June favourites

I've been quite absent from my blog over the last few months, but that doesn't mean I haven't been buying copious amounts of new products to try! June has felt very busy, and this combined with the unpredictable weather (sunny one minute, downpours the next) has meant my make up has needed to be simple and guranteed to stay in place. After all, rain lines in your foundation is definitely not a good look.

I'm going to start with one product I've been trialing for a little while now, which has quickly become a staple in my morning routine. Origins Never a dull moment face cleanser is a product highly regarded and raved about by various blogs I follow and I decided to take the plunge and try it out. It promises to brighten skin whilst leaving skin feeling sleek, and it definitely delivers in both these areas. As an individual who suffers with relatively bad skin, which can flare up overnight, I have been really impressed with the effect this product has had. Not only has it helped my skin to stay clear (or at least clearer than usual!) it's also prevented it becoming as oily during the day. I'm always on the lookout for products that promise to brighten my complexion and using this cleanser in the morning gives me a very noticeable morning glow. I also love the texture of this face cleanser, as it's very thick and really feels as though it's doing a thorough job to clear away any impurities. Unfortunately the only thing I dislike about this is the smell. Personally I find it more overpowering than refreshing, but it's easy to live with the pong once you start to feel and see the effects of this fantastic product.

As well as shaking up my morning routine, I have also been testing out some new night creams. As I leave my early 20's and enter into my mid 20's (24 is fast approaching...) I find myself becoming increasingly paranoid about getting wrinkles. Because of this I've been trying to be strict with my moisturising routine, and despite my tiredness I try to moisturise every evening. Through my search for a good overnight cream I have stumbled across a little gem from Superdrug, Vitamin E nourishing night cream. This little cracker is not only ridiculously good value for money, It also smells delicious and makes my skin feel extremely soft. It promises to nourish and moustrise skin, helping you to look beautiful as soon as you wake up. This is perfect for anyone who suffers with dry patches on their skin as it has a very thick texture, and it provides moisture without feeling greasy.

In keeping with the recent effort I've been making with my skincare routine this month I have also been trying to put a minimal amount of make up on my face. I try to maintain a very natural face during the week and use very light coverage. In my attempt to put less on my face I have been mixing my own concoctions by using Beautiful movements Prime and create. This primer acts as a mixing medium which can be combined with powders or liquids in order to create a good make up base. I absolutely love this product and have been using it with a range of CC creams and foundations. It mixes flawlessly with a range of liquids and provides a beautiful finish. It also means there's only one layer, saving time on application!

Alongside this I have been using a Benefit classic, Some kind-a gorgeous liquid compact. This is described as a 'foundation faker' and can be used as an all over base, or as I prefer a quick fix for awkward blemishes. This is an old favourite that crops up every now and again and I cannot fault it. It does exactly as it says on the tin - provides a very swift cover without making you look oily or blotchy. I carry this around in my daily make up bag so it's always on hand for a quick cover up!

My last June favourite is a blusher (surprise surprise!) which was a complete impulse buy but has since become my everyday staple. The MUA Mosaic blush  is my first purchase from the Makeup Academy and I've been really impressed with the results it has delivered. The compact is Shade 3, a collage of browns, pinks and lilacs, which is swirled on application to give a very light English rose flush to the complexion. The texture of this blusher is very light and has a slight iridescent finish, which I really favour in a blusher. This product is very subtle and definitely a welcomed addition to my ever growing blusher collection!

What are your must have products for the fast approaching summer months?

Origins Never a dull moment face cleanser - £18

Vitamin E nourishing night cream - £2.50

Beautiful movements Prime and create - £20

Some kind-a gorgeous liquid compact - £24.50

MUA Mosaic blush -£2.50

Battle of the face scrubs

It's no secret that I love a scrub. Whether it's for your toes, hands, body or face I am a sucker for a new scrub. Although my absolute favourite is definitely a facial exfoliator, nothing beats the feeling of having bright skin which can only be achieved by scrubbing! I have quite a hefty collection of exfoliating scrubs (much like my obsession for blusher, it cannot be curbed!) which I use regularly. However I have decided to cut it down to my top 5 (it was tough!) and present you with my most loved exfoliating products. 

