L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection Micellar Water

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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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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.

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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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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LUSH Ultrabland Facial Cleanser - £6.75 (45g)

Ultrabland is a cleanser like I've never experienced before.  I'd heard it mentioned from time to time on the internet - to mixed reviews, but I didn't pay much attention until I was browsing a LUSH store a few weeks ago.  I was impressed when the sales assistant told me that it was one of the best selling cleansers and that the LUSH founders swear by it.  I even had a little in store demonstration that left the skin on the back of my hand feeling extra soft.

With an impressive list of natural ingredients, such as almond oil, beeswax, honey and rose water, Ultrabland is meant to be great for all skin types, even very sensitive skin, without causing any irritation or reaction.  It is even said to work to bring problem skin back to balance.

First impressions when I was throwing Ultrabland all over my face was the smell, it's not great.  It's not too strong that it's completely off-putting, but it's seriously not nice - you can really smell the bees wax!  The beeswax and almond oil create a very thick, and very strange waxy-oily cream, which I smooth all over my face at night.  The more you rub it in the more greasy the product becomes on the skin, but it's at this stage that I seem to feel the honey does it's job at soothing and moisturising.  Ultrabland is gentle enough to rub over your eyes, and does a really good job at removing eye makeup.

Now the most controversial aspect of the product seems to be in it's removal, I think this may be where it gets a few complaints.  Instructions tell you to 'lift away with a damp cotton pad', I'm telling you it's not all as easy as all that!  The waxy residue left on the skin takes absolutely ages to remove with cotton pads, the first time I used the product I literally felt like I was stood at the sink all night and not getting anywhere, so I ended up lifting the remainder off with MAC Cleanse Off Oil!

Now I use a muslin cloth to remove the cleanser, which works a lot better, but this still leaves a slight residue on the skin - which I find ok on a night.  My skin is left feeling really soft, comfortable, soothed and very clean!  I can't imagine using this product an a morning, my skin can be oily enough as it is through the day without the extra 'treatment' that I feel Ultrabland gives, but also because I often just don't have the time before work!

Have you tried LUSH's Ultrabland?  Let me know what you think of this or any other their cleansers!

Soap & Glory Wish Upon A Jar - £15 (Boots)

I struggle to find anyone that doesn't have a soft spot for Soap & Glory, quirky packaging (do I need to mention this mirrored sphere!?) with oh so witty product names, great prices but also actually quality and really great smelling products.  Wish Upon a Jar as a product name actually has started to annoy me ever slightly, it gets sillier and all the more childish the more I say it, but could never change how I feel about the moisturiser.  Which is that it's great!

A 21 day treatment marketed as a collagen overhaul cream, Wish Upon a Jar contains a potent mix (Soap & Glory's words) of shea butter, tetrapeptides (amino acid), antioxidants and oxygen boosters and claims to boost moisture levels, smooth lines and wrinkles, brighten tired skin and hide flaws.  Recommended for use twice a day, for 21 days straight, I didn't exactly count how long I used this cream for, but I'm currently in the 'break' stage - Soap & Glory also recommend a three month gap, which seems a bit excessive to me, I think I'll be back to using it on a regular basis again soon!

I use this on after my serum, and savour the fab smell, which reminds me of chocolate orange!  Quite a thick cream, it feels really rich on my skin, it takes a while to soak in, but when it does it leaves my skin feeling really soft and really moisturised.  If you're worried about oil, its not the best, I do get quite oily in the afternoon when using Wish Upon A Jar.  For me this is totally worth it, and nothing that a bit of powder can't fix, because after only around two weeks I did notice my lines were a lot less visible and over all my skin looked brighter and smoother... what we want, eh?

Let me know if you've tried Wish Upon A Jar.  What did you think?

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - £20 (100ml)

I received this cute little sample when I placed an order on the Origins website, and despite me originally wanting to try a couple of different Origins products, it was the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask that stole the show - and so I thought I'd give this little sample a review all of it's own!

With having dehydrated skin I was very excited to see Origins were sending me this little gift!  I use this product around three times a week, exactly as you would expect - overnight.  Used as a last step to the night time routine, the product itself is like a super thick moisturiser, with almost a melted balm type of feel to it.  I find that because the mask is so rich, only a small dollop is needed to cover my face and neck (though I ignore the instruction to 'tissue off').  I love that you instantly feel a calming effect, any - even mild - stripping action that my cleanser may have had is straight away remedied with this mask.

The replenishing effect on depleted moisture reserves is only the start though, the Japanese seaweed contained within (don't worry, Drink Up smells lovely!) is also meant to be great for building moisture reserves and preventing further dehydration.  I wake up glowing, with my skin feeling incredibly soft and hydrated.  My skin does still get a little oily towards the end of day (my oiliness seems to stem from my skin trying to overcompensate from dehydration), but the main benefit for me is that my skin feels a lot more comfortable after using the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, whereas it's recently been feeling tight and dry.

I better get onto buying the full size product now or I'll more than upset when my sample runs out!

Elemis Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash - £9.99 (100ml - Superdrug)

I received this sample in a beauty box (glossybox I think) and was very excited to try it, Elemis is such a reliably nice brand.  I think it great that this classic British brand released the Fresh Skin range aimed a teenagers to twenty-somethings.  Containing cherry powder and jojoba beads, with the aim to gently polish and refine skin.  I keep this product in the shower and use it every other day to give my skin that good scrub it needs every once in a while.  A small amount of product goes a long way and although the exfoliating particles contained within are quite sparse, they're very effective and gentle enough to use on a regular basis.

My favourite thing about this product however is the fact that it leave my skin so silky soft, the Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash is just like a conditioner for you face!  The exfoliating beads are suspended within a mixture of mandarin, which smells amazing, and aniseed.  Elemis says this combo will leave your skin brighter and more radiant, they were definitely right!

You can pick up most of the Fresh Skin range in Superdrug, and I'll definitely be picking up the full size of this product!

Caudalê Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum - £26.10 (feelunique.com)

I was first introduced to this lovely little product through a Glossybox (see the original post here) and as soon as my little sample ran out I was desperate to get my hands on the full size thing.  I ended up waiting quite a few months to try it again - because of the price tag I actually kept but off buying it.  The wait however, was over when I received it for Christmas from my boyfriend's parents (who live in France).  I was so happy to be able to try it again!

I use this light weight serum at least every morning, and often on an evening - depending on whether I'm using a more specialised face mask at night.  Firstly I love the smell, which is really fresh and clean, it makes for a lovely start to the day!  The serum itself is quite runny, and I find that only one pump is required to cover my whole face when used after cleansing and before my main moisturiser.

Instantly my skin feels soaked in moisture, first impressions really are 'thirst quenching'.  The main ingredient of grape water is said to be high in vitamins and moisturising properties, which other than stating the obvious - that it actually does rehydrate my skin, it also seems to calm my skin when it's feeling sensitive.  The other ingredient that may catch everyone's attention is Hyaluronic Acid.  Made famous recently by the Hydraluron Moisture Booster (read review here), Hyaluronic Acid is great for helping the skin absorb way more water than it normally could.  I actually often use the Hydraluron Moisture Booster before this serum, and though it's very gradual, I'm sure my skin is looking way more refined than usual!  I'm loving Caudalíe!