L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection Micellar Water

L'Oreal Paris Nude Magique Blur Cream

Over the last year or so I've been so much happy with my skin, however it's far from flawless and I think I'll always have that 'glow' enjoyed by us oily skinned girls (oh if only it was a glow!).  One product I love to use to help mask this pesky shine is the L'oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream.

Marketed as a balm, it doesn't necessarily have that consistency - this blur cream is effectively a primer.  I've never really bothered with primers, it's a step in my make-up routine that I either just forget or don't get on with, finding some primers either too slippery, or drying flakey.  I initially picked up the L'oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream while perusing Boots because I was drawn to the fact that it's a tinted product, and there was a colour choice!  I had hoped that this L'oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream could almost replace my foundation or tinted moisturiser...  Now lets get the negatives out of the way, the tint gives no coverage whatsoever.  But putting that to one side this is still a great product - whether you've just got a drugstore beauty budget or not.

The most effective part of the 'blur' claim for me is that it conceals pores and mattifies skin - and works!   Large pores are filled in, readying the skin for flawless make-up coverage, foundation definitely applies that bit easier too, I even use the L'oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream ever so lightly under the eye where an under eye concealer can sometimes be a little drying.  Most importantly for me though is that I'm so much more confident about shine control!  In all honest the shine control doesn't last all day, but the product is nice enough that I often just top up on my shinier cheeks and forehead throughout the day, and on top of my make-up too!

Have you tried the L'oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream?  What was your experience with it?

      

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Yes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes

Although I've been a little quiet on the old blogging front recently I still take to catch up with my favourite blog and YouTubers to keep up to date with the latest of beauty goodness.  When I spotted the Yes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes on offer in my local Waitrose I was instantly remained that Lily Pebbles had recently been raving about them, next they I know I've got a packet in my basket!

I know those with beauty know-how have very few good things to say I about them, but I don't have a problem using face wipes.  They are so convenient!  As long as they're not relied upon completely to take the day off day in and day out, using the odd face wipe is helluva lot better than not using anything at all - which when I'm feeling particularly tired, using a few face wipes is sometimes all that comes between me going to bed with or without my make-up on!

I feel like face wipes have come a long way in the last few years too, and the Yes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes are some of the best I've come across for under £5.  I love the bright and vibrant packaging, very fitting during the lovely summer months, and extra convenient and well thought out with a plastic snap close lid that seals in freshness.  The wipes themselves have a lovely fresh scent, owing to the grapefruit, which is very invigorating on those sleepy mornings!

With a combination of being incredible moist, and having a textured wipe that's designed for exfoliation, I feel like these wipes leave my skin seriously clean.  I still tend to follow up with a good old fashioned cleanse to remove all the make-up and grime from the day - as in reality you need to use 4+ wipes to get absolutely clean, plus there's nothing like splashing your face with water after a cleanse to feel well and truly refreshed and ready for toner / serum / moisturising!

The Yes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes are with me to stay - until something more exciting crosses my path!  Let me know what you think if you've tried them  Are face wipes just for festivals and travelling, or like me are they are a very regular part of the beauty routine?  Let me know in the comments below!

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Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Kabuki Brush

Real Technique make-up brushes have transformed how I use make-up, I've repurchased the Core Collection a number of times as it's such a great set for the basics - foundation, blusher, eye/ lip / brow detail.  I've got a fair few of the other Real Technique brushes, the Expert Face Brush and the Start Set I've already reviewed in this blog but I'm sure the others will all be popping up on here at some point - let me know in the comments below if you would like see more on my full collection.

RMK Cleansing Balm | £29 (lookfantastic.com)

It's been so long since I've posted a beauty review I've almost forgotten how to do it!  However, I've been thinking a lot recently about purchasing the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, but I'm struggling to part with that much cash!  To placate myself I decided to shop my stash... I am try to save money to do up my new house after all!  A cleansing balm that I found hidden away and, on (re)discovery, loved so much that I used it all up in a few short weeks is the RMK Cleansing Balm.  One of my all time favourite scents is rose, so this product was an absolute joy for me to use - with one of the main ingredients boasted in the product being damascus rose oil, perfect for repairing dry skin from irritation, inflammation and breakouts.  

