John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lightening Spray

I use this in-between dying my hair (which is usually quite a long time!) I try to avoid dying my hair as I don't want the condition to go downhill. My hair is in pretty good condition all the time which is great! I usually only dye my hair to brighten it up, and tend to go for shades quite similar to my natural one (perhaps a bit lighter).

So it's been a while since I last dyed it, and I've been using a range of different blonde products, such as 'touch of silver' which is a purple shampoo designed to get rid of any brassiness in blonde hair, and stop the 'ginger' tinge that it can sometimes get. That shampoo is great, smells quite weird... but in a nice way? ;) The only thing is that my scalp is quite sensitive, and I find that it aggravates this leading to an itchy and flaky scalp... so I use this not very often. My hair never has very noticeable roots, as my natural colour isn't dark, but you can definitely tell sometimes that it's due for a bit of colour!

No roots :)

Roots?!    

As you can see on the first picture (me: right) I have my fringe pinned back and the underneath of my hair, and roots are looking considerably darker than the rest of my hair! Nightmare! I assure you that I've only been using the John Frieda Go Blonder Lightening Spray & have not been dying it! Result! As you can see, it really does work! I can't speak for every shade of hair, as I know that many people have extremely dark roots, but it can certainly tone them down a bit in-between dying! Also excuse the second picture, no idea what I'm up to! haha....

Hair routine when using Lightening Spray:

- Wash hair with Aussie Mega Shampoo & Conditioner
(light conditioner leaves no residue and therefore doesn't weigh hair down) I like to use this combination of products as I'm spraying my hair after washing it, so I don't want too much greasy stuff on there to make it oily!
- Towel dry hair & spray evenly Go Blonder Lightening Spray on to roots. I also spray some on my brush and then work it through my hair for a more even finish.
- Dry hair
- Straighten or curl hair (the spray works off heat, so ideally both DRY & STYLE with heat)

It does take a few times to see a significant difference, but if you're a bit more impatient, then you can also use Superdrug Colour effects wash in wash out hair colour! (really cheap, £1.19 or 2 for £2) to boost your colour!



Hope this review has been helpful :) feel free to leave me a comment or anything and I'll get back to you!

Lucy xx

Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

If you're in the UK, your local B&M store is THE PLACE to get Christmas decorations on a budget! Really cheap fairy lights etc, and even Santa & Elf costumes! Oh and the funniest thing was a Father Christmas toilet seat cover.... haha! Everything ranges from £1 upwards!

I know this isn't anything beauty related, but I just had to share this with you guys! We've decorated the flat ready for Christmas, and we even have a little Christmas Tree in the kitchen! We've made the flat look really Christmassy! :)

Lucy x

Christmas came early! Longchamp Le Pliage :)

So I've been looking at Longchamp bags for a while now.....

I first saw them whilst looking at YouTube videos. A few of the channels I subscribe to have featured these bags. I'm not very in to 'following' trends, but if something takes my fancy then why not get on board?!


Selfridges have been doing 20% off everything for a few days now, so I thought I'd ask my boyfriend for a Longchamp seeing as we could get discount! We're exchanging gifts early this year, as we're spending Christmas apart.... so he gets his PS3 game early (Skyrim....) and I get my shiny new bag, one of the only up sides to being apart I guess :(! 




I feel that these bags are quite expensive for what they are, but I really like them. They're practical in every sense....they don't attract dirt, even the small ones are plenty big enough to fit your essentials in and so on.....! The standard 'Le Pliage' bags start from £48 and go up depending on what size you want and which length of strap. I went for the smallest one, it will be perfect to fit in my locker at work, and small enough for trips out to the cinema etc where you generally don't need a lot of stuff! I got my bag in Taupe, as I reckon it will go with a lot of my clothes, I'm in to these sorts of colours!

Just for comparison, here is the bag next to a regular sized bottle of Volvic! It's pretty small, but it fits in nicely my large rectangular purse, make up bag, phone, bus pass. Another plus point for this bag is I'll be less likely to stuff it full of things I don't need... which is always a problem I have with bags. They get heavy and my arm hurts.....hopefully not with this one! I carry a small notebook with me to Uni anyway so this won't be a problem!


