October favourites

October has absolutely flown by, and with it have come a flurry of new and exciting products. As well as my Autumn essentials that have helped me to overcome my dry skin and hair problems, I have collected a whole range of beauty bits that have made it into my basket of October favourites. 

First up is a little collection that I have been obsessed with for some time now. The L'Oreal skin perfection range is a new collection that promises to improve your complexion and reveal smoother, brighter looking skin. As someone who suffers regularly from breakouts and dull skin this is something I am constantly on the lookout for. And more often than not I find I am disappointed with the results. After using the L'Oreal skin perfection purifying micellar solution and being amazed with the results (you can read the full review here) I decided to team it with a few of it's siblings. I went for the L'Oreal velvety soft toner and Radiance revealing exfoliator. Using the micellar solution by itself already made my skin feel soft and silky, but teaming it with these two products improved it tenfold! The toner has a very thick texture, unlike anything I normally use and because of this it feels like it's working even harder to tighten and improve your complexion. This toner not only makes my skin feel cleaner but it seems to prevent it becoming greasy through the day. I tend to use this twice a day and rather than drying my skin out or making me feel like I've had a bad facelift, it gives a great base for my make up. The radiance revealing exfoliator enhances this effect further by acting as a hybrid of a face wash and scrub (I do love a scrub!) It has a gloopy texture with lots of little grains running through it which leave you feeling exfolitaed and baby soft! The smell of this face wash is amazing, so apricoty and fresh, and it easily washes away leaving a fantastic aroma behind it. I found once I had been using this exfoliator for a week or so little spots started to pop up on my cheeks and forehead, which is unusual as I'm usually a spotty chin kind of girl. However after pursuing for another week or so these all disappeared, and brighter looking skin was revealed. Well worth pursuing with!

Another drugstore treat I picked up this month that's well worth a twirl is the Superdrug Aloe Vera mud mask. This product is not only a bargain at £2.59 (!) but is designed to be sensitive-skin friendly. I sometimes find when I use facemasks that my skin has a complete meltdown the next day, howeveR with this my skin felt cleansed but not purged enough to bring all the dirt to the surface. The texture provides good coverage, and doesn't make a huge mess on application, because lets face it the last thing you want on a Sunday evening is to be cleaning up face mask. This is a very refreshing face mask for anyone who's skin needs a little pick me up!

Seeing as we're coming up to Christmas season (sorry, it had to be said) it only seemed right that I added a few splashes of red to my appearance this month. I was really intrigued by the new Barry M Matte polish, so on a recent Boots trip I picked up one in Burgundy Crush. Despite a few wobbles I was really impressed with the finished product once it was on my nails. The colour is gorgeous and the matte finish makes the varnish look very sophisticated. As someone who likes a bit of gloss I wasn't sure i would like the lack of shine, but the polish has a very unique look which is ideal for the darker Autumn days. Last but not least is a beauty product I've read dozens of reviews on, the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick. I picked this up as I needed a deep red lipstick for a party and had a very tight budget. When i tested this out at the counter I was struck by the similarities it had to the MAC lipstick formula. As well as having a similar pigmentation, some of the colours were almost identical. I went for 'Diva Red', a dark maroon tone, very similar to Mac's Ruby Woo. The texture is very creamy and an excellent quality for a drugstore lipstick. Unlike some cheaper lipsticks which can lack coverage, the colour completely covers your lips, and doesn't highlight any dry skin or chapped areas that you may have. In fact it provides great moisture for your lips, and seems to hydrate them consistently as you wear. The colour lasts fantastically and doesn't need constant re-application through the evening. This is a definite make up essential for the Christmas period, and I will certainly be purchasing this in a few more colours.

Rimmel Moisture Renew in Diva Red

L'Oreal skin perfection purifying micellar solution - £4.99

L'Oreal skin perfection velvety soft toner - £3.99

L'Oreal Radiance revealing exfoliator - £3.99

Superdrug Aloe Vera mud mask - £2.59

Barry M Matte Burgundy Crush Nail Polish - £3.99

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Diva Red - £6.49

Autumn S.O.S: Combating dry skin and frizzy hair

It's cold, it rains a lot and the sunshine is almost non existent. This is my view of Autumn and if you're anything like me this cold, harsh weather does nothing but bad things for my skin. I recently posted an article revealing my Autumn essentials but as it gets colder and my energy decreases I'm finding it more and more effort to keep up with my beauty regimes. In light of this i have developed a very quick but effective way of combating dry skin and hair which requires the minimal amount of effort. 