My skin feels seriously hydrated and incredibly clean after every use.  The solid texture of this balm at first is a little unusual but it melts into what feels like a completely different product, almost oil like, which is so silky and light it clears all make-up without leaving any residue... just that gorgeous rose scent!  The product is effective enough to clear all make-up (to really clear heavy mascara a double cleanse is most effective) though gently enough to use around the eyes.  When I had the product on the go I would use the balm morning and night, directly onto dry skin, after massaging a good amount all over my face and neck I would use a damp hot cloth to gentle remove the product - often resting the hot cloth on my face before removing the product so I could enjoy the beautiful rose scent!

I was so happy with my skin when using the RMK Cleansing Balm, it felt glowy and relatively spot free.  The biggest bonus was that the balm didn't dry my skin out at all - the all time turn off with a cleanser!  I'd happily repurchase, but what do you guys think?  Have any of you tried both this and the Emma Hardie Cleansing balm, if so let me know which you'd recommend... I'm still tempted that most popular product right now!

I'm trying to be a bit more conscious of using up the contents of my beauty collection at the moment - living in my parent's spare bedroom means I don't have that much space to store any beauty newbies, and I suppose the more I use up now the less stuff I have to transport to the new house in two weeks!

Another staple product of mine, that I've used for years, is the Neutrogena Oil-Free Make-Up Remover.  I love this for taking off eye make-up quickly and easily.  A couple of swipes using a couple of cotton wool pads removes the majority of my make-up, prepping the skin for a final cleanse.  The Neutrogena Oil-Free Make-Up Remover also leaves my skin nicely moisturised if used as a final step.

St Tropez Self Tan is pretty standard.  I've not used any kind of fake tan in a while, but as the tan from my September trip to Malta has well and truly faded I thought I'd use up the last little bit up in this small bottle.  I love the colour that you get from using St Tropez but I do feel it dries out my skin more than I'd like.  The Soap & Glory Moisturising Mist nicely countered that though, and smells amazing!!

The YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum was an absolute pleasure to use,  I got this tiny sample in a Glossybox and totally forgot to use at the time.  Unfortunately it's just a tiny bit outside of my budget to purchase anytime soon!  Uniq One All in One Hair Treatment was another Glossybox sample, from a long time ago.  I absolutely loved this product, it was an a savour on days when my hair was seriously knotty after a shower!  I'd definitely repurchase this one.

The Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is one of my favourite budget BB creams.  Although I've found it doesn't blend too well with a brush, if you're happy to use your fingers this 8-in1 BB cream gives a lovely natural finish that covers imperfections and lasts a fairly decent amount of time - even on oily skin like mine!  I go through this stuff quite quickly but for the price (roughly £6 - £7 depending on where you get it from) it's not that big a deal.

Just a very quick post to let you know about a review of the No7 High Shine Lip Crayons that I have written on the Modern Girl's Guide.  If you don't know, I contribute from time to time to this fab little blog.  You should definitely check out the Modern Girl's Guide!  Some of my favourite bloggers Temporary:Secretary and Jazzpad are also regular contributors!

Click here to visit the review!

Clinque Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel - £13.50

I was dabbing a spot with my trusty tube of Clinque Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel the other day when it crossed my mind that I've never given it a full review, despite this being my third tube - which is quite good going as it lasts AGES!  My first tube was given to me as teenager after a recommendation from my auntie, and I'm so glad she gave it to me to try.

The clear gel can be used at any time of the day, but I feel more comfortable just using it at night, just incase it shows under make up.  All you have to do is dab a tiny amount on any offending spot and then sit back and allow it do it's job!  I get those evil, painful under the skin spots from time to time,  and the spot healing gel works wonders for me.  The morning after using it at night these spots are dramatically reduced, and they can be gone altogether in two or three days.  

Depending on the spot type, there can be a little stinging for a few seconds after application, and it can be a little drying on a skin not plagued by a spot, but it's been a life saver for me - I'll always use it!

Let me know if you've tried this or anything else that you rate just highly.

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I've been working hard for you guys lately, using up products to bring you reviews!  It's a hard life :)  Here is the latest bundle of products that I've managed to empty.

A lot of my recent empties have a bit of a hair theme.  First off, the Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance is one of those products that gets repurchased time and time again by me.  I don't know how I manage it but I manage to tie my hair in knots in the shower, this product os the best for detangling.  It smells great and leaves my hair in great condition.  The Avon Advance Techniques Dry Ends Serum is another product that I've been using regularly for years, around 15 years +!  It's mum that got me onto this little beauty, she swears by it.  This serum makes dry ends appear smoother, softer, conditioned and shinier.