My first product is one I have blogged about before (cheeky, i know) but I absolutely love it! Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 is a face mask, cleanser and a scrub. I use it first and foremost as a scrub and i am never disappointed. It has quite a powerful effect on my skin and makes my pores feel really clean. However it has no soap or nasty ingredients which makes it ideal for spot prone skin. I can use this product twice a day if my skin is going through a bad stage and it doesn't make it feel stripped, just clean. This is a product I've repurchased 2 or 3 times, and it always crops back up if I'm having a bad skin week. 

My next scrub is a Soap & Glory exfoliator, aptly named The Greatest scrub of all. I've only become a fan of Soap & Glory the past year or so and I tend to stick to their body scrubs but this product is definitely worth a purchase. This is designed for all skin types, which means it's a good idea to vary how often you use it. I've found through trial and error that I am best to stick to 2-3 times a week, and I tend to use it only in the evenings. This has a slightly grainier texture than other scrubs, which means it makes my skin feel less hydrated. I tend to avoid depending on it to make my skin feel bright, and use it combined with my overnight face cream. I really like the little 'spheres' of texture in this product that seem to pop as you scrub it into your skin and the smell is gorgeous. 

The next two scrubs are some high street gems I've picked up on my last couple of hauls. The first is a Superdrug special, from their Vitamin E collection. Out of all the scrubs I use this has the creamiest texture, with quite large, soft grains in it. It looks a bit like porridge (appealing i know) but smells delicious, and it glides onto the skin beautifully. You don't need a lot of this scrub and it tends to melt into the skin due to it's thick texture. I don't have particularly dry skin, so I only use this product when my skin needs a little t.l.c. and it feels very luxurious.

 My second high street bargain is from Boots Botanics 'All Bright' range. This purifying face scrub promises to 'buff away impurities' and i would say they're pretty spot on! This scrub also has a very thick texture, and looks more like a moisturising face wash than a scrub. The particles in this product aren't very large so it can be used in the morning as an everyday wash. Because this scrub doesn't feel as deep cleansing as the other scrubs I tend to use this when my skin is in good nick and It provides just enough to make my skin feel brighter.

My last scrub is another repeat, but one I have repurchased a few times. Probably top of my list and one that will hold a firm place in my bathroom, Rituals brightening face exfoliator. I cannot rave enough about how good this scrub is for my skin. It's powerful enough to leave me feeling as though all my impurities have been washed away, without making my skin irritated. The texture is perfect, not too creamy and not too grainy. For anyone wanting to try out a scrub for the first time, this is the one I would recommend  Perfect for skin scrubbing pioneers everywhere!

Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 - £11

Soap and Glory The Greatest scrub of all - £9

Vitamin E Exfoliating facial scrub - £2.99

Botanics 'All Bright' purifiying face scrub - £3.99

Rituals brightening face exfoliator - £10.50

May favourites

Okay, so I've been a little bit rubbish for the last month (and a half...) and for that i apologise. But I am back (ta-dah!) and i have a lovely lot of beauty bits that I've fallen for this month. It's a bit of a varied bag but it's all fantastic stuff. 

I'm going to start with a few hair treats that I've been using religiously this month. My hair seems to present me with a constant battle in day to day life. Either it's too long or too short (normally the latter) or it looks too fluffy, or it just falls completely flat and looks useless. Enter BIG; Lush's answer for all hair disasters. This shampoo has been my go-to for weeks now, and i cannot recommend it enough! Its main component is sea salt, which adds amazing volume to your hair without drying it out. I'm always wary of using products that claim to add 'volume' as I often end up looking like I've been dragged through a bush backwards. However this shampoo adds texture and shine as well as making my hair look like it's been styled without me putting any work in at all! Its pretty pricey at £11.25 for a tub but as you only need a pea sized amount to wash your hair with it's lasting me 3 times as long as a normal shampoo would. I'm certainly going to be using this shampoo all summer to achieve that effortless beach hair. 

Alongside this i have been using a texturising spray from VO5. Give me texture is a spray that is used on dry hair, either as an accompaniment to styling or as a lazy way out of doing anything. I often use this spray as a 'pick me up' when my hair isn't freshly washed. Another product that uses sea salt it seems to lift straight from the roots and make my hair look alive as apposed to a limp dish cloth. It also has a delicious smell which makes me feel like i'm on holiday, a fantastic bonus! 