I'm going to start with hair. Personally if the choice arrises between staying in bed for an extra 10 minutes or spending time de-frizzing my hair I am always going to choose bed. This combined with the fact I colour, backcomb, hairdry and straighten my poor hair means i need a good set of products to pop on. Enter Herbal essences Bee Strong shampoo and conditioner. This duo not only smells delicious (honey and apricot extract are an amazing combination)  but has a really creamy texture which has a great effect on your hair from the very first use. This definitely helps my hair to feel and look less frizzy, and instead leaves it with a velvety soft texture. Using these means i feel less concerned if i forget to use a heat protecting spray, and if I don't feel like straightening my hair I can afford to leave it au naturale. I've been combining this duo with a Toni & Guy shine gloss serum. I'm not keen on serums, past experiences have led me to believe they make my hair feel greasy and heavy. However this serum is extremely light and leaves my hair with a glossy, healthy shine. It may not get rid of my split ends but certainly helps to hide them, which is good enough for me. 

Everybody's skin is different, and the cold weather effects people in a variety of ways, however for me my upper arms are affected the most. The cold months leave me with bumpy arms that don't make me feel particularly ladylike. I've found the best way to combat this is with a good scrub, and Soap and Glory do a particularly excellent range. My favourite at the moment is the Scrub 'em and leave 'em body buff, which has slightly larger particles than other body scrubs I have used. I've found this to be more effective than buffs with finer grains as it is more efficient at getting rid of dead skin. Using this scrub 3-4 times a week has definitely left me with smoother arms. Alongside this I've been using an old favourite Palmers Coacoa Butter. This formula is enriched with Vitamin E giving it a very creamy, rich texture. Rather than being greasy or leaving you with that 'sticky' feeling, this cream seems to melt into the skin making it feel really fresh and soft. This product also smells gorgeous, really chocolatey and decadent without being overwhelmingly sweet. For those really dry areas (ankles, knees, elbows...all the awkward nooks) I've been teaming this with the Balance Me Rose otto body cream. This has a really feminine fragrance, which some may find overwhelming but I really like. This cream is really nourishing and works almost immediately to get rid of dry patches, replenishing the moisture in your skin.

Lastly I've got a couple of handbag essentials for you. The first is one I've raved on and on about last winter, and I still obsessively use, the Lush Popcorn lip scrub. This is a product I use daily, but especially in the cold weather when my lips are particularity dry and chapped. You can use the full review here but this is an essential for anyone who wants smooth, exfoliated lips without any effort. Last but not least is another Soap & Glory beauty, Hand Food. This hand cream is the perfect product to pop in your bag or desk drawer and use throughout the day. It's not greasy and it doesn't take lots of frantic rubbing in. I've received several compliments when using this hand cream about the beautiful smell most importantly the softness of my hands. This is well worth investing in before winter creeps up!

What are your tips for avoiding the perils of the cold weather?

Herbal essences Bee Strong shampoo & condtioner - £3.89

Toni & Guy shine gloss serum - £7.19

Scrub 'em and leave 'em body buff - £8

Palmers Coacoa Butter - £3.99

Balance Me Rose otto body cream - £18

Lush Popcorn lip scrub -£5.25

Hand Food - £5

On my face this week #6

It's been a little while since I've written a 'What's on my face' post, mainly because I tend to display the same kind of 'look' on a daily basis. As someone who doesn't wear any eye make up (minus a bit of mascara) it can be difficult to vary my appearance, and I tend to always end up looking the same. However a couple of new products I've purchased recently have helped to take my look from a dewy spring face to a more Autumn friendly look. 

First up is the Collection 2000 'Primed and ready' smoothing make up primer. This is a no-frills product which does exactly what it promises - provides an even base for foundation and helps to hold make up in place. I love a good primer, and as someone with a very uneven skin tone it's essential for me to help smooth out my complexion before applying any foundation. This primer has a similar texture to Benefits porefessional and provides a velvety finish without feeling greasy or heavy. I've been combining this with L'Oreals Nude Magique Eau de Teint foundation in warm ivory. The ever -lasting battle for someone with blemish prone skin is finding a foundation that provides good coverage but doesn't look cakey, and this may be the answer. The texture of this foundation is extremely thin and silky to the touch (it feels almost like water) and it blends fantastically. This foundation is designed to look natural and it certainly does this, giving a smooth and flawless finish even on those problem areas. I've been finishing my base with the Seventeen 18 hour stay time concealer, which is very similar to the Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (which has a little review here) in it's packaging and application. I picked this up on a recent trip to Boots as i was finding the collection 2000 to be a little heavy on my autumny-dry skin and I have been really impressed with this alternatives coverage. It provides good blemish coverage but is slightly thinner than it's Collection 2000's alternative, and only needs a little buffing to look completely natural. 

