Clarisonic Mia 2: Review

The Clarisonic Mia 2. For nearly a year I have been lusting after this product, and anyone that would listen heard my endless list of reasons as to why it would be a worthwhile investment. I just couldn't bring myself to spend £120 on one (very small) item. However on Boxing Day, with my Christmas money in hand and the Feel Unique sale calling, I found the Mia 2 with 20% off. And that was the last incentive I needed to treat myself. I've been using my Mia 2 for 2 months, and I felt it was now time to share my thoughts and feelings on this brush used by skincare fanatics everywhere. 

So, what is the Clarisonic Mia 2? At the risk of sounding ridiculous, it is essentially a giant toothbrush for your skin. It is designed to give the skin a deep cleanse, getting rid of any impurities and dirt. One of the worries that many people have when thinking about investing in the Mia 2 is the damaging effect it may have on the skin, especially for those that have sensitive skin. Granted this may not be suited to everyone, but the brush is not at all bristly, and is soft to touch, especially when water is added to the equation.

The Mia 2 is the first Clarisonic to come with two 'speed's', which means you can choose how deeply you want your brush to cleanse. The brush moves in a circular motion, and the speeds are designed to suit sensitive skin, and normal skin. The brush head on all Clarisonic systems comes as 'sensitive', which means those who wish to can purchase different brushes to alter their cleansing experience. The other difference between the Mia and Mia 2, is the latter comes with a timer system, the clarisonic will only activate for a minute at a time, and at different points during this minute it will 'beep' to indicate you should move on to the next part of your face (nose/chin, forehead and cheeks). This means every part of your face is getting equal attention, and you don't need to faff around with timers.

Using the Clarisonic to fulfill it's potential is the next challenge. Obviously everybody is different, but I've spent some time experimenting and found the best way to suit me. I like to apply a liberal amount of cleanser to the wet brush (in a doughnut shape around the edge), wet my face and then start her up! One of the most difficult things to do when using the Mia 2 is to have a limp wrist. When you first start using it you feel you should put pressure on the brush to make sure it's getting down to the nitty gritty. But doing this only stops the brush from cleansing so thoroughly. So relaxed hands please ladies! Once the handset has shut down I wash out the brush and pop back into its handy travel case.

Okay so, it's easy to use and it's very pretty (it comes in a ridiculous amount of colours) blah blah blah but what is the point of having it? First of all it is the most effective make up remover you'll ever have. I use my Mia 2 once a day, which is usually in the evening. Because it is so deep cleansing, if I'm having a lazy moment I don't even have to take off my make up, which means i skip about three skin routine steps. More time for sleeping!

Secondly it leaves skin feeling so incredibly refreshed and recharged. After only three days of using my Clarisonic I found my skin felt 100 times smoother than before. It also looked much brighter and my pores were much less prominent. Any pesky bumps on my cheeks seemed to have disappeared and my complexion looked much fresher. There is the slight disadvantage of the 'purge' which some Clarisonic users experience. I was lucky as I only noticed a few nasty blemishes on my forehead, but some people find that their skin breaks out completely once they've been using this cleanser for a few weeks. Remember this just means all the impurities are coming to the surface, which means fresher and healthier skin in the long run. I have to say since using the clarisonic I've even been able to leave the house without make up AND feel okay about doing so, which is a little bit of a miracle. 

Another huge advantage to using this product is the great effect it has had on my blemish prone skin. Unfortunately I have naturally bad skin, which means I have to take real care or I come up in nasty spots. I also find it impossible to leave spots alone when they do appear, which usually makes them much worse. The Clarisonic has not only reduced the spots I get, but it has dramatically helped with the size and redness of the ones I do get. If a spot pops up, the clarisonic helps it to become less angry and noticeable within one use. Deep cleansing is definitely the way forward.

Lastly I would like to highlight the effect using the clarisonic has had on the application of other lotions and potions! Due to the deep cleansing effect of the clarisonic, it only means that other moistursiers and serums are able to penetrate deeper, and sink more easily into the skin. This means the effect of any other products is immediately enhanced,vastly helping on the quest to a flawless complexion.

So, was it worth the money? For me, yes. It's easy to use, fuss free and has a great effect on my skin in more ways than one. It's very quickly earned it's place in my evening routine, and I don't see it budging anytime soon. 

December favourites

December has been an amazing month for my cosmetic drawers. Not only has it been my birthday (Officially in my mid 20's) and Christmas, but my little sister got a job at Superdrug (getting money off somehow makes it okay to spend a ridiculous amount on skincare). I have a whole range of products to share with you, and each of them have fairly earned their place on my official December favourites list. 

First up is a brand new facial exfoliator from The Body Shop which I have had my eye on for some time. The seaweed pore-cleansing facial exfoliator has managed to strike the right balance between giving a good scrub whilst still providing foam and moisture. This product has quickly been bumped up to be a prominent step in my morning routine and it never fails to leave my skin feeling fresh and deeply cleansed. Products that include seaweed in are designed to leave oily/combination skin with a matte finish and this is exactly what it does. I've also noticed this helps to keep any blemishes at bay, and I managed to spend Christmas spot-free thanks to this little gem! Alongside this I have also been using a Brightening micro polish from Superdrug's Naturally radiant range. I am a big fan of Superdrug's Vitamin E range, and I was keen to see if this range lived up to my expectations. The micro polish is designed similarly to a facial scrub and it aims to even out skintone whilst also getting rid of dead skin cells giving a illuminated and bright finish. This polish is slightly harsher than a normal scrub so is only needed once or twice a week, but I've definitely noticed my complexion is much smoother since I've started using it. I have a feeling the rest of this range may be making its way into my drawers soon...

In a bid to keep my skin looking as bright as possible I've been reaching for a skincare classic this month, a product that beauty fanatics everywhere agree is a holy grail. Bioderma's Solution micellaire is an absolute life saver for anyone that has uneven or spot prone skin. Since using this I don't think I could use any other millecular solution happily, it's just unfortunate that this is so hard to get hold of in the UK! The idea of the solution is to help banish impurities and make sure skin is completely clear of all make up. A lazy girls solution to removing make up and cleansing skin in one fail safe move! Another product from across the pond that I've been reaching for this month is Vichy's smoothing and illuminating cream. Thankfully this one is slightly easier to get hold of! This cream strives to help smooth skin, making make up much easier to apply and giving a very polished finish. I love anything that leaves me with a dewy complexion, and this is a great product for anyone who wants to achieve illuminated skin but doesn't know where to start. 

My next favourite is one that I purchased for myself just before Christmas (very cheeky I know). One of my favourite Beauty brands is Rituals, and I am especially a huge fan of their skincare products. However on my last trip this Miracle Scrub for hands caught my eye. As an avid facial scrub-pusher I decided to branch out and try the hand scrub and I am so pleased I did. Since using this I have never received so many compliments about the softness of my hands. Not only does this exfoliator smell fantastic, it takes seconds to use and the results lasts for hours. I've found since using this I've needed less lotion, as my hands are already mega soft, even in the gail force winds of winter! Alongside this I have also been keeping my nails in tip-top condition with a couple of new nail favourites. I've been attempting to keep my nails buffed and smooth with the Model's own 4 way nail buffer. This is the lazy girls answer to salon quality nails in 5 minutes. It's a great investment to any ladies beauty drawers. Next up is Maybelline's Express nail polish remover. This is a little pot of varnish remover lined with sponge which has a tiny hole in the centre. The idea is to pop your finger in, twist around and remove, by which time all your varnish should be gone! This has been a great Christmas saviour in my bid to remove hundreds of minuscule glitter pieces from my nails. The need for this remover was mainly down to my new  nail polish - L'oreal's Colour Riche in the aptly named Sequin explosion. This was my most sought after product over the Christmas period, and it seemed to be sold out everywhere, so when I eventually got my hands on it I was ridiculously excited! It certainly lived up to expectations and it is the best glitter I've used in some time. It applies beautifully, and can even be worn without a base colour. Most importatly it doesn't take weeks to remove. 

Next up is a scent I've grown very attached to that doesn't cost the earth. The Body shop's White musk smokey rose Eau de Toilette is a very light, pretty scent that doesn't fade within a few hours of wear. The scent is a perfect daytime fragrance, and I picked up the small bottle which is an ideal size to pop into a handbag for a day out!

Last but not least is my only hair based product of the month. I am a big fan of Herbal Essences Bee Strong range and I have managed to get through several bottles of their shampoo and conditioner over the last few months, so I decided it was time to invest in their Intensive hair mask. Everybody's hair needs some tender loving care, and due to the horrible English weather I thought it was the perfect time of year to do so. The mask smells absolutely gorgeous and has a very thick texture, meaning a little goes a long way. I've been using this once a week and have already noticed my hair is much softer and shinier. Using heat on my hair means I need to take care of it in order to avoid split ends and this hair mask has not only helped to disguise imperfections in my hair but also seems to be slowly repairing it to it's former glory. A highly recommended product!

What are your favourite products from December?

Seaweed pore-cleansing facial exfoliator - £9

Naturally radiant Brightening micro polish - £2.48

Bioderma's Solution micellaire

Vichy's smoothing and illuminating cream - £17.99

Rituals Miracle Scrub - £11.50

Model's own 4 way nail buffer - £3

Maybelline's Express nail polish remover - £4.99

L'oreal's Colour Riche Sequin explosion - £4.99

White musk smokey rose Eau de Toilette - £10

Herbal essence Bee strong Intensive hair mask - £3.99

Beauty Resolutions

Christmas has come and gone in a flurry of tinsel, sausage rolls and copious amounts of fizzy alcohol. The Christmas (and New Year) parties have been attended and slowly normality is creeping back. I am generally pretty lazy (New years resolution #1 is to make my bed every day, after 24 years I still can't manage to do it) but when it comes to skincare I don't mine putting in the extra time and effort. Therefore I have decided to make a list of Beauty resolutions that are manageable, and hopefully in the long term will make my everyday routines much easier. 

#1 - Deep cleanse

Generally I am pretty good at sticking to a morning and evening skincare routine. However it is very rare that I take the time to give my skin a really good pamper. Therefore this year my top priority is to give my skin some intense tlc at least once a week. I'm talking face masks, several cleansers and various moisturisers and potions. As part of this resolution I picked up the Clarasonic Mia 2 in the sales, which i solemnly swear to use on a daily basis to give my skin a real polish. My excitement when getting the Clarasonic was so ridiculous that i doubt this will be a problem to stick to!

#2 - Hair care

This is a resolution that I dipped into during the last few weeks of 2013 and one that has been a long time coming. I'm pretty lucky with the natural condition of my hair and because of this I can be pretty lazy in the hair department. However I have decided 2014 is the year I embrace the hair mask. I think it's about time I treat my hair to some real love and I plan to slather it in coconut oil and overnight masks until it doesn't recognise itself. Most importantly I promise to use heat protecting spray everyday...or at least most days.

#3 - Talon maintenance 

I love nail varnish, and these days I can't walk past a boots without popping in and picking up a new polish. However I am guilty of having chipped nails most of the time. Because of my job I spend the majority of my day doing arts and crafts or trying to tidy up after a class of 4 year olds so my nails get in a state of disarray quite quickly. My aim this year is to keep on top of my nails so they're always looking polished - even if it means re-painting them every night. How long can I keep that up?!

#4 - A blonde moment

This is more of an adventurous beauty wish then a resolution. I have always wanted to have blonde hair and in my teenage youth I did attempt to turn my chocolate brown locks a dusky blonde. However it ended in several bottles of empty hair dye and bright orange hair with white roots, not exactly the dream. So this year is the year I do blonde properly. Even if it only lasts for a month I want to tick it off the wishlist for good. 

What are your beauty resolutions for 2014?

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