With my budget for make up being slightly tighter this month I have rediscovered a few old favourites that have quickly been bought to the top of my make up bag. The first is Benefits Hello flawless foundation. Over Christmas this was a product that i lived in but it somehow got overlooked through the spring (possibly due to the BB/CC cream craze...) On rediscovering i soon remembered why i loved this foundation so much. Firstly it is so light and feels incredibly clean. It reminds me of a tinted moisturiser as it's very illuminating and offers a very light coverage. It's also oil free, so it lets skin breathe and doesn't make it feel greasy (hurrah!) or look shiny. As an alternative to a BB or CC cream i would use this as a summer foundation.

The never ending quest for the perfect blusher has led to another blush purchase this month (sorry bank balance). This time it's another great product from high street chain 'Me me me', The blush box! Since buying their llluminator (See blog post here) i have been keen to buy another of their items and this seemed the perfect choice. I went for pink as it was unlike anything i had in my collection and it was pleasantly surprised how much i liked it. The pink is very sweet and bright but not too sickly that it makes you look like a china doll. The consistency is relatively good but not fantastic, it's very powdery which means it can be easy to go over the top and apply too much but a good blusher brush puts an end to this. It comes with its own small application brush which i have avoided as it has a very flat edge which makes for a harsh finish. However the colour is gorgeous and as it has a slight shimmer, it gives a very pretty finish. 

My last face treat this month is a mascara from L'oreal. It was a few months ago that i purchased the  L'oreal Telescopic mascara (See blog post here) and i decided it was time to treat myself to another. This time I went for Falsh lash flutter as it was recommended by a fellow cosmetics obsessive (Hello Claire!) and i have not been disappointed  I've only had a chance to use this a few times as it's a very recent purchase however i have been really impressed with the results. The brush isn't too chunky which means i don't end up with massive clumps yet the formula seems to be quite thick which gives my lashes some life, making me look bright eyed and bushy tailed! I don't use any other eye make up so i need mascara to frame my eyes and this definitely does the trick. 

My last beauty find is a nail varnish to add to my ever growing collection! This is my first Bourjois nail varnish purchase and it is definitely one i would make again. I went for the So Laque Glossy in Adora-Bleu which is a beautiful shade, slightly darker than a pastel but perfect for the summer. I love the glossiness of this varnish and it reminds me of a less dense version of the Barry M Gelly varnish. It's very quick to apply as it only requires one layer to give a decent colour and i found it lasts for several days before chipping. This is definitely one i would repurchase in a range of colours. 

So there are my May favourites. What have you been using this month?

Benefit Hello flawless oxygen wow foundation - £22.50

L'oreal Falsh lash flutter - £10.99

Bourjois So laque glossy - £5.99

Lush BIG shampoo - £11.25

VO5 Give me texture - £3.49

Me me me Blush Box - £7.50

On my face this week #5

This week I've been shaking my routine up a little bit and have introduced a couple of new products that i wouldn't normally touch (shows how brave i'm getting!) into my make up bag.

The first new product (not so exciting) is a foundation that I've read so much about over the last few months. I'm always on the look out for that holy grail of foundations and i think i may have found it! No7 Stay perfect liquid foundation is the perfect consistency for my combination skin, it's not greasy or oily and blends perfectly. The main concern for me when buying foundation is the coverage. Unlike some lucky souls i need a foundation that gives medium coverage as sometimes my skin can be pretty bad. No7. covers all my of my spots without making my make up look cakey, giving me the natural finish that i strive for. When i visited the counter i was pretty overwhelmed as No7. offer a lot of colours but the assistant was extremely helpful! They were able to match my skin tone very precisely to 'Cool vanilla' and the colour is exactly what i need. For anyone looking for an everyday foundation i cannot recommend this foundation enough.

My next new product is a blusher (surprise surprise) from Sleek which is slightly different from my normal blusher choices. As someone with pale skin i tend to go for a 'English rose' look with natural skin and pink-ish cheeks, however when i spotted this colour i had to give it a whirl. The colour is called Pomegranate and is dark red with hints of rose tones. I'm always worried that wearing red tones will make me look too harsh but i was very impressed with the finish on this blush. The texture is really pigmented which means it lasts all day, and its very light on application which for the mere cost of £4.49 is a steal!

The last product I've been reaching for this week is an oldie but a goodie! Sexy Motherpucker by Soap & glory provides lip plumping action and a fantastic colour as well as a beautiful shine! The lip gloss is designed to enhance the volume of your lips and definitely makes a visible difference. I use this gloss in Candy apple which gives a very natural, nude colour, perfect for wearing alongside a dramatic cheek colour. For someone who doesn't normally touch lipgloss (like me) this is a perfect starting point!