(L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Tient - Warm Ivory)

Anyone who knows me well knows that blusher is my downfall. I am constantly on the look out for new blushers, and recently I have been dabbling with cream and liquid based blushers. My most recent experiment has been Benefits Posietint, which is a bright pink liquid blusher that is designed to last all day without fading. I love this blush as it provides just the right amount of colour, and highlights the apples of the cheeks without a need to add any highlighter underneath. The texture is quite thick which means a little goes a long way, and when blended the colour gives a beautiful glowing finish. 

(L - R; Benefit PosieTint, MAC Pink Plaid)

As I previously mentioned I don't wear any eye make up apart from mascara, so a good quality mascara is essential for me. To compliment my autumnal look I have been using a Dior classic (a slight splurge on my part...) the Diorshow Iconic in Noir. This mascara has a great brush, which provides great coverage in only one stroke and lasts all day without the need to reapply. It is very dark and looks dramatic, without being clumpy. It does a great job of separating lashes without skimping on the intensity of the colour or volume. A slight splurge at £23 (oops) but worth every penny. 

The autumnal colours flying around at the moment are amazing, but sometimes I find darker colours can be slightly tiresome and 'samey'. The longer, darker days tend to steer people towards browns and reds, but lighter colours can easily be incorporated into a look catered for Autumn. I've been using Mac's Pink plaid to actively prove this. This lipstick is a dark pink matte lipstick, without a trace of gloss or shine in it, making a perfect bridge between summer and winter. It compliments a less illuminated look by providing a bold colour, without being too dark. 

What are your must haves for a classic Autumn look?

Collection 2000 Primed and ready make up primer - £5.99

L'Oreals Nude Magique Eau de Teint - £9.99

Seventeen 18 hour stay time concealer - £4.50

Benefit Posietint  - £24.50

Diorshow Iconic mascara - £23

MAC Lipstick in Pink plaid - £15

September favourites

September has come and gone, and Autumn is officially upon us! Personally September has been a pretty crummy month for me with lots of stress and spots, and I am very excited about October starting. This awful inbetween-y weather is seriously irritating! As with any other month I have discovered some extra special new products to share with you, so here are my September favourites.

My first two are skincare saviours that have been staples through my September skincare routine. I have been plagued by spots this month due to a stressful month at work, and these two products have helped me through it step by step! My first is The Body shop's Blackhead exfoliating wash, designed to help unclog pores for clearer looking skin. Personally I don't have a problem with clogged pores, but I do have a lot of trouble with dull skin and I've found this to be an instant solution to a tired looking complexion. The main ingredient in this scrub is Tea tree, which is a warrior against spots and when combined with the gritty texture of this face wash an absolute lifesaver. I've been using this wash twice a day and I've definitely noticed my blemishes have been less angry and my complexion generally clearer. I reckon this scrub may have made it into my top 5! Alongside this I've been dipping into Herbalism, a solid cleanser from cult skincare experts Lush. This is designed for troubled, greasy or spotty skin and contains a whole range of organic ingredients designed to help combat these problems. I've been using this in the evenings after scrubbing and it's helped to calm my tired skin before bedtime. It has a very thick texture which you mix with a small amount of water to make a paste. The result is a cross between a face mask and a cleanser, helping to brighten and tighten the skin. The smell is slightly strong (a little bit like sticking your face into a tub of herbs) but the result makes up for it.

Next up is the most recent addition to my nail varnish collection. I am a big fan of Essie polish and I was really excited about their new Fall collection, so when i saw boots had an offer on and Essie was involved I umm'd and ahh'd over all their new colours before settling on this one. After school boy blazer is a dark blue-black colour which goes perfectly with pretty much everything. I went for this colour as I thought it was slightly more exciting than a plain black but still had an Autumn-y feel about it. I really like the finish of this lacquer, it's glossy, shiny and applies really nicely (even if you're cheating and don't use a base coat...not that I ever do that). A worthwhile investment. 

The penultimate product is one I've been coveting for some time but it's been an absolute saviour in the cold weather. It's a lip balm from a company I absolute adore Figs & Rouge and the latest balm tops them all! Coco Rose multi-purpose lip balm smells beautiful, applies wonderfully and keeps lips silky smooth. Everything from the packaging to the subtle pink shimmery tone this balm has is fantastic, and It's definitely worth picking up a tube of this. I've had mine for a few months and It's still going strong! 