Just a short review to show you my new bag :)
Feel free to leave any comments below! Lucy x

Miss Selfridge & Primark spree :)

Deals of the week


I've been looking around for some nice winter pieces and I'm really loving the simple shorts & black tights combo. Everything item I bought in this little spree was £20 and under, always good to find a bargain! These pieces are really nice to make an outfit for the winter. Just team them with a plain top (tucked in or out) a patterned scarf and cardigan and you're ready to go! :)

- Burgundy High Waisted Shorts £10 Primark
- Green High Waisted shorts £9 SALE Miss Selfridge (was £32!!)
- Tweed Brogues £10 Primark


- Typical outfit: shorts with black tights, brogues and a plain top tucked in to the high waisted shorts. Finish with a patterned scarf and a cardigan (long or short) 
- The polka dot shorts actually look like a skirt when on, which is quite nice. Something a bit different to the burgundy denim shorts on the left.




Firstly apologies for the crappy picture, but I just wanted to show the dress on (only pic I could find where I wasn't pulling a stupid pose...)


This dress caught my eye as the bright colours contrast each other but work really well I think. I originally thought I would wear the dress with bare legs, but came to the conclusion that to add to the block colour theme, the black tights looked best. I also wore black heels with this outfit. Overall really comfortable but still looks dressed up! Love this dress!


Dress £17 (£15.30 w/student discount) Miss Selfridge (was £32)




That's it for this post, just thought I'd share with you some of the bargains I've picked up this week! (well I think so..) The miss selfridge sale is still on, and I actually saw the dress again today so there's definitely still stock left if you wanted to grab a bargain! 


Please do let me know if you've found any fashion bargains so I can check them out :) Lucy x

Hairspray can be so expensive.....

Not if you look past the brands and try some supermarket 'own brand' value products! :)

I can honestly say I'll probably never buy a branded hairspray again.... unless there's a really good sale on it! I've tried supermarket Hairsprays in the past like Asda etc, and they've been really good. The one I'm using at the moment however is better than all the others. It's Tesco's own value hairspray 'no fancy formula, still great hold and control'. I agree with this. With some cheap hairspray's they can be really crap, and feel like nothing is coming out of the can, or they can feel too wet & make your hair look greasy. This is a happy medium, it holds pretty much all day which is great news!





I currently have a fringe, sometimes I wear it as a full fringe and sometimes I sweep it to the side. However I have it, this hairspray is great at holding the fringe in place. There's nothing more annoying than a fringe that's blowing all over the show!

The best news of all is that it's only 37p! And in my flat, we go through hairspray quickly, especially if we're using each other's whilst getting ready for nights out (lots of hairspray required!) so it's good to have a few cans of this in case we run out!

It really is cheap and cheerful! I've used tresemme and Garnier hair sprays before now, and I find them far too wet and hard to manage. This one is great though, you can spray it however much you like and your hair isn't going to look like a greasy mess. Definitely worth a try & you're going to save £££!

Hope this has been useful and will help you save some pennies :)
Lucyx

Maybelline dream satin liquid *review*

'Air whipped foundation, air-brush finish'

I love this foundation! If you've read some of my other foundation posts then you'll know that I go for a medium/full coverage most of the time as I have blemishes and scarring from previous acne. I've had this foundation before and it's great! I tend to use a more 'matte' foundation for work, as I want my skin to stay shine free for most of the day, so I use Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse or 24hr Superstay. This one however, is great for general use like going out with friends in the day time and stuff like that. I feel it gives a natural look, doesn't look cakey and gives my skin coverage and really makes my skin have an overall 'fresh' look. 


This product retails at around £8 and I feel that this product is worth it!

Features of this product: 


I have this one in Ivory 010 and feel it's a pretty good match for my skin, it doesn't look orangey which most foundations look on me (even the lightest ones!) I have the 24h Superstay in 021 Nude and this definitely looks orangey unless I blend it really well! 
- good packaging, like the pump which makes it easy to dispense right amount
- good consistency, not too thick, glides on and easy to blend
- like the colour match of Ivory... I usually stay away from the very lightest shades, but this has worked well! 