No7 Stay perfect liquid foundation - £14

Sleek Blush in Pomegranate - £4.49

Sexy Mothpucker in Candy apple - £9

March favourites

This month has been a gold mine of new products and it's been really hard to choose just a handful as my favourites. My main weakness is definitely buying new make up and this seems to have extended to cover skincare and hair products too...

I'm going to start with my star buy of the month which has to be Boots coconut & almond Leave in conditioner. This is by far the easiest leave in conditioner I've ever used as you simply spray in just before drying. There's no water, no mess and no fussing around timing how long it needs to be left in. I love the smell but it's not so over powering that you smell like a fruit salad. I've been using this daily and my hair is so much softer and easier to manage, and at £1.39 a bottle it is amazing value for money.

Next up is a soap and glory gem - Dr Spot. I asked for some suggestions of a fast acting spot remedy and this seemed to crop up the most so i decided to take it for a spin. It's a gel formula which is designed to help reduce the redness and calm inflamed spots immediately. I have been using this product twice daily on any pesky blemishes that have cropped up and it definitely helps to soothe them. This formula is quite strong and dries out the skin so i would be careful with over-use but it's one to keep in the drawer in case of unwanted visitors.

I've invested in a few new foundations this month and one that I've been really impressed with is the Revlon Nearly Naked in colour Nude (150). I picked this up in a Boots 3-for-2 deal (every girls downfall) and have been using this as an evening foundation. This coverage is quite heavy for me and i was worried it may irritate my skin but it's been fantastic. It gives a very natural finish and doesn't leave you looking like you're caked in make up. I've been teaming this with another high street bargain from Collection 2000 which is their Lasting perfection concealer. This is perfect for anyone with pesky spots or dark circles as it comes with a little wand. I tend to use a small brush to buff it in but it gives excellent coverage. 

My last make up favourite this month is another Smashbox purchase but this time it's for eyebrows. I don't spend a lot of time on my eyebrows as i have such a heavy fringe you can never see them. However i'm thinking about giving the fringe up (gulp) so I've been trying to keep on top of eyebrow maintenance  The Smashbox Brow tech to go is a eyebrow crayon rather than a pencil and has a slightly thicker texture. It doesn't require sharpening so is always ready to use, and has a slightly slanted edge which makes it easy to define shape. This product also includes a small gel and brush on the end which is designed to help the eyebrow stay into place once it's been brushed and drawn in. I really like this as it makes everything look neater! 

My last March favourite is the Barry M gelly polish or as it's formally known 'Hi Shine Gel effect polish'. I am a big fan of Barry M and own most of the colours (oops) but i wasn't convinced this polish would be any better than the standard formula. However after reading overwhelmingly good reviews i gave into pressure and purchased the polish in Prickly Pear (a pastal purple) and Papaya (a beautiful coral). The colours are gorgeous and look really summery, but what's most impressive about these varnishes is the shine. The gelly formula not only makes the colour pop but gives a lovely sheen to the finish. The texture seems to be thicker than the standard varnishes so you only need one layer and the last is fantastic. 

So that is where all my money has gone this month. What have you been buying this month?

Boots coconut & almond Leave in conditioner - £1.39

Dr Spot - £8

Revlon Nearly Naked - £8.99

Brow tech to go - £19

Barry M gelly polish - £3.99

On my face this week #4

This weeks face has been all about simplicity and (as usual) keeping things as straightforward as possibly. With Boots AND Superdrug having 3 for 2 offers over the last few weeks (sorry bank balance) I have introduced some new products into my routine that I absolutely love.

This weeks focus has definitely been creating a good base. As someone who suffers from spots regularly i need a primer that smooths out my skin, providing me with a good canvas to work with. Enter Smashbox photo finish foundation primer! I'd read a lot about this before purchasing and it definitely lived up to the hype. I've been applying this primer straight after moisturising and have found it really helps to soften my skin as its texture is so silky and smooth. I'm always on the hunt for products that give me brighter skin, and this product definitely gives a glowing finish as well as helping my make up to last for much longer. I've been teaming this with the Me Me Me Beat the blues illuminator. Unfortunately i cannot take credit for this combination and i have the lovely ladies Nouvelle Daily to thank for this discovery! The idea of an illuminator is to highlight the good bits (the cheekbones or the brows) and combining this fantastic highlighter with the Smashbox primer makes my skin look dewy and iridescent  It's a perfect spring look, and takes no effort to pop a bit on in the mornings.