The more disappointing hair products in the bunch were the Lush Retread and Phil Smith Dry Clean.  I didn't actually use up the Lush Retread, more like find it in the back of the cupboard when I was having a clear out!  I washed out the remainder of the tub as I really didn't get on with it.  You can read my full review here though.  Unfortunately I didn't get to try The Phil Smith Dry Shampoo all that much, I received this in a Joliebox (I think) and I must have received a faulty one.  I used it once or twice, and then came to use it one morning to find nozzle full of powder!  It must have malfunctioned, but anyway the can was empty so that was the end of that!  It was ok, not that memorable.  I'll stick to my Batiste I think.

I absolutely loved the Elemis Fresh Skin Exfoliating Face Wash, I've not yet repurchased a full size after finishing this sample - I've just had so many other face washes to finish up first.  You can ready my original review here.  The Dead Sea Spa Magik Cleansing Facial Wash is one of those cleansers I've been using.  It really leaves you feeling squeaky clean - though it did sting my eyes a bit if I got a bit in there by accident.

I was handed the Rituals T'ai Chi Foaming Shower Gel sample as I was walking by the store.  The White Lotus and Green Tea smell is so fresh and stunning, it was a real luxurious experiencing using this shower gel.  The gel itself is rich, thick and creamy - a joy!  Another joy to use was the This Works: Perfect Hands.  I got this purely for the smell - rose is the main scent and it's my favourite.  The cream is non-greasy and only leaves my hands super soft, it also evens out out coloration - red patches faded quicker, I imagine it being great for older skin as it's aimed at reducing the appearance of dark spots.

Have you tried any of these products?  Let me know your thoughts!

Inhibitif Advanced Hair Free Serum - £29.99 (Boots.co.uk)

Walk into any Boots at the moment and you'll be confronted with the latest wonder product claiming to be a solution to that most hated chore, hair removal.  I was instantly drawn in.  Hair removal is a big issue for me, I've touched upon the subject before, in one of my most popular posts on this blog - My Guide to Epilating.  Shaving is more than a pain for most people, but I get regrowth pretty straight away - no exaggeration.  My legs are so sensitive, coming out in painful and unattractive rashes from the use of hair removal creams, waxing and even shaving.  Epilating seemed to the best budget option for me ( though I'd love to be able to afford laser treatment), and it still is, but it's a lot of work trying to avoid the ingrown hairs, and once you get out of the routine it takes a lot of courage to get back into it - it can be bloody painful the first couple of goes!

At £29.99 Inhibitif is quite an investment, but it's more than worth it if does all it claims.  The serum works to target the hair follicle, to slow down growth as well as minimising the density and thickness of the hair itself.  Sounds great, but it's quite a commitment.  You need to use the serum twice a day for 8 weeks, applying it to shaved or waxed body areas.  I'm guessing that I'll have to shave or epilate every day or two, which I'm kind of dreading, fearing a shaving rash.  However it seems that Inhibitif is also meant to be great for minimising ingrown hairs and skin irritation, so hopefully that solves a problem in itself!

I don't have any results to report yet, I've only be using Inhibitif for two days, but I'm very excited about this product.  My only observations so far are that it's smells ok - a strange mix of some kind of clean, fresh minty smell and... TCP! Very strange, but ok.  It also leaves the skin super soft, maybe a little tingly at first, but nothing uncomfortable.  I've got very high hopes of Inhibitif saving my summer!!

Prior to setting out on my travels to India I did a bit of research to discover what would be best to pack in my travel make up bag.  Lisa Eldridge's Long Haul Flight Beauty Regime video was an absolute god-send for pointing me in the right direction, even though I didn't use the same products as Lisa, my basic routine was pretty much lifted straight from hers.

I was lucky enough to spend the 10+ hours from Manchester airport to Mumbai, and back again, in business class - hello lots of space and fully reclinable chair (I was one of those annoying people who spends the first 10 mins on board pressing every single button around me to discover what it does)!  On the way out to India I was the only the female in the whole of business class, to say I got a couple of looks when going through my whole routine was an understatement, not that I cared.  It's not worth getting dehydrated and spotty just to avoid a few stares now is it?  And as Lisa Eldridge says, you might as well use the time for a little pampering!