Here's a picture of all the foundations I'm currently in the midst of trying.... I'm overall impressed with all of my Maybelline foundations for different reasons. I reckon I have one for every occasion! The Rimmel one is far too thick and greasy... so I might get rid of that one. Max Factor second skin I'm finding to be too thin at the moment, it's not enough coverage and tends to feel like it's sliding off my face an hour or so in to wearing it, so I don't find myself reaching for this one much. Dream Matte Mousse.... kind of a love hate thing going on with this one at the moment. I love the finish it gives to my skin, but it definitely grabs on to any patches of dry skin I might have, and any blemishes that I'm trying to 'dry up'. Still love it though..... and then one I've not really tried enough to make a fair comment on is the Pure Mineral Foundation by Maybelline in 04 Vanilla Rose. I've used this foundation once, and the result I thought was pretty good. It definitely made my skin look flawless, but it takes quite a long time to apply (I guess I'd get used to it and speed up the process...) I definitely need to try this one a bit more and I'll write a review on that :)
From left:
Maybelline 24h Superstay in 021 Nude
Max Factor Second Skin in 070 Natural
Maybelline Pure Mineral in 04 Vanilla Rose
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in 021 Nude
Rimmel Lasting Finish 25h in 100 Ivory


That's it for now.... I have a little stash of foundations, so I really do have a few to pick and choose from. I usually wear a few different ones each week, depending on the state of my skin and where I'm going that day.


Hope this has been somewhat useful to you.... and if you've got any comments I'd love to hear from you 
Lucyx

Impulse buy! :)

So I went in to the new Hollister store in Manchester Arndale today and like their style of clothing. Scouted out the sale section immediately (tucked right at the back of the shop) and found a three quarter sleeved top which I just had to have!


I have an Abercrombie & Fitch long sleeved top which I got as a gift so I based the sizing on this.... I went for a medium (as Hollister etc can be quite small sizing I find..) It fits really well, quite fitted but not too tight yay! 


Was £32 Now £18.90 
Hollister stuff is pretty pricey I think, but their clothes are good quality and you can feel it in the material they use, so I don't mind buying things from there if I really like them as I know I'm getting a quality product :) 




Just a quick post to show you this top I bought in the sale! I couldn't seem to find the sale section on their website.... but if you go in to store you'll probably find various items reduced! Go grab a bargain! :)


Lucyx

My 2011 products for dry skin

Johnson's 24hr Moisture Relaxing Body Wash 

Picked this up at my local B&M Homestore whilst on the lookout for bargains! As the weather is getting drier and colder, I've found that the skin on my body is much more irritated and prone to dryness and just a general feeling of discomfort. I don't like using all over body moisturisers EVERY day, so I was on the lookout for a body wash that might help with my dry skin. This product is amazing, it feels silky smooth as you shower (this is probably why it feels relaxing...) and definitely leaves a feeling of moisture after the shower! Good stuff!

- smooth white cream wash that lathers & moisturises
- 400ml bottle, lasts longer!
- Around £1 from B&M! absolute bargain! (currently on offer in Boots for £2.06 for 250ml)


Escenti Cool Feet 'Cracked heel cream'

Another bargain I picked up from B&M (if you're a bargain lover, you really should find out where your nearest B&M is... you can pick up loads of skincare stuff for next to nothing!) 


I don't really have 'cracked' heels as such, but I do get dry skin on my feet pretty much all year round. This is great as it cools your feet, especially after a long day on your feet. I could feel the moisturising effects straight away, and I can see a real difference in the condition of my feet after using this cream! 


- Vitamin E, Urea & added moisturisers
- Menthol & peppermint helps to cool and refresh
- Again a bargain at around £1 :)






Dove essential nourishment hand cream 'deep care complex'

What I'm sure most of us are looking for in a hand cream... is that it would effectively moisturise leaving the hands feeling soft but NOT greasy. This stuff does just that! Been using this for a few days now and I'm always reaching for it whenever I feel my hands getting a little tight or uncomfortable. Also when I wash my hands they tend to get dry if I don't apply a hand cream afterwards. Got mine really cheap at B&M (starting to see a trend here.....) but you could get it at any chemist or supermarket really.

- 24hr long lasting softness
- for normal to dry hands (not too thick or greasy)


For now, these products are doing the trick! 
:)
Lucyx

Nail design #2

Same concept.... different colours!

Got my hands on some more NYC nail polishes (£1.79 each or 3 for 2 at Superdrug) These polishes are cheap and cheerful....they go on quite thin, but dry quickly, so you can do two coats and not have to sit around for ages! Basically got them to try another dotty design! I'm really in to this as it's super cute and looks like you've made lots of effort but it's a really easy design to do! Just thought I'd upload a picture of the finished look! 