Last but not least is a new addition to the make up bag that i mentioned in my first video blog. Browzings by Benefit is a eyebrow shaping kit that comes in the form of a wax and powder, rather than a pencil or crayon. Firstly I would like to point out it is a lot less scary than it sounds! It comes with two brushes; a slanted angle brush and a blending blush. The angle brush is used to apply the brown wax, which is very thick but not sticky. It applies easily to the eyebrow and is invisible once it's there. It acts a little bit like a primer, helping to create a canvas for the powder. The powder is the step I was most scared about as i had visions of the powder sprinkling on my face and clothes but this was not the case. You only need a little bit of powder to fill in the gaps and the finished effect is a very defined brow without looking clumpy. I like a little bit of an arch to my eyebrow which can be hard to achieve with a pencil, but the intricate brushes allow you to be very detailed. This is a definite must for anyone who likes a groomed brow!

What are your must have products from September?

Lush Herbalism - £6.35

Essie After school boy blazer - £7.99

Figs & Rouge Coco Rose multi-purpose lip balm - £4.95

Benefit Browzings - £23.50

Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish control primer

I am a huge fan of Smashbox products, especially their amazing primers, so when I spotted this new product I snapped it up without a second thought. I am an avid user of their classic Photo Finish primer, and this just seemed to be catered more closely to my skin type. I read realms of positive reviews before using, and it seemed to be the perfect partner for my blemish prone skin. This primer is described as being 'breathable' which is exactly what I look for, something that doesn't make my skin feel heavy and provides a good canvas for my foundation. And it also contains salicyclic acid, which is a good ingredient to look out for if you are prone to spotty skin, as it helps to calm and clear up.  All the boxes were ticked, the hopes were high and the expectations great. And it didn't deliver. I was really disappointed with the results! I hate to be negative about products but I used this primer for two weeks (Giving it a very fair trial) and I wasn't at all impressed. I found the texture to be very greasy and thin, unlike the original photo finish primer. The end result wasn't a velvet finish, but felt very wet and sticky. I tried using different amounts, but i found using less had no effect and using more made my skin feel damp. I also quickly realised that using this seemed to encourage my make up to melt into my face, leaving me looking very frazzled by the end of the day! Lasting power in make up is very important, and I felt bare by the end of the day when using this primer. I also felt let down by the lack of effect this had on helping to clear up my skin, it didn't feel help my skin to feel fresh but left me looking very sallow and dull. Maybe it's me being fussy but I think I'll stick to the original in the future. 

Smashbox photo finish Blemish control primer - £28

Illuminating bases

No girl can deny that she hasn't looked at Millie Mackintosh's skin at some point and been incredibly jealous. Everybody loves a glowing complexion, and clear, dewy skin is the look every girl is aiming for. But in reality we don't have the time, or money (If only we could all have our own skincare range designed by Elizabeth Caroline), to get that kind of skin easily. So we have to improvise. In my attempt to get this sought after skin I have gone through quite a few illuminating bases. They go by several names, have several different price tags but all aim to do the same thing; give you a flawless finish. In order to save you time (and money) I've decided to cut out the middle man, and present to you my top three illuminating bases!

(L-R: No.7 skin illuminator, L'oreal lumi magique, Chanel sheer illuminating)

First of we have the cheapest of the bunch, L'oreal Lumi Magique Primer. This primer promises to enrich the skin whilst highlighting and adding contouring to the face. I found this product to be pretty good when applied to my cheekbones and under my brows, as it gave a very subtle glow. This is a perfect product for anyone who is a little nervous of highlighters (it is a very fine line between looking glowy and shiny) as it doesn't make you greasy and you can immediately see the effect it has on your skin. I definitely wouldn't use this product all over as it may make you appear a little ghostlike...

The second skin illuminator is a No. 7 product which is described as a 'Radiance boosting beauty fluid' (it definitely sounds scarier than it is!) This product is more of an all rounder, as it can be used as a highlighter on isolated parts of your face, or mixed with your foundation to give an all over glow. I tend to mix this with a CC cream, as it blends perfectly to give a lovely texture. It looks slightly sparkly in the tube which I was worried may result in me looking like I was on my way to an 80's disco, but it has a very subtle shine. The texture of this is thicker than any other base I've used, which means very little is needed to cover the face. This is great for an everyday make up essential, and the brush attached to the end makes it easy to apply evenly. 

My last illuminating gem is the best of the bunch, although unfortunately the priciest. Le Blanc De Chanel sheer illuminating base was a purchase I made after reading reams of positive reviews, and it is definitely an investment I don't regret. Not only does this product smooth out skin, making it feel and look fresh, it also helps to combat any redness or discoloring on the skin. The base is very slightly scented but is not at all overwhelmingly flowery, and has a silky texture. I tend to wear this product under a very light foundation, and it provides a perfect canvas! This sheer liquid is designed to be applied all over the skin, with a little extra on the areas to enhance. This is without a doubt the ideal purchase for anyone who wants beautiful skin without putting on layers of make up. Easy, effortless and with amazing results.

What are your favourite illuminators?

L'oreal Lumi Magique Primer - £9.99

No. 7 Skin illumiator Radiance boosting beauty fluid - £11

Le Blanc De Chanel sheer illuminating base - £30

Autumn essentials

Sadly summer is very slowly coming to an end. And as we say goodbye to the long sunny afternoons, poolside holidays and impromptu beach trips it's once again time to switch the beauty regime. As much as I love the Autumn, it does pose some serious problems. Frizzy hair, dry skin and tired eyes to name a few. So I have compiled a short list of my must have Autumn buys...

I'm going to start with a new life saving foundation I've discovered - L'Oreal True match in Rose Vanilla. This has been around for a little while and I've been tempted to invest for some time so when my everyday foundation ran out I decided to take this for a spin. It promises a flawless finish and it certainly delivers on this front. This foundation doesn't require you to use a lot as it has very good coverage. It blends amazingly without leaving blotches or streaky lines, and is ideal for everyday use. The range offers a spectrum of shades so it's easy to match to your skintone (although this can also be quite daunting trying to pick between two nearly identical shades!) Most importantly It is currently rescuing my dried out skin, giving me a very subtle healthy glow!

My favourite brand at the moment is without a doubt L'Oreal. I'm not normally a huge fan but the last few months have seen me reaching for several of their products. My most recent purchase is their Skin perfection purifying micellar solution (what a mouthful!) which has had so much hype surrounding it the last few months. I'd heard some rumours that this was similar to Bioderma (the holy grail of all skincare) and I have to say this is probably the closest us Brits have to the genius that is Bioderma. This product promises to remove make up and impurities whilst also toning the skin. This cuts out the middle man, as there is no need to tone after using this, just moisturise and go! It isn't greasy, it doesn't dry out the skin and it's really soothing on application. After only using this a few times I felt like my skin was much clearer and had a fresh appearance. 

The next product that's had me succumbing to the hype is something most of you have probably heard of. Of course it is (drum roll please) Maybelline Baby lips! The long awaited and much anticipated product from the U.S that has had shelves in Boots completely cleared. I was lucky enough to purchase without much hassle and had my pick of the bunch! The range has 6 different colours which have various smells and shades but I finally opted for 'Mint Fresh' which has no colour but a gorgeous minty smell. The balm is very moisturising without being greasy, and is great value for money. I can't quite grasp why there's so much hype around these but as lip balms go it is good quality, perfect for trying to rescue those dried out lips. 

My next favourite is a hair saviour which I've been coveting for some time now. I definitely don't take as much care over my hair as i should, so when i find a product that works (and has quick results - I am very impatient) I tend to cling on to it. I've always wanted to try a hair oil, but all the faff that comes with it filled me with dread. VO5 Hot oil first appealed to me because it does not require heating before application. You apply it to wet hair, leave for one minute and then wash off. With only one minute to work I wasn't expecting magic but the results were fantastic! This oil helps to moisturise brittle or dry hair without making it greasy. I was really impressed when after one application my hair was already softer and easier to style. I tend to use this once a week and will definitely be repurchasing now my first bottle is empty!

Last but not least I would like to introduce to you my latest spot fighting partner. My daily skincare routine always seems to fixate on trying to get rid of blemishes, and this Lush favourite Grease Lightening has made my job slightly easier! I've been looking for a spot treatment that's strong enough to fight spots without making my skin feel dry for sometime and this seems to be it. It consists of Tea tree and Witch Hazel, which combined seem to be the perfect soothing remedy for red or irritated spots. I've been using this every morning and evening, and so far so good! I would definitely recommend this for anybody who needs a little bit of help keeping their complexion clean and fresh.

What are your Autumn must haves?

L'Oreal True match - £9.99

Skin perfection purifying micellar solution - £3.33

Maybelline Baby lips - £2.99

VO5 Hot oil - £4.29
Grease Lightening - £5.95