My next must have this week has to be the L'oreal false lash telescopic mascara. I'm fussy when it comes to mascara as i have quite sensitive eyes and not very much lash to work with but this mascara has ticked all the boxes. It delivers more on length then it does on volume, which is perfect for a natural, day time look. I absolutely adore the brush, it's very long and delicate which means you don't end up with huge clumps. As someone who doesn't wear any other eye make up i like some definition to my eyes and this mascara is ideal for that.

Last but certainly not least is my favourite product of this week (drum roll please) the long awaited and anticipated CC cream! I've been waiting to get my hands on a CC cream since their launch and after reading some positive reviews i decided to go with the L'oreal Paris Nude Magique CC Anti-Dullness Cream (what a mouthful). Now CC stands for 'Colour correcting' and the idea is it targets skin imperfections such as dullness or red patches, giving you a very even skin tone. I tend to have quite a dull complexion so i went for the anti-dullness which is a mauve colour. The texture of the cream is similar to a tinted moisturiser and gives a light coverage, so is perfect for the summer months. The formula is pigmented so it blends to your skin tone giving a flawless finish. It still baffles me that the cream blends so well without being initially matched to your skin tone, but it works! The product is very creamy and glides onto the skin wonderfully without making the skin feel heavy. I would definitely recommend this as a foundation replacement as i find even with my spotty skin it gives a very even coverage and even better it doesn't clog my pores, instead helping my skin to feel much clearer. 

What do you think of the new CC craze? 

Smashbox photo finish foundation primer - £25

Me Me Me Beat the blues illuminator - £5.50

L'oreal false lash telescopic mascara - £10.99

L'oreal Paris Nude Magique CC Anti-Dullness Cream - £9.99

Night skincare routine

My favourite time of day is without a doubt bedtime. Mainly because i get to sleep but partly because it's the only time of day that is guaranteed to allow me time to pamper my skin. Whether I've been running around like a headless chicken all day or not I will always dedicate a chunk of my evening to skincare. With so many amazing products floating around it can be hard to come up with a regular skin routine, but here's my bedtime routine that I've stuck to over the last few weeks. 

As a creature of habit I always use make up wipes to remove the bulk of my make up. I then use a eye make up remover to ensure all my mascara is wiped away. Garner Fresh essentials has been my number one choice for some time and i don't see that changing! I have very sensitive eyes which means i'm careful about the products i use but this is so gentle I've never had any problems. It also has extracts of grape which gives it a fresh and fruity smell as well as a soothing feel on the skin. Once I've removed my make up i wash my face to get rid of any leftover grime, my current bedtime face wash is Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ cleanser. This is a 3-in-1 product that can be used as a cleanser, scrub or mask, although i prefer it as a scrub. It's very creamy and soft which makes it perfect for my blemish prone skin! I've been really impressed with this product as it's given me really soft skin without stripping all my natural oils away. Once I've done this I use a toner, Clarins Toning lotion has been a firm favourite for some time now (I'm on my third bottle!) and is one I've mentioned before (you can find the review here). I love it because it leaves my skin feeling really cleansed and fresh, Once I've done this and i feel my skin is suitably clean i move on to my moisturising routine. I've been drawn to pore refining products recently as i have some large-ish pores on my nose, and Dr Jart's Up-tighten serum has proven to be a very successful treatment. It comes in the form of a gel and slides easily onto the skin once the skin has been toned. I've been using this product for a few weeks and have definitely noticed results when applying my make up. After this i normally use an all-over moisturiser. I love Garnier's new Moisture Match range, and my moisturiser of choice is their Revitalising and hydrating gel. I adore anything for dull skin as i'm always aiming for a glowing complexion and this product is perfect for brightening. The consistency is quite thick and a little goes a long way. It's perfect for my combination skin and doesn't irritate my spots. Lastly and just before i go to bed i apply a lip balm. My favourite at the moment is  the Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream. This is a classic balm and one that I had heard lots of fantastic things about. On initial purchase i was under the impression that it was designed for extremely dry or damaged skin, but I've found it is also a perfect remedy for cracked lips. Applying it just before sleep means that without any effort i wake up with lovely soft lips. 

Garner Fresh essentials - £3.15

Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ cleanser - £11

Clarins Toning lotion - £18

Dr Jart's Up-tighten serum - £13

Garnier Revitalising and hydrating gel - £5.99

Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream - £25