Superdrug Hot Cloth Cleanser

I have to say that I had my reservations about trying this, surely it wouldn't live up to the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish? But I do have to say that I really like it.

I was starting to run out my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish so needed something that could replace it until I had a chance to get a new one. As I was in superdrugs, I had a look at their new vitamin E range and was really impressed with the variety of products and the reasonable prices. So this product was placed in my basket ready to take home with me.

First thing I noticed was how big the tube was, so it is real value for money. But the muslin cloth is really really nice quality. Obviously not on par with the Liz Earle ones, but for the price I paid, I really could not moan.

The actual cleanser is rather thick, smells divine and is gentle on skin. What more could you want? It removed my make up effortlessly, and made my skin look brighter. I've been using this for about a week now alongside my regular skin care routine and my skin looks great. Whilst the cleanser is great product for those on a budget, it doesnt match up to the Liz Earle version that is famous on the bloggersphere. 

I would repurchase this, and would probably use it for travel or like in this instance if I had run out of my favourite.

Have you tried this hot cloth cleanser? 

How much is your face worth? Part 1

I've finally taken the plunge and completed the "How much is your face worth?" tag. I have to be honest and say that I was quite nervous about doing this post because I hate it to seem like I'm bragging or being big headed about what sort of make up I use. However, these posts seem to be really popular amongst the blogging community at the moment, so I thought what the heck!

After doing this post, I have decided that I'm going to do a 'Part 2' of this post, but with a budget. I haven't set this budget. So, there will be a contrast between this post where I didn't care about the cost of the products and just used what I wanted, and the next post where I have set myself a strict budget. 

I hope that this comes in useful for people who own both High-end and High-street makeup items. So, exactly how much is my face worth?

Products used and prices:

Witch Anti Blemish Primer £6.99

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation NW20 £24.00

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NW20 £14.50

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Medium £21.00

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Lightyear (Heavenly Creatures) £21.00

MAC Blusher Fleur Power £17.50

MAC Paintpot Soft Ochre £14.50

MUA Undressed Palette £4.00

MAC Fluidline Dark Diversion (Styleseekers) £14.00

MAC Kohl Teddy £14.00

MUA Brow Pencil £1.00

Rimmel Day to Night Mascara £5.99

Eylure Lashes £5.45

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub £5.25

MAC Lipstick Creme Cup £14.00

Total: £270.67

Wowzas! That's quite alot! I would be quite interested to know how much it would come to if I included brushes and skincare, it would be a hell of a lot more. Although this is high amount to spend on makeup, I didn't buy it all at once and obviously it doesn't cost this much every time I use it. I don't regret buying any of these products because the quality is great, I like the way they work for me, and they last a long time. But looking a the overall price like that is a little bit scary!! 

I am looking forward to the budget version of this post, now that I've completed this one.

 Sorry for the dodgy face picture :| But this was the look that came from using all of the products above.

Have you done this tag? Send me the links if you have I would love to see them :)