NYC 'In a New York Color Minute' Quick Dry Nail Polish in:
- 246 Park Ave (Base colour)
- 248 Manhattan (dots)
- 202 Grand Central Station (clear top coat)

Check out my original post on how I went about doing this design here: http://xbeautybee.blogspot.com/2011/10/nail-design.html

Quite a short post but it's really just to show you how it turned out :)

Lucy x

Custom Clinique 3-Step

For Combination skin (Dry & Oily)

So if you've read some of my other posts, you'll have seen that I've tried various Clinique 3-step systems, including the Anti-blemish range and skin type 1. I've tried sticking with these regimes, but haven't noticed significant differences whilst using them... so I've decided to ditch their suggested ones and create my own, swap products around and that sort of thing :)

This came about when I tried my friend's Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel out of curiosity. I have used the lotion in the past, but have found it too greasy, despite having dry skin. I have noticed that I'm a bit oilier than I used to be, so thought I'd give the gel a try. This stuff feels amazing on the skin. Super hydrating but also non greasy. Great base for make up, makes the skin so soft and supple :)

I still need to be careful what I'm using on my skin, as I am acne prone and have quite sensitive skin. So I decided to go with the Mild Facial Wash. To satisfy my dry areas, I have chosen Clarifying Lotion '2' For Dry Combination skin.

So far so good with this regime.... I've been using it for a couple of days now, and my skin is feeling really soft and supple. Make up goes on better and I think some of the spots on my chin are clearing up (will have to do an update on this!) all I know is that this regime isn't making it worse! Which is great as products often irritate my skin and cause me to break out!

Wishlist: Clinique Exfoliating Scrub

Heard a lot of good reviews on this scrub, and apparently it's effective enough to get rid of dead skin, but also the beads are gentle enough not to irritate the skin too much, which happens if the grains are too rough!

Thanks for reading and I'd like to hear about your skin regime!

What works well for you?
Lucy x

Product of the moment....

Clinique Moisture Surge 'extended thirst relief' 

I've recently gone back to this product, as I was finding regular moisturisers too heavy and I was breaking out loads. I sampled the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel and found that it gave my skin the moisture it needed, without being greasy. I usually think that my skin is really dry, so I need heavier lotions, but I really do think that Gel is the way forward as within about two days of sampling this I noticed a difference in the condition of my skin and my break outs. 


I'm currently ordering some Clinique products from work, and while waiting, I've been using the Moisture surge in place of the DDM Gel and it's working really well! My skin is super smooth and hydrated, make up goes on really well and doesn't get as greasy throughout the day. 


I used to think that this could only be used on my skin after a different moisturiser, for added hydration, but my skin has been more combination dry, with a tendency to get oily, so this moisturiser is great on its own before make up and also before bed.


This product retails at £30 on the highstreet, which is pretty pricey! I got mine in a set with the face spray and eye cream and it was under £30 from Duty Free at Manchester Airport. I would say though, that the only product I actually use from this set is the Moisture Surge itself, the others are just extras that I don't really need\remember to use. The eye gel might come in handy after heavy nights though, but we'll see.


Really recommend this product for all skin types, it's an excellent primer for the face and all round hydrator.

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue
refreshing gel cream

I've seen that Garnier have come out with a gel moisturiser which looks interesting, so I might try that on pay day :)




Thanks for reading! :D Lucy x

Nail design :)

I've been really in to painting my nails over the past year or so.... it's gotten to the point where I can't have my nails bare otherwise it just feels and looks weird to me....  :D


Thought I'd try doing a little polka dot design, and it's worked out well I think! 


- I used No7 Stay Perfect in 'Totally Teal 330'
for the main colour. The stay perfect range I usually find really annoying as they take ages to dry.... but if you put a thin enough coat on (not so thin so you can see through it...) then it dries pretty fast! It's a really dark teal colour, and I'm really in to dark burgundy, purple and navy's at the moment so I think this fits in quite well.


- To lighten the mood a bit I decided to go for some polka dots. I think it makes it look really fun and girly, but also like you've made an effort with your nails. Just something a bit different! I used Rimmel Lasting Finish in '045 Misty Jade' which is a pale mint colour which compliments the darkness of the Teal polish!


- The polka dots were relatively easy to do, you just have to have a steady hand..... you just get a small amount on the brush, and blob it on to the nail, being careful not to 'blob' too harshly or you'll get a flatter shape than a 'dot' (as you might be able to see on my pinky finger....)


- To finish off I used Barry M top-coat (basecoat, topcoat and nail hardener in one, great stuff!!) I used a top coat, not only because I usually use one to set my nail polish, but also because the polka dots are sort of raised from the nail, as they are 'blobs' of colour, so I wanted to make sure that they weren't going to chip off easily or anything! Plus it felt a bit rough to touch! 


Thanks for reading and hope you liked this little review/tutorial type thing! 
Lucy xx

Garnier bb cream review 13.10.2011

I've been using this for a few weeks now and I've got a pretty good idea of what it's like, and if it's any good. Even though I really want full coverage most of the time, I don't like plastering my face with heavy make up, so I reached for this to offer my skin a bit of a break from all the clogging that comes with some foundations. I have done a review of Clinique Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser previously, and I have to say I've not used it much at all, it's far too greasy for me, even though it claims to be oil free! You can have a read of this review <<here>>

What does Garnier BB Cream claim to do?
(taken from www.boots.com)

Garnier bb cream in 'light'

"It’s your latest beauty secret….. An all in one, super dooper, anytime, anywhere skincare solution for perfected skin.

Use it on its own, use it as a primer, when you get up, after the gym, a post-work touch up, pre-date beautifier… the list is endless.

Discover the 2 little letters that are driving beauty editors into a frenzy.…..B.B. has arrived!

Feel the sensation of the light texture that instantly melts into your skin

The formula with mineral pigments gives an instantly ‘perfect’ skin. The result? Sheer coverage; imperfections look blurred, lines softened. Your skin looks luminous, smoother and more even. See the B.B. difference

24hr hydration. Skin feels more supple, smoother, softer. Feel the B.B. difference

UV protection: SPF15 to help protect the skin.

Go B.B! In just one step, even, cover, hydrate, illuminate and help protect your skin."

Initial thoughts....

After using other tinted moisturisers, I was expecting this to be quite thin and easy to blend. However, this it much thicker and I found that I had to use more product than expected, which is a little disappointing as it's quite expensive for a 30ml tube (I got mine for £7.99 at Superdrug) The normal retail is £9.99 I think, and I've seen it more recently for £7 in Asda, so if you want to try it, it's worth looking around first for the best price!

Anyway.... as it's thicker, I do find that it's a much better coverage than I expected, at first I was trying to use it under foundation, but this results in a GREASE-FEST! Definitely not recommended. I have really quite bad skin, and bare skin for me means acne, redness, general paleness and just looking unwell really....(haha!) This stuff really is good enough to use on its own, with a touch of concealer and some powder to set it. ..

I showed my flatmate the result (prior to concealer and powder) and she said it definitely gives a glowing effect, which is great! I'm really loving this BB cream for everyday use, nipping to the shop, going shopping etc, but I still use heavier foundations for going to work and nights out etc, as I don't want a finish as natural as this. I really do think that this cream enhances the skin you already have, it just makes your skin appear better, basically just toning down any imperfections or redness. It's really great, and I can see this being great in the summer months when you're staying away from heavy foundation!

Oh I forgot to mention, I have this cream in 'Light' and it goes on a bit orangey (and scary looking!), but just blend it in and it looks really natural :)

Garnier bb cream in 'light'

Overall thoughts on Garnier BB Cream 

- really like it!

- a bit pricey but as it works for me, I can look past the price for something that works! 

If you've used this or are thinking of trying it and have anything to say about it then please feel free to leave a comment :) Lucy x

Recent buys!

So I’ve been wanting to try a few more M.A.C products, after trying a few eyeshadows, blushers and lipglosses & liking them (in particular ‘conjour up’ mineralize blush!). I was in the market for a new concealer so I went for Studio Finish Concealer in nc15. I was matched for MAC foundations as an nc20/25 so decided to go for a lighter concealer, as I tend to use them under the eyes as well as on blemishes to brighten the eye area up! This concealer is SPF35 which is great for protecting the delicate eye area, and also blemishes which can be irritated by sun exposure. This concealer feels heavy enough to cover imperfections, but not too heavy as I’m worried about clogging pores and leading to more acne etc…. but we’ll see how this goes and I’ll post an update :)

Also on my little haul, I got my hands on a Clinique Moisture Surge 3 Piece set which is a travel exclusive and I bought it from an airport. You can get this for around £30 at an airport (usually tax free) and it’s such a bargain! I’ve been looking online, and unless you can find a really good deal on eBay or something similar, then you’re going to be paying over £30 for this set. I think this is a really good deal seeing as the Moisture Surge extended thirst relief cream 50ml is usually around £25-£30 alone. In the set you get the cream, which is a 75ml tub (bigger than the one I’ve already got) a refreshing eye gel (not tried this yet) and a hydrating face spray! I LOVEEEEE Moisture Surge and really recommend it as a primer for the skin before make up. Creates a sort of layer on the skin which allows make up to go on like a dream! :) I’ll be trying the face spray and eye gel in the next few days and I’ll make sure to update on my verdict!

