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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Models Own HyperGel Polish - White Light  |  Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation  |  Melvita L'Or Bio Extraordinary Oil*  |  L'Orèal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Fresh Feel Gel  |  Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish - Mary Mary Quite Contrary  |  Caudalíe Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum

I decided to write this post on a beautiful sunny day, it was a few days later when I actually got round to posting it and oh how things have changed... is it raining everywhere else like it is in Leeds?!  Hey ho, summer will be back with us soon, right?

Since the weather's been getting warmer I've felt more and more inclined to get my tan on.  I've not actually used fake in tan in a long time so was a little unsure of what to try first.  Having borrowed my mum's bottle of of the L'Orèal Paris Fresh Feel Gel before a wedding we recently attended, I was more than happy to go out and pick my one of my own.  This is really a Fresh Feel product, not something that you often find with fake tans, the light gel goes on incredibly easily and gives a decent bronzed look without too much 'biscuit smell' or orange side effects.  

I've had the Melvita L'Or Bio Extraordinary Oil for nearly a year, I use it all the time and still have nearly half the bottle left!  This dry oil can be used on the face, hair and body but I only ever use it on my body.  I can't get on with body butters on a regular basis, they are too heavy for everyday use in my opinion - I just don't have the time to wait for them to dry!  Melvita's Extraordinary oil leave my skin nicely moisturised without being remotely sticky or greasy. The best thing about the oil is that it smells amazing, just like the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse... basically, holidays and summer!

I'm so in love with the Caudalíe Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, I'm never without a bottle!  It truly feels like a gulp of water or an injection of some seriously oxygenated moisture onto your skin, perfect on those warmer mornings.  I wish the feeling would last all day, but it definitely continues to work wonder for my skin, aided by the contents of hyaluronic acid for some serious moisture absorption.

I've never been a fan of heavy foundation, non that I've tried have ever sat very well on my skin - especially when the sun is out.  The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation however is light enough for me to feel comfortable, and has just enough coverage that those pesky spots and imperfections are muted.  The serum consistency gives that healthy dewy finish that I fell like I've been striving for for such a long time, but that up until now has always fallen short with other high street foundations - that instead just look that little bit oily!

Finally light coloured nail polishes are a definite essential for me in summertime!  Two of my favourites at the moment are Models Own HyperGel in White Light and Rimmel London's Mary Mary Quite Contrary.  Both apply really nicely, and look nicely summery, they'll be even better if I ever get a tan!  The Models Own Hyper Gel doesn't have the longevity you'd expect from such a well known brand, it can chip within the day for me.  A good top coat goes a way to fix that though, nothing will stop loving a whit nail polish at the moment!

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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!

A few weeks ago I popped over to Manchester with my friend Louise.  British Gas, along with Lastminute.com, had challenged me to use their new Remote Heating Control* to see how I get on with the device after a day out.  The day out I found myself attending was a scrumptious day of chocolate making* with the My Chocolate team.  I'm a massive chocolate fan, and so is Louise, so this was very exciting!

We spent the day getting very messy (despite the sexy plastic apron!) tasting a wide range of chocolate and making lots and lots of chocolate treats.  It was a lot of fun decorating giant chocolate buttons - it's harder than it looks to make a round chocolate button!  My favourite part of the day was making the truffles, I actually feel like I've gained a skill!  I was amazed with how professional they looked once they'd been decorated with a bit of coconut and pink chocolate sprinkles!

At the end of the workshop we had a wonder round the shops in Manchester and also stopped at Tampopo for some lunch.  Now if you know Manchester you'll know it can rain A LOT.  It rained a lot when we were there.  It was absolutely freezing and by the time we made it back to the train station to head home we were pretty much soaked!  With  an hours train journey from Manchester to Leeds it was the perfect time to set my heating to 'on' via the Remote Heating Control App.  I was very grateful to return to lovely toasty house!

To say I've come to rely on this nifty little app is an understatement.  Unfortunately with the weather in the UK being like it has been during these so called 'spring' months, we've had to have the heating on a little more than we'd like.  Not only has it been great to be able to set the heating on just before you get home, or turn it off if you decide stay out and away from home a little bit later than planned, if you're like me this app is perfect if you're too lazy to get out from under a blanket to turn up the heating.  It can all me done from your phone!

Check out the British Gas website if you're interested in trying out the Remote Heating Control yourself!

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!

I've got a bit of a different post for you today.  We all know how absolutely freezing this UK winter has been, and even though we're officially in spring the temperatures still haven't been that great.  Well, I've been challenged by British Gas to try out their new Remote Heating Control to see how it could work for me.  I'm going to be sent on some fun lastminute.com activities and experiences so that I can really test out the Remote Heating Control.  I'm really excited about this as it's going to mean some great 'day out' posts, which I'll of course share with you all.  I may even get to final have absolute control over my central heating!  So keep an eye out for posts over the next few weeks.

The Remote Heating Control allows you to quickly and easily control your central heating at anytime from any location, all via a smart little app!  The installation took a little over an hour, and once set up you can instantly set up an online heating schedule.  This allows you to set the timings and temperature of your central heating, but the great thing about the app is that if you're out of the house, you don't have to stick to the schedule you've set if your plan changes!  If you have to stay late at the office - like I often have to - or you plan to pop for some last minute post-shopping trip drinks, you can set your central heating to come on that little bit later... saving you money on that bill!  I sometimes use the app to simple check up on the temperature of things at home!

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!

Benefit's Hello Flawless SPF 15 Custom Powder (Champagne)* - £24.50