First a note on the bag, I've been using this clear travel make up bag from Boots for over a year now for flying.  It's the perfect size for passing through airport security, whilst also being more convenient than the disposable clear baggies and big enough to fit all the bits and bobs that I insist on travelling with!  I don't like to wear a lot of make-up while travelling, there is something about long journeys that makes me feel horrid, so before setting off to the airport I just put the basics of concealer, blusher and eyebrow pencil on - to make me look alive!  This means that once settled in my seat it was easy to use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic on a few cotton pads to remove the small amount of make-up.

The main thing I want to avoid from a long haul flight is dehydration from the recirculated air.  The Hydraluron Moisture Booster is the first layer I apply to help absorb the goodness from the products I follow up with.  Lisa Eldridge stresses using a good hydrating mask for the duration of the flight,  I went for my favourite Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, slathering a thick layer on all over my face.  I then sit back and relax with two soaked cotton wool pads covered in the Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Lotion over my eyes, with an eye mask over the top to keep them place.  This cools and hydrates, and after a bit of relaxation can be used to clean off any product from the area.

Throughout the long flight I will periodically brush my teeth, apply the lovely Crabtree & Evelyn hand cream and invigorating Jason lip balm.  If I'm a bit spotty I'll apply Clinique Acne Solution, and on any particularly patches of dry skin or cracked cuticles I'll apply Yu-Be balm (a bit like the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream). I always pack the Naturaleve Nourishing Therapy Oil, not only is it great for hydrating skin, but if I'm struggling to sleep the rosehip, lavender and chamomile make it great for relaxation.

When getting ready to land I'll give my face a quick wipe over with the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic, to remove the layers and layers of products applied.  I then start prepping to make myself look a little more presentable for the outside world.  The Avène Skin Recovery Cream is a great moisturiser to continue on with the intense hydration needed after a flight, and the Origins Ginzing Eye Cream is perfect for brightening up the under eye area.   A quick slick of make-up is all I need for the transfer to my hotel, so I just apply concealer to wherever I need it as well as some blusher and a  bit of an eyebrow pencil fill in my non existent brows and give some colour back to my face.  Of course perfume always comes in handy for a quick freshen up too!

I'm so happy with this routine and leave the plane feeling clean and refreshed each time, I'll definitely be continuing this for years to come.

How does this compare to your routine?  Let me know if you have any travel tips, especially for flying.

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Benefit Fake Up (L-R) Deep, Medium, Light* - £18.50

I've been meaning to put this post up for a while mainly because, and I'm going start with this, I absolutely love Fake Up and I've been wanted to rave about it for some time - it's just so hard to find the time!

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend an event in Leeds held by the lovely Lisa Potter-Dixon and the Benefit PR team, to celebrate the launch of Fake Up, the new hydrating concealer that is also crease controlling.  I have to say that even though I've been desperate to find a truly hydrating under eye concealer for some time, I was slightly sceptical about the idea of encasing a concealer with a hydrating balm.  I was still sceptical despite the Benefit girls' contagious enthusiasm for the product!

So, the light defusing concealer is encased by hydrating ring containing apple seed extract (not sure what properties that is supposed to have) and vitamin E - which we all know has anti ageing properties that are great for the skin!  My first thoughts were, after falling in love with the pretty packaging, that's a lot of balm and it has that cheap lipstick smell to it.  When I swatched it on my hand at the event I  was also concerned that it seemed quite thick for an under-eye concealer.

It does feel different to other concealers aimed at under eyes, but it's definitely not heavy.  It blends in really nicely, leaving a brightened dewy finish to the skin.  Benefit claim that this is a crease-control concealer, and I have to 100% agree!  It's not exactly crease less, I have one crease under my eyes that it sometimes sits in, but that's all.  I've not once had to worry about this concealer like I used to with Bo-ing.  The best thing about Fake Up however is that it actually moisturises the area, and keeps it moisturised all day!  I've actually noticed more of a change to my under eye area from using Fake Up for a few weeks than I have with most eye creams.  My under eye is softer, smoother may even have fewer fine lines!

Benefit's Fake Up comes in three different shades, Light, Medium and Deep.  We were given all three shades to take away to try.  I currently find myself in between Light and Medium, the two blended together work great.  I'm not convinced Deep would suit all darker skin tones, but hopefully blended in it would look good.  Lisa Potter Dixon gave the tip of using the Deep as a contour on lighter skin, which I think is a great idea if you've got a dry skin, but I don't know if the balm will work well on my already oily skin.

Benefit Fake Up is released this weekend in the UK, so seriously go check it out!