That’s all from my little skincare spree, please feel free to ask me anything about these products, and if you’ve used any of these before (especially the concealer) then please let me know what you think! :D

Lucyyy xx

Avon Refreshing spray - great for summer!

Accidentally found this 'hair' refresher to be a great body spritz at the same time :)

There are sprays out there that claim to cool you down, and to be honest, I've not tried any. They seem over priced an unnecessary! I have quite by accident found a really good spray to help cool you down, and make you feel fresh!

Avon Cherry Blossom daily hair refresher 150ml

This stuff is great! It's marketed as a hair refresher, and I didn't buy it thinking it would be all that great on my hair, as I have fine hair which gets greasy after one day. I bought it more for the smell, and just to try it out. I think it was about £1 from the Avon catalogue. I bought it along with the cherry blossom shampoo (which I haven't actually tried yet as I have loads of shampoo on the go at once and need to finish them up.) and it's really refreshing! I know that Avon do an actual body spray of this scent, but this combines the two, so why pay for two seperate products? ;)

As a hair refresher, I would say that it refreshes in the sense of how your hair smells. After a night (perhaps a hot night) and you wake up and your hair doesn't smell 'just washed' it's good to add a little fragrance, and it's also a light mist which makes it feel refreshing. Although this product doesn't seem to make the appearance of the hair change, the refreshing part really makes you feel...well...fresh! haha :)

When I use this product, I generally just spritz it all around my upper body & hair, as it has a cooling refreshing quality, so can really make you feel fresh in the warmer days. I'm currently sat here now, feeling the humidity (as it's been all day here in the UK) and a little spritz of this and I'm feeling fresher and more awake. I really like it, and for such a cheap price, it wouldn't really matter how much you used, as you could always stock up! Really like this, I recommend trying it, especially as it gets warmer :)

Foundation Review

I judge foundations by a couple of things.....

- staying power
- coverage
-hydration
-colour match

These are the main things I go for in a foundation as I am combination skin, prone to acne. I need the full coverage for this, but also have to be careful about clogging pores. I did a review a while back on Rimmel 25 hour foundation. I loved this foundation at the time, but now it's getting warmer, I'm finding that it gets far too greasy throughout the day. 


Products I've been using recently:

                                                  Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in CAMEO.


As long as I prep my skin the night and morning before using this foundation, then it is a great one for acne/oily skin which I've been experiencing recently. By prepping I mean exfoliate, use a night moisturiser and another good moisturiser before applying in the morning. You can definitely build this foundation up for a full coverage, just make sure that you blend it in to the skin well otherwise it can appear flaky and patchy. This is another reason why a good moisturiser (or primer) before application is a good idea, so that you can blend easily! You can set this foundation with any powder, but I have been using the Dream Matte Powder from Maybelline and it's really good at setting the foundation, and you can stay shine free for hours! I just take the Dream Matte Powder with me during the day to touch up on any oily parts (such as the T-zone). I'm really loving this at the moment as I said, I've been experiencing oily skin (I think it's due to working in an air conditioned environment with no natural air). 

Maybelline Superstay 24H Foundation in 021 NUDE


I have used this foundation before, liked it, but I think I had the wrong shade, as I found it too pale for my skin (even though I am fair!) I like to have a warming colour, not orangey or obvious, just not porcelain white! I've gone back to this foundation as I remembered how it stayed put even through a day of work (approx 8 hours). The texture is quite thick, very creamy, and it blends well. I find that if I don't use very much though, it is hard to blend, so I make sure I have enough on the skin to blend out evenly (one to one and a half pumps should do the whole face). I really love this foundation, it's super thick, so it covers most of my bumps, blemishes and scars, but it's not at all oily so it doesn't clog my pores and make things worse! I find that if I use it with the dream matte powder and Collection 2000 concealer, this can give a really airbrushed look!


I've found this really helpful swatch of the 24h foundation on Google. It's from sasquatchswatch.blogspot.com and could really help you decide which colour you should go for! 

Max Factor Second Skin Foundation in 070 Natural


I've been looking for something similar to the Clinique Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser as it's getting hotter. A heavy foundation can clog the skin during the summer for me so I wanted something lighter. If you read my review of the Clinique Tinted Moisturiser then you will know that I found it to be okay, but as you might think from a tinted moisturiser, it didn't give me the coverage that I need. It's great if you use a really good concealer and lots of powder, but it's still on the sheer side for me.


I decided to try this Max Factor foundation as it looked promising in giving me the light foundation, with a good coverage. I've used it today 1/8/2011 and it stood my test of work. Surprisingly it didn't make my skin as oily as it has been recently, which was what I expected. The coverage is good, I put one layer on, and then applied some more to my problem areas. It gave quite a dewy finish, which is nice but I prefer a matte look for work (to stop the oil really...) but perhaps this dewy finish would be good for a summers day away from work! :) I used Rimmel Stay Matte concealer in 040 Soft beige, and this concealer is great after this foundation, as it's mattifying, and as the max factor foundation isn't too heavy, it's needed to cover those blemishes. I will keep trying this foundation for a week or two more, and let you know how I'm getting on :)


If there are any foundations you think I should try, for combination dry/oily skin, then please feel free to let me know by commenting below or tweeting me @xbeautybee 


Thanks! Lucy 

Heavy duty concealers

Conceal it!

It's important if you have blemish prone skin, to get the balance between a good concealer that will hide your blemishes and other problem areas, and one that is going to dry out your skin and accentuate the problem.

As I've said before, I have dry combination skin prone to acne. I usually wear quite a heavy duty foundation such as Rimmel 25 hr, or Maybelline 24 hr. These are great, but I do need to have a concealer for those especially tricky areas. Best heavy duty concealer from a high street brand in my opinion:

Collection 2000 - Lasting Perfection 16 hr concealer (light)


This concealer is GREAT! It's really long lasting, and really cheap. Nothing about this though suggests that it's a cheap brand. I really can say that this is the best and cheapest concealer you can buy from the highstreet!

This cocealer is thick enough to hide imperfections, but silky and smooth enough to blend easily! I made a mistake the second time I went to buy it, they didn't have my shade, so I bought the shade darker :/ you really need to make sure it's the right shade for you, this way, if it's light enough you can use it under the eyes too :)



Would I recommend this product? Yes!


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Simplified skincare regime....

In my previous posts, I have talked about my problem skin, being combination/dry and liking Clinique's Anti Blemish Solutions. I recently re purchased this kit, even the moisturiser (which I usually replace with the Dramatically Different Lotion) and I really regret buying the set this time.....


Recently my face has become quite oily, perhaps due to the change in weather, as it's getting warmer here in the UK. I have to say, I am absolutely loving the Clearing Moisturiser (Anti Blemish) but the rest of the 3-Step I have had to remove from the regime. I honestly now believe that the more gentle the better, and the Clinique products do tend to be quite harsh. They are spot fighting, but for sensitive/dry skin, they can be too aggravating!

Trying something new....


I have been trying the 'Simple' range, as I wanted to see if using gentle products, with no perfumes, would actually help my skin. What I've been trying:

'Kind to eyes' eye make up remover

- gentle enough to use on the eye area with absolutely no discomfort at all!!
- really does remove all make up, and quickly!
- available in travel size, perfect for travelling or trying the product!

'Kind to skin' soothing facial toner


- gentle but refreshing, perfect after a hot shower before applying make up
- 'Simple Soothing Skin Toner removes the last traces of make-up and cleanser and helps to clarify and refresh your skin.'

Cetaphil Cleanser £4, Asda

Another VITAL part of my new regime is my cleanser. I have been trying Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser, as I have seen so many positive reviews about this product! It is soooooo gentle, feels great and I can literally say that it has improved my skin. If I go a few days without using it for any reason, I can feel my blemishes coming back!


This product is great, and really cheap, I found it in Asda for £4! It seems to have lasted me about 2 months now, and it's got loads left! I think it comes in different types, for example oily skin, and dry skin. I've got the dry skin one for my combination/dry skin :)


Recommend to a friend?
Yes! 

Thanks for reading, any comments welcome! If you think I should try a product that's been good for you also feel free to let me know :D always open to suggestions!


Lucy x

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser spf15

High hopes......


After trying the free sample in Glamour Magazine a few months back, I really liked the result of using this tinted moisturiser. I felt that it gave great coverage for a moisturiser, and having acne scars and some current blemishes, this was an essential thing for me. However.....having gone out and bought this product, I have completely changed my mind! I really regret buying this product (£21), and feel that the tester somehow didn't provide me with an accurate feel for the product.

Tinted Moisturiser spf15

"Smooth on an instant moisture boost with SPF protection and a hint of skin-perfecting colour. Refreshingly lightweight formula provides a no-makeup look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. Oil-free."  - Clinique


This product leaves my skin feeling greasy and my pores feel clogged. I am aware that the point of this product is that it would give you a burst of moisturiser, but the feeling never goes away. My face feels wet to the touch, even after using a mattifying powder. This product claims to be oil free, but it doesn't seem that way to me, as it makes my face super oily! I would have thought this would have been perfect for dry & oily skin, but my friend has tried this product (she has oily skin) and it is no good for her either.


This is a real shame for me, as I absolutely love the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and was hoping to find a lightweight foundation perfect for the summer.  


Recommend to a friend?
No!

Vital Vitamin Night Cream....Simple!

My search for a nourishing night cream has begun.......

Vital Vitamin Night Cream

I have started using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in place of my liquid foundations, as I have changed jobs recently and have found that the liquid ones tend to just melt off under the harsh lights of the shop floor, leaving my skin looking greasy, and I have spots by the end of the day. (I'll be reviewing the Dream Matte Mousse foundation & powder in another post, so keep checking back!)




My search basically started when I started to use the mousse foundation, as I have found that it is essential to keep my face moisturised all day (& night) long to prevent this foundation from going flaky or patchy. Regular exfoliating (I have been using Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream, about two or three times a week) and twice daily moisturising should be enough to keep your skin ready for this quite drying foundation. I have started to look in to night creams, not only to help my skin at present, but also to perhaps delay any signs of ageing in the future (I'm only 21, but it's better to start sooner than later!). As we all know, moisturising is an essential part of any daily skincare routine, and shouldn't be missed! I feel that investing in some night creams to try out will help my skin in the long run with hydration and general condition of my skin. An added bonus to this Night Cream is that it is affordable with the general retail price being less than £5! (Boots, Superdrug, Bodycare......) See below for my thoughts on this product!


What Simple claim: 


"When your skin's happy and fresh faced, you feel healthier and happier too!

Our Vital Vitamin Night Cream is a perfect blend of active ingredients and multi-vitamin goodness to restore and replenish skin throughout the night. Perfect for even sensitive skin,

VITAL VITAMINS
Pro-Vitamin B5 actively restores, softens and smoothes
Vitamin E moisturises to improve skin condition
Vitamin F renews and regenerates

SKIN LOVING NUTRIENTS
Glycerin hydrates and nourishes
Allantoin softens and protects
Bisabolol soothes and calms

NO PERFUME, NO COLOUR
No unnecessary or harsh chemicals so it won't upset your skin

Dermatologically tested and approved"


My thoughts....


I'm really impressed with this product. I have bought it so that my skin could have added hydration during the night, ready for the day ahead. I love that there are 3 vital vitamins in such a relatively low end product (retails at <£5) and I really do feel the difference in the morning. It feels velvety smooth applying it after gentle cleansing with Cetaphil cleanser. I have FINALLY found a moisturiser that is good for my skin, nourishing and moisturising without breaking me out. I can say that my skin has never been better :)


Recommend to a friend?
Yes!

Heavy Duty Concealers

Conceal it!

It's important if you have blemish prone skin, to get the balance between a good concealer that will hide your blemishes and other problem areas, and one that is going to dry out your skin and accentuate the problem.

As I've said before, I have dry combination skin prone to acne. I usually wear quite a heavy duty foundation such as Rimmel 25 hr, or Maybelline 24 hr. These are great, but I do need to have a concealer for those especially tricky areas. Best heavy duty concealer from a high street brand in my opinion:

Collection 2000 - Lasting Perfection 16 hr concealer (light)


This concealer is GREAT! It's really long lasting, and really cheap. Nothing about this though suggests that it's a cheap brand. I really can say that this is the best and cheapest concealer you can buy from the highstreet!

This cocealer is thick enough to hide imperfections, but silky and smooth enough to blend easily! I made a mistake the second time I went to buy it, they didn't have my shade, so I bought the shade darker :/ you really need to make sure it's the right shade for you, this way, if it's light enough you can use it under the eyes too :)



Would I recommend this product? Yes!